Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection Vandal Pleads Guilty To Felony Charge

 

Alexander Jerich, the conservative political activist who defaced the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection last June, pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges before Circuit Court Judge Scott Suskauer this morning. With the guilty plea, Jerich faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. He could also be required to pay the city of Delray Beach an estimated $12,000 to repair the intersection. A sentencing hearing will be set within the next few months.

"By pleading guilty, Jerich has avoided a very public trial for the hate crime he committed," said Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) President Rand Hoch, a retired judge. "It would have been impossible for Jerich to avoid being found guity in light of the video that captured his crime." PBCHRC is Florida’s oldest, independent, non-partisan, political organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. PBCHRC promotes equality through education, advocacy, direct action, impact litigation, and community outreach. The PBCHRC Charitable Foundation and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation paid for the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection. In advance of the sentencing hearing, PBCHRC and the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation will file a Victim Impact Statement to assist Judge Suskauer in determining an appropriate sentance for Jerich.

Alexander Jerich

Last June, while the LGBTQ community celebrated LGBTQ Pride Month, Jerich participated in the "President Trump Birthday (Driving) Rally", which was sponsored by the Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee. Approximately thirty vehicles participated in the parade. Jerich drove his family's white Chevrolet Silverado with a large blue “All Aboard The Trump Train” flag leaning off the tailgate. While the vehicles drove through numerous interesctions along the route without incident, when Jerich arrived at the LGBTQ Pride Intersection, he stopped, allowing a colleague in the vehicle behind him to record the crime on a cell phone. In view of onlookers, Jerich repeatedly started and stopped his truck in the intersection, creating “burnouts”, which left a set of fifteen-foot black skidmarks, permanently defacing the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection. Within days, the video of Jerich's crime went viral.

To view a 16 second video of the crime, click here,

Just two days before Jerich's crime, the city of Delray Beach held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection. Hundreds of attendees heard speeches from the mayor and city commissioners. Representatives of PBCHRC, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Compass -- Palm Beach County's LGBTQ comunity center -- also made remarks at the dedication ceremony.

PBCHRC President and Founder Rand Hoch and Compass LGBTQ Community Center Executive Director Julie Seaver

“On Saturday, LGBTQ people and our allies celebrated the dedication of the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection,” said Compass Executive Director Julie Seaver. “But by Monday, we were mourning the loss of our security after this bigot permanently defaced our Pride Intersection.”

"We were devastated by Jerich's brazen act of hate against the LGBTQ community," said Hoch. "Prior to Jerich's attack on the Pride Intersection, LGBTQ people felt proud, safe, and welcomed in Delray Beach."  "Because of this attack on our city, LGBTQ people feel threatened and vulnerable," said Delray Beach resident Nicholas Coppola, to whom the Pride Intersection is dedicated. "The LGBTQ community feels victimized by Jerich's crimes and we are concerned others will follow Jerich’s lead and harm us as individuals and as a community as a whole." Coppola also serves on the Compass Board of Trustees.

Following a thorough investigation, Delray Beach Police determined Jerich "willfully and maliciously" damaged the LGBTQ Pride Intersection and found probable cause to charge him with criminal mischief in excess of $1,000 and reckless driving with property damage. They also found it appropriate for Jerich to be charged with under Florida's hate crime laws since his actions were based on prejudice based on sexual orientation. However, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg only charged Jerich with criminal mischief, a third degree felony, and reckless driving, a misdemeanor. Aronberg declined to include the enhanced penalties provisions of Florida's hate crimes statute, believing a technicality precluded the State from prosecuting Jerich under the poorly worded statute. Last December, State Senator Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) and State Representative Emily Slosberg-King (D-Boca Raton) filed legislation to amend the law to allow local governments, as well as public and private organizations, to utilize the hate crimes law. "Unfortunately, it is extremely unlikely the bill will gain any traction during this legislative session," said Coppola.

Judge Suskauer, who was appointed to the bench by former Governor Rick Scott in 2015, will set a sentencing hearing within the next few months. "Crimes of bias against minorities are on the rise in Florida," said Hoch. "At sentencing, Judge Suskauer will have the opportunity to deter future incidents of hate in Florida when he determines the appropriate punishment in the Jerich case." Since December, 2021, there have been numerous hate crimes in Florida.

In Port St. John, a group of hatemongers placed anti-Semitic signs along the Interstate 95 overpass; At St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Black students have been the target of racist graffiti. Allegations were also made that a Black student was referred to as “slave” by a classmate, a teacher had the word “monkey” carved in a door, and a dean referred to Black students “hoodlums”; In Indianlantic, Melbourne, Miami, Miami Beach, and Surfside, anti-Semitic fliers were placed in the yards of Jewish families in what police believe was a coordinated effort; In Orlando, a group of people wearing Nazi insignias shouted anti-Semitic slurs at cars passing by a shopping plaza; In Orange County, people affiliated with the National Socialist Movement waived Nazi flags at an Interstate 4 overpass; In Daytona Beach, an individual affilliated with the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, placed a 20 minute phone call to Bethune Cookman College, a private historically Black university. The caller said bombs containing C-4 explosives would be detonated at the university and a gunman would open fire on the campus;  In Bonita Springs, the rabbi of the Chabad of Bonita Springs found the word, “Jews” painted across his driveway. His mailbox was damaged and his vehicle window was shattered; In Volusia County, a man shouting the "N word" took a pipe from his truck and smashed the window of a car with two Black people inside; In Palm Coast, a man beat his son, causing lacerations to his lips and face, because the boy was wearing make-up; In Riviera Beach, four men robbed and brutally beat an individual while hurling racial slurs, causing serious injuries, including numerous broken bones and contusions; In the Cherokee Park, Harbor Acres, Oyster Bay, and South Poinsettia neighborhoods in Sarasota County, anti-Semitic fliers stating “Every single aspect of Covid agenda is Jewish” and “Anti-Semitism is a Human Right” were distributed; and  In Tampa, swastikas were drawn on the head of a Jewish student at the University of South Florida and on the clothing of others at the school. Additionally, items mocking the Holocaust were posted on a Greek life website at the school; In Palm Coast and Ormond Beach, bags of rice containing anti-semetic flyers were placed in the driveways in Jewish neighborhoods; and, . At the Daytona 500, masked demonstrators outside the Speedway hoisted two Nazi flags.

Jerich's criminal defense attorney, Robert Pasch, previously defended Jerich on a charge of aggresively driving 84 mph in a 40 mph zone. That incident occured just months after Jerich was charged with reckless driving with property damage in relation to his defacing the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection. Pasch succeeded in having the court withhold adjudication, so all Jerich had to do was complete an 8 hour course in driving school and pay $356 in fines and court costs. "Bobby Pasch got Jerich off with a slap on the wrist in court last year," said Hoch, who has known Pasch for decades. "However, it would be a miscarriage of justice if he succeeds in persuading Judge Suskauer to let Jerich off easily for the crimes he comitted against the LGBTQ community and the City of Delray Beach."

In the eight months since Jerich committed his attack on the LGBTQ Pride Intersection, there have been dozens of Delray Beach City Commission meetings and workshops open to the public. However, Jerich has never appeared to apologize to the elected officials and residents of the City of Delray Beach for his crimes.  Nor has Jerich made any apologies to the LGBTQ community. according to Seaver and Hoch. "Alexander Jerich has shown no remorse from his crimes," said Hoch.

"The justice system cannot allow such acts of hate to go unchecked," said Seaver. "Hate and prejudice must not be allowed to thrive in Palm Beach County. There should be a zero-tolerance policy for people who commit criminal acts based on hate."

"While Jerich pleaded guilty to the 'criminal mischief' felony count, his crime constitutes much more than that charge suggests," said Hoch. "Jerich was not just fooling around with his truck. He sought to make a very public statement against the LGBTQ community. And he did." "Jerich literally left permanent marks of hate for all to see," added Hoch. "For committing a blatant, public, anti-LGBTQ crime at a welcoming public venue representing inclusion, Jerich must be punished severely," said Coppola.

"If Jerich receives a light sentence such as house arrest in his gated community or community service, justice will not have been served for the LGBTQ community," said Hoch. "A light sentence could encourage other anti-LGBTQ hatemongers to come to Palm Beach County and vandalize our LGBTQ public art, knowing they might not face felony convictions or jail time. Is that the message the people of Florida want to send?" "First and foremost, Jerich must be required to immediately pay the City of Delray Beach the full cost to repair the damage done to the Pride Intersection -- approximately $12,000," said Hoch. "Allowing Jerich to make restitution in monthly payments would impose an unfair burden on the taxpayers." "Jerich should also be ordered to stay away from the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Intersection for the rest of his life," Hoch added. "When Jerich's committed his crime against the LGBTQ community and the City of Delray Beach, he committed a felony," said Hoch. "As such, Jerich should become a convicted felon, losing his rights to vote and legally own a gun." "Finally, Jerich should spend some time behind bars," said Hoch. "While the maximum five year sentence would be harsh, a one year sentence would be appropriate." Since Jerich has no known prior convictions, he could serve his time in The Main Detention Center on Gun Club Road instead of a Florida Corrections Institution, "The LGBTQ community is very concerned that withholding adjudication on Jerich's felony conviction would send the wrong signal to others of his ilk," said Hoch."Actions should have consequences -- especially actions of hate that cause harm to minority communities.". "Years from now, Jerich could petition the court to have his rights restored," said Hoch. "But for now, for justice to be done, Alexander Jerich's rights and liberties must be curtailed".

The Year in Review -- and 2020 Too!

 

‌

The Year in Review and 2020 Too!

A look back at LGBTQ+ progress  throughout Palm Beach County over the past two years

DECEMBER 2021 At PBCHRC's request, State Senator Tina Polsky and State Representative Emily Slosberg file legislation to extend hate crimes protections to include those committed against government-owned properties NOVEMBER 2021 PBCHRC Board Member Sean Conklin is appointed to the Boynton Beach Recreation and Parks Board. The Village of Wellington earns a perfect score on the annual Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipal Equality Index. The City of West Palm Beach earns a perfect score on the annual Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipal Equality Index. ​ SEPTEMBER 2021 The Village of Royal Palm Beach designates all single-occupancy restrooms in the soon to be constructed Village Hall as Gender Neutral JUNE 2021 Progress Pride colors illuminate Nancy Graham Centennial Square and Fountain and the surrounding buildings at a special Clematis By Light display on June 1st to kick off LGBTQ Pride in West Palm Beach Palm Tran rolls out a bus wrapped in a Progress Pride color design with PBCHRC and Compass logos for Pride Month. The bus runs on the system's longest route, from Palm Beach Gardens to Boca Raton. PBCHRC Charitable Foundation establishes the W. Trent Steele Legal Advocacy Awards -- scholarships for second and third year law school students from Palm Beach County. The City of Boynton Beach installs an LGBTQ Progress Pride intersection streetscape near City Hall and illuminates the city's water tower in Progress Pride colors. Palm Beach County Commissioners establish an Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The City of Delray Beach installs an LGBTQ Progress Pride intersection streetscape in the Pineapple Grove Arts District. MAY 2021 The City of West Palm Beach installs four LGBTQ Pride Rainbow crosswalks in Northwood Village. The 2021 Daniel S. Hall Social Justice Awards are presented to graduating seniors Sol Lima of Jupiter Community High School, Ekko Greenbaum of Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and Vanessa Whittle of Royal Palm Beach High School. APRIL 2021 By unanimous vote, the West Palm Beach City Commission voted to designate H.G. Roosters as a Historic Preservation Site. ​ At the request of Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Ty Penserga and PBCHRC, the Boynton Beach City Commission approves the creation of an LGBTQ Pride public art. FEBRUARY 2021 The Town of Lake Park enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights ordinance. The School District of Palm Beach County requires public schools to require gender-neutral caps and gowns for graduations. PBCHRC Board Member Jasmin Lewis is presented the Palm Beach County Democratic Party Black History Community Award. JANUARY 2021 Palm Beach County amends its Equal Opportunity Ordinance by extending protection from discrimination to employees working for small businesses (those with 5-14 employees). PBCHRC Vice President Meredith Ockman is appointed to serve on the Palm Beach County Housing Authority's Family Self-sufficiency Program Coordinating Committee DECEMBER 2020 The City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County file Joint Petition for Panel Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc in Otto v. City of Boca Raton, the case seeking to strike down their ordinances banning conversion therapy.  The Cities of Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Lake Worth Beach, Riviera Beach, and West Palm Beach, Florida join the City of Miami's amicus brief in support of The City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County's Joint Petition for Panel Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc in Otto v. City of Boca Raton.  West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James signs on to the Freedom for All Americans letter to Members of Congress urging them to enact comprehensive federal LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections.  The City of West Palm Beach earns a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipal Equality Index. Only six other municipalities in Florida were awarded 100 points. NOVEMBER 2020 A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reverses the District Court’s denial of plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction in Otto v. City of Boca Raton and remands the case to the District Court, thus allowing the therapists to, once again, practice their quackery on local children. The City of South Bay adopts an LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights resolution. OCTOBER 2020 The City of Riviera Beach enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights ordinance. The Commissioners of the Port of Palm Beach unanimously vote to add "gender identity or expression" to the Port's Equal Opportunity Statement for all Port policies and contracts. PBCHRC Board Member G. Joseph Garcia is named to the Board of Directors for the FSU Pride Alumni Network SEPTEMBER 2020 The Towns of Haverhill and Juno Beach enact LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights ordinances. The City of Palm Beach Gardens adopts a resolution denouncing hate crimes and discrimination against LGBTQ people. AUGUST 2020 The Village of North Palm Beach enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights ordinance. The City of West Palm Beach amends its Equal Opportunity Ordinance by extending protection from discrimination to employees working for small businesses (those with 5-14 employees). PBCHRC Board Member Chauncey Graham is appointed to serve on the West Palm Beach Mayor's Task Force for Racial and Ethnic Equality and selected for Leadership Florida Connect 2021. JULY 2020 PBCHRC Board Member Jasmin Lewis is named Victory Fund Empowerment Fellow. JUNE 2020 The City of Westlake enacts an LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights ordinance. G. Joseph Garcia is named Chair of PBCHRC Charitable Foundation. MAY 2020 PBCHRC Board Member Jasmin Lewis elected delegate to Democratic National Convention. The 2020 Daniel S. Hall Social Justice Awards are presented to graduating seniors Kyle Ahern and Theo Shusterman of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and to Endora Guillaume of Park Vista Community High School APRIL 2020 The Boynton Beach City Commission unanimously votes to designate all single-occupancy restrooms in municipal properties "All Gender." PBCHRC becomes a “trusted voice” for the County efforts regarding the 2020 U.S. Census. MARCH 2020  Ty Penserga, an openly gay man, was re-elected to the Boynton Beach City Commission and became the city's Vice Mayor. Ray Caranci, an openly gay man, is elected to the Haverhill Town Council. FEBRUARY 2020 Palm Beach County‘s Facilities Development & Operations Department designates single-occupancy restrooms in properties owned and leased by the County as “All Gender.” PBCHRC Board Member Tamara Sager joins the Palm Beach County Multicultural Committee and Complete Count Committee. JANUARY 2020 The City of West Palm Beach designates the single-occupancy restrooms in the City Hall Complex as "Gender Neutral."

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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 150 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 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.

Do you know any college-bound LGBTQ+ high school seniors?

 

‌ CHARITABLE FOUNDATION G. Joseph Garcia,  Foundation Chair Jasmin Lewis,  Daniel S. Hall Social Justice Awards Committee Chair Please forward this to college-bound, graduating LGBTQ+ high school seniors Daniel S. Hall Social Justice Awards Scholarship Application Daniel S. Hall and Jax Martin The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for the 2022 Daniel S. Hall Social Justice Awards – college scholarships available to graduating LGBTQ+ high school seniors from Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Each year our Charitable Foundation awards these scholarship to local college bound high school seniors who have demonstrated an interest in advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.   PBCHRC's Social Justice Award is named after Daniel S. Hall, a local attorney who manages a financial counseling company. Hall has served as the Treasurer of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council since 1990 and is its longest serving board member. As a father of three, an activist, and a mentor of gay youth, Hall has always had a strong interest in education. For further information, contact Jasmin Lewis at  jasminklewis@gmail.com  For an application form, click here For recommendation forms (two are required), click here Applications and recommendations are due no later than midnight April 15, 2022 PBCHRC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION BOARD Rand Hoch, President Meredith Ockman, Vice President Daniel S. Hall, Treasurer Rae Franks, Secretary Sean Conklin Chauncey Graham W. Trent Steele Visit Our Website Visit Our Blog The PBCHRC Charitable Foundation is organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code exclusively  for educational and charitable purposes. 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. PBCHRC Charitable Foundation Post Office Box 267 West Palm Beach, Florida 33402 (561) 358-0105 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 Charitable Foundation's Registration Number is  N19000006727. To obtain registration information, you may consult the website or call 800-435-7352.

Palm Beach County Human Rights Council | P. O. Box 267, West Palm Beach, FL 33402

Delray Beach Pride Intersection Vandal Going to Trial in February

https://southfloridagaynews.com/Local/pride-intersection-vandal-going-to-trial-in-february.html

By Christiana Lilly, South Florida Gay News

October 5, 2021

The case of the man who defaced Delray Beach’s pride intersection this summer will be going to trial on February 11, 2022.

Judge Scott Suskauer oversaw the plea conference Tuesday morning, where Alexander Jerich showed up in person with his attorney, Pedro Dijols.

“We want to resolve this case,” Dijols told the judge.

Jerich is accused of burning out his truck over the intersection during a birthday celebration caravan for former President Donald Trump just days after the intersection was dedicated. A video was posted to social media of the burnout, and a witness from the caravan came forward to report the incident to the Delray Beach Police Department.

Jerich was arrested on June 17 and charged with criminal mischief over $1,000, reckless driving and evidence of prejudice (felony enhancement). However, in August, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg dropped the hate crime charge. He explained in a press conference that the case did not meet one of the requirements of the law to move forward with a hate crime — he explained that the victim was from the city of Delray Beach, which does not have a sexual orientation or gender identity. The office also looked into charging Jerich under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Combating Public Disorder statute, but Aronberg said that the case did not meet the requirement of the memorial honoring or recounting “the past or public service of a Florida or United States resident.”

“I was hoping it would go to trial simply because we live in a system where that is the fairest way to go,” said Rand Hoch, the president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

Richard Clausi, the deputy chief of the misdemeanor division with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, was not present at the plea conference due to a scheduling conflict. 

Hoch called Clausi an “A-plus attorney” and said that he does “very well in trial.”

Dijols told the judge that the office wanted Jerich to serve six months in jail “even though Mr. Jerich has no priors” and that his client was willing to pay restitution. Suskauer said the jail time was “not acceptable” and asked, “It’s not a complicated case, right?”

Dijols replied, “It’s complicated by outside issues.”

“I’m surprised that the judge doesn’t understand the severity of the impact on what this man did to the LGBTQ community,” Hoch said. “But then that’s why you have a trial, so he can understand the impact more fully … Now I guess it’s up to a jury to determine should this man be let go with a slap on the wrist or should he be held accountable for what he did.”

Jerich waived his right to a speedy trial and the groups agreed on February for the trial date.

President's Message - November 2021

 

November 2021 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 1988, 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 pandemic, we were responsible for the enactment of seven new LGBTQ-inclusive municipal civil rights ordinances in Palm Beach County. For a list of the laws and policies enacted as the result of PBCHRC’s efforts, click here. Our success in enacting pro-LGBTQ laws is directly related to our community’s participation in electoral politics. Over the years, PBCHRC’s leaders 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. For a list of more than 90 elected officials endorsed by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance currently holding office, click here.

Each year, we bestow Daniel S. Hall Public Social Justice Award scholarships in recognition of the achievements LGBTQ and allied high school seniors have made on behalf of our community, To review the biographies of the 17 Daniel S. Hall Public Social Justice Award recipients and to learn more about the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation, click here. The PBCHRC Charitable Foundation also provides need-based scholarships to LGBTQ college students. This summer, the Foundation’s Board of Directors voted to establish the W. Trent Steele Legal Advocacy Awards for second- and third-year law students.

DELRAY BEACH LGBTQ STREETSCAPE VANDALISM CASE

Immediately following his attendance at an event sponsored by the Republican Party of Palm Beach County on June 14, 2021, Alexander Jerich vandalized the Delray Beach LGBTQ Pride Steetscape, using his pickup truck to create approximately 15 feet of skidmarks across the streetscape. A video of the event made by one of his colleagues went viral on social media. To watch a video of Jerich's crime, click here. The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) also asked State Attorney Dave Aronberg to consider charging Jerich under the state's Combating Public Disorder Act, which would require Jerich, if convicted, to reimburse the City of Delray Beach the costs related to repairing the damage he caused. However, Aronberg dropped the hate crime charge and refused to charge Jerich under the Combating Public Disorder Act. (The Act was found to be unconstitutional by a federal judge on September 9, 2021. The governor’s office announced it will appeal the ruling). Aronberg assigned his leading attorney on civil rights matters, Richard T. Clausi, Jr., to prosecute the felony. While a plea hearing was scheduled for September 13, 2021, it was postponed to allow the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation and other interested parties to file Victim Impact Statements to be considered by Circuit Court Judge Scott Suskauer. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel published an editorial calling for jail time for Jerich, which you may read by clicking here. From PBCHRC’s perspective, only if Jerich is convicted of a felony, serves time behind bars, and reimburses the taxpayers of Delray Beach for the cost of repairing the LGBTQ streetscape, will justice have been served.

In October 2018, Liberty Counsel, an anti-LGBTQ hate group, filed suit in federal court on behalf of two local therapists seeking to nullify the bans on conversion therapy for minors enacted by Palm Beach County and the City of Boca Raton. However, in February 2019, Judge Robin Rosenberg of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida denied Liberty Counsel's motion for preliminary injunctions, which sought to prevent the bans from remaining in effect pending trial. Having lost, Liberty Counsel immediately appealed the order to the U.S. District Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit and in November 2020, a three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that the ordinances were unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. The City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County immediately filed a Joint Petition for Rehearing by the full Eleventh Circuit. To date, the Eleventh Circuit has not ruled on the Joint Petition. Fortunately, since the Eleventh Circuit has yet to issue a mandate, the panel’s decision has yet to take effect. PBCHRC will continue to keep you informed.

THE 2022 WINTER FÊTE The 2022 Winter Fête will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at a private home in Palm Beach. Sandy James Fine Food & Catering and Echo will be providing the food and, as always, there will be a premium open bar.

Open Bar Sponsor: Micahel Kagdis Sushi Sponsor: Echo Vodka Sponsor: Pernod Ricard USA Wine Sponsor: Table 26 Grand Benefactors Dan Hall The Law and Mediation Offices of Rand Hoch, P.A. W. Trent Steele and Douglas B. Andrews Benefactors Bill Bone Sheriff Ric Bradshaw Congressman Mark Foley and Ryan Ruark Jamie Todd Foreman Peter Conn, Jr. and Oscar Garza Michael Kagdis Wood Kinnard and Alberto Arias   Mittleman Eye / Dr. David Mittleman and  Michael Duquette Fowler SandyJames Fine Food & Productions Scott Rixford and Jose Mena Sponsors Alexandria Ayala and Rob Long State Senator Lori Berman County Commissioner Mack and Shawn Bernard School Board Member Karen and Stuart Brill Mauricio Busa and Barry Hayes Sean Cherry and Vincent Ruisi David Cohen and Paul Bernabeo Gil Cohen and Paul Gervais Nicholas Coppola and David Crespo Cornerstone Solutions Palm Beach Town Council Member Lew Crampton Shellie Crandall and Pamela Buchmeyer Joseph Paul Davis Arlen Dominek and A.J. Young  Echo  Florida Sugar Cane League West Palm Beach City Commissioner Christy Fox Edith Hall Friedheim and Peter Cruise  Jeffrey P. Ganek Constitutional Tax Collector Anne Gannon Hierromat Development Tom Holton West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James and Lorna James Gerald Jarosinski, Jr. Bill Jones and Rey Hernandez Charles Kidd West Palm Beach City Commissioner Christina and Monte Lambert Gregg S. Lerman Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link Wellington Vice-Mayor John McGovern Michelle McGovern, Candidate for County Commission Joseph Marino, Jr. and Anthony Sibilia  David Markarian Ross Meltzer David Miller and Ray Wakefield Rebecca Miller Frank Morgan and Brent Feigenbaum West Palm Beach City Commissioner Joseph Peduzzi and Erin Peduzzi Boynton Beach City Commissioner Ty Penserga Steve Potanovic Lake Worth Beach Mayor Betty Resch Roosters Michael Rubin and David Kamp West Palm Beach City Commissioner Kelly Shoaf State Representative David Silvers Caryn Siperstein and Isaac Klein  Sutka Visual Design Eric Telchin and Logan Nolting Don Todorich - Corcoran Group R.E Gemma Torcivia and Kate McMahon Scott Velozo and Stephen Mooney Cathleen Ward and Paul Skaar West Palm Beach City Commissioner Shalonda Warren Don Watren and Tony Jaggi James Watson Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg and Rebecca Weiss State Representative Matt Willhite Charles Williams

A private reception sponsored by Mittleman Eye / Dr. David Mittleman and Michael Duquette Fowler to honor our major donors will be held at Frenchman's Reserve on January 11, 2022. For more information about joining these major donors in supporting the 2022 Winter Fête, please go to pbchrc.org/events.

OTHER NEWS The City of Boynton Beach and Florida International University have invited PBCHRC to participate in the Boynton Beach Racial and Social Equity Initiative. PBCHRC has been nominated for “Small Nonprofit of the Year” by Nonprofits First. Attorney Gemma Torcivia has been elected to PBCHRC’s Board of Directors. Emmy Kenny, PBCHRC’s representative on the School District’s Diversity and Equity Committee, has been elected to serve on the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance. Following the art auction held at The Box Gallery, the Pajaro Pride Project made a significant donation to PBCHRC. Thanks go out to Rolando Chang Barrero for making this possible.

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; The State of Florida to enact a law to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression”; The State of Florida to enact a law banning conversion therapy; and The State of Florida to amend Florida’s Hate Crime law to specifically include crimes based on an individual's "gender" or "gender identity or expression" and to ensure that hate crimes against public properties are covered.

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

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.