Ty Penserga’s historic LGBTQ mayoral win proves not everything in Florida is bad
Victory Fund. Did we mention he’s also a high school biology and chemistry teacher? We love a STEM moment!“This is a surreal moment for me,” Penserga told his supporters following his historic win. “What you have taught me and what you have given me is an opportunity to fight for all of you.
This is the opportunity to do the work.”Officially sworn in as the next Mayor of the City of Boynton Beach! Thank you to all of our friends, families, and residents who believed in me and my campaign.
A special thank you to State Attorney Dave Aronberg who swore me into office. We did it! pic.twitter.com/kJbPRjhfXj— Ty Penserga (@TyPenserga) April 7, 2022Of course, Penserga’s win wasn’t totally smooth sailing.
Just hours earlier on March 8, the Florida Senate passed the infamously homophobic “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which ban discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools.During the campaign Penserga was also the subject of homophobic remarks from his rival, Bernard Wright, who was also running for mayor.In a Facebook Live before the election, Wright declared “I ain’t with the LGBT,” before warning voters that Penserga wanted to make Boynton Beach a “gay city.” (Which hey, what’s wrong with that?!)Of course, Penserga didn’t take too many of these comments to heart.
