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South African Court Rules Religion Is Not A Reason For Homophobic Speech My Challenge Lesbian Couple Fights Trump To Foster A Child
Laverne Cox Says ‘Immigration Is An LGBTQ Issue’
Start Your Engines ‘Drag Race Canada’ Family of Four’s Accidental Pride Flight Madonna Closes Out Pride Island With Powerful Nod to Stonewall
Jacksonville’s Taste Our Best Awards 2019 LGBTQ Victory Fund Endorses Buttigieg
Nivea Dropped By Big Advertising Agency Over Anti-Gay Comment
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As well as making comments comparing LGBT people to pedophiles, South African Court Rules Religion Is Not A Reason Bougardt was also recorded For Homophobic Speech By Jess Glass as blaming recent A South African court has ruled droughts in Cape Town on against a pastor who tried to “wickedness and justify anti-gay hate speech homosexuality and church with his religious beliefs. leaders who fail to preach the Bible and sodomite Prominent pastor Oscar Bougardt was recently found in abomination.” contempt of court for making Writing on Twitter shortly anti-gay comments on social before his appearance in court, media by South Africa’s Bougardt said that his “only Equality Court. crime was preaching the bible.” The South African Human However, Judge Lee Bozalek Rights Commission began a later ruled that even if his complaint against the pastor in comments had a religious ba2013 following a series of sis, they were clearly allegedly anti-gay comments discriminatory and a violation of he had made against lesbian the earlier settlement. and gay people on social The South African Human media and via email. Rights Commission had Bougardt had originally requested that Bougardt spend reached a settlement with the a month in prison, and be fined Commission in 2014 and stated half a million South African that he would stop making Rand, the equivalent of hateful comments about LGBT $32557. people. Oscar Bougardt, a pastor with However, according to News the Cavalry Hope Ministries, 24, the pastor continued, even had previously claimed on his at one point advocating for the Facebook page that disgraced criminalization of homosexuali- Paralympian Oscar Pistorius ty in South Africa, saying that was “cursed for openly the country should “deal with supporting homosexuals.” them like they do in Nigeria.” Bougardt posted on Facebook The commission then brought in 2013: “I believe that Oscar the case to the Equality Pistorius is cursed for openly Court, claiming that the supporting homosexuals. pastor’s comments were According to the Holy Word of violating the South African God, homosexuality is an Equality Act. abomination to God, and any 06 www.cityxtramagazine.com
person who supports homosexuals are doomed for hell.” He later removed the comments, but told the Cape Times: “I will continue to make statements until I die. Someone needs to speak out about their filthy lifestyles.” “One of the reasons I removed it was because homosexuals have been harassing me, screaming at me and verbally abusing me,” he added. “It’s not because I’ve changed my stance on what I said. I feel it’s a truthful comment.” South Africa may have been one of the first countries in the world to introduce LGBT rights into its constitution, the nation holds a complicated relationship with its LGBT community.
In 2017, a surge of anti-LGBT violence shook the nation, with multiple brutal crimes being reported within a space of a few months. While one couple were ‘abused and told to stay naked by police’ in a horrific viral video, a South African church has been accused of beating gay men half to death and forcing them to pay for ‘damages’ after they realized his sexuality. And one of the most horrific hate crimes of all time saw married lesbian couple Joey and Anisha van Niekerk beaten, tortured, raped and then set alight, resulting in the loss of their lives in a devastating case that has shaken the country.
STD & Oral HIV Testing Every Second Tuesday of Each Month By The AIDS Healthcare Foundation
centered bigot I was. The things that I had said, the attitudes they My Challenge reflected and By Brian Gaither the ways I In an opinion piece titled had behaved are still used to “Challenging My Own Bigotry,” stigmatize gay men who are Brian Gaither, an HIVHIV positive. negative gay man and I was 25 years old the first cofounder of the Pride time a friend disclosed his HIV Foundation of Maryland, -positive status to me. He got confronts his past behavior. tested. He was dealing with it. When presidential candidate Unlike my friend, I was not Pete Buttigieg told the dealing with it. I felt I’d failed, assembled donors of the somehow, to keep the disease LGBTQ Victory Fund that he’d at bay. I panicked; I got struggled with his sexuality so tested. viscerally he wanted to cut it Not long after, I was dating a out of himself, I didn’t man who was smart, engaging understand. and great in bed. We saw I’ve never been that conflicted each other off and on for a few about being gay, certainly not months. Then he went silent in a way that caused me such on me. Many months later I deep emotional pain. But in got a call back. He was sorry his comments, I recognized he’d been out of touch. He’d something I do know. We gay explain. I knew what he was men who are HIV negative going to say. When we very often feel that way about stopped seeing each other, it our brethren who are HIV pos- wasn’t because of his status. itive. We treat them, We’ve been friends for the collectively, as something we many years since, and I’m would cut away from grateful for a relationship that ourselves if we could. has forced me to constantly challenge my bigotry. From the time I became sexually active in college until Spending time with him has shown me that HIV isn’t many years later, I lived in total fear of HIV. I didn’t want something I should want to avoid. Gay men will always be it to be any part of my life. I part of my life, and some of wanted to live in a world of them will be positive. There’s gay men who were HIV nothing about the virus that negative because gay men with HIV were a threat to “the makes them any less engaging, smart or great in rest of us.” Eventually, I became aware of what a self- bed. Since then, I’ve had a number 08 www.cityxtramagazine.com
of relationships with HIVpositive men. Each of them has begun, more or less, the same way. After about three or four dates, there’s a pause, then a sigh. “I have to tell you something first.” I’d like to think I’ve gotten better with my responses. I recognize the hatefulness I once spread and the damage I caused. I’ve seen it in the eyes of men I’ve dated when they shared their status. I’ve sensed it in the anxiety of the moment just before they told me. I’ve also heard it in the voices of friends as they recounted stories of being cast aside after coming out as HIV positive. Every time a friend says he genuinely believed that “this guy would be different,” I know that his pain is a misery I, another gay man, have inflicted on him. But we should all know better. HIV is a part of our lives because gay men who are HIV positive are part of our lives. They are our friends, and medical science— including (PrEP) and the message of Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, or U=U—has made it easy for us all to be lovers. We continue to discriminate only because we choose to be ignorant. We owe it to one another to fight the general bigotry against HIV-positive men that persists in gay culture and to accept that each and every one of us could be with a man who makes us happy— regardless of his status.
message from Miracle Hill claiming the agency “would not be a good fit to assist you in your quest … to become Lesbian Couple Fights foster parents,” Trump To Foster A Child citing its evanBy Jennie Williamson gelical beliefs. One year during the holidays, Miracle Hill did offer the couple Eden Rogers and Brandy a consolation prize, however. It Welch sat down with their invited them to volunteer in its daughters and drafted a list of thrift store. all the things that they are or they strive to be. Every once in While the refusal letter a while, they go over that joint specifically cited their regular attendance at a local Unitarian mission statement, Rogers says, as an encouragement to Universalist church as reason for the denial, it also cited a “keep us in check.” doctrinal statement that all “We are grateful,” the mantra couples must sign if they want goes. “We are peaceful. We to foster or adopt at Miracle are loving. We are generous. Hill. The declaration proclaims We are kind. We are helpful. that “God’s design for marriage We will treat all living things is the legal joining of one man with respect. We can go and one woman in a life-long through all of our days with covenant relationship.” mindfulness. We love our That proclamation, which family.” includes language declaring Living that mantra has become that people are either born more challenging, however, “male or female,” is currently after Rogers and Welch were available on Miracle Hill’s turned away from an adoption website. According to the and foster care center because couple, it was uploaded online they didn’t meet the agency’s after they were turned away. religious criteria. In April, the couple submitted an application “Once we were denied, they to foster a child with Miracle Hill went and changed things to Ministries in their home city of very clearly exclude families like ours,” said Rogers. Greenville, South Carolina. Having recently moved into a To ensure other South Carolina larger house, they figured their families aren’t turned away in family could accommodate one the name of faith, Rogers and more. Welch are taking the matter to court. In May, the couple filed a But within a matter of weeks, lawsuit challenging a waiver Rogers and Welch received a granted by the Department of 10 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Health and Human Services (HHS) in January 2018. It allowed Miracle Hill to circumvent Obama-era policies banning agencies from refusing placement to same-sex couples if they receive state or federal funding. Miracle Hill was awarded $600,000 in funding from the South Carolina Department of Social Services during the previous fiscal year. According to the couple’s attorney, Currey Cook of the LGBTQ legal advocacy group Lambda Legal, the religious exemption issued by HHS violates the Equal Protection Clause and the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The latter prevents the “entanglement of religion in the context of government services.” Those documents grant Welch and Rogers the right to be “treated equally when trying to access government-funded programs,” as Cook explains. “There really shouldn’t be any reason that any child welfare system is letting a contract agency use non-objective criteria that’s not related to a person’s ability to parent,” he
stated to NewNowNext. “If we were to have a state contractor take a parent’s kids away and suddenly say, ‘Well, you need to be X religion, or we’re not giving you your kids back,’ no one—absolutely no one— would think that that would be okay.”
agency of its kind in South Carolina, responsible for placing more than 400 children in foster care in 2017 alone. Its advertisements are ubiquitous throughout Greenville. There’s even a billboard right down the road from the Rogers and Welch’s home, which they have to drive past to get to work The case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the every day. District of South Carolina, “The sign says, ‘Foster with where plaintiffs await a Miracle Hill,’” Welch says. “It response from HHS, the South doesn’t say, ‘Foster with Carolina Department of Social Miracle Hill if you’re a Christian Services, and South Carolina and you go to a Christian Gov. Henry McMaster. All are church.’” named as defendants in the The couple and their attorney lawsuit. believe the law on their side Cook expects the defendants following a series of positive to file a motion to dismiss the court decisions. In April, the case. Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that While South Carolina’s DSS has declined to offer comment the city of Philadelphia has the right to refuse a contract to to media, representatives for Catholic Charities for violating McMaster have pointed to his its nondiscrimination law by earlier remarks on religious refusing to work with same-sex exemptions for adoption and couples. The U.S. Supreme foster care agencies. The Court has declined to intervene Republican governor, who applied for the waiver on behalf in that case. of Miracle Hill in March 2018, Meanwhile, U.S. District Court claimed it “protects minors who for the District of Columbia are in need of as many options recently rejected a motion from as HHS to dismiss a case possible for being placed in involving a lesbian couple who loving foster families.” were refused a license to foster refugee children. A Catholic But critics say the waiver only Charities agency in Fort Worth, reduces the likelihood that children in adoption and foster Texas told Bryn Esplin and Fatma Marouf they do not care will find loving homes. According to a 2017 report, the “mirror the holy family.” state of South Carolina needs While that case has not yet to recruit 1,300 more foster gone to trial, the memorandum parents to meet current from U.S. District Judge Amit demand. Mehta gives Rogers and Welch reason for optimism. Miracle Hill is the largest adoption and foster care “Surely, the government would
not take this position if, say, Plaintiffs here were excluded from fostering a child based on their gender … national origin … or religious faith,” he wrote, as The Daily Beast originally reported. “The Federal Defendants wish to avoid the responsibility that comes with being good stewards of federal funds. They cannot do so.” As the couple awaits further consideration of their case, they hope they have the opportunity to one day show a foster child what love looks like. When the couple met 10 years ago, Rogers was raising her younger sister, who is now off at college. What initially attracted Rogers to her future wife, who was her next-door
neighbor at the time, was that they “already felt like a family” when they spent time together. After going from neighbors to best friends and then later spouses, they would go on to raise two more children together, daughters aged 7 and 10. Before their family began to coalesce bit by bit, Rogers says she never had the opportunity to experience love unconditionally. When asked what that means, Welch jumps in: “Loving someone no matter what they do, what they say, what they look like, or what decisions they make.” The couple believes that policies like those pushed by the Trump administration denies that to children who desperately need it. “Some of these children don’t have that,” Rogers says. “I think that it’s really important to be able to show them that family is not just about biology. We can create our own families, and we can love just as hard as biological families.”
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Laverne Cox Says ‘Immigration Is An LGBTQ Issue’ By Debbie Wilson
Trans actor Laverne Cox has spoken out about immigration in light of the tragic situation at the US-Mexico border, where migrants are being detained for seeking asylum. This week, Marriott International made a huge donation of $100,000 to Immigration Equality. Immigration Equality is an organization doing important work on behalf of LGBTI and HIV+ asylum seekers. Cox partnered with Marriott hotels for its #LoveTravels campaign. To her, the conversation about immigration as it relates to LGBTI rights is long overdue.
Black, Transparent, and Pose), trans women of color are still being killed at an alarming rate in America.
The Supreme Court is expected to release a decision about if the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people from discrimination based on gender identity. This comes as a number of states are continuing to release anti-LGBTI, especially anti-trans, policies. ‘It’s probably a reaction to [trans] visibility,’ Cox says of anti-trans laws and rhetoric.
‘It’s a reaction to the world changing because trans people have always been here — but we’re no longer in the margins. We are no longer relegated to exist just at nighttime and in the shadows. We have come into the light, and the world is trying ‘It’s such an emotional issue to figure out how to reconcile right now for the entire country us coming into the light, and because of what’s happening wanting and needing a job.’ at the border,’ Cox told The Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown Advocate. ‘Immigration is [also] also participated in Marriott’s an LGBTQ issue.’ #LoveTravels campaign. He ‘We are having a conversation spoke to The Advocate about about immigration now, but that his own LGBTI activism in is not divorced from LGBTQ Washington, DC. rights. That’s a global ‘I spend a lot of time on conversation. These [Capitol] Hill, and yes, I’m there conversations are all because I’m lobbying for intersecting. It’s all connected.’ certain policies. But it’s also Cox notes that while trans just to say, “Meet me. I’m a visibility has increased in Black man, I’m a gay man, I’m recent years (thanks in part to a father. Understand what my shows like Orange Is The New experience is like,”’ he said. ‘When you think about 14 www.cityxtramagazine.com
immigration you don’t think about the intersection of LGBTQIA people. People think of heterosexual families — mama and father and children. But within those families are LGBTQIA people, and not only are they fearing for there lives because they’re asylumseekers, but there’s this added level of “When I do find safety, am I still going to be safe if I live my truth?” Having campaigns like #LoveTravels helps that conversation because it helps you realize it’s not just families [seeking asylum],’ Brown continued. ‘It’s people who are traveling this world who need love and we need to give it to them.’ For Cox, corporate responsibility plays a big role in ending discriminatory practices. ‘What corporate America can do is have policies, to continue to reach out to various communities and let the world know that discrimination is not OK in their organizations,’ she said. ‘We have philanthropy and we have the incredible work organizations like Marriott do year-round. But we need policies in place.’
Start Your Engines ‘Drag Race Canada’ By Julian Dean
RuPaul’s Drag Race already has regional versions for Thailand, South American and the U.K., but because Mama Ru won’t be happy until she achieves world domination, she’s apparently creating a Canadian version, and the guest judges better include Celine Dion, a hockey puck covered in maple syrup and moose made of poutine.
an executive producer along with WOW’s enton Bailey, Randy Barbato, and Tom Campbell).
It’s unclear who will host the show, but casting begins this summer and production will start in the fall. It’s also unclear when filming and airing will start. Blue Ant Studios’ Sam Sniderman said, “Canadian According to Entertainment drag is world class and we Weekly, Drag Race Canada could not be more excited to will feature 10 one-hour bring these artists and their episodes and air on the stories to Crave. We are thrilled Canadian networks Crave and to be working with WOW on OUTtv. It’s being produced in this legendary and conjunction with the Drag Race game-changing global format.” production company World of Perhaps this all happening Wonder (WOW) and Blue Ant because season 11’ of Studios, and it will not feature RuPaul’s Drag Race featured RuPaul as the main host the series’ first-ever Canadian (though RuPaul will serve as
contestant, Brooke Lynn Hytes, and the Canucks went wild, eh? Just kidding. It’s more likely that the North just wants in on the mega-lucrative Drag Race franchise and Mama Ru and WOW are striking before drag-fatigue inevitably sets in. But if you’re impatient for some foreign Drag Race action now, don’t fret. Drag Race UK will air on BBC 3 later this year, two seasons of Drag Race Thailand are already available online and so is one season of the South American Switch Drag Race. It features trans contestant Gia Gunn, and yes, she acts like a royal b*tch in it as well. (Very on-brand for her.)
Family of Four’s Accidental Pride Flight By Drew Joshlin
The straight couple and their two children were filmed joining in with celebrations on the Virgin Atlantic flight, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. In a video shared by Attitude, the two children are seen jumping up and down in their seats to Lady Gaga’s seminal hit ‘Born This Way.’ Attitude said that the “unsuspecting family” had “accidentally booked” onto the flight, tickets to which sold out within 24 hours. Fortunately, they embraced the fun and “absolutely committed to the madness,” the magazine added. Drag queens including Courtney Act and Jodie Harsh were on board along with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
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star Titus Burgess, who led the in-flight entertainment.
The highlight of Pride month, the march paid tribute to Sylvia X Factor winner Saara Alto Rivera and Marsha P Johnson, also performed for passengers the trans women of color who including Grammy-winning kickstarted the LGBT+ rights singer-songwriter MNEK and movement. trans activist Munroe Bergdorf. Richard Branson, founder of Harsh said there was just an Virgin and one-time owner of “incredible amount of positive the London LGBT+ nightclub energy” on the flight, and it was Heaven, said that he was “the ultimate party in the sky”. “proud to see Virgin Atlantic making history with the world’s Burgess added: “Let me be first ever Pride flight.” perfectly queer – the Virgin Pride flight was an event to “I strongly believe in making remember.” our businesses as inclusive Tree Sequoia, a veteran of the and welcoming as possible,” he wrote in a blog post. uprising who still works at the Stonewall Inn, was another “LGBT+ discrimination is not notable addition to the flight list. just bad from a human rights perspective, it’s also bad for Passengers disembarked at New York to join estimated four business. Open and inclusive societies are more competitive, million who had gathered for creative and innovative.” World Pride 2019.
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proud and honored to share this historical event with you. Fifty fucking Madonna Closes Out Pride Island With years. It’s insane. Are Powerful Nod to Stonewall you with By Michelle Warrington me?” Madonna reminded us all why Madonna also talked about she is the queen. how much the LGBTQ The “Dark Ballet” diva capped community means to her, and off an epic weekend of how queer people have always festivities and celebration as been there for her, even before the headliner for Sunday she was a global superstar: night’s Pride Island concert in Since I came to New York as a New York. According to wee-little girl, I have always Variety, she started off her been embraced by queer performance by speaking to the nation. I always felt like an crowd about why the outsider, but you made me feel celebration was happening in like an insider, like somebody. the first place: the 1969 So you must know how much I Stonewall Uprising. love and appreciate everyone “Fifty years, people,” she told here from the LGBTQ the crowd, which consisted community. mostly of shirtless men. “Fifty Madonna’s four-song set list years of freedom and fighting. consisted of two classic tracks, Fifty years of putting up with “Vogue” and “American Life,” discrimination, hatred and followed by a taste of what fans ignorance. Fifty years of not can expect of the upcoming bowing down to fear. I’m so
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Madame X tour, with live versions of her newest singles: “God Control” and “I Rise.” “The community called loud and clear for an appearance by Madonna at Pride Island for WorldPride and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. I’m thrilled to report that Madonna and WorldPride NYC delivered on that call,” said Chris Frederick, NYC Pride’s executive director, back in early June. “This is going to be a night that our Pride Island guests will remember for the rest of their lives.” And it looks like Madonna delivered on her promise.
restaurant makes for the perfect lunch spot any day of the week. And we have a feeling you Jacksonville’s Taste Our Best won't have a Awards 2019 single comBy David Vandygriff plaint about this place. Nestled right near the Everything on the menu is deliFlorida-Georgia state line, cious. From the Mayport Jacksonville pulls in a wide Shrimp and Anson Mills Grits to range of culinary influences. the Margherita flatbread and And considering it's the largest the Cajun Shrimp Pasta, every city in Florida, it is no surprise item is cooked to perfection. that Jacksonville houses some We consider North Beach of the best restaurants in the Bistro one of the best state. Did you know that in the restaurants in Jacksonville heart of downtown Jacksonville because of its large and varied alone, there are more than 50 menu. You can opt for smaller, restaurants? Some have been sharing plates and pick off in operation for decades, appetizers of crab cakes, others hit the scene only steamed mussels, and buffalo recently. And some of them wings. But if you want a full, qualify as the very best more fancy meal, you can get restaurants in Jacksonville, your own well sized entree of Florida. Porcini Dusted Salmon or Pan Seared Scallops. From Asian fusion to Spanish tapas to freshly caught seafood North Beach Bistro is a great dishes, there is a restaurant for go to spot for Sunday Brunch. everyone in Jacksonville. So if Seriously, their chicken and you plan on paying a visit to the Belgian waffles are superb. Sunshine State soon, be sure And have we mentioned the to check out these best Warm chocolate chip cookie restaurants in Jacksonville. skillet they have for dessert? Y-U-M. NORTH BEACH BISTRO North Beach Bistro prides itself 725 Atlantic Blvd #6, Atlantic in its elegant, old world vibe. Beach, FL 32233 The gorgeously vintage decor www.nbbistro.com and handcrafted ornate bar In the heart of complement one another to Atlantic Beach create a friendly, warm charm. you will find North The dimly lit dining room is Beach Bistro. classy but cozy. We have a This delicious feeling that North Beach Bistro seafood will become your go to happy hour spot every week. 22 www.cityxtramagazine.com
NOLA MOCA 333 N Laura St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 www.mocajacksonville.unf.edu/ nolamoca Every NOLA MOCA dish has a unique twist. Set in the city's landmark museum, MOCA Jacksonville, the restaurant serves seasonal entrĂŠes and "daily crafted versions of flatbread, pasta, soup, and desserts." Soup is not just soup at NOLA MOCA, and pasta is more than pasta. Here you will find creative menu options like sweet potato nachos, vegan paella, and the duck rueben. One reason we think NOLA MOCA is one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville is because they are always striving to present their own What's more, you will likely never eat the same thing twice twice at NOLA MOCA.
The menu changes with the season. There is always a daily fresh catch being served and a new flatbread on the special board. What's not to love about a little bit of variety?
seasonally to showcase ingredients at their peak flavor. For anything they can’t make in -house, they partner with purveyors who share our commitment to time-tested preparation techniques that let NOLA MOCA has a classy, airy the ingredients do the talking. vibe without seeming overly elegant. Its chic, modern decor Owners Jonathan Cobbs and Dwayne Beliakoff were inspired complements the uniquely by the idea of putting a twist on curated menu. Its bright and the idea of the classic contemporary ambiance reflects the art in the museum it sandwich shop. Their vision calls home. It's hard to dine in was to expand the essential components of a great NOLA MOCA and not feel at sandwich — cured meats, least a little bit cool. artisan cheeses, fresh THE BREAD & BOARD ingredients, and baked-in1030 Oak St Jacksonville, FL house bread— into a flexible www.thebreadandboard.com format akin to a charcuterie Think of The board. Hence, the name “The Bread & Board Bread & Board” was born. as equal parts GILBERT'S SOCIAL fun-loving 4021 Southside Blvd. #200, sandwich shop Jacksonville, FL 32216 and fine dining www.gilbertssocial.co kitchen. Gilbert's Social The Bread & Board is an serves up independently owned, fast Southern cookcasual restaurant located in ing with a twist. Jacksonville’s Five Points The restaurant neighborhood. We think of our focuses on restaurant as equal parts seasonal, fun-loving sandwich shop and modern Southern dishes with fine dining kitchen. By drawing influences from all over the inspiration from classic deli world. Take the homemade sandwiches and using applesauce with Chinese premium, house-made spices, for example. Or the ingredients, we deliver a dining loaded chicken and biscuit experience that is topped with pimento cheese, approachable and affordable. collard greens, and spiced Bread & Board proudly serves bourbon syrup. Not to mention sandwiches and sandwich the Southern "Ramen" with boards made with their pulled pork, jalapeno shrimp baked-in-house bread, as well cake, rice noodles, and toasted as fresh salads, made-frombenne seeds. Gilbert's unique scratch sides, and entrées menu is partially what makes it inspired by our travels around one of the best restaurants in the world. Options change Jacksonville, FL. And we're not
the only ones who think so. Head Chef Kenny Gilbert has served for the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Stedman Graham, Samuel L. Jackson and A.J. Calloway, to name a few. If you think Gilbert's dinner menu sounds good, then you're in for a treat with their desserts. Diners go nuts over the apple pie cobbler with rum raisin toffee sauce, bourbon chocolate pecan pie, guk banana pudding. Now try telling us your mouth isn't watering as we speak. The vibes are a little classier than grandma's kitchen, but not quite at a fancy level. Gilbert's brings on the casual ambiance with homey touches like the chalkboard art and kitschy kitchen decor. The neon sign by the bar and its orange-andblack color scheme is uniquely its own, just like the menu. River & Post 1000 Riverside Ave Jacksonville, FL www.riverandpost.com River & Post is a culinary driven restaurant in a warm, modern setting where we strive to captivate our guests with quality ingredients, impeccable service and memorable accommodations for any occasion. At the corner of Riverside Avenue & Post Street you'll find an exciting new restaurant www.cityxtramagazine.com 23
concept with a rooftop lounge overlooking downtown Jacksonville that offers a view straight down the gorgeous St. Johns River, past the neon glow of the stadium and on up to Dames Point. You'll enjoy an atmosphere like no other and a culinary experience that will make you, well, yell from the rooftops. With a restaurant perched high atop a prominent Riverside building, the team behind River & Post took a commanding view of Jacksonville’s landscape and entered the city’s culinary scene with a delectable seafood-forward menu and easily the best rooftop view in town. While the 450-seat restaurant offers great food, atmosphere and cocktails, the rooftop lounge offers some of the most unique cocktails in town that are handcrafted nightly for guests. MAPLE STREET BISCUIT COMPANY 1171 Edgewood Ave S, Jacksonville, FL 32205 www.maplestreetbiscuits.com The menu is rather selfexplanatory. At Maple Street Biscuit Company, you will find the best biscuits in town. Maple Street makes their biscuits fresh every day with artisan flour and real butter. They take pride in serving all natural, white meat chicken breasts; you will never taste a frozen chicken patty at Maple 24 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Street. What's more, their sausage gravy and mushroom gravy are both homemade, as are the jams and jellies. So if you're looking for authentic Southern comfort food, Maple Street is your go to place. Maple Street specializes in unique chicken biscuit sandwiches. Fan favorites include the Firebird, which is topped with homemade buffalo sauce, cheddar cheese, and homemade ranch. For something on the sweeter side, we suggest opting for the Biscuit French. This entree is served on French toast biscuits with pecans and cinnamon chips baked in and strawberries and whipped cream on top. You will feel like you're back home in grandma's kitchen the minute you step into Maple Street Biscuit Company. This cute little eatery is the perfect place to cozy up on a Sunday morning. The restaurant offers a casual vibe with comfortable booth, table, and bar seating. Its low hanging lights give off a warm, cozy glow. Maple Street Biscuit Company will quickly become your favorite breakfast spot during your time in Jacksonville. We guarantee it. INDIA'S RESTAURANT 9802 Baymeadows Rd, Ste 8 Jacksonville, FL 32256 www.indiasrestaurantja.wixsite. com/indiasrestaurant Good luck guessing what this restaurant serves! India's
Restaurant serves all the staples. On the menu you will find tandoori chicken, curry chicken, daal, naan, and all the chutneys the world has to offer. The restaurant believes that food is a celebration of life, and that traditional food are the essence of culture. Therefore, this family owned and operated restaurant is dedicated to serving nothing but the best and more authentic Indian food in all of Florida. No other place in town makes rice pudding like India's does. The sang pangeer is deliciously creamy while the naan bread is always fresh and warm. Not only is the food at India's Restaurant to die for, but the price is something you simple can't beat. You can order a very filling and satisfying meal for under $10 at India's. Which of course means you'll have plenty of room for dessert! Can we suggest the Gulab Jalum, AKA lightly fried milk dumplings in a flavorful sweetened syrup? You can tell the moment you enter India's that this restaurant is family owned. The minimal decor is accented with light Indian/Bollywood music playing in the background. Though India's is a very popular spot, the restaurant itself is usually rather quiet, even during lunch buffet hours. Therefore, the restaurant may put you off at first, but don't let the quiet vibe deceive you! The staff is made up of some of the kindest, most knowledgeable people you will meet. You will not find a better meal for a better price anywhere else in
town. And that's why we consider India's Restaurant one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville, FL. CARMINE’S PIE HOUSE 2677 Forbes Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204 www.carminespiehouse.com We can't compile a list of the best restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida without including at least one pizza place. And if you want the best pizza in town, then Carmine’s Pie House is the place to go. Carmine’s Pie House serves the most authentically Italian slices in all of Florida. The restaurant takes pride is serving authentic calzones & Chicago style deep dish pizza, which really all comes down to the sauce. But surprisingly enough, it isn't the pizza that customers even love the most. It's the chicken wings. Regulars of this restaurant go crazy for Carmine’s Pie House chicken wings, and after taking one bite of them you will understand why. That's why we suggest you get the best of both worlds and order yourself a chicken wing pie! You will return to Carmine’s Pie House for more than its food. The service there is the second draw that keeps people coming back for more. After just a few visits there you will likely meet the famous Beanie, who gives each and every customer the Royal Red-Carpet treatment they deserve.
It's a pizza joint. There are no frills and no expectations at Carmine’s Pie House. But that doesn't mean it's comparable to the likes of Papa John's or Dominos. Carmine’s Pie House has a cozy, community vibe to it. Murals by local artists on the wall accent the eclectic interior. Loud 80s hairband rock blares in the background. Even the menu is sassy! So feel free to wander over and grab yourself a brew to go along with your perfect pizza pie. CHOP HOUSE 13 & OAK BAR 11362 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223 www.chophouse.com Can you guess what this Jacksonville restaurant is known for? Chop House 13 and Oak Bar sets the standards for a well-cooked steak. Chop House 13 offers various cuts of black Angus beef, filet mignon, prime rib, and more. If red meat is not your forte, we recommend giving the Atlantic salmon or butternut squash risotto a go. If those options still don't suit your fancy, then you can't go wrong with the lobster tails, Colorado lamb chops, or the chicken breast Alfredo. And we of course suggest you try a specialty cocktail while you're there. After all, the restaurant is just as well known for its bar. You will find the sides are generous and as delicious as the entree. If you have room for dessert, the Creme
Brûlée is a must. The decor of Chop House 13 can feel dated to some, but it feels rustic and sophisticated to us. Its interior is decorated with deep woods, warm wallpapers, and an artful exposed brick. Overall, we think The Tree Steakhouse has an intimate, romantic vibe. This is one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville for a date night, or if you simply feel like dining on the finer side of life. MATTHEW'S RESTAURANT 2107 Hendricks Ave Jacksonville, FL 32206 www.matthewsrestaurant.com Set in the heart of historic San Marco, Matthew's Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville for fine-dining. Chef de Cuisine Chef Alex Yim uses the French technique to create "artfully plated classically-inspired French and Mediterranean dishes" made from farm to table ingredients and sustainable seafood. Main staples of the menu include the foie gras, soufflé, escargot and local fish Francaise. But one of the perks of Matthew's is the menu of French dishes and entrees rotates every season. Therefore you can come to Matthew's multiple times throughout the year and always be able to order something new. While you're there, be sure to take advantage of the wine list. www.cityxtramagazine.com 25
The polite, highly trained staff is extremely knowledgeable in wide and food pairings. And with a wine list as extensive as the one at Matthew's, it would be a shame not to sample a few glasses with your meal. Matthew's Restaurant has a self-named business casual dress code. But we think it's more on the business than casual side. The sleek and modern decor is partially what gives Matthew's away as a more up-scale dining spot. Though the trained and respectful service helps give Matthew's a more relaxed ambiance, this is still one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville to dine in for a special occasion or a night on the town.
BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT 1534 Oak Street Jacksonville, FL www.blacksheep5points.com The motto of this modern American restaurant is simple: "use fresh, local ingredients to create handcrafted food and cocktails, and deliver both with gracious service." Black Sheep Restaurant sources the majority of its ingredients from Florida and Georgia. Therefore the menu is full of Southern staples like fried green tomatoes topped with pickle relish and buttermilk ranch. But it also features plenty of locally 26 www.cityxtramagazine.com
caught seafood dishes, like the and smoke trout salad with sieved egg. Really, though, Black Sheep Restaurant takes influences from all over the South. Other fan favorites include the wild Georgia shrimp and grits and their famous New Orleans barbecue sauce. Black Sheep Restaurant has a self-named "fast casual" vibe. But we think it's a little more chic than casual. You can expect to see men in sports coats and women in high heels. Though dark jeans and a black top would also suffice. Black Sheep Restaurant is more upscale than Metro Diner, but certainly doesn't hit a black tie level. The dining room is adorned with dark wooden booths and a long, well-lit bar. Upstairs, the rooftop dining area features cement tables and a fire pit. Black Sheep Restaurant is a great go-to summer spot for night time hangs.
FRED COTTEN'S LANDMARK BBQ 1417 Main St N, Jacksonville, FL 32206 www.facebook.com/ bestbbqintown1 For 68 years, Jacksonville's oldest barbecue joint, Fred Cotten's, has served Brentwood locals and political figures alike. A 1984 Florida Times-Union article called Fred Cotten’s the place “where deals
and meals are made.” Mayor Jake Godbold often conducted business here, both for the City of Jacksonville and for his company, Gateway Chemicals. The menu includes barbecue sandwiches, plates and “family feasts” of ribs, chicken, pork, beef and sausage as well as seafood plates of fish, shrimp and oysters. Sides include french fries, BBQ beans, coleslaw, corn on the cob and other traditional orders. There's banana pudding and homemade pie for dessert. Some Friday’s you can catch in famous ‘Mouth of the South’ Karrissa Wade doing some bingo with the locals. KAIKA TEPPANYAKI ASIAN FUSION 1012-1 Margaret Street Jacksonville, FL www.kaikateppanyakijax.com Kaika Teppanyaki is a Teppanyaki Grill and Asian Fusion Restaurant in the heart of Jacksonville. The core of the menu is fish and all things seafood. So if you like sushi, this is the place for you. Kaika Teppanyaki's menu includes a variety of classic sushi rolls like shrimp tempura and the dragon roll. However they have many vegan options, as well, such as the sweet potato roll and the green cold maki. But if you're really hungry - and really love sushi - we advise you go for one of the signature rolls. May we suggest the King Roll?
It comes with crab meat, avocado, cucumber, eel, and more. But if sushi or sashimi don't suit your fancy, you can also choose from a noodle and rice bowl. There are many Asian fusion entree options to choose from. Kaika Teppanyaki's large menu is just another reason we consider this place one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. Its decor is dark, sleek, classy, and cool. And because Kaika Teppanyaki also serves hibachi, it has a sense of openness to it that welcomes in every customer. This is a great spot to go for something a little more than casual, but not too classy.
METRO DINER 4495 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32210 www.metrodiner.com Be honest. Sometimes all you need is a good old fashioned diner. And if it serves up comfort food with a touch of Southern flair, then it's even better. You will find all that and more at Metro Diner. Easily one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville, Metro Diner serves up fresh, hot, comfort food that will leave you coming
back for more. They are famous for their meatloaf (it even made an appearance of the Food Network) so that's a good place to start. But you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you have a hankering for something southern. then the Fried Chicken and Waffles of the Shrimp and Grits are for you. We suggest going there for breakfast. But if you happen to be at Metro Diner for dinner, then do us a favor and order the Cheddar Cornbread Waffle as an appetizer. And then the Chicken Pot Pie for dinner and something sweet for dessert. Did your stomach start grumbling all of the sudden too? It's a diner. Don't expect anything fancy. And that's what we love about it. Metro Diner offers classic roadside diner decor that welcomes in just about any customer. There are no frills and no expectations at this place. Come in as you are, order want you want, and enjoy yourself. At a place like this, you won't find that very hard to do
13 GYPSIES 887 Stockton Street Jacksonville, FL 32204 www.13gypsies.com 13 Gypsies is a restaurant firmly rooted in its Spanish
roots. Every morning at 13 Gypsies starts with baking bread from scratch. All of the best dishes at 13 Gypsies are homemade; they make their own sausage, cheese, cured meats, pickled vegetables, spice blends, and pastas. This is one of the best restaurants in Jacksonville to visit for groups who want to sample a little bit of everything. Their menu consists of delicious tapas, including risotto, fresh chorizo with sautĂŠed pears, and pan-seared cod. But you can't go to 13 Gypsies without ordering house-cured meats and cheeses. And if you are venturing to the restaurant during lunch, you will have a wide variety of sandwiches to choose from. Because 13 Gypsies is dedicated to keeping their menu as homemade and fresh as possible, they tend to run out of menu items throughout the day. Therefore the spot operates on a first come, first serve basis. So make sure to get there before all the good entrees are gone! 13 Gypsies is an eclectic, hip bistro in Riverside. The cozy and artfully cluttered vibe consists of just a handful of tables and a bunch of old photos covering the walls. This is a great spot to go for foodies who like to venture off the beaten track, or to try something a little less traditional. And while you are more than welcome to order beers, wine, or cider, we recommend going for the house-made sangria. www.cityxtramagazine.com 27
NORTH BEACH FISH CAMP the-beach vibes. North Beach 100 1st Street Neptune Beach, Fish Camp prides itself in its FL 32266 New England meets classic www.thenorthbeachfishcamp.com Florida style. From their exposed beams to the Obviously we gorgeous hardwood floors and are going to the large windows, you will find suggest a it's easy to feel comfortable seafood here. The overall vibe is open, restaurant (or relaxed, and welcoming. two) when recommending THE BEARDED PIG the best 1224 Kings Avenue, restaurants in Jacksonville, FL 32207 Jacksonville. And one of the www.beardedpigbbq.com best seafood restaurants we The can start off with is the North Bearded Beach Fish Camp. Since 2012 Pig is this restaurant has been hands serving up some of the most down the unique, delicious, and fresh best seafood entrees in town. The barbecue menu caters to all kinds of joint in diners. If you are more of a town. And fried fish foodie, then the fried that makes it one of the best clams with fish camp tartar restaurants in Jacksonville, sauce has your name written Florida. Located on the all over it. But if you want a Southbank of the St. John's more upscale dining Rive, The Bearded Pig takes experience, we recommend the pride in its cooking traditions of Grilled Salmon with the South. The menu includes Horseradish Hollandaise, barbecue staples. To start, we Broiled Seafood Platter with recommend ordering the Cod, Shrimp & Scallops, or the jalapeno poppers rib tenders, Daily Fresh Catch. or the loaded baked potato. One thing we love about North You can't go wrong with any of Beach Fish Camp is that they the pulled pork, brisket, or serve a new special every day. sausage sandwiches. But if So no part of the menu is ever you're really hungry, go for one lacking. The restaurant also of the platters. For $55.00 you has a wide range of cocktails, can order The Whole South beers, and wines to choose Bank. This comes with 1/2 rack from. ribs, 1/2 chicken, 1/2 of two The restaurant's decor offers a more meats of choice, and four sides. "contemporary, beach casual feel." Therefore it's as upscale And of course, you can't forget and classy as it can get while about dessert! So make sure to still maintaining those just-offsave some room for that banana pudding or the nutella 28 www.cityxtramagazine.com
brownie sundae. The Bearded Pig is a casual spot for friends and family to hang out, relax, and enjoy some good Southern cooking. The large covered patio is decorated with bright orange chairs and a bar. So feel free to pair a glass of beer or wine with your order. Overall, The Bearded Pig is a no-frills joint that offers casual vibes and good times.
HAMBURGER MARY’S 3333 Beach Blvd Jacksonville, FL www.hamburgermarys.com Mary believes in the old adage “You are what you eat,” so we serve only the freshest ingredients. And nothing beats a Hamburger Mary’s gourmet burger… always fresh and made-to-order with an assortment of fun toppings on a bakery-fresh bun, including the popular “Buffy the Burger Slayer,” “Queen Mary” and the one-pounder “Proud Mary.” Mary starts with fresh (never frozen!) all-natural beef for her half-pound burgers. But if you’re looking for something lighter or different, most locations also offer turkey burgers, homemade black bean patties, chicken breast and other substitutions. Of course, there is more to Hamburger Mary’s than just hamburgers… We offer a full lunch and dinner menu including our famous
homemade chili, soups made daily, a variety of garden-fresh salads, mouth-watering appetizers, substantial sandwiches, home-cooked entrees, and comforting desserts (featuring Deep-Fried Twinkies and Mary Tyler S’Mores!) There’s even a kid’s menu for Mary’s “Little Lambs,” and don’t forget about weekend “Mimosa Brunch!” Don’t think that the fun stops at the clever menu items and décor. Oh no, a trip to Hamburger Mary’s is all about the experience. And Mary knows how to entertain! Each location boasts a full service bar with dozens of tantalizing martinis and cocktails, wines and a specialized beer list. While each location is different, most have a patio for the warmer months and offer late-night entertainment such as MaryOke, HamBINGO, weekend DJs, and drag shows. For more information regarding events at a Hamburger Mary’s near you, click on the link to any Hamburger Mary’s location and browse weekly events and specials. We look forward to seeing you! LOLA’S BURRITO JOINT 1522 King St Jacksonville, FL www.lolasburritojoint.com Of course, Mom always said underpromise and over-deliver, so it could be a hell of a lot quicker. Ask the server “How’s’ the
kitchen runnin?”…. Separate checks take time… 1 minute per person/ per check is what you should plan for, so 10 people = 10 minutes… if you are on lunch, get your check early. We believe the menu is pretty unique. Their sauces are made with fresh ingredients. All proteins are cooked to order, so… that’s not going to be quick. Remember… Fast is not good and good isn’t fast! (Just ask Dr. Ruth). If we are slammed, lunches could be up to 30 minutes for food, dinners 35 to 40 minutes. Catch some movie & TV trivia on Thursday evenings. Oh don’t forget Taco Tuesday’s. Congratulations to all the wonderful restaurants that made Taste Our Best Awards 2019!
www.PFLAGJax.org
LGBTQ Victory Fund Endorses Buttigieg By Michael Williams
The LGBTQ Victory Fund, a major LGBTI political action committee in the US, has endorsed Pete Buttigieg for president. This is the first time the committee has endorsed any presidential candidate. The Victory Fund is a group dedicated to increasing the number of LGBTI public officials in the US. The group has stated it will only endorse LGBTI presidential candidates. President and CEO Annise Parker announced that the committee is backing Buttigieg at a WorldPride event in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday (28 June). Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has experienced a surge in popularity since starting his run for president. Recent polls have found Buttigieg polling at around third or fourth place in the field of Democratic candidates. He recently made history by becoming the first openly gay presidential candidate to participate in the presidential debates. 32 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Speaking to The Advocate, Parker maintained that the candidates the Victory Fund endorsed must prove that they are capable and qualified to run for the highest office in the land. ‘He has absolutely done that,’ she said. ‘He’s absolutely brilliant.’ Prior to becoming mayor of South Bend, Buttigieg had a successful business career. The 37-year-old is also a Rhodes Scholar and a military veteran. Parker also said that Buttigieg’s experience as the mayor of a mid-sized city could suit him well for higher office. ‘There is no better leadership training that being mayor of any size city,’ said Parker, who served three terms as mayor of Houston, Texas. ‘It’s intense, it’s day-to-day, it’s operational. ‘That same kind of clear-eyed pragmatism […] is what America’s longing for in a chief executive’. Buttigieg has recently been dealing with a crisis in South Bend after a white police officer shot and killed a black man.
The officer claimed that the victim, Eric Logan, had come at him with a knife. An investigation into the shooting is currently ongoing. Buttigieg has come under criticism for not doing enough for the black residents of South Bend in the past. His poll numbers among black voters are low to nonexistent. Buttigieg met with hostility from some black residents when he held a town-hall-style meeting to address local’s concerns in South Bend last weekend. One attendee shouted ‘We don’t trust you’ at the mayor. However, Parker said Buttigieg impressed her with his performance at the meeting, saying ‘he was strong’. She also praised Buttigieg’s performance in the recent presidential debates. ‘I thought he held his own,’ Parker said. ‘I frankly think that Kamala Harris won the night, but I was very proud of Pete’s performance.’ While Buttigieg is the first openly gay candidates be endorsed by the Victory Fund and partake in the presidential
debates, he is not the first openly gay candidate to run for president. The only other openly gay presidential candidate was Fred Karger, who ran as a Republican in the 2012 elections. Karger said that during his 2012 run he experienced widespread backlash and alienation from fellow Republicans because of his sexuality. He also said he was denied entry from participating in the debates despite respectable polling numbers. However, Buttigieg’s run has shown that in recent years there have been significant shifts in among American voter’s attitudes towards gay candidates.
Since starting his run as a virtual unknown, Buttigieg has recently polled alongside better-known presidential hopefuls, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Recent surveys have found that 70% of US voters would be willing to vote for a gay man for president. But while the polls found strong support for gay candidates, a large number of those polled also said they did not expect to see a gay person becoming president anytime soon. Buttigieg had the highest fundraising numbers for the past quarter beating Joe Biden.
Nivea Dropped By Big Advertising Agency Over Anti-Gay Comment By Jacob Massengill
Advertising agency FCB (Foote, Cone and Belding) is reportedly discontinuing it contract with Nivea after an alleged anti-gay comment.
together and come to respect the many difficult factors we had to carefully weigh to take this step.
According to Ad Age, Nivea allegedly rejected a pitch from the advertising agency featuring two men touching hands. A person on the personal care’s client team reportedly remarked ‘we don’t do gay at Nivea’ during a call with FCB. FCB then sent an internal memo to all staff announcing it’ll resign its global Nivea account when the contracts expire later this year. ‘There comes a point in every longterm relationship when you reflect on what you’ve accomplished together and set your sails for where your journey will take you next,’ Global CEO Carter Murray wrote in the memo. ‘Sometimes that journey ahead demands tough choices that lead down different paths.’
The memo does not address the alleged anti-gay comment.
He then added: ‘It is my hope that in reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve had with Nivea around the world and in your markets, you take pride in what we accomplished 34 www.cityxtramagazine.com
It is unclear when the alleged anti-gay comment occurred, but the internal memo came out in April.
personalities worldwide. ‘Through our products, we touch millions of consumers around the globe every day. We know and cherish that individuality and diversity in all regards brings inspiration and creativity to our society and to us as a company,’ the spokesperson said.
Nivea then issued a statement Nivea represents 1% of the responding to the allegations of FCB’s global revenue, according to the leaked memo. homophobia and addressing the discontinuation of the contract with FCB. A spokesperson for Beiersdorf AG (the owner of Nivea) told Campaign US: ‘We wish to express our concern on the reported allegations as they do not reflect the values of Beiersdorf, Nivea and our employees worldwide. ‘No form of discrimination, direct and indirect, is or will be tolerated. ‘We are strongly committed to diversity, mutual respect, equal opportunity and tolerance – this stance and belief is shared and lived throughout Beiersdorf. ‘We are an international company with more than 20,000 employees with very different genders, ethnicities, orientations, backgrounds and