SFGN 03/3/22 V13iss9

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

FLORIDA HOUSE PASSES ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION John Hayden

A

pair of bills that viciously target and attack Florida’s LGBT community passed in the Florida House of Representatives, taking a big step toward becoming law.

“Don’t Say Gay” (HB1557) passed 69-47, and the “Stop Woke” Act (HB 7) passed 74-41.

“Don’t Say Gay” prohibits schools from any discussion of LGBT topics in lower grades, but is written so vaguely that it could be interpreted to ban Gay/Straight Alliances and other discussions in upper grades, and could Photo via Safe Schools, Facebook. even force teachers to remove pictures of their same-sex spouses from their classrooms, a the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and ‘Stop WOKE’ Act rare rebellion within House GOP ranks as burden heterosexual teachers avoid. in the Florida House. If signed seven Republican lawmakers broke with “Stop Woke” prohibits into law, these bills will have leadership and opposed passage,” Equality schools from teaching THE BROWARD disastrous impacts on classrooms Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith any history lessons that and workplaces. They will turn said. “Those voting NO include a teacher and could make students feel COUNTY SCHOOL Florida into a surveillance state a child welfare advocate demonstrating that bad about themselves.

BOARD AND FORT and give the government broad those who work most closely with children Many aspects of Black LAUDERDALE’S CITY license to censor conversations and students understand how damaging this history couldn’t focus about American history, the legislation truly is.” on the role slavery and COMMISSION HAVE origins of racism and injustice, racial oppression played in GOP representatives voting “No” were PASSED RESOLUTIONS and the existence of LGBTQ Rep. James Mooney, Rep. Chip LaMarca, Rep. America’s history. It also OPPOSING THE people.” prevents employers from Demi Busatta Cabrera, Rep. Vance Aloupis, The Broward County School all of whom represent South Florida. Other requiring cultural training MEASURES, AND Board and Fort Lauderdale’s Republicans voting “No” were Rep. Amber sessions.

SAFE SCHOOLS HAS City Commission have passed Mariano, Rep. Rene Plasencia, and Rep. Will Shortly after the ALSO VOICED ITS resolutions opposing the Robinson. votes, Equality Florida measures, and Safe Schools has condemned the measures.

Opponents are urging the Florida Senate to OPPOSITION. also voiced its opposition.

“Despite overwhelming not vote on the bills, but that seems unlikely The measures are so divisive since it’s already passed out of committee. public outrage, polling data underscoring immense unpopularity with that even some Republicans couldn’t Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he supports the voters, and hours of testimony from LGBTQ stomach the idea. bills and is likely to sign them if they reach “This bill is so extreme that it inspired a his desk. families. Republican legislators voted to pass

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• 3. 3. 2022

RUSSIAN GENERAL WHO TORTURED, MURDERED LGBT PEOPLE KILLED IN UKRAINE Read SFGN.com to find out more. | Photo: Magomed Tushayev. Credit: Illia Ponomarenko.

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BY PIER GUIDUGLI AND NORM KENT South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations in SFGN. SFGN contracts with independent entities for stock images. 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.

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Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

WE WILL SAY GAY OUR FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

I

am hurting today, shocked and dismayed by the legislative terrorists in Florida trying to dismantle LGBTQ protections in our state.

It’s a regressive and stunning setback for us, conspiratorially orchestrated by an evil governor seeking a winning path to the Oval Office chair. I can’t believe it is happening, but he represents a national right-wing backlash to all things gay or transgender. He is your enemy, using fake “parental rights” to suppress your own.

I am hurting today, shocked and dismayed paper in Florida. Dean is the mayor of Fort by the legislative terrorists in Florida trying Lauderdale, speaking everywhere every day, to dismantle LGBTQ protections in our state. about new buildings and old bridges. But we It’s a regressive and stunning setback for are not alone. Look who we now have by our us, conspiratorially orchestrated by an evil side today. governor seeking a winning path to the Oval I am not going to just talk about the state Office chair. I can’t believe it is happening, and national organizations that collectively but he represents a national right-wing lobby for the gay community in legislatures backlash to all things gay or transgender. He across the country. From the HRC to Equality is your enemy, using fake “parental rights” to Florida, we have voices that did not even suppress your own. exist 25 years ago. There were no dinners It’s unreal to me. You spend 40 years for us at the Westin on the beach or cocktail fighting for civil rights and now run into a parties on Las Olas. There were soapboxes on governor trying to unravel that progress in street corners.

40 days. Don’t you dare be silent.

I am talking about the host of individual Thirty years ago, I stood on a podium legislators like Shevrin Jones and Carlos with Dean Trantalis, G Smith whose words are Beverly Cothern and Jamie heard every day on talk Bloodworth. We were all shows, in papers and social co-chairs of the United media, from Facebook to Citizens for Human Rights.

Twitter. We are not walking By our side would be people or standing alone anymore. like Robin Bodiford, Gary We have many friends on Steinsmith and a host of our side, along with partners our earliest gay leaders, all in power, from local school of whom gave up so much boards to pastors, presidents to push the needle forward, and a sea of media masters, little by little. like Rachel Maddows and - @CARLOSGSMITH ON HB Too few leaders, outside of Don Lemons.

1557, THE #DONTSAYGAY BILL Sheriff Ron Cochran, county In SFGN’s email bank, MOVING CLOSER TO PASSING executive Lori Parrish, and a there are a host of columns THE FLORIDA HOUSE smattering of others, stood that have been sent to us in our garden. Now there is by a wealth of writers and a governor who wants to uproot us, spin a spokespeople who want to be heard in half-century of progress back overnight. opposition to these laws — more than we We can’t let it happen. We won’t. can publish. That did not happen 20 years I am grateful today though. I still have a ago, when a young Brad Buchman stood small voice with my radio show, as a lawyer, alone outside a church with a bullhorn. and as the publisher of the largest weekly gay We may not be winning this moment,

“IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO NOT TAKE THIS PERSONALLY.”

Photo via Adobe.

in this rotten, repressive and regressive environment, but it is far better to be on the right side of history, aligned with a just cause that will eventually prevail, than an unjust cause that will inevitably fail.

One of my favorite beliefs is engraved not far from the tombstone of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It reads “if a man stands his ground, and there abides, the whole world will eventually come round to him.”

The LGBT community is not unlike hundreds of thousands of African Americans who stood before the Washington Monument with Dr. Martin Luther King nearly 60 years ago and heard him speak “We shall overcome.” So he did, and so shall we.

We need to be there to abide by it.

It is 2022, and state and federal legislators know the gay community and its progeny, transgender or not, is not a threat. We are partners who are a part of our community, not apart from it. You can’t legislate us out, no matter what asinine bill you pass into law.

Not unlike innocent citizens under attack, we are being invaded. Our sovereignty is being violated. We have to gather and galvanize forces on our side, from powerful corporations to citizens of conscience.

We have to unleash our economic power

and mobilize all our forces against these anachronistic laws.

I am counting on banks of lawyers to overwhelm the courts, and for you to help.

There is no looking away. Put down your mimosa.

This is a call to arms.

Our freedom is at stake, not only in Florida but in Texas and wherever spiteful and hateful people gather, maybe the Supreme Court itself.

We live in a challenging world facing a European war, global warming, climate change and so many perilous moments.

I look back at a life that began with the dreams of Woodstock in the Age of Aquarius, and it stings. It is like the love poem of TS Elliot, which ends with the sad lines “this is not what I meant at all, not what I meant at all.” It is not the world I wanted.

A resuscitation of hate has thrown a hand grenade at us. A political war has come our way. We must fight it, not only for ourselves, but for all those who fought for us; for those who now courageously stand with us.

Stand firm, my friends.

We are not alone. We will not be denied.

We will “say gay,” again and again and again.

Our day will come.

3. 3. 20 22 •

3

NEWS STATE

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

SAFE SCHOOLS GETS THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS John Hayden

FIRST GAY HOTEL IN CUBA REOPENS Everitt Rosen

T

he rainbow flag, the international emblem of LGBT Pride, floated in the balmy Caribbean wind over the entryway. The Rainbow Hotel, billed as Cuba’s first LGBT establishment, reopened in December.

While tourists enjoyed the five-star treatment by the pool or a stroll along the magnificent dunes, Cuba has not always been so accepting of the homosexual population.

During the early years of communist leader Fidel Castro’s regime, gay men and women were transported to labor camps for “reeducation.”

According to BBC News, sentiments on the island have changed since then. According to the Cuban government and MGM Muthu Hotels, the Rainbow Hotel symbolizes that shift in mentality.

The Rainbow Hotel, a collaboration between Muthu Hotels and Gaviota, Cuba’s military-run tourist firm, was placed on a U.S. government list of sanctioned companies in Cuba even before it opened in 2019.

The Rainbow Hotel. Credit: Muthu Hotels.

The Safe Schools South Florida protest in Tallahassee. Photo via Scott Galvin, Facebook.

ON WEDNESDAY, GALVIN LED A BUS FULL OF SUPPORTERS TO ORLANDO TO PUT PRESSURE ON DISNEY TO TAKE A STAND. 4

• 3. 3. 2022

he wants to reach into other marginalized communities and build strength through cooperation.

“I really would like to see more of a partnership and coalition between immigration [and other groups] where there isn’t LGBT representation, for whatever reasons.”

On Wednesday, Galvin led a bus full of supporters to Orlando to put pressure on Disney to take a stand.

“It’s in their backyard. We would like them to make a statement, and hopefully it will swing a couple of votes.”

Disney has, seemingly, long been an ally.

When LGBT adults think of the parks, we often think of Gay Days. But Galvin said that Disney, as one of Florida’s largest employers and ubiquitous association with the state, needs to let the community know where they stand on blatant discrimination.

“It’s great to be a leader in the easy times.

It’s another when things are rough and the community needs the support of a juggernaut.”

“Don’t Say Gay” has already passed the Florida House and has cleared committees in the Senate. A full vote is expected to pass and send the legislation to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for signature. He has voiced support for the bill. Opponents have pledged to fight the law in court.

FRI MAR 25

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espite the seeming inevitability of passage, the fight against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill goes on. Safe Schools held a rally against the bill in Miami Beach on Tuesday. And while the event was a success, the lead up to it was filled with anti-gay drama.

Safe Schools hired FlySigns Aerial Advertising to fly banner planes over local high schools with the message “Defeat! Don’t Say Gay.” But on Monday, just 24 hours before they were supposed to fly, the company changed course and refused to fly the message.

Safe Schools was able to find another company that was willing to fly the banners, so that crisis was averted.

Scott Galvin, executive director of Safe Schools, said the planes were seen over high schools where thousands of students attend.

The rally later that evening was a success.

But Galvin knows that the LGBT community can’t keep up the fight alone. Going forward,

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3. 3. 20 22 •

5

LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENNEDY MCKINNEY

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Queer

ARIANA DEBOSE WINS SAG AWARD FOR ‘WEST SIDE STORY’ PERFORMANCE Queer actress Ariana DeBose took home a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for her performance in “West Side Story.” The 31-year-old actress played Anita in Steven Spielberg’s remake of the classic story and won the trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

“It’s taken a long time for me to feel comfortable calling myself an actor. My roots come from the dance world and the Broadway stage,” she said in her acceptance speech. “The Anita that we see on the screen, took every bit of me, but she took 10 years to make and I’m extremely proud of her and of our film. And I really do believe that when you recognize one of us you recognize all of us in a way. I have watched so many of you for a very long time.”

“You inspire me and you continue to do so

6

• 3. 3. 2022

Q

Ariana DeBose. Photo via IMDb.

and I am just thrilled to be among you,” she added.

DeBose also won a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress and is hoping to continue to break norms through her acting.

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

L

Lesbian

ESSENCE MAGAZINE FEATURES FIRST LESBIAN COUPLE ON COVER

Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts make history as they become the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of Essence magazine for their Black Women in Hollywood issue.

“Thank you Essence for choosing the Betts as your FIRST same-sex couple to cover your magazine,” Nash wrote on Instagram.

The cover story delves into Nash’s coming out experience and the couple’s social media experience as they regularly post PDA pictures.

“If there’s an agenda, it’s that we’re going to spread queer joy,” said Betts. “The world needs it. Real talk.”

Nash married Betts in August 2020 and under the hashtag #LivingourBettsLife has advocated for LGBT visibility among the minority community.

Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts on the cover of Essence. Photo credit: Essence.

LGBTQIA BITES

NB

Non-Binary

‘GREY’S ANATOMY’ INTRODUCES FIRST NON-BINARY CHARACTER

Non-binary actor E.R. Fightmaster plays the role of neuroscientist Kai Barley on “Grey’s Anatomy” and has taken on the responsibility as portraying the ABC’s drama’s first non-binary character in 18 seasons.

Fightmaster auditioned for the show in Summer 2021 following the show’s public commitment to have more diversity in their show.

“I think it’s really important when you are an actor with an identity that gets discussed a lot, or rather is in discussion, to be firm in how much of your identity you bring to the show,” Fightmaster explained. “I have also learned a lot about what aspects of nonbinary are most confusing to people, and … things about the identity that need to be handled well or need to be handled with grace, and how to talk with people who aren’t familiar with this identity in a gentle and educational way.”

Fightmaster’s character, Kai, was first

E.R. Fightmaster. Photo via Twitter.

introduced in Season 18 Episode 2 and has been inspiring for viewers.

“I think the writers have given Kai room to play and room to grow in that medical world, just like they have given Caterina’s character, Amelia, room to grow and explore in a relationship way, and so Kai is not going anywhere ... right now.”

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NEWS NATIONAL

BY GILLIAN MANNING

THE COUNTRY ACROSS

GEORGIA

TRANS WOMAN AWARDED $1.5M AFTER BEING JAILED ON FALSE DRUG CHARGES Ju’Zema Goldring, a Black trans woman, was arrested in 2015 and spent six months in jail on false drug charges.

In 2018, she filed a lawsuit against the arresting officers and in February was awarded $1.5 million.

Goldring said that when she was arrested, she was walking with some friends in Atlanta when two officers accused her of jaywalking — which she said she did not do. According to NY Daily News, the officers then searched her bag and found a stress ball. They cut open the stress ball to test for narcotics and despite not being found, Goldring was arrested for trafficking cocaine.

A grand jury decided that officer Vladimir Henry should pay and Judge William Ray II awarded the money to Goldring.

Ju’Zema Goldring. Photo via Twitter.

“The test was negative, and he charged her anyway,” Jeff Filipovits, one of Goldring’s attorneys, said in a statement.

“Everyone on the jury saw that the test was negative. It should not have taken seven years and a federal jury trial to bring this to light.”

Her lawsuit states she was targeted because she “was apparently transgender and homeless.”

TEXAS

8

• 3. 3. 2022

NEW YORK

MAN WHO THREATENED A PRIDE MARCH PLEADS GUILTY Robert Fehring, 74, pled guilty to sending a threatening letter to the organizers of the 2021 New York City Pride March.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, his letter said, “There will be radio-cont[r] olled devices placed at numerous strategic places, and firepower aimed at you from other strategic places” at the march.

“This will make the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting look like a cakewalk.”

The Advocate reported that Fehring sent another threatening letter to a barbershop owner in Brooklyn. Through DNA evidence left on the letters, the FBI was able to identify Fehring.

He was arrested after the FBI’s Civil Rights Squad and the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force searched his home and found a number of items including

Photo via PxHere.

stolen Pride flags, stun guns, shotguns and ammunition, and an envelope containing a dead bird that was addressed to an LGBT rights lawyer.

Fehring still waits for his sentencing.

The maximum possible sentence is five years.

“This office will use all of its available law enforcement tools to protect the safety and civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community,” said U.S. attorney Breon Peace.

LOUISIANA

GOVERNOR LABELS GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANS CHILDREN AS ‘CHILD ABUSE’ Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order stating that parents who provide gender-affirming healthcare — like puberty blockers and hormone treatments — to their trans children should be investigated for child abuse. So far, five district attorneys are refusing to comply with the order.

They criticized Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for also labeling genderaffirming care as abuse. Abbott is using Paxton’s opinions as his justification for the order. These anti-trans orders go against the advice of America’s largest medical groups, like the American Medical Association.

Attorneys from Bexar, Dallas, Travis, Nueces, and Fort Bend County have called Abbott’s order “un-American,” according to the San Antonio Current. Bexar County DA Joe Gonzales and Abbott’s order “cruel”

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

Gov. Greg Abbott.

Photo via Facebook.

and “part of a continued onslaught on personal freedoms.”

“We also want to be clear: we will enforce the Constitution and will not irrationally and unjustifiably interfere with medical decisions made between children, their parents, and their medical physicians,” reads a statement from the five. “We trust the judgment of our state’s medical professionals.”

Both Paxton and Abbott are up for reelection this year.

TRIAL FOR MAN ACCUSED OF USING GRINDR TO COMMIT HATE CRIME HAS BEEN DELAYED In 2020 Chase Seneca allegedly attempted to kill a man, supposedly using Grindr as a “hunting ground.” His trial was originally scheduled for March 14 but his attorney requested his trial date be delayed and state prosecutors didn’t oppose his request. A judge approved the request but a new date has not been set.

Dustin Talbot, Seneca’s lawyer, wrote in the request that the nature of the trial was complex and that they were working with state prosecutors “toward a resolution.”

According to the Daily Advertiser, Seneca is being charged with attempted murder and a hate crime. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Seneca is accused of using Grinder to attempt a kidnapping on one man and kidnapping two others in June 2020.

The Department of Justice said Seneca

Photo credit: Ivan Radic, via Flickr.

attempted to kill one of the men “because of his gender and sexual orientation.”

They also said Seneca intended on keeping parts of his victim’s body as trophies.

The Associated Press wrote that Seneca lured his victim into his home and after ending the attack, the FBI said Seneca called the police “in a self-described effort to be put into a mental institution.”

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY EVERITT ROSEN

THE WORLD AROUND

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

EUROPE

UKRAINIAN LGBT ACTIVISTS CAPTURE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought to light beautiful stories of bravery displayed by regular Ukrainians.

According to a story in The Israel Hayom, Ukrainian LGBT activists discovered Russian servicemen hidden in their Kharkiv office.

LGBT activist Victor Pilipenko told Israel Hayom that the Russian troops took sanctuary in a Kharkiv basement office last week. It was unclear whether the Russian soldiers had died or were fleeing the Ukrainian opposition. The soldiers were unaware that the basement was being utilized as the LGBT group’s office.

According to Pilipenko, the protestors beat, assaulted, and kidnapped the troops. According to Pilipenko, LGBT people are also battling against the Russians.

Activist Victor Pilipenko. Photo via Facebook.

“We are confronting a tyrannical, homophobic enemy,” Pilipanko said.

LGBT UKRAINIANS ARE READY TO FIGHT FOR EQUALITY LGBT combat volunteers told The Daily Beast that members of the LGBT community had been scrambling to prepare for an invasion of Ukraine in recent weeks, desperate to escape the shadow of Vladimir Putin’s discriminatory dictatorship descending over Ukraine.

They are now prepared to fight back and oppose a Russian takeover if Putin’s soldiers remain on Ukrainian land.

Veronika Limina, who resides in Lviv in the country’s far west, has been conducting a camp where she teaches volunteer LGBT cadets basic combat and medical skills.

She has joined Lviv’s territorial defense unit and claims she is prepared to fight as Putin’s soldiers advance west throughout Ukraine.

The founders of Kiev monument, Ukraine. Photo via Pixabay.

“I am angry,” she told The Daily Beast, as the Russians bombed cities and drove tanks deeper into Ukrainian territory.

“We will kill Putin.”

AFRICA

CENTRAL AMERICA

2016 MR. IDEAL NIGERIA EARTH COMES OUT

THREE QUEER PEOPLE MURDERED IN HONDURAS

Alex Gede understood as a child in Nigeria that he could never come out as gay. He’d messed about with other men, had feelings and interest for people of the same sex, but everything had been kept extremely private and was never discussed.

According to My London News, Gede grew up in a religious Nigerian home and realized that being gay went against what he was brought up to believe.

He went to study in Scotland and met a woman at his church; they fell in love and married. She was the first woman he’d ever had a sexual connection with, and they had two children together, who are now 8 and 11 years old. Gede came out as gay to his wife four years into their marriage.

Same-sex sexual conduct is prohibited

Alex Gede. Photo via Facebook.

in Nigeria. The country’s death penalty by stoning is the highest punishment in the 12 northern states that have implemented Shari’a law, yet despite this, Gede believes coming out was one of the best decisions he ever made.

Jonathan Gabriel Martínez and his companion César Gustavo Zúñiga were shot dead in Martínez’s liquor shop in San Pedro Sula’s Ticamaya district.

The killers were disguised as police officers, according to Reportar sin Miedo.

On the same day, 18-year-old María Fernanda Martínez was killed at La Libertad, a municipality in Comayagua, Honduras.

According to Reportar sin Miedo, she was allegedly shot more than 10 times and beaten on the head with a rock at her front door. Reportar sin Miedo claimed that she had joined a migrant caravan to obtain asylum in the United States.

The killings are a reflection of the horrible violence endured by LGBT

Photo via PxHere.

people in Honduras, where at least 405 gay individuals have been murdered since 2009.

3. 3. 20 22 •

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section.

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provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

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 dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

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NEWS LOCAL

CUSTOMERS ONLY THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN WHAT THE HOMELESS HAVE ALREADY FOUND OUT: THAT PUBLIC RESTROOMS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES FILLING THE GAP — AND REQUIRING PAYMENT TO DO IT Andrew Fraieli

Photo via Adobe.

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NEWS LOCAL

P

ublic restrooms and restrooms accessible to the public — like those in a Starbucks or McDonald’s — are not the same. Public bathrooms are designed for the entire public, but have been dwindling for years, slowly being taken over by these private businesses that are designed for customers, allowing the owners to charge and turn away whoever they desire.

Most often those being turned away are those experiencing homelessness, but they were already being refused before the pandemic too. Lockdowns and closures have simply exaggerated and shown to the general public what those living on the streets reckon with constantly: the almost complete lack of easy access to a restroom.

“When the pandemic started, nobody was trying to even let us walk into any store, at all. A lot of the McDonald’s were closed, the Wendy’s, the Burger Kings — they weren’t letting us try to use the bathrooms at all. It was horrible.” This is according to one man experiencing homelessness in Manhattan who goes by Derf.

“Basically the street was the bathroom.

That’s it.”

This privatization and lack of public restrooms becomes a classist issue according to Taunya Lovell Banks, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law. Private businesses can make decisions about who can come in, for what cost, and can easily discriminate in a way that a public bathroom could not.

“It’s a class issue, it’s a race issue, it’s a gender issue,” she said to PEW last year. And, “[during the pandemic,] middle-class white people who normally have greater access to toilets in public spaces are all of a sudden being denied access. Now they’re woke to it.”

Banks references gender in the sense of Taunya Lovell Banks, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law. Photo credit: University of Maryland.

vagina-having people’s lack of ability to relieve themselves discreetly in the absence of restrooms, but gender-presentation is a part of this issue as well.

LGBT people are constantly reminded of the bathroom they are entering — if they don’t present convincingly enough of the gendered restroom they chose — and for years have been stuck in a public debate aimed at keeping them out of public restrooms. This adds another distinctly gendered barrier to those who are queer and experiencing homelessness.

In terms of the existence of these public restrooms though, New York’s own official tourist website tells of the snags the city has faced in improving access to them. It mentions how the city “contracted more than a decade ago to build 20 automatic public toilets” and how “most remain in a warehouse in Queens.”

The website does cite the park department’s website for public toilets in parks across the city, but also said that “sizable department stores, large-chain bookstores and restaurants offer restroom facilities for their customers,” highlighting private, customer-only restrooms in the same breath as public ones.

A rally in Manhattan in 2018 highlighted this discrepancy, with City Council member Antonio Reynoso, according to the New York Daily News, calling for the mayor to have the remaining 15 automatic toilets installed. By then, they had been sitting in the warehouse for 12 years.

Where New York gives advice and lists some public restrooms though, as well as privatized ones, the city of Miami has almost none. This leaves private businesses as the most common, and in some places sole, place to find a restroom.

Many of these private businesses require a purchase before allowing someone to use the restroom. To the general public, this may be inconsequential, but it can be as much a barrier as a locked door to those living on the street who need every penny they have to survive.

Derf elaborates that no matter where the restroom is, and whether it’s public or private, they all have a cost anyway.

Between the hours spent finding one and not earning money elsewhere, and the cost

of transportation to get to the restroom, the price to enter a toilet is just another thrown on top.

This is assuming they are allowed into the business’s restroom at all. A Dunkin’ Donuts once told Mary Stewart, who has been experiencing homelessness for more than a decade in the Palm Beach area of Florida — and has previously written for the Homeless Voice — that they didn’t “want business from [her] kind of people.”

“If you can’t access a public restroom, and the businesses don’t want you going there … basically, if I had to go, I had no choice but to go in public,” Stewart continued.

David Peery. Photo via Facebook.

David Peery, a lawyer who has experienced homelessness in Miami, a plaintiff from the Supreme Court case that created to Banks, “You’re criminalizing having a thePottinger Agreement, and founder of the bladder.”

New York, where public urination can Miami Coalition to Advance Racial Equity (MCARE), said that in Miami, there’s a similar be charged as a civil offense rather than a criminal one, issued 637 court summonses “uneasy tension.”

At Starbucks, “they know who’s homeless for public urination in 2018. 2019 had 464, and who’s not. They give you that look when and by 2020 it fell to only 270 according to you come in, and give all types of reasons the online criminal and civil court summons and excuses why they can’t give you that 4 or reports.

Miami, on the other hand, has an 5-digit pin code to actually get through the door and into that restroom,” he said. And ordinance stating that urination and at most McDonald’s he knows, they are “just defecation in public, unless by a child under 5 or by someone with a medical issue related openly hostile to the homeless coming in.”

This says nothing about those who are to the bowels or the bladder, is punishable by queer as well as homeless. Pre-pandemic, a $500.00 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both.

According to police reports supplied to 29% of all LGBT youth, generally defined as ages 13 to 24, experienced homelessness — the Homeless Voice by the Miami police disproportionately representing homeless department under a public records request, they arrested 12 people in 2018 youth in general, being for public urination, three in 2.2 times more likely to be

BY BEING QUEER 2019, three in 2020, and seven in homeless than their nonAND HOMELESS, THE 2021.

LGBT peers. The rate of DISCRIMINATION Other Florida cities have homelessness in LGBT adults CAN COMPOUND, similar laws. Tampa, for example, is harder to define as there are THE ALREADY has similar arrest rates as well, fewer statistics, but according EXISTING GENDER arresting one person in 2018 to HUD’s January 2020 pointDISCRIMINATION for public urination, eight in in-time estimate there were BECOMING YET 2019, one in 2020 and one in 580,466 people experiencing ANOTHER BARRIER 2021. homelessness, of which 0.5% TO ACCESSING A Miami’s department of were transgender and 0.3% RESTROOM, ON TOP Resilience and Public Works told were gender non-conforming.

OF THE POSSIBLE the Homeless Voice, though, that By being queer and CLASSISM AND it had no comprehensive record homeless, the discrimination RACISM. of the public restrooms within can compound, the the city. already existing gender According to Peery, this is because there discrimination becoming yet another barrier to accessing a restroom, on top of the are none.

The sole public restrooms are in the public possible classism and racism.

The cost Derf speaks of, whether literal library, he said, and inside the Government or consequential, as well as this classism, Center. Both are closed at night, and the gender discrimination, and outright hostility library is closed on Sundays.

Perry referenced another public restroom of some businesses, forces many into the embarrassing and degrading situation of that was built in late 2019 under the Metrorail having to relieve themselves outside. And station at Flagler Street and NW First Avenue in places where this is illegal, according for $300,000, but which has since been

TURN THE PAGE TO CONTINUE READING

3. 3. 20 22 •

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NEWS LOCAL CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE demolished. “Talk about fiscal responsibility closing public restrooms and it has significant, and prudent use of public funds,” Peery said. concrete, public health implications to it. The Stewart described the public restroom failure to be able to wash your hands, control issues in Boca Raton, where she’s currently infections, during the height of the century’s experiencing homelessness, as more nuanced, worst pandemic? That’s outrageous. It’s saying the “access” to public restrooms has dangerous, reckless.” certainly decreased “because they started The Homeless Trust agreed to an interview, running homeless people out of the park.” She but did not communicate further prior to also said she hasn’t noticed the city building publication. public restrooms.

According to Peery, Miami’s “reluctant” Whether it’s New York, Boca Raton, or response in early 2020 was to install about Miami, people are being arrested for relieving half a dozen portable toilets for a period from themselves outside, and many of those April 2020 to late winter. He said the city did people are experiencing homelessness and not maintain them, allowing feces to flow out have no other choice. The need for public of them for two to three weeks at a time. restrooms is not solely tied to helping people “I used to think it was a matter of experiencing homelessness though, public bureaucracy or incompetence, but after bathrooms would help everyone. But often, several years of dealing with this, I believe homelessness is used as the excuse to remove they know exactly what they are doing, these or not even build them. are intentional actions,” said Peery. “They are According to the Miami Herald, the Miami- intentionally keeping these services off the Dade County Homeless Trust — the agency streets in order to create these conditions, to in charge of all funding, planning, and justify their authoritarian actions that they management of Miami’s priorities toward take against the poor.” homelessness — is “philosophically opposed To Derf, the idea of public bathrooms to building more public bathrooms.” perpetuating homelessness is “a crock of “The Trust’s leaders believe [public shit.” He said the issue is misled anxieties on bathrooms] only encourage improper usage of bathrooms homeless people to stay on the — be it drugs, sex, or sleep.

WITH THIS POLICY streets rather than move to a Derf agrees that these misuses shelter where they can receive happen, but that people like AGAINST PUBLIC a continuum of care, education, Book aren’t empathetic enough RESTROOMS, job training and financial to care to figure it out.

THEY’RE support to make the transition Another argument, expressed ACTUALLY to permanent housing,” they

by Book, is that those living on continue. the streets want to stay there.

“CREATING Ron Book, the Chairman of the Stewart thinks there does THE VERY Trust, which has a $65 million need to be a pressure for those CONDITIONS annual budget, told the Miami experiencing homeless to go THEY COMPLAIN New Times, “Bathrooms and to shelters, or find help to get showers do nothing but sustain a job and apartment, “but if ABOUT,” PEERY homelessness. It keeps folks out you’re not providing adequate SAID. on the streets. It does nothing resources, not providing to end it.” He also elaborated sufficient alternatives, then it’s to the Miami Herald that “bathrooms serve only humane to allow homeless people to stay as a magnet for the [homeless] population to outside, to build restrooms for them.” congregate and it becomes a burden on that But to Peery, emphasizing the difference area. You could try moving them away from between urban homelessness and being in businesses and condos, but where?” the woods, any excuse saying people living In an op-ed in the Miami Herald in 2019, on the street want to live there is wholly Peery directly responds to the Trust’s ridiculous. “Why would anybody subject “philosophical opposition” saying, “I did themselves to the theft, the violence, the not become homeless as a result of relieving intense trauma of urban homelessness? That’s myself in public facilities. And my own trips intensely traumatizing, nobody chooses that. to the rare public bathrooms in downtown Absolutely no one, without question.”

Miami certainly did not encourage me to He sees the argument as presenting those remain homeless.” experiencing homelessness as the problem In 2021, Peery told the Homeless Voice since it’s “their choice”, not the system’s fault. that the public restroom situation had “If you say that people choose to do “transgressed from ridiculous to dangerous.” something, then you can justify criminalizing “[The Homeless Trust] has a policy of laws and voluntary confinement and things

14

• 3. 3.2022

Photo via Adobe.

like that,” said Peery. “If people are doing things involuntarily, then that requires you to look at structural issues and the systemic changes that need to be made. And they want to maintain the status quo, they don’t want to change the system. They’d rather blame the victims of the system.”

Public restrooms could, rather, solve many of the issues that are frequently complained about, by the city and the public, said Stewart.

“Adding public restrooms will not only be beneficial for the homeless, but will be beneficial for the public,” she said. “Littering, the sanitation, the poor hygiene, the public urination: the public restroom will be the solution to a lot of these issues.”

With this policy against public restrooms, they’re actually “creating the very conditions they complain about,” Peery said.

He hears city commissioners complain about trash, but not put more trash receptacles or sanitation services. According to Perry, they say those experiencing homelessness are “messing up life for us ‘normal tax-paying citizens’, but they’re the ones who actually created those conditions that they’re not only complaining about, but using to justify violating the civil rights of the homeless.”

These issues exist outside of Florida and New York as well.

The ACLU California released a report called “Outside The Law: The legal war

against unhoused people” in which they pointed out the same issue of how “local governments also withhold lifesaving services such as public restroom facilities and then criminalize unhoused people for necessary bodily functions like urination…”

And the North Carolina Law Review highlighted how dog parks and bags for disposing of dog waste are common, yet public restrooms are rare, saying, “The failure to provide bathrooms while prohibiting public urination and defecation is dehumanizing enough, but the prioritization of dogs over homeless individuals adds insult to injury.”

“Look at who the head of the homeless trust is, and where he comes from and who the Homeless Trust serves, they don’t serve the homeless, in fact, the Homeless trust doesn’t trust the homeless,” Peery continued.

“They’re serving the business community, they’re serving the condo owners and residents, the corporate interests downtown, that’s who the constituency is.”

“There’s no sufficient alternatives to homelessness, there’s really not, and until there are sufficient alternatives, they need to allow people to camp out,” said Stewart.

“They need to build things like public restrooms, allow homeless people to have access to toilets, running water, take a shower, wash up — because anything less than that is inhumane.”

3. 3. 20 22 •

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PA L M B E A C H

news

HOMOPHOBIA CASTS SHADOW OVER BOYNTON BEACH’S UPCOMING ELECTION Candidate proclaims: ‘I ain’t with the LGBT’ Sean Conklin THE RACE FOR BOYNTON BEACH MAYOR HEATED UP IN JANUARY AS CANDIDATE REV. BERNARD WRIGHT, 69, WENT ON FACEBOOK LIVE ON JAN. 26 TO MAKE HOMOPHOBIC AND RACIST REMARKS ABOUT THE FAVORITE IN THE RACE, CITY COMMISSIONER TY PENSERGA, 33, STATING, “I AIN’T WITH THE LGBT.” Wright began his rant by insisting that Penserga wants to make Boynton Beach into a “gay city,” saying that that is not what the residents of the city want. Wright incorrectly stated that Penserga has “purple-pink signs, he’s gay.”

Supporters of Penserga know that all of Penserga’s signs are blue and white and that his sexual identity was not a part of this race until Wright attacked it.

Penserga currently serves as the Boynton Beach City Commissioner for District 4 and was instrumental in the installation of Boynton Beach’s pride intersection, painted just outside of city hall during Pride Month in June 2021.

the Pride Intersection was dedicated, called the comments “abhorrent … racist and homophobic.” Hendricks is proud of the community that the city of Boynton Beach has built and believes that “Rev. Wright seems intent on tearing down that community. He belongs nowhere near the leadership of our city.”

Another Boynton resident, Bradley Jackson, echoed Hendrick’s concerns.

Jackson found Wright’s words “reprehensible” and believes that if Wright were to win the election, it would be a “stain on the leadership of our diverse city.”

Julie Seaver, director of Compass, the LGBT community center of Palm Beach County, said, “Bernard “REV. WRIGHT REVEREND WRIGHT USES Wright’s remarks aimed at THE BIBLE TO CONDEMN City of Boynton Beach’s City SEEMS INTENT THE LGBT COMMUNITY Commissioner Ty Penserga are ON TEARING inflammatory, racist, homophobic DOWN THAT Wright went on to say “do and downright disgusting. More COMMUNITY. what you want to do, I don’t specifically, he claims to be a HE BELONGS care who you go to bed man of God, dictating how a man with…” in the same breath should talk, walk, spit, pee, fight NOWHERE as he said “Don’t make this and shoot.”

NEAR THE like it is of God.” She expressed her distaste LEADERSHIP OF He has continued to with his attitude, adding, “The City OUR CITY.” make more comments of Boynton Beach is a welcoming condemning people who city to all of its residents and - Allan Hendricks “open up a book and decide I can’t imagine the residents LGBT ACTIVIST whether you want to be a would elect this felonious creep boy or a girl…” as their mayor.”

Wright goes on to claim he is “against protocol … against tradition … and against WRIGHT’S RANT ATTACKS totally absolutely political correctness.”

PENSERGA’S RACE AND EXPERIENCE These remarks come just after he reinforced his belief in traditional ideals of Wright’s attack did not stop at Penserga’s masculinity by stating that he will “walk like sexual identity. He goes on to call Penserga a man … spit like a man, pee like a man … “Just an Asian student … an immigrant … and ‘boo boo’ like a man.” with no life experience … living with his mother.”

LOCALS REACT TO WRIGHT’S WORDS Penserga immigrated from the Philippines when he was 6 years old and Long-time Boynton Beach resident and has lived his entire life since then, except LGBT activist Allan Hendricks, to whom for when he left for college, in Boynton

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• 3. 3.2022

Rev. Bernard Wright. Photo via Facebook.

Beach. He returned to Boynton and is a teacher for the Palm Beach County public school system, teaching high school chemistry in the same school district he attended growing up.

Penserga is one of few local politicians who spoke at a rally in Lake Worth Beach in 2021 in response to the rising number of hate crimes aimed at Asian Americans.

During the rally, Penserga passionately spoke about his experience as a Filipino American and proclaimed that he is proudly and openly “gay and Filipino.”

Wright finished his tirade by using his religion to justify his bigotry, suggesting LGBT community members should read the bible and fear for their salvation. After a story broke in the Palm Beach Post, Wright posted a live video defending his views.

In it, he said he is not racist, homophobic or anti-Asian, citing gay and Asian friends and family.

Meanwhile, he repeated many of the same sentiments from his original video, doubling down on the word of God. He goes on to say that his issues with Penserga are with perceived corruption, not his sexuality.

Wright now claims that he believes the city is conspiring to put Penserga in the mayoral seat, citing unspecified corruption and vague conspiracies surrounding the current city commission.

ELECTION INFORMATION Municipal elections will be held on March 8. For information on where to find polling locations in Boynton Beach or your city in Palm Beach County, visit the Supervisor of Elections website at https://www. pbcelections.org/. Specific information can be found at Boynton Beach’s website at www.boynton-beach.org/elections.

PA L M B E A C H

news

COMMUNITY OUTL

K

PBCHRC’S WINTER FETE RAISES $80,000 Jason Parsley

Left: Photo via the PBCHRC. Right: Alexander Jerich. Photo via PBSO.

PRIDE INTERSECTION VANDAL PLEADS GUILTY Christiana Lilly ALEXANDER JERICH, WHO WAS VIDEOTAPED BURNING OUT HIS TRUCK OVER THE NEWLY INSTALLED PRIDE NTERSECTION IN DELRAY BEACH LAST JUNE, PLEADED GUILTY TO THE FELONY CRIME IN COURT TUESDAY MORNING. A sentencing date is expected to be scheduled in the next two months.

“By pleading guilty, Jerich has avoided a very public trial for the hate crime he committed,” Rand Hoch, the president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) and a retired judge, said in an email statement. “It would have been impossible for Jerich to avoid being found guilty in light of the video that captured his crime.”

The guilty plea comes after almost a year of back and forth with the court system.

Feb. 11 was originally scheduled to be a trial date, but Jerich retained a new attorney,

“BY PLEADING GUILTY, JERICH HAS AVOIDED A VERY PUBLIC TRIAL FOR THE HATE CRIME HE COMMITTED.” - Rand Hoch

PRESIDENT OF THE PBCHRC

Robert Pasch, who instead requested the plea hearing.

Jerich, 22, is accused of burning out his truck over the intersection during a birthday celebration caravan for former President Donald Trump just days after the intersection was dedicated in June 2021.

A video was posted to social media of the burnout, and a witness from the caravan came forward to report the incident to the Delray Beach Police Department.

Jerich was arrested on June 17 and charged with criminal mischief over $1,000, reckless driving and evidence of prejudice (felony enhancement). However, in August, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg dropped the hate crime charge.

He explained in a press conference that the case did not meet one of the requirements of the law to move forward with a hate crime — he explained that the victim was the city of Delray Beach, which does not have a sexual orientation or gender identity.

The office also looked into charging Jerich under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Combating Public Disorder statute, but Aronberg said that the case did not meet the requirement of the memorial honoring or recounting “the past or public service of a Florida or United States resident.”

In October, days after the original trial date was set, Jerich was pulled over for driving 87 miles per hour in a 40-mile-perhour zone. He paid $356 in fines and court fees and is also required to take a defensive driving course.

More than 200 people attended the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council’s annual Winter Fête. This year the event raised $80,000.

“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, more than 200 PBCHRC supporters partied the night away poolside at George Albrecht’s home,” said PBCHRC President and Founder Rand Hoch. “Thanks in great part to to George Albrecht and Michael Kagdis who put everything together, our 2022 Winter Fête was one of our most successful fundraising events since our organization was founded in 1988.”

Proceeds from the event fund a variety of the organization’s initiatives, including the Daniel S. Hall Public Service Awards, scholarships for college-bound high school seniors who have demonstrated an interest in advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community.

Pictured: David Chin and Richie Katzenberg.

Photo courtesy of Rand Hoch.

and

3. 3. 20 22 •

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NEWS MIAMI-DADE

‘MIAMI BEACH LIVE!’ TO LAUNCH THIS WEEKEND, FEATURING LGBT-FRIENDLY MUSICIANS Jose Cassola

Miami Gay News

A

lineup of LGBT-friendly musical artists is scheduled to perform in the city of Miami Beach all month long in March at a concert series originally scheduled to run alongside Winter Party, which was canceled due to a surge of COVID-19 outbreaks.

“Miami Beach Live!” will activate the memorable appearance in the blockbuster Lummus Park area of South Beach and the motion picture “Bridesmaids,” which brought beachfront from 10th to 13th streets each the group a whole new generation of fans. weekend in March starting on Friday, March Wilson Phillips also starred in the TV Guide 4 and ending on Sunday, March 27.

Network reality show “Wilson Phillips: Still Musical performances will cover a range Holding On.” The Wilson Phillips album of musical genres from dance to pop to “Dedicated” pays tribute to the famous international and symphonic Broadway. parents of band members Chynna Phillips, Among the scheduled performers are Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson with songs Grammy-nominated Wilson Phillips and from The Beach Boys and The Mamas and Jon Batiste, Grammy award winner Alanis Papas.

Morissette, Colombian superstar Juanes and On March 12, seven-time Grammy AwardBroadway sensation Bernadette Peters. winning artist chartbuster Alanis Morissette The entire month will feature daytime takes to the stage of “Miami Beach Live!” programming, Friday The Canadian-born night movies, Saturday Morissette’s “Jagged Little evening concerts and Pill” album sold 30 million Tasty Sundays with prix copies and became the fixe menus at some of highest-selling debut Miami Beach’s best-known album worldwide. restaurants.

Jon Batiste, this “We are committed to year’s most Grammyproviding excellent public nominated artist, will play service and safety to all prior to Morissette. The who live, work and play high-energy band leader in our vibrant, tropical, on CBS’s “The Late Show historic community,” said with Stephen Colbert” Melissa Berthier, director earned a whopping 11 of the Office of Marketing Grammy nominations in and Communications in seven fields, more than - Melissa Berthier the City of Miami Beach. any other artist.

DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MARKETING Four-time GrammyColombian superstar AND COMMUNICATIONS IN THE CITY OF nominated trio Wilson Juanes, the chart-topping MIAMI BEACH Phillips will headline “Camisa Negra” Latin the opening weekend of rocker is up on March 19.

“Miami Beach Live!” on His debut album, “Fijate Saturday, March 5. British ‘80s pop act Erasure Bien,” brought Juanes the Latin Grammy for were scheduled to be the original headliners Best New Artist in a musical career, which but the group cited “circumstances beyond catapulted him to global acclaim as one of their control” for pulling out of the event. the most important Latin music artists in the Erasure canceled a number of their world. Juanes has earned 20 Latin Grammy upcoming North American tour dates, Awards. including their appearance at this event.

Genre-bending orchestra Nu Deco Wilson Phillips is expected to perform Ensemble, young Cuban sensation Cimafunk number-one hits like “Hold On,” “Release and Brooklyn-based Afrobeat band Antibalas Me” and “You’re in Love.” The performers will take the stage prior to Juanes. are known for their sparkling harmonies and Broadway sensation, actress and author

“WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT PUBLIC SERVICE AND SAFETY TO ALL WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN OUR VIBRANT, TROPICAL, HISTORIC COMMUNITY.”

20

• 3. 3.2022

A crowd gathered at a previous Miami Beach Live. Photo via the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Bernadette Peters closes out “Miami Beach Live!” on Saturday, March 26, with an opening performance by Brian Stokes Mitchell. One of the best-known Broadway performers, Peters is also known to television and movie audiences.

Lissette Arrogante, director of Tourism & Culture for the City of Miami Beach, is the one who put the lineup for “Miami Beach Live!” together. “‘Miami Beach Live!’ is more than a concert series. It is a thoughtfully curated monthlong event that includes movies, concerts, health and wellness activations and familyfriendly programming,” Arrogante said. “In addition, the City of Miami Beach’s Tourism and Culture Department, together with Tom Bercu Presents, has programmed wide-range

activities that cater to Miami Beach residents and tourists alike.”

Arrogante said the City of Miami Beach wanted to create a multi-cultural and diverse concert series.

“From pop to Broadway, we have provided something for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

“This is the first year the city is programming the month of March. We are proud of the activations we are presenting and look forward to the opportunity of growing and developing ‘Miami Beach Live!’ into an annual event.”

TICKETS FOR ALL “MIAMI BEACH LIVE!” CONCERTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH TICKETMASTER OR VISIT WWW.MIAMIBEACHLIVE.COM.

Courtesy of Miami Gay News.

COMMUNITY OUTL

K

SMART RIDE SUCCESS SFGN’s 2021 Smart Ride team raised more than $22,000. The annual 165-mile bike ride from Miami to Key West raises money for HIV-related service organizations in Florida. The 2021 event raised more than $1.25 million. The next ride will take place November 18-19.

“I really enjoy the Smart Ride. It is a wonderful charity and a wonderful experience,” said Tim Hart, part owner of SFGN, who raised more than $10,000 by himself. “I was honored to represent SFGN this year and have already signed up for next year. Congratulations to all that made this year a huge success.”

Other SFGN team members included Robert Clark ($2,200); John McGowan ($4,550); and Philip Schiff ($4,716). Photo courtesy of Mike Trottier.

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21

NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

From your life... into our pages! SFGN takes a weekly look at a community that has stood together through countless trials and victories in the past year alone.

22

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

Ben Scott with husband Jonathan Freidin, chairman of the board of SAVE and awardee of the Next Generation of Philanthropy at the Our Fund Receiption.

Equality Fl Broward Steering Committee Member Terry Gaw with husband Mike Mullins at Union Kitchen for Equality Fl event.

Dr. David Warner and Dr. Stephen Scoglio from Island City Smiles, posing at Union Kitchen during an Equality Florida event.

Pride Center Board Member Paul Smith stands with his friend Allen Churchman, the treasurer of Sage of South Florida, during the Latinos Salud Gala.

• 3. 3.2022

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www.healthkarma.org 3. 3. 20 22 •

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BE A LEADER. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. FOR BROWARD. BE BOLD.

Larry Feuer wants to be remembered as someone who gave back to his community. He says, “The status quo is unacceptable. We have to BE BOLD to address problems that will happen decades from now.” That’s why Larry is using his estate plan to create an endowed charitable fund at the Community Foundation of Broward.

He wants to impact a wide range of causes, including assistance to Broward’s LGBTQ+ community, which the Community Foundation has directly supported for more than 35 years. Thanks to generous donors like Larry, the Foundation has provided over $9 million towards LGBTQ+ issues so far.

Larry is proud to have locked in a legacy that makes a difference in the place he calls home. “The Community Foundation of Broward ensures that I’ll be remembered as someone who helped people and created a better Broward for everyone.”

Underwriting support generously provided by:

NORTHERN TRUST and CASTLE GROUP

Visit the website to learn more

CFBROWARD.ORG/BE-BOLD

24

• 3. 3.2022

THE

GAZETTE VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 5 MARCH 3, 2022

FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

WILTON MANORS VICE MAYOR DISCUSSES RE-ELECTION BID

By John Hayden Twenty twenty-two is an election year.

While most political attention and money in Florida will be fixated on the race for governor and congressional seats, local elections can have the most immediate impact on day-today life in our neighborhoods.

Wilton Manors is electing a mayor and city commissioners. Commissioner Paul Rolli recently announced his re-election campaign and now is talking with the Gazette about his plans for a new term.

“I love Wilton Manors, and the reason I want to run again is to bring to fruition what we’ve started in the last four years.”

Rolli said he wants to solidify the work he and fellow Wilton Manors leaders have started, including automation to the city, long-term infrastructure plans, and a financially sound city.

“We have one of the best run governments in Broward County,” Rolli said. “We’re fiscally sustainable and have some top-notch people.

I’d like to see the top-notch people become great.”

COHESIVE VISION Rolli said he came in during a tough time in Wilton Manors history, which included the sudden death of Mayor Justin Flippen. Since being elected, he’s been part of a coalition that includes Commissioners Chris Caputo and Mike Bracchi, as well as Mayor Scott Newton, who is also running for another term.

“We have an excellent commission now, a commission that is focused, collaborative, and works together as a team, and I think we haven’t had that for many, many years.”

Working with surrounding cities is also a key component of Rolli’s strategy. You can’t access Wilton Manors without going through other cities.

“No man is an island, even though we’re the Island City.”

From infrastructure to a variety of regulations, Rolli believes it’s imperative to have consistency through our part of Broward County. He cites the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.

“We didn’t want to have other rules than Fort Lauderdale because the average person doesn’t know if they’re in Fort Lauderdale or Wilton Manors, especially at the edges, and then you’re in Oakland Park.”

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE The city’s infrastructure master plan stretches 20-30 years into the future, when everyone currently serving in elected positions will likely be long retired. Short-term plans, including revamped zoning to allow new housing and business opportunities, will have a more immediate impact. But both will be at critical junctures over the next several years. Nurturing those plans are what Rolli said are his key goals of a new term. That includes leadership and change-management

Paul Rolli.

Photo credit: Carina Mask.

training for city employees.

As for his future, he’s intimated that this will be his last run for city office. But Rolli also knows to never say never.

“I’ve learned over the years that everybody says ‘This is my last run.’ Then

www.WMGAZETTE.com

when the time comes they change their mind. I could be one of those people, but I was really just looking to do one more term.”

The election is scheduled for Nov. 8. Early voting runs Oct. 24 through Nov. 6.

3. 3. 20 22 •

25

OPINION

WILTON MANORS

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL NEWS

THE

GAZETTE March 3, 2022 • Volume 9 • Issue 5 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

By Sal Torre One of the many reasons why life is just better here is due to the local news coverage provided to residents of our Island City. SFGN’s local news supplement, the Wilton Manors Gazette, along with local newspaper, The New Pelican, provide a service that is growing ever scarcer throughout our nation. Local independent newspapers reporting on local issues and concerns continue to disappear, leaving community after community with no real local watchdog, no investigative reporting, no civic benefits.

The bleak picture is actually worse when you realize that of the remaining newspapers still in circulation around the United States, over half are owned by private equity firms or hedge funds. Once purchased, the staff and operating budgets are cut, local news coverage is sacrificed, and profits are syphoned off, leaving communities with national syndicated news articles and very little substance.

This is exactly what happened to the Sun Sentinel, with parent company Tribune Publishing being bought out by a private equity firm Alden Global Capital last year. This particular player is notorious for cutting staff, gutting newsrooms and slashing operating budgets. Not many reporters left to do any real investigative journalism on important local issues. Such bleak news highlights the importance for this community to support our local newspapers and support the businesses that advertise in them.

So, let us take a look at some local news. Big question surrounding Wilton Manors elections this year will be if former Mayor and current City Commissioner Gary Resnick will seek re-election or go out celebrating a very successful public service career over the last 24 years. Still months away from the filing deadline, Islanders will most likely have to wait a bit longer for an answer.

Speaking of elections, come voting day, Islanders will also an opportunity to have their voices heard on the subject of term limits. City commissioners by-passed the recommendations from the Charter Review Board on the subject and drafted their own proposal that will now be on the ballot come November. Hopefully residents will reject

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Webmaster • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald

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the ballot referendum and continue to use their vote and the power of the ballot box as the means to decide who gets to serve and who does not.

In our small very informed city, thanks to our local news coverage, imposing term limits is unnecessary and removes the will of our residents to choose who they want to have serve our community.

Much more attention needs to be on who we elect to serve on a state level — because if current state leaders continue to have their way, we will not have much local news to report on. Current legislative session continues to see bills introduced, and making it through to the governor’s desk, that take away local control and jurisdiction on a whole slew of issues. State legislators have for years sponsored many bills that seek to preempt local control over important issues such as vacation rentals in our residential neighborhoods and local gun regulations. Now

Much more attention needs to be on who we elect to serve on a state level — because if current state leaders continue to have their way, we will not have much local news to report on.

they want to empower businesses to use the threat of litigation against local regulations as a means to limit local control of what happens in our own communities. Not to mention losing any local control of what our children will be taught in schools, with bills such as SB 242 that forbids the teaching of our racial history and HB 1557, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This insanity called the Parental Rights in Education bill would prevent teachers from talking about gender identity and sexual orientation with students.

Many years ago, Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives Tip O’Neal stated that, “All politics are local.” We need to start embracing that notion once again before we lose control of our community we call home. We need local regulations to control the quality of life here in our island City, we need local news outlets to thrive and remain independent, and we need our city commission to have the power to continue on with the on-going creation of a wonderful place we call Wilton Manors.

Thank you again South Florida Gay News for publishing the Wilton Manors Gazette. This wonderful and very important source of local news goes a long way in making like just better here.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 26

• 3. 3.2022

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.

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MARCH 3, 2022

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Copyright © 2022 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

HAVE YOU JOINED THE GAZETTE’S FACEBOOK GROUP? Come join the discussion. The Gazette welcomes feedback. Email Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com with comments, suggestions, etc.

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NEWS

WILTON MANORS

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

BOOK CLUBS, FAIRS, TAXES & MORE Wilton Manors Library Has it All

By Gillian Manning

Rabbi Noah Kitty. Photo via Facebook.

CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM’S RABBI KITTY TO RUN FOR WILTON MANORS COMMISSION

By John McDonald Rabbi Noah Kitty of Congregation Etz Chaim Jewish community and allies. It currently rents is running for the Wilton Manors Commission. space from the Pride Center at Equality Park in Kitty has filed campaign documents with Wilton Manors.

Kitty said she would the city seeking a seat on the be stepping down from five-member commission. The her rabbi role in May to mayor and two commission begin campaigning for seats are up for re-election commissioner. In addition to in November. Kitty joins being the first challenger to Mayor Scott Newton and Vice formally announce, Kitty is Mayor Paul Rolli as declared the first woman to seek a seat candidates. on the all-male commission, “I am not running to a distinction not lost on correct a wrong and I have the former president of the no argument with current or Dolphin Democrats. former commissioners,” Kitty “Is there a perspective we said. “I think they are doing a are not making?” she asked. wonderful job. I love living in Kitty said with so much Wilton Manors and I feel it is rapid change taking place my responsibility as a long-term in the world now is the time resident to contribute to my for city leaders to engage beloved community.”

- Rabbi Noah Kitty in meaningful action to Kitty migrated to South determine what the city will Florida from Vermont in 2002 look like for years to come. She and became executive director and rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in is hoping her faithful followers agree.

“Let’s stick together,” she said. “That could 2009. Born in Miami in 1974, Congregation Etz Chaim is the spiritual home for the LGBT be my campaign slogan.”

“I love living in Wilton Manors and I feel it is my responsibility as a long-term resident to contribute to my beloved community.”

There’s nothing as magnetic as the pull of an electric screen — most of us have probably had days where we sit on our phones or in front of the TV longer than we should.

The good news is that despite minimal funding, libraries have been able to keep up with us.

The Wilton Manors Library makes many of its resources available with a few clicks of a button. From book clubs and fairs to providing help during tax season, the library has a little bit of everything for residents.

For those who want to get back into reading, the library provides digital book clubs for various genres and ages.

“Book clubs in general foster a sense of community,” Mike Hesson, interim director of the Richard C. Sullivan Library, said. “[It] Wilton Manors Library. Photo via Facebook. enhances the benefits of reading for all readers. For our younger readers, it engages students and enables our young readers to library can help with that too. The Broward have a deeper understanding of what they County library system gives free tax assistance read. In addition, it is important for readers to to people who make $66,000 or less per year. learn other people’s perspectives of the books You can thank Rick Sterling, the former they are reading.”

Wilton Manors library director, for most of There’s another digital book club that these modern resources. Sterling was the will allow you to download director for 17 years before he books to your reading devices died in December. like Kindles, Nooks, and “Rick expanded the library iPads. It also provides digital to three times its original size discussion boards so you can since becoming library director have an open discussion with in 2004,” said Patrick Cann, the others who are reading the director of Leisure Services. book with you.

“He is remembered for being a There are plenty of strong advocate of the Friends e-books, magazines, and even of the Wilton Manors Library, language courses available for and for his continual fight free online. They even have to secure and maintain the a delivery service for Wilton library’s funding. Thanks to his Manors residents. dedication and expansion of the “Contrary to popular belief, library, services were expanded Google has not made libraries for both children and adults.”

- Mike Hesson obsolete,” Hesson said. “Our The Friends of the Wilton Interim director of the website provides a ton of Manors Library hosts a monthly Richard C. Sullivan Library information about what we book fair that raises funds to can do for people, and we’re keep the library on its legs. always happy to assist patrons “Monetary donations for by phone or in person.” used books, videos, and music CDs received The digital catalog makes it easy to look at at these events are an important source of what’s trending on Amazon and which books revenue, which enables the Friends of the are on the New York Times bestseller list.

Library to underwrite the cost of children’s If you’re overwhelmed by the tax season and adult programming,” Hesson said. (the deadline is April 18 for most people), the

“Contrary to popular belief, Google has not made libraries obsolete.”

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MARCH 3, 2022

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27

OPINION

WILTON MANORS

PAC PASTRIES IN WILTON MANORS CLOSES ITS DOORS

By Christiana Lilly After three years in business on the Drive, PAC Pastries in Wilton Manors has sold its last cupcake.

Owned by Shelbey Chiavari, the vegan and gluten-free bakery closed its doors on Saturday, going out with a bang selling treats for Valentine’s Day and loyal customers who wanted to get their last tasty bite.

“I got a lot of love in that last week,” Chiavari said. “It was nice, but it is sad.”

Prior to opening her brick-and-mortar in Wilton Manors, Chiavari sold her baked goods wholesale through commissaries or businesses like Raw Juice. In January 2019, she made the next move to open on Wilton Drive between Johnson’s and Shades of the Past. She was drawn to the location because of the foot

traffic, its proximity to her home, and that she could walk to some of her favorite spots on The Drive.

The business was known for its cakes by the slice, as well as the Slutty Brownie, a threelayered brownie bar. But it stood out because it’s perhaps the only place you can buy baked treats that are vegan and gluten-free.

“People who couldn’t actually have the regular stuff could feel like they could indulge or actually have a birthday cake for once or have a treat like that,” she said.

When she first opened her doors, Chiavari said the “first year was amazing,” especially with newcomers popping their heads in as they walked along the drive. She was also getting custom orders for birthday cakes and other celebrations.

Then, COVID hit, and like many other small

PAC Pastries stood out because it’s perhaps the only place you can buy baked treats that are vegan and gluten-free.

PAC Pastries. Photo via Facebook.

businesses, PAC Pastries was hit hard. She started curbside pick-up for clients and even offered delivery as far north as Jupiter to keep things moving. But coupled with the tough economy was difficult to find employees, and a high rent didn’t help.

“We would have to sell a lot of cupcakes every month to meet that,” she said. “It was a lot.”

Unfortunately, she decided during the holidays that she would make it to their third-year anniversary before closing for good. While it’s “definitely bittersweet,”

the business owner is also looking forward to not having to be a boss for a while. Local businesses are eager to buy up her equipment, some are offering up commissary space for her to bake like she used to, and she’s received offers from restaurants looking for pastry chefs. As a self-taught baker, she said “I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be qualified.”

“A lot of the local businesses have kind of surrounded me with open arms as well which is really nice,” she said. “I really need to take a breather, I’m so burnt out.”

WILTON MANORS

BELOVED WILTON MANORS OFFICER DIES AT AGE 52

By John McDonald He is remembered as a calming presence amid the chaos.

Alberto Carrillo, a criminal intelligence specialist for the Wilton Manors Police Department, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 22, following a brave bout with cancer. He was 52.

“He was more than my husband,” Brian Percival said. “He was my best friend, my calm in any chaos and the greatest man I have ever known. I will miss him deeply every day for the rest of my life.”

While living in New Jersey, Percival met Carrillo at a friend’s birthday party on Fire Island. They were together for 20 years before officially tying the knot in 2016.

“He had this glow about him and a calmness

that brought a smile to everyone when he entered the room,” Percival said. “He never wanted to be in the spotlight. He was a caring person. That was his nature, whether it was lending an ear or sending encouraging notes.”

Carrillo served in the WMPD for 10 years, Police Chief Gary Blocker said.

“Selflessness comes to mind,” Blocker said.

Carrillo wore many hats in the department, from helping with the Zoom broadcasts of meetings to serving as a victim advocate.

“He was so compassionate when providing support to victims,” Blocker said. “Officer Carrillo made everybody better human beings and was the definition of what it means to be a public servant.”

There is a GoFundMe account to cover the medical costs.

If you would like to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-alberto-conquer-cancer.

The tests were plenty. Blocker said Carrillo was instrumental in the multiple agency response to the Surfside condominium collapse and provided vital support to families suffering in the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and last summer’s Stonewall tragedy.

“He will certainly be missed by everyone in our city,” Blocker said.

Longtime community activist Michael Rajner said he was crushed and heartbroken upon learning of Carrillo’s death. At a Tuesday evening’s commission meeting, Rajner shared a story of how Carrillo offered emotional support to a friend during an incident of domestic violence.

“Alberto was so helpful withholding his hand and keeping him calm,” Rajner recalled.

Rajner asked the commission to establish an annual service award in Carrillo’s honor.

“He was one of the most amazing people the city has ever had,” Rajner said.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 28

• 3. 3.2022

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MARCH 3, 2022

Alberto Carrillo. Courtesy of Brian Percival.

An aggressive form of throat cancer took Carrillo’s life. Percival described it as unexpected, but the support from his husband’s colleagues in blue has been phenomenal.

He specifically thanked Chief Blocker, Dets.

Bonnie Owens and Frantz PetitPapa and Sgts.

Robert Cohen and David Turner.

“The police are going above and beyond anything I could imagine,” Percival said.

Prior to the start of Tuesday evening’s commission meeting, Mayor Scott Newton asked for a moment of silence in Carrillo’s memory.

“This is one person who never had anything but a smile on his face,” Newton said.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WILTON MANORS

S

COMMISSIONER CAPUTO TALKS TRASH

erving as city commissioner is a pretty great job. While it’s not necessarily glamorous, it is generally filled with events and meetings that are fun to attend and often interesting.

That being said, not every important meeting occurs at one of our beautiful businesses or in a clean city hall meeting room.

This past Monday, I took advantage of an opportunity to tour Waste Management’s recycling facility located west of Pembroke Pines. It was an important tour for two reasons. First, I am keen to understand how we pay for waste services in our city since it is a significant cost to residents. Second, many residents (myself included) are keen to know what actually happens with our recycling.

Both issues had been hot topics recently as we experienced a shift in our recycling pickup schedule and had to approve a renewal in our Waste Management contract.

One important thing for residents in Wilton Manors to understand is that we do not send our trash to a landfill. Nonrecycled waste is actually sent to a trash-to-energy plant which burns our garbage to convert into energy without polluting the environment. Doing so is actually more expensive than sending it to a landfill, and we can expect the cost for disposing of our waste this way to increase.

On the flip side, it is certainly better than having it all end up in a landfill.

It’s also important for residents to know that a lot has changed about how recycling works over the last two decades. There was once a time when Chinese buyers paid a decent price to take our recyclable materials. That came to a screeching halt with the Chinese Government’s Operation Green Fence, which essentially stopped the export of our recycling materials to China. The market for recycling materials essentially fell out, and as I understand it, there was a period of time when recycling material actually just ended up in the landfill.

Today, the market for recycled goods is

slowly returning and is primarily US-based, although there are some serious challenges that we need to be aware of. Essentially, many of us have been “green-washed” by product marketers to believe that the green “recycling symbol” means that product are automatically recyclable. In reality, Waste Management (and many other South Florida recycling facilities) can recycle only certain goods for which there is a resale market. Goods like metal, paper, glass, and cardboard are generally recyclable but with different values on the resale market.

Some products, like cardboard, have a strong resale market while others like glass can actually have very poor resale value or even cost money to recycle.

The most confusing or challenging items to recycle are plastic items. A good general rule of thumb is plastics with a narrow neck (like plastic water bottles) are recyclable, while those with a wide neck (like Starbucks cups or wax cups) are not.

The term neck refers to the size of the opening relative to the size of the body. One really important note: plastic bags are not recyclable, so never place them in a recycle bin or use them to bag other recyclable items. You can read more about what is and isn’t recyclable on Waste Management’s Recycling 101 web site at https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycleright/recycling-101.

As I mentioned earlier, part of my tour was to better understand the costs associated with our Waste Management contract. Since we earn a credit based on the resale of our recycling on the commodity market, I asked Waste Management staff to explain how

One important thing for residents in Wilton Manors to understand is that we do not send our trash to a landfill.

A driver poses in front of a Waste Management-operated vehicle. Photo via WM, Facebook.

that is calculated. Several times a month a random sampling of several hundred pounds of our recycling is pulled off a truck. Their team literally picks through the trash, sorting it out by the type of recycling material (i.e. plastic, glass, cardboard) it is and weighs each type. They also weigh the amount of “contamination” in the sample.

Contamination is the amount of trash or non-recyclable content that is in the sample.

Contamination reduces our payout and actually has a cost associated with it. Our city has historically averaged less than 20% contamination, which is considered great, but I believe we can get better.

When residents remain cognizant of what they throw in the recycling bin, they can ensure more of our waste actually does end up being recycled and actually reduce our city’s collective bill for services by helping us earn a higher credit from recycling. If residents regularly contaminate our recycling stream with trash like plastic bags, baby diapers, or non-recyclable plastic like Starbucks cups, they are potentially increasing the cost of waste services for all of us as well as

contaminating the recycling stream.

I certainly learned a lot from my visit to the Waste Management recycling plant. It also opened my eyes to how much deeper I need to dig to understand what happens to our waste and the exactly what can and can’t be recycled. Thankfully, the staff at Waste Management has agreed to hold more public education workshops through our neighborhood associations this year. Be on the lookout for announcements from your neighborhood association about upcoming educational events.

If you have questions or comments about how we manage garbage or recycling in our city, do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at ccaputo@wiltonmanors.com or text at 954.557.2801.

— CHRIS CAPUTO

WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER

P.S. You can view more photos and videos from my tour of the recycling facility at https://bit.ly/35hx3vk

www.WMGAZETTE.com 5 •

MARCH 3, 2022

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WILTON MANORS

NEWS

WILTON MANORS

NEW CITY SURVEY! CRAP!

Photo via PxHere.

Mayor Newton and City Manager Henderson, I cannot express to you in words how disappointed and livid I am with the new “city survey.” Again, the WestSide has been relegated to an afterthought. While 26th street and Dixie Hwy and of course The Drive get their own feedback questions there is NO mention of Powerline and Oakland Park Blvd. and Andrews have been combined in to one question: Why, explain to me, why those streets were combined?

Why not The Drive and Oakland Park Blvd.?

Why is it that the WestSide is continually regulated to a “less than” position if thought of at all by city government? This “survey” is another example of Wilton Manors’

government historical indifference to the WestSide.

I want this survey taken down and reworked to truly include the WestSide and all its stakeholders with Powerline Rd., Andrews Ave., and Oakland Park Blvd. fully represented just like the rest of the city was. If not, I will pursue a very public discussion on WestSide issues with WestSide voters and our lack of representation with our current representatives. Oh, and by the way, question 10 you can’t answer because you have not gotten to question 13 yet: Who designed and made this did we pay for this?

Another Wilton Manors PR embarrassment.

I want to know who approved this for final disbursement?

— JAKE VALENTINE

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Photo courtesy of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.

ONE MAN INJURED IN WILTON MANORS APARTMENT EXPLOSION

By Christiana Lilly An explosion in a Wilton Manors apartment Tuesday morning has left one man in the hospital with burns on his arms.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue received numerous 911 calls around 11:30 a.m. from Manors Grove Village with reports of an explosion on the second floor of the apartment complex, according to Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan.

When fire rescue arrived, they saw smoke and flames that reached into the attic area of the building and the windows were blown out from a corner apartment. The damage was spreading to nearby apartments and the

Had this occurred over the weekend, Gollan said, there may have been more injuries because of the shock waves and glass being blown out.

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• 3. 3.2022

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building’s residents were evacuated.

Gollan said that an adult male was found with burns to both of his arms; he was treated on scene and taken to Broward Health Medical Center before being transferred to Jackson’s Miami Burn Center.

“At this time, what we believe transpired was there was remodeling taking place in the apartment,” Gollan said. “There was a solvent being used in an aerosol type form that created a hazardous environment that was ignited by a device that was there, which caused the explosion.”

The apartment itself was not occupied since it was under renovation, and the evacuated residents were able to return to their homes. Had this occurred over the weekend, Gollan said, there may have been more injuries because of the shock waves and glass being blown out.

“Burns are very serious and a very painful injury,” he added. “From experience in an explosion, there’s always some kind of traumatic effect that could have life lasting for him, as well as the second-degree burns.”

While the exact details of the remodeling aren’t known, Gollan reminds the public to do your due diligence when doing renovations in the home to avoid injury: reference the building codes, pull the proper permits, work with a licensed contractor, and follow the state statutes that are in place.

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31

NEWS

WILTON MANORS

WILTON MANORS REVISITS MARIJUANA REGULATIONS & MORE FROM THE COMMISSION

By John McDonald

I

n light of the Broward State Attorney’s decision to stop prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana cases, Wilton Manors commissioners are revisiting the city’s cannabis regulations.

In a memo dated Feb. 2, State Attorney Harold Pryor informed law enforcement agencies his office would be handling misdemeanor marijuana cases in a “noncriminal” manner.

“Prosecuting these cases has no public safety value and is a costly and counterproductive use of limited resources,” the memo reads.

Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker said the department’s civil citation program is in alignment with Pryor’s mission of alternatives to physical arrests. Blocker said officers have a duty to seize marijuana as contraband, enter it into evidence and generate police reports. The work takes approximately 90 minutes, Blocker said.

Fines from the civil citation program go into the general fund. Commissioner Mike Bracchi asked for data from the program prior to the second reading of chapter 12 “miscellaneous offenses” in the city code of ordinances. Bracchi and Commissioner Chris Caputo expressed support for removing violations for small amounts of cannabis.

The state attorney office’s threshold for a felony charge is 24 grams. Wilton Manors is considering 20 grams or less as the threshold for its civil citation program and Mayor Scott Newton said the program is needed.

“If you don’t, you’re gonna have 500 people smoking pot down the street because Wilton Manors is not going to do anything and do you want that?” Newton asked. “So, you have to at least have the citation.”

Caputo disagreed with the notion crowds would be specifically drawn to Wilton Manors to smoke pot and raised concerns people with diagnosed medical conditions that require prescription cannabis could be penalized.

City attorney Kerry Ezrol said there are exemptions for medical marijuana, hemp and industrial hemp.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE FEB. 22 MEETING: Bracchi questioned the city’s lease agreement with Echo Air Conditioning for 1,200 square feet of floor space at 2200 NE 12th Avenue. The company is moving from Oakland Park, said City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson, and has tentatively agreed to share expenses with Horton/Jones Electrical Contractors. The three-year lease agreement comes down to $11.40 per square foot. Bracchi noted the numbers quoted were for retail space and rent was half of the current going rate per square foot.

“I don’t think we are negotiating these leases appropriately so I’m not going to support this,” Bracchi said. Commissioner Gary Resnick sided with Bracchi, pointing out the new tenant is not obligated to make any upgrades to the space.

“I have a tough time with this amount also, it seems to me like it’s a favorite son kind of deal,” Resnick said.

Vice Mayor Paul Rolli said he toured the property and witnessed a different story than basic numbers would indicate.

Wilton Manors is considering 20 grams or less as the threshold for its civil citation program and Mayor Scott Newton said the program is needed.

Photo via MaxPixel.

“Frankly, the space is pretty bad,” Rolli said.

“Before we talk about rental and compare statistics you have to look at the space as well and, honestly, the space is quite dingy.”

The ordinance passed on first reading on a 3 to 2 vote with support from Rolli, Newton and Caputo.

Carl Shearer presented the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board’s goals and accomplishments report.

“Our board is the most diverse and one of the youngest in tenure among all city boards and we are proud of it,” Shearer said.

On his list of accomplishments, Shearer touted efforts to secure public approval for the use of Community Development Block Grant funds to repair the closed playground at Hagen Park.

“We secured 75 signatures of parents at Wilton Manors Elementary School that represented 120 children that were very interested in supporting that,” Shearer said.

Some of the board’s goals for 2022 include seeking renewal of the park system master plan and pursuing renaming opportunities for Site 92 and the Kiwanis Club after the city takes ownership.

Resident Harry Redlich said he has complained to no avail to code compliance

www.WMGAZETTE.com 32

• 3. 3.2022

8 •

MARCH 3, 2022

about a neighbor feeding ducks.

“I want to know if it’s legal to create a duck preserve on a residential property,” Redlich said.

Redlich said Muscovy ducks are a menace and causing problems around Island City Park Preserve.

“They’re an introduced species, they don’t belong here,” he said.

Redlich said the ducks are eating up grass in yards and pooping on the street. Vehicles, he said, are running over the water fowl and leaving carcasses behind in his neighbor’s driveway. “It’s really upsetting, it’s bringing down property values and it’s just a big bummer,” he said.

Meanwhile, a total of 27 new cases were scheduled for a Special Magistrate Hearing on March 2.

Devon Walsh, Administrative Program coordinator for the Leisure Services Department, was presented with the Employee of the Quarter award.

Chandi Lawrence accepted the city’s Black History Month proclamation in honor of her mother Lynn Lawrence, owner of the Wilton Drive Dairy Queen.

The next regular commission meeting is March 8.

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FEATURE CELEBRITIES

CELEBRITIES WHO

CAME OUT IN 2021 David-Elijah Nahmod

T

PHOTOS VIA FACEBOOK.

wenty twenty-two is well underway, but 2021 isn’t that far behind us. Here are a few celebrities who stepped out of the closet last year.

CASSANDRA PETERSON Peterson became a legendary cult figure after she created her iconic character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Peterson first gained fame in the early 1980s when she hosted “Elvira’s Movie Macabre” on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles, a weekly series in which she showed grade B horror movies. For the better part of 40 years, Peterson has been a buxom fantasy woman for millions of heterosexual horror fans. Elvira was a smash, and it wasn’t long until she went national, even starring in a few movies as Elvira.

But unknown to her legion of admirers, Peterson had a secret. In 2021 she brought it all out into the open when she published her memoir “Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark.” In the book, Peterson, who had once been married to a man, admitted that she had been in a relationship with a woman for the past 19 years. Peterson revealed in an interview that she had lost 11,000 “old man” followers after she came out, but she also gained 60,000 new followers. Her book was a New York Times Bestseller.

CARL NASSIB One of the more high-profile instances of coming out of 2021 was that of Nassib, a pro football player who has played with the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is the first active NFL player to come out, and the first openly gay player to play in a game.

“I just think that representation and visibility are so important,” Nassib said in an Instagram video. “I actually hope that one day videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary.”

Nassib proved his commitment to the LGBT community when, during Pride Month 2021, he donated $100,000 to The Trevor Project, a crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth.

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• 3. 3.2022

COLTON UNDERWOOD Nassib wasn’t the only football player to come out as gay in 2021. Colton Underwood was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2014, and was on the practice squad of the Oakland Raiders. After he left the Raiders, Underwood became a contestant on the reality series “The Bachelorette.” He then became the lead on “The Bachelor,” where he was the first lead in the history of the franchise to come out as gay, which he did on Good Morning America in April 2021.

“I’m like the happiest and healthiest that I’ve ever been in my life,” he said on GMA, admitting that he had struggled with suicidal thoughts prior to coming out.

Underwood has since starred in the Netflix series “Coming Out Colton,” in which he reveals his sexuality to the people in his life. He now has a boyfriend named Jordan C. Brown.

DEMI LOVATO Lovato is a highly successful singer and songwriter, having sold over 24 million records in their career as well as winning numerous awards, such as an MTV Music Video Award, Teen Choice Awards, People’s Choice Awards and Latin American Music Awards. They have also worked as an actor, starring in the sitcom “Sonny With a Chance” for the Disney Channel. In addition, they appeared on “Glee” and “Will and Grace.”

In May 2021 Lovato announced they were non-binary and would begin using they/them pronouns.

“I want to take this moment to share something very personal with you,” they said in a Twitter video. “Over the past year and a half I’ve been doing some healing and self-reflective work, and through this work I’ve had the revelation that I am non-binary.”

Lovato also came out as pansexual in an interview with Joe Rogan.

“For the first time in my life, I’m putting my well-being over my career,” they said.

FEATURE CELEBRITIES

GABBI TUFT Tuft is a retired professional wrestler who wrestled in widely seen events such as “Raw,” “Wrestlemania” and “Smackdown.” In February 2021 Tuft came out as a transgender woman. Tuft has said that she received support from her wife, her daughter and her community in Texas when she began transitioning. She now publicly advocates for the trans community.

“If I can make this journey easier for anyone else by being visible, just one person, it’s an honor for me to do that,” she wrote in Men’s Health Magazine.

DAVID ARCHULETA Archuleta was the season seven runner up on “American Idol.” He parlayed his “Idol” fame into a successful singing career. Archuleta is also a devout Mormon who served a two-year mission in Chile.

For years Archuleta battled his inner demons. He had been taught that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God, but Archuleta was unable to muster up any feelings of physical attraction in the heterosexual relationships he’d been in.

In a June 2021 Instagram video Archuleta admitted to his fans that he was having trouble preparing for his tour due to his struggles.

“I’ve grown up in a religion that I felt very strong toward,” he said in an Instagram video. “Being a Latter Day Saint, a gay Mormon, and I’ve always been very faithful to it, very strongly bound. They’ve adjusted their views over the years on how to look at LGBT people, they’ve stated things like it’s OK to feel attracted to the same sex, but they also said don’t act on it, but I think they loosened that a little bit.”

Archuleta admitted that he dealt with suicidal thoughts as he struggled with his sexuality. But ultimately, he decided that life was worth the fight “even if I’m gay.”

He now says that he’s at peace with his true self and feels that God loves him unconditionally for who he is.

CARA CUNNINGHAM

GIGI GORGEOUS The popular transgender YouTuber came out as pansexual in April 2021, stating that she was coming out for the fourth time. In a video posted on her YouTube channel, Gorgeous recalled that she had come out as gay prior to transitioning. Then she came out as transgender, following which she came out as gay for the second time.

And now, with her announcement that she’s pansexual, Gorgeous has come out for a fourth time.

Gorgeous referred to her various coming out videos as “some of my best, favorite memories.”

She credits her husband Nats, who is also transgender, with helping her to come to this latest realization. She sees being pansexual as “falling in love with the soul of somebody.” She hopes that this will be her final coming out, feeling that at last she is living her complete truth.

Gorgeous now advocates for others to find their own true selves and to fully embrace who they are.

In her video she said, “If you are watching this and you are discovering yourself still, or having a battle internally what to identify as, if you like boys, if you like girls, if you are pansexual like me, I just want to reassure you that it is absolutely okay, look at me, it took a long time for me to get here, but I truly feel happy within myself, and proud of all the times that I’ve come out, so don’t be ashamed or put down who you’re meant to be.”

DEMI LOVATO.

Prior to her transition, Cunningham became a viral sensation when, in 2007, she fiercely defended Britney Spears during the pop singer’s infamous breakdown.

“Leave Britney alone!” Cunningham cried in tears in a video that became the subject of much ridicule.

Cunningham went on to appear in a gay porn film.

In August 2021 Cunningham announced her transition, saying she would no longer answer to her former name, only to Cara. That same month she began hormone therapy for her gender dysphoria.

“I have put my identity and personal happiness aside for so long, out of fear of rejection or me not wanting to embarrass my family,” she said. “Then I realized anyone who loves me for me won’t be embarrassed and would’ve shown general interest in how long I have felt this way in the first place.”

In the aftermath of Spears’ recent court battles to end her father’s conservatorship, which gave rise to the Free Britney movement, Cunningham’s Spears video has found belated respect.

3. 3. 20 22 •

35

SPORTS PLAYING WITH PRIDE

SPORTS HOCKEY

SOCCER LEAGUE HOSTS FIRST-EVER PRIDE GAMES Everitt Rosen

T

he A-League, Australia’s highest level of professional soccer, staged its first-ever Pride Games on Feb. 26, with Adelaide United women hosting Melbourne Victory and the men hosting Central Coast Mariners.

The event was a part of the league’s and the club’s ongoing inclusiveness messaging following the public coming-out of Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo late last year, who was the league’s first active male athlete to do so.

Pride Games are a chance for athletes and spectators to openly show their support for the LGBT community.

“It’s phenomenal, it’s something that I could only dream of happening,” Cavallo said to Outsports. “And to know that my football club — Adelaide United — are doing an event that’s a Pride Game, it really touched

Florida Panthers. Photo via Facebook.

PANTHERS CELEBRATE PRIDE NIGHT THIS SATURDAY John Hayden

Josh Cavallo. Photo via @joshua.cavallo, Instagram.

my heart and it means a lot to me and all the LGBTI+ community around the world.”

T

he Florida Panthers are having an amazing season. Two-thirds of the way through the season, they’re leading their division and could very well be lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup at the end of the playoffs.

While their W’s and L’s are impressive, they’re also adding an “I” to their stats: Inclusivity.

This Saturday, March 5 at 6 p.m., is Pride Panthers Night at the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise. The team has long embraced its LGBT fanbase, with the highlight of each season being the annual Pride Night. From recognizing area groups and heroes to Pride Panthers merchandise, the team’s red, navy, and tan colors will be joined by the inclusive pride palette.

Fans who want to pre-game can get the specialty Pride Stoli vodka cocktail starting at 4 p.m., and get drinks in a special Pride Panthers themed “Love Wins” souvenir cup.

OTHER LGBT GROUPS ALSO PLAN TO SHOW UP, INCLUDING THE SFAAA SOFTBALL LEAGUE, WHO WILL BE OUT ON THE ICE AFTER THE GAME FOR A PICTURE.

36

• 3. 3.2022

A portion of all proceeds will go to the Harvey Milk Foundation. Early birds will also be able to watch the team warm up while wearing special Pride jerseys. There will be Pride props and photo opportunities throughout the arena as well.

Before the puck drops, the National Anthem will be performed by the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida.

“GMCSF is so grateful and love the relationship that has been formed with the Florida Panthers. We are thrilled to be asked back, and we are so excited to represent our community through song on Saturday,” Artistic Director Gabe Salazar said.

Other LGBT groups also plan to show up, including the SFAAA Softball League, who will be out on the ice after the game for a picture.

The Panthers will also be honoring U.S. Army veteran Latoya Green that night. She was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom during her military service. Green is highly decorated, with honors including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

Pride Panthers merchandise will be on sale at the Pantherland store, and if you can’t make it to the game, you can buy some gear online.

The Panthers take on the hopelessly mediocre Detroit Redwings, so there’s a good chance the crowd will be in a very good mood after the final horn.

CONVICTIONS

EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Mike Luckovich

GET YOUR VOICE

HEARD

FRUSTRATED BY BEING DROWNED IN A SEA OF UNREAD FACEBOOK COMMENTS? Get your voice heard and letters read visibly on SFGN.com and in our newspaper every week.

Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com 3. 3. 20 22 •

37

IN MEMORIAM TRIBUTE

SOUTH FLORIDIANS GATHER TO HONOR ROBERT DEBENEDICTIS John Hayden

R

obert DeBenedictis affected hundreds, if not thousands, of people during his life, including many in South Florida.

Many of them gathered Feb. 27 at Tropics Grille in Wilton Manors to honor and celebrate the man who brought smiles to their faces. The restaurant shut down for the evening so people could gather, walk down memory lane, and share stories.

DeBenedictis passed away in October.

He was one of the original investors in Lips on Oakland Park Blvd. Lips’ owner, Mark Zschiesche, posted at the time, “He was a great man who helped many people realize their dreams by investing in them. Bob enjoyed life and he was always looking for a young entrepreneur he believed in to help them in their venture. Bob, you will be missed and thank you for helping me make my dream come true with Lips.”

He was born and raised in

DEBENEDICTIS WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL INVESTORS IN LIPS ON OAKLAND PARK BLVD.

Robert DeBenedictis. Photo via Facebook.

Pennsylvania and attended Drexel University for his undergraduate and then a Master’s in Business Administration. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, DeBenedictis moved to New York City and worked on Wall St. and was a small business entrepreneur, whose ventures included restaurants and real estate.

He expanded his business to Florida in the 1990s. He is survived by his partner, Bashir Khan, as well as two siblings and dozens of nephews and nieces.

DeBenedictis was 87 years old.

A LITTLE BIT OF FAITH AND

PRIDE

SFGN is here for you, no matter who — or what — keeps you going. Read our Spirituality Section to stay in touch with your local religious LGBT community. The only requirement? Be yourself.

SEE MORE ONLINE AT SFGN.COM/TABLE/NEWS/RELIGION

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• 3. 3.2022

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

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LIFESTYLE FOOD

SEE-SIDE DINING Rick Karlin

Photo via the Morea website.

MOREA

701 N. Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-306-3064 Moreadining.com MOREA, the restaurant on the ground floor of the Paramount apartments on A1A, is from Lou, Joy and Amber Moshakos, the parent and daughter team of LM Restaurants, the same folks who own Oceanic in Pompano Beach and Two Georges at The Cove in Deerfield Beach. The 275-seat dining spot features a stunning indoor dining room, a spacious bar/lounge area, and a waterfront patio. The menu highlights fresh, simply prepared small plates, mezze, and woodgrilled meats and seafood, complemented by handcrafted cocktails and high-quality wines on tap.

Embracing the philosophy that meals are meant to be savored, and the table is a place to gather with friends and family, dishes are designed to be shared, the type of communal dining that is the heart and soul of the Mediterranean kitchen. The main dining room features a breathtaking two-story glass art wall installation by award-winning artist and Chihuly protégé Doug Frates, which is reminiscent of a Mediterranean sunset.

Murals of Greek goddesses continue the theme.

The unique tap-wine system makes Morea an excellent place to sample a wider variety of fine wines than would be possible with the traditional option of decanting single glasses from a bottle. On the night of our visit, I planned to sample a few varieties, but fell so in love with a rarely available glass of Bordeaux Blanc that I stayed with the vintage all night long. In addition to the wonderful wine selection (nearly two dozen by-theglass options) there are two other attractions that make Morea worth a visit: the informal and informed friendly servers and the

THERE’S MORE ONLINE! 40

• 3. 3.2022

wonderful ocean views across A1A. If only the food maintained such a high benchmark.

Sure, there were a few delightful dishes, but many just didn’t hit the mark.

The menu begins with shareable plates.

Traditional Mediterranean treats such as citrus-cured olives and almonds, fritto misto, charcuterie boards, Moroccan beef skewers, chilled oysters, crudos, and octopus salad are joined by a burrata salad that suffered due to tasteless tomatoes. Bacon-wrapped dates were more successful, and the beetcured salmon with corn puree was a delight for the tastebuds as well as the eyes.

For our entrées we each chose one dish “from the land” and one “from the sea”, as they were organized on the menu. The crispy skin salmon certainly delivered on its promise, with a bacon-like exterior and soft, moist flesh. The light dill sauce enhanced the flavor of the perfectly cooked fish. The rack of lamb disappointed, as four flabby chops suffered from a lack of searing and an overcooked interior. The accompanying yellowpepper sauce did little to augment the flavor.

Dessert options are limited to three choices. The chocolate mousse was rich and decadent, and the salted whipped cream paired nicely with the rich, deep, cocoa flavor.

But the chunks of salt gritted against the smooth texture of the dessert. My husband, who is particular about his cheesecake, really enjoyed the feta-based version at Morea. I felt the lumps of pungent feta detracted from the dish, while he enjoyed it. It certainly was a different interpretation, and to quote a line from “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” “For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like.”

BY THE SEA

Looking for dining spots with a water view? Check out these other new options in the area.

TAKATO

551 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-414-5160 takatorestaurant.com At the oceanfront Conrad Hotel, Japanese-Korean fare aimed at leaving diners in a state of extreme happiness, (the translation of takato.) Sample crispy tuna with spicy aioli, duck bao buns, short rib kimchi tacos, lobster with yuzu shiso butter, or Wagyu cooked on a hot stone.

CASA SENSEI

1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-530-4176 casasensei.com Asian with a Latin American twist while you take in the sights along the Himmarshee Canal. Enjoy an omakase dinner, or dishes such as kimchi fried rice, crab dumplings, Korean street tacos, lobster guacamole, and wagyu turf roll with chimichurri sauce.

SUNSET CLUB ROOFTOP BAR & LOUNGE

777 N. Ocean Dr., Hollywood 305-713-7839 costahollywoodhotel.com The rooftop lounge perched atop the Costa Hollywood Beach Resort showcases a menu that offers upscale cuisine and refreshing craft cocktails to enjoy in a relaxing setting with exceptional panoramic views.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

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.

LGBT ACTIVIST, JOURNALIST MURDERED IN AZERBAIJAN Visit SFGN.com to read more. | Photo: Avaz Shikhmammadov-Hafizli, Kanal13 internet channel via Twitter.

LIFESTYLE READING WITH PRIDE

‘GREEDY: NOTES FROM A BISEXUAL WHO WANTS TOO MUCH’ Aurora Dominguez

I

f you’re interested in books about bisexuality and the challenges of wanting to be seen, check out “Greedy: Notes From a Bisexual Who Wants too Much” by Jen Winston.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR DEBUT BOOK “GREEDY”?

Toni Morrison says, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” I wrote “Greedy” because I needed it, and I couldn’t find many books that were explicitly about bisexuality on shelves.

I’m a voracious consumer of pop culture, yet I hadn’t seen much content that spoke openly and directly about being bi, or the struggle to officially announce yourself as such. My own journey was loaded with impostor syndrome (I never thought I was “queer enough” because I didn’t have enough experience to “prove it”), so I wanted to create something that documented those feelings and helped other bi people feel seen.

WHAT DOES “READING WITH PRIDE” MEAN TO YOU? To me, reading with pride means doing the work. It means seeking out stories from people of different identities, and really giving yourself over to those stories — listening to the truths they tell, then asking how those truths interact with your current worldview. Reading with Pride means reading with intersectionality in mind.

WHY DO YOU FEEL REPRESENTATION OF BI PEOPLE IS SO IMPORTANT? There’s no feeling quite like feeling seen — whether that’s onscreen or in the pages of a book. Everyone should have that opportunity, and for bi people, it’s historically been a challenge. Often writers show bisexuality by having characters “behave” it (e.g. hooking up with multiple genders), but this reinforces the idea that bisexuality is a behavior, rather than a full identity all its own.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MOST RELATABLE FOR READERS TO YOUR STORY? I wrote this book as a series of personal essays because I wanted to make sure people knew it was only my story. While I hope that bi+

Jen Winston at WORD Brooklyn.

Photo via Facebook.

people feel seen by aspects of the book, I also hope that “Greedy” doesn’t get held up as the epitome of a bisexual life. I’m just one person and I have a lot of identity-based privileges, so there’s no way my book will tell a story that everyone can relate to. But if just one person relates to just one sentence and that helps them better understand themselves, then I feel like this book has accomplished its goal.

IS THERE A NEXT BOOK/PROJECT? WHAT CAN READERS EXPECT? I’m working on several projects at the moment!

One is another personal essay collection about queer parenthood (which I’m at the veeeeery beginning of), and the other is a novel about queer people in relationships. Time will tell which one my procrastinating self will actually be able to finish and bring into the world.

WHAT’S UP NEXT FOR YOU IN THE BOOKISH WORLD? A cocktail and a beach chair. Does that count?

3. 3. 20 22 •

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WINTER CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 24

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THE MAGIC BEHIND THE

STAGE GO BEHIND THE SCENES Every week, SFGN brings you an inside look on what’s hitting the stage near you. From interviews with producers to exclusive peeks at new performances, we’re here to make sure you’re ready for every show.

SFGN.COM/SFGN-ARTICLES/AE 42

• 3. 3.2022

laywright and producer Ronnie Larsen is best known for his racy, gaythemed sex romps: “Making Porn,” “Cocksucker: A Love Story,” “All-Male Peep Show,” “Bathhouse the Musical.” Nearly all feature gratuitous frontal nudity and most regularly sell out extended runs to the mostly older, male gay audiences resident in South Florida.

But over the past couple of years, Larsen has mellowed — surprising both his fans and critics with more thoughtful productions. He collaborated with composer Dennis Manning nearly four years ago on the touching country musical, “Now & Then,” that earned a Carbonell nomination and went on to successful productions in Chicago and London.

He then picked up a Carbonell award for the funny one-woman show, “Grindr Mom,” about a Mormon mother who sets up an account on the hook-up app to better understand her gay son, and a nomination for “An Intimate Evening with John Wayne Gacy Jr.,” a dark dive into the psyche of the serial killer on the eve of his execution.

And just before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theaters around the globe, Larsen debuted his newest musical, “Come Out! Come Out!” and it was nothing like any of his previous works. Set during the Roaring ‘20s, it’s the story of closeted married men who explore their homosexual desires through dance. Yes, dance!

“I substituted nudity for tap dancing,” Larsen said at the time, “and it’s going to be the best thing I’ve ever done.”

According to Larsen, the tap dancing served as a sort of metaphor for the physical encounters the men fantasize about while cruising Central Park. He scoured vaudeville scores of the period to find the right songs (loaded with double entendre) and then built the story around the music.

“Ma, He’s Making Eyes at Me” is no longer a popular hit, but the Con Conrad song captures the sentiments of Larsen’s characters, as does Eddie Cantor’s “Makin’ Whoopee.”

Two years later, Larsen pulled the show back out, reworked some of the scenes and expanded the cast to six performers. Oh, and he plans to take it to New York City for

Vincent Law, front right, is one of the New Yorkbased performers in the revival of Ronnie Larsen’s “Come Out, Come Out!” playing at the Foundry in Wilton Manors through March 13. Credit: Ronnie Larsen Presents.

an Off-Broadway run this summer. Currently in previews, the “revival” officially opens on Thursday, Feb. 24 and runs through March 13 at the Foundry in Wilton Manors.

This wouldn’t be Larsen’s first hit in New York City; it would be his sixth, and he knows what he’s doing.

MAC and Bistro Award-winning pianist and musical director Bobby Peaco is back with the production, and Larsen hired veteran New York-based choreographer Oren Korenblum to rework the dance numbers.

With the backing of his nonprofit, POW! (Plays of Wilton), and enthusiastic donors, Larsen invested in more sophisticated costumes and set pieces — all with his eye on the discerning New York audiences.

He recruited New York-based performers, including Kiwi crooner Tyrell Beck, tap dance assassin Vincent Law, and cubbish character actor Don Giovanni, a veteran of the first production, all of whom committed to an extended run.

Larsen remains confident, saying, “The show is sort of revolutionary, even though it’s a musical comedy set in the ‘20s. It feels very new, even if [the cast] is wearing top hats.”

Ronnie Larsen presents “Come Out! Come Out!” through March 13 at the Foundry, 2306 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Tickets are $35-50 at RonnieLarsen.com.

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J.W. Arnold

Netflix’s queer cowboy drama “The Power of the Dog” received the most nominations from LGBT entertainment critics. Credit: Netflix.

A

s the Oscars ceremony approaches, GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics was the latest industry group to announce its nominees for the Dorian Awards. SFGN Arts & Entertainment Editor J.W. Arnold is a longtime member.

Jane Campion’s period Cowboy drama from Netflix, “The Power of the Dog,” leads the pack with nine nods, including best film, LGBTQ film, director and three for acting. Three films followed with five nominations each: The 1920s-set racial drama “Passing,” the animated refugee documentary “Flee,” and Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of “West Side Story.”

“Dog” and “Story” contend for best film, along with three films that received four Dorian nominations each: Japanese relationship drama “Drive My Car,” Swedish romantic comedy “The Worst Person in the World”and “Tick, Tick. . .Boom!,” the musical about the short life of “Rent” creator Jonathan Larson.

In the studio numbers race, Netflix was top dog with 23 nominations for its titles. Neon followed with 18, and Disney / 20th Century Studios scored nine.

GALECA, which comprises of over 350 journalists and critics covering film and TV accessible in the U.S., did offer some surprises: Campion and Spielberg are joined in the best director category by Denis Villeneuve — whose epic “Dune” redux only garnered visual and music nods in other awards races — and Julia Ducournau with her French thriller “Titane.”

In the gender-neutral best film acting category, bold turns by Nicolas Cage (“Pig”), Simon Rex (“Red Rocket”) and Renate Reinsve (“Worst Person”) appear in GALECA’s expanded short list of 10 slots. “Zola,” “Benedetta” and “Shiva Baby” also landed nominations.

“Flee” is up against the sci-fi fantasy “Belle,” Disney musicals “Encanto” and “Luca,” and Netflix’s invading-robots tale “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” in the inaugural best

animated film category, The Dorian award for best film music, another new category for 2022, will be awarded to one of these nominees: “Encanto,” with original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and score by Germaine Franco, and “Spencer,” with music by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood.

As for the critics’ group’s trademark campiest flick honor, members dared to nominate the fashion biz drama “House of Gucci” (starring past Dorian Award winner Lady Gaga), the stylized Adam Driver musical “Annette,” horror film “Malignant” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “beach-that-makespeople-crave-prunes” tale, “Old,” commented GALECA Executive Director John Griffiths.

Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” sequel “Cruella” rounds the category out.

The nominees for the special Wilde Artist award include Campion, musician Lil Nas X, actor Jennifer Coolidge, Pedro Almodóvar and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who made his directorial debut this season with “Tick, Tick…Boom!”

Five women are vying for GALECA’s Rising Star award: “West Side Story” breakouts Ariana DeBose and Rachel Zegler, “Licorice Pizza” star Alana Haim, actress-comedian Patti Harrison (“Together Together”) and Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Scream,” TV’s “Yellowjackets”).

“You could say the movies and performances chosen by our Society’s members are a reflection of what appeals to the entire trendsetting queer and trans community,” said GALECA President Monika Estrella Negra.

“As our representation grows in the industry and beyond, expect the Dorian Awards to continue to shine light on the importance, and excitement, of having diverse critical eyes on cinema. There is much work to be done in advancing a variety of voices and images that often go unheard and unseen.”

Winners, including recipients of the group’s special Timeless Star for career achievement and LGBTQIA+ Trailblazer honors, will be announced March 17. A full list of nominees can be found at SFGN.com.

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Drag performer Blamie Forret will curate and host “Drag Out the Movies,” a monthly series at the Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale. Credit: Courtesy.

M

I

f you just can’t get enough drag on television or at the bars in Wilton Manors and Miami Beach, then you can head to Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale for gender-bending antics on the big screen.

The theater, one of the year-round marquee venues of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, will launch “Drag Out the Movies,” a monthly series, with “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” on March 8.

The party, hosted by Miami-based drag entertainer Blamie Forret, will begin with happy hour specials in the courtyard at 6 p.m., followed by live comedy and the screening at 8 p.m. But don’t leave early, because Forret will offer hilarious recaps after the credits roll.

“I reached out to [Savor Cinema], a month or two ago and pitched that idea to them for a drag movie night,” Forret said. “I’m from New York City and fell in love with ‘Hedda Presents the Classics’ with Hedda Lettuce.

She was responsible for introducing me to a lot of classic movies and helped me fall in love with them. I think of ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane’ — how could I have never seen this? I’m a Millennial and there are other Millennials who will love this shit.”

Forret suggested “Priscilla” to kick off the series because the largely gay enclave of Wilton Manors is nearby with a large potential audience. The film was also

important in her personal decision to explore drag.

She recalled, “I have a special place in my heart for that movie. When I was coming out for the second time — it’s a long story — I had an ex-boyfriend who lived in London and he would come to see me in New York City. He brought me to my first drag show, this Australian trio, and I was enamored with them, fascinated with them. He then bought me a DVD of ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,’ and it was my first introduction to drag.”

In the phone interview, Forret even suggested she might show up in the film’s iconic flip-flop dress and encouraged audience members to do the same: “Why not? If you want to dress up, go for it!”

Forret is still finalizing the list of upcoming films — she’s a busy girl, hosting Blamie’s Boozie Bingo at Hotel Gaythering, the new Saturday drag brunch at the Gramercy in Coral Gables and an upcoming weekly trivia-themed happy hour at Tobacco Road in Miami’s Brickell district. She also has a YouTube channel in the works, “Dinner with my Ex,” that explores “all the bitterness of a failed eight-year relationship with a dash of salt.”

The cinephile hopes the movie series will help movie theaters bounce back after being shuttered by the pandemic.

“Movies are really important to me,” she said. “There are so many great movies out there and we’ve got to show them.”

Blamie Forret hosts “Drag Out the Movies” on the second Tuesday of the month at Savor Cinema, 503 S.E. 6th St. in Fort Lauderdale. The first film will be “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” on Tuesday, March 8. Tickets are $10 ($8 for FLIFF members) at FLIFF.com.

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FEATURE PETS

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Keep your eyes on Are you looking for an absolute sweetheart of a dog who LOVES to be with people and will give you kisses? If so, meet 6-year-old Rosalind (ID 651353). She is a transfer to the Humane Society of Broward County, from Broward Animal Care and we aren’t sure why this big (72 pound) affectionate gal has been getting passed by.

Rosalind loves to be pet and will put her head in your hand for attention.

She likes to play with toys, is pottytrained and really needs a chance.

Rosalind is a mixed breed with big ears and a heart of gold. It looks like she was used as a breeding dog and had many puppies over her lifetime. Her ideal home will give her a big comfy bed to sleep in and a toybox full of toys. Thanks to Tommy and Nancy Weston Rosalind’s adoption fee is sponsored.

Appointments are not necessary to visit the Humane Society of Broward County. However, please complete the preadoption application on the website www.humanebroward.com prior to stopping by if you would like to meet a pet.

The shelter is located at 2070 Griffin Road, a block west of I95, and opens daily at 11 a.m. If you have questions call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. Can’t adopt, but want to help? The Humane Society has wish lists on Amazon and Chewy.

ALL STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND CUSTOMERS SHOULD WEAR A MASK TO ENTER THE SHELTER.

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The Youth Pride Chorus of South Florida is a part of the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation.