2018 FL Governor's race: on Civil Rights


Ron DeSantis: Backs bill impeding voting by ex-felons

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will sign a bill that would require ex-felons in the state, who were granted the right to vote in a referendum, to pay all financial obligations before they can head to the polls. DeSantis said that the "idea that paying restitution to someone is equivalent to a tax is totally wrong. The only reason you're paying restitution is because you were convicted of a felony."
Source: CNN.com on 2018 Florida gubernatorial race May 8, 2019

Philip Levine: History of being a fierce champion for LGBTQ rights

Philip has always been a fierce champion for LGBTQ rights. As Mayor of Miami Beach, he led the first same-sex weddings in his city after the historic ruling in 2015. Under his administration, his city won consecutive perfect scores from the Human Rights Campaign for inclusiveness and tolerance - the highest in the state of Florida. Philip will fight to make the Florida Competitive Workforce Act a reality, to ensure that no one of any gender or sexual orientation faces discrimination on the job.
Source: 2018 Florida Governor campaign website PhilipLevine2018.com Oct 9, 2018

Andrew Gillum: Oppose discrimination based on gender identity

Q: You opposed discrimination based on sexual orientation and supported same-sex marriage as mayor; would you extend the same equal rights to transgendered people?

A: Despite the tremendous victory for equal rights that was achieved when the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a constitutional right in the United States, there still remains much work ahead to advance equality for LGBT Floridians. In Florida, gay, lesbian, and bisexual citizens may not be protected from discrimination in public or in the workplace from one county to the next. Transgender Floridians may not have the right to use the restrooms that align with their gender identity depending on the community in which they find themselves. As Governor, Andrew will work to address these issues through statewide policies that ensure equal treatment and equal rights for all Floridians from every corner of our state.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Florida Governor candidate Jun 15, 2018

Andrew Gillum: Supports same-sex marriage

Q: Do you support or oppose same-sex marriage?

A: Strongly Support--Andrew has always been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights during his years as a public leader. As a City Commissioner, Gillum led the charge to expand domestic partner health benefits from City employees. As Mayor, when at least a dozen Florida counties were refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Florida, Gillum extended an invitation for couples to get married in Florida's Capital City.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Florida Governor candidate Jun 15, 2018

Andrew Gillum: Staunch supporter of LGBT rights

Andrew has always been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights during his years as a public leader. As a City Commissioner, Gillum led the charge to expand domestic partner health benefits from City employees. As Mayor, when at least a dozen Florida counties were refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Florida, Gillum raised his voice in opposition and extended an invitation for couples to get married in Florida's Capital City.

There still remains much work ahead to advance equality for LGBT Floridians. In Florida, gay, lesbian, and bisexual citizens may not be protected from discrimination in public or in the workplace from one county to the next. Transgender Floridians may not have the right to use the restrooms that align with their gender identity depending on the community in which they find themselves.

As Governor, Andrew will work to address these issues through statewide policies that ensure equal treatment and equal rights for all Floridians from every corner of our state

Source: 2018 Florida Governor campaign website AndrewGillum.com Mar 21, 2018

Andrew Gillum: Take down Confederate monuments

I am calling on Governor Rick Scott to immediately remove the Confederate monument on the grounds of the Old State Capitol. If he refuses, I will do so on my first day as Governor. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to acknowledge that while we cannot change history, we do not have to glorify its ugliest moments with displays on public lands. And most certainly not in our state's capital, and not in front of our historic state house.
Source: 2018 Florida Gubernatorial website AndrewGillum.com Sep 1, 2017

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Rick Scott on Civil Rights.
Candidates and political leaders on Civil Rights:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Jun 10, 2019