LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION DEPARTS SAVE
FOR FLORIDA RED & BLUE
.
Miami, FL (Forward to a Friend) - Political director and former executive director Heddy Peña has left SAVE (Safeguarding
American Values for Everyone) to join the Florida Red & Blue
campaign to defeat Amendment 2.
Under
her leadership, SAVE won landmark civil rights protections for Miami-Dade
County's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, including the
county's approval of a domestic partner registry and the extension of medical
benefits to domestic partners of county employees. Heddy also helped SAVE
establish the first "equal benefits" ordinance in the City of Miami Beach and
created protections for the transgender residents of Miami Beach.
"It
has been an honor to serve the LGBT community and I am pleased that I will be
working with my friends at SAVE to meet the challenges that lie ahead"
said Heddy.
"Heddy's
contributions to SAVE, the LGBT community and all the residents of Miami-Dade
County are profound," SAVE Board Chairman Juan Talavera said. "The gains we've
made in the past 6 years are a tribute to her passion and leadership. We look
forward to collaborating with her in the months and years ahead as we continue
to champion equal rights and protections for all."
Heddy
leaves SAVE well-positioned in the community, with financial and operational
stability and a long-term strategic plan that will guide the organization over
the next three years.
"SAVE
remains focused on defeating Amendment 2 at the polls on November 4," Talavera
said. The deceptively named "marriage protection" amendment to the
Florida constitution would roll back hard-won protections for gay and
heterosexual couples in communities across the state.
SAVE is
spearheading the get-out-the-vote drive in Miami-Dade and Broward counties,
working closely with Florida Red and Blue and other organizations to persuade
voters to "Say No to Amendment 2."
To
strengthen SAVE for the November fight, the board recently expanded its
campaign infrastructure with field director Kelly Anthony and field organizer
Dave Dodge to recruit and direct SAVE's growing volunteer force. Attorney
and board member Georg Ketelhohn has accepted the appointment of campaign
manager to oversee all aspects of the strategy and administration of the
"Say No to Amendment 2" initiative.
Businessman
Orlando Gonzales continues to serve as interim Executive Director, overseeing
day-to-day operations and working with community leaders in a search for a
permanent executive director.
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