FLORIDA DIGEST May 16, 2008

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Forwarded from Michael Emanuel Rajner
merajner@gmail.com
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-This link http://cbs4.com/video/?id=55016@wfor.dayport.com is aninterview with CBS-4's Carey Codd, Equality Florida's Executive DirectorNadine Smith, and Janet Folger of Faith to Action who I proudly "shouteddown" at Mayor Naugle's press conference organized last year to demonize thegay community. Just the mere sound of Janet's voice makes me want to have anair sickness bag on hand. When were we taught selective discrimination aspart of Christian values? FLORIDA VOTERS - On November 4th, please vote NOon amendment no. 2 and demand dignity, equality and respect for all people.
To learn more about amendment no. 2 and to become part of the movement,visit: http://www.votenoon2.com/


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Safe Schools South Florida
Morgan Stanley Donates $2500 to SSSF
Investment banker Morgan Stanley recently donated $2,500 from its VolunteerIncentive Program (VIP) to Safe Schools South Florida (formerly GLSEN SouthFlorida) on behalf of Morgan Stanley investment executive and Safe SchoolsSouth Florida board member, Daniel M. Pye. "Morgan Stanley supports itsemployees' philanthropy," said Pye, who has served on the Safe Schools SouthFlorida board of directors for five years. "The company believes that if anemployee is willing to commit his own time and energy for a worthy cause,the firm should participate as well which is why they offer these VIPgrants." "We appreciate this generous gift from Morgan Stanley," said BrucePresley, president of the Safe Schools South Florida board. "Dan is animportant part of our organization and this is one more contribution he hasmade to our efforts to make South Florida schools safer for allstudents -regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
http://www.safeschoolssouthflorida.org/


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Express Gay News
http://www.expressgaynews.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Speedos and Safe Schools
Nadadores host party; Safe Schools holds conference
The Nadadores of South Florida, Miami-Dade's gay swim team, will host afundraising reception on Saturday, May 17, at the Diana Lowenstein Fine ArtsCenter, 2043 North Miami Ave. in Miami. The party, "Noche Nadadores," willinclude complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks provided by Ice Box Café andentertainment by DJ Rob Solomon. The party starts at 7 p.m. A $20 donationis requested. And we request that all Nadadores swimmers attend in theirSpeedos, although they will undoubtedly ignore us and show up in clothes.
Boo-hiss. Proceeds from the event will help send swimmers to Washington,D.C. in June for the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA)championships.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/5-15/locallife/pulse/4671.cfm

-Building Gay Political Muscle
Camp Equality steers volunteer efforts to serious might
With Amendment 2 looming over the November 2008 elections, gay rightsorganizations are mobilizing supporters and community members to become keyplayers in gay-friendly campaigns and the effort to defeat theconstitutional measure to ban same-sex marriage in Florida.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/5-15/news/localnews/4666.cfm

-School's gay ban ruled unconstitutional
Administrators ordered to allow students to express their support for LGBTrights
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Holmes County School Districtviolated students' First Amendment rights when a high school principalbanned students from wearing pro-gay symbols such as rainbow flags andslogans.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2008/5-15/news/localnews/4667.cfm


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Ft. Lauderdale
Doug White is selling his home THIS SUNDAY 5/18, for $189,500 or highest bidder
3BR/2BA Designer Home with Dining Room
Open House/Inspection THIS Saturday 5/17 & Sunday 5/18
Contact Doug White - 954-599-5095
Go to www.FTL360.com/1600

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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Teen pregnancies on rise in Palm Beach County
The Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County is to discuss today theresults of a new report on birth statistics.
The rate of births to mothers 15-19 increased in 2006 for the first timesince 1994 in Palm Beach County, according to the latest Birth OutcomesUpdate report. The update, part of the agency's ongoing State of the Childin Palm Beach County report, details birth rates, access to prenatal careand birth weights by age, race and county.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpbirths0516pnmay16,0,4737317.story

-About 2,300 in Broward County won't receive high school diploma
Few of Broward's high school seniors forced to retake the FCAT this yearpassed the reading and math sections, meaning almost 2,300 won't graduatewith a standard diploma.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbfcat0516sbmay16,0,4119898.story

-Florida rights activists laud California gay marriage ruling
Opponents say California decision helps drive for ban
Florida gay rights activists hailed the California Supreme Court decisionThursday allowing same-sex couples to wed as a victory that gives them hopeagainst a looming bid to write a gay marriage ban into Florida'sconstitution.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flfgay0516sbmay16,0,155545.story

-On-Line Poll: Should gay marriage be banned in Florida?
[as of 10:42am it's tied]
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0515gaymarriagepoll,0,5159,post.poll


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Florida, Michigan delegates cannot save Clinton
Sorry, Sen. Clinton. Michigan and Florida can't save your campaign.
Interviews with those considering how to handle the two states' banishedconvention delegates found little interest in the former first lady'sbest-case scenario.
http://www.miamiherald.com/692/story/535447.html

-DROUGHT: Water restrictions may be made permanent
As soon as water managers eased watering restrictions in April, the weatherturned dry. Lake Okeechobee is dropping again. The rules may have to becomepermanent.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/535157.html


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Palm Beach Post
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Klein and Hasting going to Israel
U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings and Ron Klein will join Speaker Nancy Pelosi aspart of a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel to celebrate thecountry's 60th anniversary.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/south/epaper/2008/05/15/0515israeldelegation.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=75


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Orlando's black gays, lesbians chart quest for acceptance
Black gays, lesbians work to overcome rejection
At an early age, Jay-Michael Jarrod knew that he was gay and that because hewas also black his life would be an odyssey of rejection.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-blackgay1608may16,0,2697560.story

-FCAT scores still bad on retake
FCAT scores for high school seniors who have to retake the test because theyfailed it in the past are never that good, and this year is no exception.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article508858.ece

-Farm Bill Passes With Perks Targeting Florida
Florida's sugar, fruit and vegetable producers and Tampa Bay's tropical fishindustry would benefit under a nearly $300 billion farm bill given finalpassage Thursday by the Senate and sent to the White House.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/16/na-farm-bill-passes-with-perks-targeting-florida/?news-politics

-State bars Allstate policy sales
Court ruling gives regulators new leverage
Allstate agents in Florida can't sell new auto policies this morning.
Renters' coverage and boat insurance are out, too.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/CD/20080515/CAPITOLNEWS/805150341/-1/capitolnews

-State stands firm on Allstate new-policy ban
Florida insurance regulators said Thursday they would not lift a ban onAllstate selling new policies in the state, still unconvinced the companyhas turned over all the documents the state wants.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/banking/article508664.ece

-Despite Economy, State Tourism Rises 3.4%
Rising gas prices and a slumping economy did not dissuade visitors fromtraveling to Florida during the first three months of 2008, when the state'stourism numbers rose 3.4 percent.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/16/bz-despite-economy-state-tourism-rises-34/?news-politics

-Endorsement of Obama may ease Fla. delegate dilemma
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton insists that counting Florida could still helpher net the party's presidential nomination, but that net has developed someholes.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article508854.ece

-Local & State: Crist seeking bigger role in GOP
With national Republicans fretting the possibility of a disastrous electionyear, Gov. Charlie Crist is inviting political insiders to two sessions nextmonth to discuss the political climate in Florida and the nation.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article508763.ece

-Obama plans Tampa rally
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans a rally Wednesday indowntown Tampa at the St Pete Times Forum for his first Florida campaigntrip in more than eight months.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article508843.ece

-Massive Everglades restoration project halted
A massive Everglades restoration project will be put on hold pending theoutcome of a lawsuit by environmentalists, a move that could end up costingthe state nearly $14 million just for the delays.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_EVERGLADES_RESERVOIR_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


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