Jaie Laplante named director of Miami International Film Festival

From Miami Herald film critic Rene Rodriguez:

Jaie Laplante, a former co-director of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and current director of the South Beach Food & Wine Festival, has been hired by Miami Dade College to oversee the 27th edition of the Miami International Film Festival, running March 4-13.

Click here to read more.

Gay South Florida voter's guide - August 2010

Here’s a comprehensive list of recommendations from South Florida gay groups Equality Florida, SAVE Dade and Unity Coalition. Also included are recommendations from the local Christian Family Coalition.

Equality Florida has designated openly gay candidates by placing rainbow flags next to their names: Kevin Burns (Florida Senate), Justin Flippen (Florida House), Ken Keechl (Broward Commission), Miriam “Mimi” Planas (Miami-Dade Commission) and John Adornato III (Oakland Park Commission). The group did not endorse in openly gay U.S. Congressional candidate Scott Galvin’s race.

 

Equality Florida

South

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Florida Together

Jupiter, Florida  -  Florida Together, a statewide organization which supports equal rights for all Floridians, announced today its recommendations for pro-equality candidates running for U.S. Congress in Florida on the August 24th Primary ballot. 

Florida Together's Executive Director and Political Committee, in consultation with some of Florida Together's national partners and local leaders, reviewed the legislative and political landscape and examined federal races which will be on the August 24th, 2010 Primary Election ballot in Florida.
The criteria for this review was to determine Primary races where the outcome was important for advancing equality for all people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to determine which candidate in such races was both viable and was most supportive of equal rights for all people.  

Please note that Florida Together, Inc. is a separate legal entity from Florida Together Federation, Inc.  Florida Together Federation, a federation of over 80 LGBT and allied organizations, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and does not engage in partisan political activity and does not support or oppose political candidates.  Support for a candidate by Florida Together does not imply an endorsement by any individual member of Florida Together Federation.

Florida Together PAC, a statewide organization dedicated to supporting candidates who believe in protecting the rights of all Floridians, announced its recommendations in Florida's August 24th Primary.  Early voting starts on Monday, August 9th.

Florida Together's Executive Director, Michael Kenny, and Florida Together's Political Committee, in consultation with legislative experts and political consultants and after review of input from a number of local political leaders, reviewed the legislative and political landscape and examined every state legislative race which will be on the August 24th, 2010 Primary Election ballot in Florida.

The criteria for this review was to determine Primary races where the outcome was important for advancing equality for all people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to determine which candidate in such races was both viable and was most supportive of equality.  Please note this is only with respect to the Primary races.  We will announce our recommendations for the November 2, 2010 General Election races shortly after the Primary.
Based on this analysis, Florida Together PAC strongly recommends support for the following candidates:

STATE SENATE PRIMARY RACES
State Senate District 27 - Sharon Merchant (R)
State Senate District 27 - Kevin Rader (D)
State Senate District 35 - Gwen Margolis (D)

STATE HOUSE PRIMARY RACES
State House District 55 - Darryl Ervin Rouson (D)
State House District 60 - Russ Patterson (D)
State House District 88 - Mark Pafford (D)
State House District 90 - Irv Slosberg (D)
State House District 92 - Justin Flippen (D)
State House District 108 - Alix Desulme (D)
State House District 118 - Dwight Bullard (D)

US HOUSE PRIMARY RACES
US House District 2 - Allen Boyd (D)
US House District 3 - Corrine Brown (D)
US House District 8 - Alan Grayson (D)
US House District 11 - Kathy Castor (D)
US House District 17 - Scott Galvin (D)
US House District 22 - Ron Klein (D)
US House District 24 - Suzanne Kosmas (D)
US House District 25 - Joe Garcia (D)

Florida Together is the advocacy and political arm of Florida Together Federation, a federation of over eighty Florida organizations committed to equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Floridians.

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Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance

DEMOCRATIC BALLOT

United States Senator
Jeff Greene (Dem.)
U.S. Representative, District 16
Ed Tautiva (Dem.)
U.S. Representative, District 22
Ron Klein (Dem.)
Governor
Alex Sink (Dem)

Attorney General

CO- ENDORSEMENT
YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES:
Dan Gelber (Dem.)
Dave Aronberg (Dem.)

State Senator, District 27

Kevin Rader (Dem.)

State Representative, District 86

Carole Kaye (Dem.)
State Representative, District 88
Mark Pafford (Dem.)
State Representative, District 89

Jeff Clemens (Dem.)

State Representative, District 90

Irving "Irv" Slosberg (Dem.)

County Commission, District 6

Michael E. Jackson (Dem.)

Port of Palm Beach, Group 4

Blair Ciklin (Dem.)

Circuit Court Judge, Group 33

Lisa Small

County Court Judge, Group 7

Marni A. Bryson

School Board, District 3

CO- ENDORSEMENT
YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES:
William G. "Bill" Graham
Tom Whatley

School Board, District 4

CO- ENDORSEMENT
YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES
Jennifer Prior Brown
John E. McGovern

School Board, District 6

Marcia Andrews

School Board, District 7

Debra L. Robinson

REPUBLICAN BALLOT

State Senator, District 25

Ellyn Bogdanoff (Rep.)
State Senator, District 27
Sharon Merchant (Rep.)

State Representative, District 86
Carole Kaye (Dem.) *

Circuit Court Judge, Group 33

Lisa Small

County Court Judge, Group 7

Marni A. Bryson

School Board, District 3

CO- ENDORSEMENT
YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES:
William G. "Bill" Graham
Tom Whatley

School Board, District 4

CO- ENDORSEMENT
YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES
Jennifer Prior Brown
John E. McGovern

School Board, District 6

Marcia Andrews

School Board, District 7

Debra L. Robinson

NO PARTY AFFILIATION BALLOT

State Representative, District 86

Carole Kaye (Dem.) *

Circuit Court Judge, Group 33

Lisa Small

County Court Judge, Group 7

Marni A. Bryson

School Board, District 3

CO- ENDORSEMENT
YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES:
William G. "Bill" Graham
Tom Whatley

School Board, District 4

CO- ENDORSEMENT
YOU MAY ONLY VOTE FOR ONE
OF THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES
Jennifer Prior Brown
John E. McGovern

School Board, District 6

Marcia Andrews

School Board, District 7

Debra L. Robinson
* Since there are only Democrats in the District 86 race,
all registered voters can and should vote for Carole Kaye.

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SAVE Dade

After a lengthy and comprehensive endorsement process, consisting of questionnaires, interviews, panel recommendations and voting by our Board, the SAVE Dade Action PAC makes the following endorsements for the August 24, 2010 elections:

U.S. Senate

Kendrick Meek

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Kendrick Meek for U.S. Senate. We believe his support of equal rights for people who are LGBT and his positive voting record on our issues will make a strong ally as the next Florida Senator. We anticipate that the Senate will face more than one pro-LGBT vote over the next two years, therefore increasing the significance of having a champion in the Senate from Florida. Kendrick Meek is that champion.

 

U.S. House of Representatives

Scott Galvin
District 17

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Scott Galvin for U.S. Congressional District 17. As an openly gay man, Scott has always been a staunch supporter of LGBT equality, with a longtime record of community service in local politics. While he is running in competition with other worthwhile and proven supporters of our mission, it is our belief that his presence will turn the tide on LGBT issues in D.C. as well as the state of Florida.

Joe Garcia
District 25

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Joe Garcia  for U.S. Congressional District  25. A longtime advocate of our mission and values who has responded to our questions with 100% support, Joe will, we believe, serve as an upstanding proponent as one of Miami-Dade's delegates in Washington. With Congress nearing a significant vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), we are confident that Joe Garcia will be a positive vote in favor of this landmark legislation.

FL Cabinet

Dan Gelber
Attorney General

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Dan Gelber for Attorney General. Based on his lengthy civil rights experience in the judicial system and his very long-tem support of LGBT equality, we believe that Dan Gelber will be the most resourceful and experienced Attorney General in terms of support for repealing the ban on LGB Floridians from adopting.

 

FL House of Representatives and Senate

Gwen Margolis
Senate District 35

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Gwen Margolis for State Senatorial District 35. Gwen Margolis was a strong supporter of LGBT causes long before it became a popular issue, and remains a staunch ally. She was instrumental in promoting gay and lesbian inclusion in the county Human Rights Ordinance. Her years of community activism and service provide her with a knowledge base that will be invaluable in Tallahassee, where, we believe, she will hit the ground with immediate success.

Matthew Vinnor Tisdol
House District 104

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Matthew Vinnor Tisdol for State Representative District 104. After interviewing several candidates for this open seat, Matthew Tisdol's direct experience with LGBT issues and promises of continuing support make him a clear choice for endorsement by SAVE Dade.

Bess McElroy
House District 109

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Bess McElroy for State Representative District 109. Bess McElroy has a lengthy history as a SAVE Dade supporter, as well as being part of SAVE Dade's efforts to adopt an inclusive Miami-Dade County Human Rights Ordinance. Her 100% support of LGBT issues identified by our comprehensive questionnaire make her SAVE Dade's choice for State Representative.

 

Millie Herrera
House District 114

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Millie Herrera for State Representative District 114. Based on her promises of fairness and equality and her 100% support for our issues, we endorse Millie Herrera. We believe her leadership as a Hispanic American lawmaker will significantly advance our cause in a community where we've historically had poor traction.

Dwight Bullard
House District 118

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Dwight Bullard for State Representative District 118. An ally who has been endorsed by us in the past, Dwight Bullard is an incumbent State Representative who will continue as a loyal supporter of LGBT equality and deserves to remain a Representative. Dwight Bullard has sponsored some of our most important pieces of legislation in Tallahassee and has promised to do so as he continues as a Florida lawmaker.

 

County Commission

Annette Taddeo
District 8

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Annette Taddeo for County Commission District 8. Some shoes are extremely hard to fill, and those of staunch supporter Katy Sorenson, who's decided not to run for re-election, are no exception. Of the many good candidates attempting this feat, we believe Annette Taddeo has the name recognition and is willing to spend any and all political capital to promote our cause as commissioner, and thus is our choice for County Commissioner  in this race.

Miriam "Mimi" Planas
District 10

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Miriam "Mimi" Planas for County Commission District 10. An open member of the LGBT community, Mimi Planas has experienced first-hand the issues that confront us in our quest for equality and, we feel, deserves both our support and endorsement for the County Commission. Additionally, Mimi would be replacing an aggressively anti-equality Commissioner who has consistently voted against equality for LGBT people.

 

Judges

Monica Gordo

Samantha Ruiz-Cohen

Flora Seff

SAVE Dade Action PAC endorses Monica Gordo and Samantha Ruiz-Cohen for Circuit Court Judge, and Flora Seff for Group 11 Circuit Court Judge. Monica Gordo's experience as a prosecutor has provided her with direct experience in Circuit Court proceedings. Samantha Ruiz-Cohen and Flora Seff are also very experienced in the judicial system, and we believe that each of the three would serve fairly and equitably as Circuit Court Judges.

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Unity Coalition

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Christian Family Coalition

miami dade

broward

palm beach

Attorney Elizabeth Schwartz to be honored as National LGBT Bar Association convenes in Miami Beach

From Steve Adkins of the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce:

Annual Conference in Miami

Over 1300 Registered So Far...Expected Sell-out

Join us - MDGLCC - GALLA will have a booth @ EXPO - Aug. 26th

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University of Miami Law School Alumni Reception - August 28th

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EXPO & Career Fair
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Miami, FL
Loews Miami Beach Hotel

The National LGBT Bar Association's Annual Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference is designed to achieve a sense of community and inclusion for LGBT candidates within the legal profession's recruiting efforts. By participating in this career fair, candidates will talk directly to LGBT-friendly recruiters from law firms, government agencies, LGBT rights groups, and legal departments.

Candidates are encouraged to discuss their identity and their aspirations to become part of a bias-free work environment.

Recruiters are encouraged to take this opportunity to showcase their diversity efforts to top level law students and lateral candidates from around the country.

The Career Fair kicks off with a panel of legal practitioners with experience working in government, non-profit, small and large firms.  The panel will be guided by a law career services professional will discuss the tools, considerations and critical aspects to find, research and evaluate LGBT-friendly employers in each of these legal arenas.
The Annual Career Fair and Conference has grown leaps and bounds over the past five years. Over 600 candidates and 130 recruiters representing private firms and public organizations from all over the country were present at the 2009 Career Fair in Brooklyn.

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Networking Lunch
September 15th
Miami's Chop House

Are you a member/potential member who is an attorney, judge or, markets to the legal profession???
Then join us...

GALLA (Gay & Lesbian Lawyer's Assn.) - Downtown
MDGLCC/GALLA presents our monthly networking program for our member attorneys, judges and legal professionals. Each month, we will present a featured speaker who will discuss timely/topical issues.
This event is held monthly at the Miami Chop House (300 S. Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33131; 305-938-9000) Cost: $35 members/$45 for potential members...a GREAT 3 course meal will be provided. To reserve your space, call MDGLCC at 305-673-4440 or, mdglcc@bellsouth.net

Miami's Chop House, 300 South Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33131; 305.938.3000.  Registration is at 11:30 am.; lunch and presentation will commence at noon.

Gallery | Summerfest 2010 T-dance at The Palace

This weekend marked the third annual Summerfest benefiting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Events included a Friday night Creative Male shopping spree; a big pool party at Hotel Victor and dance party at Score on Saturday; and lunch and T-dance Sunday at The Palace, above.

Photos by STEVE ROTHAUS / Miami Herald Staff

View Full Album

Name changing for gay couples not a straight line

By LEANNE ITALIE, Associated Press

In October 2008, racing against California's gay marriage ban, Chloe and Frankie Frankeny wed legally in San Francisco with one chore already done: Chloe had taken her wife's name two years before.

"It was the only way we had to fit into a mainstream role that was understandable to anybody," said Chloe, managing editor of a fashion website. "When I told my father I was taking Frankie's name he was sort of blown away because I definitely consider myself a feminist."

With a battle over the state's ban on gay marriage possibly headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, it's likely more same-sex couples will do the same. For the Frankenys, the name switch couldn't magically grant all the marriage benefits denied same-sex couples when compared to one man, one wife, but it was one more way to express their union. It's a symbol rendered even stronger now that legal gay marriages are on hold in California, and for partners who've never had the option.

Logistically, a name-change for gay couples isn't always as simple as trotting out a marriage certificate, the proof most required in heterosexual marriage. Emotionally, the journey is about love, commitment - and a way to ease anxiety over being misunderstood as non-relatives in emergencies or considered less-than as parents.

Kirsten Palladino, who runs the online gay wedding 'zine Equally Wed, shed Ott for the surname of her partner, Maria, last year without benefit of a state-sanctioned union in Georgia. She's seeing more couples go to court for name changes, settling on hyphenation or one partner's surname over the other.

"We have grown stronger and are speaking out for ourselves in this way," said Palladino, 32. "There's nothing stopping us from taking each other's names, even if we can't get a marriage certificate."

After a five-year courtship, the Palladinos had a wedding at an antebellum mansion in Decatur, Ga. Kirsten became a Palladino after running a newspaper announcement of her intentions once a week for four weeks and appearing before a judge, just as people going through a formal name change for reasons other than marriage must do.

"I was nervous. I didn't know how the judge would feel, but he was great. Personally, I had to deal with some identity issues after, but becoming a family unit with my wife trumped anything else for me," she said.

College sweethearts Kathryn and Heather Kraft of Newton, Mass., just celebrated 12 years together and have a new baby. They had a church wedding five years ago in white gowns with 10 bridesmaids after obtaining a marriage license under their state's gay marriage law.

Whose name did they choose? Kathryn said her Kraft over Heather's Cole "because we're very close to my family and wanted to add to that family in a noticeable way." They had considered combining names into a new one that "represented both of our ancestry, but in the end we're very traditional people." Cole is now a middle name for the entire family, including baby Esther.

Making the switch with a legal marriage certificate was no trouble for Heather, until she tried to get a U.S. passport ahead of a trip to Europe. "We were shocked when Heather's application was denied," said her 32-year-old partner, a family therapist. "The passport office would not recognize our marriage certificate as proof and insisted that she had to go in front of a judge to have a court-ordered name change."

After six months, she was issued a "known as" passport identifying her by both names. "It's a small thing that isn't noticeable when you look at her passport, but the process was long and an unnecessary reminder that things aren't exactly equal," Kathryn said.

Jason and Anthony Cline committed to each other in 2001 during a hotel ceremony in their native Indiana, where gay marriage is outlawed. They thought about heading to a state where their union would be legal but decided not to bother knowing they'd return home to suburban Indianapolis without that recognition.

Jason, 33, legally changed his name, going through a newspaper notification process and enduring questions from a judge as Palladino did.

"The process seemed cold but it helped prove our relationship to our friends and family that maybe weren't as advanced in their thinking on the topic. It helped solidify our relationship to the people that we knew and to the world," he said. "It starts a conversation. It tells a story."

Chloe Frankeny sees other practical outcomes to changing her name, including proof of family status in case of a medical crisis.

"With the same last name we could say we were sisters," she said. "We've all heard stories of partners kept apart in emergency rooms. That was a precaution we wanted to take."

From nearly 80 percent to 95 percent of heterosexual couples marrying for the first time legally adjust their names as the age of the average bride has risen to about 27 over the last 20 years, according to research. Professional identity before marriage motivates others - in same-sex and hetero couples alike - to keep their original names informally or incorporate them as middle names.

Elisa Hebert, 32, wasn't attached to her surname before she traveled with partner Megan from their home outside Denver, Colo., to Rehoboth, Mass., a plus since most of their friends and family are from New England. Back home, Elisa appeared in court to complete her legal name change before a judge managing a roomful of ticked-off parents and their kids hauled in for truancy. "I felt like a 12-year-old who was in trouble," she said.

Marni Kahn, a doctoral candidate in sociology in Atlanta, took partner Casey Brown's last name after a marriage ceremony that blended their Jewish and Southern Baptist roots. "It really did tie things up nicely," said Casey, a marketing analyst.

Actor and writer Marcos Mateo Ochoa, 29, of Los Angeles chose to hyphenate instead. He goes by Cermak-Ochoa after marrying partner Frank Cermak on Oct. 4, 2008, a union legally recognized in California with 18,000 other same-sex marriages there before voters approved Proposition 8 and ended the practice. He plans to make the name switch legal once the court case is resolved.

"We want to identify ourselves as being united, but with California being so flip-floppy on this, it's just a matter of when we go about the process," Ochoa said. "Is this going to be another obstacle, another hurdle for us to go through?"

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ONLINE

Equally wed: http://www.equallywed.com

Investors urge Target to look at political giving

By MARTIGA LOHN, Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- A few Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. institutional shareholders weighed in Thursday on the flap over the companies' political donations in Minnesota, urging the boards of both retailers to increase their oversight of campaign contributions.

Walden Asset Management and Trillium Asset Management Corp., both of Boston, and Bethesda, Md.-based Calvert Asset Management Co. filed shareholder resolutions with both companies. Together, the three firms control less than 1 percent of each company's outstanding shares - 1.1 million Target shares worth $57.5 million and 344,000 Best Buy shares worth $11.3 million - but they are moving the debate over the political giving to a new arena.

Target gave $150,000 and Best Buy $100,000 to a business-focused political fund helping a conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota, triggering a national backlash from gay rights groups and liberals. The companies made the donations after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling freed them to spend corporate funds on elections. The candidate, state legislator Tom Emmer, opposes gay marriage and other rights for same-sex couples.

"A good corporate political contribution policy should prevent the kind of debacle Target and Best Buy walked into," said Trillium vice president Shelley Alpern. "We expect companies to evaluate candidates based upon the range of their positions - not simply one area - and assess whether they are in alignment with their core values. But these companies' policies are clearly lacking that."

The shareholders said the donations don't mesh with corporate values that include workplace protections for gay employees and risk harming the companies' brands. Walden senior vice president Tim Smith said such giving can have "a major negative impact on company reputations and business."

The Target resolution urges the board to review the effect of future political contributions on the company's public image, sales and profitability and to consider the cost of backing a candidate whose politics conflict with the company's public stances.

Spokeswoman Amy Reilly said Minneapolis-based Target had nothing to add to previous statements on the matter, including an apology from Chief Executive Officer Gregg Steinhafel.

A spokeswoman for Richfield, Minn.-based Best Buy didn't immediately respond to a message.

The three investment companies together submitted the resolution to Target, while Calvert and Trillium filed the Best Buy shareholder proposal. One of Trillium's clients, the Portland, Ore.-based Equity Foundation, divested a small Target holding of 170 shares on Wednesday.

Florida HIV/AIDS advocates applaud Sen. Nelson's call for more federal AIDS Drug Assistance Program funding

News release from Michael Emanuel Rajner:

Nelson Writes U.S. Senate Leaders to Plead Case for Florida

Tampa, Florida - Florida HIV/AIDS advocates are thanking Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) for urging United States Senate leaders to do more in terms of federal funding for the struggling AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). In a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Florida Senator acknowledges proposed federal increases to ADAP for next year but comments that “more must be done” and urged him “to join in support of robust funding for programs like ADAP that offer real hope to Americans enduring the throes of this debilitating disease.”

As the Senator noted, ADAPs around the country, including most notably Florida, are facing severe funding crises due to the state budget pressure from the economic downturn and require a greater commitment from the federal government. There are currently nearly 3,000 people across the country on ADAP waiting lists, with 1,178 being in the State of Florida. The situation is getting worse each and every week and without additional funding, more people will be without ADAP drugs.

Florida HIV/AIDS advocates from around the state, including representatives of The AIDS Institute, the Florida HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network (FHAAN) and national organizations such as the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, have been meeting with the Senator’s office over the last couple of months to brief him on the Florida ADAP crisis. One advocate, Michael Emanuel Rajner, an HIV positive person and ADAP consumer living in Ft. Lauderdale, recently had an opportunity to sit down with the Senator and explain the situation and why his leadership was necessary. “Upon hearing the situation in Florida, the Senator expressed alarm and gave me his commitment that he would work on potential solutions,” commented Rajner. “This letter to the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee is a great start,” added Rajner, “now we must make sure he will continue to follow through as the Congress finalizes the ADAP funding level for next year and the years to come.”

“We realize that ADAP is primarily a federally funded program, but the State of Florida plays a critical role as well,” added Michael Ruppal, Executive Director of The AIDS Institute. “In addition to calling on our representatives in the Congress, we call on the Governor and the State Legislature to increase the state contribution to Florida’s ADAP this year in a special session of the legislature,” added Ruppal.

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For more information and to become involved in AIDS advocacy, please contact The AIDS Institute at: (202) 835-8373, or by email at: Info@theaidsinstitute.org or www.TheAIDSInstitute.org

The AIDS Institute is a national nonprofit organization that promotes action for social change through public policy research, advocacy and education.

Ricky Martin's autobiography due in November

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Ricky Martin has picked an appropriate title for his autobiography: "Me."

The Puerto Rican singer is set to release his memoir on Nov. 2. It will also be released in Spanish the same day. That edition will be titled "Yo," which is Spanish for "I" and "me."

Martin has said that preparing to write the book was one of the reasons he decided to reveal earlier this year that he is gay.

Martin said in a statement Thursday that the project led him to extract memories that he had erased from his mind. He says the book was not easy but allowed for an "incredible spiritual journey."

South Florida firefighters unveil 2011 calendar

Firefighter Eddy is on the cover of  the new South Florida Firefighter 2011 Calendar unveiled at Seminole Paradise Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Aug. 19, 2010. Twenty hometown heroes pose for the calendar in support of Here's Help and A Safe Haven for Newborns Charities. AL DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Click here to view a gallery of photos.

Click here to visit the South Florida Firefighters Calendar website.

Summerfest 2010 benefiting Task Force begins Friday with Creative Male Shopping Spree

From Thomas Barker: