Florida Agenda

Refuses to include sexual orientation as part of diversity

Photo: Florida Gov. Rick Scott , shuns state LGBT employees. Courtesy, bruceritchie.blogspot.com

ByJEREMY JONES

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – It only took a few hours into his first day in office for Florida Gov. Rick Scott to shun state LGBT employees. Shortly after being sworn in Jan. 4 as the state’s 45th governor, Scott issued an executive order addressing diversity in state government, but refused to include sexual orientation as part of that diversity.

Last month, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) requested Scott include sexual orientation when addressing matters of diversity. The Council, a nonprofit organization founded in 1988, is dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

In a Dec. 6 letter to Scott’s transition team, PBCHRC President Rand Hoch requested that the incoming governor’s first executive order address equal opportunity in state employment.

“By doing so on the day you take office, you will assure all Floridians that the State of Florida is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in state government to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or marital status,” Hoch wrote.

While the council’s request was for an inclusive order, Scott instead issued Executive Order 11-04, which narrowly limited Florida’s non-discrimination policies to only include race, gender, creed, color and national origin. “Gov. Scott’s limited view of diversity is very discouraging,” said Hoch. “Gov. Scott did not even include all of the classifications listed in the Florida Civil Rights Act – let alone sexual orientation and gender identity.”

The Florida Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status. In addition, Florida courts have also determined that pregnancy is a protected classification. “It is disappointing that Gov. Scott did not include LGBT Floridians in his executive order. He campaigned on his promise to create and retain jobs in Florida. Creating jobs and getting our economy going means making Florida competitive and attracting talent to our state,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. “These basic protections already cover more than half of Florida’s population through local policies and have the support of nearly 90 percent of the public.

It is time to ensure full equality exists statewide.”

While the governor’s decision to not include sexual orientation in the order is disheartening, Smith said it is too early to make sweeping assessments of how the Scott administration will respond to future matters affecting the LGBT community. She says Equality Florida has allies in Tallahassee on both sides of the aisle who are helping make the case for equality.

Smith also said that it is important that the community continue to push Gov. Scott and elected officials to build bipartisan support for the Florida Competitive Workforce Act that was recently introduced by Sen. Nan Rich.

Rich filed legislation aimed at bringing jobs to Florida. The Competitive Workforce Act (SB 346) would eliminate discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Major employers in Florida have adopted comprehensive non-discrimination policies and are working closely with Equality Florida to encourage others to do the same. These companies include: BlueCross BlueShield of Florida; Pepsico, Sweetbay Supermarket; Carlton Fields; jetBlue Airways; Citi and Wells Fargo. Most recently, Leon and Orange counties have adopted similar protections.

(Photo: Matthew Guzman – Miami-Dade Police)

By JEREMY JONES

A Miami man has been arrested for the murders of two men he claims made homosexual advances toward him.

Matthew E. Guzman, 21, is the suspect in the Dec. 16 slaying of Paul Barrow, 46, and the Nov. 18 slaying of 64 year old Harry Ray. Barrow, co-owner of Devonaire Service & Tire, was shot in the head at the auto store located at 12253 SW 112th St. in Kendall. According to reports, a customer found Barrow on the floor.

He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he died.
Police say Guzman lied in wait for Barrow in order to ambush and kill him. The suspect claims that the victim had “homosexual tendencies” and that Barrow had looked at him in an “inappropriate manner.” That claim, however, is disputed by Audree Barrow, the victim’s wife, who is now forced to raise three children on her own.

“Paul was no way in hell anything homosexual. Let’s just clarify that right now,” Barrow told the media. “It’s been extremely difficult. His [Guzman’s] family was not at the bond hearing – we were there but his family was nowhere to be found, so they obviously know he’s pretty sick.”
Ballistic testing from the auto shop led police to the home of the first victim, Ray, a neighbor of Guzman’s, who lives in the 12300 block of 110th S. Canal Street Road.

According to police reports, Guzman entered Ray’s house to use the restroom and then shot the 64 year old with a 9mm semi-automatic hand gun several times in the head and upper torso. Guzman tried to clean fingerprints from the crime scene and remove bullet casings. He told police that he killed Ray because he was a “racist” and that he “made homosexual advances toward him, leaving him no choice but to shoot the victim.” The gun used in both of the murders was found on Guzman Jan.2 when he was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and burglary.

He’s been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bond in the Miami-Dade County Jail.

CDC issues report warning of spike in new infections

By BOB KECSKEMETY & JEREMY JONES

Charles Martin, (photo) chief executive officer of SoBAP, cautions community about syphilis.

South Beach AIDS Project (SoBAP) has issued a syphilis alert that affects Miami- Dade and Broward counties. The alert, which was posted to SoBAP’s website, singles out South Beach, Liberty City and the Wilton Manors/Fort Lauderdale areas. It comes just days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report stating that syphilis and chlamydia infection rates are on the rise.

The CDC report, “Trends in Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States,” states that syphilis cases continue to rise among homosexual men and young African-American men. Overall, syphilis cases continue to spiral upward. There were 5 percent more syphilis cases in the past year and a whopping 39 percent more cases since 2006.

Gonorrhea infections, however, are at their lowest since the CDC started tracking the disease in 1941.

In South Florida, the STD infection rates are alarming. Of those being tested for syphilis, more than 65 percent were co-infected with HIV/AIDS. As of June 2010, there were 141 reported cases of syphilis among gay men, and of those men, 61 percent were co-infected. In Miami-Dade, 251 gay men tested positive for syphilis, and 65 percent of them were co-infected. Additionally, 65 percent of minority gay men in the Miami/South Florida market are co-infected with syphilis and HIV.

“These are pretty daunting statistics for gay men in Miami and Fort Lauderdale,” says Charles Martin, chief executive officer of SoBAP. “Minority gay men bare a higher burden of co-infection of syphilis and HIV.”

Primary and secondary syphilis cases among young black men aged 15 to 24 continue to increase significantly — indicating a concerning new trend. Between 2005 and 2009, the primary and secondary syphilis rate among young black men aged 15 to 24 tripled (from 19.3 per 100,000 in 2005 to 58.2 in 2009). This trend, the CDC said, may also be contributing to disproportionately high rates of HIV among young black men.

While these numbers are worrisome, Martin says the statistics are actually higher since a lot of people don’t know they are infected with syphilis. And that’s due to the lack of symptoms, which can take years, if ever, to surface. Miller says that a recent STD report indicates that more than 56 percent of people are unaware they have syphilis.

“There are lot of factors at play here, including lack of protection and the fact that the I-95 corridor makes it easier for people to party between Miami and Fort Lauderdale and spread the infection. We have some of the worst and highest numbers in the country” said Martin.

Syphilis was nearly eliminated in Broward County in 1998 and officials were hopeful for total elimination within two years. However, since that year, syphilis rates have skyrocketed with officials pointing to bareback parties organized online as a major reason for the rise. An official from the Broward County Health Department did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment on the spike in infections.

Since 2000, the largest increase in syphilis cases has been among men who have sex with men. In 2009, MSM accounted for nearly two-thirds of syphilis cases, up from just 4 percent in 2000.

Blue Mannix, the testing initiative manager at the Pride Center/GLCC, said that the center does not test specifically for STDs but is aware that syphilis is on the rise.

“When we do our HIV testing to those with high-risk behaviors,” said Mannix, “we tell them they can also be exposed to gonorrhea and syphilis, and so we do recommend getting tested for STDs. Hopefully in the future we will be able to do free STD testing at the center but we do not have the funds right now.”

SoBAP, according to Martin, is hoping to offer free syphilis testing beginning early next year. That would be in addition to the free HIV testing it already offers.

Veteren’s Day Parade in Key West not the place to cause a stir over rainbow flag

By JEREMY JONES

There is a time and a place for everything, but for some reason that line often becomes blurred, which appears to be the case during this year’s Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11 in Key West. According to the Gay & Lesbian Community Center in Key West, they were given permission to unfurl the 100- foot Key West Rainbow Flag during the parade down Duvall Street.

Once in the parade, GLCC President Mike Mongo says that his gro up, which numbered approximately 30 people made

up of local students from the Gay Straight Alliance, gay veterans and supporters of the GLCC, were told they could not unfurl the flag but rather could drape up to 4-feet over the convertible they were driving down Duvall for the parade. Mongo says they were told by the Key West Police Department that if they didn’t comply they would be removed from the parade. Needless to say, the action led to some hard feelings and a few city commissioners walking out in “protest.” However, Commissioner Jimmy Weekly said he walked out because he was told the GLCC wasn’t allowed to have the flag in the parade at all, which obviously wasn’t the case.

Without having all the facts, it’s easy to immediately cry foul against the Navy, who was in charge of the parade. And even with all the facts, some people still will say “we were wronged.” But let’s take a step back and really look at the situation and stop thinking about ourselves all the time. This was a Veteran’s Day Parade, honoring veterans who fight, have fought and have died for our country. True, there are many gay and lesbian veterans, but the parade was not about being gay or lesbian or even straight for that matter. It was about taking a day to remember and honor those veterans regardless of their sexual orientation. To be honest, the Navy was right to ask that the flag be reduced to 4-feet. After all, they did not say the flag or GLCC couldn’t be in the parade. We complain about being labeled, whether it be butch, queen, top or bottom. Yet we are quick to make selfish actions that welcome unwanted attention or labels. We should be able to honor and recognize one another without our sexual orientation coming into play, yet we think the world should revolve around us. Well guess what? It doesn’t and never will. Veterans Day is not about gay or straight, it’s about us coming together as a country to thank those who have stood on the frontlines to ensure our safety and the freedoms that we do have right now. The parade was not the place for a 100- foot Rainbow Flag – that’s why Key West has a Gay Pride event in which they can unfurl the entire length of the flag down Duvall Street, and they do. The key here is not to look at this as something that the LGBT community was disrespected on; it’s something that all of us can learn from. Misinformation often leads to incorrect assumptions and actions. And, yes, we can be fabulous without being self-centered. God knows we don’t need any more divas.

By JEREMY JONES & DMITRY RASHNITSOV

The Broward County Commission has welcomed it’s one and only Republican member to the dais after Lighthouse Point Commissioner Chip LaMarca defeated Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl Nov. 2 for the District 4 seat. LaMarca, along with new commissioners Dale Holness and Barbara Sharief, took their seats on the county commission Nov. 16.

Keechl, who is openly-gay, had the second largest constituency for an openly gay elected official in the entire country, according to the Victory Fund. But that constituency wasn’t enough to grant Keechl a win over LaMarca, who managed to pick up 24,918 votes to Keechl’s 22,678 votes. District 4 encompasses Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach.

“The untold story is how close I came to winning,” said Keechl, who admitted that it was not a good year to be a Democrat. “It didn’t take a genius to see that the Democrats were going to do poorly. It was a terrible year to be a Democrat.” Keechl’s loss comes as a shock in a county where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans 549,797 to 247,181, according to the Broward County Supervisors of Elections.

In addition, Keechl had amassed $590,000 in his campaign fund while LaMarca only spent $146,000. With those types of numbers, it’s clear that voter resentment for the Democratic Party played heavily into Keechl’s loss, and it’s a loss that even caught him by surprise.

“I thought I was going to pull it out. But I also know that if you are not willing to lose, then you shouldn’t play the game,” Keechl said.

Keechl has done a lot for the LGBT community. He is credited with adding genderidentity and expression protections to Broward County’s anti-discrimination human rights ordinance, sponsoring a county resolution seeking to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and he made Domestic Partnership Benefits a requirement for any company wanting his vote on competitive procurement contracts.

He credits commissioners who came before him for laying the foundation for LGBT rights in Broward, and says he will continue to work with the current commissioners on future LGBT issues.

He also never voted to raise property taxes and was a strong proponent of eliminating wasteful spending, protecting dwindling open spaces, ensuring adequate funding for beach re-nourishment and promoting sensible development on the coast.

“I am proud of the contribution I made and I know I still have a lot more to contribute,” said Keechl. “I have enjoyed the last four years and would do it all over again.”

And that’s exactly what he plans to do, quite possibly as soon as 2012.

But with the aftermath of the election just a few weeks behind him, Keechl said he will probably return to practicing law while he explores his options. As far as what political office he will seek, Keechl has just begun to weight his options.

“I’ll make that decision as the opportunities present themselves,” he said. “People are already approaching me for various seats in 2012.”

His accomplishments while in office are numerous, but that didn’t stop his opponents from criticizing his campaign.

Voters say he reneged on his 2006 promise of working full time as a County Commissioner and not practicing law. He also came under scrutiny for negative ads he ran against LaMarca as well as for using campaign funds to pay the mortgage on a property he owns. In Keechl’s defense, that property was used as his campaign headquarters.

But none of that deters Keechl. When asked if there is anything he would do differently during the campaign that could have resulted in a victory, he wastes no time in answering.

“I can’t think of anything I would do differently. Sometimes you just come up short,” said Keechl. “Public service is in my blood.”

Florida joins the growing list of states forced to cut drugs for HIV/AIDS patients due to budget issues.

Thousands in jeopardy of losing coverage

It appears Florida’s struggling economy has found its latest victims: uninsured HIV/AIDS patients. According to the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau for HIV/AIDS, a budget crisis is forcing the state to drop 350 uninsured HIV/AIDS patients from a federal drug subsidy program, and an additional 2,000 more patients may suffer the same fate.

The need to drop patients from the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) stems from Florida’s $16 million shortfall of its $100 million drug program budget. Another factor affecting the cuts is the economy, which has triggered an increase in the number of Florida patients being enrolled in the program due to loss of employment and health insurance. The Bureau estimates the current enrollment to be approximately 11,000 patients. The lack of funding has forced the agency to put patients on a waiting list.

“We have not had this type of demand in 14 years,” said Tom Liberti, chief of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS. “We knew we had to have a waiting list quickly because we were over budget.”

Liberti, who estimates there are more than 2,400 patients on the waiting list, says the Bureau began putting patients on the list June 1. Of these patients, more than 1,000 live in South Florida and approximately 300 live in Central Florida. In a state that has the third largest HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country, having to drop patients from ADAP is not something the Bureau wanted to do, says Liberti. New York and California rank No. 1 and No. 2.

Flat funding from the Ryan White program, the economy and the increased number of patients came together to create what Liberti calls the “perfect storm,” which started in early 2009. While the Bureau, which has been around for more than 20 years, is trying to stabilize the program, it’s not there yet, he says. If the financial situation does not improve, there is a strong possibility that more patients could be dropped from the program.

“When people are diagnosed … they often need to be on medication right away,” said Lola Thomas, executive director of the AIDS Alliance of Northwest Georgia, one of the states that has a waiting list. “It’s devastating to the HIV community. It becomes difficult to keep up with the program.” As far as Florida is concerned, there are no guarantees that more patients won’t be cut, but the Bureau is trying to make it through March 31 of next year before any additional cuts are made. Liberti estimates that the state saves about $10,000 per every patient dropped, but that is not the ideal scenario.

“Everyone is trying very hard so that we don’t have to do that. I’m trying to stay optimistic,” Liberti said. That optimism is linked to several grant programs totaling millions of dollars, some of which the state has never been eligible for until now. The downside is the fact that grant awards aren’t usually handed out until at least April 1. Liberti says his office is going for as much money as possible.

In the meantime, dropping patients from ADAP and reducing eligibility were the immediate steps that had to be taken to ensure the program could stay afloat. Some of the patients being dropped may be able to obtain drugs for free or at a minimal cost directly through programs offered by drug manufacturers. The state is assisting patients in this process.