Florida Agenda

FORT LAUDERDALE – This month, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) sent representatives to attend the annual ITB Travel show, in Berlin, Germany. Keith Blackburn, president and CEO of the GFLGLCC reports that more than 113,000 trade visitors and nearly 60,000 consumers were in attendance at the Messe Berlin Convention Center.

The attendees had come to see 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries, including those representing Greater Fort Lauderdale and its LGBT community. The chamber reps had set up an exhibition area in coordination with the Greater Fort Lauderdale-based International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), a stand that ranked Number 13 among NGO/Non-Profits by the Cologne Business School for their annual ITB “Best Exhibitor Award.” Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit paid an official visit to the booth.

The GFLGLCC was formed last year by members of Broward County’s LGBT business community, with a mission that includes promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBTfriendly community, promoting tourism with a unified approach, and serving as an advocate and resource for all equalitypromoting member businesses. It is a 501c (6) non-profit organization.

The GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin was endorsed by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

Florida Family Association: Gays Have Corrupted the “Star Wars” Universe TAMPA – Fans of the “Stars Wars” film franchise may be surprised to learn that the “Old Republic” is still threatened—not by the evil Lords of the Sith but by members of the religious right who are expressing their anger at the creator of “Star Wars: The Old Republic,” because the makers of the popular online video game plan to allow players the option of simulating same-sex intimacy.

In an alert sent to members and posted online last week, the Tampa-based Florida Family Association (FFA) suggested that the game designers could engineer a simulated “Darth VaPaula, a (mock) transgender version of Darth Vader–RuPaul, for kids to choose as their action player.”

David Caton, the president of FFA, expressed dismay for the mere existence of gay and transgendered characters in the fictional Star Wars universe, which was originally created in the 1977 film, “Star Wars: A New Hope,” a movie that spawned a multi-billion dollar international film, software, fashion, and multimedia franchise.

“There were no LGBT characters in any of the ‘Star Wars’ movies,” objected Caton, whose previous targets include the cartoon “Family Guy,” and a successful campaign to scare sponsors from the reality series “All- American Muslim.”

Of BioWare’s game, the FFA alert claimed that “LGBT activists are demanding that the makers of Star Wars video games add LGBT characters for kids to select as their action figure when playing the games.”

The “Star Wars: The Old Republic” video game is one of a genre known as Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG), in which players who have logged into a virtual gaming universe based upon the Star Wars films and other media, assume the role of characters who interact with other players and the artificial environment of the game’s “world.” The virtual characters are heavily customized, with options to choose species, gender—male or female only—and other features.

The FFA warning states that “Children and teens, who never thought anyway but heterosexual, are now given a choice to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in their game player.”

In fact, character “romances in “The Old Republic” are only initiated at the player’s option, and at present, only heterosexual relationships are available. BioWare officials have said that they will add same-sex relationship options in the future, which sparked outrage on the part of the religious right.

“If BioWare, the maker of ‘Star Wars’ video games, adds LGBT characters for kids to select as their action figure,” added Caton in the FFA alert, “it could be something like Darth RuPaula, a combination of Darth Vader, one of the most popular ‘Star Wars’ characters, and RuPaul, the renown transgender cross dresser,” although his characterization of the performer is incorrect, as RuPaul is a drag entertainer, not a transgendered individual. FFA’s alert also claimed that “An overwhelming percentage of the 1.7 million games sold are being used by children who do not need to be introduced to this propaganda.”

This contradicts research conducted over the past ten years, which shows that the average age of an MMORPG player is in the mid-20s, and that approximately 75% are 18 years or older. Experts say that such games are neither marketed to nor designed for children, as they require a credit card to pay the monthly fee.

This is only the most recent in a string of attacks by the political and religious right against BioWare: Right Wing Watch reported that the American Decency Association condemned the software designer for pandering to “homosexual extremists.”

And in January, the president of the Family Research Council slammed BioWare after it was announced that a same-sex intimacy option would soon be available for characters. In a weekly radio address titled “Rebel Fleet Surrenders to Gay Empire,” Tony Perkins said that “the biggest threat to the empire may be homosexual activists.”

WILTON MANORS – In a special reception held on Sunday, March 18, Paul Hyman, former Executive Director of The Pride Center at Equality Park said his goodbyes to the not-for-profit’s volunteers, staff, and Board of Directors. He was the organization’s longest-serving executive director.

Hyman served for seven years, bringing The Pride Center—which was then known as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida, or GLCC–out of its toughest times, and in the process making it one of the largest and most respected LGBT community centers in the country.

Hyman inherited an organization that had a building with leaking roofs, intermittent air conditioning, and dwindling community support. A new staff and expanded program services were soon followed by increased donations and memberships. In 2010, Hyman moved the GLCC to a 2.2 acre complex of five buildings and renamed the organization “The Pride Center at Equality Park.”

He is leaving South Florida to become the Executive Director of the Stonewall Foundation in New York City, a public charity for the Big Apple’s LGBT community which provides funding to other LGBT organizations.

Robert Boo will become The Pride Center’s new executive director. He worked with Hyman for five of the last six years as the center’s Director of Development as well as currently serving on its board.

“I’m so thrilled to be leaving the Center in such capable hands,” Hyman said at his farewell. “With Robert [Boo], the staff, the volunteers and the board, there is just no doubt about the bright future that’s in store for the Center and this community.”

WILTON MANORS, FL – Comedienne Margaret Cho spoke before a crowd of nearly 2,000 people on the evening of December 1, World AIDS Day. A candlelight march, led by Ms.

Cho went from Hagen Park to the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. After the march, a rally was held in the shopping center parking lot featuring Grand Marshall Cho. Also speaking at the rally were Wilton Manors’ Vice Mayor Tom Green, Angelo Castillo and Kathleen Cannon of Broward House, Paul Hyman of the Pride Center at Equality Park, Rev. Durrell Watkins of the Sunshine Cathedral/MCC and attorney Norman Kent.

This was the fourth annual candle-light vigil and rally held in Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manor s which has seen exponential growth every year and serves to commemorate and raise awareness of the 30th anniversary of the discovery or HIV/AIDS.

Immediately after the vigil, Ms. Cho performed in front of a packed house at Parker Playhouse as a fundraiser for Broward House, Fort Lauderdale’s oldest and largest AIDS service agency.

If you would like to see the video of Ms. Cho speaking at the World AIDS Day rally, go to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FloridaAgenda and please “like” our page while you are there.

WILTON MANORS, FL – The Pride Center at Equality Park has announced there will be some administrative changes to help them in grant writing.

The position of Major Gifts Officer will be restructured in order to create two positions.

Paul Hyman, Executive Director of the Pride Center, said that as they plan for enhanced service to the LGBT community in the New Year, it is important to proactively apply for grant funding. In order to do so, he said, funds must be budgeted to expand its capacity to prospect and apply for grants.

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The national LGBT blog, The Bilerico Project, has awakened the gay community concerning the Salvation Army’s discrimination against gays and lesbians and the community has reacted by turning their backs on the annual bell ringers.

As reported by MSNBC, Bill Browning, editor-in-chief of The Bilerico Project said that as the holiday approach, the Salvation Army bell ringers are in front of stores asking shoppers for donations. He went on to say that if a LGBT person cares about equal rights, they will skip making a donation to the Salvation Army and make a donation to a charity that doesn’t discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network told MSNBC that the organization is urging a boycott of the Salvation Army because it uses its selective interpretation of the Bible to promote discrimination against LGBT people in employment benefits and leadership positions.

The Salvation Army, a charitable evangelical Christian organization that provides aid and services to the needy, denies that it discriminates against anyone.

Lt. Col Ralph Bukiewicz, a divisional commander of the Salvation Army said that nothing could be further from the truth and that the Salvation Army does not determine eligibility for any service within the agency on a person’s sexual orientation and that they don’t even ask for that information.

Gay-rights advocates contend the organization has a history of lobbying for anti-gay policies and legislation. Browing said that in 2004 the Salvation Army threatened to close all their soup kitchens for the homeless in New York to protest the city’s decision to require vendors and charities doing business with the city to adhere to the state’s civil rights laws forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation.

LOS ANGELES, CA – A group of members of the LGBT community marched in West Hollywood last Sunday to show solidarity with the Occupy LA movement and the 99% of Americans the movement asserts is a majority unrepresented by the political and financial power of the 1%. The march went from Plummer Park in West Hollywood, down Santa Monica Boulevard to the Matthew Shepard Triangle at Crescent Heights, held a brief rally there, then marched back to Plummer Park for speeches.

The Metropolitan Community Church/Los Angeles’ Social Justice Ministry is the primary organizer, working with members of Occupy LA.

By Bob Kecskemety

The LGBT community made major gains in last week’s general elections capturing more seats in state and local governments then they ever have in a single election cycle. These gains more than made up for losses experienced in the elections of 2010. Pro-LGBT causes were also big winners in November 2010. There were, however, some losers.

THUMBS UP:

• Michael Smith won a spot on the Largo, Florida City Commission for seat 1. He beat out Mary Gray Black by 546 votes. Black had a history of anti-LGBT activism while sitting on the city commission.

• Annise Parker won re-election as mayor of Houston, Texas. Parker was first elected to mayor in 2009 becoming the first out lesbian woman to become mayor of a major US city. She won against five other candidates with a large enough margin to avoid a run-off. Prior to becoming mayor, Parker sat on the Houston City Commission and was the city’s comptroller.

• 22-year-old Alex B. Morse was elected mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts becoming the youngest mayor in the country. The Brown University graduate and Holyoke-native beat out 67-year-old incumbent Elaine Pluta for the mayorship by nearly 1,000 votes. The main issue that propelled Morse’s win was his opposition to casino gambling in Massachusetts, an issue that Pluta rallied around as a way to boost Holyoke’s economy. Transforming Holyoke’s education system was also at the top of Morse’s agenda, as well as creating jobs through tax incentives and building upon Holyoke’s arts and entertainment district. Being mayor will be Morse’s first job since graduating from college.

• Adam Ebbin was elected to the Virginia State Senate District 30 to become the first openly gay senator in the state. He defeated Timothy McGhee by a margin of 67% to 33%. Ebbin was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 49 since 2004 and was only the third openly gay elected official in Virginia. Ebbin is currently employed by the Service Members Legal Defense Network as its Director of Communications.

• Daniel Hernandez won election to the Tucson, Arizona school board. Hernandez received national attention earlier this year as an assistant to US Representative Gabrielle Gifford. He propped up Gifford’s head in a move that is credited with helping save her life after she was shot in the head in the parking lot of a Tucson shopping center.

• In a special election, Liz Mathis beat Cindy Golding for the Iowa State Senate. Mathis is a former television news anchor. This election was pivotal in keeping same-sex marriage legal in Iowa. Had Golding won, the Senate would have come under control of the Republicans who had vowed to end gay marriage in the state. The National Organization for Marriage poured money into Golding’s campaign. The election turned particularly nasty when voters started receiving robo-calls urging them to question her about “what homosexual acts she endorses.”

• Dr. Timothy Eustace won in a race for New Jersey State Assembly. Eustace had been the mayor of Maywood, New Jersey and became the first openly gay non-incumbent to win a seat in New Jersey’s state legislature. Eustace is a practicing chiropractor. Eustace will become one of two openly gay members of the New Jersey State Assembly.

• Pedro Segarra won reelection to his position as mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. His main opponent dropped out of the race prior to the election.

Segarra was president of Hartford’s City Council and succeeded former Mayor Eddie Perez who resigned after he was convicted by a state Superior Court jury of bribery and extortion in a political corruption case. Segarra is the first openly gay mayor of Hartford.

• In Missoula, Montana, Caitlin Copple became the first openly gay member of the Missoula City Council serving Ward 4. Copple’s work history includes marketing and fundraising the Missoula YWCA and serving as interim director of the Montana Innocence Project.

• Chris Seelbach became the first openly gay city council member elected in Cincinnati, Ohio. Seelbach, 31, was vice president and chief financial officer of the marketing and public relations firm, The Seidewitz Group. He was also the first openly gay candidate to run for city council in Cincinnati. Seelbach was elected in what the Cincinnati Enquirer referred to as a major shakeup of the Cincinnati City Council with the removal of four Republican city councilmen and replacing them with Democrats with the majority being African-American and a major issue being the future of a streetcar project.

• LaWana Mayfield became Charlotte, North Carolina’s first openly gay city council member. She was just part of a LGBT wave in North Carolina’s elections. Openly gay Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt won reelection. Lee Storrow won a seat on the Chapel Hill Town Council. Storrow, 22, became the youngest member to serve on the city council. Incumbent Alderwoman Lydia Lavell won reelection to the Carrboro, North Carolina town council.

• Bruce Harris was elected Chatham Borough, New Jersey’s mayor becoming the nation’s first gay, African-American Republican mayor. An attorney, Harris holds an MBA and has 15 years of corporate experience. He began volunteering in municipal government 13 years ago, and was selected to fill a seat on the council vacated by Dick Plambeck when he was elected to mayor. Harris was re-elected to the council in 2005 and 2008. This was his first mayoral campaign.

• Zach Adamson was elected as Indianapolis’ first openly gay city council member. Adamson was a small business owner in downtown Indianapolis for 13 years and community development advocate for nearly a decade.

• Mary Doran was elected to the St. Paul, Minnesota School Board. Doran is the mother of two girls who attend Saint Paul Public Schools and has, over the last two years, volunteered over 250 hours at their school. She also served on the Citizen’s Budget and Finance Advisory Committee for two consecutive school years and served as the Chair for the second term.

• Edwin Mah Lee won election as Mayor of San Francisco. He was appointed mayor by the Board of Supervisors on January 11 to serve out the remainder of former mayor Gavin Newsom’s term, after Newsom resigned to take office as Lieutenant Governor of California. At the time of his appointment, Lee pledged not to run for the office, but he later decided to join the race. Lee won his own election to the office last week to serve a full term as mayor.

• By nearly a two-to-one margin, the voters of Traverse City, Michigan supported an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on sexual orientation.

THUMBS DOWN:

• By a margin of a mere 24 votes, Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. beat out Ramiro Fonseca in his reelection bid as Trustee for the Houston School Board. A week prior to the election, Rodriguez was accused of sending out an anti-gay ad against his opponent. The campaign brochure said about Fonseca: “his records show he spent years advocating for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender rights … not kids.” The day after Rodriguez won reelection, he apologized for the campaign brochure.

• Rose Marie Belforti won reelection to town clerk for Ledyard, New York. She won with 62% of the vote. Belforti made national news earlier this year when, shortly after same-sex marriage became legal in the state of New York, she refused to sign same-sex marriage licenses claiming that being forced to sign the licenses violated her religious rights.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) announced the recipients of its Excellence in Journalism Awards.

This year’s recipients are: L.Z. Granderson of ESPN and CNN (NLGJA Journalist of the Year); Sarah Petit (LGBT Journalist of the Year); Michael Luongo (Freelance Writer); Chris Geidner of MetroWeekly (Excellence in News Writing); Jeff Sharlet of Harpers (Excellence in Feature Writing); CNN, Gay in America, “Gary and Tony Have  a Baby”, Soledad O’Brien, Reporter (Excellence in Network Television); “Gay in America: Tensions and Tolerance” – WTIC-Hartford, CT., Sarah French, Reporter (Excellence in Local Television); State of the Re:Union, “Bayard Rustin: Who is this Man?” (Excellence in Radio); James Kirchick, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, “A Battle for Gay Rights in Belgrade” (Excellence in Photojournalism); Bilerico Project, “A Christmas Miracle for Betsie Gallardo” (Excellence in Online Journalism); Newscene, iTV, “Day of Remembrance” (Excellence in Student Journalism); Rauch, The Advocate, “The Majority Report” (Excellence in Opinion Writing).

NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair

and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Obama administration has launched a website highlighting the President’s accomplishments related to the LGBT community.

According to a White House statement: “In honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) History Month,

The White House launched our first ever LGBT specific constituency webpage: http://wh.gov/lgbt.

This webpage is designed to keep you updated on how the President and the Administration are ‘Winning the Future’ for LGBT Americans.”