content 06 08 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
Catholic Minister Fired for ‘Liking’ Friend’s Gay Marriage Post By Becky Walton
Publisher/Executive Editor David Vandygriff dvandygriff@cityxtramagazine.com
HIV-Poz Mother Donates Liver To Save Her Child’s Life By William Jacobs
Editor In Chief Harvey Carr hcarr@cityxtramagazine.com
This Is How To Tell If You’re In A Domestic Abusive Relationship By Henry Davison
Students Protest After Christian University Reinstates Ban On LGBT Relationships By Drew Williams Miss Gay America Deva Station on RPDR & How Drag Pageantry ‘Has Saved Lives’ By Jennifer Davis Hotel Chain To Stop Hosting Hate Groups By David Vandygriff
Laurie Metcalf Will Play Hillary Clinton In New Broadway Play By Drew Williams Travel Apps That Will Help You Stay Safe While Away From Home By David Vandygriff Hillary Clinton Lays Into ‘Racist, Sexist, Anti-LGBTQ’ President Trump By Michael Bennett River City Pride 2018 Events By David Vandygriff
night life
Boot Rack: 4751 Lenox Blvd. (904) 384-7090
Club Jax: 1939 Hendricks Ave. (904) 398-7451 www.clubjax.com
Park Place: 931 King St. (904) 389-6616
Hamburger Mary’s: 3333-1 Beach Blvd. (904) 551-2048
Mary’s Pub House: 901 King St (904) 361-3802 www.Facebook/com/ MarysPubHouseJax
Incahoots: 711 Edison Ave. (904) 353-6316
Metro: 859 Willow Branch Ave. (904) 388-7192 www.MetroJax.com
www.HamburgerMarys.com/JAX
www.Incahootsnightclub.com
04 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Director of Sales Carlos Martinez Sales@cityxtramagazine.com
Creative Designer Debbie Johnson djohnson@cityxtramagazine.com cityXtra Magazine is published by cityXtra Organization Inc . 2941 Plum Street Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 300-3320 www.cityxtramagazine.com Facebook/Twitter: cityxtra
National Advertising Sales Rivendell Media Monique Burton (908) 232-2021 Ext 200 monique@rivendellmedia.com
Catholic Minister Fired For ‘Liking’ Friend’s Gay Marriage Post By Becky Walton
A former Catholic minister from Cleveland has said his contract was terminated because he ‘liked’ a photo from a friend’s same-sex wedding on Facebook.
Keith Kozak, who was an outreach minister, also said that he was questioned by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland after he posted a number of photos on Facebook from the reception of another gay wedding he attended.
on Facebook and Twitter and that would like to talk to you about that,” he told News 5 Cleveland.
“It was a quick meeting. The very next day, I received a letter that said I was terminated.” Kozak added: “The church in Cleveland has just been very discriminatory in my opinion.” “It’s a wake-up call for me, it’s a wake-up call that I didn’t really realize the Catholic Church would act like this.”
Catholic priest was removed from his ministry after he was caught having sex with another male Catholic priest in a car. Kozak spoke out about the incident on Facebook. (Keith Ignatius Kozak/Facebook)
Diego Berrio, 39, was caught performing oral sex on Edwin Posting News 5 Cleveland’s Giraldo Cortes, 30, in a car story on Facebook, Kozak wrote: parked on Ocean Drive on The 39-year old, who is gay, but “I have always felt supported… Monday afternoon (September had not previously told his by my family and friends… and 3) by police. diocese about his sexuality, said even my church… until now.” he was called into a meeting with The pair were charged with lewd his supervisor and a member of The Catholic Diocese of and lascivious behavior, and staff from human resources over Cleveland has reportedly Cortes was also charged with his recent social media activity. released a statement saying it indecent exposure. does not comment on individual Kozak believes his diocese cases for employees being fired, In a statement, Blase J. Cupich, discriminated against him. (Keith but added that it was confident the archbishop of Chicago, said Ignatius Kozak/Facebook) the action taken against Kozak that Derrio had been removed was appropriate. from serving as a pastor at “They sat me down and they Misión San Juan Diego, a church said we had seen some things In September, a Chicago-based in the city’s suburbs.
06 www.cityxtramagazine.com
HIV-Positive Mother Donates Liver To Save Her Child's Life By William Jacobs
Faced with the only chance to save a child's life, doctors in South Africa have performed a medical first - transplanting part of the liver from a HIVpositive mother into her HIVnegative child.
and are in good health. After transplants, liver remaining in the donor is able to regenerate rapidly.
The mother, who is being successfully treated with antiretroviral (ART) The doctors at the University medication, had repeatedly of Witwatersrand in asked to donate her liver to Johannesburg revealed that save her child's life, posing a one year after the operation, major ethnical debate for the child may not have caught doctors due to the risk of HIV the virus from her new liver. transmission. The child had a terminal liver disease and would have died without the transplant.
"The transplant team faced the dilemma of saving the child's life whilst at the same time knowing that the child Medication given to the child might end up HIV positive," "may have prevented the the university added. "The transmission of HIV. However, actual chance of transmitting we will only know this HIV was unknown." conclusively over time," said Jean Botha, chief surgeon at South Africa has the university. the world's largest HIV treatment The team of doctors at the programme with 7.1 Wits Donald Gordon Medical million people living Centre performed what it said with HIV, a 18.9% was the first liver transplant adult prevalence from a mother living with HIV rate. to her HIV-negative child, who was close to death after About 3.7 million waiting six months for a donor. people in the country receive They said that the mother and treatment for HIV, child, who have not been so the use of HIVidentified, have fully recovered positive donors could help tackle 08 www.cityxtramagazine.com
the severe shortage of donors. In 2017, 14 children waiting for liver transplants in Johannesburg died before having the operation. "We hope that this ground-breaking operation will be the first of many like it and will contribute towards promoting justice and equity in liver transplantation," said June Fabian, research director at the university's medical Center. A paper detailing the case was published in the peer-reviewed AIDS medical journal.
Art Therapy Can Help LGBT Youth By Debi Dickson
The signs of domestic abuse aren’t always easy to identify. There are many different types of domestic abuse and a few different types of people can perpetrate it. These include an intimate partner, ex-partner or family member. The definition of domestic abuse classifies it as ‘any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behavior, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
kicking, strangling or throwing things at you, or using other forms of physical violence. Threaten to harm you or others that you love, including children and pets. Making unwanted advances or forcing you into unwanted sexual contact. Damage your possessions.
social media, checking where you are or stalking you. Financial control or taking control of your possessions. Threats made around your immigration status. Making threats to harm you or themselves if for instance you try to end the relationship or withdraw from family contact. Though some abusive or violent behavior might be more Destruction of possessions – obvious to identify, other forms for example medication, of abuse can be subtler but no clothing, documents. less serious. Some of the above abuse can also be culturally specific; for Domestic abuse: Warning example, forcing you into signs ‘The abuse can encompass, marriage, so-called ‘honor but is not limited to Some additional signs of being based violence’ and practices psychological, physical, sexual, in an abusive relationship can such as exorcisms. financial, emotional,’ it states. include the following: This can be all in an attempt to How do I know if I’m in an Using your identity and/or lack control, ‘cure’ or ‘correct’ your abusive relationship? of experience against you or sexuality or gender identity threatening to ‘out’ you as and/or avoid bringing ‘shame’ There is a difference from LGBT+. to your family or community. being in an unhealthy Threats or intimidation, relationship and an abusive including making unreasonable It’s never your fault if you are relationship. being abused, no matter what demands on you and anyone else may say! Signs that you are in an threatening you if you don’t abusive or violence situation comply. If an abusive incident or with your partner or family Isolating you from friends, altercation occurs, you can call member may include: family or community. 911 (in the US) or 999 (in the UK) and ask for the police or Using your gender or sexuality Name calling, abuse and put for the ambulance service. In as a basis for threats or harm. downs. Unreasonably monitoring your an emergency, this is what we Hitting, shoving, grabbing, day to day activities, including would recommend you do before contacting anyone else. 12 www.cityxtramagazine.com
and the original wording has been reinstated.” students Students Protest After Christian Now, are protesting University Reinstates Ban On against the LGBT Relationships university’s By Drew Williams statement in Students are protesting after an support of LGBT+ people Evangelical university in enrolled at APU. California, USA, reinstated a In one demonstration, on ban on LGBT+ romantic relationships between students Monday October 1, a video shows dozens of students on campus. singing in support of the In September, Azusa Pacific university’s LGBT+ community. University (APU) changed the language used in a standard of And, Brave Commons has made a number of posts on conduct agreement to allow Facebook, uploading photos of same-sex relationships, while students protesting the ban by still forbidding gay sex and same-sex marriage, according writing messages welcoming LGBT+ people in chalk and on to a report in student sticky notes across campus. newspaper Zu Media. In a statement posted on According to the paper, the Facebook on Tuesday change came about following (October 2), Brave Commons discussions between the unisaid: “LGBTQ+ folx and Allies versity’s underground LGBT+ spoke out at Azusa Pacific support group Haven, which University today, in light of the was supported by LGBT+ orrecently reinstated ban on ganization Brave Commons, romantic same-sex and APU’s administrative relationships. board. However, a statement sent out “Last night, they put sticky notes and chalk across campus on September 28 by APU’s board of trustees said that the to show that LGBTQ+ students should be welcomed and feel ban on LGBT+ relationships safe being visible. remained in place. “Today, they put faces to their “Last week, reports circulated demonstration, spending time about a change to the in worship and prayer, and undergraduate student standards of conduct,” it reads. showing what unified faith looks like. There is a holy rumbling happening, and we “That action concerning romanticized relationships was anticipate the Spirit’s work in Christian student communities never approved by the board across the country. 12 www.cityxtramagazine.com
“APU: Your students are leading; we implore you to follow. Students: We stand with you and amplify your call to administrations near and far.” And, in a Monday October 1 Facebook post, Brave Commons wrote: “Students at Azusa Pacific University are making their voices heard. Let’s celebrate these brave folx and allies who are peacefully demonstrating against the re-instatement of the LGBTQ+ romantic relationship ban and standing in solidarity with the students of Haven.” In 2013, it was reported that APU asked a professor to leave his role after he came out as a trans man. Other Christian universities have also been criticized for their ban on same-sex relationships, which in certain instances have led to the dismissal of LGBT+ students.
In September, a student was told he wouldn’t be able to re-enroll at Clarks Summit University, a private Christian college, to complete his degree because he is gay. And, in February, it was alleged that a Harvard University Christian group kicked out a Bible study leader because she is bisexual.
inception, in fact, RuPaul was only 12. Is Miss Gay America still thriving in the Miss Gay America Deva Station On age of RPDR? Deva Stations RPDR And How Drag Pageantry ‘Has Saved Lives’ explained the By Jennifer Davis two have more in common than you might think. Nearly 50 contestants will compete in the latest edition of ‘Many of the biggest stars to Miss Gay America, taking place appear on RuPaul’s Drag Race are pageant queens, several of on 3-6 October in St. Louis which are former Miss Gay Missouri. America titleholders,’ she said. A flamboyant, provocative Miss ‘In fact, many return after their America for female impersonators, the pageant is stint on Drag Race, to compete in Miss Gay America. This one of the oldest in the US. year, we have Alexis Mateo, The current titleholder is Deva who appeared on RPDR3, Station, all the way from competing next week as Miss Columbus, Ohio. Crowned last Gay Florida America 2018.’ year in New Orleans, the ‘Drag Race, like Miss Gay queen explained why the America, follows the traditional pageant still resonates with pageant model. Both have people in 2018. contestants, judges, completion ‘Miss Gay America remains categories, and a crowned extremely relevant for many winner substantial prize reasons, not the least of which package. This year’s Miss Gay is its 47th year legacy of America prize package is excellence in the art of female valued at over $50,000,’ she impersonation,’ she said. also said. ‘Since its inception in 1972, Furthermore, Deva Station over 10,000 men have highlighted how the drag competed for the Miss Gay pageant isn’t just a contest. America crown.’ ‘Drag pageantry is also And a woman. Lady Gaga was relevant due to the long history crowned as the first Honorary of drag in the gay community,’ Miss Gay America in 2017. she said. She’s ‘the first without a penis,’ ‘From spearheading civil rights as the organizers put it. protests, leading parades, and Miss Gay America was there chairing charity fund-raisers, to when RuPaul’s Drag Race providing entertainment for the wasn’t even in the works. At community from within the the time of its community.’ 16 www.cityxtramagazine.com
In the 70s, the pageant provided a beam of hope to many who loved performing in drag when it wasn’t as widely accepted as it is today. ‘Pageantry is also relevant on a deeply personal level for the contestants, many of whom have been rejected by their families, struggled with depression, and been victims of hate crimes,’ she said. ‘It has saved lives. As a surrogate family, a “sisterhood”, pageant communities provide support, friendship, self-esteem and professional skills such as time management, attention to detail, that not only make contestants successful entertainers but carry over to and enhance their lives out-ofdrag.’
siveness are ‘deeply personal to me’. He also clarified that groups like Hotel Chain To Stop Hosting Hate Groups the By David Vandygriff anti-Muslim one in Hyatt Hotels has announced Virginia are an ‘infrequent’ they will no longer host hate form of business for Hyatt. groups in their spaces. Hyatt employees also The decision comes after one received a memo the same of their hotels in Virginia day announcing the new hosted an annual conference policy change. for an anti-Muslim group. Hoplamazian and other travel At the Skift Global Forum in CEOs met with Donald Trump New York City on Thursday earlier in September to (27 September), CEO Mark discuss the United States’ Hoplamazian announced the policy as a welcoming country decision. for travelers. ‘If a group is primarily focused ‘The purpose of the visit was on disparaging a group by to focus on things that we’re virtue of their identity…that’s trying to promote as an really where we need to draw industry,’ he explained. the line,’ he said. ‘We talked about extending a Hoplamazian also added that message of warm welcome to traits like empathy and inclu- the rest of the world which we
feel is critical. Our pitch is that that’s actually most effective when it comes from the top. We didn’t get any commitments on that but we think we made our case.’ Since Trump took office, people coming to the US have face significant problems, from the Muslim ban to separating families at the border. Hoplamazian added they also discussed the visa waiver program with the President.
STD & Oral HIV Testing Every Second Tuesday of Each Month By The AIDS Healthcare Foundation
18 www.cityxtramagazine.com
www.cityxtramagazine.com 17
Laurie Metcalf Will Play Hillary Clinton in New Broadway Play By Drew Williams
state of New Hampshire That sound you just heard was during the early days of 2008, a every theater queen gasping as former First Lady named Hillary they clutched their faded I’m (Metcalf) is in a desperate bid With Her t-shirt. to save her troubled campaign In today’s big Broadway news, for President of the United States,” reads the description. it was announced that Laurie “Her husband, Bill (Lithgow), Metcalf will be playing Hillary sees things one way; her camClinton in a new play, Hillary paign manager, Mark, sees and Clinton, from playwright things another. If any of this Lucas Hnath, who wrote A sounds familiar, don’t be Doll’s House, Part 2. fooled; in a universe of infinite It was also announced that possibilities, anything that can John Lithgow will play Hillary’s happen, will.” husband, former President Bill Joe Mantello, who last directed Clinton. The Boys in the Band revival “Behind closed doors in the this past summer, will helm the
24 www.cityxtramagazine.com
new production. He also directed Metcalf in Three Tall Women, which earned her a second Tony. Hillary and Clinton will also be produced by Scott Rudin. We know Hillary and Bill are big theater fans, will they come see themselves brought to life onstage? Hillary and Clinton begins previews March 16, 2019, with an official opening night set for Thursday, April 18. The Broadway venue has yet to be announced, but we are all ready set to camp out for tickets.
LGBTQ Travel Apps That Will Help You Stay Safe While Away from Home By David Vandygriff
According to CMI’s 22nd Annual LGBTQ Tourism & Hospitality Survey, LGBTQ travelers take an average of 3.2 vacations per year (not to mention an additional 3.7 trips for business or family.) Impressively, 77% of the LGBTQ respondents report owning valid passports (compared to an estimated 36% of the general population, according to the U.S. State Department.) And, of those LGBTQ passport holders, 53% have traveled abroad within the previous 12 months. However, it isn’t all smooth sailing for LGBTQ travelers. Especially when heading to a foreign country, CMI Survey respondents expressed anxiety over local anti-LGBTQ laws (66%), their personal safety due to sexuality or gender expression (64%), as well as the destination’s overall political environment (59%). Around 6% of those surveyed reported experiencing a negative travel incident directly because of their sexuality. That number jumps to 16% for members of the gender expansive community. When planning a trip, the best 22 www.cityxtramagazine.com
course of action for queer travelers to take is to research the intended destination thoroughly before departure. The U.S. State Department, and IGLTA.org websites are excellent resources for that.
the “likelihood of harm or discrimination against LGBTQ persons or groups” as well as the level of precaution those travelers should expect to take. With this information, queer Once on the ground, however, travelers can now access up-to LGBTQ travelers should rely on -the-minute safety ratings of apps that offer dynamic, over 30,000 neighborhoods location-based information. For worldwide. (Ratings range from instance, members of the 1 to 100, with 1 being the social dating app Scruff can safest.) use the “Venture” tab to connect with locals and other Based on the data, GeoSure travelers before they arrive. has determined the five safest Once a traveler has arrived in a urban neighborhoods for location where homosexuality LGBTQ travelers to be: remains criminalized, the app will also send push 1) Amsterdam’s Centrum notifications, safety alerts, and neighborhood (Score: 17) relevant information on local 2) The Castro District in San laws. Francisco (24) 3) Berlin’s GeoSure, a company that Schönebergneighborhood (24) provides hyper-local, real-time 4) Barcelona’s Eixample safety information for travelers, neighborhood (30) recently added the first-ever 5) Tel Aviv’s City Center / neighborhood-level LGBTQ Florentin neighborhood (31) safety ratings to its smartphone app. GeoSure combines national, citywide, and neighborhood crime statistics; health, economic, and political data; travel alerts; real-time reports; mapping technologies; and much more to determine
Hillary Clinton Lays Into ‘Racist, Sexist, Anti-LGBTQ’ President Trump By Michael Bennett
Hillary Clinton has described President Trump as “racist, sexist and anti-LGBTQ.”
remains one of the most troubling episodes in this Presidency.”
The former Democratic Presidential candidate tore into her 2016 opponent in an interview with The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic Festival on Tuesday (October 2).
Goldberg asked about Trump’s exploitation of the far-right, adding: “When do you become a racist yourself, if you’re taking advantage of racism to advance your own personal goals?”
In the interview, Clinton hit out at the leader’s response to the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. She said: “I think he has thrown his lot in with many people and groups whose stated objective is white nationalism, white supremacy. How can you explain what he did and why after Charlottesville? “We need a president at moments like that, regardless of party. And we’ve seen it, with what George W. Bush did after 9/11, when he went to a mosque, a gathering place for American Muslims, in order to say, ‘We’re not at war with you, we’re at war with those people who plotted and planned to drive those airplanes into the World Trade Center.’ “That’s not what we got after Charlottesville, and that
Clinton responded: “What he’s doing is broader, even, than that. He’s been racist, he’s been sexist, he’s been Islamophobic, he’s been anti-LGBTQ. There’s a long list. “He has a view of America that is incredibly constricted. He talks to that America, he talks to them all the time. “It’s by no means a majority, as we know, but it is a very hard core who are responding to him and supporting him for a variety of reasons, whatever they might be. Economic reasons, Supreme Court reasons, or some of these other more troubling biases and prejudices.” The Trump administration has come under fire for close links with anti-LGBT hate groups on the far-right. In September, Vice President
26 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Mike Pence attended the annual summit of a listed hate group, a year after Trump ignored warnings from LGBT+ groups to attend the same event. Hardline evangelical groups have had close ties with the White House under Trump, gaining unprecedented input over policy issues. The most rapid backslide on LGBT+ issues under the Trump administration has come from the Department of Justice, which has filed court briefs opposing LGBT+ antidiscrimination protections in employment and has intervened in favor of religious groups seeking a ‘license to discriminate’ against gay couples. Trump also attempted to unilaterally ban transgender troops from serving in the military and ended a visa program for same-sex partners of overseas diplomats. Clinton’s manifesto in 2016 detailed the most radical LGBT+ policy plan of any Presidential candidate in history.
26 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Join us in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Pride in Jacksonville!! Saturday October 6-7, 2018 www.RiverCityPride.org #PRIDE40RCP FB/Twitter: RiverCityPride Presenting Sponsor
River City Pride Parade 2018 Saturday October 6, 2018 Starts At 4:00p.m. Ends In 5 Points Block Party After Parade www.RiverCityPride.org
RIVER CITY PRIDE FESTIVAL 2018
This is the 40th Anniversary of Pride in Jacksonville and we are working hard to make this the biggest and best year yet. The festival includes live entertainment and dozens of local vendors including artists, businesses, and other non-profits as well as multiple food vendors. It also includes a Family Fun Zone with face painting, a rock wall and inflatables. All of this attracts thousands of attendees each year and it’s grown every year.
RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET 715 Riverside Ave Jacksonville, FL www.RiverCityPride.org