FLORIDA DIGEST - April 25, 2009

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

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

-Oakland Park robberies possible hate crimes, says Broward Sheriff
Both of the victims are gay
By Anthony Man
Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti says the violent robberies of two men last week in Oakland Park are being investigated as possible hate crimes. Friends of one of the victims, both of whom are gay, collected extra money to put up for a reward, so the Crime Stoppers reward for information in the case is now $4,000, said Sheriff's Commander Rick Wierzbicki, who leads the sheriff's hate crimes task force.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-042309-hate-crime,0,5621389.story

-Lamberti: Gay library can help curb hate crimes
Broward sheriff among dignitaries at opening of new site for Stonewall Library and Archives
By Anthony Man
Shortly after becoming sheriff in 2007, Al Lamberti was jolted by a state report showing Broward was the most diverse county in Florida -- and also No. 1 in hate crimes. That's what led him to appear Thursday at the ribbon-cutting for the gay-oriented Stonewall Library and Archives. More than simply a political statement by the county's top elected official, the Republican sheriff said the Stonewall Library would ultimately improve public safety.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-0423-stonewall-gay-library,0,6056175.story

-Don't miss the 10-day Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Now in its 11th year, the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival showcases 10 days of films starting tonight with Patrik, Age 1.5, about a gay couple whose plans to adopt go awry when the adoption agency sends the them a 15-year-old homophobe with a criminal past. Other selections include The Baby Formula, which follows Canadian lesbians as they try an experimental scientific process to produce sperm from their own stem cells, and the documentary City of Borders, about the people who hang out at Jerusalem's only gay bar.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/lifestyle/sfl-ppl-miami-gay-film-a042409sbapr24,0,4986552.story


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

-John Waters, Susan Stanton and Robert Pattinson to headline 2009 Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
BY STEVE ROTHAUS
Organizers of the 11th annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival say they've learned their lesson -- this year's program won't be headlined by dark, weird, experimental movies that two years ago drove away some filmgoers.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/04/john-waters-susan-stanton-and-robert-pattinson-to-headline-2009-miami-gay-lesbian-film-festival.html


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

-Miami Beach Gay Pride attracts tens of thosands
Event hailed as a success
By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
It's been more than 10 years since there has been a gay pride celebration on Miami Beach despite the area being a major gay vacation destination for many years. The weather could not have been more perfect for the parade, which started at noon, followed by the festival on the beach, which lasted until 7 p.m. The parade, which was an unqualified success by any standards, honored 17 gay and lesbian couples from Miami-Dade and Broward County that have been together for at least 20 years.
http://www.floridablade.com/2009/4-23/news/localnews/5762.cfm

-'Every Little Step'
Catch must-see film of MGLFF
By DAN RENZI
When the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival opens this weekend, audiences will be treated to several big-name screenings, including "Every Little Step," a documentary on the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line." This documentary is of particular interest to South Florida audiences, as it is the same theatrical production that recently made a tour stop at the Broward Center.
http://www.floridablade.com/2009/4-23/arts/film/5784.cfm

-Chuck Nichols gets his halo from Tuesday's Angels
Award honors more than a decade of work with organization
By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Chuck Nichols, president of Tuesday's Angels has been presented with the organization's prestigious "Halo Award". This award was presented by the board of directors of Tuesday's Angels for his vision, dedication, leadership and hard work for over a decade as a board member and for eight years as the organization's president. This is only the third time Tuesday's Angels has presented this award in its sixteen years of existence. Tuesday's Angels provide emergency funding to those living with HIV/AIDS and is unique in that one-hundred percent of all money donated to the organization goes to the their clients.
http://www.floridablade.com/2009/4-23/news/localnews/5764.cfm


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Forwarded from Michael Rajner
Broward high school authors school board resolution supporting National Day of Silence
Last week, Broward School Board member Jennifer Gottlieb sponsored a resolution authored by the Gay-Straight Alliance at Cypress Bay High School supporting the National Day of Silence. The school board voted unanimously to support the Day of Awareness.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/04/broward-high-school-authors-school-board-resolution-supporting-national-day-of-silence.html


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Sunshine Community Foundation Presents
"Kind of a Drag....The SHOW!
Come join in the fun. Be part of an evening that celebrates our diversity and salutes the "T" in our LGB"T" Community. It's also a night for all Drag Kings and all Drag Queens to be center stage. Dress for fun or .....come as you are. These are are some of the groups (plus a few surprises!) that will be represented:

Sunshine Cathedral Broward House Gay Men's Chorus Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
SunServe Sea Monster BocaRaton.com Lavender Events for Women (GLCC)Elysium Resort Drag it Out! L.I.P.S Sunshine Community Foundation Mr. State of Florida - Continental 2009 FortLauderdalebites.com

And here are some of the people (plus a few surprises!) you'll see helping to entertain and honor the award winners: Pompano Bill Lewis Nicholson Nikki Adams Lady Fancy Bob Graham Wendy Phillips Nancy Ross Terry DeCarlo Ronda Tini Paul Smith Diva from Lips Paul Lopez Misty Eyez Toni Barone Senior Pastor Durrell Watkins The Transgender & Transgender Youth Group benefit from the proceeds and so does our Sunshine Community Foundation.

Saturday, May 2, 2009 --- The Walt Lawrence & Stephen Lewis Center for
Worship & the Arts --- 1480 SW 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale - 7:00 PM
Reception (Cash Bar) - 8:00 PM Kind of a Drag....the Show Tickets available: $50 Imperial Seating (rows 1-3) includes chilled champagne service; - $25 Preferred Seating (rows 4-7); - $15 General Admission (open seating). Purchase NOW : www.sunfound.net

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From Michael Albetta - President, Dolphin Democrats
Please read the following, I would greatly appreciate anything you can do for this great cause, Just like the Obama campaign, Either five, ten or twnety dollars. It will make a great difference.!! Please join me on April 30th, when I and several others will be named HOPE'S HEROES by Broward House, our local HIV/AIDS service organization. I am honored and moved that Broward House recognized my work and efforts in our community, and want to share this recognition with you. I believe in hope. It's only a four letter word, but it means so much, just like LOVE. Right now, when we are all facing hard economi c times, it's even tougher for those who truly need our support -- because they may have nowhere else to go. Please be so generous to give what you can, so I can reach my personal goal for the Hope's Heroes program, and so Broward House can serve those who need help. Please click on www.browardhouse.org and find the link for Hope's Heroes to make your contribution. Thank you !
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and God Bless you.
Sincerely yours,
Michael A. Albetta
http://dolphindems.org/browardhouse/


~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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

-Double Dippers: Florida public officials cash in with big retirement
payouts
Florida Legislature seeks to curb abuses
Broward Circuit Judge Stanton Kaplan "retired" Dec. 31, 2002. He went back to work the next day, collecting both his retirement pension and judicial salary. It's called "double dipping." And it's completely legal.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-florida-doubledip-b042309,0,2965443.story

-Budget cuts may cost 900 Broward teachers' jobs
Superintendent Jim Notter says district also cutting support positions, but numbers unavailable
By Kathy Bushouse
Toni Webb is waiting to find out whether she's out of a job next school year. Webb, 62, has taught art at Driftwood Elementary School since 1993 and was told at the beginning of the month that her job was being cut and she was added to the district's list of teachers no longer needed at their schools, commonly known as the surplus list.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-042409-broward-teacher-surplus,0,4434901.story

-State House passed bill to hike home insurance prices
The broad bill would, among other things, increase individual Citizens Property Insurance policyholder premiums by up to 20 percent annually. And it would allow private insurers to automatically boost rates by up to 10 percent with minimal state scrutiny.
By Julie Pate
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-property-insurance-florida-042409,0,7356394.story

-Florida may get cross and Jesus license plates
Florida's newest custom license plates may include Jesus and a cross
The Associated Press
Florida would issue a license plate with the image of Jesus and another with a cross if lawmakers pass a bill now in the Legislature. The Senate on Friday amended a bill to add the two plates and others. The House did the same to a similar bill, but later reconsidered and the sponsor withdrew his amendment.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-florida-license-plate-jesus-cross-042509,0,593104.story

-Palm Beach County School District gets creative to save jobs
Will not hire new teachers and will transfer others to fill vacated slots
By Marc Freeman
Palm Beach County schools are creating 650 new positions and avoiding layoffs, despite having to handle a shortfall that could reach $55 million. Administrators announced the plan on today, which mostly depends on $93.2 million in federal stimulus funds for the upcoming school year, and a plan to hire few new teachers for the first time.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-palm-schools-jobs-p042409,0,206022.story


-Hefty budget cuts could affect Broward County libraries, parks
By Scott Wyman
Don't expect to check out a book at your local library on Sundays or visit many of the regional parks on Wednesdays. And if you live in northern Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports, expect to drive farther to adopt a pet. Faced with having to reduce spending by up to $160 million because of the recession, county administrators are exploring severe cuts in community services. Seven smaller branches in the county's system of 37 libraries could be shut down, and the contract to help run the library at Nova Southeastern University in Davie canceled.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-broward-cuts-b041909sbapr19,0,2068632.story


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