08/04/10 V1I28 by South Florida Gay News

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Do Ask! Do Tell! Page 15

August 4, 2010 • VOLUME 1 • Issue 28

2010 World AIDS Conference 4

Photo by IAS/marcus rose & steve forrest/workers’ photos

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Campaign Watch: Justin Flippen

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SFGN Profile: FLPD’s Brice Brittenum

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Page 8

Two Women with One Heart: Jennifer & Laurie of Sidelines

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Charity Event

20th Annual Poverello Bowl-A-Thon This Saturday

n just a few days, the annual Poverello Bowl-A-Thon will take place. This year marks the event’s 20th anniversary and plans on being the largest ever. The fundraiser is being held at the beautiful refurbished Sawgrass Lanes at 8501 North University Drive in Tamarac. Those who would like to par-

ticipate, but would prefer not to drive, can board one of four luxury coaches which will transport people to and from the event. Following the fundraiser, everyone is encouraged to head to Matty’s on the Drive for the official after-party event. Matty’s won the rights last year by raising the most money for the Poverello Food Bank – over $4000. Coaches will depart Wilton Drive at approximately 10:45 a.m. Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. while the event is scheduled to begin at noon.

As an added incentive, this year bowlers can build their own web page by going to Poverello.org and invite friends and family to pledge online. In addition, any individual raising $1000 or more will receive a professionally drilled bowling ball from the Bowlers Edge Pro Shop at Sawgrass Lanes. Those raising $500 or more they will receive a bowling bag with the Bowl-A-Thon logo. Get your teams together and get registered and help feed those living with HIV/AIDS in our community.

Sideline’s Cook-Off Comes to an End By Joey Amato

idelines Sports Bar’s Sizzlin’ Summer Cook-Off Finals held on Sunday, July 25 concluded with a surprising twist.The Cook-Off Competition, held each month during the past summer, brought some of our area’s most aspiring chefs with their unique recipes of chili, BBQ ribs, and chicken wings to Sidelines Sports Bar. After the spirited three-month cooking contests, the finals were held, in which the top three winners of each month’s category competed for

the grand prize – a deluxe, stainlesssteel, BBQ gas grill. The winning chef, garnering the highest score, was James Morris. The second-place winner was Mark Knowles, and third place ended up in a tie between Debbie Mae and Kenny Nash. The owners and staff of Sidelines congratulated all of the participating chefs who donated their time and flair for cuisine. Much to everyone’s surprise, after all of the winners were announced, James Morris, the first-place winner, made the announcement to Laurie and Marty, co-owners of Sidelines, that he wanted to donate his

prize to got to the Poverello Center so they can offer it as a prize in a raffle at their upcoming Bowl-A-Thon on August 7th. The Bowl-A-Thon is Poverello’s annual fundraiser that helps provide life-saving nutritional essentials to individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are residents of Broward County. “We are so grateful and amazed at the selfless generosity of James Morris. His thoughtfulness and considerate gesture is something we will always remember,” commented Dale Madison, fundraising coordinator of The Poverello Center..

August 4, 2010 • Volume 1 • Issue 28

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August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

CAMPAIG N

WATC H

B y Pe n n Bulloc k

Local Candidate Could Be First Gay Man in State Capitol

oung and fired up, Justin Flippen is rearing to make history. He’s the vice mayor of Wilton Manors. He’s gay. And come November, he might be packing his bags for Tallahassee to represent District 92—which includes the Manors and swaths of Deerfield Beach, Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, and more—in Florida’s House of Representatives. If he wins, he’ll be Florida’s first gay legislator. Flippen is taking on an incumbent: Democratic State Rep. Gwyndolen “Gwyn” Clarke-Reed, an African-American retired educator who’s wrapping up her first term. Their contest has been heating up—it’s so hot, as the Sun-Sentinel reported on July 21, that Democratic strategists worry Flippen’s primary challenge could split the party’s local black and gay voting blocs. The Equality Florida Action PAC alleged on July 27 that Clarke-Reed took thousands of dollars from Rich DeVos, a Republican billionaire, Bush family friend, and a main bankroller of the anti-gay marriage push in Florida. Indeed, on a 2010 Dolphin Democrats questionnaire, Clarke-Reed stated she backs the Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. She opposes educational programs about homosexuality in public schools and state funding for embryonic stem-cell research. But she supports gay civil unions. Born in Hollywood, Florida, Flippen is an adopted child and was raised around Coconut Creek in a fundamentalist household. As a kid, he remembers shopping with his grandmother along Wilton Drive at longgone Christian stores. When he came out at age 18, his mother and step-father were “dismayed,” he said, so Flippen went willingly into reparative therapy for gays with Exodus International. “After almost two years of doing that, I realized that this isn’t something I have to struggle with,” he said. Today, Flippen has a partner, his family is accepting, and he says that he’s reconciled his moderate Christian religiosity with his

– and the fire homosexuality. hasn’t gone out, A graduate of and nor will I Broward Comlet it,” he said. munity College Flippen’s and Florida homosexualAtlantic Univerity could come sity, he started in handy as he earning his vies for a seat political chops in the Florida early on in House of student governRepresentatives. ment, and then Flippen says as an intern for his opponent Senator Bob Clarke-Reed has Graham. been lukewarm “That is on gay rights. probably where He accuses her my passion for of only recently, public service and opportunisand the political Justin Flippen tically, taking up process began,” issues of import to her LGBT constituents. he said, calling Graham one of his favorite “I’ve been sorely disappointed that in her statesmen. first year in office she didn’t sponsor LGBT“I finished law school and decided that issue legislation, she didn’t touch the adopprivate practice was not going to fulfill my tion bill,” he said. “She decided to co-sponsor life’s calling,” he said. “I had a very strong it once she caught wind that she might be passion to be involved in public service.” So he took a position in the Florida House getting an opponent this year.” But where does Flippen stand on the isworking for State Representative Irving sues? Predictably, he supports gay marriage Slosberg. There, he was able to help draft and anti-discrimination laws, and promises to legislation. “I learned a great deal” about address gay rights head-on – because they’re the legislative process, Flippen said. Then he his rights, too. forged out to work for a time behind-theIn an hour-long interview with SFGN, howscenes at the Broward County Commission, ever, Flippen seemed at first caught off guard where he helped oust former homophobic when asked about the crisis of the AIDS mayor Jim Nogle from the tourism board. Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which Now, fresh-faced at age 32, Flippen has supplies life-saving medication to people with enough credentials to intimidate even a HIV/AIDS. “The ADAP?” he asked blankly. veteran of local politics. He was elected to the Wilton Manors City “I’m not familiar, so…” A few seconds later, Flippen realized what was being asked about. Commission in 2008, and shortly thereafter, “I hadn’t heard it referred to as that, but I’m by unanimous vote, became the vice mayor under Mayor Gary Resnick.The same year, he familiar with what you’re talking about.” Budget shortfalls are preventing the state served as president of the Dolphin Democrats, and attended the Democratic National from dispersing free HIV meds to everyone who needs them. Waiting lists have sprung Convention in Denver as a delegate. up, making news in The New York Times, “I came home from Denver on fire – ‘fired up, ready to go,’ as Obama would say which featured a recent story about the

crisis in Fort Lauderdale on its front page. Lives could be at stake. “No program, particularly for vulnerable populations, should be cut,” Flippen said. “Something I would advocate and fight for, particularly with budget measures, would be to properly fund so there aren’t the waiting lists.” But Flippen admitted that he hadn’t familiarized himself fully with the details. He prevaricated when asked whether he could promise to try to fix the problem in Tallahassee by introducing his own bill.When pressed, though, he made a pledge to SFGN to draft a bill to mend the shortfall and end the waiting lists. He suggested raising new revenue for ADAP by closing special tax exemptions in the state’s tax code—loopholes that have been poked by lobbyists over the years and cover items like crab nets. Flippen’s wider platform, he said, can be summed up as the “Four Es:” the economy, the environment, education and equality. He’s passionate about the environment and vows to oppose any proposal to start offshore drilling on Florida’s coasts. And he wants to give tax incentives and funding to companies on the forefront of alternative energy. When it comes to LGBT equality, Flippen, himself an adopted child, is especially galled by the state’s ban on gay adoptions. “That issue hits very, very close to home for me,” he said. Broward County government is pervaded by corruption, but Flippen said that he’s always been careful to avoid conflicts of interests. Asked if he’s ever personally witnessed corruption in government, Flippen answered, “I wouldn’t say directly.” District 92 is so reliably Democratic that Republicans look unlikely to run a candidate for state representative. Thus, Flippen’s fate could be determined by the Democratic primary results on August 24.

For more info on Flippen, visit Justinflippen.com

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Local News

Not Flippen Out Amway Billionaire Attempts to Sabotage Local Gay Candidate By Jarrett Terrill

mand she give the money back or be honest enough with voters, endorsers, and District ichard DeVos owns the Orlando 92 constituents by becoming a Republican.” DeVos’ well-funded opposition to healthMagic basketball team and Amway – the direct-selling pyramid care reform is what we now know in the marketing scheme that put him on Forbes’ media as the “Tea Party.” Along with Jolist as one of the wealthiest men in America. seph Coors, he funds and staffs the HeriThe project he’s putting his money behind tage Foundation, which is known for its today is the re-election campaign of Demo- opposition to agendas like healthcare recrat Gwendolyn Clarke-Reed, a Florida form and the repeal of California’s Proposition 8. State Representative for District 92. “The political giving of our co-founders But some are speculating that DeVos is not donating to the Clarke-Reed campaign is separate from Amway Global itself,” out of any sincere appreciation for her leg- says Beth Dornin, a media relations staffislative ability. It could have something to er with the company. She declined to say, however, whether or not do with the fact that Amway has contributed her opponent in the to any campaigns or legelection is a gay man. islative efforts in Florida If elected, Justin Flipas a company. pen, also a Democrat, “It is possible that he would become the first will unleash his consergay man to serve in the vative right-wing perFlorida legislature. sonal fortune in an effort An overview of Deto get rid of Justin,” says Vos’ political activism in a staffer with the Flipthe past reveals an antipen campaign, “There is gay agenda. DeVos notono question that this is riously gave $100,000 to an attack.” a group called “Florida “There just isn’t any For Marriage” in 2008 Richard DeVos other reason, [aside from which helped them to pass Amendment 2 – the anti-gay “defini- Flippen being gay] for a group of powerful tion of marriage” bill in Florida which pre- national republican donors to take such invents LGBT persons from even obtaining a terest in a local Democratic primary race.” “Rich DeVos has done a great deal of harm civil union. Virtually all of his hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds have to the LGBT community statewide,” says gone to conservative Republicans in the past. Nadine Smith of Equality Florida. “He has While DeVos is certainly the most prom- been a major right wing funder and specifiinent Republican to endorse and support cally gave $100,000 to add discrimination Gwen Clarke-Reed, he is not the only one. to the Florida Constitution by backing the The Flippen campaign website lists a host marriage ban. The community really has to of names of out of out-of-state donors who be strategic in responding to corporations happen to have donated to Clarke-Reed that support anti-gay causes.” alongside big Republicans like George W. Bush, Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney. For more information, visit: “It is very disturbing that Gwyn would http://www.justinflippen.com/ http://eqfl.org/eprideguide/ endorse their values by turning to them to fund her campaign,” says Flippen, “I de-

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August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Black and White Men Together in Fort Lauderdale By Jarrett Terrill

he National Association of Black & White Men Together (NABWMT) is an organization that came into prominence in the 80s, largely in response to the AIDS crisis of that era. It was one of those circumstantial benefits arising from great tragedy that outlives its original mission and stays relevant for new reasons. NABWMT celebrated its thirtieth anniversary here in Fort Lauderdale this past week and, although around 75 people attended their Annual Awards Banquet, they probably reached an audience of hundreds through events and discussions at various locations throughout the week, including at Marriot North Hotel, Matty’s On the Drive, The Manors and Pride Center at Equality Park. “The growth of our organization has

ebbed and flowed over the years,” says Scott Duty, a co-chair of the National Association. “We had thousands of members before we buried half of them in the AIDS crisis. Today we fight to remain relevant in places like Washington, D.C. It’s hard for an organization when half of your membership died in a short span of time.” Don’t let the name of Black & White Men Together fool you; plenty of women participate in the group as well. This year, Nadine Smith of Equality Florida and author/activist Deon Davis were guest speakers at the convention. A wide range of topics were explored to the fullest, including but not limited to: using the Internet to expand the effectiveness of chapter socials; anger and annoyances that divide people racially; destressing with yoga and meditation; chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment;

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HIV testing and counseling; anti-bias and hate crimes; spirituality; the “House Community”; and a talent show. “One of the most important things we do as a caucus at the National Convention is we have discussions about what’s relevant to our community at the time,” says Scott Duty. “This year the caucus discussion was about ‘Whites, Blacks, The Presidency and Where Do We Fit In?’ and we discussed what the administration has done in terms of gay rights. We also did a break-out on HIV/AIDS and discussed what’s going on

with that around the nation.” “What’s important to keep in mind,” Duty explains, “is that we don’t exist as an organization for those major metropolitan areas which we represent as much as we’re here for those smaller towns like Mobile, Alabama. They’re trying to start a chapter but they can’t get people to go because it’s simply not safe for them to be seen going to anything that’s known as gay. So we’re really here to help them.” For more information, visit www.NABWMT.org.

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Fight the Little Buggers Mosquito Safety in Southern Florida By A. Sebastian Fortino

t’s the middle of summer, and that means one thing! Mosquitoes. The Broward County Health Department reminds us that mosquitoes can spread West Nile Virus, and other forms of encephalitis. They shared helpful information with SFGN about handling bug bites, as well as tips for eradicating potential breeding grounds on your property. To prevent or reduce mosquito bites… • Dress in clothing that covers the skin, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are active. • Use repellants containing picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. • Do not use repellants on infants; keep them indoors or use a mosquito net outside. • Keep screens in good repair if you keep your windows open. To eliminate mosquito breeding sites… • Check drainage around your home and

empty, overturn anything that can collect standing water, where they breed. • Clean out troughs and gutters, and any debris that might cause stoppage in drains. • Remove old tires, and drill holes in any tires used on playgrounds for drainage. • Check tarps and coverings on boats, vehicles, furniture, etc. • Replace water in birdbaths and feeding dishes a few times a week. • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not in use. Broward Health states all encephalitis strains bear the same symptoms—headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, light sensitivity and confusion. Infants, the elderly, and those with serious health problems should seek out a physician if they experience these symptoms. In turn, physicians should contact Broward County Health Department if any patients have contracted a mosquito-borne illness. For more information, please visit Browardchd.org

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com photos by ias/marcus rose & steve forrest/workers’ photos

Health

AIDS 2010

Right Here, Right Now... Right Track By Robert Folan-Johnson Editor, Healthy Living healthylivingnews.org

fter a busy week in Vienna of meetings, presentations and discussions, many attendees of the 2010 World AIDS Conference headed home feeling optimistic about the future of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic. AIDS 2010 presented data revealing new potential advances in prevention, treatment, and vaccines that could, at some point, significantly contain the pandemic. But there are also economic challenges to overcome. The most celebrated presentation (which earned a rare medical conference standing ovation) was the CAPRISA study on the te-

nofovir gel spermicide. Although just 39% effective in preventing vaginal transmission, it could be an important new line of defense as the first spermicide that can significantly prevent HIV transmission. An effective spermicide would also help women who in many parts of the world have had few options they can use to protect themselves against HIV. Should the gel continue to test well in studies, pressure will be needed to assure it becomes affordable and available world-wide and not just in the West. Another hot conference topic was testand-treat as a public health method for curtailing the pandemic. A British Columbia study revealed the viability of well organized, wide-scale community HIV testing used in conjunction with antivirals. Based

Activists protesting at the opening ceremony

on studies showing that when people know they are HIV positive they are more careful not to infect others and that antivirals can make one less infectious, the Canadians showed that test-and-treat reduced the rate of new infections in half (by establishing “AIDS free” or “undetectable” zones, one activist called them). Using economic modeling covering a period of 30 years, the Canadians also showed that, in British Columbia at least, test-and-treat is also costeffective. Dr. Julio Montaner, AIDS 2010

CAPRISA Press Conference: Henry Gabelnick; Salim Abdool Karim; Ward Cates; Quarraisha Abdool Karim; Robert Clay; Anthony Fauci

Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

President, noted that test-and-treat, along with the other advances presented at the Conference, could usher in a potential new era of innovation in fighting the virus. Discussions on the worldwide practicality of using treatment as a sort of vaccine to minimize HIV transmission were vocal however. Computer-model laden researchers like Reuben Granich, of the World Health Organization, and Brian Williams, of South Africa, projected rosy scenarios of containing the African epidemic within decades if test-andtreat was implemented there. The “realists,” such as Dr. Bernard Hirschel of the Infectious Diseases Service, said that by simply identifying and treating everyone infected, the epidemic would wither and die away, was a “pipe dream” and more research was needed. A yet unpublished Harvard study on testand-treat in Washington, DC backed up the skeptics by showing that some people will always fall through the cracks and not test or treat. The study did project, however, that although no panacea, test-and-treat would

Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology

speaking on the

End of AIDS Diplomacy

Safety and Effectiveness of 1% Tenofir Vaginal

Demonstration against the large pharmaceutical companies

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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save lives and slow down new infections. Although a truly effective vaccine is still not available, there have been some recent advances in vaccine research, including an arguably successful vaccine trial and the recent discovery of a new human-antibody possibly much more effective in controlling HIV. The Thai RV144 vaccine trial did somewhat protect 3 out of 10 people (30%) which was a modest breakthrough. Another new vaccine must be created to test the new antibody, however, and in theory there are other ways to use it including as a possible therapy. Once an effective vaccine is found other challenges do await. According to a University of Toronto study, only 74% of the population would bother to take a fully protective vaccine and even fewer (40%) would take a partially protective one. That reluctance could also affect vaccines being studied that, although they would not prevent HIV infection, might still provide enough immune protection to keep the virus from making people sick.

AIDS activist Annie Lennox performing at the human rights rally

Although this conference’s theme was “Right here, Right now,” it will still take time to determine the efficacy of much of what was presented. Many researchers seemed optimistic that many of these tools against the virus could be improved over time and even a partially effective vaccine and spermicide, the test and treat approach, combined with old fashioned safe sex and condoms, could combine to produce a powerfully synergistic public health package against HIV significant enough to turn the tide of the pandemic.

AIDS in recession

nfortunately, at the AIDS 2010 conference, it became apparent that more than ever the big issue was money. A pre-conference demonstration banner boldly proclaimed “AIDS Is Not In Recession.” Yet the current economic climate, along with policy and guideline changes, make it more difficult for the world to fund an all-out offensive against the virus. G8 nations are stepping away from commitments to the Global AIDS Fund while the U.S. is altering its commitments to the Bush era Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Few countries, according to a new report by the Global HIV Prevention Working Group, seemed to have mustered a passing grade in their AIDS prevention efforts (the U.S., the single largest source of funding worldwide, got higher a grade, while ironically, ungenerous Austria, the wealthy host country of AIDS 2010, got an embarrassing “F”). For the complete article (and more photos) on “AIDS in Recession,” go to SouthFloridaGayNews.com/AIDS

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August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

NGLCC Partners with TrendyMinds

Ad Agency to Help Advance LGBT Business By Joey Amato

he National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) has partnered with Indianapolis-based advertising and public relations agency TrendyMinds, an NGLCC certified business, to handle the organization’s public relations and strategic needs, helping to advance opportunities and awareness of LGBT-owned businesses. The NGLCC, headquartered in Washington, D.C., acts as a business and economic advocate on behalf of LGBT-owned businesses nationwide. By working with corporate partners, government agencies, legislative bodies and other organizations, the NGLCC promotes the economic growth and prosperity of its members. TrendyMinds, an NGLCC member and LGBT certified business, has signed on to craft and execute a public and media relations plan for the organization. “The entire staff and I are especially thrilled to handle the public relations for the NGLCC, an organization that we’ve had such a terrific relationship with,” says Trevor Yager, founder and principal of TrendyMinds. “We feel the NGLCC is such a relevant, vital organization, and we’re looking forward to advancing its mission.” The NGLCC and TrendyMinds have worked together before. In January of this past year, the NGLCC, along with President Obama

and First Lady Michelle Obama, invited Trevor Yager to be a special guest at the 2010 State of the Union as a testament to the ad agency’s diversity, community involvement and industry success. “We are excited to partner with Trendy Minds and expand our reach to an even broader audience,” said NGLCC co-founder and president, Justin Nelson. “TrendyMinds expertise will certainly be a major enhancement to the organization and the national LGBT business movement.” The agency will be working to promote several programs and projects including the NGLCC’s 2010 National Business and Leadership Conference: Out for Business and National Dinner: An Evening of Courage (November 18-20) in Washington, D.C., as well as educational and marketing efforts surrounding NGLCC’s Supplier Diversity program. “We believe this is just the beginning of a long and successful relationship with the NGLCC,” Yager says. “We’re looking forward to executing a result-oriented, fantastic public relations campaign.”

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

SFGN Editorial

August 4, 2010

they have it together next time around- then we might give it one more try…”

Norm Kent, Publisher

Community Reacts to Stonewall Pride’s Failure

ast week’s front page story revealed how Stonewall Pride lost over $30,000 after the festival in June. The print article led to a flood of comments on our website at southfloridagaynews.com. So much of today’s modern newspaper is interactive; the postings were instant and immediate, sparking a healthy discussion and debate. The very purpose of having an online site enhances spontaneous forums. You don’t have to wait seven days for the actual newspaper to be distributed to see if your letter to the editor was published. As you read through our pages, we encourage you to have your say, online or in print. Today, we turn this editorial space over to you, by publishing the words many readers posted online, articulating their frustration, or defense of, the financial collapse of Stonewall Pride. The printed word is not dying; it is evolving. People still want to be heard and here is a sampling of what you said, understanding that some of the remarks have been edited for space considerations:

“When all is said and done, my business will continue, as well as my support for the community. However, the people need to know exactly what a disaster the event was. From start to finish, there was nothing but confusion, collusion and just plain bad business. Whatever success came from the festival was certainly not due to the board members in charge. It was the hard working men and women who volunteered and the vendors who were left out on their own that deserve any applause.” AY

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SFGN editorial

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Cops Target Johnny’s Page 12

JULY 28, 2010 • VOLUMe 1 • iSSUe 27

Stonewall Pride Lost Their Shirts

MANORS STREET FESTIVAL OWES 30K SFgN exclusive on Page 11

Marlene M.

InsIde ThIs Issue

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Cover photo by Jarrett Terrill Pride Director Mike Cruz Arrested

page

Hate Crimes on the Rise

page

sFGn Profile: Corey Michaels

page

GLbx Becomes a Council

“To the Producers of Stonewall: Kudos on having a successful event. However, shame on your for thinking that you could pull the wool over the eyes of your fellow vendors, neighbors, and business locals. The purpose of having a Board and especially a Treasurer is to ensure fiduciary responsibility and prevent mishaps like “uh, we don’t have any money to pay our local police enforcement”. Perhaps, in the future, those who wish to serve on the board of such a large event should take courses to become more familiar with the ins and outs of what it takes to be a board member.”

Bill D.

Adam W.

“As a local business owner and long time vendor/volunteer of the Stonewall Street Festival, I feel compelled to share my frustration, aggravation and embarrassment of how this year’s event was handled by the entire board… what a shame that this year’s event was managed so poorly.

“I agree with the articles statement of mismanaged and unorganized. Our group (Flamingo Car Club) volunteered cars for the event and were for the most part treated like dirt. Many in our group would choose not to ever participate in this event again… unless they can prove to us that

“This year’s pride was the ‘Gigi’ of pride events. Pride is solely responsible for the monies and I too find it difficult to believe that $38,000 just went up in smoke. An investigation needs to be launched by those who have not been paid. Pride was poorly handled this year. The event should have been just Saturday night, with the parade and outdoor dancing held then… I suspect a lot of money went in some people’s pockets who are now no here to be found. Pride dropped the ball big time and now we see why. Good reporting!”

Letters, We Got Letters

Josh “I believe the event was a success for the community. I had a great time and enjoyed myself. I have friends that are on the board and know the hard work that went into their planning and I can stand firm knowing they didn’t plan this misfortune. From my understanding attacking the current board is unproductive, dramatic, and irresponsible because they are all new. “The Stonewall name has been around for years, not the current board. Their mishap this year can only bring success next year. Rather than kicking someone when they are down, why not offer suggestions on how to create an amazing event next year. Create unity, not division!”

Kevin “Finger pointing, accusations and innuendo seem to be all this is about… This is very much a play and retirement community that wants to do nothing but party without making any commitments. Where were the business leaders from the bars to assist with their expertise? Where were the local leaders willing to chip in and get their hands dirty instead of taking credit or assuming a spotlight for the work others did? “I know several of the board members and I also know the deadlines and stress they were under to put this event on so when you criticize as you do now, look inside and ask what you might have done as a volunteer or board member to help your community.”

Art “This event was terribly managed, and now they blame everyone else for their mistakes. It’s a shame they have to badmouth other good companies and people for their negligence!”

The new era of publishing integrates both the printed word and the online commentaries. Obviously, there is only so much space on each page of the actual newspaper. Our online site at southfloridagaynews.com enables you to reach out right now. Take the time to help to enhance our words with your comments. At different times, like today, we will see they also make it to the print edition. But whether you are reading our paper online or in print, your sharing allows our community to be nurtured, flourish and prosper. Supporting us enables us to support you.

AHF Defends Thrift Store To the Editor: I write in response to last week’s letter to the editor regarding the Out of the Closet thrift store and HIV testing center being built on Sunrise Blvd. I don’t want to quibble with the author of the letter as everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I do want to provide your readers with the correct facts so that they may draw their own conclusions: Fact: The Sunrise location is at one of the most well traveled intersections in Broward County. Many people who never travel to Wilton Manors will become aware of Out of the Closet and the mission it and AHF serve because of this highly visible location. Fact: An entirely different donor pool will donate to Out of the Closet because of this visibility. Many people in Broward County do not frequent Wilton Manors and are not aware of our location there. Fact: The more visible we are able to make our locations the more we are able to help destigmatize HIV/AIDS and the more we are able to cause people to talk about this disease and become educated about it. Fact: South Florida is the epicenter of new HIV infections. People of all walks of life need to be tested and know their status.This location will enable us to test and educate a variety of demographics that do not frequent Wilton Manors in a confidential and anonymous setting. Fact: Not a single dollar donated to AHF or Florida AIDS Walk was used to purchase this location or to build this building. Additionally, the location was in foreclosure and was acquired significantly below market. Fact: AHF is the largest provider of care to people living with HIV/AIDS in the State of Florida and AHF provides care to people regardless of ability to pay. .96 cents of every dollar AHF earns goes directly to patient care. Our audited financial statements, which are publicly available, prove this.We are able to provide this care, in part, because of the success of our chain of Out of the Closet thrift stores. Thank you for this opportunity to set the record straight. Sincerely, Michael Kahane Bureau Chief, Southern Bureau AIDS Healthcare Foundation michael.kahane@aidshealth.org

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Off the Wall

Carpe Diem By Pier Angelo Guidugli

here comes a time when all of a sudden we realize we are no longer as hip as we think we are. More often than not, it is someone younger who triggers such realizations or wake-up calls. I call those realizations “milestones.” They can be enlightening. They can be depressing. When they happen, we are forced to stop and reset our minds. And if we are not in denial, we start looking at things under a different light and accept, welcome, or adjust to the brave new world. I have had my epiphanies. It is an Italian custom that when a child receives his Catholic confirmation, one of the uncles acts as godfather and he is required, by tradition, to present the 12-year-old with a watch. I remember, as a kid, how excited I was when my day came. I did not care about the

religious part. I was thinking of nothing but the watch. It was a symbol of pre-adulthood. I was a man because I finally had a watch. It was a Girard-Perregaux. It sounds expensive, but it wasn’t. When my youngest nephew was due for his confirmation, I was asked to be his godfather. He is my favorite and on that day he did not disappoint me. He insisted on wearing red canvas shoes for the ceremony. To the strong and loud objections of his parents and g-randparents he replied: “I don’t think Jesus minds or cares if I wear red shoes, I like them and they look good.” That shut them up and he walked into the church small and proud in his red PF Flyers. Good for you kid. I never had your guts at your age. But I’m digressing. A week before the ceremony I took him

Susan Estrich

Her First Demonstration

t’s hard to imagine anyone graduating from high school today, much less college, without being computer literate. One way or another, kids learn how to get online, how to navigate the Internet, how to live in a wired world. Civic literacy is another matter. How many of you know how to move a stop sign, I ask students in my undergraduate classes and at colleges I visit. What I mostly get in response are blank stares and the occasional story of a drunken escapade that involved a street sign, which, of course, is not what I meant at all. What I mean is: How many of you know how to organize and petition and make democracy work? How many of you know how to wield the power that comes from activism, energy and know-how in the workplace or the community? Student council and college government

aren’t really about whether you can get better food on campus or longer time periods between classes. They’re about learning how to make change happen. But student government doesn’t command the attention it once did when universities and even high schools were hotbeds of political activity. Kids today have too much homework. But there needs to be a place to learn the skills of citizenry. Last year, my young friend Bella Peyser took a course in “Grassroots Activism” from one of the legendary teachers at her school. In excited tones, she told me about how she ended up interning at the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) and decided to spend her summer there. She then got involved in the effort to organize hotel workers in Long Beach and “did” her first demonstration last Thursday at the Long Beach Hyatt. “Did you know,” she said to me,

aside and asked him what kind of watch he wanted. “Maybe we can go together so you can pick the one you like.” He looked at me as if I was speaking in tongues. “I don’t need a watch,” he replied sheepishly. “Don’t be silly, everybody needs a watch,” I said to him. And that’s when I was hit with my first “that these women clean as many as 30 hotel rooms a day? And they are your age!” Her mom and I were roommates in college, which was a very long time ago. UNITE HERE is attempting to organize hotel workers at Hyatts nationwide. Last Thursday’s demonstration at the Long Beach Hyatt was one of many around the country, a “day of action” intended to focus attention on the

fight for better wages and working conditions. Hyatt, through a spokesperson, denounced the action as “union posturing,” claiming its real purpose was simply to increase union membership and the dues paid to the union. When I mentioned that to Bella, she told me how hard the women work, how much better pay and conditions are at the union hotels, and how the workers need to bargain collectively to establish standards and to protect themselves from arbitrary layoffs. I’m not in a position to judge that fight.

“milestone.” “It’s a thing of the past Uncle P, if I need to know the time I have the iPhone grandpa and grandma gave me”. I definitely was a few stations behind the high-speed train, and I didn’t even know it. I have not been able to put on any of my several watches since, without thinking of him and feeling old-fashioned. Damn you, kid! And then my 15-year-old niece sent me spinning. I was visiting my brother in Italy and one day she asked me to meet her after school. “There is a place downtown you will like,” she said in a conspiratorial tone. The bar/cafe was a hang-out for leftists, artists and gays. Socialist magazines and Communist newspapers were on every table. A poster of Che Guevara hung on the main wall. She ordered a glass of light wine (don’t forget this is Italy), I settled for a beer. I had the feeling there was a very specific reason for this meeting. It didn’t take long. “May I ask you a personal question Zio P?” “Sure, go ahead,” I replied, knowing already what was coming. “Are you gay?” I looked at her straight in the eyes and said: “You tell me.” “I think you are but I’m not completely sure.” continued on page 26

But I do know this: Bella is learning lessons that will last a lifetime, however her political philosophy may evolve. She has learned how to work for change, how to raise her voice in concert with others, how to do politics. The big scandal in Los Angeles these days involves the city of Bell, a community of about 40,000 hardworking people who, unbeknownst to them, were paying their city manager a salary of almost $800,000, their part-time city council members nearly $100,000 each and their police chief more than the president of the United States. They got away with it because the citizens didn’t know what was going on. Nobody was doing any politics except the people who were getting away with armed robbery. Democracy doesn’t work on its own. Change doesn’t happen just because it should. The skills of civic literacy, the knowledge of how to organize, are as important as knowing how to operate in a computerized world. They have to be taught, and they have to be learned. Bella’s first demonstration will not be her last. If she needs to, she now knows how to move a stop sign – or get one put up.

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

GetEQUAL Stages Sit-in at Capitol Rotunda Targets House Speaker Nancy Pelosi By Joey Amato

ast week, GetEQUAL, a national, direct-action LGBT civil rights organization, staged a sit-in inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. protesting in support of a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) this year. The sit-in, outside the door to the Speaker’s office, targeted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by demanding she fulfill her promises to pass ENDA this year. The group of about 20, eight of which were arrested, also had a signed letter delivered to the Speaker’s office outlining their reasoning for taking today’s action. The group’s letter referenced Speaker Pelosi’s speech on Saturday to Netroots Nation, stating, “You also told us that

we needed to ‘get the drumbeat going’ and ‘make [you] do it.’ Madame Speaker, we are here to do just that.” On July 14th, GetEQUAL sent out a national email to its members and supporters asking who their next set of ENDA direct actions should target. Speaker Pelosi received the highest number of responses. Also, GetEQUAL’s Washington, D.C.-based members and supporters met recently to organize a direct action, and overwhelmingly agreed on targeting her as well. “We know that Speaker Pelosi has the political prowess and the political bandwidth to take on ENDA while the Senate is shepherding ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ through the legislative process,” said Robin McGehee, co-founder of GetEQUAL. “We are pressur-

ing Speaker Pelosi to move on ENDA because, while we know that she values the legislation, we have yet to see her show the leadership she’s promised in taking ENDA out of committee and moving it through the House.” “We are following her advice to ‘make her do it,’ and to ensure that she and the rest of the House see that people’s lives and livelihoods are on the line here,” said Heather Cronk, managing director of GetEQUAL. “As we head into the August recess, we will take the energy of today’s Rotunda action out into the states, and look forward to building popular support for the legislation in coalition with other LGBT organizations. We will concentrate on the districts where Representatives and Senators have not yet found the courage to step forward to support ENDA—both Republicans and Democrats.” Lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees can be fired from their jobs in 29 states, and transgender or gender-nonconforming employees can be fired in 38 states. Speaker Pelosi has repeatedly told progressive activists to “make her” pass progressive legislation like ENDA, comprehensive immigration reform, and a comprehensive

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

climate change bill. GetEQUAL activists took up that challenge and today’s action builds on prior actions that GetEQUAL has organized or co-organized, including sit-ins in Speaker Pelosi’s offices in March of this year, a shut-down of the Las Vegas Strip last week targeting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and several rallies at Speaker Pelosi’s district office in San Francisco, including one yesterday. Last Thursday, GetEQUAL released a timeline showing years of broken promises and excuses from elected officials that have led to the stalling of any federal protections being in place for LGBT workers. In the timeline, Speaker Pelosi is quoted numerous times promising that a vote on ENDA “will be soon.”

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Rhoda Sokoloff, Non-Partisan Candidate for Circuit Court Judge, Group 53, DeAnna Roberts, Treasurer

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Jesse’s Journal

Argentina: Same-Sex Marriage Among the Carnivores By Jesse Monteagudo By Jesse Monteagudo

Code to legalize same-sex marriage. The Chamber of Deputies approved the meahe Argentine Republic’s legaliza- sure on May 5 and the Senate on July 15. tion of same-sex marriage July President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a 15 came as a complete surprise to friend of the LGBT community, ratified the those of us who think of Argentina as the measure, which took effect a few days later. “From today onward, Argentina is a more land of machismo, meat-eaters—Argentines are the world’s biggest carnivores, consum- just and democratic country,” said Maria ing 70 kilos (154 lbs.) of beef per person— Rachid, president of the Argentine Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Federation. and military coups. According to Completely Queer: The Gay The law “not only recognizes the rights of and Lesbian Encyclopedia, “Argentinians our families, but also the possibility of havendured some of the most brutal cam- ing access to health care, to leave a pension, paigns of official and unofficial persecution to leave our assets to the people with whom of lesbians and gay men anywhere in the we have shared many years of life, including 20th century.” After the military coup of our children,” she said. It was a hard-earned victory, and Argentina’s March 24, 1976, “some 400 gay men were kidnapped, barbarically tortured, and ex- LGBT community is right to celebrate it. But it ecuted… Encouraged by Roman Catholic would be a mistake to think that Argentina has church leaders, the dictatorship raided and become a queer paradise. For one thing, machismo is still rampant closed gay bars, arresting in that country. as many as 1,400 men in “From today onward, Diego Maradona, Ar a particularly brutal 1978 campaign that took place Argentina is a more just gentina’s soccer god, on the eve of the World and democratic country.” reacted the way many Argentinian men would Cup soccer tournament – Maria Rachid when a reporter at the in Buenos Aires.” World Cup, where Ma In 1982 and 1983, the last two years of the dictatorship, para- radona coached the Aregentinian Team, military groups assassinated a number of gay seemed to question Maradona’s fondness men working in the arts. But with the re-es- for his players. “No, I have not gone limp tablishment of democracy in the 1990s, “Bue- wristed,” Maradona protested, vehemently. nos Aires emerged as the gay capital of South “But I like to acknowledge and congratuAmerica, with vocal rights organizations and late my players when they play as well as they did today. That was a pleasing result a lively gay and lesbian media presence.” Argentina’s stormy past and promising and display. It was a job well done. I still present makes it uniquely qualified to lead prefer women. I am dating Veronica, who Latin America in the field of LGBT rights is blond and 31 years old.” Though Maradona never misses an opand equality. Civil unions are already recognized in Buenos Aires (2002), the Province portunity to remind us he’s a jerk, his eyeof Rio Negro (2003) and the cities of Villa brow-raising reaction to a reporter’s innocent question indicates that not everything Carlos Paz (2007) and Rio Cuarto (2009). On November 12, 2009, a Buenos Aires is peachy-keen down Argentine way. Nor is Argentina’s legalization of samecourt approved the marriage of Alex Freyre and José Maria Bello. Though the Buenos sex marriage approved throughout the land. Aires government blocked the wedding, the What goes well in Buenos Aires might not two men were married on December 28 in go well in the countryside, where folks are more religious, macho, and carnivorous. Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego. In late 2009, the Argentine Congress took The same-sex marriage bill was hotly opup a bill to change Article 172 of the Civil posed by the Roman Catholic, Mormon and

evangelical churches, which organized a 60,000-person march on Congress to protest the measure. The Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, led the fight against same-sex marriage, saying that “children need to have the right to be raised and educated by a father and a mother.” Another opponent, Senator Juan Perez Alsina, called marriage between a man and a woman “essential for the preservation of the species.” Opponents tried to derail the measure by proposing a weak civil-unions law as an alternative to gay marriage, but they were blocked by astute parliamentary maneuvers. “I’m proud that we never tried for civil unions, always for complete equality,” said Esteban Paulon, the LGBT Federation’s general secretary. The legalization of same-sex marriage in Argentina makes it the tenth country in the world to legalize gay marriage. (The others are Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Sweden). It also puts to shame the United States, where the Defense of Marriage Act is on the books and a majority of states have constitutional amendments barring same-sex marriage. “Today’s historic vote shows how far Catholic Argentina has come, from dictatorship to true democratic values, and how far the freedom-to-marry movement has come, as 12 countries on four continents now embrace marriage equality,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. “America should lead, not lag, when it comes to treating everyone equally under the law.” Perhaps it helps that Argentina’s religious lobby is not as powerful as the one in the States, or that opposition to same-sex mar-

riage is not a cornerstone of one of its major political parties, as it is with the Republican Party in the U.S. Here we have a long way to go before we catch up to the “carnivores” of the Argentine Republic. Jesse Monteagudo (jessemonteagudo@aol.com) is a South-Florida based freelance writer. Jesse thanks Daniel Curzon, author of the 1978 gay novel, Among the Carnivores, for inspiring the title of this article.

Where are all the gay and lesbian Roman Catholics going on Sunday nights? Starting August 1st, they are going to Dignity/Fort Lauderdaleʼs new home for social and Mass at 7 PM.

Holy Angels Church

2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors (1/2 block south of Oakland Park Blvd.) “Celebrating our wholeness and holiness”

By Chris Azzopardi

Life on the D-List comes to south Florida

Do tell!

Do Ask,

Griffin

Kathy

16 August 4, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

ut-gaying Cher takes someone with a strong allegiance to the queer community. Someone who’s played lezzy, and maybe undergone some plastic touchups. Someone like Kathy Griffin, the funny “fag hag” who’s shamelessly self-deprecating about her D-list status, always adding to her Hollywood hit-list and, now, even too gay for Cher. The comedian’s also a memoirist, a voice in the latest Shrek film and down with doing some girl-on-girl action, as she showed on a recent episode of Law & Order: SVU. Still got a Kathy craving? The sixth season of her wildly successful, Emmywinning Bravo reality show My Life on the D-List airs this summer, premiering June 15. Griffin gave us a peek into what she’s calling the gayest

Q: How gay! A: It’s beyond gay. In fact, Cher wants me to take it down a notch, that’s how gay I am now. But anyway, I actually had them put in the ad, “Kathy Griffin: Q: No kidding! Crappy phone? D-List star doing her stand-up comedy show. Hopes to offend.” A: Yeah, I have an unbelievably Q: So on your Twitter – not your twat – you actually remind people that there’s swearing at your shows. Isn’t that like saying there’ll be gays, too? It’s pretty obvious, don’t you think? A: I had walkouts in Biloxi, Miss. People stormed out. So

Q: No, no. I’m gay. I don’t notice those kinds of things. A: Oh yeah!

Q: I noticed something on your Twitter recently. A: On my twat? Oh, thank you!

I just feel that it is incumbent upon me – as a very serious artist – to remind people that when they come to see me they’re not seeing Mamma Mia! or The Lion King, because I get to play these really beautiful theaters (laughs). I just want to make sure everyone knows what they’re in for. I just feel it’s fair.Yeah, there’s swearing, but swearing is sort of an understatement. I just did my ad for Vegas, because I’m doing the Colosseum like I’m fucking Celine Dion or something –

season of the series, including her involvement in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal. She also chatted about how she discovered her queer cult, being inspirational and why she was a “Gleek” before they took over the world.

Q: You sell out shows everywhere and you’ve won two Emmys, but you still claim you’re on the D-list. How the hell? A: I know I’m on the D-list. I’m reminded, I wouldn’t say on a daily basis, but a good twice a week, when I’m called Kathie Lee Gifford. There are still a lot of talk shows I can’t get on. And these are the same shows that are happy to have Heidi and Spencer on, but that’s more of a Hollywood thing. The D-list in my life: I was literally called Kathy Lee Griffith last night. I went to see Ricky Gervais at a theater and I was parking and they said – (Griffin’s cell phone cuts out for several minutes before we reconnect.) Chris, that was a bit of a D-list moment!

photo by Mike Ruiz

Q: And then there was the moment during the Shrek Forever After premiere recently. A: Yeah, that was very A-list until my, of course, D-list moment of standing next to Ryan Seacrest. I really had a moment

Q: The D-list and Ricky Gervais. A: Right. Parking attendant. Kathy Lee Griffith. So I had to keep convincing him that I was on the list if he would just get the name part correct.

cheap phone and it’s now officially broken. I’ve been on an emotional journey with that phone and now I have to realize it’s time to let go. What’s great is that I’m now using my old-fashioned princess phone that I probably got at Sears like 20 years ago. But you know what? This fucker works. Where were we?

continued on page 28

Q: When did you realize you had your gay audience?

Q: In that movie you voice a witch? A: I’m the head witch, which I’m excited about. I took the other witches down. That sounds about right. It’s just like my life.

of thinking, Here I am in this room with Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas and Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy. And then it’s time for the photo and sure enough, I’m standing next to Ryan Seacrest.

Q: Celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz recently took some pics of you as Bettie Page. How did that come about? A: He really is an artist. One of the best. And he has shot everybody. So he called me with this idea and I’m like, “How could I possibly channel Bettie Page?” But, boy, obviously he pulled it off. It was great. He flew the hair and makeup people in from New York, he got the outfit, and he came up with the whole vision. And I was thrilled, and so we covered that on the D-List. Q: He said he was trying to bring out your “inner vixen.” Do you see yourself as a sex symbol? A: (Laughs) I do when I’m with Mike Ruiz. I mean, boy, he’s the one who got away. Mike Ruiz is the very reason that you have these women saying they’re either married or gay because when you look at Mike Ruiz you just want to take a bite out of him.

Chris Azzopardi asked Kathy Griffin about the photography for this center spread:

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Nightlife by J.W. Arnold Saturday, Aug. 7

t may be hot outside, but the action is even hotter inside the Ramrod, South Florida’s leather and Levi bar. Tonight, the bar hosts Pig Dance XXIV with London DJ fter three months of searing sum- Lee Majors. You’ll find all the action at mer heat, we’re looking for a break. 1508 NE 4th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately, it’s going to take Sunday, Aug. 8 a hurricane or a sudden reversal of global warming to bring the temperatures down for ing Hallelujah! It’s Sunday and should be a couple of months. But rather than wallow on your knees repenting your sins of the in our misery, we’re going to escape the heat weekend. Or, you can confess to the Sisters in any one of the air-conditioned South Florida of Sequins at Lips’ famous gospel brunch. bars and clubs and sip on ice cold cocktails. Join Nicolette and her girls for a morning of rip-roarin’ religion. Brunch is $16.50 and inHere’s a quick look at some of the options cludes unlimited mimosas or champagne.These to beat the heat and escape the dog days of girls will introduce you to your savior at 1421 summer: E. Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.

It’s Hot Out There…

Wednesday, Aug. 4

e all know the South Florida boys like to play games. On Wednesday,The Stable, 205 E. Oakland Park Blvd., offers its version of BINGO, only it’s called DRAGO. Miss Candy Cornhole is your hostess-with-themostest for this wacky game. Show up at 8:30 p.m. for your chance at the cash and prizes. Thursday, Aug. 5

Monday, Aug. 9

appy hour in Wilton Manors is pretty legendary—especially with the 2-4-1 drink chips. But when you’re looking for a change of pace, that can be challenging.Why not stop by the Naked Grape Wine Bar.You won’t get chips, but you still get the 2-4-1 specials and can also enjoy draft beers and artisanal cheeses. Naked Grape is located at 2039 Wilton Dr.

o you have what it takes to be a Playgirl model? On Thursdays, the Boardwalk is hosting preliminary rounds to find that undiscovered “talent.” The winner will take home a $1000 grand prize and a chance to achieve fame and fortune. So make like Levi Johnston and head over to Boardwalk. The popular dancer bar is located at 1721 N. Andrews Ave. Friday, Aug. 6

Naked Grape Wine Bar

f you drive too fast up or down Federal Highway, you just might miss the Cubby Hole, the neighborhood bear bar that is tucked into a little strip center across from the War Memorial Auditorium and Parker Playhouse.Tonight is Sink or Swim Friday and for $20 you get all you can drink well drinks or draft beer from 10 p.m. to close.Will you sink or swim? Find the Cubby Hole at 823 N. Federal Hwy. in Fort Lauderdale.

Tuesday, Aug. 10

onight, head to popular South Beach destination Twist for Funhouse Tuesdays. Enjoy VJ Nathan’s classic ‘80s and ‘90s videos in the video room and relive the glory days of pop while slurping down some of Twist’s classic cocktails.Twist is located at 1057 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach.

JW Arnold reviews the play He’s Coming Up the Stairs, a thriller about a hypochondriac socialite, who overhears the plot for her own murder—now playing at the Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale through August 15. For tickets, call 954-678-1496. Online at SouthFloridaGayNews.com/stairs.

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Health and Fitness

Chronos for Men, Step-by-Step

By A. Sebastian Fortino

here is an overwhelming assortment of skincare products out there for men, thanks in part to the “metrosexuals” of ten years ago. Yet there are now so many products available that shopping at any price level—whether you frequent pharmacies or boutiques—is overwhelming. Chronos for Men, a skincare company based in West Hollywood, California, realizes men—regardless of sexuality—are confused by what’s out there. Chronos breaks their product line down into an alphanumeric system with sensible face washes, line serums, and a light moisturizer. The products come in smaller bottles, are used minimally so they last a long time, and are priced… without any fine lines! The product starts off with A.1, Active Cleanser and A.2, Gentle Cleanser. While A.1 is for normal to oily, and A.2 is for dry/sensitive to normal, I found using both gave me the best results. My skin is a combination, normal to oily. It gets lightly oily in my T-section, forehead and nose, by the end of a warm, South Florida day. Therefore I use A.1 at night after work and before bed. This is especially good for evening use after time in the sun, as it has aloe vera. I use the lighter A.2 in the morning before going to work,

when my skin is fresh. The HA Line Serum, or B.1, is a light, anti-aging and line defense that is recommended for daytime use. Product B.2, the Glycolic Line Serum, is slightly heavier and meant for evening. I have found my skin, especially my forehead and eyes, seem to be smoother. Now, we all need a little moisture in our lives and on our skin. However, if you have ever ventured out in the hot morning sun here, you know that, unless your skin is especially dry, the sun will melt if off before your pores soak it up. Therefore, if you are not particularly dry I recommend putting this on as soon as you can before heading off to work—or out into a humid night—at least 20 minutes before you leave the cool confines of home. While the products do not currently have an SPF, they are so light and well-balanced that putting on a trusted, facial SPF after you apply C.1 makes them a worthy addition to your skin-care regiment. The line, launched in April, comes from Trent Pace, who has experience in product and research development for a naturopathic company. Chronos also has a silent partner, a veteran of the cosmetic industry for over 20 years. “The response from the public has been positive,” said Pace. “We have had no complaints whatsoever.”

When asked why Pace and his business partner did not develop their website to be one with a recurring subscription, his response was adamant. “We did a lot of research, and that’s one thing we really didn’t like about other companies. At Chronos, we don’t want you to get locked into a subscription for the products, then you end up with a vanity filled with unused products. If you like our product,” said Pace, “by all means keep ordering more.” Due to the success of Chronos for Men, they do intend to release a C.2 product, an SPF moisturizer. Going forward, they plan on expanding their potions and lotions. “We plan on an E line, for body grooming. The F line will be the shaving portion of things. So far, things have been great,” said Pace. “We hope to launch the other lines as soon as we can.”

For more information, or to order a free sample of the C.1 Light Moisturizer while supplies last, visit Chronosformen.com

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Instruments of Torture and 100 Cuban Artists at Miami-Dade College’s Freedom Tower about pleasurable, not fatal, pain. To punish homosexuality with death, a large saw—always a ready torture device— was introduced between the legs of a man hung upside down. They would proceed to saw the guilty in half. Some accounts reveal that people would not often die until the saw reached the navel. One item on display, an Italian rack with spikes, also comes with a description of waterboarding—which is described as being enduring because it is an “economical” form of torture. To get the most out of time with the prisoner, the executioner would pour copious amounts of water into the mouth against the tortured person’s will. In addition to the feeling of drowning, the stomach and abdomen would be beaten, which would cause the person on the receiving end much pain. It seems as if time-tested ideas such as this are still employed by governments to extract information. A head crusher, would gradually tighten and lower onto the person’s skull. When the device was unscrewed, A tasteful Italian rack the cranial cap of the person would be removed. The Nuremberg Maiden, or Certain objects on display dispel long-held By A. Sebastian Fortino iron maiden, is also on display. myths.A chastity belt, for instance, was not While this torture existed he Miami Freedom Tower is host- something a husband forced his wife to wear in other parts of Europe, the if he were going off on crusade. Oftentimes ing Instruments of Torture Through smiling Nuremberg version, in women adopted the use of a chastity belt the Ages, an exhibit on loan from when traveling, as roadside inns hosted outlaws which the prisoner was placed the Museo Medieval in Italy. The guillotine so that spikes would pierce bent on rape as much as law-abiding citizens. on display looks awfully perfect in front the flesh and ultimately kill and The masculine version of a chastity of the Spanish Renaissance-style building. crush the victim, is the most Surely, that’s what drew me in—and anyone device, however, was made to inflict pain, not protect the “pudendum” or “shameful” iconic. This punishment was else with a taste for the macabre. The exhibit, running through August 29, displays parts of man. When impure thoughts caused reserved for severe crimes against the state, or ruler, such the wearer to get an erection, little spikes roughly 85 objects, which are authentic or as minting coins illegally. carefully executed reproductions of original would meet the growing member. This was The torture exhibit highlights generally a form of self-mortification of the instruments once common in the dungeon the fact that these punishments, flesh for reasons of piety. of many a noble or prince. and tortures, were not meant The above device wasn’t necessarily While the exhibit definitely gives viewers to be swift. The rack was meant for the homosexual offender only. For inthe chills, the weight of the exhibit comes from realizing just how bad it was to be on the stance, a beautifully-made stretching device to dislocate shoulders and vertebrae so that the death was introduced into the mouth, rectum, or wrong end of the law before agencies such as Amnesty International and the United Nations other orifice would be twisted to expand, agonizing. Other devices were and open up. My friend who came with me meant to be worn on a longexisted. In those days, justice was vernacular. term basis, such as spiked belts, The punishments meted out by a Tuscan duke said he has seen similar devices for sale so that wounds would develop, on fetish websites—although I think their could be much less or much more bloody exposing flesh, so that ultimodern, repurposed intent is to bring than those of his counterpart in Bavaria.

mately gangrene and death would take their course. That is if you were lucky enough to not have flesh-eating worms introduced. Other devices, such as a heavy, mocking mask made out of metal, were created for women who had spoken in front of or against the men in their lives. These masks chronicle the near-universal domestic slavery in which women existed in past centuries. A dunking or dousing chair punished women who gossiped. The guilty were strapped into the chair and lowered into a body of water several times throughout an entire day, thereby repeating the feeling of drowning. Should we bring this back for Perez Hilton? The show is really two shows in one. The second part of the exhibit displays methods of torture carried out by the Inquisition, with wax models of the accused in various stages of torture and pain. On a slightly disconcerting note, the wax figures of hairy, medieval Italian men were oddly attractive. To learn more about the exhibit, visit Miamitorture.com

A dousing chair for gossips

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Faces: 100 Cuban Artists by Carlos Manuel Cardenes Sr., and Jr.

his collection chronicles the diaspora of Cuban artists living in Miami. Rather than mere portraits of the artists in the photographs, Cardenes, Jr. weds the artists to their art. “My approach was to conflate the work and the artist into a single indivisible image; to place creator and creation in the same canvas and, so to speak, put the flesh on the bones of creation. To see the art and the artist as one—that was my vision,” said Cardenes, Jr. Cardenes, Jr. initially started this project on his own. However, in the middle of scheduling and photographing the artists, he suffered an untimely death. To honor the memory of his son, Cardenes Sr. completed the work. The pictures are moving, eloquently executed studies of a population that is both unique to and a major force behind the life of Miami. To learn more about this exhibit, contact the MDC Art Gallery System at (305) 237-7700.

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Book Review The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes Author: Fredric Joss Shelley 202 pages Available on Amazon.com

By A. Sebastian Fortino

hen writing about groups of friends and personal relationships, the author runs the risk of printing a giant inside joke. Admittedly, as I knew Fredric Joss Shelley— author of The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes—socially in Philadelphia, I feared that the book might run that risk. I also wondered about how people in his life reacted. However, Shelley did not lose any friends in the process. “My friends always support and appreciate my work, and it’s good to laugh at life. If you get mired in the drama it makes people too tense, so writing humorous things is a good way to get people to let go,” the writer, columnist, and actor told SFGN. The main character, Jack Bradley, is a young, urban male who from an early

age showed an aptitude for organization. He believes he is descended from a long line of self-conscious people, and carries within himself a gene that predestines him for low self-esteem. In The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes, we meet Jack’s social circle.The “princes” are not so much the men he dates as much as highlights of his postAaron life. A is for Aaron, Jack’s first serious boyfriend. In one or two cases the “prince” is not a real person, nor in one case male. Jack only learned of Aaron’s infidelity after a letter written on pale-blue stationery was delivered to him. The note pops up throughout the book, hoping for a clue that will reveal its writer. However, Shelley does not damage that sub-plot with any gay Hardy Boys’ flair. It is a cliché, but nonetheless true, that the book’s subtle, rarefied wit is laugh-out-loud funny. Shelley’s writing bubbles and flows like a stream, with humor not battling for a place against more serious moments. While older writers, generally more experienced in terms of relationships, tackle dating in the press,

Shelley chronicles the confusion of breakups, dating, friendships and relationships that pepper the lives of younger, gay, urban men. With certain writers, you can see that they have penned a lot of themselves into the novel. Sometimes it is desirable to go back to what you have written and excise tidbits of your own personality. However, Shelley feels that the healing nature of writing draws your personality into the work. “It’s more therapeutic to put the demons you have to work out into your work,” said Shelley. “Writing is always a good opportunity to open the minds of the readers.They want something honest and true, even though it’s coming from a fictional background. My way with dealing with life is to laugh about it.” In addition to the humor, and the vibrant, lifelike personalities of Jack’s friends, the book documents where gay, urban life is going. Jack’s circle is very mixed: gay, straight, black and white. In it we can tell characters happen to be gay, but it’s not generally their main attribute. They go to straight Irish pubs as easily as gay venues. Shelley says this is

partly because of wider acceptance, and the assimilation of straight neighbors and businesses in historical “gayborhoods.” Keeping with the notion that their sexuality is a fact, not really a hallmark of their lives, Jack’s diagnosis with HIV is not really central to the plot. It is something Jack accepts, and in comparison with older HIV storylines, does so bravely, and calmly. Instead of making it the focus he makes it merely a part of Jack’s journey. “I think there is still fear in the gay community about HIV. I don’t think anyone would want to pick up the book if they knew about the HIV issue. If the reader is unaware of it the reader will pick it up, and hopefully dispel some negative feelings about it,” Shelley said of the issue’s subtlety. “I did it mid-book so readers would get to know Jack first and foremost. It gets them to question life, or how would that affect them if it was their friend.” The book, written in a column-like formula meant to be digestible for readers, is beautifully written. However, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes is so seamless it deserves to be read in one or two sittings so as not to interrupt Shelley’s wit and accomplishment.

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August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Author Anne Rice Renounces Christianity By Hillel Italie

AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) – Anne Rice has had a religious conversion: She’s no longer a Christian. Rice, 68, is best known for “Interview With a Vampire’’ and other gothic novels. Raised as a Catholic, she had rejected the church early in her life but renewed her faith in recent years and in 2008 released the memoir “Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession.’’ In a telephone interview Thursday, Rice said she had been having doubts for the past two to three years. She was troubled by the child abuse scandals in the church, and the church’s defensive reaction, and by the ex-communication of Sister Margaret McBride, a nun and hospital administrator who had approved an abortion for a woman whose life was in danger. “I believed for a long time that the dif-

“In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control,’’ the author wrote Wednesday on her Facebook page. “In the name of ... Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.’’ – Anne Rice

ferences, the quarrels among Christians didn’t matter a lot for the individual, that you live your life and stay out of it. But then I began to realize that it wasn’t an easy thing to do,’’ said Rice, speaking from her home near Palm Springs, Calif. “I came to the conclusion that if I didn’t make this declaration, I was going to lose my mind.’’

Rice said she is a Democrat who supports the health care legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama and believes gay marriage inevitably will be permitted throughout the country. Although no longer part of any denomination, she remains a believer and continues to read theology and post Biblical passages on her Facebook page. She has no immediate plans to write about her leaving the church and will continue with her metaphysical fiction series, “Songs of the Seraphim.’’ Rice will not be taking up vampires again, but she said she is a big fan of the HBO series “True Blood,’’ enjoyed the first two “Twilight’’ movies (she has yet to read any of the Stephenie Meyer novels) and is interested in seeing her most famous character, the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, return to the screen. “We’re in talks about it,’’ she said. ``But then we’ve always been in talks about it. Hope springs eternal in California.’’

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Heard it on...

to make his bartenders wear shirts while pouring are rechecking their facts to see if the bar was really in violation of state health codes. After Code Enforcement officer Paul Lempicki told Maine Street bar owner Normand Paquin last week that his shirtless bartenders were a “health hazard,” he and town manager Tom Fortier are now working with the Department of Health and Human Services to see if the staff is actually in violation. By the Night Owl “This thing is huge,” Fortier told the Seacoast Elton Outraged Online, referencing articles At Boycotters on Advocate.com and Elton John has waded other LGBT news sites. He into the debate over a new said if it turns out the bar immigration law in Arizona, isn’t in violation, he’ll issue condemning artists who a public apology. boycott the state over the The request that Paquin controversy. Acts including have his staff cover up Rage Against the Machine, came after town residents Kanye West and Maroon 5 Sir Elton John complained of the bar’s are all refusing to perform image. “I love Ogunquit, and in the state until officials I love the gay men. I have no problems with reverse the legislation, which gives Arizona police the power to arrest anyone suspect- anyone. I just don’t want a tacky town,” a resident told the Seacoast Online after comed of being an illegal immigrant. But John plaining to Fortier. has refused to join the protest - and he reportedly slammed Did Glee the campaigners Cast Kurt’s during a concert at Boyfriend? the Tucson Arena in The Advocate Arizona on Thursday. recently reported According to the that ICarly star Arizona Daily Star, Chord OverJohn told the crowd street has of 8,800: “We are all been cast for the very pleased to be upcoming season playing in Arizona. I of Glee to play have read that some the role of Kurt’s of the artists won’t boyfriend. Creator come here. They are Ryan Murphy f**kwits! Let’s face it: has said that the I still play in Califorsecond season of nia, and as a gay man Glee would feature I have no legal rights Kurt (played by whatsoever. So what Chris Colfer) in Chord Overstreet the (expletive is) a relationship. He with these people?” said the role would be cast after a nationwide search. According to Movieline, Overstreet will play Sam, an athlete who “starts Shirts Off for Maine Gay off as Finn Hudon’s protégé but becomes Bartenders? According to the Advocate, officials who his competition.” The second season of the ordered an Ogunquit, Maine, gay bar owner Emmy-nominated show starts Sept. 21.

Amy Adams

Janis Joplin

Amy Adams Is The New Janis Joplin. Yes, Really.

casting announcements, setbacks and development deals crumbling into dust, it looks like a big screen Joplin has been found in… Amy Adams? Sweet, delicate Enchanted princess Amy Adams? That Amy Adams? Yes. Romeo San Vicente Wonder aloud, if you will, but that’s why Years ago, as the search for an actor they call it acting. And if she pulls off a role to play Janis Joplin heated up, the late that’s as troubled and drugged and bisexual Brittany Murphy saw her apparently as Adams’s normal persona is adorable, light very impressive audition tape float around and into guys like Leap Year’s Matthew Hollywood and the smart money was on her. (People tend to forget that Murphy was Goode, then you’ll know what that earlier a good singer.) Then they talked about Me- Oscar nomination for Junebug was about. It’s just nice to hear that it’s not going to any of lissa Etheridge. And just recently Pink was on track to step into the role. But now the young women from High School Musical it seems that after years and years of teasing or Glee. At least for now.

Colbert Camps it Up By A. Sebastian Fortino

scene in season 2. The sometimes stalwart Colbert did campy with a drag queen’s ease. Does it appear the show will further tap into their gay audience?

ews pundit Stephen Colbert To see the full show, please visit invited Bravo entertainment guru Colbertnation.com Andy Cohen onto The Colbert Report on Thursday, July 29. Cohen, the gay force behind such fagulous – yes, that spelling is correct! – shows as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and the Real Housewives Franchise was poured a very stiff cocktail. The reason for the libation was simple, Cohen uses alcohol to loosen up guests on his show, Watch What Happens Live. During the interview Colbert further amused audiences – as if pouring nearly a quarter of a bottle of straight Grey Goose vodka into Cohen’s martini glass was not enough – by producing 2 transcripts from The Real Housewives. Stephen Colbert The transcript was a “smack down”

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

The Manor Hosts Manors ‘Volunteer Appreciation Lunch’ PHOTOS BY A. SEBASTIAN FORTINO

“Service to others is the payment you make for your space here on earth.” - Mohammed Ali

Chris Cooper, Bridgette Pierce, Clinton Kerr, Adeesha Davis, Lewis Horta, Mary Jo Rutledge, Patrick Cann, Rick Sterling

n Saturday, July 31, The Manor hosted a City of Wilton Manors Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Mayor Gary Resnick lauded and praised what makes Wilton Manors great, namely our volunteers who make the city a diverse, safe, and fun place to live!

Jerry’s Birthday Party Celebrates Pet Project

AJ Cross’ Birthday Party at Johnny’s Benefits SunServe

at MONA’s

PHOTOS BY POMPANO BILL

Dale Madison accepting his award Sean David and Kevin Burns

I Jerry Schultz at Mona’s

lso on July 31, Mona’s celebrated 13 years in business. Owner Jerry Schultz celebrated his birthday as well. The event also thanked the community for helping Mona’s to raise over $12,000 for the Pet Project for Pets.

n a benefit at Johnny’s Bar, unattended by the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept., General Manager AJ Cross held a birthday party which was celebrated by many local bar owners, including Paul Hugo from the Manor and Tom from the Palace in Miami. Pictured above: the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence award Dale Madison with a plaque for his community service to SunServe. Also seen at the event, hosted by Sean David, was State Senate candidate Kevin Burns, Multimedia Platforms partner Bobby Blair, Fabscout Entertainment’s Howard Andrew, SFGN’s Joey Amato, drag performer Elektra, General Manager Chris of Boom. Additional photos of the party can be seen online at SouthFloridaGayNews.com. Pompano Bill, who took the photos was himself an award recipient.

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Crossword Puzzle

Off the Wall continued from page 13

“I am. Does it make any difference?” I never saw anybody react to my being gay the way she did. “Oh my God, of course not, this is great! It’s wonderful… I knew it all the time… I have to tell all my friends!” A typical teenager. She was ecstatic to have a gay uncle. Honestly, for a moment, I felt I was a Disney character. She wanted to know, in rapid-fire succession, about my life, my friends, my partner, when she was going to meet him, how long we had been together, what was our life like… everything. Nobody ever made me feel so good about being gay. I was pleasantly shocked, relieved and completely blown over. I was back on the high-speed train. I was cool again. When I was 15, it never crossed my mind to ask a relative or a friend if he/she was gay. I did not even ask myself the question, for that matter. I was too scared of the answer.

For my niece it was the most natural thing in the world. Bless you child… I never had your spirit at your age. Yes, I might resent the fact that my nephew broke away from tradition and thinks my collection of watches is passé, but at the same time I’m overjoyed, and hopeful, to see that new generations do not give a hoot about sexual orientation. To them it is not a big deal. We have been telling the world for years, “We are what we are.” I think some of them out there are finally getting it. I left the cafe with a new spring in my step and felt much younger. That afternoon with my teenage niece will always be memorable. There was a new and special bond between us and a sense of peace with the world around. Moments like that make it all worthwhile. Carpe Diem – Cogli l’attimo – Seize the Day.

E x p e r t e u r o p e a n E xAp Ue Tr Ot eRu er po ap ei ar n SA EU RT OV IRCe Ep a i r S E R V I C E . . .. . t . t I I o o t t n n ore I e I More e r r o o M t ut M ou Get M We Pu o You Get t P e W .So Y f It .S ut Of I . . . O . ut O

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Across 1 Once the largest co. with domestic partner benefits 4 An Early ___ 9 Be attracted to 14 To God, in “Banana Boat Song”? 15 Cukor’s __ and Juliet 16 Taking it lying down 17 Wife of 59-Across master certified 19 Eva Gabor’s Green ___ 20 All thumbs Down 21 Metrosexual 1 Running in place 23 New Age music pioneer 2 It tops a freshman automotive service excellence service 24 One of a 1492 threesome 3 Rita of West Side Story 25 2000 mockumentary film 4 Ridge on Melissa’s neck of 59-Across 5 Letters after CD 29 Painter O’Keeffe 6 Fed. book balancers 31 Film material 7 Workers at the bottom 32 Suffix with prefer 8 Providing Camry makerthe Personal 34 Lost some of its size 9 1.0, for one 35 2003 musical spoof of 10 Tolkien beast 59-Across 11 Stroke for Mauresmo 39 Edna and Judi Dench 12 Monotonous 41 Sounds of relief 13 Scattered seed anew 42 Krypton, for one 18 On ___ with See solution on page 29 45 Put back on the payroll 22 Upload it with your 50 Early role for 59-Across Gay.com profile 52 Irene of Fame 25 Cherry variety 53 Sash, to a Samurai 26 Unit price word

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August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Brice Brittenum

FLPD’s LGBT Liaison By Joey Amato

ans of Law & Order will surely want to know about Brice Brittenum. Not only is Detective Brittenum a member of the Special Victims Unit of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, but the 28 year old, Arkansas native is also a member of the department’s SWAT team as well as the LGBT Liaison. “As an SVU detective we are assigned any cases relating to child abuse, sex crimes and domestic violence,” states Brittenum. His involvement in the SWAT team means that Brittenum must attend monthly team training as well as respond to any situations that may require a SWAT response. “The hardest part of my job is dealing with child victims of physical and sexual abuse. It is hard to see these cases sometimes and you have to learn how to separate that from your personal life,” he states. Furthermore, as the LGBT Liaison for the FLPD, Brittenum represents the department in issues relating to the LGBT community. Brittenum adds, “I also provide outreach such in the form of recruiting new officers and attending community events.” After graduating with a degree in public management from Florida Atlantic University, Brittenum decided to begin a career in law enforcement. “It was always something that interested me. My stepfather was a police officer for over 30 years so it just happened naturally.” Being openly gay in a profession such as Brittenum’s can prove to be a challenge. It took him a few years of being on the force to unveil his sexuality to his as-

sociates. “Even though I came out in my early teens, I wanted to prove myself as a police officer first to show that I could do the job as well as anyone.” Currently, Brittenum tells us that the number of openly gay individuals in law enforcement is limited, but the challenges they face are no different than any other minority group. “When women or other minorities began pursuing law enforcement as a career, they had to prove themselves more than their accepted counterparts, and it is no different for LGBT persons now.” Brittenum remains optimistic and hopes that the barriers that currently exist are someday destroyed. “The most important thing is to perform your job effectively,” Brittenum states. “It shows people that even though you are gay, you are capable and no different than everyone else.” Being a police officer with the FLPD has been rewarding for Brittenum. “I enjoy being able to help people when they don’t know where else to turn,” he states. “When people call the police, they are often at a low point where they don’t know what to do, and they need not just help for their safety but guidance on how to recover from the event.” He tells SFGN this is especially true in SVU cases. Giving back is not just a profession for Brittenum. He actively volunteers to support the HRC and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as well as St. Jude Children’s Hospital. If you need to reach Detective Brittenum, please contact him at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-5898.

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August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Kathy Griffin Interview

Samuel Steward, Sexual Outlaw on Gay Frontier

To read the full article, please visit NYtimes.com/2010/07/26/ books/26secret.html?src=mv

An article in the New York Times about an upcoming book by author Justin Spring on Samuel Steward, a little-known serious novelist and pulp fiction writer, who gave up his tenure at a Roman Catholic university in favor of becoming a tattoo artist, reveals a treasure trove of mid-century sexuality and gay underground life. Steward kept a “Stud File” with more than 700 cards, with descriptions of the sexual encounter, and the penis size of Steward’s sexual partners written in code. Rock Hudson, Thornton Wilder, and even Rudolph Valentino are listed among his conquests. He even kept a pubic hair from the silent movie heartthrob with a description of, “Nuf said” on the card. Steward was known for witty, ribald letters with personalities such as Paul Cadmus, Gertrude Stein, and Christopher Isherwood. “Secret Historian:The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor,Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade” is due out next month.

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continued from page 17

A: It was really before stand-up, because I would do anything – anything! – to be on stage somewhere. I would go any place that would have an open mic night, and that’s when I kind of discovered the gay club scene because I just went wherever they had open mics. I didn’t care if it was a black club or a gay club or a comedy club or a music club. And then I started going, “Oh, these audiences are better!” Actually, I write about this in my book (Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, now available in paperback), the whole question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? How did I find the gays? How did they find me? And it’s sort of a combo. I just always gravitated toward gay people as long as I can remember. It certainly started in high school with the musical theater clique. I had a great nerd clique in high school and I’m still friends with them today. And we still have our middle fingers up to the cheerleaders. Basically, it was Glee; I was a “Gleek” before that show was on. Q: How is your mother? A: (Sigh) Well, she’s coming over today, so we have to stock up the bar. Just know that when she comes over it’s completely normal for (my assistants) Tom or Tiffany to say, “Do we have wine? How much wine do we have?” It’s not really about her walker or if she has a stomach ache. Just making sure we’re stocked up.

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Q: Are you shooting more of My Life on the D-List? A: Of course. It’s the show that never ends (laughs). Q: The last season of the show was probably the gayest so far.Will this upcoming season outgay that one? A: I fear it might be gayer (laughs). First of all, in Episode One we have Liza Minnelli. So out the gate, we’re pretty fucking gay. And she’s fantastic. And she’s Liza. And we get to go to her New York apartment, which is a dream come true for any gay boy such as yourself – or me. Q: How about the episode in Washington, D.C., involving the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”? A: I’m really proud of that one. I go to Washington, D.C., and do my part to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” because I, of course, have many gay friends in the military and seeing the way that policy has impacted their lives is heartbreaking. Before I started this episode I really thought these men and women left the military or left their service or were even kicked out because they came out. I didn’t understand that currently you can actually be kicked out if one person makes a compelling argument and just basically says this person’s gay. So when I went to my first Senate hearing, I heard so many of these men and women testifying saying, “You don’t understand. I didn’t come out.” So John McCain, who I lost total respect for, kept trying to imply that these men and women had been flaunting their sexuality. They didn’t have one single person testify that actually came out; they only had people testify saying, “I didn’t even come out! Nobody was asking, and I wasn’t telling.” It was shocking. A few of them had their personal e-mail accounts hacked into. It was really interesting to watch that process. What I really learned was, honestly, the best advocate to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is Sen. Carl Levin from Michigan. He was so great during the testimony, and John McCain was not (laughs). It was one of those great episodes because we thought it was going to go one way and then this took a turn, and this took a turn. I really learned a lot and it was great. Q: You actually received some advocacy tips from Melissa Etheridge during the last season of D-List, and she recently said she finds you inspiring. Do you think you’re inspirational? A: (Laughs) She’s a little more in the inspirational category, but I do like to inspire people to be more profane, to be more foulmouthed and to be more inappropriate. I’m an inspiration for everything wrong.

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Keep it legal, Pisces! Venus entering Libra will line up with Saturn (think of Margaret Dumont) then aspects Mars, Uranus, Jupiter and Capricorn (enter the Marx Brothers!).You can maintain dignity only by relinquishing control.Your first brilliant idea will need a lot of work. ARIES (March 20 – April 19): If you must be in charge, challenge yourself at work and forget about control issues at home. Make a special effort to listen to your partner.Allowing each other some space will make it easier to share much more. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): Moderate your sugar intake! Too many sweets can be very dangerous now. Focus on health issues and set moderate, realistic goals in exercise. But you need something wild and different, so explore new approaches to staying fit. GEMINI (May 21- June 20):Your playful invitations may be too intense. Friends who already know you well can help you to get the tone you want. The less you like what they say, the more you should shut up and listen. CANCER (June 21- July 22):The purpose of work is to have a happier home life, so isn’t home ultimately more important? Domestic calm and stability may take some effort, but it is necessary to help you weather big changes that can radically affect your career. LEO (July 23 – August 22): Efforts to be witty and mildly provocative are likely to explode into huge imbroglios. Focus your mind on being factual, self-critical and open-minded. Relations at your workplace hinge absolutely on staying on that track! VIRGO (August 23 – September 22):Take control of your finances. A big change in your banking and/ or insurance should be to your advantage – if you think way ahead before taking big steps, and watch out for pitfalls. Be smart and attentive and you should come out ahead.

Solution to Crossword Puzzle on page 26

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): Relationships are especially challenging, but remember the fulcrum for balancing them is in your home. It may be all about compromise, but stay true to yourself and your own principles. Challenge your partner to be at least half as adaptive as you are. SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): For the sake of your health you may have to reveal some deep, dark secrets. Professionals should be trusted so they can serve you properly. Friends should be trustworthy, but don’t always count on that! SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 20):Your efforts to socialize can get a little heavy-handed. Looking steady, solid and reliable is attractive, but can be overdone. Get deep and serious with people who already know you.Their insight is better for your problems, anyway. CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 19): Charm will get you ahead, but acting too quickly on spontaneous flashes of “brilliance” could cause your career to go down in flames.With careful consideration those sudden bursts of inspiration might be honed into something truly momentous. AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): For a good mental challenge, start by shutting up and listening. If that’s too much, offer questions instead of arguments. Opening your mouth will reveal more than you intend so be very careful with whom you do that around. PISCES (February 19 – March 19): Love, or a juicy facsimile, can be found in another generation.A decade or two older or younger is fine; just keep it legal! Rude surprises are too likely.The less you like advice from friends, the more you should listen. Following it remains optional.

Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977, is available for personal and business consultations in person in San Francisco, or online everywhere. He can be reached at 415-864-8302, through his website at www.starjack. com, and by e-mail at QScopes@ qsyndicate.com.

Humor

Q Scopes By Jack Fertig

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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oseanne star Sara Gilbert came out to the press and public quietly during a Wednesday press conference at the Television Critics Association in L.A. Her sexuality has long been one of the “open secrets” of Hollywood. She has two children with life partner, producer Allison Adler, whom she has been with since 2002. Adler gave birth to their 5-year-old son Levi, while Gilbert gave birth to 3-year-old daughter Sawyer in 2007. Gilbert has been active since the end of Roseanne. She even appeared as a co-star on The Big Bang Theory, alongside Roseanne veteran Johnny Galecki. The reason she was at the press conference was to discuss her upcoming new show, The Talk. The program is a talk show, with six women on the panel. If you think that sounds like The View, you are right. However, parenting is the foundation of the show.

Gilbert was asked how comfortable she feels being publicly out, as Hollywood insiders knew of her relationship with Allison Adler. “This is a whole new world for me. I’m not an expert on this, or I don’t analyze these things,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “I’m just sort of living my life.” She says she will talk about her experiences as a lesbian when they arise. “I’ve been acting my whole life,” says Gilbert. “And I’ve never really discussed my personal life. This is a talk show…so obviously I’m going to be discussing my life more.” The Talk will air on CBS. In addition to Gilbert, Julie Chen, Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete, Sharon Osbourne and Marissa Jaret Winokour will be on the panel. “We’re six different women, six totally [different] views on life, all mothers, all in relationships and there you have it,” Sharon Osbourne stated.

Mon 9-5, Tues 8-4, Wed 9-4 Thur 9-3, Fri 9-2

August 4, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

S P O R T S

Two Women With One Heart

Jennifer Morales and Laurie Whittaker By Tony Adams

“H

ere at Sidelines, we have what we call the seventeen second rule” said Laurie Whittaker, co-owner with Marty Kildea of Sidelines, the popular gay owned and operated Wilton Manors sports bar. Before a definition of that rule could be supplied, came the first of a constant string of cordial interruptions from patrons and staff of the friendly watering hole where everyone actually does know your name and the names of Laurie and her partner of thirty years, Jennifer Morales, who handles public relations for the bar. The affection and dedication that Laurie and Jennifer express for each other while telling their story is infectious and certainly a prime reason for the success of a bar that received a singular honor on July 27th when the City Commission issued a proclamation honoring the bar’s fourth anniversary. Four years in business is no small accomplishment in a world in which 80% of small businesses fold in their first year, but thirty years as a couple is a greater one. Jennifer and Laurie laugh, kiss, joke and finish each other’s sentences when telling their love story. “We met on October 18, 1980 through mutual friends at a party. We did the lesbian U-Haul thing and moved in together within a week.” Whether Jennifer or Laurie said this is unimportant. They are two happy voices of one beautifully fused woman. Theirs is the only longterm relationship either has ever had. Their union has not been without its trials. When their parents found out about the relationship that Christmas, Laurie’s Irish Catholic family shunned her, and Jennifer’s family reacted with denial. The couple proceeded to solemnize their relationship in 1981 at the MCC church in Tallahassee. Their families have long since discarded their misgivings, preferring to love and accept them completely.

Along the way, Jennifer acquired a degree in music. Here, Laurie jumps in to say “Jennifer has a hell of a voice. That’s how the woman got to me, like a songbird.” In 1989, the couple moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jennifer began a career in the tourism industry and Laurie entered law school, eventually joining her father’s practice. About her work as a lawyer, Laurie says “In criminal law you see bad people on their

ataxia that impacts balance and movement and has left her in need of a walker. Doctors have told her to expect her mobility to deteriorate, and as often as Laurie looked to them for hope, the prognosis was gloomy. They refused to consider the possibility of failure in both health and in business, with Jennifer saying to Laurie “Honey if we’re going to do this, we have to do it right. We need to brand. That’s what I can do.”

Jennifer Morales (Left) and her partner Laurie Whittaker

best behavior. In family law, you see good people on their worst behavior.” When her father died in 1999, Laurie began to desire a serious career change. It had always been their dream to own the kind of friendly and inclusive bar that Sidelines has become. They brought to the new venture some experience. Laurie had been a head bartender and Jennifer had been a waitress at a bar in Orlando. They were determined to make their own bar comfortable and one with no room for standing, posing or giving attitude. Their plans were complicated by a serious illness that beset Jennifer. She developed pulmonary hypertension and a progressive neurological condition called

Laurie had made the acquaintance of Marty Kildea, who was in the concrete business at the time, through a pool league. She remembers their being across the street from what was then a bar called Circuits. “I told Marty that you never see anyone go in there. We walked across the street, talked to the owner, made an offer and bought it.” Jennifer is clear about why Sidelines became immediately successful. “Our mantra has always been that this is a place where anyone can feel normal, comfortable and relaxed. Sure, it’s a gay bar, but our loyal clients include men, women, gay and straight. In fact, we’ve even had two straight marriage proposals happen in our bar.” She and

Laurie are proud of Sidelines’ strong community involvement. “Over the last four years, Sidelines has contributed to many of Wilton Manors’ charitable organizations and major fundraising events, such as The Smart Ride, in which Team Sidelines in its first year raised over $40,000. Since 2006, Sidelines has sponsored the Florida AIDS Walk which generates awareness and support to many of South Florida’s HIV/AIDS program initiatives.” Their recipe for success? “We went through the usual business planning and projections, but basically we wanted a comfortable, clean Cheers-like environment. Fun and friendly. It took off in year one. Now we have very loyal customers who have been with us since day one. We have the best staff who know the meaning of customer service.” That seventeen second rule? Marty trained the original staff, three of whom are still with the bar, to greet, shake hands with and introduce to others all new arrivals within that time frame. That had indeed been my experience having arrived early at the bar for my meeting with Laurie and Jennifer on a very busy afternoon during last minute preparations for the final Cook-Off Championship. The winner of that competition, James Morris, typified the spirit of Jennifer and Laurie by donating his grand prize, a deluxe BBQ grill, to Poverello’s. Jennifer and Laurie’s happiness is insurmountable as they make plans for their anniversary and for Laurie’s fiftieth birthday. “When Jennifer got sick, I made her promise me three things. Fight the good fight. Never give up, and give me all the sex I want.” In business and in love, these wise women will win you over, even more than the free-flowing popcorn and comfortable chairs that await you at Sidelines. For more information about Sidelines events: www.sidelinessports.com

August 4, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com