ABOVE: Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, photo via Buttigieg’s Facebook page.
Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg will deliver a keynote address Sept. 12 during the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus’ first-ever virtual conference.
Buttigieg made history earlier this year as the first openly gay candidate in U.S. history to win presidential primary delegates. Themed “It’s In Your Hands,” the caucus’ summer conference will focus on electing Democrats in November’s election.
“COVID-19 keeps us from meeting in person, but we have a tremendous amount of work to do to change the direction of our country by electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill said in a statement.
“Our virtual conference features party leaders, issue experts and campaign strategists,” he continued, “who will inspire us, teach us and guide us in our mission to defeat Donald Trump.” Read more:
During last month’s Democratic National Convention, Gaskill and 13 other caucus members served as Florida delegates, formally nominating Biden as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president. “Every year, every campaign, every election cycle, we say that this is the most important election in American history,” he told Watermark. “I don’t think there’s anyone who could doubt that this one truly is.”
In addition to Buttigieg’s keynote address, the virtual conference will highlight Florida voter protection efforts “as a counter to Republican efforts to suppress the vote,” the caucus shared. “Also on the agenda is a panel discussion on the intersection of issues facing the LGBTQ community and communities of color in the 2021 legislative session.”
The panel will moderated by State Rep. Shevrin Jones, who is poised to become Florida’s first openly gay state senator in November. Rep.-elect Michele Rayner, who made history this month when she became the first Black, openly LGBTQ woman elected to the Florida Legislature, will also be featured.
Interested parties can watch “It’s In Your Hands” Sept. 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on multiple websites, primarily LGBTQDems.org. While there is no registration fee, participants are encouraged to register. For more information, visit the caucus’ website.
