Over the weekend, the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization took the logical yet heroic step of publicly supporting marriage rights for gay couples. In doing so, the NAACP has joined President Obama, and Hispanic civil rights leaders in dramatically accelerating the movement for marriage equality and hastening the day when it becomes the law of the land.

The exhilaration and pride I felt as a black lesbian in my civil rights organization took me back nearly 20 years when the NAACP stepped out on a skinnier limb at a pivotal moment to stand up for LGBT equality.

Betsy and Ron are also PFLAGers who couldn't sit by in silence as the teenager sobbed beneath the mother's abuse. They spoke up and engaged them both, comforting the teen and educating the mom.

Only then did Betsy notice a tall fellow striding her way who looked very familiar. Then she saw the cameraman. They were part of the television show What Would You Do? set up.

Here's the segment that aired on ABC

(Crossposted at the Equality Florida blog.)

Over the past year, hundreds of parents have finally been able to adopt the children they have been raising. Now, those children will have the legal protections that only adoption can provide. Other gay Floridians have stepped forward to adopt children stuck in foster care who want desperately to have a permanent family and a loving forever home.

Ending the ban was both a legal and political victory. Most of all it was a victory for the 20,000 children in foster care and the nearly 2,000 who are waiting and hoping to be adopted.

Equality Florida, along with members of our Miami-Dade Safe Schools Coalition, have worked for more than a decade to expand these vital protections while Miami remained one of the few large Florida cities without such a policy - until now.

With this latest victory, 1.55 million students representing nearly 60 percent of Florida's school population are now protected from bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity - ranking Florida fourth in the nation.

The launch is timed to coincide with tax season, a time of year when the federal government compels married gay couples to file as single. We believe our friends and neighbors, family and co-workers need to understand the untenable position we face between the truth and the law.

Many are choosing to tell the truth and face the consequences to make this injustice visible. Whether you are ready to take this stand or not, your voice matters.\

Sign the petition. Share Your Story. Spread the Word.

Find us online: RefuseToLie.org, Twitter, Facebook

The handy reference is full of helpful information and pointers on the very best ways LGBT Floridians can legally protect themselves and their families. In fact, many of our unmarried straight allies will also find it a valuable resource.

Here's that link again.

Over 800 fair-minded Tampa Bay residents responded and have called on the County Commissioners to replace Kemple from the board.

Just a few days ago, a longtime member of the Human Relations Board, Patrick DeMarco, resigned in protest and encouraged Equality Florida to keep up the pressure.

In his resignation, DeMarco said :

The reason for my resignation is that I cannot, in good conscience, participate on the same Board which now includes another member who has dedicated himself to public campaigns of bigotry and discrimination against gay and lesbian citizens of this community.[...] It is unacceptable and unconscionable to allow someone who has openly advocated and worked for laws and policies that promote prejudice against a significant portion of our population.

Well, it seems that 2011 is off to an interesting start. Throughout 2010, a friend at church has been asking for permission to nominate me for Church Council and I resisted. Not only was I concerned about whether I wanted the additional responsibility, I did not want to be elected to Church Council without people knowing that I am gay.

So, that put me in a bit of a spot; just how out there did I want to be? While some knew (some friends, Pastor, and attendees of a meeting over a year ago) the larger part of the congregation did not know. I finally acquiesced and let my friend nominate me. A couple weeks ago, I received an e-mail from the church secretary asking for my "bio." I had quite a lump in my stomach as I wrote my bio, knowing it would be published with my picture in the church bulletin:

As a single gay man, I appreciate how welcoming the church family has been to me and my family. I attend with my mother and try to bring my niece as often as I can. [...]

I am honored to have been nominated for Church Council and, if elected, I look forward to sharing whatever talents and skills I have in service to this Church, its church family, and its outreach.

"I know I'm not representing just myself or even just my own children. I will be there on behalf of every child in need of a loving home and all the future families that will be formed because of our victory this year. Thank you for standing with me," said Martin Gill in a note written to supporters across the state.

On September 22nd, Martin and his family, represented by the ACLU, won a unanimous Third District Court of Appeals decision that found Florida's adoption ban unconstitutional. The decision is binding statewide and, for the first time in 33 years, allows gay people to be considered as prospective adoptive parents in Florida.

Earlier in the year, Equality Florida facilitated Martin Gill and his boys' attendance at the Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. The picture of the two boys facing the oval office became a powerful emblem in the fight to end the ban. During the White House Pride event in June, I was able to place that picture and a note in President Barack Obama's hand and ask for his help in denouncing anti-gay adoption law. The President promised to read the note and White House staff followed up on the request.

Watch the video after the jump along with more thoughts.

The report documents pro-equality successes in areas of workplace non-discrimination, family recognition, and school safety, while also highlighting that the organization has defeated anti-LGBT legislative efforts in every session over the past 13 years.

A great deal of work remains, but Floridians can be proud of the progress in our state over the past decade.This report demonstrates that while political winds may shift during an election cycle, the long-term trend in Florida is strongly in favor of fairness and equality for everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

Highlights from the report include:

Since Sept 22nd, Florida's ban on gay people adopting has been over. We are pleased to learn that Attorney General Bill McCollum has decided not to squander more taxpayer dollars and muddy the waters on a matter the courts have decided unanimously

I celebrate the end of a ban that has literally torn families apart and denied children permanent loving homes for over 33 years. The courts have been clear that this ban is irrational and puts anti-gay prejudice ahead of the needs of children.