Last month, a bipartisan group of the U.S. representatives introduced legislation that would prevent workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In matters regarding the workplace, men and women should be judged solely on the basis of job performance.
Most people think it is a given that it is illegal to discriminate based on [...] [...more]
Last month, a bipartisan group of the U.S. representatives introduced legislation that would prevent workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In matters regarding the workplace, men and women should be judged solely on the basis of job performance.
Most people think it is a given that it is illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but it is legal to do so based on sexual orientation in 30 states and based on gender identity in 38 states.
Federal law protects against employment discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, age and disability. In 2007, the House passed an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protected on the basis of sexual orientation but not gender identity. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen says that though many local governments have similar laws, ENDA is needed on a Federal level. Get support and updates from sites such as GayMiamiBeachTravel.com.
Broward County’s first gay-themed library officially opened in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, just one day before the GLBT literary Festival. The library, called Stonewall Library and Archives, will host the Gay and Lesbian Literary Arts Festival on Friday and Saturday. Stonewall derived its name from the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York that paved the [...] [...more]
Broward County’s first gay-themed library officially opened in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, just one day before the GLBT literary Festival. The library, called Stonewall Library and Archives, will host the Gay and Lesbian Literary Arts Festival on Friday and Saturday. Stonewall derived its name from the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York that paved the way for the modern gay rights movement. Stonewall Library shares a building with a county library and sits on the edge of a park where children play and seniors gather. With about 20,000 books and movies, Stonewall is the largest independent gay-themed library. The library evolved from a group of college students who exchanged books to an incorporated non-profit functioning out of a small closet in a church to where it is now, a 4,200 square-foot space. Visitors must be 18 to access the materials. The library has T-shirts showing different gay rights causes and a wall depicting a timeline of the gay rights movement. This new gay-themed library is located at 1300 Sunrise Blvd.
David Paterson, Governor of New York, will introduce legislation this week to legalize same-sex marriage. Paterson’s take on the issue is that it is clearly wrong and unjust to deny gays and lesbians in civil unions up to 1,350 civil protections including healthcare and pension rights just because they are not married.
Paterson believes that the [...] [...more]
David Paterson, Governor of New York, will introduce legislation this week to legalize same-sex marriage. Paterson’s take on the issue is that it is clearly wrong and unjust to deny gays and lesbians in civil unions up to 1,350 civil protections including healthcare and pension rights just because they are not married.
Paterson believes that the ethical action to be taken regarding the issue correlates with the political action that should be applied to the situation. Distributing equal rights to all people is the “only ethical way to treat people who want to live together in peace under the civil law.”
The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that it is a violation of constitutional rights of equal protection for a state law to limit marriage to a man and a woman. Gay couples can get married in Iowa as soon as April 24th. Iowa is now the third state to allow same-sex marriage after Massachusetts and [...] [...more]
The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that it is a violation of constitutional rights of equal protection for a state law to limit marriage to a man and a woman. Gay couples can get married in Iowa as soon as April 24th. Iowa is now the third state to allow same-sex marriage after Massachusetts and Connecticut. Vermont is working its way towards legalizing same-sex marriage although its governor promises to veto the attempt. California also allowed same-sex marriage last year for about six months before it was reversed by voters.
Activists on both sides of the issue believe that Iowa’s newly passed law will spark action in other states whether their course of action is to legalize gay marriage or create constitutional amendments to outlaw it. Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris believes that Iowa’s decision shows the “values of basic fairness are spreading from state to state.”
Chris Sanders, president of the gay rights group Tennessee Equality Project, says “This case will provide additional momentum and we can see the day where same-sex marriage is allowed throughout the United States. People are coming to understand that this is inevitable.” Opponents disagree. They believe that this recent ruling in Iowa will motivate other states that have not passed constitutional amendments to protect the status quo to do so before such a law is passed. We eagerly await the answer that time will reveal.
Jim Stork, former gay mayor of Wilton Manors has some strong words for several different groups of people.
Amy Sherman, a Miami Herald reporter, wrote about Stork’s failed 2004 Congressional campaign followed by a $30,000 election fine.
In the Herald’s Naked Politics blog, Sherman wrote about Stork’s involvement in the Florida Red and Blue campaign which failed [...] [...more]
Jim Stork, former gay mayor of Wilton Manors has some strong words for several different groups of people.
Amy Sherman, a Miami Herald reporter, wrote about Stork’s failed 2004 Congressional campaign followed by a $30,000 election fine.
In the Herald’s Naked Politics blog, Sherman wrote about Stork’s involvement in the Florida Red and Blue campaign which failed to defeat Amendment 2 which banned gay marriage in the Constitution. Stork emailed Sherman and said, “I have no more tolerance for those who voted for Amendment 2 or those who want to take my rights away … which includes dumb rednecks, bible thumping white folks, bible thumping Hispanics, self-centered educated people who are so self absorbed that they don’t bother to look into an issue, lazy gay people who don’t get involved or are too weak to come out of the closet, and am now most disappointed in African Americans who should be the least likely group of folks to judge others, but are the ones who judge others the most … all of these folks can kiss my a–.”
Wilton Manors
Find gay-friendly accommodations in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach vacation rentals next to the most popular gay districts of South Florida.
A Monroe Circuit Court judge has ruled Florida’s 31-year-old gay adoption ban unconstitutional in an order that allows an openly gay Key West foster parent to adopt a teenage boy he has raised since 2001.
Declaring the adoption to be in the boy’s “best interest”, circuit judge David J Audlin Jr, said the Florida law forbidding [...] [...more]
A Monroe Circuit Court judge has ruled Florida’s 31-year-old gay adoption ban unconstitutional in an order that allows an openly gay Key West foster parent to adopt a teenage boy he has raised since 2001.
Declaring the adoption to be in the boy’s “best interest”, circuit judge David J Audlin Jr, said the Florida law forbidding gays and lesbians from adopting children is contrary to the state constitution because it singles out a group for punishment.
Wednesday, December 10th, was “Day Without a Gay.”
The day was invented to show the nation how much gays and lesbians contribute to their communities and the importance of their existence in society. People were encouraged to “call in gay” to work and spend the day volunteering and refraining from spending money.
The boycott was to protest [...] [...more]
Wednesday, December 10th, was “Day Without a Gay.”
The day was invented to show the nation how much gays and lesbians contribute to their communities and the importance of their existence in society. People were encouraged to “call in gay” to work and spend the day volunteering and refraining from spending money.
The boycott was to protest against California’s recent passing of Proposition 8 which prohibits gay marriage.
Several non-profit organizations posted volunteer opportunities on the website of Sean Hetherington and boyfriend Aaron Hartzler, creators of Day Without a Gay.
Some activists were hesitant to participate in the boycott due to the current economic situation, job market and the uncertainty that sparks thoughts that the effort may be counterproductive for the gay community.
Additionally, calling in gay may have been difficult for those who may not be openly gay to coworkers or employers.
As of the last count, 3,535 children await adoption in Florida’s state custody.
However, the attorney general’s office recently made sure to tighten the belt on a law that prohibits GAY adoption.
At the same time that this is posing discrimination against gays, it is also adding to the obstacles that these foster children will face in [...] [...more]
As of the last count, 3,535 children await adoption in Florida’s state custody.
However, the attorney general’s office recently made sure to tighten the belt on a law that prohibits GAY adoption.
At the same time that this is posing discrimination against gays, it is also adding to the obstacles that these foster children will face in hopes of finding a home.
This law is NOT SAVING these children from anything. Judge Cindy Lederman summarized 30 years of research in the following statement: “Based on the evidence presented from experts from all over this country and abroad, it is clear that sexual orientation is not a predictor of a person’s ability to parent.
Sexual orientation NO more leads to psychiatric disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, relationship instability, a slower life expectancy or sexual disorders than race, gender, social-economic class or any other demographic characteristic.” Way to add to an overwhelming problem.
