In a historic victory for LGBTQ representation, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan secured her seventh term on the Orlando City Council, garnering an impressive 64.3 percent of the vote. Sheehan, Florida’s first openly LGBTQ elected official, celebrated her resounding win with a drag queen at her victory party. This victory was especially sweet for Sheehan, who had to contend with negative attacks on her record during the campaign.
Sheehan’s victory party, held at Quantum Leap Winery in Orlando, featured drag performer Darcel Stevens, in what seemed like a deliberate defiance of Florida’s newly enacted laws targeting drag shows. Florida’s recent legislation threatens the business licenses of establishments hosting live adult shows without age restrictions, a move that has faced legal challenges based on First Amendment rights.
Despite facing challenges related to her record and the recent controversy surrounding the onePULSE Foundation, Patty Sheehan emerged triumphant. She defended her position on the City Council’s decision to purchase the Pulse nightclub property for $2 million, emphasizing that the nonprofit’s actions were beyond her control.
Randy Ross, one of her challengers, conceded shortly after the vote tally. Ross, a gay man who had previously supported Donald Trump in 2016, had criticized Sheehan over her handling of the onePULSE Foundation’s museum plans. With this victory, Patty Sheehan solidifies her status as the longest-serving elected official in Orlando’s history, reaffirming the city’s commitment to LGBTQ representation.