ST. PETERSBURG – Florida now ranks among the top five states in the nation in protecting LGBT people from discrimination, according to a report released by the statewide civil rights group Equality Florida.

Equality Florida’s report, Winning Equality, looks at the progress made in Florida since the organization formed in 1997. It documents pro-equality successes in areas of workplace non-discrimination, family recognition, and school safety, while also highlighting that the organization has defeated anti-LGBT legislative efforts in every session over the past 13 years.

“A great deal of work remains, but Floridians can be proud of the progress in our state over the past decade,” said Nadine Smith, executive director for Equality Florida. “This report demonstrates that, while political winds may shift during an election cycle, the longterm trend in Florida is strongly in favor of fairness and equality for everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.”

Highlights from the report include: repeal of the anti-gay adoption ban; banning workplace discrimination; providing domestic partner benefits; ensuring school safety; and engaging business leaders.

The report includes maps of Florida comparing the existence of LGBT legal protections in 1997 and today. Florida now leads the Southeastern United States in passing over 55 local policies outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, banning harassment of LGBT students, and providing domestic partnership benefits to our families.

To view the full report, visit www.eqfl.org/equalityreport