Readers Angry About Florida's Ban on Adoption by Gay Couples

Orlando Sentinel
February 5, 2010
Scott Maxwell writes about the responses he received regarding a column he wrote about Florida's ban on adoption by gay and lesbian couples. "Most readers said they were sick and tired of the extremists putting politics ahead of children." [Link]

South Florida Man at Forefront of Effort to Legalize Adoptions by Same-Sex Couples

Palm Beach Post
November 22, 2009
The ongoing case of openly gay Martin Gill, who has mounted a legal challenge to Florida's ban on adoption by gay parents so that he may adopt two children he has fostered for nearly five years, could set precedent in Florida surrounding the state's controversial adoption law. [Link]

Florida Nurses Apologize to Woman Who Couldn't Visit Dying Partner

McClatchy Newspapaers
November 22, 2009
In a town hall-style meeting on Thursday, several nurses from Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital personally apologized to a lesbian from Washington state who said that a hospital social worker wouldn't allow her to be with her dying partner in 2007. Registered nurse Norberto Molina: "I can't imagine what you went through." [Link]

Court Dismisses Suit by Lesbian Who Couldn’t See Dying Partner at Miami Hospital

The Miami Herald
September 30, 2009
A federal court in Miami has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Washington state lesbian who was not allowed to visit her dying partner at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Lambda Legal says the case "highlights how vulnerable same-sex couples and their families are." [Link]

University of South Florida to Provide Partner Benefits

St. Petersburg Times
September 10, 2009
After two years of discussions, the University of South Florida plans to start offering full domestic partner benefits to employees. University president Judy Genshaft says "We believe it's the right thing to do, and we'll work to make it happen this year." [Link]

Couple that kept relationship secret for decades, celebrating 70 years together

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 18, 2009
A party celebrating 70 years together is a big deal for any pair. But a celebration of this couple's love takes on special meaning, considering they had to keep silent about it for decades. [Link]

Icon of America's Roadways Recognizes Marriage Equality

Equality Florida
July 23, 2009
During a face-to-face meeting yesterday between Equality Florida and AAA South, top management at the 4th largest AAA affiliate in the country committed to recognizing all spouses, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The policy allows married same-sex couples (whether married in other states or countries) to receive spousal discounts under AAA's Associate Membership program. [Link]

Kept From a Dying Partner’s Bedside

New York Times
May 19, 2009
When a loved one is in the hospital, you naturally want to be at the bedside. But what if the staff won’t allow it? That's what happened to a woman trying to visit her dying partner's bedside because they cannot get married. (Link)

Florida Supreme Court Hears Bar's Support of Gay Adoption Case

The News-Press
April 23, 2009
The Florida Supreme Court heard a case yesterday involving the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar and whether it can file an amicus brief in support of gay parents as part of the ongoing legal challenge to Florida's anti-gay adoption ban. [Link]

Florida Lawmaker Files Bills That Would Legalize Gay Adoptions

Miami Herald

March 11, 2009

Fla. state Sen. Nan Rich, who is co-chair of the Senate Children & Families Committee, has filed two bills that would lift the Fla. law banning gay men and lesbians from adopting and specify that judges would determine adoptions based solely on the best interests of children. [Link]

Florida Senator Pushes to Allow Gay Couples to Adopt

Tallahassee Democrat
January 7, 2009
In hopes of sustaining the discussion about adoption by gay parents in Fla. until the issue reaches the State Supreme Court, Fla. State Sen. Nan Rich has filed two bills that would allow gay couples to adopt children: "This has to do with the best interests of children." [Link]

Florida high court to rule on adoption ban

The News-Press
December 27, 2008
Under current law, gay people are not allowed to adopt children, but a recent court ruling making its way to the state's Supreme Court may change that. Florida upholds the only outright ban in the nation. [Link]

Crist to Wed Today, Marriage-Rights Vigils Expected

Associated Press
December 12, 2008
Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist plans to marry Friday in St. Petersburg. A group called Impact-Florida says it will hold a candlelight vigil near the ceremony to advocate that all Floridians be able to marry. [Link]

EDITORIAL: New Blow to Adoption Ban

Palm Beach Post
December 2, 2008
The Palm Beach Post editorial board writes about various children's health and research organizations now concurring that children of gay parents are as well adjusted as those of straight parents, applauding a Miami judge's recent ruling that Fla.'s adoption ban is unconstitutional. [Link]

Florida ban on gay adoptions ruled unconstitutional

Miami Herald
November 25, 2008
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman Tuesday declared Florida's 50-year-old ban on gay people adoptioning unconstitutional -- a ruling state lawyers immediately said they would challenge. [Link]

Equality’s Winding Path

New York Times
November 6, 2008
The Times editorial staff writes about anti-gay measures passing in California, Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona: "We do not view these results as reason for despair. Struggles over civil rights never follow a straight trajectory, and the ugly outcome of these ballot fights should not obscure the building momentum for full equality for gay people, including acceptance of marriage between gay men and women. But the votes remind us of how much remains to be done before this bigotry is finally erased." (Link)

Loss in Florida

Amendment 2: Anti-gay constitutional amendment would write marriage discrimination into the state constitution

Anti-gay constitutional amendment PASSED

Howard Simon: Amendment 2 is not about 'gay marriage'

The Gainesville Sun
October 28, 2008
"One day, we all will look back on the idea that government could have the power to dictate who adults can marry with as much bewilderment as we now, shamefully, wonder how we allowed government the power to ban interracial marriage – until the U.S. Supreme Court ended the legal basis for that prejudice in the appropriately named landmark 1967 ACLU case of Loving v. Virginia." [Link]
Read more about what's happening in Florida.

Marriage ban tactic questioned

St. Petersburg Times
October 22, 2008
Supporters of a ballot measure that would write discrimination into Florida's Constitution are encouraging donors to avoid public disclosure by contributing to groups that don't have to list contributions. [Link]
Learn more about Florida.

10 Things You Can Do to Stop the Props

Mombian
October 21, 2008
Florida’s Prop 2, California’s Prop 8, Arizona’s Prop 102: You know what they are. You’ve given money to fight them. (If you haven’t, stop right now and click one of the links above, donate, then continue reading.) There are exactly two weeks to go now, folks. What else can you do...Here are some ideas, in no particular order. (Link)