June 11 Hot Topics: Pride under Attack
Diana Smith | Published on 5/27/2025
Fear of being harassed in public. Threats veiled and overt. Mutilated primary documents returned to owners. Laws that take away rights and encourage discrimination. In the Sunshine State, LGTBQ+ people feel like they’re under attack. But at least there’s hope on the horizon, as the Florida Legislature adjourned its regular session this year without enacting any new laws aimed at the transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer community. The League of Women Voters of Orange County hosts a June 11 Hot Topics lunch and panel discussion, “Pride Under Attack: Defending LGBTQ+ Rights,” about the difficulties that LGBTQ+ people face from state and federal actions.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m. at the Winter Park Events Center for a buffet lunch. The discussion starts at 11:45 a.m. at 1050 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park and ends at 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 for League members, $37 non-members. Register at www.LWVOC.org/HotTopics
The moderator of the panel discussion is Gina Duncan, president and CEO of the Pride Chamber of Greater Orlando. Panelists include George Wallace, CEO of The LGBTQ+ Center Orlando; Heather Wilkie, executive director of Zebra Youth; Nathan Bruemmer, attorney and board member of Equality Florida, and Gabriella Rodriguez, executive director of QLatinx.
Two years ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a slate of bills that affected LGBTQ+ people adversely, including restrictions on transgender health care, content on LGBTQ identities in schools, transgender bathroom use and drag performances. He signed into law only one in 2024, the Stop WOKE Teacher Training bill, which included a ban on instruction that “teaches identity politics.” None of the anti-LGBTQ legislation passed in the 2025 Legislature, which Equality Florida declared a victory. “Every anti-LGBTQ bill filed this year has been defeated!” the civil rights group said in an end-of-session report about how it had lobbied against the bills.
In 2024, the American Civil Liberties Union tracked more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that had been introduced in statehouses across the country, at least 49 of which were passed into law. About 220 bills would have restricted the rights of transgender people. Since January, the Trump administration has issued orders banning transgender people from serving in the military, restricting transgender care for minors and use of gender markers on passports, and prohibiting school discussion of gender identity.
Among the issues to be discussed at Hot Topics:
--What is the current mood in the LGBTQ+ community?
--How are they fighting against these actions? What challenges remain?
--What do they fear will happen with Florida and U.S. law in the future?
--What is happening with efforts to restrict changes in gender markers on birth certificates, passports and drivers’ licenses?
The panel discussion will be streamed live on the League’s Facebook page Facebook and an edited version will be available later on the League’s YouTube channel, League of Women Voters Orange County - YouTube.
Visionary sponsors: Phil and Jennifer Anderson. Silver sponsors: Lyn and David Berelsman and Voting Voices —Michele Levy, Charley Williams, and Laurie and Richard Wack. Bronze sponsors: Alex and the Hon. Cynthia Mackinnon.
The League of Women Voters of Orange County, Florida, is a nonpartisan civic organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.