Equality Florida Key West Gala to Spotlight Local Heroes
Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 23, 2011)
Contact:
Stratton Pollitzer, Deputy Director – (954) 682-6094
Brian Winfield, Communications Director – (727) 488-7799
Equality Florida Key West Gala to Spotlight Local Heroes
Judge David Audlin Jr. and Rudy Molinet to Receive “Voice for Equality” Awards
(KEY WEST) Equality Florida is thrilled to announce that Judge David Audlin Jr. and Rudy Molinet have been named this year’s recipients of the Key West “Voice for Equality” awards. The event is this coming Saturday, March 26th and will take place at the fabulous The Gardens Hotel, 526 Angela Street.
Judge David Audlin Jr.ruled, in September 2008, that Florida's infamous, anti-gay adoption ban "unconstitutional."In his ruling, Judge Audlin said the ban violates the Constitution's separation of powers by preventing decisions from being made on a case-by-case basis, and for the betterment of each child. Most importantly, Judge Audlin declared that this adoption was clearly in the child's best interest.
His ruling resulted in the adoption of a 13 year-old, by his openly gay foster parent of seven years, Wayne Larue Smith. Social workers highly recommended the adoption, stating it was a "loving and nurturing home" with fair discipline and financial security. The boy had also testified that he wanted Wayne to be his "forever father."
The ruling was the first in a series of court decisions that ultimately led Florida’s 3rd District Court of Appeals to strike down the 33-year-old ban on September 22, 2010. Judge Audlin was recently named Chief Circuit Court Judge for Monroe County.
Rudy Molinetis a life-long community and human rights activist. He is also a real estate broker, co-owner of Marquis Properties Realty in Key West. Rudy writes a column for the Key West Citizen, Rainbow Reflections. Recent columns have discussed the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the decision of the Obama Administration to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act, and the important work of Key West High’s Gay Straight Alliance. He is the current President of the Rotary Club of Key WestRudy and his spouse of 18 years, Harry Hoen, live in Old Town Key West and volunteer and contribute to many non-profit and civic organizations.
The Equality Florida’s 2011 Key West Gala is an all welcoming event with no charge for admission, but attendees will be asked to contribute to the important pro-equality work of Equality Florida, our state’s largest civil rights organization dedicated to ensuring full equality for Florida’s LGBT community. Now in it’s 11th year, the Key West Gala is Equality Florida’s longest running event and one of the most successful in the state.
Join us for drinks, delicious hors d'oeuvres, and to honor two local heroes. RSVP to the Key West Gala online atwww.EQFL.org/ or call 813-870-3735.
Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
###