SFGN 01/25/20 V11iss5 - PART 1

local name global coverage january 29, 2020 vol. 11 // issue 5

Community mourns the loss of one of Florida’s most priceless LGBT figures

GOODBYE, TERRY Pages 8, 18

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS

@SFGN

SFGN.COM

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

‘WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL’ IS BACK IN MIAMI THIS MARCH

@SFGN January 29, 2020 • Volume 11 • Issue 5 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

CEO • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

Damon Scott

Editorial Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Digital Content Director • Justin Musial Webmaster@sfgn.com Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold JW@prdconline.com Social Media Manager • Tucker Berardi tberardi@ufl.edu Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • Sallie James HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com

I

f your New Year’s resolutions haven’t quite evolved by March – you’re in luck.

The organizers of this year’s “Winter Party Festival” have chosen “Evolve” as the theme of the week-long party-your-ass-off line-up of festivities.

The festival – which began in 1994 with one event – takes place primarily in Miami venues as usual. There’s at least one (“SWEAT”) in Wilton Manors. The festival, which now features dozens of events, runs March 4 to March 10.

The “Winter Party Festival” is one of the largest celebrations for the LGBT community. It is produced by the National LGBTQ Task Force, which has offices in Miami, Washington, D.C. and New York City.

“The festival makes a statement of inclusion as one of the leading and most unique LGBTQ+ dance party week fundraisers in North America,” organizers said in a statement. “It’s a Miami Beach destination experience that brings people together to love, dance and be their authentic selves.”

Sounds like a plan.

Once again, the bulk of the proceeds support the National LGBTQ Task Force.

The group works to eradicate inequality

“IT’S A MIAMI BEACH DESTINATION EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO LOVE, DANCE AND BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES.” - Statement from the Winter Party Festival organizers

Senior Features Correspondents Jesse Monteagudo

Correspondents Dori Zinn • Donald Cavanaugh Christiana Lilly • John McDonald Denise Royal • David-Elijah Nahmod

Photo via the Winter Party Festival, Facebook.

in housing, employment, health care, retirement and basic human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer people.

Some proceeds are also donated to local service organizations through a grantmaking process administered by the Miami Foundation, organizers said.

In 2019, for example, the National LGBTQ Task Force donated $206,000 to local groups. It reports more than $3.1 million donated since 2005.

PREPARE TO ‘EVOLVE’ The backdrop of the theme “Evolve,” is a neon butterfly that represents the “strength and evolution of all corners of our beautiful LGBTQ+ community [and] the personal evolution that our guests can experience when they journey through the adventure, love, and magic shared during the weeklong festival,” festival co-chair Rene

Contributing Columnists Brian McNaught • Terri Schlichenmeyer Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Wolfensberger said in a statement.

Scheduled entertainment includes international artists DJ GRIND (U.S.), DJ Toy Armada (Philippines), DJ Abel Aguilera (U.S.), DJ Mauro Mozart (Brazil) and DJ Jerac (Colombia).

In addition, you can expect to see a performance by DJ Nina Flowers, a RuPaul’s Drag Race TV show alum from Puerto Rico.

The night of March 6 brings the everpopular “HEAT” event and the morning of March 9 will feature the “AFTERGLOW” gathering at the Wynwood Factory – a four space event venue with a 20,000-squarefoot terrace overlooking Miami.

The “ACTION! FINALE” event marks the end of the festival on the night of March 9 at stylish nightspot Exchange Miami.

That’s just a taste of what’s on tap.

The new host hotel, according to organizers, is the Royal Palm South Beach Miami, located at 1545 Collins Ave. Rates start at $299 per night.

For the full schedule of events and to buy tickets, go to winterparty.com.

COVER: TERRY DECARLO. SFGN FILE PHOTO.

Associated Press

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970 Sales Manager • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com Senior Advertising Associate • Clark Rogers Clark@sfgn.com Distribution Services • Rocky Bowell Bernard Wisneski Sales Consultant • Charles A. Reid National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Sun Coast Press

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NLGJA Journalist of the Year South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community.

All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

Copyright © 2020 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

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LGBTQIA BITES

BY CAMEREN BOATNER

B

Bisexual

MISS UTAH CAMPAIGNS AS FIRST BISEXUAL MISS USA CONTESTANT Rachel Slawson, 25, won the Miss Utah pageant this month, and is moving on to be the first openly bisexual candidate to run in the Miss USA pageant.

Slawson first spoke about her bisexuality onstage in this year’s Miss Utah pageant and won, after losing five times before, CNN reported. She’s also open about her bipolar disorder and suicide attempt at 19, making mental health and suicide awareness her main pageant platforms.

“After years of trying to be somebody else, it turns out being yourself is what works,” Slawson told CNN. The Miss USA pageant date hasn’t been announced yet, but Slawson told CNN she’d be touring local schools to discuss suicide prevention and sexuality acceptance.

“Pageantry comes with an allure of perfection, and I don’t think that’s changed,” she told CNN. “I just think that the definitions of beauty and perfection are expanding.”

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Rachel Slawson. Photo via Facebook.

T

Transgender

ARIZONA MIGHT BAN TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM WOMEN’S SPORTS An Arizona bill proposed last Friday would ban transgender girls and women from participating in sports teams aligning with their gender identity.

The American Civil Liberties Union penned a letter, backed by women’s rights groups and sports organizations, saying that banning transgender women from K-12, community college, and state school women’s sports would discourage participation all together, according to NBC News.

“It is hard to imagine why state legislators have decided to prioritize barring transgender young people from sharing in the benefit of secondary school athletics or disrupting medical treatment consistent with prevailing standards of care,” Chase Strangio, a transgender rights lawyer with the ACLU said, according to NBC News. “But here we are, the start of the session, a time to fight.”

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Nancy Barto said people view the issue as one of basic fairness.

Photo via PxHere.

LGBTQIA BITES

I

Intersex

INTERSEX VETERAN ASKS COURT FOR GENDER NEUTRAL PASSPORT Lawyers representing Dana Zzyym, an intersex and nonbinary Navy veteran, argued last Wednesday that the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should uphold a ruling from a lower court that the U.S. State Department cannot deny them a neutral gender passport.

The State Department rejected Zzyym’s request for a passport with a gender neutral marker in 2014, so they filed a lawsuit with Lamda Legal and won in three separate rulings, Metro Weekly reported. But the State Department still requires either a male or female gender marker.

“We appeared before the Tenth Circuit today to urge the court not to permit the State Department to force a U.S. Navy veteran to lie on their passport application,” Paul Castillo, of Lambda Legal, said in a statement, according to Metro Weekly.

Ten other nations currently offer a third gender option of “X” on passports and other IDs.

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1/26/20 8:59 PM 1.29.2020 • 5

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY CAMEREN BOATNER

THE WORLD AROUND

OCEANIA

EUROPE

CONSERVATIVE GAY DRAG QUEEN STORYTIME PROTESTOR DIES BY SUICIDE

POLISH OPPOSITION PARTY PICKS GAY CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION

Wilson Gavin, 21 died by suicide in Brisbane, Australia Monday Jan. 13. Gavin was a gay conservative who protested Drag Queen Story Hour, saying “drag queens are not for kids,” the Advocate reported.

Gavin, a University of Queensland student and Liberal National Club member, was active in the 2017 fight against same-sex marriage, according to the Advocate. The Australian, a conservative paper, ran the headline “Drag Queen Protestor Wilson Gavin’s Suicide Exposes Horrors of Online Abuse,” but one queer progressive took to Twitter to voice compassion.

“I don’t know why he campaigned against SSM. I don’t know why he was so angry at a drag queen. I don’t know why he took his life,” Sally Rugg, an

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Wilson Gavin (right). Image via YouTube.

LGBT activist from Sydney wrote. “But I wish he was still here so he could have found us all. We would love him and forgive him. We do love him and forgive him.”

Robert Biedroń, an openly gay politician, will challenge the current president in the upcoming May Polish election.

Three liberal parties tapped Biedroń to run against the conservative President Andrzej Duda and another liberal candidate, NBC News reported.

Biedroń, 44, has been an activist in Poland, has served as a Parliament member, and was the mayor of Slupsk, Poland. The president’s party has been active against LGBT rights in the past, something Biedroń is working to alleviate.

“The left proves once again that cooperation works well for us. And we will continue to do so — for the good of Polish women and men,” Biedroń wrote on Twitter.

Robert Biedroń. Photo via Facebook.

Biedroń is also active for women’s rights, climate change and democracy, NBC News reported.

AFRICA

NORTH AMERICA

LGBT REFUGEES IN KENYA ALLEGE ATTACKS, THREATS FROM LOCALS

MEXICAN SOCCER PLAYER SUSPENDED TWO GAMES FOR HOMOPHOBIC REMARK

LGBT people at one of Kenya’s largest refugee camps, Kakuma, say they’ve been beaten by locals and other refugees, NBC News reported.

Kakuma and the nearby Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement are run by the United Nations Refugee Agency and are home to over 200,000 refugees.

Mbazira Moses, a Ugandan refugee sent an email to U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations saying that over 50 queer refugees camped outside Kakuma’s U.N. reception center were attacked, NBC reported.

“UNHCR and the government of Kenya with other relevant stakeholders are striving to promote the rights of all asylum-seekers and refugees and are ensuring partners are trained on how to work with LGBTI in a

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EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

1 . 29.2020

Kakuma Refugee Camp. Credit: © UNHCR, unhcr.org.

displacement context,” Yvonne Ndege, a U.N. spokesperson told NBC News.

“Their rights as human beings shall be considered as such.”

In December 2018, 20 LGBT refugees were injured in an attack, and hundreds of LGBT refugees had to be relocated as a result.

Jesús Gallardo, a defender for Mexico’s national soccer team and Monterrey, was caught on camera singing a song with anti-gay lyrics after defeating Club America last month.

The league opened an investigation on Jan. 4 and this week announced Gallardo’s two game suspension, ESPN reported. Gallardo will also be required to pay a fine for his remarks, which the league called “inappropriate celebrations.”

“Year 2020 on Planet Earth,” Argentinian goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman wrote on social media, according to ESPN. “Cases of homophobic discrimination are still present in our society and football isn’t the exception.

Understanding our enormous social diversity and advancing rights for

Jesús Gallardo. Photo via Facebook.

inclusion is everybody’s responsibility.”

Gallardo tweeted out “Ni modo,” which roughly translates to “whatever” after his punishment was announced.

NEWS LOCAL The Pride Center’s brick walkway features similar pavers. Photo credit: Brendon Lies.

PRIDE CENTER PAVERS ALLOW COMMUNITY TO LEAVE ITS MARK Denise Royal

T

he Pride Center at Equality Park is giving its supporters a way to leave their mark on the community center they’ve come to love — a personalized courtyard paver.

By doing so, you also create a memorial that serves as a permanent fixture in the community.

The pavers are IF YOU’RE engraved with the text of your choice.

INTERESTED There is a limit of IN BUYING 18 characters per line. The Pride A PAVER, Center will install CONTACT the pavers in the courtyard. You can RICHARD purchase a paver to HUDSON AT THE celebrate a marriage PRIDE CENTER. or special event, to memorialize a loved

one, or to honor a person or business that has made a difference in your life.

PAVERS RANGE IN SIZE AND PRICE: 4x8 8x8 12x12 16x16 36x36

$100 $250 $500 $1000 $5000

When you purchase a paver, you not only support the vital work done at the Pride Center, you also leave a lasting memory. If you’re interested in buying a paver, contact Richard Hudson at the Pride Center.

The Pride Center is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization. It provides a safe space that celebrates, nurtures, and empowers the LGBT communities in South Florida.

The Pride Center. Photos via The Pride Center, Facebook.

1.29.2020 •

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Terry DecArLo Dies AT 57 Jason Parsley

T

erry DeCarlo, a long time activist and finally be at peace. Thank you Terry DeCarlo philanthropist, lost his battle with for all you have done for our community.” cancer Monday night. He was 57.

Democratic Florida House Rep. Carlos DeCarlo’s husband of 22 years Bill Guillermo Smith simply said: “My heart is Huelsman posted a short broken.” message on Facebook Tuesday: DeCarlo has held many local DECARLO BECAME “It is with the heaviest of hearts jobs over the years, but his most that I have to post this. But I prominent was as executive A NATIONAL need to let everyone know that director of The Center Orlando.

FIGURE WHEN I lost the love of my life last DeCarlo became a national THE PULSE night. The cancer was just too figure when the Pulse massacre MASSACRE aggressive for treatment.” occurred and he had to lead a OCCURRED AND Almost immediately tributes grieving community through a HE HAD TO began to pour onto Facebook tumultuous time.

LEAD A GRIEVING with people remembering Before leaving South Florida DeCarlo and sending their for Orlando in 2014 DeCarlo COMMUNITY condolences. worked the Development THROUGH “Our hearts are broken. This Director of Broward House.

A TUMULTUOUS community stands with you.

DeCarlo left The Center in TIME. You are not alone in your grief.

2018 and came back to South Terry was an amazing man that Florida where he started leaves a legacy of love in his wake,” wrote working as a communications manager for David Vanlandingham. While Christopher Broward County Government. Born March Colella wrote:” I am so terribly sorry for such 19, 1962 in Bethpage, NY, DeCarlo is survived a tragedy. I pray that all of the wonderful by his husband Bill Huelsman, his mother memories stay with you forever. He was a Anne Fabrikant, sisters Mary Detro, Debbie gift to all of us. May he no longer suffer and Waters, and John Nunziato.

Terry did not want a mourning service but a celebration of life.

Details will follow in the coming weeks.

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NEWS LOCAL

To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Face book!

Victor Warren (left), Mark Gilbert, Paul Fasana and Wayne Schrebe, this year’s four LGBT Philanthropy Award recipients. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.

OUR FUND HONORS LOCAL PHILANTHROPISTS SFGN Staff

A

host of social service agency directors Accepting the award, Fasana paid homage and Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Dean to his late partner, Robert S. Graham, whom Trantalis, gathered at the Mary he stated gave him the inspiration to carry Porter Ballroom of the Broward Center on and try to do good for others. of the Performing Arts In addition to his last Saturday, to recognize volunteering, Fasana has the winners of this year’s endowed a fund in perpetuity LGBT Philanthropy Awards, for Stonewall at Our Fund and presented by Our Fund. supports many local LGBT “The Philanthropy Awards, causes and agencies through which recognize and his generosity. celebrate South Florida’s Wayne Schrebe was the “The Philanthropy leading philanthropists and recipient of the Philanthropist volunteers, has become our of the Year Award. His Awards, which signature event,” said David contributions helped launch recognize and Jobin, president and CEO, Our Fund’s “Protect Our Our Fund Foundation.“We Elders” Fund. celebrate South are extremely grateful for “The boundless energy” of Florida’s leading the continued support from Mark Gilbert was recognized Bank of America Private by awarding him the philanthropists Bank which enables us to ‘Commitment to a Cause” and volunteers, honor these remarkable and Award, citing his “infectious has become our generous community leaders spirit of volunteerism,” who help make South Florida which has helped make the signature event.” the most livable and energetic OUTShine Film Festival such - David Jobin community in the country for a popular community staple.

PRESIDENT AND CEO LGBT people.”

The Chair of SunServe, OF OUR FUND This year’s honorees Victor Warren, was awarded included Paul Fasana, who the “Next Generation of received the Dick Schwarz Award for Philanthropy” Award, citing his stewardship Lifetime Achievement. His contributions of the nonprofit, which has led to 26 were instrumental in building much of the consecutive quarters of growth and infrastructure of LGBT life in South Florida, expanded programming for the agency.

Jobin stated.

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NEWS STATE

WILTON MANORS, FORT LAUDERDALE TOP

LGBT EQUALITY LIST HRC’s

Jason Parsley

F

ive cities in Florida topped the 2019 Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index report this year including Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale.

Wilton Manors is no stranger to being on Fort Lauderdale has continued to improve top though — this is the sixth year in a row its score over the last several years — from they received a perfect score.

87 to 100.

“You can see that perfect score reflected “This is a very proud time in Fort in the everyday lives of the people who live Lauderdale; we have come a long way and here, work here, and choose to visit our this Commission has proven its commitment city,” Mayor Justin Flippen said in a prepared to equality for all,” said Commissioner Steve statement. “From policy to practice, our city Glassman. “Our recent human rights/antiprides itself on being a leader for cities all discrimination ordinance is proof positive.” across the country when it Last year Fort Lauderdale comes to promoting equality enacted a human rights for all. We want the world to ordinance that banned “YOU CAN SEE know that our true colors of discrimination against the THAT PERFECT inclusion wave well beyond LGBT community in the our historic permanent flying SCORE REFLECTED area’s employment, housing, of the LGBT+ Pride Flag along accommodation. The IN THE EVERYDAY public our main street of Wilton ordinance also established a LIVES OF THE Drive.” city-wide ban on conversion Flippen noted that their therapy for minors.

PEOPLE WHO score would have been even Overall there were six cities LIVE HERE, WORK in Florida to receive perfect higher at 109 if the city had been able to report all of its scores. The other four include HERE, AND bonus points.

Miami Beach, Orlando, St. CHOOSE TO VISIT Stratton Politizer, Deputy Petersburg, and Tampa.

OUR CITY.” Director of Equality Florida, Presumably West Palm Beach said at the state level Florida would have also received a - Justin Flippen is controlled by conservatives perfect score, but they did MAYOR OF WILTON so LGBT people have no not submit themselves for MANORS statewide protections. consideration this year.

“Even as we see rollbacks of Some cities such as West LGBTQ protections at the Federal level under Palm Beach and Miami Beach have to “selfthe Trump administration, Florida continues submit” each year whereas the rest of the list to be a national leader in passing local is chosen by certain factors such as: the 50 LGBTQ protections,” Politizer said. “The MEI state capitals, and 200 largest cities in the is an important tool for encouraging and U.S. rewarding cities in adopting LGBTQ inclusive Rand Hoch, the president of the Palm policies. It is gratifying to see cities issuing Beach County Human Rights Council, said press releases touting their high scores and the new mayor of West Palm Beach has even making their reputation for LGBTQ promised to submit the city into next year’s friendliness a centerpiece of their tourism index. Between 2016 and 2018 the city marketing.” received a perfect score.

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MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX

CITY CAPE CORAL CORAL GABLES DAYTONA FORT LAUDERDALE GAINESVILLE HIALEAH HOLLYWOOD JACKSONVILLE MIAMI MIAMI BEACH MIAMI SHORES OAKLAND PARK ORLANDO PEMBROKE PINES PORT ST. LUCIE ST. PETERSBURG TALLAHASSEE TAMPA WILTON MANORS WEST PALM BEACH

2017

2018

2019

39 61 30 87 99 49 67 67 59 100 91 99 100 78 31 100 100 86 100 100

39 59 30 98 96 39 46 79 55 100 81 97 100 71 39 100 99 100 100 100

39 75 30 100 94 39 70 79 55 100 81 97 100 71 39 100 99 100 100 *

1.29.2020 •

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PALM BEACH DATEBOOK ART AFTER DARK FRIDAYS FROM 5 TO 10 P.M. AT THE NORTON MUSEUM OF ART, 1450 S. DIXIE HWY, WEST PALM BEACH View an exhibition, attend a talk, participate in an art activity, enjoy a performance, concert, or film, sip cocktails, and dine in the Museum’s elegant new bar and restaurant. Free admission. Visit Norton.org.

PALM BEACHES PRIME TIMERS SECOND SATURDAYS AT 3 P.M. AT COMPASS GLCC, 201 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY IN LAKE WORTH An active fraternal and social organization dedicated to bring together mature gay and bisexual men for friendship, activities, support, and personal growth for the best times of our lives.

Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com.

STD TESTING AND FLU VACCINATIONS FIRST THURSDAYS FROM 3 TO 6 P.M. AT COMPASS GLCC, 201 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY IN LAKE WORTH The Department of Health comes monthly. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com.

FREE FRIDAY CONCERTS FRIDAYS AT 7:30 P.M. AT THE DELRAY BEACH CENTER FOR THE ARTS 51 N. SWINTON AVE. IN DELRAY BEACH Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

COFFEE CLATCH AT COMPASS FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 10 A.M. TO NOON AT COMPASS, 201 N. DIXIE HWY, LAKE WORTH A social group focusing on the mature LGBT+ community in Palm Beach County, providing a relaxed environment for meeting friends, discussing interesting topics, and engaging in community projects.

Free to attend, email joekolb@ compassglcc.com for details.

TRANSCENDENCE MEETS AT COMPASS GLCC, 201 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY IN LAKE WORTH A closed transgender youth support group for teens ages 12 to 19. For more information, email youth@compassglcc.com.

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PA L M B E A C H

news

NEW PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION FOCUSES ON GENDER FLUIDITY Denise Royal

A

mbient is an intersection of art, culture, identity, and life. The exciting new exhibition highlights the work of Cuban photographer Yunet Holmes. It aims to break down walls and stereotypes involving gender and sexuality.

The opening reception is Saturday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. at The Box Gallery, 811 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach. The event is free, and you can RSVP at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/ambient-tickets-87286316723.

In English, ambient means the immediate surroundings of something. In Spanish, ambiente is a euphemism for gay. This work focuses on the people who live in the community surrounding the studio and shows them in ways they want.

All of them are genderfluid — people who are on the transgender spectrum and who want to identify in a way that’s authentic for them. Through photography, Holmes seeks to show how gender is different from sexuality. Everyone shown identifies with a pronoun that may or may not correlate one’s sexuality.

“The exhibition is extraordinary,” said The Box Gallery’s Rolando Chang Barrero.

“It not only gives a face to the gender-fluid

One of the photos that will be featured at the Ambient exhibit.

Photo by Yunet Holmes, via The Box Gallery, Facebook.

community but attaches their humanity, their spirit, their very essence. Holmes gives voice to the community who want to experience life authentically.”

All of the work will be auctioned; the proceeds will benefit Transpire Help — a non-profit organization founded in 2016 to assist LGBT people who are committed to living free from drug addiction or alcoholism.

“THE EXHIBITION IS EXTRAORDINARY. IT NOT ONLY GIVES A FACE TO THE GENDERFLUID COMMUNITY BUT ATTACHES THEIR HUMANITY, THEIR SPIRIT, THEIR VERY ESSENCE.” - Rolando Chang Barrero THE BOX GALLERY

One of the photos that will be featured at the Ambient exhibit. Photo by Yunet Holmes, via The Box Gallery, Facebook.

Transpire Help aspires to connect individuals to the care and resources necessary to create a solid foundation for a healthy and fulfilling life in recovery.

It serves as a fundraising organization committed to re-directing financial support to help LGBT individuals within substance use treatment to be able to afford medications, food, clothes for job interviews, and much more.

Transpire Help strives to connect individuals in recovery to mental health services and assist with establishing longterm sober-living housing for the LGBT community.

The opening reception is Saturday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. at The Box Gallery, 811 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach. The event is free. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ambient-tickets-87286316723.

PA L M B E A C H

news

MISS PALM BEACH PRIDE PAGEANT MONDAY IN LAKE WORTH Kristen Grau

L

ast year, Kataleya Davenport Dupree took home the title of Miss Palm Beach Pride, a title that comes along with being one of the faces of Palm Beach Pride and other Palm Beach County events throughout the year. And on Monday, a new one will be crowned.

Miss Palm Beach Pride is one of the county’s biggest drag pageants — and will see its fifth year on Feb. 3 at the Lake Worth Playhouse. Tickets range from $15 to $20, and some of the proceeds will go toward Compass, the LGBT community center of the Palm Beaches.

CONTESTANTS WILL COMPETE FOR FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE IN PRESENTATION, EVENING GOWN CATEGORIES.

Kataleya Davenport Dupree, 2019’s Miss Palm Beach Pride.

Photo via Miss Palm Beach Pride 2020 Pageant, Facebook.

“The pageant has grown over the past few years and we have some extraordinary judges this year,” said Compass Chief Development Officer Julia Murphy. “We are thrilled to partner with The Lake Worth Playhouse to produce the pageant again this year.”

Those judges include Nicole T. Phillips, Ty Austin, Scott Holland, Christopher Caldwell, Rashad German, Sharde Ross and Oscar Novva, Murphy said.

Two other special guests will make an appearance to help lead the event: Palm Beach County drag queens Melissa St. John and Velvet Lenore.

Contestants will compete for first, second and third place in presentation, evening gown categories. Along with Dupree, three other drag queens can call themselves a former Miss Palm Beach: Velvet Lenore (2016), Tayanna Love (2017) and Rianna Petrone (2018).

“I want to make sure everyone in the world fears nothing when it comes to us [the LGBT community],” Depree said last year after her victory. “What better way to represent Palm Beach than Miss Palm Beach Pride?”

The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and guests will have a cash bar and refreshments available. You can buy tickets at LakeWorthPlayHouse.org.

COMING SOON TO A RED RACK NEAR YOU

S O U T H

F L O R I D A

G A Y

N E W S Vol. 9 Issue 1 February - March 2020

WINTER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PREVIEW

READ IT ONLINE AT THEMIRRORMAG.COM

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More than 200 guests attended the event at the Palm Beach home of Bill Eberhardt and Todd Hayes, according to Rand Hoch, president of PBCHRC. “Bill and Todd went all out with the food, bar, lighting, music and dancers to make this event extraordinary,” said Hoch, who is also a retired judge. “Cleary, this was our most successful – and most fun – event in more than thirty years.”

Sandy James Fine Food & Catering and Echo provided hors d’ouvres and sushi.

“CLEARY, THIS WAS OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL – AND MOST FUN – EVENT IN MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS.” - Rand Hoch PRESIDENT OF PBCHRC

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For more information about the PBCHRC, visit the website at PBCHRC.org or call 561-358-0105.

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Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

MORON WITH A SIGN

FROM PATRON TO PROTESTOR CUSTOMER LOSES IT AFTER REJECTED OVERTURE

x

Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com

F

or ten years, on Friday nights, Ron the doorman, Woods actually went in Woods hung out at the entrance to the and shouted at one of the club’s female Manor on Friday nights. bartenders for serving the kid a soda. That’s Sometimes, the doorman Fernando tells off the chart. me, he would even be helpful.

“He was screaming at me,” she said. “ I “Oh, nothing much, he would let patrons did not even know who he was. He [Woods] know they could not take drinks outside onto scared me.” the public sidewalks, or smoke inside. But, Not getting his way, Woods began first you know, he would also hit on customers he calling, then texting the owners of the found cute.” club, Paul Hugo and Brett Tannenbaum. He Woods would not patronize repeatedly ordered them the club. He would just hang to ban the kid from the outside at the door observing club, or he would make it IN THIS DAY AND the crowd, so much so a few his “civic duty” to go to the AGE, IF YOU SEE customers thought he worked police and have them shut there. down.

SOMETHING, IT Trouble is, now he does, Perceiving a potential IS WISE TO SAY too. threat to his staff and In the last few weeks, clientele, Hugo quietly SOMETHING. Woods has been telling went to the police YOU DON’T TAKE the club’s employees, staff, department and requested general manager, and now their assistance in order CHANCES WITH THE even the owners that he wants to control this slightly odd SAFETY OF YOUR a certain customer, a 19-yearbehavior. That’s his civic old man, banned from the duty.

STAFF OR THE club.

In this day and age, if PUBLIC. YOU STAND you see something, it is “If you don’t remove him at once,” he texted the owner, to say something. You UP AND SPEAK OUT. wise Paul Hugo, “I will consider don’t take chances with the it my civic duty to go to safety of your staff or the the police and charge you with allowing public. You stand up and speak out. underage drinking in the premises.”

Assistant Chief Gary Blocker assigned a The Manor has been open for over detective to the case immediately, and the ten years and five hundred weekends. A Wilton Manors Police Department ordered spectacular venue, it has hosted presidential a ‘threat assessment’ be initiated, promptly campaigns, charitable benefits, and Super serving Woods with a ‘No Trespass’ order, Bowl parties. The nightclub has a premiere barring him from entering the Manor at 2345 and stellar reputation for its presence, Wilton Drive. philanthropy, and professionalism in our Immediately after being served with the community.

No Trespassing order by law enforcement, Woods first demanded that the club’s Woods responded defiantly, sending Hugo general manager fire Fernando, the doorman another text message, reading: “You think a who has worked the front door for six years, simple trespass order can stop me? ” for allowing the 19 year old into the club.

Woods then showed up outside the club, When he did not get his way with armed with a sign reading ‘Stop Underage

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Drinking,’ falsely implying the Manor might be doing something wrong. It is not.

The Manor responsibly employs a police detail, private security guards, professional doormen, security cameras, and skilled bartenders that conscientiously comply with all city and state alcohol beverage laws.

But if you are the jilted lover that Ron Woods turned out to be, you don’t care about the truth. You try to build yourself up while tearing someone else down.

So, for the past three weekends, Ron Woods has been standing outside of the Manor, all alone on the public sidewalk, day and night, sadly holding up his misleading sign.

As long as Woods stands in the public right of way, on the sidewalk, his conduct is lawful, outside the scope of the ’No Trespass’ order issued by the police.

Folks, it may be lawful, but it is also whacko.

Despite the fact that Paul Hugo has been my friend for years, this situation reminded me of the story we did about the nude bicyclist who paraded up and down Wilton Drive last Fall. It was a story, and I decided for myself to find out what was going on. I was not retained by the club to do so.

Alas, I have now discovered that what set Woods into this ‘civic activism’ and ‘community concern’ was not righteousness, but revenge. Turns out he is nothing more than an old man scorned. You might say I have caught him with his pants down.

You see, about two months ago, Ron Woods once dated a 19 year old patron of the club.

But the young man rejected his overtures and advances, choosing to terminate further contact.

Woods would not leave things alone, though. Instead, he has retaliated by attempting to have the kid permanently

CONVICTIONS Publisher's Editorial CONVICTIONS banned from the Manor. So much for his public concerns about underage drinking.

I interviewed the young man Woods went after last weekend. He told me the whole story. He admits now that he made the mistake of going out on a date with Woods.

“He was looking for more than I was,” the young man told me.

“Ron really came on to me, told me I was ‘different,’ ‘special,’ so ‘unlike other young men he had ever met,” the lad explained.

There you go. There is your warning sign for a first encounter- when someone you meet at ten o’clock tells you they love you by eleven.

“It was eerie,” the young man told me. “I did not have any special connection with him, but he seemed to think he had one with me. I told him I was not even thinking about sex, or a relationship, but from the moment I said that, I have been paying a price. I just want the guy to leave me alone.”

It was immediately after this rejection that Woods summarily began injecting himself into the business affairs of the Manor, and harassing its staff.

Woods has gone to the doorman, bartenders, security, supervisors and even ownership, insisting this young man be barred from the club at his behest- shouting at some, abusing others, and even making threats. When that did not work, he even went to see the chief of police. No kidding.

A few croutons short of a salad.

Woods has also threatened the club’s ownership by texts to do his bidding or he will go to multiple government agencies and complain about them.

But you know what, Mr. Woods? After those agencies read this column, you are the one they are going to be investigating.

Ron Woods was never an employee or manager of the Manor. He is just a guy who stood at the front door when the club was open, never even going in for drinks or to socialize. Now he stands outside with a picket sign, thinking he can dictate to the owners who gets in. No Ron, you can’t.

You can’t demand that a businessman ban a kid from patronizing a nightclub because you can’t get laid.

So what do you do if you are a nightclub owner stalked by a lonely guy with a big grudge?

Legally, if someone interferes with your

business, trespasses on your property, or harasses and obstructs patrons lawfully trying to come and go, you can always go to court and sue. It is an option on the table here as well.

For right now, though, the Manor has come up with some creative counter programming of its own. You see, wherever Ron can lawfully protest, so too can other members of the public. Free speech is a two way street.

An employee of the Manor now stands adjacent to Ron Woods on the public sidewalk. He holds a sign of his own, reading ‘Beware of Creepy Old Men Carrying Signs.’

A second one mocks Woods even further.

It reads, ‘I’m With Stupid.’ I love it.

If he thinks he can just abuse a reputable night club and disrupt their business by telling lies about them, they can just do their civic duty and tell the public — particularly young men under the age of 21— the truth about him.

Woods threatened to go the press too. Surprise.

We have come to him.

Like citizens, the press has a duty, too. We say something if we see something.

Too many bad things have happened to good people these days.

Isolated loners doing weird shit can’t be ignored.

You should really take your sign and go far, far away. Leave this kid and the Manor alone.

Neither want anything to do with you. Go play with yourself in your Nu River condo.

The freedom of speech and assembly built into the first amendment is a wonderful thing, Mr. Woods. It gives you the right to stand out there on that public sidewalk all night if you want.

Unfortunately for you, there is also a clause in that amendment about a free press.

It gives me the right to tell the world just what a shmuck I think you are. So don’t let the door hit you on the way out. You will never step into that club again.

You are no civic minded protestor. No sir.

You are just a creepy old man standing in the street holding up a deceitful, misleading sign. Everyone else is inside the club having a good time, scoffing at you.

And no, I am not the bully here. I am reporting on the person who would have been one, but for a free press.

Editorial Cartoon

EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Mike Luckovich

IT WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS REJECTION THAT WOODS SUMMARILY BEGAN INJECTING HIMSELF INTO THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF THE MANOR, AND HARASSING ITS STAFF.

and

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