Tampa Bay
Equality Florida. Securing Equality and Justice for Florida's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community
Diversity is Good for Business
Thu September 09, 2010
Today, we are thrilled announce the launch "Equality Means Business," a project to spotlight employers in Florida that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting diversity and that specifically provide protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trandgender (LGBT) employees.We've long known that protecting employees from discrimination is the right thing to do. Now, more and more research shows that it's also a smart business decision.
Through our online presence and public education efforts, Equality Means Business will spotlight companies with strong policies as a way of encouraging others to raise their standards as well.
We believe honoring those companies that set the standard with comprehensive policies is the best way to encourage others to promote inclusivity and to strengthen Florida's national and international reputation for attracting and retaining a highly talented workforce.
Major Florida employers are already part of Equality Means Business, including: BlueCross/BlueShield of Florida, JetBlue, Symantec, Carlton Fields, Pepsico, Citi, Sweetbay and Wachoiva/Wells Fargo to name a few.
Visit EqualityMeansBusiness.com to see our most recent corporate members and stay informed on our efforts.
Don't see your favorite pro-equality businesses? Interested in enrolling your business?
Click here for more information about how to help us enroll pro-LGBT businesses.
[EVENT] Saturday, Sept. 11th | Legal Issues of the LGBT Community in Florida with Elizabeth Schwartz
Tue September 07, 2010
The Central Florida Chapter of Lutherans Concerned/North America & the National Center for Lesbian Rights invite you to attend a presentation by
ELIZABETH F. SCHWARTZ, ESQ. OF MIAMI
An Update on the Law and Legal Issues
of the LGBT Community in Florida
Get current information about yourlegal rights and wrongs - and
what you can do about them.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th 2:00pm
Meeting Place:
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
407 S. Saturn Ave
Clearwater
Directions: One block west of Keene/Starkey/CR 1 on Gulf to Bay Blvd (SR 60).
Admission free ~~ Refreshments
If you plan to attend, please e-mail
jetsinger@gmail.com
so organizers know how many people to expect.
No need to give your name.
Scott picks state legislator Carroll as No.2
Thu September 02, 2010
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott named Jacksonville state Rep. Jennifer Carroll as his running mate Thursday. Carroll, 51, is a U.S. Navy veteran and mother of three who in 2003 was the first black female Republican elected to the Florida Legislature. If elected with Scott, she'll become the state's first black lieutenant governor. Carroll was being introduced in a news conference in front a Blue Angels jet on display at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The Green Cove Springs resident is expected to help Scott by appealing to the state's black voters, who are overwhelmingly Democrat, and to women who might gravitate to Democratic nominee Alex Sink because of her gender. "Her conservative principles are in line with mine, and this fall we will present a clear choice between conservatives with business experience and a plan to create 700,000 jobs and liberal Obamacrats who want to bring the failed Obama agenda to Florida," Scott said in a statement. An immigrant from Trinidad, Carroll served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, working as a jet mechanic before retiring as a lieutenant commander. Elected to the state House in 2003, she's served as deputy majority leader and majority whip. She's also a former executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. She moved to Florida in 1986. Read the whole thing here. |
Breaking News: FL Supreme Court throws out Amendments 3,7,9
Tue August 31, 2010
Today the Florida Supreme Court agreed to take Amendments 3, 7 and 9 off of the November ballot.
The court also struck down a challenge from members of the legislature against Amendment 5 and Amendment 6- the fair district amendments promoted by FairDistrictsFlorida.org
Amendment 3,7, and 9 were put on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Florida legislature. Amendment 3 relates to property taxes. Amendment 7 would have invalidated Amendments 5 and 6. Amendment 9 would have prevented Floridians from having access to healthcare reforms recently passed by the Obama administration.
Equality Florida Helps Welcome Pride back to Tampa
Tue August 31, 2010
In 2005 notorious anti-LGBT State Senator and then Hillsborough County Commissioner Rhonda Storms led a successful effort to ban county recognition of LGBT pride celebrations. This hateful policy was aimed at silencing our community and sending us back into the closet. But instead of feeling defeated and demoralized, our community rallied together with Equality Florida and marched through the streets of downtown Tampa over 5,000 strong. In the last 5 years Equality Florida is proud to have been working to build a more fair minded Hillsborough County by electing the first openly gay County Commissioner, Kevin Beckner and supporting our pro-equality champions like Linda Saul-Sena. Naturally we were only too thrilled to help sponsor the return of pride to Tampa by being a part of Pride on 7th. Check out this Equality Florida shout-out from equality champion and Tampa City Council person Linda Saul-Sena:
FL Governor Says He Opposes Fed Anti-Marriage Amendment
Sun August 29, 2010
Hours after sparking a firestorm with comments during a CNN interview, Florida Governor Charlie Crist says he does NOT support an amendment to the US Constitution that would ban marriage for gay couples.
"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."
Crist who is running as an Independent for the US Senate has been charting a new political course aimed a pulling moderate Demorcrats, Republicans and Independents. His comments today threatened that delicate coalition.
The statement was released at 6:48pm by Crist's Press Secretary Danny Kanner.
Here's the transcript from CNN's State of the Union with Ed Henry. :
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.
And I think that's where most of America is. So I think that you know, you have to speak from the heart about these issues. They are very personal. They have a significant impact on an awful lot of people and the less the government is telling people what to do, the better off we're all going to be. But when it comes to marriage, I think it is a sacred institution. I believe it is between a man and woman, but partners living together, I don't have a problem with.
HENRY: But governor, doesn't it sounds like you having it both ways by saying live and let live, but I also support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. If it's live and let live, why would you ban same-sex marriage?
CRIST: Well, everything is in a matter of degree, Ed, and 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.
Floridians Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Women Voting
Thu August 26, 2010
TALLAHASSEE, FL – To celebrate the 90th anniversary of women’s right to vote, a coalition of statewide organizations have committed to getting out the vote this election year. August 26th, 2010, commemorates the 72 year struggle and the groundbreaking victory of women with the passage of the 19th Amendment. The courageous fight to gain women’s suffrage extended from the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to ratification on August 26, 1920.
“We are proud to honor those women and men who fought to ensure that all women were granted full representation under the law,” said Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates Executive Director, Stephanie Kunkel. “One of the best ways to honor their struggle is to vote this August and November.”
Organizers say they hope having a woman in strong contention for Governor will inspire higher turnout during the August 24th Primary and November 2nd General Elections.
On the anniversary of women’s suffrage, Floridians have many notable firsts to celebrate, including:
- Florida has also had only one female Lt. Governor – Toni Jennings (R), serving from 2003-2006.
- Florida has never had a female Governor or female Attorney General.
- Women and girls make up more than half of Florida’s population, yet are greatly underrepresented in many facets of economic and public life. Elected office and corporate boardrooms are two examples where women have much to gain.
“I draw constant inspiration from the sacrifices made by women who led the fight for voting rights and the men who supported their efforts,” commented Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. “I hope this 90th Anniversary causes our nation to reflect on the injustices that preceded the 19th Amendment and those that remain here and across the globe. Women and men must unite again to confront the cruel indifference and brutal hatred of women that allows physical and economic violence, sex trafficking and mass rape to be worldwide epidemics,”Smith said.
“Ruth’s List Florida is named for Ruth Bryan Owen. This widow and mother of four became the first Congresswoman from the South – campaigning by driving her district (from the Keys to the Georgia border) in 1928,” stated Ellis Robinson, Chair of Ruth’s List Florida. “Owen’s legacy lives on in the many talented women who serve as elected officials every day – and we need a lot more of them! Even now, key elections can be decided by fewer than 100 votes – sometimes less than ten! Make your voice and your values heard: VOTE!”
A number of events will take place around the state to honor the anniversary:
- Boca Raton – Florida Atlantic University, Student Union, 9:30 am, August 26th
- Gainesville – University of Florida, Student Union, 12:00 noon, August 26th
- Orlando – University of Central Florida, Student Union, 12:00 noon, August 26th
- Clearwater – Unitarian Universalist Church, 7 pm, August 27th
Visit www.Facebook.com/womenvoting for photos, events, comments by current Florida women leaders, and daily updates leading up to the anniversary of women’s suffrage.
###
Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender community.
The Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates (FAPPA) is the state public policy office representing Florida’s five Planned Parenthood affiliates with 25 health care centers across the state. FAPPA works to advance public policy in areas of reproductive health care, family planning and medically-accurate sex education in order to make comprehensive reproductive health care available to all.
Ruth’s List Florida members are dedicated to building a progressive Florida by recruiting, supporting, and electing pro-choice Democratic women to state and local office. Ruth’s List Florida is changing the face of Florida politics.
How the 'Rent Boy' Scandal Brought Down a Far-Right Favorite
Wed August 25, 2010
Bill McCollum Still Paying for George Rekers
In a stunning defeat, Bill McCollum lost the 2010 Florida Republican Primary by 3% despite having the full support of the Christian Family Council, Florida's Republican party establishment and prominent national Republican figures, including Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Tea Party leader Dick Armey.
Why? Two words - George Rekers.
You don't have to believe us! Just ask the guy who beat him, Rick Scott. When the latest polls were showing McCollum with a 10 point lead heading into the Primary Election, Scott spent the last of his $50 million investment making sure that the Rekers scandal was the last thing every Florida Republican heard about before heading to the polls.
Back in early May, the Miami New Times broke a sordid tale about George Rekers, a hypocritical homophobe-for-hire caught returning from a European vacation with a male prostitute. Reker's was Bill McCollum's star witness in his effort to defend Florida's law banning adoption by gay and lesbian prospective parents - the only such law in the nation.
In the days and months after the story broke, Equality Florida worked tirelessly to ensure that the bigger picture was being told - that the real scandal wasn't about Reker's sexual massages or apparent self-loathing, but rather that Florida's Attorney General Bill McCollum paid Rekers $120,000 in taxpayer money even though Rekers was a long-discredited ideologue. Two courts had already deemed him 'worthless' as an expert witness.
From the beginning of this scandal, McCollum has sought to dodge the truth and duck his responsibility.
Public records requests showed that despite his attempts to blame the hiring on others, McCollum personally vouched for Rekers and aggressively advocated that he be hired over the initial objections of the cash-strapped Department of Children & Families.
By digging through invoices and expenditures, Equality Florida discovered that McCollum ignored DCF's spending cap and the terms of the written agreement with Rekers and doubled his pay from $60,000 to $120,000.
Try as he might, McCollum never escaped questions about his poor judgment made crystal clear by the George Reker's scandal. He was dogged by reporters and hounded by questions in public forums.
Make no mistake, Rick Scott is no prize but McCollum's defeat is something worth savoring especially after his homophobic flailing for votes in the final weeks of the campaign.
I
It's hard to pinpoint the 'lowest point' in Florida politics this year, but Bill McCollum made a mad dash for the title as Election Day approached.
In an interview with Florida Baptist Witness, McCollum doubled down on his anti-gay rhetoric, proposing that all gay and lesbian people - already barred from adopting in Florida - should now be banned from serving as foster parents as well. Rick Scott held back slightly, but basically agreed with McCollum's position.
This was political pandering in its ugliest form. McCollum doesn't even appear to believe what he said. He's had a gay dad on his election team. His campaign finance chair has a daughter who is a lesbian mom to his beloved grandkids. He doesn't seem to have a problem with the moral fitness, character or ability to role model of the people close to him.
But McCollum showed, in a political dogfight, he's willing to throw gay families in Florida under the bus in hopes of scrounging a few more hard-right primary voters.
Let's be clear about what McCollum is still proposing. He would take children out of homes where they are currently thriving to throw them to group homes or hand them to strangers.
This is not hypothetical. Florida's anti-gay adoption ban is at the center of a lawsuit right now. A Miami judge has declared it unconstiutional and an apellate court is expect to decide any week now. McCollum's lawyers have vowed, if they are successful in defending the existing adoption ban, to immediately remove Martin Gill's sons from his care, even if it means splitting the brothers up and placing them separately for adoption with strangers. In court, every child welfare advocate who has worked with these boys testified that removing them from Martin's home would cause irreparable harm. Let that sink in. The state knows they will permanently harm these children and our tax dollars are still being spent to inflict this damage.
It's hard to believe that our state could perpetrate this kind of violence on families in this day and age, but there it is.
On the campaign trail, Bill McCollum invoked his religious beliefs in front of conservative audiences then backs away when asked by reporters if that is what he will base his decisions upon. Here are the fact that McCollum chooses to ignore: All reputable child advocacy organization in the nation have agreed that sexual orientation is irrelevant to being a good parent. The only 'expert' Bill McCollum was able to find to support his position in the Gill case last year was the discredited George Rekers. Rekers' testimony had been dismissed as useless by judges in Arkansas and Florida long before he was discovered to have hired a young male "escort" from rentboy.com earlier this year. He had been discredited long before McCollum insisted, over the objections of his own staff, on paying Rekers an unjustifiable amount of money, $120,000.
Bill McCollum played politics this time with the lives of children and families across our state. It isn't driven by faith, it is driven by politics. Perhaps now that he and his advisors have some time on their hands, they can pinpoint the exact moment he sold his soul for votes that never arrived.
[VIDEO] BREAKING NEWS: Equality Candidates Win in Key Races
Wed August 25, 2010
Dan Gelber, a long-time champion of LGBT civil rights, won the primary race to be the Democratic candidate for Attorney General. Equality Florida Action PAC was the first statewide organization to endorse Dan's candidacy. Check out his shout out to Equality Florida donors and volunteers. In a close race, April Griffin won more than 48% of the votes in a 5 way race to retain her Hillsborough County School Board seat. As of 10:30pm it appears that far right activist Terry Kemple will NOT be heading to the runoff. As expected, Alex Sink, our endorsed candidate for Governor, won the Democratic Primary with 76.69% of the vote. In a tough loss, Justin Flippen is down 44.85% to 55.15% in his bid to become Florida's first out gay state legislator. Justin took on the herculean task of challenging an incumbent -Gwyndolyn Clarke-Reed. Over 95% of incumbents in Florida are re-elected and Justin did a fantastic job, narrowly losing the race by an 8% margin. Be on the lookout for your comprehensive Equality Florida Primary Election Results report tomorrow. |
April Griffin
Alex Sink
VIDEO: Campaign Update from Justin Flippen Headquarters
Tue August 24, 2010
VIDEO: Updates from the Field - House District 92, Justin Flippen Campaign
Tue August 24, 2010
Here's a quick email we just got from Joe Saunders, our Statewide Field Director. He and Michael Farmer, our GSA Network Coordinator, are spending the day working hard elect Florida's first out-LGBT state legislator.
We're working through a call and walk list of our LGBT targets who are UNLIKELY voters. We're getting really strong feedback from this list that people have already or will be voting for Justin.
Getting excited :-)
Joe Saunders
Statewide Field Director
Sent from my iPhone
Want to see them in action? Take a moment to watch a few choice moments they captured on video
Election Day is TODAY! Vote Smart - Get Your Voter Guide
Tue August 24, 2010
More than 50,000 LGBT and allied Floridians have received their Equality Florida Primary Voter Guide. Don't be left behind. If you have not already voted, join your friends and neighbors and PLEASE GO VOTE! Click here to download your Primary Voters Guide. Get yours today, print it out and take it to the polls. | ||
FL Anti-Gay Adoption Law Court Case Approaches One Year Mark
Fri August 20, 2010
Next week will mark one year since the appeals court took up the question: Is Floridia's adoption law unconstitutional?.
Here's to Martin Gill and his family for having the fortitude to withstand the pressure.
We will never stop fighting for your family and so many others across our state.
Take a moment to take a stand by signing our petition against the ban: http://eqfl.org/adoptequality/
Here's a great summary of the case from the South Florida Gay News:
Read the rest here:Decision Forthcoming in Landmark Case
When child protective services took two young children from their home and brought them to Frank Martin Gill and his partner in December 2004, the investigator told the men, experienced foster parents, that the boys deserved a good holiday. The men were planning to move soon but agreed to take them temporarily.
It was clear the boys, ages four years and four months, needed care. The elder boy was wearing a dirty adult-sized t-shirt and sneakers four sizes too small. He did not speak, and his only concern was caring for his infant brother. Both boys had scalp ringworm and the younger had an ear infection, but the medicines brought from their home had been unused. When the older boy began to speak after about a month, the men learned he had never seen a book, could not count, and did not even know letters from numbers.
The brothers stayed and the men did not move. The boys developed friendships at school and in the neighborhood. They bonded with the biological son of Gill’s partner and with the men’s parents and siblings. They began referring to Gill and his partner (who is not identified in court documents) as “Papi” and “Daddy.” In 2007, after the rights of the biological parents were terminated, Gill petitioned to adopt.
The men, however, live here- in Florida -- the one state that bans any gay men or lesbians from adopting. And that has created a dilemma for the courts: either they honor the law or honor their duty to rule in the best interests of the children.
Our Volunteer Army
Thu August 19, 2010
The August 24th primary election is just 5 days away and Equality Florida and our energetic army of volunteers around the state have been hard at work supporting candidates and elected officials who support the LGBT community. In the last few weeks we've identified thousands of new pro-equality voters and made thousands of phone calls. We're in the home stretch but we still need your support. Here are the ways you can help us help you in the last 5 days of the election:
Orlando GOTV Phone Calls: http://eqfl.org/electionteam
Broward County GOTV efforts: http://eqfl.org/pac/justinflippen/volunteer/
You can also make virtual calls from home by signing up here: http://eqfl.org/gotv/volunteer/
With your help we'll be well on our way to victory; but don't wait to sign up, we need your help now!
Gelber Leads Aronberg by 11 Points
Tue August 17, 2010
Dan Gelber, Equality Florida Action PAC endorsed candidate for Attorney General appears poised to clinch the Democratic nomination for the states top lawyer. According to Sunshine State News, Gelber is "Sitting pretty" in the AG race. Check out their story about this exciting new polling:Just a week before election day, more than one in three Democrats remains undecided about who to vote for in the party's contest for attorney general.
Nevertheless, state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, holds a 38 to 27 lead over state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, according to a new Sunshine State News poll of 1,000 likely voters.
But that leaves 36 percent of respondents still undecided in the contest.
Holding a decided advantage in Southeast Florida, where he leads 51 to 26, Gelber appears well-positioned for the nomination. The region represents 27 percent of Florida's total Democratic vote.
Additionally, Gelber enjoys a 45 to 27 edge statewide among the most likely voters, those who cast ballots in both the 2006 and 2008 Democratic primaries, said Jim Lee, president of Voter Survey Service, which conducted the poll for Sunshine State News, Aug. 9-12.
See the full article here.
Editorial: A desperate politician
Mon August 16, 2010
NOTE: Brian Winfield, Equality Florida's Communications Director reached out to a number of Florida papers to take a stand on the McCollum/Foster Parent debacle. The Pensacola News Journal felt strongly enough about the issue that their Editorial Board ran a fantastic editorial, with a scathing cartoon.
This is Pensacola folks, one of the most conservative bastions of Florida!
_______________________________________________
Pensacola News Journal
August 14, 2010
There are few things as dangerous as a desperate politician frantic to elbow past an election opponent to grab votes on the extreme edge of a political party's "base." Case in point: Bill McCollum.
Entering the race for the GOP nomination for governor, it probably never occurred to the lifelong conservative that another Republican could successfully run to his right. But billionaire Rick Scott, unknown to most Floridians just a few months ago, dumped tens of millions of dollars from his personal fortune into the race, and suddenly McCollum was looking — at least to right-wing GOP voters — like the "liberal" candidate in the race.
So McCollum veered right, with his first target being illegal immigrants, a sure-fire GOP vote-getter already usurped by Scott. But at least McCollum's attempt to recapture the immigrant issue has the merit of being about people who are breaking the law. Whatever your position on a solution to illegal immigration, illegals are exactly that — illegal immigrants violating the law.
But now McCollum is onto one of the right's most reliable political boogeymen: homosexuals.
See the cartoon and read the full article here.
VIDEO: McCollum Backpedals on Anti-Gay stance
Fri August 13, 2010
One day after stating that gay people should be banned from foster parenting, Bill McCollum tries to back away from his statements. This is the latest twist in the scandal involving McCollum giving $120,000 to discredited witness George Rekers who was later caught with a male escort he'd hired on rentboy.com as the pair returned from a European vacation.
BREAKING NEWS: Prop 8 Stay Lifted
Thu August 12, 2010
Beginning 5PM August 18th, same-gender couples will be able to legally marry in California once again, provided the 9th District Court of Appeals doesn't step in and extend the stay.
It's a pray-off!
Thu August 12, 2010
At a recent candidate forum at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, a couple of candidates made the Bay Buzz blog for their efforts to out pray each other. Check out this bit of hilariousness that could only come from the sunshine state!From the Bay Buzz Blog:
"Without question, the most interesting moments of the marathon meet and greet and candidate forum at Bell Shoals Baptist Church on Wednesday night came courtesy of Joe Redner and state Sen. Ronda Storms. During his two minutes on the pulpit, Redner, who is running for the District 58 state House seat, didn't bother pandering to his ultraconservative audience. Instead, he invited the crowd to bow their heads in a prayer of thanks for the California judge who overturned a rule making gay marriage illegal. The audience booed and yelled no to the invitation. And when Redner said, "I'm honest. I'm competent," he drew jeers. Then he referred to his famed Mons Venus strip club, throwing his arms out wide and saying "You might not like one of the businesses I'm in but it's the best." He then left the sanctuary.
A few speakers later, Storms received a much better reception when she led a solemn prayer for Redner, asking the Lord to lead him in a better direction. "We know that you are still working with Joe Redner," she said, eyes closed. "We pray for forgiveness if we have not treated him with kindness."
Read the full blog post from the Bay Buzz here.Photo from The Librarian Blog.
2010 Primary Equality Florida Voter Guides are Here!
Wed August 11, 2010
| Election Day is August 24th Early voting has already begun  Get yours today, print it out and take it to the polls. |
Poll: Americans now split evenly on gay marriage
Wed August 11, 2010
August 11, 2010
A new poll shows that nearly half of all Americans believe the Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry.
According to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll, 49% of those polled think marriage equality is a constitutional right, while while 51 percent say those rights do not exist.
Full results [pdf]
Here's more from the CNN article:
The gap widens dramatically when age is taken into account. Nearly six in ten Americans under the age of 50 say gay rights are protected under the Constitution. Only 38 percent of Americans over the age of 50 say the same thing.
"This is one of the few instances when independents side with one party rather than falling in between the Dems and the GOP," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "56 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of Independents think the Constitution conveys the right to marry to same-sex couples. Only a quarter of all Republicans agree."
DEVELOPING STORY: Anti-Gay GOP McCollum Confronted About Gay Dad Campaign Advisor
Tue August 10, 2010
Candidate for Florida Governor and current Florida Attorney General was confronted by reporters on the contradiction of questioning the moral character and fitness of gay people to parent while having a gay parent as his political advisor.
The media deluge comes a day after McCollum called for a ban on gay people being foster parents. Florida is the only state with a law banning gay people from applying to adopt.
That law was declared unconstitutional by a Miami judge and McCollum has lead the fight to appeal the ruling. The case is expected to reach the Florida Supreme Court.
Here is the rough translation of audio .
More details to follow:
Press asking questions: Caputo, Bousquet, Deslatte, unidentified reporter
rough transcript:
Caputo: "...you said homosexuals should not be guiding our children. You have had a homosexual who has guided your political career for a while, Harvey Finkelstein, and I was wondering if you could comment on what you said there and the fact that your advisor is a gay man, I think he is married to another man and he has I believe adopted kids, if not foster kids.
McCollum: "Well what I said was that we have a case going on right now on gay adoption that we're handling that's carrying a constitutional question to the state Supreme Court. And the question was whether or not this is consistent with foster care where we do have provisions allowing for gays to have children in their home in foster care and I said I didn't think that was consistent. I'm not making any pronouncements other than a comment until we see what happens with the Supreme Court ruling on this case which will take some months to interpret."
Caputo: "Is it consistent though to prosecute this case and say that gay foster parenting should not be allowed and have a political advisor who is apparently a gay foster if not an adopted gay parent?"
McCollum: "Look, I don't discriminate against people I employ, I never have. I have folks who work for me and have for many years who are gay and I don't have any other comment I can make about it, that's it."
Caputo: "So is the gay law, the gay adoption ban then discrimination?"
McCollum: "Look, my personal belief is that children should be raised by a man and a woman, simple as that. And as far as, I have said already to you Marc that I am very much aware we have a law that is going up for a test before the state supreme court and that's as far as I can comment on it."
Caputo: "Well you also said in this same interview that I believe you said homosexuality is something that violates your sense of, your personal faith..."
McCollum: "Well I dunno if I said homosexuality was but I do believe that you have a problem in my religious views with having any other other than parents than a man or woman that's all."
Caputo: "...Are your religious views interfering or affecting your position as attorney general?"
McCollum: "No, we are taking the case..the case that involves the gay adoption is a case we are handling at the request of the Department of Family and Children. They asked us to do this case, Bob Butterworth asked us to carry this case to determine the constitutionality of it. And our legal team has been doing it, I have had no real role in it other than to direct a little bit and answer a few questions once in a while. But this is a decision being based upon law. Very objective."
Unidentified reporter: "Did you not tell the Florida Baptist Witness though that they asked 'should the law be changed regarding foster parents' and you said 'it would be advisable.' That's a decision about changing the law.
McCollum: "I don't recall my exact words you may have to look for the quote they may have given I really don't recall it.
reporter: "Those were your exact words 'it would be advisable.'"
McCollum: "But what I would say is that it's inconsistent certainly from my perspective it is not consistent. I have already given you my views.
Video: Child of Lesbian Moms Talks About Fair Adoption
Tue August 10, 2010
Celebrating Our Families Day
Mon August 09, 2010
(Click image above to view photos)
In response to a Florida stop on the national tour of rabidly anti-gay Nat'l Organization for Marriage, Equality Florida joined with the ACLU-FL, MCC Tampa, Joy MCC in Orlando and numerous other organizations to host not one, but two "Celebrating Our Families" rallies on August 8th. While NOM spews its hate-filled message around the nation, we in Florida are making sure pro-equality voices are being heard loud and clear.
Now McCollum Wants to Ban Gay Foster Parents
Mon August 09, 2010
Here's the latest from Bill "Reker's Scandal" McCollum. I guess wasting $120,000 of taxpayers' money defending Florida's bigoted adoption ban wasn't enough - now he wants to deny foster kids loving homes as well.
Money Quote:
" I really do not think that we should have homosexuals guiding our children. I think that it’s a lifestyle that I don’t agree with."
This guy as governor would be a disaster!
Florida's Bill McCollum Wants to Bar Gay Folks from Being Foster Parents
Michael Jones - change.org
Perhaps hemorrhaging poll numbers make one delusional. Need proof? Take a look at politician Bill McCollum in Florida. McCollum, currently the state's Attorney General, is running for the GOP nomination for governor. And though he was once thought to be a shoe-in for the nomination,McCollum's poll numbers have dipped faster than Mel Gibson's career prospects in Hollywood.
One of the reasons McCollum has become so politically toxic? As Attorney General, McCollum was at the center of a court cause defending the right of Florida's government to ban gays and lesbians from adopting children. It was during that trial that McCollum's office agreed to pay a controversial "ex-gay" witness a whopping $87,000 to testify that gay parents were devious fiends. That witness, George Alan Rekers, was later caught with a man from the Web site rentboy.com, where he received nude massages on a lavish European vacation. That's some behavior for an "expert" who thinks people can change their sexual orientation.
But instead of apologizing to Florida taxpayers for spending nearly $90K on this fraudulent witness, McCollum has buckled down in opposition to gay adoption and homosexuality. read more
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Dive Bar - Opening Night
Preferred Closets and More!
Tru Alternative Lounge
Art & The Urban Body - Thursday Aug 26
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
