On Tuesday, October 7, Equality Florida will honor Pembroke Pines Commissioner Iris Siple and Police Captain Al Xiques for their steadfast support of the City’s Domestic Partner Benefits
Ordinance, which extends benefits to the domestic partners of city employees, regardless of their gender.
Stratton Pollitzer, Deputy Director of Equality Florida, will present the Ally for Equality award to Commissioner Siple and the Advocate for Equality award to Captain Xiques at a special presentation at 6 p.m. on October 7 at Las Vegas Restaurant (15941 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines).
“We are proud to honor these two champions for their commitment to equality,” said Pollitzer. “They have demonstrated what passionate and determined individuals can accomplish, and we applaud the Pembroke Pines City Commission for extending equal benefits to their employees families.”
Founded in 1997, Equality Florida is the largest organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. In 2014, Equality Florida has advocated for and achieved success in the passage of more than two dozen local policies protect LGBT Floridians and their families.
Two years ago, Captain Xiques brought the issue of domestic partner benefits for Pembroke Pines employees to the attention of Equality Florida at a policy strategy luncheon. He bravely shared the inequity he experienced as a city employee and how his family would be positively impacted by recognition of his domestic partnership. Xiques was a tireless partner over the past two years, attending meeting after meeting, which ultimately culminated in the passage of the Domestic Partner Benefits Ordinance.
Commissioner Siple was quick to recognize the importance of offering equal benefits to domestic partners of City employees and was a steadfast champion for the Domestic Partner Benefits Ordinance. She participated in every workshop and meeting about domestic partner benefits, either in person or via telephone. Her tenacity is the number one reason Pembroke Pines now extends equal benefits to domestic partners of city employees, regardless of their gender.
The event will be held on Tuesday, October 7 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Las Vegas Restaurant, (15941 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines). Las Vegas Restaurant is generously providing complimentary appetizers, along with happy hour specials on wine and cocktails. The event is free and open to the public, though space is limited and RSVP is required. To rsvp, go to http://eqfl.org/event/pembrokepines, or email Hannah@eqfl.org.
Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization in Florida dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
