Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce

Legislature considers anti-discrimination bill for LGBT rights

Published on February 8, 2016 in Uncategorized by Phil Ammann

When it comes to LGBT issues, Florida’s Republican lawmakers are known more for trying to keep transgender people out of bathrooms, protect pastors from marrying same-sex couples and seek exemptions for private adoption agencies who don’t want to place children with gay and lesbian couples. But this year, some Republican lawmakers are backing a bill that would give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents the protection against discrimination. “It’s a breakthrough for the South. It’s of huge significance that a…

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Boosters laud LGBT anti-discrimination bill; Jack Latvala predicts “long slog” to passage

Published on January 26, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Ryan Ray

An industry consortium supporting a bill to prohibit discrimination against workers based on sexual orientation gathered in the Capitol Tuesday morning, ahead of its first committee stop. Lawmakers joined with representatives of Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce in telling reporters the time for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Floridians to be considered equals in the workplace past due. Fortune 500 executives and superminority Democrats alike took the podium along with original House sponsor of the bill, Republican Rep. Holly Raschein,…

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Support for LGBT-protection bill grows among Legislature’s GOP members

Published on January 15, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

A measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity has picked up a second Republican sponsor in the Florida Senate: Travis Hutson of St. Augustine. The group behind the the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act” (HB 45/SB 120) announced the move in a news release Friday. The prime sponsors are Democratic state Sen. Joe Abruzzo of Boynton Beach and Key Largo Republican Holly Raschein in the House. Hutson now joins Clearwater’s Jack Latvala in sponsoring the Senate…

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Florida Realtors lends support to anti-discrimination Florida Competitive Workforce Act

Published on January 11, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Phil Ammann

Florida Realtors have become the latest group to join the effort to modernize state law by including anti-discrimination protection based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. As real estate professionals descend upon Tallahassee to take part in the annual Great American Realtors Days on Tuesday and Wednsday, the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce (FBCW) coalition sends its gratitude to Florida Realtors for becoming a member of the coalition pushing for passage of the Florida Competitive Workforce Act. The…

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Three Florida cities receive perfect score for LGBT anti-discrimination policies

Published on December 22, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Phil Ammann

Three Florida cities, including St. Petersburg and Orlando, earned perfect scores in enacting policies to protect gay, lesbian and transgendered citizens from discrimination. In a statement Tuesday, Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce recognized Orlando, St. Petersburg and Wilton Manors (in Broward County), for receiving 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation 2015 Municipal Equality Index (MEI). The municipalities were among 47 of 408 rated cities in the United States to achieve a perfect score. “We are proud of…

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10 Florida employers recognized as national Best Places to Work for LGBT employees

Published on November 24, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Phil Ammann

Ten firms from the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce Coalition received a perfect score this week on the annual Human Rights Campaign ranking of workplace equality. In an announcement Tuesday, the corporations scoring a 100 percent rating on the 2016 Corporate Equity Index include such Florida-based companies as Akerman LLP, AT&T, Florida Blue, Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, Darden Restaurants, Marriott, Office Depot, Tech Data, The Walt Disney Co., and Wells Fargo. Each firm earned a spot on HRC’s list…

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Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce names Patrick Slevin as campaign manager

Published on August 17, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Phil Ammann

In preparation for the upcoming 2016 Florida legislative session, Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce (FBCW) named GOP consultant Patrick Slevin as its new campaign manager. Slevin will help lead the bipartisan coalition to pass the Competitive Workforce Act, which seeks to modernize state law to include anti-discrimination protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. During the 2015 session, state Rep. Holly Raschein, a Key Largo Republican, and Democratic state Sen. Joe Abruzzo from Boynton Beach filed…

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