Florida got its first openly LGBTQ senator on Election Day. Shevrin Jones claimed the seat of Senate District 35 Tuesday night (November 3). "I’m humbled to have earned the trust of the people of SD 35. I am looking forward to serving you in the Florida Senate. Thank YOU!" Jones tweeted.
“Shevrin shattered a long-standing political barrier for LGBTQ candidates in Florida and his victory will resonate far beyond the boundaries of his state,”Victory Fund President Mayor Annise Parker said. “Shevrin has led on justice-related issues in the state House and his victory is certain to inspire more Black LGBTQ leaders to choose elected office as a way to make change.”
Jones came out in 2018 after serving three terms in the Florida House of Representatives. The Democrat represented the 101st District since 2012, which includes southeastern Broward County. According to them. news, Jones' was the target of homophobic robotext attacks during his campaign. The texts asked voters, “Is this the type of senator you want representing you in Tallahassee?”
“It just goes to show that the people were electing a leader — that's who they were looking for,” Jones told them. in September. “They weren’t looking for me to go to Tallahassee to be their pastor. They're looking at: ‘Who is going to lead us in this time of crisis that we're dealing with? Not what he or she is doing in their bedroom.’”
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