gay rights

Pious Homophobes Win One

FlaglerLive | June 10, 2018

The Supreme Court in its wedding-cake ruling declared gays once again second-class citizens, at least when their sexuality has to compete with someone else’s more stone-throwing version of Christianity.

“We Don’t Serve Gays”

FlaglerLive | December 9, 2017

Invoking Christian belief to deny service to a gay couple is not a First Amendment right, nor is it a matter of artistic expression. It’s good old discrimination under a new mask.

Florida’s Only Openly Gay Lawmaker Describes a Rick Scott More Accepting of LGBT

FlaglerLive | July 28, 2016

In the days after 49 people were killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Gov. Rick Scott privately expressed some support for gay rights to the state’s only openly gay state lawmaker, David Richardson.

Declaring 2008 Amendment Unconstitutional, Judge Closes Book on Gay-Marriage Ban in Florida

FlaglerLive | March 31, 2016

In a harshly worded ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle chastised state officials like Pam Bondi for reluctance in acknowledging that the Florida ban had been overturned

Florida’s “Pastor Protection Act” Seen as Defense of Clergy or Latest Bias Against LGBT

FlaglerLive | January 31, 2016

The proposal, which was approved this week by a Senate committee, would prevent clergy members from being forced to perform marriage ceremonies contrary to their beliefs.

Florida Republican and Democratic Legislators Renew Attempt to Protect Against Gay Bias

FlaglerLive | November 24, 2014

The bill would add protections for more than 536,000 gays, lesbian and transgender adults living in Florida by expanding the law that forbids discrimination based on religion, race, color, ethnicity, age, gender, handicap or marital status.

Despite Big Election Losses, LGBT Floridians Hope for Progress on Ending Workplace Discrimination

FlaglerLive | November 12, 2014

The Florida Competitive Workforce Act would ban discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation. It was sponsored by one of only two openly gal legislators, who lost. It will now be sponsored by a Republican lawmaker, Rep. Holly Raschein of Key Largo.

Flagler School Board Makes Small Inroad for Some Employees’ Same-Sex Rights, But Other Agencies Dodge the Issue

FlaglerLive | November 10, 2014

The Flagler County School Board’s bereavement leave for same-sex couples formally acknowledges such unions, but only for support personnel, while teachers and employees of other government agencies still have no such rights.

4th Judge in 3 Weeks Strikes Down Florida’s Gay-Marriage Ban

FlaglerLive | August 6, 2014

A Palm Beach County circuit judge ruled Tuesday that Florida’s same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional in a probate case involving a gay couple who married in Delaware.

On the Road to Marriage Equality, Florida Slams Against the Worst of Homophobia

FlaglerLive | May 22, 2014

Florida is nearing what could be a major step forward on marriage equality. But with awmakers like Charles Van Zant, we have some ugly reminders that the ignorance, prejudice and downright stupidity that plagued us in a dark past, are still alive and unwell today, writes Daniel Tilson.

Eight Gay Couples Married Elsewhere File Federal Lawsuit Challenging Florida’s Rights Violations

FlaglerLive | March 14, 2014

The lawsuit lists numerous examples of alleged disparate treatment, such as the state retirement system providing benefits to the surviving spouses of dead public employees who were in heterosexual marriages. Such benefits are not available to surviving spouses in same-sex marriages.

Denying Service to Gays and Lesbians: Right of Conscience Vigilantism Meets Stand Your Ground

FlaglerLive | February 28, 2014

Bills in four states that would let businesses deny service to gays and lesbians on religious-freedom grounds are based on the same faulty justification of Stand Your Ground laws on self-defense grounds. In both cases, the 1st and 2nd Amendments are perverted into defenses of vigilantism rather than protection of rights.

Conservative Pensacola Approves Domestic-Partnership Registry, Heartening Gay Advocates Elsewhere

FlaglerLive | December 22, 2013

The passage of a domestic-partnership registry ordinance in one of Florida’s most conservative environs has gay rights advocates cheering. But some social conservatives say the registries mean little in a state where a ban on gay marriage is enshrined in the constitution.

In Divided Ruling, Florida Supreme Court Expands Parental Rights to Lesbians

FlaglerLive | November 7, 2013

Siding with a woman who sought parental rights after separating from her lesbian partner, a divided Florida Supreme Court found Thursday that state laws about assisted-reproductive technology are unconstitutional in such cases involving same-sex couples.

Equality Florida Calls on Cities to Suspend Ties With Russian Sister Cities Over Gay Bashing

FlaglerLive | August 27, 2013

Palm Coast, Bunnell and Flagler Beach are in the clear, but Equality Florida, the gay-rights organization, is asking the more than half a dozen Florida cities with sister cities in Russia to suspend those mostly symbolic ties for now, in protest against rising anti-gay violence and the enactment of strict anti-gay legislation.

If You’re Gay, Would Like to Legally Marry and Are Ready to Sue, Equality Florida Wants You

FlaglerLive | July 2, 2013

Equality Florida, the state’s the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s LGBT community, is looking for potential plaintiffs for a lawsuit to challenge Florida’s ban on gay marriage. Voters approved a ban on marriage equality in 2008, by a 62 percent margin.

In Biggest Victory for Gay Rights Yet, Supreme Court Declares Marriage Act Unconstitutional

FlaglerLive | June 26, 2013

The United States Supreme Court today declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. The court’s 5-4 decision is the biggest victory for gay rights to date and adds to a tide of states legalizing gay mariage.

From Jackie Robinson to Jason Collins: Still Telling It On the Mountain

FlaglerLive | April 29, 2013

It will be Jason Collins’s misfortune to be labeled the “gay Jackie Robinson.” Like Robinson, he may have to endure a painful personal burden. But, argues Steve Robinson, history is less likely to view him as a pioneer than ask instead: “what took so long?”

France Becomes 14th Nation to Legalize Gay Marriage and Adoption in Historic Vote

FlaglerLive | April 23, 2013

The National Assembly voted today (April 23) 331-225, with 10 abstentions, to legalize gay marriage and gay adoption in France, making it the 14th nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, which remains prohibited in all but nine American states.

Don’t Cram Your Heterosexuality Down My Throat

Pierre Tristam | March 31, 2013

Several years ago around Christmas I was standing at a Walmart checkout counter with my son when a stranger behind me felt compelled to make me his homophobia’s bosom buddy. “What’s wrong with that?” I told him. “My son is gay.” My son was 2 at the time.

Lesbians’ Parental Rights Case Challenges Florida’s “Birth-Mother Only” Law

FlaglerLive | June 5, 2012

The lesbian couple’s case, now before the Florida Supreme Court, is unprecedented in Florida because the fertilized egg of one woman was implanted in her then-partner, who gave birth. The couple began raising the child together, but a legal battle began after a break-up that included the birth mother moving to Australia with the child.

Do Kiss, Do Tell, Do Show

Pierre Tristam | March 9, 2012

The homecoming picture of the gay Marine kissing his boyfriend has the same iconic feel as Alfred Eisenstaedt’s Life magazine shot of the sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on V-J Day. Both images capture the essence of liberation on a large scale.

Defense of Marriage Act: A Crack in the Crock

FlaglerLive | February 25, 2011

The Obama administration came to its senses and called the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. The homophobic law passed in 1996. We’re still a long way from equal rights for gays and lesbians. Pierre’s radio commentary.

Ending 33-Year Disgrace, Appeals Court Rules Florida’s Gay Adoption Ban Unconstitutional (Updated)

FlaglerLive | September 22, 2010

Updated at 2:55 p.m. The unanimous decision found no rational basis in the state’s prohibition on gay adoptions, and Gov. Crist, who’d once supported the ban, termed the decision “great.”