Opinion
By Dave Scott, 11-18-22
Following his impressive win November 8 Governor Ron DeSantis proclaimed: “Florida is where woke comes to die.” Well, it’s still thrashing around in Fernandina Beach and voters here have an opportunity to drive a stake through its heart December 13.
DeSantis won reelection mainly because he championed traditional American values, particularly parental rights, over the cultural vandalism promoted by local far-left radical activists.
Governor DeSantis’s overwhelming victory by a vast majority of Florida voters made it clear we don’t want our children indoctrinated with toxic theories such as gender ideology. Parents say they, not politicians, unions, or any other outside influence has the final say over the upbringing of their children.
Somehow that message got washed away in Fernandina Beach as the red tide spread across the state.
Local voters can bring this rubbish to an end hereabouts by electing City Commission candidates Darron Ayscue and Dr. James Antun, family-men who strongly believe that bringing up children belongs to parents. They do not feign ignorance about the reality of sex, a biological characteristic from which each person’s humanity is permanent.
Thanks to DeSantis public schools in Florida are forbidden by state law from indoctrinating young children with transgender ideology or attempting to transition children behind their parents’ backs. They cannot treat boys as if they were girls or vice versa when it comes to school sports, bathrooms, or locker rooms.
However, two far-left, extremists and Fernandina Beach City Commission candidates, Mike Lednovich and Genece Minshew (pictured above), are attempting to inflict their twisted and toxic view of human sexuality on local children and have even convinced some naïve and passive community establishments to buy into their perverse garbage. City voters need to pay close attention.
A friend sent me an email yesterday saying: “I Just spoke to four separate Republican voters who live in the city this morning at a funeral. NONE of them knew there was a runoff on Dec 13. “Gee, we didn¹t see anything in the papers,” an indication that local media are ignoring this vital campaign.
“Apparently it is crucial to get out the word as Democrats are counting on the fact we won’t,” said my friend.
This past Tuesday at the City Commission session, leftist Mike Lednovich, the current mayor, issued something called a “Transgender Day of Remembrance Proclamation recognizing November 20, 2022, as Transgender Day of Remembrance to honor the lives of those who might otherwise be forgotten.”
The California transplant and Black Lives Matter enthusiast, Lednovich, presented his proclamation to City Commission Group 5 seat candidate Genece Minshew, Fernandina Beach Pride president, and members of her organization.
What’s next, proclamations honoring “The ‘Funny Uncles’ nobody wants to sit next to at Thanksgiving”, a proclamation honoring “The world’s tallest transgendered dwarf” or one honoring “The altered altar boy”? The possibilities are endless.
Since the mayor sets the agenda for Commission meetings that’s how nonsensical rubbish like this gets on it. Local voters were wise enough to elect Commissioner Bradley Bean the new mayor, so this crap will hopefully come to an end when he picks up the gavel. The next step is to elect Dr. James Antun and Firefighter Darron Ayscue to Commission seats December 13.
A sampling of what Minshew, her organization and Lednovich are promoting ranges from events in the Boys and Girls Club Gym to a session in the Fernandina Beach Middle School gym on Amelia Island inviting folks to “come find your passion, meet with Fernandina Beach Pride…” Oh, there were also “Drag Queen Bingo” and “Drag Queen Brunch” events promoted at the Atlantic Ave. Marriott Courtyard locations on Amelia Island. I’m not making any of this up.
This perverse cultural rot championed by Minshew and Lednovich is seeping into other local organizations. The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce is an example.
Is this what the majority of Fernandina Beach residents want?
The Chamber’s site plugged something called Rainbow Camp saying: “Genece Minshew, President of Fernandina Pride, the organization sponsoring the camp, says that “…this will be an environment where LGBTQIA+ youth can feel safe, celebrated, loved, and valued by each other and our community.” The Chamber site added: “Enrollment is open to young people who have completed 6th grade through those who have completed their junior year of high school.” On the site Minshew said: “This will be a great way to truly celebrate Pride Month – for both our young people and our community leaders.”
The Chamber post says the Rainbow Camp “will offer fun and learning including: LBGTQIA+ history, a Q&A with local LGBTQIA+ adults in successful jobs and careers who will talk about their paths to success, Drag Queens,” and more.
They are taking their message to schools and kid’s venues. Don’t believe me. See for yourself:
https://www.islandchamber.com/blog/fernandina-beach-pride-announces-rainbow-camp
The Chamber has obviously lost its purpose along with its moral compass. This impotent ineffectual organization should stick to what it does best: convince naïve businesses to pay outrageous membership fees in return for a monthly treat of cheap white wine and rubbery cheese cubes.
A couple of area churches are also participating in this garbage including the New Vision Congregational United Church of Christ. The Chamber publicized that event saying, “June 20 to June 24, 2022, Nassau County LGBTQIA+ Youth Can Have Fun and Learn at a Day Camp Designed Just for Them.” It continues adding Fernandina Beach Pride announces a weeklong Day Camp for LGBTQIA+ youth where they can let loose, connect with others, learn, and express themselves. Camp will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and be based at space donated by New Vision Congregational United Church of Christ, located at 96072 Chester Rd in Yulee.”
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is also involved is hosting the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov 20th https://www.facebook.com/events/596872348879753?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A.
Minshew has reported to have said many times that she wants to turn Fernandina Beach into a “gay destination,” and it appears that she’s working overtime to that end.
Minshew and Lednovich refused to answer the County Citizens Defending Freedom (CCDF) questionnaire which contained a question asking if they favored promoting Fernandina as a gay vacation destination. All other candidates answered saying “No”.
Here’s the questionnaire that both Lednovich and Minshew refused to answer: Voter Guide for Nassau School Board and Fernandina Council Election- 2022. They also refused to answer all media questions asking why they wouldn’t respond.
To view more of what the Minshew and Lednovich extremists are promoting for area young people and others go to https://www.fernandinabeachpride.com/calendar
Do you want to stop the LG+ team (Lednovich and Genece) from grooming local youth and trying to convince your kids and grandkids that their bizarre way of life is normal? Do you want to stop the attack on Judeo-Christian teachings and traditions and the corruption of local American institutions? If so cast your Commission ballots for the AA team (Antun and Ayscue) on December 13. Mark it on your calendar and tell your friends and neighbors. It’s that important. A vote for the two A’s is a vote to preserve Fernandina.
Do my comments make me homophobic, transphobic, etc.?
I don’t care what the adult LGBTQIA+ crowd thinks and does with each other. However, I don’t want it forced on young people or have them taught that it is normal. Local institutions, schools, parks, and ball fields should not be pressured to treat boys as if they were girls or vice versa when it comes to sports, bathrooms, or locker rooms. I don’t want my taxes used to promote their activities or have the government – local or national – involved in telling children that they can change their sex. They can’t, nobody can, not even through surgeries or chemical castration. That doesn’t have anything to do with gay or transgendered rights. That’s child abuse.
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Attention Parents: Fernandina parents want reliable and age-appropriate kids’ shows, books, and magazines that teach traditional pro-American and family values – content that parents trust, and children love – that’s not filled with woke agendas.
Do local parents understand that there is a war being waged daily for the minds of their children, from the media, to entertainment, to our schools and politicians?
An example of the garbage being touted for children includes this promotion: “If you’re a drag queen and you know it, let it show by winking, shaking your bum, laughing real big, twirling around, and more!” This promotional material tells kids to join a cast of fabulous drag queens as they sing along to the tune of ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It.’ They say it’s a ‘playful celebration of expressing your brightest and boldest self, a companion to The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish written by a board member of Drag Queen Story Hour. They say this book is recommended for ages 4-7.’” Good grief!
Drag Queen Story Hours, hyper-sexualized books in children’s libraries, and manipulative social influencers like Lednovich and Minshew contribute to confusing children about their identities. If mom and dad agree that “Enough is Enough” then this election is vital. A vote for family men Dr. James Antun and Darron Ayscue will keep Fernandina Beach on the right track.
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Speaking of Drag Queens: Most reasonable folks refuse to send their sons and daughters to a drag queen story hour because they don’t want a grown man in lingerie spending time with their kids. But the satirical Babylon Bee posted the following seven reasons drag shows are actually good for your kids:
- Nothing on Halloween will seem remotely scary anymore: Your kids will no longer run away and cry at that Jason costume after witnessing Priscilla Twerksalot in full makeup.
- They’ll definitely believe in the doctrine of total depravity: It’s never too early to teach them sound theology.
- It’s an easy spot for cops to round up pedophiles: Obviously.
- They’ll have plenty to talk about in therapy later: Wouldn’t want their expensive therapy sessions to be boring!
- You can use it as a threat to keep them in line: “If you sass me one more time you’re off to the drag show!”
- Being exposed to Monkeypox at a young age helps develop natural immunity: Gotta build up those antibodies.
- Since kids are little rebels, they’ll end up rebelling against their insane groomer parents and becoming good, conservative traditionalists: Reverse psychology!
Well, what are you waiting for? Take your kids to a drag show today, and then please turn yourself in to the local police.
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Just Wondering: Has eliminating mental hospitals eradicated mental illness? The sidewalks of New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, etc. clearly demonstrate it hasn’t.
Republished with the author’s permission. Read The Dave Scott Blog– subscribe Free
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
