Watermark Issue 18.19: Come Out With Pride by Watermark Publishing Group

watermark | state news

September 15-28, 2011 |

Domestic Partnership Registry bill filed staff report Florida | State Senator Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood) has filed a bill which would create a statewide domestic partnership registry. This would eliminate the need for localized propositions and would add “partnership” as a relationship status option on state forms. The registry idea is geared to offer more legal tools for same- and opposite-sex domestic partners who have to deal with medical emergency, end-of-life, school and other relationship issues that arise. “A majority of Americans and Floridians support recognition for samesex relationships,” said Senator Sobel in a statement. “So many other Floridians are in long-term, unmarried relationships it no longer makes sense for the state to have just one category—married and everyone else.”

The Bill (Senate Bill 166) is slated to be heard in the 2012 Legislative Session which will begin in January due to the redistricting process. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and great advocates like Florida Together to help Florida take this needed step forward.” Sobel said in a statement. “All Floridians deserve to be recognized and counted.” Domestic partnership recognition already exists in many communities throughout Florida. Currently, Orlando attorney and civil rights advocate Mary Meeks is working on a countywide Domestic Partner registry bill, which she states would apply to all couples, gay and straight. “I applaud anybody who has the drive to take on this initiative,” she said. “We need to engage the entire community—gay and straight—and educate them on the value and necessity of this bill,” she said. | l |

Fort Lauderdale city employees getting domestic partner benefits denise royal Fort Lauderdale | The City of Fort Lauderdale unanimously passed health insurance for domestic partners of its employees Sept. 7. Miriam Richter, a local trademark attorney, spearheaded the campaign to get the benefits extended. “I needed a group [insurance] plan. I can’t buy a group plan because there’s no such thing as a group of one,” she said. Richter is a self-employed attorney whose medical insurance coverage ended in November. Her partner of 17 years is a city employee. Richter met with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, who requested a report detailing the costs associated with adding domestic partners to the current health plan. Once the data was collected, the item was put on the city’s agenda for its July meeting. At that meeting, City Manager Lee

Feldman advised the commission that adding domestic partners to the City’s self-insured employee health insurance plan could be done with minimal impact. And while there were some commissioners who spoke out against the idea, in the end, the commission agreed to draft a resolution, which passed. Benefits will go in to effect January 1. “I’m very happy. I’m in a state of disbelief,” Richter said. “I grew up in New York City, where you can’t just call the mayor’s office. I’m very reassured that we have a system of government that lets us have an impact.” Now Richter is ready to take advantage of the new benefits. “As soon as open enrollment comes around my partner said ‘whatever they offer you’re on it,’” Richter said. | l | Editor’s note: Denise Royal is a reporter with South Florida Gay News and this article is used with permission.

Fired Florida teacher plans return to porn industry wire report Miami | A Florida man who lost his job as a substitute teacher when officials saw his nude pictures online said he plans to return to pornography as a profession. Shawn Loftis, 36, who has a master’s degree in public administration, said he enjoyed substitute teaching for the MiamiDade school district so much that he earned the credentials to become a full-time teacher, The Miami Herald reported Thursday.

However, administrators fired him in March after learning he had nude pictures on the Internet, Loftis said. Loftis said officials told him he violated a School Board policy requiring employees to “conduct themselves, both in their employment and in the community, in a manner that will reflect credit upon themselves and the school system.” Loftis, who created the “World of Men” film series as Collin O’Neal, said he does not believe he should have been fired. He plans to return to the adult film industry. | l |

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