RELEASE: In Fight Against Ron DeSantis, Coalition of Major LGBTQ Groups Back Charlie Crist for Governor

In Fight Against Ron DeSantis, Coalition of Major LGBTQ Groups Back Charlie Crist for Governor

Human Rights Campaign PAC, SAVE Action PAC, and the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus Join Equality Florida Action PAC in Wave of Support for Crist

WILTON MANORS — Today, alongside national and statewide LGBTQ leaders, Charlie Crist, candidate for governor of Florida, announced the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) PAC, SAVE Action PAC, and the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus in an astounding wave of support for Charlie in the race to beat Ron DeSantis and end his attacks on the LGBTQ community.

Charlie was joined by grassroots supporters and representatives from critical statewide organizations at an endorsement event where HRC, Equality Florida Action PAC, and the Florida LGBTQ+ Caucus pledged to mobilize their members and ramp up get out the vote efforts across the state in support of Crist.

“I am beyond humbled by the outpouring of support from Human Rights Campaign, Equality FL Action PAC, SAVE, and the statewide caucus in our fight to make Ron DeSantis a one-term governor and bring kindness and compassion back to the Governor’s Mansion,” said Charlie Crist. “Ron DeSantis will stop at nothing to appease his extremist base, including attacking our LGBTQ neighbors’ hard-earned freedoms. Enough is enough. This November, we will put an end to his attacks on our communities once and for all.”

“Gov. Ron DeSantis is one of the most anti-LGBTQ+ politicians in America and an existential threat to every LGBTQ+ person in Florida,” said Joni Madison, Interim President of HRC. “The rights of millions of Floridians are being rolled back by him and an extremist minority of anti-equality judges and politicians attacking our families, our right to vote, and our right to access healthcare and make decisions about our own bodies. They are waging a brutal and coordinated campaign to roll back rights at a breakneck pace, and won’t stop until Floridians show up at the ballot box and vote them out of office. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse Rep. Charlie Crist for Governor of Florida and we’re looking forward to fighting alongside him and pro-equality champions across Florida to put an end to Ron DeSantis’s extremist agenda.”

“LGBTQ Floridians know the stakes of this election — and are ready to elect Charlie Crist,” said Joe Saunders, Equality Florida Action PAC. “Ron DeSantis has waged war on the community, stoking anti-LGBTQ bigotry, making policies aimed at censoring our families from schools the cornerstone of his extremist agenda, and weaponizing state agencies against us, stripping transgender people of health care and assaulting nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ students. Pro-equality voters have borne the brunt of the anti-LGBTQ crusade of this governor and are now poised to be the difference in this election. Charlie is a champion of LGBTQ equality and we are ready to send him back to the governor’s mansion to ensure every young person in our state is protected and every family is respected.”

“The lives of LGBTQ+ Floridians are put further at risk each time that Ron DeSantis relentlessly attacks our community,” said Stephen Gaskill, President of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus. “We need a Governor who will undo the damage caused by DeSantis and who will put our state back on the path to full equality. Charlie Crist is the leader we can trust to protect and expand LGBTQ+ rights, and we are proud to endorse him.”

“The past few years have seen relentless attacks on LGBTQ children and families by the current governor. It’s time for a change here in Florida and that change is Charlie Crist,” said Orlando Gonzalez, SAVE Executive Director. “SAVE Action PAC is proud to endorse Charlie, who has been and will continue to be a steadfast ally for all Floridians including LGBTQ people.”

The wave of support from the LGBTQ community for Charlie follows the endorsement of Equality Florida Action PAC, the state’s largest LGBTQ poltiical action committee, who has already helped raise over $100,000 for Charlie’s fight against Ron DeSantis.

Last month, Crist unveiled his “Equality for All” plan to deliver for all LGBTQ+ Floridians, so they can have the freedom to live and work in the Sunshine State, free from discrimination and hate. Crist also led the charge against Monkeypox as the first elected official of either party to call on the Biden Administration to take stronger action on Monkeypox.