FLORIDA DIGEST - March 12, 2009

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

Fort Lauderdale Gay Mens Chorus

-Songs of My Family
BY POPULAR DEMAND, WE'VE ADDED A SECOND PERFORMANCE!
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009
Sunshine Cathedral - 1480 SW 9th Ave. - Ft. Lauderdale
http://www.fortlauderdalegaymenschorus.org/index.html


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Stonewall Library and Archives - Ft. Lauderdale

-Psychotherapist Dr. Ann Mody Lewis to speak about her just released book Me, Again -
Saturday, March 28 - 2:00 PM
On Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 2:00 pm, Stonewall will host a lecture by psychotherapist and writer Dr. Ann Mody Lewis. Dr. Lewis will be speaking about her new book Me, Again: The Untold Story of Every Woman's Life. Dr. Lewis insightful book offers a fresh look at the role gender plays in the lives of women. Her work leads women on a journey to inner peace and self-liberation. [...] For further information, please call 954-763-8565. Stonewall Library & Archives is located at 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL.


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

2009 INTERNATIONAL CHILD AND YOUTH CARE CONFERENCE
Presented by Nova Southeastern University Fischler School - The Association for Child & Youth and Care Practices, Inc. - Council of Canadian Child & Youth Care Associations
WHAT: 120 workshops delivered by 160 presenters from all over the world
WHERE: Broward Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: May 26 to May 29 of 2009
www.icycc2009.com


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

-Top 5 clubs and pubs in Fort Lauderdale
Forum Publishing Group
5. Sea Monster, 2 S. New River Dive W., 954-767-6200: Attention all gay and lesbian club enthusiasts: The cavernous Sea Monster nightclub is once again hugging the south bank of the New River in Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here.. Shuttered for four years, the renovated club retains much of its old charm. The club still consists of four rooms: a main room with pool tables and a well-populated bar; a large dance-floor area; a cozy, red-lit bar in the back; and an enclosed garden patio.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flesbtopfive0312esbmar12,0,6657333.story


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Steve Rothaus
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-'Unfriendly Fire' author Nathaniel Frank to speak Wednesday at Books and Books on Lincoln Road
From Jon Schwenzer, South Florida chapter president of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association:
One of our members, Nathaniel Frank, will read from his new book,
"UNFRIENDLY FIRE"-How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military & Weakens America
http://www.unfriendlyfire.org
Wednesday, March 18, 7:00pm
Books and Books
927 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 305.532.3222

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

-Lawmaker seeks to legalize adoption by gays in Florida
Florida's gay-adoption ban will now face two challenges: one in a Miami appeals court, the other in the state Legislature.
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER
As gay-rights advocates and religious groups queue up in an effort to influence the outcome of a Miami appeals court case that will help decide whether gay people can adopt children in Florida, a state lawmaker has quietly introduced two bills that could render the dispute moot.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/945660.html

-Army fired 11 soldiers in Jan. as openly gay
By ANNE FLAHERTY
The Army fired 11 soldiers in January for violating the military's policy that gay service members must keep their sexuality hidden, according to a Virginia congressman.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/946412.html


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South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Presbytery votes to overturn gay minister ban
Similar amendments considered in 1996
A majority of Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation leaders in central and eastern Kentucky have voted to overturn a national ban on gay ministers.
http://www.floridablade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24470


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

-Florida legislators defend earmarks as Obama signs bill chock-full of them
By Wes Allison, Times Staff Writer
When it comes to the age-old practice of Congress sending millions of dollars back home, not even President Obama is likely to bring much change. As the president signed a massive government spending bill that earmarks billions of dollars for members' hometown projects, Obama urged Congress to increase the transparency of the earmark process and warned that tough budget times ahead may curtail future largess.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article983304.ece

-Voting Rights Elude Some Florida Ex-Felons, Study Says
By GARY FINEOUT
Florida's procedures for restoring voting rights to convicted felons are so cumbersome, bureaucratic and confusing that some ex-convicts are being denied their rights, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/us/12inmates.html?partner=MOREOVERNEWS&ei=5040

-Democrat named to Florida Supreme Court
BY DAVID DECAMP
Gov. Crist appointed Judge James E.C. Perry to the Florida Supreme Court -- the fourth black justice ever appointed. Gov. Charlie Crist made a Central Florida circuit judge the Florida Supreme Court's fourth-ever black justice on Wednesday, disappointing conservatives seeking to tilt the court more to the right.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/945659.html

-Why Rush Limbaugh Is Good for the Republicans
By Ramesh Ponnuru
Obama aides Rahm Emanuel and Robert Gibbs knew what they were doing when they declared Rush Limbaugh the leader of the Republican opposition. They were putting Republican politicians in a trap. Repudiating Limbaugh would mean alienating millions of conservatives and declaring Limbaugh's plainspoken conservatism - which many of those politicians share - outside the lines of the national debate. But neither could Republicans allow the insinuation that they take orders from a radio host stand. If voters got that impression, they would look weak. Worse, the polls show more people dislike Limbaugh than like him.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1884289,00.html

-Florida: Ten hot congressional races next year
By Hastings Wyman
Democrats gained two congressional seats in the Sunshine State last year and came close in several more districts. Republicans see the Democratic freshmen as especially vulnerable in 2010. Moreover, there are several districts where the incumbents are stepping down -- or may step down -- to seek statewide office, creating much sought-after open seats. And at least one incumbent is facing a contested primary.
http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_39_799.aspx

-Judge warns of cost to imprison mentally ill as report pans Fla.
By CHARLES ELMORE
Florida will have to spend an estimated $3.6 billion to build new prisons if the number of people with mental illness behind bars keeps growing as fast as it has, a South Florida judge said Wednesday. "It's madness," said Steve Leifman, a Miami-Dade County judge who serves as special adviser on criminal justice and mental health to the Florida Supreme Court.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/03/11/0311mentalhealthgrade.html

-Federal spending bill includes funds for 7 Everglades projects
By PAUL QUINLAN
Several long-awaited Everglades restoration projects got a cash infusion from the $410 billion spending bill President Obama signed into law Wednesday. The bill included nearly $200 million for seven projects aimed at restoring flows and reducing pollution in the struggling and shrinking ecosystem. The Everglades Foundation cheered the spending, saying the projects would create hundreds of jobs, protect the drinking water supply and contribute to the long-term health of the tourism, fishing and other dependent industries.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/03/11/0311ecospending.html


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