Clayton Lopez

Profile

Clayton Lopez was born and raised in Key West.  A fourth-generation Key Wester, Clayton is the eldest of three boys and one girl born to Charles and Rose Lopez.  Clayton's parental grandfather, Roosevelt Sands, was a well-known community leader and servant and Clayton's closest mentor.  Clayton was raised in the famous "garden of Roses" house on Whitehead Street.  He is a stepfather to three boys and the father of one girl.  He and his wife, Pam, are proud grandparents to five girls and two boys.

Community Service

He began his community service at the age of 13.  That first community involvement was when he helped organize and participate in a march against a segregated skating rink here in Key West.  Clayton was often the youngest voice heard at community action meetings in the seventies.  By age 17, he was the youngest member of a team that helped secure funding to restore the Community Pool, now named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was still in High School when he received his first gubernatorial appointment.

Community Leader

Governor Ruben Askew appointed him to a committee of community leaders, students, and educators that helped end the riots of 1972.  The following year, he was chosen by the student body to continue in that capacity to prevent future occurrences.  While majoring in Sociology at Florida Keys Community College, he helped found the first student short-term loan fund.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People  (NAACP) Involvement

From there, his involvement included his membership in the NAACP: In the 1980s, he served as a youth advisor; in the 1990's he served as political action chair and Health advisory committee.  In the 1990s, when some local ministers denied gay participation in the Christmas parade, he was one of several members, including his wife, who protested in that same parade.

Other Councils Served

• Bahama Village Music Program
• Blessed Community Gospel Choir
• Cornish Memorial AME Zion Church
• Filipino American Friendship Society
• Florida Keys Outreach Coalition for the Homeless
• Free and Accepted Masons
• Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West
• Monroe County Fine Arts Counsel
• Order of the Elk
• Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Values

Clayton is a man of faith who believes in real family values, diversity, and respect for those human differences that should be celebrated and learned from rather than persecuted or exploited.  He is an inclusive, self-proclaimed man of the people, discounting nor disenfranchising anyone.  He considers himself fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

Awards

Many awards recognizing Clayton's continuing contributions to our community spanning several decades adorn the walls of his home and offices.  He retired from the Monroe County Health Department as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Training Consultant.  He received the Lang B. Millian Community Service Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award.  He is a three-time recipient of the Celebrating Achievement and Pride Award from gay organizations citing him as a Community Friend.  His community has honored him with the Bahama Village Community Award for a lifetime of service.

Words from Clayton Lopez

I am proud of the service of my mother, grandfather, uncle, and others in my family.  I want my grandchildren to have that same pride in me.  He truly believes in Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and One Human Family.  He has demonstrated these beliefs in how he has led his life and the legacy he wants to leave.  If asked, he says This is the legacy I was handed.  It is the legacy I must pass on.