4/20/16 V7i16 by South Florida Gay News

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Gazette Wilton Manors

April 20, 2016 vol. 7 // issue 16

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ON Our Side SF GN F E ATURE S L O CAL S TRAI G HT A L L I E S Lane reduction approved • GAZETTE, Page 4

pop-up exhibit features superheroes • Page 58

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Pages 22 - 30

MIFO LGBT FILM FESTIVAL • PagES 60 - 61

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SFGN.COM 4.20.2016 • 1

New Odefsey ® is now available

2 ODEC0005_OdefseyJrnlAd-B_Spread_10x10-75_SFlaGayNews.indd • 4.20.2016

1-2

Actual Size (15.4 mm x 7.3 mm)

One small pill contains rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Ask your healthcare provider if ODEFSEY is right for you. To learn more visit ODEFSEY.com

Please see Brief Summary of Patient Information with important warnings on the following pages.

4.20.2016 3 3/30/16 11:13â&#x20AC;˘ AM

Brief Summary of Patient Information about ODEFSEY ODEFSEY (oh-DEF-see) (emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with ODEFSEY. There may be new information about ODEFSEY. This information is only a summary and does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. What is the most important information I should know about ODEFSEY? ODEFSEY can cause serious side effects, including: • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis may happen in some people who take ODEFSEY or similar medicines. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: – feel very weak or tired – have unusual (not normal) muscle pain – have trouble breathing – have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting – feel cold, especially in your arms and legs – feel dizzy or lightheaded – have a fast or irregular heartbeat • Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems may happen in people who take ODEFSEY. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large and you may develop fat in your liver. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of liver problems: – your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) – dark “tea-colored” urine – light-colored bowel movements (stools) – loss of appetite – nausea – pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking ODEFSEY or a similar medicine for a long time. • Worsening of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. ODEFSEY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and take ODEFSEY, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking ODEFSEY. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. – Do not run out of ODEFSEY. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your ODEFSEY is all gone. – Do not stop taking ODEFSEY without first talking to your healthcare provider. – If you stop taking ODEFSEY, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking ODEFSEY.

4ODEC0005_OdefseyJrnlAd-B_Spread_10x10-75_SFlaGayNews.indd • 4.20.2016

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What is ODEFSEY? ODEFSEY is a prescription medicine that is used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older: • who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past and have an amount of HIV-1 in their blood (“viral load”) that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL, or • to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months, have a viral load that is less than 50 copies/mL, and have never failed past HIV-1 treatment. It is not known if ODEFSEY is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age or who weigh less than 77 lb (35 kg). When used to treat HIV-1 infection, ODEFSEY may help: • Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”. • Increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help fight off other infections. Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections). ODEFSEY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must keep taking HIV-1 medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do not share or re-use needles, injection equipment, or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them. Do not have sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Who should not take ODEFSEY? Do not take ODEFSEY if you also take a medicine that contains: • carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®) • dexamethasone (Ozurdex®, Maxidex®, Decadron®, BaycadronTM) • dexlansoprazole (Dexilant ®) • esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo®) • lansoprazole (Prevacid®) • omeprazole (Prilosec®, Zegerid®) • oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) • pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®) • phenobarbital (Luminal®) • phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin-125®, Phenytek®) • rabeprazole (Aciphex®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater ®, Rimactane®) • rifapentine (Priftin®) • the herb St. John’s wort or a product that contains St. John’s wort

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ODEFSEY? Before taking ODEFSEY, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have liver problems including hepatitis B or C virus infection • have kidney and bone problems • have had depression or suicidal thoughts • have any other medical conditions • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ODEFSEY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking ODEFSEY.

Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women who take HIV-1 medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take ODEFSEY. – You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. – At least one of the medicines in ODEFSEY can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in ODEFSEY can pass into your breast milk. – Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with ODEFSEY. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. • You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with ODEFSEY. • Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take ODEFSEY with other medicines. How should I take ODEFSEY? • Take ODEFSEY exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. ODEFSEY is • • • • •

taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection. Take ODEFSEY 1 time each day with a meal. Do not change your dose or stop taking ODEFSEY without first talking with your healthcare provider. Stay under a healthcare provider’s care when taking ODEFSEY. Do not miss a dose of ODEFSEY. If you take too much ODEFSEY, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. When your ODEFSEY supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to ODEFSEY and become harder to treat.

What are the possible side effects of ODEFSEY? ODEFSEY may cause serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about ODEFSEY?” • Severe skin rash and allergic reactions. Skin rash is a common side effect of ODEFSEY. Rash can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get a rash. In some cases, rash and allergic reaction may need to be treated in a hospital. If you get a rash with any of the following symptoms, stop taking ODEFSEY and call your healthcare provider right away: – fever – skin blisters – mouth sores – redness or swelling of the eyes (conjunctivitis) – swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat – trouble breathing or swallowing – pain on the right side of the stomach (abdominal) area – dark “tea-colored” urine

• Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have

any of the following symptoms: – feel sad or hopeless – feel anxious or restless – have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself • Change in liver enzymes. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus infection or who have certain liver enzyme changes may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening liver problems during treatment with ODEFSEY. Liver problems can also happen during treatment with ODEFSEY in people without a history of liver disease. Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your liver enzymes before and during treatment with ODEFSEY. • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known. • Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start and while you are taking ODEFSEY. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking ODEFSEY if you develop new or worse kidney problems. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take ODEFSEY. Bone problems may include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. The most common side effects of rilpivirine, one of the medicines in ODEFSEY, are depression, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and headache. The most common side effect of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, two of the medicines in ODEFSEY, is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. • These are not all the possible side effects of ODEFSEY. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. • Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about ODEFSEY. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ODEFSEY that is written for health professionals. For more information, call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.ODEFSEY.com. Keep ODEFSEY and all medicines out of reach of children. Issued: March 2016

ODEFSEY, the ODEFSEY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and GSI are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. ODEC0005 03/16

3/30/16 11:13• AM 4.20.2016 5

the opening line

comments from sfgn’s

online outlets

Compiled by John McDonald

Photos: Facebook.

Bernie sanders raises money against gay congressional candidates

florida man changes name to Bruce Jenner to preserve ‘heterosexual roots’

Just like women who don’t vote with their vaginas, I won’t vote for a candidate with my gaypenis. Bernie needs people in Congress to get things done with him. I’ll be voting for whoever Bernie tells me too. #feelthebern

david elijah – What an empty life this dude must have.

vincent Jv –

Jessie colt –

I do not vote for someone just because they are gay or lesbian. That is the same as voting for someone just because they are male, or just because they are republican or democrat. As a lesbian, I have no plans on voting for Hillary, but I do plan on voting for Bernie. Does this make me a traitor to other women? No. I know both of their stances, voting records, and political history, and I trust Bernie far more than I trust Hillary.

APRIL 20, 2016 • VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 16 2520 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY • WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 PHONE: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943

PUBLISHER • NORM KENT NORM.KENT@SFGN.COM

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER • PIER ANGELO GUIDUGLI

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / EXECUTIVE EDITOR • JASON PARSLEY JASON.PARSLEY@SFGN.COM

Editorial

vincent Zeteliano –

Gay, Straight, Trans, Black, Yellow, White etc. does not matter. What matters is getting the job DONE with out one’s own agenda or biased opinions…Peace out!

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

neal upright –

greg kanter –

She is dating men, so it is hetero.

Why not have him box Caitlyn for it on a very special episode?

ART DIRECTOR • BRENDON LIES ARTWORK@SFGN.COM DESIGNER • CHARLES PRATT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT • JILLIAN MELERO JILLIANMELERO@GMAIL.COM INTERNET ASSISTANT • ANDREW FAUSNIGHT WEBMASTER@SFGN.COM ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • JW ARNOLD JW@PRDCONLINE.COM NEWS EDITOR • JOHN MCDONALD JOHN.MCDONALD@SFGN.COM MIAMI-DADE REPORTER • ANTHONY BEVEN FOOD/TRAVEL EDITOR • RICK KARLIN GAZETTE NEWS EDITOR • MICHAEL D'OLIVEIRA SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER • J.R. DAVIS JRDAVIS12000@HOTMAIL.COM

Senior Features Correspondents

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DORI ZINN • ANDREA RICHARD • DONALD CAVANAUGH CHRISTIANA LILLY • DENISE ROYAL • SEAN MCSHEE ALEX ADAMS • GARY KRAMER • DAVID-ELIJAH NAHMOD

hBo documentary erases anderson cooper’s sexuality mons floen –

2/3 boring. I was very confused about them not discussing him being gay. They talk about everything, including his other siblings, but not him being a very out and visible gay man. So weird.

luis m. santiago vega –

Because the more conversation we encourage, the better understanding will flourish. And I don’t think DICK has anything to do with this conversation.

Contributing Columnists

BRIAN MCNAUGHT • DANA RUDOLPH • WAYNE BESEN RIC REILY • STEVE SILER • BIL BROWNING TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

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MEMBER

carl szulczynski –

I still don’t feel that Anderson has fully embraced his sexuality with full confidence. Sad really, considering he grew up around more gay people than a litter of mice in a gay bar.

SFGN WINNER of

• 4.20.2016

& 3 FLORIDA PRESS CLUB Awards And runner-up for

NLGJA Journalist of the Year

Associated Press

In Memoriam

DENNIS JOZEFOWICZ INTERNET DIRECTOR 2010 - 2016

MEMBER

PRINTING BY SUN COAST PRESS

South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright © 2016 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

MEMBER

news highlight

Benson Qualifies For Judicial Campaign John McDonald

he chase is on. Betsy Benson, a Wilton Manors attorney, officially qualified to be a candidate for Broward County Court Judge, Group 13. In a news release, Benson’s campaign said she met the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office’s required filing fees and documents. “Betsy Benson will bring to the bench more than 30 years of experience practicing law including almost 100 jury trials, her lifetime quest for justice and equality, and her extensive record of caring about and helping others in Broward,” the Benson campaign stated in a news release. The election is scheduled for Aug. 30. Benson, a lesbian, currently tries capital cases for the Public Defender’s office. Her father, William Benson, practiced law in South Florida for 53 years. Betsy has received the endorsement of the Broward Police Benevolent Association and the Broward County Public Defender.

“Betsy is an excellent lawyer and a great person and mother and will be a great judge,” said Howard Finkelstein, Public Defender, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. According to the SOE website, Benson is being challenged for the bench by Adriana Alcalde. On her LinkedIn profile, Alcalde lists 12 years’ service as an assistant state attorney assigned to the homicide and sex crimes unit. In the most recent financial filings, Benson has raised $102,340 compared to $8,510 for Alcalde.

4.20.2016 •

Compiled by Jillian Melero

Coconut Creek Ofﬁcer Arrested for sexual Battery (SFGN) Coconut Creek police officer Daniel Rush, 26 was arrested on Thursday on one count of sexual battery and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation according to a report from the Broward Sherriff’s Office. The accusations were brought to BSO attention after one of Rush’s alleged victims, a teenage boy handed a note, including the claims of sexual misconduct, to a parishioner during Sunday church services in Pompano Beach. The parishioner then brought the note to BSO to report the incident. Upon further investigation by the Special Victims Unit, a second alleged victim was identified. Both boys were 13 at the time of

the reported incidents. Rush has admitted to knowing both boys, but has denied the allegations. Rush is the co-founder of Men of Virtue & Ethics, a mentoring organization with ties to other churches in the community. Detectives are concerned there may be more victims. If you have information about additional victims or believe your child may be a victim, please call BSO Special Victims Det. Ann Suter at (954) 321-4240. Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. Photo: Broward Sheriff's Ofﬁce.

(SFGN) MeetMeOnBoard.com, a networking site for LGBT cruise ship travelers has voted Fort Lauderdale as its Best Embark/Debark point for LGBT travelers for its 2016 CRUIZIE Awards. First runner up was Barcelona Spain, followed by Miami as second runner up. Other categories included Best Cruise Lines for LGBT passengers, Best Onboard LGBT Gatherings, and Beat All-Gay Charters. “During 30 years as a cruise fan, I've seen the cruise industry follow the mainstream cultural trend toward accepting LGBT travelers. While I'm glad to say few LGBT cruisers experience homophobia on ships, I wish the cruise industry had been in the vanguard of reaching out to the LGBT community, similar to what Alaska Airlines and Marriott have done with their advertising. The standard for corporations being gay-friendly should not just mean refraining from discrimination, but actively engaging with our community on several levels, including representation of same-sex couples in their advertising,” said Mark den Hartog. Den Hartog and his partner Dale McCurdy founded MeetMeOnBoard in 2009. The website has more than 13000 members and estimates LGBT spending on cruise ship travel at over 35 million dollars annually.

Ask Sponsors to Drop NBA All42,000+ Star Game Unless Moved out of NC

(SFGN) North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT law has already drawn backlash as major companies, including PayPal are pulling operations out of the state. The law, passed in March, prevents transgender individuals from using the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. The law also nullifies previous LGBT protections, and prevents North Carolina cities from passing future LGBT antidiscrimination laws. A petition from the national women’s organization UltraViolet,

• 4.20.2016

is calling upon the sponsors of the NBA All-Star Game to refuse sponsorship unless the game is moved to a state without LGBT discriminatory laws. “North Carolina’s new anti-LGBTQ law, which was passed under the guise of protecting women, is an extreme attack on LGBTQ women in the State and a threat to all LGBTQ people everywhere. These laws allow employers in North Carolina to fire LGBTQ persons solely on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity and overturn the will of voters in cities across North Carolina who have rightfully chosen to protect LGBTQ people from this type of discrimination,” said Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of UltraViolet. Nike, and PepsiCo are among the chief sponsors. The petition has more than 42,000 signatures.

SEE THE PETITION HERE:

http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/nba_sponsors_allstar

Du Soleil Will Snub North Cirque Carolina After State Law

(AP) The Canadian-based circus company Cirque du Soleil is cancelling upcoming stops in North Carolina by two of its touring shows to protest a state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. The company said Friday that it will scrap plans for "Ovo" to play Greensboro from April 20-24 and Charlotte from July 6-10, and "Toruk - The First Flight," which was scheduled to play Raleigh from June 22-26. The company said in a statement that it "strongly believes in diversity and equality for every individual and is opposed to discrimination in any form." Other artists who have recently cancelled North Carolina appearances include Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Ani DiFranco. Cyndi Lauper and Louis C.K. have pledged to donate profits from their shows to Equality North Carolina.

Disrupt, Escorted From Protesters UNC Board Meeting

(AP) North Carolina's public university board is dealing with a new round of demonstrations against their new president and a new state law that limits protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The University of North Carolina Board of Governors adjourned briefly Friday as police cleared the room of nearly two dozen protesters. They started shouting as UNC President Margaret Spellings began speaking. Students have protested against Spellings due to work as President George W. Bush's education secretary and her corporate ties following her government service. Protesters continued chanting outside the building. Demonstrators have targeted UNC system board meetings several times in the past year. Friday's meeting was moved to Chapel Hill from the UNC system's Asheville campus because of a planned demonstration there. Spellings became president last month.

UNC

Photo: Facebook

wo South Florida Cities Voted Best Ports for LGBT Travel

news Briefs

ransgender Advocates Fear SC Bill's Fallout Even If It Dies

(AP) Transgender people said Thursday they fear a South Carolina bill that would require them to use the public bathroom for their biological sex will stoke misguided fears and endorse restroom vigilantism, even if the bill ultimately dies as expected. Opponents told a Senate panel the unenforceable measure perpetuates myths against an already-ostracized community, while supporters contend it's about protecting the privacy and safety of women and children. The measure mimics part of a North Carolina law passed last month that's caused economic fallout and debate nationwide. A growing number of musicians have canceled concerts in North Carolina in protest, including Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr. In Massachusetts on Thursday, an LGBT group booed the Republican governor off stage when he declined to commit to legislation expanding

protections for transgender people. The South Carolina bill, introduced last week, may go nowhere. The proposal requires multistall bathrooms on public property to be designated and used according to the gender on people's birth certificates. It would also bar local governments from requiring businesses to let transgender people use the bathroom of their choice. No vote was taken during the panel's second and final hearing. It's not yet clear whether the full committee will consider the measure. But even if it manages to advance to the Senate floor, Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Columbia, promises to use Senate rules to block debate. House GOP leaders say their chamber won't deal with the issue before session ends in June anyway. And opponents include Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, who has repeatedly called it unnecessary.

Continued

ass. Gov. Charlie Baker Booed Off Stage at Boston LGBT Event

(EDGE) Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was heckled and booed off stage Wednesday night by LGBT-rights activists during a local LGBT event where he was the keynote speaker, Boston.com reports. The Republican got more than he bargained for when he attempted to deliver a speech at an LGBT networking event hosted by Boston Spirit magazine. Baker was greeted by signs and chants from activists who urged him to support an anti-discrimination bill for the transgender community. Video footage of the event shows people yelling "sign the bill!" before Baker tells the crowd to "have a good night" and walks off stage. The audience then erupts in boos and heckles. Boston.com reports signs read "Public Spaces - Our Spaces, Trans Rights Now!" The Boston Globe reports the governor's decision to walk off the stage came 20 minutes into his speech. Organizers of the event reportedly said Baker would stay after his speech and mingle with attendees. Baker has yet to confirm whether he will support the measure, which would prohibit discrimination against trans people in public spaces like restaurants and restrooms, reportedly saying he "will make sure I talk to all parties involved before making any decision." The incident comes a week after Baker was uninvited from another LGBT event. The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce announced last week it would not honor Baker at its upcoming event over the governor's decision to speak at the Republican Jewish Coalition's leadership meeting, alongside GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz and anti-gay pastor John Hagee. The LGBT business group also took issue with Baker yet to confirm if he would support his state's anti-discrimination bill.

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News Briefs

Continued

tate Department Releases 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights

(SFGN) The U.S. Department of State releases the 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The reports include information on the human rights of LGBT people around the world, the Human Rights Campaign reports. A summary of information on sexual orientation and gender identity rights and protections by country can be found at ( http:// bit.ly/1SNShx4 ). “Respecting human rights isn’t just a moral obligation; it’s an opportunity to harness the full energy of a country’s population in building a cohesive and prosperous society. And it doesn’t jeopardize stability; it enhances it,” he said. “In country after country where human rights are respected, people are happier, people are freer to pursue their own designs, happier and freer to be artistic and creative, to be entrepreneurial, to make a difference in the building of the community,” said Secretary of State, John Kerry on Wednesday.

VTN and HPTN Announce Initiation of Antibody Mediated Prevention Study

(EDGE) The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) announced the initiation of HVTN 704/HPTN 085, also known as Antibody Mediated Prevention (AMP), a Phase 2b clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VRC01, a broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody (bnAb). AMP is the first study to evaluate whether bnAbs are effective in reducing acquisition of HIV-1 infection among at risk populations. "Injections or infusions of antibodies to prevent acquisition of an infectious disease have been utilized in medicine for decades," said Larry Corey, M.D., study chairperson for HVTN 704/HPTN 085 and principal investigator for the HVTN. "The remarkable advance in technologies to isolate and manufacture human monoclonal antibodies in concentrations high enough to potentially prevent HIV is a major advance and provides the underlying principle for our enthusiasm for these trials." The clinical trial is a randomized,

• 4.20.2016

double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, global effort conducted in the U.S., Brazil, and Peru and will enroll 2700 men or transgender persons (TG) who have sex with men or TG persons. Study participants will be randomized to receive VRC01 or placebo by intravenous (IV) infusion every eight weeks. Infusions will continue for 72 weeks for HIV-uninfected participants in all groups, with follow up for 20 additional weeks. A parallel study, HVTN 703/HPTN 081, will be initiated later this year in subSaharan Africa and will enroll 1500 sexually active women. AMP is being sponsored and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIAID Vaccine Research Center discovered the VRC01 antibody and manufactured it for this trial.

For more information, visit www.hvtn.org or www.hptn.org.

SAVING GRACE: The AIDS crisis in the Black Community Bobby R. Henry, Sr., Publisher of the Westside-Gazette Hugh G. Beswick, CEO, World AIDS Museum and Educational Center

ur meeting was serendipitous. Sheila Pettis, an Urban League Board member and Honorary Board member of the World AIDS Museum (also the wife of Eugene Pettis, first Black president of the Florida Bar Association) suggested that someone from the Henry family, owners of the Westside Gazette, should meet people from the World AIDS Museum(WAM). Publisher Bobby Henry visited the museum, heard the global story of HIV and agreed to discuss how WAM could reach out more fully to the Black community--a critical need as 51% of new HIV infections in Broward County are among Blacks. Bobby was so moved by the conversations that he divulged a secret-five or six members of his extended family were infected and several had died. He told Beswick that the Westside Gazette would be honored to partner with the museum

in addressing the challenge of HIV in the Black community and how appropriate and fitting since the newspaper would be celebrating their 45th anniversary. As happens with new friendship, we quickly identified with each other. Both came from worlds where sex was not comfortably discussed and where the effects of drugs and alcohol abuse were apparent but not addressed effectively. Both had slowly found spiritual solutions to the challenge of HIV. Both discovered that great difficulty can lead to even greater growth. The organizations worked closely to capture an accurate story of HIV in the Black population of Broward County. That story is told through filmed interviews, family trees which capture the far-reaching effects of HIV , photos of famous and local Blacks infected and affected(provided by well-known San

Francisco Photographer Duane Cramer) and local Black art and poetry inspired by HIV.

The exhibit opens with festivities at the Old Dillard Museum on Thursday, April 28 from 6:30-9 PM. The celebration is open to the public and includes a ceremony honoring several members of the Black community who have been "grass-roots" supporters of others touched by this disease. We believe that this combination of art and life culmination opens the door to even greater dialogue and would please HIV activist Alex Garner who said that "one of the best ways to fight stigma and empower HIV-positive people is by speaking out openly and honestly about who we are and what we experience"

Editorial sponsored by the World AIDS Museum.

4.20.2016 â&#x20AC;˘

news national

state proposals on lgBt rights push Business into spotlight Kathleen Foody Associated Press

Major corporations invested in Southern states have become some of the staunchest opponents of bills they consider discriminatory, facing off against Republican lawmakers eager to portray their states as the best home for global brands. The NFL, Apple and other behemoths have cajoled Republicans into rejecting or softening bills in recent years that supporters say protect people who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds. Companies are speaking up loudly again this year in states where such bills have been proposed as part of a backlash to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized gaymarriage. "As a company that is committed to the principle that everyone deserves to live without fear of discrimination simply for being who they are, becoming an employer in North Carolina, where members of our teams will not have equal rights under the law, is simply untenable," California-based PayPal CEO Dan Schulman said in a statement last week ending plans to hire 400 people for a new operations center in Charlotte. The decision is among the largest tangible effects of a new North Carolina law overruling LGBT anti-discrimination measures passed by local governments. Watchers of corporate America's approach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues said such public statements are only one way companies have been supportive, pointing to several years of efforts to win over LGBT employees and customers. CEOs sometimes take the lead, as in 2013 when Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told a shareholder who believed the company's pro-gay marriage position hurt profits: "Not every decision is an economic decision." Some companies have gone beyond what's required by state or federal law for equal employment policies and benefits. The Corporate Equality Index survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign, which has graded companies' environment for LGBT employees since 2002, gave 13 companies a perfect score that first year. This year's survey reported 407 companies hit that mark. When Cindy Armine-Klein joined the payment processing company First Data in 2014, the firm had recently scored below 50 on the survey. CEO Frank Bisignano told Armine-Klein when she was hired as chief control officer that year to

â&#x20AC;˘ 4.20.2016

prioritize creation of LGBT programs. Since then, the company has added coverage of domestic partners to employee benefits, included gender identity in its anti-discrimination policies and created a group to connect LGBT employees around the country. When a bill shielding opponents of same-sex marriage cleared the Georgia legislature this year, concerns quickly reached executives through that network. The firm, headquartered in Atlanta, joined about 500 others opposing the bill. Bisignano made a personal call to thank Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal following his veto of the measure. "When you have the opportunity to bring your whole self to work, that creates happy, active, creative employees," said Armine-Klein, who married her wife in 2011. "That is good for the employee; that is good for us as a company; that is good for our clients." But firms also want to be on equal footing with competitors. Nearly 400 companies last March signed on to a court document filed with the U.S. Supreme Court during its review of several states' gay marriage bans, three months before the justices effectively legalized the unions. Attorneys representing the broad coalition of companies, from online retailer Amazon to video game developer Zynga, wrote the "fractured legal landscape" of differing state policies on marriage harmed the companies' ability to operate across state lines. M.V. Lee Badgett, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a focus on LGBT issues, said companies have made the same argument about proposals moving through state legislatures this year. "The patchwork of laws on marriage wasn't working for them," Badgett said. "Now we're looking at a new patchwork developing. That's not going to work for them, either." Prospective employees or current workers offered promotions may turn them down if they have to relocate to a state where laws aren't considered LGBT-friendly, said Steve Bucherati, who retired in 2015 after more than a decade as Coca-Cola's chief diversity officer. "Bluntly, companies exist to make money for share-owners," he said. "And you can make more money for your share-owners if you can attract, develop and retain the best employees."

4.20.2016 â&#x20AC;¢

lesbian

gay nc Waitress says Women left BiBle verse in lieu of tip

(EDGE) A gay waitress from [Charlotte], N.C. said she is furious after receiving a Bible verse in lieu of a tip after serving a group of women lunch on Tuesday, local news station WDAM reports. Alexandra Judd, a waitress at Zada Janes restaurant, said instead of receiving a tip on the $23 bill, the patrons wrote, "Leviticus 20:13." The customers also wrote "praying for you!" at the bottom of the receipt. The Bible verse the woman were referring to comes from the King James version of the Old Testament and states: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an

• 4.20.2016

abomination. They shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Judd said she "never expected a hateful gesture like this." "I've had a guest leave me a pamphlet to their church as a tip one time, but I didn't feel as if they were being hateful towards me," she told the news station. "The ladies that came in were very rude, and would hardly talk to me -- but I never expected this." "I don't care what anyone says, this is the most disrespectful thing you can do," she wrote on Facebook. "Don't pray for me darling, I have everything I could possibly want and need in my life."

Compiled by Jillian Melero

Bisexual

nicola adams, Bisexual British Boxer, confirmed for rio 2016 olympics Photo credit: Richard Gillin

lgbtqia bites

(SFGN) British boxer Nicola Adams, will be defending her title at the Rio 2016 Olympics, GayStarNews reports. Adams was confirmed Friday after her victory over Norway’s Marielle Hansen. The 33 year old Adams won Olympic gold in London in 2012, and became the first openly LGBT person to win a boxing medal in the Olympics. Adams is openly bisexual, and after the 2012 games was on

the top of The Independent’s Pink List of the 101 most influential LGBT people in Britain. “I’ve always been an open person and I just thought that it might help other people if I talked about everything,’ she said. ‘All the way through the Games I was never anybody but myself. It’s being me that inspired people so I’m just going to carry on doing that,” Adams said.

lgbtqia bites

continued

transgender

largest ever study of transgender teenagers kicks off

(SFGN) Scientists will track psychological and medical outcomes of controversial treatments to help transgender adolescentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; transition, Nature.com reports. One such practice is the use of drugs to block puberty until the individual has mentally matured enough to make their own decision on whether or not to begin crosssex hormone treatment. The treatments are usually continued until the age of 16. However the side effects of this hormone suppression therapy are largely unknown. And there are ethical questions to deal with as well as

medical. Funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the $5.7-million project will not only be the largest study of trans youth, but it will be the first to track the medical impacts of puberty suppression and the second to track the psychological impacts. Researchers plan to recruit 280 trans adolescents, and to follow them for at least five years. One group will receive puberty blockers at the beginning of adolescence, and another, older group will receive cross-sex hormones.

4.20.2016 â&#x20AC;˘

news key west Submitted Photo

Small Works Exhibit Extended at Lemonade Stand Gallery in Key West Andrew Printer

n terms of the Arts, Key West will always be associated with Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. But there is a lot more to the island than those literary lions. Performance happens everywhere with half a dozen serious theatre companies packing in audiences year after year, and a vibrant visual arts scene stretches from the Gulf to the Atlantic. Lemonade Stand Gallery has been a part of that landscape for a decade. Owned and operated by Letty Nowak, a successful bicoastal painter in her own right, the cozy gallery runs alongside a charming paved courtyard just a hop, skip and a jump from Duval and Petronia Streets a bustling gay intersection. SFGN asked Nowak about the inspiration for the gallery’s popular and increasingly competitive Small Works juried show, now on display and in its fifth year. “I felt the call for 'original artwork under 10 inches' – a concept I’d come across elsewhere in my travels - was a great idea for our location. The gallery would become accessible to the many artists living in the Florida Keys and it would help Lemonade Stand and the Key West arts community in general gain exposure to artists and art lovers all over the world.” That has certainly proven to be true. Response to the call for submissions has grown exponentially year after year. This year there were over 500 submissions from 32 states and 9 countries. Yet, only 140 made the cut and the result is a glorious salonstyle presentation of small drawings, tiny sculptures, intimate paintings and all manner of unexpected mixed-media work. While it’s true, neither Lemonade Stand, nor the Small Works Exhibit is LGBT per se,

• 4.20.2016

it’s also true that a group exhibition of this nature, open to anyone in the world is bound to attract a queer collection of entries. This year has been no exception. Take for example the embroidered doilies submitted by Iowa artist Nathan Emanuel. Two of Emanuel’s pieces were accepted into the show, neither is suitable for workplace viewing (think handicrafts and porn), yet both fit right into this Key West exhibition. That’s not to say the Lemonade Stand Small Work Show is only about adult content, it’s not. But the range of work is truly eclectic and the subject matter diverse. For example, there’s a miniature polymer clay woman standing naked alongside a massive magnifying glass (Rebecca Lessen “judges’ choice”), there are two small stage set-pieces made from regurgitated paperback books (Bernadette Scelta) and there’s an image titled Pelican Casts Dubious Gaze Upon WellDressed Man (Lee Swets). I mean, seriously. Who wouldn’t love that! Caroline Stover-Sickman manages Lemonade Stand on a day-to-day basis. She sums up the success of the Small Works Exhibit like this: ”the small scale of the work not only offers artists a challenging parameter to be creative within, but the small size is ideal for local buyers who typically have smaller homes and therefore smaller walls. The 10” x 10” size is also perfect for tourists who need to ship their purchased artwork home.” When I swung by on a recent afternoon there were plenty of red dots on the wall telling me that a lot of small work in this year’s show has found a forever home. Lemonade Stand Gallery is located at 318 Petronia Street. The Small Works Exhibit is up until May 18. Check their Facebook page for details.

politics out on the trail

Canova: Florida Medical Marijuana Regulations Too Difficult Photo Credit: John McDonald.

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im Canova, who is challenging U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the Democratic primary, spoke about the tenets of his campaign at last week’s Dolphin Democrats meeting. Canova, 55, a law professor, condemned the influence of big money in political campaigns and stated he is firmly against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). After his speech, Canova agreed to an interview with SFGN, in which he answered questions about his position on medical marijuana, LGBT rights and the giant challenge of taking on Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee. “I’m fully supportive of medical marijuana,” Canova said. “I was two years ago in 2014 as well.” Florida Governor Rick Scott recently signed an expansion of the state’s medical pot bill (HB 307), allowing access to the plant for patients determined to have terminal conditions and are within one year of death. Canova, however, disagreed with Scott’s regulations. “I don’t think it should be that difficult,” Canova said. “I have seen the way medical marijuana has

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played out in other states. They don’t confine it to just terminal patients. It relieves a lot of pain and a lot of different ailments. The medical science on this is very clear. It is not a harmful drug compared to a lot of prescription drugs that have very serious side effects.” Canova is the first-ever primary challenger for Wasserman Schultz, a six-term Congresswoman. Florida’s U.S. House District 23 encompasses parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties from Miami Beach to Weston.

4.20.2016 •

news local

Photo: Facebook

Arianna Lint, Director of the Florida Chapter for the Translatina Coalition

This Week National Trans HIV Testing Day Denise Royal

pril 18 was National Transgender HIV Testing Day (NTHTD). The goal of the day is to encourage HIV testing and to develop trans-specific HIV testing campaign materials and resources. Transgender communities in the U.S. are among the groups at highest risk for HIV infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, trans women of color, especially AfricanAmericans and Latinas, experience disproportionately high rates of HIV. “HIV is still a real and serious threat to our transgender population,” says Aryah Lester, trans advocate and founder of Trans-Miami. “For years it has infected and affected us, until finally President Obama was the first to address it in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. As chairwoman for our state's Health Department's transgender workgroup, I was able to help implement work specifically addressing our high rates of infection in Miami-Dade's plan to the CDC and the White House.” The Human Rights Commission cites a recent international analysis, stating transgender women have 49 times the odds of having HIV compared to

the general population. Transgender men have lower rates of infection than transgender women, but they are higher than that of the general population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests certain risk factors directly tied to transphobia and the marginalization that transgender people face that may contribute to such high infection rates. These risk factors include “higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse, sex work, incarceration, homelessness, attempted suicide, unemployment, lack of familial support, violence, stigma and discrimination, limited health care access, and negative health care encounters.” “Only when we, as a community, show our numbers through testing can we truly face a major critical concern in the transgender community,” Lester said. “HIV/AIDS claims more trans lives than our high rates of murder and violence. If anything, for yourself, and your wellbeing, get tested and know your status. It is truly the only way to lessen the infection rate and also save your life. Treatment is prevention.”

For HIV testing locations in Miami-Dade County, visit TestMiami.org.

• 4.20.2016

community announcement

dining out for life april 28 H

elp make a difference by simply enjoying a meal with family or friends during Dining Out For Life hosted by Subaru, a delicious event held on Thursday, April 28th. The annual event is magnificent in its simplicity: Dine at one of the 3,000 participating restaurants in nearly 60 cities across North America and that restaurant will donate a generous portion of the day's proceeds to fund HIV/AIDS care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential services in their city. 2016 marks the fourth consecutive year that Broward House will be the local host/ beneficiary organization. Broward County’s longest-serving and largest HIV/ AIDS service organization, Broward House had more than 8,000 contacts with individuals through their prevention/education, testing, case management, assisted and independent living programs and their counseling and substance abuse treatment programs. Broward House President and CEO Stacy Hyde states, “in 2015 we had 17 participating restaurants in Broward County and our team is hard at work to increase the number in 2016. We invite everyone to go out and eat at one of our generous restaurant partners on April 28th and support our mission to provide care and prevent HIV.”

Volunteer spokespeople include Ted Allen, host of Food Network's Chopped, actor Pam Grier (Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown), designer Mondo Guerra, winner of Lifetime's Project Runway All-Stars, and chef Daisy Martinez from Food Network's Viva Daisy! "I love working with (Dining Out For Life) because it's just such a cool, very low overhead operation that raises more than $4 million for American HIV and AIDS service organizations in a single day…It also helps restaurants and chefs get new people coming in to try what they're doing. It just seems like such a win-win-win for everybody," says Ted Allen (HIV Plus Magazine, April 2015). "We have been the host sponsor of Dining Out For Life for a decade; however, the struggle to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues on. Subaru is proud to be part of an event that spreads awareness for such a worthy cause and also encourages people to support those who need it most in their local communities." said Alan Bethke, vice president of marketing, Subaru of America, Inc.

To see the full list visit: www.DiningOutForLife.com/ BrowardCounty/restaurants/

4.20.2016 •

CONVICTIONS

publisher's editorial

Photo Credit: Devon Sayers, CNN.

Norm Kent

screW these neW laWs

norm.kent@sfgn.com

of all. Laws now being passed to save religious he gay rights movement in America has liberty are remnants of a past we can not come a long way. But not far enough. Last week, North Carolina joined afford to ever go back to. If we go back to the past, it is only to be reminded of the foresight a host of states, including Mississippi and of some of our forefathers, constitutionalists Tennessee, in passing new anti-LGBT laws. such as Benjamin Franklin, who once spoke What are they, you ask? Very simply, the emerging and toxic these words: “Any society that would give up its liberties to gain a little security deserves legislation discriminatorily codifies by statute a moronic principle. The laws prevent neither and will lose both." This is also a week where Pennsylvania transgender individuals from using the became the 24th state to revise its bathroom that corresponds marijuana laws, passing legislation with their new gender to allow for medical marijuana. identity, nullifies existing Americans Today’s date, 4/20 has taken on LGBT protections passed universal meaning for pot law by local municipalities, embrace reformers, just as Stonewall does and prevents those cities those who for the gay community. Gays and from passing future antipot have a lot in common. We have discrimination measures to seek rights. loose joints and straight allies. And protect LGBT individuals. We enlarge with laws coming forth from some SFGN joins with the of these regressive, reactionary, host of local and national parameters wing southern states, damn, communities, companies and eliminate right we are all going to need a joint, and leaders that have won’t we? censured these obstacles to barriers. We let the bastards justice and equality. We are build bridges, getButyoudon’t down. We are going to encouraged by the wealth crush them in court, because and diversity of support, not walls. the laws being passed are from performers like Bruce blatantly unconstitutional. They Springsteen to companies like Coca Cola. It is important to have straight discriminate against a class of citizens, bear no rational basis to reality, and infringe on friends on our side. jealously guarded civil liberties. Still, it will In fact, this very issue of SFGN celebrates a host of persons in all walks of life, from take time, money and a dedicated body of lawyers to throw them up against a wall, break professionals to politicians to plumbers, who have stood by our side in advancing LGBT them into little pieces, and kick them into the dust bowl of history. rights. The majority of America may not be gay, but We come together as a society not to restrict the rights of any, but rather protect the rights the majority of America does not want to see

• 4.20.2016

America persecute its gay populations. That is what these laws do. If a citizen goes through the emotional and physical metamorphosis and transformation of his body from a woman to a man, he ought to be able to intelligently choose which gender’s stall he belongs in. Americans don’t like prohibitions in general. While it is unlikely that the majority of Americans may smoke pot, even if they don’t, they don’t want to see people go to jail for doing so anymore. That’s why there are groups like Law Enforcement Against Prohibition; because we need support from others, outside our circle. We need friends. Thankfully, good and decent Americans across this nation are ‘coming out’ for us and against laws which harm us. That’s why an issue like this one for SFGN is so valuable. It’s OK to need, have, and want friends, whether you are smoking pot or living a gay life. We can’t do it alone. Americans embrace those who seek rights. We enlarge parameters and eliminate barriers. We build bridges, not walls. Whether it is the disabled or immigrants, women or minorities, Americans come around to our way of thinking. It

does take time, and it sure takes patience, but history is really on our side. Don’t let it get you down. Keep on truckin.’ Just remember, while we are smashing the state, keep a song in your hearts and a smile on your lips. Tennessee still has beautiful camping grounds, North Carolina has Hilton Head, and Mississippi, well, at least they got a river. And the river keeps on rolling along. Just like us. Nothing is going to get in our way, not bad laws, stupid governors, or crazy clerks. We are on our way to Equality, and no one is ever going to hold us back again.

editorial cartoon

By andy marlette

community announcement

SAGE of South Florida Appoints 2016 Board SAGE

t their annual meeting, held earlier this month, SAGE of South Florida elected its 2016 officers and board members. Founded in 1994, SAGE of South Florida is a non-profit organization to enrich the lives of the LGBT community, inclusive of age, gender, race, nationality and religion. SAGE of South Florida is the oldest affiliate of the national SAGE USA. During its more than 20-year history, SAGE of South Florida • founded the annual LGBT Senior Health Expo • hosted a White House Conference on Aging live view party • helped to create the Noble A. McArtor Senior Day Center, and • has partnered with MiFo, The Pride Center and Pride Fort Lauderdale. Each month, SAGE of South Florida offers nearly 20 activities to its members and their guests. Many of these activities are held at The Pride Center at Equality Park, including a monthly movie; weekly

computer club and men’s drop-in discussions, and the monthly Co-Ed SAGES of SAGE. The organization’s Book Club meets monthly at the Stonewall Library. Its monthly Lunch and Learn is held at the Herb Skolnick Center in Pompano Beach, and the weekly co-ed SAGE on the Border/ Alternatives is held at the Mae Volen Center in Boca Raton. “What is most amazing,” states Carl M. Galli, President, “is that all of these activities and events are accomplished with no paid staff. Our office is housed at The Pride Center, and is staffed by members of our board of directors.”

Memberships to SAGE of South Florida start at $35 per year. You can learn more by visiting their website SageOfSoFl.org, like its Facebook page at Facebook.com/SageOfSouthFloridaINC, or call the SAGE office at 954-634-7219.

NOW OPEN

4.20.2016 •

feature � straight allies

SFGN Staff

straight and allied

s most readers know SFGN is all about LGBT news, but this week we decided to feature some our community’s straight friends. Some of these allies have been with us for years, others more recent. But each of them represents us winning over the hearts and minds of the straight comamunity. On these pages are business leaders, spiritual leaders, politicians and more. Without them our journey to full acceptance and equality would be much harder and for that we thank them. 22

• 4.20.2016

lois Wexler BroWard county commissioner

Since serving as a Broward County commissioner Lois Wexler has been a champion for the needy, vulnerable and underserved communities from those with substance abuse problems, mental health issues, the elderly and of course the LGBT community. Wexler championed the Broward County Human Rights Act Ordinance and voted in favor of expanding the ordinance in 2006 to include gender expression or identity. She also successfully passed a revised Domestic Partnership Act to provide domestic partners the ability to participate in funeral and burial decisions, participate in education of the dependent of their domestic partner, and reciprocity for domestic partnerships that were lawfully entered into in another jurisdiction. “I have always believed in a sense of fairness and treating everyone as I would want to be treated,” she said. “Discrimination, in any form, is unacceptable to me. I have consistently used my capacity as an elected ofﬁcial to promote equality for all.” Local LGBT rights activist Michael Rajner added, “Lois began her public service as a school board member and stood up for our community when homophobic bigots attacked the school board for rolling out a groundbreaking video to help educate students highlighting LGBT families. Each year she has motioned to ensure the interests of the LGBT and HIV/AIDS community were better represented in the county's state and federal legislative agenda's. While I'm grateful to have the honor to serve as Lois' appointee to the Broward County Human Rights Board, I especially proud of her focus on human services to support the needs of all residents.”

– JP

feature � straight allies dr. rosalyn osgood reverend at neW mount olive Baptist church When Reverend Dr. Rosalyn Osgood looks at the world, she says she sees it as “us” and not them. “I just try to give love and support where’re I can. I’ve been very outspoken of my support for the LGBT community.” Osgood, who has been with New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale for 14 years and is the Broward School Board Chair, said part of her support for the LGBT community stems from her biological father being bisexual and the stigma he had to face as a result. “I’ve been very involved with work with HIV. In 2013, I hosted the ﬁrst ever Hear My Pride Community Forum.” She’s also a board

member of the World AIDS Museum in Wilton Manors. “I have a group of gay friends. Sometimes they say I’m the only girl they’ve kissed,” she joked. “We have a ball.” Lorenzo Robertson, emerging interventions manager at The Pride Center, added, “Dr. Osgood is a woman that appreciates the realities that we all are different, but deserve the same respect. She is a true ally working on all fronts to assure that we are treated with dignity.”

– MDO

scott neWton vice mayor of Wilton manors Vice Mayor Scott Newton is the only non-LGBT member of the Wilton Manors Commission. But when it comes to votes in support of the LGBT community, he’s the same as his fellow elected ofﬁcials. “I believe in equality for everyone. Everyone should be treated the same no matter who you are.” As part of the commission, Newton’s past support for the LGBT community includes domestic partnership beneﬁts, requiring companies that contract with the city to provide equal treatment of LGBT employees and numerous resolutions in support of LGBT issues. Most recently at the April 12 commission meeting, he supported a ban on city employee travel to North Carolina in response to that state’s new anti-LGBT law. “I’ve always looked at everyone the same. It takes a group of people to make things change and I’m happy to have been a part of it.” It’s all part of what Newton says is about making Wilton Manors a better place. Fellow Commissioner Julie Carson added, “He has always stood with me on all of the issues of importance, even when other commissioners have not done so. He has always stood on the side of equality for everyone, public and private.”

– MDO

shelley goren ceo of gilda’s cluB south florida To some people, Gilda’s Club might not seem like something created with gay men in mind. But when CEO Shelley Goren came to Gilda’s Club South Florida, she says she was on a mission to make it more inclusive. When she became CEO nine years ago, “one of the ﬁrst things I did was to start a gay men’s networking group.” And with most of the health focus of the LGBT community on HIV/AIDS, she says “cancer was really not a topic people were willing to go for. But it’s been one of our most stable and active groups.” As for health issues in general, she says Gilda’s Club “tries to recruit doctors who are sensitive to issues in the gay community.” “I’ve known Shelly Goren for 10 years since she was at Broward House. Every one of her big events, people would be screaming her name. It was evident the entire community loved to be around Shelley,” said Robert Boo, CEO of The Pride Center. Her tenure at Gilda’s Club will end soon when she retires in the next couple months. “She’s been a staunch ally for many, many years. It’s really sad that we’re losing touch with a wonderful ally in the community.”

– MDO

4.20.2016 •

feature � straight allies stacy hyde ceo of BroWard house Broward House President and CEO Stacy Hyde knows the meaning of the word diversity, but that’s not what she thinks of when she looks at people. She just sees people, each equallydeserving of the rights and opportunities she expects for herself. “I believe in equality.” What she doesn’t understand is the stigma and hatred directed by many at the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities. “It doesn’t make sense to me that individuals are either put down or have a lack of opportunity just because of who they are…because of who they love. We want to create an environment at Broward House that’s safe for everybody to walk through the door.”

Terry DeCarlo, executive director of The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, called her “blind to all of that.” “I have never, ever, met someone in my life who is more dedicated and works tirelessly for the betterment of others than Stacy. Stacy puts her heart and soul into all she does without care of a person’s skin color, background, or sexual preference. She believes that everyone in need is equal and deserving of the same care and respect! I am proud to call her a mentor and friend.”

– MDO

kathleen cannon ceo of united Way of BroWard Kathleen Cannon sees beyond equality with the LGBT community. She sees opportunities to improve the entire community, straight and gay. “I’ve sought out opportunities to work with the gay community. They’re invested in the community and agents of change,” said Cannon, president and CEO of United Way of Broward. Previously, she worked at Center One, a now defunct HIV/AIDS non-proﬁt, and was COO of Broward House. “I’ve done HIV/AIDS work most of my career. I’m a social worker by trade, and back in the late 90s I was doing an internship at one of the public schools. They didn’t have a gay-straight alliance. I started the ﬁrst.” Robert Boo, CEO of The Pride Center said, “I’ve known Kathleen for 10 years when she was at Broward House. She’s been a staunch ally for as long as I’ve known her. She’s supported our community. Made sure we have funding available. Plus, she’s just the nicest person you’ll ever want to be around. She’s genuinely nice and kind. She’s perfect for what she’s doing at United Way…bringing the whole community together.” “To me, it’s a privilege that I’m accepted in the gay community,” said Cannon.

– MDO

hoWard finkelstein BroWard’s puBlic defender In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s before he became Broward’s Public Defender, Howard Finkelstein witnessed the horrific treatment gays and lesbians received at the hands of law enforcement officials. “They used to make our clients dress in space suits in the court house. Guards would yell out ‘AIDS patient coming.’ They experienced horrific deaths and were forced to die alone without even the simplest human touch to sooth their fear and pain. It was the most godawful thing I have ever seen.” Ever since that moment, he says his heart was linked to the LGBT community. “Their pain changed me.” Nowadays, he says he thankful many young people

• 4.20.2016

don’t know what their elders went through. “It fills my heart with such joy that they really don’t understand the hatred. I don’t mean it’s ancient history. We have come so far, but we can’t forget where we’ve been.” Attorney Norm Kent, publisher of SFGN, has seen first-hand how Finkelstein runs the Public Defender’s office. “From his equal hiring practices at the public defender’s office to his lifelong commitment to individual rights, and his intolerance of discrimination he has been an exceptional spokesperson and advocate for the decency and dignity of the LGBT community.”

– MDO

feature � straight allies Jeri muoio West palm Beach mayor West Palm Beach Mayor, Jeri Muoio, has always advocated for those who are treated poorly and she has always had gay friends. So when she became mayor and could make things happen, she began to take specific steps to guarantee that LGBT people are treated fairly by the city government. She is particularly pleased to have been able to guarantee that LGBT people who work for the City of West Palm Beach have the same rights and benefits of others. In the past she has stood with the community on issues like adding more health benefits to domestic partnerships; adding gender identity and expression to the city’s equal opportunity ordinance; and extending family leave benefits to domestic partners. Muoio is less sanguine about the future than many allies. “I am concerned that our country is becoming mean spirited and intolerant,” she said. “There continues to be a lot of work to be done and we must remain vigilant or those rights that LGBT

persons and others of us have fought so hard for will be stripped away.” In 2011 Compass honored Muoio with its community leadership award. In 2014 she served as the grand marshal of the PrideFest of the Palm Beaches. According to Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, “Jeri has been one of the LGBT community's strongest allies since she was appointed to the West Palm Beach City Commission back in 2006. She has been outspoken on LGBT issues for over a decade and recently imposed a ban on the use of taxpayer dollars to do business in both North Carolina and Mississippi because of their anti-LGBT legislation.” Last year when a similar law was passed in Indiana she ordered a ban on all city travel to the state.

– DC

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feature � straight allies Janet Weissman pride center Business manager When Janet Weissman was offered a part time job at The Pride Center years ago, known then as the GLCC, she had one question for the man who offered it to her: “You know I’m not a lesbian, right?” she asked. “He said, ‘yeah, I know.’” Fast forward to today and she’s now the business manager of The Pride Center and has been for 11 years. Weissman, who is Jewish, compares it to when she worked in a Jewish non-profit that had gentile employees as well. “It wasn’t a difficult fit. I have several gay and lesbian friends. I love the people I work with. I love working in non-profits.” She also teaches “A Course in Miracles”

Tuesdays at the Pride Center. “I am very involved in the spiritual path that deals in non-judgement. It’s not up to me to judge anyone or anything,” said Weissman. “I’m just open-hearted and openminded.” Robert Boo, CEO of The Pride Center, says Weissman’s support of the LGBT community goes beyond just work. “Not only has she been doing her job as business manager, but she’s taken on other responsibilities that had nothing to do with her job. She really has gone the extra mile.”

– MDO

Julia murphy compass director Julia Murphy has supported LGBT issues as far back as she can recall. “I cannot remember a time in my life when I wasn’t supportive of LGBT people,” she said. “I was taught to treat others equal and if you didn’t like the way something was, then you should work to change it.” In 2009 she joined Compass and discovered that “…Compass’ mission aligned with my own beliefs.” Murphy is particularly proud of the 2012 Inaugural Equality Prom created in response to a high school’s refusal to allow a student to wear a tuxedo instead of a dress to their prom. Today, the prom draws over 200 youth from all 24 high schools in Palm Beach County.

hava leipZig holZhauer regional director for the anti-defamation league Hava Leipzig Holzhauer, left being a practicing attorney three years ago to join the Anti Defamation League (ADL). She has been a friend to LGBT people since she ﬁrst realized there was a difference between gay and straight. Her innate sense of knowing these differences was honed when she learned that her best friend in high school was gay. “We were of a generation where being gay brought a lot of struggle. It’s less so today,” said Holzhauer. “My childrens’ attitudes are my greatest achievement as a straight ally. I have four children between 11 and 17 and truly, this is just not an issue to them and they don’t understand how anyone can be bothered with it.”

• 4.20.2016

“Still,” she added. “It’s important to continue being vigilant with things such as the events in North Carolina and elsewhere where people are taking away rights.” Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council said, “PBCHRC has worked with Hava Holzhauer for many years. During the two years we battled the City of Boca Raton for equal rights for the city's employees, Hava and her staff worked diligently to convince the city to do the right thing. Her advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community in Florida has been exemplary.”

– DC

For the future, Murphy is cautiously optimistic. “For the LGBT movement I know the ﬁght is not over,” she said. “However I am proud of the accomplishments we’ve made thus far. Tony Plakas, CEO at Compass, said, “Julia is smart, sophisticated and incredibly dedicated to Compass’ mission and to the people we serve. She has the enthusiasm of someone meant to create community and build bridges and she inspires those around her to do the same.”

– DC

feature � straight allies ron BilBao save Board memBer Ron Bilbao’s sense of social justice started in high school where he started the ﬁrst student-lobbying program leading fellow students to the state capitol to advocate for antibullying legislation. Besides serving on the board of SAVE Bilbao is the Legislative Specialist at the Florida Education Association. "The LGBT community still faces the daily scourge of discrimination in the workplace, in housing, in public, and in places of worship protected behind the veil of "religious freedom,” he said. “For straight allies, it means accepting a society that doesn't accept our friends and our loved ones. It means accepting discrimination at some level, which leads to discrimination at all levels. And it means that we need to stand

side-by-side in a movement that hopes to achieve a greater goal than just civil unions and marriage; that of a greater society where all forms of discrimination at all levels are eradicated. True equality for all is a cause we should all stand up for." Executive Director of SAVE Tony Lima added, “Ron has been a longtime board member of SAVE, South Florida's foremost advocate for the local LGBTQ community, and I am so proud to have worked with him ﬁghting for equality for the last few years. We congratulate Ron on everything he's accomplished and look forward to continuing to work with him towards the goal of social justice for all.”

– JP

ted deutch u.s. representative (d, dist 21) Rep. Ted Deutch has been a major supporter of LGBT rights for many years. In fact, he says that he was “born this way.” “I’m proud of my strong record of support for legislative efforts to bring full equality to the LGBT community,” said the Congressman who as State Senator in 2007, got the ﬁrst, and so far only, LGBT equality bill passed in committee in the Florida State Senate. “This Congress I joined with Reps. Patrick Murphy and Suzanne Bonamici to introduce the “Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act,” named in honor of LGBT activists Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz,” he said. Rep. Deutch is cautious about the future.

“From the anti-LGBT initiatives we’ve seen in a number of states to the continued disproportionate homeless and suicide rates among LGBT people, we know that the ﬁght is far from over,” he said. “There is more to do on a federal, state, and local level, and I am committed to working toward full equality.” Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, said “Rep. Deutch has been an outstanding supporter of LGBT equality for years. As State Senator, he managed to get a bi-partisan vote in the Commerce Committee for a gay rights bill, an astounding accomplishment.”

– DC

ryanmarie rice chief of staff at compass Ryanmarie Rice has been a champion of LGBT rights since she ﬁrst understood the differences. “I was supportive of LGBT classmates not because they were LGBT but because they were people who deserved compassion and respect like anyone else,” she said. Her compassion became action when she engaged in supporting the LGBT community in 2010 after she discovered the “It Gets Better” project, dedicated to encouraging LGBT youth not to do anything desperate while in school because it gets better when they grow up and get away from the bullies. “I was a founding member of the Big Bend AntiBullying Task Force at Florida State University in

Tallahassee,” she said. “I worked with legislators, educators and parents to address discrimination and harassment of LGBT youth.” Today, she considers it a privilege to work at Compass and watch LGBT teens arrive in desperate need of help and leave as strong leaders and advocates in their own communities. According to Compass CEO, Tony Plakas, “Ryanmarie isn’t just an ally, she is an icon at our center for our youth and clients. People open up to her and she provides a true path for others to see and respect our entire community, just the way she does.”

– DC 4.20.2016 •

feature � straight allies James k. green attorney, chair of the palm Beach county legal panel James K. Green has been involved in equal rights actions for LGBT people since the early 1980s when a gay client wanted to adopt his partner to create a family which they were denied since they couldn’t marry. He won with lots more to come. “Of course I had gay friends in college and law school,” he said. “It was just no big deal to me as a person. Of course, as a lawyer, I was very concerned with their equality.” Green is probably best known to the LGBT community for his work on overturning the Florida ban on gay and lesbian adoptions with the case in Monroe County in 1990. “What a silly law that was,” said Green. “There are so many kids in Florida

who need a good home.” Green is encouraged by the steps the U.S. has taken toward LGBT equality, and noted that equality is now even showing up in far ﬂung places like China’s courts. President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Rand Hoch added, “Over the years, ACLU attorney Jim Green has been an instrumental ally for Florida's LGBT community. For more than two decades, he has been a vocal advocate of equal rights and beneﬁts for LGBT people in Florida.”

– DC

marty kiar candidate for BroWard county property appraiser Broward Mayor Marty Kiar has a lot going for him. A husband and father of two young girls, Kiar, 38, is campaigning for the Broward County Property Appraiser, one of the top positions in county government. “I believe Marty Kiar is one amazing person that brings passion to our county,” said Scott Herman, a married gay man and active member of the Dolphin Democrats. “He believes like I do with principles over politics, in that no people should be lumped and viewed in a discriminatory view.” As a Broward Commissioner, Kiar voted to extend human rights protections to people who identify as LGBT. Additionally,

he has routinely accepted invitations to speak at Dolphin meetings to update LGBT Democrats of county happenings. As Broward Mayor, Kiar said he intends to make his work upbeat. "This year, as Mayor, I determined that our county’s theme will be the ‘Year of Good News.’ At commission meetings we bring good news to the public by highlighting the successes of our county, local businesses, residents who are good samaritans and other positive happenings,” he wrote in a recent Facebook posting.

– JMD

mitch ceasar candidate for BroWard clerk of the courts He is a tall man, well over 6-feet, and can typically be found in the middle of important political discussions in Broward County. A practicing attorney for 36 years, Mitch Ceasar has served on committees for the Anti-Defamation League, Urban League and proudly marched in gay pride parades when it was considered a risky thing to do. “It was the right thing to do,” said Ceasar, who owns a plaque commemorating his participation in the 1997 Fort Lauderdale Pridefest. A married straight man and father, Ceasar is currently running for the Broward Clerk of the Courts. He says there are sexier positions to run for, but the ofﬁce needs help and coming to the community’s aid is what he has always done.

"I was first introduced to Mitch in 1997, when it wasn't fashionable to be seen with homosexuals. Back then we had the gay pride parade on Federal Highway and it flowed right into Holiday Park. Mitch was very proud to be there. He showed his true colors," said Michael Albetta, past president Dolphin Democrats. Prior to seeking public office, Ceasar ran the Broward Democratic Party for two decades and currently serves on the national Democratic Executive Committee.

– JMD

hoWard simon executive director of the aclu of florida You could call Howard Simon a triple threat. Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida since 1997 and executive director of the ACLU of Michigan for 23 years before that, said he has met LGBT individuals who have benefitted from ACLU lawsuits that won them health benefits, adoption rights and the right to get married. But the fight for such rights is not always assured. Simon says it took multiple lawsuits over the course of many years to finally win cases that favor LGBT individuals – including the right of students to form gay/straight alliances in schools and the end of the state’s gay adoption ban. “But the work is not over.” A big focus now is transgender

• 4.20.2016

rights. “That and full civil rights protection remain the unﬁnished business of the civil rights revolution,” said Simon. Daniel Tilley, ACLU Florida staff attorney, said, “Howard is surely one of the most steadfast straight allies out there. For almost 20 years, he’s steered the ACLU of Florida through a wide range of efforts to promote justice for the LGBT community . . . to promoting bills that advance LGBT equality in the legislature and defeating bills that would permit discrimination against the LGBT community. Our community has a friend in Howard Simon.”

– MDO

feature � straight allies roxanne vargas tv host Roxanne Vargas is best known for being a TV personality in Miami-Dade as host of NBC 6’s lifestyle and entertainment show, “6 in the Mix.” In the past she was awarded the Pink Flamingo Award for Favorite Media Personality, an event beneﬁtting the LGBT Visitor Center, and also awarded the Ally Award by the Aqua Foundation for Women. Last year she hosted a Miami Beach Gay Pride “Soirée,” a VIP cocktail reception fundraiser for the festival. “We have made such great strides in the community, but still have a long way to go. I hope and pray that my family and I can be a small part of change and acceptance. I’ve been blessed in my profession and position at NBC 6, which gives me the platform to inform our community on LGBT resources, victories, obstacles still ahead and how to overcome them,” she said. “Change,

acceptance and equality are necessary and the right thing to do. Love does not know color, race, or gender. Love is simply love and that is deﬁnitely worth ﬁghting for.” Executive Director of SAVE, Miami-Dade’s oldest LGBT advocacy group, added, “Roxy is one of South Florida’s most well-recognized journalists, and she’s made it a point to shine the spotlight on some of the important but underexposed causes for our communities. I am so proud of her accomplishments and everything she’s done in her capacity as a reporter for NBC6 for South Florida’s LGBTQ community.”

– JP

vivien keller miss vicky Vivien Keller is, without a doubt, a legendary figure in South Florida’s LGBT community. Known socially as simply, “Miss Vicky,” her list of accomplishments is long and impressive. In South Florida, Miss Vicky founded two important organizations: AIDS Center One and Womynsong Lesbian Chorus. “She has always had her finger on the pulse of what was happening in the community,” said Jodi Fischer, a longtime friend. Working as a paralegal for many years, Miss Vicky notarized Broward County’s first domestic partnership in 1999. She also was quick to shelter young gays who were rejected by their own parents. Miss Vicky became an ally through her relationships with gay men, said Fischer. For many years, Miss Vicky would travel to Provincetown, Massachusetts with her friends

to sing, dance and have fun. She continued the good times in South Florida, performing at Zelda’s, marching in pride parades and serving on committees to aid the LGBT community. “You can name a bar in the ‘80s and ‘90s that was open in Fort Lauderdale and Vickie played it,” said Fischer. Now 90, Miss Vicky doesn’t get out as much as she once did, but still ﬁnds time to read Torah passages at Congregation Etz Chaim.

– JMD

susan renneisen seminole hard rock hotel and casino As a high ranking ofﬁcial at one of South Florida’s top entertainment destinations, Susan Renneisen is accustomed to working with winners. Vice President of Community Affairs & Special Events at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Renneisen was the company point person at last year’s inaugural Diversity Honors event, beneﬁtting the Pride Center and the Harvey Milk Foundation. “She’s fabulous,” said Miriam Richter, Education Director for the Harvey Milk Foundation. “She didn’t hesitate to help us and she’s 100 percent on board.” Renneisen and her team are responsible for hosting and producing extravagant events that are both memorable and remarkable. This year’s Diversity Honors is scheduled for May 13 and features a performance by Tony Award winner Levi Kreis. Renneisen currently holds board positions on the Russell Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, the Ann Storck Center and advisory board of Broward Health. Susan resides in Davie with her husband Tony Mason and her three poodles.

– JMD 4.20.2016 •

feature � straight allies patti lynn Bso community outreach liaison When asked what makes her an ally of the LGBT community, Patti Lynn said courage. “I’m a short Italian woman,” Lynn said. “I’ve had to fight my entire life to be seen and heard. I firmly believe discrimination in all of its forms is wrong.” Lynn is a member of the Dolphin Democrats and active in the Broward County political scene. A native of New Jersey, Lynn worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years before retiring in 2005. Currently, she serves as a Community Outreach Liaison for the Broward Sheriff ’s Office. “Patti is one of the most passionate and driven allies for fairness. She is constantly working for people who have been hurt and suffered discrimination,” said Wally Eccleston, past treasurer of the Dolphin Democrats. BSO Sheriff Scott Israel added, “Patti

Lynn does an amazing job in our community outreach team on behalf of the Broward Sheriff ’s Ofﬁce. Likewise, she does an equally effective job in her personal political advocacy as a vocal proponent of LGBT equality and social justice.” Lynn is clearly dedicated to community service. She established a scholarship fund in her daughter’s name, Veronica Lee Lynn (1968 to 1982), at the Florida Sheriff ’s Youth Ranches. “I truly believe that all men, and women are created equal, and it is incumbent on each of us to treat all people as equals,” Lynn said. “Everyone struggles, everyone loves, and everyone hurts. It is up to each of us to recognize those basic facts of life and have empathy for their lives, trials and tribulations. No one is immune.”

– JMD

nan rich former candidate for governor Nan Rich has always believed in fairness and equality for all. Unlike many politicians she didn’t have to evolve on the issues important to the LGBT community. She was always there. “I was taught [growing up] that there should be opportunity and fairness for all people,” she said. “Those were the values that I was taught as child [in my household] and my synagogue.” It was her husband’s ﬂooring business though that really opened her up to the struggles of the LGBT community. “In the course of that business, we became friends with a lot of people who are gay and I saw them as people with the same desires and wants as we all have. We’re all the same,” she said. “And it’s those experiences that helped formulate my values over the years.” As a state legislator Rich recalls the ﬁrst time she introduced a bill in Florida that would overturn the ban on gay adoptions

– she was the only democrat standing at the press conference. Determined, every year she kept introducing the same legislation knowing it would fail in the Republican-dominated legislature. Wilton manors Commissioner Julie Carson added, “Many have partnered with the LGBT community in our struggle for equality, but Senator Nan Rich courageously stood for our community before we were able to do so on our own! As we were still learning to comfortably walk in political shoes, Nan Rich was already advocating for gay adoption rights; marriage equality; and reproductive freedom. As an ally to the LGBT community, my friend Nan Rich - daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, senator, and activist - has never abandoned the cause of making this world a better place for all of us to live.”

– JP

deBBie Wasserman schultZ memBer of congress and democratic national committee chairWoman U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz represents South Floridians from the Sawgrass to the Seagrass. She has also never waived in her commitment to human rights and the LGBT community. Wasserman Schultz, 49, has a lot on her plate these days, chairing the Democratic National Committee and facing her ﬁrst ever primary challenger. Last year, she invited a same-sex couple from Miami to attend President Obama’s State of the Union speech. Wasserman Schultz was also the recipient of the Jamie Bloodworth Award, a recognition presented annually by the Dolphin Democratic Club to a woman for advocacy of and support of LGBT issues.

• 4.20.2016

“I have known Debbie since 2006 and she has been a long time champion for the LGBT community and served as the original vice chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus,” said Broward County human rights advocate Michael Rajner. “Last June in Washington D.C., she was the ﬁrst sitting member of Congress to ofﬁciate a same-sex wedding in the shadow of the Supreme Court. Over the years, Debbie has been a go to person when a crisis arose affecting either the LGBT or HIV/AIDS community.”

– JMD

National Democratic Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz recently paid a visit to the Key West Business Guild. The WBG is member based non-profit marketing organization that has been marketing Key West as a LGBT travel destination since 1978. She noted that Key West, with its “One Human Family” moto has always been a leader in the country for basic human rights. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz with Business Guild ED Matt Hon, left, and staff members Lacey Camper and Daniel Gilbert.

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Gazette Wilton Manors

Volume 3 • Issue 8 April 20, 2016

Twice-Monthly Neighborhood Outlook

Community

Wilton Manors Enacts Employee Travel Ban to North Carolina

By Michael d’Oliveira

In response to North Carolina’s controversial law forcing individuals to use the bathroom that correlates to their birth gender, Wilton Manors commissioners have banned city-funded travel by employees to that state. “We can’t just sit quietly by,” said Mayor Gary Resnick. The ban also includes layovers and applies to states like Mississippi that have similar laws. The mayor said he’s gotten comments from residents that the commission spends too much time on issues like this. “I don’t care. I’m not going to be silent about it. I hope the states lose billions.” Resnick said he met North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory when he was mayor of Charlotte. “He didn’t seem like a bigot. I guess things change.” The North Carolina law, HB 2, also prevents cities from passing laws that protect LGBT individuals. Resnick said that it wouldn’t be right to send LGBT city employees to states where they could be denied a meal, lodging or other services. He said he would not travel to a National League of Cities City Summit, scheduled to be held in North Carolina in November of 2017, if the law was still in place by then. Since Governor Pat McCrory signed HB 2, numerous corporations and celebrities have said they would not perform or do business with the state. Some celebrities have also said they would perform as scheduled but use their events to show support for the LGBT community. On Twitter, comedian and actor Joel McHale announced he donated the

proceeds of his North Carolina performance to the LGBTQ Center of Durham. The governors of Vermont, Connecticut and New York have also enacted travel bans. Locally the mayor of West Palm Beach enacted one. “This is about everyone. How far back do we want to go?” asked Vice Mayor Scott Newton. Commissioner Justin Flippen said the issue was a matter of faith for him and called on others to be inclusive of those who are different. The travel ban would also apply to commissioners. Commissioner Julie Carson said the ban needed to be passed but noted it would prevent a commissioner from going to North Carolina, at the city’s expense, to advocate for repeal of the law. “It’s very likely we may be asked to do that,” she said. On April 12, McCrory signed an executive order that allows municipalities to adopt ordinances that prohibit discrimination in housing and real estate and set their own employment policies. On March 23, McCrory issued a statement defending HB 2. “The basic expectation of privacy in the most personal of settings, a restroom or locker room, for each gender was violated by government overreach and intrusion by the mayor and city council of Charlotte. This radical breach of trust and security under the false argument of equal access not only impacts the citizens of Charlotte but people who come to Charlotte

to work, visit or play. This new government regulation defies common sense and basic community norms by allowing, for example, a man to use a woman's bathroom, shower or locker room.” But opponents of the law say that forcing individuals, who are dressed to match their new gender identity, to use the bathroom assigned to them at birth will cause a lot more problems. “This is distressing because I used the female restroom until it was not feasible for me to. Until I was getting pushed, shoved,

slapped, screamed at every time I went into a female restroom,” said Payton McGarry in an interview on Democracy Now! McGarry, a 20-year-old female to male transgender activist, is suing the state over HB 2. “So now, it’s putting me in a tough situation. It’s putting me in a situation where I have to choose between going into this distressing situation where I know harm to my well-being could come. I could be screamed at, shoved, slapped, beaten to a pulp essentially. Or I could break the law.” WMG

Correction: In the April 6 issue of The Gazette, it was wrongly stated that Commissioner Julie Carson voted in favor of the city’s residential parking requirements on March 22. Carson voted against the new requirements during that meeting. The Gazette apologizes for the error.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 •

April 20, 2016

4.20.2016 •

Opinion

Gazette Hey Ho, Let’s Go… Wilton Manors

APRIL 20, 2016 • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 8

By Sal Torre

2520 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY • WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 PHONE: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943

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Editorial

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Correspondents

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An article in the New York Times last week took me back to my old neighborhood in Queens, New York. The story, “His Brother’s Keeper: A Ramones Tour of Queens,” announced the opening of a show at the Queens Museum, titled, “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: Ramones and the Birth of Punk.” The reporter wrote about an informal tour taken with Mickey Leigh, the younger brother of Joey Ramone, of the stoops, apartments, neighborhood and parks that were the band’s haunts during those early days in the 1970s. The first thought that comes to mind is “Wow! Where did almost 40 years go?” After getting over that initial shock, my mind started to think back about New York, my old neighborhood of Forest Hills and about all the changes that have taken place over the years. My mind snaps back to Wilton Manors as I ponder how life might be like in our Island City say 30 to 40 years from now. Hey Ho, Let’s Go…to life in Wilton Manors 2050. What will we see? To begin with, I will be enjoying my 88th birthday, one of the city’s old queens still causing trouble. Wilton Manors will still be an autonomous city, able to survive due to the wise decisions made years ago to expand and develop our commercial corridors into a stillthriving destination for restaurants, nightclubs, shopping, and the epicenter of the LGBT community in South Florida. Wilton Drive, narrowed to two lanes with funding from the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, now transformed into the wonderful downtown it was meant to be, with sidewalk cafes, shade trees, and the addition of many residential units that now make up the city’s vibrant urban center. Just a few blocks away, Andrews Avenue blossomed into a thriving commercial corridor due to the revitalization efforts of our city officials and the dedicated advocates from the Westside Association. ‘The Avenue’ and ‘The Drive’ linked together by wise city planning, making the Work-Live-Play strategy for new urban centers a reality in Wilton Manors. In addition, the narrowing of Powerline Road transformed the surrounding communities into wonderful residential neighborhoods, both here in Wilton Manors and in Fort Lauderdale, with families, parks, sidewalks, and bike lanes sharing the surrounding roadway, no longer the six-lane speedway that cuts like a razor through the Westside. Remembering back, it was a hard battle to move our city leaders away from the suburban mindset when dealing with future urban

planning. The wasteful attempts at parking solutions on a small scale, the initial failure to move away from outdated modes of city planning based on automobiles, and the hesitation to enact proper zoning that would expand our city’s population. Parking stopped being such an issue with the growth of rideshares, computerized vehicles, and a much improved regional mass transit system which young professionals flocked to, no longer willing to sit in traffic, ready to embrace other options besides the single rider automobile. Ok, enough of the crystal ball. Present day city leaders must make the sometimes hard choices today, otherwise our future may not be so rosy. We still have some serious work to do. At last week’s City Commission meeting, our commissioners voted to make parking requirements for new construction greater, not less, as trends indicate they should. Additional bedrooms for today’s households usually mean the addition of a home office, not more people and more automobiles. So, we still have our work cut out for us. Of course, another scenario might play out, one that is far worse than uncontrolled growth, traffic, and parking. In 30 to 40 years, our region can be plagued by problems as the results of global warming. Frequent hurricanes, drinking water aquifers greatly compromised by rising salt water levels, and sky-rocketing insurance rates can make much of South Florida unappealing. Nobody can predict the future, but we must plan for it, no matter how wonderful or horrible that future may be. Cause…we all want life to be just better here come future years.

WMG

SALES MANAGER • JUSTIN WYSE JUSTIN.WYSE@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • EDWIN NEIMANN EDWIN.NEIMANN@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • CINDY CURTIS CINDY.CURTIS@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • JIM ALBRIGHT JIM.ALBRIGHT@SFGN.COM ACCOUNTING SERVICES BY CG BOOKKEEPING South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

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Isn't That Special

Real Estate Geek

More realtors means real estate business is booming By James Oaksun I've been out talking to a lot of people in the business, as well as doing a good amount of research (as a geek might do). Understand that what you're about to read is my informed opinion, not necessarily that of other Realtors or the “official” Realtor organizations. I think the real estate market, in certain neighborhoods, at certain price points, has gone soft again. I think the local economy is in, or near, recession. And I think there is a lot of uncertainty out there as we head into what will be a very contentious fall election cycle. On top of this, there has been a significant increase in the number of licensed real estate salespeople here in South Florida over the last couple years. One would expect the number of licensees to be a lagging indicator. The better the perceptions of the market, the more people who want to get licensed (and vice versa). So now there are a lot of relatively inexperienced people trying to do business in a changing market, where in many neighborhoods (for example, most of the Island City) the volume of sales has gone down. And from the property owner’s perspective, economic uncertainty and softer sales can mean more of a challenge selling their homes than we have seen over the past couple years. What is to be done?

If you are a Realtor in a likely-changing market space, you want customers to say of you what property owners want to hear from potential buyers. Those three words from the iconic Dana Carvey Saturday Night Live sketch: “Isn't That Special”? Let's look at it from the Realtor perspective first. What would happen to average Realtor's income if, for example, you had 10 percent more Realtors (probably an understatement) going after 10 percent less business (and as we have seen from previous columns, business in parts of WilMa has declined by more than that)? Simple math tells us that, all other things being equal, average income would decrease by 18 percent! Now as I've written before, averages can be misleading. But how can someone stand out as being a whole lot better than average? What can they offer customers that is “special”? Then from the property owner's perspective, there must be an understanding of new realities. What is the new market-clearing price, and how long might it take to achieve that? Also, is the property the kind that is sufficiently “special” to sell in these market conditions? As I mentioned in a recent column, I'm seeing two types of properties selling (where sales are occurring): Fully updated properties in move-in condition; and also, properties in

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need of updating, available at a bargain price. Anything in between is now a much harder sell. WMG James Oaksun, Broward's Real Estate GeekSM, is a Realtor with the Wilton Manors office of RE/MAX Preferred. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI).

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Community

Food

A Taste of England

For expats and anglophiles, Pond Hoppers is the place to visit By Michael d’Oliveira

Project still needs to be approved by FDOT By Michael d’Oliveira

Photo: PondHoppers.net When Geoff O’Neill wants to get a taste of his homeland, crumpets in particular, he goes to Pond Hoppers. “You can buy stuff like this you can’t buy anywhere else,” said O’Neill, who is from Lincoln, a town located northeast of London. “There’s nothing like it.” Located in Fort Lauderdale right outside of Wilton Manors in the same plaza as Egg N’ You Diner, 2629 N. Federal Highway, Pond Hoppers sells bangers, biscuits (that’s sausage and cookies for you yanks), tea, chocolate, back bacon, pork and mince pies, blood pudding, curry, potato chips, flags, license plates, mouse pads, hats and other British foods and products. “Our best-selling product is British bangers,” said owner Rob Brady. Originally from Manchester in northern England, Brady moved to The States in 2003 and opened Pond Hoppers two years later after a stint in the travel industry. “I knew there were plenty of British people here. I thought, ‘If I’m missing things, everybody else must be missing them, too.’” That longing for a literal taste of home is what makes Brits about 90 percent of Brady’s customers. The rest, he said, are

MPO Approves Wilton Drive Lane Reduction

Americans looking to try something different, “especially if they’ve traveled.” According to the British American Chamber of Commerce, about 100,000 Brits live in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. Brady also sells online to customers in cities on both coasts and “everywhere in between.” And Brady promises a different experience with British products, especially bacon and chocolate, which have less fat and sugar, respectively, than their American counterparts. “We call your bacon ‘stringy bacon’ because of all the fat. Ours is much more lean.” That’s not to say Brady doesn’t like American products. “It’s all about your taste buds,” he said. But while bacon and chocolate are in stock at Pond Hoppers, the name, which comes from the British nickname for the Atlantic Ocean, The Pond, has led to some confusion on the part of some people from The States. Occasionally, Brady, who “literally jumped The Pond” to be here, will get a call asking if he sells pool supplies. Calls like that are the perfect opportunity to sell another item available for sale at Pond Hoppers – The UK to USA Dictionary. WMG

The lane reduction of Wilton Drive has been approved by the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization Board [MPO]. The Florida Department of Transportation [FDOT] will still have to approve the project but Commissioner Tom Green, who is also a member of the MPO, is glad support for the reduction has finally reached this level. “I was thrilled to be able to very quickly motion to adopt it,” Green said. On April 14 after unanimous support from the city commission, the MPO approved the lane reduction of Wilton Drive and Northeast 4 Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Previous city commissions were hesitant to take over Wilton Drive and reduce the number of lanes, from four to two, because of cost. But the state will now fund the project with the use of some federal dollars. Proponents of the reduction say it will improve pedestrian safety, add more parking and make Wilton Drive better for business owners. They want the street to look more like Las Olas Boulevard. On Facebook, Doug Blevins, chair of the Wilton Drive Business Improvement District and longtime advocate of the reduction, called it an “amazing historical day” for the city. He thanked the volunteers of the former Main Street group and commissioners. “We have lost far too many lives to tragic pedestrian/vehicular incidents. Greg Futchi was the last person killed on Wilton Drive last year and a personal friend to many. These lives lost are not lost in vain. Here's to a Brighter, Safer

Pond Hoppers is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit PondHoppers.net for more information.

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April 20, 2016

and More Beautiful WILTON DRIVE.” At the April 12 commission meeting where officials reiterated their support for the project, Commissioner Tom Green called it a “once in a lifetime chance.” Green also said the lane reduction would force drivers to slow down and pay more attention to the businesses on Wilton Drive. “This is good for business. You might even stop and shop.” Opponents of the reduction have cited the adverse impact it could have on traffic. In a report issued to the MPO for its April 14 meeting, Florida Department of Transportation officials say they’ve reviewed a preliminary analysis of the traffic impact by the City of Fort Lauderdale and they do not “anticipate adverse impacts to vehicular capacity on Northeast 4 Avenue and Wilton Drive.” Commissioner Justin Flippen said the city is also capable of handling any traffic problems that might arise. “We are fully capable to address those issues as they come.” Resident Paul Kuta said the issue should have been put to voters through a referendum. But commissioners said they are confident they have enough input from the public. Before the regular commission meeting on April 14, the city held a special meeting to let the public express its support or opposition. Mayor Gary Resnick said the issue has been discussed for many, many years and that the public would have the opportunity to influence the design of the lane reduction. WMG

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Community

Cruising App Ad Removal Prompts Calls to Cleanup Colohatchee

Photo: Facebook.

By Michael d’Oliveira Resident Michael Rajner says the male sex problem at Colohatchee Park has reached “a boiling point” and called on the city to do more. “I ask that you take some action,” said Rajner at the April 12 commission meeting. For years, Colohatchee has been known as a place where gay men regularly cruise and engage in sex, both in the park, the parking lot and in the park’s bathroom. Recently, Rajner said multiple children were almost exposed to sexual acts. One mother, he said, had to scream to prevent her son from going into a bathroom while it was being used for sex. He also reiterated a request that the city suspend dog park fees until the sex problem is fixed. “Its really upsetting that you have to pay to walk past [men cruising for sex].” Rajner’s call for action comes on the heels of his successful request to have ads for Squirt.org, a gay hookup app, removed from the eco bins. Rajner said the ads should be removed because children were exposed to them and they were not an appropriate image for the city. The bins are privately owned but the city can reject ads if it chooses because they are located on city property. Later on Twitter, Rajner posted, “Ironic @ WiltonManorsCty commissioners discuss #restrooms in #NC but ignore #restroom issue in own city park.” Rajner was referring to the ban on city employee travel to North Carolina that the commission unanimously passed on April 12. The North Carolina law prohibits individuals from using bathrooms that do not match the sex listed on their birth certificate. Sal Torre, president of the Westside Association of Wilton Manors, criticized Rajner, in an article he wrote for The Gazette published on April 6, for wanting the ads removed. Torre labeled Rajner as the “morality police” and said

Rajner’s arguments was reminiscent of “right-leaning Catholic League and other groups claiming to possess the moral high ground in American Society over the past few decades.” But Rajner defended himself, saying the ads go way beyond simple morality and encourage men to have sex in public places like Colohatchee, illegal under Florida law. On its website, Squirt.org claims to help users find the “hottest gay cruising and hookup spots. Whether you prefer gay sex clubs, parks, washrooms, hotels or bars, our site will not disappoint. It doesn’t matter if your fantasy is a gay cowboy, a glory hole, a gay bear, a threesome or just steamy chat with gay men. Squirt.org has everything you’re looking for.” “Squirt.org is a website for consenting gay and bi men to meet other men. The content on our site is generated by our users. The cruising listing, similar to the cruising listings that Yelp.com have, is for people to exchange information and it is their decision how they use the shared information, where they meet and how they connect,” wrote Andrew Nolan, marketing and communications manager for Pink Triangle Press. Commissioner Julie Carson acknowledged that the city needs to do more. “It is a very, very tough problem and I am again surprised that a city with the resources of Wilton Manors cannot address the problem adequately, and by adequately I think it should stop. I am there regularly, five or six days a week, the days that its open, and the continual illegal activity is stunning.” Carson said the city has taken some steps, including installing a partition between two urinals in the bathroom. But it was torn out and a stronger one had to be installed. “We’re being pro-active but the people we have to deal with are very, very persistent,” Carson said.

Carson said she would like to post a sign at Colohatchee stating the state law outlawing sexual acts in public parks. She also suggested arrests. “The biggest and best way to address the problem is to arrest offenders. It’s just not cool. The answer is not to close the park. The answer is to enforce the law.” To address the problem, Chief Paul O’Connell said his department implemented the Colohatchee Park Action Plan from Jan. 2 to Feb. 11, 2016. “The Plan was a combination of uniform and plain clothes officers working in different roles to thwart sexual conduct in the public park and to ‘spread the word’ that inappropriate sexual conduct, along with any other crimes encountered, will not be tolerated in this park,” reads a memo from the police department. The memo also cites 33 officer hours were devoted to the plan and resulted in two arrests for lewd and lascivious open sexual conduct, one for cocaine, two warnings for speeding, two traffic violation warnings and a citation for driving with a suspended driver’s license. From the start of February through the end of March, a decoy police car was randomly placed at Colohatchee and daily foot patrols were instituted. “WMPD is in process of developing a new operational plan which will be implemented in the near future. We will not comment on plan particulars so as to maintain operational integrity.” O’Connell also cited Easterlin Park in Oakland Park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek and Quiet Waters in Deerfield Beach as having similar problems. “WMPD acknowledges that more needs to be done and we are committed to it.” WMG

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Community

Visitor’s Center Envisioned Inside Art Gallery 21

By Michael d’Oliveira

Constance Ruppender has conquered art. Now, she’s got her sights set on tourism. Ruppender, founder of Art Gallery 21, located inside the Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors, wants to turn a portion of that building into a visitor’s center for the city. She estimated it will be open by October and offer an “environment for people to come in and find out about Wilton Manors and what we have to offer. Hopefully, we’ll create a sense of place for people to visiting Wilton Manors.” The visitor’s center, she said, will also improve the art gallery by allowing it to be open longer through a possible mix of volunteers and paid staff. “We have to sustain the visitor’s center, too.” The details still need to be worked out but she thinks at least some of the funding will come from allowing business, bar and restaurant owners to pay to place pamphlets, menus and

other promotional materials inside the center. Inclusion on a map of the city is also a possibility. Business owner Nick Berry suggested the idea. “Maybe it will drive tourists to go check out the businesses. It can’t hurt the business economy. It can only help the business economy,” Berry said. He said that people have wanted to create a visitor’s center but in their own businesses. Berry said the only way the idea could work was if it was in a city-owned property. As the owner of Ed Lugo Resort, one of the most popular places for tourists to stay in the city, Ed Lugo does as much as he can to promote bars, restaurants and shops for his guests to patronize while they’re in town. He likes the idea of a visitor’s center but says the city needs to do more to attract tourists, including more festivals in addition to Stonewall and Halloween. “The city can promote a lot of things we don’t promote.” WMG Those interested in volunteering for Art Gallery 21 or the visitor’s center can contact Ruppender at artgallery21wcwm@gmail.com or call 954-661-4740.

Commission Extends Ordinance On Temporary Signs By Michael d’Oliveira The city’s temporary allowance of banners and feather flags seems to have become permanent. At their April 12 meeting, commissioners approved an extension of the ordinance that allows business owners located on commercial corridors to display a banner or feather flag. The extension ends on Dec. 31, 2017. Business owners can only display a banner or flag if the rest of their property is up to code. According to city officials, 90 businesses kept flags and banners up after the expiration but said businesses would not be fined for violating the ordinance. Originally, the commission voted to approve the temporary flags in June of 2012. Since then, the ordinance has been extended three times. It expired in December of 2015. The issue came up again in March when Mayor Gary Resnick wanted to crack down on businesses that were still displaying flags and banners after the ordinance expired. In particular, he cited Oakland Park Boulevard as having too many banners. He

called it “eye pollution” and said it made a mockery of the city’s “Life’s Just Better Here” tagline. “We take a lot of pride in Wilton Manors, but when you drive into Wilton Manors from I-95 it doesn’t look good.” Commissioner Justin Flippen said a crackdown wouldn’t “send the right message to the business community.” Commissioner Tom Green said the flags and banners help businesses and are especially needed on Oakland Park Boulevard. “I have no problem. I honestly think it’s a good thing,” said Vice Mayor Scott Newton. WMG

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Celebrating our 6th Year on Wilton Drive!

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• 4.20.2016

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April 20, 2016

MARCH ISSUE

VISIT SFGN.COM TO SEE WHERE TO FIND YOUR COPY

4.20.2016 â&#x20AC;¢

lifestyle retiring gay

managing your oWn retirement assets Ric Reily This multi-part series, Retiring Gay, primarily considers the financial steps to successful retirement. However, preparing emotionally for retirement is equally important to a happy, fulfilling and successful retirement. Planning for retirement is your opportunity to reconsider day to day living. Insurance, investments, spending, savings, socializing, residence and many other considerations change. Reaching retirement with a well executed plan makes your transition to a post work life easier and more fulfilling.

anaging your own retirement money can be a daunting task. Though you may be decades away from retirement, the prospect of managing your 401K, 403B, 409A, 457, IRA, RothIRA, SIMPLE, SEP, SARSEP, ESOP, or PSP can fill you with dread. The usual and constant questions refuse to yield to answers; buy and hold or day trade, value or growth stocks, individual stocks or mutual funds or ETF’s, how much of your assets to keep in cash, buy bonds now or avoid them until later and if now what bonds? Fear of getting it wrong brings up pictures of ending up old and poor. We have each spent a lifetime in schools, schools that taught us little about everyday money management and even less if anything about wealth management. Once you have gained control of your operating cash and begun to build your wealth, what do you do with it? Surveys of workers nearing retirement prove it’s not easy to manage your wealth. Millions of personal investors both LGBT and straight are living scared making it no surprise that the personal finance industry is thriving. Personal investors who hold trillions of dollars in assets make for reliable customers. Much of the financial management advice has turned out to be unreliable, and expensive; expensive in fees paid, additional taxes due because of untimely trades and plain old bad investment decisions that lose your capital. There is a prevailing myth in our society that if you aren’t successful creating, managing and building your wealth, then you must be doing it wrong. All around you others are getting rich off stocks or real estate. The real problem is actually very different. As our savings rate has cratered in the past decades the decline has been less an effect of overspending as an effect of rising costs for housing, education and medical care in coincidence with stagnant wages. These rising costs can strike LGBT even more fiendishly as our cost of housing can be higher. We tend to be better educated spending more on education. What got us here wasn't the stock market crash or the housing collapse but three decades of growing income inequality. Tuition that increased at three times the rate of inflation, medial care that grew at twice the rate of inflation and stagnant wages made

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• 4.20.2016

paying the same mortgage more costly. Even more important is the fact that Americans have an income problem, and it is a big one because housing, healthcare, and education cost the average family 75 percent of their discretionary income in the past decade when that figure was just 50 percent thirty years ago. In other words, the average family spent 50 percent more in the last decade to go about their same daily business. All of that does not relieve us of the personal responsibility to provide for our retirement. There is still the simple fact that carving ten dollars out of each day’s spending whether skipping a latte and a pack of cigarettes or carrying lunch to work is all that stands between you and a comfortable retirement. When added up and compounded with historical stock returns even when you add in taxes and inflation, your savings turn out to be about $400,000 in retirement, just from ten dollars each day. The sooner you start saving and planning the easier it is when the compounding power of time is factored in. Contributing further to the managing your own money dilemma are expensive and often poorly managed retirement plans, high cost annuities, and the myth that real estate always makes you rich. Seems that no matter where you turn someone has their hand out for your hard won retirement savings. There is a solution, a mid ground between going it alone and abdicating your financial responsibilities to another person; a person who cannot possibly care as much about your money as you do. That solution is a company such as Vanguard or Fidelity or many other high quality and more importantly low cost mutual fund companies. These companies employ financial professionals who generally work on salary not commissions. They can professionally guide you to a mix of assets that will change with time and keep you invested and balanced while costing the least in management fees. Managing your own money can be a daunting task. Take the time to learn the basics of saving and investing, stretch that knowledge to include social pressures that drive equity markets, and be wary of anyone who wants to get their hand in your pocket. With that knowledge you will gain confidence and skill and arrive at retirement with a comfortable nest egg suitably invested to return you a comfortable retirement income.

Missed a week? Don’t worry. Catch up at SFGN.com/RetiringGay to follow the series online. Ric Reily is the author of two books, Money Is The Root Of All - Skip The Debt Habit, and Gregory’s Hero. You can reach him at ricreily@gmail.com

4.20.2016 â&#x20AC;¢

lifestyle pass the salt

Dating While Blind A New Series Robert Kingett

y fingers hover over the keyboard, spread as if they are spiders who are confused on how to make a web. I’m resting at the forefront of my dating regime, at a desk in my apartment trying to think of something about me that the members of this gay dating site need to know. Ironically this part of the initiation is the hardest. The signup was easy for my adaptive computer technology that robotically tells me everyone’s messages, height, and weight as I use the keyboard to navigate. Uploading a picture is a kind of fun few will experience as a visually impaired individual, and browsing men who are looking for men proves to be an adventure. Many profiles dictate little about themselves, which leaves me guessing. Others are so detailed I can get a good picture of them but I haven’t filled out the about me section, until today. What should I say? There weren’t any words in images I had to type to verify my identity, there weren’t any advertisements sprinkled into a profile detailing a guy who likes to pretend to fly with toy airplanes. Everything is smooth like melted butter until this part in the acquaintance, the about me. My thought process seems to have a planned detour; as if my brain schemed how it was going to depart at the exact moment I need it to work its magic. First, dictation, then there’s deliberation, then debating, then dumbstruck diatribe. My fingers don’t move but deductions spring into my mind like a sweptback gymnast. People will marvel at my eloquence for words upon first glance so this will whisk me up to an 80 percent on the attraction slider. When they talk with me verbally however, I’m sure the stammer will jab me down to 45 percent. When people read that I have a white cane my dating chances will shoot down to 30 percent. I know this figure based on experience. To boost my score perhaps I should entice them first with facts about my journalism work where I detail LGBT news and issues, and couple that with my obsessive love for mint chocolate chip ice cream and pony rides. If I do that my percentage will shoot up to 45 percent because everybody loves chocolate ice cream way before mint.

If I say I passionately read books I believe that will drop my percentage to 40 percent because that’s a boring passion and I will be metaphorically studying every thought and action people have so I think I will leave that out. If I say that I enjoy long walks on the beach I’ll have scored a whammy without even needing to mention that I can’t walk that far before my muscles complain because they have exercised past their patience level, gaging the percentage between 75 and 65 percent. No one wants to carry a blind wordsmith through the sand but it would definitely make a nice Christmas card. My hobbies will definitely bring my dating percentage up but transportation will nudge it back down again like tight jeans. Scheduling rides 24 hours in advance to everything from plays, to restaurants, to sports games, to theme parks, and movies makes the percentage quiver at 85 percent. Surely the understanding that I sustain my own life and apartment would pivot me above 90 percent. It’d lift me up to 98 percent because men like other men who have it together but the supportive living label will make me drop again. People always get skittish when they hear that the clothes I bought with money I’ve earned from work are washed by a certified nurse’s assistant in an apartment complex that houses 87 blind adults. This scares them a lot so I’m dropped to 90 percent. With all of these factors deciding how attractive I am, I try to determine the best way for me to outweigh all those scary stamps attached to my many good traits. The wonderment doesn’t last long as my fingers soon dance over the keys with precise confidence. I explain a factor that will rocket me up on the attractive meter. I’m lovingly assertive and love talking cats. Without a doubt the talking cats halts me at 100 percent.

Robert Kingett is a journalist and author who has been published in numerous outlets such as the Chicago Tribune and The Huffington Post. He is the owner of many grassroots advocacy organizations and watchdog groups. Visit him online at www.blindjournalist.wordpress.com

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lifestyle photos

J.R. Davis

Winter party festival 2016 the Winter party heats up during the 'cold' months

Rick Siclari and Michael Gongora with Sam Champion

Michael Gongora with Robert Grant from 'Queer as Folk' To see more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook!

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lifestyle food

Rick Karlin

Submitted Photos

food fight!

wish I could blame it on Food Network. The whole idea of turning cooking and dining into a competition didn’t start with them, but that network has perfected it. I’m as guilty as anyone. I’m addicted to Food Network’s various competition shows such as “Chopped” and don’t get me started on Bravo’s “Top Chef”, hosted by Padma Lakshmi (who has perfected “resting bitch face”) and the bear-licious Tom Colicchio. Eating as a competition is about the only thing that network television doesn’t cover. There’s good reason for that; it’s not pretty. That hasn’t stopped the trend from growing. It is now an entire industry with a professional organization; International Federation of Competitive Eating and web sites devoted to the “occupation”, such as majorleagueeating.com. and eatfeats.com. While I don’t condone, or even encourage the practice, I am here to report and to congratulate Nathan Figueroa, who not only ate 29 meatballs to win the first prize of $500 at the March 9 contest at Fork & Balls, but manages to maintain a rockin’ bod while doing so.

Nathan Figueroa can fit 29 balls in his mouth.

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If you’re in the mood to enter the competitive eating field, there are a couple of events coming up in the area that you should check out. The “National Sweet Corn Eating Championship” will be held on Sunday, Apr. 24, at Yesteryear Village during the Sweet Corn Fiesta in West Palm Beach. Amateur ladies’ and men’s winners each take home $100 and a trophy. The professional eaters enter the fray during the “Major League International Corn Eating”. The winner of that event earns $2,500 and the title of International Corn Eating Champion. For more information, go to sweetcornfiesta.com. Independence Day is a few pages away on the calendar, so start warming up for the “Mile High Key Lime Pie Eatin’ Contest” at Sloppy Joe’s Bar on Duval Street in Key West on July 4. Each year ten brave contestants tie their hands behind their backs and dive face first into a mountain of Key Lime goodness for the title of "Mile-High Key Lime Pie Eatin’ Champion". For more information, go to keylimefestival.com. If you prefer to compete from the other side of the grill, and think you make the best backyard burger, prove it by entering the “Best Backyard Burger Contest”. First you need to submit your online entry (with a photo of your burger). If you beat out the other competitors, you get to compete during “Grillin’ & Chillin’” on Sunday, Apr. 3 in Miami’s Wynwood District. To enter, go to wynwoodbbqfest.com/burger-contest.

Or, let the others cook and you decide who makes the best burger at The Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Burger Battle on Friday, May 13. The event pits 16 restaurants battling to win the title of "Best Burger of 2016”. During the competition, judges rate the burgers on texture, flavor, use of condiments, bread selection, unique approaches, etc. Awards will be presented for Fan Favorite, Burger Nirvana, Best Bar and Grill, Best Knife and Fork Burger, Best Burger Joint, and Best Burger. Tickets are $45 for general admission and $125 for the VIP Experience. A general admission ticket gets you three drink tickets and the chance to sample goodies and to vote for “Fan Favorite”. VIP tickets get you in 30 minutes earlier, access to a special seating area, specialty bites and full open bar. While the James Beard Awards are not a competition, winning one can make a chef’s career. The 2016 semi-finalists were just announced and there are a few South Florida contenders. Antonio Bachour (St. Regis Bal Harbour) is nominated for “Outstanding Pastry Chef” and Bradley Kilgore, of Alter, Miami was nominated as “Rising Star of the Year”. José Mendín of Pubbelly and Michael Pirolo of Macchialina, both in Miami Beach, and Giorgio Rapicavoli of Coral Gables’ Eating House, were all nominated as “Best Chef” for the Southern Region.

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J.W. Arnold

jw@prdconline.com

THU

4/21

comedy It’s a big night for comedy in Fort Lauderdale. At the Parker Playhouse, 707 NE 8th St., gay humorist David Sedaris offers a selection of new readings and recollections, as well as a frank Q&A session. Meanwhile, at the Broward Center at 8 p.m., take a light trip away from sanity and explore the dragtastic universe of Varla Jean Merman’s “Big Black Hole.” Tickets for both shows are available at BrowardCenter.org.

FRI

4/22

theater Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth, presents the Florida premiere of Daniel Pearle’s “A Kid Like Jake.” The drama begins on the eve of the admissions cycle for Manhattan's most exclusive private schools. Alex and Greg have high hopes for their son Jake, a precocious four-year-old who happens to prefer Cinderella to G.I. Joe. What will they do? Tickets start at $20 at LakeWorthPlayhouse. org.

If it’s Monday night then you must be watching RuPaul’s new game show, “Gay for Play,” featuring a crazy panel of celebrities on Logo. Photo Credit: Logo.

SAT

4/23 SUN

4/24 MON

4/25 TUE

4/26

comedy

television

theater

Peter Bisuito is the world’s only gay bodybuilder comedian. A recent South Florida transplant, the muscle bear brings his show, “My Big Funny Peter,” to the Broward Center’s Abdo New River Room tonight at 7:30 p.m. He’ll have you in stitches as he shares funny stories about his life and the people he encounters daily. He might even give you some work-out tips. Tickets are $26 - $35 at BrowardCenter.org.

Winter is coming and so is the season premiere of HBO’s fantasy epic, “Game of Thrones,” tonight at 10 p.m. Based on George R.R Martin's popular series, “A Song of Ice and Fire,” Westeros is a world where no one is safe and treachery looms around every corner. We’re just dying to know if Jon Snow was really killed by his brothers of the King’s Watch. Even heroes have a short shelf life. Check local listings.

If you like the Snatch Game on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” you’re really gonna love “Gay for Play,” RuPaul’s new game show on Logo. This pop culture extravaganza has it all— scantily clad hunky models, a wacky panel of celebrity guests and two contestants who battle to victory. All your favorites are there, including Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Matthews. Check local listings for show times.

“The Bridges of Madison County,” one of the most romantic stories ever written, is now a Tony Award-winning musical. The tuneful show about an Iowa housewife, Francesca Johnson, and her whirlwind romance with a traveling photographer comes to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach tonight and runs through Sunday, May 1. Tickets for this unforgettable theatrical affair start at $27 at Kravis. org.

• 4.20.2016

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST ROCK BAND OF ALL TIME

MARK CORTALE PRESENTS

Save Me Radio GaGa Killer Queen A Kind of Magic Under Pressure Don’t Stop Me Now We Are the Champions Fat Bottomed Girls Bohemian Rhapsody I Want to Break Free The Show Must Go On

L SCHIRALLI DIRECTED BY MICHAE

Take a trip light years away from sanity and explore the dragtastic celestial wonder! Described as hilariously funny, enjoy a show filled with surprises and venture to a galaxy far, far away with one of America’s top drag stars in this musical and comedic romp around the universe. Jeffery Roberson stars as Varla Jean Merman and features Gerald Goode on piano. Boldly go where thousands of men have gone before in this hilarious new space odyssey cabaret with warp-speed wit and out-of-this-world wonder!

APRIL 21 • Amaturo Theater

PERFORMED BY

GARY MULLEN & THE WORKS APRIL 22 Parker Playhouse

TICKETS at BrowardCenter.org • Ticketmaster | 954.462.0222 Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office • Group Sales | 954.660.6307 Follow us:

BrowardCenter

4.20.2016 •

a&e art

pop-up exhiBit celeBrates superheroes J.W. Arnold

blown away by all the talent out there in the community. ArtServe does some amazing work and is really a leader in the visual arts in Broward County,” Davis said. In addition to the exhibition, fans of cosplay (costume play) and performance art will have the opportunity to join the festivities, donning intricately detailed, homemade superhero, anime and fantasythemed costumes for the reception. “Bam! Pow! Art!” is one of three pop-up events planned this spring. Last month, ArtServe collaborated with the Puppet Guild of America on a successful exhibit of classic and collectible puppets, “World of Puppetry,” that included a screening of Heather Henson’s film, “Handmade Puppet Dreams – For Families,” and a variety of craft and storytelling activities for children. Next month, “I Was There! 2” on Saturday, May 14 will feature an exhibit of works inspired by pop music culture, including a wide array of original posters. “The partnership has been great,” said Abbate, who plans to expand the program next season in conjunction with the monthly Wilton Manors Arts Walk. The ArtsBunker exhibits will also be rotated to other cultural spaces in Broward County throughout the year.

Credit: ArtServe.

ever fear, superheroes are here! A onenight pop-up exhibit this Saturday at ArtsBunker in Wilton Manors will feature works inspired by comic books, video games and Saturday morning television shows. Titled “Bam! Pow! Art!,” the free show will be open from 7 – 10 p.m. at the collaborative arts space on the campus of the Pride Center, 2034 N. Dixie Highway. “We need to celebrate this art form,” said Jaye Abbate, executive director of ArtServe, the non-profit Fort Lauderdale arts incubator that operates the ArtsBunker. “It’s been a trend over the last year or so and taken on a life of itself.” Wilton Manors gallery owner Tedd Davis is one of the artists to be featured this weekend. He usually incorporates found wooden objects in his mixed media constructions, but when he discovered Batman and Joker figurines, created a work inspired by those characters. “I grew up watching them on television,” Davis said. “I experimented using the action figures in my art and created the skyscrapers and towers of Gotham City.” He especially appreciates the opportunity ArtsBunker offers local artists to display their creations. “When you show up, you’re excited and

This multimedia installation, “Gotham City” by Tedd Davis, utilizing pieces of superhero ﬁgurines, is one of the nearly 80 pieces on display this Saturday at ArtsBunker in Wilton Manors.

“Bam! Pow! Art!” will be on display on Saturday, April 23 from 7 – 10 p.m. at ArtsBunker on the campus of the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2304 N. Dixie Highway. The exhibit and reception are free. For more information, go to ArtServe.org.

• 4.20.2016

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a&e film

Photo Credit: Townpath Productions LLC.

Matthew Frias and Edmund Donovan star as young lovers in “Akron,” screening this weekend at the MiFo LGBT Film Festival.

LGBT Films “Come of Age” at MIFO Festival J.W. Arnold

he “coming out” film has long been a staple of LGBT film festivals. But, just as public opinion about gays and lesbians has evolved, so have the films that find their way onto the festival circuit. The MiFo LGBT Film Festival, opening this weekend in Miami and running through May 1, hints at a trend that mirrors those changes in society. Many of the feature films are not so much about the turmoil of coming out, but rather feature characters who happen to be LGBTQ and are dealing with a variety of challenges faced by young people regardless of their sexual orientation. It’s a trend that’s been going on for a few years now,” explained Victor Gimenez, festival executive director. “The flavor of the films [has] changed to reflect the times.” Production values of LGBT-themed films also continue to improve, Gimenez said, primarily due to new technologies, such as drones that allow filmmakers to capture breathtaking aerial shots. SFGN screened a sample of upcoming MiFo festival films categorized as “coming of age” and offers the following synopses and mini-reviews:

“Spa Night” – Southeast Premiere Saturday, April 23, 3:15 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Andrew Ahn, Dir. USA, 2015 Korean and English with English subtitles 93 min.

David works at the family restaurant, but business is slow and the restaurant is forced to close as tension builds at home. David takes a job at a Korean spa to help his family make ends meet. At the spa, he discovers an underground world of gay sex that both scares and excites him. SFGN: “Spa Night” is not so much a coming out story as it is a fascinating look at a cultural mash-up as seen through the eyes of a first generation Korean-American. While the plot is predictable, writer director Ahn devotes a significant amount of time to character development, especially the young man, David, who must reconcile his culture with emerging physical and emotional urges.

• 4.20.2016

“Akron”

Saturday, April 23, 5:30 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Brian O’Donnell and Sasha King, Dir. USA, 2015 88 min. Benny and Christopher, 18-year-old freshmen at the University of Akron, meet at a football game, exchange phone numbers and quite rapidly fall for each other. Love is in the air until a tragic event from the past comes to light and threatens to tear them and their families apart. SFGN: Stars Matthew Frias (Benny) and Edmund Donovan (Christopher) are hot, hot, hot and have more than enough chemistry to propel this story of young love on a Midwestern college campus. The impending conflict their characters face is predictable, thanks to foreshadowing in the opening scenes. This is a perfect example of the new genre of “coming of age” films.

“Arianna” – Southeast Premiere Saturday, April 23, 7 p.m. Miami Beach Cinematheque Carlo Lavagna, dir. Italy, 2015 Italian with English subtitles 84 min.

Nineteen-year-old Arianna struggles with her body, sexuality and identity. Despite her age, her breasts still aren’t developed, she has never had her period, and sex is unknown territory. Arianna sets out to answer fundamental questions about the life that she has been living. SFGN: It’s a difficult task to discuss this sensitive film without revealing a major spoiler. “Arianna” is one of the first films to explore the implications for a young woman who represents one of the letters only occasionally included in the LGBTQI “alphabet soup.” Ultimately, Carlo Lavagna’s film is tender and thought-provoking with a strong performance by Ondina Quadri.

“Closet Monster” – Southeast Premiere Saturday, April 23, 10 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Steven Dunn, dir. Canada, 2016 90 min.

Oscar is a creative and driven teenager who hovers on the brink of adulthood. Destabilized by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality and haunted by horrific images of a tragic gay bashing he witnessed as a child, Oscar dreams of escaping the family and town he feels is suffocating him. SFGN: Writer/director Stephen Dunn’s film is a bit contrived and just plain weird, but we loved, loved, loved adorable Connor Jessup (“Falling Skies,” “American Crime”) as the quirky and disturbed aspiring cinematic make-up artist. The lines between Oscar’s imagination and reality are often blurred, resulting in a story that manages to intrigue from the opening scenes to closing credits.

“I Promise You Anarchy”

Sunday, April 24, 7 p.m. Miami Beach Cinematheque Julio Hernández Cordón, dir. Mexico, 2016 Spanish with English subtitles 88 min. Best friends and lovers Miguel and Johnny have known each other since childhood. They spend their time skateboarding with their friends in Mexico City, where they sell their own blood and generate income by getting other donors for the black market until Miguel’s mother sends him out of the country. SFGN: In this film, amazingly well-adjusted gay kids essentially live on the streets of a dark, gritty Mexico City. We were obviously too old to completely appreciate Julio Hernández Cordón’s characters and their situations, but the street talk and relationships ring true, especially the later struggle by Miguel (Diego Calva Hernández) to assimilate into a new life without his boyfriend.

a&e film “First Girl I Loved” Sunday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Kerem Sanga, dir. USA, 2016 91 min.

Anne, 17, is a headstrong, cool nerd. While covering a softball game for the high school yearbook, she becomes infatuated with the star of the team, Sasha. When Anne excitedly shares her newfound attraction with her best friend, Cliff, he reveals his feelings for Anne and lashes out in unanticipated ways. SFGN: Writer/director Kerem Sanga’s film is perhaps the most conventional of the series. Substitute a nerdy band jock for Anne’s character and the high school quarterback for Sasha and, well, we’ve all seen this film a few times at least. But, as told from the perspective of a young woman, “First Girl I Loved” still seems fresh and highlights the challenges of coming out as a lesbian.

“Daddy’s Boy” – East Coast Premiere Monday, April 25, 9 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Daniel Armando, dir. USA, 2016 75 min.

Four young men leave boyhood behind and shed more than just their clothes and inhibitions in writer/director Daniel Armando’s new film, “Daddy’s Boy.” When the worlds of these four men collide, they explore the depths of their sexuality and find their lives changed forever. SFGN: Filmed in black and white, Daniel Armando’s self-indulgent series of moody montages at times feels more like a Madonna video than a feature film. The men are hot, we must admit, but we still have issues with steamy bearded hunks dancing burlesque in hot pants and heels. In the end, the eye candy always wins out, though.

“Departure” – Southeast Premiere Tuesday, April 26, 7 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Andrew Steggall, dir. UK/France, 2015 109 min.

An English family prepares the sale of their holiday home in the South of France. The teenage son wrestles with his sexuality while his mother confronts the end of her marriage to his father. When an enigmatic local boy enters their lives, mother and son compete with each other and their awakening desires. SFGN: Again, a fairly typical coming out film, this time set in the exotic locale of a country hamlet in France. Well, typical, until both mother and son find themselves attracted to the same boy. That’s a plot twist we haven’t quite seen before. Of course, we’d be drooling, too, over Clément (Phénix Brossard), the handsome French bad boy, who captures their imaginations.

In addition to the 39 features and 31 shorts being screened over the next two weeks, the festival schedule includes 14 documentaries. Among the noteworthy documentaries being shown this week are:

“The Tchaikovsky Files” – World Premiere Saturday, April 23, 3 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Ralf Pleger, dir. Germany, 2015 German with English subtitles 52 min.

Peter Tchaikovsky is regarded as Russia's most famous composer, celebrated as a national hero even though he was gay. This film radically brings Tchaikovsky into the present, using his own words and powerful images to draw a beautiful and emotional psychological portrait. SFGN: LGBT activists continue to speculate about the sexual orientation of many historical figures, but there is no question about composer Tchaikovsky who betrays his urges in his own writings. Director Ralf Pleger’s documentary is a fast-paced, modern music video—think VH1 “Behind the Music”—that proves his feelings ring true more than a century after his death.

“Chemsex”

Monday, April 25, 7 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach William Fairman and Max Gogarty, dir. UK, 2015 83 min. “Chemsex” is a documentary that frankly and intimately exposes a dark side to modern gay life in hidden basements, bedrooms and bars across London. Traversing an underworld of drug use and sex parties, the film follows several men struggling to make it out of 'the scene' alive. SFGN: As residents of South Florida, a region of the country with both the highest rate of new HIV infections AND rampant party drug use, we have been preached to about the dangers of drug use and unsafe sex for decades. Ultimately, this documentary breaks no new ground, but it is interesting to view this self-destructive behavior through the eyes of Brits living in London.

“Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride” – World Premiere Wednesday, April 27, 7 p.m. Regal Cinemas South Beach Robyn Symon, dir. USA, 2016 75 min.

A perfect example of a true life "only in Florida" story, this darkly funny documentary tells the tale of Butch, an older, macho owner of an auto wrecking company who goes on the lam from the law during a nasty divorce, only to discover her true self in the process. SFGN: If you see only one film during the festival, get down to Regal Cinemas for “Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride.” Uncle Gloria fascinates, not only in her dangerous decision to pursue gender reassignment surgery, but as a senior member of our community. Director Robyn Symon and her film subject will both participate in a Q&A after the film.

The MiFo LGBT Film Festival runs April 22 – May 1 in Miami Beach. For a complete schedule of film screenings, tickets and theater venues, as well as tickets to parties and special events, go to MiFoFilm.com. 4.20.2016 •

apr. 20 to apr. 26

Datebook

Theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

top

picks

Varla Jean Merman’s Big Black Hole

April 21 at 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The drag star takes the audience of a journey to another galaxy with music and comedy. Tickets $35 to $67.50. Call 954-4620222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

A Kid Like Jake

April 21 to May 1 at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. As Alex and Greg wait to find out if their son, Jake, is accepted into a Manhattan private school, they become concerned with his behavior as he becomes more obsessed with dressing up and princesses. Tickets $20. All 561-586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org.

LAST CHANCE: The TwoCharacter Play

Through April 24 at the Miami Theater Center, 9806 NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores. A brother and sister are ditched by their theater company while touring the nation, and they must deal with their own personal problems while also trying to keep their careers afloat. Tickets $45. Call 305-751-9550 or visit MTCMiami.org.

broward county

* An Evening with David Sedaris

April 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. The author recounts his comedic life as a second-generation Greek American growing up in North Carolina and working as a holiday elf and an apple picker. Tickets $68.89 to $77.43. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

* One Night of Queen

April 22 at 8 p.m. at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. A tribute to the theatrical operatic rock band, Queen. Tickets $37.50 to $57.50. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

* South Florida Ballet Theater: Cinderella

April 23 at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The South Florida Ballet Theater performs the classic fairy tale of a young girl who sneaks off to the ball with a little help with some

• 4.20.2016

magic. Tickets $20 to $50. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

* Peter Bisuito in “My Big Funny Peter”

April 23 at 7:30 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The world’s only gay bodybuilding muscle-bear comedian comes to Fort Lauderdale! Tickets $26 to $35. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

* Boyz II Men and En Vogue

April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place in Lauderhill. The famed ‘90s Rn’B groups return for an unforgettable tour. Tickets $85.27 to $160. Call 954-777-2055 or visit LPACFL.com.

* Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience

April 23 at 8 p.m. at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. A tribute to the rock and roll band, with hits such as “Black Dog,” “Stairway to Heaven,” and “Whole Lotta love.” Tickets $36.50 to $76.50. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

* An Evening with Eliane Elias

April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Hailing from Brazil, the chanteuse is known for her jazz singing and bossa nova piano skills. Tickets $39 to $49. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Silence of the Clams

Through April 24 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale. FBI Agent Clarice Startling is in search of serial killer Beaver Bob, who skins his victims “down there.” To help catch him, she interviews Dr. Hannibal Lichter. Tickets $30. Call 954-678-1496 or visit EmpireStage.com.

* An Evening with Garrison Keillor

April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Keillor takes the stage for a night of storytelling, from his days growing up in the Midwest to his career as a radio host. Tickets $40 to $60. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter. org.

* Dan and Phil: The Amazing Tour is Not on Fire

April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The award-winning BBC radio hosts host a night of comedy sketches, audience participation, and hilarious storytelling. Tickets $55 to $110. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

The Submission

Through May 8 at Island City Stage, 2304 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Danny, a gay playwright, is elated that his play is chosen to be performed at a festival -- but he turned it in under the pen name of a black woman. He hires a black actress to fill in for him, but it only makes things more complicated. Tickets $35. Call 954-519-2533 or visit IslandCityStage.org.

Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series

Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy live, outdoor music spanning genres and tributes every Friday evening through November. Free. Visit FridayNightSoundWaves.com

palm beach county PBAU Dance Ensemble Spring Concert

April 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Palm Beach Atlantic University dance students perform works by renowned choreographers and locals. Tickets $10. Call 561832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

* A Night With Janis Joplin

April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The spirit of Janis Joplin is resurrected in the performance by Mary Bridget Davies, who performs a tribute to the great singer. Tickets $20 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

Outside Mullingar

Through April 24 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. Set in Ireland, Rosemary and Anthony Reilly have hated each other since they were children and refuse to give in to love -- even when their hearts are telling them something different. Tickets $64. Call 561-5144042 or visit PalmBeachDramaworks.org.

The Pajama Game

Through April 24 at Lake Worth Playhouse, in Lake Worth. Workers at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory threaten to strike for a 7.5 cent pay raise in this musical adapted from the novel “7 ½ Cents.” Tickets $29 to $72. Call 561-586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org.

* The Bridges of Madison County -- The Musical

April 26 to May 1 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Based on the book by Robert James Waller, Francesca Johnson leads a mundane life as a housewife in Iowa until she meets traveling photographer, Robert Kincaid. Tickets $27 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

Free Friday Concerts

Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Call 561-2437922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

* Bush

April 22 at 8:30 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. Rock band Bush, lead by frontman Gavin Rossdale, are joined by The Dose. Tickets $36.50 to $45. Call 305-6737300 or visit FillmoreMB.com.

* Mambo Jam: A Tribute to Candido Camero

April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Celebrating the 95th birthday of Camero, Federico Britos and his orchestra perform mambo tunes that’ll have you dancing in your seat. Tickets $59 to $154. Call 305949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

* Miami Bash

April 23 at 8 p.m. at AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The annual party returns with performances by J Balvin, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Alex Sensation, Farruko, Zion y Lennox, Jacob Forever, Cosculluela, Ken-Y, Chacal y Yakarta, De La Ghetto, and more. Tickets $26 to $164. Call 786777-1000 or visit AAArena.com.

* Emily’s D+Evolution

April 24 at 8 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Grammy Award winning singer, composer, and bassist creates a new show that showcases her childhood interest in theater, poetry, and movement. Tickets $38 to $82. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

* Melendi

April 24 at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. The Spanish pop star mixes rock, flamenco, and rumba into one unique sound. Tickets $36.50 to $45. Call 305-6737300 or visit FillmoreMB.com.

A Minister’s Wife

Through April 24 at GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. A reverend and his wife seem to be in the perfect marriage, but all the troubles bubbling beneath come to a head when a handsome young poet comes to town. Tickets $60. Call 305-445-1119 or visit GableStage.org.

Roof!

Through May 8 at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 St. in Cutler Bay. Vic and Adam throw a rooftop party, which brings a host of odd characters. Tickets $41. Call 786-573-5300 or visit SMDCAC.org.

The Hammer Trinity

Through May 8 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Casper Kent discovers he is in line to the throne and must defend the precious hammer from pirates. The three-part play is performed over 6.5 hours. Tickets $150. Call 305949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

miami-dade county The Big Show * Buika

April 22 at 8 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Critics have put this singer in the same category as Nina Simone, Chavela Vargas, and Cesaria Evora -- her last show at the center in 2013 was sold out! Tickets $49 to $89. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit JustTheFunny.com.

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"We are allWSVN so excited to be Anchor, of honorees to be recognized on the eve of Friday, with the Harvey Milk Foundation, their partners and Milk Foundation MilanRock Hotel and Casino May 13 at the2016 Seminole Hard their supporters in May." Rosza Youth Award Honoree Featured Performer are: Peter Clark, publisher of Hotspots Media Group; In telling the family’s story, the Whittingtons hope Ryland Whittington Levi Kreis Rae Franks, Robert Runcie Judge David Enbar Cohen, City of Aventura Commissioner; Mark to educate that even children Tony Award-winning Esquire Young the world in accepting Actor/Singer Denker, M.D. of the Palm Beach Fertility Center; Rae as young as five can have profound and impactful Franks, lawyer and LGBT advocate; Robert Runcie, things to say and share. Although Ryland has been Presenting Sponsor tting These Organizations: Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools and Benefifeatured on CNN, Ellen, 20/20 and in dozens of Judge David Young, plus the annual Milk Foundation international news broadcasts on this powerful story Milan Rosza Award will recognize Ryland Whittington. of unconditional love, this May 13 will mark the second The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, as the live appearance by Ryland and his family to participate presenting sponsor, will host Diversity Honors, which in Diversity Honors. coincides with celebrations around the and globe “As a x105 leading LGBT organization in South Florida, we For sponsor information tickets:for 954.463.9005, or diversityhonors.com Harvey Milk Day (May 22), an official state holiday salute the honorees and are proud to be aligned with in California that celebratesMARK Milk’s enduring legacy the Harvey Milk Foundation,” said Robert Boo, chief GRIFFIS of hope and example of courage. Guests at Diversity executive officer at The Pride Center at Equality Park. Honors will enjoyfasta printz lively cocktail reception with the “This event had a huge impact on our community last North American premiere of the Levi’s® X Harvey year so we are fully committed to continuing this fine Milk Foundation Pride 2016 Collection, a seated three- tradition.” course dinner and live entertainment featuring Tony Last year, Diversity Honors raised more than $50,000 Award-winning actor/singer Levi Kreis. An inspiring while paying tribute to Judy and Dennis Shepard, LGBT awards presentation hosted by Omar Lewis, WSVN civil rights activists and co-founders of the Matthew weekend morning news anchor, will include Stuart Shepard Foundaton, who received the Harvey Milk Milk’s 2016 “State of the Global Equality” address. Honors Medal award. The event also recognized "It is such a privilege to host this annual event where recording artist Deborah Cox, President and Founder we come together to honor men and women who, in of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Rand their extraordinary lives remind us all of the diversity Hoch, celebrity entertainer Elaine Lancaster (James of the human spirit, the values that define us as not Davis), CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Florida only as the South Florida community, but as a nation, Lillian Tamayo, 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida and the potential that lives inside of all of us," said Miami Judge William Thomas and Fort Lauderdale Stuart Milk, co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation Commissioner Dean Trantalis. Nationally recognized and global human rights advocate. "We are thrilled teen advocate, Jazz Jennings, received the Milk to join together again with The Pride Center and the Foundation’s Milan Rosza Youth Award. Two lifetime Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to present this achievement awards were presented to publisher ongoing celebration of those who exemplify the best Norm Kent and cabaret performer Joey Arias. examples of authenticity, leadership and courage in Sponsors of Diversity Honors 2016 include our community." Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino as the The annual Milk Foundation Milan Rosza Award will presenting sponsor, Levi’s®, Mark Griffis, DMK, recognize Ryland Whittington. Eight year old Ryland Goodman Public Relations, Stoli Vodka, Alpine Whittington's powerful, moving story—which has Jaguar, Miami Foundation, Vitas Healthcare, Palm already touched more than eight million through a Beach County Human Rights Council, JetBlue, viral video created by the Whittington family—is SunTrust, Fast Printz and Lightship Media. Media transforming lives across the world via the family's sponsors are Florida Agenda, Gold Coast Magazine, first-hand account of the emotional choice to simply Hotspots Magazine, Mark’s List, Next, South Florida embrace their transgender child. When Hillary and Gay News and WSVN. Jeff Whittington posted a YouTube video chronicling Recreate PMS(from pdf)

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Tickets for this black-tie optional event are $175 per person and available at www.DiversityHonors.com.

Editorial sponsored by Diversity Honors. 4.20.2016 •

apr. 20 to apr. 26

Datebook

community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

Top Picks

MiFo LGBT Film Festival

April 22 to May 1 throughout South Beach. The 18th annual film festival returns with more than 50 films from around the world, parties, and panel sessions. Call 305-751-6305 or visit MiFoFilm.com.

KeroWACKED MultiMedia Festival

April 24 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Boynton Beach Art District, 410-422 West Industrial Ave in Boynton Beach. A group exhibition of mural paintings, metalsmithing, art cars and campers, performance art, live music, food trucks, and more. Visit Facebook.com/ events/1035779663130608.

What’s Slavery Got to Do With It?

April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Slavery ended more than 150 years ago, but African Americans today are still grappling with their history. A discussion of this and how it impacts our actions, safe sex practices, and thoughts today. Call 954-462-9005, ext. 306, 308, or 309, email kikiproject@pridecenterflorida. org, or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.

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* Sonoma Superstars

April 21 at 6 p.m. at NSU Art Museum, One E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Kathleen Scheuer of Rodney Strong Vineyards leads a wine tasting of bottles from the Sonoma Valley. Tickets $25 museum members, $40 nonmembers. Call 954525-5500 or visit NSUArtMuseum.org.

* GLLN Happy Hour

April 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rumors, 2426 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Enjoy drinks and networking with the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Network, with 2-for-1 drinks and free passed bites. Email gllnboard@gmail.com.

John Waters Turns 70! - Film Festival

April 21 and 28 at Stonewall National Museum Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Celebrate gay cult filmmaker John Waters’ 70th birthday with screenings of “Divine Trash,” “Polyester,” “Hairspray,” and “Pecker.” Free. Call 954-763-8565 or visit Stonewall-Museum.org.

• 4.20.2016

Broward Support Services Gender Bender Youth Group Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at SunServe Campus, 1480 SW Ninth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. A group for LGBT youth 13 to 21 to discuss gender, gender expression, binary systems, friendship, family and whatever else comes up! Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com

PFLAG Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and locations.

GayWrites Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Stonewall Library, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Come join us and write your memoir, poem, blog, novel or short story. Free. Email Jay Asher at ijasher@aol.com.

SunServe Youth Group Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.

Survivor Support First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954-384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.

* Transgender Collabor-ACTIVE Educational Series

April 27 at 7 p.m. at FUSION, 2304 NE Seventh Ave. in Wilton Manors. A continuing discussion of self-awareness, advocacy, education, and health in the transgender community. Free. Call 954-462-9005, ext. 205, email jreichman@pridecenterflorida.org, or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.

* Dining Out For Life

April 28 throughout Broward County. Enjoy a meal at participating restaurants, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Broward House. Visit DiningOutForLife.com/BrowardCounty.

Here & Now: Queer Geographies in Contemporary Photography

Through May 1 at Stonewall National Museum - Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Three photographers explore the life of LGBT people across the United States and how this generation is redefining itself. Free. Visit Stonewall-Museum.org.

* Front Runners

* AIDS Walk Miami

The Art of Tyce Marshall

Arsht Center Farmers Market

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. at Holiday Park, 1200 G. Martin Harold Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Join the group for runs, walks, and social events. Runs are followed by a meal. Annual dues $25. Call 954-247-8642, email info@frontrunnersfortlauderdale.org, or visit FrontrunnersFortLauderdale.org. Through May 6 at Art Gallery 21 at the Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors, 600 NE 21st Court in Wilton Manors. Experience the work of Tyce Marshall, inspired by seascapes, as well as the artwork of artists Mark Baker, Patti Maceri, Pamela Moloboado, Carl Phillips and Pat Wahl. Free. Call 954-661-4740 or visit ArtGallery21.org.

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* Community Conversation: Palm Beach County Youth Master Plan

April 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. The community is invited to discuss how to ensure that young people have the opportunities to be the best they can be. Contact James Green at jgreen@pbcgov.org or 561242-5702.

Transcendence

Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A closed transgender youth support group for teens ages 12 to 19. For more information, email youth@compassglcc.com.

Zumba Fitness

Mondays at 6 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Get moving with a certificated Zumba instructor for an infusion of exercise and dance moves. Donation of $5 or more. Call 561-324-1626 or visit CompassGLCC.com.

April 24 at 8 a.m. at Miami Beach SoundScape Park at the New World Center, 500 17th St. in Miami Beach. The 28th annual walk returns, raising money for Care Resource and the Food For Life Network food bank. Call 305-7519255, email info@aidswalkmiami.org, or visit AIDSWalkMiami.org. Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Purchase fresh food from local farmers, including fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared foods, as well as chefs, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Free. Visit ArshtCenter.org/en/ Visit/Dining.

Rainbow Circle

Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Miami Flipse Building #302, 5665 Ponce de Leon Drive in Coral Gables. An open discussion about coming out, relationships, peer pressure, bullying, depression and more. Free. Visit Pridelines.org.

Yoga

Tuesdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Jose Marti Park, 362 SW Fourth Ave. in Miami. Yogis 18 and older of all levels are invited to a practice lead by a certified instructor. Bring your own yoga mat, water, and towel. Free. Call 305-358-7550 or visit BayfrontParkMiami.com/Yoga.html.

HIV Support Group

Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at South Beach AIDS Project, 1234 Washington Ave. Ste. 200 in Miami Beach. A support group for those who are HIV positive. Free. Call 305-535-4733, ext. 301 or email support@sobeaids.org.

Book Study

Mondays at 6:15 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for female recovering alcoholics. Visit LambdaNorth.net.

Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Buddhist monk, Gen Kelsang Nurbu, will lead classes on learning the foundations of Buddhism. Call 786-529-7137.

Out of the Closet, Into the Light

Capoeira

Sober Sisters

Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at MCC of the Palm Beaches, 4857 Northlake Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens. AA for the LGBT community. Free. Call 561-775-5900 or visit MCCPalmBeach.org.

Voices of Pride

Mondays at 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they practice every week. Free. Call 561-5339699 or visit CompassGLCC.com

Out of the Closet NA Group

Mondays at 7 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for LGBT recovering addicts. Visit LambdaNorth.net.

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* Earth Day

April 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive in Miami Beach. Celebrate Earth Day with a State of the Garden, full moon yoga, a screening of “Climate Refugees,” and more. Free, yoga is $25. Call 305673-7256 or visit MCGarden.org.

Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Bayfront Park’s Tina Hills Pavilion, 1075 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Learn the Brazilian art of capoeira, a mix of dance and martial arts, with Mestre Ze Com Fome. Free. Call 305-989-6628 or visit mestrezeomfome. com.

Prayers For World Peace

Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Buddhist teacher, Todd Ellenberg will lead prayers and meditation. Cost $10. Call 786-5297137.

Drag Brunch

Sundays noon to 4 p.m. at Senor Frogs, 1450 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach. Enjoy unlimited cocktails while enjoying a meal with laughs from Elaine Lancaster, Adora, Angie Ovahness, TP Lords, and Ebonee Excell. Tickets $39.95. Call 212-481-6203 or visit VossEvents.com.

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