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HRO Andy Warhol Inspired Art Attempt to Kill HRO Bill 2016.002 Fails
Editor In Chief: Harvey Carr editor@cityxtramagazine.com
LGBT Florida State Legislation By James Johnson
FDA Continues GAY Discrimination By Tyler Curry
Creative Designer: Jason Smith designer@cityxtramagazine.com Sales Department: Carlos Martinez sales@cityxtramagazine.com cityXtra Magazine is published by cityXtra Magazine, LLC. 2941 Plum Street Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 410-9592 www.cityxtramagazine.com Like us on Facebook/cityxtramag Twitter/cityxtra
Let the People Decide By JCE
HRO Hero’s In Jacksonville By David Vandygriff
Anti-HRO Florida Pastor Uses Porn Pics to Slander Hazouri
Southern Passion Lounge By Chef Amadeus
Publisher/Executive Editor: David Vandygriff publisher@cityxtramagazine.com
Contributing Writers Laura Riggs, Dr. Harvey Carr, Attorney Gordon Nicol, Meredith O’Malley Johnson, Tina Vaughn, Jake Moore, Tyler Curry Editor HIV Equal Online, Sebastian Fortino, David Vandygriff, Joey Amato Publisher Unite Magazine
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HRO Andy Warhol Inspired Art By David Vandygriff
Anonymous street artist iSuck has commandeered the walls of downtown Jacksonville once again, this time to support an all -inclusive HRO with new Warhol inspired art. iSuck, who’s public works of art have been popping up around Jacksonville, has used the iconic Warhol imagery to make a statement about Jacksonville’s lack of an all-inclusive Human Rights Ordinance, calling out Mayor Lenny Curry, City Council, and First Baptist Church in the process. The artist even offers the Soup Can imagery on their website for users to download and re-post themselves, encouraging people to use the hashtag #ArtistsForEquality.
equality, corruption, pollution and education, ranges as widely as the pieces themselves, which can be simple wheat paste images or full-scale sculptural installations. iSuck’s most notable and widely reported on piece was the instillation of a Native American head on the Andrew Jackson statue downtown last summer, which drew national media attention and sparked a debate over the city’s namesake on several local media outlets. Further information on the artist can be found online at www.i-s-u-c-k.com
Along with the Soup Can images, iSuck has also created installation pieces that have popped up all over town, from parks and street corners to restaurants and the downtown library. The subject matter of the work, which covers anything from
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An Attempt to Kill HRO Bill 2016.002 Fails By Jake Russell
Last evening the City Council Whole of Committee was not without high drama and breath taking moments. In an 8-11 decision, the City Council voted against Council Person Lori Boyer’s attempt to withdraw legislation. “Few of us would disagree with their call for civil and fair treatment of all our citizens ... but the playing field changed last Friday and now we have a third option,” Boyer said.Council President Greg Anderson said the council should “press the pause button” and see how Curry’s plan would be put into place. Council Person Tommy Hazouri called the attempt a ‘cop out.’ “We’ve been frozen in time for too long. Now’s the time, now’s the opportunity for Jacksonville to move forward. Now’s the time to leave absolutely no one behind,” Hazouri stated. The star of last evenings attempt to kill the legation protecting LGBT was City Council Person Reggie Brown. “I can tell you if we did nothing in 1864, I wouldn’t be sitting here,” said Brown, an African-American. “If we have to come and sit here for three days, I’m prepared.” The Whole of Committee continues the process on February 18, 2016 with the discussion of 2016.001, City Council Person Gulliford’s voter referendum bill. March 3, 2016 will be the discussion of 2016.002, the decision of Hazuouri’s bill.
The Civic Council lent its voice yesterday in support of Hazouri’s bill protecting LGBT in housing, employment, and public accommodations. The process in Jacksonville to extended protections in Jacksonville to LGBT has seen a bomb threat, KKK distribution of flyers, and the presence of SPLC’s classified hate group, Liberty Counsel. The opposition has brought in the heavy hitters from out of town; the florist from Washington State, Barronelle Stutzman. It would appear that with such protections in Orlando where both Liberty Counsel, Roger Gannum and Florida Family Policy, John Stumberg reside; that there would have been such a case study available rather than flying a single individual 3,000 miles to make their case against the HRO expansion. The treats of a ballot measure with the majority voting on the rights of a minority from some of the local churches looms in the background. Needless to say this process will not be fully decided on March 3rd when the City Council votes on both bills. Stay tuned!
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LGBT Florida State Legislation By James Johnson
PASTOR PROTECTION ACT On Thursday another advancement of the “Pastor Protection Act” passed the Florida House Judiciary Committee. Rodriguez’s amendment aimed to “narrow the protections in the bill to the solemnization of “parent.” marriage, he said. Rep. Julio stated, “I view this amendment as downright hostile.” Three committee members were absent from Rodriguez withdrew his amendment. the meeting, and the remaining ten committee members approved the bill unanimously. The After an hour long testimony followed by a few bill must now clear the Civil Justice minutes of debate among the committee, the Subcommittee and the Health and Human majority voted in favor of the bill. The full Services Committee before it advances to the house floor will now hear and vote on the bill. House floor. There’s also a companion bill in The “Pastor Protection Act” now advances the Senate that hasn’t made it onto a which purports to protect clergy from having committee agenda yet. to perform same-sex weddings. COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE ACT The Senate Judiciary Committee has officially scheduled a make-up hearing on the Competitive Workforce Act for Monday, February 8th at 1:30 PM. Since the hearing was initially announced and then delayed, lawmakers have received thousands of messages from concerned Floridians who want to be sure the Competitive Workforce Act receives the committee debate it deserves.
The bill has bi-partisan support. PARENTAGE Sponsored by Rep. David Richardson a bill heard by the Health Quality subcommittee last week and it was determined that it should be amended to have the Department of Health offer options reading “mother,” “father,” and “parent,” for birth certificates, rather than just
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FDA Continues GAY Discrimination By Tyler Curry
Last month, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the 32-year-old lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men. But in the ban's place now reads a new discriminatory policy that is possibly worse. In the closing of 2015, a year that has yielded victories for LGBT rights, a federal agency implemented a new policy requiring gay men to remain abstinent for 12 months before giving blood. In other words, gay and bisexual men can give blood, but only if they give up acting on “being gay.” Even though a fourth generation HIV test will pick up 95 percent of new infections within 28 days and a confirmatory western-blot test is 100 percent accurate, gay men are required to remain abstinent for one whole year. Discrimination, straight up with no chaser. Today, new infections have dropped to around 40,000 a year and we have the technology and medical resources to wipe out AIDS diagnoses for good. HIV is a no longer fatal, but completely manageable. With the approval of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the science being treatment as prevention (TasP), gay and bisexual men can navigate their sexual lives with 100 percent certainty that they are HIVnegative. Yet, with the partial lift, the FDA intentionally established new policy that treats all gay men as if it is impossible to manage their HIV status and engage in safe relationships with HIV-positive people. One Facebook user wrote, “So, if you’re a gay man in a monogamous relationship with your legally married husband, you are ineligible to donate blood. If you’re a heterosexual man who is legally married to a
woman but has random and anonymous sexual encounters every week with women, step right up, you’re 100 percent eligible to donate blood.” Interestingly enough, there was never movement to restrict African-American women from donating blood, though at one point this population represented the biggest increase in new HIV infection within the country. However, the idea of proposing a ban or enacting a policy requiring 12 months of abstinence from Black women would be preposterous, not to mention completely racist. But a policy banning sexually active gay men? That is acceptable, and it is because rationalized homophobia is still acceptable so long as it is thinly justified. By the FDA’s own current safety protocols, every person who donates blood – gay, bisexual, heterosexual, or otherwise – will have their blood tested for infectious diseases including HIV. Plainly, the new partial lift of blood donations from gay men doesn’t reflect the current state of the disease. Instead, it perpetuates a rationalized phobia of gay and bisexual men and the stereotype that the majority of gay men are HIV-positive. I do, want an LGBT culture where HIV is no longer seen as a dark mark that gay and bisexual men should be ashamed of. And this, my friends, is a resounding step in the wrong direction.
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HRO Hero’s In Jacksonville By David Vandygriff
HRO Bill 2016.002 was introduced by City Council Person Tommy Hazouri. Co-sponsors are Aaron Bowman and Jim Love. All three City Councilman has stood fast in the face of those that oppose the HRO expansion protecting the LGBT in Jacksonville in the areas of housing, public accommodations, and “This basically is the same law,” Hazouri said. employment. A road that has not been easy but “This is not a charter change. This is an ordinance the right thing to do in order to move our city amendment with the six words.” forward. “Gay and transgender people are our friends, The Jacksonville Civic Council has issued support neighbors, and family in Jacksonville. Supporting for HRO Bill 2016.002. “The place we call home the HRO is the right thing to do,” said Jim Love should welcome all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. As the The Jacksonville Coalition for Equality continues largest City in the region, we must lead by to grow with 20,000 local on the record supports. example and demonstrate that there is no place Over 100 religious leaders in support and over for discrimination in housing, employment and 300 small businesses supporting the LGBT public services for any reason. Breaking down the protections in Jacksonville. walls of discrimination is never easy and requires strong leadership by our elected leaders. We We applaud thank the Jacksonville Chamber, encourage our elected leaders to work together to Civic Council, Tommy Hazouri, Aaron Bowman, fully understand the scope and impact of Mayor and Jim Love in taking a stand for equality. Curry’s Executive Order and take clear and timely For more information on the HRO process in steps to eliminate discrimination and realize the Jacksonville please visit www.JaxEquality.org goal of One City, One Jacksonville.” The Jacksonville Chamber Board of Directors on Tuesday strongly reaffirmed its 1992 Declaration of Community Values and urged the Jacksonville City Council to pass an all-inclusive ordinance to ensure everyone in our community has equal protection against discrimination. “The Chamber has a long history of leading on issues of equality in our community. We know when all of our citizens have an equal opportunity to succeed, that’s good for business and good for quality of life,” JAX Chamber Chair Audrey Moran said.Bowman observed that “in five years, people will look back on these exemptions” and think they’re “silly.”
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Anti-HRO Florida Pastor Uses Porn Pics to Slander Hazouri Jacksonville, Florida city Councilman Tommy Hazouri is considering taking legal action against a virulently anti-gay local pastor trying to defame him with gay porn pictures on Twitter. Hazouri is one of several politicians currently supporting the city’s move to update a Human Rights Ordinance that would extend non-discrimination protections to LGBT people in areas in areas like housing, employment, and public accommodations.
“I think as a pastor — homosexuality, that’s vulgar and that’s pornographic, and the whole thought of it,” Adkins tweeted at people outraged by the images. “It is, I believe, a war and attack against the church, and I think sometimes you have to use measures to get your point across, and that’s exactly what I’m doing, and I stand behind it 150 percent.”
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Speaking with CBS 47, Hazouri said, “This issue is much bigger than the pornographic material that (Adkins) is putting out there, and I will be speaking with our general counsel.”
It does appear that the self-proclaimed pastor is determined to gain attention via such outrageous antics. Ironically the pastor just a few months ago was in support of Jacksonville expanding it’s HRO to protect LGBT and had asked forgiveness from the LGBT. As the World Turns in moving LGBT Rights forward in Cowford USA.
Southern Passion Lounge By Chef Amadeus
Welcome to the Southern Passion Lounge, where I promise to initiate and educate you on the artistry of good food and the comfort of great wine. You’ll get to know all about our local chefs, about the best food trucks in town, wonderful coffee houses and the best desserts this side of …. well… heaven. sofrito, bacalaitos and bacalao salad. After a few bites, I dialed my mother’s number and told her First, let me say that when I speak of the food she simply had to try it. You know a place is good scene, either in an article like this, or my radio if you are telling your mother about it even before show The Southern Passion Lounge with Chef the meal is done. Amadeus, my opinions are completely unbiased. I’m not being paid to say what I say nor am I being Another favorite is Blue Bamboo, where Chef offered free food. Chan works magic with a wealth of Asian cuisine. He’s constantly playing around with different I’ve often been asked what I think makes a great dishes, trying out new passions – from his cooking restaurant. My answer is always the various classes to Sunday dim sum. One of my favorite techniques a chef uses in his/her dishes. If the drinks there is Buddha’s palm. menu is full of simple executions, say fried or grilled meats or something as simple as marinated For a fresh-from-the-garden experience, I would olives, then I’d say those places need to step up say 29 South is the place to visit. Chef Scott their culinary game. Schwartz removed his parking lot to put in a garden. On my visit there, I had the pleasure of Some Jacksonville area restaurants that you trying his Pulled Pork Spring Roll, Fried Green should try this month include Blue Bamboo, This Tomato Short Stack, Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop Chick Can Cook, 13 Gypsies, Las Antillas and 29 and Fried Peach Pie. South. I wish that some of our local chefs would raise Chef Howard at 13 Gypsies creates explosive their game. Just because we’re in the South, flavors from scratch every single time. If you are doesn’t mean every restaurant has to overcharge looking for a quaint place to enjoy some amazing for shrimp and grits. There’s a lot more to flavors, I highly recommend this place. It is small southern cuisine than the staple of dishes you and intimate so I suggest making reservations. grew up eating. As a chef, you should strive to What i am impressed with is that he has no walk in evolve not just outside the kitchen, but inside, as or freezer, everything is made from scratch except well. In 2016, can we please raise the bar pass my the water. height? Chefs Dennis Chan and Jerry Watterson first brought La Antillas to my attention. And with a Puerto Rican background, I was left with little choice; I had to check the place out. The powerful aromas on my very first visit brought back memories of my childhood, the aromas coming from the pots of my mom and grandmother. Standing on a chair watching and helping make
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It never ceases to amaze me how quickly folks come up with food trucks, slap a name on them and try to convince the public that they have good food. For that reason, I’ve not tried many of the food trucks around Jacksonville. Having said that, one of my favorites is Chef Ashley’s Fusion Food Truck. Every time I approach her food truck there are always a line and a symphony of flavors
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flavors coming from her truck. I can always count on a depth of flavors in every bite. Even the juices that flow over and in her dishes will make it worth standing in line. One of the reasons I moved back to my hometown was to help move the food scene to another level – helping educate foodies on how to have that great culinary experience and how to recognize which chef will deliver on that experience. I am really blown away by how often folks in Jacksonville host dinners at restaurants with some of the city’s best chefs and then put a short leash on the chef. As a result, these bloggers and hosts completely miss the point on what it means to have a true chef experience. These chefs should not have a cap on their talents. Now that I am changing my eating habits, one of my favorite places to be inspired is visiting Chef Rosaria Anderson. She always have a fun and creative way of putting her heart into produce from local farmers. She makes it worth the drive to the beach. from her amazing salads, gluten free creations, to her depth of knowledge of eating healthy. my last visit I had the opportunity to try gluten free biscuits with vegan butter and washed it down with some kombucha tea. Till next month, I will see you in The Southern Passion Lounge every Monday at noon.
As always Have A Bumpin’ Good Time www.blogtalkradio.com/chefamadeus