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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community allies, management at the venues in Tampa and Orlando have canceled; the Tallahassee event in now listed as withdrawn on the Eventful.com website; Jacksonville management has not responded and Toyota has dropped it's sponsorship of the Miami event.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/

Sarasota Gala Rockets Past Goal Friends, I wanted to send a quick note today to let you know about the enormous success of this weekend's Equality Florida Sarasota Gala.The evening's enjoyment was surpassed only by the incredible success of the Gala. Thanks to the generosity of our Sarasota supporters, we rocketed past our original goal of $25,000, and didn't event slow down when we hit our updated goal of $30,000.

COLAGE is a support and advocacy organization for children of LGBTQ parents. They are holding the first ever Speak OUT Camp. It's a fabulous opportunity to meet other people with LGBTQ parents and refine you're activism skills! Check it out. Join COLAGE for the First- Ever Speak OUT Camp- a fabulous weekend of learning and community for youth and adults with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parents

Maine is the critical battleground in the fight for marriage equality and our side is leading in the polls by a slim majority.Please commit 2.5 hours on Sept 27th to phone Maine voters. Even better, commit to finding 3 more people in your organization or your own personal network who will do it with you.This is a crucial and very easy way to help. Even people who've never used a computer before had no problem mastering the online auto-dial phone system.

Both candidates in the St. Pete Mayors race are actively seeking pro-Equality voters. The St. Pete Times reports on the latest public statements both Foster and Ford have made regarding anti-discrimination policies, domestic partnership and recognizing Pride.Here are excerpts from todays article:

Last week, we reported on a proposed constitutional amendment that would outlaw the use of oral contraceptives. While in Congress Bill McCollum, who is currently running for governor, supported a bill that is remarkably similar to the proposed constitutional amendment.  From the Tampa Tribune:

A new petition drive aims at making it illegal to take birth control. How far will these far-righters go to take away individual rights for the sake of their political agenda? This is a dangerous encroachment on an individuals right to make their own decisions about their health.  Please note in the story below, one supporter calls this amendment "a continuation of the civil rights movement." The proposed amendment must be stopped long before it makes it to the ballot. 

These subsidies exist to help children in state care who are adopted - so in effect the state is fighting to deny support to this child. How far will the state go to undermine his chances in life? Isn't it enough that it took an expensive court case for him to be adopted? Dan and Wayne are exemplary parents - heros who have stepped up over and over again as foster parents. Their family is 100% as deserving of this subsidy, to help support their son, as any other family. From the Miami Herald - Friday, Sept. 11th