Quinnie Perez, 32 years old, became the first openly transgender person elected to public office in Florida after winning Seat 1 on the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District Board in the elections held on Tuesday, November 3, as confirmed by the organization Equality Florida.
Victory represents a milestone for the LGBTQ+ community in a state governed by Republican Ron DeSantis, whose administration has promoted numerous restrictions concerning the rights of transgender individuals.
According to Florida Politics, Perez received about 43% of the votes in a three-candidate race, surpassing Doug Sahr and Vicente Rafael Pérez Carreño.
The district encompasses part of the southwest of Orange County, including communities such as Oakland, Winter Garden, Windermere, and Lake Buena Vista.
“We won in one of the most conservative areas of Orange County. I am quite proud of myself,” declared Perez after learning the results.
The Orange County Democratic Party celebrated the outcome with a post on Facebook, congratulating Perez and highlighting the historic nature of his election.
A historic victory in the political context of Florida
The organization Equality Florida highlighted the election as a step forward for the political representation of transgender individuals.
Its executive director, Stratton Pollitzer, stated that the victory serves as a response to attempts to exclude transgender people from public life and opens up opportunities for new leadership.
The election comes after several years of political and legal confrontations regarding the measures approved during DeSantis' administration, including restrictions on teaching issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, access to certain public restrooms, and gender-affirming treatments for minors.
Some of these provisions have been subject to litigation and court decisions that have affected their implementation.
What functions will Quinnie Perez have?
Perez will assume his position in January 2027 on a nonpartisan local board dedicated to promoting the conservation of soil and water resources in Orange County.
It is a voluntary and unpaid position. The organization lacks its own budget and significant regulatory powers, so its activities focus on promoting conservation initiatives, environmental education, and cooperation with other entities.
Despite these limitations, Perez has proposed using the position to guide residents on funding opportunities and grants related to environmental protection.
It has also been proposed to maintain regular hours for citizen services, even using public spaces like libraries, to facilitate access to information and resources.
"I am very happy that someone like me, a trans person, can obtain some form of political power," she declared after her victory.
Daughter of Mexican immigrants and advocate for farm workers
Perez grew up in Ocala, in northern Florida, in a family of Mexican immigrants devoted to agricultural work.
Currently, he works in the cultivation and harvesting of medicinal cannabis, an activity that has allowed him to closely understand the working conditions of field workers.
According to The Advocate, his experience in the agricultural sector influenced a campaign that also aimed to provide greater representation for rural workers.
Perez has pointed out issues such as low wages and housing insecurity that affect immigrant workers.
Among their priorities are improving working conditions and promoting more sustainable agriculture.
Graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2019, she also has experience in community organization and coalition building.
He has participated in initiatives related to immigration reform, education, and LGBTQ+ rights, both in Florida and on a national scale.
Her candidacy received the endorsement of state representative Anna Eskamani and state senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, in addition to the support of organizations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
Smith highlighted his career since he worked as an intern in his legislative office and expressed his confidence that he will continue to advocate for farmworkers and the environment from his new position.
Water protection, flooding, and urban growth
Although his choice has garnered attention for its historical significance, Perez focused a large part of his campaign on the environmental issues of Orange County.
Among their proposals are the protection of wetlands and other sensitive ecosystems, improving stormwater management, and reducing environmental damage associated with urban growth.
It has also advocated for greater oversight of runoff from construction sites, the protection of water quality, and the development of affordable housing that incorporates sustainability criteria.
During his meetings with voters, he questioned the expansion of large data centers due to their potential environmental impacts and addressed the flooding issues faced by various communities in the county.
The candidate stated that access to clean water must be protected for human consumption and food production, as well as for the conservation of wildlife and ecosystems.
In statements collected by Florida Politics, he explained that during the campaign he sought to focus the conversations on the specific issues of the residents, regardless of their gender identity.
"He always brought the conversation back to public policies, to what was happening in the county, and people respected that," he stated.
An episode of harassment that propelled her candidacy
The decision to run for public office was related to a personal experience that occurred two days before the 2024 elections.
Perez reported that a man verbally harassed her in a gym and belittled her appearance.
The incident affected her emotionally, but it also led her to reconsider her role as an advocate for others.
"I have always been an advocate for others, so I need to be an advocate for myself," she recalled about the reflection that ultimately encouraged her to get involved in electoral politics.
During the campaign, as he explained, the in-person meetings with voters were generally respectful, although he has also reported incidents of harassment on social media.
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