Dolphin Democrats

Politics in the LGBTQ+ Community

News

Dolphin Democrats to Require Vaccination Cards to Attend In Person Meetings and Events

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Dolphin Democrats Members and Guests: Given the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, and the unknowns surrounding the Delta variant,  the Dolphin Democrats Executive Board has voted to implement the following safety procedures for all in-person meetings and events until further notice:

  1. Attendees must wear a mask while indoors.  
  2. Attendees will be required to provide proof of vaccination. You may present your COVID-19 CDC vaccination card at the door or email a clear photo of your vaccination card to Alfredo Olvera at [email protected] 

This decision to expand and enhance our safety plans will further our efforts to protect our volunteers and members, and provide us with more time to evaluate the frequently changing guidance and information released by the CDC, Florida Department of Health, and local and state governments. These policies will remain in effect until the COVID-19 positivity rates in Broward County and Florida drop below 5%. In addition to our guidelines, we will continue to follow Pride Center policies for meetings held there, which may also continue to evolve. 

Vaccines and Safety Measures

Recent media reports of increased vaccination rates in our country is positive news, and we encourage you to get your COVID-19 vaccine if you have not already done so.

The political work that we do is more effective in-person, which is why we have established these guidelines. However, we understand that as circumstances change, your comfort level may change as well. The decision to attend voluntary meetings is an individual choice for you and your family that we respect and understand.

We continue to closely monitor the current trends in cases and will adjust our guidelines as needed, just as we have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please keep an eye out for more updates as we determine next steps.

Transgender Day of Visibility

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Please join us as we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility today, honored every year around the world on March 31! Transgender Day of Visibility is an important opportunity to uplift, cherish, and recognize all of our transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse siblings while highlighting their many accomplishments and triumphs. The visionary leadership of Black and brown women of transgender experience like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera helped to drive the fight for LGBTQ+ rights that continues to this day. Within our own South Florida communities, trans leaders are helping to create a more equitable and inclusive future and continue to lead from the front lines, guiding protest movements, building mutual aid networks, advocating for immigrant and labor rights, and pushing for equity for all of our residents. Today, we say loudly so that all of our trans siblings can hear:

You are loved. You are valued. You matter. You are seen. ❤️

Allies, here are a few ways you can help honor TDOV with action:

✔️ Support trans-led organizations

✔️ Educate yourself about gender identity and expression and take time to learn about the transgender community

✔️ Learn about and push back against anti-trans legislation, like the numerous bills currently targeting transgender athletes

✔️ Listen to trans folx and support trans leadership

✔️ Ensure the language you use is gender-inclusive

✔️ Celebrate transgender experience and recognize that this experience will be different for everyone

✔️ Respect pronouns and introduce yourself with your pronouns at meetings and events and add them to your Zoom name, email signature, and business cards

✔️ Don’t tolerate hate: Challenge transphobia and help to educate others with what you’ve learned

✔️ Correct other people if you witness them using the wrong name or pronouns when referring to someone of trans experience

✔️ Encourage your schools, workplaces, and organizations that you’re part of to participate in trainings to increase LGBTQ+ cultural competency.

Ready to learn more about gender identity and continue your allyship journey? The Trevor Project has a fantastic guide here: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/trevor-support-center/a-guide-to-being-an-ally-to-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth/

Equality Act Passes in U.S. House of Representative

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This critically important legislation would expand federal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as create greater consistency in anti-discrimination laws across the nation.

WILTON MANORS, FL – FEBRUARY 26, 2021 – The Dolphin Democrats, Florida’s oldest LGBTQ+ political organization, celebrates the momentous news that the Equality Act has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday with a vote of 224-206.

“The Equality Act is bringing us closer to ensuring everyone is treated equally under the law with the respect and dignity they deserve,” said Alfredo Olvera, President of The Dolphin Democrats. “We are grateful for Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Cicilline and our Broward County Congressional delegation for supporting and advancing this legislation on behalf of all Americans.”

While the vast majority of Americans support legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing, and hundreds of organizations including the Dolphin Democrats have proudly voiced their support for the Equality Act, only three Republicans in Congress voted in support of the Act on Thursday. With the election of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the American people have unequivocally proclaimed that intolerance and inequality have no place in this nation – the U.S. Senate must move to decisively and swiftly ensure the Equality Act heads to President Biden’s desk.

“The Equality Act provides long overdue federal civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, locking in critical safeguards in our housing, education, public services, and lending systems — and codifying the courage and resilience of the LGBTQ+ movement into enduring law,” President Biden said last week. The President pledged to make enactment of the Equality Act a top legislative priority of his administration during his first 100 days.

Equality is fundamental to a healthy society and a vibrant democracy, yet in more than half the states in America, LGBTQ+ people still lack comprehensive protections against discrimination. A recent study from the Center for American Progress shed light on the appalling fact that more than 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ Americans faced discrimination of some kind in the past year and as many as one-third also report altering aspects of their personal or work lives to avoid experiencing discrimination. For transgender Americans, discrimination is even more commonplace, with more than 3 in 5 individuals of transgender experience reporting discrimination in the past year. With the Equality Act introduced into the U.S. Senate as S.393, Floridians must join together to send a loud message to Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott that equality cannot wait any longer.

“It is now our responsibility as voters and citizens of this nation to call Senator Rubio and Senator Scott and ask them to be on the right side of history by supporting this unifying piece of legislation,” said Alfredo Olvera.

Dolphin Democrats – Equality Act Press Release

Board of Directors Election

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On Wednesday, February 10, 2021 the members of The Dolphin Democrats Elected Alfredo Olvera as President and Nik Harris as Vice-President for a second term expiring in 2023.  At the same meeting the members also elected Tina Jaramillo to Secretary, Hillary Dougherty to Treasurer.  In addition Emma Collum, Grecia Rivas-Smith, Lorenzo Robertson, Adam Sabin, Vanessa Villaverde, Nick Zantop and Jose Cedeno were elected as Directors.

We are all excited to see the board continuing their political work on behalf of LGBTQ+ Democrats in Broward County. Congratulations to all.

“Pride to the Polls” Car Parade – 10/24/20

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Join us for “Pride to the Polls” Car Parade, and Vote With Us

Saturday, October 24, 2020
Line Up Starts at 10:30am
The Sanctuary Church FLL
1400 N. Federal Hwy., Ft. Lauderdale

Decorate your car with Biden/Harris,
Campaigns with LGBTQ Flags and/or Signs 

Parade will end at: 
Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors
600 NE  21st, Ct.  Wilton Manors,

The Biden-Harris Campaign will have a DJ & a Food Truck
waiting for us at Hagen Park

Click here for: Pride to the Polls Route

2020 Endorsements & Recommendations Card

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2020 Endorsements Card

2020 General Election Dolphin Democrats Endorsements & Recommendations Card

The Dolphin Democrats, the oldest LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus in Florida, is proud to announce its 2020 General Election Endorsements & Recommendations Voting Card.  All the endorsed candidates on this card had to complete a thorough questionnaire, and received 2/3 of all the votes from the members at the endorsement meeting.
We would like to thank the Campaign & Elections Committee for their hard work on making this a successful process and to the all the members who participated in the voting process during the endorsement  process.
We are proud to have endorsed all these Pro-LGBTQ+ candidates for the November 3, 2020 General Election.

Broward County Candidates Endorsement

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At the September 9th Membership Meeting the members of the Dolphin Democrats endorsed the following candidates running for office in Broward County on the ballot in the November 3rd General Election:

Gregory Tony – Sheriff

Harold Pryor – State Attorney

Gordon Weekes – Public Defender

Joe Scott – Supervisor of Elections

Dale Holness – County Commission D9

Debbi Hixon – School Board At-Large D9

Marie Woodson – State House D101

Maureen Porras – State House D105