LGBTQ news and entertainment
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| Pam Bondi |
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been elected chairperson of the Republican Association of Attorneys General.
Since taking office, the Associated Press points out that Bondi has accepted $51,000 in gifts (hotels, meals, free trips) to attend RAGA events.
Bondi, along with Florida Gov. Rick Scott, is responsible in great part for continuing the ban on same-sex marriage in the state.
From the ACLU via press release:
Today, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle denied a motion filed by the ACLU of Florida asking the court to quickly lift the stay that had been placed on the Court’s decision striking down Florida’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples, and denied a motion by the state to extend the stay until the appeals are resolved.
On October 7, following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear several other marriage appeals and thereby allowing marriages to go forward in several states, the ACLU of Florida filed a motion urging the District Court to lift the stay that had been put on the August 21st ruling that struck down Florida’s marriage ban in two state cases. One case was brought by the ACLU on behalf of 8 couples, a Fort Myers widow and SAVE, South Florida’s largest LGBT rights organization; the other was brought by Jacksonville attorneys William Sheppard and Sam Jacobson, who concurred with the ACLU motion.
On October 24th, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office filed a motion to keep the stay in place until the appeals are resolved.
Today’s decision denied both motions and stated that the stay will be lifted on January 5, 2015 unless extended by the federal appeals court.
Bolding is mine.
Marriage equality icon (and SCOTUS victor) Edie Windsor has recorded a “Letter To Gov. Rick Scott” for Equality Florida asking him to drop opposition to marriage equality in the Sunshine State:
“I am Edith S. Windsor, the plaintiff in Windsor v. United States, the case that won federal recognition of marriages for same-sex couples. The two extremely positive decisions in favor of marriage equality were Justice Jacobs’ decision in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Kennedy’s decision in the Supreme Court, both self-described conservatives. Five judges in Florida have also ruled that it’s wrong to exclude same-sex couples from marriage, and the majority of Floridians agree.
“My dear Governor Scott, I implore you to use the power of your office to allow loving couples to marry now in your state. Very respectfully yours, Edie Windsor.”
This year’s parade grand marshals for the Fantasy Fest Parade, Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones, won a landmark court ruling overturning Florida’s statewide same-sex marriage ban for Florida Keys residents. A subsequent appeal by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi means they still can’t marry, but their parade float proclaimed their desire to tie the knot.
“Our float was designed for us. It’s a wedding cake with the rainbow over top of it symbolizing the marriage equality that we’re aiming for,” said Jones, who rode atop the float with Huntsman while 33 other couples in wedding attire marched beside it.
“I hope that our appearance as grand marshals of Fantasy Fest will show the rest of the state, and our state attorney general and our governor, that we’re all one human family and that we need equality now,” said Huntsman. “And no more wasting taxpayers’ money. Let’s get it done.”
More than 50,000 spectators, some dressed in flamboyant costumes lined Key West’s downtown streets for the procession of more than 40 motorized floats and costumed marching groups.
(via press release)
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| Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi |
First, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi asked courts in Florida to hold on any legal action regarding same-sex marriage because she hoped the US Supreme Court would handle the issue and she wouldn’t have to get her hands dirty.
Then, when SCOTUS declined to review any of the appellate court cases sent their way, Bondi asked to take the issue in Florida straight to the state Supreme Court, skipping the normal appeals court route.
She got a big fat ‘no’ on Friday.
From the Miami Herald:
The 3rd District Court of Appeal on Friday indicated it will likely rule itself on previous decisions striking down the Miami-Dade and Monroe counties bans.
Several Florida judges ruled this summer that Florida’s ban is unconstitutional but stayed their rulings until other cases around the country were resolved, including those pending with the U.S. Supreme Court. It recently declined to hear appeals from five states that sought to keep their marriage bans in place. The American Civil Liberties Unions, and attorneys for the couples in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties then sued to overturn the stay.
Should Bondi and the state of Florida lose in the District Court of Appeals (which she will), she will then be able to file another appeal with the state Supreme Court.
Dragging this whole thing out when we can all see the end game already…
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| Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi |
As expected, Attorney General for Florida – Pam Bondi – has filed a brief in opposition of lifting a stay on a ruling which would allow same-sex marriage to begin.
The stay in question was set to expire today. Bondi filed at pretty much the last minute.
From Equality Florida:
Earlier this month the US Supreme Court paved the way for marriages for same-sex couples to commence in 13 states by refusing to hear appeals of five circuit court rulings that found state bans unconstitutional. The ACLU and lawyers for plaintiffs in a concurrent case immediately asked Judge Hinkle to lift the stay he put in place in January when he declared the ban a violation of equal protection and due process.
On two occasions in the past month, the United States Courts for the 9th Circuit lifted a stay while decisions on marriage equality in Idaho and Alaska are appealed. The U.S. Supreme Court also refused to order the court to keep the stay in place while appeals continue, despite appeals from the defense. Both the Circuit Court and the U.S. Supreme Court stated that they will not make couples wait to marry while appeals are pending.
“Even if she continues to pursue an appeal, Attorney General Bondi should not hold our state and our families hostage by calling for the stay to remain in place. Should she choose to appeal, let her follow the lead of the 9th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court and allow marriages to commence. Every day that Floridians are denied access to the protections only marriage can provide, our families suffer,” added Smith.
See the full brief below:
The Miami Herald reports on a new pro-equality ad in support of former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Lt. Governor candidate Annette Taddeo:
SAVE, one of South Florida’s best-known LGBT-rights groups, has produced a campaign video, Why We Vote, in support of candidates including Democrats Charlie Crist and Annette Taddeo.
“I’m voting because Rick Scott and Pam Bondi refuse to recognize our marriage,” says SAVE board chairman Christian Ulvert, seen on-camera with his husband Carlos Andrade. Both men are plaintiffs in the ACLU of Florida’s federal lawsuit against Florida’s constitutional gay marriage ban.
In an email to supporters of SAVE, Ulvert appealed for help to buy airtime for the ad as well as funds for voter canvasses, phone banks, and get out the vote events.
“All told, we’re looking to set a new record of turn out among equality voters in make-or-break races for pro-equality candidates,” wrote Ulvert. “We have the opportunity elect for the first time a pro-equality Governor and Lt. Governor in Charlie Crist and Annette Taddeo.”
(h/t JMG)
Last night’s Florida gubernatorial debate almost didn’t happen as GOP Gov. Rick Scott refused to come onstage for the debate because his challenger, former Gov. Charlie Crist, had a fan under his podium to help moderate the temperature under the lights.
“We have been told Governor Scott will not be participating in this debate,” CBS moderator Elliott Rodriguez said. “Now, let me explain what this is all about. Governor Crist has asked to have a fan, a small fan, placed underneath his podium. The rules of the debate that I was shown by the Scott campaign said that there should be no fan. Somehow there is a fan there and for that reason, ladies and gentlemen, Governor Scott will not join us for the debate.”
After the debate, the Crist camp revealed a copy of the agreed terms of the debate which clearly read “the debate hosts will address any temperature issues with a fan if necessary.” Apparently, the debate agreement mentioned no “electronic” devices (i.e. cell phones, iPads, etc…) were allowed. I’m not sure I would refer to an “electric fan” as an “electronic device.”
Really? Gov. Scott was not going to debate because his opponent requested a FAN? Is this the most infantile thing ever seen at a political debate???
In the end, even right wing pundits have characterized Scott’s debate performance as “week” and “rambling.”
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• Former GOP Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida (now Democrat) takes the lead in governor’s race
• Should you ever propose on the Brooklyn Bridge, hang on to the ring!
• Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom takes their anti-gay campaign to Slovakia
• CNN anchor says “Any way you slice it” three times in ten seconds during Oklahoma beheading report
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| The UK’s Stuart Hatton named Mr. Gay World 2014 |
• Tennessee pastor doubles down on homophobia; says gays “must be put to death”
• This is the worst AirBNB rental in the universe
• Something special about Robin Williams you probably didn’t know
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| One more pic of Stuart Hatton, Mr. Gay World 2014 |