With the last day of the Florida legislature session on May 1, it is impossible for the anti-transgender bathroom HB 583 or its companion Senate bill to pass. What does this mean? Victory! While things were getting scary when HB 583 passed through its first two committees, it failed to even be scheduled to be heard at its third committee for all five more times the Judiciary Committee met. The companion Senate bill was scheduled for its first committee, but did not get voted upon that day and was not placed on the schedule for future meetings of that committee. We know that part of the reason these bills failed to be placed on the committee agendas was due to the loud outspoken disapproval of these bills! However, the fight for transgender rights does not stop here. For example, many counties and cities in Florida do not have anti-discrimination laws protecting gender identity and expression. In these areas, a transgender person not only may be unable to use the restroom most appropriate to them, but may be discriminated against in the classroom, workplace, or housing. So, thank you for letting the Florida legislators know this bill is unacceptable, but keep fighting for greater legal protections and rights for transgender people everywhere!