Thursday, November 17, 2022

Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot Request Is Expiring. Please Re-Enroll Now!

 

YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL
REQUEST WILL EXPIRE
ON DECEMBER 31, 2022 

PLEASE RE-ENROLL NOW!
For decades, PBCHRC supporters have been Super Voters, participating in every federal, state, and local election, year after year. As a result,candidates have courtied our votes and elected officials have enacted laws ensuring LGBTQ+ people in Palm Beach County are provided with equal rights, benefits, and protections.

When the Florida Legislature began to enact laws to make voting more difficult, PBCHRC Voters Alliance introduced our "Vote Naked" campaign, encouraging people to vote by mail. In the recent election, more than seventy percent of our supporters voted by mail.
In an attempt to further suppress the vote, the Florida Legislature recently enacted a new law causing Vote-by-Mail requests to expire at the end of the year in which a General Election is held. So, your vote-by-mail ballot request will expire at year's end.

So, if you want to continue voting by mail in 2023 and 2024, you need to complete a new Vote-by-Mail ballot request.

You may do this online easily
by clicking here.

In the alternative, you may do this:


You can download the form HERE to email, fax, or return in person.

The vote-by-mail request must include your driver's license/Florida tate ID number OR the last 4 digits of your social security number, whichever you provided when you registered to vote. (If you do not remember which you used, PBCHRC recommends you provide both numbers to ensure your vote by mail application can be processed.)

Don't wait! Municipal elections
are a few months away!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RAND HOCH
President and Founder

MEREDITH OCKMAN
Vice President

SEAN CONKLIN
GEMMA TORCIVIA
Co-Treasurers

RAE FRANKS
RHONDA WILLIAMS
Co-Secretaries
JANIECE N. DAVIS
MICHAEL DUQUETTE FOWLER
G. JOSEPH GARCIA
CHAUNCEY GRAHAM
JASMIN LEWIS
TAMARA SAGER
J.P. SASSER
GEMMA TORCIVIA




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, gender identity and gender expression. 

We promote equality through education, advocacy, direct action, impact litigation, and community outreach. Over the years, PBCHRC has been responsible for the implementation of more than 160 laws and policies providing equal protections, rights, and benefits for the LGBTQ community.  


Palm Beach County Human Rights Council
Post Office Box 267
West Palm Beach, Florida 33402
(561) 358-0105


Please follow "PBCHRC" on Facebook and Twitter
and sign up for the PBCHRC blog - pbchrc.blogspot.com/

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. PBCHRC'S Registration Number is CH46486. To obtain registration information, you may consult the website or call 800-435-7352.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE NOVEMBER 2022

 

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.

Since 1990, PBCHRC has been responsible for the enactment of more than 160 laws and policies providing equal rights, protections and benefits for the LGBTQ community. Our work never stops. Even during the height of the pandemic, elected officials throughout our county enacted several new LGBTQ+-inclusive municipal civil rights ordinances. For a list of the laws and policies enacted as the result of PBCHRC’s efforts, click here and select "Laws & Policies."
VOTERS ALLIANCE
Our success in enacting pro-LGBTQ laws is directly related to our community’s participation in electoral politics.

Since 1988, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance (PBCHRCVA) members — all volunteers —, have conducted close to 1,000 face-to-face endorsement interviews — and close to 100 interviews via Zoom and phone — of candidates seeking public office. We have done this to educate public officials, make endorsements and take action to elect people who will take steps to change laws and policies to provide equal treatment and equal benefits for the local LGBTQ community.

Throughout the year, PBCHRCVA supporters worked to identify more LGBTQ-supportive residents and get them registered to vote. We also worked on early voting, vote-by-mail and get-out-the-vote campaigns. So, it came as no surprise that LGBTQ and allied voters in Palm Beach County turned out in record numbers in the General Election . Our supporters continue to be "super-voters," as we have been for decades.

Thanks to your votes, the following PBCHRCVA-endorsed candidates were elected or re-elected in the General Election.

Congresswoman Sheila McCormick
Congresswoman Lois Frankel
Congresswman-Elect Jared Moskowitz
  
State Senator Bobby Powell, Jr.
State Senator Lori Berman
State Senator Tina Polsky

State Representative Jervonte "Tae" Edmonds
State Representative David Silvers
State Representative Joe Casello
State Representative Kelly Skidmore
State Representative-Elect Katherine Waldron

County Commissioner Gregg K. Weiss

Port of Palm Beach Commissioner Blair Ciklin
Port of Palm Beach Commissioner-Elect Deandre Poole

School Board Member Marcia Andrews

PBCHRC welcomes Brad Jackson as our newest member of the Voters Alliance
PBCHRC'S WINTER FÊTE
PBCHRC supporters will celebrate our 35th anniversary of LGBTQ+ advocacy in Palm Beach County at the 2023 Winter Fête. The event will be held the evening of January 14, 2023, at a private home in Palm Beach. Sandy James Fine Food & Catering will provide hors-d'oeuvres, Echo will provide sushi boats. and, as always, there will be a premium open bar.

At this time, we are seeking members of the Host Committee to contribute $1,000 to help underwrite the event and PBCHRC initiatives. Host Committee for the Winter Fête will receive two tickets to the event. To join the Host Committee, please go to PBCHRC.org/events or mail your check, made payable to PBCHRC, to Post Office Box 267, West Palm Beach, Florida 33402

Host - George Albrecht

Host Committee

Champagne and Vodka Sponsor: Pernod-Ricard
Decor Sponsor: Bruce Sutka Event Design
Sushi Sponsor: Echo
Wine Sponsor: Table 26

Jason Arbuckle
Alexandria Ayala and Rob Long
Lori Berman
Paul Bernabeo and David Cohen
Mack and Shawn Bernard
Ric Bradshaw
Terry Bowie and William Feldkamp
Karen Brill
Pamela Buchmeyer and Shellie Crandall
Castle Wealth Management
Shawn Cherry and Vincent Ruisi
Blair Ciklin
Gil Cohen and Paul Gervais
Peter Conn, Jr., and Oscar Garza
Cornerstone Solutions
David Crespo and Nicholas Coppola
James Curtis and Jason Colin
Joseph Paul Davis
Arlen Dominek and A.J. Young
Brent Feigenbaum and Frank Morgan
Mark Foley and Ryan Ruark
Edith Hall Friedheim and Peter Cruise
Dr. James Goad
Clifford Hertz and Paula Ryan
Rand Hoch
Tom Holton
Lawrence  Jacobs and Steven Snapp
Keith and Lorna James
Gerald Jarosinski, Jr.
Michael Judd and Ben Small
Michael Kagdis
Aimee Kelley
Wood Kinnard and Alberto Arias
Christina and Monte Lambert
Gregg Lerman
Rachelle and Jeff Litt
Joseph Marino, Jr. and Anthony Sibilia  
Mittleman Eye
Dr. David Mittleman and Michael Duquette Fowler
James North
Joe and Erin Peduzzi
Ty Penserga
Steve Potanovic
Scott Rixford and Jose Mena
Roosters
Rick Rose and Mitra Esmailzadah
SandyJames Fine Food & Productions
W. Trent Steele and Douglas B. Andrews
James Swope and Scott Robertson
Don Todorich - Corcoran Group R.E.
Richard Triggs and William Jennings
Scott Velozo and Stephen Mooney
Katherine Waldron
Shalonda Warren
A.J. Wasson and Randy Christensen
Dr. Donald Watren and Anthony Jaggi
Charles Williams
Gregg and Rebecca Weiss


IN OTHER NEWS

PBCHRC congratulates the Village of Wellington for hosting the Inaugural Florida LGBTQ+ Liaison Summit in October. The event, sponsored by Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried, drew dozens of people from across the state who serve their communities as LGBTQ+ liaisons. Thanks go out to Nathan Bruemmer, Commissioner Fried’s LGBTQ+ liaison who ran the event. Special thanks go out to Wellington Village Manager and CEO Jim Barnes and Kim Gibbons, the Village's LGBTQ+ liaison, for their work in pulling everything together. 

CURRENT INITIATIVES
 
PBCHRC is currently working to persuade:
  
  • The Health Care District of Palm Beach County to provide trans-specific healthcare services to indigent patients.
  • The School District of Palm Beach County to adopt a resolution opposing conversion therapy on students.
  • 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 close to thirty-five years, 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

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. PBCHRC'S Registration Number is CH46486. To obtain registration information, you may consult the website or call 800-435-7352.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RAND HOCH
President and Founder

MEREDITH OCKMAN
Vice President

SEAN CONKLIN
GEMMA TORCIVIA
Co-Treasurers

RAE FRANKS
RHONDA WILLIAMS
Co-Secretaries
JANIECE N. DAVIS
MICHAEL DUQUETTE FOWLER
G. JOSEPH GARCIA
CHAUNCEY GRAHAM
JASMIN LEWIS
TAMARA SAGER
J.P. SASSER
GEMMA TORCIVIA




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, gender identity and gender expression. 

We promote equality through education, advocacy, direct action, impact litigation, and community outreach. Over the years, PBCHRC has been responsible for the implementation of more than 160 laws and policies providing equal protections, rights, and benefits for the LGBTQ community.  


Palm Beach County Human Rights Council
Post Office Box 267
West Palm Beach, Florida 33402
(561) 358-0105