FLORIDA DIGEST - January 07, 2009

**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.


~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

Steve Rothaus
www.MiamiHerald.com/gay
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Gays to protest Defense of Marriage Act in Miami Beach on Saturday
Miami Beach joins growing LGBTQ nationwide movement and lights up the "Old" City Hall Building in BLUE to encourage Obama to repeal DOMA
When: Saturday January 10th, 5:00-7:00 PM EST. Where: Start at Lummus Park on 12th and Ocean in Miami Beach, and rally afterwards at Old City Hall on Washington and 12th. Who: Join the Impact Miami Dade with 300 lgbtq individuals and straight allies.
http://pd.miami.com/sp?aff=1100&keywords=gay&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

-Comedian Alex Mapa set for Broward House AIDS benefit on Feb. 13
Comedian Alex Mapa will perform Friday, Feb. 13, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. His performance is a benefit for Broward House, the county's oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-Group: Lobby Congress to pass ENDA
From Michael Rajner of Broward:
In just a few hours, Members of Congress will raise their right hand and swear to uphold the Constitution as they begin the new legislative session.
Let's make sure the first thing they hear about is the importance of an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protects all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Out & Equal, along with the United ENDA coalition, is bringing forth this call to action. In DC, make their phone ring! Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and have them connect you to your Representative (based on your zip code). Tell them: "I am a constituent and I would like you to please tell Representative _______ that I strongly support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would ban discrimination against all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people." Then, call back and leave messages with your two Senators too!
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/


=
Stonewall Library & Archives
http://www.stonewall-library.org/

LITERARY ICON EDMUND WHITE TO APPEAR ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 17
On Saturday, January 17, 2008, at 2:00 pm, at the ArtServe auditorium, 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Stonewall will host a lecture by literary icon Edmund White. Novelist, playwright, courageous memoirist, short story writer and definitive biographer of writers Rimbaud, Genet and Proust, White is one of the preeminent writers of post-Stonewall gay literature. White's best-known work is A Boy's Own Story, the first volume of an autobiographical-fiction series that continued with The Beautiful Room Is Empty and The Farewell Symphony, describing stages in the life of a gay man from boyhood to middle age. Several characters in these latter two novels are recognizably based on well-known individuals from White's New York-centered literary and artistic milieu, many of whom were fellow members of the VioletQuill, a gay writer's group that met briefly from 1980-1981 and included, among others, Andrew Holleran, Felice Picano, and Robert Ferro.
Stonewall is located at 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Our mission is to collect, preserve, organize for use and display materials related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender culture and history; support related research and sponsor cultural and educational programs.
Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 PM
ArtServe Auditorium
1350 East Sunrise Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Free and open to the public
http://www.stonewall-library.org/


=
Local Groups Across Florida Come Together to Form
Organizations United Together, Inc. (OUT), a Statewide Federation of LGBT and Allied Organizations
New federation of local organizations aims to improve communication and cooperation among existing local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied organizations across the state, and to assist community activists seeking to form new local organizations where none presently exist.
(Tampa, Florida) Leaders of several local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied organizations announced the creation of a statewide federation of organizations: Organizations United Together, Inc. ("OUT").
OUT Spokesperson Karen Doering explained that, "OUT's mission is to connect and empower local organizations to share resources, skills and information, forging statewide strength in order to achieve equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Floridians." Several local organizations with successful track records have already joined the new federation, including Sarasota Equality Project, SAVE Dade and the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. The leaders of Florida's local LGBT organizations will be invited to attend OUT's next meeting in Orlando on January 24, 2009. "Local organizations that join the federation will retain their own autonomy and self-governance, and will have the opportunity to cooperate on statewide projects which interest them," said C.J. Ortuno, Executive Director of SAVE Dade. "For several years, local LGBT organizations have been working together informally on common issues such as human rights ordinances and domestic partner benefits." OUT will provide a network to continue this work and to unite on important statewide projects, such as passing a statewide anti-discrimination law, repealing the ban on gay adoption, and defeating the discriminatory charter amendment to be considered by Gainesville's voters on March 24th," Ortuna added. "OUT will work hand-in-hand with national and state organizations such as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, HRC, Equality Florida and others," said Michael Shelton, President of Sarasota Equality Project. Cathy James, board member of Securing Our Children's Rights (SOCR), a Tampa-based organization dedicated to repealing Florida's ban on gay adoption, added, "There has never been a more critical time for local groups to work together." "As Tip O'Neil used to say, 'All politics is local,'" said Rand Hoch, President of Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. "After the passage of Amendment 2, the leaders of several local LGBT organizations around the state acknowledged the need for better communication and cooperation. Fostering strong local organizations will ultimately help us achieve success on statewide issues." Leaders of LGBT organizations is interested in attending the meeting on January 24 should contact Karen Doering at (727) 642-6580 or kdoering@rapidsys.com.
http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001Q2Adiqq9HW_atYxvkN9391iBVpmIJTFGyq9N9qTwDzSxs1o7pqHTdwvHtQvDsKqgz-ilvSzbCbLJ6Rch36Ikiul32_n7NeWgJZYBk0RwhQp59d0EN2dLYg%3D%3D


=
Steve Glassman for Ft. Lauderdale City Commission Campaign
Steve's Day of Filing on January 2nd!
Steve Glassman was the first to qualify, the first to file for Fort Lauderdale District 2 Commissioner, and through his actions, put the needs of the district first. From combating crime to fighting for economic developement, Steve has proven that he can bring the entire district together. Steve's abiding promise is that he will never give up on his vision to improve our lives in every possible way. When it comes to our neighborhoods, our businesses, and our beautiful beach, everyone will have a voice. Please help Steve reach his goal so that when he is elected on February 10th, everyone will have a seat at the table.
http://voteglassman.com/index.html


=

~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Jeb Bush Says He Won't Run For Open Senate Seat in 2010
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush announced Tuesday that he would not run for the Senate in 2010, an early setback for Republican recruiters seeking to mount a comeback in the chamber.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010602869.html?hpid=moreheadlines


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

-Florida governor seeks opinion on whether judge can serve
By Dianna Cahn
If Gov. Charlie Crist had sent William Abramson his commission, the attorney would have become a Palm Beach County circuit judge Tuesday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpletter0107pnjan07,0,4409623.story

-Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti pledges people before politics as he takes the oath of office
Al Lamberti takes oath, vows to be professional, nonpartisan
By John Holland and Sallie James
He became the new sheriff only because the old sheriff was a crook. He kept the job by convincing thousands of Democratic voters that party politics have nothing to do with protecting the public.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flblamberti0107sbjan07,0,4723497.story

-Coral Springs' J.P. Taravella High School band trip to inaugural parade gains financial support
By Kathy Bushouse
South Florida is rallying to send the J.P. Taravella High School marching band to Washington, D.C., to play in president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration parade.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/schools/sfl-flbtaravella0107sbjan07,0,7057536.story


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

-Without Jeb Bush, Senate race in Florida is wide open
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said he won't run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez.
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/840747.html

-Schools, social services feel impact of cuts
As budget cuts move forward in the Legislature, the pinch is being felt in classrooms, nursing homes and even identity-theft investigations.
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/840728.html


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

-Judge Wennet's replacement, Abramson, to start today despite questions
By JANE MUSGRAVE
Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday will ask the Florida Supreme Court whether suspended attorney William Abramson can become Palm Beach County's newest circuit court judge. The move will set up a legal showdown between the governor and the 41-year-old who was to take office Tuesday.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2009/01/05/0105abramson.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76


=

[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####