About SAVE
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
SAVE is Florida’s longest serving organization dedicated to protecting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) against discrimination. Since 1993, SAVE has advocated for equal rights for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
We accomplish this through grassroots action focused on:
Political Advocacy
Working to promote local, state, and federal policy change by building community consensus.
Community Outreach
Changing hearts and minds by educating the people of South Florida about LGBTQ issues.
Candidate Endorsements
Supporting political leaders committed to ending LGBTQ discrimination.
Our Mission
SAVE’s mission is to promote, protect and defend equality for people in South Florida who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.
Our Vision
Our vision is a community where people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer have full equality in all facets of life.
Our Values
In carrying out our mission and realizing our vision, we:
Are accountable to our donors, our volunteers and the LGBTQ community, serving as good stewards of their money, time and civil rights as we work towards the justice we deserve;
Promote honesty about who we are as individuals and as a community, and in the face of adversity, set a civil tone in conversations aimed at changing hearts and minds;
Empower individuals to volunteer to effect change and remain proactive in the defense of their own rights;
Remain committed to our community and connected to one another; and
Value effectiveness, and continually self-assess to implement best practices in achieving our goals and measuring our success.
Pushing for Equal Rights in South Florida & Beyond
SAVE and its education arm, the SAVE Foundation, help raise awareness about rights and protections for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The SAVE Action PAC endorses local and statewide candidates seeking office who support its goals. Through this process, it educates candidates about the issues affecting the LGBTQ community.
Our Story
SAVE was founded in 1993, but its roots reach back to a pivotal moment in 1977, when a local ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation was passed in Miami-Dade County, only to be overturned by a campaign of fear led by Anita Bryant and her "Save Our Children" group. This loss galvanized local activists and laid the groundwork for what would become SAVE—Safeguarding American Values for Everyone. Created in direct response to renewed political threats against LGBTQ protections, SAVE set out with a clear mission: to restore the repealed ordinance and fight for lasting equality. Over the years, SAVE has become a vital force in South Florida, leading efforts to secure legal protections, champion marriage equality, and ensure inclusion for the entire LGBTQ community, including transgender individuals.
Learn More about the SAVE History Project