FLORIDA DIGEST February 16, 2007

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US ATrays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.

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To Our Subscribers on Ray's List,

Ray's List will publish only the 3 Ray's List Daily Digests [GLBT News,National/World News, and Florida News] on Saturday and Sunday - February17-18. We will not send the individual articles this weekend.

In an attempt to streamline our production of Ray's List, we anticipate thatwe will eliminate mailing full articles in the near future and focus only onthe 3 daily digests. As always, you are invited to request a full articlefrom us if it is unavailable through the attached link or if the link is notavailable.

We are in a state of transition and request feedback so that we can makeRay's List a valuable tool in the quest for full human rights for ALLpeople.

This week's news including the disgusting and dangerous comments from TimHardaway, the frightening attack by a large mob against gay men in Jamaica,and the collusion with Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola by a number ofright-wing break-away Episcopal congregations should serve as notice to usin the U.S. that our safety, security and well-being are seriouslychallenged by groups that have no intention of giving up their fight againstour dignity as human beings. Their intentions are not benign.

Even though statistics show Americans are growing more tolerant of gays, weare a long way from security for GLBT people. For those of us in S.Florida, life is pretty nice. Even though we have one of the largestpopulations of gay people in the U.S. our leadership and activism on thenational and world stage is sorely lacking. South-Floridian gays love toparty, but it is very difficult to gain the attention of the majority ofGLBT persons for more sober issues.

We publish Ray's List in the hope that our daily reminders of the news froma world-wide perspective will motivate and provide the links for actionwithin our community. We frequently feel we are only "singing to thechoir." But, we know that each time you forward a Ray's List article toyour contacts, you provide a great service and make it more difficult forbigotry and hatred to flourish.

Knowledge is power.

Best wishes - and thanks for your work as activists!

Ray and Michael
Ray's List
rays.list@comcast.net
The digests are on the web at http://www.rayslistglbtnews.blogspot.com/



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From: "Sunshine Cathedral" Ed@SunshineCathedral.org

Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 12:06 PM

Sunshine Cathedral’s Pastoral Response to Anti-Gay Attack in Jamaica

We, the pastors of the Sunshine Cathedral, express deep sorrow in responseto the attack suffered by three alleged homosexual men in Tropical Plaza,St. Andrew, Jamaica on Wednesday, February 14th, 2007. At least one of thethree men is a member of Sunshine Cathedral.

According to news reports the three men were trapped in a pharmacy while amob outside the pharmacy called for the men to be handed over to them. Somein the mob reportedly called for the men to be killed.

As people of faith, we hope for a world where peace prevailsover violence and justice wins over oppression and human kindness replacesbrutal prejudice. As people who preach and pray for the equality of allpeople, we are alarmed and grieved by the reports of three men beingtargeted, threatened, and even injured simply for being suspected of beinggay.

Our hearts go out to the men who were terrorized by the mob andwe wish the three men safety and recovery from their ordeal. We are alsomindful of their families and friends at this time and of all who work tochange homophobic attitudes and the violence that results from suchattitudes.

As religious people and as members of the human family, we areappalled by acts of violence and we call on all people, both secular andreligious, to remember and respond to what is often called The Golden Rule,which is simply to treat others as one would wish to be treated.

We ask every person of public influence to discourage violence againstsame-gender loving people. We hope that all people who know of this storywill ask themselves, “How would I feel if the men being threatened were myfriends, brothers, sons, or grandsons?” We then hope that each person willpause to realize that each of those men is in fact someone’s loved one. Andin the name of human decency we hope and pray that attacks motivated byhatred and prejudice will come to an immediate end.

Finally, we applaud the law enforcement personnel who defended the men whowere under attack. We hope the civil authorities will continue to work forthe safety and welfare of all people. We are thankful that the men weresaved from the mob’s intentions. And we hope that all who live in the fearof violence because they are or are suspected of being homosexual willremain strong and will one day soon be able to live their lives without thethreat of abuse.

The Sunshine Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church affirms the sacredworth of all persons and promotes equality and human rights as corereligious values. Additional comments will be released from both SunshineCathedral and Metropolitan Community Churches.

The Right Reverend Grant Lynn Ford and
The Reverend Canon Durrell Watkins
on behalf of the Canon Circle of the Sunshine Cathedral
954.462.2004 (office) 954.462.7070 (fax)

Email contact: Durrell@Sunshinecathedral.org
www.sunshinecathedral.org

1480 Sw 9th Ave
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33315



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The Dolphin Democrats Elect New Officers/Board

PRESIDENT
Amy Shoosmith

VICE PRESIDENT
Michael Albetta

SECRETARY
Julie Bruno

TREASURER
Bill Vayens


BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ted Adcock
Robert (Bob) Bernhardt
LeAnna Bradley
Harve Brosten
Ronald Catena
Justin Flippin
Edie Hambright
Gary S. Hensley
Mark LaFontaine
Ron Mills
Adam Sanders
Judy Shepherd
Barbara Stuart



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Subject: SOUTH FLORIDA DIVERSE MINORITY PRIDE EVENT

You're All Welcome!

SOUTH FLORIDA DIVERSE MINORITY PRIDE

Join us for our 1st annual event @ Mills Pond Park

March 4th 12:00pm to 6:00pm

2201 NW 9th Ave.
Wilton Manors, FL 33311

Food, Fun Entertainment for all ages, as well as Softball and Soccer games
For more information call: Sonia @ 754-234-7255

Democratic Victory in '08



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact: Terry DeCarlo
Public Relations and Marketing Manager
Care Resource
tdecarlo@careresource.org
305-576-1234 x 210

THE BIMINI CHALLENGE - PADDLING FOR THE CURE
Miami Beach Lifeguard to paddle from Bimini to Miami to raise money forpeople with HIV/AIDS

South Florida; Wednesday, February 14, 2007: Cynthia Aguilar is a 23 yearsold professional ocean lifeguard for the city of Miami Beach FireDepartment, currently she holds three world records in competitive paddleboarding, two from the gulf stream challenge (one for time and one fordistance) and one from the United States Lifesaving Association sprintseries. Cynthia graduated from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School in2002, and set out to devote her life to helping others, first by joining theMiami Beach Fire Department, and now by using her talents to help thoseliving with HIV/AIDS.

Cynthia, along with her co-workers at the City of Miami Beach have created"The Bimini Challenge" an event that will test her personal strength andendurance. They have partnered with Care Resource and the 19th Annual AIDSWalk to paddle 53 miles from Bimini in the Bahamas to Miami in hopes ofraising awareness for people with HIV/AIDS, to stress the fact that Miami isnow number one in the nation with the highest AIDS cases followed closely byFort Lauderdale at number two (CDC report 2/2007), and that most of the newinfections are women and teens.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-fdisaster14feb14,0,4885769,print.story

Florida proposes multistate disaster fund

By Mark Hollis
Tallahassee Bureau

February 14, 2007

TALLAHASSEE · Frustrated by inaction in Washington, Florida officials thisweek are asking other states to join them in setting up an insurancecatastrophe fund.

If established, a multistate fund would bail out regions hit by cataclysmicdisasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding and even terrorism.

But unlike a national fund -- which Congress has balked at creating -- itwouldn't rely on the financial backing of the federal government. Onlyinterested states would participate.

"We hear so much about the hurricanes in Florida, but we know there'spotential for a $400 billion loss in California due to an earthquake, and a$250 billion massacre if an earthquake strikes along the New Madrid fault[in the Midwest]," Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty saidTuesday.



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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
dailyqueernews@yahoo.com

http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/show/4098

Same Sex Couples Get ' Married' in Tampa by Mitch E. Perry
2007-02-14

A day after Governor Charlie Crist said he hoped the State GOP wouldn’tcontinue to fund a group that is trying to ban same sex marriage in thestate, a group of activists protested the fact that gays cannot get marriedby trying to get a license from the Hillsborough Clerk of the Courts today.

(roll tape#1 o.q.”yes, there is a law”) That was Gwen Reddick from theHillsborough County Clerk’s office, telling the young couple, Lorna & Lexie,that they could not get a marriage license on this Valentine’s Day.

2 other couples tried to get a license but of course, were also denied.For the 4thyear in row, same sex couples in Tampa went through the ritual of beingrejected by the state, before then being ‘married’ as it were, across thestreet, in Joe Chillura Square in downtown Tampa (roll tape#2 o..q”you maykiss”)



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Forwarded from
Chip Arndt
President, Freedom Democrats
Info@FreedomDems.org
305.895.9466 x113

STATEMENT FROM FREEDOM DEMOCRATS, MIAMI, FL.

Miami Dade Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus
RE: Mr. Tim Hardaway’s Anti-Gay Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami, Florida (February 16, 2007) – Freedom Democrats, the Miami Dade Gay,Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus, categorically, and withgreat concern, denounce the recent comments of Mr. Tim Hardaway. Mr.Hardaway’s insensitive and bigoted comments once again show that many peoplein the United States have a long way to go before affording the same respectand rights that they expect for themselves.

For those who do not know, Mr. Hardaway was an accomplished professionalathlete who is a hero to many people. He retired for the NBA at the end ofthe 2003 season. He reached 5,000 points and 2,500 assists faster than anyNBA player in history, but for the legend Oscar Robertson. He was a fivetime NBA All-Star, Miami Heat Guard, from 1996-2001, all time assist leaderfor the Miami Heat and was drafted 14th in the 1989 NBA draft out of theUniversity of Texas, El Paso.

Freedom Democrats respect and embrace the rights of each citizen of theUnited States of America to free speech. We are also aware of the fact thatmany citizens unfortunately still cannot live side by side with each otherand embrace the uniqueness of each person. We, as an organization thatrepresenting the civil and human rights of all people, denounce and holdaccountable any person that uses any forum to advance hatred and bigotry tothe detriment of other citizens of the United States (Seewww.FreedomDems.org.)



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The Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-gunlicense16feb16,0,3284192,print.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Police, sheriff groups back tighter restrictions on state's gun laws

But NRA against denying licenses to those who take some plea deals
By Megan O'Matz
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

February 16, 2007

Three major Florida law enforcement groups have joined a growing list ofvoices advocating changes to the state's gun laws to prevent criminals fromlegally carrying handguns.

Leaders of the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Fraternal Order ofPolice, and the Florida Police Chiefs Association told the South FloridaSun-Sentinel this week that they will support efforts to tighten eligibilityrules for concealed weapon licenses.

At the same time, the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence, a SouthFlorida organization dedicated to reducing gun violence, said it will makerecommendations to the Legislature for change.

The group is made up of police, prosecutors, politicians and parents ofchildren slain by firearms in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.



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The Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-spheat16feb16,0,3518427,print.story?coll=sfla-sports-front

Riley 'shocked' at Hardaway's anti-gay comments

By Harvey Fialkov and Ira Winderman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

February 16, 2007

A day after former Heat guard Tim Hardaway expressed his disgust over gayplayers competing in the NBA, Heat coach Pat Riley offered a rebuke, as wellas perspective.

"[Hardaway's attitude] would not be tolerated in our organization," Rileysaid Thursday on a WQAM (560-AM) sports show.

A day earlier, on 790 The Ticket, Hardaway said, "I hate gay people. I letit be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people.Yeah, I'm homophobic. I don't like it."

Hardaway's comments came a week after retired center John Amaechi became thefirst active or former NBA player to publicly acknowledge he was gay whilepromoting his autobiography Man in the Middle.

"Yes, I was shocked by some of the words that he used," Riley said ofHardaway, who he coached from 1996-2001. "It's a tough subject to talk aboutif you're not really thinking about it a lot. It's one-sided. But I was alittle bit shocked by some of the words that he used.



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The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/obituaries/16710183.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

Posted on Fri, Feb. 16, 2007

William Edward 'Eddy' McIntyre, 47: Local gay-rights activist, arts
philanthropist

By DAVID SMILEY
dsmiley@MiamiHerald.com

Broward attorney William Edward ''Eddy'' McIntyre, a prominent gay-rightsactivist and arts philanthropist, died Monday at his Miami Shores home.McIntyre, 47, took his own life.

McIntyre suffered from depression and put a lot of pressure on himself tosupport the people and organizations he loved, said artist Jojo Corvaia, hispartner of five years.

A former chairman of the arts-oriented Miami Light Project, McIntyre wasactive in many nonprofits. His selflessness and passion for life wereinfectious, said Jerry Chasen, McIntyre's attorney.

''It's very easy to stay involved in our own small world, but when youwatched Eddy interact with the world, you knew it was a much bigger placeand you had a larger role to play,'' Chasen said.



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The Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-editgsstarplanfeb16,0,4296082,print.story?coll=sfla-news-editorial

Educators' Pay

South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board

February 16, 2007

ISSUE: STAR plan has teachers fuming.

Florida's school districts, including those in South Florida, are in ano-win situation with the STAR bonus plan.

Approve the state's reward plan, and get ready for the wrath of teachers andunion leaders everywhere, who find STAR about as repulsive as the FloridaComprehensive Assessment Test. Don't approve the plan, and it could cost thelocal district millions that it doesn't have.

With hundreds of teachers hooting and hollering, the Broward board approvedthe plan this week by a 5-4 vote. Palm Beach County teachers have rejectedthe plan, which will now be fought out among school district and unionnegotiators.

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TBO.com

http://www.tbo.com/news/opinion/editorials/MGB5J2XE6YE.html

The Tyrannical Test
Published: Feb 15, 2007

The despised FCAT might soon get a new name.

What a clever way to shut up all those pesky parents and grouchy teacherswho keep complaining about the statewide student exam. Let's call itsomething different!

I vote for FFFT, which is the sound of millions of tax dollars disappearingdown another black hole.

The state says that the FCAT is being rewritten to meet new achievementstandards for math, reading and language arts that were recently adopted bythe Department of Education.

Completing the FCAT revisions will take up to five years, partly to complywith the federal "No Crony Left Behind" education law.



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