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