- Norm Kent
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This article is about the radio talk show host and attorney. For people with similar names, see Norman Kent (disambiguation).
Norman Elliott (Norm) Kent. (born 18 October 1949 in Brooklyn, New York) is a South Florida criminal defense attorney, publisher and radio talk show host.
The founder and publisher of The Express, in 1999, and the newly inaugurated South Florida Gay News.com, Florida's largest gay and lesbian weekly newspaper, Kent was previously the morning drive talk show host for WFTL-1400 AM from 1989-1997. As an attorney, Kent has brought suit against local governments in Florida on behalf of civil rights such as Freedom of Speech many times.[1] A frequent guest lecturer at colleges and in community forums, Kent has published numerous articles advocating civil rights protections for the LGBT community and for Decriminalization of cannabis in the United States. He has authored 'The Pot Warriors Manifesto.'
After surviving a bout with lymphoma, he had another stint at the new WFTL-850 AM from 2002-2005 as a daily talk show host, though in the interim periods he hosted 'Weekend Legal' on various local radio stations. He currently publishes SouthfloridaGayNews.com,[2] the Broward Law Blog,[3] and contributes columns to the Counterpunch political newsletter.[4]
He is a life member of the National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and has appeared on Dateline, Court TV, Fox News and Friends, as well as CNN Live as a political and legal commentator. As a constitutional rights attorney, he has represented juveniles in a class action against detention centers, and sued to enjoin the State of Florida from illegally spraying paraquat on marijuana fields.
A graduate of both Hofstra University in 1971 and the Hofstra School of Law in 1975, Kent relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1976, where he has maintained a law practice for over 30 years.
Contents
Marijuana Legalization Advocacy
A long time advocate for marijuana law reform, he serves on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML),[5] has contributed articles to High Times Magazine, and has, during his law career, successfully represented clients who defended marijuana use based on medical necessity.
In 2007, his defense of marijuana decriminalization led to a national debate with a former classmate at Hofstra University, now a former U.S. Senator, Norm Coleman from Minnesota. Kent published a stinging letter at celebstoner.com,[6] outing Coleman's contemporary positions on marijuana law reform, comparing it to his days as a user when he was a college student and fellow classmate. Norm Kent and Norm Coleman were college roommates and the letter from Kent revealed the hypocrisy of Coleman's "war on drugs" position considering the way they used to "tape the doors shut and burn incense" during their college days together. This became an unfortunate talking point during Coleman's 2008 campaign against Al Franken.[7]
LGBT Advocacy & Newspapers
Norm Kent began Express Gay News in South Florida in 1999 - the very first credible LGBT newspaper in Broward County. Four years later it was sold to Window Media to be a part of their larger umbrella of national gay media sources. It was then re-titled The Express and then The South Florida Blade.[8] On November 16, 2009, all publications under Window Media management were shut down because of the financial status of its parent company, Window Media and its majority stockholder, Avalon Equity Partners. Retaining most of the staff at first, South Florida Blade was then re-opened once again by Mark Haines as The Agenda.
At the same time, Norm Kent started a new LGBT Newspaper and Website called South Florida Gay News, which is today, Florida's most widely read LGBT news source.[9]
References
- ^ Plutnicki, Ken: "Upholder of the Unpopular", The Miami Herald, Pg. 1C: March 14, 1989
- ^ http://www.southfloridagaynews.com
- ^ http://browardlawblog.com
- ^ http://www.counterpunch.org
- ^ http://www.norml.com
- ^ http://celebstoner.com
- ^ Trish, "Al Franken Attacked By Republican Hypocrite Opponent" Pensito Review, July 24, 2008
- ^ Rothaus, Steve: "Express Gay News founder Norm Kent to launch new gay weekly", Miami Herald, Dec 20, 2009
- ^ Rothaus, Steve: "Express Gay News founder Norm Kent to launch new gay weekly", Miami Herald, Dec 20, 2009
External links
Categories:- 1949 births
- Living people
- American lawyers
- American talk radio hosts
- Hofstra University alumni
- People from Brooklyn
- People from Florida
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