Candidates featured at gay, lesbian caucus
By JANINE ZEITLIN, news-press.com
North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, who recently announced his run for the U.S.
Senate, courted about 80 people at the first gathering of a state gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democratic group in Southwest Florida.
Burns is likely the first openly gay candidate in Florida to run for Senate, said Michael Albetta, president of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus.
The seat will be left open by Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. Saturday was Burns' first large appearance since his announcement about a week ago.
Burns, a real estate broker and mayor of four years, introduced his partner of more than two decades, Rob Flint, and their 7-year-old adopted daughter, Autumn.
"As you can see, we're a threat to America," he said, before the chuckling crowd at the Holiday Inn in San Carlos Park.
Burns said he refused to be pigeon-holed as the gay candidate and he fights for all residents of North Miami.
"They could care less whether I was openly gay," he said. "I think I'm going to help knock down some stereotypes."
During the campaign, he vowed to stay with families across the state to understand what matters to them.
"I'm just as comfortable being on a dairy farm in north Florida as I am in Washington with the elite," he said, noting he once judged dairy cows.
Burns spoke against the ban on adoption by gay people in Florida, the only outright ban in the nation: "It's wrong."
John Hawkins, president of the Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida, which counts about 70 members, hoped hosting the event could build needed tolerance and awareness about lacking protections for gays.
He also hoped it would encourage local politicians to be more open about their sexuality.
Two other U.S. Senate candidates, Rep. Kendrick Meek and State Sen. Dan Gelber, were on the agenda for the day.
Albetta anticipates Burns will face challenges in his run, noting there's candidates who don't want to be associated with gays.
"Just the fear factor," he said, likening the fight for gay rights to the battle for rights for blacks. "The religious right will come after him."
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090221/NEWS01/90221022/1075
North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, who recently announced his run for the U.S.
Senate, courted about 80 people at the first gathering of a state gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democratic group in Southwest Florida.
Burns is likely the first openly gay candidate in Florida to run for Senate, said Michael Albetta, president of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus.
The seat will be left open by Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. Saturday was Burns' first large appearance since his announcement about a week ago.
Burns, a real estate broker and mayor of four years, introduced his partner of more than two decades, Rob Flint, and their 7-year-old adopted daughter, Autumn.
"As you can see, we're a threat to America," he said, before the chuckling crowd at the Holiday Inn in San Carlos Park.
Burns said he refused to be pigeon-holed as the gay candidate and he fights for all residents of North Miami.
"They could care less whether I was openly gay," he said. "I think I'm going to help knock down some stereotypes."
During the campaign, he vowed to stay with families across the state to understand what matters to them.
"I'm just as comfortable being on a dairy farm in north Florida as I am in Washington with the elite," he said, noting he once judged dairy cows.
Burns spoke against the ban on adoption by gay people in Florida, the only outright ban in the nation: "It's wrong."
John Hawkins, president of the Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida, which counts about 70 members, hoped hosting the event could build needed tolerance and awareness about lacking protections for gays.
He also hoped it would encourage local politicians to be more open about their sexuality.
Two other U.S. Senate candidates, Rep. Kendrick Meek and State Sen. Dan Gelber, were on the agenda for the day.
Albetta anticipates Burns will face challenges in his run, noting there's candidates who don't want to be associated with gays.
"Just the fear factor," he said, likening the fight for gay rights to the battle for rights for blacks. "The religious right will come after him."
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090221/NEWS01/90221022/1075
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