Sarasota seems to be developing a different profile in national headlines, one of atypical intolerance. Attention came this month for a few reasons, most recently when a gay Pine View student revealed he could be censored during a graduation speech if he touches on political issues. Before that, the Washington Post took a look at a proliferation of right-wing media setting up shop here, and ended up discussing the elevation of politicians promoting the most right wing of messages.

All this comes as Florida too frequently lands in headlines for approving arguably extremist policies on minority and LGBTQ rights.

Working in Sarasota well over a decade, I must say this prejudiced visage does not reflect the community I know. Yet these headlines were earned. There’s been a lurch to the far right in local politics over the past decade — moving past low taxes or regulation and toward gross bigotry and a denial of reality. Now this shift caught the attention of national press who wonder how Rumble, Cyber Ninjas, The Hollow and Trump Social all ended up with Sarasota County addresses.

This shocks those who know Sarasota so long welcomed a diversity of people. The city in 2007 made national news as the first municipality to consider hiring a city administrator fired in Pinellas County after she came out as transgender. While Susan Stanton didn’t get the job, she felt welcome enough here to apply for a position again years later.

Governments here also adopted Human Rights Ordinances before many other jurisdictions in the state, largely thanks to a drive from Ken Shelin, an openly gay former Sarasota City Commissioner. Shortly after marriage equality became law in Florida, Shelin, chair of Equality Florida at the time, also held a public wedding here, demonstrating the community’s embracing atmosphere

Sarasota also knows pain. It mourned when the first victim identified in the Pulse shooting turned out to be Eddie Sotomayor, a local travel agent and one of 49 killed by a terrorist at an Orlando gay club.

Other stories never made headlines. The Sarasota city employee who came out as trans and found a nurturing embrace from co-workers. The transgender singer who performed at high-profile events in town before and after transitioning, always greeted by cheers and applause. 

One wonders how we got here. I spoke this week to Zander Moricz, the class president at Pine View trying to decide what to do about graduation. He doesn’t want to disrupt an evening of celebration of his peers, but remains shook administrators he always worked with well have threatened to cut his microphone if he discusses Florida’s new ‘don’t say gay’ law. He’s a plaintiff challenging the statute in court.

He considers Pine View a safe place for LGBTQ youth, but doesn’t necessarily feel the same about Sarasota County. In Osprey, he has often felt a cold shoulder from elders within the community. I suspect cooler heads will prevail here, and Moricz will be able to touch on topics important to him while being coached away from the most incendiary language. But my greatest fear is this will lead Moricz, once his cap flies in the air, to leave town forever before his mortarboard reaches the ground.

There lies the problem with such an intolerant law as “don’t say gay,” legislation supported by nearly all lawmakers in the region (cheers to Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, for bucking party lines and voting no). It purports to be a “parental rights bill,” but creates no new rights. Rather, it intends to assuage those who fear schools turning their child transgender if they dare hear a word about gender identity before fourth grade. Never mind the rights of parents who want their children to never feel ashamed at school of who they are or what they feel.

I won’t name the pols here who too frequently empower the oppression of silence. I’ll resist also calling out those who even recently espoused tolerance but now cower to emboldened extremists. But I know that latter group would bend back to sanity with eagerness if constituents who for years ensured Sarasota’s reputation as a home for all filled their email inboxes with greater numbers than those gripped by fear of all that’s different.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ MEDIA. 

Entrepreneurs are often drawn to—and thrive at—New College of Florida. Our students are independent thinkers with bold ideas, and we’re committed to equipping them with the tools they need to execute their visions.

Embodying this idea is a brand-new initiative, known as the Launch [ ]! Student Entrepreneurship Program, which was collaboratively spearheaded this spring by New College and our friends at State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota.

New College students are now learning how to become entrepreneurs—at no cost to them—by participating in a yearlong training program at the business incubator at SCF’s 26 West Center. The program—which is guided by industry experts—is funded by generous New College donors, and four of our students (known as “Launchers”) have joined the inaugural 2022 cohort. 

“New College is the perfect partner for our 26 West Center student incubator because it reflects our values of creating an environment in which innovative thinking thrives, and then putting that mindset into action in all areas—from industry to social entrepreneurship,” says Todd Fritch, Ph.D., the executive vice president and provost at SCF.

Students in the Launch [ ]! program earn a certificate of completion for attending 10 entrepreneurship training classes—on topics such as developing a business model, finances, raising capital, customer discovery, branding and risk mitigation. While Launch [ ]! gives students the resources to start a business or nonprofit, our career coaches at New College’s Center for Career Engagement and Opportunity (CEO) help students brainstorm how to integrate their entrepreneurial ventures into their academic goals (through tutorials, senior projects/theses and course selections).

“What’s exciting about Launch [ ]! is that now we are helping students harness their entrepreneurial thinking into viable businesses and connecting them to a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem before they even graduate,” says Dwayne Peterson, the executive director of career education at New College. “New College, with its focus on student self-agency, engrains entrepreneurial thinking into all of our students. This creative approach to solving problems is a natural outcome of the New College experience and explains why so many of our graduates become successful entrepreneurs.”

Bristen Groves, a second-year theatre student at New College, got involved with Launch []! because “it is the exact opportunity I have been praying for: a means of helping me finally launch my business idea through mentorship and a business community,” she says.

Her business idea is called Gracefully Creative Co.—a platform for her to encourage and inspire others through the creative arts. It will likely include a blog, a shop where Groves can sell and showcase her graphic design works, and possibly dance videos and/or a podcast.

Michelle Read, a first-year environmental studies student at New College and current Launcher, is interested in using her “passion for environmental sustainability for creating and supporting ethical nonprofits and/or businesses,” Read says. Read aims to start a company that offers healthy, sustainable snacks, such as vegan, organic frozen yogurt.

Camila Blasi, a third-year general studies student at New College, joined Launch [ ]! to “start a food forest that will supply the New College cafeteria with fresh food daily, so that students and the Sarasota community can eat for free or at a low cost,” Blasi says.

And Lauren David, a third-year enviro/urban studies student at New College, wants to build a skincare brand called Saphalata (the Hindi word for “success”). All of her products will be 100% organic, cruelty-free, recyclable and handmade, David says.

“Our goal is to provide transparent, trustworthy, luxury body care that leaves your skin glowing and heart happy,” David says.

Groves, Read, Blasi and David all exemplify the entrepreneurial thinking that the Launch []! program—and New College as a whole—aim to nurture. We are thrilled to offer this to our students, as we help them realize their ambitious visions and prepare them for the world ahead.  

Patricia Okker, Ph.D. is the president of New College of Florida. 

Photo courtesy New College.