SAVE Dade to honor ACLU of Florida, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz as 2011 Champions of Equality May 20
PRESS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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(Miami) March 25, 2011—SAVE Dade and SAVE Foundation today announced their 2011 Champions of Equality nominees to be honored May 20 at their sixth annual awards event.
Established to honor people who have significantly advanced the cause of equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Miami-Dade County, the event's honorees this year include the ACLU of Florida, Greenberg Traurig LLP, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.
For the past 33 years, the state of Florida banned gays and lesbians from adopting. In September of 2010, the ACLU of Florida victoriously struck down this ban. The ACLU of Florida has fought for the rights of children to have a "forever home," and this victory continues to prove their commitment to the fight for LGBT equality and rightfully earns them the 2011 Champions of Equality Award., stated CJ Ortuno, Executive Director of SAVE Dade.
The ACLU of Florida’s victory, however, was not its alone. Greenberg Traurig LLP, a for-profit law firm, stepped up to defend , pro bono, the rights of the two children who have now been legally adopted by Martin Gill.
Greenberg Traurig has publicly stated that this case was the “most meaningful” for its team. Its willingness to go above and beyond to protect the interests of these children earns it the 2011 Champions of Equality Award.
The equality movement depends on the support of our elected officials. South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, recently named head of the Democratic National Committee has led the movement for equality on Capitol Hill. Her actions include being a founding member and Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, a co-sponsor in the effort to repeal the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, a co-sponsor of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, and a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Following last year's decision, Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz stated, "As a mother of three children, and as a founding Vice Chair of the GLBT Equality Caucus in the United States Congress, I was overjoyed to learn that a Miami appeals court has upheld the decision that struck down Florida's painful and harmful anti-gay adoption ban as unconstitutional."
Congresswoman Wasserman-Shultz’s unwavering support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans provides needed leadership for her colleagues and advances the dialogue on LGBT equality.
This year's event Champions of Equality Awards will be held on May 20 at the Ice Palace, 1400 North Miami Ave., Miami, FL, from 6 -9:30 pm. Tickets to the event, which will include a cocktail reception and a silent auction, are $75 in advance, $100 at the door, and can be purchased at www.savedade.org.
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About SAVE Dade:
SAVE Dade’s mission is to promote, protect and defend equality for people in Miami-Dade County who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Established in 1993, SAVE Dade accomplishes this mission through education initiatives, outreach, grassroots organizing, and advocacy. Starting with the landmark passage of Miami's Human Rights Ordinance in 1998 to recent enactments of domestic partner benefit policies, SAVE continues to lead the fight for LGBT equality in Miami-Dade County through grassroots action focused on civil rights, parental rights, and relationship recognition through political advocacy, community outreach, candidate endorsements.
305-751-SAVE (7283) | 305-751-9649 f | www.savedade.org | savedade@savedade.org
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