OutClique Magazine June 2021

Volume 5, Issue 7 June 2021

Terry Dyer SunServe

CITY Furniture CEO Sean Conklin PBCHRC Up Close at the Arsht Center

WagPride FLoatarama Stonewall Pride

Steven O. Evans, PhD

Publisher and Editor in Chief Steven@OutClique.com

Arthur Wood III

Senior Associate Editor Arthur@OutClique.com

Connie Evans

Chief Copy Editor Mother of the Publisher

Coleman Crooks Assistant Editor

Sach AD Group

Director of Graphic Design

Chandler Scott

Director of Social Media Assistant to the Publisher

Chris Lodge

Director of Special Projects Assistant to the Publisher

Mike Ritzi Irv Scott

Sales Manager

Rivendell Media

National Advertising

Gregg Shapiro

Senior Entertainment Writer

Denny Patterson

Senior Lifestyle Writer

Contributing Writers

Andy Armano, Rod Davis, Fr. Jamie Forsythe, John M. Hayden, Marty Kiar, On Mekahel, Patrick Rogers, Eric Noel Roman, Cory Sanders, Fr. Rich Vitale

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

Pet Pride

By John Hayden | Photos Courtesy of WagPride

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n American Bulldog struts down Wilton Drive sporting a studded leather harness while a freshly washed poodle emerges wearing her new “Sunday Funday” t-shirt. There are plenty of places on “The Drive” for people to get a bite, a drink, and a little pampering. Now there’s a place for their fur babies to do the same. Welcome to WagPride.

rescues; a Shiba Inu mix named Sookie, Charlie is a Pitbull-Labrador mix, and Greyson is a Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix. After having dogs for 20 years, they wanted a place they would want to visit with their pets. “We’ve always had an ambition to do something we really have a passion for. We wanted to do something we would enjoy, but also do something good for the community, and for the dogs.”

The new pet boutique just opened at 2031A Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL, from the dream co-founders, Lee Ginsberg and Mark Winner. “WagPride is a new experience for Wilton Manors. It’s a pet boutique that caters toward pet people who love their animals,” Mark told OutClique. “We’re pet parents, and we’ve lived in the community for over four years. There’s nothing close that’s focused on the community like WagPride.”

WagPride is more than a place to pick up a bag of food and a quick treat. Will White is the Director of Procurement and gets to spend his days looking for unique, cool pet products. “We wanted the basics, but we also wanted stuff that would be unique, and stand out. Dog wine and dog beer, hello! Who doesn’t want to have a drink with their dog?” The pet drinks are nonalcoholic, but the fun is 100 proof.

Mark and Lee are currently pet parents to three

There is also a quiet, self-serve bath station in

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the back so you can get your pup fresh and clean without worrying about them getting spooked by loud noises or other pets coming and going.

WagPride also has cute clothes for cats and dogs. The type of fun shirt you could see on someone at brunch now comes in pet sizes.

Because they try to source locally, WagPride also has beds, dental products, and treats you won’t necessarily find at big-box pet stores. That’s part of their plan to not only be in the community, but also be part of the community. Lee says they’re here to be a member of this and, eventually, similar gay-friendly cities. “We’re certified diverse LGBTQ. We wanted to create not just this one store in Wilton Manors, but eventually a store that you could find in P’town, or Key West or Palm Springs.” The WagPride team comes from the information technology industry, but says their passion is with pets. Lee says they plan to work with local shelters to promote pet adoption and give to other cute and cuddly causes.

Because they’re local, Mark and Lee want every pet parent to know what they see in the store is something they would have in their own home.

“We really take pride in our dogs, they’re part of our family. We’re not going to have stuff in that store; food, toys, even grooming, that wouldn’t be something we wouldn’t give to our own dogs.”

You can find some of the pet products they’ve found by going to their website at WagPride.com.

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SunServe Gala

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media

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Take Pride

By Steven O. Evans, PhD Photo by Michael Murphy Photographic

In the month of June, we celebrate Pride. In what are all the things you take pride? Your career, relationship, home, car, physical body, spiritual self, education, friendships?

These are all the things that can make up our quality of life.

We are made for so much more than just to survive each life daily, but to enjoy all that we have been given and all that we have worked so hard for.

The world has changed so quickly in the last few weeks. Much of the pain and isolation from 2020 is disappearing and as we enter the second half of 2021, our future does look bright. Be excited for what is to come and what the universe will bring us.

So today, this month of June, be proud of who you are, what you have accomplished, and what goals you can set for your future.

Leave all your mistakes in the past. This is your year.

I want to thank everyone that has helped me and OutClique through the pandemic and into 2021. You are each loved and cherished friends. Three cheers for a bright future.

May happiness be abounding!1 Steven O, Evans, PhD Editor in Chief

Dr. Angela Easterday-Holder, former Chair and Professor of Music at Carson-Newman University.

1

Brian had his HIV under control with medication. But smoking with HIV caused him to have serious health problems, including a stroke, a blood clot in his lungs and surgery on an artery in his neck. Smoking makes living with HIV much worse. You can quit.

CALL 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

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HIV alone didn’t cause the clogged artery in my neck.

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Brian, age 45, California

Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media 12 | OutClique.com

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Register at tri-rail.com by July 7, 2021. *Certain restrictions apply.

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Your Vacation Starts Here Photo Credit: Eileen Escarda/Tri-Rail.com

T

his summer just might be the perfect time to take that long-awaited trip – and considering what the world has looked like over the past year or so, safe to say, we could all use a vacation right about now. So whether you have existing plans or you’re just starting to consider that next big trip, of course, many destinations involve air travel.

And many people don’t realize they have more options than ever when it comes to arriving at the airport. For example, have you ever tried the train? Tri-Rail might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Here are some options in more detail: 1. Get a ride from a friend or family member. If you have someone in your life who’s willing to give you a lift, awesome!

2. Go the ride-share route, or even call a traditional taxi. This can be pricey, especially during peak hours, but it’s still an option.

3. Park at the airport. Again, depending on where you park and the length of your stay, this might really add up, cost-wise, and take a toll on your wallet. But it’s certainly something people are known to do, and if you research off-site parking options, you might be able to find a reasonably priced lot that offers a shuttle to your airport, as well.

4. Take advantage of Tri-Rail.

Have you ever considered taking the train to the plane? All three South Florida airports are accessible via Tri-Rail: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. It’s easy and convenient.

You can expect: free parking at train stations, luggage racks on the trains, onboard WiFi, easy connections, real time train tracking using TriRail’s app. Fares are as low as $5, and weekends are a flat fee of $5 to ride all day. There are discounts available for seniors, students, big groups, children and people with disabilities.

Learn more here. You can even calculate your fare using this link, or view a map.

Follow Tri-Rail at Twitter.com/Tri_Rail and Facebook.com/TriRail.

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Celebrating 20 Years of Gay Luxury Travel Around the World

Full Moon Dreams of Tahiti Cruise September 16-23, 2021

Private Charter of Windstar’s Wind Spirit

Papeete - Moorea - Raiatea - Taha’a - Bora Bora - Huahine

Treasures of Egypt

Petra, Wadi Rum, and The Dead Sea

December 4-13, 2021

December 13-17, 2021

Cairo - Karnak - Nile River Cruise - Aswan - Luxor

Amman - Wadi Rum - Petra - The Dead Sea

Visit SourceEvents.com for information on all of our journeys. For more details and to reserve, call us at 305-672-9779 or email us at Reservations@SourceEvents.com Mention OutClique at the time of booking for special savings.

LGBTQ+ Travelers Lead the Way in Reconnecting with the World Travel Exemplified: The Resilience of the LGBTQ Travel Market

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ravel has always been a high priority for LGBTQ+ travelers. With so many ready to travel in 2021, it’s no surprise that the top destinations right now are countries that are both LGBTQ+ friendly and that offer the opportunity to reconnect with nature, such as Tahiti and Iceland.

Miami based Source Events, the leader in LGBTQ+ luxury travel, sees Tahiti growing in popularity, with this year being their third voyage. “After a year at home, our travelers want to reconnect with the world in a new way,” says Craig Smith, President and Founder of Source Events. “Our guests are attracted to the spirit of Tahiti, its turquoise lagoons, worldclass snorkeling, and striking volcanic peaks.

They want more intimate voyages, which is why we again chartered Windstar’s Wind Spirit.

With the luxury of just 120 guests, travelers can experience the magic of Tahiti from the privacy of their own private yacht. Activities such as morning yoga, meditation, and enrichment talks are like having a personal retreat at sea.”

Olivia Travel, which caters to the women’s market, has also seen a marked increase in bookings, underscoring the resilience of the LGBTQ+ market. “Olivia guests are ready to

travel again! With a sold-out charter to Tahiti on Windstar in September of 2021 and another charter scheduled for late July in 2022, Tahiti has always been at the top of our guests’ list when it comes to picking their next vacation,” said Judy Dlugacz, President and Founder of Olivia Travel.

Tahiti has practically eliminated COVID-19, averaging just three cases per day, prompting its reopening as of May 1, 2021. “We are delighted to welcome travelers back,” said Kristin Karlson, managing director of Tahiti Tourisme North America. “Our travelers can be assured that the legendary beauty and hospitality of The Islands of Tahiti remains unsurpassed and can be enjoyed safely with effective health measures in place.”

With so many special celebrations having been put on hold during the past year, “we have many guests celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries, and we even have a couple getting married,” adds Smith. The Dreams of Tahiti Cruise, sailing September 16-23, 2021 will also mark another milestone. “There was nowhere else in the world where we would celebrate Source Events’ 20th Anniversary.

We’ve timed the cruise so that we’ll be hosting a Full Moon Celebration Feast on Bora Bora, one of the most beautiful islands in the world.”

For further information, or to make reservations, please visit SourceEvents.com or call (305) 672-9779. The Dreams of Tahiti Cruise itinerary may be viewed at SourceEvents.com/Journey/Full-Moon-Tahiti-Cruise-12/#Overview.

Photos and content courtesy of Kersten Communications and Source Events

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Photos Courtesy of SRL Media 30 | OutClique.com

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Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus at Moksha

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Eagle Wilton Manors

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A Bright Future at SunServe

By John Hayden Cover and article images by Andy Armano | AndyArmano.com 42 | OutClique.com

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fter a dark year for so many, SunServe continues to shine in South Florida. They’ve spent the past few months turning challenges into opportunities, raising their technology game, and connecting with the community more than ever before. In a time when many organizations had to cut critical programs, SunServe stayed open and learned lessons that are going to help them be better than ever as we settle into the new normal.

“Technology [was key] for us,” Executive Director of Operations Gary Hensley told us.

“We went from the old system to the new, and we would never go back to the old system at this point because this works so much better.” While many of us were learning to video conference, SunServe was using the technology to reach their clients.

Mental health resources are one of SunServe’s biggest needs, and Gary says patients and doctors being able to meet virtually is one of the new ideas that’s here to stay. “I really believe that telehealth for mental health is going to continue.”

He also says it solves a logistical problem that’s been around since long before COVID. “More people are making their appointments because they don’t have to travel. They find it so much more convenient to be able to do the visit on their phone. We’ve made the process easier which is a big positive.”

It’s all part of SunServe’s longstanding mission to provide life and mental health assistance to members of South Florida’s LGBTQA+ that are often left behind by society including struggling youth, seniors, and those in financial trouble.

Their philosophy promises to be “advocates for strong inclusive families, and healthy relationships in all their diverse forms within and across the generations as well as professional volunteer agents for development and change.

We are committed to provide quality affordable counseling, psychotherapy, education, and outreach to all regardless of their ability to pay.”

SunServe also has new leadership. Gary has been with SunServe for years and took over Executive Director duties last summer. After six years on the board, James Hipps stepped down to serve as Chief Human Resources Officer in May 2020, and Terry Dyer joined the organization as Director of Development in December 2020.

Goal number one for the new leadership team is to get out in the community like never before. “In the past we’ve only had one fundraiser, that was the AIDS Walk, and that was all we did. I always thought that we should do more and be in the community, increase our visibility, and develop community partners.”

Terry believes this is the perfect moment to get out and about. “People are more open to coming out to events. The community here is getting vaccinated and people are getting more comfortable.”

Terry says people are already taking notice. “One of our biggest and most successful events in the last few months has been the Revival Gospel Sunday Brunch at Hunters Nightclub Wilton Manors. We have that coming up again July 11, 2021.” That success is being followed by more opportunity. “We have several other bars that have come knocking on our doors to say, ‘Hey, you guys have this, you’ve done this.’ We are taking those opportunities to get ourselves back out in the community and reconnect with the community post-pandemic. This also profiles our services in ways we have not done previously.”

Many donors, corporate and individuals, were forced to cut back on charitable giving, but like so many other things this year, SunServe turned the challenge into opportunity. “I think the biggest thing is we’ve had to get creative in the pandemic. Funds have depleted for many organizations and we’ve had to think outside the box because we’re all vying for the same funds from the city and county. But there’s also that grass roots approach that we’ve been doing with all of these events.”

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He also believes the pandemic made people appreciate all SunServe’s been doing for a generation. “I think folks in the community and corporate folks have realized just where we have been in the past year and how much more important it is to give because people need the services much more than they probably did before the pandemic, especially the mental health services.”

James says a year-round presence just makes sense. “We provide services year round, the need never stops. I think we should be out in the community and that’s part of the new vision here. We do want a stronger presence in the community.” Many people don’t know just how much SunServe does. “Our Senior Daycare Center is a huge program here in the organization that’s housed at Sunshine Cathedral,” says Terry. In fact, it’s one of the original projects that gave SunServe its start nearly 20 years ago.

In addition to that and mental health services, they also help clients with other basic but critical needs.

Their housing case management program helps those with special medical needs find shelter. They offer substance abuse counseling as well as job education and training plus services to women, youth, and transgendered people. They believe they are just scratching the surface of what they could be doing.

SunServe’s increased visibility will lead to increased funding which means increased services. “We would like to add breadth and depth to all of our programs and add additional OutClique.com | 45

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programs,” James says. “The only way to do that is with increased funding. The only way to get that is to be out in the community year round.” James already has ideas for programs to expand and start from scratch. “We have people who come in for services, maybe they haven’t had a meal in three days. Typically what will happen is somebody here will pull some money out of their pocket and say go get a meal.”

This proves as one of the gaps in services provided by the organization. One of the ways in which SunServe tries to mitigate this gap is providing frozen meals to those in need.

Additionally, Gary states, “If they have no income or food options moving forward, we try to also provide them with an alternative solution.”

Terry says housing help would tie into expanding their substance abuse help. “There’s a huge overlap between our housing department and our substance use disorder program.”

That program needs more bodies. “The two employees that are there are working to the bone to make sure the community gets the help that they need and gets services that they need and gets into rehabilitation if that’s the path.

They are so busy all the time. Seeing clients, helping clients, dealing with their case files and so forth. It would be wonderful to find additional funding for that program. I think they could use additional assistance.”

The team also wants to build a network of LGBTQA+ friendly employers so clients can confidently apply for jobs.

Everyone who works at SunServe puts their all into it, and each has a favorite thing that keeps them going on the harder days. “My favorite part of SunServe is seeing what we do for the clients, and seeing the letters that come in from the clients and the impact that we’ve had in their life and the assistance we’ve provided them,” says James. “The heartfelt thanks that we get from them, that we’ve actually changed

their life for the better. You can’t go home at night and not have a smile on your face if you’ve seen that.”

For Gary, who started working with clients in 2013, says it’s the relationships. “My joy, and the reason I’ve always worked at nonprofits is I just enjoy making a difference in people’s lives.

I still have people that I worked with when I was a case manager who call me all the time just to say hi and see how I’m doing. It makes me feel good. Even though my role is totally different now, I still am connected to the clients. My whole goal is to make people’s lives better. SunServe is your one stop shop for LGBTQ+ Services in Broward County, Florida. We help people!”

Terry likes knowing that he can lighten a burden for someone else. “My not sleeping sometimes at night because I’m worrying, ‘How do we get this done?’ I’d rather go through that knowing it’s going to help at least one person at the end of the day. That lets me know I’ve done my part. I take a great deal of pride in helping the community I am a part of.”

Pride month is here, and this year it’s taking on extra meaning for SunServe. “With it being Pride month there is a sense of pride that all three of our new leaders are bringing to this organization and bringing that pride back into the organization.”

You’ll be seeing them out and about more and more as they make new partnerships with local businesses. “We are looking to build partnerships with allies and are looking to build those corporate sponsorships so it gives us a clear cut path for expansion and growth.”

You can learn more about SunServe’s mission and their upcoming events at their website SunServe.org. After a year of challenges behind them and years of growth ahead, Gary has one, clear message: “We’re here and we’re here to stay.”

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DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

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

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

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Watch Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

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

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

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

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

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

(bik-TAR-vee)

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

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

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

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

 Changes in your immune system.

Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections

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

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

REAL

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Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY.

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

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

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

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

GET MORE INFORMATION

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

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

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

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP ASPIRING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0413 04/21

Andrew Koenig Headshot in CITY Showroom. | Photo Courtesy of Internal CITY Furniture Photographer

COVID, Supply Chains, and Work/Life Balance A Short Chat with CITY Furniture CEO Andrew Koenig

By Rod Davis, CEO BBB serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean 52 | OutClique.com

Rod Davis: Thank you for taking time to share information about CITY Furniture with the LGBT+ readers at OutClique. Like most family owned businesses, CITY Furniture has a unique story about its beginning and a major pivot it had to make early on to adapt to changing customer preferences. Can you share that background with us?

chain with a significant presence here in the U.S. enabled us to avoid major slowdowns and keep a good supply of products for our customers.

our entire community and many businesses have closed or faced severe cutbacks. How did you approach this situation, what changes did you make and what advice would you offer to other business leaders facing this and other similar challenges?

In May and June, consumers started to feel better about their financial situation and more confident that we would overcome the challenges prevented by COVID and people began to invest in their homes. Swimming pool companies, remodelers, and furniture retailers started to see significant increases in demand. Fortunately, we were able to keep our supply chain moving. Because CITY Furniture had invested in technology and created a diverse supply chain, we had solid inventory levels and systems in place to pretty well manage the demand from consumers. Since the supply chains eventually started slowing a bit, we provided forecasting of products in need to help them best source customer needs and put in place processes to expedite products from suppliers to deal with the surging sales. We also trained our sales team to keep promises in check to create realistic expectations (i.e. under promise and over deliver).

Andrew Koenig: In the early days of

Rod Davis: As a family-owned business,

Andrew Koenig: Our business was started in 1971 by my father and uncle, a couple of hippies that wanted to open up a waterbed store. Business boomed through the ‘70’s and ‘80’s but the popularity of water beds declined and the business needed to pivot becoming a full line furniture retailer in 1994.

My father is still involved with me in running CITY Furniture and our goal is to be the top home furnishings retailer in Florida.

Rod Davis: This past year, COVID impacted

COVID (March/April) we quickly shifted resources to virtual sales, selling online, selling by chat and text messages to provide safe buying options to our customers and potential customers. Using technology to maintain sales proved helpful, but like many retailers, we were concerned about our ability to supply products our customers wanted to purchase. Fortunately, CITY Furniture has a diverse supply chain. We get about 10% of our product from our factory in Mississippi, another 30% domestically sourced and the remaining 60% comes from Canada, Mexico, Italy, China, Vietnam, India, and a large number of other countries. Our diverse supply

with local roots and employees, you are active in our community. Can you tell us about some of your initiatives and how you decide which programs to support?

Andrew Koenig: We have a pledge to

give back a minimum of 5% of our profits annually. We pick causes to support that are personal and we believe in since that commitment to a cause is needed to make the biggest impact. I chaired the local American Heart Association Walk last year since my uncle and one of our founders died from heart disease. The event raised $1.5 million and we used unique incentives to like OutClique.com | 53

donating $25 for every customer who tried out a mattress in one of our stores. We have also been heavily involved in raising money for breast cancer support since my mother, like too many women, lost her battle against breast cancer. Since we are a local business, and a family-owned business, we believe it is important to support our community and do good for the community.

Rod Davis: In July of this year, we will once again recognize businesses at the BBB Torch Awards for building businesses with an ethical framework on the four C’s: Character of Leadership: Setting forward a clear ethical mission for the business Culture: Creating and maintaining a culture built around the mission of service to customers and community Customers: Engaging customers in a truly collaborative relationship that builds trust with the business and the marketplace Community: Being an active part of the community through programs, initiatives and employee outreach My visit to your office convinced me that your leadership embodies these principles.

You gather tons of data and information about your business. What are your secrets for using that information most effectively to keep CITY Furniture aligned with your mission, goals, key performance metrics, and maximizing each customer/community interaction?

Andrew Koenig: Our belief begins with

culture and the leadership sets the example for the entire business to live that culture. We have a strong brand with a clear purpose, vision, mission, and values that we share with prospective hires, cover extensively in our training of staff and revisit and discuss every day with our team in our daily huddles.

We talk about one value each morning in our daily huddle meetings and share examples of our associates living those values. You have to get the culture right, hire the right people, and the rest will take care of itself.

We work hard and have high expectations of our employees, but also encourage good work/life balance. It has been tough during the recent growth period when new people are being added in large numbers to keep the culture alive. This is especially challenging since much of our training is remote instead of face to face. But the authenticity of our human resource team helps overcome these challenges and the daily reminders and focus on our mission and values builds our culture into every new colleague.

Rod Davis: Thank you Andrew. Any last exciting new product, process, or initiative you would like to share with the readers?

Andrew Koenig: We recently added a new

warehouse in Miami to increase our access to products so we can more quickly serve the needs of our customers and maintain a high inventory level. Our people are also the lifeblood of our business, but we have been heavily investing in new technology to help them better engage, track, and service our customers in each step of the customer journey with us at CITY Furniture. Feeling great, our customer experience is only getting better from here.

OutClique.com | 55

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One Step

By Steven O. Evans, PhD

City of Wilton Manors Proclaims Latinos Salud Day

Every journey, large or small, starts with just one step. Our choices impact our futures. We have the power within us to be who we want to be and to create the life we want to create.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine what is the ideal self you would want to see?

What part of your relationships are holding you back? Do you have a spiritual center? Are there pockets of unhappiness that are creating a barrier to reaching your goals? Or are you just looking to be a better version of the you, you are today?

For me, I have embarked on a journey with my friends at Genesis Health Institute here in Wilton Manors, FL. No matter what your age, aging can be a difficult topic. Most of us (all?) want to feel young.

I have been working with Ferdinand Cabrera, MD on a lifestyle change that includes a better diet, getting back to exercise (after the 2020, 2021 Q1 break), supplements, testosterone, and other important modifications.

Yes, looking better may be a goal. But the overall objective is improving my quality of life - how I live and feel each day.

We are on this earth for such a short time.

Make the very best of it.

I recommend seeing our friends at Genesis Health Institute. They can help you, too, live life to its fullest. They are located at 1001 NE 26th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305. Call them at (954) 561-3175. Or GHInstitute.com.

Pictured: City of Wilton Manors Community Affairs Advisory Board’s Michael Sansevero and Robert Hadley (in red shirts) with Latinos Salud’s Rafaelé Narváez and Stephen Fallon.

On May 5, 2021, the Wilton Manors Community Affairs Advisory Board honored the Latinos Salud agency and staff with the Skip Stadnik Community Spirit Award for Organization of the Year, and named Latinos Salud Day to commemorate the award.

The award recognized Latinos Salud’s efforts during a pandemic crisis year, observing that the agency “continued outreach and health programming to all who needed or wanted help and information, increasing staffing while other local non-profits cut back or even shuttered.”

Latinos Salud thanked the City of Wilton Manors for this honor, and will see this epidemic through, both with continued HIV and STD services, as well as through its newest service: free COVID-19 vaccination.

Content and images courtesy of Latinos Salud.

Florida Medical Center is honored to have achieved Center of Excellence for Robotic and Bariatric Surgery

Emergency care is just a call away.

Emergencies can’t wait, so please do not delay care. Because your safe care is our #1 priority, we are now offering Tele-ER visits so you can speak with an ER physician without leaving home. It only takes two steps: 1. Call 1-833-4-TELE-ER to schedule an appointment.

A nurse or member of our emergency team will ask you about your health problem and complete your registration.

2. Prepare your smartphone, tablet or computer for the Zoom call.

You will be sent a link at the time of your appointment. Using a laptop or desktop, click on the link or enter the meeting ID at https://zoom. us/join. If using a smartphone or tablet, please download the Zoom app and enter the meeting ID at the time of your appointment.

To schedule a Tele-ER visit, call

1-833-4-TELE-ER (8353-37) For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

Florida Medical Center is honored to have achieved Center of Excellence for Robotic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Bayron is the medical director of the program who specializes in minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic bariatric surgery including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and revisional bariatric surgery. Florida Medical Center is the first hospital in Broward County to achieve accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Robotic Surgery

by Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). The Bariatric and Robotic Center of Excellence Accreditation distinguishes this hospital for providing the highest quality of care to its patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation. Status as an accredited organization means Florida Medical Center meets nationally recognized standards.

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique

Sound Healing

By Rev. Patrick Rogers, MDiv.

Photo Courtesy of Suzie Albey

S

ound healing is a spiritual practice that uses vibrations from instrumental gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, musical instruments including Native American flutes, violins and or vocal singing to relax your mind and body. A major benefit is improvement from, or healing from ailments caused by stress and other causes and it can have a positive effect regarding anxiety, insomnia, and other issues.

I personally have COPD and at the end of a session, I can feel a significant improvement in my breathing and lung capacity. I personally receive spiritual and emotional clarity from sound healing.

I look forward to Tuesday every week at 7:00PM when I can go to the church sanctuary, take a cushion from the pews, and place the cushion on the floor and take my shoes off and lie flat and open my mind and spirit. Then to close my eyes and listen individually and collectively with the others to the divine vibrations which fill the room. All I must do is relax in the dimly lit room and

Photo Courtesy of Rev. Patrick Rogers MDiv.

breathe. It may sound like a “new age” thing, yet it has actually been used by cultures like the Aboriginal peoples and Tibetan monks for centuries.

I find healing from Bayer© aspirins, COPD medication, reading the Bible, laughing with a good friend, petting my cat, music, sound healing, and, more. I have discovered that sound healing is a great spiritual tool in my healing process and helps me focus more on the joy that surrounds me. Sound healing also helps me connect with the divinity that surrounds me, lives within me, and also those around me, as we lay in the silence of sound, and, feel the vibration of the sound flow over and through us.

If you are interested in trying sound healing, all are welcome, first timers especially, to join in at 7:00PM every Tuesday evening at United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale, 2501 NE 30th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33306. The fee is donation only.

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

82 | OutClique.com

Work Completed On Palm Beach County’s First LGBTQ Pride Crosswalks

By Rand Hoch

Photo Rendering credits to City Staff of Boynton Beach

After a wait of more than two and a half years, the City of West Palm Beach now has four traditional LGBTQ Pride crosswalks in Northwood Village, the heart of the city’s LGBTQ business district.

The crosswalks, which include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet stripes, reflecting the six colors in the traditional Pride Flag, were completed on Thursday.

“Business owners are thrilled with the crosswalks,” said Will Davis, President of the Northwood Village Merchants Association. “They are beautiful — and definitely worth the wait.”

Rand Hoch, President and Founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC), initiated the request for the crosswalks in 2018.

At the time, Hoch served as a member of the city’s Art in Public Places (now ArtLife WPB).

Funding to repair the intersection and to paint the crosswalks was provided by the City of West Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. Hierromat, a Fort Lauderdale based steel import business, will provide funding to maintain the crosswalks for the next five years.

West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James has proposed a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June to mark LGBTQ Pride Month.

Public artwork incorporating the Progress Pride colors also are in the works for Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.

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Proud in Pride

By Cory David, Mr. Eagle Wilton Manors 2020/2021

A

re you proud in pride? The month of June always brings such grand celebrations for LGBTQ+ community including events and parades starting the summer on a high note of community and Pride. Where does our meaning of pride come from? Why are we so proud of the steps made down the path of equality? The sacrifices by many have paid for the legal rights we now have. Has justice prevailed in equality? Does justice come with injustice? Laws are enacted to include, and that inclusion is what’s important, right?

On June 28, 1969, the police raided The Stonewall Inn, for no reason except being different. That one event became the most important apex for the gay liberation movement. That night a community had enough and that community fought back, stood up, and took action. With many social/ political movements active, civil rights, antiwar, the 1960’s counterculture, all influenced and were a catalyst for our gay liberation.

A name not that familiar, Brenda Howard, “The Mother of Pride”, a radical activist, as humbled a person such not was her voice, she never went quietly. Brenda spearheaded a month of Gay Pride and the Christopher Street Parade which evolved into the New York Pride March and Celebrations. With so many conflicted, repressed, and scared to come out but with a yearning to be proud, the word Pride was adopted.

In New York, on June 28, 1970, the first Pride Parade was born. We showed up in droves, growing to thousands by the end of the 20 blocks marched. What makes us proud is understanding that a few voices organizing together can grow to thousands and create change for many. That is our community at its best.

92 | OutClique.com

Photo credit: Sabino Paulicelli Photography

Yes, I believe that’s true, and yet with those judicial rights there are still leaders and groups trying to divide us. The ones we wanted acceptance from promote injustice against ones that are different from them.

That’s why we must keep our strength, to show the world that we, too, are human. We know the road those before us traveled, so we honor them and protect the ones following in our steps.

We are celebrating our rights, our love for community, and the courage of those attending the first pride and of those arrested at Stonewall Inn. Like many worldwide who are discriminated against or persecuted for being LGBTQ+, black, female, Asian, and so on, one is too many anywhere on this beautiful planet.

We are human kind, and we deserve and demand human rights under God. Love – let’s love each other. Enjoy with love, Pride Month.

I love you all, Cory David Mr. Eagle Wilton Manors 2020/2021

Photo Courtesy of Marty Kiar’s office

2021 Property Exemptions, Portability Extended, and Military Exemptions 2021 Property Exemptions – It Is Not Too Late to Apply While the timely deadline to apply for any 2021 exemption was March 1, 2021, applicants can late file until September 20, 2021. If you both owned and made the property your permanent residence as of January 1, 2021, you can still apply for 2021 Homestead Exemption and any other exemptions. You can apply for Homestead Exemption online at web.BCPA.net as well as view all the other exemptions available to qualified applicants.

Portability Extended to Three Tax Years Portability allows eligible Homesteaded property owners to pay less in property taxes on their new home by moving their “Save Our Homes” (SOH) savings (up to $500,000) from one Florida property to another Florida property when establishing Homestead Exemption on the new property. Beginning with property owners who establish a new Homestead Exemption for tax year 2021, applicants may now transfer portability savings from a Homestead Exemption held in any of the three immediately preceding tax years. To be eligible to move this SOH benefit, the new property must receive Homestead Exemption within three tax years – not calendar years – of the “abandonment”

of the Homestead Exemption at the previous property.

Note: Homestead Exemption and Portability do not automatically transfer. You must apply for Homestead Exemption on the new property and submit a Portability application. Portability does not require you to sell your previous home, but merely for you to no longer receive the Homestead Exemption on it.

Disabled Veterans & Military Exemptions Florida Statutes provide for several exemptions available to veterans with a service-connected disability, as well as the unremarried surviving spouse of the disabled veteran. These exemptions require a Certificate of Disability from the US Government or US Department of Veterans Affairs be provided to our office. To view the requirements for the service-connected veteran and deployed military exemptions, please visit our website at web.BCPA.net/ BCPAClient/#/VeteransExemption.

Take care,

Marty Kiar, CFA Broward County Property Appraiser

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 94 | OutClique.com

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Meet Sean Conklin

PBCHRC’s Newest Board Member

Sean Conklin is a South Florida transplant from the northeast. He moved to Palm Beach County in 2014 hoping to pursue a career in higher education.

After working at Florida Atlantic University for a few years, Sean explored other career options and fell in love with nonprofit management. He completed a Masters in Nonprofit Management at Florida Atlantic University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration. Sean is an active member of the American Society for Public Administration and does nonprofit consulting. He also writes a blog about nonprofits and public administration.

A career public servant, Sean currently works for Palm Beach County as a Program Evaluator for the Ending the HIV Epidemic Program. His ongoing experience with LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations in Palm Beach County has been formative and he hopes to use his experience to act as a voice for people in matters that most impact them.

Among his other activities, Sean also serves as a member of the Imperial Sun Court of All Florida, an organization that raises money for local nonprofits through the art of Drag.

Sean believes in building the world he wants to live in, and he wants to live in a world where our LGBTQ+ community members are afforded the same rights, privileges, and opportunities as everyone else. He is excited to be part of an organization that shares that dream.

Photo Courtesy of Gail V. Haines

By Rand Hoch, President and Founder of PBCHRC

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Panthers Pride

By John Hayden | Photo Courtesy of YES Institute

T

he Florida Panthers just finished a season that was short, sweet, and successful. The sweetest moment of the season was Pride Day in March, 2021. The team’s commitment to the LGBTQA+ community was on full display from the moment the team took the ice. Players had rainbow tape on their hockey sticks during warmups, and a member of the South Florida Gay Men’s Chorus performed the National Anthem before face off. Beyond that, the team honored members of the South Florida community making a difference.

Two people from YES Institute were singled out to have their stories shared in videos played on the scoreboard’s big screens above the ice. Dr. Shelly Slapion-Foote is a volunteer with YES as a clinical therapist and volunteer, giving frontline support to gay and transgender youth virtually during the pandemic.

Also honored was Umut Dursun, MA, YES Institute’s Executive Director of Education, and he shared the experience with OutClique.

“I sat behind the mascot and pride flags were everywhere.” As a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), he was chosen to represent South Florida’s LGBTQA+ veterans as well as servicewomen and men, but the night was a chance for Umut to share his story as a trans man. “It was a great experience. I was overwhelmed by the visibility.” Umut says he was a little apprehensive as his story was shown to the crowd at the BB&T Center. “I had no idea what the vibe was gonna be like.”

Any apprehension was unfounded because as the video ended the applause began he felt the love and support of everyone, especially the staff of the Panthers. “I could tell I was really appreciated and they wanted to recognize gender, it wasn’t a ‘check-the-box’ sort of thing.”

Umut’s proud of his military service, which he did before he began transitioning. He served four years before leaving under the Bush administration’s growing pressure to enforce

104 | OutClique.com

the odious ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. “I never wanted to get out, I would have retired from the Marines.” From there, Umut went on to get a masters from UCLA and gained the confidence to identify as transgender. Now he uses the leadership skills he honed in the Marines in his work with YES, an organization dedicated to educating people on gender and working with youth to help them have access to resources and support that wasn’t available a generation ago.

For Umut, his service to his community today has its roots in his service to the country 20 years ago. “The idea of service, in the military and now, all the work I’ve done has been for others.”

The Panthers won their game on Pride Day, but the real winners are the fans in the stands who got a glimpse of heroes like Umut and Dr. Shelly Slapion-Foote.

Our Fund Foundation’s LGBTQ Arts & Culture Fund Announces 18 Grants Totaling $226,500

O

ur Fund Foundation, South Florida’s only LGBTQ community foundation, announced its LGBTQ Arts & Culture Fund will award 18 grants ranging from $5,000 $20,000, for a total of $226,500, to support innovative LGBTQ specific programs and initiatives in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.

“With so many worthy grant applications to evaluate, our review committee prioritized agencies whose goal was building new, post pandemic programs with expanded capabilities,”

said David Jobin, president & CEO of Our Fund Foundation. “Our Fund believes that success for arts and culture agencies in the post pandemic environment will be defined by an ability to pivot and continue adapting to evolving situations.”

Our Fund Foundation will celebrate the donors and recipients and the impact they have on South Florida’s LGBTQ community during a socially-distanced grant reception on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 6 p.m. at Our Fund’s headquarters, located at 1201 NE 26th St., Suite 108 in Wilton Manors, FL.

Our Fund Foundation’s 2021 Arts & Culture Fund Grant Recipients: 1.

2.

ArtServe Stories from Within A contemporary art exploration of the LGBTQ+ experience, culture and history in South Florida through a hybrid model of in-person and online art installations, activations and accompanying workshops, incorporating COVID-19 safety protocols.

ArtsUnited Virtual Art Exhibitions 2021 Six exhibitions highlighting subjects ranging from LGBTQ+ community pride to deeply personal issues, incorporating technology to produce a hybrid in-person and virtual experience.

3.

FAU/Theatre Lab The 2021 Fair Play Initiative A commission and development program for LGBTQ playwrights from under represented demographics to produce two audio plays to be presented virtually.

4.

Gay Men’s Chorus of SFL Season 11 – Virtual Concerts Support video and audio production for virtual video concert presentations for the 2021 season of performances.

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5.

Hued Songs Hued Songs: 2021 Season Support for hybrid in-person and virtual multidisciplinary performances that explore gender, identity, sexuality, and race.

6.

Island City Stage The Show Goes On Funding to support COVID-19 related adjustments to production strategies and theatrical offerings to produce in-person shows that will also be filmed and made available remotely.

7.

Miami Children’s Museum Rainbow Families Celebration A month-long hybrid in-person and virtual programming event meant to educate children and parents so that they can better understand the needs of all individuals in the LGBTQ community, using handson, interactive activities, live theatrical performances, and art activities.

8.

Niki Lopez Creative What’s Your Elephant?

A series of talks, workshops, and showcases that offer the opportunity to address “the elephant in the room” or unspoken traumas

through artwork as therapy, through a hybrid small group in-person and virtual meeting model.

9.

OUTshine Film Festival Queer & Trans People of Color OUTreach Virtual Film Program dedicated to QTPOC to screen films marketed and geared to the community.

10. Pioneer Winter Collective Pioneer Winter Collective 2021 Programming A queer-centered, intergenerational and physically integrated dance theater presenting virtual and live programming, free hybrid performance workshops.

11. Plays of Wilton Plays of Wilton Funding to facilitate a return to live, in-person theater with adjustments made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

12. South Florida Symphony Orchestra OUT with the Symphony Concert Series Outreach program to the residents at the Residences at Equality Park to present a series of smaller scale socially distanced chamber concerts and provide transportation to the Masterworks Concerts.

13. Stonewall Museum & Archives Stonewall Virtual Programming Series Closed caption support for a virtual programming series highlighting a diverse mix of nationally acclaimed writers, filmmakers, activists, and artists.

14. Thinking Cap Theatre Family Affair An activist, grassroots theatre program that addresses the pressing need to unite and ignite audiences around calls for empathy, inclusivity and the need to resume in-person theatre programming effectively and safely.

It will include main stage productions of Fefu & Her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes

and Wilde’s Tales: An Original Adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Fairy Tales.

15. Thou Art Woman Thou Art Woman Event series celebrating LGBTQ women and their allies through performance and visual art. Transitioning to a virtual production while collaborating with other local performance art organizations.

16. United Church of Christ Holiday Concert Pre-Christmas Holiday Concert from an LGBTQ affirming non-denominational church, to be presented virtually and inperson.

17. Unity Coalition Celebrate ORGULLO Festival Exploring the Art of Ilusión: How the Art of Drag, Creativity, Talent and Self-Expression influence our daily lives. Fifteen days of virtual and in-person programming implementing pandemic precautions.

18. World AIDS Museum 40 Years of AIDS: Road to Ending Stigma Exhibit telling the story of HIV and its impact in the LGBTQ+ community, transitioned to a virtual program offering.

Special consideration was given to organizations and projects that are organized by, and work on behalf of, underserved populations within the LGBTQ community (including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity and physical and cognitive ability). Consideration was also given to organizations that provided proof of proactively addressing gaps in representation of underserved populations in regard to board, staff, audience and user participation and to programs that have limited appeal to traditional funding sources as well as to applications that leverage partnerships between similar missioned agencies to reduce duplication of resources and, or effort as well as expand reach and services.

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

OutClique.com | 107

Prepare for the Ride

By Eric Noel Roman

T

ime for a ride. That’s right, it is summer and the mercury is rising, the sun is out, and the weather is great. Time to get the cute shorts on, the tank top out, and the sunglasses cleaned up. Now you are ready to jump on that banana seat and go for a long ride.

Are you fully prepared for your expedition out in the sun? Before you go out into the sun, consider using some passive protection from those invisible dangers. Sunscreen will be the first layer of protection to keep you from burning up. There is nothing worse than going out and playing out with others only to realize that you have turned into a lobster and have to deal with the burning sensation.

Ready to ride? Wait! You forgot one vital piece of protection. You have to put it on the top of your head. Put on that helmet. Remember that the helmet is the first layer of defense against injury. Make sure it fits properly and is snug, but not too tight.

Now you are ready for that fun ride.

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

Sister Season Fund

A SEASON WO R TH WA I TI N G FO R

M

ark Walsh of the Opal Collection awarded the Sister Season Fund a $25,000 grant during the Key West Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Mixer held at the new Capitana Key West Resort on North Roosevelt Boulevard (next to the Key West Yacht Club). Accepting the grant for Sister Season was Julie Hanson, Executive Director for the Fund. The Sister Season Fund assists qualified locals by paying utility bills and/or rent when they are temporarily unable to work through no fault of their own. The Fund has awarded over $400,000 in grants since the pandemic began.

AN ARSHT CENTER SERIES

AN ARSHT CENTER SERIES

Shown (left to right) The Chamber’s Suzanne Moore, Capitana’s GM Melissa Anderson, Sister Season Board Members Scott McCarthy, Rick Davis, and VP Paul Murphy.

Content & Photo Courtesy of Pete Arnow

AN ARSHT CENTER SERIES

AN ARSHT CENTER SERIES

Subscribe at

arshtcenter.org.

QUINT FAMILY FOUNDATION

ADRIANNE AND JERRY L. COHEN

Caring Friends Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee

WORLD PREMIERE

SATURDAY, JUNE 19

MAY 19 - JUNE 16

Bringing Impressionist masterworks to life in three dimensions

Performing hits of the ‘50s and ‘60s Rock-n-Roll era like "My Eyes Adored You," "Ragdoll" and "Let’s Hang On," the Atlantic City Boys create an evening of fun musical memories.

TICKETS at aventuracenter.org Box Office 877.311.7469 Groups 954.660.6307

@aventuracenter All programs, artists, dates and times are subject to change.

BowOitzhe a musical dragaret

Adrienne Arsht Center Miami, FL arshtcenter.org

@ Matty's 2100 2100 WILTON WILTON DRIVE DRIVE WILTON WILTON MANORS, MANORS, FL FL

Fridays 8:00pm to 11:00pm

Tenth Anniversary Season of Theater Up Close at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

An Incredible Theater Lineup

ON SALE NOW Photo Courtesy of Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

T

he Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@ArshtCenter) is proud to announce its lineup for the 10th anniversary season of Theater Up Close created in collaboration with Zoetic Stage (@ZoeticStageMIA) and City Theatre (@CityTheatreFL). The Arsht Center’s Theater Up Close series returns with five extraordinary productions, including one world premiere and two South Florida premieres.

A

CUBAN

JOURNEY

A LITTLE

NIGHT MUSIC

Subscribe at

arshtcenter.org/theater

“Now more than ever, it is imperative to showcase some of the incredible theater South Florida has to offer with the tenth anniversary of our award-winning Theater Up Close series,” said Liz Wallace, Vice President of programming at the Arsht Center.

The Theater Up Close series gratefully acknowledges the founding support of Adrianne and Jerry L. Cohen.

Tickets Five-show subscription packages are available now starting at the early bird rate of $169* until June 11, 2021. Packages after the 11th start at $194. Subscriptions can be purchased now through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at ArshtCenter. org. Tickets for individual performances will be announced at a later date.

The Theater Up Close series gratefully acknowledges the founding support of

ADRIANNE AND JERRY L. COHEN

Search for “Theater Up Close” on our website at OutClique.com to read more about Theater Up Close.

Stonewall National Museum & Archives Opens New Exhibition Don’t Ask, Do Tell Stonewall National Museum & Archives (SNMA) is pleased to announce the opening of Don’t Ask, Do Tell on May 21, 2021 from 6:30PM - 8:00PM in the George Hester Gallery. The free opening of Don’t Ask, Do Tell will include a curatorial talk by SNMA Executive Director, Hunter O’Hanian.

On February 28, 1994, the Clinton Administration instituted “Don’t ask, don’t tell” an official US policy on LGBTQ military service, lasting seventeen years. Drawing upon materials from SNMA’s Archives, this exhibition will explore the LGBTQ community’s response to the controversial policy before, during, and after its conclusion in 2011.

A compelling narrative constructed through photographs, original letters, serials and newspaper articles will examine the LGBTQ response to the long history of institutional discrimination by the US military and federal government.

The exhibition may be viewed in-person starting Friday, May 21, 2021, from Monday - Friday, 11:00AM - 5:00PM, until Friday, July 16, 2021. Normal safety guidelines (social distancing, masks, temperature checks) will be in effect. Attendees will be limited to 75 visitors at a time. Stonewall National Museum & Archives is located at 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33304. Free parking is available. For those who wish to see the exhibition from their homes, a virtual version of the exhibition and the curatorial talk will be available at stonewall-museum.org.

Support for exhibitions at Stonewall National Museum & Archives is generously provided by the Broward County Cultural Council, The Department of Florida Cultural Affairs, Funding Arts Broward, Visit Lauderdale, and Visit Florida.

MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE

3RD ANNUAL PRIDE DAY

JOIN US FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN ALL DAY LONG!

WHEN: June 26, 2021 • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. • WHERE: Museum of Discovery and Science Visit our Rainbow Science Lab, make your own Pride flag, explore the amazing colors created with prisms, and see an explosion of colors in our special Pride Kaboom Show! Bring a white t-shirt, and transform it into a tie-dyed masterpiece! $5 admission • Free for City of Fort Lauderdale Residents with Proof of Address at the Museum Box Office

FREE VIRTUAL FAMILY PRIDE CELEBRATION!

WHEN: June 24, 2021 • 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. • WHERE: Comfort of Your Own Home

About Stonewall National Museum & Archives

Stonewall National Museum & Archives (SNMA) promotes understanding through collecting, preserving and sharing the proud culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people of all stories, and their significant role in American society. SNMA currently presents a robust schedule of exhibitions and virtual programs. Visit stonewall-museum.org.

Find SNMA on Facebook: stonewall-museum and on Instagram: @stonewallarchive.

Gather your family to celebrate Pride virtually! Watch as we create foam rainbows of elephant toothpaste, an explosive shower of colorful ping pong balls with liquid nitrogen and learn to make super slime! A unique zoom link will be sent prior to the event.

For more information or to register, please visit mods.org/2021pride Virtual Event Sponsored by

401 SW Second Street • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 • mods.org

@modsftl

Hillerbrand+Magsamen

Exhibit The Devices Project at Bailey Contemporary Arts Renowned Artists will be Featured in Special Live Artist Talk and Performance Photos Courtesy of Bailey Contemporary Arts

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he Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is pleased to announce that an extraordinary array of photographic and video works by the nationally acclaimed creative team of Hillerband+Magsamen will be on display at Bailey Contemporary Arts Center through June 22, 2021. The exhibition is free to the public and is open for viewing by appointment only via the website. In addition, the duo will be taking part in a special live artist talk and interactive performance on June 9, 2021. This is a free event, but guests must register at PompanoBeachArts. org/Programs.

“The Devices Project is an intriguing exhibition that explores our relationship with everyday objects and how we use them to playfully survive and cope in a world of turmoil,” said Phyllis Korab, Cultural Affairs Director. “While there is much humor and absurdity on display, the collection also inspires a tremendous sense of connection and hope.”

Pulling from the literary concept of Homo Faber, that human beings are able to control their fate and their environment through tools, this work examines how a family of four tinkers with and animates banal items such as plastic bags, tape, yarn, aluminum foil, and other household materials in an attempt to connect to each other and the larger world while transforming space, place, person, and dwelling.

After experiencing the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas, and the strong community support that arose, the artists began to think more about ways to prepare in cases of emergency and how this relates to our family and community. Based on that mindset, the duo has created a special 24-hour hotline for the event in Pompano Beach. People can call (954) 953-6568 when they visit the gallery for an interactive experience that highlights the relationship with the devices in our lives.

About Hillerbrand+Magsamen

The artistic team of Hillerbrand+Magsamen is the collaboration of Stephan Hillerbrand and Mary Magsamen. Together they create sculpture, installation, performance, video, and photographic works they call “Suburban Fluxus.” Often including their two children, Madeleine and Emmett, in their work the family critiques and playfully scrutinizes contemporary suburban life.

About the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance, and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City’s premiere cultural arts venues including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City’s Public Art Program and the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town grant awarded to the Pompano Beach Crossroads place-making arts initiative. Bailey Contemporary Arts Center is located at 41 NE 1st St, Pompano Beach, FL 33060.

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Full Steam Ahead for FLoatarama

By John Hayden

Photos Courtesy of Keans Llamera Photography | KeansLlamera.com

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party at sea and a party on land, mark the return of FLoatarama, a flotilla celebrating South Florida’s LGBTQA+ boating community.

Dozens of boats decked out in pride-themed colors will make their way down the New River starting at Stranahan House and sail to Sunrise Bay on June 12, 2021. “We are going to be the kickoff event to Stonewall Wilton Manors,” FLoatarama founder Scott Schramm told OutClique. “The timing is perfect for us. The first FLoatarama was Pride weekend 2020, when everything was cancelled.” Patrick Parker and Scott, both members of Boys With Boats, realized boating is one of the best ways to have safe, socially distant fun and came up with the idea of having a few festive boats get together for a mini-parade. Between word of mouth and social media, the event took on a life of its own.

Scott added, “If we got six boats I’d be happy.

We showed up and there were 24 boats. It just blew me away.”

Scott got nervous for a moment because as the event was getting underway a couple police boats pulled up, but they were there to support, not shut things down. They put pride flags on their boats and provided some unexpected, and much appreciated, security. Scott believes that 118 | OutClique.com

sense of community is what brings events like this to the next level. If the pictures from last year’s low key event are any indication, then this year’s water party is going to be amazing.

With vaccinations on the rise and people feeling more comfortable going out, this year’s Foatarama is going from a loose idea for an afternoon to a well-organized two-day event. A double decker water taxi will be the lead boat with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis as Grand Marshal. That vessel will be the main party barge as well. Tickets for the water taxi are $25 and a cash bar will be serving up cocktails for party goers cruising past the reviewing stand and all through South Florida’s gorgeous waterways.

With up to 40 boats in the flotilla and thousands of supporters cheering from miles of shoreline, this could feel like a bunch of fragmented mini-parties. To solve this problem organizers are bringing everyone together with music.

Legendary DJ Matt Consola is coming in for the event. He’s customizing a podcast just for FLoatarama. Everyone from the lead boat to the last ship to people watching on shore can groove to the same jams at the same time.

Once the flotilla reaches Sunrise Bay the boats will have a raft up party to end Day One. Day Two promises to be just as much fun. Sunday, June 13, 2021, is the Sailors T-Dance at Sanctuary Church at 1400 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. DJ Matt Consola will be back to get the Sunday Funday party started spinning his music at the water’s edge.

This year FLoatarama is partnering with Pride Fort Lauderdale to make this a good party for a good cause. Money raised will go to their GED and Scholarship programs. Specifically, they’ll help transgender students change their chosen name to their legal name so their GED will be a reflection of their true identity. “Our partnership with Pride Fort Lauderdale allows us to utilize the knowledge and strength of the Pride

organization,” organizers said, “and connect with LGBTQ+ boaters and friends that celebrate diversity within our boating community.”

Scott agreed by adding, “I think this is a great opportunity for the LGBT boating community to actively participate in Pride and be represented.”

Space in the flotilla, on the lead boat water taxi, and tickets to the Sailors T-Dance are limited.

For event details you can check out their page at FLoatarama.com.

Scott believes people are getting excited.

“People just want these kinds of events that are not just bar events. People are hungry to go out and have fun again. Go dance and listen to music.”

OutClique.com | 119

Photo Credit: Sara David Buechner

GENVAS Announces the Florida Debut of Piano Virtuosa

Sara Davis Buechner

For June Salons Which Honor LGBTQ Month

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oday, William Riddle the Founder, President, and Artistic Director of Generation Venetian Arts Society, (GENVAS), announced that concert pianist and educator Sara Davis Buechner will be their incredibly special guest artist for all of the organization’s June salons. Ms. Buechner is one of the most vital concert pianists of our time and has been a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, San 122 | OutClique.com

Francisco Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, among others. Mr. Riddle said “Ms. Buechner has managed to triumph against major racial bias in a period of history even less accepting of today’s society. She achieved international acclaim as one of the most admired and respected performing virtuoso pianists, educators, a Mozart specialist, and true “trailblazer” in civil rights for all, acceptance, and

unity as a transgender woman. Truly, a woman of substance!” The New York Times wrote “Ms. Buechner combines intelligence, integrity, and all-encompassing technical prowess!”

Born David Buechner, this award-winning pianist was the featured pianist for the 2000 gala concerts in Washington, D.C. benefiting the National Symphony Orchestra and she made her recital debut at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival. Buechner is a champion of young American composers and has given premieres of solo, concerto and filminteractive works by Larry Bell, Pierre Charvet, Richard Danielpour, Dick Hyman, Kenneth Lampl, Henry Martin and Paul Moravec. She recently gave both the Boston and New York premieres of Larry Bell’s hour-long cycle of Prelude and Fugues. She appears regularly with the Film Society of Lincoln Center (Walter Reade Theatre), as one of the few pianists to actively perform piano scores to silent movies, notably the 150-minute-long restored version of Ben-Hur (1925), and the Danish classic Master of the House (1925).

Sara Davis Buechner received her undergraduate degree from Juilliard School, and received her doctorate in music from the Manhattan School of Music. She was a former faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music in NYC and of New York University. In 2003 she was appointed Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of British Columbia - Vancouver. She has also presented lectures and masterclasses worldwide, including at the Boston and Peabody Conservatories, Indiana

and Northwestern Universities, the Juilliard School of Music in New York, Kobe-Yamate Gakuen in Osaka, Japan, the Shandelee Festival, the Royal Academy in London, and throughout Japan and Korea. She plays the Yamaha Piano exclusively.

Profiles of Sara Davis Buechner have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Paris Match, Noticias del Argentina, Out, Blade and Frontiers magazines; and she has been featured on the television programs Entertainment Tonight, Extra, In the Life, and Bynon. Her appearances on radio include profiles on NPR’s The Fishko Files and Performance Today, WFMT’s Dame Myra Hess Recital Series and WNYC’s New Sounds with John Schaefer.

The weekend begins with their community outreach program “A Conversation with the Artist,” a virtual round table discussion on Friday, June 25, 2021. On Saturday, June 26, 2021 Ms. Buechner will make her Florida concert debut at ArtServe when she performs at the June’s 11th Guest Salon. Limited tickets are available for both events. Both the program and the performance will be filmed for GENVAS TV. Tickets for the June 26, 2021 11th Guest Salon go on sale to the public June 1, 2021 at a cost of $95.00 per person. You can secure your ticket by logging on to www.genvas.org or you may call (954) 709-7447. Doors open at 6:30PM and the salon concert and filming begins at 7:00PM ArtServe is located at 1350 E Sunrise BLVD in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

About GENVAS GENVAS, “Generation” Venetian Arts Society, is committed to nurturing the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of all people through purposeful, thought provoking, and enlightening artistic experiences, while, simultaneously, celebrating the multi-cultural and inter-generational diversity of the South Florida community. The GENVAS 21st century ULTRA Art Salons are artistic, educational, and social experiences that promote intimate and interactive participation with world class master artists, art connoisseurs, as well as art novices yearning for a complete artistic experience.

The unique GENVAS 21st century ULT\RA Salon “experience” will be presented above and beyond CDC/WHO health safety guidelines until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Our mission is to bring the most innovative and fulfilling art experiences to the world “From South Florida, with Love!” on GENVAS TV.

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Aztec Airways is flying taxi service to and from Marathon and Key West to the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport for only $249 round trip!

At FXE you'll check-in at our private terminal with no TSA or crowds and offering free parking.

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