O C Food & Beverage, LLC v. Orange County, Florida (Fifth District Court of Appeal, Florida, 2021)

The Orange County, Florida Human Rights Ordinance provides broader anti-discrimination protections than the State’s Human Rights Law, including prohibitions on sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. At issue in this case is whether the State law preempts these broader protections.  ADL joined a brief asserting that the Florida Constitution and long-standing State Supreme Court rulings permit county and municipal governments to adopt more comprehensive anti-discrimination laws. Furthermore, the Orange County and numerous other local ordinances protect vulnerable Floridians, not covered under the State law, from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, which continues to be a serious issue in the State.