SFGN 04/01/20 V11iss14

local name global coverage april 1, 2020 vol. 11 // issue 14

SAY NO TO HOOKUPS PAGE 2

PUBLIC ADVISED TO STOP HAVING CASUAL SEX

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS

@SFGN

SFGN.COM SFGN. COM

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

STOP HOOKING UP SAYS NYC HEALTH DEPT. & GAY DATING APPS Jason Parsley

“YOU SHOULD AVOID CLOSE CONTACT — INCLUDING SEX — WITH ANYONE OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSEHOLD. IF YOU DO HAVE SEX WITH OTHERS, HAVE AS FEW PARTNERS AS POSSIBLE.” - New York City Health Department

WMG • 4 .1. 2020

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

CEO • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Digital Content Director • Justin Musial Webmaster@sfgn.com Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold JW@prdconline.com Social Media Manager • Paul Leary leary.paul@gmail.com Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • Sallie James HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com

Senior Features Correspondents Jesse Monteagudo

Correspondents

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

users recommending against in-person encounters for the time being.

“The best way to slow the spread of the coronavirus and protect the community is to stay home and avoid meeting up in-person.

In some places this is a requirement, but it’s a good idea for everyone,” Grindr wrote. They also suggested that this might be a good time to masturbate and did their best to put a positive spin on the situation. “Staying safe at home can still be sexy. You are your own best sex partner, so take some time to pracice self-care.”

Scruff sent a similar message to its users: “we ask our community to limit connections to online, rather than in-person.”

The NYC guidelines go on to say kissing easily transmits COVID-19 while condoms may reduce exposure to saliva.

David Lauterstein, CEO of Nasty Pig, an online retailer that specalizies in gay fetish gear, sent a letter to customers Friday to reassure them while also encouraging them to stay away from sex.

“One thing I suspect a lot of you guys are grappling with is isolation. I’m sure many of you find yourselves weighing the risks and rewards of hooking up right now. I am here to

tell you that this is a very normal reaction,” Lauterstein wrote. “As someone who lived through the AIDS crisis, I was one of many people experiencing condom fatigue back then. We got sick of not being able to connect with each other the way we truly wanted to and speaking out about it to friends and strangers was met with plenty of judgment.

I am not here to judge you but I am here to urge you to read and follow the guidelines [...] about sexual contact right now. This is what the experts are saying.”

Nasty Pig is headquartered in New York City, which is the epicenter, for now, of the coronavirus outbreak. Lauterstein wrote a similar letter to customers March 15 reassuring them and encouraging them to hang in there.

“I feel it is my responsibility not to tell you to keep shopping, but to tell you that we will get through this. Humans are a resilient species, especially gay people,” he wrote. “In fact we are the strongest motherfuckers I know. Centuries of overcoming persecution are fused into our collective DNA and we have a long history of surviving despite much greater challenges than this. TRUST!”

LOOKING FOR THIS WEEK’S WMG? CHECK IT OUT ONLINE! WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM

Associated Press

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2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Photo via Pxfuel.

T

he New York City Health Department recently issued guidelines on “how to enjoy sex and to avoid spreading COVID-19.”

Their recommendations mostly involve staying at home. But here are some of the details.

“You are your safest sex partner,” the guidelines read. “Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex.”

They recommend against having sex with anyone outside of your household.

“You should avoid close contact — including sex — with anyone outside your household. If you do have sex with others, have as few partners as possible,” the guidelines continue. “If you usually meet your sex partners online or make a living by having sex, consider taking a break from in-person dates. Video dates, sexting or chat rooms may be options for you.”

But if you do have sex, please wash your hands with soap — for the obligatory 20 seconds. Also, wash your sex toys, too.

The health department isn’t the only one suggesting a break from casual sex encounters. Two popular gay dating apps, Grindr and Scruff, sent messages to their

@SFGN

April 1, 2020 • Volume 11 • Issue 14

Contributing Columnists

Brian McNaught • Terri Schlichenmeyer Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970 Sales Manager • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com Distribution Services • Rocky Bowell Bernard Wisneski Sales Consultant • Charles A. Reid National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Sun Coast Press Cover: Photo via Adobe.

SFGN Winner of & 5 Florida Press Club Awards And runner-up for

NLGJA Journalist of the Year South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community.

All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

Copyright © 2020 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

Brian had his HIV under control with medication. But smoking with HIV caused him to have serious health problems, including a stroke, a blood clot in his lungs and surgery on an artery in his neck. Smoking makes living with HIV much worse. You can quit.

CALL 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

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HIV alone didn’t cause the clogged artery in my neck.

Smoking with HIV did.

Brian, age 45, California

4 .1. 20 20 •

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY:

COVID-19 AND US

Photo via Pxhere.

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

W

hile our world is moving headfirst into the center of a calamitous endemic that will change your life forever, most of you are younger and will survive.

Our gay community has faced crisis before. Often, we were alone and alienated, outcasts and ostracized. Today is different.

The planet is our partners in fighting this plague.

In the face of adversity, LGBT souls have become soldiers. Battling AIDS, discrimination, injustice, or inequality, and against all odds, we have marched forward with courage. We have said prayers for too many dead, but continue to fight like hell for the living.

In the face of this global epidemic, we are suddenly losing livelihoods as well as lives. All our businesses are taking a right cross to the jaw. However, as Maya Angelou once wrote, every storm one day runs out of rain. This too shall pass.

Every gardener cuts back the trees in the winter so they will blossom bigger and more bountifully in the Spring. So too now must SFGN. Our red distribution boxes and print editions will still be on the drive, but you can bet we will become more digitally connected.

We may not ever become the intergalactic gay news I had hoped for the paper to be, but sometimes, less is more.

Bigger is not always better, and being better does not require you to be the biggest.

Our local LGBT community includes a statistically large number of persons in the high-risk groups for this virus. We have partied and played, from Manhattan to Mykonos, enjoying so much along the way.

Let’s be real. The ride has been fun,

but there is a toll road ahead. Because of this virus, unchecked, untamed, viral and vicious, that toll plaza may be closer than any vaccine, cure, or panacea.

Our community is middle-aged. We are quarantined because doctors have bluntly told us older persons living with underlying medical conditions will not fare well with this virus. We turn on the news each day to find just how lethal it is.

If we are all not here for the next battle, remember the words from a Blood, Sweat and Tears song long ago.

Know in your soul that there will always be another child born to carry on. But fight like hell for today. Give that unforgiving minute sixty-seconds’ worth of distance run.

May we all survive to run yet another race. But as a lawyer, let me ask you to be practical. Plan for what could happen. There is almost no window to act if and once you get sick. The virus moves too fast. Move quicker while you can.

Thank you again for continuing to support the South Florida Gay News, I hope I can say the same thing at our next anniversary party, because those little hot dogs in a blanket are a lot cooler than a plot at the Star of David. Not sure if they even have Internet there, but I will bring a transistor radio with me just in case.

Back to reality. Right now, even with all the accelerated research, scientific protocols and intense global effort, the viral epidemic is overwhelming our World. There

MORE THAN EVER, OUR COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS TO HEAR YOUR WORDS, BE YOUR ADVOCATE. WE CAN’T ALLOW FOR COMPLACENCY.

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• 4 .1. 2020

is no magic wand out there, no Superman to save all of us.

More than ever, our country needs a free press to hear your words, be your advocate.

We can’t allow for complacency. We must question authority, and hold the ministers of our government accountable for their actions.

With your help, SFGN plans to carry on that mission. SFGN will ensure our stories are factual, not fictional. Sometimes, they will be painful, but truth has no boundaries.

Sunlight and transparency are still the best disinfectants. You don’t get fake news here at SFGN. You get news exposing fakes.

Stand with us now and we will stand up for you. But we need you too.

A free press matters everywhere in

America. It matters even more for those of us who have lived a lifetime enduring patches of time where our dignity has been demeaned, rights denied, and voices censored. And death came to many of us too soon because people in power just did not care.

Let SFGN continue to tell your stories — share your successes, own up to our defeats.

We are all in this together, and it is up to us to put aside our petty differences.

United as one, let’s seek a newer and safer world, heeding voices of harmony and healing, not hurt and harm.

Let’s find a vaccine that not only kills this virus, but infuses a new purpose and meaning to our lives.

Bless you, and be safe.

NEWS LOCAL

HERE’S HOW TO REPORT YOUR COMPANY FOR VIOLATING THE MANDATORY SHUTDOWN Jason Parsley

B

roward County is under a “shelter in place” order with only essential businesses allowed to operate. But some companies may be violating that order.

One person, who wished to remain anonymous, told SFGN his company is open despite the shutdown. He’s concerned, but felt there was nothing he could do.

So what can be done?

A spokesperson for the County said if the business is located within the Broward Municipal Services District, contact them. If the business is located within a city, the city will need to be contacted. For instance in Coconut Creek contact the Code Compliance office at 954-956-1476.

But in Wilton Manors, a spokesperson said to call the Wilton Manors Police Department at 954-390-2150.

On Monday Broward issued an order shutting down all retail and commercial businesses. Essential businesses like medical facilities, banks, grocery stores and banks are

Photo via Pxfuel.

allowed to remain open. The order though has a detailed list of what is considered essential.

Some of the other exemptions include businesses that employ five people or fewer, transportation providers, assisted living facilities, and businesses operating at the airport. In addition non-essential businesses are allowed to maintain “minimum basic operations,” including security and payroll, as long as they follow federal guidelines on social distancing and cleanliness.

Restaurants are allowed to continue to serve takeout and delivery.

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George “Skip” Panse. Photo via Facebook.

MEMBER OF GAY MEN’S CHORUS DIES FROM CORONAVIRUS Jason Parsley

G

eorge “Skip” Panse died Wednesday community. Rest in Peace Brother, we know of complications from the that you will always watch over us. We miss coronavirus. He was a beloved you already so very much.” member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South About a year ago, Rogers recalled, he Florida. attended a Chorus concert where Panse “It is tough to know that Florida’s death sang a duet with another choir member. toll from the Coronavirus has climbed to 23 It was a moment that continues to stand and one of them is a dear man I knew,” Mark out in Rogers’ mind.

Kent, executive director of the “It was such a blessing to witness Chorus wrote on Facebook on Skip share his gift with so Thursday. “I am usually not many,” he said. “I will never “IT IS TOUGH TO public about personal forget that presentation.”

KNOW THAT FLORIDA’S pain, but I share this in Many others on the hope that it helps Facebook remembered DEATH TOLL FROM THE more people take this Panse as well.

CORONAVIRUS HAS CLIMBED TO epidemic seriously.

“It just seems so 23 AND ONE OF THEM IS A Please stay home and surreal how I just saw DEAR MAN I KNEW.” stay safe. My prayers for him shy three weeks ago Skip’s loved ones.” and he was just being the - Mark Kent Panse was a regular vibrant, high-spirited guy EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHORUS attendee of the United that he always was, every time Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale.

I saw Skip he greeted me with a Patrick Rogers, senior pastor of the warm welcome and hug, we will definitely church, fondly remembered him. miss him,” Rodrick Minnis wrote. “People “As we all know, Skip had a great passion this is so real, we really need to take care of for music and he was fed spiritually by ourselves in these difficult times, and social our music ministry,” he said. “And we will distancing is key... Fly high with the angels never forget Skip’s love for others and our my friend.”

4 .1. 20 20 •

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NEWS STATE

Photo via PxFuel.

CDC SAYS CORONAVIRUS IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA OR AIDS Florida doesn’t even mention it

Rafael Olmeda

T

he warning on the website for the Florida Department of Health could not be more clear: The disease caused by the new coronavirus is especially dangerous for the elderly and people with high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.

It’s also clear that two groups of atrisk patients are not mentioned at all on numerous pages dedicated to the state’s monitoring of the coronavirus — those who struggle with asthma and those with compromised immune systems, including those who have HIV or AIDS. The omission is glaring when the Florida Health website is compared to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On a page dedicated to “people who are at

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• 4 .1. 2020

higher risk for severe illnesses,” the CDC lists those with lung disease (including asthma), people undergoing cancer treatment, people with HIV and the obese alongside the elderly, nursing home patients and those with heart disease. A separate page is devoted to people with HIV. Florida’s site flags “the elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes” on its home page, with no mention of other ailments. On its main coronavirus page, Florida Health only slightly expands the list: “Adults 65 and older and those with underlying medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are more likely to develop serious illness.”

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4 .1. 20 20 •

7

NEWS NATIONAL

Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.

CAN PrEP PROTECT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS? A lot of testing still must be done, experts caution Chris Johnson

Washington Blade

W

ith the coronavirus claiming thousands of lives across the globe, medical experts are throwing any and all medications they can against the disease, including antiviral drugs that — if effective in clinic trials — may turn attention toward Truvada, commonly used as PrEP for HIV prevention.

One medical expert told the Washington Blade if the early promising results for the antiviral Remdesivir hold out in clinical trials, the drug Truvada — a widely used medication against HIV/AIDS — could also work against the coronavirus.

David Hardy, adjunct professor of medicine for the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said if Remdesivir works, Truvada could be shown to be effective because the two drugs are in the same family of medications.

“If Remdesivir works, because it falls into the same class of medication as Truvada, then Truvada may be able to be tried as well,” Hardy said.

Hardy said Remdesivir and Truvada — both developed by Gilead Sciences — work by the same “mechanism of action,” hitting the virus in a susceptible point in the virus’ replication cycle.

“I would wager to say that if the clinical studies that are studying Remdesivir in China and then in the U.S. now show some promise, then there’s gonna be a very quick look at Truvada to see if it works,” Hardy said.

Although Hardy said he’s unaware of any clinical trials underway for Truvada against coronavirus as of last week, he predicted that would change soon if Remdesivir is shown to be effective.

Hardy said there’s a key difference between the drugs: Truvada as a pill can be administrated orally, in contrast to Remdesivir, which requires intravenous injection.

“That can be much more complicated for treating large numbers of people than pills are,” Hardy said.

As reported by NBC News, there’s hope for Remdesivir, an antiviral used to fight Ebola, MERS and SARS, which is still being studied under clinical trials against coronavirus.

Based on early tests, the drug “may start working within 24 hours of the first dose” against COVID-19.

According to anecdotal reports, at least two hospitalized patients who received Remdesivir started to improve by the next

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• 4 .1. 2020

day. One was a man who traveled to Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, then after coming back to his home in Washington State became the first person in the United States diagnosed with COVID-19. And Chris Kane, 55, was diagnosed with the coronavirus and given the drug during his hospitalization at Providence Regional Medical Center in was for pregnant women and youth under Everett, Wash. age 18 with confirmed COVID-19 infection In both cases, the patients started to and severe manifestations of the disease. improve after taking Remdesivir within one Remdesivir was among the drugs day. potentially effective against the coronavirus But with this limited sample, questions mentioned by President Trump, who touted remain about whether it was the drug that led the medication at a White House news to health improvement, or whether these two conference last week. patients would have gotten better anyway.

Hardy warned despite reports HIV The drug’s use against medication may be effective coronavirus is now officially against the coronavirus, QUESTIONS REMAIN patients taking the drugs in clinical trials at Providence Regional Medical Center and either for prevention or ABOUT WHETHER first results are expected in treatment may still be late April, according to NBC susceptible to COVID-19 and IT WAS THE DRUG News. The hospital didn’t to transmit it.

THAT LED TO HEALTH able“People respond to the Blade’s request have misinterpreted for comment and offered when they have read IMPROVEMENT, OR limited information to NBC this that HIV drugs work WHETHER THESE News, citing an inability to against the coronavirus that discuss the drug before trials this means that they are TWO PATIENTS are complete. somehow protected against WOULD HAVE As scrutiny on Remdesivir’s the coronavirus by virtue of potential grows, Gilead taking HIV drugs, and that is GOTTEN BETTER Sciences announced on not something that anyone ANYWAY. Monday in a statement it will should assume at this point in eventually expand access to time,” Hardy said. “We have no the drug, but — for the time being — suspend idea whether they work against the virus in acquisition under early compassionate use. any great numbers of people who have been “During this transition period, we are unable taking the medications.” to accept new individual compassionate use The HIV drug Truvada is used not only for requests due to an overwhelming demand HIV treatment, but also prevention and in over the last several days,” the statement the form PrEP is seen as a key tool to ending says. “We are focused now on processing the HIV epidemic. Asked by the Blade if HIV previously approved requests and anticipate drugs are, in fact, proven to be effective in the expanded access programs will initiate in treating the coronavirus, that also would a similar expected timeframe that any new mean they would be effective in prevention, requests for compassionate use would have Hardy cautiously replied, “Maybe. Maybe.” been processed.”

“There’s many, many factors that are Another exception Gilead Sciences set for involved when we study the same medication compassionate use requests for Remdesivir for two different infections,” Hardy said. “You

Photo credit: Andrei, Adobe.

know the dose of the medication that may work in HIV may not be enough. So, we don’t know whether or not the dose of medication that works for HIV is going to be the same.”

Medications for several diseases are on the table for potential use against the coronavirus, including drugs used to treat malaria, such as chloroquine, which is considered one of the best hopes to fight the disease.

For another HIV drug, Kaletra, which is a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir produced by AbbVie, early tests indicated the drug would be effective, but that didn’t bare out in a major clinical trial.

Early indications Kaletra could be used against coronavirus were tested on an elderly couple from Italy, who were treated in India with the drug and whose test went from positive to negative, as well as a man in Spain.

The results on the couple tested in India were so promising that India’s Union Health Ministry had been recommending the treatment.

But hopes for Kaletra quickly faded, after a study released last week in the New England Journal of Medicine, according to Reuters.

“I do think that the verdict on Kaletra has been made… and it is negative,” Hardy said, “This study is rapidly being circulated in medical circles now.”

Regardless of the medication that ends up working, odds are likely the treatment for coronavirus will be available well before a vaccine.

Even with clinical trials underway now, health officials have said it would take between 12 to 18 months before a vaccine would be available to the public.

In contrast, Hardy estimated a treatment for coronavirus for individuals who are infected would be ready within six to eight weeks.

NEWS NATIONAL Volunteers with the Campaign for Southern Equality. Photo via the Campaign for Southern Equality, Facebook.

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

NORTH MIAMI GAY MAN DIES OF CORONAVIRUS – ATTENDED WINTER PARTY Jason Parsley

Israel Carrera. Photo via GoFundMe.

A

RAPID RESPONSE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR LGBT SOUTHERNERS John McDonald

40-year-old gay man from North Miami Beach died Thursday of complications from the coronavirus.

Israel Carrera tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, according to NBC 6. His boyfriend Franco Conquista told the TV station Carrera had no major underlying issues.

“Israel was just a lovable man,” Conquista told NBC 6.

According to Conquista, Carrera got sick after attending the Winter Party earlier this month. There have been several reports from around the country of other attendees also testing positive for the coronavirus.

According to the NBC report Carrera came down with a cough, had trouble breathing, and was hospitalized after his symptoms progressively got worse.

“We FaceTimed a few times, but it was just sign language because he couldn’t talk. He had tubes everywhere,” Conquista told NBC. “Everybody loved him. His personality just shined ... just an aura around him, you can

feel the energy that was just pure positive energy.”

On Wednesday another member of the LGBT community died from complications of the coronavirus in Broward County. George “Skip” Panse was a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida.

A

southern LGBT organization is The special grant round has three offering grant funds to those affected categories: emergency assistance for by the coronavirus crisis. individuals and families, community The Campaign for Southern Equality response grants and frontline grants to announced on Wednesday it would dedicate direct service providers. $25,000 in emergency assistance funding Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the for LGBT southerners impacted by the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) serves COVID-19 pandemic.

13 southern states. Founded in 2011, CSE was “In times of crisis, we know a leading group in the fight for that LGBTQ people and other marriage equality in states such BASED IN marginalized communities are as Tennessee, Mississippi and at greater risk of experiencing North Carolina — states that ASHEVILLE, increased disparities. We’re had been vehemently opposed NORTH hopeful that this new to LGBT rights. infusion of funding to support In the last five years, the CAROLINA, individuals, families, and Campaign for Southern THE CAMPAIGN grassroots activists will be one Equality has awarded more FOR SOUTHERN way to provide immediate relief than $250,000 to almost 300 from the COVID-19 pandemic,” grassroots southern groups.

EQUALITY said Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Despite these challenging (CSE) SERVES CSE executive director. “The times, Adam Polaski, 13 SOUTHERN Southern Equality Fund has communications director for always been about responding the Campaign for Southern STATES. to our community’s urgent Equality did point to a recent needs while investing in victory in South Carolina as the next generation of Southern LGBTQ evidence of hope. South Carolina’s antiorganizers, and that’s what’s at the core of LGBT public school curriculum law was this COVID-19 grant round, too: Helping declared unconstitutional by the United people who are hurting and encouraging States District Court on March 11. innovation for grassroots action that makes “We see change happening every day,” a difference.”

Polaski said. “I’m super optimistic.”

To apply for rapid response grant funding, visit SouthernEquality.org/fund-your-work/get-funding 4 .1. 20 20 •

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NEWS LOCAL

NEWS NATIONAL

DAILY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA Sean McShee Daily Increase in Total Known Covid-19 Cases in Three South Florida Counties Mar 23 through Mar 29

Daily Increase in Total Known Covid-19 Cases

Daily Increase in Known Covid-19 in Total Three South Florida CountiesCases Rate of Increase in Total Known Covid 19 cases in Three South Mar Florida 23 throughCounties Mar 29 from 3/23 to 3/29 Mar 23 through Mar 29 Palm Beach = 3.3 Broward 2.8 Rate of =Increase in Total Known Covid 19 cases Miami = 4.3 from Dade 3/23 to 3/29

Miami Dade = 4.3

m Beach = 3.3 ward = 2.8 mi Dade = 4.3 263 278

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63 278

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169

412 3/24

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3/25

3/24

• 4 .1.2020

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Jeremy Williams Watermark

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Miami-Dade

ACCLAIMED PLAYWRIGHT TERRENCE MCNALLY DIES AT 81 FROM CORONAVIRUS

3/29

Miami-Dade

Source: Florida Dept. of Health.

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Terrence McNally. Photo credit: Al Pereira, via Wikipedia.

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ive-time Tony Award-winning “Theater changes hearts, that secret place playwright Terrence McNally died where we all truly live,” he shared at the 73rd March 24 at Sarasota Memorial annual ceremony June 9. “The world needs Hospital from complications of COVID-19. artists more than ever, to remind us what He was 81. truth and beauty and kindness really are.”

McNally’s death was confirmed by McNally and his husband were scheduled spokesperson Matt Polk. The St. Petersburg to receive the 2020 Edie Windsor Lifetime native, who was openly gay, is survived by Achievement Award at Equality Florida’s St. his husband Tom Kirdahy.

Pete Gala May 9. The celebration was postThe author was also a lung cancer poned March 17 in an effort to reduce the survivor who lived with chronic pulmonary spread of COVID-19. disease. He is credited with “It is with heavy hearts writing 36 plays and the books that today we said goodbye to for 10 musicals, including Terrence McNally,” the gala’s THE AP CALLED the celebrated “Love! Valour! chairperson Jennie O’Leary MCNALLY’S “LIPS Compassion!” and “Master shared March 24. “We were TOGETHER, Class” as well as the musicals looking forward to honoring “Ragtime” and “Kiss of the him and his husband Tom TEETH APART” A Spider-Woman.”

Kirdahy with the 2020 Edie “LANDMARK PLAY Windsor Lifetime Achievement “His plays and musicals explored how people connect Award at our St. Pete gala this SURROUNDING — or fail to,” the Associated THE AIDS CRISIS.” year.”

Press reported. “With wit and “Terrence was a fivethoughtfulness, he tackled the time Tony Award recipient strains in families, war, and relationships whose plays often featured explorations of and probed the spark and costs of creativity.” contemporary gay life and a reverence for The AP called McNally’s “Lips Together, classical music,” she continued, sharing a Teeth Apart” a “landmark play surrounding photo of McNally and Kirdahy. “Terrence the AIDS crisis.” They also credited his play held a special place in many of our hearts.”

“The Ritz” as one of the first features to “I am very saddened by the news that spotlight unapologetically gay characters for Playwright Terrence McNally died today after mainstream audiences. suffering complications from the COVID-19 Much of McNally’s work heavily explored virus,” Equality Florida Pinellas County LGBT themes throughout his celebrated Development Director Todd Richardson career, for which he received the Tony Award added. “He and his husband Tom Kirdahy for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater in were very excited to be honored this year.”

2019.

PA L M B E A C H

news

BOX GALLERY IN WPB ON VERGE OF CLOSING FOR GOOD Jason Parsley ROLANDO CHANG BARRERO IS KNOWN FOR HIS ART AND HIS ACTIVISM, AND HE REGULARLY MIXES THE TWO AT HIS GALLERY IN WEST PALM BEACH. But The Box Gallery could close for good in the next week if it isn’t able to raise the funds necessary to pay his rent and expenses.

“I’m desperate,” Barrero admitted. “I’m hemorrhaging money.”

In the past few years Barrero has become a fixture in the LGBT community with his most recent undertaking being Pride on the Block, an event that took place right before the coronavirus pandemic turned into a crisis here in South Florida.

And like many other businesses throughout South Florida The Box Gallery was forced to shut its doors to the public. Now its future is uncertain unless Barrero can find a quick infusion of cash.

“Most of my relationships are with artists and they are unemployed and they can’t even help me,” he said.

Barrero has launched a GoFundMe page (https://bit.ly/2UuXsNK) to raise some cash.

So far it’s brought in $1,525. The goal is $4,000.

He’s also hoping his landlord will give him some leniency on the rent but no deal is in place.

“The funds will be used to cover the rent and overhead of the coming month due to the unexpected loss of income streams from events and canceled projects that have maintained the gallery opened,” according to the page. “I have previously been able to weather losses by using personal revenue from working outside the gallery, but I have also lost those jobs due to the sequestering of my clients and students due to the virus.”

This year Barrero was named the official set designer of this year’s Pride of the Palm Beaches, and personally invested $4,000 to create custom made merchandise. Now that the event has been canceled he’s stuck with the products.

“I have orders still arriving,” he said.

“ROLANDO IS THE BOX GALLERY. WHAT HE HAS BUILT IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IS INCREDIBLE.” - Julie Seaver EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMPASS

Rolando Chang Barrero. Photo via The Box Gallery, Facebook.

In addition to the GoFundMe he’s been asking people on social media to consider purchasing some of the merchandise. Since the products are not dated or specific to a city he’s hoping to be able to sell it down the line at other events in the future.

“Sales of Pride logo merchandise has gone up in spite of cancellation of the event,” he noted.

Julie Seaver, executive director of Compass, has a lot to say about Barrero.

“Rolando is The Box Gallery. What he has built in such a short amount of time is incredible,” she said. “I think he cloned himself.

I can’t keep up with the amount of energy he has, the amount of passion.”

Compass produces the annual Pride festival in Palm Beach County and Seaver said any costs associated with the set design would still be reimbursed to Barrero, despite the cancellation.

But the merchandise is not part of that.

“Compass would love to buy up the t-shirts, [and other products], but our dollars have restrictions,” Seaver explained.

Seaver then noted that Barrero isn’t just a part of the LGBT community but he’s also a force within the arts and cultural community, and the Hispanic community.

Seaver said she’s hopeful the city will help small businesses like The Box Gallery to keep them in business.

Many of Barrero’s exhibits have personally touched Seaver. Last year, she said, he did a Pride exhibit that traveled all over South Florida.

“He created that as a backdrop for Palm Beach Pride stage,” she said. “He has a way of connecting issues like Pulse and school shootings and putting it through his art work in such a way that it’s political but non-partisan.”

She noted that he’s also good at “creating controversy” through his gallery and work. But added, “not all controversy is bad.”

ASK US ABOUT: Repeat Guest Discounts Military & Veteran Discounts Spa Specials & Memberships Florida Resident Discounts Student Discounts Call us at 1-800-818-1211 or visit grandresort.net for more information.

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4 .1. 20 20 •

11

NEWS NATIONAL

GAY MEN STILL NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE BLOOD 17 SENATORS CALL FOR CHANGE AMID CORONAVIRUS CRISIS Chris Johnson

Washington Blade

A

cadre of 17 senators — including six former presidential hopefuls and one current candidate — are calling on the Food & Drug Administration to take another look at the ban prohibiting gay and bisexual men from donating blood amid the coronavirus crisis.

In a last week, the senators take note Trump administration health officials, including U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, have made urgent pleas for blood donations to address a shortage in the blood supply during the pandemic.

“In light of this shortage, we urge you to swiftly update blood donor deferral policies in favor of ones that are grounded in science, are based on individual risk factors, do not unfairly single out one group of individuals, and allow all healthy Americans to donate,” the letter says.

The senators say current policy — which bars AABB, FORMERLY gay and bisexual men who have sex with other men in past 12 months from blood donations — KNOWN AS is “antiquated and stigmatizing.”

THE AMERICAN “While government health officials ASSOCIATION OF encourage every healthy individual to consider BLOOD BANKS, donating blood, the FDA continues to enforce a discriminatory donor deferral policy that Former presidential 2002 hopefuls Sens.

HAS PREDICTED effectively prohibits many healthy gay and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Kamala Harris 355,000 bisexual men from doing so,” the letter says.

(D-Calif.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) also FEWER BLOOD According to the letter, AABB, formerly signed the letter. (Brown never actually ran, but known as the American Association of Blood DONATIONS AS publicly weighed a candidacy before saying he Banks, has predicted 355,000 fewer blood wouldn’t pursue the presidency.)

A RESULT OF donations as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Also signing the letter is Sen. Bernie Sanders THE COVID-19 The FDA didn’t immediately respond to the (I-Vt.), who’s still running for the Democratic OUTBREAK. Washington Blade’s request to comment on the presidential nomination. A spokesperson for letter, but an FDA spokesperson earlier told the Sanders campaign has told the Blade if elected Blade the agency is keeping the gay blood ban president, Sanders would lift the gay blood ban. for now.

It’s not the first time these senators have called on the “At this time, FDA’s recommendations regarding blood FDA to change policy. Baldwin and Warren have repeatedly donor deferral for men who have sex with men have not led joint letters calling for a change in recent years, although changed, but we will continue to reevaluate the situation as this is the first time they have spoken up during a call for the outbreak progresses,” the spokesperson said. donations during the coronavirus crisis.

Leading the letter is Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the Renewing their demand to FDA, the senators take note the only out lesbian in Congress, as well as Sens. Elizabeth availability of PrEP to prevent HIV infection makes the gay Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who are former blood ban even more unnecessary.

2020 presidential candidates.

“With the increased uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

12

• 4 .1.2020

Photo via Adobe.

(PrEP), which reduces the likelihood that an HIV-negative individual will acquire HIV, many more gay and bisexual men are aware of their HIV-negative status and are taking steps to effectively eliminate their personal risk of HIV transmission,” the letter says. “As such, it is imperative that we move away from discriminatory donor deferral policies that prohibit many healthy individuals from contributing much-needed blood and blood products.”

In 1983, the FDA had implemented a lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men. During the Obama administration in 2015, that policy was eased to a ban on donations from men who’ve had sex with the men in the past year — but restrictions nonetheless remain in place.

The White House has responded to the Blade’s request to comment on whether President Trump, who has built an anti-LGBT record, will call on the FDA to lift the ban.

In LGBT policy platform, Vice President Joseph Biden has said as president he’d implement a blood donation “based on science,” but has stopped short of explicitly pledging to lift the ban on donations from gay men.

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SPIRITUALITY

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LISTINGS

19 virus, I will be on the air every afternoon showcasing the volunteers and visionaries of our LGBTQ community MONDAY - FRIDAYof

care, courageously fighting for ourhear lives, rights, and past our shows on youtube at bit.ly/2OzWjlI

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305-520-5410 | allsoulsmb.org CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org RabbiNoahKitty@etzchaimflorida.org Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m.

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• 4 .1.2020

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH 1955 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale (954) 564-7673 - christlutheranfl.org pastordeborah@christlutheranfl.org Worship: Sunday 10:00am CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach. churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM

FOUNTAIN OF LOVE MINISTRIES 5481 FL-7, Tamarac, FL 33319 954-486-5959 fountainofloveonline.org Pastor Dallas Walker-Green Worship: Sunday Mornings at 11:00 am OPEN HEART MEDITATION Saturdays 3:30 - 5 p.m.

Pride Center - Room #200 www.heartofthemystery.com ST. NICHOLAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach 954-942-5887 - stnicholasfl.org office@stnicholasfl.org Sundays 8:00AM & 10:30AM (9:30AM only from Memorial Day through Labor Day) FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1415 North K Street, Lake Worth 561-582-6691 - fcclw.org office@lakeworthchurch.org Service Time: Sunday 10:30AM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST FORT LAUDERDALE 2501 NE 30th Street, Fort Lauderdale (954)563-4271 - uccftl.org revpatrickrogers@gmail.com Service Times: Thursdays 10:30AM (Elliot Hall) & Sundays 10:30AM (Sanctuary)

FAITH & PRIDE SPIRITUALITY

EASTER AND COVID-19

Join us on Facebook Live for our Shabbat service Friday night at 8pm Please join us virtually until we can be together again, holding hands and singing our beautiful prayers

Rev. Rick Rhen-Sosbe Church of Our Savior MCC

Congregation Etz Chaim

2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus For more information: www.EtzChaimFlorida.org or 954-564-9232

Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 s. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www,churchofoursaviormcc.org

W

e are certainly living in unsettling times with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. I have a range of emotions surrounding this pandemic. At times I feel unsettled and nervous and waves of near panic can grip me.

At other times I feel very much protected, calm and safe.

One of the practices that helps calm me is when I pray. I have a morning ritual of taking our little dog Millie out for what I call our “prayer walk.” While we are walking the neighborhood I am praying out loud. One of my practices during prayer is blessing and thanksgiving. I bless situations and circumstances and people. I give thanks and praise for the goodness that is in my life. This helps me keep perspective in that although times are unsettling right now, I am a living example that God is faithful and that God is with me along every twist and turn of life.

Sometimes I wonder why these things happen but I am reminded that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that God “causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” This tells me that we live in a world where both good and bad happen to all people. Some things are just unexplainable but they happen to all.

Currently we are in the season of Lent on the Christian calendar. Lent is a time for reflection and self-examination. Lent leads us to Easter which is April 12 this year. The Easter story begins with betrayal, darkness and death. Jesus is dead and in a tomb. The disciples are distraught thinking all hope is gone. But eventually, they discover that

Jesus’ tomb is empty. As promised, he had resurrected to new life.

Some may be reading this that do not identify with Christianity. However the symbolism of the Easter story is found in nature: dry seeds in the ground and eventually spring forth with life. Caterpillars spin themselves into a cocoon but eventually that cocoon is opened to reveal a beautiful butterfly.

As dark, lonely, isolating and unsettling as the COVID-19 outbreak is not only for our country, but globally, I believe that this is not the end of the story. My faith tells me that God does what is right every time and that even in the mist of darkness and death, life can spring forth and WILL spring forth!

If you find yourself worried and afraid, you are not alone. I feel those same feelings from time to time. May I encourage you that as horrific as this is, God is faithful to be with us in the midst of it all. I encourage us all to pray, meditate, or do whatever spiritual practice we find most meaningful and calming. In our age of technology, you can video chat with folks from whom do you are not able to be around right now. Get proper rest and eat well. Find balance with the news. Know when to watch and know when to turn it off. Maybe the most useful resource is medical professionals.

If you are in need of special prayer or someone to talk to, please feel free to reach out to me or any spiritual leader.

Don’t lose hope! We will get through this together!

Grace and Peace, Rev. Rick

Until further notice: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, our worship services are streamed on Facebook Live every Sunday at 10 AM, rather than held at our church property. https://www.facebook.com/ ChurchofOurSaviorMCC. Visit our web site for more details & updates.

“Love without judgement” Holy Angels National Catholic Church 2917 NE 6th Ave Wilton Manors, FL 33334 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org

954-633-2987

A home for your spirit.

Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday 11:00 AM mass in English • All are welcome!

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Follow Christ Lutheran Church on Facebook

A LITTLE BIT OF FAITH AND

PRIDE

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

SEE MORE ONLINE AT SFGN.COM/TABLE/NEWS/RELIGION 4 .1. 20 20 •

15

Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

DON’T JOKE ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS A Prank Today Can Put You in Jail Tomorrow

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

T

wenty years ago, when I founded the Express Gay News, the predecessor to the South Florida Gay News, one of our young delivery drivers brought a large carton of papers to a local UPS office for our weekly shipment to the Key West Business Guild.

He was a kid, a prankster, and oblivious to the Anthrax scares gripping the U.S. at the time. He had no clue that the Enquirer newspaper office building in Lantana had to be vacated, or that most Americans were paralyzed by fear just opening their mail — the same way we are now with the spread of Covid-19.

All he had to do was leave the papers there, declare there was nothing hazardous in the box, and continue with his route. But when asked what was in the package, he joked, “Anthrax, what do you think?” His new route almost took him to the Broward County Jail.

Joking about being a carrier of a lethal pathogen which is easily transmissible to third parties can be a crime subjecting you to arrest and prosecution under federal anti-terrorism laws. Whether in person or by a cyber threat, the law does not deem it a hoax or a joke.

Already, in California, a Walmart shopper in California has been arrested for purposely sneezing and coughing on heads of lettuce, laughing to shoppers saying she had the COVID-19 virus. Bad mistake. We still have free speech in America, but ever since we were kids, teachers taught us you can’t yell “fire” in a crowded theater.

Even with a First Amendment ever so absolute, there have been legislative limitations on free speech upheld by courts for reasons of public safety and necessity.

Let me be the lawyer delivering you some ice-cold facts and real burning truths.

Years ago, a famous closeted movie star, Rock Hudson, passed away from complications due to his having the AIDS virus. He had never disclosed his serostatus to his lover of 10 years, despite routinely having an ongoing and unprotected sexual relationship with each other.

Back then, in 1986, his estate got sued.

Fuck someone today without revealing your seropositive status to them first and you can be more than sued. You can go to jail.

It’s a crime. If you know you are living with corona and do the dirty with your date du jour tonight, you can be doing it in jail with bubba tomorrow.

Very simply, there is a law on the books which states that you can be charged by having intercourse with someone and failing to disclose to them you are HIV positive. Accordingly, so too can you be charged criminally or sued civilly if you are knowingly carrying the COVID-19 and even jokingly give your “best buddy” a wet kiss on the lips.

The coronavirus is no longer a laughing matter. It’s an easily transmissible deadly disease which is gripping the globe with fear and panic. When we first heard of it, we all made jokes like “Oh yeah, my roommate

FOLKS, THE JOKES ARE NO LONGER LAUGHABLE; THE CONSEQUENCES NO LONGER FUNNY.

16

• 4 .1.2020

Airmen on-board an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during training to safely transport patients with diseases like novel coronavirus. Photo credit: Senior Airman Cody R. Miller, via the U.S. Air Force.

had the coronavirus last week. This week it’s the Michelin, Heineken, and Busch Light viruses.” Not anymore.

Folks, the jokes are no longer laughable; the consequences no longer funny. Just as you don’t want to tell a TSA agent at airport security that you have a bomb in your briefcase, don’t joke to someone that you sneezed on as a prank that you are carrying a deadly virus. Be smart, not stupid.

Free speech may have no limits, but your words sure can have consequences.

Remember, the underlying criminal act is not necessarily prosecuted based on what you intended to do, but rather what type of imminent fear you created for the other party, the would-be recipient of your joke.

It’s common sense, but after 45 years of being a criminal defense lawyer, I find with some clients it is very rare.

Of course, there are always defenses. I come up with them all the time — but at your expense. Do you really want to be paying for thousands of dollars for bondsmen and criminal defense lawyers because you wanted to pull off a stupid prank or tell a bad joke? Look, I will get you out of jail as soon as your sentence is up, but it may cost you a small fortune.

We are living in tough times. Let’s not make them tougher. If you are sick, get better. Here is some free legal advice, though. Do not — do not do something sicker that makes it worse for everyone, including yourself.

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LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

DEVOTION IS OFTEN CONFOUNDING Brian McNaught Photo via Pixnio.

T

o experience the devotion of another being is extraordinarily humbling. It’s loyalty, rooted in love, and it’s quite often unquestioning. My husband, Ray, for instance, is devoted to me in that way.

Even if we were foolish enough to ever separate, he would go to his death loyal to me, and committed to my wellbeing.

His love runs that deeply into his soul. Upon reflection, such devotion can be unsettling. “Do I deserve it?” “Have I, or can I, properly acknowledge such a gift?”

The same awe, and unsettlement, is felt when I’m conscious of how our dog, Lincoln, never loses sight of me, and of how genuinely excited he is to see me return from an errand.

Ray will say, “He hasn’t stopped looking for you since you left.” It makes me happy to be the focus of such devotion. It also magnifies my awareness of the need to ensure his good health, happiness, and safety.

I’m devoted to many people, and things. I call it devotion when I reflect upon it, but normally it’s unconscious. I just love them.

In addition to Ray and Lincoln, I’m loyal to the gay liberation movement, (now LGBTQ+), an 89-year-old priest friend who was recently released from prison, my spiritual path, my older sister, the Sermon on the Mount, and friends who borrowed all of our money, and who, probably, won’t be able to pay us back, among others.

Sometimes, the people or things to which we’re devoted make it challenging to remain loyal. Our priest friend, who was in the eye of the storm of adolescent sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, was once considered, in his words, “the most hated man in America.”

It was a challenge to publicly state our loving support of him because most people, including the victims of such abuse, couldn’t separate the individual from his behavior. Yet, we could, and we did, but not without emotional push back.

When things are going great, it’s easy to feel devoted.

Loyalty is more difficult when those you love engage in troubling behaviors, lapse into alcoholism or drug addiction, or change from kind demeanor to one that is less friendly because of the chronic pain of deteriorating discs, or because of some other loss.

It’s normal to feel disdain for bad behaviors, and equally normal to nevertheless be faithful in love. Such devotion can make no sense to others.

It makes our friends crazy that we affirm our devotion to a straight couple who borrowed all of our money with promises of huge, quick returns, and whose inability to pay us back over the past decade has forced us to change our lifestyle. “How can you love them?” we’re asked in frustration. It seems to defy

THE LOVE BEHIND MY LOYALTY HAS BEEN REKINDLED, BUT THE DEVOTION NEVER WANED.

18

• 4 .1.2020

reason, but, we do love them, and feel devoted to the friendship.

Ray and I, as a couple, have had a few rough stretches in our forty-four years, which surprises some people. Our love is beautiful, but it’s not without scratches and dents. The weight of economic worries, the toll of chronic pain, and the challenges of growing older, can cause changes in every day behaviors. When the road gets particularly rocky, we can feel as if we’re alone in our struggle, and can question whether we want to keep riding together in the vehicle of our marriage.

We’ve learned that it’s possible not to feel “in love” with the other, at all times. That was pretty hard to get our heads and hearts around. We’re also aware that it’s possible, even when we’re in love, to dislike the behavior of the other.

But, despite how challenging it can feel at times to be in relationship, the devotion to the other isn’t fractured. In fact, the opposite is true. Awareness of one’s own loyalty to the other, despite the challenges of daily living, creates feelings

of awe, and of gratitude.

For the past few weeks, and for the next few, too, my focus has been, and will be directed to my relationships with my parents, and my deceased best friend.

I’m participating in a Jungian “Rite of Passage,” that identifies and heals wounds to the soul. When reflecting on important people from my past, I’m shocked at how distant I can feel from my memories of them. It has been through the practice of lighting candles in front of their photographs, and writing them letters, that I’ve been able to clean the window of my recollections, and get back in touch with my feelings of love.

The love behind my loyalty has been rekindled, but the devotion never waned. Before this therapeutic work, if you were to bring up my parents, and the name of my best friend, I would be quick to affirm my devotion, but without the loving ache in my heart. The loyalty created by love remains even if the intensity of the love has waned.

The loyalty of the heart, that defies understanding, is really the devotion of the soul.

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

A&E TELEVISION

GAY MIAMI MAN TALKS ABOUT REALITY TV, RETURN TO SOUTH FLORIDA J.W. Arnold

I

n this era of shelter-at-home orders, we’re all watching more television than ever before. Fortunately, Bravo premiered its latest hit reality series, “Family Karma,” just as viewers were seeking a refreshing escape from depressing daily newscasts.

One of the stars of this show about a group of young Indian-American professionals living in Miami is Amrit Kapai, a 32-year-old openly gay attorney who recently returned home from Chicago to grow his law firm’s South Florida office.

After months of filming last fall, he’s finally seeing the finished episodes. Kapai and his longtime friends admittedly had some trepidations about putting their lives on national television.

“It sort of goes hand in hand…how you’re going to portray your life. The main hesitation is we all have things about our lives that are private. It was something I knew, but it was [also] a good fit because we were a group of friends who knew each other very well,” he said.

It didn’t hurt that Kapai was already a fan of the network’s programs, noting “Summer House,” “Vanderpump Rules” and “Below Deck” were among his favorites.

Having cameras following him everywhere was awkward at first.

“How do I be myself and not act uncomfortable …. there are cameras everywhere?” Kapai asked himself. “A few weeks in, it become more natural. The experience was fantastic and it got easier.”

When asked what it was like seeing himself on television, he coolly responded, “I definitely have butterflies each time the show is about to air, but it’s fun to relive the experiences … it’s also to see what the other cast members were up to, as well. We all watched the premiere together and it was a ton of fun, but with the coronavirus, we’ve been responsible about social distancing.”

On last week’s episode, viewers were finally introduced to Kapai’s boyfriend, Nicholas.

“He’s such a huge part of my life,” Kapai said. “He was supportive from day one. He knew Bravo was giving me the opportunity to tell my story to tons of people.”

Coming out in a traditional Indian community was daunting seven years ago, but Kapai credits his parents for accepting his sexual orientation.

Gay Indian-American attorney and Miami native Amrit Kapai is one of the stars of Bravo’s new hit series, “Family Karma.” Credit: Tommy Garcia, Bravo/NBCUniversal.

“For me, I reached a point where I needed to come out to my parents and siblings — that was the most important part for me. For the extended family and the Indian community, I didn’t care, but I knew my parents were way more nervous about them. My parents and brother weren’t ready to tell the larger community and I wasn’t going to be selfish about that. It’s like their coming out process, as well,” he recalled.

He noted that growing up in Miami has not only helped him, but also his other castmates, navigate the cultural divides that still exist.

“We were raised in Miami and it’s such a cosmopolitan city, but we were really lucky that our parents were kinda liberal and more accepting, not as traditional. [Many of us] are Sindis and Sindis tend to more forward thinking,” he added.

Since returning to South Florida, Kapai has had the opportunity to explore the region’s LGBT scene.

“I didn’t really have many gay friends when I moved down, so I had to put myself out there. I was invited to a ‘RuPaul’ watch party just a couple of weeks after I got there,” he said. “I put myself out there and it was fun… even though I had grown up in Miami, I wasn’t out.”

So what’s next? For the next several weeks, Kapai will be glued to his television as the remaining episodes of “Family Karma” debut.

He’s also going to continue focusing on his career and making some all-too-important decisions about his relationship with Nicholas.

“I just need to move forward one day at a time,” he concluded.

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ACCOUNTING@STERLINGACCOUNTING.COM 2435 North Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 20

• 4 .1.2020

CONVICTIONS

Editorial Cartoon

EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Mike Luckovich

JOURNALISM IS THE

FIRST DRAFT OF HISTORY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT A FREE PRESS? SFGN's reporting has been supported by tens of thousands of readers in South Florida. Now we're asking for your support.

Please help us continue giving you news everyday. Every contribution is valuable – even $1.

Your gift will ensure that South Florida Gay News is able to continue to provide an online and print resource for our community. Thanks to your valuable contribution, SFGN is able to provide you with local LGBT news that affects every aspect of your life.

South Florida Gay News exists to meet the needs of the South Florida LGBT community. When you give, your donation directly benefits you, as well as everyone else.

SFGN.com/donate 4 .1. 20 20 •

21

SFGN's

SWAP SHOP

!

Call our sales team at 954.530.4970 employment wanted SPECIAL HIRE NEEDED - Earn $45,000 per year. Experienced, self-motivated professional salesman needed. Work competitively in a highly flexible and relaxed LGBT-friendly environment.

Fax resume to 954-530-7943.

for rent fort lauderdale FT LAUDERDALE AND WILTON RENTALS • Wilton Manors - 2/1 $1,260 • Live East of Federal Hwy - 1/1 $1,200 Nicely updated with pool.

• Large Studio near downtown - $1000 Includes water and electric.

• Victoria Park - 1/1 $1,050 Water included with pool.

CALL NOW MICHAEL TUBLIN, URG 561-703-5533 OR MIKETHERENTALGUY@AOL.COM EFFICIENCY APARTMENT - Pvt Entrance, Patio, Parking, Dixie &14th Ct., A/C, Pet Considered, 1st, Last & Sec. $900. Inc Utilities. Call 954 629 4400 FORT LAUDERDALE 1/1 RENTAL - Updated 1 Bed/1 Bath, 2 blocks from Wilton Drive on NE 15th Street, Quiet 4-plex, New Kitchen with Granite Counter, Tile floors thru-out, Mini-split A/C in bedroom, Off street parking, Laundry, $1100/month, First, Last and Security to move-in, 954-815-2550.

1 BEDROOM, 1.5 BATH CONDO - S Coral Ridge on Middle River. Gay-friendly, secure, swimming pool, Must be vetted, yearly rental $1550/M. 1st & Security • 978-994-0086

for rent wilton manors FURNISHED 1 BED 1 BATH APARTMENT Great Neighborhood, short walk to Wilton Drive. $1300 a month First and Security, 1-year lease. Fully furnished Contact Mike or Lee at 561-254-8125.

Classified advertising WORKS! Give us a call and see for yourself.

954.530.4970 for lease fort lauderdale AVAILABLE!!

NEWLY RENOVATED OFFICE BUILDING 1759 N Andrews Square, Ft. Laud, FL. 4,000 Square Feet — Will Divide/$25 PSF. CALL OWNER - DAVID @ 954-224-2500 or email - davidbrandwein@earthlink.net

handyman

now hiring

HUSBAND FOR RENT - Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more! It doesn't cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price.

Call Haim at 954-398-3676, sidnalll@yahoo.com

GRAND RESORT AND SPA - The Spa at The Grand Resort is looking for a Licensed Massage Therapist for our day spa. Also looking for a Licensed Full Specialist. Waxing, nails (no fills, acrylic) simply buff or clear coat and a variety of facials. We’ll train you on our products and services. The right therapist and specialists can do well in our spa. We’ve been in business for 18 years and have received many awards. All equipment and materials are provided. We receive guests from the resort we are located in, along with clients from neighboring hotels and guesthouses.

Commission and 100% of your gratuity. 3-4 days available for the right candidates. Email a resume to spa.director@hotmail.com.

GREGG’S PAINTING - Interior/Exterior. Free estimates, great rates! Detail-oriented, friendly, reliable, punctual and neat! No job too small. Broward & Palm Beach counties. 617-306-5694 | gmanbenn44@gmail.com

piano WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO? Learn from an experienced teacher. All levels and ages welcome. Learn to play classical, popular, jazz, or show tunes. Visit www.edwinchad.com or call 954826-9555 for more information.

notary MOBILE NOTARY SERVICES - affidavits, documents in support of disability claims, wills, medical directives and officiant services. Call 954.804.3854

WWW.SFGN.GUIDE room for rent fort lauderdale SHORT TERM RENTAL - Extremely clean and newly redone room available for a non-smoker, alcohol, and drug-free individual. Private bath, cable and wi-fi included. Located near Dixie Hwy & Cypress Creek Rd. Call Dan @ 954-496-1933

roommates fort lauderdale SHARE LUXURY TOWNHOME IN MIDDLE RIVER - Private Bedroom, Bath & Parking, Community Pool, $900 includes utilities+internet, References Required, no pets. Dave 954-803-9417

22

• 4 .1.2020

now hiring VICTORIA PARK 1BD/1BA - Small Quiet Fenced Non-Smoking Complex. Wash/Dry, Dishwasher, Open Floor Plan and Tongue and Groove Beam Ceilings. Small Dogs ok, $1,200 Month • 754-2248535

WWW.SFGN.GUIDE

4 .1. 20 20 •

23

Screening for

COVID-19

FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19 • Florida Department of Health

Are you experiencing symptoms?

1

Symptoms may appear in 2–14 days after exposure to the virus.

1.4

10

FEVER

COUGH

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

2

Have you returned from international travel or been on a cruise within the last 14 days?

3

Have you been around someone diagnosed with COVID-19?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, call your healthcare provider and the Florida Department of Health in Broward County at (954) 412-7300 before visiting any healthcare facility.

Guidance  Self monitor for fever, cough, or other

respiratory symptoms for 14 days.  Avoid contact with sick people.  Delay any additional travel plans until no longer sick.

 Wash hands often with soap and water for

at least 20 seconds.  Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue in the trash.

Florida Health Office of Communications 03/10/20