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HRC Endorses Kendrick Meek In Florida Senate Race

08/18/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Kendrick Meek is running for Senate in Florida, and today, he received the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign.  Meek is the presumptive Democratic nominee the same way that Marco Rubio is presumed to be the Republican nominee for the Senate.  The race is a three way between Meek, Rubio and Charlie Crist, who is running as an independent.  Crist became an independent after it became clear that Rubio would be the Republican nominee.

Meek stated “I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign.  I’ve been a strong defender of LGBT rights and am proud to continue working with the LGBT community in the fight for equality. From fighting against Florida’s ban on gay adoption to consistently opposing the military’s discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, I will continue putting the well-being of all Floridians before the politics of division as Florida’s next U.S. Senator.”

How much of an effect the endorsement will have is hard to gauge as the HRC is not universally supported by the LGBT Community.

HRC President Joe Solmonese stated “Kendrick is a leader who has stood on the front lines of Florida’s fight for equality. An outspoken opponent of the state’s ban on gay adoptions and a longtime advocate for equal protections legislation, Kendrick’s record shows he is a steadfast ally of Florida’s LGBT community. Floridians deserve leaders who take principled stands and aren’t afraid to fight for what they believe in. For years, Kendrick has fought for equality. Now, it’s time to stand with him.”

Meek has been a vocal supporter of LGBT rights.  He has vocally opposed the ban on gay adoptions in Florida, and believes that adoptive parents should be evaluated based upon their capacity to provide a loving home.  He was also opposed to Amendment 2, the 2008 ballot initiative which defines marriage in the Florida Constitution as being between a man and a woman, and outlaws recognition of any other form of partnership between couples.  In 2007, he was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

While the Human Rights Campaign has been called the largest LGBT group in the country, it has been heavily criticized over the last few years because of their ineffectual nature and their lack of willingness to get involved head on in the fight for LGBT rights.

Source

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2010/08/hrc-endorses-kendrick-meek-for-us-senate.html#ixzz0wz5DtRW8