 SOBEGAYINFO'S Oceanside Store Pistol Pete, Andrew Christian, Sauvage, and more. Shop before you arrive and save. |
On Saturday, March 15, Thomas Barker is producing the First Annual Equality Florida Bar Crawl. For the first time in history, all of South Beach's seven day-a-week gay bars are working together to raise funds for Equality Florida, the only statewide LGBT rights organization working to change state law. The 7 hour, four bar event will include 6 hours of unlimited Absolut Vodka drinks for only 25 dollars a ticket at Palace, Halo, Score and Twist during their busiest times. Keep in mind that 100 percent of proceeds will benefit Equality Florida. Join this amazing event! For complete information and to purchase tickets, visit www.eqfl.org/tickets |
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Could Miami Beach’s Domestic Partner Registry Become A Thing Of The Past? The Florida Marriage Protection Amendment on the ballot this November will nullify the Miami Beach ordinance with one sentence: “Inasmuch 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.” This language clearly intends to ban a lot more than same-sex marriage. This amendment would ban civil unions, and could likely ban domestic partner registries throughout Florida and end domestic partner benefits in the public sector. These are but some of the results in other states where similar language has passed. Not only would this affect Miami Beach locally but also Miami/Dade where domestic partnerships will go before the commissioners in late March or early April. Domestic partnerships are recognized in Broward and Palm Beach counties and could also be nullified by the amendment. What can you do? There are two main organizations you can join, Save Dade and Florida Red and Blue. Since 1997, Save Dade has been fighting for equal rights for gay and lesbians in Dade County. In 1998, Save Dade saw their first success with the Miami-Dade County Commissioners passing of an amendment to HRO prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Florida Red and Blue is a group who recently organized to fight the “marriage protection” amendment and is made up of as many heterosexual members as it is homosexual members. According to their website, “This intrusive amendment to the Florida Constitution will take away long established rights for ALL non-married Floridians.” Florida Red and Blue has the support of The Salt Lake Tribune, Sun-Sentinel, and Jim Philips of WESH NBC News Orlando. You can donate money or time to either of these organizations to fight this amendment’s passing. You can talk to your co-workers and family and inform them of how this will not only affect gays and lesbians but many others in our state. In November, we all need to vote NO!
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unanimously in support of the gay and lesbian citizens of Miami Beach. In 2004, the City voted once again unanimously in favor of an ordinance establishing a domestic partnership registry. The domestic partnership is not gay exclusive but “means committed relationship between two persons who consider themselves to be a member of each other’s immediate family and have registered their partnership”. The benefits of registering a domestic partnership are important however few. It entitles the partners visitation rights at health care facilities and correctional facilities. It allows for health care decision-making if a patient lacks the capacity to make the decisions for themselves. It allows for a partner to participate in the education of their child. It allows for funeral/burial decisions as well as being notified in cases of emergency. 