local name global coverage february 27, 2019 vol. 10 // issue 9
e d a r a p e l a d r e d u a L t r o F e Prid
’ A 1 y a g ‘ t i s make pages 34 - 45
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Grateful Paws Benefit March 6 at The Alibi Denise Royal
Harvey, one of the very good dogs that have been adopted out by Grateful Paws. Photo credit: Grateful Paws, Facebook.
T
he ninth annual fundraiser benefiting Grateful Paws happens on March 6. Grateful Paws is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) animal rescue organization. The event takes place at 8 p.m. at Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar in Wilton Manors. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door. The benefit is open to the public and will feature an amazing silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and more. Showtime is at 9 p.m. with live entertainers from Alibi and several guests. All of the money raised at this event goes towards the tremendous overhead cost of rescuing, care, and adoption of Grateful Paws animals. Grateful Paws is made up of animal-loving volunteers. The organization rescues stray, abandoned, neglected, and surrendered dogs and cats. Volunteers work tirelessly to place these animals in loving homes. If you are unable to attend the event, Grateful Paws is always looking for an extra set of hands – there are several ways to help, including:
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Digital Content Director • Justin Musial Webmaster@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington Graphic Designer • Char Pratt Arts/Entertainment Editor • JW Arnold JW@prdconline.com Social Media Manager • Tucker Berardi tberardi@ufl.edu Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • Sallie James HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com
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In Memorium
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All of the money raised at this event goes towards the tremendous overhead cost of rescuing, care, and adoption of Grateful Paws animals.
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Cover 1: Pride Fort Lauderdale trails the rainbow flag down a1a. Photo credit: J.R. Davis. Cover 2: Compass youth are represented at the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival. Photo Credit: Kristen Grau.
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Associated Press 2 . 27.2019
Norm.Kent@sfgn.com
Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com
Dori Zinn • Donald Cavanaugh • Christiana Lilly • Denise Royal • David-Elijah Nahmod
Georgie’s Alibi is located at 2266 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. For more information, visit GratefulPaws.org/getinvolved.html.
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Publisher • Norm Kent
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February 27, 2019 • Volume 10 • Issue 9
Sales Manager • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com Senior Advertising Associate • Clark Rogers Clark@sfgn.com Assistant to the Editor • Nick Adkins Distribution Services • Rocky Bowell, Lee Curtis Sales Consultant • Charles A. Reid National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Sun Coast Press
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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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NEWS local Pride Fort Lauderdale 2018. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
Two stabbed during beach concert Jason Parsley
T
wo people were stabbed during an located at 700 Seabreeze Blvd. altercation at Pride Fort Lauderdale’s “There is no indication this was a beachside concert Sunday about premeditated act of terrorism designed 6:30 p.m., according to the Fort Lauderdale to cause harm or fear to the South Florida Police Department. LGBTQ community. The two individuals are expected All indications “All indications are that this was a to survive, but a “trauma alert” was are that this issued for one victim. The other victim dispute between suffered superficial injuries. disagreeing parties,” was a dispute According to Pride Fort Lauderdale read a statement between two people, a mother and daughter, from Pride Fort disagreeing were detained Lauderdale. “At Pride “We believe this was an isolated Fort Lauderdale, we parties.” incident, which happened during an make the security - Statement from altercation near the main stage,” said and safety of our Pride Fort Lauderdale Casey Liening, Public Information guests a priority. Specialist for the FLPD. “This was not We are able to share an attack/active killer situation.” that at all our events we require a police Pride Fort Lauderdale took place on Fort presence to protect our staff, volunteers, Lauderdale’s beach. The main stage was sponsors and guests.”
Anyone that has information about this incident please contact Detective Benson at 954-828-6561
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SouthFloridaGayNews 2.27.2019 •
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LGBTQIA bites Bisexual
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Bisexual teacher in Kentucky fired for coming out One of Nicholas Breiner’s students contemplated killing herself because she was struggling with her sexuality. Breiner came out as bisexual to attempt to help, but got fired from his Kentucky middle school as a result. “I couldn’t help but wonder how many students I had that were in a similar situation to that student; feeling completely alone and nearing that irreversible decision,” he said, according to USA Today. He came out over Instagram, and three days later, was pulled into the principal’s office, was interrogated about his sexuality, and they warned him to keep it to himself. A month later, his contract with the school wasn’t renewed. Breiner says he believes he was fired over his bisexuality, but even if he was, he may not be able to do anything.
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2 . 27.2019
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By Cameren Boatner
Intersex
Iceland law protecting intersex rights removed from bill Iceland. SFGN file photo.
Nicholas Breiner. Photo via Twitter.
Kentucky civil rights law doesn’t prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexuality.
A drafted law that included protection of intersex children was revised to remove those protections. Now, intersex children in Iceland may still be subjected to unnecessary genital surgeries. The draft law would make it easier for transgender people to change their name and gender, but a committee has been set up to draft another law for intersex children, according to Reuters. This would mean an indefinite delay, where
activists worry intersex children will be vulnerable. “These practices are rooted in disgust, that our bodies aren’t good enough, that they don’t look the right way,” Kitty Anderson, founder of Intersex Iceland, told Reuters. Anderson also pointed out that, though Iceland is at the forefront of equal rights, the small population makes what scrutiny there is that much worse.
LGBTQIA bites
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Transgender
Transgender Colombian helps LGBT people flee Venezuela
HOME | AUTO | BUSINESS
Madonna Badillo. Photo via Madonna Badillo, Facebook.
Madonna Badillo, a 49-year-old transgender woman, helps LGBT Venezuelan refugees flee to Colombia. Badillo lives in Maicao, Colombia, near the border of Colombia, and shares her home with seven Venezuelan sex workers. She doesn’t ask for rent, just that they help out with groceries, according to Aljazeera. “Because of what’s happening in Venezuela, and as our neighbour country and members of the LGBT
community, I find myself wanting to help them and give them refuge,” Badillo said, according to Aljazeera. LGBT people in Colombia face a lot of discrimination, and some Venezuelans with HIV/AIDS can’t get medicine, so Badillo has committed herself to taking care of these individuals. “No one wanted to rent them a room because there is a lot of discrimination towards our population,” Badillo said.
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news international
By Cameren Boatner
the world around
africa
europe
Kenya delays vote on gay sex ban until May
Gay Serbian prime minister’s partner gives birth
A vote to remove provisions under Kenya’s penal code that criminalize gay sex would’ve happened Friday, but the court wasn’t ready. They stalled the vote until May 24 because some judges were absent and they couldn’t get through all the necessary files. If the judges change the code in May, they’d be the first country to decriminalize gay sex in East Africa, according to VOA News. “Gay issues are very sensitive in this country, and I think even with the judges they cannot make these decisions by themselves. I think they need to consult from other government bodies and I think that’s why they are still pushing it. They still need some time,” Felix Kasanda, an LGBT rights activist told VOA.
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Kenyan Parliament. Photo credit: JimSlim, wiki user.
The “sensitive” sections of the code that criminalize gay sex could sentence those convicted to up to 14 years in prison.
Serbia’s first female and gay Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and her partner welcomed a baby boy on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Brnabic, 43, was appointed to office in June 2017, according to the BBC. Gay marriage is illegal in Serbia and LGBT people are often harassed and attacked, so her appointment made history for the community. Now she’s making history again. “Ana Brnabic is one of the first prime ministers whose partner has given birth while in office... and the first in the world in a same-sex couple,” the AFP agency quoted her office as saying. Same-sex couples aren’t allowed to adopt in Serbia, even though single people can adopt. So Brnabic partner
Ana Brnabic. Photo via president.gov.ua
Milica Djurdjic had to conceive through artificial insemination.
asia
central america
Gay parenting boot camp to give advice, support in Asia
Yucatan delays legalizing gay marriage
The New York based non-profit parenting “boot camp” called Men Having Babies will host its first event in Asia, after an increased interest in surrogacy. Men Having Babies will provide assistance, advice, and support to gay couples wanting to become parents. The sessions will be in Taipai, Taiwan on March 9 and 10, according to Reuters. “Our conferences are not meant to persuade to become parents ... they are meant for people who already want to become parents (and) to make the process more accessible and easier,” founder and executive director, Ron Poole-Dayan told Reuters. “People are starting to realize .. the fact that they’re gay doesn’t mean that they’re not going to be able to have a full life including
8
Exploring LGBT News Events Across the Globe
2 . 27.2019
A young couple. SFGN file photo.
starting a family and having children.” Men Having Babies holds around seven conferences a year in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Israel, and will now host annual conferences in Asia.
Yucatan, the only Mexican state that has yet to legalize gay marriage, has pushed off the decision because most of the representatives didn’t show up to vote. Because of this, the “inevitable” legalization of gay marriage was tabled last Tuesday, and the Congress of Yucatan is in contempt of the high court. LGBT activists are saying the local reps, according to Yucatan Expat Life, didn’t show up on purpose, so they’d be forced to postpone the vote. “They want to tire us to avoid the issue, but we will not take a step back,”Alex Orué, director of the LGBT organization It Gets Better Mexico, told HuffPost Mexico. “We already know how they spend to avoid the issue, there are always more important events or issues, and if they
Building of the Congress of Yucatán. Photo credit: J. Magno, via Flickr.
can get up early, they will do it.” In 2015, the Court of Justice of the Nation ruled restricting marriage exclusively as between a man and a woman is discriminatory and illegal.
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NEWS miami-dade
NEWS local
David Richardson to Run for Miami Beach City Commission Jason Parsley
D
avid Richardson, the first openly gay person elected to the Florida Legislature, will run for the Miami Beach City Commission. “Today, I would like to announce that I will be a candidate for Commissioner in Miami Beach, thank you for the support, I really appreciate it. Tengo un gran Corazon para ti, Muchas gracias!” he recently told a crowd gathered at the 4Ward Maimi 2019 Pa’Lante awards, where he was one of the honorees. Richardson was elected to the Florida House’s 113th District in Miami in 2012. Since he ran unopposed in the general election, his victory was guaranteed. He served for 6 years. In 2018 he decided to run for the U.S House to succeed Republican Ileana RosLehtinen. He lost to Donna Shalala in the democratic primary.
SFGN Boxes in Victoria Park Vandalized Photo: David Richardson, Facebook.
A
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2 .27.2019
SFGN Staff
S
omeone wants to stop you from reading another news box, full of SFGN, the Mirror, SFGN. and the Guide to South Florida was opened For the second time in two weeks, and the aforementioned publications were a mysterious man on a bicycle has removed also thrown out. SFGN’s newspapers from their distribution Publisher Norm Kent has reported the case box at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale, and to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, thrown them into the trash. asking that the culprit be apprehended and On two specific occasions, the culprit was charged with acts of vandalism and criminal observed opening and retrieving dozens of mischief. papers from the SFGN red distribution box at Kent, a criminal defense lawyer for 40 Northeast 14th Avenue by Art Serve years, also advised that if it is proven at the eastern location adjoining the man’s acts were purposely homophobic, targeting Holiday Park. “The paper may the gay community, the The suspect then threw complaint could be the papers into large be free, but our product upgraded to a felony and trash receptacles. Other is proprietary, has value, charged as a hate crime. newspapers at the and is being purposely stolen “The paper may be same venue, including free,” Kent said, “but our the New Times and and destroyed. We won’t product is proprietary, Sun Sentinel were left stand for it.” has value, and is being untouched. purposely stolen and A thin man, likely in his - Norm Kent destroyed. We won’t stand late 50’s riding a bicycle, SFGN Publisher for it. We will prosecute.” and wearing a religious cross, Kent has asked anyone has been identified as the suspect observing the threat to call the offices by two separate eyewitnesses. Each has posted about the incidents on Nextdoor.com, of SFGN at 954-530-4970 or email him immediately at norm.kent@sfgn.com. a neighborhood watch site in Victoria Park. “They are not just trashing our paper,” Kent The most recent occurrence was last week. The last reported case where a witness clearly said. “They are trashing your rights as a free identified the theft at the same location was American citizen to have access to a free press; to the blessings of our First Amendment, the on Feb. 11. But last week, at the Floridian, in front of ability to read what you want and speak what the US Post Office at 1400 East Las Olas Blvd., you believe.”
NEWS health
Winter 2019 Report from SFAN and HIV PC Sean McShee This article discusses three meetings. First, it reports on the Jan. 24 meeting of the HIV Planning Council (HIV-PC). Second, it reports on the Jan. 4 meeting of the South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN). Third, it reports on the Feb. 1 meeting of SFAN. The Broward HIV Planning Council (HIVPC) oversees the Ryan White Care (RWC) Program of Broward (RWC-Broward). The South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN) advises the RWC program of the Florida Department of Health in Broward (RWC-FL DOH Broward).
HIV Planning Council The HIV PC meeting moved $250,000 from the Health Insurance Continuation Program. It also moved $36,000 from Mental Health Services and $25,989 from Medical Case Management. It moved all $321,989 to Ambulatory Health Services. The latter program saw a significant increase in its number of clients. January South Florida AIDS Network Election of its officers occupied most of this meeting. Joey Wynn announced that he could no longer be chair as his work load had increased. SFAN re-elected Gary Hensley and Trudy Love as vice-chair and secretary respectively. SFAN elected Greg Beltran to succeed Wynn as chair. Wismy Cius, of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, reported changes to DOH’s pharmacy’s policies. People who pick up their meds at the DOH pharmacy can now obtain a 90-day supply. Clients must first have their physician’s approval. Arianna Lint requested an investigation about her removal from the HIV Planning Council. February South Florida AIDS Network Leonard Jones, RWC-Broward, discussed RWC Funding. RWC-Broward has three funding sources. One source is competitive. Complex formulas determine the other two awards. The formula for the RWC Base award uses the number of HIV cases detected in a given
county. The number of people receiving HIV services does not determine RWC funding. Only those who first tested HIV-positive in that county are linked to that county’s RWC funding. Jones estimated that 33 percent of RWC-Broward’s clients were not tested in Broward. For example, say Patient X receives his first HIV-positive test result in Chicago. He then moves to Broward and begins to receive RWC services in Broward. His positive HIV result in Chicago determines where “his” RWC dollars go. Those dollars will always go to Chicago regardless of where Patient X is receiving RWC services. Recently, Broward County received a reduction in HIV funding of $100,000. At the same time, its client load increased by 3 percent. Jones warned that RWC-Broward was “heading to a mismatch between funds and services.” RWC-Broward is now at maximum capacity according to Jones. Without more funding, Broward will have to streamline services, reduce services, or increase eligibility. Jones stressed that the “continuum of services has worked for last five years.” He does not want to see it break down. Jones said it was not sustainable over the long run. This potential short fall will not impact agencies immediately. Jones said there may be an impact in the second half of next fiscal year (October 2019 to February 2020). Tamika Johnson announced that Broward Health Medical Center is now offering oral and anal STD testing. Next SFAN Meeting: Thursday, March 7, at 6:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE 56th St., Fort Lauderdale. SFAN welcomes newcomers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS The RWC-FL-DOH Broward announced that two RWC dental clinics will be closed effective Feb. 28, 2019. The two clinics are located at The South Regional location at 4105 Pembroke Rd., Hollywood and at the Paul Hughes location, 205 NW 6th Ave.
Beginning March 1, RWC Dental patients should go to The Fort Lauderdale Clinic, 2421 SW 6th Avenue 954-467-4705. Its
hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Follow Sean McShee on Twitter @SeanMcShee 2.27.2019 •
11
NEWS national
Judge grants citizenship to twin son of gay couple
Photo: Facebook.
Christopher Weber
A
federal judge in California ruled Thursday that a twin son of a gay married couple has been an American citizen since birth, handing a defeat to the U.S. government, which had only granted the status to his brother. The State Department was wrong to deny citizenship to 2-year-old Ethan Dvash-Banks because U.S. law does not require a child to show a biological relationship with their parents if their parents were married at the time of their birth, District Judge John F. Walter found. A lawsuit filed by the boy’s parents, Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks, sought the same rights for Ethan that his brother, Aiden, has as a citizen. Each boy was conceived with donor eggs
“This family was shocked and appalled and angry when they were told their family wasn’t legal.” -Aaron Morris
Immigration Equality executive director
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2 .27.2019
and the sperm from a different father — one an American, the other an Israeli citizen — but born by the same surrogate mother minutes apart. The government had only granted citizenship to Aiden, who DNA tests showed was the biological son of Andrew, a U.S. citizen. Ethan was conceived from the sperm of Elad Dvash-Banks, an Israeli citizen. The lawsuit was one of two filed last year by an LGBTQ immigrant rights group that said the State Department is discriminating against same-sex binational couples by denying their children citizenship at birth. The cases filed in Los Angeles and Washington by Immigration Equality said the children of a U.S. citizen who marries abroad are entitled to U.S. citizenship at birth no matter where they are born, even if the other parent is a foreigner. Only the Los Angeles case was decided Thursday. “We are aware of the court’s Feb. 21 ruling. We are reviewing the ruling in coordination with Department of Justice,” the State Department said in a brief statement to The Associated Press. Previously the department has pointed to guidance on its website that said there must be a biological connection to a U.S. citizen to
become a citizen at birth. “This family was shocked and appalled and angry when they were told their family wasn’t legal,” said Aaron Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality. “They wanted their twin boys to be treated exactly the same.” Morris said the government wrongly applied a policy for children born out of wedlock to married same-sex couples. Walter agreed, writing that the State Department statute does not contain language “requiring a ‘blood relationship between the person and the father’ in order for citizenship to be acquired at birth.” “This is justice! We are hopeful that no other family will ever have to go through this again. It’s like a giant rock has been removed from our hearts,” Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks said in a statement provided by Immigration Equality. Andrew Dvash-Banks was studying in Israel when he met his future husband, Elad, an Israeli citizen. Because they couldn’t marry at the time in the U.S. or in Israel, they moved to Canada, where they wed in 2010. The children were born by a surrogate in September 2016. Everything seemed fine until the couple brought their cranky infants to the American
consulate in Toronto a few months later to apply for citizenship and the woman at the counter began asking probing questions they found shocking and humiliating. The consular official told them she had discretion to require a DNA test to show who the biological father was of each boy and without those tests neither son would get citizenship. The men knew that Andrew was Aiden’s biological father and Elad was Ethan’s, but they had kept it a secret and hadn’t planned on telling anyone. After submitting the DNA test results that proved who fathered each boy, the couple received a large and small envelope from the U.S. on March 2. The big one included Aiden’s passport. The other was a letter notifying Andrew that Ethan’s application had been denied. The family has since moved to Los Angeles to be closer to Andrew Dvash-Banks’ family. The other case involves two women, one from the U.S., and one from Italy, who met in New York, wed in London and each gave birth to a son. The State Department didn’t recognize the couple’s marriage, the lawsuit said, and only granted citizenship to the boy whose biological mother was born and raised in the U.S.
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NEWS state
Winter Party Festival Takes Over South Florida Rick Karlin
F
or those that travel the party circuit, Wolfensberger said. “This year we wanted to there are a few musts and one of those is turn it up a notch and encourage everyone the Winter Party Festival (WPF), taking to welcome each other with open arms. It’s place this weekend, Feb. 27 - March 5, right an international gesture of inclusion and ties here in South Florida. into our vision statement: ‘Bringing the world While the majority of the action is centered together to create change while celebrating around Miami, there are a few parties that you.’” work their way up the coast. Of course, there In 2018, the Task Force donated $215,000 are also the boys who come from all over to the LGBTQ Community Fund at the the world and want to learn more about the Miami Foundation, for a total of nearly $3 legendary Wilton Manors/Fort Lauderdale million given back since the Task Force began night life. producing the event in 2005. Founded in 1994, the original Winter Party Pool parties are among the most popular featured just one event, a dance party on the occurrences at WPF and this year there is sands of South Beach. In the years since, WPF a new angle to the action. The traditional has grown into an iconic weekpool party, “Under One Sun” long celebration featuring event is instead being held at dozens of events and drawing the Nikki Beach Club, Miami’s crowds by the thousands premiere outdoor oceanfront from around the globe; an club. There is no pool at this amazing mix of people, venue, although Nikki Beach music, entertainment and Club will allow more guests international DJ talent ready to to enjoy a party on the beach. soak up the sun, breathe in the For those missing the aroma of ocean air, and play hard. that heady mixture of chlorine The WPF is produced by the and poppers, Vagabundos Pool National LGBTQ Task Force, Party, will be held again, this and a large percentage of the year on Friday March 1 at the - Rene gross proceeds from WPF Gates Hotel. Vagabundos will Wolfensberger support the Task Force’s efforts be the only pool party at WPF to create change for LGBTQ in 2019. Festival Chair people. A significant amount There are a number of free of the remaining proceeds events; including the welcome is donated to local service party on Wednesday, Feb. 27, organizations through a grant-making process featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race all-star, Chad administered by the Miami Foundation. Michaels at the Shelborne Hotel on South This year’s theme - With Open Arms - Beach. “Sweat” with a focus on leather and focuses on the organization’s dedication and fetish, brings the action to Hunters with DJ specific efforts to make WPF a welcoming Barry Harris on Saturday, March 2, is another environment for all. In 2018, a study of the free events. However, the majority conducted by the Task Force and the Greater of WPF parties require tickets, which can Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau be purchased individually or as part of the articulated that 55 percent of attendees at event’s passes. WPF identify as non-Caucasian. This year, WPF provides print-at-home or text to organizers worked to diversify the talent mobile event tickets through Showclix. WPF on the DJ roster by including more women, uses barcoded wristbands for multi-event featuring the skills of Sharon O Love (making passes. Online pass purchasers receive an her U.S. debut), Anne Louise and Morabito email voucher which they exchange for a behind the turntables. wristband. Wristbands are worn throughout “Winter Party Festival has always been the festival and cannot be removed or shared. friendly and inclusive,” Festival Chair Rene Passes can only be purchased online.
“Winter Party Festival has always been friendly and inclusive.”
Photo courtesy of the Winter Party.
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For more information on tickets and prices for all events, go to WinterParty.com.
NEWS state
Schedule of Events Wednesday, Feb. 27
Welcome Center Grand Opening* Shelborne South Beach Hotel Paradise: Deja-Vu Riviera Live
Thursday, Feb. 28
Localize* @ Hotel Gaythering Ignite @ Mr. Jones
Friday, March 1
Vagabundos Pool Party @ Gates Hotel South Beach Sunny Side Up Brunch @ Palace Bar VIP Cocktail Reception @ The Carlton Hotel at The Betsy South Beach Heat @ Club Space
Saturday, March 2
Under One Sun – Evolution @ Nikki Beach Club Illuminate* @ Palace Bar Theater Soirée – Every Brilliant Thing @ The Adrienne Arsht Center Sweat* @ Hunters Nightclub Masterbeat Odyssey: A New Era @ James L. Knight Center
Sunday, March 3
The Beach Party @ Sands of South Beach Masterbeat: Avalanche @ James L. Knight Center
Monday, March 4
Afterglow @ The Hangar Action! Finale @ Treehouse * denotes free event
Photo courtesy of the Winter Party.
2.27.2019 •
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NEWS state
Patty Sheehan, Orlando’s first openly gay city commissioner to run for re-election
Photo: Facebook. Photo: Facebook.
Abigail Brashear
P
Watermark
atty Sheehan, Central Florida’s first openly gay City Commissioner, announced Feb. 19 that she is running for re-election. Sheehan is city commissioner over Orlando’s District 4, which consists of the majority of historic districts in downtown. During her time as commissioner, Sheehan has overseen the restoration of the Lake Eola fountain, the preservation of the Eola House, the addition of 1.3 acres to Lake Eola Park and the construction of sidewalks for children going to and from school. Sheehan declared her bid for re-election via Facebook and announced her first campaign fundraiser. The event will be held at Quantum Leap Winery on March 6 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sheehan — alongside former Orlando
Police Chief John Mina — also passed the OPD Safe Place Initiative, which provides safe spots for those within the LGBTQ community throughout Orlando should they find themselves victims of crime. This was passed six months after the Pulse nightclub shooting. In addition, Sheehan also helped to create the Orlando Youth Empowerment Summit, which is a free conference dedicated to empowering LGBTQ youth and allies through education and support. First elected in 2000, Sheehan was reelected in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2015. She also serves as vice chair of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council and is the founder and chair for Wheels for Kids, a program that has provided over 1,000 bikes to elementary and middle school students.
Gay State House Rep. Opens Up About Surviving a Hate Crime Jason Parsley
R
ep. Carlos Guillermo Smith police report, and charged with disorderly (Orlando-D), who is gay, opened up conduct, a felony. If convicted he faces up to on Twitter this week about his own three years in prison. experience surviving a hate crime in 2003. Smith gave more details to the News “I survived senseless hate violence while Service of Florida on Thursday. I was a @UCF student in 2003. Hatred + “I didn’t know what was going on. homophobia are real,” the But I got banged up pretty Florida House Rep. wrote. “In bad. When the dust settled, some ways, I’m embarrassed “I didn’t know what everyone was telling me about to tell it. To be attacked for was going on. But I how the guy was making all existing often shames the these homophobic slurs about victim. The wounds fade but got banged up pretty our group, because hey listen, bad. When the dust we travel in cliques. We queer the scars run deep + still hurt. Victim-blaming and disbelief people, we stick together,” settled, everyone are too common. I got justice, said. “I don’t remember was telling me about Smith too many do not. These if the guy was drunk or what his how the guy was truths cannot be ignored. deal was but he started lashing #HateCrimeSurvivor” out at. It was like a full-fledged making all these The allegations that Jussie gay-bashing.” homophobic slurs Smollett, a star of the television According to the News about our group, series “Empire,” orchestrated a Service of Florida Smith’s because hey listen, attacker was charged with fake racist and anti-gay hate crime in Chicago prompted we travel in cliques.” disorderly conduct and two Smith to share his own story. counts of “battery, evidencing “False reporting of hate - Carlos Guillermo Smith prejudice.” Prosecutors later crimes is rare. Underreporting dropped the disorderly conduct is common. I understand why charge and the hate-crimes and that is the reason today I’m telling my enhancer after he agreed to plead no contest story,” he wrote. “The surge of hate violence to the battery charges. He was sentenced to against vulnerable communities is real. 312 days in the Orange County Jail followed Attacks on trans women of color, anti- by a year of probation. Semitism, Muslims, violence against women The sentence also required sensitivity and the disabled are escalating. That is the training, an anger management course, story worth telling right now.” and a letter of apology to Smith, the News Smollett is accused with filing a fake Service of Florida reported.
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NEWS local Dean Trantalis, mayor of Fort Lauderdale. Photo via Facebook.
Photo via lgbtqflagfootball, instagram.
Gay Flag Football’s Sunshine Cup in Fort Lauderdale 21 teams battled to win
Martin Gould
S
uper Bowl LIII (that’s 53 in English) was played in Atlanta a few weeks ago, with the famed Vince Lombardi trophy going to the New England Patriots for a record sixth time. But that was nothing compared to the rough and ready football players who came to South Florida a week after the Super Bowl to battle for the coveted trophy of South Florida LGBT flag football: the Sunshine Cup. Held each Presidents Day weekend, this was the ninth year for the prestigious flag football tournament, held over two days on six fields at Lauderhill Municipal Stadium, Feb. 16-17. About 324 players on 21 teams competed in men and women’s divisions, with teams coming from as far away as New York, Denver, Detroit, Philadelphia and Atlanta, along with six local teams from South Florida. The 14 men’s teams competed in a round robin format the first day. The eight best teams advanced into the ‘A’ bracket, while the remaining six were relegated to the ‘B’ bracket. The ‘A’ winner gets a spot to compete for the National Gay Flag Football League “Gay Bowl” championship tournament in October. The female teams have their own Round Robin bracket of six teams. The tournament has grown from six to 21 teams over the last decade. Commissioner Dominick Grasso said he has big plans for Sunshine Cup X next year. “Our goal is to get 25-30 teams and to have more teams from the
west, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix.” Grasso said the league is already looking for new, bigger and better venues. “It’s a big stepping point for us. We’ve put in a lot of work and we have great sponsors.” Local LGBT businesses contributed strong sponsorship for Sunshine Cup IX, with support from Hunters, Gym Bar, McSorely’s, Drynk and State Farm among others. In case you didn’t make it out to see the teams play in person, it should be noted that this isn’t your “school days” type of flag football. “Some of them were college or semipro players,” noted Grasso, who also said many teams practice 2-3 times a week. “Most of the A bracket teams are highly organized, memorizing plays or writing them on wristbands, while the B bracket players tend to show up and draw plays on the quarterback’s jersey,” he said. Each game has two 25-minute-long halves. There is no tackling, but there is quite a bit of contact. Anyone can catch a ball, and only one foot in bounds is needed to make a catch. The quarterback can only run one time per series. Overtime is like college rules, with each team getting a chance to score. The women’s bracket was won for the second straight year by the Denver Mile High team. Look out Tom Brady. Four more titles and the Mile High ladies will match you trophy for trophy.
Sunshine Cup IX Final Results (held Feb. 16-17) MEN’S RESULTS: A-bracket winner: DC Supremes B-bracket winner: New York’s Finest
WOMEN’S RESULTS: Winner: Denver Mile High
Fort Lauderdale Non-Discrimination Ordinance still stalled Jason Parsley
O
ne year ago local LGBT rights major LGBT rights groups, SAVE, Palm activist Michael Rajner caused a Beach County Human Rights Council, and furor when he posted on social Equality Florida supported enacting a city media that “homophobia is alive and well ordinance as well. on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission.” Then commission candidate Steve Rajner’s beef? He accused then Fort Glassman also supported an ordinance. Lauderdale mayoral candidates Bruce Glassman, who is also gay, now represents Roberts and Dean Trantalis of not District 2. supporting a non-discrimination ordinance “Yes, I still support that. I will need to protect LGBT residents. to find out from the City “Fort Lauderdale Manager why this has not Commissioners and mayoral moved forward,” he said. candidates Bruce Roberts Trantalis did not respond and Dean Trantalis have lied to a request for comment by and broken their promise press time. to bring forward an LGBTFort Lauderdale may not inclusive non-discrimination have moved forward with ordinance,” Rajner posted on the non-discrimination Twitter last February. ordinance but they did enact One year later and it doesn’t an Equal Benefits Ordinance appear any movement has late last year that passed been made on an ordinance. unanimously. That ordinance “I just had hoped there states that any vendor that - Michael Rajner had been a will for the provides healthcare benefits Lgbt activist city to move forward on to its employees and has a something,” Rajner said. “I contract with the city over am disappointed.” a $100,000, must provide At the time Trantalis, who is now the those same benefits to domestic partners gay mayor of Fort Lauderdale, said he did or a cash equivalent. not support an ordinance at the city level Rajner said he worked closely with Vice because there was already a similar one in Mayor Ben Sorensen on the ordinance. place on the county level. However three
“I just had hoped there had been a will for the city to move forward on something.”
2.27.2019 •
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NEWS national
NEWS state Photo: Equality Florida, Facebook.
Pulse survivor accepts position at Equality Florida Abigail Brashear Watermark
B
randon Wolf, a 30-year-old Pulse survivor and LGBTQ activist, recently accepted a full-time position at Equality Florida as the Central Florida development officer and the statewide media relations manager. He says he is happy to pursue his interest on a scale larger than “weekend activism.” “Equality Florida and I have always had a really strong relationship,” Wolf says. “There’s so much I want to be able to do to help my community and the state of Florida.” After surviving the Pulse shooting which
claimed the lives of 49 people, Wolf became a staunch activist for gun safety. At his new position with Equality Florida, he says he plans on advocating for LGBTQ state-level protections, women’s reproduction rights and safe and healthy schools. Wolf returns to Central Florida after moving to Tallahassee in 2017. “It feels awesome to be coming home,” he says. “I’ve been away for two years and it’s been two years too long.” Wolf starts his new position at Equality Florida March 4.
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Photo: Facebook.
Judge Stops Discharge Proceedings Against HIV Positive Airmen John McDonald
A
federal judge in Virginia issued an order to halt discharge proceedings against two HIV positive members of the U.S. Air Force. In a Feb. 15 ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Judge Leonie Brinkema granted Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN’s motion for a preliminary injunction. After hearing oral arguments, the judge rejected the Trump administration’s motion to dismiss. “This is a major victory in our fight to ensure everyone living with HIV can serve their country without discrimination,” said Scott Schoettes, counsel and HIV project Director at Lambda Legal, in a news
Photo: Lambda Legal.
“This is a major victory in our fight to ensure everyone living with HIV can serve their country without discrimination.” - Scott Schoettes
Counsel and HIV Project Director at Lambda Legal
release. “These decisions should be based on science, not stigma, as today’s ruling from the bench demonstrates. Despite President Trump’s promise to improve the lives of people living with HIV at the State of the Union this month, his administration continues to defend these policies and others discriminating against people most impacted by HIV. Lambda Legal will keep fighting until these brave and qualified Airmen can serve without limitation.” The Pentagon currently permits HIV positive service members to deploy outside the U.S. with a waiver. The Trump administration’s “Deploy or Get Out” policy directs the Pentagon to identify service members who cannot deploy abroad for more than a year and to separate them from their military service. These policies, OutServeSLDN spokesperson Peter Perkowski said, “were based on outdated medical science and are categorically denying people living with HIV the same opportunities as their fellow service members.” The two airmen filed their suit using aliases. Both are on antiretroviral treatment after testing positive for the virus in 2017. They were scheduled to be deployed to the Middle East. Judge Brinkema noted HIV is not easily transmitted and the Pentagon could not provide any evidence of an accidental transmission of HIV on the battlefield. “It’s probably less complicated than sleep apnea,” she said.
NEWS national
Image via Twitter.
Chris Pratt Tells Ellen Page His Church is Not ‘Anti-Gay’ However the truth appears to be more obscure
Justin Musial
“G
uardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt pushed back against fellow actor Ellen Page’s assertion his church is anti-LGBT. “It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which ‘hates a certain group of people’ and is ‘infamously anti-LGBTQ,’” Pratt responded in a post on Instagram. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.” Not so according to Page. The controversy started when Pratt appeared on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” where he was promoting his upcoming movie “The Lego Movie 2.” Colbert started by bantering back and forth with the actor about Pratt’s pet sheep, going to the gym, and then Pratt’s new fast, inspired by his pastor at church. Pratt attends Los Angeles’ Zoe Church, which is modeled after the new-style evangelical church: Hillsong. According to media outlets Zoe’s stance on the LGBT community is unclear. However the pastor of Zoe Chad Veach did make a film about “sexual brokenness.” According to the Gospel Herald it includes individuals sharing “their own experience with sexual brokenness, from porn addiction to same-sex attraction and infidelity, and overcoming the shame and condemnation that follows.” Hillsong though has been accused of being anti-LGBT. That church is a place of worship to many celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Nick Jonas. There have been several articles written about Hillsong’s anti-LGBT views including
its support of conversion therapy. Its senior pastor, Brian Houston, has written that he loves all people: “I love and accept people on a personal level and if I lived next to a gay couple I would treat them with the same embrace I would any other neighbour because - surprise, surprise - not all my neighbours think like me.” Houston went on to say “Hillsong Church welcomes all people but does not affirm all lifestyles. Put clearly, we do not affirm a gay lifestyle and because of this we do not knowingly have actively gay people in positions of leadership, either paid or unpaid.” As for gay marriage, Houston wrote: “I also live by my own convictions, and hold to traditional Christian thought on gay lifestyles and gay marriage. I do believe God’s word is clear that marriage is between a man and a woman.” Despite the above anti-LGBT views, Pratt claims Hillsong does welcome most everybody. “So if you are gay, are you welcome at Hillsong Church? Of course!” he said. “You are welcome to attend, worship with us, and participate as a congregation member with the assurance that you are personally included and accepted within our community.” Just don’t try to take an active leadership role if you identify as LGBT. “This won’t make everyone happy and to some, this stance may even be seen as hypocritical.” “We are a gay welcoming church but we are not a church that affirms a gay lifestyle,” Pratt said. Pratt expressed that his church “believes in love.”
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NEWS miami-dade
Activist Calls Out Gay8 Festival for
Omission of Bisexual Flag Jason Parsley
T
he flags were hanging over the street in Miami celebrating the various communities within the LGBT spectrum during this year’s Gay8 Festival. There was one for the trans community, one for the bears, one for the leather community and of course the traditional Pride flag. But absent was the bisexual flag, which caused a stir on Facebook after a prominent local bisexual activist called the festival out for leaving his community out of the lineup. “Inadvertent omission or biphobia?” Luigi Ferrer asked on Facebook. Damian Pardo, a co-organizer of the festival, pushed back against any suggestion of biphobia though. “You have known me for 30 years. Stop it. There is no bi-phobia here. We contract out the decorations and we requested all flags be represented — clearly it was an omission,” Pardo said. “It’s really important to have a kind approach when striving to build bridges within diverse communities. The bi-flag looks beautiful and I’m sure we will take extra measures to include it next year.” He later added: “We are not paid to do this work. We are largely volunteers.” Ferrer said to SFGN it was a “missed opportunity.” “Especially at an event like Gay8. We know bisexuality is more prevalent in the Latino community,” he said. Gay8 is a Hispanic/Latino LGBTQ art, music, dance, food and cultural street festival in Miami. This year’s festival took place Feb. 13-18. Here’s what the Bisexual Resource Center’s
website says about bi visibility: “Bisexuals experience high rates of being ignored, discriminated against, demonized, or rendered invisible by both the heterosexual world and the lesbian and gay communities. Often, the entire sexual orientation is branded as invalid, immoral, or irrelevant. Despite years of activism and the largest population within the LGBT community, the needs of bisexuals still go unaddressed and their very existence is still called into question. This erasure has serious consequences on bisexuals’ health, economic well-being, and funding for bi organizations and programs.” Ferrer serves on the board of BiNet USA, a national organization that promotes bisexual visibility. Ferrer told SFGN that 52 percent of the LGBT community identify as bisexual so it’s important to include them in the discussion and bring them to the table. “I don’t know of any LGBT service providers down here [that] have any specific programs for the bi community. And we should ask ourselves why,” he said. “We’re LGBT [in] name only. Oftentimes the few people that come out as bi get ignored or are barely tolerated. I do HIV testing. I know there are bi people out there.”
Ferrer told SFGN that
52 percent of the LGBT community identify as bisexual
so it’s important to include them in the discussion and bring them to the table.
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Gay8 Festival. Photo via Luigi Ferrer, Facebook.
Ferrer admitted the Facebook discussion of time to look over the decorations and see got too heated. if you had all bases covered. Furthermore, “I don’t want to blame the organizers of it feels like you’re throwing it in our faces Gay8. I know they’re just that it was volunteers, as trying to do their best,” he if that should make it all said. “It’s just disappointing completely okay. Maybe after all of these years.” I’m off base here […] but Ferrer also notes that these comments felt there is no longer an active bi aggressive.” community in South Florida. Another co-organizer Other commenters on of the Gay8 festival Joe Facebook also chided the Cardona apologized for festival for its oversight. the mishap. “Biphobia and bi erasure “I want to begin by are known issues in our apologizing to you community! Telling a bi and everyone in the activist to ‘stop it’ is further bi community for the erasure, and saying the bi omission. I can assure you flag is ‘beautiful’ just seems no one associated with patronizing. This isn’t about our festival is bi-phobic,” pretty colors on material. Cardona said. “We include Wow,” commented Landon and love everyone. J. Woolston. While Judah That is precisely what Fajardo added, “Friend our festival is about— - Luigi Ferrer or not, I don’t think this inclusion and love. Thank bisexual activist response was handled as you for bringing this to well as it could have been. our attention...it will be Two rainbow flags, and two more gay-pride rectified. We apologize to anyone this may ones were included, that’s four. And not have hurt or felt excluded in any way—it was one bi flag. I feel as though there was a lot not our intention.”
“I don’t want to blame the organizers of Gay8 ... It’s just disappointing after all of these years.”
NEWS miami-dade Steve Rothaus. Photo credit: Cristian Lazzari for Miami Dade College Alumni Network, via Facebook.
Steve Rothaus Takes Buyout From Miami Herald The well known gay reporter is a pioneer in LGBT journalism
Jason Parsley
S
teve Rothaus, the LGBT issues reporter for the Miami Herald, will leave the Miami Herald after the newspaper’s parent company offered a buyout to 450 employees. About 225 employees took the buyout including Rothaus. He’s been with the company for 33 years. His last day is Thursday. “I’m very happy,” he said. “I am wrapping up 33 years at the Miami Herald. Twenty-one years of which I carved out a beat that no one else had ever done.” Rothaus said he has no regrets. And he’s not bitter. “I pioneered something and I stuck with it all of these years. I am very satisfied,” he said. “I’ve had a wonderful time doing what I do.” The Miami New Times reported some other big names took the buyout as well including sports writer Clark Spencer, who has covered horse racing and the Miami Marlins; staff writer (and author) Glenn Garvin; Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Patrick Farrell; and longtime Cuba expert Mimi Whitefield. But just because Rothaus is leaving the Herald doesn’t mean he’s leaving journalism. He plans on staying a part of the community and may dabble in freelance. “I’ve been showing up at things. I have more time than before,” he said. “Now I’ll have more time to write about the things
that are important to me.” As for the LGBT beat at the Herald he doesn’t see anyone stepping into his shoes – at least not any time soon. “The era of niche reporting done. Those kinds of jobs no longer exist,” he said. In fact for the past several years editing became a larger part of Rothaus’ job. He was the editor of the neighbors section, Tropical Life and the weekend section. “The essential part of my job is the editing so that will need to be filled first,” he said. As for the LGBT beat he added, “I don’t think they will be in a position to add employees to do what I did. If they did hire somebody that would be great.” He went on to note that the newsroom is barely staying afloat covering police and schools. “We don’t cover small cities the way we used to,” he said. While Rothaus is content with leaving the Herald, and spending more time with his husband Rick, the state of the media industry saddens him. “We’re all sad that the world we once knew no longer exists,” he said. “Personally I think we were better off as a society when we were able to cover communities on a very personal level, — covering the basics on a hyper local level. We were the watchdog. And that’s the sad [part] and it frightens me. It’s no longer possible because there is no financial model for it.”
2.27.2019 •
21
NEWS national
Organizers Say Return of Gay Men’s
Health Conference a Success Dr. Sheetal Sharma of CAN Community Health speaks to attendees. Photo credit: Mark A. Reyes.
Damon Scott
G
ay men in Fort Lauderdale have a lot of activities at arms length to fill any given Saturday. But on at least one recent Saturday in January, 131 of them showed up to learn about health issues affecting their community.
The 2019 Men’s Health and Wellness Reyes is also the community co-chair of the Conference took place Jan. 26 at the Fort MSM (men who have sex with men) advisory Lauderdale Marriott North after being group of the Broward County HIV Prevention dormant since 2015. Despite the hiatus, the Planning Council – the main organization interest was still high four years later. that orchestrated the conference. “Overall, the planning The advisory group brings committee was delighted together leaders and decisionwith the outcome of the makers to mobilize organizations conference,” said Mark A. and allies who serve the MSM Reyes, the senior director community in Broward County. of community relations The group addresses the various and administration at the factors that bring about HIV Urban League of Broward infection in the MSM community County. — widely agreed upon as an Changes the planners epidemic in South Florida. made included moving from a two-day format to High-powered line-up one-day. But even with one fewer day the workshop Dr. Howard Grossman of the sessions were made Midway Special Care Center - Mark Reyes Community co-chair of longer. There were three opened the conference. He was MSM advisory group plenary sessions and nine joined by Dr. Sheetal Sharma of workshops for attendees CAN Community Health. to participate in. The two talked about the “We received overwhelmingly positive top 10 things the MSM community should feedback from attendees,” Reyes said. “Some discuss with their doctor, and how to find a of the comments provided on the written culturally competent gay/bi-friendly health evaluations said it was well-planned, at a care provider. good location and had ‘a nice combination The first workshop included discussions [and] overview of topics and some tangible of sexual health and screenings, youth and nuggets [to] act on.’” HIV, and access to health care through the
“I left the conference excited and energized for what the next iteration of the conference can and will be.”
The CAN Community Health table. Photo credit: Mark A. Reyes.
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x
Affordable Care Act, Medicare and other insurance. The second workshop included a discussion of HIV and millennials, mental health, and intimate partner violence in the MSM community. At lunch, Joshua Rodriguez from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County presented on strategies to eliminate HIV transmission, while Alejandro Acosta of Equality Florida discussed HIV criminalization and other legal issues for the MSM community. The final workshop focused on fitness and body image, substance use and sobriety, and sexual health and social interactions. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, a health equity strategist from New Orleans, closed out the conference with an inspirational message reminding attendees about how important it
is to “walk fearlessly forward to freedom as best as we can.” Reyes said organizers are considering hosting the free educational conference as a biannual event, but with a possible half-day summit or something similar in 2020. “We definitely want to see more attendees in their 20s and 30s in attendance,” Reyes said. “We’ll be working next time to partner with social, support and other groups that work closer with millennials,” he added. “I left the conference excited and energized for what the next iteration of the conference can and will be.” Those interested in being involved with the Broward County HIV Prevention Planning Council can contact Reyes via email at mreyes@ulbcfl.org or by calling 954-6252598.
2.27.2019 •
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Bernie Sanders. Photo via Facebook.
V
ermont Senator Bernie Sanders entered the Presidential fray last week declaring his socialist agenda. “Brothers and sisters we have a lot of work in front of us,” Sanders said in a video released by his campaign. “If we are prepared to stand together there is no end to what the great people of our nation can accomplish.” Sen. Sanders won 23 states in his 2016 quest for the Democratic party nomination, eventually finishing second to Hillary Clinton. Campaigning as an avowed socialist, Sanders won 13 million votes and is largely credited for bringing younger participants into the political process. “Real change never takes place from the top on down but always from the bottom on up,” Sanders says in campaign video. An Independent three-term United States Senator, Sanders is scheduled to hold a campaign rally at Chicago’s Navy Pier on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee has set the limit at 20 candidates per debate. To qualify for the debates, candidates must break the one percent threshold in at least three national polls or raise money from a diversified population. South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg explained the DNC rules this way: “In order to earn a place on the debate stage I’m going to have to demonstrate to the DNC that I’ve got at least 65,000 different people contributing to our campaign at any level.” Buttigieg, 37, a married gay man and Afghanistan war veteran, has decided to not accept corporate PAC money or funds from the fossil fuel industry. Other Democratic candidates who have announced exploratory campaigns and committees include Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Senator Kamala Harris of California, Senator Kristen Gillibrand of New York, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2), former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and self-help author Marianne Williamson. On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld has announced plans for an exploratory committee but aside from that nobody else seems to have much of an appetite
to challenge a sitting President. President Donald Trump travels to Vietnam this week for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump continues to deny allegations his campaign conspired with Moscow in the 2016 election. On Sunday Trump tweeted, “where’s the Server that the DNC refused to give to the FBI? Where are the new Texts between Agent Lisa Page and her Agent lover Peter S? We want them now!”
LGBT FIELD NOTES: The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus elected new leaders at its winter conference in Jacksonville. They are: Stephen Gaskill of Delray Beach, President, Nik Harris of Fort Lauderdale, Vice President, Dave Cutler of Tampa, Secretary and Adam Sabin of Fort Lauderdale, Treasurer. Florida Representative Carlos G. Smith (D-Orlando) delivered the conference’s keynote address. On Feb. 22 Smith issued a statement urging Congress and President Trump to authorize Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans fleeing the Nicolas Maduro regime. “As millions of Venezuelans continue to flee Maduro’s brutal dictatorship, Congress and the President must take action to protect those seeking sanctuary in the United States,” Smith said.
White House Watch is a weekly column taking a look at the state of the 2020 Presidential election.
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2.27.2019 •
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NEWS national U.S. embassy in Germany. Photo credit: Mutter Erde.
Richard Grenell U.S. Ambassador to Germany
Key LGBT groups not invited to Trump summit on decriminalizing homosexuality Chris Johnson
Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.
Washington Blade
L
GBT groups in the United States working to advance LGBT rights overseas and major LGBT groups in Europe weren’t invited to the international summit in Berlin on the Trump administration’s new global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality, the Washington Blade has learned. Three LGBT rights groups within the United States — OutRight Action International, the Human Rights Campaign and the Council for Global Equality — confirmed to the Blade they weren’t invited to attend the event reportedly taking place Tuesday evening at the U.S. embassy in Germany.
“Donald Trump and Mike Pence have turned a blind eye to a campaign of violence and murder targeting LGBTQ people in Chechnya that has stretched on for two years.” - Jeremy Kadden Human Rights Campaign’s senior international policy advocate
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As far as LGBT groups outside the United States, one LGBT advocate said LSVD, the largest non-governmental LGBT rights organization in Germany, and International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex AssociationEurope weren’t included, although an LGBT rights group from Ukraine had have a presence. According to NBC News, the Trump administration is planning a global initiative calling on nations to decriminalize homosexuality. The effort seems focused on Iran, which has the death penalty for homosexual acts and has been a geopolitical foe of the United States and the Trump administration. Leading the initiative is U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, the highest ranking openly gay person in the Trump administration. Grenell has chided German businesses for doing business in Iran in the aftermath of Trump pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal. To kick off the initiative, NBC News reported the U.S. embassy in Germany is flying in LGBT activists from across Europe for a strategy dinner on Tuesday evening. Jeremy Kadden, the Human Rights Campaign’s senior international policy advocate, said in a statement the new global initiative stands in contrast to the Trump administration’s previous record on international LGBT rights.
“Donald Trump and Mike Pence have turned a blind eye to a campaign of violence and murder targeting LGBTQ people in Chechnya that has stretched on for two years,” Kadden said. “They have turned away LGBTQ people fleeing violence and persecution and sent them back to countries that criminalize them, and have consistently worked to undermine the fundamental equality of LGBTQ people and our families here at home from day one. If this commitment is real, we have a lot of questions about their intentions and commitments, and are eager to see what proof and action will follow.” A State Department spokesperson said Grenell hosted 11 activists from different countries in Europe for a meeting that was “an opportunity to listen to and discuss ideas on how the U.S. can advance decriminalization of LGBTI status and conduct around the world.” “The United States continues to work to protect and defend human rights for all,” the spokesperson said. “Governments have an obligation to ensure that all people can freely enjoy the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled.” The Washington Blade has sent a follow-up email in with the State Department seeking identification of the 11 activists in attendance.
NEWS national
NEWS national
‘A Dishonest Tool’
Houston Chronicle Exposes Decades of Sexual Misconduct from Southern Baptist Churches
Client of Ex-Gay Therapist Outraged Over Conversion
Jason Parsley
John McDonald
I
t’s a foggy afternoon in Portland, Oregon. I meet Will at the downtown art museum where a cabal of fine printmakers are gathered. He has served in Americorps and we knew each other from South Florida, where we worked in tandem for LGBT community service organizations. Will works in the field of public health. He is gay. He is also a survivor of conversion therapy. I’m meeting Will to talk about the recent revelation by one of the industry’s top therapists, David Matheson. A Mormon, Matheson said he is gay and “sorry for the confusion and pain my choice may be causing others.” “He’s a dishonest tool,” Will said when first asked about Matheson. The three sessions cost Will’s parents quite a small fortune. Will described Matheson’s approach “a mind fuck.” On Jan. 24, the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City published the following headline: Popular Utah Conversion Therapist Comes Out: ‘I Am Gay’. In the piece, Matheson apologizes to his clients and said he is seeking a gay partner. “I can no longer live without an intimate partnership with another man,” Matheson told KSL-TV. Back in Portland, Will is pissed. As we dined on chicken drumsticks and dessert at the restaurant inside Hilton’s new boutique hotel, Will condemned Matheson’s nonchalant attitude. “Now he’s saying I’m a white gay man and this doesn’t apply to me anyone,” Will said with a tone that suggests underlying anger. Will is 28 now. He’s been in Portland for almost two years, studying biology at Portland State University. He’s dated and had relationships with men and knows what awaits Matheson on the gay side. “This guy is going to be a daddy now,” Will said. Conversion therapy has become such an issue some states and municipalities have banned the practice on minors. Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting anti-gay prejudice. TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen said Matheson has undoubtedly caused harm. “David Matheson has ruined a lot of lives
David Matheson. Photo via Facebook.
in Utah,” Besen said. “He has harmed a lot of people. There are people who will want their money back.” In a statement on Jan. 22, TWO blasted Matheson: “David Matheson seems more invested in his own journey than the people whose lives he’s ruined. May his ‘growth’ bring him to a place where he can help his victims, as well as prevent future harm. Perhaps with time he will become a better human being.” For his part, Matheson told NBC he planned to remain a Mormon and is still an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “My core faith is unchanged. The core principles, the core concepts in the church, I believe them. I feel them as strongly as I ever did,” Matheson said. Meanwhile, Will said he is having a hard time reconciling his religious views. “I get really put off by Christian couples,” he said. And the Mormons -- who he once sang in the choir with -- bring about sour feelings as well. “They’re always promoting and staying busy,” he said. “They believe an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. I think those type of people are pathetic. A lot of the judgment and guilt is still enacted.” Will left the restaurant that night on foot – back to his small apartment in the university district. Reached by telephone a week later and asked why his parents sent him to conversion therapy to begin with, Will struggled for an answer. “They don’t want to talk about it,” he said. “It’s embarrassing to them.”
The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News released the first of a three part series into the decades long sexual abuse by volunteers, employees and church leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention. The newspaper found that since 1998, about 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced allegations of sexual misconduct. More than 700 victims were identified. The report shows how church leaders knew of problem and often times did little to nothing to solve it. They found that some of the offenders even returned to the pulpit. The SBC is a network of more than 47,000 autonomous Baptist churches and institutions that voluntarily cooperate with one another. Because of the local autonomy SBC’s is there is little the national organization can actually do. Except as the newspapers point out that’s not true. “Other leaders have acknowledged that
Baptist churches are troubled by predators but that they could not interfere in local church affairs. Even so, the SBC has ended its affiliation with at least four churches in the past 10 years for affirming or endorsing homosexual behavior,” reads the article. “The SBC governing documents ban gay or female pastors, but they do not outlaw convicted sex offenders from working in churches.”
Visit HoustonChronicle.com to read the series.
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Palm beach datebook March 14 Fiesta on Flagler Enjoy Latin-inspired bites from your favorite local restaurants, festive live music and performances, sip tequila or traditional sangria and get ready for the pop up party of the season. Takes place on Flagler Drive in the South End of West Palm Beach. Event entrance will be on the North side of Flagler Drive and Russlyn Drive. Parking available at Lakeside Presbyterian Church. Tickets $75 in advance, $100 at the door. https://bit.ly/2GEXw7c March 22 2019 Equality Florida Palm Beach Gala 6-9 p.m. at the Culture Lab, 575 S Rosemary Ave, Palm Beach, FL 33401. More information: Ashley Capps at ashley@equalityflorida.org or 239-2454586 March 30-31 2019 Palm Beach Pride Join the LGBTQ community to celebrate Palm Beach Pride on March 30 & 31, 2019, noon to 6 p.m. both days in Bryant Park, downtown Lake Worth. Non-stop entertainment, delicious food, awesome merchants and local businesses and organizations, games & fun for all. Sunday Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 31 in downtown Lake Worth along Lucerne & Lake Avenues. Wednesday, March 27 Pride Business Alliance monthly social At the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, 6 – 8 p.m. Friday, March 8 5th Annual Red Hat Brunch Compass is hosting the 5th Annual Red Hat Brunch honoring National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). This year’s theme is “Nothing About Us Without Us.” This theme represents the importance of policy being reflective of the voices it affects, specifically those of women, who have often gone unheard in the battle against HIV/AIDS. For more information or to register contact Neka MacKaye at Neka@CompassGLCC.com Saturday March 23 Send in the Queens This annual Drag Show Fundraiser is back by popular demand for the 12th consecutive year! A high-end, high-energy drag concert that features a cast of dazzling drag divas. All proceeds will go to benefit the Playhouse. Featuring performances by Lupita Hollywood, Melissa St. John, Velvet Lenore, Vasti Montana, Dayzee DeLuxx, Reanna Patrone, Candy Cox, Raejean Cox and Pepper Monroe.
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PA L M B E A C H
news
Straight Ally and LGBT Rights Activist Carole Benowitz Still Fighting at 78 Carole Benowitz.
Kristen Grau
C
arole Benowitz was on vacation in the tropics when her nature tour guide said something startling. “We’re not sure why this tortoise, named George, won’t mate with any any of the female tortoises,” the tour guide said. To Benowitz, the answer was obvious: “I feel like George is a homosexual tortoise,” she said in front of the crowd, her husband urging her to refrain. Wherever she goes, Benowitz is always making the LGBT community more visible — for animals nut more importantly, people. Benowitz, 78, is the president of Palm Beach County’s chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). She has long been an ally to the South Florida LGBT community as the chapter’s president and the state coordinator for Florida with two community service awards under her belt. “If you can educate one person, you can change the world,” she said. PFLAG is a support group that meets twice a month at Compass, the LGBT community center of the Palm Beaches. It’s designed to guide family members and loved ones on their journey toward acceptance through education, projects, and storytelling. She was jolted into the activist community around 1986, when her son, Neil, unexpectedly ended his relationship with his fiancée. Benowitz speculateduntil she put the pieces together: her son was gay. “Neil… he thought that if he told us, we would stop loving him,” Benowitz said, which was when she started attending PFLAG meetings with her husband. “I had to educate myself and get rid of the blame.” She said that having been in other families’ shoes before, she can better facilitate meetings and support them with empathy. But Benowitz’s LGBT activism stretches back to the early ‘90s — when she advocated for fair treatment of lesbians in the Jewish community. According to Randal Schnoor, a sociologist at York University, “many gay and lesbian Jews feel a sense of alienation
from the Jewish community and develop an ambivalent or conflicted relationship about their Jewish identity.” She eventually joined the national organization Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and tried to diminish that culture. She drafted a resolution in her early days of the organization that called for acceptance and better treatment of lesbians within the organization — which passed. “At that time, parents [of Jewish lesbians] wouldn’t even say the word ‘lesbian,’” she said. “Now, lesbians can become rabbis.” Since the ‘90s, she hasn’t stopped. Most recently, Compass awarded her with the 2018 Michael Brown Memorial Faces of the Community Award for her work with PFLAG. But since PFLAG is an entirely volunteer-based organization that’s restricted to tabling and meetings, Benowitz has often made an impact using her own time and money. Her efforts outside PFLAG include trying to ban conversion therapy and trying to find
“At that time, parents [of Jewish lesbians] wouldn’t even say the word ‘lesbian. Now, lesbians can become rabbis.” - Carole Benowitz
safe homes for LGBT kids turned away from their families. She’s helped kids from coast-to-coast, and recalled one instance where her and her ties across the country helped one boy find a home in San Francisco after he “escaped” conversion therapy in Las Vegas. “They could be kicked out, physically harmed, and left without money… some even live in their cars…” she said. “They need to know there’s support out there.” Whether it’s kids or other PFLAG chapters, Benowitz is known for helping however and whenever she can. “She pours everything that she has into everything that she does,” said Jeff Oliverio, president of Broward County’s PFLAG. He said they’re a small organization that doesn’t have a lottery of people choose from, but “Carole is that person.” Over the years, she has seen attitudes and behaviors become more “accepting” at PFLAG meetings. There’s been an increase in grandparents becoming more supportive, she said, as well as more open discussions on non-conforming children. Benowitz continues to expand PFLAG and across the U.S. and the world. Her recent projects include working to start chapters in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. At the local level, she’s working to launch a scholarship for LGBT high school seniors in Palm Beach County and is constantly boasting her organization at everywhere from grocery stores to airports because, “you never know who needs it,” she said. “I educate every day of my life, if I can…” she said. “It’s a better world, now.”
PA L M B E A C H
news
Compass Youth Group Featured in Street Painting Festival Kristen Grau
Photo credit: Lake Worth Street Painting Festival, via Facebook.
T
his year’s Lake Worth Street Painting Festival featured dozens of local artists hunched over in the Florida sun perfecting their chalk renditions of actors, animals, landscapes, and more. Some artists took a simpler route in order to make a statement — including the Compass’ youth group. Right outside the Lake Worth Public Library, the youth group decorated the street with a transgender flag-colored compass against a rainbow backdrop. Instead of a compass’ traditional ‘N,’ ‘E,’ ‘S,’ and ‘W,’ this version had ‘L,’ ‘O,’ ‘V,’ ‘E.’ “The compass is a sign of finding your way, which a lot of youth find that here,” said Compass’ Transgender Youth Coordinator Lucas O’Ryan. The youth group has been participating in the festival for over seven years. Past works have included eagles,
“The compass is a sign of finding your way, which a lot of youth find that here.” - Lucas O’Ryan compass Transgender youth coordinator
flowers, and hearts with most of them incorporating LGBT colors, said 14-yearold youth group member Chris Watkins. “I think [the transgender flag] is really important due to the fact that we’re being denied our existence,” Watkins said. Painting the colors on the pavement for the hundreds of visitors to see is a way for the trans community to be acknowledged, Watkins added. O’Ryan said that the festival is one of the biggest events of the year for the youth group — which is why they start planning their design months in advance. This year, he said, at least nine or ten different ideas were considered. After about eight hours of work split between the weekend, the group was proud of the outcome. Although the teens see each other two days a week at Compass, some appreciated the opportunity to collaborate on something outside the community center’s walls. “It’s a way to work together on a project and see how it all comes together,” said 16-year-old youth group participant Grim Ayala. Several other young faces contributed to the festival this year. One of the event’s initiatives is its “Young Artists Studio,” which highlights the abilities of elementary, middle, and high school students from over 25 South Florida schools, according to their website. The free annual event lasted from Saturday morning through Sunday night.
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PA L M B E A C H
news
West Palm
Backs Statewide Non-Discrimination Bill Full Charge Bookkeeping Services
Jason Parsley
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Local Name. Global . Coverage 30
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Jeri Muoio, the Mayor of West Palm Beach. Photo credit: Facebook.
T
he West Palm Beach City Commission unanimously supported a resolution urging the Florida Legislature to support a bill that will protect LGBT people from workplace discrimination. “After more than a decade, there finally appears to be bipartisan support for protecting LGBTQ Floridians from discrimination in the workplace,” said Jeri Muoio, Mayor of West Palm Beach. Passing SB 438 would be a great first step towards full equality for LGBTQ Floridians.” The Chair of the Republican Party of Florida, State Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), introduced the Florida
“After more than a decade, there finally appears to be bipartisan support for protecting LGBTQ Floridians from discrimination in the workplace.”
- Jeri Muoio
Mayor of west palm beach
Inclusive Workforce Act. It gave local LGBT activists hope it would have a chance at passing in the Republican-dominated Florida legislature. “Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is proud to have the support of the West Palm Beach Commission on this bill,” said Meredith Ockman, a board member of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. “We are hopeful that our statewide bill, FIWA (SB 438), will garner the same support in Tallahassee.” West Palm Beach joins a growing list of cities passing similar resolutions including Lake Worth, Miami Beach, and North Bay Village. Some LGBT activists have come out in opposition to the bill because it only covers discrimination in the workplace, leaving the fight for housing and public accommodations for another day. There also appears to be confusion over whether FIWA protects the transgender community. But FIWA is clear in that it adds both sexual orientation and gender identity to Florida’s Civil Rights Act. Additionally, a coalition of local trans groups came together releasing a statement of support.
Visit SFGN.com/FIWA for more coverage from SFGN.
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Mix and Mingle 5-6 PM at Galanga’s Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar: 2389 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors. Complimentary transportation provided to John Knox Village and back to Galanaga’s.
Enjoy a tour, cooking demonstration and dinner with JKV Executive Chef - Mark Gallusci. 651 SW 6th Street Pompano Beach, FL 33060 To RSVP for this event call
Seating is limited. Reservations required. Call 954-783-4040 to RSVP. web JohnKnoxVillage.com JohnKnoxVillage
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John Knox Village is committed to compliance with all federal, state and local fair housing laws. It is our policy to offer senior living to those that qualify without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, or handicap. The employees of John Knox Village have a legal obligation to treat each individual in a consistent and equally fair manner. In order to assist you with your decision on your new home, we are providing a list of guidelines used to qualify residents for tenancy in our community. Please note that this is our current rental/ownership criteria; nothing contained in these requirements shall constitute a guarantee or representation by John Knox Village that all residents and occupants currently residing at the community have met these requirements. There may be residents and occupants that have resided the community prior to these requirements going into effect. Additionally, our ability to verify whether these requirements have been met is limited to the information we receive from various credit and screening services used.
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NEWS miami-dade
4Ward Gala and Pa’Lante Awards Ceremony
The event was held at the Bacardi Headquarters in Coral Gables on Feb. 13 Carina Mask
T
he 4Ward Maimi held the 2019 Pa’Lante awards at the Bacardi Headquarters in Coral Gables on Feb. 13. The event honored individuals that are making great strides and contributions to organizing and engaging grassroots efforts.
Chair of 4Ward Damian Pardo. Photo credit: Carina Mask. Newman Alumni Center at UM. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook. 32
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Richardson joked asking if Shalala had prepared a video for him as well. “Thank you all. I remember a few short years ago that they invited me for lunch in Little Havana, and told me about their idea to have this street festival and of course I was representing Little Havana at the time so of course I wanted to support them on their endeavor. Now it’s grown into the largest LGBTQ Latino festival in the entire country. We should really be giving it up to these two The 4Ward Maimi held the 2019 Pa’Lante guys!” awards at the Bacardi Headquarters in Lynare Robbins presented a special award Coral Gables on Feb. 13. The event honored to SAVE. individuals that are making great strides and “To the staff members, Alex and Tommy, contributions to organizing and engaging thank you so much for your endless hard grassroots efforts. work. And for Tony to his leadership and Former Rep. Ileana Roshis perseverance,” Robbins Lehtinen (R-FL) was given a said. “This past election cycle special award and presentation was so important, and SAVE from newly Rep. Donna with their leadership made Shalala, who was elected to an extra commitment to civic Ros-Lehtinen’s seat after she grassroots efforts. They did decided to retire last year. an amazing job canvassing for Shalala was unable to attend, the candidates and conducted but sent in a video. a ‘Get out to vote’ campaign “This past Also honored at the event all the clubs, bars, election cycle was throughout was former state house Rep. restaurants and establishments David Richardson. Richardson in Wynwood, Wilton Manors so important, also happened to run against and South Beach. Thank you and SAVE with Shalala in the democratic all for that.” their leadership primary for Ros-Lehtinen’s SAVE is one of the few seat. organizations that focuses on a made an extra “It is my great honor to grassroots approach. commitment to present this award, to someone Jonathan Casanas who I consider a friend, introduced and presented an civic grassroots to someone who I look up award to Bella Dunbar. “She efforts.” to greatly and that is State attended Gay8 a few years ago, house Representative David and not really realizing what - Lynare Robbins Richardson,” said Chair of was in store for her. She didn’t 4Ward, Damian Pardo. “He is necessarily find herself, but literally at every event, he has many firsts. He was more able to be truly herself.” is the first openly gay state representative in Casanas dove into an anecdote about Florida, but his greatest achievement is his Dunbar, “We should have mom’s with tee ability to work across the aisle. He makes shirts that say “Free Hugs” and it turned out to strategic collaborations, which so few people be one of the most amazing things about the do. He ran an unbelievable grass roots festival. That very next day, she had a group campaign and activism that I have never seen of moms ready to volunteer their time and tee or heard of before.” shirts were being made.”
NEWS miami-dade
Undocumented LGBT ‘Dreamer’ Shares His Story at 4Ward Symposium
Candelario Saldana. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
Carina Mask
C
andelario Saldana is a leader who is making strides and causing a few waves at the University of Miami for LGBT lawyers. Saldana’s mother brought him to schools are not allowed to offer federal America from Mexico when he was one financial aid. He was forced to put his year and nine months old. dream on hold for six years. “I didn’t realize I was any different from “I really wanted to continue my anybody until I was in middle school- education, I really wanted to pursue the there was school report about what type dream. I attended a conference at the of career you would like to pursue and we University of Utah and fortunately was able started to have a discussion - I wanted to to connect with someone who was able to become a lawyer. I would be able to get my help me continue on with my education mom out of poverty.” and here I am today.” Saldana didn’t realize he He is currently attending was undocumented until the University of Miami middle school. He went School of Law and is home to tell his mother that graduating in 2019. he decided that he would When asked about how pursue a career in law and the current administration then the harsh reality of his is demonizing the undocumented status was immigrant population of revealed to him. the United States, Saldana “Son, sit down, never let looked slightly wistful and anyone tell you that you furrowed his brows before can’t achieve your dream he spoke. however…” “I was watching Then Saldana’s mother Fahrenheit 11/9 the - Candelario Saldana informed him that he other day and there were dreamer wouldn’t be able to attend [excerpts] where Trump was a university, nor travel saying that Mexico doesn’t outside of the United States, and that he send its best people, they send people wouldn’t be able to do all the things that with problems, they’re rapists, that does his friends are going to do because of his continue to affect me. I am trying to do the undocumented status. best that I possibly can and to continue to Upon discovering his status, he decided better myself and to help others who are to reach out to his counselor at school, LGBTQ or undocumented individuals.” however they had no idea on how on how He continued: “I guess it’s about being to proceed. He then kept his status hidden a role model. You can put your dream on until he was a senior in high school where pause but don’t ever give up on it. I put my he once again asked a school counselor for dream on pause for six years, I wanted to go help. to law school. And when the opportunity Under threat of being reported and the came, I took it! And now I am joining one very real possibility of being deported of the biggest law firms in the country, to Mexico by immigration authorities, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. And [my Candelario did not register for selective story] can give people hope. Just don’t give services when applying for colleges. Law up.”
“I really wanted to continue my education, I really wanted to pursue the dream.”
To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook. 2.27.2019 •
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NEWS local
Pride Fort Lauderdale Parade Surprises and Delights Onlookers
The rainbow flag trails down the A1A. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
Tucker Berardi
For the first time in history, giant rainbow
floats, drag queens, marching bands, and more led a Pride parade down State Road A1A along the beach, and it was glorious. “I thought it was a good turnout. It marching bands from local schools, and seemed a little short but the parade more. itself was good,” said Dunny Potter, who The marching bands seemed to steal the attended the parade. “It was nice to be by show, as each group had dance routines the beach with the sunset and all.” — one band finishing their set with every Floats and participants lived up to this member doing a death drop. year’s “Carnival” theme with massive It was the marching bands that impressed headdresses, elaborate costumes, macrame Potter the most. puppets, and flashy dancers. “The marching bands were the best. “One float was promoting PrEP. I really One of the high schools was in it and they appreciate that. It came right were all young kids and they after that float about AIDS were really into it,” Potter prevention. It was nice to see said. “It was so great to watch that activism,” Potter said. the younger people. That was Another attendee, Mykhe really fun to watch. The young Hesson added: “The gogo people made it feel like it was dancers were definitely an not just gay but everybody. It attraction for most of the felt really inclusive.” viewers. There was one A panel of float judges guy in a car representing a and drag queen hosts gave dealership who just revved commentary on each of the engine and threw items the marching groups, often out the window. It seemed taking to the street to ask a little disrespectful to the participants questions or join community. If you’re going to in the dancing. Many of the - Dunny Potter participate, participate. The floats would stop and give a Pride parade attendee float for the radio station had a short performance Macy’slot of energy and was actively Day-Parade-style, with judges involved. They had music and interacted cheering on the flashiest of them. with the people. That’s what you would Onlookers were spread out throughout expect from a parade.” A1A, but most of them gathered around the The event planned for over 80,000 judges’ stage — some people even sitting spectators along the route from Sebastian on a nearby rooftop to get a good view. Beach to Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, and After the show, the crowd migrated to ended with a block party at 5th Street and the block party with DJ Dani Toro, featuring SR A1A. drag and music performances, a techThe parade was a display of the Fort heavy stage with lights and visuals, and Lauderdale community with LGBT people of all ages and identities dancing to organizations, corporate sponsorship, a variety of music.
“One float was promoting PrEP... It was nice to see that activism.”
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The Wilton Manors City Commission float in Pride Fort Lauderdale. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
Before sunglasses and speedos were the stage. adorned for the Fort Lauderdale Pride The Pub also featured Billboard Top 10 Parade and Festival, folks had a chance to recording artist Sir Ari Gold’s Soundtrack dress up and go out to a special to Freedom Concert. Gold Friday night on the drive. is a seasoned LGBT scholar Wilton Manors’ Wilton Manors’ Pride on with a fashion sense to boot the Drive was full of drinking — the muscled performer Pride on the and dancing, but had some ended his set shirtless in a Drive was full featured events as well. matching golden hat and Rumors warmed up the stage pants. of drinking with a drag show featuring The party then moved to an “I Love Lucy� tribute with The Manor for the Bubble and dancing, a full Lucy in drag reenacting Gum party with flashy but had some the “vitameatavegamin� performances by drag commercial scene. queens TP Lords, Calypso, featured After the drag show came Erika and Sasha. events as well. the sixth annual Big Belly The celebrations contest from CCBOY (Chubs, continued through the Chasers, Bears, Older, Younger). Bellies weekend with Carnival themed drag (and some butts) were on display for the shows, parties and of course the Pride crowd as each participant danced across Parade at 5:30 Saturday afternoon.
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NEWS local
Pride Week Opens With Goddess of The River Challenge at Flip Flops Nick Adkins
The Goddess of The River Challenge,
held Wednesday at Flips Flops Dockside Eatery culminated in a three-way lip-sync battle. “We had a lot of fun, and we’re excited to be a part of Pride Fort Lauderdale in the future,” said Lauren White, owner of Blue Moon Outdoor Adventures, the sponsor of the event. The Pride Fort Lauderdale kick-off mixer got the community prepared for a week of Pride events with drag stars Kitty Meow, Misty Eyez and Flip Flops’ Queen Amanda Austin. The trio held a kiki with guests, posed for photos, and competed in a lip-sync battle to Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” together with Fort Lauderdale flair. Due to some technical difficulties, the evening was kept at Flip Flops but the Queens found a way to make it work with a performance that ended in a close three-way draw for the Goddess of The River title. The mixer was a free event with a suggested donation of $10, with all funds going to Fort Lauderdale Pride. The event was additionally sponsored by Staying Afloat Party Boat Rental and was organized by Rabble with a Cause.
Visit SFGN.com/FTLpride2019 for all of its coverage of Pride Fort Lauderdale 2019.
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Misty Eyez (left), Amanda Austin and Kitty Meow. Photo credit: Nick Adkins.
To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook.
JUNE 2019 NYCPRIDE.ORG/2019
PRODUCED BY
WORLDPRIDE LICENSOR
H O S T PA R T N E R
H O S T PA R T N E R
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NEWS local
Fashion Show at the Hard Rock Kicks off Pride Fort Lauderdale Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
Damon Scott
It was a night of dazzling designs that showcased
South Florida’s inclusivity. The Pride Runway Fashion Show at the Hard Rock Event Center served as the official kick off for Pride Fort Lauderdale Thursday night.
A large and enthusiastic crowd cheered 2007. He’s had an impressive career as a TV for a lineup of provocative and impressive host, actor, writer and producer ever since. fashion creations worn by a long and His forte though has always been fashion. winding lineup of enticing models strutting The iconic RuPaul presides over All-Stars along the runway. and decides who will join the “Drag Race This is apparently the first time Pride has Hall of Fame” and win $100,000. hosted a runway fashion show. The 6-foot-5 inch tall Smalls, aka: Davis And let’s be honest, it doesn’t get much Heppenstall, was the runner-up on season gayer than Carson Kressley – the co-emcee eight of the show and was known as the of the show with Naomi Smalls, who was a “glamazon.” recent contestant on the RuPaul’s Drag Race Designers featured at the runway show All-Stars TV show. included Rey Ortiz, Daniel Esquivel, The fashion show featured an array of EmmaSis, Erika Norell, Joshua Christensen, Project Runway designers. Project Runway Danny Nguyen, the Marrero Collection, is the hit TV series on the Bravo Network, SIR-RAT | Leather & Gearwear and Candice formerly hosted by Heidi Klum. Cuoco, among others. The array of models wearing Styles ranged from sexy and the designer’s creations sultry, leather and lace; to pink featured both professionals, t-shirts reading “Resist Sweetie and locals chosen through Resist.” casting calls in the South “I know it’s about the clothes, Florida area. but sometimes there’s nipples!” The result was a show that Kressley exclaimed after one sought to be representative of run through featured some what Pride celebrations are all scantily clad and muscled men. about – inclusivity. The models The president of Pride Fort came in all shapes, sizes, ages Lauderdale, Miik Martorell, and genders to an appreciative welcomed the crowd and crowd. thanked the event host - Carson Kressley Kressley and Smalls Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & co-emcee introduced each designer and Casino and other sponsors. many times stole the show with The evening also featured their improvisational stand-up comedy- a silent auction and free gift bags with style transitions. Repechage products, courtesy of Wilton “It’s bigger than I thought it would be,” Manors’ David Douglas Spa. said Kressley of the crowd as he first walked After the show, interested fashionistas out on the stage. Turning to Smalls adding: had a chance to purchase fashions directly “Isn’t it always nice when it’s bigger than from designers in a pop-up area. you expect?” Special guests also included recording Kressley is a judge on All-Stars and is artist Alan T. and music by DJ Power Infiniti. well known in most gay circles as one of the Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, original “fab five” members of Queer Eye for one of the grand marshals of the Pride the Straight Guy, which ran from 2003 to parade, also attended.
“Isn’t it always nice when it’s bigger than you expect?”
Visit SFGN.com/FTLpride2019 for its ongoing coverage of the 2019 Pride Fort Lauderdale. Pride events continued through Feb. 24. Go to pridefortlauderdale.org for more information.
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NEWS local
All inclusive allstars
a deeper look at the runway
TV personality and fashion show co-emcee Carson Kressley.
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To see many more photos, turn to page 40 or visit SFGN on Facebook.
2.27.2019 •
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NEWS local
Dressed to impress
More from the hard rock pride fashion show To read more on the show, see page 36. J.R. Davis Kitty Meow.
To see many more photos, turn to page 36 or visit SFGN on Facebook. 40
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NEWS local
Pride Fort Lauderdale’s Successful Beach Fest stabbing taints end of event
Tucker Berardi
Following Fort Lauderdale’s first ever pride
parade down A1A and a talent-packed block party on Las Olas, Sunday’s pride festivities moved to Fort Lauderdale Beach. The celebrations went on for hours, but the mainstage turned into a crime scene when two individuals were stabbed toward the conclusion of the festival.
“At Pride Fort Lauderdale, we make the hospital. While details on the attack the security and safety of our guests a have yet to be released, the police have priority. We are able to share that at all two people in custody so far and have our events we require a police presence announced that the investigation is to protect our staff, volunteers, ongoing. sponsors and guests,” read a statement One of the victims is on trauma alert from Pride Fort Lauderdale. “There is while the other’s injuries are listed no indication this was a premeditated as superficial, according to Public act of terrorism designed Information Specialist to cause harm or fear to Casey Lining. Both are “We are the South Florida LGBTQ expected to survive. community. All indications “Fortunately, at the incredibly are that this was a dispute time of this incident, law between disagreeing grateful for the enforcement officers were on parties.” swift response site, successfully intervened This year’s Pride Festival and took the accused by the officers suspects into custody was held from noon to 8 p.m. and had two stages that immediately. While we do on duty and were kept populated with not know the names of the their ability to two accused, they have been performances from drag queens, DJs, motivational prevent further transported to the Broward speakers and celebrities County Jail for processing injury.” like RuPaul’s Drag Race by the Fort Lauderdale - Statement from judge Todrick Hall. Police Department,” the Pride Fort Lauderdale Vendors from around statement concluded. “We the community and are incredibly grateful for beyond lined the festival with an the swift response by the officers on array of rainbow shirts, hats, fanny duty and their ability to prevent further packs and more to sell or hand out for injury.” free. Community organizations and The incident was listed as isolated corporate allies pulled people in with without further cause for concern, and selfie booths and branded merchandise, the festival carried on, ending with a ensuring that everyone left the grounds fireworks show at 7:45 p.m. with a bag full of free stuff. Festivities wrapped up at The Pub on At around 6:30 p.m. however an Wilton Drive at the Official Pride Closing altercation near the main stage ended Night Party to mark the conclusion of in two people being stabbed and sent to another Pride Fort Lauderdale.
Visit SFGN/FTLpride2019 to read more of SFGN’s coverage of this year’s Pride Fort Lauderdale.
Police ride down A1A during Pride Fort Lauderdale. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
2.27.2019 •
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NEWS local
time for a warm-up
Fort Lauderdale Pride opening party at Alibi After the pride runway show, patrons met at the famous Wilton Drive bar for a show to remember. Carina Mask Twat LaRouge.
The famous $3 Long Island Iced Tea at the Alibi.
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To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook.
NEWS local
Pride on the beach pride fort lauderdale makes waves After the parade on the A1A, patrons headed to the sand for the next part of the party. J.R. Davis Pride Parade Judges Norm Kent of SFGN, Ina Lee of Travel History, Stacy Ritter of the CVB, and Rod Hagworth of Herald.
To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Miik Martorell. 2.27.2019 •
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NEWS local
Pride Fort Lauderdale parade
makes it gay1A J.R. Davis
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NEWS local Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, one of the grand marshals of the parade.
To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
Visit SFGN.com/FTLpride2019 for all of its coverage of Pride Fort Lauderdale 2019. 2.27.2019 •
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Publisher's Editorial
Convictions
Not Just a Parade, But History Walked the Beach Pride Celebration Puts Fort Lauderdale on the Map Norm Kent
norm.kent@sfgn.com
M
ake no mistake about it. There is no way to overstate what the greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT community pulled off last Saturday afternoon on Gay1A. Years ago, we were deviants, perverts and queers. Years ago, gays were being run out of town. Last weekend, we had a parade down the center of it. It took years of planning by Pride Fort Lauderdale and great cooperation with the Broward County Convention and Visitors Bureau. It took state officials to say OK to Gay; no small achievement when Tallahassee is your capital. It took months of work by unpaid volunteers who sought to fulfill a dream. That dream was realized as thousands of LGBT people marched proudly along A1A, capturing venues from South Beach and the B Hotel to the Ritz Carlton. That was worth a Tony Award by itself. It took overtime by city officials, police, and fire officials to ensure safety, security, and easy passage for residents and tourists. As it turned out, they were needed. Don’t be fooled by the headlines, though. An isolated altercation between private festival goers led to a violent incident that marred the end of the festival. How foolish and unnecessary. Life is too precious. But when you are building a bridge, you don’t let a pothole stop your construction. It was a task to move the annual gay pride festival to the Fort Lauderdale beach in the first place. Our pride group, led by Miik Martorell, did that three years ago, and the
annual event has grown each year since. On a strip of concrete and patch of sand where young gay men barely survived as runaways, high school bands from Dillard and Mac Arthur boldly paraded with their marching bands. On a beach where gay men were once sequestered into tiny hidden corners, police departments from Wilton Manors to FLPD showed off their rainbow colored cars. In a city where gay bars once had to hide behind closed doors in closeted venues, gay men and women unabashedly walked up and down our city’s most distinguished corridor. A host of politicians also joined in the march. We even have a gay mayor in Fort Lauderdale. There were no discussions of the past, of perversion, of ‘queers’ ruining our community, destroying our society, or stealing children into a world of homosexuality. They lied about us then. We get to tell the truth today. South Florida is now one of the most livable gay communities on the planet. We showcased that life and visibility along our beach last week. We are deviant no longer. We are the divas; the drivers of our community - a part of it, not apart from it. There was so much to celebrate, appreciate, and be grateful for. More than anything else, we can be proud that we can be proud. We always should have been. We were never “queer.” We were never “deviant.” We never should have heard of electro shock therapy, and if it is used at all, it should be on those today who are preaching “conversion therapy.”
South Florida is now one of the most livable gay communities on the planet.
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Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
We are one people, one planet, one with a universal passion to live lives of peace and prosperity; love and longevity. It may have taken decades, but we have arrived, with a seat at the table; a place in our town. Nobody should have ever denied you in the first place. That is why, this year, we will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of a riot for rights at the
Stonewall Bar in New York City. Rights are something you preserve, protect, and defend. And when you get them, you celebrate them. We just did in Fort Lauderdale, with a historic, first-ever parade. So if you were anywhere on the beach this past weekend, you did not just go to a party. You recorded history. Congratulations. Hold on to it, and never, ever let it go.
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FISH & CHIPS Microbrew-battered halibut with fries, house-made slaw & tartar sauce
$21.95
IRISH STEW Beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, peas, tomatoes and cabbage in savory gravy
$21.95
SHEPPARD'S PIE Ground beef, carrots, peas, corn, brown gravy, covered with homemade mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese
$18.95
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE Tender corned beef brisked, boiled potatoes, carrots and cabbage
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APPLE AND OAT CRISP with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
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2.27.2019 •
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lifestyle food
Rick Karlin
Souper Duper Here are some of my favorite soup recipes
T
hat recent cold snap we had (I actually put on a sweater and long pants!) made me realize how much I miss soup. Up north, when we’d get a winter storm, I would avoid cabin fever by mixing up a big pot of soup. I’d freeze batches of it for a quick and easy mid-week dinner. Here are a few of my favorite soup recipes, most need little more than some crusty bread and side salad to make a complete meal.
Pub-Style Split Pea Soup
Next time you have a ham, wrap the bone in foil and freeze it until you’re ready to make this soup. If you don’t have a ham bone you can substitute two ham hocks. Ingredients
1 meaty ham bone 1 ½ cups dried green split peas, rinsed 2 celery ribs, chopped 1 large carrot, chopped 1 sweet onion, chopped 5 cups water 1 bottle light beer 1 tablespoon English mustard powder ½ cup milk ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg Directions
Place ham bone or hocks in a 4-qt. slow cooker. Add peas, celery, carrot and onion. Combine water, beer and mustard; pour over vegetables. Cook, covered, on high 5-6 hours or until peas are tender. Note: if not using a slow cooker, use a large stock pot, bring to boil and reduce to a simmer for 45 minutes. Remove ham bone from soup, cool slightly, trim away fat and remove meat from bone. Cut meat into bite-size pieces; return to slow cooker or stock pot. Stir in remaining ingredients. If desired, top with minced parsley. If you prefer a smoother soup, puree the soup broth in small batches in a blender before adding ham.
Bubbie’s Chicken Soup
This was my grandmother’s recipe. Nicknamed “Jewish penicillin,” it’s guaranteed to cure anything. Ingredients
2½ pound chicken 1¼ teaspoons pepper ½ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon chicken fat (can substitute canola oil) 1 large onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 10 cups water
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Fish chowder.
4 celery ribs, chopped 4 medium carrots, chopped 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 1 tablespoon lemon juice Directions
Cut chicken in sections (thighs, legs, wings and breasts). Pat dry with paper towels; sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of the pepper and salt. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken in batches, skin side down; cook until golden brown, 3-4 minutes each side. Remove chicken from pan. Add onion to drippings; cook and stir over mediumhigh heat until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add celery, carrots and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add water, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Return chicken to pan along with bay leaves and thyme, bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, cover until chicken is tender, 25-30 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Remove soup from heat. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones; discard bones and skin. Shred meat into bite-sized pieces. Return meat to stockpot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and remaining pepper. Remove bay leaves. Add cooked rice, noodles or matzoh balls, if desired.
Chicken & Dumplings
From the other (gentile) side of the family, an equally heartwarming dish. Ingredients
1 chicken (3-½ to 4 pounds), cut up 2¼ quarts chicken stock 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 cans (10-¾ oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted 2 ½ cups frozen peas and carrot blend 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped peeled potatoes
Return chicken to stockpot with canned soup, vegetables and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. After the liquid has thickened slightly, increase heat to a gentle boil. Make dumplings by combining biscuit mix with pepper, egg, butter and enough milk to make a moist stiff batter. Drop by teaspoonfuls into soup. Cover and cook without lifting the lid for 18-20 minutes.
¼ cup chopped onion 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 bay leaf Dumpling Ingredients:
2 ½ cups biscuit mix ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 large egg, beaten 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 cup whole milk
French Onion Soup
Directions
Place the chicken, stock and pepper in a stockpot. Cover and bring to a boil; skim foam. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 45-60 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken and set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove meat from bones; discard bones and skin and cut chicken into chunks. Cool broth and skim off fat.
Hungry for more?
Surprisingly easy to make and so delicious. The secret is a good stock, either homemade or store bought. Ingredients
4 cups thinly sliced onions 1 garlic clove, minced ¼ cup butter ¼ cup cognac 6 cups beef stock 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
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 food 8 slices French bread (¾ inch thick), buttered and toasted 8 slices Swiss cheese 8 slices provolone Directions
In a large covered saucepan, cook onions and garlic in butter over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes or until tender and golden, stirring occasionally. Deglaze the pan with cognac. Add stock and Worcestershire sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Ladle hot soup into six ovenproof bowls. Top each with a piece of French bread with one slice of each type of cheese. Broil until cheese melts and serve immediately.
Fish Chowder
Any good, firm fleshed fish (cod, haddock, etc.) will do. You can be fancy and use shrimp, crab or lobster, but if you do so, wait to add the seafood until just before serving so it doesn’t over-cook. Ingredients
4 bacon strips, chopped 1 cup chopped onion 3 cans (12 oz each) evaporated milk 1 can (15-¼ oz) whole kernel corn, undrained 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed 3 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon salt ¾ teaspoon pepper 1 can (6-½ oz) chopped clams, undrained 1 pound fish fillets, cooked and broken into pieces Crumbled cooked bacon, optional Minced chives, optional Directions
In a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and excess fat, sauté onion until tender. Add potatoes and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add milk, corn, butter, salt and pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in fish and clams, bring to simmer for 10 minutes
or until fish is cooked through. Ladle into bowls, top with bacon and chives if desired.
African Squash and Peanut Stew
As with any great stew recipe, there are almost endless possibilities to change it up. I personally don’t care for coconut milk, so I use cashew milk. Ingredients
¼ cup cooking oil 1 large red bell pepper, diced 1 small yellow onion, finely diced 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced 1 teaspoon turmeric 3 cloves of garlic, minced 3 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced ½ teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon cinnamon 2 cups coconut milk 1 can (14 oz) fire roasted diced tomatoes 2 cups frozen butternut squash cubes ½ cup smooth peanut butter 1 bunch spinach or baby kale, washed and shredded 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped 1 cup cooked grain of choice (rice, cous cous, quinoa) ¼ cup peanuts, roughly chopped Directions
In a heavy soup pot, heat oil and sauté the onion, red bell pepper and jalapeno over medium heat until slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add the fresh ginger, garlic, turmeric, ginger, coriander and cinnamon, sauté for about 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, canned tomatoes, spinach or kale, and frozen squash. Bring just to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer (covered) until the squash is tender. Add the garbanzo beans and peanut butter and simmer for a couple minutes. Add fresh cilantro and simmer a couple minutes longer. Ladle into bowls and top with a scoop of cooked starch and some crushed peanuts.
Bubbie’s chicken soup.
2.27.2019 •
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spirituality
SouthFloridaGayNews.com
Your Community Synagogue
What this country needs is a little more PURIM!! Join us on Sunday, March 15th at 5pm
2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors ● On the Pride Center campus 954Ͳ564Ͳ9232 ● www.EtzChaimFlorida.org Proudly serving our community since 1976
LISTINGS Congregation Etz Chaim 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org RabbiNoahKitty@etzchaimflorida.org Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m. Holy Angels Catholic Community 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33334 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM Christ Lutheran Church 1955 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale. 33306 (954) 564-7673 - christlutheranfl.org pastordeborah@christlutheranfl.org Worship: Sunday 10:00am
Be a part of our LAKE WORTH Faith Community No matter who you are, No matter where you are on life’s journey, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
1415 North K Street Lake Worth, FL 33460 (561) 582-6691 | www.fcclw.org office@lakeworthchurch.org
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Divine Mercy Chapel 2749 NE 10th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33334 954-567-1930 - DivineMercy.church Service Time: Mass, Sunday 10:30am St. Nicholas Episcopal Church 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach (954)942-5887 - stnicholasfl.org office@stnicholasfl.org Service Times: Sundays 8:00AM & 10:30AM (9:30AM only from Memorial Day through Labor Day) First Congregational United Church of Christ 1415 North K Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460 561-582-6691 - fcclw.org office@lakeworthchurch.org Service Time: Sunday 10:30AM United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale 2501 NE 30th Street, Ft. Lauderdale (954)563-4271 - uccftl.org revpatrickrogers@gmail.com Service Times: Thursdays 10:30AM (Elliot Hall) & Sundays 10:30AM (Sanctuary)
Fort Lauderdale Friends Meeting
Simplicity Peace Integrity Community Equality Sustainability
Meets for Quaker silent worship Sunday at 11:00 AM SANCTUARY 1400 N. Federal Hwy. Ft. Lauderdale
FAITH & PRIDE spirituality
First Congregational
United Church of Christ in Lake Worth Pastor Jason Fairbanks
A
t First Congregational United Church of Christ in Lake Worth, we begin our worship service with the words, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” Those are not just words for us. It is an expression of one of our deepest values and how we strive to do life together as a faith community. We have been created by God in a multitude of colors, cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Our great privilege and opportunity is to affirm one another and learn from one another. We are part of the United Church of Christ, a denomination that has been on the forefront of advocating for the rights of all. In 1853, we, as the Congregational Church, ordained the first woman since New Testament times to Christian ministry. In 1972, we were the first historic Protestant denomination to ordain an openly gay minister, Rev. William R. Johnson. In 2005, we passed a resolution supporting same-gender marriage equality. Our church in Lake Worth continues to
affirm and celebrate the diversity of our community and our membership. Our worship is traditional, but casual. We sing many of the hymns you know and also introduce music that speaks to our current culture, circumstances, and spiritual journey. As pastor, I share messages that encourage and challenge us to grow in relationship to God, one another, and ourselves. We work together for a better world through feeding the hungry and advocating for the rights and dignity of all people and the earth. If you are looking for a faith community where you will be accepted and affirmed for who you are, where you can explore and engage your spirituality, and where you can journey and work with others to make a difference in your community and in the world, we invite you to visit us. You will receive a warm welcome. We worship at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 1415 North K St. in Lake Worth. You can also find us online at fcclw.org. We look forward to meeting you!
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Christ Lutheran Church 1955 East Oakland Park Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306 www.christlutheranfl.org
Sunday Service @ 10am
FAITH & PRIDE spirituality
Gay, Homeless, and
Abandoned
Fellowship after Service
Rev. Mark Andrew Jones St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
S
t. Nicholas Episcopal Church has assisted homeless individuals for over 25 years, primarily through support provided by St. Laurence Chapel, located in Pompano Beach. For most of St. Laurence’s 31-year history, it was a day shelter for the homeless. St. Nicholas provided food, clothing, and volunteers. Then, when St. Laurence transitioned to an emergency overnight model, the Holy Grill of St. Nicholas mobile feeding ministry also began serving dinners at St. Laurence Monday through Friday. Unfortunately, Broward County has terminated its contract with St. Laurence. Facing an uncertain future, St. Laurence must vacate the Blount Road site by noon, March 31. When I had the opportunity to speak with St. Laurence’s Board of Directors, I suggested they step back from this moment of grief and seize the opportunity to prayerfully consider how they might refine their mission to the homeless to perhaps be even more effective going forward. In this regard, I suggested the Board consider addressing homelessness among the young and especially among LGBTQ youth. The statistics I’ve seen suggest that
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LGBTQ youth are highly over-represented among the homeless youth population, approaching 40%. Moreover, whereas 33% of homeless youth are subjected to sexual victimization, according to one study, with 26% being solicited for sex in exchange for money, food, drugs, shelter, or clothing, 58% of the LGBTQ homeless population are sexually victimized and 44% solicited to exchange sex in order to meet basic human needs. Even more troubling, research suggests 62% of homeless LGBTQ youth attempt suicide as compared to 29% for heterosexual homeless youth. Please help. There may be resources and safe places for LGBTQ homeless youth in South Florida of which I am unaware. If you know of any such resources, please contact me at markandrew@stnicholasfl.org. Equally important, if you know of LGBTQ homeless youth who need assistance and a safe, accepting place, please refer them to me. Together we can make a positive difference in the lives of many. And, if you would be so kind, please pray for us, our ministries, and our efforts to persuade St. Laurence Chapel or some other organization to fill the gap and be an important resource for homeless LGBTQ youth.
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March 20th, 2019OutSocial.club Free to Everyone A New Way To Network 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy food, at Gulf Stream refreshments and fun OutSocial.club A New Way To Network Brewery Raffles by: 1105 NE 13th St Fort Lauderdale, FL
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Convictions
Trans Talk
Some Trans Men are Feminine Atticus Ranck
S
ome trans men are feminine. Trans men do not have to be masculine in order to be male. Some trans women are masculine. Trans women do not have to be feminine in order to be female. There are a lot of stereotypes that exist about the trans community and even within the trans community. Society says, for a trans man, if you identify as a man even though you were assigned female at birth, you should be masculine and act like a man. We all know that gender is a social construction, though, and “acting like a man” means something different culture by culture and person by person. For many trans men (and cisgender men, for that matter), myself included, we feel we need to live up to U.S. standards of masculinity - being tough, not crying, being the breadwinner in the family, etc. As a gender studies student, I studied the way our society boxes in our various When we emerge genders to the detriment of everyone. as the gender we Men feel like they can only express their emotions in ways that are appropriate rightly feel we - mainly through physical violence - if are, there are they show their emotions at all. times when some Women feel like they can’t show that they enjoy sex for fear of being called a trans people will slut but also shouldn’t be too prudish overcompensate on either. These are just stereotypes but many people feel confined to them and their femininity or trans people are not immune. masculinity in order When we emerge as the gender we rightly feel we are, there are times when to be validated some trans people will overcompensate in their identity. I on their femininity or masculinity in to further my transition and to feel more hurt their bodies, to transition without the oversight order to be validated in their identity. I whole in my body. of a doctor. For others, the gender dysphoria can be know I did. know I did. My wife is a trans woman who hasn’t managed with HRT or with a binder or makeup or hair We’re breaking out of these molds had any medical intervention at all. She styles. For some, the dysphoria will be so bad they though and trans people are leading the way. I don’t has gender dysphoria and has taken steps that are not won’t get out of bed for days at a time. On other days, have to “act manly” all the time to know that I’m a man. medical in order to alleviate that dysphoria. She may they’ll feel confident and secure. It can come and go. For To further complicate matters, not all trans people choose to medically transition through certain surgeries others, they may not have any gender dysphoria. That are interested in passing. Passing means to be seen as and/or HRT later. It’s her body and it’s up to her how she doesn’t make them any less trans or any less valid. the gender with which you identify. I pass as a cisgender chooses to feel her best. She’s supported me through all The trans community is as diverse as any other male. For many trans people, that’s the goal, but not for my bodily choices and I respect her bodily autonomy in community. Trans women don’t owe society all trans people. the same way. hyperfemininity and trans men don’t owe you Not all trans people have gender dysphoria. Gender Gender dysphoria can be all-consuming. It can hypermasculinity in order to be seen as the gender with dysphoria is the clinically significant distress caused cause someone to never want to leave their house, to which we identify. when a person’s assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify. To alleviate my gender dysphoria, I started HRT to help change my secondary Atticus Ranck is the Health Programs & Supportive Services Manager for Bradbury-Sullivan sex characteristics to match my male identity. Then LGBT Community Center in Allentown, PA. Previously, he was the Director of Transgender I had top surgery a year and a half later. Three years Services at SunServe in Wilton Manors. Atticus is a trans man who advocates for the LGBT after that, I had a hysterectomy and metoidioplasty community through his work, trainings, presentations, and everyday encounters.
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Convictions
Editorial Cartoon
IT’S BACK!
21ST ANNUAL
Editorial Cartoon By Mike Luckovich
ART FOOD FUN MUSIC
GET READY FOR THE BIGGEST PARTY IN PEMBROKE PINES! This two-day art festival is free to the public and is jam packed with talented artists, cool fun-filled entertainment, tasty food and refreshments, live handson art demonstrations, a farmer’s market, pop up art on the plaza, a student art competition, a kids art and game zone, adult and children workshops at The Frank Art Gallery, and so much more. Don’t miss it!
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2.27.2019 •
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Feature pets
lifestyle photos
a golden boy
sidney
After having a home his entire life Sidney (ID 609683) is now in search of a new family to love since his previous owner moved and could not take him along. At 10 years young and 13+ pounds Sidney is a talkative fellow who enjoys treats and sitting on your lap. He is affectionate, likes to be brushed and is good with other pets. Can Sidney spend his golden years with you?
Greater fort lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce Luncheon On Feb. 21 at Bona Italian Restaurant, the GFLGLCC hosted its Quarterly Networking Luncheon, this time presented by the AIDS Health Foundation (AHF). Nick Adkins
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.
A CELEBRATION OF
IRVING BERLIN
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Edwin Neimann - PIANO
FRIDAY, MARCH 1ST AT THE GRILLE
SHOW AT 7 P.M. AND 9 P.M. Reservations 954-530-3361
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Aaron (center) and Austin Bergman sit with Dean Trantalis, mayor of Fort Lauderdale.
To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook.
lifestyle photos
Out Social celebrates the Best of! On Feb. 20 at The Alibi, Out Social, presented by the SFGN Media Family, welcomed its readers throughout the community as they celebrated SFGN’s Best Of LGBT South Florida. Justin Musial
Guests pose with members of the SFGN sales team.
To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook.
2.27.2019 •
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Convictions
Guest Column
It’s Time for Us to Support the florida
Inclusive Workforce Act A response to Equality Florida opposing FIWA
Photos: Equality Florida rallies for trans rights in Orlando. Photos via Facebook.
Jen Laws x
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hange is hard and adaptability is the key to success and happiness. This moment in time is an exceptionally interesting one in terms of advocacy efforts. Previous strategies of funneling grassroots support into large organizations served us well in gaining ground on broad issues impacting large segments of our shared communities. We grew titans among us in the effort of change action and we largely found success in many of those fights thanks to the combined strength of our efforts focused on single organizations and people. For those efforts, we should and must continue to be grateful. Gratitude, however, does not come without accountability and the necessity to adapt to a changed environment or risk stagnation; worse yet, backslide. As we adjust to a greater recognition of our humanity in marriage equality and progress in fights against the disparities we face, we must also recognize those spaces where we have failed and the people we have left behind.
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Today, for us to succeed in ensuring equity, advocacy efforts, be it funding, programming, or strategic direction, we must begin to shift our operational style to grassroots organizations. Unfortunately, change is hard, right? Dozens, hundreds of well-meaning advocacy leaders have grown accustomed to their positions of power; to being the spokespersons of our very diverse communities. And they have confused their own position, made easier by their past success, with that of the position of our communities. We are not uniform and it is time we acknowledge that. Our environment has changed. Gone are the days of allies in federal administration working to ensure and enforce our values of progress and protection. Our national tone has slipped, like a recovering addict experiencing relapse, into comfortable biases of our past and, if we are to be invested in the health and wellness of those around us, it is time to acknowledge that addiction is so heavy, so deep, that harm reduction as a strategy is pertinent.
Here were two, middle-aged, white appearing, cisgender men proclaiming to not want to be treated as “one-third a person” and I had to suppress a laugh. They’re safe. They are not the transgender women of color described in the Human Rights Report issued last November. They do not and will not know what it is to face employment discrimination so ingrained as to be a boot heel of poverty on their necks. It is time we acknowledge that our national and state politics have slipped and we are no longer at a tipping point. Listening to advocates speaking on behalf of Equality Florida at Wilton Manors’ City Commission meeting last week was interesting. Here were two, middle-aged, white appearing, cisgender men proclaiming to not want to be treated as “one-third a person” and I had to suppress a laugh. They’re safe. They are not the transgender women of color described in the Human Rights Report issued last November. They do not and will not know what it is to face employment discrimination so ingrained
as to be a boot heel of poverty on their necks. But my sisters will. My clients will. My family will. And ever present is the knowledge that my transition, my skin keeps me relatively safe from these facts. The difference is I chose to listen to those most impacted by a lack of statewide protections. I listened as a young transman in Ocala explained how his employer forces him to use the restroom across the street at the gas station. I listened to countless stories of employers not seeing a need to include transition related, gender affirming care in their benefits offerings, impeding the quality of life of my community. I listened to dozens of stories of people being refused work, refused wage increases, being passed up for promotion, and how that made life hard for my community. “Hard” can be measured in missed light bills, missed meals, less than comfortable apartments, never seeing the ability to pay off debt, and surrendering to an idea that retirement will never come. These cornerstones of the American ideal are simply out of
Guest Column
Convictions reach for many transgender Americans… transgender Floridians. Identifying grassroots advocacy organizations, local and sometimes unlikely allies, and working to ensure transgender Floridians are heard in our concerns is critical to centering our voices and our priorities as one of those populations feeling the greatest brunt of focused bigotry. We’re fortunate that Translatina Coalition maintains a seat at the table of our statewide advocacy efforts among other organizations and individuals including SAVE, Forward Miami, Palm Beach Human Rights Council, and former state Rep. David Richardson. Operating with a collaborative approach and seeking out community accountability, we would do well to remember those who come to stop harm as much as we celebrate those who have paved paths forward. Both of those efforts are meaningful and valuable toward our shared goals of equity. And so here we are with a promise of a first step; an effort at courageousness. Yes, case law exists in interpreting “sex” protections under the Constitution and state law to include LGBTQ Americans and this has not been tested at the Supreme Court or cemented by federal law.
This is not decided law and it is certainly not decided in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, a court that has already refused to consider “sex” protections to cover our community as recently as last July, in any area of life. A judge may use the lack of explicit mention in statute to manifest case law excluding LGBTQ Floridians from housing protections and they may not and we should, justly, expect rebuttal and appeal at every turn because we are not powerless at the mere word of a single judge. We should not bow to messages of fear of what the future may hold. While we cannot predict future, we should be able to rely on the power those titans of yesterday keep their fingers tightly gripped around to defend progress whereever it may manifest. That was their commitment, right? That’s why we supported them; gave them their status. These fights are not about “us” and “our win” but about The Cause. It is time we hold them accountable to those ideals they so inspired. It is time to ensure our actions further progress instead of impeding it even if that means more work in the future, because the most vulnerable in our communities can no longer stand to wait for the ideal as they suffer harm. Be brave. Take the first step with us, not for us. Support both FL SB 430 and FL SB 438.
These fights are not about “us” and “our win” but about The Cause.
WMBA Business Expo 2019 Hello WMBA members and Future WMBA members. The 2019 WMBA Business Expo is here and will be held on Monday March 11th, 2019 at the Hagan Park Community Center.
Hagan Park Community Center 2020 Wilton Drive (behind city hall) Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm Free admission, free parking, free food! Register now, tables available on a first come first serve basis. The cost is $25 per table. You must be a current paid WMBA member to have a table at the expo. Limited number of tables are available. Click here to reserve your table
If you are not a current paid member join or renew now. This year promises to be our best expo thus far. We will be advertising this event aggressively. Please share our Facebook post with everyone you know. See Facebook event page here
If you have any questions please contact Julietta Wenzel julietta@oceantherapycenter.com Thank you! Tim Moffitt, WMBA President Senior Relationship Manager, FlashBanc
Let your voice be heard! Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com 2.27.2019 •
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SFGNITES
FOR THE WEEK OF February 28, 2019 - march 5, 2019 • WWW.SFGN.COM J.W. Arnold
Magic in Motion
jw@prdconline.com
THU
2/28
theater The whole Peanuts gang comes to life tonight at the Broward Center in Slow Burn Theatre Co.’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” running through March 10 in the Abdo New River Room. Sing along with Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally, Snoopy and, of course, Charlie Brown, in this Broadway classic staged by Slow Burn’s Carbonell-winning director and choreographer Patrick Fitzwater. Tickets start at $50 at BrowardCenter.org.
FRI
3/1
concert Pop icon Pink kicks off an extension of her “Beautiful Trauma” world tour tonight at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. A reviewer at the first concert of the tour wrote, “If for some reason, you believe you’ve seen another artist put more time and effort into doing acrobatics high above the crowd, you may just be thinking of Cirque du Soleil.” This concert shouldn’t be missed. Tickets start at $47.45 at TheBBTCenter.com.
Thursday
2/28
dance
Full of “beguiling, eye-filling and often impressive visual and movement theatrics,” MOMIX returns to the Broward Center tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a “best of” program showcasing their physical beauty and signature innovative choreography. Witness these stunning athletic dancer/illusionists as they perform a compilation of company favorites with trademark beauty, magic, fun and imagination. Tickets start at $49.50 at BrowardCenter.org. Photo Credit: MOMIX.
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3/2 SUN
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How far will a gay guy go to please his parents? That’s the question that gets answered in “Daddy Issues,” the Off Broadway hit written and directed by former South Florida resident and Rising Action Theater artistic director David Goldyn. Catch one of the limited performances, March 1 – 10, at the Willow Theatre at Sandy Spring Park, 300 Military Trail in Boca Raton. Tickets at WillowTheatre.com.
“The climax is just the beginning” in the Off Broadway hit “Afterglow,” playing through March 10 at Wilton Theater Factory, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. An open marriage gets complicated quickly when an innocent one-night encounter exposes raw emotions and secret desires. Contains full-frontal male nudity. Performances Tuesdays through Sundays. Tickets start at $35 at RonnieLarsen.com.
The Lynn New Play Reading Series continues tonight with “Standing at the Gates of Janus,” by the late local playwright and former associate producer of the series, Tony Finstrom. Don’t miss this final opportunity to honor the legacy of the talented writer and arts patron. A staged reading of the play will be presented at Lynn University’s Wold Performing Arts Center. Information at Lynn.edu/events.
If you missed “Waitress” last season at the Broward Center or last week in Miami, here’s your final chance to catch this hit musical from a groundbreaking all-female creative team, including six-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles and Tonywinning director Diane Paulus. At the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach through Sunday, March 10. You will be craving pie for days to come! Tickets start at $34 at Kravis.org.
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Jess T. Dugan and Vanessa Fabbre
TO SURVIVE ON THIS SHORE Photographs and Interviews with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults
Artist Lecture with Jess T. Dugan | Saturday, February 9 at 3pm Exhibition Opening | Saturday, February 9 from 4-7pm
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A C O L O R F U L LY C H I C A F FA I R
IMPRESSIONS: THE NEW AESTHETIC is an immersive art affair for new and experienced collectors alike. Enjoy cool interactive sensory experiences replete with engaging art installations, video art projections, live painters, musicians, performance art, and irresistible edibles and elixirs.
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Bonnet House Museum & Gardens 900 N Birch Rd | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
1001 East Indiantown Road, Jupiter, FL33477 2.27.2019 •
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A&E theater Charlie Alguera and Stephen Kaiser star in Outré Theatre Co.’s production of “Next Fall” opening March 8 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. Photo Credit: Gina Fontana.
Outre Offers Provocative Look at Unconditional Love J.W. Arnold
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ere’s a revelation: relationships are never easy—especially gay relationships. Outré Theatre Co. offers South Florida audiences a witty, provocative examination of our complicated affairs in Gregory Naufft’s “Next Fall,” opening March 8 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. In Naufft’s 2010 Outer Critics Circle awardwinner, the stumbling blocks for a young couple are faith and religious conviction. Luke is a devout believer. Adam is his boyfriend, and a militant agnostic. “Next Fall” chronicles the relationship of this unlikely couple over the course of their five-year relationship, from their meeting at a dinner event where Luke is waiting tables, to their breakups and makeups, and finally the tragedy that forces Adam to seek comfort, strength, and communion with Luke’s religious parents. “Nauffts has written a very funny, very powerful piece,” said Skye Whitcomb, Outré’s artistic director and the director of the production. “While the characters often exchange witty repartee, they also share their joy and sadness in a way that is very real and truthful. They struggle with identity, with belief in both the tangible and the intangible, and with their relationships with themselves and others. At its core, it’s a very beautiful, very moving love story.” Beautiful and moving, yes, but thoughtprovoking, too, Whitcomb emphasized. Naufft is never “heavy-handed,” and Whitcomb admits there are too many sad stories being told about tragic relationships, both gay and straight. “It has a serious message to it, but at its core, this is a story about joy, two men who come
together…nobody thinks it’s going to work. Everyone assumes that it will fail, but they complete each other. That says so much more than if we spend the entire time talking about tragedy,” he said. The play was a perfect fit for Outré, a company that has long told important stories of marginalized communities. The company’s mission statement declares: “Outré believes that theatre is a living art form with the power to reimagine and reexamine ourselves and the world around us. [We] strive to create theatre which stimulates thought, provokes reflection, and encourages activism.” “Outré has always tried to speak to those groups who don’t get the attention they deserve. I’m a straight white cisgender college educated male; I’m as privileged as you can get, but I have a duty to tell these stories,” he explained. “We want to do work that speaks, that lets us all know that there are issues to be thought about and wrestled with. There are no easy answers to the problems we as human beings all face.” The cast includes Charlie Alguera and Stephen Kaiser as Luke and Adam. Kat Gold, a veteran of Outré’s critically-acclaimed production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” returns to the stage, along with longtime South Florida actor Kevin Reilley and newcomers Zac Gowdie and Siobhan Nolan. After many years as a “traveling” theater company, Outré returns to its new home, the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, for a second season. Whitcomb said the location has been ideal for the company, which is attracting audiences from south Broward County all the way to Lake Worth and West Palm Beach.
Outré Theatre Co. presents Gregory Naufft’s “Next Fall” March 8 – 31 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. Tickets are $29 through March 7 and $39 after at CCPompano.org.
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MARCH 10 | 7:30 PM
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THEATRE KEY WEST
MARCH 12 | 7:30 PM BROWARD CENTER FORT LAUDERDALE
RAVEL Alborada del Gracioso TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat Minor Svetlana Smolina, piano RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio Espagnol DEBUSSY La Mer MARCH 17
TEMPLE ISRAEL CHAMBER SERIES MIAMI, FL
CHOPIN/RACHMANINOV Svetlana Smolina, Piano Brunch 11:30 PM Recital 1:00 PM
T I C K E T S O N SA L E N OW S O U T H F L O R I DAS Y M P H O N Y. O R G | 9 5 4 - 5 2 2 - 8 4 4 5
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A&E television
Nafessa Williams Plays TV’s First Black Lesbian Superhero Gary L. Day
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hen Nafessa Williams’ agent set her up to audition for the new CW network show “Black Lightning,” she had no idea who Black Lightning was, or even that it was going to be a superhero show—much less that she was auditioning to play a lesbian. In fact, when the CW first announced that it was adding “Black Lightning” to its roster, reaction was, at best, muted. Black Lightning was an obscure character created in the 1970’s who has had an at-best modest career in the comics since then. Besides, “Black Lightning” was just another superhero show amongst a plethora of new superhero shows that have been crowding the schedules of many networks. Williams ended up being cast as Anissa - Nafessa Pierce, the eldest of two superpowered daughters of Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning. Once she was cast and she started doing her homework about the characters’ history, Williams caught fire. “I got excited,” she said. “This was something different and special. Here was this black superhero whose focus was on his neighborhood, his community—and his family. I knew what it would mean to the community to see a portrayal of a strong black man who was present for his family, who was supportive and protective and loving.” Upon its premier, “Black Lightning” proved to be a surprise hit, certainly by CW standards. In addition to performing well in the ratings, the show has garnered substantially positive critical praise. This came as no surprise to Williams.
“I saw the scripts, which were incredible,” she said. “I knew who was involved running the show. I could tell that the quality would be on point.” The show, now in the midst of its second season, has chronicled the evolution of Anissa Pierce, from her discovery of her powers, through her development as the costumed superhero codenamed Thunder, who sometimes works with her father, but who also sometimes goes off and works independently—much to her protective father’s chagrin. The show also casually, yet forthrightly, chronicles Anissa’s private life as an outand-proud gay woman with an active romantic life. Not only is Williams okay with portraying a lesbian, she’s excited at Williams the chance to make a positive impression. “I’m so excited to be playing a lesbian,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to help normalize being a lesbian in people’s eyes.” She takes her position as a symbol for the community very seriously. “I consider it my responsibility to tell the story of where Anissa is coming from, as a woman of color, as a lesbian, from as authentic a place as I can,” she said. “I know the showrunners feel the same.” The show’s emphasis on protecting one’s community is an important factor that sets “Black Lightning” apart from most other TV superhero shows. “It’s important for people to be reminded that community is something worth fighting for.” “Black Lightning” has wrapped filming on the current season, and Williams right
“I consider it my responsibility to tell the story of where Anissa is coming from, as a woman of color, as a lesbian, from as authentic a place as I can.”
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Photo via Facebook.
now is on location filming a movie in New Orleans. She is immensely enjoying her time in the once-ravaged city. “New Orleans is an incredibly cool city. The city’s allure, the food—it’s terrific. I know certain sections of the city are still recovering from Katrina, even after all this time. But the way the city as a whole has bounced back is inspiring.” Williams’ burgeoning career in television, and now in movies, has left her with precious little time to devote to charitable efforts she had once been involved with. She was once involved with some friends in a YouTube channel called “VIP Happy Hour,” which was meant to inspire women to take control of their lives and forge their own destinies. Sadly, she no longer has the time to be involved. Williams does maintain a connection with the the Beatrice Foundation, a charity that feeds the homeless on Los Angelas’ Skid Row. “I love the Beatrice Foundation. The
work they do is so important, so gratifying. I just wish I had more time to give to them.” For the future, Williams is looking forward to what’s in store, both romantically and heroically, for Anissa/Thunder. In the past, there have been regular crossovers with the heroes of the various CW superhero shows, which include “Supergirl,” “The Flash,” “Arrow” and “DC’s Legends.” So far, “Black Lightning” has not been involved with these crossovers. But Nafessa has hopes. “I’d love to go off on an adventure with the other girl heroes like Supergirl and Black Canary,” she said. “The future is female!”
“Black Lightning” is broadcast on the CW on Monday nights at 9 p.m. The current season wraps up on March 4, but the show is available for streaming on Netflix. The show has been renewed by the CW for a third season.
Business SPOtlight
A Musical Bond Welcome to Business Spotlight, the column that thanks advertisers who support SFGN. We invite you to support them, because without their outreach to us, we would not be here to reach out to you. We are a free newspaper that survives on the success of our advertisers so we encourage our readers to support those who support us. Pianist Thomas Pandolfi.
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he Symphony of the Americas ventures into uncharted territory on Sunday, March 3, 2019 in its matinee performance at the Broward Center. Did anyone know there is a James Bond Piano Concerto? or a Frank Sinatra Piano Concerto? YES! Pianist Thomas Pandolfi will celebrate these mysterious and enticing themes as soloist with the Broward County designated Major Cultural Institution, Symphony of the Americas on Sunday, March 3rd at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Amaturo Theater. “I am so very much looking forward to coming to Ft. Lauderdale for this performance… Coming off of a Brahms Concerto the day before in the northern US, it is a complete change of mind-set,” said Pandolfi. “The James Bond work is especially exciting because as any great piece of music, it encapsulates all the aspects of life itself. I am a Bond movie freak... and the best of those great Bond movies deliver passion, drama, romance and excitement! This is a microcosm of those different elements, and the audience can get caught up in all of that... This concerto was first conceived in 2007 because of the original ‘007’and now the revised version has all the latest melodies. I performed its world premiere in London in
2010, and truly look forward to performing it in Ft. Lauderdale.” A graduate of the Juilliard School, Pandolfi enjoys working with new composers, and is scheduled to perform the world premier of the Bohemian Concerto by British-Argentine composer, Polo Piatti in the 2019-20 season. This concert, a celebration of symphonic pops, will also feature Pandolfi in the Frank Sinatra Piano Concerto. Complementing these works are the full orchestra’s performance of Lalo Schifrin’s Mission Impossible Theme, John Williams’ celebrated Superman Returns, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Concert Suite, and more. Now in its 31st season, Symphony of the Americas is a Broward County Major Cultural Institution and the proud performance partner of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Under the leadership of internationally acclaimed Artistic Director and Conductor, Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese, the Symphony delights south Florida audiences with selections of the best classical music worldwide. For information regarding upcoming Symphony of the Americas concerts and events, see www.sota.org or call the Symphony office at 954-335-7002.
Tickets for this concert begin at just $ 20 and are available through the Broward Center for the Performing Arts AutoNation Box Office, 954.462.0222 or www.browardcenter.org. 2.27.2019 •
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A&E entertainment
#OscarsSoGay
91st Academy Awards Wrap-Up Nick Adkins
*LGB roles are bolded. Photos: CNN.
T
he 91st Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, had a record 7 out of 20 nominees across the 4 acting categories for playing lesbian, gay, and bisexual characters. LGB roles won a stunning 3 out of the 4 categories Sunday evening. In addition, Lady Gaga, who is bisexual, won the award for “Best Original Song.” Acting nominees and winners are listed below.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma” Glenn Close, “The Wife” Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born” Olivia Colman, “The Favourite” *WINNER Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Christian Bale, “Vice” Bradley Cooper, “A Star Is Born” Willem Dafoe, “At Eternity’s Gate” Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody” *WINNER Viggo Mortensen, “Green Book”
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody” ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Olivia Colman, “The Favourite” “It’s genuinely quite stressful. This is hilarious. Got an Oscar!” Olivia Colman said in her acceptance speech. “[I thank] Yorgos Lanthimos, my best director in the best film with Emma [Stone] and Rachel [Weisz], the two loveliest women in the world to fall in love with and to go to work with every day.[...] My husband Ed [Sinclair], my best friend. I love you so much, 25 years you’ve been my best supporter.”
“We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself,” Rami Malek said during his acceptance speech. “The fact that I’m celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we’re longing for stories like this.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Emma Stone, “The Favourite” Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite” Amy Adams, “Vice” Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk” – *WINNER Marina De Tavira, “Roma”
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mahershala Ali, “Green Book” *WINNER Adam Driver, “BlackKKlansman” Sam Elliott, “A Star Is Born” Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me” Sam Rockwell, “Vice”
Billy Porter
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Shallow” - “A Star Is Born
Lady Gaga said in her acceptance speech, “To my sister, my soulmate, I love you. My family’s here, I love you, Mom and Dad. Bradley, there is not a single person on the planet that could’ve sang this song with me but you. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you so much. And if you are at home, and you’re sitting on your couch and you’re watching this right now, all I have to say is that this is hard work.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Mahershala Ali, “Green Book” *WINNER In his awards acceptance speech, Mahershala Ali thanked Don Shirley, the closeted pianist he portrayed himself, “I want to thank Dr. Shirley… Trying to capture [his] essence pushed me to my ends which is a reflection of the person he was and the life that he lived,” Ali said.
A complete list of the 2019 Academy Awards winners & nominees, as reported by CNN. 66
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s o ta . o rg | 9 5 4 - 3 3 5 - 7 0 0 2 | i n f o @ s o ta . o rg
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Sunday, March 3, 2019 3:00 pm matinee Pre-Concert talk at 2:15 with Patrick Casali, musicologist
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Datebook
Theater Tucker Berardi
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Top
Picks
*Seniors Acting Up!
Tuesday, March 12 from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors. a troupe of actors which has performed free play readings for South Florida audiences for over ten years, will bring nine of its favorite scenes to this free show asa retrospective of audience (and troupe) favorites culled from the stack of scenes and skits it has brought to its audiences. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
*My One and Only
March 8 to 24 at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill. A transatlantic aviator flies around the world in pursuit of the love of his life — a championship swimmer being blackmailed by royalty who claims to have compromising pictures of her. Tickets $48 to $58. Visit lpacfl.com.
February 27 - march 5 broward county *From White Plains
March 21 to April 21 at the Wilton Theater Factory Mainstage, 2304 Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors. Imagine sitting with your best friend, drinking beers and watching the Oscars on TV when, all of the sudden one of the winners names you as the bully who tormented him and provoked his best friend into committing suicide. That’s only the first few minutes of the explosive play, “From White Plains.” Visit IslandCityStage.org for tickets and info.
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
From White Plains will be at the Wilton Theater Factory Mainstage from March 21 until April 21. Photo via Island City Stage.
palm beach county Music for the Mind
Tuesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace. The Kretzer Music Foundation’s popular MUSIC FOR THE MIND concert series will return with the legendary pianist David Crohan. All proceeds from the concert will benefit children’s programs of Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches. Tickets $15 to $50.
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.
* Denotes New Listing
miami-dade county Every Brilliant Thing
February 14 to March 3 at the Carnival Studio Theater in the Ziff Ballet Opera House. an exhilarating, participative play that strikes a delicate balance between sobering loss and cathartic laughter. In this one-person tour de force, a man attempts to cure his mother’s depression by creating a list of the best things in the world. Tickets $50 to $55. Visit arshtcenter. org.
Siudy Flamenco Intimo
Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m. at the Aventura Arts and Cultural Center. Artistically directed by dancer and choreographer Siudy Garrido, featuring original music from Spanish guitarist José Luis de la Paz, the extraordinary production is a modern flamenco performance which reflects the pureness of flamenco art from a contemporary perspective. Tickets $45 to $49. Visit Aventuracenter.org
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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LIFESTYLE photo
Community outl
k
On Feb. 22 at the Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, the Stonewall Museum gave the spotlight over to Carson Kressley (pictured left), Brian McNaught, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Eric Marcus and Jazz Jennings for their accomplishments in the LGBT community. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
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February 27 - march 5
Datebook
Community
Broward Support Services
Tucker Berardi
Calendar@SFGN.com
Top Picks
PFLAG
*Chuchito Valdes, Modern Cuban Jazz
March 1 at 8 p.m. at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. With the influences of Caribbean rhythms and jazz, Chuchito creates an exciting and energetic blend of spicy music that drives audiences wild. This piano master captivates with his sensitivity and drives excitement with his dynamic band. Tickets $35 to $45. Visit artsgarage.org.
*TransCon
March 9 and 10 at Barry University, 11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores. A free conference for the transgender and nonbinary community including career workshops, free attorneys for name change support, social opportunities and much more! Visit transcon.miami for more information.
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.
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.
broward county *Positivity and Patterns Art Class
Saturday, March 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the NSU Art Museum, One East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Learn about the art-making tradition of the Mexican Huichol by making a protective ‘Ojo de Dios’ charm using yarn and weaving techniques, infusing positive thinking and gratitude into the work. Tickets $10-$15. Visit NSUArtMusuem.com.
Innovation Nation – Live!
Sunday, March 3 at 3 p.m. and Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. at the Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St, Fort Lauderdale. Like its TV counterpart, two correspondents engage with the audience and illustrate how innovators of the past continue to influence science, technology, agriculture, design making and social justice movements today. Tickets $23 to $63. Visit ParkerPlayhouse. com.
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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
Lunch With Art
Every Wednesday from 12:15 to 1:15 pm at 41 NE st 33060, Pompano Beach. Indulge your creative side in this free hands-on program. Bring your own lunch or grab a bite to eat at the in-house cafe.
Voices of Pride
Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they practice every week. Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC. com for rehearsal details.
palm beach county *Chuchito Valdes, Modern Cuban Jazz
March 1 at 8 p.m. at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. With the influences of Caribbean rhythms and jazz, Chuchito creates an exciting and energetic blend of spicy music that drives audiences wild. This piano master captivates with his sensitivity and drives excitement with his dynamic band. Tickets $35 to $45. Visit artsgarage.org.
*Kevin Maines and the Volts
March 8 at 8 p.m. at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. From deep and dirty Duane Allmanesque slide guitar rockers to sweet gospel-inspired falsetto singing, Kevin Maines doesn’t just play in the southern soul traditions. He also consumes and then gives them back bursting with his own unique twist. From gritty to ethereal, this music speaks for itself. Tickets $20 to $30. Visit ArtsGarage.org.
*Community Art Show
Saturday, March 2 at Lula Lake Worth Arts, 1121 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth. The Community Art Exhibition proves that art within this city is borderless. This hometown art show will host the workings of 32 local artists. Visit LakeWorthArts.com for details.
Honor Dinner for Outstanding Holocaust Educators
Wednesday, February 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Boca Lago Country Club, 8665 Juego Way, Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education (CHHRE) will host its annual Educator Appreciation. The dinner will celebrate the exceptional work of K-12 teachers supported by FAU’s CHHRE and honor the 2018 Gutterman Family Outstanding Holocaust Educators. Teachers and their families, colleagues, students, Holocaust survivors and members of the community are encouraged to attend. Tickets $100. Call 561-297-2929 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 *Asian Culture Festival
March 2 and 3 at Fruit and Spice Park, 24801 SW 187th Ave, Homestead. Through shared cultural experiences including food, music, dance, art and more, the Asian Culture Festival brings the history and customs of more than a dozen Asian countries to 15,000 attendees each year. Tickets $12. Visit AsianCultureFestival.net.
*TransCon
March 9 and 10 at Barry University, 11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores. A free conference for the transgender and nonbinary community including career workshops, free attorneys for name change support, social opportunities and much more! Visit transcon.miami for more information.
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 Hot Naked Hump Days
Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Island House, 1129 Fleming St. in Key West. Relax in the middle of the week with two-forone drinks, free shots, videos and music, giveaways, and naked boys at the pool. Call 305-294-6284 or visit IslandHouseKeyWest. com
Hot Naked Sundays
Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. at Island House, 1129 Fleming St. in Key West. A pretea pool party. Call 305-294-6284 or visit IslandHouseKeyWest.com.
* Denotes New Listing
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