Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersApril 25, 2017

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio continued his campaign against worldwide human rights abuses by foreign dictators last night by speaking out against the Chechen terror campaign against gays, and tying it to Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the floor of the U.S. Senate Monday night, Rubio relayed reports of mass arrests, at least three killings of LGBT […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 17, 2017

A recent poll shows an overwhelming number of Floridians believe conversion therapy should be illegal, leading LGBT advocates to renew their call for a statewide ban. According to a recent Orlando Political Observer-Gravis Marketing poll, 71 percent of Florida voters think conversion therapy should be illegal for minors in Florida. The poll found 18 percent […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 23, 2017

Rep. Randy Fine introduced HB 17 simply as a measure to keep commerce moving on an upward trajectory under the leadership of local governments, flourishing enough to bring prosperity to their respective communities. “Its intent is to help businesses thrive and grow – that’s its purpose,” Fine told FloridaPolitics.com by telephone on Thursday from Tallahassee. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 2, 2017

On Thursday, opponents of Jacksonville’s proposed expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance had their say in the Council Chambers. Councilman Bill Gulliford, launching the meeting, noted the passion surrounding this issue, which is now in its fifth year of being debated citywide. “I decided to have this meeting for several reasons,” Gulliford said, including “objective discussion” of […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 24, 2017

Groundhog Day is over a week away, but those who attend Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting will feel inevitable deja vu. Some will think it’s 2016. Others will think it’s 2012. That’s because the fervent arguments they’ll hear tonight on Jacksonville’s perpetual hot-button issue — expanding the Human Rights Ordinance to LGBT people, via […]

Bill RuftyJanuary 7, 2017

The Democratic Women’s Club of East Polk County will sponsor a walk and rally at Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland 5-6:30 p.m., Sunday, which it says is to emphasize women’s and social rights. Karen Welzel, president of the club, said the rally followed by the march around the lake is “to give a voice to […]

Larry GriffinNovember 6, 2016

On the eve of early voting’s end Sunday night, Congressional District 7 hopeful Stephanie Murphy, Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of House District 49 and Pulse survivor Brandon Wolf, who also works with the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, came together outside the Florida Coordinated Campaign office on Colonial Drive to promote the election of leaders who will […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 18, 2016

In yet another piece of news coming out of a Tuesday morning media availability involving Jacksonville sporting events, JAXSPORTS Council head Rick Catlett addressed a question regarding LGBT rights in the Northeast Florida city and recruitment of sports events being relocated from North Carolina in the wake of its statewide anti-LGBT “bathroom bill” legislation. Long story short: Catlett […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

FloridaPolitics.com obtained a draft copy of the Human Rights Campaign’s municipal scorecard, and year-over-year there has been some improvement. The preliminary number this year is 31 out of 100 — an unimpressive showing by the standards of most major cities, but up from 23 in 2015, and 20 in 2014. The final number, meanwhile, could be […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 13, 2016

Will the third time be the charm for the efforts to expand Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance? In 2012, a fully inclusive bill fell by a margin of 17 to 2. A modified bill lost by a much-smaller margin of 10 to 9, with a councilman — Johnny Gaffney — saying he’d gotten confused when he voted. Gaffney […]

Tag: LGBT
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

Marco Rubio speaks out against terror against gays in Chechnya, ties in Vladimir Putin

71% of Floridians think conversion therapy for minors should be illegal, bills to prohibit it stalled in Legislature

Randy Fine: Bill bolsters local businesses, not victimize LGBT community; detractors aren’t buying it

Jacksonville LGBT rights opponents speak; Bill Gulliford talks HRO referendum

Opposing sides gear up for Jacksonville HRO public hearing on Tuesday night

Polk County Democratic Women’s Club to host Lakeland walk, rally

Democratic leaders rally around Stephanie Murphy to promote LGBT causes before final voting day

JAXSPORTS head talks LGBT rights, sports recruitment, and HRO

Jacksonville makes strides in LGBT protections, claims Human Rights Campaign

Why Jax HRO expansion advocates feel optimistic