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In a statement, the Courage Campaign described Grindr as “the world’s largest all-male social network.” According to the company, more than 3 million people have downloaded the app. The Grindr campaign will entail the company sending messages to people who have downloaded the app, requesting them to sign a petition in favor of DNC support for same-sex marriage initiatives. The petition will then be sent to DNC Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz, whose 20th Congressional District includes parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

“There’s a social dating site for really every kind of person and flavor,” said Adam Bink, director of online programs for the Courage Campaign, of the petition, which is called “Grindr for Equality.” “We really have to reach people where they are,” he added. Bink noted that Grindr is just the latest in a long line of dating sites and software, including straight dating site OkCupid, and JDate, for Jewish singles. Straight people might have a physical relationship after meeting on those sites, Bink said. Grindr previously encouraged its members to support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), as well as asking them to support a California law requiring the inclusion of the contributions of the LGBT community in social science lessons.

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By Rory Barbarossa

Member of Congress and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz says that Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is “un-American” for his promise to invalidate same-sex marriages that are already on the books through a federal marriage amendment.

Wasserman Schultz, who represents Florida’s 20th Congressional District in the U.S. House, said during an interview at the Des Moines Convention Center on Tuesday, Jan.

3, the day of the Iowa Republican presidential caucus, that Santorum’s scheme “would be un-American, undemocratic, and entirely inappropriate and unacceptable.”

The four-term House member was responding to an earlier comment made by Santorum, who told NBC News’ Chuck Todd that existing same-sex marriages “would be invalid” if an amendment to the U.S. Constitutional was passed that bans marriage equality. Santorum–who narrowly lost to GOP opponent Mitt Romney in Iowa, the nation’s first statewide candidate contest– supports such an amendment.

Speaking of the district she has represented since 2005, Wasserman Schultz said “I represent as a member of Congress one of the largest, most vibrant, gay communities in the entire country. I’m a supporter of same-sex marriage and believe that we need to make sure that we stand up for equality for everyone.”

Asked by  reporter for the Washington Blade what message gay Americans should take away from the Iowa caucus results, Wasserman Schultz replied, “Iowa has been a forerunner when it comes to the civil rights of Americans. So many of the civil rights advances, including same-sex marriage, have begun in Iowa.”

“I think Iowans will continue to uphold the liberty that all Americans believe in, for all Americans, she added.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) was in Iowa During the Republican Primary Caucus on Tuesday

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Photo: President Barack Obama and Democratic National Committee Chair, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. step off Air Force One in Miami, Friday, April 29, 2011.

Florida’s oldest and largest LGBT political organization, the Dolphin Democratic Club will be holding their annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception on Sunday, October 23 at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way in Dania Beach near Griffin Road and I-95. The evening will include a VIP reception and/or cocktail reception in the main lobby from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., with a dinner and awards presentation from 7:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There will also be a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 7:45 p.m.

This year’s Keynote Speaker will be US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Representative Wasserman Schultz is also this year’s Honorary Chairperson and she represents Florida District 20 in the House of Representatives. In addition to being in the House, Wasserman Schultz is the Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. Her district covers parts of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, including the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, and Miami Beach.

Wasserman Schultz has been one of the leaders in the House when it comes to equal rights for the gay and lesbian community. As founding Vice-Chair of the House

LGBT Caucus, Representative Wasserman Schultz has consistently voted to expand civil rights for the LGBT community by ensuring federal protection from hate-motivated violence and by providing remedies for unfair discrimination in the workplace. She has fought for equality for all of Florida’s families – from full marriage equality to repealing Florida’s painful ban that prohibits gay and lesbian parents from adopting children. Late last year, she voted in favor of repealing the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that prevented gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. She also supports the Obama administration’s decision to stop defending the unconstitutional “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) in federal court.

The annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception is the premier event that recognizes outstanding leaders who have demonstrated their strength and a vision to improve the lives of the LGBT community and all deserving citizens. Honoring these special members of the community not only celebrates accomplishments and strengths, but also extends hope for the future.

The proceeds will benefit the Dolphin Democrats’ 2012 “Get Out the Vote” campaign with a portion going to the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center (children with AIDS), the House of Hope and Stepping Stones.

Recipients of this year’s awards are: Jennifer Morales and Laurie Whittaker of Sidelines Sports Bar (Jamie Bloodworth Award); Patricia Windowmaker, Senior Legal Council of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (Trailblazer Award); Congressman Ted Deutch and Oakland Park Vice Mayor Anne Sallee (Political Alliance Award); Peter Clark of Hotspots! (Media Award); Salvatore Torre (Volunteer of the Year Award); Broward House (Community Service Award); Women in Network (Broward Leadership Award); Tim Ross (Distinguished Service Award); Gail Butler of Auto Nation/Maroone Ford (Humanitarian Award) and Michael Albetta (Dolphin of the Year).

“This is not a rubbery chicken political dinner,” said Richard Cimoch, events co-chair for the Dolphin Democrats. “It’s excellent food from some of the finest restaurants.” Food is being provided by Rosie’s, Christina Wan’s, Jet Pizza, Casa D’ Angelo, Beefcakes, Café Seville, Lola’s on Harrison, Moments in Time Catering, Croissan’Time, Pastry Chef Anthony and Sweeter Days. Java Boys are supplying the coffee.

New Moon Bar, Sidelines Sports Bar, Boardwalk and The Manor Entertainment Complex are providing the liquor and bar service.
Some of the prizes for the silent auction include: a one-week stay at beautiful chalet in North Carolina, a painting by artist Al DiMaio, a photo shoot with Dennis Dean, an autographed photo of race car champion Andy Pilgram, legal services, website design and hosting, wine and liquor baskets, gift certificates, hand-made Christmas wreaths, cleaning and lawn services.

Tickets for the Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception can be purchased online at their website, www.DolphinDems.org. Individual tickets are $75, which includes the reception, dinner, awards presentation and silent auction. VIP tickets of $150 per person also includes the VIP reception.

For additional information, either visit their website or call 866-478-8262.

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by Bob Kecskemety

Florida’s oldest and largest LGBT political organization, the Dolphin Democratic Club, will be holding their annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception on Sunday, October 23 at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way in Dania Beach near Griffin Road and I-95.

The annual Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception is its premier event that recognizes outstanding leaders who have demonstrated their strength to lead and a vision to improve the lives of the LGBT community and all deserving citizens. Honoring these special members of the community celebrates the accomplishments and strengths and hope for the future.

The proceeds will benefit the Dolphin Democrats’ 2012 “Get Out the Vote” campaign with a portion going to the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center (children with AIDS), the House of Hope and Stepping Stones.

A total of twelve awards will be given  out. This year’s recipients are: Jennifer Morales and Laurie Whittaker of Sidelines (Jamie Bloodworth Award); Patricia Windowmaker, Senior Legal Council of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (Trailblazer Award); Congressman Ted Deutch and Oakland Park Vice Mayor Anne Sallee (Political Alliance Award); Peter Clark of Hotspots (Media Award); Salvatore Torre (Volunteer of the Year Award); Broward House (Community Service Award); Women in Network (Broward Leadership Award); Tim Ross (Distinguished Service Award); Gail Butler of Auto Nation/Maroone Ford (Humanitarian Award) and Michael Albetta (Dolphin of the Year).

This year’s Honorary Chairperson is Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

“This is not a rubbery chicken political dinner,” said Richard Cimoch, events co-chair for the Dolphin Democrats. “It’s excellent food from over a dozen restaurants. The theme this year is ‘A Taste of Broward’ and the International Fishing Hall of Fame is magnificent – spectacular. The place is absolutely beautiful.”

Cimoch has been busy the last few months coordinating the event and getting participation from local bars and restaurants. Jennifer Morales and Laurie Whittaker of Sidelines Sports Bar, Carol Moran of Blue Moon and Victor Zepka of Boardwalk are providing the liquor and wine and over a dozen restaurants have confirmed their participation with more to come. Also The Manor Entertainment Complex has been very involved.

“I firmly believe that this event will make or break the election,” said Cimoch. “The Dolphins are usually very successful in its get out the vote campaigns and if [President] Barack Obama doesn’t win Florida, I don’t think he’ll get reelected. So it’s really crucial we have a very strong get out the vote center and we get the people to the polls like we did the last time. If  he doesn’t get in, God only knows what we’ll get.”

Membership to the Dolphin Democrats  is around 200 for a non-election year and closer to 500 in election years. In 2008, the year of the last Presidential election, member was around 450.

“This is a very crucial event,” added Cimoch. “Every person in the community is needed to help make a better future of the gay community and the whole community in general. We could have better influenced the 2010 Congressional elections with a better gay Get Out the Vote campaign mobilizing people here in Broward and helping in Palm Beach.” In 2010, the voter turnout in predominantly Democratic Broward County was very low.

Next year, the Dolphin Democratic Club will be 30 years old. The organization was started by a small group of people that originally called themselves the Tuesday Night Meeting. Some of the original members are still active today such as Barbara Stewart and Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green.

Today, many of the local politicians are members and attend regular Dolphin Democrats’ events and speak at their meetings.Salvatore Torre, recipient of this year’s Volunteer of the Year award said, “There are so many people that volunteer every day and give so much of their time. I appreciate getting the recognition.

People don’t realize how much work goes into setting up the events and setting up the meetings.”

Torre has been a member of the Dolphin Democrats for the last two years. He currently sits on the board of directors of the organization. He said he does a lot of behind-the-scenes work and helps set up the meetings.

Dolphin of the Year award recipient, Michael Albetta reflected on his history with the organization when he found out he was receiving an award.

“As John F. Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ This [the Dolphins] is my participation in regards to making sure that all people are regarded equally – regardless of race, color, creed, religion or national origin. All people must be treated equally, it’s in our Constitution.”

Albetta has been a member of the Dolphins since 1997 and has served on the board since 1998. He has served as either president or vice president from 2003 through 2005 and was elected president again in 2009. He has also served on the state’s LBGT Caucus.
The Dolphin of the Year Award generally goes to a former president of the Dolphin Democrats.

Tim Ross, who will receive the Distinguished Service Award, has been a member of the Dolphins since 2006. He served as secretary of the Dolphins from 2009 to 2010 and is currently still serving on the board.

Tickets for the Dolphin Democrats’ Awards Reception can be purchased online at its website, www.DolphinDems.org. Individual tickets are $75 which includes the reception, dinner, awards presentation and silent auction. VIP tickets of $150 per person also includes the VIP reception.

For additional information, either visit the website or call (866) 478-8262.

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“This June, I join together with LGBT Americans across this country in recognizing PRIDE Month. That means celebrating the enormous strides that LGBT Americans have taken toward equality, but it also means rededicating ourselves to guaranteeing that all Americans – no matter their sexual orientation – are looked upon as fully equal in the eyes of the law.

“Thanks to the hard work of President Obama and LGBT activists across the country, we are now closer than ever to that goal. The outdated and discriminatory policy known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has been repealed.

The President has directed the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA in court and declared it unconstitutional. The hate crimes prevention law has been expanded and we now have our nation’s first comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy. The President continues to work to dispel the myth that bullying, particularly of LGBT students, is a harmless part of growing up and works each day to better the lives of LGBT Americans in every facet of American life. On the international stage, President Obama has shown global leadership in condemning anti-LGBT violence at the United Nations and took the opportunity at the National Prayer Breakfast to speak out against the ‘odious’ anti-gay legislation pending in Uganda.

“Forty two years ago this month, LGBT Americans’ struggle for equal rights entered into the American consciousness when individuals at the Stonewall Inn decided to take a stand. In the four decades since, Americans across this country have kept up the fight for equality. This PRIDE Month, we recommit to this struggle for equality as we strive to finally make injustice and inequality things of the past.”

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This year SAVE Dade is honoring U.S. Congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Greenberg Traurig, LLC; The ACLU of Florida.

Tickets are $75 in advance, $100 at the door. For more information, visit: www.championsofequality.org.

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Last week, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz held a town hall meeting at the Pride Center at Equality Park where she addressed issues pertinent to the gay community. Despite only a few day notice of the town hall meeting, the main hall of the Pride Center was packed with community members interested in what the Congresswoman had to say.

After introductions by Paul Hyman, Executive Director of the Pride Center and Gary Resnick, Mayor of Wilton Manors, Wasserman Schultz took to the podium and commended the local LGBT community on what a fine job they have done in having such a great community center. She then told how proud she was to represent one of the largest LGBT communities in the country.

Wasserman Schultz is originally from Long Island and attended the University of Florida, where she majored in Political Science. Upon graduation, she decided to stay in Florida and moved to Broward County. At the age of 26, she was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and became the youngest female legislator in the state’s history.

After 8 years in the House, she ran for and won State Senate in 2000. When there became a vacancy for the U.S. House District 20 seat in Florida, she ran and won overwhelmingly.

She currently sits on the House’s Budget and Judiciary Committees and is the Democratic Party’s Chief Deputy Whip. She is also Vice Chair of the House’s GLBT Caucus. Last month she received the Pride Center’s Stars of the Rainbow Award for public service and was recently selected by President Barack Obama as the new Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Wasserman Schultz, now 44, lives in Weston, Florida, with her husband, Steve, eleven year old twins and a seven year old.

“I know you have been frustrated at times. I know that perhaps the pace of change has not come fast enough; I’ve had so many conversations with so many of you saying, ‘come on, let’s go, let’s pick up the pace.”

“I understand that there has been slow changes of pace on gay rights,” said Wasserman Schultz, “hate crimes, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the decision not to fight the appeal of DOMA and the deportation of a foreign partner in a gay partnership. Well he [President Obama] may have been a little bit of a late-bloomer but you certainly have a lot to be proud of with the hate crimes legislation, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the decision of the Obama administration, through Attorney General Eric Holder not to appeal the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act and to halt the deportation of foreign gay partners. That’s tremendous progress. I would not have believed it if you had you told me at the start of my congressional career that we would make this much progress [in just two years].”

Yet, she explained, there is so much more to do. She’s looking forward to passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a Student Non-Discrimination Act, a resolution supporting the National Day of Silence, the United American Families Act and a focus on non-bullying measures.

She also feels that the government should provide programs and backup to the public schools to provide a safety net for kids who are struggling with their sexuality so that LGBT teen suicides stop appearing in newspaper headlines.

After speaking, Wasserman Schultz conducted a short question and answer session. Most questions had to do with budget cuts proposed by the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. One of the most touching questions, however, came from a woman who was under chemotherapy and paying $14,000 per treatment.

Another tearful moment was when a gay couple introduced themselves, legally married, they faced separation due to the government’s current policy not recognizing foreign nationals in gay couples.

Other questions included school bullying and teen suicide, lack of Democrats standing up to the Republicans, Medicare and Medicaid cuts, the economy and lack of jobs and increasing Ryan White funding.

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Cuban-American Donna Milo, 48, has her sights on Congress and hopes to unseat U.S. Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston. And while Wasserman is considered a far-to-the-left liberal, Milo is an unapologetically conservative and a transgender woman.

But as she says, “I don’t like labels.”

Instead, Milo believes in her actions speaking volumes in terms of who she is and what she represents.

“I am an American . . . my triumphs are based on my abilities, not on a label or a crutch,” she adds.

Milo’s story is indeed typical of the immigrant family that moves to the U.S. for greater opportunities and the realization of their dreams. She was born ‘Ed’ and the youngest of nine children in Cuba. Her family immigrated to Miami in 1964 and to Ft. Lauderdale four years later. Then months before graduating from Stranahan High School, Ed Milo quit school to help the family — her father, an auto mechanic was ill and money was short.

Milo then studied to become a contractor, eventually became a home builder and even married his high school sweetheart at the age of 19. Their children, Michael and Emily are now 25 and 22. But Milo admits that there was always something that nagged at her from inside.

The Transition Begins

“I identified feelings as far back as I could remember,” she said. “I didn’t have an awareness that there was such a thing until very late in my teen years. I thought I was alone.”

Then in the 1990s, Milo sought medical and psychological advice, and, after telling then-wife Isabel, began her transition. She would divorce, live three years as a woman and in 2000 legally became Donna, shortly thereafter undergoing gender-reassignment surgery. “

After I transitioned and became at peace with myself and my life and my body, I’ve been able to give time to the community,” she said.

Milo would indeed become involved in her Miami Shorecrest neighborhood, joining the city’s Planning Advisory Board five years ago before recently deciding to run for the House of Representatives for the 20th C o n g r e s s i o n a l District. The district includes parts of Miami, Weston, Plantation and Wilton Manors.

The issues don’t include gay rights Milo has been busy over the past month, speaking at the A v i e / C o o p e r Republican Club, the Republican Jewish Coalition Meeting in Plantation, the Republican Business Network Meeting in Coral Springs and various clusters of the Florida Federation of Republican Women.

Some have said she didn’t believe that a transgender woman was running for office but have discovered that this lady means business.

“The people are my first and foremost priority,” she says in her mission statement, as posted on her website, www.donnamilo. com. “I will make decisions and act based on your input and the public interest, not on any personal or special interest agenda.”

Reviewing Milo’s campaign issues are illustrative of a hard core, conservative and despite her avoiding labels, it is clear that is where her heart lies.

She is opposed to higher taxes and favors a simplified tax code, believes that the U.S. should take control of its borders and implement more effective immigration measures, wants to see the insurance industry deregulated, is a staunch pro life advocate and wants to see an end to the country’s dependence on foreign oil. In addition, she says she would never vote for any form of stimulus or bailout and is, perhaps most surprisingly, believes that the rights of marriage should only be extended to “a man and a woman.” The campaign trail is still ahead.

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