An anti-LGBTQ+ Florida state representative who sponsored the state’s Don’t Say Gay bill and said the state should be “erasing” LGBTQ+ people has been held in contempt for both wearing inappropriate clothing and allegedly holding up his middle finger during a virtual court hearing.
On August 19, Republican state Rep. Randy Fine appeared before Circuit Judge Scott Blaue in a case regarding mishandled election paperwork that was ultimately thrown out.
Nevertheless, Fine was held in civil contempt for wearing inappropriate clothing (he appeared in a campaign t-shirt in violation of the court’s decorum policy), as well as for allegedly mouthing expletives while his microphone was off, holding up his middle finger to the camera, and gesturing “L” for “loser.”
Insights for the LGBTQ+ community
Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more.
Chuck Sheridan, Fine’s opponent in the state senate primary at the time, was present at the hearing and reportedly sent the following message to Blaue’s assistant: “I am watching the hearing and Randy Fine is making concern(sic) hand gestures at the Judge and Mr. Burns as well as mouthing vulgar words (such) as (expletive) you (expletive).”
The plaintiff in the case, Robert Burns, also emailed Blaue about Fine’s behavior: “Throughout my presentation, on at least eight separate occasions, Mr. Fine engaged in disruptive and disrespectful behavior. This behavior was not only unprofessional and unbecoming, but it also showed a blatant disregard for the decorum of this Court.”
Fine allegedly “replied all” to this email, “Cry harder.”
Blaue ordered Fine to complete eight hours of in-person anger management classes within 45 days.
“For at least 33 minutes during the hearing, Mr. Fine was making those gestures and mouthing those words, which included ‘Eff You,’” Blaue said during the contempt ruling, as reported by Florida Today. “The court is convinced those gestures and those comments were directed at [the plaintiff. Robert Burns] and not the court. If the court believed it was directed to the court, it would be a criminal contempt proceeding, not a civil contempt proceeding.”
Despite screenshots showing Fine making the obscene gesture, the representative has reportedly denied doing so, claiming the photos could have been doctored. He also said he plans to appeal the ruling, calling the hearing a “clown show” that was “executed in bad faith.” Before the hearing took place, Fine and his lawyer tried more than once to delay it and have Blaue taken off the case.
“I think it’s fascinating that three of the five pages of so-called evidence were screenshots that no one was willing to admit who took them or where they came from,” Fine told the press.
Fine has also accused Blaue’s actions of being retaliatory after Fine filed a complaint over Blaue publishing his personal address in a motion – which Fine believes led to death threats he received.
In a statement before the contempt hearing, Fine declared, “Judge Blaue’s behavior in this case has been nothing short of appalling. But he is right about one thing — I have contempt for his court… Blaue clearly has no idea what he is doing. Or he does — and is supporting Trump-style lawfare in our community…”
He’s also called for Blaue’s impeachment.
“While this case was a frivolous joke, under normal circumstances, Blaue has the power to take people’s freedoms away. That is no joke. Blaue has no business making life and death decisions for the people of Brevard County and I suspect the JQC [Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission] would agree.”
After the hearing, Fine told the press: “There was serious misconduct that happened here today,” Fine said. “If people in this county have learned anything at this point, when someone throws a punch, I don’t back down.”
In addition to sponsoring the Don’t Say Gay bill, Fine also sponsored a state bill to criminalize drag from taking place in front of children. Fine said the bill would “protect our children by ending the gateway propaganda to this evil — ‘Drag Queen Story Time.’”
While defending the drag ban last year, Fine also said he’s fine with “erasing” the entire LGBTQ+ community.
“I find it stunning that in order to justify that community, you have to stand up and demand that children be exposed to this,” he said during a hearing on the bill. “[Some LGBTQ+ people are] the ones that are saying this definition [of drag] applies to them. Well, if it means ‘erasing a community’ because you have to target children – then, damn right, we ought to do it!”
Fine also introduced a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors, calling it “the mutilation of children in the name of radical ‘transgender’ theory,” and wrote a bill to revoke Disney’s special tax district when the company publicly opposed the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Donald Trump endorsed Fine’s state senate campaign, calling him a “MAGA warrior.”
Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Don’t forget to share:
