Michael Albetta:Putting the Active Back in Activism
by Paul Gallotta, Independent Community News October 23, 2005
It's a sad axiom that Florida is the only state in America to defy the laws of geography; the further north you go, the further south you get.
Living in the relatively tolerant part of the state, it's sometimes easy to forget. But starting with Tallahassee and trickling down to city hall in Fort Lauderdale, the Sunshine State might as well be Mississippi.
The progress that has been made locally can be attributed to a largely faceless grass roots movement of activists. But someone had to do the organizing. And in a movement that has practically redefined the concept of cannibalizing its leaders, thosewith the ability to cobble together a coalition of like-minded people would sooner convert to heterosexuality.
And somehow Michael Albetta thrives on the machinations of regional politics. Article continues
As the President of GLBT Democratic Caucus, Albetta might not exactly be a kingmaker. But engage him in a conversation about politics and you'd have to believe he'll get there eventually.
"Politics is no stranger to me," grins the New York-born Albetta. "I worked for the New York State Assembly since 1978 [when] I was a legislative aide to [House Majority Whip] Anthony S. Seminerio. Then I became his administrator, then I ran his district office. In 1986, I ran for New York State Senate and almost won. I lost by one vote, 4,191 to 4,190."
It was during that hotly contested election that Albetta learned some crucial lessons about American politics that aren't taught at any University level Civics course.
"My family owned newspaper stands in New York," he recalls. "My opponent took pictures of this little boy buying a magazine at one of them with Penthouse and Oui in the background on the side of the newsstand, and accused me of being a child pornographer."
The experience left Albetta bruised but wiser--and disinclined to re-enter the political forum. He relocated in South Florida in 1991 "looking to start a new life" and completely avoided his politics until 1997.
"I got a phone call from an old colleague, Marc Dickerman, who used to belong to my Democratic Club back in Forest Hills, Queens. He came out and he came down here and he told me about the Dolphin Democrats. I dove right in and became a member of the board."
The first order of business was to integrate the lessons he had learned back in New York. He started by altering the tenor of the club from that of a social group to a more business-oriented catalyst for change.
"It's not about me, it's about us," explains the 48-year-old who makes his living as the Business Development Manager for Maroone Ford. "It takes people to make the party. We don't have time for personal agendas. Once I felt that [an individual] wasn't interested in the overall good of the community, that there was no credibility in their heart, I told them to get out. They were wasting everyone's time. We didn't need yes men. I tried to bring in 'A' people, people who make things work. I tried to weed out the people who wanted to run the Dolphins like it was a social club."
Longtime community activist Derrick Hankerson recalls it was Albetta's unique combination of interpersonal skills and an honest desire to nurture change--even when he wasn't in the spotlight--that drew him in.
"When I first met Michael back in 1997 I was [withdrawing] from activism. I had recently retired from Viacom and, like many other people, I thought I was going to die soon. I was no longer on the Dolphin's board and I was backing away from many things.
"But Michael," he continues, "he has an ability like a magnet to attract people who have very specialized skills to help foster change for the GLBT community, more so than anyone I've ever met.
"He convinced me that when an individual has certain skills and abilities and a fire in the belly to create change and shape public opinion in a positive manner, then you've got to go for it.
"More so than anyone I've ever met, he puts his money where his heart is. I happen to know of many things that he's done to change our lives that he keeps a secret and doesn't tell anyone. His skills, his humility and at times his sheer goofiness all make him both unique and endearing. We're very lucky to have him."
"Michael was instrumental in the GLCC's obtaining a brand new Ford Mustang convertible for our car raffle," states Gay and Lesbian Community Center Executive Director Paul Hyman. "Michael voices strong support of the GLCC and makes himself available for events, both here at the Center and in the community. [He] possesses tireless optimism and a can-do attitude."
"He has helped to bring the Democratic Party to a new level," adds Wilton Manors City Commissioner (and himself a former Dolphin President) Dean Trantalis. "He has expanded the profile of the gay and lesbian community. Michael is a strong and honest voice for us. He's made some fairly important inroads with others for our benefit."
Albetta attributes the successful revamping of the Dolphins as well as the growth of the GLBT state caucus to a page torn out of his political mentor's playbook.
"Anthony Seminerio sat me down and drilled into me that this is a business, not a game. It all boils down to the MOE method-Mobilize, Organize and Energize. We did and now we have 10 chapters of the GLBT Caucus throughout the state-including some areas that we had practically written off.
"In fact," he continues with a none-too-subtle grin, "we're having our February meeting in Hillsborough County to let those homophobic legislators know we're alive and well."
"I truly feel that as an American, a Democrat, a gay man, that equal rights are for everyone, and our tax dollars are as equal as anyone else's. Even within our own party, people don't see that. They placate us, but we can see beyond that.
"We can put a Democrat in the Governor's mansion in Tallahassee. We can replace Clay Shaw. We're going to have to work very hard, we've got to keep fighting, but we can accomplish this. How did Jimmy Carter get [elected]? In '75, people had had enough of the Republicans. I'm a history major from Pace University and history will repeat itself. Our country is not as great as it used to be. [President Bush's administration] handled Katrina like the Three Stooges. I truly feel the Republicans will implode and people will say 'enough,'" he concludes with a grin that should be measured in kilowatts. "We just have to stay united and keep on fighting."
It's a sad axiom that Florida is the only state in America to defy the laws of geography; the further north you go, the further south you get.
Living in the relatively tolerant part of the state, it's sometimes easy to forget. But starting with Tallahassee and trickling down to city hall in Fort Lauderdale, the Sunshine State might as well be Mississippi.
The progress that has been made locally can be attributed to a largely faceless grass roots movement of activists. But someone had to do the organizing. And in a movement that has practically redefined the concept of cannibalizing its leaders, thosewith the ability to cobble together a coalition of like-minded people would sooner convert to heterosexuality.
And somehow Michael Albetta thrives on the machinations of regional politics. Article continues
As the President of GLBT Democratic Caucus, Albetta might not exactly be a kingmaker. But engage him in a conversation about politics and you'd have to believe he'll get there eventually.
"Politics is no stranger to me," grins the New York-born Albetta. "I worked for the New York State Assembly since 1978 [when] I was a legislative aide to [House Majority Whip] Anthony S. Seminerio. Then I became his administrator, then I ran his district office. In 1986, I ran for New York State Senate and almost won. I lost by one vote, 4,191 to 4,190."
It was during that hotly contested election that Albetta learned some crucial lessons about American politics that aren't taught at any University level Civics course.
"My family owned newspaper stands in New York," he recalls. "My opponent took pictures of this little boy buying a magazine at one of them with Penthouse and Oui in the background on the side of the newsstand, and accused me of being a child pornographer."
The experience left Albetta bruised but wiser--and disinclined to re-enter the political forum. He relocated in South Florida in 1991 "looking to start a new life" and completely avoided his politics until 1997.
"I got a phone call from an old colleague, Marc Dickerman, who used to belong to my Democratic Club back in Forest Hills, Queens. He came out and he came down here and he told me about the Dolphin Democrats. I dove right in and became a member of the board."
The first order of business was to integrate the lessons he had learned back in New York. He started by altering the tenor of the club from that of a social group to a more business-oriented catalyst for change.
"It's not about me, it's about us," explains the 48-year-old who makes his living as the Business Development Manager for Maroone Ford. "It takes people to make the party. We don't have time for personal agendas. Once I felt that [an individual] wasn't interested in the overall good of the community, that there was no credibility in their heart, I told them to get out. They were wasting everyone's time. We didn't need yes men. I tried to bring in 'A' people, people who make things work. I tried to weed out the people who wanted to run the Dolphins like it was a social club."
Longtime community activist Derrick Hankerson recalls it was Albetta's unique combination of interpersonal skills and an honest desire to nurture change--even when he wasn't in the spotlight--that drew him in.
"When I first met Michael back in 1997 I was [withdrawing] from activism. I had recently retired from Viacom and, like many other people, I thought I was going to die soon. I was no longer on the Dolphin's board and I was backing away from many things.
"But Michael," he continues, "he has an ability like a magnet to attract people who have very specialized skills to help foster change for the GLBT community, more so than anyone I've ever met.
"He convinced me that when an individual has certain skills and abilities and a fire in the belly to create change and shape public opinion in a positive manner, then you've got to go for it.
"More so than anyone I've ever met, he puts his money where his heart is. I happen to know of many things that he's done to change our lives that he keeps a secret and doesn't tell anyone. His skills, his humility and at times his sheer goofiness all make him both unique and endearing. We're very lucky to have him."
"Michael was instrumental in the GLCC's obtaining a brand new Ford Mustang convertible for our car raffle," states Gay and Lesbian Community Center Executive Director Paul Hyman. "Michael voices strong support of the GLCC and makes himself available for events, both here at the Center and in the community. [He] possesses tireless optimism and a can-do attitude."
"He has helped to bring the Democratic Party to a new level," adds Wilton Manors City Commissioner (and himself a former Dolphin President) Dean Trantalis. "He has expanded the profile of the gay and lesbian community. Michael is a strong and honest voice for us. He's made some fairly important inroads with others for our benefit."
Albetta attributes the successful revamping of the Dolphins as well as the growth of the GLBT state caucus to a page torn out of his political mentor's playbook.
"Anthony Seminerio sat me down and drilled into me that this is a business, not a game. It all boils down to the MOE method-Mobilize, Organize and Energize. We did and now we have 10 chapters of the GLBT Caucus throughout the state-including some areas that we had practically written off.
"In fact," he continues with a none-too-subtle grin, "we're having our February meeting in Hillsborough County to let those homophobic legislators know we're alive and well."
"I truly feel that as an American, a Democrat, a gay man, that equal rights are for everyone, and our tax dollars are as equal as anyone else's. Even within our own party, people don't see that. They placate us, but we can see beyond that.
"We can put a Democrat in the Governor's mansion in Tallahassee. We can replace Clay Shaw. We're going to have to work very hard, we've got to keep fighting, but we can accomplish this. How did Jimmy Carter get [elected]? In '75, people had had enough of the Republicans. I'm a history major from Pace University and history will repeat itself. Our country is not as great as it used to be. [President Bush's administration] handled Katrina like the Three Stooges. I truly feel the Republicans will implode and people will say 'enough,'" he concludes with a grin that should be measured in kilowatts. "We just have to stay united and keep on fighting."
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