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DAMIEN CAVE Some fear a proposed change to a film incentive program would discriminate against productions with gay characters.

MIAMI -- The movie "Bait Shop" had too much boozing to earn the extra rebate from Florida's "family friendly" program of incentives for film production. "Confessions of a Shopaholic" was, well, just too violent.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has been trying to run as a moderate in his re-election campaign (he's even toyed with running as an independent). He is to the left of the Republican Party on several issues: if nothing else, he thinks the stimulus was a good idea. He's also more gay-tolerant than the GOP as a whole. But Monday, The New York Times ran a story detailing how Crist really screwed up ...

Florida is the only state with an outright ban against adoptions by gay people, but that may not be true for long. State courts have overruled Florida law in three cases and approved gay adoptions. The state, however, has appealed the court rulings and says it will continue to fight to uphold the law.

Supporters of embattled former state senator Hiram Monserrate passed out fliers at Queens-area churches calling his opponent a pawn of "gay fanatics."

Brides Angelisa Young and Sinjoyla Townsend were the first of three couples taking the plunge.

A Florida state senator is reportedly pushing for new legislation that would increase tax breaks for the movie industry but deny the same incentives to films featuring gay characters.

A Republican-endorsed tax incentive package to draw filmmakers to Florida says no to gay characters.

On a recent Friday night, Living Room, the cavernous Fort Lauderdale gay club, was bathed in black lights. There were the usual go-go dancers and drag queens. Men, and the occasional lady, danced in varying degrees of undress to stock tribal house. The place was a jungle. Seriously. This wasn't y...

The 2010 Census is underway. Ads have hit the networks urging Americans to return census forms. "We can't move forward," the commercial says, "until you mail it back!"

Last week the Bureau launched an online mapping tool that shows community return and participation rates, allowing neighborhoods to track their progress and see previous return rates. "The future of your community starts with a look at its past," Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves says.

Well, unfortunately for LGBT people, history will repeat itself since the government will not collect data on gay, lesbian, bi or trans individuals. Even if individuals were able to designate sexuality, online access may limit new methods of outreach.

The Joint Center For Political And Economic Studies publication National Minority Broadband Adoption: Comparative Trends in Adoption, Acceptance and Use suggests that "those who stand the most to gain from the Internet, especially insofar as the Internet is used to break the poverty cycle are not in a position to benefit from it."

Census data is used as a basis for government fund distribution and since more LGBT people live in poverty than previously thought, it is unclear whether the new online tools could effectively measure the LGBT population or assist LGBT people living in poverty.

The good news is: The Bureau will track same-sex couple data. The U.S. Constitution stipulates that every American be counted in the once-a-decade survey. The Census Bureau facilitates what types of data is collected. There are, however, reasons why you won't not be counted.

Here's information you need to know about the 2010 census. You can also help 'queer' the census by joining the QueerTheCensus movement on Twitter and Facebook.

Related:
How Many Gays Are There?

Queering the census originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 17:03:15.

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A proposed tax incentive to attract the film and television industry to Florida would not apply to productions that showcase "nontraditional family values," says the Republican house member sponsoring the jobs stimulus measure.

A chill wind is bruising the azalea blossoms in Occupied Tallhassee. The sky grows as dark as a lobbyist's heart. Dogs howl and children cry. The Florida Legislature has returned. The annual orgy of... read more

Florida lawmakers are considering a "family friendly" bill that would deny tax credits to films and television shows with gay characters in favour of those promoting traditional values.

A simple early morning disturbance call for police in Florida ended with the death of a gay-porn actor. And it was all captured on video.

The latest salvos from the culture war: Macho men versus 'sex-crazed gay males'? Homosexual family values?

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The California state senator who was arrested for driving while intoxicated after a night at a gay bar announced Monday that he is gay.

Proposal in Florida Would Disqualify Film and TV Productions Involving Gay Characters From Eligibility

Republican state Sen. Roy Ashburn of Bakersfield says he is gay, after days of speculation after his arrest last week in Sacramento for DUI.

Movie and TV productions with gay characters could be ineligible for a tax credit being considered in the state House.