Florida Agenda

By JUSTIN FLIPPEN

As a former official voting delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, I’m proud to see the Party of the People continue to stand for the equality of ALL the people of our nation, and move towards adopting marriage equality in the official party platform. Democrats recognize that our national community is truly a family and has many members, including LGBT Americans. President Obama’s leadership on—and the Democratic support of—LGBT equality are unparalleled in history.

The passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, legal efforts to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the advocacy that we LGBT Americans have the right to civil marriage and an equal and full seat at the table of American society, are all a direct result of persistent and successful efforts of grassroots and equality advocates, President Obama’s leadership, and Democratic congressional support.

Democratic support of LGBT equality, economic relief for the middle class, protection of our environment and national resources, development of clean and renewable energy, social justice, civil rights, and women’s rights are just a few of the important reasons to support the Democratic Party.

In 2012, we voting Americans owe a duty to ourselves and our posterity to re-elect President Obama, and to re-elect and elect Democrats to the Senate and House of Representatives.

Justin Flippen is a native South Floridian and the former Vice Mayor of Wilton Manors. He currently works for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau promoting tourism-based economic development and marketing.

During the 19th and early-20th Centuries, intellectuals and
community leaders shared their ideas and thoughts in the form of a
parlor game that spoke, truthfully, about the innermost them. This
week,we speak CANDIDLY with Justin Flippen. Justin is a native
South Floridian and the former Vice Mayor of Wilton Manors. He
currently works for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and
Visitors Bureau promoting tourism-based economic development
and marketing.

Your favorite virtue.
Charity and love.

Your favorite qualities in a person.
Honesty, Integrity, Confidence, and Moderation.

Your chief characteristic.
Patriotic.

What do you appreciate most in your
friends?
Loyalty and Candor.

Your main fault.
I’m told I can occasionally be stubborn, but, hey, I am a Taurus!

Your favorite occupation.
Public servant.

Your idea of happiness.
Building a life together with the man of my dreams and creating a family. Three-day weekends also make me happy!

Your idea of misery.
Going hungry. I just love food way too much!

Where would you like to live?
In a community that socially and legally recognizes equality. I also love the outdoors and nature, so I definitely always want to be close to a National Park or two.

Your favorite authors.
Homer, Shakespeare, John Milton, C.S. Lewis, J.R. R. Tolkien, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost.

Your favorite heroes (male or female) in fiction.
Superman, Captain America, He-Man, Optimus Prime, Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Capt. Picard.

Your heroes in real life.
Jesus Christ, my grandparents, Martin Luther King, Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton.

What characters in history do you most dislike?
Tyrants, villains, those who have opposed social justice or have committed crimes against humanity.

Your favorite food and drink.
I only get to pick one food? Filet Mignon, cooked medium. A nice cold ice tea on a warm summer day can’t be beat! As for cocktails, a Pisco Sour or Vodka and soda with a splash of cranberry juice.

Your favorite names.
Joshua, Jonathan, Jupiter, and, of course, Justin. I guess I’m a bit partial to the letter ‘J.’

What do you hate the most?
Wrongdoing and those who do evil.

The reform you admire the most.
Legal equality and economic environmentalism.

The natural talent you’d like to be gifted
with.
To be able to sing a little less off key. Road trips with me singing along to music can be
fun or torture for passengers!

How do you wish to die?
Peacefully, knowing that I’ve lived a full, complete, and happy life.

What is your present state of mind?
Relaxed and reflective.

For what fault are you the most intolerant?
Arrogance.

Your personal motto.
“Tikkun Olam.” [A Hebrew phrase that translates as “making the world a better
place.”]

 Julie Carson sworn in Nov. 9; will serve out Flippen’s remaining term

 By BOB KECSKEMETY

On Nov.

2, voters in Wilton Manors chose Julie Carson in a special election to replace Vice Mayor Justin Flippen on the Wilton Manors City Commission. Carson beat out Celeste Shank Ellich with 52 percent of the vote. Flippen resigned his commission seat in order to run in the Democratic primary for Florida State Representative-District 92. With her victory, Carson becomes the first openly lesbian to win election to the City Commission.

“I am so excited and very happy to be on the City Commission and so glad I have the opportunity to serve the residents of Wilton Manors,” said Carson, who chose to run a special election to serve out the remaining two years of former Vice Mayor Justin Flippen’s term. “I believe that my biggest contribution could be made in two years. And should I decide, and should the voters decide they want me back, then I’ll consider another run, but this is going to be two years.” Carson sat on the commission briefly when, in November 2008, then City Commissioner Gary Resnick ran for and won the mayoral race, leaving his commission seat empty. The commission then unanimously a p p o i n t e d Carson to fill the seat until a special election was held in February 2009. She lost that election to Scott Newton.

 Carson received a full honor scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1983 from Middle Tennessee State University with a major in Foreign Language and a minor in Political Science and Women’s Studies. She became interested in public service when she was elected to serve as governor of Tennessee Volunteer Girls State, an annual leadership and citizenship-training program which selects 500 young women of academic excellence and provides them with an opportunity to form and run a mock government.

Carson worked portions of her summer breaks serving as a legislative aide for Girls Nation Program in Washington, D.C. and on the U.S. Congressional staff for Tennessee Congressman William Hill Boner.

Carson is also an accomplished triathlete, participating in as many as 15 events a year. She moved to South Florida from Nashville, Tenn. in 2001. In Nashville she was active in her synagogue and in politics. Six years ago she moved to Wilton Manors from Fort Lauderdale and has been active at her synagogue, Congregation Etz Chaim.

She says one of her first tasks will be to create harmony between the residents and the City Commission.

“I want to make sure all the gaps are bridges between all the communities in the city and that everyone has access to the commission in order to voice their opinions and ideas.”

She also wants to take a close look at the city’s budget, implementing some zero-based budgeting in various departments in order to determine what services are necessary and how to provide them at the lowest possible cost.

In order to better communicate with the residents of Wilton Manors, she is planning to have open office hours and is hoping to have meetings throughout the city so that she can meet with residents from different parts of town who do not otherwise have access to the City Commission. Carson also plans to focus on the city’s elementary school and its seniors community. She regularly consults State Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, who serves on the state’s Elder Committee.

She also believes that business development in the city is important and would like to see the business permitting process be made easier. The city has already budgeted to hire a new director of Community Services.

Candidate for State Representative, District 92

(Photo courtesy of Justin Flippen for Florida House 92)

By BOB KECSKEMETY
Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Justin Flippen is running in the Democratic primary for District 92, Florida State Representative. Earlier this week I had an opportunity to ask Justin a few questions.

Florida Agenda: You call yourself a public servant and not a politician. What is it about politics that makes you uncomfortable with the term ‘politician’?

Justin Flippen: To me, the term politician is a person who is concerned mainly with power and that’s not what I’m interested in. My faith, family and values
taught me when I was a younger child to use my abilities to give back to my community and to better other people’s lives. I think that referring to myself as a public servant first, holds me to a higher standard and it reminds me that my first duty is service and not a position of power and authority.

FA: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career in public service?

JF: Holding myself to high ethical standards and being governed by them as I make decisions and exercising fiscal responsibility on budgetary matters.

I was also instrumental in insuring that matters of equality were written into matters of law. For example, police and parking contracts in Wilton Manors contain anti-discrimination provisions. The police contract didn’t allow for family sick leave for domestic partners. That was an inequality in the contract and was changed to include not just the spouse. I created a Women’s History Month program to recognize the contribution of women to the city. I’ve worked with community leaders in addressing the parking needs on Wilton Drive and to preserve green space. I also worked on the master plan incorporating ideas of pedestrian connectivity within the city so we can have safe sidewalk and bike lanes.

FA: Many in Florida have been disappointed by the lack of real job growth in recent months. What more do you think can be done to put Floridians to work?

J.F.: I believe it’s time that Florida provides tax incentives to attract new businesses like the next wave of industrial development which includes smart growth and clean green technologies.

I think expanding the Sunshine’s State’s tourismbased economy to also include solar and clean energy technology is what the business of the state should be about. I work in tourism and I know that folks come to Florida for the sun but I think we can do more and harness the power of the sun to strengthen the economy. A workforce needs a properly educated and trained and because of that, education must be made affordable and accessible to the general public.

FA: Do you feel that, in this time of budget deficits, we have to cut back on social services?

JF: No. In fact, if the state were to properly invest in health and human service programs, like providing home care to our aging population instead of dumping money into institutionalized assisted living, it could save the state millions of dollars. If Tallahassee were to exercise greater fiscal responsibility due to the recession, I don’t believe we need to just cut services just to save money. I think we need to increase spending in health and human services and public education. In rough economic times, like we are in right now, we need a social safety net which is important to our society and we need to be educating our children.

FA: Why do you feel that it is so important that gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry? That is to say, why aren’t domestic partnership rights sufficient?

JF: Domestic partnerships in Florida are not equal in rights afforded by the contract of marriage. And because I have a commitment to equality, I believe that the civil contract of marriage be available to all regardless of sexual orientation.

FA: But your opponent in this race does support domestic partnerships.

JF: She does not support full equality she does not support marriage right to gays and lesbians couples. Domestic partnerships do not carry the same legal weight as marriage. There are county and municipal constructs in Florida that don’t afford the same rights and benefits and responsibilities. Nor are they required to be recognized beyond the county or even by businesses in the private sector. They are not equal to the civil contract of marriage. Her support of DOMA and those behind Amendment 2 which was passed in 2008 to deny marriage or any other union or contract similar to the rights afforded through marriage to same-sex partners underscores her lack of commitment to the gay and lesbian community here in Florida.

FA: Isn’t marriage fundamentally a religious issue?

JF: Civil marriage is a government contract — one that affords approximately 1,500 special rights and responsibilities and benefits to the parties that entered that contract. It is not the role of government to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation — who may or may not enter into such a contract. The sacrament of “Holy Matrimony” is indeed a religious matter. Religion retains it’s authority by the separation of church and state principles to confirm or deny religious sacraments based upon membership requirements or subscription to each religion and their religious beliefs.

FA: You have criticized your [Democratic] opponent in this race for taking money from Republican groups. In the current era of partisan gridlock, what is so wrong with a Democrat taking money from a Republican?

JF: It isn’t a matter of a Democrat taking money from any Republican group. This specific group is anti-Democratic, anti-Obama, anti-public education and anti-gay. This group has given so much money to anti-Democratic causes and it continues to work against every principle supported by the people that my opponent claims to serve. I believe that taking money from such a group and rewarding that group by voting for their special interests in opposition to the interests of the people you are elected to serve, is just, plain wrong. And it shouldn’t be the practice of a State Representative. I’ve called on my opponent to give the money back and not to hide behind the title of ‘Democrat’ when in fact she is not [legislating like] one. I’m a Democrat because I believe in what it means to be a Democrat.

Early voting is currently underway in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. The election will be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2010.

Candidate to hold fundraiser on June 11, 2010

(Photo: www.justinflippen.com)

Victory Fund has announced its endorsement of Justin Flippen, candidate for Florida State House, District 92.

“Victory is excited about the prospect of your election and proud to support his campaign to win office as an openly LGBT elected official,” said Shawn Werner, Victory Fund Director of Campaign Services.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund identifies, trains and elects LGBT leaders to all levels of office, in the United States.  Since 1991, the Victory Fund has helped hundreds of openly LGBT candidates win election to local, state and federal offices, bringing the total number of openly LGBT elected officials from fewer than 50 in 1991 to more than 400 today.

“What an amazing time for this announcement to arrive,” Flippen said.  “To know that a national organization such as Victory Fund with a proven track record of support for successful candidates has now placed its support in me and my race confirms that this is going to be a historic year for Florida.”

In addition to the endorsement of Victory Fund, Flipprn has received endorsements from Congressman Jared Polis, Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, Wilton Manors Commissioners Scott Newton and Tom Green

and LGBT activist Stuart Milk.

Flippen will hold a meet and greet fundraiser from 6-8 p.m. on Friday June 11 at 3680 NE 16 Ave., Oakland Park. Free appetizers and beverages will be provided by the host. Any one person can donate up to $500 to the Flippen campaign. For more information visit: www.JustinFlippen.com.

For more information about the Victory Fund and the work they do to help LGBT candidates campaigns throughout the U.S., visit: www.VictoryFund.org.

Young voices want to be heard

By DMITRY RASHNITSOV

The Broward County Council of Gay-Straight Alliances, an independently-run LGBT student group, has announced its’ list of endorsements for the 2010 election cycle. Representing student groups from 26 Broward High Schools, the Council advocates on behalf of LGBTQ students and teachers.

“In these challenging times for LGBT Equality, we are proud to stand beside our allies and work to ensure fair-minded, progressive candidates are elected to positions that can help ensure LGBT students receive a fair and adequate education,” said Ryan Terrell, President of the Broward Council of GSAs.

The Council plans on providing volunteers, tactical advice on issues, and other campaign services to its preferred candidates. They have already supported a couple of Broward campaigns this year.

Andrew Torres of Coral Springs, the incoming President of the Council, added that the Council usually makes endorsements only in races that it deems can have a direct impact on LGBT students and teachers.

“We’re looking forward to a fun and spirited campaign cycle,” said Torres, who takes over at the end of the school year.

This year’s endorsements are:

Scott Galvin- U.S. Congress, District 17 Justin Flippen- State Representative, District 92 Ken Keechl, Broward County Commission, District 4 Patti Good- Broward County School Board, District 2 Dave Thomas- Broward County School Board, District 4 Laurie Rich Levinson- Broward County School Board, District 6 Jennifer Leonard Gottlieb-Broward County School Board, District 8- At Large.

The Broward GSA was founded in February 2008 and has about 50 members.  In two years the group helped more than 20 high schools start local gay-straight alliances.

“This new community support was essential to our efforts to pass a Broward School Board Resolution recognizing the National Day of Silence and a Broward Democratic Executive Committee Resolution calling for a National School Safety and Crime Prevention Strategy by the Department of Education, both projects that I spearheaded as the Council President,” Terrell said.

For more information about the group, visit www.dosomething.org/project/broward-county-council-gay-straight-alliances

Milk calls Flippen a voice for all residents in District 92

Stuart Milk, nephew of the late gay civil rights activist and San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk and resident of Wilton Manors, has endorsed Justin Flippen to become Florida’s next State Representative for District 92.

“Justin Flippen will be an amazing voice for equality, inclusion, and fairness for all the residents of District 92 and for all Floridians as he joins a small but growing group of elected officials following the legacy and authenticity begun by my late Uncle Harvey Milk ,” Milk said.

Milk h as been instrument

al in achieving recognition for the LGBT community and is continuing the quest started by his uncle Harvey for a society with full equality. Harvey Milk’s ground breaking election in 1977 as one of the world’s first openly gay elected officials-and its most visible onesymbolized the freedom to live life with authenticity to millions of LGBT women and men around the world.

Harvey served less than a year in public office before his brutal assassination on November 27, 1978, but his life profoundly changed a city, state, nation and a global community. His courage, passion, and sense of justice rocked a country and stirred the very core of a put down and pushed out community, bringing forward new hope and a new vision of freedom.

“I’m honored and humbled to have the support of a long-time activist like Stuart Milk. His family has a history of pushing forward on civil rights and fighting to be a voice for all,” said Flippen. “I will carry that history with me as I seek to become the first openly gay State Representative for Florida.”

Harvey Milk Day was May 22. —FA

community portrait

Flippen hopes to be next District 92 representative

By BOB KECSKEMETY

Justin Flippen is hoping to serve his constituents in Tallahassee next year (photo courtesy of Bob Kecskkemety)

Fun Facts:

Spirtual Experience:

Justin was glad that WIlton Manors City Hall was relocated to a new building because when he took office he was told the old City Hall was haunted.

Not So Mad:

Justin’s favorite memory from a City Hall meeting is when a guy got up during the public speaking portion and announced to everyone he had just complete anger management courses.

Work history:

Justin works for the Tourism and Leisure Sales Department of the Fort Lauderdale Visitors and Convention Bureau. He previously interned for U.S. Senator Bob Graham and was a delegate at the 2008 Democrat Convention.

Recently Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Justin Flippen announced his candidacy for Florida State Representative for District 92.

Flippen was born in Hollywood, Florida and raised in Fort Lauderdale but in his earliest days he had ties to Wilton Manors.

“I had to endure my mom’s aerobic classes at Candy Colby’s Body Factory which is where Boom is located now,” Flippen said. “I’d just sit there in the back with my coloring book while my mom did her aerobics. I like to say that’s were I got my first sense of rhythm.”

Also, a member of the First Baptist Church in downtown Fort Lauderdale, his grandmother often took him to some of the Christian bookstores, which used to be on Wilton Drive.

Flippen graduated from Coconut Creek High then attended Florida Atlantic University where he majored in political science and minored in sociology with a focus on ethnic studies particularly Latin America. While at FAU he ran for student body president and became the first openly-gay student body president in any college in Florida.

Flippen then attended law school at the University of Florida in Gainesville where he also ran for and became president of the Law College Council, the student council of the UF law school.

Meanwhile, he worked at the Florida House of Representatives, interned for U.S. Senator Bob Graham, and became involved in the Democratic Party where he was twice elected to the Democratic Party Executive Committee.

Despite his legal training, Flippen says he’s not interested in practicing law, however while being a public servant, a legal background comes in handy.

When he ran for Wilton Manors City Commission, Flippen received the most number of votes ever cast for a city commission candidate in the history of the city and became the city’s vice mayor. He was also chosen as one of the 200 delegates to represent Florida at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

“This is my home, it raised me, it fostered my development and it’s always been my thing to give back to it,” said Flippen. “I’ve been committed to this area as a child, a young adult, a working professional, as vice mayor and now a candidate for State House 92.”

Flippen’s full-time job is with the Tourism and Leisure Sales Department of the Visitors and Convention Bureau where he works with travel agents and cruise lines, promoting the Greater Fort Lauderdale area as the ideal vacation destination.

He is particularly proud of when, back in the summer of 2007, while working for a Broward County Commissioner, then Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle took aim against the gay and lesbian community in the area and was against the area’s highly lucrative promotion as a LGBT vacation destination with Naugle stating he was on a crusade to stem the spread of AIDS and stop public sex.

Flippen then initiated the move to remove Naugle from the Tourism D e v e l o p m e n t Council.

“I brought the issue to my Broward C o u n t y Commissioner. The Commission has the authority to remove Mayor Naugle from the TDC. I went out to the community and worked with people like [former Oakland Park Vice Mayor] Anthony Niedwiecki and [CVB President] Nicki Grossman to see what damage had been done. I drafted the agenda item to remove Mayor Naugle and it was passed unanimously by the Broward County Commission.”

He then felt it would be a good idea to put a gay hotelier in the empty seat and nominated then Royal Palms Resort’s owner, Richard Gray to fill the seat.

“I am pleased to have played the part I did to make sure that the LGBT community was represented there also.”

Flippen enjoys residing in and working for the city of Wilton Manors. He says he works in downtown Fort Lauderdale so when he comes home to Wilton Manors in the evening he loves the small town feel. He also appreciates the city’s diversity.

“The history of Wilton Manors is unique. It was established as a whites-only segregationist community for residential purposes. Through the years you’ve seen this city transform from an area based on discrimination to becoming a hub of diversity and acceptance. This is what a true community should be,” Flippen said.

He says his approach to public service is to try to cast the largest net possible for the most effective results he can achieve. He realizes that he can’t make everyone happy on every issue but at the end of the day he has to use his best judgment to yield the best benefits for the residents he represents. He says that sometimes he has had to play the peacemaker between different groups of people and that he’s done his best to bring the parties together. “Obstacles can’t prevent us from moving toward progress,” he said. He vows that when elected to the Florida House District 92 seat, he will continue use the same philosophy.

As state representative for District 92, he says he will be a strong fighter for equality. Unlike other districts in the state, this particular district has a large number of LGBT residents and voters whom do not have representation in Tallahassee. His favorite quote is “If you don’t have a seat on the table, often times you’re on the menu.” He says that it will be his job to take the LGBT community off the menu and give them the seat they deserve along with other issues important to all residents of his district.

“I was raised with idea that America was built as a democracy,” concluded Flippen, “and that everyone should be engaged whether it be as a voter, a candidate or a public official. For me, there is no higher calling than being a public service.”