FLORIDA DIGEST March 3, 2008

**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.

=
Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
--
Time to stop hatred and violence
By Nadine Smith
We can be horrified, but we cannot be surprised. Witness the death of yetanother child who said he was gay - the m urder of another teenager whodefied gender stereotypes. On Friday, Feb. 22, 17-year-old Simmie WilliamsJr. was gunned down on a street corner in Broward County. Just 10 daysearlier, Lawrence King, a 15-year-old Oxnard, Calif., junior high student,was shot to death in his own classroom because he wore makeup - because hewas different. And less than one year ago, Ryan Keith Skipper, 24, wasstabbed to death in Polk County.
In Broward, police are investigating
Simmie Williams' murder as a possible hate crime based on the words they saywere exchanged before the shooting. In California, Lawrence King, a constanttarget of harassment and ridicule, was shot in the back and in the head by a14-year-old who told friends in advance that Lawrence was "having his lastday." Ryan's teenaged killers drove around town in his stolen, blood-soakedcar bragging that they had "killed a fag."
--- Nadine Smith is executive director of Equality Florida
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-forum03biassbmar03,0,6367671.story
-



=
From Jesse Monteagudo
The past decade has brought life-saving medical advances in the treatment ofHIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, this progress comes with a price: a new generationthat doesn't know or accept the reality that HIV infection has serious,lifelong consequences... until it's too late. The rate of new HIV infectionsis skyrocketing, and South Florida leads the nation in new AIDS cases.
I've joined an exciting effort to address the AIDS crisis in my community. Isigned up for Florida AIDS Walk, a 10K walk in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday,April 27. Please support my effort to stop the spread of HIV by becoming oneof my sponsors. Whatever you can give will make a profound difference.
Please visit my personal fundraising webpage where you can make a securecredit card donation. Your gift to this worthy cause is fullytax-deductible.
Team Captain, Team Etz Chaim
Click here to visit my personal page.
http://ahf.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?px=1003154&pg=personal&fr_id=1030&et=jLj_5pI5qI0-SSLxFBeNgA..&s_tafId=1060
-



=
From ArtsUnited
Carlos Cesar Alves' Art Work to be on Exhibit in March
ArtsUnited will feature the mixed media art work of Brazilian artist CarlosCesar Alves in a solo exhibit at the Stonewall Library and Archives fromMarch 3 through April 4, 2008. The gallery is located at Andrews Avenue inFort Lauderdale. The exhibit opens on Monday, March 3rd with a reception tomeet the artist from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Refreshments will be served. Admissionto the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
-



=
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
--
Slide show | Winter Party Festival patrons event at the Wolfsonian
Scenes from Saturday night's National Gay and Lesbian Task Force WinterParty Festival patrons event at the Wolfsonian-FIU museum in Miami Beac...
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/03/slide-show-wint.html
-
Slide show | Gay American Heroes Foundation/Stonewall Library reception at
Winter Party Festival
As part of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's annual Winter PartyFestival, two South Florida groups held a reception Friday at the MiamiBeach Botanical Gardens.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2008/03/slide-show-gay.html
-



=
Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
--
Crist seeks hospital deregulation
Will more hospitals mean tougher competition and cheaper prices forconsumers?
http://www.miamiherald.com/business_monday/story/439631.html
-
Budget-cutting knives clatter
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/03/State/Budget_cutting_knives.shtml
-
Florida's GOP Governor: I'd Support A New Democratic Primary
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080302/pl_bloomberg/a_z1b1gct_nm_1
-
These are heady days for Gov. Charlie Crist. As he begins his second year inoffice, his popularity is still in the clouds and his environmental agendahas drawn praise from Democrats such as Al Gore and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Heis embraced by Hollywood liberals even as his star rises in nationalRepublican politics. No one should be surprised that Crist is beingmentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate for John McCain.
http://www.fortreport.com/
-



=
Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus Winter Conference
March 7, 8, 9 2008
Marriott West Palm Beach
1001 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach FL 33401
Details are beginning to come together and our website now has detailedinformation and on-line registration is available. Please click here fordetails.
http://www.floridaglbtdemocrats.org/conference.html
-



=
From Michael Rajner
Many of you may know I serve as Jennifer Gottlieb's appointee to the SchoolBoard's Diversity Committee. This morning she called to ask me to speaktomorrow (Tuesday) before the school board on this issue.
Denise King, Simmie's mom will be accompanying me tomorrow.
If you can make it, please join us at 11am at the school boardadministration building.
Michael Emanuel Rajner
merajner@gmail.com
Tel: 305 677-3506 / 954 272-8131
Cell: 954 288-1999
-


=


[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####