Agenda 033116 issue 332 by Multi-Media Platforms

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

March 24, 2016

2 /floridaagenda

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

/floridaagenda

SunShine State newS

nnnn

floridaagenda.com

MIAMI—Mark April 12, 2016 in red on your calendar. It’s the fundraising event of the spring season when Miami for Hillary takes place at the home of Tiffany and Alex Heckler in Miami Beach, Florida. The

/floridaagenda

HILLARY CLINTON COMES TO MIAMI price for admission to this private event is $2,700. A general election fundraiser will precede that event at the Hilton Downtown Miami (1601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132). Tickets for that event begin at $100.

Celebrity judges are Gary Santis, Elaine Lancaster, Dean Trantalis, Bill Cleaver and Troy Quast. Photographer Pompano Bill will receive the Making a Difference Award, while Styk bassist Chuck Panozzo will receive the Game Changer Icon Award. Each celebrity team will contribute $500.00 by filling a ten-seat table. Every penny of the tax-deductible donation will go to the Wirld Foundation.org. Additional VIP tickets are available at $40 each for a special 4 top-table seating on the nightclub floor and fans and admirers of the celebrity contestants can also purchase $10 general admission tickets to gain access to a prime balcony viewing spot! An opening cocktail reception, red carpet walk and silent auction will kick off the event from 6:308:00 pm. This years event will be hosted by event producer Tiffany Arieagus along with Bobby Blair and Shawn Palacious. For event sponsorship opportunities, contact Shawn Palacious at 786-317-7977 or email to: shawnpalacious@wirld.com nn March 31, 2016

“Dancing with the South Florida Stars” Returns April 25

Wirld.com announces “Dancing with the South Florida Stars,” Season 6, an annual fundraiser to support The Wirld Foundation.org (formally The Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation) is taking place on Monday, April 25, 2016. The tradition lives on as the LGBT community comes together for a great cause. The “who’s who” of our community, including business superstars, local leaders and South Florida entertainers will be on stage in the Epic Theatre at The Manor Complex, located at 2345 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. The current line-up of talent represents Boardwalk Bar (Champagne Bordeaux and Jason Allaman), Progress Bar (Albert Pierantoni and Louis Mendez), Rumors Bar (Mia Patryk and Kaio Nigro), Unite (Phillip Marshall and Rolly Villaverde), Hunters Bar (John Howe-Herrera and Natasha Ribas) Fast Printz (Alandra Matthews and Victor Flores), Wolfe Real Estate (Bob Young and Deja Devonier), World AIDS Museum (Ed Sparan and Ron Cox), plus Club One Athletics (Chase Brendle and Rianna Petrone).

March 24, 2016

4 /floridaagenda

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

/floridaagenda

SunShine State newS

nnnn

BY GARY RESNICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WILTON MANORS

supporting equality that Wilton Manors, Miami Beach, West Palm Beach, school boards, and local governments throughout the State have adopted to make lives better for everyone, could be overturned by a quick vote in our Legislature and signature by our Governor. Legislators do not need to dictate what bathrooms people use! We need to show that laws that discriminate will have adverse impacts. Economic impact influences legislation. We should demonstrate that NC’s law will not be without consequences. Let’s join San Francisco, NYC, and West Palm Beach and ban government paid travel to NC. With a well-respected School of Government at UNC, North Carolina hosts numerous seminars and conferences for government employees. We should also support the lawsuits against the State of North Carolina that are already planned by several organizations that fight discrimination. Also, friends and members of the LGBT community should avoid patronizing NC. Instead of Asheville, GA’s Blue Ridge mountains are great in summer and Fall! For nearly two decades, Wilton Manors has been in the forefront of fighting for civil rights for the LGBT community, locally, throughout Florida and across the US. As Mayor, I will continue to support efforts to repeal or overturn North Carolina’s institutionalized discrimination and to end discrimination against the LGBT community. nn March 31, 2016

or nearly two decades, Wilton Manors has been in the forefront of fighting for civil rights for the LGBT community, locally, throughout Florida and across the US. As Mayor, I will continue to support efforts to repeal or overturn North Carolina’s institutionalized discrimination and to end discrimination against the LGBT community. nn

pass similar laws institutionalizing discrimination against the LGBT community: Two states, TN and ARK, adopted laws that preempt local non-discrimination provisions. In February, South Dakota considered a bill mandating that persons use bathrooms tied to the sex on their birth certificates, but the Republican Governor vetoed it saying local lawmakers were better equipped to handle such issues. The so-called “Religious Liberty” bills considered by Indiana, Arizona and passed recently by the Georgia Legislature are really just forms of legalized discrimination. On March 28, Georgia’s Governor announced he was vetoing HB 757, stating that “Georgia is a welcoming State.” I am glad Governor Deal vetoed the bill. Obviously, the pressure by companies like Walt Disney Co., Marvel and the AMC Networks which threatened to stop film production in GA (with a potential impact of $1.7 billion in GA) helped convince the Governor to veto the controversial bill. Time Warner, Apple, Dell, IBM, Facebook, Google, and Wells Fargo, among others, publicly spoke out against the bill. Florida considered such a law this session, and while the watered down version that passed was not as objectionable, our legislators got bogged down debating what bathrooms people would use to stop a statewide nondiscrimination bill from passing. Discrimination could be written into law again in Florida. All the measures

floridaagenda.com

For some reason, conservative policymakers who disfavor government regulation, love regulating the bathrooms people can use. Recently, the North Carolina Legislature called a Special Session, not to address the budget, a court mandate, or an emergency. No, they needed to deal with a local ordinance passed by the City of Charlotte prohibiting discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons and allowing people to use the bathroom for the gender with which they identify. Apparently, conservative lawmakers thought this was outrageous. They used this as an opportunity not only to pass a wideranging bill barring people from bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match the gender on their birth certificates, but also to preempt any local government law that prohibits discrimination against LGBT persons or raises the minimum wage above the State’s. While Democrats in the North Carolina Senate walked out in protest, the bill passed and the Governor signed it into law. Part of the problem with the NC law is that it directly preempts municipalities from adopting policies in the best interests of their citizens, which as a Mayor, I oppose for obvious reasons. The more important issue with this law is that it institutionalizes discrimination against members of the LGBT community. We have seen other states

/floridaagenda

GA does the right thing while fight begins to overturn NC law

March 24, 2016

6 /floridaagenda

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

More Trouble: New bill in Mississippi could hamper same-sex marriage

Life insurance now available for those with HIV

JACKSON, MS--Protesters say a bill in Mississippi would sanction discrimination by letting public employees cite their own religious beliefs to refuse to issue marriage licenses or perform weddings for same-sex couples. Mississippi is one of about 10 states where such bills were filed in response to the U.S. Supreme ruling last summer legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. nn

WILTON MANORS -- Life insurance for those who are HIV positive is now available locally. The newly opened offices of MacDonald Financial Services (1881 NE 26th St., #229, Wilton Manors) provides what it labels as an “holistic approach” to financial skillsets.

West Palm Beach Mayor nixes trips to North Carolina

WEST PALM BEACH-West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio has become the first mayor in Florida and the second in the US to place a travel ban on city-funded trips to North Carolina. A new law, HB2, passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed by Gov. Pat McCrory last week, erupted in controversy and negated local ordinances throughout the state that protected gay and transgender people.

INTERNATIONAL Dominicans see LGBT rights advancing with Gay US Diplomat

Chubs heading our way

Chubs in Paradise, in its 9th season, begin their party weekend on Thursday, March 31, congregating at the Ramada Fort Lauderdale Oakland Park Inn (3001 North Federal Highway). The opening event, Belly Contest, takes place at Rumors Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors at 10 pm and hosted by Daiy Deadpetals. For more information, contact chubsinparadise.com. nn LAWSUIT CHALLENGES N.C.’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW RALEIGH, NC (AP) -- Gay and transgender rights supporters wasted little time in challenging a new North Carolina law, filing a federal lawsuit last Monday that called it discriminatory and said it singles out LGBT people for “disfavored treatment.” The law, which has also drawn strong opposition from major corporations including Apple and Google, was signed by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory last week. nn

Georgia Governor vetoes religious exemptions bill

WASHINGTON - Surgeons at Johns Hopkings University hospital has performed the first organ transplants between HIV positive patients. The Baltimore institution provided a liver from a deceased donor to one patient; and a kidney from another HIV compromised donor. This option has been long heralded as the last step needed to extend long-term HIV positive patients whose kidneys and livers often suffer after extended use of HIV cocktails. nn

BATON ROUGE, LA --National advocacy group Human Rights Watch says Louisiana’s locally-run jails fail to provide inmates with proper HIV testing and treatment, in a state with some of the highest HIV infection rates in the country. Megan McLemore, author of the 70page report released Tuesday, calls Louisiana “ground zero” for nationwide HIV and incarceration issues. nn

AIDS Activists: NY’s plan to end epidemic needs funding

ALBANY, NY-- AIDS activists say New York lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo must invest more state funds if they are serious about the state’s goal of ending the epidemic by 2020.They’re planning a rally Monday in the state Capitol to push for $70 million in funding as Cuomo and legislators negotiate the state budget before a Friday deadline. nn

ATLANTA, GA -- The governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, revealed that he vetoed legislation allowing clergy to refuse performing gay marriage. Additionally, the same bill protected people who refuse to attend the ceremonies, a ridiculous clause since all people invited to weddings may refuse to attend depending on an extensive number legitimate factors unrelated to discrimination. nn

Hopkins begins nation’s first HIV + organ transplants

Louisiana parish jails fail to provide for adequate HIV care

March 31, 2016

SANTO DOMINGO, DR-Deivis Ventura is still just a candidate for the Dominican Republic’s Chamber of Deputies, but he feels like he’s already scored a victory. The 42-year-old former private school teacher, the first openly gay person to run for his country’s Congress, is delighted his campaign has not encountered overt hostility as it likely would have in the past. nn

floridaagenda.com

FLORIDA

nnnnnnnnnn

/floridaagenda

Go to floridaagenda.com to read more about these stories.

/floridaagenda

News Briefs

FROM THE PUBLISHER

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

[

OPINION

/floridaagenda

NOT VERY LADYLIKE

March 24, 2016

“That’s not very lady like.” It could have been how I was sitting, the language I used or forgetting my tissue. My mother used this phrase quite often with me. She was a trooper and did her best to outfit me in the cutest little girl frilly dresses, patent leather shoes and dainty hats. She did this often on Sundays for mass, but as soon we got home, I dashed to my room to change into my jeans and a t-shirt. I do love how I feel when I am wellcoiffed and wearing a stunning outfit, but I think the last time I wore a skirt was for the office holiday party, and it was a Christmas tree skirt. A stick figure wearing a skirt is the universal women’s bathroom symbol. I am old fashioned; I By call it “The Ladies Room.” Maura A really good laLane dies room will have bright mirrors for applying your makeup, full length mirrors for adjusting your outfit, and tissue boxes for ladylike behavior. In nightclubs, you might even find a host to sell you anything from a lighter to lipstick. We have our own stalls, and we are great at sparing a square when needed. The Ladies Room is a place where anyone who identifies with being a lady should be welcome. I don’t think North Carolina is being very ladylike. House Bill 2(HB2) The Public Facility Privacy and Security Act which was hastily passed last week by Governor Pat McCory restricted cities’ abilities to pass antidiscrimination measures. The result? Transgender people who have not taken surgical and legal steps to change their gender on their birth certificates have no legal rights to use the bathroom of their choice. According to McCory, “I have legisla-

tion passed by a bipartisan majority to stop this breach of basic privacy and etiquette which was to go into effect April 1.” Basic privacy and etiquette? What would Miss Manners say? Etiquette is the customary code of polite behavior among members of a particular group. Is the particular group the “ladies in the room” or the legislature that thinks they understand the ladies in the room? Governor McCory points to the threat of sexual predators storming into the girl’s bathroom in heels and dresses ready to attack. It’s a matter of public safety. Seriously? It seems to me that if a dangerous character wanted in, they could do so birth certificate or not. According to WikiHow, #6 Rule for being ladylike is to be respectful of others. Being a lady isn’t just about looking or behaving properly on the outside. It involves being a good person on the inside. Offer your help to those in need. This can be as simple an act as helping an elderly person carry his groceries. What about opening the ladies room door for our transgender neighbor? This mess worries me about North Carolina. This bill is a matter of hate and bigotry. I lived there as a little kid and one of my sisters lives in Raleigh. They have magical beaches, lip-smacking barbeque, champion golf courses, Wake Forest, the Research Triangle, white water rafting, fly fishing, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and High Point furniture shopping. “Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning.’” Well they can kiss the gay tourism goodbye if they keep this up. We can elect to spend our hard earned vacation money someone else. We’ll skip the Outer Banks and Asheville. Try holding on to the corporations who value diversity and tolerance when you blatantly disregard the emotions of a transgender person feeling regulated to an uncustomary code of behavior. It’s uncustomary to walk into a gents’ room when you identify as a lady. nn

Etiquette is the customary code of polite behavior among members of a particular group.

Miss Manners Says...

A PUBLICLY-TRADED LGBTQ COMPANY STOCK SYMBOL: MMPW corporate

PETER JACKSON

President, COO & Group Executive Publisher Kevin Hopper Vice President l Operations

Maura “Mumball” Lane VP l Sales & Marketing

Dennis Dean Vice President l Creative

Richard Hack Vice President l Content

Michael Turner President l Digital Media Ventures

Jeff Sterling Vice President l Finance

Keith Chamlee Corporate Circulation Director

Tim Hart Chief Financial Officer

C. Lawrence Rutstein Chairman of the Board

ROBERT “BOBBY” BLAIR Founder & CEO

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

floridaagenda.com

[ JUST ADAM /floridaagenda

The week reflected back through fabulously funny eyes

/floridaagenda

LIFE AND ITS LESSONS LEARNED. OK… OK… I understand. Look… I always quote Joan Rivers (or at least try to quote her) when I honestly can say that we all suffer horrible things in our life… I know plenty of people (including myself) who have suffered with depression, substance abuse, weight gain and loss, and other terrible things in my life. But you know what? If you also can’t laugh at yourself a little bit… Well that’s your problem as well. I obviously sympathize with whatever troubles someone is going through, let’s also call a spade a spade… You also know that when you were out there as a very highly paid public figure, shit like this happens. I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS. I’m sitting in the waiting room at my doctor’s, and all of a sudden a techno-ish version of Journey’s classic “Don’t Stop Believing” comes on, and well, quite honestly, I’d rather gauge my eyeballs out with a rusty butter knife than ever hear this again. DON’T DO THAT COMMERICAL. No!!!! Billy Dee!!! God, time is cruel… But so was that piss water Colt 45! I have a better idea… A Billy Dee Williams/Diana Ross, remake of “Mahogany.” Yaaaaaas. WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER. Ok...this week it’s time to get back in shape! Getting my shit in order and dusting off my “Teen Steam” videos! I’M WONDERING OUT LOUD. Even more disturbing than the chocolate crucifix was the opened enema bottle in the 88-cent bin. Was it a return from an unsatisfied customer? I READY FOR MY CLOSE UP. Oh wait, OK… You’re a fashion model from Colombia that’s currently living in New York and you send me a Facebook request yet you have not one photograph of yourself... Unless you’re Naomi Campbell with a penis, you’re doing nothing for your career, or your portfolio… Bye Felicia!! THE TRAPPED AIR OF CLEANLINESS. Please excuse my frankness for a moment… But I had my carpets cleaned today… And although the carpet looks fabulous, it smells like Madonna queefed in here.

March 24, 2016

THE NEW PINK SUB. Haven’t been here for a while, but the remodel looks amazing and I loved the sandwich.

Adam Cohen is South Florida’s favorite and most fabulous social commentator. He’s also single. Find him on Facbook to keep up with his hilarious take on the week’s headlines.

/floridaagenda

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING...

Random thoughts from social media and beyond this week

WENT FROM THE MARINES TO JUILLIARD… SO WE ALL HAVE A NEW WAY TO FEEL INADEQUATE. THE NEW MILLENNIAL SEX SYMBOL.

floridaagenda.com

TIM TEBOW, TOLD FOX NEWS, “ THAT THE IDEA OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE IS ‘INTRIGUING’ TO HIM. I DON’T KNOW AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE BUT A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE SOMEDAY AT SOMETHING, THAT’S INTRIGUING.”

ADAM DRIVER

/floridaagenda

IGGY AZALEA, WHO’LL ALSO BE CO-HOSTING MIAMI BEACH PRIDE, TOLD PEOPLE, “IT’S SUCH AN IMPORTANT DAY TO CELEBRATE WITH MY LGBTQ FANS, AND I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MY AZALEANS THERE!”

Fort Lauderdale resident GREG PHELPS, “Today we lost a treasure in the acting world, Patty Duke was an amazing talent whose work will be her legacy!”

DONALD TRUMP TOLD THE NY TIMES YESTERDAY, “HE NO LONGER VOWS TO SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IF HE IS NOT THE NOMINEE. HE MIGHT RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT.

March 31, 2016

PAT ROBERTSON squinted into the cameras and said, “These guys are supposed to be tough warriors in the NFL. Why are they suddenly going out to boycott a state because of some alleged offense against homosexual marriage? These NFL players are not going to get same-sex marriage, you wouldn’t think. What is going on with those people?”

Palm Beach resident, MAX BRAVA, “It has come to my attention that there are some in the LGBT community that have “issues” with DWS. Well I’d like to take this opportunity to dispel any “myths” or “falsehoods” about Debby Wasserman-Shultz’s character and PROVEN track record on behalf of the LGBT community (especially in her own district of Broward County, FL) She has addressed our community and those who aren’t really aware of her allegiance and dedication to our community, our rights, our happiness. Let this be said how much she loves us!!!

floridaagenda.com

COVER STORY

/floridaagenda

n n n n n

2016:

THE YEAR OF DISCRIMINATION Will Florida Be Next? BY RICHARD HACK

March 24, 2016

Charlotte is a fine Southern city, the kind you might like to tour for several days if you’ve got the time. It was made even finer earlier this year when, in February, it passed an ordinance that allowed transgenders to use the restroom of their choice. In addition, the ordinance was part of an expanded nondiscrimination pact that also added protections for marital and familial status, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity. Last Wednesday night, now over a week ago, the North Carolina legistature met in a late night session to push through another bill. This one, however, was not so kind to the LGBT community. In fact, it was downright full of bigotry and hate. (P.S. North Carolinans. That special session cost you an extra $42,000—right from the state treasury.)

North Carolina had passed a bill Normally, of course, a bill of that is not only unconstitutional, this magnitude would have had but it is also abhorrently repulpubic debate…and a lot it. The sive by its very purpose. Charlotte ordinance alone took It’s bad enough that transgenan entire year to consider. But ders can’t use the bathroom of last Wednesday, public debate their sexual identity in Charon this measure lasted only 30 lotte; they can’t use it anywhere minutes. As the Republicans in the entire state. Additionstomped around like pompally, it prohibits that all cities ous obese swine, the Democrats in North walked Caroout lina—and unable to What happened in the there are contain hundreds their gays in North of them, fellow Carolina, will happen cannot politicos. to the gays in Florida pass any When antidisthe dust if we continue to keep crimifinally our heads in the nation settled ordisome two glorious white sands nances of hours of our beaches” any kind later, the to protect legislagay, ture of

[

lesbian, bisexual or transgender people. Since that point there, has been all sorts of hoopla from companies including American Airlines who have threatened to pull their money out of the Tar Heel State. Also headquartered in the neighborhood are Fresh Market, Haines, Krispy Kreme, Lab Corp of America, Reynolds American (the second largest tobacco company in the US), and Thomasville Furniture. They won’t be quiet for along. Bank of America has already spoken out in favor of the LGBT community. Also headquartered in NC are BB&T, Lexington State Bank, LBL Financial (the largest organization of independent financial advisors in the US) and Wachovia Bank (which is now owned by Wells Fargo). Hmm…Think any of the $850 billion in discretionary income

/floridaagenda /floridaagenda floridaagenda.com

@AIDSWalkMiami

facebook.com/ aidswalkmiami

March 31, 2016

of all the states in the nation for in the investments of the LGBT teachers’ salaries. community are going in their They repealed the 2006 Racial direction, think again! Justice Act that was the first in What makes this entire bigoted the nation to allow death row mess all the worse is that North inmates the opportunity to prove Carolina as a state was actually they were the victims of discrimion the verge of becoming relenation. The government refused vant again. After years of pulling to expand itself up out Medicaid, of the ashes it raised of the civil its sales war, through taxes while high-unemproviding ployment, tax breaks low educafor the tion, and wealthy, and a tanking closed down economy, to nearly every finally be legally operconsidered a ating aborplayer in the tion clinic Old South, in the state. the people of And now North Carothis. A law lina elected so despia Republicable that can goverit was nor named 74TH GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA labeled by Pat McCrory the state’s in JanuASSUMED OFFICE: JANUARY 5, 2013 Attorney ary 2013, BORN: PATRICK LLOYD MCCRORY General and for the OCTOBER 17, 1956 (AGE 59) that it made first time POLITICAL PARTY: REPUBLICAN North Carosince the SPOUSE: ANN MCCRORY lina “A reconstrucRELIGION: PRESBYTERIAN pioneer in tion of the bigotry.” South had a Before Republican you feel too comfortable that majority in both the House and this sort of unjust, un-Amerithe Senate. Shades of the entire can and unconstitutional behavUnited States come next January if ior is acceptable, remind yourself a Republican President is elected. of this. We live in a southern Since McCrory’s election into state not a whole lot different office, years of progress on educathan North Carolina. We’ve got a tion and welfare have been oblitRepublican Governor who thinks erated. In mid-2013, McCrory he has all the answers, a Lieustopped paying unemployment tenant Government who knows benefits to 70,000 of his people. she has no answers but continThat was quickly followed by ues to go to court anyway, and a another 100,000, who lost their Legislature that is dominated in benefits. And those that didn’t, both the Senate and the House by found them cut from a maximum Republicans. weekly fee of $535 to a poverty What happened in the gays in level figure of $350. (And that’s North Carolina, will happen to the MAXIMUM…for which few the gays in Florida if we continue actually qualified). to keep our heads in the glorious North Carolina is the only state white sands of our beaches. This that lost long term Federal beneis no longer someone else’s probfits because it never paid back lem. The year is 2016. And antithe $2.5 billion loaned to it in gay discrimination is on the ballot the Washington bailout during in every state in this union. Speak the Great Recession. At the same up now while you still have a time, it cut back sharply on school voice. nn funding, raking in the bottom five

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

Publisher Maura “Mumball” Lane

2000 Oakland Park Blvd. Suite 106 | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 Phone: 954-380-8563 | www.floridaagenda.com

AS I SEE IT

IT HAS GOT TO

March 24, 2016

The hatred spewing forth from the mouth of North Carolina’s government in charge is now a familiar story to the LGBT community, few of whom could have missed the groundbreaking law passed last week in the Tar Heel State. That’s the one that outlaws any attempts by any of the state’s cities to pass antidiscrimination acts. It is disgusting on so many levels that it is hard to even know how to attack a horror with By so many weak spots. Richard First and foreHack most, however, is the obvious disconnect between the Republican party who owns the North Carolina House and Senate majorities, the idiot governor who presumes to speak for the people, and the Republican party in this country from which they take their cue. So broad is the language of the recently passed bill that it not only impacts the freedoms of lesbian, gay and transgender community that they were clearly aiming to destroy, but in its wide net, it captures renewed legal discrimination against Blacks, Latinos, all religious groups (including the Christians), every woman in the state as well as the disabled. “Oh my,” has come the

accented response from the affronted North Carolina Republican party as they were left alone to battle back from the worldwide outcry. Make no mistake. The world is watching you North Carolina, just as it watches the rest of the United States for leadership, guidance and understanding. You have shown zero of the latter. In its place, you have scored high on the scale of misogyny, racism, homophobia and transphobia, stuck in an ugly moment in time in which your own party’s youth, the Republican Millennials, want no part. Over 60 percent of them don’t even recognize LGBT issues as a problem, since they see nothing wrong with being completely sexually fluid, placing them in a pond far larger than something that is labeled: “LGBT, swim with caution.” Governor Pat McCrory, who has apparently feasted on so many pork bellies that his brain function can’t process reality, has labeled the reaction to his late-night legislative end run “political theater” which was created by left-wing activists to cause him personal embarrassment in a “calculated smear campaign.” More than just refusing to backtrack on his legislative smudge on history, he brags about it, refusing to back down and instead calling for those with “sane and sincere minds” to bring back the “norms and etiquette” of the Old South. Presumably that includes tar and

Art Director Kevin Broady

Editor-In-Chief Richard Hack richardhack@wirld.com

STOP feathering on the Capitol Green. A coalition of LGBT and civil rights groups have already filed suit against the governor and the state, arguing that the new law violated constitutionally protected due process as well as equal protection under the law. The civil suit was filed on behave of one lesbian and two transgenders, all three of whom are students at public universities and directly affected by the ramifications of the public restroom portion of the new law. In 2016, the vast majority of conservatives across the globe are rushing to embrace the LGBT community as part of their core belief in individualism. One after one, the old guard is falling to the realization that they cannot exist in a bubble that isolates entire sectors of the human population. This genie is out of the bottle and it’s not going to go back in.

The new law in North Carolina is not only lodged on the wrong side of history as a glaring example of bigotry and hate, it is even on the wrong side of the new generation of Republican voters who want no part of this outdated and morally corrupt identity. David Cameron, the leader of the conservative party in England, and the country’s current prime minister, said during the fight for the legalization of gay marriage in 2013: “I don’t support gay marriage in spite of being a conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a conservative.” Republicans take notice. nn

Richard Hack is the award-winning author of 26 books, and the Vice President of Content for Multimedia Platforms’ publications.

“

It is even on the wrong side of the new generation of Republican voters who want no part of this outdated and morally corrupt identity.”

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

/floridaagenda

I was remembering that powerful encounter that changed more than one life (probably even my own) recently when I was reading some terrible comments about immigrants and Muslims and transgender people. The comments were saturated with fear and ignorance and hatred. As a gay person, I had heard them before but directed toward people like me. As I was reacting to all the xenophobia and transphobia I was encountering on social media posts, I remembered that sacred and healing human exchange in seminary. And I thought, “How difficult it is to demonize a group if you have experienced a member of that group as being fully human.” I’m not suggesting that offering cab rides will lead to world peace, but reminding ourselves and others that all the people we are inclined to demonize and dehumanize are actually human-beings could actually be a good start. nn

Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins is the senior minister of Sunshine Cathedral, a post-denominational church in Fort Lauderdale.

What’s your opinion? The Florida Agenda welcomes signed Letters to the Editor, up to 400 words in length, on topics of general interest to our readers. You may e-mail submissions to Editor@mmplgbt. com. We welcome comments on our Facebook page also.

March 31, 2016

PAUL BERGE

to pay for her to have a cab ride home. She was very grateful. She even said, “Of all the people to come to my aid, who would have thought it would be gay folk?!” After that, she never said another homophobic word in our presence and she always greeted us as if we were friends. Sometime later, our new friend wanted to speak to us. She had good news to share and she wanted to share it with us. She and her son had been estranged for a long time. You see, her son was gay and when he came out to her, she didn’t handle it well and their relationships suffered as a result. After her encounter with the Good Samaritan Gay Boys, she called her son and invited him to church. Of course he was outraged that she would suggest such a thing; but she explained to him, “Not my church, son. There is an open and affirming church in the city that has an annual Gay Pride worship celebration and I want us to go together.” At first he couldn’t believe she was sincere, but she was and they did attend that service together. It was very healing for both of them and their relationship got a reboot.

floridaagenda.com

KINDNESS REALLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE When I was in seminary in New York City there was a woman in my class from a very conservative background. She said some especially offensive things about same-gender loving people. Honestly, I didn’t like her very much. But then one day, I and another gay guy found her crying in the quad. When we asked her what was wrong, she answered that she was in extreme pain (she had been injured earlier that year and her injuries were healing very slowly). The thought of By Rev. a long subway ride to anDurrell other borough was unbearable to her. We sugWatkins gested she take a cab, but graduate school is expensive and requires some sacrifices, so, not surprisingly, she didn’t think she could afford it. However, at that moment anyway, my friend and I could afford it. So, we offered

[

/floridaagenda

OPINION

THE DEEPER DIVE

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

n n n n n BY PATRICK BERKLEY

Michael Rajner

March 24, 2016

aving worked for a myriad of LGBT causes, Michael Rajner is one of the most passionate activists in South Florida. He has served on the PLHIV (People Living With HIV) Caucus, worked on the Broward County School Board’s Diversity Committee, and currently is the chair of the Broward County Human Rights Board. Rajner was named one of Florida Agenda’s 100 Movers and Shakers last year, and we recently had a chance to speak to him about his work in the community.

BERKLEY: Do you believe that LGBTQ people in Broward County are often denied their civil liberties? RAJNER: Based on data provided by the Broward County Human Rights Section, roughly 10% of the complaints filed are related to LGBT discrimination. The great thing about living in Broward County is our Board of County Commissioners is very forward thinking, strong supporters of LGBTequality. In Broward County, the Human Rights Act protects individuals from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression, in connection with employment, public accommodations, and real estate transactions. If anyone feels they have been discriminated against in any of the above, they should contact the Broward County Human Rights Section at (954) 357-7800. BERKLEY: What do you think the next president should do to stop the spread of HIV? RAJNER: Last October I had a very brief moment to speak with Secretary Clinton at a private fundraiser. At the time I asked for her to speak more about HIV/AIDS domestically as too often candidates find it challenging to discuss because of the stigma of men having sex with men. Right now I’m working with a group of amazing activists from around the country and engaging the presidential campaigns in a

dialogue. Too often HIV is left on the sidelines. BERKLEY: Do you think the gay community was too harsh on Hillary when she praised Nancy Reagan’s HIV-awareness work? RAJNER: No, I firmly believe the LGBT community’s outrage was appropriate. The following day I was interviewed by MSNBC’s Joy Reid to express my own frustration. Many of us were hurt—the Reagan administration was not our friend. Secretary Clinton’s first apology didn’t go far enough, but her second apology helped greatly. It reinforced why so many of us believe in her ability to lead. BERKLEY: You have worked a lot within the school system. What do you think the Broward County School System could do to improve LGBTQ students’ lives? RAJNER: Over the years I helped Broward School’s be the first school district in Florida to provide protections in non-discrimination for transgender students and employees. I also had the honor to represent the LGBT community during School Board member Nora Rupert’s one-on-one interview with superintendent candidates during the hiring of Superintendent Robert Runcie. He’s been an amazing champion for LGBT students, families and employees. The most important thing we can do to improve LGBT students’ lives is perhaps to be a mentor or help financially by sponsoring events and opportunities the district is not able to budget.

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

Mark My Words

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

n n n n n BY MARK SEGAL

/floridaagenda

Moving forward, looking back

March 24, 2016

Jason and I went to a heterosexual wedding last weekend. (I wonder if heterosexuals say, “I went to a gay wedding last weekend”?) Anyway, it was the first one we’ve been to since our own wedding. We were honored to be asked to be a part of the ceremony itself; we got the opportunity to watch the faces of our friends, Jesse and Mark, as they went through a monumental change in their lives. Watching them in all their happiness, and seeing them share that moment with family and friends, in a tradition that has continued for thousands of years, was very reassuring. To think that we in the LGBT community can now enjoy that same privilege amazes me, reinforced by the happiness I saw on Jesse and Mark’s faces, which is similar to the joy shared by LGBT people in many places in this world. Yet, the activist in me thinks about the places where marriage equality is not legal, and where LGBT people are imprisoned or killed. I find myself dwelling on this issue more and more, especially when we in this country have some great success in our struggle for equality. It seems we forget what it took to get to this point in our very own history, and at times we think of ourselves and our rights as an island — and leave the rest of the world far from our minds. How far we have come in such a short time. My mind recalls that Thomas Jefferson, upon discovering that an officer was caught committing “buggery” with a

common soldier at Valley Forge, wrote George Washington to suggest the man should be hanged. But then I smiled: How would Jefferson or even Washington react if they suddenly came back to life at the marriage of two men or women? Jefferson, who suggested that a revolution should take place from time to time, most likely would attempt to understand the changes in society. And I somehow think Washington might just try to be diplomatic and not hurt anyone’s feelings with his own opinions. The point is, we sometimes see marriage equality in current terms, and not as just one point in a struggle that still moves forward. The struggle is not over. nn

Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter. com/PhilaGayNews.

/floridaagenda /floridaagenda floridaagenda.com

TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER MOST. At MassMutual Miami, we understand the unique financial needs of the LGBT community and can help you build financial strategies to ensure your loved ones are protected. For more than 160 years, MassMutual has helped policyowners on their quest for financial freedom. Gary Ciampitti – Fort Lauderdale Office Insurance and Financial Services Professional Jan Knight – Fort Lauderdale Office Insurance and Financial Services Professional MassMutual Miami 2100 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 600 Coral Gables, FL 33134 888-563-3779 www.miami.massmutual.com

LIFE INSURANCE + RETIREMENT/401(K) PLAN SERVICES DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE + LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE + ANNUITIES March 31, 2016

MassMutual Financial Group refers to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual), its affiliated companies and sales representatives. As of November 2015, MassMutual received a 100% score on the Human Rights Commission’s Corporate Equality Index and was named a Best Places to Work. Local sales agencies are not subsidiaries of MassMutual or its affiliated companies. Insurance products are issued by MassMutual, Springfield, MA 01111, and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company, Enfield, CT 06082. CRN201706-173276

/floridaagenda

JENNER SHOULD CRACK HARDER NUT (JOBS) THAN CRUZ

March 24, 2016

As events in North Carolina have shown, extremism is alive and well in the United States of America. Ignorance is not bliss but rampant. The wildly illogical belief that transgender women will attack other women while taking a wee, persists. South Dakota Governor, Dennis Daugaard, may have chosen to listen. North Carolina Governor, Pat McCrory, did not. When Caitlyn Jenner controversially offered herself up as a trans ambassador to a future (it’ll never happen) President Ted Cruz, she chose the wrong target. But while illogical — given that Cruz shares platforms BY with hate LINDA groups whose PENTZ members would happily beat her up in a dark alley — it was not surprising. Jenner has long been a wealthy, white, privileged, ultra conservative and that didn’t change when her pronoun did. And just because she could once throw strange objects long distances does not automatically imbue her with sound political judgement. But with the justifiable

uproar surrounding the truly dreadful legislation passed in North Carolina, someone has to step up and speak out loudly on behalf of the trans community. So why not Cait? “I think that the person serving as trans ambassador for any candidate should have lived the typical experience of the average trans person in the United States,” said Kylar Broadus, executive director of the Trans People of Color Coalition. These experiences — including racism, poverty, homelessness, and fear of abuse or being killed — are important, he said “just to begin to understand the depth of problems trans people have.” Mara Keisling, founding executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, sees Jenner more as a catalyst than as a spokesperson for trans rights. “All of us, including Jenner, know we don’t speak for everybody,” Keisling said. “I think Jenner has been a huge net positive for trans people. Her coming out has been a hook for thousands of journalists to do stories about trans people.” But those stories are yet to inform and influence the more conservative regions of the country. As Matt McTighe of Freedom for All Americans pointed out, “most people have never met a trans person.” A new audience, however, has been introduced to

trans people at least virtually, through Jenner’s television show, I am Cait, in turn allowing trans activists like Keisling to more easily leverage the media. This, says Keisling, has afforded her a valuable opportunity “to talk about the real issues that trans people face — the poverty, the violence, to talk about the racism and transphobia combining to make life for trans women of color really really challenging.” Clearly, though, we still have a long way to go. Charlotte-based American Airlines may have condemned the North Carolina law, while other corporations are contemplating boycotts of the state. But McCrory took pains to single out transgender people when justifying his signing of the law. It was needed, he said, because existing local LGBT equality ordinances might allow “a man to use a woman’s bathroom, shower or locker room.” As a former world class athlete, Jenner has an opening here, to silence, once and for all, the preposterousness of this claim. Hit the road, Cait, and tell ‘em!’ nn

Linda Pentz is the Washington correspondent of the Florida Agenda. She can be contacted at lindapentz@mmplgbt.com. Follow her on Twitter @CapitolAgenda

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

floridaagenda.com

CAPITOL BEAT

/floridaagenda

n n n n n

JUST A REMINDER

P@caitlynjenner Ycaitlyn_jenner Caitlyn Marie Jenner (born October 28, 1949), formerly known as Bruce Jenner, is an American television personality and retired Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete. After intense training, Jenner won the 1976 Olympics decathlon title at the Montreal Summer Olympics, gaining fame as “an all-American hero”.Jenner set a third successive world record while winning the Olympics. The winner of the Olympic decathlon is traditionally given the unofficial title of “world’s greatest athlete.” With that stature, Jenner subsequently established a career in television, film, authoring, as a Playgirl cover model, auto racing, and business. In an April 2015, 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer, Jenner came out as a trans woman, saying she had dealt with gender dysphoria since her youth, and that, “for all intents and purposes, I’m a woman.” Jenner cross dressed for many years and took hormone replacement therapy but stopped after her romance with Kris Kardashian. While she has undergone some cosmetic surgery, she has neither undergone sex reassignment surgery nor ruled it out; she stated that, for her, life as a woman is primarily a matter of mental state and lifestyle.

Op-Ed

/floridaagenda

n n n n BY JR HARDING AND DOMINIC M. CALABRO n

floridaagenda.com

to expand education and employment incentives for people with disabilities. Gov. Rick Scott signed SB 672 into law in January. Thanks to their leadership, disabled Floridians will be able to permanently take advantage of Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts Program which gives disabled children the resources they need to receive a quality education. Additionally, disabled Floridians will be given more opportunities in the workplace by encouraging private companies and state agencies to hire them, granting them a sense of self-worth and financial independence. These efforts will level the playing field by providing all Floridians access to a highquality education and workforce skills. These goals are consistent with the Work Force Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) and the Florida Chamber’s “Six Pillars” plan for sustainable growth. With the government’s recognition and support of these efforts, disabled, working Floridians will further diversify and improve the state’s economy. Employing people with disabilities is a “win-win” for everybody including all of Florida’s hardworking taxpayers. nn

JR Harding lives in Tallahassee and is a longtime author, speaker and advocate for people with disabilities. Dominic M. Calabro is the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.

March 31, 2016

Florida’s economy has rarely been stronger than it is now with our state’s unemployment at 5 percent and strong growth predicted for the state’s future. However, there is a critical segment being left behind in this economic expansion. Floridians with disabilities account for more than 20 percent of the population, yet only 30 percent of those are employed. It is important that Floridians recognize that a growing rate of unemployment for persons with disabilities is a concern for everyone. People with disabilities who are given the opportunity to leave the sidelines and pursue their life’s dreams are less likely to rely on public assistance, providing a net gain for all taxpayers. In turn, this allows taxpayer money to be invested in other areas beneficial to all Floridians, such as education, healthcare, and vital infrastructure. This economic advantage also enhances businesses’ social and corporate relationships with their customers. Those who hire people with disabilities improve their employee diversity and deepen their commitment to reflect and support their communities. Thankfully, our elected state leaders have noted these issues and passed two bills that expand opportunities to Floridians with disabilities. All of Florida’s taxpayers should appreciate and thank Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli for their efforts

/floridaagenda

Floridians with Disabilities

/floridaagenda

Laurie Higgins n BY D’ANNE WITOWSKI

March 24, 2016

It’s almost that time of year again: April 15 is the annual Day of Silence where students across the country choose to spend the day without speaking in order to call attention to anti-LGBT bullying in schools. And this year, like every year, the anti-LGBT right is clutching its collective pearls at the very thought. Laurie Higgins of the Illinois Family Institute is one such pearlclutcher. She, along with the usual anti-LGBT suspects, is encouraging parents to pull their kids out of school on DOS lest they be indoctrinated with the message that it’s not OK to call a kid “fag” and push him down the stairs after gym. “Parents should no longer passively countenance the political usurpation of public school classrooms through student silence,” Higgins writes on the IFI website. Let me take a moment to point out that Higgins doesn’t really give a sh*t about public schools. The right have been undermining public education for years and support private charter schools where kids can learn that Jesus rode around on dinosaurs. You can go to the IFI’s website yourself and peruse the articles about education. Most of them are about how to keep transgender students out of locker rooms or about how great homeschooling is. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which is responsible for the

DOS, characterizes the event as “a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.” Sounds like a worthy goal, right? After all, LGBT kids do get bullied a lot, and the suicide rate for LGBT young people is heartbreakingly high. But not for Higgins. She takes issue with the DOS because, as she claims, it’s not about preventing bullying but is actually intended “to undermine the true belief that homosexuality and cross-dressing … are immoral.” It’s an interesting take on the anti-bullying event as it implies that the only way to support “the true belief” that being LGBT is immoral is to continue to allow kids who bully their LGBT peers to keep operating with impunity. Also, cross dressing and transgender are not the same thing. But hey, the suicide rate for trans youth is even higher than the rate for LGB youth, so it’s extra nice that Higgins managed to bully them while making her point that bullying isn’t the real issue. Higgins complains that groups like GLSEN aren’t actually interested in keeping LGBTQ students “safe,” a goal, she writes, “all decent people share.” “The rhetoric of ‘safety’ … substitutes speciously for the more accurate term of ‘comfort.’ To suggest that in order for those who self-identify as homosexual (or ‘transgender’) to be ‘safe,’

no one may disapprove of homosexual conduct is both absurd and dangerous.” I agree that such a thing would be absurd, except that such a thing is not actually a thing. Let me start with the issue of safety versus comfort. If a student does not feel comfortable at school because they face persistent unchecked harassment and bullying, that can, and does, erode the quality of their education. Higgins seems to think that the very idea of being “comfortable” at school is a laughable luxury when it really is fundamental to an institution of learning. Also, to assert that “no one may disapprove of homosexual conduct” on the DOS is indeed absurd. For one thing, GLSEN includes in its DOS materials the fact that students who disagree with the DOS have a right to protest. But as GLSEN also points out, “Those who do not support the GLSEN Day of Silence often protest, but rarely contribute positively to finding ways to end anti-LGBT harassment.” And that’s because those opposed to DOS aren’t actually interested in ending anti-LGBT harassment because they don’t want to even acknowledge that LGBT youth exist. DOS helps to make the invisible visible: the very real, very human LGBTQ students across the nation who are very much deserving of a safe and, yes, comfortable place to learn and grow. nn

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

CREEP OF THE WEEK

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

[

OPINION

LGBT ISSUES Laurie Higgins and the Illinois Family Institute History Illinois Family Institute opposes abortion, separation of church and state, “activist judges”, and the “marriage penalty”. They further oppose the recognition of civil unions, same-sex marriage and all laws recognizing or protecting non-heterosexual relationships or activity. They also oppose the expansion of gambling in Illinois and drug legalization. IFI explicitly opposes “efforts to include ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ as a categories for preferential status under civil rights statutes at the federal, state and local levels.”

Laurie Higgins became the Illinois Family Institute’s Cultural Analyst in the fall of 2008. Her cultural commentaries have been carried on a number of pro-family websites nationally and internationally, and Laurie has appeared on numerous radio programs across the country. In addition, Laurie has spoken at the Council for National Policy and educational conferences sponsored by the Constitutional Coalition. She has been married to her husband for forty years, and they have four grown children and five grandchildren.

/floridaagenda /floridaagenda floridaagenda.com

COMING SOON! APRIL 12 - 24

March 31, 2016

TICKETS STARTING AT $35! BrowardCenter.org 954.462.0222

floridaagenda.com

March 24, 2016

/floridaagenda

n n n n n

#STREETBEATAGENDA

By Jameer Baptiste

How could we, the LGBT community, have allowed this law to pass and become law? Where were our activists at the time and our protesters and outrage? Just last week North Carolina passed an egregious law stipulating that you can only use the restroom of your assigned gender at birth. This law effects gender nonconforming individuals and specifically the transgender community making it illegal for them to use any public restroom of their expressed gender.

MIA PATRICYK ST. LOUIS

VASTI LOVE MONTANA

ARYAH LESTER

ANGEL LOPEZ

“As a community, we need to rally together to fight discriminatory laws against ANY member of our community (LGBTQ) and stand our ground for what’s right,” Mia Patricyk St. Louis, a server and entertainer, said with vigor. “We need to push harder and actually go out and vote on these issues. And focus on what’s really important.”

“I feel that the LGBTQ community did not stick together as one on this but yet the law did pass very quickly. I believe that’s why the LGBTQ community is divided and didn’t stick together to fight this law,” said Miss Golden State Closet Ball 2015 and 2016, Vasti Love Montana. “Personally, I’m very uncomfortable entering a men’s restroom. It’s wrong that we cannot use the restroom that we feel comfortable using.”

“The atrocious law of HB2 harkens back to the days where those of color had to use separate facilities, judged to be ‘of color’ by the prejudicial public,” mentioned Aryah Lester creator and director of TransArt. “This law, passed in the darkness while we were distracted by political divisiveness, effects not only transgender individuals but all people displaying gender nonconforming characteristics. We must stand against such an affront to our inalienable rights as American citizens!”

“I think the law is preposterous, but really who is going to check your genitals to really determine your biology,” questioned Angel Lopez, a licensed mental health counselor. “I can’t comment on the actions of the LGBT community in North Carolina but chances are the heteronormative, conservative, lower-educated, prejudiced people prevailed on this one. We’ll see how long the law lasts and whether other states are able to accomplish the same thing.”

What do you have to say?

We want to hear from you. Search #StreetBeatAgenda on Facebook to share your opinion on the above topic. Florida Agenda also welcomes Letters to the Editor, up to 400 words. E-mail your submissions to: Editor@floridaagenda.com. Your opinion matters!

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

floridaagenda.com /floridaagenda /floridaagenda

26 March 24, 2016

ADVERTORIAL Does Back Pain have you Frustrated….. Are You Worried You Will Have to Take Pain Pills For The Rest of Your Life?…….. If this is you or someone you love, keep reading to learn about an amazing free report helping back pain sufferers!

Wilton Manors, FL Are you one of the 100 million Americans who are suffering from chronic back pain? Is your back pain stopping you from doing the things you enjoy? Are you using pain pills regularly just to get through the day? Are you afraid this may eventually lead to surgery? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we can help. We have put together a free report filled with tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes made by back pain sufferers. Back pain is not something you have to learn to live with. There are solutions, and we can help you find them. Claim your copy of “Erasing Back Pain: How to Avoid the 9 Most

Painful Mistakes and What You Should Be Doing Instead” today to take charge of your pain and get back to doing the things you love! In this report you’ll find  The 3 things you can do to avoid back surgery that will cost you nothing.  How to save yourself time and money by making the right choices for your back pain today.  How to avoid the biggest mistake made by back pain sufferers. Call (954)-351-2299 now for your FREE report or request it online at www.oceantherapycenter.com/ back.php

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

CELEBRITY FEATURE floridaagenda.com

n n n n n BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI /floridaagenda

Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. He once made Jane Fonda cry. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com and on Twitter (@chrisazzopardi).

D F

/floridaagenda

on’t speak? Gwen Stefani can’t help it as she opens up about her latest release – the “record that saved my life.”

eaturing a multitude of diary-like outpourings related to Gavin Rossdale, whom the No Doubt frontwoman divorced in 2015 after 13 years of marriage, This Is What the Truth Feels Like is Stefani’s third solo album and first since 2006’s The Sweet Escape.

“It’s so therapeutic to talk about it,” she says the day before the

album’s release. “And I hope it saves some other lives. I really, really truly do hope that. That’s the message I wanna give.”

uring our candid tell-all, Stefani also talked about her gay besties who “made me look pretty when I didn’t feel pretty,” being a (mostly) respected woman in a man’s world and how she and boyfriend Blake Shelton hang with the same “big posse” of gays.

Q: In the last year, when the going got tough, which gay friends of yours could you count on to have the wine cupboard fully stocked?

March 24, 2016

POP STAR TALKS SHARING A QUEER POSSE WITH BOYFRIEND BLAKE SHELTON, THE DANISH GIRL AND HER GAY SUPPORT SYSTEM

Most of my gay friends are talented, close people who work with me: my hairdresser, my makeup artist. Those are probably my two closest gay friends, and what I love about them is how unique they are and how spirited they are and how talented they are. I think “passionate” would be a really good way to describe them. They’re not representing all gay men, but they represent the ones in my life who’ve had a huge impact on me. I turned to them this whole time period, during my whole tragedy, and they have been really, really super supportive and loyal and made me look pretty when I didn’t feel pretty.

time. He knew everything about every song I’d ever done, whatever I’d worn, every piece of jewelry. It was like, whoa. And he’d wanted to work with me for a long time and I didn’t know that, but it was like God put us in the same room at the perfect time because I needed his understanding and compassion. He was so supportive of me and so confident in me, and I had lost a lot of my confidence, so he really brought that out of me. I felt so comfortable around him from the moment that I met him. So, he was a huge support in making this record and a good friend – an instant friend, weirdly, because I didn’t know him at all. But now I feel like he’s one of my closest friends.

I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to say that any gay man would instantly connect with you.

A: Awww! That makes me happy. Q: How did collaborating with Justin Tranter of Semi-Precious Weapons, who’s gay, affect your recording Q: Did Blake have to get your gay sessions for This Is What the Truth friends’ approval? Feels Like? A:– how Well, I mean, Blake’s definitely A: I didn’t know who he was or like would I describe it? All the anything, but the thing that was so great about working with Justin was that he had followed my career for the longest

same people all the time are always in the room together and we do everything

/floridaagenda

Q: A: And you kind of can’t see it until you go through it and look back at it and

They say everything happens for a reason.

see all the signs. I had the baby. Then I got The Voice, which was so needed. I needed to do something like that. I needed to play that role, and I also got in the room with Pharrell again who’s been like a guardian angel to me.

You mentioned Apollo, and you also have two other sons: Kingston and Zuma. There are people who don’t appreciate the fact that you allow them to explore their feminine sides by painting their nails. How would you respond to those critics?

Obviously I’ve lived my life with criticism for a very long time and my personality is, I live in truth and reality, and if somebody says something about me and I don’t know them and they’re not my friend or part of my life, it really doesn’t affect me. Of course everyone’s gonna have their perspective and their opinion, and I know what’s real and what’s honest and true, and that’s really all that matters to me and all that’s important. So,

What would you say to one of your boys if they came out to you one day?

I would be blessed with a gay son. You know that I would feel blessed about that. I just want my boys to be happy and healthy, and I just ask God to guide me every day to be a good mother because it is not an easy job. I’ve been lucky enough to have such a blessed life. I’ve been able to travel the world and meet so many different kinds of people. And it doesn’t really matter if you’re gay, straight, whatever. There are good and bad people, and I would be happy. I just want my kids to be happy, and whatever journey God gives them is their journey. I just need to be there to be the most supportive mom that I can be and that’s what I’m gonna be. I always ask my gay friends, “OK, so what was it like when you were a little boy?” Because I do know that it’s gotta be difficult to be the alternative, to not be the mainstream, or to be different, if you want to call it that. I feel like it’s less and less (like that) these days, and it’s hard for me to understand because it doesn’t seem different or weird or anything anymore because it just seems so normal to me. I just saw that movie… what was it… The Dutch Girl?

Q: The Danish Girl…? A: Yeah, The Danish Girl. I think what was so incredible about that

movie was just – that was so long ago. I mean, can you imagine back then? Whoa. Now it feels like nothing anymore.

Q: A: Oh, I have to work on it! I work on it every single day. Some days I’m a

Gwen, you have such a healthy perspective on life.

mental case.

Because I’m the kind of girl that’s just not good with secrets. I tell everybody everything. If ate too many Oreos, I’mma tell you about it! I grew up Catholic, so I just need to confess everything. I feel like I’ve always been really open, but there was a point in my marriage and in my relationship (with Gavin Rossdale) – because maybe we born out of the ’90s – it felt cooler and more protected to not talk about the relationship, or it felt awkward because maybe we were both doing the same thing and I didn’t wanna say something and he’d be like, “Why’d you say that?!” There were probably some limits during that relationship. And then with my children, obviously I can’t talk about them because they’re gonna be 15 and like, “Mom, why did you say that? You’re embarrassing me!” I have to think a little bit about that now. But I just think… I don’t know how else to be. Everybody knows what happened to me. I got a divorce. It’s the worst thing that can happen to me besides death. My whole life all I wanted to do was be a mother and a wife, and I had the dream of having this family because that’s what I had. I have parents who’ve been married since high school, who are in love, and they’re still in love and having their big wedding anniversary. I had a perfect example, so it’s super tragic for me. My dreams are shattered and I feel so embarrassed about what happened. I don’t feel embarrassed to talk about it though, with respect to my kids. I just think what happened was: In Febru-

it doesn’t really bother me. As long as my boys are protected and happy and I’m spending quality time with them, whether it’s doing sports or doing nails, it really doesn’t matter.

March 31, 2016

No, it’s crazy. I’ve been so unbelievably blessed. I grew up in a man’s world and it really doesn’t make any sense either. In the past, as a girl – a baby girl – I was a girly girl and I wasn’t guyish at all, but when I did discover music, I really got into this niche music, which was ska. I really related to it. All of the people who were my mentors as far as music, they were all guys, and to be in a band with my brother (Eric Stefani) and then my boyfriend (Tony Kanal), I was in this little family and very protected. I always felt like my opinion was counted, and not even counted but even counted with double stars. My creativity was respected. There was a moment back in the day when I was doing festivals and we were just getting known and I do remember being disrespected here and there – they’d want me to take my top off or whatever – but it really didn’t take long for me to be able to prove that I wasn’t gonna stand for that. I don’t know where the confidence came from, but I would get up there and I just knew I was gonna win them over and do whatever it took to win them over. I was not gonna leave the stage until I had a pit going. That’s it. No question. It was a fire that was inside of me. I wasn’t rebellious; I had this really normal, easy, beautiful, loving family. But I feel like I’ve always been respected and never had to really worry about, “Oh, I don’t get respect because I’m a woman.” And that’s a really good thing, because that means if I can have that, other women and other people can have that and we are making some progress.

known for your sonic soul-barings, but lately, you also seem especially candid in interviews. Why did you decide to be so open about your life in the last year?

ary (2015), my family fell apart. It was devastating. I didn’t know what to do. It was a real big secret, but as I just explained, I’m not good with that. I tried everything to fix it. By June (2015), I went into the studio and started writing. I was praying. I had already started on a spiritual journey when I got pregnant with Apollo (in 2013) that was sort of like, “Wow, really? I’m gonna be blessed with a baby... now?” That was a miracle. It just started me on this spiritual journey and thank God it started then because I was prepared when I had the tragedy. I had that nest of spirituality in me.

floridaagenda.com

As the frontwoman of No Doubt, there have been many times you’ve been the only female rocker on a festival bill. For you, what’s that experience been like? Did the boys take you seriously from the beginning?

Q: You’re

/floridaagenda

together, so it’s like we’re all a big posse. It’s funny, too, because Blake’s mom was a hairdresser growing up, so he was definitely introduced to that world a looong time ago.

March 24, 2016

30 /floridaagenda

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

Vince

floridaagenda.com

is a shetland sheepdog sheltie. One year old, he weighs 12 pounds. Black with hints of white, Vince has a long coat. He is great with dogs and kids, and up-to-date on all his vaccines.

/floridaagenda

BY ALEXANDER KACALA

/floridaagenda

Pet of the Week

Pets of the Week is sponsored by Wilton Manors Animal Hospital.

Tyrone

For more information on these pets, please contact Animal Aid at 754-223-5378. Animal Aid is located at 571 NE 44th Street on the North West corner of Prospect (44th) and 6th in Oakland Park, Florida.

March 31, 2016

is a wonderful little boy. When he came to the store, he immediately began playing his heart out in the playroom, exhausted himself and contentedly took a nap in his new home. No fears, very well-adjusted. A cool cool kitty. You can meet him at the PETCO at 8111 West Broward Blvd in Plantation.

floridaagenda.com

Amazon, But Not Dot Com

/floridaagenda

PUZZLE

March 24, 2016

Across

1 With 28-Across, TV series with explicit lesbian content that NBC hopes to reboot 5 With 62-Across, actress of this puzzle’s theme 10 With 64-Across, actress of this puzzle’s theme 14 Club for Spencer-Devlin 15 Pisa place 16 Tennis stadium in Queens 17 Zips 18 Hot to trot 19 Tobacco wad 20 Cause lingering anxiety 22 De-balls 24 Composer Rorem 25 The Name of the Rose writer 27 Title for Derek Jacobi 28 See 1-Across 34 Tarzan portrayer Ron 35 Pears of a gay pair 36 Pro partner 37 Amanda of Married...With Children 40 Em or Mame 43 “John Brown’s Body” writer 44 Lending letters 47 Witherspoon of Cruel Intentions 48 Sidekick of 1-Across 51 J. Edgar org. 54 Moby Dick, to Ahab 55 Female flyer 58 Be deficient in 60 You wait for him to come on stage 61 Facetious “I see” 62 See 5-Across 64 See 10-Across 66 Elton John’s “You Got to Love ___” 67 Makes potent 68 Looked like Rupert Everett in Inspector Gadget 69 Firing point for neurons

Down

1 Shortened street sign word 2 Wilde country 3 Pitcher who shares a name with Idol of porn 4 “Speak up!” 5 What Edith Piaf regretted 6 Place for trinkets 7 Albert to Armand, in The Birdcage 8 Title girl in a 1968 Turtles hit 9 Jane of a 1944 Moorehead flick 10 Milk acid 11 “My Boo” singer in drag? 12 Burn a bit 13 Bow source in Robin Hood - Men in Tights 21 “Big Daddy” Amin 23 Org. for your first mate 26 Von Trapp’s rank 28 Jim who wrote “MacArthur Park” 29 Protected, to seamen 30 Not closed, to Shakespeare 31 “Got a Rainbow” lyricist Gershwin 32 Frida’s half-dozen 33 Opponent of Tinkerbell 38 Gas station abbr. 39 Ollie’s partner 41 LesbiaNation.com and Gay.com 42 Born, in gay Paree 44 With thick plates 45 Like a Piper in a fairy tale 46 Puts a new bottom on 49 “Out!” 50 Tedious list 51 Clean with string 52 Painter Francis 53 “___ to bury Caesar ...” 55 Impudent kid 56 Boobs or butts 57 Choreographer Bob 59 Trick joint, maybe 61 Dark Angel star Jessica 63 Edvard Grieg’s land (abbr.) 65 Chinese AIDS activist ___ Yan Hai

For the solution to this puzzle go to: floridaagenda.com/puzzle

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

Market Place /floridaagenda

CONTACT NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR, MAURA “MUMBALL” LANE AT 954-543-5947 OR MAURA@WIRLD.COM TO GET ON THE LIST.

ACCOUNTING

Sterling Tax & Accounting 2435 N Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-667-9829 / sterlingandhart.com

ATTORNEYS

EVENTS Source Events 605 Lincoln Road, #410 Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-9779 / sourceevents.com

FINANCIAL

FOOD / GROCERY

HEALTH

Diana’s 12001 Avalon Lake Drive Orlando, FL 32828 407-207-0205 /dianasbakeryandcafe.com

HEALTH

Dean Trantalis Attorney 2255 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-2226 / trantalislaw.com

INCOME TAX

BARBERSHOP

Best Books and Taxes 2201 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-565-1041 / bestbooksandtaxes.com

INSURANCE Dunham Fort Lauderdale 2601 E Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 303 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954-564-7772 / dunhamins.com

CHURCH / SPIRITUAL

We Insure 1975 E Sunrise Blvd, Suite 602 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-903-7519 / weinsureﬂ.com

FITNESS Pump’n Inc Tom Bonanti 1271 NE 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-557-1119 / pumpnincgym.com

FURNITURE

Center for Spiritual Living 1550 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-2868 / cslftl.com

LANDSCAPING

Genesis Health Institute 1001 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-561-3175 / ghinstitute.com Ocean Therapy Center 2530 NE 15th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-351-2299 oceantherapycenter.com

March 24, 2016

Holy Angels Catholic Community 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33334 954-633-2987 / holyangelsﬂ.org

Better Hearing-World of Sounds 2450 E Commercial Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 954-491-2560 betterhearingworldofsounds.com

Etz Chaim 2038 N Dixie Hwy Pride Ctr Bldg B Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-564-9232 / etzchaimﬂorida.org

/floridaagenda

Market Place /floridaagenda

PAWNBROKERS

SPA 11 Lic#MA75718 2000 E Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 103 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954-945-5133 / spa11massage.com

floridaagenda.com

MASSAGE

MUSIC

PHOTOGRAPHY Dennis Dean Images 3554 NE 12th Avenue Oakland Park, FL 33334 954-240-8307 / dennisdean.com

REAL ESTATE OPTICAL Island City Eyecare 2301 Wilton Drive, Suite C1 Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-764-6906 / visionsource-ice.com

ORGANIZATIONS The Pride Center 2040 N Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-463-9005 / pridecenterflorida.com Out of the Closet 2097 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-358-5580 / outofthecloset.org

Sunrise Pawnbrokers 3043 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954-563-3147 / SunrisePawn.com

Joe Grano Realtor 1881 NE 26th Street, Suite 212 Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-931-0031 / joegrano.com

REAL ESTATE Proudly serving the LGBT community since 2002

1400 E Oakland Pk Blvd Ste 201B Oakland Park FL 33334

WOLFE REAL ESTATE GROUP

Directly Across from LIPS Call us today!

954. 839. 8330

WolfeRealEstateGroup.com

March 31, 2016

PAWNBROKERS

Robert Geary MacKilligan on Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-234-8759 / rgmsell@aol.com

/floridaagenda

But I Need Closure...

March 24, 2016

When a chapter in our life ends, we like to find closure to help make sense of what has happened. We often experience this particular phenomena when a relationships ends. We try to have one last conversation or interaction with the other person in order to let go. We consider this closure. What happens if that person doesn’t want to speak with you or have a farewell conversation? How do you get closure? Closure is actually a state of mind you create based on the data and facts that are presented to you. In essence, closure is what you give yourself, not what By the other person gives you. James Think about Miller it logically, what words can the other person say to have this all make sense? What will an hour-long conversation do to ease your heartache? Somehow, after the interaction, you then decide you now have closure. But remember, it’s not what the other person gives you, but rather the mindset you created to start the healing process. I remember when one client, with whom I worked, was told she would hear from her recent ex very soon to have their last conversation. She assumed it would be later that week.

She never heard back from him. I explained this concept to her and asked her what specific words he could give her to make her feel better about the situation, or to give her insight about what went wrong. Since closure is something we give ourself, I had her write herself a very detailed letter expressing her feelings, heartache, and any other pertinent information she wanted to say in that last interaction. She gave herself the closure she needed. The majority of individuals have decided that the formula for moving on is to continue to communicate with the person one last time before they let go. Remember, the information you currently have is exactly what you need to move on. Of course, this does not take away from the pain and heartache from a breakup, but it gives you the power of what you choose to take away from the relationship. Keep in mind, someone refusing to talk to you is also just as powerful information as spoken words. All interactions, words, and behaviors, including silence, are relevant information for you to use to find your own version of closure.

There is nothing wrong with having one last interaction. However, if your motivation is such, where you can only move on, or need this conversation in order to heal, then you’ve given away your power to the other person. Your healing process, after you’ve given away your power, will be skewed and you will struggle to let go, sometimes for years. You are in essence telling them you will not move on until they give you want you want. Remember, if they have broken up with you, they are not obligated to have any more interactions with you. Waiting for someone, sometimes indefinitely, is one of the most painful things you can do to yourself. You are the person who gives yourself closure. No one can give this to you. It starts with you making a choice to let go. If a person left you, let them go. Their time in your life is over. You are a beautiful, wonderful person. Don’t give away your power waiting for them to give you closure. Give it to yourself. nn

James Miller is a licensed psychotherapist who is known for his weekly iTunes podcasts, YouTube channel, and his Academy where he teaches virtual classes for successful people to simplify and transform their lives. For consultation or for more information visit: www.JamesMillerLifeology.com.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

YOUR LIFE: AN OWNER’S MANUAL

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

n n n n n

WHERE DO YOU RATE YOURSELF? Let’s get the good news out of the way first: apparently, 3 million first dates happen every day. That’s 3 million chances of turning a casual encounter into something more meaningful. Three million chances for sparks to fly. Of course, it’s also 3 million chances to find the latest incompatible person in your life while continuing the slow trudge toward becoming one of the 5.4% of Americans who die having never married. Much more common than a first date, is the chance of it going nowhere. And while love does spring eternal, so does love’s nemesis: the nearly inevitable break-up. The Breakup Method

The Breakup Reasons

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

floridaagenda.com /floridaagenda

/floridaagenda

How Biophilia Can Keep You Horny and Healthy It’s probably not as kinky as you’re imagining, but an affinity for the great outdoors will keep you healthy, horny and thrivint.

March 24, 2016

We all know gay men can be kinky, so let’s make room for one more fetish— biophilia. Unlike other peccadilloes that require tolerance of pain, oversized props or unfortunate smells, biophilia is one I recommend everyone get into and engage in as frequently as possible. Sure, it’s also the name of a Björk album, and if you listen to it, she illustrates the word’s meaning: attraction or affinity for life itself. But it’s not just the selfish desire to be alive so we can engage in all the fun things that eventually kill us; it’s the connection to a greater life than us, nature in all its glory—forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans and the like. Trees and plants are big reasons why these places are so beneficial. They aren’t just pretty to look at, but they better our health by giving us oxygen to breathe, by making nutritious foods and by producing medicinal substances. They provide protection from the sun and give us wood to build things. But perhaps their most unknown benefit is that exposure to places with lots of flora is associated with better mental health. The Japanese have a word for it—shinrinyoku, or “forest bathing”—referring to the wellbeing found by spending time in nature. But it isn’t just the beautiful things we see that help us feel better. (Otherwise we could surround ourselves with ‘70s forest wallpaper and Star Trek holograms.) It’s also the things we inhale. The key may be negative ions. (If you just winced, chances are you were hoodwinked into buying a negative ion machine from an airplane catalog, only to be left with a thin layer of black particles on your curtains, walls and furniture.) Negative ions are odorless, tasteless and, except for the residue they create, invisible. Still, they pack a wallop. Ion researcher Michael Terman, PhD, of New York’s Columbia University, has found that negative ions relieve depression just as well as antidepressants in those

with Seasonal Affective Disorder or chronic depression. But the amount you need to lift your mood is unlikely to come from any machine. Most machines sold in those catalogs don’t produce enough negative ions to have an effect. So rather than shopping for a solution, unplug and go to the source—forests, parks and moving water, especially rivers, waves and waterfalls. That’s where negative ions are highest—where life is thriving. Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences researcher and Owners Manual for the Brain author Pierce J. Howard, PhD, says, “Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness and more mental energy.” Some even say it stimulates sexual desire and behavior. Maybe that’s why gay groups for hiking, camping and rafting, and events like gay ski weeks, do so well. They bring hot, sexy, outdoors-minded men together to have fun and enjoy nature as only a gay biophiliac can. Because most of us live in a concrete jungle, getting away to a place where nature is bigger than ourselves can bring us back to the source. So before you make an appointment with your doctor to get an antidepressant, maybe you should first call up your travel agent and set up two weeks in nature to see if that helps. Too shy to join your fellow men on a group vacation? Grab a sleeping bag and go enjoy nature on your own. If time is a problem, or perhaps even between vacations, local tree-covered spots like Griffith Park and Fryman Canyon can give you that biophilic fix to keep you feeling good. Last, keep in mind that you have a natural negative ion producer at your disposal anytime: your shower. Every time you rinse off, stop and take a deep negative ion-filled breath, thanking nature for providing the water that cleanses, fuels and heals you. Let’s just hope the drought police don’t get wind of your new fetish. nn

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

HEALTH FEATURE

n n n n n BY DR. GREG CASON

Outdoor Get-a-ways

SAWMILL CAMPING RESORT 21710 US Hwy 98 Dade City, FL 33523, (352) 583-0664, Reservations@flsawmill. com. Sawmill is America’s FIRST Gay Community and America’s first Gay Co-Op. Definitely one of the more popular gay campgrounds in Florida, Sawmill is a private membership, gay and lesbian campground/RV resort located in Dade City, one hour from Tampa and Orlando.

VITAMBI SPRINGS 28280 Etumakee Way Clewiston, FL 33440, (863) 983-8488, info@ vitambi.com. Up and coming all male gay resort, centrally located south of Lake Okeechobee. RESORT ON CAREFREE BOULEVARD 3000 Carefree Boulevard Fort Meyers, FL 33917, (239) 731-6366, sales@resortoncb. com. Lesbian RV camping resort on fifty tropical acres. Women only. CAMP MARS 326 Goff Road Venus, FL 33960, (863) 6996277, “Relax. You’re on Mars” is this gay campgrounds motto. This is indeed a relaxing and beautiful spot, situated on 40 acres and canopied by large oak trees. Membership only, 21+. CAMP DAVID 2000 South Bishop’s Point Road Inverness, FL 34450, (352) 3443445, CampDavidFl@ aol.com. Camp David is a private membership. That is clothing optional retreat which provides a natural environment for men to enjoy.

By Maura “Mumball” Lane

4 C whole milk 2 C heavy cream 1 t Kosher salt 3 T white vinegar

Pour milk and cream into a stainless steel pot. Stir in the salt. Bring to a full boil, stirring continuously. Turn off the heat and add vinegar. Let the mixture stand about a couple of minutes so that the curds separate from the whey. Pour the mixture into a cheeseclothlined sieve and let drain into a bowl for about a half-hour. The longer it drains, the thicker the ricotta becomes. It’s up to you how thick or thin you like it. It will keep in the fridge for six days. You can also make it from the whey left from making other cheeses, but if you just want to make really, really tasty Ricotta, this recipe from il Paesano is for you. Enjoy!

floridaagenda.com

Ricotta is a creamy white, mild, fresh cheese with a soft texture and a slightly sweet flavor. Traditional Italian cheese-makers originally produced Ricotta from whey left behind in the making of Mozzarella and Provolone (Ricotta translates to “re-cooked”). At il Paesano, its fresh Ricotta is made by using whole Pasteurized milk and heavy cream, with the addition of Kosher salt and white vinegar which forms the curd. Good Ricotta is firm but not solid, and consists of a mass of fine, moist, delicate granules.

/floridaagenda

RICOTTA CHEESE

/floridaagenda

SECRET RECIPE SERIES

IL PAESANO ITALIAN CAFÉ DELI & WINE MARKET 2645 E OAKLAND PARK BLVD FORT LAUDERDALE FL 33306

March 31, 2016

Homemade Fresh Ricotta Cheese

FRIVOLIST

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

n n n n n BY MIKEY ROX

Government Cheese: Getting a well-deserved kickback from the IRS this year? Spend your tax refund gay-ly with these fey ways to enjoy that new stash of cash.

y Spend the weekend at a ‘family’-style campground

March 24, 2016

Your idea of gay camping is likely that one time you and your dude banged it out a la Brokeback Mountain under a tent at a local KOA, but there are actually entire campgrounds and sprawling wilderness resorts dedicated to hosting LGBT people for weekend getaways. You can find gay- and lesbianonly and even mixed-crowd sites across the country – some of which are clothing optional – by visiting Gay Camp USA online. The directory distinguishes between male- and female-exclusive locations, and lets you know which grounds are simply gay-friendly, if you prefer a little more inclusion.

Venture to Vegas for Britney, Mariah, Celine or J. Lo

With four of the biggest names in pop music on the bill in Vegas, the decision is not whether to book a trip to Sin City but rather who to see – first. Between shows, pop over to Luxor for its Temptations Sunday gay pool party, which runs from May 15 to September 25; grab a bite in the glittering Cosmopolitan (affordable French restaurant Comme Ca is always a solid choice); or make it rain on go-go boys at off-the-Strip Share, a local favorite for flirty dancers and reliable DJs.

Pick a new Pride celebration to attend this summer

If you take your gay pride seriously, show it off in a different city this year. Pride parades and other festivities are held all over the country – in municipalities large and small – to help you get in the spirit of telling whoever’s watching that you’re queer and you’re here. For a few under-the-radar ideas, check out this list of “Big Prides in small regions.”

Get your hair did, nails buffed, booty massaged. You probably need a little dusting off after a long winter, anyway.

floridaagenda.com

Gather your besties for a ballgame

Mikey Rox is an awardwinning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon.

One of my favorite all-time activities is going to the ballpark – mostly due to the baseball players’ ample butts (I’m lookin’ at you, Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy!) – because there’s nothing quite like kicking back and enjoying a beer, a brat and a few hours of America’s pastime with my buddies. I have a goal to visit all the Major League stadiums and parks (there’s a difference) before age 40, and this summer I’ll be halfway there. Take a portion of your tax refund and support your local team (major or minor; AAA clubs need your love, too) this season. Say hi if you see me; I’ll be the guy flying my phone number in paper airplanes out onto the field.

March 31, 2016

Cover a wall with exquisite paper, paint a room a vibrant color, sell off old art and buy new works, and swap out worn furniture for a few fresh pieces. I recently did a bit of redecorating myself, and I’ll let you in on a little secret: If you’re making an expensive purchase (like multiple pieces of furniture), buy the items in store opposed to online. I saved more than $500 in shipping fees and surcharges – and received 20 percent off two pricey items in store that didn’t qualify for the deal online – by shopping in person.

y Splurge – and do a little redecorating

Have a few “honey-do” projects around the house but don’t have a honey to do them? Farm the work out – hunky college students are generally willing to strap on a tool belt for a few hours for a decent wage – to start crossing items off your list. Don’t forget to tip.

Book a room at fine accommodations for you and old boy – or a new on-the-go beau (or both!) – to shake up your sex life. Pack a few toys, create a sexy playlist, and go at it like two grizzly bears in heat since you don’t have to wash the sheets.

Hire a hot handyman to play Mr. Fix It

/floridaagenda

A couple Frivolists ago I recommended a double handful of LGBTthemed or -written books for your spring reading list. Pick up a few of those, or strike out on your own to find a few underrated titles that support our community of incredible authors.

Rent a hotel room for a naughty nearby getaway

Pamper yourself from head to toe, boo

/floridaagenda

Pick up a few great LGBT books for spring reading

/floridaagenda

nevents nnightlife ntheatre nexhibits n

KATHY GRIFFIN

THURSDAY 3/31 @ 8:00PM Broward Center LGBT activist Kathy Griffin is known for her abrasive, no-holds-barred attacks on both celebrity culture and conservative politics. Her popularity stemmed from story-filled stand-up specials on Bravo combined with her reality program My Life on the D-List during the early naughties. From there, she became an empire, respected by the entire entertainment industry. 8:00 p.m. Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 201 SW Fifth Ave. Fort Lauderdale. 33312.

DURAN DURAN

MARGARET CHO

March 24, 2016

FRIDAY 4/01 @ 8:30PM Improv The star of the cancelled and notoriously difficult to produce TV series All American Girl has grown into a rebel and an LGBT icon. The hot-button comic is known for pushing the envelope while promoting liberal causes. Openly bisexual, Cho explicitly discusses her own sexuality on stage while throwing shade at the homophobes in America. 8:30 p.m. Improv Fort Lauderdale. 5700 Seminole Way. Fort Lauderdale. 33314.

n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

SATURDAY 4/02 @ 8:00PM Duncan Theatre Inhuman bodily contortions typifies the dance group Pilobolus. Using interlocking bodies and intricate movements, Pilobolus astounds with topsy-turvy entanglements defying anatomical logic. You may remember them from the 79th Annual Academy Awards where they gamboled into various poses representing the films of that year: Happy Feet, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Departed. 8:00 p.m. Duncan Theatre. 4200 Congress Ave. Lake Worth. 33461.

n DIEGO AND DREW SAY I DO

SATURDAY 4/02 @ 8:00PM Broward Center Diego Torres and Andrew Boudreaux III’s wedding is sure to be a fantastic and conflict-ridden event. Their two eccentric, yet lovable families unite along with an uptight wedding planner, an ex-boy band crooner, and a diva in drag. The audience members become wedding guests and are able to trade zingers with Big Daddy, participate in the ceremony, and enjoy a Southern/ Puerto Rican feast. The meal includes arroz con pollo, shrimp and grits, wedding cake, and a champagne toast. 8:00 p.m. Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 201 SW Fifth Ave. Fort Lauderdale. 33312.

SCREEN SAVOR

BY GREGG SHAPIRO

PILOBOLUS

FRIDAY 4/01 @ 8:00PM Bayfront Park Amphitheatre One of a number of heavily MTV-promoted British bands during the music channel’s early days in the 1980s, Duran Duran were famous for their new wave sound and their pretty boy image. Huge hits like “Rio,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” and “Girls on Film” contributed to the bandmates becoming major heartthrobs across the world. Since that time, the group had disbanded before reuniting in the early 2000s. 8:00 p.m. Bayfront Park Amphitheater. 301 N. Biscayne Blvd. Miami. 33132.

By Patrick Robert

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

T he Week entertainment calendar

COMMODORES

SUNDAY 4/03 @ 7:00PM Seminole Casino Coconut Creek When the members of the Commodores first met at the Tuskegee Institute in the 1960s, Motown history was made. The funk/soul band would open for The Jackson 5 and then become mega-stars in their own right. With lead singer Lionel Richie in their corner, the group crafted such hits as “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady,” “Nightshift,” and “Brick House.” 7:00 p.m. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. 5550 NW 40th St. Coconut Creek. 33073.

confluence of operatic proportions is taking place this year. Gay writer Alexander Chee’s near-epic novel Queen of the Night has been well-received by critics and is selling briskly. In the movie Florence Foster Jenkins, Meryl Streep portrays the titular New York heiress, known as the world’s worst singer. Before the Streep movie opens in theaters this spring, we have the French film Marguerite (Cohen Media), directed and co-written by Xavier Giannoli. Marguerite, separated into five chapters, finds the middle ground between humor and pathos as it introduces us to delusional opera lover Baroness Marguerite Dumont (a fabulous Catherine Frot) in early 1920s Paris. Not content just to be a devotee, Marguerite insists on being a participant, performing at the Amadeus Music Club’s intimate charity concerts at her mansion. She’s a laughing stock, plain and simple. But she has her loyal protectors, including her unfaithful husband Georges (André Marcon ) and her faithful chauffeur/photographer/accompanist Madelbos (Denis Mpunga). Young journalist Lucien (Sylvain Dieuaide) and his revolutionary artist friend Kyril (Aubert Fenoy), see Marguerite as their ticket to taking down everything they hate about haughty society folk, and encourage the deluded diva to bring her act to a larger audience, in a nightclub and later in a concert hall. Lucien even arranges to have Marguerite trained by desperate gay tenor Pezzini (Michel Fau), who has a hard time disguising his distaste for her lack of singing abilities. Because no one will tell Marguerite the truth, she insists on going forth with her concert plans. That’s where things get complicated, including a sudden decline in both Marguerite’s physical and mental health. While at least 30 minutes too long, Marguerite is worth seeing for Frot’s performance alone. Brava, diva!

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

FILM

floridaagenda.com

n n n n n BY GREGG SHAPIRO

entertainment calendar

/floridaagenda

T he Week

/floridaagenda

nevents ntheatre

40TH ANNUAL CARBONELL AWARDS

SUNDAY 4/04 @ 7:30PM Broward Center The 40th Annual Carbonell Awards honors the local theatre that has electrified South Floridian audiences in the past year. Similar to the Tony Awards, the ceremony includes production numbers from the nominated shows. The ceremony also hopes to raise scholarship money for South Floridian art students. 7:30 p.m. Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 201 SW Fifth Ave. Fort Lauderdale. 33312.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has almost as much extraneous retelling and rehashing of old ideas and material as it does new concepts. In fact, it probably could have been at least an hour shorter (and possibly more entertaining) if it had been edited properly.

44 March 24, 2016

As our story begins, we see the impact that the destruction

that occurred at the end of 2013’s hideous Man of Steel on Gotham City. Eighteen months later, Bruce Wayne still hasn’t forgiven Superman, whom he holds responsible for the devastation and loss of life. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (poor Jesse Eisenberg, who appears to have his crazy eyes on the same prize awarded – posthumously – to Heath Ledger) has unearthed enough Kryptonite to bring about the demise of Superman and allow him to rule the world in his uniquely evil way. Luthor’s series of violent plans (including a bombing of the Capitol in DC) don’t actually help him achieve his goal, so he mounts the ultimate grudge match – Batman versus Superman. When that unsurprisingly backfires, he releases Doomsday, the kryptonite powered monster he created in one of his CHALuthor Corp labs to do the deed. CHING

As of March 27, 2016, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has grossed $170.1 million in North America and $254 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $424.1 million, which is the biggest for a superhero film, the second biggest for Warner Bros. and the fourth biggest of all time.

Amy Adams, as Superman’s main squeeze Lois Lane, is completely wasted here. Lengthy chase and fight scenes only serve to illustrate that there’s no substance to the movie. The introduction of other laughable Justice League characters, including Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, is handled so poorly as to be utterly ridiculous. Plus, all the overt religious symbolism, including, but not limited to, multiple references to God and saviors, as well as the use of the name Martha (remember her from the New Testament?), makes you wonder if the movie was bankrolled by the LDS. DC now officially stands for “disastrous clusterfuck.”

LIVING COLOUR

JENNIFER HOLLIDAY

TUESDAY 4/05 @ 7:00PM Revolution Live MTV and 1980s alternative rock staple Living Colour is best known for their smash hit “Cult of Personality.” That catchy song and video earned the group a Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy Award and a Best New Artist MTV Video Music Award. Their style fuses heavy metal, funk, jazz, and hip hop into an eclectic, critically-acclaimed mix. 7:00 p.m. Revolution Live. 100 SW Third Ave. Fort Lauderdale. 33312.

ave your money and save your time (153 minutes worth), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (WB), in IMAX no less, is a mindmelting muddle. Shame on everyone involved, beginning with hack director Zack Snyder (who needs an abundance of violence and special effects in his movies to cover for the fact that he can’t actually direct) and Oscar-winning (!) screenwriter Chris Terrio who should have called this mess Cape Fear.

Here are some interesting facts that non-fanboys can learn in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Metropolis, where the hot adult Clark Kent aka Superman (Henry Cavil) resides, is just across the bay from Gotham City, where rich but miserable Bruce Wayne aka Batman (ruining yet another comic book movie franchise) has lived his whole life. In spite of being symbols of light (Superman) and dark (Batman), Clark and Bruce have more in common than you might think, including that their mothers are both named Martha!

nnightlife nexhibits

WEDNESDAY 4/06 @ 8:00PM Aventura Arts Center Before Jennifer Hudson put her mark on the legendary role of Effie in Dreamgirls, Jennifer Holliday owned the role. Her wildly popular performance in the musical not only earned her a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, but her rendition of the R&B/pop hit “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” also won her a Grammy. 8:00 p.m. Aventura Arts and Cultural Center. 3385 NE 188th St. Aventura. 33180.

/floridaagenda /floridaagenda floridaagenda.com

LEATHER AND

SO MUCH MORE!

March 31, 2016

WWW.LEATHERWERKS.COM

Copyright © 2016 The Werks Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Werks, LeatherWerks, PaddleWerks, Lifestyle Club, BootWerks and “Where Leather is a Lifestyle” are Registered Trademarks of The Werks Company, LLC

March 24, 2016

46 /floridaagenda

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com

March 31, 2016

March 24, 2016

48 /floridaagenda

/floridaagenda

floridaagenda.com