Jacob Ogles
Could upset angry LGBTQ voters turn the electoral future of Florida around? A new poll published by Equality Florida shows LGBTQ individuals and allies anxious to act up over persecuting policies.
About 77% of those polled believe Florida’s elected officials actively took away rights of LGBTQ Floridians, and a similar percentage hold an unfavorable view of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“The data confirms what we are hearing across the state: pro-equality voters are deeply concerned about Gov. DeSantis’ assaults on civil liberties and his censorship agenda,” said Equality Florida Press Secretary Brandon Wolf.
“And they are determined to have their voices heard at the ballot box. The stakes are as high as ever. Our civil liberties, the progress we’ve won, and our very democracy are on the line. It is imperative that Floridians use the power of their votes to hold Gov. DeSantis and his right-wing allies accountable for the hate and bigotry they have unleashed on our state.”
The poll, conducted July 5-12 by Pathfinder Opinion Research, was conducted for Equality Florida and GLAAD, a national organization focused on LGBTQ representation in media.
It sampled voters who identify as LGBTQ or who self-identify as allies. UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates about 4.6% of Florida’s population identifies as LGBTQ, and a high percentage of that population, around 24%, have families.
The poll measured public opinion of a controversial parental rights law dubbed by Equality Florida and other critics as the “don’t say gay/trans” law, and found 71% of those surveyed believe the bill was designed to attack LGBTQ people. About 70% of those polled said the legislation and other new laws will be emotionally damaging to LGBTQ children and parents in Florida.
“Florida’s LGBTQ voters and ally voters have grave concerns about their basic human rights, including access to abortion, freedom of speech and evidence-based healthcare for LGBTQ youth,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
“They’re motivated to make a difference in this crucial election. Voters must send an unmistakable message that LGBTQ people and our allies are not going back in the closet or back in time. This discriminatory, defamatory and dangerous rhetoric and behavior must stop now.”
The poll also gauged how motivated voters were to act. It found 77% believe it’s “more important than ever” to vote, both because of anti-LGBTQ laws and the protection of rights, including access to abortion.
About 67% of the LGBTQ and allied voters polled called themselves “extremely motivated” to vote in the 2022 Midterms, and not just because of issues normally considered LGBTQ issues. About 47% said they were most motivated about restoring abortion rights, 31% want gun safety reforms, 22% are most concerned about high housing costs and inflation, and 19% list protecting LGBTQ equality as their top item.
Equality Florida noted it’s not just the “don’t say gay” bill causing high alert among LGBTQ activists. Access to “lifesaving health care for transgender youth” has come under fire with changing guidance from the DeSantis administration.
23 comments
Impeach Biden
August 1, 2022 at 6:50 am
Absolutely stunned by the results of that poll.😜
Joe Corsin
August 1, 2022 at 7:53 am
^ Absolutely stunned by the degenerate stupidity of this particular sub-ape
Impaech Biden
August 1, 2022 at 8:11 am
Once again the Corsin / Offen bot with nothing but personal attacks. How do you get by that “Im not a robot” box when you spew your nonsense on this board?
Joe Corsin
August 1, 2022 at 6:47 pm
The schizophrenic gibberish that you just spouted is nonsense. Just no insight…you need medication.
martucci
August 1, 2022 at 7:07 am
They seem to constantly get their panties in a wad.
Trailer
August 1, 2022 at 7:33 am
Maybe republicans can find a way to hate gays enough that they turn it into money and stop being poor.
Impeach Biden
August 1, 2022 at 8:08 am
Who said Republicans hate gays? Is it possible that gays might hate Republicans? You think that Republicans are poor too? Sounds like the richest man in the world might be voting for Republicans in November.
marylou
August 1, 2022 at 6:55 pm
That guy’s companies have received billions of dollars from the government: loans, contracts, tax credits, and subsidies.
The psychopath tweeted about money for individuals: “Another government stimulus package is not in the best interests of the people imo”, while Tesla was collecting “certain payroll related benefits”, from the government stimulus package.
Typical Republican
Trailer
August 2, 2022 at 3:26 pm
No one ever got rich without help.
Trailer
August 2, 2022 at 3:25 pm
“Who said republicans hate gays”
The poor ones do because it makes them Forget they are poor the rich ones do because it makes the poor ones happy lol
Impeach Biden
August 1, 2022 at 8:15 am
Yes. once again FP deletes my response to Corsin. The moderator allows him to spew his nonsense but deletes mine. Typical liberal media. The same media that covered for Jimmy Carter2 as he hid in the basement knowing full well he was totally incompetent to be the CIC.
Rob Petrie
August 1, 2022 at 8:52 am
@ Impeach – shhhhhh now keep this quiet – just between us. “Corsin” is a moniker for one of the many FP employees tasked with posting inflamatory stuff. Mostly they take the leftist POV however they are not above taking an inflamatory conservative position in their quest to paint a position of relevancy in the minds of Florida’s politicos. Now keep this on the DL if they know we know there is no telling how big of a hissy fit they may have. Shhhhhhh Impeach Shhhhhh – pretend you dont know.
Joe Corsin
August 1, 2022 at 10:27 am
^ Jumps to false conclusions… victim mentality… paranoid…needs involuntary psychiatric evaluation for the safety of the community.
Impeach Biden
August 1, 2022 at 11:20 am
Only thing that explains your bizarre behavior is that it has been altered by some free pot from the Nikki Fried campaign.
Joe Corsin
August 1, 2022 at 12:23 pm
^ If you look up bizarre in the dictionary…there is a picture of this man.
Don’t Look Up
August 1, 2022 at 4:00 pm
The LGBTQ+ community should understand by now that EVERY election matters, Republican leadership has failed Americans since Eisenhower and Trumpsters can’t be trusted …. most take after their blowhard leader an continuously lie…..and look for scapegoats to provide cover for their deficiencies.
Get involved…. stay involved…..
David in Shoreline
August 1, 2022 at 5:36 pm
I’m not sure why LGBTQ folks feel like they have anything to be concerned about with Governor DeSantis in office. Unless they are groomers. Then, yes, I would be a little nervous.
Elliott Offen
August 1, 2022 at 6:10 pm
^ Groomer conspiracy theories, Soros conspiracy theories, election conspiracy theories…all in a days work for the warped neo nazi American right wing.
Bill
August 2, 2022 at 9:48 am
Surprised anyone buys into that Christopher Rufo BS but R’s don’t seem to be happy unless they’re insulting somebody.
I’ll see their Soros and raise them a Mercer and two Koch’s /s
Low blow
August 2, 2022 at 10:30 pm
I thought it was only once Koch now since the other had a bad date with prostrate cancer?
Anthony
August 1, 2022 at 7:11 pm
A poll conducted by Equality Florida, which is a political arm of the Florida Democrat Party shows LGBT voters are angry with DeSantis.
LMAO.
This millennial LGBT voter, and his husband, is voting for DeSantis and straight red down ballot.
marylou
August 2, 2022 at 5:11 pm
Stupidity….not just for straight men anymore
marylou
August 2, 2022 at 5:19 pm
* supposed to be a reply to Anthony (8/1 7:11pm)
Comments are closed.