Written by Kaitlyn Kirk / Communications@flnow.org
This past week, the Florida NOW board and members attended the 2026 NOW conference in D.C. Here are some of the business day highlights.
We had 24 total resolutions on the floor on Sunday. We got through 15. Access them all through the membership side of the national website. The collective threw out one resolution from the 2026 consent agenda, which is the leftover resolutions from last year.
The consent agenda resolutions that passed were (#3 thrown out):
- RECOGNIZING THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IN CONGRESS
- FIGHT AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY
- LONG-TERM FAMILY CAREGIVING
5. NOW Stands for All Members of the LGBTQIA+
6. An Intersectional Feminist Response to the Big Brutal Bill (Big Beautiful Bill)
7. Resolution in Opposition to War and Its Disproportionate Impact on Women, Children, and Other Marginalized People
8. Resolution to Demand Action to Support Survivors of Epstein Trafficking List and Other Predators
The resolution that was thrown out was one in support of identity verification to access adult content online. I spoke and motioned to throw out the bill, stating that I appreciate and empathize with the intention, but have greater concerns about the consequences and the implementation of obtaining such sensitive data. I also brought up that Republicans are calling just about everything porn right now. Books are being banned left and right. Republicans are coming for abortion pills accessed by the internt too. It would be devastating if Florida ID blocked Plancpills.org. We need more accessible information, not Republican-controlled internet censorship and security risks. I briefly mentioned my childhood as a queer kid in rural Idaho with unsupportive parents, and the importance of internet access to kids in difficult homes. Many other people got up to speak. I was glad to see the collective understanding and engaging with the nuance of this topic and others. The surveillance state is no joke!
The collective also voted in an amendment to update some of the language on resolution 8, making it stronger and more accurate.
Then we discussed and voted on bylaw changes. There was one change that passed. Unfortunately the one we wanted did not pass. Florida proposed a bylaw change on the requirement around district candidates. We have had two empty seats on the national board for years because we don’t allow two people from the same state. I spoke for this change because of the need for southern representation on our national board, regardless if they are all from Florida, saying “you can’t beat fascism without the south”. The other 2 southern chapters have not produced a candidate and are very very small as it is. Florida is massive and has a diversity in people and thought. This was voted down and some people (from blue states nonetheless) got to the microphone to call us “lazy” and to say we needed to “work harder” to find more people outside of our state. That was completely insensitive and uncalled for. That is that blue state elitelist I cannot stand. We work our asses off down here and feel the brunt of everything. We are happy to support any candidates. We want southern representation on our national board.
Then we went to our new resolutions. 17 new resolutions were up this year. We only got through 7 of them.
Passed 1. RESOLUTION ON REMOVAL OF TRUMP FROM OFFICE
Passed 2. EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT RESOLUTION: CONGRESS MUST ACT IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS
Passed 3. CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS RESOLUTION
Passed 4. RESOLUTION FOR WORKER ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPOSING THE DE-PROFESSIONALIZATION OF WOMEN’S OCCUPATIONS
Passed 5. RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE BANNING OF BOOKS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
Passed 6. RESOLUTION DEMANDING UNITED STATES RATIFICATION OF THE EQUAL REMUNERATION CONVENTION
Passed 7. RESOLUTION: THE NEW GENERATION OF NOW
- RESOLUTION FOR LESBIAN ONLY SPACES
9. RESOLUTION: SINGLE SEX PRISONS
10. Resolution: Gaza: Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid Obstruction, Protection of Women & Children
11. CONDEMNING DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE TOWARD WOMEN
12. ALLOCATION OF REBATES TO QUALIFYING CHAPTERS
13. National Organization for Women to Incorporate the Slogan “BELIEVE HER”
14. Resolution: Assess and Inform on 2 Models for Prostitution Reform
15. Resolution: Communicate Our Key Positions and Move to a More Transformative Feminism
16. RESOLUTION “YOU GUYS” AND OTHER GENDERED TERMINOLOGY WHEN ADDRESSING GROUPS
- Transgender Women in Sports
The highlighted resolutions will be referred to the national board and brought back next year to be debated and voted on.
I was disturbed to see what I believe were three transphobic resolutions brought forward. We only started on the first one’s discussion when we ran out of time. I felt a bit better seeing the pushback and discussion for what I would call the most undercover of the transphobic resolutions. I was absolutely appalled by the “single sex prisons” resolution…. Let’s make sure these don’t pass next year.
Debbie, Alex, myself, and others helped put together 5 of the resolutions:
Passed 5. RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE BANNING OF BOOKS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
- Resolution: Gaza: Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid Obstruction, Protection of Women & Children
14. Resolution: Assess and Inform on 2 Models for Prostitution Reform
15. Resolution: Communicate Our Key Positions and Move to a More Transformative Feminism
17. Transgender Women in Sports
The youth resolution, created by Bell Pastore and other young feminists, was at first tabled. This was obviously upsetting and sent a message to the young feminists in the room. Thankfully, someone had a change of heart and asked to change their vote. The vote was redone and enough people changed their vote to pass the resolution supporting young feminists.
We started discussion on #8 but ran out of time to vote on the resolution.
