The adage politics make for strange bedfellows couldn’t be better illustrated than by a gathering held Friday evening (October 10, 2008) at the Morningside home of Ron Brenesky & Christian Aguilar. Gays, straights, Democrats and Republicans all came together for the common purpose of raising funds to defeat the proposed Amendment 2, the so-called Florida Marriage Protection Amendment.

Somewhat dismayed by recent media reports that 55% of all Floridians support Amendment 2, event host Brenesky’s hopes for the measure’s defeat were buoyed by the presence of such a politically diverse crowd.  “We have an issue that has united our community,” Brenesky told GaySofla.com.  “We need to get out the vote and unite all our resources to defeat Amendment 2,” he said. .  

Taking a break from the divisive partisan politicking of the 2008 Presidential Election, Chip Arndt of the Miami-Dade Freedom Democrats and attorney Robert Watson of the Miami Log Cabin Republicans, not often in agreement on most political issues, urged the crowd of approximately 60 of Miami’s ‘gay listers’ to work together to defeat the ballot initiative.  

Best known as a winner of television’s The Amazing Race 4 in 2003, Arndt has been able to successfully use his celebrity status to generate interests in LGBT equality issues. For the last several months Arndt has worked tirelessly to educate voters and warn them of the unanticipated and serious adverse legal ramifications for all Florida citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation, if Amendment 2 is adopted.  

“I make a point to speak to people I meet in my day to day activities about the adverse consequences of the passage of Amendment 2,” Arndt told the group.  He encouraged those present to take a handful of VoteNo2 brochures and share them with at least five individuals every day until November 4.  “Our multiplied efforts can defeat this initiative,” he offered.  

Echoing Arndt’s sentiments, Watson also encouraged those assembled to make every effort to educate neighbors and friends of the devastating consequences of enshrining such a discriminatory amendment into the state constitution.   

In addition to Arndt & Watson, also in attendance were Sandy Steen (Wilton Manors Mayoral Candidate), Michael Gongora (Former Miami Beach Commissioner), Joe Granda (Granda Entertainment), Maritrini (Television Personality), Rudy Rafuls (Granda Entertainment, Dahlia Canes (GaySoFla.com Columnist), Fabio Gil (America Teve Producer), Laria (TV41) Juan Carlos Rodriguez (South Florida Blade), Juan Saco (Miami Gay Blog), Fructos Rodriguez (WWFE 670 AM), Efrain Martinez (Radio Marti), Andy Eddie (Broward Civic Leader), Rachel Alfonso (Author), Arturo Alvarez (Club Azucar), Oscar Medina (Miami Health Department), Fatimo Garcia (Dominican Leadership Consul) Stratton (Equality Florida), Tobias Packer (Florida Red & Blue), Orlando Gonzalez (Save Dade), and Dan Renzi (South Florida Blade).   

The event was sponsored, in part by, Unity Coalition, Equality Florida (Fairness for all Families), Florida Red & Blue, Ambiente Magazine, Herb Sosa Design, Granda Entertainment, Freedom Democrats, and Log Cabin Republicans.   

Related Stories: 

CLICK HERE to Read Lawyer Warns Gay Marriage Ban Would Hurt Heterosexuals
CLICK HERE  to Read the Letter in Its Entirety and View the Signers.  
CLICK HERE  to Read Florida Gay Marriage Ban & Family Guy - Life Imitating Art? 
CLICK HERE  to Read Electile Dysfunction + Disenfranchised Democrats=Gay Marriage Ban  

David L. Wylie is the Senior Editor of GaySOFLA Magazine.  Wylie is passionate about creating an online media outlet that will encourage, entertain and educate the south Florida LGBT Community.  Wylie hopes that GaySOFLA serves that purpose.  He can be reached at David@gaysofla.com