LLEGÓ, the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organization, has joined People for the American Way and the Unity Coalition of Miami-Dade to mobilize registered Latino voters in Miami-Dade. The campaign includes a Spanish-language media campaign, and “get out the vote” activities involving 150 local volunteers.
“The Latino LGBT community in Miami-Dade wants to ensure that registered Latino voters are well-educated around this discriminatory initiative,” said LLEGÓ Executive Director Martin Ornelas-Quintero. “The Latino vote is critical to ensure that we stop hate from spreading to other cities in the country and instead spread tolerance.”
In 1998, two decades after the successful campaign led by Anita Bryant to repeal an anti-discrimination provision, the Miami-Dade County Commission again approved an amendment to the county’s human-rights ordinance that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, credit and finance and public accommodations. Gay-rights opponents collected sufficient signatures to place on the Sept. 10 ballot, a proposal to repeal this amendment.
Latino LGBT leaders and activists organized to develop a targeted campaign in Miami-Dade to tackle the conservative rhetoric stemming from the Take Back Miami-Dade Campaign. The predominantly Cuban-American community of Miami-Dade is being targeted through Spanish-language radio and television. Recent commercials utilize boy scouts claiming to be discriminated for not being gay, and capitalize on the claim that the gay community seeks special interest rights. Eighty-three percent (83%) of registered Latino voters are Republicans.
See www.llego.org.