David Richardson, D-Miami Beach, sworn in as Florida's first openly gay state legislator

On Tuesday, David Richardson officially became Florida's first openly gay state representative. SAVE Dade posted this photo on its Facebook page:

C.J. Ortuño of SAVE Dade named by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to elections advisory group

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has named a 13-member elections advisory group that includes C.J. Ortuño, executive director of SAVE Dade.

Click here to read the details at our sister blog, Naked Politics.

Aventura attorney Jeff Herman represents second man who accused Elmo puppeteer of sex abuse

• Elmo actor Kevin Clash resigns amid new underage sex allegation

Aventura attorney Jeff Herman – who represents sex abuse victims against the Roman Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America – today announced his newest client: Cecil Singleton, the latest accuser against the voice of Elmo, Kevin Clash.

From Herman's blog:

Lawsuit filed today by attorney Jeff Herman alleges voice of Elmo trolled gay telephone chat line rooms to meet and have sex with underage boys.
 
WHAT: Attorney JEFF HERMAN (www.hermanlaw.com), a nationally-recognized attorney for victims of sexual abuse, announces the filing of a lawsuit against KEVIN CLASH for the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old boy.
 
According to the Complaint:

• When CECIL SINGLETON, the victim in this case, was just fifteen years old, he called a gay chat line seeking friends. In this chat room, KEVIN CLASH, internationally known puppeteer and voice actor for the widely recognized Sesame Street character Elmo, began communicating with CECIL SINGLETON.
• During these telephone calls, KEVIN CLASH persuaded, induced, coerced or enticed CECIL SINGLETON to meet him for sexual encounters.
• KEVIN CLASH groomed CECIL and gained his trust by, among other things, taking him to nice dinners and giving him money.
• On numerous occasions over a period of years, KEVIN CLASH engaged CECIL SINGLETON in sexual activity.  This sexual activity began when CECIL SINGLETON was fifteen years old.
   
  The victim’s attorney, Jeff Herman, said:  “According to our lawsuit, Kevin Clash preyed on vulnerable teenage boys, like Cecil Singleton, to satisfy his depraved sexual interests. By coming forward now, Cecil hopes to spare the lives of others like him and to begin his own healing process."
   
  CECIL SINGLETON v. KEVIN CLASH was filed early Tuesday morning.

Singleton is seeking more than $5 million in damages, according to media reports.

Elmo actor Kevin Clash resigns amid new underage sex allegation

• Aventura attorney Jeff Herman represents second man who accused Elmo puppeteer of sex abuse

NEW YORK (AP) – Sesame Workshop says Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from “Sesame Street” in the wake of allegations that he had sex with an under-aged youth.

Last week a man accused Clash of having sex with him when he was a teenage boy, a charge Clash denied. A day later, the man recanted his charge. A lawsuit by a second accuser was filed Tuesday, according to attorney Cecil Singleton.

Sesame Workshop called the controversy surrounding Clash's personal life “a distraction that none of us want” and led to his decision to leave the show.
Clash created the voice and persona for Elmo, who has become one of “Sesame Street's” most popular characters.

Transgender Day of Remembrance service 7 p.m. Tuesday at Pride Center in Wilton Manors (with videos)

Today is the 14th international Transgender Day of Remembrance (#TDOR), memorializing those who lost their lives due to hate crimes based on their gender identities and expression.

A service will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors.