LGBTQ+ History Month Reception
October is LGBT History Month - a recognized month celebrating the contributions of all LGBTQ+ individuals. You can learn more about the global event at www.lgbthistorymonth.com.
On Tuesday, October 1st, SAVE will celebrate the month with a special reception at the Scott Galvin Community Center in North Miami from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The reception is open to the community, although we ask that you RSVP to help us better plan for the event.
A special exhibition of the SAVE History Project (www.savehistoryproject.com) will open to the public and be on display in the lobby of the SGCC the entire month of October.
And, if you have a SAVE Story - an anecdote, a special member or something you want to be sure is documented, please stop by our SAVE History Booth at the event to record a brief message for posterity.
You can RSVP at www.save.lgbt/lgbtqhistory
Freedom’s true colors
Pride Month is set to kick off on June 1, marking a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's contributions. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis has stirred controversy with his administration's decision to limit state-controlled bridges to red, white, and blue illumination during 'Freedom Summer,' aiming to overshadow Pride celebrations. This move, seen as politically charged, represents an attempt to diminish the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community, given DeSantis' history of harmful legislation that marginalizes marginalized groups.
Starting on July 1st, pharmacists in Florida can offer PEP for HIV prevention
A bill signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida will grant pharmacists the ability to offer more HIV care to clients. This includes screening for HIV and providing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV transmission following high-risk exposure. The law goes into effect on July 1, and aims to combat the high HIV infection rates in the state, with over 124,000 Floridians living with HIV and 600 dying from related illnesses in 2022.
Impacted by Florida's public building restroom ban? The ACLU Florida wants to connect with you!
Florida Statute § 553.865, also known as H.B. 1521, is one of the many laws recently enacted as part of an anti-LGBTQIA+ agenda spreading across Florida. Targeting transgender, non-binary, gender-nonconforming, and intersex individuals, the law makes it a crime in Florida for someone in a multi-user restroom or changing facility in a building owned or leased by a government entity to refuse to leave that restroom or changing facility after an employee of that government entity tells them to.
Todd on Local 10 re: Pope and the blessing of same-sex couples
Pope Francis has approved a new policy allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, which represents a significant shift in the Church's stance. The Vatican has clarified that these blessings should not be considered marriage ceremonies or tied to any specific Catholic celebration or religious service.
Local 10 interviewed Todd Delmay, the executive director of SAVE, about the Vatican's historic policy change. Click here to watch the video.
The document emphasized that requests for same-sex couple blessings should not be denied, and there should not be an exhaustive moral analysis as a prerequisite for conferring these blessings.