Meet Michele

Michele Rayner made history in Florida — and she’s just getting started.
Civil rights and social justice attorney Michele Rayner made history in 2020 when she was elected as the first openly queer Black member of the Florida legislature and immediately established herself as one of the strongest advocates for underserved communities. In her first term, Rep. Rayner has brought back resources to communities in the Tampa Bay Area by making legislative alliances across the aisle while challenging the Governor and her colleagues in the Florida Legislature. Now, she’s ready to do more for her constituents by bringing their fight back to Tallahassee.
Michele was raised by a family of changemakers in Pinellas County. Her parents both integrated the University of South Florida in the early 1960s, with her mother going on to become one of the first Black social workers in St. Petersburg and her father successfully putting himself through engineering school while working in a warehouse. Her parents established themselves as community leaders and set an example for Michele with their dedication to service.
After law school, Michele joined the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s office, a position she was drawn to because she felt it was where she could do the most good for the most vulnerable in her community. While serving as a public defender, she learned the importance of truly listening to and steadfastly advocating for clients who have limited agency.
Michele was called to ensure justice again when she became an attorney for Markeis McGlockton’s family, working alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Markeis was shot and killed in an altercation in a Clearwater parking lot, reigniting the debate over Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law 6 years after the death of Trayvon Martin. During the 2019 trial, the killer was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The experience made it clear to Michele that running for the legislature could help her do more to fight unjust laws like Stand Your Ground and prevent future tragedies from occurring.
Growing up, Michele’s father always told her: “Help others, do the right thing and most of all, always keep your head up high.” To this day, Michele keeps her head up and will continue to do so as a leader for her constituents, ensuring an equitable recovery from COVID, protecting voting rights, and demanding real justice for underserved communities.
Michele currently lives in St. Petersburg with her wife Bianca and their dogs.




Show Your Support
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Thank you for your outpouring of love and kindness. I promise I will response to each note, text and call, flowers, food and act of love. But know I and my family see them and are holding them all close to our hearts.
I am devastated but determined to honor my mommy, because it is only right.
For those who have asked the arrangements are as follows:
May 26, 2023:
Omega Omega- 5:00pm-6:00pm
Public Viewing: 6:15pm- 7:30pm
Location: Mt Zion UMC 2751 Sunset Point Rd, Clearwater, Fl 33759
May 27, 2023
Celebration of Life:
11am
Location: Mt. Zion United Methodist Church- 2751 Sunset Point Rd, Clearwater, Fl 33759
If you are a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc we are requesting you wear red at the funeral service.
Flowers and Resolutions:
Please send by 5/26/2023 to Smith-Young`s Funeral Home, Inc. 1005 Howard Street Clearwater, Fl 33756.
Love y’all ♥️♥️
It is with deep sorrow and yet, immense joy because of the promise, that I share that my beloved mother, my whole world, my Soror, my personal intercessor, the person that loved me the most, taught me how to seek justice and pursuit it- My Mommy transitioned to from her earthly home and has now joined the great cloud of witnesses that guide and walk with us.
My mommy persevered through the injustices of the Jim Crow south to integrate the University of South Florida and become one of the first Black social workers in Pinellas County. She is Black history and excellence. Her legacy is unmatched.
My mommy and I were just alike-even more than I would care to admit 🤣🤣. She was my person. She was the one I’d go to for everything- even when she fussed me out. She is the person that believed the best of me. She imparted so much-especially her faith. My mommy was such a woman of faith that as she transitioned she was ready and knew she going to be with Jesus. We should all be so sure and settled.
I am honored to have been with her as she took her last breath on this side of heaven. I am going to miss her calling me “Mommy” or “Pretty Pretty”. I know death is not the end. I will see my beloved again. I love you deep, Mommy. ♥️♥️
This weekend I was honored to receive @equalityfl’s 2023 Voice of Equality Award. It is an honor, everyday, to serve the people and hopefully make the road easier for all us. Everything I do- is for the goal of liberation. Not accolades or recognition- but help our people get free. ❤️✨
However, what made this weekend even more special is that so many of my blood family and chosen family showed up for me and celebrated me. **Fun fact about me- I really don’t allow people show up for me. My people know to just do it. I’m working on that in therapy 🤣😩**
So to be given my flowers and have my dear friend Dr. David Johns, literally fly to St. Pete just to present the award, to be with my incredible wife and amazing family and chosen family- gave me what I need. I’m grateful for the the amazing family and chosen family who couldn’t make it but called, checked in, took me to long lunches. Y’all feed my spirit so good. Love y’all, deep. ♥️
ALL OF THIS!! And I’m done talking about it. Love y’all for real! 🫶🏾🫶🏾
Repost from @annaforflorida
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The internet is a beautiful thing, but it’s also a complete cesspool of misinformation & disinformation. 😵💫
Please don’t fall for it and ask if you’re not sure of something, especially if it involves Florida. I’ve seen way too many things get spinned and dramatized — often by folks who don’t have the best intentions and intentionally mislead for clout and/or political gain.
I also want to remind folks that *many* Republicans voted no on some of the most awful and disgusting bills, and that is 100% due to YOUR advocacy, your phone calls and efforts to hold even the most unlikely politicians accountable. Every bad bill that attacked marginalized communities had BIPARTISAN opposition with Democrats holding the line. The only really bad bill that had Democrats break away was on vouchers (which is definitely concerning but part of a much bigger challenge) and then of course we struggle on stopping corporate tax issues (which I am working on getting more Democrats on board with).
Keep up the faith and fight and also take care of yourself, cause we need folks in this work longterm! Much love to everyone who asked about this and I’ll link to this article in our IG story too. 🫶🏽
The Governor has signed a new abortion ban bill. See how this differs from last year`s 15-week ban.
Note: This bill will not go into effect until the Florida Supreme Court rules on a challenge against the existing ban. For more resources:
- Local abortion funds, go to abortionfunds.org (http://abortionfunds.org/) or see them @abortionfunds.
- How to navigate which clinics are legitimate in your area, go to https://crisispregnancycentermap.com/ (https://crisispregnancycentermap.com/)
- What "crisis pregnancy centers" are, go to
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/what-are-crisis-pregnancy-centers (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/what-are-crisis-pregnancy-centers)