We’re excited to announce that House Impeachment Manager and US Representative Val Demings will provide the Congressional Keynote Address at the Leadership Dinner at our Winter Conference, All In to Win In 2020!

Rep. Demings is a strong LGBTQ advocate who has served Florida’s 10th District since 2017 and was the Orlando Police Chief prior to her election to Congress. She has been at the forefront of holding Donald Trump accountable, earning a national reputation as one of the Impeachment Managers during the Senate trial. We’re thrilled that she will be joining us, ready to energize the LGBTQ community at this important time.

The Leadership Dinner will be held Saturday, March 7 (7:30 p.m.) at the Marriott Orlando Airport Lakeside Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Click her to purchase your dinner ticket(s). A few more conference updates:

• Rooms in our hotel block are going fast and the deadline to register is this Friday, February 21. Book your room today.
• And don’t forget to register for the 2020 Winter Conference itself. Click here for the itinerary, registration info, and more conference details.

This is the one of our biggest events during the most important election of our lifetimes. We’re All In to Win In 2020 and can’t wait to see you there!

WPBF: State Rep Al Jacquet made the comment about political opponent Omari Hardy

LAKE WORTH, Fla. — A local state lawmaker is under fire after using a homophobic slur directed at a political opponent.

Representative Al Jacquet made the comment during a video he posted on social media.

The video touches on multiple topics before Jacquet turns to the upcoming primary and his opponent, Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Omari Hardy.

“I hear they got sleepy Hardy!” Jacquet said. “That’s all good. That’s their union boy, their (expletive), union boy.”

Hardy said he heard about the video and then made it a point to watch it.

“I was disappointed,” Hardy said. “I was appalled, and I was offended.”

Hardy is not gay, though he was raised by two moms.

“I was offended for them,” he said. “I was offended for the broader LGBTQ community here in Palm Beach County and across the state.”

Leaders in the local LGBTQ community were also offended.

By coincidence, the LGBTQ Democratic caucus had a scheduled meeting Tuesday night at the Compass LGBQT Community Center in Lake Worth Beach.

Jacquet’s comments were not on the agenda, but they were what people were talking about.

“It’s very hurtful when an elected official uses slurs to refer to the LGBQT community,” said caucus president Kevin Muth, adding he was extremely upset by the comments. “Words matter.”

Compass Executive Director Julie Seaver added she was appalled by the comments.

“It doesn’t matter what the slur is: racial, misogynistic, homophobic,” Seaver said. “He’s not representing all of his constituents.”

Jacquet has not made a public comment since the video was posted, but he did issue a statement.

“In the heat of the moment, I said something I should not have said. I apologize for my words that have offended some of my colleagues.”

Critics have pointed out that the apology does not mention Hardy nor does it mention the LGBTQ community.

“I’m not looking for an apology to me,” Hardy said. “He needs to apologize to the LGBTQ community.”

“We’re not going to take this anymore,” Seaver said. “We’re tired of giving people passes for a statement made on the fly.”

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council has called on the Florida House of Representatives to censure Jacquet or remove him from office.

All In to Win In 2020
Winter Conference of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus
Program Update #1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2020

FLORIDA LGBTQ+ DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CALLS ON LEGISLATURE TO PASS STATEWIDE PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ COMMUNITY

DELRAY BEACH, FL – Today at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, advocates are pushing for statewide protections for LGBTQ Floridians in light of several blatantly discriminatory bills that were recently filed.

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill issued the following statement on the anti-LGBTQ legislation and need for statewide protections:

“No matter how Republican lawmakers try to spin the impact of the discriminatory legislation they recently filed, the bills are a direct attack on every LGBTQ Floridian – and prove the need for statewide protections. Our community is their go-to election year punching bag when it’s time to win votes and curry favor with the radical Religious Right. Today we stand with the openly-LGBTQ members of the Florida legislature who are fighting back against this discriminatory legislation and pressing forward on the protections we need.”

# # #

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Floridians to the Florida Democratic Party (FDP). The Caucus has 21 chapters across Florida, from Miami to Jacksonville to Pensacola.  More information is on our website, https://www.lgbtqdems.org.

Caucus Lobby Days are coming — and we want YOU!

Join the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus for our 2020 Lobby Days in Tallahassee. There is much on the agenda, and as always equality is at stake. It is imperative that we make our voices heard.

We have two packed days of meetings with elected officials and staff, as well as a guided tour of the Supreme Court. We will also host a cocktail reception for Members, staff and affiliated organizations at the new headquarters of the Florida Democratic Party. We welcome everyone to participate!

Our draft schedule is below to help you plan. The $30 registration fee cover materials and catered lunch for both days, as well as the cocktail reception. Register here.

One other note — Tallahassee is busy during session, so be sure to make your hotel reservations as soon as you can!

LOBBY DAY SCHEDULE

Monday, February 17: Travel to Tallahassee (on your own)

Tuesday, February 18: Organizing Session, Tour, Legislative Meetings. Lunch and Cocktail Reception included.

Wednesday, February 19: Legislative Meetings. Lunch included.

We hope to see you in Tallahassee!

We’re All In to Win In 2020 — it’s the Winter Conference of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus! Join us March 6-8 at the Marriott Orlando Airport Lakeside Hotel for the kickoff to the Florida 2020 election season. As always, the Winter Conference will feature elected officials and candidates, Democratic Party officials, subject matter experts on specific topics, interesting panel discussions on LGBTQ issues and plenty of opportunities for participation.

We’ll also hold a Membership Meeting to discuss bylaws changes, and conduct a Presidential Straw Poll so Floridians will know where the LGBTQ community stands.

Registration & Hotel

To register for All In to Win In 2020, click here. Your registration fee covers Materials, the Welcome Reception on Friday evening, and Continental Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday. Conference registration is $40 through March 5; then $50 during the conference.

The Marriott Orlando Airport Lakeside Hotel is a beautiful resort. Book directly with the hotel here.

Lunch Session

Lunch is included with your conference registration. However, advance tickets can be purchased for $10 if you’d like to just attend and hear our exciting speakers without eating lunch. If you’d like lunch included or wish to attend the full day’s events, please register for the conference.  Cynthia Nixon will headline the lunch session along with Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan! Cynthia is a former actress, previous New York gubernatorial candidate, and supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders

Leadership Dinner

The highlight of the conference, our Leadership Dinner, is separately ticketed, and dinner tickets can be purchased here. Leadership Dinner tickets are $90 through March 5; then $100 during the conference. House Impeachment Manager and U.S. Representative Val Demings will deliver the Congressional Keynote at the Leadership Dinner. Dinner speakers also include Dr. Jill Biden representing the Joe Biden campaign, and Executive Editor of Out Magazine and founder of Black Trans Circles Raquel Willis representing the Elizabeth Warren campaign.

Sponsors can click here to get more information about sponsorship packages and leadership dinner program ads.

Program Schedule

FRIDAY, MARCH 6

ALL EVENTS ARE AT THE MARRIOTT ORLANDO LAKESIDE HOTEL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Registration begins at 5pm

Welcome Reception
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Sponsored by the Rainbow Democrats

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

8:00am
Registration
Continental Breakfast

8:30am
Breakfast Speaker: Terrie Rizzo, Florida Democratic Party Chair

Morning Session

Welcome:

• Stephen Gaskill, President, Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus
• Brandon Nelson, President, Rainbow Democrats
• Wes Hodge, Orange County DEC Chair

Presentation: Forces Driving Discrimination in Florida Schools

• Carol Cleaver, science teacher; Escambia Education Association Teacher’s Union; Vice President of the Emerald Coast Equality LGBTA Democratic Caucus

Presentation: What Does That Mean? Non-Binary, Genderqueer and the New Language of the LGBTQ+ Movement

• Reign Hervey, Caucus Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Speakers:

• Adam Sabin, Caucus Treasurer, Budget Presentation
• Ben Johansen, Founder, Pulse Ribbon Project

Lunch (12 p.m. – 1 p.m.)

• Former actress, previous New York gubernatorial candidate, and Senator Bernie Sanders supporter Cynthia Nixon
• Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan
• Tickets are $10 if you’d like to just attend the lunch session to hear Cynthia and Patty speak, without eating lunch. If you’d like to lunch included or wish to attend the full day’s events, please register for the conference. This session is include in the conference registration fee.

Afternoon Session

Speakers: Tallahassee Legislative Update

• State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith
• State Sen. Annette Taddeo

Panel Discussion: Issues and Challenges for Florida’s Trans Community

• Nathan Bruemmer, former Executive Director, ALSO Youth
• Ricki Bauman, Assistant Secretary, Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus
• Gina Duncan, Director of Transgender Equality, Equality Florida

Panel Discussion: Convert to Love: Ban Conversion Therapy

• Eric Rollings, Organizer, Convert to Love: Ban Conversion Therapy
• Heather Wilkie, Zebra Coalition
• Jennifer Foster, CEO, One Orlando Alliance
• Stephanie Preston-Hughes, Orange Counseling

Speakers Session

• Ben Johansen, Founder, Pulse Ribbon Project

Membership Meeting

• Director Presentations
• Bylaws Change Discussion and Vote
• Presidential Straw Poll

5pm
Adjourn

6:30pm to 7:30pm
Cocktail Reception

7:30pm
Leadership Dinner

Program:

• Stephen Gaskill, President
• Congressional Keynote: House Impeachment Manager and U.S. Rep. Val Demings
• Former Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden
• Executive Editor of Out Magazine, founder of Black Trans Circles and Elizabeth Warren surrogate Raquel Willis

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

10am to Noon
Farewell Brunch
Hammered Lamb
1235 N. Orange Ave.
Orlando

12:30pm
Group Tour of Pulse Memorial
1912 S. Orange Ave.
Orlando