FLORIDA DIGEST - October 03, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

You're invited
Arts NightOUT at the Art & Culture Center of Hollywood
Features artist Alex Heria
Friday, October 3, 2008 6-8:30pm
The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood will be hosting Arts NightOUT for Artsunited members and their friends this Friday [tonight}. This reception will feature local gay artist Alex Heria, whose exhibition " Alex Heria: Photographs 2000 -2008 " is on view in the Center's main galleries. The reception with Heria includes beer, wine, a special signature cocktail, and light hors d'oeuvres. The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood is located at 1650 Harrison Street in Hollywood, Florida. RSVP to Keith Clark at keith@artsunitedonline.org or call 954.568.1154 by Wed., Oct. 1st. The event is $10 with RSVP; $12 at door. For more information about upcoming Art NightOUT event and ArtsUnited programs go to www.artsunitedonline.org


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"Come Out" and hit the bars with the Dolphin Democrats! We are doing a final "hard drive push" to register any stragglers that we may have missed to vote in November. We are asking you to join us at the following locations:
Alibi and Bills - Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 9
New Moon - Friday @ 9
Steele - Sunday @ 9
Tea Cruise - Sunday @ 2
Come on out and join us in this historic registration drive.
For more details, call:
Chip at 954.701.2902 or Linda at 954.630.VOTE


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Come join me, Anthony Niedwiecki, for "good spirits, good times, laughter, and goodwill" at the 4th annual Oakland Park Oktoberfest Celebration! I will be there all day meeting residents, answering questions, and enjoying the spirit of the Oakland Park community at one of the city's biggest events of the year.
Oakland Park Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 4th, 2008
11:00 AM - 11:00PM
Jaco Pastorius Park
Dixie Highway, North & NE 38th Street
Oakland Park
(for more information click here)
http://www.anthony09.com/oktoberfestevent.html


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With an 85 percent turnout expected at Florida's polls Nov. 4, it is critical that we urge everyone to VOTE EARLY or ABSENTEE because the voting system will NOT be able to handle the turnout successfully. See Miami Herald article below.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/v-print/story/707020.html


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Foster Dad Fights Fla. Ban On Gay Adoption
Recent Ruling Could Help Foster Father's Case
A North Miami couple is the latest to challenge Florida's decades-old ban on adoption for same sex couples, by launching a court fight Wednesday in Miami. Frank Martin Gill and his partner have been foster parents to 4-year old and 8-year old half brothers since 2004. The state terminated the parental rights of the boys' birth mother which makes them eligible for permanent adoption. "I'm just trying to do what I believe is the best thing and in the best interest of my kids," Gill said. "I'm trying to give them a permanent home."
http://www.local10.com/news/17602098/detail.html?treets=mia&tid=2655619429813&tml=mia_9am&tmi=mia_9am_1_08000310022008&ts=H


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Historic Showdown in Hillsborough County
Just 3 years ago the Hillsborough County commission voted to ban any recognition of gay pride and incumbent Brian Blair, an arch conservative, was at the head of the homophobic pack.
This November we have a huge opportunity to Bring Pride Back in Hillsborough County.
Openly gay candidate Kevin Beckner won the Democratic Primary by a wide margin and now faces Blair in the general election.
Please help Kevin's historic campaign with a donation today.
http://www.kevinbeckner.com/


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Dean Trantalis Masquerade Fundraiser at Cinema Paradiso
There has been great response and a lot of excitement generated for The October 10th, Masquerade Fundraiser for Dean Trantalis! We have many great prizes to give away for the Best Masks. There will be 5 chances to win, so be creative! Please note, there will be a special performance scheduled promptly at 8:00pm , in the theatre! If you have not already RSVP 'd for this Event, please do so at (954) 294-7000.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
The Dean Trantalis Masquerade Fundraiser Committee.
P.S. - Please consider a donation of $25.00-$250.00.


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From Broward House
I know most of you received the mass invite to the "Fashion and Compassion" event that Macys, OUT Magazine and INC Clothing are holding as a benefit for Broward House next Thursday, October 9, but I personally wanted to send you and invitation in hopes that you can be with us at this fantastic event. Those who were there last year can tell you how packed and how much fun this event was. There will a live INC Male Clothing Runway Show, the event is hosted by Nikki Adams, DJ Herbie James will be spinning inside Macy's, there will be giveaways and special one night only INC discounts on this night. The space is very limited so if you are able to be with us, please click here to secure your tickets through Pay Pal's secured service (which are only $20 and 100% goes of that to Broward House). If for any reason you have a problem using the online system to order please call Carmine Martorilli (954-522-4749 x 1208) in my office and he will make sure you get on the list. Thanks everyone, I really hope to see you there and please feel free to send this out to anyone you would like
Terry DeCarlo
Public Relations, Marketing and Event Manager
Broward House


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You are Invited!
A meet and greet fundraiser for Justin Flippen
Candidate for Wilton Manors City Commission
Sunday, October 12th
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
George's Alibi
Manchester Room
2266 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Please consider a contribution between $25 and $500.


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Justin S. Flippen
Candidate for Wilton Manors City Commission
The campaign is in the final stretch as we look to November 4th and my email to you today is a request asking for your assistance. Your help walking with me door to door passing out campaign literature would mean a great deal. Please join me any Saturday or Sunday between now and Sunday, November 2nd walking around our beautiful Island City of Wilton Manors. There will be other volunteer opportunities to come, such as volunteering to promote my campaign at the poll on Election Day, November 4th, but the challenge before us now is to make sure that we talk to as many people face to face as possible. We have a strong presence in the community and people are aware of the campaign, but a personal interaction with voters can make a huge difference in guaranteeing their support.
Justin S. Flippen
Candidate for Wilton Manors City Commission
www.justinflippen.com


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St. Petersburg Times

-Battle Heats Up Over Florida's Marriage Amendment
On the surface, Amendment 2 reads like a ban on gay marriage. But in the final weeks before the election, people on both sides of the debate are traveling the state, arguing that the effects of the amendment could reach far beyond gay people who seek to marry.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/03/me-amendment-2-fight-heats-up/news-metro/



~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Florida GOP meets in secret as Obama passes McCain in polls
Florida Republican leaders hastily convened a top secret meeting this week to grapple with Sen. John McCain's sagging performance in this must-win state. Their fears were confirmed Wednesday when four new polls showed Sen. Barack Obama leading, a reversal from just a few weeks ago when McCain was opening
up an advantage.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article835288.ece

-Florida's dilemma: Can offshore drilling and tourism coexist?
As tourism industry leaders from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle met Thursday for a summit on offshore drilling, David Mattiford cleaned his fishing charter boat on the Destin Docks nearby and explained why he would welcome the oil companies. Oil platforms could provide perfect cover for attracting schools of fish, oil spills are easily contained with today's technology and - Mattiford argued - charter boat operators cannot keep paying $1,200 each time they fill their boats with gas.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2008-10-02-florida-drilling_N.htm?csp=34

-DEATH PENALTY: Execution set for killer in 1983 case
Gov. Charlie Crist has signed the death warrant for Wayne Tompkins, who has twice avoided execution for the 1983 slaying of a Tampa teenager. His is scheduled to die Oct. 28. An execution date was set Thursday -- for the third time in two decades -- for a man who murdered a Tampa teenager more than 25 years ago.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/711370.html

-Fla. teacher suspended for Obama comment
A Florida middle school teacher has been suspended after students said he used a racial epithet directed at presidential candidate Barack Obama. Seventh-grade social studies teacher Greg Howard reportedly wrote the word CHANGE as an acronym on the board and wrote an expletive with the letter 'N.'
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_OBAMA_RACIST_COMMENT_FLOL-?SITE=FLROC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

-ELECTIONS: Deadline to register to vote is Monday
To cast an Election Day ballot, the law requires new voters to register by the 'closing date,' traditionally the 29th day before an election -- which this year is Oct. 6.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/711357.html

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