ABOVE: Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Michele Rayner, Rep. Shevrin Jones and Rep. Jennifer Webb, photos via Facebook.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced its first slate of endorsements for the Florida State Legislature July 22, eight pro-equality candidates who identify as LGBTQ.
“Florida is one of 29 states in the country that lack explicit state-level protections for all LGBTQ people,” the organization shared in a press release. “Of the endorsed candidates, all identify as LGBTQ and all but two are people of color.”
The organization specifically highlighted State Rep. Shevrin Jones who is running to represent Senate District 35. HRC noted that he “would become the first Black queer person elected to the Florida State Senate after he made history becoming the first black queer person in the Florida House of Representatives.”
“The stakes in this race and across this country could not be higher,” Jones subsequently shared via social media. “We don’t have time to go backwards when it comes to equality. I am PROUD that the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest civil rights organization has recognized our race for Senate District 35 a highlight across the State of a Florida.”
Additional endorsements include Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Rep. Jennifer Webb, respectively running for re-election in House Districts 49 and 69. Guillermo Smith currently serves as Florida’s first openly-LGBTQ Latinx state legislator and Webb as the first openly-LGBTQ woman to be elected.
HRC also endorsed civil rights attorney Michele Rayner, who could make history as well if elected to represent HD-70. The candidate would become the first openly LGBTQ Black woman to serve in Florida’s State Legislature.
The organization’s first round of endorsements can be viewed in full below. Visit each campaign’s website for more information:
Shevrin Jones (SD-35)
Joshua Hicks (HD-11)
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (HD-49)
Rep. Jennifer Webb (HD-69)
Michele Rayner (HD-70)
Jasmen Rogers- Shaw (HD-95)
Javier Estevez (HD-105)
Ricky Junquera (HD-118)
“Right now, over 770,000 LGBTQ Floridians live in a patchwork of protections,” HRC Associate Regional Campaign Director Ryan Wilson said. “Driving from Miami to Pensacola, an LGBTQ person would have different rights in every town, city or county they drove through.
“That must change, and while the Bostock ruling has provided some workplace protections, LGBTQ Floridians are still at risk of discrimination in housing, education, public accommodations or businesses,” he continued. “In the coming weeks, HRC will mobilize the over 3.9 million Equality Voters across the state to ensure we have the strongest slate of pro-equality candidates to elect in November as possible.”
Jones, Rayner, Rogers-Shaw and Estevez have also been endorsed by Equality Florida. The organization’s Action Pac launched its pro-equality primary election voter guide July 22, available here. More endorsements are expected prior to the primary election from both organizations.
