Caucus’ First-Ever Virtual Conference Will Broadcast Online September 12

DELRAY BEACH FL — Former presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg will provide the National Keynote to the 2020 Summer Conference of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus. Themed It’s In Your Hands, the conference will be broadcast online Saturday, September 12 from 10am to 2pm ET and is open press. The conference will be followed by a closed press Membership Meeting beginning at 3pm ET.

“COVID-19 keeps us from meeting in person, but we have a tremendous amount of work to do to change the direction of our country by electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” said Stephen Gaskill, president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus. “Our virtual conference features party leaders, issue experts, and campaign strategists who will inspire us, teach us, and guide us in our mission to defeat Donald Trump.”

The full program is still being finalized and more info will be released shortly. In addition to Mayor Buttigieg’s keynote, the conference will feature a session on voter protection efforts in Florida as a counter to Republican efforts to suppress the vote. Also on the agenda is a panel discussion on the intersection of issues facing the LGBTQ community and communities of color in the 2021 legislative session. This panel will be moderated by Senator-elect Shevrin Jones, featuring Representative-elect Michele Rayner, as well as Palm Beach County Commissioner Omari Hardy and Angie Nixon, both of whom are expected to win their races in November.

It’s In Your Hands will be available online on several sites, with lgbtqdems.org, the Caucus’ webpage, as the main site. There is no registration fee for the conference, but participants are encouraged to register.

The conference is hosted by the Caucus’ Broward chapter, the Dolphin Democrats. It will be broadcast from the studios of Hotspots Media Group, the Caucus’ media partner.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 18, 2020

DELRAY BEACH, FL – The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus congratulates its endorsed candidates who won their primaries or advanced to the general election in November:

• Shevrin Jones, Florida Senate, District 35
• Angie Nixon, Florida House, District 14
• Omari Hardy, Florida House, District 88
• Michele Rayner, Florida House, District 70 (Unopposed in the general election)
• Jacquelyn McMiller, Mayor of Fort Myers
• Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill issued the following statement on the Caucus’ endorsed candidates:

“It’s been an incredible primary night for Florida’s LGBTQ community. Michele Rayner will be the first Black lesbian in the Florida House. Shevrin Jones is another step closer to becoming the first openly LGBTQ state senator. Equality champions Angie Nixon and Omari Hardy defeated notoriously anti-LGBTQ incumbents. Jacquelyn McMiller and Daniella Levine Cava moved on in competitive local races. Our community is making history and electing champions who will represent everyone in their communities, including their LGBTQ constituents.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2020

The Caucus’ Women Leaders Laud This Historic Moment

DELRAY BEACH – The Biden-Harris ticket is a 2020 winner! The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus has commended the Biden campaign’s progressive and far-reaching LGBTQ agenda. And now, with Senator Kamala Harris joining Joe Biden as his vice presidential nominee, the Caucus recognizes the historic steps the community can make when the Biden-Harris team takes office in January.

Beth McMillen, Treasurer of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus and founder of our Brevard County chapter, the Space Coast LGBTA Democratic Caucus:

“I cannot stress enough the need for our representation to accurately reflect the diversity of our country. Having a woman as the vice presidential nominee shows every little girl and boy that any opportunity is available to you, regardless of your gender identity. Even more important is to have representation at the table during the governing process. Men, who will never understand our needs and challenges, have been making decisions on women’s worthiness and rights for too long. More women in high office moves equality forward, which we need more than ever after years of the Trump administration and congressional Republicans chipping away at our rights.”

Sally Phillips, Past President of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus and former President and founder of the Hillsborough County LGBTA Democratic Caucus:

“Only 100 years ago – on August 18, 1920 – the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote. We have come far since then, but not far enough. As the first and only woman elected president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, I know the significance of visibility, and how that platform allows you to take action. Black and Brown women are the key to this election, and Kamala Harris is the woman for this moment. When they’re elected, Vice President Harris will be President Biden’s partner in governing, helping to turn around our failing economy, develop a public health plan so we can beat back Covid-19, and reestablish the moral and ethical high ground we used to hold on the world stage.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 6, 2020

DELRAY BEACH, FL – Today the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is announcing its next round of congressional and state legislative endorsements for the 2020 election. Our caucus membership and local chapters in Alachua, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties have reviewed and endorsed the following candidates for the Florida Legislature. Our state caucus and chapter endorsement processes are continuing over the coming weeks.

U.S. House of Representatives

Florida Senate

Florida House of Representatives

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill issued the following statement on the Caucus’ endorsement:

“We have a rigorous endorsement process in order to identify the best candidates to represent the LGBTQ+ community. We are thrilled to make these endorsements along with our local chapters and support these candidates for Congress and the Florida Legislature because they are committed to full LGBTQ+ equality. We look forward to working with them to protect LGBTQ Floridians from discrimination and advance the cause of equality.”

Susan McGrath, Campaign Director of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, highlighted the opportunities for Democrats:

“This is the strongest field of pro-equality Democrats running for office in Florida in recent memory. We have a real opportunity to flip a number of GOP-held seats in Congress and the Florida Legislature. Our community is proud to support so many equality champions and we look forward to working with them in Tallahassee and Washington next year.”

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Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 10 AM – 2 PM ET

It’s our first virtual conference! Exciting speakers, panel discussions and trainings to win this critical election cycle! We’ll broadcast from the studios of our media sponsor, Hotspots Media Group. Hosted by our Broward chapter, the Dolphin Democrats.

We’ll announce a program shortly — check back!

There is no registration fee for this conference, but we will ask you to register. Stay tuned for that info!

We’re grateful for Rep. Charlie Crist talking with our membership about stopping coronavirus spread, supporting unemployed Americans, blocking oil drilling, protecting the Everglades, and turning Florida blue. Give it a watch!

Watch our “Diversity In Our Party and Our Caucus” panel at Leadership Blue. Keep watching for an engaging and important discussion moderated by our Vice President Nik Harris and Legislative Director Nathan Bruemmer, featuring activists Carson C Graham, Shani Angela, and Alfredo Olvera!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2020

DELRAY BEACH, FL – Today the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is announcing its next round of state legislative endorsements for the 2020 election. Our local chapters in Broward, Escambia, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, and Pinellas counties have reviewed and endorsed the following candidates for the Florida Legislature. These and many of our other chapters are continuing the endorsement process over the coming weeks before the primary.

FLORIDA SENATE

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill issued the following statement on the Caucus’ endorsement:

“Our chapters each have rigorous endorsement processes, in order to identify the best candidate to represent the LGBTQ+ community. We are thrilled to echo our local chapters and endorse these candidates for the Florida Legislature because they are committed to full LGBTQ+ equality. We look forward to working with them to finally pass the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, protect LGBTQ Floridians from discrimination, and advance the cause of equality.”

Susan McGrath, Campaign Director of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, highlighted the opportunities for Democrats:

“This is the strongest field of pro-equality Democrats running for the Florida Legislature in recent memory. We have a real opportunity to flip a number of GOP-held State House and Senate Districts. Our community is proud to support so many equality champions and we look forward to working with them in Tallahassee next year.”

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