Fla. gay Dems seek political influence
Rep. Barney Frank rails against GOP at gay Dem confab
by PHIL LaPADULA
Washington Blade
Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus held its summer conference in Tallahassee July 15 to focus more attention on Republican-leaning northern Florida, according to Stephen Gaskill, communications director for the caucus. The group was chartered by the Florida Democratic Party and is an affiliate of the National Stonewall Democrats, a national advocacy group for gay Democrats.
Fla. GLBT Democratic Caucus President Michael Albetta believes having anti-gay politicians attend the group's conference can be an educational experience for both his group and the politicians.
Gaskill equated the move to "going into the lion's den."
Openly gay Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) addressed the group and not surprisingly, did not have kind things to say about Republicans
"I can sum up the Republican agenda in nine words: Burning the flag, spurning the fag and earnings that lag," said Frank.
Democrats have become more willing to accept gays as people who deserve the same rights as others, while Republicans have moved even further to the extreme against gays, Frank said.
Sen. Nelson regrets non-invitation
But conspicuously absent from the conference was the state’s highest elected Democratic official, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
In fact, the GLBT caucus purposely did not invite Nelson to the conference, Gaskill said.
"There was a general feeling among the caucus leadership that Sen. Nelson felt the gay community could be taken for granted this election year," Gaskill said.
Michael Albetta, a Fort Lauderdale resident who is president of the statewide group of gay caucuses, said "time and time again" Nelson declined invitations to the group's events, sometimes instead sending aides who will only talk in private rather than publicly address the group.
"I find that insulting, however, we will definitely put our banner behind him and we will vote for him and make sure he is the next United States senator," Albetta said. "Then I will address him and tell him 'This is what you need to do.'"
Dan McLaughlin, a spokesperson for Nelson, said the senator "doesn't take anybody’s vote for granted." McLaughlin said Nelson "has a personal view that marriage should be between a man and a woman."
He said he regrets the senator was not invited to the conference.
"I would hate to see any group not wanting to hear from Senator Nelson. Even if he respectfully disagrees [with a viewpoint], he still wants to listen to the other side."
Last month, when the U.S. Senate voted on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, Nelson voted against the amendment but issued a statement that seemed to emphasize his support for the anti-gay marriage laws already on the books.
"Senator Nelson firmly believes marriage should be between one man and one woman, but that the states and not the federal government should regulate marriage," the statement read. "He supports the Florida law that already bans same-sex marriage, and the federal law that says Florida doesn't have to honor a gay marriage from another state. He didn't vote for the proposed federal amendment for these reasons, and also because it would have allowed the federal government to regulate other relationships besides marriage."
Although U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) voted for a constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, he addressed the conference attendees and asked them to rally support for Democrats based on three other issues: Republicans' foreign policy in the Middle East, recent corruption scandals in Washington and the growing national debt.
"I see a group of folks, a group of Democrats, organizing to make a change and have an impact on the political process," said Boyd, whose north Florida district heavily supported President Bush over Sen. John Kerry two years ago. "That's why I'm here."
So why was he invited, given his opposition to gay marriage?
"It's an education for everybody," said Albetta. "He can see we are voters, we do not have horns and tails. We are regular people who are taxpayers and also happen to be Democrats."
'A broader strategy'
The gay invasion of the state's "red zones" is part of a strategy that focuses more resources on areas in the state other than the gay stronghold of South Florida, Gaskill said.
"We’re looking at a much broader strategy this year," Gaskill said. "We're going beyond Miami and Fort Lauderdale." He noted that the caucus had recently forged an alliance with the Democratic Small County Caucus, which represents rural areas.
Gaskill said there are about 1.1 million gay and lesbian residents in the state "and they live in every county," according to the caucus' census data analysis.
Phillip Perry, president of the newly formed Capital City GLBT Democrats, the Tallahassee branch of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, said there are about 13,000 gay and lesbian residents in Leon County, which includes Tallahassee. The city has a growing GLBT community center that hosts gay social groups, Perry said.
by PHIL LaPADULA
Washington Blade
Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus held its summer conference in Tallahassee July 15 to focus more attention on Republican-leaning northern Florida, according to Stephen Gaskill, communications director for the caucus. The group was chartered by the Florida Democratic Party and is an affiliate of the National Stonewall Democrats, a national advocacy group for gay Democrats.
Fla. GLBT Democratic Caucus President Michael Albetta believes having anti-gay politicians attend the group's conference can be an educational experience for both his group and the politicians.
Gaskill equated the move to "going into the lion's den."
Openly gay Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) addressed the group and not surprisingly, did not have kind things to say about Republicans
"I can sum up the Republican agenda in nine words: Burning the flag, spurning the fag and earnings that lag," said Frank.
Democrats have become more willing to accept gays as people who deserve the same rights as others, while Republicans have moved even further to the extreme against gays, Frank said.
Sen. Nelson regrets non-invitation
But conspicuously absent from the conference was the state’s highest elected Democratic official, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
In fact, the GLBT caucus purposely did not invite Nelson to the conference, Gaskill said.
"There was a general feeling among the caucus leadership that Sen. Nelson felt the gay community could be taken for granted this election year," Gaskill said.
Michael Albetta, a Fort Lauderdale resident who is president of the statewide group of gay caucuses, said "time and time again" Nelson declined invitations to the group's events, sometimes instead sending aides who will only talk in private rather than publicly address the group.
"I find that insulting, however, we will definitely put our banner behind him and we will vote for him and make sure he is the next United States senator," Albetta said. "Then I will address him and tell him 'This is what you need to do.'"
Dan McLaughlin, a spokesperson for Nelson, said the senator "doesn't take anybody’s vote for granted." McLaughlin said Nelson "has a personal view that marriage should be between a man and a woman."
He said he regrets the senator was not invited to the conference.
"I would hate to see any group not wanting to hear from Senator Nelson. Even if he respectfully disagrees [with a viewpoint], he still wants to listen to the other side."
Last month, when the U.S. Senate voted on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, Nelson voted against the amendment but issued a statement that seemed to emphasize his support for the anti-gay marriage laws already on the books.
"Senator Nelson firmly believes marriage should be between one man and one woman, but that the states and not the federal government should regulate marriage," the statement read. "He supports the Florida law that already bans same-sex marriage, and the federal law that says Florida doesn't have to honor a gay marriage from another state. He didn't vote for the proposed federal amendment for these reasons, and also because it would have allowed the federal government to regulate other relationships besides marriage."
Although U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) voted for a constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, he addressed the conference attendees and asked them to rally support for Democrats based on three other issues: Republicans' foreign policy in the Middle East, recent corruption scandals in Washington and the growing national debt.
"I see a group of folks, a group of Democrats, organizing to make a change and have an impact on the political process," said Boyd, whose north Florida district heavily supported President Bush over Sen. John Kerry two years ago. "That's why I'm here."
So why was he invited, given his opposition to gay marriage?
"It's an education for everybody," said Albetta. "He can see we are voters, we do not have horns and tails. We are regular people who are taxpayers and also happen to be Democrats."
'A broader strategy'
The gay invasion of the state's "red zones" is part of a strategy that focuses more resources on areas in the state other than the gay stronghold of South Florida, Gaskill said.
"We’re looking at a much broader strategy this year," Gaskill said. "We're going beyond Miami and Fort Lauderdale." He noted that the caucus had recently forged an alliance with the Democratic Small County Caucus, which represents rural areas.
Gaskill said there are about 1.1 million gay and lesbian residents in the state "and they live in every county," according to the caucus' census data analysis.
Phillip Perry, president of the newly formed Capital City GLBT Democrats, the Tallahassee branch of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, said there are about 13,000 gay and lesbian residents in Leon County, which includes Tallahassee. The city has a growing GLBT community center that hosts gay social groups, Perry said.
<< Home