OutClique Magazine August 2020

Volume 4, Issue 9 August 2020

Jason & Kenneth Rainbow Sports League Ken Keechl Law Rachel Mason Circus of Books

Ana Ortiz

Love, Victor Phoenix Fund

Island City Stage

Letter from the Publisher Photo by Michael Murphy Photographic

By Steven O. Evans, PhD

Dear readers, Be filled with joy.

I have gotten so many calls, messages, and notes these past months from friends that are discouraged. There are some days that the future seems so bleak. I don’t pretend to have the answers. I don’t even know what tomorrow will bring. But, this I do know, hope must prevail. Hope is all we have.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected during our nation’s peak of the Great Depression. His inaugural speech was spoken to tens of millions of Americans, waiting to hear words of encouragement of what was to come. He then set forth his famous words: “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is … fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days …”

Photo Courtesy of 25 Artist Agency

My friends, if you are reading this, you may have fear of what is to come. I have had many days of worry about the future. I have sat just tonight with a friend who shared his devastation about breaking up with his boyfriend.

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As I said in last month’s letter, I have cried more since March than I have in my entire life.

Fear is a terrible, terrible thing. We must not be afraid or what is to come. Instead, let us learn from this time. I hope that I will not make the same mistakes. I shared a song last month. This month, I want to share this one, also by Point of Grace, entitled, “Heal the Wound.”1

And every stone will sing of what You can redeem

I used to wish that I could rewrite history I used to dream that each mistake could be erased Then I could just pretend

Heal the wound but leave the scar

I never knew the me back then

A reminder of how merciful You are I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart

I used to pray that You would take this shame away

And heal the wound but leave the scar

Hide all the evidence of who I've been

Don't let me forget

But it's the memory of the place You brought me from

Everything You've done for me

That keeps me on my knees and even though I'm free Don't let me forget Heal the wound but leave the scar

X

The beauty in the suffering

A reminder of how merciful You are

Heal the wound but leave the scar

I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart

A reminder of how merciful You are

And heal the wound but leave the scar

I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything

Heal the wound but leave the scar

I don't take pride in what I bring

Heal the wound but leave the scar A reminder of how merciful You are

But I'll build an altar with the rubble that You've found

I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart

me in

And heal the wound but leave the scar, leave the scar 2

So, dear friends, let us learn from this traumatic time that we must endure. Let us grow.

Let us learn. There is so much pain right now in our city, country, and world. But, somehow, somewhere, there is a rainbow of hope and joy abounding amidst this storm. We must be strong and fear not.

Much love, Steven O. Evans, PhD Publisher & Editor in Chief 1 2

Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg / Nicole Nordeman; Heal the Wound lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Warner Chappell Music Inc. www.YouTube.com/Watch?v=8fcR_3xcpUo

OutClique.com | 5

GIRLS ACT TAKES ON HUNGER IN NIGERIA Courtesy of AHF

Photos Courtesy of AHF

C

OVID-19 has brought food insecurity into sharper focus across Africa, and Nigeria, where AHF serves 21,850 clients, is no exception. Girls and young women are particularly at risk of missing meals, on top of being a group severely impacted by HIV. As part of the Girls Act program, AHF Nigeria has provided relief by supplying 112 people throughout the capital city and six other states with food and other essentials. Mostly young women who are members of AHF’s Girls Act program received support, but several boys who are also affiliated with the initiative received food and other items as well.

"Poverty is a big issue in Nigeria which can be particularly troubling for those on HIV treatment and who can hardly feed their families as it is.

COVID-19 brought bigger economic hardships with the lockdowns, virtually guaranteeing families would be in dire need of help with getting food," said Steve Aborisade, Advocacy & Marketing Manager for AHF Nigeria. "This effort came at the right time to bridge that crucial gap for families of Girls Act members and also provided sanitary pads, since the majority are unable to buy them on their own."

The Girls Act program was launched in 2016 in sub-Saharan Africa and seeks to empower

Girls Act member Nkechi Azikiwe and her daughter after receiving food and supplies.

young women and girls by promoting their education and fostering self-confidence to help them take control of their physical and emotional health. The program has since expanded to more than a dozen countries throughout AHF’s five global bureaus.

"It was moving to see how a little drop of help and support can brighten people’s faces," added Aborisade. "More importantly, in addition to keeping them on treatment, these actions may have prevented these young girls from becoming desperate enough to consider dangerous alternatives in attempting to access basic necessities."

Girls in Nigeria celebrate during an International Day of the Girl Child event in 2019.

OutClique.com | 7

Steven O. Evans, PhD

Publisher and Editor in Chief OutClique@gmail.com

Arthur Wood III

Associate Editor Arthur.OutClique@gmail.com

Sach AD Group

Director of Graphic Design

Mike Ritzi

Executive Director of Sales

Irv Scott

Sales Manager

Connie Evans

Chief Copyeditor and Mother of the Publisher

Rivendell Media

National Advertising

Gregg Shapiro

Senior Entertainment Writer

Denny Patterson

Senior Lifestyle Writer

Contributing Writers

Andrew Armano, Rod Davis, Dr. Stephen Fallon, John M. Hayden, Marty Kiar, Kip Reynolds, Patrick Rogers, Eric Noel Roman

Distribution

Robby Wagenseil & Luis Eduardo, Miami-Dade

A publication of OutClique, LLC (954) 998-6429 www.OutClique.com www.Facebook.com/OutClique OutClique@gmail.com OutClique, LLC is not responsible for statements or opinions expressed in advertisements or articles.

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Jason Shervinski and Kenneth Guerrero Rainbow Sports League

Written and photographed by Andrew Armano | www.AndyArmano.com Cover Photo by Andrew Armano 18 | OutClique.com

J

ason Shervinski has been involved in gay sport leagues for over a decade, first in Washington D.C., then here in Fort Lauderdale. He recently launched his own league called The Rainbow Sports League. In 2019, Kenneth Guerrero took responsibility for running the dodgeball and kickball teams in Fort Lauderdale with Jason focusing on growing the league. Currently in Fort Lauderdale, the league has over 160 kickball participants, and 60 dodgeball players. In Tampa, there are 120 kickball participants.

Kickball has three seasons per year, running in the fall through spring, and dodgeball has four seasons.

Gay sports plays an important part in key aspects of the players’ lives. It provides a fun way to socialize, as an alternative to nightlife.

It provides recreation and comradery. The league provides a community of support and friendships, and Rainbow Sports League itself gives back to the community through annual fundraisers. Jason and Kenneth spent an afternoon with me to discuss the important role gay sport leagues play in the community, the broader lessons sports teams provide players, and their plans for league growth.

Andrew Armano: I played kickball and dodgeball for a while and I loved it. It was such a great outlet for socializing and exercise. Tell me a little about what you feel the league's role is in the community.

thing, too, is that a lot of people's families don't accept them. This is your chosen family.

KG

As a team, as a community, we have rallied around individuals during times of hardship and made sure that they were okay; we were there for them. They had the ability to reach out and knew someone was going to respond in their time of need.

To me, the best gift is when you know you're not alone.

AA

It's a human need to have a place to belong and to be supported. And, in my experience, it gives my life meaning when I can help someone else, so I understand that completely. I played kickball and dodgeball, and I really cherished the chance to meet so many different types of people; there’s a real mix.

JS

A top priority has always been diversity and respect. We want everyone, straight, ally, gay, transgender, all backgrounds and color, everybody is welcome. That starts with leadership. 60% of Rainbow Sports League's leadership are people of color. We have players that are in their sixties and players that are as young as 21. We have players from all over the world.

Some players don't even speak English. It's been an amazing thing to bring everybody together just on the sport, the camaraderie, and the competition.

Kenneth Guerrero: It's a place to socialize outside of the bars. For me, sports have always been an outlet to meet new people in different walks of life, to just enjoy yourself.

So I want that for others. When you're on that field, you forget your other troubles and remember that life is bigger than that one issue.

AA JS

Jason Shervinski: Hopefully, it’s a sense of home. For a lot of us, we're not originally from South Florida, so we look for that feeling of just the safety net of having a home. I think that we create that very well. Then the other

KG

I can imagine it takes a conscious effort to communicate values.

Yes, we make it a part of our membership, so you can be yellowcarded or red-carded for not complying with the core values of safety, inclusion, and respect.

At the start of every season we speak with the teams as a group explaining these values. We are pretty strict. We don’t allow cursing when children are around, and we had to yellow-card some players from time OutClique.com | 19

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to time until they remembered. We had one player who substituted “pineapple” for his favorite curse word, and it's still a running joke with us.

JS

It's a real brotherhood between Kenneth and I, along with Harley.

It's never work because we really enjoy what we do and we are great friends.

AA

I can only imagine the level of commitment it takes to run the league. You both have full-time jobs in addition to the League. What has been the most challenging aspect of leading the program?

KG

For me, it's been learning to be patient through all the challenges that naturally come up. I'm very independent and very much a gogetter. So when things don't happen as quickly as I'd like, I tend to get very hard on myself. I’ve also had to remember not to get so caught up in the logistics that I don’t really take the time to get to know our players as individuals so that we can deliver the type of organization that each person is looking for.

JS

I’ve had to learn to be a good listener.

When someone's coming to you, especially in sports, you hear only one person say it, but they're actually speaking for many more. So it's important to listen. They have valuable feedback. For instance, we had a player come to us and was basically talking to us about how the more competitive teams during playoffs were just going crazy and the more recreational teams were just being pushed out. It's a sport, so it's competitive, but I learned we had different levels of competition and both were very valid. We actually added an A-division, which is the competitive division, and B-division for those with less experience or who just want to have fun without worrying about who wins.

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Everyone went crazy for it. It was a great success.

AA

I have asked you about the league's role in the community, but you haven’t mentioned the fundraising you do. I can’t skip that.

KG

We are very involved in giving back to the community. We raised over $50,000 for SunServe last year. We are very involved in the community, including partnering with other gay sports leagues to support them.

AA

The county hasn’t completely re-opened from the COVID-19 lockdown. Are you guys ready for when that happens?

KG

We know there is pent up demand. Our staff is fully ready for the demand. We already have close relationships with the city in regards to the field space. Now it's just a matter of once we get the green light to play, it's just putting the word out and saying, "Hey, we're back and we're ready." The staff has been in communication this whole time. It's just, like I said, the matter of the city saying, "You guys can play."

AA JS

What is in store for the future of the Rainbow Sports League?

I believe that now more than ever, with what’s happening in our country, we need to build community, to come together, and work together. I really see the gay sports league as a way to do that. We want our players to have fun, and, hopefully, we achieve even more as a community. We actually had plans to do a national tournament this October, but, unfortunately with the current pandemic, we had to cancel it and move it to 2021.

It’s not just going to be Rainbow players, it’s going to be open to any kickball player anywhere in the U.S. OutClique.com | 23

AWAKEN YOUR APPETITE WITH “COOKING WITH THE GALLERIA” FEATURING SEASONS 52 CHEF ELVIS BRAVO Courtesy of Goodman PR Photo Courtesy of The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale

T

he Galleria at Fort Lauderdale launched Cooking with The Galleria, a free virtual tutorial series, this past April and it continues to be a hit for those who love to cook and eat. Seasons 52 Chef Elvis Bravo is now Facebook Live’s newest local internet sensation serving-up delicious recipes designed to awaken your appetite.

Tune in to see him at 2:00PM on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, and Tuesday, September 1, 2020, for the next segments of Cooking with The Galleria.

Aspiring chefs have been wowed by his masterful preparations of Savory Herb French Toast topped with crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and poached eggs, Meatless Sliders, Avocado Toast, Maryland Style Lump Crab Cakes, Preserved Lemon Hummus, Seafood Paella, Roasted Vegetable Gnocchi, Shrimp and Grits, Carne Asada Fajitas, and Signature Blackened Mahi Tacos paired with homemade guacamole, rice, and beans.

These demonstrations can be found at www.

Facebook.com/GalleriaFtLauderdale.

Bravo is excited to share his proprietary recipes and tips for preparing scrumptious meals. He has been delighting viewers while he prepares delicious dishes online and answers questions.

The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale is currently open with limited hours and additional safety measures complying with government guidelines.

Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, and P.F. Chang’s are offering full-service dining and take-out.

For additional upcoming virtual events and information about The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, please visit www.Facebook.com/GalleriaFtLauderdale.

Patrons may also call (954) 564-1036 or visit www.GalleriaMall-FL.com.

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Photo Courtesy of Marty Kiar’s office

2020 TRIM NOTICES

T

his year is unprecedented for our community as we continue to manage the COVD-19 crisis. Florida law requires our office to value property based on the status of the real estate market on January 1, 2020.

Any impact to real estate market conditions caused by the crisis will be reflected in the 2021 assessments.

The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office mails the TRIM (proposed tax) Notices in mid-August each year. The proposed property tax notice will show your 2020 property assessment, exemptions and the proposed taxes along with dates and times for the various taxing authorities’ public budget hearings. Our office’s contact information will be listed on the newsletter enclosed with the TRIM Notice giving you the opportunity to contact us directly should you have any questions. The absolute deadline to apply for any 2020 exemption or to appeal your property’s just value is September 18, 2020.

Important: The Property Appraiser does not

set your tax rates or collect your taxes.

Your tax rates are set by the city & county commissions, school board, and other taxing authorities. Additionally, any PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) assessments are not included on the TRIM Notice, but will appear on the November tax bill sent by the Broward

County Tax Collector.

Why Are My Property Taxes Higher than the Prior Owner’s Last Year?

Florida law requires property be reassessed at market value as of January 1 the year following a change in ownership and/or the year the property receives/loses the Homestead Exemption. After this reset in value occurs, the property will be protected by an assessment cap starting the following year.

For Homesteaded property, the Assessed/Save Our Homes (SOH) Value can increase by no more than 3% above last year’s Assessed/SOH Value (or the consumer price index, whichever is less), regardless of the increase in just value.

For tax year 2020, the assessment increase is capped at 2.3% for all Homesteaded properties.

For non-Homesteaded property, the assessed value can increase by no more than 10% above last year’s assessed value. The 10% cap does not apply to the school board taxes.

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 26 | OutClique.com

BUZZ MAKES MUSIC

By Eric Noel Roman

I

push a button on the keyboard of my laptop; a loud buzz emits from my studio speakers.

All I can do is wince and think, "How the h*** is this supposed to make music?"

The basic process of making music on a computer is taking sound waves moving at certain frequencies and adding effects and limitations to how the waves perform. As you navigate through the complicated knobs on screen, flick virtual switches, and manipulate how the sound moves, you begin to shape an instrument. Some of those sounds are bearable and make your ears prop up like a dog who has heard his favorite bag of treats begin to crackle. Other times, the tones created instill a feeling one would get as they are walking into a dental office and hearing "the drill."

Even though each action on screen has an effect on what you hear, whether positive or negative, you keep moving forward in the creative process. Each tweak leads you in a path that will eventually place your sound exactly where you imagined, or a dead end where the sound might need to be scrapped and a new beginning is required. By the end of the process, you have created a series of sounds that are satisfactory to your ultimate song goals.

As the time progresses in this creative process, you begin to tie in each sound to others and mold a melody, and eventually a song. Each piece you add or subtract is based on what you want your song to be and sound like. Emotions might affect the tones, but overall the song is still being created from a buzz.

Just like life, remember that it is just a buzz.

Its most basic element is you, and you affect that buzz (think wavelength is life line).

Each experience you have in life affects the outcome of you. As you follow along the path of life you add and remove things. Similar to those effects, some experiences make you smile, like the harmony of a sonnet on a spring day. Other moments are not so fruitful, like the ominous tone of a cello. Either way these are all instruments in your life that eventually will make a song.

As you go along the timeline of life, like a song being created, do not be afraid to experiment and try things out. Each time you add, you can remove. This way your life has every instrument you enjoy. At one point you will have a band and that band will create a song.

A song created from nothing, but built by you.

Eric Noel Roman DJ, obstacle racer, motivational writer from North Miami Beach, living life one day at a time, and making a difference one person at a time.

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Courtesy of www.TedSimonin.com

BE INFORMED, BE EMPOWERED, BE A SAVVY CONSUMER

By Rodney Davis CEO, BBB Serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean

L

ike many organizations and businesses, BBB did not know what to expect as the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit. What we did know is that being nimble, adapting to change, and communication with staff and customers would be essential. During this time of uncertainty, consumers are seeking information and partners they can trust.

At our BBB, we have seen a 32% increase in visitors to our local BBB site in the first part of the year from 1,965,127 in 2019 to 2,592,966 in 2020. Those visitors are consulting the information BBB gathers from the experiences of consumers to evaluate businesses so they can find businesses they can trust. The number of BBB Profile Reports on businesses reviewed by consumers is also rising significantly.

The number of reports consulted grew from 2,778,314 in 2019 to 3,506,727 in the first half of 2020, a 26% increase.

We were also wondering whether consumers would continue to hire contractors and make purchases during this time and while in-store purchases diminished, online purchases have increased 49% in April 2020 from the same period in 2019. Consumers coming to BBB seeking to hire contractors has also increased significantly. The number of requests from consumers to businesses using the BBB request a quote tool (www.SEFlorida.App.BBB. org/Connect) has increased by 53.5% from 2019 to 2020.

Unfortunately, with more online activity there comes more opportunity for consumers to be vulnerable to pop up unethical businesses, scams, and identity thieves. Some scammers are also targeting businesses and taking advantage of the loan and grant programs coming from local, state, and federal initiatives. It is essential that consumers and business staff take OutClique.com | 35

precautions to avoid scams. One of the reasons we are pleased with the added traffic coming to BBB is that it demonstrates consumers are taking time to research their purchases. It is important to be informed and check out each business, website, and invoice before you move forward. Please encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to check out each opportunity at www.BBB.org/SEFL or other sites.

BBB has set up a site focused on COVID-19 related issues www.BBB.org/Council/ Coronavirus. Employment scams are again hitting the vulnerable offering work at home.

One recent scam asked a “potential job applicant” to connect via WhatsApp. The applicant was asked for her name, date of birth, license number, and after the interview was concluded and the “employer” was ready to hire the applicant, she was asked to provide her bank, account number, and password so the employer could deposit a check into her account. Fortunately, the consumer did not fall for the trick and she reported the matter to www.BBBScamTracker.org.

Scams are also targeting businesses. Since many businesses have applied for loans or grants, the scammers are taking advantage of the lack of experience of businesses and staff with a new program to steal money from businesses by stating the business needs to pay an application fee, pay the taxes up front, or to gain access to the business’s bank information. Each business owner should inform his or her team about scams in this area and to always check with the business owner before taking any action.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is sharing information about scams and each business leader can share their information from the SBA site (www.SBA.gov/Document/ Report-SBA-Programs-Scams-Fraud-Alerts) to educate their team.

Identity theft is a major problem in Florida every year and experts are worried that more consumers and businesses online will provide more opportunities for scammers.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2019, Florida had the 4th highest rate of identity theft of the 50 states (180 victims for every 100,000 residents). The National Cybersecurity Alliance provides great information to help people fight back against ID theft with tips for staying safe online at www.StaySafeOnline.org. In the unfortunate situation of having your ID stolen, there is also a great resource to help guide you through the process of managing this challenge. The Identity Theft Resource Center provides both guidance to avoid ID theft and how to get your financial life back. You can learn more about them at www.IDTheftCenter.org.

I hope you never need to use some of these resources, but encourage you to become more informed and confident. Education and good practices will help individuals avoid COVID-19 and those same tools help consumers and businesses make smart decisions and protect themselves and their businesses.

“Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don’t. ” ― Pete Seeger

OutClique.com | 37

HUGO LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 1995 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP CONNECTING. Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Watch Hugo’s story at BIKTARVY.com

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds.

It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1 POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

(bik-TAR-vee)

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “teacolored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

 Changes in your immune system.

Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY. Continued on next page.

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, continued on the next page and at BIKTARVY.com.

REAL

BIKTARVY

PAT I E N T S

ZACH

D’EVA

HUGO

CHAD

NIKKI

DIMITRI

Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY.

Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com Featured patients compensated by Gilead.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (CONTINUED) BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings above and at BIKTARVY.com.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0247 05/20

Photo Courtesy of GFLGLCC

TOUGH TIMES BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES

By John M. Hayden

T

he COVID-19 crisis has affected [most] everyone in deeply personal ways.

Maybe you haven’t hugged your best friend in weeks. Maybe you haven’t had a paycheck in months. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one and weren’t even able to go to their room to say goodbye.

There is no end to the crisis in sight. Whatever passes for the “new normal” seems to change every week. In these times when we feel weak, it can end up making us stronger. The LGBTQ+ business community will help lead the way.

In many ways, they’re more vulnerable than most businesses. People could stop eating out for a month and the golden arches will still light up. But most of our community is small businesses, with scant safety nets for disasters of this magnitude.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) is here to help. By banding together, our businesses can have a louder voice as we recover and thrive in the post-pandemic world. I got to speak with Keith Blackburn, the Chamber’s President and CEO, about their plan of action.

John Hayden: I’d like to first start with a little about the GFLGLCC’s goals and outlook for the

rest of the year. So much has been devastated by the pandemic. How are you working with members and the community at large to work through this?

Keith Blackburn: It’s been a tough four months (and counting) for everyone. We started out with specific goals and a matching 2020 budget, starting on January 1, 2020. When the pandemic became a reality, we had to close our offices and visitor center. Our membership dues revenue has dramatically been reduced.

Luckily, we had some reserves to keep us fully operational.

We shifted our efforts from in-person to remote events and training. In the past, we had monthly, third Tuesday mixers at a different member business location each month. In addition, we had quarterly luncheon and breakfast events. We also had our second annual weekend luncheon on a cruise ship and our second annual chamber cruise scheduled for this month. All of it was canceled. I do want to affirm that we will resume these events as soon as it’s safe to do so. The safety of our members and guests is our first priority.

We will not host an in-person event until it is deemed to be safe and the community feels comfortable attending. We recently conducted OutClique.com | 41

a “Future Event Survey” and the majority of those who responded are not quite ready to attend in-person events.

We’ve had some informational and virtual educational events over the past several months. These were open to our members and everyone in the community. One was sponsored by our partners at TD Bank. We brought speakers in from TD Bank, Small Business Development Center, Florida Community Loan Fund, Prospera, and Paycor. Together we presented a Zoom™ powered event with economic relief for small businesses. Others have been presented with the NGLCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce) and the SBA (Small Business Administration).

On April 7, 2020, we started our weekly “Tuesdays at 2,” a member-only weekly Zoom™ meeting. Those have remained popular, and we have a good core group who show up each week. We use this time to pass information to our members, get updates from them, and to network.

JH

What are some of the best ways we can support our community now, in the crisis, and going forward when things are “normal?”

KB

More than ever, we urge everyone in the community to support our businesses, especially the small businesses which are most vulnerable during this crisis.

As a chamber, we are here to promote member business and to support organizations we partner with, as well as the community we serve. We are also here to assist our members in getting business loans and grants, like the PPP and SBA Disaster Loans and more. As an affiliate chamber of the NGLCC we have gotten a tremendous amount of support through their network of governmental organizations and corporate partners.

Locally, we partner with Broward County to promote their initiatives, updated emergency

42 | OutClique.com

orders, and, because tourism is so critical to our economy, our partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) is more important than ever. I serve on their Marketing Advisory Committee, which has been meeting remotely. Together, we are working to shift our marketing and promotions to the “drive market,” reaching people who could easily reach our destination within a few hours by car. The chamber has shifted the distribution points for our LGBT+ Travel Guide to those drive markets. As our businesses reopen, we have seen a slow-but-steady increase in business.

We still have a long way to go, our bars and clubs haven’t reopened, and restaurants are operating at 50% occupancy. I am most concerned about their long-term survival.

JH

Tell me about your members, what kind of businesses are in the GFLGLCC?

KB

Our roughly 350 members represent both small businesses and large corporations, like Comcast. We have accountants, insurance agencies, realtors, accommodations, retail, entertainment, attorneys, personal care and services, business support, transportation, community non-profits, and a lot more. You can find just about any kind of business in our website business directory.

JH

Everything has changed. What is the plan for working with our community going forward?

KB

Everything has changed and we’re now faced with a new normal. I don’t believe that things will get close to the way it was until a viable vaccine or a treatment is available. Until then, we have to accept these new realities. Our job as a chamber is to listen to our members and to do our best to support their changing needs. We are ALL in this together. Everyone’s life has been turned upside down. Everyone needs to be kind to one another and to work together as a community.

Photo Courtesy of Ken Keechl

LAYING DOWN THE LAW

By John M. Hayden 44 | OutClique.com

S

ometimes good things come to an end, even decades-long relationships.

Getting legal recognition of our rights and relationships has been tricky at best, dehumanizing at worst. One of South Florida's most prominent attorneys, Ken Keechl, has been pioneering relationship law for our community. When long-term couples break up, rarely is each partner equal financially. And for years, the better-off partner was able to use anti-gay laws to say since they were never married, there's no obligation to take care of the ex.

Ken disagreed and came up with three words that changed everything: Oral Cohabitation Agreements (OCA). "I literally came up with this specialty, if you will, when I went out on my own," he told OutClique. "This guy came in and he said 'I've been to every lawyer I can find in Broward [County], gay and straight, and everyone says there's nothing I can do.

You're my last hope.'" After decades together, this individual’s partner gave him the boot from their Las Olas home. Ken took the case and went to work, finding a case from the seventies involving a straight, long-term, but unmarried couple. When she died, her kids from a previous relationship tried to claim all her property and the guy wasn't having it. "She moved in with this gentleman and they agreed, orally, that they would take care of each other.

There's no writing. What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine; I'll take care of you." The courts eventually agreed and gave the guy his share. Ken moved in to put a 21st century spin on the case law.

Once Ken showed him the case, the trial judge saw the light and agreed, getting the client the money he deserved. For Ken and his clients, it's all about fairness. Even though we have marriage equality now, the law still hasn't caught up. These days, people in broken marriages can come in and ask for a divorce, and Ken has to give them some hard facts about our new reality. “Do you realize that now

we have alimony issues, and these issues, and those issues?" If a divorcing couple hasn't been married for 14 years or longer, alimony isn't guaranteed. "What about us? We couldn't get married [then]. So, I see in my practice people say, ‘We were together for 30 years, we were married for two. He's divorcing me.’ The law says you've only been married two years.

So, you want to say we couldn't get married for such a long time. So far, the law isn't with us, and judges are saying their hands are tied.”

Ken's solution? Tack on the length of the OCA to the length of the marriage. Again, fairness.

"I've done it. They had an Oral Cohab and turned it into a marriage. [Fairness] should say it's a longer term marriage." Every one of his cases like this has been settled, so judges haven't ruled on the theory, but they could soon. A case is underway in Palm Beach County.

As we hopefully come out of this pandemic, Ken sees the potential for another new type of law to emerge from the crisis. "I've heard there's a lot of litigation that could arise from businesses, the viruses coming into the business." The short and long-term effects of COVID-19 are still coming out. Ken's advice is to take a deep breath and be smart. "I tell everybody, ‘Don't live for your lawsuit. Live your life, so be as careful as you can.’ If something goes wrong and you're really hurt, then go see a lawyer." He reiterates you have to have real damage to sue, not just be exposed or even contract the virus at work or from a business.

Ken doesn't think that will stop people from filing suit anyway. "I think that's going to be a specialized area. I do believe you're going to see a lot of litigation over it."

Serving his community comes natural to Ken, a calling he heard early in his life. “I’ve always loved politics and debating, so going to law school made sense. I was the first one in my family to graduate high school and I can remember my parents telling me in first grade that I was going to college.”

OutClique.com | 45

That was also in the dark days of the mid80s. The AIDS crisis was raging, the Reagan administration was ignoring the community’s cries for help, and Ken knew that being gay in the straight environment wasn’t easy.

“There weren't many openly gay attorneys in Broward back in 1987 when I graduated from law school.” Alas, Ken turned that obstacle into a personal challenge. “I knew I had to live my life as an openly gay attorney, so that those future LGBTQA+ attorneys would have a role model. I started as an associate at the law firm of Brinkley Morgan and quickly became an owner. After the AIDS crisis took the life of my companion in the early 1990s, I knew I had to become politically active and speak out. So, I became involved in politics and eventually I became the President of the Dolphin Democrats (Florida's oldest LGBT political organization) in 2004.”

It was around that point that he looked to transform his private career into public office.

“I soon realized that the LGBTQA+ community had few elected officials, so in 2006 I threw my hat in the ring for the Broward County Commission, District 4, seat. It was one of nine commission seats. It hugged the coast of Broward and it had always been a Republican leaning seat. In fact, the incumbent was a Republican who had once been the head of the Florida Senate. No one thought I had a chance of winning except my partner, Ted, and me.

Surprising everyone, I won.” That led to a proud personal moment and a milestone moment for our community. “Being sworn in as a Broward County Commissioner with Ted holding the Bible was truly one of the best moments of my life to date. I loved the job and I was honored when my eight colleagues selected me to be the Mayor of Broward County for 2009-2010.

Thank God, we didn't have any hurricanes that year, but I did have to deal with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill!”

While in office, Ken worked tirelessly on ethics reform. Back then, someone serving on the Commission could also lobby businesses for 46 | OutClique.com

their private practice. Obviously, that could lead to a lot of abuse of power. Ken managed to push through a ban on that practice, leading to a cleaner, more transparent government for all of Broward County. Sadly, his time in power was limited. “I was swept out of office with the Republican tidal wave in 2010.”

That only meant it was time to focus on a pressing personal matter. “Shortly thereafter, before Florida and the U.S. recognized marriage equality, I decided that I wanted to marry Ted. One evening Ted and I were watching television. The legislature of New York was voting on marriage equality. It was unlikely to pass because it needed a few Republican votes. In a shock to many, it passed that evening.” You know where this is going. “After we finished a bottle of wine (or two) I casually asked Ted to marry me. He immediately said yes and then proceeded to tell everyone on Facebook. The next day our "engagement" was on the front page of the Sun Sentinel.

To this day, I joke with Ted that he put it on Facebook so I couldn't change my mind.” No minds were changed, but a trip was planned.

“We had a small ceremony in NYC with some family and friends. This was also one of the best moments of my life to date.”

In addition to his more than 30 years as a civil attorney, Ken's also had a high-profile career in local politics. "The best job I ever had was being a Broward County Commissioner. Those were the best four years of my life. I had a blast!" He was the state's first openly gay County Commissioner and eventually became Broward County Mayor. Even though he's not on the ballot, it doesn't mean he's sitting out this important political year. "I'm taking a break. I realize as I get older that there's a new crop of young men and women who are rising up and are asking for my guidance and advice, and I'm thrilled to be more of a mentor right now."

As for the future? "If the right seat opened, I'd probably do it. I do see myself, eventually, back in office."

MENTAL HEALTH SELF-CARE

By Rev. Patrick Rogers, MDiv.

D

uring the Christian Christmas-time Advent Season we often focus on the gifts of joy, peace, hope, and love. In the midst of the business all around us, do you remember what those emotions are? Between the COVID-19 pandemic, racism, homophobia, transphobia, gun-violence, politics, and everyday concerns regarding the economy, keeping our jobs or getting one, making ends meet, food, shelter, clothing, family, global warming, and world peace … it’s easy to forget!

These days, when do we think about the necessity and concept of self-care? In our busy lives, we often put priority on others’ basic needs, needs of family and friends, and our own needs, and necessity for “self-care” last. We put others' needs first and think that when we have time “left-over,” it's then and only then that we will care for OUR necessity of self-care. Then in actuality do we ever have time “left over” for ourselves?

What does the Bible say about self-care regarding mental health?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God— what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 Mental self-care is a huge component of any self-care routine. It involves managing how you think and feel and increasing the positive habits you have that benefit the way you think and feel. Our lives are filled with numerous routines. We maintain our houses/apartments, we maintain our cars, we maintain our personal relationships, and on-and-on. What about a

routine for the maintenance of our mental health?

It’s difficult these days with the COVID-19 restrictions, but there are still many options.

Personally, I use online guided meditation sessions three or four times a week. When is the last time you have been to the beach?

When the beaches are open, a 30-minute visit to a quiet beach is refreshing to sit, relax, and breath. A walk through a garden is always enjoyable and spiritual for me also. I love to visit Morikami Gardens by myself and sit on the bench in their bamboo garden. It’s a soothing and spiritual experience to sit and look out over the water and hear in the wind, the bamboo clicking and clacking together, and it sounds like the Holy Spirit speaking to me.

There are many options for our mental health maintenance plans. It’s time to plan to make a plan! As it says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” Our mental health is a very important and vital part of self-care and maintaining God’s temple of which we are! It’s time to get started! I wish you joy, peace, hope, and love all year long!

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

54 | OutClique.com

United Church of Christ

Fort Lauderdale

The Church with a Heart!

Community Involvement

Meaningful Worship!

Wilton Manors PRIDE

Homeless Ministry

Spectacular Concerts

Come visit us on Sunday or Thursday mornings at 10:30 and discover what a friendly bunch we are!

2501 N.E. 30th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306 mail@uccftl.org • www.uccftl.org 954•563•4271

PINPOINT ACCURACY WITH SOUTH FLORIDA’S NEWEST ACUPUNCTURIST

By John M. Hayden

B

ack pain. Migraines. Anxiety. There’s a pill (or 12) for all of those and more.

Sometimes that’s fine, but one of South Florida’s newest acupuncturists has mastered ancient techniques and is now treating patients here.

Dr. Marcia Steingraber, DAOM, LAc, just opened her new practice downtown, Acupuncture & Wellness Center of Fort Lauderdale, complete with custom renovated treatment rooms. “I can put three or four needles in your ear and walk out of the room for ten to fifteen minutes, come back and you’ll feel like a different person,” Dr. Marcia told me.

She’s spent decades in medicine and while she focuses on acupuncture, she brings her medical school talents with her. “I have a background in both the western and eastern medicines. I bring a marriage of the two.” We’ve all heard stories of how eastern medicine can work miracles, and Dr. Marcia wants to prove it. While it looks very involved and time consuming, she says it can be done on your lunch break, depending on your needs.

Dr. Marcia worked in Chicago, but last fall, with winter approaching, decided to pack up her practice, her husband, and their dogs, and head to warmer climates. After getting the office ready for patients, she opened her doors in February 2020.

She continued, “Most patients come in because they’re in pain, and pain management is my superpower. I’m really good at it. I teach other acupuncturists how to treat it.” But, relieving

the immediate pain is often just a starting point. Dr. Marcia says it’s people’s emotional side that often needs the most healing.

She also sees patients with very real and very physical issues, like multiple sclerosis, ALS, and fibromyalgia. Dr. Marcia knows acupuncture isn’t a miracle cure for everything, but it can be a part of the treatment, and loves working with patients’ other doctors. As she explains, “It doesn’t have to be us and them.

Do your therapy, listen to your doctor, and add me to take care of things that aren’t taking care of. I just fit in and help out where I can.”

When you first come in, she’ll get to know you and ask about more than the pain of the moment. Dr. Marcia added, “One of my favorite questions is, ‘When did this show up?’” From there, the journey begins.

As far as how long your treatments go on, that’s up to you. She can do several in one appointment, or see you several times a week, depending on your personal needs and time.

“You don’t have all the time in the world to come hang out with me, and I understand that.”

After spending an hour with her, I really do want to hang out with her! Dr. Marcia is open, warm, and inviting. Even if you’re a first timer, you’ll feel right at home as soon as you step inside.

To see more of her services or book an appointment, check out her website at www.AcuFTL.com.

56 | OutClique.com

The best part of winning awards is that we get them by treating you well.

Being the only hospital in Broward County recognized as a Heathcare Equality Leader for 2019 is an important distinction we’re proud to receive. All of us at Florida Medical Center know there’s more to healthcare than medicine. There’s kindness. Attentiveness. And compassion to treat you and your family well. Every day.

To learn more or find a doctor, visit FloridaMedCtr.com

SEXUAL ENHANCEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT THERAPIES

AT GENESIS HEALTH INSTITUTE

L

et’s start by declaring that sex is one of the greatest life experiences known to man! We start our sexual journey in our teens and hopefully enjoy it until the day we die.

Most of us function perfectly into our forties when we start noticing some reduction to our sexual function. It doesn’t happen overnight, but gradually. We don’t wake up to that joyful wood like we used to, our desire for sex lessens, it becomes more difficult to achieve or keep an erection, and sometimes takes longer to climax. Most men over fifty years old will experience some form of lessened sexual function or erectile dysfunction (ED).

Having practiced in Wilton Manors for twelve years, we’ve helped men increase their natural libido and sexual function with simple testosterone therapy. There are now more targeted treatments available optimizing all areas of sexual function, endurance, sensitivity, pleasure that define what true mind blowing orgasms are.

There are two physiological functions that create a healthy and strong erection, with one being blood flow and the other the ability for the penis to capture and hold forced blood creating the erection. The GenWave and P-Shot treatments correct and optimize these functions for advanced sexual activity.

GenWave is a non-invasive procedure using high frequency, low intensity sound waves to increase blood flow to the penis by removing micro plaques. This procedure activates dormant cells and nerve tissue while stimulating growth of new blood vessels.

Treatments are easy, comfortable, and take less than 30 minutes to perform with no downtime.

The P-Shot is a non-surgical procedure utilizing the body’s own platelet rich plasma

(PRP) which contains growth factors called Cytokines and Chemokines that stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, collagen, and cellular tissue to the penis. The improved tissue presence and circulation result in enhanced sexual function, including firmness, strength, sensitivity, arousal, pleasure, and overall size. This painless procedure takes one hour to perform with no downtime.

We’ve discussed sexual function and how the GenWave and P-Shot treatments greatly improve the ability to have sex, so now onto other sexual enhancements that greatly increase the quality and pleasure of your sexual experience, regardless of age, medical condition, or sexual function level. One is the peptide PT-141, and the other is the hormone Oxytocin.

PT-141 is an amino acid peptide that increases sexual arousal and spontaneous erections.

Unlike Viagra®, Cialis®, and other related medications, PT-141 does not act upon the vascular system, but directly through the hypothalamus to increase desire and sexual satisfaction. Patients may use this peptide regularly or for specific sexual events and each dose typically works for three days. Patients using the peptide claim to have easily achieved spontaneous erections with an enhanced climax experience.

Oxytocin, also known as the “love” or “feel good” hormone, is produced in the body by the hypothalamus and released through the pituitary gland during sex, child birth, and when first falling in love. As with most hormones, the body produces less as we age. With daily supplementation, patients typically experience more easily achieved, intensified, and longer lasting orgasms along with greater levels of pleasure and sexual satisfaction.

At the Genesis Health Institute, we believe quality of life is key and offer treatments individually or by an all-inclusive package that includes everything mentioned above. When you’re ready to rediscover great sex again, give us a call at (954) 561-3175 or check out our website at www.GHInstitute.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and learn more about these incredible life changing sex treatments.

OutClique.com | 63

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IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH

MAJESTIC CAR WASH CREATES A SCRUBS4SCRUBS GIVE BACK

By John M. Hayden Photos Courtesy of Majestic Car Wash and Minuteman Press® Wilton Manors

King Wash Courtesy of

Thank You for helping us give back to Essential Workers on the front lines. We truly appreciate your support during these times.

954.568.9450

2781 N. Federal Hwy Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306 MajesticCarWashFlorida.com

F

rontline workers have never been so in demand or so appreciated than they are in 2020 and the age of COVID-19.

We’ve seen the parades of honking cars and the socially-distanced lines of people waiting to applaud them as they come to work. Now a local business is working to make things a “clean” sweep.

Majestic Car Wash, on Federal Highway just north of 26th Street in Fort Lauderdale, has started a program to say “Thank you!” to beleaguered hospital workers. Between working 12-hour (or longer) shifts, day after day, week after week, month after month, a clean car may not be their top priority or in the budget. But, Majestic wants them to know they’re here for them. “We regularly give discounts to our police, fire, rescue, and military, but now we have a new frontline and they need help, too,” Majestic’s Ryan Cain told me. “So, we decided in these craziest of times to try to give something back to our frontline workers and decided that our best wash (the King Wash) was the way to go.”

They designed the program to get the community involved because, as we know, we’re all in this together. “Basically the program is a collaboration between all of us at Majestic and our customers. In giving to the community we also thought it would be nice to involve anyone in the community and began taking $10 from any customer willing to give and use it towards

72 | OutClique.com

the wash. In easier terms, the customer gives $10, we give $15, and in turn a front liner gets a $25 wash for free.”

Besides the clean cars rolling off the line, Cain says the evidence of the program is on full display in Majestic’s lobby. “We have donation ‘T-shirt cutouts’ that we display for every donation. They are all displayed on our countertop at the register. It’s actually turning out to be nice. Every day we walk in and see all of the shirts on the counter, and hopefully every day it grows. We will not ever not give to the frontline worker, even if there are no donations. It’s nice to see that our customers are embracing this and participating.”

This isn’t just for MDs and RNs. “This not only benefits hospital workers, but also anyone who may work for a doctor's office or rehab clinic.

Anyone in the medical profession is eligible. All we ask is that they show some form of ID that says they work where they claim they work. In some cases we’ll even take a business card or name tag.”

Majestic’s shiny washes are a great way to say thank you to a stranger you’ll never meet, but has definitely impacted your life. And, Ryan says, there’s no end in sight. “We plan on keeping this going as long as possible, and at least for the next few months, so long as it is embraced on both ends.”

#SORDIDLIVESTREAM FOLLOW UP

I

Courtesy of The Del Shores Foundation

n April, Del had a conversation with the artistic director of one of the foundation's theatre partners. They explained that the challenges of the pandemic have put their company's viability in jeopardy. Since Del started his career in, and always returns to, the theatre, he was inspired to figure out a way to use our skills to do something to help theatre companies and also provide entertainment.

This livestream benefit reading was the result of that. All of the stars we asked from across the Sordid franchise said an immediate yes!

we had over 660 individual donations. Direct donations raised over $50,000 and the auctions raised over $25,000! 100% of the proceeds are being split evenly among the 23 non-profit theatre partners of the Foundation.

We already sent out the first checks of over $2,000 a piece to the companies and will be sending a second check! We believe theatre is a vital part of community, and we want to be sure it's there for these companies when they can return to putting on shows.

Over 33,000 people watched the video and

Del Shores, Emerson Collins & the Board of Directors

76 | OutClique.com

Thank you!

Photo Courtesy of DS FBP

RACHEL MASON AND THE CIRCUS OF BOOKS

By Denny Patterson

A

Unlike other projects, Mason’s most recent documentary Circus of Books hit closer to home. Not only does she highlight Circus of Books, an iconic bookstore and gay porn shop that served as the epicenter for Los Angeles LGBTQ+ life and culture for nearly four decades, but she also tells the story of the shop’s proprietors, Barry and Karen, who are also Mason’s parents. It was unbeknownst to many that Circus of Books was cultivated and cared for by a straight Jewish couple with three children. Through the lens of their daughter, Circus of Books is an intimate portrait chronicling the Mason’s journey in becoming one of the biggest distributors of hardcore gay porn in the United States.

OutClique recently had the opportunity to chat more with Mason about the film and how this small business made a significant impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

Denny Patterson: Hi, Rachel! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me about Circus of Books. Can you begin by telling us what inspired you to create this documentary on your family?

Rachel Mason: I knew that the store was a really important cultural touchstone for the community that I have always loved and been a part of. I didn’t think it would ever close.

When it came to fruition in 2014 that my mom 78 | OutClique.com

Photo Courtesy of Michael Poelman

rtist, filmmaker, and musician Rachel Mason is best known in the visual art and experimental music circles for her performances which often contain fantastical narratives. Striving to tell stories in a distinctive way, her unique work and collaborations interweave musical, theatrical, and narrative elements into unexpected operatic journeys.

was going to close the Silver Lake store, then the West Hollywood store fell after, it hit home that if I didn’t do this, nobody else would be able to do it. It was sort of my obligation to make this film for the community that I love and just for history in general. I feel that LGBTQ+ history is written in places like the Circus of Books, where it was underground.

The history was forced underground because it was an oppressed population who had to basically do things out of the mainstream. So, that is what inspired me to make the film.

DP

I think it’s amazing that through your parents’ story, you also got to tell the larger story of gay culture.

RM

Right! That’s another thing. There were many, many, many revelations, but one of the others that I did not fully comprehend was Alexei Romanoff’s direct tie to the story. As I was interviewing him, before becoming Circus of Books, he informed me that he owned the gay bar that was there called New Faces. New Faces was the place where during the Black Cat demonstrations, people would run to for safe haven when the police came. So, people were literally in what was to become the Circus of Books, and that puts Circus of Books right square in the middle of the most important West Coast historical movement for gay rights.

DP

Is this one of the reasons why Circus of Books is such an important site for L.A. LGBTQ+ history?

RM

That, and the West Hollywood store was there since the ‘60s. It’s so foundational for gay history because it was there before West Hollywood was even a city that was created in order to protect the gay population. I have no bones about saying that this was a more male oriented space. My parents hired people who were trans, lesbian, all varieties of the LGBTQ+ experience, but the store’s primary customer base and community were gay men, and they were completely under attack in the ‘60s and ‘70s. There were so few places for people to go and find these materials. Then in the ‘80s and ‘90s gay men were under attack by the government for not helping them during the AIDS crisis, and the AIDS crisis being the worst tragedy to befall the gay community that it’s ever experienced, my parents were there running the store and letting people who had full blown AIDS work

there. So, people became aware that the store was a very safe place. I think that if there’s one act of heroism that is pretty much the most powerful. It was that my mom let the employees who had AIDS work under the table so that they would keep all of their benefits.

AIDS was this unknown, mysterious, gay cancer plague, and my mom felt so sorry for these guys who were so young and all they had was this job that they loved. She thought it was really cruel that they could lose their health care. So, she let them work for cash and she felt that was worthy enough to go to jail for if it ever came to it. She felt that these people deserved their dignity.

DP

In addition to filmmaking, you are also a musician and you were able to contribute a beautiful song to the end of the film. How did that come about?

RM

In a way, it was sort of my most creative contribution because my entire background up until making this film, including the first film that I made which was a musical, I pretty much wrote songs. I was an obsessive songwriter and performer and I was always doing things in the Indie sphere. So, I thought about the song that would be appropriate for the end credits. I wrote the song “Give You Everything” with the lyrics really embodying what I imagined if the store had a soul or a voice of its own.

I really felt like that was the ethos of the store. One of my favorite lyrics is, “Let me celebrate what you don’t understand, it’s where I get the strength to be who I am,” and I heard that from so many people when they would come to the store. It was just this moment of like a real escape from the world and you could celebrate your differences and all kinds of various experiences in the store. So, that was really powerful for me to be able to do it.

To stay up to date with Mason, visit www.RachelMasonArt.com, follow her on Facebook and Twitter @RachelMasonArt, or on Instagram @FutureClown.

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Photos Courtesy of Revry TV

THERE’S NOTHING OFF-PUTTING ABOUT ON MEKAHEL

By Denny Patterson Look out Andrew Christian. There is a new underwear fashionista on the rise.

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he highly anticipated second season of Putting On, starring Israeliborn underwear model, actor, and entrepreneur On Mekahel, is now available to stream on the queer virtual cable TV network, Revry. Binge-worthy, addictive, and full of drama, this reality show follows Mekahel’s journey to build and maintain his clothing and cosmetic empire, Mo Underwear. The sixepisode mini first season explored Mekahel’s trials and tribulations in starting the brand with his ex-boyfriend, but the full-length second season dives deeper into his personal and private life all while to further establish himself professionally. From hot models to wedding bells, Putting On has it all.

Mekahel was able to step away from his busy schedule to answer some questions with OutClique.

Denny Patterson: Hi, On! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me about the

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second season of your reality TV show, Putting On. What do you have in store for viewers this time around?

On Mekahel: We have so much this season!

Last season was basically a pilot. You got to see me go through a break up, start my own company, but so much has happened since.

I got married, and you will get to know my husband this season. We filmed when we were still engaged, so you will get to see some of the wedding ceremony prep. We had an amazing ceremony in Paris. You will see everything leading up to it because my husband just got out of prison when we met.

He didn’t do anything too bad, nothing crazy, but you will see the drama around that on top of the stress of building my company, working on my new collection and planning my move to California.

DP

What do you hope viewers take away from Putting On?

OM

Obviously, I love this world. I love cameras, but this wasn’t why I decided to bring cameras to my most personal moments in life. I am so lucky to live my life as an openly gay man. My family accepted me, the entertainment industry accepted me, and there are so many people out there who are not that lucky. They have all these dreams and they don’t believe that they can do it because they are different, because they are not from here, they’re scared, etc. Everybody can do it.

I came from middle Israel to America, to New York, started my company, started my show, and I am happily married. You can do everything you want, and I want people out there at home to watch Putting On and get inspired. I’m not perfect, but just follow your dreams. This is my main message to my followers on social media and the people watching the show. Just believe in yourself. People will ask how I can be a model because I am so short, but at the same time, look at everything I did. Google me.

You can do everything, and it doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight, male, female, black, or white.

DP OM

Were you and your ex already broken up when you began Mo Underwear?

We started the company about three months before we started filming the first season. When we started it, we were together, then we broke up before the cameras started. So, basically what everybody knows is that we were already broken up, but it was a really bad breakup because I thought he was, like, my forever. He was going to be my husband, then suddenly one day he woke up and said he doesn’t want this anymore. Just out of the blue. So, when the cameras arrived, you see me trying to understand what was happening. I believed that in the first season I hoped that we would get back together, but now I am so thankful we’re not.

DP OM

Is he at all still involved with the business?

No. We were working on it and then about a year after the breakup, we just realized that it’s not really working well.

At the beginning he kind of stepped away because obviously I invested all the money in the company, so he didn’t have much to say about it. So, we kind of pushed him away.

Like, we gave him a percentage, but we led him away from the creative side because I just didn’t want to be involved with working together. Then when I met my husband and everything, we realized that it just can’t be.

DP

You and your husband started The OD Foundation last year. Can you tell us more about that and how it’s progressing?

OM

We came up with the idea last year because we both wanted to do something to help gay and trans people in prison.

My husband was spending a good amount of months in and out of prison for selling weed.

People go to jail for little crimes and experience things they should never have to. So, the plan for the whole thing is to collaborate with a lot of therapists and prisons and offer some sort of therapy sessions to basically help the LGBTQ+ and trans community. They suffer the most in prisons. For me, I also wanted to bring this therapy to young kids from cities that are not really as accepting as New York or L.A. I wanted to not just focus on prison, that will be my husband’s side of the foundation, but I am concerned about the youth and want to help these people, too. It sounds super easy, but it has been very complicated because everything has to go by the book here in America. It has been taking forever, but it’s something that we are working on constantly with everything else we do. We want to use our voice to help change the way things currently are.

To stay up to date with Mekahel, follow him on social media or visit www.OnMekahel.com.

For more information on The OD Foundation, visit www.TheODFoundation.org.

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THE CARBONELL AWARDS ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF FOUR SPECIAL AWARDS:

Kelley Shanley, Palm Beach Dramaworks, Barbara Bradshaw, and The Amparo Experience Virtual Awards Ceremony on August 3, 2020; Available for Viewing on YouTube®

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Kelley Shanley | Photo Courtesy of Jason Nuttle

onald R. Walters, Esq., board president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s Theatre & Arts Honors, announced the recipients of four Special Awards that will be presented at the 44th awards ceremony that will now be virtual. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts graciously offered to host the broadcast through their YouTube Channel.

At the upcoming virtual event, Carbonell Awards will be presented in 20 competitive categories, featuring 100 different nominations. Palm Beach Dramaworks earned 29 nominations overall, the most of any theater in the tri-county region.

Zoetic Stage received 20 nominations, the most for any theater in Miami-Dade County, and Slow Burn Theatre Company in Fort Lauderdale earned 12 nominations, the most of any theater in Broward County. Out of more than 80 shows that opened in 2019 at regional theaters, 62 were eligible for nominations.

Another highlight will be the awarding of the 2020 Jack Zink Memorial Student Scholarships to Skye Alyssa Friedman (Palm Beach County, $3,000), Jeremy Fuentes (Broward County, $2,000) and Amaris Rios (Miami-Dade County, $1,000).

The Carbonell’s Special Awards in 2020: The George Abbott Award: Kelley Shanley

Each year, the Carbonell Awards sponsors The George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement In The Arts, which is awarded to an individual (or team) who has contributed significantly to the artistic and cultural development of the region. The award may be given for accomplishments within the year, 82 | OutClique.com

or for a lifetime. Named after the legendary Broadway producer, The George Abbott Award is voted upon by former recipients, members of the Carbonell board of directors, and a crosssection of media, arts, and local cultural leaders.

This year’s winner is Kelley Shanley, President & CEO of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. He has held this position since 2009, having served as the Center’s Executive VP/ General Manager for the previous 10 years.

The Bill Von Maurer Award: Palm Beach Dramaworks

Established in 2006 and named for the late theater writer and journalist for the Miami News and South Florida Sun Sentinel, this award is given to the theater company that exemplifies excellence for the totality of its programming: productions, educational outreach, developmental programs and audiences served.

The recipient of a record-breaking 29 Carbonell Award nominations this season, Palm Beach

Barbara Bradshaw | Photo Courtesy of Steve Anthony

Dramaworks is one of the premier cultural institutions in South Florida. To date, Palm Beach Dramaworks has won more than 30 Carbonell Awards.

The Bill Hindman Award: Barbara Bradshaw

Named after a pioneer actor, theater director and producer, this award was established in 2000 to recognize contributions to South Florida theater development by an individual or group, for singular achievement and/or career contributions.

The recipient of four Carbonell Awards for Best Actress and a 17-time nominee, Barbara Bradshaw came to South Florida 45 years ago, found her theatre “home” and never returned to New York. She was a founding member of the Caldwell Theater company, where she performed in 47 different productions.

The Ruth Foreman Award: The Amparo Experience

Established in 2000 and named after the pioneer theater director and producer, this award recognizes contributions to South Florida theater development by an individual or group, for singular achievement and/or career contributions.

Palm Beach Dramaworks Photo Courtesy of Brantley Photography

The reviews were stunning. People Magazine

called it “Miami’s hottest ticket,” and Forbes hailed the production as a ”theatrical masterpiece.” The Amparo Experience was an experienced theatrical journey in Downtown Miami that took the audience straight into the heart of one family’s fight for love, country, legacy and the truth behind the real Havana Club Rum. Written by Vanessa Garcia and staged by Victoria Collado, and including a fourpiece band led by musical director Jose Elias, this heart-pounding, soul-stirring production illustrated, in the words of reviewer Christine Dolen, “the particular power of immersive theater for those unafraid to jump in.”

About The Carbonell Awards Along with New York's Drama Desk and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s senior regional arts awards and predate others including Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally-renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on stages throughout the tri-county area. For more information, visit www.CarbonellAwards.org.

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FROM ANA, WITH LOVE AN INTERVIEW WITH ANA ORTIZ

By Gregg Shapiro

Gregg Shapiro: Had you seen the movie “Love, Simon” prior to taking on the role of Isabelle in the Hulu series “Love, Victor," and if so, what did you think of it?

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Photo Courtesy of The Karpel Group

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f you loved “Love, Simon,” the 2018 movie based on Becky Albertalli’s popular young adult novel, then you will most likely feel the same affection for “Love, Victor,” the new Hulu series set at the same high school from which Simon graduated and is still fondly remembered.

As if being the new kid at school isn’t stressful enough for any teen, after his family – including mother Isabel (Ana Ortiz), father Armando (James Martinez), sister Pilar (Isabella Ferreira) and younger brother Adrian (Mateo Fernandez) – unexpectedly relocate from Texas to Atlanta, Victor (Michael Cimino) is also questioning his sexuality. Forced to think on his unsteady feet, Victor basically tells tall tales about himself and his love life to everyone; everyone that is except for Simon (Nick Robinson), with whom he has established a correspondence. One way or the other, maintaining the charade or coming out, is going to present all sorts of challenges. As Victor’s mother Isabel, Ana Ortiz is given an opportunity to stretch as an actress and play a wide range of emotions. In Ortiz’s more than capable hands, Isabel is a complex and multifaceted character and it’s a pleasure to see such a talented actress give her all to her performance. Ortiz, who many will also remember from her portrayal of Hilda on “Ugly Betty,” was kind enough to answer a few questions before the premiere of “Love, Victor.”

Ana Ortiz: I did see “Love, Simon.” I thought it was a really darling, feel good movie.

Something I could watch with my kids. That’s always a plus for me.

GS

When “Love, Victor” begins, Victor is the new kid at school. Have you ever had to be the new kid at school experience, and if so, what do you remember about it?

AO

[Laughs] I was the new kid at school when I went to high school. I had gone to the same school for eight years and then I went to LaGuardia in New York as a new kid. It’s so scary and so intimidating. I not only remember being frightened, but also, being the person that I am, just putting on a brave face and acting like, “I don’t care! This is great!

Whatever. Yeah, hi!” I think I covered it up with a lot of bluster, but inside it was a terrifying experience.

GS

Isabel is a piano teacher, and there is a wonderful scene in “Love, Victor” where you are sitting at the piano singing. For people who aren’t aware of it, you have a really lovely singing voice. Do you have any stage musicals on your resume?

AO

You are so sweet! As a voice major – and I never got to use my singing very much – I’d done some musicals. I did “Hair” and we toured Europe with that, which was super-exciting. Other than that, I’ve sung background vocals for friends of mine.

I recorded some songs here and there with friends, but it’s never been as big a part of my career as I wanted. When the opportunity was presented to me in this show, I leapt on it [laughs]!

GS

You have a few Emmy Award moments in “Love, Victor," including the scene where the real reason why the family had to leave Texas for Atlanta is revealed. What would it mean to you to win an Emmy for playing Isabelle?

AO

Oh, gosh, it would mean everything! It would also be an incredible moment not only for me as a Latin actress, but also for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole to have that recognition and to finally be recognized and to have our stories be told. I think we’ve heard a lot of gay stories from many different perspectives but I can’t think off the top of my head of a Latin family taking on the idea that their son is gay and the unacceptance of that. That was the thing about “Love, Simon,” he was so accepted by his parents. In the Latin community, we don’t experience that as often as we would love to. In our community, machismo is still a big part of who we are. I think it would be a great way to crack through that ceiling and say, “Watch this show. It’s important,” and start to break those walls down.

GS

As you did in “Ugly Betty," you are once again playing the mother of a gay son in “Love, Victor.” What does it mean to you to be playing a character such as that?

AO

It has been my life’s joy and honor to play these women. Hilda on “Betty” and Isabel. They are polar opposites. Hilda accepted Justin and him being gay before he even knew he was gay. She would fight for him and she never let anyone talk smack about him.

Whereas Isabel is the other side of that coin.

She’s very religious. It’s not that she doesn’t fully accept her son; she’s terrified that he will go to hell or that he’s a sinner and making a “choice” to live this life, when we know that it’s not a choice. To be able to go through her arc and that learning experience was so intense and crushing, and also illuminating.

It was this whole bag of emotions that I’ve gotten to play for the first time as an actress.

Like I said, usually the moms that I play are super-accepting and wild. Isabel is much more conservative and strait-laced, but she’s still a creative person. She’s so layered. Both of these women were my absolute favorite characters to play.

OutClique.com | 85

BROWARD PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION PRESENTS VIRTUAL GALA IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS Photos Courtesy of Pierson Grant PR

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he virtual gala was part of Lincoln Center’s Connecting for Culture national initiative.

Friends of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts fired up their computers recently to celebrate the arts and support the Broward Center at a virtual gala. More than 300 guests “attended” the online event featuring performances by awardwinning artists from New York and South Florida.

The virtual gala was presented by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation in conjunction with a nationwide initiative introduced by Lincoln Center in New York: “Connecting for Culture: A Gala of Virtual Tables Across the USA.” Theaters around the country held similar events inspired

by Lincoln Center on the same evening.

Of the 19 performers who participated 86 | OutClique.com

in the Broward event, 11 were Broadway veterans secured by Lincoln Center.

The local artists who participated are frequently seen on the Broward Center stage in Slow Burn Theatre Company productions.

At the Broward Center event, Foundation President Lisa Kitei and Broward Center President and CEO Kelley Shanley greeted arriving guests from their seats in the AuRene Theater. Following a virtual cocktail reception, everyone was whisked away into designated Zoom rooms to enjoy private performances and lively Q&As with their assigned artists. The entire audience then came back together for a final performance of “Here Comes the Sun” by an ensemble of local artists singing from their homes and seen in their Zoom squares. To enhance the virtual experience, a real dinner was offered by

Broward Center partner Artisan Foods.

the arts for comfort and joy.”

“We transitioned from the stage to the internet for a live performance experience to support and help the local artists who bring magic to our stages here at the Broward Center,” said Shanley. “Events like this, along with our Broward Center @ Home series, keep us connected and ensure that we can continue to provide services that are relevant and accessible to our community while the theaters are dark.”

For more than 30 years, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation has been instrumental in providing support for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

The Foundation was established in 1985 to deliver the required private funding to build the Center and create an endowment to sustain its operations. Over the years, the Foundation has successfully raised funds to support the Broward Center’s innovative and diverse programming, arts-in-education initiatives, community engagement activities, and capital projects. The Foundation recently completed a $30 million capital campaign to renovate and restore the iconic Parker Playhouse. Prior to this, it raised $60 million to complete the Encore! capital campaign to renovate, renew, and revitalize the Broward Center.

Thanking everyone who attended the event, Kitei urged continued support saying, “The arts play a vital role, each and every day, inspiring and engaging people of all ages. Tonight, we had an audience that ranged in age from 5 to 87, demonstrating that in both good times and bad, people of every age will turn to

For more information about the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, call (954) 468-3284 or email Foundation@BrowardCenter.org.

About the Broward Center for the Performing Arts One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive JetBlue Flight Deck on the Club Level, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 130,000 students annually. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.BrowardCenter.org.

The Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment Consortium is a cultural partnership between the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, History Fort Lauderdale, and the Historic Stranahan House Museum. It is supported by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

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INTENSIVE ANTI-RACISM LEARNING SERIES

Our Fund Foundation Partners with Equality Florida & The Alliance GLBTQ Youth Social Justice Educator Lutze Segu conducts online educational sessions for South Florida LGBTQ agency leaders

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ur Fund Foundation, Equality Florida, and The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth announced they are collaborating to take collective action combatting racial inequity, discrimination, and anti-blackness in the LGBTQ+ community.

Fed up with all talk and no action while racial and social injustice flourish, the agencies partnered to create a powerful Anti-Racism Learning Series. The four-part, educational series, which Our Fund is sponsoring, will be led

by Lutze Segu, MSW, a respected black queer social justice educator.

Anti-Racism Learning Series participants Photo Courtesy of Pierson Grant

This intensive series is designed to educate South Florida’s LGBTQ+ non-profit agency leaders as to how they can work toward creating systemic change and embed antiracist practices into the core values, policies, and practices of their respective agencies. To date, 75 participants from 38 organizations have committed to taking part in the AntiRacism Learning Series, which will be held online.

“Our Fund wanted to provide actionable steps in our response to the devastating impact of racism,” said David Jobin, president & CEO of Our Fund Foundation. “These online sessions are an early effort to focus on how South Florida’s LGBTQ+ leaders can embody the active practice of anti-racism as more effective allies. We want to become better ambassadors and advocates to the Black Lives Matter and anti-racism movements.”

“I've watched the LGBTQ+ community dance around race issues for years,” said Robin Schwartz, Miami Donor Relations and Programs Manager for Equality Florida. “We have talked-the-talk and at times took action, but we never did enough; not even close.

We can wait no longer.” The program will be raw and invites participants to partake in an overdue, frank, and critical conversation about where we’ve been, where we’re at, and what and who we can be.

The concept for the initiative came to Schwartz after learning about a revolting racist comment made to a black woman who works at a local LGBTQ+ organization. She decided it would be important to initiate an honest dialogue about race and inequality with the leaders of all the LGBTQ+ organizations in South Florida. Schwartz contacted Pauline Green from the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth who agreed that in this moment of social uprising in support of black lives, action, more than reflection, was required. Our Fund Foundation immediately agreed to underwrite the learning series and Lutze Segu signed on to facilitate the training.

Organizers acknowledge this is not a quick fix and believe the practiced-based curriculum can also provide a constructive forum for participants to listen, learn, empower, and hold one another accountable for working together to build anti-racist organizations.

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“This anti-racism learning series is only a first, small step in the work of naming

Social Justice Educator Lutze Segu | Photo Courtesy of Pierson Grant

and challenging white supremacy and antiblackness in the LGBTQ+ community,” said Pauline Green executive director, The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth. “Together, we want to not only engage our fellow LGBTQ+ leaders in difficult conversations on race and discrimination, we want to lay the foundation for long-term, collective change and hold our community accountable to operationalizing anti-racism as a practice.”

“Our Fund Foundation acknowledges that LGBTQ+ people’s struggle for equality inextricably links us to other disenfranchised communities,” said Jobin. “We also understand that as a predominantly white-led and whiteparticipant organization, we are not able to grasp or fully understand the devastating impact that racism has on black and brown people.”

Statement from Lutze B. Segu, MSW The birth of our nation involves two immutable truths. Those truths are that indigenous genocide, coupled with chattel slavery, is the genesis of our nation-state. Put simply, the United States is stolen land built by stolen people. If we, as a nation, want to heal and move towards a future rooted in social justice, it will require that we all confront these truths. Our choices are simple; we adopt anti-racism or accept that there is no future for human beings on this planet. There is no social justice issue that does not require anti-racism. Climate justice, gender justice, racial justice, immigration, queer liberation,

economic justice, workers' rights, reproductive justice, etc all require anti-racism. Racism undermines our democracy, public good, institutions, and it is a public health crisis. White supremacy does not have a retirement plan or a succession plan, but anti-racism has many plans for our pluralistic future.

Queer organizations should be at the forefront of this issue. Anti-racism is a queer issue. Queer people owe whatever liberties and freedoms we have gained to rioting and the leadership of black and brown transgender women. To honor this legacy, we must all boldly adopt anti-racism. www.LutzeSegu.com

About Our Fund Foundation Established in 2011, Our Fund Foundation has grown into the third largest LGBT foundation in the nation. As South Florida’s only LGBT community foundation, Our Fund promotes a culture of philanthropy by uniting donors with organizations; advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties; and supporting causes within the LGBT community. For more information on Our Fund Foundation, visit www.Our-Fund.org or call (954) 565-1090.

About Equality Florida Equality Florida consists of two organizations - Equality Florida Institute, Inc., our 501(c)(3) educational charity, and Equality Florida Action, Inc., our 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. Together these organizations form the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

About The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth The Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (GLBTQ) Youth coordinates a full range of quality services including individual counseling, group counseling, care coordination, and youth leadership development for GLBTQ youth in Miami-Dade. We serve GLBTQ youth, families, and their communities while advocating for equal rights and status of all youth regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on The Alliance for GLBTQ Youth, visit www.GLBTQAlliance.org or call (305) 899-8087.

OutClique.com | 89

Photo Courtesy of Island City Stage

THE PHOENIX FUND AT ISLAND CITY STAGE

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s is true of most theater companies across the country, we are currently dark as we weather this COVID-19 shut down. However, we are preparing for a new season and planning to get back to business this fall. Of course, our first priority is the safety of our audience and artists, and nothing will happen until all protective measures are in place. The expenses of these precautions, coupled with the loss of Box Office revenue, is becoming daunting.

However, help is on the way in the form of a matching challenge grant!

In an effort to be proactive we have launched our Phoenix Fund to help sustain us during

this “intermission” until we are prepared to relaunch this fall. We recently spoke with Darcy Beeman, CFP® a well-respected Certified Financial Planner with Edward Jones and she has risen to the occasion to help make a difference. Known for her support of many organizations within our community, Ms. Beeman is pledging to match what we raise up to $10,000. We are elated to have this opportunity! It is not often that an amazing challenge like this comes along and we ask you to consider a tax-deductible gift to the theater. We want to exceed this challenge and, like the Phoenix, rise strong from the ashes of this pandemic and your giving will help us do just that. Make it happen with your donation today!

The Phoenix Fund Campaign will run through August 31, 2020. Donations can be made through www.IslandCityStage.org/Phoenix-Fund, mailing your donation to Island City Stage, 2304 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, or by calling (954) 928-9800.

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1164 E Oakland Park Boulevard, Floor 3 Oakland Park, FL 33334 (954) 561-6900

South Beach

4308 Alton Road, Ste 950 Miami, FL 33140 (305) 538-1400 Care Resource Community Health Centers (954) 567-7141 www.CareResource.org Latinos Salud (954) 765-6239 www.LatinosSalud.org

INSURANCE

Pallant Insurance Agency (954) 522-3800 www.PallantInsurance.com WE Insure (954) 903-7519 www.WeInsureFtLaud.com LAWN MAINTENANCE & DESIGN Landscape Solutions (954) 525-5855

www.LandscapeSolutionsFlorida.com

OutClique@gmail.com | 954-998-6429

LODGING

Equator Resort Key West (305) 294-7775 www.EquatorResort.com Island House Key West (305) 294-6284 www.IslandHouseKeyWest.com New Orleans House (305) 293-9800 www.NewOrleansHouseKW.com

MARKETING

Promotional Breezes, Inc.

Fresh Ideas in Promotional Products

It's time to get noticed!

(954) 567-2664 Steven@PromotionalBreezes.com www.PromotionalBreezes.com

MASSAGE & SPA SERVICES

Relax in Peace Massage John-Michael Gordon, LMT (954) 649-4287

www.Facebook.com/JMGMassage

MEDICAL

Acupuncture & Wellness Center Fort Lauderdale 1128 SE 3rd Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 494-9322 www.ACUFTL.com

Florida Medical Center (954) 735-6000 www.FloridaMedCTR.com

PAINTING

Gregg’s Painting Interiors & exteriors, great rates & reliability!

(617) 306-5694 GManBenn44@gmail.com

POOL SERVICES

L'Acqua Azzurra Pool Service Licensed & Insured (954) 793-7206 www.LAcquaAzzurra.com

PRINTING SERVICES

Minuteman Press Wilton Manors 1416 NE 4th Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 731-5300 1416@MinutemanPress.com

REALTORS & BROKERS

Plastic, Reconstructive, and Transgender Surgery 1330 Coral Way, Suite 306 Miami, FL 33145 Office: (786) 627-4601 WhatsApp: (267) 694-1282 www.ConstructiveSurgery.org

Fort Lauderdale

1785 E Sunrise Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 462-9442

Miami

2900 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33137 (305) 764-3773

Wilton Manors

2097 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 358-5580

SALONS & HAIR SERVICES

Transitions Hair (954) 742-4500 www.DinosHRC.com

SENIOR CARE SERVICES

Emerald Elite Senior Home Care (954) 629-1377 Ernest@EmeraldEliteCare.com

Henri Vezie ONE Sotheby’s International Realty (954) 465-6615 www.HenriFrank.com

Rainbow Care (954) 532-5451 RainbowServices@comcast.net

Joe Grano, Broker (954) 931-0031 BrokerJoe@JoeGrano.com

Latinos Salud

Steve Margolis Re/Max Experience (954) 684-7888 www.HomesBySteveFL.com

Miami Southwest

Care Resource Community Health RESTAURANTS Centers Catfish Dewey's Fort Lauderdale (954) 566-5333 871 W Oakland Park Boulevard www.CatfishDeweys.com Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 (954) 567-7141 Mangia Mangia Little Havana (305) 294-2469 1901 SW 1st Street, Fl 4 www.Mangia-Mangia.com Miami, FL 33135 The Pub (305) 203-5230 (754) 200-5244 Miami Beach www.ThePubWM.com 1680 Michigan Avenue, Ste 912 Miami Beach, FL 33139 Rosie's Bar & Grill (305) 534-0503 (954) 563-0123 Midtown Miami www.RosiesBNG.com 3801 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33137 RETAIL (305) 576-1234 FabScout Shop www.CareResource.org Stay at home- Play at home Use code "NewFabCustomer" for 20% OFF Constructive Surgery Associates www.FabScout.com/Shop Christopher Salgado, MD Gender Affirmation Surgery | MTF/FTM

Out of the Closet

Gett Wett (and MASKS) Swimwear Studio & Design Shop (754) 444-1739 www.GettWett.com LeatherWerks (954) 761-1236 www.LeatherWerks.com

Want to get listed? Contact us!

SOCIAL & OUTREACH

Miami Beach

925 Arthur Godfrey Road, Ste 200 Miami Beach, FL 33140 (305) 397-8967 2760 SW 97th Avenue, Ste 103 Miami, FL 33165 (786) 801-1803

Wilton Manors

2330 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 765-6239 www.LatinosSalud.org

TITLE COMPANIES

Assure America Title Company Richard Mandel (561) 414-4057 Richard@AssureAmericaTitle.com www.AssureAmericaTitle.com

TRAVEL SERVICES

Rainbow Travel Services (954) 944-1366 Source Events (305) 672-9779 www.SourceEvents.com

VETERINARY MEDICINE

Wilton Manors Animal Hospital

"Serving Our Community with Pride"

2201 N Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 541-2550

WiltonManorsAnimalHospital@gmail.com

www.WiltonManorsAnimalHospital.com

OutClique@gmail.com | 954-998-6429 OutClique.com | 93

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