Florida Porn Star Running For Office In 'Second Gayest City' In US

A porn actor from Florida is making a career shift — one that will be involving politics.

On Monday (June 8), adult entertainment star Juan Melecio filed paperwork to run for a commission seat at Wilton Manors, a city located in South Florida, The Sun-Sentinel reported. Melecio, who is openly gay, told the outlet his move officially marks his first bid for local office.

“I’m from Puerto Rico and I’m a very passionate person,” the porn actor said. “When something is right I just go for it.”

Melecio goes by other names as well, including Juan Davila, his mother’s maiden surname, and Antonio Biaggi, his stage name in the porn industry.

Aside from his appearances in porn flicks such as “Trouser Trout” and “Work Loads 2,” the 41-year-old adult performer also runs his own porn film company called Biaggi Productions, where he focuses on producing films. Melecio previously also owned a spa and barbershop in Wilton Manors before selling them in 2019.

The porn actor, who is turning 42 this Wednesday, is a keen advocate of inclusivity. Melecio also said that one of his goals in running for office is to make Wilton Manors — which the city's website claims to be the “Second Gayest City” in the U.S. — more open for all of its residents, regardless of their gender preference.

“We should have more festivals, not just Gay Pride,” he told The Sun-Sentinel.

Located in Broward County, Florida, Wilton Manors is known as the unofficial capital of the LGBTQA+ community and has been lauded as one of the gay-friendliest areas in the country. Figures from the 2010 U.S. census also revealed that the city has the second-highest percentage of gay couples. Provincetown, Massachusetts, which has the highest rate of same-sex couples, currently sits at the top of the list.

As for his pending candidacy, Melecio’s run for office has reportedly drawn scrutiny as protests against racism continue to be held nationwide. The porn actor apparently has a tainted track record in this regard as he was once sued by a black police officer named Centell Colonzo McNeil in Richmond, Virginia back in 2016.

Based on federal court records, Melecio was accused of making racist remarks as well as telling the officer to “go pick cotton you n-----.” McNeil immediately filed a defamation lawsuit, alleging that the adult performer falsely accused him on social media of threatening him.

But according to Melecio, the case had already been settled, which followed after McNeil came forward and apologized. Neither McNeil nor his attorney could be reached to confirm the claims.