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  Rep.Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's remarks as she receives the Log Cabin Republican's Spirt of Lincoln Award.

Check out this video from WTSP - Tampa Bay Channel 10's great coverage on the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell!"

What was your coming out moment like?

"Today marks the end of "Don't Ask Don't Tell." The law is repealed. From this day forward, gay and lesbian soldiers may serve in our Army with the dignity and respect they deserve." - Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Ray Odierno, et al

Respect Marriage End DOMA

Students Reveal Teacher Brought Anti-Gay Bias to the Classroom Weak Anti-Bullying Policy Leaves Lake County Students Unprotected

The Rays’ video features two-time All Star outfielder Johnny Damon, outfielders BJ Upton and Sam Fuld, second baseman Sean Rodriguez and manager Joe Maddon. In the video Damon shares a story about how he was consistently bullied when he was younger for stuttering but was able to overcome it .

International reggae artist Mista Majah P formerly known Major P has released the world’s first pro-gay reggae album.

From North Carolina to New York City,thousands of people have already evacuated their homes to escape Hurricane Irene’s path. Among them are transgender people who, like others, don’t have anywhere else to turn to except for evacuation shelters. Considering the unique difficulties transgender evacuees encounter, NCTE, Lambda Legal, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have issued these simple guidelines to assist shelters in making their spaces safe for transgender people. Download the resource and share it with evacuation shelters in your area.

 

 

If you haven't heard, our deputy director, Stratton Pollitzer, is being presented with the Harvey B. Milk Foundation Honors Medal in recognition of his outstanding leadership through his tireless work on behalf of Florida's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. We're excited for him and we hope you can join us on the 28th for this very special occasion.

Check out this great article from Florida Trend about how more and more companies are offering domestic partner benefits to employees. Companies are saying that it gives them a competitive advantage to offer these benefits and that it's the right thing to do. Slightly more than half of the companies on our list offer domestic partner benefits. by Rochelle Broder-Singer

Note: Today is a truly historic day for our nation. Just hours ago, President Obama provided the final certification necessary to end the military's 15-year-old discriminatory policy known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Sixty days from today, on September 20th, this policy will be the latest relic tossed on the garbage heap of anti-gay American history.

From the Advocate: DADT Repeal Could Be Certified FridayBy Andrew Harmon Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen are prepared to recommend repeal certification of “don’t ask, don’t tell” as early as Friday, Defense officials confirmed with The Advocate. "This afternoon, the president will meet with the secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs to review the certification of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," according to a White House spokesman.

Breaking News! Miami-Dade Schools Now Protect All LGBT Students Miami-Dade School District, the fourth largest in the nation, has added gender identity to their harassment and anti-bullying policy. Equality Florida along with and members of our Miami-Dade Safe Schools Coalition have worked for more than a decade to expand these vital protections and Miami remained one of the few large Florida cities without such a policy, until now.

State Representative Luis Garcia from Miami Beach has declared he will run for Congress against incumbent David Rivera. Garcia is a long time champion to the LGBT community. While serving on the Miami Beach city commission he helped pass several pro-LGBT policies and has been a consistent supporter of LGBT legislation in Tallahassee. In his campaign announcement yesterday, Garcia told supporters he was running because, "The middle class has been under attack."

Note: Equality Florida worked with the Florida Independent to highlight the disproportionate impact hate crimes have on Florida's LGBT community. The article also points out that anti-LGBT hate crimes, as a percentage of all hate crimes in Florida, are at there highest level ever. By Marcos Restrepo | 07.20.11 | 4:29 pm