Equal Marriage Florida Response to Huffington Post Article

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Equal Marriage Florida Response to Huffington Post Article
        From Vanessa Brito, Chair of Equal Marriage Florida
Lila,
You can quote me. However, I feel it is important to consider the context of your piece as it does not depict an accurate picture of Equal Marriage Florida, its leadership, structure, and mission. One of our main objectives has been to maintain a non-partisan role in pursuing the Equal Marriage Ballot Initiative. We are not a Republican led organization and our efforts are truly non-partisan. There has been no mention of the ballot language that proposes Freedom to Marry as well as Protection of Religious Freedoms. We have also made a commitment to on going research and polling to determine success in 2014 or 2016. There are key differences between Arizona and Florida which have not been discussed. Receiving support from Gov. Gary Johnson does not make our mission an extension of his political objectives. We have received the support of many elected officials and organizations, but our missions remains unchanged. When we first spoke I mentioned that I have been working to bridge ideological differences for the purpose of establishing equality, freedom, and fairness for all persons in Florida. The ballot language gives Florida a real and attainable opportunity at becoming an Equal Marriage state. We are a conservative state that cannot ignore the power of its electorate. Looking at States like Maryland that have won the Marriage Equality battle with almost identical ballot language pushed me to examine Arizona’a initiative. The duality of Freedom is a perfect fit for Florida. As an openly gay activist and political consultant whose work extends beyond the LGBT community, there is nothing more valuable than fully understanding the strengths and limitations of those you are trying to help. While Equal Marriage Florida is NOT about Tim, it just so happens that he and I met and worked together on the recall of County Mayor Alvarez after he raised property taxes for residents here. I spoke to Tim about the methodology for initiative processes, and not about his ideology. In fact, his company is not involved in any capacity and it is my firm that is handling the petition circulation and verification – pro bono. The context and implications if your piece I feel undermines the dedication, time, money, and effort of the people who are the force behind this effort.
I hope that we can put some of this to rest. We believe this is the way to bring Marriage Equality to our State – nothing more, nothing less.

Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse typos.

On Sep 13, 2013, at 6:07 PM, Lila Shapiro <lila@huffingtonpost.com> wrote:

Hi Vanessa,

I’m reviewing your email now with editors. I’m happy to update the piece to reflect your comments — is this email quotable, or would you like to write a quote to add to the piece?
Best,
Lila
On Fri, Sep 13, 2013 at 4:32 PM, <vanessa@equalmarriagefl.com> wrote:

Lila,
We have been handling events and I have finally had a chance to sit and respond. However, I noticed you published an article stating that I was unavailable for comment, which I am a little surprised about. During our first interview, I spent over an hour going through the details of the project in Florida. I explained and made it clear that Equal Marriage Florida was being handled by myself and a group of Co-Chairs around the State. I stated that while I am friends with Tim Mooney, he has NOTHING to do with this project and has not engaged in ANY activity since I spoke to him BEFORE SIGNATURE COLLECTION BEGAN.
Equal Marriage Florida has maintained a great amount of momentum and will not dismantle its efforts. We have brought on additional partners and have exceeded 120,000 signatures. The pieces posted on the Huffington Post ignore the efforts of those groups and individuals who ARE the face of Equal Marriage Florida. Furthermore, this is not a Republican led effort. It is a non-partisan effort that is designed to garner support from all parties. There has been no clarity on the folks who are truly leading the effort here in Florida – our accomplishments and involvement in the LGBT community. No distinction has been made between Arizona and Florida, which is quite disappointing.
I am happy to discuss our progress, but I think it is imperative that we establish some clarity on who and what is Equal Marriage Florida. In addition, we have NOT abandoned the 2014 idea. We have established that we will make a determination based on polling to be conducted in Jan. 2014. At that point, Equal Marriage Florida will decide whether 2014 creates too high a risk for the ballot initiative. If so, we will move to 2016. The strategy and methodology has not been explained. Your piece is very misleading and I think it’s time that we clear things up.
Additional Notes:
Purpose
To ensure that ALL Floridians have equal rights under the law; to marry the person they love, while protecting the religious freedoms of churches and religious organizations.
Goal
Pass a Florida Constitutional amendment with broad support across the political spectrum that allows marriage equality among two persons while reinforcing churches’ and faith-based organizations’ religious freedom from hosting ceremonies conflicting with their beliefs.
Change Florida Constitution Language:
FROM:
“Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”
TO:
(a) Only a legal union of two persons shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.
(b) A religious organization, religious association, or religious society shall not be required to solemnize or officiate any particular marriage or religious rite of marriage in violation of its constitutional right to free exercise of religion.
The goals for our voter ballot initiative are:
1. One-million signed petitions by June 26, 2014 (Supreme Court decision anniversary).
2. Achieve more than 60% of the vote in the November 2016 Presidential Election
By starting now we can have a sustainable impact of:
  • Educating citizens about marriage equality and Florida’s Constitutional prohibition,
  • Building support to overturn Amendment 2 while protecting religious freedom, and
  • Winning a powerful and decisive majority of votes for Marriage Equality in Florida!
Strategy
Create a distributed petition drive and public information campaign led and powered by local grassroots activists. Provide the technical infrastructure, training and tools to empower local activists to decide how best to gather petitions and then turn out supporters on Election Day. Allow grassroots activists to adopt a manageable area around them where their leadership is most effective.  Make professional guidance and advice available so local activists to become more effective and efficient at organizing.
Vanessa Brito, Chairperson
Equal Marriage Florida
Pol. Adv.paid for by Equal Marriage Florida. Inc. 15820 Palmetto Club Dr. Miami, FL 33157
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Equal Marriage Florida
From: Lila Shapiro <lila@huffingtonpost.com>
Date: Wed, September 11, 2013 12:56 pm
To: vanessa@equalmarriagefl.com

Hi Vanessa,

I’m doing a follow up piece about Equal Marriage Florida and Equal
Marriage Arizona, and I wanted to reach out to you for comment. I
understand that Equal Marriage Arizona has formally suspended its
campaign, and I was wondering if Equal Marriage Florida was still
working to get same-sex marriage on the ballot for 2014.

I know you weren’t happy with the last piece, and felt that I left
things out. If you email me a paragraph, I plan on quoting it in
full.

Thanks,
Lila

—
Lila Shapiro
Staff Reporter
The Huffington Post
Office: 212.402.7132 | Cell: 917.232.7803

GaYBOR Coalition Meeting Updates & Surprises

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    Always new events and activities with the GaYBOR District Coalition. Membership has never been larger and there isn’t any lack of events. Another very successful GaYBOR Beach Blanket Bar Crawl netted the group over $1850 and well thanked promoters Jayme Kossar from the YC Wine Bar and residents Mike Olds and Scott W. for the great accomplishment.
Six groups spoke to the Tampa Bay GLBTA community for a very busy meeting held at Muvico Centro Ybor.
    Tampa PD Officer Sean Mahabir talked about “Interaction of GaYBOR/ Ybor City business with public safety and social media. It is all in the same equation.”  Officer Sean started and implemented the Tampa areas Ybor City Business Crime Watch which is a very successful model and great for other districts to follow. Lastly telling the crowded meeting, “Remembering that the police dept can’t attack a problem if it isn’t reported!”
    The statewide Equal Marriage Florida Petition drive for putting Same Sex Marriage Rights on the 2014 Florida ballot is going full steam. Hamburger Mary’s has a petition drop off box and had 937 petitions were brought to the meeting.  MC FILM has collected over 450 signatures in the last 2 weeks. The statewide cumulative goal was to reach 100,000 by Saturday. Over 130,000 have signed the statewide grassroots ballot initiative collectively for Florida Equal Rights and a goal of 1,000,000 is needed by January 15, 2014.
 www.EqualMarriageFl.com for more info & to sign the petition.
    Mathieu Stanoch informed the group of the upcoming annual Ybor City Holiday Spirit Events & Parade set in November through January 5th. GaYBOR District President Mark Eary gave a $2000.00 check from GaYBOR to the YCHS event. The traditional community Christmas Tree lighting event with Santa Clause is set for November.16 area high school marching bands have signed on to be in the holiday parade. An estimated 50,000 people are expected to watch this years parade and experience falling snow down 7th Ave. A fun Toga Bingo fundraiser for the holiday event is set for 7 pm, Wednesday, Sept 25th at Hamburger Mary’s in Centro Ybor.
    Tom Keating, Ybor City Chamber of Commerce President, showed the new movie just released by movie producers, Paul & Pete Guzzo about Ybor City history that is shown at the Ybor City Tourist Info Center. www.ybor.org
    Rene Cossette, executive director from the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival talked about the upcoming annual gay film festival October 4-12th at Tampa Theater and Muvico at St Pete’s Baywalk. Great GLBT movies, discussion panels and parties for the October fall kickoff season.The new festival guides were distributed to all attendees. www.tiglff.com
    Tom DeGeorge and Don Barco talked of the upcoming Ybor Merchants Association’s 2nd Annual Fantasma Fest in Ybor with it’s first Annual Bed Race that will be held down 7th Ave Sat, October 26th.

Latin Heritage Festival

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    Tampa’s Fifth Annual Festival del SABOR events included the ‘Chicken & (Yellow) Rice Competition’ held in part with Ybor’s City Saturday Market last Saturday. The closed Hispanic event block party around Centennial Park had crafts, art displays, food trucks, food concesssions and vendors from all over Tampa Bay. The huge entertainment tent had people great music groups singing and playing that led to dancing salsa in the streets. The Annual Latin Heritage Festival is the start of the Ybor fall festival season.
    Mean while Sat. market director Lynn Schultz had me and a dozen others do our own testing and judging of over 30 entry varieties for the  ‘Best Chicken & Rice’ prize. Great cash prizes were up for grabs besides the Best Chicken & Rice bragging rights.
  From Jamaica, a spicy jerk chicken & white rice. From Guatemala shredded chicken, plantains & yellow rice. Puerto Rico had little chicken pieces with Spanish chorizo sausage pieces in a couscous rice. A Spanish  themed entry had both black & green olives with cut up pieces of chicken and yellow.
    So a true sampling from all over the Central Caribbean Islands and Central America recipes were prepared. Judging was tough! All very different. All with a homemade tradition. All were very competitive.
Winners, I say, went to all who participated!

HRC Shirts Available at MC FILM

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HRC Shirts Available at MC FILM
Help support the Human Rights Campaign with a new fashion t-shirt! A new line of soft cotton t’s with a slogan that surpasses equality, ” Love Conquers Hate’! Available in 4 colors.
Stop in MC FILM and get a shirt and a HRC sticker.
Remember, National Coming Out Day is October 11th!
 
A Great Proposal
    A photographer told HM bartending Tea Cup that there was going to be a secret surprise marriage proposal in Centro Ybor.
    Cast: It involved of course the un beknownst bride to be, fiance’ who planned the event, a caricature artist in the Centro Ybor courtyard and the secret photographer perched in Hamburger Mary’s patio.
Extras in this scheme where the patrons at the Hamburger Mary’s, a Centro Ybor Security Officer, people walking and gawking and myself also photographing the surprise.
    What happened? The proposer had the caricaturist drawing in the courtyard. The drawer already had a drawing made up hid away from the couple. He traded it out and was doing some dashes and coloring when the Ybor Security officer told them they had to move! They couldn’t stay in the courtyard. The gawkers on the HM patio couldn’t believe it. Everything was going so well. A lady on the street asked the drawer what he was drawing. Now this was a hoot!!! The couple amazed, the gawkers drinking and gawking, the security guard calling for back-up, and finally the artist stood up and showed the lady the drawing. They were offered a drink after her affirmation to getting hitched and the security officer was still bewildered! All caught on camera!
    Ending:  ??? But Congrats on your future wedding

I Do: I Do!

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Lately, a lot of our GLBT friends and acquaintances are leaving Florida and traveling north to get married. We made mention of Al & Chuck from AlandChuck.travel & Queenhead Restaurant owners Paul & Darren. This week a couple we know from Pasco County and have been together for 46 years are now getting married this week in Bennington, VT. Doug Mullins and partner Garry Payne will be getting hitched Sept. 23.
Raise a glass to a fighting GLBT rights couple!
The closest place for any Floridian couple to get legally married is Washington, DC. Another reason to sign the Florida Marriage Equality petition.

The Crowbar – The Cheer’s Bar of Ybor

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Every Wednesday (only Wednesday) there is a very special Happy Hour, 4-9 pm in Ybor City. It is at the Crowbar with co-owner Ms. Bonnie. What started as a fun party for a couple of friends has grown into a large friendly group. After one visit to this happy hour  it becomes a place where “Everybody knows Your Name!” See you there this Wednesday, 4-9pm.

 

You Can Not Make This Up.

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    International Wigstock Fest promoter/entertainer, Lady Bunny has been a Gay icon for many, many years. She reached international attention with her hit 1995 movie, “Wigstock the Movie” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigstock:_The_Movie . We have met Bunny many times. In the early 2000’s she was performing at George’s Alibi in St. Pete.
    Our good friend and nationally acclaimed artist Clayton Hood had created a beautiful painting of Lady Bunny. After her performance Clay walked up on Georgie’s stage and tried to present it to the magnificent funny Bunny. With a big laugh, Bunny said she didn’t want it.  (To be fair it was a framed 3ft X 3ft painting.) Clayton was very hurt. He had idolized the helium balloon fluffed hair comedic performer for years.
     In Clay style he… Turned around and started to auction the framed masterpiece painting off. $50, $100… the audience bidding stopped at $420.00.
     Lady Bunny turned to Clayton with her hand out and said wittingly,  “Why… Thank you Sooo Much.” Clay smiles and said in his Alabama drawn accent,  “F*#K YOU Girl!”  Then cocked his head and walked off the stage and bought all his friends cocktails.
 P.S. I think we had 2 each… Thank You Clay!
Double P.S.: The everlasting comedic Lady Bunny just appeared at the Honey Pot’s Steam Friday’s a week ago. Ironically, that same weekend Clayton (now living in Alabama) had a huge art gallery showing also in Ybor City!

Mark & Carrie Nephieu/Niece of the Week

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    Clayton Hood
Ever meet somebody and right away think “This person will be very famous one day?”  Clay is one of these few people. An Alabama sun boy with a smile and accent that is sooo southern you’d think you were in the heart of the south! He studied art at the famed Atlanta School of Art Design in Georgia. He has an international presence with gallery showings around the world.
Today, he has his own company at www.clayhood.com