Saturday, September 09, 2006

FLORIDA DIGEST September 9, 2006

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The Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3031


Gay activists encouraged by primary wins

Gallagher's anti-gay campaign backfires; Gottlieb wins big in school board race
By
Sep. 09, 2006


Mark up a win in the gay-rights column. That's what local gay-rightsactivists are saying about the Sept. 5 primary results, which included theresounding defeat of an anti-gay candidate in the governor's race and a bigwin for a gay-backed candidate for Broward County School Board.

For gay-rights supporters, Tom Gallagher's loss to Attorney General CharlieCrist in the Republican gubernatorial primary was the highlight of anelection that saw several far-right candidates lose throughout the state.Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer, ran anti-gay TV ads thattarred Crist for supporting civil unions for gay couples. Among Gallagher'soutspoken conservative backers was John Stemberger, president of the FloridaFamily Policy Institute, the group that has been petitioning for an anti-gaymarriage amendment. But when the votes were counted, Gallagher was trounced.Crist received 70 percent of the vote compared to Gallagher's 27 percent.



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http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBTP3KHVRE.html


Davis' Campaign Must Toughen Up, Democrats Say
By MICHAEL FECHTER The Tampa Tribune
Published: Sep 9, 2006


Supporters of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Davis say he isbattle-hardened by millions of dollars of sugar industry-financed attack adshe endured during the last month of the primary.

But a few other Democrats say he never should have been in such a vulnerableposition to start with and, absent significant changes in his campaign, hemay have little chance against Attorney General Charlie Crist in November.

Davis defeated state Sen. Rod Smith by 52,000 votes - less than 6 percentagepoints - Tuesday. Derek Newton, a South Florida Democratic consultant, saidit wouldn't have been that close if Davis raised money more aggressivelyearly in his campaign and responded more forcefully to the attacks.



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The Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3032


Gay shop vandalized in Wilton Manors
Vandals splatter green paint all over Joshua Tree
By PHIL LAPADULA
Sep. 09, 2006

The Joshua Tree, a gay-owned furnishings and accessories shop in WiltonManors, was vandalized Sept. 2, said the store's owner, Robert Joshua.

Vandals splattered green paint all over the shop's front door, signage,windows and awnings, causing thousands of dollars in damage, Joshua said.When he opened the shop Sunday, Joshua discovered the damage and filed apolice report, he said.

Joshua said he has insurance for the inside contents of his shop but not forthe outside area. He said the shop has a security camera, but he believesthe perpetrators must have stood in the parking lot out of the camera'srange and tossed the paint.




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The Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3030


LOCAL NEWS | www.expressgaynews.com

Gay rights groups split over voter's guide

Palm Beach group faults Equality Florida for confusing voters, omitting
supportive candidates
By PHIL LAPADULA
Sep. 09, 2006

A gay voter's guide has sparked a rift between two gay-rights groups.

Equality Florida, a statewide gay rights group, produced a voter's guide,which rates candidates on gay issues based on answers to a questionnaire. Ina mass e-mail circulated late last week, a spokesman for the Palm BeachCounty Human Rights Council, a local gay rights group, sharply criticizedthe guide's Palm Beach edition, saying it confused voters by including racesfor districts that are not in the county.



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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-ltgov0906sep09,0,1061381.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state


ELECTION 2006: GOVERNOR'S RACE
Running-mate options begin to emerge - Crist, Davis must choose by Thursday
Jason Garcia and John Kennedy
Tallahassee Bureau

September 9, 2006


TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis are about tomake their first significant decisions as nominees for governor -- pickingsomeone to join them at the top of the ticket.

Neither candidate has yet tipped his hand. But people close to bothcampaigns say the short lists are filled with black and Hispaniccontenders -- and speculation is rising that one or both general-electiontickets will feature a black and/or Hispanic running mate for the first timein Florida history.

Many supporters are urging Davis, who was badly scarred during theDemocratic primary for his 1990 vote against compensating two black menwrongly imprisoned for murder, to name a black running mate to his ticket.



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http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060909/NEWS01/609090317/1010/NEWS01&template=printart


Article published Sep 9, 2006
Democrats stand together - Leaders hope to beat GOP counterparts

By Bill Cotterell
FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU POLITICAL EDITOR


TAMPA - Democratic Party leaders told the party faithful Friday that thebest way to start a political comeback in Florida is to brace for a negativeonslaught from Republicans and reach out to conservative independents andmoderates who may be wearying of GOP rhetoric.

Three days after the end of a bruising primary for governor, Democraticleaders staged a brief, loud show of unity at an Ybor City restaurant -or restruggling races of U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, the party nominee for governor, andthose of Cabinet candidates Alex Sink and Walter "Skip" Campbell.

Post-primary divisions have doomed Democratic hopes in some past races -back when they controlled most of state government - so party leaders made aparticular point of stressing that last week's wounds are all but forgottenas the Democrats regroup to go up against the well-financed, entrenched GOP.


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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-fltgov09sep09,0,5911203.story?coll=sfla-news-florida


Florida - Minorities on lists for running mates - Lieutenant governor picks
due in days

By Jason Garcia and John Kennedy
Tallahassee Bureau

September 9, 2006


TALLAHASSEE · Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis are about tomake their first significant decisions as nominees for governor -- pickingsomeone to join them on the ticket.

People close to both campaigns say the short lists for lieutenant governorare filled with black and Hispanic contenders. A black or Hispanic runningmate would be a first in Florida history.

Many supporters are urging Davis, who was badly scarred during theDemocratic primary for his 1990 vote against compensating two black menwrongly imprisoned on murder convictions, to name a black candidate to histicket.



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QUILT AT THE U.S. CONFERENCE ON AIDS

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) will host the10th annual Unitedtates Conference on AIDS (USCA) in Hollywood, Fla. From Sept. 21-25, 2006,and as always, The AIDS Memorial Quilt will be a vital part of thegathering. USCA is a the largest annual AIDS-related gathering in the UnitedStates, and will draw more than 4,000 workers from all fronts of theHIV/AIDS epidemic who will come together to build national support networks,exchange the latest information and learn cutting-edge tools to address thechallenges of HIV/AIDS.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt will be among the very first thing attendees willwill greet travelers in Terminal 1 Baggage Claim from Sept. 16-30, marking the first Quilt display in any U.S. airport since 9/11. The Westin DiplomatHotel in Hollywood, the site of the conference, will host another 40 blocks,320 panels, of The AIDS Memorial Quilt from Sept. 20-25. This display isfree and open to the public, and will feature Quilt that has ties to the 10cities that have previously hosted the annual conference. In addition, TheNAMES Project Foundation will staff an information booth in the Exhibit Hallthroughout the conference.

The Quilt will also be highlighted in two special evening programs. At 6p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, the Conference will host a night of remembrancetitled "No More Names" which will feature a dramatic choreographedpresentation of ten 12 foot by 12 foot signature squares of The AIDSMemorial Quilt - one from each of the previous conferences - marched in bydifferent NMAC and Quilt constituencies. The reading of the names will addto the poignancy of the evening as well as the dedication of new panels.Rounding out the event will be a screening of the Academy Award-winningdocumentary on The Quilt, "Common Threads."

Blocks of Quilt will also provide the backdrop for a second evening, "LatinFiesta: Education Especial" to be presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.23, at the International Game Fish Association. This event will include aLatino HIV/AIDS resource fair, live music and dancing, and a fashion show.For further information on the United States Conference on AIDS, please go
to nmac.org.



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From: Michael Rajner

Mayor and Commissioners:

This open letter of appeal is to implore the Board of County Commissionersto order the Broward County HIV Health Services Planning Council toreconvene and reconsider the decision surrounding eligibility that willessentially abandon people living with HIV/AIDS and terminate their accessto primary medical care and prevent others from accessing life saving care,services and treatment.

With over 23,000 people living with HIV/AIDS that are taxpaying voters of
Broward County, an estimated 6,000 remain unidentified are not accessing
primary medical care for various reasons. Some do not even know they live
with HIV.

We lead the nation with the highest HIV infection rate, and approximately
25% of the HIV/AIDS population remains out of care. Are we going to
continue to lead the nation as the breeding ground for HIV infection?
For the past year, I have repeatedly urged, you, the Broward County Board of
County Commissioners to take action to demand and demonstrate greater
leadership in the HIV/AIDS crises we face in Broward County.

For too long, we have allowed the stigma of this lethal virus to infect ourcommunity with apathy and complacency prompting the lack of action we nowexperience. During that time, infection rates have continued to escalateand come next year, individuals earning more than 300% of the federalpoverty limit and dependant upon the Ryan White CARE Act for primary medicalservices will be kicked to the curb and abandoned by a county governmentestablished to meet the needs of all the people.

As a person living with AIDS, I have been blessed with resources to providemy primary medical care. With the enactment of new eligibility criteriaestablished by the Broward County HIV Health Services Planning Council, manywill be turned away and denied care, services and treatment that can meanthe difference between life and death. For these people, they have no otherhope or financial resource to turn for hope of a continued life. AIDSrelated death rates are sure to rise as we turn our backs to individualsthat are desperate and in need.

Even if the total were 18 people that are turned away, as a compassionatecounty that spends approx. $4,500 annually on medical care per individualplus medications, we must put a name and face to these 18 people and do ourbest to stand by their side and assure them that asresidents of BrowardCounty they will have access to primary medical services, care andtreatment.

AIDS Vote, a project of Campaign to End AIDS demands that we "work todevelop, fund and implement a plan to end the AIDS epidemic in Florida, inthe U.S. and around the world - a plan that includes universal access toprevention, treatment, care and support by 2010." With actions taken by theBroward County HIV Health Services Planning Council on August 24, 2006, as acounty government, we have terminated universal access to care, treatmentand support by placing a cap of 300% of the federal poverty limit whileindividuals fail the ability to access other means of care.

As National Secretary of the national coalition for Campaign To End AIDS andFounding Member of Campaign To End AIDS-FLORIDA, I urge the Board of CountyCommissioners to order the HIV Planning to reconvene and reconsider optionswhere individuals are able to "buy-in" to the system of care. How importantdo we value the life of an HIV+ individual when there are no guarantees formedical services? Homeowners enjoy programs such as flood and windstorm coverage where there is a universal option to "buy-in". Why not for healthcare access?

In the State of Washington, individuals that earn in excess of 300% of thefederal poverty limit are able to access the AIDS Drug Assistance Program(ADAP) by enrolling and paying a nominal monthly fee. As an individual whounderstand restrictions that budgets impose on reality, this is a realitywith options and universal access.

On September 21, 2006, the United States Conference on AIDS will be hostedhere in Hollywood, FL. As we welcome this event, I implore the actions ofthe Board of County Commissioners to stand as leaders in the fight toprovide universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support and EndAIDS!

We await your advocacy and leadership efforts for ALL persons living withHIV/AIDS in Broward County. Should you wish to meet and discuss thisfurther, I am available and eager to meet upon your request to work aspartners in meeting the needs of our residents.

Michael Emanuel Rajner
National Secretary - Campaign To End AIDS
Founding Member - Campaign To End AIDS-Florida
Tel: (954) 272-8131 or (305) 677-3506
Fax: (954) 566-0144
Cell: (954) 288-1999


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