Transcription
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextPride and PrejudiceThe history of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,Transgender (GLBT) community hasbeen filled with “Pride” and “Prejudice”and “Protest”. This exhibit is designedto share the progress and setbacks ofthe Central Florida GLBT communityover the past 5 decades.ThemeImage or ArtifactGLBT History Museum of Central FloridaThe mission of the GLBT HistoryMuseum of Central Florida, Inc. is tocollect, preserve and exhibit the historyof the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual andTransgender community in CentralFlorida. We are dedicated to collectingand preserving memorabilia, providing adocumentary record for research, anddisplaying with pride that community'ssocial and historical contributions, soour legacy will always be remembered.Living a Life of FearGay UndergroundGays and lesbians were routinelyharassed by the police and raids on gayand lesbian speakeasy’s were commonso many gays and lesbians led secretlives fearing they would be arrested orfired from their jobs and ostracized bytheir families and friends.Secret LanguageThere was a huge gay and lesbianunderground in the entertainmentbusiness. Although characters in plays,motion pictures, and television showsPrejudicePrejudice1Need photo permission
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextcould never be identified as gay, writersdeveloped euphemisms and code wordsto discreetly describe gay and lesbiancharacters.ThemeImage or ArtifactNeed photo permission- AdvocateLesbian Code Words“Pays her own way”“She keeps her hands in her pockets”“Carries plenty of spare change”“Old maid”“Spinster”“Carries her own purse”“She’s an evening girl, fond of the twilighthours”“She kisses backwards”“Stands up on a night train”Gay Code Words“Light in his loafers”“Wears a hat of someone else’s choosing”“Rides the carousel”“Friends of Dorothy”“Fond of his mother”“Avowed bachelor”“Always rings twice””Has a silk bathrobe”Hankie Code DisplayIt was common for gay men to displaytheir sexual preference by the color andpocket choice of hankies. Left meaningaggressive and Right indicating passive.RedBlueWhiteBlackGreyOrlando Beginnings2
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextCentral Florida GLBT PopulationThemePrejudiceImage or ArtifactIn its early years, the GLBT population inCentral Florida was small and closeted.Oppression of GLBT persons was notuncommon. All homosexual acts wereillegal in Florida and most remained onthe books until June 26, 2003 when theU.S. Supreme Court (Lawrence v. Texas)invalidated sodomy laws in Texas andthirteen other states including Florida.Additionally, Orange County andOrlando both had 1940s ordinancesagainst cross-dressing.The Johns CommitteeJust after the McCarthy era (1950-1954),Florida began its own witch hunts. TheFlorida Legislative InvestigationCommittee (FLIC, also known as theJohns Committee after its Chairman)was established in 1956 by the FloridaLegislature initially to eliminatecommunists from government andpublic education. However, the scope ofthe investigation expanded to includegays, first without formal sanction andthen officially. In 1961, the Legislaturedirected the Johns Committee tobroaden its investigations to includehomosexuals and the "extent of [their]infiltration into agencies supported bystate funds." By 1963, 39 professors anddeans were fired, 71 public schoolteachers lost their teaching certificates,and scores of college students wereinterrogated and many were expelled. In1964 the Johns Committee published itsreport, Homosexuality and Citizenship inFlorida, informally called the PurplePamphlet. The report, which becameinfamous for its inclusion of images ofhomosexual acts, was a major factor inthe demise of the Johns Committee onJuly 1, 1965.PrejudiceWould OCHC have any additional records?3
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextPrivate GatheringsBefore 1969, gay-owned businesses andorganizations catering specifically toGLBT persons were not apparent inCentral Florida and likely did not exist.As a result, LGBT people met mostly inprivate homes and in some public placesknown only by word-of-mouth.The Palace ClubOrlando’s first gay bar was the PalaceClub, which opened in 1969 onEdgewater Drive in an unmarkedbuilding across from the NorthgateShopping Center. Drag shows were apopular form of entertainment.Stonewall RiotsJune 28, 1969ThemePrideImage or ArtifactPerhaps a photo album re-creation.PrideThere are several of these vintage photographs.ProtestNeed photo permission.Coming Out of the Closet4
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextGay Liberation MovementThe ”Gay Liberation Movement”movement was formed and gays andlesbians were urged to “Come Out of theCloset” in 1970.ThemePrideImage or ArtifactCome Out of the Closet Photo OppPhysical set of closet.Orlando Librarian FaintsA 70 year old librarian from OrlandoFlorida writes to Ann Landers after shefaints when asked for books onhomosexuals.PrejudiceReproduction of the Ann Landers article.5
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextThe Gay and Lesbian GangThe homosexual bar scene becameactively operational in the Orlando areaby a key group of five individuals. Theywere (pictured top, left to right) MikeHodge, Bill Miller, Jan Koren, and(pictured bottom) Wally Wood and SueHanna. They became known informallyas the Gay and Lesbian Gang. They werethe pioneers of the time, taking on therisky business of opening gay andlesbian bars in Orlando.ThemePrideImage or ArtifactWill provide individual photographs.United States Supreme Court UpholdsFlorida's Sodomy LawOn November 5, 1973, the US SupremeCourt upheld the constitutionality ofFlorida's sodomy law. In Wainwright v.Stone, 414 U.S. 21 (1973), Florida'sstatutory provision proscribing "theabominable and detestable crimeagainst nature, either with mankind orbeast . . . ," was held notunconstitutionally vague.Parliament House Opens as a GayResortBill Miller and Mike Hodge took controlof the almost bankrupt ParliamentHouse Motor Inn at 410 N. OrangeBlossom Trail. The motel, originallyestablished in 1962, had fallen on hardtimes after the opening of Walt DisneyWorld, as the tourism business moved tothe south towards the attraction. Theofficial opening date of the newlypurchased Parliament House was May 1,1975. It instantly becomes the “World’sLargest Gay Entertainment Complex”.PrejudicePrideArtifacts-Postcard (Original)- Postcard (Gay Themed)- Ash Tray- Room Key- Grand Opening Program- Warranty Deed- Tokens6
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextGay Student Union Forms at FTU (nowUCF)On February 16, 1976, FloridaTechnological University (later tobecome the University of CentralFlorida) gave formal recognition to theGay Student Association (GSA), makingGSA the first official GLBT organization inCentral Florida. After several namechanges, in 1994 the gay student groupbecame UCF's Gay, Lesbian and BisexualStudent Union (GLBSU) and then in 2009underwent another name change tobecome "Equal".ThemeImage or ArtifactPrideMay have the original certificate.7
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextAnita Bryant CrusadeOn June 7, 1977 a Dade County Floridareferendum, forced by pressure fromfundamentalist Christian’s Anita Bryantand husband Bob Green and their "SaveOur Children" organization, repealed thecounty ordinance prohibitingdiscrimination on the basis of sexualorientation. It was a major politicalbattle -- and defeat -- in the struggle forgay civil rights in United States. It wasalso the first successful use of the "childmolestation tactic" by anti- gay forcesand set the pattern of anti-gay attacks.In the same year the Florida Legislaturepassed a gay adoption ban for the Stateof Florida.ThemePrejudiceGay Social ServicesThe first LGBT multi-service organizationin Central Florida, Gay Social Services(GSS), was incorporated on November27, 1978. Since 1978, the group hasundergone several name changes, GayCommunity Services (GCS), Gay andLesbian Community Services (GLCS), theGay, Lesbian, Bisexual CommunityCenter (GLBCC), and the GLBT Center.The organization currently is located at946 N. Mills Avenue in Orlando.PrideGrand Central Hotel BurnsOn January 2, just a few months after itsopening as a gay hotel, a fire broke outin an unoccupied wing of the downtownGrand Central Hotel (previously the SanJuan Hotel) at 32 N. Orange Avenue. Theunused part of the hotel burned to theground. Its main tower also was severelydamaged by smoke and water. Over 100PrejudiceImage or ArtifactMake sure picture is OK to use.Artifacts:CalendarGay Skate AdMembership Application8Will try to aquire AP photograph from theOrlando Sentinel or would OCHC have this intheir collection?
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextOrlando firefighters battled the blazethat destroyed the hotel which recentlybegan hosting gay men. 70 guests had tobe evacuated. A transient in the hotel,who had been evicted the night before,was held but never charged.Symbols of Gay PrideThemePrideImage or ArtifactArtifacts:Rainbow SickerLambda StickerButtonsPinsRibbonsRainbow FlagsEqual SymbolMen verses WomynThe gay community often stood dividedbetween men and womyn who felt thethe gay movement only included men.The womyn often had different symbolsto express themselves.First Gay and Lesbian Pride PicnicThe first Pride Picnic occurred in June of1979 at Turkey Lake Park.Rap Group FormsDavid Strickler and Charlie Hoganformed a peer support group that meton Tuesday evenings at the NortheastOrange Mental Health Center. The firstmeeting was held on January 13, 1980. Itwas attended by 17 people. Reportedly,"people here were still afraid to mentiontheir last names, or sometimes evenused false first namesWomyn’s ButtonsPrideNeed photograph or drop.PrideNeed photograph or drop.9
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterText'Gay' Themed Movies PlayNumerous gay-related films werereleased nationwide including VictorVictoria, Personal Best, and Deathtrap.Orlando theatre manager DavidSheffield said "there have been very fewcomplaints or walkouts with theexception of Deathtrap, which featureda kiss between Christopher Reeves andMichael Caine.ThemePrejudiceAIDSFirst AIDS Death Occurs in AreaThe first locally recorded death relatedto AIDS was on May 5, 1983. The personwho died was a 53-year-old residentwho had recently moved to the areafrom Australia.10Image or Artifact
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextAID OrlandoA small group of gay men formed AIDOrlando to pay for electricity and foodfor gay men stricken suddenly with thedeadly disease.AIDS EffectHundreds of gay men in Central Floridaand around the world perish from thedisease. Gays and AIDS patients arerejected by health care providers,government services, and their familiesbecause of the stigma and fear of AIDS.The gay and lesbian movement takes apause as activists and organizationsunite to combat the disease.Cross Dressing Ban OverruledCircuit Judge Frank Kaney ruled that adefunct Orange County ordinanceprohibiting men from wearing women'sclothing in public and vice versa violatedconstitutional rights. The Orlando citycouncil had already dropped the ban in1982 during an overhaul of city code.The city council had passed the ban oncross-dressing in 1948.Lawyer Uses Homosexual Panic DefenseThomas Provenzano, who walked intothe Orange County Courthouse andkilled a court bailiff and injured twoothers, used a "homosexual panic"defense. Psychiatrists for the defensestated that Provenzano suffered from asevere "homosexual panic" whensearched by the bailiff that set off theincident.ThemePrideImage or ArtifactVideo Display: Vertical video monitor draped inblack cloth showing the images of CentralFlorida AIDS victims.Artifact: Panel from the AIDS quilt.PridePrejudice11
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextGay Center OpensOrlando's first gay and lesbian Centeropened in September of 1987 at 1036 NMills Avenue in a building that formerlyhoused a laundromat. According to JimCrescitelli, "We'd open up in themorning and, my gosh, the world'slargest roaches would scatter. ! But wemade it work." At that time, the Centerand Gay Community Services (GCS) wereseparate entities. The Center latermerged with the Gay CommunityServices (GCS) to become the Gay andLesbian Community Services (GLCS). Ithas since evolved into the present GLBTCenter.ThemePrideSecond National March on Washingtonfor Lesbian and Gay Rights (10/11/1987)Central Floridians participated in thesecond March on Washington for Gayand Lesbian Rights.ProtestMurderThe reports of gay murder werecommon during the eighties. GLBTCenter's bridge club and localaccountant, Alan M. Kasper,disappeared one evening and turned updead weeks later in Lake Gloria. Thenude body of Paul David Switzer, 51, wasfound under a bed just minutes after hewas stabbed to death in his room at theParliament House. The owner and themanager of Southern Nights weremurdered and their bodies werediscovered in the club's rest room.PrejudiceImage or ArtifactArtifact: NewsletterRe-create headlines:Dotty Davison MissingLocal Accountant Found DeadMurder at the Parliament HouseSouthern Nights Manager Found Dead12
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextCentral Florida Celebrates First NationalComing Out Day (NCOD)On October 15, 1988, the first NationalComing Out Day (NCOD) celebration inCentral Florida was held at Winter Park'sCentral Park. Spearheaded and MCd bylocal activist Joel Strack of We thePeople, the local rally coincided withother first NCODs in 18 states aroundthe country. Winter Park City ManagerDave Harden approved the event. Localactivists spoke about their own personalComing Out stories or observations.Among the speakers were: PattySheehan, Loving Committed Network;Lee Moody, Gay and Lesbian CommunityCenter; Jason Hobb, We The People; andEllen Home, National Organization forWomen. An estimated 40 peopleattended this event.Human Rights Ordinance ProposedJim Ford, member of the Coalition forHuman Rights and a local gay activist,spearheaded a proposal for an ill-fatedHuman Rights Ordinance for OrangeCounty.Orange County Deputy Fired For BeingGayIn 1989, Orange County Sherriff WaltGalagher fired Deputy Tom Woodardafter an investigation revealed thatWoodard was bisexual. This prompted a"Rally Against Homophobia" on May 20at Constitutional Green in downtownOrlando. Activist Michael Wanzieorganized the event. Nearby the Green,Klu Klux Klan members and ReverendJohn Butler Book protested against theRally.ThemePridePrideImage or Artifact“We the People” photograph.Prejudice13
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextDelta Youth AllianceDYA became the first organized youthgroup in Central Florida to provide peeractivities and social support to youngGLBT persons. DYA was formed by TerryDeischer and Jeff Horn, and it was thesecond youth group to emerge in theState of Florida. DYA has since evolvedfirst into the Gay and Lesbian IdeaeXchange for Youth (Galixy) and nowinto the Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA).Trans-AID Wins Disney AwardTrans-AID support services received thefirst Disney community service awardgiven to an AIDS service organization ata ceremony in May of 1990.ThemePridePrideImage or ArtifactNeed to re-create Disney award.First Gay Days at Disney"First. It was "Gay Day at the Fair", Nowit's. Gay Day at Disney! Wear red and beseen!" It was that simple one eighthpage ad in the June 1991 Center Fold(the GLBT Center's newspaper) thatstarted it all. Some members ofCompuWho (Orlando's first Gay BulletinBoard System), at the urging of DougSwallow, reportedly started this nowinfamous day. An estimated 3,000-4,000LGBT attendees were at the firstcelebration. Gay Day later became GayDays at Disney World in Orlando. Itexpanded to a week-long celebrationand has become a major internationalevent, drawing hundreds of thousandsof LGBT participants each year.14
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextThemeGay and Lesbian Parents Group AdoptsPortion of Highway 50In 1991 the Gay and Lesbian ParentsCoalition (GLPC) applied for and adopteda portion of Colonial Drive/Route 50 thatstretched from Orange Blossom Trail toBumby Avenue. For the next four years,that stretch of the road had signs upproudly proclaiming that GLPC hadadopted it. The Adopt-A-Highwayprogram was set up by localmunicipalities as a way to involve groupsin litter control. Theapplication/adoption by GLPC was thebrainchild of GLPC member ChrisAlexander. The pictured sign wasvandalized once.PrideAIDS Activist ArrestedOn March 7, the Florida Department ofLaw Enforcement (FDLE) raided theOrlando office of Trans-Aid and thehome of its founder and director,Alfredo Martinez-Garcia. AZT and othermedications were seized. Alfredo was"charged with dispensing morphine,codeine and prescription-strengthTylenol without a medical license toAIDS sufferers." Alfredo went to trial andwas found innocent of all charges by thePrejudiceImage or ArtifactMight be possible to get video footage fromCourtTV.SILENCE DEATH Sticker15
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History Centerjury.TextThemeFirst Pride Parade Marches in OrlandoThe first Orlando Regional Pride Paradeoccurred on Saturday, June 22, 1991,around Lake Eola. After the parade, arally was held at the Lake Eola bandshell. Approximately 500-800 peopleparticipated. Some participants worebags over their heads so they wouldn’tbe identified.PrideWMFE Pulls Lost Language of CranesTHE LOST LANGUAGE OF CRANES, a filmdealing with a gay son coming out to hisparents and his discovery that his fatheris also gay, was pulled from thebroadcast schedule of local stationWMFE, which was chaired then by LeonHandley. In protest, a number of GLBTsupporters spoke in favor of the showingof the film at a subsequent WMFE boardmeeting. Among these activists wereradio personality Clive Thomas, humanrights activist Brian Arbogast , andPFLAG member Chris Alexander.Prejudice16Image or Artifact
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextCenter Stage Magazine Refuses GayAdvertisementIn its June 1992 issue, the arts andentertainment magazine Center Stagerefused to run a listing that advertisedthe Orlando Gay Chorus. According tothe magazine’s editor Mary Johnston, itwas the identification of the Chorus as agay organization that was objectionable.As Johnston stated, “We’re not a forumfor something that [is] politicallycontroversial and morally sensitive, andsomething that it is a health risk.” At thetime, both the National Endowment ofthe Arts (NEA) and public broadcastinghad come under severe pressure fromconservative government officials fortheir support of liberal subjectGay Activists Chosen for WMFE BoardBrian Arbogast and Saviz Shafaie wereselected to serve 2-year terms on theWMFE-Public TV Community ActionBoard (CAB). This was a result ofWMFE's refusal to air the gay film, TheLost Language of Cranes, because itobjected to the scene of two menkissing.GLBT Activists Protest WCPXThe GLBT community descended inprotest upon the studios of WCPXChannel 6 on John Young Parkway whenthey chose not to air a CBS after-schoolpresentation of "Other Mothers." Thisfilm follows the life of a 16 year old boyand explores the challenges he faceswhen his schoolmates and teacherslearn that his mother and her roommateare a lesbian couple. WCPX generalmanager Mike Schweitzer claimed thatcomplaints against the movie promptedhim to make the decision not to air theprogram. The hour long protest wasignored by the local media.ThemePrejudicePrideProtest17Image or Artifact
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextYellow Pages Allows “Gay and Lesbian”ListingThe words gay or lesbian were notallowed as a sub-head for any businessin the telephone Yellow Pages until theDonnelley Directory allowed it for Outand About bookstore in 1992.Theme18Image or Artifact
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextNeo Nazi Skinheads Protest atParliament HouseA group of about 20 neo-nazi skinheadsprotested in front of the ParliamentHouse on Saturday February 27, 1993.Across the street, gay and lesbiancounter-demonstrators who were led byGLCS president David Bain and vicepresident John Rose outnumbered theskinheads three to one.ThemeProtestVoices - AIDS Fundraiser Is HeldA star-studded AIDS gala "Voices" wasfirst held on March 26, 1993 at theTupperware auditorium. The event wasco-chaired by Burt Reynolds, LoniAnderson, and Leanza Cornett. It was ajoint project of Aids Resource Allianceand the Florida ProfessionalEntertainment Community.PrideGLCS Joins March on WashingtonOn April 25, the Third March onWashington for GLBT rights was held.Gay and Lesbian Community Services(GLCS) secured 20 rooms for CentralFlorida participants. The photo showssome of these participants carrying theCenter banner and representing theCentral Florida community in the march.PrideInternational Gay and Lesbian ParentsConference Is HeldGay and Lesbian Parents CoalitionPrideImage or ArtifactArtifact: ProgramVideo: Show FinaleNeed picture from Scott Alles.19
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextInternational (GLPCI) held their 14thannual convention at the Omni PlazaHotel, International Drive, Orlando, onJuly 24, 1993. Originally called the GayFathers Coalition, in 1986 this fathers’group expanded to include lesbianmoms, prompting a name change to theGay and Lesbian Parents CoalitionInternational (GLPCI), a volunteergrassroots chapter-based organizationwhose primary purpose was to connectwith and support local gay and lesbianparenting groups, while advancing thecause of the lesbian and gay parentingcommunity. GLPCI changed its name tothe Family Pride Coalition in order toinclude bisexual and transgenderparents.Gay and Lesbian Radio Show BeginsBroadcastingOn Saturday August 7, 1993, OUT LOUDhit the airwaves of 1600-AM. The 3 hourgay and lesbian talk show was hosted byJudy Shaw and Chris Alexander, who hadconceived the show after a Gay andLesbian Parents Coalition International(GLPCI) conference had ended in July.License Tags of "Gay" Males Collectedat Lake UnderhillAt Lake Underhill a private security firm,hired by the City of Orlando, was seekingand documenting the license platenumbers of male visitors presumed tobe gay. The practice was halted and thecompany’s contract terminated aftercomplaints were made to the mayor'soffice, which then determined "theactions of the private security companywere not acceptable by the city".ThemePridePrejudice20Image or Artifact
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextMarriage License to Gay Couple DeniedRocky Ward and Tony Childress wererefused an application for a marriagelicense by Vivian J. Bennett, ChiefDeputy Clerk of the Orange CountyCircuit & County Court on Friday August12, 1994.ThemePrejudiceAIDS Memorial Monument FoundationFiles for IncorporationOn August 25, 1996 an Orlando groupconcerned that Persons with AIDS aretoo easily forgotten filed forincorporation as a non-profitorganization. The group's principalpurpose was to build a monument inOrlando to memorialize them. Membersof the AIDS Memorial MonumentFoundation started raising money,commissioned a design and begun talkswith city officials to get permission for alocation. A site in the ''southeastextension'' area of Lake Eola Park wasthe group's first choice. Unfortunately,the memorial never materialized due tolack of support from the City andpotential donors.Disney Offers Domestic PartnerBenefitsThe Walt Disney Company beganoffering health coverage to the live-inpartners of gay and lesbian employeeson January 1, 1996. The studio fearedlosing talented employees in thecompetitive entertainment industry,analysts say.Pride1997 - Southern Baptists Boycott DisneyLeaders of the Southern Baptists, thenation's largest Protestantdenomination, voted to boycott WaltDisney Company. and its subsidiaries forwhat it called the company's "anti-PrejudiceImage or ArtifactModel of Memorial my exist,Pride21
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextChristian and anti-family direction."Rainbow Flags Fly375 light standards were fitted with arainbow flag celebrating Gay PrideMonth in June 1198. The flags were apart of a privately funded displaycoordinated by the gay newspaperWatermark. "The mayor has already saidshe wants to celebrate diversity," saidWatermark associate publisher KeithPeterson, one of several at the papervolunteering time on the project. Fundraising covered the flag costs as well asbenefited the nonprofit OrlandoRegional Pride, which organizes anannual gay pride parade. The hope wasthat the city will accept the flags as adonation to use again and again -- andbe proud to do it. The city later passedan ordinance that permitted only flagsfor "city sponsored" events could beraised bringing the display to animmediate end.Meteor to Hit OrlandoIn response to the city of Orlandoallowing rainbow flags to fly during themonth of Junes for Gay Days, PatRobertson (pictured) went on TV andmade the following statement. "I wouldwarn Orlando that you're right in theway of some serious hurricanes, and Idon't think I'd be waving those flags inGod's face if I were you,'' Robertson saidMonday on his TV show, "The 700 Club.''Robertson also said the widespreadpractice of homosexuality "will bringabout terrorist bombs, it'll bringearthquakes, tornadoes and possibly ameteor.''Patty Sheehan Becomes First LesbianCity CouncilwomanOn April 11 Patty Sheehan won herelection to Orlando's City Council as anout lesbian, becoming the first localGLBT identified person to win a seat onthe City Council.ThemePrideImage or ArtifactArtifact: Rainbow Flag that FlewPrejudicePrideArtifact: Patty’s Campaign Shoes22
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextTheme23Image or Artifact
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextUnited Way Chairman QuitsLess than a week after a contentiousboard fight over a nondiscriminationpolicy, Heart of Florida United WayBoard Chairman John Lord resigned onAugust 30. Lord, whose son is gay, felt itwas in United Way's best interest to stepdown. The resignation centered aroundthe United Way's support of the BoyScouts and their decision to discriminateagainst gay scouts and gay scout leaders.ThemePrideOrlando City Council Passes Gay RightsMeasureOn December 2, 2002 in a decisionresidents said will turn Orlando into acity of either tolerance or moral decay, adivided City Council voted for "Chapter57" to protect gays from discriminationin the private sector. The battle forChapter 57 was led by MichaelSlaymaker.PrideAIDS Quilt Comes to OrlandoThe AIDS Memorial quilt made two stopsin Orlando for World AIDS Day in 2004.The quilt's first stop in Orlando was atthe Team Disney building on November29 and 30, 2004. It was later on displayin Orlando City Hall's rotunda for twodays, Wednesday, December 1, (WorldAIDS Day) and Thursday, December 2,from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (The quilt in thephoto was taken in 1993 at the Marchon Washington on the Mall.)Image or ArtifactArtifact: Quilt Panel24
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterText2006 - Orange County Fair HousingPassesOrange County passed a fair housingordinance that provided protection forthe GLBT community by adding sexualorientation to the list of classesprotected under the ordinance.ThemePride2008 - Orlando Gays Win DomesticPartner BenefitsOrlando City Commissionersunanimously voted to provide cityemployees with domestic partner healthinsurance for same-sex couples. Thevote made Orlando the 35thgovernmental employer in Florida tooffer some form of Domestic Partnerprotections.Amendment 2 Passes62% of Florida Voters voted YES on theDefense of Marriage Act known asAmendment 2 on November 4, 2008.This is the text of the Florida MarriageProtection Amendment: “Inasmuch asmarriage is the legal union of only oneman and one woman as husband andwife, no other legal union that is treatedas marriage or the substantial equivalentthereof shall be valid or recognized.”Local Gays Oppose Amendment 2Thousands of protestors gatheredoutside Orlando City Hall on SaturdayNovember 15, 2008 to protest thepassage of Amendment 2.PridePrejudiceProtest25Image or ArtifactNeed photograph or drop.
Pride, Prejudice, and Protest – Orange County History CenterTextOne Orlando Demonstrates forFreedom to MarryOn February 12, 2009 ten gay andlesbian couples, participating in anationwide "Freedom to Marry Day"protest, were denied marriage licensesat the Orange County Courthouse. Theprotest was organized by One Orlando.ThemeProtestOut and Proud Veterans Organize as aSocial and Educational Group forVeterans and Their FamiliesIn November of 2010, a group of sevenGLBT Veterans and three supporters,who were sponsored by the GLBTCommunity Center of Orlando,participated for the first time in theOrlando Veteran’s Day Parade. Duringthe parade, Mark Cady, a Center BoardMember, came up with the idea for aveterans memorial at the Center. It wasduring the preparation of the flag polememorial that the vision for Out &Proud Veterans of America took form.Pictured are members of Out and ProudVeterans marching in the 2011 ComeOut With Pride parade.Orange County Passes Domestic PartnerBenefitsAt its April 19, 2011 commissionmeeting, the Orange CountyCommission voted unanimously to adddomestic partner benefits for OrangeCounty employees. To be covered,domestic partners must be at least 18years old and in a committed, long-termrelationship. They cannot be married orin a domestic partnership with anyoneelse and they must prove they areresponsible for each other's financialwelfare via two notarized documents.The benefits went into eff
First Gay and Lesbian Pride Picnic The first Pride Picnic occurred in June of 1979 at Turkey Lake Park. Pride Need photograph or drop. Rap Group Forms David Strickler and Charlie Hogan formed a peer support group that met on Tuesday evenings at the Northeast Orange Mental Health Center. The first meeting was held on January 13, 1980. It
