Openly gay candidates running — and winning — in Florida is on the upswing, according to South Florida's Sun-Sentinel newspaper.
Florida is home to between 20 and 25 elected officials, a big change from the days of Anita Bryant in the late 1970s. While there are gay mayors and bureaucratic officials, there has yet to be an out gay state legislator in Florida — but many are hopeful that will change soon. As of Friday, there were gay candidates running for the state house, the state senate, and Congress. Republican transgender woman Donna Milo is running for Congress as well.
"By Florida standards, there's been an explosion of gay candidates and activity and openly gay elected officials," Eric Johnson, former chief of staff for former U.S. representative Robert Wexler, told the Sun-Sentinel.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-gay-politicians-transgender-20100620,0,5267168.story