Gay-rights activists said the Democrats vying to replace Gov. Jeb Bush are not their dream team, but they are a lot more sympathetic to their cause than the Republican contenders.

BY BETH REINHARD
Miami Herald

When Rod Smith went to a recent Tallahassee conference of gay and lesbian activists, the Democratic candidate for governor cracked a joke alluding to Brokeback Mountain, the gay cowboy movie.

The crowd howled. That was a marked contrast to the lukewarm reception the state senator got at a Hollywood gathering a year earlier, when some of the same activists complained that he addressed them as ``you homosexuals.''

Smith's rival, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, voted to bar same-sex couples in Washington from adopting children in 1998. ''I'm just not convinced that it's appropriate to allow children to be raised in that environment,'' he said at the time. He changed his mind and voted against the adoption ban one year later.

''They've come a long way, baby,'' said Michael Albetta, president of the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus. ``It's refreshing.''

The candidates' changes of heart and tone reflect the gay community's growing political influence in Democratic circles. More than 70 percent of gay and lesbian voters in Florida are Democrats, and their turnout is higher than the general population's, according to surveys cited by the caucus.

In a twist on the chant heard at gay-rights parades, the message is: We're here, we're queer -- and we vote.

Some activists lost their favored candidate for governor last year when former Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox dropped out of the race. Davis and Smith support civil unions for same-sex couples, but Maddox went further and endorsed gay marriage.

Still, gay-rights leaders take comfort in that Davis and Smith oppose Florida's ban on adoption by same-sex couples and constitutional amendments forbidding same-sex marriage. Davis, criticized for missing votes since he began campaigning, canceled a Jacksonville stop last week so he could vote in Washington against the amendment.

The top Republican candidates for governor, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and State Attorney General Charlie Crist, support a gay-marriage-ban amendment on the 2008 ballot in Florida. Crist, however, seemed to backtrack when he recently told a Miami radio interviewer that same-sex civil unions are ``fine.''

Both Republicans have been courting religious conservatives, known for their heavy turnout in GOP primaries.

Smith, too, has reached out to the religious right. He sent his Lutheran minister son-in-law to a Miami meeting of the Christian Family Coalition, which supports the marriage amendment. Smith said he disagrees with the group on many issues but didn't want to disregard the membership, which includes black clergy.

The state senator from small-town Alachua had previously irritated some gay activists he met with last August after a Hollywood luncheon organized by the Broward Young Democrats. Three people who attended, including Albetta, say he referred to the crowd as ``you homosexuals.''

''I recoiled,'' said Stephen Gaskill, director of communications for the caucus. ``It pissed a lot of people off.''

Smith didn't recall using that term and said he has been sensitive to gay rights since serving as state attorney in the 1990s. But he acknowledged: ``Clearly I must have given off something that was off-putting, and that's unfortunate.''

Smith redeemed himself among some activists by co-sponsoring a bill in Tallahassee that would permit adoption by same-sex couples. It didn't clear a single committee.

Davis says he would sign such a bill if elected governor. But in 1998, the Tampa congressman was among 37 Democrats who voted to forbid same-sex couples in the District of Columbia from adoption.

His opponent in his 1998 reelection campaign, Hillsborough County Commissioner Joe Chillura, had spearheaded efforts to remove sexual orientation from a local civil-rights law. Davis handily beat Chillura, and when the Washington adoption ban surfaced again in 1999, he voted against it.

''I talked to a lot of people at home, including some couples who wanted to adopt,'' he explained recently. ``I gave it some thought, and I changed my vote.''

Davis scored 66 out of 100 in the most recent rankings by the Human Rights Council, which promotes gay rights nationwide. Davis lost points for failing to co-sponsor measures that would expand Medicaid services to people with AIDS and allow American citizens and legal residents to sponsor their same-sex, immigrant partners for residency.

''He's somebody who has not always been solid on our issues, but I have also found him to be somebody who will listen and is thoughtful,'' said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, a statewide lobbying group. ``As he evolves, he continues to move in a direction of fairness and equality.''

Davis has secured personal endorsements from key gay-rights activists, including Albetta and some leaders of the gay Dolphin Democrats club. Smith recently picked up support from the Palm Beach Human Rights Council.

Smith says gay-rights opponents try to foment opposition to Democrats by distracting voters from such issues as education and insurance. During his recent statewide bus tour, he recalled teasing an official in a tiny, conservative town who said a few dozen Democrats had switched parties because of concerns about gay marriage.

Smith asked the official mockingly: ``Do they have a lot of gay marriage in Lake Butler?''
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By KEVIN BEGOS and CATHERINE DOLINSKI The Tampa Tribune

Katherine Harris' new campaign manager is an energetic young conservative best known for an anti-gay marriage initiative in Massachusetts and for bringing actor and National Rifle Association President Charlton Heston to speak at his liberal college.

Bryan Rudnick, a member of the Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee, was named her fourth campaign manager on Thursday.

In a statement, Harris said she was "delighted" to have Rudnick on her team, saying he "has over 10 years of experience in Florida politics."

That seemed to be a bit of a stretch, since Rudnick was a senior at Brandeis University in the spring of 2000. Soon afterward he helped found Massachusetts Citizens for Marriage, a citizen group that attempted to pass a gay marriage ban in the state. He is the president of Alliance Strategies Group in Boca Raton, which describes itself as a political consulting firm.

The challenge for Rudnick will be to bring calm to a campaign that has seen massive staff turnover. Harris' previous three managers all resigned, along with many other staff members.

"'Stabilize.' I think that's the key word right now," said Susan MacManus, a professor of political science at the University of South Florida. "That and refocus the message away from her, and to the issues."

The Harris campaign declined requests for an interview with Rudnick, and he did not return calls. Other analysts said his skills or shortcomings might not matter if Harris doesn't learn from prior experiences with her staff.

"She's the one who needs to change and she hasn't. It sounds like she's kind of the problem here," said Davis Houck, a professor of communications at Florida State University.

Some who knew Rudnick's work in Massachusetts questioned how effective he was there.

"I do not think of him as a particularly skilled organizer," said Josh Friedes, a longtime board member of the Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts, which worked against Rudnick's ballot initiative in 2001 and 2002.

Friedes, who recently relocated to Washington state, described Rudnick as a zealot who appears to think gays and lesbians are inferior, despite Rudnick's protestations during the petition drive that his motives were pro-family, not anti-gay.

"Actually, I think Bryan Rudnick was one of the best things that ever happened to the civil rights movement in Massachusetts," Friedes said. "He was so ardent and strident I think what a lot of people saw when they interacted with Bryan and his organization was, they came face to face with hate and bigotry."

Stephen Gaskill, communications director for the Florida GLBT Democratic Alliance, said he doubts Rudnick's past will be much of an issue here.

"I don't think this is going to have an impact on her campaign either way," he said, adding that Harris has been moving more and more to the right, and "this is just one more hire to buck up that credential."

According to his company Web site, Rudnick "specializes in strategic planning, political consulting and communications, with an emphasis on public relations and crisis management." Rudnick also has experience working in Israel, and was active with the Massachusetts group Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation.

Harris has three opponents in the Sept. 5 Republican primary, and that winner will face incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in November.
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Candidates from across the state accept a call from the gay caucus in the Democratic Party as it moves to become a force.

JENNIFER LIBERTO and ALEX LEARY
St. Pete Times

TALLAHASSEE - For years, most campaigning Democrats have held Florida's gay community at arm's length, acknowledging common interests privately but rarely publicly.

On Saturday night, several leading Democrats running for state office spoke, patted shoulders and shook hands with more than 100 gay Democrats on a fourth floor roof of the Doubletree Hotel, signaling a modest change in the way Democratic candidates are treating the state's gay community.

A poolside cocktail hour sponsored by the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Democratic Caucus, drew both Democratic gubernatorial candidates, state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua and U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa. They spoke in support of less controversial gay rights issues without mentioning measures to ban gay marriages and civil unions.

"I don't know if it's just my North Florida twang, but I was asked when I came in here today, 'How comfortable are ya?' Well, I hope you won't quit me," Smith said.

There was a silence after that remark, which references a line from Brokeback Mountain, the movie about two cowboys in love. Then the crowd roared.

In a 10-minute speech that departed from his stump speech Smith addressed several gay rights issues, such as anti-bullying in public schools, gay adoptions of foster kids and embryonic stem-cell research for diseases like HIV.

"We have a message as Democrats that's got to transcend all of our differences and unite us on the things that matter."

By contrast, Davis peppered his 20-minute stump speech with fewer gay rights issues (he said he supports adoption), while going heavy on his campaign favorites, such as property insurance problems and the Terri Schiavo case.

"It's the same as any group that really decides to hunker down," said Davis in an interview about the GLBT's political identity. "This is an election where people that are willing to get out there and fight and stand up are going to make a huge difference."

Most of the credit for its new-found appreciation is due to gay Democrats, who in reaction to myriad anti-gay political measures, have recently refined their political prowess. Dozens of new GLBT chapters have been reorganized or newly created, including in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. In about two years, the GLBT has gone from an excuse for a social gathering into a sizable political voice with ample money and time.

"We're loyal, we turn out to vote, we work for the party and we raise a lot of money," said GLBT spokesman Stephen Gaskill. "We recognize we're not the darlings of the party any more, but we've been making a case that we are the base of the Democratic Party."

GLBT members say they believe they need to support Democrats, even those opposed to gay marriage, for the sake of seeking change on issues that affect a broader range of Americans. For example, they invited U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, who voted for a constitutional amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman, who addressed the caucus in Tallahassee.

Yet, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was not invited to the event, because he doesn't tend to talk publicly about gay rights issues, especially given that he has enjoyed a comfortable lead in the polls against challenger, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, Gaskill said. Nelson has sent aides in his place to other GLBT events he was invited to.

"He's been a reliable vote on issues that matter to us," Gaskill said. "We'd like him to be a little more vocal about our issues."

Months before the Saturday event, GLBT caucus leaders had held their own meetings with Davis and Smith, pressing for support for gay adoption and anti hate-crime measures.

"They are listening to our issues," said GLBT caucus member Ken Keechl, who is running for Broward County Commission. At least two other members of the caucus are running for office.

As he stood near the Doubletree's rooftop pool Saturday, Keechl said the group's growing political identity was evident.

"Look at who has come here," he said, referring to Davis, Smith, state attorney general candidate Walter "Skip" Campbell and Eric Copeland, a candidate for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services.

The candidates appeared comfortable enough and worked the crowd. They received the most applause and whoops when they touched on gay rights issues in their speeches.

Several GLBT members said they were impressed with Smith but were supporting Davis for governor, because they believe that Smith is a more conservative Democrat than Davis.

"Smith is not a bad person at all, but Davis has a long record of being consistent on some impressive issues, some gay issues and civil rights issues," said Jeff Peters of Tallahassee.

Unlike Representative Boyd, who has endorsed Smith, Davis voted against the constitutional amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman. But he said he did so because the Constitution should protect rights, not deny them. Otherwise, he thinks marriage is between a man and woman. Smith said he feels likewise; both men support civil unions.

Republicans took note which Democrats appeared at the GLBT event. Florida Republican Party spokesman Jeff Sadosky asserted that the gay and lesbian caucus platform may play well to primary voters but are outside what Democrats at large are willing to accept.

"When you're forced in an effort to win a nomination to stand up with the likes of Barney Frank and his radical views, it is something that could hurt you," he said.

Sadosky said the GOP could use the gathering in a future ad or other campaign material. "We're going to educate voters about stances taken by the Democrats."
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BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press, printed in Bradenton Herald

TALLAHASSEE - Gay and lesbian Democrats sometimes face a difficult position when trying to promote political issues of personal interest: They know some in their party aren't on their side, and they believe Republicans use the issues to divide voters.

So the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Democratic Caucus met Saturday to address their dual goals - seeking equal rights for their members and electing Democrats regardless of how they stand on gay issues.

Democrats have become more willing to accept homosexuals as people who deserve the same rights as others, while Republicans have moved even further to the extreme against gays, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts said.

Gay marriage would be the most obvious example of an issue important to the group, yet one that not all Democratic leaders support and one that Republicans have latched onto in opposition.

But GLBT members believe they need to support Democrats opposed to gay marriage for the sake of seeking change on issues that affect a broader range of Americans.

"This is not the time to take our marbles and go home, there are too many issues at stake," said Brian Bond, executive director of the Democratic National Committee's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council.

And there's a growing recognition in the party that the GLBT could be effective in politics.

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, yet he addressed the GLBT members 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. "That's why I'm here."

So why was he invited, given his opposition to gay marriage?

"It's an education for everybody," said Florida GLBT president Michael 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."

Democratic gubernatorial candidates U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa, and state Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, were scheduled to address the group at a cocktail reception later Saturday.

One notable absence was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, who Albetta said has "time and time again" declined invitations to the group's events, sometimes instead sending aides who will only talk in private rather than publicly address the group.

Republican Party of Florida spokesman Jeff Sadosky disputed contentions that Republicans use the issue like gay marriage and flag burning to divide.

"I have a problem with defining them as wedge issues when the majority of Americans feel just the same," he said. "We welcome anyone and everyone, the Republican Party is a big tent party, but at the same time we do believe certain things and one of those things is that marriage is a commitment between one man and one woman."
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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.
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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.
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Boyd: Group's power lies in voting as bloc

By Bill Cotterell
TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT POLITICAL EDITOR

U.S. Reps. Barney Frank and Allen Boyd told Florida gay activists Saturday that Republicans are pushing constitutional amendments against same-sex marriage and flag burning as "wedge issues" to rally social conservatives who will vote to keep a GOP majority in Congress.

Frank, a nationally known gay activist, said the Democrats have a crowd-pleaser of their own - raising the minimum wage - but that the White House and GOP leaders can stifle it.

"I can sum up the Republican agenda in nine words: Burning the flag, spurning the fag and earnings that lag," Frank, D-Mass., said.

Boyd, D-Monticello, said he attended the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender conference because the group represents a well-organized voting bloc that can help Democrats win the House.

"I represent a district here in North Florida that John Kerry got 42 percent in," Boyd said. "That might make it one of the more conservative districts, counting even Republican districts, in the state. Certainly from a social-conservative perspective - whatever in the hell that means - it probably is."

Boyd, who is unopposed for re-election in his Big Bend and Panhandle district, said Florida Democrats "have a real good shot" at winning three of the 15 seats Democrats need nationally to take over the House. He said his party might beat Reps. Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and Gus Bilarakis of Palm Harbor and gain the seat Rep. Katherine Harris of Sarasota is vacating for her U.S. Senate race.

"I see a group of folks, a group of Democrats, organizing themselves and working hard to make a change and have an impact on the political process," Boyd said of the 100 caucus members.

Speaking with reporters on his way out of the meeting in Tallahassee, Boyd said he voted for a federal marriage amendment two years ago. He said he will not commit on a new amendment until he sees the wording of any proposal that is brought before the House, but "I'll be consistent with whatever I do."

A federal marriage amendment recently failed in the Senate. But Boyd said Republicans will bring it up in the House.

"The floor of the House of Representatives has been used as a place to wedge and divide people," Boyd said. "The gay-marriage issue is a perfect example. You never see or hear anything about gay-marriage issues until an election is being decided, then they figure how to use it as a divisive issue."

Boyd said flag burning "is an issue that is used similarly."

Frank said he doesn't agree with Boyd on several issues. But he told the Florida activists that they should rally around Democratic candidates in November to give the party control of the committee system and congressional agenda.

"The biggest difference it will make, in terms of our rights in November, is which party controls the House of Representatives," Frank said. "As long as Republicans control the House of Representatives, no matter how much individual Republicans profess support, nothing will come up that we will be allowed to do - we will be on the defensive on every measure.

"And similarly, if the Democrats win, we will be in a position to deliver."

Michael Albetta of Fort Lauderdale, president of the state GLBT Caucus, echoed Frank's comments. He estimated that his group influences more than 1 million votes.

"We will not be silenced," Albetta said. "We are taxpayers, just as good as anyone else. We can make a difference in the 2006 election, and we must."

Florida Republican Party spokesman Jeff Sadosky said Boyd and Frank were doing the same thing they accused the GOP of doing - using emotional arguments to rally their party base. But he said having a large following of social conservatives is politically better than appealing to gay activists.

"If that's their definition of our base and their base - taking their words and not mine - then I guess the question has to be asked: Is it any wonder which party more and more Floridians are identifying with," Sadosky said.

John Stemberger, chairman of Florida4marriage.org, which is gathering voter signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot, said Republicans were not cynically exploiting hot-button issues. He said voters care about defining marriage.

"Yes, we definitely want to know where our congressmen stand before the elections," he said. "But an amendment is defensive on our part. We're responding to what the gay-rights activists are doing."
See the full article

BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press, printed in Bradenton Herald

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gay and lesbian Democrats sometimes face a difficult position when trying to promote political issues of personal interest: They know some in their party aren't on their side, and they believe Republicans use the issues to divide voters.

So the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Democratic Caucus met Saturday to address their dual goals - seeking equal rights for their members and electing Democrats regardless of how they stand on gay issues.

"I can sum up the Republican agenda in nine words: Burning the flag, spurning the fag and earnings that lag," said U.S. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who is gay.

Democrats have become more willing to accept homosexuals as people who deserve the same rights as others, while Republicans have moved even further to the extreme against gays, Frank said.

Gay marriage would be the most obvious example of an issue important to the group, yet one that not all Democratic leaders support and one that Republicans have latched onto in opposition.

But GLBT members believe they need to support Democrats opposed to gay marriage for the sake of seeking change on issues that affect a broader range of Americans.

"This is not the time to take our marbles and go home, there are too many issues at stake," said Brian Bond, executive director of the Democratic National Committee's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council.

And there's a growing recognition in the party that the GLBT could be effective in politics.

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, yet he addressed the GLBT members 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 Florida GLBT president Michael 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."

Democratic gubernatorial candidates U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith were scheduled to address the group at a cocktail reception later Saturday. Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno had been scheduled to address the group, but canceled because of a family emergency, said GLBT spokesman Stephen Gaskill.

One notable absence was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who Albetta said has "time and time again" 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.'"

Albetta also realizes that the caucus cannot push for too much too soon if it wants to be politically effective. Instead of focusing too heavily on the gay marriage issue, the group sees anti-discrimination laws as a better first step, he said.

"All we're asking for is equality in housing and equality in employment and then go from there," he said. "We're not looking to eat the whole pie, but we're looking to eat part of the pie. We know that it is political suicide right now to ask for gay marriage."

Republican Party of Florida spokesman Jeff Sadosky disputed contentions that Republicans use the issue like gay marriage and flag burning to divide.

"I have a problem with defining them as wedge issues when the majority of Americans feel just the same," he said. "We welcome anyone and everyone, the Republican Party is a big tent party, but at the same time we do believe certain things and one of those things is that marriage is a commitment between one man and one woman."
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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.
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6/26/2006 - Orlando - Rainbow Democratic Club announces with great pride that on June 19 the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) overwhelmingly voted to elect Kimberly Bowles the first openly gay chair (and only the second woman) in the organization's history.

The supermajority vote (81-31) reflects Kim's strong support from the highly diverse DEC members and the sustained relationship she shares with local Democratic activists.

Kim and her partner of 12 years, Ridge Holdridge (see above picture), have both served on Rainbow Democratic Club's Board over the past five years. Kim also served for several years as President of the Orlando Gay Chorus. In 2002 she won GLBCC's Spectrum Award for female role model.

Kim currently works as Secretary/Treasurer of the IATSE (the union group that represents theatrical and stage employees) covering Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Kim was born in Greenville, Ohio, (appropriately, the home of Annie Oakley) and has lived in Florida for well over twenty years.

The special election was necessitated to replace the previous DEC chairman, Tim Shea, who resigned his post to run for judge. Kim will be the interim chair until the next DEC regular election in December.

Rainbow Democratic Club President Luis Grajales congratulated Kim Bowles at RDC's June 26th monthly meeting and will honor her with a special award at the Third Thursday mixer at Savoy on July 20th.

For further information contact:
RDC President Luis Grajales at legrajales@cfl.rr.com or
RDC Secretary/DEC Chair Kim Bowles at kabowles@earthlink.net

http://www.rainbowdems.org/NewsItem.asp?id=173
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Summer Conference of the GLBT Democratic Caucus Features Davis, Smith, Reno, Frank - and Allen Boyd?

Fort Lauderdale - The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus will hold its summer conference on Saturday, July 15 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tallahassee, bringing the group into the heart of "red state" Florida for the first time. With new chapters in Tallahassee and Pensacola, the daytime portion of this meeting will feature workshops on GOTV efforts for this election cycle; the evening cocktail reception will feature speakers from Florida and the nation's capital.

The preliminary schedule follows; an update will be released next week.

Saturday, July 15

WHAT: Summer conference of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus

WHEN: Saturday, July 15

- 9:00am to Noon: Business meeting; remarks by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
- Noon to 1:00pm: Lunch break
- 1:00pm to 5:00pm: Workshop training sessions; remarks by Janet Reno
- 5:30pm to 8:30pm: Cocktail reception featuring guest speakers (see below)

WHERE: DoubleTree Hotel, 101 South Adams Street, Tallahassee

WHO: Gubernatorial candidates Jim Davis and Rod Smith (invited); Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL); Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA); former US Attorney General Janet Reno; Florida Attorney General candidate Skip Campbell; Florida Agricultural Commissioner candidate Eric Copeland; Florida Democratic Party chair Karen Thurman (invited) and executive director Luis Navarro; Brian Bond of the Democratic National Committee; officials from the Florida Democratic Party and the National Stonewall Democrats; and local elected officials and candidates.

INFO: The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus represents the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities for the Florida Democratic Party. The Caucus is growing, and currently includes 14 chapters across the state.
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