Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossMay 4, 2016

A construction worker vandalized a prominent pro-LGBT mural in Jacksonville’s 5 Points neighborhood Thursday, and was dismissed. Both the “before” and “after” pictures of the mural are being widely shared on North Florida social media. The sign, which fronted the old Peterson’s 5 & Dime store, reads “You’ve been sharing bathrooms with transgender people your […]

Scott PowersMarch 22, 2016

As evidence that his opponent Susannah Randolph has not locked up progressive congressional endorsements, state Sen. Darren Soto has won the backing of U.S. Rep. Jared Polis today, Soto’s congressional campaign announced Tuesday. Polis, a Colorado Democrat, is a co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus that […]

Melissa RossMarch 7, 2016

Activists fighting the decades-long struggle for LGBT equality in America have long been skilled at the long game. From the 1969 Stonewall riots to the 2015 nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage, this is a patient movement, one that has nudged the culture inexorably over a half-century toward greater acceptance and inclusion. To that end, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality […]

Melissa RossFebruary 24, 2016

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Vowing to reintroduce it “in two months,” Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri says he’ll keep bringing back HRO legislation because it’s “simple and to the point.” “We have a human rights ordinance that covers everybody but the LGBT community, and all we’re wanting to do is include them,” he told WJCT’s First Coast Connect. “It’s […]

Melissa RossFebruary 10, 2016

JAX Chamber Chairwoman Audrey Moran has made it clear she’s comfortable with diverging from City Hall on the issue of the the city’s human rights ordinance. Moran, herself a former mayoral candidate, says “she really doesn’t understand the motives” behind recent moves to table two competing pieces of legislation looking at covering Jacksonville’s LGBT residents […]

Brendan FarringtonFebruary 8, 2016

When it comes to LGBT issues, Florida’s Republican lawmakers are known more for trying to keep transgender people out of bathrooms, protect pastors from marrying same-sex couples and seek exemptions for private adoption agencies who don’t want to place children with gay and lesbian couples. But this year, some Republican lawmakers are backing a bill […]

Melissa RossFebruary 5, 2016

Amid all the clergy news conferences and parliamentary maneuvers, the battle over Jacksonville’s HRO is also being fought via news release. The latest comes from the Jacksonville Civic Council, a high-powered group of mostly Republican CEOs. Chairman Ed Burr‘s missive addressing Mayor Lenny Curry and Council President Greg Anderson begins by reiterating that the Civic […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 11, 2016

Florida Realtors have become the latest group to join the effort to modernize state law by including anti-discrimination protection based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. As real estate professionals descend upon Tallahassee to take part in the annual Great American Realtors Days on Tuesday and Wednsday, the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce […]

Melissa RossDecember 30, 2015

Just as Jacksonville’s battle over its human rights ordinance heats up (again), North Florida same-sex couples are preparing to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversaries in a public downtown event. On January 10, 2015, Jacksonville attorney Carrington Mead married more than 60 same-sex couples in a mass ceremony in Hemming Park following the Supreme Court ruling […]

Melissa RossDecember 23, 2015

The messaging war over expanding Jacksonville’s HRO, or human rights ordinance, is heating up as Christmas draws near, with District 3 City Councilman Aaron Bowman the latest to enter the fray Bowman’s email inbox is already drawing hate messages, advocates say, after his piece in support of updating the ordinance to cover LGBT residents appeared […]

Tag: LGBT
Paula Stark is hosting Buenaventura Lakes' 'first-ever' event to honor veterans.

Pro-LGBT mural in Jacksonville vandalized

CD 9 candidate Darren Soto gets endorsement from progressive Colorado congressman Jared Polis

Jax Coalition for Equality keeps up the HRO pressure

Tommy Hazouri: will reintroduce HRO “in two months,” challenges Bill Gulliford to on-air debate

Audrey Moran on Lenny Curry: “I made it clear to him I was disappointed” on HRO

Legislature considers anti-discrimination bill for LGBT rights

Jax Civic Council contends “the place we call home should welcome all”

Florida Realtors lends support to anti-discrimination Florida Competitive Workforce Act

Email insights: Jax same-sex couples to celebrate one-year wedding anniversaries in Hemming Park

Councilan’s pro HRO op-ed generates hate mail, positive mail pushback