Gay Caucus Meeting Draws Top Democratic Candidates
By KEVIN BEGOS
The Tampa Tribune
TALLAHASSEE - Debates over gay rights have ignited political firestorms in Florida for decades, from Anita Bryant to Janet Reno to Ronda Storms.
On Saturday, gay and lesbian activists chose the state capital to announce a statewide get-out-the-vote campaign for Democratic candidates, but some Republicans suggested that the effort could backfire.
The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, which represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender voters, said it was meeting in "the heart of 'red state' Florida for the first time." The conference attracted most of the leading Democratic candidates seeking statewide office this fall. It was held a few blocks from the capitol, where in 1977 legislators backed Bryant's call to change state law to bar gay couples from adopting children.
Smith Says Live And Let Live
State Sen. Rod Smith of Gainesville, who is running for governor, said he didn't have any qualms about appearing at the conference.
"If people want to say that your speaking with communities different from them is the wrong thing for a governor to do, then I think that's really an act of intolerance," Smith said.
Smith added that "people have a right to be left alone" in their personal lives.
Sandy Phillips, president of the Hillsborough County GLBT chapter, said, "This is not [just] an issue for us - this is our lives for us."
The chapter has 42 members and has been adding new ones every month, she said.
Congressman Jim Davis of Tampa, who is also running for governor, said it was "great to be here." He linked gay rights to past battles over civil rights and Republican efforts to pass laws regarding Terri Schiavo, the brain-dead Pinellas County woman whose husband and parents fought for years over whether she should be allowed to die.
Gov. Jeb Bush, the Legislature and Congress became involved in the legal tangle before a court ruled Schiavo's feeding tube could be removed. She died in March 2005.
"I will keep them out of your personal life," Davis said. "I'm going to stand up for you."
Missing from the list of candidates was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election. Florida GLBT caucus president Michael Albetta said Nelson has repeatedly declined the group's invitations.
"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.
State Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell of Tamarac, running for attorney general, said, "Everybody has a right for equality. These folks have a perfect right to vote. We all bleed alike. We all pay taxes."
But Republicans questioned the appearances.
"They might be successful among liberal Democratic primary voters, but when you look at where the majority of Florida voters are, they are by no means aligned with the far left of the Democratic party," said Jeff Sadosky, director of communications for the Republican Party of Florida.
"I haven't seen any specific positions that the [GLBT] group is putting forth, but it's all in line with sadly everything the candidates have to do to run in the Democratic primary," he said. "They have to kowtow to liberal interest groups that have hijacked the party more and more to the left."
Sadosky's opinions didn't reflect the tone at the conference, though.
Fodder For Attack Ads
There was almost no mention of gay marriage and much talk of core issues such as education and health care.
Rick Boylan of St. Pete Beach said he has gotten plenty of support for GLBT's efforts in his community, but he knows that gay issues can be fodder for attack ads.
"The Republican Party and right-wing organizations have spent a lot of money trying to figure out just how far to push the gay issue, in trying to use it as a wedge issue for winning elections," Boylan said.
Peggy Simmons of Tallahassee said she felt both heartened and cautious.
"I'm not sure there's been a lot of progress, even though gay and lesbians are more open now," said Simmons.
Civil rights still haven't been granted to gay couples across the board, she said, expressing doubt that there would be widespread national support for gay marriage any time soon.
"I don't see anything happening maybe for a couple of decades. We wanted giant steps, and maybe alienated a lot of people who would have been on our side" on smaller issues.
The Tampa Tribune
TALLAHASSEE - Debates over gay rights have ignited political firestorms in Florida for decades, from Anita Bryant to Janet Reno to Ronda Storms.
On Saturday, gay and lesbian activists chose the state capital to announce a statewide get-out-the-vote campaign for Democratic candidates, but some Republicans suggested that the effort could backfire.
The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, which represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender voters, said it was meeting in "the heart of 'red state' Florida for the first time." The conference attracted most of the leading Democratic candidates seeking statewide office this fall. It was held a few blocks from the capitol, where in 1977 legislators backed Bryant's call to change state law to bar gay couples from adopting children.
Smith Says Live And Let Live
State Sen. Rod Smith of Gainesville, who is running for governor, said he didn't have any qualms about appearing at the conference.
"If people want to say that your speaking with communities different from them is the wrong thing for a governor to do, then I think that's really an act of intolerance," Smith said.
Smith added that "people have a right to be left alone" in their personal lives.
Sandy Phillips, president of the Hillsborough County GLBT chapter, said, "This is not [just] an issue for us - this is our lives for us."
The chapter has 42 members and has been adding new ones every month, she said.
Congressman Jim Davis of Tampa, who is also running for governor, said it was "great to be here." He linked gay rights to past battles over civil rights and Republican efforts to pass laws regarding Terri Schiavo, the brain-dead Pinellas County woman whose husband and parents fought for years over whether she should be allowed to die.
Gov. Jeb Bush, the Legislature and Congress became involved in the legal tangle before a court ruled Schiavo's feeding tube could be removed. She died in March 2005.
"I will keep them out of your personal life," Davis said. "I'm going to stand up for you."
Missing from the list of candidates was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election. Florida GLBT caucus president Michael Albetta said Nelson has repeatedly declined the group's invitations.
"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.
State Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell of Tamarac, running for attorney general, said, "Everybody has a right for equality. These folks have a perfect right to vote. We all bleed alike. We all pay taxes."
But Republicans questioned the appearances.
"They might be successful among liberal Democratic primary voters, but when you look at where the majority of Florida voters are, they are by no means aligned with the far left of the Democratic party," said Jeff Sadosky, director of communications for the Republican Party of Florida.
"I haven't seen any specific positions that the [GLBT] group is putting forth, but it's all in line with sadly everything the candidates have to do to run in the Democratic primary," he said. "They have to kowtow to liberal interest groups that have hijacked the party more and more to the left."
Sadosky's opinions didn't reflect the tone at the conference, though.
Fodder For Attack Ads
There was almost no mention of gay marriage and much talk of core issues such as education and health care.
Rick Boylan of St. Pete Beach said he has gotten plenty of support for GLBT's efforts in his community, but he knows that gay issues can be fodder for attack ads.
"The Republican Party and right-wing organizations have spent a lot of money trying to figure out just how far to push the gay issue, in trying to use it as a wedge issue for winning elections," Boylan said.
Peggy Simmons of Tallahassee said she felt both heartened and cautious.
"I'm not sure there's been a lot of progress, even though gay and lesbians are more open now," said Simmons.
Civil rights still haven't been granted to gay couples across the board, she said, expressing doubt that there would be widespread national support for gay marriage any time soon.
"I don't see anything happening maybe for a couple of decades. We wanted giant steps, and maybe alienated a lot of people who would have been on our side" on smaller issues.
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