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Sunday, Oct. 11 1:30 - 3:00 pm

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DAVIE - Reggae artists Buju Banton and Beenie Man are scheduled to perform in Miami on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the James L. Knight Center for “Reggae Bash 2009”. Their scheduled performance has created controversy in the South Florida community as activists from organizations such as Equality Florida would like to have the Miami concert canceled as in other markets such as Tampa, Orlando and Tallahassee based on anti-gay lyrics from the Reggae Artists, Buju and Beenie Man.

Joy Behar interviews Christian Siriano and three brave middle school students about the difficult and delicate process of coming out. Joy cites GLSEN data that says 91% of gay middle school students report harrasment or even physical abuse in school.

Chris over at lawdork.net has a great summary of the hate crimes bill's progress. The Death Penalty language considered by many a "poison pill" to keep progressive legislators from voting for the bill has been removed. Here's a quick summary and a link to the full story: Hate Crimes Act Makes Conference Report, Death Penalty Gone

The political world has been a buzz with the question, who will challenge Congressman Alan Grayson this cycle? 

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/1268476.html Songs of hate BY GEORGE BYARS Reggae dancehall performers Buju Banton and Beenie Man don't know me, but they say they hate me.

Much of the debate over legalizing gay marriage has focused on God and Scripture, the Constitution and equal protection. But we see the world through the prism of money. And for years, we’ve heard from gay couples about all the extra health, legal and other costs they bear. So we set out to determine what they were and to come up with a round number: A couple’s lifetime cost of being gay - up to $212,000.

Congressman Grayson has joined our host committee for our Orlando Gala. Get your tickets today and you can meet Congress' most audacious freshman.

Three Updates 1- Miami Herald Article Calls Out Concert Promoter's Liehttp://ow.ly/r7SBBanton caught on video performing murder gay music in 2006- IN MIAMI no less 2- Jamaican Newspaper reports: 'Boom Bye Bye' still haunting Buju

 We are proud to announce Congressman Grayson has joined the host committee for our Greater Orlando gala and will be the featured guest at our VIP reception. 

Watch the interview here: http://cbs4.com/video/[email protected] So far we have successfully pushed venues in Tampa, Orlando, and Tallahassee to cancel. We must keep pressuring Miami and Jacksonville venues to cancel these performances also. Here's how you can help: 1)Circulate the petition calling for the venue to cancel:http://ow.ly/qUwe Read more »Posted by Equality Florida at 9:22 AM 0 comments ShareThis

For IMMEDIATE Release Ros-Lehtinen Criticizes Anti-Gay Remarks by Libyan President of the UN General Assembly Calls on Congress to cut funding to UN Agencies, pass Reform bill (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on recent remarks by Ali Abdessalam Treki, the new president of the United Nations General Assembly and former foreign minister of Libya, in favor of the criminalization of homosexual behavior. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

Earlier this month 5 performances where advertised in Florida for Buju Banton, the notorious singer whose lyrics call for the torture and murder of gay men. So far, due to an outpouring of opposition from Equality Florida members and community allies, management at the venues in Tampa and Orlando have canceled; the Tallahassee event in now listed as withdrawn on the Eventful.com website; Jacksonville management has not responded and Toyota has dropped it's sponsorship of the Miami event. Here's how you can help:

Gelber leads in A.G. poll, but there's a catch

Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith is Co-Chair of the National Equality March scheduled for Oct 11 in Washington D.C. and served as Co-Chair of the 1993 March On Washington. On Oct 11th: Take Action in DC or Take Action Locally. We stand at the brink, at a moment of unprecedented possibility in the fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality across America.

7:00 - 9:00 Thursday, Oct. 22nd at New Moon

Tampa and Orlando venues have cancelled performances by Buju Banton, the anti-gay Jamaican dance hall, ragga, and reggae singer, whose song "Boom Bye Bye" advocates killing gay men with submachine guns and by pouring acid on them. Jacksonville and Miami venues executives have not yet responded to calls. The Florida concert cancellations were announced following grassroots education and outreach efforts from a number of organizations and individuals across the state and across the country.

Two fantastic training resources are available.Check out the links below Information about the Camp Wellstone Training in Tampa on October 23-25 is online at:http://www.wellstone.org/training-calendar/camp-wellstone-florida You can sign-up to access the Alliance for Justice's free, Florida election law resources at:http://www.afj.org/for-nonprofits-foundations/state-resources/