Gay Democratic Group Threatening Boycott Over Allen West

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http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/gay-democratic-group-threatening-boycott-over-allen-west/politics/2011/07/28/24545

A gay Democratic political group in Florida is threatening a boycott of members of a business group if they don’t rescind an invitation to Rep. Allen West to speak to the group. The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus has told the Wilton Manors Business Association that it must un-​invite West, or it will begin a boycott of their local business organization and call for its leader’s resignation.

Michael Rajner, legislative director of the Florida gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender group, which is affiliated with the National Stonewall Democrats, one week ago issued a statement, after West’s congressional email outburst, that his group “vehemently denounces Tea Party extremist Allen West.”

Rajner, who says the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus has “pproximately 13 chapters throughout the state of Florida,” today told The New Civil Rights Movement, “Several businesses have already dropped out of the Wilton Manors Business Association and several others have sent a strong message to the association’s president objecting to West’s appearance,” adding, “Whether or not a boycott will actually happen remains to be seen.”

“It was important for us to bring attention for the LGBT community to support businesses that help advance equality and social justice for all people,” Rajner added. “Wilton Manors is well known for businesses that support many of the LGBT-​communities efforts and often donate to worthy causes.”

According to a report in the South Florida Sun-​Sentinel, Rep. West sent the Wilton Manors Business Association a letter stating, “I am concerned about individuals or organizations that would call upon a boycott and try to hurt hard-​working small business owners only because an association wants to be better informed on business related issues that are taking place in Washington, D.C.”