For Immediate Release: January 5, 2026    President Julie Kent, Florida NOW,

Orlando, FL — The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) condemns the Trump administration’s violent escalation in Venezuela, which has intensified instability, deepened humanitarian suffering, and placed women, children, and marginalized communities at great risk. Reports from international observers, human rights organizations, and regional partners describe a rapidly deteriorating situation marked by civilian harm, forced displacement, and the breakdown of essential services.

The actions of the Trump regime echo our disastrous Vietnam War. Congress has not declared war, but Trump has. Trump, in the name of the United States, deposed the leader of Venezuela. The war and kidnapping are all illegal under U.S. and International law. This attack was not about drugs. The goal of all the operations against Venezuela is to control their oil.

“Escalating violence is a catastrophe for women and families who are already living through political repression, economic collapse, and widespread insecurity,” said Julie Kent, President of FL NOW. “Women in Venezuela are facing hunger, medical shortages, gender‑based violence, and the collapse of democratic institutions. Any U.S. action that worsens these conditions is unacceptable. FL NOW denounces all war.”

Women and Children Bear the Greatest Burden

FL NOW emphasizes that women and children are disproportionately harmed in conflict zones. In Venezuela, this includes:

• Increased gender‑based violence and exploitation
• Severe shortages of maternal health care and contraception
• Rising child malnutrition and preventable deaths
• Dangerous migration routes for families fleeing violence

Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that escalatory actions — including militarized interventions, sanctions that restrict access to food and medicine, and support for armed confrontations — worsen these conditions.

FL NOW Calls for a Feminist, Humanitarian Approach

FL NOW urges the United States government to:

1. Cease all actions that escalate violence.
2. Support diplomatic, multilateral solutions grounded in international law and regional cooperation.
3. Prioritize human rights, democratic processes, and the safety of all members of society.
4. Leave Venezuelan resources, infrastructure, and organizations in the hands of the Venezuelan people.
5. Ensure that U.S. policy does not endanger women, LGBTQ+ people, or marginalized communities who are already targeted by state and non‑state actors.
6. Expand humanitarian access, including food, medicine, reproductive health care, and protections for women and girls.

Solidarity With Venezuelan Women

FL NOW stands in solidarity with Venezuelan women and children, human rights defenders, and community organizers who continue to advocate for democracy, bodily autonomy, and safety despite immense danger.

“We will not tolerate starting a war, kidnapping another country’s leader, or taking over a nation — Trump said he will “run Venezuela” and that Cuba may be next. We expect Congress to act decisively against this aggressive imperialism, colonialism,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “Women are often the first to suffer from political violence and the least heard in peace negotiations. We call on the United States to prioritize diplomacy over escalation, immediately cease attacks on Venezuela, release the Venezuelan President and his wife, and ensure the voices of Venezuelan women are at the center of any future steps forward.”

Members of Congress have warned that if Trump launched an unauthorized attack on Venezuela, they would move to invoke War Powers. Public pressure right now is critical to force Congress to act and to stop this escalation before it spirals into a full-scale war.

Tell your members of Congress to oppose war in Venezuela repeatedly! U.S. Capitol switchboard: 202 224-3121.

About Florida NOW

The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is the state’s largest feminist advocacy organization, dedicated to advancing gender justice, racial equity, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and the safety and dignity of all women and families.

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org

president@flnow.org 

For Immediate Release 12.26.25

Orlando, FL — The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is sounding the alarm about Project 2026, a rapidly developing policy agenda backed by Trump‑aligned lawmakers and national operatives seeking to reshape Florida’s laws on reproductive freedom, gender equality, and civil rights. While national attention has focused on Project 2025, Florida leaders are quietly advancing a state‑level version designed to accelerate rollbacks on women’s rights and LGBTQ+ protections.

Project 2026 outlines a sweeping plan to further restrict abortion access, limit access to contraception, weaken Title IX‑style protections in Florida schools, and expand state surveillance over reproductive‑health data. The agenda also includes proposals to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, restrict gender‑affirming care, and centralize state power over local governments that attempt to protect vulnerable communities.

“Florida women are already living under some of the most extreme reproductive restrictions in the country,” said Julie Kent, President of Florida NOW. “Project 2026 is a blueprint for taking those restrictions even further — criminalizing providers, limiting contraception, and undermining the privacy of every person who can become pregnant. This is not about safety or health. It is about control.”

Project 2026 also proposes expanding the state’s authority to investigate pregnancy outcomes, a move reproductive‑rights experts warn could lead to criminalization of miscarriages, pregnancy complications, and self‑managed abortion. These policies would disproportionately harm Black and Latina women, LGBTQ+ Floridians, low‑income families, and rural communities with limited access to healthcare.

“Florida NOW rejects any agenda that seeks to police bodies, silence communities, or erase decades of progress,” Debbie Deland, VP FL said. “We will not allow Florida to become a testing ground for extremist policies that undermine equality and threaten the safety and dignity of women and girls. The ‘personhood’ bill being considered is an outrageous bill that makes a fertilized egg a human being. It further threatens abortion access (allows a total ban of abortion), criminalizes providers, criminalizes pregnancy outcomes, risks IVF and fertility care, risks restrictions on contraception, means surveillance and loss of privacy, treatment of a pregnant woman maybe delayed or denied, life of the mother may not take priority and a lot more negative impact. This bill is absolutely devastating for women’s rights.”

FL NOW urges Floridians to stay informed, mobilize locally, and demand that lawmakers reject Project 2026, related bills, and any attempt to restrict reproductive freedom, weaken civil rights protections, or impose ideological control over Florida families.

Florida NOW will continue to monitor legislative developments and mobilize statewide to defend the rights of women and girls across Florida.

Media Contact: Florida National Organization for Women: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, vp@flnow.org, 407 234-6408

FL NOW Condemms Trump Misogynist Attacks on Women

For Immediate Release: November 25, 2025

 President Julie Kent, Florida.   president@flnow.org

Orlando, FL – The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) strongly condemns the continued misogynist and sexist words and actions of Donald Trump, whose behavior and policies have systematically undermined women’s rights, silenced female voices, and emboldened harassment across the nation.

On November 20, 2025, Trump told a female reporter aboard Air Force One to “Quiet. Quiet, piggy,” when she attempted to ask a question. This latest insult is part of a long pattern of degrading language directed at women, including calling female journalists “nasty” and “horrible,” and the infamous Access Hollywood tape where he bragged about sexually assaulting women.

“These are not isolated remarks—they are part of a regime that normalizes misogyny and strips away protections for women,” said Julie Kent, President of FL NOW. “From dismantling Title X family planning services to weakening workplace protections, Trump’s administration has consistently attacked women’s rights and emboldened those who seek to silence us.”

Pattern of Harm

• Sexist Insults: Publicly degrading female reporters and professionals.
• Policy Rollbacks: Restricting reproductive healthcare, weakening anti-discrimination enforcement, and freezing funding for violence prevention programs.
• Firing so many women particularly women of color!
• Cultural Impact: Trump’s rhetoric has fueled a surge in online misogyny, with phrases like “Get back in the kitchen” and “Your body, my choice” spreading thousands of times daily after his election victories.

“The war on DEI has been outrageous setting us back years in our fight for equality in the Constitution, economically, and for reproductive health. DEI is a strength of the US. We are diverse nation, not a Christian National country,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “The misogyny and sexism from our leaders unleash more violence against women. Our current level of violence against women is horrifying: 1 in 4 experience sexual harassment/assault in their lifetimes and 1 in 4 have been the victim of domestic abuse. Rather than working to reduce violence against we have a dictator and his supporters that stoke violence against women. FL NOW stands with women!”Call to Action

FL NOW calls on Floridians to:

• Demand accountability from leaders who normalize misogyny. Contact the leaders via email or social media.
• Support women journalists, activists, and survivors whose voices are being silenced. Let them know.
• Mobilize for equality by joining coalitions that resist attacks on reproductive freedom, workplace justice, and violence prevention.
• About Florida NOW Florida NOW is the state’s largest feminist organization, dedicated to advancing women’s rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and economic empowerment. We mobilize coalitions across Florida to resist systemic attacks and build a future rooted in equity and justice.
• Media Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, vp@flnow.org, 407 234-6408

FL NOW Donates to Florida Food Bank to Support Families Impacted by Shutdown

For Imediate Release November 17, 2025

Orlando, FL — The Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women (FL NOW) announced a donation to the statewide Florida Food Bank, Second Harvest. Although an activist organization, FL NOW reinforced its commitment to supporting families and communities across the state during a time of heightened need.

The recent government shutdown, although over, has left thousands of Floridians struggling, with federal employees working without pay and SNAP recipients turning to food banks for assistance. FL NOW’s donation is part of broader coalitions’ efforts to ensure that women, children, veterans, and vulnerable communities are not left behind.

“This donation is more than charity—it is solidarity,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW. “When government fails to meet the needs of its people, community organizations must step forward. We are proud to support this Florida Food Bank’s critical work in feeding families and sustaining hope.”

Florida Food Banks have reported a surge in demand for services, with food insecurity rising sharply during the shutdown and continuing now. Funding for food banks had already been severely cut the Trump regime prior to the shutdown.

This action underscores FL NOW’s mission to address systemic inequities and mobilize for justice. By supporting this statewide FL Food Bank, FL NOW is not only adding a little to meeting immediate needs but also amplifying the call for long-term solutions to poverty, healthcare access, and economic justice.

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2025

 President Julie Kent, Florida NOW, president@flnow.org

 Taxpayer-funded Florida Pregnancy Care Network puts pregnant Floridians in medical danger

Floridians for Reproductive Freedom (FRF) Medical Alert Release

New exposé reveals life-threatening protocols 

TALLAHASSEE – Networks funding and overseeing anti-abortion centers, sometimes called “crisis pregnancy centers,” are advising their locations to “not diagnose or offer follow up care to patients they suspect to have an ectopic pregnancy or a pregnancy complication,” new reporting reveals. Advocates have long warned about the unethical practices of these centers, namely the Florida Pregnancy Care Network, which receives $29.5 million of state taxpayer money each year to operate around 93 locations. These centers are non-medical, unregulated health clinics. They far outnumber regulated reproductive health clinics.
A memo released by Reproductive Health and Freedom Watch details findings that assert the centers “appear to prioritize potential legal risk, discouraging diagnosis or follow-up care to minimize their legal exposure, even in potentially life-threatening cases.”

Staci Tanouye, MD, FACOG described the use of taxpayer money on these centers as “highly concerning,” going on to affirm, “Patients seeking pregnancy confirmation deserve compassionate, honest, and evidence-based counseling from a trained health care professional regardless of their ultimate decision to continue the pregnancy, explore adoption, or end the pregnancy.”

Anti-abortion centers use deceptive tactics to lure people in who are seeking pregnancy tests, STD testing, and other sexual health resources. Once inside, they’re met by individuals who are not medically trained and have no safety standards, who may jeopardize medical privacy, and will share dangerous disinformation about abortion and contraception.

Senator Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee) and Representative Kelly Skidmore (D-Delray Beach) have filed legislation (SB 242, HB 6001) that would repeal the Florida Pregnancy Care Network and terminate the annual $29.5 million contract paid for with taxpayer money.
“Anti-abortion centers, which use scare tactics and disinformation to pressure people into giving birth, pose a serious threat to reproductive health care across the country,” said Sawyeh Esmaili, Senior Counsel, Reproductive Rights and Health at the National Women’s Law Center. “Floridians already must navigate a cruel near-total abortion ban in a state that still hasn’t expanded Medicaid, and federal cuts will make accessing basic reproductive health care even more challenging. This investigation further emphasizes that – despite their claims – anti-abortion centers are not providing health care to pregnant people and cannot be trusted to provide honest, legitimate care to people in need. We strongly urge pregnant Floridians to avoid these fraudulent centers and call on the Florida Legislature to stop sending them millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.”

“Institutions in the Florida Pregnancy Care Network often conceal their religious motives in order to ensnare Floridians into giving birth against their will. It is extremely disturbing that our taxpayer dollars are enabling centers that not only lie to patients, but also risk the health and safety of Floridians to advance an extremist agenda. This is a blatant violation of the separation of church and state. Pregnant people deserve care from honest, trained professionals who put the patient’s health and well-being first,” said Nicole McCurdy from Catholics for Choice.

In multiple instances, these centers even advertise on their websites the importance of going in-person to screen for an ectopic pregnancy, yet none of their staff or volunteers are qualified to diagnose, treat, or discuss the condition.

Devon Graham, organizer with the Floridians for Reproductive Freedom Coalition stated, “In May of 2024, Florida Republican Congresswoman Kat Cammack faced a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, further complicated by Florida’s near-total abortion ban. What if she had gone to one of these centers for an ultrasound, like Sira in Gainesville who advertises ‘private and professional pregnancy medical care,’ including ultrasounds? Would they have missed or even lied to her about the diagnosis, delaying emergency care even longer?” 

Despite centers advertising ultrasounds, they are being instructed they should not diagnose, follow up, or assume responsibility. This presents an extreme danger for patients, especially those who may have an ectopic pregnancy, which is the case for 1-2% of all pregnancies.

This is outrageous disregard for pregnant people supported by state funds with no regulation of these ‘health centers’,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW.

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2025

 President Julie Kent, Florida NOW  president@flnow.org

 FL NOW Objects to Florida’s Adoption of Heritage Foundation Curriculum Due to Over Politicization of Public Education

Orlando, FL — Advocacy groups and education leaders across Florida are raising strong objections to the state’s adoption of the Heritage Foundation’s “Phoenix Declaration” curriculum, warning that it risks politicizing classrooms and undermining inclusive, evidence-based education.

The Heritage Foundation, architect of Project 2025, has promoted the Phoenix Declaration as a framework for teaching “objective truth” and “traditional American values.” Florida’s Education Commissioner has announced that textbook reviews will now be guided by these principles.

“Florida’s classrooms should empower students to think critically, not serve as vehicles for partisan agendas,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW. “This curriculum narrows the lens of history and culture, and in doing so, it fails our students.” Teaching with a focus on “traditional” prepares students for the world as it was, not the world they are entering.

The curriculum:

• Imposes ideology under the guise of neutrality – While claiming to oppose indoctrination, the declaration embeds a patriarchal, racist worldview into classrooms.
• Marginalizes diverse perspectives – By centering Western and Judeo-Christian heritage, the curriculum will erase contributions from other cultures and communities. Current curriculums already teach a white-washed, over-glorified American history.
• Undermines public education – Its emphasis on “parental choice” and funding portability threatens to divert resources away from public schools. Failing to mix children with different backgrounds and experiences, make all Floridian children less prepared for the challenges to come.
• Politicizes curriculum review – Scholarly consensus will be replaced by ideological preferences in textbook approval.

“FL NOW emphasizes that Florida’s education system should focus on resources, staffing, and equitable access rather than adopting pledges from outside think tanks. We call on lawmakers and education officials to prioritize inclusive, evidence-based teaching that reflects the diversity of Florida’s communities,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “As demonstrated by the removal of all DEI programs, the purging of Black Studies, Women Studies, Gender Studies, the adoption of The Heritage Foundation curriculum is frightening for the quality of our children’s education especially as it relates to non-white histories and injustices. It also means the lack of representation of people of color in all courses.”

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org

For Immediate Release: October 10, 2025

President Julie Kent, Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) president@flnow.org