Anti gay laws florida poll

While lawmakers will have to come back in the following weeks to finalize the budget, LGBTQ Floridians and allies across the state are celebrating a resounding and inspiring win: every anti-LGBTQ bill filed in the 2025 legislative session was defeated.

This is more than a policy victory; it’s a testament to the unstoppable force of people power, coalition-building, and a growing refusal to let hate go unchallenged.

“Once again, we’ve done what many thought was impossible: not one anti-LGBTQ bill passed this session,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida.

They showed up to the Capitol every single day of session, testified in legislative hearings, sent messages to lawmakers, and organized from the Panhandle to the Keys. But the law related to higher education is less popular the more college education individuals have.

"Once again, we've done what many thought was impossible: not one anti-LGBTQ bill passed this session," Nadine Smith, Equality Florida executive director, said in a statement.

Again, the anti-DEI legislation has support among Republicans, with 70% approving. It’s students and seniors, faith leaders and frontline workers, parents and teachers, standing together and making sure lawmakers hear us loud and clear: we will not back down.”

In 2024, 21 of 22 anti-LGBTQ bills were defeated — many were expected to return this year with greater force, buoyed by the largest Republican supermajority in Florida history and a national climate increasingly hostile to LGBTQ issues — particularly transgender issues.

Only 39% of voters support the ban. "We improved on the tremendous defeat of 21 out of 22 anti-LGBTQ bills last session for a complete sweep this session, defeating every anti-LGBTQ bill."

Equality Florida said the following bills did not pass during the session:

• Flags (HB 75/SB 100): A banning government agencies, including schools and universities, from displaying any flag that represents a "political viewpoint," including Pride flags.

  Over 16,000 Floridians sent emails to legislators, and our Pride At The Capitol participants met face-to-face with lawmakers more than 325 times over the course of session. But independents oppose it 48% to 41% and 91% of Democrats dislike the ban compared to 3% who support it. Also of note, while male respondents were closely divided, 51% of women oppose the content bans while just 34% support them.

  The survey shows 50% oppose the Governor’s ban on DEI programs in higher education, one of the issues highlighted during his presidential campaign launch on Twitter.

  Whatever Florida voters think of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a new poll suggests most Floridians oppose many of his policies as anti-LGBTQ.

  A poll by Civiqs found 50% of Florida voters oppose a new ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida universities and colleges.

  Results have a 5.8% margin of error.

  BREAKING: Every Anti-LGBTQ Bill Defeated in Florida’s 2025 Legislative Session

  Grassroots coalition delivers a stunning blow to extremism — again

  Tallahassee, FL — The 60 days of Florida’s legislative session have concluded.

  Copyright 2025 WLRN Public Media

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  Notably, independents break in favor of the law, with 47% supporting it and 43% opposed to it.

  But there are issues where the public narrowly supports new laws seen as targeting the LGBTQ community.

  “Florida Republicans are trying to make it so that our state is unsafe for anyone who isn’t a Christian, straight, white man, and we won’t stand for being known for all of this bigotry and hate. That would be a parental rights in education bill dubbed by critics as the “don’t say gay” law.

  “The stakes have never been higher than they are right now for the trans and queer community,” reads a statement from Cedar Key Progress.

  “We improved on the tremendous defeat of 21 out of 22 anti-LGBTQ bills last session for a complete sweep this session, defeating every anti-LGBTQ bill. The bill has the support of 46% of White voters, but is opposed by 88% of Black voters. About 60% of college graduates oppose the DEI ban, and 62% of post-graduate-educated voters are against the restriction.

  On the “don’t say gay” law, which the state Board of Education expanded through 12th grade this year, the public appears evenly divided.

  That’s not luck — that’s the strength of our grassroots movement.