our impact



RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS



February 2018

Peter Cruise, an openly gay man, is appointed to the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics.


January 2018

The Village of Royal Palm Beach adopts a resolution calling for unity and embracing diversity.


Myra Koutzen, an open lesbian, is re-elected without opposition to serve as Mayor of Palm Beach Shores.

Andy Amoroso, an openly gay man, is re-elected without opposition to serve as a Lake Worth City Commissioner.


December 2017

Palm Beach County becomes the first county in Florida – and the largest county in the United States – to enact a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

October 2017

The City of Boca Raton enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


August 2017

The City of Greenacres enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


June 2017

The City of Palm Beach Gardens passes a resolution opposing conversion therapy for minors.


The Village of Wellington enacts a ban on conversion therapy on minors.


May 2017

The City of Delray Beach enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


The City of Riviera Beach Beach enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


PBCHRC Treasurer Dan Hall is awarded the Diversity Honors award by the Harvey Milk Foundation


April 2017

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners updates the definition of "sexual orientation" in county ordinances from "male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality, by preference or practice" to "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality or asexuality, whether actual or perceived."


January 2017

The City of Lake Worth enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


The City of Boynton Beach enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


November 2016

The City of West Palm Beach enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


September 2016

The 15th Judicial Circuit updated its Civil Rights Complaint Procedure to specifically include complaints of discrimination based on "gender identity or expression."


The 15th Judicial Circuit updated its Code of Conduct for Non-Judicial Employees to prohibit discrimination based on "gender identity and expression."


July 2016

The City of West Palm Beach updated its procurement code to expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

The City of West Palm Beach becomes the first public employer in Palm Beach County to include transgender related care in the city's health care plans for municipal employees.


March 2016
The Town of Lake Clarke Shores has updated its Anti-Harassment Policy to specifically include "gender identity or expression" among the protected classes.

Tonya Davis Johnson, an open lesbian who was endorsed by the PBCHRC Voters Alliance, was elected to the Riviera Beach City Council.

In the wake of the enactment of the extreme anti-LGBTQ legislation in North Carolina, West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio became the second mayor in the United States -- and the first in Florida -- to place a travel ban on city-funded trips to North Carolina. The action was taken at PBCHRC's request.
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February 2016

The City of West Palm Beach added an LGBTQ web page to the City’s website.
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January 2016

The Town of Haverhill amended its Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-Harassment Policies to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression."

The Lake Worth City Commission unanimously voted, to amend the city’s Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

The Lake Worth City Commission unanimously voted to amend the city’s Merit Services policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

The Lake Worth City Commission unanimously voted, to amend the city’s Procurement Code to ensure equal opportunity based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

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LAWS & POLICIES



  1. 1990 - Palm Beach County amends its Fair Housing Ordinance to protect gay men, lesbians and bisexuals from discrimination in housing, financing for housing, and in public accommodations.

  2. 1990 - Palm Beach County becomes the first public employer in Florida to amend the County's Affirmative Action Plan to protect gay and lesbian County employees from discrimination in County hiring and employment.

  3. 1991 - West Palm Beach becomes the first public employer in Florida to enact an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in public employment.

  4. 1991 - West Palm Beach adopts a policy prohibiting the use of any public funds for organizations or facilities which discriminate on the basis of several protected classes, including sexual orientation.

  5. 1991 - Boynton Beach adopts a policy prohibiting the use of any public funds for organizations or facilities which discriminate on the basis of several protected classes, including sexual orientation.

  6. 1991 - Riviera Beach adopts a policy prohibiting the use of any public funds for organizations or facilities which discriminate on the basis of several protected classes, including sexual orientation.

  7. 1992 - West Palm Beach becomes the first public employer in Florida to provide domestic partnership benefits for municipal employees.

  8. 1994 - West Palm Beach enacts an Equal Opportunity Ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private and public employment, housing and public accommodation.

  9. Note: 1995 - Voters in West Palm Beach overwhelmingly reject the effort to repeal the Equal Opportunity Ordinance by a margin of 56% to 43%. West Palm Beach becomes the first jurisdiction in Florida to withstand a repeal effort by popular vote.

  10. 1996 - Lake Park enacts an Equal Opportunity/Minority and Women Business Enterprises Ordinance which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

  11. 1999 - Atlantis updates its Police Department’s Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace Policy to include sexual orientation.

  12. 2002 - The Palm Beach County Sheriffs' Office offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  13. 2002 - The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners amends the County's Equal Employment Ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on marital status and sexual orientation.

  14. 2003 - West Palm Beach extends lifetime health insurance benefits to the surviving domestic partner of any city employee killed in the line of duty

  15. 2003 - The Palm Beach County School Board adopts a policy to protect students against harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation.

  16. 2003 - Lake Worth amends the city's Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

  17. 2004 - The Office of the Clerk and Comptroller offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  18. 2004 - The Office of the Supervisor of Elections becomes the first local public employer to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

  19. 2004 - The Port of Palm Beach offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  20. 2004 - Lake Worth offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  21. 2004 - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  22. 2005 - West Palm Beach establishes a Domestic Partnership Registry.

  23. 2005 - Belle Glade amends its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy to include sexual orientation

  24. 2006 - Belle Glade enacts s Special Event Permit Ordinance specifically prohibiting discrimination based on “sexual orientation or gender related grounds.”

  25. 2006 - Palm Beach County offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  26. 2006 - The School District of Palm Beach County offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  27. 2006 - The Office of the Supervisor of Elections offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  28. 2006 - The Office of the Tax Collector revises its non-discrimination policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

  29. 2006 - The Office of the Tax Collector offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  30. 2006 - Palm Beach County establishes a Domestic Partnership Registry.

  31. 2006 - Delray Beach offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  32. 2006 - The Palm Beach County School Board adopts a Commercial Nondiscrimination Policy which prohibits the School District from doing business with firms which discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other form of unlawful discrimination.

  33. 2006 - The Board of Trustees of Florida Atlantic University trustees adopts an Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Regulation covering all classes protected by law. (Gay men and lesbians at FAU's Palm Beach and Broward campuses would be covered under the regulation because such discrimination is prohibited by county ordinances.)

  34. 2006 - West Palm Beach extends health insurance continuation coverage (COBRA) to city employees with domestic partners.

  35. 2006 - Palm Tran offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  36. 2007- West Palm Beach amends its Equal Opportunity Ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression in private and public employment, housing and public accommodation.

  37. 2007 - Lake Worth amends the city's Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

  38. 2007 - Jupiter offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  39. 2007 - Juno Beach revises its non-discrimination and harassment awareness policies to include sexual orientation.

  40. 2007 - Juno Beach revises the definition of "immediate family" with regard to bereavement leave to include an employee's "significant other."

  41. 2007 - Hypoluxo amends its non-discrimination policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

  42. 2007 - The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office amends its nondiscrimination policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and marital status.

  43. 2007 - The Health Care District of Palm Beach County offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  44. 2007 - The Solid Waste Authority updates its nondiscrimination policies in early 2007 to include sexual orientation

  45. 2007 - The Solid Waste Authority offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  46. 2007 - Palm Beach County amends its Equal Employment Ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

  47. 2007 - Tequesta enacts comprehensive policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

  48. 2007 - Royal Palm Beach amends its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and its Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

  49. 2007 - Palm Beach Gardens City Council implements basic domestic partner benefits for city employees.

  50. 2008 - Palm Beach Community College offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  51. 2008 - The Palm Beach County School Board expands the definition of "family" in the School District's Leave of Absence policy to include employees' domestic partners and their children.

  52. 2008 - The Palm Beach County School Board includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in a comprehensive policy protecting students against bullying and harassment.

  53. 2008 - Tequesta revises its collective bargaining agreements and its employee handbook to include domestic partners as members of employee's immediate family.

  54. 2008 - The South Florida Water Management Districts amends its policies to prohibit harassment based on gender identity or expression.

  55. 2009 - The Palm Beach County Children's Services Council offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  56. 2009 - Seacoast Utility Authority offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  57. 2009 - The School District of Palm Beach County includes the children of employees' domestic partners as eligible dependents for health insurance coverage.

  58. 2010 - The Palm Beach County School Board revises all of the School District’s nondiscrimination policies to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

  59. 2011 - Wellington offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.

  60. 2011 - Wellington amends their non-discrimination policies to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

  61. 2011 - The Office of the State Attorney revises its Harassment Policy to include gender identity or expression.

  62. 2011 - The Office of the State Attorney revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

  63. 2011 - West Palm Beach revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

  64. 2011 - The Office of the Public Defender revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

  65. 2011 - Palm Beach County revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

  66. 2011 - The Board of Trustees of Florida Atlantic University adds sexual orientation to the school’s Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Regulation.

  67. 2012 - Delray Beach revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

  68. 2012 - Palm Beach County amends its Nondiscrimination in Contracting Policy to include gender identity or expression.

  69. 2012 - The West Palm Beach Housing Authority adds gender identity or expression to its nondiscrimination policy.

  70. 2012 - The Office of the Clerk and Comptroller revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.

  71. 2013 - Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits implements a tax equity policy providing eligible employees with domestic partners a $500 annual stipend to offset the additional federal income taxes which assessed on employees whose domestic partners receive health insurance through their employers.

  72. 2013 - Palm Beach County's Constitutional Tax Collector Anne Gannon implements a tax equity policy providing eligible employees with domestic partners a $500 annual stipend to offset the additional federal income taxes which assessed on employees whose domestic partners receive health insurance through their employers.

  73. 2013 - The Town of South Palm Beach adds "sexual orientation" and "any other legally protected status" to the Town's nondiscrimination statement.

  74. 2013 - The Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority adds gender identity or expression to its nondiscrimination policy.

  75. 2013 - The City of Delray Beach updates its policy against discrimination, harassment and bullying to include both "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression."

  76. 2013 - The City of West Palm Beach enacts a tax equity reimbursement policy to reimburse municipal employees insuring their domestic partners for the full amount of the additional federal income taxes which are assessed on employees whose domestic partners receive health insurance through their employers.

  77. 2013 - Florida Atlantic University offers a domestic partnership stipend to university employees and allows employees to use sick leave to care for their domestic partners.

  78. 2013 - The Palm Beach Town Council votes 4-1 to implement the full range of domestic partnership benefits for Town employees.

  79. 2013 - Palm Beach County enacts a tax equity reimbursement policy to reimburse municipal employees insuring their domestic partners for the full amount of the additional federal income taxes which are assessed on employees whose domestic partners receive health insurance through their employers.

  80. 2013 - The City of Boca Raton amends its personnel rules and regulations to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

  81. 2013 - The City of Boca Raton extends the jurisdiction of the Community Relations Board to include the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.

  82. 2013 - The City of Boca Raton extends the full range of domestic partnership benefits to its municipal employees. The benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, continuation of insurance coverage (identical to coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA), funeral leave, domestic violence leave, family sick leave and domestic partner leave (identical to coverage by the Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA).

  83. 2013 - The City of Palm Beach Gardens offers full domestic partnership health insurance benefits to its municipal employees.

  84. 2014 - The Clerk and Comptroller for Palm Beach County implements a tax equity reimbursement policy to reimburse employees insuring their domestic partners for the full amount of the additional federal income taxes which are assessed on employees whose domestic partners receive health insurance through their employers.

  85. 2014 - Lake Worth establishes a Domestic Partnership Registry.

  86. 2014 - Lake Worth implements a tax equity reimbursement policy to reimburse employees insuring their domestic partners for the full amount of the additional federal income taxes which are assessed on employees whose domestic partners receive health insurance through their employers.

  87. 2014 - The City of West Palm Beach enacts and Equal Benefits Ordinance requiring city contractors to provide the same family benefits to employees with domestic partners and same-sex spouses as they provided to employees whose marriages are recognized by the state of Florida.

  88. 2014 - The City of Boynton Beach amends its personnel policies to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

  89. 2014 - The City of Boynton Beach extends the full range of domestic partnership benefits to its municipal employees.

  90. 2014 - The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners unanimously votes to establish a policy stating that the County shall not do business with, or appropriate funds to, any public or private organization which practices discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or genetic information.

  91. 2014 - The Town of Lake Park updates its Equal Employment Policy to prohibit discrimination based on "gender identity or expression"

  92. 2015 - The Port of Palm Beach includes an LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination clause in their contract with Bahamas Paradise Cruiseline.

  93. 2015 - The Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County updates its nondiscrimination policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

  94. 2015 - The City of Boynton Beach enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive Civil Rights Ordinance.

  95. 2015 - The City of Riviera Beach amends its Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy to include both "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression."

  96. 2015 - The City of Greenacres enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive Civil Rights Ordinance.

  97. 2015 - The City of Delray Beach enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive Civil Rights Ordinance.

  98. 2015 - Florida Atlantic University amends Regulation 5.010, Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment, to include "gender identity and expression."

  99. 2015 - The Town of Lake Clarke Shores adopts an LGBTQ-inclusive resolution supporting freedom from discrimination for all individuals.

  100. 2015 - The Town of Haverhill adopts an LGBTQ-inclusive resolution supporting freedom from discrimination for all individuals.

  101. 2015 - The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners votes to vastly expand the definition of "places of public accommodation" in the Palm Beach County Ordinance for Equal Opportunity to Housing and Places of Public Accommodation.

  102. 2015 - The Village of Wellington enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive Civil Rights Ordinance.​

  103. 2015 - The West Palm Beach City Commission votes to vastly expand the definition of "public accommodations" in the West Palm Beach Equal Opportunity Ordinance.

  104. ​2015 - The School District of Palm Beach County replaces the phrase “personal life style (including sexual orientation)” with the phrases “gender identity and/or gender expression” and “sexual orientation” in the Discrimination and Harassment provision in the School District’s collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union.

  105. 2015 - The South Florida Water Management District announces that it prohibits transgender workers from being harassed and discriminated against based on both "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" even if they work in a jurisdiction that has no LGBTQ-inclusive rights laws.

  106. 2016 - The Town of Haverhill amends its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy to prohibit discrimination against Town employees based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression."

  107. 2016 - The Town of Haverhill amends its Anti-Harassment Policy to prohibit harassment against Town employees based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression."

  108. 2016 - The Lake Worth City Commission amends the city’s Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

  109. 2016 - The Lake Worth City Commission amends the city’s Merit Services policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
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  110. 2016 - The Lake Worth City Commission amends the city’s Procurement Code to ensure equal opportunity based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

  111. 2016 - The Town of Lake Clarke Shores amends its Anti-Harassment Policy to prohibit harassment against Town employees based on "gender identity or expression."

  112. 2016 - The City of West Palm Beach updates its health insurance policies to include transgender related care for municipal employees.

  113. 2016 - The City of West Palm Beach enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

  114. 2016 - The 15th Judicial Circuit updated its Civil Rights Complaint Procedure to specifically include complaints of discrimination based on "gender identity or expression"

  115. 2016 - The 15th Judicial Circuit updated its Code of Conduct for Non-Judicial Employees to prohibit discrimination based on "gender identity and expression."
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  116. 2017 - The City of Lake Worth enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.
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  117. 2017 - The City of Boynton Beach enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

  118. ​2017 - The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners amends the definition of “sexual orientation" in the County’s Equal Employment Ordinance from "male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality, by preference or practice" to "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality or asexuality, whether actual or perceived."

  119. 2017 - The City of Delray Beach enacts ban on conversion therapy for minors.

  120. 2017 - The City of Riviera Beach enacts ban on conversion therapy for minors.

  121. 2017 - The Village of Wellington enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.
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  122. 2017 - The City of Greenacres enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

  123. 2017 - The City of Boca Raton enacts a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

  124. 2017 - Palm Beach County becomes the first county in Florida – and the largest county in the United States – to enact a ban on conversion therapy on minors.


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