|
With
his
bid
for
city
commission
in
Wilton
Manors,
Broward
native
Justin
Flippen
steps
to
the
forefront
of
the
county’s
gay
political
scene.
But
he’s
no
beginner.
He
works
as
a
commission
aide
for
Broward
County
Commissioner
Stacy
Ritter
and
served
as
Ritter’s
deputy
campaign
manager.
He
also
served
as
a
legislative
assistant
to
Irv
Slosberg
and
as
judicial
clerk
for
Broward
County
Judge
Robert
Lee.
While
studying
at
Florida
Atlantic
University,
he
worked
as
an
intern
for
Sen.
Bob
Graham.
The
Express
spoke
to
him
about
the
gay
community’s
political
clout
and
what
would
make
a
nice
young
man
want
to
enter
the
political
fray:
Express:
You
we
re
just
named
president
of
Dolphin
Democrats,
the
largest
Democratic
Club
in
Broward.
What
made
you
seek
out
the
position?
The
Dolphin
Democrats
is
the
largest
GLBT
political
organization
in
Florida.
My
desire
to
promote
the
Democratic
Party
and
equality
for
all,
particularly
the
GLBT
community,
as
well
as
having
been
asked
by
past
leaders
of
the
Dolphins
to
“take
up
the
mantle,”
made
me
seek
the
position.
Are
you
a
political
animal?
Ever
since
I
was
younger,
I
have
been
passionate
about
public
participation
in
the
political
process.
I
believe
Plato
had
it
right
—
one
of
the
penalties
for
refusing
to
participate
in
politics
is
that
you
end
up
being
governed
by
your
inferiors.
Does
this
make
me
an
animal?
I
sure
hope
not.
I
just
think
of
myself
as
an
American
engaging
in
his
civic
duty.
What
inspires
you
politically?
My
faith,
my
pride
in
my
nation,
my
desire
to
serve
others
and
and
the
need
to
right
wrongs
and
correct
inequalities
are
what
inspires
me
politically.
There’s
a
lot
of
talk
about
GLBT
“clout”
in
Broward
politics.
Is
this
a
myth?
Where
does
the
gay
community’s
political
leverage
in
Broward
lie?
No
myth.
Our
community’s
leverage
comes
from
the
network
of
GLBT
people
and
our
allies
whether
they
are
grassroots
activists,
those
working
in
government
or
for
elected
officials,
or
elected
officials
themselves.
There
seems
to
be
a
wealth
of
gay
people
jumping
into
politics
in
Broward
this
year.
What
does
this
say
about
the
evolution
of
gay
politics
in
Broward?
The
number
of
GLBT
candidates
running
for
office
is
simply
a
testament
to
the
reality
that
we
live
in
a
county
that
no
longer
oppresses
our
visibility
but
permits
and
protects
our
right
to
be
as
involved
as
any
other
citizen.
The
so-called
“marriage
protection”
amendment
will
be
a
major
issue
in
the
November
election.
One
of
the
strategies
being
discussed
to
defeat
the
measure
is
to
downplay
the
effect
it
has
on
the
GLBT
community
and
emphasizing
the
amendment’s
effect
on
unmarried
straight
couples
and
senior
citizens.
Is
this
a
good
tactic
or
is
it
a
missed
opportunity
for
discussing
gay
civil
rights
in
Florida?
These
are
really
two
separate
questions.
The
overriding
purpose
here
is
to
defeat
Amendment
2,
which
seeks
to
discriminate
not
protect.
If
we
don't
do
that,
discussing
the
status
of
gay
civil
rights
won't
matter
because
we
as
a
state
will
have
taken
a
major
step
back
ward.
The
GLBT
community
can
make
the
difference
in
any
election,
but
we
cannot
win
this
election
just
within
our
community.
How
would
you
settle
the
matter
seating
the
Florida
Democratic
Party
delegates
at
the
national
convention?
While,
of
course,
I
am
a
proud
Democrat,
I
believe
for
the
Democratic
Party
to
be
“the
party
of
the
people”
needs
to
stand
by
the
people.
The
people
of
Florida,
and
Michigan
too,
have
voted.
Neither
the
DNC
nor
a
Democratic
candidate
should
choose
party
rules
over
the
people.
Your
background
includes
experience
in
the
ex-gay
movement.
How
does
that
experience
inform
your
point
of
view,
political
or
otherwise
today?
My
faith
has
been
and
will
always
be
the
guiding
force
in
my
life.
Realizing
that
being
made
in
the
image
of
God
also
included
being
a
gay
man
was
not
an
easy
process.
The
experience
taught
me
that,
just
as
in
my
spiritual
journey,
I
have
encountered
beliefs
based
less
upon
truth
and
more
upon
prejudice.
This
is
sometimes
the
reality
in
politics.
 |
 |
| The
following comments were posted by our readers and were
not edited by floridablade.com. We ask that you
treat others with respect; any post deemed offensive will
be removed. |
|
| 
