Gay Issues May Rise in Governor's Race

Release Date

01/21/2014

Source

Written By: Scott Powers

This may be the year that gay political clout comes out of the closet in a Florida governor's race.

Gay activists and others sympathetic to their causes are eyeing the 2014 governor's race as an opening, with a Democratic candidate, Charlie Crist, who professes to support the call for equal rights for marriage and workplace anti-discrimination.

"The LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] community has just emerged, as both a political and economic force in politics," said Bob Poe, a longtime Democratic fundraiser from Orlando who is chairman of Crist's independent fundraising committee, Charlie Crist for Florida.

Crist, who did not support gay-rights causes when he was governor from 2006-10 and even signed the measure that put Florida's ban on gay marriage on the ballot, now is openly courting gay support. He offered his support for gay marriage in wide-ranging interview he gave last month to Watermark, a newspaper that markets to Florida's gay community.

And last week Crist attended a private fundraiser in Winter Park promoted as a chance to discuss his views on gay rights. Brad Grosberg, who co-hosted the event with Phil Kean, said Crist was warmly received.

...To read the full article, click here.

Gay Issues May Rise in Governor's Race

In the News

Past time for Scott to honor vow to act against LGBT discrimination -

Faith leaders call on Gov. Rick Scott to honor Pulse victims with executive order -

Faith leaders, LGBTQ community request action from Gov. Scott -

Orlando faith leaders call on Rick Scott to sign anti-discrimination order -

Orlando faith leaders call on Rick Scott to protect LGBTQ state employees -

Pulse survivor: Gov. Scott 'cold,' 'out of step with community' -

LGBTQ activists call for more protection from Scott -

Gay, black leaders speak about finding their place -

Pulse mom to Rick Scott: Prove LGBTQ hate has no place in Florida -

Activists, political leaders criticize Scott on LGBTQ issues -

Advocates call out Rick Scott for failing to sign LGBTQ anti-discrimination order after Pulse -

Fla. Dems, Equality Florida say Rick Scott ‘broke promise’ to protect LGBTQ employees -

LGBTQ activists say Rick Scott promised to ban discrimination and never delivered -

Democratic Lawmaker Says Florida Gov. Scott Used Zika, Hurricane as Excuses to Not Sign Promised LGBT Protections -

Frustration mounts over Gov. Scott's failure to sign order protecting LGBTQ public employees -

Equality Florida CEO recalls 1993 March on Washington -

Onslaught of anti-LGBT bills in 2017 has activists 'playing defense' -

Publix to insure legally married same-sex employee couples regardless of state laws -

Bill that would end discrimination against LGBT community in Florida introduced -

Florida Republican and Democratic Legislators Renew Attempt to Protect Against Gay Bias -