BREAKING: Equality Florida Action PAC Endorses Charlie Crist For Governor!

EQUALITY FLORIDA ACTION PAC ENDORSES
CHARLIE CRIST FOR GOVERNOR

(June 12, 2014) -- Equality Florida Action PAC, the largest organization dedicated to electing pro-equality candidates in Florida, today endorsed Charlie Crist for Governor.

“The early endorsement reflects the urgency of electing a Governor who will speed progress when it comes to equality, not stand in the way of fairness,” said Stratton Pollitzer, chair of the PAC.

“Florida is at a critical moment in our struggle to end discrimination, and the next Governor will have a tremendous impact on the everyday lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in our state,” added Pollitzer. “Charlie Crist has taken a clear stand for equality and fairness and is delivering a message that will inspire the growing pro-equality majority in our state to stand on the right side of history.”

A former Republican Governor turned Democratic contender, Crist broke from his party over its increasing hostility toward gay people, women, the poor and the party’s voter suppression tactics. He has apologized for votes that aligned him with his former party’s platform, which went against his own conscience, and has made good on promises to be an unyielding voice for full equality under the law for the LGBT community.

Even while serving as a Republican, Crist was widely despised by far right extremists who viewed him as too moderate, and he was known to break with his party on a variety of issues.

In 2000, as Commissioner of Education, Charlie Crist was the first statewide elected official to support an anti-bullying bill that specifically included protections for LGBT students, and he refused to back down in the face of criticism from within the party leadership.

As Governor, Crist ended his support of Florida’s notorious anti-gay adoption ban and pledged to help dismantle it. When a Miami judge ruled the ban violated basic rights and harmed children by denying them the security of a forever family, Crist refused to appeal the decision and worked with the Department of Children and Families to stop enforcement of the ban that same day, paving the way for adoptions to take place immediately.

As a candidate for US Senate in 2010, Crist supported a variety of LGBT issues at the federal level, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Uniting American Families Act and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Not only is Charlie Crist a strong supporter of LGBT equality, but he is already running a race strong enough to combat Rick Scott’s massive war chest. He is consistently shown as even or ahead of Scott in polling and is attracting donors who are raising the kind of money that is needed to win.

As governor, Crist was a strong supporter of civil unions, and in recent years he has come out in support of marriage equality.

“Charlie Crist’s position on marriage equality reflects the evolution of Florida voters,” said Pollitzer. “The clear majority now supports full legal recognition of marriage equality, and that support is growing rapidly regardless of political party, age or religious identification.”

With marriage equality looming on Florida’s horizon, “We must have a pro-equality Governor in the Tallahassee” added Pollitzer.

“The next Governor is likely to appoint four Supreme Court Justices, and we cannot afford to leave our Supreme Court in the hands of a Governor who refuses to recognize even the most basic rights for LGBT people. We encourage every Floridian who values basic human rights to support Charlie Crist for Governor.”

In addition to the Equality Florida Action PAC, Charlie Crist has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, Florida Professional Firefighters, Florida Education Association, Florida Plumbers & Pipefitters and the Florida Young Democrats, along with more than 100 current and former state and local elected officials.

“Floridians deserve a governor who fights for them – including for their right to marry the person they love and to be safe from discrimination in the workplace,” said Charlie Crist. “I am proud to stand with Equality Florida Action PAC, the Human Rights Campaign and Florida’s LGBT community to fight to make Florida fair for all hard-working families.”

Each election cycle, Equality Florida Action PAC’s endorsements serve as a valuable source of information for hundreds of thousands of voters statewide.

For further information about Charlie Crist for Governor, go to www.charliecrist.com.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Equality Florida Action PAC
Sharon Kersten, [email protected]
Sue Hoffman, [email protected]

Charlie Crist for Governor 2014
Brendan Gilfillan, Communications Director, [email protected]