DNC Controversy Round-Up The decision to eliminate the "Director of GLBT Outreach" position at the DNC continues to make news. Bay Windows, New England's largest LGBT Newspaper, has this article (you have to page down a little).
Gay City News, a NYC paper, has this article. But the real discussion on the GLBT Blogosphere. Check out Page OneQ and Pam's House Blend. Posted At : Out For Democracy
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The transcript (and eventually the video) of the argument to the Florida Supreme Court can be found here:
http://www.wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/archives/06-02.htm#FEB8
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http://shirespics.slide.com/c/Dolpin+Democrats_27+Annual+Dinner+2006#bottom

Courtesy of Steve Shires
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TO CALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS (In order of priority)
1) Evelyn J. Lynn- 386-676-4000 (Possible Swing Vote)
2) Durell Peaden, Jr.- 850- 689-0556 (Possible Swing Vote)
3) Mike Fasano- 727-848-5885 (Possible Swing Vote)
4) Walter Skip Campbell (Chair)- 954-346-2813 (Yes Vote)
5) Daniel Webster (Vice Chair)- 407-656-0066 (No Vote)
6) Nan Rich- 954-747-7933 (Bill Sponsor)

KEY TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR CALL:
A) Please support Sen. Nan Rich's bill (SB-172) that would allow judges to by-pass Florida's anti-gay adoption ban on a case-by-case basis.
B) The best interest of the child should be to only concern when making adoption decisions.
C) Those closest to the child are in the best position to know what is in their best interest.
D) The real victims of this discriminatory law are the children unnecessarily languishing in state custody.

THE HEARING IS ON VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!
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Watch the Oral Argument of the Marriage Amendment before the Supreme Court of Florida LIVE on Wednesday Morning Feb. 8, 2006 at 9:50AM (NOT 10:20AM as previously publicized). You can watch it online or on your local public television station. If you can not come in person to the Tallahassee rally, you can watch the court argument from your home or work on the internet at http://wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/livesched.html or on only some of your local county public TV stations. Call your public TV station or check programming schedules HERE: http://www.wfsu.org/Florida_Channel/legcarriage.htm
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NORTH FLORIDA

Tallahassee
WHEN: Monday, Feb 13th at 6:00 PM
WHERE: Tallahassee Progressive Center,
1720 South Gadsden St.

Gainesville
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb 21st at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Pride Community Center
1107 NW 6th St, Rm C

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Tampa, St. Pete, Brandon
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb 14th at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Tampa MCC Church
408 E Cayuga St., Tampa

Orlando
WHEN: Thursday, Feb 23rd at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Joy MCC Church
2351 South Ferncreek Ave., Orlando

SOUTH FLORIDA

Broward
WHEN: Monday, Feb 20th at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Science of Mind Church
1550 NE 26th St., Wilton Manors

Miami-Dade
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb 22nd at 7:30PM
WHERE: SAVE Dade, 6445 NE 7th Ave. (2nd Fl of the Americal Legion Bldg.), Miami

West Palm Beach
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb 21st at 7:00
WHERE: Church of Our Savior MCC,
2011 South Federal Highway, Boynton Beach
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Suncoast Stonewall Democrats Host Candidate Debate

At their regular monthly meeting on May 2nd, the Suncoast Stonewall Democrats will host a debate between Democratic candidates for the US House of Representaties District 13. Candidates will include Christine Jennigns, Mike LaFevers and Jan Schneider.

The meetings are held at the Fruitville Public Library at 100 Coburn Rd in Sarasota. Refreshments are served at 6:30pm and the meeting begins at 7:00 pm. For more information, contact the Suncoast Stonewall Democrats at SuncoastStonewallDemocrats@yahoo.com.

Caucus Analysis of Florida's GLBT Population

A summary of the Caucus' analysis, Voting Impact of the Florida GLBT Community, is now available by clicking here. This analysis uses the 2000 Census same-sex household data to estimate the size of the GLBT population throughout Florida. More detailed analysis by Congressional district or state House or Senate districts is available by contacting the Caucus.


President's Approval Rating Continues to Plummet

Approval

23rd Qualm

Bush is my shepherd; I dwell in want.
He maketh logs to be cut down in national forests.
He leadeth trucks into the still wilderness.
He restoreth my fears.
He leadeth me in the paths of international disgrace for his ego's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of pollution and war,
I will find no exit, for thou art in office.
Thy tax cuts for the rich and thy media control, they discomfort me.
Thou preparest an agenda of deception in the presence of thy religion.
Thou annointest my head with foreign oil.
My health insurance runneth out.
Surely megalomania and false patriotism shall follow me all the days of thy term.
And my jobless children shall dwell in my basement forever.

SAVE THE DATE!

Our next general membership meeting will be held in Tallahassee on July 14, 15 & 16. Watch this space for more details as we finalize the plans for our conference, which will include general sessions, workshop, training sessions and an opportunity to meet & greet candidate in the upcoming elections.

BLACKOUT FILM FESTIVAL

BlackOUT 2006The inaugural Black LGBT Film/Video Festival will be held on April 28-30, 2006 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

BlackOUT, the international black, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender film and video festival was conceived as a cultural affirmational tool of Black Gay Pride of South Florida to fill a cinematic cultural void for same gender loving people of African descent exploring their cultural Diaspora.

More info: http://www.blackoutfest.org/.

PALM BEACH COUNTY DP REGISTRY

Click here to read the Palm Beach County Domestic Partnership Registration Procedures

CAUCUS T-SHIRTS

T-Shirts are $15 (shipping included) and come in sizes of S through XXL. Click here for more info.

Winter Conference A Great Success!

Our winter meeting in Tampa Bay was an unqualified success!

To read the press reports of our meeting, click below:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
TAMPA TRIBUNE

Our hosts, the Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus and the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County were awesome. From the social events at several venues in the Tampa Bay area to the Saturday session at the downtown Tampa Public Library, the Caucus is truly grateful for all of their hard work!

Our Saturday session was attended by almost 60 people, including 47 voting members as well as local press and an AP representative. We were addressed by many state and local candidates, including Congressman Jim Davis, candidate for governor and Alex Sink, candidate for CFO. (Senator Rod Smith, candidate for governor, was also scheduled to join us, but had to cancel because of the death of a close friend. Our thoughts are with Senator Smith during this time.)

We honored Hillsborough County Commissioner Kathy Castor for her unyielding support of the GLBT community during last year's pride controversy. Our community could not have a better friend!

Our afternoon included an address by Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. The session featured our business meeting, including the election of officers for 2006. Finally workshops were presented on the Caucus' Religion & Gays website and our plan for our 2006 Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort.

Watch this space as we finalize details for our Summer conference, tentatively scheduled for the Florida Panhandle!
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We've had a great day in Tampa!

Kudos to the Hillsborough County GLBTA Caucus and the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County for hosting a great winter meeting. We had almost 60 registered guests and over 15 local and state Democratic candidates. We were addressed by the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, the Hon. Karen Thurman and the Executive Director of the FDP, Luis Navarro. During the morning session, we were welcomed by the chairs of the Pinellas and Hillsborough County DEC Chairs, Carrie Wadlinger and Janee Murphy. Democratic candidates from the 9th, 11th and 13th congressional districts, as well as several legislative and county commission candidate spoke to the Caucus. A special award was presented to Kathy Castor for being the voice of the GLBT community when others sought to exclude us from our rightful place in the community.

Our afternoon session featured remarks by Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida and an address by Congressman Jim Davis, Democratic candidate for Governor. The business meeting elected officers for the coming year and a workshop was presented on the Caucus plan for multiple get out the vote centers throughout the state of Florida for the 2006 elections.

There's still time to join us for our Sunday morning brunch at Georgie's Alibi, 3100 3rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL from 11:00am to 2:00p.m.
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