FLORIDA DIGEST - October 08, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Democratic group backs gay-marriage ban in Florida Constitution
A group of Fort Lauderdale Democrats rallied behind an amendment to the state Constitution that would make it harder for a judge to overturn Florida's same-sex marriage ban. A ballot measure to ban gay marriage has already won the support of many religious leaders and Republican politicians. On Tuesday, it received another endorsement -- this time from a group of Democrats. In a press conference headlined by Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, the community leaders -- including pastors and civic activists -- said marriage should be defined as the union between a man and a woman. Amendment 2, if passed by voters on Election Day, would do just that by changing the Florida Constitution to say, ``No other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.'' Gay marriage is already illegal in Florida, but the proposal -- if approved by 60 percent of voters -- would make it difficult for a judge to overturn.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/717316.html


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News from Sunshine Cathedral - Ft. Lauderdale
www.sunshinecathedral.org

-On October 18th, The Metaphysical Chapel of South Florida will be showing the film "The Moses Code" at Sunshine Cathedral in the Robert Graham & Paul Fasana Chapel at 7 PM. Tix are $10 each and can be purchased at www.MetaphysicalChapel.com or at the door.

-On October 19th at 6 PM we will be enjoying our annual Diamond Ball in the Safari Room at Hugh's Catering in Oakland Park. Reservations are $125 and can be secured at church or on the website (www.sunshinecathedral.org). At this year's Diamond Ball we will be honoring Grace Tedder, Joel Slotnick, Gregory Kurdian, Sterling Bank, and Jack Jones. We will also give a portion of the proceeds from the 50/50 drawing to Jamaican AIDS Services (JAS). This event will honor some of our key volunteers, bring in revenue for our church, support our friends in Jamaica, and bring our church family together for an evening of fun. Be sure to reserve your place at the Diamond Ball this week.

-On November 8th, we will be featuring our new Rodgers Trillium Masterpiece Organ and Ruffatti pipes with a special concert by world renown organist Frederick Swann. The concert will be at the Sunshine Cathedral in the Walt Lawrence & Stephen Lewis Center for Worship and the Arts at 7 PM. VIP tickets are available for $100. VIP ticket holders will get reserved seating for the concert, valet parking, and a champagne reception following the concert. General admission tickets are also available for only $25. Proceeds support both the Sunshine Community Foundation and the Sunshine Cathedral.


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Join ArtsUnited, Stonewall Library & Archives, the GLCC, and the FortLauderdale International Film Festival, this Wednesday, October 8, for the Florida Premiere Documentary of SqueezeBox! and a Kick-Off Party for FLIFF's GLBT Film Series. The fun starts at 6pm with food, friends, and cash bar, and the film starts at 7pm, both at Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6th Street, downtown Fort Lauderdale. The party is free and the Film is $5; part of ArtsUnited's Films 4 Us program. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at www.fliff.com.


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Palm Beach Human Rights Council
www.pbchrc.org

-The Lake Worth City Commission unanimously passed a resolution this evening strongly opposing Amendment 2, the so-called "Florida Marriage Protection Amendment." The proposed amendment to the Florida constitution will appear on the November 4 ballot. Concerned that Amendment 2 might remove safeguards and eliminate benefits for families based on domestic partnerships, Lake Worth City Commissioner Dave Vespo introduced the resolution at the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. "The leaders of Lake Worth clearly understand what may be at stake if Amendment 2 is not defeated," said Council President Rand Hoch. "The city commissioners know that to safeguard Florida's families, voters must vote against Amendment 2."

-The mayor and city commission of West Palm Beach unanimously voted this afternoon to oppose Amendment 2, the so-called "Florida Marriage Protection Amendment." If Amendment 2 is adopted by the voters on November 4, the Florida Constitution would be amended to provide that, "Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized." "What is meant by the 'substantial equivalent' of marriage?" asked Commissioner Jeri Muoio, who introduced the resolution at the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, "Florida already has four state laws defining marriage. This amendment is designed to go beyond marriage."

-The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council has endorsed the following candidates.
www.pbchrc.org


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Influx of Section 8 residents upsets some unit owners at Century Village in Pembroke Pines
Perhaps there is a bright spot in the real estate collapse: "It's made more units available for low-income people to rent," said Kevin Cregan, of the Broward County Housing Authority. But the idea that Century Village is home to folks who get federal Section 8 rent subsidies has upset some unit owners. "Section 8 residents shouldn't live here," said retiree Anne Corman, adding she fears they would bring more crime. Candace Tapscott, a director with the federal Housing and Urban Development agency in Miami, met with hundreds of Century Village owners this week to allay their fears. The Section 8 folks are screened, and "they look just like everybody else," she said.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbcentury1008sboct08,0,2880467.story

-Let's hope governor's slight backpedaling on Alley lease plan is promising sign
Gov. Charlie Crist gave arm's length support to leasing Alligator Alley two weeks ago. The governor should go another step forward and oppose the controversial proposal. The governor was the featured guest at a Sun Sentinel event hosted by the Dueling Columnists. In response to a question about the plan to lease part of Interstate 75, the governor clarified that he supported "looking into" the proposal, as opposed to outright backing a lease. A small distinction, perhaps, but the state's motorists and businesses should hope it is a sign that the governor is hearing the growing chorus of opposition to the idea. If so, Florida could be on the right track, finally, on this issue. The lease sounds good on paper, but it's fraught with too many long-term pitfalls.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editafhighwaypnoct07,0,4394846.story

-Charts: How Floridians would vote in the election
(Orlando Sentinel Mason-Dixon poll)
The key to Florida remains the Tampa Bay region, where Obama currently holds a 48%-44% advantage. The other regions of the state fall into their generally predictable patterns, with Obama holding a wide 61%-33% lead in Southeast Florida and McCain running ahead in North Florida (58%-37%), Central Florida (51%-43%) and Southwest Florida (55%-40%). Obama runs stronger among Democrats, women, those under 50, blacks and those who have never served in the military, while McCain is stronger with men, Republicans, those over 50, whites and military veterans. Obama has a 50%-41% lead among independent voters, while McCain has a 49%-44% among Hispanic/Cuban voters. Interestingly, despite the fact that he trails, McCain has a higher favorable rating with Florida voters than Obama (47%-46%), and Obama?s negatives have increased slightly over the past two weeks.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/family/orl-mason-dixon-poll-charts,0,2939280.photogallery

-Notorious German attorney goes on trial for Holocaust denial
A founder member of a left-wing terrorist group turned neo-Nazi went on trial in Germany Wednesday accused of publishing documents on the Internet denying the Holocaust. Horst Mahler, a founding member of the Red Army Faction in 1970, is accused of regularly posting documents online between 2001 and 2004. Denial of the Nazi Holocaust is a crime in Germany. Mahler has been charged with incitement and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-eu-germany-holocaust-denial,0,4927254.story


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

-Many Broward school district workers sign off on pay raises
Broward teachers continue to negotiate their contract while other school employees have agreed on theirs.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/717317.html

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