A Really Bad Week

Over the past week we watched six extremist justices on the U.S. Supreme Court gut the Voting Rights Act - rolling back protections for Black voters that were hard-won over decades of resistance and civil rights actions. We also saw the Republican supermajority in Tallahassee ignore our state constitution and the will of Floridians as they caved to DeSantis and Trump by further gerrymandering Florida's congressional districts mid-decade. In a further gut-punch, three federal judges (all men) ruled that Mifepristone cannot be prescribed via telehealth and sent via mail, making abortions even more difficult and costly for women in states like Florida with cruel abortion bans. The SCOTUS has since put a temporary hold on that ruling, but it is a scary, chaotic time for reproductive health in the US. This is all on top of the ongoing attacks on our freedoms, the rule of law, and the environment, the cruelty, bigotry and war-mongering at home and abroad, and the staggering corruption of this regime.

There have been some bright spots, including May Day rallies and protests in Jacksonville and around the world, celebrating workers over billionaires. We are thankful for the refusal of the Florida House to roll-back childhood vaccine mandates during last week's special session. And we loved the feel-good story of Golden Tempo (23-1) winning the Kentucky Derby, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to win in 152 years of the race! Watching this joyful video helps. For more good news, you can read Jess Craven's recent 'Chop Wood, Carry Water' Substack post.

While these wins are important, we know we have a real fight on our hands. It has never been more important for everyone to do whatever they can to push back against this regime and to get out the vote in Every. Single. Election. As we watch politicians in Washington, D.C. and Florida and other extremists in positions of power ignore the will of the people, roll back our rights, and tear apart our democracy, it is crucially important that we fight back. Those who came before us suffered and died for our rights and we must honor them and protect generations to come by doing whatever it takes to ensure liberty and justice FOR ALL. Let's join in community to remind these corrupt politicians that the power of the people is still greater than the people in power. Thanks to our friends at Beaches Activists Movement for this list of some things you can do this week to push back:


🎬 ACTION: Urge Congress to take action. Add your name to this petition by United for Democracy and demand that Congress deliver a real plan for a fair political system that returns power to the people.


🎬 ACTION: Support legal challenges to FL maps. Your donation will help voting rights groups fight the new FL congressional maps --- the ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Common Cause, Equal Ground, the FL League of Women Voters, and Democracy Forward are among the organizations expected to lead the fight.


🎬 ACTION: Get involved with organizations fighting partisan redistricting. The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), founded by President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, is a good place to start.


🎬 ACTION: Engage in voter outreach & education. Voting rights activists agree the best way to fight the SCOTUS Callais decision is to engage and educate voters, particularly those in Black and Brown communities. You can do that at the Truth About Voting event this Thursday, May 7 at the Legends Center (see details below and contact Joy Burgess for more information.) 


🎬 ACTION: Thank lawmakers for defending democracy. FL Sen. Jennifer Bradley, representing Clay County and the surrounding areas, was one of five GOP lawmakers who voted against the Governor's map. As a member of the Rules Committee, Bradley aggressively questioned the Governor's staff about the constitutionality of the maps in light of the Fair Districts amendments while her GOP peers sat silent. Thank her for upholding the state constitution!  Sen.Tracie Davis and Rep. Angie Nixon were also strong advocates against the unconstitutional map - with our shero, Angie Nixon, using a bullhorn to make her position known before the vote. Let them know you appreciate their defense of democracy!

Voting: The Key to Our Democracy


"If your voice held no power, they wouldn't try to silence you" - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

During this crucially important election year, with Black voters' rights under attack, naturalized citizens' voting rights under attack, and Republican efforts to strip voting rights from women as well, we need to turn out the vote in record numbers. As politicians from Florida continue to try and rig the system and ignore the will of the people, it's more important than ever that citizens stay informed and make our voices heard by getting out the vote in huge numbers.

Please help spread the word about a great event this Thursday, May 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm - The Truth About Voting: Keeping It Real at the Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive in Jacksonville. Visitors to this free event can register to vote, renew their registration, and sign up to Vote by Mail. Meet the Supervisor of Elections team and hear from a number of organizations who will share information, including voter eligibility and rights restoration and how to become a paid poll worker. Enjoy free food, drinks and a raffle. If you have any questions or for more information, email Joy Burgess. 

Messages for Mother's Day

Every mom deserves to be celebrated on Mother’s Day. But this year, the mothers detained at the notorious Dilley immigrant detention facility with their children won’t be able to celebrate in the way they deserve. The national advocacy organization Children’s Rights is collecting messages to share with the mothers who are being held at the Dilley detention camp. 


The horrors of Dilley are hard to face. No child should be locked up in a cage. Nor should their moms, who are dealing with unimaginable hardships as they struggle to take care of their children. The more of us who send them strength and courage, the more meaningful it will be. And the more intense the public pressure on the government to end the illegal imprisonment of children and families.

🎬 ACTION: Send your message to a Mom in Dilley by this Sunday, May 10. Tell the Moms of Dilley that we see them and we care. Write a letter, share a poem or lyric you love, or offer a few words of hope - whatever feels right. Children's Rights attorneys will make sure your words reach the Moms inside. It only takes a minute to send a message of solidarity, but this small effort will mean so much.

Jax NOW Meeting Next Wed. May 13 at Cuba Libre

Please join us next Wednesday, May 13 for our May meeting, where we'll hear from City Councilmember, Rahman Johnson (Dist. 14). Councilmember Johnson will discuss: How to advocate effectively with Jax City Council; How to protect community rights under new state laws banning DEI and pre-empting local governance; What you need to know about Jacksonville's Neighborhood Bill of Rights. He will also take your questions on our city government and how we can get involved.

We will meet at Cuba Libre (Havana Jax), 2578 Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville. The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm, but please join us at 5:30 pm to socialize. The meeting will include a delicious dinner buffet and drinks from Havana Jax for $30/person (+ tax & tip). Please RSVP by clicking below as we need an accurate count. Please also bring cash as we'll all be on one check. Don't hesitate to email us with any questions, or if you need help with the cost of the meal. Hope to see you there on May 13.

Applications Open for Frieda Saraga Scholarship 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️


PFLAG Jacksonville's Frieda Saraga Scholarship Program is accepting applications from now until June 13, 2026. Launched in 1996, the Frieda Saraga Scholarship Program provides 12 Northeast Florida students with up to $2,000 in unencumbered college scholarships. Since its inception, PFLAG Jacksonville has provided more than 390 scholarships totaling more than $530,000.

Applicants must have recently lived in or are going to school in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam or St. Johns counties, have been admitted to a post-secondary school, and have participated in activities to benefit the LGBTQ+ community. For more details and to apply, please visit pflagjax.org/scholarship.