Media Inquiries
Contact the Office of Communications:
Erin Moffet
Strategic Communications Director
(850) 766-7358
Erin.Moffet@FDACS.gov
Caroline Stonecipher
Deputy Communications Director
(850) 661-7153
Caroline.Stonecipher@FDACS.gov
Sabina Covo
Hispanic Media Director
Sabina.Covo@FDACS.gov
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 landmark decision that a key provision of the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ employees from workplace discrimination.
In response, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement:
“The very essence of our state and country is that all people are created equal — and now, our nation’s highest court has affirmed that our LGBTQ community is equal before the law. Today’s decision protects the rights of eight million Americans in their workplace. We welcome and embrace this decision in Florida, on behalf of the more than 700,000 LGBTQ people in our state who deserve equality and respect.”
Upon taking office in January 2019, Commissioner Fried was the first member of the Florida Cabinet to adopt sexual orientation and gender identity workplace discrimination protections, underscoring her commitment to a diverse, inclusive department and state workforce. Fried also established Florida’s first-ever LGBTQ Consumer Advocate, raising awareness within the agriculture industry and helping address discrimination targeted at LGBTQ Floridians.
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