LGBTQ+ Voters and Allies Poised For Florida’s Upcoming Elections, Reports GLAAD
August 3, 2022A poll by GLAAD has revealed that LGBTQ+ and ally voters in Florida are poised to make a decisive difference in the future of their state.
The research suggests that recent judicial and legislative actions related to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights have become key voting motivators for LGBTQ+ voters and allies. In a midterm election where mobilizing turnout is critical and challenging, Florida is poised to see a surge in voting participation by LGBTQ+ voters and their allies, according to the poll for watchdog and LGBTQ+ advocacy organization GLAAD, carried out by Pathfinder.
The LGBTQ+ community are even more motivated to vote in this election than they were in the last Presidential election. In a tight governor’s race, like in 2018, turnout from these voters could be pivotal, according to the data. The results reveal that around 77% strongly agree it’s more important than ever to vote this year because “basic human rights for women and LGBTQ+ Floridians are starting to be taken away by elected officials currently in charge of Florida’s government.” Florida has passed bills targeting abortion rights and LGBTQ+-related conversations in schools.
When measures failed to criminalize evidence-based, lifesaving healthcare for trans youth, Governor Ron DeSantis used state agencies to issue misinformation to target trans people and begin the process of stripping Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care. Governor DeSantis and his appointees have threatened small business owners that host drag shows, and schools that enforce federal protections for LGBTQ+ students under Title IX, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In 2018, the Florida governor’s election was decided by only 32,463 votes out of over eight million. The results of the poll suggest that LGBTQ+ and ally voters are positioned to be decisive in Florida this November if the governor’s race is similarly close. In fact, around 58% of LGBTQ+ and ally voters are even more motivated to vote in 2022 than they were in 2020.
Voters want candidates in Florida to address various issues, including restoring abortion rights (47%), reforms for gun safety (31%), high housing costs and inflation (22% each), and protecting LGBTQ+ equality (19%). Additionally, 67% say Florida-based companies have a moral obligation to speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
“Florida’s LGBTQ+ voters and ally voters have grave concerns about their basic human rights, including access to abortion, freedom of speech, and evidence-based healthcare for LGBTQ+ youth,” said GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis. “They’re motivated to make a difference in this crucial election.”
“The stakes are as high as ever: our civil liberties, the progress we’ve won, and our very democracy are on the line,” added Equality Florida Press Secretary, Brandon Wolf. “It is imperative that Floridians use the power of their votes to hold Governor DeSantis and his right-wing allies accountable for the hate and bigotry they have unleashed on our state.”
Around 71% of those polled say laws like “Don’t Say Gay” are designed to attack LGBTQ+ people. Additionally, 70% strongly agree that the bills will be emotionally damaging to LGBTQ+ children and parents. According to the UCLA Williams Institute School of Law, an estimated 4.6% of Floridians are LGBTQ+ and 24% of this community are raising children. The state ranks third in the nation with the most same sex couples, behind New York and California.
“All voters must use their voices in the upcoming election to speak out against baseless bills and hold leaders accountable to misinformation that endangers children,” urged Ellis. “Voters must send an unmistakable message to lawmakers that LGBTQ+ people and our allies are not going back in the closet or back in time. This discriminatory, defamatory and dangerous rhetoric and behavior must stop now.”
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