Gabriel Rothblatt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriel Rothblatt
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Rothblatt speaks at an event in 2013.
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| Born | October 5, 1982 |
| Alma mater | University of Vermont |
| Parent(s) | Martine Rothblatt, Bina Rothblatt |
Gabriel Rothblatt (born October 5, 1982) is an American political activist, writer, and speaker. He is known for his work in the futurist and transhumanist movements, which explore how technology could change humanity's future. In 2014, he ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress.
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Personal Life and Education
Gabriel Rothblatt was born to Bina Rothblatt and Martine Rothblatt, a transgender businesswoman. His family is Black, Jewish, and part of the LGBTQ community. His parents are famous for starting companies like Sirius Satellite Radio and United Therapeutics.
After high school, Gabriel studied political philosophy at the University of Vermont. He has worked in different jobs, including managing property, running a restaurant, and working as an insurance broker. His great-grandfather, Isadore Rothblatt, was a union organizer who stood up for workers' rights. Gabriel and his wife Taj divorced in June 2021. They have four children.
Work as an Activist
Fighting for Human Rights
Rothblatt is a strong supporter of human rights. When he ran for Congress in 2014, he earned the support of groups like the National Organization for Women. He was also a speaker at a dinner for the South Brevard NAACP, an organization that fights for civil rights. He is also involved with the Brevard Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Supporting Space Exploration
Rothblatt is a big believer in exploring space. He is the president of the Florida Space Development Council, which is part of the National Space Society. He gives public talks about why we should invest in building settlements in space.
He believes that space exploration should be a team effort between different countries, not a competition like the old space race. During a debate, Rothblatt said that missions to the Moon, Mars, and asteroids should be a top goal. He believes that with the right plan, we could have 1,000 people living in space within ten years. His focus on space was so important that BBC News wrote a story about it called Florida's space race: The politicians battling over the cosmos.
Exploring Transhumanism
Rothblatt is also a key member of the Terasem Movement, an organization focused on transhumanism. Transhumanism is the idea that humans can use science and technology to improve themselves. He often writes and speaks about topics like:
- Seasteading: Creating permanent homes on the ocean.
- Cryonics: Preserving bodies at very low temperatures with the hope of reviving them in the future.
- Mind uploading: The idea of transferring a human mind to a computer.
2014 Campaign for Congress
In 2014, Rothblatt ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat. He ran against the current representative, Bill Posey, in Florida's 8th congressional district. To get on the ballot, he had to collect thousands of signatures from voters.
Some of the main issues he focused on were:
- Creating jobs as technology changes the workplace.
- Protecting the environment.
- Improving education.
- Developing space exploration.
- Defending human rights.
His unique ideas and family background were often discussed in the news. Some people thought his ideas were too different for the district. A spokesperson for his opponent said that Rothblatt was a liberal, while Posey was a conservative. Posey won the election, but the Washington Post called Rothblatt's campaign "a respectable debut." His run helped bring more attention to transhumanist ideas in politics.
The SpacePAC Controversy
Rothblatt's campaign received support from a Political Action Committee (PAC) called SpacePAC. A PAC is a group that raises money to support political candidates. This PAC was started by his parents.
Campaign finance laws did not allow Rothblatt to coordinate with the PAC, so he and his parents could not discuss the campaign. Some newspapers, like the New York Times, criticized the PAC because his parents ran it. However, Rothblatt said he didn't even know about the PAC until he saw signs supporting him. Even with the PAC's help, his opponent's campaign had much more money.
