Blog

Safe Schools bill has a chance, but others will likely die without hearings By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ Thursday, March 13, 2008

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17122 Fla. politicians coy on amendment stance Will conservative Sen. Martinez oppose anti-gay measure?By CHRIS JOHNSON, The Washington Blade | Mar 12, 1:33 PM Some of Florida’s senior politicians are being surprisingly coy about where they stand on the state’s November ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in the constitution.

http://www.lobbytools.com/article.cfm?aid=12215170&keyword=Equality%20F…

A letter to Sally Kern from a senior in high school in Oklahoma.*******Note: This letter was found in the comment section of an Oklahoma media outlet. The identity of Tucker has not been verified. *******Today my nephew attempted to deliver a letter to Sally Kern but was stopped by a highway patrol man. With his permission I am distributing the letter to all news stations and thought I would include it here.

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2277.html

Gay American Heroes Foundationwww.gayamericanheroes.com Silent Protest at Mayor's Prayer Breakfast -FTL

Thank you Jacksonville! On March 2nd, 2008, about 40 Equality Florida supporters attended the 2nd Annual Jacksonville EQFL Reception and were able to raise $30,000 for Florida’s only statewide LGBT advocacy organization. The weather could not have been more perfect for an outdoor event and the setting was in the beautiful home of Leanne Perez and Eyleen Guerra on the Southside of Jacksonville.

Time to Stop Hatred and ViolenceBy Nadine Smith We can be horrified, but we cannot be surprised. Witness the death of yet another child who said he was gay — the murder of another teenager who defied gender stereotypes.

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/02/a_tragedy_that_should_never_ha.php

(Ft. Lauderdale) Today, Equality Florida and the coalition Transgender Equality Rights Initiatives (TERI) expressed outrage over the murder of Simmie Williams Jr., a gay 17 year-old who was gunned down this past weekend on a street corner in Broward County. Police are investigating the murder as a possible hate crime based on the words witnesses say were exchanged before the shooting.

On Saturday, February 16th, I attended a social night at the Jasmyn house and spoke with the youth about Equality Florida and the many issues we work on throughout the year. Most of the conversation/presentation was to let the youth also know about Lobby Days which is happening in Tallahassee on March 17th-20th. Several of the attendees signed up to attend lobby days and will be speaking with legislators about the Safe Schools bill. I am sure that Jacksonville will have another strong presence again this year at lobby days in Tallahassee!

http://www.local10.com/news/15290228/detail.html

Al Gore has quietly released a video with a forceful endorsement of equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians. "Gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women -- to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage," he says on the video, which appears on his Current TV network.

I love this kind of low tech high impact activism. I hope it inspires more people to grab a camera and take on bigotry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L84K-Oe0q58

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/12/18/Hillsborough/Award_in_bullying_cas.shtml

http://soneevda.blogspot.com/2007/12/event-ernie-and-jojo-dinner.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHaVUjjH3EI