News

It’s U.S. Trans Survey Awareness Week!

The U.S. Trans Survey is the largest community-led survey of trans people, and it is instrumental to improving the lives of trans people. The data collected in 2015 gave our community the largest data set about the trans experience in the United States. 

For USTS Awareness Week, we here at SAVE are working alongside the National Center for Transgender Equality, BTAC, NQAPIA, and TransLatin@ Coalition to help spread the word about the USTS. As a community, we want to help get as many trans people as possible to pledge to take the new survey. 

That’s where you come in!

• If you are trans, take the pledge today and tell your other trans siblings about the pledge.
• If you are an ally, you can still play a vital role this week. Tell as many folks as possible about the USTS, especially those who identify as trans or work with the trans community.
• If you serve trans members in your workplace, get involved in the 2022 USTS and be a community partner. Reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Yesterday, HB 1557 (the Don't Say Gay bill) passed in the House of Representatives with 69 yeas and 47 nays. While the vote was disappointing and shameful, our efforts had an impact and we were able to flip key South Florida Representatives to nays. We applaud the South Florida Representatives that took a stance against this hateful legislation:

Rep. Vance Aloupis
Rep. Robin Bartleman
Rep. Christopher Benjamin
Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera
Rep. Daryl Campbell
Rep. Kevin Chambliss
Rep. Dan Daley
Rep. Nick Duran
Rep. Joseph Geller
Rep. Michael Gottieb
Rep. Michael Grieco
Rep. Christine Hunschofsky
Rep. Evan Jenne
Rep. Dottie Joseph
Rep. Chip LaMarca
Rep. James Mooney
Rep. Anika Omphroy
Rep. Felicia Robinson
Rep. Patricia Williams
Rep. Marie Woodson

It is up to us to keep fighting back and work to kill the Don't Say Gay bill in the Senate. SB 1834 is schedule to be heard in it's second of three Committees on Monday, February 28th at 10:30 am. We need you to take a minute right now and call our South Florida Senators and urge them to oppose SB 1834.

Senator Ileana Garcia: 850-487-5037
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez: 850-487-5039

After you call the Senators today, we need you to help make calls from home to pro-equality voters and connect them with their Senators. It is easy, and we will give you all the tools and training that you need to have high impact conversations with voters. Our next phonebank will be on Monday, February, 28th at 5:30 pm. Sign up here to take action!

Issues impacting the civil rights and lives of transgender people have never demanded more urgent attention.

As we observe Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance & Resilience (TDORR), our LGBTQ community has much to reflect upon. Since taking office, President Joe Biden pledged his commitment to being the most pro-equality administration in history and has largely made good on this promise so far.

Today nearly 14% of President Biden’s (or 1,500) federal appointees identify as LGBTQ, as stated in his Pride month proclamation in June. During that month, the White House also announced historic new actions to advance equality, inclusion, and opportunity for transgender Americans.

However, we still have our work cut out for us in realizing full equality, and the issues impacting the civil rights and lives of transgender people have never demanded more urgent attention.

[Keep Reading]

AN URGENT HOUSING CRISIS WITH NEGATIVE RIPPLE EFFECTS

By Orlando Gonzales, SAVE; Ebonni N. Chrispin, AIDS Healthcare Foundation

There exists a prevalent, urgent and under-reported crisis in systematically oppressed communities across South Florida including the LGBTQ community which needs to be addressed.

LGBTQ people are disproportionately facing housing discrimination and LGBTQ youth alone comprise 20% - 40% of homeless youth. Statistics like these are alarming and without visibility on these issues, crimes against humanity will continue to negatively impact our entire community. While it may not affect you directly, ignoring the issue will have lasting damage to our economy as a whole and the communities where we live, work and play.

Housing is arguably the most critical facet of life. It provides stability and dignity for those fortunate to have one, and an insurmountable obstacle for those in our community without.  The issue is unfortunately exacerbated even further among transgender people. As many as one in five transgender people have faced discrimination when looking for housing and the same percentage have also experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, according to data from the National Center for Transgender Equality.

[Keep Reading]

Dear Friend,

I am reaching out to let you know of our difficult decision to change our much anticipated Champions of Equality Gala on September 23rd from in-person to a virtual event. Amid the seriousness of the global pandemic and Delta variant driving surges of infections in Florida, we feel strongly that this is the right thing for the safety of our community. The crowd size and indoor component of the gala were the driving factors in our decision. Following the success of last year’s virtual gala, and with a stellar lineup of honorees and speakers, we are determined to make it even bigger and better. The hard work of our staff and volunteers continues.

Participation in the event is free; donations are kindly encouraged and can be made here. All proceeds from the event will support SAVE’s work to protect people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) against discrimination.

[Keep Reading]