Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida - for and about (but not just) LGBT people
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From coralGAYbles.com:
coralGAYbles.com
Invites you to the August Social to be held:
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
6PM-9PMMariposa at Neiman Marcus
390 San Lorenzo Avenue
(at the Village of Merrick Park)
Coral Gables, FL
786-999-1018coralGAYbles.com
335 Almeria Avenue
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
From Cuban Colada blog:
Fidel Castro this week admitted responsibility for the persecution of homosexuals in Cuba in the 1960s, calling their internment in forced-labor camps "a great injustice."
In the second installment of an interview with the editor of the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Castro said that the revolutionary government's actions represented "a great injustice – a great injustice! – whoever committed it. If we committed it, we committed it. I am trying to limit my responsibility in all that because, of course, personally I don't have that type of prejudice."
Does your 4-year-old son dress up in his big sister's tiaras and princess costumes?
Does your 3-year-old daughter swap Barbies for Tonka Trucks?
With celebrity gossip sites buzzing over Angelina Jolie's comment that her 4-year-old daughter, Shiloh, wants to be a boy, and even children's books and popular television shows beginning to tackle the issue, transgender children have taken the media spotlight.
``It's not so much that younger children are exhibiting this behavior,'' said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida the state's largest rights group dedicated to equality to the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual and Transgender community. ``It is something that has already existed. There is just more research and visibility.''
But with lots of new information out there, parents are left sifting through some contradictions.
``I think parents are very worried and confused and there isn't clear-cut advice,'' says Ellen Perrin, chief of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. ``It's a complex issue.''
Click here to read the complete article.
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RESOURCES
• TranYouth Family Allies (www.imatyfa.org )
• Transequlity.org is the website of the National Center for Transgender Equality, helpful for families seeking legal support.
• Transfamily.org has online discussion groups for parents of transgender children of all ages.
• Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (pflag.org ) serves as peer support for parents as well.
• Safe Schools South Florida, (safeschoolssouthflorida.org ) a group of professional educators committed to training education professionals to recognize and intervene in harassment and bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) students and the children of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) parents.
• EqualityFlorida.org is a statewide education and advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and class.
SEEKING HELP
Should you be concerned about your child's atypical gender behavior?
If your child is socially well-adjusted and overall comfortable in his or skin, the general rule is to let things be. You should seek outside support if you, your child or your family are struggling to accept your child's gender expression.
The outreach program for gender-variant children and their families at Children's National Medical Center (childrensnational.org) in Washington, D.C., offers tips for choosing a therapist. Among them:
• Ask the therapist how she or her approaches gender variance. Make sure your therapist is fine with whatever gender outcome your child has.
• Ask about previous experience treating children with these issues.
• Make sure that guidance and support for you and your spouse or partner are major components of the therapy.
• Be concerned if the sessions only involve your child, don't address parenting questions or don't offer you ways to help your child and your family.
• Be concerned if the therapist seems to focus on the child's behavior as the problem rather than on helping the child cope with intolerance and prejudice.
BULLYING
Bullying is one of the biggest issues that transgender children face. Sit down with school administrators -- nurse, psychologist, principal and/or teachers -- to make sure everyone is aware of the circumstances.News release from Broward Center for the Performing Arts:
FORT LAUDERDALE – The Off Broadway In Broward Series begins its new season with the award-winning high-energy rock musical Bare from Thursday, September 9 through Saturday, September 18 in the Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Often compared to Rent and Spring Awakening, this Off Broadway musical hit follows five Catholic high school seniors struggling with issues of personal and sexual identity as they get ready to graduate and face the world.
The Los Angeles Times wrote, “Angst and skin are revealed in a pop musical work loaded with raw emotion and its own strong voice.”
Bare features music by Damon Intrabartolo and lyrics Jon Hartmere, Jr. while both men collaborated on the book. Its infectious rock music score electrifies traditional and gay love stories alongside the everyday insecurities of not knowing who we are and where we fit in, laying them all out for scrutiny. This production contains adult themes and subject matter.
The musical has won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for best score, the L.A. Weekly Award for best original score and best musical, the Ovation Award for best musical and Broadway.com’s Audience Award for best off-Broadway musical.
Performances are on Thursday, September 9 at 8 p.m.; Friday, September 10 at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 11 at 5 and 9 p.m.; Sunday, September 12 at 7 p.m.; Monday, September 13 at 8 p.m.; Friday, September 17 at 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday, September 18 at 5 and 9 p.m.
Tickets are $30 and are available through the Broward Center’s box office at 954/462-0222 or www.BrowardCenter.org. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.
Mangos Restaurant & Lounge, Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Lauderdale, Sun-Sentinel and Comcast are proud sponsors of the Broward Center. All dates, programs and artists are subject to change.
Gov. Charlie Crist clarifies tonight that he is not in favor of a federal constitutional ban on gay marriage, but that he does support Florida’s state ban which passed two years ago.
Also, he says he supports civil unions for same sex couples, but believes marriage “is a sacred institution between a man and a woman."
Here’s the governor’s full statement sent by his press secretary Sunday night to Nadine Smith of Equality Florida:
From: "Danny Kanner" <danny@charliecrist.com>
Date: August 29, 2010 6:39:38 PM EDT
Subject: Statement from Governor Crist
Below is a statement from Governor Crist regarding emails and statements that have been circulating today. Please feel free to contact the campaign for further questions.
Thank you,
Danny Kanner
Press Secretary
Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate"In an interview that aired today, I was not discussing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning same-sex marriage, which I do not support, but rather reaffirming my position regarding Florida's constitutional ban that I articulated while running for Governor. In fact, the interviewer's question reflected just that. I am fully supportive of civil unions and will continue to be as a United States Senator, but believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman."
From Charlie Crist’s Sunday interview with Ed Henry on CNN’s State of the Nation:
HENRY: Another big issue, same-sex marriage. Many conservatives like Marco Rubio support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. But this week, the former Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman came out and said he's gay and he called on conservatives to kind of move to the political center and be more tolerant on this issue. You have previously said in your gubernatorial campaign, you supported a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Now that you're trying to occupy the political center, are you still in favor of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage?
CRIST: I feel the same way, yes, because I feel that marriage is a sacred institution, if you will. But I do believe in tolerance. I'm a live and let live kind of guy, and while I feel that way about marriage, I think if partners want to have the opportunity to live together, I don't have a problem with that. …
… when it becomes to the institution of marriage, I believe that it is between a man and a woman, it's just how I feel.
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News release from Kendrick Meek campaign:
Governor Crist Tells CNN That He Has "A Live And Let Live" Attitude While Reiterating Support For Constitutional Ban On Same-Sex Marriage
Flashback: Governor Crist Endorsed Amendment 2, An Constitutional Ban On Any Type Of Same-Sex Partnership That Put Any Domestic-Partner Benefits In Doubt
Crist: "Everything is just a matter of degrees"
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. -- While telling CNN that he has a "live and let live" attitude towards gay marriage today, Governor Crist reiterated his support for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. When pressed by CNN's Ed Henry on the disconnect between the two statements, the governor responded by explaining that "everything is just a matter of degrees."
In 2006, Governor Crist endorsed Amendment 2, an amendment to the Florida constitution that was widely criticized for banning not just gay marriage in Florida but also blocking any other type of same-sex partnership. The measure also put the constitutionality of extending any domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples in doubt. Kendrick Meek lead the fight against the measure and was featured in a television commercial opposing the amendment.
While Governor Crist has a long record opposing LGBT rights, Kendrick has been a strong defender of LGBT rights. He has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, Save Dade, and Stonewall Democrats in the race for U.S. Senate.
Kendrick is the only candidate in the U.S. Senate race who has stood with Florida's LGBT community in the fight for equality. Check out the governor's record below.
Crist's Stand Against Gay Marriage: Amendment 2
On Sept. 10, 2008 the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that Crist said he supported Amendment 2, which banned gay marriage in the state, but also announced that he would not spend time actively promoting it, instead focusing on the Presidential race. Crist stated, "I'll support it, I'll vote for it, move on. It's not top-tier for me, put it that way." The Orlando Sentinel further added that Crist had prohibited the Republican Party of Florida from spending money to support the gay marriage ban. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 9/10/2008; Orlando Sentinel, 9/10/2008]Amendment 2 Banned Gay Marriage and Cast Doubt on Partner Benefits
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Amendment 2 banned gay marriage and cast doubt on whether benefits would be legally extended to same-sex partners. The Sentinel wrote, "The one-sentence Amendment 2 defines marriage as between one man and one woman and bars any other 'legal union' that is an equivalent to marriage - a standard that would ban civil unions and, critics contend, could cast doubt on domestic-partner benefits." [Orlando Sentinel, 9/10/2008]Crist Announced Support for Amendment 2 Despite Previous "Live and Let Live Attitude"
On Sept. 6, 2008, the Washington Blade reported that Crist's formal endorsement of Amendment 2, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, was a break from his previously proclaimed "live and let live attitude." The Blade wrote:Governor Charlie Crist's "live and let live" policy regarding the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Florida is now a thing of the past. A Crist spokesman confirmed that the governor is undeniably supporting Amendment 2. On Monday, Crist made a statement during an impromptu barbershop Q & A with reporters. When asked his position on Amendment 2, Crist's reply was surprisingly clear. "I support it," he said. [Washington Blade, 8/6/2008]
Crist: Including Gays, Pregnant Women In Civil Rights Legislation Too Controversial.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the civil-rights law passed in 2003 failed to include discrimination against pregnant women as well as gays. While most states ban job discrimination against pregnant women and 12 other states already specifically prohibit discrimination in the workplace because of sexual orientation, AG Charlie Crist contended both were too controversial in clued and could have distracted from the main goal of fighting discrimination against minorities. Crist said fighting discrimination against minorities "was the prime focus." According to the article, "Many states also include discrimination against pregnant women, and at least a dozen specifically prohibit sexual- orientation discrimination in the workplace. Laws protecting gays from discrimination are being passed by a rising number of states, and many corporations have adopted such policies, including Wal-Mart, which announced last week that the company will include gays and lesbians in its anti-discrimination policy." [Orlando Sentinel, 06/07/03]-30-
Kendrick Meek is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Florida. Prior to running for elected office, Kendrick was a Trooper in the Florida Highway Patrol. For more information, go to www.kendrickmeek.com.
SAN FRANCISCO -- A retired Presbyterian minister was found guilty of misconduct Friday by a church court for officiating the weddings of 16 gay couples when same-sex marriage was legal in California.
A regional commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) ruled 4-2 that the Rev. Jane Spahr of San Francisco "persisted in a pattern or practice of disobedience" by performing the weddings in 2008 before Proposition 8 banned the unions in the state.
The church's highest court has held that Presbyterian ministers may bless same-sex unions as long as they do "not state, imply, or represent that a same-sex ceremony is a marriage."
By willfully challenging that holding, Spahr broke her ordination vows, the commission said in its majority opinion.
At the same time, however, the tribunal devoted most of its 2 1/2-page ruling to praising the 68-year-old pastor, a lesbian who founded a church group in the early 1990s for gay Presbyterians.
Spahr was acknowledged "for her prophetic ministry" and "faithful compassion. The commissioners called on the broader church to use her example "to re-examine our own fear and ignorance."
"In the reality in which we live today, marriage can be between same gender as well as opposite gender persons, and we, as a church, need to be able to respond to this reality as Dr. Jane Spahr has done with faithfulness and compassion," the ruling stated.
The six-member commission representing 54 Northern California churches censured Spahr with a rebuke as punishment. Spahr said she was disappointed by the verdict and would appeal to a midlevel church court.
"If you agree with me, then say yes," Spahr told The Associated Press. "It's like, 'Janie, we want this to happen and we affirm your ministry and we sustain the charges. The mixed message of that is the thing that people hear. We want the message of the Gospel, which is God's love is for all."
The decision followed a three-day trial in which Spahr's lawyers argued that her actions were inspired by Presbyterian teachings on diversity and inclusion.
It was the second time the regional Presbytery of the Redwoods convened a court to consider charges against Spahr for sanctioning same-sex relationships.
In 2006, a church court composed of different members ruled that she had acted within her rights as an ordained minister when she married two lesbian couples in 2004 and 2005.
Caption - In this April 28, 2008 file photo, Reverend Jane Spahr gestures during a news conference at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, Calif. Spahr will go on trial this week for officiating the weddings of same sex couples during the brief period when gay marriage was legal in California. Ben Margot, file / AP Photo
Posted by MediaMEcom
Advertising Agency: Fortune Promoseven, Egypt
Creative directors: Abdelsalam Abdelsalam, Mohamed El Zayat
Associate creative directors: Mohamed Hamady, Ahmed Hafez Youness, Tameem Youness
Senior art director: George Azmy
Director: Omar Hilal
Production company: Broadcast/Silver Green
Post-production: Gravity
Members of Woodhull Freedom Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based group working to affirm “sexual freedom as a fundamental human right,” hosted a reception Thursday night at Magnum Lounge in Northeast Miami.
Attendees included Ricci J. Levy, president & founding executive director; jazz flautist Nestor Torres; and Levy’s brother, South Florida political consultant Robert M. Levy.
Photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff
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