SFGN 07/21/22 V13iss29 by South Florida Gay News

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE JULY JULY21, 7, 2022 2022 VOL. 13 // ISSUE 29 26 THE

GAZETTE BEGINS IN CENTER

NO JUSTICE FOR BREE X

KEY WEST LOSES A LEGEND

STEVEN SMITH SHAPED LGBT EQUALITY IN THE CONCH REPUBLIC PAGE 18

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• 7. 21. 2022

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

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July 21, 2022 • Volume 13 • Issue 29

Editorial

Austen Erblat n top of COVID-19 and now monkeypox, which has been disproportionately impacting gay and bisexual men in South Florida, health officials are now bracing for an outbreak of yet another sickness, mostly among men who have sex with men: meningitis. Meningitis and meningococcal disease are seeing record numbers for recent years in Florida at a combined 129 cases as of July 17. There were 110 cases in all of 2021; 96 in 2020; 121 in 2019 and 131 cases in both 2018 and 2017. While similar, meningitis and meningococcal disease are distinct, but both serious and potentially deadly. Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord and could be viral or bacterial, while meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that could impact the brain, blood, or both. Left untreated, they can kill someone in 48 hours. But with early detection and treatment, which usually comprises a prescription of antibiotics, the most serious symptoms can subside in a week or two, according to Dr. Clifford Kinder, director of research for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s southern bureau in Miami. Of the cases 2022, 16 appear to be in Orange County. Another eight are in Palm Beach, nine are in Miami-Dade, and three are in Broward. It’s the highest case count since 2014, although still considerably less prevalent than it was in the early 2000s. Still, with cases surpassing the last five years and 2022 only halfway through, health experts are growing concerned. Two subgroups of the disease are among the outbreak in Florida, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: serogroup B — which

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spreads among younger people living in close proximity, like in colleges, university, and the military — and serogroup C — which is seeing cases among men who have sex with men. While anyone can contract meningitis and meningococcal disease, gay and bisexual men have been disproportionately impacted by this outbreak. Now, the CDC is encouraging gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to get a MenACWY vaccine if they live in Florida or are traveling to Florida, as well as anyone with HIV. “Getting vaccinated against meningococcal disease is the best way to prevent this serious illness, which can quickly become deadly,” Dr. José Romero, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a statement in late June. “Because of the outbreak in Florida, and the number of Pride events being held across the state in coming weeks, it’s important that gay and bisexual men who live in Florida get vaccinated, and those traveling to Florida talk to their healthcare provider about getting a MenACWY vaccine,” he said. Dr. Kinder, of AHF, said he’s been giving the

vaccine out in large numbers to anyone who’s seeking it and is qualified. He’s concerned with how quickly people have started seeking that vaccine in recent weeks and thinks there are a lot of cases that haven’t yet been reported. “I haven’t heard of any meningococcal or meningitis cases in 15 years,” he said. “It was the last vaccines we’d give and now it’s one of our tops.” Elected officials are also sounding the alarm, in light of health agencies’ findings. “The CDC has called this moment that we’re in right now, this outbreak in Florida is one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease amongst gay and bisexual men in U.S. history,” State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, of Orange County, said at an event in Orlando. The bacteria that cause the illness grows in the upper respiratory tract and is transmitted by droplets, according to Orange County Health Director Dr. Raul Pino. Although it is not as contagious as the germs that cause a cold or flu, it can still spread through close or lengthy contact, especially in enclosed areas like college campus housing and senior living communities, he said.

For those who want the meningitis vaccine, you can currently get vaccinated at CVS and Walgreens.

JINKX MONSOON PAYS ‘REVERENCE TO THE QUEENS’ THAT CAME BEFORE HER Visit SFGN.com to find out more.

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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 or gender identity of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations in SFGN. SFGN contracts with independent entities for stock images. 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.

PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS

Prescription opioids can be prescribed by doctors to treat moderate-to-severe pain but can also have serious risks and side effects.

COMMON TYPES ARE

OXYCODONE (OXYCONTIN), HYDROCODONE (VICODIN), MORPHINE, AND METHADONE. Prescription opioids can be used to treat moderate-to-severe pain and are often prescribed following surgery or injury, or for health conditions such as cancer. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of prescription opioids for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain, such as back pain or osteoarthritis, despite serious risks and the lack of evidence about their long-term effectiveness.

WHEN THE PRESCRIPTION BECOMES THE PROBLEM More than 191 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed to American patients in 2017—with wide variation across states.1 Health care providers in the highest prescribing state, Alabama, wrote almost three times as many of these prescriptions per person as

The most common drugs involved in prescription opioid overdose deaths include: • Methadone

• •

Oxycodone (such as OxyContin®) Hydrocodone (such as Vicodin®)3

those in the lowest prescribing state, Hawaii.1

Studies suggest that regional variation in use of prescription opioids cannot be explained by the underlying health status of the population.2

To reverse this epidemic, we need to improve the way we treat pain. We must prevent abuse, addiction, and overdose before they start.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Get connected. Get answers. Get options. Dial 211. Broward County The Florida Overdose Data to Action (FL-OD2A) program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

7. 21. 20 22 •

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7. 21. 20 22 •

LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENNEDY MCKINNEY

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G TRANSGENDER

‘RAVEN’S HOME’ MAKES HISTORY WITH DISNEY’S FIRST TRANS CHARACTER In the latest episode of “Raven’s Home,” the show introduced its first trans character, Nikki. Played by Juliana Joel, this marks the first time Disney Channel has had a live-action trans character. Joel celebrated the historic moment in a thoughtful post on Instagram about the importance of LGBT representation for kids who are growing up and already know they are queer. She wrote, “I’d never seen an out trans actor or character on the Disney Channel. EVER. Needless to say, I cried in my dressing room after walking onto that set the first time. It was a moment where it hit me that I not only get to live out my childhood dream on a version of my favorite show.” New episodes of “Raven’s Home” air Fridays on the Disney Channel.

Photo via Facebook.

... HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY

BISEXUAL

VIRGINIA DEL. KELLY CONVIRS-FOWLER COMES OUT AS BISEXUAL

Kelly Convirs-Fowler, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, has come out as bisexual. She made this announcement during a Pride celebration in Virginia Beach. “I’m bisexual. I just never felt like I could say that out loud,” said ConvirsFowler. In an interview with The VirginianPilot, she said she was out to her friends and family but felt it was important to make a public statement. “I wanted to speak my truth, and it just felt right in the moment to say it,” she said. “I hope it helps others; that is my goal because saying it out loud can be difficult, but I want them to be able to speak their truths — you should be able to love who you want to love.”

Photo via Facebook.

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• 7. 21. 2022

LGBTQIA BITES

PANSEXUAL

MONICA DOGRA OPENS UP ON BEING PANSEXUAL

Actress and singer Monica Dogra came out as pansexual last year while promoting her drama series “The Married Woman” at the Awadh Queer Pride. In an interview with Hindustan Times, she opened up about her pansexual journey since coming out. Dogra said she had first heard the word pansexual about five or six years ago and thought that it described her. She said that before, sexual orientations were very black and white. “Either you were gay or you were straight. And if you were gay you certainly weren’t accepted or celebrated. Gay was even a slang word connoting something bad. It was so twisted,” she said. Dogra expresses her feelings through her art and encourages people to be “loud and proud with their truth, however scary” and added, “Whatever you do get, you know you got it on your own, and on your own terms.”

Photo by Bollywood Hungama, via Wikimedia Commons.

7. 21. 20 22 •

NEWS NATIONAL

THE COUNTRY

ACROSS

WASHINGTON D.C. FIRST LGBT HOMELESS SHELTER OPENS IN D.C. Muriel Bowser’s administration has created a space for the LGBT homeless in D.C. The space on 400 50th ST S.E. will primarily be taking in queer people of 25 and over beginning in August. The shelter has a 40-bed occupancy and will be providing services that are specifically tailored to the LGBT community. “People experience homelessness differently, for different reasons and in different ways. People avoid homeless shelters also for a multitude of reasons,” Bowser said at the ceremony outside the facility, according to the DCist. “We know and we have seen it in the creation of our small dignified family shelters, that when we get shelter right, people will come into shelter.”

Image courtesy of Muriel Bowser via Facebook.

According to DCist reporting with Point-In-Time count data presented by Department of Human Services Director Laura Green Zeilinger, approximately 7% of adults experiencing homelessness in the city’s shelter system are LGBTQ, while 18% of adults experiencing homelessness and who are unsheltered are LGBTQ.

BY KIZZY AZCARATE

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

CALIFORNIA ‘IT’S POETIC JUSTICE’ - GOP REPRESENTATIVE MAY LOSE SEAT TO LGBT DEMOCRAT IN NEXT ELECTION For 30 years, GOP Rep. Ken Calvert has held his position in Riverside County, California. Now with the new redistricting maps, the district that had primarily Republican voters has now evened out with democratic LGBT voters. During his public service, Calvert has made anti-LGBT remarks toward his opponents nd his legislation has been anti-LGBT, but has changed his tune. “Calvert’s district lost solidly GOP areas such as Temecula and Murrieta while gaining liberal swaths, most notably Palm Springs, the first city in the nation to elect an all-LGBTQ city council,” reported the Los Angeles Times. When asked about the current Supreme Court possibly overturning marriage equality, Calvert said, “It wasn’t

Ken Calvert vs. Will Rollins. Image via Facebook.

always my position. It’s a different country than it was 30 years ago.” Calvert is up against LGBT Democrat Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor who has worked on Jan. 6 cases. “It’s poetic justice,” Sam Garrett-Pate, a Los Angeles-based spokesman for Equality California, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ rights, told the LA Times. “I don’t think there’s any other way to put it than what goes around comes around.”

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• 7. 21. 2022

On July 10, the Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization’s construction project was vandalized with homophobic hate speech and violent threats. The LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc. posted photos on their Facebook page with images of graffiti reading “the f----will die by fire,” “we will burn this,” and “die slow” over the signs. “To see cowards come out under the dark of night and try to intimidate or put their hate on this larger community, it doesn’t represent what we’ve seen throughout this multi-year process, and we are just going to move even faster to get this done,” Mayor Michelle Wu said at an event held to condemn the vandalism, NBC Boston reported. The Boston police department

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Hateful graffiti covered with signs of support. Image via Facebook.

confirmed to NBC Boston that there is a current investigation into the vandalism that occurred. “We will not let bullies and cowards stop our work to create safe and welcome affordable housing for our LGBTQ elders. We will not let hate go unchallenged in Hyde Park,” said LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc. in a Facebook statement.

MILWAUKEE SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY PASSES TO RECOGNIZE JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH Visit SFGN.com to find out more.

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

THE WORLD AROUND

BY EVERITT ROSEN

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

EUROPE

ASIA

AMID WAR, UKRAINE CONSIDERS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGALIZATION

NINTENDO JAPAN TO OFFER LGBT EMPLOYEES BENEFITS

A petition in Ukraine calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage will be considered by the president after gaining enough signatures. President Volodymyr Zelensky now has 10 days to reply to the petition after it received more than 28,000 signatures. In Ukraine, homosexuality is not against the law, but same-sex unions and civil partnerships are not accepted. Particular issues have arisen for LGBT individuals enlisting in the military since Russia’s incursion. For instance, same-sex partners in Ukraine are not permitted to retrieve the deceased’s body or bury them. According to the BBC, any petition in Ukraine with more than 25,000 signatories is automatically taken into consideration by the president. However, this does not

Kiyv Equality March in 2019. Photo by OSKAR IANSONS, via Wikimedia Commons.

ensure that the legislation will change, and it is unclear whether Mr. Zelensky would make a move to legalize same-sex unions.

AFRICA THREE LGBT MEN SENTENCED TO STONING IN NIGERIA Three LGBT men were condemned to death by stoning by an Islamic sharia court in Nigeria. The men were found guilty of homosexual activity by a Ningi court in the northern state of Bauchi. Following their arrest in the village of Gwada, the force’s commissioner Adam Dan Kafi told Reuters that a sharia court had accused the men. Judge Munka’ilu Sabo Ningi pronounced a death sentence against the three males, ages 20, 30, and 70. All of them admitted to their crimes while being unrepresented by attorneys. They were sentenced under section 134 of the 2001 Bauchi State Penal Law, which states, “Whoever commits the offence of sodomy shall be punished with death

Photo by Miguel Bruna on Unsplash.

Even though Japanese law does not presently recognize gay marriages, Nintendo Japan will grant employees in same-sex domestic partnerships the same privileges it grants to those in heterosexual unions. The corporation made the announcement in a change to its corporate social responsibility principles that was noticed by Go Nintendo. The policy has been in effect since March 2021, and the corporation has since started to recognize common-law marriages in the same way as formal marriages, according to a new section headed “Introduction of a Partnership System.” “At Nintendo, we want to create a work environment that supports and empowers

Photo via NintendoBlast.com.

each and every one of our unique employees,” the company told Engadget.

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7. 21. 20 22 •

NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s

SNAPSHOT

OF THE

WEEK

From your life... into our pages! SFGN takes a weekly look at a community that has stood together through countless trials and victories in the past year alone. Photo by J.R. Davis

Our Fund’s finance director Ted Vasquez, CEO/president David Jobin, and communications and administration associate Obed Caballero at the SFGN 12th anniversary party held at Grieco Ford.

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• 7. 21.2022

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7. 21. 20 22 •

NEWS LOCAL

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unshine Cathedral’s mission of love and acceptance isn’t accepted by everyone. Over the weekend, several signs with vile messages targeting the LGBT community were left on Sunshine Square, part of the church campus. The signs were placed late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. They were clearly meant to intimidate LGBT congregants as they arrived for Sunday worship services. The signs were written by hand in black and red marker, and read like the rambling manifesto of an unhinged, alt-right extremist. The signs attempt to link LGBT citizens to pedophilia and “grooming” and human trafficking of children. They also rail against COVID-19 masks, the United Nations, immigrants, Jewish people, and more, often citing long-discredited theories that remain popular in extremist organizations. The signs weren’t placed on the sanctuary itself. They were found in Sunshine Cathedral Square, which is a separate set of buildings. Happening Out Television has their studio in one of the buildings, and the signs were just feet from where they produce LGBT news and entertainment productions, including Queer News Tonight, which broke the story. “This is just one of many threats that have been made against the world’s largest queer church,” Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin said. “It no longer shocks me, but it still shocks me.”

REMOVED FROM VIEW Most people, including Sunshine’s ministerial staff, didn’t know about the attack. One congregant arrived early, saw the signs and, not wanting to worry others, took them down. Church officials say had they known, operations would have gone into full lockdown mode. SFGN has been told that no police report was filed, but video from security cameras is being reviewed. As of this writing, no suspect has been identified. Sunshine Cathedral bills itself as “The World’s Largest Queer Church,” and is known for its welcoming attitude towards all, especially the LGBT community. In addition to being a spiritual hub, it also hosts recovery meetings, some of SunServe’s offices and programs, Happening Out Television Network, and more. Despite the hate attack, Sunshine continues to operate. Sunday services will continue, Happening Out continues to produce its shows, and people still meet. While people are keeping their guard up, they are not allowing the attackers to win and will not be cowed into fear and submission. Dr. Griffin said, “Nothing will prevent Sunshine Cathedral from being a welcoming place, and to serve everyone in our community. Nothing.”.

THE

GAZETTE VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 14 JULY 21, 2022

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WILTON MANORS

CHILD DIES MONTHS AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR IN WILTON MANORS By Christiana Lilly A child has died almost seven months after being hit by a driver in Wilton Manors, an incident that left two other family members dead. La’Ziyah Stukes, who turned 10 in March, died on July 11 due to injuries she sustained from the Dec. 27, 2021, accident, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Sean Charles Greer, 27, was driving down Powerline Road when a Broward County Transit bus was stopped to let off passengers. When the bus attempted to merge back into the lanes, Greer cut off the bus, leading him to drive off the roadway and onto the sidewalk where the six children, including La’Ziyah,

“WE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE WESTSIDE HAVE BEGGED, PLEADED AND WRITTEN TO OFFICIALS AND PARTICIPATED IN FDOT’S MOLLIFYING ‘SURVEYS’ TO LOWER SPEEDS AND ENHANCE SAFETY ON [POWERLINE ROAD]; TO NO TANGIBLE RESULTS FOR YEARS.” - Jake Valentine WILTON MANORS RESIDENT

La’Ziyah Stukes. Photo via Facebook.

were walking. “When he cut in front of me he went straight for the kids,” bus driver Selvin Arjun told CBS 4 at the time. Andrea Fleming, 6, and Kylie Jones, 5, were pronounced dead at the scene while La’Ziyah, Draya Fleming, 9, Johnathan Carter, 10, and Audre Fleming, 2, were taken to Broward Medical Center for treatment. Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker said bystanders “sprang into action” after the accident to attend to the children.

Greer sped up to leave the scene of the deadly accident and police found his vehicle the next day. He was arrested shortly after, and BSO said he confessed to hitting the kids. He has since pleaded not guilty to all 23 counts against him, including three counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. Wilton Manors was rocked by the tragedy, and some feel that more needs to be done to protect residents using Powerline Road. “We as a neighborhood on the Westside have begged, pleaded and written to officials

www.WMGAZETTE.com

Sean Charles Greer. Courtesy of Broward County Jail.

and participated in FDOT’s mollifying ‘surveys’ to lower speeds and enhance safety on [Powerline Road]; to no tangible results for years,” said Wilton Manors resident Jake Valentine. Greer has multiple arrests, including drug infractions and domestic violence. He was driving with a suspended license at the time and was on probation for burglary of a dwelling. His next court date is in October. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs.

7. 21. 20 22 •

WILTON MANORS

AU REVOIR

OPINION

LONGTIME COLUMNIST SAL TORRE SAYS GOODBYE TO GAZETTE

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

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changes? It is because people’s minds are too imprisoned by lies, fear and misguided respect for the very institutions that have exploited them for centuries.” Think about this for a minute and you will begin to realize how true it is. We want to believe that monopolistic corporations like Amazon, Starbucks, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, CVS, and Walmart are not just exploiting us all for profits. Somehow we are all part of the new world of social corporatism — leading to a more efficient and better world. Our minds do not want to blame American gun manufacturers as children are murdered in their schools, nor drug companies and pharmacies as they fed addictive drugs to vulnerable individuals while making huge profits. Such is the same here in our Island City, after many years of advocacy by many in our community there are plenty of streets and homes still at risk of flooding after just one heavy downpour, and the quality of our drinking water is in question, Andrews Avenue through Wilton Manors lack the improvements

that Oakland Park secured from the county; there is still no pedestrian crosswalk across Powerline Road in front of Mickel Park, not a one new entrance sign or wayfinding sign anywhere in the city — a project that was first approved so long ago it’s hard to remember, and to this day it’s hard to imagine that the irrigation, streetscaping and tree planting could not have taken place while the state reconstructed Wilton Drive. Our minds are imprisoned by some misguided respect for those in our municipality who we want to believe have done a great job. We allow them to offer excuses, that it’s the state’s fault, it’s a county road, it’s Fort Lauderdale’s water treatment facility, on and on. More could have been done: perhaps a more active campaign to bring about regional solutions to our drinking water problems, perhaps not dropping the ball when the county was signing agreements with cities to improve work along Andrews Avenue, perhaps a more aggressive approach to securing the necessary work to be done along Wilton Drive while the state was tearing up the roadway. It is always easy to point a finger, so I will also recognize that many in our city government, on our City Commission, on Advisory Boards and throughout our community have given much to make Wilton Manors a wonderful place to live, work and play. This strong community involvement and commitment by so many is the core of what makes life just better here. I thank you all for this wonderful journey we call the Island City.

www.WMGAZETTE.com • 7. 21.2022

July 21, 2022 • Volume 9 • Issue 14

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

This journey has been nothing short of fantastic. I've written over seven years of articles that made people laugh, gasp, get upset, be amused, and mostly become better informed of life here in our Island City.

GAZETTE Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

By Sal Torre Over the last few months I have had a desire within to change course, to start on a new journey. One way to move ahead at times is to detach from the commitments and obligations one has entwined himself with over the years. Having been very active in our Island City for many years, I have decided to pull back, refocus and hopefully reinvent. Perhaps events of the last few years have had a toll on me, made me no longer able to process the insanity of it all. COVID, war, Trump, January 6 riots, Roe v. Wade, gun violence, school children murdered in elementary schools, wealthy 1%, economic insecurity, the rise of religious right fascists, the list goes on. So, when the publisher of South Florida Gay News informed me before the last edition of the Wilton Manors Gazette that there was no room for my article in that edition, I took the news as some divine intervention, a karmic calling, a clear sign that I needed to take a step back, to take a break from writing a regular opinion piece for the Gazette as I have done for the last seven or more years. And so, this will likely be my last article for now as I close this chapter to start a new one. This journey has been nothing short of fantastic. I’ve written over seven years of articles that made people laugh, gasp, get upset, be amused, and mostly become better informed of life here in our Island City. None of this would have been possible without the vision of SFGN, its founder Norm Kent and the hard work of Associate Publisher Jason Parsley. The luxury of having such a vital source of local news should never be taken for granted. This past weekend as I looked to get lost in some binge-watching on television, to get away from everything swirling around in my head, I happened to come across the Sex Pistols series. Having been a teenager in NYC when the Sex Pistols would play at CBGB’s, I found myself pondering the memories of such a different time when the world around us was in such turmoil. A line in the show specifically caught my attention, “Do you know why nothing

THE

2 •

JULY 21, 2022

Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping 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. MEMBER

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NEWS

WILTON MANORS

NEWS

OAKLAND PARK

MAN ARRESTED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING CHILD — THEN TRIES TO ATTACK BSO OFFICER By Christiana Lilly

Image via Facebook.

WILTON CREAMERY FREEZER BREAKS,

OWNER LOSES THOUSANDS By Bella Ramirez Daniel “DJ” Colby, managing partner and the freezer completely. The next morning, the chef of Wilton Creamery, didn’t expect to freezer’s ice cream seemed softer than usual. celebrate the local ice cream shop’s eighth In the time it took for maintenance to get to birthday by tackling the costs of a broken the store, the ice cream hardened again. What Colby took as “fine” was a block of ice freezer the day before Stonewall Pride. Now, Colby is facing $6,758 in costs from going through the compressor — a quick fix inventory lost, parts repair and a new freezer for the broken freezer. By that night before Pride in Wilton Manors, as of June 21. “I have no insurance that will cover that,” the ice cream started to soften again but not to the extent it did hours before. Colby assumed Colby said. The broken freezer resulted in 10 flavors the ice cream would “firm up overnight.” “We came in Friday morning out of circulation including and literally everything was half of the store’s non-dairy ice melted. Because of Pride cream and all of their no-sugarbeing the next day, everybody added ice creams for diabetic was having their recreations people. Wilton Creamery also serviced so I called eight lost multiple toppings that are different companies to come kept in the freezer like cookie out,” Colby said. dough, cheesecake and fruits. One company showed up at Colby spent time collecting 6 p.m. and stayed for five hours various hard-to-come-by fruits trying to fix the freezer. in hopes of turning them into “He replaced every part he ice creams once he stowed could think of,” Colby said. away enough of them. He lost Wilton Creamery is currently all of his miracle fruit, which waiting on capillary coils to get he spent the past two years delivered — the final part that plucking off its branches each may fix the machine. week. Managing Partner & Chef “That’s the part that was “So, that’s gone,” Colby said. “I only had like another three or four months broken and melted and he couldn’t replace it where I could have made a sorbet out of because he didn’t have it,” Colby said. “It never goes bad apparently.” miracle fruit.” Just in case the capillary coils don’t fix the During Pride, Wilton Creamery ran out of “simple things like vanilla” because they did machine, the store also bought a new freezer. “It basically wiped out our entire weekend,” not have a freezer to store backups. Plus, they Colby said. “It’s not ideal, but it’s the cost had no dog ice cream for canine visitors. “That was pretty sad,” Colby said. “You can’t of doing business. Unfortunately, it just happened to happen at the worst possible explain to a dog that the freezer broke.” June 15, at night, an employee forgot to close time.”

A 20-year-old Fort Lauderdale man was arrested on July 3 on charges of sexually assaulting a minor — then more charges were added when he attempted to escape from police. The Broward Sheriff’s Office says that a family contacted them on July 2, alleging that Samuel Shirk (who goes by his middle name, Austin) was molesting their child while staying with them over the course of a few months. This included video voyeurism, or videotaping someone in a private setting without their consent. Deputies from the Oakland Park district arrested him “without incident” and brought him to the BSO Public Safety Building in Fort Lauderdale for questioning. While there, a handcuffed Shirk used the restroom under supervision and then attacked a BSO deputy. Other officers were able to subdue him and return him to his holding cell. Shirk has been charged with one count of lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim younger than 12, sexual assault on a victim younger than 12, video voyeurism on a victim younger than 19, battery on an officer, use or

Samuel Shirk. Courtesy BSO.

display of a firearm during a felony, attempt to escape, and two counts of obstruction. BSO says they are concerned that Shirk may have more victims. The public is encouraged to contact BSO Special Victims Unit detective Vanessa Encina at 954-321-4689. Or to remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters can also dial **TIPS (8477) or submit a tip through the SaferWatch App.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s the cost of doing business. Unfortunately, it just happened to happen at the worst possible time.” - Daniel "DJ" Colby

www.WMGAZETTE.com 3 •

JULY 21, 2022

7. 21. 20 22 •

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

CITY COMMISSION REVISITS SALARY DISCUSSION, BROWARD SCHOOLS FUNDING

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

CITY COMMISSION TALKS UPCOMING EVENTS, TRANSPORTATION AND HONORS

By Bella Ramirez Commissioner Michael Bracchi revisited the discussion of raising city commissioner salaries at the July 12 city commission meeting. Commissioner Gary Resnick first brought up the topic in a meeting last year. Bracchi cites Commissioner Chris Caputo as one of the first to reject the idea last year because he felt city staff’s salaries should be addressed first. Bracchi noted that he agreed and felt that since city staff would see raises, that now “might be the right time to review [city commissioner salaries].” Bracchi said that city staff compiled a list of city commissioner and mayor salaries for nearby cities and that Wilton Manors ranked in the bottom 4 of 31 cities surveyed. Per the same study, Wilton Manors commissioners make $9,750 annually and the average commissioner salary of the cities surveyed was $27,000. “It’s really low,” Bracchi said. “I think we’re one of the hardest working commissions — doesn’t mean future commissions will be — but I think we are.” City commissioner salaries are changed by ordinance and will be subject to at least two public hearings. Commissioners received Bracchi’s notes with overall agreement. “So at first, my gut reaction was ‘no’ but you made some very valid points,” Caputo said. “The truth is we might even have more people that ran for commission if there was slightly more money involved.” Vice Mayor Paul Rolli also noted that certain cities have aides to help with work, but Wilton Manors does not. The commission agreed they would not want to propose a new salary that exceeded the average salary from their findings.

JULY IS PARKS & RECREATION MONTH By Bella Ramirez The Wilton Manors City Commission focused on transportation and upcoming events during their July 12 meeting.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Image from Pix4Free.

that will appear on primary election ballots Aug. 23. The renewal would increase the current investment of half a million dollars to one million dollars. The investment goes toward salary supplements for teachers and select staffers, mental health services and school safety services. “We’re thankful for the funding we get from Tallahassee but it’s not enough to fund these areas,” Sullivan said in his presentation. Legislation requires 20% of funds to go toward charter schools. Sullivan said at least 75% of the investment would go toward salary supplements as well. If passed, homeowners will see a $11.50 monthly increase from current payment to total $23 a month, and condo owners will see a $6.50 monthly increase to total $13 a SECURE THE NEXT month. GENERATION REFERENDUM Sullivan claimed that if RENEWAL the referendum does not get renewed in August, the average John Sullivan, Broward teacher would lose $4,600 Schools Chief of COMMISSIONER annually on average. If the Communications, also gave a referendum fails, the next time presentation at the meeting about the Secure the Next Generation Broward Schools can put a referendum on the Referendum Renewal. It’s a county-wide issue ballot is in 2024.

“I think we’re one of the hardest working commissions — doesn’t mean future commissions will be — but I think we are.” - Michael Bracchi

City Commissioners voted unanimously to pass the $696 per ERC water connection charge and $2,441 per ERC sewer connection charge. They also unanimously passed resolutions to approve surtax-funded transportation projects in zones 1, 2 and 4 — spanning south of Oakland Park Blvd. to north of northeast 20th St., and east of Andrews Ave. to west of northeast 6th Ave. These projects will mill, pave and resurface public roads in the allotted areas. City commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to use the third amendment to settle in City of Sunrise et. al v. Broward County. They also passed a memorandum of understanding with the Equality Club and Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society approving their July 14 installation of orchids at Richardson Park.

CIRCUIT TRANSPORTATION UPDATE Pennie Zuercher, Finance Director, announced that she met with the threeperson marketing team at Circuit. They plan to issue a press release in the next week, print posters and flyers, pass out “download the app” cards, advertise in local publications and send social media and email blasts to promote Circuit. The transportation service is expected to soft launch in Wilton Manors Sept. 1 and hard launch Sept. 8. Circuit will also make appearances at various local events ahead of the launch dates.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 16

• 7. 21.2022

UPCOMING EVENTS The Three Bridges Neighborhood Association was awarded the $11,250 AARP Community Challenge Grant for beautifying the Coral Gardens Park in the east side. They will hold their meeting July 27 in Hagen Park Community Center at 6:30 p.m. The Community Affairs Advisory Board will hold PrideFête Festival to celebrate Caribbean culture on Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. in Richardson Park. East Neighborhood Association will hold a meeting Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. in Independence Hall Community Room to improve landscaping at the entrance of Wilton Manors.

RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD The City Commission voted to appoint Patrick Harris, Helena Hantzes and John Fiore to the Recreation Advisory board.

HONORS Mayor Scott Newton designated July as Parks and Recreation month. The U.S. House of Representatives has also designated July as Parks and Recreation Month. During public comment, Paul Kuta honored long-time Wilton Manors resident Dolores Douglas’ life. Kuta said Douglas died over the fourth of July weekend.

LOOKING FORWARD City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson announced a Wilton Manors partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Broward County to offer the monkeypox vaccine in Richardson Park. At the time of the city commission meeting, all 420 available spots were booked within the day of their opening for signing up.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 4 •

JULY 21, 2022

MIAMI-DADE

news

JUSTICE DELAYED, AGAIN, IN MIAMI BEACH PRIDE ATTACK John Hayden

Luis Alonso-Piovet, Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa, Adonis Diaz and Juan C. Lopez. Photos via Miami-Dade corrections.

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ATTACK SHOCKED SOUTH FLORIDA LGBT COMMUNITY

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THE ATTACK WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA AND THE FOUR DEFENDANTS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY AND A HATE CRIME ENHANCEMENT WAS ADDED TO THE CHARGES.

Here’s a recap of what allegedly happened: the attack took place when Rene Chalarca and Dmitry Logunov were leaving a public bathroom in Lummus Park in Miami Beach on April 8, 2018. “We were walking and holding hands and needed to use the bathroom,” Logunov told SFGN in 2018. So the two of them stopped at a public restroom as they headed home for the evening. As Logunov walked out of the restroom he was allegedly called a “faggot” in Spanish, punched, and then beaten unconscious. His boyfriend at the time, Chalarca, quickly intervened, but three more men jumped in and began to attack them both. The attack was caught on camera, and the four defendants have been charged with three counts of aggravated battery. A hate crime enhancement was added to the charges. Earlier this year the defendants asked to have the case dismissed, citing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which says if you’re being attacked, you can fight back. The judge in the case, Ariana Orshan, rejected their claim. She said she watched the video many, many times and saw no evidence that the defendants were the ones being accosted.

Four young men were arrested and charged. Since then there’s been a global pandemic, two presidential impeachments, an election, and an insurrection. What there hasn’t been is a trial, and there won’t be one until nearly Halloween. Luis Manuel Alonso-Piovet, Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa, Juan Carlos Lopez, and Adonis David Diaz have delayed their day in court for more than four years and counting. Last week the judge set a trial date for late October. Over the years there have been hundreds of motions, hearings, depositions, scheduling conflicts, and other glacially slow legal maneuvers. All this can work in the defendants’ favor. Memories fade over time, and any change to someone’s original story in the police report could be used to damage their credibility (one of the victims wasn’t deposed until three years after the attack).

ATTACK CAUGHT ON CAMERA

THE ATTACK HAPPENED IN APRIL 2018. TWO PEOPLE WERE RANDOMLY ATTACKED IN A BATHROOM AFTER THE ANNUAL PRIDE PARADE IN MIAMI BEACH.

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Less than two years after the Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando, the LGBT community was still on edge when this attack took place. The victims in this case are forced to relive the event with every scheduled motion and hearing date. The next hearing will take place in October. While a trial is scheduled, it remains unclear when it will actually happen.

7. 21. 20 22 •

IN MEMORIAM TRIBUTE

GAY MAN REMEMBERED FOR MAKING KEY WEST

INCLUSIVE FOR LGBT TRAVELERS x

John McDonald

n the island of one human family, Steve K. Smith is remembered for making Key West a fabulous gay destination.

Tributes continue to pour into Smith’s hearts go out to his wonderful husband, Facebook page after his death was Paul Murray.” announced by his brother, Mike Smith, Smith and Murray married in 2004 in on July 13. Smith died of heart failure, the Provincetown, Massachusetts, not long result of a long battle with cancer. He was after the state became the first to legalize 71. gay marriage. The couple lived in Key “Steve was an extraordinary guy and a West and often played host to travelers wonderful brother,” Mike Smith said. “He from around the world. John Tanzella, loved his adopted home of Key West, its president and chief executive officer of the colorful and wonderful people, and his International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, friends and neighbors, immensely. His said Smith, a past president, treasurer and hospitality was legendary!” member of the board of directors, was Smith had many careers, but is integral in the organization’s development. largely associated with promoting and “As many travel writers and travel developing the industry friends can southernmost city attest, Steve was a in the contiguous generous host who was United States as a always ready to share his global LGBT tourist Key West with visitors,” destination. Tanzella said. “Our Key West Smith was involved family has lost a in many of Key West’s true ambassador marketing campaigns, for Key West bringing charm and and the LGBTQ+ passion to each project, community,” said friends recalled. Some Kevin Theraiult, of those efforts included executive director organizing the nation’s of the Key West first gay trolley tour, Business Guild. rolling out a gigantic “Steve spent many version of Gilbert Baker’s years promoting rainbow Pride flag or our beautiful island putting Sushi, the drag community as an queen, in a life-sized all-welcoming, high heel for New Year’s L G B T Q + festivities and slowly destination. Words lowering her onto Duval - Mike Smith cannot express Street at the stroke of BROTHER how much he will midnight. be missed. Our “Steve most certainly

“Steve was an extraordinary guy and a wonderful brother ... He loved his adopted home of Key West, its colorful and wonderful people, and his friends and neighbors, immensely. His hospitality was legendary!”

• 7. 21.2022

Steve K. Smith 1951 - 2022 put the GAY in Key West and will be a huge loss,” said Richard Gray, senior vice president of Inclusion & Accessibility for Visit Lauderdale. “Steve and I traveled globally together and what I loved the most was that there was never any rivalry between the two destinations. I always enjoyed our discussions on where LGBTQ+ travel was headed. I will miss him.” Along with promoting Key West and the Florida Keys to the LGBT community, Smith served for 20 years on the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board, a role that dealt with serious public health issues such as the Zika virus epidemic. “He didn’t do anything in half measures,” Mike Smith said. “Whatever he did, he always put community and service above self and always fought for what was

right.” A fifth-generation Floridian, Smith was born in Daytona Beach and lived for many years in Lakeland before moving to the Keys in the late 1980s. He is survived by his husband, Paul Murray of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England and brothers Mike Smith of Winter Haven, Florida and Bryan Smith of Jasper, Georgia. In a 2016 interview with SFGN, Smith recalled being asked to remove a rainbow flag from the Key West table at a trade show in Berlin, Germany — which he refused to do. “Gay life is totally woven into the fabric of this community,” he said. “The whole island is a gayborhood. It is a welcoming, safe place for all. There’s definitely a certain magic here.”

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NEWS LOCAL

LGBT DEMOCRATS CAUCUS ON PRIMARY CHOICE John McDonald

Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried. Photos via Wikimedia Commons.

eading into a pivotal statewide conference, South Florida’s LGBT Democrats are clearly asking for something new. Florida gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried takes the backing of two influential LGBT groups into this weekend’s state caucus in Fort Lauderdale. Fried, the state’s agriculture commissioner, secured the endorsement of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council’s Voters Alliance and won the Dolphin Democrats straw poll — taking both contests by wide margins. “She delivers,” said Rand Hoch, PBCHRC president and founder. “Nikki Fried not only seeks our input on issues of concern to the Palm Beach County LGBTQ+ community, she shows up. Whether it is lending her support to PBCHRC, Compass, and Palm Beach Pride,

“SHE’S A FRESH VOICE WHO HAS DONE WHAT SHE SAID SHE WOULD DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.” - Alfredo Olvera DOLPHIN DEMOCRATS PRESIDENT

• 7. 21.2022

Nikki Fried has always been here for us.” Fried won Broward’s Dolphin Dems’ straw poll by a 37 to 13 vote over U.S. Congressman Charlie Crist. The vote came as no surprise, said Dolphin Democrats President Alfredo Olvera. “She’s a fresh voice who has done what she said she would do for our community,” Olvera said. After winning Ag Commissioner, the only Democrat to win statewide since 2012, Fried appointed an LGBT consumer advocate and updated department policies to comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. At this weekend’s Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus meeting, another vote will take place among members from throughout the peninsula. Crist, who served as Florida’s governor as a Republican from 2007 to 2011, previously ran for governor as a Democrat in 2014, losing a close election to now U.S. Senator Rick Scott. Crist carries the endorsement of out gay state legislators Carlos G. Smith and Shevrin Jones, while Fried draws support from young activists like Elijah Manley, a candidate in State House District 99. “We tried Charlie before,” tweeted Manley. “We’ve seen that story, and we already know how it ends. We have a great shot in November. Don’t blow it.” Florida’s primary elections are Aug. 23. The last day to register or change party affiliation is July 25.

NEWS NATIONAL

IT GETS BETTER PROJECT AWARDS LGBT STUDENTS GRANTS Kim Swan

umerous bills have been introduced throughout the U.S. that target LGBT students. However, a project was created to give schools a chance to help empower these students by applying for grants. The It Gets Better Project began the 50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices initiative to allow schools to apply for up to $10,000 in funds to support LGBT students and was made available to middle and high schools in every state. The project has now announced the winners.

FIFTY GRANTS ARE BEING AWARDED IN 40 STATES PLUS WASHINGTON D.C., INCLUDING MANY TRADITIONALLY CONSERVATIVE AREAS.

Photo via PXHere.

Fifty grants are being awarded in 40 states plus Washington, D.C., including many traditionally conservative areas. A community-wide Pride event at a school in Florida won one of these grants. The grant opportunities were made possible by the support of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) through American Eagle and Aerie customer donations from all 50 states via their Real Rewards loyalty program, as well as an in-store pin-pad promotion during Pride Month 2021. Read the 2022 recipients of the 50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices at sfgn.com/Grants

MEET THE CANDIDATES

FOR WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATES FOR TWO CITY COMMISSION SEATS

Don D’Arminio

Paul Rolli

Roy David Walker

CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR

Scott Newton

Boyd Corbin

Monday, August 1, 2022

6:30 p.m. | Hagen Park Community Center

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Limited seating. RSVP at WMBA.biz

7. 21. 20 22 •

CONVICTIONS

TRUMP’S GREATEST VICTORY

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Jesse’s Journal

SFGN.com/donate

lections have consequences. The power to nominate federal judges, especially members of the United States Supreme Court, became a major issue during the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Trump’s victory was the culmination of a decades-long campaign by the Federalist Society and other conservative groups to remake the judiciary in their own ideological image. During his four-year term, Trump nominated 174 judges to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 54 judges to the U.S. District Courts and three officials to the U.S. Court of International Trade. Most importantly, Trump nominated three Supreme Court justices — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — all of whom were confirmed by the Republican Senate. Not since Ronald Reagan has one president named so many justices. Though the Democrats regained the presidency and (barely) Congress in 2020, Trump’s judicial appointments made sure that conservative Republicans would control the judiciary for years to come. The three Trump justices joined Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to form a superconservative super majority. In its recent rulings, the Court did its best to undo much of the progress Americans made during the last half-century. Though overturning Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion rights, was the Court’s most infamous decision, there were others. In the words of NPR’s Nina Totenberg, “just weeks after the shootings in Uvalde, Texas, the court issued a broadly worded opinionmaking it more difficult to regulate guns. In a major environmental case, the court curbed the EPA’s ability to deal with climate change, and in so doing signaled that other government assertions of regulatory power in the name of health and safety could be on the chopping block. In two religious cases, the court barely mentioned the concept of separation between church and state; rather, it expanded public funding options for religious schools and ruled in favor of a high school football coach who wanted

Image created with photo from Pixabay.

to pray on the 50-yard line, a significant expansion of teachers’ rights to the public, even ostentatious, religious expression while on the job.” The Court also revised its own landmark ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma (2020), which ruled that much of eastern Oklahoma (the former Indian Territory) remains Indigenous land, by determining that prosecution of non-Native Americans on tribal land be jointly held by federal and state governments. Though Justice Alito wrote the Court’s abortion ruling, the driving force behind this and other decisions was Justice Thomas. In an opinion supporting the demise of Roe v. Wade, Ginni Thomas’s husband went further than Alito and the three Trumpers, calling on his colleagues to go beyond abortion and revisit Court cases that favored marriage equality, sex outside marriage, and contraception. Thomas’s proposal to undo fifty years of progress for LGBT people and others has the support of ideologues like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who looks forward to the day when he will defend a new Texas sodomy law. It is imperative that all of us make sure that the United States of America does not become a judicial tyranny, especially when the potential tyrants are so far to the right. Though we have heard proposals ranging from impeaching sitting justices to adding new ones, the best way to reform the judiciary is to elect progressive, Democratic women and men to both the executive and the legislative branches. The Trump court already plans to place its stamp on other matters, which promises that the 2023 session will be as bad as (or worse than) the 2022 session. We must do our best to prevent this.

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida's LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations.

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A home for your spirit. Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday Mass at 11 AM in English • All are welcome!

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eaders of gay fiction no doubt have their likes and dislikes. But one thing on which most of them can agree is that a new novel by Andrew Holleran is cause for celebration. Since the publication of his groundbreaking 1978 debut “Dancer from the Dance,” Holleran has created unforgettable fictional portraits of the emergence of gay life in the novels “Nights in Aruba,” “The Beauty of Men,” the short story collection “In September, the Light Changes,” and the novella “Grief,” as well as in his essay collections “Ground Zero” and “Chronicle of a Plague, Revisited: AIDS and Its Aftermath.” Holleran’s new novel, the Florida-set “The Kingdom of Sand” (FSG, 2022) is a welcome addition to his oeuvre. In the book, the nameless gay narrator confronts the aging process, his own and those around him, as well as the prospect of what comes after. This is particularly poignant considering how many gay men of Holleran’s generation passed well before their time. Andrew was generous enough to answer a few questions about his new novel. GREGG SHAPIRO: THERE ARE 16 YEARS BETWEEN THE PUBLICATION OF 2006’S “GRIEF” AND 2022’S “THE KINGDOM OF SAND.” WERE YOU WORKING ON THE LATTER ALL ALONG, OR DID IT COME ABOUT MUCH LATER?

Andrew Holleran: I was working on other stuff. “Kingdom of Sand” took about a year and a half, I think, though it incorporated some of the stuff I’d been working on earlier, so I can’t really say how long Sand took.

GS: FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, “THE KINGDOM OF SAND” REPRESENTS A CONNECTION BETWEEN 1996’S “THE BEAUTY OF MEN” AND 2006’S “GRIEF,” THE WAY IT INCORPORATES GAINESVILLE AND WASHINGTON DC. AM I ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND IF SO, IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT?

AH: There is a connection among those books. I think of Kingdom as what happens to the narrator of Grief after he returns to Florida.

GS: EARLY IN THE BOOK, THE DAUGHTER OF A NEIGHBOR TELLS THE NARRATOR “EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS YOU’RE GAY.” NOT LONG AFTER THAT, THE NARRATOR’S MOTHER ASKS ABOUT HIS FRIENDS, “WHY ARE THEY ALL MEN?” WHICH LEADS ME TO ASK, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE MATTERED IF HE’D COME OUT TO HIS PARENTS?

AH: I have no idea, either in real life or in Kingdom, and that is why the narrator walks out of the room without answering; he can’t imagine the consequences of telling the truth, of coming out. I think this is a conceptual block a lot of gay people have or have had.

Read the full interview at sfgn.com/Holleran

PEN America Miami/South Florida Chapter is hosting an in-person conversation with gay writer Andrew Holleran on Saturday, July 23, from noon to 2 p.m. at Barnes & Noble – Fort Lauderdale, 2051 N. Federal Highway

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‘EDUCATING ASHER’ PREMIERES AT EMPIRE STAGE South Florida actor and cabaret artist Eytan Deray has added playwright to his resume. Deray’s play, “Educating Asher,” will receive its world premiere July 29 to Aug. 14 at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. “I started writing ‘Educating Asher’ five years ago as personal therapy after finding out about a beloved teacher’s passing,” Deray explained. “Now it’s a fully realized portrait of grief, friendships between generational gaps, and the importance of teachers/mentors in our life. This play is for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, and my hope is that audiences will leave the theatre not just moved, but ready to start a much-needed conversation.” Hiding in the kitchen at a reception following the funeral of his gay former middle school teacher, Asher is not quite sure how to process his grief. His boyfriend unsuccessfully encourages him to talk to the teacher’s widower. Soon enough, Asher is forced to confront his grief when the teacher’s ghost appears in the kitchen with him. Only then does Asher say everything he ever wanted to the teacher who changed his life. The cast includes Murphy Hayes, Michael Harper and Noah Levine, with Deray playing Asher. Seth Trucks directs.

Eytan Deray’s “Educating Asher” will be performed Friday to Sunday, July 29 to Aug. 14 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $25 at EmpireStage.com.

Local actor and now playwright Eytan Deray will star in his new play, “Educating Asher,” opening July 29 at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Courtesy photo.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER AT THE LOOP Las Olas Oceanside Park (LOOP) on Fort Lauderdale Beach is welcoming movie fans and their furry friends to special Movies by Moonlight “Dog Days of Summer” film screenings on fourth Fridays in July, August and September. The evenings are hosted by the mom and pup duo Ana and Teddy, creators of the award-winning Instagram @TourwithTeddy and blog “Living A Fairytail.” Bring lawn chairs, a picnic and doggie treats for screenings of “Dog Days” on July 22, “Best in Show” on Aug. 26 and “The Secret Life of Pets” on Sept. 23. Films start at 8 p.m and are rated PG. Special activities will include a people and pets marketplace, contests, giveaways and more. On July 22, a pet fashion contest sponsored by Petit Pups Pawtique is planned. On Aug. 26, a back-to-school fashion show will be presented by Salon Bark and The Pretty Nomad, along with a “Dög Pawrignon” champagne bar for dogs, sponsored by The W Fort Lauderdale. Each month, pups will chow down on complimentary doggie dinners sponsored by Yum Pup. Pet hydration stations from PetWell Clinic Fort Lauderdale and Pembroke Pines, and SupPup selfie stations sponsored by Blue Moon Adventures add to the four-legged fun.

For more information about “Dog Days of Summer” events at the Loop, go to TheLoopFLB.com/events/Dog-Days-of-Summer. 7. 21. 20 22 •

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