Gabriel Rothblatt facts for kids
Gabriel Rothblatt (born October 5, 1982) is an activist and writer. He is known for his work in the futurist and transhumanist movements. These movements explore how technology can change human life and society in the future. In 2014, he ran for a seat in the United States Congress.
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Early Life and Learning
Gabriel Rothblatt was born to Bina and Martine Rothblatt. His family is Black and Jewish. His parents helped start companies like Sirius Satellite Radio and United Therapeutics. After high school, he studied political philosophy at the University of Vermont. He works as a property manager. His great-grandfather, Isadore Rothblatt, was a union organizer. He faced violence because of his work with the Leatherworker's Union of Chicago. Gabriel Rothblatt has four children.
Activism and Beliefs
Helping People
Gabriel Rothblatt strongly supports human rights. During his 2014 campaign, groups like the National Organization for Women supported him. The Teamsters Local Union 769 also endorsed him. He spoke at a dinner for the South Brevard NAACP. He is a member of the Space Coast Progressive Alliance. He is also the Vice President of the Brevard Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. This group works to protect people's rights.
Exploring Space
Rothblatt is a big supporter of space exploration. He often gives talks about why we should invest in space settlements. He leads the Florida Space Development Council. This is the local chapter of the National Space Society. He believes that space exploration should be a team effort among countries. He thinks it should not be a "space race" like in the past.
In a debate, Rothblatt said that missions to the Moon, Mars, and asteroids are important. He believes that with a good plan, 1,000 people could live in space within ten years. His focus on space was so important that BBC News wrote about it. They titled their story "Florida's space race: The politicians battling over the cosmos." Rothblatt has also written about ideas like "spacesteading" and panspermia.
Transhumanism Ideas
Gabriel Rothblatt is involved with the Terasem Movement. He is a Pastor, Community Organizer, and Board member there. He writes and speaks about transhumanism. This field explores how technology can improve human abilities. Topics he discusses include seasteading (building communities on the ocean), cryonics (preserving bodies at low temperatures), and mind uploading (transferring a mind to a computer). He also talks about how technology might lead to unfair treatment.
Running for Office
In the 2014 elections, Rothblatt ran for Congress. He was a Democratic Party candidate. He ran against Bill Posey in Florida's 8th congressional district. Rothblatt got enough signatures to be on the ballot. He cared about issues like technological unemployment (when machines replace jobs). He also wanted to protect families, improve education, and protect the environment.
The media often talked about his belief in transhumanism. They also mentioned his family connections. Jessica Roy from Time magazine noted that his connection to the Terasem Movement might be a challenge. This was because he was a Democrat in a district that mostly voted Republican. During a campaign event, Charlie Crist introduced him. Crist said that Gabriel was "the messenger that God sent."
Some people did not support Rothblatt's campaign. Katie Prill from the National Republican Congressional Committee said his ideas were "too extreme for Florida families." Posey's spokesman, George Cecala, said that Posey was a conservative and Rothblatt was a liberal. Posey won the election. However, Neely Tucker from the Washington Post called Rothblatt's campaign "a respectable debut." Dustin Ashley wrote that his campaign "opens the door for other transhumanists to become part of the political action."
