OutClique Magazine April 2018 by OutClique Magazine

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OUT CLIQUE

Volume 2, Issue 5 April 2018

LADY LAROUGE AND CHOCOLATTA

SHARON GLESS

FROM

SECOND CHANCES

A ROAD TRIP TO

KEY WEST

South Florida's LGBTQ Lifestyle Magazine & Destination Guide

CONTENTS

Volume 2, Issue 5 | April 2018

WHERE TO GO. WHAT TO DO. WHO TO MEET

Steven O. Evans, PhD

Publisher and Editor in Chief Steven.Evans@OutClique.org

Darren Loli

Cover Story 48

OUT CLIQUE

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TABLE OF

Twat LaRouge & Chocolatta

From

CEO & Digital Director Darren.Loli@OutClique.org

Alan Beck

Vice President for Sales & Marketing Alan.Beck@OutClique.org

Photography: Connor Wilkinson

Dylan Denmark

Brand Ambassador Dylan.Denmark@OutClique.org

Sach AD Group

Director of Graphic Design Sach.Elore@OutClique.org

Cindy Curtis

Sales Manager Cynthia.Curtis@OutClique.org

Steve Smith

08 Sharon Gless

Account Manager Steve.Smith@OutClique.org

13 The Kinsey Sicks

Jared Curry

Video & Still Photography

55 Second Chances

Connie Evans Chief Copyeditor

65 The Terry Factor

Tom Pence

Distribution Manager

89 The Radicalization of Rolfe

Keans Llamara Photographer

National Advertising Rivendell Media

Contributing Writers

Tony Adams, Rod Davis, Bobby Jackson, Marty Kiar, Dr. Beau Nelson, Denny Patterson, Steve Pike, Patrick Rogers, Gregg Shapiro A publication of OutClique, LLC 11900 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 840 Miami, FL 33181

OutClique.org Facebook.com/OutClique Facebook.com/Groups/OutClique

(954) 998-6429

HEART OF GLESS

AN INTERVIEW WITH ACTRESS AND ALLY SHARON GLESS By Gregg Shapiro Photo by Jim's Lens Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Sharon Gless has been a longtime favorite of the LGBTQ community. Beginning with her career-defining portrayal of NYC police detective Christine Cagney in the `80s series Cagney & Lacey (alongside Tyne Daly) and continuing with her celebrated role as Debbie, mother of Michael (Hal Sparks), in the Showtime series Queer As Folk, Gless has played characters that have made a lasting impression on audiences. A South Florida resident, Gless has become the celebrity face of cultural event Our Night OUT, a Knight Foundation grant recipient, that is a collaborative effort of Gay Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus of South Florida, Island City Stage and Stonewall National Museum and Archives. I spoke with Gless about Our Night OUT and her performance career. 08 | OutClique.org

Gregg Shapiro: Sharon, please say something about how you came to be involved in the South Florida version of Our Night OUT, a collaboration between Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida, Stonewall National Museum & Archives, and Island City Stage. Sharon Gless: IIt was quite a while ago that we started working on this. I am very happily involved with the gay community in Fort Lauderdale. I think it was initially due to Queer As Folk. I love the gay community. I always say yes when they ask me to do anything. I believe it was Andy Perrott (of Lightship Studios) and Louis Pedraza who produced the (series of) Our Night OUT videos. They dressed me up as a (gay fun) fairy. I want to give Peter Lovello, the man who designed the fairy costume, credit. All these people got together and it became this labor of love. They asked me to do it and I said yes. It started with the fitting of this lovely costume. It’s meant to show the gay community, and anybody else who likes to have as much fun as you guys do, how to enjoy a night away from home. At the same time promoting the gay arts and nightlife. I mean, it doesn’t get better than the Gay Men’s Chorus.

Chorus in Fort Lauderdale. It was fantastic.

As I mentioned, one of the organizations involved in Our Night OUT is Island City Stage. As an actress with a long history of stage work, what do you enjoy about doing live theater?

Since you mentioned the Chorus, do you sing, and if so, is there any chance you might make a guest appearance with the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida in one of their concerts at some point?

I guess the thing I love the most about live theater is the audience. It certainly isn’t the fear [laughs]. Because live theater scares the shit out of me [laughs]. I do love the interplay between me, the actors, and the audience. Nobody does theater for the money. I think it’s done for the interplay with the audience who loved you enough to pay their money so that they could see you. My particular desire is to make them happy. And to try not to laugh, even though they’re laughing [laughs]. We’re not supposed to laugh at our own jokes. To be honest, where I excel, or at least where most of my experience has been, is television. I’ve been doing it since 1972. I had the very good fortune of starring in several television series. It’s a gift when you get a hit TV show. It’s a hit because it’s good. It’s good because we become a family. For years you see that same make-up person who makes you look great. You get used to each other’s timing. For those who don’t want to go out and see all the wonderful entertainment, you can entertain them in their living rooms. And I don’t have to wash the dishes [laughs]!

No, I don’t. But I would sing with them. I sang Christmas carols once with them. They were doing a Christmas concert and I was onstage with them.

GS SG

SG GS

But, no solo?

No solo! I have a deep voice. If I’m given time to rehearse I would do anything with the Gay Men’s Chorus. I love them! They’re so brilliant. I was there when Alan Cumming performed with the Gay Men’s

The third Our Night OUT organization is the Stonewall Library and Archives. Have you ever given any thought to writing a book – a memoir or a novel? Who’s been talking to you?

There is a generation of women who came of age during the Cagney & Lacey years who were empowered by the portrayal of two smart, strong, sensitive and professional women in that series. Were you OutClique.org | 09

aware at the time of the impact that the show was having on people?

I’ll be honest with you, Gregg, no. At the time we first started we had no idea. There’d never been anything like it. It came out of the brain of Barney Rosenzweig, a male producer, who I married 10 years later. I got the job first, I just want you to know [laughs]. There was nothing sleazy about it. As Tyne (Daly) and I worked more and more on it and saw what Barney was doing, we became aware (of the impact) by the reactions of people. I asked Tyne, “Do people yell at you or chase you when you’re walking?” She said it happened to her coming out of a building one day. I said, “Me, too!” I was getting out of a car. I was with my publicist, and she said to me, “Run!” We ran into an elevator and I saw all these people running towards us as the elevator door closed. I said to her, “Am I famous?” She laughed and said, “Oh, please God, may you never change!” [laughs]. So, when the show started out, we had no idea. Even as the show went on I don’t believe we understood the impact we were having. It was shot on a soundstage, it’s not like we were on a theatrical stage where you get the reaction immediately.

Another one of your most celebrated roles was as Debbie Novotny in the Showtime series Queer As Folk. What was it about Debbie that made you want to portray her?

I was so proud of that! Somebody sneaked it to me in Chicago. I was doing a play there and they sent it over to my apartment. I called him and I said, “I’ve never said this about any part, but this is perfect for me.” He said, “If I were you, I’d get on the phone and call Showtime.” Barney’s assistant for 20 years was now the assistant to the head of Showtime. Her name’s Carol Smith. I called her and told her I had just read a Queer As Folk

10 | OutClique.org

script and asked her if they had cast the role of the mother. She said they hadn’t cast anybody. I told her I wanted the part. She said, “You don’t want that part, Sharon. It shoots in Canada. It doesn’t pay anything.” I said I did. After we talked for a bit, she realized that I wanted the part of Debbie, not the part of Justin’s mother Jennifer. She thought it was a great idea. I wanted the part of the wacko mother who loved her son to his great embarrassment. I knew it as soon as I read it. Carol called Jerry Offsay and told him that I was on the phone and wanted to play Debbie. He didn’t believe and Carol said it was true [laughs]. I got the part! Jerry said he liked the idea, that I would add a little class to the project. I said, “Jerry, class was not what I had in mind” [big laugh]. They actually rewrote the part of Debbie so that she could become a series regular.

I’m glad you mentioned the play in Chicago. That was the first time I interviewed you. You appeared in lesbian playwright Claudia Allen’s Cahoots at Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago in 2000.

SG GS

I sure did!

Is that what led to you playing the titular character in the 2009 movie version of Allen’s play Hannah Free?

Yes! Tyne Daly and I were very familiar with Claudia’s work. [In 2008], Tyne and I went with LA Theater Works and flew to Chicago to do one night of radio of Claudia’s play Deed of Trust. The two lead actors stepped aside and allowed us to play the parts that night. It was recorded in front of a live audience. Isn’t that cool? The next time I came to Chicago was after Claudia called to say that she had written this play called Cahoots for me and she asked me to come and do it. I said, “Bless you! I’m not that busy.”

RACHEL PROFILING

AN INTERVIEW WITH BEN SCHATZ OF THE KINSEY SICKS By Gregg Shapiro

Photo by Paco Ojeda

f you haven’t been to a Kinsey Sicks concert, then you haven’t lived. Or laughed, for that matter. The Kinsey Sicks, a self-described “dragapella beautyshop quartet,” is an irreverent, but harmonious foursome known for their marvelous vocal skills, hilarious and pointed songs, colorful petticoat dresses, and architecturally structured wigs. Original founding member Ben Schatz (aka Rachel) took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about The Kinsey Sicks.

[The Kinsey Sicks perform on April 21, 2018 at the Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts.] Gregg Shapiro: Last year (2017) was the 20th anniversary of the release of the first Kinsey Sicks album, Dragapella. Did you ever imagine that The Kinsey Sicks would still be going strong more than 20 years later? Ben Schatz: I’ve always had some sense of optimism knowing that the United States is a large country filled with people with questionable taste and disposable income [laughs]. That has provided some hope. Just ask Britney Spears. Talent is not essential. I’ve been shocked from the moment that anyone has bought a ticket to see us to the present day. It keeps feeling like a glorious mistake. I’m delighted that it continues to happen.

GS BS

What’s the longevity?

GS BS

What is the genesis of the “dragapella beautyshop quartet” tagline?

secret

Rachel’s

[laughs] There are things I cannot say. Let’s just say that it involves goats and a sacrifice.

I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that before. The important thing to

remember about dragapella is that the term is trademarked.

ability?

Good for you guys! When did you first discover your talent for singing

The fact that I could carry a tune was something of a miracle. I did eye the milkman frequently when I was a child to see if he could sing. I played several musical instruments and kept quitting one for another. My interests in that date back to early childhood. Whether it’s a talent is another question entirely.

GS BS

In terms of your brilliant parody lyrics, who are some of your influences?

Honestly, I don’t have any good or bad influences. My own sort of structure of parody is a set of rules I established for myself. It’s not difficult to steal someone else’s tune and then put other words to it. The challenge, I think, is to use someone else’s tune and rhyme structure and subvert their intention by changing the lyrics as little as possible to change the meaning as much as possible. That’s something I started doing and OutClique.org | 13

then it became my own standard. No one else can be blamed or defamed as a role model.

Eight Is Enough, The Kinsey Sicks’ most recent album came out in 2016, before the most recent presidential election. Since that time, has the election of Trump and Pence provided you with enough material to fill a new album?

No, not a new album. Because we write songs that will get performed months or years later, the latest outrage of the day is not prone to songwriting. Randy Rainbow, who is fantastic, usually goes on YouTube and does something more immediate. We try to do songs with longevity. I’ll give you an example of something I had an idea for, which I haven’t done yet, but I still could. I wanted to write a parody of “Stormy Weather” called “Stormy Daniels.” The problem is that by the time we get it into a coherent show. . .

GS BS

. . . she’ll just be a footnote?

Exactly! There’ll be so many more outrageous things that Trump has done that the song will be out of date. We try to do stuff that picks up on broader themes. For example, our song “I Wanna Be A Republican.” We just did a TV pilot in which we did that song. That song was written in 2006. Sadly, everything in that song feels as if it was written today. I would have liked to have been forced to change the lyrics because it no longer applies.

When it comes to the Trump, is anything off-limits?

14 | OutClique.org

BS GS BS GS

Re-election. Yes. How about in terms of the current show Things You Shouldn’t Say? As we like to say about this show, “If you like Donald Trump, you’ll hate this show.”

As a lawyer in your life outside of The Kinsey Sicks, what do you think of Robert Mueller?

First of all, I have to say the sex isn’t bad. But his pillow talk leaves a lot to be desired. “No, I can’t talk about that.” I think we’re all placing a whole lot of faith in him. Apart from the fact that the entire future of democracy rests on his shoulders, he’s kind of an unimportant person.

The Kinsey Sicks will be performing Things You Shouldn’t Say at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale April 21, 2018.

We love performing at the Broward Center. They are one of our greatest repeat offendees. They book us over and over again and people are foolish enough to keep coming to see us. We’ve done really well there. It’s got queer people, it’s got Jews, it’s got progressive people. What more do you need at the theater?

GS BS

It’s the trifecta. Our people! Our people are there.

Photo by Maurice Molyneaux

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“Think you can slow me down, HIV? Not in this lifetime.” Yuri - Miami, FL Living with HIV.

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Get in care. Stay in care. Live well. cdc.gov/HIVTreatmentWorks

LESSONS LEARNED FROM 34 YEARS

WITH CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES

For 34 years I have worked with consumers and businesses to find solutions to problems relating to the selling and servicing of products and services. I am going to share a few tips today that may help you avoid problems, and if you are a business, identify some practices that you may want to eliminate.

FREE OR ALMOST FREE ADS

Whenever a business advertises a free product or service, proceed with extreme caution. The Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau advise businesses when a product or service is offered for free, there should be no hidden conditions, and the transaction should be free. If there are costs associated with the free offer, they must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed (e.g., shipping charges). Unfortunately, marketers will often use the word free to induce you to view their offer and sign up to receive the product or service. In most cases, the business will require you to enter a credit card to send the product to you. They will indicate

that you will only need to cover the shipping costs. What is often not clearly conveyed is that by agreeing to obtain the “free” offer with only a small shipping cost, you are also agreeing to buy more product in 30 days. Consumers are unaware of the hidden “deal” they have entered into until they get a credit card statement and a bill for $149. The old saying is still true today. If an offer is too good to be real, it probably is. Businesses using these free deals are betting that most consumers will not see the auto shipment clause or the consumer will fail to opt out of the “deal” before the charge hits the credit card. They also expect that consumers will not contest the charges or complain. In the end, these businesses get a small amount of money from a large number of consumers. Not only do these bad businesses take advantage of consumers, they limit the money available to buy products from legitimate businesses. By following a few steps you can avoid the OutClique.org | 21

“free” trap. Don’t buy from businesses using these tactics. Always look at the terms and conditions to make sure you are not unknowingly opting in to future purchases. Check out the business at www.bbb.org and if you see complaints about unintended purchases, steer clear. If you have failed to follow these steps and you have lost money to one of these bad players in the market, file a complaint with BBB. While the BBB may not be able to obtain a refund in every case, your complaint will alert other consumers to avoid falling into the same trap. Similarly, the BBB’s advice to businesses is to always be clear and transparent when marketing to potential customers. A reputation is important and only when being honest and dealing in good faith will a business earn a reputation built on trust.

SERVICE AGREEMENTS

Service agreements are being actively marketed to consumers to cover everything from cars to homes and everything in between. Unfortunately the coverage terms are not always clear and consumers expecting immediate repair for an air conditioner or no cost repair to a 2005 Ford Mustang, end up disappointed and battling with the servicing company of the agreement.

22 | OutClique.org

The first thing every consumer should undertake before buying a service agreement is a cost benefit analysis. Some consumers like the idea of having major expenditures covered by a service agreement. Other consumers have the resources to cover these types of repairs or replacements and so they opt out of any type of extended coverage. To decide the best option for you, consider the cost to repair or replace the product to be covered. What is the cost to repair or replace the product if it should fail and you do not have coverage. Make sure when comparing costs that you include any co-payment or service fees. Also, if replacement costs are not full replacement costs, factor that into your decision. If you decide based on a thorough review that a service agreement is a better option for you, find the best plan and the best provider. Check out businesses on www.bbb.org and other review sites. If the business has a large number of complaints and seems to deny coverage to service that one would expect to be covered by the extended service agreement, you may want to consider other options. Also, talk to friends and family, ask for their experience, and then review the plan and provider they are using. Review the service level agreement (e.g., how long does the agreement provide for the business to provide service, when must a

component be replaced). Ask questions of the provider before you purchase the agreement to clarify how likely scenarios will be handled and get as much information in writing as possible. Consumers deserve clear and complete information from a business providing service. The best businesses provide information to help consumers understand the coverage purchased, the costs, and expected service levels. Professional and responsive assistance is also important since the failure of a vehicle, air conditioner, or refrigerator have significant impact on their customers. When consumers and businesses have a shared understanding for how processes will work, the number of complaints drops significantly.

REFUND POLICY

Refund policies have always been important, but with more commerce taking place online, refund policies are even more important today. Unfortunately, refund policies are not always easy to find and sometimes, fail to convey important detail. Before you make a purchase, but especially when shopping online, know the refund policy. Under what situations can a purchase be returned? If the business imposes a

restocking fee, take that additional expense into consideration when making a purchase. If you have to return a product, who pays for the return shipping? Does the policy require you to immediately notify the business if the product is damaged upon receipt? What documentation is required to prove the product was damaged in transit? Most companies also have limitations on the return of a product that is a special order. Before placing a special order, review the policy and make sure it is something you can live with, since attempting to return the product will be difficult and costly. According to a report on Entrepreneur. com, 30-40% of online purchases are returned. Better businesses understand that returns are a part of the online sales process and develop clear refund policies and procedures that make it easier for consumers to return products that do not satisfy their expectations, so they will return to the business for future purchases. Check reviews and on www.bbb.org to see what other customers are saying. Look to see if customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; feedback reflects the businesses delivery of great products and ability to work with customers on returns. There are many businesses that realize the importance of keeping you as a happy customer. OutClique.org | 23

EQUATOR RESORT

For more photos of this event, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/outclique. 24 | OutClique.org

A REVERSE MORTGAGE IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL

SAYS CRISSY, A SPECIALIST IN THE FIELD THIS IS A SPONSORED EDITORIAL.

Crissy is a reverse mortgage specialist at www.FirstBankOnline.com originating loans in Florida and throughout the U.S. Her mission is to assist homeowners age 62 and older enjoy their retirement and improve the quality of their lives. Her focus is on reverse mortgages. When asked, 80% of those 62 and over said they prefer to age at home. Ten thousand boomers turn 62 each day. With out-of-control health care costs, changes in social security, and uncertainty in the bond markets, many seniors are forced to look elsewhere to maintain their lifestyles and to meet their financial goals and obligations. Many look to their home’s equity. That is where she can help. She listens to her clients’ needs, and then together with the decision makers (either family members or a professional) she

lays out the process. A reverse mortgage is not a one size fits all product. Properly planned and implemented it can have a huge beneficial impact on one’s quality of life and the life of their asset accounts. She consults often with financial estate planners, providing options that may create cash flow, supplemental income, and create general wealth. Crissy has over 25 years of experience in the field. She is the foremost expert in South Florida on Reverse Loans in addition to originating loans. Crissy has owned and managed real estate, insurance and title companies. For additional information you may contact Crissy at 954-240-1243 or at Kcrissy@firstbankonline.com

THE FORT LAUDERDALE GAY MEN'S CHORUS

For more photos of this event, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/outclique. 32 | OutClique.org

WE’VE GOT STEVIE MOON UNDER OUR SKIN By Tony Adams Photos by Tony Adams

hen I heard from a company wanting a review of a new product, a tattoo ink made from the hair or fur of a beloved partner or pet, I stopped by Stevie Moon’s shop on the corner of Oakland Park Boulevard and Federal Highway to get his opinion. More of an artist’s studio than a tattoo parlor, his shop is always filled with spirited conversation. I was glad to find that the years since my last visit had not changed Stevie one bit. He is still full of laughter, sly wit and curiosity about the people around him. It is impossible to tell gay from straight in Stevie’s shop, even when the chatter gets around to sex. The typical Stevie Moon client cares more about wearing the gorgeous artwork he creates, and less about judging what you do with your beautifully embellished skin. Stevie’s international reputation has allowed him to focus on original masterpieces and designs that transcend catalogue work or trendy imitation. I can always spot a Stevie Moon tattoo because of its rich colors and deep dimensions, and because of his ability to capture the realistic texture of his components, whether they be feathers, flowers, fins, fur or fantasy. What firsttime clients may not realize is that his craftsmanship means you’ll be sporting a tattoo that will retain its brilliance and clarity for many years. One fellow at the shop took off his shirt to show me his vintage Stevie Moon that still looked fresh and crisp. The devotion of his clients is obvious given that a Stevie Moon original may require up to 80 hours of work depending upon the amount of skin to be covered. In consultation, he might 34 | OutClique.org

suggest using classical Asian or Renaissance art for inspiration or reference. He may grab an art history book off a shelf to show you what he envisions. This definitely is not your drunken boardwalk spring-breaker type of operation. That said, Stevie Moon can trace his tattoo lineage back a few generations via the venerable “Mad Dog” who is still at work in California to Samuel Steward, PhD, who started tattooing sailors in Chicago in the 1950s because they were his fetish. Steward, who left a career as an English professor to work on the skin of the skid row men he most desired, authored a book entitled Bad Boys And Tough Tattoos in which he listed 30 different motivations for getting a tattoo. That list included “herd instinct, narcissism, crypto-homosexuality, manhood initiation, rebellion, membership, and fetishism.” When

I asked Stevie about the motivations of his clients, he said, “Brotherhood. Permanence. Celebration. You might be interested to know that I have acquired a following in the trans community. Next week I will be working on both F2M and M2F trans people who want to celebrate the day of their important surgery. They consider that day to be their real birthday.” I watched him work on a client during my visit and noticed some changes in the mechanics of making a tattoo. Stevie explained that the new type of stylus no longer uses oscillating magnets that literally pounded ink into your skin, creating an annoying loud staccato buzz during the process. The latest technology uses a rotary headed stylus that allows Stevie better ability to add subtle shading and smooth motion to his designs, while replacing that awful buzz with a pleasant hum. Stevie also noted that the range of available colors

has exploded, waving a hand over his shoulder at the huge rack of colored inks. What about that new company that approached me for a review? SKIN46 is a Swiss ink formula that extracts pure carbon from the hair of a loved one, delivering a bottle of ink that will keep your loved one literally under your skin. When I asked Stevie about this, he became uncharacteristically wistful, remembering those years when AIDS was a raging plague decimating the gay community. He said, “In those years, some men wanted the ashes of their departed lovers mixed into the ink to be used in their tattoos. The idea is not really new. I am not familiar with this new company, but it seems that they are stressing the purity of their product.” Stevie Moon has a reputation for strictly following the health codes governing his profession. He uses only approved and regulated inks and products.

Stevie Moon’s guiding principle is, “Your vision. Your canvas. Our pleasure.” You’ll enjoy working with him. For more, check out www.StevieMoon.com OutClique.org | 35

THE DRIVE TO GAY KEY WEST By Joey Leslie (and Steven O. Evans, PhD)

Key West was the first, and for a while, the only U.S. city to court gay tourists, and luckily for us, it’s as resilient as it is welcoming . . . and uninhibited. While some islands are still rebuilding, Key West is back in business, so why not help pump some money back into the local economy and pay respects to the original gay travel destination with a quick road trip to the Keys? Head south to the southernmost point of Florida and bask in the come-as-you-are spirit, perfect weather, crystal waters, lush landscaping (and clothing-optional attitude, if that’s your jam) that only our SoFlo archipelago can offer.

att Hon, former Key West Business Guild Executive Director, said while Irma affected all of the islands differently, Key West quickly bounced back from the storm. “Key West is still that place you love and just waiting for you to come and visit,” Hon said. “Every visit is much appreciated by our residents. It’s been a tough road (after Irma), but now it’s time to get things back to normal -- well, as normal as possible for Key West! Because, we are close to perfect, but far from normal!”

WHAT TO DO On land... You’ll drive across the Seven Mile Bridge originally constructed in 1912 for railroad traffic - on your way to Key West so considering taking a break to park just north of the bridge at Mile Marker 47 in Marathon and go walking or biking over to Pigeon Key along the older span. Once you’re there, walking or biking make perfect daytime activities, and the stunning Key West sunset is a must-see, especially from Mallory Square. The street performers there keep the crowd entertained with or

without the glorious sun. Key West boast a slew of art galleries and antiques shoppes, shopping, and local theaters so you can browse all day and take in an evening show. Visit The Hemingway House. Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West during the 1920’s, and you can visit his old house, and make friends with the 50 or so six-toed cats that live there. Take a selfie with “The Southernmost Point Buoy.” It’s basically achieved celebrity status at this point. The anchored concrete buoy in Key West marks the southernmost point in the continental United States and sits at 18 feet above sea level. It was recently repainted after Irma, so she’s camera ready. On the water... Known for its pastel-hued, conch-style houses, this cruise-ship stop gives good reef, perfect for diving and snorkeling. The calm waters also make for great dolphin watching (you can make plans to swim with them, too!). If you’re an angler, you’re in luck! Key West offers many fishing options and charter guides specialize in catching the snappers OutClique.org | 37

and groupers that inhabit shipwrecks, reefs, inshore channels and uninhabited mangrove islands of the backcountry.

MAJOR EVENTS Be sure to block your calendar early for Key West Pride. 2018 is set for June 6 - 10. It’s a block party throughout the city that can’t be missed. Celebrate pride on a tropical island that is legendary for its laid back style and its open and accepting atmosphere. Whether you’re looking to party with friends, travel with family, or get lost in the magic of a tropical island, rediscover Key West and discover how one island’s One Human Family philosophy has created one of the most integrated and unique communities in the world. Show them your pride, we they show you Key West Pride! www.KeyWestPride.org Ready for some heat? Head down for for Tropical Heat August 15 - 19, 2018. Tropical Heat is Key West’s hottest event (maybe literally) for men! The temperature is not the only thing that will rise during Tropical Heat. The all-male theme parties, pool parties, and adult-oriented entertainment promises to be hot. August on the Island is always warm, but during Tropical Heat it promises to be steamy! Four days of hot guys and fun, the best way to experience Key West. www.TropicalHeatKW.com And the island doesn’t forget about the ladies. Womenfest Key West is slated for Sept 5 - 9, 2018. Just before the school year starts in

38 | OutClique.org

earnest and as the last rays of summertime finally set before the holiday season begins to rev up, Key West welcomes women from across the world to an annual celebration that has become one of the largest gatherings of lesbians and friends in North America - Womenfest! Each year thousands of ladies come together over the Labor Day weekend and stay for a wide range of activities and events for four days of revelry and fun. Key West boasts restaurants that offer remarkable cuisine year round, watering holes that offer authentic, tropical libations, and shops that can’t be found anywhere else. Of course the most popular activity during Womenfest usually involves a chaise lounge, a good book, sunscreen and a killer margarita. Come join us on the little island that is close to perfect, but far from normal, for this fabulous event that gets bigger and better every year! www.WomenFest.com.

WHERE TO STAY Key West leads the charge when it comes to embracing the clothing-optional lifestyle. Here are your options if you’re looking for a hotel where you can let it all hang out. EQUATOR RESORT Tucked away in the heart of Old Town Key West, the Equator Resort is just 3 blocks from Historic Duval St. Providing easy access to a city filled with history, culture, festivity and most of all relaxation. The resort offers a large, lush and open private setting with 2 heated pools and two hot tubs.

ISLAND HOUSE KEY WEST Key West’s largest men's gay resort, Island House Key West is a private, clothing-optional compound with swimming pool, poolside cafe and bar, health club, sauna, and jacuzzi. ALEXANDER’S GUEST HOUSE Setting a new standard for comfort and style in Key West- Alexander’s delights with lush tropical gardens, historic charm mixed with contemporary accents throughout and an intimate atmosphere created in the spirit of wellness, ease and comfort. NEW ORLEANS HOUSE The only gay, all-male guest house on Duval St located in the heart of Old Town Key West, just steps from shopping and fine art galleries, nightlife and entertainment. For an enormous list of more traditional, clothing-required hotels in Key West, visit http://www.fla-keys.com.

Where to Play 801 BOURBON ST The legendary 801 has been a part of the Gay Key West landscape for over 30 years. Enjoy the downstairs bar where the locals enjoy people watching or the upstairs nightly cabaret that features the largest drag house on the island with shows nightly at 9PM and 11PM. Karaoke at the Main Bar Sundays at 4pm and Wednesdays at 8PM. BAR HOPPING DUVAL STREET Duval Street may only be a mile long, but it’s packed with small bars & old Victorian mansions. Pop in and listen to one of the many live bands playing jazz, Cuban, or salsa music. Don’t miss the Green Parrot Bar or

the (clothing optional) Garden of Eden! From antique shopping to theater to cafes to bars and clubs, Duval Street earns the reputation for the everything-gay place. BOURBON ST PUB Gay Key West's original and only video bar featuring the "Men of Bourbon" nightly, live VJ's, live shows, 5 bars, "Male Only" clothing optional garden bar with pool & jacuzzi. AQUA NIGHTCLUB Offers fun, raucous, high-energy drag shows a quintessential part of Key West life in the heart of Duval. Expect a close up experience if you are seated in the dance floor area, or take a back seat and admire from afar. Tickets to the show are $20 per person at a table, and must be booked in advance. BOBBY’S MONKEY BAR A neighborhood bar with a happy hour that starts at noon. Play some pool, chill out, and plan where to go next on your drunken adventure. SALOON ONE Key West’s only leather bar is located behind 801 Bourbon Bar and offers theme nights and specials. Just a short walk from many gay guesthouses. LA TE DA Is it a hotel complex (or is it a complex hotel?) offering old-world Key West style including beautiful guestrooms, gourmet dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and three bars, including a piano bar with cabaret performances. Visit www.Fla-Keys.com or www.KWBGOnline.org for more information. OutClique.org | 39

WINTER PARTY

For more photos of this event, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/outclique. 40 | OutClique.org

For more photos of this event, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/outclique. OutClique.org | 41

THE

BEST BODYWEIGHT EXERCISES By Bobby Jackson BA, CSCS

y now most of us have heard that resistance training is one of the best forms of exercise. Resistance training, done correctly, is how we gain strength and muscular endurance across our entire body. Additionally, resistance training increases bone density and is an extremely efficient way to jump-start a fat loss program. It is important to remember that there are several different forms of resistance training, not always involving barbells, weight plates, and dumbbells. One incredibly effective form of resistance training is a series of exercises that simply use the weight of your own body, referred to as bodyweight training. Below you will find the 3 best bodyweight exercises that will leave your entire body burning.

LUNGES

The lunge is quite possibly the most comprehensive lower body exercise out there. By taking a single step forward, out to the side (lateral lunge), or backwards (reverse lunge), weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not only activating the muscle groups in the hips and legs, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re increasing balance and core strength along the way. For the forward and reverse lunges, you want to make sure the length of your step allows you

to bend both knees to a 90-degree angle. That will give you the best muscular activation in the leg and hip. The lateral lunge is done with a step straight out to the side. The leg that is moved away from your centerline is bent at the knee and hip but the leg that remained planted is kept straight at the knee. This lunge variation gives us more activation on the inner thigh.

PULL-UPS

The pull-up is the king of the back and bicep exercises. It also gives us great activation in 44 | OutClique.org

the abdominal muscles. For the beginner, use a closer grip and a resistance band under

your feet to decrease the amount of weight in the exercise so you can complete more repetitions and put a greater focus on form. During the pull-up, leave a little bit of bend in your elbows at the bottom of the movement and think about it as drawing your elbows

down to your sides rather than just pulling your head up to your hands. This will give you much better activation in your back. As you develop a stronger pull-up, start using a lighter resistance band under your feet to continue building more strength.

HIPS

The push-up is the perfect way to develop strength in the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It also engages all of the same core muscles hit by the plank exercise. The correct form for a push-up should have your elbows at a 45-degree angle away from your torso at the bottom of the movement. This will help distribute your weight more evenly across your chest, shoulders, and arms. Alternatively, most people leave their

elbows out wide at the bottom of a push-up (around a 90-degree angle from the torso). This puts the majority of the weight into the shoulders and arms, leaving the chest less activated. To avoid this, shift your body forward so your hands are below your armpits. That will help the elbows stay closer to that desired 45-degree angle at the bottom of your push-up, better distributing your weight.

These 3 exercises alone can make up the basis for an entire resistance training program. Together they work all the major muscle groups of the body along with increasing your overall balance and coordination. Once you build a strong foundation around these 3 movements you can expect to see a measurable increase in strength with all of your other exercises as well. The other great part about these fundamental movements is that there are countless ways to continue progressing the difficulty and complexity of each. That means you can use these to make progress at any fitness level.

Bobby is a graduate of Minnesota State University with a degree in Biology, emphasis in Health and Medical Sciences. Certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Bobby is the owner and director of The Custom Fitness Institute, a private training studio in Pompano Beach. www.Facebook.com/TheCustomFitnessInstitute. 46 | OutClique.org

TAKE THE LEAD

Take an active role in your health. Ask your doctor if an HIV medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

THE DYNAMIC DRAG DUO TWAT LAROUGE AND CHOCOLATTA FROM By Denny Patterson

Photos by Connor Wilkinson 48 | OutClique.org

Will Hill and Johnny Bowls may seem like an ordinary gay couple by day, but by night, they transform themselves into the larger than life drag personas of Twat LaRouge and Chocolatta. Frequently performing at Lips Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, these lively queens put on performances that locals and guests alike will not only remember, but also cherish. Originally from Kansas City, Twat and Chocolatta have shared more than drag secrets with each other. They are not only sisters, but husbands as well. The past eighteen years has been a journey that neither one of them will ever regret, and I was fortunate enough to chat more with this fierce pair about their relationship and drag lifestyle. So, tell me, who is Twat LaRouge? What is she all about? Twat: Twat LaRouge is an empowering representation of an underrepresented visual of American women as in a canonization of women who were made to go crazy, develop eating disorders, and feel bad about themselves. Twat is a mix of a large figured woman who is both ill represented and standing up for beauty. Fantastic. And what about Chocolatta? Chocolatta: Chocolatta on the other hand is a queen who is just a girl standing up for herself and wants to empower every woman whether they have a penis or not. She's standing up for herself to be strong and powerful and standing up for her own beliefs. How long have you both been doing drag? Twat: Since 1999. However, from 1999-2006, Twat was strictly just a foam puppet head, and you can still catch her on YouTube during those old days. I used to be a fully foamcovered person. From hands to feet to foam high heels, foam everything. When we moved to South Florida, it was really warm down here, so we were like, what are we going to do? I had to take the head off. We perform at Lips Restaurant and they were like, you have to work without having the head on. So, they kind of geared me into painting my face and wearing wigs instead of a giant foam head. So, 1999 OutClique.org | 49

was Twat’s inception, and up to this day, I have not retired. Chocolatta: I was a little later than Twat. A couple of years. I started with a reverse gender underground theatre group called Late Night Theatre and we burst gender roles in all shows and that was when I started doing drag. In Kansas City I was given the name Chocolatta through that theatre. What was the aspiration? Chocolatta: It’s a way to be expressive and show my alter ego. Twat: I guess just costume building and design. I really wasn’t geared towards being a drag queen. I created puppet theatre and did this crazy puppet show where I wrote, directed, and created puppets and costumes. My actual Twat character came from this play basically and someone saw it and said that I should go do a drag show over at this club in Kansas City. I was like okay, I guess I’ll try it. I then got wrapped up into this crazy world of drag. I had no idea what it was, didn’t know who I was working with, and it was a little overwhelming. I soon found myself addicted to this crazy other world. How did you two meet? Twat: It was actually at one of my drag shows. It was the “Y2K Of It All” show, so literally January 1, 2000. Everyone was so scared to go out to the club because they thought the whole world was going to break down. My friends asked me to do a show, and I said fine. I had friends come out to this club and little did I know, my friends knew Johnny and his friends that went to the club. I was in the back, came out to perform, then got out of the big puppet suit, and started dancing with Johnny and his friends. Have either of you ever dated another drag queen? Chocolatta: Twat did! Twat: Yes, I did, and she was so dead set on me not being a drag queen. It was a very weird scenario. I was never setting out to be one, and I was led into this world of drag. She said if I ever became a drag queen, she would divorce me. Like girl, we’re not even married! 50 | OutClique.org

It sounds like that was a pretty crappy situation. Chocolatta: It was. I heard all the stories. Tell me about your first one on one date together. Twat: We danced all night the night we first met, and then I was like, “So, how about hang out tomorrow. What are you doing?” He was volunteering with the Boy Scouts, but he might have a minute to hang out after he was done. I told him my friend was having a movie party and he could join us once he was done volunteering. Chocolatta: I think it was American Pie. Twat: I think it was! We weren’t even into the movie. Chocolatta: But after the movie was over, Twat was like, “Why don’t you over to my place?” This was before Netflix and chill, by the way. He literally said come and we can watch a movie and have popcorn, and that’s exactly what happened. Twat: We had the time of our lives. Talking, cackling, and crying. Chocolatta: And the rest is history. What was your wedding like? Twat: Well, marriage was never legal in Kansas City, so we were against the cuff! And actually, P.S., side story, there were a lot of directors and local Kansas City artists that were asked to be interviewed for an article in the Kansas City Star about gay marriage, and they all turned the article down. They then sent the interviewers to us. We did talk about it. Chocolatta: And we were basically still kids at the time. Twat: We did the article, but then people threatened our lives, our cars, so it was kind of a rough time, but we got married in Florida when it became legal for the whole country to get married. I can’t believe that was only a couple years ago. We saw the news headlines and I said, “Hey, do you want to go to the courthouse to get married and stop and get Chipotle on the way?” That’s what happened. Hey, that is still a story that you two will forever cherish. Did you wear drag to the court house?

OutClique.org | 51

Chocolatta: We did boy drag. We wore suits. Let’s chat about your actual drag performances for a bit. You perform primarily at Lips Restaurant, correct? Twat: At the most, yes. We also perform at other clubs throughout Fort Lauderdale, but Lips has kind of been a savior to us. The girls there are amazing, and we’ve been working there for 10 years. Lips has provided financial support and stability for us as human beings. They are so supportive. What is it like to host your own weekly game show there? Twat: The Tuesday night game show hosted by Twat LaRouge is a great collection of the best performers showing off their newest numbers with some wacky games for the audience to play and win prizes. Performing at Lips in general is amazing. With a different themed show each night of the week, we are able to showcase a variety of costumes and performances. Do you perform together or separately? Chocolatta: Both. We started performing as a team once we started working at Lips, but we also have our own separate numbers. For people who like and follow us, they say some of their favorite performances is when we are together. We get a little crazier when we are together. Twat: We feed off each other and do all kinds of crazy shit. What are your performances like? Twat: They are light hearted and fun. I’m kind of layered like an onion. I shed multiple costumes throughout my numbers. When we started performing as a team, Chocolatta would come up on stage with a suitcase and slowly unzip the suitcase while I slowly shed off my first costume and she slowly packs it away. As I shed more, the more aggravated Chocolatta becomes. She has to then lug off the stage with this big heavy suitcase acting like she doesn’t mind when in reality she’s like, I fucking hate you. Chocolatta: I leave in a huff while Twat is 52 | OutClique.org

unaware of what’s going on and she’s all like thank you so much and I’m like, whatever. Twat: We create these crazy characters and let them interact with each other. What does the home of a married drag queen couple look like? I’m imagining wigs, makeup, and gowns galore thrown in every direction. Twat: Pretty much! Our Christmas tree was literally a body form. It’s still up! It’s a body form with a giant star about four and a half feet wide with a Christmas tree dress that I wore on stage during the months of November and December. His family came to visit for the holidays and that was our tree. My Christmas tree dress with ornaments attached to it and garland. It makes us giggle so much. What is a typical day for you when you are not performing? Your down time? Chocolatta: Laundry, grocery shopping, and dishes. Then we cook food for the week. Twat: Yes, we make every meal in house vegan and we have literally been living off a vegan zero calorie soup for one year now. If you want the recipe, we can send it to you! Chocolatta: We’re boring. Do you share each other’s drag materials? Chocolatta: Sometimes. Twat: I make all of our costumes and jewelry, but I wear larger pads than Chocolatta and I’m much shorter than her, so her shorter cocktail dresses become an evening gown on myself. That only happens when I don’t wear my own hip pads. But yes, we wear each other’s dresses and wigs. Who are some of your go to lip sync artists? Chocolatta: Missy Elliot. I like her style, and she’s funky and crass. I’ve also been into Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez lately. Those are my top three. Twat: I would toss in Kesha. I do a lot of mash ups. Little Mix is one of my favorite groups, I love Deee-Lite as a throwback, and Meghan Trainor. Maybe Gaga, but I don’t necessarily like her music. However, people tip me well when I do her, so yeah!

Who would your Snatch Game character be? Twat: Betty Boop. Chocolatta: I am really fascinated with Grace Jones, who is pretty obscure to most people who arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t my age and our generation. Her style and attitude is totally me.

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SECOND CHANCES

By Dr. Beau A. Nelson, DBH, LCSW

here are two kinds of second chances in this world, the ones we get and the ones we give. It is not easy to turn-the-othercheek when someone does us wrong, and it is something we desperately cling to when we have done something wrong. Most of us know what it is like to ask for forgiveness, we are human, we are not perfect. Sometimes it is far too easy to hold on to our hurts and choose not to forgive, because we feel justified in not letting ourselves be treated badly. Either way, it hurts us to hold on to hurts, and it hurts to ask for forgiveness when we know we are wrong.

Asking for a second chance is hard. People are strange creatures. We can justify something in our minds and not think at all what it could do to others because we are self-interested. For most of us, we are just selfish. We look to get our needs met, and often, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what happens as long as we get what we want. This may seem like a good idea at the time, but often it turns out to be the very thing that keeps us from getting what we want. Over time, maturity tends to help us to learn from past mistakes and learn what not to do. Some of us, however, are tough nuts to crack. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t learn until way down the road. For others, insight never comes. When we have betrayed someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trust, when we have forgotten to care about another, when our words are not thought out, we can damage the friendships and relationships that make life meaningful. It is fair to say that good people have boundaries that are going to tell them to stay away from someone that has broken their trust, and this is good. But, we sometimes forgive another because it is the right thing to do, and it is

what will make us okay. We may not forget, but we can forgive. It is a really spiritual experience to truly forgive another. It is an even more spiritual experience to receive forgiveness. Hopefully we take that gift and use it for something wonderful, but often it is just another way to avoid the real lesson to be learned and we are back to our old tricks, yet again. I know in my life I have chosen to hold on to hurts more times than to let go and forgive. I have been the beneficiary of a few second chances as well, and I have appreciated what that means about the other person. It means that they are bigger than me. They are able to let go and they are able to give me an opportunity to be something more, to learn, and to try to be better. I am grateful for each of these. I guess as I think about it, I can honestly say that sometimes I have learned more when I have not been given a second chance, than when I have. I think I have learned through consequences, as many of us do, that there are lost opportunities in life, most lost at our own hands. OutClique.org | 55

I was a very closed minded young person. My dad used to say I was 14 going on 40. I was not your typical teenager; I was like an old man. I think being gay made me hide and it kept me from being a kid. Growing up afraid of your secret and not getting out really caused my whole person to shut down. What a loss. I did not get a chance to experience so much and so many people because I was basically too afraid to let loose, afraid I would be rejected, and afraid I would not be good enough. Maybe it is fear that prevents us from giving second chances. We somehow think we are too fragile, we cannot take it, and that we are not able to bear another hurt. Funny thing is, we are. Humans are capable of withstanding great pains and still go on. All over the world there is suffering. In that suffering there is a real power, it is called hope. If we hope for something better, if we are less afraid, we can give second chances, and perhaps, grow when we get a second chance. When I was younger I missed out on meeting and being close to many people, because they did not fit in my box that I was comfortable with. Sad thing was, that box was so small, only I was able to be there. It got very lonely. I had to accept myself at some point, step out of the box, and open myself to a world of new experiences and along the way, hurts.

No matter where you are right now, think about second chances. Maybe there is something you are holding onto about yourself or another. Maybe you have wronged someone and you need to accept there is no second chance, at least not there, but there are more chances out there. When we learn through life, we get the chance to be something more, something better, and something we like. The worst part about being denied a second chance is not that we are looking for it from someone else, it is that we are looking for it from ourselves. We can move on when others have to go from our life. I tell myself regularly that I am so grateful for so many people God has brought in my life, and more grateful for some that he took out of my life. In the end, it is ourselves that we live with, it is our own need for second chances I think is so important. If we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forgive ourselves, can we truly forgive others? So today, think about how to give yourself a second chance. Maybe the good thing we can learn is that there are second chances, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always come in the packages we expect. A second chance means an opportunity to be better. It means another try. You may want to give it to yourself or you may want to give it to someone else. No one can tell you what to do, but at the end of it all, will you be better or worse for the choice that you made? I wish you good luck and enjoy your second chances.

Dr. Nelson is Clinical Director for The Florida House Experience in Deerfield Beach, an innovative healthcare organization treating substance abuse and mental health issues. He also maintains a private practice in Fort Lauderdale and information about him can be found on his website at www.ImproveYourMood.com. Read more by Dr. Nelson at www.OutClique.org/Articles

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FORT LAUDERDALE’S QUEEN OF SOUL AND JAZZ

LENORA JAYE

By Denny Patterson

n the words of Christina Aguilera, “You got soul, you got class, you got style, you’re badass” – and that’s exactly what LeNora Jaye is. Born and raised in New York City, LeNora is a professional performer, singer, songwriter, and entertainer who moved to Fort Lauderdale in 2012. After performing all over the country, she never imagined Fort Lauderdale, specifically Wilton Manors, would accept her with open and loving arms. Mixing old school hits with new and original works, LeNora frequently performs at Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar. She says she has grown to adore the community and loves the energy and culture of South Florida. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with LeNora. An upbeat attitude and a contagious laugh, she can surely put a smile on anyone’s face. If you cannot make it to one of her shows soon, check out her website, www.LenoraJaye.com. There, you can find videos and listen to excerpts from her albums, “The Story” and “Force of Life.”

Let me start off by asking, is LeNora Jaye your given name, or a stage name? A little of both. My name is LeNora and the first initial of my last name is a J. It’s a homage to my favorite male artist, Marvin Gaye. Instead of using a J., I spelled it out as Jaye. So, what made you move down here to Fort Lauderdale? I have been living in Atlanta for a few years, and it just wasn’t cutting it for me. That kind of energy and culture and vitality that I had all those years growing up in New York City, specifically Brooklyn and Queens, it was lacking for me in Atlanta. A producer friend of mine who I met at a music convention in Atlanta invited me to come down to South Florida to do some recording. When I arrived, I instantly fell in love. I poured my heart into music recording right here in South Florida. In 2012, I did a cruise ship contract, once I got 58 | OutClique.org

off the ship, I bit the bullet and wanted to see if I can make something happen here. What inspired you to be a singer/songwriter? It just came naturally. When I was a little girl, I actually wanted to be a ballerina. I was obsessed with watching ballet on PBS, so as a little girl, my parents were the kind of progressive parents where, if a child showed interest in something, they would do whatever it took to help you pursue it. My mother was like okay, put her in dance class. So, I was taking all these dance classes, but there was a lot of singing around my house. I thought it was normal for families to be able to sing in harmony. Turns out it wasn’t! My mother sang jazz, my father listened to a lot of Motown and classic jazz, and my sisters played everything on the radio at the time in the 80s. I thought everybody’s family could sing like they did on the radio. I took for granted that I could sing

and harmonize. And you are attracted more to the styles of soul and jazz, correct? Yes. Naturally a soul singer, but my heart is in jazz music. Again, my mother sang around the house pretty effortlessly. Her favorite artist was Sarah Vaughan, and that was all I heard growing up. You frequently perform at Georgie’s Alibi in Wilton Manors? Yes! I perform weekly at Georgie’s Alibi and do their jazz brunch 2-3 times a month. I have a show every Sunday night with 80s and 90s soul and pop music called Mega Mix, and every Tuesday night I do a show that features a little bit of jazz, mostly Motown and dance disco music called the Groove Session. What can audiences generally expect at your shows? Really good singing, and I try to be myself. I did not know that this opportunity to perform for a living would unfold for me here in South Florida. I always had that duality, corporate by day, musician by night. But, this is the first time where I can sing and perform full time. There’s a lot of love in my music and I have a lot of love for the community, specifically Wilton Manors. I love and respect them so much for their love, respect, and support for the arts and entertainment. It means so much to me. The LGBTQ community has such a big heart and they have allowed me to do something I never dreamed of. So, with that always in

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mind, I put my heart into my performances. You may hear music you haven’t heard in many, many years, or some obscure track you didn’t think people knew about that you listened to back in the day. Would you say that’s also how you keep every performance fresh and exciting? Absolutely! No show is ever the same. My audiences are always very interactive, and they sometimes tell me about certain songs I’ve never heard of. They give me new material to work with. So, your audiences are also a big source of inspiration. Absolutely. Sometimes I can be a typical moody woman from New York City. People assume performers want to perform all the time. There may be something on television, or it’s just day where I’m down in the dumps and don’t feel like it. Once I get to the club, my audiences immediately lift me up. They give me life. What are some of the challenges of being a professional singer? Remembering to be human. Sometimes people won’t take into account that you’re still a human being. I may have to go to the bathroom, or I may be thirsty, or I may just have a headache. Are you currently working on any projects? I am! I am working on new original music and putting together a cover CD compilation. I’m also working towards performing in the UK for the first time with my original music. I did pretty well with their underground soul movement with my first and second albums. I’m going to go over there and perform one to two nights for the first time and I’m really excited about that. Here, I plan on continuing to build on to the shows that I brought to Wilton Manors at Alibi. I am so glad to be a representation of black music there. There were a lot of musical theatre performers, so I didn’t think they were looking for someone like me. I never imagined having a place here. They absolutely welcomed me with open arms and that means so much to me.

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1000 VOICES OF TERRY FATOR By Mike Jeknavorian

merica’s Got Talent winner, Terry Fator, performs his ventriloquist and comedy act at the Coral Center for the Performing Arts on May 11, 2018. In a story that almost sounds like fiction, just a few years ago Terry Fator performed in a 1,000 seat theater to only one person, a 12-year-old boy. At that point, Fator had been on the grind with his ventriloquist act for years and almost gave up after that seemingly depressing show. Fator’s act combines signing (his first bout in show business was as the front man for several bands), impersonations, ventriloquism, and audience participation. Interestingly, participation includes the selection of an audience member and transforming them into a life-sized human ventriloquist’s “dummy” that he talks through. Fator has 13 puppets, including ones of celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Elton John and Paul McCartney. He also has a Donald Trump puppet. Gay audiences may find unintentional humor in Fator’s cowboy puppet, Walter T. Airedale, who is virtually a doppelganger of The Cowboy from The Village People, as well as his “floozy” puppet, Vikki the Cougar, who (according to the description on Fator’s website) is “always on the prowl for young men who live rich and see poorly.” I had the chance to talk with Terry about his performances. Where do you live now? In Las Vegas, Nevada. What’s something that’s special about Las Vegas that most people don’t know about? What most people don't realize is that Las Vegas is actually a very beautiful area to live in. We’re surrounded by beautiful scenery,

and we even have a ski resort within an hour’s drive. What ventriloquist do you admire, and why? Edgar Bergen. The main reason is that he created characters that were beloved by millions worldwide. What stage performer do you admire, and why? Martin Short. He’s so relaxed and naturally funny that I adore him. What’s something about the art of ventriloquism that doesn’t get the credit that it deserves? I don’t think people realize how incredibly sexy ventriloquists are. Actually, I think the fact that ventriloquists make an inanimate object seem alive is lost on most people. Do you still have your first Willie Talk doll? Yes. He’s in a shadow box hanging on the wall of my dressing room at the Mirage in Las Vegas. OutClique.org | 65

Which puppet is most special to you? I have several favorites. Winston, The Impersonating Turtle, is my outright-favorite, since he won America’s Got Talent. Walter T. Airedale is my sentimental favorite, since he was my first professional puppet. I got him on my 18th birthday. And my favorite to perform is Maynard Tompkins, The Elvis Impersonator, because he’s the most fun to ad-lib with. Other than your own puppets, what’s your favorite puppet, and why? Tom Cruise. He’s so small and cute. I mean, Kermit the Frog, because Jim Henson’s creation taught me how to manipulate a puppet and make it seem truly alive and real. What’s the weirdest question that a fan has ever asked? I had a fan ask me if I use my puppets in the bedroom with my wife. What a silly question. Of course I do! I mean, who wouldn't? What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you onstage? I was in the middle of a show and a lady somehow snuck up behind me. She wanted to announce her husband’s birthday. It was so bizarre. Of course alcohol was involved. What’s your dream role in show business? I’m living it now, but I’d also like to have a sitcom. And a talent-search show that’s family-appropriate. What was your perception of David Letterman? He’s very distant, but I must say that every time I was on his show he came over after, shook my hand, and told me I was amazing. Once he told me his mother adored me. Talk about surreal! Do you use any of your puppets therapeutically to work through emotions? I don’t use them as therapy for myself, but I hear from a lot of folks who tell me that watching my show on YouTube or DVD is great therapy for them. It’s very effective with autistic folks and with people who have Alzheimer’s. 66 | OutClique.org

Has Elton John given you any tips on your impression of him, and, if so, what were they? No tips from him, but he told me he had heard that my show was the best in Vegas, and he really wanted to come see me perform. I hope to see him at my show one day! Has anyone ever made a comparison between your “Walter” puppet and The Cowboy from The Village People? Yes, I’ve heard that a few times. What are your thoughts about that? I think that it’s hilarious. I think that “Walter” is happy as long as he’s getting attention. You’re quite philanthropic. What charitable contribution are you the proudest of? I’m most proud of the work I do with the military. I received the Medal of Honor Bob Hope Award in 2017. That is truly one of the greatest honors of my life. Can you fill us in on one of your newest creations that’s in the works? I just recently put a Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney act in the show. And finally, were God to call you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? I’d want to be remembered as a kind person who made everyone I met feel important. Fore more information, visit www.TheCenterCS.com

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Genesis Health Institute believes there is a very specific and scientific way to lose weight. While most general healthcare practitioners believe achieving a certain body 68 | OutClique.org

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A DRAG RACE FAVORITE: TRIXIE MATTEL By Denny Patterson

Trixie Mattel penetrated the hearts of millions the moment she stepped into the workroom on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7. Although she did not win the crown on her season, she went on to conquer All Stars 3. Known for her witty comedy and extravagant looks, this life size Barbie doll is by far one of the most successful Drag Race queens. Co-hosting The Trixie & Katya Show with fellow Drag Race competitor Katya Zamolodchikova on Viceland, and releasing two full-length music albums, life can be hectic, but she is unstoppable. Now, she is currently touring the U.S. with her “Now with Moving Parts” tour. I received the pleasure of chatting more with Trixie about her upcoming show. And she even spilled some tea about All Stars 3. Denny Patterson: Hello, Trixie! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. Trixie Mattel: Oh yea! I thought I was just ordering a pizza. I’m just happy to be here.

You’re going to be visiting Fort Lauderdale with your “Now with Moving Parts” tour. Tell me more about that. What can audience expect?

Audiences can expect dad jokes in your mom’s pumps. If that makes sense. It’s sort of like the deepest, darkest recesses of young adulthood being explored by this person who has the silhouette and color pallet of one of your favorite toys from childhood. I tell jokes, play guitar, play the autoharp, there’s video – it’s so funny. I’ve been working on it for a year, so it’s going to be wonderful.

DP TM

Now, you were recently in the area with the “Rupaul Shady Tour,” weren’t you? Yes, I was!

72 | OutClique.org

Photo by David Ayllon

DP TM

Is it hard going from one tour to the next?

DP TM

Be honest, who is the shadiest queen?

DP TM

What is your favorite part about touring?

No, I write completely different material. The “Shady Tour” is more like reads and basically roasting the shit out of each other. Whereas the “Moving Parts Tour” is more musical, more free form, and there’s stand up. It’s kind of like the haters tour, but it’s just me and no one else is there. So, it’s a great improvement.

Oh my God, Thorgy. Her jokes were so good. She said, “Trixie Mattel is so white, when she hears Macklemore, she locks her doors.” It was the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.

My favorite part about touring is, well, I don’t see my friends, my relationship with my boyfriend gets shaky, and I only go home when someone dies. So, it’s going to be

another great year.

be doing? Where would you be?

DP TM

How do you keep every performance fresh and exciting?

The fear that I’ll mess up. I’ve never been secure enough with the material. For me, it’s always about the journey. What am I going to remember about this performance? Also, it’s about making sure I’m in the right costume and hair. And that I don’t start to hate it every night. I just did “Now with Moving Parts” in the UK, and about 10 cities in, I’m getting into drag sitting across the room staring at the costume on the hanger and just hating it cause I’ve worn it for so many days in a row. Imagine it’s like wearing the same underwear every day as a man, but it’s uncomfortable underwear that you sweat a lot in and get photographed in every night.

DP TM

Tell a bit more about your latest album that came out a couple weeks ago.

Yes! One Stone is a follow up to my first album, Two Birds. Two birds, one stone, I’m gay, we like themes. Two Birds is the first half that’s already on iTunes, and One Stone is kind of like the revolution of the first one. One Stone has a lot more folksy, grassier sound while the first album I’d spaghetti western and a lot more country.

DP TM

Did you ever think drag would take you to where you are today?

Let’s say you never found your passion for drag. What do you think you would

It’s hard to say. I’ve been doing drag since I was 18. I’d probably still be being playing music, but for a lot less money and much smaller audiences. It turns out being a white guy with a guitar isn’t that special, and I hardly have any hair or eyebrows, so I’d look like a sad Billy Corgan. Drag is a great way to do makeup, dancing, comedy, and acting. If I didn’t do this, I would feel artistically thirsty. I also love the business side of it as well, like marketing and ads. If it weren’t for drag, I wouldn’t have known I’d like television as much as I do. I never dreamed I would be on TV.

DP TM

Would you say drag saved your life?

I wouldn’t say it saved my life, but it gave me something to do instead of playing PlayStation and eating nachos.

Let’s talk about Drag Race for a bit. Congratulations on your victory! What were you feeling when Ru announced your name as the winner of All Stars 3?

skating!

It felt like winning an Olympic medal for something even gayer than ice

For more on this article, go to www.OutClique.org/Articles

No. I mean, I use to perform for $50 doing BINGO at a Hamburger Mary’s on a Sunday at 7:00PM for people who wanted me to stop talking so they could eat their sliders, but no, I didn’t know it was going to happen. I went to school for music and theatre and what I do now uses those skills, but I never thought they would be used in a successful business way. It’s like I’m the Power Rangers and Trixie Mattel is the Megazord.

Photo by Scott Kirby 74 | OutClique.org

OUTCLIQUE TEADANCE

For more photos of this event, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/outclique. OutClique.org | 75

YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU By Marty Kiar

YOU CAN STILL LATE FILE FOR TAX-SAVING EXEMPTIONS FOR 2018 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION If you purchased your property before January 1, 2018 and have not yet filed for 2018 Homestead Exemption or other available exemptions – you still have time. The late filing deadline for any 2018 property tax exemptions is September 18, 2018. This is the absolute last deadline to apply for these valuable exemptions as state law does not allow for late filing for exemptions after this date, regardless of any good cause reason for missing the late filing deadline. You can easily apply for Homestead Exemption online at www. bcpa.net or in our office. Additionally, if you purchased your home after January 1, 2018, you can pre-file for 2019 Homestead Exemption at any time.

f you had Homestead Exemption on another property, you must apply for this exemption on your new home. Homestead Exemption does not automatically transfer. When applying for Homestead, please make sure to complete a portability application. This will allow you to transfer some of the savings you may have from the previously Homesteaded property to your new one.

Our staff is also readily available to assist you at various community events around the county. To see where our outreach representatives will be, simply visit our Community Outreach Calendar online at www.bcpa.net/events. asp. Look for one of our BCPA tents at these great events and staff will be happy to help you complete your exemption application or answer any questions you may have.

Senior Exemption In order to qualify for the Low-Income Senior Exemption for 2018, an applicant must be 65 or older as of January 1, 2018, receive the Homestead Exemption on the property, and have a combined household adjusted gross income for 2017 not exceeding $29,454. To apply for this additional exemption, an applicant must complete a Sworn Statement of Adjusted Gross Income of Household form and provide a copy of the 2017 Income Tax Return Form 1040 for all persons residing in the home. For additional information and to download the necessary forms, please visit our website at www.bcpa.net/senior_instructions.asp.

The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Community Outreach is at The Pride Center at Equality Park Equality Park (2040 N Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, FL 33305) on the 2nd Tuesday of each month between 10:00AM12:00PM to assist residents with exemptions and other property related matters. If my office can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (954) 357-6904 or by email at MartyKiar@bcpa.net. Take care, Marty Kiar

Marty Kiar is the Broward County Property Appraiser and longtime advocate for LGBTQ equality. The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office is located at 115 S Andrews Avenue, Room # 111, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Follow our office at: facebook.com/MartyKiarBCPA and twitter.com/MartyKiarBCPA 80 | OutClique.org

17 EMPTY CHAIRS

By Rev. Patrick Rogers, MDiv. Photos by John Kardy

t our church, all preparations had been made for the Ash Wednesday Service. At the imposition of ashes onto the attendee’s forehead we say, “From dust you came, and to dust you will return.” One purpose is to remind us of our mortality and immortality. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the journey of Lent where, for 40 days, we reflect upon Jesus’ journey towards justice which includes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering that he endured. Earlier in the year, in worship planning, I was surprised that Ash Wednesday also fell on Valentine’s Day which is February 14th. Even though Valentine’s Day has always been a holiday with a focus on love (even though being single, it’s a reminder that I am single), I found it very touching and moving that so many would be celebrating love in a secular sense and as believers would celebrate “divine” love of our creator. On Ash Wednesday, during the afternoon, I learned of the “present day Valentine’s Day massacre” which occurred at the high school in Parkland, FL. The final report was that 17 people had died. A nightmare had occurred, yet it was reality. A high school coach and innocent high school students had been shot and killed. At the Ash Wednesday Service, we were devastated. We read “Be Still and Know that I Am God.” We were in shock. We held time in silence, we prayed, we were in shock. In the aftermath, what has touched, inspired, and brought hope is the reaction of the high school students, especially Emma Gonzalez. Emma is an 18 year old Cuban and she is also bisexual. Because of those attributes alone,

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I would already consider her a hero, but her activism regarding gun control has moved me the most. In the Christian text, Jesus says throughout the New Testament that unless one is like “children” you will not experience the kingdom of heaven. This text has nothing to do about age, it has to do with the ability to be excited, enthusiastic, driven, open minded, inspired, and dedicated. Jesus is making that point for us to not become complacent and noneffective in our call to love and to “spread the good news.” The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are following the path of the woman for whom the school is named. Marjory Stoneman Douglas lived to be 108 years old and while she was always known as an activist throughout her lifetime, at the age of 79 she began a 29-year endeavor to save the Florida Everglades against development, and thus helping to save our planet. She was dedicated and made significant accomplishments to save our environment. The ability to create change is not age specific. In this example, people from the age of 16 to 108 created change!

The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have inspired young people around the entire country to stand up and say no to the local, state, and national politicians and the powerful NRA. The students organized a national march which took take place in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018.

marched in unison at the local Parkland rally where they followed the example of the “children” that Jesus spoke about.

The young people have been an example for the church! On March 24, 2018, South Florida spiritual leaders and clergy from all faiths

17 Empty Chairs must be the last. The time is now! www.marchforourlives.com

The children and their enthusiasm for justice will make a change. What a great example for us as adults.

Rev. Patrick Rogers, MDiv. – Community Activist and Senior Pastor at United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale

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DEEP MENU OF HEALTHY DISHES

AT DOC B'S IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND CORAL GABLES

By Steve Pike

raig Bernstein knew he wanted to be in the restaurant business from the time he was 10 years old. He still has his school project paper to prove it. “I have followed my passion to become what I am today,’’ said Bernstein. Named in honor of Bernstein’s late father, who was a physician, and best known for its selection of dishes that are each made from scratch, Doc B’s now has locations in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Gables. Each location is large and airy (4,300 and 5,300 square feet, respectively), and has comfortable seating to accommodate its health-conscious lunch and dinner menus. “There is not a bad seat,’’ Bernstein said. “Everything is set up to be as comfortable as possible. And everything on the menu is created to be the best of that item. The name (Doc B’s) comes across a bit casual at times, but our staff does a great job at telling

the story. It’s not just lunch and salad, it’s a homage to a great person.’’ Doc B’s menu includes a “create your own steak” option that allows guests to choose the type of cut, house-made seasoning, traditional sauce or premium topping such as Jumbo Lump Citrus Crab; the Angry Meatball, a 100 percent Wagyu beef 10-ounce meatball with spicy marinara; and the Killer Grilled Shrimp marinated in habanero and cilantro and served over a medley of watermelon, cucumber and Marcona almonds, topped with fresh mint. Doc B’s Coral Gables features a 700 degree open-hearth pizza oven and a 900 degree steakhouse broiler for its selections of prime steak and two-pound miso-glazed lobster. “At Doc B’s we want diners to walk away satisfied and blown-away with flavor that leaves them wanting more,” Bernstein said.

OutClique.org | 87

RADICAL “ROLFE” BEGINS RUN AT WILTON’S ISLAND CITY STAGE

By Damon Scott

he buzz of rehearsals has lead to the Florida premiere of Andrew Bergh’s The Radicalization of Rolfe at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors. Bergh has written a play that will be somewhat familiar to fans of the 1965 movie-musical The Sound of Music. The movie-inspired plot, a re-imagination of secondary characters, centers on young Rolfe Gruber, played by Boynton Beach’s Jordon Armstrong. In the movie, Rolfe is an admirer of Liesl von Trapp, a budding young lady with an interest in boys. However in the play, Rolfe is pursuing Johan, played by Miami’s Sahid Pabon, a good-looking and freethinking university student.

While the well-received play has been described as having a comedic and campy vibe, it’s a drama that deals with deep subjects — namely the persecution of gay men in Nazi Germany. “I hope the audiences think about Rolfe. About the choices he had and the consequences he faced,” Bergh told OutClique. “It's 1938. Rolfe is 17 and World War II is about to crash down on Europe. Do you think Rolfe survived the war?” he said. The show runs through April 29, 2018. Along with Armstrong and Pabon, the cast includes Michael Kehr (Herr Zeller), Lawrence Buzzeo (Franz), and Carol Cassele (Frau Schmidt). Andy Rogow is the director. OutClique recently talked with Armstrong and Pabon about their theater experience and the production of Rolfe. Tell us about yourself and your background. I was born and raised in Palm Beach County, went to [Florida Atlantic University] for both my bachelors and masters

degrees in fine arts, and have been working in the South Florida theater market ever since, with no plan on leaving any time soon.

I’m 26 and a Miami native. I graduated in 2016 with my [bachelor of fine arts] in music theatre performance from New World School of the Arts, a satellite campus of the University of Florida. Since my high school days, I always was enamored with the A.V. club and with the drama club, which explains a lot, since I was an anchor on the school news and would always be in the school musicals.

I’ve been very lucky both personally and professionally. My parents were incredibly supportive of me pursuing acting in college. I think they were quite relieved to see me make good grades as well. I’m also very fortunate to have both my wife and her family be proud of the fact that I’m an actor. I’ve had the pleasure to work from Miami to West Palm with fantastic companies. This will be my third world premier play in less than a year and a half and every single piece has had something very specific to say about the world we live in. OutClique.org | 89

I first started to work professionally during the summer of 2016 with Heathers: The Musical at the Broward Center with Slow Burn Theatre Company. After I graduated, I had lined up work for the entire year with musicals at Slow Burn, MNM Theatre Company and Island City Stage. In addition to working as a stage actor, I also work for various dubbing and voice over companies as a voice actor, which was something I fell in love with unexpectedly. In fact, one of the projects that I worked on has ended up on Netflix, so it’s pretty surreal to see, or hear, rather, my voice on a Netflix special. I’ve been able to work consistently in many different facets of entertainment since graduation. Jordon, how did you land the lead for Rolfe?

I went to the season auditions for Island City and was called back for Rolfe and Johan. At the callbacks I actually got to read with Sahid and we just had an incredibly easy chemistry reading together so we were able to focus on really communicating. I think that I was very fortunate to be in the right room with the right scene partner to be at my best during callbacks.

Originally, I wasn’t planning on auditioning for [this play]. I was only going in to audition for their first musical, Zanna, Don’t! While waiting to audition, I thought to myself, “Why not?” and did some quick research about the play. Being a music theater man, my interest was piqued when I found out that the world of the play followed the timeline of The Sound of Music. It was also interesting to see the progression of a secondary character like Rolfe. In the movie and musical, the audience was so focused on the “Do-Re-Mi’s” and “So Long, Farewell’s” that Maria and the Von Trapp children enchanted us with — we didn’t give Rolfe much thought. Also I was excited that Rolfe was gay, so once I read about the nature of the show, I was hooked and wanted to audition for Johan. What else about your respective roles and the play resonates with you? 90 | OutClique.org

Like any compelling work of art Radicalization resonates on multiple levels. As a story, the play has a very genuine human element that unfortunately feels far too prescient today. I look at the characters, that are of course pulled from The Sound of Music, and think of this as showing the depth of these tertiary characters as people, as well as seeing the harsh realities of the time and place through the lens of the people that don’t get to escape. On a much more intimate level, Rolfe is an eager young man who wants to make something of himself, and what young man can’t identify with that? I think that he’s very much a heartbreaking character. He has this incredible conflict between being true to himself and casting his heart and soul away for his aspirations. He’s young, foolish, and unable to truly face the reality of his situation.

Johan is such an interesting role. He’s a young man who knows who he is and what he wants, and has a heart of gold. He looks out to those that matter to him. Like most teenagers, he thinks he knows how to act like an adult, but in reality he is still a child. He has grandiose dreams of finding his happiness, looking for a life full of excitement and independence — which I think every teenager or young person longs for while growing up. He is also unashamed of his sexuality but knows how to play by the rules of the time he lives in. He is unabashedly sexual, calls it like he sees it, [and is] driven but sweet and caring all at once, which makes bringing him to life very fulfilling. The play is meant not only for the regular theater crowd, but for all people — those affected by the Holocaust, those of all sexual orientations, fans of The Sound of Music, and everyone in between. This play reminds us how beautiful it is to have someone care about of you, how dangerous it is to put your trust in the wrong person, and that in choosing to forget a horrific or catastrophic event, history could repeat itself.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to www.IslandCityStage.org. Island City Stage is located at 2304 North Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors.

CHECK OUT THESE EVENTS!

WHERE TO BE AND WHAT TO DO IN LGBTQ SOUTH FLORIDA HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH Mar 22 - Apr 8|Pompano Beach Cultural Center

RADICALIZATIN OF ROLFE Mar 29 - Apr 29 | Island City Stage

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LAS OLAS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL Apr 20 | Las Olas KINSEY SICKS Apr 21 | Broward Center for the Performing Arts

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