FLORIDA DIGEST Saturday, October 20, 2007

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Florida Red & Blue Supporter - Heather Dopp

You may not think of Heather Dopp as the most likely Florida Red & Bluesupporter. She's single, straight, Republican, and the daughter of a Baptistminister.

But when Heather came to a Florida Red & Blue event in June, she heard adiscussion of the so-called "Marriage Protection" amendment and its impacton a wide variety of people. She heard how groups were using theseamendments in other states to call for the removal of domestic partnershipbenefits, health insurance, hospital visitation, and other establishedrights. She heard how these amendments once approved will be difficult toremove from our state's constitution. She felt this amendment was unfair andunnecessary.

As a Republican, she feels that government should not be involved in thepersonal lives of people. This amendment is government intrusion. As someonewho is single, she worries that her future rights and benefits could bechallenged. And as a Christian, she believes that we should treat everyonewith kindness.

You may not think of her as a typical supporter but you would be wrong.Heather Dopp symbolizes the wide-ranging support and strong bi-partisannature of the Florida Red & Blue campaign. She has agreed to serve on ourAdvisory Board and is one of our hosts at Nikki Beach.

Come join Heather, her friends, and a large crowd of supporters of FloridaRed & Blue, this Tuesday, October 23rd at Nikki Beach.

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Please Join Us for a Cocktail Reception to Benefit

FLORIDA RED & BLUE

Campaign to DEFEAT "Marriage Protection" amendment*
*"In as much as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one womanas husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or thesubstantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Our opposition has gathered over 95% of the petitions needed to put a"marriage protection" constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot. InMichigan and Kentucky where similar amendments passed, citizens are facingthe REMOVAL of domestic partnership benefits and civil union protections.

Florida Red & Blue, www.FloridaRedandBlue.com, is committed to DEFEATINGthis amendment and stopping this intrusion into the benefits and rights ofFloridians.

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Nikki Beach Club
1 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Suggested Minimum Donation $50

Donate online (www.FloridaRedandBlue.com/contribute) or
Send your check (payable to Florida Red & Blue) to the address below.

RSVP REQUIRED
Please RSVP to: Adam Conderman: floridaredandblue@yahoo.com / 305.934.6067



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Ghost Stories in the Night - Ft. Lauderdale

Lavender Writes presents Ghost Stories in the Night, an evening of scarystories at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.

The Open Mic event will take place the night before Halloween, Tuesday,October 30th, 2007, from 7-10 pm. All writers are welcome to read theirscariest, darkest or horrifically funny work around the bonfire. Costumesare encouraged but not required. The evening will start with a potluckdinner, so bring food, drinks and candy to share. After everyone is stuffedwith food and candy, talented local writers will gather around the fire toscare and entertain for the rest of the night.

$5 admission, waived for readers. Adults only (the park would require anadditional ranger if children were present). Writers can pre-register atWrites@mindspring.com. Audience members can just show up.

Lavender Writes provides service and support to lesbian and gay writers bysponsoring writing workshops, developing public forums for writers to
present their work and offering assistance with publication. Non-gay readersand audience members are also welcome to participate.

Ghost Stories in the Night

Tuesday, October 30th, 7 pm

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

3109 East Sunrise Boulevard

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304

954-564-4521

LWrites@mindspring.com

$5 for audience members, free for participating writers



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NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY TO HOST DAVID MIXNER FOR LECTURE SERIES ABOUT
SEXUAL OREINTATION AND THE LAW - Thursday, October 25 - 6pm

The second speaker for the Goodwin Series at the law center at NovaSoutheastern University is author/activist/political consultant David Mixnerwho will speak to the public on Thursday, October 25 from 6-7. A receptionwhere you can meet David Mixner will follow the public presentation. Thespeaking event and reception are open to the public and free, and they willboth take place at the law center. David Mixner is likely to speak on awide range of issues, including the role politics plays in LGBT issues anddefining orality, HIV/AIDS issues, and the history of the gay rightsmovement. He is known to be an engaging speaker who has been a leadingactivist in the fight for LGBT quality. We expect this to be a veryinteresting and lively discussion. His biography is posted below. Fordirections to the law center at Nova, go to htp://www.nova.edu/cwis/campusmaps/maincampus.html

In addition to having David Mixner visit the school next week, we will behosting an exhibit on LGBT hate crimes, entitled Gay American Heroes. Theexhibit will be in the law library beginning next week. You can read aboutthe display at
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2007/08/gay-american-he.html

Please mark your calendars for the remaining schedule.

Tuesday November 6, 6-7: Matt Foreman, Executive Director of the NationalLesbian and Gay Task Force
Tuesday November 27, 6-7: Rev. Gene Robinson, the First Openly GayEpiscopalian Bishop

If you have any questions, please contact Anthony Niedwiecki at niedwieckia@nsu.law.nova.edu or at (954) 262-6206.

Shepard Broad Law Center
Nova Southeastern Univ.
3305 College Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314



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Wilton Manors City Commission Votes to expand protections for TransgenderCommunity

Mark your calendar for a second reading for amendments to Wilton Manors City

Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7:00pm
City of Wilton Manors
City Hall Commission Chambers
524 NE 21st Court (just off Wilton Drive)
Wilton Manors, FL



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The Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/418/story/278029.html

Daggers out for the next GOP debate
Do debates matter?

By BETH REINHARD
Posted on Sat, Oct. 20, 2007

Ever since Richard Nixon looked haggard beside a youthful John F. Kennedy in1960, presidential debates have been billed as potentially seismic events. Azinger can boost those almighty poll numbers while a gaffe can devolve intoYouTube fodder.

The Republican contenders will have another chance at a defining moment whenthey face off Sunday in the first GOP primary debate in Florida in 12 years.

In a sign of how front-loaded this race has become, consider that the Nov.17, 1995, debate was the first nationally televised debate of the 1996contest. Sunday's forum in Orlando will mark this season's ninth matchup.

But it's just about to get interesting, says Chris Wallace of cable channelFox News, who will ask some of the questions. (The Fox network willbroadcast the debate.)

''In the last couple of weeks the candidates have really begun to engage oneanother. . . and I think it's fascinating when people who have been sayingmean things behind each other's backs get in the same room,'' he said in atelephone interview. ``I think it's going to be by far the most contentiousdebate.''

more . . . . .



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Naples Daily News

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/oct/19/fla_dems_launch_parody_web_site_comparing_gop_cand/

Fla. Dems launch parody Web site comparing GOP candidates to Katherine
Harris

BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press
Friday, October 19, 2007

TALLAHASSEE -- If Republicans don't think their presidential candidates areon the conservative extreme of issues important to them, Democrats arereminding them there is another choice: Katherine Harris.

The Florida Democratic Party is launching a parody Web site that willfeature videos of Republican presidential candidates' statements on issueslike immigration, foreign policy, taxes and others. The idea is if they wantsomeone on the far right on any of those topics, Harris is their candidate.

"It's comparing her to the candidates on the Republican platform - who hatesimmigrants more, who will fight to reduce the number of children with healthinsurance, et cetera," said Mark Bubriski, a spokesman for the state party.

Harris tried to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson last year, but lost by 22points. She has been a punching bag for Democrats since the 2000presidential recount, which she oversaw as Florida's secretary of state.

Often the butt of jokes, problems with her campaign were well publicized andoften ridiculed.

"We miss her," Bubriski said.

more . . . . .


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