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MIAMI (AP) -- Florida's strict ban on adoptions by gay people is going before a state appeals court. The state is appealing a Miami-Dade judge's November 2008 ruling that the law is unconstitutional. The ruling came in the case of Martin Gill, who along with his partner has adopted two young boys. The appeals court is hearing oral arguments Wednesday in Miami.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

For all of you political nerds out there, exciting news today! Speaker Cretul has released the 2009/2010 Council and Committee Assignments. 

** St. Pete's Next Mayor - ****** An LGBT Champion or an Anti-Gay Crusader? ***Special note: This is a huge race for our entire state. No matter where you live, you can join this virtual phone bank. Please spread the word to your network. Dear Friends, The actions we take in the next 7 days will decide if St.Petersburg's anti-gay mayor is replaced by a pro-equalitychampion or someone with an even more homophobic record than theincumbent.

For St. Petersburg City Council In Print: Friday, August 14, 2009

For IMMEDIATE ReleaseAug 7th, 2009 Ros-Lehtinen Supports Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said today that she will support the repeal of the U.S. Defense Department's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy which bars gays and lesbians from serving in the military. Statement of Ros-Lehtinen:

Mel Martinez resigning - The Scorecard - POLITICO.com Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) will be resigning from the Senate, according to several senior Republican sources familiar with his thinking. He made the announcement at a morning staff meeting, where he said he will not be returning to the Senate after the August recess. Martinez announced he wasn’t seeking re-election to the Senate last December, but he had insisted that he would be serving out the remainder of his term, which expires in 2011.

Newsweek is reporting that Judge Sotomayor has been confirmed by the full US Senate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Tel Aviv gay youth center on Thursday to express solidarity with LGBT leaders in the wake of a shooting on Saturday that killed a counselor and a teenage girl, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Next week Stuart Milk will accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of his uncle Harvey Milk. Stuart has carried on the work with grace and heart. Here's his speech at the Equality Florida Rally in Tally.

Two Utah women have embarked on a cross country walk to raise awareness of homeless youth who are gay, lesbian or transgender. Chloe Noble and Jill Hardman began their journey in May from Seattle. Bound for Washington, D.C., the pair are making stops in various cities to speak at community centers and rallies about the struggles of homeless youth, including finding safe sleeping spots, police harassment, sexual predators and exposure to drugs and alcohol. The 3,000-plus mile trip is expected to take six months.

Today US Senator Jeff Merkley (D- Oregon) introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the Senate. This marks the first time a trans-inclusive version of the bill has been introduced in that chamber. 

The hottest debate on the national level right now is the issue of health care. Two state legislators from central Florida have decided to preemptively move to ban universal health care, even before a final deal has been worked out. 

Mike Thomas: Liberty Counsel is anti-family - OrlandoSentinel.com Mike Thomas COMMENTARY August 2, 2009

Associated Press: Obama to Award Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 The White House announced Thursday that President Obama will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 people, including openly lesbian tennis legend Billie Jean King and LGBT equality pioneer Harvey Milk. Thursday 07.30.09

Our long time adoption bill sponsor, Sen. Nan Rich, wrote this op-ed in today's Sun-Sentinel.Anti-gay adoption law a drawback for Florida's efforts

According to The Daily Beast, the US Senate will be holding hearings on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", for the first time since the policy was enacted in 1993. 

In Meeting with Equality Florida, AAA South Pledges Family Memberships to Same-Gender Spouses