PBCHRC Voters Alliance currently holding office - 2025

The following elected officials endorsed by The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance currently hold office:

U.S. Congresswoman Lois Frankel

U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

U.S. Congressman Jared Moskowitz

State Senator Lori Berman

State Senator Tina Polsky

State Representative Joe Casello

State Representative Jervonte "Tae" Edmonds

State Representative Kelly Skidmore

State Representative Debra Tendrich

County Commissioner Bobby Powell, Jr.

County Commissioner Joel Flores

County Commissioner Maria Sachs

County Commissioner Gregg Weiss

Clerk & Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo

Constitutional Tax Collector Anne Gannon

Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks

Public Defender Daniel Eisinger

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw

State Attorney Alexcia Cox

Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link

School Board Member Marcia Andrews

School Board Member Karen Brill

School Board Member Matthew Lane

School Board Member Erica Whitfield

 Port Commissioner Blair Ciklin

Port Commissioner Jean Enright

Port Commissioner Wayne Richards

Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen

Circuit Court Judge Jaimie Goodman

Circuit Court Judge Dina Keever-Agrama

Circuit Court Judge James Martz

Circuit Court Judge Lisa Small

County Court Judge Marni Bryson

County Court Judge Lourdes Casanova

County Court Judge Frank Castor

County Court Judge Edward Garrison

County Court Judge Debra Moses Stephens

County Court Judge Ashley Zuckerman

Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor Eva Webb

Northern PBC Improvement District Member Ellen Baker

Boca Raton City Mayor Scott Singer

Boca Raton City Council Member Yvette Drucker

Boca Raton City Council Member Monica Mayotte

Boca Raton City Council Member Andrew Thomson

Boynton Beach Mayor Ty Penserga

Boynton Beach City Commissioner Angela Cruz

Boynton Beach City Commissioner Woodrow Hay

Boynton Beach City Commissioner Aimee Kelley

Delray Beach City Commissioner Angela Burns

Delray Beach City Commissioner Rob Long

Greenacres Mayor Chuck Shaw

Greenacres City Councilwoman Paula Bousquet

Greenacres City Councilwoman Suzy Diaz

Greenacres City Councilwoman Judith Dugo

Greenacres City Councilman John Tharp

Haverhill Town Councilman Ray Caranci

Lake Worth Beach Mayor Betty Resch

Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Sarah Malega

Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Christopher McVoy

North Palm Beach Village Mayor Susan Bickel 

Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Hickox Moore

Palm Beach Town Councilwoman Julie Araskog

Palm Beach Town Councilman Ted Cooney

Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Chelsea Reed

Palm Beach Gardens City Councilmember Marcie Tinsley

Riviera Beach City Councilwoman KaShamba Miller-Anderson

Royal Palm Beach Village Councilwoman Selena Samois

Wellington Village Mayor Michael Napoleone

Wellington Village Councilman John McGovern

Wellington Village Councilwoman Tanya Siskind

West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Christina Lambert

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Joe Pedruzzi

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Cathleen Ward

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Shalonda Warren

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE -POST-PRIMARY ELECTION UPDATE - AUGUST 2024

 

August 21, 2024 As you know, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) is Florida’s oldest, independent, non-partisan, political organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. We promote equality through education, advocacy, direct action, impact litigation and community outreach. It has been quite a busy summer for Palm Beach County's LGBTQ+ community!

PBCHRC VOTERS ALLIANCE

Throughout the years, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance (PBCHRCVA) volunteers have worked to identify more LGBTQ+ and allied residents and get them registered to vote. We have also worked on early voting, vote-by-mail and get-out-the-vote campaigns. So, it came as no surprise that our supporters turned out in record numbers in yesterday's Primary Elections when otherwise, turnout was quite low.

Thanks to your votes, the following PBCHRCVA-endorsed candidate won his election on August 20:

Daniel Eisinger Public Defender

In addition, the following PBCHRCVA-endorsed candidates on the August 20 ballot moved forward, but face opposition in the November 5 General Election:

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell U.S. Senator Ric Bradshaw Sheriff Bobby Powell County Commission (Dist. 7)  Lourdes Casanova  County Court Judge (Group 2) Mindy Koch School Board (Dist. 5)

PBCHRC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The PBCHRC Charitable Foundation granted four graduating senior high school students in Palm Beach County our Social Justice Awards for 2024. The students are William T. Dwyer High School graduate Lindsay Reese, Florida Atlantic University High School graduate Laura Susskind, Seminole Ridge High School graduate Samaril Vellavoor, and Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts graduate Katherine Yang. Congratulations to the recipients! The award program was established in 2015 and are presented annually to college-bound graduating seniors who have demonstrated interest in advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.

To review the biographies of all of our scholarship recipients over the years and to learn more about the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation, click here. The PBCHRC Charitable Foundation also provides need-based scholarships to LGBTQ+ college students through the Norman L. Stern and August R. Venezio Scholarships. In addition, the Charitable Foundation has established the W. Trent Steele Legal Advocacy Award in recognition of Trent’s decades of pro bono work on behalf of PBCHRC as well as his work as a PBCHRC Board Member. The scholarship is available to LGBTQ+ and allied second and third year law students with ties to Palm Beach County. Please contact PBCHRC@gmail.com for further information Over the past year, PBCHRC and the Charitable Foundation have made significant contributions to:

451 Avengers - a local activist organization challenging library book bans in Palm Beach County, ACLU of Florida Foundation, which works to create a Florida free of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,  First Amendment Foundation, which watched over a legislative program to review, and reenact if warranted, each of the hundreds of exemptions to Florida's public records law,  Lambda Legal, a national legal organization representing LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV in court – and in the court of public opinion,  MAP (the Movement Advancement Project), a nonprofit think tank working to create a thriving, inclusive, and equitable America where all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life, PRISM, which works to expand access to LGBTQ+-inclusive education and sexual health resources for youth in South Florida, Stonewall National Museum & Archives, which presents exhibitions on LGBTQI themes and public programs in South Florida and across the United States, and,  Vita Nova, which is a safe bridge to independence for former foster care, LGBTQ+ and other unhoused local youth through supportive housing, education, employment and life.

HEARING SET ON AUGUST 28 FOR MAN WHO VANDALIZED DELRAY BEACH LGBTQ+ PRIDE INTERSECTION

On February 4, 2024, Dylan Reese Brewer of Clearwater was caught on video defacing the Delray Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Intersection by doing burnouts with his pickup truck. Brewer's truck sported a large Trump campaign flag. The Pride Intersection is a permanent art installation which was dedicated by Delray Beach elected officials on June 13, 2021, The street mural consists of eleven painted stripes representing the colors of the LGBTQ+ Progress Pride Flag. In 2021, the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation paid $16,000 for the installation of the LGBTQ+ Pride Intersection. Brewer was charged with with Criminal Mischief over $1000, a third degree felony, and Reckless Driving, a first degree misdemeanor. At his arraignment on March 14, 2024, Brewer, through his attorney, pled "not guilty" before Circuit Court Judge Daliah H. Weiss. The status conference on the case, which has repeatedly been continued, is now scheduled for August 28, 2024. If convicted of the felony count, Brewer could be sentenced to prison for up to five years. If convicted of the misdemeanor count, Brewer could be sentenced to prison for up to one year.  The Affidavit of Probable Cause prepared by Delray Beach Police Department Detective Kaylee Bolanos, indicates Brewer drove his pickup truck through the Pride Intersection three times.. By repeatedly speeding and sharply applying his brakes, Brewer intentionally defaced the intersection with "burnouts" in several places.

According to the sworn statement of one of Brewer's passengers that day, Brewer recently had modifications made to the truck making it easier for him to do burnouts. The hate crime was captured on a city surveillance camera aimed directly at the Pride Intersection. Additional surveillance video was provided by The Office, a nearby restaurant. Those videos also showed Brewer's driving endangered pedestrians as well as a man on a scooter. Several witnesses who chased after the truck made videos showing a young man in a black cowboy hat driving the truck. The license plate in the videos established the vehicle was owned by Brewer's parents. To view one of the videos, click here. With this evidence, Detective Bolanos and her team established that Brewer was the perpetrator of the crimes. Brewer was contacted by the police and given the choice of either being arrested at his home or turning himself in. To avoid embarrassment, he chose the latter. Following booking, Brewer was locked up in the Palm Beach County Jail until arrangements for bail were made. Kudos to the Delray Beach Police Department for a job well done! PBCHRC has taken the position that defacement of the LGBTQ+ Pride Intersection should be considered a hate crime, However, State Attorney David Aronberg previously determined that since the intersection is owned by a municipality and not an individual, Florida’s hate crime statute does not apply. This is the second time the Delray Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Intersection has been defaced.

Alexander Jerich

In June 2021, just days after the Pride Intersection was dedicated, Alexander Jerich used his truck, also bearing a large Trump flag, to do burnouts on the intersection following a birthday celebration for former President Donald Trump sponsored by the Palm Beach County Republican Party. Shortly before trial in 2022, Jerich pled "guilty", Although PBCHRC filed a Victim Impact Statement requesting Jerich to be adjudicated of the felony he was charged with and serve time in county jail time, Circuit Court Judge Steven Suskauer merely gave Jerich a slap on the wrist. Jerich was ordered to write an essay about the victims of the Pulse Massacre, pay approximately $2,000 in restitution to the City of Delray Beach, undergo a mental health examination, and conduct 100 hours of community service, Judge Suskauer also withheld adjudication on both the felony and misdemeanor charges. Although Jerich was sentenced to two years probation, Judge Suskauer released him from probation 5 months early. PBCHRC will file a Victim Impact Statement regarding the hate crime Dylan Brewer committed and is hopefully that this time, justice will be served. We will keep you posted.

Despite torrential rain, close to one hundred PBCHRC supporters, including several public officials celebrated LGBTQ+ Pride Month on June 12 for our annual Pride Happy Hour hosted by Meat Market Palm Beach. As always, Meat Market rolled out the rainbow carpet in recognition of the achievements of our local LGBTQ+ community. In addition to providing a fabulous array of passed hors  d'oeuvres and Happy Hour drink prices, the restaurant donated a $100 gift certificate and a percentage of the night’s dinner proceeds to the PBCHRC.

PBCHRC'S BIENNIAL SUMMER  SOIRÉE

On July 13, more than 150 PBCHRC supporters celebrated the night away at our SOLD OUT biennial Summer Soirée at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach. SandyJames Fine Food and Productions provided an array of passed hors d’oeuvres. Russian amber oscetra caviar donated by Altima Caviar, was the hit of the evening.  Touching on the Olympic Games, event designer Bruce Sutka stationed soccer players at the doors to greet guests while volleying soccer balls back and forth. Throughout the evening, the attendees were entertained by gymnasts and other athletes. Thanks go out to our amazing Host Committee: Altima Palm Beach School Board Member Alexandria Ayala Mack and Shawn Bernard James Berwind and Kevin Clark Terry Bowie and William Feldkamp Sheriff Ric Bradshaw School Board Member Karen Brill Nancy Chanin Shawn Cherry and Vincent Ruisi Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center Cornerstone Solutions David Crespo and Nicholas Coppola City Commissioner Christy Fox Sarah and Melissa Hassan Judge Rand Hoch (ret.) Michael Judd and Ben Small Michael Kagdis Gregg Lerman City Commissioner Christina Lambert Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link Rachelle Litt and Dr. Jeffrey Litt City Commissioner Rob Long National Croquet Center State Senator Bobby Powell Mayor Betty Resch SandyJames Fine Food & Productions Jill Sasso and Roe Manghisi Arthur Schofield State Representative David Silvers Bruce Sutka Scott Velozo and Stephen Mooney Dr. Donald Watren and Anthony Jaggi  State Representative Katherine Waldron County Commissioner Gregg Weiss Thanks to their generosity. all of the proceeds from individual tickets sales went directly to fund PBCHRC initiatives and programs. To check out the photos, click here.

IN OTHER NEWS

PBCHRC mourns the passing our longtime Board Member J.P. Sasser, who died on August 6. JP served four terms as Mayor of Pahokee and was one of the first openly gay mayors in Florida. PBCHRC Voters Alliance Member Emmy Kenney, who represents PBCHRC on the School District's Diversity and Equity Committee received the "Champion for Equity in Education" award from the School District of Palm Beach County. Daniel Gibson, Vice President for Community Impact for the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, has joined the PBCHRC Voters Alliance. I served as a panelist on "Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling: A Panel Discussion with Trailblazing LGBTQ+ Judges" at Florida International University College of Law and on “Are We Dimming The Light Of Education In The Sunshine State” for the National Council of Jewish Women - Palm Beach Section. In addition, I am currently representing PBCHRC at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

CURRENT INITIATIVES

PBCHRC is currently working to persuade:  The local courts, prosecutors and public defenders to utilize the appropriate pronouns when addressing trans people with business before the courts,  The Health Care District of Palm Beach County to provide trans-specific healthcare services to indigent patients, and   The School District of Palm Beach County to cease doing business with Chick-fil-A and other companies that discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and other minorities.  For more than three decades, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council has worked diligently on behalf of the LGBTQ community. With your support, we will continue to do so in the years to come. As always, we will keep you posted on our progress. Judge Rand Hoch (retired), President and Founder

PBCHRC Voters Alliance Endorsements - 2025

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance has made a endorsements in the following races: 

The following elected officials endorsed by The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance currently hold office: 

U.S. Congresswoman Lois Frankel 

U.S. Congresswoman Sheila C. McCormick

U.S. Congressman Jared Moskowitz

State Senator Lori Berman 

State Senator Tina Polsky 

State Representative Joe Casello 

State Representative Jervonte "Tae" Edmonds

State Representative Kelly Skidmore 

State Representative Debra Tendrich

County Commissioner Bobby Powell, Jr.

County Commissioner Joel Flores

County Commissioner Maria Sachs 

County Commissioner Gregg Weiss

Clerk & Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo 

Constitutional Tax Collector Anne Gannon 

Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks 

Public Defender Daniel Eisinger

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw 

State Attorney Alexcia Cox

Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link 

School Board Member Marcia Andrews 

School Board Member Karen Brill 

School Board Member Matthew Lane 

School Board Member Erica Whitfield 

Port Commissioner Blair Ciklin 

Port Commissioner Jean Enright 

Port Commissioner Wayne Richards 

Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen 

Circuit Court Judge Jaimie Goodman 

Circuit Court Judge Dina Keever-Agrama 

Circuit Court Judge James Martz 

Circuit Court Judge Lisa Small 

County County Court Judge Marni Bryson 

County Court Judge Lourdes Casanova

County Court Judge Frank Castor 

County Court Judge Edward Garrison 

County Court Judge Debra Moses Stephens 

County Court Judge Ashley Zuckerman 

Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor Eva Webb 

Northern PBC Improvement District Member Ellen Baker 

Boca Raton City Mayor Scott Singer 

Boca Raton City Council Member Yvette Drucker

Boca Raton City Council Member Monica Mayotte 

Boca Raton City Council Member Andrew Thomson

Boynton Beach Mayor Ty Penserga 

Boynton Beach City Commissioner Angela Cruz 

Boynton Beach City Commissioner Woodrow Hay 

Boynton Beach City Commissioner Aimee Kelley 

Delray Beach City Commissioner Angela Burns

Delray Beach City Commissioner Rob Long

Greenacres Mayor Chuck Shaw

Greenacres City Councilwoman Paula Bousquet 

Greenacres City Councilwoman Suzy Diaz 

Greenacres City Councilwoman Judith Dugo 

Greenacres City Councilman John Tharp

Haverhill Town Councilman Ray Caranci 

Lake Worth Beach Mayor Betty Resch 

Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Sarah Malega 

Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Christopher McVoy 

North Palm Beach Village Mayor Susan Bickel 

Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Hickox Moore 

Palm Beach Town Councilwoman Julie Araskog 

Palm Beach Town Councilman Ted Cooney 

Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Chelsea Reed 

Palm Beach Gardens City Councilmember Marcie Tinsley 

Riviera Beach City Councilwoman KaShamba Miller-Anderson 

Royal Palm Beach Village Councilwoman Selena Samois 

Wellington Village Mayor Michael Napoleone 

Wellington Village Councilman John McGovern 

Wellington Village Councilwoman Tanya Siskind 

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Christina Lambert 

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Joe Peduzzi 

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Cathleen Ward 

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Shalonda Warren 

This paid electioneering communication, which is independent of any party, candidate or committee, is produced, sponsored and paid for by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance.

Four High School Students to Receive PBCHRC's 2024 Social Justice Awards

 

The PBCHRC Charitable Foundation has selected four graduating seniors to receive the organization's 2024 Social Justice Awards..The awards are presented annually to college-bound graduating seniors who have demonstrated interest in advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.   The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) is Florida's oldest, independent, non-partisan, political organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. In 2015, the organization established the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation to fund educational scholarships and other charitable endeavors.

Lindsay Reese, who is graduating from William T Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, is in the Early Childhood Teacher Education Academy, where she earned her Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC) and her Child Development Associate (CDA). She is President of the school's award winning chorus where she has had the opportunity to teach students and conduct the school choir. "My experience and involvement within the LGBTQIA+ community is significant to my character. In the world of classical music which is historically dominated by men, I hope to show that Queer women can make a large, positive impact." This summer, Lindsay will commence her studies at Florida State University College of Music, where she will be studying Choral Music Education, Following graduation, Lindsay plans to become a public school choral teacher and choir director.

Laura Susskind is graduating from Florida Atlantic University High School in Boca Raton. Over her years as a student, she participated in basketball, baseball, cheerleading, ice hockey, martial arts, soccer, and many other activities. Laura never let her gender limit her activities -- even when she was the only female on the team!. Laura is one of only three women -- and the only out LGBTQ+ person -- in the Fire Explorers Program. Following graduation from Florida Atlantic University, she intends to become a firefighter. "When I get into the fire service, my goal is to be who I am by being openly lesbian. I want to spread awareness and educate my peers about the difficulties and issues in my community."

Samaril Vellavoor, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, is graduating from Seminole Ridge High School in Westlake. As a liberal, queer, person of color living among conservative-minded people in Loxahatchee Groves, Samaril has faced numerous challenges over the years. Yet, through hard work in their school's Advanced International Certificate of Education Program, Samaril has been successful academically. Through dual enrollment, they have earned college credits at Palm Beach State College. Samaril has participated in the Youth Program at Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center and their school's Gender-Sexuality Alliance. Politically active, they have also volunteered with Democratic Socialists of America They initially plan to attend Palm Beach State College with the hope of transferring a state university to study game arts. Samaril's ultimate goal is to work at a game studio. "I want to be a role model for other LGBTQ+ people in the game arts industry. All people deserve to work and live comfortably without worry." Katherine Yang, a passionate advocate for social justice and healthcare, is graduating from Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. After her father had a stroke, she became involved with the American Heart Association as a "Teen of Impact", advocating for awareness and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Katherine also finds solace through dance and serves as Vice President of the school's Arts Club. In that role, she actively engages with younger members, nurturing their creativity and fostering mentorship relationships. She will be attending Fordham University to study journalism, following which she plans to go to law school. "As an aspiring journalist, I aim to use my education and platform to amplify voices, raise awareness, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and representation. Homophobia and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community are pervasive issues that demand attention and action."

Created in 2015, the Social Justice Awards are administered by PBCHRC Board Member Jasmin K. Lewis, Chair of the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation's scholarship program. Under Jasmin's leadership, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to more than two dozen students.    "Lindsay, Laura, Samaril and Katherine are amazing advocates and role models for local LGBTQ+ students," said Lewis. "The Foundation is proud to recognize their work by presenting them with the 2024 Social Justice Awards."