SFGN 2/16/23 V14iss7

FORT LAUDERDALE PRIDE FLAG BECOMES PERMANENT INSTALLATION NEAR BEACH

John Hayden

Fort Lauderdale has made a visible, high-profile addition to its already firm stance on LGBT inclusion. The Progressive Pride Flag is now proudly and permanently on display on Sebastian Street between A1A northbound and A1A southbound. The city dedicated the art installation on Feb. 10.

“Today is a day of thanks and appreciation and to recognize that the LGBT community has been such an important part of what Fort Lauderdale has always been,” Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said during the ceremony.

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Steve Glassman, who represents the district where the flag is located, echoed those comments.

“One of the things that makes me most proud to represent my district and the entire city is that Fort Lauderdale is a welcoming, inclusive, equitable and incredibly diverse city.”

This same spot hosted a similar installation during Pride in November 2021. But that was

just a temporary “sticker” that was taken away after Pride. This version cost about $32,000 and will last three to five years before it needs any major maintenance or touch-ups.

“This is the perfect location. If we had put it on A1A or Seabreeze, it would be destroyed in a week,” Trantalis said. “I’m very happy that the city’s investment in our community is once again recognized.”

Sebastian Beach has long been a gathering place for LGBT residents and tourists alike to gather with friends in the sand and sun.

Besides being in an LGBT gathering spot, the location has practical reasons behind it as well. Unlike A1A, the city has complete control over that stretch of road and doesn’t have to collaborate with or get permissions from state or federal transportation officials. Due to the low amount of traffic the street gets, the Pride Flag art will get less wear and tear.

“This is not small,” Trantalis said. “This is the largest representation of LGBTQA+ community in South Florida. You don’t see this on any street, on any corner, in any municipality that maintains a permanent place in an area that is known in the community.”

Trantalis believes visibility of all the city’s diverse cultures will grow the city in ways big and small.

“Awareness is very much a part of growth. We’re going to grow as a community and understand what it means to maintain the diversity and cosmopolitan aspect of Fort Lauderdale and this is all part of it.”

Other cities in South Florida with pride crosswalks include Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach. The Delray Beach crosswalk made headlines when a vandal defaced it in 2021. Residents have long wanted a crosswalk in Wilton Manors, but due to logistical hurdles, they could not make any progress.

February 16, 2023 • Volume 14 • Issue 7 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley

Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com

Editorial

Assistant to the Editor • Kimberly Swan Webmaster@sfgn.com

Social Media Director • Christiana Lilly

Graphic Designers • Julie Palmer Kyle Willis • Craig Tuggle

Graphic Design Consultant • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com

Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold JW@prdconline.com

Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin HIV Editor • Sean McShee Community Editor • John Hayden john.jmhcreative@gmail.com

Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo Special to SFGN Steve Rothaus

Correspondents

John McDonald • Everitt Rosen • Sean Conklin Deon Jefferson • David-Elijah Nahmod Aurora Dominguez • Denise Royal Austen Erblat • Jessica Abramsky • Benjamin Manning • Mary Rasura • Christian Walden Christopher Flores

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Gregg Shapiro • Dana Rudolph

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970

Director •Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com

Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com

Distribution Services Coordinator • J.R. Davis Distribution Assistant • Juan Manzano National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Stuart Web Inc. Co-founders Norm Kent Piero Guidugli

SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS.COM, INC.

FOUNDED, DECEMBER, 2009 BY PIER GUIDUGLI AND NORM KENT

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 © 2023 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

SFGN COVER: Top: Norm Lewis and Julie James. Photo provided by Julie James. Bottom: Franzer Pasos. Courtesy photo.

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Steve Glassman, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, and Commissioner John C. Herbst at the dedication ceremony. Photo via City of Fort Lauderdale Facebook.

“TODAY IS A DAY OF THANKS AND APPRECIATION AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LGBT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT FORT LAUDERDALE HAS ALWAYS BEEN.”

- Dean Trantalis FORT LAUDERDALE MAYOR

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G

BELLA RAMSEY WORE CHEST BINDER DURING FILMING OF ‘THE LAST OF US’

Bella Ramsey, a 19-year-old non-binary actor, revealed that they were wearing a chest binder 90% of the time on set of “The Last of Us.”

“The Last of Us” is an HBO series where a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-yearold girl who may be humanity’s last hope after a global pandemic destroys society.

An interview with GK Magazine revealed that Ramsey had frequently worn a binder on set for long periods of time. Ramsey said that it “probably isn’t healthy. Like please, bind safely.”

Ramsey’s co-star Pedro Pascal has a trans sister, allowing him to be “super supportive” of Ramsey. The two also had conversations regarding identity. “We were just very honest and open with each other,” said Ramsey.

In an interview with the NY Times,

Ramsey said, “I guess my gender has always been very fluid.”

“I’m very much just a person,” Ramsey elaborated. “Being gendered isn’t something that I particularly like, but in terms of pronouns, I really couldn’t care less.”

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

T

‘HARRY POTTER’ INCLUDES TRANS REPRESENTATION FOR THE FIRST TIME

The newest “Harry Potter” video game, Hogwarts Legacy, has finally launched after fans have been waiting for years. Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG that takes place long before any of the books or other video games in the Wizarding World’s universe.

The game includes Sirona Ryan, a trans witch and business owner who owns the famous Three Broomsticks pub seen throughout the series.

Hogwarts Legacy is published under Warner Bros. Games’ Portkey Games label and developed by Avalanche Software. The game’s official site makes it clear that “J.K. Rowling is not involved in the creation of the game.”

A Portkey representative told IGN, “The team felt that it was very important to create

a game that is representative of the rich and diverse world of ‘Harry Potter’ as well as the groups of people who play games, which includes the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Check the game out at hogwartslegacy. com.

Germain

I’ve been using Pallant since 2014 and they have provided great service and guidance while navigating all of the insurance challenges that Florida residents encounter.

Photo via HogwartsLegacy.com.

Photo by GabboT, via Wikimedia Commons.

Doritos has taken a bold stance in order to support the LGBT community on an international scale with its #PrideAllYear campaign. The most recent addition to their campaign was an ad titled “Bold Love” that launched in Mexico.

“Bold Love” features a lesbian couple talking about how much they love one another despite the homophobia they face while enjoying a bag of Doritos. The couple also discusses how their families would reject

them and how half of the people they would invite to their wedding wouldn’t show up. The video ends with statistics about the community coming across the screen.

“Thirty-three percent of LGBTQ+ people experience discrimination at work,” and “3 out of 10 LGBTQ+ people have been kicked out of their homes.”

Just like the rest of the campaign, Doritos shares links to vital resources for the community.

Screenshot via YouTube, Doritos.

Photo by J.R. Davis

From 10 years as Broward Sheriff’s office to Big Brother 24, and now a private yacht and estate chef, Nicole Layog with Bestie Major William Schultz Patrol Commander for Fort Lauderdale Police Department and founder of the Under Cover Santa Toy Drive attending The Red Dress Gala for The Worlds Aids Museum.

THE COUNTRY

TRANS DOCTOR LEAVES AFTER HOUSE PASSES BILL BANNING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE

Webster, S.D. has a population of less than 2,000 people. Rural areas have been experiencing physician shortages, and Webster has one less due to anti-trans legislation sending Dr. Mayson Bedient to its northern neighbor.

Bedient, who is also a trans man, is a general practitioner and genderaffirming care specialist. He worked in Webster until December 2022, and now works with Essentia Health in

Fargo, N.D.

South Dakota’s House Bill 1080, which prohibits gender-affirming care for minors, passed to the House floor on Jan. 31.

“As someone who went to school for as long as I have and practiced for as long as I have, and gotten all that experience - it’s almost offensive in a way, that these legislators are coming in and saying that they know better than I do or than my colleagues do,” Bedient told KELOLAND.

RABBI AND HIS SON TESTIFY AGAINST ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION

Rabbi Daniel Bogard, along with fellow Jewish and Christian clergy, testified at a state legislature hearing in Missouri focused on transgender student-athletes. State lawmakers are pushing six bills, with half of the bills placing restrictions on transgender student-athletes and the other half banning gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors.

Bogard’s 11-year-old son testified in support of his brother and friend. Both his brother and friend are transgender.

“I have to be here because you, the Missouri government, keeps trying to take away what they have a passion for. Why do you keep trying to take things from these kids?” he said, according to Los Angeles Blade. “Kids just want to have fun, playing sports, not being

stressed having to come here to tell you to let them play. This has affected my brother, because now he is scared he will not get to do what he loves.”

VISITORS TO GAY BAR ROBBED USING PHONE FACIAL RECOGNITION

According to the New York Police Department, three men visiting The Eagle NYC were robbed using facial recognition on their phones.

The men in their late 30’s and 40’s were each robbed of $1,000 to $5,000 on different nights in October and November. Authorities have stated that no arrests have been made and the investigation is still underway.

Capt. Robert Gault of NYC’s 10th Precinct discussed the occurrences at a police community council meeting, according to NBC News.

“What we think is happening with this scheme is they’re being lured away from the club, maybe to say, ‘Hey, you wanna come with me?’ … or something like that,’” Gault said. “And then, once

they get into a car to do whatever it is that they’re going to do, at some point or another, they don’t know what happened when they wake up.”

The Eagle NYC. Photo via Google Maps.

Dr. Mayson Bedient. Photo via essentiahealth.org.

Rabbi Daniel Bogard. Photo via centralreform.org.

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

ASIA EUROPE

‘SHARK TANK INDIA’ FEATURES LGBT PITCHER WITH MOTHER

One of the most watched reality series in the nation is “Shark Tank India,” which has quickly gained popularity. The “sharks” Anupam Mittal, Vineeta Singh, Peyush Bansal, Aman Gupta, Amit Jain, and Namita Thapar provide business owners and entrepreneurs the chance to present their goods and receive investment from them.

The reality show’s most recent episode of season 2 included an LGBT pitcher for the first time in order to raise money for their company BeUnic. The pitcher, his family, the “Shark Tank India” judges, and the show’s producers are receiving praise from viewers for making the program more diverse.

According to India TV News, BeUnic curates lifestyle products made by queer entrepreneurs, according to

CENTRAL AMERICA

Guadalajara offers everything: delicious food, fine art, fascinating history, breathtaking scenery, and nearby chances for outdoor activity. But one particular aspect of the city’s culture — the vibrant LGBT scene — earned it a spot on The New York Times list of “52 Places to Go in 2023,” according to Mexico News Daily.

The Times emphasizes future events including the 11th annual Gay Games, an international sporting competition co-hosted with Hong Kong, slated for Nov. 3-11. It also showcases the richness of queer culture in the capital city of Jalisco.

The annual Prohibido festival, which focuses on art and sexuality, takes place

THERE’S MORE ONLINE!

INVESTIGATION

In France, a 13-year-old kid committed suicide after being ridiculed at school for being gay, shocking the nation and inspiring warnings that homophobia kills.

Lucas hanged himself in the eastern French area of the Vosges, prompting prosecutors to launch a probe into harassment of a juvenile.

INTO HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING

was “a direct causative link” between the bullying at school and the suicide, according to Nahon, whose inquiry is still ongoing.

Additionally, the investigation is required to confirm the severity of any bullying, how long it had persisted, and the precise words used.

The Lucas’ friends told authorities that he had been bullied “by pupils at his school for several months due to his homosexuality,” said regional prosecutor Frederic Nahon, according to France 24.

It will be determined whether there

The probe would reveal if there had been any online harassment.

The incident at the Louis Armand school in the town of Golbey has been reported to the education ministry, but the family has not yet filed a criminal complaint.

Gay Games 2023. Photo via Facebook.

in an abandoned theater. The theater has been repurposed to host interactive experiences, live music, and discussions about polyamorous and non-binary society, is another significant queer event coming to Guadalajara this year.

UGANDAN AUTHORITIES ERASE RAINBOW ON BUILDING IN CHILDREN’S PARK

BeUnic Founders via Instagram.

BY ROSEN

THE AROUNDWORLD

JULIE JAMES COMES TO AVENTURA SUNDAY

BROADWAY CHANNEL HOST READY TO TAKE CENTER STAGE

Julie James, the longtime voice of satellite radio’s Broadway channel, will debut Sunday in South Florida as a serious singer of show music.

“So many people didn’t know that I was originally a performer and a singer of so many things, opera to musical theater. And so little by little, we’ve been trying to flip the narrative and reveal this other part of me, the original part of me that so many people didn’t know was behind this voice that they know from the radio, that they consider a friend on the radio,” said James, who programs and hosts the weekly interview program “Broadway Names With Julie James” on SiriusXM satellite radio’s On Broadway channel.

James’ theater pals, including Broadway stars Kristin Chenoweth (“Wicked” and “Promises, Promises”) and Norm Lewis (“Les Misérables” and “Porgy and Bess”), are among her biggest boosters, each inviting her to perform with them in New York City.

“[James] really does engage with an audience,” said one of her best friends, Jeff Kiltie, general manager of Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, where she’ll perform her Manhattan-tested nightclub act 7 p.m. Sunday.

“She’s bright and sparkly and when she’s onstage she tells great stories,” said Kiltie of Wilton Manors, who met James 23 years ago at the Aventura Mall through a mutual friend. “She finds a way to tie the songs not only to her, but makes them relatable to everyone in the room. Everybody loves to hear stories about celebrities. She also just has got an amazing voice. She can sing the heck out of anything.”

James was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.

“I cannot believe as an adult looking back at the kind of wealth of cultural opportunity that existed in a city of – you know, it’s not a huge metropolitan city. But Dayton had its own philharmonic orchestra, its own opera

company, its own ballet company, several reputable theater companies, an art museum that’s of repute,” she recalled. “I can’t believe that I was lucky enough to grow up in this hub of culture. My family, thankfully, saw that I was arts-inclined early on and did everything they could to support my love and fervor for all of that. I grew up singing in church, but then I discovered musicals through my high school, like so many kids do.”

During the 1990s, James starred in student productions of “The Sound of Music,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “Annie” and “My Fair Lady.” Then, came a sophomore fine-arts spring break trip to New York City.

“We came to New York on a bus trip from Ohio, a Greyhound chartered bus full of high schoolers. We dumped out in the middle of Times Square to stay at the Hotel Edison. I set foot in Times Square and said, ‘This is where I’m gonna be!’ I just knew it. I just knew that that was where my dreams were gonna take me,” James said.

“I saw my first Broadway show, ‘Cats,’” she continued. “And then I actually took that trip again as a senior and saw “Phantom of the Opera.” I was wearing out the cassette tape at the time, so I couldn’t believe my fortune that I was able to see it.”

Years later, at SiriusXM, she got to interview and get to know “Cats” and “Phantom” composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

“That’s one of the stories that I tell in my show – I show a picture of me interviewing Andrew Lloyd Webber. I mean, imagine the girl that stepped off that bus, who later is – you know I’ve interviewed him multiple times. It mind-boggling that that circle would have been created.”

After high school, James studied opera at College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She moved to New York City in the late ‘90s and quickly got her first professional job, the “high E girl” in a Goodspeed Opera House production of “Sweeney Todd.” “It was such a buzzedabout production that Stephen Sondheim himself came to Connecticut to attend.”

“I was kind of off and running from there. I was doing lots of regional work and tours and everything was going great, and then I met who would become my then-husband. We’re not together anymore, but he was a musician and a singer-songwriter,” James said.

About that time, James “needed a day job” and found one at a New York temp agency. She didn’t stay long – a former agency co-worker recruited her in 2004 to work at Sirius (before it merged with XM radio).

“At the time they were looking for somebody that had classical knowledge that could work in the music programming department, in a supporting role of these classical channels. And I was like, ‘Wow, this is really interesting. If I’m gonna be working in an office job, how about an office job that actually has to do with music.’”

James then branched out, singing Sirius promotional jingles and parody songs for Howard Stern, doing radio voiceovers, and

appearing as “Double J, the Retro Redhead” DJ on the Outlaw Country channel.

After Sirius and XM merged, James became program director for the Metropolitan Opera channel. Soon, it suddenly made sense to also put her in charge of the On Broadway channel, where she now works with musical theater veterans Seth Rudetsky, Christine Pedi and John Tartaglia.

James says that every day, she must program 48 hours of music. “It’s 24-7 / 365, times two channels because I am curator of all the material on the Metropolitan Opera channel as well as the On Broadway channel.”

In addition to programming duties and her “Broadway Names With Julie James” show, she also now does a news feature called “The Broadway Buzz,” which, she said “airs every other hour of every day with the top stories of whatever is making the world of Broadway turn that day.”

James’ biggest challenge, particularly for On Broadway: programming for all listeners and their diverse tastes.

“Maybe it’s a golden classic. There’s a reason that Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, Sondheim – there’s a reason that all of these things live on in the great pantheon of material.”

Then, there’s the audience that grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s. “You might have a very

Steve Rothaus Special to SFGN

Julie James & Kristin Chenoweth Photo by Nellie Beavers.

casual listener. Maybe she’s a mother that’s in her 40s or 50s and she kind of just wants her memories of her favorite shows that she did in high school.

“But then you have the younger generation that wants to hear kind of the more cuttingedge stuff, the more recent stuff, the more things like ‘Hamilton’ or ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ or what’s playing on Broadway right now.”

James says that “every hour of every day, I’m trying to strike that balance: Here’s something new, something old, something in between. Here’s a group number. Here’s a ballad. Here’s something that’s got some big, full company energy behind it. Here’s something that’s maybe a little bit smaller and sparer. So, it’s a balancing act.”

Along the way, James has helped launch new shows and new stars.

“I do a lot of exclusives which are the first listen. A lot of the shows come to me,” she said. “I was the first one to play ‘Funny Girl,’ the new Lea Michele recording. Before it was released, the only place you could hear it like a day or two before was on our station. And Lea Michele actually handpicked which tracks she wanted, which was kind of cool, too. She hand-selected ‘People’ as the first track that she wanted everyone to hear.”

James’ radio work led to her own Broadway debut in 2019, when Chenoweth surprised her during an on-air interview with an offer to sing in her one-week stage show, “For the Girls,” directed by former Miami Beach resident Richard JayAlexander.

James recalled Chenoweth telling her during a SiriusXM interview: “People need to know that you sing. People need to know that you sing.”

“So live on-air,” James said, “she surprised me by inviting me to appear with her on Broadway. And it’s something that continues to this day because I’m going to appear with her just before I come to Florida.”

Kiltie, the Aventura cultural center manager, said “the word is getting out that [James] has a great voice.”

“When someone like Chenoweth invites you to perform with her on Broadway, you know that’s talent recognizing talent,” he said, adding that James has a lot of SiriusXM fans and that “a lot of people want to see her perform more, rather than just be the talkshow host on the radio.”

Although Sunday night is James’ official Florida performance debut, she has sung to local audiences for fun and charity. She has made several appearances at clubs along

“It has been my great joy and honor to be a lifelong ally in the community and to do anything and everything I can for those that I consider my brothers and sisters,” James said. “It’s really a community that embraced me and that I embraced right back. That’s why I’ve really found a second home in South Florida, and it means so much to me to be able to come there and share a full evening of something special.”

Kiltie and his husband, James Foster, who recently spent time in Manhattan with James, said she’s the real thing.

“She absolutely recognizes that the world she lives in is populated by LGBTQ+ people,” Kiltie said.

“Knowing her more than 20 years, she is who she presents herself to be. She is a great friend, she is loyal. She’s just a good person. She’s super supportive of everybody around her. She’s the kind of person who is always building everybody up.”

IF YOU GO

SiriusXM radio star Julie James performs 7 p.m. Sunday at Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St., Aventura. Ticket prices are $25 to $57, plus fees at ticketmaster. com.

“IT HAS BEEN MY GREAT JOY AND HONOR TO BE A LIFELONG ALLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING I CAN FOR THOSE THAT I CONSIDER MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.”

- Julie James

Jeff Kiltie and husband James Foster with Julie James in January outside the Shubert Theatre.

Photo by Jeff Kiltie via Facebook. Wilton Drive and in 2019 James emceed and performed at the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala – Miami.

PROVIDING OF EXPERIENCE

in the treatment and prevention of HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis.

WECKER

DR. JESSICA ALTAMIRANO

DR. AMY

(844) 922-2777

CANCOMMUNITYHEALTH.ORG

WALK-INS WELCOME AT ALL LOCATIONS

FORT LAUDERDALE

1726 SE 3rd Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (754) 701-6920

MIAMI GARDENS

13936 NW 7th Avenue Miami, FL 33168 (786) 800-5631

PLANTATION

4101 Nw 3rd Court, Suite 9 Plantation, Fl 33317 (754) 701-6911

SOUTH BEACH

427 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 514-0813

LAKE WORTH 201 N. Dixie Hwy Lake Worth, FL 33460 (561) 867-9991

DR. SHEETAL SHARMA

DR. MICHAEL SENSION

GAZETTE

WILTON MANORS

PATRICK CANN, DIRECTOR OF LEISURE SERVICES, LEAVES WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

Wilton Manors’ slogan is, “Life’s just better here.” One of the people who elevated that from slogan to reality was Patrick Cann. He’s moving on after nearly 19 years as the city’s Director of Leisure Services, and leaves behind a department that’s bigger and more inclusive than he found it.

“It was the hardest decision I feel like I’ve ever made,” he said. “I didn’t even know I could make the decision until the day I drafted a letter I’d be leaving.”

Since taking the job in 2004, he’s guided the department through a major recession and a pandemic. But he’s done more than guide it — he’s grown it to levels unthinkable even in the best of times. When Cann took over, growth has included more than doubling facilities, square footage, boat ramps, and dog parks.

What makes those accomplishments even more impressive is that his budget has only risen about 16% and the staffing levels have remained stagnant. During an interview with SFGN, Cann took little credit for himself and instead heaped it on others.

“You can’t achieve all those things without a great team. Being able to visualize the future, organize the operation, and engage the team.”

Despite very visible and popular accomplishments, like the pickleball courts at Hagen Park, Cann says growing the department is his greatest achievement.

“I call it the MVP approach: mission, vision, and plan. That’s the catalyst to starting your organization. Implementing the leadership

team. Recruiting, retaining, and growing top talent. Establishing a culture where people love to be here. They don’t have to be here, they want to be here.”

HELPING THE COMMUNITY

If you spend over two minutes with Cann, it becomes obvious his job is his passion. His stoic humility is pierced when he talks about how citizens are impacted by his work.

“It was great that we could help families and parents in our community during COVID by opening our parks safely and still doing outdoor events like Taste of the Island.”

Cann also is proud of his work to include the most vulnerable people in the community: youth and seniors. “How do we reduce seniors being isolated? How do we teach our youth life-affirming skills? How do we educate our community and value and commit to it by reducing school dropout rate? Parks and recreation play a vital role in helping our culture in so many ways.”

He says the department succeeds because he gave his team room to make big decisions and then stood by them.

“You can’t achieve all those things without a great team. Being able to visualize the future, organize the operation, and engage the team. Not taking a risk is not an option. Not growing is not an option. You grow a lot by taking risks. Our failures will lead to more knowledge and wisdom and greater efficiency.”

MOVING ON

Cann is leaving to become the director of Parks and Recreation in North Lauderdale.

“It’s about the big picture. I’ve been given an opportunity to serve in a larger community with unique challenges.”

This is his third job as leader of a parks department, and that’s not an accident.

“We all are called to do something, and this was my call. There’s nothing more I’d rather do.”

Though he won’t be an official part of Wilton Manors, the city will remain in his heart.

“When I come to Stonewall, I’ll still act like I work here. I’ll look for things that need support and be that volunteer to help.”

He’s also proud of the department he leaves behind.

“We’re changing society. We’re improving the quality of life and making it as world-class as possible. “I love the community. It’s been an honor to be here.”

Patrick Cann. Photo via LinkedIn.

MISSING WILTON MANORS MAN FOUND

By John McDonald

A Wilton Manors man, who was missing for almost a week, has been reunited with his family.

The Wilton Manors Police Department issued the following news release: “Missing Person Mr. James Doan has been safely located. He is in good health and reunited with his family. Thank you to our community partners-community members and the Broward Sheriff’s Office for assisting us with locating him.”

Doan, a humanities professor at Nova Southeastern University, went missing from his Wilton Manors home on the evening of Jan. 30. His husband, Brad Zuckerman, said the 69-year-old Doan

was suffering from mental health issues.

“JIM HAS BEEN FOUND!” Zuckerman posted on Facebook at 3:16 p.m., Feb. 4.

“He’s tired, and dirty but fine! Thank you for all your prayers and all the help. We love you all.”

During the search, SFGN reached out to the Stonewall National Museum Archives and Library, where Doan had recently served on the board of directors. Executive Director Robert Kesten described Doan as a “nice, kind, gentle and intelligent man.” Doan, Kesten said, had been helpful in preparation for the museum’s upcoming 50th anniversary gala on Feb. 25.

BROWARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATING PEDESTRIAN’S ‘DELAYED FATALITY’

By John McDonald

Detectives at the Broward Sheriff’s Office have launched an investigation into the “delayed” death of an Oakland Park woman.

In a news release, BSO announced its traffic homicide unit is conducting an investigation into the delayed fatality of Annie St. Gerard. The 50-year-old woman was attempting to cross North Andrews Ave. in the middle of the block on the morning of Jan. 10, when she was struck by a vehicle, police said.

St. Gerard was transported to Broward Health Medical Center. Two weeks later, on Jan. 28, she died from injuries afflicted by the crash.

Miranda Grossman, a BSO spokesperson, declined to comment if Broward Health Medical Center’s care and treatment of St. Gerard is the focus of the investigation.

The crash took place in the 100 block of W. Oakland Park Blvd. The driver, a 38-year-old Fort Lauderdale woman, was traveling east on W. Oakland Blvd. when her 2009 Nissan

Altima hit St. Gerard, police said. The driver stayed on the scene and detectives have ruled out excessive speed as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been six fatalities in Broward County resulting from crashes this year.

February 16, 2023 • Volume 10 • Issue 4 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

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

Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher•Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com

Assistant to the Editor • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com

Editorial Graphic Designers

Julie Palmer•Kyle Willis•Craig Tuggle artwork@sfgn.com

Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor •John Hayden john.jmhcreative@gmail.com

Correspondents

Sal Torre • James Oaksun • John McDonald

Staff Photographers

J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing

For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970

Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com

Co-founders• Norm Kent & Piero Guidugli

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Associated Press

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 © 2023 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

HAVE YOU JOINED THE GAZETTE’S FACEBOOK GROUP?

Come join the discussion. The Gazette welcomes feedback. Email Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com with comments, suggestions, etc.

Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette

Photo via Pixabay.

James Doan. Courtesy of Brad Zuckerman.

FLORIDA PASTOR EMBRACES BLACK HISTORY CLASS

Christiana Lilly

AMethodist church in St. Petersburg has the attention of the world after opening its doors to teachers who want to teach AP African American History, a course that the state will not accept at high schools.

On Jan. 19, Allendale United Methodist Church posted on Facebook, “Our governor does harm. If any teachers out there would like to teach African American Studies from Allendale’s campus and offer it online, we will host for free and financially make it possible.”

Since then, the church’s offer has been covered by CNN, ABC Action News, the Tampa Bay Times, WFLA, Christian Post and others.

The Florida Department of Education announced in January that it would not offer the College Board’s new AP African American History course, claiming that the class had a political agenda and was “woke indoctrination.” During a press conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also criticized the

course’s inclusion of queer theory and asked, “Who would say that an important part of black history is queer theory?”

Allendale United Methodist Church is offering the course in-person for those who live locally and will also allow remote access to those who are unable to attend live. Its interest form can be found at https://bit.ly/3k1slca.

Recently, the church hosted a brainstorming session with FL Rep. Michele K. RaynerGoolsby and other leaders regarding the state of education in Florida. Pastor Andy Oliver also spoke during a Black Lives Matter press conference on the steps of St. Petersburg City Hall.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR LATINOS SALUD ‘EVOLUTION’ GALA

John McDonald

Advance tickets are on sale now for the Latinos Salud “Evolution” Gala at the Design Center of the Americas in Dania Beach.

The 2023 gala, Latinos Salud’s first indoors gathering since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a night of celebration that will highlight how the agency has adapted during the last three years. It is scheduled for Feb. 25 with a VIP cocktail hour starting at 6 p.m. followed by the main event at 7 p.m.

Tickets start at $175 for regular admission and $225 for VIP. Gala funds help the agency’s participation in the annual Florida AIDS Walk. Free parking, open bar, hand-passed small plates and fast-paced entertainment are all part of the package.

VIP ticket holders get photo opportunities, a dedicated cocktail hour and the agency’s popular “Benefit in a Box” personally delivered prior to the event.

Headlining the Evolution Gala is Franzer Pasos, a Cuban singer who has appeared on the Fox music challenge series, I Can See Your Voice. The 22-year-old is a Latinos Salud client, taking PrEP to protect himself from HIV, the agency confirmed. Besides its PrEP program, Latinos Salud offers HIV testing and free vaccinations against COVID-19, monkeypox, meningitis and hepatitis.

Franzer Pasos. Courtesy photo.

Pastor Andy Oliver. Photo via allendaleumc.org.

PRIDE OF THE AMERICAS FINALLY HAPPENS

John Hayden

It was a scaled back version of the original vision. But despite years of delays, an exodus of leadership, and several critical issues bordering on scandal, Pride of the Americas (POTA) finally happened.

It wasn’t a grand, hemispheric event attracting visitors from Newfoundland to the tip of Argentina. However, it was a fun event with a local feel.

FRIDAY NIGHT REUNION

The weekend kicked off in Wilton Manors with Pride On the Drive. On a stage in front of Hunters Nightclub, Thunderpuss held their first performance in nearly 19 years. More than 2,400 people registered for the show and it felt like all of them showed up.

The area in front of the stage was packed with fans and dancers, and Thunderpuss delivered a fun set with a heavy dose of Whitney Houston remixes.

Across the parking lot, another stage was set up, this one giving off a caribbean vibe. A couple of food trucks and outside bars were set up. Though not as busy as the stage at Hunters, the crowd seemed to have a good time.

Pride On the Drive was created to fill the void created when POTA abandoned plans for any Friday night events.

PARADE & PARTY

Saturday started with a parade down A1A to Las Olas then turning right and leading to the main POTA event at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park. The parade was very short, with only about forty groups and organizations. Truncating the parade was necessary because Pride Fort Lauderdale, the organizers of POTA, only had the street for three hours, which included time to close and reopen the road.

There was a bit of a crowd at A1A and Las Olas near the reviewing stand, but beyond that, there were few, if any, spots where the crowd was two deep or more.

The main event was well organized and touched on international themes to some extent. On arrival, guests walked down a long, fenced in passageway adorned with most if not all versions of pride flags (bisexual, trans, etc.). Once in the park, there were flags from other pride gatherings, signed by their attendees. There were several dozen vendors for everything from promoting safe sex and

WAM’S RED DRESS GALA RAISES MORE THAN $100K

John Hayden

When you entered the party, all you saw was a sea of fierce red fashion.

healthy lifestyles to pride-themed clothes, jewelry, and welcoming congregations. Several area bars set up shop, including Boardwalk and Hamburger Mary’s. Hunters sponsored the VIP tent.

From the start of the party, dance music blared from the stage. However, no live entertainers or hosts took the stage until late mid-afternoon.

About an hour after sundown, LGBT icon Boy George, took the stage and thrilled the remaining crowd.

SUNDAY SPLASH

The closing pool party was held Sunday at Rok Bar Day Club. Several hundred people showed up to enjoy the end of the weekend. Despite less-than-ideal circumstances surrounding POTA, the weather was ideal. Sunny and in the low-eighties all weekend helped the vibes.

“We all needed a win,” Pride President Miik Martorell said. “With the beautiful weather and the great crowd, and the volunteers, we got it.”

Indeed, despite all the obstacles leading up to the event, volunteers stayed the course. Martorell says this would have been impossible without them.

“The volunteers were exceptional. It takes a lot out of you to do this. One volunteer I worked closely with was there every day from start to finish, and he wasn’t the only one.”

CLEARING A LOW BAR

The original vision for POTA was a grand, weeklong event with a Mayor’s Welcome, a 5k, and more. It was predicted that up to 350,000 people would come to Greater Fort Lauderdale for a week on the beach.

In the end, no events happened on the beach. Martorell estimates that 15,000 people total attended events. Since the pandemic delayed the original April 2020 date, funding dropped off, grants expired, and sponsors pulled out.

Executive Director Kevin Clevenger announced before the festival he would leave after the event wrapped up.

Steven Crawford, Pride vice president, is also leaving. Before POTA, he said, “The fact that it’s happening makes it feel like it’s successful.”

Now, POTA has happened. The question is: what’s next?

The Red Dress Dress Red gala went down at the DCOTA (Design Center of the Americas).

The venerable party made its Florida debut as a fundraiser for the World AIDS Museum (WAM). The event raised more than $100,000. Since the money is donated as part of WAM’s AIDS Walk efforts, all the funds will be matched.

Executive Director Terry Dyer said even he was blown away.

“It makes me feel so proud. I knew South Florida would show up and show out with their outfits. Everyone was dressed to the nines. There was creativity. There was comfy cozy, chic, elegant, rock, and leather. My heart was filled to see all the beauty in one room having the time of their lives.”

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis issued a proclamation celebrating WAM’s efforts and reinforcing the city’s support in

the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“The color red has been part of the HIV awareness program ever since the beginning,” Trantalis said.

“With WAM, it’s a continuation of that history.” Local and national stars took the stage, with Velvet LeNore emceeing. Headlining the night was out country music star Billy Gilman. When friends approached him about performing at the gala, Gilman says he was all in.

“Anything to help the betterment of people, especially in our community, is so important.”

PARTY & PROPOSAL AT HOLLYWOOD PRIDE

John Hayden

The street was packed. The energy was high. My Hollywood Pride was the party of the year (so far) and the community was there for it. In its second year, MHP built on its initial success and promoted the city as a destination for LGBT families.

“We had so much room and it was packed. There were people as far as the eye can see. It was magic,” MHP Chair Todd Delmay said.

He estimates that crowds doubled from last year and says small changes made a big difference. This year no vendors were placed in the median of Hollywood Boulevard. Instead, there were chairs and tables for guests to sit, relax, and enjoy the entertainment.

The event kept its “hyper-local” feel while still welcoming more guests from across South Florida. The appeal to families, both LGBT and straight, was a conscious choice. It’s also one of the reasons that Safe Schools South Florida was a presenting sponsor. They produced

volunteers including young people to manage the Teen Zone.

The event also saw MHP’s first proposal. Singer Jonathan Casanas had just finished his set on stage when host FayWhat?! came up and took the microphone. She said someone had a very important question.

Christopher Cragg got down on one knee and asked, “Will you spend the rest of your life waking up next to my sweaty body?”

Casanas managed to say yes and the crowd erupted.

FayWhat?! said this was fairly spur of the moment and MHP planners had no idea it was going to happen.

Photo via My Hollywood Pride, Facebook.

Inaugural Red Dress Gala. Photo by JR Davis.

COLLEGE BOARD FIELDS CRITICISM ON NEW AP AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY COURSE

Christiana Lilly

Aligning with the first day of Black History Month, the College Board shared the coursework for its new AP African American History class on Feb. 1, which will include queer Black history.

The College Board says that the course was created with the help of more than 300 professors of African American studies from more than 200 colleges across the country, as well as high school teachers.

In a statement from the nonprofit organization, CEO David Coleman said, “No one is excluded from this course: the Black artists and inventors whose achievements have come to light; the Black women and men, including gay Americans, who played pivotal roles in the civil rights movement; and people of faith from all backgrounds who contributed to the antislavery and civil rights causes. Everyone is seen.”

The course was completed in December 2022.

Those on the left then criticized the course

after the New York Times reported that the College Board edited the coursework after the comments from Florida’s leaders. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the move “bullshit” in a tweet and called the College Board’s CEO a “puppet of Ron DeSantis.”

In response, the College Board put out a statement, calling the article a “gross misrepresentation” of the course. They included pages from the course material covering Black feminism and the Black LGBT experience, which The Times said were removed. It did not address claims that the Black Lives Matter movement and critical race theory were purged from the course.

GAY JUDO ATHLETE WINS GERMAN CHAMPIONSHIP

LGBT judoka, Timo Cavelius, won his class at the German national judo championships in Stuttgart after finishing second the previous three years.

Cavelius, 26, won the championship by defeating Tim Gramkow, a two-time German champion, in the 81 kg (178-pound class). With the victory and his worldwide success, Cavelius told Outsports that his goal is to earn a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Although Cavelius came out in 2020, he had been out to his family and close friends since he was 15 years old. It took him longer to come out in judo.

“In sport, the topic was taboo for me for a long time,” Cavelius told OutSports. “Not only because I had repeatedly read horror stories in the media about athletes coming out. Judo is also a very physical sport, after all you throw each other around and you’re incredibly close in ground fighting. I was afraid that the others would no longer take me seriously.”

SIGN UP TO WALK WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA

SFGN file photo.

Timo Cavelius. Photo via Instagram.

Everitt Rosen

IN CELEBRATION OF

THE WOMEN’S FUND PRESENTS

How Women Shaped a Movement through Photography, Art, Music, and Conversation

Lesbian Land Photography Exhibition

Opening Reception - Free Event!

Friday, March 3, 2023, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Open bar and refreshments

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library

You must RSVP to Monique@Stonewall-Museum.org to attend

This exhibition series draws its title from Lesbian Land, a collection of writings by lesbians who founded lands in the 1970s and 1980s in an effort to drop out of society and form new revolutionary communities and bring about liberation. Land dykes published womenauthored books and magazines, supported musical networks, and made essential contributions to the history of photography. This crucial history is for the most part unknown.

Conversation with Fran Liebowitz - Festival of the Arts Boca Wed., March 8, 2023, 7:00 PM

Mizner Park Amphitheater, Boca Raton

For tickets visit Festival of the Arts BOCA

In a cultural landscape filled with endless pundits and talking heads, Fran Leibowitz stands out as one of our most insightful social commentators. Her essays and interviews offer her acerbic views on current events and the media – as well as pet peeves including tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. The New York Times Book Review calls Leibowitz an “important humorist in the classic tradition.” Purveyor of urban cool, Leibowitz is a cultural satirist whom many call the heir to Dorothy Parker.

Photography by: Leah DeVun, Professor of History and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Rutgers University

Curated by: Leah Appleton Associate DirectorLeonard Pearlstein Gallery / Curator, Drexel University

Women’s History Screening and Conversation - Free Event!

Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Open bar and refreshments

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library

You must RSVP to Monique@Stonewall-Museum.org to attend. Featuring Rajee Narinesingh, Tret Fure, and others. See them on film and talk about their lives over a drink.

Pillow Talk: A discussion about sex, sexuality, and alternate lifestyles by and for women - Free Event

Saturday, March 11, 2023, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Open bar and refreshments

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library

You must RSVP to Monique@Stonewall-Museum.org to attend.

Discussion by: Dr. C.E. Grenci, Ph.D., Clinical Professor - Clinical Sexology Grande Mistress Carla, ACE, GM Queen of Domination

Charlayne E. Grenci, Ph.D., is a clinical sexologist, a clinical professor, a relationship expert, and an authority on BDSM. She also wears another hat as Mistress Carla, who has worked as a professional dominatrix with an ongoing, unconventional sex research program since 1980. Her research study has focused on various sexual practices, alternative lifestyles, sexual preferences, sexual human behavior, and most relationship issues.

Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Sexology

Dr. Marilyn K. Volker, Ed.D

Dr. Marilyn K. Volker, Sexologist for the past fifty years. Dr. Volker trains counselors to become sex therapists and has served as sexuality consultant for a variety of addiction treatment facilities state and nationwide and has written articles addressing sexuality issues in recovery. Dr. Volker teaches in the sexuality programs for two medical schools—University of Miami and Ross University and is a doctoral committee member for the International Institute of Clinical Sexology. Presenting Literary Women: Readings from theater, poetry, prose from some of the greatest lesbian writers in American History such as Audre Lorde and Rita Mae Brown - Free Event!

Partial funding for this program was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs and exhibitions website do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Friday, March 31, 2023, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Open bar and refreshments

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library

You must RSVP to Monique@Stonewall-Museum.org to attend.

W elco me Ab oard!

WYOMING SENATE PASSES ANTI-LGBT BILL WITH MORE IN TOW

Benjamin Manning

Following in Florida’s footsteps, the red state of Wyoming has put its own “Don’t Say Gay” bill in the hands of its House of Representatives.

The bill has seen support from local chapters of Moms for Liberty, just as it did in Florida. And with a House made up of 57 Republicans and five Democrats, one can assume it will see continued support on the floor, too.

The contents of the bill closely resemble Florida’s, including a ban on the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade, or at any grade level in a way that’s deemed “not age appropriate.”

If the state continues on the same track as Florida, residents of Wyoming have reason to fear that the bill will be pushed toward an expansion in the future. Moms for Liberty members in both states are asking for coverage

COLUMN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

beyond the third grade.

The conservative nonprofit has made its stance on transgender youth clear, too.

According to a quote provided by Wyoming Public Media, Laramie County Moms for Liberty Vice-Chair Erin Waszkiewicz compared the support of transgender people with encouraging an eating disorder.

Unsurprisingly, Wyoming’s Senate is favorably reviewing a bill that will criminalize gender transition for minors. The bill makes an exception to allow genital surgery on intersex infants, a dated procedure deemed to cause “severe mental suffering.”

I read your editorial (“Pride Is A Protest-Not A Parade”) and think it is right on the money. I wish we had more people here who are more activistoriented. Back in the '90s we had groups like GUARD and ACTUP here who would organize protests. At the least the LGBT leaders here need to organize and come up with some kind of strategy to counteract DeSantis’ campaign. Keep it up!

Sincerely,

Fred Fejes

Jason,

Photo by Norbu Gyachung, via Unsplash.

Photo via Pixabay.

TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT A BEST OF WINNER THE PUB DELIVERS

Rick Karlin

THE PUB

The Pub or Village Pub, it doesn’t matter what you call it, the Wilton Drive staple is a favorite watering hole for many in our community. Mostly because the drinks are reasonably priced and poured by friendly, good-looking bartenders. But that’s not the only reason. Pub offers a variety of entertainment from drag shows to cabaret, to show tune Tuesdays and, in recent years, a revamped menu that offers not only lowercase p pub food but treats that go beyond bar fare, all at reasonable prices.

When Mike Connell came in as a partner five years ago, one of the things he wanted to do was upgrade the meals being served at the bar. Meals would be perhaps an overstatement, since the menu then basically consisted solely of fried and micro-waved snacks. The first step of Connell’s plan was to remodel the kitchen and hire a chef. When the menu first debuted in 2019 it was, perhaps, a bit too ambitious. The lobster roll offered was delicious but didn’t sell enough to be feasible.

In the intervening years, the menu has been tweaked and now is so successful, that The Pub took home SFGN’s “Best Of” award for bar food, and was runner-up for best burger.

The current menu has dropped all the fancy items and focuses on what it does exceptionally well: bar fare. Appetizers include pretzel bites and a giant pretzel, and various batter-fried yummies, both expected (wings, onion rings, cheese sticks, fries) and surprising (gator bites, pickle chips, and string beans). Sandwiches range from burgers and chicken to blackened grouper, BLT, and a veggie burger, while entrées offer homestyle fare such as meatloaf, fish & chips, pasta Alfredo, chicken cutlet, and chicken cordon bleu. Sandwiches are priced less than $10 and include a side, entrees are less than $20 and include a side or soup of the day. A variety of salad options are available for those seeking something lighter.

Breakfast is available until 1 p.m. and includes all the diner classics; eggs, breakfast sandwiches, omelets, breakfast burritos, eggs Benedict, as well as chicken and waffles. All are served with traditional sides. Freshly made buttermilk biscuits and toast accompany many dishes. All breakfast fare is in the $10-$15 range.

SIDE DISH

NEW FACES IN FAMILIAR PLACES

MA-PRAO opened in mid-October, replacing the former Thai Bayshore Restaurant which closed suddenly last summer … Sushi by Bou at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Pompano Beach didn’t even last a year, but a new place, SUSHI LAB, thinks it’s got a different enough take that they’ll be successful in that same spot. The father-and-son team Hank and Brandon Freid have already had success with their concept in New York City, one in Midtown and another in the East Village … Kitchenetta closed suddenly. Kitchenetta’s website is still up and operational and a note on the site says that they’ll be reopening soon. Soon is here. AZZURO’S, formerly of Sunny Isles has opened in the space …

Speaking of sudden closings. Wilton Manors’ HOLY MACKEREL and the BBQ restaurant attached to it shut down with no notice (as in folks showed up for drag queen brunch after confirming their reservations the night before). Signs up now say “Closed Temporarily.” We’ll see.

Cucina Caruso, the longtime pizzeria and Italian bakery owned by Domenico Caruso and Ana Cordoves, has been sold to new owner Agnes Evangelista, who rebranded the restaurant in early December as DA GIANNI … The latest occupant of 2410 Wilton Drive is AMADO MARKET. This iteration is an Argentine market and sandwich shop. It replaces the Nicaraguan restaurant Fritanga Managua, which replaced a gyros restaurant, which replaced … you get the picture.

GAY KISS SCENE CUT FROM NEW TOM BRADY MOVIE THERE’S MORE ONLINE!

Chicken Caesar Wrap at The Pub, photo by Marqus R., via Yelp.

Southern Fried Chicken at The Pub, photo by Marqus R., via Yelp.

Eggs Benedict at The Pub, photo by Marqus R., via Yelp.

LOVE REQUIRES GRIEVING

If we dare to love, we will grieve. It’s been a week since grief took hold of us. We began in denial that anything serious was wrong, and then bargained that we’d fix it with surgery. When told that nothing could be done, I wailed in anger, then sobbed in despair. Since Lincoln took his last breath in our arms, Ray and I have experienced more tears and more sadness than we can remember.

The anger and denial are gone, as is the despair, but now we feel lost in an empty house and garden. There is a weight to sorrow that sits on my shoulders, and at the top of my head. I want to smile but my face is frozen.

Lincoln was a dog. He wasn’t a child, but he was our baby. He was 6, and we expected at least six more years together. He was an equal member of our family, who we loved at the deepest depth of our souls.

There are lessons for us to learn from the grief we’re experiencing. You grieve as deeply as you love. Grief requires patience. It can’t be rushed, and there are no comparisons. No two people experience grief in the same way at the same time. Lincoln started vomiting Saturday morning. Our vet directed us to a pet hospital an hour away. Lincoln sat in the front seat, very glad to be with his two dads. We pet him and stayed totally in the moment, reminding

ourselves that we had no idea of what was to come, so there was no sense in worrying.

At the hospital, the doctor said there was no hope, that Lincoln had cancer in his pancreas and liver. They brought him into our room, and he was very excited to see us. But he quickly picked up on our tears as we laid with him on the floor. We sang to him the baby song I’ve used to relax him since he was a puppy, “Go to Sleep.” The doctor then injected a drug to put him at rest, and another to stop his heart. We cried and cried as we sat with him before an orderly showed up with a stretcher.

When people write that “there are no words to comfort your loss,” it’s true in the very beginning. We were in an emotional free fall. Yet, grief lets go of its grip when you feel that you’re not alone, when you trust that others understand. Over 1,000 people sent messages of support, and flowers for Lincoln’s little shrine. And, the chocolate chip cookies helped keep the dementors at bay.

We’ll soon be grateful that we had six years with this extraordinary manifestation of love and joy. We know that all things are temporary, that life is about change. Ray and I have weathered a lot of painful losses, so we’re not ill equipped. But, boy does it hurt.

Brian McNaught has been an author and educator on LGBTQ issues since 1974. Former Congressman Barney Frank said of Brian, “No one has done a better job of chronicling what it’s like to grow up gay." www.brian-mcnaught.com.

“Love without judgement”

SPIRITUALITY

CONGREGATION

2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org

congregationetzchaim1974@gmail.com

Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m.

HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 1436 NE 26th St Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net

CHECK WEBSITES AND FACEBOOK PAGES FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION REGARDING IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE OF SERVICES, AS WELL AS VIRTUAL VIEWING OPTIONS. SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM

Sunday Mass at 11AM

CHURCH

TEMPLE

Ray Struble, Lincoln, and Brian McNaught. Photo via Brian McNaught, Facebook.

Brian McNaught

SFGN LAUNCHES WEEKLY DIGITAL NEWSLETTER

SFGN just launched a new digital newsletter delivered to inboxes on Mondays.

This weekly newsletter will give readers all the biggest LGBT stories for the week from SFGN in five minutes or less.

“We understand not everyone has the time to look at our daily e-blast, we wanted to develop an option for those readers who still want to be kept informed, but their time may be limited. So we’re excited to introduce The Scoop!”

- Executive Editor of SFGN Jason Parsley

Sign up at sfgn.com/newsletter

Christian Cooper and Michael Perry star as model Charles Beach and artist J.C. Leyendecker in Epiphany Theatre’s production of “In Love with the Arrow Collar Man,” playing through Feb. 25 in Fort Lauderdale. Credit: Epiphany

ARTSBEAT

HISTORY AND ART TAKE CENTER STAGE

J.W. Arnold

MINI-REVIEW: ‘ARROW COLLAR MAN’ AT EPIPHANY THEATRE

Epiphany Theatre at Elliot Hall, 2501 N.E. 30th St. in Fort Lauderdale, explores the life of long-forgotten gay illustrator J.C. Leyendecker in Lance Ringel’s “In Love with the Arrow Collar Man,” playing through Feb. 25.

In his heyday a century ago, Leyendecker was one of the most famous illustrators in the country, supplying the covers for the Saturday Evening Post, creating the New Year’s baby and providing art for iconic advertising campaigns.

His muse (and lover) was Charles Beach, a young Canadian who would become the most recognizable man in America as a result. Their lives and love are a largely overlooked chapter in LGBT history that Ringel’s two-act drama attempts to correct.

The production doesn’t come close to the standards of most community theaters in the region – the venue is a church fellowship hall with improvised lighting, the sets are slapped together, and the actors appear to have provided their own costumes (none of which are remotely vintage or appropriate for the period). Off-Off-Off-Broadway is an aspiration.

The performances are unbearably stiff, although credit goes to Michael Perry for stepping into the leading role just five days earlier. Similarly, Ringel’s play often feels like a Wikipedia article (complete with an art professor as a narrator) and could benefit from some broad editing.

While $30 is a steep price for this production, this lesson in gay history just might be worth it. Or simply Google it. Go to ArrowCollar.Eventbrite.com for more information and tickets.

THE ART OF MAKING ART

Art Gallery 21 presents a new art installation featuring local Wilton Manors artist Tin Ly, “Traditional Chinese Artist’s Tools Re-examined,” at Island City Cultural Center, 600 NE 21st Ct., Feb. 18 – March 12.

As a boy attending school in the Chinese sector of Saigon, Vietnam, Ly learned calligraphy with simple traditional writing tools such as soft goat-hair brushes, ink sticks, and inkstone.

“I was fascinated with the different effects of such simple tools and objects that could create varied writing styles of strength, nuance and vitality. How do I re-interpret and transform these writing tools to reflect the understanding of my cultural heritage?” Ly explained in notes for the exhibition.

In his latest exhibition, Ly created a series of clay objects that transformed the traditional Chinese artist’s tools, such as paint-brush, water-dropper, brush-washer, and brush-rest into unique sculptural objects for contemplation. A series of small water-medium paintings harmonize the exhibition.

For more information, go to ArtGallery21.org.

Theatre.

SFGN's SWAPSHOP!

Call our sales team at 954.530.4970

husband for rent

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

home improvement

THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS FOR AS LITTLE AS $149/MONTH! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual inhome consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-954-459-3049

tv/internet services

GET DIRECTV FOR $64.99/MO FOR 12 MONTHS WITH CHOICE PACKAGE.Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! DIRECTV is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-866-406-0210

home improvement

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-535-1023