Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 12, 2017

With tens of thousands of people packing Lake Eola Park and countless more watching remotely, Orlando gathered Monday night for a somber remembrance the 49 people murdered at Pulse one year ago, and a celebration of love and unity emerged. This was largely Orlando’s LGBTQ community’s opportunity to come together in a mass remembrance and […]

Scott PowersJune 9, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has proclaimed next Monday, June 12, to be “Pulse Remembrance Day” in Florida, calling for flags to fly at half staff and for a moment of silence at 9 a.m. In doing so, Scott also acknowledged the blows to the Hispanic and LGBTQ communities, and does not explicitly describe the attack, which […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2017

While expressing curiosity at a forum held in Washington Wednesday over whether Gov. Rick Scott might attend next Monday’s Pulse memorial services, Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith slammed the governor, saying “he has done nothing” for the gay community since the June 12, 2016, massacre at Orlando’s popular gay nightclub. Smith was speaking at a […]

Scott PowersJune 1, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham marked the start of “Pride Month” Thursday by declaring her reaffirmation of support for gay rights and statewide protections. Graham expressly announced she would push hard for the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act,” which would extend nondiscrimination practices to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer Floridians. The bill has been introduced […]

Les NeuhausMarch 29, 2017

A leading global human rights organization is honoring Bay Pines VA Healthcare System as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” among nearly 600 hospitals participating in a national survey. A representative for the facility, officially known as the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center, announced the award Wednesday. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of […]

Staff ReportsMarch 10, 2017

Tampa is one of the final four cities in the running to host the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Convention this summer. Last week, a team of NGLCC officials visited Tampa to evaluate the location for the gathering scheduled for Aug. 7-10, 2018. Visit Tampa Bay and the Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber of […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 23, 2017

Late Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning, the most popular night spots in St. Petersburg were slow, but one topic was making the rounds: Donald Trump’s policy reversal decision on transgender students and what it means in a broader context. Michael Jones, a well-known entertainer and drag whose stage name is “Meagan Towers,” was in […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 7, 2017

Charlie Crist announced Tuesday he would be serving on the influential House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Also, the first-year Democratic congressman from St. Petersburg hired two new constituent service representatives — Michael Batista and Dillion Stafford — who will help assist Crist’s constituents of Florida’s 13th Congressional District. Since Crist was recently named […]

Scott PowersDecember 2, 2016

Orlando has been named “Gay City of the Year” by the gay travel site GayCities.com, which praised the City Beautiful for its outpouring of compassion and unity following last summer’s horrific massacre at the Pulse nightclub and then noted Orlando had been a strong city for gays all along. “GayCities honors the city & community […]

Melissa RossJune 21, 2016

A new documentary film airing nationwide on dozens of PBS stations this week shows Florida’s gay community was targeted long before the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The sordid tale of Florida’s infamous McCarthyesque witch hunt of suspected gay and lesbian students and professors at state universities is told in the new Emmy award-winning […]

Tag: LGBTQ

Orlando Love: In a community-wide painful remembrance, celebration breaks out

Rick Scott proclaims June 12 ‘Pulse Remembrance Day’

Carlos Smith: Since Pulse, Rick Scott has done nothing for LGBTQ community

Gwen Graham declares support for Competitive Workplace Act

Bay Pines VA Center recognized for work with LGBTQ community

Tampa a ‘final four’ city to host National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Convention

As Donald Trump revokes transgender student protection, Florida LGBTQ community wonders what’s next?

Charlie Crist named to influential House Science, Space committee; hires 2 constituent staffers

Orlando named ‘Gay City of the Year’ by gay travel site

‘The Committee’ airs nationwide this week, documents anti-gay discrimination at Florida universities