State Department makes sea change on LGBT rights
[Note: Great article plus it features our own David Johnson, a professor at USF and author of the “The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government.']
Statewide
Powerful, Gorgeous Video Sends Hopeful Message to LGBT Youth
Stunning voices brought together to stand up to bullying. Enjoy and share.
FAMU Board Called on to Add LGBT Protections
In the wake of the hazing murder of Robert Champion, a gay student at Florida A & M University, students and community leaders are calling on the university to adopt a strong anti-discrimination/bullying policy. Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith spoke to FAMU President Ammons and legal counsel for the university in advance of the meeting to call for the policy change. The administration agreed to bring the proposal to the board.
[VIDEO] Romney bites off more than he can chew at NH restaurant
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Words cannot fully express how great this story truly.
Enjoy this excerpt:
Hillary, Obama unite on LGBT rights and become campaign fodder in the process
The world united against gender, racial and religious discrimination -- well, for the most part. But now, it's time to overcome another hurdle on inequality affecting millions of LGBT people. And if it's going to have any chance to succeed, removing this level of discrimination is going to take a global effort.
We Just Sent an Extremist Packing - And Elected a Champion
Michael Smith Wins Largo City Commission Race!
Great news! Tonight Michael Smith won his historic race to become the first LGBT person to win a seat on the Largo City Commission. Michael defeated a long time incumbent known for her anti-gay beliefs. The victory is sweeter because of the incumbent's history of appealing to prejudice. She led the charge to have the City Manager fired for being transgender. Michael's opponent appealed to homophobia once again, but the tactic backfired. Longtime supporters deserted her and Michael won tonight’s election with 53.97% of the vote.
Thank you to all of the Equality Florida members who supported Michael’s campaign.
The evening was a clean sweep for all the Equality Florida PAC endorsed candidates. Congratulations are also in order to Steve Kornell, Charles Gerdes and Wengay Newton.
Click after the jump to see Equality Florida Action PACs Endorsement of Michael Smith
Ohio Study: Anti-gay attitudes hurt property values
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Great new study out of Ohio shows the impact of homophobia on the economy.
"The perception that there is prejudice against gay and lesbians by conservative groups is strong enough to be picked up in market prices,” - Susane Leguizamon of Tulane University in New Orleans.
For Children of Same-Sex Parents, A School Aid Maze
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One more reason to end marriage discrimination Here's the latest from the New York Times
It took five attempts for one prospective college student and her mother to fill out the 106-question federal form that would determine whether she would be eligible for financial aid. And that was not just because the form was frustratingly complicated.
What tripped them up was the fact that the student had two legal mothers — and the form had room for only one.