LGBTQ

Faith took a bold step forward at the Southwest Florida Pride Festival over the weekend. In attendance were young children, old couples, an HIV testing van and holy crosses. Three faith communities joined the celebration, supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in a way that some say is long overdue.

In this installment from the StoryCorps Mobile Tour visit to Fort Myers in Feb. 2024, long-time partners Kevin Kennedy and Glenn Sweigart share their stories of coming to terms with their sexuality, and learning to embrace and live their own truths.

The night of June 1, Cape Coral native Michael White was brutally assaulted at University Village not far from FGCU in south Lee County. While waiting outside for an Uber, White said that a group of people in a vehicle began shouting homophobic slurs at him. He ignored it, but the driver exited the car, and began the assault. White's injuries were significant — a broken nose, a brain bleed, and multiple facial fractures. The assailant has not yet been identified.

More than a dozen parents, teachers, and students along with Equality Florida have reached a settlement with the Florida Department of Education and school districts.The settlement will allow K-12 students to speak and write freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in class participation and schoolwork.It will also reinstate Gay-Straight Alliances throughout the state.

The Lee County school district is passing out newly-branded stickers for classrooms designated as a Safe Space for students. But, there is something missing from this new batch in the a time of what appears to be never-ending culture wars in Florida. Noticeably absent from the new safe space stickers are the bright burst of colors associated with LGBTQ issues. Also absent are the words, “This is a safe space for ALL including all genders, all orientations.”Instead of rainbow colors, the subdued stickers in shades of blue and orange simply say, SAFE SPACE for all.The district said it will not be telling teachers to remove the rainbow-flag colored Safe Space stickers, but it is merely offering up a secondary sticker should they chose to replace the old ones.

In a stunning turn of events, strict policy changes that would have banned a classroom banner with a "HATE HAS NO HOME HERE" message failed to pass by the school board.

Leaders of the Republican Party of Lee County say the banner indoctrinates students.

At issue is a "Hate has no Home Here" banner in a high school classroom. The banner shows images of the LGBT flag as well as the American Flag.

The Florida House on Wednesday began moving forward with a proposal that would restrict the types of flags that can be displayed at government buildings and schools, including preventing the display of LGBTQ pride flags.The bill (HB 901), sponsored by Rep. David Borrero, R-Sweetwater, and Rep. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, drew heavy opposition from LGBTQ people, activists and parents and refueled legislative battles that have raged in recent years about LGBTQ-related issues.

Three teachers on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit alleging a new state law restricting titles and pronouns at schools unconstitutionally discriminates against transgender and nonbinary educators.The plaintiffs are Hillsborough County high-school teacher Katie Wood; a Lee County teacher identified as “Jane Doe;” and AV Schwandes, a nonbinary Orange County teacher who was fired by Florida Virtual School in October.