FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 4, 2021

CHARLIE CRIST, NIKKI FRIED, DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA, ANNETTE TADDEO, JASON PIZZO, DEAN TRANTALIS, AND MANNY DIAZ ARE FEATURED SPEAKERS AT LET’S GET LOUD: THE SUMMER CONFERENCE OF THE FLORIDA LGBTQ+ DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

August 6-8 in Miami, featuring local and statewide candidates and elected officials

— Stringent Covid Protocols in Place Throughout the Weekend —

Miami, FL – Let’s Get Loud: The Summer Conference of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is August 6 through 8 at the Hilton Miami Downtown. The Caucus selected Miami as its conference site to jumpstart organizing in Miami-Dade County, a critical voting block to win statewide elections in Florida. The Surfside tragedy, Cuban people rising up against a tyrannical government, and turmoil in Haiti have further elevated its importance.

The Summer Conference draws more than 100 LGBTQ+ activists and allies from around Florida; federal, state, and local elected officials; Democratic Party officials; and subject matter experts to bring together the LGBTQ+ community and underscore the importance of Hispanic voter outreach and winning in 2022. Click here to register and purchase tickets for the conference.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora, and North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin will participate in the Saturday morning “How South Florida’s LGBTQ Cities Work Together” panel. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who has been internationally recognized for her strong, steady leadership during this difficult time in Miami, will be the Lunch Keynote Speaker and will be introduced by FDP Chair Manny Diaz.

In the Saturday afternoon session, State Senator Annette Taddeo will join the “Trans Community Under Fire” panel and State Senator Jason Pizzo will give an update on the Florida Senate. The Saturday evening cocktail reception will feature gubernatorial candidates Representative Charlie Crist and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried. At the reception, the Caucus will also honor State Senator Shevrin Jones with a 2021 Legislative Leadership Award and Mayor Dean Trantalis with a Lifetime Leadership Award.

All events are OPEN PRESS unless otherwise noted. This year’s Summer Conference at the Hilton Miami Downtown is a spacious venue to allow for ample social distancing with COVID-19 protocols in place during all portions of the programming.

Hotel:

Hilton Miami Downtown
1601 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, Florida 33132

FRIDAY AUGUST 6

Welcome Reception
630-830pm

• Stephen Gaskill, Caucus President
• Orlando Gonzales, Executive Director, SAVE
• Adam Gentle, Congressional candidate

SATURDAY AUGUST 7

830am
Morning Session

Welcome

• Stephen Gaskill, Caucus President
• Christopher Richmond, MDLGBTA president
• Javier Estevez, Miami-Dade DEC Campaign Chair, Caucus Region 9 Director

850am
Panel: How South Florida’s LGBTQ Cities Work Together

• Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis
• Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora
• North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin

930am
Panel: HIV/AIDS at 40

• Howard Grossman, Clinical Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University
• Requel Lopes, Executive Director, World AIDS Museum (moderator)
• Jose Szapocznik PhD, Professor, University of Miami
• Shed Boren, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University

1030am
Cuba: What’s Next?

• Carmen Pelaez, Filmaker and Activist
• Introduced by Ricky Junquera

11am
Panel: Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Workshop on Unconscious Bias

• Mary Ann Shea, Director

Noon
Lunch Keynote Speaker

• Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
• Introduced by FDP Chair Manny Diaz

1pm
Afternoon Session
Introduced by Nik Harris, Caucus Vice President

Panel: Assault on School Boards

• Dade School Board Member Lucia Baez-Geller
• Broward School Board Member Sarah Leonardi
• Joe Saunders, Equality Florida (moderator)
• Bill McKay, Vice President, Space Coast LGBTA Democratic Caucus

150pm
Panel: The Trans Community Under Fire

• Moderator Nathan Bruemmer, LGBTQ Consumer Advocate, FDACS (moderator)
• Jason Starr, Litigation Director, HRC
• Carvelle Estriplet, Caucus Deputy Director, Region 8
• Annette Taddeo

250pm
FDP’s Plan For Winning Florida

• Marcus Dixon, FDP Executive Director

310pm
Senate Victory 2022

• Christian Ulvert, Senate Victory

330pm
Senate Overview

• Senator Jason Pizzo

4pm
Membership Meeting (CLOSED PRESS)

5pm
END

7pm to 9pm
Evening Cocktail Reception

• President Stephen Gaskill
• Mayor Dean Trantalis, receiving Lifetime Leadership Award
• State Senator Shevrin Jones, receiving 2021 Legislative Leadership Award
• Charlie Crist
• Commissioner Nikki Fried

The Caucus thanks our Presenting Sponsor
Happening Out Television Network

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CHARLIE CRIST, NIKKI FRIED, DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA, ANNETTE TADDEO, JASON PIZZO, DEAN TRANTALIS, AND MANNY DIAZ ARE FEATURED SPEAKERS AT LET’S GET LOUD: THE SUMMER CONFERENCE OF THE FLORIDA LGBTQ+ DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

Join us in person or virtually August 6-8 in Miami

— Stringent Covid Protocols in Place Throughout the Weekend —

Let’s Get Loud: The Summer Conference of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is August 6 through 8 at the Hilton Miami Downtown. Our Summer Conference draws LGBTQ+ activists and allies from around Florida; federal, state, and local elected officials; Democratic Party officials; and subject matter experts to bring together the LGBTQ+ community.

Gubernatorial candidates Rep. Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried highlight our Saturday Evening Cocktail Reception, which also features a Lifetime Leadership Award presented to Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and our 2021 Legislative Leadership Award presented to State Senator Shevrin Jones.

NOTE: This year’s Summer Conference at the Hilton Miami Downtown is a spacious venue to allow for ample social distancing with COVID-19 protocols in place during all portions of the programming, including masking and temperature checks.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who has been internationally recognized for her strong, steady leadership during this difficult time in Miami, will be the Lunch Keynote Speaker and will be introduced by FDP Chair Manny Diaz.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora, and North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin will discuss “How South Florida’s LGBTQ Cities Work Together” on our kickoff panel. “HIV/AIDS at 40” features a panel of notable healthcare leaders and activists looking at where we go from here. State Senator Annette Taddeo joins the “Trans Community Under Fire” panel to talk about the trans youth sports ban, which also features HRC Litigation Director Jason Starr. School Board members and activists prepare for “The Coming Assault on Our School Boards,” focusing on LGBTQ issues, critical race theory, and more. Filmmaker and activist Carmen Pelaez will outline what’s next for Cuba. And we’ll review the upcoming election and legislative session with presentations by FDP Executive Director Marcus Dixon, Florida Senate Victory’s Christian Ulvert, and State Senator Jason Pizzo.

Click here for Ticketing and Registration, including Virtual Registration.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2021

ORLANDO, FL – On this day five years ago, 49 people were killed and 53 were injured at Pulse Nightclub in one of the worst mass shootings and deadliest attacks on LGBTQ+ people in the United States.

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill issued the following statement for Pulse Remembrance Day:

“The Pulse massacre, a heinous attack on Orlando’s LGBTQ community, will remain with us always. Today is a time to remember and honor those we lost, and also to recognize the survivors who overcame their physical injuries and trauma. Pride Month is always a bittersweet combination of celebrating how far our community has come, focusing our activism on completing the journey to full equality, and commemorating those no longer with us due to neglect, discrimination, or violence. Pulse is a core part of the Pride story, and we thank our Florida congressional delegation for helping to make the National Pulse Memorial a reality. Pulse is now a symbol of resilience and strength.”

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus Region 4 Director and Rainbow Democrats President Brandon Nelson gave a reaction from the local community:

“One Pulse and Orlando Strong are more than just slogans. They are what has helped our community to heal. Five years ago, we were devastated by an act of cowardice and terror. As painful as that day was, it has made us stronger as individuals, as a city, and as a community. We can never bring back the 49 lives we lost, but we can and will continue to honor them with action. Their memories are the building blocks of our strength. Keep dancing Orlando, because hate will never win. We are Pulse. We are Orlando.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1, 2021

JACKSONVILLE, FL – This morning in Jacksonville, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB1028 into law. This broad education bill includes the discriminatory ban on transgender athletes.

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill issued the following statement on the bill signing:

“It’s shameful that Governor DeSantis chose the first day of Pride Month to sign the discriminatory trans sports ban into law. This transphobic legislation aims to fix a problem that doesn’t exist, and instead harms children just wanting to play sports. It’s clear the Governor and his Republican enablers in the Legislature are dismissive of Florida’s large and visible LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month is steeped in acceptance, but it is also a statement among our community that we will fight for our civil rights. We are watching, we are working, and we are putting discriminatory politicians on notice.”

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus Region 2 Regional Director Joshua Hicks gave a local reaction to the bill becoming law:

“Jacksonville is a welcoming and inclusive city governed by a human rights ordinance that bans discrimination based on gender identity and expression. It’s shameful and disgusting that Governor DeSantis chose our community to sign discrimination into law on the first day of Pride Month.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2021

TALLAHASSEE, FL – After a ban on transgender athletes in Florida died in the Senate committee process, Republicans added it as an amendment to a charter school bill that passed both chambers this evening.

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill issued the following statement in response:

“Florida’s Republicans are pathetically proud of their hatred. They legislate their own bigotry rather than the concerns of their constituents. Deliberately hurting transgender children and playing politics with their lives is beyond shameless. Our community will work tirelessly to hold accountable the politicians who voted for this despicable legislation.”

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