FLORIDA DIGEST January 12, 2007

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Call for Gay and Lesbian Artists

Plans are well underway for ArtsUnited's annual signature eventArtExplosion, which combines all forms art in a two week calendar ofspectacular events. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender visual andperformance artists as well as published authors are encouraged to apply.The ArtExplosion2007 Visual Art Exhibit will be on display from February26 through March 16, 2007 in the JM Family Enterprises Gallery at ArtServe,1350 East Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale.

The opening reception will be on Saturday March 3rd from 6 to 9 PM. TheOpening Reception will also include music, dance, theatre, book signings andvocal performances. Over 500 people attended last year's reception, andhundreds more viewed the exhibit during month.

Guest jurist and curator Mr. Jorge Santis, Curator of Collections at theMuseum of Art Fort Lauderdale will judge the visual art entries. Prizes willbe awarded for Best of Show, People's Choice and Best in Class. Artistsneed not be members of ArtsUnited to participate; however, this is ashowcase of artists from the Gay and Lesbian Community. Visual andperformance artists and writers who wish to participate must complete andsubmit an application on or before February 22, 2007 to be considered.Visual Artist Applications fees are $20.00 for nonmembers and are waivedfor members of ArtsUnited. There is no fee for writers or performers toapply.

Applications are available at ArtServe, 1350 East Sunrise Blvd, FortLauderdale, and the Stonewall Libraryand Archives, 1717 N. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. They can also bedownloaded from www.artexplosiononline.org, or requested by mail bycalling 954-530-2723. ArtsUnited is a nonprofit, all volunteerorganization dedicated to using the arts to present a positive message aboutthe gay and lesbian
community.



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The Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/print.cfm?content_id=3355


Bringing suicide out of the closet
Gay suicide awareness program to train bartenders, others to recognize signsof depression


By PHIL LAPADULA
Jan. 12, 2007

After battling drug and health problems, it appeared that Kevin Cline hadput his life back on track. He had overcome his addiction problems and wasserving as a mentor to others struggling in recovery. In fact, he had helpedfund and organize a clubhouse for gay people in recovery in South Beach.After being on disability because of illness, Cline, 44, had just re-enteredthe workforce, starting his own home-renovation company.

But appearances are often deceiving, and something wasn't right in Cline'slife. Cline took his own life on Sept. 25, 2003 by jumping from the 10thfloor of a building.

In hindsight, Cline's friend, Ed Straub, said he should have recognized thesigns.




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The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/16441148.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


Posted on Fri, Jan. 12, 2007

Former Rep. Davis joins prestigious law firm

TAMPA - (AP) -- Former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, who unsuccessfully challengedCharlie Crist for Florida governor, is joining the law firm of Holland &Knight, the company said Thursday.

Davis will work in the firm's Tampa and Washington, D.C., offices, thecompany announced. Davis, who represented Tampa in Washington for a decade,vacated his congressional seat to run for governor.

Davis' former chief of staff, Karl Koch, is also joining the firm. Holland &Knight announced Wednesday that former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez joined thefirm.




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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/011107drugs.htm


Gay Sex Wasn't Supposed To End In Murder Defense Lawyer Says
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 11, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET

(Tampa, Florida) A lawyer for a man on trial for allegedly assisting in thedrug rape and murders of two gay men says his client never intended forMichael Wachholtz and Jason Galehouse to die.

Scott Schweickert is on trial in federal court charged with conspiracy andassisting in a drug-facilitated crime of violence. If convicted, he faces amaximum of 60 years in prison.

His alleged coconspirator, Steven Lorenzo, was convicted in 2005 of plyingnine gay men with the drug GHB and then brutally sexually assaulting them.He currently is serving a 200 year sentence. He has yet to stand trial forthe murders of Wachholtz and Galehouse in 2003.

Schweickert's attorney, Pedro Amador, in his opening arguments said that hisclient does not dispute he spent hours in Internet chat rooms discussingsexual torture and bondage.

Amador also said Schweickert will not deny accompanying Lorenzo in going togay bars to find men to sexually dominate.

But, according to Amador, it was all fantasy.

"Did two young men die?" Amador asked. "Yes they did. They died at the handof Steven Lorenzo. Not Scott Schweickert."



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The Express Gay News

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/011107fla.htm


Gay Student Group Seeks Injunction Against Florida School District
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 11, 2007 - 9:00 pm ET

(Okeechobee, Florida) LGBT students, represented by the American CivilLiberties Union of Florida asked a federal court Thursday to orderOkeechobee school officials to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance to startmeeting.

The ACLU argues that the Equal Access Act stipulates that when a schoolallows any non-curricular club to meet on campus, it must allow allnon-curricular clubs to meet on campus.

The motion seeks to grant the students access to meet on campus for theduration of the legal proceedings.




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The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/16441391.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp


Posted on Fri, Jan. 12, 2007

MIAMI-DADE
Alvarez accused of 'reneging' on 2004 civil-unions pledge

BY STEVE ROTHAUS
srothaus@MiamiHerald.com

A leader in Florida's movement to ban gay marriage said Thursday thatMiami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez has ''reneged'' on a campaign pledge he madein 2004 not to support civil unions or domestic partnerships.

''Voters relied on his good-faith commitment,'' said David Caton, executivedirector of the conservative Florida Family Association in Tampa. ``Heshould honor his commitment as mayor. It's as plain and simple as you canget.''

While campaigning this week to change Miami-Dade's charter to a strong-mayorform of government, Alvarez said he supported several issues important tolocal gay activists:




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The Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/1-12/locallife/outinatlanta/


Hot tickets
South Florida's arts scene thrives


By J.W. Arnold
Friday, January 12, 2007


The rich cultural diversity of South Florida and excellent arts venuespromote the "critical mass" for a lively arts scene that is unparalleled inthe Southeast. January, in particular, is a busy month, as areaorganizations kick off their 2007 seasons:

The Miami Gay Men's Chorus, under the direction of Artistic Director GaryKeating, will hold auditions for its spring season on Jan. 18 and 25 atMiami Shores Presbyterian Church, NE 96th Street at NE 6th Avenue in MiamiShores. Upcoming performances include "The Night They Invented Champagne," acabaret concert featuring the music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin,March 10-12 at the Colony Theatre, and "Changing Hearts and Classic '80s!,"a salute to music of that classic decade on June 8-10, also at the Colony.For more information, call 305-759-3390 or go to www.miamigaychorus.org.


more....


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The Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-criverfront12jan12,0,1917164,print.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines


Latest plan calls for Las Olas Riverfront to be replaced with 253 condos,hotel

By Brittany Wallman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

January 12, 2007



FORT LAUDERDALE -- Las Olas Riverfront, the downtown bar-movie-restaurantcomplex considered by many to be a flop, will be demolished and replacedwith a condo, a hotel and an office tower, under a new plan submittedThursday to the city.


Boca Developers Inc., owner of the complex on the New River, just west ofAndrews Avenue, has changed plans drastically from a proposal it submittedlast summer. The earlier version included three towers that were 34, 39 and41 stories tall, with 750 condos, plus 100,000 square feet of retail andentertainment businesses.


The new plan calls for the same amount of retail and entertainment, but justone condo building 33 stories tall with 253 condos. Added to the plan are a22-story hotel with conference facilities, and a 19-story office tower.



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For Immediate Release:


For more information phone the Synagogue at (954) 564-9232

Rabbi Harold F. Caminker, D.D., the spiritual leader of Congregation EtzChaim of Wilton Manors, is pleased to announce that he will lead theCongregation in the first of a series of special Shabbat weekends onFebruary 16th and 17th.

On Friday the 16th there will be a meditative Kabbalat Shabbat service at6:30 p.m.

On Saturday the 17th the Congregation will take part in a more traditionalTorah service beginning at 11 a.m. and ending with Kiddush around noon.

Future Shabbat weekends with special Friday evening and Saturday morningservices are also scheduled for the weekends of March 30th and April 20th.

All services will be held at the Synagogue, located at 1881 N.E. 26 Street -Wilton Plaza - in Wilton Manors.


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