Rep. Alex Rizo condemns Miami-Dade LGTBQ caucus, Mayor Cava for blaming trans murder on GOP

HIALEAH, Fla. – Miami-Dade County GOP Chairman and state Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, condemned a release by the Flamingo Democrats, a Miami-Dade LGBTQ caucus, that blamed the Florida GOP for the death of Andrea Dospassos, a 37-year old homeless trans woman authorities say was brutally murdered on the steps of the Miami City Ballet in Miami Beach last week.

“It’s totally irresponsible to lay blame at a party’s feet for a heinous act like this. That’s something that I would never do,” Rizo said to Florida’s Voice. “I cant speak for everyone, but certainly the GOP has nothing to do with this, the Republicans in the legislature have nothing to do with this, Governor DeSantis has nothing to do with this, no Republican has anything to do with this.”

In their initial response, the Flamingo Democrats stated “the constant barrage of attacks and hate towards the Trans community coming throughout the Republican Florida government has emboldened those who want to cause them harm.”

“This week, we have seen its horrible effect again in Miami Beach, a clear example of a hate crime towards a member of the LGBTQ+ community,” the group said.

According to WSVN, a judge upgraded a second degree murder charge to first degree murder for Gregory Gilbert, the alleged murder of Dospassos. An arrest report indicated a man, later identified as Gilbert, was seen on video retrieving a metal pipe before striking a sleeping Dospassos in the head and face several times.

“This was done by it seems someone that is unstable, crazy, and has a reckless abandon for life,” Rizo said. “It’s a heinous act and it should be dealt with accordingly.”

In their release, the Flamingo Democrats stated the safety of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County was of “utmost importance,” including against the transgender community.

Kristen Browde, vice president of the Flamingo Democrats, also chided “extremist right-wing politicians” for continuing their attacks on the transgender community to score “political points,” adding Dospassos will not be the last person who has had their life taken.

“Andrea’s blood is on the hands who spew hatred and malice without thinking of the consequences of their words and actions,” she said. “The LGBTQ+ community will continue to call out those that seek to erase us with not only their words but their actions.”

In response, Rizo defended his party against Browde and the Flamingo Democrats’ claims.

“I find it almost as heinous to lay the blame at the feet of people that are doing their best to legislate and protect Floridians as they see fit. To say that legislation that we have voted on, passed, and the governor has signed into law has anything to do with vilifying anyone for their sexual orientation, or the way that they view themselves is nothing to be further from the truth,” Rizo said.

While coming from a local caucus, Rizo further took exception to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reposting the statement on X.

“I think that’s highly irresponsible. I find that usually the mayor is very level headed. It’s very irresponsible for example for the mayor to retweet something like that,” Rizo said. “I would call on her to retract that retweet, by doing that she’s basically espousing that point of view.”

In addition, the Republican Party of Florida also responded to Cava’s apparent agreement.

“Some looney left-wing members of the @FlaDems politicized a gruesome murder in Miami Beach in a tweet. Miami Dade Democrat Mayor @LevineCava retweeted that lie. Why Levine Cava thinks it is okay to retweet an insult against the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding voters who live in Miami Dade is beyond us, but we appreciate the heads up on how she really feels. We look forward to voting her out in November,” the party said to Florida’s Voice.

Elected to the House in 2020, Rizo pinpointed viewing hate mostly from everyday citizens in Tallahassee, not state lawmakers.

“The only people that I’ve heard statement like that from in my time in the legislature have been from people on the other side of the aisle, not elected officials,” Rizo said. “People that come up to Tallahassee to lobby, not professional lobbyists, but people that our just common people, everyday citizens that want to take part in the process.”

Rizo also added witnessing his Republican colleagues being victims of verbal attacks.

“I’ve had them in my office, I’ve had them in the rotundas I’m walking in to serve on the floor, for nothing other than taking a vote,” Rizo said. “Taking a vote to protect children, and to protect women’s rights in Florida, and to truly as I see fit the quality in Florida without saying that there’s special category.”

Furthermore, Rizo noted working with working with colleagues on the other side of the aisle, including Senator Shervin Jones, D-Miami Gardens. Jones was recently elected as the new chairman of the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party.

Rizo also theorized Jones would not lay blame on the Florida GOP, unlike other elected officials like Cava and political caucuses like the Flamingo Democrats.

“[Jones] is a man that I respect tremendously and work very well with. We disagree on a few issues, we agree on most issues, but I would say even he would not lay blame at the feet of the Republican Party like this,” Rizo said.