Candidate Endorsement Form

School Board

Welcome to SAVE's Candidate Endorsement Process. The following form is being distributed to candidates that have qualified to run for office in a race for which SAVE has decided to consider making an endorsement.

Founded in 1993, SAVE is known for its thorough endorsement process, which begins with a Panel of community members interviewing candidates for office. The Panel's recommendations are further vetted by our Endorsement Committee, and finally reach our Board of Directors for final decisions.

Only candidates whose demonstrated support of the issues important to the LGBTQ+ community will earn our endorsement. SAVE may also choose to support endorsed candidates on our voter guides and in some cases our field resources will be used to help turn out pro-equality voters to the polls in support of our endorsed candidates.

Government reports have indicated that LGBTQ youth often have difficulties succeeding in educational setting and other aspects of life due to unique circumstances surrounding their sexual orientation and gender identity; such as: social isolation, harassment and violence, rejection by family, homelessness, high rates of drug and alcohol abuse and suicide, a lack of role models, and an absence of adequate information about sexual orientation and gender identity. What steps would you take to help ensure that LGBTQ youth in the school system are adequately cared for?

On May 13th, 2016, U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and the U.S.Department of Justice Civil Rights Division issued significant guidance to schools about civil rights protections for transgender students under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Significant guidance: https://www.justice.gov/opa/file/850986/dl.

Under Governor DeSantis, new legislation (Senate Bill 1710, effective July 1, 2025) has recently been passed, mandating that recipients of state funds cannot use those funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) office or officer.

The ‘Stop Woke Act’, signed in 2022, ended the teaching of things such as Critical Race Theory and prohibited Florida institutions from spending state and federal funds on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, claiming these programs are discriminatory in both theory and practice.

In 2023, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266 into law, requiring colleges and universities to eliminate general education core courses that are based on theories that teach systemic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.

Several anti-LGBTQ hate groups, such as the Christian Family Coalition, also engage in an endorsement process. We have been told that it is their policy that no candidate receive their endorsement and accept an endorsement or recommendation from SAVE Action PAC in the same election. Unfortunately, therefore, it is the policy of SAVE Action PAC not to endorse any candidate receiving the endorsement of an anti-LGBTQ group.

We thank you for responding to this questionnaire. We appreciate your time and attention. Please read and sign the certification statement below before returning the completed questionnaire to SAVE Action PAC.

###

I certify that the answers to the above questions accurately reflect my personal positions on the issues addressed.

I further certify that I have not, or will not, respond to the same questions contained in this questionnaire in a different fashion, if the same questions are presented by another group from which I am seeking an endorsement.

In pledging not to use SAVE Action PAC’s endorsement in a negative fashion, I recognize that SAVE Action PAC reserves the right to use this signed statement in any fashion deemed appropriate by SAVE Action PAC, specifically including, but not limited to, submission of a grievance with the Department of Elections should I or my campaign engage in any negative use of the questionnaire submitted by an opponent and/or the endorsement made by SAVE Action PAC.

Reminders: By submitting this form, you agree that the information provided is accurate and truthful to the best of your knowledge. Please provide relevant and accurate information to support the cause.