Written by: Morgan Watkins

The Alachua County Commission has joined the city of Gainesville and other local governments in signing onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed in various marriage equality cases in Florida involving the state’s same-sex marriage ban.

The Gainesville City Commission decided to join in the amicus curiae brief in October, and the County Commission followed suit Tuesday. (The friend-of-the-court brief was included as an item on the county’s consent agenda.)

Written by:Jake Stevens

Equality Florida’s 2014 Greater Orlando Gala raised more than $200,000 for the organization on Nov. 14. The event, held at The Mezz in downtown Orlando, boasted a sold-out crowd – nearly 400 guests.

EQFL honored their 2014 Voice for Equality honorees Dr. Kathryn Norsworthy, Ted Maines and Jeff Miller.

To view the photos of the Gala, click here.

Written by: Steve Rothaus

A Central Florida woman died Nov. 3 of cancer before she could marry her partner and just before the birth of their son, Equality Florida announced Thursday. “Marriage equality will come too late for one Florida family. Liz Molina, 35, passed away on Monday,” Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith wrote to supporters.

More from the mailing:

Written by: Janelle Irwin

St. Petersburg is officially gay-friendly. Based on the annual nationwide Municipal Equality Index rating, St. Pete earned a perfect score on its level of LGBT equality.

“I’m proud to say our score is the best in the Tampa ay region,” mayor Rick Kriseman said during a press conference on the steps of City Hall. The city received a score of 100, up from just 66 last year.

Written by: Charlotte Robinson

Equality Florida will be hosting their 12th Annual Equality Florida Broward Gala at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Panorama Ballroom in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday November 16th. The highlight of the event will be the presentation of the Voice for Equality award to South Florida resident Jazz Jennings, who was recently announced as one of the “25 Most Influential Teens of 2014” by Time magazine.

Written by: Elizabeth White

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- The Human Rights Campaign based in Washington, DC gave Tallahassee high marks based on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender inclusion in local laws and policies.

The city was given an index value of 81, which is far above the average for the rest of Florida cities, which sits at 65. It also trumps the national average of 59.