Gay rights groups rally to alter Florida adoption laws, other changes

TALLAHASSEE — Gay rights advocates hope Hollywood can step in where Florida political muscle struggled.

Flanked by the nephew of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay city official in California, who was infamously slain in 1978, a few hundred advocates and lawmakers agitated outside the Capitol on Monday for gay people to have the right to adopt, as well as other changes.

The Republican-led Legislature has resisted all efforts to reverse the law, which two South Florida trial judges ruled unconstitutional last year. Florida is the only state with such a blanket ban.

"Harvey was not that well-known in Florida, and I think the Milk film and Sean Penn moved that along," said Stuart Milk, a Broward County resident.

Milk met with lawmakers and staffers to press for the changes advanced by gay and transgender rights groups.

Conservative groups' opposition has meant bills to reverse the policy have gone nowhere.

David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or (850) 224-726