LESBIAN MAYOR OF TAMPA WINS REELECTION BY LANDSLIDE

Jason Parsley

Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa and an out LGBT woman, easily won reelection March 7 with 80% of the vote. But there’s one caveat. She didn’t have an opponent except for a blank line where voters could fill in whomever they wanted.

According to the Tampa Bay Times some of those write-ins went to Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady; Tampa’s strip club king Joe Redner; Mickey Mouse; Santa Claus; and Spongebob Squarepants.

“It is clear the Tampa community is allin for Jane – across all party lines. She has ushered in a new level of prosperity and equity for the city by delivering real results and passing smart policies for the community she loves,” said Annise Parker, President of Victory Fund, in a press release. “While today’s result is a victory for all Tampa residents, it is also a meaningful victory for Florida’s LGBTQ+ community. With anti-LGBTQ hate

FLORIDIANS READY TO GET ‘HIGH’ POLL SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

Anew poll shows 70% of Floridians supporting a proposed constitutional amendment in the state that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and up. This is down from 76% in Spring of 2022, but from 64% in November of 2019.

Voters approved an amendment legalizing medicinal marijuana in 2016 with 71%.

The poll from University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab shows 45% strongly supporting this issue and 25% somewhat supporting. The support ranges across the political spectrum including Republicans (57%), Democrats (76%), and Independents (78%).

spreading like wildfire in Florida, Jane has consistently fought back. We are confident Jane will continue making Tampa a bastion for LGBTQ+ rights and equality in the state.” Castor is a Democrat and former Tampa police chief.

“Efforts to put recreational marijuana in front of voters in 2024 are in the beginning stages, but support for it is high across the political spectrum,” said Michael Binder, PORL faculty director and professor of political science, in a press release. “If it makes it onto the ballot next year, and that’s