Friday, January 03, 2014

Ex-Goverrnor CHARLES CRIST of Florida Apologizes for His Cynical 2006 support for Florida's Anti-Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment

Kudos.
I've been critical of CHARLES CRIST's environmental and human rights policies over the years, believing him to be a cynical opportunist. That goes double for his pal DANIEL GELBER, former Akerman Senterfitt lawyer and Democratic Attorney General candidate.
ChARLES CRIST destroyed Water Management District's power to protect our environment.
CHARLES CRIST actively supported a 2006 constitutional amendment to ban Gay marriage.
CHARLES CRIST was a Republican, then an Independent, and is now a Democrat.
Ex-Governor CHARLES CRIST has now apologized for his hateful position on Gay marriage.
Good for him.
CRIST was part of a Reichwing political machine that papered our state with anti-Gay hate. On March 15, 2005, the Gay-bashing fascists were even allowed to use the St. Johns County Convention Center, for free, after they made false statements in an application. St. Johns County Commissioner KAREN STERN made the motion to allow it. All of her colleagues agreed, 5-0. Two of them lost in the 2006 election (STERN AND BRUCE MAGUIRE).
St. Johns County Sheriff DAVID SHOAR's bully-boys threatened two women with arrest if anyone responded to their internet posts with First Amendment protected activity (protests), falsely claiming the $16.9 million County Convention Center was somehow "private property."
The Sheriff's Department lied. At least the Collective Press reported on it.
These were truly shameful acts, by shameful people.
They rallied, empowered and inspired Gays to win a June 7, 2005 federal court decision ordering Rainbow flags to fly on our historic Bridge of Lions for Gay Pride.
I remember crossing the Bridge of Lions the evening of March 15, 2005, after ALAN KEYES's homophobic Nuremberg style hate rally: I resolved to do the historic research that led to the U.S. District Court decision. Twice before GLBT people were told "no" by St. Augustine City Commissioners, who did not even put it to a vote. The discriminatory refusal to fly GLBT flags May 23, 2005 led to a Federal Court victory only two weeks later, on June 7, 2005.
We won.
In 2008, St. Johns County Commissioners proposed a charter (twice) on the ballot -- among other provisions, it left GLBT people out of the putative non-discrimination provision (Section 10.06).
They lost.
Twice.
Voters rightly rejected their bigoted, half-baked Charter.
CHARLES CRIST has now apologized for supporting a Nuremberg law banning Gays from marrying -- it is bad for equality, bad for tourism and bad for human and civil rights.
CHARLES CRIST was right to apologize. Confession is good for the soul.
As to CRIST's other past ill-advised policies, "repent now, Mr. CRIST!"

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