6th Annual Equality Florida Leadership Conference

Just a friendly reminder that the Statewide Equality Florida Leadership Conference is July 26-28 in Fort Lauderdale. Mark your calendars now! Registration packets, with complete conference information will be going out in a month. This years conference is promising to be the largest EVER!!!

Hope to see YOU there!

(Sorry if you received multiple copies of this.)
--
Stephen Wagler
Leadership Intern
Equality Florida
stephen@eqfl.org
813-870-3735 x212

********************************

JOIN TEAM FLORIDA AND STAND WITH MIAMI
DURING THE CAMPAIGN OF THE DECADE
This September, a public vote will once again thrust Florida into the national spotlight. Religious right extremists in Miami-Dade County have gathered over 50,000 petition signatures -- enough to force a September 10th vote on whether or not to repeal sexual orientation protections in that County¹s Human Rights Ordinance.

Far right groups from around the country are funneling money and resources into the effort to turn back the clock and once again make it legal to deny someone housing or employment simply because of their sexual orientation. Groups like the American Family Association and Christian Coalition clearly understand the significance of this vote - people like them supported Anita Bryant¹s nationally publicized campaign back in 1977 to repeal Dade County¹s first Human Rights Ordinance. The hysteria that Bryant whipped up 25 years ago was not only sufficient to soundly repeal the Human Rights Ordinance but, even worse, was exploited by right-wing politicians throughout Florida and the nation.

One of the most visible after-effects of that vote that continues to plague Florida is the adoption ban also passed in 1977 by state legislators eager to jump on the anti-gay bandwagon.

The stakes now are just as high as they were back in 1977. Whatever the outcome, you can be sure that this vote will once again send shock waves throughout Florida. Make no mistake about it, if the religious right succeeds in legalizing discrimination in Miami, they will take their victory as marching orders to come into every other community in Florida and derail all efforts to protect our basic civil rights.

This is our chance to show that history has come full circle and that the majority of voters support fair-minded protections. This battle isn¹t just about Miami it¹s about what¹s possible in every community throughout Florida.

This is why Equality Florida is issuing a call to leaders throughout the state to join TEAM FLORIDA we must come together now and stop these extremists in their tracks before they come to your backyard and poison your community with their hateful rhetoric. Now is the time for LGBT Floridians to come together and defend our state and our rights.

TEAM FLORIDA is the name we have given to the effort to bring leaders and eager volunteers from around Florida to Miami. Being a part of TEAM FLORIDA means that:

*    You will be part of an historic campaign that will affect our movement for years to come.
*    You will get the training you need not only to be effective in Miami, but also to bring critical organizing skills back to your home community.
*    You will help make our civil rights movement here in Florida so much stronger. This year, we are standing with SAVE Dade, the Miami-based group coordinating the charge to protect the Ordinance. While fighting for Miami this year, the TEAM FLORIDA project is committed to building leaders statewide to join in community efforts wherever we are needed in years to come.

Although you will be hearing more about ways to participate in TEAM FLORIDA in the coming months, there are two TEAM FLORIDA opportunities designed specifically for Leadership Conference Participants.

Intro Training and Canvass

Sunday July 28th
* Campaign Update and Training 3:00-4:30pm
* Door-to-Door Canvass              5:00-8:00pm
* Share results and Success        8:00-8:30pm

Spend the afternoon getting an inside of view of SAVE Dade¹s Campaign Plan and gaining first-hand insight into how to run a successful campaign. SAVE Dade staff will discuss their field plan and then train Leadership Conference Participants on how to do the person-to-person voter identification is the critical to protecting our rights at the ballot box. After the training, participants will head out to a targeted precinct to have brief conversations with voters at the doors to identify supporters.

This is your chance to be to contribute to a history-changing campaign and gain insight to bring back to your home community. Be sure to sign up for this important event on your registration form or contact Anna Baldwin at anna@eqfl.org or (813) 870-3735 x 205 with any questions.

Advanced Campaign and Leadership Training
Sunday July 28th- Sunday August 4th

EQFL and SAVE Dade invite interested Leadership Conference participants to apply for an intensive campaign and leadership development training. Due to the intense and challenging nature of this training, participation is limited to 8-10 people. Through this training, those who are excited about gaining a new set of skills will get the knowledge and insight that can only be gained by working in the trenches of a campaign.

Those selected to participate will work closely with Equality Florida staff in Miami as well as the incredibly talented team of organizers that SAVE Dade has brought in for the campaign from across the country. Participants will learn crucial campaign skills and will also become a key part of the leadership team whose efforts will quite possibly make the difference on a ballot measure that the entire country will be watching.

If you are interested in applying to participate in the Advanced Training, please indicate it on your registration and contact Anna at anna@eqfl.org and (813) 870-3735 x 205 for more information.

"Save The Date!"

The 6th Annual Equality Florida
Statewide Leadership Conference

AGENDA

SAVE Dade

"Save The Date!"

The 6th Annual Equality FloridaStatewide Leadership Conference

AGENDA

SAVE Dade

The 6th Annual Equality Florida
Statewide Leadership Conference