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BROWN TRIAL ADVISORY: Equality Florida to Join Bartow Press Conference Today Immediately following the verdict and sentencing in the William David Brown, Jr. trial, expected to occur this afternoon in Bartow, Brian Winfield of Equality Florida will join Ryan Skipper's family in a press conference outside of the Bartow courthouse on 255 Broadway. Equality Florida is the statewide LGBT advocacy organization which initially raised awareness about this anti-gay hate crime and has supported Ryan's family since the crime occurred.

There have long been rumors that state Senator Paula Dockery would challenge AG Bill McCollum for the Republican nomination for Governor. The Ledger, Dockery's hometown newspaper in Lakeland, is reporting that "multiple Republicans sources," say she will enter the race for governor next week. 

It has been a great week for LGBT Americans. Earlier today President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Act and lifted the ban HIV travel and immigration ban.

The estate of late actress Bea Arthur gave a top homeless youth service organization $300,000 for its operations. Carl Siciliano, executive director of the Ali Forney Center in New York City, said his organization was "overwhelmed with gratitude that Bea saw that LGBT youth deserve as much love and support as any other young person and that she placed so much value in the work we do to protect them and to help them rebuild lives."

TAMPA: Cuban Club Ybor Oct 30th

A controversial anonymous video has surfaced online that depicts Charlie Crist as Adolf Hitler. The video depicts an unhappy Crist/Hitler ranting at his staff about the gains Marco Rubio has made in the Republican primary for the US Senate. 

A major victory came yesterday out of the state's capital. The Tallahassee City Commission voted unanimously to provide domestic partner benefits for same-sex employees. City employees with now be able to add their partners in health, dental, vision and other benefits. 

"Because no one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love." Barack Obama

It's been just one month since five Florida performances were announced for Buju Banton. Since then, three venues have canceled the notorious singer whose lyrics call for the torture and murder of gay people.

SAD NEWS : Rusty Gordon has died. Rusty is the mother of the LGBT movement in Florida and fought for women and LGBT rights. I was one of many taken under her generous wing. She believed in Equality FL when it was just a gleam in our eye. Our movement has lost a peaceful warrior and we all have lost a dear friend.Nadine

The Ryan Keith Skipper Foundation

This afternoon President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act into law. It is the first federal law that provides protections for LGBT people, after 14 separate Congressional floor votes.

[Note: Damien is the older brother of Ryan Skipper, a young gay man who was brutally killed during a hate crime on March 14, 2007 in Polk County. This note was written just days before Ryan’s second killer was convicted of First Degree Murder. Both will serve life sentences.]

United States Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) wrote the following piece in the Huffington Post supporting equality for LGBT Americans. Specter made news earlier this year when he switched parties from Republican to Democrat.

From ABC News:  On Wednesday, President Obama will sign the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill into law. The signing ceremony comes 11 years after the death of Matthew Shepard.  The new law will protection victims of hate crimes based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender or disability. The President will sign the bill and make remarks at 4:45pm on Wednesday.

Moments ago, after a decade of work, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act has passed the United States Senate by a vote of 68 to 29. It is the first federal law protecting LGBT people. This truly is a moment to celebrate. 

The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act will be on the Senate floor for a vote this morning. The Act is an amendment on H.R. 2647, the Department of Defense Authorization bill. 

HUD PRESS RELEASE U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Shaun Donovan, SecretaryOffice of Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20410HUD No. 09-206 FOR RELEASEBrian Sullivan Wednesday(202) 708-0685 October 21, 2009http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm

This was a story too good to pass up posting. 

Equality Florida Action