Blog

UPDATE: The Tele-Town Hall has been scheduled for Monday, July 1st at 7:00pm.  Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has issued its opinions on DOMA and Prop 8, many Floridians are asking, “What does this mean for LGBT rights here in Florida?”

DOMA is Dead. The fight in Florida is Alive!

STATEMENT FROM NADINE SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EQUALITY FLORIDA

Guest Blogger: Mary Frances Love Equality Florida Member, Naples & Volunteer Copyright Attorney

Breaking News On The Supreme Court Decisions Here: OPINION #1 - DOMA has been struck down. DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment. 5-4 per Kennedy. A link to the opinion: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-307_g2bh.pdf News Links for DOMA case: 1. "Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of Defense of Marriage Act" - ABC NEWS - http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-rules-gay-marriage-cases/s… 2. "Supreme Court DOMA Decision Rules Federal Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional" - HUFFINGTON POST - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/supreme-court-doma-decision_n_… OPINION #2 - SCOTUS dismisses Proposition 8 case.  (5-4 per Chief Roberts) MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO RETURN TO CALIFORNIA The petitioners did not have standing to appeal the district court order. The decision of the Ninth Circuit is vacated and remanded.  The Ninth Circuit was without jurisdiciton to consider the appeal. The judgment of the Ninth Circuit is vacated, and the case is remanded with instructions to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. A link to the opinion: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-144_8ok0.pdf News Links for Prop 8. 1. "Supreme Court strikes down part of DOMA, dismisses Prop. 8 appeal" - CNN (Blog) - http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/26/supreme-court/?hpt=hp_t1 2. "Prop. 8: Supreme Court clears way for gay marriage in California" - (LA Times) - http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-prop-8-supreme-court-ruling-… 3. "Supreme Court Rules On Prop 8, Lets Gay Marriage Resume In California" - Huffington Post - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/supreme-court-prop-8_n_3434854…

Rubio on Immigration Reform:  

Family Says Son Sent Home for Wearing Makeup; Prompts National Protest   A Pinellas County family who say their son was sent home for wearing makeup has launched a nationwide petition calling on the district to change their policies and better training on diversity.

Twins Of Two Gay Moms Provide Proof That Children Of Same-Sex Parents Are Thriving This week's issue of Conch Color, a weekly Florida Keys publication, featured two twin girls who made history by earning the title's of Valedictorian and Salutatorian at Key West High School. Liz and Erin Czerwinski clearly deserved such honors seeing that both young ladies had GPA's over 4.7.

Article in the Tampa Bay Times Written By: Chris Zuppa and Eve Edelheit, Times Staff

Miami Beach Makes History Tax Equity Policy Unanimously Approved By Mayor Bower & City Commission

A Story Showing That Hillsborough County Is Changing Written by: Sharon Herman

Message from Nathan Klarfeld, Broward Steering Committee Chair Thank you Pembroke Pines for this important first step:

Posted by David Nakamura on April 16, 2013 at 1:01 pm The Washington Post   Inside the immigration bill: Gay-rights groups disappointed A bipartisan Senate group has agreed on a sweeping legislative proposal that would represent the most ambitious overhaul of the U.S. immigration system in three decades. The Washington Post will be examining portions of the bill on Post Politics in a series of blog entries.

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Katee Tully, chair – 727-729-1798 or [email protected]  

Pinellas County Domestic Partner Registration opens Monday, April 15th at 8:00AM   The Pinellas County Domestic Partner Registry (DPR) open this coming Monday, April 15th at 8:00a.m. Here is the information as to where/how one can register. All of the information below, and more, can be found on the county's website: pinellasclerk.org Where and how to register:

From: William D. Rohrer Attorney at Law

FLORIDA VOICES What will the Supreme Court's gay-marriage decision mean to Florida? BY: NADINE SMITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EQUALITY FLORIDA  

Scott Randolph, Constitutional Tax Collector, to institute Domestic Partnership Tax Equity Policy The Orange County Constitutional Tax Collector’s office announced today that it would immediately institute a Domestic Partnership Tax Equity Policy, which will establish a stipend to reimburse and make whole tax collector employees who continue to be discriminated against by the federal tax code’s treatment of domestic partner health benefits.

   

BREAKING: Leon County Passes Domestic Partnership Registry 7-0