Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMay 25, 2016

Republican State Attorney candidate Wes White made news earlier this month, representing a mother challenging the commitment of the Duval County School District to providing bathroom options for transgender students. The suit was filed in the wake of the Obama administration issuing a letter linking failure to provide such public accommodations with the potential loss of […]

Jac VerSteegMay 24, 2016

In a “Dear Colleague” letter, the Obama administration has issued guidelines explaining how public schools should treat transgender students. As a policy, it is good. As a political tactic, maybe not so much. The directive says public schools should let students use bathrooms and dressing rooms that match their gender identity rather than the gender […]

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2016

State Sen. Greg Evers is making a lot of noise over the Obama administration’s directive to public schools instructing them to allow transgender students to use the bathroom matching their gender identity. But where was the Baker Republican – who is now a candidate for Florida’s 1st Congressional District – when he had a chance to […]

Melissa RossMay 20, 2016

LGBT students in the Clay County Public Schools confronted Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. in the wake of his remarks about the Obama administration’s directive on transgender bathroom access in public education. Van Zant made his feelings known through the use of a robocalling system that went out to some 35,000 households in the district. […]

Mitch PerryMay 19, 2016

The ACLU of Florida wants state officials to know that protecting transgender students is not only required by law, but “is the right thing to do.” In a letter penned to Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, the civil liberties group writes that “we hope that you will recognize the […]

Melissa RossMay 18, 2016

Opponents of Clay County School Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. are blasting what they call unethical campaign tactics by the incumbent. Addison Davis of Orange Park, a Republican and educator who works as Duval County Public Schools chief of schools, is one of several candidates challenging Van Zant as he campaigns for a second four-year term. The […]

Diane RobertsMay 18, 2016

Gwen Graham has decided not to run for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. You can’t blame her: the redrawn map yanks the progressive heart out of Florida’s Second District, dividing — and diluting — Tallahassee. State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda made rightist noises about guns and Donald Trump earlier this spring, sounding as though […]

Melissa RossMay 16, 2016

As criticism mounts toward the Obama administration’s new directive on transgender students and public school bathrooms, Jacksonville’s schools chief is pointing out that public schools in Duval County have quietly been allowing transgender kids to use the bathroom they feel most comfortable with for several years now. “We have been problem-solving on these issues for […]

Scott PowersMay 13, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando ripped North Carolina lawmakers and Republicans on the floor of Congress Friday declaring that state’s transgender restroom law “stupid,” and rhetorically asking, “Are you nuts?” Grayson, in a 13-minute speech given during the House of Representative’s open floor time, offered support of transgendered people being able to use the restrooms of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 13, 2016

A coalition of school board members in Florida is speaking out against a directive to let transgender students use bathrooms that match their gender identity. The Florida Coalition of School Board Members on Friday condemned a directive from the Obama administration that public schools across the U.S. to let transgender students use the bathrooms and […]

Tag: transgender
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Wes White seeks ‘sunshine’ discussion of Duval schools’ transgender bathroom policy

Jac VerSteeg: Transgender headaches for schools

Greg Evers complains about Obama transgender directive, but didn’t fix issue when he had the chance

LGBT students confront Clay County Superintendent

ACLU urges Florida officials not to defy feds regarding transgender students

Clay County superintendent race gets uglier

Diane Roberts: GOP race for Gwen Graham’s CD 2 seat certainly not crazy-free

Nikolai Vitti: “fear factor” involved with transgender bathroom issue

Alan Grayson addresses ‘The Great American Bathroom Controversy,’ rips Republicans, North Carolina

Florida Coalition of School Board Members condemns transgender bathroom directive