FLORIDA DIGEST March 4, 2008

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Mark LaFontaine for State Representative
Join us at Rosie's Tuesday night if you want to...
-Prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity
-Beat back the "marriage protection" amendment
-Overturn the ban on gay adoption
-Pass an effective bullying bill
YOU can make a difference.
It's time we elected one of our own to Tallahassee!
MARK LAFONTAINE will be the first openly-gay State Representative inFlorida, but we have to get him elected first.
Please come and bring a friend
Tuesday, March 4th - 5:30 - 7:00 pm.
Hors d'oeuvres and a drink provided.
$25 Min. suggested contribution each
$500 Max. contribution allowed by law
RSVP and donate online at www.MarkLaFontaine.com/party or call (954)
651-3147
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Come join us on March 6 for a great time at one of the most fun spots in
town! CLUB BLUE
http://southflorida.hrc.org
Thursday, March 6th - 6:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.
@ Rosie's Bar & Grill
2449 Wilton Dr.
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Rosie's has a fun menu, too! If you think you may stay for dinner, givethem a call:
954-563-0123
Club Blue is a monthly social and networking event open to the community anddesigned to promote the Human Rights Campaign and its membership in SouthFlorida. Join the HRC South Florida Committee each month to network withother gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender professionals and to learnabout HRC in South Florida! The suggested donation is $10 at the door. Ifyou haven't been able to make it to a Club Blue event before, you are morethan welcome to attend! Club Blue is a great way to get to know fellow HRCmembers and supporters in your area. If you aren't able to come this time,make sure to keep the first
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The 5th Annual Valuing our Families Day SATURDAY MARCH 29
Sunshine Cathedral MCC Campus
1480 SW 9th Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
GLBTQ YOUTH PROGRAM
A full day of cool and creative workshops
Meet new friends
Meet gay and lesbian families
Learn about what's up in the community
End the day with a carnival and picnic
It's FREE for teens,but you have to register in advance,so click on this:
https://www.sporg.com/pom/registration?cmd=event_info&event_id=103564.
Oh, you have more questions? OK, ASK
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You have been invited to:
Obama House Party and Fundraiser
Dolphin Members Todd Hoover & Ron Michel are holding an Obama House Party towatch the returns from Texas, Ohio (Texmex and Meatloaf will be served),Rhode Island and Vermont on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 from 6:30-9:30. BYOB.
Please pass this message.
952 SW 7th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 (954) 524-5941
Please click link below for information, maps and reservations:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/fundraising/4r9sh
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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
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Schools, courts targeted as legislators slash $543 million
Schools will lose more than $200 million, state attorneys and publicdefenders may furlough some workers and nursing homes might offer lesspersonal care under a legislative plan to cut $543.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/legislature/sfl-flfbudget0304sbmar04,0,6107833.story
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Nooses are not welcome in South Florida
The dangling symbol of racial hatred appeared most recently at an outdoorlunch area at Somerset Academy, a charter school in Pembroke Pines. It wasmost likely an intended prank.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-303noose,0,7347014.story
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School's mission goes badly awry
Let us begin with the obvious. At this point, it isn't entirely clear whatcaused the melee at Edison Senior High School last week and who is to blame.
The facts will unfold as school administrators, police and the courts dotheir jobs. There will be ample time to deal with anyone who misbehavedegregiously or violated the law.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/443013.html
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Deal expensive, maybe unconstitutional
The Miami-Dade County Commission last month approved a proposal to spend$347 million in taxpayer money to build a 37,000-seat, retractable-roofstadium for the Florida Marlins. This proposal not only provides a hugesubsidy to the team's much maligned owner, Jeffrey Loria, but it also mightviolate two provisions of the Florida Constitution.
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/443020.html
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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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We demand a real primary or caucus in Florida by Phil LaPadula
After I voted in Florida's Jan. 29 primary, a smiling poll worker handed mea sticker with an American flag and the words "My Vote Counted!" printed onit. I'm sure the people responsible for the stickers meant well, but I foundit to be another slap in the face in a state that has perfected the art of disenfranchising voters.
You see, our votes really didn't count here in Florida. The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of all of its delegates to the nationalconvention as punishment for the state holding its primary before Feb. 5.Since the votes do not translate into delegates, they are essentiallymeaningless, and the voters voiceless in the primary process.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/blog/index.cfm?type=blog&start=2/27/08&end=3/5/08#16905
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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
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Storms joins Darwin debate
The state senator files a bill to protect teachers who present otherarguments. It looks like the Florida Legislature will have its say on the role of evolution in the science classroom, after all. State Sen. Ronda Storms, a Brandon Republican, has filed what she calls the "Academic Freedom Act" (SB 2692) with a stated goal of "providing publicschool teachers with a right to present scientific information relevant tothe full range of views on biological and chemical origins."
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/04/State/Storms_joins_Darwin_d.shtml-
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