4
SPECIAL REPORT
COMMITTEE APPROVES DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS
8
NATION
NFL PLAYER CONSIDERS SELF-OUTING
FLORIDAAGENDA.COM APRIL 3, 2013 H ISSUE 176
11
POLITICS
SUPREMES HEAR DOMA/8 CASES
/floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
April 3, 2013 H 3
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
COVER STORY
LOST IN SPACE What is U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s Problem with Gay Marriage?
April 3, 2013 H 4
/floridaagenda
By CLIFF DUNN
W
ASHINGTON, DC — Although a growing chorus of national lawand policymakers of both major political parties have voiced their support for same-sex marriage, Florida’s senior United States Senator, Bill Nelson, remains one of just a handful of prominent Democrats who continue to withhold their support for marriage equality for gay Americans. Within the last week, three Democratic U.S. Senators—Jon Tester of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania— have announced that, like President Obama, their views on gay marriage have “evolved” to supporting full marriage rights for gay men and women. But Nelson, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000 after serving for a dozen years in the U.S. House and a stint as state Insurance Commissioner, remains committed to the traditional definition of marriage. “My personal preference is that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Nelson, 70, said last week. After serving in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s, the Miami-born Nelson became a lawyer and was elected to the state House of Representatives, and then to Congress. In 1986, he became one of only two sitting Members of Congress to travel into space, undergoing NASA training and serving as a Payload Specialist aboard the space shuttle Columbia during a seven-day mission in 1986. Including Nelson, only eight Democratic U.S. Senators remain opposed to marriage equality: Tom Carper (Delaware), Joe Donnelly (Indiana), Heidi Heitkamp (North Dakota), Tim Johnson (South Dakota), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Joe Manchin (West Virginia), and Mark Pryor (Arkansas). On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), a pro-life Roman Catholic Democrat who opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger, announced his support for marriage equality. “We’ve always known that there are some Democratic lawmakers who are
social conservatives and who still take issue with the idea of full civil rights for LGBT Americans,” Michael Emanuel Rajner, Legislative Affairs Director for the Florida Democratic Party GLBT Caucus, told the Agenda. “We are now seeing many of those who opposed marriage equality for political reasons are finally coming around to speaking the truth,” he added. So what is Nelson’s “problem?” In spite of his opposition to marriage equality, Nelson is consistently ranked (including by the respected National Journal) as a liberal-to-moderate lawmaker on matters relating to the economy and social issues. “For a long time, Nelson has stated that marriage is an issue that should be left to the states,” Rajner noted. That position has been shared by many other prominent Democrats, including President Obama, who last year announced his own personal “evolution” towards supports for full marriage rights for gay Americans. Rajner says that despite Nelson’s national credentials as a liberal, his support for civil unions leaves LGBT Americans out in the cold. “Even where civil unions are permitted, married gays are denied over 1,000 federal benefits that DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act] prevents them from receiving. And Nelson’s refusal to co-sponsor legislation—like the Uniting American Families Act—which would narrow that gap for gay families casts him in a particularly suspect light,” added Rajner. He also noted that Nelson refuses to endorse the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), proposed legislation to repeal DOMA and require the federal government to recognize the validity of samesex marriages. Among those who support RFMA are President Obama, former President Bill Clinton, who signed DOMA into law in 1996, and former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, the Georgia Republican who was the original House sponsor of DOMA. “If Nelson supported RFMA, it would truly make it a states’ rights issue. Where’s the disconnect?”H
UPDATE
STATE SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES “FAMILIES FIRST” DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BILL BY: JOE HARRIS
T
ALLAHASSEE — On Monday, April 1 the Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs announced passage of the “Families First” bill (SB 196), legislation that would provide essential legal protections for unmarried couples, including hospital visitation, correctional facility visitation, end of life decision-making, and burial arrangements. By a vote of 5 to 4, the committee voted to move closer to creating a statewide domestic partnership registry (DPR). “The bill passed with support from both Democrats and Republicans, together with bipartisan sponsorship of the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, signaling a new day in Florida,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. “This is a reflection of the change in public opinion favoring legal equality for all Florida couples. Our political leaders are finally listening to the pain inflicted on couples who are treated as legal strangers. And they are listening to the growing voice of business leaders who are calling for statewide protections that will help them attract and retain a diverse workforce.” A majority of Floridians al-
ready live in a local community that has a domestic partnership registry. Among those jurisdictions which have established registries are Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Pinellas County, Volusia County, Orange County, North Miami, Key West, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, Tavares, and Clearwater. The Families First bill, sponsored by State Sen. Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood), would eliminate the existing patchwork of policies, providing important legal protections for Floridians and their families, regardless of where they live in the state. “Today we made history,” Sobel proclaimed when the vote was taken. In 2008, the Florida state constitution was amended to add Article I, Section 27, which defines marriage as a union solely between one man and one woman. The language bans the creation of any status that is similar to that definition, including civil unions and samesex marriage. The language of Sobel’s bill specifically states that it doesn’t attempt to circumvent Article I, Section 27, but would allow same-sex couples who are at least 18 years old to establish a domestic partnership. H
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
Specializing in Commercial Property General Liability Workers Compensation Home • Auto• Boats
954 564 7772
www.DunhamIns.com
Dunham Insurance Services, Inc.
/floridaagenda
Protecting the Lifestyle That You’re Accustomed to
Alejandro Kalaf III Agent
3000 N. Federal Highway • Suite 8 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
April 3, 2013 H 5
April 3, 2013 H 6 /floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
FORT LAUDERDALE Responding to a call from Broward County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) Chairman Mitch Ceasar for him to endorse marriage equality, Broward County Republican Executive Committee (REC) Chairman Tom Truex said that the traditional definition of marriage suits him just fine. “I don’t want to seem alarmist,” said Truex, who was elected last week to head the county’s GOP, “but the definition of marriage is one that’s held up well for thousands of years, really since the beginning of history. It’s not something to change based on this year’s polls. It’s much more serious. Families are the most basic institution in all of civilization.”
Suze Orman to Florida: If Supreme Court Leaves Marriage to the States, “I’m Outta Here”
Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention Event at The Manor WILTON MANORS On Thursday, April 18, the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention (FISP) will host the Art of the Community Kick-Off GLBTQA event at The Manor Complex (2345 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors), from 7 to 8 p.m. The inclusive Art of Community project is a means for participants to create and present stories of themselves, their friends, and their families with a theme of suicide prevention.
Gibson ‘Les Paul’ Guitar Donated for “DWTSFS” Charity Auction WILTON MANORS Gibson Pro Audio, manufacturers of professional audio and musical equipment, have announced the donation of an LPJ Series Chocolate Satin collectible guitar as part of the live auction which will be held during the “Dancing with the South Florida Stars, Season 3” fundraiser and event on March 8 at The Manor Restaurant and Entertainment Complex (2345 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors), to benefit the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation. The Gibson Les Paul, a solid body electric guitar first sold in 1952, is one of the most well-known electric guitar types in the world. The guitar, which retails for $1,099, includes a Mahogany body with carved Maple top, a Rosewood fingerboard, vintage-style tuners, and other classic Gibson features. The Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation is a Greater Fort Lauderdale-based service organization that supports fitness and nutrition programs for individuals with HIV and non-HIVrelated life-threatening conditions, assisting financially-challenged people with
free group workouts and ongoing lifestyle education classes which cover all aspects of living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Using a format familiar to fans of the hit television program “Dancing with the Stars,” teams comprised of local business and community leaders and other celebrities partnered with drag performers will train for over a month to ensure their peak performance for the event.
Tön Vangard Fashion Event
event brought more than 60,000 revelers from all walks of life and all parts of the country to South Beach. The organizers also announced that joining Mayor Bower for the Pride celebration are international superstar Adam Lambert, chart-topping performer Crystal Waters, and entertainer Lady Bunny.
Miami Beach Gay Pride Announces Grand Marshal and Celebrity Entertainers Tön Vangard Hosts MIAMI BEACH United States of Style The producers of the fifth annual Miami Beach Gay Pride have announced that Fashion Event Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower has been selected as Grand Marshal for the parade and festival, which takes place Sunday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., along Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets. “Everyone in the community owes Matti a big ‘thank you’ for being the one who inaugurated Miami Beach Gay Pride five years ago,” said Babak Movahedi, chair of the event’s board of directors. “The Grand Marshal honor is our way of recognizing her role as the godmother of Pride and honoring her unwavering support of the LGBT community. Without her leadership, there might not be a Pride today for our residents and visitors to celebrate.” In one of her first directives as the new Mayor of Miami Beach in 2008, Bower created the LGBT Business Enhancement Committee and authorized the development of an LGBT Pride celebration for Miami Beach. Prior to that, there had not been a Pride celebration anywhere in Miami-Dade County for more than 10 years. In 2009, the first Miami Beach Gay Pride drew 15,000 attendees, far exceeding the anticipated 5,000 person attendance. Last year, the
FORT LAUDERDALE On March 27, Tön Vangard salon hosted an evening of fashion, hair, and makeup designs, bringing the runways and designers of New York City to Fort Lauderdale for the “United States of Style,” which featured the work of fashion designers Costello Tagliapietra. Tön Vangard’s professional stylists translated summer 2013 hair and makeup trends into a series of looks that inspired guests and complimented the designers’ award-winning fashions. “It was amazing to see our actual clients as models so effortlessly translating the wearable designs of Costello Tagliapietra into beautiful, classic looks,” said Anthony Lordi, CEO of Tön Vangard USA, “It was altogether a great event to present to South Florida and we are so thankful for the participation of both Costello Tagliapietra and the Worth Repeating Boutique in Fort Lauderdale for so generously providing shoes and accessories for the evening.” The event featured a reception with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, music, art, and special performances by performer Shontelle Sparkles.H
April 3, 2013 H 7
FORT LAUDERDALE Television finance maven Suze Orman, who lives in Fort Lauderdale with life partner Kathy Travis, says that if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that marriage is a matter for the states to decide, she and “KT” will take themselves—and their money—to a state that recognizes marriage equality. “I have substantial wealth and I pay substantial taxes,” Orman, 61, told MSNBC host Alex Wagner. “I would be more than happy to move to New York or California if I could get married and be recognized on a federal level,” she added. “Because I want to live in a state that validates me, and I would validate them with my money.” “Obviously I have a lot at stake here,” Orman told viewers on her CNBC program. “I have been gay my whole entire life. I’ve been in a relationship with ‘KT’ for 12 years. And I want
enjoy the same benefits as everybody else. I want to feel valid 100 percent of the time.”
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
Broward GOP Chief Opposes Marriage Equality
/floridaagenda
SUNSHINE STATE
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com /floridaagenda
April 3, 2013 H 8
NATION During DOMA Arguments, Supreme Court Questions Raise Equality Supporters’ Hopes WASHINGTON, DC During oral arguments on Wednesday, March 27, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court seemed poised to strike down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal law that defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman. With the majority of justices expressing reservations about DOMA, LGBT advocates were cautiously optimistic on the second day of testimony that the high court’s progressive wing seemed especially poised to deconstruct the section of the 1996 federal law that defines marriage exclusively for straight couples. Observing that DOMA creates “two kinds of marriage,” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg compared “full marriage” to “this sort of skim milk marriage” of civil unions and other alternative classifications such as domestic partnership agreements. Justice Anthony Kennedy, the high court member who is believed to possess the likely swing vote, addressed the relationship between the law and families, stressing that the federal government must respect “the historic commitment of marriage and questions of the rights of children to the states.” Allowing DOMA to stand, said Kennedy, would put control of marriage laws—which traditional are given to the states—in the hands of the federal government, which means “you are at real risk with running in conflict with what has always been the essence” of the regulation of families. Justice Elena Kagan, appointed to the court by President Obama in 2010, asked if homophobia was at play when DOMA was enacted in 1996. Addressing remarks from the 1996 U.S. House of Representatives official record during the debate about DOMA which referred to a “moral disapproval of homosexuality,” Kagan asked, “Do we really think Congress was doing this
for uniformity reasons or do we think the Congress’s judgment was infected by dislike, by animus, by fear?” Acknowledging the historic occasion, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr. observed, “You’re asking us to do something we’ve never done before to reach this case.” “It’s unusual,” replied U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Srikanth Srinivasan, representing the Obama Administration. “No, it’s not unusual,” Chief Justice Roberts responded. “It’s totally unprecedented.” Roberts also expressed a measure of the frustration that he and the conservative wing of the high court experiencing with the administration’s seemingly contradictory position of enforcing the law but not defending it. “I don’t see why [the President] doesn’t have the courage of his convictions,” said Roberts. Justice Kennedy came close to offering a view to hearten LGBT rights activists, acknowledging the high court’s standing in the case. “It seems to me there’s injury here,” Kennedy offered. If the court strikes down the section of DOMA under review, married same-sex couples in nine states and the District of Columbia will start receiving federal benefits. But that ruling would not affect any state that has not legalized same-sex marriage. Wednesday’s hearing lasted an hour and featured arguments from Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. and Paul Clement, Solicitor General under President George W. Bush, who represented the anti-equality side. The case being argued, United States v. Windsor, involves two New York women, Edith Windsor and Thea Clara Spyer, who were married in 2007 in Canada. In 2009, Spyer died and Windsor inherited her property. Under the 1996 law, the IRS did not consider Windsor to be a surviving spouse, and required her to pay close to $360,000 in federal taxes—an amount that a spouse in a heterosexual marriage would not be required to pay. Windsor sued, and in 2012 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit struck down the law as unconstitutional. Similarly, in February 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. announced that DOMA was unconstitutional and
would no longer be defending in court, although the administration would continue to enforce it. The federal government enforced and defended DOMA prior to 2011.
CBS Sports: Gay NFL Player Is “Strongly Considering” Coming Out CBSSports.com football analyst Mike Freeman is reporting that “a current gay player is strongly considering coming out publicly within the next few months—and after doing so, the player would attempt to continue his career.” According to Freeman, the player is concerned about a negative reaction from fans. “The player would attempt to continue his career” after his coming out announcement, wrote Freeman in a March 25 blog posting. “Based on interviews over the past several weeks with current and former players, I’m told that a current gay NFL player is strongly considering coming out publicly within the next few months,” he reported. “I’m told this player feels the time is now for someone to take this step— despite homophobic remarks from San Francisco 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver and the controversy arising recently at the Indianapolis Scouting combine, when prospects were asked questions about their sexuality. “This player’s true concern, I’m told, is not the reaction inside an NFL locker
Kwame Harris
room but outside of it. The player fears he will suffer serious harm from homophobic fans, and that is the only thing preventing him from coming out. My sources will not say who this alleged player is.”
Former NFL Player Comes Out LOS ANGELES, CA Former professional football player Kwame Harris, who played for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, came out on Friday during an interview with CNN. Harris, a former offensive tackle who played for six seasons in the NFL, told CNN that he regrets not being able to admit his sexuality during his pro career. “I wasn’t publicly out until, I don’t know, beginning of the Super Bowl when it was publicized,” said Harris. Kwame’s sexual identity became an issue after he and an ex-boyfriend were seen arguing publicly and a subsequent comment from current 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver, who said during a radio interview that there were “no gay people on the team.” Culliver later apologized for adding, “They got to get up out of here if they do.”
April 10 is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day WASHINGTON, DC LGBT rights advocates have designated April 10 as National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD). Each year, activists in high schools, colleges, and universities across the country organize to educate about HIV/AIDS, promote HIV testing, and to promote tolerance for those living with the illness. The day is also designated to bring public awareness of the young people between the ages of 16 and 29 who represent more than 40 percent of new HIV cases, as well as the one-in-four new HIV cases that occur in young people ages 13 to 24, and the 60 percent of young people living with HIV/AIDS who don’t know they have it.H
“
Speaking Wiri Wiri” (Red Hen Press, 2013) by gay poet Dan Vera was the winner of the inaugural Letras Latinas/ Red Hen Poetry Prize. The book, Vera’s second full-length collection, consists of 45 poems arranged in five distinct sections. Taken as a whole, the collection possesses a cohesive voice and message. Latino, queer, the son of immigrants, fascinated with language and memory (two of the sections are titled “The Trouble With Memory” and “The Memory Of The Tongue”), Vera’s book couldn’t come at a better time, with immigration reform and LGBT issues at the forefront of the national debate. Written with authority, assurance, and passion, “Speaking Wiri Wiri” has earned Vera a rightful place alongside his poetry heroes. The Agenda spoke with Vera to commemorate April’s designation as National Poetry Month. When did you begin to seriously write poetry, and how did you come to it? I began writing poetry in college during the lead up to the first [Gulf ] War, [around] 1989. The country was gearing up for war and although the news was filled with reports, there seemed to be little conversation among my circle of friends about the impact the war could have on my generation. Poetry allowed me a way to express my own concerns about this war. I don't know why it was poetry, but when I shared it with friends, they seemed to find a resonance with the fears and questions I was raising. I kept writing, mostly as a solitary act and didn't seriously begin to write poetry, to dedicate myself to it, to immerse myself in it, until years later.
“Speaking Wiri Wiri” is divided into five sections. The first three sections are titled “The Trouble With Language,” “The Trouble With Borders,” and “The Trouble With Memory.” I didn't go into writing these poems with these ideas in mind. [But] those titles are a blunt admission that we are never perfectly served by language, borders, or memory, which seem to me to be porous and malleable by time and repetition. We cling to language and borders and memory in a vain attempt to give some control to our lives, to make sense of life—our identities are tied up with these matters. I just feel it's important to be reminded that language and borders and memory are fluid and liable to change. The poem “Ambrosia on Four Legs” opens with an epigraph by openly-gay Cuban poet Richard Blanco. As a gay poet of Cuban heritage, what is the tradition of queer Cuban writers? [Blanco, Achy Obejas, and the late Reinaldo Arenas] have been sources of great pleasure and reassurance for me. Certainly as a gay Cuban kid who grew up in South Texas, their being gay and Cuban meant a lot to me. I remember finding an immediate resonance with
Obejas's “We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This?” Here was a writer mediating these multiple identities. I came to Richard [Blanco’s] work much later and found a kindred writer exploring mixed identity and sifting through family memory. Our similarities may be more aptly a part of the immigrant writers' tradition, certainly first-generation writers who are struggling to mediate these multiple identities here in the United States. As for Arenas, his memoir “Before Night Falls” served as a priceless testament of the repression faced by queer people like me in Cuba. It certainly wasn't new for those knowledgeable enough to remember [Beat poet] Allen Ginsberg being kicked off the island for being a “perverse” influence on Cuba's young people. But to my mind, Arenas belongs to that rich tradition of Gay Cuban writers like Lezama Lima, Virgilio Piñera, and Severo Sarduy. As in all cultures, gay people have been among the central pillars in Cuban culture. Unfortunately they've been largely sidelined or silenced in the last 50 years. What did you think about Blanco’s poem that he read at President Obama’s second inauguration? I loved Blanco's ability to thread the personal with the aspirational in that poem. That's never been done in an inaugural poem and [it’s] a hell of an accomplishment. He managed to find a way to be commu-
nal and meditative at the same time. I loved what Elizabeth Alexander, the last inaugural poet, said about creating a moment of quiet in the midst of the pomp and pageantry. Richard did that, but he also found a way to express the myriad and the shared. Just lovely. Have you started writing or thinking about your next book? I've begun preliminary writing on some poems. I've been doing more research and reading, and my interest seems to be centered on a lot of forgotten history. I'm interested in how Latino history is tied up with the tension between America’s democratic and imperialist impulses. But I'm also conspiring on an anthology of “crush” poems with a poet friend. For now I'm just happy to have the opportunity to share these poems with new audiences.H
Dan Vera
April 3, 2013 H 9
Where does prose fit into your writing? I've written essays on gay identity and history which probably come out of my academic background in anthropology and history. In many ways I see my writing as storytelling and uncovering and retelling histories that are worthy of recording.
Who do you consider to be your poetry heroes? I used to joke that my life was like the first 19 minutes of “The Wizard of Oz,” until the day I picked up a volume of [Pablo] Neruda (William O'Daly's translations of “Libro de Preguntas”) and my life went Technicolor [laughs]. I'd been writing [for] a few years but that volume unlocked something inside of me. My other poetry heroes include Emily Dickinson, for her persistence to write in solitude and her engagement with the world through her writing. There's something rather heroic about that. There are other poets whose work has inspired or influenced me from time to time and for a variety of reasons: Nemerov, Ginsberg, Doty, Seiferle, Nye. But my reading tastes are rather broad.
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
By GREGG SHAPIRO
/floridaagenda
“SPEAKING” IN POETRY WITH DAN VERA
Q & A
SLAVERY, HOMOPHOBIA, AND OTHER ‘LOST CAUSES’
April 3, 2013 • ISSUE 176
CLIFF DUNN, EDITOR FOUNDER MULTIMEDIA PLATFORMS
/floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
EDITOR’S DESK
BOBBY BLAIR – CEO / MANAGING PARTNER
PUBLISHER BOBBY BLAIR
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER KEVIN HOPPER
April 3, 2013 H 10
I
recently watched Ken Burns’ incomparable 1990 documentary series, “The Civil War.” I won’t spend a lot of time extolling its many virtues— as documentary, as American history, as unparalleled storytelling, as explanation for the causes-and-consequences of many societal issues with which we still wrestle, more than 150 years after that violent struggle began—other than to say it is possibly the best dozen-plus-hours you could spend in front of the television (and this coming from a man who owns all 86-hours of “The Sopranos”). One of the interesting consequences of that most bloody of all American conflicts that was addressed by the series, and by many of the historians who lent their expertise and knowledge to its production, is the literary and intellectual movement that developed in the Southern states in the years immediately following the Civil War’s 1865 conclusion. As a movement, the so-called “Lost Cause” had a generally successful impact, over a roughly 80-year period, in reconciling the members of the South’s traditional white society to the military defeat of the Confederacy. Authors, poets, artists, historians, and other intellectuals who contributed to the Lost Cause portrayed the Confederacy’s secession from the Union as a noble crusade for states’ rights (against a powerhungry federal government backed by industrial and banking interests) and a “lost way of life,” as described by Margaret Mitchell, the author of one of the most enduring examples of Lost Cause literature and its impact on American culture, “Gone With the Wind.” The movement also portrayed many Confederate leaders—and particularly the well-loved military hero Robert E. Lee—as archetypal examples of chivalry and honor (like knights of old) who were beaten by the Union because of the North’s crush-
EDITOR
ing military might and industrial power, rather than through virtue, personal bravery, or skill. In Mitchell’s 1936 book, slavery, when it is portrayed at all, is presented (like other so-called “Southern plantation fiction” of that and earlier periods) from the point-ofview and through the values of the slaveholding class, rendering an image of slaves as happy and docile. The slaves depicted in “Gone With the Wind” are loyal servants, like Mammy, Prissy, and Uncle Peter, who stay on with their masters even after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 set them free. As can be seen in the 1939 film version of “Gone With the Wind,” adherents to the Lost Cause condemned the Northerncompelled Reconstruction that followed the war, seeing it as a form of cultural genocide devised by vengeful Northern lawmakers and self-serving business interests aimed on destroying the South’s traditional way of life. In fact, the almost complete opposite was true. Prior to the Civil War, abolitionists, free state and territory supporters, Northern journalists, and independent commentators referred to what was known as the “Slave Power” (or sometimes “Slaveocracy”) to describe the out-sized influence and political power of the slaveholding states and the Southern aristocracy that dominated them. This cabal of rich cotton and other agricultural planters and their sympathetic allies in Congress (and often the White House) conspired to use unfortunate Constitutional guarantees made by the Founders, along with pro-slavery laws (such as the Fugitive Slave Act), and Supreme Court rulings like the despicable Dred Scott Decision (to say nothing of the largely pro-slavery justices themselves) to force every American to become a co-conspirator in that vile institution.
After the Southern defeat, the myth of the Lost Cause gave former slaveholders and supporters of bigotry a form of cover, plus a chance to revise the history. Thus former Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens, one of the loudest advocates of the Lost Cause lie, would claim when the war began that slavery was the “cornerstone of the Confederacy,” while after the war he wrote that states’ rights, not slavery, prompted the South to rebel. In fact, states’ rights was—at best—a secondary concern to the Slave Power, with the pro-slavery states arguing before they seceded that the U.S. Constitution— a federal document—constrained the national government from interfering with slavery in any state. After they seceded, they decided that the new Confederacy’s Constitution would impose a federal prohibition of any state interfering with their federally-protected institution. This speaks volumes to the notion that slavery, and not any peripheral concerns about states’ rights, is what really lay at the heart of their argument, and that of their Lost Cause apologists. The arguments and ideologies that sustained the Slave Power and the later Lost Cause have strong parallels to those employed by the defenders of so-called traditional marriage. They can rant and rave about the religious antecedents that helped shape society’s idea of what marriage means, but as Rev. Durrell Watkins of Sunshine Cathedral notes in his Q-POINT piece on the following page, the Bible has been used to justify all sorts of things—including slavery, and polygamy—but in the end, the Good Book, like the law, like the history books, and like Supreme Court rulings, was and is written by men. Let’s hope that homophobia—cloaked in the guise of tradition, religion, conservatism, and that old bugbear, states’ rights— is just another soon-to-be Lost Cause.H
CLIFF DUNN editor@floridaagenda.com
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS TOM BONANTI, JEAN DOHERTY, ANDY KRESS, PHOEBE MOSES, ROBERT ELIAS DEATON, RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN, GRANT JAMES, JUSTIN JONES, JOE HARRIS, GREGG SHAPIRO Photography • STEPHEN KUTTNER, DENNIS DEAN T.J. GILLESPIE, LISSA GOOD
PRODUCTION
Creative Director • GEORGE DAUPHIN Graphic Designer • NIKI LOPEZ
ADMINISTRATIVE JAMIE FORSYTHE
SALES & MARKETING Account Executive KEITH CHAMLEE keithchamlee@guymag.net - 954-380-8563 x2111 Account Executive JOYCE BLUESTEIN joycebluestein@mmpmlgbt.com - 954-380-8563 x2113
CLASSIFIEDS classifieds@guymag.net - 954-380-8563
NATIONAL AD REPRESENTATIVE RIVENDELL MEDIA: 212-242-6863
DISPLAY AD DEADLINES:
Camera Ready Artwork by Mondays, Noon Placement by Mondays, 5 p.m.
CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINES:
Placement by Mondays, 5 p.m. Artwork by Mondays, Noon ALL MATERIAL in the Florida Agenda is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Florida Agenda. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers and cartoonists published herein is neither inferred or implied. The appearance of names or pictorial representation does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons. Although this paper is supported by many fine advertisers, the Agenda cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. EDITORIAL POSITIONS of the Florida Agenda are expressed in editorials and in editors’ notes as determined by the paper’s editors. Other opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Florida Agenda or its staff. TO SUBMIT A LETTER OR COMMENTARY: Letters should be fewer than 400 words; commentaries should be fewer than 750 words. Submissions may be edited for content and length, and must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Send submissions by e-mail to Editor@floridaagenda.com by fax to 954-566-7900 or by regular mail to the Agenda office, attn: Letters/Commentary. MAIN OFFICE/ SALES & CLASSIFIEDS: 2435 North Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, Florida 33305 Phone 954-380-8563 FAX 954-380-8567 A bureau of LGBTQNation.com www.floridaagenda.com Printed by Forum Publishing Group (954) 574-5321 MEDIA ADVISORY BOARD Alan Beck, Keith Blackburn, Robert Boo, Reece Darham, Richard Hack, Kevin Hopper, Paul Hugo, Peter Jackson, Krishan Manners, Terry DeCarlo, Mark Negrete, Jackson Padgett, Gary Santis, Jason Tamanini, Brett Tannenbaum, Dean Trantalis, Victor Zepka © 2013, Mutimedia Platforms LLC. All rights reserved.
BY JOE HARRIS
ASHINGTON, DC — During oral arguments on Tuesday in the landmark case Hollingsworth v. Perry, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court considered the very meaning of marriage, with several members of the high court wondering aloud if the wheels of progress were turning too quickly in seeking to address the existence of a constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry. “I just wonder if this case was properly granted,” Justice Anthony Kennedy offered, deflating the preliminary hopes of many that he will bring to bear the same personal process that voted in 2003 to overturn sodomy laws. “We have five years of information to pose against 2,000 years of history or more,” he added. “You want us to step in and assess the effects of this institution, which is newer than cellphones and/or the Internet?”
asked Justice Samuel Alito, Jr., appointed to the court by George W. Bush in 2006. Even Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was appointed in 2009 by Barack Obama, asked, “Why is taking a case now the answer?” The case, Hollingsworth, was filed in 2009 by Theodore Olson, a former Solicitor General in the George W. Bush White House, and David Boies, a power broker in the Democratic Party. They argue that California voters violated the U.S. Constitution in 2008 when they approved Proposition 8, overriding a decision of the state’s Supreme Court that permitted gay marriages. Representing the groups that support the ban on marriage equality, attorney Charles Cooper told the high court that “the state’s interest and society’s interest in what we have framed as ‘responsible procreation’ is vital.” He also cautioned
against the consequences of a “redefinition” of marriage. Justice Kennedy, who was appointed to the high court in 1988 by Ronald Reagan, expressed concern for the children of same-sex parents whose legal status was in question. “There [are] some 40,000 children in California that live with same-sex parents,” Kennedy noted. “They want their parents to have full recognition and full status. The voice of those children is important.” Justice Elena Kagan (Obama, 2010) also took up the family question, asking Cooper how letting gay couples get married will hurt traditional marriage. “How does this cause and effect work?” Kagan wondered. Justice Stephen Breyer (Clinton, 1994) addressed those married couples—gay and straight—who don’t have children because of medical reasons. “There are lots of people who get married who can’t have
BIBLICAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST MARRIAGE EQUALITY DON’T HOLD UP
children,” Breyer noted. The “wit” of the high court, Justice Antonin Scalia (Reagan, 1986) observed, “I suppose we could have a questionnaire at the marriage desk asking, ‘Are you fertile?'” Another matter the justices took up was whether the plaintiffs—opponents of marriage equality—have any legal standing to actually challenge the state court ruling that overturned Proposition 8. If the court decides that they have no standing, it would effectively leave in place that state court ruling striking down the gay marriage ban. Olson, representing the pro-equality side, told the justices that Proposition 8 “walls off gays and lesbians from marriage,” and that by permitting a ban on same-sex marriage to stand, the court would be “labeling their most sacred relationship” as “not O.K.” H
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
W
POLITICS
/floridaagenda
DURING FIRST DAY OF ARGUMENTS, JUSTICES SUGGEST A SLOW-GO ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Q-POINT
BY REV. DR. DURRELL WATKINS
T
a memo dictated by God, the Bible is a collection of writings by many authors spanning three continents and more than 1,000 years. 1. The “Bible” is not the “Bible” in the “Bible.” The Biblical canon was closed centuries after the life of Jesus. The church existed for generations before there was a Christian Bible. And even still, the text differs slightly depending on if one is Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Mormon, or Jewish. Whether there is one Testament or there are two or three, and how many books are in those Testaments depends on which tradition one embraces. 2. The Bible is a human document. Some believe the Bible is divinely inspired, others do not, but either way the actual writing was done by humans, the reading is done by humans (and readers make meaning), and how the words are used are determined by humans. With or without the notion of a divine presence nudging people to record
their thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and desires, the obvious fact remains that the work of Biblical writing, reading, interpreting, and application is the work of human beings, and humans don’t always agree. 3. There are no original texts. The original documents, that is, the first pieces of paper (or papyrus) upon which the Biblical authors wrote, no longer exist. The oldest scriptural documents extant today are handwritten copies of handwritten copies (which leaves quite a bit of room for human error). 4. Biblical ethics and knowledge don’t always withstand the test of time. Biblical writers accepted slavery, child abuse, war, and the secondary status of women as common standards of their day. They assumed the earth was flat, never knew of the Americas, and had never heard of the law of gravity. Aerodynamics, quantum physics, and psychology were unknown to ancient writers. They didn’t know about egg
cells or chromosomes, and didn’t even understand procreation the way we do today. Their creativity and genius should not be ignored, but what they did not know was a lot. We learn more as time goes by; we are not limited to what people knew millennia ago. 5. The Biblical texts were not written in any modern language. The texts were written in ancient languages (sometimes without any punctuation), so translation problems must always be considered. Our Bible is a translation of copies of copies of copies of texts handwritten in ancient languages in ancient, pre-scientific cultures. It’s still fascinating and beautiful and useful, but not if used as a weapon to defend bigotry and discrimination. Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins is the Senior Minister of Sunshine Cathedral, a progressive and inclusive Fort Lauderdale-based ministry affiliated with Metropolitan Community Churches and the International New Thought Alliance.H
April 3, 2013 H 11
hose who invoke the Bible to defend hetero-normative and homophobic views need to understand that the text can be understood in more complex ways than would make them comfortable. There are Biblical heroes who form non-traditional families of choice, there are couples who have covenantal relationships outside the cultural definition of marriage, and plenty of examples of people practicing polygamy (although none as enthusiastically as “wise” Solomon with his 700 wives, 300 concubines, and a legendary one-night-stand with the Queen of Sheba). What constitutes a relationship, a family, or even a life-long covenant in the Jewish and Christian scriptures is not as cut-and-dry as the opponents of marriage equality would like to believe. What people who use it as a weapon to protect their privilege and marginalize others need to know about is that rather than being
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com /floridaagenda
April 5th & 6th, 2013 8 pm
The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art Auditorium Do you like Judy? The Golden Girls? Naughty jailbirds doing the tango? If so, you’ll love the Original Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus’ Spring show: Guilty Pleasures. Join us for a fantastic night of the entertainment that will satisfy all your musical desires!
Tickets: $25 General Admission & $40 VIP
April 3, 2013 H 12
For updated information on our concerts, events or joining our chorus, please visit our website www.theftlgmc.org Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council. or call 954.832.0060.
k o o L T U O
PATRICK MURPHY BIRTHDAY PHOTOS BY GREGGSHAPIRO
On March 28, the Friends of Patrick Murphy hosted a birthday party and fundraising event for U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-FL), who represents Florida’s 18th congressional district, at the Josephine Leiser Opera Center in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. The host committee of business and local leaders from South Florida’s LGBT community, included Christopher Dunham and husband Joseph Anthony. They welcomed Murphy (who turned 30 on March 30) and guests with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and a call to action to contribute to the freshman congressman’s re-election fund. Murphy (pictured at top right), the youngest member of the current sitting Congress, greeted guests and addressed matters of national and local importance, including the future of marriage equality and America’s future. He was introduced to the assembled guests by Dean Trantalis, Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner and longtime advocate for LGBT rights.
A Perfect Pair
Gay Men’s Chorus, ‘Mack’ing It, and “DWTSFS: Season 3” at The Manor!
The 18th Annual Wine and Culinary Celebration features a sequence of wine/ spirits and food pairings, each different from the last. There will be tastings from 50 of South Florida’s best restaurants, in addition to a diverse range of wines and spirits from around the world. For the more-than-two-beer-queer set, this year will feature craft beer, too. At the Museum of Discovery and Science (401 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale).
SATURDAY, 4/6
THE WEEK
I Drink, Therefore I Am
The Week 4/4/2013 to 4/10/2013 BY GRANT JAMES The Golden Dragon Acrobats, at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach
THURSDAY, 4/4
FRIDAY, 4/5
Chicago Rocks Hard at Hard Rock
They’re Gay and They Sing?
The self-described 70s “Rock and Roll band with horns” (referring to their brass section, and not any cartilaginous forehead protrusions—we think), Chicago is one of the top selling groups of the decade. Churning out such classics as “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?,” and “You’re the Inspiration,” the pop/rock/jazz legends have sold over 35 million albums in the U.S. alone, with 22 gold and eight multi-platinum albums (as well as 21 singles in the top 10). At 8 p.m., at Hard Rock Live (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood).
Join the Original Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus for “Guilty Pleasures,” a concert featuring selections from Judy Garland, TV’s “Golden Girls,” the musicals “Chicago,” “Les Misérables, “Phantom of the Opera,” “Cabaret” and many others. Under the direction of Chorus founder Dr. Gary Keating, the Men’s Chorus will be joined by the Fort Lauderdale Women’s Chorus, directed by David Morse. Tickets $25 General Admission, $40 Premium Seating (1st five rows). Cash bar available. Through April 6. At 8 p.m., at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale Auditorium (1 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale).
To have your event listed, please email editor@floridaagenda.com
The annual tradition of Beerfest has become quite the occasion. The festival, which has been going strong since 1997, boasts local talent, and features suds and grub from local restaurants and bars, in addition to both domestic and imported brewskis. The event boasts a selection of over 100 beers from around the world, so come thirsty. At 6 p.m., at Esplanade Park (next to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 400 SW 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale).
Oink (It Rhymes with “Boink”) Another edition of Ramrod’s sweaty, raunchy, and wildly fun monthly party, Pig Dance. The event draws crowds from all over the Tri-County area who share a love of leather, Levi’s, chest hair, and muy caliente house music. This month will feature sounds from Provincetown DJ Chris Racine. At 10 p.m. (1508 NE 4th Ave., Fort Lauderdale).
SUNDAY, 4/7
Smart Comedy Comedian Robert Dubac’s newest show, “Free-Range Thinking,” is just exactly that. His one man act features a man on a journey to find a greater truth through the muck and grime of politics, religion, and the media. Dubac combines theatre and stand-up while portraying different characters up against a variety of issues. At 7:30 p.m., at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach).
well-produced event featuring powerful performances, excellent production values, and a panel of celebrity judges including Gary Santis, Reece Darham, and Misty Eyez. Arrive early for the silent auction. For tickets, visit guymag.net. Proceeds benefit the Brian Neal Fitness Taylor and Health FoundaSwift tion, assisting those living with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening conditions. At 8:30 p.m., at The Manor (2345 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors).
MONDAY, 4/8
These ’Bats Know How to Fly As the ancient texts teach us, 25 centuries ago, Chinese Acrobatic Performances were created (the texts are unclear as to why they were created). Who doesn’t enjoy watching little nuggets flipping and flying around stage? The Golden Dragon Acrobats are renowned both nationally and abroad as leading acrobatic touring performers. Their newest production, Cirque Ziva, combines acrobatics, traditional dance, eye-popping costumes, ancient and contemporary music, and dazzling stage theatrics to present an unforgettable, authentic experience. At 2 p.m., at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach).
TUESDAY, 4/9
Mix and Mack The Mack Mixer—South Florida’s most popular gay/straight friendly professional cocktail social— hosts its monthly mixer at Vibe (inside YOLO). The event brings
Tripping the Light Fantastic with the A-Gays The wait is over: Season 3 of “Dancing with the South Florida Stars” has arrived. Contestants include a dozen business and community leaders competing for the title in a highly-charged,
Chicago
like-minded professionals to mingle and network in a chic but friendly environment. A $10 cover gets you a Ketel One cocktail, so entry is essentially free. (333 E. Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale).
Creepy, Cooky, and Musical It was only a matter of time before “The Addams Family” was turned into a musical. People love dark musicals, and this one features music and lyrics that wowed Broadway in original performances by Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. If your date has hands like Thing, you go boy. At 8 p.m., at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale).
WEDNESDAY, 4/10
Taylor Swift: The Teen Break-Up Song Queen Whenever you see Swifty photographed with a guy, you just know she’s thinking about writing a
break-up song about it. She hops from boyfriend to boyfriend, and no one seems to really care. Taylor Swift is America’s Sweetheart, and every new single is catchier than the last. Catch her perform tracks including “Trouble,” “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” and others from her recent LP, “Red.” At 7 p.m., at the American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami).
This King Loves Him Some Queens Comedian Kevin James is the everyman of the comedy world. From his UPS driver in “The King of Queens” sitcom, to a clumsy security guard (riding a Segway, no less) in “Mall Cop,” and a fireman trying to scam benefits by same-sex marrying his best friend Adam Sandler, he appeals to a bigger crowd. Literally a bigger crowd. 8 p.m., at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts/Dreyfoos Concert Hall (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach).
s ifferent Item Over 12,000 D Drive 2205 Wilt4o-n2987 954-56
15) NAKED GRAPE 2163 Wilton Drive Wilton manors
BAR MAP 1) ALIBI 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors
17) PJ’S CORNER POCKET 924 North Flagler Drive Wilton Manors
16) NEW MOON 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors
3) BOARDWALK 1721 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale
18) RAMROD 1508 NE 4th Ave Fort Lauderdale
2) BILL’S FILLING STATION 2209 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors
4) BOOM 2232 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors
27) VILLAGE PUB 2283 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors
19) ROSIE’S BAR & 5) CORNER PUB GRILL 1915 N Andrews Ave 2449 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors Wilton Manors 6) CUBBY HOLE 20) RUMORS 823 N Federal Hwy BAR & GRILL Fort Lauderdale 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 7) DEPOT CABANA BAR AND GRILL 21) SCANDALS SALOON 2935 N Federal Hwy 3073 NE 6th Ave Fort Lauderdale Wilton Manors 8) DUDES 22) SIDELINES 3270 NE 33rd St 2031 Wilton Drive Fort Lauderdale Wilton Manors 9) INFINITY LOUNGE 23) SMARTY PANTS 2184 WIlton Drive 2400 E Oakland Park Blvd Wilton Manors Fort Lauderdale 10) JOHNNY’S 1116 W Broward Blvd 24) THE STABLE 205 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale 11) LIPS 1421 E Oakland Park Blvd 25) TORPEDO 2829 W Broward Blvd Oakland Park Fort Lauderdale 12)THE MANOR COMPLEX 26) TROPICS 2345 Wilton Drive 2000 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors Wilton Manors 13) MONA’S 502 E Sunrise Blvd Fort Lauderdale 14) MONKEY BUSINESS 2740 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale
/floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
April 3, 2013 H 17
April 3, 2013 H 18 /floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
/floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
April 3, 2013 H 19
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
DINING
JOE’S SEAFOOD SHACK Where the Shrimps Are Colossal and the Crabs Are King
/floridaagenda
By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN
April 3, 2013 H 20
RECIPE SAUCE MARCHAND DE VIN
T
he neon “vacancy” sign is flashing on the outside of the newly opened Joe’s Seafood Shack, on North Federal Highway. The only problem is that there was no vacancy on the night we visited—every seat in the place was taken, as well as every parking place in the lot outside. This newest branch of the franchise fish hut (there are over 150 outlets in 30 states plus the District of Columbia) is a fun, noisy, and predictable place where big eats are the order of the day. We finally settled in on stools at the bar, where Diane held forth in a “nothing flusters me” style that was amazing to see in action. The featured menu item at Joe’s is the Steampot, which takes its lead from the classic New England Clam Boil in which various seafood and corn on the cob co-mingles in a large pot. In the version served at Joe’s, while the pot is large, black, about a foot across, and a good six inches deep, the contents vary, but not all that much. We sampled the Arctic Bay Steampot ($30.99) which features an entire lobster (split for easy eating), shrimp, Queen crab, and Andouille sausage with a cob of corn, all steamed in a garlic bath and topped with Old Bay seasoning. Other pots include Antarctic King crab, Dungeness crab, Snow crab, Queen crab, clams, crawfish, scallops, and New Zealand Green Lipped mussels. “Let’s Get Cracking” bibs are provided for the messy. The serving placed before us is nothing short of a piece of art, as shiny and colorful as the glossy picture on the menu. There is a moment where you don’t want to disturb the perfection. Then, the restaurant erupts into impromptu dancing as the sound system blares one of three signature tunes that sends the servers into a unchoreographed dancing frenzy in the aisles. With a nod toward Disney, there’s showbiz afoot at Joe’s, and
By CHEF JEAN DOHERTY
M
archand de Vin (French for “wine merchant”) sauce is a classic red wine reduction. It’s made by reducing red wine and chopped shallots, and then simmering in a basic demi-glace. Marchand de Vin sauce is delicious served with roasts and steaks.
reduce for about five minutes. Most chefs will then strain through a mesh strainer; I love shallots, so I just leave the sauce “as is.” Remember: You are the chef. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, and serve right away.H
Ingredients
like Disney, illusion is a large part of the product. From the first bite, however, you’ll know this meal is no fantasy. The steampot is a tasty bucket of flavor and textures that impresses not only the taste buds, but also get an A+ for perfect presentation. The large menu includes more than just steampots of course, and you’ll want to explore the other seafood as well. Since Joe’s began life in Houston, Texas, as a Crab Shack, Crab is well represented, too—all served in zinc buckets with corn and red-skinned potatoes. Choose any of the crabs listed above, pick a flavor (from BBQ to Cajun to fire-grilled or steamed), and get set to crack and enjoy. Prices range from $25-$33 for what ends up weighing in at a pound-and-a-half of crab. Shrimp is another sure-to-please favorite with the Crab Stuffed Shrimp ($15.99) the all-time winner, served with dirty rice and seasonal vegetables. There’s the normal variety of popcorn shrimp, coconut shrimp, and grilled and glazed shrimp here, as well—each with its own special flavor and style. Prices range from $11-$15, and well worth the sticker price. There’s grouper, redfish, mahi mahi, snapper and salmon, as well—nice sized portions that are led by Grilled Sunset Salmon, glazed and topped with pineapple pico de gallo salsa, and priced at a very reasonable $15. You’ll also find a smattering of Steak and Chicken dishes (if you must), but meat is really not the specialty here. Joe’s is all about the seafood and fun. And it delivers both in buckets!H
JOE’S SEAFOOD SHACK 1451 N. FEDERAL HWY., FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304 (954) 537-2051
• • • •
1 quart of demi-glace 1 cup of red wine ¼ cup of chopped shallots Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
In a large saucepan, combine the wine and the shallots. Heat until the liquid boils, and then lower the heat a little and continue simmering until the liquid has reduced by three-fourths. Add the demi-glace, then lower heat to a simmer and
Although born in Dublin, Ireland, Chef Jean Doherty spent most of her life in Lyon, France, the gastronomical capital of the world. Together with Vero, her partner of 25 years, Jean has owned and run multiple restaurants including Fort Lauderdale’s Le Patio.
/floridaagenda
TRAVEL
By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON
I
Museum. These designs are as fascinating as the Catalonian people who occupy the city, beautiful and bronzed with a laid-back attitude that charms with its vulnerability. Fly to Barcelona in non-stop ease on American Airlines, which offers daily non-stop service from Miami International Airport for $1,150. Travel from Fort Lauderdale is a bit less expensive on U.S. Air ($1,086), but requires a stop in Philadelphia with an hour-anda-half layover. The main thoroughfare through town is called Las Ramblas. The highway runs from the port, dissecting Barcelona and ending right before L'Eixample, the gay area of town. Las Ramblas is THE place to people watch, and it’s full
of street performers whose talents range from the absurd, to athletes whose next stop is Cirque du Soleil. It’s a pedestrian walkway that is not only packed with people (mostly tourists) but also souvenir shops, bird aviaries, markets, flower kiosks and cafes. It is also the home of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, one of the world’s foremost opera houses. The theatre holds an audience of over 2,000, with the official season running from October through July. The Liceu has burned down twice since its original construction in 1847, but the front façade is the original. Tours are given daily at 10 a.m. and it is well worth exploring even if opera isn’t your thing. When in Barcelona, you may be
tempted to stay at the Axel Hotel Barcelona (Carrer Aribau 33). While is it part of the gay-owned chain of hotels, this particular branch (the original) has pathetically slow Internet service, lackluster housekeeping, and mediocre breakfast. At $200+ per night, you can do better for less. Just down the street is the Cram Hotel (Carrer Aribau 54), with sophisticated elegance, a trendy lounge bar, rooftop pool, and the Michelin-rated Gaig Restaurant for the finest Catalan cuisine. All rooms at the Cram feature bedside controlled lighting system and free Wi-Fi Internet access. The best news is the location: just around the corner from the busiest gay clubs in the city, highlighted here next week.H
Sagrada Familia
April 3, 2013 H 21
t’s not often you arrive in a city hoping to get lost. But such is the charm of Barcelona that the twisting streets, the amazing architecture, and the openly friendly people beckon you to wander and discover unexpected treasures around nearly every corner. Barcelona is a city that doesn’t run on a strict timetable. Everything skews late here, including dinner, which is typically eaten around 10 p.m.—most likely because it will take you that long to find your restaurant of choice. But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and is Spain’s second largest city. It stretches along the Mediterranean Coast between the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and is best known for its architecture, much of which was designed by Antonio Gaudí, whose most famous design, the Roman Catholic Sagrada Família cathedral (Calle Mallorca 401), dominates the city as its most visited tourist destination. Begun in 1882, the project was placed in Gaudi’s hands a year later, and construction on the church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continues to this day. It is said to be a little over half finished, with a new completion date estimated to be 2026—the hundredth anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Gaudí’s trademark colorfully-tiled, curved, and vaulted designs inspired by nature are found everywhere in Barcelona—from the lampposts in the touristy Plaça Reial (Barri Gòtic), to the outstanding Park Güell (Gràcia district), a massive garden that overlooks the city and is home to the Gaudí
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
BARCELONA, SPAIN Lose your way and your heart.
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com /floridaagenda
ASK THE FITNESS MAN By PETER JACKSON
Q: Is it true that exercising on an empty stomach burns more fat? A: This theory says that if there's no fuel in your body to burn then you'll end up burning fat, but research has proven otherwise. Instead of pulling the energy from stored fat, there's a better chance that your body will look to energy in your bloodstream and muscle stores. Further drawbacks to exercising on an empty stomach include shortened workouts due to lack of stamina, and dizziness or nausea from low blood sugar. Instead of going hungry, enjoy a small, nutritious snack about 90 minutes before you exercise.
April 3, 2013 H 22
Q: Isn’t cardio more effective for weight loss than weights? A: Cardio alone is never as effective as a routine that also includes resistance training. Exercising with weights is essential for building lean tissue, which increases your metabolism and decreases your body fat. Resistance training plays a vital role in burning fat and should be a central part of your weight loss program – even though high intensity cardiovascular activities such as running burn more calories than an equal amount of time spent lifting weights. Here’s why: Strength training builds lean muscle tissue which increases your metabolism
(meaning it burns fat and calories) over time. Strength training also keeps your metabolism elevated (again, burning fat and calories) for hours after you have exercised while your muscles are being repaired. This is called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption or “afterburn.” My general recommendation – without having the benefit of knowing your fitness level or goals – would be to engage in a program of resistance training at least twice per week and cardio exercise on non-training days two to three times per week for about 45 minutes. Q: A buddy of mine says if you exercise enough, you can eat anything you want. A: This myth makes me cringe, as I’ve seen so many people throw away their hard-earned fitness results by overeating. Even if you exercise daily at an intense rate, your diet still matters. To top it off, most people overestimate how many calories they burn as well as underestimating how many calories they are eating. This can be a fattening combo. For best results, maintain a caloriecontrolled diet filled with fresh, wholesome ingredients. EXERCISE TIP MANY BENEFITS TO DUMBBELLS
Incorporating the use of dumbbells into your exercise program allows your wrists to be pronated (palms down) and supinated (palms up), changing the angles at which a particular exercise Frank Ruggiero, a fitness model and trainer at is performed. Push Fitness, demonstrates the Controlled Rope Pushdown. This is great for hitting muscles separated. Control the rope on the way not always reached through the use of up, bringing the two sides together and machines or other equipment. Usstop at a half-way position (as seen in ing dumbbells also allows you to train photo one). Proceed to return the rope to each arm individually, identifying and the starting position, flexing your triceps improving strengths or weaknesses of a at the bottom (as seen in position two). It particular arm. Make friends with a pair is important to stop in a halfway position of dumbbells! in order to keep the triceps contracted. Repeat steps one and two for 15 repetiEXERCISE OF THE WEEK tions. Perform three sets. (Photography: CONTROLLED ROPE PUSHDOWN TobysPhotos.com) This is a terrific exercise to build your triceps. Grab the rope on a cable machine Peter Jackson is a fitness and nutrition exand select a weight that’s comfortable pert and the owner of Push Fitness and Club for you. Standing shoulder-width apart, One CrossFit in Oakland Park. He welcomes bring the rope down to a full lock-out your comments and questions for this colposition, making sure the elbows are full umn, published twice monthly. Email your extended at the bottom and the rope is questions to Peter@PushFitnessFTL.com. H
/floridaagenda /floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
MORE THAN 200 MEMBERS CAN’T BE WRONG... “Club One CrossFit is awesome!” “...best workouts, most fun ever...” “Love it! Nothing else comes close.”
SIGN UP FOR A FREE SESSION! ClubOneCrossFit.com
A N A F F I L I AT E O F P U S H F I T N E S S , F T. L A U D E R D A L E ’ S B E S T P E R S O N A L T R A I N I N G G Y M W W W. P U S H F I T N E S S F T L . C O M
April 3, 2013 H 23
1098 NE 45th St. (Floranada Rd.), Oakland Park, FL 33334 Call 954.530.4304
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com /floridaagenda
MARKETPLACE
MOVING
RENT / LEASE
ELITE RELOCATION MOVING & STORAGE We’ve provided quality moves for over 30 years. It’s always a smooth move when you choose Elite Relocation. Contact us today: 954.975.8660 www.elitemoving.com
POMPANO BEACH 2/2 CONDO First Floor, All New Tile throughout, New A/C, New Hot Water Heater, New Stainless Steel Applic,New Baths, Screened patio with Storage Overlooking Green Space, Pool, Tennis, Laundry is Right Out Your Front Door, Both Bedrooms Oversized! Amazing Rental Price! Only $850.00 F/L/S Robert Geary MacKilligan Cell 954-234-8759 “Your Life Partner In Real Estate” Galleria International Realty
RED BOX MOVING -- OWNER IN TRUCK ON EVERY MOVE. CALL NORBERT DIRECTLY. Affordable, Reliable, Careful. MV#567/INSURED. (954)305-9176 or (561)5065540-www.redboxmoving.com
HOME IMPROVEMENT DEREK’S 24-HR HANDYMAN SERVICE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND VACATION RENTAL - Introducing our new cabinet shop! For all your custom made cabinetrycountertops laminates. You must see our work, just ask our clients. All electrical to code, ANY & ALL plumbing work, Drywall finish work / repair. Crown/ baseboard proinstall, interior/ exterior painting, demo work, Pressure washing, Decor tile install, Complete home up-dates. For large jobs, 4-man crew available. WE CAN HANDLE IT ALL! Instant call back, direct service response. No job is ever too small. Excellent references. Derek (954) 825-5598
SPIRITUALITY
THE LAKES, UPDATED LAKEFRONT 2/2 Large unit is just 4 miles to Wilton Manors! Dogs OK, Includes Cable, Trash, Pool. $1199/mo. Call Ron Spradlin, CR Realty (954)802-3224
T H E PA R I S H O F S T S . F R A N C I S & C L A R E 101 NE 3RD STREET - just N of Broward Blvd. and E of Andrews Ave. Mass Times: Sat @ 5 PM; Sun @ 10:30 AM; Wed @ 7 PM. Where we welcome and appreciate diversity a progressive community in the Catholic tradition. 954-731-8173; www.stsfrancisandclare.org
WILTON MANORS 1/1- 9 UNIT GAY COMPLEX Tiled floors, CAC, Pool (Clothing Optional) Small dogs OK, NO Cats! One year lease with F/L/S. 125 NW 25th St. (954)326-9096
RENT / LEASE
PERFECT RELOCATION RENTALS – 3-6 MONTHS FROM $325/WEEK & $1300/MONTH Beautiful Studio, 1 & 2 BR Apts. Turnkey, fully furnished, equipped, Full kitchen, clothing optional pool, laundry, parking. Central to Wilton Manors & Haulover Beach in Historic Dania Beach.. Pets Welcome. Incl. parking, laundry, cable, Wi-Fi Internet/Telephone. 954-9270090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com
ROYAL PARK Near Wilton Manors 1BR/1.5BA, $825$900/mo. 2BR/2BA, $950 - $1100/mo. Gated Security, Clubhouse, Pools, Gym, Sauna and Steam room. Pets OK. Cable/Water/Trash incl. Call Naim Naqi, Realtor RWSF Realty 954.565.2025.
April 3, 2013 H 24
FT LAUDERDALE BEACH “THE VUE” 2/2 Plus Den/ Office,Completely Furnished with High End Modern Furniture! Amazing Ocean Views! Real Hardwood Floors! Granite Kitchen With Stainless Steel Applic,Wrap Around Balcony, Oversized Master Bedroom Suite, Jacuzzi Tub, Private Balcony Off Second Bedroom With Ocean Views,Private Ocean Front Beach Club With Pool / Clubhouse, 24 Hour Security,Valet,2 Garage Parking Spaces Right Outside Of the Elevator, Beach Living At Its Best! $3000.00 F/L/S/ Robert Geary MacKilligan Cell 954-234-8759 “Your Life Partner In Real Estate” Galleria International Realty
FURNISHED HOUSING
/floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com
April 3, 2013 H 25
April 3, 2013 H 26 /floridaagenda
/floridaagenda floridaagenda.com