Historic Domestic Partnership Legislation Introduced
Sen. Eleanor Sobel (Hallandale Beach) has introduced a statewide Domestic Partnership bill (SB 1642). Equality Florida has been working closely with Sen. Sobel in preparing this historic legislation. The companion bill will be sponsored in the house by Rep. Richard Steinberg (Miami Beach). As a Miami Beach City Commissioner, Rep. Steinberg played a key role in passing Florida's strongest Domestic Partnership policy.
The introduction of these domestic partnership bills comes at a time when public support is at an all time high for this legislation. The latest polls show 77% of Floridians in favor of extending benefits to unmarried couples.
It also comes as a South Florida hospital is embroiled in a lawsuit for refusing to grant a woman access to her partner as she lay dying at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The case has provoked international outrage and highlights the vulnerability gay couples face when there is no legal framework to protect their families.
If passed, this bill would ensure committed, unmarried couples throughout Florida have access to basic legal rights like visiting each other in the hospital.
Many places in Florida already understand the importance of offering domestic partner protections. Miami Dade County enacted domestic partner benefits in the past year, as did the cities of Sarasota and Orlando.
Civil Rights Protections
Senator Ted Deutch (Delray Beach) has introduced a Civil Rights bill that would make it illegal to fire someone, deny them housing or access to public accommodations because they are LGBT. Florida is one of thirty states where it is legal to discriminate in housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Rep. Kelly Skidmore (Boca Raton) has already introduced the House version (HB 397) and Equality Florida is continuing to build on the twenty co-sponsors already signed up.
It is against current Florida law to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or familial status. These bills would add sexual orientation and gender identity to already protected classes.
Equality Florida applauds Senator Deutch, Representative Skidmore and Senator Sobel and Representative Steinberg for sponsoring these vital bills.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Great News From Mallory
Just today I received commitments from additional co-sponsors for the Civil Rights Bill. Rep. Rader, Rep. Reed, Rep. Chestnut and Senator Smith have all agreed to co-sponsor. Rep. Randolph also signed on to the Adoption bill.
Quick Summary:
Civil Rights Bill (HB397)
Great news. I met with Sen. Deutch on Tuesday and, after months of uncertainty, he confirmed he will be sponsoring a fully inclusive non-discrimination bill that will match Rep. Skidmore's! Sen. Deutch told me that hearing from supporters across the state and watching the movie Milk really helped him decide to take the lead. He's a formidable sponsor who commands respect on both sides of the aisle and has a close relationship to Senate President Atwater.
On the House side, there are already 20 co-sponsors for Rep. Skidmore's bill with more coming on as fast as I can meet with them.
Domestic Partnership (SB1642)
Sen. Sobel's office has told me she will make the domestic partnership bill one of her priority bills this year. She is very adamant that same-sex couples need protection, especially after Amendment 2. We are still talking to several Representatives about sponsoring in the house. Rep. Richard Steinberg is our best hope but he has not committed yet. We need more outreach to him from his home base.
Adoption (SB500, HB413)
I met with Rep. Culp (R-Tampa) and she said she will co-sponsor the adoption bill and we are working with to identify other Republicans to sign on. Rep. Culp has co-sponsored in the past and is a great ally to have, both has a mother of a gay son and someone who is well respected in her party. Hopefully, with her stepping up as a co-sponsor other Republicans will too.
I think the bill will be referred to the Health and Family Services Council. Representative Homan, a moderate Republican, is the chair and he's someone I believe we can work with for a hearing. In the past Rep. Homan has opposed his party on certain issues, so we know he is an independent thinker and someone who doesn't only toe the party line.
Sex Education
I also met with Rep. Jenne and Sen. Ring on Tuesday about their bills to repeal abstinence only education and the language that says schools must teach the "benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage." Planned Parenthood attended the meeting as well. We talked a lot about Title V funding, which the state receives from the federal government for abstinence only education. Turns out Florida spends $1.6 million dollars more than the required $1.8 million on abstinence-only-until-marriage program. We are spending millions on ineffective programs that don't prevent STDs and ignore the existence of LGBT youth. The Ring/Jenne bill would put an end to this waste.
That's the Tallahassee update this week... more to come!
Quick Summary:
Civil Rights Bill (HB397)
Great news. I met with Sen. Deutch on Tuesday and, after months of uncertainty, he confirmed he will be sponsoring a fully inclusive non-discrimination bill that will match Rep. Skidmore's! Sen. Deutch told me that hearing from supporters across the state and watching the movie Milk really helped him decide to take the lead. He's a formidable sponsor who commands respect on both sides of the aisle and has a close relationship to Senate President Atwater.
On the House side, there are already 20 co-sponsors for Rep. Skidmore's bill with more coming on as fast as I can meet with them.
Domestic Partnership (SB1642)
Sen. Sobel's office has told me she will make the domestic partnership bill one of her priority bills this year. She is very adamant that same-sex couples need protection, especially after Amendment 2. We are still talking to several Representatives about sponsoring in the house. Rep. Richard Steinberg is our best hope but he has not committed yet. We need more outreach to him from his home base.
Adoption (SB500, HB413)
I met with Rep. Culp (R-Tampa) and she said she will co-sponsor the adoption bill and we are working with to identify other Republicans to sign on. Rep. Culp has co-sponsored in the past and is a great ally to have, both has a mother of a gay son and someone who is well respected in her party. Hopefully, with her stepping up as a co-sponsor other Republicans will too.
I think the bill will be referred to the Health and Family Services Council. Representative Homan, a moderate Republican, is the chair and he's someone I believe we can work with for a hearing. In the past Rep. Homan has opposed his party on certain issues, so we know he is an independent thinker and someone who doesn't only toe the party line.
Sex Education
I also met with Rep. Jenne and Sen. Ring on Tuesday about their bills to repeal abstinence only education and the language that says schools must teach the "benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage." Planned Parenthood attended the meeting as well. We talked a lot about Title V funding, which the state receives from the federal government for abstinence only education. Turns out Florida spends $1.6 million dollars more than the required $1.8 million on abstinence-only-until-marriage program. We are spending millions on ineffective programs that don't prevent STDs and ignore the existence of LGBT youth. The Ring/Jenne bill would put an end to this waste.
That's the Tallahassee update this week... more to come!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
LAME Attempt
Have look at this miserable web site..
HELPINGHANDSOFCELEBRATION
This is why I need someone creative to just sort it out for me...
HELPINGHANDSOFCELEBRATION
This is why I need someone creative to just sort it out for me...
Thursday, February 5, 2009
NEXT Step
Sitting here wondering if the lack of ability to learn to build on GO.DADDY is really a just that or a real fear of failure
Am I blocking myself from getting it done because I fear it wont do well??
HMMMMM!!!
Maybe some should just do it for me... Less likely to blame someone else for their work then I am my own.
Am I blocking myself from getting it done because I fear it wont do well??
HMMMMM!!!
Maybe some should just do it for me... Less likely to blame someone else for their work then I am my own.
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