Progressives, Socialists, and Independents of Orlando

This is a casual political meetup group for people in the Central Florida area who identify as progressive, socialist, or independent and would like to gather to discuss political topics.

We are not affiliated with the Democratic Party, Democratic Socialists of America, Working Families Party, or any other political party, organization, PAC, or protest movement. We also don’t have any official ties to activism groups. We're simply a meetup group for people who share broadly left-wing political values and want to talk politics in a civil, respectful setting.

We’ll host both in person and online events. In person meetups may include board game nights, hikes, getting coffee, going out to restaurants, or other casual activities where political discussion happens alongside socializing. Online meetups will take place via Zoom, Discord, Google Meet, or WhatsApp. While we strongly prefer meeting in person when possible, online events also help with convenience and accessibility, especially for those who may feel more comfortable participating virtually first.

And while we’ll primarily be an Orlando based group, our discussions will definitely also cover political issues at national and international levels.

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Because political labels can be loaded or interpreted in different ways, we want to clarify what we mean by progressive, socialist, and independent in this group:

Progressive to us means politically progressive in a substantive sense, generally aligned with social democratic or left-liberal traditions. While the term is sometimes used broadly (including by moderates), we are using it in a more political science sense. And since you’ll share the same space, members should also be willing to respectfully engage with socialist perspectives.

Socialist to us means democratic socialist. We are interested in discussing systemic, long-term structural change, not just temporary policy tweaks, while also condemning tyranny, repression, and undemocratic regimes, both past and present, that have operated in the name of left-wing ideologies. Commitment to the democratic road to socialism is essential for us. We also refuse to adopt economically left-wing positions while embracing socially reactionary stances which contradict with progressive values.

Independent to us means independent of the two major political parties. We do however take a pragmatic approach with this term, and understand that independents can hold a wide range of beliefs across the political spectrum. While we won’t require formal left-right ideological declarations for independents, those who hold strongly right-wing views will likely find themselves at odds with the overall orientation of the group. So we are seeking independents who are genuinely open to left-leaning ideas.

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Of course, we recognize that many people dislike rigid political labels or hold ideologically syncretic views. You don’t need to fit neatly into left, right, or center categories all the time to participate. Minor differences or unconventional combinations of beliefs are welcome, so long as they remain broadly aligned with the group’s core values. What matters most to us is a genuine commitment to equality, freedom, and justice.

Our goal is simple: to create a space for thoughtful, good-faith political discussion among those who seek to live in a society grounded in egalitarianism and fairness.