**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT
rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/sfl-dlcol06oct21,0,7264581.column
JUSTICE
Florida not colorblind in capital cases
Douglas C. Lyons
Editorial Writer
October 21, 2006
The following is not a typo: The state of Florida has never executed a whiteconvict for killing an African-American.
I wish I could say the reason is that whites just aren't into botheringblack people, but to do that I'd have to believe in the reality of the toothfairy or the efficiency of FEMA.
Instead, I'm left reeling from that particular statement and the way thedeath penalty is applied in Florida. A recently released assessment by theAmerican Bar Association doesn't offer much encouragment, particularly whenit comes to the subject of race.
For the record, I don't have a position on whether or not the death penaltyshould be abolished. I firmly believe that it should be fairly andefficiently applied. Unfortunately, there's ample evidence that it's not.
=
The Express Gay News
http://expressgaynews.com/
http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3149
Putting Fort Lauderdale on the map
Richard Gray works to help make Fort Lauderdale a premier gay destination
By JAY BARRY
Oct. 20, 2006
RICHARD GRAY MAY NOT BE THE father of gay tourism in Fort Lauderdale. Butno other single person is probably working harder than Gray to make FortLauderdale one of the premier gay tourist destinations in America.
"Fort Lauderdale has always been a gay destination," Gray himself notesthat. "Wherever you have an airport, a cruise port and jobs in thehospitality industry, you're going to have a hub of gay workers andtravelers."
Gray says he has copies of some of the first Damron gay guide books from theearly '80's.
=
The Express Gay News
http://expressgaynews.com/
http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3146
Political opponent 'outs' Charlie Crist
Fla. GOP gubernatorial candidate has repeatedly denied persistent rumors
By PHIL LAPADULA
Oct. 20, 2006
In 1985, Max Linn took a three-month program called Leadership St.Petersburg that focuses on grooming future leaders in business and politics.One of his classmates in the program was Charlie Crist, who is now Florida'sattorney general and the Republican nominee for governor.
Linn, who is running against Crist on the Reform Party ticket, said therewere only about 20 people in that 1985 class.
"So you got to know everybody," he said.
According to Linn, during the course of conversations with Crist he learnedthat the future attorney general is gay. The two talked about "what wouldhappen if [Crist's sexual orientation] comes out" during a politicalcampaign, Linn said.
=
The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-celxshawklein21oct21,0,2977171.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Poll shows Shaw-Klein contest is too close to call
Undecided voters appear to hold the key to victory
By Anthony Man
Political Writer
October 21, 2006
The fiercely fought congressional race between Republican Clay Shaw andDemocrat Ron Klein is too close to call. A new South Florida Sun-Sentinelpoll shows incumbent Shaw ahead, but contains ominous signs for his attemptto win a 14th term.
Shaw would get votes from 48 percent of those polled and Klein has 43percent with 21/2 weeks until Election Day. With a margin of error of plusor minus 4 percentage points, the race statistically is a dead heat.
Even though the incumbent is widely known in the Broward-Palm Beach countydistrict, he is being backed by less than 50 percent of likely voters. Eightpercent reported they hadn't made up their minds. Undecided voters oftenmove toward a challenger in the closing days of a campaign.
=
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-poll2106oct21,0,445055.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state
ELECTION 2006
GOP holds slim lead in most statewide races, poll shows
Etan Horowitz
Sentinel Staff Writer
October 21, 2006
The races for the two open seats in Florida's Cabinet are too close to call,with Republican candidates holding slim margins over their Democraticopponents, an Orlando Sentinel poll showed Friday.
Meanwhile, incumbent Charles Bronson increased his lead over Democraticopponent Eric Copeland in the campaign for agriculture commissioner.
The poll also found that two constitutional amendments -- which would makeit harder to amend the state's constitution and limit the use of eminentdomain -- have the support of a majority of voters as the Nov. 7 electiongrows closer.
Pollster Brad Coker of Mason Dixon Polling & Research attributed the tightraces to increased television advertising during the past few weeks.
=
The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/15812706.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
BROWARD COUNTY
Costs wiping out smaller Broward hotels
Rising property taxes and insurance costs are affecting businesses acrossBroward County, with small hotels and inns taking an especially hard hit.
BY JENNIFER LEBOVICH
jlebovich@MiamiHerald.com
Business has been brisk at Liberty Suites in Dania Beach.
But despite a record number of visitors to the 18-unit hotel this year, theowner predicts that when all his bills are paid he'll barely break even.
''We are seriously thinking about making this our last season,'' said JoeVan Eron, who has owned the hotel with his life partner, Jack Zimmerman, fornine years. ``This is our livelihood. We built our retirement on this. We'regetting to the point where we're constantly working for nothing.''
For years, rising property values and tempting offers from developers haveled dozens of small, relatively inexpensive Broward hotels to close, makingway for new high-rise hotels and condos.
=
The Express Gay News
http://expressgaynews.com/
http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3165
Lt. governor candidate addresses gay crowd
Daryl Jones speaks at opening of Democratic get-out-the-vote center
By
Oct. 20, 2006
On Wednesday, Oct. 11, gay and lesbian Democratic political activists markedNational Coming Out Day by coming out in support of Democratic Partycandidates at the opening of the Democratic Get-Out-the-Vote Center in FortLauderdale. The center, which is sponsored by the Florida GLBT DemocraticPAC and the Dolphin Democrats, is located across the street from the Gay &Lesbian Community Center of South Florida on Andrews Avenue.
Former state Sen. Daryl Jones, the Democratic candidate for lieutenantgovernor, addressed the crowd.
Jones drew applause when he said that he was the only member of thelegislature to introduce a statewide domestic partnership bill.
=
The Express Gay News
http://expressgaynews.com/
http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3155
Negron no supporter of gay rights, activists say
Democrat Mahoney leads in race against Foley's replacement
By PHIL LAPADULA
Oct. 20, 2006
State Rep. Joe Negron, the Republican candidate who replaced former U.S.Rep. Mark Foley in the Florida Dist. 16 Congressional race, is apparentlyfurther to the right on gay rights, according to several Florida gayactivists.
Negron received a 100 percent rating from the Christian Coalition of Floridafor his voting record in the Florida House of Representatives during the2006 legislative session. In contrast, Foley received a 75 percent ratingfrom the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group, for the 2006session of Congress and an 88 percent for the 2005 legislative session.
Foley dropped out of the race and resigned from Congress after it wasdiscovered he sent sexually explicit instant messages to underageCongressional pages. Negron took his place in the Dist. 16 race, but hisname will not appear on the ballot. To register their votes for Negron,voters will have to vote for Foley.
=
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/sfl-pbmail999oct21,0,533850.story?coll=sfla-news-letters
Look at Shaw's votes -- before Nov. 7
Sheila Rothman
Boynton Beach
October 21, 2006
Clay Shaw's negative ad campaign keeps our attention away from his votingrecord. Understandable. Talk about negative. When it comes to supportingcivil liberties, Shaw is nowhere to be found, voting against the interestsof the American Civil Liberties Union, whose mission is to defend theConstitution, all the time.
When it comes to supporting civil rights, Shaw is not much better, votingfor issues important to the NAACP only 22 percent of the time in 2005, downfrom 33 percent for 2003 and 2004. On veterans' issues, he is missing inaction altogether. In 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2001, he supported the interestsof the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent of the time.
He is not a big fan of education for the masses, voting only 22 percent ofthe time for the interests of college admission counselors in 2005 and 0percent of the time for National PTA in 2003 and 2004.
He has not been supportive of women's issues, supporting the NationalOrganization for Women's interests a mere 29 percent of the time in 2005 andthe interests of the Federally Employed Women 10 percent in 2003 and 2004.The National Journal said he was more liberal on social issues than only 28percent of the representatives and this is a man who represents a districtthat splits almost evenly between Republicans and Democrats.
Clay Shaw's record speaks for itself. Loud and clear it says he has not beenrepresenting voters in District 22.
=
http://www.news-journalonline.com/scripts/printme.asp
Young Floridians could help Davis, if they vote
Associated Press
MIAMI GARDENS -- Reuben Johnson strolled past the line of gray-haired likelyvoters waiting for an appearance at Florida Memorial University byDemocratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
Johnson, 21, had no intention of going inside the auditorium. He had notbeen paying attention to the governor's race, and he wasn't going to startby skipping a class weeks before the Nov. 7 election.
Why bother, he said, if the candidates were not going mention the only issuethat would pique his interest:
"Money for school. More financial aid, and more money to historically blackschools like FMU -- not just for buildings, but for students."
=
The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/15812740.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
The Miami Herald recommends
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Six proposed changes to Florida's Constitution go before voters on Nov. 7.The Legislature put up five, and the sixth is the result of a citizeninitiative. Two other proposed amendments -- Nos. 2 and 5 -- have beenremoved from the ballot. Amendment 2 asked if the two-term limit forlegislators should be extended to three terms.
The Legislature approved the amendment in 2005 but removed it from theballot this year. Amendment 5 was a citizens' initiative proposing that anindependent commission be created to redraw legislative and congressionaldistricts every decade. The Florida Supreme Court ruled that this violatesthe single-subject rule for amendments.
We recommend a NO vote for the six remaining amendments. Here's why:
AMENDMENT 1
more....
=
The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15812932.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
CAMPAIGN 2006 | MASON-DIXON POLL
Attorney general, CFO races are now tossups Republicans have seen their leads evaporate in Florida's races for attorney general and chief financial officer, a new poll found.
BY AMY DRISCOLL
adriscoll@MiamiHerald.com
The races for two open Cabinet seats tightened in Florida, with Democratsgaining ground as their television ads began airing, though many votersremain undecided three weeks before the election, according to a pollreleased Friday.
In the race for attorney general, Republican Bill McCollum now holds anarrow three-point lead over Democrat Walter ''Skip'' Campbell, with 19percent of those polled still undecided.
And in the chief financial officer's race, Republican Tom Lee's lead hasbeen whittled to one point over Democrat Adelaide ''Alex'' Sink, with 23percent undecided.
=
The Express Gay News
http://expressgaynews.com/
http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3165
Lt. governor candidate addresses gay crowd
Daryl Jones speaks at opening of Democratic get-out-the-vote center
By
Oct. 20, 2006
On Wednesday, Oct. 11, gay and lesbian Democratic political activists markedNational Coming Out Day by coming out in support of Democratic Partycandidates at the opening of the Democratic Get-Out-the-Vote Center in FortLauderdale. The center, which is sponsored by the Florida GLBT DemocraticPAC and the Dolphin Democrats, is located across the street from the Gay &Lesbian Community Center of South Florida on Andrews Avenue.
Former state Sen. Daryl Jones, the Democratic candidate for lieutenantgovernor, addressed the crowd.
Jones drew applause when he said that he was the only member of thelegislature to introduce a statewide domestic partnership bill.
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
Workshop on Living Non-Violently at MCC
By Donald Cavanaugh
DCavanaugh@OurIndy.com
Church of Our Savior, MCC and Sunshine Cathedral, MCC announced thebeginning of a 12 week program in non-violent living starting on SaturdayOct. 21 and continuing on subsequent Saturday mornings form 10 a.m. to 12:30p.m. The program, called Engage, will be held at Sunshine Cathedral (1480 SW9th Ave, Fort Lauderdale) and will be conducted by Rev. Dr. Kathleen Bishopof Sunshine Cathedral and Rev. Renwick Bell from Church of our Savior.
"It's a wonderful program that teaches individuals how to live non-violentlyin day-to-day situations," said Rev. Bell. "If we can learn to livenon-violently ourselves then we can lead the way for others in our communityand elsewhere in our lives."
Engage was created by a group called Pace e Bene which was founded under theauspices of St. Barbara Province of the Franciscan Friars of California. Itis part of a suite of non-violence trainings available from Pace e Bene.
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
http://www.indynews.4t.com/0321/local8.html
Opinions Changing in Florida?
By Paul Harris
PHarris@ourindy.com
The Miami Herald recently published a poll showing that a majority ofFloridians now oppose the antigay Marriage Amendment to the constitutionwhich has been supported by Republican candidate for Governor Charlie Cristand opposed by Democrat Jim Davis. The poll was conducted by the respectedcompany Zogby International.
Asked whether they support amending the state Constitution to ban gaymarriage, which incidentally is already prohibited by state law, 51 percentof likely Florida voters said they oppose such a ban. The telephone surveyspoke with 803 likely voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5percentage points.
=
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061021/NEWS/210210369/1025&template=printpicart
ELECTION 2006
Davis is a fit and frugal candidate for governor
BY LLOYD DUNKELBERGER
STAR-BANNER
JIM DAVIS
Name: James Oscar Davis
Born: Oct. 11, 1957 in Tampa
Education: Washington & Lee University, bachelor's in English, 1979; law
degree, University of Florida, 1982
Family: Married, Peggy Bessent, 1986. Two sons
Profession: Attorney
Public Office: Elected to the Florida House of Representatives, 1988-1996.
Elected to Congress in 1996, with his current term scheduled to end in
January 2007
Web site: www.jimdavis2006.com nn
JIM DAVIS
James Oscar Davis
Oct. 11, 1957, Tampa
Washington & Lee University, bachelor's in English, 1979; law degree,University of Florida, 1982
Married, Peggy Bessent, 1986. Two sons
Attorney
Elected to the Florida House of Representatives, 1988-1996. Elected toCongress in 1996, with his current term scheduled to end in January 2007
Young voters may benefit Davis, if they vote, 7B
TALLAHASSEE - Jim Davis was born into a wealthy and influential Tampafamily. His grandfather started one of the state's largest law firms. Amajor Tampa thoroughfare is named after his great-grandmother. But Davis haslargely eschewed the life of a Tampa patrician.
Instead, he has pursued a career in law and politics that has led him to theLegislature and to Congress.
His two sons attend the same public school where his wife graduated. Hisonly salary comes from Congress and his net worth is largely based on hismodest home, which he jokes he couldn't afford to buy today.
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
http://www.indynews.4t.com/0321/local5.html
Keechl & Scott Run For Commission
By Paul Harris
PHarris@ourindy.com
Ken Keechl is running for the seat currently held on the County Commissionby Republican Jim Scott.
Keechl is best known locally as the recent president of the DolphinDemocrats, the GLBT local Democratic organization. He was also an equitypartner in a local law practice, Brinkley McNerney, which grew exponentiallyin his years with it. He left the firm to run for public office earlier thisyear. In total he has been a lawyer for 19 years. If elected Keechl hasvowed to be a full-time county commissioner living on the $89,000 a yearcommissioner's salary. "I don't intend to have any private legal clientswhen I am elected. I am wrapping up my practice and representing clients ona pro bono basis," he told The Indy. He points out that his opponent, JimScott, has missed as many county commission meetings as all the other eightcommissioners combined. Scott claims that he is representing the people ofBroward County when he is in Tallahassee. Keechl counters that "The peopleelected him to sit in that chair to represent them.
There are staff paid to lobby for us in Tallahassee. It's not the job of aBroward County Commissioner. In any case I don't believe that he's beeneffective at all." The suggestion is also clearly being made that while inTallahassee on the people of Broward County's dime Scott is lobbying onbehalf of his private clients.
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
http://www.indynews.4t.com/0321/ae1.html
Laffing Matterz: Independent Theatre Club Offer
By Paul Harris
PHarris@ourindy.com
This is an offer you would be a fool to miss, and that's no joke! LaffingMatterz, the comedy club restaurant, at 219 South Andrews Avenue is offeringa terrific deal to readers of The Independent as they launch their newWednesday night show this Fall. The Independent Theatre Club evening is onWednesday, November 1 at 7pm. Instead of paying the normal $45 for salad,entrée, beverage and show they are offering readers of The Independent ahalf price deal - $22.50 plus tax and gratuity. If you wish to orderappetizers or desserts from the menu in addition you can. There is also afully stocked bar and extensive wine list. You are not going to find abetter deal in town. Trust me.
Earlier this year this newspaper celebrated our second anniversary at therestaurant when we also announced our "People Of The Year Awards." Everyonewho went that night had a great time.. If you don't believe me, simply askanyone who helped make up the sell-out audience that night.
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
Equality Florida Raises Over $30,000 in Hours
Staff Report
News@OurIndy.com
Equality Florida, the statewide GLBT lobbying organization, held afundraiser recently at the home of J. Michael Heider and Tom Carr thatraised over $30,000 for the organization, some of which will be matchedunder the terms of grant made by the John C. Graves Foundation. The eventwas attended by about 150 people. Apart from hearing from Nadine Smith, theorganization's executive director, the gathering had the opportunity ofseeing a video that has been produced by the organization showing what theorganization does.
One of the speakers in the video was a mother of five, one of whom was gay.She talked about how "devastating and hurtful to me as a parent to see myson denied rights." Another person interviewed commented about how there are4,000 children in foster homes in the state of Florida while there are gaysand lesbians prepared to adopt them and offer them long-term homes.
=
The Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/15812930.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
CAMPAIGN 2006 | MIAMIHERALD.COM: FULL STORY ONLINE
Crist, Davis quizzed on felon law
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS
meklas@MiamiHerald.com
The ACLU challenged Charlie Crist and Jim Davis on Friday, asking themwhether, if elected governor, they would sign an executive order ending theban that keeps felons from automatically receiving their civil rights afterleaving prison.
Both have said the 136-year-old ban should end.
''A change in the rules of executive clemency can be accomplished on thefirst day of your new administration,'' wrote Howard Simon, executivedirector of the Miami-based chapter of the ACLU, in a letter to thecandidates.
Democrat Davis' answer: ''Emphatic yes,'' said spokesman Josh Earnest. ``Hewill change the rules at the first meeting of the Clemency Board. He will dowhatever it takes. He views this as a priority and something that should bedone quickly.''
Republican Crist's answer: ``We're reviewing the letter.''
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
http://www.indynews.4t.com/0321/oped1.html
Publisher's Letter: Crist or Davis?
By Paul Harris
The choice for Governor of the state of Florida is nothing to write homeabout. We have a Republican, Charlie Crist who may or may not be bisexual,who seems to change his mind with the breeze. (No, I am NOT suggesting thatall bisexuals change their minds with the breeze!) Earlier this year hesigned a petition for a constitutional amendment calling for the prohibitionof gay marriage, and possibly, depending upon legal interpretation, theoutlawing of domestic partner benefits to be placed inside the state'sconstitution.
He signed this as Attorney General even though he knew full well that thereis already a law on the statute book opposing gay marriage. On otheroccasions he has allegedly said he has nothing against civil unions.
But who knows what he really believes. He also boasts about his achievementsrunning the state's education system even though by almost any measurementout there we rank almost at the bottom in terms of the percentagegraduating, and also in the way that we reward our teachers. All he seems tohave going for him given that he does not seem to be overly attached toprinciples, is a pragmatic nature and a successful manner on the screenmaking one feel that if he lost in November he could always find a lucrativecareer in television.
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
http://www.indynews.4t.com/0321/ae3.html
Strike Up The Band!
By Paul Harris
PHarris@ourindy.com
The Flamingo Freedom Band is 20 years old they will be celebrating theiranniversary by hosting a fall concert at the Broward Center's AmaturoTheatre on Sunday, November 5 at 7:30pm. They will be performing withspecial guests The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus, The RoughRiders ofSouth Florida, and The South Florida Lambda Chorale. The program includesmusical selections from "West Side Story," "Candide," and "Les Miserables."In addition they will be playing the music of Aaron Copland and GeorgeGershwin.
Amongst the items being performed is Gershwin's famous "Rhapsody in Blue"performed on the piano by local favorite Roger Rundle. The Independent gotto speak with Rundle about the work. What is the attraction of the piece forhim as a musician, we asked? "I first played Rhapsody in Blue as a17-year-old with my High School Orchestra in Clay Center, Kansas, a rathersmall farming community. We had an LP made of the performance which servesto keep me humble! I attempted to play everything entirely too fast. Nomatter how many times I play this piece it remains new, as an experience ofdiscovering fresh emotions. It represents for me the most 'American' piecein my repertoire and I experience my roots every time I play it."
=
The Independent Gay News
http://www.indynews.4t.com/
http://www.indynews.4t.com/0321/palmbeach1.html
Candidate Endorsements Cause Rift Between Gay Groups in Palm Beach County
By Donald Cavanaugh
Palm Beach County Editor
dcavanaugh@OurIndy.com
Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (the Council) and Equality Floridaare seeking a way to resolve a situation that has caused confusion amongPalm Beach County candidates and gay voters.
The Council has issued endorsements at election time for many years.Candidates are invited to meet with the Council and share their views onissues of concern to the LGBT community in the county. "We know what we'redoing," says Rand Hoch, founder and board member of the Council. "We knowthe incumbents and their records and we know who will and won't work with uson our issues."
Equality Florida, on the other hand, has been issuing a "voters guide" since2003. The guide is created based on candidates responses to questionnairesmailed to them by Equality Florida.
=
http://www.indynews.4t.com/0321/local1.html
Charlie Crist Gay?
The Independent Breaks Stunning Allegations Made by Max Linn
By Michael James
MJames@OurIndy.com
In an interview with The Independent on Tuesday, October 10, third partygubernatorial candidate and self-made millionaire Max Linn made the boldstatement, "Charlie Crist is gay." His statement adds yet more fuel to thefire that rages against the Republican Party that has been plagued withcontroversy and scandal in recent weeks.
Linn said he has known Crist for over twenty years and says, "Charlie is anice guy. But he is gay." He made the revelation just before TheIndependent/GLCC Candidate's Forum that took place at the Gay and LesbianCommunity Center in Fort Lauderdale.
In a call to Crist's office early Wednesday morning, October 11, his DeputyPress Secretary Erin Isaac simply stated, "He is not gay." She made nofurther statement regarding the issue.
#####
