HRC, Florida Red and Blue Working to Mobilize GLBT Community on Primary Day
More than 250 grassroots volunteers will engage and educate voters at key polling sites on marriage amendment.
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, partnering with Florida Red and Blue, will be coordinating more than 250 grassroots volunteers in 10 major cities today to engage and educate voters on the expected constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, already illegal in Florida, and eliminate all domestic partnerships. A complete list of polling locations where volunteers and staff will be working is available below.
“It is critical that we engage and motivate our community to educate all Floridians on this harmful amendment,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Working with our allies, we’ll do everything we can to stop this unnecessary step to write discrimination into Florida’s constitution, a move that would eliminate all domestic partnerships regardless of sexual orientation.”
HRC and Florida Red and Blue, the statewide coalition working to defeat the amendment, kicked off a series of trainings on January 15 to mobilize volunteers and give them the tools they needed to speak with voters on the harmful amendment expected on the ballot this November. The trainings recently took place in West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee and Tampa. To view video of the recent training in Orlando, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/v/Q3ehCbFYa_U.
In early January, the Human Rights Campaign sent three full-time staff members to work in the state. Today, 12 people from HRC headquarters are on the ground in Florida. In addition to the work in Florida, the Human Rights Campaign also sent staff to Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. Teams are currently on the ground in Minnesota and New Mexico and will be in New York next week for “Super Tuesday,” February 5, 2008. For updates and the latest information visit the HRC blog, HRC Back Story.
Staff members/volunteers will be on the ground at the following targeted primary day polling locations:
ORLANDO:
- First Unitarian Church of Orlando
1901 E. Robinson St., Orlando - Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando - Orlando Central Towers
350 E. Jackson St., Orlando
JACKSONVILLE:
- Riverside Presbyterian Apartments
1045 Oak St., Jacksonville - Murray Hill Branch Library
918 Edgewood Ave., Jacksonville
OAKLAND PARK:
- Collins Community Center
3900 NE 3rd Ave., Oakland Park
FORT LAUDERDALE:
- Gay and Lesbian Community Center
1717 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale
WILTON MANORS:
- Hagen Park Community Center
2020 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors
TAMPA:
- University Area Community Park
14015 N 22nd St., Tampa - New Mt Zion Baptist Church
2511 E Columbus Dr., Tampa - Temple Terrace United Methodist
5030 E Busch Blvd, Tampa
SARASOTA:
- Central Church of Christ
6221 Proctor Rd., Sarasota - IFAS Sarasota County Extension office at Twin Lakes Park
6700 Clark Rd., Sarasota - Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida
4740 Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota
TALLAHASSEE:
- Optimist Park
1806 E Indianhead Dr.,Tallahassee - Grace Lutheran Church
2919 Miccosukee Rd., Tallahassee - Jackson Lodge
2818 Apalachee Pkwy., Tallahassee
ST. PETERSBURG:
- Pinellas Community Church
5501 S 31st St., St Petersburg - Our Savior Lutheran Church
301 S 58th St., St Petersburg
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.