Senate Bill Advances Restricting Use of Preferred Pronouns

The Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability advanced a controversial bill 5-2 that would prohibit the use of preferred pronouns in Florida workplaces and limit gender identity training for state and local government employees.

Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) sponsored the bill (SB 440). Rep. Rachel Plakon (R-Lake Mary) leads the House version (HB 1495).

Under the "Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act," Florida employers or contractors cannot require employees to use pronouns that don't match a person's biological sex. Employees or contractors also can't make employers use their preferred pronouns if they don’t match their biological sex.

Sen. McClain issued an amendment during the committee meeting that would make it an unlawful employment practice for the state or any county, municipality, special district, or other political subdivision to mandate training, instruction, or any activity linked to gender identity or gender expression as a stipulation of employment.

Sen. Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee) expressed her dismay to the bill in the committee.

"When I was raised, my parents always kinda raised me with the golden rule as a principle: Do one to others as you would have them do one to you. That's how I feel about this bill," Arrington said. "What's it hurting anyone to use their preferred pronouns? It does not hurt anyone."

"I don't see what the harm is just with pronouns. It's just a word," Arrington added.

She later voted down on the bill.

SB 440 also received heavy pushback from constituents, mostly advocating for defending the workplace rights of LGBTQ Floridians and its use of pronouns. Many instead urged the committee to focus on the state's affordability and rising insurance costs.

"The bill is not about an employer coercing an employee to do something. We're not going to allow state employees to be coerced by their employers or subcontractors going forward," McClain said.

SB 440 has two more Senate committee stops. If fully passed by the Florida Legislature, SB 440/HB 1945 would take effect on July 1.