TALLAHASSEE — Cruise line giant Carnival Corporation and office supplier Office Depot have joined a growing coalition of Florida businesses working to end LGBT discrimination in places of employment across the state.

“Diversity is a business imperative,” said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation in a statement. “The key to innovation is diversity of thinking… having people from different backgrounds and different cultural experiences who are organized around a common objective are far more likely to create breakthrough innovation than a homogenous group. That same diversity of thinking is a powerful advantage.”

Carnival and Office Depot are two of the latest big brands to join 23 other Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce to pass the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, a bill designed to modernize Florida’s non-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

The coalition also includes another sub-grouping of small- and medium sized businesses called Florida Competes, a grassroots effort that includes business leaders, lawmakers, faith leaders, members of the LGBT community and concerned residents who have come together to pass the the legislation.

Florida has no explicit statewide statutes prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.