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 PBCHRC@gmail.com www.pbchrc.org