by Barbara Dozetos
Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network

The Florida state representative who surprised a group of GLBT high school students earlier this week with a lecture on the evils of homosexuality is facing a backlash from across the country.

Rep. Allen Trovillion, a 74-year-old Republican representing suburban Orlando, met with students from the Gay And Lesbian Idea eXchange for Youth (GALIXY) on April 9. The students were seeking support for a bill that would add sexual orientation to Florida's non-discrimination laws. During the meeting, Trovillion told GALIXY members that God would destroy them and that he would do everything in his power to see that the bill was not passed.

"It is regretful that any public official anywhere in the country would behave is such a manner," wrote openly gay New Hampshire State Rep. Raymond Buckley, the Democratic Whip, in a letter to Trovillion.

"The halls of [New Hampshire's] State House have been abuzz today regarding your outrageous behavior. It is my hope and the hope of many of my colleagues that you issue a statement of apology immediately," wrote Buckley, a seven-term member of the New Hampshire body. "The alternative, of course, would be to do the honorable thing and resign."

Trovillion responds

Trovillion released an unapologetic statement on April 12, reemphasizing his belief that current laws, which do not bar sexual orientation-based discrimination, were all the protection anyone needed.

"I'm surprised, but not shocked, that someone here hasn't asked for Trovillion's resignation," said Stephen Roberts, president of the Log Cabin Club of Orlando, a chapter of the national gay Republican organization.

"He's an idiot and hopefully he won't be in politics much longer," said Roberts, an accountant who also volunteers with GALIXY. He said the incident caught him by surprise because Trovillion, while not supportive of civil rights for gays and lesbians, has never been vocally anti-gay before.

Fallout for one student

Roberts said he was initially concerned about one of the students who was not out at his high school before the story of the meeting hit local newspapers. Ironically, noted Roberts, Trovillion's insistence that the students needed no protection led to more verbal abuse for 17-year-old Chris Vasquez. "Chris had to listen to some ugly comments on the bus the next day," Roberts said. However, the outpouring of support Vasquez has received since then has been tremendous, he added.

Roberts lamented the continued existence of a "good old boy network" in Florida politics. Its members, including Trovillion, are resistant to change and don't reflect the views of the majority of the population, said Roberts. "Our only hope is with the kids."

However, Trovillion's daughter, who is being groomed as the heir to his legislative seat, told the Tampa Tribune she saw nothing wrong with what her father had said to the students.

"This apple has not fallen far from the tree," said Roberts. "And this tree is full of bananas."

The chorus of voices decrying Trovillion's behavior includes many Florida congressmen, the chair of the Democratic National Committee and GLBT activist groups.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's office is responding to a flood of e-mail with replies saying, "The representative's opinions are his own, and he does not speak for the governor." The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is asking people to call Gov. Bush's office and urge him to condemn Trovillion's statements. And the Human Rights Campaign, a GLBT lobbying group, has posted contact information for Rep. Trovillion on its site.

Posted April 13, 2001