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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

The GLBT Democratic Caucus of Florida held its 2009 Summer Conference in Key West, attracting approximately 100 political activists to discuss the future of politics in the state—and how the GLBT community can progress amidst the influence of conservative lawmakers in Tallahassee. “We have seen big change in Washington,” said Dan Gelber, Florida State Senator from Miami Beach, and candidate for Florida Attorney General. “But we have not had that change in Florida.”

During a visit to Jacksonville to promote adoption in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist reiterated his opposition to gay adoption in the state. But when asked about it three hours earlier in Tallahassee, he sounded less opposed. As a part of his statewide tour for "Explore Adoption Day," Crist spoke to a crowded courtroom at the Duval County Courthouse about the increase in adoptions throughout the state.

Originally published July 22, 2009 Crist touts adoption numbers, defends gay-parent ban

Despite numerous ups and downs, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act remains in tact and stands a reasonable chance of making it to President Barack Obama’s desk for a signature later this year.

Christian group's billboards denounce separation of church, state - St. Petersburg Times A Hillsborough public policy group whose Christian platform included a push for a state ban on gay marriage has embraced a new attack on an old target: the separation of church and state.

Senate Adds Death Penalty Amendment to Kill Hate Crimes Legislation July 20, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis On Friday, the Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment to the fiscal year 2010 Department of Defense authorization bill. But today, the Senate passed an amendment to the Act, offered by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R. Ala., that would allow the death penalty to be applied in hate crimes cases under some circumstances.

From the Miami Herald: 

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." Monday 07.20.09 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124804515860263587.html