Florida voters elect first openly gay state legislator

Michael K. Lavers | Washington Blade | August 15, 2012

Voters on Tuesday elected a Miami Beach accountant as Florida’s first openly gay state legislator.

The Miami Herald reported that David Richardson, who will represent House District 113 in Tallahassee, defeated Mark Weithorn by a 33 to 27 percent margin. Adam Kravitz received 24 percent of the vote, while Waldo Faura garnered 16 percent. No Republicans entered the race.

<img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=301288&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=a759d81b&ct0=INSERT_CLICKURL_HERE' border='0' alt“David’s election sends a message to Tallahassee that LGBT Floridians will be heard,” said Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe, a former senior aide to the late Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles. “Finally, we will have an authentic LGBT voice in the state capitol who will be unafraid to speak up and speak out for fairness.”

Gay Orange County Democrat Joe Saunders will square off against Republican Marco Pena in November after he defeated Shayan Elahi. Key West Innskeepers President IanWhitney could potentially join Saunders in Tallahassee if voters elect him to represent House District 120, which includes the Florida Keys and south Miami-Dade County, in November.

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