Rachel Plakon

Last updated
Scott Plakon
(m. 2019)
Rachel Plakon
Florida State Rep. Rachel Plakon, 2023 portrait.jpg
Member of the FloridaHouseofRepresentatives
from the 36th district
Assumed office
November 8, 2022
Children1
Education Oral Roberts University (BA)
Florida International University (MBA)

Rachel Saunders Plakon is an American politician serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 36th district. She assumed office on November 8, 2022.

Contents

Education

Plakon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media communication and journalism from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University. [1]

Career

In 2001 and 2002, Plakon served as a community liaison and spokesperson for Governor Jeb Bush. [2] She later worked as a real estate agent for Keller Williams Realty and land specialist for NAI Realvest. Since 2018, Plakon has been a member of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. She also owns a real estate investment company. [3]

In the 2022 Florida House of Representatives elections, Plakon ran against Deborah Poulalion for the District 36 House of Representatives seat.

In March 2023, Plakon sponsored HB 1521 in the Florida State Senate, an anti-trans bathroom bill, [4] which is supported by Florida District 29 Representative Webster Barnaby, a Republican from Deltona who called trans people "demons" and "mutants". [5] The bill, titled the "Safety in Private Spaces Act," considers it trespassing for a person to enter a bathroom opposite of their assigned sex at birth. A maximum penalty of trespassing in this case could be a prison term of one year or a fine of $1,000. [6]

In the 2024 United States elections, Plakon was reelected to the Florida District 36 House of Representatives seat. [7]

Electoral History

Florida District 36 House of Representatives Election, 2022
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Rachel Plakon 33,934 54.6
Democratic Deborah Poulalion28,16245.4
Total votes62,096 100.0
Florida District 36 House of Representatives Election, 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Rachel Plakon 47,814 53.6
Democratic Kelley Diona Miller40,80446.4
Total votes62,096 100.0

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Mace</span> American politician (born 1977)

Nancy Ruth Mace is an American politician who has been the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2021. She is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Utah</span>

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Utah have significantly evolved in the 21st century. Protective laws have become increasingly enacted since 2014, despite the state's reputation as socially conservative and highly religious. Utah's anti-sodomy law was invalidated in 2003 by Lawrence v. Texas, and fully repealed by the state legislature in 2019. Same-sex marriage has been legal since the state's ban was ruled unconstitutional by federal courts in 2014. In addition, statewide anti-discrimination laws now cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing, and the use of conversion therapy on minors is prohibited. In spite of this, there are still a few differences between the treatment of LGBTQ people and the rest of the population, and the rights of transgender youth are restricted.

In the United States, the rights of transgender people vary considerably by jurisdiction. In recent decades, there has been an expansion of federal, state, and local laws and rulings to protect transgender Americans; however, many rights remain unprotected, and some rights are being eroded. Since 2020, there has been a national movement by conservative/right-wing politicians and organizations to target transgender rights. There has been a steady increase in the number of anti-transgender bills introduced each year, especially in Republican-led states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Florida</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Florida have federal protections, but many face legal difficulties on the state level that are not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy law. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since January 6, 2015. Discrimination on account of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations is outlawed following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County. In addition, several cities and counties, comprising about 55 percent of Florida's population, have enacted anti-discrimination ordinances. These include Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach, among others. Conversion therapy is also banned in a number of cities in the state, mainly in the Miami metropolitan area, but has been struck down by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. In September 2023, Lake Worth Beach, Florida became an official "LGBT sanctuary city" to protect and defend LGBT rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Tennessee</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Tennessee may experience some legal challenges that non-LGBTQ residents do not. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the state since 1996. Marriage licenses have been issued to same-sex couples in Tennessee since the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Bishop</span> American politician (born 1964)

James Daniel Bishop is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 8th congressional district since 2019, when the district was numbered “9”. As a Republican, his district includes south-central Mecklenburg, Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Robeson, Hoke, and southern Moore Counties. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2015 to 2017 and the Mecklenburg County Commission from 2005 to 2009. He served in the North Carolina State Senate from 2017 to 2019.

A bathroom bill is the common name for legislation or a statute that denies access to public toilets by gender or transgender identity. Bathroom bills affect access to sex-segregated public facilities for an individual based on a determination of their sex as defined in some specific way, such as their sex as assigned at birth, their sex as listed on their birth certificate, or the sex that corresponds to their gender identity. A bathroom bill can either be inclusive or exclusive of transgender individuals, depending on the aforementioned definition of their sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-LGBTQ curriculum laws in the United States</span> Current and former laws limiting discussion of LGBTQ topics in public schools

Anti-LGBTQ curriculum laws are laws approved by various U.S. states that limit the discussion of sexuality and gender identity in public schools. In theory, these laws mainly apply to sex ed courses, but they can also be applied to other parts of the school curriculum as well as to extracurricular activities such as sports and organizations such as gay–straight alliances. In July 2022, a wave of anti-LGBT curriculum resurgence saw ten such laws beginning to take effect in six different states. Some states enacting these new laws appear to have mirrored similar laws from other states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Grall</span> American politician

Erin Grall is an American politician who served in the Florida House of Representatives from the 54th district from 2016 to 2022 and has served in the Florida Senate since 2022. In the Florida Legislature, she has sponsored bills that have become law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karina Villa</span> American politician

Karina Villa is a Democratic Illinois state senator for the 25th district. The 25th district, located in the Chicago metropolitan area, includes all or parts of Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne, and Bartlett. Villa is the Chair of the Senate Public Health Committee and was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Gottlieb (politician)</span> American politician from Florida

Michael Alan Gottlieb is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the State's 102nd House district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Fine</span> American politician (born 1974)

Randy Fine is an American Republican politician, activist, and former gambling industry executive currently serving in the Florida Senate for the 19th district since 2024. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016–2024. His district covers southern Brevard County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Andrade</span> American politician from Florida

Robert Alexander Andrade is a Republican member of the Florida Legislature representing the state's 2nd House district, which includes parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Salzman</span> American politician (born 1977)

Michelle Salzman is an American politician, businesswoman, and Army veteran currently serving as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 1st District since November 2020. She defeated incumbent Mike Hill in the Republican primary and Democrat Franscine Mathis in the general election. She was re-elected in 2022 and 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas House Bill 1570 (2021)</span> 2021 Arkansas state law

Arkansas House Bill 1570, also known as the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act or Act 626, is a 2021 law in the state of Arkansas that bans gender-affirming medical procedures for transgender people under 18, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery. The law also bans the use of public funds for and prohibits insurance from covering gender transition procedures, while doctors who provide treatment in violation of the ban can be sued for damages or professionally sanctioned. The measure makes Arkansas the first U.S. state to make gender-affirming medical care illegal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webster Barnaby</span> American politician (born 1959)

Webster Barnaby is a British–American politician who has served as the Florida State Representative since 2020. From 2020 until 2022 in the 27th district and after redistricting, for the 29th district from 2022 until 2024. He is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cole Christensen</span> American politician

Cole Christensen is an American politician who served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 24th district between 2020 and 2024. Christensen resigned from office in order to move to Missouri, he appointed Rose Christensen, his grandmother, to succeed him for the remainder of his term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Rudman</span> American politician

Joel Rudman is an American politician and physician who currently serves as a state representative for the 3rd district in the Florida House of Representatives. Rudman resides in Navarre, his legislative district's largest community, and is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chase Tramont</span> American politician

Chase Tramont is an American politician serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 30th district since November 8, 2022. He previously served as a member of the Port Orange City Council from 2016 to 2022. He is considered an anti-Trump member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facility Requirements Based on Sex Act</span>

The Facility Requirements Based on Sex Act, also known as Committee Substitute for House Bill 1521 , is a 2023 Florida anti-trans bathroom law which mandates that individuals must use restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities that correspond to their sex assigned at birth in some public, private and state-licensed facilities. It is one of two states (Utah) to make it a misdemeanor, in certain circumstances, for transgender people to use bathrooms or facilities consistent with their gender identity. It is the most populous state in the United States with a bathroom law. The law has generated significant controversy and legal challenges.

References

  1. "Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Eleven to the Florida Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission" . Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  2. Powers, Scott (2022-05-23). "Rachel Plakon picks up Paul Renner's endorsement in HD 36". Florida Politics . Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  3. "Rachel Plakon wins Florida House District 36". WESH. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  4. "Bill tracking in Florida - HB 1521 (2023 legislative session) - FastDemocracy". fastdemocracy.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  5. "Florida lawmaker compares trans people to 'mutants', calling them 'demons and imps'". Yahoo News. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  6. "Florida's New Bathroom Law Has Gone Into Effect. What Does That Mean For Trans People?". them. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  7. "Rachel Plakon". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 10 November 2024.