Ros-Lehtinen, Taddeo each pledge to fight Florida ban on gay marriage

• Photo gallery | Ros-Lehtinen shmoozes with gay Republican club

BY STEVE ROTHAUS
srothaus@MiamiHerald.com

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a House leader on gay issues, has pledged to fight Florida's proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage.

"We have a big challenge ahead of us," Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, told members of the gay-oriented Miami Log Cabin Republicans club, which met Sunday night in Miami Shores.

Amendment 2 will be on Florida's ballot in November. If passed, it would amend the state constitution to ban gay marriages and civil unions, as well as publicly recognized domestic partnerships.

"Most [Amendment 2 supporters] would like to frame it as a gay issue," Ros-Lehtinen said. "It's not that at all. Most of the domestic partnerships in Florida are heterosexual."

Ros-Lehtinen, who supports ending the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, ranks among the most supportive House members on gay issues, according to Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay-rights group.

Annette Taddeo, the Democrat challenging Ros-Lehtinen in this fall's election, also strongly supports gay issues.

Taddeo is an advisory board member of the Say No 2 campaign, a group fighting the marriage amendment.

"We must fight Amendment 2 because all people must be treated equally and we should not change our state's constitution to allow discrimination," Taddeo said Monday in an e-mail to The Miami Herald.

Seattle to host 2008 Gay Softball World Series

News release:

The Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) and the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) are joining forces with the Emerald City Softball Association Series 2008 Committee to host the 32nd Gay Softball World Series. It will be held in Seattle, WA August 25-30.

Nearly 4,000 American and Canadian athletes and fans representing 179 teams will gather in Seattle to take part in and enjoy the competition. The teams will play games at five King County softball complexes to award national champions in eight divisions

This year’s World Series will be one of the largest sporting events ever held in the Puget Sound region, bringing more athletes to the area than the 1990 Goodwill Games.

“August is the best time of the year to come to Seattle. We practically guarantee sunshine! But more importantly we are proud to be hosting the series and showcasing the talent, dedication and enthusiasm of GLBT athletes and fans to the people of this region,” said Ron Taylor, Media/P.R. Director for the ECSA host committee.

Former San Francisco 49ers running back Dave Kopay will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the August 24 opening ceremony at the Seattle Center.

Dubbed “Northwest Quest,” the theme of this year’s competition is meant to highlight the outdoor spirit of the Pacific Northwest and to reflect the challenge of winning a national championship.

While the afternoons are reserved for heated competition, the evenings are for fun and celebrating. The ECSA host committee has planned a slew of activities, including pool & street parties, a talent show fundraiser, a night out at a Seattle Mariners game, a Seattle Storm night (against Sheryl Swoopes’ Houston Comets), and more!

Anyone wishing to attend, volunteer, sponsor the competition or compete should visit www.series2008.org.

About ASANA

Created in 2007, the Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) is a new non-profit sports association dedicated to promoting amateur athletics for the gay and lesbian community. ASANA's current focus is on the development and support of women's softball with 26 member cities and as host to the Softball World Series. Before emerging as our own organization, the women's division was a part of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) with our first women's division competition played in Milwaukee, WI in 1985. Moving forward, ASANA will continue to grow and support gay and lesbian athletics for all.

About NAGAAA

Created in 1977, the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) is a nonprofit international organization comprised of men and women dedicated to promoting amateur athletics for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. NAGAAA's current membership includes over 680 teams from 37 leagues throughout the United States and Canada. Teams representing these leagues participate annually in NAGAAA's Gay Softball World Series (GSWS), hosted each year by a different member city.

Photo gallery | Ros-Lehtinen, Log Cabin Republicans commit to defeat Amendment 2

• Ros-Lehtinen, Taddeo each pledge to fight Florida ban on gay marriage

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen attended the first social event of Miami's new Log Cabin Republicans club, held Sunday at the Miami Shores home of club Vice President Omar Cassola.

Ros-Lehtinen told club members that she is committed to helping defeat Florida's Amendment 2, which if passed in November would ban gay marriages, civil unions and state-recognized domestic partnerships.

Photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff

Omar Cassola, president of Girosol Corp., and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

Wilton Manors mayoral candidate Sandy Steen, A. Jay (Andy) Eddy and Adam Gifoni.

Raphael Giraldez and partner Herb Sosa of Unity Coalition.

Ros-Lehtinen with Miami Log Cabin Republicans club members.

Host Omar Cassola, his mother Dinorah, Ros-Lehtinen, and his father Francisco.

Miami real estate appraiser Luis Caballero and Palm Beach U.S. congressional candidate Edward Lynch.

Real estate appraisers (and partners) Mario Ramirez and Luis Caballero with Ros-Lehtinen.

Investment banker John Antrim Giuliano, U.S. congressional candidate Edward Lynch of Palm Beach County and Dean Santoro, who is running for Florida Senate District 35.

Ron Brenesky of Unity Coalition, Ros-Lehtinen and attorney Robert Watson, president of Miami Log Cabin Republicans club.

Cassola, Ros-Lehtinen and Watson.

Cassola's dog, Buffy.

Miami Gay Film Festival fires director Carol Coombes

BY STEVE ROTHAUS
srothaus@MiamiHerald.com

The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival -- about $50,000 in debt -- on Friday fired its flamboyant festival director, Carol Coombes.

Now, she may be deported.

"Carol is British and in 60 days she might have to leave the country," said Harvey Burstein, a festival founder and former board member.

He said Coombes' visa requires she be employed in the film industry and that she was to get her permanent residency or green card in November.

Coombes joined the festival in 2001 and became director a few years later. She declined comment.

"It's a very unfortunate complication of a very heartfelt, thought-out decision," said festival board member Mark Gilbert. "We know that there are implications that will affect her citizenship and we are hopeful that Carol, because of her great skills, will be able to find immediate, meaningful employment."

Burstein, who said he wrote the first check to the film festival more than 10 years ago, is "really, really worried and saddened," both for Coombes and the festival. "The film festival did so much for this community," he said.

Gilbert assures that the 11th annual festival "absolutely'' will take place next April. "We want to start over, with new people to rebuild this festival," Gilbert said. ``We are analyzing and critiquing every facet of this festival, to make sure we are doing it as cost efficiently and as well as we can."

The festival, which this year added a weekend in Fort Lauderdale, took a big hit last spring when three major sponsors -- Avis Rent-a-Car, Sundance Channel and Flamingo South Beach condos -- suddenly backed out.

Throughout this year's festival, board members warned attendees of the financial crisis. "Remember, this is a community festival and needs to be supported by the community," Gilbert said. "We got up every single night because we knew where we were going to be. Unfortunately, the community did not rise to the level we anticipated."

Last month, the festival board fired two other full-time staff members, development director Keith Cromley and operations manager Lisa Niven.

"The Board has entrusted Carol Coombes and [festival manager] Kareem Tabsch to step up and do what is necessary to ensure the ongoing success of this very important South Florida Gay Cultural Institution," the festival said in a letter to members. "We know they will take this trust and rise to the challenge."

Two weeks ago, Tabsch quit. "I left on my own accord," he said Friday.

Alone, Coombes planned to close the office and run the festival out of her home, Burstein said.

Coombes performed well at work, but some board members "micromanaged her job," Burstein said.

"You hire talent and let them do the work," said Burstein, board chairman of Miami Beach Arts Trust and New Theatre. "You agree on policy and vote on the budget and that's it. You put on your volunteer's hat."

Gilbert said the board fired Coombes simply because it wants "to start over with new people."

"In order to reinvent itself, the festival needed to reinvent itself from top down," Gilbert said. "That included a complete overhaul of staff and starting over again."

Debt-ridden Miami gay film festival fires full-time staff, including director Carol Coombes

The big news is deep in this press release from the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival:

On behalf of this Board, and the community, we want to take this opportunity to thank our Festival Director Carol Coombes for her many valued years of service to the festival and wish her well.

Here's the complete news release ...

Important News  from  Your Film Festival Board of Directors

In order to keep an open line of communication with our supporters, friends, and the community at large, The Board of Directors of the MGLFF/FLGLFF intend to keep sending out bulletins to keep the community updated. This ensures that you always hear from us first hand, about the status of ongoing events pertaining to the film festival.

We, your Board, are fully committed to making sure the festival continues for many years to come, and this absolutely includes this year's festival, our 11th Annual. In order to guarantee  that this happens, we are taking every possible and prudent measure to ensure that we are being absolutely fiscally responsible in our decisions. It is fair to say that this will be a very difficult year to raise our much needed revenue. We know we are in a difficult economy and due, in part, to a pull-back of corporate sponsorship, the festival is carrying an operating deficit from last festival. Certainly, it is easy to understand our predicament and our decisions to act immediately. In light of that, we have had to make some very hard difficult choices. This is the only way for the festival to continue, and remain vibrant and fiscally strong. Simply put, we need to raise money, and cut expenses; it is just that simple.

Following these thoughts; we will do as follows, (certainly though, not limited to just the below)

-We will immediately begin a search for a new cost effective office space.

-In light of our current restructuring mode we will eliminate all full time staff.

-Start an immediate search for an Executive Director with extensive fund raising and operational management background.

On behalf of this Board, and the community, we want to take this opportunity to thank our Festival Director Carol Coombes for her many valued years of service to the festival and wish her well.

We want everyone to know that we are making the difficult yet prudent choices so that the festival thrives for many years to come. It is important to us that you know that this Board has been meeting continuously to resolve the current financial situation and to meet our future challenges.

The Board of Directors will be meeting this weekend for an extensive planning session. The purpose of the session is to continue the process of recreating, restructuring and planning our festival. This will ensure its success and future longevity. As we said in our prior notice, we do not take this responsibility lightly; we love and are committed to this festival and we recognize the vital role this festival plays in our community. We are making sure we preserve it, and to that end, we are developing a plan that ensures its future success and growth.

We fully intend to keep you updated, and we welcome your input and even more, your involvement as we create our future. Thank you for all your past and future support. See you soon at our next monthly screening, to be announced shortly. 

We can be reached by email at info@mglff.com or call the office at 305-534-9924.

Video | 'Get Some Nuts' Snickers ad offends gay-rights activists, is yanked from British television

Under pressure from HRC and other gay activists, Mars Inc. will pull this "Get Some Nuts" Snickers ad from British television:

Here's the news release from HRC:

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, learned today that Mars Inc. will pull a controversial television advertisement for Snickers following communication between the HRC Workplace Project and Mars, the parent company.  The ad features a man whose appearance and actions – speed walking in an exaggerated manner – conjure up stereotypes of gay men. The man is then ridiculed by Mr. T who appears shooting Snickers bars out of a gun and admonishing the jogger to be a "real man."

Statement from HRC Workplace Director Daryl Herrschaft:

"Following conversations between the Human Rights Campaign and senior Mars representatives, the company has agreed to pull its most recent ad using stereotypes of gay men to sell its Snickers product line.  HRC applauds Mars for taking swift and appropriate action. 

In 2007, another distasteful Snickers advertisement was aired during Super Bowl XLI.  The company subsequently pulled the ad.  Following that, HRC began a constructive dialogue with Mars on workplace inclusion for GLBT employees.  We were of course surprised to see the company return to the same practice it had just recently rejected. 

These kinds of ads perpetuate the notion that the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community is a group of second class citizens and that violence against GLBT people is not only acceptable, but humorous.

We are hopeful that Mars will make the necessary changes in their organization to ensure this does not happen yet again."

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds U.S. House vote to repeal HIV travel ban

Task Force news release:

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds U.S. House vote to repeal HIV travel ban, calls on President Bush to sign swiftly

WASHINGTON, July 25 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds the U.S. House’s vote late yesterday to repeal the HIV travel ban. The Senate voted July 16 to repeal the prohibition, which was codified by Congress in 1993. While immigration law currently excludes foreigners with any “communicable disease of public health significance” from entering the country, only HIV is explicitly named in the statute.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director (pictured), National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

"For far too long, people with HIV have been inhumanely blocked from entering the United States due to profound ignorance, fear and misinformation. It’s time to abolish this arcane and unjust law once and for all. We applaud the House and Senate for acting to do just that, and we urge President Bush to move swiftly to sign the repeal.”

GOING … GOING … GONE! Sidelines bartender wins highest bid in Boxers & Briefs Benefit

Sidelines Sports Bar news release:

In what would arguably be deemed as one of the most uproarious, off the wall, side-splitting and memorable fundraising events Wilton Manors has ever seen, last Monday night’s “Bartender Boxers and Briefs Benefit” for Tuesday’s Angels held at Bill’s was a enormous success. The event featured bartenders, bar owners and managers, media personnel and other local celebs donning their “private undies” and auctioning them off to the highest bidders. One of Sidelines Sports Bar’s superstar bartenders, Dean Knapp (pictured), sold his sexy skivvies and raised the highest amount of the evening - a whopping $4,450! Rosie’s Bar & Grill came in a close second!

In addition to the underwear auction, the fundraising event included a silent auction for gifts and prizes, a raffle, and even a few surprise guests. Emceed by Russ from the Ramrod, Nikki Adams, Misty Eyez, Toni Barone, and other well-known personalities, the benefit was a night to remember bringing together staff from competing bars and restaurants and uniting as one community for a great cause dear to our hearts. These selfless efforts exceeded last year’s benefit total and garnered Tuesday’s Angels over $18,000. Congratulations go out to all who participated!

Founded in 1993, Tuesday's Angels Inc. began as a charity to give emergency financial assistance to those with HIV/AIDS and has evolved into a nonprofit organization that today provides funding on an emergency basis to men, women and children with HIV/AIDS. One hundred percent of all dollars received by Tuesday's Angels go directly to individuals or to selected organizations that have clients that have little or no income. People living with HIV/AIDS are often unable to work and are frequently hospitalized. Upon proper documents, assistance is often given the same day.

Sidelines Sports Bar, with its 17 flat-screen TVs, 3 pool tables, 3 dartboards, and other videos games, continues to provide a fun, friendly and comfortable environment for gay men and women who enjoy all kinds of sports. The gay owned and operated club has rapidly become Fort Lauderdale’s premier gay sports bar. Sidelines Sports Bar is located at 2031-A Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305. Their telephone number is (954) 563-8001 or you can also visit them online at www.sidelinessports.com.

Photo of Dean Knapp by Pompano Bill. (Click to enlarge.)

House to OK bill co-authored by Ros-Lehtinen to curb worldwide pandemic of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis

News release from the office of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:

"An opportunity to eliminate a grave threat to international security"

(WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), co-author of legislation to expand U.S. efforts to curb the worldwide pandemics of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, praised today's expected House passage of the Lantos-Hyde Act as "an opportunity to eliminate a grave threat to international security."

Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said that an estimated 35 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, and that an estimated 7,000 new infections occur each day.

"In its wake, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is leaving a trail of poverty, despondency, and death, which has destabilized societies and undermined the security of entire regions," Ros-Lehtinen said.

The Lantos-Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act is expected to be signed into law as early as next week. The legislation reauthorizes the disease prevention and treatment program first enacted in 2003 and crafted by U.S. Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-IL) and Tom Lantos (D-CA), both of whom formerly served as Chairmen of the Committee.

"Since 2003, millions of people have been treated, and millions more have benefited from HIV prevention programs worldwide," said Ros-Lehtinen. "These successes are truly remarkable, and serve as a testament to all that can be accomplished when we work together in Congress to find solutions to one of the world’s most pressing challenges," she added.

"As Americans, we have been given a unique opportunity to help make the world a better place for those who have been victimized by the AIDS pandemic, while simultaneously enhancing our own nation’s security. Americans have led by example, and our success has been measured in human lives saved," said Ros-Lehtinen.

Lambda Chorale to audition singers

News release:

South Florida Lambda Chorale, now under the direction of Gary Keating, is auditioning new members, at 7:15 p.m., Wednesdays, August 6 and 13, at the Sunshine Cathedral. (MCC), 1480 SW 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.  The 17-year-old mixed (men and women) chorus prides itself on its diversity and on developing understanding within the gay and straight communities through choral excellence. For further information, call (866) WE-SING-4-U (866-937-4644).