Drag queens and transgender activists packed a Florida Senate committee hearing on Tuesday to voice their opposition to a proposal that would prohibit state agencies from spending funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or officers, as well as restrict them from applying for federal healthcare-related DEI grants.
The Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing, chaired by Republican Florida state Sen. Randy Fine, included public commentary on various legislative items, but the turnout was especially large for SB 1710, which aims to strip DEI funding in Florida.
Fine allotted only 30 seconds per speaker for public commentary.
“Hi, Randy, I believe you know me. I’m Erica P.C.,” one speaker, a drag performer dressed in a blonde wig, a black-and-white dress, a red purse, and makeup, said.
“I have no idea who you are,” Fine replied curtly.
“Erica P.C.? Is that your legal name? Is P.C. your legal name? You have to put it in here,” Fine asked, referencing the speaker’s public comment information card. The speaker nodded.
“Okay, Erica P.C., you are recognized,” Fine said, giving the go-ahead.
“I am here from Tampa, Florida, here to school you again,” the speaker began to say, but Fine quickly cut the activist off.
“Alright, you’re done. Next,” the Republican lawmaker abruptly ended the speaker’s time.
“We’ve got a lot to do and no time for nonsense,” Fine explained to the crowd, as tensions rose during the hearing.
Another activist, India Miller, took the floor next.
“My name is India Miller. I won’t tell you my pronouns because I don’t want to be insulted,” Miller began.
Miller, a healthcare chief operating officer, then expressed concerns about the bill, arguing that stripping DEI would make their company less competitive globally.
“Your name is?”
PERSON: “India X Miller. I won’t tell you my pronouns because I don’t want to be insulted.”
[…]
“My pronouns are she, her and diva.” pic.twitter.com/JpswfIA1Rk
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 19, 2025
“We are not going to be able to compete globally if we don’t prepare people for the reality that people like us exist out there. If this is about discrimination, then say that: ‘I don’t like trans people. I think they are mentally ill.’ Let people vote on what you’re really saying,” Miller said, addressing the committee.
“Just be authentic. And my pronouns are she, her, and diva,” Miller concluded.
Another speaker, Lilith Black, spoke about the importance of DEI initiatives in the medical field.
“I’m speaking out against this bill because of my extensive experience in the medical field. I have seen how DEI initiatives directly affect both patient and worker lives. DEI initiatives improve worker longevity, improve upward mobility.”
“They are not just providing a space… pic.twitter.com/FVxifWWtHf
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 19, 2025
“I have seen how DEI initiatives directly affect both patient and worker lives,” Black said. “DEI initiatives improve worker longevity, improve upward mobility.”
“They are not just providing a space for people to get jobs, but for people to survive. DEI initiatives are vital to people like my sister, who was born with sickle cell and would not have had the resources to make it past being a baby if we did not already have some of these programs in place,” the speaker continued.
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“We are not just talking about jobs, we’re talking about lives, we’re talking about healthcare, we are talking about the future of our country,” Black concluded.
Despite some of the passionate opposition, the committee voted 6-2 in favor of the bill on Tuesday. SB 1710 now moves on to the Committee on Education Postsecondary in the Florida Senate.
