Florida ranked in bottom third on States Of Equality Scorecard
May 13, 2009 at 5:20 am by Lorna Bracewell
By Lorna Bracewell
PoHo contributor
eQuality Giving, an online community that provides strategic advice for philanthropists interested in legal equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans, has ranked all 50 states according to the number of Equality Goals each has achieved. On this States of Equality list, Florida ranks an embarrassing 37th with a score of 1.5 out of a possible 6 points barely beating out Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and other shining beacons of progressivism.
What hurt the Sunshine State’s score?
First, its lack of any law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. That’s right. In Florida, it is perfectly legal to fire or deny employment to someone because you think they’re gay or because you don’t think they perform their gender in the most appropriate way according to you. (Interview tip for female job seekers in Florida: Shave your pits and ensure your shoes appear to be adequately uncomfortable.)
Second, Florida is the only state in the entire country with a law on the books banning homosexuals from adopting children. Other states, like Utah and Arkansas, have laws which prohibit unmarried couples from adopting, but only Florida explicitly singles out “homosexuals” as ineligible. (We have Miss America contestant turned orange juice spokeswoman turned anti-gay activist Anita Bryant to thank for this one.)
Third, Amendment 2 (added to Florida’s Constitution this past November) guarantees that marriage equality (or anything vaguely resembling it) will be a long time coming to the people of the great state of Florida.
While this list gives Floridians an additional topic to grumble about, there is a sunny side to our abysmal showing. Perhaps the fair-minded philanthropists of the world will look at this list and take pity on us. After all, we do have a U.S. Senate seat and a Governor’s mansion to fill…
