Unity becomes rallying cry for GLBT politics
Gathering in Fort Myers aimed to plan the future of Florida's GLBT movement
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, South Florida Blade
FEB. 26, 2009
Two Florida gay adoption court victories have become rallying cries for the ultra conservative movement, intent on defeating advances in equal parenting rights. Supporters of anti-gay Amendment 2 are seeking ways to attack existing domestic partnership policies throughout the state. And in Gainesville, moralists are using scare tactics to overturn sexual orientation and transgender discrimination protections in a city charter amendment, that is considered a test case for anti-gay measures throughout the country.
This was the state of affairs in Florida Saturday as about 80 members of the state's GLBT Democratic Caucus gathered in Fort Myers Saturday to plan and strategize the future of Florida's GLBT movement.
The need for a unified gay political movement in the post-amendment 2 Florida became the central theme of the conference.
Leaders of gay organizations such as Stonewall Democrats, Dolphin Democrats, and Equality Florida talked about focusing a statewide effort in Gainesville to defeat a charter amendment March 24, which will repeal GLBT protections passed in 2008. The Gainseville vote March 24 is considered a must-win among GLBT leaders.
"We're at a tipping point," said Terry Fleming, a caucus member and member of the Equality is Gainesville's Business steering committee. "If we can defeat this discriminatory charter amendment, then I think we will be able to move forward as a unified community across the state and country."
If the charter passes it's believed it will give the green light to similar measures to be passed in other cities throughout the state and country.
Others spoke about gay-friendly bills: gay adoption, trans-inclusive discrimination protections, state-wide domestic partnership policies and ending abstinence only sex education policies are among the hot-button GLBT issues.
Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, told the caucus that the only way to make progress in a traditionally hostile political environment is to form a unified front and to communicate with elected officials.
"We need to get strategic and focus our time and energy in a different way," Smith said. "The question is how do we stop acting as [separate] organizations and become a movement?"
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, South Florida Blade
FEB. 26, 2009
Two Florida gay adoption court victories have become rallying cries for the ultra conservative movement, intent on defeating advances in equal parenting rights. Supporters of anti-gay Amendment 2 are seeking ways to attack existing domestic partnership policies throughout the state. And in Gainesville, moralists are using scare tactics to overturn sexual orientation and transgender discrimination protections in a city charter amendment, that is considered a test case for anti-gay measures throughout the country.
This was the state of affairs in Florida Saturday as about 80 members of the state's GLBT Democratic Caucus gathered in Fort Myers Saturday to plan and strategize the future of Florida's GLBT movement.
The need for a unified gay political movement in the post-amendment 2 Florida became the central theme of the conference.
Leaders of gay organizations such as Stonewall Democrats, Dolphin Democrats, and Equality Florida talked about focusing a statewide effort in Gainesville to defeat a charter amendment March 24, which will repeal GLBT protections passed in 2008. The Gainseville vote March 24 is considered a must-win among GLBT leaders.
"We're at a tipping point," said Terry Fleming, a caucus member and member of the Equality is Gainesville's Business steering committee. "If we can defeat this discriminatory charter amendment, then I think we will be able to move forward as a unified community across the state and country."
If the charter passes it's believed it will give the green light to similar measures to be passed in other cities throughout the state and country.
Others spoke about gay-friendly bills: gay adoption, trans-inclusive discrimination protections, state-wide domestic partnership policies and ending abstinence only sex education policies are among the hot-button GLBT issues.
Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, told the caucus that the only way to make progress in a traditionally hostile political environment is to form a unified front and to communicate with elected officials.
"We need to get strategic and focus our time and energy in a different way," Smith said. "The question is how do we stop acting as [separate] organizations and become a movement?"
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