Agenda 040115 issue 280 by Multi-Media Platforms

SAME-SEX PARENTS TO CREATE BABIES FROM SKIN CELLS WITHIN TWO YEARS

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NATION

Gov. Pence In Political Firestorm Over Indiana Religious Rights Law WASHINGTON (AP) - Just a week ago, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was considered one of the few Republican presidential prospects who could unite the GOP’s business wing with religious conservatives. Today, his standing with both groups is threatened as the national backlash intensifies over his state’s law on religious freedom. Pence spent much of Wednesday behind closed doors to pursue “a fix” to legislation he signed six days earlier. Business leaders have been among the most aggressive critics of the law, which was cheered by the GOP’s evangelical wing as a needed protection for business owners should they refuse services to same-sex couples on religious grounds. Pence, lesser known than some Republican White House prospects, has become the central figure in the contentious debate, offering him both opportunities and risks just as the 2016 presidential primary season begins and he decides whether to run. Yet so far, the debate is deepening the very divisions within his party that he hoped to bridge. “Pence was the guy who theoretically could bring the business community together with the evangelical community, but now they are at each other’s throats,” said veteran Republican strategist John Feehery. “This whole thing has been a complete disaster.” The backlash in Indiana has quickly spread to other states where Republicans hoped to enact similar laws. In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday called for changes to similar legislation that has been sent to his desk, saying it wasn’t intended to sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation. The governor noted that his son was among those who signed a petition asking him to veto the initial proposal. “This is a bill that in ordinary times would not be controversial, but these are not ordinary times,” Hutchinson said.

Similar measures in North Carolina and Georgia are also facing new scrutiny as a result of the Indiana fallout. Last week, Pence signed the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act, giving heightened protections when businesses or individuals object on religious grounds to providing certain services. Critics of the law say the intent is to discriminate against gays. They fear, for example, that caterers, florists, photographers and bakers with religious objections to same-sex marriage will be allowed to refuse to do business with gay couples. Supporters of the law say it will only give religious objectors a chance to bring their case before a judge. Caught off guard by the intensity of the criticism, Pence on Tuesday called on state lawmakers to amend the Indiana law by the end of the week to clarify that it does not discriminate against gays. Conservative bloggers and religious conservatives across the country who last week praised Pence’s leadership on the issue lashed out at the governor for bowing to pressure. Pence, a former congressman, has long been popular among evangelical voters, although he has largely focused on economic issues since winning election to his first term in 2012. He’s pushed tax cuts for businesses, promoted

expansions of voucher programs and charter schools, and emphasized job growth and the budget surplus. Pence stayed on the sidelines in 2014 as a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage failed in the Republican-dominated Legislature. Federal courts later legalized gay marriage in the state. His focus on the economy did not help him in this week’s debate, however. Leading companies such as Wal-Mart , Apple, Gap and Levi Strauss spoke out against the religious-objections legislation, and a group of technology executives from companies such as Yelp and Twitter called for the addition of nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to civil rights laws. The business website Angie’s List, led by a prominent Republican donor, was among nine Indiana-based companies “deeply concerned about the impact it is having on our employees and on the reputation of our state,” according to a letter to Pence this week. Pence’s strongest support came from the class of Republican presidential prospects. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry defended Pence and the Indiana law in recent days.

Leading Republican donor Fred Malek said Pence earned the respect of business leaders and conservatives alike throughout his year in public office. “I think he’s being unfairly criticized,” Malek said. “He’s doing the right thing.”

Indiana Relgious Rights Debate Exposes GOP Divisions

WASHINGTON (AP) - It is a debate many Republicans hoped to avoid. But as the backlash intensifies over a so-called religious freedom law in Indiana, the GOP’s leading White House contenders have been drawn into a messy clash that highlights the party’s strong opposition to same-sex marriage and threatens to inject social issues into the early stages of the 2016 presidential primary season. The debate has also energized Democrats nationwide while exposing sharp divisions between Republicans and local business leaders who oppose a law that critics say allows business owners to deny services to same-sex couples on religious grounds. “It’s been a tough week,” Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said in a Tuesday

Arkansas Gov. Urges Changes To Religious Objection Bill

Analysis: Arkansas Bill Tests LGBT Economic Argument

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - When Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced his pick to lead the state’s economic development agency, his intent was to tout efforts to lure more jobs and compete internationally in the hunt for companies. Instead, he spent a good part of his news conference discussing his support for a religious protection law that critics say will lead to widespread discrimination against gays and lesbians. It was the latest sign of how the fight over the proposed “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” is testing an effort by gay rights supporters to turn the fight over anti-discrimination laws and same-sex marriage into a financial debate, not a social one. From touting businesses that embrace anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity to targeting the types of high-tech firms Hutchinson hopes to lure to the state, advocacy groups hope to enlist the help of business interests that typically have had more clout before the state Legislature. The bill advanced by the Senate last week would prohibit any state or local government action that infringes upon someone’s religious beliefs unless a “compelling” interest was proven. If

signed into law, it would make Arkansas the second this year to enact such a law, while other states consider similar proposals. “This is a concerted effort by a hateful political faction to say that Arkansas does not welcome all its citizens, sending a clear message that this state is not open for business and all this is happening on Gov. Hutchinson’s watch,” Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said at a news conference last week. Griffin criticized the governor as he stood next to a copy of an advertisement his group planned to run in Silicon Valley that featuring a “Closed for Business Due to Discrimination” sign hanging on a door. He spokes moments after Hutchinson had announced Mike Preston as the state’s new economic development director. Hutchinson faced questions over his support for a measure a month after expressing reservations about potential unintended consequences. The Republican governor said he believed the legislation, which faces a final vote in the House this week, balanced those concerns with religious protections. “I think it’s a bill that puts a high priority on religious freedom and recognizes that as a part of the balance,” the governor said. HRC and other groups are hoping the same type of backlash from businesses that led to Arizona’s governor vetoing similar legislation last year will lead Hutchinson to change his mind. They’ve noted comments from retail giant Wal-Mart, which said the measure sends the wrong message about Arkansas, and touted opposition by high-tech companies such as Apple and Yelp. It mirrors the strategy in Indiana, where the NCAA has expressed concerns about an identical measure signed into law last week. It also follows efforts by HRC to promote support for same-sex marriage as a business issue, with the state’s former economic chief announcing his support for gay marriage two years ago.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday called for changes to a religious objection measure facing a backlash from businesses and gay rights groups, saying it wasn’t intended to sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Republican governor said he wants changes to the bill lawmakers sent him prohibiting state and local government from infringing upon someone’s religious beliefs without a compelling interest. Hutchinson said he wants the Legislature to either recall the bill or pass a follow-up measure to make the proposal more closely mirror a 1993 federal religious freedom law. Hutchinson had initially supported the bill and on Tuesday his office had said he planned to sign it into law. The move comes after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a similar measure into law last week. Pence this week said he wants follow-up legislation to

address concerns that the law allows businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Similar proposals have been introduced in more than a dozen states, patterned after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Nineteen other states have similar laws on the books. Echoing the reaction to Indiana’s law, Hutchinson has faced pressure from the state’s top employers, including retail giant Wal-Mart, which complained that the measure was discriminatory and would stifle economic development. Little Rock’s mayor, the city’s Chamber of Commerce and Arkansas-based data services company Acxiom all urged the governor to reject the measure in recent days.

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Last week, Pence signed the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act, giving heightened protections when businesses or individuals object on religious grounds to providing certain services. Critics of the law say the intent is to discriminate against gays. They fear, for example, that caterers, florists, photographers and bakers with religious objections to same-sex marriage will be allowed to refuse to do business with gay couples. Supporters of the law say it will only give religious objectors a chance to bring their case before a judge. Similar proposals have been introduced in more than a dozen states - Arkansas, Georgia and North Carolina, among them - patterned after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Nineteen other states have similar laws. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a pro-business Republican, has criticized such a proposal in his state, telling The Associated Press on Tuesday that he’s yet to see evidence of a problem the bill purports to fix.

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press conference. He called for a legislative fix to address what he called a perception problem just five days after signing the bill into law. It is a huge moment for Pence, a Republican presidential prospect himself, who has become the public face of the contentious law. It is also a critical time for the Republican Party, which has recently played down its opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage to help attract more women and younger voters before the next presidential election. Polling suggests a majority of the American electorate supports gay marriage, but the most conservative Republicans do not. “It’s a total head-scratcher,” former Illinois Republican chairman Pat Brady said of the GOP presidential hopefuls who defended the law. “We’re trying to attract voters and win elections. We can’t scare people away.” Yet the Republican 2016 presidential class overwhelmingly defended the new law, breaking with local business leaders in favor of conservatives across the country who cheered such laws as a necessary response to overreach by the Obama administration. “I think Gov. Pence has done the right thing,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a Monday radio interview. He said the law was “simply allowing people of faith space to be able to express their beliefs.” Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday tweeted: “I stand with” Pence, and “Religious freedom is worth protecting.” “We must stand with those who stand up for religious freedoms,” former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who announced his GOP presidential campaign last week, said the Indiana governor was “holding the line to protect religious liberty” in his state. Some economic-minded Republicans saw it another way. “It takes our eye off the really important things to most people in this country: jobs, the economy and our security,” said Ronald Weisner, former finance chairman for the Republican National Committee. “That’s probably not the best thing for our party as a whole.”

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NATION

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No Cruz Control on This Presidential Country Road

dential race, Cruz is the sole fodder for social media satirists. Their parodies are often indistinguishable from many of the senator’s actual statements, a phenomenon that is equal parts hilarious and disturbing. Cruz’s presidential prospects are significantly hindered, however, by his unpopularity within the Republican party. When Cruz took to the Senate floor last summer to quasi-filibuster the Affordable Care Act for 21 hours, this so infuriated his colleges that Senator John McCain labeled him a “wacko bird.” (Ironically, the Cruz family is now about to collect health coverage under the Act he tried to destroy.) Meddling in the laws of the District of Columbia certainly won Cruz no friends in the staunchly Democratic stronghold. Days before announcing his presidential run, Cruz made his move to upend the District’s Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014. The current law, brought by then council member, Tommy Wells, [ ] overturns an exemption that had allowed reli-

giously affiliated educational institutions to discriminate against gay and lesbian student groups. Although the “disapproval resolution,” has virtually no chance of succeeding, this kind of outside interference in DC lawmaking has outraged local political leaders. “Senator Cruz does not believe in equal rights for all citizens, whether it is the voting rights of Washington, DC residents or the right not to discriminate against members of our LGBT community,” Wells told the Agenda. “A lot of people have used DC for their own personal ideological agendas and it’s why DC needs the rights of a state to protect the rights of it citizens.” Flaunting his extreme ideological agenda is a favorite Cruz pastime. So, apparently, is listening to country music. In a fatuous sound bite that handed yet more fodder to talk show hosts, Cruz proclaimed during a March 24 “CBS This Morning” interview that he switched his musical tastes from classic rock to country because

“on 9/11, I didn’t like how rock music responded. And country music -collectively -- the way they responded, it resonated with me.” For many who remembered the starstudded post-9/11 rock concerts in New York and elsewhere, this was a definite “huh?” moment. Cruz might feel right at home with his new-found country music friends, some of whom are currently up in arms over the recent Little Big Town single, “Girl Crush.” But only for a while. The song describes a spurned and now jealous girlfriend, but the lyrics convinced some listeners that it is a lesbian anthem, prompting angry phone calls and emails to remove the song from station playlists. Then along came the nation’s most popular country music radio host, Billy Bones, declaring on the air that “it shouldn’t even matter if it’s a lesbian song.” I wonder which musical genre Cruz will defect to next?

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ust days before declaring his candidacy for the presidency, ultra-conservative Texas Republican senator, Ted Cruz, led an assault on a Washington, DC law that protects gay rights. No friend to the LGBT community, this largely grandstanding move came as no surprise. The son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister, Cruz has never met a pulpit from which he can’t bully or preach. Gay rights, and especially marriage equality, are a favorite target. At the Texas Republican Convention in June 2014, he even invoked prayer to defeat gay marriage laws: “If ever there was an issue on which we should come to our knees to God about, it is preserving marriage of one man and one woman,” Cruz said. In his home state, Cruz led efforts to deny Texas couples marriage equality while in the Senate he has supported a constitutional amendment that would prevent the federal government from recognizing marriage equality. Until other contenders join the presi-

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SUNSHINE STATE Aetna Changes HIV Drug Policy Amid Complaint About Cost

TALLAHASSEE (AP) - Aetna has agreed to change its prescription drug policy to ensure that Florida consumers with HIV and AIDS can access their medications at lower costs. Friday’s announcement followed complaints last year alleging that Aetna and three other insurance companies are violating the Affordable Care Act by structuring their Florida insurance plans to discourage consumers with HIV and AIDS from choosing those plans. The companies were placing drugs in special categories requiring patients to pay expensive co-insurance instead of a flat co-pay. The HIV and AIDS drugs will be moved into a lower cost category in June. The decision also affects Aetna’s health plans sold by Coventry. Humana, Cigna and Preferred Medical Plan announced similar changes last year. Florida health insurance officials have been reviewing health plans and negotiating with insurance companies since receiving the complaints.

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SBA Launches Development Initiative For LGBT Businesses FORT LAUDERDALE -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a nationwide effort to grow LGBT businesses, including here in South Florida. The LGBT Business Builder Initiative is being rolled out in cooperation with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and locally with the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The intent is to bring these businesses into the fold so that they can tap SBA development programs and access private, public and international contract opportunities like other U.S. minority companies currently do.

SBA reports that approximately 1.4 million businesses in the U.S. now identify as LGBT. Part of the initiative involves getting certified as a LGBT business through NGLCC. One requirement to become certified is that an enterprise must be 51 percent-owned by a U.S. LGBT citizen. It also has to be in good standing with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The NGLCC certification process can take between one to four months. Many large U.S. corporations such as American Airlines and Northrop Grumman seek out underrepresented businesses in order to fulfill the requirements of their internal supplier diversity programs. The NGLCC certification process helps LGBT businesses become better candidates for these contracts. The role of each chamber at the national and local levels is to help connect the SBA with businesses around the country and here in South Florida. Emon Reiser from the South Florida Business Journal contributed to this report.

Study: Discrimination Costs Florida Employers $362 Million FORT LAUDERDALE -- Workplace discrimination against LGBT employees in Florida costs employers more than $362 million a year, according to a recent report by a coalition of major employers in the state. The report was commissioned by Equality Means Business. It includes interviews with several top executives from nationally recognized businesses based in Florida, links business leaders’ concerns over the state’s ability to compete with financial losses in productivity and employee turnover. Other key findings include: Florida has a reputation of being hostile toward diversity that impedes the ability of business to attract talent. More than 60 percent of LGB employees, and more than 80 percent of transgender employees in Florida, have experienced discrimination in the workplace. “We’ve long said that discrimination takes a toll on our economy, and

we now know that price tag is millions of dollars lost,” said Nadine Smith, co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida. “It is clearly in the state’s interests to provide equal protection for all employees against discrimination.” Executives participating in the report stated they see nondiscrimination protections as common sense and non-negotiable, especially among the younger generation of workers, including those who do not identify as LGBT. Senior executives have found that millennials are flocking to workplaces where they believe their values are reflected, and suggest they want a company culture that treats all people fairly. The full report is available online at eqfl.org/emb/economic_impact_study.

Polls Finds Most Floridians Support Same-Sex Marriage FORT LAUDERDALE -- A recent poll found that a vast majority of Floridians support same-sex marriaage “Gay marriage becoming legal in Florida doesn’t seem to be doing anyone much harm,” says Public Policy Polling, a widely respected research firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Eightyone percent of voters in the state say it’s either had a positive impact on their lives or no impact at all, with just 20 percent claiming that it’s affected them negatively.” Even among Republican voters, whose party has long argued against marriage equality, more than seven in 10 said marriage equality had affected them positively or not at all. The poll of registered voters was conducted between March 19 and 22, a little more than two months after federal courts ruled the state’s 2008 ban unconstitutional. Same-sex became legal in Florida on Jan. 6. The U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing cases from several states in April and then make a national ruling on the issue by July.

Tampa Pride Parade Returns To Ybor City After 13 Years FORT LAUDERDALE -- A recent poYBOR CITY — When the Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously not to acknowledge, promote or participate in annual gay pride celebrations, that decision 10 years ago sparked lawsuits and condemnation. It was made out of fear, ignorance and hate, said Congresswoman Kathy Castor, R-Tampa, who was the only commissioner to oppose the ban at the time. “That’s not a reflection of our community at all.” The inaugural Tampa Pride Parade returned to Ybor City this weekend after a 13-year hiatus and attracted thousands of people wearing colors of the rainbow flag. “It’s been a long time coming,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn said. “I couldn’t be happier to be the mayor in office when we bring back the Tampa Pride Parade.” The parade wound down Ybor’s 7th Avenue with participants tossing beads to the crowd who were gathered on both sides of the street. Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor, the department’s first female chief and who is openly gay, was co-grand marshal this year with Hamburger Mary’s restaurant owner Kurt King. “I apologize for not wearing something a little more colorful,” Castor said, pointing to her blue police uniform. The county commission’s ban was overturned in June 2013, thanks to the work of openly gay Commissioner Kevin Beckner. “It was one of the darkest days in our county’s history,” he said. Elizabeth Behrman of the Tampa Tribune contributed to this report.

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FORT LAUDERDALE--C. Lawrence (Larry) Rutstein has been appointed to the board of Multimedia Platforms Inc., the parent company of Guy magazine and Agenda newspaper. Following several decades of practicing corporate, banking and securities law in Philadelphia, PA, Larry Rutstein has spent the last 27 years involved in financing and operating a number of public and private companies. From 2006 - 2012 he served as Senior Vice President of Patriot Rail Corp, a private acquirer of short line and regional railroads in the US, and has continued consulting with both public and private companies on their financial and corporate strategies. “Multimedia Platforms is a company that I believe will be remembered as having been the right business in the right place at the right point in history,” said Rutstein. “Bobby Blair’s leadership in this company, and the LGBT community at large, sets the stage for MMP to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the current political developments. The LGBT community is beginning to flex its muscles, and Multimedia Platforms is prepared to bring mainstream media to a waiting global community,” added Rutstein. “Mr. Rutstein’s wealth of legal experience in financial structuring and corporate investments bring an invaluable strength to the company,” stated Bobby Blair, CEO of Multimedia Platforms Inc. “Larry Rutstein will bring to MMP his relationships with the highest level of investors and financial institutions, as well as advising on corporate strategies and financial infrastructure from a legal perspective,” Blair added. Larry Rutstein graduated from Harvard Law School in 1968. Mr. Rutstein will serve Multimedia Platforms Inc. as a consultant, advising management as to operating, financial and exit strategies.

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C. Lawrence Rutstein Appointed To Board Of Multimedia Platforms Inc

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INTERNATIONAL

Obama to Visit Jamaica; LGBT Issues a Potential Topic KINGSTON, JM (AP) Jamaica’s prime minister says President Barack Obama will visit the Caribbean country next month, though there has been no word on whether the President will address the island country’s abysmal LGBT record. Portia Simpson Miller told lawmakers last week that Obama will pay a state visit to Jamaica on April 9 before departing for Panama to attend the Summit of the Americas. That regional summit is scheduled for April 10-11. As for raising the issue of LGBT rights, Ned Price, spokesman for the National Security Council told the Washington Blade, “We are committed to advancing human rights for all, including LGBT individuals. Indeed, we routinely raise issues of anti-LGBT discrimination and violence with foreign counterparts, including the Jamaican government.” During his one-day visit to Jamaica, Simpson Miller says the island will host a meeting between Obama and heads of the Caribbean Community political grouping for discussions on security, trade and other topics. April 01, 2015

She says her government is “delighted that President Obama will be visiting Jamaica at this time.”

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BY RICHARD HACK

COVER

Trantalis Labels Florida Legislature a “Renegade House of Comics” Over Transgender Toilet Debate It took hours and hours for Florida’s Single Sex Public Facilities Act to move past its second hurdle on its way to becoming law last week. That’s the controversial bill that would make it a crime for transgender adults to use a single-sex public restroom if they were not born a biological member of that sex. And last week, the House Government Operations Subcommittee approved the measure by a vote of 7-4, mostly along party lines. The bill is sponsored by Miami Republican Rep. Frank Artiles who says his Act was created out of a concern for public safety. In a blog post, Artiles states: “The goal of HB 583 is not to discriminate against any group or individual, but rather to ensure the public’s safety in the State of Florida.” Given that the Legislature in Florida meets for only 60 days each year to decide as many as 1,700 new bills and the rewriting of current laws, the amount of effort that has been expounded on the “toilet law” seems disproportionate. Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis made his position clear in an opinion piece exclusive to the Agenda. “Florida has had its share of challenges, and from time to time, issues that we confront will make national, and even international news,” Trantalis feels. “Now we are confronting that very terrible scourge that has plagued our people to the brink of our moral ledge—who gets to use the men’s and ladies’ public bathroom?” It sounds like a joke, but unfortunately, the situation is all too real. “A certain state representative from Miami claims that he is being inundated by complaints from women all over that they fear that while they are using the restroom, when they are their most vulnerable, exposing to the world not just their tender derriere, but the brand of mascara they use as they freshen up before the next course, they fear the presence of a transgendered person. “I guess I can understand the sheer

fright that grips a woman as she stands side-by-side in front of a mirror in the lady’s room. The first thing that comes to mind is that the woman realizes that the transgender is probably prettier than she is. Without a hair out of place, and the makeup all fresh and artistically applied, there’s no doubt jealousy rips through her core at the very sight of the soles on her mirror mate’s Louboutins. “Fear, I say fear, has rankled women from the Panhandle to South Beach. Men, too, fear that a woman, dressed as a guy, will penetrate that bastion reserved only for real men. Really??” Trantelis questions, tongue firmly in cheek. “The last time I ever saw a woman in amen’s room was at the airport when that little Peruvian lady tried to tidy up around some very sloppy men as they

come and go doing their business. I can tell you, she needs no law to tell her to stay out of there, but for her it’s a job. “The real question is how do we know the birth sex of anyone entering a public restroom? If the state passes this law, will it fund a posse of potty patrollers, checking to see who’s “real” and who isn’t? And just how is that to be done? Maybe we can ask every guy to tug down their trousers a bit so we can see the label on their underwear. That’s a dead giveaway.” Or maybe not. One thing is perfectly clear. To our transgender friends from both sexes, it is a very real problem with no puns or jokes attached. “It’s plenty clear that the folks in Tallahassee have nothing better to do. They seem to think that their voting public is more interested in their taking

one more swipe at an oppressed minority than they are in creating more jobs, fighting juvenile crime, and helping us address the daunting threat of rising sea levels. (Oh yeah, that’s right, they don’t believe in that.) “Yet somehow we are obsessed with bathroom issues. I’m sure Freud would have a field day with this topic, but then, he’s deceased and we are again subjected to a renegade House of comics. This proposed law has nothing to do with the fear of any person but rather that of a politician fearing that he or she may not get re-elected if they don’t create yet another societal demon upon which to lay blame for their own failures.” Yes, the truth hurts. But then, so too does common sense.

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countryside, from outside of Washington.” Quite a mouthful. What confuses me, fresh from the memory of that Hawaiian sunset and all, is how Paul can repeatedly say (with a completely straight face), “You’ll find nobody in Congress doing more for minority rights than me right now – Republican or Democrat.” So…if I can recap, Paul doesn’t believe in same-sex marriage, he thinks the country is in a moral crisis, and he thinks gay rights are hooey because he doesn’t believe in rights based on behavior. Yet, he’s doing more for minority rights than any other Republican or Democrat on the face of the earth. I have to wonder out loud where these minorities are and just rights do they have that he’s protecting. The right to keep and bear arms. Paul likes that one. Oh wait, that is based on behavior, since in order to have that right, one needs to keep and bear, well, There’s no such thing as gay rights. into a blaze of pinks and purples that weapons. Hmm. Or, at least if you listen to Republiconfirmed there is a God somewhere. Okay, well maybe, Paul was speaking can Senator Rand Paul, there isn’t. But Just not in the vicinity of Rand Paul. about the right to free speech. Ahhh… don’t believe me. He said so himself in To Paul, my marriage is the result of no, that one is based on behavior as a video resurrected from 2013. a moral crisis in this country. “I’m for well. Speaking up and speaking out. All Given the age of the interview, all traditional marriage. I think marriage good to Paul I suppose as long as you’re this might seem like old news if it is between a man and a woman,” he not speaking about same-sex marriage. weren’t for the fact that Paul is likely to has said. That is crossing the line. be running for President of the United “Ultimately, we could have fixed There’s freedom of religion, which States next year. this a long time ago if we just allowed Paul certainly believes in. He’s a Lest you think I’ve got something contracts between adults. We didn’t baptized Episcopalian for crying out confused, Paul said, “I don’t think I’ve have to call it marriage, which offends loud. But then again, one has to pracever used the words gay rights because myself and a lot of people.” tice a religion, through behavior I don’t believe in rights based on your As ungrammatical as the statement presumably. Opps, cross that one off behavior. I’m pro-rights for individuis, it pales in comparison to how Paul Paul’s list as well. als but I’m not for judging individuals sees the larger picture in this country— You may think I’m taking this based on their behavior.” contracts or no contracts. no-gay-rights business awfully lightly, Now this is a man who has often “Don’t always look to Washington but don’t be confused. I know there are said that he is “offended” by same-sex to solve anything,” said Paul as he lead gay rights, just as I know there is such a marriage. The kind that I had just last a prayer breakfast in the Capitol Hill thing as same-sex marriage. I was there week when I married my husband in Club last week in Washington. “In fact, on the beach in Maui, after all. Maui on Poolenalena Beach with the the moral crisis we have in our counNo, it’s Rand Paul, the Tea Party Reverend Kevin Rebelo officiating. try, there is a role for us trying to figure Republican, I’m taking lightly—if at Beautiful ceremony, just as the sun set out things like marriage, there’s also a all. That’s the way I behave. into the Pacific. You should have been moral crisis that allows people to think there. that there would be some sort of other Trust me when I say that the sun was marriage. And so, really there’s a role big and orange and put on a perforoutside and inside government but the mance that was certainly ordered direct exhortation to sort of change people’s from heaven. Afterward the sky turned thoughts has to come through the

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Gay Rights. Are They Real?

April 1, 2015 • ISSUE 280

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BY RICHARD HACK

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What makes this night different? You’re finally making it to a seder!

Passover Seder, Saturday, April 4th, 6:30pm Our seder will be led by Rabbi Noah Kitty and Jerry Berkowitz, and begin promptly at 7pm Cost is $54 per person For reservations please call 954-564-9232

April 01, 2015

Shabbat services every Friday night at 8pm

Congregation Etz Chaim

1501 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 1501 NE 26th St.,●Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-564-9232 www.EtzChaimFlorida.org 954-564-9232 ● Friday www.EtzChaimFlorida.org Shabbat services every night at 8pm– all are welcome!

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April 01, 2015

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24 April 01, 2015

Distribution Locations FORT LAUDERDALE/ WILTON MANORS

7-11… Los Olas 13 Even 4 Men Clothing 7-11….26th St 78 Degree Spa AHF-Oakland Park AIDS Museum Almost New Anderson Auto Andrews Living Art Studio Atlantic Realty ArtServe on Sunrise Barton Miller Cleaners Best Buy Bill’s Bio Care Pharmacy BioScript Pharmacy Boardwalk Boc a Tanning Body Tech Bona Pizza Boomerangs Bo’s Barber Brian Scott Realty Broward House.. Andrews Ave Broward House… SE 3rd Buddha Happy Calypso Inn Care Resource Castelli Real estate Castrato Law Cheston House Chic Optique City County Cr. Union Clippers Too Clubhuose II Coast Chiropractic Coral Reef Guest House Corner Pub Courtyard Café

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Le Patio Restaurant Leatherwerks LeBoy Lemon Grass Lips Lotus Chinese Manor Manor Inn Mattress Expert Mind your Manors Mix Clothing Mojo Barber MoJo Restaurant Mona’s Monkey Business Naked Grape North Point Medical Nuts About Yogurt Office Out of the Closet… Wilton dr Out of the Closet… Sunrise Out of the Oven PJ’s Palm Plaza Peter Pan Pharos Hair Oasis Pineapple Point Pink Submarine Plush Royale Resort Ponciana Car Wash The Pride Center Pride Factory Pride Pharmacy Progress Bar Pump N Inc Rainbow Laundromat Ramrod ReMax Realty Rendez-vous Bakery Richard’s Hair Rock Hard Ron’s Barber Shop Rosie’s Bar & Grill Rowan Tree Medical

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ORLANDO

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FloridaAgenda.com For advertising or sponsorship opportunities, contact Kevin Hopper at 954-380-8563 x2101 or kevinhopper@mmplgbt.com.

LEFT COAST

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Bottom Line: Florida Needs The Most Diverse, Inclusive Workplaces Pronto

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tion for LGBT people in Florida is in “stark contrast” to protection afforded these workers in high-equality states like Hawaii, California, and Oregon among others. The authors of the report also discovered that employers who made a significant effort to implement internal policies to create a more inclusive work environment were often undercut by inaction or regressive government action at the state and local levels. They cited an absence of “cultural intelligence” that put employers at a disadvantage relative to industry peers or global partners. But the findings were not all bad. Some Florida cities received high marks when it came to promoting LGBT inclusion in their own backyard. A look at the top three localities is not entirely surprising: Orlando, St. Petersburg, Wilton Manors with an honorable mention going to Tampa. While the research and interviews

were conducted with participants representing various organizations and business sectors from manufacturing and medical services to emerging tech, the impact of not having tough, nondiscrimination protections in place legally were most felt in critical, Florida-centric industries such as hospitality and tourism, which of course is a huge job creator and source of tax revenue for South Florida especially. Given the importance of job creation after one of the most devastating recessions in U.S. history, a whopping 75 percent of the respondents said they were planning to expand their businesses in the next 36 months. Because these business investment decisions are often made months if not years in advance, now that marriage equality has arrived in Florida, dragging one’s feet on promoting workplace diversity and inclusion during the current legislative session is borderline reckless, irresponsible and negligent.

with discrimination in the workplace, including lost productivity, employee turnover, missed business opportunities as well as erosion of customer and brand loyalty within a particular industry or geographical location, such as a city, state, region or even globally. (The most famous examples are probably Nike and Apple, which were brought to task over the working conditions of their Asian supply chains.) These costs are especially pronounced, the report found, when businesses are trying to compete for the attention of younger workers and customers, the so-called millennial generation, who want their community values reflected at work. In terms of U.S. competitiveness, a lack of national legislation to protect LGBT employees in the workplace further heightens competition among and between states when trying to advance economic development. The report uncovered that a lack of protec-

April 01, 2015

n my February 18 column, I wrote about the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, a bill currently making its way through the Tallahassee legislature that would help create a non-discriminatory workplace for LGBT employees across the state. I followed up that column with another looking at the important role of organized labor in that specific campaign as well as within the general discourse about competitiveness itself. Now a new study has been issued by the smart folks at Equality Means Business and consulting firm Thinkspot that breaks down the actual dollars and cents of how a lack of diversity in Florida is a major negative for companies trying to grow both their talent pool and bottom line. So I got my hands on the executive summary of the report, The Link Between Economic Competitiveness And Workplace Equal Opportunity in Florida, and provide the essence of the findings for you here. Before I begin, however, let me be clear that I no longer buy the traditional, Adam Smith-inspired theory of free markets, where the invisible hand creates the most efficient economic system through supply and demand absent any intervention in the economy by a big, bad government (which, of course, in a democracy or republic like ours is we the people). Government has a vital role through fiscal incentives, sector subsidies and industry regulation in maintaining a social safety net, providing public goods, encouraging a healthy middle class and enforcing economic justice. But I digress. The key finding of the analysis is that according to published research and interviews with a number of top-level executives themselves, the legal landscape in Florida is currently having a negative impact on the ability of businesses, large and small, to attract and retain LGBT workers. The headline number from the report has been $362 million, which is a total calculated from all the costs associated

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BY DANIEL HICKS

WILTON MANORS

BY PATRICK ROBERT

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THE WEEK

4/3 John Witherspoon

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ED LUGO RESORT:

A veteran of the stand-up circuit, John Witherspoon is a legendary comic and a South Florida favorite. His long career has included iconic television roles as a cantankerous old man. Some of his more famous characters include parts in the ‘70s’ series What’s Happening, Good Times, and WKRP in Cincinnati. Film credits include Little Nicky, Boomerang, The Ladies Man, and Friday. Recently he has been on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Wayans Bros’ Show. Tonight his acidic tongue will dole out the humor. 8:00 p.m. Fort Lauderdale Improv. 5700 Seminole Way. Hollywood. 33314.

April 01, 2015

The Only Four-Star Resort in Wilton Manors Ed Lugo Resort offers private villas in the epicenter of Wilton Manors on 8th Avenue and Wilton Drive, embodying all the attributes of a single-family home. Each of the two-bedroom, one-bath suites act as detached residences complete with a two-car parking space, private entry, dining room, full kitchen, living room and your very own personal patio. Ed Lugo opened his namesake resort in 2007 with the intention of providing his guests an opportunity to stay some place luxurious but affordable. Never owning or managing a hotel before, he took a risk in what was already a shaky economy at the time. He repurposed his existing residential properties to provide four-star lodging in the heart of the Island City. Lugo’s effort paid off as he began to receive national accolades. In 2012, his resort was honored by the City of Wilton Manors for making it into travel website Trip Advisor‘s top-five, best resorts for customer service. And again in 2013, the website named Lugo’s resort as one of the top 25 best resorts in the whole country. “Do you sleep all day? Do you go to the bars a lot? (These are some of the questions we ask our guests) to find out what’s important to them, then we customize our service to fit

those needs,” said Lugo. Daily freshcut flowers, signature towels and bathrobes and extra-soft sheets are just some of the extra touches that make staying with Lugo particularly special. The grounds outside are as equally impressive. There is a 40-foot, heated pool with hot tub, a waterfall and a two-person hammock, all surrounded by a plush tropical oasis of palm trees and exquisitely arranged orchids. Lugo has managed to provide remarkable, upscale accommodations at a faction of what it might cost to stay at a four-star Fort Lauderdale hotel by crafting tight relationships with local businesses. “We look at surrounding shops as hotel amenities,” Lugo said. “All guests receive complimentary access to Steel Gym across the street, or enjoy a mani-pedi at Tracy Carroll Salon.” He partners with David Packard, a licensed massage therapist, to provide an in-house service for his guests. Lugo also pointed out a healthy selection of restaurants in the area and a robust nightlife — all within a short walking distance from the resort. Book online at Expedia.com or Trip Advisor or call the resort directly at 954-275-8299. Ed Lugo Resort 2404 NE 8th Ave Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-275-8299

4/6 Diana Krall Diana Krall is one of the most revered jazz musicians for fans and critics alike. Her smoky voice has allowed her to become one of the most successful jazz artists of her time, having sold over fifteen million albums worldwide. She has won five Grammy Awards, eight Juno Awards, and her records have consistently debuted atop the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Some of her most popular albums include Love Scenes, The Look of Love, Quiet Nights, and Glad Rag Doll. Her newest album is titled Wallflower. 8:00 p.m. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. 701 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach. 33401.

4/7 Rumors Comedy Night One of the things perhaps missing heretofore from Wilton Manors’ spectacular gay scene is a real interest in the standup comedians among the community. Rumors’ new Tuesday night event hopes to change that with a spotlight on standup. Every Tuesday three comedians take the stage in hopes to impress the clientele with their routines. Open mic sign ups begin at 4:00 p.m. and every contestant receives drink cards for participation. 8:00 p.m. Rumors. 2426 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors. 33305.

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16) NAKED GRAPE 2163 Wilton Drive Wilton manors

15) MONKEY BUSINESS 2740 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale

14) MONA’S 502 E Sunrise Blvd Fort Lauderdale

13) THE MANOR 2345 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

12) LIPS 1421 E Oakland Park Blvd Oakland Park

11) LE PATIO 2401 NE 11th Ave Wilton Manors

10) LE BOY 1243 NE 11th Ave Fort Lauderdale

30) VILLAGE PUB 2283 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

29) TROPICS 2000 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

28) 13 I EVEN 2037 Wilton Dr Wilton Manors

27) THE STABLE 205 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale

26) SMARTY PANTS 2400 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale

25) SIDELINES 2031 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

24) SCARFONE’S 2150 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

23) SCANDALS SALOON 3073 NE 6th Ave Wilton Manors

8) INFINITY LOUNGE 2184 WIlton Drive Wilton Manors

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9) JMARK’S 1245 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

22) RUMORS BAR & GRILL 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

21) ROSIE’S BAR & GRILL 2449 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

20) RAMROD 1508 NE 4th Ave Fort Lauderdale

19) PROGRESS 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

18) PJ’S CORNER POCKET 2340 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

17) NEW YORK GRILLED CHEESE 2207 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

7) HUNTERS NIGHTCLUIB 2232 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

6) DAPUR 1620 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

5) CUBBY HOLE 823 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

4) CORNER PUB 1915 N Andrews Ave Wilton Manors

3) BOARDWALK 1721 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale

2) B BAR AND GRILLE 2209 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

1) ALIBI 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

BAR MAP

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April 01, 2015

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THE WEEK

TAMPA/ST.PETE

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BY PATRICK ROBERT

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4/3 Shen Yen Divine Performing Arts The hugely successful company celebrates classical Chinese dance and music, including grand processions, ethnic music, and folk dances. Most of the performances honor heroes of ancient and modern times. The NYC-based dance company expresses the essence of 500 years of Chinese culture, which it asserts has all but been demolished by the Chinese Communist government. The touring group moves from Orlando to Tampa on the trek across Florida. 8:00 p.m. Mahaffey Theater. 400 First St. S. St. Petersburg. 33701.

4/4 Ybor Aficionado Days This ninth annual celebration of Ybor’s cuisine and culture includes plenty of activities for the city’s many fans. Over a dozen restaurants on the Tapas Trail will offer samplings. Some participating restaurants include Bernini, Gaspar’s Grotto, and Carne Chophouse. The after-party takes place at the Macaroni Building where door prizes, dessert and spirit samplings, music, cigars, and silent auctions make this a worthwhile night. 4:00 p.m. Downtown Ybor City. E. Seventh Ave and N. 14th St. Tampa. 33605.

The Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation

ERE

NCE ONE

LIF

E A T

April 01, 2015

provides complimentary Health and Wellness services to financially challenged people living with HIV/AIDS and offers a global LGBT athletic mentoring program for amateur and professional athletes ranging from grade school to the professional ranks.

A 501(c)3 organization providing services to financially challenged people living with HIV/AIDS in Fort Lauderdale

2435 North Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305

BRIANNEALFITNESS.ORG

4/5 NCAA Women’s Final Four As March Madness concludes for both men’s and women’s college basketball, the final four in both divisions began their quests for the ultimate trophy. Today Amalie Arena will be the hosts for the two national semifinal games for the women’s division with the finals occurring on April 7th. Favorites include UConn and Tennessee. 6:30 p.m. Amalie Arena. 401 Channelside Dr. Tampa 33602.

SCREEN SAVOR

see, The Hunting Ground shines a necessary light on the sexual assault epidemic and the outspoken individuals and survivors who made sure that the subject made it to the top of the national agenda. With a screenplay by Emma Thompson, who also stars in the film, Effie Gray (Adopt Films), an admirable, if overly drawn out, dramatization of the titular young woman trapped in a sexless and loveless Victorian era marriage. Based on the true story of teen bride Effie (Dakota Fanning) and her much older husband, the art critic and writer John Ruskin (Greg Wise), who is under the thumb of his controlling parents (played by Julie Walters and David Suchet). There are flashes of light in this mostly foggy flick, in the form of progressive Lady Eastlake (Thompson), young painter Millais (hot Tom Sturridge), Ruskin manservant George (out actor Russell Tovey), and even Fanning, who is turning out to be a decent actress. The leaden direction, by Richard Laxton (director of An Englishman In New York about Quentin Crisp), moves a story that would have been more compelling at a clip, at the pace of paint drying on a canvas.

campuses. Dick begins the doc on the high note of college acceptance letters, via snail mail and email. The excitement is palatable, but short-lived. Before long we are shown interviews with college students, mostly women with a few men mixed in for balance, relating the horrid stories of their sexual violations. A number of the colleges featured (more than 90 are under investigation), which appear to be more interested in their financial well-being, often connected to college athletes and fraternity houses, than the safety and security of the student body, come off as guilty as the sexual predators (some of whom are repeat offenders). For example, one frat, SAE (Sigma Alpha Epsilon), recently in the news for the Oklahoma University racist video scandal, has a long history of sexual crimes committed by its members. Several interview subjects say that SAE also stands for “sexual assault expected.” In addition to interviews with survivors and their parents and family members, viewers also hear from current and former faculty members, a variety of advocates, psychologist and others in the medical field, legal experts, as well as those in the media. Difficult to watch, but important to

April 01, 2015

Don’t be distracted by the high concept of A Girl Like Her (Parkside Releasing). It’s a drama about bullying that is presented as a doc. In spite of a few shortcomings, it’s not a bad movie. Jessica (Lexi Ainsworth), relentlessly bullied by former friend and epic mean girl Avery (Daytime Emmy winner Hunter King), takes an overdose of pills and ends up in a coma when she feels completely helpless and hopeless in her high school social situation. Avery, who turned on Jessica because she wouldn’t let the popular girl cheat off her test, is ruthless in her torturing of Jessica, using every means available from texting to face-to-face humiliation and brutality. Jessica’s suicide attempt coincidentally occurs at the same time a documentary film crew led by Amy (writer/ director Amy S. Weber) arrives on campus to get footage of the school following its high academic ranking in a national survey. Because of the tragic event, everyone’s attention shifts to the girl lying comatose in a hospital room. This leads to a close examination of the student body and inevitable incrimination of Avery. The most innovative aspect of A Girl Like Her is the use of a “spy-cam,” shaped like a dragonfly, that Jessica wears to capture what is taking place at the hands of Avery. It’s a gift from her best friend Brian (Jimmy Bennett), the only one who knows what Jessica is going through, sworn to secrecy by Jessica. Unfortunately, it also captures Jessica’s suicide attempt. A Girl Like Her also provides important insight into the bullying crisis, such as “hurt people are the ones who hurt people.” As in Kirby Dick’s acclaimed doc This Film Is Not Yet Rated, about the MPAA and its corrupt rating system, his latest documentary feature, The Hunting Ground (Radius), is about people challenging a system in which others are harmed. Dick applies his critical eye to the ongoing issue of sexual assault committed on college

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The incredible 2014 Australian horror film The Babadook took a tired genre and turned it on its head. Creating terror through suspense instead of ugly violence, The Babadook’s writer/ director Jennifer Kent raised the bar for other filmmakers working in the field. American filmmaker David Robert Mitchell now takes Kent’s baton and runs with it in It Follows (Radius). Set, appropriately, in the infected and rotting corpse of suburban Detroit, It Follows focuses on a group of jaded teens and young adults playing games, both silly and deadly serious. Of course, there is sex involved; leading to a sort of STD tag, and Annie (Bailey Spry) is the first to die. Blonde and bored Jay (Maika Monroe) is the next to get infected after having sex with hot but haunted Hugh (Jake Weary). He’s nice enough to stick around after doing the deed with Jay, knocking her out and then telling her, after he’s bound her to a wheelchair, that if she wants to live she has to pass it on to someone else. Otherwise “it” will follow her and take her life. Talk about a killer STD. That’s quite a setup. Not long after she gets the news, Jay does begin to see “it,” which takes various forms, including an old woman in a nightgown, a half-dressed younger woman who urinates in Jay’s kitchen, and an extremely tall and thin man, to mention a few. Jay’s sister Kelly (Lili Sepe), friends and neighbors Greg (Daniel Zovatto), Yara (Olivia Luccardi) and Paul (Keir Gilchrist), who is still harboring an old crush on Jay, come together for the traumatized girl, and attempt to help her with her problem. Utilizing minimal special effects, Mitchell creates maximum fear and tension. Some of the credit goes to Monroe who has skillfully mastered the art of the descent into madness. The showdown finale in the swimming pool is particularly effective, since “it” never really stops following anyone.

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Girls Like Them

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BY GREGG SHAPIRO

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30 April 01, 2015

k o o L T U O

THE NETWORKING MIXER AT PROGRESS BAR

PHOTOS BY COCO ALARCON

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April 01, 2015

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THE WEEK

JACKSONVILLE BY PATRICK ROBERT

April 01, 2015

4/2 Lil’ Wayne Born in New Orleans, Lil’ Wayne began his rap career when he was only nine, signing with Cash Money Records. His career took off in 2004 with the release of The Carter. Since then, even Barack Obama has stated his fondness for the rapper’s music. Despite multiple gunshot wounds, Lil’ Wayne is still alive and will be performing tonight at Aqua Night Club. 9:00 p.m. Aqua Night Club. 11000 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville. 32246.

4/3 Lynyrd Skynard

The band notable for popularizing the Southern hard rock genre in the 1970s is also famous for their signature songs “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” Despite the death of three members of their group in an airplane crash (during the peak of their fame), the band re-formed in 1988 and consistently tour. 8:00 p.m. Florida Theatre. 128 E. Forsyth St. Jacksonville. 32202.

4/4-4/5 Southeast Beast

Major punk rock music festival Southeast Beast unites the greatest performers of punk in the country for one powerful weekend of music. This year’s lineup includes Florida natives New Found Glory, H2O, Cro-Mags, Life of Agony, Citizen, Defeater, Biohazard, and many more. For any punk rock fan, this nationally recognized festival is a can’t-miss event. 11:00 a.m. Aqua Night Club. 11000 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville. 32246.

TRAVEL

to St. Martin. At GayNudeSail.com, you can find 40 different nude cruises a year from Greece, Turkey, the British Virgin Island, Croatia, St. Martin, St. Lucia and Thailand. The cruise is committed to offering nude sailing 24 hours a day by staying overnight in a secluded bay. The cruise company offers many types of clothing-optional cruises to fit multiple budgets by arranging accommodations through associated companies. Contact Mark Van den Eshof in Amsterdam at Adonis Gay Sailing (info@adonisgaysailing) if you would like a gay cook and shopping experience, reach out to Gay Sail for the more reasonably priced cruises, and check out Adonis Exclusive for their luxury private cruises. Nothing beats the ultimate naturist experience, which embodies both definitions of the word -- a nudist and a person who worships nature. Gay Naturist Camping is a vacation retreat

that can be enjoyed throughout the U.S. at multiple designated campgrounds. Most of the campgrounds are members only to keep the facilities private, which allow them to have clothing-optional status, and charge a low annual fee. Some gay naturist campgrounds in and around Florida are: Sawmill (21710 US Hwy 98, Dade City, FL 33523; 352-583-0664); and In the Woods Campground (142 Casey Court, Canon, GA; 706-2460142). To see a full list of gay and lesbian campgrounds throughout the U.S., visit www.campgayusa.com. To learn all about the gay naturist lifestyle, visit the Gay Naturist International (GNI) website at gaynaturists. org. GNI host multiple nude retreats every year and partner with gay clothing-optional resorts, cruises and events all throughout the U.S. They also provide a directory of many clothingoptional vacation destinations and clubs.

April 01, 2015

hotel room: Cable TV, Wi-Fi, individual A/C, and fully equipped kitchen. The Green House (1212 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA; 504-5251333) located in the city’s Lower Garden District is a quaint bed and breakfast that offers guests the opportunity to relax naked in their magnificent European salt-water swimming pool. The sub-tropical courtyard lined with lush Caribbean plants features a petite waterfall and an oversized hot tub. The 19th-century nine-room Greek Rival townhouse is located only a short distance from the French Quarter and is within walking distance to popular restaurants in town. The whole facility can be rented for private events with overnight group accommodations. Helios (280 East Mel Ave., Palm Springs, CA 92262; 760-323-2868) is the ultimate clothing-optional resort for the uninhibited party vacationer. This Palm Springs playground has a themed party every week for guests and non-guests who would like to join in on the fun. Every Tuesday, enjoy the “Young at Heart” silver fox all-male nude poolside event, or every Saturday take part in their “Where the Boys Are” pool party. Book three consecutive nights and receive the fourth night free. The resort features a 12-person Jacuzzi Grotto, heated swimming pool, outdoor breakfast bar and BBQ station, and an indoor multi-room play annex. Resorts aren’t the only vacation retreats that offer clothing-optional accommodations. If you want to be more exotic with your nudity, try exploring the open seas as you bare it all. Since 2004, Source Events (888SOURCE-8), a dedicated gay cruise provider, has been organizing a clothing-optional annual cruise for the gay naturist community. The six-toseven night naturist cruise are planned as once-a-year events. This year, the February cruise sailed out of St. Martin and visited St. Barts, Nevis, Anguilla, and Tintamarre before returning back

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While Fort Lauderdale has a plethora of clothing optional resorts strategically placed throughout our gayborhood and beyond, the choices for other vacation destinations where nudity is not only permitted but encouraged is a little harder to come by. Fortunately, we’ve assembled our favorites to make your selection process a snap. Island House (1129 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040; 800-890-6284) in Old Town is a gated and locked private oasis that removes guests from the outside world into a luxurious resort spa experience. The facility is gay owned and the staff is made up of all men so guests feel comfortable to roam the compound in the buff 24/7. Their front desk and café, which has been rated one of the best in Key West, is always at your beck and call morning and night, so feel free to order that midnight snack or early morning massage to kick start your day. The resort has been completely redone and features a lush tropical paradise that surrounds a heated pool, a bar, a café and a state-of-the art health club. The bar is conveniently situated right next to the pool making it easy to enjoy happy hour while you soak in the sun poolside. The health club comes with a fully equipped gym pleasing those who want a light aerobic workout and others who like to hit the gym hard with free weights and lifting equipment. Also featured are two Jacuzzis, plus a sauna and steam room. Wonderful. Villa da Costa (7555 46th Ave North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709; 727-546-1477) on Florida’s West Coast is the affordable clothing-optional retreat that models its style after the plush resorts of Key West. The isolated retreat is open year-round with a men’s nude pool club. Guests of the 20-room resort can mingle with locals during the hours that the nude pool club is opened via day passes. Their studio rooms are simplistic yet come with all the amenities found in a typical extended-stay

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Here Are Some Worldwide Vacation Retreats For Naturists

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BY JAMEER BAPTISTE

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The Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation

ERE

NCE ONE LIF

April 01, 2015

A 501(c)3 organization providing services to financially challenged people living with HIV/AIDS in Fort Lauderdale

2435 North Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305

BRIANNEALFITNESS.ORG

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April 01, 2015

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THE WEEK

MIAMI/ MIAMI BEACH BY PATRICK ROBERT

4/4 Keith Sweat American R&B legend Keith Sweat is the heralded innovator of New Jack Swing. His first recording contract happened in the late 1980s when he was discovered singing at nightclubs throughout New York City. His hit singles include “I Want Her,” “(There You Go) Tellin’ Me No Again,” and “Just a Touch.” Performing alongside him are Bell Biv DeVoe, K-Ci and JoJo, and El DeBarge. 7:00 p.m. Bank United Center. 1245 Dauer Dr. Coral Gables. 33146.

Nevermind: A Tribute to Nirvana Over twenty years has passed since Kurt Cobain’s suicide, perhaps generation X’s most defining event. Since that tragic moment in rock history, Nirvana’s place as one of the greatest bands ever created has been firmly cemented. Churchill’s Pub takes the anniversary of Cobain’s conservatory suicide and presents a tribute to their music. This year the bands covering Nirvana music include Armada, Dorothy’s Surrender, the Burnouts, Jacuzzi Fuzz, After the Fall, and Drawing Bored. 7:00 p.m. Churchill’s Pub. 5501 NE Second Ave. Miami. 33137.

April 01, 2015

4/5 New Jerusalem The new play presented by the Gables Stage deals with the possible excommunication of Barch De Spinoza in 1656. The city of Amsterdam accuses the young philosopher of atheism; he must defend himself or risk having the entire Jewish community driven out of Amsterdam and back into the treacherous terrain of Spain or Portugal during the Inquisition. Thus, Spinoza must decide whether to follow his intellect or to conform to society’s wishes. 8:00 p.m. Gables Stage. 1200 Anastasia Ave. Coral Gables. 33134.

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April 01, 2015

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Got fat?

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April 01, 2015

PUZZLE

1098 NE 45th St Oakland Park, FL 33334

954-530-4304

ACROSS 1 Poses for Mapplethorpe 5 Peter Pan critter, for short 9 Job for Burr’s Mason 13 Booty 14 Locks in a salon 15 Chip in a chip 16 Start of Sam’s secret 19 Jane Spahr, for one 20 Elevator alternative 21 More of the secret 24 Greenish-yellow fruit 27 Deity identified with Diana 28 Nuts and bolts 32 A, as in Acapulco 33 Parts for Dykes on Bikes 35 Constellation over Sydney 36 The Lion King king 38 Spoof 40 More of the secret 45 Zipper problem 46 Caesar’s last question 47 Film canine 48 Coat for Mary’s lamb 50 Paranormal 54 ___ Records (Etheridge label) 59 End of the secret 62 Baseball diamond cover 63 Former netman Nastase 64 Wang in fashion

65 Withdraws, with “out” 66 Songwriter Holly 67 Cruising hazard DOWN 1 You don’t want to get a pink one 2 Least bit 3 Pulls behind 4 Back talk, slangily 5 Laugh coined by Lewis Carroll 6 Hauled ass 7 Tin Man’s request 8 Chappell of soaps 9 Where PrideVision originated 10 Voting no 11 Direction from Rick Rodgers 12 Phallic swimmers 17 Signal that goes either way 18 Shoshonean tongue 22 IRS review 23 Composition of some chains 24 Arrests 25 Burger layer 26 Rio step 29 Sites for three men in a tub 30 Balkan native

31 He comes once a year 33 Homophobe/attorney general Bondi of Florida 34 Lotion letters at South Beach 37 Ask on one’s knees 39 Hollywood’s Hagen 41 He came after Gorbachev 42 Sault ___ Marie 43 Summer for Rimbaud 44 One hell of a guy? 48 Sore throat producer 49 Night school subj. 50 Sgt. Snorkel’s pooch 51 Split in the skin 52 Pre-kiss insert 53 Dave Pallone and others 55 Billie Jean King’s zip 56 Blown away 57 Uncool sort 58 Make-or-break date 60 Land in la mer, for Debussy 61 Snoop group

For the solution to this puzzle, go to www.floridaagend.com/puzzle

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April 01, 2015

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1226 NE 4TH AVE FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304 954.761.1236

LEATHERWERKS.COM

April 01, 2015

Copyright © 2015 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

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April 01, 2015

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A FITNESS AND NUTRITION TRANSFORMATION BLUEPRINT

Men Love Their Guns This is the 6th weekly installment of a 10-part series to help Agenda readers improve their health and fitness. It’s something all men have in common: we love our guns! Even guys who say they don’t care about such things secretly admire big, hard, chiseled ones. I’m talking about the major muscles in our upper arms, generally known as the biceps and triceps. They turn heads when they fill out the sleeves of a v-neck, a strong indicator to the admirer that the rest of the body must be worked out and chiseled, too. There are two essentials to creating spectacular arms: 1) You’ve got to lift progressively heavier with fewer reps until you reach failure in each set; 2) You’ve got to work the bi’s and tri’s from different angles to achieve optimal definition. Fitness guru and writer Bill Geiger explains this better than anyone else. “For biceps, with your arms in front of your torso (think preacher curls), you target more on the biceps’ short head; when your arms are behind your torso (think incline bench dumbbell curls), you better focus on the long head,” Geiger explains. “For triceps, when your arms are overhead you better target the long head, while going from an overhand to an underhand grip (as when doing press-downs) shifts the emphasis from the lateral to medial head.” We solicited the help of Fort Lauderdale Master Trainer NICK DILUCENTE (pictured), head trainer at Push Fitness, to identify five of the most effective exercises to build big guns.

OVERHEAD TRICEPS DUMBBELL EXTENSION

April 01, 2015

Text By Peter Jackson, CPT Photography by Toby Blades

Sitting comfortably on a bench with your feet flat in front of you, grasp the inner plate of a dumbbell and extend it fully over your head. Now bend your elbows to

lower the weight until your arms are at a 90-degree angle behind you. Repeat, squeezing your triceps as your extend upwards.

FITNESS ROPE TRICEPS PRESSDOWN Face a pulley with your feet shoulderwidth apart. Hold one end of the rope with each hand. Your palms should be facing each other. As you pull the rope down, rotate your wrists and palms toward the floor. Return to starting position and repeat.

ONE-ARM REVERSE GRIP PRESSDOWN

CONCENTRATION CURL

Place a dumbbell on the mat in front of you as you sit on a bench with legs wide open. Lean forward to place your right elbow against your inner right thigh and pick up the dumbbell with an underhand grip. Squeeze your biceps at the top as your lift the weight up. Lower and repeat, then switch to the left side.

Facing a high cable pulley with a “D” handle attachment, grab the handle with an underhand grip and squeeze your triceps as you extend the cable. Bring your elbow down to the side of your torso until your elbow locks. Return to the start position and repeat.

HIGH CABLE (“SUPERMAN”) CABLE CURL Stand feet shoulder-width apart in the center of two cable pulleys equipped with “D” handles. Raising your elbows parallel with your shoulders, grab the handles with an underhand grip. Keeping your elbows high in position, curl your forearms until your hands are just behind your head. Be sure to squeeze your biceps at the top of the movement. Return to the starting position and repeat.

COMING UP IN THIS SERIES Week 8: How To Get a Beautiful Booty Week 9: The 3 Rules To a Chiseled Torso Week 10: Putting It All Together

Peter Jackson is the owner of Push Fitness and other fitness businesses in Oakland Park. He can be reached via e-mail at Info@PushFitnessFTL.com. Toby Blades is an award-winning photographer. Reach him at www.TobysPhotos. com

ORLANDO

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THE WEEK BY PATRICK ROBERT

Coercion

Louise Wigglesworth’s provocative play focuses on the problem of bullying in schools. Fictional Pembridge Regional High School is the scene where a Mexican immigrant has been murdered by a group that includes Pembridge seniors. A campaign to raise awareness about bullying involves controversial T-shirts deemed inappropriate by the superintendent of schools. 8:00 p.m. Lowndes Shakespeare Center. 812 E. Rollins St. Orlando. 32803.

3/27

3 10 8 7

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3/26

Shen Yen Divine Performing Arts 2

BAR MAP 1) BARCODES 4453 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 407-412-6917 2) BAR LOUIE 7335 West Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 407-608-5190

3) CLUB 369 ORLANDO 369 North Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 407-977-2997 4) COLD KEG NIGHTCLUB 4060 W. New Haven, Melbourne, FL 321-724-1510

5) HANKS 5026 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 407-291-2399

7) PULSE 1912 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 407-649-3888

6) PARLIAMENT HOUSE 410 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 407-425-7571

8) SOUTHERN NIGHTS 375 S Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 407-412-5039 9) SAVOY 1913 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 407-898-6766

10) STONEWALL 741 W Church St , Orlando, FL 407-373-0888 11) THE ULTRA LOUNGE 407 Brevard Ave, Cocoa, FL 321-690-0096

The hugely successful touring company celebrates classical Chinese dance and music, including grand processions, ethnic music, and folk dances. Most of the performances honor heroes of ancient and modern times. The NYC-based dance company expresses the essence of 500 years of Chinese culture, which it asserts has all but been demolished by the Chinese Communist government. 8:00 p.m. Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. 401 W. Livingston St. Orlando. 32801.

4/1

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons

April 01, 2015

As a reality show, RuPaul’s Drag Race has reached critical mass: becoming the most successful LGBTQ-themed reality show of all time. This American Idol-esque tour lends credence to such assertions. The 2015 Condragulations Tour includes such beloved performers as Adore Delano, Biana Del Rio, Detox, Ivy Winters, Manila Luzon, and Raja. The show will be hosted by Michelle Visage. 9:00 p.m. The Plaza Live. 425 N. Bumby Ave. Orlando. 32803.

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