President's Message - February 2023

Founded in 1988, 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 is hard to believe that it has been 35 years since PBCHRC was created. Our efforts have been responsible for the enactment of more than 160 laws and policies providing equal rights, protections and benefits for the LGBTQ+ community. For a list of the laws and policies enacted as the result of PBCHRC’s efforts, click here and select "Laws & Policies." Frankly, back in the 1980s, I optimistically thought there no longer would be a need for our organization in the 21st century. I assumed that by the turn of the century, our community nationwide would be protected by federal civil rights laws. (Back then, we did not envision marriage equality even becoming an issue, let alone reality.) Unfortunately, the LGBTQ+ community continues to be targeted by Governor Ron DeSantis, the Republican-controlled state legislature, the courts and much of the media. Students, families with LGBTQ+ members, and especially transgender people are bearing the brunt of the efforts to ensure that the progress we have made is reversed. So, PBCHRC continues to concentrate on Palm Beach County and our local municipalities. Our work never stops.   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 Municipal elections will be held throughout Palm Beach County on Tuesday, March 14. If you know any LGBTQ+ supportive Palm Beach County residents who are not yet registered to vote, the deadline to register to vote in the March 14 elections is Monday, February 13. For more information about registering to vote, click here.. Follwoing interviews with the candidates, the follwing candidates were endorsed for election (or re-election) in the March 14 municipal elections: Boynton Beach City Commission (Seat 4) - Aimee Kelley  Delray Beach City Commission (Seat 2) - Rob Long Delray Beach City Commission (Seat 4) - Angela Burns Lake Clarke Shores Council (Group II) - Paul R. Shaloub LantanaTown Council (Group 4) - Christopher Castle Last year, in an effort to suppress the vote, the Florida Legislature enacted a law causing Vote-by-Mail requests to expire at the end of the year in which a General Election is held. So, if you have not taken action, your vote-by-mail ballot request expired last year. 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 request to vote-by-mail: By Phone: (561) 656-6208 By Email: votebymail@votepalmbeach.gov By Fax: (561) 656-6230 In person at any Office of the Supervisor of Elections The vote-by-mail request must include your driver license/Florida State 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.)

PBCHRC’s 35th ANNIVERSARY

In recognition of our work over the years, West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James formally recognized our 35th anniversary. At the Jan. 9 City Commission meeting, he presented our board with a tribute. He also presented me with a key to the City of West Palm Beach. I took the opportunity to thank the people who served on our board over the years, as well as to the volunteers who have made our efforts so successful. THE WINTER FÊTE

On Jan. 14, more than 100 PBCHRC supporters celebrated our organization’s 35th anniversary at our annual Winter Fête at a private home in Palm Beach. Thanks to SandyJames Fine Food & Productions and Bruce Sutka Event Design, the event was amazing — and the mermen in the swimming pool were a big hit. Thanks go out to our host, George Albrecht, as well as to Echo for providing an great array of sushi boats, Pernod-Ricard for the Absolut Vodka and the Cava, and to Table 26 for the Wine. We also want to thank our amazing Host Committee Members for their continued support: Jason Arbuckle School Board Member Alexandria Ayala and Rob Long State Senator Lori Berman Paul Bernabeo and David Cohen County Commissioner Mack Bernard and Shawn Bernard Sheriff Ric Bradshaw Terry Bowie and William Feldkamp School Board Member Karen Brill Pamela Buchmeyer and Shellie Crandall Castle Wealth Management Shawn Cherry and Vincent Ruisi Port Commissioner 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 Congressman 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 West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James and Lorna James Gerald Jarosinski, Jr. Michael Judd and Ben Small Michael Kagdis Boynton Beach City Commissioner Aimee Kelley Wood Kinnard and Alberto Arias West Palm Beach City Commissioner Christina Lambert and Monte Lambert Gregg Lerman Palm Beach Gardens Vice Mayor Rachelle Litt and Jeff Litt Joseph Marino Jr. and Anthony Sibilia  Mittleman Eye Dr. David Mittleman and Michael Duquette Fowler James North West Palm Beach City Commissioner Joe Peduzzi and Erin Peduzzi Boynton Beach Mayor 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 State Representative Katherine Waldron West Palm Beach City Commissioner Shalonda Warren A.J. Wasson and Randy Christensen Dr. Donald Watren and Anthony Jaggi Charles Williams Palm Beach County Mayor Gregg Weiss and Rebecca Weiss To voew the photas taken by PBCHRC's official photographer Gail Haines, click here. You may contact Gail at gail.v.haines@gmail.com

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, 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 35 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 

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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 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.