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FLORIDA LEGISLATORS HEAR TESTIMONY ON DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BILL
Palm Beach County Human Rights Council
(West Palm Beach, Florida) Florida legislators were urged this afternoon to enact pro-family legislation creating a statewide domestic partnership registry. Once enacted, the legislation would provide unmarried couples many of the benefits provided by the state to married couples.
Palm Beach County Human Rights Council President Rand Hoch addressed legislators at the final public hearing prior to the opening of the Florida legislature in March.
"Many couples choose not to marry so that they may preserve their social security, pension, and veterans benefits," said Rand Hoch, President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.
"However marriage is not an option for gay and lesbian Floridians in committed relationships."
Nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted comprehensive laws recognizing gay and lesbians relationships. Four states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont) and the District of Columbia provide full marriage equality. New Jersey recognized civil unions. Four additional states (California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington) have domestic partnership legislation.
While marriage equality for gay men and lesbians is denied by Florida's laws and constitution, gay couples may register their domestic partnerships in some parts of Florida.
"Thanks to the efforts of local organizations such as Save-Dade, the Human Rights Council of North Central Florida, and the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, gay couples may register as domestic partners throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, as well as in the city of Gainesville," said Hoch.
"Regardless of where our families make our homes, we should be accorded the same rights and benefits that other families take for granted," Hoch told legislators.
"Once the law is enacted statewide, domestic partners will be allowed to visit their partners in a hospital with the same authority as spouses with regard to health care decisions," said Hoch. "Domestic partners will be notified as family members in the event of an accident, and in the event of a partner's death, they will be empowered to make funeral decisions."
With legislators wary of the Florida's multi-billion dollar deficit, Hoch informed legislators that the legislation requires no expenditure of state funds for office space or personnel, since the paperwork will be done by the Clerks of the Circuit Courts who are charged with processing marriage licenses.
"Since fees are assessed to register and terminate domestic partnerships, the legislation will actually generate income for the state," said Hoch.
The domestic partnership legislation was co-introduced by state senator Eleanor Sobel (D-Hallandale) and state representative Richard Steinberg (D-Miami Beach). Full Story. [1/27/10]
FLORIDA JUDGE DELIVERS THIRD RULING AGAINST GAY ADOPTION BAN
"While the 1977 law remains in limbo, Sampedro-Iglesia's ruling suggests some state court judges already have made up their minds about gay adoption, a thorny political issue in a state with a significant social conservative streak. 'There is no rational connection between sexual orientation and what is or is not in the best interest of a child,'' Sampedro-Iglesia wrote in her order. 'The child is happy and thriving with [Alenier]. The only way to give this child permanency . . . is to allow him to be adopted' by her. In her ruling, Sampedro-Iglesia declared Florida's adoption law 'unconstitutional on its face.' For Alenier, who shares a home near downtown Hollywood with her longtime partner, Melanie Leon, the ruling made formal what she already knew she had -- a family." > Full Story. [1/27/10]
WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL MARCH 3–8, 2010
MIAMI, Jan. 22 - More than 6,000 people dancing on the sands of South Beach is among the many highlights that draw thousands worldwide to one of the country's premier LGBT fund-raising events: the annual Winter Party Festival, which features art and culture, shopping, cocktail receptions, pool parties, and multiple dance events with world-class DJs and entertainment. This year's Winter Party Festival takes place March 3–8 and, once again, promises to deliver something for everyone. Even better, the event raises important dollars that benefit many throughout the year.
Winter Party Festival is produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Since 1994, Winter Party Festival and its sister event, the Miami Recognition Dinner, have raised more than $2.3 million for organizations serving the South Florida LGBT community. Two-thirds of the net proceeds from Winter Party Festival will be distributed to the Miami-Dade LGBT community through a granting program administered by the Dade Community Foundation, while the remaining one-third of the proceeds will benefit the Task Force.
"Our incredible line-up of official Winter Party Festival events provides people with memories of a lifetime. This event changes people's lives - through their experiences here in Miami Beach and through the organizations and individuals that are the beneficiaries of our fundraising," says Winter Party Festival chairperson Chad Richter. "And, visitors and locals alike get to enjoy all this while reaping the benefits of an annual boom for business - this event is important for local businesses too."
"Winter Party Festival draws people from around the world to a place where they can celebrate our unity and our diversity while supporting human rights," says Russell Roybal, deputy executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "We work at the grassroots level in local communities like South Florida and at the national level where we are driving change in our laws and political arena to ensure all voices are heard and equality is secured."
For information, tickets and a complete list of events, visit www.winterparty.com..
Note to editors: Only authorized events listed on the Web site and in the free program guide are official Winter Party Festival programs. Media are urged to check that events are official before listing as part of the Winter Party. Only official Winter Party Festival events have a proven track record of giving back significant funds to the LGBT community nationally and locally.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the first national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights organization and remains the community's uncompromising progressive voice. It fights for equality and justice by building grassroots power through training, advocacy, organizing and forward-thinking research and expertise. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more at www.theTaskForce.org.
> Full Story. [1/26/10]
SOUTH MIAMI APPROVES BENEFITS FOR DOMESTIC PARTNERS
Commissioners voted to grant benefit rights to city employees' domestic partners, as Miami-Dade County and cities such as Miami have done. > Full Story. [1/21/10]
OPENLY GAY SINGER-RAPPER RELEASES NEW ALBUM!
On his debut mix-tape titled "Sneak Preview" Anye Elite sets out to prove that love and music are truly universal. Last Summer Anye premiered his first single, the catchy boy on boy love song "I Got Him" at Atlanta's Black Gay Pride. Since then the song has been downloaded over 6,000 times, featured in various blogs and publications, and is currently in rotation on numerous radio stations across the country. Not bad for a 21 year old who records, produces, and manages his career from a bedroom. > Full Story. [2/9/09]
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