Monday, July 20, 2009 The Wall Street Journal: Op/Ed Gay Marriage and the Constitution By DAVID BOIES
Attorney David Boies discusses the reasoning behind the federal lawsuit he and Ted Olson filed challenging Prop. 8: "[T]his is not a Republican or Democratic issue, not a liberal or conservative issue, but an issue of enforcing our Constitution's guarantee of equal protection and due process to all citizens." (READ)
Lawyer for school board says gay-straight alliance is against school policy March
10, 2009 Florida students challenge school's gay club ruling Lawyer for school board says gay-straight alliance is against school policy
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) | Mar 5, 2:15 PM
An attorney for two gay students at a north Florida high school told a federal judge Thursday they should be allowed to form a campus club promoting tolerance toward gays, despite a school prohibition.
But a lawyer for the Nassau County School Board said the group's name, Gay-Straight Alliance, is against school policy. (more)
Ryan Skipper's Killer Found Guilty February
27, 2009 Today, Joseph Bearden, one of the two accused killers of Ryan Skipper, was found guilty of second-degree murder and robbery.
On March 15, 2007, Ryan Skipper was stabbed 19 times and left to die on a dirt road in Polk County, Florida. His death is a bloody reminder of the anti-gay hatred faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in our state. (more)
Ryan Skipper Murder Trial Update February 19, 2009
As the trial of Ryan Skipper's accused murderer unfolds, it is clear that anti-gay hatred played a significant role in Ryan's murder.
Today is just the third full day of the trial of Joseph Bearden, one of the two accused murderers of Ryan Skipper. Ryan was a well-loved young gay man who lived his life openly in one of Florida's most rural and conservative areas - Polk County. (more)
Historic Domestic Partnership Legislation Introduced February 18, 2009
Sen. Eleanor Sobel (Hallandale Beach) has introduced a statewide Domestic Partnership bill (SB 1642). Equality Florida has been working closely with Sen. Sobel in preparing this historic legislation. The companion bill will be sponsored in the house by Rep. Richard Steinberg (Miami Beach). As a Miami Beach City Commissioner, Rep. Steinberg played a key role in passing Florida's strongest Domestic Partnership policy.
The introduction of these domestic partnership bills comes at a time when public support is at an all time high for this legislation. The latest polls show 77% of Floridians in favor of extending benefits to unmarried couples. (more)
2009 Legislative Agenda! February 18, 2009
With session just around the corner, I wanted to send you, our most committed supporters, a quick update from Tallahassee. Equality Florida has 4 bills in the hopper and I want to keep you in the loop as things develop. (more)
Sign Up for the Rally in Tally Today! February 12, 2009
We had a breakthrough year in Tallahassee during 2008 and we want you to help keep that momentum going.
We passed the Florida Safe Schools law and as a result students across Florida are protected right now by anti-bullying polices that specifically include LGBT students. (more)
Jacksonville Town Hall February 12, 2009
Please join us for a town hall meeting to help get our community organized for the upcoming Rally in Tally in March 16. We'll explain all the details about the rally, as well as Equality Florida's Lobby Week. Transportation to Tallahassee will be provided at a nominal cost.
Lobby Training will be provided at this meeting, as well as during the Lobby Week event. Come for a day or stay all week and help us tell our lawmakers that LGBT Floridians will not stand for second-class citizenship. (more)
Florida Supreme Court Action Alert February 11, 2009
Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Wells is retiring next month, and Governor Charlie Crist is in the process of selecting Wells' replacement.
This is an extremely important moment for us as the balance of the court is at stake! (more)
We're Fighting Back, Join Us February 5, 2009
The far right has made Gainesville "ground zero" in their effort to role back hard-won antidiscrimination protections while dehumanizing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Floridians. Equality Florida is standing up to this blatant bigotry.
In partnership with the local political action committee "Equality is Gainesville's Business" (EQGB), Equality Florida has taken a leadership role in educating voters and our statewide LGBT community about the importance of defeating this far right effort. (more)
Bush Signs Gay Rights Bill January 2, 2009
By Andy Birkey, Minnesota Independent
On Dec. 23, President Bush signed the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, which makes it mandatory for businesses to roll over retirement benefits to a same-sex partner in the event of the employee’s death. (more)
Once Again, Florida's Anti-gay Adoption Ban Ruled "Unconstitutional" November 25, 2008
For the second time this year, a Florida Circuit Court Judge has ruled that Florida's 30-year-old adoption ban is unconstitutional.
Today, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman declared Florida's anti-gay adoption ban unconstitutional. In the 53-page ruling, Judge Lederman said, "It is clear that sexual orientation is not a predictor of a person's ability to parent.''
As a result of today's ruling, Frank Gill, a gay man from North Miami, will move forward with the adoption of his two foster sons, 8 and 4 year-old half brothers, whom he has raised since 2004.
Gill was represented by the ACLU of Florida while the Florida Attorney General's Office, representing the Department of Children and Families, opposed the adoption. Representatives of the Attorney General said they would file an appeal.
This past September, Florida Circuit Court Judge David J. Audlin Jr. also ruled Florida's infamous, anti-gay adoption ban "unconstitutional."
In his ruling, Judge Audlin said the ban violates the Constitution's separation of powers by preventing decisions from being made on a case-by-case basis, and for the betterment of each child. He added that the ban contradicts state law by singling out one group for punishment. Most importantly, Judge Audlin declared that this adoption was clearly in the child's best interest.
The adopted 13 year-old, who also has special needs and learning disabilities, has been raised in Key West by his openly gay foster parent since 2001 when the Department of Children and Families placed him there. Social work studies highly recommended the adoption, stating it was a "loving and nurturing home" with fair discipline and financial security. The boy has also testified at a recent hearing himself, saying that he wants the man to be his "forever father."
Equality Florida has been working with our legislative allies in Tallahassee for the past 3 year to undo the harm caused by Florida’s anti-gay adoption ban. We are working toward the day when "best interest of the child" is the only criteria judges use to place children in loving, nurturing homes.
Today's ruling adds one more crack to the crumbling, bigoted foundation on which Florida's disgraceful, 30-year-old anti-gay adoption ban rests.
Amendment 2 Passed by Florida Voters
(St. Petersburg) The Fairness for All Families’ Vote No On 2 campaign issued the following statement regarding the passage of Amendment 2.
“While we are disappointed that 62% of Floridians voted today to add Amendment 2 to the Florida Constitution, we see a clear silver lining to this fight.
There has never been stronger support in Florida for Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions than there is today. Every single poll has shown that a broad and growing majority of Floridians believes it is right to provide vital protections to unmarried couples.
Every major newspaper in our state has editorialized against passing Amendment 2. They understood the harm this amendment could do and the importance of providing protections to all families.
Regardless of the outcome of today’s election, Florida has made great strides in the direction of acceptance for the great diversity of our state. An incredible coalition has been forged through this effort. This is a coalition that believes in protecting all unmarried couples and fighting anti-gay discrimination and that is willing to fight for those protections.”
-- Nadine Smith, Co-Chair of the Fairness for All Families’ Vote No On 2 Campaign.
Eight-Year Effort to Protect Students Culminates In Fl Anti-Bullying Victory Florida Becomes 36th State to Pass Anti-Bullying Law
(Tallahassee) After eight years of effort on the part of hundreds of students, parents, educators and civil rights groups, the Florida Safe Schools Coalition celebrates the passage today of a statewide anti-bullying bill.
During today’s unanimous vote, Senators zeroed in on the issue of whether the broad prohibition on bullying requires schools to address specific forms of harassment, including anti-gay bullying. (more)
Dispute stalls bill banning bias over sexual orientation By Anthony Man | Sun-Sentinel
It looked like a big victory for gay and lesbian Floridians and their allies: A state Senate committee overwhelmingly approved legislation last week that would ban discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. (more)
Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith awarded 2008 Florida Humanist of the Year by Humanist of Florida
Nadine has been the executive director of Equality Florida since its inception in 1997. She has led advocacy efforts in Florida at the state level at a time of unprecedented attacks on the LGBT community, serving as Equality Florida’s lead lobbyist in Tallahassee and heading efforts to stop discriminatory legislation and ballot measures and to overturn Florida’s ban on adoption by gay and lesbian parents. Nadine has been recognized for her national and state leadership by organizations around the nation, including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum and others. Nadine will receive the award at the 2008 Humanist of Florida Conference in May.
Gay-marriage debate -- not so gay for ban supporters Mar 27, 2008 | by Scott Maxwell If I had to make a prediction, the folks pushing for a gay-marriage ban will either change their techniques or simply stop trying to make their case in person before this campaign is over -- because their effort to do so today in Orlando fell pretty darn flat. (more)
Coalition Travels to Tallahassee to Educate Lawmakers on the
Harm of Florida’s Infamous Adoption Ban Families Lobby for Legislation that Considers the Child’s Best Interest in Certain Adoption Cases
Adoption lobby team meets with Rep. Long (D - St. Petersburg)
(TALLAHASSEE) Today, families, social workers, clergy members, and child advocates traveled to the Capitol to participate in the 3rd Annual Fair Adoption lobby Days, sponsored by the Coalition for Fair Adoption. Families from across the state called on the Florida Legislature to pass a bill that would allow children to be adopted by foster parents, regardless of sexual orientation. (more)
Transgenders do need protection laws October 3, 2007 "We don't serve your kind here, get out." "I don't
rent to people like you." "Don't even bother applying, your
type isn't welcome here." What would you do if you heard these
words. Call a lawyer? Call the newspaper? Fight back? Not if you happen
to be transgender, like me, because in many places that type of discrimination
is completely legal. Really. (more)
Marriage
amendment discriminates September 29, 2007
Floridians are currently witness to the time-honored but hardly honorable
practice of creating the illusion of a crisis where there isn't one.
Don't fall for the ruse. (more)
Equality Florida Member Challenges Bigotry During Far-Right
Summit September 24, 2007
Cathy James - mother of a seven-year-old, founder of Securing Our Children's
Rights (SOCR) and longtime member of Equality Florida - not only attended
the Family Impact Summit, but she also spoke out to challenged the
bigotry being espoused. In so doing, she left a group of anti-gay panelists "speechless." Read
the Box Turtle Bulletin article here.
Florida's proposed same-sex marriage ban threatens everyone's protections September 23, 2007
When misguided religious and political groups attempt to deny gays
legal rights under the guise of protecting marriage, you better watch
out for your own rights. (more)
COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO HATE SUMMIT IN BRANDON September 21, 2007 (BRANDON)
Equality Florida, along with a coalition of faith groups, social justice
organizations and community leaders, today hosted a press conference
and vigil-style protest to express the community’s outrage over
an anti-gay summit being hosted by Bell Shoals Church and attracting
leaders of the nation’s anti-gay industry.
The summit, disguised as a family-friendly conference, included seminars
such as “Homosexuality and Youth” and the “Homosexual
Agenda.”
“These extremists have gotten very good at putting a kinder,
gentler veneer on the same old discredited, dehumanizing and dangerous
message,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. “As
a community we can never allow the lies to go unchallenged. The discrimination
they advocate, the animosity toward gay people they cultivate will
impact the Florida long after they’ve gone back to their own
states.”
Last year, Bell Shoals led a failed but disruptive and mean-spirited
campaign to shut down the Hillsborough Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs).
They were also strong backers of former County Commissioner Ronda Storms,
who infamously led the passage of a policy banning county agencies
from recognizing gay pride.
San
Diego Mayor Supports Gay Marriage September 19, 2007
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders expressed his support for same-sex marriage,
after revealing his daughter is gay. View
the video
We need your help to demonstrate Florida's outrage at the damage
sure to be done by hate mongers. September 19, 2007
Tomorrow, a virtual "who's who" of anti-LGBT industry leaders
will descend on the Tampa Bay area for an anti-gay summit deceptively
disguised as a family-friendly conference. (more)
Activists decry 'slap-on-the-wrist' sentence for basher in W. Palm
Teen gets 18 weeks probation for bloody attack on transgendered woman September 13, 2007
An 18-week probation sentence against a teenager who bashed a 39-year-old
pre-operative transgendered woman in West Palm Beach was denounced
this week by Florida's leading GLBT human rights organization and a
slew of concerned bloggers. (read
more)
Basher Get Probation in West Palm Beach Attack September 7, 2007
(West Palm Beach) Equality Florida today condemned the “slap
on the wrist” sentence given to an 18 year old who viciously
beat a transgender women last year. (read
more)
Time to give transgenders rights, not ridicule South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com | August 5, 2007
Last summer, when my cholesterol count came back high, my wife signed
me up with a personal trainer. "You'll like him," she said. "He's
got an interesting story." (read more)
Hate-crimes bill punishes violent acts Fort Myers News Press EDITORIAL | August 2, 2007
Efforts to demonize a proposed hate-crimes law in Congress are at best naive and at worst dishonest. (read more)
If you have news or events that you would like to see Equality Florida cover in the pages of Equality News or on this Web site, please send your comments and suggestions to brian@eqfl.org or call / write:
Brian Winfield
Communications Director
EQUALITY FLORIDA
PO Box 13184 • St. Petersburg, FL • 33733
727-490-0959
Brian@EQFL.org
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