REP. VAL DEMINGS, REP. CHARLIE CRIST, EQUALITY FLORIDA’S NADINE SMITH SPEAKING AT SATURDAY COCKTAIL RECEPTION OF OUR WINTER CONFERENCE

Nadine Smith to Receive Caucus’ Lifetime Leadership Award

Commissioner Nikki Fried, Sen. Annette Taddeo, Commissioner Ken Russell, Mayor Ken Welch, Rep. Michele Rayner Speaking at Conference

Rick Kriseman to Receive Caucus’ Municipal Leadership Award

Welcome Reception, Continental Breakfast, Saturday Lunch Included in Registration Fee

Plus — SUNDAY DRAG BRUNCH! Turn It Up, Turn It Out!

The 2022 Winter Conference of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park is almost here! Our main event, our Saturday Evening Cocktail Reception, will feature US Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings, gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist, and Equality Florida’s Nadine Smith, who will receive the Lifetime Leadership Award from the Caucus on Saturday, February 12.

“Turn It Up, Turn It Out!” runs Friday, February 11 through Sunday, February 13. The in-person event with a virtual livestream option brings together activists, allies, advocates, candidates, elected officials and policymakers for a weekend of planning to turn Florida blue in 2022.

Why does this matter? Because without you we lose!

The Winter Conference at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park (950 Lake Carillon Dr, St. Petersburg, FL 33716) is a spacious venue to allow for ample social distancing with covid protocols in place during all portions of the programming. We will require proof of vaccination or a negative covid test within the last 72 hours to enter, and encourage wearing a mask. The conference is open to all registered Democrats.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND BUY TICKETS

Friday, February 11

Conference Check In, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Hosted by the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County
— Gubernatorial candidate Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried
— Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Annette Taddeo
— St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch
–Former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman receiving the Municipal Leadership Award
Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres!

Saturday, February 12

Conference Check In, 8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

830am to Noon
MORNING SESSION

830am – 9am
Welcome

• Stephen Gaskill
• Paul Ray, Stonewall Pinellas President
• Lucinda Johnston, Pinellas DEC Chair
• Jim Nixon, St Pete LGBTQ Liaison
• Earl Fowlkes, LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair, Democratic National Committee

9am – 950am
“Is Florida Leading the Way in Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation?” — a panel discussion on efforts in Florida and state legislatures around the country to send us back into the closet

• Joe Saunders, Equality Florida
• Eunic Ortiz
• State Rep. Michele Rayner
• Ryan Wilson, HRC

950am – 1000am
BREAK

1000am – 1050am
“Erasing LGBTQ+ Voices in Schools and Libraries” — a panel discussion on Republican censorship efforts in Florida

• Pinellas School Board member Caprice Edmond
• Florida Education Association Director Brian Kerekes
• Carey Major FL Library Assn
• Nathan Bruemmer, Caucus Legislative Director

1055 – 1150am
“LGBTQ — But the T is Silent” — a panel discussion on the unique challenges facing Florida’s trans community

• Nikole Parker, Director of Transgender Equality, Equality Florida
• Carvelle Estriplet, activist
• Lucas Wehle, activist

1150am – Noon
BREAK

Noon – 1pm
LUNCH

“What the Hell is Happening in Tallahassee?”

• Sen. Shevrin Jones
• State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith
• State Rep. Ben Diamond
• Moderator — Al Ferguson

1pm to 3:45pm
AFTERNOON SESSION

1pm – 140pm
Travis Worl — “Communicating to Win” Training session from the Sexton Group

145pm – 220pm
Diversity Committee presentation Unconscious Bias

220pm -230pm
BREAK

235pm – 250pm
Trevor Mallory
President, Democratic Black Caucus of Florida

255pm – 310pm
Sam Alleman
LGBTQ+ Coalitions Director, Democratic National Committee

310pm – 355pm
“Expanding the Rainbow: Attracting Diverse LGBTQ+ Democratic Activists” — a panel discussion examining ways to increase diversity among our chapters and the state caucus with reps from Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Pasco Counties

• Robin Witt
• Enrique Pascual
• Peter Imhoff
• Tyler Barrett
• Moderator: Cory Maston

4pm
ADJOURN
Register for Membership Meeting

415pm to 515pm
MEMBERSHIP MEETING

515pm
ADJOURN

7pm to 9pm
COCKTAIL RECEPTION (separately ticketed)

— US Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings
— Gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist
— Equality Florida’s Nadine Smith receiving the Lifetime Leadership Award
— Video Appearance by DNC Chair Jaime Harrison
Cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres!

Sunday, February 13
Farewell Drag Brunch, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (separately ticketed)
Sponsored by the Ken Russell Campaign
— US Senate candidate Commissioner Ken Russell
— DJ L MO
— Daphne Ferraro
— Ashlee Bankx
— Juno Vibranz
— Host: Kori Stevens
Cocktails and brunch!

*Welcome Reception, Saturday Continental Breakfast and Saturday Lunch included in registration fee. No fee for the Membership Meeting, but separate registration is necessary. Saturday Evening Cocktail Reception and Sunday Drag Brunch are separately ticketed.

Registration and Tickets

Conference: Registration for in-person and virtual attendance is $45.
Click here to register for in-person or virtual attendance.

Saturday Evening Cocktail Reception: Tickets for our premiere event for in-person and virtual attendance are $150.
Click here to register for in-person or virtual attendance.

Farewell Drag Brunch: Tickets are $60.
Click here to register for in-person attendance.

Membership Meeting: There is no charge to register for the Membership Meeting.
Click here to register for in-person or virtual attendance.

Our membership meeting is open to all registered Democrats, although only active caucus members may vote. Click here to renew your caucus membership for 2022.

*All registration fees and tickets are non-refundable.

Hotel Reservations
Our hotel room block has closed. Please contact the hotel directly. Click here to book your room.

The Winter Conference of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is open to all registered Democrats.

WITHOUT YOU WE LOSE!

Sponsorships

Click here to review our conference sponsor opportunities.

Thanks to our Sponsors

Rand Snell

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Happening Out Television Network