Michele Rayner-Goolsby

Michele Rayner-Goolsby is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives since 2020. Born and raised in Clearwater, Florida, she holds degrees from Florida State University and the Florida Coastal School of Law. Before her election, she worked as an assistant public defender and in private practice, specializing in civil rights law. Rayner-Goolsby made history as the first Black lesbian woman elected to the Florida legislature. Throughout her tenure, she has been a vocal advocate for civil rights and social justice, notably staging a sit-in protest against redistricting efforts in 2022.