1/30/19 V 10 i 5 by South Florida Gay News

local name global coverage

Palm Beach Edition

The Life and Legacy of

LaLa

january 30, 2019 vol. 10 // issue 5

Begins on page 28

Ten years ago, Michael Brown, a beloved bar manager and activist was murdered. Even though his life was cut short, his spirit lives on through friends, H.G. Roosters and Compass.

Michael Brown and Jerry Suarez.

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NEWS highlight

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Scruff Bans Kissing in Profile Photos The gay app also now blocks hugging and skimpy bathing suits

Screenshot via @Pup_Amp, Twitter.

Nick Adkins

“Now even @ScruffApp, a gay dating app you have to be of consenting age to use, is censoring how users can post photos.” - Amp Somers @Pup_Amp, Twitter

Jesse Monteagudo

Correspondents

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

Contributing Columnists

Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily • Terri Schlichenmeyer

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

In Memorium

Pompano Bill, 1924 - 2018

Sales & Marketing

online publishers legally responsible for their users posting ads for prostitution — including consensual sex work — on their platforms. Shortly after the bill passed Craiglist dropped personal ads. This November, Apple banned Tumblr from its online store. Tumblr responded by removing all adult content from its site on Dec. 17, International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Facebook also revised its community guidelines, banning any adult material when it is reported. The Scruff update alert was sent out Wednesday after the company had been contacted by app store distributors with a warning earlier this month, Scruff CEO Eric Silverberg told Out. Before, certain photos in underwear and jockstraps were allowed on the app. MEMBER

“Our policy is not related to FOSTA/ SESTA [and] our change is meant to align our content standards with the evolving content standards of our app store distributors,” Silverberg said. Silverberg went on to say that Scruff profiles represent one individual (or couples), and the public profile image should give an indication of, or information about, the person behind the profile. Likewise, “general, public profile photos that specifically depict kissing, hugging or sexualized facial expressions aren’t going to achieve that goal as well as a face pic or body pic,” Silverberg explained. “To be clear, we also do not require a public profile photo, and many members (especially those who are not out) choose to share photos directly in private chat,“ Silverberg said.

Cover 1: Stephen Fallon. Photo via Latinos salud, Facebook. Cover 2: National LGBT groups throw South Florida LGBT activists and organizations under the bus. Photos via Facebook. Palm Beach Cover: Michael Brown and Jerry Suarez in South Africa in 1999 for a special display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Brown was heavily involved in the Names Project and frequently traveled to display the quilt.

Associated Press •

1 . 30.2019

Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

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

Senior Features Correspondents

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Editorial

he gay dating phone app Scruff has updated its profile photo policies to ban kissing, hugging or “facial expressions related to sexual acts.” “Profile photo guidelines are changing,” an alert on the app said Wednesday. “To comply with platform policies, photos in underwear, jockstraps or bikini style bathing suits are no longer permitted in profile photos.” The update will affect public profile photos so that pictures with the crotch area outlined will not be allowed. No hinting at dick. In a section of the guidelines titled “SEXUAL,” the new policies read, “No photos of kissing, hugging or facial expressions related to sexual acts.” Users shared screenshots of the alert on Twitter almost immediately. “Craigslist. Backpage. Tumblr. Now even @ScruffApp, a gay dating app you have to be of consenting age to use, is censoring how users can post photos,” Amp Somers, host of a gay sex education YouTube channel, wrote with his screenshot. In the tweet, Somers hashtagged SESTA and FOSTA, laws intended to crack down on internet sex trafficking. The bills make

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January 30, 2019 • Volume 10 • Issue 5

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NLGJA Journalist of the Year South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright © 2019 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

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LGBTQIA bites Bisexual

UK bisexual people find it hard to come out at work

While gay and lesbian individuals in the United Kingdom don’t have much trouble being out at work, bisexual people are finding it harder, according to Financial Times. LGBT organization Stonewall did a study on LGBT equality and acceptance in the workplace and found that 90 percent of gay and lesbian workers say their workplace is inclusive. Comparatively, 69 percent of bisexual men, and 63 percent of bisexual women said the same. Darren Towers, executive

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1 . 30.2019

director of Stonewall, said workers should learn to identify and discuss tackling biphobia. “Certainly from our experience we find there’s a lot of anti-bi banter in some workplaces, a lot of stereotypes around bi people, so that makes it difficult for them to be out at work. Banter can be seemingly harmless but it can have quite a significant impact,” Towers said. Stonewall also gave Citi bank a biinclusion award, as they run sessions on bisexual identity and issues.

By Cameren Boatner

Intersex

Utah to ban intersex people from correcting gender markers

Utah lawmakers want to make it impossible to change your gender on a birth certificate, the Advocate says. House Bill 153 would define gender as “the innate and immutable characteristics established at conception,” The Salt Lake Tribune reports. If the bill passes to law, it would primarily affect intersex, gender non-conforming, and trans individuals, but the lawmakers themselves are saying it’s not motivated by prejudice. “This bill is not motivated by any form

of ‘phobia’ or hate,” Rep. Merrill Nelson, a Republican, told the Tribune, “but only by a desire to maintain the integrity of the birth certificate and to provide clarity and consistency to an otherwise ambiguous statute that has produced conflicting results. ... A person’s sex is no more subject to change than a person’s age.” Nelson also said the bill is based on scientific fact that sex is chromosomal and is not self-determined later in life.

LGBTQIA bites

Transgender

Transgender professor sues Arizona over discriminatory health plan Dr. Russell Toomey. Photo via the University of Arizona.

A University of Arizona professor filed a lawsuit against the state of Arizona because the university doesn’t cover transition-related healthcare for its employees. Dr. Russell Toomey is transgender, and when he found Arizona’s insurance policy excludes transition-related coverage, he decided to sue over a violation of civil rights, according to his article in the ACLU. “Arizona provides the same discriminatory health plan to nearly all

state employees and their dependents. That means hundreds, if not thousands, of transgender state employees or transgender dependents of state employees cannot receive medically necessary care recommended by their doctors, such as a mastectomy or a hysterectomy,” Toomey wrote. Toomey said he knows of at least 20 families at the University of Arizona who are currently being harmed by the antitrans policy.

1.30.2019 •

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1 . 30.2019

NEWS national

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Jussie Smollett. Photo credit: Dominick D., via Flickr.

‘Empire’ Star Hospitalized After Homophobic and Racist Attack

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‘This is MAGA Country,’ attackers scream at Jussie Smollett

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mpire” star Jussie Smollett was The letter, addressed to Smollett, spelled hospitalized in Chicago after out the words “You will die black f*g” in cutsuffering a brutal homophobic and out letters. racist attack early Tuesday morning. The Chicago Police Department told E! TMZ reports Smollett landed in Chicago News they are currently investigating the from New York City late incident as a possible hate Monday night. Around 2 a.m. crime. on Tuesday morning, Smollett “Overnight, the Chicago was walking out of sandwich Police Department received a chain Subway when he was report of a possible raciallyapproached by two white men charged assault and battery in ski masks. involving a cast member of the “Aren’t you that fa**ot television show Empire,” CPD ‘Empire’ n**?” the men Chief Spokesman Anthony allegedly yelled at Smollett. Gugliemi told E! News. The men proceeded to beat “Given the severity of the Smollett and fracture his rib. allegations, we are taking this They also put his neck in a investigation very seriously - Anthony Gugliemi and treating it as a possible noose and poured bleach on Chicago Police him yelling, “This is MAGA hate crime. Detectives are Department Chief country.” currently working to gather Spokesman The suspects fled the scene video, identify potential and Smollett was transported witnesses and establish an to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He was investigative timeline.” treated and discharged a few hours later. Smollett portrays gay musician Jamal ThatGrapeJuice.net reports that Smollett Lyon, the son of music mogul Lucious Lyon, had been the target of a homophobic and on the hit Fox series. Smollett publicly came racist threat sent to Fox Studios in Chicago a out as gay in a 2015 interview with Ellen few days before the physical attack. DeGeneres.

“We are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime.”

1.30.2019 •

news international

By Cameren Boatner

the world around

Africa

south america

Angola legalizes gay sex

Gay congressman flees Brazil over death threats

Angola’s parliament voted to scrap the provision in the penal code criminalizing “vices against nature,” which was believed to ban gay sex, according to Human Rights Watch. They also decided in the Jan. 23 vote to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Though there were never any prosecutions, the colonial-era laws justified discriminating against LGBT people. “In casting aside this archaic and insidious relic of the colonial past, Angola has eschewed discrimination and embraced equality. The 69 other countries around the world that still criminalize consensual same-sex conduct should follow its lead,” Human Rights Watch said. Despite the changes, which a growing

•

number of African countries have embraced, LGBT people are still met with hatred. A police officer in Nigeria told gay people to leave the country, or they would face prosecution. “If you’re homosexually inclined, Nigeria is not a place for you,” Dolapo Badmos wrote on her Instagram, according to CNN.

Jean Wyllys, Brazil’s first openly gay congressman announced Thursday that he left his job, and fled the country after receiving death threats. One of Wyllys’ representatives told Reuters that he would not be giving interviews or naming his location for safety reasons. He received death threats in the past, but Wyllys said violence against LGBT people became more frequent after the election of homophobic president Jair Bolsonaro. This is what made him feel compelled to leave the country. “It was not Bolsonaro’s election itself. It was the level of violence that has increased since he was elected,” Wyllys told Folha de Sao Paulo. Wyllys has plans to work in academia, according to Folha, but does not plan on

Jean Wyllys.

returning home. He said he will do more when the “new era” arrives.

Middle east

eastern europe

Egyptian journalist jailed for interviewing gay men

Chechen activists help gay people flee persecution

Mohamed al-Gheiti, a television anchor in Egypt, was arrested by authorities, and sentenced to a year in jail for promoting homosexuality and contempt of religion. He interviewed an openly gay man on his show in August. Human Rights Watch wrote an article condemning the Egyptian government for suppressing dialogues regarding LGBTQ issues, according to Gay Star News. They also allege the arrest was unconstitutional. “This order violates the right to freedom of expression, protected in Egypt’s Constitution, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It closes space for LGBT rights advocacy and shuts discussions which could contribute to understanding

Exploring LGBT News Events Across the Globe

1 . 30.2019

Mohamed al-Gheiti.

and acceptance,” the article said. Human Rights Watch also stated that al-Gheiti is seen as anti-LGBT, so their opinions aren’t personal, but situational.

Activists are helping gay people flee Chechnya amid arrests and killings on the basis of their sexual orientation. According to LGBT Network, a rights group, 40 people were detained and two were tortured to death. They believe this is linked to the 2017 persecutions where dozens of gay men were kidnapped and tortured by Chechen authorities. Chechen officials have denied these allegations, but also say homosexuality doesn’t have a place in Chechnya and that there are no gay people living there. LGBT Network said the gay purge involves both men and women this time, according to ABC News. From the people they’ve helped escape, they gathered that people have been raped and beaten. The U.S. State Department said the reports were credible, and called on

Russia to “live up to its international obligations [and] its own constitution.”

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PALM BEACH county Nearly 250 Companies Now Belong to the Pride Business Alliance

Compass’ business group keeps growing and expanding

Kristen Grau

early 250 Palm Beach County in Compass’ business directory. Their companies have joined Compass’ website lists 95 founding companies, and Pride Business Alliance since its PBA stands now at around 250 members, creation in 2005. Percival said. The business group has big plans for This year, Compass’ PBA will work with 2019 — from expanded victim services Palm Beach County Victim Services on opportunities, to additional bins hiring someone to oversee LGBT cases, showcasing its annual Pride Directory. according to Chief Development Officer “Our overall mission has not changed, Julia Murphy. The representative will also but our culture has changed a lot,” said focus on LGBT outreach and Development Coordinator community engagement. Adrienne Percival of “We are making sure Compass, the LGBT our community feels safe,” community center of the Murphy said. Victim Services Palm Beach County. will also be “training their According to Compass’ staff” to work more with the site its mission is to LGBT community. “provide the community Another recent with a directory of gay development in PBA has owned and gay friendly been its growing number businesses and resources, of distribution locations Julia Murphy promote networking for its Pride Directory. The Chief Development within the existing gay officer, Palm Beach guide lists LGBT-friendly and gay-friendly business County Victim Services businesses throughout the community [and] promote county. Now, the directory Palm Beach County can be found at all public libraries in the as a year-round gay and gay-friendly county. destination.” PBA holds monthly networking mixers PBA is a coalition of LGBT-owned and at PBA-affiliated businesses. Over the years LGBT-friendly businesses throughout the business group has outgrown their Palm Beach County. Member companies original smaller venues. Percival recalled network at monthly mixers and are noted that one of the first mixers was held at an

“We are making sure our community feels safe.”

Natalie Kay Rhodes, Adrienne Percival and Tay Baebae at Sean Rush Atelier Art Gallery in West Palm Beach. Photo via Compass, Facebook.

automotive shop, while reflecting on its growth. Since then, it’s grown into “one of the largest evening networking events” in Palm Beach County, she said. At the mixers, Percival has witnessed everything from people landing jobs to people buying their parents a home. “[Compass] has a lot of great resources for the youth, but this is a great thing for adults,” she said. Next month’s mixer is slated for Feb. 27 at Consign & Design in Palm Beach Gardens from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On average, 80-125 people attend, according to Percival. PBA members can also join the Business Response to AIDS (BRTA) initiative and

contribute to HIV/AIDS prevention and education. Member companies receive basic HIV/AIDS training for employees and customers, free resources and publicity in press releases. So far nine business have signed up to participate in the partnership between Compass and Florida’s Department of Health. Percival encouraged more local businesses to join PBA for the “wonderful chance to build relationships and connect with the LGBT community.” “In a political climate like this one, it’s nice to say: ‘Yes, we’re friendly,’” she added.

PBCHRC’s Winter Fete Raises $60,000 SFGN Staff

he Palm Beach County Human Rights Council’s annual Winter Fete, held recently in West Palm Beach, was a smashing success, raising more than $60,000. “This was such a fun party. Almost

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1 .30.2019

everyone that attended was a sponsor, so we sold very few individual tickets,” said Rand Hoch, founder and president of PBCHRC. “Jeff Ganek, our host, limited us to 125 people, and more than half were sponsors or benefactors. So thanks

to the efforts of our long-term Treasurer Dan Hall, PBCHRC netted close to $60,000 from this year’s Winter Fête.” Visit PBCHRC.org for more information about the organization.

Rand Hoch at a past Winter Fete. Photo credit: Rand Hoch, Facebook.

PALM BEACH county

Rianna Petrone, crowned Miss Palm Beach of 2018. Photo via Compass, Facebook.

Palm Beach County Divas Gear up for Miss Palm Beach Pride Pageant Deon C. Jefferson

t’s time to crown a new queen in Palm Beach County. The Miss Palm Beach Pride Pageant takes place Feb. 4 at the Lake Worth Playhouse and will benefit Compass, the LGBT community center in Palm Beach County. “Miss Palm Beach Pride celebrates the progress made for the LGBTQ community in Palm Beach County,” said Julia Murphy, Chief Developing Officer of Compass. “Drag has a long and important place in the LGBTQ movement and a pageant is an important part of the drag profession.” That’s going to be a lot of sequins and feathers attendees will get to see in four hours. Participants battle it out in three categories, self-expression, formal wear, and the talent scene. The talent portion is when you get to understand the personalities of the contestants. There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. Velvet Lenore and “First Lady of the Palm Beaches” Melissa St. John will emcee the event. “It gives me great pride to present those that dedicate so much time to our community. Although there is one person crowned – each one has made a

difference, ” St. John said. “They are all equal in my mind. Since every contestant presents each category on an individual basis, they are all uniquely aiming for the same outcome. Break a leg girls!” Lenore and St. John will also perform. The night would not be complete if we did not witness the final walk of last year’s Miss Palm Beach Pride Queen – Rianna Petrone. She lit the stage up last year, so do not be surprised if you see another performance before she passes her crown. Along with the host, Compass has assembled some familiar faces as judges for the pageant. Guest judges include David Zen, Chris Rhoades, Julio Poletti, Justin William Lynch, Penny Johnson, and Ron Amodio. The title of Miss Palm Beach Pride will mean more than just a sash and a crown. “The winners of our pageant will have a wonderful year of appearances, performances and service,” Murphy said. “As a representative of Compass and Miss Palm Beach Pride, the crown means more attention from the community, which translates into a chance to build a platform that can make a big difference.”

Tickets are $15/20. Doors open at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar and lite bites served. Compass will receive a portion of the funds from the event. For more information visit LakeWorthPlayHouse.org.

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PALM BEACH county

The Box Gallery Welcomes Artist

Dr. Raul Moarquech Ferrera-Balanquet Deon C. Jefferson

alm Beach County’s Box Gallery was voted “Best Gallery” in 2018. Their 7th Annual Black and White Party would probably be a major reason why. West Palm Beach Beach Curator Rolando Chang Barrero brought the community together to celebrate the Cuban Diaspora by showcasing Dr. Raul Moarquech FerreraBalanquet performance of “Eggungun, the Orisha of the Ancestors.” Guests were treated to a night of culture, Moarquech Ferrera-Balanquet captivated filled with moments of brotherhood and the on-lookers as they witnessed a sanctity. More than 100 people showed up performance that shows just a glimpse decked out in their artistic black and white of his 3 decades of academic studies, his attire ready to view thought provoking virtuosity, and his passion towards being pieces of art. an expressive storyteller. Egg gun, the “I’m so happy you guys could be here Orisha of the Ancestors, is a performance tonight,” gallery curator Barrerro told the mired in symbolism and ancestral crowd. “Cuba is such a small place, but remembrance. In many cases the audience when we come together, we pack a strong adds to the intimacy by providing a punch.” voyeuristic presence. Ferrera Balanquet Guests were treated to special treats is an accomplished interdisciplinary all night. The music for artist, writer, researcher, the evening was provided educator, program director, by eclectic DJ L’il Marsh. curator, and Fulbright She had the tough task of scholar. making sure guests were The Havana Cuba native having a good time. Along obtained a Ph.D. from Duke with the Latin music and University and an MFA good vibes, partygoers were from the University of Iowa. also treated to some of the His many contributions to best Cuban food like rice, art have made him one of beans, yucca, and a roasted the most revered artists of pig for pulled pork. Other the Mariel Generation and treats came in the form of a member of the Centro de - Rolando Chang performances. Escritores Yucateco AC. Barrero Cuban Reggaeton singer Throughout his creative Curator of the Box El Chamako Rikera and matriculation, he has Gallery Karolay Meme Ureña, the showcased his artworks and fabulous performer from published his critical and San Jose, Costa Rica. There were also literary investigations in Australia, Mexico, several visitors from Cuba; guests included Italy, Canada, the United States, Colombia, artist Carlos Javier Camacho Albert and Germany, Argentina, Cuba, Spain, Chile, ex political prisoner of Cuba Alejandro Ecuador, Romania, Turkey, England, Fuerte, who recited a poem he wrote Brazil, Venezuela, Holland, Switzerland, to accompany the Shroud of the Cuban the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Sorrow which he painted while he was in Shortly after the performance, Ferrera jail. Scotland-based artist Hope London Balanquet got on the microphone and and Public Art Manager of Boynton Beach dedicated his entire performance to all his Debby Coles Dobay also joined in on the friends in Havana living with AIDS. festivities. Box Gallery is the 2018 winner of SFGN’s The esteemed guest of honor, Dr. Raul Best Gallery Award. The Black and White

“Cuba is such a small place, but when we come together, we pack a strong punch.”

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1 .30.2019

Poised in front of the Box Gallery. From left to right: Sibel Kocabası - Bugdanoglu, Raul Moarquech Ferrera-Balanquet, Linda Behar, Giannina Coppiano Dwin, Diane Arrieta and Rolando Chang Barrero. Photo credit: Rolando Chang Barrero, via Facebook.

Party has become one of the premier events for Barrero. Judging by the turn out and the appreciation for art from the partygoers, Box Gallery might be winning the award again next year. Barrero said he believes it is time to initiate a more powerful international dialogue in the arts that allows our artists acclaim in the world arena. In the last few decades fine art has been relegated to the conditional state

of trends in the market place, resulting in very serious losses of development and advancement, he said in a recent statement to West Palm Beach Magazine. Barrero also stated that “West Palm Beach is no longer just a tourist destination, but a world class city and the responsibility of the cultural institutions, the art galleries, the art centers, and our museums is to reflect that.”

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NEWS local

Pride Fort Lauderdale to Kick Off in High Fashion

Last year Latrice Royale stole the show at Pride Fort Lauderdale. Photo via Pride Fort Lauderdale, Facebook.

Rick Karlin

he four-day Pride Fort Lauderdale celebration, culminating in the first ever parade down A-1A, kicks off in high fashion on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. with a glamorous runway fashion show at the Hard Rock Event Center at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. The star-studded fashion show will be hosted by fashion guru Carson Kresley (original “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and “Dancing With the Stars”) and Naomi Smalls, (“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 4 All-Star). The event will showcase creative garments by talented alumni of “Project Runway.” The high-energy presentation will utilize male, female, transgender and drag models sashaying across the runway in avant-garde outfits. Music will be provided by equally outrageous drag DJ Power Infiniti. 

Pride Fort Lauderdale Event Calendar

Saturday, Feb. 2

Casting Call 10 a.m. – 4 p.m

Pride Fort Lauderdale will hold a public casting call for male, female, transgender, drag and nonbinary models in the Terrace Ballroom B at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Models of all ages and body types are encouraged to audition.

Thursday, Feb. 21 Runway Fashion Show, Hard Rock Event Center

7 p.m. Trunk Show, 8 p.m. Fashion Show

Friday, Feb. 22 Pride on the Drive – 6 p.m.

The party moves to Wilton Manors where dozens of bars, restaurants and shops will be rolling out the rainbow carpet for a casual celebration in the “gayborhood.” Enjoy drink specials, discounts and live entertainment at

participating businesses, all night, up and down Wilton Drive.

Stonewall National Museum & Archives Gala – 7 p.m. The Stonewall National Museum & Archives marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots at its annual gala at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale Beach. Actress and activist Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act”) will be the guest speaker for the gala, which also includes a silent auction, dinner and entertainment.

Saturday, Feb. 23 Drag Brunch – 11:30 a.m.

Pride Fort Lauderdale teams up with the South Beach Wine & Food Festival for a fabulous drag brunch at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale Beach. National radio personality Elvis Duran will be your host, along with his fiancé Alex Carr and emcee Shawn Palacious (aka Kitty Meow). There will be

Pride Overview

delectable dishes created by local celebrity chefs and performances by the region’s top drag queens. Tickets are $125 each.

B3: Bear Beach Bash – 12 p.m.

Party the afternoon away with music and entertainment by “My Big Funny Peter,” the world’s first gay muscle bear comedian, Peter Bisuito, as your host. Hot muscle bear go-go dancers and more on the Sebastian Beach stage! Get there early and you’ll be in a prime location to watch the very first Pride Fort Lauderdale “Carnaval” parade, too!

Carnaval Drag & Dine Parties – 12 p.m. The festival gets started early at the many hotels and restaurants along SR A1A (and you can beat the traffic for the parade). Participating businesses will be offering entertainment, drink and food specials all afternoon.

Carnaval Parade – 5:30 p.m.

Pride Fort Lauderdale is hosting its first Pride parade this afternoon along scenic SR A1A

from Sebastian Beach to Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. This is the first parade ever held on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Get there early as more than 80,000 spectators are expected along the route.

Pride Block Party – 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

After the parade, head to 5th St. and SR A1A and dance the night away while enjoying live performances by your favorite local drag queens, musical acts and internationallyacclaimed DJs.

Sunday, Feb. 24 Beach Festival – 12 p.m.

Celebrate Pride on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Visit exhibitors and food vendors, enjoy music and performances on two stages and stick around for the stunning fireworks show at 7:45 p.m. American Idol’s Ada Vox and Todrick Hall perform live on stage, along with top DJs. More than 50,000 people are expected for the festival. Free admission, $5 donation requested at the gate.

For more information on all Pride Events, go to PrideFortLauderdale.org.

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1 .30.2019

NEWS local This is no mere runway show as A cash bar will also be available, along fashionistas are invited to an exclusive with a silent auction and 50/50 raffle to pre-show trunk sale at 7 p.m. where they benefit Pride Fort Lauderdale. Tickets can meet the designers and purchase for the Pride Runway Fashion Show one-of-a-kind couture garments. range in price from $27 to $67. All seats Pride Fort Lauderdale are reserved and available will hold a public casting at all Ticketmaster call for male, female, outlets, online at MyHRL. transgender, drag and com, TicketMaster.com nonbinary models on or charge by phone 1-800Saturday, Feb. 2 from 745-3000. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Pride Fort Lauderdale, Terrace Ballroom B at the oldest Pride the Seminole Hard Rock organization in Florida, Hotel & Casino. Models of celebrates its 42nd all ages and body types are anniversary in 2019. The encouraged to audition. first festivals, organized “We couldn’t think of a as Pride South Florida, better way to get the party were protests, born out started,” said Pride Fort of the successful 1977 Lauderdale President Miik referendum campaign - Miik Martorell Martorell. “Fashion has waged by entertainer Pride Fort Lauderdale always been an interest and evangelical activist President to the LGBT+ community Anita Bryant to overturn and our Pride Runway a historic gay civil rights Fashion Show provides an opportunity bill passed in Miami-Dade County. to spotlight the diversity of our In 2017, Pride Fort Lauderdale moved community. That’s why we’re featuring to Fort Lauderdale Beach and in 2019, designers who are LGBT+ and straight the organization will host the first allies, and putting out a public casting parade in city history on SR A1A along call for male, female, transgender and the beach. For more information, go to drag models to participate.” PrideFortLauderdale.org.

“ We couldn’t think of a better way to get the party started.”

Freedia posing with a Pride Fort Lauderdale Fan at NYC Pride 2018. Photo via Pride Fort Lauderdale, Facebook.

1.30.2019 •

FEATURE latinos salud

Latinos Salud

Celebrates 10 Years

On Saturday the HIV education and prevention non-profit will host a gala to mark the milestone Damon Scott

en years and running for any organization is worthy of a moment to pause to appreciate the milestone.

State of Affairs Fallon cofounded Latinos Salud with Rafaelé Narváez, director of health programs. The two have placed the organization in a strategic position to maintain relevance for another 10 years and beyond, and actually help those in need — namely addressing concerns for minority communities. “Too many gay Latinos are unaware of, or scared to access [HIV/AIDS] care in South Florida,” Fallon said. Fallon explains that Florida has grown quickly (adding snowbirds, white and older residents). It is a state that is in many ways trying to catch up with the realities of immigration trends, he said. It doesn’t help, said Fallon, that Tallahassee and its policymakers are very far removed, literally and otherwise, from much of the culture of South Florida. “I was at a dinner party a few months ago and someone asked me: ‘What’s going on with all the new HIV infections?’ Before I could answer, people were putting a blame (drug use, promiscuity, alcohol use) on it versus a cause,” Fallon said. “People think: ‘If they look different from me, they must be making bad decisions,’” Fallon added.

The one decade mark is significant, whether you’re an Italian restaurant, hair salon, or in the complex nonprofit world of HIV/AIDS education and prevention. A group like Latinos Salud has many traits and driving forces that have propelled it squarely into the consciousness of South Florida since its humble beginning in 2008. Latinos Salud has enough history in the rearview, enough lessons learned, that it feels right to take a look back. And as it continues to work within its vision and mission day by day, it has found a way to expand and keep an eye on the future as well. None of those pieces are small or easy to navigate. But first things first: Latinos Salud (“health” in Spanish) was founded to “create a safe space for Latino gay guys and their partners to find friends, support and resources.” What the staff likes Why it Matters to say, and what those who access its services, Of 3,000 counties nationwide, is that while Latinos Miami-Dade County ranks No. 1 and Salud is all about health Broward County ranks No. 2 in new outcomes, it runs its HIV infections. programs in ways that The Centers for Disease Control don’t feel like big, and Prevention also reports that stuffy, clinical doctor’s - Stephen Fallon new HIV cases are decreasing for all offices. Executive Director of Latinos Salud demographic and behavioral groups And that’s by design. except for two: gay Latinos and One important younger gay people (ages 25 to 34, caveat that belies the name: The “Latinos” in Latinos Salud is a focus, not an exclusion. which also includes younger gay Latinos). In other words: Miami-Dade and Broward Non-Latino partners of Latino boyfriends are welcome to access resources and services, are ground zero for new HIV infections in the U.S. said Executive Director Stephen Fallon.

“You used to only have two options — a condom forever, or get a new HIV test and pledge monogamy.”

Stephen Fallon. Photo via Stephen Fallon, Facebook.

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FEATURE latinos salud “Many are immigrants, or are raised by immigrants from monolingual households,” Fallon said. “Many come from home countries that have no sex education; they don’t know what to do if they’re gay; there’s no health care to seek.” Fallon explained that the stigmas in play for gay Latinos who are considering coming out and being open with their partners also include dealing with ultra conservative and religious families. “Many clients test positive after being with a partner who said there would be nothing to worry about,” he said. “With proper care, a 30-year old diagnosed with HIV today can expect to live to 45 more years,” Fallon said. “Yet in South Florida, in part because of late diagnoses, the average gay Latino lives less than eight years after diagnosis.” Optimistic future

Latino and black gay men. “The good news is that at least for now there’s only one drug for PrEP and the manufacturer has an access program,” Fallon said. “There are hoops to jump through and paperwork, but we help the clients whether there is insurance or no insurance.” Latinos Salud works with clients to not only get PrEP, but also the requisite lab work associated with it — for free. “[But] we’re so much more than HIV prevention. It’s the intersectionality — HIV is often the cause of other struggles,” Fallon said.

The scope of services is impressive by any industry standard and there are too many to list in this profile.

Fallon said there are major changes going on in the HIV space — the “medicalization of HIV prevention.” “There are tools in the arsenal that weren’t proven a decade ago,” Fallon said. “You used to only have two options — a condom forever, or get a new HIV test and pledge monogamy.” Now, he said, for an HIV negative partner there is the PrEP (PreExposure Prophylaxis) option. Those at high risk for HIV can take PrEP each day to dramatically lower the chances of getting infected. And for those who are HIV positive, there are now proven and successful treatments that help them live longer and not transmit the virus “even on nights that a condom might be forgotten,” Fallon said. But, even with the early success of PrEP, Fallon and virtually anyone in the communicable disease space still recommend condoms always be used. “In the real world our No. 1 goal is HIV. That’s the killer as opposed to the inconvenience. We’re about bringing the epidemic down. HIV is $450,000 in lifetime treatment costs,” Fallon said. Fallon said, however, that the new and exciting tools in HIV prevention and treatment tend to be mostly benefiting those who already have good health care access. Last year, for example, 70 percent of new prescriptions for PrEP were to white gay men, while the most devastated group are

Unique Leaders, Advocates

Fallon, whose hometown is Fort Lauderdale, previously worked at an AIDS service organization that had good programs, but bad financial management. He eventually went out on his own and consulted for the CDC, Health Resources & Services Administration and for providers in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Fallon has worked in the industry in 42 states. He’s known as highly adept at setting up programs and training staff. He helps groups get vital funding and be more effective. Those are the skills and experience it took to launch Latinos Salud. “My staff, either through good collaborations or direct services, sets out to serve the whole person,” Fallon said. Most of the staff are themselves either immigrants or first-generation residents in the U.S., with families from Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Venezuela. “As a result, they understand the cultural norms that impact health and behaviors,” he said.

There are too many achievements to list here as well.

The first space was off an alley from Wilton Drive in about 800 square feet. At that time, Latinos Salud had one program: HIV prevention education for gay Latino youth. Fallon said at the time the population had just experienced a 185 percent increase in new infections in Broward over the prior six years. “As we served these young men and they brought their friends and partners, some of whom were older, we responded to requests to add programs and services to now serve Latinos of all ages,” Fallon said. “Where we used to refer out for HIV testing, we soon added in-house testing, and we were the first agency in the county to implement the highly sensitive fourthgeneration testing,” he said. After that, Latinos Salud added one-onone counseling for people living with HIV (life coaching); added STD screening; Ryan White case management (in Broward), the Miami Beach location, the Westchester location, did clinical studies; and launched a new DiversiSAFE intervention. They now have 27 full-time staff.

So while the vision hasn’t changed, said Fallon, a closer look at the mission statement tells a bit more. “Latinos Salud exists to provide clientcentered, culturally competent health education and integrated preventive, screening, and linkage services throughout South Florida in order to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and improve health outcomes.” To do that, it now serves all Latino gay, bisexual or otherwise identified Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) living with HIV, and all persons who identify as transgender. The scope of services is impressive by any industry standard and there are too many to list in this profile. There are too many achievements to list here as well. A few: Latinos Salud provides nearly 5,000 HIV and 6,000 STD tests each year, targeted to the communities at greatest risk. It diagnoses a client about every 60th test it conducts. The organization gets a wide range of funding. A full list of its free services and more information is available at latinossalud.org.

Latinos Salud

10th Anniversary Gala Celebration WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. (VIP event at 6 p.m.) WHERE: Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) 1855 Griffin Rd., Dania Beach. Free parking. TICKETS: For special ticket pricing, write to Latinos Salud directly at events@Latinosalud.org or call 954-765-6239. Latinos Salud marches in Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride in 2016. Photo via Stephen Fallon, Facebook.

Wilton and Beyond Latinos Salud’s original location is in Wilton Manors. They have recently expanded to an upgraded southwest Miami location in Westchester. The third site is in Miami Beach. The group’s first grant was initiated in January 2009. “We opened with just two and onequarter paid staff,” Fallon said. (He was the one-quarter.)

1.30.2019 •

NEWS state

Ag Commissioner Adds

LGBT Protections to Dept. Policy Jason Parsley

ommissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried recently added sexual orientation and gender identity to her department’s list of workplace protections against discrimination.

Nikki Fried. Photo via Nikki Fried, Facebook.

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“This is a brand new day in which our Department from discrimination,” he said. “Back then Commissioner and its 4,000 employees are making a strong statement Fried showed herself to be an incredibly authentic and — we will not tolerate discrimination in our workplace genuine candidate, today I’m proud to call her a friend and on any basis, including sexual orientation and gender a passionate champion for LGBT Floridians.” identity,” Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried said in Fried’s announcement came on the heels of Republican a prepared statement. Governor Ron DeSantis signing an executive order Fried is Florida’s only Democratic cabinet member, banning discrimination in the workplace, which did not winning her election by less than 7,000 votes in the 2018 mention the LGBT community. midterms. DeSantis told NEWS 13 he looks at the merits of As a candidate Fried ran on a progressive platform candidates — nothing else. He also said the order was the focused on medical marijuana. At one point she wrote same order first signed by former Governor Rick Scott. an op-Ed for SFGN saying, “I will be a fierce advocate “I can tell you my workplace policy is one sentence: for […] the issue of patient access to medical You will be hired based on merit,” marijuana. It will be one of the top priorities of DeSantis told NEWS 13. “That’s all I “This is a common- care about, and I think if you look at the my administration to end the obstruction and ensure the people of Florida have access to the appointments I’ve made, nobody has sense, longmedicine prescribed by their doctors.” more diverse appointments than overdue measure done While LGBT issues were not one of her I have. It’s not even close. I believe in that the majority merit, and I don’t care about those other top “priorities” on her campaign website she aggressively courted the LGBT vote. During the things.” of Fortune 500 primary she ran against a gay man. Even so she PBCHRC urged DeSantis to include companies have secured the endorsement of the Palm Beach LGBT people in his order. implemented, and County Human Rights Council, while the “PBCHRC tried — and failed — to Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus declined to get Governor DeSantis to include the majority of endorse in the race. state employees in his recent Floridians agree LGBTQ “They are both supportive of our issues, but executive order on diversity,” Hoch with.” she rocks and will be very effective in office said. “So [Fried’s] inclusion of sexual from day one,” said Rand Hoch, president and orientation and gender identity in - Nikki Fried founder of the PBCHRC, at the time. her department’s nondiscrimination Commissioner of Aggriculture The workplace protections announcement policies is groundbreaking.” came on Fried’s tenth day in office. Apparently Fried though took her “We are pledging today that our Department is inclusive order one step further. committed to an inclusive culture of equality, in which “Shelby Scarpa, the Commissioner’s Deputy Chief every employee is hired, promoted, and respected on the of Staff, confirmed that the Department’s definition of basis of their merit. This is a common-sense, long-overdue gender identity also extends to gender expression,” Hoch measure that the majority of Fortune 500 companies have added. “This should be great news to Commissioner implemented, and the majority of Floridians agree with,” Fried’s nonbinary employees.” she said. “I encourage my fellow Cabinet officials to enact Equality Florida, the statewide LGBT rights group, also similar policies within their agencies and throughout our applauded Fried’s order. government.” “These critical protections both affirm the equality Local LGBT rights activist Michael Rajner met Fried of LGBTQ employees and provide the agency with clear while she was campaigning for the Democratic Party’s guidance on equitable practices in hiring, firing, and nomination. Rajner said they discussed over lunch how management,” a statement from the organization reads. she could use her position to advance LGBT equality in “This marks the first time an agency has guaranteed the state. protection based on both sexual orientation and gender “Among the topics discussed was the use of her executive identity — thereby extending protections to transgender authority to protect LGBT state workers and contractors employees.”

NEWS white house watch

Gay Mayor in Indiana Announces Presidential Bid Pete Buttigieg. Photo via Facebook.

John McDonald

outh Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg entered the presidential campaign on Jan. 23, announcing he is forming an exploratory committee. “The case here is simple,” Buttigieg said. “It’s time for new a generation of leadership in our country and that we can’t nibble around the edges of a broken system. There is no going back. We can’t rewind to 1950 or for that matter 2010.” The 37-year-old married gay man and Afghanistan war veteran says he administered a “turn around” in this Midwestern city. South Bend, with a population of around 100,000 and home to historic Catholic school, Notre Dame, was considered a “dying community,” Buttigieg said, when he took over. “I have served my city as mayor, I have served my country as a military

officer and now I’m ready for a new way to serve our people,” said Buttigieg, standing behind a podium and flanked by two American flags. As a millennial, Buttigieg said he is a member of a generation that has a “tremendous amount at stake in the consequences of the decisions that are being made right now.” Buttigieg summed up his campaign in three words: Freedom, Democracy and Security. He becomes the sixth Democrat to announce plans for a presidential campaign. “In such a wide-open presidential race, Mayor Buttigieg would be a welcome contribution to the marketplace of ideas that will determine where our nation is headed in 2020 and beyond,” said Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund.

White House Watch is a weekly column taking a look at the state of the 2020 Presidential election.

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1.30.2019 •

NEWS state

A Tale of Two Bills National LGBT groups throw South Florida LGBT activists and organizations under the bus

From the moment a coalition of LGBT groups in South Florida filed a workplace non-discrimination bill in the Florida Senate, it was dead on arrival – but not from Republicans, instead the statewide LGBT rights organization, Equality Florida, and vehemently opposed it. Jason Parsley

State Sen. Joe Gruters. Photo via Facebook.

quality Florida waged a full scale social media attack last week against a bill that would protect LGBT people from discrimination – all because it doesn’t include public accommodations.

The Florida Inclusion Workforce Act (FIWA) focuses only on employment discrimination, leaving the fight for housing and public accommodations for another day. “Deplorable,” said Michael Womack, an Equality Florida communications associate who summed it up in one word on Facebook. If passed FIWA would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Florida’s Civil Rights Act. It was filed in the Florida Senate last week by the chair of the Republican Party of Florida, State Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota). FIWA is a collaboration between Gruters and SAVE Florida, a coalition that includes SAVE, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Translatina and the Conservatives on the Right of Equality. Former State Rep. David Richardson (D-Miami Beach) also provided assistance with the bill. Two Democratic state senators in MiamiDade have also signed on as co-sponsors – Jason Pizzo and Annette Taddeo. “I have to commend and congratulate Sen. Joe Gruters for really demonstrating bipartisan support on this,” Pizzo said. FIWA’s fiercest critics so far have not been Republicans, or the religious right, but instead Equality Florida. Within hours of the

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bill being filed last Tuesday, Equality Florida went on the offense, releasing a statement opposing it. Shortly after, staffers turned to social media to attack it and its sponsors – mainly Tony Lima of SAVE, and Rand Hoch of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. On the same day, another bill – the Florida Competitive Workforce Act – was filed as well with Equality Florida’s full support. It’s the same bill that’s been filed for almost a decade. And while it’s slowly built up support over the years it’s gone nowhere in the legislature, receiving just one committee hearing in 2015. Equality Florida has accused the new bill of leaving the transgender community behind. “Policy change is often incremental,” Richardson argued in a press release. “I applaud Senator Gruters for his fresh approach which is fully inclusive of the LGBT community.”

A War Erupts on Social Media Exchanges on Facebook turned ugly with accusations of biases against the trans community being tossed around. Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, claimed to have emails from Hoch from 2007 that proved his alledged anti-trans bias. “Facts are pesky and emails tell the tale,” she wrote. “I still have the email from you Rand threatening to go after Equality Florida if we introduced a bill that wasn’t sexual orientation-only.” Hoch responded, writing, “Nadine, feel free to do whatever you want with your

NEWS state Volunteers with Equality Florida march during a pride event. Photo via Equality Florida, Facebook. 

emails from a dozen years ago. And I can do the same.” In an earlier version of this story posted online last week, SFGN wrote that Nadine “threatened to expose” the emails. Smith later said SFGN mischaracterized the conversation. Hoch pointed to his organization’s long history of including the trans community in many of its initiatives at the city and county level. “I’ve been called a lot of things in the past, but this one just doesn’t stick. We have enacted 49 trans inclusive laws in Palm Beach County going back to 2004,” Hoch said. While Equality Florida may now be attacking Hoch, in 2014 it was giving him an award. At that time the organization honored the LGBT rights activist at its Palm Beach County gala, giving him its Voice of Equality Award. “This is a pivotal moment in the LGBT movement, and Florida stands on the front line of Southern states in achieving full equality,” Smith said in a press release at the time. “We are honored to be able to spotlight the achievements of two people who have contributed so much to bring our state to this tipping point.” The press release described Hoch as “a trailblazer in the fight for LGBT equality in Palm Beach County for 25 years. To date, Rand’s efforts have helped to facilitate the passage of more than 65 ordinances and policies enacted to extend equal rights and benefits to the Palm Beach County LGBT community.” Five years later, local activists rushed to social media to defend Hoch against Equality Florida. “Rand is not anti-trans. Let me put that

to bed right now,” said transgender activist Heather Wright, who also leads a trans support group at Compass. “I’ve worked with him on ordinances here in Palm Beach County protecting trans people.” Equality Florida honored SAVE last year presenting Tony Lima with their Community Partner for Equality Award. Lima said these accusations against himself and SAVE of being anti-trans “stings. It’s so severely untrue. Most of our work has been focused on the trans community.” Morgan Mayfaire, a transgender activist and president of TransSOCIAL, came to Lima’s defense. “Absolutely not,” she said when asked if Lima was anti-trans. “Tony Lima and SAVE [have] been supporters of the trans community for a very long time. They’ve never turned us away for anything we’ve asked.” It infuriated Arianna Lint, a trans woman

“The pressure to remove public accommodations […] from the FCWA comes from one place and one place alone - anti-transgender bigotry. It has never been more important for LGBTQ people and our true allies to push back against slanders and refuse to give a pass to those who demonize transgender people as unworthy of basic dignity and equal protection.” - Equality florida

and president of the TransLatina coalition “I’m one state legislator who actually on the East Coast, when she saw posts got positive measures accomplished for on Facebook attacking the SAVE Florida the LGBT community while serving in coalition. Tallahassee,” he said. “Here are just a few “Do not tag me if you have never worked examples: the first-ever and only funding with a community as in the state budget specifically vulnerable as we are, [the] earmarked for a LGBT initiative transgender women of and removal of the gay adoption color, who live in South ban from state statutes.” Florida,” Lint wrote in It infuriated Lima’s husband response to a post from as well when an Equality Florida an Equality Florida staffer. staffer posted a message on his “[We] do not need you personal Facebook page. to take advantage of us, “This is my personal Facebook [you] do not speak for page and I share what I care about transgender [people.] When and believe in. How dare you? [you] puts us on the same You should be embarrassed,” level, [at] the same table Yonel Galano said. “If you are maybe you can talk about so confident, why the desperate transgender [people.]” post on the page of the husband David Richardson, of the executive director of meanwhile wrote a lengthy SAVE.” Facebook post addressing Others in the community were Equality Florida’s tactics. shocked the fight went so public. “What is disappointing “I would certainly question for me is that some have the wisdom of taking this fight to strayed from the debate to the public square,” said Damian make personal, negative, Pardo, the chair of 4ward Miami, slanderous comments. an LGBT organization promoting I learned on Friday that LGBT diversity, economic status Nadine Smith posted a and civil rights through cultural - Tony Lima comment […] saying there arts programs and events. “I also executive director of SAVE is a video of me making a don’t see how very public attacks transphobic comment, and against this bill help the LGBTQ that I’m not supporting the community as a whole.” transgender community,” he wrote. “I did not Lima agreed. make a transphobia comment. Her comment “This divisive rhetoric, it’s unnecessary.” is not true. I’m happy to have a debate, but National Orgs I’m not going to allow anyone to impugn my Weigh In integrity and reputation.” Richardson also pointed to his time in Two days after the two competing bills office as a state legislator to back up his LGBT were filed, Equality Florida released a rights bonafides.

“I feel like we’ve been thrown under the bus. I have relationships with the heads of these groups. We’ve been strong partners with all of them. We’ve helped them locally. No one owns the rights to LGBT rights.”

1.30.2019 •

NEWS state

second statement with a handful of national LGBT organizations signing on to its side of the battle, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National LGBTQ Task Force, the ACLU of Florida, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. According to the statement, “the organizations reaffirm their support for fully-inclusive, comprehensive protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.” SFGN reached out to all of them. The Task Force initially responded, but did not follow up. NCLR and the ACLU of Florida responded and provided a comment. “Florida is not a place that should give up on comprehensive protections for the LGBTQ community. [...] more than sixty percent of the state already has comprehensive local protections. Enacting a statewide bill that failed to provide the same full protections would be a step backward,” said Shannon Minter, the legal director of NCLR. “LGBTQ people need and deserve the same basic protections against discrimination that other Floridians enjoy, not a partial bill that would provide only limited protection. Equality is equality. That’s what LGBTQ people and their allies in Florida have been working to secure. Anything less is a nonstarter.” Lima felt blindsided when the national groups weighed in on the matter.

Florida State Capitol Building. Photo credit: David Wilson via Flickr.

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1 .30.2019

“As the leader of this organization, I feel like we’ve been thrown under the bus. I have relationships with the heads of these groups,” he said. “We’ve been strong partners with all of them. We’ve helped them locally. No one owns the rights to LGBT rights.” A day later more groups signed on to the statement, including the National Center for Transgender Equality and QLatinX. However, Equality Florida appeared to go too far in at least one of their posts on Facebook. “LGBT national organizations have stepped in to affirm Equality Florida’s FWCA and publicly rebuke the outright damaging and dangerous bill lobbied by SAVE Florida comprised of Tony Lima of SAVE, Rand Hoch of PBCHRC and former state rep. David Richardson,” wrote Jonathan Barrio, Miami development officer at Equality Florida. Minter responded: “I would not use the term ‘rebuke,’ and I do not question the good intentions of those promoting a more limited bill. I know everyone has the same goal of protecting our community.” Daniel Tilley, staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida, responded with the below statement. “Through the joint statement, the ACLU of Florida is not rebuking any person, organization, or position, or characterizing any person, organization, or position as

“The Florida Workforce Inclusion Act would finally allow us a tool to combat these and many other issues stemming from lack of economic mobility and workplace protections.” - JEN LAWS trans man and advocate

pro- or anti-trans. We are explaining why we support a comprehensive bill. We will always fight for public accommodation protections.” Barrio later edited his online post and removed the word “rebuke,” calling it a “bad choice of words.” He also added that he was speaking on behalf of himself and not the organization.

Trans Community Left Behind Advocates of FIWA insisted some protections are better than nothing for the LGB and trans communities. Currently Florida has no statewide non-discrimination laws protecting any of the LGBT community — in any capacity. But Equality Florida sees the new bill as leaving the trans community behind. Below is what its initial statement said on its website. “The pressure to remove public accommodations protections from the FCWA comes from one place and one place alone anti-transgender bigotry. From transgender students being harassed at school to efforts to eject transgender servicemembers from the military, the transgender community is bearing the brunt of the renewed attack on LGBTQ equality,” the statement reads. “It has never been more important for LGBTQ people and our true allies to push back against slanders and refuse to give a pass to those who demonize transgender people as unworthy of basic dignity and equal protection.” By Friday though the above press release was no longer on Equality Florida’s website. SFGN was only able to find a cached version of it online. Activists in South Florida were surprised by Equality Florida’s aggressive push back. “The trans community is being used here

and it’s reprehensible,” said TransSOCIAL President Mayfaire. “I don’t like that the trans community is being used as a weapon to fight one side, or the other. It’s wrong.” When asked specifically if this bill leaves the trans community behind, East Coast TransLatina President Lint said, “Never. [SAVE] is not going to leave the trans community behind. This bill is very important for the transgender community. This is a good start.” Jen Laws, a trans man and local LGBT rights advocate, pointed to a recent report published in the Human Rights Watch that said 63 percent of trans women living in South Florida reported an income of less than $10,000 per year. It also stated more than half were unemployed. “Employment based health care insurance is the primary means of health care access for most Americans but far too frequently denied to Transgender persons due to lack of protections and discriminatory actions in the workplace,” he said. The report also noted that one in three respondents were living in “unstable” housing situations. “The Florida Workforce Inclusion Act would finally allow us a tool to combat these and many other issues stemming from lack of economic mobility and workplace protections,” he said.

Incrementalism vs. All or Nothing Nadine Smith firmly believes in the all or nothing approach. “This isn’t the time for us to back away in Florida for full inclusion,” Smith said. “It has strong Republican support. We’ve built business support.” Smith worries a competing bill will only

NEWS state

peel away support from her favored bill, while smaller steps in the right direction are more Florida will lose its best opportunity to pass permanent in the long run in changing comprehensive legislation protecting the hearts and minds, especially of conservative LGBT community, not only in the workplace, lawmakers.” but as well in public accommodations and Flippen plans to bring a resolution up at housing. the next city commission meeting in support Others disagree. of the new non-discrimination bill. “The ‘all [or] nothing’ strategy has failed. It Public Accommodations is time for a new strategy,” Richardson wrote on Facebook. While it’s true FIWA does not cover public 4ward Miami chair Pardo also supports accommodations, it does include gender the incremental approach. “Our movement has often been identity, which means trans people would be characterized by incremental legislative protected in the workplace. Not to mention the fact that FIWA’s gains paired with education. I believe it’s closed minded to think there is only one definition of gender identity is identical to FWCA’s. path to victory,” he said. “We need to protect Pardo pointed to the Miami the most people as fast Dade Human Rights Ordinance as possible in our most as an example of how the important aspect of our lives incremental approach can – earning a living,” Lima work. said. “You can’t pay for your “[The] HRO effort started housing, unless you have a with a municipal HRO in job, and you can’t go eat at a Miami Beach that had little “The trans restaurant if you don’t have enforcement action, but opened community is being the means to pay. Workplace many opportunities to change used here and it’s protections are key.” hearts and minds,” he said. For Smith that’s just not Many of the supporters of reprehensible. I don’t enough. She stressed over FIWA also support FWCA. like that the trans and over to SFGN that only “I love their bill. I wish their community is being full equality was acceptable, bill was law. It would be the used as a weapon to even though she stopped best thing for everybody. But short of drawing a red line my wishes don’t always come fight one side, or the on public accommodations. true,” Hoch said. “Their bill will other. It’s wrong.” “Our bill does a very go nowhere again. It’s had one simple thing by adding hearing in the past and it didn’t - Morgan sexual orientation and even pass at the committee Mayfaire president of TransSOCIAL gender identity to the level. It’s dead on arrival.” existing law,” the executive Mayfair read both bills and director of Equality Florida agreed. “I still think SAVE’s is a first step in the said. But according to Hoch, the existing law right direction and has a real possibility of passing and making a huge difference is flawed and Equality Florida is misleading for the LGBTQ+ community,” he said. people about its own bill, and the fight over “Equality Florida’s is a good bill with broader public accommodations. “Equality Florida wants us to believe protections, but one that has lagged for 10 that if the Competitive Workforce Act years in limbo.” Wright added: “[obviously] I’d like to becomes law, then LGBTQ Floridians will see the stronger one passed.” But in the be protected from discrimination not only meantime, she’ll take what she can get out in employment and housing, but also in all of the Republican-controlled legislature and aspects of everyday life. But that is just not true,” Hoch said. “The definition used in the governor’s mansion. Justin Flippen, the gay mayor of the Competitive Workforce Act filed this week is gayest city in Florida, Wilton Manors, is also more than 55 years old!” Hoch explained that there are different standing firmly behind the new bill and the definitions of what public accommodations incremental strategy. “When the large step approach towards cover. Palm Beach County for instance has a equality we often find more successful in broad definition, including almost all public South Florida doesn’t work on a statewide places. But the state has a more limited level, smaller steps in that same direction definition. “If the bill is enacted into law, we would are more practical,” he said. “And sometimes

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1.30.2019 •

NEWS state Guests at an Equality Florida rally. Photo via the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida in Palm Beach County, Facebook. 

be protected from discrimination when we go to hotels, restaurants and bars, gas stations, places of entertainment, theaters and stadiums. That’s it,” he said. “So, if clothing stores refuse to allow trans women to purchase a dress, that won’t be illegal. If bakeries refuse provide cakes for our weddings, that won’t be illegal. If funeral parlors refuse to bury us, that won’t be illegal. If daycare centers refuse to care for our children, that won’t be illegal. If senior citizen centers refuse to let us participate in their programs, that won’t be illegal.” The point Hoch was attempting to make is even Smith’s strategy is incremental and more work would still have to take place if their bill passed. Smith appeared to agree on Facebook, saying, “I’m happy to work with you on expanding the current definition. That is a separate matter.” The same arguments Equality Florida is using against FIWA, Hoch said, could be used against FWCA.

Will Conservatives Vote for Either Bill? It’s unclear if Gov. Ron DeSantis would even consider supporting either bill. After he took office he signed an executive order banning discrimination, but did not include the LGBT community. And if either bill passed it would still need his signature. Sen. Pizzo pointed out that Sen. Gruters co-chaired Donald J. Trump’s 2016 Florida campaign for president. “He commands the respect of his party,” Sen. Pizzo said. “I think he can bring his colleagues with him in the Senate.” It’s because of those conservative credentials that Pizzo believes DeSantis could be convinced to support the more narrow bill. Pardo said it’s foolish to continue to hold out hopes that Democrats are going to sweep to power and change everything. “Should we all just wait around for another ten years while LGBTQ people continue to be exposed to workplace discrimination in the hopes of the fictional ‘blue wave’ finally hitting Florida?” Pardo said. Pardo may have a point. A recent story from Politico details the uphill battle Democrats will face in 2020. “The nation’s biggest swing state looks even more like Trump Country heading into 2020,” the article reads. “The driving force: white voters who broke Republican and showed up in such big numbers in 2018 that it looked as if they were casting ballots in a

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1 .30.2019

“We need to protect the most people as fast as possible in our most important aspect of our lives – earning a living. You can’t pay for your housing, unless you have a job, and you can’t go eat at a restaurant if you don’t have the means to pay. Workplace protections are key.” - Tony Lima executive director of SAVE

presidential election and not a midterm.” The article goes on to note that there was a surge in nonwhite voters and young voters. But it wasn’t enough to overcome a massive uptick in white voters. That’s why Pizzo believes having a proTrump Republican advocating for this bill will increase its chances of passing. Flippen agrees that it’s important to reach out to conservatives. “Working with Republicans who control our state government in Tallahassee on advancing equal rights wherever possible is the responsibility of us all. Equal rights and nondiscrimination is a matter of right and wrong, not political left and right,” Flippen said. “It transcends political party, and while Republicans may have a history of being reluctant to support LGBT issues, when they Tony Lima.

do, it is important to find successful ways to embrace that support and add it to the longstanding support of progressives and democrats to increase the chances of actually getting legislation passed.” Richardson intimately understands the uphill climb for any LGBT rights bill to pass the state legislature. In 2017 he said he forced the first ever recorded vote count on LGBT rights when he brought an amendment up to vote on the House floor that would have required LGBT protections in car-sharing services like Uber. “I couldn’t even get 50 votes, and I only got a handful of Republican members to support the amendment,” he said on Facebook. “It is time to acknowledge what so many of us know to be a fact – the comprehensive FCWA bill is dead.” This week the religious right in Florida weighed in attacking the bill and Sen. Gruters. John Stemberger, president of the anti-LGBT Florida Family Policy Council, called for his resignation as the Chair of the Republican Party. “If passed, this bill will be used as a weapon to punish Christians for simply acting out their faith as small businessmen or private individuals,” Stemberger said in a prepared statement. “No state Republican

Party chairman in the history of America has ever supported a bill this dangerous and irresponsible. Gruters is totally out of step with the base of the GOP, state legislative leadership, Governor DeSantis’ agenda, the Republican President of the United States and even the most recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion on similar statutes.” Lima and Smith though are both hopeful the governor would support their respective bills. “There is a possibility,” Lima said. “We have hope.” Smith added: “he has done some things [… to] surprise people. We should not write him off.” Smith pointed out that the LGBT movement has been making progress in “deep red territory” in Florida in places like Jacksonville and Kissimmee. SFGN asked Smith if the narrower bill, FIWA, made it to Gov. DeSantis’ desk, would she urge him not to sign it. “What I would say is we need full inclusion in the civil rights law and we won’t stop until we get it,” she said. “That’s the message we have been delivering, and we will continue to deliver that message. It has brought us closer to passage than ever before.”

1.30.2019 â&#x20AC;¢

NEWS national

Political Activist and Straight Ally,

Jack Shifrel, 72, Dies He advocated for LGBT rights — long before it was widely accepted by most Democrats Anthony Man Sun Sentinel

ack Shifrel, who spent decades as an advocate for his fellow veterans and a champion of Democratic Party values and candidates, died Friday. He was 72.

Shifrel died of cancer, diagnosed this month, took a bus to the clinic was killed trying to that had spread to his bones and spine, said cross busy West Commercial Boulevard in Scott Shifrel, one of his brothers. His death was 2014. Shifrel’s advocacy helped lead to a announced by his family on Facebook. program under which the county’s paratransit South Florida political leaders said Shifrel’s service provided discount rides to and from the death would leave a void in the community. clinic, even to those who are not disabled. He “Jack Shifrel was a patriot. He served his also pushed for installation of signs on major country. He served his community. He was roadways directing motorists to the clinic. dedicated to helping veterans, and helping Shifrel, who was also involved in charity common men and women succeed in our fundraising, was inducted into the Broward country,” said U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-West Senior Hall of Fame in 2016. Boca. Deutch represents Coconut Creek, where Shifrel was serving his 10th four-year Mr. Shifrel lived. term as a Democratic Party committeeman, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, was the Coconut Creek-Margate area leader D-Weston, knew Shifrel for about 30 years. for the Broward Democratic Party for many “Jack Shifrel was one of a kind,” she said. “It’s years, and was a past president of the Margate going to be a more hollow world without Jack Democratic Club. Shifrel was a delegate to five Shifrel.” Democratic national conventions, and was Shifrel, a Vietnam-era Army veteran, and his especially energized when he was supporting wife, Laurie, moved to South Florida in 1970. the presidential candidacies of Bill or Hillary He worked in marketing and Clinton. was a governmental relations His lifelong passion for and political consultant. He Democratic candidates and served on the Broward School policies was inspired by former Board from 1980 to 1982. President John F. Kennedy, Wasserman Schultz said Shifrel’s brother said. His first Shifrel “first and foremost put political involvement was as a veterans as his top priority.” 22-year-old working on thenDeutch said Shifrel believed U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s strongly that Americans’ 1968 presidential campaign, political freedoms “are Shifrel said in a 2018 interview. available to us only because In a 1996 letter to the editor, of the sacrifice that the men Shifrel said he was proud to - Debbie and women who served our wear the label liberal. Wasserman country made for us.” “Liberals believe in the very Schultz Shifrel served as president of simple promise of what I call U.S. Representative the Broward Veterans Coalition, our collective responsibility. an umbrella organization made In other words, we are our up of veterans groups, individual veterans and brother’s keeper. We, as a society, have a active-duty service members. responsibility to care for and look after each He played a major role in securing safer other,” he wrote. “I’m sick of being demonized access to the William “Bill” Kling Veterans by self-righteous right wing zealots who Affairs Clinic in Sunrise after a veteran who would force our children to pray in school and

“It’s going to be a more hollow world without Jack Shifrel.”

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1 .30.2019

Jack Shifrel. Photo via Facebook.

prohibit a woman from making her own choice regarding her pregnancy, but would allow any kook who wants a handgun or assault weapon to go unchecked.” Shifrel was critical of the turn — “ridiculously extreme to the right” — the Republican Party took in the latter years of his life. In a 2012 interview, he said New Deal and Great Society programs like Social Security and Medicare had to be protected. He advocated for LGBT rights — long before it became widely accepted by most Democrats, said Mitch Ceasar, the former longtime chairman of the Broward Democratic Party. Ceasar and Shifrel occasionally butted heads over the years. “His greatest fun would be to have a philosophical discussion,” Ceasar said. “He didn’t seek somebody in agreement. It was much more enjoyable if he found someone who disagreed with him. He liked the debate.” Although he was a lifelong Democrat, Shifrel’s friendships extended across the political aisle. When his daughter wrote a Jan. 21 Facebook post that Shifrel had entered Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton, the dozens of visitors and online well-wishers included many members of the GOP. Republican Mark

O’Loughlin called him “a great man.” Shifrel had many heart problems over the years, including several heart attacks. “The man stood down the most dire health threats. He had nerves of steel, and iron will. I think what he believed in, the causes he fought for, really sustained him through all of those battles,” Wasserman Schultz said. “He always had this really, really bad heart that we all worried about. But man, he had the biggest heart I knew. He just wanted to help people,” Scott Shifrel said. Jack Lawrence Shifrel was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 10, 1946, and raised in Sheepshead Bay and Plainview on Long Island. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Laurie; sons Darrin Shifrel and David Shifrel; daughter Jillian Lisa Jeskey; sister Lori Kearney; and brothers Myke Shelby and Scott Shifrel. He had seven grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Dylan Tyler Jeskey Irrevocable Trust, 2990 Calabria Way, Delray Beach, Fla. 33445. The trust helps pay for his grandson’s health-related costs. Memorials may also be made to the Broward Veterans Coalition, PO Box 25386, Tamarac, Fla. 33321.

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1.30.2019 •

Feature Michael Brown

‘Hey Mary’

The Life and Legacy of Michael ‘LaLa’ Brown Ten years ago the LGBT community in Palm Beach County suffered a tremendous loss when a bar manager, activist and beloved member of the community was murdered. And even though he’s gone, his legacy continues to live on through others, Compass and H.G. Roosters in West Palm Beach.

Jason Parsley

“Hey Mary.” That was a signature phrase of Michael “LaLa” Brown’s while he was alive. And back in those days there were a lot of Marys in Palm Beach County.

Michael Brown and Jerry Suarez in South Africa in 1999 for a special display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Brown was heavily involved in the Names Project and frequently traveled to display the quilt.

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“He was famously known for saying ‘Hey Mary’ to get your attention,” said Tony Plakas, one of Brown’s best friends. “Then there was ‘listen Mary.’ That meant you were about to get a LaLa lecture. Of which I got many.”

Feature Michael Brown

rown was brutally murdered March 21, 2008 by an on-again, offagain lover, who then committed suicide. The local mainstream media focused their coverage on Brown’s death, while ignoring what he meant to the broader LGBT community. Over the course of several months, SFGN interviewed more than a dozen friends and family of Brown’s to capture a snapshot of the man he was, and what he meant to the community. Those closest to him spoke of his jovial spirit, his generosity and his loyalty. These three stories below illustrate those traits.

For Andrew Arena it was this anecdote. Andrew Arena and Brown were on their way to the Mother’s Cupboard annual Black Tie gala in the early 90s at the former Omni Hotel in West Palm Beach. It was pouring rain. “Well Mary, I’m not getting wet in a tuxedo,” Arena recalled Brown saying. The next thing Arena knew, Brown was driving through the open automatic glass doors and into the hotel lobby. “He got out, threw the keys at the front desk,” Arena said with a chuckle. “The front desk clerk was stunned.” More importantly though Arena noted, neither of them got wet.

For Jerry Suarez it was this story. Jerry Suarez and Brown attended the 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town, South Africa for a special display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to highlight the epidemic. “We always had an amazing time together. But Africa was different. I would sit and watch Michael in the old soccer field teaching all of the local church children English,” Suarez said. “They would follow him around like he was the great Pied Piper of Cape Town. They called him Uncle Mikey. The kids loved him.”

H.G. Roosters

I don’t think it was a credible option.” Brown was known for using Roosters AJ Wasson and the original owner of as a platform for building bridges in the Roosters, Bill Capozzi, were best friends. community. He helped raise funds for a Wasson knew Capozzi did not have many local HIV-related non-proft in the 1990s and years left. He wanted to ensure gave Plakas a venue to do HIV his legacy would live on, so education and outreach. before he died in 2006, he “That was during a time bought the building Roosters when people didn’t really has been located in since 1984. want HIV outreach in bars “I was investing in a piece because it was kind of a of real estate, but I was also bummer,” said Plakas, the investing in Michael Brown,” former CEO of Compass. “He Wasson said. “This is the guy would always open the door that was going to make sure and let me in to Roosters.” my single purpose building Plakas also credits Brown investment was taken care of.” for helping make the PrideFest But when Brown was of the Palm Beaches more murdered, Wasson suddenly than a picnic at Howard Park had to carry on the legacy of in West Palm Beach. - Tony Plakas both Capozzi and Brown. He “When Michael Brown got Former ceo of admitted the first few years behind something you did, compass were difficult. it was going to be a success. “I don’t think I was ever So the sponsors of the first going to close. It was Bill’s legacy. Now it was PrideFest were all of the bars,” Plakas said. Michael’s legacy. I felt like the burden of the “He was the impetus to make PrideFest more world was on my shoulders,” he said, holding than a picnic in Howard Park.” back tears. “What was I going to fucking do, Brown was “Compass before Compass,” lock the door? I mean I thought about it, but Plakas noted.

“When Michael Brown got behind something you did, it was going to be a success.”

For Theo Smith this memory sticks out. “I remember when a drunk guy inside Roosters called me the N-word,” Smith said. “Lala lunged across the bar, grabbing the guy and warned him not to ever do something like that in his life again.”

But Brown’s story cannot be told without the bar he managed, H.G. Roosters, and the NAMES Project – two of his greatest passions in life.

Brown was an integral part of the LGBT community in Palm Beach County for two decades until his murder in 2008. Even today his presence is still felt at the iconic bar Brown managed for many years. “It’s been 10 years and not a week goes by without his name being brought up” said David Zen, the current general manager of H.G. Roosters in West Palm Beach. “He was, is, and will always be, loved by those who had the pleasure of meeting him.” It was through Roosters he became the face of the local LGBT community.

But he wasn’t just a bar manager. According to interviews, Brown used his position for community involvement. “He was everybody’s big brother,” said Arena, one of his best friends. “He had everyone’s best interest at heart.” He was affectionately known as LaLa, but none of the people SFGN interviewed knew why. His sister Becky Peters surmised that sometimes when he was really focused on something he could appear to be in “la-la land.”

Michael Brown goofing off at one of the AIDS Memorial Quilt displays in the 90s in Washington D.C.

1.30.2019 •

Feature Michael Brown After Brown’s death, Compass wanted to make sure he would forever be memorialized at the LGBT community center. They named a Memorial Garden after him and Bill Capozzi. Compass Executive Director Julie Seaver said the LGBT center recently revitalized the garden. “It serves as a place of refuge,” she added. Compass also launched the Michael Brown Faces in the Community Award in 2008. More recently this past December they announced the permanent installation of Brown’s AIDS Memorial Quilt at the center.

The NAMES Project Even though Brown did not die from an AIDS-related complication, the NAMES Project still accepted a panel from his loved ones honoring his legacy and contributions to the quilt. It was Jerry Suarez who introduced Brown to the NAMES Project and the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Suzrez was involved with the NAMES Project and Brown soon jumped on board. He started out as a Quilt Display Coordinator, eventually taking over as the Southeast Region Coordinator. He also served on the board of the South Florida chapter of the NAMES Project. He traveled the country, and the world to display the quilt, often using up his vacation time. “He was incredibly passionate about it,” said Suarez, who lost two family members to AIDS-related complications. Brown frequently traveled back to his home state of Ohio to display the quilt. “He was adamant about making people aware. We all buried too many people and saw too many people sick,” Suarez said. In

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Compass launched the Michael Brown Faces in the Community Award in 2008. Below is a list of the honorees:

2008

Michael Brown (posthumously)

2009 Dr. Forrest Shearin

2010

Dan Hall

2011

Charlie Fredrickson

2012

Dr. Donald Watren

2015

Debbie Frazier

2016

Heather Wright

2017

Theo Smith

2018

Carole Benowitz The Bill Capozzi and Michael Brown Memorial Garden outside of the Compass GLCC. Photo credit: Jason Parsley.

1993 Brown brought the AIDS Quilt to Palm Beach County for the first time, where it was displayed at the Harold and Sylvia Kaplan Jewish Community Center near West Palm Beach. Greg Savarese, another close friend of Brown’s, remembers the event well. “People were lined up out of the door with quilts,” he said. “From Georgia, the Panhandle. They came from everywhere.” But what Savarese remembers most was Brown’s empathy – of which there seemed to be no limit. As the people filed into the room, Savarese watched as Brown greeted each one with a hug. “Michael cried with everyone single one of them,” he said. “It went on for the whole day. They had lost brothers, sisters, children.” Brown and Tony Plakas bonded over their shared passion for the AIDS Memorial Quilt. As CEO of Compass, Plakas would host the quilt at the community center year after year

for a World AIDS Day memorial and display. Brown and Plakas would go on to become close friends. Plakas would often travel with Brown to help set up the quilt display around the country. “He went out of his way to help. Any time I called him, he said, ‘Of course I’ll do it,’” said Gert McMullin, quilt production manager for the Quilt. “He didn’t get paid for any of it. The quilt helped him get through a lot of his grief. And he helped others get through their grief with the quilt.” McMullin said she trusted Brown to take care of the quilt, which is the largest piece of community folk art in the world. “He really did love the quilt,” she said. Brown was a part of the last time the quilt was displayed in its entirety, which took place in 1996. He served on the steering committee for that display and was in charge of logistics. “It was something he was incredibly proud of,” Suarez said. “He was that person I could always depend on.”

Compass “I was a falling star,” Plakas said of himself when he arrived in Palm Beach County in 1997. But his life quickly changed when he met Brown. Plakas had moved to the area to work for Compass as an HIV prevention educator. “It was easier to run away from my entire family than to shame them by coming out. I ran as far away as I could to Palm Beach County. I was a college hot shot with too big of an ego to tell everyone I was gay,” Plakas said at a dedication service for Brown in 2009. “As fate would have it, I landed next to Michael. I met him while I was still running…I was running…I was running…with my golden retriever by my side. He took us in like the two lost puppies that we were. And like people do with falling stars he made this wish for me, and the wish was a lot better life than I had projected for myself.” Soon after the two met, Brown gave Plakas

Feature Michael Brown a job at Roosters as a bartender. The job make an effort. He didn’t believe in excuses supplemented his income while also giving – don’t sit back and feel sorry for yourselves.” him an opportunity to immerse himself in Brown had a close relationship with his the local LGBT community. sister and mother. “I miss him so bad sometimes I have to “Mike and I were partners in crime,” Peters forget him because I’ve never experienced a said. She was also the first person Brown came loss like that in my life. It was just so sudden,” out to. Plakas said in 2009. Peters said he called his Ten years later it’s evident mother almost everyday and the pain of his loss still stings. always sent her trinkets in the “Compass would not be mail just to say “I love you” or here without Michael,” Plakas “I miss you.” said, his eyes filling with tears. “It was a truly special But Plakas has more than mother and son relationship,” just an early job to thank she said. Brown for. Brown introduced And when she and his father Plakas to his future husband came to Florida each year Jamie Foreman. to visit he brought them to “I am going to hate myself Roosters. for doing this. I can see “Mom would always tell it already. But I need to me stories of how people in introduce you to somebody,” the bar would come up to her - Tony Plakas Plakas recalled him saying. telling them stories of how Former ceo of Brown’s affection for Plakas their parents disowned them,” compass was obvious to others as well. Peters said. She added that “Michael was really smitten those stories really affected with him,” Wasson said. But true to Brown’s her mom. “She was always willing to give generous spirit, he did not keep the two them a hug.” apart. “I know Michael loved Tony and Jamie, Peters remembered when Brown moved to and encouraged their relationship.” Florida, he told her, “I don’t just want to be just another gay man. I want to be a gay man who made a difference.” The Early Years And if there’s one thing Brown accomplished in his life – it was making a difference. Brown was born Dec. 12, 1957 in Mansfield, Peters said Brown moved to Florida when Ohio. He had three older brothers and a Doris Saferight convinced him to come to the younger sister. One of his brothers was state and run the gay bar she owned – Kismet quadriplegic, which his sister Peters said had Lounge. That bar closed in 1987. Saferight a big impact on the way he looked at life and died in 2003. his positive attitude. According to Savarese, Brown started “His brother worked a job. He got married, working at Roosters not long after it opened adopted kids, lived a full happy life and was in 1984. Savarese did a brief stint between an example for all of us,” Peters said. “Michael jobs during that time period and that’s how was always bothered by people that didn’t the two met.

A memorial was held for Brown after the PrideFest in Lake Worth in 2008. At the time Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Human Rights Council, told the Sun Sentinel, “Michael Brown was literally the heart of the gay community.”

“Compass would not be here without Michael.”

Community Some years later Savarese would go on to lead Mother’s Cupboard, an HIV-related non-profit that raised funds to support the Comprehensive AIDS Program’s food pantry. At one time the organization was raising $100,000 a year, according to Savarese. “Michael was a very big supporter of it,” Savarese said. “He would always help out anyway he could.” Melissa St. John, a local drag queen who was deeply involved in Mother’s Cupboard, added: “He wasn’t shy about asking for anything we needed. He was also a leader in helping us with ticket sales [to the gala].” In 2007 the Comprehensive AIDS Program in West Palm Beach awarded Brown the Fundraiser Extraordinaire Award, which recognizes people “who give their time, talent and skills to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in local, state, national and/or global communities.” Savarese still remembers Brown’s community spirit. “He’d let us do anything we wanted to do in the bar,” he said. “Every Monday’s bingo was for Mother’s Cupboard.” Brown’s weekly bingo nights were legendary. “It was always his thing,” Savarese said. “He almost never missed it.” That’s how Dennis Williams, owner of the Rhythm Cafe in West Palm Beach, came to know Brown. “I would go to bingo every Monday night. He was the bingo caller,” he said. “So funny.

“He really went out of his way to help. Any time I called him for help he said, ’Of course I’ll do it. He didn’t get paid for any of it. The quilt helped him get through a lot of his grief. And he helped others get through their grief with the quilt.” - Gert McMullin Quilt Production Manager

So charismatic. He would tease people, but in a nice way. One time [my partner] and I wore matching Mickey Mouse t-shirts. He teased us mercilessly while we were there. It was hilarious.” Williams remembers 068 being Brown’s favorite number. “He would always say, ‘You do me and I’ll owe you one,’” he said. “It was a great gay social outing when there was not much else to do in West Palm Beach.” Over the years the Rhythm Cafe became one of Brown’s regular places to eat. “He would come here for dinner. Talk business with us. He was a hard worker, who did a lot for Roosters,” Williams said. For Plakas, Brown’s weekly Bingo was one more example of how he always thought about the community at-large.

1.30.2019 •

Feature Michael Brown

â&#x20AC;¢

1 .30.2019

Pictured is Michael Brown’s AIDS Memorial Quilt. After his death two were submitted to the NAMES Project. In December this one was given to Compass to be put on permanent display. “There’s a little bit of Michael Brown in all of us. He paved the way for all of us,” said Julie Seaver, executive director of Compass. “I hope this quilt creates conversations when people visit our center.” Seaver said each year for World AIDS Day the center hosts a slew of programs, but being able to display this quilt made it stand out. “It felt like it was the community’s event,” not just an event for, or at Compass. 1.30.2019 •

Feature Michael Brown

“He had an informal authority among the community, especially when it came to coordinating our efforts,” Plakas said. Plakas explained that Brown wanted everybody to have a slice of the pie and so he made sure to not conflict with the other LGBT bars as much as possible. Foreman added, “He made sure everybody had their fair share of nights. And they always cross promoted all of the other bars. For the first PrideFest he made a map of the bars. It was important to him everybody knew where all of the bars were.” But it wasn’t just West Palm Beach. He wanted to make sure that Broward knew where West Palm Beach was as well. “He would make a point of making appearances in Fort Lauderdale to connect the cities. He took us to Copa to introduce us to people down there and sometimes he would guest bartend,” Foreman said. “He wanted people in Lauderdale to know faces when they came up here to West Palm.”

Michael Brown, The Man While many people in the community knew Michael Brown as an activist and bar manager – there was also Michael Brown the man. Physically he was big – some described him as a “tank,” others compared him to Mr. Clean. Brown was a practical jokester. His friends mentioned his sense of humor, and boisterous laugh. Peters still misses her brother’s “infectious laugh and his compassion for life and people.” “Oh and his wicked sense of humor,” she added. “There was a mischievous side to him,” Arena said. While Smith added, “He was always playing jokes on people. He was a typical wise ass. He was the clown.” But Brown was not without his pet peeves. He hated when people cut him off on the highway.

“He had a little bit of road rage going on,” his sister said. He hated being called before noon. “Someone better be hemorrhaging blood or missing an artery,” Arena recalled with a chuckle. “I’d forget sometimes and he’d say, ‘Mary, I am sleeping.’” And he hated when his bartenders did not face the napkins the right way. “One time he got so angry he started throwing napkin holders all over the place,” said Artie Vale, a long time bartender who worked under Brown, and continues to work for Roosters as the daytime manager. Here are a few of his favorite things: song – “I Love to Love” by Tina Charles; place to eat – Sonny’s BBQ; and drink – Absolut and soda lime. And then there was his famous chicken noodle soup. “It was the best on the planet,” Arena said. “He was constantly making it. He’d make 25 gallons at a time. He’d freeze it and then give it out to anybody who wanted it.” When McMullin came down to Brown’s memorial she wanted to honor his spirit so she brought a bubble machine with her. “I had heard he requested bubbles when he died,” she recalled. “Turns out he didn’t really want bubbles, he just wanted to see if anyone [would] actually do it. There were bubbles everywhere. That’s the kind of humor Michael had.”

Michael Brown holding a child in South Africa where he attended the 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town to help display the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

death. Smith was honored with the award in 2017. “There will never be someone like him,” Smith said. “But if I can be half the person he was, I’m doing a good job.” Just like Brown was Smith’s “welcoming committee,” today Smith is affectionately known as “the gay mayor of West Palm Beach,” for his volunteerism. It was because Michael’s of Smith, Roosters got Legacy involved with raising money for breast cancer awareness. Theo Smith first met Brown “A few years back I attended at Roosters. the Stonewall Ball and was “He was like the welcoming amazed at the number of committee. He had such a elected officials who showed kind heart,” Smith said. “He up. The straight community was my inspiration for getting was there for us,” said involved in the community. Wasson, who owns Roosters. He would give the shirt off of “They come every year and his back to you.” support us. It overwhelmed Smith continued, “He me. These people accept us was an open book. He never now.” judged, never criticized.” That prompted Wasson to Some of the people SFGN start thinking of a way to give interviewed said Smith was back to them. Smith came up one of Brown’s legacies who with the idea of organizing a - Theo Smith continues to carry on his fundraising team for breast palm beach activist torch. cancer awareness. “Theo does carry on “We were the No. 1 Michael’s personal legacy. Theo absolutely fundraising team in Palm Beach County embodies that,” said Seaver, the executive for four years,” he said. “Everybody from director of Compass. the cancer society knew we were there Foreman added: “Theo Smith has carried because they supported Stonewall and they that torch.” supported Compass. They supported our Compass founded the Michael Brown community and we wanted to love them Faces in the Community Award after his right back.”

“He had such a kind heart. He was my inspiration for getting involved in the community. He would give the shirt off of his back to you.”

A photo from 1993 when Michael Brown brought the AIDS Quilt to Palm Beach County for the first time, where it was displayed at the Harold and Sylvia Kaplan Jewish Community Center, near West Palm Beach.

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Publisher's Editorial

Convictions

The Continuing Ruminations from Chairman Norm On Roger Stone and the FBI, Freedom and a Free Press

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

Roger Stone. Photo via Facebook.

he Roger Stone arrest by the FBI has credence to the claim that Donald Trump and dominated local and national news blocks his cadre of criminals worked with any Russian the past week. government officials to collude regarding the There are three issues that should trouble you outcome of the election. about this case. Once again, the special prosecutor has First, the display of force by the FBI in unearthed a series of things that happened effectuating the arrest was demonstratively, a year after the election took place. I don’t irreversibly stupid, and unnecessarily heavy- think when Congress decided to investigate handed. A call to his attorney would have Russian and Republican conspiracies into the sufficed, and he could have turned himself in to 2016 campaign they had in mind Roger Stone a battery of waiting news crews. purportedly threatening his friend’s Chihuahua, Instead, your government deployed a small or Paul Manafort lying about his taxes in 1938. army of armed agents with machine guns Where is the beef? to take 66-year-old Mr. Stone into custody. Anyway, as a publisher and news junkie, I Really? Were they trying to punish someone for want the special prosecutor to get to the truth, exercising his right to remain silent? the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I Is the penalty for standing your ground and want our citizens and the public to read, see claiming your innocence to and hear everything and be treated like a person who is anything there is to learn If Mr. Trump can already guilty? Is there some about this case, especially new federal rule of criminal if the final report reveals tweet and say procedure barring the FBI a foreign adversary or anything he wants at from letting an accused person government officials any time about this surrender like a gentleman? corruptly colluded and We have seen this behavior conspired to fix a national case, then it stands before, like when drunks are election. to reason that any grabbed by the top of the head For me, the most troubling person accused by the and shoved into the back of a aspect of Stone’s case is the special prosecutor police car. But they are usually possibility that the judge throwing up on the cops. Here, assigned to hear the case ought to have that the FBI threw up on the judicial will impose another gag same, equal right. system. They look foolish and restriction on the lawyers Correct? What is made the special prosecutor’s and witnesses, along with office look very, very bad. their clients. Why? We can good for the goose is Hours after being taken into handle the truth. good for the gander. custody by the Department of There is nothing wrong Justice under a show of force, and everything right with their very lawyers for the United States said the public learning and knowing everything Mr. Stone was no flight risk. He was released there is to know about the alleged collusion of on a signature bond, 29 federal swat units and Russia into a presidential election. Isn’t that why machine guns later. Stone’s a great cook. He they ordered an investigation in the first place? could have made them all breakfast instead. Besides, the president of the United States is I confess to some bias. Politics, it has been said, the chief law enforcement officer of the United has strange bedfellows. Roger and I have worked States and the head of the Department of Justice. together to promote the decriminalization If Mr. Trump can tweet and say anything he of marijuana. He is an outspoken libertarian wants at any time about this case, then it stands who has also supported gay rights as well. In to reason that any person accused by the special the publishing business, you learn to respect prosecutor ought to have that same, equal right. advocates and adversaries. You reach across the Correct? What is good for the goose is good for aisles and find friends, not enemies. the gander. The second bothersome part of Mr. Stone’s After forty years as a criminal defense arrest is the accusations do nothing to lend attorney, I generally do not advise clients to talk

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1 .30.2019

about their case. You do have a right to remain silent. The beautiful, stuffed blue Marlin gracing the wall of my law office is only there because he opened his big mouth. He could have still been surfing in beautiful Bahamian waters. I tell people to shut up all the time, and get paid for it. But if a defendant does not want to be silenced, they have that right, too. Gag orders are constitutionally offensive and morally reprehensible. We learned about Watergate by patriots acting as anonymous sources. We learned about our government lying to us about Southeast Asia from an analyst publishing the Pentagon Papers. We learn from whistleblowers. We even pay them lots of money if they win their Qui Tam lawsuits, exposing government frauds. In fact, on a related matter, there is something utterly ironic about Trump’s White House staffers being required to sign nondisclosure agreements. Why are they so afraid of books? None of them can read, anyway. Look, we have a president who tweets and talks the night and day away. He gets to disclose anything he wants anytime he wants to. Yet, he demands others shut up. That is simply not fair, not equal, and not right. No one should stand for it. Challenge censorship at every turn. Related to these discussions are stunning and shocking revelations that there are forces in the government who want to seal potentially

damaging aspects of Robert Mueller’s final report. Let’s hope not. Those comments are unsettling. You don’t seal the truth. You seize it and run with it, not from it. In our lives, and at this paper, the light of day and transparency is the best disinfectant. Ours is a community and this is a country that can survive honesty. We praise our victories. We have to reveal our wounds. We have to open up some along the way. This week, we do. This week, SFGN treads into controversial territory. Our friends at Equality Florida are locked in a battle royal with other friends, politicians and LGBT leaders over the propriety of a statewide gay rights bill that may not even pass. Whether it does or not, good people are throwing bad words at each other to make their points. It may not be pleasant, but don’t worry, we will all survive. Our job at SFGN is to give voice to the debate, air to the discussion, and allow opposing sides to argue their case. With accuracy and honesty as our guide, we chart our course. You as the reader get to review the issues and decide on where you land. All we do is create the conditions for you to choose. Freedom means you get to make choices, to be smart or stupid; silent or spoken; right or wrong. So don’t shoot the messenger. Freedom also means supporting the right of a free press to shake down that oak tree to see if it is firmly planted in the ground or shaking at the roots. Have a great week.

Editorial Cartoon

Convictions

Editorial Cartoon By Mike Luckovich

ALL-INCLUSIVE... AS NEWS

SHOULD BE AS DIVERSE AS EVER Whether you are in the bisexual or transgender communities, are asexual, gender-fluid, pansexual, or maybe you still aren’t sure, SFGN is proudly here to connect you with the rest of our colorful community.

www.SFGN.com 1.30.2019 •

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Freckles (ID 606960) would love to hop into your heart and home. This cute little fellow is just three pounds and was found abandoned, so his past is a bit of a mystery. All rabbits require plenty of fresh Timothy hay, as this helps with digestion, and of course leafy greens. The Humane Society is offering a free bunny basics class on February 2 so you can learn more about these adorable little ones. Visit the website listed below for more details.

The adoption fee for dogs over 6 months is $100 and felines over 6 months are $30. When you adopt from the Humane Society of Broward County the dogs and cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, receive preliminary vaccinations, cats are feline leukemia tested, and dogs over 7 months are tested for heartworm. They also receive a flea/tick preventative, a 10-day limited health care plan from VCA Animal Hospitals, 30 days of Trupanion Pet Insurance and a bag of Purina ONE pet food. The HSBC opens daily at 10:30 and is located at 2070 Griffin Road, a block west of I-95. For more details call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. To see who else is looking for a home visit www.humanebroward.com.

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heir names were Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior…at least according to biblical tradition. But very little is known of them, and what is known is based on traditional stories and interpretations more than any information of a decidedly factual nature. I’m speaking here of the Three Wise Men, also known as Magi or Kings. They make their appearance in the Bible in the Christmas story, arriving 12 days after the birth of Jesus. They arrive in order to pay homage and praise the birth of this “new born King.” Surprisingly, the Bible tells us strikingly little about the Wise Men. It doesn’t even tell us how many Wise Men there were, we only assume there were three because they bring three gifts…gold, frankincense and myrrh. Almost everything else we know about the Wise Men (Magi or Kings) is based on traditions that developed through the centuries after their biblical appearance. Among the traditions that developed through the centuries, and one I appreciate most, is often reflected in contemporary nativity sets. Whether purchased from discount stores or the most expensive church supply stores, contemporary images of the traditional Wise Men are often now depicted as being of three different races… imagined with dark skin, medium skin and light skin. Why is this developed tradition so important? Well, it has to do with what I talked about in my December article… family. Much like at the foot of Jesus’ manger, Christ

Lutheran Church is a place where all are welcome…whether those who look “different” than many of us or those who live differently than many of us. To “Grow in Faith, Serve Those in Need, and Draw All People to Christ” is the mission statement of Christ Lutheran Church. It’s our reminder and calling to avoid remaining stagnant but to grow, to prevent staying closed in on ourselves but to serve others, to counteract a closed-in community but to call all “others” into our midst. By living our mission statement we pray that we as a family, as a community in Christ, with all our gifts and differences, might be present at the manger of the Christ Child as were the Wise Men, with their gifts and differences. While Christmas is over for another year, we are left with an unexpected gift from God…the model of Christian living imaged for us by the Wise Men and lived out among us in the family we understand as Christ’s own at Christ Lutheran Church. As a family we live out our differences and respective and Godgiven gifts as a community... and as a family these gifts and differences come together and make us one family in God. Ours is a family where others with their gifts and differences are welcome and come together to make our community complete. We at Christ Lutheran Church continue to invite all people into the community we call Church, that, among all our differences and gifts that make us family, we come together to bow down and worship our King.

1.30.2019 •

lifestyle two guys and a dog

Shared Beliefs on the Unknown Brian McNaught

Lincoln. Photo courtesy of Brian McNaught.

incoln has been a Buddhist since he was a puppy. In his earliest romps around our lakefront property in the Adirondacks, he would stop, sit for long periods of time, and observe. In other words, he was in the moment, with his body and his mind in the same place, seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling things for the first time. It’s called “Beginner’s Mind.” You needn’t be a puppy or baby to experience it. Ray and I didn’t embrace Buddhist and Taoist though until much later in our lives. For the first thirty-plus years we were Roman Catholics. Both from families of seven, we each had sixteen years of parochial education. As youngsters, we both were trained as Altar Boy servers at Mass, memorizing all of the responses in Latin. We knew and said every prayer, speaking up clearly during “The Apostles Creed” that we believed in one God in three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. There were advantages to sharing the same faith when we came together in a relationship in 1976. On Sundays, we walked together to Mass. Our friends were often gay Catholics. We read the same national, liberal Catholic newspaper, found interest in the same media reports on the Church, read the same books of inspiration, and then both left the Church with the same open wounds, anger, and rejection of Catholic doctrine. Anita Bryant, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Ralph Reed, Pat Robertson, and other Evangelical Christian leaders get credit for alienating us from Christianity altogether, but so do the Popes, Cardinals, and Bishops who tried to drive non-celibate gay Catholics out of Church facilities. The biggest casualty in our messy divorce from Christianity was Jesus, an entity who, from childhood, inspired our fervent social activism with his recorded life and words of love and forgiveness. My 24-day hunger fast in 1974 was motivated by the Sermon on the Mount. But the obnoxious proselytizing by Fundamentalist Christians, with their “Honk if you love Jesus” bumperstickers, and their refusal to have funerals for or bury men with AIDS in their cemeteries, drove us away from the name, “Jesus.” Not only did we no longer believe he was the one and only Son of God, we cringed when we heard his name. Nevertheless, we continued to draw strength from the echo of his teachings. The same held true for the word “God.” Ronald Regan, and the so-called Moral Majority, twisted the image of God into a grotesque, emotionally-abusive Father. The marriage of Right Wing Christians and the Republican Party made it impossible for Ray and me to separate “God” from intolerance. The spiritual craving that remained was initially satisfied by the Unitarian Church, that we believed to be welcoming to gay people. But even gathering with them sometimes felt emotionally unsafe, not because the majority of Unitarians weren’t eager to have us think about spirituality with them, but because the small

We didn’t stop seeking answers to our questions about life, death and the unknown, but not in the company of others.

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handful who were visibly unwelcoming made driving to church on Sunday unappealing. Ray described himself as an atheist, I as an agnostic. We didn’t stop seeking answers to our questions about life, death and the unknown, but not in the company of others. Several people, books, and other influences eventually led us to Buddhism, and to a teacher in Naples whose life reflected the teachings of the Buddha. Ray and I then came to see the Tao te Chang as the most useful daily guide for our hunger for union with our higher selves. For many years, we’d read aloud one of the 81 short lessons written 2,500 years ago. I now have an excellent sage, August Gold, in Fort Lauderdale, who is a most credible manifestation of the lessons of the Tao. And, a funny thing happened on the way to the Tao. I’m no longer offended by the word “God,” which I now comfortably use along with the descriptive words, “Universe,” “Love,” and, “Divine Life.” I’m also good friends again with Jesus, which makes me very happy. There’s nothing quite like a reunion with the best friend from your youth. He’s still not the sole Son of God, but he’s a remarkably wise rabbi, and kind-hearted man. Actually, there are no spiritual words that now make me cringe. As the great teacher of comparative religions, Joseph

Campbell, said, all the words mean the same thing. Spirituality has guided Ray’s and my life together, and, the lives of most people close to us, even if they’re unable to articulate what it is they actually believe. Belief in the soul has helped me navigate choppy waters, to pay attention to the big picture, to esteem that which has lasting value. It troubles me deeply that LGBT people have been so deeply wounded by many religious groups. It’s actually outrageous that self-professed followers of any faith in the divine unifier would work to create divisions. That’s why I’d like to be of some use to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people at the end of their lives, if, in fact, they are struggling with thoughts of what awaits them in their next manifestation. LGBT seniors, like those who died of complications related to AIDS, are in need of an army of people who will help them navigate a peaceful, meaningful death, and protect them from people who would have it otherwise, including family members. Lincoln would be a great one to bring with me to the bedside of an LGBT person, as he’s a very soothing presence. One can only feel joy and gratitude when petting this dog. But, he’d screw up my calling card, which I imagine could be, “If you’re dyin,’ call Brian.” However, it also could be, “If you’re dyin,’ and thinkin,’ call Brian and Lincoln.”

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

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Leboy 4th anniversary On Jan. 18 and 19, Leboy hosted a weekend celebration marking its fourth year of wild success. J.R. Davis Wendy, Sean David and Uncle Al, management of LeBoy.

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Bottoms Up! Here are some tips on bottoming from an ass doctor Dr. Elie Schochet

ne of the most common questions I get in the office are about tips for better bottoming. How to make it tighter, looser, drier, wetter, lighter, darker. How to make it feel like it’s 20 again! How to make it not feel like it’s 20 again. And of course the dreaded, “If I can’t take him in, he’s going to leave me.” I’ve put together some rules and thoughts to make time in the bedroom, or any room, more enjoyable.

Not everyone was made to bottom

Prepare yourself

There, I said it. I think the same number of women as men, not only have erogenous zones inside the anal canal, but actively enjoy receiving anal sex. I’d say it’s probably about 4045 percent. It’s not just the erogenous zones though. Many people can enjoy the feelings of anal play, but have trouble with anything larger than a small finger. Remember this, the anal sphincter complex at rest is an extremely strong set of muscles. Some people’s resting pressures are so high they will never be able to achieve enough relaxation to enjoy bottoming. It’s not a matter of wanting it badly enough, or being relaxed, 30-40 percent of people will not be able to take anything inside without pain…ever. That’s not to say that the muscles can’t learn, or be stretched enough. But it needs to be done slowly and patiently — not for 2 quick minutes with a finger, while your bull is breathing down your neck.

We all know the rectum likes to multitask, and nobody wants to be at the wrong end of any sort of mess. This fear can often put a serious hamper on an otherwise fun time. First rule is, shit happens. Better to talk about it than pretend it doesn’t. I recommend dark sheets and darker towels for the bed and if something does make its way out, deal with it and move on. It can happen even with the best clean out. There are a million ways to clean out and no one clean is perfect for everybody. One thing to remember is that you don’t need it to be colonoscopy clean, you need the bottom foot to be clean (12 inches of clean is fine, I promise). Most bulb douches repeated a couple of times with water are adequate. A large hose is most likely overkill. If you cleaned before a date and now it’s hours later, another quick rinse with a bulb is helpful. And again, if something happens, it happens and try to remember to laugh about it at a later date (if there is one).

Try it alone first Bottoming isn’t something you want to experiment with strangers. Being in your home surroundings, with the right atmosphere (candles, music, bubble bath), and feeling relaxed can go a long way in helping you open up. George Carlin used to talk about staying in for a romantic candlelight dinner for one. I would recommend starting with either a well lubricated finger, or small toy during masturbation. Consider external massage and play first prior to any penetration. Remember there is no rush when you’re alone and at home. If you are tense, your sphincter will be too.

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1 .30.2019

Make sure he’s the right guy Don’t ever start anal play with someone who you’ve never had sex with before. It’s important to be with someone you trust who will listen to you without pushing. If he’s pushing substances like poppers or meth — he’s the wrong guy.

If he’s telling you to wait a few minutes and try again and work through the pain — he’s the wrong guy. If he’s well-endowed and he doesn’t understand you needing to work up to his size — he’s the wrong guy. Be with someone who knows and respects your body and boundaries and it will be a better time for everyone involved. Bottoms on top The mood is set. The bottom is clean, there’s plenty of lube, but your sweet understanding guy is still not getting past the door. Try this: let the top lay down and the bottom climb on board. Make him your personal gymnastics pommel horse. Take control into your hands by lowering yourself on to him slowly and at your pace. Often the muscles will relax after 15-25 seconds. Sometimes sitting with the tip of the penis at the entrance of the anus for 20 seconds allows everything to relax, and for him to slide right in. Most of all, have fun and relax. Bottoming shouldn’t be an anxiety ridden time, and if it is, you have to examine the situation and ask yourself why. Remember, porn isn’t real life, and real life doesn’t mimic art in this case. It’s a shared experience with a partner that will hopefully allow you both to enjoy each other. If it hurts, don’t do it, don’t keep doing it, don’t do it anymore. If there is persistent pain, or bleeding, or drainage at any point, seek medical attention.

Dr. Schochet is a colon and rectal surgeon practicing at South Florida Colorectal Institute in Aventura. He has the largest anal cancer prevention program in South Florida and captains the Happy Hiney Florida AIDS walk team, raising over $270,000 for local charities over the last four years.

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A Mediterranean Diet

Rick Karlin

Oliv Pit 6006 SW 18th St., Boca Raton 561-409-2049 OlivPit.com If you’ve made a resolution to lose weight this year, as I have, you need to set long-term goals. If you’ve got 5-10 pounds of weight you gained over the holidays you can get away with following a “diet” and in a few weeks, you’ll be back in those skinny jeans. Bitch! For those of us with significantly more to lose, we need to think of changes in the way we eat. I’ve gained and lost the same 40 pounds so often my fat cells have déjà vu. Weight Watchers? Killed it! Jenny Craig? Yeah, I ate the easy-bake oven meals and lost 50 pounds – and put it on again within two years. Atkins? Sure, I can maintain it for a while and then I go into a carb frenzy. What scientists are now saying is that the Mediterranean style of cooking is one of the healthiest diets and that it’s a wellrounded approach to eating that isn’t restrictive. Two of the areas where people live longer and have lower rates of disease — are located in Mediterranean cities (Ikaria, Greece and Sardinia, Italy). These places are known for having some of the lowest rates of heart disease and cancer worldwide. A Mediterranean diet decreases the risk of heart disease by, in part, lowering levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, and reducing cardiovascular conditions. It’s also been credited with a lower likelihood of certain cancers as well as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. A Mediterranean diet emphasizes a higher intake of fruits and vegetables and “healthy” fats, such as olive oil. Grilled red meats and dairy should be limited, and grilled fish should be the main source of protein. I was already considering focusing on Mediterranean fare when I got a press release about Oliv Pit. The casual modern restaurant focuses on simply grilled meats, seafood and vegetables, but the food is

grilled on briquettes made from olive pits, removing the possible carcinogens that come from traditional charcoal. The Boca Raton-based eatery reinterprets old time classic recipes with a modern twist for a fusion of time and taste. Dishes are designed for sharing, making every meal a celebration. On a recent visit we began our meal with some mezze (shared plate appetizers). The trio spreads, a reasonable $15, allowed us to choose four from a list of three. We opted for tzatziki, tahini and paprika. Fava bean puree was the fourth choice. All were delicious and well prepared and were served with fresh veggies for dipping. While delicious, I wouldn’t order this dish again as most of the dips are served as accompaniment to main dishes. All menu selections are labeled to indicate which are vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. The Mediterranean olive medley provided a nice selection of the salty, briny treat, but the star of the appetizers has got to be the crispy fried feta. It may throw all those resolutions out the window, but I defy anyone to resist the crispy, battered cheese coasted in sesame seeds and drizzled with local honey. Four of us split the Greek village salad, a wonderfully fresh mélange of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, mint, barrel aged feta and green peppers, dressed with just a hint of oregano and kalamata olive oil. It’s a filling dinner for one and even more so if you top it with a grilled protein offered in the pita wrap section for just an extra five bucks. You can order almost anything on the menu a la carte, but for your protein, I’d suggest one of the mixed grills. The $39 meat grill (lamb meatballs, gyros, New York strip, chicken breast and chicken thigh skewers) is supposedly for two but

A Mediterranean diet emphasizes a higher intake of fruits and vegetables and “healthy” fats, such as olive oil.

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could easily serve four (or more). For larger parties a $79 version is available, listed for four, but offers enough for a party of six to eight. The seafood mixed grill platter, priced at $59, is equally large and offers up perfectly grilled jumbo prawns, octopus and salmon, as well as a generous portion of fried calamari. Each platter comes with a choice of two sides from a list that includes; fries, steamed string beans, jasmine rice, lemon potatoes or a side salad. If you prefer something a little less daunting, check out the pita wraps. Priced at $9, with a choice of New York strip, beef and lamb gyros, beef, lamb meatballs, chicken breast or thigh and salmon. Vegetarian options include grilled mushrooms, vegetables or the trendy new meat substitute, Impossible. If you must end your meal on a sweet note, there are some tasty options available; Greek yogurt with honey and berries, baklava, a rich chocolate cake and, my favorite, orange cake.

Hungry for more?

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Some other places to get your Mediterranean diet off on the right foot include these places closer to home;

Greek Spice

2103 E Commercial, Fort Lauderdale 954-900-4773 GeekSpiceGrill.com

Ferdos Grill

4300 N Federal, Fort Lauderdale 954-492-5552 FerdosGrill.us

Caspian Persian Grill 7821 W Sunrise, Plantation 954-236-9955 CaspianPersianGrill.com

Visit SFGN.com/FOOD!

Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor. Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at RickKarlinFL@gmail.com.

lifestyle photos

Broward BARES IT!

On Jan. 24, the steamy annual fundraiser donated 100% of its proceeds to Latinos Salud and Deliver The Dream. J.R. Davis

Dame Edna.

Daisy Deadpetals.

Producers Bill and Terry.

To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook.

Nichole poised with LeBoys.

Team Broward Bares It.

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SFGNITES

FOR THE WEEK OF january 31, 2019 - February 5, 2019 • WWW.SFGN.COM J.W. Arnold

Spectacular Dance

jw@prdconline.com

THU

1/31

theater The epic struggle between good and evil comes to life in Slow Burn Theatre Co.’s production of the Broadway musical “Jekyll & Hyde,” opening tonight at 7:30 p.m. through Feb. 17 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. A man of science, Dr. Jekyll accidentally releases his inner demon in an effort to solve humankind’s most challenging medical dilemmas. Tickets at BrowardCenter.org.

FRI

2/1

concert The Cleveland Orchestra wraps up its annual residency at the Arsht Center in Miami with “Crazy Girl Crazy,” tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the concert hall. Grammy Award-winner Barbara Hannigan once again displays her astonishing versatility and skills by both conducting and singing a varied program including works by Debussy, Sibelius, Haydn, Berg and George Gershwin. Tickets start at $43 at ArshtCenter.org.

Saturday

2/2

dance

The dance series at Palm Beach State College’s Duncan Theatre in Lake Worth regularly presents the most exciting contemporary companies, including Hubbard Street Dance from Chicago, Friday, Feb. 1 and tonight at 8 p.m. The critically-acclaimed ensemble performs exuberant and innovative repertoire, including works by master American choreographers. Tickets are $45 at PalmBeachState.edu. Photo Credit: Todd Rosenberg.

SAT

2/2 SUN

2/3 MON

2/4 TUE

2/5

theater

nightlife

theater

“Sex and the City” meets “The Boys in the Band” in Jason Mitchell’s comedy, “The Boys Upstairs,” opening Jan. 31 and running through Feb. 27 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale. Three roommates in Hell’s Kitchen struggle with sex, dating, friendship and all the blurry lines in-between in this New York Fringe Festival hit getting its South Florida premiere. Tickets are $35 at EmpireStage.com.

Theater at the J at the Levis Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton presents the hilarious comedy, “Til Death Do Us Part…You First!” on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and today at 2 p.m. Also, “The Origins and History of Jewish Catskills” opens in the Schuman Museum Gallery today at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and talk by visiting scholar and author Phil Brown. Tickets and more information at LevisJCC.org.

Mitzi Ross is your host and MC for “The New Stilettos,” for two hours of nonstop entertainment every Monday, starting at 8 p.m. at the Pub, 2283 Wilton Dr. in Wilton Manors. Vanity Flair, Cindi Wells and Sharde Ross guest star, along with regular cast members RaeJean Cox and Verandah Lanai. Enjoy $5 burgers and fries and 2-4-1 drink specials all night long. For more information, go to ThePubWM.com.

Cameron Mackintosh’s reimagined production of the Tony Awardwinning musical “Les Misérables,” makes a stop at Miami’s Arsht Center tonight at 8 p.m. and runs through Sunday, Feb. 10. Enjoy the beloved songs “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “One Day More,” “Bring Him Home” and more from this epic musical set during the bloody French Revolution. Tickets start at $39 at ArshtCenter.org.

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A&E music

Symphony Presents Once-In-A-Lifetime ‘Porgy’ at Broward Center J.W. Arnold

ust a year ago, it seemed unimaginable that the South Florida Symphony could top its dazzling collaboration with the famed Martha Graham Dance Co. that resulted in the world premiere of a new ballet, “Legend of Bird Mountain.” But, last week, the Symphony did just that at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center with a triumphant production of the great American opera, “Porgy and Bess.” The “folk opera” by George and Ira Gershwin and based on DuBose Heyward’s 1925 best-selling novel, “Porgy,” and a later stage adaptation, penned by Heyward and his wife, Dorothy, debuted in 1935. Heyward collaborated with the Gershwin brothers on the project, mostly by mail, in the final two years of development. In Heyward’s story, audiences are transported to impoverished black tenements near the Charleston waterfront, “Catfish Row.” The residents include Porgy, a crippled beggar who takes in Bess after her brutal lover, Crown, murders Robbins during a craps game and flees the police. As Bess begins to develop feelings for Porgy and cast away the demons of her past, Crown returns and forces her to make a fateful decision. Since its premiere, “Porgy and Bess” has been performed the world over and commands a place among the great American classics. A 2012 Broadway revival that also toured (making a stop at the Kravis Center in 2014) offered a tightened, somewhat contemporary musical interpretation of the opera, but opportunities to enjoy the full opera performed live with a full cast and symphonic accompaniment are rare. This was no small undertaking for the plucky South Florida Symphony, which performs at venues in Key West, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. President Jacqueline Lorber and artistic director Sebrina Maria Alfonso assembled a dream team, including stage director Richard Jay-Alexander, the Miamibased Broadway impresario who produces Barbra Streisand’s concerts; award-winning choreographer Ron Hutchins; and scenic designer Paul Tate dePoo III, who incidentally participated in symphony youth programs while growing up in Key West. The production came with a nearly $500,000 price tag and, at the last minute, state funding for the arts was cut, sending Lorber into fundraising overdrive.

Neil Nelson and Brandie Sutton star as “Porgy and Bess” in the South Florida Symphony’s recent production. Photo Credit: Nellie Beavers.

Acknowledging that Gershwin’s jazz- and gospel-infused score was such an integral part to the work, the orchestra is placed on the stage, wedged between shacks and the boardwalk. They don’t simply provide accompaniment, but share an equal role in the dramatic action. Alfonso and her musicians are also residents of Catfish Row, interacting with the characters and responding to the events in Jay-Alexander’s spectacular staging. Paul dePoo takes advantage of cutting-edge 3-D mapping technology to transform the minimal sets and background curtain into a colorful, vibrant community. The residents of Catfish Row are then transported to a sunny island for a church picnic and placed in the path of a threatening hurricane. The cast, led by Neil Nelson (“Porgy”) and Brandie Sutton (“Bess”), is outstanding throughout, but from the first notes of Miaminative Kyaunnee Richardson’s “Summertime” early in the first scene, the audience was put on notice that this was to be a truly memorable occasion. Michael Redding’s “Crown” was both terrifying and tantalizing, in part thanks to Hutchins. In every way, the South Florida Symphony’s “Porgy and Bess” was a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience. While we won’t have the opportunity to see this production ever again, we’ll just have to wait and see what surprises Alfonso, Lorber and the symphony may have in store for the future. The South Florida Symphony next presents works by Moncayo, Rachmaninov and Nielsen on Feb. 20 at the Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key West, Feb. 21 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale and Feb. 22 at the Spanish River Worship Center in Boca Raton.

Tickets and more information at SouthFloridaSymphony.org.

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LIFESTYLE photos

Outlandish welcomes

Leslie Jordan

On Jan. 21 at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, the “Outlandish” live entertainment series was opened by the comedic actor Leslie Jordan with his set “Straight Outta Chattanooga.” J.R. Davis Producer Matt Farber.

 Leslie Jordan and Matt Farber pose with Les Farfadais-Stephane and Kyle

Dale Stine and Gary.

Leslie Jordan.

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To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook.

FEB 20 KEY WEST TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THEATRE

FEB 21 FORT LAUDERDALE AU-RENE THEATER

FEB 22 BOCA RATON SPANISH RIVER WORSHIP CENTER

MONCAYO Huapango RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Natasha Paremski, piano NIELSEN Symphony No. 4 The Inextinguishable

2018

Laura León, Acclaimed South Florida Soprano, is Norina in Gaetano Donizetti’s Comic Masterpiece

Don e l a u q s a P

Everyone schemes in this rambunctious romp about a beautiful bridezilla, her true love, a rich over-the-hill bachelor uncle, and a conniving physician. Presented by Opera Fusion at Pompano Beach Cultural Center

50 West Atlantic Blvd. Pompano Beach Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 7:30 pm Tickets at CCPompano.org or at the door 954 545 7800 $45 $35 $25

TEMPLE ISRAEL CHAMBER SERIES MIAMI, FL SUNDAY FEB 24

MUSSORGSKY

Pictures at an Exhibition with Natasha Paremski, piano

Brunch 11:30am Recital 1:00pm FOR TICKETS AND VENUE INFORMATION SOUTHFLORIDASYMPHONY.ORG | 954-522-8445

1.30.2019 •

Datebook

Theater Tucker Berardi

Calendar@SFGN.com

Top

Picks

The Producers

January 18 – February 10 at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill. Mel Brooks’ classic cult comedy film The Producers is now a big Broadway musical. Enjoy a show filled to the brim with in-your-face humor. Tickets $48 to $58. Visit LPACFL.com

The Spitfire Grill

February 1-24 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. The Spitfire Grill, a warm and uplifting show by James Valcq (book and music) and Fred Alley (book and lyrics) about starting over and second chances, forgiveness and redemption. Tickets $15 to $75. Visit palmbeachdramaworks.org.

*Paul Reiser Comedy Show

Saturday, February 2 at 8 p.m. at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Dr, Coral Springs. Voted one of Comedy Central’s “Top 100 Comedians of All Time,” performer, author and musician Paul Reiser has spent the last 30+ years acting in Oscar and Emmy winning movies and TV shows. Tickets $25. Visit theCenterCS.com

January 23 - January 29 broward county *ABBA MANIA

Wednesday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Dr, Coral Springs. Two hours of uplifting, dance inducing and sometimes heart-breaking songs, fully live with fantastic staging, lighting and effects. Tickets $27. Visit theCenterCS.com.

*Little River Band

Saturday, February 16 at 8 p.m. at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Dr, Coral Springs. Bringing their vocal and musical energy along with great arrangements to their timeless classic hits, each show creates new memories for the audience. Tickets $40. Visit theCenterCS. com.

Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series

Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy live, outdoor music spanning genres and tributes every Friday evening through November. Free. Visit FridayNightSoundWaves.com

palm beach county *Romeo and Juliet Ballet

February 8 to 10 at the King’s Academy,

Isle of Klezbos will be playing on Feb. 15 at the Arts Garage. Photo via Facebook.

8401 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. This romantic and yet tragic ballet features exciting sword fights, dramatic pas de deux, and vivid ensemble scenes. Prokofiev’s powerful score guides the Shakespearean tale of family feuds, young love, and tragic irony. Tickets $35 to $40. Visit balletpalmbeach. org.

*Isle of Klezbos

Friday, February 15 at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach. NYC-based ISLE of KLEZBOS approaches tradition with

* Denotes New Listing

irreverence and respect. The soulful, funloving powerhouse all-women’s klezmer sextet has toured from Vienna to Vancouver since 1998. Tickets $40 to $45. Visit artsgarage.org.

‘We Will Not Be Silent’

February 7-24 at the Heckscher Stage theater space in Parliament Hall, Boca Raton. “We Will Not Be Silent” tells the true story of Sophie Scholl, a German college student who led the only major act of civil disobedience to the Nazis during the Second World War. Tickets $25 to $35. Visit fauevents.com

Free Friday Concerts

Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

miami-dade county Outdoor Music Series

Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.

The Big Show

Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit JustTheFunny.com.

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WINTER CLASSES BEGIN FEBRUARY 9

SING! DANCE! ACT! LEARN!

Enroll today in our popular adult classes in ACTING, SINGING, BROADWAY DANCE & COMEDY IMPROV

BrowardCenter.org/classes 954.414.6904

1.30.2019 â&#x20AC;¢

January 23 - January 29

Datebook

Community Tucker Berardi

Calendar@SFGN.com

Top Picks *Storytellers VII

Saturday, February 2 at 7 p.m. at Main Street Players, 6766 Main Street, Miami Lakes Button Poetry & Ring the Bell Management present the kickoff event of the 2019 Storytellers season. Tickets $25. Visit mainstreetplayers.com

*GLLN February Luncheon

Thursday, February 7 at the Grille on the Drive, 2000 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. This month’s speaker is Emily T. Rae, Advisor Consultant who will be speaking on ‘Five ways tech-nology will change the way you age’ Tickets $30 to $35.

*Wine and Romance

Thursday, February 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the NSU Museum of Art, One East Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale. Monthly wine pairing series, sample four great varietals of wine in time for Valentine’s Day with small bites paired with each wine. Tickets $30 to $40. Visit NSUArtMu-seum.org.

Broward Support Services PFLAG

Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and locations.

SunServe Youth Group

Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.

Survivor Support

First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954-384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.

* Denotes New Listing

broward county *GLLN February Luncheon

Thursday, February 7 at the Grille on the Drive, 2000 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. This month’s speaker is Emily T. Rae, Advisor Consultant who will be speaking on ‘Five ways technology will change the way you age.’ Tickets $30 to $35.

*Wine and Romance

*Starry Nights

Thursday, February 7 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the NSU Art Museum, One East Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy exhibition

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tours and hands-on art activities for all ages, and two-for-one specials on wine and craft beer. Free and open to the public. Visit NSUArtMuseum.com

Panther Pride Night

February 1 at 7 p.m. at One Panther Parkway, Sunrise. Come out to support the Panthers as they take on the Nashville Predators, and enjoy special access to the Pride Party at the Coors Light Cold Zone. There will be special Pride-inspired performances and giveaways. Tickets start at $24, and a portion of the proceeds go to SAVE. Visit www.save.lgbt

GRATITUDE Exhibit

January 16 to February 8 at the Claudia Castillo ART Studio, 2215 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. Art, music, wine, art and community. Call 954-272-7047 for details.

Young at Art Museum’s Annual Women of Vision Luncheon

Wednesday, February 13 at 11 a.m. at 751 S.W. 121 Ave, Davie. Funds raised at this year’s Women of Vision Luncheon will directly benefit YAA FOR ALL which creates an inclusive, non-judgmental environment for children and adults with autism. Call 954424-5018.

Our Fund LGBT Philanthropy Awards

Saturday, February 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tower Club, 100 SE 3rd Ave 28th floor, Fort Lauderdale. Join us for a special evening as Our Fund Foundation hosts its inaugural South Florida Philanthropy Awards to celebrate individuals and families whose generosity of time, talent and resources make a significant impact on South Florida’s LGBT community.

Arts and Crafts Wednesday Happy Hour

Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Arts and Crafts Social Club in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy a two-for-one ‘freestyle’ painting session with hands on assistance as needed. Tickets $20. Visit artsandcraftssocialclub.com

palm beach county 34th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show

March 28 to March 31. Attendees will enjoy live music and refreshments at the show’s famous floating cocktail lounges. Guests are invited to come by boat and may tie up to free docks located south of the in-water displays. Tickets $18 to $52. Visit PBboatshow.com.

Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival

January 20 to February 12 at AMC CityPlace 20. 29th annual The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival will present movies from around the world, opening with PAPA, a heart-warming movie about an adopted son searching for his biological parents. Ticket prices vary, visit PBJFF.org or call 877-318-0071.

Coffee Clatch at Compass

First Monday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Compass, 201 N. Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth. A social group focusing on the mature LGBT+ community in Palm Beach County, providing a relaxed environment for meeting friends, discussing interesting topics, and engaging in community projects. Free to attend, email joekolb@compassglcc.com for details.

Hard Bodies: Contemporary Japanese Sculpture

September 29 to March 31 at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the thirty works by sixteen artists comprise the first-ever comprehensive exhibition of contemporary Japanese lacquer sculpture. They have all been drawn from the Clark Collections at Mia, the only collection in the world to feature this extraordinary new form. Tickets $9 to $15. Visit morikami.org.

miami-dade county *Draw Event

Friday, February 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Art and Culture Center, 1650 Harrison Street, Hollywood, Fl Exposed turns art patrons into buyers during a fun and exciting night in which every ticket holder goes home with an artwork. Visit artandculturecenter.org.

*Storytellers VII

Monica Lewinsky

Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Temple EmanuEl, 1701 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. Lewinsky will be discussing our online culture of humiliation, offering advice on how to overcome bullying, and drawing from personal experience. This event is open to the public, but will be a closed event to press and media. As such, the speaker’s remarks and Q&As will be off the record. Tickets $75 to $200. Visit tesobe. org/monicalewinsky.

Arsht Center Farmers Market

Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Purchase fresh food from local farmers, including fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared foods, as well as chefs, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Tickets $45 to $75. Free. Visit ArshtCenter.org/en/Visit/Dining.

key west Aqua Idol

Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Aqua Key West, 711 Duval St. in Key West. Support your local artists and vote for your favorite! Benefits Waterfront Playhouse. Call 305294-0555 or visit AquaKeyWest.com.

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THE

GUIDE

Business Directory

attorney

Law office of george castrataro 707 NE 3rd Ave #300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.573.1444 Lawgc.com

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law office of Shawn Newman 710 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.563.9160 Shawnnewman.com

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Full Charge Bookkeeping Services

handyman

dental Oakland Park Dental 3047 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954.566.9812 Oaklandparkdental.com

final arrangements Kalis-McIntee Funeral & Cremation Center

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Miami/Broward/Palm Beach Paint/Caulk/Remove Grout/Yard Work Fix Drips & Switches/Debris removal Assembles Furniture & Appliances Repair or Fix Call "Avrom" Keith 786-227-9981

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health insurance Medicare/MedicaID Florida Blue / Blue Cross Blue Shield 2765 West Cypress Creek Road Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 Call Steve Herbstman @ 954-554-7074

health American Pain Experts 6333 N. Federal Hwy, Ste. 250, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954-678-1074 Americanpainexperts.com

mortgage lender

Every homeowner who is at least 62 years of age should know about Reverse Mortgage loans! ~ Purchase & Refinance ~

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real estate

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transportation RAINBOW RIDES-SAVE MONEY ON YOUR RIDE! - We treat you like family! SPECIALIZING IN AIRPORT RIDES! Need a ride to FLL, MIA, or PBI? (or anywhere else?) I'm a friendly driver with a nice, clean Chevy Malibu. My fixed-rate pricing beat all ride sharing - apps every time. Call or text me to schedule a ride, I'll be there early and I'll text you when I arrive. No 'surge" prices, no hassles. Call or text Nikki at 954-600-3133.

sports

Tennis Lessons at Hagen Park in Wilton Manors. Individual or group lessons. Call Robert 732-604-0362 for more information.

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Walk-in Bathtubs by

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Receive a free American Standard Cadet toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath, Liberation Shower, or Deluxe Showe $1,500 in Savings INC one per household. Must be first time purchaser. See www.AmericanStandardBathtubs.com for other restrictions and for licens *Subject to 3rd party credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. CSLB B982796; Suff olk NY:55431H; NYC:HIC#202274 FREE American Stand in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

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Includes FREE American Standard Right Height Toilet Trusted Professional Limited Time Offer! Call Today! Installation with Best Lifetime Warranty!

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FREE IN-HOME EVALUATION!

Includes FREE American Standard Right Height Toilet

Receive a free American Standard Cadet toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath, Liberation Shower, or Deluxe Shower. Offer valid on one per household. Must be first time purchaser. See www.AmericanStandardBathtubs.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, a *Subject to 3rd party credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY:55431H; NYC:HIC#2022748-DCA. Safety in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

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Receive a free American Standard Cadet toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath, Liberation Showe one per household. Must be first time purchaser. See www.AmericanStandardBathtubs.com for other restrict *Subject to 3rd party credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY:55431H; in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

CREEP OF THE YEAR

creep of the week 62

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1 .30.2019

paid for by anonymous

SFGN Classified$ To place a Classified Ad, call us at 954.530.4970

piano WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO? Learn from an experienced teacher. All levels and ages welcome. Learn to play classical, popular, jazz, or show tunes. Visit www.edwinchad.com or call 954-826-9555 for more information.

Water Front Miami Shores Town House - 2 bed 2.5 bath. New renovation marble and wood flooring.... more than immaculate. Pool/tennis courts. $2,500 per month..2 occupant limit. Call Bobbie at 786-514-5075

Room for rent - Mature gentleman looking for same to share my modest home 2 miles from Wilton Manors. Private bedroom with cable TV, Wi-Fi, shared bathroom, living area, den and modern kitchen. $600.00 per month all utilities included. Must be looking for long term. No Drama. First and security with good references and proof of income for background check. Paul Ianni 954-202-5643

East Fort Lauderdale – 3/2 with private backyard, 1.5 miles from beach. Former owner’s private unit; new appliances. Available 2/15; can be seen 2/3. $1,650/mo. First, last, deposit, good credit. Annual lease. Call Marie at 954-624-6155.

rental - wilton manors

accomodation wanted LOOKING FOR Quiet Private Home/Apartment - Single Gay Male, 70+, Looking For a 2 bedroom 1 bath. Close proximity to Wilton Manors or surrounding area. A/C, private entrance style home. I have excellent references. Text Doug 954.261.9073.

caregiver wanted

Caregiver Needed for Elderly Gay Man - I'm an elderly gay man living with Parkinson looking for a friendly up beat individual to help me out with my daily activities. Requirements: Valid Drivers License • Flexible to work 10-16hr per week • Prepare meals • Laundry/House keeping • Assist with exercise - Ideal person must be strong to help with wheelchair transfers. Apply by letter outlining qualifications to taras1952@ outlook.com.

electrician

HARRY’S ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL - Additions, renovations, service upgrades, breaker panels,FPL undergrounds, code violations, A/C wiring, ceiling fans, recessed, security & landscaping, lighting, pools, pumps, Jacuzzis, water heaters, FREE PHONE ESTIMATES 954-522-3357 Lic & Ins. www. harryelectrician.com

Classified Advertising Works!

954.530.4970

employment wanted SPECIAL HIRE NEEDED - Earn $45,000 per year. Experienced, self-motivated professional salesman needed. Work competitively in a highly flexible and relaxed LGBT-friendly environment. Fax resume to 954-530-7943. Help Wanted - Housekeeper - The Grand Resort and Spa is seeking a F/T, P/T or Seasonal Housekeeper for an all-male, clothing optional resort in Fort Lauderdale. Candidate should be efficient, detailed and dependable. Hotel/resort experience is a plus. Please supply work references. Send resumes to jobs@grandresort.net. NO PHONE CALLS.

burial plots for sale

Lake Worth Burial Plots - 2 Burial Plots in Lake Worth Memory Gardens. Double Depth Lawn Crypt Vaults and Opening/Closing included $8500. Contact: Ed at 561-702-0860

We’ll help you find that deal. Place an ad in SFGN’s Classifieds

954.530.4970

handyman 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 GREGG’S PAINTING - Interior/Exterior. Free estimates, great rates! Detail-oriented, friendly, reliable, punctual and neat! No job too small. Broward & Palm Beach counties. 954-870-5972 | gmanbenn44@gmail.com

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pool service COOL POOLS- RELIABLE POOL SERVICE Professional pool service.Covering Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and eastside of Pompano Beach. 15 years experience. Licensed and insured.Free estimates. Call 954-235-0775.

Classified Advertising Works!

954.530.4970

home improvement Window Treatment - We offer a high-quality, modern window treatment solution for your home, whether manual or motorized, controlled with a simple remote. Hitech-shades will help and guide you to create a custom window treatment solution to your requirements. Our commercial division has been working with contractors, decorators, builders, architects and designers offering the best cost effective equation for them and their customers. We are your one-stop shop solution for roller shades and blinds. Web: www. Hitech-shades.com, email: Hitechshade@gmail.com Contact Haim- 954-398-3676

pest control

Taylor & Turner Pest and Termite Control, Inc

rental - miami

rental - lakeridge

rentals wilton manors Mike the rental guy - NE Lauderdale/Wilton Manors/Oakland Park - 1/1 from $1090, 2/1 from $1250. Victoria Park - 1/1 from $1150, cable included. Credit & income Requirements - Pets okay with restrictions. Call for Details. Mike 561-703-5533 or miketherentalguy@aol.com

scooter for sale 2015 Genuine Buddy - 49cc orange scooter, low mileage (1488) excellent condition. $1800. Rarely used. Text or call 954-336-1367. Clean Title.

EMERALD IRISH CLEANING SERVICES

954-524-3161 English Speaking Handscrubbed Floors We Provide our Own Supplies

Special $65 3 hours

Detailed Cleaning Use Time How You Wish Affordable Prices

emeraldirishcleaning.com - like us on Facebook!

William D. Turner taylorandturner@yahoo.com 2520 North Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305

954.630.2627 www.sfgn.guide

PET GROOMING PET SITTING & TRAINING SERVICES

4390 Northlake Blvd. Palm Beach Gardens FL 33410 www.K9SPA.us Voice: 561-622-5678 Text: 561-352-7808

Visit us online and list your business!