“GET OUT THE VOTE” RALLY “COMMUNITY IN UNITY” STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF THE LGBT VOTE IN FLORIDA

Join Senator Al Franken and DJ Tracy Young as Hotspots Media Group, along with partners such as the Human Rights Campaign and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, present a “get out the vote” rally called “Community in Unity”.

The rally, which will be held on Sunday, October 30 at 2 p.m. at Wilton Manors City Hall (2020 Wilton Dr.), is free to the public, and stresses the importance of voting in the 2016 election. Voters in Florida, an important battleground state, have the very real opportunity to select the next president, with the strength of the state’s 27 electoral votes behind them.

Since 2010, Florida’s LGBT community has seen a number of barriers fall: the ban on gay adoption is over, as is the ban on same-sex marriage. Nationally, we also saw the repeals of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as well as the Supreme Court case U.S. v. Windsor, which nixed portions of the Defense of Marriage Act. That court case opened the door to Florida eventually legalizing marriage equality by court order on January 6, 2015.

LGBT rights are at stake in this election, with the two major candidates offering very differing pictures with regard to how they would handle issues pertaining to our community over the next four years. This rally encourages everyone to get out and vote, not just for the short-term, but also for a long-term vision of progress and diversity.

“If you are an LGBT American, or if you support the struggle for equal rights by LGBT Americans, please make a statement by attending this rally,” Peter Clark, publisher at Hotspots Media Group, said. Indeed, the number of LGBTQ Floridians is estimated by Hotspots to be greater than one million.

In addition to DJ Tracy Young, the rally will feature a concert with a number of local entertainers, well-regarded in the LGBT community, ranging from female impersonator Joe Posa as Joan Rivers to singers like Jennifer McClain and other performers. A keynote speaker, who has been confirmed to attend, is Sen. Al Franken (D-MN). Sen. Franken is known for his work as a comedian and actor, in particular NBC’s Saturday Night Live, as well as for his work as a liberal activist. His activism eventually led him to the halls of Congress, where he has represented the citizens of Minnesota since 2009.

The “Community in Unity” rally’s entertainment and speaker lineup is in the final stages of planning.

Ian Maloney

Ian Maloney is from Delmar, DE. He lives in Miami Beach with his husband Alan and their dog Goldie. He loves learning languages, history, and writing about politics. He holds a Master's Degree from Wilmington University and a Bachelor's from the University of Delaware.

See Full Bio