© 2024 90.7 WMFE. All Rights Reserved.
Public Media News for Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

At UCF, Democrats cheer Crist on gay marriage, "stand your ground"

The University of Central Florida students gathered at the student union. Photo by Amy Green
The University of Central Florida students gathered at the student union. Photo by Amy Green

Gay marriage and "stand your ground" were the issues that generated the greatest response from students Wednesday who gathered to watch the gubernatorial debate.

The watch party at the University of Central Florida was organized by the College Democrats, Planned Parenthood and the Charlie Crist campaign.

Crist pointed to recent lower court rulings that the state's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. That resonated with Jordan Greene, a member of the College Democrats at UCF.

"As a species the human race is moving forward, and we are no longer stuck in the traditional values of a marriage defined between a man and a woman."

Gov. Rick Scott says he supports traditional marriage and that the courts should decide whether gay marriage is constitutional. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi called on the state Supreme Court this week to settle the issue.

The students also applauded Crist's assertion that Florida's "stand your ground" law is "a failure" and should be "fixed."

Chelsea Daley, president of the campus chapter of the College Democrats, says she supports Crist because he wants to restore cuts to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

"I work two jobs, both minimum wage, and I still can't afford to pay off the debt and the tuition that I have to pay right now. So I'm hoping another candidate will be like our saving grace."

Amy Green covered the environment for WMFE until 2023. Her work included the 2020 podcast DRAINED.