PRESS RELEASE

SAFEGUARDING AMERICAN VALUES FOR EVERYONE

CONTACT: CJ ORTUNO
305-751-7283 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
cj@savedade.org Friday, February 12, 2010
SAVE Dade to Honor Champions of Equality
South Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, former Miami Major Manny Diaz and
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, and Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. are among the honorees for the Champions of
Equality Award.
Miami, FL (February 12, 2010) – The board of directors of SAVE Dade have announced this year’s recipients of the
Champions of Equality Award. This annual event was established to honor leaders of the community who have
significantly advanced the cause of equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Miami-Dade
County.

“The importance of recognizing those in our community who have used their position to advance equality for all
is that it gives their colleagues and peers an opportunity to connect with what is righteous; therefore, asking
themselves tough questions about their own leadership and participation,” said C.J. Ortuño, executive director of
SAVE Dade.

Equality and justice for all is a non-partisan issue. South Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) is the
perfect example. She is one our strongest and most steadfast allies in Congress. She helped pass the Matthew Shepard
Hate Crimes Act into law in 2010 and opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment and Florida’s Amendment 2 before that.
She is the lead Republican House sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the Military Readiness
Enhancement Act (which would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell), and the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act.
She has also been a strong supporter of Congressional action on HIV/AIDS issues. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has
earned the title of Champion of Equality for her own support of pro-equality legislation and for garnering support for such
legislation from her colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. is the world’s leading producer of wine and spirits, yet it has always given special attention to its
home base of South Florida. Bacardi is the first corporation bestowed with the Champions of Equality award for its strong
support of the LGBT community and their organizations. For more than 15 years, Bacardi has leveraged its in-kind
contributions to boost the fundraising goals of SAVE Dade, Aqua Foundation, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
and the Miami Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and former Mayor Manny Diaz sponsored a domestic partnership ordinance that was
passed unanimously, 5 – 0, by The City of Miami Commission. The ordinance offers health benefits to declared domestic
partners of city employees and their children in the same manner as the city offers such benefits to spouses of married
employees and their children. The city is the third municipality in Miami-Dade County to do so. SAVE Dade is grateful to
all commissioners who voted for the ordinance but honors Sarnoff and Diaz as Champions of Equality for their initiative
and courage in cosponsoring the ordinance and shepherding it through to final passage.

Chairman of the Board, Orlando Gonzales explained “Honoring the leadership of Ileana, Manny, and Marc is
something I am very proud that we are doing. Their recognition exemplifies that equality is nonpartisan and can
be embraced by all parties, religions, and cultures in the rich diversity of South Florida. And, Bacardi of course
is long overdue this acknowledgement as they consistently stand behind the community.”

The 2010 SAVE Dade Champions of Equality Award Reception and Silent Auction will be held May 7, 2010. More than
250 civic leaders and community luminaries will attend the reception.

About SAVE Dade: SAVE Dade’s mission is to promote, protect and defend equality for people in Miami-Dade County who are lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender. Established in 1993, SAVE Dade accomplishes this mission through education initiatives, outreach, grassroots organizing, and
advocacy. Starting with the landmark passage of Miami's Human Rights Ordinance in 1998 to recent enactments of domestic partner benefit policies,
SAVE continues to lead the fight for LGBT equality in Miami-Dade County through grassroots action focused on civil rights, parental rights, and
relationship recognition through political advocacy, community outreach, candidate endorsements.
305-751-SAVE (7283) | 305-751-9649 f | www.savedade.org | savedade@savedade.org