At a time when political influence may seem out of citizens’ hands, LGBT people are making their voices heard on state and local issues. On March 1, local LGBT people helped stop a state bill that would’ve erased local bans and resolutions against fracking, a controversial mining technique that many say has caused earthquakes and land damage, but has proven damages to drinkable water in eight other states.
“If anyone doubts we can make a difference, today proved them wrong!” Chairman of Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Eric Rollings says.
House Bill 318, sponsored by Senator Garrett Richter, R-Naples, had the support of the American Petroleum Institute. It called for a two-year moratorium on fracking with $1 million being dedicated to a yearlong study. However, it also stripped counties and municipalities from home rule. After prolonged hearing and discussion in subcommittee – with public attention on social media and in Tallahassee growing – Senator Richter withdrew the bill.
“The opposition got drummed up against it,” Richter told reporters.
Last September, Orlando resident Jesse Collin Yeager – a hairstylist at Stella Lucca Salon in Winter Park –got involved in that opposition. “We went to a town hall meeting in Winter Park [where both pro- and anti-fracking experts provided data] and we immediately thought, ‘Hell, no!’ I got involved because I found how detrimental it could be to our environment and I didn’t want big petroleum fucking up my home state.”
Yeager and his neighbors organized an Oct. 10 yard sale to raise fund to fight what Yeager calls “all the money big oil was dumping into politicians’ campaigns.”
“We raised nearly $900,” reports Yeager of the yard sale, after getting a major donation from a local distributor for Ross, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx, to donate.
“We used that money to pay for a bus to Tallahassee,” Yeager says. “We went in groups. We met with senators and their aides to talk about blocking the bill, as well as a long-term ban on fracking.”
Besides that, Yeager talked to his friends and clients. “Our world is much bigger than just LGBT issues; we’re talking about our drinking water and land here.”
Rollings also created social media campaigns to put pressure on legislators. Others organized “calling trees” to Senators’ offices.
It’s a stark contrast to the national powerlessness many voters may feel. Citizens United allows corporations and super-PACs to funnels millions into elections. Primary rules vary not just between parties, but also from state to state. Delegates, super-delegates and the Electoral College further remove politics from “one voter – one vote.”
Yet, recent activity can point to the power people – including LGBT activists – still have. In Dec. 2015, Rollings and local citizens helped Orange County unanimously pass a resolution opposing fracking, sending a clear message to Tallahassee.
“Over 72 percent of the state has said they don’t want fracking,” Rollings states.
Yet, a Florida House bill passed in 2015. A Senate bill – identical in language – would have permanently taken the ability to ban or oppose fracking away from local governments.
“It was a misleading bill,” Rollings said. “A million dollars…there’s no way to do a thorough study in a year with that little amount.”
If they had passed the bill, the Florida legislature would have ignored the most likely cause for polluted groundwater in Oklahoma and the seismic activity in that state and Kansas – over five times as many earthquakes as five years ago. Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming have all had proven problems with fracking and water. Fracking techniques also include acid stimulation where 300 to 600 different chemicals are pumped into underlying rock to extract oil.
“I don’t want that going into our aquifer,” Yeager says.
“The battle isn’t over,” Rollings states.
Senator Richter can’t seek re-election because of term limits. All others will be up for re-election because of redistricting. “Someone could still sponsor a pro-fracking bill,” Rollings says. “However, I think there’s enough support for a statewide ban on fracking, too. We have to remain diligent and see what next year’s session brings.”
