Agenda 041515 issue 282 by Multi-Media Platforms

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

April 15, 2015

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CONFUSED? ...about how Obamacare impacts your AICP, ADAP and Ryan White benefits? Dropped from your insurance because premiums weren’t paid? CVS doesn’t find you in their system?

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April 15, 2015

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April 15, 2015

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Town Hall ON ADAP • AICP • RYAN WHITE • OBAMACARE

04.20.15 April 15, 2015

Join us Monday, April 20th at 7pm for a Town Hall style community meeting where we will help answer any questions you may have about ADAP, AICP, Ryan White and ObamaCare. We know how confusing it can be to navigate these services and the team at AHF is here to answer your questions, make recommendations and help you on the road to better health and wellness.

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NATION

April 15, 2015

Hours After Hillary, Sen. Marco Rubio Enters White House Race MIAMI (AP) — Hoping to turn his relative youth into a benefit, Sen. Marco Rubio entered the presidential race Monday with a promise to move politics beyond the past, a jab at both Democratic favorite Hillary Rodham Clinton and his one-time Republican mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Rubio is betting voters’ frustrations with Washington will help him defeat two members of America’s political dynasties and capture the White House. The first-generation CubanAmerican faces an uphill climb to the GOP nomination in his effort to reshape how the electorate views Republicans as a party. “We have to change the decisions that we’re making as a nation,” Rubio told donors before his early evening Miami rally. “And the best way to change the decisions that we are making is to change the people who are making them.” Rubio, 43, spoke with his top donors a day after Clinton announced her bid for the Democratic nomination and as she was traveling to Iowa on her first trip as a candidate. Rubio, a firstterm Republican from Florida, told his most generous backers that he feels “uniquely qualified” to pitch his party as one that will defend the American Dream.

In previewing his campaign’s central message to donors, Rubio said the dream is slipping away for too many families and young Americans face unequal opportunities to succeed. He’s banking on the hope that he, alone among many GOP rivals, can make inroads with groups that have long eluded Republicans — young people, minorities and the less affluent. “I feel uniquely qualified to not just make that argument, but to outline the policies that we need to have in order to achieve it,” he said. Clinton’s entrance into the race with an online video Sunday is robbing some attention from Rubio’s splash into the race. But Rubio saw an opportunity to cast the presidential contest as one between a fresh face representing a new generation of leadership and familiar faces harking back decades — namely, the 62-yearold Bush and the 67-year-old Clinton. “The Republican Party, for the first time in a long time, has a chance in this election to be the party of the future,” Rubio told his donors. The swipe at Bush was implied; with Clinton, he was more direct. “Just yesterday, we heard from a leader from yesterday who wants to take us back to yesterday, but I feel that this country has always been about tomorrow,” he said. Rubio was born when Clinton was in law school and beginning to date her future husband, Bill Clinton. A young man in a hurry, Rubio will no doubt hear rivals and critics tell voters he’s not ready for the White House, is untested and inauthentic. Hours before his rally, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, criticized Rubio as just another establishment Republican with no new ideas. “He’s a follower, peddling the same tired Republican playbook,” she told reporters. “Marco Rubio has pandered to the Republican base throughout his whole career.” To counter views of him as a neophyte, Rubio has outlined specific policy proposals both on foreign and domestic issues. He plans future presentations as his campaign gets underway. On Tuesday, on his first day as

a candidate, he is set to return to Washington to join a Senate hearing on a proposed deal with Iran on its nuclear ambitions. Rubio faces steep challenges to the nomination, including a well-funded one that Bush is expected to offer. The son of one president and brother of another, Jeb Bush was governor while Rubio was speaker of the Florida House. The two formed a close bond, but a presidential campaign was certain to test the strength of their friendship. Rubio is the third major GOP contender to declare himself a candidate, after Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, in a field that could grow to 20 or more. Rubio could make history as the nation’s first Hispanic president (as could Cruz). Dating back to his election to the Senate in 2010, Rubio has pitched himself as the embodiment of American opportunity, as the son of a maid and bartender who worked his way through law school and now sits in Congress — and, perhaps, come 2017, the White House.

Log Cabin Republicans Question Hillary’s Record After Announcement WASHINGTON--Former First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made her widely anticipated announcement April 13 that she will seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for president of the United States. After her formal decision was made public, Gregory T. Angelo, national executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, called on Clinton to answer questions on issues ranging from marriage equality and taxes to religious freedom, including: • Did Mrs. Clinton support the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, signed into law by her husband President Bill Clinton while she was First Lady? • Did Mrs. Clinton support the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, signed by her husband while

she was First Lady? Given the surge of “religious freedom” bills across the country, did Mrs. Clinton support the original Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed into law by her husband while she was First Lady upon which this new crop of RFRA legislation is based? • Will Mrs. Clinton be as willing to engage with foreign nations guilty of gross human rights abuses against the gay community as she has been with her foundation? “Now that her candidacy is official, we hope Mrs. Clinton answers these questions expeditiously,” said Angelo. “The gay left may be willing to make assumptions about Mrs. Clinton’s support for the LGBT community, but Log Cabin Republicans will not.” •

Obama Calls For End To Gay ‘Conversion’ Therapy For Youth WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is calling for an end to therapies aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of gay, lesbian and transgender youth. In a statement posted Wednesday on the White House website, Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett says the so-called conversion therapies have a “potentially devastating effect” on young people. She says scientific evidence shows the practices are “neither medically nor ethically appropriate.” Jarrett’s statement comes in response to an online petition asking the White House to ban the therapies. The petition was created after the death of 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn, who wrote in a suicide note that her parents had forced her to attend conversion therapy. The petition has received more than 120,000 signatures. Meanwhile, Colorado Republicans in the Senate rejected a bill April 9 to ban gay-conversion therapy for kids. The bill, sponsored by Democrats, would have banned therapists from trying to change the sexual orienta-

Lesbian Couple On Guam Challenges Island’s Marriage Laws HAGATNA (AP) - A lesbian couple on Guam has filed a legal challenge to the territory’s marriage laws after they were barred from submitting a license to wed, the second challenge to marriage laws in the five U.S. Pacific and Caribbean territories. Loretta M. Pangelinan and Kathleen M. Aguero sued Monday in U.S. District Court. The women, both 28, launched their legal battle after a failed attempt to file an application for a marriage license last week. Their complaint, filed against Guam Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo and territorial registrar Carolyn Garrido, says they are challenging “the discriminatory denial of their freedom to marry in the Territory of Guam.” A spokeswoman said Guam Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson had no comment Monday. She referred a reporter to a statement the

attorney general made last Thursday after the couple attempted to file their application for a marriage license at the Office of Vital Statistics last Wednesday. Barrett-Anderson said at the time that the actions of the public health department complied with Guam law. “Whether Guam’s statutes will stand or fail will soon to be definitively decided by the Supreme Court of the United States for our entire nation, and upon that decision, Guam will abide,” she said Thursday. The couple’s attorneys, Bill Pesch and R. Todd Thompson, asked Barrett-Anderson in an April 7 letter “to smooth the process by advising vital statistics that they needed to comply with the 9th Circuit decision, and she didn’t obviously,” Pesch said. The U.S. District Court of Guam falls under the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has ruled in favor of gay marriage. Thompson earlier told The Associated Press that he expects the Guam court to follow the appeals court’s decision.

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April 15, 2015

awareness of the issue, even in states where the proposed measures fail. “Most people didn’t know what conversion therapy was,” Ames said. “We are going to put this industry out of business, and the way we do that is through public education and empowerment of the survivors who’ve been most deeply affected.” Among those who testified in support of the proposed Colorado ban was Sarah Musick of Colorado Springs. When she told her parents she was gay, Musick said, they forced her to enter a “corrective therapy” program that caused her distress and eventually led to a suicide attempt. “Today, with my wife by my side, I have overcome much adversity and live an authentic life,” she said Wednesday after the Senate panel defeated the ban measure. “Sadly, many in my same place are not, and they deserve acceptance, equality, diversity, and simple humanity. They don’t deserve the punishment that is conversion therapy.” Among those testifying against the Colorado ban was Jeff Johnston, an issues analyst at the Colorado Springs-based conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family. Johnston says he was attracted to other males as a youth, then underwent religiously themed therapy starting in his mid-20s that paved the way to a successful heterosexual marriage. “If you ban this, you’re saying to people of faith who might have unwanted sexual feelings, ‘Sorry, we can’t help you,’” Johnston said. “You’re denying their right to selfdetermination. You’re abandoning these kids when they most need your help.” Many major mental health and family-issues groups have long opposed conversion therapy, including the American Psychological Association. “So-called reparative therapies are aimed at ‘fixing’ something that is not a mental illness and therefore does not require therapy,” said the APA’s president, Barry Anton. “There is insufficient scientific evidence that they work, and they have the potential to harm the client.”

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tion or gender identity of children. It failed 3-2 on a party-line vote in a Senate committee. Gay-conversion therapy has been rejected by mainstream psychological associations. But some fear that making such therapy illegal treads on religious freedom. “I am hesitant to use the heavy hand of government to take away the dignity of choice in cases where individuals want this therapy,” Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs, said in a statement after the vote. The vote came after impassioned testimony on both sides. Therapists who both supported and opposed the ban told of painful experiences by young people grappling with being gay. “It is not a disorder and should not be treated as one,” therapist Angela Sasseville said. Other therapists and a pastor then testified that conversion therapy can be supportive and successful. “If someone decides they do not want to identify as gay, they should not be denied help,” said Jayson Graves, a therapist who said he was attracted to males as a youth but successfully changed his orientation through therapy. The bill earlier passed in the House, which is controlled by Democrats. According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which is a leader of the multistate campaign, Colorado is one of 18 states where bans were being considered this year. Bans were enacted in previous years in California, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., but at this stage it’s possible only a handful of other states - perhaps Oregon and Illinois - might join them this year. With a legislative deadline approaching in Nevada, a bill there appears in jeopardy. In Iowa, a similar measure already has missed a key deadline and in any case was viewed as a long shot in the Republican-controlled House. In New York, the GOP-run Senate has yet to signal enthusiasm for a ban that advanced through the House last year. However, Samantha Ames, coordinator of the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Born Perfect campaign, said she and her colleagues are heartened by increasing public

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NATION

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NATION BY BOBBY BLAIR

Update from Founder Bobby Blair

April 15, 2015

I have just spent an incredible week playing tennis and attending the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) in Los Angeles with Major League Baseballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ambassador of Inclusion Billy Bean. I continue to be amazed at Billyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to reach out across boundaries, both political and geographic, as he works to tear down stereotypes and end homophobic behavior. Last month, Multimedia Platforms Worldwide named Billy as our National Spokesman and he has

proven to be a valuable asset to our publicly traded company. This is not, however, an exclusive arrangement. The needs of the LGBT community are too great. MMPW supports the effort and work of Billy Bean in all arenas and on all playing fields. We understand his support and participation with all LGBT media outlets as he grows the incredibly important message of inclusion in the sports world.

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April 15, 2015

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MICHAEL D. BECKER Attorney at Law

April 15, 2015

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CAPITOL BEAT BY LINDA PENTZ

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Lawsuit Says Caribbean Homophobia Must End

violence is unacceptable everywhere.” Jackson had endured a kidnapping and sexual assault before creating her support group. Obama praised her courage and her work to make Jamaica “a place where everybody, no matter their color, or their class, or their sexual orientation, can live in equality and opportunity.” Immigration officials from Belize and Trinidad and Tobago have been eager to downplay their homophobic laws by insisting the gay ban is never enforced as long as those entering come from member countries of the Caribbean Community Secretariat or CARICOM. But AIDS-Free World would like to see the law removed altogether. “Homophobic laws like these, even if not enforced, entrench stigma and foster discrimination against LGBT persons, and violate their human rights,” said Janet Burak, a lawyer and Deputy Director of AIDS-Free World who attended the hearings. The five-judge court will decide the Tomlinson case some time in the coming months. If the suit is success-

ful, it will only lift the immigration ban for LGBT individuals who are CARICOM nationals. Given the clear correlation between high HIV rates and homophobic laws and societal behaviors, AIDS-Free World sees the need for more than just changes in the law. “HIV rates are high when homophobia is entrenched not only in the laws, but in the behavior of the general population,” Burak told the Agenda. “The level of violence drives people underground where they cannot see counselors, get testing or treatment.” That’s one reason why AIDS-Free World is trying to change the antisodomy laws as well, starting in Jamaica. But it is proving to be a challenging assignment. “We did have a domestic suit there,” continued Burak, “but the claimant was compelled to withdraw because of threats to his safety and security.” The organization will try again, if they can find a plaintiff courageous enough to take on the risks for the cause.

Tomlinson brought the case as legal advisor to AIDS-Free World, a New York-based international non-profit organization that advocates for and with people affected by HIV and AIDS. Eleven Caribbean countries, as well as many around the world, have antisodomy laws but no immigration ban, including Jamaica, from which Tomlinson was forced into exile in fear for his life. Jamaica ranked seventh in the world in a 2013 Newsweek poll of “most homophobic countries.” Just last week, President Obama was in Jamaica on a state visit during which many equality groups had hoped he would speak out on LGBT rights. He duly obliged, participating in a town hall meeting where he publicly recognized Angeline Jackson, the executive director of Quality of Citizenship Jamaica, an organization that works to meet the needs of lesbian and bisexual women. Obama’s actions prompted U.S. National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, to tweet: “Anti-LGBT discrimination and

April 15, 2015

have a sign on my gate, a replica from an old English train station that forbade entry to, among others, “females of doubtful reputation.” This seems quaint and amusing, until you realize that there are still countries in the world that arbitrarily forbid entry to prostitutes, alcoholics, “feeble-minded persons,” and homosexuals.This last archaic and discriminatory list belongs to Trinidad & Tobago, which along with Belize, has been taken to court by noted Jamaican gay rights and AIDS campaigner, Maurice Tomlinson, in an effort to try to lift the immigration ban against homosexuals in both countries. According to the Human Rights Campaign, they appear to be the only remaining countries that have such a ban written into law.The Trinidad law most famously hit the headlines in 2007 when singer Elton John, who is gay and from Britain, was forced to get a special immigration permit to perform in a concert there.

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brought last week. Former managers Jack Carrel of Louisiana, Mauricio Ferrer of Florida, and Shawn Loftis of New York filed the whistleblower complaint. According to their attorneys, the three were fired after notifying their supervisors about the company’s alleged wrongdoing, even though their attorneys said they are protected under the False Claims Act.

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SUNSHINE STATE

Legislature Repeals Florida Ban On Same-Sex Adoption

April 15, 2015

Lawsuit Claims AIDS Foundation Scammed Medicare For $20M FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) - One of the nation’s largest suppliers of HIV and AIDS medical care is accused of bilking Medicare and Medicaid in an elaborate $20 million dollar scam that spanned 12 states, according to a lawsuit filed in South Florida federal court. Three former managers of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation filed a suit last week alleging the company paid employees and patients kickbacks for patient referrals in an effort to boost funding from federal health programs. Employees were paid $100 bonuses for referring patients with positive test results to its clinics and pharmacies. The lawsuit alleges kickbacks started in 2010 at the company’s California headquarters and spread to programs in Florida and several other locations. The Los Angeles-based company cares for more than 400,000 patients in

ing initiative to identify and treat an estimated 25 million people who don’t know they are infected, according to its website. The referrals were key to the company’s business model and touted by AHF President Michael Weinstein at a 2013 leadership summit, where the complaint alleges he specifically directed staff to immediately raise the patient financial incentive to $50 and to implement the incentive program nationally throughout the organization. Weinstein said small incentives for linking people to services and keeping them there are “mainstays of public health interventions.” “Not only has AIDS Healthcare Foundation done nothing wrong, our pro-active approach to finding and linking HIV-positive individuals to lifesaving care and treatment is critical to stopping HIV in this country,” Weinstein said in a statement. He noted that the federal government and state of Florida formally declined to intervene in the legal action, which he says “speaks volumes about the merits of the case.” The lawsuit was originally filed last

TALLAHASSEE (AP) - Florida’s nearly four-decades old ban on gay adoption - which has already been struck down by the courts and is no longer enforced - could be repealed under a bill now headed to the governor’s desk. The ban was first put in place the same year singer Anita Bryant led a highly publicized campaign to repeal a MiamiDade ordinance that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Florida Senate passed the bill on April 14 on a 27-11 vote, but not before several Republicans questioned getting rid of the ban. “I would ask every one of you before you vote, think about the long-term implications for every one of these children,” said Sen. Alan Hays, a Republican from central Florida. “Put the politics aside and think about the children.” Sen. Don Gaetz, the GOP sponsor of the adoption bill, called the current ban “meaningless” because it is no longer enforced. An appeals court ruled it unconstitutional in 2010. Sen. Jeff Clemens, who told senators that he was adopted after being born to a 16-year-old single mother, said the legislation would wind up helping children. “I understand that you have issues between you and your God, but I would tell you I think your God would want you to give an opportunity to those hundreds of children across the state of Florida that need a second chance,” said Clemens, a Democrat. The bill was designed initially to increase financial incentives to those

also make it clear that the state cannot deny an adoption if a family wants to home-school their children. Rep. David Richardson, a Miami Beach Democrat who is the Legislature’s first openly gay member, persuaded the Florida House to include a repeal of the gay adoption ban in the measure (HB 7013) before it passed in that chamber. Sen. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican, complained on the Senate floor that a bill that was “supposed to be a feel-good moment’ had been “hijacked” because the repeal was included in the legislation. The House has passed a separate “conscience” law that would allow faithbased organizations handling adoptions to refuse to let gays adopt. It’s not clear if the Senate will pass the measure, but Lee said it should have been included in the bill that senators were sending to Gov. Rick Scott, who has not said whether he will sign or veto the repeal. “We are dividing folks with this legislation that was supposed to unite people,” Lee said.

Florida Employers Urge Governor, Lawmakers To Pass Workplace Rights Bill TALLAHASSEE--A coalition of 30 major business leaders has asked Florida’s top politicians to take action this session on legislation that would ban discrimination against LGBT staff and employees across the state. The letter from some of the most recognized names in Corporate Florida calls on Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli to advance House Bill 33 by Rep. Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo) and Senate Bill 156 by Sen. Joe Abruzzo (D-Boynton Beach) The coalition to pass the Competitive Workforce Act unites large employers and more than 300 local businesses. Some of the biggest brands include Wells Fargo, Disney, Tech Data, NextEra Energy, Marriott, CSX, Office Depot and Darden.

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Lesbians Say They Were Fired From Methodist Day Care Center For Being Gay Photo by orlandosentinel.com

were based on “long standing policies intended to the reflect the beliefs and values of this congregation. These are policies applicable to all employees.” Meeks contends that the Aloma preschool cannot use religious doctrine as a justification for dismissal of the teachers because the United Methodist Church opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation. A resolution passed in 2008 states that the church opposes “all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation.” Pfeiffer, 29, worked at the Aloma Methodist day care for about a year and a half, caring mostly for 2-year-olds. Bardier, who worked as a substitute teacher for about two months, dealt mostly with 1-year-olds. They’ve been a couple since October. Meeks has sent a letter to the school demanding that her clients’ terminations be rescinded, an apology be made along with letters of recommendations, and the two women be compensated for damages. If those conditions are not met within a week, Meeks said, she will file a lawsuit under the Orange County ordinance and a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity

sexual orientation as being covered under civil rights.

Clinic Agrees To Pay $150K In Transgender Lawsuit LAKELAND (AP) - A central Florida eye clinic has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a discrimination lawsuit brought on behalf of a transgender employee who was terminated. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit which alleges the Lakeland Eye Clinic fired the employee after she started dressing as a woman and told her bosses she was transitioning from male to female. The commission says the termination violates the Civil Rights Act. The settlement was approved by the U.S. District Court in Tampa on Thursday. The eye clinic also agreed to implement a new gender discrimination policy and to provide training to its management and employees regarding transgender/gender stereotype discrimination. The commission says this is one of the first two lawsuits it’s ever filed alleging sex discrimination against a transgender individual.

ORLANDO--In the latest skirmish between gay rights advocates and religious libertarians, two preschool teachers in Orange County claim they were fired from a Methodist-run day care center because they are lesbian. Jaclyn Pfeiffer and Kelly Bardier say they were terminated from their jobs at Aloma Methodist Early Childhood Learning Center after school director Barbara Twachtman asked Pfeiffer if she was involved with Bardier. When she said she was, the women were dismissed from their jobs, Pfeiffer said. Mat Staver, whose Orlando-based Liberty Counsel has represented Christian organizations opposed to gay rights, said religious organizations have the right to dismiss employees who violate their religious doctrines. “This is the inevitable conflict that will continue to escalate when you elevate same sex rights to a protected status,” he said. In Orlando, the attorney for Pfeiffer and Bardier says that their firing in March violates Orange County’s Human Rights Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination against gays. “The Orange County ordinance says you cannot discriminate against an individual based on their sexual orientation,” said attorney Mary Meeks, who helped write the ordinance. The Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church in Lakeland issued a

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TALLAHASSEE (AP) - The Florida House passed a bill April 9 to let private adoption agencies turn away gay couples based on religious and moral grounds. Conservatives sponsored the measure as a response to a bill that the House passed last month to take an unenforced gay adoption ban out of state law. The 75-38 vote came after more than an hour of debate, with Republicans saying the measure was needed to protect religious rights. Republican Rep. Jason Brodeur of Sanford said the measure wasn’t about discrimination, and said gay couples would still have dozens of agencies state agencies and those not faith-based, for example - that didn’t object to gay adoptive parents. “If you are thinking about adopting a child, go do it. Gay, heterosexual go do it,” he said. “If there is one thing that I hate, it’s the thought of intolerance and selfishness getting in the way of uniting one of those children with a forever family.” Still, Democrats questioned whether the true reason for the bill was simply using religion as an excuse to discriminate against gays, and doing so hurts children. “When we come in and we start using scripture to begin to discriminate against individuals, I have a problem with that,” said Democrat Rep. Shevrin Jones of Broward County. “Yes, protect the religious institution, but I say to those religious institutions as a man of faith, if it’s your ministry, do your ministry and take care of the children.” The bill has been compared to the religious objections law Indiana enacted last month. Supporters say faith-based organizations handling adoptions will stop offering services if the bill isn’t passed. “We need as many options as possible to place children in homes where they can have a family for the rest of their lives. No one is forcing anyone to use that particular adoption agency,” said Republican Rep. Elizabeth Porter

allows you your freedom to make your choice without being discriminated against, but it allows that agency to have their freedom and adhere to their religious tenets.” The bill now goes to the Senate, which rejected similar language April 8 in a separate adoption bill. That bill, already approved by the House, strips the gay adoption ban from state law to comply with a five-year-old court decision saying it was unconstitutional.

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House Passes Bill To Let Adoption Agencies Refuse Same-Sex Couples

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SUNSHINE STATE

April 15, 2015

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COVER

BY RICHARD HACK

What Hillary Really Thinks About LGBTs (You May Be Surprised!)

ast Sunday, Hillary Clinton officially announced what most have already presumed. She was running as a Democratic candidate for President of the United States. From most in the LGBT community, there came a standing ovation. But what does this career politician really think about lesbians and gay, and their bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters? The answer may surprise you. Just last week, the William J. Clinton Library released a treasure trove of documents (most available for viewing on-line at www.clintonlibrary.gov/ museum.html) from Hillary Clinton’s tenure as First Lady. Among them was an interesting trail of letters that reached the White House in 1996, asking about the views of Hillary on same-sex marriage. Alice Pushkar, the First Lady’s Director of Correspondence, wrote to Kyle M. Baker, Senior Writer at the office of Presidential Letters and Messages on Sept. 18, 1996. “We have received a few letters on the subject of same-sex marriage. I think that it would be more appropriate for a response to come from the President on this than the First Lady. Would it be possible to get a First Lady version of the P-323?” That afternoon, Baker responded with an official form letter that was approved to be autosigned by the president. “Thank you for contacting Hillary regarding marriages of couples of the same gender. She has asked me to respond on her behalf. In 1992, I stated my opposition to same-gender marriage, and recently, when the issue was raised in Congress, I said that if a bill consistent with my previously stated position reached my desk, I would sign it.” A day later, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Ultimately, the Supreme Court would judge the DOMA to be unconstitutional. It took 21 years. During that time, Hillary Clinton did not stand up for gay marriage.

In 2000, when she was running her successful campaign for Senate, Hillary said that she would have voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, stating that while same-sex couples should have some rights, marriage was not one of them. “Marriage has got historic, religious and moral content that goes back to the beginning of time and I think a marriage has always been between a man and a woman,” she said. It wasn’t until 2013, when Hilary left her position as Secretary of State, that she officially came out for samesex marriage having “evolved” on the issue, just as her husband had. In all fairness, while Secretary of State, she echoed the Obama administration’s dictates regarding the subject, even going as far as addressing the rights of lesbian, Photo by huffingtonpost.com gay, bisexual and transgender people from around the world in her “Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights” speech on Mook as her new campaign manager. International Human Rights Day at a He is openly gay. She used two gay United Nations conference in Geneva couples in her profiles of American on December 6, 2011. families in the video, which announced It was during that speech that Hillary that she was throwing her (now pink) said, “Being LGBT does not make you hat into the presidential campaign. less human. And that is why gay rights Let’s be kind and consider that quite are human rights, and human rights are a few Americans are in Hillary’s philogay rights.” sophical position. They had to “warm” By 2013, when Hillary officially to the notion of same-sex anything. That supported same-sex marriage, the tide it is now politically beneficial, however, had turned and for the first time, the should not be ignored in Hillary’s case. majority of Americans surveyed (52 She is a politician first and last. percent) indicated their support of the “Just because you’re a politician, policy as well. Always the consumdoesn’t mean you’re not a thinking mate politician, it was now safe ground human being,” Hillary told NPR’s upon which Hillary could walk. If not Terry Gross last year. “You gather inforcompletely politically correct, it was mation, you think through positions, certainly politically expedient. you’re not 100 percent set … you’re Now firmly in the LGBT corner, constantly reevaluating where you Hillary has even announced Robby stand. That was true for me.”

It is certainly likely that Hillary will be the Democratic candidate for president of the United States in next year’s election. It is equally as likely that her Republican opponent will be against same-sex marriage and other LGBT rights. To do otherwise, would eliminate their right-wing base, which no Republican can afford to do. Ultimately, regardless of any other campaign pledges and positions aimed at helping the economy, changing foreign policy, improving race relations, and handling immigration reform, it will be same-sex and LGBT issues which will decide the outcome of the Presidential race, regardless of the candidates. Gay and proud have never meant so much, or carried with it more responsibility.

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people who love grilled cheese sandwiches would remove the crust. After all this analysis, it suddenly dawned on us that this wasn’t really a study after all. This was more a survey. And for grilled cheese lovers like us, a rather depression one at that Lest you forget how this all began, 73 percent of grilled cheese lovers had sex once a month. According to The Kinsey Institute, who have been asking questions about sex for over 65 years, 32 to 36 percent of partnered people aged 25 to 39 report having sex several times a month to weekly. An additional 27 to 39 percent report having sex two to three times per week. Translation: We grilled cheese eaters have less sex than every day folk. Insert unhappy face here. That news will not keep up from going to the New York Grilled Cheese Co., however. The Green Goddess awaits….Until next week.

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: 2929 E Commercial Blvd, PhD, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 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 © 2014, Mutimedia Platforms LLC. All rights reserved.

minority since we’re Grilled Cheese purists, preferring only a single cheese between the buttered toast. Only 40 percent of the respondents agreed with us here. The news went further south when we discovered that white bread was favored by 51 percent of the voters, followed by wheat (29 percent), our favorite sourdough came in third with 13 percent (what!!), rye (4 percent) while a baguette ranked last with three percent. Not to be forgotten are the toppings. While over half the respondents were said to like a plain grilled cheese (53 percent to be precise), 47 percent say they add extras to their grilled cheese sandwich (with bacon and tomato being the favorites). Those that don’t like grilled cheese tallied that if they ever order the sandwich they would remove the crusts. That’s an automatic forfeiture to us. Only 10 percent of

EDITORIAL POSITIONS of the 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 Agenda or its staff.

April 15, 2015

o Leor Barack over at the New York Grilled Cheese Co. on Wilton Drive is running a special this month on his Central Park Green Goddess sandwich. For the novitiates among you, the GG gets its green from avocado, roasted green chilies, and a smear of green pesto. The goddess comes by way of cheese curd which tastes a whole lot better than it sounds. Couple that with caramelized onions and you’ve got the new definition of “yum” (in-between two slices of sourdough). Run, do not walk! While we’re on the subject of Grilled Cheese, there’s a new study out from the good folks over at Skout, the world’s largest network for meeting new people. While there are millions of users that log on to Skout daily, only 4,600 of them took part in a study on Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Sex. A full 32 percent of those who like grilled cheese ended up having sex more than six times a month. That’s something that only 27 percent of those who don’t like grilled cheese managed to do. Add to the mix that 73 percent of grilled cheese lovers had sex at least once a month. Make that only 63 percent for those who didn’t. As we read further into the study, we were amazed that grilled cheese sandwiches had even more power than we had ever thought. Love grilled cheese? You are 84 percent more likely to travel and seek adventure than the taste buddead haters of the stuff. But not only that: Love grilled cheese and you are far more likely to give to charities! Eightyone percent to 66. We began to get suspicious of the legitimacy of the Skout study when it informed us that 60 percent of the respondents liked their grilled cheese sandwiches to mix two types of cheese. American was the favorite with 41 percent, followed by Cheddar (33 percent), Mozzarella (10 percent), Swiss (8 percent), Provolone (6 percent) and Brie (2 percent). This news definitely left us in the

April 15, 2015 • ISSUE 282 /floridaagenda

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Sex

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AS I SEE IT

April 15, 2015

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April 15, 2015

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Distribution Locations FORT LAUDERDALE/ WILTON MANORS

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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

Critters with A K Crunch CTR Spiritual Living Cubby Hole CVS Dapur DaVinci Real Estate Decades Furniture Deep Tissue Therapy Dennis J’s Barber Shop Double Dippers Dunkin Donuts Ed Lugo resort Elysium Resort Fetish Factory Flip Flops Floridian Fredrick Fine Art FTL Pizza Fusion Galanga’s Gateway Cinema Gay Mart Genesis Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar Grand Resort Green Jade Spa Hidden Treasure Holiday Park Library Humpy’s Pizza Hunters I.C.E Infinity Inn Leather Inn On the Drive Intense Fitness Island Sands Inn J. Miles Java Boys Jenkins Law Jet’s Pizza Joe’s Barber Shop Juice Blendz Karl Grace Ins Latino Salud

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

Royal Palms Rumors Sarfones Scandals Scissorium Secret Moments Siam Cuisine Sidelines Slammer South Smarty Pants Smoke this Too SoBe Tanning Starbuck’s Steel Gym Sterling Stonewall Storks Suan Thai & Sushi Sun Serve Sunshine Cathedral Tee Jay The Athletic Man The Cabanas The Club FTL The Gables The Stable To The Moon Toni’s Cleaners Trantalis Tropics Restaurant Tropixxx Video Unity Church USA Auto Care Village Pub Walgreen’s Specialty Wilton Creamery Wilton Manors Dental Wilton Manors Library Wilton Tower Windamar Beach Resort Wings & Things Winners Pizza World’s Gym Worthington Guesthouse

MIAMI

11th St Diner Beatnix Betsy Hotel Care Resource Ctr Century SoBe Chesterfield Hotel Clevelander Creative Male Discotekka is now Front Porch Gathering Hotel Gay & Lesbian Visitor Ctr Island House Hotel Magnum Mercury SoBe MEKKA Nasseau Suites News V Cafe Out of the closet... Alton Rd Out of the Closet... Biscayne Blvd Palace Food Bar Rufskin Clothing Score Shelly Hotel Studio W Tokyo Valentino Adult Store Twist World Erotic Art Museum

Southern Nights St Matthews Tavern Stonewall

TAMPA

Baxter’s Bradley’s on 7th City Side Lounge G Bar Hamburger Mary’s Liquid Tampa MC Film Metro Wellness Center Ybor Resort & Spa

ST. PETE

Enigma St. Petersburg Flamingo Resort Georgie’s Alibi LGBT Welcome Ctr Metro Wellness Center Mr. Sun Liquors Pepperz The Oar House The Queen’s Head

April 15, 2015

Lawsuit Says Caribbean Homophobia Must End ORLANDO

Barcodes Orlando Club Orlando Gay & Lesbian Center Hamburger Mary’s Orlando Hanks Bar Joy MCC Parliament House Pulse Bar Ritzy Rags Orlando Savoy

CAPE CORAL

Tubby’s City Hangout

FORT MYERS

Office Pub Rascals The Bottom Line

LAKELAND Pulse Bar

JACKSONVILLE The Metro

KEY WEST

Bourbon St Pub Equator Resort

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

LEFT COAST

Why Sen. Marco Rubio Should Not Be President

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see them working at Wal-Mart and Macy’s to survive. But Rubio’s Flex Fund and tax reform proposals, while at least admitting a role for government in addressing these issues, rely on fiscal policy (public finance) as a solution, making them dead-on-arrival for many of his Tea Party supporters. In fact on Fox News, Rubio will blame “government” (which is all of us in a democracy) for creating the problems he proposes state “government” should now fix. As a result, Americans continue to talk past each other and think political solutions come in only two flavors: black and white, right and left, conservative and liberal, etc. Fortunately, countries like Sweden and Vietnam have found ways to evolve without labels or ideological straitjackets. To his credit, the son of Cuban parents co-authored a bipartisan immigration overhaul that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for undocumented U.S. workers. But unfortunately Rubio

stepped back from it after the measure came under fire from neoconservatives in Congress. Here’s what Rubio has to say about education reform: “Established institutions control the (school) accrediting process. As a result, the entrenched higher education cartel has the power to block out innovative, lower-cost competitors. I have proposed that Congress establish a new, independent accrediting process designed to open the door for more innovative and affordable schools.” Question: Putting the banking, health insurance and energy cartels aside for the moment, what about incentives to create worker-owned cooperatives and employee-owned companies as a way to produce what former President George W. Bush called an “ownership society,” that would go beyond skills and narrow definitions of “labor?” Despite a real-life laboratory less than 100 miles off the coast of Key West, Rubio is blinded by his antiCastro rhetoric that poll after poll

now show most Americans associate with an absurd economic embargo. Rubio maintains an anti-Floridian stance on Obamacare (which has signed up more South Floridians than anywhere else), same-sex marriage, climate change and medical marijuana, where a man in his 40s is surprisingly out of touch with Mainstream Florida on these issues. The bottom line is Rubio’s ideological grandstanding has produced little progress on the ground. Whether of not Rubio receives the Republican presidential nomination or not, he will garner enough attention on the campaign trail to convince the party’s presidential candidate – be it former Gov. Jeb Bush or Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul – that choosing him has a vice presidential running mate would capitalize on his ethnic heritage and most importantly, his claim to fame as a cultural offset to Hillary’s obvious appeal as potentially our first woman president.

April 15, 2015

hat exactly has Marco Rubio done for Florida lately? Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy put his finger on it. Since being elected to office in 2009, Rubio has merely used one of the state’s two Senate seats as a launch pad to higher office. Check out Rubio’s biography here (www.rubio.senate.gov). Simply put, there’s not a lot of “there” there. What am I missing? For clues, I read a speech by Rubio on June 25, 2014 in Washington, D.C. It’s more of the same Reaganite narrative we’ve come to expect from GOP politicians who talk the talk but don’t necessarily walk any walk, pontificating ideals we all share as American citizens but which have little to do with solutions from Congress or big business to actually reinvent the American middle class Dream for the 21st Century. In the speech, the senator relies on anecdotes to describe economic remedies for normal people: “Innovations will never come from the federal government’s rigid one-size-fits-all approach. So I have proposed combining our existing federal anti-poverty money into a Flex Fund that would be made available to the states, which have the ability to design innovative and targeted programs to address the unique needs of their residents… Liberals offer up increases in taxes and the minimum wage.” Modern reforms are certainly needed, but the painful fallout from globalization and automation are systemic in nature, baked into buzz words we hear on television as gospel everyday, such as competitiveness and free markets. Millions of men and women over 40 and under 30 were radically displaced as a result of a financial crisis brought on by a runaway and corrupt banking and housing industry. Many of these older Americans live in Florida. I

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BY DANIEL HICKS

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DINING

Where France And Seafood Meet

April 15, 2015

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BY TIM HART

Just a hop, skip and a small jump from the beach, you will find Sea Restaurant. Literally two blocks east of the Ocean on Commercial Blvd. (north side of the street). Sea is a culinary wonderland where each dish is both a visual work of art as well as a delectable masterpiece. I paid my first visit to Sea at lunchtime. After walking by the restaurant a number of times and thinking I must try the place – I finally did and I am very glad I did. Sea boasts of “seafood and homemade specialties and elegant French cuisine in a casual ambiance.” I found all to be true. The restaurant is very intimate. There is a small counter wine bar, 10 to 12 tables indoors and another six to eight outdoors, so reservations would be recommended. The motif is classic Lauderdale by the Sea with pastel color and a lot of shells! Upon arriving, we were greeted by Edith who went to great lengths to make us feel at home with chef Antony. The lunch menu is simple with salads, sandwiches and entrees at prices to fit most budgets. There are three different salads at $8 (Caesar, Mixed Green and Surprise—a blend of greens, bacon, a poached egg, some Comte cheese, all served in a rustic bread bowl with cherry dressing).and none more than $15. There are four sandwiches on the lunch menu. The Croque Monsieur, Parisien, and Vegetarian are $9.50 $11 with the fish sandwich of the day on homemade focaccia bread at market price. There are five different entrées daily, each served with soup or salad, ranging from $10 - $16 with the fish and pasta special at market. I had the Spaghetti Pomodoro with Shrimp ($16). Outstanding in both taste and presentation. My lunch companion had the special which was a box with cheese, bread and cold cuts. Equally as good. Lunch was served with French bread and oil. We ended our meal with Tiramisu with red berries that was out of this world.

Dinner is an all-inclusive menu—all three courses with a starter, entrée and a dessert. Sample starters include French Onion Soup, Mixed Greens, Escargots Provencal, or the Soup of the Day. The dinners start at $39 (Tuna Bolognaise) and the market dishes were in the mid $50’s during my visit. The entrees all have seafood, with a French influence to them. The restaurant has daily specials all centered around the various different wine offerings (check out the website at seatherestaurant.com for more on the specials. Sea is the recipient of numerous dining awards including 2014 Open Table’s “Diner’s Choice.” Owner operator Edith Barthelemy has an interesting story. She grew up in Limousin, France, working in her parent’s logis de france (bed and breakfast) in the beautiful village of Mortemart. After attending art school in Touraine, she decided to follow her dreams and enrolled in a culinary academy gaining further experience at a Relais & Chauteaux establishment. She opened her own restaurant in Limoges which she called Le Boeuf Gros Sel, eventually selling the place to follow her tastebuds to the U.S. to hone her skills in both the kitchen and dining room. She joined her business partner Olivia to purchase the Sea Restaurant late last year. I am so glad I gave this place a try and you will be too. Parking can be a challenge at the beach so be prepared. Most spaces are metered. Please stop at Sea and say hello to Edith serving up the finest the ocean has to offer. Remember to tell her Agenda newspaper sent you.

Sea Restaurant 235 Commercial Blvd Lauderdale by the Sea, FL 33308 954-533-2580

THE WEEK

WILTON MANORS BY PATRICK ROBERT

4/19 Redwood Curtain Primal Forces Productions presents Landford Wilson’s 1992 play Redwood Curtain—a tale of family, buried memories, and the traumas lingering from the Vietnam War. An Amerasian piano prodigy searches the American redwoods for her biological father. Instead, she finds a group of Vietnam veterans unable to become a part of society again. Primal Forces Productions is a new theatre group dedicated to works about the 50s, 60s, and 70s. This production stars Ethan Henry, Laura Turnbull, and Amarie Lee. 8:00 p.m. Andrews Living Arts Studio. 23 NW Fifth St. Fort Lauderdale. 33301.

4/20

Dancing with the South Florida Stars This South Florida tradition is not only a great fundraiser for various worthwhile causes but has also become a cultural staple involving the entire community. Local celebrities compete against each other in choreographed dance performances. This year’s hosts Elaine Lancaster and Kitty Meow will be accompanied by celebrity judges Gary Santis, Latrice Royale, Billy Bean, Joe Posa, and Mark Hunter. At 6:30 a silent auction, cocktail reception with complimentary hors d’oeurves start the evening followed by the hysterical and entertaining dance performances. 6:30 p.m. Manor Complex. 2345 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors. 33305.

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BAR MAP

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6) DAPUR 1620 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

11) LE PATIO 2401 NE 11th Ave Wilton Manors

2) B BAR AND GRILLE 2209 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

7) HUNTERS NIGHTCLUIB 2232 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

12) LIPS 1421 E Oakland Park Blvd Oakland Park

8) INFINITY LOUNGE 2184 WIlton Drive Wilton Manors

13) THE MANOR 2345 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

4) CORNER PUB 1915 N Andrews Ave Wilton Manors

9) JMARK’S 1245 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

14) MONA’S 502 E Sunrise Blvd Fort Lauderdale

5) CUBBY HOLE 823 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale

10) LE BOY 1243 NE 11th Ave Fort Lauderdale

3) BOARDWALK/ BEEFCAKE’S 1721 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale

15) MONKEY BUSINESS 2740 N Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale 16) NAKED GRAPE 2163 Wilton Drive Wilton manors 17) NEW YORK GRILLED CHEESE 2207 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 18) PJ’S CORNER POCKET 2340 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

19) PROGRESS 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 20) RAMROD 1508 NE 4th Ave Fort Lauderdale 21) ROSIE’S BAR & GRILL 2449 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 22) RUMORS BAR & GRILL 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

23) SCANDALS SALOON 3073 NE 6th Ave Wilton Manors 24) SCARFONE’S 2150 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 25) SIDELINES 2031 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 26) SMARTY PANTS 2400 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale

27) THE STABLE 205 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale 28) 13 I EVEN 2037 Wilton Dr Wilton Manors 29) TROPICS 2000 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 30) VILLAGE PUB 2283 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

April 15, 2015

1) ALIBI 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

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THE WEEK

TAMPA/ST.PETE

BY PATRICK ROBERT

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4/16 Shark Tank Star Robert Herjavec

Croatian-born Robert Herjavec is a major success story. He began his career in film before breaking into the tech field and founding BRAK Systems and, then, Herjavec Group. The hundreds of millions he earned allowed him to become one of the investors on the popular Shark Tank. Tonight’s conversation will revolve around rising cyber security threats and inside secrets from the show. 10:00 a.m. University of South Florida Marshall Student Center. 4202 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa. 33620.

4/17 Pippin In Pippin, a Young Prince searches for both himself and the meaning of life. Breathtaking acrobatics and extreme magic tricks are thrown in with Bob Fosse-style dance routines. Some of the most popular Broadway standards stem from the Stephen Schwartz songs, including “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic to Do,” “Spread a Little Sunshine,” and “Morning Glow.” The 2013 revival won Tony Awards for Best Revival, Best Actress, Best Featured Actress, and Best Direction. 8:00 p.m. Carol Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. 1010 N. Macinnes Place. Tampa. 33602.

The Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation

ERE

NCE ONE

LIF

E A T

April 15, 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

The Ting Tings British musical duo Katie White and Jules de Martino have released four popular singles since their inception in 2007. “That’s Not My Name” was a major hit that reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and led to underground popularity in the states. Their third studio album Super Critical was released late last year. 7:00 p.m. State Theatre. 687 Central Ave. St. Petersburg. 33701.

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other’s sentences. It’s an endearing and enduring portrait of gay love. The narrative portion begins in 1956 with Ernst (Matthias Hungerbühler), a teacher at a girls’ school in Zurich awaiting his certification, who in spite of being closeted at work, becomes involved with the gay social organization that publishes the magazine Der Kreis. Through this activity, he meets Röbi (Sven Schelker), a popular drag performer. At the time, Zurich was a liberal city (far more liberal than anywhere in the U.S. where the McCarthy era was in full swing) and gay men and lesbians were tolerated. Following a series of murders, committed by a psychotic gay hustler, the authorities began to crack down on the community in Zurich, leading to arrests, public shaming and even suicide. Even though it is set nearly 50 years in the past, The Circle/Der Kreis is a sad reminder that no matter how far the LGBT community has come (and what it has survived), there is still so far to go before our rights become universal. DVD bonus features are minimal, consisting mainly of the short film Flying Solo.

to his skin and later rinsing it off in the shower, is another. More than just a story of first gay love, it’s a perceptive portrait of friendship and the eclipses that can occur, whether you can see them or not. DVD bonus features include an interview with the cast and crew, deleted scenes, a look behind-thescenes, the short film I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone and more. Stephan Haupt’s film The Circle/ Der Kreis (Wolfe/Contrast) takes an unusual approach to telling its story, combining dramatic narrative and documentary-style filmmaking. After seeing it, it’s hard to imagine a better format for presenting both the history of the groundbreaking gay Swiss publication Der Kreis (from which the film gets its title), as well as chronicling the almost 50 year relationship of teacher Ernst Ostertag and drag performer Röbi Rapp. The documentary interview segments allow Ostertag and Rapp to relate their tale in their own words. The duo, who were the first same-sex couple to marry in Switzerland in 2003, are still in love with each other, sitting close together on the sofa, occasionally finishing each

April 15, 2015

enjoy the last lazy days of summer lounging by the pool and talking about first kisses before school begins. Once classes start, it’s business as usual. The class bullies are mean to Leo. But things are about to change for Leo with the arrival of new kid Gabriel (Fabio Audi). Paired up to work on a class project together, there is electricity between the boys. Each has an unexpected effect on the other. Leo, who only listens to classical music, is turned on to Scottish pop group Belle and Sebastian by Gabriel, who even gets Leo to dance with him in Leo’s room. Gabriel becomes increasingly aware of and sensitive to Leo’s needs as a visually impaired person. Meanwhile, Leo is doing everything he can to be more self-sufficient, something that doesn’t sit well with his over-protective parents Laura (Lucia Romano) and Carlos (Eucir de Souza). In fact, Leo is researching the possibility of studying abroad. This growing desire for independence also threatens Leo’s relationship with Giovana. The Way He Looks is remarkably insightful in terms of the way small, but meaningful details, can eventually amount to something much greater. Leo sleeping in Gabriel’s sweatshirt, for instance, is one potent example. Gabriel’s concern for Leo, applying sun-block

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Gay, Israeli filmmaker Eytan Fox (Yossi & Jagger, The Bubble) ventures into Almodovar’s arena with the colorful, sugar-coated comedy Cupcakes (Strand). On the night of the UniverSong competition, a group of friends and neighbors – gay schoolteacher Ofer (Ofer Schechter), lesbian singer/songwriter Efrat (Efrat Dor), assistant to the Minister of Culture Dana (Dana Ivgy), blogger Keren (Keren Berger), former beauty queen Yael (Yael BarZohar) and baker Anat (Anat Waxman) – gather together to watch the event on TV. That night, they also end up writing a song together which unexpectedly launches them into the running to represent Israel in the following year’s UniverSong competition. Looking for dramatic tension to balance the camp and comedy? Ofer’s in a relationship with closeted Assif (Alon Levi), the spokesperson for his family’s successful hummus biz. Socially awkward Keren’s life revolves around her laptop. Anat’s marriage is on the rocks. Dana, who has always followed her father’s orders, is itching for a change. Efrat is growing weary of playing her music to small coffeehouse crowds. Yael’s in a dead-end relationship with an offensive and sexist lawyer (Lior Ashkenazi). With their chance to make it big right before them, the sextet is determined not to let anything get in their way and get to Paris to compete. Fox proves himself to be as adept at comedy as he is at drama. Cupcakes also features tunes by Scissor Sisters’ Babydaddy (aka Scott Hoffman). Don’t be surprised if you walk out singing. In Hebrew with subtitles. [Cupcakes opens on Apr. 17 at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale.] Like Ira Sachs’ Love Is Strange, the Brazilian film The Way He Looks (Strand), the full-length feature debut by writer/director Daniel Ribiero, wasn’t just one of the best gay movies of the 2014 LGBT film fest circuit, it’s one of the best gay movies ever. Period. Blind teen Leo (Ghilherme Lobo) and best friend Givoana (Tess Amorim)

SCREEN SAVOR

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LGBT Film Fest Faves Come Back Around

BY GREGG SHAPIRO

April 15, 2015

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RAIS E YOUR HAIR HIGH G OSPEL BRUNCH

ial Offic Ride rt Sma k-off ic r K raise Fund

benefitting

SUNDAY, MAY 3 11am & 1:30 pm shows Raffle, giveaways and prizes for the biggest hair. $40 per person (includes brunch, unlimited Bloody Marys and Mimosas, tax, gratuity and show cover)

THE ULTIMATE IN “DRAG DINING” 1421 East Oakland Park Boulevard, Oakland Park

April 15, 2015

Reservations Required 954-567-0987

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THE WEEK

JACKSONVILLE BY PATRICK ROBERT

April 15, 2015

4/17 The Price is Right Live The only television show that has given away more cars than Oprah, The Price is Right has enjoyed immense popularity for its classic games and classic audience energy. The Price is Right Live tour allows audiences the same opportunities as the contestants on the real show. Players play popular games Plinko, Cliffhangers, and even compete in the Showcase. Over the years The Price is Right Live has given away more than ten million dollars in cash and prizes. 8:00 p.m. Times-Union Center. 300 Water St. Jacksonville. 32202 .

4/18 Stomp

The explosive musical sensation Stomp takes the Times-Union Center by storm

with its inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique theatrical experience. The eight-member troupe uses unconventional percussion instruments such as matchboxes, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, and hubcaps to fill the theatre with resonant rhythms. 8:00 p.m. Times-Union Center. 300 Water St. Jacksonville. 32202.

4/19 The Who The classic Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend English rock band has sold over 100 million records worldwide, establishing itself as one of the most influential bands of the 20th century. Quadrophenia, Tommy, and Who’s Next were cultural staples of the 1970s. Some of their most popular singles include “Pinball Wizard,” “My Generation,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will be opening. 7:30 p.m. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. Jacksonville. 32202.

A FITNESS AND NUTRITION TRANSFORMATION BLUEPRINT

FITNESS

MAKING EXERCISE A PRIORITY

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metabolism runs can be influenced heavily by your diet and level of physical activity and exercise. Dieting (calorie restriction) without exercising is one of the most common mistakes people make. When you lose weight by dieting, muscle tissue accounts for about 20% of what is lost. Consequently, dieting without exercising to maintain or build muscle actually slows your metabolism and can lead to weight gain in the long term. It’s not necessary to make dramatic changes in your life all at once to make an impact on your health and fitness. It’s okay to start slowly. Cut down or cut out alcohol for a few weeks. Start some form of exercise – riding a bicycle, power walking around the neighborhood at night or joining a fitness class. Start cleaning up your nutrition by cutting out sugar and junk food. Challenge a partner or friend to join you. Take baby steps, but stick with it! Peter Jackson is a fitness and nutrition professional and the owner of Fort Lauderdale fitness businesses including Push Fitness, a private training gym. He can be reached at Info@PushFitnessFTL.com.

components to your daily energy “burn” – known as your Total Energy Expenditure, and understanding this will help to be successful in your weight management. 1) About 10% of calories are burned by what is called the thermic effect of eating – quite simply, the act of digesting your food. Far more calories are used to digest proteins than carbs or fats (25 calories for every 100 calories of proteins versus 10 to 15 for every 100 calories of carbs and fats). This is why a nutrition plan with an emphasis on healthy proteins (chicken, fish, lean red meat, cottage cheese, eggs) is recommended; 2) About 30% of calories are burned by physical activity and exercise. Adding strength training to build muscle, in addition to a cardio program (walking, running) is essential to increasing one’s metabolism; 3) The majority of calories, about 60%, are burned by what is called your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is simply energy used to breathe, eat and maintain bodily functions. Controlled to some extent by genetics and environmental factors, the rate at which your

April 15, 2015

It takes a commitment to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. Many people want to lose weight in order to feel better and improve their health, but just can’t seem to get started or stick with a plan. Indeed, commercial gyms make a killing from people who buy memberships but never step foot in the facility. A buddy of mine whom I had not seen in some time came into town and stayed with me for a few days recently. I remember him being very active and having a killer body when we were in our 20s, so I was shocked to see his huge belly and weight gain. I was pleased with his announcement that he had quit smoking cigarettes – until I realized he had simply replaced them with cigars, breaking every hour or so to get his nicotine fix from an unfiltered cigar. Over the course of his short visit, he demolished a liter of vodka he had brought as a gift, mixing the vodka with sugary juices. At restaurants, he chose some of the unhealthiest selections. Hitting my gym for a workout did not interest him. Of course, when the opportunity arose, I expressed my concern about his unhealthy lifestyle. “Oh, I can lose this belly in two weeks,” he declared. “If I go on a diet and skip a few meals, I’ll lose it really fast.” I dropped the subject because, as a fitness professional, I fully understand that you can’t force anyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The motivation has to start within. But let’s correct some common misconceptions about losing weight and getting fit. The truth is: 1) Diets don’t work; 2) Counting calories alone is a waste of time and won’t lead to fat loss; and 3) Skipping meals and eating “virtually nothing” is a surefire way NOT to burn fat. To lose weight and incinerate fat, you will have to increase your metabolism. Metabolism is the number of calories (energy) your body burns to sustain life. Now, muscle burns more calories than fat does, so people who are muscular (low body fat) and exercise have a higher metabolic rate than people who have far less muscle (high body fat) and don’t exercise. The average person burns about 10 calories per pound of body weight per day. To simplify a complex subject, there are three

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This is the 8th weekly installment of a 10-part series to help Agenda readers improve their health and fitness.

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Text By Peter Jackson, CPT

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THE WEEK

MIAMI/ MIAMI BEACH BY PATRICK ROBERT

4/18 Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen Silver foxes Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen both share a certain cachet within the gay community. Cooper has won multiple Emmys for both his work as a CNN anchor and a correspondent for CBS’ 60 Minutes. Cohen, on the other hand, is an Emmy-winning executive and host of Bravo’s Watch What Happens: Live. Tonight, the two longtime friends interview each other and take questions from the audience. 8:00 p.m. The Fillmore Miami Beach. 1700 Washington Ave. Miami Beach. 33139.

4/19 Breaking the Glass Ceiling Annual Awards Despite Hillary Clinton’s recent announcement, the glass ceiling still remains as impenetrable as ever for working women. The 2015 Breaking the Glass Ceiling Awards ceremony features this year’s four honorees discussing how they broke that ceiling. Students are encouraged to attend to hear the inspirational stories from these courageous women. 2:00 p.m. Jewish Museum of Florida. 301 Washington Ave. Miami Beach. 33139.

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Celtic Woman The tenth anniversary of global music sensation Celtic Woman lands at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The enchanting music experience features a treasure chest of traditional Irish standards, classical favorites, and contemporary pop songs. The tour includes three angelic vocalists along with a dazzling Celtic violinist. Adrienne Arsht Center. 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami. 33132.

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CLAW 2015 APRIL 23-26, 2015 PICK UP THE GEAR YOU NEED 1226 NE 4TH AVE FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304 954.761.1236

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April 15, 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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Actor/Actress

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PU Z Z L E

Across 1 Cole Porter’s “Well, Did You ___” 5 Word with top, for Mauresmo 9 Name on a bomber 14 Corleone head 15 Loaf of Gomer’s bread 16 Pink fruit 17 Birthright seller 18 Skye on screens 19 Safari head 20 British actor to be cast as 33-Across 23 Having one sharp, to Bernstein 24 What squirrels do with their nuts 25 Emma Peel was one 29 Spasms in chasms? 33 One of the first known to undergo gender-confirming surgery 35 Language of Cho’s ancestors 36 “___ Love You” (Beatles hit) 37 Lodging place 39 Bowie collaborator 40 Go on foot 44 Illustrator Gerda who lived with 33-Across 48 Diana, to the Greeks 50 Rulers like Caligula 51 Ophelia and Hamlet or

Claire 53 Cock follower 54 Movie currently in production about 33-Across 59 _G.I. Jane_ actress 60 Margarine 61 Some escorts want them up front 63 Big name in Chinese history 64 Photo process 65 Sex type 66 Distributed queens, perhaps 67 NBA or NRA 68 Lamarr of Hollywood Down 1 Beard for Adam and Steve? 2 Tool with jaws 3 Ever so slightly 4 Guy often found in handcuffs 5 Catalog giant 6 “Alas! ___ Yorick” 7 Laura of “ER” 8 Can’t help but 9 Ban on commercial intercourse 10 When k. d. sings Auld lang Syne 11 Pearl Buck character 12 Actor John of _M. Butterfly_

13 Writer Castillo 21 _Picnic_ playwright 22 Early Robin Williams role 25 Male type 26 Baseball cap part 27 George, who was Mary Ann 28 Sacrifice-fly stat 30 Escort from the door 31 Painter Edouard 32 Some A-List gays 34 Wilde’s tongue, for short 38 “We’re ___ Gonna Take It” 41 Kind of case or court 42 Triumphant cry 43 Ike’s ex 45 One that can blow you on the beach 46 Math branch 47 Queen of _Chicago_ 49 Lady of La Mancha 52 Fodder figures? 54 The sound of music 55 “Hi” to Lorca 56 Becomes Jell-o 57 Actor Auberjonois 58 Rock Hudson role, usually 59 Dose of AZT, e.g. 62 Cunning For the solution to this puzzle, go to www.floridaagend.com/puzzle

ORLANDO

BY PATRICK ROBERT

Parrotheads, beware: he’s in town! For everyone else, the “he” is Mr. Jimmy Buffett. Known for his island escapist lifestyle, Buffet has been creating classic music promoting such a lifestyle for almost fifty years. His most popular song, “Margaritaville,” is a Florida staple. His recent albums include LIcense to Chill, Take the Weather with You, and Buffett Hotel. 8:00 p.m. Amway Center. 400 W. Church St. Orlando. 32801.

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Jimmy Buffet

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THE WEEK

4/17 Boz Scaggs Boz Scaggs gained fame for being the guitarist and sometime lead singer for the Steve Miller Band. A solo career in the 1970s followed with a few hits, including “Lowdown” and “Lido Shuffle.” The album Silk Degrees was a critical darling, infusing pop with sophisticated R&B sounds. Recent release Memphis included covers of his favorite singles. 8:00 p.m. Hard Rock Live. 6050 Universal Blvd. Orlando. 32819.

4/19

Bob Dylan

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Music icon Bob Dylan has lasted decades thanks to his generationdefining songs rife with poetic lyricism. “Like a Rolling Stone” is considered one of the greatest songs ever recorded while “The Times They are A-Changin’” represents a culturally important moment in America’s history. Other hummable classics include “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Positively 4th Street,” and “Lay Lady Lay.” 8:00 p.m. Dr. Philips Center. 455 S Magnolia Ave. Orlando. 32801.

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