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april 3, 2019 vol. 10 // issue 14
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A rainbow of colors Miami Beach pride week shines Page 18
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NEWS highlight
SouthFloridaGayNews.com
One Year Later
Victims of Miami Beach alleged gay bashing frustrated with lack of progress Jason Parsley
Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com
Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com
Editorial
I
Senior Features Correspondents Jesse Monteagudo
Correspondents
Dori Zinn • Donald Cavanaugh • Christiana Lilly • Denise Royal • David-Elijah Nahmod
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Video footage of the attackers. Photo via Miami Beach PD.
“I get the impression like it’s not important.” - Dmitry Logunov One of the two victims of the attack
that [our attackers] might be just as free as before.” Russell Cormican, a long time defense attorney in Broward, said postponement is a commonly used tactic by the defense. “Delaying a case is almost always beneficial to the defense,” he said. The alleged attack occurred outside the 6th Street public bathroom in Lummus Park in Miami Beach on April 8. “We were walking and holding hands and needed to use the bathroom,” Logunov told SFGN last year. So the two of them stopped at a public restroom as they headed home for the evening. As Logunov walked out of the restroom MEMBER
he said he was called a “faggot” in Spanish, punched, and then beaten unconscious. His boyfriend, Chalarca, quickly intervened, but they said three more men jumped in and began to attack him as well. “This was my first time going to gay parade,” Chalarca, 33, said last year. Physically they’ve both recovered. The alleged attackers are Juan C. Lopez, 22; Luis M. Alonso Piovet, 21; Adonis Diaz, 22; and Parblo Reinaldo Romo-Figuero, 22. The attack was caught on camera and the four suspects have been charged three counts of aggravated battery and a hate crime enhancement was added to the charges.
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Cover 1: Miami Beach Pride will be held from April 1-7. Photo credit: SFGN File Photo. Cover 2: The Gay & Lesbian Lawyers Network’s immediate Past President, Meghana Saoji. Photo credit: GLLN. Cover 3: Palm Beach Pride was held last weekend in Lake Worth. Photo Credit: J.R. Davis. MEMBER
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t’s been almost a year since Rene Chalarca and Dmitry Logunov said they were brutally attacked at the close of Miami Beach’s annual Pride event. The alleged attackers quickly turned themselves in but the cases, now almost a year old, are still pending. “The defense has been taking depositions as has my prosecutor of the numerous witnesses. There are more [depositions] to schedule and complete that need to be coordinated,” said Terry Gonzalez-Chavez, a spokesperson for the Office of the State Attorney. “Please know that our prosecutor speaks to the victims on a near monthly if not more frequently basis.” For Logunov, 33, though justice can’t come soon enough. He’s frustrated with the lack of progress. “I get the impression like it’s not important,” Logunov said. “Of course their lawyer is trying to postpone it as much as he can. The state lawyer’s said right away it might take longer, but it freaks me out a bit
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April 3, 2019 • Volume 10 • Issue 14
4 . 3.2019
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NLGJA Journalist of the Year South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright © 2019 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.
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4.3.2019 •
3
NEWS national
Arrest Made in Murder of
Michael Miccio Suspect pleaded not guilty Tim Martin
T
he State of Florida believes it has its man. And this time, the state hopes to keep him behind bars for an extended stay. Cedric Leon Maynor, 48, a native of Fort Pierce, has been indicted for the 2017 murder of local gay businessman Michael (Mycal) Miccio. Maynor, who has an extensive criminal record and multiple aliases, is being held without bond in Broward County jail. His next hearing before Judge Thomas Coleman is May 31, according to case documents. No trial date has been set. Maynor has pleaded not guilty. Miccio, who owned Lauderhill cabinet business Dynamic Design and Wood, was
found dead in his Fort Lauderdale apartment in September 2017, less than two miles from his workshop, according to reports. The indictment revealed the cause of death to be asphyxiation. Detective Edward McCormack of the Lauderhill Homicide Division would not release any other details on the case. “We have no further comment at this time,” he said. A request has been made with Lauderhill Records Supervisor Stephanie Moliere for the case file. The district attorney has been speaking with the Miccio family and keeping them up to date on the case, Miccio’s brother-in-law, Joseph Ianaconi, said in a phone call to SFGN.
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2/28/19 9:02 AM
Left: Michael (Mycal) Miccio. Right: Cedrik Leon Maynor.
“She has been very helpful. We have kept Ianaconi added that there was clearly a things tight. We are now waiting to see what struggle in the apartment, and in addition to happens,” he said. For instance, Miccio’s his wallet being gone, all of Miccio’s jewelry 92-year-old mother has never been told her was also missing. Police may be holding that son was murdered. The family had papers as evidence, Ianaconi suspects. made up to say he died of natural causes, Maynor was arrested and charged with Ianaconi said. Miccio’s murder on July 12, 2018, in St. Lucie Miccio, from New York, a custom cabinet County. He was later extradited to Broward maker for more than four decades, was County. the fifth of 10 children. Ianaconi, who Just two months before Miccio was delivered his eulogy, is married to Miccio’s killed, Maynor was being held in St. Lucie sister. Miccio would become his best friend. County jail, where he ran into additional When they came for a visit, or trouble, according to reports in he visited them on the Jersey TCPalm. Maynor was accused Shore, they’d all go out dancing. of punching his cellmate, “He was a disco king!” who complained Maynor was Ianaconi excitedly recalled. snoring too loudly. Maynor, Miccio was out to his family, who knocked out his cellmate’s who were very accepting of tooth, was charged with battery him and any of his friends and pleaded self-defense, the he brought for a visit. “We all news story stated. He was later supported his choices and released from jail, according to lifestyle,” Ianaconi recalled. reports. Ianaconi assisted in cleaning And only one month after the crime scene. The only Miccio was murdered, Maynor pictures in the apartment were was taken into custody again - Joseph Ianaconi brother-in-law of pictures of family. “That meant in St. Lucie, this time on a drug Michael Miccio a lot to everyone,” Ianaconi said. charge, according to public As far as a motive, Ianaconi records. offered some information, but didn’t want to Ianaconi, his wife, and one of Miccio’s delve too deeply into the details. He did say brothers, will be in Fort Lauderdale for the the suspect, Maynor, had a female relative trial. Ianaconi said the trial is being delayed living in the same complex as Miccio. The as the judge awaits fingerprint certification. woman confided in Miccio that Maynor, The family has Miccio’s remains at home. who came to stay with her after Hurricane They won’t do anything with them until the Irma hit South Florida, was trouble. trial is over. But Miccio offered to help as needed. “There’s a special place he loved, a “Typical of him,” Ianaconi said. Miccio place where his friend who died of AIDS was a flashy jewelry type of guy, “and is,” Ianaconi said. “We are glad Michael Maynor could have seen him as an easy hasn’t been forgotten. We are thankful the target,” Ianaconi said. community hasn’t forgotten him.”
“... Maynor could have seen him as an easy target.”
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4.3.2019 •
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LGBTQIA bites
B
Bisexual
Bisexual youth at greater risk for suicide, study shows
I
By Cameren Boatner
Intersex
California bill would ban unnecessary genital surgeries on intersex children
Photo credit: Sebastian Voortman.
An analysis by The Trevor Project, an LGBT crisis and suicide prevention organization, found that bisexual youth are at a greater risk for suicide and other mental health issues than other members of the LGBT community, or straight youth. The study looked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Two-thirds of bisexual youth reported considering suicide, compared to 27 percent of straight and 49 percent of gay and lesbian
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youth. Over a quarter of bisexual youth actually attempted suicide, according to Bustle. “These disparities are likely related to increased minority stress faced by bisexual youth who may be stigmatized by both straight and gay/lesbian communities,” The Trevor Project said in a statement. The study also shows that 33 percent of bisexual teens were bullied, and 20 percent were forced to have sex, Bustle reported.
A protest for intersex rights in Chicago. Photo credit: Sarah-ji, Flickr.
A bill in the California Legislature would ban cosmetic surgeries on intersex children until they are old enough to consent. Some medical professionals say patients who have the surgeries heal better if they’re young, and not having a predetermined age of consent could raise legal issues for doctors, according to the Los Angeles Times. But while they believe it’s an “overreach,” intersex rights organizations and activists are praising the bill.
“The hypothesis is that these surgeries enhance the psychological well-being of children by ensuring they have genitals that are ‘normal,’” Julie Greenberg, author of the book “Intersexuality and the Law,” told the LA Times. “But there is no study that says this does help their psychological wellbeing, and there are plenty of people who say it caused them harm.” The first hearing for the bill is expected to be early this month.
LGBTQIA bites
T
Transgender
Transgender detainees allegedly abused in ICE facility
In a letter to the warden of Otero County Processing Center in New Mexico, the American Civil Liberties Union said transgender and gay migrants suffered abuse in the facility. The letter said some migrants were placed in solitary confinement, and others were reassigned to barracks with straight men as a form of punishment, according to NBC News. The Management and Training Corporation, which operates Otero, denies this happened.
“We have no evidence of rampant sexual harassment, discrimination, abuse, denying proper medical care to transgender detainees, and no evidence of retaliation and improper use of solitary confinement,” a spokesperson from the company said. A report published last year by the Center for American Progress said that the LGBTQ detainees held in the detention centers were 97 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.
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4.3.2019 •
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news international
By Cameren Boatner
the world around
asia
europe
Homosexuality to be punishable by death in Brunei
Elton John boycotts Bruneiowned UK hotels
On April 3, gay sex will be punished with death by stoning in Brunei. Homosexuality is already illegal in Brunei, but the new provisions to the penal code would allow punishments like whipping and stoning, according to the New York Times. This has caused a public outcry from activist and human rights organizations. “To legalize such cruel and inhuman penalties is appalling of itself,” Rachel Chhoa-Howard, a researcher at Amnesty International told the Times. “Some of the potential ‘offenses’ should not even be deemed crimes at all, including consensual sex between adults of the same gender.” A person can only be convicted of having gay sex if there were multiple Muslim witnesses, though the law will
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Brunei. Photo via Pixabay.
also apply to non-Muslims, the Times reported.
Following Brunei’s decision to punish gay sex by stoning and other methods, celebrities like Elton John and his husband David Furnish, and George Clooney are boycotting well known Brunei-owned hotels in the U.K. John tweeted out a list of hotels in the U.K. and U.S. owned by Brunei’s sultan, including the Dorchester and the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to ITV News. The provisions to Brunei’s penal code would make homosexuality and other offenses punishable by death under Sharia law. “Our hearts go out to the good, hardworking employees of properties owned by the Sultan of Brunei, many of whom we know to be gay,” John tweeted. “We must send a message, however we can, that such treatment is unacceptable. That’s why David and I have long refused
Elton John. Photo credit: David Shankbone.
to stay at these hotels and will continue to do so. We hope you will join us in solidarity.” The Dorchester Collection, owned by the Brunei government, has said they do not tolerate any discrimination.
NORTH AMERICA
OCEANIA
Mexican teen nearly attempts suicide after his boyfriend is abused
Technological advances could help in Australian gay murder cases
A 19-year-old man from Puebla, Mexico was found at the top of a bridge about to jump into moving traffic after hearing his boyfriend was being abused by his parents. Emergency services found the unnamed man before he could jump on March 23, according to Gay Star News. They explained that the man attempted suicide after receiving a message from his boyfriend, telling him that after talking to his parents about his sexuality, they beat him. “If you or someone LGBTIQ you know is going through difficult times, remember that you are not alone. Out there, inside and outside the internet, we exist. There are also many people like you, and they can help,” It Gets Better Mexico said, according to Gay Star News.
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Exploring LGBT News Events Across the Globe
4 . 3.2019
A lock on a bridge. Photo via Pixabay.
David Saint and Robert Woodland, two gay Australian men, were found dead in the same area, in 1991 and 2004 respectively. Now, detectives are saying advances in forensic technology could help find the mens’ killers, according to Pink News. Police suspect they were killed because of their sexuality, as the area where they were murdered is a known spot for gay liaisons. “The brick that we believe he was assaulted with will be the main item,” investigating officer Detective Sergeant Justin Thompson said. “There were reports at the time of ‘gay bashings’ around the south parklands, so that would be our strongest line in relation to motive.” Thompson also said the media attention around the cases at the time
Saint and the location where he was killed (left); Woodland and his vehicle, which was found in the Pavilion on the Park carpark. Credit: police.sa.gov.au
may have prevented witnesses from coming forward.
4.3.2019 •
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NEWS health
February & March Report from HIV Planning Bodies Sean McShee
This article discusses three meetings. First, it reports on the meeting of the HIV Planning Council (HIV PC). The Broward HIV Planning Council oversees the Ryan White Care (RWC) Program of Broward (RWC-Broward). Second, it reports on the meeting of the South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN). The South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN) advises the RWC program of the Florida Department of Health in Broward (RWC-FL DOH Broward). Third, it reports on the Broward County HIV Prevention Planning Council (BCHP PC). The BCHP shares information about HIV prevention efforts in Broward.
The HIV Planning Council met on Feb. 28.
regular dental visits and oral self-exams for people living with HIV.
Leonard Jones, RWC-Broward, discussed long-term fiscal issues. At current funding levels, RWC-Broward is at capacity. Some people needing its services are not receiving them. As its funding does not increase as new clients enter the program, this will be a problem. Jones said, “We cannot continue to operate the same level of services.” A large part of RWC-Broward’s funding is based on the number of people that test HIVpositive in the county. When someone moves to Broward after testing HIV-positive, they do not bring “their HIV funds” with them. Those funds remain where they first tested. According to Jones, Broward has more inmigrants with HIV than any other county in Florida.
The Broward County HIV Prevention Planning Council met on March 7, 2019.
SFAN met on March 7. Mark Schweizer, DDS, discussed HIV and oral health. Schweizer works as the dental director for the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center. The STD, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), can lead to genital warts, as well as anal, cervical, and oral cancers. As skinto-skin contact spreads HPV, condoms offer incomplete protection. French kissing and oral sex can also transmit HPV. One out of every nine men carries the HPV virus. More people now have HPV-related oral cancers than have HPV-related cervical cancers. While people with intact immune systems can clear HPV, those with weakened immune systems cannot. People living with HIV face particular challenges with regard to oral health. They face increased chances for dental decay, gum disease, and oral HPV. Schweizer stressed the importance of
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The 2019 HIV prevention contracts stress bio-medical interventions. For people of unknown or HIV-negative status, bio-medical interventions include the following: PreExposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV testing. For people living with HIV, bio-medical interventions stress consistent and life-long access to antiretroviral treatment. This will allow most people living with HIV to achieve an undetectable HIV viral load. Josh Rodriguez said, “When we have a lower viral load in the community, then we have fewer new infections.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS To learn how to do an oral self-exam, please visit http://bit.ly/2VWOUx2. Phone numbers have changed for most RWC-FL DOH Broward Services. The number for ADAP is 954-213-0623. The RWC Part B Call Center number is 954-467-4705. HEP. A vaccination available at 2421 SW 6th Ave. Walk-ins are welcome. The Gay and Bi Men’s Advisory Group of the HIV Prevention Planning Council is seeking new members. Please contact mreyes@ulbcfl.org.
Next SFAN Meeting: Friday, April 5, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE 56th St., Fort Lauderdale. SFAN welcomes newcomers. Follow Sean McShee on Twitter @SeanMcShee
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Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin, executive minister of Sunshine Cathedral, speaks at the memorial service for Rt. Rev. Grant Lynn Ford on March 31. Photo credit: Carina Mask. To see more photos of the service, visit SFGN on Facebook.
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4.3.2019 •
11
NEWS local
Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Network
Moves Toward 100 strong Annual gala is April 13 in Fort Lauderdale; tickets are $125, proceeds to benefit Latinos Salud and The Pet Project Damon Scott
T
he law profession might seem a little tedious and dull to some, but these lawyers know how to socialize and put on a party.
The Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Network gay guys and their partners to find friends, (GLLN) – a voluntary Broward County support and resources.” The organization Bar Association – is described by its is celebrating its 10th year in operation this communications director as primarily a group year. Its original location is in Wilton Manors. for networking. But Eric L. Lundt says it’s The Pet Project, also located in Wilton much more, too. Manors, provides pet food Lundt said members meet and supplies and reduced cost “... the sole both socially and professionally, veterinary care to those who and host a luncheon event the are financially challenged due purpose is to first Thursday of every month. to terminal illness, disability, raise funds The lunches are held at aging, or victims of crime. rotating locations and often Lundt, who has been a GLLN for charitable feature special speakers. member for about six years and organizations on the board for about two, is Members have an opportunity to earn CLEs (continuing legal geared toward heading up the planning of the education credits) at some gala. the LGBTQ events. “It’s our signature event and There is also a monthly happy the sole purpose is to raise funds community.” hour where GLLN partners with for charitable organizations - Eric L. Lundt other organizations, such as geared toward the LGBTQ Communications Dania Beach’s Humanity Project. community,” Lundt said. Director Its president and founder – Bob He said the charity usually Knotts – recently attended a changes every year, and it’s happy hour to talk about the organization. often just one, unlike this time around with Lundt, a shareholder at GrayRobinson in two. Fort Lauderdale, said there are about 100 This year’s event is also underwritten by GLLN members (and counting) who are the group’s “Strategic Alliance” members mostly lawyers – with a few judges, professors – Ken Calhoun at RE/MAX Experience and and other members related to the legal profession scattered in. But at its upcoming annual gala, he said, members also bring friends and family who may have no relation to the legal profession.
Meghana M. Saoji, speaking at a past gala. Photo credit: GLLN.
CrossCountry Mortgage. Each pays $5,000 annually to help bankroll expenses so that every dime from ticket sales and auction items can go directly to the nonprofits, Lundt said. Lundt said this year will also be the second time it will be held at the downtown Fort Lauderdale venue – The Flagship. “We found it by accident in the [Historic] Himmarshee District,” he said. “It’s a historic building used for events, weddings … a really neat building in the old Key West style.” Lundt said the gala has typically been held on a Sunday, but they’re trying a Saturday this year. They are also making the event more of a happy hour style so attendees still have the option to go out to dinner afterwards. At the gala, guests will be treated to an open
bar and unlimited hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $125. A limited number of reserved VIP tables are available for $1,000, which includes five tickets to the gala, two bottles of champagne, and recognition at the event. A lower level VIP package is also available for $500, which includes two tickets and recognition. To order a VIP package, contact Lundt at 954-713-7811 or eric.lundt@gray-robsinson. com. The event (business casual dress) runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Flagship is located at 221 SW 3rd Ave. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to make a charitable donation in lieu of attending, go to GLLN.org and click on “Events.”
GLLN’s board and leadership
The gala Lundt says the event is sure to sell out and advises the purchase of tickets soon. GLLN’s eighth-annual gala is April 13. Proceeds from the popular event will benefit two well-known South Florida nonprofits – Latinos Salud and The Pet Project. Latinos Salud (“health” in Spanish) was founded to “create a safe space for Latino
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President Gian Ratnapala
Vice President Megan D. Widmeyer
Secretary Michael B. Nemerof
Treasurer Michele A. Crosa
Membership Director Mia E. Lawrence
Communications Director Eric L. Lundt
Social Director Eric Reivik
Immediate Past President Meghana M. Saoji
4.3.2019 •
13
NEWS local
Diversity Honors Recognizes
New Class of Honorees Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, receives major award
Damon Scott
H
undreds of attendees of all stripes came out dressed to the nines March 30 to socialize and do a little partying for one reason: pay tribute to the current group of honorees at the fifth Diversity Honors celebration.
Stuart Milk (left) with Meghan McCain and Guest Host Jamie Guirola from NBC6. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
Wilton Manors is only the
second city in the U.S.
to have an all LBGT commission – Palm Springs, California, was the first.
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The event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood – the event’s main sponsor – took place inside a decked out ballroom with drag queens, dancers, shirtless men in suspenders and dozens of tables decorated for a fancy sit down dinner. On one end of the room was DJ/producer Alex Ferbeyre spinning tunes and preparing for the after party with Debby Holiday. On the other end was the stage where guest host Jamie Guirola of NBC 6 would introduce speakers and honorees. Diversity Honors is a collaboration between the Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park. The festivities began with a surprise visit by Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida’s 23rd District. “It is a pleasure to join my sisters and brothers in the LGBTQ community,” she said, reminding the audience that she was a founding vice chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. Wasserman Schultz recognized Miriam Richter of the Harvey Milk Foundation and Pride Center CEO Robert Boo with certificates of Special Congressional Recognition. She noted that Richter was part of achieving the establishment of domestic partner benefits in cities in South Florida, including leading the passage of same-sex partnership benefits legislation in Fort Lauderdale. She also lauded Boo’s leadership at the Pride Center, noting its increase in annual operating budget, expansion of programs and services and addition of employees over the years. Stars of the night Florida Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch, whose District 22 encompasses
the city of Wilton Manors, was an honoree for serving as one of the vice chairs of the Equality Caucus, like Wasserman Schultz, and also for pushing the Department of Health and Human Services to reinstate sexual orientation demographic questions as part of their national survey of older Americans in 2017. “This event reminds us that equality in America is something that all of us have been promised,” Deutch said. “It’s been promised since the founding of our country and yet it has still not fully been realized. What we’re doing here tonight, all of us together, especially as we come together here to mark trans[gender]-visibility awareness, is that it’s so important to see that inequality in our country cannot be allowed to go on.” Phil Wilson, who served as AIDS coordinator for the city of Los Angeles from 1990 to 1993 and was the director of policy and planning at the AIDS Project in Los Angeles was honored, as was Tony Lima, executive director of Miami’s SAVE (Safeguarding American Values for Everyone), a longtime LGBT advocacy organization. Wilton Manors – second gayest city The Alan Schubert Award of Excellence (Schubert was the founder of the Pride Center who died in 2016) went to the Wilton Manors City Commission. Wilton Manors is only the second city in the U.S. to have an all LBGT commission – Palm Springs, California, was the first. Boo mentioned that Wilton Manors was also previously named the second-gayest city in the U.S. after San Francisco. “If you’ve ever strolled down Wilton Drive during our annual Wicked Manors
NEWS local Halloween street festival where 25,000 people are in some of the most over the top costumes, you might wonder: What does the first-gayest city look like?” Boo said to chuckles in the audience. Boo also mentioned the city’s perfect scores of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI). “Why does it matter that Wilton Manors has an all LGBT-plus city commission? Their success encourages every LGBT kid aspiring to leadership or public service,” Boo said.
daughter of former Sen. John McCain and a co-anchor of the TV show The View. “I wanted to make sure you guys were OK with whatever blowback you might get. You guys called me back and said: ‘We know exactly who you are.’” McCain said the award was personal to her for many reasons. “I became an LGBT advocate the way I think a lot of straight allies do, simply out of love for my friends,” she said. McCain dedicated the award to her hairdresser of 10 years who was in the audience – Josh Rupley. Headliners of the night She said Rupley had supported her through many Stuart Milk, the nephew tough stretches of her life and of Harvey Milk, who was career, including the death of assassinated 41 years ago, her father, with the advice of: gave out two awards; one “Bitch you’re Meghan McCain to Meghan McCain and the and you’re going to walk the other to U.S. Army Captain walk.” Jennifer Peace and U.S. Army “Whatever I have given to Staff Sergeant Patricia King this community, the LGBT “It’s sometimes difficult to community has always loved follow in family legacies,” Milk me back at a time when I feel said. “Meghan has created a like my party doesn’t, when I maverick legacy all her own. sometimes feel like the world She has been absolutely doesn’t,” McCain said. “But relentless and steadfast as a for whatever reason the LGBT champion of LGBT rights,” community has given me so - Meghan McCain he said, adding that McCain much love back. I am eternally Co-anchor of “The View” had been an early supporter grateful.” of same sex marriage and gay The final honorees were adoption. Peace and King who received the Harvey “Meghan’s voice was instrumental in Milk Foundation Valor Award. The two have repealing ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’ and in been lauded for their public resistance to supporting transgender family members,” the Trump Administration’s attempt to ban Milk said. He said she and her mother, transgendere individuals from serving in the Cindy McCain, were also two of the early military. supporters of the NOH8 Campaign. The two recently testified before Congress Milk presented McCain the Harvey Milk and have gotten attention from national and Foundation Lilla Watson Medal. international media outlets. “When I was first told that you guys were “They have put themselves in the public going to give me this award, I actually made world not only to change hearts and my agent call Stuart back to make sure they minds, but to save young people who are wanted to give it to a straight Republican questioning their gender identity and their women in this climate,” said McCain, the future,” Milk said.
“I became an LGBT advocate the way I think a lot of straight allies do, simply out of love for my friends.”
Robert Boo (left) presenting Mayor Justin Flippen and the city commission of Wilton Manors a Diversity Honors award for inclusion in the city. Photo credit: J.R. Davis. 4.3.2019 •
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ichard Mach and Julius Bianchi were newlyweds when they moved to Fort Lauderdale in 2014. They had visited here off and on for ten years before deciding to retire here so they could be closer to their families who live on the East Coast. They were also attracted to a different lifestyle near the beach, and the gay-friendly community was a definite plus. While they had been growing orchids in the desert landscape of their Los Angeles home, they wanted to learn how to cultivate orchids here in the tropical climate of South Florida. They heard about the Bonnet House Orchid Festival and decided to attend. “It was like a little utopia,” says Richard. They were mesmerized by this 35-acre jewel of an estate which will turn 100 years old in 2020. “It was filled with hundreds of orchids in two grow houses, the courtyard and display house, with orchids mounted naturally in trees throughout the property,” says Julius. “Every day you can see ospreys and hawks soaring overhead, Anahingas and swans in the slough, and wild monkeys chattering in the trees,” says Richard. They decided to become Bonnet House orchid care volunteers in 2015 under the direction of Linda Schaller, the dedicated director of Education and Volunteer Programs who manages over 300 volunteers with a delightful sense of humor that inspires everyone. The orchid program got its start from Evelyn Bartlett, who owned the Bonnet House before donating it to the Florida Trust in 1983. An art lover and artist like her husband Frederic Clay Bartlett, Evelyn was an avid orchid enthusiast and used to bring her orchid collection with her to the estate each winter and display them in the drawing rooms where she entertained friends and family in small, warm gatherings. This year, the Bonnet House International Orchid and Garden Festival (April 6-7, 2019, Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) has branched out under the guidance of Jose Exposito, who became the curator of the orchid collection in March 2018. Originally from Cuba and owner of Soroa Orchids in Homestead, Jose has brought a new vitality to the orchid program and to the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. For the first time this year, international growers from Malaysia, Thailand, Ecuador as well as Hawaii will sell their exquisite flowers at the 12th Annual Orchid Festival.
The event will have something for everyone to enjoy, including food vendors, live music, and garden art. Education is also central to the mission of Bonnet House, and there will be lectures each day in the Island Theater. Internationally renowned orchid expert and grower, Dr. Martin Motes, will be signing his book, “Florida Orchid Growing: Month by Month.” Paul Craft will also conduct a book signing and lecture on his newly released work, “The Palms of Cuba.” Dr. Jason Downing, orchid biologist from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, will give a lecture on The Million Orchid Project. Alex Lamazares, president of Orchid Mania, will speak about general orchid growing. Richard and Julius will be on hand for the Bonnet House International Orchid and Garden Festival. After falling in love with Bonnet and volunteering, they were asked to join the staff and became part of a closelyknit community, conducting tours and interacting with visitors from around the world. Their love of orchids has also grown exponentially over the past few years, and they have become avid cultivators with their own artfully-crafted grow houses on their property. “Growing orchids has become an obsession,” says Julius. “We have learned an incredible amount at Bonnet House about how to grow top-quality orchids here in South Florida,” says Richard. They have become regular ribbon-winners at the Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society shows. But there is a deeper level to their involvement. “Being part of the Bonnet House has given us a gratifying way to give back to the community,” says Julius. They encourage anyone who is interested to contact Linda Schaller at the Bonnet House to find their own gratifying path to community involvement.
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NEWS miami-dade
ide This Weekend Miami PrReturns Daughter of Gloria Estefan, Emily, will headline this year’s entertainment lineup Rick Karlin
I
n just 11 years, Miami Beach Pride has grown into one of the most popular and anticipated events of the entire year in Miami and this year’s event, held April 1-7, will be no exception. The weeklong celebration is jam-packed with special events, social mixers, dance events, a VIP gala, and culminates with a two-day festival and parade.
Since its inception in 2009, Miami Beach Pride has expanded from a neighborhood party to an event worthy of a global stage, with A-list celebrities such as Gus Kenworthy, Betty Who, Ross Mathews, Bebe Rexha, Mario Lopez, Elvis Duran, Iggy Azalea, Jordin Sparks, Gloria Estefan and Adam Lambert. Attendance has grown as well. An estimated 15,000 spectators turned out the first year. Last year an estimated 145,000 attended the event which featured more than 70 parade contingencies, 35 floats and 3,000 parade participants. Starting at noon on April 7, the length of Ocean Drive along the Art Deco district
will be closed to traffic and open wide for proud South Florida LGBT individuals and families, as well as allied friends, co-workers and families to participate in the 11th annual Miami Beach Pride Parade. Ally marshals are Judy and Dennis Shepard, parents of Matthew Shepard and founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The Shepards have been fighting for LGBT rights for 20 years since the brutal attack and murder of their son Matthew, then a University of Wyoming student. They have worked to bring attention to hate crimes and foster understanding, compassion, and acceptance for the LGBT community.
Pride Lights the Night – A Tribute to Pulse
Buildings and structures throughout Miami will be lit with rainbow colors or fly rainbow flags in remembrance of the Pulse victims, their family and friends. The goal is to light buildings to show support and solidarity for the LGBT community. All venues with the ability to project LED light or digital projections on the exterior of their buildings or structures were requested to show rainbow colors or graphics on the nights of April 1-7. On Monday, April 1 a “Flip the Switch” event will be held, lighting up the 1111 parking garage in rainbow colors. A Pulse survivor will be part of a lighting ceremony on Lincoln Road.
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Photo via Miami Beach Pride, Facebook.
Judy and Dennis were also instrumental in officer, was appointed by then Chief of helping pioneer the first federal legislation Police Noriega to serve as the department’s against hate crimes, the Matthew Shepard LGBT liaison, a position he held until his and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention retirement last month. Act. In his position, Sanchez served as a “We are incredibly honored to have key advisor to the current Chief of Police Judy and Dennis Shepard Dan Oates, and his staff on be our Miami Beach Pride LGBT needs. Sanchez also ally marshals this year, and worked with the Department to honor them for their of Justice to help develop a unwavering support and transgender training program tireless work in the LGBTQ which was rolled out to police community,” said Bruce departments across the U.S. Horwich, chairman of Miami to bridge the gap between the Beach Pride. “Their dedication police and the transgender to increasing safety, visibility, communities. and inclusiveness for the “I’ve been involved with LGBTQ community has Miami Beach Pride from year affected positive change and one, and it’s been incredible improved the lives of many to see what it’s grown into. LGBTQ youth.” The first year I was involved, - Bruce Horwich Joining the Shepards will be I started by providing security Chairman of Miami Detective Juan F. Sanchez as for the event and never Beach Pride the advocate grand marshal. once did I think I would be a This honor recognizes marshal for the parade. It’s Sanchez’s 31-year history of law enforcement very humbling and a huge honor,” Sanchez and tireless support of the community. said. Sanchez began serving as a member of the “Having a leader and advocate like Miami Beach Police Department in 1987. Detective Juan Sanchez be a voice for In 2010, Sanchez, an openly gay police our community is an honor, and it’s an
“We are incredibly honored to have Judy and Dennis Shepard be our Miami Beach Pride Ally Marshals this year.”
NEWS miami-dade important part of creating dialogue with the local institutions that keep our community and neighborhoods safe,” said Scott Bader, vice chairman of Miami Beach Pride. In addition to the parade, the weekend’s festivities include a two-day festival on Saturday and Sunday at Lummus Park that features two stages with DJs, entertainers, and celebrity entertainers. The festival will feature 125 vendor booths, food and cocktails. The festival will also provide safe spaces at the Pridelines Youth District and “The Garden of Eve” women’s tent. BB&T is sponsoring a food pavilion. Emily Estefan headlines the entertainment line-up. The daughter of music legends Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Emily has followed her own path since she first began performing on stage at 8 years old. Her musical career has spanned across several platforms that have included writing, producing and performing music. Her singing debut took place at the historic Hollywood Bowl in 2014 where she sang the classic “Where The Boys Are” with the LA Youth Orchestra. In 2015, she premiered her first original song and music video “F#ck To Be,” which celebrated individuality and the importance of not acquiescing to society’s expectations. “I just want to tell my stories, put out good energy and love into the world, and not be afraid to be my true self in my music,” she said. While Miami Beach Pride brings together members of the LGBT community, their friends, allies, and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of the LGBT community, in order to provide the safest environment, organizers are partnering with the City of Miami Beach and the Miami Beach Police Department and asking everyone to please refrain from bringing back packs and large bags, or to use a see-through bag. Organizers also suggest using mass transit or booking a parking space in advance.
Pride Events
Some of the hottest events are those held before and after the official parade and festival. Here are a few highlights.
April 3 Business of Pride networking hour followed by a panel discussion of a variety of LGBT topics followed by breakouts sessions. RSVP at: we.co/businessofprideMIA
April 4 PAMM Free Community Night on the waterfront terrace of the art museum, with live music, drink specials, drag, 7 - 11 p.m.
April 5 Pride VIP Gala at the Emanuel Luxury Venue in Miami Beach. With special guests Pride Marshals Judy and Dennis Shepard, retired Miami Beach Police Department Detective Juan Sanchez, and a host of surprises and VIP guests. Entertainment will be provided by Celebrity Cruises headliner Marcus Tyrell, international singing sensation Beth Sacks and a special appearance by Randolph Ward performing a vogue extravaganza! Open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres. Advance tickets: $100, $125 at the door. Basement at the Edition Hotel. It’s a nightclub, bowling alley and ice-skating rink. The most talked about party from last year’s Pride is back. Four international DJs: Anne Louise, De Felipe, Deejay Smeejay and Theresa will spin.
April 6 The Clevelander Pool Party on Ocean Dr., hosts a massive event from noon until 6 p.m.
April 7 ACTION! The Hangar hosts the official Miami Beach Gay Pride Official after-hours party, hosted by Enchantress Valeria Coutier, and her hot dancers!
For more information, or to volunteer, go to MiamiBeachPride.com. Judy and Dennis Shepard. Photo credit: The Matthew Shepard Foundation, via Facebook.
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Palm beach datebook Friday, April 5 1920s Theme J’s Birthday Party Penny’s at the Duke, 902 N Dixie Hwy. Lantana, FL, from 8 p.m. to midnight JacquiOkie. 12-1 a.m. DJ Tim and dancing. There will be food and a photo booth. Come dressed with a Bonnie and Clyde look (1920s) and let’s have some fun! Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. – midnight Rainbow Ball 2019 Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beaches to Host Annual Rainbow Ball DISCO FUSION at Hilton Palm Beach Airport. Rev. Elder Tony Freeman, Interim Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beach Gardens (MCCPB), announced that the largest faithbased community in Palm Beach County dedicated to serving the local LGBT community and its family members and friends, will be hosting its annual Rainbow Ball on Saturday, April 6. This is MCCPB’s largest gala fundraiser, a “fun-filled evening of dancing and dining, entertainment and socializing.” Visit RainbowBallMCCPB. org for more information. wednesday, April 10 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Breaking Down the Shade: HIV Among Youth Compass - 201 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth In Recognition of National Youth HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day... Did you know that youth ages 13 to 24 are currently among the highest new HIV infection rates in the U.S.? Come discuss what it would be like to be a teen living with HIV. Learn about the TRUE facts related to HIV and AIDS as we break down the shade that has formed around this virus since its breakout in the 80s. Register for free at www. breakingshade.eventbrite.com Thursday April 11 The Outta the Closet Annual Clothing Drive Hosted by Burt Minkoff at GAVLAK Gallery in Palm Beach Florida. The proceeds from this clothing drive will benefit the Compass Youth Program. Please join us in donating the fabulous, but forgotten, clothing in your closets in order to support the Compass Equality Prom, Executive Recruitment, College and Career Readiness. Porter Drop Off for Donated Cloths at the rear of the gallery. Please box or bag (Leaf garbage bags over hanging clothes). Attach an inventory list for Compass and yourself.
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PA L M B E A C H
news
Palm Beach County Celebrates Pride The annual event attracted thousands and showcased the diversity of the LGBT community Kristen Grau
Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
N
atalie Castillo is a petite 13-year-old — but she wasn’t hard to spot at this year’s Palm Beach Pride. This was her first pride festival ever, after coming out of the closet just eight months ago. Castillo ran from store to store assembling her first pride outfit — a glittery rainbow dress, with knee-high rainbow socks and rainbow boots to match, topped off with a lush rainbow wig. The highlight of the two-day event for Castillo was being ushered onto the stage by emcees Melissa St. John and RaeJean Cox and being recognized as one of the many beaming young faces of this year’s pride. “My phone was ringing on stage, and I just wanted to throw it off,” Castillo said. But the other major highlight for her was having her supportive mom, Audrey Castillo, beaming alongside her the whole weekend. “She was courageous enough to come out at such a young age,” Audrey said. “I am the proudest mom here right now.” And that’s what this year’s Palm Beach Pride was all about. Last weekend, thousands of people gathered at Bryant Park in Lake Worth Beach to celebrate Compass’ 28th annual pride parade and festival. It was the largest turnout in the event’s history for both days, according to Compass Executive Director Julie Seaver. “Each Pride is unique — just like the people that come to it,” Seaver said. This year’s event theme was “50 Years of Pride,” as 2019 marks 50 years since the Stonewall riots. Compass volunteers honored the theme with shirts that read, “The first Pride was a riot.” The theme was prevalent throughout Sunday’s parade in downtown Lake Worth (newly renamed Lake Worth Beach). Some marchers pushed wheelbarrows filled with bricks down the street with signs that said, “Trans W.O.C. threw the first brick,” and another said, “A queer rebellion against police oppression.” Several Lake Worth city officials made an appearance in the parade, including Mayor Pam Triolo, City Commissioner Andy Amoroso, and more. “I remember when Pride just took up J Street — now, it takes up the entire city of Lake Worth Beach… ,” Triolo said after the parade. “I am so proud to be your friend.”
The parade began at 11 a.m. Sunday, a half hour earlier than previous years due to the influx of participants. It was sponsored by Wells Fargo and the SMART Ride, among other companies. Though the parade was only Sunday, there was entertainment at the park all through the weekend. The two headliners — openly gay hip-hop artist Cazwell and Robin S. — both debuted on Sunday. But there were dozens of other performers, who said that Pride this year was one of the most inclusive. Daviana, a drag queen who performed, said Palm Beach Pride was “more welcoming” to gender-fluid performers, bearded queens (like her), and drag kings than Prides elsewhere. Members of the Elite Drag Kings, a South Florida-based drag trio that also performed, agreed that an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere makes for better drag and a better time. “Compass tries so hard in doing Pride every year,” said L.A., an Elite Drag King member. “There were so many newer performers that brought a different flare and a different experience.” Along with diversifying the performers on stage, Compass also wanted to make sure the audience could fully enjoy the entertainment — which is why American Sign Language interpreters were present through each performance. On that stage was a mural from Rolando Chang Barrero, owner of The Box Gallery in West Palm Beach — which displayed local icons in the LGBT community against a rainbow backdrop. Some of the selected
“Each Pride is unique — just like the people that come to it.” - Julie Seaver
Compass Executive Director
faces were PFLAG President Carole Benowitz, Amoroso, former H.G. Roosters Manager Michael Brown, and more. One of Compass’ efforts this year to develop an even more family-friendly and inclusive setting was having South Florida Family Pride, an LGBT family advocacy group, oversee the family “fun zone” at Bryant Park for the first time. Palm Beach Pride has become a staple for many South Florida families and people like 56-year-old Riviera Beach resident Sheila McDuffie Smith. Her family started going to Palm Beach Pride five years ago to support her daughter’s same-sex marriage. “You’re able to look around here and see the community ….” Smith said. “This is wonderful ... to see all of these people be who they are.” Sunday also marked International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), an annual campaign launched by head of Transgender Michigan Rachel Crandall, a reason for hundreds of people to celebrate last weekend. Adelaide, a 22-year-old West Palm Beach drag queen who performed during Pride, said that TDOV is a key component in raising LGBT awareness. “We can still get fired for being trans,” she said. “We need people to accept trans people and [TDOV] helps people become aware of our existence.” Adelaide accompanied fellow drag queen Velvet Lenore for Lenore’s hour-long 20th Pride performance on Sunday, which featured dozens of her drag kids. Entertainment wasn’t the only thing that the weekend had in store — there was also free HIV testing throughout both days and ongoing dog adoptions at the park. Compass, the LGBT community center of the Palm Beaches, is one of only a few centers to actually host their own Pride parades, according to Seaver. Despite the record turnout and soldout vendor space, Seaver knows there’s more awareness and education that the community needs. “We’ve come a long way as far as rights are concerned,” Seaver said. “But we’re just not done yet.”
PA L M B E A C H
news
Palm Beach Pride 2019 On March 30-31 at Bryant Park in Lake Worth, the Palm Beaches’ largest LGBT event took the community by storm. J.R. Davis
Kiowa Awohali.
To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook. 4.3.2019 •
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PA L M B E A C H
news
Gay Polo Tournament Celebrates 10 Years in Wellington Kristen Grau
Photo via The Gay Polo League, Facebook.
T
he Gay Polo League (GPL) will host its tenth annual Land Rover International Gay Polo Tournament this weekend — and it includes wigs, cocktails, and tailgates on top of the polo.
The festivities kick off Thursday and end Sunday. Here’s the weekend’s lineup: • Thursday: A private VIP party will take place. • Friday: Wigstock!, a poolside cocktail party, will last from 7 to 10 p.m. at the International Polo Club’s Mallet Grill. Attendees are encouraged to sport their best wigs. • Saturday: International Gay Polo tournament starts at 2 p.m., with the tailgate preceding it. General admission is $30, and the tailgate is $395, which includes six general admission tickets.
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• Sunday: There will be a brunch and bar at the Mallet Grill beginning at noon, and the U.S. Open Polo Championship at 3 p.m.
“LGBT elders fought – and still fight – for our rights. This is a way to give back...”
- Chip McKenney
GPL Founder and president
Participants from across the world will compete at the International Polo Club (IPC) in Wellington. After a successful 2017 tournament, the Land Rover International Gay Polo Tournament won a title of its own: LGBTQ Sporting Event of the Year. It was granted by Connect Sports, a national sports tourism organization. “At the Gay Polo League tournament, guests will experience a lot of exciting things; the ponies, creative tailgates, the people, and the unmitigated inclusiveness of our event are all magic, perhaps, even life-changing,” said Chip McKenney, GPL founder and president, in a press release. This year’s tournament’s presenting sponsor is the tax and consulting firm RSM US LLP. Its tent VIP sponsor is Cherry Knoll Farm, which is based in Pennsylvania. The proceeds for Wigstock!, which costs $125, will benefit SAGE, a nonprofit that advocates for elderly LGBT people. SAGE works with healthcare providers, caregiving centers, and housing services to improve LGBT elders’ quality of life. “It’s the right thing to do,” McKenney said. “LGBT elders fought – and still fight – for our rights. This is a way to give back and honor their heroic efforts in trying to level the playing field for LGBT. We wouldn’t be here today, playing polo, if not for their determination and strength.” The GPL offers LGBT polo players of all experience levels and backgrounds a chance to compete and learn their craft in a supportive environment — even those who have never played polo before. “We’re a community that shares a love for adventure, fun, and the beautiful, challenging sport of polo,” the GPL website says.
You can buy tickets and view more pricing options for the tournament at www.gaypolo.com.
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WMG Volume 6 • Issue 7 April 3, 2019
Wilton Manors Gazette Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette
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Good Luck Cat Cafe
Finds itself Homeless • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •2 5 4.3.2019 •
Opinion
Springtime Has Arrived! Take a look at our city’s priorities
present their own list and concerns. Thankfully, the next stage of the budget process weeds out the bulk of these well-intentioned proposals, once the financial reality of the actual budgeting process snaps everyone back to reality. This annual rite of spring is normally observed by a relatively few lucky Islanders, mainly city staff, budget advisory committee members, elected officials and perhaps one other person sitting off to the side of the Commission Chambers. However, this year the chamber was all a buzz with chatter and close to full capacity. Perhaps this is a sign, a good omen of sorts, during this annual ritual passage of seasons. Residents’ vibrant participation in our local government will reap great benefits for our entire community. Our police department led the way with their proposal for a new helicopter. Not satisfied with the results of the pilot drone program, the department is requesting manned aerial vehicles to fly overhead. This is sort of our local version of Mike Pence’s request the same week to have men on the moon by 2024. I must be missing something here; I thought we did something like that over 50 years ago. Not wanting to be overshadowed, Leisure Services laid forth their grand vision of turning large swaths of land into more and more park facilities. Looking at the recent success of utilizing money from our Water and Sewer Fund to purchase the property needed for the Colohatchee Park access, their management team is requesting substantial increases of water rates to keep the funding tap flowing for years to come. Mayor Justin Flippen strongly advocated for increased technology to propel our Island City into the future. Artificial intelligence will come at a cost, but just think about the savings with robots replacing city staff. No worries about lunch breaks, sick time, or benefits. Hope you don’t mind the thousands of cameras to be installed city-wide to monitor our every move. Just a necessary requirement needed to feed data from every area of our city back to the new AI platforms. Commissioner Paul Rolli stated the need for a city-wide Master Plan to study the Parks Master Plan, the Water and Sewer Master Plan, the Police Efficiency Master Plan, and about five other Master Plans. Only then would he feel comfortable having an additional study done to tell us what other studies are needed to accurately make any decisions on what our goals and objectives should actually be. Vice Mayor Tom Green was all giddy about
April 3, 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 7 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
By Sal Torre Springtime has arrived here in Wilton Manors. Many might not have noticed as we marched right past the spring equinox a few weeks ago, perhaps still too busy adjusting our clocks ahead one hour. The springtime arrival brings many annual events to our wonderful city. Along with the upcoming Easter and Passover holidays comes a somewhat lesser known spring event, the Goals and Objectives Workshop, a sure sign that the first quarter of the year is now behind us and spring is already moving ahead at a quickening pace. The Goals and Objectives Workshop is the first step in the yearly budget cycle. Elected officials meet with city management and staff to discuss the future goals, needs and budgeting for our city. This is an opportunity for departments to present a wish list, and to discuss ideas, staffing requests, capital projects and so much more. Our elected officials join in the fun and
WMG Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com News Editor • Sallie James
Correspondents
Sal Torre • James Oaksun
Staff Photographers
J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires
Sales & Marketing For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970
M.E. DePalma Park. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
the 1 percent sales tax increase passed in Broward County last election. Funds for local transportation projects include a railed trolley system down the middle of Wilton Drive that will eventually be tied into the regional transportation network currently envisioned for South Florida. Just a few more years of on-going construction along the Drive, but all is good because the city has decided not to charge for parking during daytime hours on the few remaining street parking spots to assist businesses hurting from the ongoing construction. Ok, enough already. I will admit to indulging in another spring time ritual, that of April Fools’ skullduggery. Hopefully you caught on before getting too enraged at the insanity of it all. In reality, our city has been very diligent in the financial planning and sound budgeting for our city’s future. This year many challenges are facing South Florida municipalities. Immediate planning and funding for resiliency needs due to future impacts of weather and sea-level rise are of top priority. Commissioner Rolli is correct in wanting a more defined roadmap of where our city should be heading in the years ahead, but we cannot spend too much time studying the course over and over before we start making some needed decisions. Spring always brings a sense of freshness and renewal. I am confident that with our elected officials, city staff and active residents, our future will be as great as we can make it, ‘cause life is just better here. WMG
Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Clark Rogers clark.rogers@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping 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. MEMBER
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Colohatchee Park. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
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April 3, 2019
Real Estate
Does the Money Come Out? By James Oaksun My never-ending quest for a formula to call a market turn led me to ask a question: Can you make lemonade out of lemons, even if you buy at a market peak? I went back to 2002 and, using price data from the Federal Home Finance Administration (FHFA) and 30-year mortgage rates over history, I looked to see what the net cash return would be, by year, for purchasing a home that sold at the 2006 market peak for $400,000. Obviously, that home would have sold for less than that in 2002, and then after the bubble burst. But we know from FHFA what the relative differences were. I assumed a 10-percent down payment, buyer closing costs of three percent, and seller
Can you make lemonade out of lemons, even if you buy at a market peak?
closing costs of six percent. The columns are purchase years and the rows are sale years. For example, if you bought that home in 2002 and sold in 2018, just made the standard mortgage payment, and didn’t refinance, your net gain (cash you get at closing minus cash you paid at purchase), was $205,000. Now look at the 2006 column (the peak of the bubble). If you kept that home through the whole crash and sold in 2018, you would have ended up $19,000 ahead. Which admittedly is not much, but is not a six-figure loss either. What does this mean for today’s buyers? Here are four bits of advice if you’re nervous about buying at these price levels:
1.
Plan to keep the home for at least 10 years. Even in the face of a market disaster like 2007-10, those who held on ended up all right.
2.
Don’t monitor your equity daily. Just keep paying the mortgage and wait it out.
3. #knowyourstatus #knowyourstatus
James Oaksun, Florida’s Real Estate Geek(SM), is Broker-Owner of New Realty Concepts in Oakland Park. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).
n Ma ilto nor
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Get tested. Get PrEP. Get treatment. At Midway Specialty Care Center with Dr.#knowyourstatus Howard A. Grossman #knowyourstatus
Don’t buy all the way to your qualification limit. Just because your mortgage broker says you can buy up to (say) $500k, doesn’t mean you need to do that. WMG
W
Buy carefully. Look for neighborhoods poised for renewal.
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Community
7th Annual Plant Fair By Nick Adkins
Photo credit: Nick Adkins. Every March, for the last six years, the Wilton Manors Equality Garden Club “Tropical Plant Fair” has drawn hundreds of horticulturists, both amateur and professional, to the grounds of the Pride
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Center for browsing and buying exotic tropical plants. The club meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Hagen Park Community Center in Wilton Manors.WMG
Good Luck Cat Cafe
BUSINESS
Finds itself Homeless
With Boomerangs closing, the popular pet adoption center has nowhere to go By Sallie James The Good Luck Cat Cafe is in need of a little good luck. The beloved pet adoption center housed in the back of Boomerangs Thrift Store at 2365 Wilton Drive has to find a new home by the end of April because its host home is closing in early May. To date, the non-for-profit entity has placed 179 cats and kittens in forever homes and has been visited by people from across the globe. “Since we’re here because [the thrift store] is here, we’ve got to go,” said Laura Summers, a Wilton Manors resident and volunteer who runs the Good Luck Cat Cafe and coordinates the volunteers who keep the facility staffed. “We pay nothing here. The ultimate find would be someone willing to share space in exchange for this walk-in traffic.” Good Karma Pet Rescue and Lady Luck Animal Rescue place the cats at the adoption center until they find permanent homes. The adoption center has a maximum of 10 cats and kittens at a time. The adoption center opened in June 2016, thanks to Matt LaMariana, president of the Animal Rescue Fund, which operates Boomerangs Thrift Store. LaMariana has provided the free 18-foot by 18-foot room that bloomed into what resembles a cheerful living room with a comfy couch, a few tables and chairs, a wall of whimsical cat art and a television that plays a DVD of “cat TV” with images of chirping birds. He’s closing his popular thrift store on May
18 because his lease is up, rent in the Wilton Drive area is too high and he’s been unable so far to find a suitable place to relocate. A potential site in a nearby Oakland Park shopping center fell through due to zoning issues, he said. “We were just not able to negotiate a reasonable rent on this space,” LaMariana said. “We probably could have swung the rent but we wouldn’t have been able to raise money for the animals.” To date, LaMariana has donated more than $500,000 to rescue groups with money raised through the thrift store, which opened in November 2011. Boomerangs will accept its last donations on April 30. The Good Luck Cat Cafe has a Facebook page and an Instagram account and volunteers hand out information cards at pet events to spread the word about the center. Now they are hoping their publicity will draw the attention supplies, currently covered by donations from of someone who can donate space, or rent to walk-in traffic. “Chances are we are going to end up paying them cheaply if that is the only solution. “We would need a minimum of 400 square $1,500 to $2,000 a month in rent. We are feet. A rental would have to be 500 to 1,000 trying to raise enough money to get us through square feet,” Summers said. “We would like to the year,” said volunteer Ellen Sukenuk, a Pompano Beach resident stay in the general area because who’s been volunteering at the this is where our volunteers adoption center for 2 and a half are.” years. The Good Luck Cat Cafe “People are constantly has a dedicated pool of about coming in because they see us 35 volunteers who staff the on social media or they are just adoption center from 10 a.m. searching for cat cafes because to 6 p.m. Mondays through they are popular. We are listed Sundays. Donations that total on one of Fort Lauderdale’s around $1,000 a month keep the ‘Things to Do’ lists. We’ve got place running. so much momentum. If we Without an accessible site would have to close and the for cat lovers to congregate, - Laura Summers re-open we would lose all that volunteers say adoption volunteer coordinator momentum,” Sukenuk said. opportunities as well as “There really isn’t anything like donations will plummet. this around here.” The group has set up a On this day, Nuria Torres and her husband GoFundMe page with a goal of $25,000 in hopes of raising enough cash to cover a year’s Juan of Hialeah were playing with a long-haired worth of rent if no one offers up free space. The black-and-white kitten with tuxedo markings GoFundMe page can be viewed at https://www. and a sassy stripe down his nose. The couple decided to fill out an adoption application after gofundme.com/save-the-good-luck-cat-cafe. The GoFundMe page states that funds falling in love. “He’s just so cute,” Nuria Torres said. “I love would be used to cover rent, utilities, insurance and startup costs to retrofit space (all new costs) ‘tuxies.’” Her husband Juan found the kitten on as well as cat food, litter, toys and cleaning
“We would like to stay in the general area because this is where our volunteers are.”
Petfinder and the couple drove an hour on a Saturday morning to take a look. “This is so nice here,” Nuria Torres said, as she sat on a couch in the adoption center playing with the kitten. Dorian Wagner, owner of the subscription service CatLadyBox and a longtime volunteer for Good Karma Pet Rescue, donated money from her business to help furnish and set up the Good Luck Cat Cafe when it opened. She said venues like it have great value because potential pet owners get to spend time with available cats and learn their personalities before deciding to adopt. “If you adopt a cat from the county shelter, they are all in cages and you don’t really get to know them,” Wagner said. “It’s a great spot to help facilitate adoptions. Both the rescues are foster-based so there is really nowhere you can go to meet multiple cats.” Kate Wruszak of Lady Luck Pet Rescue agreed that the Good Luck Cat Cafe has been a great outlet for providing in-person exposure for the many cats and kittens that desperately need good homes. Summers said someone from every continent has visited the Good Luck Cat Cafe at one time or another. “We really feel like we are viable if we have to rent a space. On a Saturday, we must have over 40 people by mid-afternoon,” Summers said. WMG
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April 3, 2019
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spirituality
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Divine Mercy Chapel 2749 NE 10th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33334 954-567-1930 - DivineMercy.church Service Time: Mass, Sunday 10:30am
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.
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach (954)942-5887 - stnicholasfl.org office@stnicholasfl.org Service Times: Sundays 8:00AM & 10:30AM (9:30AM only from Memorial Day through Labor Day)
Holy Angels Catholic Community 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors, FL 33334 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM Christ Lutheran Church 1955 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale. 33306 (954) 564-7673 - christlutheranfl.org pastordeborah@christlutheranfl.org Worship: Sunday 10:00am
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First Congregational United Church of Christ 1415 North K Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460 561-582-6691 - fcclw.org office@lakeworthchurch.org Service Time: Sunday 10:30AM United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale 2501 NE 30th Street, Ft. Lauderdale (954)563-4271 - uccftl.org revpatrickrogers@gmail.com Service Times: Thursdays 10:30AM (Elliot Hall) & Sundays 10:30AM (Sanctuary)
Be a part of our LAKE WORTH Faith Community No matter who you are, No matter where you are on life’s journey, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
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W
e are in the final weeks of the Lenten season of preparation for Easter, which began on Ash Wednesday. Sometimes we need to “adjust” our relationships with God, our family and friends, and how we treat the world around us. This recognition and adjustment is what the Church means by “repentance.” It would be difficult to come to the Easter celebration laden with bankrupt relationships and no sense of who we really are before God. The Season of Lent is a time to be intentional about making the adjustments necessary to be in a healthy and holy relationship with God, with our family and neighbors, and with God’s world. Healthy and holy relationships are part of the treasures of heaven that come with Easter. It’s not just a matter of some future after-life. It’s about being a People of the Resurrection in the here and now, with the Kingdom of Heaven and all its treasures breaking into, shaping, and transforming our normal, everyday lives. Holy Easter relationships are possible only if one is authentic. It is only then that God can fully reside in our hearts and be Emmanuel, God-With-Us. Our journey of authenticity began with the receipt of ashes and those haunting words: “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” But it doesn’t end there, nor does our journey end at the Cross of Good Friday. No, our journey is joined, through Baptism, with the life, death,
and Resurrection of Christ in whom we are raised from sin into newness of life, made holy and worthy, capable of sanctification and being ever more Christ-like ourselves. I invite you to be intentional in these final days of Lent. Attend a church on Palm Sunday. Wave blessed palms in celebratory procession and then save them in a place of honor until they are burned on Shrove Tuesday and the ashes used on Ash Wednesday of next year. Come to our 7:00 p.m. Wednesday night Tenebrae – the Service of Shadows, and extinguish the candles, joining the world in a descent into darkness for the final days. Gather for Holy Communion at 7:00 p.m. on Maundy Thursday and let others do for you, symbolized by the washing of feet. Join us at Noon on Good Friday to carry a roughly hewn 6’ Cross the one mile from Federal Highway back to the church, stopping periodically for the Stations of the Cross. Gather again at 7:00 p.m. for the Good Friday Liturgy and Holy Communion before Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and an all-night prayer vigil. Then experience the Great Vigil of Easter at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, starting outside by the fire pit for the lighting of the new fire. Process by candlelight into a darkened church and see the Light of Christ split the darkness. A festive champagne reception will follow. Journey with us to Easter. Come as you are – as one loved by God.
Why is this night different from all other nights?
Annual Second Night Passover Seder Join us on Saturday, April 20th, 6pm
Sign up online at www.etzchaimflorida.org
Congregation
2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors ● On the Pride Center campus 954Ͳ564Ͳ9232 ● www.EtzChaimFlorida.org Proudly serving our community since 1974
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 4.3.2019 •
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Convictions
Guest Column
Florida Democrats Look To LGBT Young People For Upper Hand In 2020 Alex Morash
T
he Florida Democratic Party is launching a final push to recruit college juniors to apply to the party’s paid field organizer training program, Organizing Corps 2020, before the application deadline of April 8. The Democratic Party is committed to hiring students of color for the program with a goal of 60 percent of all hires coming from Hispanic, Caribbean, African American and LGBT communities. Corps members will be flown to Chicago for a week of training with national experts, and then will come back to Florida to take part in an 8-week program while receiving a $4,000 stipend. The program will focus on structured training in digital organizing, voter registration, and data analysis. The party plans to invest over a million dollars into the effort, with the goal of training more than 100 young people this summer and a second set of college students in the fall. The party’s plan to recruit student organizers is just one piece of the larger plan, indicating Democrats are gearing up for 2020. The Florida Democratic Party also announced it will spend $2 million on voter registration, commit to registering 200,000 voters, and work with Andrew Gillum and partner organizations to increase voter registration by 1,000,000 voters in advance of 2020. In addition, the Florida Democratic Party has already started staffing up in data and field to prepare for 2020, announcing a dozen new senior hires in data and field to take back Florida and put a Democrat in the White House in 2020. The Florida Democrats believe they can
win in Florida by creating a new electorate through voter registration and outreach. Juan Penalosa, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, and an advisory board member of the Organizing Corps 2020, called the organizing program “crucial in turning Florida Blue in 2020.” He explained that “Florida Democrats saw record youth involvement and turnout in 2018, and the FDP Organizing Corps will help us build on youth outreach and engagement. It is a key component in expanding our base and ensure that Florida Democrats have a strong field program ready to support our presidential nominee on day one.” Organizing Corps 2020 is a national program led by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Groups working on the project include the Human Rights Campaign, Victory Fund, Disability Action for America, Asian American Action Fund, and Pay Our Interns. The party wants to focus on students from communities of color, and the LGBT community, because these groups have been underrepresented among political campaign staff. The Florida program seeks to recruit college students who reside in or around Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. The national program will also have students working in Phoenix, AZ, Atlanta, GA, Detroit, MI, Charlotte, NC, Fayetteville, NC, Philadelphia, PA, and Milwaukee, Wi. Students interested in applying to the program can apply at OrganizingCorps2020. com.
Alex Morash is a writer based in Wilton Manor, and is the statewide press secretary of the Florida Democratic Party.
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Convictions
Editorial Cartoon
Editorial Cartoon By Mike Luckovich
4.3.2019 •
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Convictions
Trans Talk
I Struggle with Mental Health Issues
and That’s OK
Atticus Ranck
Photo via Pixabay.
O
ne of the biggest barriers that prevented me from seeking out counseling back in 2009 was because if I went to therapy it meant admitting that I needed therapy, and if I needed therapy then I had a problem, and I didn’t want to have a problem. Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Therapy was one of the best things I ever did for myself. At first we talked about a traumatic sexual experience I had. But then we started talking about all the other things I was suppressing. At this point I was already using alcohol as a way to cope and my therapist was bringing up all these issues that sometimes made things feel worse. We started talking about how my parents split me and my girlfriend up the summer before senior year of high school. We talked about my religious upbringing. We talked about my relationships with my siblings, and alcohol, and school, and activism, and my romantic relationships, and stress, and anxiety, and depression. During one tearful session, I admitted that I thought I had depression and my therapist agreed. I started on an antidepressant through my campus health center. I would be on antidepressants for the next 10 years. I continued to see that therapist almost weekly for 3 years. I’ve continued to see various therapists since then. I’ve tried numerous times to get off my antidepressants but I was scared. I was told that I shouldn’t get off my antidepressants during any periods of change – like moving or changing relationships changing, etc. But my life was always changing and I didn’t know when I was supposed to get off my antidepressants, even when I felt like I didn’t need them anymore. Eventually, though, I moved to Pennsylvania and my girlfriend moved in with me and then we got engaged. I felt like I was in a stable place and I wanted to wean off my antidepressants. The doctor who prescribes me my HRT can also prescribe my antidepressants. I spoke to him and we came up with a schedule together to wean
I found transaffirming and competent therapists, which is no easy task, to help me along the way.
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off the antidepressants. After six months, I was off the antidepressants and I felt good. Despite the fact that I’m no longer taking antidepressants, my mental health isn’t all good, all the time. My wife and I recently bought a house and the housebuying process gave me so much anxiety that I started going back to therapy after about a twoand-a-half-year gap. I recently saw a therapist who uses hypnotherapy and tapping, called EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, to relieve anxiety. I know that I can always go back on my antidepressant and/or anti-anxiety medication. It’s there if I need it. For now, I’m trying to relieve my
anxiety without medication. I am an extremely privileged man who’s gone through some hard times. I’m a trans man whose family didn’t accept them at first, who’s been through traumatic experiences, and who used alcohol and other unhealthy behaviors to cope. But I came through the other side. I found trans-affirming and competent therapists, which is no easy task, to help me along the way. I have a beautiful, smart, passionate, and ambitious wife, we own our own house, and we both have jobs we enjoy and futures we dream about that are slowly turning into reality. I live in the world as a cis-passing, straight, white man. I have privilege. And I still need help, and I still struggle, and that’s OK.
Atticus Ranck is the Health Programs & Supportive Services Manager for Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, PA. Previously, he was the Director of Transgender Services at SunServe in Wilton Manors. Atticus is a trans man who advocates for the LGBT community through his work, trainings, presentations, and everyday encounters.
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Rosie’s Bar and Grill The Over Easy Cafe Mojo Restaurant and Lounge Georgie’s Alibi 50% Wilton Creamery 50%
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lifestyle homo history
The Peculiar Case of Robert Rayford America’s first case of HIV
St. Louis, Missouri.
Graham Brunk
F
or many years it was believed Gaetan Dugas was the man whom HIV originated with in the U.S. Being a flight attendant for Air Canada and one of the earliest highprofile gay men to die of the virus he seemed like a likely candidate…as suggested by some back in the early 1980s. The media ran with this idea calling him “patient zero” and Robert Shilt’s 1987 book on the AIDS crisis titled “And the Band Played On” further implicated Dugas. In the late 1980s Doctors and scientists were still struggling to understand the disease and how it operated and most of all where it came from. By complete coincidence around the same time of Shilts’ book’s release some doctors studying the AIDS virus were recalling an incident that happened nearly 20 years before in 1969. In 1968 a 15-year-old African-American boy named Robert (Bobby) Rayford admitted himself into a St. Louis, MI area clinic with some rather unusual symptoms. His genitals, pelvic region, and lymph nodes were swollen. He had warts, sores, and lesions all over his body. After spending a short amount of time in the clinic he grew weaker, began to look pale and had trouble breathing. Doctors initially believed he had lymphedema but became more alarmed when he claimed these symptoms have come and gone since 1966. Further testing revealed he had chlamydia, herpes, and genital warts that had spread all over his body. Rayford refused to allow the doctors to perform a rectal examination. When asked of his sexual history Rayford became very shy and withdrawn. He would only admit to having had sex once with a neighborhood girl. Still...doctors believed him to be highly promiscuous and the idea of homosexuality was never something that occurred to doctors at the time to even ask about. They tried everything they could think of to slow his declining health, but nothing seemed to stop it. A beacon of hope came in early 1969 when after giving him strong antibiotics his condition briefly improved. By spring of 1969 his condition declined again. His white blood cell count was almost nonexistent and doctors found his immune system to be simply nonfunctioning. He was so weak one of his doctors said he could barely say the words “boo” and shortly thereafter he developed a fever that turned into pneumonia which killed him at 11:20 p.m. on May 15, 1969, just one month before the Stonewall Riots. His autopsy did nothing to help solve the mystery. In fact, it further puzzled doctors when they learned that the lesions on his body were Kaposi Sarcoma, then only known as a rare form of skin cancer that often only affected older Mediterranean men. With no idea what was wrong with Rayford doctors froze his blood, brain, and organ tissue for preservation at a
University of Arizona lab for further study in the future. His case was only professionally published once in the university’s Journal of Lymphology in 1973. By 1987 Rayford’s case was long forgotten about but a few doctors who once worked on Rayford’s case were now investigating the AIDS crisis and one recalled his symptoms back then and pressed to locate Rayford’s preserved tissue samples and blood for further testing against information they now knew about HIV. A most sophisticated and sensitive test was performed on his tissue samples and it came back solid with nine HIV proteins in Rayford’s blood. There was now no doubt that Rayford was suffering from the effects of AIDS in his final days. While it was a relief to have finally solved that mystery, all it did was open up another one. It was now proven with Rayford’s case that HIV was certainly in the U.S. well before the late 1970s as previously hypothesized. There were so many unanswered questions...how did Rayford get it? Where did that person get it? Where did they come from? Little is known about Rayford’s life prior to this incident. He was described in the 1973 “Lymphology” journal article as being “mildy retarded.” Rayford was likely living on the streets and doctors at the time had suspected he had been sexually abused, but with more known about the gay community in the late 1980s it was now recognized he most definitely could have been a male prostitute. In the late 1960s homosexually was heavily condemned which would explain Rayford’s unwillingness to talk much about his sexual activity with doctors or the fact that he did not allow them to examine his rectum. So why didn’t this disease spread quickly at the time in St. Louis? Doctors believed that because St. Louis was a hub for Trans World Airlines it was likely someone who entered the city through that connection that brought it to the area in the first place. But, because there was a very small gay population, if really at all, at the time there was no major vehicle for the disease to continue to spread quickly. It’s very possible that there were other AIDS cases in the area at the time, but because the disease hides itself so well doctors simply saw these individuals as dying of other causes, such as pneumonia, which was not uncommon. Rayford’s case was only different because he was a minor and had so many things wrong with him that were unusual for someone his age. Still, there is no solid proof any of the above was how Rayford got the disease. There are other theories. There are accounts that Rayford had claimed to doctors that his grandfather,
While it was a relief to have finally solved that mystery, all it did was open up another one.
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Percy Rayford, had suffered similar symptoms and died in his early 50s in 1966. Researchers had tossed around the idea that perhaps Rayford was born with the disease, but Rayford did have two siblings who lived full lives and his mother lived to be 80. Edward Hooper’s book “The River” even theorizes he might have gotten it from open air chemical tests done by the Army Chemical Corps in the 1950s in the area of St. Louis that Rayford lived. This book, however, has been heavily criticized since its publication in 1999 and that scenario seems unlikely. In all likeliness the most widely accepted theory is that Rayford likely contracted the disease through prostitution. The mystery is just where and from whom. Today further tests could be done to his tissue and blood to study the strain of HIV he had which might reveal more information, but his samples have since disappeared after the initial 1987 discovery. Other than pictures in the 1973 journal article of his swollen body parts, no photographs of him have ever surfaced. Despite the importance of his story, its relatively completely forgotten today. Rayford’s memory should be remembered though as one of first certain victims to suffer from this horrid disease...not only in the context of the disease but because he suffered from it when nobody could understand what it was or what to do about it and, as only a teenage boy, that must have been terrifying.
Graham, a West Palm Beach native, is a local librarian with an interest in LGBTQ history in South Florida. He welcomes emails and story ideas. Contact him at GrahamBrunk@gmail.com.
lifestyle photos
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WHERE TO FIND US FORT LAUDERDALE Residents: NEW Distribution site for SFGN & The Mirror
majestic car wash 2781 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 4.3.2019 •
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lifestyle photos
SFGN GETS OUTSOCIAL On March 20, the SFGN media family met with the community at Gulf Stream Brewery for beers and banter. J.R. Davis
Jason Parsley and Brendon Lies.
Jetty and Russ.
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To see many more event photos, visit
lifestyle photos Justin Musial (left) and Edwin Neimann.
Toni, Jeffery and Joel.
Justin Wyse.
Clark Rogers (left), Ron and Efrain.
Don’t miss the next OutSocial!
Dine Out For Life Kick-off Party: April 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Hunter’s Nightclub Piero (left) and Norm Kent (right) pose with a staff member.
South Florida Gay News on Facebook.
The magicians working the bar at Gulf Stream Brewery.
4.3.2019 •
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lifestyle food
Rick Karlin
Hurray for Bombay
Bombay Darbar
1521 E. Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale 954-990-7222 bombaydarbar.com I love Indian food, but most Indian restaurants are a disappointment. Either they’re too casual, or the service stinks or the food sucks. If I’m going to an Indian buffet my standards are a bit lower (as they are with any buffet) – if you want a greater variety or quantity, you’re going to sacrifice a bit in quality and service. When I entered Bombay Darbar, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was the décor chic and tasteful, but the hostess and host seemed genuinely glad to see us. A far cry from the usually dreary surroundings and begrudging service. The restaurant recently opened on Las Olas. Although I had no idea how recently, I happened to stop in during the third week the place was open. Normally I give a place a few months to work out the kinks so we almost turned and left, but what the hell, we found free parking right across the street and when does that happen on Las Olas? We took it as a sign and decided to stay. We weren’t disappointed. If the folks running this place have everything this smooth after three weeks, I can’t imagine what it will be like in a few months. We weren’t the only ones anxious to check it out; the place was packed, with a healthy LGBT representation among the customers. Bombay Darbar is not cheap, most of the entrees are in the $15-$20 range and are simply served with basmati rice, and a couple of slices of papadum with chutney to snack on before your meal. If you want naan with your meal, you’ll pay for it; $3-$5 a serving, but it’s well worth the few extra bucks, especially if the other bread options are as good as the onion kulcha we devoured. We also started with a couple of appetizers. The vegetable samosa provided two perfectly cooked pastries stuffed with a potato and pea mixture. Dipping in the tamarind chutney sauce or the onion and tomato salsa-style chutney provides an exhilarating burst of
spicy-sweet flavor. For a more herbaceous note try the mint chutney. We also ordered vegetable pakora (fritters). We were served the paneer (cheese) version by mistake, but they were so good, we didn’t care. There’s also an excellent wine and beer list. It has a nice variety and is well-priced. I sipped a New Zealand sauvignon blanc for $7. I always have a hard time picking just one entrée option and my husband is a vegetarian who doesn’t like to share, so picking my main dish is always an issue. This time it was easy because there was a dish on the menu I hadn’t had before, which sounded delicious. Lamb pasanda featured moist and tender boneless chunks of meat swimming in a creamy cashew-based sauce. As with all dishes at Bombay Darbur it is offered in a range from mild to hot or super hot. I like spicy food, but until I know what they consider super hot I went with medium-high spice level. For most people that would be plenty, but next time I’ll go up a step on the heat level. My husband got his favorite saag paneer, creamed spinach with Indian cheese studded throughout. He also went with medium-high heat. Both dishes were beautifully presented and provided enough for one as a hearty entrée, two lighter eaters or four to sample the dish. There were some dessert options, but we were too full to do anything but look at the menu wistfully. As good as the food is, the service proved even better. Each dish was beautifully presented, the flow from one course to the next was flawless and the staff was constantly checking in to tend to our every need. It wasn’t a bargain, dinner for two with a tip was $80, but the best quality seldom comes cheaply. Bombay Darbar is open daily for dinner from 6 until 10 (an hour later on Friday and Saturday). A special allinclusive multi-course lunch menu, priced between $12 and $15, is available from noon until 3 p.m. daily.
As good as the food is, the service proved even better.
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Bombay Darbar. Photo via Facebook.
Most Indian restaurants offer table service at night and a buffet for lunch, and occasionally on weekends. It’s always better to check ahead as policies change as quickly as an Indian typhoon. Great Indian Grill 2692 E. Atlantic, Pompano Beach 954-532-7872 greatindiangrill.com Nothing that great about it. It’s mediocre food and the service is haphazard at best.
5th Element Indian Grill 1325 S. Powerline, Pompano Beach 954-977-4334 my5thelement.com Table service is a step above others and the lunch buffet is popular. Extra points for mango soft serve!
Palace Indian 11422 W. State Rd 84, Davie 954-370-4750 palaceindiancuisine.com If you find Indian food too spicy, this is the place to go. It is the blandest Indian food I’ve ever tasted.
Bombay Cafe 3060 N. Andrews, Wilton Manors 954-568-0600 bombay-cafe.com Mediocre food and the most disinterested servers I’ve encountered in South Florida. If you need one, they tend to loiter near the bar.
Taste Buds of India 7881 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs 954-603-6996 tastebudsofindia.com Table service is not very attentive or efficient, but the food is great.
Hungry for more?
Indian Harbor 1830 Cordova Rd., Fort Lauderdale 754-200-4891 theindianharbor.com Not much in the way of décor, it feels like the mall storefront it is, but the food is good and service is attentive.
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.
Rib Tuesdays $19.95 Any of them for the same special price!
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4.3.2019 •
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lifestyle photos
A celebration of life for Beverly McClellan The Pride Center hosted a Celebration of Life to remember Beverly McClellan, a beloved local musician. Photo credit: Carina Mask. To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook.
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Feature pets
bring the sunshine
rosie
If you’re looking for a mellow gal, who enjoys sunbathing and being pet…look no further, six-year-old Rosie (ID 609186) is the gal for you. This sweetheart is 44 pounds of pure love. The staff and volunteers at the Humane Society say she is an awesome dog who will make a wonderful family pet. She loves to hang out with you and might even give you a smile for a treat. Rosie has been waiting more than six weeks for a home and we don’t understand why. Stop by and meet her to see why everyone at the shelter thinks she is so special.
The adoption fee for dogs over 6 months is $100 and felines over 6 months are $30. When you adopt from the Humane Society of Broward County the dogs and cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, receive preliminary vaccinations, cats are feline leukemia tested, and dogs over 7 months are tested for heartworm. They also receive a flea/tick preventative, a 10-day limited health care plan from VCA Animal Hospitals, 30 days of Trupanion Pet Insurance and a bag of Purina ONE pet food. The HSBC opens daily at 10:30 and is located at 2070 Griffin Road, a block west of I-95. For more details call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. To see who else is looking for a home visit www.humanebroward.com.
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SFGNITES
FOR THE WEEK OF april 4 - April 9, 2019 • WWW.SFGN.COM J.W. Arnold
Classics and High Camp
jw@prdconline.com
THU
4/4
comedy If you’re a shopaholic, then “come on down” and play “The Price is Right Live” tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Dr. Try you luck at classic games just like on TV’s longest running and most popular game show—from Plinko™ and Cliffhangers™ to The Big Wheel™ and even the fabulous Showcase Showdown. Tickets start at $43.87 at TheCenterCS.com.
FRI
4/5
dance Miami City Ballet concludes its 201819 season with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” set to Felix Mendelssohn’s timeless score and reimagined as a breathtaking and unforgettable oceanic spectacle inspired by South Florida’s glorious seascape. Tonight through Sunday, April 7 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach and April 13 – 14 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets at MiamiCityBallet.org.
Saturday
4/6
comedy
“Lee Squared: A Tribute to Liberace and Miss Peggy Lee” closes out the Outlandish performance series tonight at 8 p.m. at the Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 S.W. 9th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. New York City Bistro Awardwinners David Maiocco and Chuck Sweeney team up for an evening of laughter and music—from the virtuoso piano stylings of Liberace (known to friends as “Lee”) to the sultry jazz of Miss Lee. You get two Lees for the price of one! Tickets start at $30 at OutlandishFL.com. Photo Credit: Lee2Productions.
SAT
4/6 SUN
4/7 MON
4/8 TUE
4/9
concert
dance
theater
theater
The Arsht Center in Miami celebrates its 13th anniversary with “Miami Fusion,” with a star-studded gala featuring multiple Grammy-winner Juanes and Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell. The 7 p.m. concert in the Ziff Ballet Opera House will be followed by “Party on the Plaza,” an outdoor dance party hosted by Giselle D’Wassi One with DJs Int’l Stephen, NickyMix and more. Tickets are $75 at ArshtCenter.org.
Toeing the line between high camp and high art, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo returns to the Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th St. in Fort Lauderdale, tonight at 7 p.m. to celebrate their 40th anniversary. These “guys”—yes, they’re “guys”— don tutus and man-sized pointe shoes to masterfully dance classic scenes from “Swan Lake” and “Le Corsaire.” Tickets start at $37.50 at ParkerPlayhouse.com.
South Florida’s answer to the Tony Awards, the 43rd annual Carbonell Awards pay tribute to the very best regional theatrical productions of the past year and features top local actors, directors, designers and theater insiders in an unforgettable behind-the-scenes celebration. The glitzy ceremony returns to the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 at BrowardCenter.org.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit Broadway musical, “School of Rock,” comes to the Arsht Center in Miami tonight through Sunday, April 14. Based on the hit film, this hilarious show follows a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. You already know where the story goes from there. Tickets start at $34 at ArshtCenter.org.
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OUT NOW
ON A RED RACK NEAR YOU!
S O U T H
GET OUT!
F L O R I D A
G A Y
N E W S Vol. 8 Issue 2 March 2019
TRAVEL EDITION TRAVEL THE STATE, THE COUNTRY, THE WORLD... OR YOUR OWN BACKYARD
READ IT ONLINE AT THEMIRRORMAG.COM 4.3.2019 •
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A&E theater Todd Bruno, left, and Billy Hutto star in “From White Plains,” currently playing at Island City Stage. Credit: George Wentzler.
Review: ‘From White Plains’ is Painful Reminder of Sins Past J.W. Arnold
A
t first, the opening scene of Michael Perlman’s “From White Plains” might seem inspired by the 1997 comedy “In & Out:” An Academy Award-winning actor (Matt Dillon) outs his gay high school drama teacher (Kevin Kline) in an internationally broadcast acceptance speech. The only problem is that the teacher didn’t realize he was gay. In the case of Perlman’s 2012 drama, receiving its regional premiere at Island City Stage, the actor is instead an openly gay writer, Dennis Sullivan, accepting the Oscar and using his television platform to publicly shame Ethan Rice, the high school bully who tormented him and drove his friend to suicide. And, like that teacher, the bully was caught completely unaware of his “crimes.” What seems like a black-and-white case suddenly becomes gray as Dennis (Billy Hutto) stokes public rage on the internet after Ethan (Todd Bruno) clumsily attempts to apologize via YouTube. Quickly, it becomes apparent that Dennis has been consumed by anger for 15 years and any effort by Ethan will fall short of his expectations. Further complicating the situation are the reactions of Dennis’ boyfriend Gregory (Dean Nigro), a somewhat-closeted conservative who wants Dennis to move on, and John (Alex Alvarez), Ethan’s college bro with a gay brother who questions his friend’s remorse. Neither proves to be the dependable wingman as the plot unfolds. For the mostly older gay audience at Wilton Theater Factory, the story was immediately familiar and relatable. Even today, in the era of pansexual and omnisexual Gen Z students with a social conscience, high school can be an emotional minefield. Roll back the clock to the days when fags and queers were harassed on a daily basis and it’s easy to understand why Dennis can’t just let it go.
But, it’s also plausible that Ethan was just an immature kid who could never realize the true effects of his taunting. He didn’t even remember the name of the primary subject of the sadistic actions, let alone any knowledge of his suicide. He’s just an everyday jerk who whiles away his evenings at the local sports bar. Now he is saddled with overwhelming guilt that he may not be able to atone. Perlman’s treatment of each character is even-handed throughout and none emerge as a clear protagonist or antagonist. After meeting in the green room before a talk show encounter, it’s apparent both old wounds and new may never heal. Director Andy Rogow’s cast was passionate, yet still surprisingly stiff even on the second weekend of the run. Perlman’s dialogue can be a mouthful, especially in the extended conversations between Dennis/ Gregory and Ethan/John. The pace picks up dramatically as characters interact with each other in real time on cell phones and instant messages. The biggest revelation occurs when Gregory and John meet on a subway train—anonymously—and end up discussing the news coverage of the public conflict, sharing unfiltered assessments of their partners’ motivations. D’Vaughn Agu’s set is angular and boxy, covered in those beige institutional tiles that were synonymous with schools, jails and transit stations a generation ago. Joel de Sousa’s lighting design is equally stark, but never warm, mimicking the tense exchanges that dominate the 90-minute, one-act play. Spoiler alert: Unlike many, if not most playwrights, Perlman doesn’t even attempt a tidy, let alone happy, ending. Life is messy and complicated, and Dennis, Ethan and the audience must all cope with the haunting memories that remain when the lights abruptly go down.
Island City Stage presents Michael Perlman’s “From White Plains” through April 21 at Wilton Theater Factory, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Tickets are $38 at IslandCityStage.org.
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A&E history
MASTERWORKS IV APRIL 13 | 7:30 PM TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THEATRE KEY WEST
APRIL 16 | 7:30 PM BROWARD CENTER FORT LAUDERDALE RAVEL Alborada del Gracioso
Photo: Foucs Features.
LIEBERMANN
Brokeback Mountain Selected For Permanent Preservation By Library Of Congress
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra Julian Schwarz, cello SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5
David-Elijah Nahmod
“B
rokeback Mountain,” the 2005 Oscar winning gay romance, has been selected for permanent preservation by the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. The film was chosen because it is considered to be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” “Brokeback Mountain” joins the handful of other queer films which have been selected for preservation. The other films are “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Midnight Cowboy,” “Paris Is Burning,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Portrait Of Jason,” and “The Times Of Harvey Milk.” “Brokeback Mountain” stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, two cowboys who meet in 1963. Much to their surprise, they find themselves attracted to each other, which leads to a twenty year secret love affair, even as each of them marries and has children. The film was directed by Ang Lee, who first attracted attention in 1993 with his gay romantic comedy “The Wedding Banquet.” When he was awarded the coveted Oscar for Best Director in 2006, Lee said, “I want to thank two people who don’t even exist, and their names are Ennis and Jack. They taught all of us who made ‘Brokeback Mountain’ so much about not just all the gay men and women whose love is denied by society, but just as important, about the greatness of love itself.” Indeed, “Brokeback Mountain” is first and foremost a love story. Ennis and Jack come to love each other deeply. Jack wants to take their relationship to the next level, and suggests that they could go away together and make a life for themselves on a ranch of their own. But Ennis is haunted by a horrific childhood memory: his father had showed him the corpse of a man who had been beaten to death because it was suspected that he was gay. A frustrated Jack finds solace with male prostitutes in Mexico, but he continues the secret affair with Ennis. As the years pass, they continue going on their “fishing trips.” Jack continues to hold out hope that Ennis will
one day see what a good life they could have together. Their affair lasts into the 1980s. Some twenty years after they first met Jack is killed in an accident. Ennis imagines that Jack was actually killed as the result of another gay bashing, the very fate he always feared. He realizes — too late — how much he loved Jack. “Brokeback Mountain” captured the imagination of the public, grossing $178 million worldwide against a budget of $14 million. In addition to the Best Director Oscar for Ang Lee, the film won four Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture: Drama. Ledger and Gyllenhaal both received Oscar nominations, though neither won, in spite of their superb work. The film is credited with bringing queer cinema into the mainstream. In his 2016 book “Out At The Movies: A History Of Gay Cinema,” Steven Paul Davies writes that “most major film studios have been clamoring to get behind new, gay themed projects. Thanks to ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ film financiers will continue to back scripts that don’t simply rely on gay stereotypes.” Much of the film’s success is due to the incredible acting of Ledger and Gyllenhaal. Both actors give nuanced, multi-layered performances as two men who might have been able to make a life with each other were it not for the prejudices of the society they lived in. Ledger is heartbreaking, exquisitely capturing Ennis’ fear and confusion as he engages in a tug of war with his natural desires and what is expected of him. Gyllenhaal is brilliant as a frustrated man who never gives up hope that he can one day have the life he dreams of. “Brokeback Mountain” is a groundbreaking film. Haunting and unforgettable, it’s a worthy addition to the National Film Registry. By selecting it, the Library Of Congress has assured that the film will remain available for many generations to come. In addition to DVD and Blu Ray, the film is available for viewing on YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and Vudu.
APRIL 14 TEMPLE ISRAEL CHAMBER SERIES MIAMI BLOCH / BRAHMS / CHOPIN / DEBUSSY / SCHUMANN Julian Schwarz, cello Marika Bournaki, accompanist Champagne Brunch 11:30 AM Recital 1:00 PM T I C KET S O N SAL E NOW
S O U T H F L O R IDASYM P HO NY. O RG | 954 -522-84 4 5
Glenn Dicterow & Karen Dreyfus
Classics Reborn
Mendelssohn • Mozart • Rossini
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 • 7:45 pm
BrowardCenter.org • 954-462-0222 info@sota.org • 954-335-7002 Sponsored by
Lesleen Bolt & Stephen A. Keller (in memoriam)
SOTA_SFGN-2019-04Apr_4.875x5.25.indd 1
Pre-Concert talk and wine tasting at 7:00 pm with Lyn Farmer, Director, Veritage, Miami
Billy’s Stone Crab
3/14/19 3:43 PM 4.3.2019 • 47
april 3 - April 9
Datebook
Theater Tucker Berardi
Calendar@SFGN.com
Top
Picks
*Tomas Cotik and Tao Lin: Mozart, Vivaldi, Piazzolla
April 7 at 3 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. The Norton is proud to welcome back Cotik and Lin for an encore performance featuring Mozart’s Sonata in A major, KV 526, as well as selections from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (transcribed for piano and violin), and Piazzolla’s tango-based Las cuatro estaciones porteñas. Tickets $20. Visit Norton. org
*Vanessa Collier
Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to meet Vanessa Collier and witness one of her head-turning, fiery, and passionate performances, you should definitely make sure you do. As a master musician and multiinstrumentalist, Vanessa weaves funk, soul, rock, and blues into every powerful performance and she is downright impressive. Tickets $35 to $45. Visit artsgarage.org.
broward county *The Creation of Joseph Hayden
May 3 and 5 at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, 5555 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale. This charming work by Joseph Haydn, sung in English and accompanied by a full orchestra, portrays the creation of the earth and all crea-tures that inhabit it. Tickets $35. Visit masterchoraleofsouthflorida.org.
From White Plains
March 23 to April 21 at the Wilton Theater Factory Mainstage, 2304 Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors. Imagine sitting with your best friend, drinking beers and watching the Oscars on TV when, all of the sudden one of the winners names you as the bully who tormented him and provoked his best friend into committing suicide. That’s only the first few minutes of the explosive play. For tickets and more information visit IslandCityStage.org.
Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series
Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy live, outdoor music spanning genres and tributes every Friday evening through November. Free. Visit FridayNightSoundWaves.com
palm beach county Derek Hough Live
Wednesday, April 10 at 8 p.m. at the
* Denotes New Listing
Tomas Cotik and Tao Lin will bring Mozart, Vivaldi and Piazzolla to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach on April 7. Photo via tomascotik.com.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach. This solo live dance tour features brand-new stage production that sends fans on a journey through a fusion of dance and music. Tickets $39. Visit go.kravis.org.
Free Friday Concerts
Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the
comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.
*Vanessa Collier
Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to meet Vanessa Collier and witness one of her headturning, fiery, and passionate performances, you should definitely make sure you do. As a master musician and multi-instrumentalist, Vanessa weaves funk, soul, rock, and blues into every powerful performance and she is downright impressive. Tickets $35 to $45. Visit artsgarage.org.
miami-dade county Outdoor Music Series
Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.
The Big Show
Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection of comedy mix-ing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit JustTheFunny.com.
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A&E theater
Ben Levi Ross stars in “Dear Evan Hansen,” playing at the Broward Center through April 7. Credit: Matthew Murphy.
In ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ Little White Lie Forces Life-Changing Decision J.W. Arnold
W
e’ve all found ourselves in that awkward situation when someone asks a simple question and before we can stop ourselves, we’ve replied with an untruth. Usually, these situations are benign, free of consequences, but for Evan Hansen, a little white lie quickly spirals out of control. Evan Hansen (Ben Levi Ross), the title character of the Tony Award-winning best musical that is currently playing at the Broward Center, is not just any teen. He’s an introverted young man who suffers from anxiety and socialization issues and is being raised by an overworked, divorced mother (Jessica Phillips). Every day at his suburban high school offers existential challenges as he yearns just to be noticed by his equally hormonal peers. As part of his therapy, Evan’s doctor directs the teen to write reassuring letters to himself. The school bully, Connor, steals one of those letters, which is discovered on his body after the troubled stoner commits suicide. Connor’s parents (Christiane Noll and Aaron Lazar) mistake the author of the letter as their son and later seek answers from his “secret friend” Evan. That’s where Evan’s little white lie—admitting that he and Connor were indeed friends, best friends—sends everyone, including the audience, on an unforgettable musical journey of self-discovery and reckoning. Evan will eventually have to make a life-changing decision. Composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “The Greatest Showman”) penned a dramatic and tuneful pop-infused score that allows the diminutive, gangly Ross to emotionally and musically soar throughout
the show, despite his character’s self-imposed inhibitions. Book writer Stephen Levenson unveils both the plot points and Evan’s journey like an onion, with each successive development revealing yet another layer to be peeled away. While Evan is not gay—the only references inject some needed and innocent comic relief—LGBT audiences have and will continue to relate to the teen’s predicament. Acceptance does not come easily for most and many LGBT people have experienced the painful isolation that comes with being different. Many others, when put on the spot, may have also found themselves in a similar situation—say, when confronted about their sexual orientation— and been mortified by the responses that left their lips. But, it is the show’s unconventional “overture” that truly sets the tone for the unique theatrical experience to follow: a carefullycrafted symphony of seemingly random rings, bells and alarms starkly reverberating throughout the auditorium, subliminal and literal at the same time. Similarly, the minimalist set is framed by a stream of instant messages, emails, videos and social media feeds projected on an array of video monitors, an appropriate context for a show about a generation of young people who rely on smartphones and apps for the simplest of human interactions. Regardless of generation, audiences enthusiastically responded both to the inspired performances at the Broward Center and the complex underlying messages of the show, likely to resonate long after this production moves to its next venue.
“Dear Evan Hansen” runs through April 7 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets start at $55.25 at BrowardCenter.org. 4.3.2019 •
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april 3 - April 9
Datebook
Community Tucker Berardi
Calendar@SFGN.com
Top Picks
Be the Change
Friday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kaye Auditorium on FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. an evening of conversation and storytelling on how personal empowerment and self-care can lead to positive social change with Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Brittany Packnett, Elaine Welteroth, Barb Schmidt and Michelle Maros. Tickets are $35 to $100. Visit FAUEvents.com
*Special Topics in Chinese Art
April 4, 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. In this three-class course, Dr. Yi explores the fifth-century Yungang Caves – a World Heritage site; the legendary Silk Road; and fascinating archaeological finds from the past 50 years. Tickets $65. Visit Norton.org.
*Art After Dark
Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. View an exhibition, attend a talk, participate in an art activity, enjoy a performance, concert, or film, sip cocktails, and dine in the Museum’s elegant new bar and restaurant. Free admission. Visit Norton.org.
Broward Support Services PFLAG
Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and locations.
SunServe Youth Group
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.
Survivor Support
First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954-384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.
broward county *NSU Lecture Series
Thursday, April 11 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the NSU Art Museum, One East Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale. This discussion will explore 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, social media and other emerging technologies to explore new media for artists and explore the limits of culture and society within these frames. Free admission, call 954-262-0258.
*A Sense of Pride Senior Workshop
Saturday, April 6 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the NSU Art Museum, One East Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale. Adults, seniors and allies will learn about contemporary artists who create altars as a means of conceptualizing ideas and honoring loved ones while creating their own symbolic celebratory work. Free admission. Call 954-262-0258.
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Tickets $20. Visit artsandcraftssocialclub. com
Lunch With Art
Every Wednesday from 12:15 to 1:15 pm at 41 NE st 33060, Pompano Beach. Indulge your creative side in this free hands-on program. Bring your own lunch or grab a bite to eat at the in-house cafe.
Voices of Pride
Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they practice every week. Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC. com for rehearsal details.
palm beach county *Chinese Lantern Festival Exhibit
Now to June 9 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. Viewers will have the opportunity to further examine the intricate details of these twofoot-wide and eight-foot-high panels with digital images provided on a tablet, as well as enhanced details of a related handscroll titled Colourful Lanterns at Shangyuan. Visit Norton.org for details.
*Special Topics in Chinese Art
April 4, 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. In this three-class course, Dr. Yi explores the fifth-century Yungang Caves – a World Heritage site; the legendary Silk Road; and fascinating archaeological finds from the past 50 years. Tickets $65. Visit Norton.org.
*Art After Dark
April 5 to May 4, Reception Saturday, Aptil 20 at 6 p.m. at the Claudia Castillo Art Studio, 2215 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. Artist Hugh Williams presents his work. Call 954274-7047 for details.
Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. View an exhibition, attend a talk, participate in an art activity, enjoy a performance, concert, or film, sip cocktails, and dine in the Museum’s elegant new bar and restaurant. Free admission. Visit Norton.org.
8th Annual GLLN Gala
Be the Change
Under Pressure Art Show
April 13th from 4 p.m. 7 p.m. at the Flagship in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Proceeds from this year’s gala will go to Latinos Salud and The Pet Project. Guests will have access to an open bar and unlimited hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $100. Visit GLLN.org.
Arts and Crafts Wednesday Happy Hour
Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Arts and Crafts Social Club in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy a two-for-one ‘freestyle’ painting session with hands on assistance as needed.
Friday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kaye Auditorium on FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. an evening of conversation and storytelling on how personal empowerment and self-care can lead to positive social change with Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Brittany Packnett, Elaine Welteroth, Barb Schmidt and Michelle Maros. Tickets are $35 to $100. Visit FAUEvents.com
An active fraternal and social organization dedicated to bring together mature gay and bisexual men for friendship, activities, support, and personal growth for the best times of our lives. Free. Call 561- 533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com.
Coffee Clatch at Compass
First Monday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Compass, 201 N. Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth. A social group focusing on the mature LGBT+ community in Palm Beach County, providing a relaxed environment for meeting friends, discussing interesting topics, and engaging in community projects. Free to attend, email joekolb@compassglcc. com for details.
miami-dade county 28th Annual Reach for the Stars Gala Auction
April 13th at 6 p.m. at Actor’s Playhouse, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables. Gather with friends to enjoy delicious food with 30 of Coral Gables’ finest restaurants sponsoring the event while supporting the Actor’s Playhouse youth programming and general operations. Tickets are $250 per guest. Visit ActorsPlayhouse.org.
Arsht Center Farmers Market
Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Purchase fresh food from local farmers, including fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared foods, as well as chefs, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Tickets $45 to $75. Free. Visit ArshtCenter.org/en/Visit/Dining.
key west Comedy Key West
Thursday and Friday at 8:30 pm at the Bottlecap’s Blue Room, 1128 Simonton Street, Key West. Come enjoy drinks and jokes at the weekly comedy nights! Local talent sure to get you laughing is showcased each week. Tickets $15 at the door. Visit comedykeywest. com
Aqua Idol
Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Aqua Key West, 711 Duval St. in Key West. Support your local artists and vote for your favorite! Benefits Waterfront Playhouse. Call 305-2940555 or visit AquaKeyWest.com.
Palm Beaches Prime Timers
Second Saturdays at 3 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth.
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4.3.2019 •
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