Tag Archives: Florida

Florida Heats Up as Poll Closing Time Approaches

Posted on

Although it’s cloudy and rainy on this election day throughout Florida, the elections in the Sunshine State are red hot. There is so much electricity in the air after weeks of hard work and a rally in the state last night with President Bill Clinton. Thousands attended the event as they prepared to vote today. Many of the rally participants grabbed yard signs and stickers in hopes of influencing their neighbors or anyone they walk past.

After traveling throughout the state, I’m pleased to have worked with so many pro-equality campaigns that have been endorsed by HRC. Within every campaign, I connected with other supporters of equality. Working to mobilize HRC members and working directly for pro-equality campaigns, I have been met with open arms at every turn.  Volunteers, some having gotten very little sleep after last night’s rally, are out canvassing and phone banking today to make sure people get out of their houses to vote.

Here in Florida, the polls close in just a few minutes. We have been hard at work for weeks and we glad to see Election Day come.


Human Rights Campaign | HRC Back Story

—  admin

HRC Volunteers in Florida Come Out in Record Numbers

Posted on

The following post comes from  Regional Field Organizer Jess Osborn. Jess is just one of 30 HRC staff that will be on the ground in 16 states by Election Day, working with HRC-endorsed candidates and engaging our membership about the upcoming elections:

The last couple weeks have been an amazing success for the HRC’s volunteer effort. Last week, an HRC phonebank here in Florida had seventeen volunteers come out to dial up HRC members about the upcoming elections. Seventeen! No doubt a record for an HRC Phonebank. The volunteers at this phonebank, and each phonebank we hold here in Florida, are working hard to ensure that people have everything that they need for Election Day, and that they are fully aware of their pro-equality candidates in these elections.

Volunteers for this record-breaking phonebank included a member of the HRC Steering Committee here in Orlando, young college students from local schools and the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) from the University of Central Florida (UCF). AMSA turned out ten volunteers and made a big contribution to this phonebank. It is so inspiring to see young people getting involved in the elections, and doing everything that they can to push for equality this election. Young people are our future and it is crucial that we encourage and educate the future leaders (and the future voters) of America.

This phonebank is just one of the many events that we are taking part of down here in Florida, in the last few weeks, I have been all around the state, doing everything in my power to reach out to our membership and to get the word out about pro-equality candidates. Whether it rallying with members and volunteers in Orlando(with Former President Bill Clinton!), hitting the ground canvasing or setting up our table at Revolution Nightclub to talk to young voters, I am honored to be a part of the exciting work that is going into this year’s elections. Thanks to all of amazing volunteers that have made all of our work possible. Let’s keep up the momentum through election day and keep equality moving forward.


Human Rights Campaign | HRC Back Story

—  admin

Audio: NOM robocalling Florida, with an assist from J-Dobs

Posted on



(H/t: Dan Tobias)




Good As You

—  admin

Florida Gay Adoption Ban Dead; AG Bill McCollum Won’t Appeal Case

Posted on

Florida's ban on gay adoption is officially dead. Attorney General Bill McCollum released a statement today saying he wouldn't appeal a September decision by the 3rd District Court of Appeals upholding an earlier ruling which declared Florida's ban on gay adoption unconstitutional.

MccollumThe ACLU writes:

"Florida's 33-year-old policy barring gay people from adopting ended today as the state Attorney General Bill McCollum opted not to appeal last month's ruling striking down the ban. The governor and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) had already announced that they would not appeal the decision. Today was the final day that the attorney general could have independently acted to appeal the ruling. The appellate court ruling arose in an American Civil Liberties Union legal challenge to the ban on behalf of Martin Gill, who wanted to adopt two foster children he and his partner have been raising for almost six years."

Said McCollum:

"The constitutionality of the Florida law banning adoption by homosexuals is a divisive matter of great public interest. As such, the final determination should rest with the Florida Supreme Court, not a lower appellate court. But after reviewing the merits of independently seeking Supreme Court review, following the decision of our client the Department of Children and Families not to appeal the decision of the Third District Court of Appeal, it is clear that this is not the right case to take to the Supreme Court for its determination. No doubt someday a more suitable case will give the Supreme Court the opportunity to uphold the constitutionality of this law."

Said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida:

“Since Sept 22nd, Florida’s ban on gay people adopting has been over. We are pleased to learn that Attorney General Bill McCollum has decided not to squander more taxpayer dollars and muddy the waters on a matter the courts have decided unanimously. We continue to celebrate the end of a ban that has literally torn families apart and denied children permanent loving homes for over 33 years. The courts have been clear that this ban is irrational and puts anti-gay prejudice ahead of the needs of children.”


Towleroad News #gay

—  admin

The Florida Gay Parent Adoption Ban Has Gone The Way Of The Dodo

Posted on

Anita Bryant would probably be rolling in her grave — if she were dead, that is. That’s because Florida’s longstanding gay adoption is now as extinct as the dodo bird.

From The Advocate‘s Fla. Gay Adoption Ban No More:

Image: Florida Attorney General Bill McCollumFlorida attorney general Bill McCollum announced Friday that he will not that he will not appeal last month’s ruling by a state appellate court striking down a state law barring gay people from adopting.

McCollum’s announcement puts a final end to the law after 33 years on the books. Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) had already announced they would not challenge the decision.

The attorney general had until today to decide whether he would challenge the decision.

“This law, by baselessly branding gay people unfit parents, was one of the most notorious anti-gay laws in the country, and we are delighted that it has been ended once and for all,” said Leslie Cooper, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU LGBT Project, who argued the case before Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. “This victory means that the thousands of children in Florida who are waiting to be adopted will no longer be needlessly deprived of willing and able parents who can give them the love and support of a family.” …

Gee, an Attorney General choosing not to appeal what he considers unconstitutional. A lesson for the Obama Administration and its Department of Justice on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, perhaps? Well, not a lesson the Obama Admin will likely take away from this Florida decision by McCollum’s office.

But, the big winners in this decision not to appeal is for children in that state’s foster care system. A larger pool of loving,  potential parents means a better chance for these children experience love, and to develop stable lives.
Pam’s House Blend – Front Page

—  admin

Florida HRC Members Work to Elect Alex Sink and other Fair-Minded Candidates

Posted on

With the upcoming election on November 2nd, HRC members across the country are working hard to elect pro-equality candidates. Here in Florida, many HRC members are focused on electing HRC-endorsed candidate Alex Sink for Governor.

Alex Sink currently works as the state’s elected Chief Financial Officer, managing approximately 2,000 employees and an annual budget of 0 million in the Department of Financial Services.  She was also the winner of Equality Florida’s “Voice of Equality” award for the year 2009.

There is an urgency in helping elect pro-equality candidates like Alex Sink.  We cannot afford to start taking steps backwards in the progress we have made thus far. That’s why HRC members have been working the phones for her campaign. On Tuesday, 10 HRC volunteers joined an Orlando phone bank, plugging people into volunteer shifts for more phone banking and canvassing, as well as reminding them that early voting begins next Monday, October 18.

It has been amazing to see the vigor with which the LGBT community is approaching these elections, and I truly believe it foreshadows a pro-equality Sunshine State.

Paid Political Advertisement paid for in-kind by Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036.


Human Rights Campaign | HRC Back Story

—  John Wright

Florida Department of Children & Families Declines to Pursue Adoption Ban

Posted on

Today, George Sheldon, Director of Florida’s Department of Children & Families (DCF) announced that the agencies will not appeal an intermediate court ruling that a 1977 prohibition on allowing gays and lesbians to adopt violates the state constitution.   DCF has determined that the ruling is applicable statewide, therefore sexual orientation will no longer be a factor in uniting children with parents.  Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement:

“Today is a victory for children in need of loving families throughout Florida.  Every child deserves a permanent, stable home and now gay and lesbian parents can provide for some of the thousands of children in foster care across the state.  Congratulations to the Gill family. Their tenacity, coupled with stellar representation from the ACLU, led to the end of a 33-year discriminatory ban.”


Human Rights Campaign | HRC Back Story

—  John Wright

FLORIDA: Gov. Charlie “Closet Case” Crist Backtracks On Support For Gay Adoption

Posted on

Subscribe to Joe.My.God.

Joe. My. God.

—  John Wright

Census Result: New York Likely To Lose Two U.S. House Seats, Florida Gains Two

Posted on

One of most important aspects of the U.S. Census is the resulting reapportionment of seats in the House of Representatives. While many of the changes will go as expected, a just-released new estimate suggests a couple of changes that were not.

A new estimate of House reapportionment gains and losses resulting from this year’s Census reveals a larger-than-expected impact on Florida and New York. According to Washington-based Election Data Services, which reviewed new Census data from a private-sector demographic firm, Florida would gain two House seats and New York would lose two seats. They would join two other states that already were projected to have multiple-seat changes.

Based on the tentative Census data, Texas is expected to gain four House seats and Ohio likely will lose two seats. According to the EDS estimate, six other states each would gain one seat: Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington. Eight states would each lose one seat: Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In addition to the Florida and New York changes, the other major switch in the projected reapportionment is that Missouri will lose a House seat instead of Minnesota.

The formal Census report will be issued in December. Reapportioning becomes effective with the 2012 elections.

Subscribe to Joe.My.God.

Joe. My. God.

—  John Wright

Florida Halts Gay Adoption Ban

Posted on

CHARLIE CRIST X390 (GETTY IMAGES) | ADVOCATE.COMThe state of Florida will immediately stop enforcing its ban on
adoptions by gay people after an appeals
court found Wednesday that the three-decade-old law is unconstitutional, Gov. Charlie
Crist said Wednesday.
Advocate.com: Daily News

—  John Wright