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“THIS ART IS SO GAY” A visual art exhibition at the Miami Beach LGBT Visitor Center will be held on Nov. 5, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s LGBT scholarship program. Courtesy, Richard Murray Agency
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JAY BRANNAN LIVE Tickets are still available for Jay Brannan’s live show at The Social in Orlando on Monday, Nov. 7 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. This event is for 18 and over only.
By BOB KECSKEMETY Axel Axgil, the last half of the world’s first registered gay couple, died last Saturday, October 29 at the age 96 from complications from a fall. Axel Axgil and Eigil Axgil were Danish gay activists and a longtime couple. They were the first gay couple to enter into a registered partnership anywhere in the world following Denmark’s legalization of same-sex partnership registration in 1989, a landmark legislation they were instrumental in passing. They adopted the shared surname, Axgil, a combination of their given names. They chose this combination of their given names as an expression of their commitment after they met in the 1940s. Axel (born Axel Lundahl-Madsen) and Eigil (born Eigil Eskildsen), inspired by the 1948 United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights along with several friends, founded F-48 or Forbundet af 1948 (The Association of Photo courtesy, LinkedIn
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MISS FLAMINGO PAGEANT On Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg. Categories include: evening gown, talent, swimsuit & creative in pink competitions!
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Axel Axgil 1915 - 2011 ‘AXEL AXGIL’ continues on Page 7
US Airways Flight Attendant Found Murdered in Mexico City Suspect with Criminal Record Detained By JAMES MICHAELS
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1948), Europe’s first gay rights organization. By 1951, F-48’s membership had grown to 1,339 and there were branches in Sweden and Norway. In 1985, F-48 became the Danish National Association of Gays and Lesbians. The couple launched a magazine, Vennen (The Friend). Axel’s sexuality gave him problems in his home town of Aalborg, where he was expelled from membership of the Justice Foundation, lost his job and was banished from the boarding house where he lived and ate, according to journalist Bjarne Henry Lundis who wrote a biography about Axgil. At that time, Danish police would hunt for gay men. Together, they both saw their businesses destroyed. In 1950 Axel and Eigil owned a small publishing company, the International Modelfoto Service, which produced and discretely sold photos of nude men. The IMS was run from premises that also
Photo courtesy, Nikolai Linares/Getty Images
The Annual Las Vegasstyle cabaret, along with the 2011 Miss LadyBoy USA Pageant will be held at the Sunshine Cathedral, on Monday, Nov. 7. Doors open at 7 p.m. for this legendary Asian entertainment, Bazaii!
LGBT Rights Pioneer, Axel Axgil Dies
Nick Aaronson, a U.S. Airways flight attendant based in Phoenix, Ariz., was found murdered in a Hilton hotel room while on layover in Mexico City.
A suspect has been arrested in the strangulation murder of a gay U.S. Airways flight attendant found murdered last weekend in Mexico City. Jose Luis Lira Cuellar, 20, who goes by the nickname “The Shadow,” has been arrested in connection with the murder of U.S. Airways flight attendant Nick Aaronson, 27. Cuellar also went by the name Jose Manuel Ramirez Aaronson, who was based in Phoenix, Arizona, was to spend the night in Mexico City and would work the return flight to Phoenix the following day. It is believed that the two met at a Mexico City bar and both of the men went back to the hotel. The pair was seen together on hotel surveillance. The Mexican newspaper, Examiner, added that the surveillance footage shows
the two men were stopped by hotel security upon entering the hotel. Being assured by the victim that the man was a friend, hotel personnel then requested the additional guest be registered. Cuellar was later apprehended by local authorities near the Cinema Club, a nearby gay bar where the suspect first met the victim, although he had shaved his head to change his appearance. Handwriting analysis later confirmed the identity of Cuellar as being the man who appeared in the footage. Aaronson was found dead in his Mexico City hotel room early Saturday morning. A Mexico City prosecutor said the motive was robbery and that the suspect had a previous criminal record for robbery and ‘FLIGHT ATTENDANT’ continues on Page 15
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Baptists End Relationship with UCC Church GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Baptist Convention has ended their 28year relationship with the UCC’s United Church of Gainesville. The UCC had been using the Baptist’s Lake Yale Baptist Assembly Ground for their annual retreat. Last June, the UCC received a letter from the Baptist council telling them they were no longer welcome at Lake Yale. The letter claimed that during last year’s retreat, members of the Lake Yale staff noticed several of the UCC staff wearing ONA (abbreviation for “Open and Affirming”) t-shirts and the UCC was told they were “promoting homosexuality.” According to a spokesperson for the Florida Baptist Convention, the retreat center has a long-standing policy that groups that use their facility must be in conformity with the Baptist’s biblical faith. He went further to say that the Baptists were unaware for the past 28 years of the UCC’s perspective on homosexuality. H
“Bazaii!” Cabaret Comes to the Sunshine Cathedral FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – The annual Las Vegas-style cabaret, “Bazaii!” along with the 2011 Miss LadyBoy USA Pageant will be held at the Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW 9th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, November 7. Doors open at 7 p.m. “Bazaii!” is the creation of Dawn Scott, who reinvents, yet preserves, the world of this legendary Asian entertainment. “Bazaii!” contains traditional Asian entertainment styles featuring breathtaking costumes, plus American show tunes and popular music and Latin numbers. For more information about this great production, visit www.gonebydawnproductions.com, or call 954-524-4118. H
Log Cabin Republicans offer Educational Session on HOA and Condos WILTON MANORS, FL – The Broward Log Cabin Republican Club of Florida has arranged for a social and educational gathering of its Florida Gold Coast members and friends who are concerned about the numerous changes being made which deal with legislation addressing Condos and Home Owner Associations (HOA). “Living in a condo we often get taken back not only by the rules and regulations but by the horror stories we hear and read about regarding the alleged unprofessionalism in dealing with such organizations and their responsibilities to the owners and the public,” noted Jack Majeske, the club’s Vice President. He continued, “With this educational and social outreach effort, we wanted the program to be more than just ‘politics as usual’ and offer the community a degree of insight into an area that focuses on the growing public frustration and confusion within the diverse Condo and HOA real estate market.”
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The event will be held at the offices of Atlantic Properties, 2039 Wilton Drive, in Wilton Manors. Coffee and cake will be served at 6:30 p.m., Florida State Representative George Moraitis will speak at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to address the issues. For information about the event, please e-mail jackmajeske@aol.com or call Mrs. Sandra Steen at 954-566-4165. H
Equality Florida Recognizes Broward County Heroes FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – Teri Williams and Michael Rajner will be receiving Equality Florida’s “Voices of Equality” Awards on November 13 at the Equality Florida Broward Gala. Teri Williams is the point person on LGBT issues within the Broward County School District. Teri co-founded the Safe to be Me Coalition, a collaboration of nonprofits and the school district working together to support LGBT youth and their allies coming together to create safe spaces in the school environment. She was also largely responsible for helping to make Equality Florida’s GSA Leadership Institute an officially-recognized school event, leading to a more than 100 percent increase in participation among Broward Gay-Straight Alliances. Michael Emanuel Rajner, is a fearless and passionate advocate for LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities. Michael serves as legislative director of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus. He previously served on Broward County School Board’s Diversity Committee and played a central role in securing LGBT protections including adding gender identity to the district’s non-discrimination policy. Rajner is a representative on the Florida Department of Health’s Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Formulary Advisory Workgroup and also serves on the Broward Sheriff's Council for Diversity and Equal Opportunity and efforts to advocate for individuals in relation to HIV-criminalization. The 2011 Equality Florida Broward Gala will take place at the Museum of Art / Ft. Lauderdale, 1 E Las Olas Blvd. Tickets for this elegant cocktail reception are $125 and sponsorship opportunities begin at just $500. For more information, visit http://eqfl.org/miamigala/ or call Stratton Pollitzer at 954-682-6094. H
“This Art is So Gay” MIAMI BEACH, FL –Eleven local artists have been selected to participate in “This Art Is So Gay,” a visual art exhibition at the Miami Beach LGBT Visitor Center. The exhibition will kick off with an artists’ reception during Sleepless Night, November 5, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the artists in attendance and all art will be offered for sale with proceeds benefitting the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for its LGBT scholarship program. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public with the exhibition running through December 5 during Art Basel. The LGBT Visitor Center is located at 1130 Washington Ave., First Floor, Miami
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Beach. In addition to the visual art exhibition, the Sleepless Night kick-off reception will feature interactive “flash-mob” hurricane parties in celebration of “Captiva,” a new comedy that will be making its world premiere at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater. “Captiva,” from 2011 Carbonell Award recipient Christopher Demos-Brown, explores what happens when a family is stranded together on that western Florida island during a hurricane and they are forced to face each other with honesty and bottles of wine. H
“Walk a Mile in My Pradas” Premieres at Cinema Paradiso FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – A fantastic and fun holiday comedy will have its premier on Tuesday, November 8, at 9 p.m. at Cinema Paradiso (503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL). The film stars Nathaniel Marston, Tom Archdeacon, Tom Arnold, Mike Starr, Dee Wallace, Kirsten Lea, Rick Sudi Karatas, Lindsay Hollister, Darren Keefe, Tina Lynch, Bruce Vilanch, Chandler Lutz and Vincent De Paul. De Paul, who also co-produced the movie, was in the original “Hairspray.” He told the Florida Agenda, “I am delighted to be part of this movie.” The story provides a comedic and warm take on acceptance and understanding diversity. Tony Parisi (Nathaniel Marston) is a real man's man and all-around good guy. He works hard at his job. He's a loyal friend. And, he's devoted to his fiancé. He also happens to be completely, and utterly homophobic. Tony takes great pleasure in ridiculing his new, gay co-worker, Steve (Tom Archdeacon). That is until fate and a magic Christmas ornament step in to teach him a lesson. Two weeks before his wedding, Tony finds that he is suddenly gay, while Steve learns he has mysteriously turned straight. Now, truly a man's man, Tony must scramble to straighten out in time for his wedding. But, not before he walks a mile in Steve's shoes. “Walk A Mile In My Pradas” is a hilarious, yet heart-warming tale of understanding and growth. The screening is free and open to everyone. There will be a Q &A with producers, Vincent De Paul and Rick Karatas after the screening.
Women's Empowerment Luncheon: “Female Role Models for the 21st Century” CORAL GABLES, FL – MDGLCC's popular Women's Empowerment Luncheon series continues at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables on November 10. Special guest speaker, Ms. Vicki Brail, LCSW, will be speaking on “Female Role Models for the 21st Century.” Registration is at 11:30 a.m., lunch runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. A Q&A session will follow the sit-down luncheon. The cost of the luncheon is $40 for MDGLCC members, $50 for potential
members with $10 of that being applied to the new MDGLCC membership. RSVP is required at 305-673-4440 or by email at mdglcc@bellsouth.net CoSponsored by Aqua Foundation and National Center on Lesbian Rights. H
Denmark Moves towards Same-Sex Marriage COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – The Danish government plans to introduce a bill just after the New Year that will allow same-sex couples to hold weddings in the Church of Denmark and be married under Danish law. Same-sex couples are currently allowed to have registered partnerships, a civil status but are barred from marriage and church weddings. The first same-sex weddings could take place as early as spring 2012. Church officials are decrying the proposal that they say will spell the end for the Church of Denmark. H
WeHo Celebrates Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – The West Hollywood (CA) City Council voted unanimously to co-sponsor Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day throughout West Hollywood. The day was celebrated on Saturday, October 29, and was produced in conjunction with local businesses including the historic Santa Monica Boulevard and the world-famous Sunset Strip. In the mid-1960s and the 1970s, the Sunset Strip became a major center for the counterculture as go-go dancers did their thing at the Whisky and other clubs along the Strip. In 1968, the first Groovy Guy contest was started as a marketing tool for the then-newly formed The Advocate magazine and as a way to unite the Los Angeles gay community. By 1970, the contest had become so famous that The Advocate featured a Groovy Guy float in the first gay pride parade down Hollywood Boulevard and that summer’s contest was held at Ciro’s Restaurant (now The Comedy Store). The Groovy Guy contest ran in one form or another through 1991. Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day consisted of the city working in conjunction with local businesses to stage an amateur go-go dancer competition on Larrabee Street north of Santa Monica Boulevard. Clubs along the Sunset Strip participated and businesses held special events and offerings. H
Church and the Popular Party filing a legal challenge to the law, Zapateero’s government legalized gay marriage. Representatives of the Popular Party have previously said the law is unconstitutional. Gay and lesbian couples in the country are taking the threat seriously. In the past several months, a sharp uptick in the number of couples marrying has been reported in the Spanish press. H
Boy Not Permitted to Join the Girl Scouts DENVER, CO – According to KUSA-TV news, 7-year old Bobby Montoya has been denied membership in the local chapter of the Girl Scouts of Colorado. “Bobby identifies as a girl, and he’s a boy,” Felisha Archuleta, Bobby’s mother told KUSA. “He's been doing this since he was about two-years old. He’s loved girl stuff so we just let him dress how he wants, as long as he’s happy.” Montoya wanted to join along with his older sister but a troop leader told him he couldn’t join. Girl Scouts of Colorado released this statement to KUSA: “Girl Scouts is an inclusive organization and we accept all girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade as members. If a child identifies as a girl and the child’s family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout. Our requests for support of transgender kids have grown, and Girl Scouts of Colorado is working to best support these children, their families and the volunteers who serve them. In this case, an associate delivering our program was not aware of our approach. She contacted her supervisor, who immediately began working with the family to get the child involved and supported in Girl Scouts. We are accelerating our support systems and training so that we're better able to serve all girls, families and volunteers.” Corey Barrett with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Colorado says the Center is seeing young people exploring their gender identity at an earlier age. “There has definitely been this increase of questioning at an early age,” Barrett said, “I think it’s all about providing a healthy environment for them for that to happen. Everyone needs to be prepared or at least have an idea from a policy and procedural standpoint how they're going to address that. And make sure that the public is aware.” H
Elections Threaten to Undo Spain’s Gay Marriage Law
Tunisia: Dignity for Gays
MADRID, SPAIN – Upcoming elections in Spain could put an end to samesex marriage in the country if its conservative Popular Party wins a majority in Spain’s parliament. According to On Top Magazine, Spain’s Socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, which swept into office in 2004, looks to be on the outs. Polling shows the Popular Party with a 15-point lead over Socialists. Despite objections of the Catholic
TUNIS, TUNISIA – Tunisia, the first country to overthrow their government in this year’s “Arab Spring,” which subsequently has since spread through Egypt, Libya and Syria, has voted in a new Islamist Party announcing that it does not want to deprive any citizens of their individual freedoms. Think Progress reported that Islamist Party spokesman, Riad Chaibi said that in the new Tunisia “individual freedoms and human rights are enshrined principles” and that atheists and homosexuals are a
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reality in Tunisia and “have a right to exist.” According to Chaibi, in the case of homosexuals, there is also “a matter of dignity, because society sees them as undervalued.” Chaibi, spent five years in prison for his opposition to former dictator Ben Ali. Tunisia had a history of stigmatizing and punishing people who were gay. Chaibi also said that women will not be forced to wear veils and people will be allowed to drink alcohol, promising a coalition government approach that values freedom. H
Conan O’Brien to Marry Men NEW YORK, NY – New York Magazine reported that this week, Conan O’Brien will officiate at an on-air wedding between two men. O’Brien’s nightly TBS show is generally taped in Los Angeles but for one week will tape the show at New York’s Beacon Theater celebrating O’Brien’s one-year anniversary at TBS. Show sources are quick to caution that the potentially groundbreaking event is no mere publicity stunt and isn’t intended to make light of gay marriage. In fact, O'Brien will be marrying a longtime staffer and his partner. H
Brazil High Court Allows Gay Marriage BRASILIA, BRAZIL – Last week, by a 4-to-1 vote, Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld same-sex marriage saying that the country’s constitution “makes it possible for stable unions to become marriages.” The ruling came from a case of two women who had tried to wed in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. It also comes five months after Brazil’s highest court had approved civil unions for same-sex couples. Unlike in the United States, Brazilian state courts are not required to follow the same line as the county’s Supreme Court, the higher court’s ruling will play some role in discouraging Brazil’s states from blocking same-sex marriage. H
Cain Confirms He Supports Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment DES MOINES, IO – GOP Presidential hopeful and former pizza executive Herman Cain said in an interview for the Christian Broadcasting Network that he supports a constitutional amendment permitting marriage only between a man and a woman. Cain also said that he supports a pro-life amendment to the constitution. Cain made his statements on the CBN show, “Brody File.” Cain told host David Brody, “I think marriage should be protected at the federal level also. I used to believe that it could be just handled by the states, but there’s a movement going on to basically take the teeth out of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and that could cause an unraveling. So we do need some protection at the federal level because of that and so, yes, I would support legislation that would say that it’s between a man and a woman.” H Continues on NEWS on Page 6
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Gay Men Arrested After Appearing on Talk Show ACCRA, GHANA – Three men appeared on a Jerry Springer-type television talk show in Ghana to talk about their three-way gay romantic problems. However, the Ghanian police didn't look lightly at their appearance. According to GhanaWeb: The police, who were shocked at what transpired, quickly apprehended the three suspects without hesitation, as their several pleas to the senior police officers for pardon after their quarrels landed them in trouble. The suspects were Inusah Issifu, 27, a pork dealer, Samuel Lartey, a 19-year old student and Kingsley Quansah, a 25-yearold caterer. Two other persons also believed to be gay and connected to the arrested men are still on the run. H
Man to Serve 23 Years in Prison for Hate Crime SHREVEPORT, LA – William David Payne II was sentenced last week to 23 years in prison for a January attack on a man in a Shreveport nightclub. According to the Shreveport Times, Caddo District Court Judge Ramona Emanuel ordered Payne to serve 18 years for aggravated battery and the maximum of five years for a hate crime. She ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. Payne had entered a guilty plea to charges he attacked John Skaggs with a pool cue and was in court for a multiple offender hearing. Payne admitted to the multiple offender charge, a release from the court said. H
High School Gay Basher May Receive Harsher than Original Punishment CHILLICOTHE, OH – Originally a gay bashing incident earned a high school bully a three-day suspension. However, school officials have decided to revisit the case against the basher after a video of the offense went viral on the Internet. According to the Chillicothe Gazette, a student at Union-Scioto High School was brutally beaten by another student for being gay. Class members watched as the bully waited for the student to arrive in the classroom, grabbed him, pushed him to the ground and punched him in the face several times. The victim sustained dental damage and a concussion. While a potential criminal charge remains pending in the Union-Scioto High School fight, the school has reviewed the discipline it handed down after a cell phone video revealed new information. Union-Scioto Principal Jim Osborne said the discipline would have been reviewed sooner, but the mother of the student seen throwing punches in the video had taken the boy out-of-town because of the media attention. The story went viral because the victim’s mother, Rebecca Collins, thinks her son was targeted because he is gay. H
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Jamaica’s Sodomy Law Gets First Legal Challenge KINGSTON, JAMAICA – At a press conference last week, Jamaican attorney Maurice Tomlinson announced that the organization, AIDS-Free World, has presented the first-ever legal challenge to the country’s anti-gay laws. The group has submitted a petition at the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on behalf of two Jamaican gay men whose names are being withheld to protect their safety. Representing the petitioners will include pro-bono attorneys from the Law Center at Nova Southeastern University of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The petitioner’s argument in front of the IACHR will be that by criminalizing homosexuality, Jamaica is in violation of the international organization’s human rights laws of which Jamaica is a signatory. Although the Jamaican so-called “antisodomy law” is not enforced, the argument is that it nevertheless casts a destructive pall over the lives of gay Jamaicans. H
America’s First Lesbian High School Homecoming Couple Crowned SAN DIEGO, CA – Rebeca Arellano and Haileigh Adams at the Patrick Henry High School homecoming dance. The girls became the first lesbian couple to win homecoming king and queen in America. According to ABC News, Rebeca Arellano, a senior at Patrick Henry High School, was made the school’s first female homecoming king. Arellano’s girlfriend, Haileigh Adams, who also attends Patrick Henry High School, was made homecoming queen. The two girls told ABC News that they're thankful for the abundance of support they’ve received from family, friends, and students and staff at the school. Arellano said one of her teachers told her, “Today school is a bit better because of you girls.” Adams and Arellano both came out their freshman year of high school, and they began dating in February of their sophomore year. They say their parents were supportive both when they came out and when they started dating. H
Gillibrand to Lift Restriction on Homosexual Couples Who Want to Adopt WASHINGTON, D.C. – US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York announced that she would introduce a bill barring federally-funded foster care and child adoption agencies from discriminating against potential adoptive parents because of their sexual orientations or gender identities. Gillibrand will be the Senate sponsor of the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, backed in the House by California Democrat Pete Stark. The federal government invests some $8 billion in the child
welfare system annually, but Gillibrand doesn’t want that money ending up with adoption agencies and foster care entities that don’t consider LGBT parents as candidates to adopt. Five states prohibit same-sex couples from adopting children, and more than 20 others do not have legal guidelines addressing the issue. While New York does allow same-sex couples to adopt, Gillibrand said hundreds of thousands of children nationwide could be helped by this bill. H
Gay Troops File Suit Against DOMA BOSTON, MA – Gay and lesbian service members and veterans plan to file suit challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal ban on gay marriage and federal policy that define a spouse as a person of the opposite sex. The Washington Post reported that lawyers plan to sue in federal district court in Boston, the same court that ruled last year that DOMA is unconstitutional because it interferes with a state’s right to define marriage. That decision is being appealed in the US 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. The suit also challenges provisions of federal code regarding spouses that lawyers said bar gay couples from accessing benefits provided by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those benefits include military identification cards, access to bases, recreational programs, spousal support groups and burial rights at national cemeteries. H
ABSOLUT Celebrates 30 Years Supporting the LGBT Community STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – ABSOLUT, one of the world’s most iconic vodka brands, is celebrating 30 years of coming out in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community this fall in truly OUTrageous style – and EVERYONE is invited to join the celebration. To mark three decades of supporting the visionaries and artists of the LGBT community, ABSOLUT is throwing a year-long party in bars and clubs on the streets of the country’s gay epi-centers. ABSOLUT Vodka placed one of the first national ads in The Advocate in 1981 and has continually supported LGBT charities, bars and clubs, community centers, pride celebrations and media outlets ever since. This ongoing support has earned ABSOLUT widespread recognition as one of the most beloved and recognized brands in the community. Recently awarded the “In the Life Media Pioneer Award” for three decades of being a vanguard of diversity support and giving voice to a community that was historically ignored across media, the new OUTrageous campaign is the next step in the brand’s legendary celebration of the people, events and organizations that make the LGBT community so unique. ABSOLUT®, the world’s most iconic vodka, is celebrating 30 years of going out
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and coming out in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community this fall in truly OUTrageous style – and EVERYONE is invited to join the celebration. To mark three decades of supporting the visionaries and artists of the LGBT community, ABSOLUT is throwing a year-long party in bars and clubs on the streets of the country’s gay epi-centers. The party invitation comes in the form of a stunning new print ad from legendary photographer David LaChapelle and stars his muse, Amanda Lepore amid a visual cornucopia of iconic gay images. In true LaChapelle fashion, the OUTrageous vision draws viewers into to a menagerie of icons and symbols that is about life and cocktails…perfected. The vision encapsulates the celebratory hopefulness of the LGBT community, as well as the legendary men, women (and everything else in between!) that keep the party in the LGBT community going strong. More information about the year-long party that includes installations, parties, photo opportunities, and much more, visit www.absolut.com H
Arrests Made in Connection With Gay Assault RENO, TX – Reno Police Chief Jeff W. Sugg announced in a two-sentence statement this morning that Daniel Martin, 33, and James “Tray” Mitchell Laster III, 31, have been arrested in the violent beating of 26-year-old Burke Burnett. Friends of Burnett, the gay man, say the savage attack was a hate crime. Burnett , that in the early hours of Sunday morning he was stabbed at least twice with a broken beer bottle and thrown onto a fire at a private party by up to four men who yelled gay slurs during the attack. Burnett needed more than 30 stitches to close stab wounds to his back and forearm, as well as a cut above his left eye from being sucker-punched at the start of the attack. He also suffered second-degree burns from being thrown onto a lit burn barrel. Martin and Laster were arrested late Monday. Each is charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury – first-degree felonies punishable by anywhere between five to 99 years in prison., according to the detectives’ statement. Reno police spokeswoman Alicia Myrick said it will be up the Lamar County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the case is prosecuted as a hate crime. “That’s not our decision,” Myrick said. Under Texas law though, there is no penalty enhancement for a hate crime as the offense will be prosecuted as a firstdegree felony, meaning it is highly unlikely that prosecutors will pursue the matter. H
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housed Vennen. In March 1955, both were arrested and confined in isolation for 11 months then sentenced to 12 and 18 months of prison, respectively, for distribution of material which, “although not obscene may be deemed a commercial speculation with a sensual intent.” The police search of the premises of Vennen and the IMS, which led to the arrest of a large number of sexually active gay men and triggered the so-called Pornography Scandal. In 1954, the Axgils founded The International Homosexual World Organization (IHWO), which mainly worked through correspondence between individual members. Between 1968-69 the IHWO published the magazine UNI with articles in seven languages. In 1970, the IHWO successfully appealed to Willy Brandt, the German Federal Chancellor, to discontinue seizure by German authorities of pornographic material mailed from Denmark to individuals in Germany. The International Committee for Sexual Equality (ISCE) and the Danish and Dutch national organizations for homosexuals kept a certain distance from the IHWO, which ceased its activities in 1970. Both Axel and Eigil continued their activism and remained important figures in the gay rights movement. Later they started boarding at the Hotel Axelhuus at Ringsted, Copenhagen, a refuge for many gay men especially from Germany, Sweden and Norway. In 1989, after years of lobbying by the Axgils and other advocates, Denmark became the first nation in the world to recognize domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. On October 1, 1989, the Axgils and ten other Danish couples were married by the deputy mayor of Copenhagen, in the city hall, accompanied by worldwide media attention. This made the Axgils the first gay couple to enter into a registered partnership anywhere in the world. Denmark, which still recognizes registered partnerships, is expected to move to full marriage equality next year. Axel was described as a modest man who never cast himself as a lonely warrior and that he always underscored that there were many involved in the work and that it was a common cause. Axel was honored at the August 2009 World OutGames which were held in Copenhagen and was a speaker at the OutGames Conference on Human Rights. “You have to be impressed by the colossal enthusiasm Axel Axgil has shown throughout his entire life for helping other homosexuals. Regardless of how hard they were hit themselves, he and Eigil tirelessly worked on,” said LGBT Denmark spokeswoman Vivi Jelstrup said in a written statement. Axgil, she said, had lived “a long life focused on creating something for other homosexuals, regardless of the price.” Eigil Axgil died in 1995, while Axel Axgil continued his active work for gay people into the 2000s. The Axgils had been a couple for 40 years. H
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Bullying Just Has a Different Name and Queen. They thanked their friends and family for the outpouring of support. They are a success story. They clearly show that attitudes have changed. Not only were they accepted by their peers, they were celebrated in one of the most important right of passage for American teenagers. As more and more celebrities come out and more legislation is passed to give equal rights to gay people, America will see a decrease in bullying. How can you taunt someone for something that is normal? Not because you or I say it is, but because the government does. At the end of the day, the band geek will
dren in the US today who are part of an LGBT family. From birth, they will be taught wellrounded acceptance. They will not judge sexuality. That is not to say they won’t grow up to be band geeks, or dumb jocks. It does mean, however, that “sexual bullying” not only has the gay name, but will have a whole generation of people who not only understand what it means to be gay, but see absolutely no issue with it. Quite simply, it is their normality. I’m reminded of a “Will and Grace” episode where Jack’s son Elliot is embarrassed by him because he dances outrageously at his school dance and the girl Elliot likes comes up to him and tells him how good Jack is. His face changes slightly and says “maybe it’s because he is gay.” He says it in a frightened tone. The girl responds, “Oh one of my moms is gay. She is not a good dancer; she did build our house though.” It got the laughs, but it showed people, some five years ago, what it meant to be accepting. She sees no issue in the gay aspect or in the perceived stereotype. Jack and his son, Elliot, on Rather, it is her reality. This will the NBC hit, Will & Grace be seen more and more as the kids of LGBT families grow up. This is the stage we need to set where there is no room for a bully. get bullied, as will the figure skater, the People always say “Don’t give them the satblonde cheerleader, the dumb jock, the math isfaction of reacting.” I say, “React!” and science geeks, and of course all those in Explain that there is not only nothing the drama club. We have all seen our own wrong with being gay, but that kids today version of mean girls (or boys). But life does are armed with a host of icons – people who go on, and when kids go to college, they have have paved the way, changed the world, and the freedom to remove the shackles of who didn’t succumb to being called a taunts from school and move into adulthood “sissy,” or being imprisoned or being made proud of who they are and who they will to feel “less than.” As I said last week, those become. people--the activists, the fighters and the In order to encourage this, I feel we need “normal” families of the LGBT community to take the sting out of bullying. We all need are the heroes. They are showing the next to post, tweet, text, Facebook and upload generation that being gay isn’t something to videos saying it does get better. And not just be bullied for. It’s not something at all. It’s for gay teens, but for any child who is faced just normal life. H with taunting and verbal abuse. Another factor I believe that is shifting attitudes and will eventually help in changAlex Vaughn is the Editor-in-Chief of ing the attitudes of the next generation is the Florida Agenda. He can be reached the fact that there are over two million chilPhoto courtesy, NBC Broadcasting
Since the beginning of time, there has been bullying of some sort; childish nicknames through to genocide. Looking back through history, we see examples of bullying and of laissez-faire attitudes from people who could have stopped it. Unfortunately, that is the way the world has worked and will continue to. Wars, politics and even the workplace are comprised of the bullies and the bullied. It has been said that the imbalance of power between countries resulted in WWI and WWII. This imbalance of power can be social or political. It affects everyone and anyone who can be perceived as a target. The most obvious targets are race, religion and sexuality. What has changed though – particularly for young people in regards to targeted bullying for sexuality – is that the bullies now have a name for it. They can call a fellow student “gay.” And the chances are, as more and more people are brave enough to come out of the closet at a younger age, they are. Bullying is never acceptable. It hides the weak under a guise of power. Being a victim is denying your own power to stand up for yourself. Cast your minds back to your school days. Being gay may not have been talked about, but you were called, perhaps, “sissy,” “girl,” “nancy-boy,” because you couldn’t play sports or because you had more girlfriends then boyfriends. The change is, those taunts have been replaced with being called “gay.” As I have said numerous times, bullying has to stop. But we also need to recognize that though there are pitfalls to coming out at a younger age, namely name calling and emotional and physical abuse, there is a shift in acceptance. A shift in understanding. Slowly but surely as more kids come out, calling someone gay simply won’t have the effect it does now. Just last week, a lesbian couple were crowned America’s first Homecoming King
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Letters to the Editor In response to the “Michael Smith Receives Endorsement for Gay Rights PAC” in the Florida Agenda, October 6, 2011. DEAR EDITOR, While trying to make a decision on which candidate would be best for Seat #1, I find myself frustrated in the battle of sexes. I personally feel that someones preferences “sexually” should not have one thing to do with running the City of Largo. And well. On the other hand, I do not think it should be a topic that a gay or lesbian candidate should throw around while in office. Being a homosexual should have “NOTHING” to do with politics.
Alex Vaughn
at editor@FloridaAgenda.com
Please send all your comments and letters to Editor@FloridaAgenda.com
Whats wrong with this society? FACE THE CHANGES! I personally feel that a gay person tries even harder to gain acceptance. They have an added challenge during life that most of us don’t. I find that gay people can be more understanding and caring in many ways. The ones that I know are all hard working souls that really do care. Now, let’s move onto political views… SINCERELY, CHRISTINE Via www.FloridaAgenda.com DEAR EDITOR, In reference to your article regarding glamorizing suicice, I totally agree, we are all
in danger of turning these tragic teens into heroes and showing other would be copycats that it is the answer. In a time where everyone is obsessed with fame and being on TV for no particular reason, this is sending totally the wrong message to children of the community. I really think that though you do need to report the news you should not use pictures of the kids and certainly not put them on the cover. We don't need to fuel an epidemic of teen suicides. These kids need to realize that their is life after school bullying. Their whole lives in fact. SINCERELY, BEN F
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Growing Up Catholic and Gay in Minnesota By RON BATES Born in rural Minnesota and raised on a dairy farm, I grew up in a devout Catholic family. While attending St. John's Prep School in Collegeville, I confessed to a priest that I was attracted to another boy who slept across from me. The priest responded that if I ever acted on that, I would go to hell. As a sincere Catholic teen, I did not act on my attraction but started a harmful journey of self-loathing and personal destruction. I didn't know what “homosexual” or “gay” were, but I understood “queer” and thought it was evil and perverted. I did not date girls in high school and dated only a couple in college. One of them became a good friend, so I did what all the rest in my family had done: I got married, the summer after graduating from college. I loved all my nieces and nephews and wanted to become a teacher and a father. With a major in elementary education from St. Cloud State and later a master’s as a reading specialist, I taught successfully for 40 years in public education in several Minnesota towns. In a psychology class as a junior, I read that homosexuali-
ty was a “mental” illness, which reinforced my shameful self image. My marriage never worked. The sexuality was mostly repulsive, and that was communicated indirectly to my ex-wife. That is the most unfair part. She was one of the innocent victims in the masquerade of “I'm straight.” For years and years, I would prostrate myself on the floor and ask God to change me. Maybe if I just prayed more, fasted more, did more “works of charity,” the male attraction would go away. After more than 30 years of trying to “burn” the evil out of me, I finally came out at age fifty four. God finally broke through to my heart of hearts and said, “I love you just as you are. You are praying for healing, but you are not sick!” Our God does not change. God is God always. And God was with me always. After all the self-hatred and foibles of life, God was still there waiting for me. At that moment, the shame and guilt I had felt for years left – once and for always. If Pope Benedict had been standing right there to tell me I was “disordered,” I would have said to him, “You are wrong. God made me and loves me just as I am.” When I got my annulment from the Catholic Church, it said that it was granted due to the husband’s “psychic” prob-
lems. I called the canon lawyer and asked if I was the new Miss Cleo. Fortunately she had a sense of humor and allowed me to change the document to say the annulment was due to homosexuality. I wanted it to say “gay by God’s design” but the bishop wouldn’t allow that. I did research and found that a surprising number of annulments granted are due to one of the partners being gay. Wouldn't it be better for the church to acknowledge that gay people exist and allow them to come out as teenagers so straight-marriage statistics would improve? Maybe if “Marriage Encounter” couples handled the premarriage classes that potential matrimony candidates have to attend, many of the pitfalls of failed marriages could be avoided. If there were an honest discussion about same-sex attraction issues, potential candidates could avoid disastrous marriages. Instead, the church uses men who have taken a vow of celibacy to conduct the classes. Some of these men are closeted “gay” cases and/or are dysfunctional in the area of sexual development. Why have Minnesota citizens bought into the extreme religious-right position on homosexuality? People like U.S. Rep. and presidential
candidate Michele Bachmann, whose husband still uses “reparative therapy” in his mental health clinic, have promulgated this thought. Let me quote what the American Medical Association says: “RESOLVED, That the American Medical Association oppose any psychiatric treatment, such as reparative or conversion therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a prior assumption that the patient should change his/her homosexual orientation.” Do they think the American Medical Association doesn't know what it is talking about? Please vote to defeat the gay marriage ban. Don't continue to force young people into the closet of shame by telling them they have to change. The truth is they can’t. I could be the poster child to prove that. H Ron Bates married his same-sex partner, Dan Newton, in Toronto in 2006. They live here in Wilton Manors, Florida.
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Ron attends the parish of Sts. Francis and Clare, a progressive community in the Catholic tradition, where all are invited to worship. It is located at 101 NE 3rd Street in Ft. Lauderdale.
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Cross-Eyed
HOA Madness By AJ CROSS This week's column is sure to be controversial with many people on both sides of the fence, but I have decided to join with the homeowner in this instance. No offense to all of my realtor friends, but I believe that a change needs to be made. There was a time when the phrase “get a condo in Miami” was used so often that many people looking to invest in real estate in Florida actually purchased condos instead of single family homes. If you have some extra money (which would be rare in this economy) and decide to take advantage of the downfall of the real estate industry with all of the short sales and foreclosures, you might decide that purchasing a condo is the way to go. I have seen $150,000 condos on the market for $39,000 so there is obviously an attractive opportunity there. But like most things that are too good to be true, so is the reality of condo ownership. The state of Florida like many states has given what seems to be overwhelming powers to Home Owners Associations (HOA) or what many call Condo Associations. The ability for an association to change its bi-laws at will to suit Board Member interests along with laws that mandate that all fees and assessment's be paid by the condo owners regardless of the level of satisfaction or service provided by the association creates an unbalanced owner to association relationship. The ability for an association to actually hold liens and initiate foreclosures against your condo creates a triple threat in these hard economic times. Now you have to deal with the bank or primary lender, your second or third mortgage holder and now your evil Condo Commandos going after you. If you have ever taken the time to look at the laws related to HOA in the state of Florida, you will find that every benefit has been afforded to the associations to not only dictate association policy, but in many cases, your very life. They are permitted to infringe upon your freedom of speech by creating a rule that you may not hang an American flag or rainbow flag outside of your door because there is a standard facade in the common area; or that you may not have biometric door handles because that is not consistent with the other door knobs in the condo complex. Almost anything that you as an “owner” would want to do must meet the scrutiny of the HOA. It is as if you are a co-owner with the association. If that was the case, I would love it if they also paid half the mortgage payment for you. To think that an association has the ability to actually take your home from you is incomprehensible to me. To have
self-proclaimed HOA presidents that do not even live in the complex deciding the best needs of the complex is not sensible. There is very little defense in these hard economic times when it comes to a battle between you and the HOA. Almost every statute is on the side of the HOA, giving little maneuvering room for you or your attorney when it comes to battle time. Of course, it can be said that you signed an agreement to abide by all the HOA rules and regulations when you purchased the Condo, but there was really no other choice was there? When you signed the agreement, did you know that the association could impose assessments upon you as an owner, which you may simply not be able to afford on top of your mortgage and taxes? Imagine dealing with code enforcement and learning that unlike owning a single family dwelling, and being able to pull permits on your own, because you are a member of an HOA, you have to pay a general contractor ridiculous amounts of money to do it for you. So with so many appealing aspects to home ownership of a condo, my recommendation is simply to buy condos as a rental property or investment property if you must, but certainly not as your primary residence. Otherwise, you may end up having someone you have never met running your life and ultimately taking your home from you – especially if this economy hits you as hard as it has hit so many. Get a home that is yours to do what you want with, when you want to do it. At least if something happens that forces you into foreclosure, you can stand toe-to-toe with one bank instead of getting tag teamed by a bank and your HOA. H
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‘FLIGHT ATTENDANT’ Continued from COVER
Word Play
WALLS By ChRiSTiAN AlExANdER Most of us awake to begin our day in our beds, safe under our sheets. Some start the day arising from the living room couch, remote control still in hand with an empty pizza box nearby. Others regain some sense of the new day’s dawning, lying on the kitchen floor, still wearing the carefully considered outfit from the night before, somewhere in the vicinity of an empty bottle of alcohol, or perhaps something else which I won’t mention, but you can guess. In all of these events, most of us wake up safe surrounded by walls. Walls made of brick or mortar, or concrete or wood, walls that protect us from the outside world and keep what goes on in our own little worlds from getting out. Me? I arise to find myself restricted by walls of my own construction. Not just the walls that built some mansion, townhouse or crack-den. I am speaking of psychological walls that are more restrictive than those of the most secure prison in the country. Walls that took years, decades to build. Built with guilt, remorse, regret, shame, insecurity, fear, pain and a plethora of other emotions that have led my therapist to get therapy. There came a point when I just stared straight at my neatly stacked pile of a concrete past, knowing what it was made of, and didn’t even make the attempt to penetrate it. My pain, loss, sorrow etc. had become like an old partner. We don’t really talk much anymore, but we’ve been together so long we’re just used to each other. My walls were there to keep those pesky emotions out. Then I began to think of all the other things that lay on the other side of my walls as well. My emotions were easily buried in large quantities of alcohol and drugs, which were used as material to make my emotional wall higher. All the meaningless encounters with dozens (a gross under-estimation, if ever there was one) of men to fill some hole in my soul that the death of my first love had left. I could remember clearly, for the first time in years, the innocence I once had. The child that got lost in all the bright lights and pretty faces and promises of a future that wouldn’t come. I was a person who cared about people and had people who cared about me. I just got hurt maybe a few too many times, I think my heart just shut down. Am I bitter? Damned right. Jaded? Most definitely. A Bitch? When the occasion calls for it. I’ve lied, cheated, stolen and done things I don’t even want to contemplate to keep up appearances. I rationalized it was okay as long as everyone believed I was that “perfect” person I portrayed
A wall covered in graffiti and a painted sign in Portugal. “Mais Amor Por Favor” means “More Love Please” in Portuguese. myself to be. I thought I could buy happiness or love or meaning by wearing designer jeans and tipping well. I was a fraud. Would I change it all? At this particular moment in time, I honestly can not say. I know all too well who I was. I’m just now starting to figure out who I am or rather will be. Not to sound religious, but I’ve been through a re-birth of sorts. I had the chance to look at what my life revolved around for over 20 years, how others actually perceived me compared to how I thought they did. Now, the only people’s opinion’s who matter are the rare few that are still around. I have a handful of true friends and family that never, ever gave up on me. For them, I am grateful more than words can express. I wish I could repair the damage I’ve caused, but what’s done is done and it’s now part of the rubble of a wall that once defined me. To uncharted waters… H
was out on parole. The prosecutor also reported that the suspect stole Aaronson’s iPhone and police were able to track the suspect using the phone’s GPS system. On Monday, Cuellar admitted that he was in the hotel room with Aaronson and punched Aaronson in the face twice, but did not kill him. NoticiasMexico.com.mx said that Aaronson was found on the floor of his room by his co-workers just after 6 a.m. Saturday at a Hilton hotel. The website affiliated with a Mexico City newspaper said he was strangled with a belt around his neck and hands tied behind his back. The Guardian newspaper added that when officers paraded Ramirez before journalists Monday, he told reporters that he had turned himself in at the bar where authorities said he and Aaronson met. Cuellar said with profane language that he only punched Aaronson twice, but insisted he did not kill the victim. He claimed a 15-year-old friend was responsible for the slaying. Cuellar will remain in custody of prosecutors before seeing a judge. Aaronson’s mother, Anita said the FBI called her at 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning to tell her they had made an arrest. She said they used hotel security cameras to help catch the man. She told KPHO, CBS 5 news: “I wish they had the death penalty in Mexico. He took the bright light out of my life. He was only 27 and he had so much to live for and he was so charming and was just a really nice man.” She also said that her older son, Jason, was at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Sunday night to catch a flight to Mexico City to bring Nick home and Nick’s co-workers showed their family a tremendous amount of respect and support. “They were just lining up and coming from all over the airport to give their condolences. They did love Nick so much,” she said. Anita Aaronson posted on her Facebook page: “this what is happening, Jason saw Nick in Mexico today, he had braced himself for the worst, but said Nick just looked like Nick sleeping. He met with the American Embassy, coroner, FBI and the district attorney, and Nick is being taken care of in the best
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possible way, he cannot bring him home tomorrow because they cannot release him until Wednesday, so he will arrive in Phoenix on Wednesday. The funeral will be on Saturday and I will post all the details of the church and time soon, so many arrangements have to be made, and all the details aren’t ready yet. A pastor who knew Nick all his growing up years is coming from a long way away to do the service and he wants anyone who would like to have something read at the service to send it to me by email anitaa3@hotmail.com, and anyone who would like to do a eulogy in person for Nick to let me know. I have gone though many songs and I have decided on You Light Up my Life, because this is what [Nick] did for me and to many others, his friend Sarah will sing it, she will record it ahead of time because she is too emotional to sing it. I am also thinking of the Josh Groban song You raise me up, it’s all so difficult and I want to do it right. I keep thinking this is the last thing I will do for my beautiful boy, and I want to do it right with love and respect. Thank you all for your wonderful outpouring of love, we all loved him and I have joy in knowing the last words we said, to each other on Wednesday was "love you" we said it to each other and meant it.” Deborah Volpe, president of the Association of Flight Attendants Council 66, told ABC News that she remembered Aaronson fondly. “This is so difficult. We all worked with him, we all knew him. He was just in my office a week ago,” Volpe said. “And it’s that smile, we all knew his smile. He was a very compassionate individual.” Aaronson’s coworkers organized a November 10 memorial at the airport chapel in Phoenix. Aaronson graduated from Rio Salado College in Tempe and began working for U.S. Airways in 2006. The blog LGBTQ Nation stated that “Aaronson, who was gay, was active in several LGBT rights causes, including participating in the NOH8 Campaign, was a supporter of marriage equality, and advocated on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign.” H
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Be a Leader in Your Community Volunteering Is a Great Way to Network By dREW MillER Let me take you on my journey to being a leader in our community! This wasn’t an immediate decision I woke up with one day. It started out like a seed and grew into my wonderful rewarding life. In the late 90s, my partner Kevin and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the HRC annual dinner where we heard Al and Tipper Gore speak along with the riveting Maya Angelou (who spoke for 50 minutes when she was only given 10, amazing). That was the first seed! When we arrived home and looked into joining our local HRC Steering Committee, we discovered there wasn’t much activity in South Florida where HRC was concerned. It wasn’t for several years till we heard about “HRC Club Blue” and we started attending (watering the plant now). In no time at all we were on the HRC South Florida Steering Committee and were working on our first “HRC Boat Parade Fundraiser”. The following year Kevin and I co-chaired the boat parade committee (we were spreading roots). I have discussed my own efforts in joining the board of directors for several other organizations. • Business Professional Group “BPG” Networking and Learning • Gay and lesbian Business Exchange “GLBX” at the Greater Ft Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce • Rainbow Business Coalition “RBC” Uniting the LGBT community with leadership and advocacy I have also explained in past columns, how I was meeting the LEADERS of our
community. These are the people who are making decisions to enhance our city with events like Halloween, next year’s Aids Walk and Pridefest. Taking an active roll on these boards has definitely helped my business grow with visibility and profit. Seed is now a tree! Kevin and I are on the host committee for “An Evening in Paradise,” a fundraiser for “The Pride Center at Equality Park.” While at the host committee meeting with several leaders in our community, we discussed the marketing material donated by Fastprintz. The previous printer selected wasn’t able to complete the work for us and we needed someone fast to finish the job. Victor Flores, the owner of FastPrintz, is getting a great recognition in our community as the person to go to when you need the job done on time and looking great. Victor is on the board for GLBX and works closely with RBC. Several people in attendance noted his business name and contact information for future printing needs because of the great things they heard at the host committee meeting. Victor is a true leader in our community! Kevin and I are currently enrolled in a “Self Expression and Leadership Program” at Landmark Education in Dania Beach. In the course, we are learning how WE can all be leaders and impact our communities positively. I am learning the importance of living a full life and making a difference in the lives around me. We are learning skills to communicate in such a way that encourages others
to do the same. While on the course, I have created a project to impact my community in a positive way. Working closely with Mark Ketcham at Sunserve, we have created a NEW fundraising opportunity that will bring in much needed funds for their “Sunserve YOUTH Support Groups” and help bring an end to BULLYING! Guess what it’s about? Yup, the 21-day challenge with some slight changes to the format. The challenge starts November 21st and runs through December 12. Rules for the challenge “Kindness Speaks = Bringing Awareness to Words and Put an End to Bullying”: 1. Sign up on Facebook and declare your time period. (21, 14, 10, 7 days). 2. Donate $21 to “Sunserve Youth Support Groups”/donate. 3. Inform the important people around you about the challenge so you can enlist their help. 4. Clean up any negativity, complaining, gossip, criticizing or bullying that arises. 5. Post on the Facebook group page your successes and setbacks. Openly discuss the effects this is having on your life and read about others in the challenge. 6. Join us for the celebration and commiserate with other challengers on the effects “Kindness Speaks” has had on your life. (Not required for the challenge but appreciated.) Note: Being aware of our words is also just the beginning. When we find ourselves spreading negativity, complaining,
gossip, criticizing or bullying, we need to clean it up. Let me explain. We have now declared our challenge to our family, friends and colleagues. Then we start the challenge on November 21st. If, on the second day you gossip with a co-worker. BAM!!! You need to clean it up! Stop the conversation, recognize the words you were using with your coworker and choose to start a new conversation that doesn’t revolve around spreading gossip. Remember, this is an awareness challenge, not a competition. Our main objective is to Bring Awareness to Words. “Kindness Speaks” could end bulling all together with your help! My Inspirational Stories and Why I Chose to Challenge Myself are on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid =245884562128118. I do hope some of you find inspiration to join me with my “Kindness Speaks” Challenge. I can’t wait to hear how it impacts each and every one of you in your work, networking and your life. It has truly made a remarkable difference in mine. Oh, and guess who is creating all my marketing material and overall look for “Kindness Speaks?” You guessed it, our community leader and my good friend, Victor Flores. Thanks Victor! H
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Drew Miller is a business and networking consultant. He can be contacted at Drew@DrewMiller.biz.
November Networking Calendar Biz to Biz networking Date: November 7, 2011 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: 401 E Las Olas Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Lunch & Learn, Customer Service, GFLCC Date: November 8, 2011 Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce 512 NE 3rd Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Trustee Reception, GFLCC Date: November 8, 2011 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Becker & Poliakoff 3111 Stirling Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 Mack Mixer Date: November 8, 2011 Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location: Riverside Hotel, Las Olas Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
NonProfit & Business Breakfast, GFLCC Date: November 9, 2011 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Location: Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce 512 NE 3rd Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Biz to Biz networking Date: November 9, 2011 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Riverside Hotel, Las Olas Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Salute to Business, GFLCC Date: November 10, 2011 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Location: Hyatt Regency Pier 66 2301 SE 17th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Biz Perks, GFLCC Date: November 11, 2011 Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Location: 1719 E Commercial Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
Downtown Council Breakfast, GFLCC Date: November 17, 2011 Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Location: Tower Club Atop Regions Bank Bldg 100 SE Third Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394
GLBX Afterhours, GFLCC Date: November 10, 2011 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: To Be Determined
Board of Directors/Trustee Luncheon, GFLCC Date: November 16, 2011 Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: To Be Announced
Net@Noon, GFLCC Date: November 25, 2011 Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce 512 NE 3rd Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
INTRO-Luncheon, GFLCC Date: November 10, 2011 Time: 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Location: Riverside Hotel, 620 E Las Olas Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Biz to Biz networking Date: November 16, 2011 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: SoLita, Las Olas 1032 E Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Biz to Biz networking Date: November 30, 2011 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Hyatt Regency Pier 66 2301 SE 17 Street Causeway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
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OPINION
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Snowbiz Now!
The Prince and Me By NiChOlAS SNOW You may know him from his appearances on Oprah! After a privileged, yet isolated childhood and an arranged yet brief marriage which ended in an annulment, and ultimately finding and being nurtured by other gay men, a genuine prince has become one of the leading LGBT and HIV/AIDS activists in India, where in recent years their efforts resulted in the decriminalization of homosexuality at the national level. His Royal Highness Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil (“Manav” to his friends, of which I am now one) is the the Yuvraj (Prince) of Rajpipla, 39th in line in the Gohil Dynasty, thriving for 600 years in the Princely State of Gujarat. Manav was educated in Bombay, now known as Mumbai, and grew up primarily in the family’s colonial 15-bedroom mansion, at times with up to 22 servants – the home was eventually sold by the Prince’s grandfather to the Russian consulate, at which point they downsized to an eight-bedroom estate. “Around the time of puberty, I came to know that I was different from others – I was attracted towards the same sex … I wasn’t sure what it was called … I certainly knew that I was different from others…,” explained the Prince, who did not know at the time that this was called “gay” or “homosexual.” Manav was married at the age of 25. His wife was 22. The marriage lasted for just 15 months and ended in an annulment. He was emotionally attached to his wife but not sexually, hence the marriage was never consummated. The young couple lived in one of the wings of the family’s 35-bedroom, 100-year-old palace, and had the marriage continued, they would have been presented with a palace of their own. Manav was emotionally fragile, if not distraught, after his marriage ended, “so I didn’t have the courage to go back and live in the palace. Instead, I lived in Bombay for some time, till I got balanced, mentally balanced,” adding that, “In order to obtain mental equilibrium, I joined a short course in Yoga. I actually stayed in a Yoga center for a short period of time, just to fill in the gaps to attain the kind of mental balance in my life…” A classified advertisement in a local paper led Manav to a community of gay men where he met one of India’s leading gay activists, Ashok Row Kavi. “It turned out that he was my next door neighbor,” the Prince exclaimed of Ashok. “I couldn’t’ believe that, my god, the guy who I’ve been searching since the time I’ve known about him happens
to be my next door neighbor.” Much later, the Prince started drifting away from the family business and became more involved in gay activism and HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment issues. After a breakdown, hospitalization and the intervention of a psychologist, Manav ultimately came out in the media, creating a firestorm and resulting in the King and Queen publicly disinheriting him. Ultimately, they reconciled.
Nicholas Snow Snow with with Manvendra Manvendra Nicholas Singh Gohil, Gohil, February February 2009 2009 Singh “My hopes and dreams are to make India a country which accepts homosexuals, accepts us the way we are, as human beings. It is the mindset of the society which needs to be changed. I’ve just given a push to this movement by openly coming out and talking about our rights. I wish to continue this,” declared the Prince, “and I wish to see a day where gay marriages are allowed in our country.” Could this be karma? “Maybe I was assigned to be born in that manner. Maybe I was assigned to be an activist. Otherwise, you can think, I had no doubts of anything in my life. I had all the luxuries of life with me. What was the necessity of me to start in the first place an organization to work for the gay community? There was no reason for me to do that. Give aside homosexuality – there is not a single royal family in India who has started an organization to work on HIV/AIDS. So, I think of it as maybe I was assigned to be born in this family and to be born here,” concluded the Prince, “and to find support from people like Ashok Row Kavi – who happened to be in my neighborhood!” H
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Follow Nicholas Snow online at ww w.Facebook. com/Snowb izNow, www.Twitter.com/SnowbizNow, and at www.SnowbizNow.com. Follow “The Power To Be Strong” HIV Testing/ Safer Sex Awareness Campaign at www.Facebook.com/PowerToBeStrong.
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THE STYLE VOICE OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY
travel | dining | Film | style | recipe | profile | nutrition | photo ops | out in Florida | statewide Bar Guide
WHAt’s inside? n this week’s Style & Entertainment, Andy Kress clears up the many myths surrounding “Fats” in Nutrition; Tim Slivinski takes in a seaside view at the “historic gem” that is the Casablanca Café in Dining; and Jean Doherty toasts up some natural weight loss with almonds in Recipe. Warren Day critiques “Weekend,” the best reviewed gay movie of the year in Film; Eric Christian explores the Versace collaboration with H&M in Style; and Paul Rubio settles into the “luxe” lifestyle of Palm Springs in Travel. We also have your favorites, Out in Florida and our statewide Bar Guide. Enjoy! H – AV
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Riviera Palm Springs
Travel PAGE PAGE24 24 An Historic Gem And A true Fort LAuderdALe experience Casablanca Casablanca Café Café
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versAce coLLides WitH H&m!
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WHen strAiGHt critics Like A GAy tHemed movie Better tHAn GAy critics
Profile PAGE 23
Film PAGE PAGE37 37
Scissorium Salon is Under New Management
Photos courtesy, Versace, Warren Day, Casablanca Café, Paul Rubio, Scissorium Salon
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Cutting Edge Scissorium Salon is Under New Management By ALEX VAUGHN
Scissorium Salon, the petit hair salon on Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors, has been taken over by entrepreneur Lorenzo Littlefield. The Florida Agenda sat down with him to talk business, community and change. How long have you been here? What brought you to South Florida? I have been here for 18 years. I came down from Maine for the weather. It is far too cold up there! I have worked part time at Scissorium Salon for the past 13 years; I was one of their first employees. Please tell Agenda readers about your business. We are a full-service hair salon. We have recently become a Redken Salon. – meaning we now use only Redken 5th Avenue products. I think it is important for a salon to be attached to a high-end brand because of the education it provides the staff. We currently have five fulltime stylists. How long have you had your business and how is it going? Well I took over the salon two months ago. The owners came to me and said they were selling and I decided to go for it. I have been in corporate America, but my passion was and is still for hairdressing. It is going really well. All the staff have
stayed on board and the owners are still part of the business for the next year to ensure a smooth transition for our customers. I would like them to stay longer! Business is going very well; we are doing a lot of networking. I am quite well known in the community and I have a big mouth! I have been telling everyone about me taking over. How have you changed the salon? Well, in addition to branding it, we are slowly making changes to modernize the salon further. The branding is so important for us and our customers. Would you consider expanding into a chain? Yes, that is the ultimate idea, it may never happen. But that is what I would like to do with the salon in the future. How do you feel you are different from other salons? My passion. I don’t know the other owners of salons in the area, but I am sure my passion differentiates our salon from others. Have you always wanted to be in the hair business? Yes, I trained in Maine and got additional experience shadowing stylists in the area. However the reality of corpo-
rate America called and I answered mainly for the benefits, yet I always maintained a part-time position at Scissorium Salon. I loved it too much to give it up totally. How would you identify your management approach? Iron Fist or more Flexible? I would definitely say flexible. Obviously when you have a business you have to know everything that’s going on, and sometimes you have to put your foot down, but on the whole, flexible. What do you feel about the idea that the summer season is slow? How do you combat this pressure? We consistently give quality service and we try and cater to the locals all year round. This is really what a business has to do; we don’t really survive solely through the tourist dollars, so we aren’t as affected by the season change. In your lifetime how do you feel the gay community has changed? I feel we are a much closer-knit community and that we are so lucky to have more organizations and people who are prepared to get involved in the causes that affect us. It has definitely changed and evolved for the better.
Do you see a positive change in attitudes towards the gay community? Yes, in the 18 years since I have been out, without question. Even more so down here. I think people have a more open attitude towards gay people and gay issues here in South Florida. H
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Scissorium Salon is located at 2405 N Dixie Hwy., Wilton Manors, FL 33305 and appointments can be made by calling (954) 563-1981 Their hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Desert Heat Riviera Palm Springs By PAUL RUBIO One of the world’s hottest LGBT destinations just got a bit hotter. In early 2011, the Riviera Palm Springs Resort & Spa (psriviera.com, 760-327-8311) removed the bandages from a 75 million dollar facelift to the iconic Palm Springs Hotel; and the city hasn’t been the same since! Just like Timberlake brought sexy back, the Riviera is bringing Palm Springs glamour back. The eccentric and eclectic hotel pays homage to the hotel’s former glory years with a vintage luxe edge that keeps history in style. This forward thinking throwback bursts with energy, originality, and pimped out personality. Spread over vast acreage in the shadow of the towering mountains of the Coachella Valley, the Riviera Palm Springs is a retro design fantasy come to life. The chocolate and mint “face off ” in the hallways honors a color palette of a decade when the Palm Springs Hotel was synonymous with the term “swingers” while the tufted headboards and the Neapolitan striped throw pillows are another example of fabulous sixties redux. The conservation piece furnishings and art in the common lounge will have you tweeting a zillion characters per second.
The mirror-partitioned lobby lounge is adorned with larger than life facial portraits of Hollywood vixens, constructed from old Central American coins (think “Half Breed” Cher in silver) and then complimented with British country-style Chesterfield couches and maroon shag carpets. Throw some tufted gold lounges in the mix with a glittery pool table and some wild glass chandeliers, and the gentleman’s club-inside-a-disco-ball theme gets over-the-top fabulous. Head to the lobby proper and the white patent leather seats have been sewn together to form an innovative high-rise couch seat platform, topped with Victorian lanterns that reflect off the roof ’s twinkling skylights. Go even further and land in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Circa 59, decked out in red leather upholstered booths and chairs, backlit lattice cutouts, and jumbo crystal chandeliers that spill onto the hotel’s renowned center of attention, the historic pool area. Yes ... this is the pool featured in the 1963 film “Palm Springs Weekend” with Connie Stevens and Robert Conrad, the pool where the Hollywood elite partied hard in the 1960s, where the Rat Pack, Elvis, Sonny & Cher would unwind and help develop a global ideology of
“Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.” The hedonistic overtones of the 1960s prevail around the swimming pool, where an intoxicating mix of cocktails, sunshine, and vacation mentality catalyze days of naughty fun and relaxation. Unlike the sixties, however, there are now private cabanas, glowing fireplaces, and gays who can serve openly in the military splashing around. Still don’t expect things to get too crazy around the pool. This hotel may have a history of “swinging times” but it’s not the clothing-optional shenanigans of All Worlds Resort (allworldsresorts.com) or Camp Palm Springs (camp-palm-springs.com). Palm Springs’ repeat LGBT guests know that there is a difference in where to stay and where to play. You stay at the Riviera Palm Springs. You play at one of the resorts with a day pass or visit the city’s prolific offerings of gay bars by night. Indeed the Riviera Palm Springs is wildly popular with a younger gay demographic for its style, funk, welcoming (and easy-on-the-eyes) crowd, and pam-
pering essentials – exceptional spa, amazing eats, excellent gym. There’s no shortage of quiet spots around the property to appreciate the gifts of Mother Nature, from towering trees and majestic canyons to the bluest of blue skies that dazzle with constellations come nightfall. Yet Palm Springs is so much more than this awesome historic hotel, cocktails around the pool and trouble in clandestine corners! It is also super stargazing, great hiking, intrepid adventure, and mind-boggling landscapes. Though it’s sometimes hard to break away from anything within stumbling distance of the hotel, shake off your hang over one morning or evening to go beyond Palm Spring’s downtown and appreciate the region’s natural magnificence. You won’t regret it (though you may regret that last cocktail once you’re 8,516 ft high over vertical cliffs of Chino Canyon!) For an amazing gay-friendly Palm Springs getaway, head to the Riviera Palm Springs Resort & Spa – psriviera.com, 760-327-8311. H
The interior view of a suite
The beautifully decorated lobby at the Riviera Palm Springs Resort & Spa
The gorgeous pool area
Photos courtesy, Paul Rubio
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FLORIDA BAR GUIDE
FLORIDAAGENDA.COM
FORT LAUDERDALE/WILTON MANORS ALIBI 2266 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors Gayborhood tradition since 1997. Comfortable, inviting atmosphere with indoor video bars, outdoor drinking and dining. Drink specials all week, with mammoth 22-ounce Long Island Iced Teas for $3 on Thursdays ATOMIC/BOOM 2232 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors The bar with two names features a dance club and Gayborhood bar. Drag Bingo on Mondays, karaoke Mondays and Tuesdays, dance music Fridays and Saturdays, and (indoor) Sunday T-Dance. BILL’S FILLING STATION 2209 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors Videos, pool tables, dart boards, dance floor, happy hour, live shows, Tuesday and Thursday karaoke – and great burgers, to boot. Fun and friendly truck-stop-themed bar. BOARDWALK 1721 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale Over 100 of the sexiest men from all over the world. Go-go dancers, cages, billiards, 2-4-1 Happy Hours. Drag emcees and did we mention the Boys? CORNER PUB 1915 N Andrews Ave., Wilton Manors Friendly atmosphere, unpretentious clientele and staff. Next to Island City Pizza (so you can get your drink AND your slice on). CUBBY HOLE 823 N Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale Butch bar and grill with a rockin’ daytime crowd (and a fun nighttime one, too). Fifty cent pool, 2-for-1 drinks all day every day, video games, hot movies on HDTV and DirecTV. Thursdays it’s Bare Bear Chest Night, and every Friday and Saturday the fur flies with Hot Bears on Poles (where their Grizzlies Grind)! DEPOT CABANA BAR AND GRILL 2935 N Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale Adjacent to the America’s Best Inn and Suites. Pool open daily – No Cover or Day Pass. Great food, daily happy hour, Sunday afternoon T-Dance Poolside. Karaoke and live music. Open daily at 11:30 a.m. DUDES 3270 NE 33rd St., Fort Lauderdale Men dancing for men. Hot go-go boys in an upscale atmosphere, piano lounge for more quiet interludes. Steamy shower shows. JOHNNY’S 1116 W Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Club, bar, lounge. Male dancers and the men who love (to ogle) them. Sunday amateur strip contest (and karaoke!). LIPS 1421 E Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park The Ultimate in Drag Dining. Dinner and shows six nights a week. Sunday Gospel Brunch with the Sisters of Sequins. LIVING ROOM 300 SW 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Arts & Entertainment District meets South Beach. Friday nights they’re here, they’re queer, and they drink free from 10:30(ish) to Midnight. Only House Music club in town with its own Classical (and classicallychiseled) violinist. THE MANOR 2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors WeHo vibe (think: LA’s The Abbey) in the heart of the Gayborhood. Dine, drink, dance, play, mingle. Theme rooms (salsa and merengue every weekend in the Latin Quarter!). Live dancing and dining.
FLORIDA BAR GUIDE
PJ’S CORNER POCKET 924 N Flagler Dr., Fort Lauderdale Friendly neighborhood interracial bar with drinks specials every night of the week including, “In the Biz Mondays” at 9 p.m. with 2-4-1 drinks and $3 Cosmos and Apple Martinis, “Splash Friday’s” wet underwear contest, and Sunday’s pool tournament, both with a $50 cash prize! RAMROD 1508 NE 4th Ave., Fort Lauderdale Voted World’s Favorite Leather Bar. Pig Dance first Saturday of the month – South Florida’s Busiest, Craziest Monthly Party (with caged hunks at Midnight on Saturdays – is there a downside to this?). ROSIE’S BAR & GRILL 2449 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors Nexus of the A-Gay List. Be Seen in the Scene (without making one). Food, folks, libations, and a killer Sunday Funday. SCANDALS SALOON 3073 NE 6th Ave., Wilton Manors A line-dancin’, tight blue jeans-wearin’ good time. Country and western music, two-steppin’, three-steppin’, pool tables, and themed events year ‘round. Cowboys and Indians was never this much fun, Pilgrim. SIDELINES 2031 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors Where Sports come first. Nationally known destination sports bar with TVs streaming NFL, MLB, NBA and college games. Pool tables, dart boards and large indoor (and now smoke-free) facility. Outdoor patio features area for smokers. Mixed crowd of gay men and women (who would have thought?). Featured in Bloomberg Businessweek and recommended by LOGO. STABLE 205 E Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Levis-and-leather neighborhood bar, where the bears line dance and the cowboys are VERY friendly. SMARTY PANTS 2400 E Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Cozy neighborhood bar with daily happy hour, and regular patrons. Show night Thursdays at 9 p.m. Karaoke Friday and Saturday nights, and with matinee on Sunday afternoon.
SCORE 727 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach Dance, drink, party all night on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road. Tons of events throughout the year, including fundraisers for Winter Party, White Party, and Miami Beach Gay Pride. SPACE 34 NE 11th St., Miami Mingle and mix with gays and str8s in the heart of Downtown Miami. Indoor dance floors and outdoor rooftop bar, spectacular light show. TWIST 1057 Washington Ave., Miami Beach Great music, friendly staff, hot tourists and locals. Never a cover, always a groove. Bungalow Bar = Hot Men. In SoBe’s Art Deco District. JOHNNY’S MIAMI 62 NE 14th Street, Downtown Miami Club, bar and lounge. Johnny’s Miami boasts the best sound system in town! Plenty of safe, secured parking. Open 5pm to 5am daily. Hot male dancers and daily drink specials.
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA HANKS 5026 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, FL Friendly local bar with a cruisy attitude. One of Orlando’s oldest and friendliest Gay bars. Beer and Wine. Pool Tables, Video Games and a Large Patio area. HAMBURGER MARY’S BAR & GRILL 110 W Church St., Orlando, FL Eat, Drink & Be Mary! Tuesday BINGO with Miss Sammy & Carol Lee, Wednesday Trivia with Doug Bouser and Leigh Shannon’s Cabaret Dinner Show is every Saturday, 7:30 p.m. PARLIAMENT HOUSE 410 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL All gay entertainment complex with 130 newly-remodeled hotel rooms. Cruisy Hotel, Nightclub, Pool Bar, Bear/Leather Bar.
TORPEDO 2829 W Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Dance, shoot pool, drink til 4 a.m., 7 nights a week. Doors open at Midnight; dance til Dawn.
NEW PHOENIX 7124 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, FL Winter Park’s ONLY Gay & Lesbian Bar. Been There Forever! Karaoke every Tuesday and Friday at 9 p.m. Drag shows every Saturday night. Home of the $1 Jello shots.
VOODOO LOUNGE 111 SW 2nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale Gay and mixed every Sunday, with afternoon T-Dance and drink specials, then the popular Life’s a Drag show with gobs of female impersonators, hot dudes and the chicks who want to change them.
PULSE 1912 S Orange Ave., Orlando, FL Orlando’s Premier Gay Bar & Nightclub with Ultra Lounge, Jewel Box Dance Floor, and Adonis Dancers. Twisted Tuesdays with $10 All-U-Can Drink, College Wednesdays (18+) and 2-4-1 every Friday for Happy Hour.
WHISKEY BLUE 401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale In the W Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach, downstairs it’s the elegant Whiskey Blue, upstairs the luxe Living Room: hot dance and social settings in a distinctive atmosphere with signature cocktails and upscale patrons. Indoor and outdoor lounges.
SAVOY ORLANDO 1913 N Orange Ave., Orlando, FL “The hottest” gay bar and nightclub in Orlando. The MEN OF SAVOY Dancers from 6 p.m. til 2 a.m. every night in the main bar! Video Bar, Pool Tables.
MIAMI/MIAMI BEACH BAR 721 721 N Lincoln Lane, Miami Beach Plush, lush and flush, a luxe, sexy décor that includes soft carpeting, comfy couches and a Grown Up Playroom equipped with a flat screen TV for video games, pool table, ceiling-mounted speakers. Enjoy 5 to 10 p.m. happy hours including $6 premium drinks.
MATTY’S ON THE DRIVE 2426 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors Drink specials, billiards, and a chill gayborhood vibe. 75 Cent drinks on Wednesdays. No Drama, No Smoking.
CLUB BOI 777 NE 79 St., Miami With an urban vibe on the weekends, a diverse crowd and a diverse musical format, including Hip Hop, R&B, House, Reggae, Soca, Latin and Old School. Go-go bois and drink specials.
MONKEY BUSINESS 2740 N Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale Cozy neighborhood bar. Karaoke, drag shows, Patio Bar – and open at 9 a.m. daily.
CLUB SUGAR 2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami Gay Latin scene, with Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, Hip Hop and House music always playing.
MONA’S 502 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Cocktail Lounge in the heart of Searstown. Fun customers, fun bartenders and fun proprietor (the Legendary Jerry). Outside patio. Wednesday karaoke, Thursday Speedball Tournament.
DISCOTEKKA 950 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Hot music, hot scene, hot bartenders, and hot patrons in the hot heart of Downtown Miami.
NAKED GRAPE 2163 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors Relaxing, friendly, hip, unique – the alternative gathering place on Wilton Drive. Wine tastings and events. Tuesday and Wednesday Late Night In the Biz.
PALACE BAR 1200 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach This bar and restaurant in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco District. Mouth-watering burgers, boys (and girls!). Weekend cabaret shows Thursday through Sunday.
MOVA LOUNGE 1625 Michigan Ave., Miami Beach On Miami Beach’s famed Lincoln Road, never a cover. Drink specials all week long, live DJs, high energy music and a fun crowd getting their dance on til late.
WYLDE'S 3557 S Orange Ave., Orlando, FL Neighborhood bar South of Downtown Orlando. Jukebox, Video Games, Pool Tables and Dancers. PARADISE ORLANDO 1300 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL Orlando’s casual Gay & Lesbian bar and nightclub. Patio, Tiki Bar and Pool Tables. Happy Hour 4 til 9 p.m. and drink specials every day til 9 p.m. BAR CODES (Formerly Bear Bar) 4453 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, FL Friendly Bar, Real Men and Bears... Oh My! Beer and Wine. Tends to attract the after work Happy Hour crowd.
TAMPA BAY 2606 2606 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL Tampa's favorite Levi/leather bar has two floors (dimly lit), with the upstairs being the more cruisy. There's Hog House shop on-premises, and the 2606 is home to the Tampa Leather Club. Monday is Underwear Night, Tuesdays are $1 drinks and on Wednesdays, Longnecks are just $1.50. AZALEA LOUNGE 1502 N Florida Ave., Tampa, FL Exposed brick, cold beverages and friendly staff are the mainstays of the recently bloomed Florida Avenue flower! Neighborhood bar, pool tables. BAXTER'S LOUNGE 1519 S Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL Tampa Happy Hour Tradition. Serving up some of the hottest dancers Wednesday thru Saturday nights at 10PM.
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FLIRT NIGHTCLUB & SHOWBAR 1909 N 15th St., Tampa, FL (Ybor City) Get that hometown feeling. Amazing lazer shows, big headliners and has been around for 6 years. CITY SIDE 3703 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, FL Tampa Bay’s “Best Happy Hour” til Midnight every night of the week. GBAR 1401 E 7th Ave., Tampa (Ybor City), FL Dance Club & Video Bar. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 4 p.m. til 3 a.m. No cover before 10 p.m., $5 after with ID. VALENTINES NIGHTCLUB 7522 N Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL Voted #1 Nightclub in Tampa. Open 7 days a week 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday, Latin Night, Tuesdays are Boys Night Out, Wednesdays are Karaoke Night, Thursdays, No Cover Dance Party, Fridays feature Hot Go-Go Girls, Saturdays are Latino Night “Uncut” and Sundays are Hip Hop Night. Ki Ki Ki III 1908 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL One of The Oldest Bars (beer and wine). A plain bar without pretention with its share of young regulars. RAINBOW ROOM 421 S MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL A mix between a neighborhood bar and a community center. Main bar with pool, darts, jukebox. Outdoor Tiki patio has a full volleyball court and live bands. Beer & Wine.
ST. PETERSBURG GEORGIES ALIBI 3100 3rd Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL One of the most popular gay bars in St. Pete. It’s always busy! Great VJ’s play Top 40 music. Mondays are Drag BINGO and Talent contest, Pool tourney Wednesdays, and the legendary Long Island Iced Tea nights on Thursdays. Ages 21 and over, never a cover! FLAMINGO RESORT 4601 34th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL Florida’s “largest, luxury all gay resort.” Non-stop entertainment, great menu, and drinks served poolside at the Cabana. Weekly events and 2-4-1 Happy Hour daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday Happy Hour ($1 off) 11 a.m to 9 p.m. GEMINI LOUNGE 2315 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL Gemini Lounge aims to serve a variety of tastes; music, karaoke, Internet access, poetry readings and sports on TV. OAR HOUSE BAR & LIQUOR STORE 4807 22nd Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL Fun, friendly, laid-back atmosphere where you can get great drinks at cheap prices! Drama free! Happy Hour daily from 2 p.m. til 9 p.m. HAYMARKET PUB 8308 4th St. North, St. Petersburg, FL More of a Men’s bar. Showing hot videos, beer specials, Saturday Underwear Night, and different events each week. HIDEAWAY 8302 4th St. North, St. Petersburg, FL The oldest Womyn’s bar in the country. Where music is always the main entree! Coldest selection of beer in town. DETOUR 2612 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL The hottest club in St. Pete. Daily specials, karaoke nights and gogo boys from Rico's Men. Noted for it’s Saturday Drag shows and Karaoke nights. Full liquor bar.
MELBOURNE/COCOA COLD KEG NIGHTCLUB 4060 W New Haven Ave., Melbourne, FL Largest Gay Club in Melbourne Florida and the Premier Gay Bar & Nightclub in Brevard County. ULTRA LOUNGE 407 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, FL Nestled in Cocoa Village, this bar has a full coffee bar, serving espresso, lattes, cappuccinos as well as draft beers & wine.
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THE METRO 2929 Plum St., Jacksonville, FL The Metro Entertainment Complex has been serving the GLBT community for 17 years. Features a total of 7 different venues under one roof to choose from. Lesbo-A-Go-Go, monthly Tea Dances, special quest performers, female impersonators and live musicians. BOOT RACK SALOON 4751 Lenox Ave., Jacksonville, FL Your Neighborhood Gay Bar - the place for men. Cold beer, music and a warm and cozy atmosphere. Hot men and cheap beer... We all know where that leads! AJ'S BAR & GRILL 10244 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL Annie and Janie invite you to stop by and see some old friends and meet some new ones! Great food, awesome service, delicious mixed drinks and live entertainment. PARK PLACE LOUNGE 931 King St., Jacksonville, FL A fun and comfortable gay bar that’s accommodating to both gays and non-gays. A great place to watch your favorite game, or enjoy playing Wii while the liquor flows! THE NORM 2952 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville, FL A neighborhood bar. Everyone is welcome, but remember it is a girls bar! Beer and Wine only. 616 BAR 616 Park St., Jacksonville, FL A warm and friendly atmosphere with a Patio bar. Karaoke on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Thursdays the Jax Bears are here for happy hour. Fridays and Saturdays enjoy the "Beer Blast." THREE LAYERS CAFE 1602 Walnut St., Jacksonville, FL The name Three Layers comes from their large variety of delicious three layer cakes. An inviting loft style cafe located in Springfield. Enjoy a bistro style lunch or just stop in for your morning coffee. BO'S CORAL REEF 201 5th Ave. North, Jacksonville Beach, FL There are great shows Thursday through Sunday with the best of female impersonators. Pool tables, video games, and a large outdoor patio. The only gay bar on the beach!
INCAHOOTS 711 Edison Ave., Jacksonville, FL This club offers good crowds every night. Recently remodeled with three bars and a friendly staff. Everyday is a different special. A fun place anytime. Full Liquor bar. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for special events. KICKBACKS GASTROPUB 910 King St., Jacksonville, FL This is a top class venue serving over 600 different bottled beers, 84 beers on tap, breakfast, lunch and dinner 20hrs a day 7 days a week!
KWEST 705 Duval St., Key West, FL Daily Happy Hour from 3 to 8 p.m., and a piano sing-a-long every Wednesday night. Men dancing for men after 10 p.m. Weekly drink specials and "Wet Jockey" contests on Fridays. SALOON ONE 801 Duval St., Key West, FL (Behind 801 Bar) This is the only gay leather bar in Key West. Conveniently located behind 801 Bourbon Bar.
PENSACOLA
LA TE DA 1125 Duval St., Key West, FL An upscale hotel complex with 3 bars, cabaret and restaurant.
THE ROUNDUP 560 E Heinberg St, Pensacola, FL A neighborhood gay men’s bar... Pensacola’s Cowboy Bar. Open 2 p.m. til 3 p.m. daily.
PEARL’S PATIO BAR FOR WOMEN 525 United St., Key West, FL Tropical themed women's bar for gay women and gayfriendly women alike. Patio bar with a full bar featuring drinks like "Cosmopearlitans" and "Pearl's Passion".
CABARET 101 S Jefferson St. #E, Pensacola, FL Not strictly a gay bar, the charming and friendly Cabaret is very much a fixture in Pensacola's GLBT community, drawing a mixed bunch each evening for happy hour, karaoke, videos, comedy shows, live music, and all-around hobnobbing and socializing.
KEY WEST BOURBON STREET PUB 724 Duval St., Key West, FL Opened in October of 1995 and has continued to grow ever since, it is now part of the larger collection of gay action in The Bourbon St. Pub Complex. Hot Go-Go boy dancers and a busy crowd. “Where the boys are!” 801 BOURBON BAR 801 Duval St., Key West, FL Cabaret shows upstairs with nightly performances by famed performers Sushi, Kylie, RV Beaumont, Margo, and others. This legendary establishment has been around for over 30 years, and host Happy Hour specials daily from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. AQUA NIGHTCLUB 711 Duval St., Key West, FL Aqua features the "Reality is a Drag" show six days a week, followed by dancing. Monday is karaoke night and don't miss the great happy hour specials from 3 to 8 p.m. daily.
BOBBY’S MONKEY BAR 900 Simonton St., Key West, FL The gay Cheers style neighborhood bar of Key West. Happy Hour from Noon to 7pm, Karaoke on Sunday nights, pool tournaments on Tuesday nights at 7pm. Free Wi-Fi access. GARDEN OF EDEN 224 Duval St., Key West, FL A Rooftop Bar with the BEST VIEWS in the city & “BEST Long Island Ice Teas made by Melinda!” Gay, straight, fat, or skinny... Doesn’t matter! Clothing optional - gay friendly!
WEST PALM BEACH H G ROOSTERS 823 Belvedere Rd., West Palm Beach, FL Dark bar that attracts a fun party crowd. Camp is in at H.G.'s, where drag shows and bingo nights pack in crowds looking for laughs and fun. THE LOUNGE 517 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, FL Sushi, tropical views and tasty cocktails are accompanied by acclaimed resident DJ Daisy DeadPetals. FORT DIX BAR & CLUB 6205 Georgia Ave., West Palm Beach, FL Mostly local crowd looking to mingle and relax. The bar is a bit on the dark and dingy side, but who knows--that could be a plus.
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FORT MYERS
BAR GUIDE
JACKSONVILLE
FLORIDA BAR GUIDE
OFFICE PUB 3704 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL Oldest gay bar in South West Florida with a festive attitude. This bear-friendly Office likes to have fun with underwear parties, drag shows, Wii bowling! Check out their country and western music night on Saturdays.
TUBBY'S 4350 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL Where men come to compete (in tournaments). "Never a cover... always a smile" Tubby's is a no-frills video bar with a total of 10 TVs and two projection screens available for patrons to use as they wish. Add a six-hour 2-4-1 Happy Hour during the Wii tournaments on the big screen! THE BOTTOM LINE 3090 Evans Ave., Fort Myers, FL This gay entertainment complex is one of the longest running clubs in southwest Florida at over 20 years, The Bottom Line features 7 bars, pool tables, drag shows and occasional guest appearances by porno stars.
VENICE
TOTI: TAVERN ON THE ISLAND IN VENICE 127 Tampa Ave. East, Venice, FL This South Beach inspired gay bar, boasts a dance floor and a game room with pool tables and dart boards. It's clean, the music is mixed and the staff are friendly. A mixed crowd can be found most nights... younger, older (duh, this is Venice), gay and straight. Did you know that in the Caribbean, TOTI is slang for a beloved male appendage? How apropos.
GAINESVILLE
SPIKES 4130 NW 6th St., Gainesville, FL It is a laid-back kind of place, with friendly bar staff. The crowds vary depending on the night. The bar has a nice open air patio area that is rarely used, but would be nice if it was. UNIVERSITY CLUB 18 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL This is a fairly average small college town gay bar. It is usually busy and crowded on Thursday nights.
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OUT IN FLORIDA
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Miami
AN EVENING IN PARADISE
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AT LORDS
An Evening in Paradise, a benefit for the Pride Center at Equality Park, will be held on Saturday, November 5 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Paradise Point in Fort Lauderdale. Open bar, great food, deejay and other entertainment, valet parking. Tickets are $100 per person (limited to 300 people so get your tickets early). For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.glccsf.org.. Tickets will not be sold at the event. Special guests include Michael Holtz (Mr. Gay USA 2011) and Logan Voxx (Out 100 for 2011). H
Art Exhibition presented by Kipton Art on Saturday, November 5 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Lords South Beach Hotel, 1120 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach. Hosted by Erin Newberg and Lauren Foster. Complimentary Nespresso Cafe served all night on The Porch at Cha Cha Rooster. Visit Kiptonart.com and pre-register for their upcoming private sales. H
NOVEMBER T-DANCE Sunday, November 6 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Depot Cabana Bar & Grill, 2935 N Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale with DJ D-Stu. Great drink specials and full menu plus giveaways. H
“STAND UP AND RIDE IT” Six hysterical and critically-acclaimed comedians will take to the stage November 7 for “Stand Up and Ride It: A Night of Comedy to Fight AIDS,” the first of its kind, red carpet event to benefit this year’s SMART Ride 8. The event begins at 8 p.m. and takes place at Lips restaurant, 1421 E Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. All proceeds from the event will go to SMART Ride, a two-day, 165-mile bike ride from Miami to Key West. The “Stand Up and Ride It” comedy show will feature local and nationally-recognized comedians Lisa Corrao, Forrest Shaw, Jessica Gross, Adrian Mesa, Daniel Reskin and Will Watkins. An open cash bar and $1,000 in raffle items and giveaways will be available at the show. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $30 for VIP. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.RideItShow.com. H
STONEWALL SPIRIT OF PRIDE AWARDS The Stonewall National Library and Archives will honor Elaine Noble and Joel Burns with their Stonewall Heritage of Pride and Stonewall Spirit of Pride Awards at their Our Stars event on November 11. Library patrons will gather for a private reception with Noble and Burns. Stonewall will present the Stonewall Heritage of Pride Award to Elaine and the Stonewall Spirit of Pride Award to Joel at the reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on how you can join the celebration, please visit www.stonewallnationalmuseum.org and click on the “Our Stars Tickets” link. H
GET AMPED! Join over 75 swimmers on Saturday, November 12 for the first-ever GET AMPED! South Florida 1.5-mile Swim, helping GLAAD to amplify the voice of the LGBT community. The GET AMPED! swim will bring together residents, visitors and local businesses in support of equality. Check in at 7:30 a.m., starting gun goes off at 9 a.m. and the swim should be over at noon for a finish line celebration. The swim begins at Tower 11 (W Hotel) and ends at Tower 3 by the Swimming Hall of Fame on Fort Lauderdale Beach. For more information and to sign up or donate today, visit: www.glaad.org/getamped/florida. H
LISA VROMAN IN CONCERT Broadway’s Lisa Vroman, star of “Phantom of the Opera,” is an international recording artist with leading roles in “A Little Night Music,” “The Music Man” and “Les Miserables,” brings the thrills of Gershwin, Berlin, Porter, Lerner and Loewe, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more to Miami. Also featured: baritone Mark Aliapoulis, Paul Posnak and Anita Castiglione and organist Dan Sandlin. Appearing November 13 at St. Martha in the Shores, 9301 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami Shores. For more information, call 305 458-0111. H
MDGLCC NETWORKER SPOTLIGHT MIXER Enjoy a fun night of free bowling, pool table, games, and music to the tunes of DJ Vertigo. Drawing for great prizes. Free food and open bar. November 17 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lucky Strike Lanes, 1691 Michigan Ave. in Miami Beach. Complimentary admission for MDGLCC members. $10 general admission. Limited to 250 people. RSVP requested at 305-673-4440 or mdglcc@bellsouth.net. H
429INSPIRED MIAMI LAUNCH Join dot429 and Fiat 500 for the inaugural launch in Miami at Area 31 in The Epic Hotel (270 Biscayne Boulevard Way in Miami) on Tuesday, November 29, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event will help launch the annual Art Basel. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door. For more information, visit dot429.com/events/429inspired-miamilaunch-by-fiat-500/rsvp H
LATIN SPICE FOOD FESTIVAL On December 10 at Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Road in Pinecrest. Indulge your appetite for Latin cultures at this unique and delicious celebration. Sample a range of diverse culinary creations, enjoy colorful displays of arts and crafts while shopping for a unique holiday gift and be entertained by music and dance artists from Spain, South/Central America and Caribbean Countries. This is a one-of-a-kind festival celebrating all Latin cultures in one extraordinary setting. You can purchase a special ticket for a seat in the Banyan Bowl where Grammy Award Winning, Chino Nunez and his orchestra will perform an evening concert “In the Spirit of Salsa.” The concert will feature an hour of Salsa dancers and instruction, followed by a Mojito intermission and an hour-and-a-half of the hottest Salsa music on the planet. For more information, visit www.pinecrestgardens.org or call 305-669-6990. H
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Bay Area INAUGURAL BODY PAINT COMPETITION Inaugural Body Paint Competition will be held from November 4 through 6 at the Sawmill Camping Resort, 21710 U.S. Highway 98 in Dade City. This will be a professional body painters’ competition and black light body party. Make your reservations for this new themed weekend. Professional body painters and models will compete for cash and prizes Saturday day and evening. Weekend includes DJ Skittles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, clothing-optional pool, cabin, RV and tent sites available or visit on a day/evening pass. Call Lucy's at (352) 583-0664 for more information. H
MISS FLAMINGO PAGEANT On Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Flamingo Resort, 4601 34 Street S in St. Petersburg. Categories include: creative presentation in pink, evening gown, talent and swim suit competitions. H
UNDERGROUND The official after hours of Factory on Friday, November 11 from 2:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. at Ybor Resort and Spa, 1512 8th Avenue in Tampa. Presented by Travis Sdeler, Chhoy Sutimek and Besos Marketing Management. H
HIBERNATION WEEKEND Hibernation Weekend with The Backwoods Bears Club and guests at Sawmill Camping Resort, 21710 US Highway 98 in Dade City from November 11 through 14. Weekend includes Beer Busts ($10 for all the beer you can drink), entertainment by Phil Garris, Bull Ferguson and Paul Lloyd, Crazy Bear and live auctions (bring donated items for sale to the Courtyard by 5 p.m.), Nature Cost Humane Society (box is set up in Lucy’s for pet supplies and food donations), DJ Skittles, clothing-optional pool, dual image karaoke. Make your reservations now or visit on a day/evening pass! 352-583-0664. H
THE SUNDAY BBQ Ybor Resort and Spa, 1512 8th Ave. (15th Street) in Ybor City. Every Sunday at 5 p.m. Lots of hot flavorful guys here lining up for some buns, wieners and other tasty items. Come on down and put some sun on those buns in our open-air tropical Asian-themed patio with Jacuzzi. Remember: what happens at the resort, stays at the resort. H
FLAMINGO BINGO Thursdays hosted by Kevin Johnson. Win free drinks and prizes from 8 to 10 p.m. Code Bar opens at 7 p.m., the Video Bar opens at 10 p.m. and don’t miss Girl’s Night in the Blu Room, which opens at 11 p.m. with $3 Miller Lite longnecks. The Flamingo Resort is located at 4601 34th St. S in St. Petersburg. For more information, visit www.flamingofla.com. H
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Central Florida JAY BRANNAN LIVE Monday, November 7 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at The Social, 54 N Orange Avenue in Orlando. Buy your tickets at: http//ticketf.ly/pteCxD. 18+ H
COME OUT WITH PRIDE - TAKE TWO “Come Out with Pride,” Orlando’s annual gay pride celebration, has been rescheduled for Sunday, November 13. Other official pride events are being rescheduled, such as the Official Pride Brunch, around the new date. Disney is also back on board for a second shot. To make a donation to help cover the expenses of changing the date for “Come Out with Pride,” visit www.comeoutwithpride.com/donate.php. H
MISS SUNSHINE STATE ALL AMERICAN GODDESS The Sunshine State All American Goddess and All American Goddess at Large contests will be on Monday, November 14 starting at 9 p.m. to be at the Parliament House (410 N Orange Blossom Trail in downtown Orlando). These are the official state preliminaries to the Miss All American Goddess and All American Goddess at Large contests. For contestant information, contact Derek at http://www.sunshinestateaag.com/. Don’t forget the next pageant soon at the Parliament House: MISS METROPOLITAN CONTINENTAL PLUS and ELITE – Monday, December 5, at 9 p.m. Official preliminary to Miss Continental Plus and Miss Continental Elite. For contestant information, contact Jim Demundo at 407-281-2820. H
GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE OF MID-FLORIDA Rescue can take many forms, from a single individual trying to make a difference by saving one dog to a group of people working together for the common goal of saving many animals. GRRMF concentrates on Golden Retrievers. GRRMF is comprised solely of volunteers and is self-supporting, relying on fund raising and donations to support all rescue efforts including veterinary care. 100% of all donations are used for the rescue effort. GRRMF, Inc. is recognized by and affiliated with The Golden Retriever Club of America, Inc. For more information, contact the Intake Coordinator at 407-332-2840. H
BACK DOOR BUMBY Revolution Nightclub (375 S Bumby Ave in Downtown Orlando) along with GRINDR and MyFlexRadio presents: “Back Door Bumby: Enter Through the Back” every 3rd Thursday of the month. This is Orlando's premiere college night. No cover when you show your GRINDR or MyFlexRadio App. No cover ‘til 11 p.m. for those 21+ (18+ welcome) and no cover ‘til midnight with college or theme park ID. Free drinks 11 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Drinks specials throughout the night. Performances by Shantell D’Marco and Macaviti. DJ Joanie on the decks in the disco area and VJ J.B. Burgos in the Hydrate Video Bar. H
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CAZWELL PERFORMS AT MATTY’S ON THE DRIVE This past weekend at Matty’s, Cazwell showed up to wow the festive halloween crowd and perform some of his biggest hits.
Photos courtesy, Mark Parchment
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FILM
When Straight Critics Like a Gay Themed Movie Better Than Gay Critics; What Does it Mean? By WARREN DAY
Photo courtesy, Warren Day
In “Weekend,” we finally have a well-received 2011 movie where the love story at the center is between two people of the same sex. Not where it’s a sidebar, as it was with the excellent “Beginners” that opened in July. And this British independent film is receiving even better reviews, particularly from straight critics. Now why would straight reviewers react more positive to it than gay ones? And why should that bother me or you? What is undisputed is that Great Britain has given us some of the best gay-themed movies ever made – “Maurice,” “My Beautiful Launderette,” “Prick Up Your Ears,” “Wilde,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “The Crying Game,” “Beautiful Thing,” “Another Country,” “Velvet Goldmine,” and many others. Also fifty years ago it was a British film, “Victim,” with Dirk Bogarde, that was the first major release to ever say the word “homosexual” and to deal with homosexual persecution. So “Weekend” is a part of a distinguished lineage, even if its working-class British accents can be a little hard to understand. It tells the contemporary story of Russell, a lifeguard for a community pool in Nottingham, England, a place most Americans probably haven’t heard mentioned since a certain sheriff was chasing a certain guy in green tights through Sherwood Forest. One Friday night, he attends a potluck dinner thrown by some straight friends whose happy relationships and contented lives make him even more aware of the loneliness in his own. Somewhat in desperation, he stops off in a non-descript gay bar on the way home and is ignored by Chris, the one guy who seems to interest him, but then when Chris can’t score with the guy he wants, he decides he’ll settle for Russell and a one-night stand. Since this isn’t an opportune beginning and since there’s no expectations beyond a fleeting hookup, they’re less on-guard with each other, less concerned with projecting a calculated image. Over the first 24 hours, they become more honest and open than usual – the result of which is they catch themselves developing some mutual feelings, feelings that are intensified when it’s discovered, for a reason I won’t reveal here, that the relationship cannot continue beyond the weekend. Is a 48-hour weekend time enough to know someone well enough that you’re willing to walk away from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the hope you’ve found your once-in-a-lifetime love? This film has been rightly praised for the naturalistic way in which their small disclosures and small discoveries about each other leads to something that seems
both real and rare, and how the movie’s ending seems genuinely unforced and realistic. To critics who’ve long ago OD’d on the cutesy and predictable formulas of Hollywood romantic comedies (think Jennifer Aniston), this naturalism in both story and acting can be very enticing. So while this difference from usual rom-com movies may give an understandable cause for straight critics to praise “Weekend,” the fact that it deals with a situation many gays have known either personally or from the experiences of their friends, may give it a tired and ever-so-familiar ring. While on the other hand, seeing two gay men in this situation may provide a fresh spin to straights that it won’t have for us, because you can hear this story being told almost any night in almost any gay bar. Harvey Fierstein, who wrote and starred in both the play and movie-version of “Torch Song Trilogy,” said that when straights told him they felt his story wasn’t really a gay story, but a universal one, he would protest, saying he’d spent decades transferring heterosexual romances into terms he could understand, and he wasn’t willing to have his gay story homogenized into something generic. There are too few gay stories, Fierstein said, to have them tailored into one-size-fits-all. And as he further stated, he’d be offended if someone claimed that “Schindler's List” could just as well be about some WASPs in Grover Corners, New Hampshire. Good stories do have some universal truths, but not at the expense of its particular characters and their often unique struggles. What I’d like to do is what critics should do more often and say you should probably ignore any reservations I’ve expressed here; chances are you’ll be glad you saw “Weekend,” and will find it to be that rare movie that expresses gay life in a non-exaggerated and non-cartoonish way. The fact that this film may remind you of similar incidents in your own life will make it personal and that will make it powerful. H
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Who’s Fat? Not you, if you know them! By ANDY KRESS Fat. Just the sound of the word makes people shudder. We have been told one of two things about fat in this life: fat is horrible for you, or fat equals taste. No one can argue that fat equals taste, because so many of the foods we love are loaded with the stuff. The statement that fat is horrible for you is further from the truth however. If you know your fats and how they react with your body and internal system, then you will know that fats are essential to your diet and your health. Most of us have at least heard about trans fat and saturated fat, as they are so glorified on the news, restaurant menus or product labels. In studies, trans fats have been linked to obesity, heart disease and other related health problems when over-consumed. Many cakes, pies, potato chips and other processed foods people love are loaded with fatty acids. These are found in the hydrogenated oils and margarine used in these products to extend shelf life and keep them from going rancid, wreaking havoc on our insides as we attempt to breakdown such foods. Saturated fat is not far behind in doing its damage to our internal system. Many of the meats we choose to eat are high in saturated fats, even though you can’t always see them. Butters, cheeses and other dairies can be high in saturated fats as well, so read your labels. Palm and coconut oils are very popular here in South Florida. Since both are very high in saturated fat, these should be consumed sparingly. Enjoy your treats, but use common sense and try to limit the quantity to the suggested serving size. Remember: trans fat and saturated fat are the first to show themselves at the waistline, the last place we want to see them! On the other hand, some fats are not only good for you, they are absolutely essential for good health. Monounsaturated fats are needed in a well-balanced diet. Primary sources are olive and canola oils, nuts, and some seeds. Another excellent source (and the healthiest for you) is grown right here in Florida--our state avocado. The Florida avocado is twice the size as the Hass avo-
cado and half the calories, making this a wise choice for your body while helping to support your local economy. Polyunsaturated fats coming from products such as corn and other vegetable oils are common and healthy for you, as well as fish oils and oily fish. These foods have two essential fatty acids the body needs to function. There are a couple of other fats not to be forgotten. Fatty acids that are derived from linoleic acids produced by Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats are crucial to a healthy diet when used in the proper amount. These two fats play a vital role in improving mental clarity, uplifting our moods and improving our overall sense of wellbeing. Good sources of Omega-6 fats are in corn, safflower, sunflower and soy bean oils. Using any of these oils in cooking really bring out new flavors to that same old dish, so don’t be afraid to try something new and healthy. Omega-3 fats come in a variety of different foods. Walnuts, evening primrose and rapeseed oils, as well as oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel and salmon are great sources of this essential fatty acid, which cannot be produced by the body. Omega XL®, a supplement from Great HealthWorks (headquarted right here in Hollywood, Florida) is a very convenient and affordable way to ensure adequate Omega-3 intake, and includes 30-essential fatty acids in each small capsule. Since it does not interact with any medications, this product is the safest supplement that you can find on the market, and the only one I personally take and endorse. Fat. You didn’t cringe so much this time, did you? Now knowing your facts on fats can mean making healthier choices in the grocery store. Your body will thank you every day. H
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Andy Kress, CFT, SET, is a nationally certified fitness trainer and nutritional counselor in South Florida. He can be reached at andyfitnesstrainer@gmail.com or 954-789-3930.
Photo courtesy, DrOzFans.com
Salmon is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids
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Versace Collides with H&M! By ERIC CHRISTIAN Just when you thought the iconic house of Versace was becoming obsolete, you are soon to be in for a rude awakening! A big, loud and brash rude awakening that is. The wait to see and purchase items from the Versace for H&M collection is soon to be over. This is indeed the latest collaboration that is stirring all the buzz in the retail and fashion world! For the fashion junkies that are familiar with the legendary fashion house, expect bright prints, bold colors, and reinterpretations of the iconic blazers, leather jackets, and pants. Plus, a first for the H&M designer collaborations, expect a home-ware collection too, including pillows and a hot beaded bedspread! Versace’s men’s collection for H&M is a mix of sleek tailoring and pieces with bold, eye catching patterns. Suit jackets and trousers come in either black, or pink, while a black tuxedo jacket has metallic tip trims on its pockets, and shirts have metallic wing-tips on the collars. Versace’s palm prints are used on t-shirts, as well as on thin-knit cashmere sweaters, while print is also used on velvet bombers, jeans, and even underwear. There is also a mix of classic pink and turquoise button down shirts that have matching tailored, skinny pants. Furthermore there is a striking range of black and white geometric printed shirts, tops and t-shirts. There’s leather in the men’s collection
too, with a quilted leather jacket trimmed with gold studs in the Versace classical Greek pattern, which is repeated down the sides of black cotton shorts and a rolledsleeve t-shirt. As we ll as a stunning black top coat with leather sleeves and collar. Accessories include embellished beanies and patterned caps, embellished or print scarfs, as well as hi-top sneakers, brazen jewels and dress shoes. The US and Canada will release the collection on November 19 in select stores. I got word that Palm Beach will definitely be one of them releasing the collection on November 17! The collection will be available in about 300 stores worldwide. I urge all you fashionistas that want a piece of this excitement to be at the stores at least two hours before they open! The price point for the collection is not as low as what we saw with Missoni for Target. You will still be looking at shelling out over $200 for leather pieces. T-shirts are coming in between $25 and $65 with jackets around $150. Still, when you consider a leather Versace jacket is likely to cost over $2,000, you are still grabbing a bargain! H
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For fashion, luxury personal shopping, styling, closet editing, and shopping tours, contact Eric Christian at eric@styleconciergemiami.com or visit the website at www.styleconciergemiami.com.
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An Historic Gem and a True Fort Lauderdale Experience Putting the Aaahhh in Al Fresco By TIM SLIVINSKI lent mussels arrived at the table in an aromatic broth – spinach-pesto cream, smoked bacon, and tomatoes. The mussels were tender and juicy, while the broth was beckoning us to sop it up with some bread. Casablanca serves an amazing basket of what I can only call “bread fingers.” Warm and brushed with olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, they are not mere bread slices or dinner rolls. Their texture and size were excellent vehicles for enjoying the tangy and smooth broth surrounding the mussels. It was oh so very good. We managed to consume very bit. Time for a second cocktail and entrées. Casablanca offers a menu brimming with choices in poultry, seafood, beef, pasta and more. Clearly there is something for everyone on the menu. The features menu caught our eyes, however, and we decided to order in keeping with our “dining by the sea” theme. I selected Basil Grilled Yellowfin Tuna ($26.95). I ordered it grilled mediumrare, as tuna should never be overcooked. It came to the table perfectly grilled to my order. It was nestled on a white truffleportabella risotto and topped with crispy straw onions and micro greens. The tuna was flavorful and moist and complemented well by the risotto, which was also prepared beautifully. Neither mushy nor too tough, it
had a little “tooth” to it, as a good risotto should. The addition of the crispy onions added an interesting and tasty texture contrast. The entire entrée was presented and prepared with care and skill. My partner, Caleb, chose the Moroccan Spiced Swordfish ($28.95), as he has always been a fan of Casablanca Café the traditional Moroccan 3049 Alhambra St., Fort Lauderdale, FL seasonings. His plate 954-764-3500 arrived with a nicely panseared filet of Atlantic Swordfish scented through Friday. There is a piano bar inside, with cinnamon, cardamom and other aro- and live entertainment is featured most matic spices. It was accompanied by cous nights in season. We enjoyed our early cous, a cucumber relish, and a honey- autumn evening at Casablanca theservice yogurt sauce just to finish that Middle was friendly and prompt, and the space Eastern flair. While he was at first skeptical itself was perfect. Yes, it may, at times, be a about how it would all play together, he ulti- little “touristy.” And, yes, at times it is mately decided that not only did it work, but rather crowded with tables quite close it workedvery well indeed. It was nearly like together. But put that aside. We live in an having a tzatziki sauce for dipping the fish. area where we are fortunate to enjoy beauHe devoured every bite, only later confess- tiful weather while so much of our country ing that he is often not a fan of swordfish. does not. Casablanca is made just for those evenings. I know that we will return again He certainly was that night! Casablanca also offers a lunch menu, and before summer does. And I look forward to it is open seven days a week. Happy Hour it. H runs 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday Photo courtesy, Panoramio
Aaahhh ... those first few fall evenings in South Florida when the breezes are blowing, the humidity has dropped, and the air smells fresh and clean. That time of year when so much of the country is putting away the patio and deck furniture while we are preparing to put ours to good use. South Floridians come out of their hibernation and get ready to revel in the outdoors for the next seven months or so. It is evenings like this that make us want to take advantage of our surroundings and dine al fresco. One of those very recent evenings found the car making its way to Casablanca Café, that gem of an historic landmark overlooking our beautiful beach. With mild breezes blowing and a night when long sleeves felt appropriate and comfortable, we decided to dine at Casablanca. This a spot where dining outside is nearly mandatory. We were willing to wait for an alfresco table, which is often the case on busy nights, but our wait was not long. Comfortably seated at a two-top overlooking the ocean and with the soft breezes bringing an ever-so-slight chill, we were ready for a true Fort Lauderdale experience. Along with our cocktails, we decided to begin our evening with an order of Prince Edward Island Mussels ($11.95), in honor of our view of the sea. Large, succu-
jean’s Rosemary Almonds Provençal kitchen There are various proven benefits for eating almonds in our daily diet. It is the best natural fat-burning food. It’s high fiber content helps you lose weight naturally. Additionaly, a high-fiber content helps in proper digestion as well as increasing energy levels. Consider this: substituting almonds as a snack or adding them to salads and other dishes can lower your cholesterol level and lower your risk of heart disease. One study has shown that by substituting nuts for an equivalent amount of carbohydrates in a regular diet reduced heart disease by 30%, and, when substituted for saturated fats found in meats and dairy products, reduced heart disease by 45%. These are high percentages and make ignoring the many health benefits of almonds quite hard! I use sliced roasted almonds in two of my desserts at “le patio.” • 3 tablespoons of good olive oil • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed • 1 teaspoon fleur de sel (hand-harvested sea salt) • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper • 2 cups raw fresh almonds Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a deep baking sheet, mix the seasonings into
the olive oil, and then toss in the almonds. Bake the seasoned nuts for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring once or twice, until toast ed and fragrant. Remove from the heat and serve warm or at room temperature, You are the Chef ! H
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Jean Doherty is the Chef and Owner of Le Patio Restaurant in Wilton Manors (954) 530-4641
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EMPLOYMENT NEW MIAMI BAR - A Beautiful and upscale New Gay Bar located in the heart of Downtown Miami is opening soon - we are looking for Barbacks, Security, Bartenders, Cocktail Servers, DJ's, MC, VIP Host, Cashier, Male Dancers. Also looking for an experienced Bar Mgr. and Dance Mgr. Excellent Pay and benefits. Send Photos, Resume, Contact Info to: newmiamiclub@gmail.com RETAIL SALES POSITION - full or part-time available immediately! Call (954)873-3889 DAY LABORERS WANTED!!! Must be able to lift/move furniture without incident. E-mail rgmsell@aol.com SHORT ORDER COOK WANTED! Now hiring all shifts-must be able to flip an egg in a pan. Apply in person @ Courtyard Café, 2211 Wilton Drive. NO phone calls please. 78 DEGREES SPA is looking for a skin-care specialist for our Wilton Manors Spa (male preferred). Great opportunity to build clientele or expand established client list. Season is just around the corner! Please call (954)630-1444; ask for John.
COMPUTER SERVICES **OPTIMA** COMPUTER REPAIR - COMPLETE IN HOME SERVICE. Get the best performance, protection & value from your computer investment, *A+ Hardware & OS CERTIFIED. *Friendly, professional, RELIABLE service. Reasonable rates. Call Mike (954) 817-3883
MODELS WANTED - My Tropixxx in Fort Lauderdale is looking for models for its marketing campaign. Please apply in person at 1514 N.E. 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale between Noon and 7PM. Monday-Friday. (888)464-5988
DENTAL
HOME IMPROVEMENT COUNSELING A MIND AT PEACE/ THERAPEUTIC SERVICES/ RON "DOC" CHAMBERS, MSW (954) 627-0103 1975 East Sunrise Blvd., Suite 629 Fort Lauderdale. HIV Related Issues /Anxiety /Depression /Schizophrenia /Relationship Problems /Anger Management Problems /Same-Sex Battering /Domestic Violence. Most Insurance Accepted /Credit Cards Accepted.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL SPACE ON FEDERAL HWY - 4400-5400 SQ FT between Oakland Park Blvd and Commercial Blvd. Can be used for medical or retail! Plenty of parking. $11/SQ FT!!! available now. Call Robert MacKilligan, your life partner in real estate. Galleria Intl Realty (954)234-8759 or rgmsell@aol.com
Derek’s 24 HR HANDYMAN SERVICE. Introducing our new cabinet shop! For all your custom made cabinetry countertops laminates. YOU MUST SEE OUR WORK, just ask our clients. All electrical to code; ANY & ALL plumbing work, Drywall finish work / repair. Crown / baseboard pro-install, interior / exterior painting, demo work, Pressure washing, Decor tile install, Complete home up-dates. For large jobs, 4-man crew available. WE CAN HANDLE IT ALL! Instant call back, direct service response. No job is ever too small. Excellent references. Derek (954) 825-5598 LAWN & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE - For all of your landscaping needs from interior to exterior including clean up and plant care at reasonable prices, call Daniel at Exotic Landscaping 954-520-9140. Licensed. We also do property management on large and small properties.
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EMPLOYMENT HAIR STYLIST WANTED!! Be your own boss. Rent a chair at a reasonable price in a cozy salon in Delray Beach on US1. Call (561)909-9055 SMARTY PANTS BAR IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR EXPERIENCED BARTENDERS. If you are a team player with an upbeat personality and positive attitude, you would be the one we are looking for. Drop by the bar and fill out an application or drop off your resume, Mon – Fri between 9am-Noon. We are located on the S.E. corner of Oakland Park Blvd. and Federal Hwy. at Time Square Plaza. PT / FT ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE NEEDED - We are a streaming / internet LGBT radio station, south florida based. This a commissioned sales position. For more info do contact us via email; Info.MyGayRadio@gmail.com
METH PROBLEM? www.SouthFloridaCMA.org
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RENTALS / FTL 2/1 CONDO ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF WILTON MANORS. Pool, located on the canal, dead end street; near I-95 and Oakland Pk Blvd. Dish washer. Includes cable and water. Coin laundry machines located on property. $800/month. Call (954)937-3872. ROYAL PARK - Near Wilton Manors 1BR/1.5BA, $825-$900/mo. 2BR/2BA, $950 - $1100/mo. Gated Security, Clubhouse, Pools, Gym, Sauna and Steam room. Pets OK. Cable/Water/Trash included. Call Naim Naqi, Broker/ SFG, Realtors (954)565.2025
LICENSED MASSAGE AWESOME MASSAGE BY JIM - Special First Time Client Rates. Offering Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and Lomi Lomi Massage. All in a very comfortable, relaxed and Private Massage Studio conveniently located On the SE Corner of Oakland Park Blvd and Federal Hwy - Nationally Certified and Licensed MM22293 - www.massagebyjim.com or call Jim Libonati (954)600-5843 info@massagebyjim.com RECESSION RELIEF - $40/90 MINS! LEAVE YOUR STRESS UP TO ME. Out calls higher. Let Denny make you feel like a Queen. Couples discounts, seniors welcome. New location: Delray Beach. 16 yrs experience. MA 18563. Denny (561) 502-2628.
MOVING ELITE RELOCATION MOVING & STORAGE We've provided quality moves for over 30 years. It's always a smooth move when you choose Elite Relocation. Contact us today at (954)975-8660 - www.elitemoving.com RED BOX MOVING - OWNER IN TRUCK ON EVERY MOVE. CALL NORBERT DIRECTLY. Affordable, Reliable, Careful. MV#567/INSURED. (954) 305-9176 or (561) 506-5540 www.redboxmoving.com GUYS and DOLLIES. Moving * Storage * Packing * Crating * Shipping. “A” Rated Member of the BBB Register Movers since 1976. Major credit cards accepted. For free price quote, Call (954) 566-1270
OAKLAND PARK - Coral Heights Section, 2BD/2BA Freshly Painted, All New just 2 years ago including tiled floors in both bedrooms, both baths have been updated with white vanities, kitchen has maple cabinets and white appl, Maple floors in kitchen, dining room and living room, PLUS Oversized "Florida Room", fenced backyard, W/D, small pets OK, F/L/S/ move in now. Home is 1/2 of a Duplex, $1250.00/mo. Call for appt. (954)234-8759 Robert Geary MacKilligan "Your Life Partner In Real Estate" Bank Certified Specialist - Galleria Intl Realty on Las Olas SPACIOUS STUDIO, COTTAGE/ FT.LAUD/ NEAR WILTON MANORS - Private complex/parking, separate entrance, Garden/courtyard, Full kitchen/bath/walk-in closet, CAC, tile floors. Close to Beach/Bars/shopping. Reduced $650/mo. For Info call, NOON-8PM (954)522-8147 LAKERIDGE 1/1 GARDEN SETTING - Charming one bedroom apt in this well-maintained Lakeridge 5-plex. Tile floors, CAC, great location. Small pets OK with approval. Water and sewer included. Fabulous garden setting with sitting areas. Clean and ready now. $760/mo. Call Michael (954)540-3543 WILTON MANORS - Walk to the Drive! Small 1/1. Tile throughout. Ceiling fans, 2 A/C units, laundry avail. $640/mo. $300 sec. dep. (954)537-7513 SAILBOAT BEND 2/1 - Renovated 2/1 apt. in a beautiful complex. Spacious living area, granite counters, S/S appliances, tile throughout. CAC. Historic Sailboat Bend neighborhood. Asking $1100. Call Alex, Re/Max Preferred (954)683-4880. PRIVATE YARDS AND MINUTES TO WILTON MANORS Nice 1/1 in a newly renovated complex minutes from Wilton Manors. Private yard and entrance for each unit. Granite counters, newer appliance, tile flooring, W/D on premise. Asking $800. Call Alex, Re/Max Preferred (954)683-4880.
ALWAYS MOVING!!! (305) 650-9080 Flat Rates & Free Estimates! Know what you're getting before you move. Licensed & Insured. MC/Visa/Discover. Family Owned 20 years, complete moving.
HUGE ONE BEDROOM, LIKE NEW CONSTRUCTION Huge and newly renovated private 1/1 apt. with brand new S/S appliances, CAC, granite counters, tile flooring and giant bedroom, over-sized walk in closet. Great bathroom, party shower. Asking $900. Call Alex, Re/Max Preferred (954)683-4880
RENTALS / FTL
LIKE NEW CONSTRUCTION MASTERPIECE - This home has been renovated with such detail it is for the pickiest tenant. Stunning granite kitchen, tray ceilings, high end lighting, W/D in home, lots of parking, great part of South Middle River just blocks from Wilton Dr. Asking $1200. Call Alex, Re/Max Preferred (954)683-4880
FORT LAUDERDALE - IMPERIAL POINT - Well-maintained, quiet 1 bedroom apartment in Georgian Court complex on NE 62nd Street. Convenient to downtown, beach and Wilton Manors. Nice grounds and pool. $700/mo. Call (917)334-1146 NATURE LOVERS PARADISE! - FANTASTIC 1/1 Near Wilton Manors. Great backyard! Pets OK with approval. Satellite, garbage & water included. F/L/S $795/mo. Call (954)632-6662
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GORGEOUS CUSTOM BUILT IN 2007 3/2.5 TOWNHOUSE 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath town home w/ 2 car garage! Saturnia marble floors throughout, open gourmet kitchen, private fenced patio/yard. In Immaculate condition. Just minutes to Downtown/Las Olas, I95, Beaches, Shopping and more! Asking $2450 Call Alex, Re/Max Preferred (954) 683-4880
NOW OPEN!
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RENTALS / FTL LAKERIDGE COZY APARTMENT W/ SLEEPING LOFT. Full bath & kitchen. Tile floors, ceiling fan, tropical secluded pool & patio area. 1 mile to beach & Wilton drive. Within Hooper transportation to Wilton Drive. On-site laundry available. Private off-street parking. Unfurnished. No smoking/ no pets. For one quiet person only/no drama. Electric, WiFi, Direct TV, water included. $750 a month. (954) 636-9298 FT LAUDERDALE - CONDO QUALITY 2BR/1BA - Walk in shower, Designer bath, Open Granite Kitchen, Smooth top range, D/W, Icemaker, very large unit, CAC. $1185/mo. 1yr Lease, F/S. Call (954) 448-9811 WILTON MANORS AREA - very nice 2/1, CAC & heat, tile floors, private patio & parking, W/D hook-ups, dishwasher, hurricane windows, gated entry. $975/mo. F/L/S Call (954)682-9428 ALIBI AREA FURNISHED EFFICIENCY APT. Efficiency with private entrance and parking, walk-in closet, ceiling fan, AC, kitchenette, laundry on site, electric and Direct TV included, NO SMOKING, NO PETS: $650/mo+sec. Call 954-682-9428
NOVEMBER 3, 2011
SPIRITUALITY
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU‌ DIVINE MERCY CHAPEL - The American New Catholic Church 2749 N.E. 10th Ave., Wilton Manors, FL, 33334 (954)567-1930 Sunday Mass 10:30AM, Friday Holy Hour 7:00PM www.newdivinemercy.org CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRITSONG Welcomes you to come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am and every Wednesday night at 8 pm. We meet at the SpiritSong Worship Center at 2040B North Dixie Highway Suite 3 in Wilton Manors (Building B on Equality Park Campus, behind the Pride Center). God loves you just the way He made you. Come discover His purpose for you. For more info: (954) 418-8372, info@cohss.com, www.cohss.org.
UPHOLSTERY GOLD COAST UPHOLSTERY - Re-upholstering, Cushions, Throw pillows, Large selection of fabric to choose from or bring in your own fabric. Broward / Dade. Palm Beach. Call Edgar (954) 491-4937
CUSTOM JEWELRY
FURNISHED / RENTALS / FTL PERFECT RELOCATION RENTALS FROM $295/WEEK With 4 Week Minimum through December. Beautiful Studio, 1 & 2 BR Apts. Turn-key, fully furnished & equipped, clothing optional pool, laundry, parking. Close to Gay & Nude Beaches. Pets Welcome. Incl. utilities, cable, tel., Wi-Fi Internet. 954927-0090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com
SPIRITUALITY THE PARISH OF STS. FRANCIS & CLARE 101 NE 3rd Street - just North of Broward Blvd. and E of Andrews Ave. Mass Times: Sat @ 5 PM; Sun @ 10:30 AM; Wed @ 7 PM. Where we welcome and appreciate diversity - a progressive community in the Catholic tradition. (954)731-8173; www.stsfrancisandclare.org DIGNITY FT LAUDERDALE - Roman Catholic Mass every Sunday 7 PM at Holy Angels CC 2917 NE 6th Ave, Wilton Manors. Monthly socials and more. There is always room at our table. Dignityftl@bellsouth.net.
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