SAVE THE DATE PBCHRC Pride Happy Hour Meat Market Palm Beach June 7, 2023

 

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SAVE THE DATE PBCHRC Pride Happy Hour Meat Marker Palm Beach June 7, 2023

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 TACHE 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 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.

Richeley Cajuste to Receive PBCHRC Social Justice Award Scholarship

 

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CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Richeley Cajuste to Receive PBCHRC Social Justice Award Scholarship

G. Joseph Garcia,  Foundation Chair Jasmin Lewis,  PBCHRC Social Justice Awards Committee Chair

April 28, 2023

The PBCHRC Charitable Foundation has selected Richeley Cajuste to receive the organization's 2023 Social Justice Award..The award is presented annually to a college-bound graduating senior who has demonstrated an interest in advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. Richeley will receive a $2,500 scholarship.   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.

Richeley Cajuste of West Palm Beach is a senior at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School. He was born in Haiti and emigrated to the United States in 2016. Richeley, who comes from a very religious family, is active in Leaders, a club near his church which helps educate people about the struggles LGBTQ+ people face so they may overcome longstanding stereotypes about our community. At school, through his participation in Rainbow RAMS, Richeley advocated for LGBTQ+ and social justice issues. He hopes to establish a chapter of the organization at Palm Beach State College, where he will be in the pre-med program, studying health sciences and biology. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he plans to graduate from medical school and open a medical practice to help underserved communities. “I come from a very religious, anti-LGBTQ+ family that has not supported my work for our community,” said Richeley. “So PBCHRC’s recognition of my work, the Social Justice Award and the college scholarship mean a lot.”

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.    "Richeley has worked as a passionate advocate for the local LGBTQ+ community," said Lewis. "The Foundation is proud to recognize his work by presenting them with the 2023 Social Justice Awards."

BOARD OF DIRECTORS RAND HOCH President and Founder MEREDITH OCKMAN TACHE Vice President SEAN CONKLIN GEMMA TORCIVIA Co-Treasurers RAE FRANKS RHONDA WILLIAMS Co-Secretaries CHAUNCEY GRAHAM  W. TRENT STEELE

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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 PBCHRC@gmail.com (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.

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.

 

PBCHRC Voters Alliance Endorsements for 2024 - Updated 9/19/24

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

President and Vice President

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

U.S. Senator

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

U.S. Representative

(Dist. 20) -  Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

(Dist. 21) -  Thomas Witkop

(Dist. 22) -  Lois Frankel

(Dist. 23) - Jared Moskowitz  

State Attorney

Alexcia Cox

State Representative

(Dist. 89) - Debra Tendrich

(Dist. 90) - Joe Casello

(Dist. 91) - Jay Shooster

(Dist. 93) - Katherine Waldron

(Dist. 94) - Rachelle Litt

Clerk and Controller

Joseph Abruzzo

Sheriff

Ric Bradshaw

Supervisor of Elections

Wendy Sartory Link

County Commissioner

(Dist. 3) - Joel Flores

(Dist. 5) - Maria Sachs

(Dist. 7) - Bobby Powell

Port of Palm Beach Commissioner

(Group 3) - Jean Enright

County Court Judge

(Group 2) - Lourdes Casanova

School Board Member

(Dist. 1) - Matthew Jay Lane

(Dist. 5) - Mindy Koch

Northern PBC Improvement District

(Seat 4) - Ellen Baker

Amendment 1 - Partisan School Board Races - NO

Amendment 3 - Recreational Marijuana Legalization - YES

Amendment 4 - Freedom of Choice/Abortion - YES

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

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris 

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 Senator Bobby Powell 

State Representative Joe Casello 

State Representative Jervonte "Tae" Edmonds

State Representative David Silvers 

State Representative Kelly Skidmore 

State Representative Katherine Waldron 

County  Mayor Maria Sachs 

County Commissioner Mack Bernard 

County Commissioner Gregg Weiss

Clerk & Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo 

Constitutional Tax Collector Anne Gannon 

Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks 

Public Defender Carey Haughwout 

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw 

Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link 

School Board Member Marcia Andrews 

School Board Member Alexandria Ayala 

School Board Member Frank Barbieri, Jr. 

School Board Member Karen Brill 

School Board Member Barbara McQuinn 

School Board Member Erica Whitfield 

Port Commissioner Joseph Anderson 

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 Ted Booras 

County County Court Judge Marni Bryson 

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 Mayor Fred Pinto 

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.