SFGN 03/10/22 V13iss10

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE MARCH 10, 2022 VOL. 13 // ISSUE 10

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BOYCOTTING STOLI VODKA DOESN’T HURT PUTIN - IT HELPS HIM

- Patrik Gallineaux STOLI LGBTQ AMBASSADOR

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

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“THE IRONY IS THAT BY ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, INVOLVED IN STOLI AND A ‘BOYCOTT’ OF RUSSIAN VODKA, WHICH IS BOTTLED 100% IN LATVIA, YOU ARE MAKING PUTIN HAPPY.”

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Editorial

John Hayden ith a brutal, unprovoked war being waged by Russia, people are trying to do whatever they can to show support for Ukraine. Some change their social media profile, others go to protests, others are pouring Stoli vodka down the drain. But pouring out and boycotting Stoli is what Russia wants you to do.

“Stoli is completely a Latvian brand,” Patrik Gallineaux, Stoli LGBTQ ambassador, said.

“And there isn’t any way that Vladamir Putin is in any way benefitting from Stoli. It’s the opposite.”

Despite its Russian vibe, Stoli vodka doesn’t fund the war or line Putin’s pockets. Gallineaux said it’s just the opposite.

“The company was 100% bought by a

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March 10, 2022 • Volume 13 • Issue 10

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Special to SFGN Steve Rothaus

Correspondents

Photo via Stoli, Instagram.

Russian man in his 20s. As a result of his action and buying this brand he had to flee the country.”

Gallineaux said Stoli has been waging a legal war with Putin for years. The Russian dictator fights to steal the Stoli trademark in every country he can, and then distributes his own, lesser-quality vodka, under the Stoli name.

“Stoli has been fighting the Russian Federation in courts around the world and spending millions and millions of dollars.”

There is a lot of misinformation circulating through social media, and Gallineaux said Putin is a master of misinformation.

“The irony is that by any way, shape, or form, involved in Stoli and a ‘boycott’ of Russian vodka, which is bottled 100% in Latvia, you are making Putin happy.”

The moral of the story is to be informed.

“We need to do our research and have our facts in hand. Once we are given the platform to interact and affect change, we really have to be dependable in our words and not do collateral damage along the way.”

STOLI SUPPORTS THE LGBT COMMUNITY Gallineaux has been with Stoli, off and on, since the mid 1990s, and is a member of the LGBT community. He said his position allows him to see firsthand how Stoli supports LGBT people, and look for new opportunities to lift them up.

“I make sure that a portion of the sale of every bottle of Stoli goes to the LGBT community. From the top down there is adamant support for the LGBT+ employees.

It’s a global brand that understands the way oppression feels.”

While deciding which vodka is in happy hour cocktails is a miniscule concern compared to the devastation in Ukraine at the hands of Putin and his thugs, Gallineaux wants to make sure protests make a difference.

That starts with knowing where information and vodka come from. In this case, buying Stoli is a shot against Putin and his warchest.

“The Stoli that we know and love is not even sold or marketed in Russia.”

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LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENNEDY MCKINNEY

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Transgender

WILLOW PILL COMES OUT AS TRANS Willow Pill, Series 14 contestant of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” has come out as transgender. In an emotional Twitter post, Pill said it has taken them a “long time” to come to terms with their gender identity due to their chronic illness and uneasiness about where they fit on the gender spectrum.

“My condition has caused me so much physical and emotional pain that my body became something I always wanted out of.

Eventually, hating my body for failing me and hating myself for not being a girl was so constant and intertwined that it felt totally normal. I know it’s not my fault, just the way I’ve learned to survive,” Pill said.

Going by pronouns she/they, Pill underwent surgery in November 2021 to make their face more feminine and identifies as trans femme.

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Willow Pill. Photo via Facebook.

“I want to share this because I have felt so lonely keeping this to myself. I’ve rarely been able to talk to other people with similar stories, though I know there are many out there. I’m so tired of holding my pain in …

I’m starting to finally feel bits of happiness with my face and body, and that’s a start. I love y’all so much!”

Pill is the fifth series 14 contestant to come out as transgender.

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

Q

Queer

‘BEL-AIR’ INTRODUCES QUEER CHARACTER

“The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” reboot “BelAir” has reimagined the iconic characters, giving them a 21st century makeover.

Most of the characters have been given a modern twist with one being an Instagram influencer and another questioning her role in society as a female.

The new Ashley Banks, the youngest member of the family, questions her sexuality in the reboot. She confides in her older sister while asking her for relationship advice about one of her friends she met online. She later asks another character if she thinks sexuality will be more fluid and if younger generations should embrace labeling.

Social media was outraged at this character update and was not happy that the show “sexualized” a 12-year-old. One

"Bel-Air." Credit: Peacock.

viewer said, “They really got a 12-year-old girl on TV talking about how she’s physically attracted to women, society really needs to stop sexualizing children.”

However, supporters of the queer character said that the storyline is realistic considering how many people find themselves questioning their sexuality at a young age, making “Bel-Air” culturally relevant.

LGBTQIA BITES

B

Bisexual

ZOË KRAVITZ PORTRAYS CATWOMAN AS BISEXUAL IN ‘THE BATMAN’

Zoë Kravitz is the latest actress to take on the role of Catwoman and this time she is portrayed as bisexual. While the character is often depicted as bisexual in the comics, this is the first time the portrayal has reached the screen.

The scene that raised eyebrows about her sexuality was when Selina Kyle searches for her friend Anika and calls her “baby.”

The Australia Pedestrian asked Kravitz if that scene was meant to spotlight Selina’s bisexuality to which Kravitz replied, “That’s definitely the way I interpreted that, that they had some kind of romantic relationship.” She then said “I agree” after the reporter expressed happiness over a film finally portraying Catwoman as bisexual.

The film’s director, Matt Reeves, told Pedestrian the film is “very true to the character of Selina Kyle.” He continued, “I don’t think we meant to go directly in that way, but you can interpret it that way for sure. She has an intimacy with that

Zoë Kravitz. Photo via Facebook.

character and it’s a tremendous and deep caring for that character, more so than a sexual thing, but there was meant to be quite an intimate relationship between them.”

“The Batman” opened in theaters nationwide March 4.

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3.10 . 20 22 •

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NEWS NATIONAL

BY GILLIAN MANNING

THE COUNTRY ACROSS

UTAH

GOVERNOR PROMISES TO VETO ANTI-TRANS SPORTS BILL Both the state Senate and House passed an anti-trans sports bill in Utah that would bar trans girls from participating in school sports. The governor promised to veto the bill which says that students must play on teams that coincide with the sex they were assigned at birth.

The bill’s language was altered on March 4 before the changes were proposed by Sen. Daniel McCay. While it did ultimately pass, some lawmakers were uncomfortable with the last-minute changes and expressed their concern with how the bill would impact the state’s children.

Sen. Daniel Thatcher said that he would have supported the bill in the past but changed his mind after meeting children within the community, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Gov. Spencer Cox. Photo via Facebook.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t do more,” Thatcher said, his voice breaking.

Gov. Spencer Cox said he was shocked at the changes brought by McCay and that he’ll veto the bill.

“Anyone that’s interacted with the transgender community understands how amazing they are and how difficult it can be for them,” Cox said. “I don’t want to make things harder for them than they have to be.”

11TH STATE PASSES ANTI-TRANS SPORTS BILL

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TEXAS

ATTORNEY GENERAL APPEALS BLOCK IN INVESTIGATION INTO TRANS TEEN’S FAMILY

IOWA Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new piece of legislation that bans trans girls from participating in female school sports teams. The bill also applies to colleges and universities, but not to clubs that aren’t affiliated with schools.

The Advocate reports that before while at the signing ceremony for the bill, Reynolds repeatedly referred to trans girls as “males.”

“This is a victory for girls’ sports in Iowa,” Reynolds said.

People with the Iowa Safe Schools LGBT advocacy group stood silently in protest behind Reynolds while she signed the legislation.

“With the stroke of a pen, Governor Kim Reynolds has made it clear that the lives of transgender children in Iowa do not matter,” said Becky Smith, the Iowa

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

Photo via Adobe, edited by Brendon Lies.

Safe Schools’ executive director. “After our trans students and their parents requested a meeting with the governor over a week ago, she ignored their pleas to have their voices heard. The passage of this bill will directly result in increased suicidality, disparate mental health outcomes, and further isolation.”

Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott told the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate the families who provide gender-affirming care to trans teens for “child abuse.” One anonymous family had an investigation opened against them, but a state judge blocked it.

Now, Attorney General Ken Paxton is filing an appeal.

According to the Texas Tribune, District Judge Amy Clark Meachum granted a temporary restraining order that halted the investigation into the one family — investigations into other families were still open.

Meachum was scheduled to potentially enact a statewide injunction blocking investigations into parents of trans teens, but because of Paxton’s appeal, the hearing was postponed.

“The Texas Photo via Adobe. government’s attacks against transgender youth and those who love and care for them are discriminatory and unconscionable,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. “These actions are clearly dangerous to the health of transgender youth in Texas.”

Becerra said his office is looking into ways to protect transgender Texans from these investigations.

“This is government overreach at its worst,” President Joe Biden said. “These actions are terrifying many families in Texas and beyond. And they must stop.”

CALIFORNIA LA CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS FIRST LGBT FIRE CHIEF The Los Angeles City Council confirmed Kristin Crowley as the next Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in a unanimous vote. She is the first out LGBT person to hold the position.

This isn’t the first time that Crowley has made history — back in 2016, she was the city’s first female fire marshal.

According to the Los Angeles Blade, when Crowley took the firefighter’s exam in 1998, she scored in the top 50 out of 16,000 applicants.

She’ll officially step into her new position on March 26, after Chief Ralph Terrazas retires.

“The Center applauds the historic confirmation of Kristin Crowley to lead the fire department of the nation’s second-largest city,” Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Executive Director Joe

Kristin Crowley. Photo via Facebook.

Hollendoner said. “We thank the City Council for unanimously approving Crowley’s appointment, and we commend Mayor Garcetti for nominating her from the beginning. Crowley now joins a handful of pioneering LGBTQ fire chiefs nationwide who are out and proud, and we salute her for being an LGBTQ role model who has been making a positive contribution to our city.”

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY EVERITT ROSEN

THE WORLD AROUND

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

ASIA

EUROPE

HOMELESS SHELTER FOR LGBT COMMUNITY TO OPEN IN SORSOGON

LGBT UKRAINIANS FEAR THEY ARE BEING TARGETED

Homeless, abandoned, and elderly members of the LGBT community will soon have a place to dwell in Sorsogon, thanks to a good Samaritan who donated 1,500 square meters of land for the project in Sorsogon City’s Barangay San Juan Roro.

According to the Philippine News Agency, Salvador Mendoza, the provincial communications officer for Sorsogon, stated that the soon-to-be house for homeless LGBT group members is part of the provincial government’s objective to “promote the welfare and well-rounded development of the people of Sorsogon.”

Mendoza stated that the sanctuary would be a multi-functional structure that will not only serve as a refuge but also as a training facility for the LGBT community.

Sorsogon, Philippines. Credit: Ajchacon, via Wikipedia.

“We shall soon establish and construct a ‘Home for Homeless Gays’ in Sorsogon,” Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero said.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Ukraine have been fighting for years to be accepted as equal members of society.

But now, as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion threatens Ukraine’s very existence — and amid fears that LGBT activists are on a Russian kill list exposed by the U.S. intelligence community in recent days — international organizations are working to protect LGBT Ukrainians fighting to save a country that has yet to accept them as full citizens.

“The main fear at this moment is that if they will be successful, that we lose everything that we have,” said the volunteer coordinator of KyivPride Jul Sirous. “Unfortunately, if this city will be occupied like other cities, then there

The LGBT community marching in the Ukraine last year.

Photo via KyivPride, Instagram.

will be some persecution against LGBT people.”

AFRICA

CENTRAL AMERICA

GHANA’S INTERSEX COMMUNITY WANTS TO BE REMOVED FROM ANTI-GAY BILL

LGBT COMMUNITY IN PANAMA ARE FIGHTING FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Ghana’s intersex community has asked parliament to exclude them from the contentious anti-gay law presently before the constitutional, legal, and parliamentary affairs committee.

According to Ghana Web, the intersex community is asking to be removed from this bill because they state their conditions are biological rather than sexual, and therefore cannot be criminalized.

While addressing the 3rd public hearing of the committee on the bill in Parliament, Director of Key Watch Ghana, Shun Adjei, demanded clauses in the bill will damage the rights of the intersex community.

“This bill seeks to prohibit organizations, such as outs from providing support of any kind. This bill

Entrance to Ghana's Parliament House.

Credit: Fkoku, via Wikipedia.

seeks to force surgeries and treatment in intersex people, infants, and also enforce a culture of silence” Adjei said.

Across Latin America, Panama’s immediate neighbors have made great strides in marriage equality, while Panama lags behind.

According to the Human Rights Watch, this is caused by a lack of political leadership and a justice system that undervalues specific human rights.

Instead of being an international bridge, Panama has become a territory that defies the democratic trend in the Americas to increase LGBT rights.

Same-sex couples are unable to legally protect their families and children, as it’s illegal for them to get married and for them to adopt. Recently, new laws have been passed on adoptions, including a prohibition on adoption by same-sex marriage.

Panama is awaiting the Supreme

Photo via Adobe.

Court of Justice’s verdict in a lawsuit that questions the validity of legislative measures that prohibit marriage between same-sex couples. The court has not ruled on four distinct instances in which couples married overseas have sought that their marriages be registered under Panamanian law, which is a constitutional right of every person.

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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.

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WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

Pictured at Dick's Service Station's 6th Aniversary: Chris Shin, manicurist, with Darren Thompsom, chosen as Best Barber in SFGN's BestOf for the past three years.

Partners Ed Vincent and Kyle Richardson, Realtors with The Ed Vincent Team at RE/MAX Experience, stand together at The GFLGLCC Mixer held at Hamburger Mary's.

Partners Richard North and Andy Weiser, asset manager at Coldwell Banker Real Estate, at the World AIDS Museum Keith Harding Exibit.

Trevor Skelly, an in-house counsel for Emeritus and Consultant for the US Federal marketplace, stands with his husband Renan Alvarenga, a hairstylist & color specialist for all communities, at the GFLGLCC mixer held at Hamburger Mary's.

• 3.10 .2022

NEWS LOCAL

CELEBRATION RETURNS TO MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE John Hayden

T

he Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) is one of the coolest spots in downtown Fort Lauderdale. From the giant perpetual clock, to an IMAX, to exhibits that rotate through, it’s a playground for kids and adults alike. But this Friday, March 11, it will be closed so it can bring back its annual, legendary party.

The 25th Annual Wine, Spirits, and Culinary Celebration returns after three years away. (It was canceled at the last minute in 2020 as COVID took hold, and last year there was still a vaccination backlog).

Now Joseph Cox, MODS’s president and CEO, talked with SFGN about the return.

“Cheers to 25 years! Thanks to our longstanding partners at Bank of America and Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, the Wine, Spirits and Culinary Celebration is back as one of MODS’s premier events! We are especially excited to come back together in-person to thank our community and partners for supporting this celebration after two years of the pandemic.”

As in past years, guests are encouraged to come hungry and thirsty.

“Guests will enjoy an unforgettable night highlighted by delectable fare from South Florida’s leading restaurants and a vast array of flavorful wines and spirits from around the world, as well as local craft beers,” Cox said. “Guests will have the opportunity to bid on unique and exciting offerings during the silent auction.”

The Grand Tasting will have samples from many recognizable restaurants, including Lobster Bar Sea Grille, Oceanic and Yolo, with libations from the event’s exclusive sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits and craft beers including fan favorites American Icon Brewery and Funky Buddha.

MODS serves an incredibly important role in the community through its exhibits and educational outreach, and Cox said the

Photo via the Museum of Science and Discovery, Facebook.

community means just as much to MODS. “As a hometown center for science and discovery, MODS is a unique cultural attraction in South Florida. The Museum is beloved for connecting all people to inspiring science from cradle to career! By investing in our community’s youngest minds and exposing them early on to stimulating STEM experiences, we help fuel our area’s future workforce pipeline. We believe MODS belongs to our diverse community, and through our equity, access and inclusion initiatives, we help create a community where everyone belongs. This is just part of what makes MODS so special.”

And as hard as they work, they are ready to party.

“The 25th Annual Wine, Spirits and Culinary Celebration is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community to support our museum while enjoying a delicious evening out on the town! 2022 is the silver anniversary of this event, which is certainly something to celebrate.”

THE 25TH ANNUAL WINE, SPIRITS, AND CULINARY CELEBRATION RETURNS AFTER THREE YEARS AWAY.

3.10 . 20 22 •

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NEWS STATE

Raising the bar for Telehealth

‘DON’T SAY GAY’ BILL PASSES FLORIDA SENATE John Hayden

Florida Senate. Photo via Facebook.

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GET STARTED TODAY!

www.healthkarma.org 10

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"D

on’t Say Gay” is now one signature away from being the law of the land from Pensacola to Key West.

The bill passed the State Senate on March 8 by a vote of 22-17. The next stop is Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for an expected final signature.

The measure has been one of, if not the most controversial piece of legislation this session. Supporters say it prevents sexuality from being discussed in lower grades and doesn’t focus on the LGBT community.

However, the language does call out the gender and sexual orientation as prohibited topics, and is so vague that it could easily be applied to upper grades and affect clubs such as Gay/Straight Alliances.

In a statement after the vote Equality Florida slammed the bill.

“Let us be clear: should its vague language be interpreted in any way that causes harm to a single child, teacher, or family, we will lead legal action against the State of Florida to challenge this bigoted legislation,” the statement reads. “We will not sit by and allow the governor’s office to call us pedophiles. We will not allow this bill to harm LGBTQ Floridians. We will not permit any school to enforce this in a way that endangers the safety of children. We

stand ready to fight for Floridians in court and hold lawmakers who supported this bill accountable at the ballot box.”

Loud Opposition Rallies against the bill have been going on for more than a month as the bill quickly and easily moved through the state legislature. Committees in both chambers quickly passed the bill to the main floors for votes. Organizations like Safe Schools and AHF poured resources into raising awareness, hoping to stoke outrage and swing a few votes to defeat the measure.

Students protested at the statehouse in Tallahassee, organized walkouts, and mobilized on social media. Their stories of being “erased” from the conversation were truthful and heartbreaking.

But in the end, none of it mattered.

Sponsors of the bill had the votes from the beginning, and essentially just let the opposition make their arguments and voted for it anyway.

There will likely be court challenges, but those will take years. State courts have been filled exclusively by Republicans for a generation, and the current U.S. Supreme Court has a very conservative tilt.

Assuming DeSantis signs the bill, it will take effect in time for the new school year in August.

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NEWS STATE

FIGHT AGAINST ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ GETS LOUDER, PROUDER Florida Press Secretary refers to it as the “Anti-Grooming” bill

John Hayden

I

n the week since the Florida House passed HB1557, better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the LGBT community has taken notice and taken to the streets, the beach, and 500 feet. But nearly every planned protest has faced some type of pushback.

The pushback revealed how deep the unconstitutional seizure of our pride flags, prejudice and hate towards the LGBT but instead to continue demonstrating our community runs. pride in a peaceful manner. After the rally, Students stage walkouts across the state I was informed that I had been indefinitely to protest the bill. One of the leaders was suspended. School administrators allowed Jack Petocz, who used Twitter to mobilize me to collect my things and then escorted me his peers across the state and at his Daytona off-campus.” area school, Flagler Palm Coast High School.

The movement is getting support from highHe is now suspended indefinitely (though profile celebrities, including Ariana Grande the school calls it “excused who posted encouragement administrative leave”). to her millions of followers.

Petocz said he was called to Safe Schools planned a day the principal’s office shortly of protests and awareness before the rally (which was for March 1. On Monday, allotted only 15 minutes), and the banner plane company told he couldn’t distribute they hired to fly the message Pride flags. He had 200 and “Defeat! Don’t Say Gay” decided to give them out to backed out. One employee “AFTER THE RALLY, some of the 500 students texted a rally organizer, I WAS INFORMED who joined him in the protest.

“We’re doing eight million THAT I HAD BEEN Afterwards he told the [dollars] a year there and don’t Daytona Beach News-Journal want to piss off any potential INDEFINITELY he was called disrespectful. clients that have a problem SUSPENDED. They report he asked to with that phrase for a oneSCHOOL talk with a lawyer and was time flight.”

ADMINISTRATORS escorted off campus.

The rally on Miami Beach ALLOWED ME On his Twitter account, did go on as planned, and a TO COLLECT MY Petocz released a statement last-minute company was saying, in part, “Although found to fly the banners over THINGS AND THEN the school administration several large South Florida ESCORTED ME OFFhad initially approved the high schools and Wilton CAMPUS.” rally and expressed support Manors.

- Jack Petocz for students' civil liberties, On March 2, a group, led STUDENT ACTIVIST their demeanor and tone

by Safe Schools and AHF, drastically shifted as the rally boarded a bus to Orlando in progressed. Administrators hopes of getting Disney to began confiscating pride flags and attempted take a stand against “Don’t Say Gay.” Disney, to remove them from campus. As the which is generally considered an ally, has leader of the rally and a proud member of been silent during this debate. the LGBTQ+ community, I encouraged my The statement they finally offered late in fellow students not to give in to the school's the week can charitably be called tepid.

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Jack Petocz speaks to a crowd of students during a rally. Photo via Jack Petocz, Twitter.

“We understand how important this issue is to our LGBTQ+ employees and many others. For nearly a century, Disney has been a unifying force that brings people together. We are determined that it remains a place where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

The biggest impact we can have in creating a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create here and the diverse community organizations we support, including those representing the LGBTQ+ community.”

A recent poll says Floridians are closely divided on the issue, and are barely against the bill. All the protests were encouraging, but did not stop the bill as it powered its way through the statehouse in Tallahassee. On Tuesday, the Florida Senate passed the bill, and it's now awaiting the signature of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has vocally supported it.

On Twitter DeSantis’ press secretary accused liberals of mischaracterizing the bill.

“The bill that liberals inaccurately call “Don’t Say Gay” would be more accurately described as an Anti-Grooming Bill,” Cristina

Pushaw tweeted. “If you’re against the AntiGrooming Bill, you are probably a groomer or at least you don’t denounce the grooming of 4-8-year-old children. Silence is complicity.

This is how it works, Democrats, and I didn’t make the rules.”

Equality Florida blasted Pushaw in a statement.

“Governor DeSantis' spokesperson said the quiet part out loud: that this bill is grounded in a belief that LGBTQ people, simply by existing, are a threat to children and must be erased. He chose Pushaw to speak his mind to the public. He owns this unbridled hatred.

This same bigoted insinuation has long been used to stigmatize our families, justify denying us the ability to adopt children, and is being used to justify the tracking of transgender children by government agents in Texas and threats to imprison their parents,” the statement reads. “Make no mistake — this is a tacit announcement from the governor that he supports the true intent of the Don’t Say Gay bill: the erasure of LGBTQ people.”

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3.10 . 20 22 •

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NEWS LOCAL

‘FLAT OUT LIE’

FORT LAUDERDALE’S GAY POLICE CHIEF ON BEING FIRED FOR REVERSE DISCRIMINATION Christiana Lilly

A

fter being fired from his post as chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department on Thursday, Larry Scirotto addressed the controversy at the NAACP Broward office on Monday morning.

Scirotto, who is gay and mixed race, is accused of giving promotions to officers based on their minority status.

From August to November, he gave 15 promotions — nine were to white men and the remaining six were ethnic or gender minorities. He also hired 35 people throughout the department of “various races, various gender, ethnicities and backgrounds” whom he says their “credentials stand on their own merits.”

“In each of those promotions, it wasn't based on any protected class or immutable trait,” he said Monday. “It was based on their qualifications. Every one of those candidates that was promoted were extremely qualified.

Those that were not selected were not nearly as qualified and in some instances have history that would preclude them from promotion.”

Four EEOC claims were filed against Scirotto from white police officers — three men and one woman who are sergeants and lieutenants — in what was called a “minority-first agenda.” This led to the city hiring Rossman Legal of Davie to conduct an investigation into the claims. According to the report, which was submitted on Feb. 25, Greg Rossman conducted interviews in December and January with 24 “potential witnesses” of people who were eligible for promotion. Scirotto was also interviewed by Rossman.

In the report, Scirotto was said to have pointed to a wall of photographs in the chief’s conference room and said “that wall is too white” and “I’m gonna change that” on more than one occasion. There was also an allegation that during a meeting to discuss

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Scirotto spoke at a press conference on Monday. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.

promoting an officer to captain, Scirotto asked “which one is Blacker” when comparing two Black candidates. A witness told Rossman that when they asked the chief why they were passed over for a promotion, he responded, “I have to consider diversity and equity.”

Rossman concluded, “The Chief’s own words, admitted by him, are ill conceived if not plainly discriminatory. They are not part of a well-conceived, adopted plan of affirmative action or diversity implemented by ordinance or court order.”

During the Monday press conference, Scirotto denied saying the wall was “too” white, but instead wanted to have the force be reflective of the Fort Lauderdale community, almost half of which are people of color. The former police chief stated that when he was hired, he was asked to make changes, including promoting diversity in the department.

“The city manager warned me that the changes that I would need to make would meet great resistance, and that is ever true today,” he said. “I guess that was true until the actual changes started to happen. And here we are today.”

Scirotto also called the report an “opinion piece” as he alleges there were no testimony transcripts or recordings and no witnesses under oath.

Before Scirotto spoke, he joined supporters in a prayer circle. Then, NAACP Broward President Marsha Ellison shared that the former Pittsburgh assistant police chief was their first pick because he was an outsider.

“We don’t need another insider, one of those current officers or law enforcement folks who work for the city of Fort Lauderdale to further the agenda,” she said. “This community has been neglected for way too long.”

She said that “apparently he did his job too well” and she believed the department felt he promoted too many Black officers. She called his firing a “set up.”

The Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officers Association is also standing behind Scirotto, saying in a statement that the promoted officers’ “professional reputations have been damaged by the flawed and woefully inadequate discrimination report produced

by Rossman Legal,” leading to a hostile work environment.

“It implies they did not earn their

promotion based on their superior qualifications, experience, and educational attainment,” wrote Captain Cecil Stone, the president of the organization. “This renewed internal effort to disqualify, delegitimize, and destroy the reputation of hard-working Black, LGBTQ+, and other minority police officers is reprehensible.”

Stone was one of the officers who received the promotion to captain under Scirotto’s tenure — the former police chief cited him specifically as an example of a qualified officer, pointing to his Master’s degree, respect in the department, and his community outreach with providing Thanksgiving meals and buying toys for children for Christmas.

“He was by far the easiest of my selections, this promotion process, and I stand behind that,” he said.

Scirotto said he has secured legal representation and will be leaning on them for next steps — hopefully, to get his job back.

“I love the city, I love this police department,” he said. “There’s nothing more I’d rather do than be the chief tomorrow. I’m not sure that is an option for me. I won't make that decision.”

SPORTS PLAYING WITH PRIDE

GUS KENWORTHY RETIRES FROM PROFESSIONAL SKIING Everitt Rosen

J

ust a few short weeks ago, professional skier Gus Kenworthy finished his final Olympics in Beijing, followed by trips to London and Milan. But now, Kenworthy is looking forward to relaxing after announcing his retirement from professional skiing.

He claims he “might” have been able to compete in another Olympics, but he didn’t feel up to another four years of “intense work,” and he wanted to go out on top. In the end, he qualified and finished ninth in windy circumstances to conclude his Olympic career.

“As a gay man, I didn’t think that duality could exist of being gay and also being a sports star,” Kenworthy told Pink News. “It’s just a young sport, and it’s a hard sport to do for a long, long time. I’ve had a truly long career — I’ve been doing it professionally for like 14 years, and I’ve been to three Olympics.”

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NEWS LOCAL

The site of the rally at Esplanade Park in Fort Lauderdale. Photo via Safe Schools South Florida, Facebook.

SAFE SCHOOLS, AHF RALLIED SUPPORTERS TO OPPOSE ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ BILL John Hayden

A

t a rally Monday night, the storm clouds teachers, talk about sexuality with children. overhead perfectly represented the We don’t,” Denise Soufrine, a kindergarten metaphorical storm crowds that hover teacher at Pembroke Pines Elementary, said. over the LGBT community. On the eve of what “It means that we can’t help the students who is likely the passage of the “Don’t Say Gay” might come to us questioning something bill, Safe Schools and AHF rallied supporters. about themselves. It also means that little Off the top, Safe Schools Executive Director children may feel there is something wrong Scott Galvin told people that, while he hopes with their families if they have gay parents.” he is wrong, this is likely a losing fight.

The most powerful speaker of the evening “The idea is to show people was a child who will be directly we are still going to be a impacted. A queer student got A QUEER cohesive community, that we’re up and bravely addressed the still here. We’re not going away. crowd. The words were simple STUDENT Just because you voted a law and the message clear: it’s unfair.

GOT UP AND into place doesn’t mean we’re all It’s also a made-up issue. going to suddenly disappear.”

“The people who are making BRAVELY Just hours before, several these laws don’t understand ADDRESSED THE amendments to soften the what’s going on in the CROWD. THE language that targets talking classroom,” Soufrine said. about gay issues in schools were As for what comes next, WORDS WERE rejected (the bill passed the Galvin believes this bill is vague SIMPLE AND THE by design, and middle and high Florida Senate the day after the MESSAGE CLEAR: school administrators will find rally).

As the rain began to spit down this on their doorstep sooner IT’S UNFAIR. on Esplanade Park in downtown rather than later.

Fort Lauderdale, the crowd “I know how to read legal refused to be deterred. Two large flags were language, and I know how they’ve created a unfurled: the traditional Pride flag and the work around. The fact that it says ‘K-3, or all trans Pride flag. People gathered around to grade levels,’ [means] a parent is going to be listen about how the bill will impact students. emboldened and come in there and woe to “It’s been made to seem that we, as the principal. Here’s your lawsuit.”

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NEWS LOCAL

LATINOS SALUD LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAMS TO EXPAND HEALTH SERVICES John McDonald

A

mid the backdrop of inspirational music, flashing cameras and fashionable outfits, Latinos Salud used the opportunity to announce several new programs it had launched.

The nonprofit’s annual gala, titled Gala al Fresco, was held Feb. 19-20 outdoors under tents at the agency’s new Wilton Manors location. Executive Director Dr. Stephen Fallon announced a new program that takes the strain off hospital emergency rooms and allows Latinos Salud to step in and cover health insurance premiums for patients in greatest need.

Fallon continued to deliver the message that in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latinos Salud never shut its doors and actually grew in services. Latinos Salud rolled out two new programs designed to build rapport with community members who might otherwise be reluctant to seek screening or health services, one specifically for youth, and the other for all community members.

The agency also launched wellness clinics with gay and Latino nurses at each of its three locations.

The agency tests 7,000 community members for HIV and STIs annually, has vaccinated over 2,500 people for COVD-19 and provided more than 2,000 clients with PrEP at no cost.

Co-founder Rafaelé Narváez shared stories of how the agency had helped a father whose 18-year-old son had just come out to him; a

THE AGENCY TESTS 7,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR HIV AND STIS ANNUALLY, HAS VACCINATED OVER 2,500 PEOPLE FOR COVD-19 AND PROVIDED MORE THAN 2,000 CLIENTS WITH PREP AT NO COST.

Dr. Stephen Fallon. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.

victim of sexual assault who was treated on site for a sexually transmitted infection; and a closeted man who wanted to start taking PrEP so that he would not accidentally bring HIV home to his wife. Board Chair Dr. Franco Chevalier affirmed Latinos Salud’s mission of delivering culturally appropriate care and client empowerment for all ages.

Awards were presented to the Our Fund Foundation and NBC 6 meteorologist Stephen MacLaughlin. David Jobin, Our Fund president, accepted the Corazones award, on behalf of the philanthropic organization, and MacLaughlin, gala host, received the community Pride award.

Entertainment was provided by America’s Got Talent finalist Jimmie Herrod, who drew standing ovations both days, and Los Angeles retro funk band Soul Scratch. The band performed a slow-moving bluesy number called “It’s Not Over” and called on guests to support nonprofits like Latinos Salud.

Members of the new youth and culture programs were present both days.

“I moved to the South Florida area two months ago, and the youth services program has been like a home for me,” Jeffrey Guzman said. “It’s significant that in addition to vital testing services, Latinos Salud looks out for the emotional and social wellbeing of community members.”

3.10 . 20 22 •

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MEMBERS HAVE SPECIAL ACCESS TO GAY HISTORY AT STONEWALL MUSEUM John Hayden

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ay history isn’t taught in schools. Gay history isn’t well-known, even among LGBT adults. But gay history exists.

The Stonewall National Museum & Archives is a huge repository of the LGBT community’s past, and a voice straining to talk to the future.

Located inside the ArtServe building at 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, it’s home to more than 28,000 books, along with other multi-media records.

“Things here are going well,” Stonewall’s Executive Director, Hunter O’Hanian, said.

“We have relocated and consolidated and Stonewall has just gotten bigger and stronger.”

When people think of LGBT history, they know the Stonewall Riots of 1969, maybe some of the early fights against HIV/AIDS, and getting marriage equality in 2015. But there is much more before, during, and after those events.

“Certainly, as we move into the second halfcentury post-Stonewall, there are many things that still have to be gained for LGBTQ rights,” O’Hanian said.

Inside Stonewall you see walls lined with books, drawers and hard drives filled with files that paint a picture that is simultaneously joyus, heartbreaking, oppressive, and liberating. O’Hanian said history shows how a common foe can unite a community, and uses former public enemy number Anita Bryant as an example.

“Many members of the community have to thank Anita Bryant. It was because of the efforts she made, at that particular time in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, that actually coalesced so many gay rights groups around the country.”

Bryant was a self-righteous former beauty queen and singer of questionable talent who used fear and hate to overturn an equal rights ordinance in Miami-Dade County in the 1970s.

“You can look, in this archive, at every paper big and small in 77-78 and Anita Bryant is enemy number one. And she mobilized gay forces around the country.”

O’Hanian said we must learn from the past if we are to stop her hate-filled ideological successors from winning where she failed.

“Now the politicians like the DeSantis’ or the Cruz's’ or [Rep.] Marjorie Taylor [Greene] (RGA), and Trump, are almost second generation.

They don’t care about these issues, they’re only

Stonewall National Museum & Archives.

Photo via Facebook.

trying to speak to a constituency. It’s a religious evangelical constituency that they’re speaking to, that despite laws, they’re simply trying to bring religious morality around the whole thing to galvanize a base.”

Now Stonewall is holding its membership drive to not only raise money, but to raise awareness.

“We get great funding from the county, great funding from the state, and great funding from individuals. But membership shows that what we’re doing is right. That voters of the community believe this is something that is important to them. They want to have a voice, they want to have a say. They want to throw their support behind an organization that they believe in.”

This year Stonewall exhibits will include a look at the 1990s and the great writers and speeches that came out of the area. Members are able to check out materials and get discounts at small businesses.

“Membership is important because we are a small, non-profit, organization. We only have three employees and only a half-million-dollar budget. We have a university-sized library and archive here.”

As the keeper of history, O’Hanian said it’s more important than ever to look to the past as we move into the election year.

“We’ll see who comes out as the biggest hater in 2022. Who will come out as the biggest abuser of civil rights in 2022. We’ve seen over the last year how they’ve tried to remove people’s voting rights.”

To learn more about Stonewall National Museum & Archives, visit their website at Stonewall-Museum.org.

NEWS LOCAL

LIPS TO HOST DINING WITH THE DIVAS MARCH 15 John Hayden

D

rag dining goes to a new level next week as Lips hosts Dining With the Divas. ArtsUnited is honoring a trio of South Florida leaders who help promote the wide array of cultural projects through the area.

The night will honor Phil Cordell of Our Fund, Richard Gray of Visit Lauderdale, and PR guru and longtime arts supporter Michael Goodman. The event is Tuesday, March 15, at 7 p.m. at Lips on Oakland Park Boulevard.

“ArtsUnited is proud to recognize these honorees who champion equality and diversity in the arts and serve as positive role models in our community,” Chuck Williams, president of ArtsUnited, said. “We are grateful for Lips and for the support of our members and patrons who help us fulfill our mission of sharing and nurturing LGBTQ artists’ contributions in South Florida and beyond.”

The fabulous and legendary Nicolette will host the night, and be joined by guest Nicolette will be hosting the night. hosts Niki Lopez, Tedd Davis, Ryan Young, Photo via Facebook. and Michael Albettert. The evening will also feature a special performance by Michael Azen, was an arts advocate and she opened my eyes to fully appreciate and support the Dean as Cher.

“I have been a huge Cher fan since I was arts. Truly, art is part of our everyday life,” about 8 years old,” Dean said. “I always Goodman said. “I admire works of art that admired her natural ability to connect with convey a direct message or leave one to audiences of all ages and demographics interpret its meaning. My art appreciation extends beyond just the visual based on her many talents. I aspect, but also the performing met her two times and that THE FABULOUS arts.” only made my admiration grow “Michael’s been a good, stronger. Now for the past eight AND LEGENDARY behind-the-scenes cheerleader years, I get to be Michael Dean NICOLETTE WILL for us for a long time,” Williams as Cher for audiences all over.”

HOST THE NIGHT, said. “His generosity plus he’s a Honoree Michael Goodman AND BE JOINED marketing machine.” has been associated with As for what Goodman’s most ArtsUnited for years.

BY GUEST HOSTS looking forward to about the “I work and volunteer with NIKI LOPEZ, night? He says that’s easy. many arts groups and through TEDD DAVIS, “I am truly honored to be mutual contacts I was exposed RYAN YOUNG, recognized alongside other to ArtsUnited. I was fortunate community leaders whose to develop a relationship with AND MICHAEL passion is advancing the arts them and have supported ALBETTERT. and promoting inclusion and them in various ways over the equality for all. As a performer, years. I admire what they do as the organization specifically gives LGBT+ I am also excited to entertain the group as artists the opportunity to network and create a return gift. It is amazing to be recognized for something that you love to do. And as together.”

It’s a passion Goodman developed early in an investor in Lips, I am thrilled for people to experience drag dining at its best with an his career.

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LGBT PROFESSIONALS MINGLE, NETWORK AT MDGLCC MIXER Jose Cassola

Miami Gay News

T

he Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce presented its Spotlight Mega-Mixer Networker event alongside the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Feb. 24 at the Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables.

Attendees mingled and networked with chamber members, guests and the community at large. The event, geared toward LGBT professionals between the ages of 21 and 39, provides networking opportunities and includes complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music and raffle prizes.

There were lite bites courtesy of MDGLCC, an open bar courtesy of sponsor Bacardi and a free drawing for prizes courtesy of chamber members. DJ JessiMix spun mixed music hits throughout the evening.

The last YPN Mixer took place at Toro Toro at the Intercontinental Hotel in January. Attendee Matthew L. said he “met amazing people and made some really great connections. I’m already looking forward to the next one!”

MDGLCC CEO Steve Adkins said the monthly YPN mixers are some of the “best networking events in Miami.”

“This month’s popular Spotlight MegaMixer took place in Coral Gables. We had complimentary cocktails courtesy of Bacardi, our resident DJ Jessimix spinning and lite bites provided by the Hotel Colonnade, making it another great event to remember.”

At the mixer, Adkins spent a couple of minutes speaking to attendees about connections, such as the Chamber’s relationship with event sponsor Bacardi.

“Almost 25 years ago, I moved to Miami from San Diego and I bought a guest house on the beach. It was called the Jefferson House,” Adkins said. “This organization [the MDGLCC] used to be called the South Beach Business Guild way, way back in the day before it became the Chamber, and Bacardi used to host those events at my guest house and they have been with us ever since. They have always supported our community events.”

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• 3.10.2022

Adkins added that the connections made at the Chamber’s many different events throughout the years are how “relationships are built.”

“We’ve all been around a long, long time.

I’ve known a lot of you for a long time. It’s wonderful to have these relationships and to build on them. I think, in a way, we’re resurrecting a lot of those relationships because of what’s happened over the last two years.”

True North, a member of the Chamber, was recently hired to do social media for the MDGLCC. Adkins said “we [the Chamber] are promoting through all of our social media channels your organization, your business, your outreach, what you’re doing in the community. So, please feed us content.

“This is a free membership benefit that we are paying for to be able to help you and advertise what you’re doing. Everything we do is about all of you. Without you, we’re nothing.

We really appreciate your support and thank you for being here.”

The YPN meets monthly through a variety of engagement formats, such as business networking events, social mixers, educational workshops and training. The group’s mission is to create networking opportunities, foster collaboration with community leaders and provide educational engagements for young professionals to bridge the gap between generations, nurture professional development and growth and create paths to success within the business community.

Chris Aguilar is an ambassador to the MiamiDade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and a Human Resources management professional. Currently, he is a Senior Executive Recruiter at CAREERXCHANGE, a talent acquisition firm based in Miami that

Network gathering at the Spotlight Mega-Mixer. Photo by Stephen R. Lang.

connects professionals with companies of all sizes throughout the US. Aguilar said there are several benefits to attending one of the many networking events the MDGLCC hosts on a monthly basis, adding while the YPN mixers are geared for young LGBT professionals, older individuals can attend, too.

“It’s not just for young professionals. You don’t need to be young to attend one of our events and connect with a multitude of talented people from all generations,” Aguilar said. “After all, this is the melting pot we are in now where we find ourselves working together for the first time with more than four generations of LGBT professionals. Come and connect with us."

Aguilar told Miami Gay News in 2018 that events like these provide attendees “exposure to several business professionals in and affiliated with our community” and it’s an opportunity to “introduce yourself and/or get introduced to all types of professionals yourself.”

“I come from the HR and staffing industry.

At one of my first mixers, I met my first client in which I was able to provide the company an administrative and an accountingprofessionals through my agency,” Aguilar said. “Not only did their company benefit, but my company benefited, as well, including myself. At the same time, I made a new business connection that evolved into a friendship.”

Aguilar said the purpose of the Young Professionals Network is to expose more young professionals to this type of networking.

“There are so many young professionals who either don’t go out or settle for the bars, clubs, parties, social media, apps, etc. in hopes to meet other people of their level,” Aguilar said. “The YPN places these young professionals together in a nice environment and allows them to benefit the same way other mature professionals do at the usual Chamber’s events.”

Courtesy of Miami Gay News.

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Stacy Hyde, CEO of Broward House. Photo via Facebook.

AHF, BROWARD HOUSE KINDLE PARTNERSHIP John Hayden

T

wo powerhouses serving Broward County have joined forces: AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Broward House. The announcement was made last month. Now, both organizations are talking with SFGN about how this new affiliation will help both organizations help the community.

The groups aren’t strangers. Stacy Hyde, CEO of Broward House said becoming formal affiliates is a logical next step.

“While we’ve always worked alongside each other well, to actually integrate that in a stronger way is just going to be better able to serve our clients.”

Broward House’s mission is improving the quality of life for individuals with chronic health challenges, including HIV. That includes wellness and housing AHF is a global non-profit and the largest provider of HIV/AIDS care in the U.S. Imara Canady, AHF’s National Director, Communications & Community Engagement, said Broward House is exactly what they look for in new affiliates.

“The Affiliate Program is about being likeminded, and that’s what makes this such a win-win. Both organizations are client focused, community focused. It’s ease of service and ease of care for everyone. We look to be in alignment where it makes sense for both organizations.”

Hyde said this is a perfect partnership for Broward House as well.

“We both have strengths. AHF’s medical care and medical capacity is top notch.

Broward House really brings the health component, the mental health services, strong social service case management, and

housing. A combined belief in what we do in the community as far as HIV care goes.

Both AHF and Broward House have a long commitment to Broward County, and to HIV care and prevention.”

The partnership will also help streamline care, so clients don’t have to tell their stories (and possibly relive intimate traumas) over and over.

“We hear from people that we’re serving sometimes that they don’t want to have to share their story again,” Hyde said. “We’re protectors of people’s stories. They share with us the most intimate details. It’s still difficult to walk into our doors. Then to be asked your most intimate details; your house, your financial, your sexual history.

That’s a lot to share.”

Broward House is grateful for the grants it gets from a wide range of philanthropic groups and people, but oftentimes those grants are very targeted and restrictive.

For example, a grant may help get a bed for someone, but won’t cover sheets and blankets. Money from AHF will, among many other things, help bring complete dignity to people who need help.

“It allows us to say ‘Yes!’ Dignity is the most important thing that we give to people.

People who come to us have been told no so many times. Our job is to surprise them and say ‘Yes, we’ve got you.’”

Hyde believes this will help more people get more services almost immediately.

“We don’t turn anybody away, whether they fall into a grant or not. So this allows us to fill all of those gaps for people who don’t fit into a specific grant funding.”

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PA L M B E A C H

news

NIGHT RUNNERS JOINS PALM BEACH PRIDE Sean Conklin PALM BEACH PRIDE IS BACK ON MARCH 26 AND 27 AND IT’S BRINGING FAMILIAR STAPLES ALONG WITH SOME NEW ADDITIONS. On March 25, the Night Runners, in partnership with Compass Community Center, will be hosting the first in person Pride 5k as a prelude to the weekend’s festivities.

“This is the start, but hopefully it will grow in the future.” Galindo wants the event to be fun, safe and memorable for the participants with the music, the shirts, and what runners really want: the medals.

Night Runners has, consistently, through A RUN THREE YEARS the pandemic and before, IN THE MAKING hosted two night time runs “THIS IS each week.

The 5k is a run/walk that Galindo hopes to recreate THE is three years in the making. the fun, excitement and START, BUT energy of those twice-weekly Initially planned for 2020 it was canceled due to COVID-19.

HOPEFULLY runs on a larger scale with the Instead the group held a 5k.

IT WILL virtual run with more than 250 Each week, the Night GROW participants.

Runners meet Monday and In 2020, their run was Thursday at 8 p.m. in Howard IN THE supported by a grant from Park in West Palm Beach. The FUTURE.” Brooks Running Company runs are open for anyone who which was awarded specifically is interested and nobody gets - Rudolph Galindo to support LGBT organizations left behind. They do a run and PRESIDENT OF planning running events a walk to meet the interests NIGHT RUNNERS around the country. of everyone who may want to Julia Murphy, chief join them. development officer for Compass, said the 5k was a natural addition to Pride weekend.

A NEW ADVENTURE Murphy and Compass overall are drawn to the mission of the Night Runners because Because the first planned 5k ended up of their impact on the health and wellness being virtual, Night Runners hasn’t had of the people who participate. the opportunity to host an in person 5k Compass knows that they do not have race yet. They are both enthusiastic and the capacity to meet every need in the cautious with their planning, being mindful community and so seek to partner with of challenges they face. diverse organizations that provide new and Galindo mentioned a few challenges unique levels of engagement. that were unique to this 5k, including the “Having sober spaces is very important,” number of runners and the proposed Murphy said of Night Runners. “This is a route, as well as the time of the race. All of whole new aspect of that.” these components are on the minds of the This year, the planning for the 5k started planning committee as they trek forward, in August of 2021, almost nine months managing budget and timing. before the event.

Compass and Night Runners are working “My hope is that we sell out the race,” collaboratively on the planning for the 5k. said Rudolph Galindo, president of Night Since Compass had the park reserved for Runners. They hope to get 350 in person the whole weekend, it was offered to the participants for the race.

Night Runners as the site of their event, at

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• 3.10.2022

Night Runners WPB at Howard Park. Photo via Facebook.

no cost. This allowed for Night Runners to plan a more fun and exciting event. Galindo wanted to make sure everyone involved in planning was recognized, including Compass, the Night Runners board of directors, and the planning committee.

Galindo is hoping that “people come out and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community through running and walking. That’s always been our goal: bringing the community together.”

Night Runners is also sponsoring LGBT youth groups to participate in the event,

bringing youth from Compass in Palm Beach County and SunServe in Broward County to participate.

The cost of the race is $45. It begins at 7 p.m. March 25 at Bryant Park. All event details can be reviewed at the night Runners website at nightrunnerswpb.com.

All participants will receive a t-shirt and race medal.

Night Runners is still taking sponsorship opportunities. Details on sponsorship can be found on the website as well.

Visit NightRunnersWPB.com for more information.

PA L M B E A C H

news

LAKE WORTH BEACH KICKS OFF PRIDE WITH FLAG RAISING CEREMONY Sean Conklin THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH KICKED OFF A MONTH OF PRIDE WITH A PROGRESSIVE PRIDE FLAG RAISING AND PUBLIC PROCLAMATION ON THE STEPS OF THE OLD CITY HALL IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. Mayor Betty Resch read the proclamation while community members and allies gathered to participate.

The Flag Raising was held on March 1 and has historically been the official kickoff of Pride Month in Palm Beach County.

Although national Pride month is annually in June to commemorate the historic Stonewall Riots in 1969, celebrated as the catalyst for the modern LGBT rights movement, Palm Beach County celebrates Pride in March to beat the summer heat and ensure that seasonal residents, spring breakers and college students have the opportunity to participate.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Palm Beach Pride, and the 30th year it’s been hosted in Lake Worth Beach.

Lake Worth Beach is a Beacon of Hope for LGBT Equity “When elected officials and the adults in the community show their inclusive support of all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, it matters,” said Julie Seaver, director of Compass Community Center. “Amidst all of these hate bills coming from our state’s capital and around the nation, the City of Lake Worth Beach’s long-standing support of Compass and its LGBTQ population continues to be a beacon of hope. Each year on the steps of City Hall, we raise more than just the Pride flag: we raise awareness and bring visibility for the LGBTQ community and its allies.”

Commissioner Sarah Malega of Lake Worth Beach said that the flag raising is really just a symbol.

“When a municipality raises the Pride

“WHEN A MUNICIPALITY RAISES THE PRIDE FLAG AND RAISES IT HIGH AND PROUD, IT MEANS SOMETHING.” - Sarah Malega LAKE WORTH BEACH COMMISSIONER

Lake Worth Beach Pride flag Raising and Proclamation at Old City Hall in Lake Worth Beach.

Photo via Compass Community Center, Facebook.

flag and raises it high and proud, it means something,” Malega said. “It shows that Lake Worth Beach is an inclusive community where everyone feels welcome.”

Palm Beach Pride is also back on track after the ongoing COVID pandemic caused Pride events in the city to be canceled in 2020 and minimized in 2021. Palm Beach Pride will take place at Bryant Park in Lake Worth Beach on March 25 and 26 this year, with the Pride parade going down Lake Avenue at 11 a.m. on March 26.

Malega expressed pride in the fact that this will be the first year that the City of Lake Worth Beach will be marching in the Pride parade as participants. The city commission invited any city employee who is interested to walk with them during the parade. She wants to show the LGBT community in the city that their public officials stand in solidarity with them and are trying to make steps toward true equality.

Tickets to Palm Beach Pride can be purchased at many community locations like Justin and Greg’s Salon and the Box Gallery in West Palm Beach, Compass Community Center, the Tacky Tourist, and the Mad Hatter in Lake Worth Beach, and the Zoo Gym in Boynton Beach before the event for $8, or $10 at the door on the day of the event.

Compass has also partnered with Night Runners to host the first official Pride 5k on the evening of March 25, adding a fun and healthy event to the start of the weekend.

This year, Compass is planning a mass wedding at the Pride festival this year.

Couples of any gender and identity can register to be part of this historic activity at compassGLCC.com.

3.10 . 20 22 •

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PA L M B E A C H

news

BOYNTON BEACH ELECTS GAY MAYOR Ty Penserga is also the first LGBT Asian American mayor in the county Jason Parsley TUESDAY STARTED OFF AS A DARK MOMENT IN THE STATE’S HISTORY WHEN THE FLORIDA SENATE PASSED THE “DON’T SAY GAY” BUT BY THE END OF THE DAY THERE WAS A BRIGHT SPOT FOR THE COMMUNITY IN BOYNTON BEACH WHEN VOTERS ELECTED, BY A LANDSLIDE, AN OUT MAYOR. “This is a surreal moment for me,” Ty Penserga told his supporters during his victory speech at a local brewery in Boynton Beach. “What you have taught me and what you have given me is an opportunity to fight for all of you. This is the opportunity to do the work.”

Penserga, 33, was elected to the Boynton Beach commission in 2020. He also served as vice mayor.

The campaign was marred by homophobia when another candidate, Rev. Bernard Wright, went on Facebook in January where he said “I ain’t with the LGBT” and accused Penserga of wanting to make Boynton Beach a “gay city.”

Penserga won the election with 57% of the vote. The next two candidates received 18% while Wright came in last with 6%.

“In this room there are people from all parts of the political spectrum, whether you’re a community activist, whether you’re a radio talk show host, whether you are a business person, whether you are a community leader in the LGBTQ community, whatever it is this campaign has brought together so many people and I am so proud of all of you,” Penserga said. “There is more we have in common than separates us. Most of us are not just one thing, or one category, we cross boundaries. Those are real people with real stories like many of you.”

Penserga also noted his experience as an Asian American.

“When I was in college my friends and

their siblings were getting attacked. And they were Asian Americans. We did not know why we were being attacked. Whether they were waiting at the subway, or at the grocery store. We were afraid and we felt powerless. Nobody was there to fight for us. Where are the protests? Who’s going to City Hall? We didn’t have anyone. That’s where my story began,” Penserga said. “I realized that not only did I need to build myself up, but I needed to build others up to create a leadership pipeline. We need to build a community of leaders.”

The same day Penserga was elected Florida’s senate passed the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill which ban discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity in lower grades or “in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

Victory Fund, a national organization that supports LGBT candidates, released a statement celebrating Penserga’s victory.

“While legislators in Tallahassee were trying to silence us, voters were making their voices heard at the ballot box. And with resounding enthusiasm, they chose equality,” said Annise Parker, president & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund.

“Not only did Ty shatter a lavender ceiling in Boynton Beach tonight, his election is a clear call of hope to LGBTQ people in Florida and across the country who are tirelessly battling legislatures bent on stripping away our basic human rights and freedoms.”

According to the Victory Fund there are currently only three out LGBT mayors

PENSERGA IS THE SIXTH OUT PERSON IN PALM BEACH COUNTY ELECTED MAYOR.

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• 3.10.2022

Ty Penserga. Photo via Facebook.

in Florida: Jane Castor in Tampa; Teri Johnston in Key West; and Dean Trantalis in Fort Lauderdale. Penserga, who was born in the Philippines, is the only person of color.

Penserga is the sixth out person in Palm Beach County elected mayor.

"Over the past two decades, lesbians and gay men have served as mayors in five out of Palm Beach County's 39 municipalities," Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance, said in a statement. "At least 10 more openly LGBTQ people in Palm Beach County have served as vice mayors, city commissioners and city council members."

The other five out mayors were Denise Bleau of Lantana; Tom Gerrard of Manalapan; Betty James of Cloud Lake; and Myra Koutzen of Palm Beach Shores.

Boynton Beach is the most populated of

those cities. With 78,000 people it’s the third most populous in the county.

Penserga graduated from Temple University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology. He is currently a High School Biology and Chemistry teacher.

Several of his students from Suncoast Community High School showed up to his victory party to celebrate.

“The one thing I can tell you is he leads the class. He knows how to communicate with the students. He makes really good relationships with all of us. He's an advocate for us and I think he's going to be a really good advocate for Boynton Beach as well,” said Matthew Lind, 16. While Kaylin Portieles, 17, added, “He's really understanding with his students. And I feel like he just explains things really well. I think that he would be a good representative.”

PA L M B E A C H

news

DELRAY BEACH PRIDE INTERSECTION VANDAL’S SENTENCING SCHEDULED Christiana Lilly THE MAN WHO BURNED OUT HIS TRUCK OVER THE PRIDE INTERSECTION IN DELRAY BEACH LAST JUNE WILL BE SENTENCED ON APRIL 21 IN WEST PALM BEACH. Alexander Jerich, 22, pleaded guilty to felony charges of criminal mischief and reckless driving on March 1. He is being represented by attorney Robert Pasch.

"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 a previous email statement. "It would have been impossible for Jerich to avoid being found guilty in light of the video that captured his crime."

Just days after the intersection was dedicated, kickstarting Pride Month in 2021, Jerich was videotaped burning out his truck over the rainbow intersection.

According to a police report, he was a part of a caravan of cars celebrating former President Donald Trump’s birthday. When they reached the intersection, a witness told police, someone yelled out, “Adam, tear up that gay intersection.” Jerich, or “Adam,” was picked out of a lineup by the witness who said he came forward “not only as a community member but as a gay man.” The report states that the cost of street space was $16,720.

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.

JUST DAYS AFTER THE INTERSECTION WAS DEDICATED, KICKSTARTING PRIDE MONTH IN 2021, JERICH WAS VIDEOTAPED BURNING OUT HIS TRUCK OVER THE RAINBOW INTERSECTION.

Alexander Jerich. Photo via PBSO.

The vandalized intersection.

Photo via the PBCHRC.

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 from 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, 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.

3.10 . 20 22 •

27

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

NEWS NATIONAL

THE 7-YEAR QUEST TO MAKE A GAY KISS LEGAL Everitt Rosen

M

aurice Tomlinson has been fighting in court with the Jamaican government and nine different antigay religious groups for the right to kiss his husband.

According to 76 Crimes, a law imposed in 1964 makes acts of intimacy between two men illegal, with serious legal consequences.

Tomlinson and his husband could be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

The administration contended that the court lacks jurisdiction to rule on this old statute since it is “saved” by a strange quirk in the constitution and that this matter should be heard first.

Normally, the courts accelerate human rights cases, but Tomlinson’s has dragged on for a variety of reasons. The Jamaican government has resisted demands from local and international organizations to

President Joe Biden. Photo via Facebook.

Maurice Tomlinson. Photo via Facebook.

cease the persecution of LGBT people and is vehemently defending the law, which has the backing of some of the island’s most influential religious groups.

BIDEN CALLS TO PASS EQUALITY ACT ‘Let’s Finally Get This on My Desk’

Kim Swan

T

he passage of the Equality Act would so you can be yourself and reach your Godchange the lives of LGBT people given potential.” drastically. And that is why President Although Biden is calling for equality Joe Biden is calling on Congress to enact it. rights in America, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is In his State of the Union speech March 1, close to becoming law in Florida. The House Biden made calls to “finally get has already passed it, and the bipartisan Equality Act” on Gov. Ron DeSantis has voiced ALTHOUGH his desk. The legislation has support for it. been pending in the U.S. Senate The bill, if passed, would BIDEN IS for nearly a year, despite the ban topics covering sexual CALLING FOR promise Biden made of signing orientation, gender identity, EQUALITY it into law in the first 100 days and anything LGBT-related in RIGHTS IN in office. schools.

“Despite overwhelming The Equality Act would AMERICA, THE public outrage, polling data end LGBT discrimination “DON’T SAY underscoring immense in housing, employment, GAY” BILL unpopularity with voters, and education, and more if passed.

IS CLOSE TO hours of testimony from LGBTQ Biden also criticized the antifamilies,” Equality Florida said trans bills that seek to restrict BECOMING LAW in a statement. “Republican access to transition-related IN FLORIDA. legislators voted to pass the health care for youth and ban ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and ‘Stop trans children from playing in sports teams corresponding to their gender WOKE’ Act in the Florida House. If signed into law, these bills will have disastrous identity.

“The onslaught of state laws targeting impacts on classrooms and workplaces. transgender Americans and their families is They will turn Florida into a surveillance wrong,” Biden said, The Washington Blade state and give the government broad license reported. “As I said last year, especially to to censor conversations about American our younger transgender Americans, I will history, the origins of racism and injustice, always have your back as your president, and the existence of LGBTQ people.”

28

• 3.10.2022

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29

NEWS TRANS LIVES MATTER

TRANS LIVES MATTER 5 MORE TRANS PEOPLE MURDERED IN 2021 THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT Kim Swan

F

ifty-one was the number of trans and non-conforming people killed last year, or so people thought. Five more trans people were added to the list when their deaths went unnoticed until now.

The Human Rights Campaign keeps track of trans people killed every year, noting that 2021 was the deadliest year on record for the community.

This year, two Black trans women were already killed in January, and three more in February.

MARINA CALDERA, 38

ZA’NIYAH WILLIAMS, 21 Za’niyah Williams remained unidentified for quite some time until her mother came forward, according to The Advocate. She was a Black trans woman.

“You were loved and will always be a part of me,” a cousin wrote. “Fly high you beautiful butterfly.”

A friend posted that Williams was “a very sweet and smart young lady and always ripped the runway when she dressed up.”

Williams died in a hit-and-run in Houston, Texas Dec. 20.

“Za’niyah Williams was a bright soul who at 21 years old had the world in front of her,” Tori Cooper, the Human Rights Campaign’s director of community engagement for its Transgender Justice Initiative, said in a press release. “It is horrific that her life was taken from her by an unknown assailant who drove off without a care.”

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• 3.10.2022

RUBI DOMINGUEZ NIKKI TURIETTA, 31 Nikki Turietta’s family is still in shock after she was shot inside her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico Dec. 31.

“It's heartbreaking.

Heartbreaking,” Jen Struck, Turietta’s aunt, told KOB. Turietta was a white trans woman who Struck described as a “free spirit” and has no idea why anyone would kill her.

“We want justice. We're desperate for answers. We want to know what happened,” Struck said.

Rubi Dominguez was a Latina trans woman who also died in a hit-and-run on July 16 in Arlington, Texas.

Monica, her sister, described her as “a happy, social, humorous person” who “made people laugh,” according to Telemundo.

Monica also called for justice and appealed to the driver to come forward.

“Make yourself responsible because it has caused great pain in my family, both emotionally and psychologically,” she said.

“It’s something irreparable.”

Photos via the HRC.

KEEVA SCATTER, 34 Not much is known about Keeva Scatter’s life, a Black trans woman who was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Oct. 15. The HRC said they will honor her memory regardless.

“The epidemic of violence against transgender and gendernonconforming people stole over 50 lives in 2021, and those are just the stories that we know of,” said Cooper. “The majority of cases were like Keeva’s, Black trans women, often victims of gun violence. We must work to create a society where Black trans lives are valued and are not cut short.”

Marina Caldera was an amazing person who had the best personality and always called everyone on their birthdays, according to her family. “[She] loved everyone, everyone [she] met loved [her],” Caldera’s brother, Noel, told KPRC 2. [She] was always happy singing. [She] was just a fun [girl] to be around.”

Caldera was shot to death in Houston, Texas Dec. 6. The police are still investigating her murder.

“We really just want to know what happened,” said Noel.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN KEEPS TRACK OF TRANS PEOPLE KILLED EVERY YEAR, NOTING THAT 2021 WAS THE DEADLIEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

FIRST DESANTIS CAME FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, AND I DIDN’T SPEAK UP

because I wasn’t an undocumented immigrant.

THEN DESANTIS CAME FOR BLACK PEOPLE, AND I DIDN’T SPEAK UP

because I wasn’t Black.

THEN DESANTIS CAME FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, AND I DIDN’T SPEAK UP

because I wasn’t transgender.

THEN DESANTIS CAME FOR QUEER PEOPLE, BUT I DIDN’T SPEAK UP

because I wasn’t Queer.

When Will

You SPEAK Up?

3.10 . 20 22 •

31

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

RUSSIAN GENERAL WHO TORTURED, MURDERED LGBT PEOPLE KILLED IN UKRAINE Kim Swan

and

and

GET YOUR VOICE L

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 32

• 3.10.2022

Magomed Tushayev (left) and Ramzan Kadyrov.

Photo via Illia Ponomarenko, defense reporter, The Kyiv Independent.

GBT Chechens can rest easy knowing that a general who was responsible for torturing and murdering queer people was killed in the war in Ukraine Feb. 26.

Ukraine forces confirmed the death of Magomed Tushayev, a top advisor and military commander in Russia, according to The Los Angeles Blade.

“While I never rejoice at the killing of anyone, his death means one less mass murderer on the loose,” Peter Tatchell, a British LGBT activist and human rights campaigner, told The Jerusalem Post.

“Those who live by the sword should not be surprised if they die by the sword.

This will mean that he is no longer able to abduct, torture and kill Chechen LGBTs and dissidents, which is a good thing.”

Tushayev was killed at the Antonov International Airport northwest of Kyiv.

Illia Ponomarenko, a defense reporter for The Kyiv Independent, tweeted: “Magomed Tushayev, one of Ramzan Kadyrov’s top warlords, has been killed in action in Hostomel. Ukraine’s elite Alpha Group is reportedly fighting Chechens in the airfield.”

Kadyrov is the Head of the Chechen Republic in Russia.

Meanwhile Kadyrov claimed the Chechen fighters did not have “one single casualty

or wounded combatant,” according to Reuters. He also said that President Vladimir Putin “took the right decision” and that they will “carry out his orders under any circumstances,” The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Blade reported that Tushayev played an unspecified role when human rights activist and gay man, Ibragim Selimkhanov, was abducted from a subway station in the Novogireyevo District of Moscow by four Chechen operatives and flown against his will to the Chechen capital city of Grozny.

Since 2017, Chechen security operatives and other officials in the Kadyrov regime have rounded up dozens of men on suspicion of being gay, held them in unofficial detention facilities for days, humiliated, starved and tortured them, in what has been dubbed Chechnya’s “antigay purge,” according to the Blade.

A documentary in 2020 titled “Welcome to Chechnya” portrays the horrors LGBT Chechens endure in Russia. In the movie, although several people who were fleeing the country allowed themselves to be filmed on camera, their faces were disguised in case the government came after them and attempted to return them to Chechnya, where they could face torture or even execution.

CONVICTIONS

EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Andy Marlette

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3.10 . 20 22 •

33

Off The Wall

CONVICTIONS

IDIOCRACY AT ITS BEST Pier Angelo

G

ov. Ron DeSantis made his ignorance and frustration with face masks known when he visited Tampa for a press conference several days ago.

DeSantis was at the University of South Florida to announce funding for cyber security education. Before taking the podium to address the audience, the governor scolded a group of students behind him who were wearing face masks.

“You do not have to wear those masks,” DeSantis said. “I mean, please take them off.

Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we’ve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.” It is obvious that he cares more about unborn children than living kids. Between his push against abortion and his “Don’t Say Gay” bill, he has been showing the world what kind of incompetent and dangerous idiot he is.

Masks are very simple objects. It is usually a cloth with two stretchy bands at two ends. You put it on your face so you can cover your mouth and nose, and it acts as a barrier to the rest of the world.

Masks have traditionally been used for centuries, for example, during the 17th‐ century plagues, the 1918 influenza pandemic and, more recently, the SARS epidemic in 2003. Retrospective case‐ control studies showed that mask use by the general public may have offered significant protection against SARS. So why are we still talking about it? DeSantis’ wife underwent surgery for cancer recently. Why didn’t the governor storm into the operating room and tell surgeons and nurses to remove masks and gloves while operating on his wife? Hypocrisy.

The medical profession has been wearing masks for decades now.

Though masks alone will not completely halt the spread of a virus, recent research has shown that wearing them is the most efficient way to stop its transmission. Dr. Fauci said everyone should wear a mask in public and it

“should not be a political issue. It is purely a public health issue.”

I have always considered myself an intensely political man. I’ve joined and supported a party, rejoiced in its victories, believed that its accession to power would bring the country closer to social justice and prosperity for all.

But I also gave the other side the backing they needed when they won, including the benefit of the doubt. I am now engulfed in a sense of helplessness, which is compounded with the failure to understand what happened, what went wrong, as if body snatchers from another planet took over and imposed on us a system of Dysfunctional Pseudo Democracy.

The Left came, gave space to the Right, which gave room to the Left. Nothing changed.

Disillusionment wasn’t swift, but I eventually reached the current state of political despair and dark cynicism.

I can say with certainty that there is a preponderance of psychopaths at the top, with a clinical absence of empathy.

Like creatures from a science fiction movie. Irresponsibility and total disregard for the good of the country is the norm in a game where the word bipartisan has become anathema. Obstructionism is the rule. Paralyzing the government with blackmail is the favorite sport of the elected gasbags. The word du jour is “negate” instead of “negotiate.” Too many times I feel we are ruled by thieves and liars. It is as if the last remaining vestiges of restraint and shame have been overcome and it is no longer necessary, on the part of the political elite, to pretend that they are anything less than what they are: power hungry selfcentered monochromatic greedy narcissistic bastards.

Their ego-cancer makes them unaware of the mounting disgust the population at large feel about the way we are ruled. It doesn’t even matter at this point if the people have voted for or against any politicians they now despise.

THEIR EGOCANCER MAKES THEM UNAWARE OF THE MOUNTING DISGUST THE POPULATION AT LARGE FEEL ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE RULED.

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• 3.10.2022

Ron DeSantis. Caricature by Donkey Hotey, via Flickr.

There is very little hope for change. Not one of them gives evidence of having any desire to change this rotten system because it works so well to the real purpose of maintaining power for themselves, and the benefits that come with it. The people be damned. Keep them sick and poor. They are easier to control.

The member of this caste are predators who use charm, money, manipulation, lies, intimidation, religion and fear to manipulate others and to satisfy their own selfish needs.

We routinely elect barbarians who take what they want and do as they please without guilt or remorse. We should start blaming ourselves for accepting the status quo because we elect these sociopaths and pay their salaries.

Unless you have a permanent lapse of reason you have to admit that those who represent you belong in a three-ring circus, or preferably in a loony bin.

I am exhausted by how stupid everyone is getting. More to the point: you know they didn’t get up there by themselves,

they don’t belong up there, they don’t know what to do while they are up there.

They are elevated beyond their ability to function. Civility, class, style have gone by the wayside, hysteria has taken over, elected politicians resort to innuendos, sneers, manipulation, misrepresentation, greed, and unsubstantiated attacks of the opposite side just because it is the opposite side. I fear that the rules our nation so successfully followed for more than 200 years were designed for another time, a different breed of human beings.

It’s all a facade, a big fraud perpetrated against the American people, a far too real and tragic reality show. The modus operandi is to talk about God, family and guns, preferably with southern accents, while robbing us blind and destroying what little is left of our democracy.

Placing hopes and dreams in the hands of men who say they are on God’s side is never a good idea. It’s A Highway to Hell.

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

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

3.10 . 20 22 •

35

FAITH & PRIDE SPIRITUALITY

YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND US...

THE MONTH OF TRANSFORMATION

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Congregation Etz Chaim

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his year I finally became eligible for Medicare. I was anxious as the date approached and decided against a big celebration. As time has passed since that date I have found myself feeling increasingly confident and positive, even in the face of the ravages of the pandemic and the vicious deconstruction of our social fabric. Like many, I had spent the past five years in varying states of fury and panic.

I believed I had to march, protest, debate, and argue against policies and people who discriminated against vulnerable minorities.

It was exhausting. I was sick and exhausted, and the violence against my people continued despite the efforts of millions like myself. And then I had my special birthday, and everything seemed to fall into place.

Did you know that when you reach your 65th birthday, the government automatically signs you up for Medicare? I didn’t have to negotiate this huge piece of healthcare anymore! You are free to retire, and it happens that I will be leaving my beloved congregation when my contract expires in May. As a retired person I could let go of all the norishkeit a working person must manage. I immediately gained hours of free time each week which I happily put toward studying the extra month of Adar and the Purim holiday it contains.

The Jewish calendar is a lunar/solar combination. An adjustment is made to synchronize the lunar counting of days with the solar cycle so that the holidays fall in their prescribed seasons. Seven times in

19 years the month of Adar is replaced by two months, Adar I and Adar II. Adar I is considered the additional month, so that Purim is always celebrated in Adar II. Thus, a leap year in the Hebrew calendar includes 13 months. This year is such a year that includes two Adars. Why is this important?

Each month in the Jewish calendar represents a unique mystical component.

Adar is the month of Transformation, as evidenced by the Purim story; Haman schemed to annihilate the Jews but he was the one destroyed. Mordechai and Esther ordained the commemoration of "the month that was transformed for them from sorrow to joy, from mourning to festivity" (Esther 9:22). Certain disaster was averted, and one person – Esther – initiated the miracle.

Hence the ruling, "when the month of Adar enters, increase in joy" (Taanit 26b).

Adar transforms sorrow into joy, doubt into knowledge, certain disaster into amazing possibilities. Purim, with its upside-down nature and call to go beyond what we know and how we usually present ourselves to the world, is a time of joyfully molting and shedding the old for something new.

With two Adars this year we can double the exuberant transformations we wish to bring into our lives and into a world that is desperately calling for them. The current Russian vicious aggression towards Ukraine is the latest situation we are called to transform. May our wisdom join with joy so our transformation result in a joyful peace for all.

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LIFESTYLE FOOD

ST. PATRICK’S DAY Green Genes

Rick Karlin

Coco's Pot Stickers. Courtesy photo.

Drinks at Casa Sensei. Courtesy photo.

S

t. Patrick’s Day is that one time of the year when everyone’s got a little Irish in them. And, if you ever dated an Irish guy, you know what I mean by that. Although the official holiday isn’t until the 17th, there are a lot of events leading up to the big day, and not all of them involve watered-down green beer.

Kick off your celebration early during FORT LAUDERDALE’S 9TH ANNUAL SHAMROCK RUN, on Saturday, March 12. Starting at 7 a.m. with a four-mile run, the Shamrock Run begins at Huizenga Plaza and follows Las Olas Blvd. After the race festivities, the annual FORT LAUDERDALE ST. PATRICK’S PARADE AND FESTIVAL follows the same path. Downtown HOLLYWOOD’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND FESTIVAL will be held the following day, on Sunday, March 13 between noon and 6 p.m.

It includes live music, food and drinks, and an Irish-themed parade with festive floats, marching bands, and more.

If your idea of celebrating the holiday tends more toward food and drink, there are a few spots offering specials on the 17th. DUBLINER IRISH PUB will permanently close after this year’s event to make room for yet another artisanal pizza place, so it will be a huge party. The festivities will include live bands, DJs, bagpipes, and Irish dancers.

435 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561-620-2540, Sub-Culture.org/ Dubliner.

HAMBURGER MARY’S will offer green beer for $3 and Jameson shots for $5 and since it will also be “Tipsy Thursdays”, beginning at 10 p.m., there will be a variety of $5 drink specials.

THE FIELD will offer traditional Irish music with Ian Millar from the Irish Rovers and the Banyans as well as Irish dancers. Reservations are required, with three seats: lunch (10:30

THERE’S MORE ONLINE! 38

• 3.10.2022

a.m.-2:30 p.m.), afternoon (3-6:30 p.m.) and dinner (7-11:30 p.m.).

3281 Griffin Rd, Fort Lauderdale, 954-964-5979, thefieldfl.com.

At DUFFY’S SPORTS GRILL throughout March there will be a “Taste of Ireland” menu, including potato soup, Irish potato skins, a half-pound certified Angus beef patty topped with shaved corned beef, and a shamrock pie with chocolate mint ice cream. Drinks include a Creamsicle Martini with Jameson Orange Irish Whiskey and a Dublin Drop with Guinness draft, Baileys Irish Cream, and Jameson Cold Brew Whiskey. On St. Patrick’s Day Duffy’s will have all-day specials such as corned beef and cabbage, green Miller Lite, Guinness pints, and Jameson shots.

1804 Cordova Rd, Ft. Lauderdale, 954-713-6363, DuffysMVP.com.

BONA ITALIAN offers live entertainment in its Aperitivo Lounge from 5:30-8:30 p.m. I’m certain someone will request a rendition of “Danny Boy.” 2468 Wilton Dr., 954-565-7222, bonaitalian.com.

One of the town’s newest spots, BIG BUNS DAMN GOOD BURGERS, a fast-casual restaurant next to the Wharf Fort Lauderdale, will offer a Luck O’ the Irish milkshake with the option of adding Irish whiskey or Irish Cream (or a mixture of both).

301 SW 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-686-8181, EatBigBuns. com.

AMERICAN SOCIAL will have $8 Jameson shots

and $6 Guinness through March 18 and on March 17 there will be an all-day “Eat, Drink & Be Irish” party from 11:30-2 a.m. with green beer and additional drink specials.

721 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-764-7005, AmericanSocialBar.com/las-olas.

CASA SENSEI, the pan-Asian/Latin-fusion restaurant will highlight St. Patrick’s Dayinspired sushi such as a Green Dragon Roll and two special cocktails, the Mint Leprechaun martini, and Shamrock Punch.

1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-530-4176, CasaSensei.com.

COCO SUSHI LOUNGE & BAR will dish up pale green, crescent-shaped pan-fried dumplings filled with Wagyu beef and shiitake mushrooms, a Maki Roll with spicy salmon sashimi and asparagus, wrapped with avocado, and topped with edamame and

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green tobiko, a green tea shot with Jameson Irish Whiskey, and a green tea mojito.

25 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561-908-2567, CocoDelray.com.

The LENORE NOLAN RYAN CATERING & COOKING SCHOOL will have a pop-up St. Patrick’s Day dinner on March 17 from 4-9 p.m. In addition to free house-made Irish soda bread and whiskey-dried fruit butter, the menu will include corned beef and cabbage spring roll, green onion potato cake with Irish smoked salmon, baked salmon cake, and an all-you-can-eat platter of Florida Keys stone crabs. Dessert will feature Irish whiskey caramel bread pudding and Irish coffee.

3311 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-491-2340, Facebook.com/LenoreNolanRyanCookingSchoolandCatering.

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.

19 PUBLIC FIGURES YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN’T KNOW WERE ASEXUAL Visit SFGN.com to read more. | Photo: Yasmin Benoit. Photo via Facebook.

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39

A&E APPOINTMENTS

ASTERWORKS IV Mozart | Mendelssohn | Rossini Featuring Catherine Lan & Tao Lin, piano

Maestro Pablo Mielgo will lead the Symphony of the Americas in a program of music by Russian masters on Tuesday, March 15.

Credit: Symphony of the Americas.

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SYMPHONY OF THE AMERICAS PLAYS STRAVINSKY, RACHMANINOFF Symphony of the Americas Artistic Director Pablo Mielgo returns to the podium at the Broward Center’s Amaturo Theater on Tuesday, March 15 to conduct “Symphonic Masters: Stravinsky and Rachmaninov.”

While both were born and trained in Russia, Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Rachmaninov explored diverging musical styles in their compositions. After leaving their homeland, the composers were finally reunited in the United States. According to Mielgo’s program notes, the performance demonstrates “the power of their music and its prominence to transcend on a global scale.”

The symphony will perform “Pulcinella” Suite, a collection of eight orchestral excerpts from Stravinsky’s ballet of the same name, and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2, one of the composer's most popular and best known compositions.

Tickets start at $35 to $75 at BrowardCenter.org.

PALM BEACH DRAMAWORKS HOSTS ONLINE READINGS Palm Beach Dramaworks in West Palm Beach will host two live readings of plays in development on Zoom.

The “Drama(in the)works” readings take place on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a talkback led by The Dramaworkshop Manager Bruce Linser.

“Goddess of Mercy” by Jenny Connell Davis, March 14 In a fast-gentrifying corner of New York, Kate, Claire, and Mike are locked in a battle over sex and real estate. When Mike’s Gen Z sister flies in from half a world away and discovers his ties to a global oil scandal, they soon realize a leaky penthouse is the least of their problems. “Goddess of Mercy” is (very) dark comedy about personal, corporate and social responsibility.

“White Ally” by Douglas Williams, March 28

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Both readings are free, but reservations are required.

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AN “EPIPHANY” AT FORT LAUDERDALE UCC Epiphany Theater at Fort Lauderdale United Church of Christ, 3501 N.E. 30th St., will present a staged reading of Artistic Director Ed Sparan’s play, “Bert’s Big Bed,” on Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26, at 7 p.m.

The play is about an attractive guy named Bert who moves to San Francisco. He makes friends with a local bartender, who needs his services as a photographer. While at the bar he meets Tim, who is having trouble with his partner and gets some help from Bert in a “Cyrano de Bergerac” way.

The play was originally produced in 1991 at the P.W.A. Theatre in San Francisco. Over the past 30 years, there have been major developments in the fight against AIDS. Sparan revised the play to reflect that an HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence and medications such as PrEP are available.

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Over the course of one tense evening inside a Brooklyn apartment, ideologies and political views clash as Tiana and Wyatt, two childhood friends recently reacquainted, discuss race, privilege, and white fragility.

Tickets are $10 at BertsBigBed.Eventbrite.com.

3.10 . 20 22 •

41

A&E DANCE

GAY BALLET DANCER REFLECTS ON CAREER, FUTURE J.W. Arnold

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• 3.10.2022

F

or most workers who are turning 40, retirement is still decades away.

But, for professional ballet dancers who must contend with brutal rehearsal and performance schedules, wear and tear on their joints and muscles, and injuries, retirement at 40 is an accomplishment.

Miami City Ballet (MCB) Principal Dancer Rainer Krenstetter is one of those rare performers to make it to that pivotal occasion.

“Turning 40 is a good moment to say goodbye, especially in a big company like Miami City Ballet,” Krenstetter reflected.

“For me it was always important to leave on a good level. I was very lucky, I didn’t have any injuries or surgeries and my body held up very well.”

The Austrian-born dancer, who joined the company in 2014, had originally planned to retire a year ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic put his plans on hold, just as it did the entire performing arts industry. He shared his plans with Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez just weeks before the pandemic shuttered the company’s 2020 season.

Making the decision to move to Miami was not easy. His parents were both dancers with the Vienna State Opera Ballet and he had been schooled in European classical practice.

Krenstetter had a secure position with the prestigious Staatsballett in Berlin, Germany for 12 years, but still yearned to learn the American style of dance and particularly the works of George Balanchine on which MCB had built its reputation.

“Americans dance with power and speed,” he explained. “Even though I don’t have this education, I was eager to learn to dance it that way, to be coached by [Lopez] and do it the real way.

Krenstetter added, “Europe is the real way, too, but the experience enriched my dancing in so many ways.”

His last performances with MCB will be in George Balanchine’s epic “Jewels,” a three-act plotless ballet with music by three different composers — Fauré, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky — and using different jewels — emeralds, rubies and diamonds — to illustrate three different approaches to classical dancing — French, American, and Russian. The ballet will be danced March

Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer Rainer Krenstetter will retire following the upcoming performances of George Balanchine’s “Jewels.” Credit: Miami City Ballet.

18-April 24 in Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Unlike most retirees, Krenstetter has no plans to slow down. He’ll remain in South Florida with his husband on their horse ranch in Wellington, but will also continue jet setting the world, performing occasionally and serving as the associate artistic director with the new Margot Fonteyn Academy in Arizona and guiding a dance academy in Japan.

Reflecting on his career as a dancer, Krenstetter considers himself lucky. Most dancers are forced to take on second and third jobs just to make a decent living. And, as a gay male, he has found acceptance in the ballet world long before marriage equality and other legal protections began to be adopted.

“It’s not just about talent,” he pointed out, offering this advice to aspiring dancers: “I was lucky at the right time with the right company and the right artistic director. It has to be a match. Keep your eyes open, travel, try to connect with people and find your right spot. Even smaller companies could be a very good match. In the end, it’s not always about being with the most prestigiousnamed company, but being somewhere where you are liked and can grow.”

Miami City Ballet presents George Balanchine’s “Jewels,” March 18–20 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, April 1–3 at the Arsht Center in Miami and April 23–24 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets and more information at MiamiCityBallet.org/Jewels.

A&E THEATER

ACTRESS ‘LET IT GO’ NIGHTLY ON TOUR J.W. Arnold

"F

rozen” is unquestionably one of the most popular films among the pretween set. For a decade, stressed out moms, dads and uncles have popped in a DVD in the car or pulled up Disney+ on an iPad at a restaurant to occupy their kids’ attention. It’s not surprising those kids know every line and lyric of the show by heart.

And, Disney wouldn’t pass up the golden opportunity to cash in further, making the show its latest Broadway hit a few years later.

Pre- and post-pandemic, the audience is regularly filled with little girls — and some little boys — dressed up as their favorite characters and when the show’s signature song begins, they chime in, turning the performance into an unforgettable sing-a-long.

That phenomenon is also repeated daily across the country as the touring production makes its way across the country. Caroline Bowman is the actress who gets the privilege of leading that impromptu chorus in “Let it Go,” starring as the ice princess Elsa, who discovers the meaning of love in the

heartwarming show.

The company pulled into Fort Lauderdale this week for a two-week stint at the Broward Center.

“There are some days when it’s a full on sing-a-long; however, I feel that as it pumps up and the audience gets mystified by the magic, they then stop singing and start listening,” Bowman said. “It’s a different version of the song, the little girls and the little boys dressed as the characters they love, and there are full grown adults that come dressed, too. They love this story and are deeply attached to it. The impact of just that song means different things to different people, release, owning who you are, and being free and living fully. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, it’s really cool.”

Bowman, a veteran of both Broadway and roadshows, has played the best iconic female roles — from Eva Peron in “Evita” to Elphaba in “Wicked.”

“I’ve got a sort of a pattern in my career, I guess. All of them are so fun,” she said of her

Caroline Bowman stars as Elsa in the touring production of Disney’s “Frozen,” which opened this week at the Broward Center. Credit: Disney Theatricals.

stellar stage credits. “I get immersed in my roles and fall in love with them. I feel like it’s such a gift to be in the midst of playing these roles and being so in love with them.”

While most touring shows are scaled-back copies of the big Broadway original, Bowman and her colleagues have a special claim to fame, originating a new song, “I Can’t Lose You.” The song was later added to other resident and touring productions, even in New York.

“Disney gave us a lot of creative licenses with our characters,” Bowman explained.

“We sat down and did table work and brought our ideas to the table about who we thought these characters were. They really cared and wanted us to bring our personal journeys to these characters. It was an honor and now [the song] has been put into place in productions all around the world. It was really neat that they respected and trusted us.”

See Disney’s “Frozen” through March 20 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale.

Tickets start at $30.50 at BrowardCenter.org.

Symphonic Masters: Stravinsky & Rachmaninov Tuesday, March 15, 7:45pm

Broward Center for the Performing Arts Tickets Available Now SOTA.org or 954-462-0222

3.10 . 20 22 •

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FEATURE PETS

LOOKING FOR LOVE

WILSON

Adorable Wilson (ID 652074) is a 2-year-old, hound dog mix with long legs and weighs just 52 pounds. He, like most hounds, enjoys sniffing…a lot! He also likes meeting new people and going for walks, so if you’re looking for a walking partner, he could be perfect. Wilson was not on heartworm preventative and does have heartworms. This is not contagious to other dogs or people and is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.

His new family must be willing to bring him back to the Humane Society of Broward County as an out-patient. The shelter covers the expensive cost for this treatment.

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.

BROWARD BOYS PAINTERS PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS

We Show Up & Do It Right The First Time Satisfaction Guaranteed!

TOWN HOME COMMUNITIES CONDO BUILDINGS SHOPPING PLAZAS

We Warranty Everything We Do

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

954-341-2400

EXTERIOR PAINTING ROOF COATINGS WATERPROOFING STUCCO REPAIRS PROFESSIONAL QUALITY 7 & 10 YEAR WARRANTIES

www.BrowardBoys.com Contractor Lic# CC93-7181 & Ins.

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