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Unity becomes rallying cry for GLBT politics
Gathering in Fort Myers aimed to plan the future of Florida's GLBT movement By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, South Florida Blade FEB. 26, 2009 Two Florida gay adoption court victories have become rallying cries for the ultra conservative movement, intent on defeating advances in equal parenting rights. Supporters of anti-gay Amendment 2 are seeking ways to attack existing domestic partnership policies throughout the state. And in Gainesville, moralists are using scare tactics to overturn sexual orientation and transgender discrimination protections in a city charter amendment, that is considered a test case for anti-gay measures throughout the country. This was the state of affairs in Florida Saturday as about 80 members of the state's GLBT Democratic Caucus gathered in Fort Myers Saturday to plan and strategize the future of Florida's GLBT movement. The need for a unified gay political movement in the post-amendment 2 Florida became the central theme of the conference. Leaders of gay organizations such as Stonewall Democrats, Dolphin Democrats, and Equality Florida talked about focusing a statewide effort in Gainesville to defeat a charter amendment March 24, which will repeal GLBT protections passed in 2008. The Gainseville vote March 24 is considered a must-win among GLBT leaders. "We're at a tipping point," said Terry Fleming, a caucus member and member of the Equality is Gainesville's Business steering committee. "If we can defeat this discriminatory charter amendment, then I think we will be able to move forward as a unified community across the state and country." If the charter passes it's believed it will give the green light to similar measures to be passed in other cities throughout the state and country. Others spoke about gay-friendly bills: gay adoption, trans-inclusive discrimination protections, state-wide domestic partnership policies and ending abstinence only sex education policies are among the hot-button GLBT issues. Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, told the caucus that the only way to make progress in a traditionally hostile political environment is to form a unified front and to communicate with elected officials. "We need to get strategic and focus our time and energy in a different way," Smith said. "The question is how do we stop acting as [separate] organizations and become a movement?"
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Candidates featured at gay, lesbian caucus
By JANINE ZEITLIN, news-press.com North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, who recently announced his run for the U.S. Senate, courted about 80 people at the first gathering of a state gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democratic group in Southwest Florida. Burns is likely the first openly gay candidate in Florida to run for Senate, said Michael Albetta, president of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus. The seat will be left open by Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. Saturday was Burns' first large appearance since his announcement about a week ago. Burns, a real estate broker and mayor of four years, introduced his partner of more than two decades, Rob Flint, and their 7-year-old adopted daughter, Autumn. "As you can see, we're a threat to America," he said, before the chuckling crowd at the Holiday Inn in San Carlos Park. Burns said he refused to be pigeon-holed as the gay candidate and he fights for all residents of North Miami. "They could care less whether I was openly gay," he said. "I think I'm going to help knock down some stereotypes." During the campaign, he vowed to stay with families across the state to understand what matters to them. "I'm just as comfortable being on a dairy farm in north Florida as I am in Washington with the elite," he said, noting he once judged dairy cows. Burns spoke against the ban on adoption by gay people in Florida, the only outright ban in the nation: "It's wrong." John Hawkins, president of the Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida, which counts about 70 members, hoped hosting the event could build needed tolerance and awareness about lacking protections for gays. He also hoped it would encourage local politicians to be more open about their sexuality. Two other U.S. Senate candidates, Rep. Kendrick Meek and State Sen. Dan Gelber, were on the agenda for the day. Albetta anticipates Burns will face challenges in his run, noting there's candidates who don't want to be associated with gays. "Just the fear factor," he said, likening the fight for gay rights to the battle for rights for blacks. "The religious right will come after him." http://www.news-press.com/article/20090221/NEWS01/90221022/1075
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Meek, Gelber, Burns to Address GLBT Caucus in Fort Myers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2009 US SENATE CANDIDATES MEEK, GELBER AND BURNS TO ADDRESS FLORIDA GLBT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WINTER CONFERENCE IN FORT MYERS
Meeting February 20 and 21 Features National, State, Local Speakers
Fort Lauderdale – The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, an arm of the Florida Democratic Party representing Florida’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, will hear from all three announced candidates for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate at its Winter Conference in Fort Myers this weekend. Rep. Kendrick Meek, State Senator Dan Gelber, and North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns will address the conference, to be held February 20 and 21 in Fort Myers. The conference is being sponsored by the Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida. Speakers include the announced US Senate candidates, local and state elected officials, and representatives of state and national GLBT organizations and Fair Districts Florida, among others. The conference will also feature working sessions as well as social events. Additionally, the first 76 registrants will receive a complimentary ticket to the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater’s production of “All Shook Up.” Registration is $50 for Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus members and $35 for seniors (62+) or students (ID required). Non-member fee is $75. The registration fee covers the cost of the event and includes continental breakfast and lunch buffet on Saturday. Participants can register online at the website of the Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida at http://swflglbtdems.org/. To make reservations at the Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center for the conference, call the hotel directly at 239/561-1550. The Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida website also includes a list of nearby hotels. WHAT: Winter Conference of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, hosted by the Stonewall Democrats of SW Florida WHEN: Friday and Saturday, February 20 and 21, 2009 WHERE: Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center 9931 Interstate Commerce Drive Fort Myers, FL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 206:00pm Welcome hospitality suite Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center 8:00pm Welcome party Tubby’s Bar 4350 Fowler St. Fort Myers SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 218:00am Registration and continental breakfast Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center 9:00am Morning Session Speakers include: • Lee County DEC Vice Chair Sandy McClinton • Openly-gay Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner • Chuck Mohlke, DNC member and Chair, Clubs and Caucuses Cmte., Florida Democratic Party • Openly-gay US Senate candidate North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns • Nadine Smith, executive director, Equality Florida, on the aftermath of Amendment 2 • Ron Mills, co-chair, Affirmative Action Cmte., Florida Democratic Party • Stephen Driscoll, co-chair National Stonewall Democrats Noon Working lunch • Conference call with US Senate candidate Rep. Kendrick Meek • Special presentation 1:30pm Afternoon session Speakers include: • Adrienne Lazeroff Kimmell, Planned Parenthood on "Florida Healthy Teens Act" (SB220, Sen. Ted Deutch / HB265, Rep. Keith Fitzgerald) • Michael Emanuel Rajner, Director of HIV/AIDS Education & Policy for the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus on "Education in Public Schools Concerning Human Sexuality" (SB268, Sen. Jeremy Ring / HB19, Rep. Evan Jenne) • Lee County State Committeewoman Ellis Robinson, representing Fair Districts Florida and Ruth’s List • Cathy James, Securing Our Childrens’ Rights • US Senate candidate State Senator Dan Gelber • Georg Ketelhohn, co-chair of Organizations United Together (OUT) • Michael Albetta, president Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus: workshop on local fundraising techniques • Phillip Perry, former IT director at Obama-Biden Florida and the Florida Democratic Party: workshop on social media and networking sites • Alachua County State Committeeman Terry Fleming on the Gainesville charter amendment to remove GLBT protections 5:00pm Adjourn 6:00pm Broadway Palm Dinner Theater: “All Shook Up” Compliments of owner Will Prather (for the first 76 registrants) 10:00pm Closing party Tubby’s Bar 4350 Fowler St. Fort Myers
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Caucus Announces Agenda For Gainesville Summer Conference
Local, National Speakers, Candidates and Elected Officials Meet July 18-19Fort Lauderdale -- Continuing to move its meetings around the state to showcase the scope and breadth of local GLBT organizations, the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus will hold its Summer Conference in Gainesville July 18 and 19. The Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County, a chapter of the Caucus, will host the conference, which will be held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th St. in Gainesville. FRIDAY, JULY 186:30-8:30 pm Welcoming reception Wild Iris Books and Café Music by Marce’ in concert with Lauren LaPointe’ 802 W. University Ave Gainesville FL SATURDAY, JULY 198:00am Registration and continental breakfast Hilton University of Florida Conference Center 1714 SW 34th St. Gainesville FL 9:00am Morning session Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan Alachua County DEC Chair Jon Reiskind Gainesville Commissioner Craig Lowe Caucus Business 11:30am Transgender Rights Panel: Gainesville Commissioner Craig Lowe; Jeremy Merritt, Human Rights Council of North Central Florida; Activist Nikki Hatch; Activist Linda Bassham 12:30pm Lunch featuring Mark Periello of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund; Robert Rosenwald, Jr of the Florida ACLU LGBT Advocacy Project; and a representative of the Human Rights Campaign 1:30pm Democratic Intersections Panel: Zot Szurgot, AFL-CIO; Lizzie Jenkins, President of the Florida Democratic Black Caucus; Staci Fox, CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Central Florida 2:30pm Afternoon Session Caucus business and speakers Alachua County Commissioner Paula Delaney; Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell; FL CD-6 candidate Tim Cunha; Obama Campaign Representatives; Joe Saunders, Fairness For All Families; Stephen Gaskill, Florida Red and Blue; Cathy James, “Securing Our Children’s Rights, Inc.” 5:00pm Adjourn 5:15 – 6:00 Film Screening of “Freeheld” 7:00-9:00 Saturday Night Social at Pride Community Center 3131 NW 13th St., Suite 62 in the Liberty Center Gainesville FL Hosted by Human Rights Council of North Central Florida Speakers: Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman COST: The cost to attend for members of the State Caucus and/or the Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County is $50; non-members will be charged $75. Students with a valid ID will be charged $35 to attend. The conference fee includes continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. REGISTRATION: For more information on the conference or to register please visit the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus website at www.floridaGLBTdemocrats.org.
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Gainesville to Host Summer Conference of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus
Local, National Speakers, Candidates and Elected Officials Meet July 18-19Fort Lauderdale - Continuing to move its meetings around the state to showcase the scope and breadth of local GLBT organizations, the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus will hold its Summer Conference in Gainesville July 18 and 19. The Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County, a chapter of the Caucus, will host the conference, which will be held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center. The Summer Conference will set the stage for the August primary election and the November general election, and will bring together local and national speakers, candidates and elected officials. Among confirmed speakers are Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan; Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell; openly-gay Gainesville City Commissioner Craig Lowe; Florida Democratic Black Caucus President Lizzie Jenkins; Alachua County Commissioner Paula Delaney; and representatives of the Human Rights Campaign; Florida Red and Blue; Equality Florida; Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund; and the Florida ACLU LGBT Advocacy Project. The conference will feature two panel discussions: one focusing on women, African-Americans and unions; and one on transgender rights. The cost to attend for members of the State Caucus and/or the Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County is $50; non-members will be charged $75. Students with a valid ID will be charged $35 to attend. The conference fee includes continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. A full conference schedule will be released next week. Wild Iris Books and Cafe, located at 802 W. University Ave., will host a welcoming reception on Friday, July 18, and the Human Rights Council of North Central Florida will host a cocktail reception at Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, located at 3131 NW 13th St., Suite 62 in the Liberty Center, on Saturday, July 19. For more information on the conference or to register please visit the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus website at www.floridaGLBTdemocrats.org.
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Gay candidates focus on wider agenda at Democratic Caucus meeting
Democratic GLBT caucus talks strategyBy Anthony Man, Sun-Sentinel Political Writer WEST PALM BEACH - Gay Democrats gathered Saturday for a conference whose cost was subsidized by U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D- Delray Beach. Attendees heard from a slew of supportive Palm Beach County officials: state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D- Greenacres; state Rep. Susan Bucher, D- Royal Palm Beach; West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel; and U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D- Boca Raton. Several local candidates stopped by. But there weren't any openly gay elected officials or candidates from Palm Beach County. Cross the county line into Broward and there are a half dozen openly gay elected officials in local governments, including the County Commission. Many more are running in this year's election, and a Broward district might send the first openly gay elected state legislator to Tallahassee. While Palm Beach County has many elected officials who seek and receive support of the gay community, it hasn't been nearly as conducive to the idea of electing an openly gay man or lesbian to office, said Kevin Muth of Boca Raton, treasurer of the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus. "Palm Beach County is very different. The whole political climate is very different as opposed to Broward or Miami-Dade," Muth said. "There's a very deep closet in Palm Beach County." Saturday's gathering was a day of strategizing for the Democratic caucus members. Central themes were figuring out how to get more openly gay men and lesbians elected, how to target and motivate gay and lesbian voters and how to win policy victories in state and local governments. Candidates who've won election to offices said it's important to emphasize to voters - gay and straight - the policy ideas and experience the office-seekers have in other areas because gay-related issues aren't the most important aspects of the job. Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl, the state's highest-ranking openly gay elected official, said the gay perspective has nothing to do with 99.9 percent of his decisions. "I don't view myself as a gay county commissioner, just as I don't view myself as a gay Democrat. I view myself as a county commissioner who happens to be gay and a Democrat who happens to be gay," he said. But Keechl, who was elected in 2006, did successfully sponsor an amendment to Broward's human rights ordinance to add discrimination protections for gay people. When Bryan Caletka was elected to the Davie Town Council, he said he was able to stop the practice of routinely stripping government contracts of language banning discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. Like most of the gay elected officials who spoke Saturday during the winter meeting of the GLBT caucus, Caletka said gay activism wasn't what motivated him to run for office. He ran, he said, because his car and home were broken into and he couldn't convince the incumbent town councilwoman for his district that there was a crime problem that required an additional police presence. Caletka was outspent $75,000 to $8,000 but won 76 percent of the vote in the March 2006 election. Keechl said gay candidates are making strides. Four years ago, he said the same GLBT caucus might have one gay candidate. Looking around the room Saturday, he said he spotted 10. Mark LaFontaine, of Oakland Park, is hoping to become Florida's first openly gay state legislator. He is one of four candidates who have declared their intentions to run in the Democratic primary for the open state House seat in District 92, which encompasses Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Lazy Lake, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach and Wilton Manors. Number-crunchers involved in his campaign estimate that 24 percent of the district's population is gay, the highest in the state. Gay issues weren't the only topic Saturday. As with almost any Democratic gathering, there was a dose of Republican-bashing, with President Bush and Gov. Charlie Crist as the targets. Caucus President Michael Albetta said Bush "sticks his head in the sand" as the country plunges into recession. And Crist, who vilified his Democratic opponent in 2006 for missing votes in Congress while campaigning, has been spending lots of time on the campaign trial with Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Albetta said Crist is "jockeying his position to be the next vice president of the United States" while "leaving this state in disrepair."
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Challenger seeks to unseat Snipes at elections office
(Adriane Reesey is a member of the Dolphin Democrats)Anthony Mann, Sun-Sentinel Broward Politics Blog January 8, 2008
Citing concerns over a lack of community involvement and glitches in some Broward elections, Democratic activist Adriane Reesey is challenging Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes' re-election. Reesey and Snipes, who plans to seek re-election, will face off in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary. "My concern is basic. It's not that I want to vilify my opponent. It's not that I wish to take a low road and point out all of the issues that have been encountered in the office, because we're all aware of those," Reesey said.
Instead, she said she wants to concentrate on "the lack of involvement by people in the process. It's the bedrock of our democracy. I know that sounds corny." She said she wants to do something to make people enthusiastic about voting and improve the low level of participation. "This position is to me an extremely important one because the supervisor can inspire people," she said. "People are disgusted. And they say that I don't want to vote because my vote isn't going to count. That's not true. Everyone's vote does count." Snipes acknowledged that there have been occasional glitches during her tenure but she said the office has been transformed. "There are challenges that you're always attempting to overcome. No elections are perfect. It's just like life. Nothing is perfect," she said. "I hope the voters will say Dr. Snipes came in, she's done an outstanding job in bringing stability back to the office, and bringing credibility back to the process, and we'd like to continue that." Snipes said expanded community outreach is one of her greatest accomplishments as supervisor. "We're writing the book on that. We have done some outstanding things on community outreach, and we're just getting better and better." Examples: - High school voter registration drives, including training students in the schools to conduct the drives. "That has caught on really, really well." - Staying open late into the night on days when voter registration applications are due before elections, to allow as many people to get signed up as possible. - Operation of the "election connection" mobile unit throughout the county for activities such as voter registration. The election connection had 2,000 public contacts in one year, she said. Reesey, who's been active in the Dolphin Democrats gay and lesbian political club - she was given the organization's Humanitarian of the Year award in 2007 - had contemplated running for state Legislature. But she decided to seek the elections post after what she described as an epiphany. A student at ITT Technical Institute, where Reesey teaches criminal justice, responded to one of her instructor’s frequent pitches to register to vote and get involved by suggesting Reesey should get an election-related job if she was so interested in promoting voting. Reesey, 48, lives in Fort Lauderdale. For the last year and a half she's been a community outreach specialist to the gay and lesbian community, women's groups and veterans for the Broward Sheriff's Office. She wouldn't say whether the Supervisor of Elections Office under Snipes is well run. "That's a tough one," she said. "Have they had snafus? Have they had elections that are free of glitches? No. But human beings are human beings. And they are fallible." Then-Gov. Jeb Bush named Snipes, a former school principal and area supervisor for the Broward School District, to the job in 2003 after he removed then-Supervisor Miriam Oliphant following a series of elections problems and charges of administrative missteps. Snipes was elected to a four-year term in 2004. Snipes, 64, said she plans to do what she did four years ago: "Juggle two things, a campaign and an election." The office has 81 employees and the supervisor's job pays $141,845. So far, no Republicans have indicated an interest in the race.
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Barney Frank endorses LaFontaine in state House race
By PHIL LAPADULA, Express Gay News
Thursday, November 15, 2007 U.S. Rep. Barney Frank has endorsed Broward activist Mark LaFontaine in the race for state House of Representatives in District 92. Frank, who is openly gay, noted LaFontaine's community activism in his endorsement.
"Mark LaFontaine has been an effective defender and fighter for LGBT equality on a number of fronts," Frank said in a statement. "He will be an effective state representative, not just for the LGBT community, but for the broader community as well."
LaFontaine is the only veteran in the race, having served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He currently serves as the national treasurer of American Veteran for Equal Rights and as president of the local Gold Coast chapter of AVER, which is the largest branch in the organization. He owns an accounting business in Oakland Park and serves on the board of Oakland Park Main Street, which guides the city's development. LaFontaine is also a member of the Fort Lauderdale Audit Committee, which oversees the city's finances.
"Rep. Frank knows how important my financial background will be in Tallahassee, especially considering the daunting fiscal issues Florida faces," LaFontaine said.
In the state House race, LaFontaine will be competing for the gay vote against another gay candidate, Wilton Manors City Commissioner Gary Resnick, and a gay-friendly candidate, Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton. Newton frequently attends gay events and he signed a welcoming letter that was sent to gay groups by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau in the wake of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle's anti-gay comments.
Florida House District 92 includes parts of Deerfield Beach, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Poinsetta Heights, Pompano Beach, Tamarac, Victoria Park and Wilton Manors.
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State Dems wrap up convention
By Bill Cotterell
FLORIDA CAPITOL BUREAU POLITICAL EDITOR LAKE BUENA VISTA - A constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Florida is certain to get on the ballot but will lose at the polls if enough voters become worried about its impact on heterosexual couples, campaign strategists told delegates to the state Democratic Party convention Sunday. "This amendment really has to be the focal point for all Democrats in Florida for 2008," said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, at a briefing on the amendment campaign. "The reason this will be on the ballot has nothing to do with protecting anyone's marriage and everything to do with turning out the most conservative voters in Florida." Later, about 3,000 party activists wound up a weekend convention with a spirited panel discussion of the 2008 outlook in what both parties concede is a key battleground state. Democrats were upbeat and optimistic, despite the absence of all but one presidential candidate - ex-Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska - because of a national party edict that has stripped Florida of its 210 votes at next summer's presidential nominating convention. In addition to the Democratic National Committee penalty for Florida's Jan. 29 primary - a week ahead of the allowed date - major presidential contenders signed a pledge not to campaign in the state. The party's state executive committee formally adopted the list of eight candidates for the Jan. 29 ballot, ignoring a brief effort to add former Vice President Al Gore. Some "draft Gore" petitions and lapel buttons were sold in hallways outside the convention at a mammoth Walt Disney World resort hotel, but Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., had the most supporters - judging from campaign materials distributed and signs waved in the convention audience. After a Saturday devoted to raw attacks on President Bush's policies and the GOP candidates to succeed him, as well as Florida Republican leaders who had their own convention in Orlando a week earlier, the Democrats spent Sunday discussing strategies. A panel discussion of campaign operatives chaired by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink - the lone Democrat on the State Cabinet - followed a bagels-and-coffee workshop on defeating the gay-marriage ban that is headed for the 2008 ballot. "This is not a gay amendment," said Michael Albetta of Fort Lauderdale, president of the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus. "We have to educate people that this has an impact on fairness and equality for all people." The amendment defines marriage as a heterosexual union and provides that "no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized." Albetta and Nadine Smith of Tampa, executive director of Equality Florida, said the "substantial equivalent" provision could affect tens of thousands of elderly couples who live together without marrying, for pension reasons or family considerations, as well as many non-traditional families. Efforts to reach John Stemberger, head of the Florida4marriage.org amendment campaign, for comment Sunday were unsuccessful. Derek Newton, campaign manager for Florida Red & Blue, said the bipartisan coalition fighting the amendment expects it to get on the ballot. He and Bill Vayens, secretary of the GLBT Democratic Caucus, said proponents have about 597,000 of the 611,009 voter signatures required by Feb. 1 to get the amendment on the ballot, but that opponents have a legal team ready to challenge duplicate signatures and some from people not registered to vote, if the margin is close. "There's an outside chance that it could be kept off the ballot," said Vayens. "But if they're at 597,000 now, we expect that they will have no trouble reaching 611,000 before the deadline." Once on the ballot, the amendment will require a 60-percent majority at the polls in November 2008. Smith told the Democratic delegates the amendment is a "wedge issue" that will help Republicans - even though Gov. Charlie Crist has stopped the state GOP's financial support of the campaign. The Florida Republican Party had given $300,000 to the amendment drive before Crist took office in January. Newton said the amendment almost certainly will get the required signatures and be on next year's ballot. He said polls indicate a very close race in a statewide referendum. "This amendment is closer to passing at 60 percent than it is to failing at 40 percent, right now," said Newton. "Voters in Florida are very confused about this issue."
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30 Years After Anita Bryant's Crusade
The Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University is pleased to announce this year's Goodwin lecture series, which is entitled: 30 Years After Anita Bryant's Crusade: The Continuing Role of Morality in the Development of Legal Rights for Sexual Minorities. With the controversies surrounding the mayor of Fort Lauderdale this past summer, this lecture series is very relevant and timely. The lectures are open to the public and take place at the law center on the Davie Campus. We have a great group of speakers this year, including the first openly gay Episcopalian Bishop, Gene Robinson. Our first speaker is Suzanne Goldberg, who will discuss how the U.S. Supreme Court addresses and has addressed sexual orientation issues. Her public presentation is on Thursday October 11, 6-7 pm. Professor Goldberg spent nearly a decade as a leading attorney on lesbian and gay rights issues with Lambda Legal Defense. While at Lambda, she served as counsel in a wide range of cases in employment, immigration, and family law, as well as two cases that eventually became cornerstone gay rights victories before the US Supreme Court, including Romer v. Evans and Lawrence v. Texas. She currently is a law professor at Columbia Law School. The remaining schedule includes: Thursday October 25, 6-7: David Mixner, Author and Political Activist who worked with Bill Clinton. Tuesday November 6, 6-7: Matt Foreman, Executive Director of the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force Tuesday November 27, 6-7: Rev. Gene Robinson, the First Openly Gay Episcopalian Bishop We hope that you can make this very exciting lecture series. If you have any questions, please contact Anthony Niedwiecki at niedwieckia@nsu.law.nova.edu or at (954) 262-6206. A map and directions to the law center can be found at http://www.nova.edu/cwis/campusmaps/maincampus.html
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