FLORIDA DIGEST - July 31, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

Stonewall Announces Exciting New Collaboration with ArtsUnited andFort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Stonewall Library & Archives has joined forces with ArtsUnited and FortLauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) for a new monthly featurefilm series, F4U (Films for Us). These first-run LGBT films and will beshown at Cinema Paradiso, at 8:00 pm on the second Wednesday of every month.Cinema Paradiso is located in Fort Lauderdale at 503 SE 6 Street, a blockeast of Broward County Courthouse on south bank of New River. This month'sselection, to be shown on Wednesday, August 13, is the award-winning ButchJamie, a quirky, gender-bending comedy about an out-of-work lesbian actorwilling to try almost anything for a role. Dressing up as "Femme Jamie" forauditions, struggling actress Jamie Klein (writer/director Michelle Ehlen)continually faces rejection as she fails to be a typical leading lady untilshe takes a different approach, auditioning as herself - aka "Butch Jamie."This ends up landing her a part as a man, and despite the offense that shetakes in being offered a male role, she accepts. General admission: $9;Senior and students: $7.00; Members of Stonewall, ArtsUnited or FLIFF: $5.00


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From Transgender Equality
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-Help Florida Red and Blue!
Florida Red and Blue has a number of upcoming events at which it could usevolunteers that have the kind of wonderful training we all received at CampEquality. Please volunteer and join us @ the GLCC (1717 N. Andrews Ave) thisThursday (7/31) from 6-8pm. Start to "say no to 2" by saying yes to onevolunteer shift. Florida Red and Blue holds weekly phone banks on Thursdayevening from 6-8pm, and Saturday afternoon from 12-2pm Although phone banksare my primary focus right now, there will be upcoming community meetingsat which we could use speakers, or some presence signing up supporters (justsomething for you all to be thinking about). If you are interested in thesecommunity meetings, please contact me for a schedule. Florida Red and Blueis committed to educating voters on the hurtful and harmful impact thatballot initiative "Amendment 2" will have on the rights of millions ofFlorida residents in non-traditional families. If you are interested involunteering you can simply respond to this e-mail or call 954-701-2902. Weare also looking for someone to help with volunteer recruitment. If you areinterested, please let me know. ave a wonderful end of week and I lookforward to hearing from some volunteers!
Sincerely,
Chip Clapp, Leadership Team
HRC Camp Equality


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WCJB
http://www.wjcb.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Time's up for petitioners fighting Gainesville's transgender ordinance.
Gainesville, FL "Keep men out of women's restrooms."
That's the message petitioners gave when collecting signatures for a charteramendment. But, their opponents say it's a much bigger issue than that. Theysay the proposed amendment would really take away local officials' power tomake their own anti-discrimination laws. "When something is thiscontroversial, the people ought to decide," said Jim Gilbert. Jim Gilbertsays he doesn't think city officials should be able to make their own ruleswhen it comes to anti-discrimination laws. That's why he's helped spearheada campaign to get a charter amendment on the November ballot. "What we wantto see is the code of ordinances conform to the state of Florida which iswhere civil rights categories at a state level should be dealt with," saidGilbert.
http://www.wcjb.com/index.php?cat_id=4006&url_news4006=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wcjb.com%2Fmodules%2FNews%2FdisplayNews.php%3Fid%3D2748&formFocus=news4006
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiRdXpdZOE8


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

-Judge rules gay club can meet at Okeechobee high school
In a move the American Civil Liberties Union is calling "groundbreaking," afederal judge has ruled in favor of students who claimed the school boarddiscriminated against them by opposing their gay tolerance club.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/treasurecoast/sfl-730gayclubruling,0,1531988.story


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Former Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne agrees to give up law license forfive years
Former Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne, in federal prison for apublic-corruptionconviction, has agreed to a five-year loss of his lawlicense, according toJenne's attorney David Bogenschutz. Bogenschutzoriginally had sought athree-year suspension and the Florida Bar soughtpermanent disbarment.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbjenne0730sbjul30,0,354390.story

-Swingers bring their convention to Hollywood
Starting today, the city that once declared war on a downtown swingers cluband tried to ban 2 Live Crew's smutty rapping is playing host to Swingfest2008, billed as the "world's largest swingers party" and adult trade show.The four-day-and-three-wild-nights event takes over the entire WestinDiplomat Resort & Spa, rife with themed parties, hundreds of exhibitors, ashuttle service to a nude beach and the Fore Play golf tournament. Pornstars, including former California gubernatorial candidate Mary Carey, willbe in town, mingling with the expected 10,000 or so convention delegates.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbswingers0731sbjul31,0,3123079.story

-Using false address for school could land you in jail in Broward County
School Board votes Tuesday on new get-tough policy
Use a fake address to put your child into another school, and you could landbehind bars. With budgets tighter and many suburban schools crowded tocapacity, Broward County School District officials hope the threat of prisontime will dissuade parents from using false addresses to enroll theirchildren at schools outside their neighborhood.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbboundary0731sbjul31,0,7986532.story

-U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler turns the tax tables on campaign opponents
By Brittany Wallman
Edward Lynch, the Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. RobertWexler, said a $1.37 million federal tax lien against him is the result of a"routine" audit and helped inspire him to run for Congress. Thecongressional candidate from Royal Palm Beach drew national attention toWexler's out-of-state residence this month, and raised questions aboutWexler's property tax benefits in Maryland - as has another of Wexler'sopponents, former Broward County Mayor Ben Graber. The six-term congressmanhas turned the spotlight onto his challengers, after enduring a week ofblistering criticism for not living in South Florida. "It is amazing thatthese two have the audacity to raise taxes as in issue," Wexler chief ofstaff Eric Johnson said .
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpliens0731pnjul31,0,4752242.story

-Bob Butterworth's resignation from Florida Department of Children &Families a huge loss
The impact from Bob Butterworth's resignation from the Florida Department ofChildren & Families can't be overstated: It's simply a big loss for thestate - period. In a short period of time, the former attorney generalbrought leadership to a bureaucracy that long ago earned a reputation foroutright dysfunction. That assessment may strike some as overly harsh towardDCF, but Butterworth inherited an agency mired in all kinds of controversyand doubt. Today, no other agency in the alphabet soup of state government -be it the AHCA, APD, DOT, FDLE or the SBA - can match Butterworth's stringof administrative accomplishments. For starters, Butterworth moved quicklyto restore office morale, a major concern for an agency employing 1,300individuals and serving more than 2 million clients. He often met, andactually listened to, DCF caseworkers and frontline staff, frequently makinghimself or his top aides accessible to address any problems that hinderedthe department's mission.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editdlbutterworthpnjul30,0,1019220.story


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

-Budget passes; raises on hold
At an emotional public hearing attended by hundreds of community members,the Miami-Dade School Board gave its first thumbs-up to the district's $5.5billion budget.
http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/624084.html

-Vote to keep religion separate
Nancy Ratzan raises important questions and concerns about faith-basedfunding in a prospective McCain or Obama administration (Obama and McCainare both wrong, July 29, Other Views). But Floridians who cherish religiousliberty should be all the more concerned by the unprecedented faith-basedfunding required under Florida Ballot Proposal 7. The proposal would be thefirst constitutionally mandated faith-based initiative in our state andnation. It would require that churches, synagogues and other houses ofworship be eligible for virtually all grants and contracts, including socialservices, with the state. There would be no restrictions on these funds.This means that Florida taxpayers -- regardless of religion -- would becompelled to fund houses of worship, religious proselytizing and activityand religious discrimination in hiring for taxpayer-funded jobs. Thisinitiative is unwise and unnecessary. Under current law, Floridasuccessfully has partnered with the Jewish Federation, Catholic Charitiesand other religiously affiliated organizations to provide essential socialservices. But these organizations' separate financial structures ensure thattaxpayer dollars do not fund religious indoctrination or discrimination.BothFlorida and the next president should follow this model. ANDREW L.ROSENKRANZ, Florida regional director, Anti-Defamation League, Boca Raton
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/letters/story/624102.html

-BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Police union backs Lamberti; critics raiseethics issues
Broward's police union endorsed Sheriff Al Lamberti for election a weekafter approving a contract with him, leading some to call it a conflict ofinterest. Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti, who is running to keep one of thecounty's law enforcement jobs, got the endorsement on Wednesday of thepowerful police union.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/623999.html


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

-Water managers to study water restrictions' economic impact
Water managers considering permanent year-round water restrictions willconduct a study of their impact on utilities, nurseries and other businessesthat might lose, or are already losing, revenue because of lower water use.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/local_news/epaper/2008/07/30/0730restrict.html


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From Transgender Equality
Contact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article

-Letter to Megan Rolland of the Gainesville Sun
I think that it is so sad that the city, which contains the leading stateuniversity, is held hostage by a group of fanatical religious homophobiczealots. his is an embarrassment to the City of Gainesville and potrays itas a hick town. The amount of misinformation and scare tactics that havebeen leveled against the Transgender Community are outrageous. In all of theStates, cities, towns, counties, and numerous businesses (including over 30%of Fortune 500 businesses) that include Gender Identity protections, thereis not a single incident that I know of where a Trangender person has beenarrested as being a sexual predator or doing anything inappropriate in apublic restroom. Not one! This argument is simply "much ado about nothing".Besides, there are already laws on the books that protect people againstinappropriate sexual conduct. It is a scare tactic that obviously createspublic hysteria and is used to promote an anti gay/ transgender agenda, pureand simple. The city of Oakland Park addressed this irrational bathroom fearby making sure all of the bathroom stalls had functioning locks. That is aminimal expense and should insure everyone can use the restroom in privacy.There is no huge expense to businesses that is being charged. Ifantidiscrimination laws do not include sexual orientation or gender identityand expression, it allows anybody to fire someone just because they are gayor lesbian. You can be denied entrance to a restaurant or theater if youdon't appear masculine or feminine enough. You can be denied housing. Isthis America? It sounds like Nazi Germany. Let's hope the citizens ofGainesville do not cave in to this legalized bigotry and don't makeGainesville the laughing stock of thecountry by stepping back in time 40years.
Sincerely,
Nicole Hatch


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

-Democratic Efforts, Celebrity and Grassroots, Paying Off In Florida
There appears to be several Democratic campaigns going on in Florida: onethat's building steam to win a majority of Congressional seats; one that'san enormous vote-getting and fund-raising effort for Sen. Barack Obama thatfeatures show business luminaries such as Matt Damon, Ben Afflek andJennifer Garner; and one -- more apparent in party circles -- to build localcampaign organizations up and down the peninsula. Campaign battlegroundFlorida is home to 27 highly prized electoral votes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ron-levitt/fla-celebrity-party-and-g_b_115883.html

-Obama to address economy at St. Petersburg appearance
Sen. Barack Obama will hold a town hall-style meeting on the economy Fridayat Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article749451.ece

-Lawmakers blast sugar deal
Gov. Charlie Crist's top emissaries arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday tobrief Florida's congressional delegation on his massive buyout of U.S.Sugar's operations in the Everglades.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article749548.ece

-Is state's insurance deal win-win for a billionaire?
Some call agreement with Warren Buffett lose-lose for Florida
As many Floridians face job losses, foreclosures and exorbitant gas pricesin a tumbling economy, Florida leaders this week struck a lucrative dealwith the richest man in America.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080731/ARTICLE/807310386/1547/OPINION01&title=Is_state_s_insurance_deal_win_win_for_a_billionaire__

-Black Republican leader urges his party members to directly tackle race
Clarence V. McKee says Republicans need to fight back against charges ofracial insensitivity. McKee, president of the eponymous communications firmin Coral Springs, penned a provocative online essay on the subject. McKeehas clear political leanings. He is communications chairman of the BrowardRepublican Party and a member of the African-American Advisory Council ofthe Republican Party of Florida.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2008/07/black_republican_leader_urges.html

-Top McCain Surrogate Refuses To Endorse McCain Attack On Obama
This is pretty great. John McCain's claim that Barack Obama would ratherlose the war than lose the presidential race is so repugnant that one of hismost prominent surrogates -- Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who's alsotalked about as a potential Veep -- refused to endorse it.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/top_mccain_surrogate_refuses_t.php

-EDITORIAL: We think: Rubio's new gig at FIU undermines the cause ofeducation
House Speaker Marco Rubio and Florida International University deserve eachother for their preposterous deal making him a "visitingdistinguished-service professor." FIU's students and faculty -- indeed, allFlorida residents -- deserve far better.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed31108jul31,0,2107390.story

-DCF to release total adoption numbers
The Department of Children & Families will release the final number ofadoptions achieved in Florida this year. Secretary Bob Butterworth isexpected to make the announcement in Tallahassee Thursday morning along withFlorida's Chief Child Advocate Jim Kallinger.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/624217.html

-Study: Sugar buyout to cost $1.6 billion revenue, 10,700 jobs
Florida's buyout of U.S. Sugar Corp. may bring more water to the Everglades,but it will be a huge drain on the state's economy.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/jul/30/study-sugar-buyout-cost-16-billion-revenue-10700-j/

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