Fabian Basabe Booted From Democratic LGBTQ Caucus Conference

Fabian Basabe — a registered Republican and former "it" boy who recently declared his candidacy for Miami Beach City Commission — says he arrived at the Hilton Miami Downtown on August 6 for the first day of the Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus' Let’s Get Loud summer conference. But shortly after he introduced himself over a microphone to the convention (and acknowledged that he was a “fiscal conservative”), Basabe says, three individuals who were working security for the event told him he “couldn’t be there" and promptly escorted him out.

Conference co-chair Javier Estevez defended Basabe's expulsion to New Times by citing the section of the Florida Democratic Party bylaws, which, although it doesn't explicitly bar Republicans, states that meetings and official events “are open to all members of the Democratic Party.” Organizers referred to Basabe and his group as “Republican activists.” The commission race Basabe has entered is nonpartisan.

Basabe says he paid $126 for three tickets to cover himself and two guests, and nowhere on the tickets or event page did it state that Republicans could not attend. The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus refunded Basabe a few days later.

Basabe tells New Times he attended the conference in hopes of engaging with would-be constituents who are LGBTQ. If elected in November, he says, he plans to reach across the political aisle.

Read more: https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/democratic-lgbtq-caucus-bans-republican-miami-beach-commission-candidate-12709461