SFGN 04/08/21 V12iss14

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE APRIL 8, 2021 VOL. 12 // ISSUE 14

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

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OUT MAN RUNS FOR COMMISSION IN CORAL GABLES

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• 4 . 8 . 2021

Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

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

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Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

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Correspondents

Donald Cavanaugh • John McDonald Deon Jefferson • David-Elijah Nahmod Denise Royal • John Hayden • Elliot Rodriguez Kendall Little • Everitt Rosen • Corey Rose

José Valdés-Fauli next to a campaign sign. Photo via Facebook.

reassessments, Valdés-Fauli said. He is against changing city code to allow more density and larger buildings.

“I believe that market forces should determine the outcome, and the concepts of supply and demand should prevail,” ValdésFauli wrote in a letter to Gables Insider.

Valdés-Fauli is one of six candidates campaigning for the commission’s group two seat. Vote by mail is underway with the election scheduled for April 13.

“Most likely there will be a run-off,” said Bentonne Snay, president of the Coral Gables Democratic Club. The club has endorsed Valdés-Fauli.

“He espouses Democratic values, not just LGBTQ, but environmental rights, civil rights and women’s rights,” Snay said. “He’s always been a huge supporter of the arts and was one of the main people to bring Art Basel to Miami.”

Snay said voters should not confuse Valdés-

Fauli with his brother, Raúl, the outgoing Mayor, who Snay said has a different temperament.

“José is a very warm person,” Snay said.

The family fled Fidel Castro’s Cuba and Raúl was first elected Mayor in 1993.

Branded “The City Beautiful” Coral Gables has an estimated population of just under 50,000 residents. It was constructed as a planned community with a Mediterranean theme by George E. Merrick in the 1920s.

The University of Miami is the city’s largest employer.

“José will bring fiscal savvy to the commission which is a helpful skill to ensure that public dollars are managed appropriately,” said Gonzales.

A retiree with time on his hands is another asset to his candidacy, Snay said.

“He can give more time to the budget,” Snay said. “And plus, he’s not a lawyer. We already have a bunch of lawyers.”

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J

osé Valdés-Fauli is hoping to bring some fiscal sense to the Coral Gables government and in the process make history.

Valdés-Fauli, 69, is running for an open seat on the Coral Gables Commission.

“It’s the first time Coral Gables will elect a gay commissioner,” Valdés-Fauli said.

The longtime businessman is confident of his prospects and has the backing of the LGBTQ Victory Fund and SAVE. Orlando Gonzales, SAVE’s Executive Director, said his organization is excited to endorse Valdés-Fauli.

“His history with the LGBTQ community is strong,” Gonzales said. “He was heavily involved with the early response to the HIV/ AIDS crisis in South Florida and in the formative years of SAVE. He is well-poised to serve public office by leveraging his years of experience in the financial services and banking industry.”

Valdés-Fauli sprung into action in the 1980s to help form the Health Crisis Network that delivered vital services to people living with HIV/AIDS. It was while serving on the board of Miami’s Mercy Hospital that Valdés-Fauli met his partner of 28 years, Shed Boren.

“He was very intelligent,” Valdés-Fauli recalled when asked about his initial attraction.

Boren is a social worker and professor at Florida International University.

As a former head of four different banks, Valdés-Fauli, said he will draw on his 35 years of experience in finance to steer Coral Gables in the right direction. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the city needs to be prepared for a budget deficit and property

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April 8, 2021 • Volume 12 • Issue 14

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4 . 8 . 20 21 •

3

NEWS STATE

ANTI-TRANS BILLS ADVANCING IN FLORIDA SENATE, HOUSE John McDonald

I

t looks like Florida will be the next state to place restrictions on transgender people.

Bills banning trans girls and women from competing in school sports advanced in both the Florida Senate and House of Representatives last week. In a party-line vote, the Senate’s Health Policy Committee passed the “Promoting Equality of Athletic Opportunity Act” requiring “certain athletic teams or sports sponsored by certain educational institutions be designated on the basis of students’ biological sex” and prohibit “athletic teams or sports designated for female students from being open to male students.”

Adding insult to injury, Sen. Dennis Baxley compared trans people to automobiles.

“I have the greatest empathy for anybody that has such dysphoria,” said Baxley, Republican from Ocala. “I talk to my psychiatrist son all the time about this. What can we do to help people get peace with who they are and who other people are? … But you can’t make the facts move for someone.

I can stand out here in the garage all day and convince myself that I’m an automobile, but it doesn’t make me an automobile and at the end of the day, it gives me a very confused life.”

“THE TRANS SPORTS BAN IS A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT DOESN’T EXIST.” - Chris Mosier TRANS MAN, TRIATHLETE AND SIX-TIME MEMBER OF TEAM USA

4

• 4 . 8 . 2021

Senator Shevrin Jones immediately responded to Baxley, acknowledging the comments were offensive to trans women and men.

“We have to have a sense of decorum when it comes to respecting these individuals because they are already under a great deal of scrutiny and it’s not fair that we as leaders of this state do this,” said Jones. “Yes we can have our differences but there are 21 million people in the state of Florida and we should respect all 21 million people.”

SB 2012 moves on to the Rules Committee where the Republicans hold another advantage. A companion bill in the House moved out of the Secondary Education and Career Development subcommittee and is on the agenda for the Education & Employment Committee.

With Democrats badly outnumbered in Tallahassee there seems to be little hope for transgender Floridians.

“The trans sports ban is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. It’s targeting a young population of people who are already the targets of harassment, discrimination, and bullying at exponential rates. These are adults bullying children who just want to play with their friends,” stated Chris Mosier, a trans man, triathlete and six-time member of Team USA. Elsewhere, Arkansas became the first state to ban health care for trans youth.

“Your Hate will not be final. Love will always win in the end!” tweeted Dwyane Wade, the former Miami Heat all-star basketball player and father of a transgender teenage girl.

Photo via Adobe, edited by Brendon Lies.

In a telephone town hall last week, U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch called the recent string of legislation targeting transgender and gender non-binary Americans cruel.

“I don’t think we should punish a person for acknowledging their true gender identity … it seems particularly cruel,” said Deutch.

“We should not punish people simply for trying to live their truest lives especially since it doesn’t harm others.”

For last week’s Transgender Day of Visibility, President Joe Biden offered his administration’s support.

“Transgender rights are human rights — and I’m calling on every American to join me in uplifting the worth and dignity

of transgender Americans,” Biden tweeted.

“Together, we can stamp out discrimination and deliver on our nation’s promise of freedom and equality for all.”

However, if Florida follows Arkansas, Mississippi and other states that are considering transgender bans, some in the trans community are proposing to fight back.

“We need a ‘trans day of rage’ that lets us be free to let out our collective frustration at being reduced by this system to either being commodified products and brands or to be voiceless consumers of meaningless streams of content while we desperately fight to survive,” tweeted Chelsea E. Manning, a trans femme network security expert.

NEWS LOCAL

CORAL RIDGE PASTOR SPONSORED ANTI-LGBT ELECTION WEBINAR John McDonald

I

n the uproar over Fort Lauderdale’s celebration of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, much has been written about the church’s history of anti-LGBT positions.

The burning question still lingers: Have those positions changed?

For answers look no further than lead pastor Rob Pacienza. In accepting the city’s proclamation, Pacienza said, “I think for far too long, the church has been known more for what they’ve been against than what they’ve been for, and we look forward to building those bridges.”

However, a closer look into Pacienza’s theology reveals a man enamored with blackrobed patriots who does not hesitate to bring politics into the pulpit.

In October of last year, Pacienza cosponsored a webinar with John Stemberger, an Orlando attorney and longtime opponent of same-sex marriage and transgender rights. Titled “A Gospel-Centered Approach to Leading in 2020” the webinar featured six theologians offering opinions on how to be impactful in advance of the 2020 election.

While some of the panelists did not attempt to hide their support for the re-election of former President Donald Trump nor their contempt for the LGBT movement, Pacienza was more subtle in his comments. Near the end of the webinar, Pacienza revealed where he stood on social issues.

“WE ARE VOTING FOR THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE, WE’RE VOTING FOR GOD’S DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE, WE’RE VOTING FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY...”

- Rob Pacienza LEAD PASTOR, CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Rob Pacienza, lead pastor at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Photo via Facebook.

“We are voting for the sanctity of human life, we’re voting for God’s definition of marriage, we’re voting for religious liberty because these are issues that have always concerned the people of God,” Pacienza said. “We’ve got to rescue it from the progressive agenda that want to make them mere political issues that are subjective and make them what they are — they’re moral issues that are grounded in absolute truth.”

During the webinar, Pacienza spoke of his fondness for the Black Robe Regiment, a group of clergies who fought in the American Revolution and in particular John Witherspoon, the president of the College of New Jersey which is now Princeton University.

“It was through his [Witherspoon’s] preaching that was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the revolution, laying the groundwork for the freedoms that we enjoy today,” Pacienza said.

Clergy, Pacienza said, cannot be politically neutral.

“As pastors we need to recover these moral issues and say they are not just political issues that are subjective, these are moral issues that have always been concerning to the people of God,” Pacienza said.

Pacienza went on to declare public servants are to be used by God. “For us to treat politicians and politics dismissively is as ignorant as saying we need to defund the police,” he said. “Police and fire responders and politicians are used under the sovereign hand of God as the servants of the Lord and the church needs to understand that.”

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

5

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.  BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.  Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0369 04/21

6

• 4BVYC0369_BIKTARVY_B_10X10-75_SouthFloridaGayNews_Hugo_r1v1jl.indd . 8 . 2021

All Pages

HUGO LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 1995 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP CONNECTING. Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

See Hugo’s story at BIKTARVY.com.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

3/31/21 4 . 8 . 12:11 20 21PM•

7

NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

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

8

• 4 . 8 . 2021

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

Haus Lounge Owner Adam Sessa with Manager Austin Wayne.

Captain Bill Schultz and Mayor Dean Trantalis and friends toast Stephan and David for their one-year wedding anniversary at Drynk.

William Guevara and Ernesto Mijares of Rainbow Laundry.

Husbands Steven Barnes and Gary Mercado, owners of Casitas.

NEWS LOCAL

GAY CAMPING’S BANNER YEARS

Many gay campgrounds have thrived during the pandemic Ric Reily

T

he initial and ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are as varied as the persons and institutions it has touched.

Friends, family and jobs lost. Social lives on hold. Schools closed and medical systems under stress have all become hallmarks of a year in turmoil.

In the meantime gay campgrounds are gearing up for another banner year in 2021. Reservations for popular camps usually sell out in minutes after opening for booking and 2020 had been no exception. The Woods Campgrounds in Lehighton, Pennsylvania had spent the winter prior to the pandemic nearly doubling its social areas and adding dozens of new camping sites that easily accommodated its larger than ever crowds. Weekend reservations for 2021 at The Woods sold out immediately upon opening in March.

Last summer’s camping season followed on the heels of business shutdowns, crowd limits and travel restrictions across the country. Gay parks went into their peak seasons with more questions than answers from regulators. At one point a law enforcement officer dispatched to Sawmill Camping Resort in Dade City on an unrelated matter commented that the swimming pool was the only public pool open in Pasco County.

Gay campgrounds quickly adapted to the new state regulations enforced mostly by health departments though sometimes by law enforcement.

Limiting access to indoor entertainment and moving shows outside often under huge tents became the norm. Dance halls, bars and cafés sat empty but the party went on. Pool access became limited with lounges moved six feet apart. RV sites filled up, cabins rapidly sold out and tents popped up everywhere.

Most gay campgrounds had vastly increased new membership sales in 2020 as LGBT people fled closed bars, gyms, shows and restaurants for the great outdoors.

Camping found itself in the unique position of being the single gay social activity remaining open and active throughout the initial convulsions and ongoing fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many gay campgrounds quickly became havens as other more urban social

Patrons enjoy a late night at the Sawmill Campground in Dade City. Photo via Facebook.

opportunities closed or limited access.

Jones Pond Campground and RV Park in Angelica, New York, enforced strict distancing and sanitizing rules as defined by the State of NY Health Department. On arrival guests could sign up for limited shifts and slots to enter the pool area. Different periods were enforced with different color wrist bands controlled and monitored by an attendant at the gate. In addition, Jones Pond moved all entertainment outside until late in the season as state regulations eased somewhat. Even then access to the indoor social areas was strictly limited and monitored and guests inside were required to be masked. Customers were not only amenable they were grateful for the safety efforts. With the planning and organization most everyone had all the access they wanted. There were no reported cases of COVID-19 associated with Jones Pond over a five-month summer season.

Sawmill Campground in Dade City removed many pool loungers, limited the total number of guests allowed in the pool area and the number of those guests allowed in the pool itself. Indoor social spaces were closed to guests though Sawmill took advantage of the closure to completely remodel Woody’s, its nightclub.

Sawmill has had no indoor accommodation reservation availability for months.

As this COVID-19 pandemic peaks, as vaccines get into arms and as times begin their stop and go return to some sort of new normal gay campgrounds too will adjust. Twenty-twenty was a good year and 2021 is looking like an even better year for the gay camping industry following an ongoing trajectory of growth in perhaps the single growing gay institution.

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

9

LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENDALL LITTLE

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G

T

Transgender

LEYNA BLOOM SHAKES UP THE MODELING INDUSTRY Leyna Bloom is showcasing her beauty inside and out as she prepares to become the first trans woman of color on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue.

“My autonomy and my anatomy are beautiful,” she said in an interview for the New York Times. “I want people to see that, and to see that you can be respected, appreciated and loved regardless of your body shape, sexuality, and the color of your skin.”

Bloom is not only representing the transgender community, but also the Black and Filipina communities.

“I’m representing Filipina, I’m representing Black, I am representing people who have been immigrants. For them, I’m a vessel of change,” she said.

Bloom is set to appear on the July cover of the infamous swimsuit issue.

Leyna Bloom. Photo via Facebook.

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

L

Lesbian

KEHLANI COMES OUT AS LESBIAN

Kehlani isn’t new to the LGBT community, but now she says she truly knows her place within it.

“You wanna know what’s new about me?

I finally know I’m a lesbian!” she announced on Instagram Live.

She had come out as queer in 2018, but now identifies as lesbian.

Fans quickly took to Twitter to show their support for the singer and songwriter. “kehlani???? a lesbian????? we stay winning,” one Twitter user wrote.

Others tweeted to show their pure joy over the announcement. “kehlani coming out as a lesbian just made my day! actually no... week!!!!! wait no..... MY WHOLE LIFEEEEE,” one fan tweeted.

Two things are certain: Kehlani is a lesbian and her fans have never been happier.

Kehlani. Photo via Facebook.

I am responsive. I have agents, but I am the Broker.

If you’re thinking of selling your property now or in the near future your stars are shining brighter than ever.

Having sold real estate in Fort Lauderdale for more than 36 years I’ve never known conditions to be more favorable for sellers to obtain the highest possible price and with the least amount of time an inconvenience.

I can still sell your property for more money than you can. Would you be opposed to speaking with me?

I’ll be your friend and partner in success.

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2624 NE 26st Ct 2608 NE 21st Ct 100 Golden Isles Dr 4903 NW 27th Tr 1503 NE 28th Ave

I loved working on these listings which I sold. All of these above were unique and all were friendly, quick sales.

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“I will be your Partner and Friend in success.”

All of my listings have a short video available to share by text.

First Atlantic Realty, Inc. 1881 NE 26th Street Suite 212 Wilton Manors, Florida 33305 Licensed Real Estate Brokerage

10

• 4 . 8.2021

Since 1985

LGBTQIA BITES

Q

Queer

KATE WINSLET SPEAKS OUT ABOUT HOLLYWOOD’S HIDDEN HOMOPHOBIA

Recently in an interview with the Time’s Culture, Winslet shared that she knows of four actors who are terrified to come out due to the repercussions of the industry.

She’s now speaking out about the homophobia that lies within Hollywood and show business.

“I cannot tell you the number of young actors I know — some well-known, some starting out — who are terrified their sexuality will be revealed and that it will stand in the way of their being cast in straight roles. Now that’s fucked up,” Winslet said.

She shared how the fear of judgment and discrimination from agents, producers, and casting directors keeps actors from coming out.

“I’m telling you. A well-known actor has just got an American agent and the agent said, ‘I understand you are bisexual. I wouldn’t publicize that.’ I can think of at least four actors absolutely hiding their sexuality,” Winslet said. “It’s painful. Because they fear

Kate Winslet. Photo: public domain.

being found out. And that’s what they say.

‘I don’t want to be found out.’”

Winslet hopes that the entertainment industry will have a wake-up call and change their mentalities so that queer actors can live as their authentic selves.

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

11

NEWS NATIONAL

FINALISTS FOR 33RD LAMBDA LITERARY AWARDS ANNOUNCED Kim Swan

Photo via Adobe.

T

o recognize the crucial role LGBT writers play in shaping the world, Lambda Literary created the Annual Lambda Literary Awards to showcase the best LGBT books of the year.

Also known as the “Lammys,” this year marks the 33rd awards, featuring many books ranging from works by debut authors, self-published authors, and writers from big

“BY CELEBRATING LGBTQ BOOKS, WE CELEBRATE LGBTQ LIFE.” - Sue Landers EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAMBDA LITERARY

and small presses. Since 1989, over 3,500 books have been named a finalist or winner, according to a press release by Lambda Literary.

This year focused on the depth of books that give LGBT youths a sense of belonging, and to teach others who are not LGBT how to respect those who are. The organization reflected on the availability or an appetite for the books that featured LGBT characters, and gave awards in two categories: LGBTQ Young Adult and LGBTQ Children’s/Middle Grade.

“By celebrating LGBTQ books, we celebrate LGBTQ life,” said Sue Landers, executive director of Lambda Literary, in the press release. “And as a community often under threat of legislative and actual violence, the Lammys offer a rare and necessary space where we come together in joy.”

Lambda Literary will hold the virtual award ceremony June 1 to celebrate the finalists. It will include guests such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Torrey Peters, Alan Hollinghurst, and more.

The event is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $25. The money will benefit Lambda Literary’s educational programs for LGBT youths and writers.

To reserve a spot at the ceremony or would like to read more information about the winners, visit lambdaliterary.org.

To view the winners, visit sfgn.com/Lammysfinalists

12

• 4 . 8.2021

NEWS NATIONAL

NEWS STATE

WEEKLY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 CASES IN Cumulative COVID-19 Cases in THREE SOUTHKnown FLORIDA COUNTIES: Three South Florida Counties:

MARCH 3131 THROUGH APRIL66 March through April

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases from 3/31 to 4/06 Palm Beach 1.7%, Broward 2.0%, and Miami Dade 1.8%

132,528

132,098

131,581

3/31

217,060

216,277

215,488

214,599

4/1

4/2

4/3

Palm Beach

218,973

218,184

217,780

133,836

133,571

133,286

132,961

453,345

451,829

451,019

449,891

448,479

447,042

4/4

4/5

Broward

Corey Rose

F

Sean McShee

445,464

ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE OVERRIDES VETO, BANS HEALTHCARE FOR TRANS YOUTHS ollowing passage through the state House and Senate, Gov. Asa Hutchinson has vetoed a bill that bans transition-related health care for trans youths on Monday. On Tuesday the legislature overrode his veto.

The bill would become the first of its kind to directly and specifically target trans healthcare in the U.S. “The bill is overbroad, extreme, and does not grandfather those young people who are currently under hormone treatment,” said Hutchinson in a press briefing on Monday.

The bill, HB1570, lays out penalties for doctors who provide gender-affirming care like hormone treatments and puberty blockers to trans minors, as well as those who refer patients to other healthcare providers for similar treatment. It also prohibits insurance companies from

Photo via The Gender Spectrum Collection by Broadly.

covering gender-affirming care.

HB1570 is opposed by the American Pediatrics Association, the American Psychological Association, and other leading organizations in child care and trans activism. The American Civil Liberties Union wrote in a statement, “This bill flies in the face of common decency, basic human rights, and the advice of every major medical association — not to mention federal law.”

4/6

Miami-Dade Source Fl DOH Dashboard

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 DEATHS IN THREE SOUTH COUNTIES: Cumulative Known COVID-19 Deaths Cumulative Known FLORIDA COVID-19 Cases inin Three South South Florida Counties: Three Counties: MARCH 31 Florida THROUGH APRIL 6 March 31 31 through throughApril April66 March

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 deaths from 3/31 to 4/06 Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases from 3/31 to 4/06 Palm Beach 1.0%, Broward 1.9%, and Miami Dade 1.2% Palm Beach 1.7%, Broward 2.0%, and Miami Dade 1.8%

214,599 2,649

2,656

131,581

3/313/31

215,488

2,653 2,666

216,277

2,659 2,685

132,528

132,098

4/1 4/1

Palm Beach

217,060

132,961

4/2 4/2

5,917

217,780

2,661 2,701

2,661 2,699

4/3 4/3

Palm Beach Broward Broward

4/4 4/4

5,924

5,917

218,184

2,672 2,701

218,973

2,676

2,706

133,836

133,571

133,286

453,345

451,829

451,019

5,900

5,890

5,878

5,855

449,891

448,479

447,042

445,464

4/54/5

4/64/6

Miami Dade Miami-Dade Source Fl DOH Dashboard Source Fl DOH Dashboard

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

Norm.Kent@sfgn.com•954-530-4970 4 . 8 . 20 21 •

13

NEWS NATIONAL

BY COREY ROSE

THE COUNTRY ACROSS

COLORADO

LGBT VETERANS BILL HEADS TO STATE SENATE

Colorado lawmakers voted to approve new legislation that will grant access to state benefits for LGBT veterans who were discharged other than honorably because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 47-16, and is headed back to the Senate, where it passed unanimously in late February.

Sponsored by Rep. David Ortiz, the Restoration of Honor Act would create a new status for individuals who qualify to receive a “discharged LGBT veteran” status, which would allow them access to the benefits they earned through service, like military burial, the GI Bill, and health care assistance.

A similar version of the bill passed into New York state law last November, with expanded coverage for victims of

Photo via Adobe.

post-traumatic stress disorder. Ortiz told Colorado House Democrats, “Coming home and reintegrating into your community after military service is hard enough without facing the additional stigma of being unjustly discharged. I’m proud that we were able to deliver some relief for my brothers and sisters in the armed forces today.”

VIRGINIA VIRGINIA BANS LGBTQ+ PANIC DEFENSE On Transgender Day of Visibility, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed a bill into law that officially bans the LGBTQ+ “panic” defense.

The tactic has been used in legal proceedings to justify crimes against LGBT individuals by blaming victims for their attacker’s actions. Judy Shepard, who lost her son Matthew to anti-LGBT violence in 1998, provided testimony to support the ban.

Including Virginia, 12 states have banned the “panic” defense and 13 more states have had similar legislation introduced. The Maryland House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that supports the ban in March.

Democratic Delegate Danica Roem, the first out and seated transgender state legislator in the U.S., authored the bill

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• 4 . 8.2021

Gov. Ralph Northam. Photo via Facebook.

and celebrated its passage on Twitter.

“Thank you to my team, the advocates who testified, my colleagues who voted for it and my 15-year-old out student constituent in Manassas Park who requested it,” Roem wrote.

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

WASHINGTON D.C.

BIDEN RECOGNIZES TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY President Joe Biden delivered the first presidential proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility, marking the first formal recognition of the holiday by the White House. The proclamation comes 11 years after the first day of visibility was founded in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall Crocker. While noting that the holiday is a time for recognizing the accomplishments of transgender and gender non-conforming people, Biden also acknowledged that there was still more work to be done.

“Transgender Americans of all ages face high rates of violence, harassment, and discrimination. Nearly one in three transgender Americans have experienced homelessness at some point in life,” Biden wrote in his

President Joe Biden. Photo via Facebook.

proclamation, “The crisis of violence against transgender women, especially transgender women of color, is a stain on our nation’s conscience.”

Additionally, the proclamation stressed the importance of the Equality Act as a way for Congress to secure “legal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in our housing, education, public services, and lending systems.”

TENNESSEE ANTI-LGBT EDUCATION BILL ADVANCES IN STATE LEGISLATURE Tennessee lawmakers pushed a bill forward that prohibits the use of instructional materials “that promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender issues or lifestyles” through the education instruction subcommittee by a 6-3 vote last week.

The bill, HB 800, is one of a pair of separate bills seeking to limit LGBT education in public and charter schools.

HB 529, passed by the Senate education subcommittee in February, mandates that the school must notify parents 30 days before instruction of “a sexual orientation curriculum or gender identity curriculum.”

Under HB 800, basic LGBT history and figures like James Baldwin and Marsha P. Johnson would be removed from the curriculum. The American Civil

Photo via Pixabay.

Liberties Union of Tennessee wrote in a statement, “This bill seeks to erase the advancements of the LGBTQ community from our children’s education and sends a dangerous message to LGBTQ children in Tennessee that they do not belong.”

If the bill is passed by the state legislature, it could go into effect as early as the 2021-22 school year in August.

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY EVERITT ROSEN

THE WORLD AROUND

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

CENTRAL ASIA

EUROPE

NEW ANTI-LGBT LAWS IN UZBEKISTAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE

FOLLOWING THE REPEAL OF THE SAME-SEX BLESSING BAN, AUSTRIAN CATHOLICS ARE FLYING THE RAINBOW FLAG

After anti-LGBT demonstrations turned violent and new laws were passed, Uzbekistan’s LGBT group claims it is facing increased threats and persecution.

According to The Guardian, human rights organizations say that this legislation will prevent media or line commentators arguing for the decriminalization of sexual conduct between men, which is a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.

Uzbekistan has moved toward a more politically inclusive agenda under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev over the last four years, but this has not spread to the country’s LGBT community.

An unnamed 20-year-old gay man told The Guardian, “We only want

SFGN file photo.

freedom and peace but it’s all got worse. Panic attacks, depression and a recurring thought that something can happen to me have returned. I don’t want to live like this.”

After the Vatican ruled that the church cannot bless same-sex partnerships, Austria decided to fly the rainbow flag in solidarity with the LGBT community.

According to The Straits Times, the office of the Vatican wrote that while God “never ceases to bless each of His pilgrim children in this world ... he does not and cannot bless sin.”

Erich Baldauf, a priest, stated that he and hundreds of other clergy members decided to fly the flag and many other churches are following their lead.

Sadly, there have been attempts to damage these flags with some being burnt or stolen.

“The message that went out via the media to the whole world was a simple

Photo via Pfarre Hard, Facebook.

‘no’ and in fact a ‘no’ to blessing, which is something that hurts many people to their core,” said Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn to The Straits Times.

A new flag once again flew proudly outside Baldauf’s church, just in time for Good Friday, welcoming all parishioners for Easter mass.

AFRICA

NORTH AMERICA

PROTESTS ERUPT IN NAMIBIA OVER A GAY MAN’S TWINS

LGBT PEOPLE AMONGST THE MOST TARGETED VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES IN CANADA

Phillip Lühl is currently stuck in South Africa with his month-old twin daughters.

His partner is anxiously awaiting his return and that of their daughters.

According to Face 2 Face Africa, Namibia’s Ministry of Home Affairs has refused him emergency travel authorization papers, leaving the twins stateless.

Lühl and his partner are registered as the parents of the twins, yet Namibia is not willing to recognize their marriage or issue them the necessary travel documents.

In a sworn affidavit, Lühl stated that the home affairs ministry asked him to provide genetic proof that he is the biological father, which is a stance he believes was taken because of his samesex marriage.

Photo via Phillip Lühl, Instagram.

According to Face 2 Face Africa, samesex relationships are illegal in Namibia, but those involved are not prosecuted.

The Georgia Straight reports that incidents against people of Black skin color or sexual minorities accounted for nearly a third of hate crimes in 2019, which has increased 7% since 2018.

“Other than a single peak of 2,073 hate crimes in 2017, police-reported numbers are the highest since 2009,” Statistics Canada reported.

Hate crimes targeting Black citizens increased the most in Ontario and British Columbia. Alberta, on the other hand, saw the biggest drop.

Police reported that 263 hate crimes targeted sexual orientation in 2019, which was up 41% from 2018.

The federal agency also stated that nearly nine in 10 or 88% of these crimes specifically targeted the gay and lesbian community.

The remaining percentages were incidents against bisexual people, people with other orientations, and those whose sexual orientation was unknown.

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

15

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY ELLIOT RODRIGUEZ

GAY VINE THE

KEEP UP WITH THE CELEBRITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

TELEVISION

SPORTS

OUT NOW!

HARDCORE!

‘BOB’S BURGERS’ CREATORS RELEASE GAY CHARACTER IN NEW SERIES Fans of “Bob’s Burgers” rejoice as the creators of the beloved animated television series have crafted a new series called “The Great North” with a new casual openly gay character.

The show follows the Tobins, a family living in Alaska whose life furthers the plot of the show.

One family member, their son Ham, is gay which the family and the other characters treat as casually as flowers in a meadow.

Charlie Kelly, a gay staff writer, told Pride.com, “I feel like a lot of TV treats queerness in characters as a source of drama or emotional tension, and it’s really exciting to work on something where that’s just not the case.”

The cast has an abundance of talented

“The Great North.” Image credit: Fox.

voice actors, such as singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, and Nick Offerman from “Parks and Recreation.”

Pride.com wrote, “He just gets to be gay and his family loves him, a refreshing change from the many coming-out plotlines we normally see with young LGBTQ+ characters on television.”

BMX PRO COREY WALSH COMES OUT Pro BMX rider Corey Walsh comes out for all to see in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Ontario native took to social media to let everyone know that he was openly gay, and offer his support to the people who struggled like him.

“Thanks to the support of my family, friends, and sponsors I can finally accept the fact that I am gay and be open about it. Trust me, I’m not the person who wants to let people in on my personal life and in a perfect world I would not have to. But the reality is there are a lot of people still struggling with the same situations and I just wanted to let people know that they are not alone,” Walsh said in his Instagram post.

Walsh takes center stage, being one of

Corey Walsh. Photo via Instagram.

the first openly gay BMX pros to be open about his sexuality.

According to Pride.com, Walsh first came out to his best friend and fellow BMX pro Kris Fox. “The world is shifting into a more understanding place and now is the time to open up the conversation within our communities every chance we get,” Walsh said.

HISTORY

REWIND!

LESBIAN’S PHOTO BOOK REISSUED FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1979 Joan E. Biren, or JEB, will have her lesbian photo book reissued since its release in 1979 titled “Eye to Eye.” JEB being a lesbian as well as a photographer, started taking her first photos in 1970, according to NBC. Since then JEB has taken a variety of photos, eventually leading up to a photo book which she would self-publish in 1979.

It was a big step to do such a bold thing back in ‘70s, nowadays much has changed, but publishing a book about the lesbian community wasn’t normal back in those times.

“It was not just JEB who put herself out there, but all of the women who agreed to be featured in the book, too. The book was

16

• 4 . 8.2021

an act of bravery at a time when the risk for consequence was high and greater societal acceptance was still a ways away,” NBC wrote.

Being self-taught, JEB was able to hone in on her own community. Snapping pictures at any women that would allow her to capture a glimpse of life as a lesbian during that period.

Anthology Editions have since reissued the book since its release, according NBC. JEB’s goal wasn’t to make a huge profit from the book; she just wanted people to step into her world and see the lives of women in the lesbian community.

JEB told NBC, “The truth is that while I was making this work, I knew it was important …

I was getting no recognition at all from the mainstream.”

A self-portrait of JEB in 1975. Photo via Instagram.

NEWS STATE

FLORIDA AIDS WALK

RETURNS

Last year AHF’s signature event was forced to cancel because of the pandemic John Hayden

A

seriously good time for a very serious cause.

It’s been a year since the Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival, like so many other events, was canceled at the last minute. Now with more people getting vaccines and more awareness of how to keep COVID-19 at bay, the party is ready to go on. And it promises to be worth the wait.

The 5k walk and concert is set for Saturday, April 24 at South Beach Park on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The walk steps off at 10 a.m. and the music starts about 45 minutes later with DJ Alex getting the post-walk party started. Later Trina will take the stage followed by a fierce performance by Lil’ Kim. She was set to perform at last year’s show and fans will finally get the chance to see her show up close.

Of course, there are still pandemic precautions that need to be observed, and organizers have worked hard to adapt the event to the current circumstances. First, they worked closely with Broward County and the city of Fort Lauderdale to create a safety plan. That includes distanced viewing boxes for each group of walkers. Each group has to arrive together so they can go to a box together. There will be a staggered release of

WHILE THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS GRIPPED THE COUNTRY, THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS IS STILL A CRITICAL HEALTH CRISIS.

The Delta team poses at a past Florida AIDS Walk.

Photo via the Florida AIDS Walk, Facebook.

walkers so they can start heading along the route. Also, social distancing from people outside of your group will be enforced.

Everyone must wear masks unless they’re eating or drinking. But masks are part of the fun. Bedazzle, bejewel, and design the most creative mask because there will be a “coolest mask” contest.

While the COVID pandemic has gripped the country, the fight against HIV/AIDS is still a critical health crisis. More than 100,000 Floridians are living with the disease, and about 15% have no idea they are carrying the virus.

Money raised from the walk and concert helps many South Florida nonprofits, including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Latinos Salud, SunServe, and The Pride Center at Equality Park. This year’s goal is $1.5 million.

To learn more about how to register, form a team, donate, or the walk’s latest health protocols, visit their website FloridaAidsWalk.org.

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

17

NEWS LOCAL

ALCEE HASTINGS, CHAMPION OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND HIV ADVOCATE, DIES Jason Parsley

T

FROM EQUALITY FLORIDA

he local LGBT community is mourning this week the death of Alcee Hastings, a longtime Democratic member of the House of Representatives, and champion of civil rights and advocate for those living with HIV. He was 84.

“Rep. Hastings was always a fiery advocate said. “I will very deeply miss the congressman.” for the underdog. He was an early supporter of Manley recently announced a long-shot bid LGBTQ equality supporting non-discrimination for the state House District 94, which includes a legislation throughout his career,” said Nadine large portion of Wilton Manors.

Smith, executive director of Equality Florida.

Before Hastings was a public servant he was “He was bold and fearless and an ally through an attorney and civil rights activist. In 1979 and through.” former President Jimmy Carter appointed him Hastings was diagnosed with pancreatic as a federal judge where he became the first cancer in January 2019. He’s served in the U.S. African American Federal Judge in the State of House since 1993.

Florida. Two years later though, he was charged Shevrin Jones, Florida’s first LGBT state with bribery in a federal sting operation. Even senator, was particularly close to the former though he was acquitted by a jury, the House representative. nevertheless impeached him “Above all else though, I was and the Senate removed him proud to call Alcee a friend from office. and mentor. Alcee would often Three years after that he was tell people he was my god dad, elected to Congress, becoming something that gave my family the first Black man to represent great delight,” Jones said in a Florida in Congress since 1877. prepared statement. “He was To many though he was always one of the only elected officials “HE PERSONALLY known as “Judge.” to endorse my first campaign “Congressman Hastings REACHED OUT TO for state house when others was a dynamic speaker and COMPASS OVER THE wouldn’t return my calls. That amazing supporter of all civil YEARS OFFERING was the kind of person he was rights, including those based on — always rooting for and lifting sexual orientation and gender LETTERS OF SUPPORT up the underdog.” identity,” said Julie Seaver, FOR STATE AND Another such underdog, who executive director of Compass.

FEDERAL GRANT considered Hastings a friend “He personally reached out to APPLICATIONS TO is Elijah Manley, a 22-year-old Compass over the years offering queer Black activist. He called letters of support for state and HELP FUND LGBT him his “hero” and his “icon.” federal grant applications to ISSUES AND HIV “He led a life of service to our help fund LGBT issues and HIV SERVICES.” community, and was a stalwart services. He was an amazing champion of LGBTQ+ issues,” ally, accomplished many great - Julie Seaver Manley said. “Congressman things for the communities EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Hastings represents the best of he served and will be greatly COMPASS Broward, a servant who always missed.” mentored and advised young Hastings represented a Black up and coming people like myself.” majority Black district spanning the Western Manley fondly remembered when Hastings parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties, invited him to Washington D.C. to experience which also included slices of West Palm Beach the Capitol for the first time when Manley was and Fort Lauderdale. still just in high school.

Hastings was a strong advocate for HIV “He has always been a phone call away,” he funding.

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• 4 . 8.2021

HASTINGS’ RECORD ON EQUALITY – Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov. 2007) – Voted NO on constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (July 2006) – Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in D.C. (July 1999) – Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice. (Jan. 2001) Alcee Hastings at a 2019 meeting with the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. Photo via The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, Flickr.

“Shortly after he was elected to Congress in the early 1990s, Alcee Hastings became an ardent supporter for people living with HIV/ AIDS,” recalled Rand Hoch, the president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

“While other Black elected officials dodged the need to address the healthcare needs of people with HIV/AIDS for decades, Alcee Hasting stood — practically alone — as a vocal and effective advocate.”

According to his official biography Hastings was born in Altamonte Springs, and graduated in 1958 from Fisk University in Nashville Tennessee. He then earned his law degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

The Rusty Gordon LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus of Palm Beach County also released a statement mourning the loss of Hastings.

“He has long been a champion of LGBTQ+ rights, including his long support of marriage equality, his promotion of LGBTQ+ human rights overseas, and his tireless advocacy for the Equality Act,” the statement reads. “He also pushed for greater funding on HIV/AIDS testing and access to health care. In Alcee’s eyes, leadership meant fighting for human rights no matter what, and for that our community will always be thankful. We have lost an equality champion today.”

– Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender. (March 2001) – Rated 86% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record. (Dec. 2002) – Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a progay-rights stance. (Dec. 2006) – ENDA: Prohibit employment discrimination for gays. (June 2009) – Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools. (March 2011) – Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools. (April 2013) – Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender. (Jan. 2013) – Protect LGBT families from illegal immigrant deportation. (Sept. 2011) – Let states recognize same-sex marriage. (Jan. 2015) – Reintroduce the Equal Rights Amendment.

(March 2007) – Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements. (Jan. 2008) – Give domestic partnership benefits to Federal employees. (May 2009) – Recognize the 40th anniversary of Stonewall.

(May 2009)

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

Circled left to right: Luis Alfonso, Juan Lopez, Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa and Adonis Diaz. Credit: SFGN file photo.

ACCUSED MIAMI GAY BASHERS NOW IN PLEA NEGOTIATIONS Jason Parsley

N

ext month will be three years since four men were arrested for attacking a gay couple after the closing festivities of Miami Beach Pride.

A status hearing was held Tuesday on Zoom where the prosecution announced they were in talks with the defendants about a possible plea deal.

“We are in the midst of plea negotiations [...] there are some discussions going back and forth with some various options,” said Justin Funck, the attorney representing the state. “I do think we’re very close to either this case resolving by way of plea, or I think all parties being able to certify ready for trial.”

The next status hearing will take place in mid-April.

April 8 will mark three years since the attack occurred.

The four defendants — Adonis Diaz, Juan Carlos Lopez, Luis Alonso-Piovet, and Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa — all in their early 20s, have pleaded not guilty.

Romo-Figueroa attended the status hearing, but did not speak.

Here’s a recap of what allegedly happened: the attack took place when Rene Chalarca

“I DO THINK WE’RE VERY CLOSE TO EITHER THIS CASE RESOLVING BY WAY OF PLEA, OR I THINK ALL PARTIES BEING ABLE TO CERTIFY READY FOR TRIAL.” - Justin Funck ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE STATE

and Dmitry Logunov were leaving a public bathroom in Lummus Park in Miami Beach on April 8, 2018.

“We were walking and holding hands and needed to use the bathroom,” Logunov told SFGN in 2018. So the two of them stopped at a public restroom as they headed home for the evening.

As Logunov walked out of the restroom he was allegedly called a “faggot” in Spanish, punched, and then beaten unconscious.

His boyfriend at the time, Chalarca, quickly intervened, but three more men jumped in and began to attack them both.

The attack was caught on camera and the four defendants have been charged with three counts of aggravated battery. A hate crime enhancement was later added to the charges.

A third person, Helmut Estrada, attempted to assist Chalarca and Logunov. He was also attacked during the altercation and injured.

In June of last year Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle apologized to the LGBT community for the continued delays, blaming much of it on COVID-19.

“Honestly, this is such a priority for us.

I know it’s very frustrating because it has taken a long time,” she said during a state attorney candidate virtual town hall hosted

by SAVE. “If those defense attorneys don’t set it down, and don’t move, and the judges don’t prod them to do it, it does languish a bit.”

Rundle noted that originally the four defendants were represented by the same lawyer. Each defendant then sought their own legal counsel which drew out the case and further complicated it with more moving parts.

Most criminal jury trials are still on pause in Florida because of the pandemic.

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

19

LIFESTYLE PHOTOS

NEWS STATE

‘POST PULP’ ART EXHIBIT CELEBRATES PAPER Opens Saturday

John Hayden

T

BUNNIES ON THE DRIVE On Sunday, April 4 at the Wilton Collective, the Julians Foundation of Youth partnered with FlockFest to present the Bunnies On The Drive Sip N’ Strut. The event featured music

by DJ Marky Mark of The PUB, the Gym Bunny Contest, cash prizes and of course drinks.

Guests could also participate in the Bonnet Contest with their own cleverly themed hats.

Pictured from left to right is Shannon Overmyer, Matthew Hoover, Erick Eldridge, Adam Hundt and Andrew Cox. Photo credit: J.R. Davis. To see more, visit SFGN on Facebook.

and

he use of paper is becoming a lost art.

To write this, I’m using a computer and referencing notes from emails. Many are reading this article online, without ever touching a piece of paper. But a new art exhibit isn’t just utilizing paper, it’s celebrating paper.

“Post Pulp! Works on paper and beyond” looks at the concept of paper, and the creation of two- and three-dimensional works that were once confined to one dimensional paper.

The exhibit at The Box Gallery in West Palm Beach is bringing together 10 South Florida and national artists, each giving us their vision of what paper looks like today.

Curator and owner Rolando Chang Barrero chose the artists because each brings a different perspective on the topic. Each artist will feature work that originated on paper, but from there they all go their own way.

Among the featured artists is Victor Gadino is one of the top gay illustrators in the country. His work has ranged from the covers of romance novels to movie posters to illustrations showing gay life through the years. Barrero told SFGN that he couldn’t believe it when Gadino sought him out.

“He wants to be in one of my shows! That’s awesome!”

Linda Behar came to South Florida from Venezuela, and works in gifs, taking an image

EACH ARTIST WILL FEATURE WORK THAT ORIGINATED ON PAPER, BUT FROM THERE THEY ALL GO THEIR OWN WAY.

New work on paper by distinguished master Pavel Ouporov will be featured in Post Pulp! Works on paper and beyond. Image via The Box Gallery, Facebook.

from paper and animating it. Her work looks at the history of how images were drawn and manipulated to look like a moving picture and that art evolved into the electronic phenomenon of gifs. Her works that originate on paper and use traditional printmaking have also been turned into amazing sculptures.

Aaron Schwartz is from Miami, and his work is best described as ink painting on photographic paper. His art is the result of a very complicated process that “peels” layers off photographs then mixes ink and chemicals over the remaining image. For “Post Pulp!”

Aaron created six collages and mosaics.

Other artists featured in “Post Pulp!” include Jerome Glickman, Ana Rossi, Cynthia Hollen, Marc Tucci, Janet R. Schreiber, and Jane Lawton Baldridge.

In addition to creating imaginative and challenging art exhibits, Barrero says he uses his gallery to advance the work of gay artists. “I want to integrate gay culture and artists, without pigeonholing artists for their sexuality.”

“Post Pulp!” opens Saturday, April 10, with a reception at 7 p.m. and runs through the end of the month. For tickets, or to learn more about the exhibit and The Box Gallery, go to their website TheBoxGallery.info.

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• 4 . 8.2021

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

21

NEWS LOCAL

CRAIG JUNGWIRTH (STILL) WON’T GO AWAY CONTINUES TO HARASS COMMUNITY

Jason Parsley

C

raig Jungwirth.

By now just the mention of that name will make almost any gay man in South Florida cringe.

The man, who was once arrested, and made national news, by threatening to harm the Wilton Manors LGBT community with a “Pulse” like attack in 2016, continues to harass local queer men.

They’re angry. They’re fed up. But their options are limited. They’ve spoken to law enforcement agencies. Some have attempted to file restraining orders.

On March 29, two of those men went to court, only to be told Jungwirth had not been served so the court was unable to put a restraining order in place. Jungwirth, though, has a long history of evading lawsuits by avoiding being served notice, a legal requirement before a civil case can move forward.

Russell Cormican, a local defense attorney, has dealt with Jungwirth several times over the years with different litigation. He called him

a master at manipulating the legal system to evade accountability.

“The thing with him is he’s intelligent enough and sophisticated enough to exploit the system in his favor,” Cormican said.

The latest accusations against Jungwirth include cyber stalking and harassment.

For James his recent dealings with Jungwirth have turned into a nightmare. The local barber asked that his last name not be used for fear of further harassment.

It all started when James made a comment on someone’s Facebook post about Jungwirth where he wrote “This fuckers at it again, he needs to be locked up.”

“I made a comment, not knowing that my safety or my sanity is going to be jeopardized,” James said.

When James went to work the next day he

A RECAP OF SOME OF JUNGWIRTH’S PAST LEGAL ISSUES: FALL 2016 — Arrested and charged with interstate transmission of a threatening communication. Charges later dropped.

2016 — Jungwirth maliciously sues Alibi, The Manor, Hunter’s and PJ’s Bar in Wilton Manors in Orange County Court in Orlando for allegedly breaching Beach Bear Weekend contracts they never had signed, but Jungwirth bounces all his filing fee checks to the county and various Judges dismiss all the suits on motions by Norm Kent acting as their counsel.

JANUARY 2017 — Charges against Jungwirth dropped after prosecutors admitted the evidence against him was “weak.” Federal investigators were not able to link the threats to any of the 59 Facebook profiles Jungwirth had access to.

JANUARY 2017 — Jungwirth pleads guilty to skipping out on his bill at the Courtyard Cafe in 2015 as well as criminal mischief from an incident in 2016 when Jungwirth defaced the windows at Rumors with paint.

Sentenced to probation.

JUNE 2017 — Arrested again after he violated the terms of his probation by not completing a psychological evaluation and assessment and violating a no-contact order with the victim of his crimes. “The bottom line is it wasn’t done. He needs to get it done. He was ordered to have it done. What he’s saying is clearly not true,” Judge Lerner-Wren said at the time. “I would certainly admonish Mr. Jungwirth to fully comply with any and all no-contact orders – direct, indirect and that is through any means of social media – email, Twitter, Facebook, blogging.”

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• 4 . 8.2021

AUGUST 2017 — Attempts to sue Publisher of SFGN, Norm Kent, for defamation. “Defendant Kent intentionally and with malice published an article which provided entirely different information and cited these various websites, contracts and various agreements as sources thus making misrepresentations and making false statement,” the lawsuit read. It was later dismissed. “His claim is specious without merit and a frivolous waste of the court’s time,” Kent said at the time. “Nothing we said about him was untrue. SFGN stands by its reporting.”

FALL 2017 — Trying to avoid service on a suit naming him as a defendant, Jungwirth hides out in a county court bathroom and is removed by BSO. FALL 2018 — Jungwirth attempts to sue an Alibi bartender for defamation at a Pride Fort Lauderdale event.

Pending, awaiting a ruling on a motion to dismiss.

DECEMBER 2018 — Arrested after an incident involving an argument with his mother where he was accused of falsely imprisoning her, which included trying to prevent her from meeting with police officers. He was released on bond. Formal charges were not filed. The State Attorney declined to prosecute the case.

NOVEMBER 2020 - According to the Orlando Sentinel Jungwirth was being investigated by Central Florida law enforcement agencies for continuing to promote and sell tickets to a Christmas event that had been cancelled. The Sentinel wrote: “The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Orlando Police Department have looked into whether Jungwirth committed any crimes, though he is not currently facing charges.” It doesn’t appear anything came of those investigations yet.

A past mugshot of Craig Jungwirth. Photo courtesy of the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

noticed an appointment from Craig Jungwirth.

“I canceled the appointment,” he said.

Later that afternoon Jungwirth called the barbershop and James spoke to him briefly before handing the phone back to the receptionist. James said Jungwirth allegedly told the receptionist he was going to show up to the shop at 4 p.m. to “beat the fucking hell out of that fucker.”

James called the police and filed a report. He’s also one of the men who recently attempted to file a restraining order against Jungwirth.

In the next two weeks following their interaction Jungwirth booked 188 appointments through the online system forcing James to go offline.

“I can’t tell you how much money I lost because nobody’s able to book me online. I’m a very demanding barber. I get booked constantly.

My schedule got pulled offline,” he said. “This guy is crazy. He’s always been all bark and no bite. But it’s like you just don’t know what this nut job is going to do.”

James has also since locked down his Facebook profile while removing his personal information from online.

In addition to James not being able to be booked he also missed a whole day of work when he tried to get a law enforcement agency to intervene.

When SFGN reached out to Jungwirth for comment, he replied via text with this quote in Sun Sentinel from four years ago. “’We are happy that the nightmare for Mr. Jungwirth is finally over and that he can move on,” Jungwirth’s lawyer, Assistant Federal Public Defender Michael Spivack, wrote in an emailed response.’”

Of course that quote is totally unrelated to

Jungwirth’s recent alleged harassment.

Jungwirth spent months behind bars in 2016 while prosecutors attempted to gather evidence against him when he allegedly threatened the local LGBT community. In the end though investigators were not able to link the threats to any of the 59 Facebook profiles Jungwirth had access to so they dropped the case.

Jungwirth made national news when he was accused of posting this message on Facebook: “My events are selling out cause you faggots are total patsies. None of you deserve to live,” a man wrote on Facebook with the profile name Craig Jungwirth. “If you losers thought the Pulse nightclub shooting was bad, wait till you see what I’m planning for Labor Day.” Another message read: “I’m gonna be killing you fags faster than cops kill niggers. It’s time to clean up Wilton Manors from all you AIDS infested losers.”

SFGN was never able to independently verify whether those messages came from Jungwirth since he was known to create multiple fake profiles to promote his Beach Bear Weekend events.

Adam Dupuis is the other local man who attempted to file a restraining order against Jungwirth recently. Dupuis accused Jungwirth of impersonating him on a gay dating app, GROWLr, creating dozens and dozens of fake profiles using his name and photo. In many of these messages he’s promoting another fake Beach Bear weekend event under Dupuis’ name and tying the event to Instinct Magazine, where Dupuis works.

James and Dupuis’ cases were heard by a judge on March 29. The judge explained to James and Dupuis that since Jungwirth had not been served the paperwork there was nothing

NEWS LOCAL she could do. If Jungwirth isn’t served within 120 days the case will be dismissed. If history is any judge Jungwirth will evade being served as he has done in the past with other lawsuits.

Austin Tyler from Massachusetts tells a similar story of harassment on GROWLr. Recently he filed a cybersecurity complaint with the FBI over Jungwirth’s harassment.

Tyler said he’s been getting Beach Bear Weekend invites on the GROWLr for years.

“Eventually he just caught me on a bad afternoon, I was like ‘this asshole again.’ I said ‘Craig I know it’s you, I’m never going to click this link,’” Tyler said. Tyler went back and forth with him.

Recently Jungwirth called his place of employment saying “This is Craig Jungwirth, An alert shared by the Wilton Manors Police. you tried to block me on GROWLr, so are you Courtesy of the WMPD. going to compensate me.” Since then he’s continued to call his job. anonymous message, or someone was creating Tyler said he must have friended him on appointments on my website, so it’s harder to Facebook and used his profile to track down his prove. And that’s the problem.” job.

The last time SFGN reported on Jungwirth’s In 2019 Meyer Persow was continually local misdeeds was in 2019 when he was harassed at his last job with a local city. accused of operating @FortLauderdalePride, Jungwirth allegedly repeatedly called the city an Instagram account that’s just close to attempt to get him fired. Why? Persow made enough to Pride Fort Lauderdale’s account (@ a comment on a story related to Jungwirth on PrideFortLauderdale) to confuse people. The Facebook. account no longer appears to be active and it’s “He told them that I threatened him and I unclear what the ultimate goal was. should be fired,” Persow said.

In the past Jungwirth has “It caused some heartache at been accused of attempting to “EVENTUALLY HE work. I didn’t know what was scam the gay community with going to go on. I didn’t know fake “Bear” events.

JUST CAUGHT how much they were going In 2019 Jungwirth also ME ON A BAD to push it. It just became very attempted to sell tickets to a uncomfortable.”

AFTERNOON, I WAS legitimate pool party at a local Recently Jungwirth, or that he had no part LIKE ‘THIS ASSHOLE guesthouse someone claiming to be in.

AGAIN.’ I SAID Jungwirth, is targeting Persow Years ago Jungwirth again. Persow chimed in on legitimately bought the rights ‘CRAIG I KNOW IT’S a conversation about the to Beach Bear Weekend but then YOU, I’M NEVER reopening of Broward County. was accused of turning it into Then a guy named Robbie a scam. The former organizers GOING TO CLICK Romero commented, “Meyer attempted to sue Jungwirth THIS LINK.’” Persow is a complete tool. He to take the event back, but works for Broward County.” eventually dropped the suit - Austin Tyler The Broward County after deciding the event was comment raised a red flag forever tainted and no longer because his current job isn’t posted on worth the hassle. Eventually a new legitimate Facebook. Then he remembered — a month event called Bearsurrection was launched with prior someone had checked out his LinkedIn the hope of circumventing Jungwirth. profile.

It didn’t work. Jungwirth continued to It was Jungwirth, who checked him out. attempt to piggyback off other real events in Dupuis told a similar story of Jungwirth order to attempt to cause chaos and scam the checking out his LinkedIn profile where he took LGBT community. his photo from in order to impersonate him.

If a member of the LGBT community comes When it comes to cybercrimes Cormican across Jungwirth online Tyler has this advice noted they are notoriously difficult to prove. for them: “I know it’s tempting to get into “Anytime you’re dealing with cybercrime, or an online fight with him. However, there is allegations of online criminal activity, the proof no rationalizing with [...] somebody who’s of those crimes is always a lot more difficult to completely amoral. There’s no prize to win for prove than if something occurs, face to face,” he insulting the shit out of somebody who does said. “It’s not like you can just show someone not abide by normal social standards. It just a photo lineup and say this is the guy who doesn’t occur to him that what he’s doing is robbed you. Instead it’s more like, I got this wrong at all.”

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PA L M B E A C H

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H.G. ROOSTER’S IS NOW A WEST PALM BEACH HISTORIC SITE Damon Scott

T

he city of West Palm Beach has approved a historic designation for iconic LGBT bar H.G. Rooster’s. The bar, located at 823 Belvedere Road, is now on the city’s local register of historic places.

“This evening’s vote was unanimous. It’s Customers describe it as the heart and a huge honor to be recognized. Our hearts soul of the LGBT community in the Palm are full,” owner A.J. Wasson said after the Beaches — a lifesaver for many over the years. It has been a leader in April 5 hearing before the city charitable efforts for AIDS commission.

THE organizations and others and The historic preservation DESIGNATION has sponsored many Pride board had previously approved events over the years. the designation on March 22.

COMES ALMOST “[The designation] will “As historic preservation A YEAR AFTER ensure that people remember evolves, there is a need to ROOSTER’S some of the things we went continue to identify sites SUFFERED A through as a community in the that are significant to underDEVASTATING ‘80s during the AIDS epidemic,” represented communities and Wasson said. “Rooster’s has a tell a more comprehensive FIRE IN MAY OF legacy of giving and caring and story of the past,” the 2020 DURING this designation will cement designation reads. “The site THE EARLY that legacy well into the future is significant, not necessarily MONTHS OF after we’re all gone.” for its architecture … but more The designation comes for the role the location has THE PANDEMIC. almost a year after Rooster’s played in the community.” suffered a devastating fire in Rooster’s is a place where people have congregated since 1984, May of 2020 during the early months of the but its roots go back even further than pandemic.

An accidental blaze destroyed the kitchen that, when it was Turf West in the 1960s.

Friederike Mittner, the city’s historic preservation planner. Courtesy photo.

24

• 4 . 8.2021

H.G. Rooster’s is now a historic site.

Courtesy A.J. Wasson.

and parts of the roof. There were extensive smoke and water damage throughout the 2,700 square foot building — more than $500,000 worth. The bar’s insurance policy had lapsed in April as well.

The community immediately stepped up and pledged almost $60,000 through a GoFundMe campaign — including checks mailed in by anonymous donors.

The West Palm Beach Firefighters Association donated $9,000 and Earl and Nancy Stewart, who are well-known for their Toyota dealerships, donated $10,000.

Friederike Mittner, the city’s historic preservation planner, said the designation is valuable to Rooster’s from a practical standpoint. It’s a way for the business to restore the structure without the addition of typical modifications, and the designation provides tax exemptions it otherwise wouldn’t receive. Variance requests would take place before the historic preservation board instead of planning and zoning, for example, streamlining processes.

“But in a broader sense it’s honoring a diverse heritage and history in our city and a significant gathering space that has been

involved in many philanthropic endeavors,” Mittner said.

It is thought there are fewer than a dozen LGBT bars across the country that are locally designated historic sites, with Rooster’s being the only one in Florida. That fact alone, Mittner said, provides a draw and marketing opportunity for the bar and the city.

Other bars with the designation include Stonewall Inn in New York City and the Atlanta Eagle in Atlanta.

In terms of reopening the bar, Wasson said the designation will also make the permitting process easier. The exterior will stay true to form, but customers will notice a vastly updated interior.

Wasson said his architects are almost done with design plans. He expects about a six-month construction phase once the plans are approved.

“There are always hiccups along the way, but we’re hoping late fall or early winter [to reopen],” he said. “It’s been like a dream come true. I consider myself to be the current caretaker, not the owner. It belongs to the community.”

Stay up to date on the reopening by finding Rooster’s on Facebook by searching “HGRoosters.”

UNCLE AL CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT LEBOY’S

On Sunday March 28 from 5-8 p.m., LeBoy hosted a celebration of life for Uncle Al, a treasured member of the community who recently passed away. There were plenty of food and refreshments, memories, and even a toast shared in honor of Uncle Al. Pictured here is Howard Andrew, owner of FabScout, Leboy’s GM Drew Segura, and owner David Valkama.

Photo credit: J.R. Davis. To see more, visit SFGN on Facebook.

Photo at Bayside Marketplace

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25

CONVICTIONS

Publisher's Editorial

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CONGRESSMAN ALCEE HASTINGS Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

I

n a year of incalculable losses, our Alcee will always be recalled for his community has now suffered an personable nature, his irrepressible humor, immeasurable one. and his enthusiasm for life that was ever so Congressman Alcee Hastings, 84, whose commanding. His speeches and orations were life was marked by passion and principle, has vocal and riveting, second to none in both passed away. tone and tenor, content and character.

The gerrymandered district that Alcee Hastings spent a lifetime crusading Congressman Hastings represented spanned against more than racial injustice, though. three South Florida counties, but the voice he When there was no such thing as “gay rights,” amplified honored all of Florida for decades.

Alcee was protecting the rights of gay people, The 84-year-old the rare, elected leader attorney and former who would speak out federal judge had on behalf of Dolphin been a crusader for Democrats, and our civil rights for over a causes. half century. He was a Ten years ago, he voice for fairness and issued a Congressional social equality when proclamation honoring discrimination and the inauguration of segregation was the the South Florida Gay norm. He would have News. none of it, not then, not When HIV patients now, not ever. needed an advocate, or “Alcee,” as he is AIDS agencies needed lovingly remembered a voice, he would be by the friends he made there, as the man who and the community he could stand up and be served, was taken from heard, fearless in his us by pancreatic cancer. advocacy, demanding He was Florida’s senior government do more member of Congress, than government had living his last few years done. with the diagnosis.

Alcee was As a result of his unashamed and - Joseph R. Biden illness, we had seen unabashed at calling THE PRESIDENT OF THE his bright and beaming out power that UNITED STATES presence in public so poisoned, corruption much less. He was that ate at our even unable to travel to Washington to take nation’s soul. He was simply one of the most his oath of office after being re-elected last distinguished leaders in our community’s November, Still, his memory echoed through history. congressional chambers yesterday.

Alcee championed the concerns as well of On both sides of the aisle, and throughout women and the elderly, health care for all, and South Florida, you will find tributes higher wages for anyone willing to work. Alcee and accolades pouring forth in honor of never let up. He never let down. He always Congressman Hastings. made you feel like you were part of his family.

“Alcee was outspoken because he was passionate about helping our nation live up to its full promise for all Americans. Across his long career of public service, Alcee always stood up to fight for equality, and always showed up for the working people he represented. And even in his final battle with cancer, he simply never gave up.”

26

• 4 . 8.2021

Alcee Hastings. Photo via The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, Flickr.

Most of all, to me, he was my friend, my dear friend. Like so many others who shared time with him over the years, our relationship was special, spanning four decades.

Let me share with you one of those special times, to give you an idea of how long we shared our friendship and passions. The year was 1978, and I was teaching a criminal justice class at Florida Atlantic University. Forty-two years ago.

A Broward County Juvenile Court judge had taken notice of a study my class had published on homeless, runaway children in Broward County living on the Fort Lauderdale beach.

The judge ordered public hearings to be held in his courtroom to address this social problem. He demanded the city erect a runaway shelter for those kids, so many of them gay youths abandoned by their parents.

That judge was Alcee Hastings, who would then travel to my class on Juvenile Justice and

lecture our students on the law. On that same day, he administered the oath swearing me in to the Florida Bar. It was 1979.

Over his life of 84 years, so too did he, day after day, week after week, year after year, travel to your club, your community group, your condo. He impacted so many of us so often.

Alcee’s voice was first heard in Fort Lauderdale in the ‘60s, when, as a Black man, a motel would not rent him a room.

It’s a voice he leaves behind in 2021, with African American men and women serving this community as mayors and congressmen, state attorneys and public defenders, judges and supervisors.

The titles they hold today are in no small part a tribute to what Alcee Hastings, did yesterday. May we all honor that legacy by having the courage and compassion he so exemplified.

CONVICTIONS

Editorial Cartoon

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CONVICTIONS

Jesse’s Journal

IN PRAISE OF THRIFT STORES Jesse Monteagudo

I

love thrift stores. The price is mostly right, the quality is surprisingly good, and my money usually goes to good causes. I began to shop thrift stores at a time when my finances were not so good and now, though my finances are better, I continue to do so.

In thrift stores, I find good bargains and, sometimes, wonderful surprises. Fortunately, I live in a community where thrift stores are plentiful and convenient.

The first thrift stores were established in England, where they are called charity shops. A type of social enterprise, thrift stores justify their existence by donating their profits to accepted charities. They keep their overhead down by selling used goods and employing (largely) volunteer staff. Shopping at thrift stores is so popular in America that the term thrifting was coined to label this activity.

Environmentalists like thrift store goods because they use fewer natural resources and thus do less damage to the environment.

Most of the clothing found at thrift stores were donated by the families of recently deceased persons who were not dedicated followers of fashion but who usually knew what looked good on them (and others). According to the South Australia Public Health Directorate the health risk of buying used clothes at thrift stores is quite low, which is reassuring to those of AS MACKLEMORE us who worry about contracting infectious Photo via PxHere.

RAPPED IN diseases.

In the U.S., chains of thrift stores are “THRIFT SHOP” operated by national charities like the AIDS Book collectors like me are usually on site (www.salvationarmyusa.org) the Army “embrace people WHY PAY $50 Healthcare Foundation, American Thrift, the lookout for good bargains or occasional regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or FOR A T-SHIRT Chabad, Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army treasures like those often found in stores run gender identity. Our hiring practices are open to all, and and St. Vincent de Paul.

by Poverello or Chabad. Other stores (not the we provide the same benefits to opposite-sex and same-sex WHEN YOU A small number of thrift stores are ones where I shop) specialize in antiques, couples. The Salvation Army is committed to serving the CAN GET ONE independent enterprises like Poverello or Fort artwork, or bric-à-brac.

LGBTQ community.” This about-face makes it easier for me MUCH CHEAPER Lauderdale’s funky Oddballs Nifty Thrift.

The stores’ décor also run the gamut from to shop Salvation Army stores, though it annoys me that they They all exist to provide a community service. dumpy warehouses to elegant shops like continue to display their clothes by color, rather than size.

AT GOODWILL According to José Vazquez, manager of consignment shops or Out of the Closet In addition to their contributions to charity, thrift stores OR SALVATION the Wilton Manors Out of the Closet store, stores. The causes they serve are also diverse are a major part of our economy, especially during these ARMY? “When you shop at any Out of the Closet, and might decide your willingness to shop uncertain times. I buy most of my clothes at thrift stores, you’re directly helping people living with HIV there: Goodwill helps individuals, especially with the notable exception of underwear, socks, and shoes. and AIDS. Ninety-six cents of every dollar those with disabilities, train for and find jobs; The clothes are just as good and are much cheaper than collected goes directly to fund AHF’s HIV/AIDS programs and Poverello and AHF help people living with AIDS; American those sold by trendy shops like Old Navy. the new housing services as well as on-site pharmacies and Thrift stores assist local charities; and the Salvation Army As Macklemore rapped in “Thrift Shop” why pay $50 for free HIV testing.” helps the Salvation Army. Those who hesitate to shop a t-shirt when you can get one much cheaper at Goodwill or An Out of the Closet store “is where our various clients and at Salvation Army thrift stores should know that it has Salvation Army? Why indeed. Visit your local thrift store and customers get their medication, shop, donate, and get tested repudiated its old anti-LGBT views. According to its web be surprised. all in one place. They would be lost without us.”

Though there are many thrift stores to choose for, they are not equal. Some stores specialize in furniture, like St. Vincent de Paul stores and the stores operated by Faith Farm Ministries.

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida's Other stores, like American Thrift, Goodwill, or the various LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations. consignment shops, specialize in clothing, fine or otherwise.

28

• 4 . 8.2021

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CONVICTIONS

Guest Column

GOODBYE ALCEE, YOU WERE MY PERSONAL HERO Michael Rajner

B

ack in 2011, Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings stood at the podium to deliver the keynote address for the Broward County observance of the International Transgender Day of Remembrance. Although he arrived with prepared remarks by one of his amazing DC-based LGBT staff members, he paid a brief tribute to that staff member and said he needed to speak from his heart and didn’t want to read from a piece of paper.

He didn’t shy away from when Democrats controlled both houses of the U.S. Congress in the late ‘80s and impeached and removed him as a federal judge. He shared that one of his proudest moments as a federal judge was when a transgender inmate of the federal prison system had a case before him where the federal correctional facility refused to allow the individual to complete the final of three gender confirmation surgeries. The individual had completed the first two surgeries before being incarcerated and the third was already scheduled prior to incarceration and was able to afford the surgery herself.

Hastings, a federal judge back then, ordered the correction facility to not only permit the surgery to take place, but for the system to pay for it.

He spoke about how that individual wrote to him after she was released from prison and thanked him for affirming her for being her authentic self.

After his removal form the federal bench, Hastings campaigned and won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and throughout his years he has been a tireless champion on issues of civil rights, but never shied away to stand up and fight for LGBT-equality and needs of the HIV/AIDS community.

While in Congress with Barney Frank, they teamed up to whip the vote to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and challenged Democrats and Republicans alike when he held them

Alcee Hastings. Photo via Facebook.

accountable to support the LGBT community.

When Allen West, my own member of congress refused to meet with me on HIV/ AIDS-issues, Alcee reminded me that congressional offices belong to the people in that district and not the members. He proudly pointed out to me a sign which proclaimed that on his office door.

In 2010, the HIV/AIDS community was suffering through historic waiting lists for access to HIV medications due to a funding shortage of AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, I emailed his office on that matter and he called me and invited me to come to Washington D.C. and he would give a floor speech to call on Congress and former President Obama to allocate $25 million in emergency funds for the program – Hastings not only gave the speech, but he teamed up with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and delivered on the $25 million.

One of my personal heroes has passed, but his contributions and the legacy he leaves behind for our community should never be forgotten.

May you rest in peace my friend.

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aul Fasana, a man who helped the LGBT community thrive by keeping its history alive, has died. He was 87.

The Stonewall National Museum & Archives, where he volunteered his time and knowledge for more than 20 years, announced the news, saying he died about a week after going to the hospital for an unspecified illness.

“Personally, I will miss him a great deal.

He was a beloved friend and mentor,” said Hunter O’Hanian, executive director at Stonewall. “He was a kind, smart, charming, thoughtful, and engaging man. He loved knowledge and learning, while preserving human history and culture.”

Fasana’s life was dedicated to the service of others and his biography at Stonewall details a well-lived life. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, then graduated from UC Berkeley; first in 1959 with a B.A. and then 1960 with a Masters of Library Science.

Armed with those degrees, he began a long career in library administration; first at the New York Public Library as a cataloguer and later at the Columbia University Libraries as director of library automation. Eventually he returned to the New York Public Library as senior vice president and director of the Research Libraries until he retired in 1995.

But retirement was just the end of one chapter and the start of another for Fasana.

He joined the Stonewall Archives in Fort Lauderdale, becoming their chief archivist.

He began organizing their collection of historic documents and media, and the task wasn’t as simple as it sounds.

At the time, the library’s holdings were spread out across three warehouses and the Metropolitan Community Church. Now, under Fasana’s leadership, the collection is in a climate-controlled building and wellcataloged for researchers.

Fasana’s partner in life was Robert Graham. They were together 48 years until Robert died 11 years ago. They were a team that touched South Florida not only by giving their time, but also through financial philanthropy.

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Paul Fasana. Photo via Stonewall National Museum & Archives, website.

Among their beneficiaries is the Sunshine Cathedral, where they have a chapel named after them. In January of 2020, the Our Fund Foundation gave Fasana the Dick Schwarz Award for Lifetime Achievement, an honor Fasana said he wished Graham was here to share with him.

“Paul’s financial generosity matches his volunteerism, which is not an easy thing to accomplish considering he’s one of the most ardent volunteers we have here in South Florida,” Our Fund said then. “Paul’s generosity has affected almost every agency in South Florida. He established the first endowed fund at Our Fund, and since that time has created additional funds which will affect the lives of LGBT south Floridians in perpetuity.”

O’Hanian says Fasana’s legacy also lives on inside the archives.

“More than any other single individual, he is responsible for the richness of the vast archives at Stonewall. Thousands of pages in the archive bear his carefully hand-written notes in pencil. He cared for and nurtured the collection with remarkable accuracy right up to [the week before he died] when he was here and working. Future generations of scholars and researchers will owe him a debt of gratitude for his work and attention to detail.”

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31

COLUMN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LET’S FINISH THE FLAG DEBATE We Have Real Work to Do Landon (LJ) Woolston

I

n the midst of a polarizing disagreement around the colors of the Pride flag, several members of Miami-Dade’s LGBTQ Advisory Board may be showing their true colors. Whether their recent actions stem from deepseated disdain for one another, or from frustration over this particular issue, some seem to have lost sight of the urgency of our collective work.

As both a trans person and a social worker, someone who has been personally and professionally exposed to the brokenness of our local systems, I am frustrated by the extraordinary amount of energy, time, and county resources that have been expended on this issue — especially after learning that it’s still up in the air whether or not a Pride flag will fly at all in Miami-Dade during Pride month.

It seems a better use of the boards’ energy to make sure that a flag actually flies, than to continue to engage in spiteful squabbling with one another over which one (while dragging a bunch of community members into it, too).

With so much active harm being done all across the city to queer Black and Brown people, and trans/non-binary people, spending this much time working to create the appearance of inclusion in Miami during Pride month, rather than working on the real issues affecting local LGBTQ+ communities year-round, is abhorrent.

Most of us out here don’t have that kind of time. Our friends and family are still dying.

While I know there are varying opinions and feelings about these flags among us all, what I also know for sure is that we won’t fix our long-standing history of racism and transphobia in this country or city by flying any given flag for 30 days. Even with this newly created one, I’m not sure that I can personally say “it’s a start.”

Diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot be achieved without diverse, equitable, and inclusive processes. Out of 15 seats on Miami-

Dade’s LGBTQ Advisory Board, only one is filled by a Black person, and one is filled by a trans person — as such, they were the only ones from these communities who had the opportunity to formally weigh in on this agenda item.

After the item was voted upon and passed, and conflict erupted on the other side, I and others were asked by board members to speak publicly on this issue at the March meeting (that was ultimately canceled the night before due to a “lack of quorum”).

Asking impacted people in the broader community to weigh in on something only after it has gotten hot and messy is not equitable — it’s tokenizing.

Instead of continuing to labor over the flag, I’d love to see board members directly and openly address community feedback around the lack of genuine diversity and representation on this board; having a more representative board would likely have prevented this rift in the first place.

I’d love to see them directly and openly address the game of musical chairs that is playing out on the board — where board members who lost their seats when their commissioner lost the election managed to stay on for another term (by being reappointed to other open seats). If this board is truly committed to creating an inclusive Miami, they must be willing to make space for new and more diverse voices, and to challenge board members who are gatekeeping. Silently co-signing various inequities on the board, while paying lip

MOST OF US OUT HERE DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME. OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE STILL DYING.

Photo via Adobe.

service to “progress” in the form of a flag, is hypocrisy.

How about we focus our collective energies on Black and Brown trans femmes being routinely murdered in Miami? Or on the local media taking 10 days to say something about it?

Or on:

•Trans and non-binary youth who are isolated in their homes, who haven’t heard their chosen name or an affirming gender pronoun uttered since last March;

•The systemic and interpersonal violence that T(LGBQ+) sex workers face daily in Miami;

•The rising rates of suicide among local queer and trans people at large.

•The horrible mistreatment of queer and trans people who are incarcerated locally, and the over-representation of BIPOC LGBTQ+ folks behind bars;

The list could go on and on. There are so many issues we need to be tackling.

It is disheartening that this board has the collective time, privilege, and luxury to be this worried about the way the house is decorated outside, while it is literally on FIRE inside.

Is there not an easily accessible win/win with the flag debate? Can we not fly both flags and move on to other pressing issues (or retire and commemorate the Baker flag and fly the new one, as Miami Beach has done)? I personally am not prepared to trample on the work and feelings of my queer/trans elders, whose shoulders I am clear that I stand upon, in favor of own my feelings or that of anyone else’s — especially not with the false notion of “progress” that this flag would represent.

We have a lot of queer and trans-related work to do in Miami, and to me, this isn’t it.

•Trans/non-binary people still being forced to undergo conversion therapy in Miami-Dade; •The continued erasure of local queer and trans indigenous people and cultures; •The disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, and the associated economic crisis, on BIPOC queer/trans people; •The barriers to care that trans and non-binary folks are still facing locally right-darn-now; •Local organizations and institutions that are corrupt and/or limp, that only pretend to serve us, rather than actually doing so;

•The lack of safety and inclusion experienced by local queer and trans AAPI people (an issue long before COVID-19 began); or

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!  Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com 32

• 4 . 8.2021

Guest Column

CONVICTIONS

TARGETING TRANS STUDENTS

HURTS EVERYONE Heather Brinkworth Special to Sun Sentinel

I

am the proud mom of a female scholar-athlete. She loves the camaraderie, the competition and the cadence that sports bring to her life.

I love watching her change and grow as a person through Why focus on a nonissue? Why create legislation that could every season, in every sport. I know sports have helped her do more harm than good? succeed through school, and she will be a stronger woman While there is no evidence of this bill’s necessity, there is because of the athletic experiences she has had. plenty of evidence that our LGBT youth are suffering, with A bill is currently being fast-tracked through the Florida higher levels of depression, higher incidents of drug and Legislature that is, in my opinion, politicizing an issue that alcohol use and a higher likelihood of suicidal ideations and/ for the last decade has been a nonissue. or death by suicide. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey I have seen comments on social media and I have heard is used by governmental entities and community support the conversations in the bleachers at organizations to focus on areas of concern. sporting events, “This is unfair to female Although transgender youth data is not expressly athletes. A male can enter female sports reported, the LGB data should make anyone pay THE FEARS OF teams by saying they identify as a female attention.

FEMALES LOSING and take away opportunities for girls.”

According to Broward County data on the Simply put, it doesn’t work that way.

2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Photo via PxHere.

SPOTS ON THE As a former Broward County School Board member, I remember the arguments • 54.3% of LGB youth felt sad or hopeless school, and she is a stronger woman because she is an TEAM ROSTER OR every day for a two-week period (20% more likely athlete. I don’t want similar opportunities to be denied to we heard against a policy allowing SCHOLARSHIP students to use the restroom that aligned than their heterosexual peers); transgender girls and women because of fear and prejudice. with their sexual identity. Comments Let’s do a better job of educating people about the realities.

OPPORTUNITIES, similar in nature, about all the horrible • 43.6% of LGB youth seriously considered Let’s send a message of inclusion. I know what I want for my outcomes, were bandied about as reasons daughter, and I want to make sure other daughters have the SIMPLY HAVE NOT attempting suicide; and why we should not support LGBT students same opportunities.

BEEN AN ISSUE • One in three LGB youth made a plan about — comments that were not at all based in As a parent, I love my children unconditionally and I want how they would attempt suicide. reality. the best for them. As an active member of our community, I FOR MORE THAN On Tuesday, April 6, House Bill 1475 support what is best for our community’s children. I support 10 YEARS NOW. The reality of those statistics should be all children, with a focus in this conversation on students is scheduled to be heard by the House Education and Employment Committee. driving the conversation toward inclusion and who might otherwise be ostracized or marginalized. All kids, support rather than exclusion and division, and including trans kids, deserve the right to love the camaraderie, The proposed law relies on baseless arguments to scare people into thinking that allowing the positive impact sports have on young people should be the competition and the cadence of participating in sports. transgender females to participate in the sport of the gender part of that. Being a teenager is hard enough when the cards As the mom of a female athlete, I implore our Legislature to with which they identify will create huge inequities for female aren’t stacked against you. As adults, we should do everything stop the fearmongering. As the mom of a female athlete, I we can to promote inclusion and create safe environments invite lawmakers to consider what is best for all children. As athletes. Check the decade-long record. It hasn’t happened.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has had for children. the mom of a female athlete, I ask them to vote down this bill gender identity participation in place since 2011. The Florida Being an athlete has helped my daughter succeed in and not allow it to move forward.

High School Athletics Association has allowed transgender students to participate in the sport of the gender with which they identify since 2013. The sponsors of this bill have stated there has not been a single formal complaint regarding transgender participation in sports. The fears of females Heather Brinkworth served on the Broward County School Board 2014-2020. losing spots on the team roster or scholarship opportunities, simply have not been an issue for more than 10 years now.

4 . 8 . 20 21 •

33

LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

DID WE LOSE ‘COMMUNITY’ WITH ASSIMILATION? Brian McNaught

A

Canadian gay man my age wrote to ask if I felt we had lost something special because of the progress we’ve made in our movement. He liked the feeling of community he had 40 years ago when gay bars were about the only places we could meet to talk and dance together. Now that we’ve assimilated, the bars in the town where he lives have disappeared. It’s not just the gay bars across North America, but also gay bookstores and newspapers that are harder to find.

There was a sense of excitement that accompanied the fear and caution of maneuvering beneath the radar in the early 1970s. We were kids, meeting in dimly lit, unmarked, Mafia-owned bars, going home with strangers to engage in illegal activity. With the dawning of the “Gay is Good” movement, we became the first generation of young warriors who dared to march in large numbers in the daylight, who boldly put our names on “Letters to the Editor,” who dramatically, in front of television cameras, poured orange juice into the sewer after our loss in Dade county, and who rallied in strong numbers in support of pro-gay straight politicians. Those who died of AIDS were fallen heroes, and we were the families who cared for and buried them.

Yes, for those of us who came of age at that time, standing on the shoulders of the handful of pre-Stonewall heroes, there can be a nostalgic sense of loss of identity as members of a struggling family. Sharing “war stories” with other LGBT seniors can be very satisfying and lots of fun, but they’re lost on kids who grew up with Gay-Straight Alliances in their high schools. That’s not to suggest that coming out today is easy for anyone. Transgender young adults are currently the main target of social conservatives. Nor should we assume that younger queer people feel no sense of family, or of community. They often rely on it for safety, but it’s different from the urgency we felt.

That said, I wouldn’t want to go back to the days when we waited nervously to see how the local newspaper was going to report on our Gay Pride parade. In the 1970s, they sent straight reporters and straight photographers

THERE’S MORE ONLINE! 34

• 4 . 8.2021

to cover us. Now, the journalists are openly gay or transgender. So are the dentists, lawyers, therapists, realtors, financial planners, cruise directors, cops, and politicians we run into on a daily basis.

I’m grateful that the top notch pain doctor that Ray and I see regularly is not just an out and proud gay man, but his entire staff are so gay-positive you forget that most of them are straight. I always smile with satisfaction when I see copies of the local gay newspaper stacked outside the elevator in Dr. Neel Amin’s office, and the South Florida Gay News calendar on the countertop at check-in. We have indeed assimilated, as there are as many straight people sitting in the waiting room as gay, and how sweet it is that we don’t, and they don’t, give sexual orientation a second thought at that moment.

It wasn’t our assimilation that eliminated our gay bookstores. Yes, the financial success of our LGBT books expanded the size of the gay and transgender section at Borders, but it was the ease of shopping there, at Barnes and Noble, and then at Amazon on the Internet, that made it a challenge for gay bookstores to turn a profit. Newspapers, both gay and straight, have disappeared because of the availability of electronic news, and due to the ability of gay advertisers to reach a bigger audience through social media.

Those of us who learned how to endure and survive the blatant bullying by organized religion and the state in the early 1970s and 1980s now enjoy the benefits of learning for ourselves the true meaning of faith and love.

Many young LGBT people today have multiple means of connecting and socializing with their peers, openly having crushes just like their straight friends, and seeing themselves thoughtfully portrayed on television programs and in movies. They can listen to popular, openly gay and Christian musicians sing lyrics that honestly reflect their reality. They can also cheer gay and transgender athletes in high school and college. Gay teenagers can have sex without it being a crime, and have their legal marriages blessed by most mainline Christian and Jewish ministers.

I treasure my memories of actively

Photo via Adobe.

participating in the liberation of LGBT people.

My soul swells with the great satisfaction of seeing, hearing, and feeling the everincreasing successes we have had in changing hearts and minds at all levels, unimaginable 50 years ago, from the boardrooms of the world’s largest and most influential corporations to the papacy itself. While there are still many battles to be fought and won, nothing compares to the camaraderie experienced in locked arms as we proudly, though fearfully, marched in our Pride parades past screaming homophobes, us never trusting the police would step in on our behalf. Today, LGBT police officers, firefighters, and veterans march with us.

I envy the ease with which many LGBT people grow up today, but I’d not give back the significant lessons I learned by confronting adversity in order to be in their

more comfortable shoes. So, “yes,” I feel that our successes in winning acceptance have cost younger people something that is dear to me, but the same could be said by every generation that has witnessed significant changes in their lives. My folks felt their children didn’t understand the value of money, because Mom and Dad grew up with much less financial security than we did.

But, my grandparents survived the Great Depression, and had an even more intense experience of pulling together as a family than did their adult children. And so it goes.

It would be interesting to listen to today’s teenagers talk 50 years from now about how the youth of the future don’t know and understand what it once meant to be gay and transgender. They, too, will undoubtedly say that something was lost as a result of the progress made.

Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The Godfather of gay diversity training.” Brian has a weekly YouTube/FaceBook podcast called, “Are You Happy Without the Movie?”

ORCHIDS COMING TO RICHARDSON PARK IN WILTON MANORS •BY CHRISTIANA LILLY Read SFGN.com to find out more.

LIFESTYLE SHOP WITH PRIDE

ROWENCLIA HAS A RING FOR

EVERY OCCASION! Kendall Little

B

isexual Elliemay Rowena Davies is only 16 years old and owns a small business with over 1,000 followers on Instagram called Rowenclia.

“I sell hand-made crystal wire rings and crystal necklaces, [and] earrings,” Davies said. But she hinted that more items will be coming to her shop soon for customers to enjoy.

She sells a variety of crystal wire rings, ranging from dainty silver rose quartz pieces to more eclectic evil eye rings.

Davies’ jewelry is simple and perfect for everyday wear or dressing up an outfit.

“The silver amethyst ring is probably my favorite, or the silver white opal ring,” she shared.

Unsure of your ring size but want to order? Davies includes a ring-sizing guide graphic on every product she posts on her site.

Davies’ jewelry is sold in her Depop shop, where all her loyal customers flock to when items are restocked.

Photo via @rowenclia, Instagram.

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Elliemay Rowena. Photo via @rowenclia, Instagram.

“My favorite part about owning a small business is seeing people wear items that I made myself and when they come back to buy again stating how happy they were with their last order,” she said.

Davies has big goals for this year, such as hitting 150 sales. She dreams of running a big brand where she can sell her hand-made jewelry pieces.

Rowenclia is more than just a jewelry business to Davies — she wants to bring joy to people’s lives.

“The purpose of Rowenclia is to make people happy with a unique business and our products,” she said.

VISIT OUR EXHIBITIONS ON 75 YEARS OF LGBTQ HISTORY

AND MANY MORE

VISIT STONEWALL-MUSEUM.ORG FOR FULL DETAILS

To support this LGBT-owned small business, visit Davies’ Instagram @rowenclia or check out her Depop shop @rowenclia.

Got the itch to shop for more? Visit SFGN.com/ShopWithPride.

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43/19/2021 . 8 . 20 21 • PM35 11:17:47

LIFESTYLE FOOD

A TALE OF TWO CITIES Rick Karlin

BIG CITY TAVERN

CITY OYSTER

609 E. Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale 954-727-0307 bigcitylasolas.com

O

K, this is going to be a very difficult review to write. Actually, it will be easy to write. What will be hard is to do so without sounding like I am the PR company for these two sister restaurants, because, on two recent trips, the experiences were about as close to perfect as possible.

Now that my aunt and uncle have been vaccinated, we were able to meet for lunch after not seeing each other for more than a year. We chose to meet in Delray because it is close to their house. I’d been to City Oyster a few years earlier for dinner and it was quite nice, so it seemed a natural for lunch; plenty of outdoor dining and nicely distanced tables.

My uncle began his meal with a half dozen oysters on the half shell and wisely chose the smaller and sweeter Simon oysters, which were fresh and briny, and needed nothing more than a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of mignonette sauce. I started with an order of perfectly prepared tuna tataki and a grapefruit martini, which on a hot day proved quite refreshing. The only thing that would have made this combo better was if the plate with the tataki had been chilled. It felt like it was fresh out of the dishwasher.

Warm plates and raw fish are not a good combo. But that was the only thing wrong

213 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach 561-272-0220 cityoysterdelray.com during the entire meal, so I can’t complain too much.

I had a pair of rolls for lunch, the Spokyo and an Iron Chef roll, both executed flawlessly. Everyone else was called by the siren that is the lobster roll, and rightfully so. Plenty of fresh lobster claw and tail meat with just the right amount of dressing on a nicely toasted roll. Crisp fries accompanied each sandwich.

Although we were all sated, we had to check out at least one dessert so we split the Key lime pie and, it too was prepared exactly as it should be; luscious and creamy with a tangy bite and a crumbly graham cracker crust. Service was impeccable and attentive (and masked). Even the dogs that walked by were cute. As I said difficult to critique in any way.

A week later we met friends for lunch at City Tavern on Las Olas. Again, recently vaccinated friends, we hadn’t seen since the pandemic began. We chose City Tavern because of its large patio. I’m not ready for indoor dining yet. This time we got straight to our entrees, and again, everything was perfect; from the attentive masked service, to the perfectly prepared food.

I opted for the 10-ounce house burger, quite a deal at $12.50 (I added cheese for

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A burger at Big City Tavern. Photo credit: Rick Karlin.

Rolls at City Oyster. Photo credit: Rick Karlin.

a buck more). One of our friends selected the smoked turkey Rachel on rye, served topped with coleslaw and swiss. The handsliced breast meat turkey was juicy and plentiful. It was quite the robust sandwich.

Our other friend enjoyed a Margherita pizza (or I should say enjoyed one-quarter of it, it was such a large portion, he took

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

the rest home). My husband decided to be adventurous and tried the shrimp pad Thai, not something I would usually recommend at a non-Asian restaurant. But damn, if it wasn’t as good as I’ve had anywhere else in town. Another flawless meal! And the eye candy of the many shirtless men out for a mid-day run didn’t hurt either.

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.

A&E APPOINTMENTS Karen Peterson and Dancers, a physically integrated dance company, will offer their first live performance in more than a year on April 11. Credit: Karen Peterson and Dancers.

ARTSBEAT EVERYBODY DANCE! J.W. Arnold

DANCERS PUSH PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES, EMOTIONAL TOLLS Karen Peterson and Dancers, Florida’s leading physically integrated dance company, returns to onstage performance with a live audience outdoors at Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 SW 57th Ave. in Pinecrest, on Sunday, April 11 at 4 p.m. The program will include the Miami premiere of their full-length program “Lost and Found.” The group, which includes professional dancers with and without disabilities, will address this past pandemic year in a series of duets that push the envelope of what dance can be and how society faces a global crisis, inspired by the people lost and kept close during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has been in rehearsal following safety protocols and both dancers and audience will be required to be masked.

Tickets are $20 general admission at TinyURL.com/PinecrestKPD/.

GOLD COAST JAZZ SWINGS INTO LIVE CONCERTS After a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gold Coast Jazz Society returns to the Broward Center’s Backlot Live outdoor stage on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. with the Ken Peplowski Quartet and special guest vocalist Wendy Pedersen. Peplowski is the leading clarinetist in jazz today and has performed and recorded with all the greats, including Mel Torme, Charlie Byrd, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman, Madonna, Steve Allen, Woody Allen and more. He and Pedersen will put a fresh new spin on beloved jazz standards — under the stars at the center’s Lillian S. Wells Backstage Plaza.

Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. Tickets are $35 at BrowardCenter.org.

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PLAY STRIKES A NERVE WITH AUDIENCES Island City Stage has not been afraid to confront tough social issues this season. Earlier this year, there was “Compensation,” a searing look at a young woman’s troubled decision whether to serve as a surrogate for a gay couple. Currently, the LGBT-centric company is offering “The Niceties,” through April 18 at Wilton Theater Factory, 2306 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Race, history and power clash in a provocative confrontation between a brilliant Black student and her lesbian professor in this taut drama by Eleanor Burgess.

Tickets are $35 at IslandCityStage.org. Masks are required and social distancing is observed. A professionally recorded performance will also be available for streaming online from April 16 – 25.

DRIVE-IN TO THIS GAY MEN’S CHORUS CONCERT The 150-voice Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida presents “Lift Every Voice & Sing: Songs of Hope, Freedom & Justice” on Saturday, April 17 at 8 p.m. The pre-recorded concert will be projected drive-in style at Dania Pointe in Dania Beach. The program is a tribute to our African American musical ancestors and the composers and performers inspired by them. The chorus will sing everything from spirituals to jazz, gospel to rhythm & blues and rock ‘n roll to rap.

Tickets are $50 per vehicle at GMCSF.org. The concert will also be streamed online on Sunday, April 18 at 8 p.m.

SFGN.com @SoFlaGayNews

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A&E MUSIC

A N O N - A I R T R I B U T E ORCHESTRA RETURNS TO BROWARD CENTER WITH LIVE CONCERTS TO ALCEE HASTINGS J.W. Arnold

Constitutional rights attorney Bruce Rogow, State Attorney Harold Pryor, and County Commissioner / former mayor Barbara Sharief pay tribute and homage to the life and legacy of the late Congressman Alcee Hastings. Listen online at www.NormKentShow.com to the show dated April 6, 2021.

Pictured: U.S. District Judge Alcee Hastings holding a press conference at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Orlando in 1989.

Photo by Gary Bogdon, public domain.

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O

n Saturday, April 17, the Symphony of the Americas will once again take the stage at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, their first live concert since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered performance venues more than a year ago.

The performances, April 17 – 18 and 22 – 23, will feature a smaller chamber orchestra and will take place outdoors on the center’s Backlot Live stage. The audience will be socially distanced, seated in “pods,” and masks will be required. But, those aren’t the only changes audiences may notice.

As the pandemic was declared, the symphony was concluding a year-long international search for retiring Artistic Director James Brooks-Bruzzese, who founded the ensemble more than three decades ago.

The board tapped Spanish Conductor Pablo Mielgo to lead the symphony forward and, not long after, appointed Steven P. Haines as the new executive director.

Mielgo served as chief conductor of Orquestra Simfònica De Les Illes Balears since 2014. He has also been the musical and artistic director of the SaludArte Foundation, and collaborated with Teatro Real Madrid, Miami’s New World Symphony, Gustavo Dudamel’s El Sistema in Venezuela and the Florida Grand Opera.

Haines has nearly 30 years of arts management experience and started his career with the Boca Pops, Palm Beach Pops and Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. He went on to lead the Philly Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco and, most recently, the Tucson Symphony.

While Mielgo remains in Spain under a pandemic travel ban and hopes to move later this year, Haines has already relocated to Wilton Manors, a “homecoming of sorts,” he says, and has taken the helm of the symphony’s operations. Thanks to Zoom, they were able to get started and their first priority was to put the musicians back to work.

“To say [the musicians] are excited is an understatement,” Haines said. “Our key priority is to create more and more work for these musicians, period. Not just because they’ve been without for 14 months, but

The Symphony of the Americas will perform live concerts again after nearly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: Symphony of the Americas.

because there’s an incredible pool of talent.”

Without a conductor, for the first pair of programs, Mielgo selected works that could be led on stage by the orchestra’s concertmaster, the principal violinist. The first program includes Maurice Ravel’s “Mother Goose” Suite and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” Suite, along with colorful works by Engelbert Humperdinck, Antonín Dvořák and Johann Strauss II, titled a “Trip Through Europe” in promotional materials.

The second program, “Classical Soundtracks,” celebrates music of the cinema, including Mozart’s often-used “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” and selections from “Cinema Paradiso,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “West Side Story” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The pandemic may offer challenges for the symphony and other performing arts organizations, but Mielgo and Haines agree there are opportunities, also.

“We’re looking at this as pure opportunity for the organization to take full advantage of developing new audiences and a new vision, with full respect and admiration to the history and traditions of the Symphony of the Americas. With change comes progress,” Haines said.

After a short pause, he optimistically added, “There’s no rulebook for any of this.”

The Symphony of the Americas presents “A Classical Return – A Trip Through Europe,” April 17 – 18 and “Cinematic Classics – Classical Soundtracks,” April 22 – 23, at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale.

All performances begin at 7 p.m. Masks are required and all seating is socially distanced. Tickets start at $10 at BrowardCenter.org.

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PORN PULSE

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A

PORN PIONEER

JOHN AMERO WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PORN INDUSTRY David-Elijah Nahmod

J

ohn Amero was there at the very dawn of the porn industry. At a time when working in porn carried a huge stigma, at a time when people in the business worked under assumed names out of fear of being “discovered,” Amero and his late brother Lem proudly put their real names in the credits of early X-rated classics such as “Every Inch a Lady” (1975) and “Blonde Ambition” (1981).

In Amero Brothers productions, the films told a story and featured performers who could act. In many ways the brothers tried to emulate the classic Hollywood films they adored, such as the glorious MGM musicals of the previous generation.

Amero worked on more than 30 feature films in various capacities. He called the shots in both gay and straight films and had a wonderful time doing so. Now, in his newly published memoir “American Exxxtasy: My 30-Year Search for a Happy Ending,” Amero recalls those bygone days with wit, humor and heart.

Amero writes vividly of his youth in New England where he was raised by a conservative grandmother after his parent’s divorce. His father remarried and moved away and his mother had serious mental health issues. It wasn’t an easy childhood and so Amero often escaped to the movies. But he loved his grandmother and his family dearly, and he remained close to them even after he moved to New York City and had made a name for himself in the world of adult cinema.

A New York City which no longer exists comes to life as Amero recalls his early days in the Big Apple where he shared an apartment with his beloved older brother Lem. At first Amero hid his homosexuality from Lem. It was a different era and being gay was not accepted by mainstream society. But one fateful night Amero wanders into a gay bar

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• 4 . 8.2021

and runs into Lem, and the two were best friends from that day forward. The book is dedicated to Lem, and to Amero’s longterm partner Chuck, both of whom are now deceased.

In his salad days Amero worked at CBS and ABC, editing commercials into TV shows for the latter. As he did during his youth, he went to the movies constantly. The movies were his escape, and he absorbed everything he saw like a sponge.

One day he went with his friend Michael Findlay to see a low-budget exploitation film and his whole life changed.

Amero agrees to work on an exploitation film with Findlay, producing a black and white film called “Body of a Female” (1964), a film which promised its audience all manner of sexual activity. These forerunners of adult films were never quite as dirty as they promised to be, though they definitely were not for kids.

The film was a success, and Amero was on his way, producing, writing, or directing one film after another, working closely with Findlay and his brother. When hardcore became the industry standard in the early 1970s, Amero accepted it and continued working.

Amero goes into great detail about the making of many of the films. He offers insight into what goes into the casting process, securing locations, dealing with performers’ egos, the trials and tribulations of actual film shoots, and getting a good distribution deal.

John Amero. Photo credit: John Amero.

Whether a reader is interested in making adult films or working in mainstream Hollywood, Amero’s prose serves as a teaching guide in how to make a film.

Two chapters of the book are devoted to the gay films that Amero worked on, which he did under the nom de porn Francis Ellie.

As with his straight films, Amero put a good deal of thought into each film, coming up with fully fleshed out stories and hiring the best talent he could find.

“Navy Blue,” one of the Francis Ellie films, was a homage to the 1949 musical “On the Town,” which had starred Hollywood legends Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Audiences ate up everything Amero did. His films always made money.

Amero also writes about his encounters with various celebrities in New York, such as movie star Montgomery Clift, jazz chanteuse Rosemary Clooney, 1950s Oscar-winner

Gloria Grahame, and Donald Trump, long before anyone ever thought Trump would ever be president. It seems that The Donald wasn’t a nice guy even back then.

But it wasn’t all fun and glamour. Amero writes movingly of the three biggest losses in his life: the death of close friend Findlay in a helicopter accident, his brother’s death from AIDS, and the loss of Chuck, his beloved life partner of many years, who had been suffering from a variety of health issues.

These losses affected Amero greatly and his recollections of losing them are beautifully written and quite moving.

The book is also filled with the names of people who were superstars during the porn industry’s early years. Names like Harry Reems, Andrea True and gay porn legend Jack Wrangler are remembered as consummate professionals and Amero humanizes them with his deft writing.

“American Exxxtasy: My 30-Year Search for a Happy Ending” is a wonderful book, a time capsule of an era that will never be again. Regardless of whether you’re a porn fan or not, it’s well worth a read.

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