Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Jacksonville LGBT Political Committee Endorses City Candidates

Peter Haden
/
WJCT News

On the steps of Jacksonville City Hall today, a new LGBT political action committee announced the candidates it’s supporting in the March 24 city elections.

The Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC is endorsing Republican mayoral candidate and City Councilman Bill Bishop. The group is also behind Tracie Davis for Supervisor of Elections and a host of candidates for City Council.

Monday morning on WJCT’s “First Coast Connect” program, unaffiliated mayoral candidate Omega Allen said she believes sexual orientation is a personal choice. PAC spokesman Jimmy Midyette says it’s important for all candidates to state their position on the same question.

“The fact is, that these are not topics of conversation that have been had for long in the public square in Jacksonville,” he said. “Asking a basic threshold question like that is one way that I think we can to begin to create some dialog and thoughtful conversation among the candidates.”

The committee says it’s providing financial and grassroots support to candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to equality.

Peter Haden is an award-winning investigative reporter and photographer currently working with The Center for Investigative Reporting. His stories are featured in media outlets around the world including NPR, CNN en Español, ECTV Ukraine, USA Today, Qatar Gulf Times, and the Malaysia Star.