SAVE Dade Executive Director, CJ Ortuno, spoke today at the redistricting hearing to demand representation of LGBT Floridians.

Good afternoon distinguished panelists. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today about this important issue.

My name is CJ Ortuno and I’m the executive director of SAVE Dade, the largest countywide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in Miami-Dade County. It is estimated that our community comprises more than 300,000 residents – matching the number of residents already considered communities of interest. In Florida, we estimate 2,000,000 Floridians are members of the LGBT Community.

People who are LGBT fully embrace the privileges, as well as the responsibilities, that come with being part of the great Floridian mosaic. We are no more and no less American because of our sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

As you embark in the important work of reapportionment, I want to leave you with a few thoughts that will hopefully remain with you throughout the endeavor.

I’m a resident of the City of Miami Beach with my wife and daughter. And as a resident, my family and I have always been perplexed that three distinct state representatives represent our City. Yes, 3 different individuals represent 85 blocks within one city limit. I ask myself why would a community like Miami Beach, a true community of interest with unique opportunities and challenges be divided so greatly. I see it as wrong.

However, the opportunity to right a wrong is before you. We see the goal of redistricting to more fairly represent the changes in our state’s population and represent communities of common interest.

The LGBT Community is one such community of interest that to date has not been represented in Tallahassee. The citizens of Florida have never elected an openly gay member to the State House, State Senate or Cabinet. We have never elected a US Congressperson. No one. Never. And let me be clear, this has not been by choice. Rather the gerrymandering of districts has proven to be an undue burden on openly gay candidates as they face a daunting challenge of running in districts that fail to bring together communities of common interest.

This has to change.

LGBT Floridians live all over the state. The 2000 census ranked us 4th for the highest population of LGBT people in the country. Jacksonville, according to the 2010 census, is estimated to have one of the biggest populations of gay parents with nearly 34% of gay people parenting in that city. Wilton Manors, Miami Shores, and Key West are 3rd, 6th, and 8th on the list of cities with the highest concentration of LGBT people respectively. LBGT FLORIDIANS LIVE IN EVERY COMMUNITY BUT ARE NOT POLITICALLY REPRESENTED AT ANY LEVEL.

Most alarming is the roster of STATES that HAVE HAD OPENLY LGBT STATE OFFICIALS. VERMONT. MARYLAND. ALABAMA. ARKANSAS. NEVADA. Even, TEXAS. MONTANA. WYOMING. And UTAH are part of the list. However, left off this list is Florida, one of the largest states in the union.

In looking at the Voting Rights Act, I leave you with these final thoughts:

1. The LGBT population IS sufficiently large and geographically compact so as to constitute a majority in a single member district .

2. The LGBT community IS politically cohesive. We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.

3. There IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING evidence of racial-bloc voting that defeats the opportunity of minority voters to elect candidates of choice. My City of Miami Beach IS AN EXAMPLE. With a sizable LGBT population, there is no hope for an openly gay or transgender person to be elected from Miami Beach as long as it’s fractured and merges with communities that do not share a common interest.

WE MUST NO LONGER deny THE LGBT community a voice in Florida’s STATE government.

Thank you and together let’s ensure that Florida is a place that believes in Safeguarding American Values for Everyone.