Agenda 062415 issue 292 by Multi-Media Platforms

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

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NATION

June 24, 2015

North Carolina Teacher Resigns After Reading Gay Themed Book To Class RALEIGH, NC (AP) — After a third-grader tearfully recounted how another boy had called him “gay” during gym class, teacher Omar Currie chose to raise the issue during story time by reading his students a fable about a prince who falls in love with another prince, ending with a happilyever-after royal wedding. That decision in April ignited a public outcry from some parents in the rural hamlet of Efland, North Carolina, resulting in Currie’s resignation this week from a job he loved. The assistant principal who loaned Currie her copy of “King & King” has also resigned, and outraged parents are pressuring administrators at the Orange County Schools to ban the book. “When I read the story, the reaction of parents didn’t come into my mind,” Currie, 25, said Tuesday. “In that moment, it just seemed natural to me to read the book and have a conversation about treating people with respect.

My focus then was on the child, and helping the child.” Currie knows firsthand what it is like to be bullied. Growing up gay and black in a small town in the eastern part of the state, his memories of middle school are of being a frequent target for teasing and slurs. As a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Currie entered a teaching fellows program with the intent of helping young people. He was first introduced to “King & King” during an education course that included strategies for introducing topics involving diversity in the classroom. After graduation, Currie became a teacher at nearby Efland-Cheeks Elementary School. Though only about 15 miles west of Chapel Hill, a college town considered among the most liberal enclaves in the state, Efland is a socially conservative community of about 750 people where churches line the highway through town. Within hours after reading the book to his students, Currie said he got a call from the school’s principal requesting a meeting in her office for the following morning. The parents of three children soon filed written complaints to a school review committee, which twice upheld the use of the book after heated

public meetings. But the school’s principal also issued a new directive that teachers must submit an advance list of all books they intend to read with students to their parents. “King & King” has been a subject of controversy before. In 2006, the parents of a Massachusetts secondgrader sued after the book was read in their child’s class. A federal judge later ruled against them, saying the rights of parents to exercise their religious and moral beliefs are not violated when children are exposed to differing ideas in public school. In his two years at Efland elementary, Currie said his sexual orientation had never been an issue. His co-workers, and some parents, knew he lives with his male partner. But at the committee meetings to discuss Currie’s use of the book, some parents whose children were not in his class made their attacks personal, telling him he would die young and spend eternity in hell. He also began receiving hate-filled letters and emails, including one copied to other teachers at the school, described homosexuality as a “birth defect” while accusing Currie of trying to “indoctrinate” children through “psycho-emotional rape.” Though he says administrators never formally disciplined him for his decision to read the book, Currie said he was made to feel that he had done something wrong and felt pressured to leave the school. He is currently looking for another teaching job. A spokesman for the Orange County Schools said Tuesday that Interim Superintendent Pam Jones was not available for an interview. Meg Goodhand, the assistant principal who resigned after loaning Currie the book, also declined to comment. The decision to allow “King & King” in the classroom has now been appealed to the district level, and a public meeting to discuss the issue is set for Thursday. Currie plans to attend and says he will speak out.

Boy Scout Council Affirms Policy Allowing Gay Adult Leaders

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The local Boy Scout council in Philadelphia has formally sanctioned a policy that allows

gay adults to serve as scout leaders. The Cradle of Liberty Council vote Friday bans discrimination based on sexual orientation for scouts, leaders and employees. Board president Jim Papada says the unanimous vote affirms what has been the council’s practice in recent years. The council serves about 15,000 scouts in the Philadelphia region. The Boy Scouts of America now allows gay scouts but not gay leaders. National president Robert Gates said last month that he believes that ban cannot hold. The Cradle of Liberty Council has tried to walk a fine line between Philadelphia anti-discrimination laws and the longtime ban on gay scouts. The dilemma led to a 2010 trial and a decision to move out of a city-owned building

Couples, Officials, Foes Readying for US Gay Marriage Ruling

CINCINNATI (AP) - With a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage expected any day now, gay couples in states with bans are making wedding plans, courthouse officials are getting ready for different scenarios and steadfast foes are working on their strategies to keep up the opposition. Marriage license bureaus are bracing for a rush of applicants if the court overturns bans. Meanwhile, there’s been a series of planning sessions by groups that intend to explore religious objection responses to protect “traditional marriage” limited to heterosexuals. Gay couples, such as Ethan Fletcher and Andrew Hickam of Cincinnati, are gearing up for a quick run to the courthouse in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee - the states involved in the cases that were argued in April before the justices. They’re among 14 states that ban same-sex marriage, and if the high court rules in favor of gay marriage, it would apply nationally. Fletcher, 31, a University of Cincinnati senior academic adviser, and Hickam, 30, a GE Aviation engineer, have arranged to take off work to get their license if the decision allows immediate same-sex marriages and

NEW YORK (AP) - New York City’s landmarks commission has voted to grant official status to the Greenwich Village bar where resistance to a police raid sparked the modern gay rights movement. The unanimous vote Tuesday marks the first time a site has been designated as a landmark in the city because of its significance to LGBT history. Patrons fought back against a police raid on the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. The uprising is commemorated in gay pride events every year in New York and around the world. The commission’s chairwoman, Meenakshi Srinivasan, says the Stonewall events were a turning point in the LGBT rights movement and in the nation’s history.

Texas, which struck down state laws that made gay sex a crime. “It suffices for us to acknowledge that adults may choose to enter upon this relationship in the confines of their homes and their own private lives and still retain their dignity as free persons,” Kennedy wrote. “When sexuality finds overt expression in intimate conduct with another person, the conduct can be but one element in a personal bond that is more enduring.” Ten years later, Kennedy’s opinion for the court in U.S. v. Windsor struck down part of the federal anti-gay marriage law. “It seems fair to conclude that, until recent years, many citizens had not even considered the possibility that two persons of the same sex might aspire to occupy the same status and dignity as that of a man and woman in lawful marriage,” Kennedy wrote in the Windsor case.

SACRAMENTO (AP) — The Irish Catholic boy who came of age in Sacramento after World War II is an

school and looked after them in ways large and small. Schaber helped some become judges. Year after year, Kennedy reported the same gift from Schaber on his annual financial disclosures, $400 worth of shirts. Kennedy spoke at the dedication of the Sacramento courthouse in Schaber’s memory, but he has never talked about how Schaber has influenced his views on the bench. Kennedy declined to respond to questions for this story. Schaber died in 1997, just shy of his 70th birthday. By that time, Kennedy had written his first gay rights ruling on the Supreme Court, striking down a Colorado constitutional amendment that prevented local governments from enacting anti-discrimination protections for gays and lesbians. In 2003, Kennedy again authored the majority opinion in Lawrence v.

June 24, 2015

Justice Kennedy Likely to Write Ruling in Upcoming Supreme Court Same-Sex Ruling

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NYC Grants Landmark Status To Gay Rights Movement Building

unlikely candidate to be the author of the Supreme Court’s major gay rights rulings. But those who have known Justice Anthony Kennedy for decades and scholars who have studied his work say he has long stressed the importance of valuing people as individuals. And he seems likely also to have been influenced in this regard by a pillar of the Sacramento legal community, a closeted gay man who hired Kennedy as a law school instructor and testified on his behalf at his high court confirmation hearings in Washington. With three major gay rights opinions to his name already, the 78-yearold Kennedy is the prohibitive favorite to write the Supreme Court decision expected in the next few days that could extend same-sex marriage nationwide. Kennedy’s friendship with Gordon Schaber began in the mid-1960s when Schaber recruited the young lawyer to teach at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Schaber, who served as the school’s dean for 34 years, was in the process of transforming McGeorge from an unaccredited night school to a respected institution that now is a part of the University of the Pacific. Schaber never married and was widely believed to be gay, according to accounts from a dozen people who worked for him or were active in Sacramento’s political and legal communities. “Schaber’s sexual orientation was general knowledge among the Sacramento community and the law school community,” said Glendalee “Glee” Scully, the longtime director of McGeorge’s legal clinic, where students got practical experience by taking on cases for people who couldn’t otherwise afford a lawyer. Among those who worked at the school when Schaber was dean, not one could recall Schaber discussing his sexual orientation. “Generationally, it was not something gentlemen spoke about,” said McGeorge professor Larry Levine, himself openly gay. Scully said, “As close as he and Tony Kennedy were as friends, I would doubt they ever had a conversation about it. But how can’t it have helped to some degree Tony’s willingness to have an open mind?” Only nine years older than Kennedy, Schaber was a mentor to many of the young lawyers he brought to the

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will then plan a formal wedding. They became engaged nearly two years ago but decided against getting married in another state as long as there was the possibility they could do it at home. “Well, we live here and we pay taxes here and our families live here,” said Fletcher, adding that they want his grandmother and Hickam’s mother to be able to attend. “We didn’t feel that it was reasonable for us to have to travel out of state for the freedom to marry.” In Hamilton County, where Cincinnati is located, the marriage license bureau said other courthouse staffers have been cross-trained and forms are available online to help speed the process. Court officials in Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, say they’re prepared to process triple the usual number of applications.

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NATION

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CLIFF NOTES BY CLIFF DUNN

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eDating For Gays

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yourself up for failure spending your time surfing Adam4Adam and its legions of men who are looking for “Mr. Right Now.” In other words, make your expectations, wants, needs, etc., clear. Just like in “real life.” Fast and dirty (this list, not the sites—necessarily), here are eight apps/sites to consider: OkCupid Matches you with others through a complex mathematical algorithm. Tinder With the ease of using your Facebook profile as a foundation, this is one of the simplest apps available. Grindr Forget “Mr. Right.” This is about connecting with “Mr. Right-this-Second.” Your phone’s location-based GPS matches you with nearby guys. Scruff For the Levis-and-Leather set. Mister X This app’s software becomes familiar to the types of guys you’re into, and filters out the chaff. GROWLr Military, daddies, and bears. Oh my. (For both the casual dater and LTR-oriented.) Distinc.tt Not just a dating app, it helps you find fun activities in the local gay scene. Hornet One of the least hookup-oriented apps, it is designed for men who are looking to meet, as well as those who have restaurant and social-type recommendations.

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First the good news: There are more gay dating websites and apps than are available for nearly any other social group. The bad news? There are more gay dating websites and apps than are available for nearly any other social group. Daters can find sites that are exclusively gay-oriented (so to speak), as well as mainstream dating platforms that welcome LGBT singles. Not to mention those that are exclusively for lesbians, gay men, and transgender persons. For some of these websites, the mandate (not to be confused with ManD8, a gay video chat and dating site) is to find compatible partners for members to engage in long-term relationships. Others are strictly “need-it-now” platforms, where the focus is casual dating (or even strictly sex). In an Internet “ocean” that’s awash in ways to connect, who has the drive to web-surf all those dating and sex sites? (You can stop laughing now.) As in many of life’s instances, to a large measure, you get out of the experience what you put into it. This means that, as a “connoisseur” of dating sites and apps, you need to gauge your expectations. If you are someone who is hard-wired internally for a long-term relationship (LTR), you’re just setting

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June 24, 2015

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June 24, 2015

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SUNSHINE STATE

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Sexual Harassment Charges Filed Against Hialeah Police Sergeant

June 24, 2015

Message From MMP Founder Bobby Blair

I’ve just now caught my breath from enjoying a full day at the Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Festival and Twilight Parade. Since Multimedia Platforms Worldwide publications’ Guy Magazine and Agenda newspaper were the proud sponsors of the Center Stage at this year’s event, I was privileged to watch the way this production unfolded from behind the scenes as well as on the Drive. Jeff Sterling, the president of the Wilton Manors Development Alliance, who with his team was responsible for this year’s event through the Wilton Manors Entertainment Group, deserves back-slapping credit for pulling off an intricately timed production that found performance stages and exhibition booths in place and visitor ready by the time the sun rose on Wilton Manors last Saturday morning. By noon, the opening deejay dropped the first song right on cue, beginning 12 hours of non-stop entertainment that continued on two outside stages, as well as inside business up and down the Drive. Entertainment director Shawn Palacious deserves a hero’s welcome for handling dozens of female impersonators, as well as the festival’s starring talent En Vogue, Maxine Nightingale, Venus D’Lite and Crystal Waters. My congratulations to the City of Wilton Manors, its Mayor Gary Resnick and his team of commissioners,

police, and fireman rescue, who orchestrated a seamless security patrol that kept us safe while free to celebrate as only our LGBT community can! As the founder and CEO of MMPW, the only publically traded LGBT media company, I am thrilled to be actively involved in giving back to the community by sponsoring this year’s Stonewall Pride Festival as well as other non-profit events to come. It has been a year of unbelievable growth and victories for us as a company and for the gay and lesbian community as well. It’s an honor and privilege to share MMP’s good fortune with the community we serve. Again my congratulations to you all. We’ve only just begun.

Broward Commissioners Discuss New Pot Laws

FORT LAUDERDALE (WSVN) -Commissioners in Broward are considering a plan to change the degree of criminal charges if caught with marijuana, according to local TV station WSVN. The discussion began after other cities in South Florida considered the changes. During a commission meeting at the Broward Government Center Tuesday, commissioners explored the proposition of making the possession of 20 grams or less of pot a crime punishable by a $100 fine or a two-day

stay in jail. Police officers would have the authority to charge a case involving possession of marijuana as criminal but can also decide to classify the case as a civil offense, according to WSVN. The goal is to reduce overcrowded jails and allow people who are carrying a small amount of marijuana to pay a fine, rather than face criminal charges and a criminal record. “I believe the people of Broward County understand that folks’ lives should not be ruined if they have a small amount of pot on them,” said Broward County Commissioner Martin Kiar. Everyone who signed up to speak was in favor of the potential law. “A civil citation program would save enormous amounts of money, while freeing the sheriff’s department and the courts to spend their time and their already strained resources dealing with real criminals,” said resident Karen Goldstein, who supports the looser law. Another supporter sees pot as an equivalent to alcohol. “Just like everybody else in this room might go out to buy a beer at a bar, there are people who decide, ‘I don’t want to drink alcohol, I want to go home and smoke a joint,’” said Michael Minardi. Miami-Dade Commissioners took a similar route earlier June and are close to making a decision. Now Broward County seems to be following suit. The commissioners later voted unanimously to have the county attorney draft various versions of guidelines for review.

HIALEAH—A Hialeah police sergeant has been accused of sexually harassing a 17-year-old lesbian following a traffic stop. The officer is an eight-year veteran of the police force, a SWAT instructor, and the son of a retired police chief. Sergeant Jesus Menocal, Jr. was suspended with pay, pending an internal investigation. The 17-year-old said the Menocal stopped her for making an illegal U-turn. She was driving with her 20-year-old partner, and was told to get into the back seat of Menocal’s police vehicle, where he drove her to a police substation. Once inside, he is alleged to have instructed the teenager to strip while he masturbated, threatening to arrest her if she didn’t comply. “[He asked me] how do I have intercourse, and I told him, ‘Why do I need to answer that? Why is that necessary?’” the teenager told TV station WSVN in Miami. “He insisted me to answer it, so I told him how me and my partner have intercourse, which is me and my girlfriend. After, he asked if I was a virgin. He asked me, if he was to test me right that moment, if I had any diseases on me.” After she took off her shorts, the Sgt. allegedly asked her if she was on her menstrual cycle. “He wanted me to take off my shirt and my bra together, and I told him, ‘No. Why do I have to do that? There’s no reason to do that,’” she said. According to the witness, Menocal allegedly responded, “Oh I thought you wanted to f*ck.” After a 15 minute wait, the teen was released and the couple filed a police report soon after. The Hialeah Police Department made the following comment in regards to the allegations that read in part, “Very serious allegations were made, which require a methodical, detailed and thorough examination of all statements and evidence.” For his part, Menocal has denied all charges.

The ceremony and celebration is part of a three day event that kicks off Thursday June 25th at 7pm with a Bachelor/ Bachelorette Party & Comedy Show that includes a Vendor Market at the Embassy Suites in Brandon/Tampa. Friday night the couple host a live music celebration at the Edge Lounge Bar & Tapas at 911 Central Avenue in St. Pete starting at 8pm. Saturday the Mass Wedding event takes place at Lassing Park at 2042 Beach Dr SE at 2pm followed by the Cake & Wedding Toast at 3 Daughters Brewery on 222 22nd Street South. Later that evening, registered couples and allies will “Strut their Stuff” in the St. Pete Pride Night Parade & Block Party at 7pm with Louddmouthradio. com & May Day Equality. Couples are encouraged to register now as limited space is available, Contact 706-363-3895 or 786-505-6647 an online at http://www.louddmouthradio. com/no-ordinary-love-lgbt222.html

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ST. PETERSBURG--Media hosts and activists, Sonny & Jazzie Jones-Smith of LouddMouthradio.com and May Day Equality, invite couples to exchange/ renew their vows during the “No Ordinary Love LGBTQ” Mass Wedding Ceremony in Lassing Park in Old Southeast St. Petersburg, Florida. Currently Sonny & Jazzie Jones-Smith are one of the faces of Southern’s Freedom To Marry ~ Marriage Equality Initiatives. In 2014, the couple successfully launched a statewide Marriage Equality Initiative for the State of Georgia called #MayDayGAEquality that made global headlines. City of St. Petersburg Councilman Steve Kornell presented a proclamation for June 27th, 2015 as “No Ordinary Love LGBTQ Day” to commemorate this historic time in LGBTQ history.

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Mass Marriage To Happen In St. Petersburg

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INTERNATIONAL

Vatican Sets Stage For Family Debate With Working Document

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VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican has set the stage for more debate on hot-button issues like gays, remarried Catholics and unmarried couples living together by publishing the working document for its meeting on family issues. The document released Tuesday breaks no major ground on the most divisive issues, although it offers some nuances that may prove key when bishops gather in October for the three-week synod. It repeats that gays should be respected and welcomed, as church teaching requires, and that the church should provide special pastoral care for gays and their families. But it goes no further. The first big meeting on family issues last October was marked by a remarkable openness to gays, with an interim document saying they had gifts to offer the church and that their partnerships, while morally problematic, provided “precious” support. After an outcry by conservative bishops, that language was watered down in the final document, and the whole paragraph on gays failed to win approval in the final vote.

The new working document stresses the idea of the church accompanying all Catholics in a path toward living model Catholic lives. It considers, for example, that couples who live together but aren’t married aren’t living in sin but are rather potential candidates for church marriage. After soliciting input from bishops, academics and ordinary Catholics, the synod organizers said in the document there was “common agreement” about the need to offer divorced and civilly remarried Catholics a “path of forgiveness” to better integrate them into the life of the church. Currently, these Catholics - who haven’t obtained a church annulment declaring their first marriage null - are forbidden from receiving the sacraments. The document doesn’t provide a clear fi x, but suggests some wiggle room through this penitential process, even while stressing that the couple must decide to not have sex. Monsignor Bruno Forte, a top synod organizer, said the key to the document was the concept of the “law of gradualness,” which encourages the faithful to take one step at a time in the search for holiness. The decision by civilly remarried Catholics to not have sex, for example, could come at the end of the path of penitence and not the beginning, he said.

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k o o L T U O

MAYOR’S BALL AT RICHARDSON HOUSE

PHOTOS BY ADRIANNA CORTEZ

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June 24, 2015

BY RICHARD HACK

Flakka: A Deadly Drug Invades Florida

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COVER

June 24, 2015

t’s known as flakka on the streets. And make no mistake, it’s a killer. The drug gets its nickname from the Spanish La Flaca (a slender and attractive woman). Sometimes, it’s called gravel, for its resemblance to the gravel one might use in a fish bowl. But there is where any similarity ends. In reality, its chemical name is alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, or Alpha-PVP, and it comes in the form of white or pink crystals that can be swallowed, snorted, injected or vaped. It’s cheap. A bag that’s equivalent to several doses costs less than a Whopper. And it’s available. It’s arriving in our ports in direct shipments from China by the kilo. The drug has effects similar to MDMA, known as ecstasy or Molly. Acting on the re-uptake inhibitor of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, it first gives the user a feeling of “excited delirium.” Take too much, and that delirium quickly passes into hallucinations that turn into violent behavior and raging body fevers over 105 degrees. Next comes paranoia, where every-

one is suspicious, even those trying to help. The normal response is for users to strip off all their clothes and run through the streets naked, attempting to elude an invisible advisory. Soon, the drug causes the muscles to break down, in a process known as rhabdomyolysis. The muscles literally melt and release muscle fibers into the blood stream. As the kidneys attempt to clear the drug from the body, they are damaged, setting the user up for the potential of long-term dialysis. All this after a single dose. Several months ago, a girl in northern Florida ran through the street screaming that she was Satan while on a flakka trip. A man in Melbourne ran naked through the streets claiming to be God before “committing a sexual act on a tree.” The police department in Fort Lauderdale reported that while on a flakka high, a man impaled himself on the fence surrounding the police station trying to escape a predator and get into the station. “They’re convinced they’re being chased by wild animals or people who are trying to kill them,” said James Hall, an epidemiologist at

the Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Hall should know. He’s had 27 people die from flakka-related overdoses in the last eight months in Broward County alone. “It’s the most intense, rapidly emerging drug problem since the 1980s with the emergence of crack cocaine,” Hall told Reuters. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, in an exclusive interview with the Agenda, agreed, while admitting to being scared. “I’m scared for our community. I’m scared for our children. I’m scared for our homeless,” he said. “I’m scared because it so cheap to buy, and your kidneys can shut down after a single use.” Taking a leadership stance to fight the drug’s invasion into his jurisdiction, the Sheriff has launched continuing symposiums in neighborhoods in the country. He talks about the horrors of flakka along with members from his drug team including Det. William Schwartz, his lead investigator. “We’re trying to educate the public and let them know this is not a drug to play with,” Israel said. “This is not

marijuana. This is not cocaine. This is a drug that can kill after one time—a single use.” Det. Schwartz agreed. “In the year 2013, our lab examined zero cases of flakka. In the year 2014, our lab examined something like 280 cases of the drug. This year, through May, we have already looked at 538 cases—just five months into the year. It’s a disturbing trend and very, very dangerous.” According to the National Forensic Laboratory Information System, Florida had 672 recorded cases of flakka in 2014, compared to the 2,720 nationally. And 576 of those were in all of South Florida. “We also have the most addicted society in South Florida,” Schwartz reminded. “Broward County in particular had a huge problem with opioids. Because of law changes, it’s become very difficult for dealers to get illegal painkillers. These dealers are entrepreneurs, and they are going to sell drugs. If they can’t get what they used to sell, they move on to something new—in this case flakka, which is easy to obtain, cheap to buy, and quick to sell.” Gil Kerlikowske, the Commis-

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June 24, 2015 • ISSUE 292 PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RICHARD HACK - richardhack@mmplgbt.com

STAFF REPORTER SOCIAL MEDIA CHRISTINE KOLENIK

CONTRIBUTORS Tom Bonanti, Michael Davis, Cliff Dunn, Patrick Robert, Gregg Shapiro, Linda Pentz (Washington Correspondent)

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JAMEER BAPTISTE - jameerbaptiste@mmplgbt.com

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEVIN BROADY

PHOTOGRAPHY Coco Alarcon, Adrianna Cortez, Michael Davis

ADVERTISING Account Executives Jim Albright, Joyce Bluestein, Ken Brown Russ Johannsen, Mark Robinson, Brett Yancey

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ADVERTISING ART DEADLINES Camera Ready Artwork by Mondays, Noon Placement by Mondays, 5 p.m. 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 MAIN OFFICE / SALES: 2929 E Commercial Blvd, PhD, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 Phone 954-380-8563 FAX 954-380-8567 ALL MATERIAL in the Agenda is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the 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 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. 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. A bureau of LGBTQNation.com www.floridaagenda.com Printed by Forum Publishing Group (954) 574-5321 © 2014, Mutimedia Platforms LLC. All rights reserved.

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sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Reuters News that China had dramatically increased its criminal investigations into synthetic drugs, but its huge ports and vast territory made it harder to tackle. According to the US State Department, the Obama administration has raised the issue of flakka in talks with China. What has law enforcement and drug treatment professionals most concerned are flakka’s long-term effects. First-time users can take three to four days to return to a normal state of mind, while for repeat users, it could be 14 to 16 days, according to drug treatment professionals. Dr. Peter Ventre, a psychiatrist at Fort Lauderdale Hospital, said a girl in her early 20s recently suffered symptoms similar to a stroke or brain bleeding after using flakka. “Now she can’t talk, can’t recognize anybody and can’t walk on her own,” he said. “Flakka is not a medication,” Schwartz said. “It is a research chemical that has no known safe dose. There are no directions that come with flakka. “On top of that, this drug looks a lot like cocaine. This drug looks a lot like methamphetamine,” Schwartz said. “For a person used to using cocaine, a regular dose would be a giant dose of flakka. It takes a fraction of the amount to get you high or to kill you. “And once someone goes over the line with this drug, there is no coming back. It’s not like we can detox someone from flakka. The only thing that doctors can do is keep the body temperature cool and sedate them out of their agitated state. But that’s only for the moment. We have no idea how dramatic the long-term damage from this drug is. We do know that the internal damage is severe. “The half-life of the drug is unknown. Symptoms often resurface weeks after the initial dose,” Schwartz said. Sheriff Israel warned of other issues the county is facing. “When flakka, users These enter into a state of excited delirium. They have super-human strength. It takes four, five, six deputies to subdue them. Unfortunately, it might appear to the community that we’re using excess force. What we are actually doing is anything but. We’re just trying to get them into a police car or an ambulance and get them immediate help.” Remember the name: flakka. Then remember the words of Sheriff Israel. “Even a single dose is deadly. There’s no coming back.”

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Celebrate Equality on a Friday Night

Shabbat and the Supreme Court Join Etz Chaim, Sunshine

Cathedral, and other faith communities for a special interreligious service on Friday, July 3rd for a spirited celebration in honor of same sex marriage

Friday, July 3rd, 8pm at the Sunshine Cathedral 1480 SW 9th Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Shabbat services every Friday night at 8pm

Congregation Etz Chaim

1501 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Congregation Etz Chaim

June 24, 2015

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

Where Were the Floats from Drive Businesses?

As is usually the case at the Wilton Manors Gay Pride Parade, the majority of large gay businesses that rake in the most money off of the members of the gay community here couldn’t be bothered to put a float in the parade. (This) makes the parade a very short one and not really worthy of Wilton Manors and the Fort Lauderdale area when one takes into consideration how large the Gay community is in this area, along with the thousands of Gay tourists who stay in the area while on vacation. Many of those thousands of people who attended the parade ate and drank at the gay businesses along the parade route. (They) were attracted to come to the parade because of the large amount of advertising done by the organizers of the parade in local gay publications. Many of those businesses most likely saw an increase in their revenue because of the parade, although they didn’t make any visible contribution in the form of a float in the parade. (They are not) really worthy of the increase in business they received from the parade while they benefited from the advertising done by the organizers of the parade which came at no cost to the gay businesses along the parade route. It’s rather sad to see area gay owners of large established businesses not put out any funding to celebrate and commemorate the Stonewall riots by being represented with a float in our area parade when one

takes into consideration that the Stonewall riots brought the gay rights movement into the national spotlight and made it possible for gay business owners to openly operate (their) businesses without having to engage in regularly paying off members of city police departments and buying protection from members of organized crimes so that they could stay in business. Richard Claycomb Fort Lauderdale

Embarrassing

Ok, I know I will probably get a lot of sh@t for this post, but all of you who know me know that I have to speak my mind! Today had to be one of the worst and embarrassing Pride “Festivals” we have ever attended. It seriously seemed like it was something that was thrown together in a few days! There was no energy! No celebratory feeling…and excuse me, who allows a hearse, with a banner announcing burials and cremations in a pride parade? Sorry to everyone involved, we know you tried, but it was really not what a gay pride should be. We should be celebrating who we are and those who stood up and started our fight in 1969, not having to weave through booths trying to sell us storm windows! Perhaps things will change and I can only hope they do! Terry DeCarlo Orlando From Facebook

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June 24, 2015

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BY LINDA PENTZ

Gay Rugby Teams and Transvestite Dancing Queens at Capital Pride

June 24, 2015

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CAPITOL BEAT

Once upon a time, Capital Pride in Washington, DC, was a small, selfcontained celebration on a single block of 20th Street NW. But 40 years later, over the weekend of June 13 and 14, it was a massive, raucous, diverse and inclusive affair that attracted at least 150,000 to watch a parade that snaked for more than three hours through DC’s official gay neighborhood. That neighborhood has expanded greatly since its original niche around Dupont Circle. And while one of its earliest landmarks — the gay bookstore Lambda Rising — has closed, its founder, Deacon Maccubbin, served as one of the grand marshals of the 2015 Pride parade. The other was Wilson Cruz, best remembered as the slightly pudgy gay highschooler on the television series, My So Called Life, but who elicited admiring cries of “cute guy alert” from onlookers as his now decidedly buff self whizzed by draped on a classic car. Pride in DC has changed. A lot. So much so that a debate was waged in the local press about whether Pride had gone too corporate and was more celebration than agitation. This felt like the kind of distraction homophobes would love to see us mire ourselves in. Leaving aside the obvious benefits of corporate inclusion and promotion (while recognizing that profit, not tolerance, is likely the prevailing motivation), the breadth of demographics now involved in Pride festivities must surely indicate a remarkable evolution. “Pride has always been a party,” said Jeff Donahoe of the Rainbow History Project, which collects and preserves

LGBT history in metropolitan Washington, DC, and who led a tour of the Dupont Circle neighborhood on the morning of the parade. “But it used to be just one day. Now it’s a week.” And decidedly political. “You’ll see everyone in the parade from mayor to dogcatcher,” Donahoe added. “The biggest change here is the size,” concurred Daniel Boettcher, owner of The Intrepid Wendell, which provides jewelry for same-sex weddings. “Ten years ago, very very few heterosexuals came to Pride,” he added. “But I marched in the parade with my church yesterday and most of the people from the church were straight and they brought their children. There are more and more straight allies here.” Isaac Thweat, manning the festival booth for American University Alumni, agreed that the shift has been good for the student population which “is becoming more and more diverse and that’s not only because of our intentionality around recruitment, but that’s because of the nature of the world. And that world, with all its colorful diversity, was joyously on display at Capital Pride. The parade participants and festival-goers ran the gamut from Dykes on Bikes to drag queens, but also from rainbow flag-waving bankers, to, ironically, the FBI, who not too long ago were likely conducting surveillance on the same segment of society they now celebrated, during a period known as the Lavender Scare. Corporate sponsor, Marriott, seized the moment by conducting the nuptials of gay couple George Carrancho and

Sean Franklin atop their float during the parade. Not to be outdone, the Hilton float featured a giant model of a wedding cake with a kissing male couple at its summit. There were children in strollers, a photographer on roller skates, giant puppet-headed former U.S. presidents, and all manner of colorful and scantily-clad displays of muscle and marvelousness. And there were the Boy Scouts of America, whose national president, the former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, last month called on the organization to move swiftly to change its “unsustainable” national member prohibition on LGBT adults. And while gay unions were sealed atop fake cakes, actual unions were marching alongside. The American Federation of Government Employees was perhaps an unsurprising presence, given their president’s outspoken commitment to the cause. J. David Cox, Sr., minced no words when the Supreme Court overturned the Defense of Marriage Act on June 26, 2013, posting on Facebook: “I am so happy about the Supreme Court victory! I only wish the vote had been unanimous. Shame on Roberts, Scalia, Thomas and Alito. This is the civil rights issue of our time, and they are on the wrong side of history.” Roberts, Scalia, Thomas and Alito may be about to languish on the wrong side of history again as we await their verdict on Obergefell vs. Hodges and same-sex marriage any day now. But AFGE spokeswoman, Caniesha Seldon, told me their union’s presence at Capital Pride, where Cox led their parade contingent, was “a very big thing for

our national president to be one of the first unions to be involved in the DC Capital Pride parade and festival.” With so many federal workers in the DC area, Seldon said the fact that they can “walk through this festival and see their union that represents their work is a very powerful statement.” There were other powerful presences too — such as booths offering 1-minute HIV tests, advice on suicide prevention and benefits for seniors. And there were some whimsical ones as well, such as the eye-catching actors from Arena Stage clad only in white briefs sporting the slogan “come play with us” on their posteriors. There were gay rugby teams and transvestite dancing queens and straight teens and everything in between. (There was also, as my teenage daughter and her friend found out, a lot of free booty, including beach balls and flash drives and, yes, condoms.) And there were some who were committed to the cause, even though it lay quite far outside their natural comfort zone. Rhonda McElroy, whose straight son committed suicide and whose daughter is bi-sexual, helped out at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention booth. A devout Christian, she admitted that being gay or bi-sexual “is not something I would choose for me. But I am still called to love them and care for them.” And there was hope and optimism about the transformation not only of Capitol Pride, but in the country at large. “I am able to have a booth selling wedding sets for same sex couples because things change,” said the jeweler, Boettcher. “It gets better.”

BY ANDY KRESS

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Foods To Avoid For Better Prostate Health

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NUTRITION AFTER 40

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those “juiced up” dairy cows. High consumption of dairy products, as well as calcium supplements, has a direct correlation in prostate enlargement and carcinogenic cells, so be sure to use dairy products and supplements in a moderate fashion. Plus, steer clear of Canned Tomatoes. Canned tomatoes contain bisphenol-A or BPA’s, a synthetic estrogen, coming from the resin lining of the can. Choose farm fresh tomatoes instead. They contain lycopene, which aids the prostate. Watch out for Non-Organic Potatoes! Just when you think you are eating this healthy baked potato--think again. Lots of these non-organic potatoes contain poisons, pesticides and herbicides. This absorption of toxins leeched from the ground, gets imbedded into potatoes and gets passed right along to you. Try using organic potatoes. Your taste buds with thank you right along with your prostate. Also, avoid Farm-Raised Salmon. Farm-raised salmon contain lots of antibiotics. Antibiotics and other contaminants fed to the fish actually lower the healthy omega-3 fatty acids your body needs, while supplying tons of the contaminants your body doesn’t need. Microwave Popcorn is on this list as well. The lining of microwaveable popcorn bags contains carci-

nogenic chemicals, as well as perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which is associated with human infertility. Last but not least is Sugar. Sugar is in almost everything, so watching your consumption does take a small amount of effort. But this small effort saves tons of unwanted calories and your prostate. Sugar is very detrimental to the body. Just ask any diabetic! Sugar helps fuel cells in the prostate to turn cancerous. If you have a choice, add a lowcalorie sweetener to beverages. Recent studies have shown low-calorie sweeteners aid in weight loss. And fears that they are a contributor to cancer have been proven to be unfounded. So cut down the sugar. You have nothing to lose here but a few extra pounds. Here’s my challenge to you. Make an active choice to cut down or steer clear of these foods and keep your prostate’s health at its optimum. Andy Kress is a fitness trainer and nutritional specialist and is the co-author of the bestselling Baby Boomers’ Guide to the Fountain of Youth available at Amazon.com. His column on “Nutrition After 40” will be a weekly feature in Agenda. He can be reached at andyfitnesstrainer@gmail.com.

from 12 to 33 percent. The culprit in this food source is the high level of fat this meat contains. Another contributing factor is the temperature at which red and processed meats are cooked. Cooking these meats using high temperatures generates chemical carcinogens. The accumulation of these carcinogens consumed through your food adds to increased risk of prostate cancer and potential enlargement. In red meat, there are also components called cytochromes. Studies have identified these components as the damaging molecules that enlarge the prostate and create carcinogenic lumps. Cytochromes are membranebound hemeproteins that carry out electron movement in the body, which is vital for the storing and transport of oxygen in mammals. Runner up in this list of foods to avoid is Non-Organic Meats. Nonorganic meats contain antibiotics, steroids and hormones, right along with other choice things animals aren’t supposed to be fed, but surely are. Think corn, soybeans and other non-organic grains to “plump or fatten” them before slaughter. Following suit is the overconsumption of Dairy Products. Too much dairy is high in fat and cholesterol, right along with leftover hormones purging throughout some of

June 24, 2015

f you are a man, the prostate is a very important gland to maintain over a lifetime. As we age, this walnut-sized gland tends to enlarge in most men, in a condition that’s called benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. This overgrowth rarely produces symptoms in men under 40 years old, but more than 50% of the people in their 60’s, and up to 90% of the men in their 70’s and 80’s experience symptoms. These symptoms include frequent urination overnight, increased urgency to urinate, and weak or low stream when urinating. This small gland also has a high tendency to produce cancers and malignancies over time. Over 300,000 new cases are reported each year. Most of these cases could have easily been prevented by healthier nutritional habits. Yes, diet is the main culprit for most of these cases. Choosing foods that are less harsh on this delicate gland can save you a lot of hassle. Whether it is in your own kitchen, or out on the town, try steering clear of these few food options for improved prostate health. First and foremost in this line up of foods to avoid is America’s number one choice of protein--Red Meat. Red meats and processed meats significantly increase your chances of cancerous growths in the prostate,

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J. Alexander’s: Consistent All-American Grub BY TIM HART

June 24, 2015

had no idea this was a national chain until I did this review. J. Alexander’s is a contemporary American restaurant, known for its wood-fired cuisine. Their core philosophy is to provide you with the highest possible quality dining experience. The menu features a wide selection of American classics including prime rib of beef, steaks, fresh seafood, sandwiches and entrée salads. The menu in each restaurant includes a varied and rotating selection of features like Seafood Czarina, Tuscan Steak, Grilled Fish with Mango Papaya Salsa and Chicken Milanese. The restaurant has a full-service bar that includes an outstanding selection of wines both by the glass and bottle. This is a safe restaurant to catch a good meal, either lunch or dinner, and be assured your meal is tasty and the atmosphere is pleasant. I mainly dine in the Plantation location, which looks and feels exactly like the east Fort Lauderdale location. There is plenty of parking at both locations. Over the years, I have dined at either of these restaurants on a countless number of occasions. Their menu is simple and their service is consistent and dependable. Since I like to dine early on weekends, I have no problem getting seated; however when I leave I’ve noticed there is always a group waiting to take my table. This is a popular place to eat! When you are seated, you are presented with the wine list, the adult beverage list and the daily specials. The daily specials include two appetizers and a number of main course dishes (usually a meat and fish dish at a minimum) all priced consistent with the standard menu. The menu begins with the “starters”: a daily soup and Chicken Pasta Soup ($6), Smoked Salmon Dip ($12) and Emerald Coast Shrimp ($14). I have had the pasta soup and shrimp, and they are very tasty. From the starters, you move to the salads. The salad portion of the menu is robust as many people visit the restaurant for the delicious salads. They include Alex’s Salad with bacon, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons ($11), Grilled Chicken Salad - feta cheese,

WILTON MANORS

6/26 The Book of Liz

BY PATRICK ROBERT

Thinking Cap Theatre presents this outrageous play written by Strangers with Candy star Amy Sedaris and her brother, LGBT icon and author David Sedaris. Sister Elizabeth Donderstock sustains an entire religious community through her smoky cheese balls. When she flees the brethren for the outside world, the community must find a way to duplicate her recipe or never eat delicious cheeseballs again. Meanwhile, Elizabeth must find a way to control her sweating problem in order to move up in the “real” world. This irreverent romp will be performed at The Vanguard. 8:00 p.m. The Vanguard. 1501 S. Andrews Ave. Fort Lauderdale. 33316.

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THE WEEK

DINING

olives, tomatoes with champagne vinaigrette ($15), the Shrimp Louie Salad - baby Maine shrimp, avocado and diced tomatoes finished with Kiawah island dressing, and an Asian Ahi Tuna Salad - seared rare, with field greens, wasabi in a cilantro vinaigrette ($18). You have your choice of in-house made salad dressings: Honey Dijon, Creamy Bleu Cheese, Classic Ranch, Kiawah Island, Champagne Vinaigrette, and Cilantro Vinaigrette. These salads truly make a wonderful meal. If you are looking for a little more than a salad, they offer burgers, sandwiches and small plates. Included in this section of the menu is the French Dip – sliced prime rib on a baguette with dipping sauce and a side of fries ($19). I have had this particular meal an untold number of times and it never fails to impress. From here, you move to the “entrees” where all the steaks are finished with maître d’butter and are grilled over a hardwood fire. My favorite here is the slow roasted Prime Rib – aged mid-western beef and I get it with Mac’n’Cheese ($26). Simply delicious. Other favorites include the Grilled Pork Tenderloin - cured in house with thai “bang bang” sauce and Smashed Potatoes ($23) and the Barbecue Danish Baby Back Ribs served with plum creek BBQ sauce, French fries and cole slaw ($26). I always finish off with a Double Espresso ($2) and one of their delicious deserts--either Carrot Cake ($7), Very Best Chocolate Cake ($8), or Key Lime Pie ($8). Simple, dependable and always pleasing, J. Alexander’s should be part of your dining rotation. J. ALEXANDER’S 8550 W BROWARD BLVD PLANTATION, FL 33324 954-916-8837 J. ALEXANDER’S 2415 N FEDERAL HWY FT LAUDERDALE, FL 33305 954-563-9077

6/27 Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida

Special guest Ann Hampton Callaway joins the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida for their tribute to Broadway, Street of Dreams. For one night only, the popular collection of 130 singers will perform some of the Great White Way’s most famous songs. Ann Callaway will add to the night’s entertainment; the Tony nominee, Platinum Award winning songwriter, and Theater World Award winner is a noted jazz/cabaret diva, known for performing standards from the American songbook and from her own solo albums. 8:00 p.m. Broward College Bailey Hall. 3501 Davie Rd. Davie. 33314.

7/01 Moonlight Walks

Sea

Turtle

This summer, Wednesday evening are for sea turtle discovery as the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science presents Moonlight Sea Turtle Walks. The adventure begins at the museum with an informative hands-on session about turtles, including a meet and greet with the museum’s ambassador loggerhead sea turtle. Then, participants ride to Fort Lauderdale Beach, search up and down the beach for turtle nesting grounds. Guests should be prepared to walk one to two miles and arrange for their own transportation to the beach. 9:00 p.m. Museum of Discovery and Science. 401 SW Second St. Fort Lauderdale. 33312.

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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

June 24, 2015

1) ALIBI 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

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THE WEEK

TAMPA/ST.PETE

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BY PATRICK ROBERT

6/26 27/82: The Concert

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This fundraising concert, presented by St. Pete Pride and Sarasota Pride, will be more unique than ever as it features The Glee Project contestant and eventual Glee cast member Alex Newell. The outdoor concert begins with sets from a mix of various bands and local singers as new eatery and brewing company Urban Comfort offers up their own comfort food. Proceeds from the event will go to the St. Pete Pride Community Grants Program. 7:00 p.m. 26th St. and Central Ave. St. Petersburg. 33701.

6/27 St. Pete Pride Parade The Tampa Bay area’s LGBT Pride Parade draws more than 200,000 people in total, making it one of Florida’s largest parades. Held within the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood and Grand Central District, the event features more than 150 organizations and businesses supporting the Tampa Bay LGBT community. Mayor Rick Kriseman and Assistant Chief Bevan will lead the 13th annual parade as Honorary Grand Marshals. 5:00 p.m. Central Ave. 22nd St. - 27th St. St. Petersburg. 33701.

6/30 Jaws The Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation

ERE

NCE ONE

LIF

E A T

June 24, 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

Steven Spielberg’s original summer blockbuster is just as terrifying today as it was forty years ago. A recent escalation in shark attacks both in Florida and in North Carolina add relevant dimensions to this tale of a police chief’s fight to save fictional summer resort town Amity Island from the jaws of a man-eating great white shark. Green Bench Brewing Company will screen the film outdoors in the beer garden. 8:20 p.m. Green Bench Brewing Company. 1133 First Ave. N. St. Petersburg. 33705.

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P UZ Z LE He Could Do the Math

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Across

47 Bean of Desperate Housewives 49 Mathematician who died May 23, 2015 54 “The Great Masturbator” painter 57 Winetaster’s guess 58 Larry Kramer’s alma mater 62 Where to find hot buns 63 ___ Springs 64 Bearing 65 Get off the breast 66 Cockpit predictions 67 Barry Humphries’ Dame Down

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

1 All worked up 2 Lincoln-Douglas event 3 Like washed out Mapplethorpe pix 4 Cruising locale 5 Stuff in the closet 6 Jack-tar 7 One way to shrink 8 Shuts out, in slang 9 It swallows plastic 10 Liberace’s rock group? 11 Ascended 12 Info for waiters 17 Where to find Trojans 18 Some O.C.S. grads 26 Hard top 28 Some sex-toy batteries 30 Result of breeder activity 31 Belief summaries for Troy Perry

32 Terse oral response 33 Constellation over Sydney 34 One of a wheel’s nuts 35 Fairy tale threesome member 36 Tongue ending 37 Peter by the piano 38 Posed for Catherine Opie 41 White as a ghost 46 Magic lamp figure 48 Feature Langston Hughes’ work 50 Promo overkill 51 Straight, at the bar 52 Heterosexual female in The Lion King 53 Prepares to shoot off 54 Average name 55 Caesar’s salutation 56 DeLaria of Orange Is the New Black 59 Lend a hand to 60 Deighton of spy thrillers 61 Old Spanish queen

June 24, 2015

1 Vows now legal for gays in Ireland 5 Label on a lemon that isn’t a fruit 9 Movie about a CIA rescue mission 13 Campbell of The Company 14 Vehicle with treads 15 Norse thunder deity 16 2001 movie about 49-Across 19 4, often, to Sheehan 20 Like Jay’s Bob 21 Born in Boulogne 22 Hot time for Bonheur 23 Talks like Harvey Fierstein 24 NATO turf 25 Send a message to 27 Screws up 28 Biters of Caesar’s girlfriend 29 Mystery story pioneer 31 Roof animal of Tennessee 32 “I felt that my work would be better respected if I thought and acted like a ___” (quote of 49-Across) 38 Plea at sea 39 Fruit flaw 40 Just out 42 Very hairy swinger 43 Alger’s “___ Dick” 44 The Gay ‘90s, for one 45 Bear type

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30 June 24, 2015

k o o L T U O

STONEWALL STREET FESTIVAL & PARADE

PHOTOS BY COCO ALARCON

BY D’ANNE WITOWSKI

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Photo by virtueonline.org

The pledge is like a look back in time, really; a sort of hate-filled time capsule. Only some Republicans who are running for president in 2016, not 2005, will probably sign it. Or else, warns NOM President Brian Brown. “Our hope is that as many candidates as possible sign, but at the end of the day what we want is a champion for marriage, someone who will stand up and do what is necessary to protect it,” Brown told CNN. “So whether we end up having four candidates or 15 we are going to support the candidates that stand up and sign the pledge.” The GOP field is full of loons who are more than happy to make hurting LGBT people part of their platform. According to Think Progress, Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, and Marco Rubio have at some point said that they’re cool with a Federal Marriage Amendment. Never mind that the issue makes most Americans yawn at this point. “Republicans need to not just give lip service to marriage,” Brown told CNN. “By signing the pledge, they are committing to concrete steps to protect marriage.” By signing the pledge they’re actually making clear how desperate they are for support from the far-right fringe and how out of touch they are with the majority of the country. So, you know, good luck with that.

June 24, 2015

h, NOM. NOM, NOM, NOM. You are so freaked out right now. And if you weren’t so hateful, I might actually feel some compassion for you. Though probably not. Because you are terrible in every way. I’ve made NOM my Creep of the Week many times over the years. And some of you may be thinking, “Come on. It’s just too easy. Like shooting fish in a barrel.” But I would never shoot fish. For one thing, I do not eat fish and wish them no harm. For another, even if I did eat fish, shooting them seems like a really ineffective way to procure dinner. And another thing: how did they get into that barrel? There are just so many questions. NOM is frequently called out in this column not just because it is easy for me, but because they have become a sort of clearing house for creeps. You would think, too, that no politician or public figure in their right mind would board NOM’s sinking ship, what with polls showing a majority support for marriage equality in this country. Not to mention the expected Supreme Court ruling in favor of equality that’s supposed to come any day now. But NOM is hard at work trying to wrangle Republican candidates for president to sign an “I Promise to Hate the Gays and Make their Lives Hell” pledge. It’s a five-point pledge, as Think Progress reports. First, candidates have to support a constitutional amendment damning marriage equality and promise to appoint anti-gay judges to thwart whatever pro-gay thing the Supreme Court may do. They also have to trash all the LGBT protections that pesky Obama put in place. Candidates have to be totally gay for a “religious freedom” bill that would allow anti-gay discrimination in the name of Jesus. And the Justice Department would need to stop looking into “anti-LGBT discrimination” (as if that’s a thing) and focus on the much more pressing issue of flower shops being forced to make bouquets for dykes.

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National Organization for Marriage

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CREEP OF THE WEEK

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THE WEEK

for Def Leppard, Styx performs as the headliner tonight at the Florida Theatre. Styx’s fame peaked in the mid-70s until the early 80s when their BY PATRICK ROBERT mix of pop rock, hard rock, and musical theatre produced a slew of hits. Some of their most popular songs include “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” and the immortal “Mr. Roboto.” 8:00 p.m. Florida Theatre. 128 E. Forsyth The fantastical world of Dr. Seuss St. Jacksonville. 32202. books is reimagined in this colorful and family-friendly musical. Based on such classic children’s books as Horton Hears a Who!, Horton Hatches the Egg, and Miss Gertrude McFuzz, the musical originally debuted on Broadway in 2000 but Canada’s best-selling recording has become a favorite of touring artist has sold over 100 million companies and regional theater. records in nearly forty years of Seussical will continue its run at show business. His greatest triumph the Alhambra Dinner Theatre until was in 1991 when he wrote a song early August. 7:30 p.m. Alhambra for the film Robin Hood: Prince of Dinner Theatre. 12000 Beach Blvd. Thieves. “(Everything I Do) I Do It for Jacksonville. 32246. You” ruled the airwaves throughout the world, reaching the top of the charts in the US, France, Germany, Australia, and the UK, where it spent a record-breaking sixteen weeks at number one. 8:00 p.m. Saint Fresh from their tour opening Augustine Amphitheatre. 1340 A1A South St. Saint Augustine. 32080.

JACKSONVILLE 6/25 Seussical the Musical

June 24, 2015

6/28 Bryan Adams

6/26 Styx

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ACCOUNTING

AUTO Vista Motors BMW 744 N Federal Hwy Pompano Beach, FL 855-793-7093 / vistabmw.com

ATTORNEYS Michael D. Becker Attorney at Law 201 NE 2nd Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-727-5067 / becker-lawyer.com Law Offices of George Castrataro 707 NE 3rd Avenue, Suite 300 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-573-1444 / lawgc.com Law Offices of Phillip Menditto 524 S Andrews Avenue, Suite 200 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-641-9100 / phillipmenditto.com Law Offices of Caro Kinsella 20801 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 403 Miami, FL 33180 954-304-2243 / immigrationlawyerfl.com Dean Trantalis Attorney 2255 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-2226 / trantalislaw.com

CHURCH / SPIRITUAL Center for Spiritual Living 1550 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-2868 / cslftl.com Holy Angels Catholic Community 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33334 954-633-2987 / holyangelsfl.org

EVENTS I DO Custom Events PO Box 2357 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-626-0131 / idocustomevents.com Source Events 605 Lincoln Road, #410 Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-9779 / sourceevents.com

FITNESS Pumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Inc Tom Bonanti 1271 NE 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-557-1119 / pumpnincgym.com

FINANCIAL Las Olas Financial Group 3000 NE 30th Place, Suite 206 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 844-779-7936 / lasolasfinancialgroup.com

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

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

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

PROMOTIONALS

Dr. Daniel Man 851 Meadows Rd, Belle Terre Building Boca Raton, FL 33486 888-822-7543 / drman.com Take Shape Plastic Surgery, P.A. 4161 NW 5th St, Suite 100, Plantation, FL 33317 954-585-3800 / takeshape.info

SPA / MASSAGE

HEALTH / MEDICAL Genesis Health Institute 1001 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-561-3175 / ghinstitute.com Better Hearing-World of Sounds 2450 E Commercial Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 954-491-2560 betterhearingworldofsounds.com

PLASTIC SURGERY

Tom Marten, 5Points Massage 2413 NE 11th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-295-7041 / 5pointsmassage.com

UPHOLSTERY REAL ESTATE

PHP HMO SNP 888-456-4715 positivehealthcare.net

Galleria International Realty 945 Las Olas Boulvard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-234-8759 / galleriarealtors.com

Ocean Therapy Center 2530 NE 15th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-351-2299 oceantherapycenter.com

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

Gold Coast Upholstery 978 W Prospect Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 954-491-4937

Get listed for only $99 a month.

Contact Mark Robinson, Account Executive 954-232-6584 / markrobinson@mmplgbt.com

The Parish of St Francis & Clare 101 NE 3rd Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-731-8173 / stsfrancisandclare.org

Wilton Manors Dental 2517 N.E. 9th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-564-4746 / wiltonmanorsdental.com

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

June 24, 2015

Etz Chaim 1501 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-564-9232 / etzchaimflorida.org

Bove Dental 2500 E Oakland Park Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954-564-0181 / bovedentistry.com

INSURANCE

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

DENTAL

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Business Directory

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The Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation

ERE

NCE ONE LIF

June 24, 2015

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

2435 North Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305

BRIANNEALFITNESS.ORG

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June 24, 2015

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THE WEEK

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MIAMI/ MIAMI BEACH 6/26 Florida Supercon

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BY PATRICK ROBERT

Miami’s version of Comic Con is now celebrating ten years of its comic book, anime, animation, video game, fantasy, sci-fi, and pop culture convention. This year’s event includes a wide array of celebrity appearances, including Kevin Smith and many stars from his hit films Clerks and Chasing Amy (Jason Mewes, Brian O’Halloran, Marilyn Ghigliotti, and Joey Lauren Adams). Other celebrities expected to attend include Guardians of the Galaxy’s Karen Gillan, Arrow’s Matt Nable, and Scooby Doo. 10:00 a.m. Miami Beach Convention Center. 1901 Convention Center Dr. Miami Beach. 33139.

MIAMI 1) CLUB AZUCAR 2301 SW 32nd Ave

6) EROS LOUNGE 8201 Biscayne Blvd

Lindsey Alley

2) CLUB BOI 1060 NE 79th St

7) FLOPPY ROOSTER 7018 NW 72nd Ave

3) CLUB SPACE 34 N.E. 11th Street

8) HOUSE 1915 NW Miami CT

4) DISCOTEKKA | MEKKA MIAMI 950 NE 2nd Ave

9) JAMBOREE 7005 Biscayne Blvd

Former Mouseketeer Lindsey Alley has translated her childhood television success to a career on Broadway and on film. She performed her one-woman show Look Ma…No Ears in 2006 and has had credits in such popular shows as Paper Moon, Legally Blonde, Proof, and The Angle of the Sun. Tonight’s Blood, Sweat, and Mouseketears cabaret show is a critically-acclaimed celebration (and satire) of the Disney songbook. 8:00 p.m. The Cabaret South Beach. 233 12th St. Miami Beach. 33139.

5) DUGOUT SPORTS BAR 3215 NE 2nd Ave

MIAMI BEACH

11) CLUB AZUCAR 2301 SW 32nd Ave

12) CAMEO 1445 Washington Ave

16) SCORE 1437 Washington Ave.

13) KILL YOUR IDOL 222 Espanola way

17) THE CABARET 233 12th St

14) MANSION NIGHTCLUB 1235 Washington Ave

18) TWIST 1057 Washington Ave

15) PALACE BAR 1200 Ocean Dr

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10) MAGNUM LOUNGE 709 NE 79th St

19) HOTEL GAYTHERING 1409 Lincoln Road

6/27 Carlos Mencia Honduran-born comedian Carlos Mencia tackles topics as diverse as everyday hypocrisies, absurdities, ethnic stereotypes, race relations, immigration, war, patriotism, capitalism, pop culture, current events, and family. Carlos is best known for his well-received Comedy Central show, Mind of Mencia, and has maintained a successful career as a comedian over the past decade, continuing tonight at Magic City Casino. 8:00 p.m. Magic City Casino. 450 NW 37th Ave. Miami. 33125.

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June 24, 2015

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PERSONAL GROOMING

SUPPLIES AVAILABLE AT LEATHERWERKS

Beard Oils, Mustache Wax and Leather Body Wash

1226 NE 4TH AVE FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304 954.761.1236

LEATHERWERKS.COM

June 24, 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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FITNESS

makes it tougher. After your lunges, try doing Donkey Kicks for that extra butt burn. Simply lean over a flat weight bench, kind of straddle it and hold on with both hands as you balance on one foot. Now kick out and up and as hard as you can with your free leg. Alternate legs and do 5 or 6 sets of twenty reps. Another great glute buster is the Wide-Stance Squat. Stand erect, holding a barbell positioned on the back of your shoulders. Assume a stance with your feet spread wide apart and your toes pointed outward. Now squat down until your upper legs are parallel to the floor. As you descend keep your chest elevated, shoulders back and abdominals tight. Push back to standing position immediately upon hitting the low point, pausing when you reach the top to consciously squeeze the glutes one to two seconds. Perform three sets of 10 – 12 reps. Here’s a butt shaper that will challenge you aerobically as well. Find an area that is flat and uncluttered like an aerobics room or even your front lawn. Stand erect, hands at your sides, now squat down as low as you can and with all of your might jump up as high as you can to the front. Immediately as you come down, squat down once again and jump as high as you can and return to your original stance. Go back and forth like this for 3 sets of fifteen reps.

June 24, 2015

For more tips on how to work that butt, contact Tom Bonanti in Ft Lauderdale at TrainerTomB@ aol.com . Take a gander at my gym www.pumpnincgym.com or call me at 954 557 1119 to set up a free consultation or book a massage!

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or the past few weeks, I’ve tried to present some challenging workout routines for the various muscle groups of the body. This week, I’d like to bring up the rear by giving a few tips on how to get that porn star booty! The muscles that comprise your derriere are the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus. The glutes are among the strongest musculature of the body. They assist you in standing, walking, climbing stairs and getting up from a seated position. Regular cardio like stair stepping and running will give you a strong, tight butt, but weight training will insure you the bubble butt of a porn star. Here are some exercises to get going! For building glutes you must do Lunges. I prefer step-up lunges. Stand facing an aerobic step or stair of about mid shin height or a little higher. Your feet should be a long stride away from the stair or step. Begin by taking an exaggerated step forward with your right leg, stepping with your foot onto the stair or platform. Bend the forward knee in line with the floor, but keep your rear leg as straight as possible as you drop it down to stretch the glutes. Push back off the front foot (the front leg does all the work; the back leg merely helps your balance) and return to the starting position. Now step forward with your left leg onto the platform and repeat the exercise. Alternate legs and do 12-15 reps of two to three sets per leg. You can do Walking Lunges using the same exaggerated lunge movement if you have the space in the gym or if you have access to a parking lot or track by your home. Holding a dumbbell in each hand as you lunge adds resistance to the exercise and

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Bringing Up The Rear: Getting Great Glutes

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By Tom Bonanti

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THE WEEK

ORLANDO

BY PATRICK ROBERT

06/25 Ain’t Misbehavin’ Ain’t Misbehavin’ celebrates the black musicians of the Harlem Renaissance, when the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom were filled with high society and swing music. The title derives from the 1929 Fats Waller song, and the musical presents life as Waller viewed it: a pleasurable journey full of fun, playfulness, and song. 7:30 p.m. The Harriett Theatre. 54 W. Church St. Orlando. 32801.

6/26 The Flick Annie Baker’s winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama takes place in a run-down movie theater in central Massachusetts where three underpaid employees work one of the last 35 millimeter film projectors in the state. Their heartbreaks and mini victories mirror the second-run movies and empty aisles surrounding their lives. 7:30 p.m. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. 445 S. Magnolia Ave. Orlando. 32801.

June 24, 2015

6/27 Dinner with Friends Tom and Beth’s divorce irrevocably rocks the world of their best friends, Gabe and Karen. For many years, and at different stages of their lives, Gabe and Karen continually question their own marriage and the meaning of their friendships with Tom and Beth. Although a seeming riff on Woody Allen’s Husbands and Wives, Donald Margulies’ Dinner with Friends is a critically acclaimed masterpiece, having received the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 8:00 p.m. The Zehngebot-Stonerock Theatre. 54 W. Church St. Orlando. 32801.

SCREEN SAVOR

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Inside And Out

(Courtesy of facebook)

Downtown 81 (Courtesy of usatoday.com)

his mark. His first post-hospital encounter is with model Beatrice (Anna Shroeder) in her vintage convertible, who offers to take care of him for the rest of his life. It’s an offer that’s too good to be true and one he desperately needs. His unpaid rent ($422.60) is cause for eviction by his East Village slumlord. With a paper shopping bag containing his belongings in one hand and a painting under his arm, Jean wanders through the war zone of the East Village of the early 1980s, crossing paths with drug dealers, musicians hawking their shows, hookers and hoodlums. These im-

art scene of the time. You’ll see Cookie Mueller (as a go-go dancer), gay musician Kristian Hoffman (as an A&R man), screenwriter O’Brien (as a rock critic), musician and actress Eszter Balint (as a fashion model), nightlife goddess Diane Brill (as a club announcer), writer Victor Bockris and musician Tav Falco (as Mudd Club patrons), and the ultimate – Deborah Harry as a “bag lady/princess.” The second DVD of the Downtown 81 set includes more than two hours of bonus material, including interviews, commentary, a photo gallery and more rare extras

in the form of Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), Fear (voiced by Bill Hader), Anger (voiced by Lewis Black) and Disgust (voiced by Mindy Kailing). If this sounds high-concept, it is. But what makes it so universal is that each character’s emotional representative (perhaps, with the exception of disgust) is so spot on, you can almost imagine them inside your own head. When Joy and Sadness are displaced, far from headquarters (Get it? Headquarters.), their journey takes them far and wide and unites them with Riley’s imaginary childhood friend Bing Bong (Richard Kind), on a mission to save Riley, her memories and her future. A pure delight, from start to finish, Inside Out isn’t afraid to make you cry. Still the laughs are abundant and frequent and you might even learn something while you’re at it. Also, keep a queer eye out for the bear in the “I (Heart) SF” t-shirt. Lava, the animated short that precedes Inside Out, sets Hawaiian volcano formation mythology to music.

June 24, 2015

olorful, inventive and ambitious, Inside Out (Disney/Pixar) is two wonderful animated movies in one. The first, exterior movie is about adolescent hockey player Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias), who is uprooted from Minnesota to San Francisco, with her folks for her dad’s (voiced by Kyle McLachlan) new business venture. She’s sad about leaving her best friend, her classmates, her hockey team and the lake she likes to skate on behind her. But she knows her mom (voiced by Diane Lane) and her dad wouldn’t steer her wrong, so she puts on a happy face and makes the best of the situation. Pretty soon, it’s obvious things are not going to go well or as planned. From the crummy new house to the missing moving van to the first day in a new school, the odds are suddenly stacked against poor Riley. Plus, being an 11-year-old girl isn’t easy, even in the best of times. The other, interior movie is set within Riley (as well as her parents) where her emotions and memories are anthropomorphized

ages of the neighborhood are like smudged Polaroids of the past, arty artifacts of a bygone era. As Jean says, “If you want to see the world, just walk a couple of blocks.” Music plays an essential role in Downtown 81 and features appearances by rapper Fred Braithwaite (aka Fab Five Freddy of Blondie’s “Rapture” renown), Tuxedomoon, DNA (featuring Arto Lindsay), Japanese punk band The Plastics, future hit-makers Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Coati Mundi and James White and the Blacks, and Walter Steding. The period commentary about the struggles of being a musician, including abuse from club owners and record label suits is the stuff of legends. The rest of the cast is a veritable who’s who of the downtown NYC

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he late queer neoexpressionist painter and musician Jean Michel Basquiat stars in Downtown 81 (Music Box Films/Submarine Deluxe), digitally remastered in a double DVD 30th anniversary edition. Written by Warhol crony Glenn O’Brien and directed by Edo Bertoglio, Downtown 81 is a dramatized depiction of “a single day in the life of a young artist,” following his release from the hospital. It’s not about Basquiat per se, but it may as well be. As Jean (Basquiat) puts it, New York was his kind of town; “If you can make it there, you can sell people your unwanted hair.” Walking down the street, clarinet in one hand and can of spray paint in the other, Jean makes

Inside Out

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BY GREGG SHAPIRO

June 24, 2015

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June 24, 2015