Hillsborough Anti-Gay Ban Draws International Attention As Trade Summit Nears Equality Florida Director to Attend Economic Gathering in Manchester
10/26/05

(TAMPA) Hillsborough County's anti-gay policies have drawn international attention from places such as Manchester England, a community Tampa Bay leaders hope will become an economic partner. (more)

BANNER DAY FOR LGBT EQUALITY ACROSS NATION
9/13/05
Massachusetts Turns Back Amendment; US House Passes Fully Inclusive Hate Crimes Law

(Tampa) Today, Equality Florida joins the nation in celebrating two major victories: the landslide defeat of an anti-gay constitutional amendment in the Massachusetts Legislature and the passage of transgender inclusive hate crimes measure in the US House of Representatives. (more)

Visitors Bureau chief offers script on gay pride issue
(07/11/2005 ©  St. Petersburg Times)
The subject: media inquiries on the group's response to the Hillsborough County Commission's policy prohibiting government promotion of gay pride events. "If you are contacted about our plans, strategies and views, you can respond appropriately by referring the matter to me or Karen Brand, who handles our local media. (more)

Hillsborough County Commission: You've got mail
(07/11/2005 ©  Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Margie Manning Staff writer While the business fallout from the Hillsborough County Commission's June 14 decision not to support gay pride may take months or even years to play out, the issue has raised concerns over tourism, conventions and employee recruitment to the area. (more)

Minister Organizing Picket of Florida Soldier’s Funeral
Community Leaders Called on to Oppose Hateful MessageTo Protect First Amendment Rights
June 29, 2005

(St. Petersburg, FL) Equality Florida calls on Tampa Bay’s community leaders to condemn the hateful message and tactics of Reverend Fred Phelps, a Baptist minister from Topeka Kansas who announced plans to picket the funeral of young soldier killed in Iraq. (more)

Hillsborough Commission Passes Anti-Gay Censorship Policy
Equality Florida and NCLR Condemn Commission for Discriminating   
June 15, 2005
(Tampa, FL)  Sparking outrage among human rights organizations, the Hillsborough County Commission voted Wednesday to bar county agencies from recognizing or participating in Gay Pride Month or any events that portray gay people in a positive light.(more)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         
May 12, 2005  
Federal Court Strikes Down Nebraska's Anti-Gay-Union Law Banning
Protections for Same-Sex Couples

(LINCOLN, NE)  In a ruling issued today, a federal court struck down Nebraska's anti-gay-union constitutional amendment that bans any and all forms of legal recognition for same-sex relationships, including domestic partnerships and other basic protections.  The state is expected to appeal the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. (more) 

Update from Tallahassee: Heartbreak and Hope
3/31/05
By now you may know our Student Safety and Campus Violence Prevention Act died in the House PreK-12 Committee yesterday. Now for the rest of the story.... First of all, you should know this: WE HAD THE VOTES. If not for Rep. Ralph Arza forcing the vote while one of our supporters was out of the room introducing one of her own bills, we would have prevailed in the committee 5 to 4. (more)

Florida Legislature Once Again Fails Students, Allows Technicality to Kill Student Safety Bill Broad Coalition Remains Committed to Ensuring ALL Students Have Safe Schools 03/30/05 (read)

Safe Schools Lobby Day Yields Strong Bipartisan Support and a First-Ever Committee Hearing 3/15/05

Equality Florida Joins Effort to Combat Nationwide Attack on LGBT Families
3/15/05

Gov. Bush's Pinellas JWB appointee launches anti-gay attack
3/11/05

Valentine's Day is for Love, not bigotry. 2/14/2005

US SUPREME COURT DECLINES FL ANTI-GAY ADOPTION LAWSUIT 1/10/2005

STUDENTS AND ADVOCATES BUILD SUPPORT FOR SAFE SCHOOLS 1/7/05

COALITION FOR FAIR ADOPTION ANNOUNCES LAUNCH 11/19/04Florida Target of Next Far-Right Attack 11/10/04

Florida Schools Remain in Crisis 10/12/04

TurnOut Florida Campaign in Full Swing 10/8/04

Equality Florida Launches South Florida Billboard Campaign 10/08/04

Miami Beach Creates Domestic Partnership Registry 07/22/04

EQUALITY FLORIDA LAUNCHES "TURNOUT FLORIDA"CAMPAIGN TO MOBILIZE 350,000 VOTERS 07/22/04

Equality Florida Special Report From Washington Vote on Marriage Amendment May Be Blocked 07/13/04

Miami Beach Provides Transgender Protections 07/07/04

Equality Florida Roundtable Draws Local Leaders From Across the State 07/06/04

Equality Florida and the Gill Foundation Team Up 06/22/04

Equality Florida Receives $50,000 Leadership Gift from Ron Ansin 05/27/04

NCLR and Equality Florida settle lawsuit challending discrimatory senior portrait policy 05/10/04

Equality Florida and Six Same-sex Couples Sue State Over Marriage Discrimination
Filing coincides with national tax day protest 04/20/04

Dignity Coalition Outraged As Bigotry Undermines Student Safety 03/31/04

Equality Florida’s Lobby Day Yields 120 Meetings with Lawmakers 3/19/04

Tampa Mayor Creates Domestic Partner Benefits

Full Movie*(28 meg)

30 Second High Band (3 meg)

30 Second Low Band (1 meg)(*Do not watch full version online but download this file to your computer, the size is 28 meg)

Equality Florida’s Award Winning Documentary LOSING LOIS
is an inside look at the tragic death of lesbian police officer Lois Marrero and the resulting legal and political questions raised by her life partner's bid for spousal pension benefits. Marrero was an officer for the Tampa, Florida Police Department when she was killed in the line of duty. This short program follows the life of Mickie Mashburn, Marrero’s life partner of 10 years, in the weeks following Marrero’s death. As Masbhurn, a fellow Tampa Police Officer struggles with her grief, she must also shoulder the burdens of hostile legal system that denies her the respect and benefits entitled a surviving spouse.

To order a copy of Losing Lois, ($20) contact Brian Winfiled at brian@eqfl.org

Winner of the PlanetOut Short Film DOCUMENTARY (JURY AWARDS)