Kenneth Pruitt Jr. -- a sad story

Florida Senate President Ken Pruitt's oldest son died at age 29 early Wednesday in Tallahassee. A witness led police to believe that Kenneth Pruitt Jr. died of a possible overdose at a friend's townhome.

Pruitt died at the home of a friend, Sam Coskey. He told the Miami Herald that he met Pruitt a year and a half ago at Brothers, a Tallahassee bar. The two were there again Tuesday and the friend said Pruitt went home with him and seemed all right.

According to its website, "Brothers is Tallahassee's ONLY Pansexual Playground, a well known Nightclub for all people with no attitude all night long! We offer an entire night's entertainment in one location. Bring your friends, dress sexy, sip on cocktails, and get ready to party!"

Here are a few old news clips about Sen. Ken Pruitt:

SENATOR PLEDGES ALLEGIANCE TO THE OATH AND BOY SCOUTS (Thursday, January 26, 2006)

BY MARC CAPUTO, mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com

In a call to fight "liberal judges, the radical ACLU and the anti-God left, " the future leader of the Florida Senate is urging fellow Republicans to support the Boy Scouts and a constitutional amendment initiative requiring the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools.

Sen. Ken Pruitt's four-page election-year letter, paid for by the Republican Party of Florida, requests donations of $20 to $1,000 to ensure that he has enough money and support to push the Pledge of Allegiance proposal.

"Part of my purpose, " [Pruitt, left,] wrote, "is to force liberals in the Florida Senate to take a stand one way or the other." Also, he wants to "impeach any judge in Florida who votes to overturn this law."

FUNDRAISING NOTE

Although he mentions his powerful "influence over what bills are voted on, " Pruitt said the letter is a standard fundraising note that does not abuse his current and future office or run afoul of any fundraising law.

But while the strongly worded intent is clear, Pruitt's specific goal isn't. The initiative he's calling for - The Boy Scouts and Pledge of Allegiance Protection Act - doesn't actually exist. House and Senate lawmakers have proposed an amendment calling for the pledge in public schools, but it doesn't mention the Boy Scouts. Pruitt said the resolution, which must pass each chamber of the Legislature by a three-fifths vote before it gets to voters, might have to be changed.

IT'S A SHOCK

Pruitt's letter shocked some Republicans and Democrats who perceived him as a moderate.

Even before he received enough votes to become Senate president next year, Pruitt repeatedly talked about the moderating influence of the 40-member chamber.

"This letter is what you expect from a right-wing extremist, and Sen. Pruitt is not one," said Sen. Steve Geller, a Hallandale Beach Democrat, who will lead his party next year. "This is an election year, and I realize he's trying to raise money - and so am I - but I don't think mine have been as extremist as this mailing is, " said Geller, noting that his two children are Cub Scouts.

THE RELIGIOUS VOTE

Pruitt acknowledged that the amendment would help bring religious conservatives out to vote in this year's statewide elections.

"Anytime you deal with public policy, there's an element of politics, " Pruitt said.

He said he felt the need to act because a federal court in California had ruled against the use of the word "God" in the pledge and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to clear up the issue. Also, he said, Boy Scouts have been under assault for their stance against homosexuality.

Pruitt said he would have proposed this sooner, but decided to act now because he's in charge of party fundraising for the Senate. He said more such initiatives - including a legislative proposal to put a constitutional gay-marriage ban before voters - could be in the works, especially as he gets closer to leading the Senate.

"Hang on, " he said.

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DISNEY'S HEALTH PLAN FOR GAYS LAMBASTED (Thursday, October 19, 1995)

Associated Press

A group of state lawmakers have denounced Walt Disney Co. for extending health insurance to partners of gay and lesbian employees and asked the entertainment giant to reconsider.

In a letter to Disney chairman Michael Eisner and its board of directors, 15 legislators said the move was "a big mistake both morally and financially" that would alienate their family- oriented base of customers.

"We wonder what Walt Disney himself would think of your decision if he were alive today?" asks the letter sent last week. "We are inclined to believe he would be quick to pull the plug on such anti-family company policies."

The company told its 70,000 employees earlier this month that it would offer health benefits to live-in partners of homosexual employees, as well as their dependent children. The new policy, which takes effect Jan. 1, will not cover live-in heterosexual partners.

The decision has been criticized by family-values groups and applauded by gay-rights activists.

Disney, however, has no intention of changing its decision, said John Dreyer, vice president of corporate communications at company headquarters in Burbank, Calif. He said it is consistent with the company's policy against discrimination based on race or sexual preference.

"This is about providing health benefits for our employees and nothing more, " Dreyer said Wednesday. "'When we get the letter, we'll decide how to respond to them, but we won't do it through the media."

Dreyer would not say why the policy did not include live-in heterosexual partners.

Disney's decision is a significant step in the right direction but should extend to all domestic partners, said Beth Barrett, spokeswoman for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

She said the lawmakers' letter was "yet another example of the well-organized and well-financed right-wing element of our society who lash out at any individual or group choosing to recognize the realities of the modern world and the modern American family."

The letter was drafted by the Florida Family Council of Tampa at the request of Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Winter Park, and other lawmakers. The organization this week distributed copies of the letter on Florida House of Representatives letterhead to more than 160 newspapers.

It said Disney's decision belittles "the sanctity of marriage" and endorses "a lifestyle that is unhealthy, unnatural and unworthy of special treatment."

Fourteen of the lawmakers who signed are Republicans. Rep. Everett Kelly of Tavares was the only Democrat. These Republicans also signed the letter:

Republican Reps. Randy Ball of Titusville, Jerry Burroughs of Cantonment, Marvin Couch of Oviedo, Jim Fuller and Stephen Wise of Jacksonville, Carlos Lacasa of Miami, Ken Pruitt of Port St. Lucie, Bob Starks of Casselberry, John Thrasher of Orange Park, Mike Fasano of New Port Richey, Mark Flanagan of Bradenton and Buddy Johnson of Plant City; and Sen. John Grant of Tampa.

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And in 1993, then-state Rep. Pruitt voted against letting Broward County hold a countywide gay-rights referendum to ban discrimination against gay men and women under the county's Human Rights Act. (The bill passed anyway.)

"You're saying these folks are currently unprotected, " Pruitt told The Miami Herald at the time. "What makes them more unprotected than the average person out there? Why are we giving more rights to one segment than the average population?"

Comments

[Phill Baker]

To speak to the headline, and beginning of this article: it's sad anytime anyone's child dies, regardless of the age and circumstances. In spite of the great differences between Sen. Pruitt and myself, I extend my sympathy to him. I also extend my sympathy to Ken Jr's friends and families (biological and chosen).

Phill

Although Ken was not perfect, as others have felt of clear enough conscious to judge and state so, it should not take away from the wonderful "heart and soul" Ken possessed.

In just one brief moment with him, Ken could pack in so much kindness, enthusiasm to be talking to you, and laughter to make you smile all day long.