Exclusive: Florida Governor Charlie Crist prepared to endorse broad swath of gay rights

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

Exclusive: Florida Governor Charlie Crist prepared to endorse broad swath of gay rights

By John Byrne
Sunday, September 12th, 2010 -- 7:50 pm


MIAMI -- Charlie Crist, the current governor of Florida and Independent candidate for US Senate, is prepared to issue a ringing endorsement of gay rights in a document slated to be released as early as this week, according to a copy of a position paper provided in advance Sunday to RawStory.com.

Crist, who was elected governor as a Republican, left the GOP after it became clear he could not win his party’s nomination for Senate.

The document provided to RawStory.com includes Crist's vocal support for gay couples, including hospital visitation, inheritance and adoption rights; opposition to the ban on gays serving in the military; support for anti-discrimination laws and appropriations for HIV and AIDS programs.

"It's great to hear a sitting governor take such a strong stand on equality issues," Nadine Smith, Director of Equality Florida, told RawStory.com by telephone Sunday night. "This is the first time in Florida's history that a sitting governor has taken these public positions on a wide range of LGBT equality issues. It marks a shift in the debate in our state."

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/leaked-florida-governor-charlie-crist-prepared-endorse-broad-swath-gay-rights/