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| The Florida Feminist |
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| February 2025 |
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Florida is still under a 6-week extreme abortion ban!
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| President's Column |
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Dear Members and Friends,
This has been a disturbing and horrible month on the Federal level. Elon Musk is scary. However, many of the things this regime is trying to do are illegal and will end up in the Courts. I can’t believe all the Federal firings of our civil servants and the attacks on so many programs. Maybe some Trumpers are waking up. We are doing press releases on some of the worst orders and actions. They have sometimes been picked up by the news. I don’t want to dwell on the anti-democracy, anti-American, and fascist things coming down. We need to stay hopeful to move the pendulum a bit the other way. We need to focus on 3 or 4 things and not be sucked into the chaos. We will win some, lose a lot, but will never be silent.
There are plenty of things we can do.
First, is making our Chapters strong with more engaged members and actions. New members, existing members too want immediate actions they can take or contribute to. This means we need your help for the Chapters, e.g., bring a friend to a Chapter meeting, agree to lead an action. Hope leads to action and is a key way to counter fascism. Fascism wins if we are apathetic and quiet. I hope, like me, you don’t intend to be quiet and will get involved to take action.
Our strategy is to remain issue focused. The legislative session starts in March and goes into May. Committee meetings go from now through most of April. Please read and respond to action alerts for calls and emails. Calls are the most effective.
Our Tally Days will be March 17 through the 20th. The most important days to be there are Tuesday morning and Wednesday. If you can stay longer, great. I know it is costly to come to Tally; takes a lot of time too, but we have to be there to show we are not deterred We will be there when our big FRF (Floridians for Reproductive Freedom) coalition is there.
The FL NOW Annual Conference is coming May 2-4 with the theme: Feminists Fight Fascism. Registration is up at flnow.org .This is a FL NOW election year, so we more than ever need you there. We especially need Secretary and Treasurer nominees. We’re planning a great conference thanks to Judi Marraccini. If you would like to help her with workshops, please contact her. Soon, we will have more detailed information out about the conference.
The National NOW Conference is July 10-13 in Vegas. It is a hybrid conference (both in person and virtual). Flights are pretty cheap. Please register as soon as you can. At least come for July 12 and 13. This National NOW conference is an election conference, the President and Vice President seats are up for election. Your vote in this election to change the leadership of NOW is so important. Votes will be made in-person and online.
Sadly, membership dues do not pay for support of a Chapter. All Chapters including FL NOW need to fundraise. It is critical to our being a force in FL. We have several counties that need to revive Chapters, e.g., Tampa, Miami. Please donate to your Chapter and FL NOW. Sorry to ask for money, but all the Chapters need it.
Thank you for your continued engagement with your Chapter and FL NOW. I look forward to seeing you at our Conference in May.
Some actions you can do:
- Coordinate visits to legislators at their local offices between now and March. Use the Legislative Delegation one pager that we used for talking points. Pick one or two issues you’re passionate about. Make the meeting with the legislator or staff as personal as you can. Use stories.
- Come to Tally Days March 17-20, especially Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Use Plan C Stickers all over your area, e.g., public spaces, bathrooms—inside stall doors. Try schools—go to the bathroom in every stall. Put Plan C link on your website and get it out to all members. It has great information. You can order Plan C materials from there like the stickers.
- Volunteer for your Chapter Board so your Chapter has the capacity to do more things.
- Volunteer to do regular Social Media Posting for your Chapter to reach out to people—Instagram is best for younger people. Include Bluesky.
- FRF action for calling into legislators. I can you give you the contact.
- Partner with other organizations for collective actions. Have a coordinator for the priority organizations like LWV, FL Rising, ACLU, Abortion Access groups, Planned Parenthood…
- Immigration related Red Cards to distribute to landscapers, farm workers, restaurants, other low wage businesses. Have a campaign to get the Red Cards out. Have them for tabling.
Red Cards define the rights of immigrants and us, e.g., ICE cannot come in your house unless they have a warrant. Here is link for Red Cards: https://www.redcardorders.com/.
- Plan an action to promote that ‘The ERA is Law’. For more information, contact Kat .
- Engage with organizations that are collecting personal products (tampons) and contraceptives (condoms) for fundraising, collections, and distribution.
- Publicize what you’re doing. Write a press release for the Chapter President. Write Op Eds or Letters to the Editor (use AI—easy just tell it what you want to write or what stats you want).
- Coordinate with allies to do press conferences focused on a couple of things the legislature is doing (not yet because they are being slow filing bills right now) and from the Trump and his cronies. Call out Project 2025.
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| FL NOW State Conference - May 2nd - 4th / Speakers, Workshops & FL NOW Business @ The Florida Hotel Orlando FL |
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Florida NOW 2025 State Conference
Start: Friday, May 2, 2024 5:00 PM
End: Sunday May 4, 2024 1:00 PM
Host Contact Info: Florida NOW membership@flnow.org
We enthusiastically invite you to register for the 2025 FL NOW Annual State Conference.
We will be at The Florida Hotel, Orlando again this year,
The basic schedule is:
Friday evening: Happy Birthday FL NOW! 52 Years old and counting!
Saturday: Speakers and workshops, 9am to 5pm
Saturday evening: Dining, Entertainment and Socializing
Sunday: Election of FL NOW Board and FL NOW business
Register for the Early Bird Price at flnow.org
Please register at flnow.org, and consider adding $5.00 to cover the electronic payment fees.
Early Bird Registration $127 until March 15 2025
The registration charge starting March 16, 2025 for the conference is $139. which includes appetizers during Friday evening’s Birthday Party and lunch on Saturday.
If you prefer to pay by check, please email your registration info to Suzanne at flnowtreasurer@gmail.comand mail your check to: Florida NOW c/o West Volusia NOW,
PO BOX 1133, Deland FL 32721
If you send a check, you will be immediately registered upon receipt.
Saturday Only Registration Fee: $89. (Please follow instructions above)
RESERVE A ROOM by calling the reservations phone number at 407-859-1500 (the discounted room rate is $135/night until April 4). When calling to reserve a room, say "NOW-Florida Chapter"
DINNER WITH THE BOARD
Join the FL NOW State Board for Saturday night (May 3rd) dinner at Buca di Beppo in the mall, $50 / head, set menu (salad, pasta, entrée, dessert, unlimited soft drinks), alcohol is on your own. Please send a check by March 15, 2025 to Florida NOW c/o West Volusia NOW,
PO BOX 1133, Deland FL 32721.
Please include a note that this check is for Saturday night dinner.
If you need further information, do not hesitate to contact Judi Marraccini, 2025 FL NOW State Conference Chair.
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| Run for a Position on the Florida NOW Board! |
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Every 2 years, members of the Florida National Organization for Women (NOW) elect a new Board at the State Conference (the 2025 State Conference is May 2nd - May 4 in Orlando), with each member serving in a specific role that helps shape the direction of our organization. From President and Vice President to Treasurer, Secretary, and various committee chairs, each position brings unique responsibilities and opportunities to make a meaningful impact. We are seeking passionate candidates from all backgrounds—including diverse ages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, and experiences—to ensure our Board reflects the vibrant diversity of Florida. Help us make a difference in our communities and across Florida!
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| Florida is still under a 6-week extreme abortion ban! |
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People in ban states are still accessing abortion care. Learn more with the resources below.
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| Black History Month Recommended Reading List |
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Florida’s legislature has become a testing ground for authoritarian policies that erode fundamental freedoms and concentrate power in the hands of extremists. They have aggressively curtailed reproductive rights, imposing one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, despite widespread public opposition. They have dismantled LGBTQ+ protections, censoring discussions of gender and sexuality in schools and banning pride flags from public buildings. They have attacked our immigrant communities with draconian restrictions, criminalizing everyday life for undocumented residents. They have gutted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, silencing conversations on systemic racism and whitewashing history. They have criminalized poverty and passed laws meant to ban sleeping in public amid a national housing crisis and 18% increase in homelessness.
Even the right to peaceful protest has come under fire, with new laws designed to stifle dissent and criminalize activism. The legislature operates with impunity, ignoring the will of the people while serving the interests of the most extreme factions of their party. This is not just a conservative agenda—it is an authoritarian takeover, and if we do not fight back, our rights will continue to vanish.
We must respond with unwavering resolve. Join us for Florida NOW+’s 2025 Lobby Week in Tallahassee from March 17-20. This is our opportunity to confront these injustices head-on, advocate for our communities, and demand accountability from our elected officials.
Dates: March 17-20, 2025
Location: Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee
The Florida National Organization for Women+ is Florida’s oldest grassroots organization fighting for gender equality. Our 2025 Lobby Week is led by Legislative Director Kat Dusterhaus and Lobbyist Barbara DeVane. Get in touch if you have any questions, and let us know if we will see you there!
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| Read Progress Florida's Information Document On The Changes To Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives |
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| FLNOW Hosts: Simone Knego, Author, Podcaster, Life Coach |
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Finding the Extraordinary: A Conversation on Strength, Self-Compassion, and Possibility
Life’s challenges can make us question our strength, but even in the hardest moments, we are more capable than we realize. Join award-winning author and international speaker Simone Knego as she shares powerful insights on embracing your journey, being kinder to yourself, and recognizing the extraordinary within.
Simone will be joined by her daughter, Olivia Knego, for part of the conversation to explore how different generations experience self-doubt, resilience, and personal growth. Together, they’ll discuss the lessons we can learn from one another and how shifting our perspective can unlock new possibilities.
Because in the end, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about embracing The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You.
6:30 pm Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81918550463?pwd=g0ub8Tr6KFCvBbBeoKQdCW3UB4xGJV.1
Meeting ID: 819 1855 0463
Passcode: 227737
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| Attend in Person or Online |
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With Florida's 2025 Legislative Session quickly approaching, I want to make sure you have the latest updates on the fights ahead and how you can get involved.
That’s why we’re hosting two Legislative Session Previews—one online and one in-person—so you can join us in whatever way works best for you!
📅 Virtual Session Preview
📍 Online (Zoom)
🕒 Monday, February 17th, at 6:00pm
🔗 RSVP here: Link
📅 In-Person Session Preview
📍 Eatonville
🕒 Thursday, February 27th, at 5:30pm
🔗 RSVP here: Link
More event details are below. This is a critical time for our country and state, and we want you to be part of the conversation. We’ll cover key issues, what to expect this session, and how we can fight back together.
Hope to see you there.
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| Florida NOW Book Club |
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The FL NOW Book Club focuses on learning about Racial Justice. We meet once a month on the third Monday at 6:30 P.M.
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| February's Book Club Pick |
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An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. Mays
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| March's Book Club Pick |
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LatinoLand / Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority by Marie Ariana
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| New Article |
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| WLRN Public Media Features Florida NOW On The Flag Censorship Bill |
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| Statewide group denounces bill to ban flags representing 'political viewpoint' in Florida |
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The Florida National Organization for Women is vehemently objecting to a proposed state bill that would restrict the types of flags that can be displayed at government buildings and schools.
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| Black History Month |
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Black history has always been a radical force for change. It transforms liberation movements, offers guidance in the ongoing fight for justice, and reminds us of the power of community resistance. That’s why it has always been under attack—suppressed during Reconstruction, distorted in public narratives, and censored in classrooms today.
From the earliest battles against slavery to today’s struggles for racial, gender, and economic justice, Black history provides lessons that shape how we build a freer, more equitable future.
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| Education Is Under Attack! |
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The fight to preserve and teach Black history has always been one of resistance and resilience. For generations, despite ongoing efforts to distort or erase the truth, Black educators, families, and community leaders have safeguarded stories of struggle, strength, and liberation. These histories are vital—not just for Black communities but for anyone seeking a full and honest understanding of our world.
In Florida today, that dangerous pattern continues. Laws restricting discussions of systemic racism, Black history, and LGBTQ+ issues are part of a broader effort to control whose stories are told—and whose are erased. These efforts echo past attempts to whitewash the horrors of slavery, segregation, and racial violence in schools. By banning “divisive concepts,” officials seek to deny students the opportunity to learn or engage with the truth to better reflect on the ongoing fight for justice.
Yet, communities continue to resist. Parents, students, teachers, and advocates are finding creative ways to keep these stories alive—through independent educational programs, grassroots efforts, and public advocacy. Honoring Black history requires not just remembering the past, but fighting for the right to teach and learn it today. History is liberation, and we must protect it.
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| Black Feminist Leaders Making History |
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As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor the visionary Black feminist leaders who have shaped the fight for intersectional feminism, and gender liberation. Black women have always been at the forefront of movements for change, advocating for justice in ways that center the voices and experiences of those most marginalized.
Kimberlé Crenshaw, a legal scholar and civil rights advocate, coined the term intersectionality in 1989 to describe how overlapping identities—such as race, gender, and class—create unique experiences of discrimination. Her work transformed feminist thought and continues to guide social justice movements today.
Ida B. Wells, a fearless journalist, educator, and anti-lynching activist, used the power of the press to expose racial violence and demand accountability for horrific acts of white supremacist terror. Despite her groundbreaking work, Wells faced exclusion from prominent suffrage organizations led by white feminists who prioritized their own political gains over racial justice. Still, she persisted, founding groups like the Alpha Suffrage Club to ensure that Black women’s voices and struggles were not erased from the fight for justice.
Angela Davis, a revolutionary scholar and activist, has spent her life challenging systems of oppression, including capitalism, white supremacy, and the prison industrial complex. Her intersectional approach to justice reminds us that liberation requires dismantling multiple systems at once.
Audre Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” empowered generations through her writings, which urged us to embrace difference and use it as a source of strength. Meanwhile, bell hooks redefined feminism by placing Black women’s experiences at the center and calling for a movement rooted in love, community, and healing.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a legendary Black trans woman and elder in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, has spent decades advocating for incarcerated trans women, particularly Black and Brown trans women disproportionately impacted by the prison system. A veteran of the Stonewall Uprising and former executive director of the Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), Miss Major’s work reminds us that feminism must fully embrace trans women and uplift those most impacted by systemic violence.
These leaders—and so many others—have given us the tools to imagine and create a more just world. Honoring them means continuing their work, amplifying Black feminist voices, and advancing intersectional justice in every movement we build.
Feminism must be intersectional—or it’s not feminism at all.
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| Black History Month: Honoring Black Feminist Leaders |
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| Democracy Now! |
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Remembering bell hooks & Her Critique of "Imperialist White Supremacist Heteropatriarchy"
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We look at the life and legacy of trailblazing Black feminist scholar and activist bell hooks, who died at the age of 69 on Wednesday. We speak with her longtime colleague Beverly Guy-Sheftall, professor of women's studies at Spelman College, who remembers her as "a person who would sit with young people and community people and students and help them understand this world in which we live, which is full of all kinds of domination." Working in the tradition of intersectionality and Black radical feminism, hooks's critiques of "imperialist white supremacist heteropatriarchy" called attention to the interlocking systems of oppression in hopes of eradicating them, Guy-Sheftall says.
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About Florida NOW Member and President Candidate Guerdy Remy
Guerdy Remy is Haitian-American and came to the US at 5 years old, and grew up in NYC before moving to Seminole County in 2004. She states that, "both cultures are equally intersected in her because her family made sure that she knew about her Haitian culture, and she had all of her education in America."
She volunteered in the community prior to 2016 as a community service person, in places like, St. Stephen's Catholic Community as a Parish Nurse, Confirmation Teacher, Food Pantry, and community functions like the Soup Bowl. Guerdy was Co-Chair for Winter Springs High School's "Band of Gold" in Hospitality and the Concession areas. Especially for, "Friday Night Lights" and the inspiration from the students while watching our football team, and our band's amazing music.
After the 2016 election, she put all of her efforts into community activism and organizing, due to the injustices that our then administration had imposed on our most vulnerable, and disenfranchised communities.
"I felt that the administration was attempting to destroy, dehumanize and humiliate the very communities that were the fabric of our American Culture. The very impacted communities that represented, and resembled me and so many others."
She volunteered and advocated at Planned Parenthood and Organize Florida (Florida Rising), for Reproductive Rights, Justice, and Freedom, through Lobbying, Rallying, Storytelling, and Petitioning with these organizations in Tallahassee and Washington, DC.
Lobbying for and against bills pertaining to Immigration, Reproductive Justice and Bodily Autonomy, LGBTQIA, Racial/Criminal Justice, Rights and Equality, Medicare for All, Housing Inequalities, Veterans Wellness Services, Health and Mental care accessibility and affordability,
She was both employed and volunteered with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, in obtaining Petitions for Amendment 4 to assist with the returning citizens in obtaining their right to vote, and with voting registration efforts.
She's been a Case Manager for Florida State Medicaid, Medicare and HMO patients through a popular health insurance plan for the Central Florida Regions. However, in that position, she felt like a "Gate-Keeper" then a patient's advocate and decided that health care reform should be on a bigger platform like Medicare for All, due to the level of budget cuts in the ACA, and our state not expanding Medicaid and the amount of people with little to no insurance.
Thank you,
Guerdy Remy, she/her
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Black history is always being created and we never stop learning.
So with Black History Month upon us, there may be no better time to reflect on the timeless and seemingly endless contributions that Black people have bestowed upon these United States.
We’re continuing our dedication to embracing and uplifting Black culture as well as reflecting on our past and why we are who we are today. We hope you join in on celebrating Black history throughout this month, learning facts and unlearning false narratives.
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Here's a little-known fact about Black History Month.
Contrary to public opinion, February was selected as the month in which Black History would be celebrated, not because it is the shortest month of the year, but because it was specifically designed to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The more you know.
Happy Black History Month.
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| Our work wouldn't happen without your support. |
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Support our collective's work and show your feminism loud and proud with our Florida National Organization for Women Tshirt!
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| Feminist collection |
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| Florida NOW T-shirt |
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Relaxed Fit Cotton T-Shirt. Shipping in 6-8 days!
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| BECAUSE WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY IS EVERYDAY, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO |
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Join with other groups to celebrate our advances and continue to fight challenges to equality.
Highlight the essential and inseparable roles of decent work and gender equality.
Need to highlight pay gaps especially for women of color:
- All Women’s Equal Pay Day – March 12
- Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay Day – April 3
- LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day – June 13
- Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – July 9
- Moms’ Equal Pay Day – August 7
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Women’s Equal Pay Day – August 28
- Latina Equal Pay Day – October 3
- Native Women’s Equal Pay Day – November 21
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| Best regards, |
| FL NOW Membership Director |
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