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“POWERLINE CREW” CLEANS UP “Renewal” is the watchword these days for residents and visitors to the western end of Wilton Manors, The once-blighted neighborhood near NW 9 Ave is getting a face lift and then some. Courtesy, blisstree.com
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HEALTH
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDY: New research from the Ivy League U shows that same-sex marrige improves health conditions among gay men, whether they decide to tie the knot - or not.
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ENTERTAINMENT
GLAAD & HRC BLAST ABC-TV FOR NEW SHOW “Work-It” Groups condemn net for depictions of damaging stereotypes of transgenders.
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TRAVEL
GAY TRAVEL O THE RISE The annual report of gay and lesbian market research firm Community Marketing shows Gay travelers still taking vacations....
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President Bill Clinton to Deliver Address at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts By JAMES MICHAELS
Former President Bill Clinton will share his insights and observations in a program entitled Embracing Our Common Humanity. The event will take place at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m., in the venue’s Au-Rene Theater. The evening will feature the 42nd President of the United States exploring the challenges of globalization, the growing interdependence of nations, and ways toward a common future based on shared goals and values. "As Broward County's official cultural embassy, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts plays an important role in promoting the exchange of ideas," said Broward Center President and CEO Kelley Shanley. "We are pleased to have this opportunity to
bring President Clinton to Broward County for this exclusive South Florida speaking engagement." After serving as President of the United States for eight years from 1993 to 2001, Clinton founded the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the U.S. and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. The Clinton Foundation includes staff and volunteers around the world working through several initiatives that address critical health issues, climate change, and sustainable growth in developing countries. President Clinton was named United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti in 2009 following a series of devastating hurricanes. The appointment built on his longstanding commitment to Haiti
while in the White House and his work through the Clinton Global Initiative, which has brought together thousands of world leaders, business executives, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and innovative thinkers to take action to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. President Clinton and former President George W. Bush established the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund following the 2010 earthquake to raise funds for immediate, high-impact relief and long-term recovery efforts on the island. Tickets are on sale now to the general public and are available through the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box office at 954/462-0222 or www.BrowardCenter.org.
Gamma Mu Foundation Rings In The New Year On Friday, December 30, the Gamma Mu Foundation kicks off three days of New Year’s events in Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale. Called HEAT 12, the weekend is the non-profit organization’s major yearly fundraising effort. The weekend events are open to both Foundation members and those who want to contribute financially to the organization’s ongoing philanthropic efforts. As described in the Gammu Mu Foundation’s Mission Statement, these efforts are aimed at establishing "… a perpetual, philanthropic fund to provide financial assistance for the health, enhancement, and pride of our community." The Gamma Mu Foundation was organized to endow financial grants to organizations and individuals, mostly in rural America, to make direct assistance available to people with HIV/AIDS. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-
exempt organization under the rules of the IRS Code. Its genesis as a charitable institution began in 1989, when members of the private Gamma Mu Fraternity established the separate Gamma Mu Foundation to support many of the unmet needs of the gay community on a nationwide, ongoing basis. Initially, the projects of the Foundation were funded by the original Board of Directors, but from its inception, the group’s intention has been to build that seed-support through the contributions of its members, as well as their friends and associates, and those who are looking to aid in the group’s ongoing efforts. Says Foundation board member John Ellis II, “Once I joined the social side of Gamma Mu, I realized how the ongoing work the Foundation blended with my desire to work within our community to help the Foundation grow.”
By CLIFF DUNN
Like other board and Foundation members, Ellis recalls his skills as a successful businessman dovetailed well with the non-profit’s needs for experts to take part in the way the funding for the Grants and Scholarships is utilized. The Foundation bestows its largesse in a number of ways. According to the nonprofit’s Web site, these include awarding grants to 501(c)(3)’s working in America’s rural HIV/AIDS environment, providing graduate-level scholarships to college and university students whose degree programs have a positive influence on LGBT-acceptance in the community-atlarge, conducting fundraising events across the U.S. (such as next weekend’s HEAT 12 in Greater Fort Lauderdale) and providing both the means and knowhow to establish outright, annual, and memorial gifts, and planned giving through wills, charitable trusts, and life insurance assignments. ‘GAMMA MU’ continues on Page 2
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Those benefiting from Foundation programs include persons with HIV/AIDS (PWA's) and their families. Starting in 1999, the Foundation expanded its policies to include grants for programs other than HIV/AIDS. These include the awarding of undergraduate and advance degree scholarships to gay men as well as grants to organizations meeting special needs within LGBT groups that include youths, seniors, and victims of domestic violence. The Foundation also provides funding through research and public education grants with the goal of making the world a better place for everyone, without regard to a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. In all cases, the Foundation looks to make grants to organizations located in rural areas where the need is great and the resources are often very limited. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $1,500,000 to more than 100 organizations: over 90% of these awards have been in rural areas. Says board member Ellis, “To my knowledge we are among very few organizations giving grants to rural HIV/AIDS support groups in this manner.” Grants and scholarships are bestowed annually by the Foundation based upon a formal application and approval process. Only organizations and individuals in the United States are eligible for Gamma Mu Foundation financial assistance. All groups qualifying for Gamma Mu Foundation assistance must currently qualify as 501(c)3 charitable organizations as defined by the IRS. With the exception of scholarships, Gamma Mu Foundation does not make financial assistance grants to individuals. Even at a time when Americans routinely contribute 2% of our annual gross domestic product to charitable and non-profit organizations - in excess of $175 billion annually – there is always a need for the assistance of other benefactors to support the Foundation’s goals. “Our requests for grants far exceed the funds available on a yearly basis,” Ellis notes. “The scholarship requests also way outnumber the available funds. The grants and scholarships we do fund are well deserving and very effective in their communities.”
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Ellis says that the grant and scholarship requests are read by a large group of volunteers, who use a one-to-ten scale to score each individual application, based upon a range of criteria. At the conclusion of that process, the results are compiled and winners selected at the Foundation’s annual meeting. “Those of us who are ‘readers’ feel that the process is awakening,” emphasizes Ellis. “At the conclusion, we really have a sense of contributing to the community and a certain understanding of how much need there is for what we do.” Ellis and his fellow “readers” say that the scholarship review process can be especially emotional times. The scholarship requests from individual students
background information such as school records, but also there are also stories about the personal experiences of the applicants, which include in numerous instances tales of bullying and family rejection. Notes Ellis: “We focus on selecting the students who are scholastically able to succeed, but there is no question that when you read stories about kids who have been thrown out on the street by their parents, or their church, or have been bullied at school because of their lifestyle, it is difficult not to be extremely touched.” New Year’s weekend promises to be an entertaining time for the Florida members of the Foundation, who are hosting their fellows from across the country. The kick-off event on December 30, “Manor Sizzle,” is a three-hour post-work-week casual mixer at The Manor Restaurant and Nightclub Complex in Wilton Manors, hosted by entertainer Joe Posa as “Joan Rivers,” followed on Saturday night with their New Year’s Eve 16th Annual Tropics Ball and Casino Royale fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, and Sunday’s “Wake Up Bloodies-Plus” Brunch at the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Reflecting upon the work of the Gamma Mu Foundation, and its founder, Cliff Pettit, Ellis says that in addition to a sense of accomplishment, his membership in the organization has paid dividends of a different nature. “When I joined Gamma Mu I, had just retired from a corporate position, and found myself with a lot of time available,” recalls Ellis. “The first benefit was being able to meet new people and develop new friendships, many outside of Florida. Being active in the Foundation has increased that number of friends manifold, and I have been able to work on and build upon something I truly believe in.”
For more information about the Gamma Mu Foundation and HEAT 12, visit www.gammamufoundation.org. Ellis: “When you read stories about kids who have been thrown out on the street by their parents, or their church, or have been bullied at school because of their lifestyle, it is difficult not to be extremely touched.”
“Powerline Crew” Cleans Up West Side of Wilton Manors By Cliff Dunn “Renewal” is the watchword these days for residents and visitors to the western end of Wilton Manors, where twelve months of rejuvenation to a once-blighted part of Broward County is already proving out. Since December 2010, Urban Dynamic Communities (UDC) has been purchasing and renovating apartments along the Island City’s NW 9 Avenue corridor. Business and community leaders say UDC’S efforts are changing the face of the city, earning them the nickname “The Powerline Cleanup Crew.” “I am delighted with the work being done on Powerline,” says Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick. “We have been encouraging private investment to clean up Powerline, which is an area we have long targeted for renovation. We fully support this effort.” Home to close to 12,000 people, many residents are unaware that the 1.94 square mile city reaches Interstate 95 on its westernmost boundary. To date, UDC has purchased five apartment buildings. At the time of purchase, all but one of the properties was vacant and boarded-up. The vacant buildings became havens for drugs and transient individuals, many of whom, officials say, were likewise involved in other criminal activities. Krishan Manners, President and CEO of Wilton Manors Main Street, notes that Wilton Manors Police have done a credible job in removing that element from the area, but until all of the vacant buildings are rehabilitated it continues to be a challenge for the city. For their part, the owners of UDC say they are in this for the long haul. “We are longterm investors that keep properties for long periods of time,” said Larry Baum, a partner in UDC. “We like to outreach into the community and become more involved,” he adds. “Before my partners, Shlomo Khoudari , Oscar Rodriguez and I invest in a particular community, we make certain we feel comfortable being there for at least 10 years.” Others say that while the progress continues, there is more to be done. Manners notes that the Como Apartments located at 2412 NW 9 Avenue remain boarded up across the street from the rehabilitated buildings. These units, purchased through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) by Broward County, remain a problem for
the area. Despite being boarded up, there are still people going into the abandoned structure. Main Street’s Manners is upbeat about the coming months. “This area of the city is prime ground for redevelopment,” he offers, “and affordable housing is exactly what is needed to restore this area to a safe and attractive part of the city.”
Miracle on 9th Avenue
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OPINION
The True Meaning of ****
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“ s long as we know in our hearts what ******* ought to be, ******* is." Eric Sevareid (1912-1992), American newscaster. “This is the message of *******: We are never alone.” Taylor Caldwell (1900-1985), English novelist. “There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake ******* morning and not be a child."” Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), American author and humorist. “I will honor ******* in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English author, 'A ******* Carol'. “Unless we make ******* an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'." Bing Crosby (1904-1977), American singer and film actor.
“My idea of *******, whether oldfashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for ******* to do that?" Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian. A lovely thing about ******* is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together." Garrison Keillor (1942-), American author, storyteller, and humorist. “The perfect ******* tree? All ******* trees are perfect!" Charles N. Barnard, American author, travel writer. “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on ******* day. Don't clean it up too quickly." Andy Rooney (1919-2011), American writer, producer, and humorist. “******* is doing a little something extra for someone." Charles Schulz (1922-2000), American cartoonist, creator of “Peanuts.” “Maybe *******," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe
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Cliff Dunn *******... perhaps... means a little bit more." Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), American author of children's books. From “How The Grinch Stole *******.” “Which ******* is the most vivid to me? It's always the next *******." Joanne Woodward (1930- ), American film actress. Note: Please substitute for “*******” your choice of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Festivus, Saturnalia, dies natalis solis invicti, National Bouillabaisse Day (mark it: every December 14), or whatever hits you in the “peace on Earth, goodwill to all Men” spot.
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Merry *******!
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WORLDNEWSNEWSNEWS Ugandan President Defiant about LGBT Rights; tells UN not to “Lecture” Him Uganda’s president is unapologetic about his nation’s record of LGBT, warning developed nations of the consequences of requiring improvements in gay civil rights as a requirement for receiving foreign aid. Attending a meeting of African heads of state on December 16 in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni told delegates "Before anyone gives me a lecture about homosexuals and their rights, first talk about railways.” Adding that, “homosexuals also need electricity, homosexuals also need roads, homosexuals also need railways.” On December 6, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told delegates of the United Nations in Geneva that gay rights are fundamental human rights. British Prime Minister David Cameron this fall likewise called for the slashing of foreign aid to British Commonwealth nations that continue to criminalize homosexual conduct. Among these are Grenada, where homosexuality is illegal and carries a ten-year prison sentence, and Jamaica, which punishes homosexuality with ten years hard labor. U.S. officials have taken great pains to emphasize that the LGBT foreign policy directives outlined by the Obama administration last week are “affirmative, not punitive.” They cite Clinton’s outlining of a $3 million international fund to build support for LGBT rights in places where homosexual conduct is criminalized and where gays face discrimination and violence. In spite of the provocative nature of Museveni’s remarks, some Uganda-watchers say the comments actually represent a relaxing of attitudes, in that the African president until recently rarely if ever acknowledged the existence of gay Ugandans.
UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
UN Official: “End Gay Executions” Last week, the United Nations’ senior human rights official called on nations to permanently end legal discrimination against gays, which in some places includes capital punishment for consensual sex. Navi Pillay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, made her announcement just days after President Barack Obama said the U.S. government will use foreign aid and diplomacy to promote gay rights internationally. Pillay, whose four-year term as High Commission for Human Rights began in September 2008, also called on international governments to abolish all forms of abuse based on sexual orientation. The High Commissioner’s urging was issued in a report that was released on December 15 to the United Nations Human Rights Council. In June that 47-nation panel voted to pass its first resolution condemning discrimination directed at LGBT persons. Although the resolution was hailed by the U.S., its European allies, and other countries, it was condemned by a number of Muslim and African nations. "Governments and inter-governmental bodies have often overlooked violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity," said Pillay, the first non-white woman to serve on the High Court of South Africa. "On the basis of the information presented [in the report], a pattern of human rights violations emerges that demands a response," she noted. The U.N. Human Rights Council report also condemned the ongoing practice of using the death penalty to punish same-sex relations in Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen, and called for legislation to decriminalize consenting gay sex in 76 other countries. The report does not call for the legalization of same-sex marriage; however, it states that nations must take steps to guarantee that “unmarried same-sex couples are treated in the same way and entitled to the same benefits as unmarried opposite-sex couples.” On December 6, President Obama announced that the United States would use all the tools at its disposal, including foreign aid, to promote gay equal rights internationally. That same day, in Geneva, Switzerland, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton promised that the administration would fight attempts by countries to criminalize gay conduct, as well as efforts to abuse LGBT people, or ignore such abuse against them. Clinton, appearing before the U.N. Human Rights Council, told the delegates, “Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct, but in fact they are one and the same.”
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Courtyard Café ‘Bikes’ in the Holidays for Kids in Distress The city sidewalk was a busy sidewalk in front of 2211 Wilton Drive on December 20. At 11 a.m. that morning, Wilton Manors police, doing their best take on “Miracle on 34th Street,” had barricaded the right lane of southbound traffic to accommodate the large panel truck which had been ordered to take possession of fifty brandnew bicycles. Their destination: Kids in Distress. That Tuesday morning was the culmination of a month-long campaign to solicit bicycle, toy, and other donations to benefit the Fort Lauderdale counseling and health center with a mission to prevent child abuse, preserve families, and treat children who have been abused and neglected. Nick Berry and Shawn Bombard, the owners of Shawn and Nick's Courtyard Café in Wilton Manors, had put out the call to friends, associates, and those imbued with the holiday spirit to donate what they could, but especially in the form of new bikes. Berry and his life partner, Joe Bush, had already collected close to thirty bicycles by December 17, the night of their annual by-invitation-only Christmas Benefit. They had also collected a large amount of unwrapped toys for kids through teens to deliver to the child welfare service organization located on N.E. 26 Street in Wilton Manors. Courtyard Café and its owners have a long history of working with area service organizations and charitable groups, both within and outside the LGBT community, an abbreviated list of which includes Hospice of Gold Coast, Poverello, Broward House, the Pride Center at Equality Park, Women in Network, the Ryan White Foundation, and Kids in Distress. Bombard, Berry, and Bush were rewarded for their individual and collective efforts with a major pay-out: dozens of toys, several hundred dollars in cash and checks, and the final twowheel tally: fifty bicycles donated by noon on December 19. The gifts were taken by truck at around noon on December 20 from Courtyard Café to Kids in Distress several blocks away, where they will be distributed on Christmas Day, along with, one imagines, presents delivered the previous night via reindeer. Of collecting nearly a dozen more bicycles than he had anticipated, Courtyard’s Berry remem-
bers the happy truce he and boyfriend Bush had made with the two-wheelers, all in the name of bringing the Christmas spirit to some neglected kids. “They were taking over the entire house,” Berry laughs. “I had bikes in the garage, bikes in the main hallway. At one point we might have had a couple in the guest bathroom. But it was worth it.”
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POLITICS POLITICS Here Come the Grooms: GOP Rivals Outline Different Visions for Same-Sex Marriage The two leading Republican presidential hopefuls are outlining competing visions for what they see as the future of same-sex marriage if they are elected next November. Mitt Romney, once considered the unchallenged frontrunner for the 2012 GOP nomination, has outlined a proposal that calls for a three-tier system that specifically defines marriage for LGBT persons. Speaking to the Boston Herald newspaper, the former Massachusetts governor laid out a plan for a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution that includes maintaining marriage rights for heterosexual couples, recognizing existing samesex unions, and barring recognition of future same-sex marriages. Said Romney, 64, with respect to his plan: “I think it would keep intact those marriages which had occurred under the law but maintain future plans based on marriage being between a man and a woman,” Romney said. California’s 2008 passage of its Marriage Protection Act -- Proposition 8 -- which barred samesex marriage, led to similar conditions in the Golden State: an end to future weddings between gay couples, along with recognition of the 18,000 same-sex unions that had already been performed. The aspiring Matchmaker-in-Chief’s plan for a Federal mandate contradicts his earlier political position. In 1994, during his unsuccessful challenge to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Romney said that “the authorization of marriage on a same-sex basis falls under state jurisdiction.” Romney’s proposal has also been criticized by members of his party. On December 15, the Log Cabin Republicans released a statement calling the plan “unworkable, unnecessary, and entirely foreign to the United States’ founding principle of equality under the law.” The group’s Executive Director, R. Clarke Cooper, wrote that “Governor Romney is contorting himself into a pretzel trying to avoid the simplest solution to a purely political problem. The best way to strengthen all families is to grant equal access to civil marriage for all couple regardless of their orientation.” Meanwhile, the man who has emerged as the most serious threat to Romney’s nomination aspirations has taken a completely different turn on the issue, with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich singing the National Organization for Marriage’s (NOM) “marriage pledge,” also on December 15. NOM’s pledge states that candidates will work to support an amendment to the Constitution barring same-sex marriage, as well as “establish[ing] a presidential commission on religious liberty to investigate and document reports of Americans who have been harassed or threatened for exercising key civil rights to organize, to speak, to donate, or to vote for marriage, and to propose new protections, if needed.” According to NOM’s website, the pledge also requires that, if elected president, the candidate will appoint federal judges and an attorney general who "will respect the original meaning" of the Constitution's definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. Gingrich’s own marriage history includes two divorces, each of which reportedly ended after the 67-year-old former Georgia congressman’s infidelities, and while each of his wives was seriously ill. He married his third wife, former congressional aide Callista Bisek, in 2000 after a six-year extramarital affair he has acknowledged. In 2010, Esquire.com reported that when asked how he could act unfaithfully towards two seriously ill wives and still give a speech on family values, Gingrich replied that "people need to hear what I have to say. There's no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn't matter what I live." Gingrich’s half-sister, Candace Gingrich-Jones, a gay woman and LGBT rights activist, said during an interview with MSNBC that her older half-brother "is definitely on the wrong side of history when it comes to [gay rights] issues." Gingrich-Jones says that she will support President Obama’s reelection in 2012.
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Bachmann’s Husband to lead Anti-Gay Marriage Campaign as First Spouse Marcus Bachmann, husband of Tea Party favorite and Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann, told reporters last week what he plans to do as First Husband if his wife is elected president. At a campaign stop in Iowa on December 1 6 , Bachmann took at swipe at First Lady Michelle Obama, saying "I've decided my cause is not going to be happy meals," a reference to the First Lady’s children's health initiative. Bachmann said he would use his influence to spearhead a national campaign with an anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage theme. "We are going to get this message across," he announced. "Marriage is between one man and one woman. We are going to promote families." Bachmann and his wife, a Minnesota congresswoman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, are the owners of
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Bachmann & Associates, a Christian counseling practice run by Mr. Bachmann, who holds a PhD in clinical psychology, although he is not a licensed psychologist in Minnesota. Bachmann denies reports that the counseling business performs conversion therapy, the controversial psychological treatment which attempts to transform gay persons into heterosexuals. The practice has been condemned by the A m e r i c a n Psychological Association. In a July interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune, Bachmann said that “counselors at his clinics follow the wishes of patients and don't force any treatment.” The Star Tribune reported that “Bachmann didn't deny that he or other counselors at Bachmann & Associates have attempted to convert gay patients, but he said it is not a special interest of the business and would only be attempted at the client's request.” "Will I address it? Certainly we'll talk about it," Bachmann said in the interview. "Is it a remedy form that I typically would use? ... It is at the client's discretion."
Mississippi Mayor Comes Out After Billing Taxpayers for Sex Shop Visit Southaven, Mississippi mayor Greg Davis was forced out of City Hall’s closet after state auditors discovered His Honor had utilized public money to cover his personal expenses, including those from a gay sex shop. "At this point in my life and in my career, while I have tried to maintain separation between my personal and public life, it is obvious that this can no longer remain the case," Davis acknowledged after receipts from state auditors showed he had spent thousands of dollars to purchase liquor and high-end meals, as well as a personal getaway. Davis, a Republican, also charged $67 at Priape, a store in Toronto described on its Web site as "Canada's premiere gay lifestyle store and sex shop." "While I have performed my job as mayor, in my opinion, as a very conservative, progressive individual -- and still continue to be a very conservative individual -- I think that it is important that I discuss the struggles I have had over the last few years when I came to the realization that I am gay," he offered. Davis ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008 on a conservative political platform. The mayor was being investigated for criminal charges that he allegedly misused $170,000 on both city-
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issued and personal credit cards. To date, Davis has reportedly repaid $96,000. In November, Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering told Fox News, "Clothing purchases, family counseling and personal meals and entertainment are in no way authorized expenses for the city and should not be paid for on the taxpayers' dime." "These expenses submitted by Mayor Davis as official events and purchases on behalf of the city are a betrayal of the public's trust, and I intend to pursue the recovery of this money to the fullest extent of the law,” she added.
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South Florida Stars Cut the Rug to Benefit HIV Humanitarian Group It was a night of music, merriment, and tripping-the-light-fantastic on Monday, December 12, as The Manor Nightclub and Restaurant Complex in Wilton Manors hosted Dancing with the South Florida Stars, to support fitness and nutrition programs for individuals with HIV and non-HIV-related life-threatening conditions. The event, sponsored by Stork’s Bakery & Coffee House in Wilton Manors, The Naked Grape Wine Bar in Wilton Manors, and Boardwalk Bar in Fort Lauderdale, benefited the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation, a service organization that assists financially-challenged people living with HIV/AIDS through free gym memberships, group workouts, and ongoing lifestyle education classes which cover all aspects of living a healthy, balanced lifestyle: diet, exercise, physical and emotional well -being, positive life choices, as well as providing mentoring and life coaching. Using a format familiar to fans of the hit television program “Dancing with the Stars,” ten partnered teams trained for over a month in the dance and aerobics studio at Wilton Manors’ Island City Health and Fitness to ensure they were at peak performance for the event. The teams, culled from a Who’s Who of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s “gaylerati,” included entertainers as well as business and community leaders. The couples were, in numbered order: Jesse Durko and Andrea Lytle, John Zieba and Nicholette, Bobby Blair and Deja Devonair, Michael Driscoll and Cashetta, Bruce Bogan and Electra, Sean David and Dimitri, Reece Darham and Velvet Lenore, Billy Bowser and Misty Eyez, Dean Trantalis and Michelle Verdi-Knapp, and Vince Clancy and Liene Dilorenzo. The Manor Complex’s Epic Nightclub dance floor served as both stage and battleground for the contestants, who performed to a varied song-list which included everything from “Dancing Queen” to the theme from “Dirty Dancing” and polka-esque “The Chicken Dance.” The airline pilot/flight attendant uniform-clad duo of attorney and former Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Dean Trantalis and his dancing partner, Michelle Verdi-Knapp, danced - appropriately enough - to Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly With Me.” When the final steps were danced, the panel of judges, consisting of Richard Hack, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author; Danny Carter, owner and founder of DanceMoves Studio in Fort Lauderdale and a member of the National Dance Council of America; and former Miss Florida and Miss Black Gay USA Champagne Bordeaux, selected the winning the team of Bruce Bogan, owner of Copy This and Planet Press in Wilton Manors, and his partner, drag celebrity entertainer Electra, who danced to “You and Me” from the “Victor/Victoria” soundtrack. Bogan says it was a great experience. “It was a terrific time. From rehearsals to the final performance, this was more than your typical night out. Electra, of course, is an amazing entertainer, but I knew that we had our work cut out for us. But when the lights went down and the music came up, it all came together. I am very pleased with the result.” Chosen by the judges as First and Second Alternates were, respectively, the teams of Misty Eyez and Billy Bowser, and Reece Darham and Velvet Lenore. Darham, chairman of the Rainbow Business Coalition (RBC) and owner of Island City Health and Fitness (ICHF), called the evening a “great success,” and added that it was “so much fun.” ICHF is the primary health club used by the Foundation, providing recipients of the Foundation’s grants with an infrastructure for the organization’s services. Grant recipients also receive an online training program to document their journey to healthy living through exercise, diet, and a good
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emotional outlook, as well as materials to document their success. Among its partners, the Foundation is working with the Pride Center at Equality Park in Wilton Manors, to assist in finding qualified applicants for 2012. Funds for the event were raised to benefit the Foundation through ticket sales, which consisted of the contestants purchasing tables, as well as members of the community at large purchasing individual tickets. Donations from Foundation members and supporters, as well as local businesses and the event’s sponsors for the evening’s silent auction also added to the night’s proceeds. A signed guitar autographed by Chuck Panozzo, co-founder of the rock group Styx, was auctioned off for $1,750. Combined, the night’s projected total came to just over $10,000. Brian Neal, Executive Director and founder of the Foundation was extremely pleased with the night’s results. “I want to thank the entire community for your incredible support. This will allow the Foundation to help many people living with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses with gym memberships, nutritional counseling, life-mentoring classes, and structured group work-out classes with qualified professionals.” The community also expressed its pleasure at what a number of attendees called an “amazing” evening. Charlize Angel, the evening’s emcee, said it was “an incredible night,” and called the event “a huge success,” adding that “it was an amazing show.” “Great event,” applauded John Tanzella, President of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) on Facebook. “I was robbed,” joked contestant Trantalis after the results, then added, “The people! The energy! The fun! And of course the Brian Neil Foundation cause. The generosity of our community is overwhelming. And we all had a great time being a part of it.” Videos from the evening have been uploaded to www.youtube.com Search words: Dancing with the South Florida Stars. Interested applicants for the Foundation’s program are invited to contact Brian Neal for the 2012 enrollment. To qualify, individuals must be HIV positive and/or living with a potentially life-threatening illness. Applicants must be able to show they cannot afford to pay for these services without assistance. A physician’s letter must also be provided to clear all approved recipients to participate in an exercise program. To contact Brian Neal: BrianNealFitness@me.com or call 954-816-0237.
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PaPer Ornaments… a CHristmas stOry By Susan Reichart-Wanko A small boy with blond hair and blue eyes comes home from school with unusual enthusiasm. The cause, no doubt, is the nearing of Christmas and the anticipated arrival of Santa. Not always anxious to show me what’s in his bookbag, the remains of a peanut butter sandwich or a test paper usually being hidden, I was surprised to see him proudly open the bag and pull out a beautiful pair of love-birds, made out of paper, with lovely touches of feathers, realistically drawn, each lovebird exquisitely intertwining. He had made these lovely birds as a decoration for my Christmas tree. In my usual haste, I told him how pretty they were and put them away to place on the tree later. The tree went up and so did the love-birds, placed there every year during my son’s childhood. Other decorations made by him were also hung with care. My little boy grew up and the thrill of Christmas was lost. The tree didn’t have that sparkle and Santa would no longer visit. He wasn’t always home to help decorate and to see that I dutifully placed the love birds on the tree. I continued to do so, despite the years and the tendency to want to pack them away for safe-keeping. When he was older, he finally told me the story of why he chose the love-birds. They signified to him the love between his father and me. When he expressed that significance, I could barely control my emotions, for his father and I had divorced two years after the Christmas he made them.
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Last year, we bought the most beautiful tree we ever had, and new twinkling white lights and the most sparkling decorations. We added the toy soldier, small angel, boy on a sled, and other decorations bought when he was a baby. Now twenty two years old, tall and handsome, with those beautiful blue eyes, he sat and watched me put up the tree. We tried to make a festive day of the tree trimming, but he didn’t feel well enough to help, to sing a Christmas carol, or to place the love-birds on the tree. Several months before Christmas, we found out that he was sick, that he had tested positive for HIV. Suddenly every Christmas of the past is a sacred memory, and not knowing from one year to the next if he will be here for the next holiday makes every Christmas left precious. Each Christmas tree, we pick now will be more spectacular than the year before, and the love-birds I thought of packing away will always be on my tree. The beauty of the Christmas when he brought home the love-birds and the joy on a young boy’s face can never be forgotten. There is an overwhelming sadness at the thought of any Christmas in the years ahead without him, and the thought of a tree after he is gone is something incomprehensible. Despite that, there will always be one, perhaps a tree with no lights or decorations, but a pair of love-birds will adorn it. Susan Reichart-Wanko is the winner of the 1995 Hudson County, New Jersey Writers’ Contest
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THE STYLE VOICE OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY
Travel | Dining | Health | Out In Florida
WHAT’S INSIDE? In this week’s Style & Entertainment: in spite of the lingering sluggishness in the economy the number of LGBT travelers taking to the skies – and the roads, and the seas – has inched its way up this past year; the Sun-Sentinel reported this week that same-sex marriage is common among South Florida’s gay community, even if it isn’t strictly legal in the Sunshine State; speaking of same-sex marriage, a new study from researchers at Columbia University say that gay men’s health improves in places where gay marriage is legal – whether or not they choose to walk down the aisle; and GLAAD and HRC aren’t glad with ABC-TV’s January lineup, and are urging the Network to pull a program featuring two cross-dressing stars (where are Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari when you need them?).
Have a Happy Ho-Ho-Holiday! - CD
GAY TRAVEL NUMBERS INCH THEIR WAY UP
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LGBT Rights Groups not “GLAAD” with ABC TV
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New research shows Same Sex Marriage improves health conditions in gay men.
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GLAAD and HRC blast ABC for “Work It” The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) are condemning the ABC television network, saying that the upcoming cross-dressing comedy Work It "reinforces false and damaging stereotypes about transgender people." The series, which is scheduled to premiere on January 3, deals with the relationship between two straight out-of-work car salesmen (played by Ben Koldyke of How I Met Your Mother, and Amaury Nolasco of Prison Break). After their car dealership closes down, they decide to dress as women in order to secure employment with a pharmaceutical firm that is hiring female sales reps. HRC and GLAAD claim Work It reflects stereotypes about transgender individuals. On its Web site, HRC called for an email campaign to compel ABC not to “air a show that reinforces negative and damaging stereotypes about transgender people.” GLAAD’s Web site published a message from its acting president, Mike Thompson, which stated that the show will only add to the discrimination experienced by members of the transgender community. “Transphobia is still all too prevalent in our society and this show will only contribute to it,” Thompson wrote. “It will reinforce the mistaken belief that transgender women are simply ‘men pretending to be women,’ and that their efforts to live their lives authentically as women are a form of lying or deception.” In addition, GLAAD said that the print advertisement campaign for Work It is especially offensive, including
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ads which depict the show’s main characters standing in front of men’s room urinals while they’re dressed as women. They urged ABC executives to axe them. Said GLAAD: “Not only does it inadvertently further notions that transgender identities are humorous or artificial, but imagery like this is one of the first things anti-LGBT activists resort to when trying to deny transgender people equal access to public facilities and services. We ask that ABC recognize this fact, keep the show’s bathroom advertisement out of circulation, and seriously consider whether airing this show is worth the damage it has the potential to do.”
Despite the Economy, Gay Travel on the Rise Key West among Nation’s Top 3 Destinations The annual report of gay and lesbian market research firm Community Marketing, Inc. shows that despite a sluggish economy, the number of gay travellers climbed close to 3% this year. David Paisley, Senior Research Director for Community Marketing says that "after two years of decreased travel spending within the LGBT community because of the recession, it was encouraging to see an increase in the October 2011 survey." “Nearly all destinations in our report saw an increase in LGBT visitors over the previous year, which may indicate pent-up demand for the coming year," he added. The report shows that New York is the Number One gay travel destination, topping the survey's three main categories: actual visits to the destination in the past 12 months; most gay-friendly destination in the world; and personal favorite destination. Las Vegas, San Francisco and London also scored well in all three categories. Also scoring well were gay vacation resort towns Provincetown, and Palm Springs. In an analysis of data utilizing number of hotel rooms in a destination, these destinations rank at the top. Although Greater Fort Lauderdale did not specifically earn top rankings, nearby Key West joins Provincetown and Palm Springs rounding out the summit. The survey also reports that the “LGBT economy/budget market is larger than many people assume. Far more LGBT travelers consider themselves to be ‘economy/budget travelers’ than ‘luxury travelers’ indicating an opportunity for every tier of travel marketers. ‘Budget traveling’ is not about income; it is about consumers spreading their travel funds across as many vacations as possible. Among economy/budget LGBT travelers, only about a third indicated they stay at economy hotels because they are low income. Most indicate they would rather spend their money on more frequent vacations, local attractions or restaurants.”
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HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Seasons Greetings!!! (Clockwise from top left:) Pride Factory • Sidelines Sports Bar • Wilton Manors Main Street • Pride Center • City County Credit Union • Broward House • To the Moon Marketplace
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Fort Lauderdale MATINEE LA LECHE FESTIVAL MIAMI BEACH Sunday December 25 from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. at the Cameo, 1445 Washington Avenue in South Beach. Jake Resnicow, Patrick Crough, Hilton Wolman, Luis Morera, Billy Kemp and Matinee Florida present the Matinee La Leche Festival, direct from the island of Ibiza, on Christmas night. Music by Javier Medina (Matinee Barcelona, Circuit Festival main event headliner) and D.J. Theresa (Matinee NYC). Early bird tickets are now on sale. Join the VIP mailing list at www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=1026728b. Check out the video of last year’s Matinee at the Winter Party Festival at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eBzN3Ti1lE. H
NEW YEAR’S EVE IN GAY KEY WEST Come celebrate December 31 at the “mostgay New Year’s Eve event in the world!” Each year the infamous drag queen Sushi rings in the New Year lowered in a stunning giant red slipper outside Bourbon Street Pub. Thousands gather to watch the event and enjoy the musical entertainment that builds up to the magical moment. Join CNN as they cover the event live every year. Book early: New Year’s Eve is one Gay Key West’s most popular holidays.H
OAKLAND PARK: WIN NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION Women in Network (WIN) will hold their third annual New Year’s Eve celebration on Saturday, December 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Hugh's Catering, 4351 NE 12 Terrace in Oakland Park. The evening features a full dinner buffet, open bar, private parking and dancing all night long. Members: $100, nonmembers: $120. Reservations are nonrefundable but are transferable. For the full menu and to order tickets, visit: womeninnetwork.com/New_Years_Party.html.H
“CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE” At the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, now through January 1. The New York Daily News said that “Cirque Dream Holidaze” is “so full of energy it could end our dependence on oil.” “Stuffed with so much holiday cheer and audacious act, Scrooge would exit with a big ‘ol smile on his face,” said the Erie Times News. For more information and tickets, visit southfloridagroupsales@broadwayacrossamerica.com or call 954-626-7814.H
“JERSEY BOYS” 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Four Season: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history, January 11 through 29 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets call 954-626-7814.H
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
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Hollywood/Miami HARD ROCK LIVE/ HOLLYWOOD: NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH PAUL ANKA Bring in the New Year with legendary recording artist Paul Anka at Hard Rock Live Hollywood (1 Seminole Way in Hollywood) on December 31. Doors open at 9:30 p.m.; show starts at 10:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $89, $124 and $154. H
DISCO NIGHT FEATURING KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND Disco lives! Disco Night featuring KC and The Sunshine Band and Tavares, on Tuesday, January 3. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. at Hard Rock Live in the Hard Rock Resort and Casino, 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood. Tickets are $39, $49, $59 and $69. For more information, call 954-797-5531.H
GREGG ALLMAN Greg Allman, the lead singer of Southern rockers the Allman Brothers Band performs at Hard Rock Live Hollywood (1 Seminole Way in Hollywood) on January 18. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $46, $64 and $79. For more information, call 954-797-5531.H
MIAMI BEACH: WINTER PARTY It may be called the Winter Party but that doesn’t mean you’re in for a chilly time. Dance your heart out at 5 full days of jam packed parties. From club nights to mixers to beach parties, Winter Party is a veritable thrill ride of sight and sound. A multitude of eye candy is a safe assumption, as are thousands of groggy travelers once the music stops. February 29 through March 5, 2012. For more information, a full schedule and tickets, visit www.winterparty.com.
GAY SPRING BREAK Gay Spring Break in Key West attracts LGBT students and their friends from late February to early April to the beaches and the clubs of the beautiful tropical island. Take a break for spring break in a place that embraces individuality, diversity, and openness all year long. Want to participate in Gay Spring Break? Contact the offices and pick up your Gay Spring Break ID Card. Call 305-294-4603 or email at info@gaykeywestfl.com for more information.
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Hollywood WINTER HEAT FLORIDA 2012 “Feel the Heat,” Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 16-20, 2012. This year’s host hotel is the Bahia Mar Resort. (Events and venues subject to change.) Thursday, February 16 - 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., “The Big Chill,” George's Alibi, 2266 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors Come kick it with Ft. Lauderdale’s grown and sexy crowd and enjoy $3 Long Island Iced Teas. - 2 a.m. – 4 a.m., “The Cold Front,” Torpedo Bar, 2829 W. Broward Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale Heat things up on the dance floor while the deejay spins the hottest Hip-Hop and R&B hits. Friday, February 17 - 5 p.m. – 11 p.m., “The Ice Breaker,” Grand Mariner Lounge at The Bahia Mar Hotel Mix and mingle at the Welcome Reception with the men of Winter Heat 2012. - 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Winter Heat Film Festival, Seafarer Room at The Bahia Mar Hotel Check out original films from up and coming film makers. - 10 p.m. – 4 a.m., “The Fire Storm,” Green Room, 100 SW 3 Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale Winter has never been this hot! Join the sexiest men in South Florida at the coolest spot in town. Saturday, February 18 - 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., “Sweat on the Beach,” Fort Lauderdale Beach Start the day off right with aerobics on the beach. - 3 p.m. – Sunset, “Heat Waves” Fort Lauderdale Beach Chill out on the beach and have some fun in the sun. - 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Winter Heat Film Festival, Seafarer Room at The Bahia Mar Hotel Check out original films from up and coming film makers. - 8 p.m. to Midnight, “Winter Games,” Grand Mariner Lounge at The Bahia Mar Hotel Got skills? Put them to the test at the old-school game night. - 10 p.m. – 4 a.m., “Body Heat,” Voodoo Lounge, 111 SW 2 Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale Feel the heat all night as DJ Angel X rocks the house. Sunday, February 19 - 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., “Sweat on the Beach,” Fort Lauderdale Beach Start the day off right with aerobics on the beach. - 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., “Holy Heat,” Lips Fort Lauderdale Experience the ultimate in drag dining. This gospel brunch is sure to lift your spirits and the ultimate Mimosas will definitely warm your soul. - 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Winter Heat Film Festival, Seafarer Room at The Bahia Mar Hotel Check out original films from up and coming film makers. - 3 p.m. – Sunset, “Winter Waterland” Pool Party, Exit 66 at Pier 66 Resort, Ft. Lauderdale Dive into the hottest pool party ever. Live music, food, drinks and an amazing fashion show will bring a whole new meaning to lounging by the pool. - 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., “Sparks,” Grand Mariner Lounge at The Bahia Mar Hotel Experience speed dating South Florida-style. You’ve never experienced a love and relationship session quite like this. Get ready! - 10 p.m. – 4 a.m., “The Meltdown,” Living Room, 300 SW 1 Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale The grand finale party is going down tonight. Monday, February 20 - 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., “The Block is Hot,” Americas Back Yard, 100 SW 3 Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale A day party like no other takes place at Fort Lauderdale’s most unique outdoor entertainment venue. For more information, visit winterheatflorida.com. - 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., “Sweat on the Beach,” Fort Lauderdale Beach Start the day off right with aerobics on the beach. - 3 p.m. – Sunset, “Heat Waves” Fort Lauderdale Beach
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Snowbiz Now! Queer Cinema Transforms Indonesia By Nicholas Snow About ten years ago, seven freelance journalists decided that Indonesian movie screens deserved more than just Hollywood films. They determined that they would import international cinema to Indonesia, and since most of them were “queer,” the Q Film Festival – or “Q Fest” was born. I caught up recently with one of the founders, Executive Director John Badalu. “When I mention to friends that there’s a gay film festival in Indonesia, they’re shocked,” I told John. “What sort of stereotypes can you counteract about Indonesia?” “First of all, people would be shocked because although it’s the most heavily- populated Muslim country, it’s not really a country based on religion,” he explained. “Here, there are five legal state religions. When people say, ‘Oh my god! There’s a gay film festival in Indonesia? It must be really something,’ it’s actually based upon Muslim stereotypes. Indonesia is not like Middle Eastern countries. The Islamic law [Sharia] is secondary. It’s a republic here.” “And then, of course,” he adds, “there are always stereotypical things about queer people in Asia. But at the same time it is very different. There are a lot of queer people who are Muslim, who are quite religious but at the same time comfortable with their sexuality.” I asked John about Muslims in Indonesia. He explained: “Homosexuality is definitely a sin in Islam’s holy book, The Koran. At the same time you have Islamic schools where usually only one gender attends. It’s not a secret that boys screw around in that kind of environment.” One way Q Fest has gotten past traditional Indonesian norms - and the film censors - is to show their movies underground, in non-cinema spaces, particularly in cultural venues. In addition, they are not permitted to charge for admission to Q Fest. Only films which the organizers believe can pass the scrutiny of the censors are submitted for government approval; more controversial films are still reserved for the country’s non-regulated cultural venues. John is able to finance the world travel required to select films for possible inclusion in Q Fest through his “day job” John as international publicist for Indonesian films which he happens to represent at film festivals throughout the world; this enables him to screen queer cinema on the same trips. I asked him about the state of gay civil rights in Indonesia. “There’s no such thing,” he answered flatly. “That said, there’s no specific law against homosexuality. We are not like Malaysia or Singapore in that respect. On the other hand, we are not like India, which enjoys a more liberated climate, let’s say. We don’t have that.” When he recalls the early days of Q Fest, he remembers thinking about it in terms of a hobby. “We just decided, ‘okay this will be fun,’” he laughs. “We did it in our spare time, but now it is taking 70% of my time. We had no idea at the beginning that it would become very big like this.” Q Fest has Indonesians coming out to the movies, but what about coming out of the closet? John advises, “You just have to be true to yourself, especially in the journey of coming out. I don’t encourage everyone I know to come out. You have to know yourself.” Visit www.qfilmfestival.org, and while you’re at it, I encourage you to remember John and his colleagues and go see a racy movie in a public space, in honor of the freedom we enjoy to do so.
Follow Nicholas at www.Facebook.com/SnowbizNow, www.Twitter.com/SnowbizNow, and at www.SnowbizNow.com, where you may download for free the MP3 for “The Power To Be Strong” HIV Testing/Safer Sex Awareness Anthem.
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“Days of Our Lives” Actor Describes Character’s “Coming Out” Actor Chandler Massey tells The Huffington Post that he’s “thrilled” about his character’s upcoming gay storyline on the longrunning NBC daytime soap Days of our Lives. Massey, 21, who plays Will Horton, says the character’s rainbow-hued story arc is “going to unfold slowly, because we want to be as realistic as possible, because coming to terms with who you are and your sexuality is not something that happens overnight. It takes time.” The actor insists that the show’s producers have invested in the character’s development because of its relevance, not because it’s riding the current pop culture tide. “It's not one of those things where, 'Oh, some other soaps are doing gay storylines, it's popular, it's on ‘Glee,’ so we're just going to do it.' It's a meaningful story that's very relevant today. You can expect some good stuff,” Massey says. Massey says that he wants the characters coming-out to reflect the challenges and pain reflected in real-world situations. “It's going to be very difficult,” he offered, adding, “Mostly, it's because of the people he cares about and loves. He's basically afraid of how they will react.”
Sun-Sentinel report: South Florida Same-Sex Couples Wed, But Not in the Sunshine State On December 18, the Sun-Sentinel reported that despite Florida’s laws banning same-sex marriage, many gay Florida couples are opting to get married in states that recognize their unions. According to the report, the U.S Census Bureau estimates that out of a total 65,601 same-sex couples in Florida who cohabitate, 32% are self-identified as being married. Same-sex couples in Florida continue to face numerous restrictions not experienced by heterosexual married partners. As the Sun-Sentinel notes, in the absence of legal standing and without specific written instructions to the contrary, it remains at the discretion of hospitals to decide if same-sex married partners can make decisions in life-and-death situations. A number of municipalities, including Broward and Palm Beach counties, offer more benefits to same-sex couples who register as domestic partners. And state Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, and Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, have introduced domestic partnership legislation which would permit gay couples to enjoy some of the same benefits as straight married couples. The Sun-Sentinel also reported on a recent Gallup poll which shows that 53% of Americans think same-sex marriage should be legal. That number represents a drastic shift in opinion from 1996, when two-thirds of Americans opposed legalizing same-sex marriages.
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HEALTH
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Columbia University Study: Same-Sex Marriage Improves Health Conditions Among Gay Men A new study finds that the health of gay men who live in states that possess laws permitting same-sex marriage improves their health, whether or not those men choose to marry. The study, entitled "Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Laws on Health Care Use and Expenditures in Sexual Minority Men: A Quasi-Natural Experiment," found that the number of times gay men visited local health clinics showed a marked decrease after Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004.
The BBC reports that researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health compared the need for medical and mental health care among just over 1,200 gay men based in Massachusetts. The men had registered with a particular health clinic during the 12 months prior to same-sex unions being allowed, as well as the 12 months after. The researchers discovered a 13% reduction in the number of healthcare-related visits among the group after the law was passed. There was a likewise drop in blood pressure-related issues, as well as depression and "adjustment disorders." Study leader Dr. Mark Hatzenbuehler told the BBC "Our results suggest that removing these barriers improves the health of gay and bisexual men," adding that “marriage equality may produce broad public health benefits by reducing the occurrence of stressrelated health conditions.� HealthDay reports that gay women weren't included in the study because there were too few of them who visit the Massachusetts clinic, which was the subject of the research. Dr. Hatzenbuehler also conducted research between 2006 and 2008 of nearly 32,000 Oregon high school students. The subsequent study, published in April in the journal Pediatrics, showed that both gay and straight teens who live in socially and politically conservative places are more likely to attempt suicide, with the measure of an region’s conservatism reflected in to what degree teens, gay or straight, are likely to try suicide.
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Happy Holidays from all of us at the Agenda.
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DENTAL
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
HOME IMPROVEMENT 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 PLACE TO PALACE - Home improvement and handyman services. Best rates, and smart solutions. Drywall, Painting, Tile, Doors, Wood Decks, Masonry, Purgolas, and Ceiling Fans. Turn windows into doors! Truck available for yard clean-up or apartment maintenance and moves. FREE estimates! Lic. & Ins. CC#11-FC-16297-X Cert. Ctrl#11-18694 Ben (954)565-9674
HANDYMAN 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
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 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 SALES ASSOCIATES - The Florida Agenda, Mark Magazine, the Hopper, Mark’s List and MyGayRadio.com are looking for dynamic salespeople to join our team. Are you energetic, proactive, and passionate about sales? Then this could be the “Star Role” for you! Seeking true “go-getters” with a great work ethic. Previous sales experience helpful, but not mandatory. Existing accounts available for immediate income. Contact Bobby Blair, Publisher, at 954-336-0436 or email Bobby@bobbyblair.com JOHNNY's MIAMI HUNTING FOR BEARS - GREAT $$$ South Florida's Favorite Male Strip Club is seeking BEAR DANCERS for new Special Event. Great Pay + Tips. Send photo and contact info to JohnnysBarMia@gmail.com
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 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.
METH PROBLEM? www.SouthFloridaCMA.org FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FLORIDA AGENDA CLASSIFIEDS CALL KEITH CHAMLEE AT 954-903-4781
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LICENSED MASSAGE
RENTALS / FTL RIVERLAND-CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN - Efficiency, 1BD, and 2 BD large house w/ pool, new CAC, new kitchen, large family room, dining room & living room, laundry available, large screened porch & private backyard. Call Ed (954)632-6639 WILTON MANORS - EFFICIENCY on quiet cul-de-sac! Great location at 7th and Wilton Drive by the Shoppes of Wilton Manors! Tile floors, A/C, Screened Pool, Laundry on premise, off-street parking, ceiling fans! $625/mo. F/S UTILITIES INCLUDED! Call (954)563-4442 WILTON MANORS WATER VIEW APT. - Nicely Finished 2/1 apartment with private patio, water view, tile floors throughout, newer appliances and W/D in unit. Don't miss out!! Asking $1000. Call Alex, Re/Max Preferred (954)683-4880 FANTASTIC 3/2 - FT LAUDERDALE - features renovated kitchen and baths, den, wood floors, new roof and CAC. Laundry room with W/D. Call today! Asking $1600. Call Alex, Re/Max Preferred (954)683-4880. OAKLAND PARK/LLOYD ESTATES - Water Front Bungalow & pool; Large 1950's style 2/1,terrazzo floors, large kitchen with microwave, icemaker, dishwasher, range, CAC, ceiling fans. Very gay area and pet friendly. It's located on 300' of wide middle river. $1000/mo-F/S and 1/3 of the util. ($175 avg) high speed internet, electric, preferred cable package, free laundry, ample parking, private entrance. (954)249-2009 LAKERIDGE - Cozy Apartment w/ sleeping loft. Full bath & kitchen. Tile floors, ceiling fan, tropical secluded pool & patio area. 1 mile to beach & Wilton Dr. Within Hopper transportation to Wilton Dr. Onsite laundry available. Private off-street parking. Unfurnished. No smoking/pet negotiable. For one quiet person only/no drama. Electric, WiFi, Direct TV, water included. $750/mo. Reduced rent considered in exchange for light yardwork (954)636-9298 SOUTH MIDDLE RIVER - EFFICIENCY - This lovely garden apartment is coming available and ready for occupancy Dec 15th. It features a pool, laundry facilities, parking area and is part of a gay compound with roaming peacocks and friendly neighbors. Your rent includes internet, water and electricity. This apt is for a clean, responsible, working person. 12 mo. lease, $595/mo. (954) 200-0166.
FURNISHED / RENTALS / FTL LICENSED MASSAGE RECESSION RELIEF -$40/90 MINS! Out calls higher. Swedish, Deep Tissue, Specialty Back and Lower Body & Feet. Couples discounts, seniors welcome. Delray Beach, 16 yrs experience. MA 18563. Dennis (561) 502-2628.
PET SITTING
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. 954-927-0090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com
ROOMMATES WILTON MANORS - Looking for someone to share a 2/3 townhouse on the water with fantastic amenities at a reasonable rate. Call (954)873-3889
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. WE ARE HERE FOR YOUâ&#x20AC;Ś 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.
RENTALS / FTL
UPHOLSTERY
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
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
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