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Craig Lowe is an openly LGBT City Commissioner whio is running for Mayor of Gainesville. Equality Florida Action PAC is thrilled to announce the endorsement of Craig Lowe for Gainesville Mayor. From his involvement in opposing Alachua’s discriminatory charter amendment in 1994, to leading the fight to defeat Charter Amendment 1 last year, Craig Lowe has been a long-time leader in Gainesville’s LGBT community and a champion for equality for all.

You may remember a while back our post about the Republican Party of Florida infighting. Jim Greer, the old chairman and a Charlie Crist ally, was ousted for a slew of reasons, but mostly because he was a Crist ally. Then more infighting happened when the heir apparent, State Senator John Thrasher, was challenged by Sharon Day for party chairperson. 

CPAC Goes Gay A gay GOP group wanted to co-sponsor the conservative confab. Christian right-wingers rebelled. Guess who won?

Voice your Support for Domestic Partner Benefits in Kissimmee! In the coming weeks, the Kissimmee City Commission will consider the approval of domestic partner benefits for city employees.

Guess Which Florida Towns Made The Advocate's "Gayest Cities in America" List - Miami News - Riptide 2.0 The Advocate has named Gainesville and Fort Lauderdale among the top 15 gayest cities but not everyone in Florida is cheering. No, not the far right, but the Miami's New Times says their city got "dissed".

From the Miami Herald:

Hilda Hildago was a long-time supporter and confidante of Equality Florida. Her lifetime of contributions to both the LGBT and Hispanic communities cannot be understated.

Equality Florida Action PAC Endorses Craig LoweAnti-Gay Smear Campaign Has Already Begun

The Capital City Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies (GLBTA) Democratic Caucus will host a panel discussion on employment discrimination against GLBT individuals on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 starting at 6:30pm in the Tallahassee City Hall Main Chamber. 

Here is a message from long-time supporter, Bob Sanderson, about our about our exciting new program the Council of 1000. Friends,

One of the things that I love about this state is that it is never dull. Florida politics have always been interesting and 2010 is proving to be no exception. Today, another interesting tid-bit coming from Miami: Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart will not see re-election. 

WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio, Tampa Click on the above link to hear WMNF's show covering the court settlement in which DCF agreed to provide support to the adopted child of Wayne LaRue Smith, an openly gay man. Yours truly represents Equality Florida's perspective, while DCF has their own, more limited, take on the impact of the settlement.

From the Miami Herald:

In a world where the far right frequently uses our families as political pawns, people often fail to realize that a war is being fought for the next generation of LGBTQ people in our nations schools. The sad truth is that majority of schools in the U.S. do not protect LGBTQ student from bullying and harassment. In 2008 Equality Florida passed a state-wide anti-bullying law that resulted in 67% of Florida's students being protected by LGBTQ specific protections. The only state that protects more LGBTQ students is California.

Tune into this week's edition of As I Am Radio for an electoral update from Equality Florida's own Executive Director, Nadine Smith.

In a Huffington Post piece yesterday, freshman Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) talks about the US House candidate who out raised all other House candidates this last reporting period- himself. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/us/politics/03military.html?hp

This election year, voters will be asked about six proposed constitutional amendments on a variety of issues. Proposed amendments relating to campaign finance laws and legislative redistricting, will have an impact on Florida elections for years to come.

Yesterday at the town hall meeting in Tampa, President Obama expressed his support for benefits for same-sex couples.