Gay Democrats to hold conference in 'red zone'
Nelson not invited to state GLBT Caucus event
By PHIL LAPADULA
South Florida Express
Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus decided to hold its summer conference in Tallahassee to focus more attention on Republican-leaning northern Florida, according to Stephen Gaskill, communications director for the caucus. Gaskill equated the move to "going into the lion’s den."
"The Democratic gay community is making a stand this year in Northern Florida," Gaskill said. "We chose Tampa for the winter conference because there has been so much anti-gay activity going on here recently. In a sense, we're doing the same thing by heading [to Tallahassee] for this conference. Northern Florida is much more Republican-leaning."
The conference will be held Saturday, July 15, at the Double Tree Hotel in Tallahassee. Scheduled speakers include Florida's two Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Jim Davis and Rod Smith; former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno; and Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.).
Nelson regrets non-invitation
But conspicuously absent from the conference will be the state's highest elected Democratic official, 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.
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."
Statewide candidates who will attend the caucus include Florida Attorney General candidate Skip Campbell and state Agricultural Commissioner candidate Eric Copeland.
The conference will also include representatives from two new chapters of the state GLBT Democratic Caucus, one representing Pensacola and the other representing Tallahassee.
'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.
Perry said the new gay Democratic club plans to work alongside Equality Florida in lobbying in Tallahassee for the passage of a student anti-bullying bill, the gay adoption bill "and other progressive legislation."
Michael Albetta, a Fort Lauderdale resident who is president of the statewide group of gay caucuses, said the conference is about "mobilizing, organizing and energizing" the 16 chapters.
By PHIL LAPADULA
South Florida Express
Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus decided to hold its summer conference in Tallahassee to focus more attention on Republican-leaning northern Florida, according to Stephen Gaskill, communications director for the caucus. Gaskill equated the move to "going into the lion’s den."
"The Democratic gay community is making a stand this year in Northern Florida," Gaskill said. "We chose Tampa for the winter conference because there has been so much anti-gay activity going on here recently. In a sense, we're doing the same thing by heading [to Tallahassee] for this conference. Northern Florida is much more Republican-leaning."
The conference will be held Saturday, July 15, at the Double Tree Hotel in Tallahassee. Scheduled speakers include Florida's two Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Jim Davis and Rod Smith; former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno; and Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.).
Nelson regrets non-invitation
But conspicuously absent from the conference will be the state's highest elected Democratic official, 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.
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."
Statewide candidates who will attend the caucus include Florida Attorney General candidate Skip Campbell and state Agricultural Commissioner candidate Eric Copeland.
The conference will also include representatives from two new chapters of the state GLBT Democratic Caucus, one representing Pensacola and the other representing Tallahassee.
'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.
Perry said the new gay Democratic club plans to work alongside Equality Florida in lobbying in Tallahassee for the passage of a student anti-bullying bill, the gay adoption bill "and other progressive legislation."
Michael Albetta, a Fort Lauderdale resident who is president of the statewide group of gay caucuses, said the conference is about "mobilizing, organizing and energizing" the 16 chapters.
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