LGBT Florida Benefits

House Hunting in Florida?  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals and LGBTQ families can be a part of progressive change.  

In a 2016 report from the Florida Association of Realtors, researchers shared that in Florida 89 percent of homeowners identified as heterosexual and five percent as gay or lesbian, compared to the U.S. national average of 90% straight, 3% gay or lesbian, 1% bisexual.  Both Florida and the national stats had 7% preferring not to answer. 

What does this mean for the LGBTQ community? One can infer that Florida is a hot spot for gay real estate and that forward-thinking municipalities are offering safe havens for LGBTQ singles and families.  While some Florida areas are most definitely “OUT” and have rainbow flags flying in their gayborhoods, and Fortune 500 corporations, like Disney, publicly showing their support for the LGBTQ community there are parts of Florida that are not as progressive, and that is why we encourage LGBTQ individuals and families to live in communities where they will feel accepted, included, at-home, and free to thrive.  

 While it will take a gay village to make all villages gay-friendly, we can assure you, Florida, she is a-changing for the better in many ways:

• Several counties and cities have enacted anti-discrimination ordinances pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.  

• In 2010, we saw the end of a 33 year-old ban on same-sex adoptions, with a comprehensive Florida same-sex adoption reform being made law by the Governor in 2015.   

• Conversion therapy is completely banned in many Florida cities, including the Greater Miami metropolitan area. 

• Nine counties, thirty cities, and one town in Florida offer domestic partnership benefits available to same-sex couples.  

• A child’s birth certificate can list both same-sex parents.

• Currently, Florida hate crime laws include those based on sexual orientation, but unfortunately do not include coverage for gender identity.

• All Florida state employees who were legally married at the time of retirement are eligible to retroactively list their spouse as a beneficiary.

• All Florida state employees can include their same-sex spouses in family health insurance plans.

• The LGBTQ community in Florida is front and center in the state’s political landscape.  Equality Florida has identified more than 350,000 same-sex and pro-LGBT voter households in Florida.

• There are many metropolitan areas with LGBT Chambers of Commerce supporting LGBT-friendly resorts, restaurants, businesses, industries, and services.

• Equality Florida honors the 75% of Fortune 500 companies who include non-discrimination policy coverage for LGBTQ individuals in the workplace and formed the Equality Means Business to spotlight employers in Florida who understand diversity is good business.  Their goal is to “improve Florida’s national and international reputation as a welcoming place to live, work and visit.”

• There are numerous events that are promoting inclusion and acceptance, and the VISIT FLORIDA has a page dedicated to some of the most popular: http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/florida-events/florida-lgbt-events.html  Here you can find information about Sculpture Key West, Aqua Girl South Beach, Gay Days, Orlando, Gay Spring Break, Key West, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Miami, Pridefest, Fort Lauderdale, Tropical Heat, Key West, Pridefest, Key West, St. Pete Pride, St. Petersburg, Womenfest, Key West, FantasyFest, Key West, White Party Week, South Beach, and Winter Party Festival, South Beach.

• There are LGBTQ- friendly Florida beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.