FLORIDA DIGEST - January 28, 2009

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Space Coast gay business guild taking off
An alliance of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses is gaining popularity in Brevard County. The Space Coast Business Guild formed 3½ years ago so that gay and gay-friendly business owners could could network and strengthen economic ties. About 40 businesses are involved in the guild, whose goal is to "promote the vitality and productivity of the gay and lesbian business and professional community in Brevard County," according to its Web site.
Scroll down to find this article:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-GLAAD awards won't be presented in South Florida this year
GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, won't be celebrating its annual media awards in Miami or Fort Lauderdale this year. "Because of the challenging fundraising environment, our board decided not to have the South Florida event this year," GLAAD spokesman Richard Ferraro said. "We're definitely dismayed by the news." Scroll down to find this article:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/

-'Say You Love Satan' coming Feb. 13 to Rising Action Theater
A play about the date from hell: what if your perfect new boyfriend turned out to be SATAN? Late one rainy night in Baltimore, Andrew meets a handsome stranger named Jack. The two immediately hit it off and start dating, despite the fact that Andrew already has a super-duper boyfriend and that Jack has the Mark of the Beast -- you know, 666 -- burned into his forehead. "Are you a satanist?" Andrew asks Jack. "No," he replies, sheepishly. "But my father. he's the Devil." Intrigued-slash-slightly apprehensive (and against the urgings of his best gal-pal Bernadette), Andrew does his best to make a go of it with Jack, until Andrew slowly begins to realize, with mounting dread and horror -- and, always, an undefeatable sense of humor -- that Jack isn't the Devil's son at all. On the contrary, he's something far, far worse. TRULY a boyfriend of the damned! Scroll down to find this article:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/


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-Lambda Legal in Fort Lauderdale
Lambda Legal in south Florida is very excited to announce that Mona Pittenger, a former National Board Member who recently purchased a residence in Fort Lauderdale, has generously offered a $25,000 matching gift towards any new or increased contributions to our March 29th annual benefit at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. If you have not yet made a donation or if you would like to make an additional donation, this is an opportunity to have your donation matched by Mona up to $25,000. To be listed in our formal invitation, be sure to make your sponsorship level contribution prior to February 6th, 2009.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens - 900 North Birch Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL - March 29, 2009 - 5:00 - 7:30 pm
For sponsorship opportunities for Lambda Legal in Fort Lauderdale, please
visit our website or contact Rick Hill at 786-473-6126.


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Palm Beach Human Rights Council
www.pbchrc.org
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Calling all women in the Palm Beaches... Let's have a BLAST!
BLAST (Bi, Lesbian and Straight Together) Women of the Palm Beaches is a social networking group for women, ladies, kings, lesbians, bisexual gals, girly-girls, butches, femmes, transwomen, lesbian-feminist womyn, questioning, and gay-friendly straight feminists.
www.meetup.com/BLASTwpb


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UGLY BETTY STAR TO PERFORM AT BROWARD CENTER FOR VALENTINES DAY
Alec Mapa AKA Ugly Betty's "Suzuki St. Pierre" and Desperate Housewives "Vern" in a stand up performance one night only for charity Superstar comedian Alec Mapa, one of the stars of Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives, will bring his comedic one man stand up routine to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts for the first time in Fort Lauderdale and for one night only, on Friday, February 13th kicking off Valentines Day weekend. Alec will appear at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Amaturo Theater on Friday, February 13th at 8:30 pm. This one night only performance is a benefit for Broward House one of Broward Counties leading charity organizations, helping over 5,000 Broward County residents. Tickets can be purchased using the Broward Center's online ticket system by going to Http://www.BrowardCenter.org/BrowardHousefundraiser.


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Florida GLBT Democrats
Winter Conference Details Announced
Details and registration for the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus Winter
Conference, to be held February 20-22 in Ft Myers is now available!
Conference information and registration can be found on the web site of our host chapter, Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida.
http://swflglbtdems.org/


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Sunshine Cathedral: Light University Presents
FREE Art Show: Visual Exegesis - Monday, February 2
Sunshine Cathedral in collaboration with the David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland is pleased to present Visual Exegesis: Religious Images by African American Artists from the Jean and Robert E. Steele Art Collection. This small exhibition will be on display at the Sunshine Cathedral in the Dr. Robert Graham/Paul Fasana Chapel on Monday, February 2. The exhibition and reception will be from 5:00 - 7:00. The Steeles will make a presentation from 7:00 - 8:00 PM about Religion and Art, focusing on the art produced by African Americans. [...] Admission is FREE! If you plan to attend please send an email reply to me, Reverend Robert Griffin at Robert@sunshinecathedral.org to help us prepare for the reception. For more information you can also contact me at 954.462.2004 ext. 206.


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Dean Trantalis for Fort Lauderdale Mayor Campaign
Fundraiser for Dean in Poinsettia Heights - Wed. 1/28 @ 6pm
1782 NE 16th Street - Ft. Lauderdale
www.deanformayor.com


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Broward School Board mulls layoffs
State budget cuts could affect art and music classes
Kathy Bushouse
With a possible $140 million in state budget cuts looming, the Broward County School Board is weighing a number of options -- from eliminating jobs to shifting school schedules to reducing arts and music programs in schools.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sf-bn-0127schools,0,3216265.story

-State Farm says so long to Florida
State says it will fight to prevent the large insurer from dropping home policies Automobile, health and life insurance would not be affected
By Julie Patel
State Farm Florida said Tuesday it plans to leave the property insurance business in Florida, dumping more than a million policies over the next two years. Before the state's largest private homeowner insurer can drop 1.2 million policies covering homes, condominiums, apartments, boats and businesses, it needs approval from Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-fl1astatefarmheds012809sbjan28,0,5040675.story

-Republicans have new general counsel for Broward party
Steven Stoll is the new general counsel of the Broward Republican Party. He was picked by party Chairman Chip LaMarca after the previous general counsel, Levi Williams, decided not to return to his post. Stoll is the managing partner of Stoll & Orchard, a Fort Lauderdale law firm specializing in real estate, bankruptcy and civil litigation. Stoll has contributed money to Republican causes and, LaMarca said, has provided use of his office for party activities. His wife, Rebecca, was appointed to the North Broward Hospital District board by former Gov. Jeb Bush.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/01/republicans_have_new_general_c_1.html


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

-POLITICS: State Sen. Dan Gelber to run for U.S. Senate
State Sen. Dan Gelber launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate from his Miami Beach home.
By BETH REINHARD
The fledgling Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Florida could be mistaken for Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton, part deux.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/875450.html



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CongresswomanDebbie Wasserman Schultz
You are invited to join me at a Town Hall Meeting this Thursday evening in Miami Beach
This Thursday, at Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach, I'll be hosting a Town Hall Meeting focusing on the economy, the new Obama Administration, Israel, and other issues of concern to you. You are welcome to join me and share your thoughts on these pressing matters facing our nation. I will also discuss the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act which we will vote on tomorrow. This legislation will create and save 3 to 4 million jobs, rebuild America, improve the economy in South Florida, make us more globally competitive and energy independent, and transform our economy for long-term growth. It will also give 95 percent of American workers an immediate tax cut and invest quickly in the economy. My Town Hall Meeting is this Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Nautilus Middle School, 4301 N. Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140.


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

-Gov. Charlie Crist vetoes $365 million from state budget cuts
BY MARC CAPUTO
Gov. Charlie Crist restored about $365 million in budget cuts Tuesday, sparing a major environmental program, a teacher merit-pay plan and the state's tourism-marketing efforts.
http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/874733.html

-ECONOMY: South Florida Republicans resist Obama's stimulus plan
BY LESLEY CLARK
South Florida Republicans remain leery about President Obama's proposed economic stimulus, despite a personal plea from the new leader. While Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida's Republican-led Legislature see a massive economic recovery package as a way to rebuild the state's slumping economy, their peers on Capitol Hill are far more skeptical.
http://www.miamiherald.com/486/story/875449.html

-State and federal Republican legislators take opposite sides on stimulus
By Wes Allison and Adam C. Smith, Times Staff Writers
Many Florida Republicans in Congress are deriding the massive economic stimulus package coming before the House today as horribly bloated, woefully misdirected and unlikely to jump-start the economy.
http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/article971116.ece


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