HRC Blog

Special thanks to Chris Edelson, HRC's state legislative director, for contributing this point on HRC supporting the fundraising efforts to defeat an anti-LGBT measure in Gainesville, Florida:

On Sunday night, January 18, HRC was proud to provide space in the Equality Center for Equality is Gainesville's Business to hold a fundraising event.  Equality is Gainesville's Business is fighting to defeat a dangerous ballot measure aimed directly at the LGBT community in Gainesville, Florida.  On March 24, voters will decide whether to pass an amendment to the city charter that would roll back existing protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  The proposed amendment would also limit Gainesville's ability to protect its citizens from other forms of discrimination. Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, as well as City Commissioners Jeanna Mastrodicasa, Lauren Poe, and Thomas Hawkins, all attended the event, as did Bob Karp and Michelle Ott of Equality is Gainesville's Business [pictured, left].  The mayor explained why she feels so strongly about keeping anti-discrimination protections in place.  HRC Governor Dana Beyer, who was active in the successful effort to defeat a similar measure in Montgomery County last year, also attended, as did HRC Business Council member Diego Sanchez, who recently joined Congressman Barney Frank's staff as the first openly transgender person to work on Capitol Hill. In addition, we were thrilled that Kim Coco Iwamoto, a member of the Hawaii Board of Education and the first openly transgender person elected to statewide office in the U.S., also attended. Allyson Robinson, Associate Director of Diversity at HRC, recently wrote about how anti-LGBT forces in Gainesville have used outrageous scare tactics in an attempt to roll back equal rights.  These tactics falsely brand transgender people as sexual predators, but the goal is to take away hard-won equal rights for all LGBT people, as well as other groups of people who would be negatively affected by the anti-equality measure. Thanks to everyone who came by last night during this busy inaugural week! [Right photo: HRC Associate Director of Diversity Allyson Robinson speaks with Hawaii Board of Education member Kim Coco Iwamoto, the first openly transgender person elected to statewide office in the United States.]

[Legal Disclaimer: Paid Political Advertisement sponsored and paid for in-kind by Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036. Approved by Equality is Gainesville’s Business.]