CX Magazine June 2014 by Jax Gay Magazine

Photography by Cedric Terrell

cityXtraMagazine.COM

CONTENTS VOL. 4, ISSUE 9

10 20

Miss Daisy Religious Corner

PROFILE 08

IN EVERY ISSUE

Gay Marriage vs Florida

DOWN TO BUSINESS 03 06 10 16 20

Content White Party Fundraiser Miss Daisy: Keep’em Honest Why Gay Men Suck At Dating Religious Corner: Gay Religion

COVER STORY 13

Gay Marriage: AG Pam Bondi

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE Religious Corner Miss Daisy Can’t wait for the next issue? Get a sneak preview. Subscribe to feeds on our website, cityXtraMagazine.com, and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Google+

cityXtraMagazine.COM

JACKSONVILLE Boot Rack: 4751 Lenox Blvd. (904) 384-7090 bootrack.com Bo’s Club: 201 5th Ave. N. (Jax Beach) (904) 246-9874 bosclub.com

Hamburger Mary’s: 3333-1 Beach Blvd. (904) 551-2048 hamburgermarys.com/jax Incahoots: 711 Edison Ave. (904) 353-6316 Park Place: 931 King St. (904) 389-6616 Metro: 859 Willow Branch Ave. (904) 388-7192 metrojax.com The Norm: 2952 Roosevelt (904) 384-9929

cityXtraMagazine.COM

nightlife

Club Jax: 1939 Hendricks Ave. (904) 398-7451 clubjax.com

cityXtra cityXtra Magazine Inc. Publisher: publisher@cityxtramagazine.com

FROM OUR READERS

Executive Editor: editor@cityxtramagazine.com

What our readers tell us

Creative Designer: info@cityxtramagazine.com

cityXtra readers occasionally write to us or make comments online about our website, print magazine, and e-edition. Here are the latest things they have to say:

Director of Sales: sales@cityxtramagazine.com cityXtra Magazine is published by cityXtra News Magazine Inc. 2941 Plum Street Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 388-1494 Jacksonville Office (321) 426-0296 Orlando Office www.cityxtramagazine.com

““Gret Cover”

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Dr. Harvey Carr, Christ Church of Peace Joey Amato, OUT Reach Public Relations Dr. Doug Massengill, University of Lola Chicago Sebastion Fortino, Project Manager

Contributing Writers David Vandygriff, Mamie Joshlin, Joey Amato, Sebastion Fortino, Dr. Harvey Carr, Atty. Gordon Nicol, Greg Henchar, Michael Smith

DEADLINE FOR May 1st ISSUE IS APRIL 20th

Got a great story to tell? We want to hear from you! We are always on the lookout for great candidates to profile for our Cover Story. Want to nominate yourself or someone you know let us know!

Comments or questions? cityXtra Magazine is published 12 times per year. Reprints are available. Contact of contributing advertisers does not reflect the opinions of the publisher. Advertisers have proofed respective articles, and content is assumed true and correct. cityXtra is not responsible for the business dealings of its advertisers. cityXtra is for information purposes only. cityXtra Magazine (TM). All rights reserved. The contents of this publication, including articles, may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Address changes should be submitted via e-mail to subscriptions@cityxtramagazine.com. Send story ideas and requests for article reprints to pubisher@cityxtramagazine.com or call 904.388.1494 Jacksonville Office or 321.426.0296 Orlando Office.

Do you have comments about articles you’ve read or want to read? Good or bad, we’d like to hear from you. You can comment on articles online, or send your thoughts to the editor at editor@cityxtramagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook to receive info on upcoming events and up-to-date news. Facebook: cityxtramag

cityXtraMagazine.COM

White Party PFLAG Scholarship Fundraiser

cityXtraMagazine.COM

Gay Marriage vs Florida: Suit Ask Court to Rule Ban Unconstitutional Written By: Jason Massengill

Virginia. MIAMI — Plaintiffs challenging Florida’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage asked a state court on Thursday to rule that the ban is unconstitutional. In their motion, the six same-sex couples and Equality Florida Institute argue that Florida’s ban on marriage equality violates the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the U.S. Constitution. The motion asserts that Florida’s marriage ban cannot stand in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling last June that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.

The couples, all from the South Florida area, filed their lawsuit in January in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. It is one of four lawsuits challenging Florida’s prohibition on same-sex marriage, and recognition of lawful same-sex marriages performed out-of-state. “The law should treat all families fairly. Florida’s marriage ban makes it harder for same-sex couples to take care of one another and protect their children,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida Institute.

“We are confident when we have our day in court Florida will stand with other courts The couples’ papers note that every court to across the country in concluding these laws consider these federal constitutional claims violate the basic principles of fairness and since last summer’s Supreme Court decision equality for all,” she said. has ruled in favor of the freedom to marry for The plaintiffs are represented by the same-sex couples, including federal courts National Center for Lesbian Rights. in Utah, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and

Plaintiffs (from left): Don Johnston and Jorge Isaias Diaz, Jeff and Todd Delmay, Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez and David Price, Vanessa and Melane Alenier, Summer Grace and Pamela Faerber. (Nit pictured: Catherina Pareta and Karla Arguello.) 8

cityXtraMagazine.COM

www.eddy4dist7.com cityXtraMagazine.COM

MISS DAISY: Keep’em Honest Written By: Miss Daisy

Oh hello all Xtra’s. We can say it’s been quite a month around the state of Florida. Seems this chick that wants to call herself a lawyer doesn’t know crap about LGBT. I have yet to figure out her game plan. What was once okay with the Attorney General Pam Bondi during her campaign is now not okay for the rest of the state. Once again the LGBT Community gets the royal shaft by yet another politician. One could understand if Pam Bondi argued the Gay Marriage Ban based on the popular vote. However, no Pam Bondi wants to say that gays do NOT have enduring and lasting relationships. Furthermore, she even descends to the past arguments of procreation. Jesus take the wheel before Miss Daisy takes a bat her cray cray ass. LOL Just who does this woman thinks she is. It is has been proven time and time again that LGBT are GREAT parents and many of us having long and enduring relationships. We are NOT asking for special treatment here. Simply we are asking for the same rights to enter into marriage just the same as any other citizen of Florida. Well enough of free press for yet another BIGOT in Florida politics. 10

cityXtraMagazine.COM

On a more positive note kudos to Neptune Beach, FL in passing protections for the city employees against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. We hope Mayor Brown takes the hint from Neptune Beach. FYI Lenny Curry has entered the Jacksonville Mayor’s race. A little bird is saying that Lenny Curry just may, key word boys and girls, MAY support LGBT rights. This should be interesting. Till next time peace, love and hair grease.

cityXtraMagazine.COM

GAY MARRIAGE: AG Pam Bondi Written By: David W. Vandygriff

What seems to be the normal Marriage and she refuses to in Florida continues. SAVE-THE-DATE July 2, 2014, Gay Marriage goes to court in Florida. The Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi has been making national news with her response to the Gay Marriage lawsuits filed in Florida.

At least this time the LGBT Community and John Stemberger, Florida Family Policy Council are in agreement that Pam Bondi is not the person for the Attorney Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office.

Bondi has attempted to back peddle in and try to just Not because of her attempt to simply ignore her statements defend the states gay in the brief to the court. marriage but her statements against LGBT relationships The ironic thing about Pam is and families. that she stated during her campaign that she had LGBT Bondi seemed to attack the friends that had adopt and LGBT families in her were in a loving & caring relationship. We wonder if she still thinks the same way now that she is in office. No matter her or the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stance on Gay Marriage 56% of Floridians now agree with Gay Marriage. response to the court. Making such statements that imply that LGBT does not have enduring and loving relationships. She even takes us back to arguments of procreation. WOW time warp in Florida. 12

cityXtraMagazine.COM

Judge Zabel rules to deny anti-gay groups the motion to intervene. Therefore, SAVETHE-DATE July 2, 2014 as the beginning to an end of discrimination in Florida. Many people have asked her personal belief on Gay

answer. Her two divorces and living with an individual prior to marriage definitely gives this lady no authority to defend marriage. Pam Bondi is no Ella Woods! However, Bondi could redeem herself by refusing to defend the state against Gay Marriage as other Attorney Generals have done across the nation. We are not going to hold our breath waiting. For up-to-date happenings on the Gay Marriage cased visit www.eqfl.org

cityXtraMagazine.COM

Why Gay Men Suck At Dating Written By: Jerry Plaza

The truth of the matter is gay dating has turned into an endless competition with ourselves and the people around us. So much so that we’ve forgotten what’s important. With endless voices reminding us what we’re missing, boyfriends have become the number one accessory of the 21st century. I’ve seen countless of gay guys The older we get in life the more obsessed with the idea of being in a relationship, yet so many of pressure we have in finding a them don’t actually want it when stable relationship. For single gay guys around the world, it can they find it. It’s the “idea” around it which makes them feel get personal real quick. With complete, not the practice. With every passing year, more and more people begin to look at us so many hot guys shaking their with judgmental assumptions as tails in the gayborhoods and on to why we haven’t found a man. TV, it’s quite easy to get distracted the minute another Certainly something must be enters our peripheral. Finding wrong with us. and settling down with a guy not only takes discipline, but a conscious decision – probably the most complex we’ll ever make. But if done right, it doesn’t seem like work at all. Access to information has made us more picky, jealous and snoopy than ever before. But regardless of the high-tech age we’re in, we’re still plain old human beings looking for someone to connect with. Most of the time, the only person that’s preventing us from achieving what we want is us. But here are a few problems I’ve discovered in the process: 16

cityXtraMagazine.COM



Gay Guys Are Boys Until They Turn 30  We Refuse To Sacrifice Anything  We’re Too Afraid Of Feeling Vulnerable  We’re Unclear Of Our Intentions  We’ve Become Nomadic  Money Rules Our Emotional Availability Hookup Apps Are Becoming The Norm The days of meeting people are now online. Anybody 18 or older most likely has some app with his nude pic floating somewhere in space.

cityXtraMagazine.COM

Religious Corner: Gay Religion Written By: Carlos Martinez

The rights of religious groups or individuals that object to same-sex marriage continue to clash with those pursued by gay rights advocates. Now, the fight that started at state ballot boxes and in courtrooms has moved to floral shops, bakeries and photo studios. As churches are concerned about the potential of facing lawsuits, some are changing their bylaws to explicitly reflect their views on traditional man-woman marriage. A bakery in Gresham, Ore., owned by a Christian family, under investigation by state officials for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple, decided to close its doors. “This fight is not over,” they wrote on a sign in the shop window. “We will continue to stand strong. Your Religious Freedom is becoming not Free anymore.” Last month, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that photographers could not refuse to shoot gay wedding ceremonies even though the state does not officially recognize gay marriage. The court ruled that declining to photograph a gay wedding was similar to declining to work at an interracial wedding, with Justice Richard Bosson saying, “There is a price, one that we all have to pay somewhere in our civic life.” Many of the legal skirmishes are not directly tied to federal recognition of gay marriages after the Supreme Court’s decision striking down most of the Defense of Marriage Act. Instead, the fights largely revolve around state and local anti-discrimination ordinances that include protections for gays and lesbians. Upcoming battles include whether religious opposition to same-sex marriage constitutes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender and/or marital status; and what happens when a discrimination claim bumps up against an individual’s or institution’s religious freedom. 20

cityXtraMagazine.COM

The Supreme Court’s decision against the Defense of Marriage Act applies to federal benefits, but many have been watching to see whether it holds further implications for religious groups or individuals. For instance, employers in states where gay marriage is legal are required to provide Family and Medical Leave Act leave to employers with same-sex spouses, even if their state doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage. Ahead of the court’s decision, the Becket Fund issued a brief on areas where religious freedom could be impacted by the DOMA ruling, outlining seven areas to watch:       

Public accommodation laws Housing discrimination laws Employment discrimination laws Government facilities access Maintaining licenses or accreditation Government grants and contracts qualifications and tax exemptions Educational and employment opportunities

cityXtraMagazine.COM

TICKETS @ www.comingoutjax.com