Great News From Mallory

Just today I received commitments from additional co-sponsors for the Civil Rights Bill. Rep. Rader, Rep. Reed, Rep. Chestnut and Senator Smith have all agreed to co-sponsor. Rep. Randolph also signed on to the Adoption bill.

Quick Summary:
Civil Rights Bill (HB397)
Great news. I met with Sen. Deutch on Tuesday and, after months of uncertainty, he confirmed he will be sponsoring a fully inclusive non-discrimination bill that will match Rep. Skidmore's! Sen. Deutch told me that hearing from supporters across the state and watching the movie Milk really helped him decide to take the lead. He's a formidable sponsor who commands respect on both sides of the aisle and has a close relationship to Senate President Atwater.
On the House side, there are already 20 co-sponsors for Rep. Skidmore's bill with more coming on as fast as I can meet with them.

Domestic Partnership (SB1642)
Sen. Sobel's office has told me she will make the domestic partnership bill one of her priority bills this year. She is very adamant that same-sex couples need protection, especially after Amendment 2. We are still talking to several Representatives about sponsoring in the house. Rep. Richard Steinberg is our best hope but he has not committed yet. We need more outreach to him from his home base.

Adoption (SB500, HB413)
I met with Rep. Culp (R-Tampa) and she said she will co-sponsor the adoption bill and we are working with to identify other Republicans to sign on. Rep. Culp has co-sponsored in the past and is a great ally to have, both has a mother of a gay son and someone who is well respected in her party. Hopefully, with her stepping up as a co-sponsor other Republicans will too.
I think the bill will be referred to the Health and Family Services Council. Representative Homan, a moderate Republican, is the chair and he's someone I believe we can work with for a hearing. In the past Rep. Homan has opposed his party on certain issues, so we know he is an independent thinker and someone who doesn't only toe the party line.

Sex Education
I also met with Rep. Jenne and Sen. Ring on Tuesday about their bills to repeal abstinence only education and the language that says schools must teach the "benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage." Planned Parenthood attended the meeting as well. We talked a lot about Title V funding, which the state receives from the federal government for abstinence only education. Turns out Florida spends $1.6 million dollars more than the required $1.8 million on abstinence-only-until-marriage program. We are spending millions on ineffective programs that don't prevent STDs and ignore the existence of LGBT youth. The Ring/Jenne bill would put an end to this waste.
That's the Tallahassee update this week... more to come!