SFGN 01/07/21 V12iss1

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE JANUARY 7, 2021 VOL. 12 // ISSUE 1

PERSON OF THE YEAR

SHEVRIN

JONES

THE RECENTLY ELECTED STATE SENATOR IS A TRAILBLAZING POLITICIAN PAGE 12

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

CONVERSION THERAPY BAN ARGUED IN COURT BATTLE John McDonald

T

he City of Fort Lauderdale joined an amicus brief calling for a rehearing on the issue of youth conversion therapy.

Vice Mayor Steve Glassman brought up the issue at the commission’s Dec. 15 meeting. City attorney Alain Boileau asked for a consensus from the five-member commission. Mayor Dean Trantalis and District 4 Commissioner Ben Sorensen joined Glassman in voicing support for the city to defend its ban on conversion therapy.

The ban is part of a comprehensive human rights ordinance ushered in by Glassman, who represents District 2.

Commissioners Heather Moraitis and Robert McKinzie did not voice an opinion on the matter.

Fort Lauderdale joins Miami Beach, Wilton Manors other South Florida municipalities in the amicus brief in support of the petition filed

by Palm Beach County and FORT LAUDERDALE JOINS Boca Raton for an en banc MIAMI BEACH, WILTON review of their authority to MANORS OTHER SOUTH prohibit conversion therapy on minors.

FLORIDA MUNICIPALITIES Last November a threeIN THE AMICUS BRIEF IN judge panel struck down SUPPORT OF THE PETITION the bans, ruling in favor FILED BY PALM BEACH of anti-LGBT therapists Steve Glassman, Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor. Photo via Steve Glassman, Facebook.

Robert Otto and Julie COUNTY AND BOCA RATON Hamilton on the grounds of FOR AN EN BANC REVIEW right to act to protect their Paley cited research from the American free speech.

OF THEIR AUTHORITY TO young LGBTQ residents Journal of Public Health showing LGBT Meanwhile, the Trevor PROHIBIT CONVERSION from its well-documented youth ages 13 to 24 were more than twice Project, the American harms. We are hopeful as likely to report having attempted suicide Foundation for Suicide THERAPY ON MINORS. that the 11th Circuit will after undergoing conversion therapy.

Prevention and the act en banc to reverse this “We are proud to file this brief together American Association for Suicidology have also asked for a rehearing of outlier decision that would put LGBTQ youth with other leading suicide prevention back in harm’s way,” said Amit Paley, CEO organizations to send a united message that Otto v. City of Boca Raton.

“Conversion therapy is an extremely and executive director of The Trevor Project, legal protections from conversion therapy are necessary to save young lives.” dangerous practice, and governments are in a press release dated Dec. 21.

COVER: Shevrin Jones. Photo courtesy of the Shevrin Jones Campaign.

Associated Press

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• 1. 7. 2021

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January 7, 2021 • Volume 12 • Issue 1

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

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1. 7. 20 21 •

3

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY AVRAHAM FORREST

THE WORLD AROUND

EUROPE

AFRICA

POLAND LGBT SHELTER RECEIVES FUNDING FROM CITY AUTHORITIES

LGBT PERSECUTION, ARRESTS CONTINUE IN SENEGAL

A hostel in Krakow, Poland is the first LGBT shelter to receive support in a nation notoriously combative against the queer community, the Associated Press reported.

184,000 zlotys — the equivalent of $50,000 — came from Krakow authorities to support Fundacja Głos Serca (The Voice of the Heart Foundation), the AP reported.

The hostel was established to shelter people experiencing homelessness from discrimination, according to the Głos Serca website.

Twelve people can be accommodated in the shelter at a time, according to the website. Rooms contain beds, furniture, a kitchen and bathrooms.

The Głos Serca Foundation started in Krakow in 2014, and has other projects such as a community garden, cooperation

• 1. 7. 2021

A gathering outside Fundacja Głos Serca. Photo via Facebook.

embassy and the Krakow Music Box, according to the website.

A shelter in Warsaw will also be offered city money, the AP reported. Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski signed a proLGBT declaration in 2019.

In Senegal, a young man was arrested for his suspected sexual orientation, the African Human Rights Media Network reported. Though persecution in the West African country is unfortunately common, the young man represents the 37th arrest since just September.

The arrest occurred on Dec. 28, the AHRMN reported.

A spokesperson for the Free Collective, an LGBT rights advocate, said the man’s arrest was based solely on his gender identity, the AHRMN reported.

The young man was arrested in Touba, a holy city patrolled by Islamist religious militias and steeped in homophobia, the AHRMN reported.

The Safinatoul Amane — a religious police force in Touba — are seeking out friends of the arrested young man as

Police in Senegal. Photo credit: Rignese, via Wikipedia.

well, the AHRMN reported.

ADHEOS, a French LGBT rights group, demanded a travel ban against Serigne Cheikh lo Gabou, the head of the religious police force, in an open letter sent to the French minister of the interior on Sept. 30, AHRMN reported.

NORTH AMERICA

ASIA

UGANDAN TRANS WOMAN RECEIVES ADVOCACY AWARD IN CANADA

MISS UNIVERSE NEPAL FEATURES FIRST TRANSGENDER FINALIST

In Toronto, Canada, Christopher Nkambwe, a transgender woman born in Uganda, won the 2020 Steinert & Ferreiro Award from the Community One Foundation, the African Human Rights Media Network reported. The award celebrates advocates who have contributed to the Canadian LGBT community.

In Nkambwe’s acceptance speech, she said she would use the $10,000 cash prize to purchase office materials like laptops for her team members in the African Centre For Refugees, provide personal protective equipment to team members in Toronto and to bring together LGBT activists from the Caribbean and the continent of Africa.

Nkambe got her start in Uganda as the executive director and founder of Service Workers in Group Foundation Uganda and through volunteer work with other LGBT

4

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Christopher Nkambwe.

Photo courtesy of Christopher Nkambwe.

organizations, the AHRMN reported.

“All individuals who have made a significant contribution through the arts and sciences in promoting the understanding and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, intersex, queer and two-spirited communities in the Greater Toronto Area are eligible to be nominated,” according to the Community One Foundation website.

Angel Lama has become the first transgender finalist in the Miss Universe Nepal pageant, Reuters reported.

Lama was crowned Miss Pink Nepal in 2018 after competing in an LGBT pageant, Reuters reported.

Nepal is among less than a dozen countries who accept transgender contestants in national beauty pageants, Reuters reported.

“Identify as a woman? You are welcome,” according to the Miss Universe Nepal website.

New pageant management relaxed height, weight and appearance requirements and opened participation to any woman between 18 and 28, Reuters reported.

Nepal law recognizes transgender citizens, Reuters reported. Pakistan, India and Bangladesh recognize their

Angel Lama. Photo via @angels_do_existss, Instagram.

transgender communities as well.

Nepal’s Supreme Court enacted measures to ensure equal LGBT rights in 2007, elected a gay legislator in 2008 and held its first Pride parade in 2010, Reuters reported.

Anshika Sharma was crowned Miss Universe Nepal 2020, the Himalayan Times reported.

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY ELLIOT RODRIGUEZ

GAY VINE THE

KEEP UP WITH THE CELEBRITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

SPORTS

PRIDE!

KURTIS GABRIEL ROCKS HIS NEW GAY PRIDE ICE SKATES Kurtis Gabriel, a professional hockey player who came out as gay in 2010, revealed his new ice skates that don the LGBT Pride flag on one pair, and another pair supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

One of his Instagram posts shows him and his skates at the rink, along with a message at the end that says, “Share this.

Show your friends, loved ones, children, your ‘enemies.’ Tell them why I am wearing them.”

On the back of the skates reads “Love is Love.” in any form. ANY “Love is love FORM. Science tells us (you know, on that thing called the internet, that is accessible to a lot of this planet) that a large portion of the population of earth

Kurtis Gabriel. Photo credits: @guby_customs, Instagram.

is on the LGBTQ+ spectrum,” Gabriel mentioned on his Instagram post.

Gabriel plays for the San Jose Sharks.

COMING OUT!

PRO RUGBY PLAYER DEVIN IBAÑEZ COMES OUT AS GAY Professional Rugby player Devin Ibañez came out as gay last month.

“I am openly gay. This is something that is not a secret to those close to me and even several people not close to me.

But I always felt a need to keep it separate from my rugby career,” Ibañez said in a lengthy Facebook post on Dec. 29.

Ibañez played for the University of Massachusetts before playing Rugby professionally, according to Outsports. com. In Ibañez’s coming out message, he posted photos of his boyfriend Fergus Wade, “an English medical student he met in 2017 while Wade was doing research at Harvard studying sleep deprivation in fruit flies.”

Ibañez, who played with the New England Jacks in 2019, hopes to play

Devin Ibañez, on right, with his partner Fergus Wade.

Photo via @thatgayrugger, Instagram.

Rugby overseas in England in order to be closer to his boyfriend.

CELEBRITY

HOLY PRONOUNS! TWITTERVERSE BLASTS ELON MUSK OVER GENDER PRONOUNS

Entrepreneur Elon Musk received backlash from the LGBT community when he posted a meme on Twitter about pronouns.

This prompted many people to post their comments about Musk and his thoughts on putting pronouns in the bio of someone’s social media.

One Twitter user poked fun at the fact that his company deals with rockets, yet he cannot wrap his head around pronouns. Others even went so far as to criticize his daughter’s name.

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• 1. 7. 2021

Another Twitter user said “Mf your child’s name is a 30% off coupon.” The memes continued to snowball throughout the thread.

CleanTechnica spoke out about Musk’s Tweet and gave their insight on the situation saying, “Real Friends Interrupt You When You Are Making A Mistake.”

Musk retaliated to their comments saying “I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an esthetic nightmare.”

“To prove he wasn’t transphobic,

Musk then responded with some Tesla statistics claiming that his company scored 100/100 in ‘LGBTQ+ equality’ on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index,” according to Pride.com.

Why are pronouns in your Twitter bio even an issue?

“Many cisgender allies list their pronouns to support transgender, genderqueer, and non-binary people and normalize the practice of asking how one would like to be referred to,” according to Pride.com.

Elon Musk. Photo credit: Duncan Hull, via Wikipedia.

We Believe You

Palm Beach County Victim Services & Certified Rape Crisis Center offers free and confidential services to all victims of crime in a safe environment. Regardless of your gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation or whether you report or not, the following services are available: • 24 hour crisis response to hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and the crime scene • Certifi ed Victim Advocates to support you • Criminal Justice advocacy and court accompaniment • Individual therapy and support groups • Forensic exams by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) at the forensic exam site-“The Butterfly House” • Information and referral to community resources

Call our 24-hour, free and confidential Helpline:

Local: (561) 833-7273 Toll Free: (866)891-7273

This project was supported by Grant No. 2017-WE-AX-0034 awarded by the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

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1. 7. 20 21 •

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LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENDALL LITTLE

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Transgender

OREGON SCHOOLS WILL KEEP THEIR TRANS-INCLUSIVE POLICY IN PLACE Though some parents wanted to fight the existing transgender-inclusive policy in Oregon schools, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

The American Civil Liberties Union was pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision and put out a press release saying, “The Supreme Court has once again said that transgender youth are not a threat to other students. As we look towards state legislative sessions that will likely continue the attacks on trans youth, the decision not to take this case is an important and powerful message to trans and non-binary youth that they deserve to share space with and enjoy the benefits of school alongside their nontransgender peers. We will continue to fight in courts, in legislatures, and in our families and communities to ensure that all trans

8

• 1. 7. 2021

T

Photo via Pixabay, edited by Brendon Lies.

people feel safe and belong.”

The hope is that this decision will inspire other states to maintain their transgenderinclusive policies so that transgender students can feel safe and welcomed in the classroom.

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

B

Bisexual

BISEXUAL OPERA STAR RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR ON PBS

Jamie Barton, bisexual opera singer, was part of an all-star musical cast that performed on PBS New Year’s Eve. The program, titled “United in Song: Celebrating the Resilience of America,” was meant to “encourage our nation to come together and celebrate our irrepressible strength as we welcome the New Year,” according to a PBS press release.

Barton has gained a following on social media with over 16,000 followers on Twitter and over 20,700 on Instagram. She proudly claims that she is a “queer opera singer into drag queens, bluegrass, social justice, equality, & cats.”

She is a strong advocate for body positivity and women’s rights. Barton also serves as a voice for the LGBT community.

The mezzo-soprano showed off her

Jamie Barton. Photo via Jamie Barton, Facebook.

impressive skills on New Year’s Eve by delivering a powerful opera performance.

LGBTQIA BITES

Q

Queer

‘THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR’ STAR COMMENTS ON HER IDENTITY

T’Nia Miller, who plays housekeeper Hannah on “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” opened up about her identity in an article for The Advocate.

She said that she had never really spoken about her identity publicly until recently. “I don’t hide things very well, and I never have, and I walk around unapologetically. Not anything with arrogance, but just because I really love life and people,” Miller said.

Recently, Miller has opened up about how she identifies because she wants young Black LGBT to be seen and feel represented. “The reason why I started talking about my personal life is because there’s been lots of difficulties with mental health with children. As an older queer Black woman, we don’t see that for our younger Black and my younger Black children — the men and the women out there in the world,” said Miller.

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NEWS LOCAL

AFTER COVID, COULD

HIV VACCINE BE NEXT? John McDonald

A

s the country begins the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, questions linger as to why there remains no vaccination for the HIV virus.

HIV has been around since the early 1980s advancements they made are helping make and today it is estimated 1.2 million Americans this vaccine hopefully come to market a lot have the virus that causes AIDS. quicker. I think there is something to say about So why did the novel coronavirus get fast- all that research they had learned to do to tracked for vaccination while HIV continues fight a virus they didn’t know how to handle is to linger? Dr. Stephen Fallon, executive affecting in a positive way how COVID is going director of Latinos Salud, an HIV/AIDS service to be handled.” organization serving Broward and Miami-Dade Two COVID vaccines — produced by Pfizer counties, explains that while both COVID and and Moderna — are approved for use in the HIV are RNA viruses, HIV mutates much more United States. Frontline health care workers, rapidly. Fallon put it in terms first responders and nursing of swatting a fly. home residents are currently “Imagine how much prioritized for receiving harder it is to swat a fly than vaccinations which consist of an ant,” Fallon said. “Flies two inoculations, three weeks just get themselves out of the apart. way more quickly. Viruses Weinzimer said the COVID that don’t change rapidly vaccines function similarly “THE [COVID-19] can’t ‘get out of the way’ to HIV-blocking pills such as when attacked, whether Truvada, clinically known as VACCINE IS LIKE A by our natural antibodies, pre-exposure prophylaxis or FLU SHOT — IT medicines, or vaccines. One PrEP. of the main reasons that it’s “They are not coming out NEEDS A BOOSTER been difficult for scientists with a cure — the vaccine to develop an effective AND IN SOME WAYS is like a flu shot — it needs vaccine for HIV is that the a booster and in some ways IT’S NO DIFFERENT virus itself has the highest it’s no different than taking reported mutation rate for THAN TAKING PrEP.” PrEP,” Weinzimer said. “If you any biological entity.” take [PrEP] the chances of you HIV, Fallon notes, is much getting HIV/AIDS has been - Glen Weinzimer harder to catch than COVID reduced to pretty much zero FOUNDER OF and condoms for sex provide but it’s not a cure for HIV/AIDS, SMART RIDE a similar preventative tool as it’s just a way to prevent you masks and face shields. from getting it.”

Glen Weinzimer is a long-term HIV/AIDS The National Institute of Allergy and survivor who founded the SMART Ride, a Infectious Diseases is currently engaged in a bicycle ride from Miami to Key West that late-stage multinational HIV vaccine efficacy raises funds for HIV/AIDS support agencies. trial in North America, South America and Weinzimer believes the arduous work of AIDS Europe. Code named Mosaico, the trial studies activists paved the way for a quick COVID immune responses in cisgender men and response. transgender people ages 18 to 60 who have “Because of HIV/AIDS and the research that sex with other cisgender men and transgender was done they are able to fast pace [COVID people. vaccines],” Weinzimer said. “The scientific “We are committed to developing a safe and

10

• 1. 7.2021

Dr. Stephen Fallon, executive director of Latinos Salud, seen advocating for condom usage at Latinos Salud’s 2020 Gala in February of 2020. Photo via Latinos Salud, Facebook.

effective preventive HIV vaccine suitable for the global populations most vulnerable to HIV acquisition,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D, in a statement dated July 15, 2019.

“Ensuring that investigational vaccines are evaluated in diverse populations is critical to achieving this goal.”

As promising as Fauci’s statement was at the time, it appears COVID jumped the line. This reality doesn’t sit well with some HIV/AIDS activists.

“As thrilled as I am about the rapid response globally pertaining to COVID-19 and its vaccine, I have often thought about the similarities between this pandemic and the pandemic that was and still is HIV/AIDS,” said Aaron Darr.

Darr, an HIV positive gay man, serves as vice-chair of the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center in Fort Lauderdale. He said gay stigma is one reason for the slow response to control HIV. “I can’t help but think that because HIV/ AIDS has been stigmatized and unfairly associated with gay stereotypes over the years, the reality is HIV/AIDS can affect anyone, just like COVID-19.”

Fallon admitted the government’s lethargic response to HIV was due in part to the virus affecting primarily marginalized people such as Black immigrants, gay men and sex workers.

“It’s absolutely true that the world more highly prioritized the COVID-19 pandemic,” Fallon said. “Leaders will say that’s because, compared to HIV, it’s both more contagious and more rapidly deadly for those who it takes out. But it’s worth remembering that Ronald Reagan did not speak the word ‘AIDS’ until 25,000 Americans had died. In one of his first speeches, and I remember it well, he engaged in ‘blame the victim’ rhetoric, when he said, ‘And when it comes to AIDS, don’t medicine and morality teach the same lesson?’”

Darr said he has come to resent America’s slow response to HIV/AIDS which he said is a result of political leanings and views on sexual orientation.

“I can only hope that for the millions of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, that the disease we live with is taken more seriously in the years ahead and given the same respect and attention COVID-19 has been given in terms of the steps necessary to achieve a vaccine,” Darr said.

Weinzimer, 30 years Darr’s senior, is surprisingly less bitter.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of we didn’t put the resources in early enough and we were cheated in some ways, I don’t think that’s the case,” Weinzimer said. “I think we laid the path to an unknown that is now allowing them to move faster on this new pandemic.”

For more information on HIV vaccines, visit HIV Vaccine Trials Network’s website.

PA L M B E A C H

column

PALM BEACH COUNTY A Year In Review for Local LGBT Rights PBCHRC DECEMBER 2020

The City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County file Joint Petition for Panel Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc in Otto v. City of Boca Raton, the case seeking to strike down their ordinances banning conversion therapy. The Cities of Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Lake Worth Beach, Riviera Beach, and West Palm Beach, Florida join the City of Miami’s amicus brief in support of The City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County’s Joint Petition for Panel Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc in Otto v. City of Boca Raton.

West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James signs on to the Freedom for All Americans letter to Members of Congress urging them to enact comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination protections. The City of West Palm Beach earns a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index. Only six other municipalities in Florida were awarded 100 points.

Jasmin Lewis, PBCHRC board member and the 2020 Victory Fund Empowerment Fellow.

Photo via Jasmin Lewis, Facebook.

and

EP NOVEMBER 2020

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reverses the District Court’s denial of plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction in Otto v. City of Boca Raton and remands the case to the District Court, thus allowing the therapists to, once again, practice their quackery on local children.The City of South Bay adopts an LGBTinclusive civil rights resolution.

JULY 2020

PBCHRC Board Member Jasmin Lewis is named Victory Fund Empowerment Fellow.

JUNE 2020

The City of Westlake enacts an LGBT-inclusive civil rights ordinance.

G. Joseph Garcia is named Chair of PBCHRC Charitable Foundation.

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PBCHRC Board Member G. Joseph Garcia is named to the Board of Directors for the FSU Pride Alumni Network.

SEPTEMBER 2020

The Towns of Haverhill and Juno Beach enact LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights ordinances.

The City of Palm Beach Gardens adopts a resolution denouncing hate crimes and discrimination against LGBT people.

AUGUST 2020

The Village of North Palm Beach enacts an LGBTinclusive civil rights ordinance.

The City of West Palm Beach amends its Equal Opportunity Ordinance by extending protection from discrimination to employees working for small businesses (those with 5-14 employees).

PBCHRC Board Member Chauncey Graham is appointed to serve on the West Palm Beach Mayor’s Task Force for Racial and Ethnic Equality and selected for Leadership Florida Connect 2021.

PBCHRC Board Member Jasmin Lewis is elected as delegate to Democratic National Convention.

The 2020 Daniel S. Hall Social Justice Awards are presented to graduating seniors Kyle Ahern and Theo Shusterman of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and to Endora Guillaume of Park Vista Community High School.

APRIL 2020

The Boynton Beach City Commission unanimously votes to designate all singleoccupancy restrooms in municipal properties “All Gender.”

PBCHRC becomes a “trusted voice” for the county efforts regarding the 2020 U.S. Census.

MARCH 2020

Ty Penserga, a gay man, was re-elected to the Boynton Beach City Commission and became the city’s Vice Mayor.

Ray Caranci, a gay man, is elected to the Haverhill Town Council.

FEBRUARY 2020

Palm Beach County‘s Facilities Development & Operations Department designates singleoccupancy restrooms in properties owned and leased by the County as “All Gender.”

PBCHRC Board Member Tamara Sager joins the Palm Beach County Multicultural Committee and Complete Count Committee.

JANUARY 2020

The City of West Palm Beach designates the single-occupancy restrooms in the City Hall Complex as “Gender Neutral.”

PBCHRC is Florida’s oldest, independent, non-partisan, political organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Visit www.pbchrc.org to learn more.

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11

NEWS STATE

PERSON OF THE YEAR

SHEVRIN

JONES

THE RECENTLY ELECTED STATE SENATOR IS A TRAILBLAZING POLITICIAN Steve Rothaus Special to SFGN

S

hevrin Jones joined the Florida Senate in November a lot differently than when he first became a 29-year-old state representative nearly a decade ago.

Upon winning a South Broward House seat in 2012, Jones was new to state politics, married to a woman and the public didn’t know he is gay.

Eight years later, he’s a respected lawmaker who is vice chair of the Senate education committee, fully out and partnered with Matthew Beatty, an equally admired South Florida philanthropist and executive.

Jones, 38, is the first out LGBT person in the 40-member state Senate and the first openly LGBT Black person elected to the entire 160-member Florida Legislature.

“We’re not just making history, because that’s temporary, right? There’s work that’s going to have to be done to show that the seat at the table that has been given to me by the people, that it won’t be wasted,” said Jones, who in August defeated five fellow Democrats to win the District 35 Senate primary with more than 43 percent of the vote. (In the Nov. 3 general election, he had only write-in opposition and won more than 97 percent of votes cast.)

Jones is deeply rooted in South Florida, a former Everglades Senior High Advanced Placement biology teacher whose father, Eric Jones Jr., is a well-known pastor and founding mayor of West Park near Pembroke Park. He’s close with his entire family, from his 9-month-old niece to his 90-year-old grandmother, who recently shared with him her secret to living a long life: “Mind your f—-ing business and do what you’re supposed to do.”

“That’s it!” Jones said, laughing.

12

• 1. 7.2021

Photo courtesy of the Shevrin Jones Campaign.

Every year, SFGN selects an individual who has distinguished themselves locally as the “Person of the Year.”

For 2020, we are proud to choose Shevrin Jones, a newly elected state senator, who brings passion and principle, conviction and character to the table.

We are fortunate to have the talented journalist Steve Rothaus do the profile, and blessed to have a voice with the vigor of Shev representing our community.

He is a builder of coalitions, a battler for our rights, and an individual who has been tested individually, demonstrating courage, honor and integrity. I’m guessing he will be more than just a voice for the LGBT community in Tallahassee. I suspect that he will be a model for us all.

Congratulations.

Publisher Norm Kent

NEWS STATE Jones said he first became interested in public service while a student at American Senior High in Northwest Miami-Dade.

“It started in high school when I became vice president for the Student Government Association. That’s when I got interested in helping people,” he said.

Jones joined a variety of high school groups and clubs, including Health Occupations Students of America, now known as HOSA, Future Health Professionals; and the school debate club. “I played football my freshman and sophomore year. I was in chorus. I was in band,” he said. “My parents kept us busy.”

He graduated from Florida A&M University in 2006 with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and later earned a master’s degree in educational leadership at Florida Atlantic University.

Along the way, he kept several secrets. As young as age 5, he knew he was attracted to other boys. And a few years later, a man in his family circle began molesting him.

“I never want to couple me being molested as the onset of me recognizing [my] homosexuality, because it’s just not accurate.

But it was something that started confusing me.

Like, what is this? Is this supposed to hurt? Are you supposed to feel this way? Because if so, I don’t like it.”

The abuse continued for “a long time,” Jones said, until another young victim came forward and the molester went to jail.

“I went to college and graduated and I started processing a lot of that stuff. That stuff starts eating at you,” he said. “One, you couldn’t acknowledge it, so you felt helpless.

The adult you is really trying to reach down to the child you, and trying to communicate with something that is not possible. It can mess with your mind just a tad bit.

“I was in college. I have a girlfriend, but I’m also fooling around with guys and things like that. And so all of this is happening and you’ve

Shevrin Jones with Matthew Beatty.

Photo courtesy of Steve Rothaus.

got all this stuff going through your head, and Jones was discriminated against for recent then you graduate, you get home and you want homosexual contact.” He then sent a rebuttal to get married. I called off my wedding the text asking voters to “ignore this kind of trash.” first time, and I finally said, ‘OK, I want to get Jones said living publicly as a gay man has married.’ And we finally do get married and I’m been made easier by his relationship with like, ‘I don’t think I want this.’ I think — no, I Matthew Beatty. don’t want this.”

“My partner plays a huge role in my life, and Jones and his wife stayed married six so what I did not want to do was to hide him,” years. They split about the time he went to Jones said. “Everything I am now is because Tallahassee. he and I have a major relationship with each Back then, Jones didn’t label himself. other.”

“Because my parents are strict. Very They met in June 2012, months before Jones conservative Christians. And homosexuality became a House member, at a spoken-word was preached against in our church.” and music club in downtown Miami.

The same year Jones became a state “They had an open mike night, and we had representative, David Richardson of Miami some mutual friends that we were just kind Beach also was elected to the of both speaking with, and each of House, becoming Florida’s first them just started to kind of peel off “WITH ALL THE openly gay lawmaker. of it and ended up being just us,” THINGS HAPPENING Beatty recalled. “We introduced “We both got elected in August 2012, but he was not ourselves and the rest is history.”

IN SOCIETY TODAY, out at all. When I met him, Beatty, 37, also comes from PEOPLE WANT I did not know he was gay. an influential family. His father, SOMEONE WHO’S That was something much Robert, is an attorney and publisher GOING TO LEAD later he shared with me,” said of The South Florida Times, THEM. THEY DON’T Richardson, 63. “When he which serves the region’s AfricanCARE WHAT YOU’RE American, Caribbean and Haitian decided to run for Senate, my free advice was: You need to communities.

DOING IN YOUR have your answer ready now.

For the past eight years, the BEDROOM.” If a reporter asks if you are younger Beatty has worked at the - Shevrin Jones gay, I don’t want to see you Miami Foundation, most recently as FLORIDA STATE SENATOR stammering for an answer. senior director of communications Have your answer ready so you and engagement. On Dec. 22, he don’t look like you’re trying to make it up.” announced he’s moving to the Carrie Meek Jones came out publicly in 2018, when he Foundation, to become its vice president and allowed LGBT-rights group Equality Florida to chief operating officer. identify him in an endorsement as an openly “I’ll lead a relaunch of the foundation and its gay candidate. investments across issues that Congresswoman “Shevrin enjoys much of the same type Meek championed: Economic and Community of reception that I did. People don’t first Development, Education, Health and Housing acknowledge that he’s gay because he has in under-resourced communities throughout business credentials and that will serve him Miami-Dade and the South Florida region,” well,” Richardson said. “People recognize that Beatty posted on Facebook. he’s done a lot of good work in public safety, for Jones and Beatty did not rush into a example. He’s done a lot of work in affirmative relationship. When they met, Beatty was action, for minorities, not particularly for LGBT already out. people. He comes with that portfolio. They see “I had done a lot of that, that mental and him not as a gay activist but as someone who’s emotional work,” Beatty said. “I was ready to been successful as an educator.” stand as who I was and live my life open and It’s not all been smooth sailing for Jones, honestly, and Shevrin was still going through a however. divorce and was still understanding what that Last summer, he and many other family would look like for him post-divorce: him living members contracted COVID-19. After they his true life.” recovered, only Jones was told he could not That worked well for them. donate plasma because he is a gay man. (As “I tell people all the time that I’m grateful for a result of the AIDS crisis, the Food and Drug that because it gave us a really long time to just Administration in 1985 banned gay men from be friends,” Beatty said. “And because we didn’t giving blood. In April because of the COVID-19 enter a romantic relationship right after we crisis and need for blood and plasma, the FDA met, we built a true friendship that was based said gay men could donate if they’ve abstained on just mutual interest. And mutual support from sex the past three months.) of each other. And just kind of enjoying each Days after Jones spoke out about not being other’s company. able to donate plasma, someone sent text “And that friendship is what sticks with us to messages to voters in his district that “Shevrin this day, and to me is one of the fundamental

Jones speaking on the House floor.

Photo courtesy of Steve Rothaus.

elements of our relationship. Yes, we love each other. Yes, we’re committed to each other. But at the end of the day, we just enjoy being around each other as friends, and that really keeps both of us here.”

After Jones contracted COVID-19, Beatty nursed him back to health.

“He was the person who took care of me,” Jones said. “Not just that time. He took care of me when I messed up my back, when my grandmother died, when my brother died.

COVID. He’s been right there.”

Jones said that when he finally revealed his true self and introduced Beatty to his parents, they weren’t thrilled.

“I don’t think my parents will ever be happy with my decision, but they love their son enough to say, ‘You know what? It’s his life. And, if this is his choice, then so be it. We will have our views on this, but we are not going to forfeit our relationship with our child.’ I can’t ask anything else because I know there are people out there whose parents have disowned them because of their sexuality.”

Jones remains an active member of his father’s church, the Koinonia Worship Center & Village in Pembroke Park.

“Some church members have distanced themselves from me but I don’t care,” Jones said.

Voters, however, have shown it doesn’t matter to them.

“With all the things happening in society today, people want someone who’s going to lead them. They don’t care what you’re doing in your bedroom,” Jones said. “Do they have an opinion? I’m sure they do. It would be dumb to think that they don’t. But are they saying ‘I’m not voting for that guy because …’? I doubt it.

“People, when we were knocking on their doors, they were asking about my sexuality.

Half of them were like, ‘Oh, I heard about you.

And I’m voting for you.’”

Journalist Steve Rothaus covered LGBT issues for 22 years at the Miami Herald.

1. 7. 20 21 •

13

COLUMN EDITORIAL

FLORIDA GOV. RON DESANTIS’ MIDTERM REPORT CARD: Sun Sentinel Editorial Board

D-MINUS

T

wo years ago, when Ron DeSantis took the oath of office as the 46th governor of Florida, we knew little about him other than that he was an ultra-conservative congressman from Northeast Florida who had voted to shut down the government, who ran his campaign on Fox News and who President Trump liked a lot. Now as he nears the midway point of a four-year term, the whole country knows him — for all the wrong reasons.

Shortly after DeSantis raised his right hand on Jan. 8, 2019, hopes ran high. For unlike his predecessor, Rick Scott, DeSantis quickly emerged as a champion of the environment — dedicating more money to address Florida’s water woes, hiring the state’s first resilience officer and cleaning house at the South Florida Water Management District, which had become too cozy with the sugar industry.

But today, one issue overshadows everything else. For Photo via Ron DeSantis, Facebook. mishandling and politicizing Florida’s response to the greatest challenge of our times, the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis environment, DeSantis has pushed for improvements to deserves a D-minus on his midterm report card.

Government exists to keep us safe, and on this measure, Florida’s grossly underfunded treatment of mental health. He DeSantis comes up short. He has put lives in danger by eased the cost of pre-paid college tuition for about 224,000 downplaying public health risks, hiding information and customers. He secured full pardons for the Groveland Four, refusing to require people to wear face masks and socially the Black men accused of raping a white woman in a 1949 distance. Even among the 12 governors who have refused to case he called a miscarriage of justice. He championed a impose statewide mask orders, DeSantis stands apart. He is the significant pay raise for teachers last year. And he forced the only one who forbids cities and counties from enforcing local Legislature to legalize the smoking of medical marijuana — as mask orders or levying fines on businesses that pack in people. an amendment approved by 72 percent of Florida voters had intended.

While DeSantis emphasizes numbers that paint But DeSantis has ignored the voters’ will a rosy picture, Florida’s pandemic numbers are all WHILE DESANTIS that felons who’ve served their time be allowed going in the wrong direction. The state reports to vote. In a series of court challenges, he has nearly 1.3 million cases and more than 21,500 EMPHASIZES insisted that they first pay all court costs and fees, deaths. The seven-day positivity case rate hovers NUMBERS without regard for their ability to pay. As a result, around 10 percent, but it more than doubled wealthy ex-felons may vote in Florida, but poor — from 11.07% to 22.75% — between Monday THAT PAINT A ones can’t. It doesn’t matter, as one court said, and Tuesday of this week. On Dec. 30, nearly ROSY PICTURE, that the state can’t even tell them what they owe.

6,300 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, DeSantis also pushed for a divisive ban FLORIDA’S a 51% increase over Nov. 30. Unlike other states, on “sanctuary cities” that refused to detain DeSantis refuses to let Florida report how many PANDEMIC suspected undocumented immigrants. He of those people are on ventilators.

NUMBERS ARE legalized putting guns in the hands of classroom And though we’ve known for months that one or more vaccines would likely receive emergencyALL GOING IN THE teachers, despite widespread opposition. He expanded the use of scarce tax dollars to pay for use authorization in December, Florida’s vaccine WRONG DIRECTION. private school vouchers in an attack on public roll-out plan has forced people to wait in hourseducation. He foolishly endorsed three new toll long lines, endlessly dial phone numbers that don’t answer and attempt to log into websites that don’t roads unwanted by their communities. He made it harder for respond. Unlike the collapse of the state’s unemployment citizens to gather petitions for ballot initiatives when state compensation website in May, DeSantis can’t blame this fiasco legislators refuse to listen. And in a chilling assault on free on his predecessor. For he’s the one who decided to ignore speech, he signed a bill that forces citizens to pay developers’ federal recommendations and jump people 65 and older to legal fees if they’re unsuccessful in challenging proposed landthe head of the line without first ensuring that supplies and use changes.

DeSantis also shows a sloppy disregard for public records distribution systems would be there for them.

We give the governor his due. Besides supporting the laws. Some days, his daily calendar appears after 6 p.m.,

14

• 1. 7.2021

listing events that have long since ended. He makes people wait months for routine public records requests and forced newspapers to sue to get the reports of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, which Florida’s Sunshine Law affords no excuse to hide. And many South Florida mayors complain they can never get him on the phone.

Perhaps most consequential, DeSantis has made right-wing credentials, particularly membership in the Federalist Society, a litmus test for appointment to the Florida Supreme Court, as well as circuit and county court benches. If that doesn’t bother you, imagine if only ACLU members were considered.

No group that represents a particular ideology should have a monopoly on judicial appointments.

Equally disturbing, after the presidential election, DeSantis promoted, without proof, the baseless claim that Democrats had stolen the election from President Trump and that citizens should lobby lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Michigan to overturn the election results. No other governor in America rattled the public’s faith in democracy so shamelessly. He still has not acknowledged that Joe Biden is the president-elect.

But DeSantis’ response to the pandemic will be his legacy.

We watched in disgust as the governor, without a mask, high-fived strangers at a Trump campaign rally in October. We recall how he bought a million doses of hydroxychloroquine, the unproven treatment favored by Trump, and promoted testimonials by a doctor and patient during a media briefing.

And we will never forget how he hid information about Florida’s death toll as voters made their way to the polls in November.

Cold and distant on the public stage, DeSantis has shown a lack of empathy for Floridians who’ve lost their lives to the pandemic. It’s why he’s called “DeathSantis,” “DuhSantis” and “DeSatan” on Twitter. The New Republic declared him its “Scoundrel of the Year” and said: “In any other circumstance we would call him a murderer.”

NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

From your life... into our pages! SFGN takes a special look at a community that is slowly waking up after a long and devastating year.

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

RuPaul’s Season 5’s Serena ChaCha (known off-stage as Myron Morgan) sporting her special mask.

Famous Wilton Manors Entertainer Gloria out after the show with Mark and Bev.

Albert Pierantoni and photographer Michael Murphy out for drinks and a show.

On Wednesday, Victor Zepka, Alibi Monkey Bar Owner Johnny Pak, The Manor Venue Owner Paul Hugo and his husband Daniel hung out at the first-ever Shake Your Money Maker at Alibi.

1. 7. 20 21 •

15

Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER RUMINATIONS FROM CHAIRMAN NORM ON SFGN’S 11TH YEAR x

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

I

n 2010, SFGN was born. This is the beginning of our 11th year, but it’s the 20th anniversary of a free gay press in Broward County.

On January 10, 2000, I founded the Express Gay News. Unfortunately, after I sold it in 2005, the new owners rebranded the paper, stupidly changed its name, and then ran it into the ground.

Despite a brief interruption, our community has fortunately had a legitimate weekly gay newspaper for 20 years. Those pages have showcased the LGBT community with our shirts and ties on.

Twenty years later, while a host of bar guides have come and gone, nobody did it like Peter Clark, and we salute his journey. SFGN has become the anchor of all news LGBT in South Florida — local news, global coverage.

Above all else, we are still a local community newspaper, letting you know about the best pizza in town, or worst con artist. It’s wherever the news takes you. We report what comes our way. But we illuminate as well as investigate. We bring light to our lives.

Beginning this year, the news will be taking us more and more to the emerging gay life of Oakland Park. We will be rebranding WMG and the Wilton Manors Gazette to simply, “The Gazette,” featuring more news about our neighbors to the north.

During this pandemic, the print edition of SFGN may be smaller, but our online presence

is greater. I am told we are one of the top 50,000 news websites in the world. Could be.

What we don’t publish in the print edition is always online, 24/7.

Still, SFGN is your neighborhood paper, local enough to showcase your local friends and neighbors. The only place SFGN is going is into more of your homes.

During the pandemic, against all odds, we have steadfastly published our paper. If you missed these issues, read them online or stop by the office and pick one up.

If your business is now open, and we can advertise you, let us. Our paper may be free, but our overhead is anything but. We rely on your ad revenues. It’s what pays for you to get the news for free.

If you’re reader, who does not own a business, but want to support our mission you can do so at SFGN.com/ donate.

If you are looking for a news box near you, we have a dozen new ones in our warehouse, ready to be delivered to your neighborhood. Call me. I will carry it there myself, if I have to.

This year, SFGN may not celebrate our anniversary with 500 people at a huge party in the showroom of Grieco Ford, but we are not here to show off. We share news, not novelties.

But wait, I must confess.

Against my bookkeeper’s advice, I ordered little desk calendars to give out to friends and

WE REPORT WHAT COMES OUR WAY. BUT WE ILLUMINATE AS WELL AS INVESTIGATE. WE BRING LIGHT TO OUR LIVES.

16

• 1. 7.2021

Photo via PxHere.

advertisers. I don’t want to waste them.

If you would like one, stop by the office.

They are free. Like the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s first come, first serve. What a disgrace that is, right?

The challenges of 2021 remind me of a 1980’s AIDS poster still hanging in my office. It reads “Say a prayer for the dead, and fight like hell for the living.”

As Joni Mitchell once wrote, life is “a circle game.” What was true yesterday has come to pass again today.

We find ourselves looking for a new vaccine for a newer virus, but still pedaling on bikes to raise funds to find a cure for the last one.

The distribution of the coronavirus vaccine in Florida so far has been more warped than warp speed. This is not the way the 21st century should be. We put men on the moon 50 years ago, and we can’t get vaccines in our arm today. Shameful.

The sky remains full of thunder, but the day will soon come again when we can gather together in fun, rather than fear. Eventually, every storm runs out of rain.

Let’s hope 2021 enables us to celebrate our lives, instead of the loss of them. Thank you for allowing SFGN to be part of your journey.

I understand our paper can’t be all things to all people, but we do our part to be right by you.

In one of our daily moral struggles with my former partner last week, he admonished me that “what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.”

And he is right.

The duty of the free press and its staff is not to be popular, but it is to do what is right. It is to be conscientious, consistent, and credible; to be reliable and responsible.

This, I promise you, SFGN will always be.

NEWS LOCAL

A LOOK BACK AT 2020 As 2021 begins and the pandemic continues, SFGN is taking this week to reflect on our year together during the COVID-19 crisis.

The beginning of a new world.

March 18, 2020

The community begins to buckle.

March 25, 2020

The local heroes emerge.

April 8, 2020

Everyone is responsible.

July 16, 2020

The painful loss of what was once normal.

September 3, 2020

Our community slowly adapts.

September 10, 2020

1. 7. 20 21 •

17

Jesse’s Journal

CONVICTIONS

PROVIDENCE LOST Jesse Monteagudo

“T

here is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children, and the United States of America” is a famous quote often attributed to German chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898).

If this is true, Bismarck stole it from the French (like Alsace-Lorraine), just adding the U.S.A. to the old saying that “God always helps fools, lovers and drunkards.” Even so, Americans took the Iron Chancellor’s quote as a compliment, and history as proof that God is on our side. But God helps those who help themselves, and our recent history makes me wonder if we still enjoy Providence’s protection. We certainly lost it on Nov. 8, 2016, when Donald J. Trump was elected president of the United States.

Twenty-twenty has been a terrible year for the world in general and for the U.S. in particular. We face a new and unexpected scourge, COVID-19, which has struck at least a million Americans, killed over a 100,000 of us, and caused the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Twenty-twenty has also witnessed more than its share of racial terrorism where white police officers, and white civilians taking the law into their own hands, used “law and order” as an excuse to murder African American men and women.

The death of George Floyd, by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that Black Americans (and other minorities) would not be treated with justice in the good old U.S.A. Thousands of Americans, of all races, genders, and classes, took to the streets to protest racial injustice in this country. Most

of the protesters were peaceful though some, alas, took to looting and violent attacks to express their anger.

Things would have improved somewhat if we had a president who understood the fears and hatreds of the American people and who worked to bring our country together. Unfortunately, Donald Trump does not have the qualifications to be an effective leader. Even worse, he does not have the qualifications to be a decent human being. Politically damaged by his sloppy treatment of the pandemic, Trump views the current crisis as an excuse to marshal his base, win re-election, and make himself a dictator.

Trump could have given a healing address of unity, like those delivered by previous presidents, both Republican and Democrat.

Instead, Trump declared himself the “law and order president,” threatened to send the military to states where governors refuse to “dominate” the upheaval, and ordered law enforcement to violently disperse protesters in front of the White House so he can walk to St. John’s Episcopal church across the street and brandish a Bible for the cameras.

Like a dog marking his territory, Trump had to show the world that he is still in charge, especially after the media reported that he took refuge in a White House bunker, while protesters raged outside.

As a light-skinned Cuban-American of European descent, who has benefitted from white privilege all my life, I cannot fully comprehend what Black men and women go through in our racist society, nor do I presume to speak on their behalf. However,

Photo via Adobe.

WE FACE A NEW AND UNEXPECTED SCOURGE, COVID-19, WHICH HAS STRUCK AT LEAST A MILLION AMERICANS, KILLED OVER A 100,000 OF US, AND CAUSED THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

18

• 1. 7.2021

I can be a good ally, and support their struggle for equal justice and humanity.

At least I can show some empathy, which is something that Donald Trump seems unable to do.

The fight to bring George Floyd’s killers to justice is the fight to bring racial justice to America. Perhaps, by doing so, we can regain some of the divine Providence that we lost.

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

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Now is the time to recreate ourselves: recognize our faults, plead forgiveness for our trespasses, and repair what we have broken.

So grab a water, find a friend or two, and get to work the world needs us!!

Shabbat service Friday at 8pm on our Facebook Page

Congregation Etz Chaim

2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus www.EtzChaimFlorida.org / RSVP HERE: info@etzchaimflorida.org

Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 s. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www,churchofoursaviormcc.org

SPIRITUALITY

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM

Until further notice: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, our worship services are streamed on Facebook Live every Sunday at 10 AM, rather than held at our church property. https://www.facebook.com/ ChurchofOurSaviorMCC. Visit our web site for more details & updates.

Join us for masked, socially distanced in person worship.

11 AM Sundays. Services also LIVE-streamed on Facebook and posted on website for safe at home viewing.

“Love without judgement” Holy Angels National Catholic Church 1436 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors. 33305 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org

954-633-2987

A home for your spirit.

Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday Mass at 11 AM in English • All are welcome!

LISTINGS CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org RabbiNoahKitty@etzchaimflorida.org Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m.

HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach. churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM TEMPLE BAT YAM 5151 NE 14th Ter Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954-928-0410 Friday Night & Saturday Morning Streaming Online at templebatyam.org

1. 7. 20 21 •

19

LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

‘I WANT TO BE KISSED, AND HELD’ Brian McNaught

Photo via PxHere.

A

n 82-year-old friend spoke openly of his need for intimacy. He hungers to be kissed and held. He wants sex.

“Am I a bad person? I think about it a lot.”

Abraham Maslow asserted that having sex was a primary need, no different than that for air and water. “Intimacy” was a level-three need, but more basic than self-esteem, according to him. It’s true regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity.

Forty percent of Americans age 65 to 80 are sexually active. Before the COVID containment, sexually transmitted infections were on the rise in nursing homes. Even if they’re unable to perform sexually, most people never lose their desire for intimacy, in whatever form it might take.

The friend questioning me happened to be gay, recently widowed after many years of loving, and living alone, independently.

“Grindr?” I offered, trying to be helpful.

“No, I don’t want to get murdered, or robbed. I don’t want to get syphilis, gonorrhea, or crabs.”

What about joining a singles group and date? SilverDaddies?

“No, I don’t want someone who doesn’t leave. I’m not looking for a live-in boyfriend. I want to be held and kissed, but then I want him to leave. I have my own routines. I like my life. I don’t want someone wanting me to get rid of my husband’s things to make room for his.”

When services are created for LGBT seniors, we think about their physical and emotional health. Before the social distancing of the pandemic, we planned get-togethers, and outings to the opera or bingo. Does it occur to us, though, that maybe we’re failing to address a most important component of emotional health, the need to feel intimacy?

It’s illegal (in Florida), if not dangerous, for a non-profit working with seniors to provide lists of hookers, a “happy ending” masseuse, and escorts, but where is the elder person supposed to find the information they are looking for, especially if they’re not tied into the local social network?

Are they “bad people” for longing for warmth in their bed again, a body they’re willing to pay for, but live in fear of calling the number, or emailing the name in the magazine ad?

If they asked for help from a service organization, and were denied, where lies the shame if they contact someone on an app, and are beaten and robbed?

If it was reported in the press that a non-profit working with seniors provided information on the safest prostitutes to hire, the executive director would resign, members of the Board of Directors would quit, all funding would dry up, and all of the services provided by that group to the elderly would end.

DOES IT OCCUR TO US, THOUGH, THAT MAYBE WE’RE FAILING TO ADDRESS A MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF EMOTIONAL HEALTH, THE NEED TO FEEL INTIMACY?

20

• 1. 7.2021

Volunteers, like me, are provided long lists of “do’s and don’ts,” such as not riding in the same car, not giving financial advice, and certainly not getting romantically involved or physical with the person to whom we’re assigned. We fill out monthly forms that report on the individual’s health and mood. We’re encouraged to give practical advice, such as how to retrieve email, use their cellphones, and to search the web for information.

Despite being certified as a sexuality educator, I was among the last that should have been asked for advice on safe hook-ups. But, I know how to network, research, and ask questions. And so, I

did.

A local gay guesthouse owner told me that one older man had visitors all through his stay, two very polite young men, one staying for the first part of the week, and the other the latter part of the stay. “I was surprised to learn that they were escorts. They were very courteous and properly behaved.”

“Rent.Men.com,” I was told by one senior gay man who asked around at my behest. “There’s RentBoys.com, too, I’m told, but given what you’ve told me, I think he wants ‘Rent.Men.’”

I googled SilverDaddies, Rent.Men, and RentBoys. I also inquired about how welcome my friend might be in a bathhouse.

“There is someone for everyone in the baths,” a former bathhouse owner told me. “He could come and sit in the lounge and talk with people if he wanted just to connect with others. There are two such places in Ft. Lauderdale, Clubhouse II and Club Fort Lauderdale. Of the two, Clubhouse II has more seniors as clients.”

I did more searching on the Internet and found it all a bit intimidating. I’m lucky enough to have the intimacy I need from my husband of 44 years, my dog of three years, and my family and friends. A hug and kiss are always just a short distance away. If I was in need of company, in the absence of Ray’s love, but wasn’t looking for a relationship, I’d probably sign up for a weekend spiritual workshop where all of the gay men got naked, like at the Body Electric, and maybe eat magic mushrooms together in a smoke lodge. Or, I’d just get a massage. That would be less scary for me than hiring an escort.

I can tell a friend all of this, but if I was prohibited from giving this kind of information to a person to whom I was assigned by a group working with gay seniors, I’d probably just write a column, and post it on Facebook.

Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The Godfather of gay diversity training.”

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21

LIFESTYLE FOOD

COPING WITH COVID Wilton Manors restaurants adapt to survive

Rick Karlin

W

hile the hospitality industry has been decimated, five area eateries have made adaptations that have allowed them to survive during the pandemic. Some have stepped up delivery and take-out, others have rethought their entire format. Here’s how a few of Wilton Manors’ favorite places have adapted.

Shawn Bombard, owner of Courtyard been our greatest asset and our turnover has Café, has seen a vast increase in delivery been minimal,” he reports.

One reason for that minimal turnover is business. “Before COVID we only used Uber Eats, since then we have added DoorDash and the fact that The Pub held fundraisers for two months during closure to provide its Grubhub.”

According to Bombard, deliveries account furloughed employees with regular bi-weekly for one-third of his company’s income now, financial assistance. It also held two holiday and he is looking to expand to-go sales events at Thanksgiving and Christmas, since it is still at 50% capacity seating. He donating a third of the funds from the dinner has been lucky enough to retain most of entrées to Poverello. The Pub won first place in Wilton Manors’ “Deck-thehis staff and, by following CDC Drive” holiday decoration guidelines, they’ve managed to contest and distributed double remain COVID free. Although “DURING THIS the $2,500 prize money to its he received some grant money, WORLDWIDE employees.

Bombard has had to take a loan PANDEMIC, Connell stresses: “During this to survive. He credits his staff worldwide pandemic, reducing working as a team to their ability REDUCING the spread of COVID-19 requires to stay open.

THE SPREAD every person and business to Michael Connell, co-owner of do their part. Prioritizing the The Pub, reports that although OF COVID-19 of our associates his restaurant business was in REQUIRES EVERY protection and our customers is the ethical mandatory closure from March PERSON AND and moral thing to do. It’s costly 18 through May 18, since then just a ‘no-brainer’decision! carry-out, although offered, BUSINESS TO DO but The Pub implemented, gladly is minimal. The mainstay of THEIR PART.” retains and supports all the his business is those who dine mitigation actions that the onsite. “Outside sidewalk and - Michael Connell CO-OWNER, THE PUB CDC and the county have back patio seating have become recommended for businesses to very popular since reopening.

Daytime customers request outside seating safely operate.”

Glen Weinzimer, co-owner of Bona nearly 50% of the time depending on weather conditions. In the evening, our outside Italian Restaurant reports that carry-out seating is preferred by about one-third of our and delivery now accounts for 40% of his business, as opposed to 25% pre-COVID. customers.”

While many businesses have had to cut back Although Bona has limited outdoor dining on staffing, Connell reports that enhanced capacity, Weinzimer feels that it allows protocols for customer and associate safety customers who are not ready to dine-in to have necessitated the Pub hiring additional have a feeling of safety.

Bona has also been able to retain its employees. “Our remarkable associates have

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• 1. 7.2021

Staff members pose at the ready outside of Bona Italian Restaurant. Photo via Bona Italian Restaurant, Facebook. employees. According to Weinzimer, “When we first were hit with COVID and a shutdown, we transitioned some of our servers, to answering phones and helping with take-out orders. When we re-opened our server staff returned.”

The government support programs such as Payment Protection Plan have only helped so much, “It softened the blow, but have since used up the entire PPP. We have also taken an SBA loan which we are now deep into and is not forgivable.”

Even through the struggles, Bona maintained its Give Back Monday program, which gives 10% of the house back to local non-profits. According to Weinzimer, “Obviously our Mondays are not what they were pre-COVID. Bottom line, there is a need,

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

and with the pandemic worse than it was when we initially shut down in March.”

Weinzimer echoes the sentiments of many, “There is a light at the end of the tunnel, the vaccine will hopefully become more widely accessible now that several versions have been approved. It is our hope that by the summer of 2021 we will see a return to a new normal that will allow us to hug our friends and all to prosper. In the interim, we have all made it this far, we can certainly hold out a few more months. Ultimately, all lives matter and we need to consider our neighbors in all our decisions and keep everyone safe.”

We contacted more than a dozen eateries popular in our community and have included the responses from those that responded.

VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD!

Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor.

Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at RickKarlinFL@gmail.com.

LIFESTYLE photos

NEW YEAR, NEW US WILTON MANORS CELEBRATES THE END OF 2020 LET’S BE HONEST, 2020 WAS A DIFFICULT YEAR. IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT PEOPLE WERE EAGER TO CELEBRATE, AND WILTON MANORS WAS NO EXCEPTION. TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CELEBRATING PATRONS WHO COULD BE SEEN AROUND TOWN — BUT BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK IF YOU WANT TO REALLY GET IN ON THE ACTION.

Photos by J.R. Davis

Johnsons staff members Taran, Jeff, Omar, Eliezer and in front Joao.

The Boardkwalks’ Jonathan Jump, Dave and Vickie.

Tim and Mark working hard at The Pub.

Hunters’ Mark and Patrick.

SFGN’s Senior Photographer J.R. Davis with Mattys’ David Guzdek.

TO SEE MANY MORE PHOTOS, VISIT SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS ON FACEBOOK. 1. 7. 20 21 •

23

CONVICTIONS

Editorial Cartoon

EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Andy Marlette

24

• 1. 7.2021

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A&E DVDS

QUEERLY DIGITAL LGBT cinema on DVD/Blu-Ray

Gregg Shapiro

ONEFIVEFOR EACH LETTER BEST LGBTQ MOVIES OF 2020 Iseating is a good idea, but the pressure of having to choose seats in advance takes the fun out of the hunt. People

t’s not unreasonable to say that the moviegoing experience has lost some of its luster in recent years. Stadium

SWEENEY PRESENTS US WITH A MARVELOUS VERSION OF ONE MAN’S PERSONAL SEXUAL SPECTRUM EXPLORATION.

continue to talk during the movie; to each other, to themselves, to the characters on the screen. Texting during movies is at an all-time high, and Apple watches illuminating throughout the theater are a distraction.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.

Movie theater chains shuttered. While the idea of sitting in close proximity to other audience members caused us to shudder. Not that they could have predicted a health crisis of this magnitude, but forward-thinking streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and HBO Max benefited in a big way from the pandemic. The following five 2020 movies represent the best in LGBTQ titles.

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• 1. 7.2021

A queer 21st century take on Cyrano de Bergerac, “The Half of It” (Netflix), lesbian writer/director Alice Wu’s first full-length feature film since 2004’s “Saving Face,” takes viewers to high school where extremely bright student Ellie (Leah Lewis), who makes bank writing term papers for her classmates, is enlisted to write love letters from Paul (Daniel Diemer) to Aster (Alexxis Lemire). The problem is that Ellie is also in love. To say more would give away an essential plot point, but it’s well worth watching the movie to see how it unfolds.

L

“Benjamin”(Artspolitation), from gay writer/ director Simon Amstell (think of him as a gay male Hannah Gadsby), is easily one of the best 21st century rom-coms, gay or straight, that you can find. The titular character, Benjamin (a fantastic Colin Morgan) is a socially awkward and insecure gay filmmaker who falls in love with musician Noah (Phénix Brossard), and systematically destroys both the relationship and his new movie. “Benjamin” is laugh-out-loud funny, tearjerker sad and thoroughly enjoyable.

G

If you can overlook the confusing finale, James Sweeney’s queer rom-com “Straight Up” (Strand), about the severe sexual identity crisis gay millennial Todd (Sweeney) undergoes, is funny and touching, often in the same scene.

Sweeney presents us with a marvelous version of

B

one man’s personal sexual spectrum exploration and deserves to be commended for creating an admirable and entertaining feature-length debut at the same time.

In recent years, Sebastián Lelio’s Oscarwinning 2017 “A Fantastic Woman” and Sean Baker’s 2015 “Tangerine” have gone a long way in raising the bar when it comes to intelligent and powerful depictions of trans people on screen. The same can be said for gay filmmaker Flavio Alves’ “The Garden Left Behind” (Queens Pictures/Autonomous Pictures). The garden in the title refers to the one in Mexico that undocumented Tina (trans actress Carlie Guevara), who is in the process of her transition, and her abuela Eliana (Miriam Cruz), left behind when they arrived in New York when Tina was a young child. Alves has found a way to balance the daily traumas of their lives with incredible moments of human connection.

T

“Circus of Books.” Credit: Netflix.

Queer filmmaker/performance artist Rachel Mason also got personal with her new documentary “Circus of Books” (Netflix/ Future Clown). The daughter of Karen and Barry Mason, the straight, married couple who owned and operated the titular legendary XXX adult emporium in WeHo (shuttered in early 2018) and a short-lived Silverlake location, Rachel crafted a revelatory, warts-and-all family portrait that is equally emotional and informative.

Q

Gregg Shapiro is SFGN’s movie reviewer. His weekly reviews can be found at SFGN.com/screensavor.

“The Half of It.” Credit: Netflix.

A&E OPERA

OPERA RETURNS TO STAGE THIS WINTER IN SOUTH FLORIDA J.W. Arnold

F

lorida Grand Opera will finally be returning to the stage with live performances, after sitting out much of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, FGO General Director and CEO Susan T. Danis announced the upcoming “Season of Specials and Shorts,” a series of three chamber operas and programming that would meet CDC guidelines.

“Even in this time of COVID and other calamities, our need for music and art is ever-present. We have carefully consulted with the experts, and after a successful fall season of concerts, we are so pleased to be presenting a ‘Season of Specials and Shorts,’” she said in an announcement.

Danis noted that most performances are slated for “intimate, yet socially distanced spaces that are perfect for a unique storytelling experience.”

FGO will open with four contemporary chamber operas, performed over three weekends in January, February and March at Miami Theater Center in Miami Shores.

Jake Heggie’s “Three Decembers,” based on Terrence McNally’s original script for “Some Christmas Letters,” opens the miniseason Jan. 30 — 31. This intimate, 90-minute chamber opera takes place over three decades during the AIDS crisis. Each section portrays events between a famous stage actress mother and her two adult children, and as family secrets are revealed, resentment grows and relationships become tested. The opera has been among the top 10 most performed North American works since 1991.

On Feb. 13 — 14, FGO will stage composer Daron Hagen’s “New York Stories,” a series of three intimate vignettes based on experiences of residents of the Big Apple.

The first act introduces a woman living in the Upper West Side coupled with an Italian immigrant who arrives to do maintenance work, and the romantic moment they share.

The second tells the story of an Upper East Side woman who receives a surprise visit from her brother. The third depicts a warm, domestic self-portrait of the composer and his spouse as new parents attempting to put their infant son to sleep after a night on the town.

Jan. 7-24, 2021 713 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth Beach, FL www.lakeworthplayhouse.org | 561.586.6410

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Jake Heggie’s “Three Decembers,” based on a Terrence McNally story and set during the AIDS crisis, will be performed by Florida Grand Opera at Miami Theater Center. Credit: JakeHeggie.com

The opera portion of the season wraps up with a double bill on March 20 — 21: Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti” paints an intimate picture of the troubled marriage of young suburban couple Sam and Dinah, both longing for love and intimacy. “Signor Deluso” is a one-act opera by composer and librettist Thomas Pasatieri, loosely based on Molière’s 1660 comedy “Sganarelle, ou Le Cocu imaginaire” (“The Imaginary Cuckold”), sung in English.

Other upcoming special performances at venues across both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties include “An Evening of Zarzuela,” Friday, Feb. 5; Angela Brown in “Opera…From a Sistah’s Point of View,” Sunday, Feb. 28; “An Evening of Spirituals, Jazz and Opera,” Saturday, March 13; and “A Tribute to Latin American Composers,” Friday, March 26.

FGO will also offer concert series at the Art Deco Museum in Miami Beach, Feb. 3 — March 10, and ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale, Jan. 27 — March 27.

Tickets for “Season of Specials and Shorts” are $65 each for the opera performances and $10 — 20 for the individual special performances and concerts at FGO.org. Package discounts are also available.

1. 7. 20 21 •

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1164 E Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 201 Oakland Park, FL 33334 Dr. Amin and Dr. Macek are double board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Both physicians are fellowship trained in Pain Medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, the birthplace and leading program of modern pain management in the United States.

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