The ACLU of Florida, the state affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), was chartered in 1965 and operates from its Miami headquarters, with additional offices in Pensacola and Tallahassee. The ACLU of Florida employs 33 staff members across four locations. The organization claims more than 180,000 members and supporters in the state of Florida and focuses on civil liberties as well as left-leaning policies and causes such as “equity and inclusion.” ¹

Issues and Cases

Issues the ACLU of Florida focuses on include criminal justice policy, free speech, “gender equity and reproductive freedom,” “immigrants’ justice,” “LGBTQ+ rights,” police practices, privacy, “racial justice,” religious liberty, student and youth rights, and voting rights. ²

The ACLU of Florida has participated in several lawsuits advancing left-wing causes, including challenges to restrictions on discussions of race and gender in education, transgender healthcare access, and free speech protections for racial justice advocates. ³

In Pernell v. Florida Board of Governors filed August 2022, the ACLU of Florida joined educators and students in suing over Florida’s “Stop W.O.K.E. Act.” The suit claimed the law violates First Amendment rights by censoring academic discourse on “social justice” topics. ^{4  5}

Keohane v. Dixon filed December 2024 contested the Florida Department of Corrections’ revocation of hormone therapy and pro-transgender policies for inmates claiming gender dysphoria. ^{6  7}

In Tray v. Florida State Board of Education filed June 2025, parents represented by the ACLU challenged HB 1069’s restrictions on school library books and curricula addressing sexual orientation and gender identity, alleging First Amendment infringements. ^{8  9}

Florida Bar v. Girley filed April 2025 defended an attorney sanctioned for criticisms broadcast on the radio about a judge’s reversal of a racial discrimination verdict, positioning the case as a safeguard for speech on judicial bias in civil rights matters. ^{10  11  3}

The ACLU of Florida supported the pro-abortion state ballot initiative Amendment 4, which would have permitted abortions up to around 24 weeks without restrictions, and beyond that if deemed necessary by a healthcare provider. The group partnered with the pro-abortion Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) campaign, filing lawsuits to challenge state opposition to the measure. ^{12  13  14}

On immigration, the organization supports policies opposing mass detention and deportation, condemning state laws that increase penalties for illegal immigrants and divert funds to enforcement. ^{15  16}

Financials

In 2024, the ACLU of Florida reported revenues of $3,253,276. Contributions accounted for $2,921,499, or 89.8 percent of total revenue. Investment income added $331,772, or 10.2 percent. Expenses reached $2,826,262, yielding a net income of $427,014. Notable expenses included other salaries and wages of $1,141,885, or 40.4 percent of total expenses. Total assets stood at $9,669,360, with liabilities of $605,661, resulting in net assets of $9,063,699. ¹⁷

People

Tiffani Lennon is the executive director of the ACLU of Florida. She was appointed in September 2022 and brought a background in civil rights advocacy from roles like leading the Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP). ¹⁸

In May 2024, Bacardi Jackson was named executive director of the ACLU of Florida. With over 25 years as a trial attorney, she previously directed advocacy at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and practiced law at firms including King and Spalding. She holds degrees from Stanford University and Yale University. ^{19  20}

1. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “About Us.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/about/about-us/. 
2. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “Issues.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/issues/#all-content. 
3. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “All Cases.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/cases/. 
4. Common Dreams. “‘Important Victory’ for Florida Higher Ed: Court Upholds Block on DeSantis Censorship Law.” July 18, 2024. https://www.commondreams.org/news/stop-woke-act-florida-higher-education. 
5. NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “Judge Blocks Florida’s ‘Stop W.O.K.E.’ Censorship Bill From Taking Effect in Higher Education.” November 17, 2022. https://www.naacpldf.org/press-release/judge-blocks-floridas-stop-w-o-k-e-censorship-bill-from-taking-effect-in-higher-education/. 
6. ACLU (National). “Florida Judge Allows State Prison Officials to Withhold Medical Care for Transgender Incarcerated People.” December 30, 2024. https://www.aclu.org/news/prisoners-rights/florida-judge-allows-state-prison-officials-to-withhold-medical-care-for-transgender-incarcerated-people. 
7. ACLU of Florida. “ACLU Files Amended Complaint to Challenge Florida Department of Corrections Withholding of Health Care for Transgender People.” March 13, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/en/press-releases/aclu-files-amended-complaint-challenge-florida-department-corrections-withholding-health. 
8. Florida Phoenix. “Parents sue Florida Board of Education over book ban policy.” June 6, 2024. https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/06/06/parents-sue-florida-board-of-education-over-book-ban-policy/. 
9. Southern Poverty Law Center. “Nancy Tray, et al. v. Florida State Board of Education, et al.” January 16, 2025. https://www.splcenter.org/seeking-justice/case-docket/nancy-tray-et-al-v-florida-state-board-education-et-al. 
10. WFTV. “Orlando attorney suspended 30 days for questioning a trial judge’s integrity, officials say.” July 8, 2025. https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orlando-attorney-suspended-30-days-questioning-trial-judges-integrity-officials-say/5Q5G4XJ6T5G5H2P3K6M7N8O9P0Q1R2S3/. 
11. ALABnews. “Florida Supreme Court Suspends Brooke and Jerry Girley Over Public Statements on Judicial Ruling.” July 9, 2025. https://alabnews.com/florida-supreme-court-suspends-brooke-and-jerry-girley-over-public-statements-on-judicial-ruling/. 
12. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “Florida’s Ballot Amendment 4 – ‘Limiting Government Interference with Abortion.'” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/floridas-ballot-amendment-4-limiting-government-interference-abortion/. 
13. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “Amendment Limiting Government Interference with Abortion Will Be on Ballot in November.” April 1, 2024. https://www.aclufl.org/press-releases/amendment-limiting-government-interference-abortion-will-be-ballot-november/. 
14. Floridians Protecting Freedom. “Put Abortion on the Ballot!” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://floridiansprotectingfreedom.com. 
15. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “ACLU Florida Condemns Gov. DeSantis Signing Cruel Anti-Immigrant Bills into Law.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/press-releases/aclu-florida-condemns-gov-desantis-signing-cruel-anti-immigrant-bills-law/. 
16. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “Immigrants’ Rights Advocacy.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/en/issues/immigrants-justice/. 
17. ProPublica. “American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed September 28, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/590883831. 
18. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “A Warm Hello from the New Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/news/warm-hello-new-executive-director-aclu-florida/. 
19. American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “Bacardi Jackson.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.aclufl.org/bios/bacardi-jackson/. 
20. LinkedIn. “Bacardi Jackson.” Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bacardijackson/.