SFGN 06/2/22 V13iss22

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

EQUALITY FLORIDA’S NADINE SMITH NAMED TO TIME 100 OF MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

@SFGN

June 2, 2022 • Volume 13 • Issue 22 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

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John Hayden

I

t’s been a tough couple of years to be an LGBT activist in Florida. Nearly every Legislative fight has been a lost cause and a freshly redrawn political map will likely make things even tougher for the next decade.

But their hard work is being noticed and rewarded. Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s executive director, made the Time 100 list of most influential people.

“I am deeply honored to be included in the Time 100,” said Smith. “This recognizes decades of work not only by me, but by the dedicated team of volunteers, staff and supporters I’ve had the privilege to work with at Equality Florida.”

In the double issue, Time lays out the reasons she made the list, saying in part, “In the fight for equality in Florida, there has perhaps been no greater advocate for LGBTQ people than Nadine Smith. For over 30 years

“I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE TIME 100.

THIS RECOGNIZES DECADES OF WORK NOT ONLY BY ME, BUT BY THE DEDICATED TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, STAFF AND SUPPORTERS I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH AT EQUALITY FLORIDA.” - Nadine Smith EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EQUALITY FLORIDA

THERE’S MORE ONLINE! SEE OUR NEWS IN VIDEO! Online now!

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• 6 . 2 . 2022

— most recently as the executive director of Equality Florida — Smith has worked tirelessly to safeguard our rights and elevate our voices, combatting discrimination in employment, housing, and many other areas.”

Activism comes naturally to Smith, whose grandparents were active in securing rights for sharecroppers. After high school, she attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, but resigned after the passage of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” She co-chaired the 1993 March on Washington that drew a million marchers and was part of the first Oval Office meeting between a sitting President Bill Clinton and LGBT leaders. In the aftermath of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, Smith and her team coordinated a national response including raising millions in direct resources for survivors and families of the 49 killed.

In 1997, she helped create Equality Florida, which has become one of the largest LGBT+ advocacy groups in the world. Ten years later, she was arrested at a Largo City Council hearing simply for handing out a flier that said “Don’t Discriminate.” The charges were dropped and the Police Chief and City Council issued official apologies. In 2010, she brought the issue of Florida’s ban on gay adoptions to the attention of former President Barack Obama.

Smith said her unrelenting advocacy will continue.

“Our work is far from done as Florida, once again, stands at the center of the fight against extremism and hate. We are bearing the brunt of a governor willing to sacrifice the safety of children and destroy our most basic liberties in his desperate bid to be president. But this

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Special to SFGN Steve Rothaus

Correspondents

Kendall Little • Everitt Rosen • Donald Cavanaugh Deon Jefferson • David-Elijah Nahmod Aurora Dominguez • Gillian Manning Denise Royal • Corey Rose • Kennedy McKinney

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Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida.

Photo via Equality Florida.

Sean Conklin • Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Gregg Shapiro • Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

is not simply Florida’s fight. The wave of anti-LGBTQ, racist, freedom-destroying bills sweeping the country calls each of us to fight for our rights and, indeed, our democracy.”

Nadine Smith was among eight LGBT activists named to Time’s prestigious list. The others are Emmett Schelling, a transgender activist who serves as executive director of Transgender Education Network of Texas, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Michael R. Jackson, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose, and Demna Gvsalia, a fashion designer and creative director of Balenciaga.

The Time 100 double issue is available online and on stands now.

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LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENNEDY MCKINNEY

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G TRANSGENDER

LAVERNE COX HONORED AS FIRST TRANS BARBIE Trans actress and activist Laverne Cox broke barriers as she was added to Mattel’s Tribute Collection of Barbie Dolls.

“I can’t wait for fans to find my doll on shelves and have the opportunity to add a Barbie doll modeled after a transgender person to their collection,” she said in a statement.

Cox has been on the frontlines of protest to the recent anti-trans legislation and said that she hopes this Barbie doll can show kids that “there’s hope and possibility for them to be themselves.”

Along with honoring the “Orange is the New Black” actress in Barbie form, the toy company is donating to charity TransFamilySOS in Cox’s name.

The doll is now available at Mattel’s website, Walmart, and Target.

T

Photo courtesy of Mattel.

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

P

PANSEXUAL

PRO WRESTLER COMES OUT ON PANSEXUAL VISIBILITY DAY

This past Tuesday was Pansexual Visibility Day and to celebrate, independent pro wrestler Max Zero came out as pansexual.

Zero took to Twitter saying, “I’ve done a lot in my life, this is the scariest. I was gonna make like a fun himbo thing out of this but I just can’t emotionally bring myself to do it …

I’m pan. Love y’all.”

Zero made his wrestling debut in 2019 and has quickly become a fan favorite. Zero appears regularly for Wrestler’s Laboratory, Industrial World Wrestling, Paradigm Pro Wrestling and Invictus Pro Wrestling. Most recently, he challenged MV Young for the Wrestlers Laboratory championship.

His coming out tweet was met with support and congratulations from his fans.

Photo via Twitter.

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LGBTQIA BITES

L

LESBIAN

DISNEY STAR CONFIRMS RELATIONSHIP WITH ‘BACHELOR’ STAR

In Hayley Kiyoko’s latest music video, the former Disney star and singer confirmed her relationship with “Bachelor” star Becca Tilley.

Tilley was the runner-up on “The Bachelor” in 2015 and when she came back the next year came in 5th place. To honor this, the music video mocks the show with Kiyoko being the “bachelorette” and Tilley being the winning contestant.

While the primary purpose of the video was to make their relationship official, it also called for wider representation in the “Bachelor” franchise.

“Not to get too deep, but with so many anti-LGBTQ+ bills being passed right now, it’s very challenging to feel hopeful for our community,” Kiyoko said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “And so I wanted to create this for my fans, being able to watch this video, seeing people that look like them, thriving, being their true, authentic selves. And knowing that

Becca Tilley (top) and Hayley Kiyoko (bottom).

Screenshots from Kiyoko/YouTube.

legislation trying to take that away from us is not going to take away our existence, our worth, our truth and the ability to find love.”

6 . 2 . 20 22 •

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NEWS NATIONAL

BY KIZZY AZCARATE

THE COUNTRY ACROSS

MAINE

GOVERNOR TAKES DOWN LGBT VIDEO OFF OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Maine Gov. Janet Mills has removed a proLGBT video from the Maine Department of Education website after receiving pressure after attack ads for the governor election began.

Kindergarten teacher Killian Mills’, who has no relation to the governor, lesson on what she calls “Freedom Holidays” was removed out of the 400 listed.

“The most disappointing part of all of this is that the Maine Department of Education and Mills administration caved to pressure instead of standing up for some of the most vulnerable people, families, and students in Maine,” Mills told Press Herald.

According to the Press Herald, a spokesperson from Maine DOE “should have received further review by a DOE specialist” before it was uploaded to the site.

Gov. Janet Mills. Photo via Facebook.

“The governor was not aware of the lesson, but she understands the concerns expressed about the age appropriateness, and agrees with the Department of Education’s decision to remove the lesson,” Mills spokeswoman Lindsay Crete told Press Herald.

The ad accuses the governor of funding $2.8 million towards lessons like “Freedom Holidays” as an example of “radical school lessons.”

CALIFORNIA TECH COMPANIES RANK TOP 10 AS HAPPIEST WORK ENVIRONMENTS FOR LGBT PEOPLE

In a study published by Glassdoor May 24, it showed that Google (#1), Microsoft (#2), IBM (#8), and Apple (#10) ranked in the Top 10 in the highest Glassdoor ratings for LGBT workers.

“The tech industry in general earned the second-best average industry rating for LGBTQ+ employees, yet LGBTQ+ workers have relatively low representation in tech,” according to the Protocol.

“LGBTQ+ workers represent just 11% of Glassdoor reviews in the tech industry, compared to 23.1% in restaurants, 19% in personal consumer services and 18.3% in nonprofits.”

Where LGBT employees differed in rating with cisgender employee ratings was IBM receiving four out of five stars from LGBT employees while cisgender gave them 3.89 out of five stars.

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• 6 . 2 . 2022

Photo via Adobe.

The study shows that Apple and Microsoft did not rank higher amongst LGBT employees compared to its cisgendered ones.

“Many companies still have progress to make when it comes to improving the workplace experiences of their LGBTQ+ employees,” Jacob Little, Glassdoor’s head of People Experience and Diversity & Inclusion, said in the report.

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

ARIZONA

RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS VOW TO ‘HUNT’ LGBT PEOPLE DURING PRIDE MONTH

A tweet was posted on Twitter on the account PatriotTakes of Ethan Schmidt, 24, claiming he will be “hunting” down LGBT people and Target employees who take part in Arizona’s Pride Month festivities and support.

“I also like to hunt LGBT supporters on my free time. That’s one of my favorite pastimes … We’re going to be going on hunting expeditions pretty soon, y’know, hunting LGBT supporters across Phoenix and Arizona … If you support the LGBT agenda, you’re not safe. You’re not safe.

Right, Kyle?” said Schimdt to his friend, Kyle Clifton, while driving in a car together.

In 2021, Schmidt posted a video of himself burning a Pride flag that would later receive endorsement from Gov. Kari Lake (R).

LGBTQ Nation reported that Schmidt

Ethan Schmidt. Screenshot via Twitter.

starred in an anti-vaccination video with Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and a different video with Wendy Rogers (R).

Schmidt and Clifton are among white supremacist that believe in “Replacement Theory.” According to the LGBTQ Nation, the theory believes that white people are being replaced by non-white people.

ALABAMA TWO LGBT CANDIDATES BATTLE FOR HOUSE SEAT

Democratic candidate Brit Blalock, who goes by “she” and “they” pronouns, will be facing off for the Alabama District 54 this November. The current representative is Neil Rafferty, Alabama’s only LGBT lawmaker.

Before taking to Facebook to announce her run, Blalock said she reached out to Rafferty to tell him the news in person.

“I wanted it to make things clear to him that I wasn’t running to run against him, that these are things I’ve been mulling for many years, and this felt like the right time for me,” Blalock told NBC News.

Blalock added that Rafferty said it would be “wrong” of her to run. In an emailed statement, he did not directly acknowledge Blalock’s claim.

“I would never discourage an LGBTQ person from running for office, because it

Brit Blalock. Photo via Facebook

is antithetical to my core beliefs and vision for the future of our movement,” he said in an email. “Initially, I hoped the redistricting process would allow for us to run in separate districts so that we would have a chance to double LGBTQ representation in the state Legislature.”

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY EVERITT ROSEN

THE WORLD AROUND

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

ASIA

EUROPE

ISLAMISTS CONDEMN EMBASSY FOR SUPPORTING LGBT RIGHTS

KIRK ASSEMBLY TO VOTE ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Islamists have slammed the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, for promoting LGBT rights in a tweet. On The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, the tweet was sent.

Its goal is to host worldwide events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and promote interest in LGBT rights activities across the world.

Islamists in Pakistan blasted the post, claiming that the embassy should follow Pakistani social standards.

“What an alarming moment for all the Pakistanis that the @usembislamabad is openly advocating LGBT rights in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. They have willfully forgotten that the laws of the land must be duly respected.”

LGBT individuals in Pakistan do not

Photo via Adobe.

experience true equality and suffer cultural problems when compared to heterosexual people. Even in large cities, gays and lesbians must conceal their sexual orientation since samesex sexual encounters are prohibited in Pakistani law and are frowned upon

by Islamic society.

By endorsing religious same-sex marriage, the Church of Scotland might create history.

According to BCC News, the General Assembly of 2022 opened in Edinburgh, with 400 commissioners assembling on The Mound and another 200 joining online.

The first item on the agenda was to formally install Rev. Dr. Iain Greenshields as the new Moderator.

The Methodist Church became the largest Christian group in the United Kingdom to allow same-sex marriages last year.

The Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church forbid it, while the Scottish Episcopal Church, the United Reformed Church, and the Quakers encourage it.

Photo via Church of Scotland/Facbook.

Commissioners of the Church of Scotland will vote on a change to church law allowing clergy to seek to be licensed celebrants of same-sex weddings.

The church, on the other hand, made it plain that no one would be forced to perform ceremonies unless they wanted to.

AFRICA

CENTRAL AMERICA

ESWATINI FAILS TO RECOGNIZE LGBT EQUALITY

HONDURAS TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRANS KILLINGS

The High Court of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) denied the local LGBT rights group Eswatini Sexual & Gender Minorities’ request for official registration, citing “laws … prevailing in the kingdom” that outlaw gay behavior.

The court’s approach, according to 76 Crimes, is confusing and inconsistent.

The court declared in its decision that LGBT individuals “have a right to life, liberty, privacy or dignity. They have a right not to be discriminated against or be subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment. They have a right to associate. They have a right to form a company. They have a right to freedom of expression.”

The court, on the other hand, backed the Registrar of Companies’ decision not to register the organization since same-

Photo by Samantha Marx from Johannesburg, South Africa, via Wikipedia.

sex relationships are banned in the country.

Vicky Hernández, a trans woman, sex worker, and activist with the trans rights organization Unidad Color Rosa, was slain in a military coup in San Pedro Sula in June 2009. Cattrachas Lesbian Network, a Honduran LGBT rights organization, filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of the family in 2012, claiming that the state was culpable for her death.

The commission took the issue to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which declared Honduras guilty of Hernández’s murder in March 2021.

“We recognize before the international community, the Honduran people, and the family of Vicky Hernández, the responsibility of the Honduran state in the events

Photo via Abogados sin fronteras Canadá-CA/Twitter.

that led to her death,” said President Xiomara Castro, according to the Human Rights Watch.

6 . 2 . 20 22 •

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NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

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

10

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

Founder and co-owner at Umbrella Credit Services, past president WMBA Tim Moffitt with friend Anthony LoGrande CEO at Anthony LoGrande Consulting Inc. at the WMBA lunchen held at Chef Nate’s.

Tommy Walser with his fiance Wilton Manors City Commissioner Mike Bracchi at the Sunserve Gala.

DJ Tracy Young Grammy Award winning producer, remixer, DJ, composer, and owner of Ferosh Records with friend Stacy Hailey senior director Commercial Development at University of Florida at Miami Beach Pride Parade.

Christan Perez owner of Island City Massage and WMBA board member with friend Jaun Manzano owner of Massage On The Drive and Bodygrooming.com on Wilton Drive.

• 6 . 2.2022

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

LESBIAN MIAMI SCHOOL TEACHER QUITS AMID ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ LAW Kim Swan

A

lthough a Miami-Dade school teacher was happily married to a woman for years, Nicolette Solomon still felt like she couldn’t be herself under the “Don’t Say Gay” law and turned in her resignation, effective immediately.

The Parental Rights in Education law, which bans classroom discussions on gender identity and sexual orientations in K-3, was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” for Solomon, according to NBC News.

Solomon, 28, spoke about how her students at Key Biscayne K-8 Center grew to love her over the four years of teaching them, according to the Miami Herald. She remembered a time when a boy handed her a letter writing, “So I have a secret … I’m gay!” The letter made her think about how she was probably the only LGBT teacher in the school.

Gelany Arriete, a 38-year-old third-grade teacher who was Solomon’s colleague, said that Solomon had a “special way of interacting with kids” that would set them at ease.

“I remember one incident, she did have a

student who was gay,” Arriete said. “And she made him feel so comfortable, even though the other kids would make fun of him.”

For the first three years of her teaching job, Solomon hid the fact that she was married to a woman, scared of sparking “drama,” as she put it.

“I just felt like I’d be a good person to do that,” Solomon told the Herald. “No one else was gay at the school, you know — no one else knew anything about that.”

Solomon admitted she was a lesbian, happily married to Hayley Solomon, who works at a tech company.

Turns out, Solomon had a good reason for concealing her sexual orientation: she encountered discrimination from her colleagues from her time at the school.

One teacher, who figured out Solomon was gay after watching Hayley help Solomon cart supplies into her classroom, told her in the middle of a conversation, “I like you as a person, but I don’t support gay marriage,” according to the Herald.

Another time in 2021 Solomon went to a colleague for advice about a trans student’s request for a gender-neutral bathroom, and the staffer’s face darkened.

“Let me give you a tip,” the woman said.

“Don’t talk about anything LGBT. Don’t do it.

Parents can get upset. Don’t do that.”

Feeling terrified, Solomon didn’t protest. All she said was “Sure.”

That wasn’t the final straw, however. The final straw came from her encounter with her supervisor when they implied that she would face consequences if she took a week’s leave to receive fertility treatments because her and Hayley were trying to have a baby, the Herald reported.

After that, Solomon felt it was no longer possible to be lesbian and a teacher in Florida.

A Miami-Dade schools spokeswoman named Jaquelyn Calzadilla was asked about these incidents, in which she replied that the school district has policies that “prohibit discrimination and harassment” and that the school board “strives to provide a workplace

Hayley (left) and Nicolette Solomon.

Photo via Instagram.

and educational environment free from” both.

She also said that the city “has never required, either directly or indirectly, that teachers in same-sex marriages refrain from mentioning or acknowledging their marriages in class.”

Solomon made it clear that she would never teach again, at least not in Florida.

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NEWS LOCAL

DOLPHIN DEMOCRATS

CELEBRATE 40 YEARS John Hayden

D

olphin Democrats are celebrating 40 years of political activism on behalf of LGBT Floridians. It has rarely been easy and doesn’t look to get any easier in the foreseeable future. But being a political force in the rough and tumble state of Florida for this long is worth celebrating. When the climate in Tallahassee is “tolerant” on a good day and openly hostile most days, their persistence is worth noting.

Over the past two Legislative sessions, the Republican-dominated Legislature and virulently anti-LGBT Gov. Rod DeSantis have relentlessly targeted LGBT youth with a ban on trans kids in youth sports and the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

As part of their 40th celebration, the group honored the up-and-coming leaders of tomorrow, including PRISM founder Maxx Fenning.

“I received the Generation Now Award, an inaugural recognition of the power and impact of youth activism in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights,” Fenning told SFGN. “More specifically, I was recognized for my role in pushing back against anti-LGBT legislation such as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ [law].”

Group of Dolphin Democrats volunteers. Image via Facebook.

He spent much of the session up in Tallahassee testifying before committees and meeting with representatives, and said it was draining.

“To be frank, it was extremely hard emotionally. As someone at the forefront of this fight, I have been called the most horrendous things on my personal social media.”

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Steven Glassman spoke during the ceremony, and invoked the past to emphasize the danger of the present.

“Hate crimes and murder against LGBTQ+ Americans, Black Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, and Native Americans. And dare I add American women who will most certainly die because of the stripping away of reproductive rights.

“Our State Department of Education decrees that ‘critical race theory, social justice, culturally responsive teaching, social and emotional learning, and any other unsolicited theories that may lead to student indoctrination are prohibited.’ Identity and

“We must steel ourselves that this will be a long battle.

It will go on for years. The goal will need to be long term success, not something we might see within the next two-to-five years.

We need to better communicate our messages. It seems trite, but catchy slogans like ‘Stop Woke’ are effective. And we need to stop being so genteel. We’re slow and soft when responding to attacks.”

- Maxx Fenning Maxx Fenning. Image via Facebook.

12

• 6 . 2.2022

PRISM FOUNDER

identity identification concepts, managing emotion, developing relationships and social awareness? No good. Really?! We don’t want young people to manage emotions and develop relationships?”

Scott Galvin, executive director of Safe Schools South Florida, knows as well as anyone how bad things are for students.

Between being banned from sports, prevented from talking about their identity, and knowing nothing will be done to prevent school shootings, the past couple years have been hard for Floridian students.

“We must steel ourselves that this will be a long battle. It will go on for years. The goal will need to be long term success, not something we might see within the next two-to-five years. We need to better communicate our messages. It seems trite, but catchy slogans like ‘Stop Woke’ are effective. And we need to stop being so genteel. We’re slow and soft when responding to attacks.”

While the present is tough, Fenning said his generation is up to the challenge today and going forward.

“Gen Z is able — and willing — to organize like never before. This fight is far from over, and that means we’ll show up at protests, on phone calls, online, and at the polls.”

6 . 2 . 20 22 •

13

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ey West Pride is taking place from June 1 through June 5. Events will be taking place throughout each day, starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 4 a.m. Key West Pride allows celebrating Pride on a tropical island and discovering how the island’s philosophy has created a diverse and accepting community for all. With over 15 hours of excitement, Pride has something for everyone to enjoy each day.

BLU Q NUDE EVENTS On June 2, June 4, and June 5 at 11 a.m., there will be a day trip aboard the Blu Q Catamaran. You can snorkel and relax on a sandbar. You get organic fresh snacks, water, coolers, and snorkel equipment on the day trip. Clothing is optional during the trip.

Interested in participating? Get more information and make a booking at bluqkeywest.com.

DAILY ACTIVITIES Water Thrills: For living in such a tropical paradise, many do not appreciate Florida’s

sublime waters. Pride offers over 15 aquatic activities that can be enjoyed. There is something for everyone to enjoy from watersports, sailing, and even water tours while also getting their tan on.

Land Activities: There are over 15 land-based activities that can be enjoyed every day. There are gardens and parks, distilleries and restaurants, and even cemeteries and haunted thrills.

Museums: There are over 10 museums that can be enjoyed daily. There are many fun, but educational activities available from museums, a butterfly conservatory, and even an aquarium to quench everyone’s thirst for knowledge.

The fun and classic activity that can be enjoyed at a club or during brunch: drag.

There will be brunches, performances, pool parties and more that all include drag.

Drag events range from free to upwards of $20.

Key West Pride has a lot to offer.

The Key West Business Guild created an event schedule for all of Key West’s Pride events.

Check out their event schedule to stay up-to-date about events at gaykeywestfl.com.

6 . 2 . 20 22 •

15

NEWS LOCAL

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FORMER MR. RAMROD GETS STRIPPED OF TITLE

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Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com 16

• 6 . 2.2022

S

outh Florida’s leather community is large, strong, and visible. But on the eve of IML, they found themselves dealing with a controversy that led to a former Mr. Ramrod titleholder being stripped of the title, its accouterments, and the respect that comes with it.

Scot Blumstein, Mr. Ramrod 2017, is accused of making several posts on social media appearing to degrade the reigning Mr. Ramrod, Blade Onyx. Shortly after the posts, David Howell, the producer of Mr. Ramrod, released a statement no one was expecting.

It reads, in part, “I have been taking steps both publicly and privately to determine the proper course of action to ensure that Scot Blumstein will return his patch and medallion and be barred from The Ramrod. He does not represent the bar or the contest. His actions have shown that he is not deserving of being a leader in our community. I DO NOT and WILL NOT tolerate this behavior toward anyone in Scot Blumstein. Photo via Facebook. our community let alone a current or former title holder.” end, he made the Top 20.

Afterward, Howell told SFGN that petty “He was basically condemning Blade for jealousy was behind the attack. not doing his job as a titleholder because he “The former Mr. Ramrod 2017, his partner didn’t do it the same way,” Howell said. “Each who did not get Mr. Ramrod 2019, was jealous. titleholder is different. His public apology I think it all stems from jealousy,” Howell said. was not an apology. With the backlash going “There had been some bickering between on, it’s not how you conduct yourself as a the former and the current. Most of it was titleholder, or as a former titleholder.” coming from Scot. Then A screenshot of the he made comments about apology read, in part, “I let Onyx and Deep South, and it ego, perceived slights, and “EACH TITLEHOLDER stems from jealousy. The past thick headedness cloud my IS DIFFERENT. two Mr. Ramrods are Onyx judgment and allowed myself members, and they use the to make bad choices … I HIS PUBLIC Eagle as their home bar. They believed I had the best interests APOLOGY WAS were under the impression of the Community and Ramrod that they couldn’t hang their Bar (ego again).”

NOT AN APOLOGY. colors in Ramrod, which was Given what Howell read as WITH THE BACKLASH untrue.” racially tinged comments in The posts have been the original posts, he stands by GOING ON, IT’S removed. SFGN has seen his decision.

NOT HOW YOU screenshots of the posts, but “It was my choice to pull hasn’t independently verified the title. I banned him. The CONDUCT YOURSELF their authenticity. SFGN has [Ramrod] owners didn’t want AS A TITLEHOLDER, also reached out to Blumstein, to ban him, [but] they didn’t who hasn’t responded. have a problem with me taking OR AS A FORMER Howell was especially his title. They agreed with me worried about the timing of in the end.”

TITLEHOLDER.” the posts. They came just As for the leather days before Blade left for IML community, Howell said this in Chicago. Social outreach is a big part of incident will do more good than harm. the scores, and negative attention could hurt “It probably brought the community closer Blade before he even took the stage. In the together. He ostracized himself.”

NEWS LOCAL

PRIDE CENTER ADDRESSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS

SUNSERVE

John Hayden

C

ranes fill the skyline of Fort Lauderdale heraldinzg the arrival of new housing, while small cities like Wilton Manors plan for mid-rise, mixed-use buildings along major thoroughfares. But these amenityfilled homes are likely to exacerbate South Florida’s affordable housing crisis, not alleviate it.

On May 26 The Pride Center hosted a panel, led by their active aging specialist, Avani Vijaylakshmi-Ramanathan. They focused on available resources including legal aid, financial aid, and new initiatives to help keep people in their homes. Panelists included self-described “recovering-bankerturned-consultant” Marcia Barry-Smith, attorney Jeff Hittleman with Coast To Coast Legal Aid, James Carras of Carras Community Investment, and Bertisha Combs with Florida Rising.

“There are several new resources,” BarrySmith said. “I’m sorry that we’re not anywhere near where we should be.”

Thousands across South Florida are feeling delayed effects of the pandemic, including housing insecurity. Many get notices that their rent is going up hundreds of dollars a month, and most municipalities only require 15 days’ notice of the increase. Efforts are underway to increase that notice to 60 days or even 90 days.

“The biggest challenges right now are probably the rent increases,” Hittlemen said. “South Florida’s having the highest rent

“THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW ARE PROBABLY THE RENT INCREASES. SOUTH FLORIDA’S HAVING THE HIGHEST RENT INCREASES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, AND WE’RE SEEING RENTS GO UP 20, 25, 30% IN A YEAR.” - Jeff Hittleman ATTORNEY WITH COAST TO COAST LEGAL AID

SUNSERVE - SENIORS ALL-DAY SENIOR DAYCARE UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE

Photo via Pixabay.

increases in the entire country, and we’re seeing rents go up 20, 25, 30% in a year.”

Many in the crowd raised their hands when asked if they thought Section 8 Housing was a readily available safety net. Hittleman was quick to disabuse them of that idea. He said demand is so high for Section 8 help, people can’t even get on the waiting list because the waiting list is full.

There are plenty of grants available, but each sets its own rules to qualify. Variables can be total income, family size, and the severity of their situation. That’s a part that’s especially irksome to Barry-Smith.

“I get mad that we hone it down so closely, it all depends on [their status]. Are they on the verge of homelessness? Are they not? Is it imminent? Are they just simply uncomfortable? Are they [couch] surfing?”

Hittleman said seniors are especially vulnerable.

“It’s a big challenge for everyone, especially seniors on fixed income. They’re gonna struggle to afford the rent increase.”

Social Security is about $840 per month, a sum that wouldn’t cover most rents, much fewer other necessities like food and transportation. Barry-Smith said quality of housing is just as important and puts forth an entirely different set of issues.

“My personal concern is are they in homes that are now becoming blighted because they can’t afford insurance. They can’t afford to fix it up. They are facing foreclosure.”

Solutions include enacting tenant bills of rights across South Florida. Miami-Dade County, where some rents have doubled or tripled recently, enacted a tenant bill of rights in May.

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HANNAH STARGEL ACCUSES PARENTS OF BEING ANTI-LGBT

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olitical attacks on the LGBT community have felt increasingly personal over the past few years. No one feels that more than Hannah Stargel. The political scion is calling out her parents, accusing them of neglect and emotional abuse, in addition to being anti-LGBT. Hannah went on Tik Tok saying, “After numerous years of telling me I was hard to love, putting me through tons of years of neglect, putting politics before everything else, and honestly, just being a horrible, horrible person to look up to.”

Her mother, State Sen. Kelli Stargel (R), is a candidate to represent Florida’s 15th congressional district, which runs between Tampa and Orlando.

Hannah said her parents (her father once sat in the state Legislature) campaign on family values, then abandoned their kids for weeks at a time while they served in Tallahassee.

and

18

• 6 . 2.2022

and

“SHE’S BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS THAT SHE WAS GOING TO STOP RUNNING, STOP PUTTING THIS ON THE FAMILY.”

“She’s been saying for years and years and years that she was going to stop running, stop putting this on the family.”

Hannah said once her mother announced a run for congress, she cut contact with her mom.

Hannah told Florida Politics that after coming out, her mom brought her rainbowcolored chocolates as a peace offering. But the detente didn’t last. Three months later, Kelli was supporting a ban on trans kids playing sports.

But the family feud extends well beyond policy disagreements. Hannah said she’s not a Christian and felt uncomfortable going to church every week. When she didn’t go, she said she was excluded from family lunch afterwards, and that the fridge was nearly empty because her parents spent so much time in Tallahassee. Hannah also accuses her mom of sending her to a camp that felt more like conversion therapy. The reason she was sent is after a car accident left her in a wheelchair for a year.

Kelli responded to the claims with a short statement: “I love my daughter with all of my heart.”

While she believes her mom does love her, she believes that love comes filtered. And it does nothing to change her attitude towards her mother’s politics.

“I don’t think that she really has a right to tell you or anybody else who can and can’t be a mother, because she wasn’t even a mother to her own children.”

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FOURTH ANNUAL PRIDE DAY JOIN US FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN ALL DAY LONG!

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Our day-long event is filled with colorful fun and educational activities for everyone.

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19

NEWS NATIONAL

DEATH THREATS LODGED AGAINST GAY CANDIDATE AS ALASKA CAMPAIGN HEATS UP John McDonald

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20

• 6 . 2.2022

ears welled up in his eyes as Christopher Constant played the recording of a telephone call to his office.

The gay assemblyman for the City of Anchorage, Alaska, is conditioned to intimidation tactics, but this call adds a dangerous layer to the game.

“I wanna see you get smoked so bad and you’re going to too,” the man said in a nearly two-minute message which includes threats and multiple homophobic insults.

“I’m not afraid of you homosexuals,” he said. “It disgusts me. Pervert!”

Constant has turned over the tape to the Anchorage Police Department. He fights back tears when talks about his love for Alaska, his dog, mountain biking and, sadly, how his campaign for Congress is revealing old prejudices.

“This is the reality of what the race is and he just the one who is willing to say it,” Constant said. “Just know this, this is what makes me strong, we make the difference for all the kids coming forward in a world that is not going to be like this anymore.”

Constant is one of 48 candidates seeking Alaska’s lone seat in Congress. The nation’s largest state is using ranked voting to determine its federal representative, a new approach to elections that was accelerated when longtime Congressman Don Young died in office in March.

“We’re in the experiment now so we’ll see what happens,” Constant said.

The top four vote getters in the June 11 special election advance to an August primary.

The field ranges from former Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin to a socialist from the North Pole whose legal name is Santa Claus.

This voting experiment, Constant said, can go in two directions. It will force the extremes to the center to build coalitions or harden the grip of the current power apparatus, led by Senator Lisa Murkowski, often considered a swing vote on health care issues.

As for Palin, who has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, Constant said most Alaskans see through the Fox News hype.

“What outside people don’t understand about Sarah Palin is, yes 87% of people know her but most people don’t like her because

Constant participating in Fire-Ops 101 with AFP/IAFF. Photo courtesy of Christopher Constant.

she’s a quitter,” Constant said. “Alaskans aren’t down with that and I think people are going to be surprised when they see how poorly she performs on the 11th.”

Constant came to Alaska 25 years ago from the central California coast. Determined to make a go of it as a fishing guide, he was forced to extend his stay when the airline he took from the Lower 48 went out of business.

After stints in the non-profit sector, he ran for the Anchorage Assembly as an out gay man with the endorsement of the Victory Fund and won. Now the governing body’s vice chairman, Constant has drawn the ire of conservatives for, among other things, ensuring COVID-19 guidelines were followed and pushing back against those who claim the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was “legitimate political discourse.”

His latest effort to introduce framework to remove a mayor from office has rattled the opposition even more and likely an underlying source for the threatening phone call.

“People don’t realize how much risk there is in this job especially for a queer,” Constant said.

Constant knows all too well. He’s been called a “cocksucker” during an assembly meeting, had his house targeted by angry demonstrators and now death threats.

“We’re going to fight this fight until these people are dead from old age or we have overwhelmed them with so many of us who believe in equity and equality and justice and freedom and fairness for everybody. That’s the fight and that’s why I’m in this race.”

6 . 2 . 20 22 •

21

PA L M B E A C H

THIRD ANNUAL PRIDE ON THE BLOCK IN WEST PALM BEACH Sean Conklin

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Daviano Sins at previous Pride On The Block. Photo: @spaced22

FOR THE THIRD YEAR, PRIDE ON THE BLOCK IS COMING TO DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH. THE EVENT WILL BE A 15-HOUR CELEBRATION OF LGBT PRIDE IN THE HEART OF THE PALM BEACHES. It boasts live performances, drag shows, youth activities, local vendors, food and drink specials, raffles, auctions, and more.

This event is an annual fundraiser for Transpire Help, an LGBT-focused drug and alcohol recovery nonprofit.

Image via event website.

22

• 6 . 2.2022

PA L M B E A C H

news

Hosted by local performer Unity Adam, the event boasts over 20 local drag performers as well as eight musical performers. Local favorites like Big Mama Shannon Atkins and Melissa St. John will be joined by other community performers like Daviana Sins, Kataleya Davenport, and Lupita Hollywood. Over 30 vendors have signed up to showcase their goods, arts and services to the community.

The street event will be capped off with an after party at local hotspot Respectable Street. The event is free for all, but attendees can purchase a wristband at $30 presale or $35 at the door, which comes with one drink from seven local restaurants and bars, as well as a discounted entry to the afterparty. VIP passes are also available for $150 to have access to a private VIP lounge and bar, away from the hustle and bustle of the street.

The event begins at 1 p.m. at the 500 Block of Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Youth events go until 5 p.m., and the street festivities last until midnight.

The afterparty will rage on until 4 p.m.

With performances, music, and activities scheduled throughout the day, this will be an event not to miss.

news

COMPASS AND GOOD MORNING AMERICA

KICK OFF PRIDE MONTH Sean Conklin OVER ONE HUNDRED TIRED MEMBERS OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY LGBT COMMUNITY GATHERED IN LAKE WORTH BEACH’S BRYANT PARK AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING TO BE PART OF SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL. GOOD MORNING AMERICA CAME TO LAKE WORTH BEACH TO KICK OFF PRIDE MONTH NATIONALLY WITH COMPASS COMMUNITY CENTER AND TO CELEBRATE LONGTIME COMPASS VOLUNTEER WAYNE LEFKOWITZ. Lefkowitz mans the desk at Compass every Wednesday, leading the compass staff to refer to Wednesdays as “Wayne’s day.”

Lefkowitz also donates his photography skills to Compass. He can be seen at most Compass events taking photographs as well as providing photography classes to Compass community members. Lefkowitz is a staple at LGBT events in the Palm Beach County area.

Lefkowitz was “love-napped” early in the morning by Compass Executive Director Julie Seaver and Compass Chief Development Officer Julia Murphy. Telling him very little about the situation, Lefkowitz waited blindfolded in the back seat of a car for about an hour. When the blindfold was removed, he was shocked to see the celebration was for him.

Joined by members of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department LGBTQ+ Liaison team, Palm Beach County commissioners, Lake Worth Beach High School marching band, and city of Lake Worth Beach City commissioners and staff, Compass and Good Morning America kicked off Pride month for the United States by recognizing Lefkowitz and all he has done for the community.

Lefkowitz was presented with 10 cameras from Lumix for use in his classes,

“WAYNE IS A PERSON THAT’S HELPED ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE ...

I’M TRYING TO WALK IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.” - VELVET LENORE LOCAL DRAG SUPERSTAR

Image via Good Morning America.

as well as one for himself. Good Morning America correspondent Sam Champion said that the one thing that everyone said about Lefkowitz was that he never asked for anything. In addition to donating $10,000 to Compass, Lumix also gifted Lefkowitz with a personal $5,000 check to thank him for his years of dedication and service to the Palm Beach County LGBT community.

Mayor Betty Resch of Lake Worth Beach presented Wayne a Proclamation making every first Wednesday in June as “Wayne’s Day” in Lake Worth Beach.

Velvet Lenore, local drag superstar, attributed much of her success to Lefkowitz. When Lenore first decided to transition, Lefkowitz was supporting her completely. He offered to do a glamor shoot with her so she can see her true self.

She attributed his continued support to much of her personal growth.

“Wayne is a person that’s helped me make a difference in my life,” Lenore said.

“I’m trying to walk in his footsteps.”

This was just the kickoff to a month of Pride celebrations in Palm Beach County.

Tonight, Nancy Graham Centennial Park in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach will be lit in rainbow colors for the annual Pride Lights Celebration. This weekend, the third annual Pride on the block returns to Downtown West Palm Beach. On June 11, Delray Beach will host its Pride Festival to rededicate the damaged Pride Intersection.

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council will hold its annual Pride Happy Hour at Meat Market in West Palm Beach on June 15. On June 25, Compass will host its 20th Annual Stonewall Ball at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium.

THE

GAZETTE VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 11 JUNE 2, 2022

FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

WILTON MANORS TWEAKS MARIJUANA POLICY

By John Hayden America’s relationship with marijuana remains a muddled mess. Possession and use remain a crime at the federal level and in some states.

Many states, including Florida, regulate it for medical use while other states allow people to buy it for recreational use as well.

Beyond state laws, each county and city seems to be deciding how they want to treat violators. Currently, the State’s Attorney for Broward County isn’t investigating or prosecuting any arrests for under 20 grams of marijuana.

At its meeting on May 10, the Wilton Manors City Commission voted on updating several parts of the city’s code, including how to treat marijuana infractions. Debate focused on whether to deal with it at all and, if so, to what extent. In the end commissioners voted to continue enforcement but scale back the penalties. Previously, getting busted with

However this policy can be used as a gateway to additional searches of offenders. If someone is stopped and found to have unlicensed marijuana on them, police could conduct a further search of the person or their vehicle.

Image from SFGN/WMG image library.

small amounts (under 20 grams) subjected violators to fines based on a graduated scale that reached into the hundreds of dollars for repeat offenders. Now it will be a $25 fine for each violation, as well as confiscation of the contraband.

Wilton Manors police officers will perform a field test on suspected marijuana and positive tests result in a civil infraction. Chief Gary Blocker told SFGN that it won’t result in a criminal history nor will it be forwarded to state or county authorities. However, the

citation will be on record and it could turn up in background checks if someone specifically searches their history in Wilton Manors.

It’s important to note this does not affect people with their Florida-issued medical marijuana cards. However, you must be prepared to show it if requested.

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ‘GATEWAY’ Opponents of marijuana often call it a “gateway” drug, inferring that it leads to abuse

www.WMGAZETTE.com

of harder, addictive drugs. However this policy can be used as a gateway to additional searches of offenders. If someone is stopped and found to have unlicensed marijuana on them, police could conduct a further search of the person or their vehicle. Completely abandoning any enforcement would remove this tool from law enforcement.

The updated marijuana policy comes as multiple retailers of CBD products and the Delta 8 strain have opened up within the city.

6 . 2 . 20 22 •

23

OPINION

WILTON MANORS

SPREAD YOUR WINGS

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

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more? A recent response from the Assistant City manager when addressing the frustrations of some residents was that “they just don’t understand how government works,” demonstrates the blinders that are in place.

When New York City did the un-imaginable and closed off much of Broadway around Times Square to vehicular traffic it was not done with the blessing of enthusiastic city managers but came with cries of immediate disaster, gridlock, of no this cannot be done. Willingness to embrace such visionary policies came from those in the Bloomberg Administration who were outsiders of government, outsiders of bureaucracy, and willing to try something bold and new.

Such a decision created the greatest transformation of the Manhattan streetscape in living history. Guess if we left that decision to those who “understand government” we would still see the same urban planning that prioritized vehicular roadways over pedestrians and public space instead of the dramatic changes that transformed an entire city.

Since city management by nature is not the driving engine for innovative and creative change, that responsibility falls into the lap

of our elected officials — our mayor and city commissioners. These individuals are the ones that most embrace bold new ideas coming out of advisory boards, business groups, neighborhood associations, community nonprofits and regional planning organizations.

Our elected officials should then give city management the direction and the tools necessary to take on these new and innovative ideas and make them a reality.

The responsibility also falls to us, the residents of our wonderful Island City. We must engage our elected officials and hold them accountable. Upcoming elections later this year offer a great opportunity to listen, to learn and to support those who we believe will lead our city in the right direction. Proven leaders should be re-elected and when necessary, we should be ready and willing to elect new individuals seeking an opportunity to serve.

Wilton Manors two new City Commissioners, Mike Bracchi and Chris Caputo, have brought much needed change and new direction to our commission. Caputo continuously seeks to engage many in our community and a willingness to bring new solutions to the table.

Bracchi is not afraid to take a stand when faced with the familiar roadblocks of, “Well, this is how we did it in the past.”

Encouraging those who dream of a better tomorrow, willing to break from the past, seeking to remove the blinders of “understanding government” and ready to embrace new ways that will lead us into the future is the only way that we will continue to make life just better here.

www.WMGAZETTE.com • 6 . 2.2022

June 2, 2022 • Volume 9 • Issue 11

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Since city management by nature is not the driving engine for innovative and creative change, that responsibility falls into the lap of our elected officials — our mayor and city commissioners.

24

GAZETTE Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

By Sal Torre Recent grumbling over the Wilton Next Report and the direction of economic development here in Wilton Manors has brought about numerous conversations in the past few weeks. One similarity in these discussions is the concern about whether or not the Economic Development Manager is up to the task or failing to deliver.

When the City of Wilton Manors hired our current Economic Development manager, I immediately felt sorry for the person. All eyes would quickly focus on this new manager as if he was some magician ready to pull tricks out of his hat for all to be in awe and struck with wonderment. Our need at times for instant gratification does not allow the time to wait out the laying of a strong foundation to build upon. Not everything is posed to produce quick results, but rather needs time to develop, time to build upon, and time to show signs of success.

To make matters worse this new position was placed under the supervision of the City Manager’s Office rather than the Community Development Services Department. Instead of being amongst colleagues and a supervisor already dealing with prospective businesses for the city, who are aware of the upcoming zoning changes for the city and who deal with related issues on a daily basis, the person was place under the thumb of the City Manager’s office and the tight reins of the Assistant City manager.

Rather than releasing this new director to spread their wings and soar, their wings were clipped early on, kept close to city management, and not allowed to veer off path.

Unfortunately, this path was likely laid out by the Assistant City Manager Pamela Landi, otherwise known as “PameNO” Landi.

Now I do not want it to appear that I am blasting the Assistant City Manager.

The title of “Pame-NO” was not placed there by me, but by many in the community. Perhaps the Assistant City manager is just doing their job very well, to be the hatchet person for the city manager, the person who says “NO” to the many who come requesting this or that. Or is it something

THE

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JUNE 2, 2022

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COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

COMMISSIONERS PROPOSE PLANS THAT WILL AFFECT FUTURE OF BUSINESSES

BSO MEETS WITH PRIDE CENTER TO BUILD A BETTER RELATIONSHIP

WITH LGBT COMMUNITY

By John Hayden

By John Hayden Members of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) will be the first to admit that law enforcement has a checkered history with the LGBT community. But they also will tell you they’re using that shaky history to build a stronger future in Broward County.

On May 19, Sheriff Gregory Tony met with the community at The Pride Center. Tony, along with more than a dozen other members of the department, were there to address community concerns and lay out plans for community relations. Part of the plan is the LGBTQ+ Liaison Committee. The group is made up of nine members from a variety of departments within the community. Before the meeting, committee member Paul Auerbach told SFGN that the goal of the evening was to let the community see who is standing up for them and learn how to serve better.

Tony pointed out that there are many cities and villages throughout Broward County, and that working together is critical.

“One of the things I wanted to do was invest in all of our cities, not just BSO. We’re just imaginary lines from jurisdiction. None of these lines really matter. We all live in one county. We all suffer the same.”

Part of his plan has been inviting members of all county area police departments to training in order to better connect with citizens. Tony said sometimes problems start because officers don’t understand, at first, the social situation they are responding to.

“If it’s a gay couple, a lesbian couple, the misnomers in communications.

We understand, although it may be done innocently, there is an impact. Our goal is to mitigate that impact through education.”

Everyone representing BSO was there voluntarily. One of them is 18-year force veteran Karla Sobenes-Desme. She said being a member of the committee is personally important.

“I’m part of the committee. My family is part of the LGBT community and this is very important to me. We can actually help the

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

The Pride Center. Photo via Facebook.

community, with law enforcement, and try to have some sort of openness.”

She is well aware of the often-fraught relations between law enforcement and LGBT people.

“Historically, law enforcement has been very tactical when it comes to the community.

I’m very interested and that’s why I decided to join. That’s why I’m here.

Everytime we do an event I come voluntarily. It’s in my heart. I want to be a part of it.

I want to be the change that I would like to see.”

“Historically, law enforcement has been very tactical when it comes to the community. I’m very interested and that’s why I decided to join. That’s why I’m here. Everytime we do an event I come voluntarily. It’s in my heart. I want to be a part of it. I want to be the change that I would like to see.”

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Tony also addressed concerns about 911 emergency response. He said work is underway to take them from being the lowest paid 911 operators in South Florida to being the highest paid. That should help recruiting talent going forward. He also wants to better address calls that deal with people facing mental health issues, saying arresting them can’t always be the answer.

“We don’t want to be a community where the only solution to deal with someone who suffers with mental health is to take them to jail. We do everyone a disservice with that mindset.”

While the meeting was held in Wilton Manors, the heart of Broward County’s LGBT community, BSO knows they need to reach beyond the invisible borders to other communities from Lauderdale By-the-Sea to Weston and everywhere in between.

Photo via Facebook.

Wilton Manors has spent a considerable delayed implementing a report, WiltonNext, amount of time and money to lay out a plan that laid out ideas for future development. The for the city’s future. At their meeting on report angered many westside residents.

May 24, city commissioners discussed how existing businesses will be affected by proposed HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION EXPANSION developments.

Commissioner Gary The commission also Resnick said he had been looked into the possible contacted by several impact from a proposed businesses that are being expansion of the property notified that their leases will homestead exemption. It not be renewed, in order to appears likely that a measure make way for new, mixedwill be on the ballot this use development. He cited November, which will give proposals for the plaza on an additional $50,000 26th Street where Holy exemption for teachers Mackerel is and the Shoppes and first responders and of Wilton Manors. more. Homes valued at “These are viable more than $150,000 would businesses, some of which be eligible. have been there a very, The city’s finance very long time,” Resnick director said it’s said. “We’re searching for impossible to get an exact businesses to come into the figure because census and city, and here are twenty, other available data doesn’t thirty businesses that will break down ownership, have to close and move.” home value, and career.

He acknowledged that the However, they did do Gary Resnick city has chosen to pursue several estimates. There WILTON MANORS COMMISIONER residential space over are about 2,156 properties businesses, but wants to that could be affected. see if accommodations can If ten percent qualify, the city be made for organizations that have already would lose about $61,000. That figure jumps to invested in making Wilton Manors their home. $711,000 if one-third qualifies.

Other commissioners pointed out that, at its The next Wilton Manors City Commission core, this is a landlord-tenant issue. meeting is scheduled for June 14 at 7 p.m.

This comes after the commission indefinitely

“These are viable businesses, some of which have been there a very, very long time ... We’re searching for businesses to come into the city, and here are twenty, thirty businesses that will have to close and move.”

www.WMGAZETTE.com

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WILTON MANORS

RISING POLICE COSTS MAY SINK STONEWALL PRIDE Wilton Manors Police Department. Image via Facebook.

The first Stonewall was a riot. The police costs for this year’s event are enough to cause one, too. The combined bill for police services and equipment has risen from about $50k to a shocking $92k this year. While WMEG, the non-profit behind Stonewall Pride, was told to expect increased costs this year, neither they nor I expected learn the bill increased by over 80% this past week.

Each year, Wilton Manors Police Chief Blocker must determine what resources are necessary to protect attendees of any event occurring in the city. He does this in coordination with Broward County. There are three factors that have caused costs to rise over 80% this year. Unfortunately, the determined required number of officers, hours, and equipment continues to grow year after year and this year is no exception. In addition, the cost per hour of a police officer has gone up this year and Broward County is no longer providing approximately $25k in resources at no cost to Stonewall as they have in the past.

It should be stated that the city of Wilton Manors does not benefit from the cost of police services rising year after year. That is because the officers working the event are not paid directly by the city of Wilton Manors, but instead a regional agency that coordinates and manages qualified officers who can elect to work events like Stonewall Pride. The officers you see working the event are almost always working overtime, outside of their traditional shift work, and many are not from Wilton Manors. Their participation is voluntary, and with staff shortages and COVID-related complications, finding enough available officers to cover the event is a challenge itself.

We are grateful for their willingness to serve

Their participation is voluntary, and with staff shortages and COVID-related complications, finding enough available officers to cover the event is a challenge itself.

We are grateful for their willingness to serve and protect us at Stonewall Pride.

and protect us at Stonewall Pride.

To be clear, the safety of every visitor and resident is and must be priority number one when it comes to any event or activity occurring in the city. You can’t put a price on the safety of our residents or visitors. You can, however, put a price tag to the value of Stonewall Pride.

In a study from 2017, independent consultants determined the economic impact of the event to be $4,157,000. Adjusted for inflation and the growth of the event, an argument could easily be made that the economic impact is well over $6 million today.

A PATH FORWARD FOR STONEWALL Frankly, there are very few options that will keep Stonewall Pride viable in the city of Wilton Manors for years to come. One option, which will almost certainly need to happen, is raising the entry donation from $5 to $10.

Having spoken with Mr. Sterling, who leads WMEG, I know that this isn’t the ideal option.

It’s his goal to have the event be accessible to as many people as possible, and that means making it affordable. Unfortunately, some visitors will mistake this for greed, not understanding that security costs have nearly doubled this year.

A second option is for WMEG to file a lawsuit arguing that the police charges are a violation of their first amendment rights.

While Jeff Sterling has made it very clear he wants to be a good partner, not a plaintiff, this may regrettably be his only recourse if no other viable option exists. Stonewall Pride, much like the original Stonewall Riot, is a free speech gathering designed to protest the anti-gay legislation like “Don’t Say Gay.” The First Amendment limits the kinds of permit fees and other financial burdens that government can impose on protesters.

While I am certainly not a lawyer, Pritchard v.

Mackie seems to affirm that there is a needed exception for groups that cannot afford the cost of necessary protection. Lastly, the government can NOT charge protesters more when additional police are needed to protect them — i.e. requiring additional protection because the event is a “high risk” event in a post-PULSE world. Any lawsuit would be long, with an unclear outcome, and cause great damage between the relationships of all involved.

A POLITICAL SOLUTION MAY BE NECESSARY I want to affirm my respect for Blocker and his team. They are well qualified, competent professionals with a demonstrated commitment to putting public safety first.

Each year, however, their security proposal comes at an ever-increasing cost without regard to budget constraints. If my only priority was to ensure public safety, I would surely ask for every conceivable resource and as many personnel hours as possible.

Our U.S. Military leadership continues to argue for more money to be spent on defenses but are ultimately limited by the budget provided to them. Blocker continues to push for new equipment and additional staff that would better protect our community, while demonstrating fiscal responsibility and managing to a budget provided to him by the commission. While every form of protection we receive from the government is managed to a budget, the costs for protecting an event have no similar requirement.

There are two political solutions that could help ensure the financial viability of events like Stonewall Pride and Wicked Manors in the future: 1. The city commission begins to exercise some oversight and provide guidelines for public safety resource requirements for special events. This is inarguably a challenging process, as we are public servants not police professionals. We make difficult decisions as

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it relates to the police department, and there may be difficult decision we need to learn to make around public safety requirements for special events. This would provide a check and balance, preventing costs from skyrocketing further out of control.

2. The city commission could elect to increase the financial support it provides to strategic events like Stonewall Pride and Wicked Manors. Knowing that Stonewall Pride in 2017 generated over $4 million in economic impact, there is case to be made for our city investing more in our flagship events produced by good partners.

Strategic events like Stonewall Pride and Wicked Manors, beyond just their economic impact, are often catalysts for visitors to become residents. They attract like-minded people to become residents in our community.

I believe we must do anything we can to ensure public safety AND fiscal viability of these events.

The road ahead for Stonewall Pride may appear treacherous, but I am confident we will come together as a community to find a solution. In these difficult times, when Women’s rights and LGBT rights are facing unparalleled attacks, Pride events are as important as ever. If you have an idea or comment on how to address the issue, please email me at ccaputo@wiltonmanors.com or text me at 954.557.2801.

— CHRIS CAPUTO

WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER

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SPORTS PLAYING WITH PRIDE

SENEGAL PSG PLAYER UNDER FIRE AFTER MISSING GAME SUPPORTING LGBT RIGHTS

Everitt Rosen

A

fter missing a game last week amid accusations that he refused to play because he did not want to wear a rainbow-colored number on the back of his jersey, an organization against homophobia in soccer has called on the French league and Paris Saint-Germain to question midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

According to AP News, the Senegal midfielder flew to Montpellier with his colleagues for a French league match on Saturday, but he did not participate, with PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino claiming “personal reasons” for his absence.

Professional teams around the country were asked to identify their players’ shirts with colored numbers using the rainbow flag,

Raising the bar for Telehealth

Idrissa Gueye. Photo via Facebook.

the LGBT movement’s emblem, for the second consecutive season.

Abdoul Mbaye, the country’s former prime minister, also backed Gueye, claiming the PSG star “is not homophobic. He does not want his image to be used to promote homosexuality.

Leave him alone.”

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12 YEARS

SFG

A H T I W Y C A G E L S T I S R O N N HO

S W E N C I R O T HIS 2011:

2010:

2012: A LUST TO BUST

THE PINK SWAZTIKA THEORY

FIRST-EVER ISSUE OF SFGN

2017:

FOUNDING DADDY

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2018:

AGAIN (PARKLAND SHOOTING)

F O S R A E Y E V L E W T N O LOOK BACK SFGN Staff

2013:

2014:

2015:

2016:

HATE TRUMPS LOVE

A GOOD MAN

SUPREME SURPRISE

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL

2019:

2020:

2021:

2022:

AN ALPHABET FOR DESANTIS

PRIDE AND TRAGEDY

BLACK LIVES MATTER

MAYOR PETE, THE GAY CANDIDATE

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FEATURE BANNED BOOK OF THE WEEK

Image created with images from barnesandnoble.com.

BARNES & NOBLE FACES RESTRAINING ORDER

OVER LGBT BOOKS IN VIRGINIA Kim Swan

G

ov. Ron DeSantis isn’t the only one going after books. In Virginia, Barnes & Noble might be facing legal action over selling LGBT books.

Attorney and State Delegate Tim Anderson and his client, Tommy Altman who is a congressional candidate in a district in Virginia Beach, said the Virginia Beach Circuit Court has found “probable cause” that two books are “obscene to unrestricted viewing by minors,” according to a Facebook post.

Bookriot though confirmed that neither book contains pornographic material, nor are they “obscene.”

Anderson is seeking a restraining order against Barnes & Noble and Virginia Beach schools in order to stop the sale or loaning of “Gender Queer” and “A Court of Mist and Fury” without parental consent, Fox8 reported.

“[I] EXPECTED CONSERVATIVES TO MOVE ON FROM LIMITING WHAT SCHOOLCHILDREN CAN READ TO LIMITING WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN READ.” - Patrick Sweeney POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR EVERYLIBRARY

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• 6 . 2.2022

“We are in a major fight. Suits like this can be filed all over Virginia. There are dozens of books. Hundreds of schools,” the Facebook post reads.

Barnes & Noble has yet to respond to the legal actions taken thus far.

Patrick Sweeney, the political director for EveryLibrary, a non-profit group that advocates for libraries, found the restraining order “alarming.” He said he expected conservatives to move on from limiting what schoolchildren can read to limiting what the general public can read, according to the Washington Post.

“One of the things we often hear from people [who dismiss concerns about] book banning is, ‘Well you can still buy it at Barnes & Noble,’” Sweeney said in a statement.

“Clearly, soon you won’t be able to.”

This all started when a School Board Member complained about “Gender Queer” being on the shelves was pulled from school shelves, according to wavy.com.

Virginia isn’t the only state taking action against LGBT books. Palm Beach County School Superintendent Mike Burke said he is removing two children’s books that contain trans characters off the shelves in order to review them in light of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill signed by DeSantis.

A children’s book titled “Everywhere Babies” that celebrates infants joined the list of banned books in at least one county in Florida as well, even though it was a common recommendation by new parents and featured on Best Books lists. Walton County school districts removed the book regardless.

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Jesse’s Journal

CONVICTIONS

GAY TRAVEL GUIDES A VERY BRIEF HISTORY

Jesse Monteagudo

F

or much of the past century gay men have compiled lists of gay or gay-friendly venues: bars, baths, hotels, restaurants, resorts, and cruisy places, among others.

According to Wayne R. Dynes, writing in the Encyclopedia of Homosexuality, “the earliest surviving example” of the genre is “The Gay Girl’s Guide, a male-oriented publication with a directory of ‘where to make contacts,’ that apparently began in 1949. It was succeeded by the international Guide Gris, first published in San Francisco in 1958. … In the 1960s, the Incognito Guide, published in Paris, enjoyed fairly wide circulation. In 1972, ‘John Francis Hunter’ [John Paul Hudson] published a heroic one-man job of 629 pages, The Gay Insider USA. While these and other guides are now obsolete, FOR AN they are useful for the historian.”

UNDERGROUND Though it was not the first, the most enduring gay travel guide is Bob Damron’s SOCIETY, AS OURS Address Book, (now Damron Men’s Travel WAS THEN, IT Guide). According to the website [damron. com], “In 1964 a traveling businessman, WAS JUST WHAT Bob Damron, decided to print and publish a list of the many bars he visited,” (and he PEOPLE NEEDED, claimed to have visited all of them). “For SINCE BARS WERE an underground society, as ours was then, it was just what people needed, since ABOUT THE ONLY bars were about the only social outlet Courtesy of Jesse Monteagudo.

SOCIAL OUTLET available to homosexuals. … Damron’s Guide grew from a booklet smaller than AVAILABLE TO became digital only, with the printed version Guide (1997); The Gay Vacation Guide (1997) by Mark a cigarette pack to a much larger inch & HOMOSEXUALS. ceasing publication.” This most recent printed Chesnut; The Q guide to gay beaches (2008) by David Allyn; half reference, but it still fits easily in a edition is multi-lingual (English, German, The Gay Travel Guide for Tops and Bottoms (2011) by Drew travel bag. It was successful, was refined French, Spanish and Italian) and lists every Blancs and, dear to my heart, Naked Places: A Guide for Gay and remains popular even today as two annual editions, The Damron Men’s Travel Guide and The country from Albania to Zimbabwe. We are told which Men to Nude Recreation and Travel (1997-2006) by Michael Women’s Travel Guide.” In more than five decades this places to enjoy and which places to avoid; and hotspots Boyd. All of them are now obsolete, which is why travelers “little black book of Gay Travel” has expanded its scope to like Berlin and Tel Aviv are listed alongside places where we here and abroad now prefer more up-to-date websites or apps to find out where to go and what to do. Still, these include bookstores, circuit parties, gyms and health clubs, would be in mortal danger, like Tehran.

Other historically famous travel guides include the travel guides from the past are still valuable reference publications, and retail shops.

Though Damron’s books were essential for anyone Gayellow Pages (1973-2016); Gaia’s Guide (for women); material, especially for those of us who want to learn what traveling in the U.S. or Canada, international travelers relied Ferrari’s Places for Men and Women (1994); Fedor’s Gay queer life was like “way back when.” upon the Spartacus International Gay Guide. According to Wikipedia, Spartacus “was founded by John D. Stamford in 1970 as a printed guide, before being bought by Bruno Gmünder in 1987 following investigations into Stamford’s Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida's tax violations and promotion of pedophilia. It was sold to LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations. current owners GayGuide UG in 2017, whereupon the guide

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CONVICTIONS

Mombian

IN THE WAKE OF TRAGEDY, AGAIN Dana Rudolph

T

his was going to be a very different column. Then 19 children and two adults were shot and killed by a gunman at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

As I started composing this column in my head, something about those two sentences made me pause. I then realized they were nearly identical to what I’d written almost a decade ago when 20 children and six adults were killed by a gunman at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Have we learned nothing as a nation about protecting our children since then? Apparently not.

The unconscionable shooting at the mostly Latinx Robb Elementary School in Uvalde comes just weeks after 10 Black people died in a shooting in Buffalo. And while the victims of any shooting are someone’s children, when the victims are young children, their deaths hit me — and I’m sure many others — like a gut punch. School shootings have been one of my main fears as a parent and remain so, even though my son is grown. My heart breaks for the families of the victims and for the children who survived but will have to grapple with ongoing fear and trauma.

In 2022 so far, there have been at least 77 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in the U.S. (six in Texas), resulting in 14 deaths and 45 injuries, reports Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. The first half of the 2021-2022 school year was the deadliest in recent history, they say. “Deadly” and “school year” in the same sentence — consider how horrifying that is.

As a society, we give much lip service to doing things “in the best interests of the children.” Repeated mass murders of children, over decades, are as far from their best interests as one can get. The right-wing, which has done nothing to further gun control, nevertheless has wielded a “best

interests of the children” argument against LGBT parents and LGBT kids (particularly transgender ones). It claims to care about the lives of fetuses but will do nothing to protect children from gun violence after they are born. There is something deeply wrong with that ideology.

A country has failed its citizens when it cares less about protecting them and more about allowing them access to firearms — particularly semi-automatic weapons like those used in Newtown, Buffalo, Uvalde, and many other mass shootings. Gun control is only part of the solution — the Buffalo shooting, for example, underscored the continuing need for increased action against White supremacy and racism — but it is a key step. We need stronger background checks and bans on the sale of semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines, among other restrictions.

(And no, armed guards, much less armed teachers, in schools is not an alternate solution. Studies have shown this is not effective and there are high risks of hitting a child rather than an attacker during a chaotic and stressful situation.

(See Valerie Strauss’ piece in the Washington Post, 5/25/2022.)

I write this on the cusp of Pride Month — the original subject of this column. Pride has come to be a time of celebration — but this year, it feels wise to remember its roots as a protest. LGBT equality is facing some of its biggest challenges since the marriage equality battle, with a surge of anti-LGBT, particularly anti-trans, legislation around the country. Reproductive rights are under attack, impacting both queer and nonqueer people. And gun violence continues to rise. No one is immune from gun violence in the U.S., but for those of us in marginalized communities that have been targeted by such

AS A SOCIETY, WE GIVE MUCH LIP SERVICE TO DOING THINGS “IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN.” REPEATED MASS MURDERS OF CHILDREN, OVER DECADES, ARE AS FAR FROM THEIR BEST INTERESTS AS ONE CAN GET.

Photo via Adobe.

violence because of our identities — LGBT people, people of color, and Jews, among others — the fear and the need for change may feel even more pressing, bound up with our other work towards social justice.

I therefore hope you’ll consider joining one of the “March for Our Lives” protests across the country on June 11 in support of stricter gun control. (See marchforourlives.com.)

Please also call or write to your elected officials about this issue, and make gun control a factor when you vote. Support organizations working for gun control; donate if you can and help elevate their messages regardless.

For those looking for ways to help young children process their feelings around this latest shooting or around ongoing active shooter drills in their schools, I recommend Sesame Street’s resources — visit sesamestreetincommunities.org and search for “gun violence.” Additionally, publisher A

Kids Company About is making their “A Kids Book About School Shootings” downloadable free at akidsco.com. Written by a survivor of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, it is aimed at ages 5 to 9.

And for people who need it, the Disaster Distress Helpline, 1.800.985.5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline with immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.

I’d like to say I have hope that things will change, but I said the same after Columbine, and after Newtown, and after all the other shootings. In the absence of much hope that we will see change anytime soon, I find myself turning for strength to a saying from my Jewish tradition, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” We must resist, persist, and not desist. We owe it to our children.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory, with a searchable database of 850+ LGBTQ family books, media, and more.

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CONVICTIONS

EDITORIAL CARTOON Mike Luckovich

CONVICTIONS Publisher's Editorial

SFGN TODAY Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

Photo via Adobe.

O

ur paper is celebrating its anniversary this week, and we welcome you to join us at Greico Ford.

A famous jurist once wrote that “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Maybe silence then is the heart of genius.

WE WILL ENGAGE RHETORIC FUTURE AS WE HAVE THE PAST, WITH HONESTY AS OUR MEASURE, HUMOR AS OUR PARTNER AND CHARACTER AS OUR GOAL. 36

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Today, I join the chorus of “Less is More.”

My words are strikingly brief.

Through thousands of articles over 12 years, our paper has spoken for itself.

Our writers have illuminated your good deeds, and your bold initiatives have shined a light upon our community.

SFGN has been your messenger, and on behalf of our diverse and talented staff, I simply want to say, “Thank you.”

Our words and achievements have exposed right and wrong, good and bad. We will engage rhetoric future as we have the past, with honesty as our measure, humor as our partner and character as our goal. Stand by us. The roads are still limitless, our goals boundless.

We have many miles to go before we sleep.

Our work is not done, and as long as we are here, there is good reason to seek everyday a newer world to share.

LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

WELL PREPARED FOR WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT Brian McNaught

Photo via Adobe.

O

ver coffee the other day, two guys told me that they met at the Stonewall Inn a month before the gay rebellion that began on June 28, 1969. By October, one of the two proposed to the other, and they’ve been together since, 53 years.

In 2014, they decided to get married, a few months before the Supreme Court validated marriage equality on June 26, 2015. As Florida residents, they had no option of doing so in their own state, so they drove with a couple of friends to North Carolina where they secured their license and asked to be immediately married by the magistrate. The magistrate, however, was working in the men’s prison that day.

Not wanting to wait, the two men and their friends drove to the men’s prison, asked to see the magistrate, and inquired if he’d be willing to officiate the wedding that day. “Yes,” he said, as long as it was in the prison. And so it was that that their loving commitment was recognized by the State of North Carolina, and that those in attendance included several trustees, who were the model prisoners who mopped floors, painted walls, and otherwise helped out. At the end of the short ceremony, the two friends from Florida who traveled broke the door down. We know what it was like before gay laws of the land, as I did then.

Sometimes, I think we forget how strong and powerful with them, the Magistrate, and several trustees who stood liberation, we know how to fight and survive, we know how to live happy, fulfilled lives without the support of the Church we are. Few people have had to summon the courage and quietly by all joined in applause.

There is some speculation that the premise used to take or State, and we will be emboldened by the legal setbacks, as fortitude that we did in coming out into a world of fire and will our many allies in the straight and brimstone condemnations of our very being. We forget that away a woman’s right to terminate cis-gender community. we were willing to be disowned by our families, condemned a pregnancy in the U.S. will also be THERE IS SOME SPECULATION Behind the scene today, there are by our churches, ostracized by our neighbors, fired from our used by the conservative Republican THAT THE PREMISE USED TO TAKE several, well-established and well- jobs, and bullied in public in order to breathe and behave Supreme Court Justices to take away financed LGBT legal and political as normal human beings who were naturally attracted to the constitutional right of gay people AWAY A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO organizations planning on how to people of our own sex, as has been true since the beginning to marry. The same highly partisan TERMINATE A PREGNANCY IN challenge in the courts any attempt to of time. court may even rule that we gay people take away our rights and status as equal I hope that we’re able to avoid this meltdown of civil rights have no guaranteed right to engage THE U.S. WILL ALSO BE USED BY citizens of the United States. It gives me at the hands of the five ultra-conservative Republican in homosexual sexual behavior in THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN comfort to know that our hard work Supreme Court Justices, and Trump cult members in state privacy. The U.S. then would more SUPREME COURT JUSTICES TO TAKE and vision has enabled the creation office, but, if not, I’m not afraid for myself, and I will do what closely resemble in its laws the Taliban GLAD (Gay and a lesbian Advocates I can to help younger lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and than it would any other Western AWAY THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT of and Defenders) in Boston, and Lambda queer people endure the nightmare with self-assurance and democracy. Simultaneously, at the OF GAY PEOPLE TO MARRY. Legal, in New York, in addition to state pride in themselves. state level, Republican governors and Equality organizations, the Human If we can freely walk into prisons to get married, risking legislatures are seeking to eliminate mention of homosexuality and transgender people in Rights Campaign, and the National LGBTQ Task Force, among the jeering of inmates, we can certainly survive the backlash others. However, even if they didn’t exist, which none but one to our great progress, and stare down those who seek to classrooms and textbooks.

Some Fundamentalist Christians, Orthodox Jews, and far did when I came out in the early 1970s, I’d live in defiance of the make our lives miserable. right Muslims might think that they soon will be able to dance on our graves, that we will be defeated, and will all go back into the closet never to be heard from again. Speaking for myself, and for many gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his queer people in my Baby Boomer generation, that is not going many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The to happen.

Godfather of gay diversity training.” Brian has a weekly YouTube/FaceBook podcast called, “Are You We didn’t leave the closet because the door was open. We Happy Without the Movie?”

6 . 2 . 20 22 •

37

LIFESTYLE FOOD

VEG OUT AT PLANTA QUEEN Rick Karlin

PLANTA QUEEN 1201 E LAS OLAS BLVD., FORT LAUDERDALE 754-732-1952 PLANTARESTAURANTS.COM

T

oronto-based Founder and CEO Steven Salm and Co-founder and Executive Chef David Lee founded Planta in 2016 to expand the accessibility and acceptability of plant-based dining. The Fort Lauderdale location is the second in South Florida and gets the additional moniker “Queen [even though it’s not in Wilton Manors],” although the menu and concept appear to be like other Planta restaurants. Founded in Toronto, the restaurant already has locations in New York and Bethesda, with additional outposts planned for Chicago and California.

Using 100% plant-based ingredients, Planta reimagines and reinvents classic recipes. According to the company, this commitment to sustainability extends to all aspects of the business. “Our dedication to environmental sustainability … from our sourcing to our restaurant design, our packaging to our partnerships, we seek to put more back into the world than we take.

Additionally, we ensure our produce and supplies are delivered in reusable containers to reduce waste and our to-go packaging is made from 100% compostable materials.”

We stopped by about a month after Planta Queen opened to sample its brunch. The brunch menu is limited, but the regular menu is also available at that time, expanding the possibilities. One thing to take note of before we get into menu specifics; as with many vegetarian and vegan restaurants, dining at Planta Queen is a pricey option.

It seems counter-intuitive that a meat-free menu would be pricier, but high-quality vegetarian ingredients can be just as costly as animal protein. All that earth-friendly packaging also costs more. How pricey? Our trio each enjoyed a mocktail and an entrée.

We also split an oversized cinnamon bun

THERE’S MORE ONLINE! 38

• 6 . 2.2022

with chai icing as a dessert, and our bill was $115 (before tip!).

In addition to beer, wine, and sake, Planta Queen also specializes in hand-pressed juices and craft cocktails. The cocktails and mocktails add some exotic touches to classic beverages. “Herb Your Enthusiasm” is a concoction of Thai chili-infused tequila, Cointreau, lime, pineapple, and herb syrup.

Similar creativity blends rum and kombucha, mezcal with ginger liqueur and passionfruit, and Japanese whiskey with ginger and bitters. The mocktails are cleverly listed on Planta Queen’s menu as “Free Spirits [anti-intoxicant tonics].” The Cucumber Mule combines cucumber water, agave, and ginger beer for a refreshing treat. I opted for the Been There Thai’d That which blends watermelon, Thai basil, yuzu, and agave.

It didn’t taste particularly Thai, but it was delicious. Mocktails are $11 each.

The spartan brunch menu lists breakfast futomaki, an ube mochi waffle, chow fun noodles, French toast, fried rice, and a truffle scramble. Fried rice is a traditional Asian breakfast staple, using up leftovers. Planta’s version adds a bit of zing with the addition of kim chi (Korean fermented cabbage), scallions peas and chili oil. The large bowl was filling and comforting, just as it should be. The truffle scramble combines avocado, shaved heart of palm, truffle, and tofu.

I’m not fond of scrambled eggs, but the tofu version had the right flavor, but a better consistency.

I opted for something from the “Wok & Noodles” section of the main menu, General D’s cauliflower. Although reasonably priced at $14, it was presented in smallish bowl (think breakfast cereal) and didn’t come with any sides. I asked for a side of noodles and was brought a plate of sticky ramen, devoid of sauce, and was charged an additional $12!

I would rather pay a few dollars more for a complete dish.

The main menu is divided into five sections. The sushi section features nigiri

General D’s Cauliflower. Image courtesy of Rick Karlin. and maki rolls with veggies and fruit subbing for fish, such as eggplant taking the place of eel in the unagi, and watermelon subbing for spicy tuna. The Chilled & Raw section lists a sunomono salad, Queen Caesar, and a pad thai slaw. Small Plates boasts a bao slider with a chick’n fried mushroom, jackfruit “wings” with sesame soy glaze and nuoc cham sauce, Bang Bang broccoli, and cauliflower tots.

Dumpling varieties include spinach shiitake, crispy gyoza (stuffed with cabbage, carrot, cilantro, and mushroom), and sweet corn.

Noodles and bowls encompass tom yum and

miso soups, Singapore, Dan Dan, Szechuan, udon, and chili peanut noodle bowls as well as two kinds of fried rice.

Service was friendly, helpful (although a heads-up on the $12 side of noodles would have been appreciated), and enthusiastic.

While we truly enjoyed our visit to Planta Queen, its high menu prices will keep it from becoming a regular go-to spot. However, we do plan to stop in for Maki Mondays after 5 p.m., when it’s $27 for unlimited maki rolls.

Friday cocktail hour also sounds tempting, with $20 dumpling platters.

THE SIDE DISH EATING GREEN If Planta Queen is a little too royal for your wallet, check out these other vegetarian and vegan options. I don’t know why, but it seems as if Hallandale Beach has a substantial number of vegetarian restaurants.

GREENBAR KITCHEN 1075 SE 17th St. ,Fort Lauderdale 954.533.7507 • greenbarkitchen.com

SCREAMING CARROTS 826 W Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hallandale Beach 754.400.9614 • screamingcarrots.com

PS GREEN VEGAN 2306 E Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954.999.5474 • psgreenvegan.com

TREE LION 5705 Hallandale Beach Blvd., West Park 954.589.1579 • 3treelion.com

HUMMUS HOUSE 900 NE 20th Ave., Fort Lauderdale 954.314.7686 • thehummushouseftl.com

HOLI VEGAN KITCHEN 701 N Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach 954.251.3028 • holivegankitchen.com

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD!

Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor.

Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at RickKarlinFL@gmail.com.

The views Rick expresses are his own and do not represent the opinion of SFGN.

AQUAMEN TAKE IT OFF IN HOTEL POOL Visit SFGN.com to find out more.

CHECK WEBSITES AND FACEBOOK PAGES FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION REGARDING IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE OF SERVICES, AS WELL AS VIRTUAL VIEWING OPTIONS.

Join us for masked, socially distanced in person worship.

11 AM Sundays. Services also LIVE-streamed on Facebook and posted on website for safe at home viewing.

“Love without judgement” Holy Angels National Catholic Church 1436 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors. 33305 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org

In Person Worship Resumes Join us for live services

our beautifully7th updated Joininus November at 10 AM also continue for sanctuary. services inWe ourwill beautifully updated streaming theWe service on Facebook! sanctuary. will also continue streaming the service on Facebook!

954-633-2987

A home for your spirit.

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

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

https://www.facebook.com/ ChurchofOurSaviorMCC. Visit our web site for more details & updates.

Shabbat services Friday night at 8pm.

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

HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 1436 NE 26th St Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach. churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM TEMPLE BAT YAM 5151 NE 14th Ter Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954-928-0410 Friday Night & Saturday Morning Streaming Online at templebatyam.org

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

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39

LIFESTYLE READING WITH PRIDE

‘STRANGER THINGS: REBEL ROBIN’ Aurora Dominguez

I

f you’re a huge fan of “Stranger Things,” then check out a novel by A.R. Capetta that is a prequel to the third season that focuses on Robin Buckley.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR MOST RECENT NOVEL?

I was so inspired by Maya Hawke’s whip-smart and also really warm-hearted portrayal of Robin on “Stranger Things.” I wanted to know so much more about this character. And who wouldn’t be inspired by an instant, worldwide gay icon?

WHAT DOES “READING WITH PRIDE” MEAN TO YOU?

To me, it means reading and supporting and sharing these books all year long — not just during Pride month (although it can be fun to see the extra boost of excitement and love during June!) It means reading intersectionally. And it means community, too. Pride is about all of us, about our collective power, and when we share stories, we feel less alone. We’re more powerful when we know that LGBT people are everywhere, and we’ve always been here. Adding representation to the canon of 80s characters feels like fighting back against some of the erasure in my own childhood.

WHY DO YOU FEEL REPRESENTATION OF A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING BOOKS AND CHARACTERS?

Visibility fights back against erasure and isolation, but it doesn’t stop there. It also creates a big and ever-expanding sense of possibility, of what we can imagine for ourselves and our own lives.

WHICH CHARACTER DID YOU RELATE TO THE MOST AND WHY?

I was an outsider in high school, like Robin. I was pretty much always on my own. But honestly, I found comfort and even confidence in doing things my own way. There were times when I felt frustrated or lonely, but most of the time I felt empowered by knowing that I wasn’t trying to be (or impress) anyone but myself.

I saw that in Robin — and I wanted to show how she became that person. That’s the prequel story I ended up writing.

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• 6 . 2.2022

Author A.R. Capetta. Photo via Instagram.

WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR BOOK?

A great ‘80s soundtrack. A first crush (or two…) A lot of banter, a lot of big coming-of-age feelings, some new characters and lots of cameos! And an upside-down approach to the “strange” element.

Robin doesn’t know about the weirder parts of Hawkins yet in this prequel, but I couldn’t let this book feel totally normal, either. That just wouldn’t be “Stranger Things.” (Or me, to be honest. All of my books have elements of the supernatural, magical, or mysterious!)

WHAT’S UP NEXT FOR YOU IN THE BOOKISH WORLD?

My next YA, “The Heartbreak Bakery,” comes out on Oct. 10. It’s a romcom with recipes and a dash of magic. If you read this one and want even more queer love, banter, and community, it’s definitely worth checking out!

A&E THEATER

THINKING CAP RETURNS

WITH WORK BY LESBIAN PLAYWRIGHT J.W. Arnold

P

laywright María Irene Fornés didn’t like to be labeled. She was a CubanAmerican, lesbian and feminist, and she stood against what is today labeled “identity politics,” according to Thinking Cap Theatre’s Artistic Director Nicole Stodard.

“Yet, all these groups have celebrated her for these obvious reasons,” added Stodard.

“She was not an activist. She was undeniably troubled by depicting people and the struggles they experienced. In her work, you can see the impact of the patriarchy in their lives, but she handles them in an honest, raw way and offers no solution.”

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thinking Cap’s first live production is Fornés’ breakout Off-OffBroadway hit, “Fefu & Her Friends,” opening June 3 at the company’s new home, Mad Arts in Dania Beach.

The play, which earned Fornés an Obie when it premiered in 1977, is considered by many to be her greatest work. Set in the spring of 1935 at the New England country home of the title character, the play’s premise is simple and considered comic: Fefu has gathered her friends to drink lemonade, play croquet, and plan and rehearse a fundraiser to benefit arts in education. Beneath this surface lies a probing investigation of friendship, gender, sexuality, class and disability.

“Fefu” was written over a period of many years, spanning the civil rights and women’s rights movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

“It’s just turned 45 years old, but each time it’s been revived, it’s spoken to the moment of its revival. It’s truly a master play by a master writer,” explained Stodard. “Here we are in 2022 and even though it’s set in a specific time, there are ideas that continue to resonate as we consider the possible reversal of Roe v.

Wade and the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law. Again and again, people’s rights are on the line.”

While the play had been planned as part of the company’s 10th anniversary season in 2020, the move to Mad Arts will allow Stodard and her creative team to create an even more immersive experience for audiences, thanks to the facility’s open, flexible space.

The first and third acts take place in Fefu’s living room, set up in the black box space, but

Thinking Cap Theatre presents “Fefu & Her Friends” by playwright María Irene Fornés at Mad Arts in Dania Beach, June 3 – 19. Credit: YouTube.

for the second act, the audience will have the option of following a “roadmap” or taking in vignettes set up throughout the facility. And Stodard promises a pre-show experience, silent performances that will be occurring as the audiences enter.

“This play accomplishes several aspects of Thinking Cap’s mission — plays that experiment with theatrical form are the cornerstone of our mission. This play has influenced American theater in ways that the younger generation doesn’t even realize.

This is the sort of experimental theater from the 1960s and 1970s and no one had ever seen anything like this … We know these types of immersive theater now.”

Returning to live productions, Stodard confirmed, was a little like riding a bike.

“I questioned for some months during the pandemic if we were still artists and knew how to make theater. Doing it virtually is not the same as doing it in person. It’s been really wonderful to get back and reaffirmed why we have always made theater,” she said.

Fornés died in 2018, just before the pandemic, and creatives, critics and scholars have yet to fully evaluate her legacy. Thinking Cap is launching a podcast series this month and Cambridge University Press is working on an anthology due in 2024. Stodard said plans for a regional “Fornés-tival” are also in the works, but for now South Florida audiences will get just a taste of the playwright’s work.

Thinking Cap Theatre presents “Fefu & Her Friends,” June 3 – 19 at Mad Arts, 481 S. Federal Hwy. in Dania Beach.

Tickets start at $35 at ThinkingCapTheatre.org.

GRAB THE POPCORN...

THIS FILM IS FOR YOU.

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41

A&E APPOINTMENTS Margot Moreland, Lindsey Corey and Stephon Duncan star in “Chronicles Simpkins Will Cut Your Ass,” one of the short plays featured in City Theatre’s Summer Shorts festival, opening June 2 at the Arsht Center. Credit: Morgan Sophia Photography.

ARTSBEAT HOT PRIDE MONTH TICKETS J.W. Arnold

SUMMER SHORTS CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE ARSHT City Theatre’s popular Summer Shorts festival of 10-minute plays returns to the Arsht Center in Miami, June 2 – July 2. This year, the company will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the landmark festival, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched in 1996, City Theatre is one of Miami’s oldest theater companies. They are nationally distinguished for being the only theater in the country producing short plays and musicals year-round and for audiences of all. City Theatre has won four Carbonell Awards, including the Bill Von Mauer Award in 2016.

The Summer Shorts cast includes Alex Alvarez, Lindsey Corey, Stephon Duncan, Diana Garle, Jovon Jacobs, Daniel Llaca, Margot Moreland and Tom Wahl, performing 10 plays selected from a nationwide search.

For a full schedule and tickets, go to CityTheatre.com.

BROWARD ART GUILD OPENS NEW SHOW Broward Art Guild (BAG), one of the region’s LGBT and allies’ collectives of creative artists, opens its Pride Month show, “PRIDE! Legends, Life & Love” on June 4 at their gallery, 3280 N.E. 32nd St. in Fort Lauderdale.

The exhibit will be on display through June 23 and includes a diverse collection of paintings, photographs, sculpture, mixed media and more. A special installation honoring the 1969 Stonewall uprising provided by the Stonewall National Museum & Archives will also be on display.

In addition to monthly exhibitions in their North Beach gallery, BAG also supports regular workshops, Art Around Town displays and online sales. The organization is largely run by volunteers and welcomes members from all creative disciplines.

The opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 4 from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. and is open to the public. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, hours vary. For more information, go to BrowardArtGuild.org.

‘THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP’ AT ISLAND CITY STAGE Vampire attacks, werewolf sightings, and the resurrection of an Egyptian Princess are just a few of the plot twists in Charles Ludlam’s “The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful,” running June 9 – July 10 at Island City Stage, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors.

The send-up of gothic romance and horror films features two actors, Bruce Lisner and Larry Buzzeo, who are required to execute 35 lightning-fast costume changes throughout the production. Artistic Director Andy Rogow directs.

Charles Ludlam (1943-1987), founder of New York’s Ridiculous Theatrical Company, was the mastermind of this Off Broadway camp classic that originally premiered in 1984 at the Sheridan Square Playhouse.

“Charles Ludlam and The Ridiculous Theatrical Company were pioneers, now legends in LGBT theater, elevating camp to an art form and paving the way for companies like Island City Stage,” said Rogow. “We’re thrilled to bring this comedy cult theatre classic to South Florida for new audiences to enjoy.”

Tickets are $35 at IslandCityStage.org.

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• 6 . 2.2022

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Appointments are not necessary to visit the Humane Society of Broward County. However, please complete the preadoption application on the website www.humanebroward.com prior to stopping by if you would like to meet a pet.

The shelter is located at 2070 Griffin Road, a block west of I95, and opens daily at 11 a.m. If you have questions call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. Can’t adopt, but want to help? The Humane Society has wish lists on Amazon and Chewy.

ALL STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND CUSTOMERS SHOULD WEAR A MASK TO ENTER THE SHELTER.

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