DJs, performers Friday night at Living Room
From George Maiko Coronado:
Broward Mayor Ritter splits with gay aide, Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Justin Flippen
From Naked Politics:
Justin Flippen, a former president of the gay Dolphin Democrats, has left his position in Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter's office for a job at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau which he will start Monday.
Flippen worked on Ritter's 2006 campaign and then was hired by her office after she won. Since then, he was elected to the Wilton Manors City Commission where he now serves as Vice Mayor. Wilton Manors is not in Ritter's district.
Revamped Trina Restaurant & Lounge on Fort Lauderdale Beach courts gay clientele
An email from Trina Restaurant & Lounge:
Hi Steve,
The Atlantic Hotel has proudly supported Fort Lauderdale’s thriving gay and lesbian community since it opened on Fort Lauderdale Beach five years ago. I’m writing you to let you know that the hotel is now part of the prestigious Preferred Hotels & Resorts group. Some things never change… The Atlantic Hotel continues to offer luxurious accommodations, a full-service day spa and award-winning cuisine at Trina Restaurant and Lounge.
However, tasteful updates and upgrades are ongoing at the property as we speak and the new management team has recently revamped happy hour at Trina. For a limited time (thru July 1), the following happy hour specials will be offered weekdays, from 4 to 7 pm:
o $3 domestics
o $4 imports
o $4 house wines
o $5 signature martinis
Trina has also just recently launched a new menu that includes tempting tapas at the bar. Highlights include gorgonzola-topped Trina Chips, a decadent Truffle Lobster Mac & Cheese and spicy Buffalo Shrimp, in addition to their famous flatbreads.
Also new, every Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m., there is live music on the oceanfront patio by Disc Jockey Kid Nemesis.
We are anxious to spread the word about these exciting developments to the gay and lesbian community in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Trina is located at:
The Atlantic Hotel
601 N. Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-567-8070
Click photo to enlarge.
Pair arrested in beating of two men in Oakland Park; detectives discount gay hate crime theory
BY LAURA FIGUEROA, lfigueroa@Miamiherald.com
Nearly a month after a brutal beating left an Oakland Park man in a coma, a pair of arrests were announced Monday by the Broward Sheriff's Office, with more arrests anticipated.
Victor Gonzalez, 21 and Pargu Leandro, 25, both of Deerfield Beach, are being held by deputies in connection to the April 6 early morning attack that left Craig Cohen, 47, on life support and caused severe head injuries to David Villanova, 27.
The men reportedly followed Cohen, pictured, as he headed home on Oakland Park Boulevard from dinner at the Peter Pan Diner, when according to authorities, they stomped his head into the ground and left him bleeding on the side walk.
After stealing his cellphone and wallet, they ran into Villanova, who was leaving a local bar. They kicked his head and fractured his skull. Villanova was treated for his head injuries but later released.
Though both beatings took place separately, many gay community leaders and activists speculated the men were targeted because they were gay. Detectives have since discounted that theory after interviewing the alleged attackers.
''Cohen and Villanova were innocent victims, chosen simply because they were alone and defenseless,'' said Cmdr. Rick Wierzbicki of BSO's Hate Crimes Task Force in a media release.
In the days following the attacks, Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti joined local gay advocates and community leaders in front of the gay-themed Stonewall Library and Archives in Fort Lauderdale calling for more leads and increasing the bounty for tips leading to an arrest.
An anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers led investigators to a group of friends who committed the attacks. According to authorities, the friends were all drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana when they started talking about ``how fun it would be to rob and beat someone up.''
Cohen remains on life support. If he dies, Broward authorities say they could charge the men with murder.
Fort Lauderdale workshop on Thursday: Finding Mr. Right, Not Mr. Perfect
From SunServe:
DJs Oren Nizri and Maximus 3000 Friday night at Living Room in Fort Lauderdale
From George Maiko Coronado:
Original 1972 trailer to 'Pink Flamingos'
Log Cabin gives award to eight Vermont Republican legislators supporting marriage equality
News release from Log Cabin Republicans:
The Log Cabin Republicans announced today that it will award the 2009 Uncommon Courage Award to the eight Vermont state legislators that voted for marriage equality.
“Log Cabin Republicans congratulates our Republican colleagues who have courageously voted for marriage equality in the Vermont state legislature. We celebrate their commitment to the inherent conservative principles of limited government and personal responsibility in addition to basic fairness,” stated Log Cabin Republicans Board Chairman Terry Hamilton. “I am proud to announce that these eight outstanding legislators will receive the 2009 Uncommon Courage Award, highlighting and acknowledging their resolve to vote their conscience in the face of much opposition.”
Vermont State Representative Anne Donahue will travel to Washington, DC to accept the award on behalf of House Republican Caucus Chairwoman Patti Komline, state Senators Diane Snelling and Kevin Mullin, as well as state Representatives Richard Hube, Heidi Scheuermann, Richard Westman, and Kurt Wright. "I think it was a real tribute to our party that in the midst of a very controversial debate, it stayed firm in its philosophy that members have the right to vote their own conscience. There was tremendous public pressure to change our votes and support the governor's veto, but no arm-twisting from within the caucus, and the governor himself honored his word respecting this as a personal issue: he did not try to sway votes,” said Donahue. "There were 11 Democrats who voted against their party in the House, and with huge internal pressure, three changed votes. However the six Republicans stayed firm with their original votes in support of the bill, and each one of those votes proved critical to passage."
Log Cabin Republicans spokesman Charles T. Moran states: “Once again, the linchpin votes for marriage equality is delivered by true Republican conservatives and demonstrates that GLBT causes must be advanced in a bi-partisan format. These Republican votes were crucial in the passage of this legislation and eventual veto-override.”
Log Cabin Republicans & the Liberty Education Forum will present the award on Saturday, April 18 at its annual banquet, as part of a larger convention & symposium being held at the Washington Westin City Center hotel.
Miami Beach Gay Pride celebrates couples together 20 years and longer
From Miami Beach Gay Pride:
MIAMI BEACH GAY PRIDE CELEBRATES OUR LEGACY COUPLES
Join us at the first official Miami Beach Gay Pride and help us recognize our Legacy Couples. Some of these 20+ year LBGT couples will be featured in the Parade!!!
46 Years
Robert Collier, M.D. & Charles (Chuck) Hunziker
Allen Klein & Herbert Bliss
37 Years
Maurice Colton & Norman King
Joe Deleo & Larry Levinson
31 Years
Patrick Pecoraro & Ray Breslin
30 Years
Lorenzo Ruiz & Kenneth Benson
Keith Ridler & Gregory Randall
27 Years
Cheryl Lockwood & Cindy Binder
John Bariletti & Thomas Camerlengo
26 Years
Joe Tom Easley & Peter Freiberg
Sherry Roberts & Dr. Alice Randolph
25 Years
Danie Feaster & Michael Uselmann
24 Years
Mark Steinberg & Dennis Edwards
22 Years
Micah Gill & Scott Stewart
George Franceschini & Henry Rodriguez
20 Years
Ofelia Colunga & Betty Ortega
Tim Hyde and Jason Kent
Click here to see then & now pictures of some these couples
Congratulations to these couples - We hope to continue adding names to this list - If you want to be added tou the Miami beach gay Pride website please e-mail your names and years together.
HRC applauds Washington Legislature for passing Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill
News release from Human Rights Campaign:
Bill adds hundreds of rights and responsibilities to current law
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today praised the Washington State House of Representatives for passing the Domestic Partnership Expansion bill on a 62-35 vote. This follows a positive vote of 30-18 in the state Senate several weeks ago. The bill will provide registered domestic partners with access to the rights and responsibilities granted to spouses under state law.
“We applaud the Washington state legislature for providing these important protections under Washington state law to committed lesbian and gay couples and we thank Senators Ed Murray and Joe McDermott and Representatives Jamie Pedersen, Dave Upthegrove, Jim Moeller and Marko Liias, as well as Equal Rights Washington for their leadership on this civil rights issue,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “This is another important step toward full equality, and it will provide tangible, much needed legal protections for families in Washington.”
The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Christine Gregoire for signing. In 2007, Governor Gregoire signed the first Domestic Partner bill into law, creating a domestic partner registry and providing some rights to lesbian and gay couples and their families. In 2008, the Governor signed legislation providing domestic partners with 160 of the more than 400 rights and responsibilities afforded to married couples. This year’s Domestic Partnership Expansion bill grants approximately 250 additional rights and responsibilities to registered domestic partners.
The Human Rights Campaign worked directly with Equal Rights Washington to mobilize thousands of supporters to lobby their legislators in Olympia, send over 35,000 emails and make thousands of phone calls to legislators.
In addition to Washington, eleven states plus Washington, D.C. have laws providing at least some form of state-level relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa (as of April 27, 2009), and Vermont (as of September 1, 2009) recognize marriage for gay and lesbian couples under state law. Four states—California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon—plus Washington, D.C. provide gay and lesbian couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Maine and Hawaii provide gay and lesbian couples with limited rights and benefits. New York recognizes marriages by gay and lesbian couples validly entered into outside of New York.
Lesbian and gay couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state. To learn more about state by state legislation visit: www.hrc.org/state_laws.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
