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Could one of the most anti-LGBTQ members of the Florida Legislature lose a race for Congress?
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Polls have shown Republican Randy Fine in a surprisingly close U.S. House race in a special election against Democrat Josh Weil, despite running in a district where President Donald Trump won by 30 percentage points. The Human Rights Campaign has activated its political arm to help the Weil across the finish line.
Fine, a Florida state senator, boasts one of the most anti-equality records in the state. He sponsored Florida’s anti-drag law and its ban on gender-affirming care for minors. In fact, it was Fine who signed legislative subpoenas demanding that the Florida Psychiatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Florida Chapter reproduce any materials to justify support for “castrating and mutilating children.” In another act of retribution, he sponsored the bill to dissolve Disney's self-governing powers at its Florida resort to punish the company for opposing the state's "don't say gay" bill.
More recently, Fine this year pushed a ban on Pride flags and other political flags being displayed in Florida public buildings. But he won’t carry that bill forward, as his congressional candidacy prompted his resignation from the legislature as of Monday.
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The Human Rights Campaign PAC called Fine's record "egregious" and endorsed Weil in an effort to keep the lawmaker out of higher office. National Press Secretary Brandon Wolf, who hails from Florida, said the organization would activate more than 100,000 "equality voters" in the district who prioritize LGBTQ+ issues.
"This endorsement means we are activating our resources in the final days of the race. We are working to help voters understand what’s at stake for equality between Josh Weil and Sen. Fine by: Targeting emails to Equality Voters in the district; Targeting text messages to Equality Voters in the district; Launching paid digital ads in the district," Wolf wrote. "Needless to say, Equality Voters will have a keen interest in learning more about what’s at stake in this race and lean on HRC PAC to keep them informed. We look forward to helping mobilize those voters."
The plan was for Fine to coast on Trump’s endorsement to become a member of Congress. But with politics that have divided Republican voters in Florida, polls have shown Fine barely ahead of or even a few points behind Weil.
The Republican has responded to the close polls by publicly questioning his opponent’s sexuality as well as using racist and Islamaphobic language.
A social media post on Fine’s account collects videos posted by Weil in the past.
“#JihadJosh Weil is a drug addicted, bisexual, Muslim who beat one of his students and assaulted one of his female colleagues with a stick,” reads the post. “Don’t believe me? Listen to his own words. He’s proud of it.”
Those words accompanied several clips of Weil discussing parts of his identity, which were edited together. All were shot in the middle school math teacher’s classroom. “I’m a Muslim,” Weil says in religious dress. “I’m bisexual,” Weil then says while wearing an X-Men shirt showing Cyclops and Wolverine holding hands. “I’ve been clean and sober,” he says in the last clip, holding up a sobriety coin.
Weil hasn’t publicly discussed his sexuality as he campaigns in a heavily Republican district.
The Advocate reached out to Weil but did not receive a response.
Fine has previously attacked Weil in paid ads for supporting LGBTQ+ rights, including for transgender youth to play in sports and receive medical care. His criticisms have become increasingly personal as Election Day neared.
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