News & Public Affairs

Protesters gather at Crist's wedding

12/15/08 Concetta DeLuco
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As Gov. Charlie Crist wed Carole Rome at First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg Friday evening, about 200 demonstrators from different groups gathered across the street at Williams Park to protest the nuptials.

Originally, a silent demonstration and candlelight vigil had been organized by Impact Florida, a group that opposes Amendment 2, which banned gay marriage in the state. Crist had initially been against the amendment, but then shifted and became an outspoken proponent for t...

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LGBT Scholarship Fundraiser held at USF listen

12/09/08 Lisa Marzilli
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Tags: LGBT, education, USF

As the cost of college education continues to soar, lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered youth are particularly vulnerable. As a result, more organizations are establishing scholarship programs aimed specifically at helping LGBT students.

One of those groups is the University of South Florida Alumni Association’s LGBT Society. It held its first fundraising event at USF’s Marshall Center on Friday night (Dec. 5th).

Dr. Karen Berkman is director of the USF Center for Autism and Relat...

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Amendment 2 critics to protest Crist nuptials listen

12/08/08 Mitch E. Perry
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Tags: Amendment 2, Charlie Crist, LGBT, civil rights

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will no longer be a bachelor after Friday night.

Crist is marrying girlfriend Carole Rome at the First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. The reception will follow at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and Mel Martinez, R-South Florida, are among those on the guest list.

Some uninvited guests also will be making their voices heard. Those would be protestors, unhappy about the governor’s sup...

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Gay rights advocates protest passage of Amendment 2 listen

11/11/08 Mitch E. Perry
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Tags: 2008 election, Amendment 2, LGBT, gay rights, marriage amendment, civil rights

Last week, Floridians approved a measure that will ban same-sex marriage in Florida.

Today an activist group calling itself JusticeFirst Florida held a news conference in Broward County. They say the amendment’s passage will not silence them or their support for same-sex marriage.

John Peter Daily is a coordinator with the Justice First coalition.

Charles Martin is with the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition. He says he was not surprised that the measure passed as easily as ...

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Local reaction to passage of Amendment 2 listen

11/10/08 Seán Kinane
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Tags: 2008 election, Amendment 2, LGBT, gay rights, marriage amendment, civil rights

Last week, more than 62 percent of Florida voters supported Amendment 2.

The amendment defined marriage as between one man and one woman and also outlawed recognition of any partnership that is the substantial equivalent of marriage.

Today, WMNF spoke with supporters and opponents of Amendment 2 to get their reaction to its inclusion in the state’s constitution and what it might mean for Florida.

Terry Kemple is president of the Community Issues Council and volunteered with effort...

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Clergy protests Amendment 2

10/27/08 Emily Reddy
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Tags: 2008 election, Amendment 2, interfaith rally, LGBT

Voters in California, Arizona, and Florida will decide in eight days whether to add language to their state constitutions that would make same-sex marriage illegal. Here in Florida, opponents believe the language of the measure could pertain to heterosexual unions as well.

Some religious groups have supported these constitutional amendments, but in Tampa a group of clergy led a rally Sunday in opposition to Florida’s Amendment 2.

A heavily same-sex crowd of about 500 gathered in f...

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A look at Amendment 2

10/25/08 Mary Glenney
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Tags: 2008 election, Amendment 2, LGBT, gay rights, marriage amendment, civil rights

We discussed the various ramifications of the proposed Amendment 2 on the upscoming November ballot with Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida.

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Pinellas won't alter human rights protections listen

06/03/08 Seán Kinane
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Tags: LGBT, Pinellas Board of County Commissioners, human rights

This morning in Clearwater, the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners declined to move forward with adding protections based on gender expression or identity to its Human Rights Ordinance. The proposed changes would have protected transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment.

The commission voted 3-3 to advertise for a public hearing on the changes, but the proposal failed because it did not have a majority.

Title VII of the Federal Civ...

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Michigan rules on same-sex partner benefits listen

05/08/08 Seán Kinane
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Tags: 2008 election, Amendment 2, LGBT, gay rights, marriage amendment, civil rights

In addition to voting for president in November, Floridians will decide whether a ban on same-sex marriage should be enshrined in the state’s constitution. Supporters of Amendment 2 say it only forbids same-sex marriage and does not affect health insurance or other benefits afforded to domestic partnerships. But the Michigan Supreme Court decided yesterday that their amendment prohibits governments from offering benefits to same-sex couples.

Florida Red and Blue, is a group that opposes Am...

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Amendment 2 supporters rally in Tampa listen

04/17/08 Seán Kinane
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Tags: 2008 election, African American, Amendment 2, Gay Marriage, LGBT, Nadine Smith, civil rights, marriage amendment

This afternoon a group supporting the amendment that would define marriage as the union between one man and one woman in Florida’s Constitution held a press conference to announce their new name, strategy and website. It was one of several similar coordinated events around the state to promote Amendment 2, which will be on this November’s ballot.

Terry Kemple, president and founder of the Community Issues Council, announced the new slogan and website for the campaign to enshrine a ban on ...

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