Res No 031-22-15784Resolution No. 031-22-15784
A Resolution of the City of South Miami, Florida, opposing Florida Senate Bill 1834 and
Florida House Bill 1557; urging Governor DeSantis to veto the aforementioned Bill;
directing the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this Resolution; providing for severability;
and providing for an effective date.
WHEREAS, Senator Dennis Baxley introduced Senate Bill 1834 ("SB 1834 11
), and the House
Judiciary Committee introduced House Bill 1557 (IIHB 1557 11
), which passed the 2022 Florida Legislative
Session which prohibits school districts/personnel from instructing on, or encouraging classroom
discussion about, sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is
not age appropriate; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of South Miami (IICityll) recognizes its responsibility
to advise the Florida Governor of its position on these bills and their potential actions that may impact
City residents; and
WHEREAS, according to The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis
intervention organization for LGBTQ young people; IIS uicide is the second leading cause of death among
young people (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020), with LGBTQ youth being four times
more likely to seriously consider suicide, to make a plan for suicide, and to attempt suicide than their
peers. The Trevor Project's 2021 National Survey of LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that 19.0% of
LGBTQ youth ages 13-18 reported attempting suicide in the past year. Applying these rates to the
estimates of LGBTQ youth living in the U.S. results in an estimated 503,073 LGBTQ youth between the
ages of 13-18 who attempted suicide in the past year.lI; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission believes that by stifling classroom dialogue at any grade level,
HB 1557 and SB 1834 will lead to the marginalization of LGBTQ students and of students who are the
children of LGBTQ parents, and that marginalization will contribute to emotional and mental health
issues that could lead to suicide attempts by those students; and
WHEREAS, school districts already allow and encourage classroom discussions about sexual
orientation and gender identity for heteronormative students and parents, and that eliminating those
discussions would not be feasible, and yet allowing them to be inclusive of LGBTQ issues and people
would be in violation of the proposed laws; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission believes that the life of every child is precious enough to protect
by every means within its power; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission declare their strong opposition to SB 1834 and HB
1557, and any substitute or similar Senate or House bill that seeks to prohibit school districts/personnel
from instructing on, or encouraging classroom discussion about, sexual orientation or gender identity at
any grade level.
Page 1 of 2
Res. No. 03 1 -22 -1 5784
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,
FLORIDA, THAT :
Section 1 . Recitals. The above recitals are true and co rrect, and incorporate d herein by thi s
reference and are hereby adopted as th e legis l at ive and administrative find in gs ofthe City Commission.
Section 2. Opposition to Senate Bill 1834 and House Bill 1557. Th e City Commission h ere b y
expresses its stron g opposition to Senate Bill 1834 and Hou se Bi ll 1557.
Section 3. Urging Governor Ron DeSantis t o veto Senate Bill 1834, and House Bill 1557. The City
Commission hereby urge s Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to veto the above-refere nc ed bi ll s.
Section 4. Directions to the City Clerk. The City Cl erk is h ereby direc ted to d ist r i bute copies of
thi s Resolution to Governor Ron De Sa nti s and th e Miami-Dade County League of Cit i es.
Section 5. Severability. If an y sec ti o n, sentence, clause, or p hrase he r e in i s held to be invalid by
any court of competent juri sd icti on, th en said ho ldin g sh all in no way affect th e va lidity of the remaining
portion s ofth is Reso l ution .
Section 6. Effecti ve Date. Thi s Reso lu t ion shall become effecti ve immediately upo n its ado ption .
PASSED A ND ADOPT ED this 15th da y of March , 2022.
ATT EST :
CO MM ISSION VO TE : 3 -2
Mayor Phi l ip s: Yea
Comm is sion er Harri s: Yea
Commiss ion er Gil: Yea
Commissioner Corey : Nay
Commissioner Li eb m an: Nay
Page 2 of 2
Agenda Item No:3.
City Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: March 15, 2022
Submitted by: Samantha Fraga-Lopez
Submitting Department: City Manager
Item Type: Resolution
Agenda Section:
Subject:
A Resolution of the City of South Miami, Florida, opposing Florida Senate Bill 1834 and Florida House Bill 1557;
urging Governor DeSantis to veto the aforementioned Bill; directing the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this
Resolution; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. 3/5 (Mayor Philips)
Suggested Action:
Attachments:
LGBTQ Reso - clean copy.docx
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