Florida Agenda

WILTON MANORS – The “Wilton Manors GET OUT THE VOTE Bar Crawl,” postponed by the heavy rains from Hurricane Isaac, has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 30. The organizers have planned the community-wide effort to register as many LGBT voters as possible, and to draw awareness to issues of political importance to the gay community.

Beginning at 2 p.m., local drag performers Nikki Adams, Nicolette, and Jersey Dion (as well as other possible entertainers, not named at press time) will lead a “barcrawling” crowd through eight local watering holes, including Sidelines Sports Bar, Bill’s Filling Station, The Manor, Rosie’s Bar & Grill, New Moon, Matty’s On the Drive, The Alibi, and Boom. The organizers say that the crowd will move in 45-minute intervals, where voter registrars and Democratic Party officials will be available to speak to potential voters. From each bar, it is expected that a larger group will travel to the next club.

“This is the real McCoy, there’s no denying it,” said Ron Mills, campaign director for the GLBT Democratic Caucus. In a statement, the organizers noted, “While the event may seem to be a partisan effort, the recently published Republican Party Platform and the soon-to-be adopted Democratic Party Platform are undeniably contradictory, and the LGBT community cannot ignore their intent as it relates to their rights and forward progress for equality.”

WILTON MANORS – Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Isaac caused the postponement of the scheduled August 26 “Wilton Manors GET OUT THE VOTE Bar Crawl.” “We believe it to be more prudent to act on the side of safety and caution,” said Jennifer Morales, Sidelines’ Marketing Director and one of the organizers. Morales said the event will be rescheduled for sometime in September.

The organizers planned the community-wide effort to register as many LGBT voters as possible, and to draw awareness to issues of political importance to the gay community. Local drag performers Nikki Adams, Nicolette, and Jersey Dion were scheduled to lead a “barcrawling” crowd through eight local watering holes, including Sidelines Sports Bar, Bill’s Filling Station, The Manor, Rosie’s Bar & Grill, New Moon, Matty’s On the Drive, The Alibi, and Boom. More details will follow in the Agenda.

WILTON MANORS – The organizers for the August 26 “Wilton Manors GET OUT THE VOTE Bar Crawl” have announced the featured gueststarring entertainment for the event, a community-wide effort to register as many LGBT voters as possible, and to draw awareness to issues of political importance to the gay community.

Local drag performers Nikki Adams, Nicolette, and Jersey Dion will lead a crowd through eight local watering holes, where, beginning at 2 p.m., volunteers, entertainers,, and the interested public will meet voter registrars and Democratic Party officials. The crawl will commence at Sidelines Sports Bar, and then move to Bill’s Filling Station, The Manor, Rosie’s Bar & Grill, New Moon, Matty’s On the Drive, The Alibi, and Boom. “This idea has taken off and you will see such an energized coalition of LGBT movers and shakers getting out the vote,” said Michael Albetta, Vice Chair of the Florida Democratic Party Campaign Committee.

Although set up as a pro-Obama re-election event, the organizers want all eligible voters and concerned citizens to participate. “Regardless of your party affiliation, it is your country’s given right as a citizen to make your voice heard,” said Jennifer Morales, Sidelines’ Marketing Director and one of the organizers, adding, “whatever, or whomever their choice may be.”

WILTON MANORS – On August 26, eight local bars will take part in the “Wilton Manors GET OUT THE VOTE Bar Crawl,” in an effort to register as many LGBT voters as possible, and to draw awareness to issues of political importance to the gay community. Starting at 2 p.m., volunteers, entertainers, Democratic Party officials, and the interested public will gather at Sidelines Sports Bar on Wilton Drive, the event’s starting point.

According to the organizers, the crowd—with South Florida entertainers serving as guides—will move along the Drive, in 45-minutes intervals, to each bar, where voter registrars and Democratic Party officials will speak to potential voters. As well as Sidelines, Bill’s Filling Station, The Manor, Rosie’s Bar & Grill, New Moon, Matty’s On the Drive, The Alibi, and Boom will participate.

“This idea has taken off, and you will see such an energized coalition of LGBT movers and shakers getting out the vote,” said Michael Albetta, Vice Chair of the Florida Democratic Party Campaign Committee.

Although the event is organized by many who support President Obama’s re-election, the organizers want all eligible voters and concerned citizens to attend, irrespective of political philosophy. “Regardless of your party affiliation, it is your country’s given right as a citizen to make your voice heard,” said Jennifer Morales, Sidelines’ Marketing, Advertising, and Promotions Director.

Morales says there are a number of important issues facing LGBT Americans this year, but the most important one is retaining the gains we have made in civil rights. “The single biggest issue for LGBT voters in 2012 is that we retain these rights and not go back to a closeted and discrimination-filled way of life,” she says, adding, “This cannot happen!”

Although she has concerns that Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, “will push to remove most of these rights and achievements,” Morales thinks there is something more important than party, and says that the bar crawl is a way to “remind LGBT voters of their duty as citizens to make sure that their voices are heard—whatever, or whomever their choice may be.”

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL – Early voting has begun in several cities in Miami-Dade County. Early voting is easy and convenient. With elections taking place in Hialeah, Homestead, Miami and Miami Beach, you can vote your precinct from any of the early voting locations. Every election is important and your vote is important. The LGBT Community is an important and powerful voting block so your community leaders have created an opportunity for everyone to get out and vote

together.

On Saturday October 29, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., the LGBT community will convene at City Hall on Miami Beach (1700 Convention Center Way) and VOTE. After voting you can visit the following local bars and receive one free drink from 3 p.m. to midnight by simply showing your bartender your “I Voted” sticker: Mova Lounge, 1625 Michigan Avenue (Miami Beach); Palace Bar, 1200 Ocean Drive (Miami Beach); Score, 727 Lincoln Road (Miami Beach) or Twist, 1057 Washington Avenue (Miami Beach).

Celebrate your right as a citizen of this great nation and vote for the candidate of your choice.