Florida LGBT News

Progress Florida is running an online petition to get Sen. Bill Nelson to support repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Dear Sen. Nelson:

The time has come to end discrimination in our armed forces. We, the undersigned Floridians, ask you to help repeal the failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law by supporting S. 3065, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has resulted in the loss, through discharge, of more than 13,000 service members since it was implemented in 1993. These discharges have included Arabic linguists, pilots, medics and others that held critical skill sets. The law has destroyed thousands of careers and compromised the strength of our over-burdened military.

Ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is the right thing to do – for justice and for national security. Please support S. 3065 today.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Frank Gill became the first gay man to adopt children in Florida. Judge David J. Audlin Jr. ruled the gay adoption ban unconstitutional. The state of Florida appealed. Judge Cindy Lederman upheld the ruling on appeal. Lederman was later demoted.

Gill and his sons has been invited to the White House Easter Egg Roll. Equality Florida issued a press release.

"Florida's adoption ban is the most notorious state law in the country and we continue to work toward the day when it will be an embarrassing footnote in our nation's history," said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. Miami-Dade residents Mayda Perez and Simone Mayer and their three children will also
attending the event.

Judge Cindy Lederman Demoted

Judge David J. Audlin Jr. was the first rule Florida's gay adoption ban was unconstitutional. Judge Cindy Lederman was the second judge. Neither ruling changed Florida's anti gay adoption law. Both rulings only effected the communities the decisions was cast.

Lederman is getting demoted.

The new chief judge, Joel H. Brown, issued a short statement Monday to The Miami Herald through a spokeswoman, saying he had tapped Circuit Judge Orlando Prescott, currently in criminal court, as the new administrative judge in juvenile. Circuit Judge George Sarduy, already in child welfare court, will serve as Prescott's deputy.

''Since being elected chief judge in February, I have carefully assessed the current and future needs of the circuit,'' Brown said.

''Judges Prescott and Sarduy were chosen in an effort to allow for new leadership opportunities and to bring fresh perspectives, as well as their own strong backgrounds, to the leadership of the Juvenile Division,'' Brown said. ``Both are well respected for their passionate commitment to the law and to the community they serve.''

Waymon Hudson recounts his experiences with Lederson.

When we appeared before her to become the foster parents of our son, she was fair, smart, and completely invested in doing what was best for him. She teared up when we gave him a permanent home (as permanent as possible under the ban) and saw how happy we all were in subsequent court appearances. She had been his judge for years, often corresponding with him during tough times, like when the state made horrible decisions that ended up leaving him homeless.

She even hugged him and us after the initial hearing.

My family, and the many other families that Judge Lederman helped form and became part of, will miss her leadership and compassion.

It is hard not to see Brown's decision to demote Lederman as not being about politics. Brown is an elected official and has to run again. Lederman will continue to serve in juvenile court. She will no longer be the head judge.

LGBT Update

Charlie Crist says he won't campaign for Amendment 2.

Judge David J. Audlin Jr ruled that Florida's gay adoption ban is unconstitutional.

"Contrary to every child welfare principle," Audlin wrote, "the gay adoption ban operates as a conclusive or irrebuttable presumption that ... it is never in the best interest of any adoptee to be adopted by a homosexual."

A DCF case worker "highly" recommended that the Key West gay couple adopt the boy. Judge Audlin ruled that the adoption was in the "best interest" of the boy.