SFGN 01/14/21 V12iss2 by South Florida Gay News

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE JANUARY 14, 2021 VOL. 12 // ISSUE 2

AN OPEN LETTER TO JOE BIDEN FROM

A LESBIAN MOM PAGE 27

Updat

THE CAPITOL’S CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

GAY TRUMP ADVISER RESIGNS•PAGE 9

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS

LGBT CONSERVATIVE REGRET•PAGE 12

@SFGN

DIRTY DEEDS MASKED BY CHAOS•PAGE 14

STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLISHER•PAGE 24

SFGN.COM

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

11 SOUTH FLORIDA HIV SERVICE NON-PROFITS GET HOLIDAY GRANTS

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Webmaster • Kimberly Swan Webmaster@sfgn.com Social Media Director • Christiana Lilly Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold JW@prdconline.com Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • John McDonald HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com

fter a challenging 2020, 2021 is starting a bit easier for 11 South Florida organizations that advocate for people with HIV. It’s thanks to donations from The Campbell Foundation, which gave each non-profit $3,000 as part of its “Holiday Hug” grants. The 11 recipients served their communities despite the pandemic. The holiday hug is an unrestricted donation — organizations can use the money however they see fit. The Campbell Foundation has awarded them every year since 1996. According to a Campbell Foundation press release, the holiday hug recipients worked hard to keep their clients served, and operations opened during the pandemic.

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Correspondents

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

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing

THE LIST OF OTHER RECIPIENTS INCLUDES:

For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970 Sales Manager • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com

• AH MONROE (Key West)

Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com

• BROWARD HOUSE (Fort Lauderdale)

Photo via Adobe.

• CARE RESOURCE (Miami-Dade and Fort Lauderdale) • CHILDREN’S DIAGNOSTIC & TREATMENT CENTER (Fort Lauderdale) • COMPREHENSIVE CARE CLINIC/ BROWARD HEALTH (Fort Lauderdale) • FOUNDCARE (West Palm Beach) Other location non-profits that received funding include SUNSERVE, COMPASS

Advertising Associate • Thom Burnham

COMMUNITY CENTER in Lake Worth and LATINOS SALUD in Wilton Manors and Miami. “In 2020, Latinos Salud remained safely open for HIV and STD screening,” Stephen Fallon, the executive director of Latinos Salud, said in a press release. “Since many other providers were closed, our lab costs hit three times normal expenditures. The Campbell Foundation’s ‘holiday hug’ helps us continue to serve the community with free services, so that this year, we will exceed 5,000 community members tested, and all who

are diagnosed, get linked into lifesaving care. We are so grateful to the Campbell Foundation!” The Campbell Foundation will celebrate its 26th anniversary next month. Its primary mission focuses on research to cure HIV/AIDS, but it also supports companies that provide help to people who are living with the disease. The Campbell Foundation was established in 1995 by the late Richard Campbell Zahn to support clinical, laboratorybased research into the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

THE 11 RECIPIENTS SERVED THEIR COMMUNITIES DESPITE THE PANDEMIC.

COVER: Two moms pose together with their daughter. Photo via Adobe.

Associated Press • 1.14.2021

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

Editorial

Denise Royal

@SFGN

January 14, 2021 • Volume 12 • Issue 2

Distribution Services • Noah Lebel Sales Consultant • Charles A. Reid National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Stuart Web Inc.

SFGN Winner of & 5 Florida Press Club Awards And runner-up for

NLGJA Journalist of the Year SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS.COM, INC. — — FOUNDED, DECEMBER, 2009 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. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright © 2021 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

1.14 . 20 21 â&#x20AC;¢

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GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.  Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0218 04/20

HUGO LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 1995 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

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1.14 .11:27 20 21AM • 5/27/20

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY AVRAHAM FORREST

THE WORLD AROUND

ASIA

CHINA CRACKS DOWN ON LGBT SAFE HAVEN In Chengdu, China, a hub of LGBT bars, clubs and community is facing pressure from central Communist leaders, the South China Morning Post reported. Known by Chinese Millennials as “Gaydu,” the region is a haven for LGBT communities, the SCMP reported. The country’s first widely reported gay marriage occured in Chengdu in 2010, though unfortunately unofficial; samesex marriage has yet to be legalized in China. Explicit photos posted online and HIV infections were connected with the MC Club — a local gay venue — in October, the SCMP reported. This marked the first change in the LGBT haven. Some community members attribute the unwanted attention by city authorities to a wave of LGBT visitors from inside the

• 1.14.2021

country, the SCMP reported. Bars were shut down, apparently to address the public health crisis, the SCMP reported. Investigations into LGBT organizations followed. ShanghaiPRIDE, the nation’s oldest LGBT festival, announced its shutdown in August due to safety concerns, though rumors of conservative pressure influencing the closure persist, the SCMP reported.

CENTRAL AMERICA BIDEN ADMIN TO TERMINATE FLAWED ASYLUM AGREEMENT WITH EL SALVADOR

President-elect Joe Biden said he will terminate a flawed asylum agreement with El Salvador, the Human Rights Watch reported. LGBT groups within the country experience violence and discrimination from churches and authorities. The flawed agreement allows immigration authorities in the U.S. to transfer non-Salvadoran asylum seekers to El Salvador, the HRW reported. “The Attorney General’s Office in El Salvador released statistics in January 2020 indicating it had tabulated 692 cases of violence against LGBT and intersex people in five years,” according to a HRW report from January of 2021. LGBT groups face forms of violence including “acts of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, excessive use of force, illegal and arbitrary arrests

U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador. Credit: Jesse Michael Nix.

and other forms of abuse, much of it committed by public security agents” in addition to discrimination, according to the report. Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s current president, originally supported LGBT rights, but showed his opposition to marriage equality, sexual diversity at work and legal gender recognition while running for office, the HRW reported.

AFRICA

EUROPE

LGBT VOTERS IN UGANDA FEAR PERSECUTION

LIBERAL MAG IN POLAND FORCED OUT OF OFFICE LEASE AFTER PRO-LGBT STANCE

LGBT voters in Uganda are afraid to vote in the upcoming Jan. 14 elections after homophobic comments by the country’s current president and other politicians, Reuters reported. Real Raymond, the founder and executive director of the Mbarara Rise Foundation, an LGBT charity in Uganda, told Reuters that LGBT voters face a risk of being targeted at polling stations and advised these groups to visit polling stations early to attract less attention. “The politicians are using the LGBT community as a scapegoat to gain support and win votes and it is fuelling homophobia,” Frank Mugisha, the head of LGBT+ rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda, told Reuters. Violence burned between police and protesters over the detainment

Photo via Pixabay.

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Photo via Pixabay.

of Robert Kyagulanyi, a candidate in the race, Reuters reported. Without further evidence, current President Yoweri Museveni blamed the clashes on groups funded by foreign LGBT rights organizations. Museveni is working to extend his 34year rule, Reuters reported.

The Tygodnik Powszechny (General Weekly), a Polish magazine which recently criticized high-ranking church officials, is moving after church authorities in Krakow terminated the publication’s office lease, the Associated Press reported. The magazine recently criticized antiLGBT comments from Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, the head of the Krakow diocese, the AP reported. After the Archdiocese of Krakow — the owner of the magazine’s lease — sent the termination, 100,000 Złotych (around $26,800) was raised to help facilitate the publication’s move, according to an announcement from the Tygodnik Powszechny on Jan 5. Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, former secretary to the late pope St. John Paul II, and other church leaders were also

Tygodnik Powszechny. Photo via Facebook.

criticized for their evasive approach to the issue of pedophile priests in Poland and internationally, the AP reported. The publication’s lease has lasted for almost 76 years, starting in 1945 at 12 Wiślna St, the AP reported.

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Bree Black. Photo via Facebook.

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NO JUSTICE FOR BREE SIX MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER OF A LOCAL TRANS WOMAN, NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE

Christiana Lilly

t’s been six months since Bree Black was SFGN in an email in the fall that Black’s family shot and killed near her Pompano Beach has not been comfortable speaking with the home and law enforcement has yet to media, but “are grateful for the work we are identify her killer. doing to help find her murderer.” A Black transgender woman who also went Williams added: “The father stated he by the nickname “Nuk” was killed July 3 over has been threatened due to this ongoing the holiday weekend. Even though a crowd investigation and the family is trying to put was outside due to the festivities, few people this behind them.” have come to the Broward Sheriff’s Office Twenty-twenty was a deadly year for with information. the transgender community, “The Bree Black case is still particularly Black and Latinx A GOFUNDME an open active investigation women. According to the and homicide detectives Rights Campaign, at MEMORIAL FUND Human are still following up on all least 44 trans people were killed available information in their WAS CREATED BY — a huge increase from the 25 investigation,” Sgt. Donald in 2019. TRANSINCLUSIVE killed Prichard, a public information “Since HRC began tracking officer for the Broward Sheriff’s this data in 2013, advocates have ON BEHALF OF Office, told SFGN in an email. seen such a high number at BLACK’S FAMILY, never “Detectives are still asking for any this point in the year,” according eyewitnesses to come forward.” to the HRC. “These victims, like WITH PEOPLE In August, the reward for all of us, are loving partners, STILL DONATING parents, family members, friends information leading to the arrest of her killer was increased to and community members. They TO IT. $8,000. Broward Sheriff Gregory worked, went to school and Tony announced the news in attended houses of worship. a press conference, where he also said, “We They were real people — people who did not have not received any type of information deserve to have their lives taken from them.” from the community. No calls, no tips, no In Florida, Tony McDade, a Black trans support in this particular investigation.” man, was shot and killed by a police officer A GoFundMe memorial fund was created in Tallahassee in May 2020. Yunieski Carey by TransInclusive on behalf of Black’s family, Herrera, a trans beauty queen in Miami, was with people still donating to it. stabbed to death by her husband in November Tatiana Williams, the co-founder and in the middle of Transgender Awareness executive director of TransInclusive, told Week. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Det. Louis Bonhomme at 954-321-4377. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. There is a reward of up to $8,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY ELLIOT RODRIGUEZ

GAY VINE THE

KEEP UP WITH THE CELEBRITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

GOSSIP

CELEBRITY

OMG!

AWWWWWWWW...

ACTOR JANNIK SCHÜMANN COMES OUT

IS KANYE WEST HAVING A GAY AFFAIR? Rumors have circulated that Kanye West and Male Beauty Guru Jeffree Star have been having an affair. West and Kim Kardashian have been married for six years, and have four children: North West, Saint West, Psalm West and Chicago West. The rumor was started by TikTok influencer Ava Louise. According to Vulture.com, this is usual for Louise. Vulture.com said that Louise is “known for being an online nuisance and exaggerating the truth to go viral, she’s also the influencer behind last year’s ‘Coronavirus Challenge’ parody where she licked an airplane toilet.” Star has addressed this situation in one of his recent Youtube videos titled “Addressing the Kanye Situation.” Star

Kanye West (Credit: David Shankbone) and Jeffree Star (via Twitter).

said, “I’m single, I’m not sleeping with anyone, this is so weird … me and Kanye have never hung out, and this whole thing is really funny. So I guess if this is the start to my new year, happy new year.” Since all these allegations have taken place, Louise has claimed that she is being sued by Kardashian.

German actor Jannik Schümann, 29, came out as gay in December. He posted a black and white picture on his Instagram of his boyfriend Felix Kruck giving him a hug and a kiss on the temple. The post went viral, causing a lot of actors and even a member of the German parliament, Rasmus Andresen, to give their support to Schümann, according to Out.com. “I am overwhelmed by all the messages, comments and the love you give us … I have read every single message and cannot put my feelings into words.” Schümann has taken all the positivity and affirmations that he has received into the new year. “2021 will be a good

Photo credit: @jannik.schuemann, via Instagram.

year. I can feel it,” Schümann said.

SPORTS

WOW!

HALL OF FAME COACH TOMMY LASORDA HAD A GAY SON Tommy Lasorda, Hall of Fame manager for the 1976 to 1996 Los Angeles Dodgers, recently passed away according to a Twitter post by the Dodgers. Most people knew Lasorda as having won two World Series championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles, and was also famous for saying “he bled Dodger blue out of loyalty to the organization,” said Outsports.com. What is probably not as known is that Lasorda had a gay son. “Tom Lasorda, Jr., known as

• 1.14.2021

‘Spunky,’ died of complications from AIDS on June 3, 1991 at the age of 33. Official reports in the media of the time said Spunky died of ‘pneumonia and severe dehydration,’ and focus more on how his father would deal with managing his baseball team than with the fact that his only son was gay,” Outsports.com. Even after the death of his son Lasorda didn’t come to terms with his son being gay. There is an instance in the documentary “Out,” which is about a gay baseball player for the Dodgers named Glenn

Burke, where they use an infamous quote by Lasorda addressing his son’s sexuality: “My son wasn’t gay. No way. I read that in a paper. I also read that a lady gave birth to a fucking monkey. That’s not the truth,” Lasorda Sr. said. However it does say in the an unverified article by losangelesblade.com that Lasorda apologized about being homophobic and admitted that his son died of AIDS. “Years later, at some charity event, not in an interview, Lasorda admitted that Tommy Jr. was gay

Tommy Lasorda with the Kansas City Athletics in 1956. Photo: Public Domain.

and had died of AIDS — and he apologized for his homophobia,” Lasorda said. “Though Tommy Lasorda initially did not want to accept either that his son had died from AIDS or was even gay, he loved him dearly, and found redemption by

establishing and funding the Tommy LaSorda Jr. Cancer Foundation in his name. That should matter for something. Like others, he evolved,” said SFGN Publisher Norm Kent, who was friends with the Dodger manager for 35 years.

NEWS NATIONAL

GAY TRUMP ECONOMIC ADVISER LATEST TO RESIGN OVER ASSAULT ON US CAPITOL Chris Johnson

Washington Blade

Tyler Goodspeed. Image via YouTube.

top Trump economic adviser who’s also a member of the LGBT community has resigned the day after the assault at the U.S. Capitol incited by President Trump, the Washington Blade confirmed. Tyler Goodspeed, who’s gay and was appointed by Trump in July to serve as acting chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, resigned on Wednesday, White House CEA spokesperson Rachel Slobodien said Thursday. Jim Tankersley of The New York Times was first to report the news on Twitter, quoting

“THE EVENTS OF YESTERDAY MADE MY POSITION NO LONGER TENABLE.” - Tyler Goodspeed WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Goodspeed as citing the assault on the U.S. Capitol as reason for the resignation. “The events of yesterday made my position no longer tenable,” Goodspeed was quoted as saying. Trump supporters, including Log Cabin Republicans’ media arm Outspoken, had touted Goodspeed prior to the presidential election as a top LGBT appointee in the Trump administration. A Harvard graduate and former professor at University of Oxford and King’s College London, Goodspeed was charged with advising the president on the formulation of both domestic and international economic policy. Goodspeed is the latest of a series of aides who have resigned after the events at the U.S. Capitol, which have been universally condemned and cited as the fallout of Trump’s refusing to concede and egging on violence. Others who resigned are Melania Trump aide Stephanie Grisham, White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews and Mick Mulvaney. Judd Deere, White House deputy press secretary, is another LGBT appointee at the Trump White House. Deere didn’t respond to a request from the Blade to comment on whether he’d resign.

Chris Johnson is Chief Political & White House Reporter for the Washington Blade. Johnson is a member of the White House Correspondents' Association. 1.14 . 20 21 •

LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENDALL LITTLE

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Transgender

JAMAICA REVEALS NEW TRANS-INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE “Too many transgender people stay home and suffer or change who they are to access public healthcare spaces,” said TransWave Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy Renae Green. TransWave Jamaica has created and launched the first-ever trans-inclusive healthcare strategy in the English-speaking Caribbean with support from UNAIDS and the United Nations Population Fund. After a year of research and planning, TransWave has been able to launch the inclusive healthcare so that transgender and gender non-conforming citizens can utilize it. This way, more people will be able to feel safe and comfortable while receiving medical attention. The healthcare strategy branches out from the traditional cookie-cutter healthcare

• 1.14.2021

Renae Green, Associate Director of Policy, Advocacy and Research at TransWave Jamaica. Photo via Renae Green, LinkedIn.

options. Right now, it is a five-year plan based upon trans rights in Jamaica.

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

Bisexual

BISEXUAL POP STAR LAUNCHES MAKEUP BRAND

Want bright, eye-catching makeup that’s bound to turn heads? Look no further than Halsey’s makeup brand. “Without Me” singer Halsey, released her own makeup brand called about-face, which is advertised as “multi-dimensional makeup for everyone” on the official website. The brand includes all types of makeup, from lipsticks to eyeshadows. It also offers beauty supplies such as blending tools and cosmetic bags. The singer prides herself not only on the quality of the products, but also the representation in the brand’s models. “The zine and e-campaign have white models, Asian models, South East Asian models, dark-skin models, light-skin models, hijabi models, gay, lesbian, trans,

Halsey. Photo via Halsey, Facebook.

enby models, young models, matureaged models, a literal baby. This campaign is about everyone. About-face is about everyone,” Halsey tweeted.

LGBTQIA BITES

Queer

AUSTRALIAN QUEER COUPLE WILL RAISE THEIR CHILD WITHOUT GENDER

A gender reveal party is not in the plans for Emryk Prout and Jordan Watson, an agender and queer couple from South Australia. The couple spoke to the Star Observer about their plans for their unborn baby, who is to be born this year. “We will be offering our child equal access to all clothes, toys and activities, and using they/them pronouns for them until the child says otherwise,” the couple said. They reflected on their upbringings and said they do not want their child to miss out on learning experiences due to being raised in a binary and cisgender household. Prout and Watson revealed that their families have been very supportive. Though there were questions, the support has been overwhelming for the couple and their unborn baby.

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NEWS NATIONAL

LGBT TRUMP SUPPORTERS TIPTOE AWAY FROM PRESIDENT

AFTER US CAPITOL ATTACK Chris Johnson

Washington Blade

n the aftermath of the assault on the U.S. Capitol instigated by President Trump, his one-time LGBT supporters are now distancing themselves from him without outright renouncing their previous support.

Many LGBT Trump supporters didn’t Trump himself. respond to the Washington Blade’s request “While the gay left has had a deranged for comment. Others condemned the obsession with Donald Trump, our violence at the U.S. Capitol, but sought to movement has never been about one man,” artfully distance themselves from Trump Moran said. “We can and will achieve while minimizing their previous support for continued success, with or without Donald him as an incumbent president running for Trump.” re-election in 2020. Moran also side-stepped the issue of what One-time Trump supporters — amid talk should happen with Trump amid talk of of Trump being forced to resign, impeached removing him from office before end of his and removed from office or being stripped presidential term. of the presidency through never-before “President Trump’s last day in office will invoked powers of executive officers under be Jan. 20, when Vice President Biden will the 25th Amendment — wouldn’t commit to be sworn into office,” Moran said. “I don’t supporting any of those outcomes. know what President Trump will do next. Charles Moran, managing director of The Republican Party today, however, is Log Cabin Republicans, transformed, and I think for condemned the assault on the better.” the U.S. Capitol as “a dark Chad Felix Greene, who day in the current chapter wrote a self-published book of American history,” but “Without Context,” disputing compared it to racial unrest each of the LGBT media of 2020 and said “it brought watchdog GLAAD’s accounts into the new year the of anti-LGBT attacks by anger and violence that we Trump, told the Blade the experienced only recently in assault on the Capitol was the summer of 2020.” “an act of domestic terrorism “That said, the violence and should not be tolerated.” and un-American acts “The right has attracted committed yesterday by a population of people that those who stormed the think anarchy and obscenity Capitol building were are political activism,” - Chad Felix Greene completely unacceptable Greene added. “White and those who took part in supremacists, antisemites AUTHOR trying to forcefully stop our and other assorted idiots democracy from working latched onto the MAGA should be identified, arrested, tried and movement because it was rebellious and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” counter culture and controversial.” Moran said. “Full stop, no exceptions.” Greene said he lost his respect for Trump Moran said Log Cabin Republicans, which “when he began behaving as a conspiratorial endorsed Trump in the 2020 election, voice leading his followers into madness,” learned from the success it enjoyed in and is now looking to Mike Pence for increasing the LGBT vote for the Republican leadership, despite the vice president’s long presidential nominee (according to exit anti-LGBT record. polls) but said those efforts were never about “While I appreciated [Trump’s] policies as

“THE RIGHT HAS ATTRACTED A POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT THINK ANARCHY AND OBSCENITY ARE POLITICAL ACTIVISM.”

• 1.14.2021

Jennifer Williams, a New Jersey-based Republican transgender advocate, was among those who condemned the assault on the U.S. Capitol. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Williams.

a leader, he proved himself to be a threat to everything we built over the last four years over his ego,” Greene added. “Pence is the perfect mirror image of this. Consistent. Calm. Trustworthy and a man of integrity. He’s not the face of what MAGA became as an aggressive and passionate movement. He reminded us of what good Republican and conservative leadership can be.” Greene said he expects Trump to “leave office” and “won’t support” him in future political efforts, but at the same time doesn’t back efforts to forcibly remove the president from office before the end of his term. “Honestly it’s in two weeks,” Greene said. “He reluctantly gave a statement on an orderly exit. I think current efforts at removing him are political and short-sighted. We’ve completely forgotten the stimulus and vaccine rollout that needs attention. Trump is done. Further political theater seems petty and unnecessary to me.” Dan Innis, a Republican former New Hampshire state senator who supported Trump and after the 2020 election said on Twitter he wouldn’t accept the results, told

the Blade the assault on the U.S. Capitol was “very sad,” but wouldn’t give up his previous position. “My concerns about the validity of the election remain,” Innis said. “If the election was fair, and I hope it was, show us. Why the secrecy? If there is nothing to hide, don’t hide it. However, given yesterday’s events, we will never know the truth about the election. As a result, millions of Americans, me included, will forever doubt the integrity of the American election process.” Innis also sought to minimize Trump as a leader of the conservative movement, adding “vanquishing” him “will not change my views, or the views of those millions” who don’t trust the nation’s leaders and institutions. “Trump was nothing but a figurehead of a larger movement, and that movement is not going to just go away just because Trump goes away,” Innis said. “If the Democrats, including Joe Biden, think that is going to happen, I think they will be surprised.” The distancing from Trump corresponds to the growing list of administration aides

NEWS NATIONAL resigning in the aftermath of the assault on the U.S. Capitol. Among them was Tyler Goodspeed, who’s gay and was acting-chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, who resigned Thursday. “The events of yesterday made my position no longer tenable,” Goodspeed was quoted as saying to the New York Times. But several other LGBT officials with ties to Trump had little to say for themselves and didn’t respond to the Blade’s request for comment. Among them was Richard Grenell, who was the face of LGBT outreach for Trump’s re-election. Although Grenell condemned the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Twitter as it was unfolding, by the next day his focus shifted to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Iran, Big Tech and the media, but not Trump. Brandon Straka, the gay conservative who founded the “Walk Away” movement and was among the speakers at the “Stop the Steal” rally that led to the assault on the U.S. Capitol also didn’t respond to the Blade’s request for comment. After the assault, Straka posted on Twitter a one-hour video skirting the violence and expressing outrage at the rioters and issued a call to “completely gut the conservative movement and start again.” On Friday, Straka indignantly tweeted about Facebook disabling the “Walk Away” campaign on the social media platform. Also not responding to the Blade was Gregory Angelo, who cheered Trump on after stepping down as head of the Log Cabin Republicans and later took a job at the Trump White House; and Rob Smith, a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” activist who later became a chief spokesperson for the pro-Trump student group Turning Point USA. Other LGBT conservatives who spoke to the Blade, but didn’t support Trump for reelection in 2020, weren’t shy about saying the assault on the U.S. Capitol confirmed their fears about him. Brad Polumbo, a D.C.-based conservative journalist and host of the podcast “Breaking Brad,” said the Trump administration yielded good policy — including for LGBT people, despite Trump’s anti-LGBT reputation — but the recent events proved him right. “The crazed mob attack on the Capitol and President Trump’s denial of the election results that fomented it, for me, vindicate the decision to never get on board the Trump train,” Polumbo said. “From tax cuts to deregulation to the confirmation of several excellent Supreme Court justices to Middle East peace deals and an unprecedented openness to gay Americans, there are many successes gay conservatives like me can take away from the Trump presidency. But recent events have also served as a painful reminder to LGBT conservatives, and all conservatives, really, that policy aside, our

leaders’ character matters.” Jennifer Williams, a New Jersey-based Republican transgender advocate who challenged Trump over his supporters using anti-trans campaign tactics that ended up failing in the 2020 election, denounced the assault on the U.S. Capitol. “The people who stormed and violently entered the Capitol to disrupt yesterday’s election certification acted not as Americans, but as vandals to democracy,” Williams said. “Every single one of the perpetrators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. These people did not act as Republicans, because what they did is not in the spirit of what Republicans stand for or how we conduct ourselves. However, that is the least of my worries. I fear our children seeing our country as they saw it yesterday.” Williams, who said the results of the 2020 election are clear, issued a clarion call that the time has come for Trump to step down before the end of his term, or that officials should do the job for him. “President Trump should consider stepping down and/or ceding his day-to-day authority to Vice President Pence for these last few days in order to restore a sense of peace to our country,” Williams said. “The president and his son — after using strong anti-transgender and vulgar language in his own speech — encouraged the protesters to march on our Capitol building. That is unconscionable and every American, liberal or conservative and LGBTQ or not, must recognize this. We are a country of laws and freedom, not anarchy and mob rule.”

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NEWS NATIONAL

AMID COUP CHAOS, TRUMP QUIETLY ERASES LGBT PROTECTIONS IN ADOPTION, HEALTH SERVICES Chris Johnson

Washington Blade

nder the cover of chaos the day after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the Trump administration has officially nixed regulations barring federal grantees in the Department of Health & Human Services from discriminating against LGBT people, including in adoption services. HHS went public on Thursday with the final rule, which rescinds regulations implemented in the Obama administration barring discrimination among HHS grantees with respect to sex, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. The change also rescinds the Obama-era regulations requiring HHS grantees to “treat as valid the marriages of same-sex couples.” Although Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which governs federal programs, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, it doesn’t prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination, so the regulation allows considerable discrimination in federal programs against LGBT people. “Given the careful balancing of rights, obligations, and goals in the public-private partnerships in federal grant programs, the department believes it appropriate to impose only those nondiscrimination requirements required by the Constitution and federal statutes applicable to the department’s grantees,” the federal rule says. Most prominently, the new regulation would allow taxpayer-funded child welfare services to refuse placement into LGBT families or discriminate against LGBT youth. Religiously affiliated adoption and foster care centers have been pushing for this change in regulation, including Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia, which currently has a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a First Amendment right to reject same-sex couples on religious grounds. Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church & State, criticized the regulation in a statement for allowing discrimination in the child welfare system. “The federal government should protect our country’s most vulnerable people instead of issuing rules that license discrimination,” Laser said. “People should never be turned away from the services they need. That is especially true for children in foster care and

• 1.14.2021

the families who want to provide them with loving, safe homes. Rather than prioritizing the best interests of children and families, the Trump administration’s new rule invites taxpayer-funded foster care agencies to discriminate against them.” But the proposed regulation will have farreaching implications in health services, allowing anti-LGBT discrimination in HIV and STI prevention programs, opioid programs, youth homelessness services, health professional training and substanceuse recovery programs. The finalization of the rule, first proposed in November 2019, was expected. The Office of Management & Budget, which coordinates the rule-making process among federal agencies indicated on its website it had received the proposed rule and it was scheduled to be made final in the lame duck session before Trump’s exit. But the Trump administration had already ceased enforcing the non-discrimination components of the Obama-era rule when it proposed the regulation in 2019, arguing the previous administration didn’t go through the correct rule-making process when it was made final in the eleventh-hour of the Obama administration in December 2016. The Trump-era rule seeks to justify itself by saying the Obama-era regulations aren’t based on statutes and religious-affiliated groups have complained and filed lawsuits over meeting those requirements. These groups, HHS noted, assert the policy is unlawful under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment. “In the statutes establishing certain programs and grants, Congress has specified the protected categories with respect to which discrimination is prohibited,” the rule says. “Congress has not expressly included discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or same-sex marriage status, in any statute applicable to

Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church & State, criticized the regulation in a statement for allowing discrimination in the child welfare system. Photo via YouTube.

departmental grants.” HHS had already granted an exemption from the Obama-era rule to South Carolina, which sought to get out of the regulation on behalf of the Miracle Hill Ministries adoption agency. Laser cited the exemption granted to South Carolina and Americans United’s lawsuit against it in her criticism of the final rule. “Discrimination should never be funded or supported by our government, but that’s exactly what this rule does,” Laser said. “Families, senior citizens and children could lose protections against discrimination and suddenly be turned away from taxpayerfunded programs they need. That includes people like Americans United client Aimee Maddonna, who was turned away from helping children in foster care by a government-funded agency solely because Aimee is Catholic — the ‘wrong’ religion according to an evangelical Protestant agency in South Carolina.” Although the U.S. Supreme Court decision this year Bostock v. Clayton County, which found anti-LGBT discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, against anti-LGBT discrimination has widespread implications across all areas of federal law, the decision doesn’t apply to federal programs, such as HHS grants, because Title VI doesn’t bar sex discrimination in federal programs. HHS notes the Bostock decision, which hadn’t yet come down when the rule was first proposed, in the final text of the regulation. “Nothing about the Bostock decision undermines the department’s choice in this final rule to refer to statutory

nondiscrimination requirements and state that the department will follow applicable Supreme Court decisions in administering its award programs, rather than delineating the specific protected categories from discrimination in the rule or applying two specific Supreme Court decisions,” the rule says. “If anything, Bostock shows the utility of the Department’s approach in this final rule.” The Equality Act, legislation Biden has pledged to sign within 100 days after being inaugurated on Jan. 20, would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban antiLGBT discrimination in federal programs specifically as a form of sex discrimination. An HHS spokesperson said in response to the rule the department “respects the dignity of every human being,” but also “protects and enforces the civil rights of all to the fullest extent permitted by the laws as written.” “LGBT individuals remain fully protected under civil rights statutes and regulations,” the HHS spokesperson said. “If any covered entity subjects an LGBT individual to discrimination on the basis protected under an applicable statutory non-discrimination provision, HHS will protect that individual by vigorously enforcing its non-discrimination statutes and regulations.” The Trump-era rule is set to go into effect 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. The White House deferred to HHS for comment. Chris Johnson is Chief Political & White House Reporter for the Washington Blade. Johnson is a member of the White House Correspondents' Association.

NEWS NATIONAL

NEWS STATE

WEEKLY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA Sean McShee

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 CASES IN THREE SOUTH FLORIDA Cumulative Known COVID-19COUNTIES: Cases in Three6South Florida Counties: JANUARY THROUGH JANUARY 12, 2021

January 6 through January 12

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases from 1/6 to 1/12 Palm Beach 6.4%, Broward 5.6%, and Miami Dade 5.4%

The annual Revolution Party (photo from 2017), which took place again in late 2020, was featured as one of the unsafe gatherings on the Instagram account “Gays Over COVID.” Photo via @revolutionparty, Instagram.

PALM SPRINGS MAYOR PUTS CIRCUIT PARTIERS ON BLAST

1/6

1/7

John McDonald

1/9

93,295

92,542

91,711

1/10

1/11

Broward

1/12

Miami-Dade Source Fl DOH Dashboard

s there no shame in those oiled-up from underground events in Los Angeles to bodies? a recent huge gathering in Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs Mayor Christy Holstege Mexico where a party boat overloaded with has had enough. The bisexual mayor is gay men sank to the bottom of the ocean. speaking out against the return of circuit party Holstege said she is disappointed and chose culture. As COVID-19 continues to speak up to protect her to wreak havoc, particularly in community, many of whom “WE ALL WANT southern California, Holstege is have lived through the trauma demanding party-goers check of the HIV pandemic. TO PARTY LIKE themselves. “I know this is difficult,” IT’S 1999 AND “It’s unacceptable to party Holstege continued. “We all with the masses during the want to party like it’s 1999 and WE WILL AFTER height of the pandemic and we will after this pandemic is THIS PANDEMIC then travel back to highover and our communities are risk communities like Palm IS OVER AND OUR vaccinated. There is light at the Springs,” Holstege wrote in end of the tunnel. Please stay COMMUNITIES a Facebook post on Friday. home to save lives.” ARE VACCINATED.” “It’s especially problematic California, Holstege noted, if you are a privileged white now requires all residents to - Christy Holstege American traveling to a country quarantine for 10 days upon MAYOR OF PALM SPRINGS like Mexico when COVID is returning from out-of-state disproportionately affecting travel. The Golden State has low-income communities and People of the most confirmed COVID cases of any U.S. Color.” state. As of Sunday, there were 2,681,395 An Instagram account titled “Gays Over confirmed cases with 734,405 vaccines COVID” has been documenting the activities administered. Overall, 29,877 Californians of parties that attract large followings of gay have died from the novel coronavirus. men. It’s all there for public consumption:

1/8

Palm Beach

152,645

151,524

150,371

91,049

90,058

88,852

87,683

149,168

147,944

146,201

144,590

331,649

328,701

326,607

324,260

321,555

318,115

314,742

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 DEATHS IN Cumulative THREE SOUTH FLORIDA COUNTIES: Cumulative Known COVID-19 Deaths Known COVID-19 Cases in in Three Florida Counties: Three South Florida Counties: JANUARY 6South THROUGH JANUARY 12, 2021

January 6 through January January 6 through January 12 12

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 from Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 casesdeaths from 1/6 to 1/6 1/12to 1/12 Beach Broward and Miami PalmPalm Beach 6.4%,2.7%, Broward 5.6%,2.5%, and Miami DadeDade 5.4% 4.5%

1,923 144,590

1,890

146,201 1,933

1,897

1/6 1/6

1,943 1,903

1/7 1/7

Palm Beach

149,168

1/8 1/8

1,955 1,920

1/9 1/9

Palm Beach Broward Broward

151,524 1,972 1,928

1/101/10

152,645

1,975

1,938

93,295

92,542

91,711

4,452

4,441

4,413

150,371

1,955 1,915

91,049

90,058

88,852

87,683

147,944

331,649

328,701

326,607

4,365

4,332

4,297

4,260

324,260

321,555

318,115

314,742

1/11 1/11

1/12 1/12

Miami Dade Miami-Dade Source Fl DOH Dashboard Source Fl DOH Dashboard

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard. 1.14 . 20 21 •

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

Lillie McCloud from “The X-Factor” poses with promoter Gary Santis at The Manor before taking the stage on New Year’s Eve.

Hottie barmen Taran, Jeff and Omar serving up great drinks at Johnson’s during New Year’s Eve.

Porche and Miss Bouvèé ring in the new year at Matty’s in Wilton Manors.

Mr. Ed Lugo of Ed Lugo Resort looking good at the end of a long holiday season.

• 1.14.2021

COMPASS POINTS

PA L M B E A C H

column

COMPASS LAUNCHES TRANSGENDER ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM Claudia Harrison

Chief Communications Officer, Compass LAST JANUARY, COMPASS ANNOUNCED A GRANT AWARD THAT WOULD BE USED TO START A GROUNDBREAKING NEW PROGRAM CALLED THE TRANSGENDER ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (TEE) PROGRAM. THIS JANUARY, COMPASS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY AND ACCEPTING CLIENTS. The program’s purpose is to help transgender individuals, particularly trans women, become job-ready through assistance with resumes, wardrobe building, and interview skills. Trans women are far more likely than cisgender individuals to be discriminated against in the workplace and to be the victims of violence. Program staff will also work with area businesses interested in being employer partners in the program. Becoming a partner will require undergoing an assessment to determine the business’s trans-inclusivity in everything from company culture, all-gender restrooms, types of medical benefits offered, and how they treat trans-identifying and non-binary customers and employees. For those businesses who are not yet able to achieve Compass’ seal of transinclusivity, staff will offer trainings for their leadership and employees, and work with them to hit the necessary benchmarks to become employer partners. “Trans women face many challenges in finding safe, reliable employment — from navigating use of their chosen name to a lack of knowledge about appropriate work FOR THOSE BUSINESSES WHO ARE NOT YET ABLE TO ACHIEVE COMPASS’ SEAL OF TRANS-INCLUSIVITY, STAFF WILL OFFER TRAININGS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND EMPLOYEES, AND WORK WITH THEM TO HIT THE NECESSARY BENCHMARKS TO BECOME EMPLOYER PARTNERS.

Photo via PxHere.

attire, as well as feeling safe, respected, and welcome in the workplace,” explains Jackie Brown, coordinator of the TEE program. “This program offers these women real hope in making the most of themselves, and will connect them to other resources that they may need, like mental health therapy, financial assistance, and other resources crucial to success in the workplace.” Compass is grateful to its premier sponsors of the TEE program, The Jewish Women’s Foundation and most recently, Macy’s. “JWF believes all women, including trans women, should be able to live their lives to the fullest extent and with dignity,” says Jennifer Kryshka, CEO of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches. “Trans women face disproportionate amounts of discrimination in the workplace and our hope is that the Trans Economic Empowerment Program will help trans women obtain employment and therefore economic security. Every woman deserves the opportunity to be safe and secure.” THOSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT COMPASSGLCC.COM/TEE, OR EMAIL JACKIE BROWN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, AT JACKIEBROWN@ COMPASSGLCC.COM

Compass Community Center’s mission is to engage, empower and enrich the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people and those impacted by HIV and AIDS.

1.14 . 20 21 •

Jesse’s Journal

CONVICTIONS

REQUEERED TALES Jesse Monteagudo

uring this time of COVID-19, when many of us are forced to stay in our homes, we search for books that would entertain and inspire us. (“The Decameron” by Giovanni Boccaccio, written during the Bubonic Plague of 1348, is making a comeback.)

As a lifelong lover, collector and reviewer The ReQueered Tales Team consists of of gay books I often buy from online dealers Justene Adamec, Alexander Inglis and Matt like Bolerium Books (bolerium.com), Lubbers-Moore. In the ReQueered Tales arguably the best of its kind. In Blog (requeeredtales.com/ one of their recent emails I was blog) Inglis wrote about “WE ARE HONORED, thrilled to learn that Canadian their efforts to resurrect HERE AT REQUEERED author Ian Young, still active at lost queer literary works, 76, has published a “Supplement” especially mysteries: “Forty TALES, TO BE to his classic work “The Male years of gay fiction … has CUSTODIANS Homosexual in Literature: A been teetering on the brink SHEPHERDING BACK Bibliography” (second edition, of obscurity.” The mission 1982). of ReQueered Tales is “to INTO CIRCULATION After I ordered a copy from bring back to circulation this SOME OF THE BEST Bolerium I learned that both treasure trove of fantastic GAY AND LESBIAN Young’s “Bibliography” and his fiction which, for one reason FICTION WRITING.” newly-written “Supplement” were or another, has fallen by the being published by ReQueered wayside. … We are honored, - Alexander Inglis Tales (requeeredtales.com), a new here at ReQueered Tales, to REQUEERED TEAM MEMBER company whose goal is “to seek be custodians shepherding out, obtain rights and republish back into circulation some of LGBTQ fiction which has been out of print,” the best gay and lesbian fiction writing. We Young’s classic reference work being a non- hope to bring many volumes to the public, fiction exception to this rule. in modestly priced, accessible editions, worldwide, over the coming months and years.” On May 15, 2019, ReQueered Tales released its first book, “Steam” by the late Jay B. Laws, a gay horror novel set at the height of the AIDS crisis (1990). Since then ReQueered Tales has published classic mysteries and thrillers by the likes of Jack Dickson, Grant Michaels and Lev Raphael. It also resurrected literary classics like “The Genius of Desire” by Brian Bouldrey, “The Family of Max Desir” by Robert Ferro and the epic “Like People in History” by Felice Picano. Though most of their publications thus far have been written by “old white men” (dead or alive) RQT promises to seek and publish books by and about women and LGBT People of Color.

• 1.14.2021

Matt Lubbers-Moore enjoying his team’s archive at ReQueered Tales. Photo via ReQueered Tales, Facebook.

ReQueered Tales also released three important bibliographies. Two of them, by Ian Young, I already mentioned. The third one, a completely new effort, is “Murder and Mayhem: An Annotated Bibliography of Gay and Queer Males in Mystery, 19092018” by RQT’s own Matt Lubbers-Moore. In this resource Lubbers-Moore “examines every mystery novel to include a gay or queer male in the English language starting with Conan Doyle’s short story ‘The Man with the Watches’ … ‘Murder and Mayhem’ will prove invaluable for mystery

collectors, researchers, libraries, general readers, aficionados, bookstores, and devotees of LGBTQ studies.” Most ReQueered Tales are available in print or ebook format and may be purchased through Amazon, Bolerium and other online outlets. In times like these, nothing helps us forget the problems of the world like a good mystery, especially one that’s LGBT to boot. Visit ReQueeredtales.com to see what’s available, and enjoy this abundance of gay literary riches.

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.

THE

GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 1 JANUARY 14, 2021

Wilton Manors & Oakland Park FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE

COMMUNITY

Peter Jackson To Lead Rebranded Wilton Manors Entertainment Group By John McDonald Wilton Manors Entertainment Group which sparked the modern-day gay rights is bringing in a familiar face to lead the movement. Keeping Wilton Manors a gay destination is organization during strenuous times. Peter Jackson, a longtime Wilton Manors the group’s chief mission. “We desperately need to promote Wilton businessman, has been appointed WMEG’s first-ever president. The group announced the Manors as the prime LGBTQ destination that it is,” said Jeff Sterling, CEO of decision in a press release and WMEG, in a press release. “The also revealed a rebranding way to do that is through events effort under the title WMEG that give people a reason to Community Marketing and visit as well as through strategic Events. local and national marketing “I am excited by this of the people and businesses opportunity,” Jackson said, that make our Island City so in a press release dated Dec. welcoming and special.” 11. “Promoting the paradise Jackson presently serves as that Wilton Manors is to vice president of the Wilton the LGBTQ community far Manors Business Association. and wide is a great objective His previous business ventures and benefits every resident include owning a couple of and business owner. Doing gyms, a yoga studio and a so through multiplatform corporate officer the nowmarketing and fun events defunct Florida Agenda. that allow our community “This is a challenging time to come together in a post- Jeff Sterling for non-profits as traditional COVID world makes the job CEO OF WMEG funding sources evaporate even sweeter.” — but we see this as a time to Formed as a non-profit in 2014 to serve in partnership with the city and innovate and grow in new and exciting ways,” its development alliance, WMEG is primarily Jackson said. In addition to the Stonewall, WMEG tasked with operating special events designed to attract visitors and tourists. Its marquee produces three monthly events: Art Walk, event is the Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Vibes on the Drive and Pride Skate Night. Festival, a tribute to the New York City riots WMG

“We desperately need to promote Wilton Manors as the prime LGBTQ destination that it is.”

www.WMGAZETTE.com

Peter Jackson. Photo via Peter Jackson, Facebook.

1.14 . 20 21 •

THE

OPINION

And the band played on…

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Editorial

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Going out for a night of fun might have to wait a little bit longer. Bringing the virus into your home, your workplace, or to social gatherings should be a major concern for us all. Locally, many are still becoming seriously ill and dying from this pandemic. We would like to think that the worst is behind us, but I fear what lies ahead in the coming months. Hopefully the new administration taking over in Washington next week will start our nation down a different path, one that is ready to deal with this pandemic scientifically and honestly, unlike the failures of the outgoing administration. A national strategy is not too much to expect from our government instead of the ramblings of a president who told us to inject bleach or to ingest Lysol disinfectant. As we wait for the cavalry to arrive in just the nick of time, we must continue to follow CDC guidelines, social distance, and wear our masks.

Discussions at this week’s City Commission meeting validated the rising surge locally here in Wilton Manors as well as throughout Florida and the nation. While our governor, Ron DeSantis, pretends that all is wonderful and all should return to life as usual, many are still suffering, becoming infected, spreading the virus and yes, dying in crowded hospitals. With Florida’s lax restrictions due to the governor’s executive orders limiting local government control and as people continue to visit Florida from colder climates with snow birds arriving by full flights at area airports, it will not be long till a new variant strain of the coronavirus will be identified here in our community as already seen in places such as California and Colorado. Islanders, now is not the time to let our guard down, we must become even more diligent and focused. We need to wear our mask, practice social distancing, take precautions and look to get vaccinated as additional supplies become available. We have been through so much this past year; we need to be patient and we need to stay safe. By continuing our efforts to keep ourselves, our neighbors, our co-workers and our families safe, we ensure that life in our Island City will continue to be just better here… WMG

www.WMGAZETTE.com • 1.14.2021

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

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

We would like to think that the worst is behind us, but I fear what lies ahead in the coming months.

January 14, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 1 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

By Sal Torre This past Saturday night as I drove home from work, having finished the evening shift, I was somewhat surprised to see a well-known private club open with parking lots near full capacity. Many other businesses were equally thriving at this wee hour of the morning. Thoughts brought me back to the 1980s when many continued with high-risk behaviors at bars, bath houses, and nightclubs even as the dangers of a new epidemic were starting to become known. Back then as well as now, all the warning bells were going off. Reports of the increase in numbers becoming infected, the increase in the death count, increase in transmission and yet the band played on … with many who did not heed the warnings, who did not want to hear the dire news or to stop having so much fun. Looks like the band is still playing on today as many people all across the nation are casting aside similar warnings while heading out and about, going to crowded bars, going to the gym, to social events and nightclubs. Not sure how much social distancing and mask wearing is going on at such clubs, I would think not much, if any. Recent photos in the Sun Sentinel showing packed nightclubs during New Year’s weekend along Las Olas, South Beach, Wilton Drive and other regional night spots show the extent of the many who are not engaging in safe activity. Back when I was a younger lad, social distancing was not what I was looking to do when frequenting such establishments and wearing a surgical mask in a nightclub would have been viewed as having some strange sexual fetish. Preferred masks back then were of the leather or rubber variety. All joking aside, as infection rates continue to rise drastically here in Florida and across the nation, a surgical mask is a must-wear item in the struggle against this pandemic and for the need to protect others as well as ourselves. The recent failure to roll out a strategic vaccination plan has left many first responders, seniors and many of us frustrated with no idea of when we might be able to receive the much-needed vaccine. Still months away from mass vaccinations, we need to be ever more concerned about the rising infection rates.

GAZETTE

2 •

JANUARY 14, 2021

South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. MEMBER

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Remember to wear a mask and practice safe social-distancing. It’s a new year, let’s make it a good one! Photo via Adobe.

POLITICS

HEALTH

Oakland Park Commission Gets Update on Vaccinations By Christiana Lilly

Carvelle Estriplet. Photo via Carvelle Estriplet, Facebook.

Wilton Manors Commissioners Appoint Black Trans Woman To CAAB By John McDonald Wilton Manors Commissioners took a big step toward fulfilling some of their civic engagement diversity goals at Tuesday night’s meeting. The commission made five board appointments, including Carvelle Estriplet, a Black trans woman and small business owner. “I’m ecstatic,” said Estriplet, when reached by telephone Tuesday night. Estriplet owns a Wilton Drive bicycle shop where she offers repairs, rentals and sales. She was one of two appointments to the Community Affairs Advisory Board. “As a resident, engaged volunteer and now small business owner in Wilton Manors — Carvelle will be a tremendous asset to our community and CAAB,” wrote Commissioner Chris Caputo in a Facebook post. “As a proud Black trans woman, I am certain Carvelle’s unique background, ideas and perspective will demonstrate the benefits

of diversity in governance.” Estriplet said she hoped to be a part of change and inclusiveness in the city and bring fresh views to CAAB. The other CAAB appointment went to Paul Smith, a Black man and retired U.S. Army officer and psychotherapist. Commissioners made three appointments to the Budget Review Advisory Committee. They are William Hayden, Michael Kalb and Van Gosselin. Vice Mayor Paul Rolli said the city is getting more qualified applicants for board positions. Commissioners voted to eliminate their ranking procedure for board appointments in favor of a more neutral check mark selection. “We didn’t feel the rankings served any purpose,” Rolli said. At Rolli’s request, commissioners approved a plan to light up city hall on Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the colors of red, white and blue to signify a change in administrations in Washington, D.C. WMG

Estriplet said she hoped to be a part of change and inclusiveness in the city and bring fresh views to CAAB.

With coronavirus cases tracking at a rate of about 300 new cases per month in Oakland Park, the city commission received an update on vaccines from Holy Cross Hospital during its meeting on Jan. 6. The first meeting of 2021 occurred in the middle of Phase 1 of the vaccination rollout. “This week has been a very big week for the county of Broward and for the hospitals in the area,” said Dr. John Cunha of Holy Cross. “We will be ramping up vaccine distribution greatly this week, and predominantly next week there will be a huge increase in the number of vaccines given out throughout the county.” For the last three weeks, the state has been in Phase 1 of the vaccination process, which gives priority to residents and employees of long-term healthcare facilities and direct frontline care providers. Phase 1B will include non-healthcare essential workers, first responders, U.S. postal workers, and those who work in manufacturing, grocery stores, public transportation, teachers and support staff, and childcare workers. Phase 1C will go to those 65 to 74 years old, those 16 to 64 with medical conditions, and other essential workers. Finally, Phase 2 will have mass vaccination clinics. Two vaccines are currently in use throughout the country: one from Pfizer and another from Moderna. Both are MRNA vaccines with up to 94% efficacy and require two doses of the vaccine over a 21- or 28day time period. Most of the vaccines from Holy Cross Hospital have been from Pfizer, Cunha said, and they have vaccinated more than 5,000 people. County data shows that almost 26,500 people 65 or older have received the vaccine. Vaccination sites have opened throughout Broward County: Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Vista View Park in Davie, Markham Park in Sunrise, and Central Regional Park in Lauderhill. The public can visit browardcovidvaccine.com for an appointment. At the time of this article, all appointments were filled. According to the state, as of Jan. 6, the city had 1,988 cases of coronavirus, up from 1,607 on December 6, 2020. Since October, each month has seen about 300 new cases of the virus. As for the county, there have been 146,201 cases of coronavirus — 7,586 people have been hospitalized and 1,897 have died. “We have had a recent increase both locally

Oakland Park City Manager David Hebert. Photo via Twitter.

as well as statewide and a significant increase nationally,” Oakland Park City Manager David Hebert said of coronavirus cases. “Vaccines are on the horizon, they are being distributed … but the trend again remains disturbing.” Hebert also noted that a Holiday Park vaccination site will open next week. Oakland Park has joined up with the cities of Wilton Manors and Pompano Beach to assist Fort Lauderdale with the site. Cunha also addressed frequently asked questions from commissioners:  Vaccinations are covered. Patients are asked to bring their insurance cards. Those without insurance may have to pay an administrative fee depending on where they receive their vaccine.  The current guidelines from the FDA are to have patients receive two doses of the vaccine in the timeline provided by the drug company. Other countries, such as Scotland, are staggering it to allow more people to be vaccinated.  The vaccine does not mean the patient is now “in the clear.” It takes five to six days for your body to start creating proteins to protect your body from the virus, and like any other vaccine, it’s not bulletproof.  Side effects are minimal, such as soreness at the injection site, headache, or flu-like symptoms for a day.  Those with serious allergies that can lead to anaphylaxis are encouraged to receive their vaccine in a medical setting, such as a hospital. WMG

For more information about the coronavirus vaccine, visit floridahealthcovid19.gov or contact your doctor.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 1.14 . 20 21 •

BUSINESS

Wilton Manors Welcomes New Head of Sales By John McDonald In its quest to diversify and build for the future, Wilton Manors has hired a new economic development manager. Kimberley Allonce was introduced to the city commission at its Dec. 8 meeting. Allonce, a native of Haiti, holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and has worked as an economic development coordinator for the City of Orlando. “With the anticipated changes to our land use and zoning regulations, an important part of Kim’s role will be acting as the city salesman, marketing our city to bring in those developers to take advantage of the new land use and zoning regulations so that we can attract that high-quality development that we know is critically important to maintaining vital, resilient, sustainable community,” said City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson. Allonce told commissioners he looked forward to fostering economic development

between businesses and community stakeholders and had already “hit the ground running” with 25 meetings under his belt. In Orlando, Allonce managed incentive programs to implement several high-impact projects for the city’s downtown development. For Wilton Manors, Allonce’s focus will be on outreach and implementing the city’s economic strategic plan, Henderson said. “We are thrilled Kimberley has joined our team,” Henderson said. “His expertise in collaborating with residents, businesses, and community stakeholders will help us ramp up our efforts to foster economic growth, promote our commercial districts, and attract new businesses to Wilton Manors.” Allonce’s ties to Haiti will aid in addressing the city’s concerns about diversity. He is an active volunteer in the Haitian community where he serves on the board of Edikasyon Ayiti and teaches social welfare policy at

Kimberley Allonce. Photo via Facebook.

Haiti’s Episcopal University. He also reviews scholarships for the National Alliance for the Advancement of Haitian Professionals. “Life’s Just Better Here!!!” Allonce posted on Facebook. “I am beyond excited to have joined the ‘Island City.’ I look forward to working with the business community to bring economic growth to Wilton Manors.” Henderson said the salary range for the economic development manager position is $64,966 to $97,965. In November, the city’s general fund was amended to add $13,804

to the economic development division. Any appropriation over $20,000 must come back to the city commission for approval, said Pennie Zuercher, city finance director. “I think we need to re-evaluate what our priorities are today as opposed to what they were when this budget was approved a year and a half ago,” said Commissioner Mike Bracchi. The commission begins its budget review process with a goals and objectives workshop on Feb. 2, 2021. WMG

COMMUNITY

Wilton Manors Commissioner Asks For Review of City’s Bridges By John McDonald How many bridges does an island city claim responsibility for? That’s a question Wilton Manors Commissioners must consider as the budget review process approaches with infrastructure a priority. The city’s comprehensive plan notes there are 16 bridges in the coastal planning area. Maintenance is distributed among other municipalities, Broward County, the State of Florida and Florida East Coast Railroad. “Bridges are important when the water rises and you’re stuck on an island and can’t get off,” Commissioner Mike Bracchi said. Commissioner Gary Resnick knows what

that is like. Resnick brought up the issue at the end of the Dec. 8 commission meeting. “We also own a couple of bridges that we are responsible for and with the water that we had in October and November they were almost impassable including the Jenada Bridge,” Resnick said. The Jenada Bridge is located on NW 29th Street in the city’s northwestern tip and is part of the only road on and off Jenada Isles. The bridge spans a canal that connects the North and South forks of the Middle River. It is of particular interest to Resnick who lives on the island. “We need to talk about what we’re going

The city’s comprehensive plan notes there are 16 bridges in the coastal planning area.

to do to see what capital work is necessary and have staff evaluate the bridges we own,” Resnick said. David Archacki, Wilton Manors emergency management/utilities director, said the city owns half of three other bridges. The South Dixie Hwy. & NE 15th Ave. bridges are shared with Fort Lauderdale. The NE 16th Avenue bridge is shared with Oakland Park. Archacki said his department receives regular inspection reports from the Florida Department of Transportation and there are no structural deficiencies in the city’s bridges. Meanwhile, if there is another extreme weather event, Resnick said there are other options for shelter. “I talked to FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] in respect to flood insurance if there is flooding over a bridge they will pay for people to stay in hotels until they can get back to reach their houses,” he said. WMG

www.WMGAZETTE.com 22

• 1.14.2021

A resident enjoys the abundance of water in Wilton Manors. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Wilton Manors Appoints Trans Community Member to Community Board By Chris Caputo Less than a month ago, SFGN’s coverage of the Wilton Manors City Commission’s desire for its city boards to be more inclusive, explicitly including the trans community in its board diversity policy. As a City Commission, we recognized that one important way to attract a more diverse set of candidates was to explicitly identify the types of diversity we were seeking. On Tuesday, Jan. 12th, the City Commission demonstrated its commitment to diversity on its city boards by appointing Carvelle Estriplet to its Community Affairs Advisory Board (CAAB). The Community Affairs Advisory Board provides a vehicle to maintain a high quality of life through greater citizen participation by providing a conduit for cooperation and communication between the city commission and community, by making recommendations to the commission as appropriate of ideas for community improvement, civic projects and supporting various community events. This is exactly the type of city board that will benefit greatly from diversity. While Carvelle self identifies as a proud Black trans woman, she was hardly a “token” choice to purely address the city’s desire to attract more diversity to our boards. Carvelle has proven to be a tremendous asset to our community already as an active, engaged community volunteer as well as a small business owner. During her applicant interview at Tuesday’s meeting, Carvelle expressed her desire to work with CAAB members to bring new ideas and events to the city. As a Lead Director with the Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus, Carvelle played a critical role in Get Out The Vote activities in our city. You may recognize Carvelle from her time volunteering at the LGBTQ Democratic Vote Center which operated in the space which now serves as the Wilton Collective.

Carvelle Estriplet. Photo credit: Carina Mask.

Carvelle has proven to be a tremendous asset to our community already as an active, engaged community volunteer as well as a small businessowner.

You can still find her in that place today. Her new business, Carvelle Bikes, just set up shop inside the collective. Carvelle, a bike mechanic by trade, opened her new bike repair and sales store inside the Wilton Collective in hopes of serving as a role model for trans youth who volunteer at the Collective. “I am grateful honored for the opportunity,” remarked Carvelle on Facebook. As a city, we are grateful for the diverse residents that make our city a melting plot and an ideal place to call home. WMG

— Chris Caputo

WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER

www.WMGAZETTE.com 1.14 . 20 21 •

CONVICTIONS

Editorial Cartoon

EDITORIAL CARTOON By Mike Luckovich

CONVICTIONS Publisher's Editorial

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CALAMITY IN THE CAPITOL A STATEMENT BY SFGN PUBLISHER NORM KENT Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

n the Monday after the president of the United States conspired against the very government he took an oath to uphold, he is still a free man. He should not be. Last Wednesday, in our nation’s capital, in the very Capitol Building itself, there was an armed attempt to obstruct the duly elected representatives of our nation from discharging their constitutional duties, orchestrated by none other than the president of the United States of America. This violence we witnessed was presidentially engineered to prevent those representatives from certifying an election which will in fact remove him from office, on Jan. 20. The president tried to prevent that from happening by encouraging a gathering crowd to become instead a riotous mob, employing inflammatory rhetoric to facilitate an armed assault on the Capitol Building. This was not honorable dissent. The president is not outside of the government looking in. He is the government, charged with the responsibility of holding it together, not tearing it apart. For the first time since 1812, over two hundred years ago, the nation’s own capitol building was invaded. What Confederate soldiers, Nazis and terrorists were never able to accomplish, President Trump’s followers did. Police officers died defending that building. Lawfully elected constitutional officers had their lives threatened. Democracy itself was jeopardized. The would-be insurrectionists failed. Like everything else Donald Trump has done these past four years, this effort was marred and marked by disorganization and ineptitude. But that does not make the attempted acts any less treasonous or traitorous. They were high crimes, constitutionally impeachable. Sunday morning talk shows were asking whether he should be removed from office before his term is up. I have a better suggestion. He should be put in jail before his term is up. The President is criminally responsible for aiding and

• 1.14.2021

Pro-Trump protesters during their takeover of the Capitol. Photo credit: CNN.

abetting a seditious act that led to death and destruction. We have his words on video. The whole world has seen them, and now a jury must rule on them. The president knowingly and purposely conspired to prevent new and lawfully elected leaders from assuming their duties. He consciously and intentionally obstructed the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another. His actions were insidious. If the United States had an Attorney General who had the courage not to resign, he could have indicted the president on Thursday, arrested him on Friday and brought him before a federal judge on Saturday. Americans today should be debating only whether Donald Trump is entitled to a bond while awaiting his criminal trial for insurrection, his impeachment trial notwithstanding. Our nation cannot afford another moment or hour, day or week, with him in charge of the government he tried to sabotage and undermine. He must be arrested at once. If there is a protest in Washington this week, it should be 150 million voting Americans surrounding the White House demanding the president’s immediate removal therefrom. After the outrage of the sitting-president last week, our nation can demand more, but accept nothing less.

DUE TO COVID-19, CLERGY ASK THAT YOU STAY SAFE AT HOME. PLEASE WATCH SERVICES ON FACEBOOK AND/OR ONLINE. FIND DETAILS ON HOW TO WATCH ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGES AND WEBSITES. THANK YOU AND BE WELL!

Shabbat service Friday 8pm on our YouTube channel 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

and

TEMPLE BAT YAM 5151 NE 14th Ter Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954-928-0410 Friday Night & Saturday Morning Streaming Online at templebatyam.org

1.14 . 20 21 •

CONVICTIONS

My Best Gay Self

MY FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS Mark Turnipseed

ell, Christmas is over once again. My favorite time of year has come and gone. This year felt like a long slow burn of a buildup with high hopes that didn’t necessarily sparkle, but they sure have left a mark for me. In fact, this Christmas may have been the dullest, twinkle of the yearly spectacle I have ever witnessed while also being the most memorable. When this season comes to an end for me it’s always like a main course that I want to savor but I’m also looking forward to… excuse me, longing for, the dessert and the New Year. It’s a brutal conflict. Order another savory steak and lobster tail or delve into the tiramisu? This year, although the main course was just a pile of pandemic non-seasoned quinoa, I really just can’t stop thinking about it because this year was my first Gay Christmas. I grew up in a Southern Baptist family and the word “gay” was never used in any context. I had been gay my whole life, but this year would be my first openly gay Christmas with my southern family. On top of that stressor, I had just published my first book, a memoir about recovery and coming out. From prostituting myself out and shooting heroin in a glory hole to revealing that I had crushes on my peewee baseball team, there were lots of truths being exposed this year. As Christmas approached, I longed to keep my dark secrets safe and buried, to continue the entrée of life, but at the same time I craved so madly to have those secrets finally out so I could step into the delightful treasure of gay dessert. I know most readers understand this feeling and I know now that you have all conquered this only through exercising tremendous strength. This makes me extremely proud to be a part of this community. Usually, however, after Christmas is over, I take a deep breath and say, “Wow, we did it once again.” We put up with all the family, all the dinners, all the presents. We survived all the stress. We have consumed the entire steak and lobster. But this year is a little different. I have more nostalgia than years prior, because this year a true miracle of Christmas occurred… Come to think of it, the

EACH OF US HAS THE ABILITY TO HELP BUILD A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR THE ONLOOKERS OUTSIDE THE GAY COMMUNITY.

• 1.14.2021

Mark Turnipseed with his new memoir, “My Suicide Race.” Photo credit: Mark Turnipseed, via Facebook.

only Christmas “miracle” I’ve seen. I hand delivered my book to my father and mother and they read it cover to cover in one sitting while I tossed nervously in bed. I had already come out to them, but I hadn’t told the whole story. Surprisingly, however, I didn’t get a lump of coal in my stocking when I awoke for Christmas Day festivities. Instead, with tears in their eyes, I got hugs and the greatest gift a son could receive. With my father in silent agreement, my mother said, “Mark, you have no idea how proud we are of you and we now have a new

respect for all the gay community. Thank you.” I am excited for the new year, but I will always remember each moment of this incredibly sweet entrée of a Christmas. But, I share this message because each of us has a story to share. Each of us has the ability to help build a new perspective for the onlookers outside the gay community. Each of us has that ability, and I believe responsibility to share it. For I believe it’s only through our greatest gift, which is our heart’s story of how we found our best gay self, that we are going to continue making this world a better place.

My Best Gay Self is a column by author, speaker, fitness coach and LGBTQ addiction and wellness advocate, Mark Turnipseed. He is also the Owner and CEO of Integrity Endurance, a network of personal trainers with the goal of fighting the opioid crisis through fitness. Visit www.markaturnipseed.com or view his Instagram @markaturnipseed to learn more/contact or to find his book “My Suicide Race: Surviving the trauma of addiction, recovery and coming out.”

CONVICTIONS

Mombian

AN OPEN LETTER TO JOE BIDEN FROM A LESBIAN MOM Dana Rudolph

Dear President-elect Biden: I’m writing you this open letter as you prepare to take office as president. My son was just a few months too young to vote in the last election, but watched it with great concern, for its results would directly impact him and his family. Would the next administration be one that treated his family with equality? Would it view families like his as part of the rich fabric of American diversity or as aberrations? I’d like to think he has reason for hope. Since this is an open letter, I’ll recap one example, though I’m sure you remember: In 2012, you attended a fundraiser held at the Los Angeles home of husbands Michael Lombardo, an HBO executive, and Sonny Ward, an architect. As reported by Jo Becker in the New York Times, political strategist Chad Griffin (later head of HRC) saw you talking with the men’s two young children and was motivated to ask you your stance on marriage equality. According to Becker, you responded: “I look at those two beautiful kids. I wish everybody could see this. All you got to do is look in the eyes of those kids. And no one can wonder, no one can wonder whether or not they are cared for and nurtured and loved and reinforced. And folks, what’s happening is, everybody is beginning to see it.” You said this at a time when the Obama administration was still officially opposed to marriage equality. Some thought your remarks were a planned “trial balloon” for the issue; Becker disagreed, but said that they “inadvertently set off a chain reaction.” Either way, within weeks, former President Obama announced his support for marriage equality, relating that his own daughters had

friends with same-sex parents and “I know it wouldn’t dawn on them that their friends’ parents should be treated differently.” Marriage equality didn’t hinge on these encounters alone — it was the work of thousands of people over many years — but your remarks were a turning point for the administration’s willingness to back it publicly. I hope that as president, you will continue to champion equality for all families. I am encouraged that you have named two lesbian moms to your administration: Karine Jean-Pierre as principal deputy press secretary and Pili Tobar as deputy White House communications director. And Pete Buttigieg, whom you nominated as secretary of transportation, was asked during his own presidential run if he and his husband might start a family while in the White House. “I don’t see why not,” he replied. Perhaps this might happen even as he takes on a different role. While their work will not revolve around LGBT issues, I hope that their presence will continue to remind you that all parents and our children deserve equality. Despite the progress made under former President Obama, that equality has been chipped away at during President Trump’s time in office. Even now, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case about whether taxpayerfunded child service agencies can claim the right, on religious grounds, to discriminate against LGBT people, people of different faiths, and others. This would reduce the number of otherwise-eligible homes for children in need and could mean that LGBT youth get placed with families that don’t support their identities. That case aside, 11 states now allow child

THE MORE AMERICANS WHO THRIVE, THE STRONGER AND BETTER OUR COUNTRY WILL BE AS A WHOLE.

Photo via Adobe.

service agencies to cite their religious or moral beliefs as a reason to discriminate against someone; nine of them permit it even if the agency receives taxpayer money. Additionally, on Jan. 7, the day after insurrectionists stormed the capitol, the Trump administration finalized a rule that will allow foster care and adoption agencies, along with other public health and social service organizations receiving taxpayer funds, to discriminate against LGBT people and others. LGBT populations are among the most vulnerable here. LGBT organizations are already suing HHS for other recent discriminatory policies; you could save everyone time and money, while helping those in need, by changing these policies as soon as possible. To guide you, the Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign, a coalition of LGBT, civil rights, and faith organizations, has released a set of policy recommendations to set us on a renewed path towards inclusive, affirming care for LGBT youth and families, People of Color, and people with disabilities within the child welfare system. I hope you will take these recommendations seriously.

Equity for LGBT families — and all families — goes beyond just child services and healthcare, however. It extends into educational policy, housing, employment practices, and even foreign policy, for we LGBT families exist around the world. There are no areas of your administration that will not touch us, for we are woven into the fabric of the American people. I hope our voices (broadly speaking, not just those in your administration) are among the many you will listen to in order to guide our country forward. I am not asking you to prioritize LGBT families above any others, but rather to ensure that your policies include and protect us equally so that we have the same chance to thrive. The more Americans who thrive, the stronger and better our country will be as a whole. I want the country in which my son reaches adulthood to be one of equality, justice, and compassion, not only for LGBT people and families, but for all. I’m sure that as a parent yourself, you know what it is like to want such good for your children. Please be the president our country — and our country’s children — need.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.

1.14 . 20 21 •

CONVICTIONS

Guest Column

SAVING OUR OWN CHILDREN My hometown’s ban on “conversion therapy” for minors was struck down in federal court. Here’s what that means for a slowly healing community. Matt Nadel

met Chef Eddie when I was 10. At the time, my mom, who was battling Lyme Disease, had just been prescribed a strict diet of “nontoxic” foods — wheatgrass, plain quinoa, dark leafy greens — prepared in particular “nontoxic” ways — blended, pressed, heated but never boiled. My dad, who I’m sure would have loved to stay home to triple-rinse her kale and dehydrate her fruit, was busy working a nine-to-five (which is to say, an eight-thirty-toseven). So, my parents went looking for culinary assistance, someone who could “meal prep” for my mom in bulk. Chef Eddie was a short, balding Jewish man who would come to our house twice a week in his all-white chef’s garb to stock the fridge with Mom-friendly dishes. Before I noticed anything about Chef Eddie — the way his laugh seemed to escape from his nose rather than his mouth, the way his oversized sleeves folded over his knuckles when his arms hung straight, the way he brandished each of his kitchen gizmos (a salad spinner! an apple corer!) like it was a weapon in a Western — before all that, I noticed he was gay. It’s remarkable that I knew. At 10 years old, I hadn’t had any gay teachers or rabbis or mentors. I hadn’t read books with gay plotlines or watched movies with gay characters (unless Wanda Sykes’s “Don’t Use Gay As An Insult” commercials count). As far as I knew, there was only one gay person in the world: me. But when I met Eddie, I knew he was like me. One day, when my mom was at a doctor’s appointment, my aunt picked me up from school and dropped me off at home. I was walking from the garage to my bedroom when I heard Eddie in the kitchen on the phone, crying. I could make out only garbled phrases — tried everything…maybe I’ll never…I won’t go back…won’t go back to conversion therapy. When you’re a gay kid in Florida, before you know anything about rainbow flags or equal signs or drag races with RuPaul, you know it’d probably be better if you weren’t gay. But that day, when I Googled conversion therapy on the desktop in my room, I learned that there’s an industry devoted to making people like me straight.

• Homophobia is a hyperlocal thing. It’s not as simple as hating gays. Homophobes, in fact, have infinite details to arrange: How will we hate gays? Will we send them

• 1.14.2021

Photo via PxHere.

grimaces from across conference rooms or anthrax packages from across town? Will we let them go to church, or the office, or the neighborhood park? Will we let them speak to their families? I’m from Boca Raton, Florida, the southernmost city in coastal Palm Beach County, three counties north of the state’s southern tip. There’s a saying in Florida that the more south you go the more North you get. South Florida, then, is not homophobic simply in that cliché Southern Protestant way (see Alabama), or even that cliché Southern Catholic way (see Louisiana). In South Florida, Christian moralism comes together with Cuban machismo and Long-Islandretiree “fiscal conservatism” to produce a unique brand of homophobia. That brand has its own painful history. In the 1950s and 1960s, a Florida legislative committee called the Johns Committee undertook a statewide purge of gay and lesbian teachers from public schools and universities. Teachers suspected of homosexuality were locked in interrogation rooms for hours, deprived of food and water, and forced to out their gay coworkers — all before being fired without severance or apology. The University of South Florida, right in my community’s backyard, was one of the hardest-hit institutions. The Johns Committee was aggressive, but, the legislature argued, rightfully so — because children needed to be protected from the horror of homosexuality.

In the late 1970s, Anita Bryant, Florida’s famous citrus spokeswoman turned conservative poster child, launched a campaign to repeal a newly passed Miami-Dade County ordinance that protected gay people from housing and employment discrimination. Her strategy was simple: smear the gay community ruthlessly. She bought out pages of newspaper space for ads that linked homosexuality with anti-Christian and anti-American imagery — perversion, molestation, and Communist invasion. After her campaign succeeded, she instigated similar ballot measures in communities across the country, evangelizing the gospel of homophobia she’d invented and branded as South Florida’s. She called her movement “Save Our Children.” And in 2003, when the Supreme Court struck down so-called sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas, the Florida legislature decided to keep its now-unenforceable “Unnatural and Lascivious Act” law on the books. It was a symbol, for the children, that gayness ought not be seen as normal. When I was a teenager, I watched the U.S. undergo an LGBT-rights reckoning. I was 16 when the Supreme Court guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges. I was 17 when former President Obama made Stonewall the first national monument to LGBT history. I was 18 when the military began covering gender-confirmation surgeries for some transgender service members. To me, these

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I WATCHED THE U.S. UNDERGO AN LGBT-RIGHTS RECKONING.

CONVICTIONS

Guest Column

were welcome signs that the nation was “BREAKING NEWS: Trump Judges moving past its history of anti-LGBT hate. Strike Down Palm Beach County and But these reforms said nothing about Boca Raton Bans On LGBTQ Conversion my community — its fired gay teachers, Therapy for Minors.” evicted gay tenants, and incarcerated The decision, 2-1, came from the gay lovers, its hyperlocal history of Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, homophobia. As far as I was concerned, the last stop before the U.S. Supreme we still had healing to do. Court. In practice, the decision means That’s why it meant so much when, that so-called conversion therapists in on October 10, 2017, as I pored over a Boca Raton (and in Palm Beach County, psychology textbook in my freshman which passed an ordinance similar to dorm at Yale, I received a breaking-news Boca Raton’s in December 2017) can email from the Palm Beach County Human open shop once again. It means antiRights Council: “Boca Raton Enacts conversion-therapy ordinances in more Ordinance Protecting LGBTQ Youth from than 20 other Florida jurisdictions are Discredited ‘Conversion Therapy.’” I read now virtually unenforceable. It means the headline over and over, then found the my community cannot legally take its newly passed ordinance own history into its own online and mouthed it hands. THE DAY MY to myself over and over: When I received this “It shall be unlawful for email, I thought of Chef COMMUNITY PASSED any provider to practice Eddie again. AN ORDINANCE conversion therapy on any individual who is a PROTECTING minor, Ord. No. 5407.” CHILDREN FROM The work of healing I thought of Chef Eddie. is hard, but we chose it. The homophobia THE CRUELTY OF The day my community of my community passed an ordinance has long been framed CONVERSION THERAPY, protecting children around the sacredness WE BEGAN OUR from the cruelty of of children. So, when conversion therapy, we Boca Raton passed an MOVE PAST YEARS began our move past ordinance protecting OF HOMOPHOBIC years of homophobic children from antigay complicity. We have hate, it was calculated COMPLICITY. chosen to heal because — an invocation of, every day that antigay and a response to, our particular history of homophobia. Boca “conversion therapists” practice in our Raton’s ordinance said to gay people like community — therapists like Dr. Robert me, “We now recognize the real threat to Otto and Dr. Julie Hamilton, the plaintiffs our children. It isn’t you, your gayness. in the Eleventh-Circuit suit — our It’s the idea that people like you should suicide rate swells and our hate-crime count ticks up. We have chosen to heal be changed.” Conservatives claim to promote local because we believe that shame blights solutions to local problems. That’s why, our neighborhoods and dehumanization according to conservative lawmakers, devalues our homes. We have chosen to Roe v. Wade is a problem — because heal because we refuse to habituate to individual communities should be violence. And we have made these choices for allowed to make rules based on their individual moral judgements. That’s why ourselves, indulged in the right for which in 2013 the Supreme Court struck down conservatives claim to have fought from Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, which the start — the right to formulate local forced states with troubling histories of solutions to local problems based on voter suppression to get pre-clearance our local moral convictions. But now, before changing voting laws — because conservatives seem to be perturbed. Is it individual communities should be able that our solution happens to be guided by to reckon with their own histories of science and grounded in human dignity? Or is it the troublesome realization that discrimination. And yet, in late November, phrases like local autonomy and protect conservatives on the federal bench our children can do more than shield in the Southeast U.S. betrayed their under-the-table hate? Indeed, with own local-rule philosophy. I learned power, the people may choose to codify about it in another email from the Palm love. This is what my community tried to Beach County Human Rights Council: do. It’s time conservatives let us.

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CONVICTIONS

Off The Wall

CRIMINAL INTENT LAST WEEK WAS BAD, BUT LET’S NOT FORGET THE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THAT WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS AND LOCKED IN CAGES Pier Angelo

he last administration has almost destroyed our democracy, damaged our justice system and polarized the country like no other before. It has lied and cheated at will with no accountability. The GOP has caved in to the whims of a 74-year-old vindictive child and his tantrums. The inciting of a mob of white trash to storm the Capitol not withstanding to me personally, Donald Trump’s most infamous decision as president was to systematically separate thousands of migrant families at the border. His cruelty and lack of empathy were in effect for months before most Americans saw the living conditions of the children in custody at the epicenter of the policy. NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff was among the first national television journalists to expose the truth of what their lives were like on the inside after seeing them firsthand. His widely shared reports in June 2018 ignited public scrutiny that contributed to the president reversing his own policy by Executive Order, and earned Soboroff the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Broadcast Journalism and the 2019 Hillman Prize for Broadcast Journalism. In his book, “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy,” Soboroff weaves together his own experience unexpectedly covering this national issue with other key figures in the drama he met along the way, including feuding administration officials responsible for tearing apart entire families, and the parents and children who were caught in the middle. He reveals new and exclusive details of how the policy was carried out, and how its effects are still being felt. Today, there is still not a full accounting of the total number of children the president ripped away from their parents or where they are or how they can all be reunited. The exact number may never be known, only that it is estimated in the thousands.

WEARING A MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN HAT WILL NOT GLOSS OVER THESE HEINOUS CHARGES. IT IS CRIMINAL INTENT IN MY BOOK.

• 1.14.2021

Photo via PxHere.

I would have never imagined that our country could sink so low. The country of “In God We Trust” and “God Bless America” is showing its facade and a true evil streak. Where are all those militant anti-abortion demonstrators? They oppose women’s right to abortion but they don’t care about living children? How hypocritical is that? They should be marching to the border and demand that those families be reunited immediately. What kind of emotional, mental, physical scars will these children carry for the rest of their lives? They will never be normal. Try and imagine the fear and the pain of being, as a little child, torn away from your mother and father. What will they become as adults? Will they turn against us like many terrorists do? If we look back at our post-WWII years, we see that terrorists are people deeply concerned by what they see and experience as

social, political, religious injustice and hypocrisy. The immediate grounds for their actions are retaliations for an action of the United States. Recently we have shown our ugly face without shame. We are accused, among other things, of sexism, racism, imperialism, institutionalized patriarchy and slavery, tyranny and exploitation. Wearing a Make America Great Again hat will not gloss over these heinous charges. It is criminal intent in my book. We have no option but to plead guilty as members of the human race. We live in a fallen universe. We have been fools and fooled for years, all of us with our hopes for a better society and our idiotic faith that this disgusting political system and its disgusting politicians would somehow bring this country back to the ideals of the founding fathers. After everything I witnessed in the last four years, I have no faith and I have no hope.

Pier Angelo was born in Italy, moved to England at the age of 17 and learned English at the Nelson School of English. He attended college and graduate school in Manhattan. In 2009 he founded SFGN with Norm Kent. Now he’s retired with his husband Tom and his Affenpinscher Cabbage. He still enjoys writing his column Off The Wall for SFGN.

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LIFESTYLE SECOND ACTS

PORTRAIT PAINTING GIVES

ROB SAUNDERS A SECOND ACT Marc Gave

f you’ve ever walked along Wilton Drive on the third Saturday evening of the month, you may already know Rob Saunders. Until COVID arrived, you could find his affable presence in a tent lined with oil paintings, pastel and charcoal drawings, and prints mostly of nude or seminude male figures. He hopes to rejoin the Art Walk one of these months. Living in Fort Lauderdale since 2009, spending his time as an artist, has truly been a second act for Saunders. He studied electrical engineering in his native England but didn’t want to work at it. Instead, he joined BBC Radio as a tech and moved over to producing. Through an exchange with NPR in 1975, he found himself in Washington, and after his time there was up, he got a job at Physicians Radio Network. He moved to New York with that operation and eventually wound up working for Reuters. When first in New York, married with kids, Saunders would “escape” once a week to the Art Students League. “Portrait painting was the only course open, and it took me about a year before I got the hang of it,” he said. “I thought I could supplement my income by painting portraits, but I discovered I hated doing commissions because of having to please the sitter in addition to myself.” Saunders came out in his early forties, left his marital home, and eventually divorced. He also stopped painting for two decades. He remembers saying to himself, “Once I retire, I will take it up again. And that’s what I did.” Through weekly classes with instructor Kirk Nicklas and his own experimenting, he developed a signature style. “Figure drawing or painting is a three-way thing: subject, painter, and viewers. The human image immediately draws viewers in. I don’t work in

“IT’S IMPORTANT,” SAUNDERS SAID, “TO FIND YOUR PASSION ONCE YOU RETIRE.”

• 1.14.2021

Rob Saunders posing with his art. Photo courtesy of Rob Saunders.

photorealism but interpret the subject loosely in a way that viewers can add their own story to the canvas,” he said. “At this stage of life, I don’t have a lot of road ahead of me. I can’t just evolve organically but have to push myself to try different styles. I enjoy finding out what I like.” Saunders finds his second career very fulfilling. “I don’t do it to make money; I do for its own sake. It’s nice when someone buys a painting or appreciates it, but that’s not what I’m really about,” he said. “My prices are quite reasonable. By making prints, almost everybody can afford to own my art. I have a website,

but I don’t really market through it; it’s just a showcase for my work. I am, however, starting to use Instagram.” Saunders said current COVID restrictions have taken some of the fun out of making art. “I do miss the Wilton Drive Art Walk and exhibits at Broward Art Guild and other places, where I can talk with the people who come by,” he said. “It’s important,” Saunders said, “to find your passion once you retire.” “While you’re working full time, you never really have time to cultivate a side talent,” he said. “I do sometimes wonder where I’d be if I had done this all the way through.”

To see more of Saunders’ work visit SaundersArtwork.com and follow him on Instagram at @saundersartwork.

WHAT’S THE T? LIFESTYLE FOOD

Tulio’s Tacos and Tequila — A much needed addition to Wilton Drive Rick Karlin

Photo via TuliosTaco.com.

TULIO’S TACOS AND TEQUILA 2150 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors 954-530-5523 tuliostaco.com

prefer not to review a restaurant until to six as an appetizer or two as an entrée. It’s it’s been open a few weeks, but Tulio’s, $12, $5-$8 more if you add chicken, steak, the latest place to occupy the corner of or shrimp. Other starter options include Wilton Dr. and 21st. Ct. had folks waiting for chicken lettuce wraps, chicken taquitos, and it to open for months. You’ve got to admire a an unusual ceviche with red sauce. place that has the guts to open in the middle When a place includes a specific dish in of a pandemic. It seems the community its name, you’d very well better try it, so we isn’t worried about venturing out to try both decided to order tacos as our entrée. I the newest place in town. We stopped by selected a chorizo taco, filled to the brim with on a Tuesday night at 6:30 and were lucky spicy pork sausage, onions, and cilantro. An enough to snag the last outdoor al pastor taco came brimming table, soon after opening night. with slow-cooked pork with CARNE ASADA If Tulio’s operates this onions, cilantro, and pineapple. smoothly after only being open Carne asada rounded out my ROUNDED OUT for a couple of weeks, I think trio with tender grilled slices MY TRIO WITH that they’re ready for their of steak topped with pickled TENDER GRILLED onion, pico di gallo, and an close-up, Mr. DeMille. We were greeted warmly the minute we avocado-jalapeno crema. SLICES OF approached the host station. My pescatarian husband was STEAK TOPPED When we requested an outdoor happy to see so many choices table, we were warned there for him. Blackened shrimp WITH PICKLED would be a slight lag in service combined with lettuce and ONION, PICO because they had just seated chipotle mayo managed to have DI GALLO, AND several tables outside. the shrimp seared yet tender. Our waiter, Tyler, Breaded grouper, adorned with AN AVOCADOapproached our table less than onions and the same JALAPENO CREMA. pickled five minutes later. He pointed avocado-jalapeno crema that out the QR link for the menu accompanied my carne asada, and as we perused the bill of fare on our was delish. The biggest surprise was the phones we took in the colorful atmosphere. delicious crispy cauliflower with toppings We decided to start with a simple order of similar to the other tacos. Other taco options chips and salsa. I know it’s only $3, but it irks include ground beef, portobello mushroom, me when places charge for something that chicken, and carnitas. is given gratis at most other places. Still, the A section of the menu labeled “Not chips were crisp and hot, and the salsa fresh. Tacos” showcases a quesadilla, burrito, Another appetizer option is an impressive enchiladas, fajitas, and for those searching platter of nachos; certainly enough for four for something healthy, a kale salad. Let’s face

it: one of the enticements about going to a Mexican restaurant is to enjoy the cocktails. At Tulio’s, there are six up-scale versions of margaritas in addition to the house blend. There are also two sangria options. They were out of the intriguing Citrus Ginger concoction on the night of my visit, I might have to return just to sample that. For those that prefer beer with their

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

Mexican food, there’s a vast array of domestic and imported brews on tap and in bottles and cans. Alcohol-free drink options include a variety of Mexican sodas (although none were available on that night). Folks have been waiting years for a good Mexican restaurant to open in Wilton Manors and Tulio’s seems fit to fill that role.

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.

1.14 . 20 21 •

A&E MUSIC

ONE FOR EACH LETTER THE BEST LGBTQ MUSIC OF 2020

Gregg Shapiro

n more ways than anyone would care to count, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live. Near the top of the list are the ways in which we experience music. Live music venues — from concert halls and intimate clubs to festivals and cruises — were hit the hardest and the future of these performance spaces remains uncertain. Fortunately, we still have plenty of recorded music to enjoy while we face the both the promise of a vaccine and the threat of further lockdowns.

Newly out lesbian singer/songwriter Jaime Wyatt is proof that Nashville’s not what it used to be. There have probably always been LGBTQ folks in Music City, and thanks to Wyatt, that community is becoming increasingly NON-BINARY visible. A distinctive performer whose hard scrabble life has led to sobriety TRANSMASC SINGER/ and the embracing of her queer identity, SONGWRITER subjects she addresses on her “Neon Cross” (New West) album in the songs CARTALK'S DEBUT such “Rattlesnake Girl,” “Make Something “PASS LIKE POLLEN” Outta Me” and “Just A Woman.”

PLAYS LIKE A HYBRID

Cartalk. Photo via @cartalkmusic, Facebook.

singer/songwriters who started and continue to record on their own record labels. Her cover of Neil Young’s “Ohio” is particularly poignant as 2020 was the 50th anniversary of the shootings at Kent State. Sage originals including the tango of “Cave,” the subtle twang of “Open The Door,” the gorgeous “Atmosphere” and the experimental rock of the title track are also worth a listen.

in a space reserved for irresistible pop on “Wrestling” and Elliot Smith-like folk on “Something or Nothing,” which feels like finding a radio station so good, you don’t want to get out of the car.

Gay modern rock legend Bob Mould G is among the hardest working men OF MODERN TWANG in music, proving that point by It’s fitting that fiddler and banjo player Jake AND VINTAGE GRUNGE Q Blount, described as “one of the few queer, following up 2019’s aptly titled Sunshine WITH A GENERAL Rock with the somewhat bluer “Blue Black voices in Appalachian music” called his Hearts” (Merge). Blue in terms of sexual album “Spider Tales” (Free Dirt) because the elaborate INDIE ROCK VIBE. content (check out “Leather Dreams”) as and beautiful web he spins on it is sure to catch many well as in the liberal political messaging in listeners. A reclamation project, Blount adds a distinctly songs such as “American Crisis,” “Next Generation” and Already on a roll with love from Tegan and Sara, queer perspective to many of these tunes from earlyT non-binary transmasc singer/songwriter Cartalk to-mid 20th century by Josie Miles (“Mad Mama’s “Heart on my Sleeve,” all delivered in his trademark crunchy and blazing guitar rock style. aka Chuck Moore released their debut “Pass Blues”), Lucius Smith (“Goodbye, Honey, You Call That Like Pollen” (cartalk.bandcamp.com), which plays like Gone”), Tommy Jarrell (“Boll Weevil”), Manco Sneed Resuming her career after it was briefly a hybrid of modern twang and vintage grunge with a (“Done Gone”), Cuje Bertram (“Blackbird Says to the B sidelined by a health crisis, bisexual singer/ general indie rock vibe. This works well on “Noonday Crow”), as well as a contemporary composition; Judy songwriter Rachael Sage came back better than Devil,” “Las Manos,” “Driveway” and “Sleep” (with a Hyman’s “Beyond This Wall.” Blount’s take on Lead ever, delivering her new album “Character” (MPress). Springsteen reference, no less!). Then, out of nowhere Belly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” is particularly When she sings “I have been through hell and back and (well, somewhere, actually), Cartalk parks themselves dazzling. back again/I was lucky to come out alive” in “Bravery’s On Fire,” the song sizzles with emotion. It’s fitting that Sage covers Ani DiFranco’s “Both Hands” because of Greg Shapiro is an entertainment journalist, whose interviews and reviews run in regional LGBT and mainstream what they have in common — being bi, young, female media outlets. Shapiro is the author of seven books including the 2019 chapbooks, Sunshine State and More Poems About Buildings and Food. Shapiro lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his husband Rick and their dog Coco.

• 1.14.2021

A&E ARTS

MORE LOCAL THEATERS, VENUES REOPEN WITH LIVE PERFORMANCES Full Charge Bookkeeping Services

J.W. Arnold

ix months ago, Wilton Manors theater producer Ronnie Larsen was the first in the region to offer live shows following Centers for Disease Control and county guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Slowly, other South Florida arts organizations and performing art venues are reopening with socially distanced concerts and productions. At the Wilton Theater Factory Foundry, Larson is currently offering a production of Robert Chesley’s “Jerker” through Feb. 13. “Originally produced in 1986 during the height of the AIDS crisis, this play is more relevant than ever as all of us are currently struggling with how to connect while remaining socially distant and safe,” said Larsen. “This is one of the most erotic gay plays I’ve ever put on stage and our fearless, talented and sexy castis totally committed to bringing this story to life in a safe environment.” Tickets are $35 at RonnieLarsen.com. Private performances are also available.

Island City Stage is also mounting its first theatrical production in months at Wilton Theater Factory with the world premiere of Hannah Manikowski’s “Compensation,” Feb. 5 — 14. The story of a young woman who offers to serve as a surrogate for a gay male couple introduces “a dialogue about the complex systems that coerce women into outsourcing their bodies for income, the ethical implications of men purchasing access to those bodies, and the profound yearning for family that drives these people to entangle themselves in these systems in the first place,” according to promotional materials. Tickets are $35 at IslandCityStage.org. This show will also be available for online streaming, Feb. 19 — 28.

The Broward Center constructed an outdoor stage in the downtown Fort Lauderdale complex’s back parking lot and will offer a series of concerts and comedy acts beginning on Jan. 22 with “Saturday Night Live” alum and film actor Rob Schneider. Led Zeppelin and Eagles cover bands will perform live on Feb. 20 and 27. The popular LGBT string quartet Well Strung will return to South Florida on March 13.

Well Strung is one of the acts that will be performing socially-distanced outdoor concerts at the Broward Center this winter. Credit: Broward Center.

“Backlot Live” at the Broward Center seating allows for six feet of physical distance and tickets are only available in pods of two, four, or six for patron safety. Face coverings are required at all times unless actively consuming food and beverages in designated seating areas. Tickets are $25 — 40 at BrowardCenter.org.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary season, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is reopening its doors and welcoming back audiences inside with limited capacity and physically distanced seating. Masks will also be required at all times. The Aventura venue’s lineup includes “Shades of Bublé: A Three-Man Tribute to Michael Bublé,” Feb. 20; “America’s Got Talent” finalist “Mike Super Magic & Illusion 2.OH! Show!” March 13; celebrity illusionists The Edwards Twins, March 20; Broadway superstar Telly Leung, March 21; and Lucie Arnaz, April 11. Tickets are $25 — 75 at AventuraCenter.org.

The Arsht Center in Miami is offering live, socially distanced outdoor concerts on its Thomson Plaza stage. The performances include new artists for the center’s Jazz Roots on the Plaza concert series and a fresh lineup of Miami-based artists for the Live on the Plaza series. The lineup includes Lemon City Trio, Jan. 29; “America’s Got Talent” semifinalist Yoli Mayor, Feb. 5; Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Feb. 12; and Trinidad-born vocalist Keba & the Usual Suspects, Feb. 19. Tickets are $15 — 25 at ArshtCenter.org.

1.14 . 20 21 •

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HUSBAND FOR RENT - Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more! It doesn't cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price. Call Haim at 954-398-3676, sidnalll@yahoo.com

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APT FOR SALE - Coral Ridge Tower East. $230,000. 2 bd 2 bth, move-in condition, porcelain tiles throughout, granite countertops, lot of closet space, impact windows, one block from beach, near shops & restaurants, 55-plus community, no rentals, cash only. Contact owner 954-232-3336.

finance

handyman

CUSTOM IN

FOR RENT - Middle River Terrace 2/1 Condo FIRST MONTH FREE - 729 sqft Condo with private patio, parking, pool. Laundry on site. Updated bath and kitchen with dishwasher, micro, and disposal. Pets OK. $1,400 Rent; $1,400 Security Deposit. Call/Text: Tracy 415.706.3803

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We also inst all/replace A / C thermos the latest in tats of technology (Ecobee or — downloa Nest) ded and co ntrolled by your sma r t ph o

Contact Hai m to schedu le a no obligatio n quote!

954-398-3676

Hitechshade@gmail.com

Pool & Hot Tub Service

POINSETTIA LANDINGS CONDO FOR RENT Beautiful 2/1 - Corner, Next to Pool. Contemporary, Immaculate, Quiet Community. Walk to the drive. Stainless appliances, granite, tile floors, small pets OK with approval. Central A/C — Assigned Parking Space. F/L/S & Condo board approval required. $1,400.00 per month. Please call/text Mark at 954732-2438. PRIVATE HOME NEAR LAS OLAS - 1 bedroom/ 1 bath — recently remodeled. Walk to Las Olas. Beautiful garden. $900 a month. Call/text Gino at 954-551-3621.

rental - pompano beach APARTMENT FOR RENT - PALM AIRE COUNTRY CLUB - Pompano Beach, 2 Bedrooms 2 Full Bath fully remodeled, Semi Furnished.NO Pets Allowed. $1500/month. 1st, last and security. Call Angelo 954-770-6540

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skin care HAIR REMOVAL - Professional male esthetician providing hair removal services for men and women. I specialize in male body grooming and Brazilian waxing. I can either trim, shave, wax or sugar. I have a private studio where I also do specialty facials which include back and buttocks facials. Come treat yourself for a relaxing facial and get silky smooth skin at the same time. Check out my website for more info. www.waxiitaxi.com or you can book online at WaxiiTaxi.Booksy.com IG: @waxiitaxi Facebook.com/waxiitaxi. Kurt Ruback: 561-956-0626

 CLEANING SERVICE  SHOCK A GREEN POOL  POOL LIGHTS REPLACEMENT  LEAK REPAIR AND DETECTION  EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT  COMPETE POOL RENOVATION

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