The Dolphin Democrats - Chartered by the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus

Monday, October 22, 2007

Senate candidate confirms the he's gay

See Neal's web site at http://jimnealforse nate.com

http://blogs. usatoday. com/ondeadline/ 2007/10/senate- candidat. html

Senate candidate confirms that he's gay, says it's 'no secret and no big deal'

Jim Neal wants to be the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate. The Associated Press reports that a spokesman confirmed this morning that the North Carolina Democrat is homosexual. The confirmation followed a discussion about the candidate's sexual orientation that took place this weekend on a liberal blog.

Here's what someone identified as Neal said in response to questions on BlueNC.com: "I am indeed. No secret and no big deal to me -- I wouldn't be running if I didn't think otherwise. ... I'm not running this race to make some social statement. I'm running to lead in the Senate for the voters in NC -- something Sen. Dole has not done. ... When people meet me, they'll see beyond the labels and into my character."

Neal, a former investment banker, is the only candidate who has announced plans to challenge GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole in next year's general election.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

In local House race, a Barney Frank endorsement

Posted by Anthony Man

One of the four candidates in the Broward contest for the Florida House that could send the first openly gay legislator to Tallahassee has scored a high-profile endorsement.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, the openly gay Massachusetts Democrat, is recommending Mark LaFontaine for the seat that state Rep. Jack Seiler, D-Wilton Manors, vacates next year because of term limits.

LaFontaine, national treasurer of American Veterans for Equal Rights, an organization for gay veterans, is one of two openly gay candidates in the race. The other is Wilton Manors Commissioner Gary Resnick.

Also running are Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton and former Deerfield Beach Commissioner Gwyn Clarke-Reed.

The district -- which takes in parts of Deerfield Beach, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Poinsettia Heights, Pompano Beach, Tamarac, Victoria Park and Wilton Manors - includes sections with a large gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population.

"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."

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Please Join Us for a Cocktail Reception

To Benefit

FLORIDA RED & BLUE

Campaign to DEFEAT "Marriage Protection" amendment*

*"In as much as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Our opposition has gathered over 95% of the petitions needed to put a "marriage protection" constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot. In Michigan and Kentucky where similar amendments passed, citizens are facing the REMOVAL of domestic partnership benefits and civil union protections.

Florida Red & Blue, www.FloridaRedandBlue.com, is committed to DEFEATING this amendment and stopping this intrusion into the benefits and rights of Floridians.

JOIN US to discuss this amendment!!

§ Our Campaign, Our Plans, and HOW WE WIN!

§ The Marriage "Bait and Switch" in Kentucky

§ The Success in Arizona in 2006

Tuesday, October 23^rd, 2007

7:30 PM 10:30 PM

Nikki Beach Club

1 Ocean Drive

Miami Beach, FL 33139

Suggested Minimum Donation $50

Donate online (www.FloridaRedandBlue.com/contribute) or

Send your check (payable to Florida Red & Blue) to the address below.

RSVP REQUIRED

Please RSVP to: Adam Conderman: floridaredandblue@yahoo.com / 305.934.6067

Special Thanks to:

NIKKI BEACH and PEARL RESTAURANT

Political Ad Paid for by Florida Red and Blue, Inc. Political Committee

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

30 Years After Anita Bryant's Crusade: The Continuing Role of Morality in the Development of Legal Rights for Sexual Minorities

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
<http://www.nova.edu/cwis/campusmaps/maincampus.html> .

Anthony S. Niedwiecki
Associate Prof. of Law
Director of LSV Program
Shepard Broad Law Center
Nova Southeastern Univ.
3305 College Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314

(954) 262-6206
niedwieckia@nsu.law.nova.edu

Monday, October 01, 2007

accept no substitutes!

Discrimination isn't sweet. Congress has the chance to pass HR 2015, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect Americans from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Now a substitute bill has been introduced as HR 3685, which would not stop discrimination based on gender identity. Removing gender identity from ENDA would leave an artificial aftertaste. Not only would the substitute bill leave some working Americans behind, it would also create divisions among Democrats and fair-minded advocates.

Let's help Congress continue to build support for the original ENDA. The well-intended substitute just won't do.

Sign the petition to tell Congress to support the original ENDA and accept no substitutes!

To sign the petition go to http://DolphinDems.org

A Election '08 News Site:

http://electionGeek08.Blogspot.com

For News And Commentary:

http://www.RonMills.us

For Florida Election News See:

http://www.ChangeInTallahassee.com

Political Talk For And By Political Junkies

http://politalk1.blogspot.com/

Just Rumors The Rumor Mills

http://justrumormills.blogspot.com/

A Message from Stonewall on ENDA

Dear Friends,

Our new website NoSubstitutes. org is now up and we are already receiving tremendous response. As you may know, NoSubstitutes. org is our online response to build support for the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Please take a moment to visit NoSubstitutes. org and to share the link with your contacts. The site provides you with an opportunity to sign our online petition and provides you with information on how to contact your Representatives. Once you sign the petition, we will provide you with email updates this week regarding our efforts on Capitol Hill.

www.nosubstitutes. org

Background: National Stonewall Democrats has launched NoSubstitutes. org as the online response to the actions of key lawmakers seeking to strip ENDA of its gender identity provision. The original ENDA provides for employment protections based on both sexual orientation and gender identity.

National Stonewall Democrats has worked alongside leading advocates to form a legislative response. A letter opposing the action stripping gender identity has already garnered the signatures of more than 100 national and local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations.

www.NoSubstitutes. org

Thanks,

John Marble
National Stonewall Democrats