Dr. Judith B. Bradford Honored

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attended Fenway Health’s Women’s Dinner Party honoring Dr. Judith B. Bradford, Director of the Center for Population Research in LGBT Health & Co-Chair of The Fenway Institute with the Dr. Susan M. Love Award. More than 1,000 lesbian, bisexual women & their allies came together at the Boston Marriott Copley Place on Saturday April 11th for this fabulous elegant fundraiser that raised over $500,000 in support of the life-saving programs & services at Fenway Health. Each year the Dr. Susan M. Love Award is given to honor & celebrate a woman or organization that has made a significant contribution to the field of women’s health. The Love Award is given in honor of its founding recipient Dr. Susan M. Love, a pioneer in the fields of women’s health & breast cancer. This year’s recipient Dr. Judith B. Bradford created the first national Center for Population Research in LGBT Health which supports & stimulates research to fill critical knowledge gaps related to the health of sexual & gender minorities. Dr. Bradford’s work on lesbian, bisexual women’s issues, transgender health, LGBT aging & issues impacting young people of has helped improve the health of our entire community. Comedian Kate Clinton returned to get the party started then Boston funk band Booty Vortex & DJ LeahV aka Leah McFly, the first queer female DJ to win a Boston Music Award kept the dance party going into the wee hours of the night.
For More Info: fenwayhealth.org
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Religious Freedom Cupcakes

In West Hollywood the best gay bar The Abbey Food & Bar has announced that it would start selling Religious Freedom Cakes benefiting the Human Rights Campaign & their efforts to fight LGBT discrimination nationwide. David Cooley, Founder & President of The Abbey stated, “Everybody is talking about whether the baker can legally refuse to serve the LGBT community. If small-minded homophobes can use their bakeries to further a cycle of hate under the guise of religious freedom, The Abbey can use its bakery to help fund HRC¹s efforts to spread equality. This is a culture war over cakes, pizzerias & flowers. The oven mitts are off & everybody needs to do their part.” The Religious Freedom Cakes will be a rotating selection of cupcakes featuring the Human Rights Campaign logo. They will be sold for $5 to benefit Human Rights Campaign. Founded by David Cooley in 1991, The Abbey has grown to become a West Hollywood institution, home of the Gay Walk of Fame, Elizabeth Taylor¹s favorite pub & a community center. A favorite of celebrities, locals & tourists alike, there is no better place to meet old friends, make new ones, have a smart cocktail, eat a delicious meal & just kick back and have fun. The Abbey Food & Bar is located at 692 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood in California.
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Update: Gay Adoption In Florida

The Florida Senate blocked efforts to allow Indiana-style discrimination in adoption late Wednesday afternoon. In doing so they derailed an effort that originated in the House of Representatives to reintroduce an anti gay adoption law in Florida. Former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Destin an opponent to the homophobic legislation stated, “We don’t need to turn back the social clock in this state to 1977” which was the year Florida banned gay & lesbian people from adopting children. Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida stated, “We applaud Senator Gaetz for rallying his colleagues to stop this disastrous effort to put discrimination back into Florida law. Now is not the time for Florida to look back to its ugly past. It is time to secure full equality & chart a fair & inclusive path for our state.” The Florida Senate action came just minutes after the Florida House voted overwhelmingly to allow taxpayer-funded private adoption agencies to turn away gay people & others. While the House bill was clearly aimed at discriminating against gay & lesbian people, the fiery debate spotlighted bill sponsor Rep. Jason Brodeur’s unwillingness to deny that agencies might be able to discriminate based on race, religion or other factors as well. This Senate adoption bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives would also eliminate Florida’s 1977 anti gay adoption statute which has remained on the books despite being unenforceable since it was declared unconstitutional in 2010. The bill has one more reading in the Senate; if passed as expected it will be sent to the Governor. Updates to Come…:)
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New Poll Supports LGBT Equality

The Center for American Progress reports that despite historic progress on marriage equality over the past decade our LGBT community still lack basic, enumerated protections from discrimination in several areas of life, from the workplace to the public marketplace. However a recent Generation Progress poll conducted by Hart Research reveals widespread support among Millennials for federal, comprehensive LGBT nondiscrimination legislation. Laura E. Durso, Director of CAP’s LGBT Research & Communication Project stated, “While the events surrounding Indiana’s religious liberty law were a stark reminder that LGBT Americans can be legally discriminated against, it is far from the only state in the nation where that is possible. Even with the purported fixes to the Indiana law signed late last week, it is still legal to deny housing, employment & services to LGBT Americans based solely on their sexual orientation & gender identity in roughly 30 states—Indiana included. This poll shows that a huge majority of the next generation of leaders & voters believe that nondiscrimination protections for LGBT Americans should be the law of the land throughout the country.” According to the poll, 65% of Millennials support comprehensive nondiscrimination protections with 50% of Millennials strongly supporting such legislation. Majority support extends to every region of the country, as well as to rural, urban & suburban areas. Among voters who supported President Barack Obama in 2012, comprehensive LGBT nondiscrimination protections maintain the highest level of strong support of all issues polled.
For More Info: americanprogress.org
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Equality Florida Tallahassee Gala

Civic & LGBT activist Jim Van Riper will be honored at annual Equality Florida Tallahassee Gala event at the Mission San Luis Ballroom on Friday, April 10th that will bring together leaders in politics, business & the community. Since moving to Tallahassee in 2003 Van Riper has been a leader in almost every aspect of its lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender community. Jim’s activism began in Colorado when in his early 30s he realized he was gay. Determined to keep his responsibilities to his family he became concerned when his middle-school-aged son was being bullied because of his father’s coming out. Jim’s therapist urged him to find support at the local gay & lesbian community center. Anyone who knows Jim will not be surprised that he quickly became involved. For several years Jim commuted between Colorado & Florida as an internet technologies consultant. Finally Jim & his partner Myles Robertson decided to relocate to Tallahassee. They bought a little house and began putting down roots. That included reaching out to the Family Tree LGBT Community Center where Jim asked how he could help. They married in Hawaii in 2012. And when it finally became legal to do so in Florida this past January, they did it again -- sharing their ceremony with two other couples & a retired Southern Baptist minister in Cascades Park in downtown Tallahassee. About their marriage Jim stated, “I thought it wouldn’t make any difference in how I felt but I was surprised that it did. I felt a sense of security that I never had before. And that’s pretty wonderful.”
For More Info & Tix: eqfl.org
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Celebrities Out At The Dinah

Actress & producer Meredith Baxter poised for a picture with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson prior to being entertained at “The Dinah Comedy Night” hosted by Suzanne Westenhoefer with Dana Goldberg, Gloria Bigelow & Dinah Leffert. The evening was introduced by Mariah Hanson, founder & producer of the legendary Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend that’s celebrating its 25th anniversary & takes place in Palm Springs now through April 5th. Dinah Leffert who is actually Hanson’s niece kicked off the show with a racy routine about being bisexual that heated-up the audience for Gloria Bigelow followed by Goldberg & headliner Suzanne Westenhoefer. By the end of their performances the crowd of over a thousand lesbians & a few gay men  roared with delight. Then on to the opening night party at world the famous Zelda’s Nightclub in beautiful downtown Palm Springs. The packed crowd were entertained by Nick Jonas’ protégée Olivia Sommerlyn. After the performance there was dancing until the wee hours of the night with the hottest go-go girls. The non-stop action continues Friday with Holy Child performing at The TGIDF Pool Party at the Hilton then on to the Palm Springs Convention Center at 8P for Billboard Top 40 superstar Christina Perri, the extraordinary voice behind the hits “Jar of Hearts” & “A Million Years” headlining the White Party. On Saturday Pop sensation & 2015 Grammy nominee Meghan Trainor known for her infectious hit “All About that Bass” headlines the Dinah during the Black Party held Saturday April 4th also at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Updates to Come...:)
For More Info & Tix: thedinah.com
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Florida Anti Gay Adoption Bill

As Indiana struggles with the growing political & economic backlash over its so-called religious freedom law Florida lawmakers are pursuing a similar bill that would allow adoption agencies to discriminate against gay people by invoking a personal religious objection. Florida legislative leaders also are refusing to allow a vote on a bipartisan bill that would add LGBT protections to the state’s nondiscrimination law. Nadine Smith Equality Florida CEO stated, “Lawmakers should choose equal protection over discrimination. The adoption bill (H.B. 7111) will be heard at 8A by the House Judiciary Committee. Even its sponsor, State Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, acknowledged in a previous hearing that his “conscience protection” bill would allow both secular & faith-based agencies to discriminate against any class of people they choose, so long as they claim their decision is part of their “religious or moral convictions. Florida lawmakers can seize this moment to send a clear message that we are a state where discrimination has no place & where hard work & talent matter, by rejecting this Indiana-style adoption bill. We also call on the legislature to fast-track the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, a statewide non-discrimination bill that is backed by Florida business and enjoys strong bipartisan support.” The hastily written bill was introduced mid-session, in response to the House unexpectedly voting to eliminate Florida’s ban on gay & lesbian adoptions. The ban had not been enforced since 2010 when an appellate court ruled it unconstitutional but it remains on the books. Indiana lawmakers were similarly motivated, introducing their bill as a counter to gay couples marrying. Indiana is now reeling from a spontaneous boycott that has already cost the state millions in new jobs lost & business cancelled. Hopefully the Florida bill will be nipped in the bud.
For More Info: eqfl.org
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