Virtual Lobby Day for LGBTQ Rights in Florida

Equality Florida is encouraging netroots activists to urge legislators to sponsor three LGBT equality bills. The bills would ensure fairness in the areas of employment, adoption, and spousal benefits.

• The Florida Competitive Workforce Act (HB 391 by Skidmore and SB 798 by Gelber) This bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state law that already protects people in employment and housing based on race, religion, sex, age and disability.

• Repeal of Florida's Adoption Ban (HB 3 by Brandenburg and SB 102 by Rich) Equality Florida continues to work with legislators to repeal the ban. With approximately 3,000 children waiting for adoption in Florida's foster care system, the state desperately needs to open up the pool to include qualified gay and lesbian parents.

• Domestic Partnerships (HB 477 by Steinberg SB 232 by Sobel) This bill would create a statewide domestic partnership policy in Florida. Dozens of cities and companies in Florida already offer some form of domestic partnership benefits, but right now there are no statewide protections for our families.

Take action by filling out this form to contact your representative and state senator.

Word of the Gay: "Second Parent Adoption"

"Second Parent Adoption" is a legal procedure allowing one partner in a same-sex couple to adopt the other partners biological children so that both can be regarded as legal guardians.

Gov. Charlie Crist "Will Think" About Gay Adoption in Florida

Launching a tour to promote "Explore Adoption Day" in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist is now signaling he may be open to allowing gays the right to adopt. Currently Florida and Arkansas are the only two states that expressly forbid gay couples from adopting, while other states do create unnecessary hurdles for couples seeking to adopt.

"Now a candidate for U.S. Senate, Crist hinted today that he might support lifting the ban. At first, Crist said it would be the Legislature's responsibility to change the law. When pressed on whether he would support the effort, Crist said, "I'd have to think about it" (Tallahassee).

The ACLU and advocates of ending the adoption ban are receiving this as positive news by a governor who up until now said he opposes gay adoption and supports the existing ban.

Please urge the governor to support repealing the adoption ban, let him know that the science is in and children of gay couples do just as well as those raised by heterosexuals, and some reports indicate that they may be more open minded to diversity.

Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Email: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146

Wal-Mart CEO Signs Petition Banning Gay Adoption

Mike Duke the CEO of Wal-Mart, the world's largest grocery retailer is in some hot water for his personal political actions in the state of Arkansas.

Over the weekend, the website knowthyneighbor.org revealed that Mike Duke signed a petition to put an anti-gay adoption ban on the ballot in Arkansas. (Mike Duke’s signature below was pulled off the actual PDF provided by the Secretary of State) (Wal-Mart Watch).

This is a further slap in the face to activists who have been demanding that Wal-Mart support its GLBT employees. But with leadership like this, it's hard to believe progress will be made.

Contact Sponsor of Bill to Deny Adoption Rights to Unmarried Kentucky Families

Kentucky senate bill 68 sponsored by Shelby County Republican Gary Tappis is of major concern to families and fair minded people throughout the state. The legislation would prevent gay and lesbian couples wanting to adopt or become foster parents from doing so, but also unmarried heterosexual couples as well.

The Fairness Campaign is urging us to contact sponsor Senator Gary Tappis and urge him to reconsider the ill effects of his bill.

Email: Gary.Tapp@lrc.ky.gov

H/T to Unite The Fight.

Breaking News: Florida Adoption Ban Ruled Unconstitutional

"Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman Tuesday declared Florida's 50-year-old ban on gay adoptions unconstitutional -- a ruling state lawyers immediately said they would challenge.

The ruling sets the stage for Frank Gill, a gay man from North Miami, to adopt two foster children he has raised since 2004.

In a 53-page ruling, Judge Lederman said, ``It is clear that sexual orientation is not a predictor of a person's ability to parent.

Two lawyers from the Florida Attorney General's Office said they would file an appeal Tuesday.

''We respect the court's decision,'' said Assistant Attorney General Valerie Martin. ``Based upon the wishes of our client, the Department of Children & Families, we will file an appeal.''

Gill, who is raising the half-brothers, ages 4 and 8, said he was ''elated'' by the ruling and ``I cried tears of joy for the first time in my life." (Miami Herald)

Arkansas - Vote NO on Act 1

Arkansas Initiated Act 1 is a measure that if passed would ban unmarried co-habitating couples from fostering or adopting children.



Spread the word to friends & family, early voting has begun in Arkansas!
http://arkansasfamiliesfirst.org/

Word of the Gay: "Gayby Boom"

The "gayby boom" refers to the high increase of gay and lesbian couples who are having or adopting children. The term is also sometimes used to reference the higher numbers of gay people in society today, with more and more people coming out.

Florida Democratic Rep. Darryl Rouson's Anti-Gay Adoption Stance

"An appearance by Florida State Democratic Rep. Darryl Rouson (formerly Republican) on a talk show discussing adoption by same-sex couples has been raising eyebrows.

Said Rouson: "I think it is wrong to allow adoptions of children by gay and lesbian couples. It sends a wrong message early to a child during formative years that’s hard to overcome just by sitting down and talking to them."

As well as, "I think lesbianism and homosexuality is morally wrong. The law is supposed to discriminate sometimes, in some respects, it is supposed to discriminate against social order and anarchy."

Rouson is running against Rev. Charles McKenzie in the August 26th Democratic primary. McKenzie supports anti-discrimination laws and opposes Amendment 2, the Marriage Protection Amendment.



Contact Anti-gay Candidate - E-Contact Form
voterouson@gmail.com
Phone: 727-322-2777

Pro-Equality Candidate - http://www.mckenzie2008.com/index.html

Crossposted from Towerload.

John McCain Video on Gay Adoption

U.S. Presidential candidate John McCain appeared on ABC's This Week and was questioned on his position over same-sex couples adopting.

Organization Spotlight: Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)

Here is a great resource for LGBTQAI parents, Children of LGBT parents (QueerSpawn) & Allies.

"COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth, and adults with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. We build community and work toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education, and advocacy."

COLAGE is a great resource to connect with other Queer run families through local chapters throughout the country (There are 52 COLAGE chapters in the United States of America, 2 chapters in Canada, and one European chapter). They also offer pen-pal programs, and have many great articles, advocacy resources, workshops and information.

Check them out and support their efforts at http:/www.colage.org

Senator Storms Won't Allow Gay Adoption Bill Come up for a Vote

Please call and email Senator Ronda Storms (R- Florida) who heads the committee that is responsible for a newly introduced bill to ease the Gay adoption ban in Florida. She maintains she will not allow the bill to come up for a vote in the committee.


District Office:
313 E. Robertson Street
Brandon, FL 33511

Email: storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: (813) 651-2189