The St. Pete Pride board is taking its theme, “Family,” literally. Two scheduled events this month will focus directly on LGBT families.
On Friday, June 18, St. Pete Pride will host its second town hall meeting at the King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church. The panel discussion, which begins at 7 p.m., will focus on Florida’s law prohibiting gay men and lesbians from adopting children. Panelists will include Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, and Martin Gill, who is in a current dispute with the State concerning the adoption of his two foster children.
Gill is scheduled to share the story of how the State begged him to take in two brothers in 2004 and his attempts to adopt them in 2008. That year, a South Florida judge ruled the state’s ban unconstitutional. Two other judges have since issued the same ruling.
Day, one of Gill’s ACLU attorneys, will discuss the adoption ban and the legal challenge to get it overturned. Smith will discuss past and current legislative efforts to repeal the adoption ban which came into being over 30 years ago in the wake of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay crusade.
A question and answer session will follow the panel discussion.
On Saturday, June 19, the ACLU of Florida, the Family Equality Council, Equality Florida and GLAAD will bring the ACLU’s statewide education campaign on the adoption ban back to the church.
The half-day adult speakers training led by GLAAD will equip attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to talk effectively about Florida’s adoption ban and change the hearts and minds of friends, colleagues, neighbors and legislators. During the adult training, Family Equality Council will provide children’s and youth programming, which promotes confidence and self-esteem and celebrates diverse family structures.
The program begins at noon and should wrap up by 4 p.m. For more information, visit StPetePride.com/Events.
