OutClique Magazine December 2019

Volume 3, Issue 1 December 2018

DR DAVID WEBB & MR BRIAN WEBB LADY BUNNY FANTASY FEST OUR NEW WEBSITE

HOLIDAY

SHOPPING GUIDE THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Florida's LGBTQ Lifestyle Magazine & Destination Guide

Steven O. Evans, PhD

Publisher and Editor in Chief OutClique@gmail.com

Arthur Wood III Associate Editor

Sach AD Group

Director of Graphic Design

Arvin Bielen Cindy Curtis Anthony Grosso III Zach Kane JoAnn Marchese Mike Ritzi Sales Managers

Connie Evans Chief Copyeditor

Tom Pence

Distribution Manager

Chris Brown

Director of Orlando Outreach

Connor Wilkinson Photography

National Advertising Rivendell Media

Contributing Writers

Tony Adams, Joey Amato, Andy Armano, Chris Brown, Rod Davis, Mike Jeknavorian, Marty Kiar, Dr. Beau Nelson, Denny Patterson, Steve Pike, Patrick Rogers, Eric Noel Roman, Mikey Rox, Gregg Shapiro A publication of OutClique, LLC (954) 998-6429 www.OutClique.com OutClique@gmail.com Facebook.com/OutClique OutClique, LLC is not responsible for statements or opinions expressed in advertisements or articles.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume 3, Issue 1 | December 2018

Cover Story DR DAVID WEBB & MR BRIAN WEBB Photo by Connor Wilkinson

28

14 Jerry Halliday 36 The “Most” Wonderful Time Of the Year

28

14

62

36

44 Fantasy Fest 62 Lady Bunny 68 The Sound of Music 93 Holiday Shopping Guide

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CHECK OUT THESE EVENTS!

WHERE TO BE AND WHAT TO DO IN LGBTQ SOUTH FLORIDA Holiday Magic - Festival of Trees & Sounds of the Season

1

SFSO - Masterworks I

1

Spanish River Worship Center

SFSO - Temple Isreal of Greater Miami Chamber Series

2

Temple Isreal Miami

First Friday Piano Bar

3-4 7

The Wiz

DECEMBER 2018

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

World AIDS Day

South Florida Fringe - God is a Scottish Drag Queen

7-31

Wilton Theater Factory Yello!

Stage Door Theatre

Art Basel Crawl Wynwood

8

SHOTS Miami

PRIDE Bingo

8

The Pride Center

Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus - Holiday Concert

8

All Saints Episcopal Church

WMBA Holiday Spectacular

10

Richardson Park

A Charlie Brown Christmas

11

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

SFSO - Nightmare Before Christmas

13

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

13-30

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Legally Blonde Christmas Tree Skirt Promenade

14

The Pub

Holiday Boat Parade

14

City of Pompano Beach

Grand Opening - Preview Party

14

BodyTek - West Boca

Grand Opening - Mayor Ribbon Cutting

15

BodyTek - West Boca

Winterfest Boat Parade

15

Fort Lauderdale

Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida - The Heart of the Holidays

15

Sunshine Cathedral

The Nutcracker

January 2019

Nov 30-Dec7

15-16

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

Rumors 4th Annual Santa Sip N Strut

16

Rumors Bar & Grill

Jerry Halliday

16

The Pub

Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida - Holidays at Hard Rock with Matthew Morrison

16

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

GFLGLCC Holiday Mixer

18

Jungle Queen Riverboats

Christmas Eve Services

24

Sunshine Cathedral

Christmas Eve Service

24

United Church of Christ

The Sound of Music

30

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert

31

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

First Friday Piano Bar

1

Yello

Swan Lake

5

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

Want to get listed? Contact us!

10 | OutClique.com

OutClique@gmail.com | 954-998-6429

CHECK OUT THESE EVENTS!

WHERE TO BE AND WHAT TO DO IN LGBTQ SOUTH FLORIDA GFLGLCC Networking Breakfast

10

February 2019

January 2019

Bette & Barry

Jan10-Feb10

Westin FTL Island City Stage

Memories of Elvis Rockin' Birthday Bash

12

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

Couch to 5K

13

Snyder Park

Alice Ripley & Emily Skinner

13

Aventura Arts & Cultural Center

SFSO - Porgy & Bess

16

Tennessee Williams Theatre

16

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

Masters of Illusion The Producers

Jan18-Feb10

Cher in Concert

19

BB&T Center

SFSO - Porgy & Bess

19

Tennessee Williams Theatre

SFSO- Porgy & Bess

23

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Jeanne Robinson

27

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

A Celebration of Friends Jumboree Cruise

Jan27-Feb2

FTL - Grand Cayman - Costa Maya - Cozumel

Florida Grand Opera - The Marriage of Figaro

Jan26-Feb3

Adrienne Arsht Center

Jekyll & Hyde the Musical

Jan31-Feb17

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Stage Door Theatre

First Friday Piano Bar

1

Yello

Latinos Salud 10th Anniversary Gala

2

DCOTA

Florida Grand Opera - The Marriage of Figaro

7-9

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Faith Prince

10

Aventura Arts & Cultural Center

A Well Strung Valentine

14

Parker Playhouse

Dance Fever at Sea

14-19

Ultimate Disco Cruise - Celebrity Cruise Line

Little River Band

16

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

SFSO - Vienna Boys' Choir

17

Parker Playhouse

SFSO - Masterworks II

20

Tennessee Williams Theatre

21-24

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park

Pride Fort Lauderdale & Parade SFSO - Masterworks II

21

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

SFSO - Masterworks II

22

Spanish River Worship Center

Paula Poundstone

23

Coral Springs Center for the Arts

SFSO - Temple Isreal of Greater Miami Chamber Series

24

Temple Isreal Miami

Winter Party Festival

Feb27-Mar5

Miami Beach

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

Feb28-Mar10

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Want to get listed? Contact us!

12 | OutClique.com

OutClique@gmail.com | 954-998-6429

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JERRY HALLIDAY & HIS NEW GAY PUPPET,

TWINKY BOY

By Mike Jeknavorian

Puppeteer Jerry Halliday has performed his entire life, including headlining in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. But, the culmination of Halliday’s career, and a decided labor of love, is the creation of his first gay puppet, “Twinky Boy.”. I sat down with Halliday to hear about his prolific career and about the impetus behind “the world’s gayest puppet with a hand stuck up it,” Twinky Boy. MIKE JEKNAVORIAN: What’s the first show that you ever did?

JERRY HALLIDAY: I was five years old, and I made some puppets out of paper bags. I have no idea what the show was about, but it became a regular activity to do puppet shows in my backyard for the neighborhood kids.

MJ JH

What originally motivated you to perform?

Every year when I was in elementary school, I got to see touring productions by professional marionette companies out of New York City. Also, seeing Bil Baird's puppets on TV. For those who don't know who Baird is, he did the marionettes in the film, The Sound of Music.

MJ

You practice the art of illusion, as opposed to ventriloquism. What’s the difference between the two?

JH

Basically, I don't interact with the puppets I’m performing with. I don't talk to them, and they don't talk to me. I focus on bringing my puppet characters to life, in the tradition of Wayland Flowers and “Madame” and the musical, Avenue Q. I also make no attempt to "throw my voice."

MJ

After performing on and off for many years in South Florida, you moved from Las Vegas to Wilton Manors three years ago. Why did you move here?

JH

I've done so many shows down here, it's like a second home to me. Las Vegas has nothing like the colorful, sophisticated gay scene in Wilton Manors.

I'm much more comfortable living near the ocean instead of the dry hot desert. I love being here.

MJ JH

Twinky Boy took over two years to make. Was she worth it in the end?

MJ JH

What’s your immediate goal with Twinky Boy?

Don't call him "she." He'll smack you with his purse. Yes, all the blood, sweat, and agony laboring over his creation, has resulted in something that’s certainly unique and one-of-a-kind.

To showcase him with my regular nationwide touring cast of crazies: Sista Girl, Granny Goodtimes, and the Not So Holy Nun. I’d like to get him out and about all over the stages in South Florida.

Be sure to check out Twinky Boy’s world debut at The Pub on Sunday, December 16, 2018.

14 | OutClique.com

TOM GOSS CONCERT BY

OUTCLIQUE MAGAZINE & CELEBRAITON OF FRIENDS AT SUNSHINE CATHEDARAL

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

Want to submit photos? | Contact us! OutClique@gmail.com 16 | OutClique.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE WICK STARRING SALLY STRUTHERS AS MISS HANNIGAN! NOV 29—DEC 23

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EQUALITY GARDEN CLUB DONATES $3,500 TO THE WILTON MANORS KIDS IN DISTRESS PROGRAM

Equality Garden Club (EGC) has donated $3,500 to the Wilton Manors Kids in Distress (KID) program.

The funds will be used to help develop and teach horticultural programs for the children in their care.

T

he program will provide the children a hands-on program and classroom based curriculum with the goal of growing and producing their own food and then getting to eat what they grow. “Learning a skill like growing vegetables and plants will be helpful in the children’s overall development,” according to Chuck Nicholls, EGC Board Trustee.

According to Mark Dhooge, President/CEO Kids in Distress, “We are so appreciative that your team recognizes that vision we would like to instill in our children. We believe significantly in teaching our kids sustainability from both gardening and environmental perspectives and it is my hope that forging a partnership with the Equality Garden Club will further that vision!”

According to Paul Durbin, President of the EGC, the program is a match made in heaven for him because it combines his two passions: gardening and community outreach. “I was

raised to believe you give back to your community. I believe in this passionately and always have. KID is a very worthy cause and located right in our community.”

KIDS IN DISTRESS Kids in Distress of Broward and Palm Beach Counties (KID) is a licensed nationally accredited agency working for the prevention of child abuse, preservation of the family, and the treatment of abused and neglected children.

EQUALITY GARDEN CLUB Equality Garden Club is a non-profit garden club, based in Wilton Manors.

The club meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00PM in the Wilton Manors Hagen Park Community Center, providing worldclass speakers to educate and entertain the membership. Additionally, the club hosts the popular Annual Plant Fair in March at Richardson Park.

OutClique.com | 23

ZENSATIONS GARDEN MAKE YOUR FLORIDA HOME OUTSTANDING

By Steven O. Evans, PhD

Z

ensations Garden (1725 NE 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305), just steps away from Wilton Manors, offers a luscious variety of lawn art, tropical plants, and exotic sculptures. Owners, Elsa Almenara and Alida Biaggini, put their personal touch on not only the selection of items to give your landscaping that unique South Florida beauty, but also provide their customers with the knowledge and guidance on how to create a truly “Zensational” Garden.

OutClique Magazine chatted with Elsa about creating the perfect outdoor space.

Steven: What kind of services do you offer to your clients?

Else Almenara: We are principally a retail store for garden enthusiasts; offering excellent prices on plants, trees, palms, pottery and mulch. We also provide landscaping design and installation adjusted to the areas to be landscaped and the theme or type of landscaping clients would like, such as Mediterranean, Asian, Japanese, tropical, formal, and minimalistic. Also, we can draw 2-D plans with the proposed design and lastly, we provide design and installation of Low Voltage landscape lighting for residential or commercial properties.

Our store also has an area of statues (Buddhas, Dewis, Ganesha and other carvings), garden lanterns, and water fountains. We are direct importers of these fixtures and sell them at very good prices.

SE

What kinds of things do you recommend to make a beautiful

24 | OutClique.com

Florida landscaped home?

EA

Nice combination of plants and trees and/or palms with balance throughout the landscape and finally, harmony between clients and their new setting. You can enhance the theme with fixtures or pottery around the landscape as well. We mostly look for areas in the homes that require an enhancement or beautification to stand out. For example, if they want to install a spa in their backyard, we would design a suitable landscape around this area always taking into consideration our client’s dreams.

SE EA

What types of plants are the easiest to care for and why?

Succulents and the agaves or cactus.

They do not require much attention and small amounts of water. Some palm trees are self-cleaning so you do not have to hire professional tree trimmers to do the job that nature will do.

SE

For someone who is just starting to landscape their home, where is a good place to start?

EA

I would suggest to come and visit our store and I will help them with the selection of the plants or else, I will come to their house and propose a landscape design suitable to their home.

We would like to thank OutClique for this opportunity to show a little of our enthusiasm and willingness to help each and everyone that comes to our store seeking help with their garden.

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DR. DAVID WEBB AND MISTER BRIAN WEBB A LOOK AT THEIR LIVES TOGETHER AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE

By Steven O. Evans, PhD

Photos By Connor Wilkinson (@HonnorConnor)

O

utClique is proud to feature Dr. David Webb (Doctor of Oriental Medicine) and his husband, Brian Webb, on this month’s cover. As the premier lifestyle magazine and travel destination guide for South Florida, each month we highlight groups, organizations, 28 | OutClique.com

and individuals that are making a difference in our community. I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. and Mister Webb about their relationship, life in Fort Lauderdale, and professional ventures. You can read more at www.DavidWebbDOM.com.

Where and how did you and Brian meet? How long have you been together and married?

As I’m sure many can relate, we had both been in past relationships that just weren’t the right match or ended due to irreconcilable issues. Frustrated, we had both kind of given up on finding our perfect match. We met each other through a mutual close friend, and the funny part is, I thought for about a year that Brian disliked me and he thought I disliked him.

When we attended the same events, we would sit far apart, we wouldn’t look at each other, and would give each other “shade.” Then at our friend’s birthday party, we started talking and discovered that we are both so alike that it’s scary. We also realized that we were both so attracted to each other. We went on our first date to La Bamba the very next night. And the rest - is history. We got married a year later, have been a couple for three and a half years, and married two and a half years. During the whole time we’ve been a couple, we haven’t had a single fight or argument. It’s been the easiest and most amazing relationship I could have ever imagined.

What is your and Brian’s favorite date night activity in South Florida?

Although we really enjoy going out to places like Morikami Japanese Gardens, Fairchild Botanical Gardens, the museum, or a ballet, Wednesday nights are our date nights and time off from the gym. Brian is an incredible cook, so we enjoy staying home, eating an amazing home cooked dinner together, and then relaxing on the sofa watching a good movie afterwards.

What’s one piece of advice you have for a happy and healthy relationship?

Never go into a relationship with the goal of molding your significant other into the person you want them to be. That never works. Always go into a relationship accepting and loving that person just how they are. That means every day tell your significant other how amazing and beautiful they are and how much you love them. Brian and I tell each other “I love you” every morning before we go to work, and before we fall asleep every night.

OutClique.com | 29

Give our readers some history on Oriental Medicine.

Oriental Medicine has been around for a very long time. Acupuncture itself has been practiced for at least 5,000 years. In ancient China, each village had its own doctor who practiced acupuncture and herbal medicine according to the family’s secret techniques and formulas passed down within that family from generation to generation. You could see differences in how acupuncture, for instance, was practiced from village to village. In modern times, the practice of Oriental Medicine was standardized into a very cohesive system of medical theory, diagnosis, and treatment called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The standardized system of TCM in professional schools are learned in the Western medical systems.

After completing a four year college pre-med program, I completed a four year professional program, just like MDs and DOs. I graduated from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Denver 22 years ago and later became a staff instructor there. TCM training is very rigorous and very comprehensive. We are not acupuncture technicians, but rather physicians just like MDs and DOs. However, we just practice a different system of medicine, and acupuncture is only one small part of our treatment methods.

How does Oriental Medicine differ from Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) Medicine?

Eastern and Western medical systems both have their value and strengths. Both are comprehensive systems of medical theory, diagnosis, and treatment, and both require four years of intensive schooling. Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine are physical medicine systems based on what can be seen and measured with physical examinations and lab testing. Oriental Medicine is an energy medicine that appreciates that beyond our physical form we have an energetic anatomy of channels of vital energy circulation with energy centers throughout the body, which we call acupuncture points, where we can access and balance our body’s vital energy.

Oriental Medicine theory teaches that disease first starts as blockages or imbalance in our 30 | OutClique.com

energetic anatomy, that if left untreated, eventually become physical disease. Our energetic anatomy is the deeper, more fundamental part of our being. In Oriental Medicine, we seek to uncover the deeper underlying causes of illness and dysfunction and correct those causes, rather than merely treating and masking superficial symptoms.

Do you think pharmaceutical drugs are prescribed to correct the underlying cause of your symptoms? Of course not. Pharmaceutical drug companies make far more money managing illness rather than curing it. I think so many people are looking to systems like Oriental Medicine now, because they’re tired of being seen by their doctor for 8 minutes and then handed a drug script to “manage” their symptoms. Or they’re looking for alternatives to surgery and addictive drugs to treat their injuries or chronic pain.

Tell our readers about the concept of Patient Centered Medicine and how you implement that in your practice.

In Patient Centered Medicine, the focus should be first and foremost on our patients, giving them the best care available, and addressing their complaints with the goal of long-term resolution, rather than a focus on satisfying for-profit insurance requirements and seeing the required number of patients per hour.

This is one reason I incorporate Functional Medicine into my practice. Functional Medicine is a Western medical science-based approach to healthcare that focuses on addressing the root cause of your complaint using laboratory testing and western science-based evaluation.

I use labs that offer the most accurate and comprehensive test for a condition, not the cheapest labs, covered by insurance that is more concerned with profit. They are often outdated labs that frequently miss uncovering the cause of the patient’s illness. Ultimately, patients want to resolve what’s causing their issues rather than managing their symptoms long-term for someone else’s profit. That’s why I offer non-surgical and non-pharmaceutical methods with the goal of correcting the underlying cause of your complaint rather than merely managing symptoms.

What ways can a combination of Oriental and

Functional Medicine systems heal and improve a person’s health?

As a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, I have a general practice and treat all types of complaints. With a Functional and Oriental Medicine approach, I can often identify the actual underlying cause of my patient’s complaints and treat the patient, not the disease, in a healthy, painless, side-effect-free way, and allowing the patient to heal themselves. We are ultimately our best healer. All effective treatment modalities are ultimately just supporting our natural, innate healing potential. With the approach I have adopted, I can often help resolve autoimmune reactions by understanding and correcting their underlying cause, and eliminate immune hypersensitivity reactions to chemicals, animal danders, foods, molds, and other environmental allergens. I can also resolve pain without surgery or drugs, and slow down and even halt the progression of debilitating conditions like osteoarthritis. This eliminates my patient’s disabling pain while giving them back their lives and freedom to enjoy an active lifestyle again. Those are just a few of the many complaints I help my patients with every day.

What are three things our readers can to do improve their overall health?

We as a society have become so hooked into modern conveniences that we have lost sight of how simple it actually is to enjoy great health. We want our cake and eat it, too! We want to continue to enjoy abusing our bodies with unhealthy lifestyles, and then look for the magic pill or latest medical procedure that will give us back our health without making any changes to our diet or lifestyle. The three things that can improve our health the most are simply to go back to eating a healthy, unprocessed, whole-food diet, exercise, and adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes things like quitting smoking, getting outside and enjoying nature, limiting our exposure to unhealthy modern technologies like cell phones and computer games, and minimizing stress in our lives.

For more on Dr. David Webb and his practice, visit www.DavidWebbDOM.com or call (954) 289-8901 32 | OutClique.com

MUSIC LEGEND BARRY MANILOW TO PERFORM LIVE AT AMERICANAIRLINES ARENA IN MIAMI Pop Music Icon Takes the Stage on Thursday, December 6 for A Very Barry Christmas Miami, FL – September 4, 2018 – The pop music icon, Barry Manilow, will take the stage at AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday, December 6, 2018 for a special “A Very Barry Christmas” engagement. Fans will be in for a treat when they hear Manilow perform his greatest hits like “Copacabana” and “Mandy” as well as Christmas favorites. Manilow has sold over 85 million albums and has 50 Top 40 hits. Don’t miss the chance to hear the legend in person!

Tickets can be purchased at the AmericanAirlines Arena Ticket Office, online at www.TicketMaster.com, or charge by phone (800) 745-3000. Ticket prices are $15.75, $55.75, $75.75, $95.75, $155.75 and $245.75 plus fees. Show time is 7:30PM and doors will open at 6:30PM. For more information, please visit www.BarryManilow.com or www.AAArena.com.

About Barry Manilow Barry Manilow's unparalleled career encompasses virtually every area of music, including performing, composing, arranging, and producing. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Manilow has triumphed in every medium of entertainment. With worldwide record sales exceeding 85 million, Barry Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time.

THE “MOST” WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

By Eric Noel Roman

"Feliz Navidad, Eric!" yells my mom at midnight on December 25th. Every year the holidays come and go extremely fast. Since I was a young child, I've always felt so alone during this time of the year. I remember going to gatherings thinking, "This sucks. This is not my family. These people are my mother's friends. We are only here because these people feel bad for us."

As my teenage years approached, the holidays became more and more depressing. My mom worked on Thanksgiving and my family was just her.

I

would see my friends have grandiose family events with food, alcohol, and more importantly smiles. I hated it. Then I began learning that the holiday season is the time of year where depression and suicide rates spike. Pay attention to people in public. They are always running full throttle and leading themselves into a path full of stress and anger.

Little by little I realized that after my favorite holiday, Halloween, a holiday where you can dress up in costumes, came before my most hated time of the year. It was the "Holiday Season.” This time of the year was miserable because I would spend it watching television specials or staring at my freezer wondering what to heat up. My world just sucked while I saw my friends with their mom, dad, grandma, sis, bro, and the rest of their family. Here I am cold in a single family home and microwaving a turkey dinner. Then one year I said to myself, "Eric, you love to cook. You love your mom and she is the biggest family in the world. She is mom, dad, friend, and every other possible role you can fathom."

The year I turned fourteen, I pulled my mother to the market and shopped for ingredients to build the picture perfect family dinner for Thanksgiving. My mom had no idea what was happening. I made my dinner and my mother's face was glowing with pride. She could not

36 | OutClique.com

believe that I put together a four-course, full sized, family dinner for twelve. That year it was great, except for the month of leftovers.

The following year I did the same and bragged about how great my meal was. All of my friends challenged me to prove that my turkey dinner was as good as I said. The next day, I fed them and all were dumbfounded on how great it was. Year after year my dinners were sought after. I had requests to make side dishes, my infamous turkey, and even received questions about desserts. I never had them over for dinner but I had to make many to-go plates. One year I paused while preparing my turkey and thought, "This is it. This is what the holidays are about. I am alone cooking dinner for one, my mom. However, all of my social circle is celebrating and thinking about my food." I made my friends realize the love I have for them. They are my family.

For years I cooked and my friends clamored.

Then one year, in my late twenties, I was sent to DJ in Rhode Island during Thanksgiving and Christmas. "Welcome back depression," was all I could anticipate. I began my new location on Monday the week before Thanksgiving.

I was in a city I had never been to and with people who were total strangers. Let's fast forward to the week of Thanksgiving. I made friends, but ended up wandering Providence

alone questioning my life. Was this where life was leading me? A DJ traveling alone, living alone on the road, and never celebrating togetherness? I found a nice restaurant that day, had a tasty but sad dinner and got pretty drunk. I came home for a few weeks and returned for Christmas to work "Good 'ol Rhody." This time was very different. Every employee at that club welcomed me with a hug and an open invitation to come to Christmas dinner. "Eric, you became family on your last trip. Please come to have dinner. Santa left you a gift." Two weeks in and I was family?

That was all that came to mind. Then all of a sudden that warmth returned. All from people who only knew me for two weeks.

It has now been three years since my Rhode Island experience. I have stopped looking at the "Holiday Season" as a time where I am alone, or sad that my family is one. I learned over many years if you pay attention to the Frank Lloyd Wright painting of that beautiful turkey dinner, or every clichĂŠ about the holidays, we are taught that this is the time for family. As individuals we may be saddened.

Many of us do not have the good fortune to

be near our families, or like me, do not have a family. Ignore the "norm" of the season and create your own. In doing so, the holidays take on a new meaning. That is right. You give the holidays meaning.

I took my holiday loneliness and made my own traditions. Eventually, they caught on within me and gave the season meaning to me. The season is not about family or dinners or spending time with friends, they are more about giving you meaning and purpose. You can make the holidays better for yourself. Maybe you have that large family and want to sink in a hole. Maybe you travel and never see your family during this time. The solution can be as simple as giving this time of the year a meaning only you know about. Execute and accomplish it for yourself. If it makes you happy then it has meaning. After time, you will see that the self-inflicted happiness will brighten up your year because you will have a new tradition to anticipate. Mine is to see my mother smile and have her tell all of her co-workers how hard I worked to make her a holiday dinner.

"I have a personal gourmet chef. He is my son." My holiday season has meaning now.

Eric Noel Roman is a local club DJ turned fitness type. He works to inspire others through his personal life encounters.

38 | OutClique.com

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MAKE YOUR YULETIDE GAY WITH

THE FORT LAUDERDALE GAY MEN’S CHORUS

By Robby Wagenseil

W

hether your reason for the season is Christmas, Hanukkah or something entirely different, The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus (FTLGMC) is here to spread holiday cheer!

On Saturday, December 8, the acclaimed vocal virtuosos will present “Season’s Greetings from FTLGMC: A Holiday Concert” at 8PM at All Saints Episcopal Church (333 Tarpon Drive).

Enjoy a festive mix of traditional holiday favorites, contemporary carols and even a special visit from Santa and his handsome hunky reindeer!

Prior to the full holiday concert, the FTLGMC will be making guest appearances throughout the Broward community, offering mellifluous notes of pure joy, hope, peace and equality:

Monday, November 19: Fundraising night at Bona Italian Restaurant, with 10% of sales to benefit the Chorus (2468 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors) Tuesday, November 27: Performance at Christmas on Las Olas (Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale) Thursday, November 29: Performance at Wilton Manors Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Jaycee Park (2109 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors) Sunday, December 2: Performance at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale as part of the mall’s Holiday Concert Series (2414 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale) Tuesday, December 4: Fundraising event at Lips (1421 E Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale)

General admission tickets for the “Season’s Greetings from FTLGMC: A Holiday Concert” are $25, VIP tickets with priority seating are priced at $40, plus a small service fee and are available online at https://ftlgmc.brownpapertickets.com or by calling (954) 832-0060.

Funding for the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.

For more than 26 years, the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus has strived to build community through quality musical performances. Its civic engagement promotes a world which accepts and values diversity. Led by founding director Dr. Gary Keating, the FTLGMC was the first established gay arts organization in the State of Florida and has gained respect and admiration from both gay and straight audiences. For more information about the FTLGMC, call (954) 832-0060 or visit www.TheFTLGMC.org.

40 | OutClique.com

KEY WEST 2018 FANTASY FEST TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS

By Kevin Assam

A

fter ten days of outlandish behavior and extravagant costumes here are our selections for the top ten events of Fantasy Fest 2018.

1. Performing in the Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade This is the big one. Spectating is fabulous, but being in the parade is life-changing.

It’s the ultimate Fantasy Fest party as you slowly wind your way down Whitehead and Duval Streets, stopping at judging stations to compete for various prizes. With every float boasting its own music and theatrics, it’s one of the most unforgettable sights in Key West.

3. Masquerade March No one is left out of Key West’s festivities, not even the dead. Beginning at the Key West Cemetery this local’s parade has evolved into a costume dry-run for the following day’s main parade. Since this passes through residential areas, the costumes tend to cover more tidbits than other events, paving the way for an explosion of artistic prowess.

Oldtown | Free | www.FantasyFest.com

Oldtown | www.FantasyFest.com 2. Tutu Tuesday: 10th Annual Decade Dance Presented by One With Life Tequila Electric. Transformative. Pure energy. The initial TuTu bar crawl and march downtown were treats in themselves. Each room offered a new DJ, new costumed patrons, and a frenzy of energy on the dance floor. This wasn’t just the big tutu party. This was the indoor-outdoor party of the festival and possibly the year.

423 Caroline Street | Paid www.TutuTuesdayKW.com

Photo credit: Michael Blades | Fantasy Fest

4. Zombie Bike Ride Zombie Wednesday Adams. Zombie Minions.

Zombie queens of the regal and gay varieties.

This family-friendly event begins at the panoramic oceanside Fort East Martello where there are body painters, drinks, and live music.

Tricycles, bikes, skateboards, and moving installations are all permitted. Hot tip: the smaller your transportation device the better you can maneuver the hordes of undead.

Fort East Martello | Paid www.ZombieBikeRide.com

Photo credit: Michael Blades | Fantasy Fest

44 | OutClique.com

5. Kinky Carnival Strictly kinky attire gets you into this strictly kinky experience. The perimeter is blocked off from street view encouraging participants to

get as naughty or stripped down as they like. The multileveled facility provided a maze of titillating rooms with lots of juicy surprises.

301 Whitehead Street | First Flight | Paid 6. Heroes and Villains 5K Walk or dash through this downtown route dressed as your favorite hero or villain. The roughly three mile course ensures that it’s gentle enough for any hungover revelers. The welcoming of children to this event makes this family-friendly and all-inclusive.

Southernmost Beach Resort | Paid www.ThemeRuns.com

Photo credit: Michael Blades | Fantasy Fest

7. Exposed at the Bourbon St. Pub Adult Entertainment Complex All sections open to both men and women during Fantasy Fest. Bourbon Street Pub, nevertheless, continues to anchor itself as a primary watering hole for the gay community. The outdoor complex complete with pool, jacuzzi, go-go dancers, and secluded decks provides a whirlwind of visual and audible scandals with adult performers roaming the various stages for steamy shows and crowd interaction.

724 Duval St | Paid | www.BourbonStPub.com

8. 36th Annual Headdress Ball Thrown by the Key West Business Guild, the Annual Headdress Ball goes off the Duval track for a sit-down dinner, now at the newly constructed Key West Amphitheater, that sees local artists and designers compete in some of the biggest, funniest, and most outrageous headwear. If the hustle and risque displays of most Fantasy Fest events are not for you, but you still enjoy slipping into fancy wear, then this will definitely be more along your lines.

Truman Waterfront Park Amphitheater | Paid www.KWBGOnline.org 9. Lost Boy Creations Studio Opening Two blocks into Bahama Village and in the thick of Goombay Festival is the result of craftsman and popular local bartender Matt Atkinson’s years of woodwork and design, Lost Boy Creations. This one-off grand opening was the quintessential hidden-gem: a good vibe oasis in the middle of pandemonium. Featuring live painting demos, mellow guitar riffs, a Key West potluck, and all your favorite bartenders, several attendees audibly gasped upon stepping into the hidden open-air outdoor space that reminded them of old school Key West.

225 Petronia Street | Free www.LostBoyCreations.com 10. “The Fat Lady Sings” Tea Dance Key West’s weekly Tea Dance at the chic La Te Da’s quintuples in attendance for this final hurrah of Fantasy Fest. Featuring music from the decades that really matter, performances from local queens, and a poolside dance floor bursting with energy, it’s a wonderful send-off reminiscent of the Tea Dances up north. This feels like the right event to snag a significant other.

1125 Duval St | Paid | www.LaTeDa.com

Kevin Assam is a curiously funny young writer with a wicked sweet tooth. He is working on the first in a series of books based on his experiences in Key West. www.KevinAssam.Carrd.Co www.facebook.com/kevin.assam | www.linkedin.com/in/kevinassam 46 | OutClique.com

THE ANSWER IS YES

AN INTERVIEW WITH GAY SINGER PHILIP CHAFFIN

By Gregg Shapiro

W

ill He Like Me? (PS Classics), the new album by gay singer Philip Chaffin, asks a musical question to which the answer is a resounding yes! After hearing Chaffin sing songs such as “Lovely, Lonely Man” (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), “Tom” (from Hello Again), “Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe” (from Cabin in the Sky), and the title tune (from She Loves Me), you will probably never listen to them in quite the same way again. I had the pleasure of talking to Chaffin about the album in mid-autumn 2018.

Gregg Shapiro: Philip, your new album Will He Like Me? is described as “a reimagining of the Great American Songbook for the postmarriage-equality era”. Why was now the right time to release it?

Philip Chaffin: I can't imagine releasing this album even ten years ago -- so much has changed. We started planning this album in 2013 -- at that time, marriage equality was still two years away. But New York State, where we lived, was allowing same-sex marriage, and Tommy and I had gotten married in 2012.

The whole idea of the album was a celebration of equality, and marriage equality in particular.

It's always been a convention that when you sing the Great American Songbook, women sing about men, and men sing about women, and you adjust the pronouns accordingly. But the impulse for this album was: what if we took these songs designed for women, and didn't change the pronouns? What if we simply sang them from a gay man's point of view -from our point of view? It was very exciting to imagine singing songs in a way that I honestly wouldn't have imagined singing them just a decade ago -- and in fact, because so many of the songs we chose mention "my husband," it's something I couldn't have done a decade ago. It felt incredibly liberating.

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Photo by Howard Zucker

GS

The album is subtitled “a love story”.

How much of the album is a reflection of your own love story with your husband Tommy Krasker?

PC

Tommy and I had our first date in 1993, and we've been together ever since. We definitely poured 25 years of our shared lives into this album. As we developed the album, we knew we wanted it to be more than just a collection of songs. We wanted it to be a journey -- a gay man's journey. We knew we wanted to start with a first date and a first relationship and a first break-up, and then move through new experiences and new relationships. We wanted to hit some key moments that Tommy and I both related to, that we hoped others might, too. The time in your life when you think, "I'm never going to find the right guy. I'm just going to have fun." The time when you try to settle down and your libido trips you up, and you mess it all up. And although the album wasn't really autobiographical, we definitely knew that near the end, the singer was going to find true love when he least expected it, and that was definitely true for the two of us. That part -finding true love after a whole lot of trying -- is absolutely about us!

For more on this article, go to www.OutClique.com

TIM HART TALKS

THE SMART RIDE

By Tony Adams

F

ort Lauderdale’s Tim Hart was “Rider #56” of 500 cyclists who rode 165 miles from Miami to Key West on November 16 and 17, 2018 as part of SMART Ride 15 benefiting agencies that provide support and education for the HIV/AIDS community of South Florida. This was Tim Hart’s fourth SMART Ride.

Why did Hart get involved with SMART Ride?

He says, “Years back, my accounting firm did the bookkeeping and tax work for SMART Ride.

I remember meeting with Glen Weinzimer (the SMART Ride founder) and going over why I wanted to do this work.

I used to donate to various riders as well. A gentleman in my office, Richard Paull, crewed one year then actually rode in the event the next. This led me to participate in the ride. Prior to that I did not own a bike nor did I exercise or work out on any regular basis. It was a real eye opener, and it has forever changed my life.”

What does Hart most enjoy about doing the SMART Ride? He says, “First and foremost is the interaction with all the other participants. I remember the first ride I did. I was thrilled that I knew so many participants and how over the top supportive they were of my effort. I met Jeff Banning by chance during the safety orientation video and that is how I began my involvement with the World AIDS Museum. Now I ride as part of the World AIDS Museum team. I also serve on the board of this most worthy charity that has received funding from the SMART Ride.”

How does Hart train for the SMART Ride? He says, “I train intensely for someone of my age and skill set. I typically ride three days a week for about 100+ miles. Our team will soon be taking a long ride to get fully ready for the SMART Ride.”

Like all SMART Riders, Hart has deep feelings about the experience. He says, “This is hard to put into words as my experience is deeply 50 | OutClique.com

personal. As with most of the participants I have been directly affected by HIV/AIDS and have many friends who are HIV positive, friends for whom I have deep affection. I ride for them. I ride in memory of my cousin, because he is not able to. This is such a small thing that I do for such an overwhelming cause. I often wish I could do more. Each year I try to raise more funds, either through new team members or individually. My relationship with my teammates, especially Jeff Schwartz, has made me realize just how lucky I am to be in this place and time. I will be forever grateful for what he has done for me.”

Glen Weinzimer reports, “In the past 14 years we have raised and returned 100% of over $9.3 million and at this moment we can definitely say we will be over $10 million when SMART Ride 15 is done. Riders and crew continue to raise funds, so I am just not sure how much over that amount we will be. We are anticipating approximately 500 riders and 250 crew this year. We currently have over 700 riders registered, but we know from history that some will be unable to ride.”

On a personal note, this was my sixth year doing the SMART Ride. I intend to keep doing the ride until old age converts me from rider to crew, or until our dream of a cure for HIV/AIDS becomes real.

吀 䤀䴀伀吀䠀夀 匀⸀ 䠀 䄀刀吀Ⰰ 䌀倀䄀 䴀 䄀一䄀䜀䤀一䜀 倀 䄀刀吀一䔀刀

㈀㤀㈀㤀 䔀䄀匀吀 䌀伀䴀䴀䔀刀䌀䤀䄀䰀 䈀伀唀䰀䔀嘀䄀刀䐀Ⰰ 倀䔀一吀䠀伀唀匀䔀 䐀 䘀伀刀吀 䰀䄀唀䐀䔀刀䐀䄀䰀䔀Ⰰ 䘀䰀伀刀䤀䐀䄀 ㌀㌀㌀ 㠀

㤀㔀㐀ⴀ㈀ ㈀ⴀ㤀㜀㜀 簀 㤀㔀㐀ⴀ㈀ ㈀ⴀ㤀㜀㜀㜀 䘀䄀堀 吀栀愀爀琀䀀刀㌀䄀挀挀漀甀渀琀椀渀最⸀挀漀洀 簀 眀眀眀⸀刀㌀䄀挀挀漀甀渀琀椀渀最⸀挀漀洀

SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL GALA

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A SPOOKY HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

By Denny Patterson

O

n Thursday, December 13, 2018 Tim Burton’s haunting holiday classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas, will be performed live by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Audiences of all ages are invited to come listen to Danny Elfman’s iconic score while watching Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, accidentally wander into the neighboring Christmastown.

After witnessing all the holiday cheer and happiness, Jack tries to incorporate some of their traditions into his own gloomy lifestyle.

I had the pleasure of chatting more about this one-night-only concert with the Orchestra’s maestra, Sebrina Alfonso.

Based on the ticket sales, we see that this is something audiences want. So, we are already planning to present together again next season. The Broward Center and the South Florida Symphony Orchestra are combing through the possibilities and have narrowed our selection down to a few different movies.

Sebrina, please start off by telling me a bit more about this concert. Is the Symphony playing select numbers from the movie or will the Symphony be playing the score while the movie is playing in the background?

The South Florida Symphony Orchestra and the Broward Center are co-presenting this fabulous concert. The movie will be shown on a big screen and the Symphony will play the music that is in the movie. Which is basically the whole time.

Has this been a challenging score to work with?

This is an interesting question. With these movies, there is a click track where the tempos click through the movie which will be with me as I conduct on a small monitor. I will wear an ear piece. There are often opportunities that the orchestra have the ear piece as well, but I chose not to use that. There are so many things going on in the orchestra as we perform, and having a constant click going on in their ear I think would be disruptive to them. It will prevent them from listening to each other, feeling each other, and creating a cohesive sound. It is hard enough that I will have to wear this click track. I will have to breathe the movie. It takes the spontaneity and the individuality of the orchestra. So, it is a new experience for most of us. To make this concert successful and enjoyable, we have to be with the movie. With only me having the ear piece, the orchestra can bond, and we can all move together. Not alone with a clicker.

What can audiences expect and what do you hope they take away from this concert?

Audiences who are fans of Tim Burton movies will experience this fun movie with live music moving exactly with the songs. It is better than surround sound!

Is this the first time the Symphony has done a Disney in concert?

This is a first for the Symphony and the first time co-presenting with the Broward Center.

Do you plan to do more in the future?

Why did you choose to do The Nightmare Before Christmas?

We really wanted to have a holiday concert and The Nightmare Before Christmas seemed like such a perfect choice. If you look up the selections available to orchestras, The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the most performed throughout the country and Europe.

For more on this article, go to www.OutClique.com

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.SouthFloridaSymphonyOrchestra.org or www.BrowardCenter.org 54 | OutClique.com

DAVID DOUGLAS SPA OPEN HOUSE

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LADY SINGS THE TRUTH:

AN INTERVIEW WITH LADY BUNNY

By Gregg Shapiro

A

living legend in her own time, Lady Bunny is one accomplished drag diva. A performer known as much for her deadon parody lyrics as she is for her big, blonde bouffant, long lashes and short dresses, Lady Bunny is a laugh riot. Co-creator of the annual drag festival Wigstock, which was revived in 2018 after going on hiatus, Lady Bunny is a true drag ambassador. She’s also a smart cookie, politically active, and vocal at a time when we need her voice more than ever. I spoke with Lady Bunny during that scary period between Halloween and the midterm elections.

Lady Bunny performs January 4, 2019 at 9:30PM, and January 6, 2019 at 9:00PM. Gregg Shapiro: Lady Bunny, this interview is taking place during Halloween season. Do you have a favorite Halloween costume from your childhood?

Lady Bunny: Yes! When I was 10 or 11, I found a matronly, thrift shop wig, and got in drag with heels and all. My best friend went as "my husband" in a suit. No one said a word and this was back in the 1960s!

GS LB

How did you cultivate your signature look?

I grew up in the 1960s and never lost my taste for the big hair worn back then. I would often sketch Marlo Thomas in That Girl and focus on her gorgeous flip. She also wore custom mink eyelashes, and lashes are a big part of my look. But mine aren't mink, they're rat fur and I make them myself [laughs]. You show off what you can, so I often wear mini-dresses to showcase the legs.

GS

In addition to your blonde locks and short frocks, you are known for your humorous song lyrics. Please say something

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about your process for writing parody lyrics.

LB

I DJ as well, and that makes me aware of the hit songs which register with everyone, like “Uptown Funk.” Why parody it unless audiences know the original song? I hum along to these songs quite often while I DJ, and sometimes crazy (and often dirty) lyrics pop into my head. I also work with a comedy writer named Beryl Mendelbaum, who hails from Boca.

GS

Please say a few words about how you see the evolution of drag and your place in the history of the genre.

LB

[Laughs] I don't think this can be answered in a few words, so I'll just say that I put several wigs on my head and proclaimed, "I'm Lady Bunny" and they believed me. And thankfully, still hire me. When you get what you want, you can't complain. I wanted a career in drag and I haven't worked a day job since the 80s.

For more on this article, go to www.OutClique.com

THE SOUND OF MUSIC’S NICK CARROLL

By Denny Patterson

T

he hills are alive and they are coming to South Florida. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved classic The Sound of Music will be performed at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts on Sunday, December 30, 2018 for a one-night-only engagement. Maria and the Von Trapp family will once again thrill audiences in this brand new production that the Los Angeles Times has called, “Sparkling, fresh, and lively.” I had the pleasure of chatting with Nick Carroll, one of the show’s swings. A native of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Carroll has been working as a professional actor for the past couple of years for off-Broadway shows and Disney cruise ships. Some of his more notable regional roles include Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical, the Baker in Into the Woods, and Lurch in The Addams Family.

So, tell me, what made you want to audition for The Sound of Music?

I have been a professional actor living in New York for about four years now, and I worked at some regional theatres around the country and some cruise ships as well. The Sound of Music is a show I really enjoy and love and it was an exciting opportunity because I have never been in a national tour before.

Wow, your first national tour? That is exciting!

Is this your first time ever performing in The Sound of Music?

No, I did The Sound of Music in high school when I was a junior. I played the Captain.

Where did your passion for acting come from?

I did my first show when I was around 8-years-old with Missoula Children’s Theatre, a company that sends out two professional actors in a van with all the set pieces and costumes and they will come to your town and hold auditions for a show on Monday and the show will be performed on Saturday. So, you do 68 | OutClique.com

a show in a week. They get a lot of local kids involved and that is where I started performing.

Then there is this theatre in my hometown that I started working with throughout middle school and high school. Since I am from a very small town, I found every theatre and singing opportunity that I could. I would sing in church, sing in school, sing the National Anthem, perform in choirs, and I took every opportunity I could to sing and perform. I decided this is what I wanted to pursue for a career, so I went to college and studied musical theatre and now I am a working actor.

What can audiences expect from this tour?

This national tour is super exciting. It is a brand new national tour and it’s been on the road for a couple of years now. A brand new production with new sets, costumes, lighting, performers, it was made specifically for the road and to be experienced by new audiences.

I think a lot of people know the movie super well, but they may not necessarily know the stage show which is a little bit different. It’s still the same story that we love with the super classic, beautiful songs. To me, live shows are always much more exciting than watching a movie because there is a different kind of connection with the actors. This show is so exciting and there is a lot to look forward to. It’s a show for the whole family.

The Sound of Music originally started with our grandparents then they passed it onto their kids. I remember watching The Sound of Music with my parents and it’s just a fun story for the whole family.

What do you personally hope to take away from this experience?

Like I said, being a swing is a new skill for me, so I would like to keep that special sort of brain power. I also look forward to seeing the country and being a part of this national tour.

It’s going to be a great time.

Swan Jeanne Lake Robertson

RE-IMAGINED WESTIN FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH SHINES

By Steve Pike

L

ocated in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront, the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort’s multi-million-dollar renovation has transformed the 432-room property from just another hotel to one of the jewels of the South Florida beach scene.

“The transformation over the past year has been amazing,’’ said hotel General Manager Danny Estevez.

Indeed. From dark and a bit outdated to bright and lively, each of the 432 renovated guest rooms at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort features modern and crisp decor that reflects the blue waters of Fort Lauderdale Beach, new pieces of artwork, upgraded lighting and furniture, new bedding and updated flooring.

Guest suites each have floor to ceiling windows.

The three new video walls around the lobby area help launch the guest experience, which also includes a lively 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space overlooking the beach and intracoastal, and Lona Cocina, the outstanding Mexican restaurant created

by Chef Pablo Salas that has gathered rave reviews since it opened this past January.

Lona Cocina will be one of the participating restaurants in the Drag Brunch, in collaboration with PRIDE Fort Lauderdale, on February 23, 2019, at the nearby RitzCarlton, Fort Lauderdale during the South

Beach Wine & Food Festival.

“The renovation of our rooms and suites, along with the launch of Lona Cocina, takes our resort to the next level and we’re ready to welcome guests from around the world, and around the corner,’’ Estevez said.

Lona Cocina certainly is an inviting place to begin the experience, for guests and locals, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort.

Lona Cocina is a menu with a more standard take on Mexican cuisine. For example, you won’t see burritos and refried beans, but will get Salas’ versions of guacamole, tacos, fajitas and enchiladas. The Tacos Al Carbon are a must-have. If you’re into seafood, don’t pass on the Salmon Mole.

“Basically, Pablo started cooking for his family,’’ said Jeffrey Merritt, assistant general manager at Lona Cocina. “That’s why he does what he does.’’

Lona Cocina features weekly specials such as Taco Tuesday and a Bottomless Beachside Brunch on Sunday. It’s outside patio is a great spot for lunch and for views of the beach.

“We want people to come here just to enjoy themselves and enjoy the beach,’’ Merritt said. “So far everything has been great.’’

OutClique.com | 75

Genesis Health Institute is excited to introduce Halo! Restore the glow that sun, time, and stress have depleted from your skin.

Get that Halo glow!

I

t’s tough out there . . . have you noticed?

You’re competing with a younger crowd these days. If you walk in looking and feeling younger, you’ll regain that competitive edge. With Sciton’s Halo, change the game and get smoother, fresher skin.

What happens during the treatment? You

Over time, your skin can really take a beating due to sun exposure and the aging process. As a result, your face gets sun spots, fine lines, and can lose that healthy look. Previous lasers couldn’t effectively remove this damage, but Halo combines deep dermal revitalization with epidermal renewal.

Can I return to normal activities after treatment? Absolutely. For the first 24 hours

Minimal Downtime

Look great without the wait. Halo’s unique hybrid technology gets the job done without the painful, long recovery times from many other laser treatments.

Comfortable

Halo isn’t harsh like many other treatments. A topical anesthetic is all most patients need to experience very little discomfort.

Get the Halo Advantage

First impressions are critical at work and at play. So, stop worrying about how old you look and do something about it. Halo precisely targets years of skin damage and the visible signs of aging.

What results can I expect? You will see improvements in overall tone and texture in addition to significant removal of discoloration, improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduced pore size, skin reflectivity, and glow.

will feel minimal to no discomfort. We place a topical ointment on your skin to reduce the sensation during treatment. We treat a section of your face at a time by rolling the Halo hand piece in a crisscross pattern.

you should keep your skin protected according to instructions. After that, your skin will begin to peel and are able to go about your normal activities.

When will I see results? You will see initial results between day 2 and 5 after your Halo treatment, but your skin will continue to improve over time. Most patients see the greatest improvement in the first 2 - 3 weeks.

How long will my results last? Your Halo

results can last for years to come, as long as you continue to keep your new healthy skin protected at all times using UV sunscreen.

Genesis Health Institute is South Florida’s “Premiere” full service anti-aging center with 11 years of service in Wilton Manors.

Providing quality healthcare and expertise, we pride ourselves in offering the community a caring, hospitable, and affordable concierge based medical practice. Dr. Cabrera, owner and Medical Director of the Genesis Health Institute, is certified by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Our mission is to provide state of the art medical, therapeutic, and aesthetic treatments to optimize not only quantity, but, most importantly, quality of life!

Genesis Health Institute is located at 1001 Northeast 26 Street, Wilton Manors (next to Starbucks at 5-Points) and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Please call (954) 561-3175 to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss their varied therapies and treatments or check out their website at www.GHInstitute.com for additional information.

76 | OutClique.com

SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PORGY & BESS RECEPTION

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TASTES OF TUSCANY

LUCCA AT BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB

By Steve Pike

A

dam Pile is living proof that you don’t have to be Italian to know how to create outstanding Italian dishes.

Fortunately Pile, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Academy of Culinary Arts, is a fast study. So much so, that for the past seven years he’s been executive chef at Lucca, the great Italian restaurant at Boca Raton Resort & Club.

“When I first got here to Lucca, it was a big learning curve,’’ said Pile, who has held various culinary positions over his 14 years at the famed resort, including Sous Chef at 501 and Sous Chef at Lucca. “I really hit the books and learned about (Italian cuisine) culture and originality. I learned about each region in Italy and their different cooking styles. A lot of the history of Italian food is ‘peasant’ food that now is breaking edge cuisine. To me, that’s fascinating.’’ All of that learning and talent pays off in big ways at Lucca, one of more than eight restaurants and lounges open to Boca Raton Resort & Club members and resort guests.

Lucca offers classic Tuscan cuisine in a setting that includes hand-blown Murano chandeliers and an open-arched kitchen. The service is first class, but one expects nothing less from the resort, a Waldorf Astoria property that has been one of South Florida’s more storied addresses for decades.

Where to begin? Start with the Ragu E Polenta that’s slowly cooked in Lucca’s wood oven and served for sharing. “Simple Italian comfort food that makes you feel good,’’ Pile said.

Don’t miss the antipasti cart that goes table to table serving an ever-changing variety of prosciutto hams and cheeses. The truffle cheese, by the way, is a must have off the

cart. “It’s kind of interactive and the guests love it,’’ said Pile.

The Mediterranean Octopus is another great choice off the antipasti menu, as are the Meatballs Al Forno. A must have entrée? No doubt the Bistecca (Creekstone Farms black angus NY strip, bone marrow butter, aged balsamic and parmigiano-sage potatoes). The steak is perfectly prepared and the butter adds to the flavor.

Equally as outstanding is the Cotoletta Di Vitello Alla Parmigiana, which features a 14-ounce veal chop, melted scamorza and fontina cheeses, pomodoro and basil. The breaded, bone-in veal chop is pounded out to nearly the size of the plate.

Of course, Lucca has several pasta dishes on its menu. If you have trouble selecting, go with the Lobster Scampi with linguine, marinated cherry tomatoes, lemon, basil, and calabrian chile. They’re a great combination of flavors.

“We’re making nearly 90 percent of our pasta in-house,’’ Pile said. “By [winter] season, it should be 100 percent.’’ Pile is currently prepping Lucca’s menu for the winter season. “I’m always looking for new ideas to bring to the restaurant,’’ he said.

“That’s part of being a good chef, you’re constantly evolving.’’

OutClique.com | 83

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BEING HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE

By Dr. Beau A. Nelson, DBH, LCSW.

T

here is a saying that I use almost every day in my work (and for me personally) which says, “life is a journey, not a destination.” There are so many pressures for us to become what we need to be to be happy.

We want this job, we want this house, we want this money in our account, we want this relationship, and all that, and only then will I be happy. The problem usually arises that once we get to that place, then we dangle another carrot in front of us and we are off to the races again. A moving target is very hard to get.

I remember many years ago when I got my first full-time job (this was so long ago). I was making money and I was so happy, I had never in my life made that much money. All was good with the world and I could not have been happier. Less than a year into that job I was already plotting for a raise. Seems that starting salary I was so happy with didn’t satisfy for long. I did not realize it at the time, but I jumped on a hamster wheel of money answering all my needs, and I could not get enough. Funny, we human beings do that a lot, don’t we? We seem to never get enough 86 | OutClique.com

of what we want, and we just want more.

There is a reason we do this, and it is actually chemical. When we think getting something is good, we release a chemical in our brains and it makes us want to keep getting that “high” from that chemical.

We do not realize it, but we control more of how we feel than we may recognize. Whether it is feeling accomplished, successful, safe, or rewarded, we set up in our minds what it takes to be happy. The longer the list, the more that we must have, the unhappier we are, and at the same time the more desperate to go get something to make us okay. I was watching the news one morning with the big lottery totals and the unclaimed money. The anchor stated that the odds of winning were very small. He said that statistically speaking, you have more of a chance of getting sainthood than winning the lottery. I thought, how strange, with such bad odds why do so many rush to get as many tickets as they can, and the answer is because there is a chance we could win – just the hope that we could win, makes us try.

That shows the power of our mind to influence our feelings and our overall happiness. I am always reminded of the Buddhist teaching that all suffering comes from attachments.

Attachments are all those things I started off with, the job, the car, the relationship and all that. The more things that we must have to be happy, in the end, the more we suffer.

So how to change this? It starts in our thinking.

We have to slow down. Life doesn’t happen to us, we can be deliberate in how we live it. But when we are so caught up in the next IPhone or meeting Mr. or Ms. Right, we do not think, we just go. Try and stop for a minute and think about all those drawers and boxes of treasures from yesterday that we thought would make us so happy, they are in the back of a drawer or in a box and we never look at it (usually

until we move). We accumulate so much stuff, but does any of it really bring happiness? No. Happiness comes from within. Start to accept what you have, start to see what you REALLY need to make you happy. When you cut all the extra stuff away, it may take a lot less than you think to make you happy. So, try putting your phone down, slow down, think about what you really need, and start to appreciate what you already have. When can that be enough?

If you can ever reach to having enough, you might find you were happier than before, and just getting off that hamster wheel feels good.

There are still things to work for, but there is a difference in withholding happiness from yourself until you get there, or just working toward something and being happy in the process. Give it a try!

Dr. Nelson is the Clinical Director for The Florida House Experience, an innovative integrated behavioral treatment facility in Deerfield Beach. He has been a mental health professional for 20 years and continues to work with substance abuse, dual diagnosis and mental health clients and helping clients develop their skills for finding happiness and better ways to be their best self.

YOUR PROPERTY & YOU Our office receives numerous calls every year asking us to confirm property tax exemptions on the recent tax bills. The Property Appraiser’s Office does not set your tax rates or collect property taxes. We assess property for tax purposes and grant tax-saving exemptions to qualified individuals. The property tax bills are mailed by the Broward County Tax Collector’s Office each year to more than 455,000 property owners.

All qualified Florida residents are entitled to a Homestead Exemption on their homes, condominiums, co-op apartments, and certain mobile home lots. To qualify for Homestead Exemption, you must own and make the property your permanent residence on January 1 of the year in which you are applying for this valuable exemption. Pursuant to Florida Statute, all assessments and exemptions are based upon the status of the property on January 1. If you purchased and/or made the property your permanent residence in 2018 and have not applied for Homestead Exemption, you can apply for 2019 exemptions at any time – there is no need to wait until 2019. You can easily apply online at www.BCPA.net or at one of our many outreach events.

NEW HOME PURCHASE IN 2018 If you purchased your home in 2018, the tax bill you received from the Broward County Tax Collector’s Office was for the 2018 tax year.

If the previous owners of your new home were entitled to and received Homestead Exemption or any other exemption on January 1, 2018, you may have inherited their exemptions on your 2018 property tax bill. Florida Statutes require these exemptions be removed for 2019 and the Save Our Homes Value be brought up to the

2019 Just Value. This will often result in an increase in your 2019 property taxes, so it is important you apply for 2019 Homestead Exemption and any other exemptions you may qualify for. Your new 2019 Homestead Exemption will be reflected next year on all 2019 property records, notices, and tax bills.

Should you have any questions regarding your new exemption, please contact our Customer Service & Exemption Department at (954) 357-6830.

The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Community Outreach Department is at The Pride Center at Equality Park (2040 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, FL 33305) on the second Tuesday of each month between 10:00AM and noon/12:00PM to assist residents with exemptions and other property related matters.

If my office can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me 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 88 | OutClique.com

ONE OF THE GREAT BELIEVERS

An Interview with Writer Rebecca Makkai

By Gregg Shapiro

If you’ve been waiting for the arrival of the best book of 2018, look no further than The Great Believers (Viking, 2018), the new novel

by Rebecca Makkai. Named as a National Book Award finalist in October 2018, starred reviews in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers’ Weekly, as well as an A- review in Entertainment Weekly, are not exaggerations. Makkai’s dazzling epic about the AIDS epidemic and its impact on a group of friends in Chicago during the 1980s is insightful, sensitive, revelatory, and nothing short of a tearjerker. I had the privilege of speaking with Rebecca on the publication date of The Great Believers.

Gregg Shapiro: The subject of AIDS has recently made a return to the cultural zeitgeist. In addition to The Great Believers, there is Tim Murphy’s 2016 novel Christodora, Kenny Fries’ 2017 memoir In the Province of the Gods, and an essay in the new David Sedaris book Calypso. It’s back onstage in the Broadway revival of Angels in America as well as on TV in Ryan Murphy’s new FX series Pose. Why do you think that is?

Rebecca Makkai: As much as I think it’s amazing that all this stuff is out there, I am much more interested in why there isn’t more of it. Where are the books about AIDS? This is one of the major events of the 20th century.

We should be talking about this in school to the extent that we talk about World War II. It’s cool that these things are out there, but when I hear people say, “There’s so much stuff right now," [I think] there should be 85 times more. I was shocked, setting out to research this book, and specifically AIDS in Chicago, finding next to nothing about the AIDS crisis in Chicago. Not a single big book of non-fiction about it. It’s not even in the index of a lot of the big trade book [publishers] about AIDS, such as [David France’s] How to Survive a 90 | OutClique.com

Plague. Chicago’s not even in the index.

GS

In terms of the book’s timeframe, The Great Believers is told in alternating chapters. Were all of the ’80s/’90s chapters written at once. The same with the 2015 chapters?

RM

I could say neither or both. I was initially writing about the ‘80s, writing Yale’s story. I got about 150 pages in with just that when I realized that the story needed broadening. At that point, I wanted another character, another point of view.

I also wanted another time frame. I spent some time figuring out what that would be.

Ultimately, I went back into the manuscript and found Fiona who had really been a minor character until that point. I decided that she would be my voice for the other chapters. I went back and wrote her first few sections, weaving them into the story, breaking Yale into chapters as I did that. Once they were caught up to each other, I wrote forward in alternating chapters.

For more on this article, go to www.OutClique.com

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS FROM BBB Rod Davis CEO BBB Serving Southeast FL and the Caribbean

T

he holiday shopping season is upon us, and if you are like me, and your family and loved ones are scattered across the country, shopping can be a little more complicated. According to a study conducted

by Deloitte, 57% of holiday shopping this year will be done online so we are not alone.

With the rise of online shopping, there has also been an increase in scams and thefts.

The bad guys see the holidays as a great opportunity for them. The pressure to find that perfect gift at the best price can be a lure to try out an unknown website. The increased volume of packages delivered to homes sitting unprotected on a doorstep, and the confusion of keeping track of all purchases provide fertile ground for thieves to acquire the gift you sent to your uncle or using phishing scams to obtain your credit card information to shop on your dime. Consumers aren’t only losing money. they’re losing sensitive personal information, too.

BBB encourages you to take the following steps to protect yourself from online sales

swindlers and package delivery thieves.

SHOP WITH TRUSTWORTHY BUSINESSES: This simple step is one that many consumers fail to do. Especially if you’re buying from an online store, a well put together website can create a false sense of security. Dig a little deeper before you “add to cart!” Check the seller’s reputation at BBB.org and other sites to ensure that the company is established and trustworthy, and pay special attention to customer reviews and complaints. Last year our BBB received over 400 complaints in a month about a business selling hoverboards.

Unfortunately, while this start-up had good intentions, they were overwhelmed by the demand, had significant product problems that escalated into very poor customer service, and an inability to deliver products in time for Christmas. BBB posted an alert on this website to help educate consumers and by taking time to check out the business, you can avoid having to use the dog ate my present excuse.

Complaints about products or timely delivery are OutClique.com | 93

compounded if a business has poor customer service. Every business will have complaints, but how they respond and work with customers is important all the time, but especially during the peak holiday gift buying season.

USE A CREDIT CARD: Here’s an age old tip, use a credit card rather than any other form of payment, like a gift card or even a debit card. Why? Credit card companies can offer assistance if the business fails to deliver.

DOUBLE CHECK THE SECURITY AND LEGITIMACY OF WEBSITES: Scammers set up look-alike sites to get your personal information. Double check the website and spelling to makes sure that if you are planning to purchase from Brandsmart. com that you are not on Brandmart.com.

Additionally, check to make sure the site is secure, its URL (web address) should start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase or shopping cart page, before entering your credit card information. Don’t make it easy for scammers to obtain your financial information.

CONSIDER INSURANCE: For the big, expensive stuff, insurance may actually be worth the extra few dollars. Make sure it covers both loss of and damage to any merchandise that you have purchased for delivery.

SEND PACKAGES ELSEWHERE: Like to your place of work, if they’ll allow it.

Especially if you know that you can’t be home around the time packages get delivered. Or, ask a friend or neighbor who you know is often home during hours of delivery if you can get your packages sent to their residence so that they can bring the package inside for safekeeping. The same is true for packages you are sending directly to others. Find out if they can receive packages at work, and if so,

send directly to their work to limit theft.

KEEP TRACK: When you’re buying gifts for everyone on your list, it can be easy to forget about items that you ordered. It’s always a good idea to sign up for text messages or email alerts from the company that will notify you of shipment delays or alert you when your package has been shipped. I keep these in my holiday gift folder and cross them off as they are received or delivered. It is also good to shop early enough to avoid last minute shipping which can be both costly, and depending on the weather to the north, might not arrive in time for the holidays. Make sure you know the delivery options when making your purchase and allow enough time for the gift to arrive on time.

REQUEST A SIGNATURE: Chances are this feature may come with a price tag, but it may be worth the extra fee.

Requesting a signature means that a delivery service won’t be able to drop a package on the doorstep unless someone is around to sign for it. After a couple of attempts, they will usually hold the package for pick up at a designated location.

BE WARY OF RANDOM EMAILS: Scammers know people are shopping and often try to spoof major businesses like Amazon in an attempt to obtain your personal information.

These scammers know millions of consumers are shopping online and chances are good that you will have made a purchase from one of the most popular sites. Don’t fall for emails that attempt to get you to enter your personal information or financial information. If you have already made a purchase, the business already has the information they need for your delivery.

Instead of clicking on a potentially malicious link or entering information again, contact the business directly if you have any questions about your purchases and delivery using the email/ information you received at the time of purchase.

Whether you’re just getting started shopping, or you’re patiently waiting on shipping, make sure you play it safe and know the red flags of a scam. Keep up with delivery scams in your area and alert your community if you encounter any at www.bbb.org/scamtracker.

Find businesses you can trust to do your online shopping with, in any category at www.bbb.org/ask!

94 | OutClique.com

FORT LAUDEDALE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FORT LAUDERDALE COUNTRY CLUB

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ALWAYS BUBBLY

AN INTERVIEW WITH EVELYN “CHAMPAGNE” KING

By Gregg Shapiro

M

ore than 40 years into her music, Evelyn “Champagne” King has lost none of her effervescence. Perhaps best known for the 1977 dance music classic “Shame,” the single was released just a year before disco music reached its peak with commercial crossover acts including the Village People, Chic and Donna Summer, and others. These days King continues to be one of the genres most active and visible performers.

Whether recording and performing on her own, or touring as one of the First Ladies of Disco with Linda Clifford and Martha Wash, King’s crown shines as bright as ever. King joins other disco divas, including Thelma Houston, Musique, Yvonne Elliman, Rose Royce and France Joli, on the inaugural Ultimate Disco Cruise (www.UltimateDiscoCruise.com), sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico, from February 14-19, 2019.

King was kind enough to take a break from her busy schedule to answer a few questions.

Gregg Shapiro: Evelyn, for the uninitiated, can you please explain where the “Champagne” in your name comes from?

Evelyn “Champagne” King: “Champagne” came from Bubbles which is my family nickname.

My mom gave it to me as a baby. She says I used to blow a lot of spit bubbles [laughs].

Bubbles was already there; “Champagne” was added when I was starting in the music business. They were trying to figure out a name to go with Evelyn King. Mom and dad, and (Theodore) T. Life, who discovered me, decided “Champagne” sounds more fitting. Because Bubbles sounds like a stripper [laughs].

GS

After many years of being relegated to the underground, and being kept alive by the gay community, dance music has undergone a huge resurgence in popularity. As a dance music legend, what does that mean 96 | OutClique.com

to you?

ECK

I can honestly say that for me, it never really left. It’s just now it’s coming back full-circle. They’re learning about where it started. It means a lot. There’s more than just Evelyn. There were so many before me. We’ve lost quite a few of them already – Vickie Sue Robinson, Donna Summer. The icons that started disco. My producer who discovered me said, “I never recorded a disco artist. You are a dance artist.” He considered “Shame” to be dance, not disco. It was just (released) around the disco era.

GS

You mentioned your gay fans. Was “Shame” when you first become aware of your gay following?

ECK

Yes, that was the first song for me that went gold. They recognized the lyrics as well as the music. The writers made sure that it was a song that could be sung as well as a song to dance to. That made it successful.

GS ECK

There was a message in the song.

Yes! Everybody needs love, first of all. The main hook, “Mama just don’t understand/Oh how I love my man” – they were singing the heck out of it [laughs].

Wherever I go to perform, and they’re in the audience, their singing it to the hilt; they have something they can identify with. There’s a personal experience in the song.

GS ECK

Who are some of your music idols?

My other male idol is Sam Cooke. My female idols are Linda Jones, who sang the song “Hypnotized,” and Chaka Khan.

THE CHANCE TO DANCE WITH FRANCE AN INTERVIEW WITH DISCO DIVA FRANCE JOLI

By Gregg Shapiro

When it comes to the classic disco tracks of the late 1970s, few pack the wallop of “Come to Me” by France Joli. A mere 16 years old when the song was a hit, staying in the number one position for three weeks on Billboard Magazine’s Hot Dance Club Play chart in the autumn of 1979, Joli is a disco diva of the highest order, taking her place among greats such as Sylvester, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Cheryl Lynn and, of course, Evelyn “Champagne” King.

F

rom February 14-19, 2019, Joli will be one of the legendary disco performers setting sail from Fort Lauderdale, with stops in Key West and Cozumel, on the inaugural Ultimate Disco Cruise (UltimateDiscoCruise.com). Other performers include Thelma Houston, Musique, Yvonne Elliman, and Rose Royce, among others.

However, few have maintained their icon status among LGBTQ folks the way Joli has, returning to perform on Fire Island on a regular basis. I had the pleasure of speaking with France shortly before the cruise set sail.

Gregg Shapiro: In February 2019, you are going to be performing on the inaugural Ultimate Disco Cruise, sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and back. What can your fans expect from your set on the cruise?

France Joli: From my set you can expect, of course, the classics that I’ve been singing for 40 year now [laughs]. Also, I do a disco medley of great songs that we danced to when we were young. It’s about a 10-minute disco medley of all the big hits. I get pretty close to the originals. It goes really fast from one song to another to give listeners a glimpse of the hits. It’s high energy and intense.

98 | OutClique.com

GS

Among the other artists performing on the Ultimate Disco Cruise are fellow Prelude Records label-mates Musique.

When you perform at an event such as this cruise, with other artists from the classic disco era, does it feel like a family reunion?

FJ

Absolutely! There’s such respect towards all the artists. We participated in an era that was very specific.

The `70s were something very special. We are part of an era where the music was real.

Real musicians and real strings and horns.

The production was complicated in the music aspect of it. Right after the disco era came all of the electronic music. We’re at the end of that phase where the music was organic. There’s a respect for that music and we all have the same feeling for that era. It is a family, you’re absolutely right. It’s a big family.

GS FJ

How often do you return to Fire Island to perform?

I was there about two years ago. I think I’m there every two or three years. I get an invitation to either do a special event or a club night.

WHAT MAKES US CLIQUE

JASON SHERVINSKI

By Andy Armano

Photos by Andy Armano

This series focuses on individuals who give to our community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Often it is through our personal adversities that we discover who we are and transform the challenges into strength.

J

ason Shervinski is the first in our series.

He started the South Florida chapter of the Varsity Gay League. Now in its third season of dodgeball and kickball, Varsity Gay League has enjoyed rapid growth with over 150 participants and growing. Jason endured significant challenges growing up gay, but has transformed himself into a man who builds community and connections within our community. In fact, he frequently talks about the importance of having community, a support network, and how gay sports is a wonderful way to make new friends, build community, and strengthen our collective self-esteem. Jason lives in Wilton Manors with his partner of five years, Michael Toumayan.

From a small town traumatic outing to discovering a sense of belonging and community in young adulthood.

I am 34 years old, so I grew up in the 90’s in a little town in PA called Shamokin. The 100 | OutClique.com

town had a population of only 9,000 and my graduating class consisted of 143 students.

And, everybody knew everybody. In the summer before 10th grade, I came out to an ex-girlfriend.

When I got to school the first day, everyone knew. Everyone looked at me differently. I was called names. I guess it was the typical 90’s, “I came out in high school” story. I tried the AV club and I tried sports. I joined cross country track and swimming. But I felt like it never worked because it was awkward being in the locker room with guys thinking I was looking at them, which I wasn’t.

I moved out at 18 and went to college in Bloomsburg, PA. That’s where I really found my voice. My freshman year I joined a fraternity called Delta Kappa Epsilon. I am a brother of a wonderful fraternity that’s lasted a lifetime.

I am still friends with my brothers to this day.

We look out for each other. This experience with the fraternity was what I was looking for: the sense of community. This experience really set me on my way for my life.

Finding the LGBT community I left college early and moved to Philadelphia and that is where I found my first real LGBT community. When you walked through the door of the club, it didn’t matter if you were transgender, gay, straight, whatever, you were accepted. That was a tough time socially.

It was before gay marriage and we were still fighting for some basic rights, so being accepted was so important to me.

In 2008, the market turned and I decided to move to DC, because of the federal jobs that weren’t affected. In DC, I found Stonewall Sports. It was life changing for me. It brought so much fun into my life and it brought me back to sports. And I made some of my best friends to this day playing kickball in DC. Over the years, I have been going to this tournament called Sin City Showdown.

There are 18 different sports from softball to swimming to bridge. My role has evolved from player to city leader to division leader for the kickball tournament. I like the national tournaments because they offer something our local kickball does not.

Starting the league and building the community in Fort Lauderdale

My partner and I moved to South Florida in May 2017 and knew no one. What made it easier for me in the beginning to find my way was the sporting activities. Since there were not any kickball or dodgeball teams here, I reached out to my friend, Will Hackner, who is the head of the local Varsity Gay League and I started the leagues here. You don’t have to have sports ability. You will always still be accepted. All you have to do is show up. I try to talk to every player and let them know I am here for them.

It’s been a learning curve to work with so many personalities. My two most basic ground rules are, one if you come to the field intoxicated, you’re not playing. And two, if you bully, you are out of the league. There is a no tolerance policy for bullying and it’s grounds for termination. We have all been bullied in the past, so we should lift each other up, not tear each other down.

I am not going to deny that there weren’t dark days when that all happened back in high school. I was the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. There were suicide attempts.

I felt alone. There was nobody to fall back on and no gay community. So, I was on my own, but it made me a stronger person. The trials and tribulations made me realize that having a sense of community and a safety net is huge and makes the biggest difference.

On inclusivity The league is very inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The average age for the league is 45. Next season, my goal is to prioritize outreach to the transgender community.

Although I am the General Manager of the league and I identify as a white cisgender gay man, it’s important for me that the leadership reflects the richness and racial diversity of our league members. That’s why we have two league managers, Kenneth Guerrero and Harley Garza, who are both Latinx.

OutClique.com | 101

INTERNATINAL FILM FESTIVAL OPENING EVENT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO

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TASTE OF THE ISLAND

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MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY OPENING NIGHT

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WHO TO CALL ACCOUNTING

Coss Bookkeeping & Accounting (754) 666-1288 www.CossBookkeeping.com R3 Accounting (954) 202-9770 www.R3Accounting.com Schultz Tax & Financial Services (954) 300-3829 www.SchultzTFS.com Sterling Accounting (954) 667-9829 www.SterlingAccounting.com

ART GALLERIES & CUSTOM FRAMING

Art Frenzie www.Facebook.com/ArtFrenzie ArtFrenzie@gmail.com 954-560-3684

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, & ACTIVITIES

Atchugarry Art Center (631) 565-1671 www.AtchugarryArtCenter.com

Aventura Arts & Cultural Center (877) 311-7469 www.AventuraCenter.org Bonnet House Museum & Gardens (954) 363-5393 www.BonnetHouse.org Broward Center for the Performing Arts (954) 462-0222 www.BrowardCenter.org Cannonball Bash www.CannonballBash.com

A Celebration of Friends, Inc. www.CelebrationOfFriends.org Club Fort Lauderdale (954) 525-3344 www.TheClubs.com

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Coral Springs Center for the Arts (954) 344-5990 www.TheCenterCS.com

Wick Theatre & Costume Museum (561) 995-2333 www.TheWick.org

Florida Grand Opera (800) 741-1010 www.FGO.org

World Pride www.NYCPride.org/2019

Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus (954) 832-0060 www.TheFtLGMC.org

Yello!

(954) 491-1591 www.YelloFL.com

ATTORNEYS & LAW OFFICES

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (954) 525-3456 www.FLiFF.com

Ken Keechl Law (954) 271-0667 www.KenKeechlLaw.com

Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida (954) 763-2266 www.GMCSF.org

Holman BMW of Fort Lauderdale Jimmy Crippen (954) 527-3800 www.LauderdaleBMW.com

Island City Stage (954) 519-2533 www.IslandCityStage.org Key West Business Guild (305) 294-4603 www.GayKeyWestFL.com

AUTO DEALERSHIPS

BARS & CLUBS

The Pub 2283 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 www.ThePubWM.com

BEACHES (GAY)

Museum of Science & Discovery (954) 467-6637 www.MODS.org

Haulover (Nude Beach) 10800 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33154

Parker Playhouse (954) 462-0222 www.ParkerPlayhouse.com

Sebastian Beach Near 1 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Slow Burn Theatre Company (954) 323-7884 www.SlowBurnTheatre.org South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble (954) 667-9228 www.PrideWindEnsemble.org South Florida Symphony Orchestra (954) 522-8445 www.SouthFloridaSymphony.org Stage Door Theatre (954) 344-7765 www.StageDoorFL.org

CAR WASHES

Majestic Car Wash (954) 568-9450 www.MajesticCarWashFlorida.com

CATERING

The Pink Sub (954) 566-2219 www.PinkSub.com

CHIROPRACTICS

Handcraft Chiropractic Daniel J. Lewis, D.C. 1234 NE 4th Ave, Ste #B Wilton Manors, FL 33304 (954) 507-9380

CHURCHES & SYNAGOGUES

GYMS & WORKOUT FACILITIES BodyTek (954) 661-6696 www.BodyTekFitness.com

Sunshine Cathedral (954) 462-2004 www.SunshineCathedral.org

Island Fitness 1512 Northeast 4 Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 995-1247

Holy Angels Catholic Church (954) 633-2987 www.HolyAngelsFL.net

United Church of Christ (954) 563-4271 www.UCCFTL.org

CONSUMER SERVICES

Better Business Bureau SEFlorida.App.BBB.org/Connect

DENTIST

Dental Associates of Boca Raton (Wilton Manors) (954) 440-7795 www.MyBocaSmile.com

DRY CLEANERS

Toni’s Cleaners (954) 489-9060 2654 E Oakland Park Blvd Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306

FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Northwestern Mutual Investments Services, LLC Linda Buccilli, CLTC (561) 445-2645 Linda.Buccilli@NM.com

FITNESS & NUTRITION

Ty Dorce (954) 815-6905 www.TheProgramByTy.com

FOR RENT

Contact us to list your rental

Outclique@gmail.com

GLASSES & EYEWEAR

Chic Optique (954) 567-3937 www.ChicOptique.net

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Sach Design Group (954) 647-3063 www.SachAdGroup.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

BeWell MedSpa (954) 530-5203 www.BeWellMedSpa.com Genesis Health Institute (954) 561-3175 www.GHInstitute.com

HIV & AIDS SERVICES

AIDS Health Foundation (AHF) (954) 767-0273 www.AIDSHealth.org

INSURANCE

We Insure (954) 903-7519 www.WeInsureFtLaud.com

JEWELERS

J R Dunn 4210 North Federal Highway Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 www.JRDunn.com LANDSCAPE PLANTS & DECOR Zensations Garden (954) 945-5858 www.ZensationsGarden.com

LAWN MAINTENANCE & DESIGN Landscape Solutions (954) 525-5855 www.LandscapeSolutionsFlorida.com

LODGING

The Big Coconut Guesthouse (954) 712-9600 www.TheBigCoconutGuesthouse.com

Equator Resort (305) 294-7775 www.EquatorResort.com The Grand Resort & Spa (954) 630-3000 www.GrandResort.net

Island House (305) 294-6284 www.IslandHouseKeyWest.com Perry Hotel Key West (305) 296-1717 www.PerryKeyWest.com Ramada Inn- Oakland Park (954) 565-4601 www.OaklandParkInn.com

MASSAGE & SPA SERVICES

David Douglas Spa (954) 566-0042 www.DavidDouglasSpa.com Green Jade Men's Spa 2301 Wilton Drive, Ste C-5 Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (754) 223-4905

Healing Hands Zerenity (954) 707-9918 www.HealingHandsByWill.com Massage by Gregg (954) 278-7477 www.MagicHands.

MassageTherapy.com MassageTouch@yahoo.com License #MA88867 Massages by Nikko 21 yrs Gymnastics & Body Builder Appointments Only (513) 616-0020 Spa Cabanas (954) 564-7764 www.TheCabanasGuesthouse.com

MEDICAL

Pronto Urgent Care (954) 909-5708 www.ProntoUC.com

MEDICARE PLANS

Crissy Insurance, Inc. (954) 290-1243 KCrissy@bellsouth.net

MUSICIANS

Cindy Curtis & Company Live Jazz Entertainment (954) 298-8158 www.MySpace.com/ CindyCurtisAndCompany Over 30 years performing in South Florida

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NAIL SALONS

www.WoodAndNailsLounge.com

WMBA (954) 358-4567 www.WiltonManors BusinessAssociation.com

NEW CONSTRUCTION HOMES 13th Floor Homes (954) 951-0513

Urban Vacation Homes (800) 957-1728

Wood & Nails (754) 200-4964

www.13thFloorHomes.com

ORIENTAL MEDICINE

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

REALTORS & BROKERS

J. Mark’s Restaurant & Bar 1245 North Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 390-0770 www.JMarksRestaurant.com Mangia Mangia 900 Southard Street Key West, FL 33040 www.Mangia-Mangia.com

Henri Frank Group ONE Sotheby’s International Realty (954) 604-9999 www.HenriFrank.com

Quates Mexican Restaurant 3701 North Andrews Avenue Oakland Park, FL 33309 (954) 635-2404 www.QuatesMexican.com

Looking for a date?

Contact us to get listed (G-rated ads only) OutClique@gmail.com

Kip Reynolds Atlantic Properties (954) 854-3048 www.KipReynolds.com

First Bank (954) 290-1243 KCrissy@FirstBankOnline.com

PET SITTING

Steve Margolis & Jason Katsoulis Re/Max Experience (954) 684-7888 www.AtHomeSoFlo.com

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

Dr. David Webb, DOM (954) 289-8901 www.DavidWebbDOM.com

PERSONALS

JC’s Pet Sitting Services Loving, reliable pet walking & care (954) 297-5336 PetNannyFTL@gmail.com

PODIATRIC MEDICINE

Dr. Vicram V. Thaker (954) 358-2363 www.954FootCare.com

PHARMACY

Ocean Chemist (954) 329-2690 www.OceanChemist.net

POOL SERVICES

The James Michael Team Robert (James) Graham (954) 837-3427 Michael Gagne (603) 630-0316 $$$ Save Thousands $$$ 4% COMMISSION TO LIST AND SELL- Michael Tublin United Realty Group (561) 703-5533 RENTAL/ROOM FOR RENT NEEDED

Skimmer Pools (954) 367-7007 www.SkimmersPools.com

Contact us if you’re looking to rent OutClique@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Anthony’s Pronto Pizza 656 North Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

GFLGLCC- Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce (954) 523-3500 www.GoGayFortLauderdale.com

RESTAURANTS

The Grille on the Drive 2000 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 530-3361 www.TheGrilleOTD.com

Want to get listed? Contact us!

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REVERSE MORTGAGES

SALONS & HAIR SERVICES

SOCIAL & OUTREACH

Latinos Salud (954) 765-6239 www.LatinosSalud.org

The Pride Center at Equality Park (954) 463-9005 www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

TATTOOS & PIERCINGS

Neptune’s Daughter Tattoo (954) 533-2506 2412 Wilton Dr Wilton Manors, FL 33305

TRAVEL SERVICES

Freedom Travel (954) 565-2345 www.BookFreedomTravel.com Source Events (305) 672-9779 www.SourceEvents.com Ultimate Disco Cruise (844) 296-3472 www.UltimateDiscoCruise.com

OutClique@gmail.com | 954-998-6429