SFGN 7/2/20 V11iss26

local name global coverage july 2, 2020 vol. 11 // issue 26

A HORROR STORY AS AMERICA CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE GAYS FACE PERSECUTION IN CHECHNYA PAGES 26, 27

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FLORIDA ASKS VENDORS, INCLUDING SFGN, IF THEY’RE OWNED BY ‘COMMUNIST CHINA’ SFGN Staff

A

t the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the urging of President Donald Trump, the State of Florida’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) has asked all its business vendors, over 100,000 of them, including SFGN, to certify they are not “owned or controlled by the Communist Party of China.”

DFS is charged with processing payments on behalf of the State of Florida to all of the vendors its agencies do business with.

Presently, SFGN has a contract to advertise the State’s Department of Health.

Sent out by the state’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, and labeled a “Vendor Ownership Survey,” it requires a response within 30 days, in order to “avoid necessary follow-up by the Department.”

The letter states it is “addressing your

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

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

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Webmaster • Kimberly Swan Webmaster@sfgn.com Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold JW@prdconline.com Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • Sallie James HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com

Senior Feature Columnists Correspondents

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

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Associate Photographers

Jimmy Patronis, Chief Financial Officer at the Florida DFS. Photo via Jimmy Patronis, Facebook.

continued partnership with the State of Florida, United States of America.”

Patronis first launched the campaign in April. He wrote directly to the Chinese ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, so it could target them for restitution to compensate the state for costs incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic.

When his warning fell on deaf ears, and China failed to respond, Patronis decided to target all of Florida’s vendors. He declared it was necessary to determine “which of its vendors are controlled by United States interests.” SFGN’s publisher Norm Kent called the letter “unprecedented and unconscionable.”

“Since Communist China has chosen to not respond to our official transmission, we’re

The letter received from the State of Florida’s Department of Financial Services. Credit: SFGN.

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Associated Press • 7. 2 . 2020

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“I WAS BORN IN BROOKLYN, NOT BEIJING,” KENT STATED.

2

@SFGN

July 2, 2020 • Volume 11 • Issue 26

Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing going to follow through in our commitment of identifying Chinese-owned businesses that do business with the state,” Patronis wrote last month. “This will provide us information should Florida need to withhold payments to these businesses as federal leaders sort out potential financial impacts against the Communist Party of China.”

A constitutional rights attorney, who has been a lawyer since 1975, an outraged Kent declared the correspondence was “no survey.

It’s a veiled financial threat to cut off funding to your business if you fail to comply with their instructions.”

“The governor might as well have asked me if I now or have ever been a member of the communist party,” Kent stated, adding that the letter was “a desperate attempt for the state to look tough against China while failing to conduct a coordinated campaign against the coronavirus.”

“They continue to only make things worse,” Kent said, indicating SFGN would refuse to comply with the survey.

“I was born in Brooklyn, not Beijing,” Kent stated.

For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970 Sales Manager • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com Distribution Services • Noah Lebel Sales Consultant • Charles A. Reid National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Stuart Web Inc.

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

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

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

7. 2 . 20 20 •

3

NEWS STATE

NEWS LOCAL

DAILY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA Sean McShee

Anthony Man

Cumulative Known COVID-19 Cases in Three South Florida Counties: Cumulative COVID-19 in June Known 24 through June Cases 30 Three Known South Florida Counties: Cumulative COVID-19 Cases in Cumulative Known COVID-19 Cases in Rates of Increase in Total Known COVID-19 from 6/24 to 6/30 June 24 cases through June 30 Three South Florida Counties: Three South Florida Counties: Palm Beach = 0.23, Broward = 0.28, Miami Dade = 0.33 June 24 June 30 Rates of Increase in Total Known COVID-19 cases from 6/24 to 6/30 June 24through through June 30 Palm Beach = 0.23, Broward = 0.28, Miami Dade = 0.33 Rates of Increase in Total Known COVID-19 cases from 6/24 to 6/30 28,664

27,779

28,664

27,779

27,779

12,217 11,536

12,217 12,217 11,536

12,584 11,840

12,584 12,584 11,840

11,840

11,536

12,217 11,536

13,320 12,498 13,320

13,320 12,498 12,498

12,584 11,840

13,320 12,498

6/25 6/25

6/26 6/26

6/246/24

6/24

Palm Palm Beach Beach 6/25

6/26 Source:

Palm Beach

36,820

35,222

13,711 15,045

15,045

14,620

13,389

13,389

14,046 12,928

6/27

6/276/27

15,624

15,045

14,620 13,389 14,620

13,711

15,624

14,150 15,624

14,150

13,711

14,150

15,624

15,045

14,620

14,150

13,711

13,389

6/28

6/29

6/28 6/28

Broward Broward Broward

Palm Beach

6/24

35,222

33,714

14,046 12,928 14,046

14,046 12,928 12,928

6/26

6/25

36,820 36,820

31,562

30,196

28,664

36,820

35,222

35,222

33,714

31,562

30,196

28,664

27,779

31,562

30,196

Sun Sentinel

33,714

Rates of Beach Increase in Total Known COVID-19 cases from 6/24 to 6/30 31,562 Palm = 0.23, Broward = 0.28, Miami Dade = 0.33 33,714 Palm Beach = 0.23, Broward = 0.28,30,196 Miami Dade = 0.33

6/29 6/29

6/30

6/30

6/30

Miami-Dade Miami-Dade Miami-Dade

Florida6/27 Dept. of Health.6/28 Broward

6/29

6/30

Miami-Dade

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• 7. 2 . 2020

PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST MITCHELL STOLLBERG DIES, ‘LOVED WHAT HE DID WITH POLITICAL PART OF HIS LIFE’

M

itchell Stollberg, a longtime progressive political activist in Broward County, has died. He was 66.

Stollberg died at his Margate home sometime over the weekend, and was found Monday by police, said his sister, Shelly Graham, of Dallas, Ga. Stollberg hadn’t been answering his phone and didn’t answer the door when a friend went there on Monday.

Stollberg had a blood-borne cancer in recent years. Although it was in remission, he had been experiencing other health issues recently. His sister said he did not have COVID-19; he’d been tested and just received results showing he was negative.

Politics was Stollberg’s passion. He was known to Democratic activists throughout the county and was a leader in the progressive wing of the party.

“He had a big heart. And he loved, loved what he did with the political part of his life,” Graham said.

“He was very outspoken, and he would fight hard,” said Melissa Ward-Peterson, Recording Secretary of the Broward Democratic Party.

“He fought hard, but he was also very kind.”

In a 2019 interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Stollberg said he was hoping for a progressive political wave. “As far as I’m concerned, the party needs to move to the left. The progressive movement is larger than ever before.”

Stollberg was a strong supporter of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020.

He was a Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

“He was the biggest Bernie Sanders fan,” said Victoria Olson, a Democratic Party committeewoman in Oakland Park, a friend of Stollberg’s.

After he became ill, before he turned 65 and was eligible for Medicare, his experience paying for health care turned him into an outspoken advocate for the Medicare for All proposed program of universal health care.

“He was one of the fiercest advocates for Medicare for All in Broward County,” WardPeterson said. “He would share about his own struggles with illness and with our broken insurance system. He just fought to make sure that health care was a human right for everyone.”

Mitchell Stollberg (right) with Andrew Gillum, former candidate for Florida Governor. Photo via Mitchell Stollberg, Facebook.

An out gay man for his entire adult life, his sister said he got into politics as an outgrowth of his involvement in activism over HIV and AIDS. He was an officer in many political clubs, including the Oakland Park Democratic Club, the Broward Progressive Democrats of America, the Broward chapter of the group Our Revolution, and the state Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Oakland Park City Commission in 2016.

He worked in the marketing department at Service America in Fort Lauderdale for many years until it closed, Graham said. He also worked for a time making jewelry.

Mitchell Stollberg was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on Feb. 10, 1954, and raised in North Miami, where the family moved when he was 2 years old.

He is survived by his sister and two nephews.

Graham said she was talking with her brother’s friends to decide on a suitable memorial. No memorial service is planned, she said.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics

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7. 2 . 20 20 •

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NEWS FEATURE

LET’S TALK ABOUT RACISM SFGN interview activists on how to be an ally

Denise Royal

R

acism can be difficult to understand, especially if you’ve never experienced it. Racism has many forms — and continues to grow and shift over time. If you’ve never been on the receiving end of it, consider yourself lucky.

Racism can be overt — like hateful and hurtful words and deeds. It can also be subtle and feel like a thousand paper cuts over a lifetime. Regardless of how you experience it, racism is real.

In this cultural moment, bigotry and hatred are being called out — with protests and demands for change. As much as we have been here before — with protests and calls for change — right now feels different on so many levels. But racism still exists, even within the LGBT communities.

To help explain what racism feels like, SFGN spoke with Ghenete Wright and Brandon Wolf. Wright is an attorney, LGBT advocate, and a gay gender non-conforming woman of Jamaican descent. Wolf is a media relations manager with Equality Florida, and an advocate for LGBT rights and gun prevention.

DEFINING RACISM Wolf defines racism as the system or structure of oppressing people based on their race or ethnic heritage.

Wolf uses this example — think of two people walking out of the same door. One is black, the other white.

“Only one of them faces scrutiny based on the color of his skin,” he explains. “Only one of them has women and men cross the street when they get close to them to avoid being near them out of fear that they’re dangerous.

Only one of them gets three or four glances from the police if they’re driving a car that they don’t think they should own. Only one of those people walks into a store and has the security guard following them around simply based on their skin color.”

Wright says racism has many forms and levels.

“Whether they’re acting as individuals of power or institutions with power and having behaviors and policies and cultures that hurt Black people.” She acknowledges that other groups such as Asians and Latinos face racism too.

As Wolf explained, racism isn’t just a system of rules aimed at putting people down.

“Those subversive, racist pieces of our system have allowed White people to benefit without realizing they’re benefiting from systemic racism. There are examples in our educational system. Erasing the genocide of native people, painting Rosa Parks as a little old lady who was just resting her feet, and representing Martin Luther King Jr. as a beloved figure of our history, without acknowledging the dark parts of our history, is a subversive function of systemic racism.

And that has allowed White folks in our community to benefit from it without realizing they’re benefiting.”

When defining racism, it’s paramount to remember that you can like a Black person, have a friendly relationship with Black co-

“IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU CAME FROM MISSISSIPPI OR MANHATTAN, YOU’RE STILL GOING TO GET CERTAIN OPPORTUNITIES THAT

BLACK FOLKS ARE NOT GOING TO GET.” - Ghenete Wright ATTORNEY

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• 7. 2 . 2020

Ghenete Wright (right, photo via Ghenete Wright) and Brandon Wolf (photo via Equality Florida).

workers, and appreciate Black culture, and still exhibit racist behavior. (Please take a minute to let that sink in.)

Wright agrees. “It’s not about whether you like or dislike Black people,” she explains.

“That’s prejudice or biases. Racism involves things that actually hurt us. Whether or not schools consider things like S.A.T. exam scores. Is that something that’s culturally biased against Black people? Should they have different scores to be able to get into schools? Not getting into the school, you should have gotten into or not being able to buy a home in the neighborhood you want to live in, those are things that hurt us.”

EXPERIENCING RACISM Wright was 15-years-old when she moved to the United States from Jamaica. She’d always been an exceptional student. But in New York, she describes the educational system as a nightmare.

“The schools had low expectations of me,” she explained. “The students had low expectations of each other.” Wright’s mother had to intervene, so her daughter could move to her school’s honors program.

Instances like this are not rare.

Wolf’s early experiences with racism were

more overt and personal.

“As a young person, I was called the N-word on the playground, nicknamed a monkey, and called an Oreo cookie. All of those things were overt racism. And I have experienced that my entire life. But I also think in subversive ways, we all experience racism.”

A June 2020 poll by Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project showed that 84% of African American respondents said Black people contend with discrimination a lot or a great deal. 56% of white people agreed.

ALLIES AND RACISM: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT IT Knowing what racism is can help you identify it, describe it, and fight against it.

This is a vital part of anti-racism. It’s the process of changing attitudes, practices, organizational structures, and policies.

Wright recommends implicit bias training.

“That’s something that helps everybody understand the biases that they have, whether they’re going to read something about it or take a course or training,” she said. “Everybody has some biases. We’re not even aware. You have to address them. You also have to be aware of your privilege. It

NEWS FEATURE doesn’t matter if you came from Mississippi Americans got reparations too. Don’t or Manhattan, you’re still going to get certain consider it something outlandish. Consider opportunities that Black folks are not going it something that’s realistic and reasonable to get.” and should occur.”

It also starts by having a sensitivity about what Black and Brown people go through THE OPTIMISM OF THE MOMENT and making sure you don’t put the onus on them to educate you about racism.

The conversations happening about “It is not then the obligation of Black and racism are cause for optimism. But good Brown folks to turn around and pump out feelings are not enough to move the needle. resources and information to satisfy this “We have an opportunity in front of need to check off a list to be us,” Wolf said. “I would anti-racist,” Wolf said. “It is not yet say that we have incumbent upon White allies created the change that we to be willing to do the difficult deserve. We’ve seen some work of educating themselves movement. We’ve seen some on the way systemic racism law enforcement agencies shows up in our society and being held to account. We’ve how they can begin to play a seen some shifting of funds role in changing that.” away from militarizing police It’s important to consider officers toward community that coming to grips with programs that tackle the root racism, and doing the work causes of crime. We have of an anti-racist can be seen some national dialog challenging. around ending qualified “It’s really important for immunity for police officers - Brandon Wolf White allies to be OK with who commit crimes. We have EQUALITY FLORIDA discomfort,” Wolf said. “There seen some conversations on is this sense in movements those things. However, this like this, especially ones around race where moment remains an opportunity that has White allies rush past the discomfort part, yet to be seized because we still do not have rush past the painful part as a symptom real substantive change that will result in a of potentially White guilt or shame and significant divergence from the kind of Black get right to the ‘OK. How do I fix it?’ But death that we see every single day. I think we by skipping past the hurt, the trauma, the have to keep our foot on the gas.” pain of the discomfort of injustice, they’re actually exercising White privilege in that moment, because Black and Brown people cannot escape the pain and discomfort of systemic racism. Don’t rush to the next thing.

Just sit with that and how uncomfortable it makes you feel that not only did that happen in this country, but you didn’t know it. Think about the pain and discomfort that the Black community feels when they are forced to rewatch video after video after video of Black death for anyone to believe that injustice exists.”

Once you are aware of implicit biases, Wright recommends the following actionable steps:

“I WOULD NOT YET SAY THAT WE HAVE CREATED THE CHANGE THAT WE DESERVE.”

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 Vote for Black Judges  Hire Black People  Promote Black People While many other suggestions for ending racism center on criminal justice reform, others look at ways to level the economic playing field.

“Several groups have gotten reparations, and Black folks need to get reparations,” Wright said. “People need to be aware that we literally worked for free for centuries, and then we are the poorest people in the land.

Jewish people got reparations. Japanese-

Ghenete Wright speaking at the Expert Panel at the HRABC Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace Matters Conference. Photo via Ghenete Wright, Facebok.

7. 2 . 20 20 •

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NEWS NATIONAL

BLACK TRANS GIRL BRAYLA STONE MURDERED Killer Not Yet Identified

Kim Swan

B

rayla Stone, a 17-year-old Black trans girl, was murdered June 25, becoming the eighth transgender person killed in the last seven days.

According to Out Magazine, her body was found in a car on a walking path in the Little Rock suburb of Sherwood, Arkansas last Thursday, and a person on social media later claimed they were paid five thousand dollars to kill her.

Screen captures of the deleted video showed a pile of $100 bills with “$5k” superimposed in red text.

In the comments, the poster then claims they “zipped em for 5k” and that it was “Money Well Spent.”

Despite the person bragging about the murder, Stone’s killer has yet to be identified, according to LGBTQ Nation. It also says that the police won’t release any information on how she was murdered until they notify the next of kin to identify her body.

The Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition David J. Johns said someone murdered her because “we live in a society where it is not yet explicit that when we say BlackLivesMatter we mean all Black lives, which includes Black trans women and girls,” in a statement on the Atlanta Daily World website.

He also said the average life expectancy for a Black trans woman in the U.S. is around 35 years of age.

“In the last two weeks the current occupant of the oval office signed an executive order revoking health care discrimination protection for trans people. In the last two weeks the SCOTUS rendered a decision affirming the right for trans people to be able to work without being fired for actual or perceived

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Screenshot captured by @1thirty1, Twitter.

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• 7. 2 . 2020

Brayla Stone. Photo via Change.org.

sexual identity, gender orientation, and gender expression — legal protections that don’t mean as much if trans people aren’t hired and when Black trans girls and women are murdered with impunity. This must end.”

According to The National LGBT Bar Association, 12 states have passed the bill to ban the “gay panic defense.” However, it is still legal in 38 states, and in the District of Columbia.

Trans activist and journalist Ashlee Marie Preston was among those calling attention to Stone’s murder and the need for action, according to Out Magazine. She also challenged the media who insisted on using “her birth name instead of her REAL name,” in reference to the decision to use Stone’s deadname and pronouns at the request of her family.

According to Fox16, the reason why they’re using her birth name is because when they consulted with the Stone family, they asked them to report using Stone’s birth name.

A “Justice for Brayla Stone” petition was created by Kadyn Loring, and already has over 100,000 signatures as of June 26.

Johns also said in his statement, “To help ensure justice for Brayla Stone call Sherwood Police Chief Jim Badwell at 501-835-1425 and demand a complete and public investigation that honors and respects Brayla Stone and the many ways that she showed up in a world that owes her, and other Black trans women and girls so much more.”

NEWS NATIONAL

BLACK LGBT CANDIDATES WIN NEW YORK ELECTIONS

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ew York’s congressional elections produced two victories for LGBT candidates of color.

Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres both won their Democratic party primaries.

In New York’s 17th congressional district, Jones won with 42% of the vote. Jones, 32, is an attorney who worked in the Justice Department during the Obama administration.

“Growing up poor, black and gay, I never imagined someone like me could run for Congress, let alone being a leading contender for the nomination,” Jones said in a victory speech Tuesday evening. “Had I been able to look to someone quite like myself, it would’ve been direct evidence that, in fact, things really do get better later in life.”

Torres, 32, won the 15th congressional district primary with 29% of the vote. A New York City Councilman from the Bronx, Torres is on track to become the first LGBT AfroLatinx member of the United States Congress.

“It would be the honor of my life to represent

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Ritchie Torres, left, and Mondaire Jones. Photos: Mondaire for Congress/Ritchie Torres via Twitter.

this borough, it’s my home,” Torres told Spectrum News NY1 Tuesday night. “I would not be here today if not for my mother and South Bronx is full of mothers like mine who have suffered and struggled and sacrificed so that her baby boy can have a better life than she did and the opportunity to represent the essential workers of this borough and the powerful mothers of this borough is the culmination of a dream.”

Both candidates are endorsed by the Victory Fund.

Elsewhere, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dominated New York’s 14th district with 69% of the vote, while in the 16th district, longtime incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel was defeated by middle school teacher Jamaal Bowman.

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7. 2 . 20 20 •

9

NEWS LOCAL

JUSTICE FOR TONY MCDADE LOCALS MARCH AFTER POLICE KILLING OF BLACK TRANS MAN IN TALLAHASSEE Story and photos by Carina Mask

Pictured: Carson Graham (with megaphone), Co-founder of Transinclusive Group, marches with the crowd of over 100 people.

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• 7. 2.2020

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A

vigil and march was organized by Transinclusive Group, Ujima, FedFam4Life and New Florida Majority for Tony McDade following a police killing of an unarmed trans man in Florida’s State Capital city on May 27.

Over 100 protesters, clad in masks and holding picket signs, arrived at Huizenga park on a summery Sunday afternoon.

Tony McDade, a 38-year-old trans African American man was gunned down by the police at the Leon Arms apartment complex in Tallahassee, Florida.

McDade was identified as a suspect in the fatal stabbing that occurred a few blocks away. According to eyewitness accounts, the Tallahassee police department responded to the emergency call. As soon as they arrived at the scene, they jumped out of their patrol cars unannounced and opened fire on McDade.

The details surrounding this incident are still under investigation. Conflicting information came from the Tallahassee Police Department — they originally stated that McDade was armed and “made a move consistent with using the firearm,” however according to eyewitness accounts and footage taken on a smart phone, there was no weapon present.

The identity of the police officer who shot and killed McDade is still not released but the police officer has been placed on administrative leave.

Before the march commenced, Tifanny

Burks of Black Lives Matter Broward Alliance rallied the protesters by holding a megaphone and began chanting at the amphitheatre.

Shortly thereafter, Tatiana Williams, CoFounder of Transinclusive Group, started the program by welcoming everyone and thanking them for attending to support the event.

Williams introduced Tynice Hall, a woman who was incarcerated with McDade and was given clemency by Donald J. Trump earlier this year. Hall traveled from Texas to Fort Lauderdale to attend this memorial service.

Hall was sentenced in 2006 after being convicted on myriad of drug charges in Lubbock, Texas. Hall’s home was used as a stash house for drugs, as well as loaded firearms, by her then-boyfriend. Hall spent 14 years in prison where she was able to finish courses and work towards a college degree and later taught other inmates.

Tynice Hall was invited to speak, “Thank you for coming out to support Black Lives Matter, thank you for coming out to support Tony McDade, and the LGB and the Trans community.”

She took a slight pause to gather her thoughts and then started, “I just want you to know Tony was a great person, I first met

her when I got locked up. Tony was Notasha, and by the end she was Tony to me. She was my brother. We had a great relationship. We used to just stay up at night and talk about things, like when we get out how I would come down and visit him in Florida. But I never thought I would come to her memorial.

I thought we were going to party and have a good time. She is always going to be in my heart, she’s someone I will always cherish.”

Hall was shocked to hear about McDade’s violent passing.

Hall continue, “The last conversation I had with her was about how I was doing, I never got to ask how she was doing. She would always say, don’t worry about nothing, I’ve got this, I’ve got this!”

Hall once again thanked everyone for their support. For clarification, Tony McDade used both pronouns.

Carvelle Estriplet stands in front of a After Hall spoke, Williams introduced transgender pride flag.

Jayce Roach, an advocate for transgender rights and equality.

The trans leaders were visibly upset about support from different communities, is the turn out. Last week on Sunday at a Black cathartic.”

Lives Matter protest at the same location, Graham commented that, “It lacked some almost 500 protesters came ready with an participants. Where is all that energy? Where army of with picket signs. is everyone? It was a bit disheartening.”

Roach’s voice bellowed as he spoke, “I was He added, “Being a marginalized here about a month ago, and this place was community, different [organizations] want packed. I’m glad we’re all here but I think trans folks to show up for pride or events. this is a testament to how unimportant we Commissioners even sign proclamations but are seen in our own community. Black lives at trans led events they [politicians] don’t are gonna matter, but black lives can’t matter show up. We just look like angry trans folk!” until black trans lives matter.”

The protesters crossing over Following Roach, Carson the drawbridge en route to the Graham, Co-founder of prison was a sight to behold.

Transinclusive Group spoke Trans men and women and eloquently about how trans their allies all chanting in led organizations need more unison to show their solidarity allyship. was an awe-inspiring moment.

Graham, “ I feel like allies can Everyone kept their intensity support and utilize resources even during the scorching hot and little things like showing afternoon while police officers up in spaces where they usually tried to redirect the march. wouldn’t.

Attending trans In defiance, Johns took back driven events, trans support streets and circled around the groups. Donating their dollars, police motorcades.

- Carson Graham CO-FOUNDER OF their time, their energy, and During the march, there TRANSINCLUSIVE GROUP their resources is key. [We] need was a brief stop at the people to start being intentional Broward County Jail, the with their support.” protesters enthusiastically shouted words The Transinclusive Group has a meeting of encouragement to all the inmates. The every last Thursday of the month that’s open inmates then responded by banging on the to the LGB community and allies to attend. windows rhythmically.

With the coronavirus numbers still on the Tray Johns, Executive Director at FF4L, rise meetings are currently virtual. a formerly incarcerated Black, gay, veteran When Graham was asked about the vigil, lead the march from Huizenga Park to he responded, “I feel like having a platform the Broward County Jail and back with a where trans folks in the community, not only megaphone in hand chanted the entire time Black people but also people of the trans and spoke encouragingly about occupying experience can share their pain and received space and disrupting the system.

“[WE] NEED PEOPLE TO START BEING INTENTIONAL WITH THEIR SUPPORT.”

From left to right: Carson Graham, Tatiana Williams and Lorenzo Robertson.

7. 2 . 20 20 •

11

NEWS WHITE HOUSE WATCH

NEEL AMIN, MD

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PRIDE MONTH MOSTLY IGNORED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION John McDonald

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ride month is almost over and as did the U.S. State Department, which in barely a mention from the Trump previous years, had issued a statement in administration. recognition. Ivanka Trump tweeted support Instead, President Donald for Pride at the beginning of Trump served up a steady the month in what appears to “AS WE REMEMBER supply of tweets that praised be the administration’s only THE ANNIVERSARY conservative evangelicals, observance. denounced protestors and Elsewhere, Vice President OF THE STONEWALL targeted his opponent, former Mike Pence attended a UPRISING AND THE vice president Joe Biden. worship service at First Baptist BRAVE INDIVIDUALS Biden, meanwhile, Dallas on Sunday. The Texas WHO CHANGED OUR acknowledged the importance church is pastored by Dr. of LGBT people in America’s Robert Jeffress who called the WORLD FOREVER, history. recent Supreme Court ruling LET’S RECOMMIT “51 years ago today, a in favor of LGBT employment TO FINISHING THE movement was born on protections, “disappointing.”

JOB AND FINALLY Christopher Street,” Biden Trump/Pence is trailing tweeted on Sunday along with in most polls to Biden and ACHIEVING FULL a video from last year of he his yet to be tapped running LGBTQ+ EQUALITY. and wife Jill at the Stonewall mate. The Republicans have #PRIDE.” Inn. “As we remember the moved their convention to anniversary of the Stonewall Jacksonville (Aug. 24-27), - Joe Biden Uprising and the brave which is now requiring masks PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE individuals who changed our to be worn in public and world forever, let’s recommit indoor spaces. Florida has the to finishing the job and finally achieving full seventh most COVID-19 cases in the nation LGBTQ+ equality. #Pride.”

(138,567), according to the CDC COVID Data Trump chose to ignore Pride month again Tracker.

White House Watch is a weekly column taking a look at the state of the 2020 presidential election.

12

• 7. 2 .2020

NEWS NATIONAL

GILL FOUNDATION TO MATCH STONEWALL CONTRIBUTIONS John McDonald

The Stonewall Inn. Photo credit: Travis Wise, via Flickr.

T

he Gill Foundation, the gay philanthropy organization, has stepped up its efforts to preserve the Stonewall Inn. New York’s iconic bar — site of the 1969 queer riot against police brutality — has been struggling to survive during the coronavirus pandemic. Various fundraising efforts have launched to open those doors once again.

On June 28, the Colorado-based Gill Foundation announced it would match contributions up to $250,000 to “protect Stonewall Inn, which is on the brink of closure due to the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.”

Gill Foundation co-chairs Tim Gill and Scott Miller said support would be earmarked for rent and utility costs.

“Stonewall is a cornerstone of LGBTQ history and it must be protected,” said Gill and Miller in a press release. “Queer people of color — including trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major — led the uprisings against police

brutality at Stonewall and in doing so helped spark the movement for LGBTQ equality. We must preserve that history and the legacy of the activists who led the charge.”

Tim Gill is the inventor of Quark software.

He created the Foundation’s Outgiving campaign that recruits philanthropists to secure large-scale and long-term financial support for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

The Stonewall Inn has been closed for three months. Located in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, the space was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000 and in 2016 became the first and only LGBT National Monument.

and

7. 2 . 20 20 •

13

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTY. CANDIDATES

TAKE PART IN LGBT FORUM Christiana Lilly

W

ith Miami-Dade residents set to choose their new state attorney in August, SAVE hosted a two-night virtual town hall with the two candidates running for the position.

The first evening went to contender Melba Pearson, a former Miami-Dade County prosecutor and deputy director of the ACLU of Florida, and the next to incumbent Katherine Fernandez Rundle, who has served as MiamiDade County state attorney for 27 years.

Both women are running as Democrats and Election Day is Aug. 18, Florida’s primary election day.

THE BASICS

Katherine Fernandez Rundle Fernandez Rundle graduated from the University of Miami, where she also earned a Master’s in criminology, then earned her law degree from the University of Cambridge Law School. She was elected as Florida’s first Cuban-American state attorney in 1993 and has served in the position ever since. That year she was also elected the president of the Cuban American Bar Association as its first female president. Prior to her tenure as state attorney, she served as assistant state attorney for 15 years, then chief assistant and legal counsel to the Dade County Grand Jury. miamisao.com

Melba Pearson

Melba Pearson (top) and Katherine Fernandez Rundle (bottom) are both running for the next Miami-Dade State Attorney position.

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• 7. 2 .2020

Born in New York to immigrant parents, she attended New York University and Hofstra School of Law. She has lived in Miami-Dade County for 22 years, working as an assistant state attorney for more than 15 years and then three years as the deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida. She is the immediate past president of the National Black Prosecutors Association and the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association in South Florida. She serves as

the co-chair of the Prosecution Function Committee of the American Bar Association. melbaformiami.com POLICE VIOLENCE In light of protests around the country, the audience had many questions for both candidates about police brutality.

Pearson wants to have a team of prosecutors dedicated to handling these cases to ensure that they have their full attention and can be resolved quicker. If necessary, the same prosecutors would take the case to trial.

“At present, sometimes these cases linger for five years, which is completely unacceptable,” she said. “I want to see these cases resolved within six months, with limited exceptions.”

She also wants better training for officers and stated that she’s had conversations with neighboring counties who are interested in swapping police shooting cases to ensure an unbiased and transparent process. Pearson is also in favor of civilian review boards, but says that their subpoena power being stripped away is a huge deficit.

Pearson noted that Fernandez Rundle has never charged a police officer for an on-duty killing. During her town hall, the attorney general listed a number of cases where police officers have been arrested, including North Miami Police Officer Jonathan Aledda, who shot at a caretaker who was on the ground with his autistic client. She noted that, “We’re not always successful. Juries do not always convict in these kinds of cases.”

Fernandez Rundle also noted being a big proponent of body cams, saying that they have helped tremendously with providing evidence instead of relying on he said, she said.

NEWS MIAMI-DADE HATE CRIMES

OTHER

Both candidates are in favor of repealing HIV criminalization laws. “It discourages folks from getting tests, which keeps them more marginalized and more at risk,” Fernandez Rundle said.

When asked about there being 17 hate crimes against LGBT people reported in 2018, Pearson said, “I don’t think that’s an accurate number.” She noted that people could be afraid to come forward for a number of reasons and she wants to educate people on the process and have hate crimes prosecutors out in the community to educate them on what their options are.

Both candidates are in favor of adding gender identity to the state’s antidiscrimination statute.

Pearson wants there to be training within law enforcement departments to be better equipped to handle crimes against transgender people, especially understanding their pronouns, gender and names. She suggested updating affidavit forms to have officers write the name on the person’s driver’s license as well as the name they actually use. Fernandez Rundle noted that the Hate Crimes Unit has 10 lawyers who have been working on 19 cases from last year, mostly anti-Semitic cases.

When asked about bullying in schools against LGBT students that leads to bodily harm, suicide or death, Fernandez Rundle said the responsibility “falls on all of us.”

“We all have to recognize that it exists, we have to acknowledge it, we have to embrace it, and we have to fight it and say it’s intolerable at all levels. It breaks my heart to see that.”

 Both congratulated the LGBT community on the latest SCOTUS ruling protecting LGBT workers, but added that there is still much work to be done.

TO REGISTER TO VOTE, GET A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT, OR TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING ELECTIONS, VISIT REGISTERTOVOTEFLORIDA.GOV.

 Pearson wants to increase transparency and is interested in replicating a study by the ACLU of Florida that tracked the rates of arrest, length of sentence, and types of charges in the county by race.

Photo credit: Erik Hersman, via Flickr.

 Fernandez Rundle was asked about her work in human trafficking, and she pointed to the NFL reaching out to her department to collaborate on a project during the Super Bowl. They’ve asked to participate again when the Super Bowl comes to Tampa next year. She said her Sex Trafficking unit has prosecuted more than 600 cases involving 700 victims in a short period of time. “This is not about sex, it’s about selling our children for money,” she said.  Pearson wants to end the use of the cash bail system, stating that it creates two systems of justice: one for the wealthy and those who don’t have the resources.  Fernandez Rundle touted her department’s “Miami-style smart justice” when it comes to pre-arrest and postarrest diversion programs. With the Second Chance Program that allows nonviolent offenders to complete a program, have their charges dropped, and their record sealed and expunged.

This includes juvenile offenders. Pearson is in favor of “making sure kids are treated as kids” when it comes to juvenile justice. Except in cases of murder or using a firearm, she believes their cases can be handled in juvenile court.

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7. 2 . 20 20 •

15

NEWS LOCAL

YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND US...

BUT WE MIGHT BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

George Castrataro. SFGN file photo.

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GEORGE CASTRATARO’S LAW LICENSE FORMALLY REVOKED SFGN Staff

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16

• 7. 2.2020

he Supreme Court of Florida on Friday Victims of Castrataro can sue him directly, formally revoked George Castrataro’s or hope that if he is convicted, a court will license to practice law in the State enter an order making him pay restitution. of Florida. A revocation is tantamount to However, he is barred from the practice of disbarment. law.

Faced with Florida Bar disciplinary The June arrest culminated a three-month proceedings against him for the spiral where Castrataro had first been held in misappropriation and theft of contempt of court and was then his client’s funds, which would the subject of an emergency ASIDE FROM lead to disbarment, Castrataro order of suspension from the PAYING THE COURT Supreme Court for egregious petitioned the Supreme Court to permit him to forego a trial, and $9,000 IN COSTS, misconduct that was “causing instead voluntarily surrender public harm.” It was a CASTRATARO HAD great his own license. precursor of what was to come.

TO AGREE TO PAY The ruling Friday by the Castrataro remains at liberty Supreme Court allowed him to BACK ANY MONIES on a $32,500 bond, with the first do so, but it came at a nominal in Broward Circuit THE FLORIDA BAR’S appearance price. Aside from paying the Court before the Honorable CLIENT SECURITY Court $9,000 in costs, Castrataro Judge Edward Merrigan in early had to agree to pay back any July.

FUNDS PAID OUT monies the Florida Bar’s client Castrataro’s Fort Lauderdale TO HIS VICTIMS FOR security funds paid out to his based law practice was focused HIS MISCONDUCT. on bankruptcy and estate victims for his misconduct.

The fund attempts to restore planning. He had distinguished victims for the misappropriation of funds himself in the LGBT community by serving from a lawyer’s wrongdoing, but it only on the board of directors of numerous covers a nominal amount of any such loss. charitable agencies, including Care Resource.

It may be the least of Castrataro’s problems He also launched an unsuccessful bid for city now. His alleged thefts led to his arrest by the commission in Fort Lauderdale two years Fort Lauderdale police. On June 8, he was ago. charged with grand theft and an organized A New York native, prior to opening his scheme to defraud his own clients of more law practice in 2006, he had previously than $600,000, both first degree felonies. worked extensively in the public health field If convicted, Castrataro faces a minimum with the Florida Department of Health and sentence of 42 months in jail. the American Red Cross.

PA L M B E A C H

news

PBCHRC AWARDS 3, $2,500 SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS Deon C. Jefferson

Photo via Adobe.

P

alm Beach County Human Rights Council has announced the winners of the 2020 Daniel S. Hall Social Justice Scholarship. Each of the recipients will receive a $2,500 scholarship. “[This] award provides financial task. Applications are available in February, assistance to LGBTQA high school during that time information is sent out seniors that have desires to continue to local high school counselors in Palm their education and fight for social justice Beach County and also GSA sponsors. change,” said Jasmine K. Lewis, chairman Interested students have a deadline of of the scholarship program. “Many LGBTQ+ April to complete the application. One of students often face unique challenges the major prerequisites for the applicant is in their personal lives and academia; that they must showcase a passion for high funding their continued academic achievement education shouldn’t be one and expressed dedication of them. By having access to social justice in the “THIS to scholarships and other LGBT community. The SCHOLARSHIP financial opportunities, board voted upon the LGBTQ+ students can better selected students.

WILL MAKE A shape cultural progress.”

Thanks to funding, this TREMENDOUS PBCHRC is Florida’s oldest, year they were able to independent, non-partisan, select three winners.

DIFFERENCE IN political organization that “I am eager to use my MY EDUCATION education is committed to ending to make a real discrimination based on AND WILL HELP difference in the world sexual orientation and gender and to ensure equal rights ME BEGIN MY identity or expression. and fair treatment of all The Social Justice LIFE’S CALLING.” people, regardless of sex, Awards pays homage to religion, race, gender, etc.,” local attorney Daniel S. Hall, said Endora Guillaume - Endora Guillaume who has mentored several a Park Vista Community PARK VISTA SENIOR STUDENT LGBT students, manages graduating senior. “This a financial counseling scholarship will make a company, is a father of three, and is tremendous difference in my education PBCHRC’s longest serving board member. and will help me begin my life’s calling.”

“Our young people are more civically Guillaume is a Lake Worth resident; a engaged than ever before,” Lewis said. Bright Futures Academic Scholar and has “As a secondary education teacher, I know also been active in her school’s Genderfirsthand the importance of continued Sexuality Alliance and Black Student education after high school and how it’s Union. beneficial in the fight for social and racial Gulliaume plans to attend her dream justice.” school, Howard University, to study Selecting the applicants is not an easy political science.

Another Lake Worth resident and graduating senior Kyle Ahern from Dreyfoos School of the Arts is an active student in his communication department and Editor-in-chief for the Marquee newspaper at his school. Due to COVID-19, Kyle has organized an online speech tournament that will donate all the proceeds to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. He will attend Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas, where he will study journalism.

Theo Shusterman of West Palm Beach serves as the Co-Vice president of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance at Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Shusterman is a gun reform activist and the Co-Director of March For Our Lives West Palm Beach. He plans to continue his studies at Wesleyan University where he plans to study political science and sociology.

Carly Cass has served as the chair of the PBCHRC’s charitable foundation

scholarship program, and has actively participated since 2015. This year she decided to pass the baton to Lewis.

“I am extremely honored. My educational career would not have been possible without scholarships and awards similar to the Dan Hall Social Justice Award.

Being a teacher and GSA sponsor has provided me with insight to some of the struggles that marginalized and LGBTQ+ students encounter,” Lewis said. “I know the challenges that students face when making plans for college. These challenges can be especially difficult for our LGBTQ+ students. It feels good being able to provide this group of marginalized students a chance to receive some financial assistance to their continued educational journey. It is the hope of PBCHRC that these students would take the skills acquired in college and give back with advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.”

7. 2 . 20 20 •

17

Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

LIKE YOU, SFGN BEGINS TO RE-OPEN We are Here, Queer, and Going Nowhere

x

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

W

ith businesses beginning to slowly reopen, even in the face of growing numbers of the coronavirus, we are now printing and distributing more and more issues of the South Florida Gay News.

Do me a favor though. If you see someone defacing our free but very bright red news boxes, say something. Over a dozen boxes on the Drive were sprayed with graffiti in the past two weeks. Those acts constitute criminal mischief, and if you are caught, I will prosecute you for it. I will also pay the person who turns you in $500.

I might also add that if you want to advertise your business in our paper, do what everyone else does. Pay for it.

Stop placing your handbills on the front window of every one of our news boxes, and playing dumb like you don’t know how it happened.

Anyway, now that I am done venting, I want to congratulate my faithful staff here at SFGN, who insured that we continued to publish throughout the pandemic, taking only one week off for Memorial Day. Thank you to my editor, graphic designer, and sales team. Their names are more than fonts in a newspaper. Their hearts are in the belief in a free gay press.

SFGN celebrated its 10 anniversary this January, and we are going nowhere. To quote a line from one of Woody Nelson’s new albums, “I woke up this morning and found out I was not dead today.” Rumors about SFGN’s demise are greatly exaggerated.

As a matter of fact, I just ordered more outside news boxes to reach more locations.

In this week’s paper, we have even posted a page of outlier locations where you can pick up the print edition of our paper.

Aside from our print edition, we have hired a new webmaster, Kimberly Swan. Our online presence will continue to be enhanced going forward.

If you missed some print copies over the past few months, extra copies of each are available from our offices and at the Stonewall Library on East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, where they store back editions of everything LGBT in South Florida.

It is an amazing institution, one of the many non-profits in our community that do so much for so many.

SFGN will continue to be the FREE voice that celebrates our achievements and acknowledges our errors. To those of you who have contributed to our online fundraising campaign, let me thank you.

A free gay press in a disturbed straight world is important to all of us. Our state government wants to know if our paper is owned

by Communist China. It’s asking me to verify that for them. Don’t worry, my friends, SFGN is owned by a boy from Brooklyn, not Beijing.

We still have cases to fight and causes to fight for. The Republican party platform just announced that it is opposing gay marriage.

Workplace equality in Florida is not coming because we have a progressive legislature. Sometimes I think we are lucky our water fountains are still not segregated.

Outside of Nikki Fried, our state leadership is woefully Neanderthal.

SFGN still has stories to tell, and you have them to share. If these pandemically compromised months caused us to miss a few, fill us in. We can catch up. Send us a column, write a letter to the editor, or pass us a lead. We are your voice. Keep us on our toes.

We may have lost more than a beat these past few months. We lost some good people.

Let me share two that come to mind.

Once a financial columnist for our paper, Dan Pye, a local investment counselor, has passed away. A principled sponsor of

A FREE GAY PRESS IN A DISTURBED STRAIGHT WORLD IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

18

• 7. 2 .2020

An SFGN box that was recently vandalized. Photos courtesy of Norm Kent.

many causes, including the Human Rights Campaign, Dan’s passing remains mysterious.

We would love someone who knows more to share his story.

Equally sad, Ed Nicholas lost his life at the beginning of the pandemic’s emergence, but it was due to a one car accident. Ed was one of the architects and directors who put together the Gay and Lesbian Community Center 20 years ago. A fighter for gay causes since his days in New York. A good man gone.

We found out we have friends who support us in a time of adversity. Our Fund initiated a resilience fund which was matched by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

The Pride Center at Equality Park ran virtual programs. Equality Florida held an amazing virtual concert to generate funds to sustain their activism. Glen Weinzimer at Bona Pizza continued with his Monday night give back Mondays.

These past few months, our paper has celebrated the work of Dawn Holloway and Howard Marr, who have been champions during this plague. Aided by a host of sponsors, they have been distributing free meals courtesy of Hunter’s, feeding those left

without jobs and income during these tough times.

So too have others reached out, like Shawn Bombard at the Courtyard handing out 500 meals one afternoon, and Johnny Pak at the Alibi, with John Fugate distributing 500 hot dogs and chips, over a couple of weekends.

Who else do you know that is praiseworthy that we should be mentioning? Let us know.

It is now time for all of us to chip in a little to help H.G. Roosters in West Palm rebuild, recovering from a fire in May, with no insurance to rebuild.

Do what you can do make the world a better place to be. Help us write about those who have. SFGN is here, to report on the good times and bad, celebrations of life and in this era, losses we cannot bear. The virus has no boundaries, but neither do we.

Our community has been tested before.

Nothing can hold us down. We are gay. We are strong. We find rainbows after every storm.

Work towards that goal and today’s adversity will become tomorrow’s blessing.

Happy Independence Day. May you celebrate many more. Vote November 3, and maybe we will.

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CONVICTIONS

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7. 2 . 20 20 •

19

Jesse’s Journal

CONVICTIONS

THE DEATHS OF PRINCES This year we lost two giants in our community

Jesse Monteagudo

S

outh Florida’s LGBT community lost two of our greatest leaders during the first two months of 2020.

On Jan. 27 Terry DeCarlo, well-known and popular community organizer and activist, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 57. On February 25 Justin Flippen, Wilton Manor’s beloved “People’s Mayor,” died of a brain aneurysm.

He was only 41. Both DeCarlo and Flippen gave so much to our community and would have given us so much more had they been allowed to live. Their deaths affected us all; even those who were not personal friends or family members.

Terry DeCarlo. Photo via Facebook.

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• 7. 2.2020

During the last several years our community lost many great and good women and men, some of whom were younger than this writer or most of the remaining presidential candidates.

Their untimely deaths make me wonder, to paraphrase the title of Rabbi Harold S. Kushner’s most famous book, why bad things happen to good people. In times like these we must heed the advice of Rabbi Noah Kitty of Congregation Etz Chaim: That we never know when we will die; that we should be thankful for each day that we are allowed to live; and that we should use our remaining time on earth to do the work that we were assigned to do.

In my case, I presume that I continue to exist on this planet in part to chronicle the lives of my departed friends and loved ones; so that they will not be forgotten. For that purpose, I wrote articles about Vicky Keller, Joe Campanella and Richard Sedlak, not to mention my late partner, Michael Greenspan. Terry DeCarlo and Justin Flippen do not need me to be remembered; since their achievements are well-known, both in the LGBT community and beyond.

I knew both DeCarlo and Flippen personally; though they were not as close to me as Keller, Sedlak or (obviously) Greenspan. DeCarlo and his husband, Bill Huelsman — one of our community’s true power couples — were active in a variety of community organizations and events that gave me the opportunity to get involved and to interact with them.

Later DeCarlo and Huelsman moved to Orlando where, as Executive Director of The Center, DeCarlo led Orlando’s LGBT community in the aftermath of the PULSE Nightclub massacre.

I met Flippen through our involvement with the Dolphin Democrats, a group (among many) that he led in his lifetime. When Flippen was elected Wilton Manor’s City Commissioner and later Mayor he continued to be the same friendly, outgoing and generous person that he was when I first met him. Flippen loved everyone and everyone loved him; and had he lived he would have surely been re-elected in a landslide. And after that, what? Alas, we will never know.

In William Shakespeare’s play “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” Caesar’s wife Calpurnia — played by a boy in drag, like all female parts in Shakespeare’s time — warned her

Justin Flippen. Photo via Facebook.

husband that “When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”

Though we no longer believe in the power of comets to predict the future we recognize the fact that some of the men and women in our midst are princes or princesses, not by heredity but through their achievements. Both Terry DeCarlo and Justin Flippen were gay princes who left us too soon.

Like the other activists whose names I have mentioned, they spent their times on earth doing the work that they were assigned to do. Those of us who are left behind in a world without them should mourn their loss; support their friends and loved ones in their hours of grief; and, most importantly, follow their example.

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida's LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations.

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Friday night and Saturday morning streaming services available at Templebatyam.org 5151 NE 14th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954.928.0410 | info@templebatyam.org 7. 2 . 20 20 •

21

CONVICTIONS

Letter From The Editor

FLORIDA’S FLAG MUST GO Jason Parsley

Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

Photo via Adobe.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This op-Ed was published in 2015 - the last time the debate over the confederate flag in the U.S. flared up. Now this week Mississippi voted to remove the confederate flag from their flag.

A

fter years of debating whether the Confederate battle flag should fly on government property a consensus is finally being reached against a symbol that is clearly racist.

There is no other symbol in America that represents racism more than the Confederate battle flag. The idea that the flag stands for anything else but racism is preposterous. Let’s look at history — the Confederate flag began as a symbol of slavery and later used by groups opposed to Civil Rights. This shouldn’t be up for debate.

Republican leaders of South Carolina have rightfully called for its removal in Charleston and there appears to be a growing movement in Mississippi calling for the legislature to redesign the state flag.

This is a debate the LGBT community should be paying attention to because no symbol of hate should be revered.

The LGBT community should condemn this flag — this symbol — in the strongest terms possible. We must stand with our black brothers and sisters. This fight against hate affects us all. We have borne the brunt of hate time and time again. So we know what it feels like.

And that brings me to Florida.

Our flag appears to be benign enough, but it also has a connection to the Confederate flag. The red bars featured on our flag are known as St. Andrew’s Cross, a prominent symbol of the Confederacy — a symbol that is basis of the Confederate battle flag. It’s also known as the Southern Cross. The only difference between the Confederate flag cross and Florida’s cross is that one features stars inside the bars, while our bars are solid red.

The man who proposed this flag, Francis P. Fleming, was a known segregationist, who served in the Confederate army.

He was also the Governor of Florida.

Fleming said he wanted to add the red bars so our flag would not look like a white flag of truce or surrender.

Coincidentally Alabama also added red bars to their flag in 1895 just five years before Florida did. According to historical records that flag was modeled after the flag of Alabama’s Civil War infantry.

While there doesn’t appear to be any legislative records linking Florida’s addition of the St. Andrew’s Cross to the Confederacy or Civil War, it’s safe to assume the connection.

22

• 7. 2.2020

“While no legislative records indicate the new flag was an attempt to honor the Confederacy, University of Florida history professor Fitz Brundage said the change came during a decade that saw a wave of nostalgia sweep across the South for the ‘Lost Cause.’ The fact that the St. Andrew’s cross was chosen also is evidence of an intent to commemorate the Confederacy, he said.”

— From an article in Savannah Morning News in 2000 Besides Fleming serving in the Civil War his ties to the confederacy are well established long after the war was over with him serving as commander of the R.E. Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans; aide-de-camp to General John B. Gordon, Florida Division of the United Confederate Veterans; and president of the Old Confederate Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home Association.

Further evidence is found in one of Fleming’s most notorious acts as Governor where he removed from office the state’s only black judge, James Dean of Monroe County in 1889, because he had married a white man to a black woman, which was illegal in the state (even though the groom claimed he was “mulatto”).

In 2002 Jeb Bush posthumously reinstated the judge.

“This happened in a different space and time in our state’s history, but irrespective of how long it’s taken us to right this wrong, I think it’s more than appropriate to do so,” Bush said at the time.

I agree with Bush on that. And the same could be said for our flag. It was designed in a different space and time in our history, but there’s nothing from stopping us from redesigning it again. This time making sure it has no connection, no link, however slight, to our racist past.

There are many who like to downplay slavery as the reason for the Civil War, but I think the motive can be summed up by this speech from the Vice President of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens.

Here’s just a snippet of the now infamous speech known as the “Corner Stone Speech.”

“Its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all other truths in the various departments of science… … Many governments have been founded upon the principle of the subordination and serfdom of certain classes of the same race; such were and are in violation of the laws of nature. Our system commits no such violation of nature’s laws. With us, all of the white race, however high or low, rich or poor, are equal in the eye of the law. Not so with the negro. Subordination is his place. He, by nature, or by the curse against Canaan, is fitted for that condition which he occupies in our system.”

So you see the Confederacy was based on the belief that not all men were created equal. And the above speech says it all. This was America’s great shame and it should not be celebrated — ever. The Confederacy is a part of our history, there’s no getting away from that, but that doesn’t mean we need to throw it in the black community’s face.

That’s why it’s time for Florida to change its flag.

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LIFESTYLE FOOD

ARE YOUR DOORS OPEN ?

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GOING TO POT Lemongrass Hot Pot is worthy of a visit

LEMONGRASS HOT POT 5450 S. State Rd. 7, Davie (954) 533-3599 lemongrasshardrock.com

Rick Karlin

The visit for the review and the review were written before the COVID-19 shut down. Contact the restaurant for its current dining guidelines.

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H

ot pot restaurants have been popular in Asia for many years. It’s the same idea as fondue, but much healthier because, instead of cooking in cheese or oil, you’re cooking your dinner in broth. It’s also a much quicker process because the meats, while frozen are thinly sliced, so it cooks in a manner of minutes in the broth. Seafood, vegetables and noodles, brought fresh to the table, also cook in a few minutes.

At most hot pot restaurants each diner chooses their flavored broth which is inserted into the table in front of them and controls the temperature of the broth. The table then orders a variety of ingredients to drop into the broth. Such is the case at Lemongrass Hot Pot. At Lemongrass you pay a set price for your bowl of broth (choice of eight different kinds ranging from vegetarian to Taiwanese hot and spicy to Italian style tomato-based) and then add meat from a freezer buffer and order noodles vegetables and seafood from an extensive menu. You can upgrade to some more expensive meat cuts (lamb loin, pork belly) but such additions are not really necessary because the menu of inclusive add-ons is so extensive. The seafood options include shrimp, squid, scallops, clams, frog legs and blue crab. Noodle options are even more expansive and include sweet potato vermicelli, udon, rice and wheat flour pasta.

Veggies include a variety of Asian staples such; as bok choy, napa cabbage, daikon, lotus root, seaweed and Taiwanese spinach, as well as more familiar fare such as zucchini, potatoes, corn, carrot and cauliflower. The selection of mushrooms is almost overwhelming. Delicate enoki, hearty shitake, and oyster as well as exotic seafood mushroom and black fungus.

After all that you might think you were through the menu, but you’ve barely even

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Photo credit: Lemongrass Hot Pot. started. Check out the dumplings and fish balls.

If all this sounds over-whelming, it’s because it is, but the helpful servers are happy to walk you through the process and offer advice (Wait till the broth starts to boil before adding any fish or meat and allow seafood and meat to cook in the boiling broth at least two minutes). After your meats, noodles and veggies are cooked you stain them out with a slotted ladle.

HERE ARE TWO OTHER HOT POT SPOTS TO TRY: NINE SPICES HOT POT 6820 N. Stirling Rd., Davie 754-400-9708 ninespicesdavie.com

The add-ons for the food pass by on a conveyor belt, not as sanitary as having it delivered to your table, as at Lemongrass.

HI POT

620 N. University Dr., Pembroke Pines 954-362-7110 hi-pot.com This is a franchise and doesn’t feel as authentic as Lemongrass.

VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD!

Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor.

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

A&E THEATER

CABARET SINGER REVEALS SECRETS IN NEW BIOGRAPHICAL SHOW J.W. Arnold

B

efore the COVID-19 shutdown, flamboyant cabaret singer Jennifer McClain maintained a busy schedule, belting out show tunes, pop standards and gay anthems at bars along Wilton Drive and beyond.

Like so many other artists, McClain turned to the internet in the aftermath, performing from her closet via Facebook Live and paying the bills with online tips from viewers.

Next week, she’ll finally return to the stage with a new one-woman show, “This is Me,” at Wilton Theater Factory in Wilton Manors.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, a scripted cabaret,” explained McClain, “but I never really thought much about what it would be about. I’d never written before.”

Producer Ronnie Larsen reached out several weeks ago and informed her he had filed an application with the county to open the theater with social distancing procedures.

McClain realized she had the time and opportunity to tackle the project.

McClain settled on a biographical show.

Even though she has performed in South Florida for more than 20 years, she saw an opportunity to go beyond the show tunes and share her personal journey, from theater productions in high school and college to her time in professional musical theater and performances on cruise ships and at theme parks.

“It ends with me arriving in South Florida,” she laughed, “which means there is nobody who can contradict me. Within 30 seconds, you’re going to hear something about me you never knew. It’s not a secret, I’ve just never talked about it.”

McClain is tightlipped about the stories (“I’m not giving you the script!”), but does admit that she had a career plan and South Florida was not a part of that plan.

“I’m most excited because this is such a departure from anything I’ve done before. I sat down and started writing and thought, damn, this is really good. I even ran it by old friends and they agreed,” she added.

McClain is still nervous.

When asked if the show is appropriate for “parents,” she answered: ”Well, not my parents. There’s high school and college and my early 20s and I’m honest about all of it.

Let’s just say I was in the choir, but I wasn’t a ‘choir boy’.”

Jennifer McClain opens her one-woman show, one of the first theater productions since the COVID-19 shutdown, next weekend at Wilton Theater Factory.

Credit: Courtesy of Jennifer McClain.

She tapped director and longtime friend based in Los Angeles, Kalen Edean, to direct the show. They’ve been consulting over Zoom and Facetime for weeks on the show’s book.

He began live rehearsals with McClain this week in Wilton Manors.

“He’s somebody I trust and he trusts me.

He’s helping me in navigating this thing, but it is my life and my story,” she said.

She’s also relying on veteran musical director and pianist Eric Alsford. They worked together on at least three shows (“There may have been more,” she said.) before they both made the move to South Florida in the late 1990s.

As for opening one of the first shows in the region post-COVID-19, McClain is confident, especially since seating will be limited and audiences will wear masks.

“I feel for me it’s a safer environment than performing in any of the bars — let’s call them restaurants now. In theater, everyone will be required to keep their masks on. We all know the masks make a difference. In restaurants, patrons don’t have to wear masks because they’re eating,” she said.

But most importantly, McClain is looking forward to the opportunity once again to interact in person with audiences. She won’t see smiles on their faces, but then again, McClain’s loyal fans have never been shy about expressing their approval before.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone,” she concluded enthusiastically.

Jennifer McClain stars in “This is Me: A Night of Broadway and Biography,” Fridays and Saturdays, July 10 — Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. at Wilton Theater Factory, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Tickets are $35 at RonnieLarsen.com.

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A&E FILM

WELCOME TO CHECHNYA Chilling Film About Homophobic Violence in Russian Republic David-Elijah Nahmod

N

ow airing on HBO, David France’s “Welcome to Chechnya” is an emotionally devastating look at LGBT life inside the Russian Republic.

Now airing on HBO, David France’s torture or even execution.

“Welcome to Chechnya” is an emotionally Viewers get a glimpse of how complicit the devastating look at LGBT life inside the government is in these horrific actions. In Russian Republic. an interview done for American television, As the film opens, a young lesbian named Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is Anya is talking on the phone to a man who will supported by Russian President Vladimir help her to escape the country — her uncle is Putin, is asked point black about the arrests trying to blackmail her into having sex with and torture of gays in his territory. He denies him. The uncle says that if she doesn’t comply, the allegations, saying “we don’t have any he will out her to her virulently homophobic gays.” father, a high ranking government official.

The film allows us to get to know one of Anya has very real fears that the refugees rather well. He’s she could be killed if outed. identified as Grisha — not his But Anya’s story, as real name. After being held horrifying as it is, is not the and tortured for twelve days worst thing we see in “Welcome he’s released and is joined by to Chechnya.” Found footage of his boyfriend in Moscow. They a young gay man being brutally decide to flee the country — raped by his captors is difficult Grisha’s entire family flees with to watch, yet this is typical of them after they are targeted the horrific, state-sanctioned with threats of violence. behavior that goes on in the Grisha is a courageous Republic. young man. After his family is Much of the film follows the moved to a secret location in work being done by a Moscow Europe, Grisha comes forward, based Queer activist group reveals his true face and name which helps targeted LGBT to the cameras, and files suit - Neal Baer Chechens flee the country. in the Russian courts. This is a PRODUCER This entails hiding them in profoundly powerful sequence safe houses, getting them in the film. across the border, obtaining visas and finding Neal Baer, a producer on the film, has a host countries who will take them in. Canada history of bringing strong gay content to has been very welcoming to these refugees, television screens. but as the film tells us, the administration of “I came out seven years ago,” Baer said. “But President Donald Trump has not allowed a long before I came out, I knew I was gay when single one of them to emigrate to the U.S. I was 5 years old.”

Though several people fleeing the country Baer helped to create the first ongoing allowed themselves to be filmed on camera, character with HIV in a primetime drama their faces were disguised by computer on “ER,” and incorporated stories about technology in order to protect their identities transgender characters on “Law & Order: — there’s the very real possibility that, even SVU.” after settling into a new country, the Chechen “It was my way of making peace with myself government could come after them and return for coming out,” he said. “The story on “ER” them to Chechnya, where they could face with the first ongoing HIV character played

“I AM HOPING THAT THIS FILM HELPS US KNOW MORE THAN WE KNOW NOW SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION.”

Soneone fleeing the life they know in “Welcome To Chechnya.” Image credit: HBO.

26

• 7. 2.2020

A&E FILM A MESSAGE FROM SFGN

by Gloria Reuben I think was a very important story showing that people could live lives that were healthy and also productive, and we really fought to dispel the stigma that was pushed on people with HIV.” Baer says that he jumped at the chance to work on “Welcome to Chechnya” as an executive producer.

“I had read Masha Gessen’s pieces in the New Yorker, so I knew about it, but I didn’t know enough,” he said. “I am hoping that this film helps us know more than we know now so that we can take action.”

Viewers of the film are invited to visit the film’s website, where a Take Action option appears on the site’s menu. People are offered four ways in which they can step up to the plate and help in the fight to end what is happening in Chechnya.

“I think the film tells the story, but it doesn’t just leave you with the question of now what, what can I do,” Baer said.

“There’s lots we can do.”

Baer spoke of how important it was to disguise the faces of the film’s subjects, since the Chechen government issued an edict to find the refugees and bring them back to the country wherever they might be in the world. He also spoke of the young man who came forward and allowed his true face to be revealed.

“In the theater at Sundance [film festival] people gasped,” Baer said. “Because he has been public. He’s been the public face of this in Moscow. With the action steps that you can take to help support him in his quest to support his legal case. So that is the reason that he and he alone is shown because he is already public, and he gave permission.”

Baer is sure that Kadyrov and Putin are aware of the film, which is attracting attention

and has won awards at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals. He addressed where the level of hate that we see in Chechnya might be coming from.

“It’s a complicated question,” he said. “There’s the invasions, Chechen independence, there’s always a way to look at scapegoating. Whose fault is this? We see that with Trump in his scapegoating of people of color, for instance, and using coded words like hombre when he was in Tulsa. He uses racist imagery in his tweets and his racist comments to provoke hate and fear. That’s been done in Chechnya and I think it relates to who the president is, his own views, and for whatever reason he’s so fearful of homosexuals is a good question. It’s also about standing up and showing that they’re strong and macho, so that’s a very complex question that comes out of their history.

But we see scapegoating in the United States and Poland of LGBT people, we saw it in Nazi Germany, so this is nothing new. Find a group, blame them, and everything will be OK.” Baer hopes that viewers of the film will think about the 50th anniversary of Pride and realize that we’re not done yet.

“We have to move forward,” he said. “Seventy countries have laws against homosexual/trans behavior. Thirteen I believe still have death penalties on their books, so we have to work to eliminate this. Only last week or two weeks ago the Supreme Court ruled that you cannot fire someone in the United States for being Queer. That’s in 2020, so we can’t take this rose colored view and say that things are so much better. There are things that need to be done. People are still being tortured and murdered and denied freedom to love whomever they want to love because of the views of people in power.”

BAER HOPES THAT VIEWERS OF THE FILM WILL THINK ABOUT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRIDE AND REALIZE THAT WE’RE NOT DONE YET.

During these difficult times, think positive thoughts.

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Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call to see if you qualify. $40 INTERNET OFFER: Price for Internet (768k - 100) for new residential customers when bundled with® another qualifying AT&T service (DIRECTV, U-verse TV, AT&T TV or AT&T Phone or postpaid AT&T wireless). Prorated ETF ($180) applies if Internet is disconnected before end of 12 months. Must maintain all bundled services to receive advertised pricing. Additional Fees & Taxes: Excludes cost-recovery charges, where applicable and $10/mo equipment fee. Activ/Installation: $35 activation fee (self-install) or $99 installation (full tech install) may apply. Credit restrictions apply. Pricing subject to change. Subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. †Unlimited data allowance may also be purchased separately for an add’l $30/mo., or maintain a bundle of TV & Internet on a combined bill and receive unlimited internet data at no add’l charge. For more info, go to att.com/internet-usage.‡ Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds. Actual customer speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on several factors. For more information, go to 1 att.com/speed101. AT&T Smart Home Manager is available to AT&T Internet service customers with a compatible AT&T Wi-Fi Gateway. Features limited to home Wi-Fi network. 2Parental Controls and Data Usage features available with BGW210, 5268AC and NVG599 Wi-Fi Gateways. 3AT&T Smart Wi-Fi requires installation of a BGW210, 5268AC, or NVG599 Wi-Fi Gateway. Standard with Internet plans (12M or higher). Whole-home Wi-Fi connectivity may require AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender(s) sold separately. Offers may not be combined with other promotional offers on the same services and may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Other conditions apply to all offers. ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

24/7 monitoring provides Iv Support Holdings LLC peace of Now mind Save Yard sign and window On Home decals help deter crime

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PER M O N T H New customersHOME only. EarlySECURITY termination SYSTEM —$100 Value fee applies. Installation starts $ WIRELESS REMOTE 100 VISA GIFT CARD 139695 7 WIRELESS COMPLETE SECURITY SYSTEM VALUE From Protect Your Home CONTROL $ customers only. at Early $99termination with 36 monitoring New —$100 Value 850 DOOR/WINDOW —$139 Value VALUE fee applies.

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GIFT WIRELESS 139 SENSORS —$695 REMOTE VALUE! Pulse® + Video —$299 VALUE!

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by ADT ® the home security company in the U.S. GREAT GREAT Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call to see if you qualify.

LOW $40 INTERNET OFFER: Price for Internet (768k - 100) for new residential customers when bundled with another qualifying AT&T service (DIRECTV, AT&T Phone or postpaid AT&T PRICE U-verse TV, AT&T TV orPRICE ETF ($180) applies if Internet is disconnected before end of 12 months. Must maintain all bundled services to receive advertised pricing.

Additional Fees & Taxes: Excludes cost-recovery charges, where app ADT® 24/7 Monitored Home Security MONITORING equipment fee.®Activ/Installation: $35 activation fee (self-install) or $99 installation (full tech install) may apply. Credit restrictions apply. Pricing subject to change.

Subj. to Internet Terms of Service 24/7 monitoring provides Quickly connect to fire net-terms. †Unlimited data allowance may also be purchased separately for an add’l $30/mo., or maintain a bundle ofMONITORING TV & Internet on a combined bill and receive unlimited internet data at no add’l ch peace of mind and emergency response 24/7 monitoring provides Quickly connect to fi re go to att.com/internet-usage.‡ Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds. Actual customer speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on several factors. For more 1 Yard and window MayAT&T qualify for a Features limited to home Wi-Fi network. 2Parental Controls att.com/speed101.

AT&T Smart Home Manager is available Internetsign service customers with a compatible Wi-Fi Gateway. peace of mind andto AT&T emergency response decals help deter crime features available with BGW210, 5268AC and NVG599 Wi-Fi Gateways. 3AT&T Smart Wi-Fi requires installation of homeowners a BGW210, 5268AC,insurance or NVG599 Wi-Fi Gateway. Standard with Internet plans (12M or hig Yard sign may and window qualify Wi-Fi connectivity require AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender(s)May sold separately.

Offersfor may a not be combined withdiscount other promotional offers on the same services and®may be modified or disc PER MONTH time without notice.deter Other conditions ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo $and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks decals help crimeapply to all offers. homeowners insurance 100 VALUE Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

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Geographic and service restrictions plus taxes & apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call to see if you qualify. $40 INTERNET OFFER: Price for Internet (768k - 100) for new residential customers when bundled with another qualifying AT&T service (DIRECTV, U-verse TV, AT&T TV or AT&T Phone or postpaid AT&T wireless). Prorated ETF ($180) applies ifequip.

Internet isfee. disconnected before end of 12 months. Must maintain all bundled services to receive advertised pricing. Additional Fees & Taxes: Excludes cost-recovery charges, where applicable and $10/mo An In-Home ® Subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/interequipment fee. Activ/Installation: $35 activation fee (self-install) or $99 installation (full tech install) may apply. Credit restrictions apply. Pricing subject to change.

Evaluation Will net-terms. †Unlimited data allowance may also be purchased separately for an add’l $30/mo., or maintain a bundle of TV & Internet on a combined bill and receive unlimited internet data at no add’l charge. For more info, Iv Support LLC 12 mo agmt, other qualifying service (min $19/mo) go to att.com/internet-usage.‡ Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capabilityHoldings speeds. Actual customer speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on several factors. For more information, go to Be Scheduled 3 1 att.com/speed101.

AT&Tapplies.

Smart Home Manager is available to AT&T Internet service customers with a compatible AT&T Wi-Fi Gateway. Features limited to home Wi-Fi network. 2Parental Controls and Data Usage combined bill req’d. $10/mo equip. fee At Your &Earliest features available with BGW210, 5268AC and NVG599 Wi-Fi Gateways. 3AT&T Smart Wi-Fi requires installation of a BGW210, 5268AC, or NVG599 Wi-Fi Gateway. Standard with Internet plans (12M or higher). Whole-home Wi-Fi connectivity mayadd’l require AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender(s) sold separately. Offers may not be combined with other promotional offers on the same services and may be modified or discontinued at any Incl 1TB data/mo. $10 chrg for each Convenience time without†notice. Other conditions apply to all offers. ©2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual 50GB (up to $100/mo).

Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

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Price incl. SELECT TV Pkg., monthly service & equip. fees for 1 HD DVR & is after $5/mo. autopay & paperless bill and $10/mo. bundle discounts for up to 12 mos each. Pay $54.99/mo. + taxes and fees for TV until discounts start w/in 3 bills. New approved residential customers only (equipment lease req'd). Credit card req'd. Restr’s apply.

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TV price higher in 2nd year. $10/mo. internet equip. fee applies.* Incl Unlimited data allowance ($30 value) at no add’l charge.†

*$19.95 ACTIVATION, EARLY TERMINATION FEE, $20/MO. FOR TV FOR EACH MONTH REMAINING ON TV AGMT., EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN & ADD’L FEES APPLY.

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- designed Wage Garnishment Client Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T Internet services. Not all speeds available in all areas. Call or go to www.att.com/internet to see if you qualify. nthem offers a Anthem money-back guaranteeguarantee designed to help you you avoid wasting money ineffective tax services.

We will gather as much information offers a money-back to help avoid wasting money onon ineffective tax services.

We will gather as much information & Bookkeeping 1-YR BUNDLE PRICE: Ends 6/27/20. Pricing: $79.98/mo for first 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rates apply (currently $85/mo. for SELECT TV Pkg.; $39.99/mo. for Internet), unless canceled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Must maintain from youand as necessary andtax workauthorities with tax authorities to give bestchance chance ofof reducing youryour tax debt. for anyIfreason thatreason does notthat workdoes out, not work out, om you as necessary work with to give youyou thethe best reducing taxIfdebt. for any qualifying services and service addresses must match to receive advertised pricing. Pricing subject to change. $5/mo. autopay/paperless billing discount for TV: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. and thenotifies government notifies us they to reduce overall taxliability liability or payments by anyby amount, we will gladly you therefund you allthe nd the government us they refuse torefuse reduce your your overall tax ormonthly monthly payments any amount, werefund will gladly Services First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. $10/mo. bundle discount for TV: Internet must be installed w/in 30 days of fees you paid for our services in trying to reduce that debt. Money Back Guarantee does not apply to Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Services.

TV activation to receive credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain both qualifying svcs to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for bundled services. Includes: SELECT All-Included TV Pkg., Internet ees you paid for our services in trying to reduce that debt. Money Back doesFREE not apply to Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Services.

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Discount applied at time of purchase. Terms and Conditions Apply. * Subject to 3rd party credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Receive a free American Standard Cadet Toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath, Liberation Shower, or Deluxe Shower. Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchaser. All offers subject to change prior to purchase. See www.AmericanStandardBathtubs.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. * CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY:5543IH; NYC:HIC#2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

w/24-mo. TV & 12-mo. Internet agmts & combined bill. Savings based on extra $10/mo. off for 12 mos. compared to previous price, plus $10/mo. discount on internet and $10/mo. bill credit for 12 mos. on TV when you bundle.

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Incl 1TB data/mo. $10 chrg for each add’l 50GB (up to $100/mo).†

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OUTDOOR CAMERATODAY! LIMITED TIME OFFER—CALL DOOR/WINDOW When you upgrade to ADT Ask about same-day installation!

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1-954-390-2356Pulse® + Video —$299 VALUE! $299 VALUE

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SENSORS —$695 VALUE!

GIFT CARD: $100 Visa Gift Card fulfilled by Protect Your Home through third-party provider, Mpell, upon installation of a security system and execution of monitoring contract. $4.95 shipping and handling fee, gift cards can take up to 8 weeks to arrive after following the Mpell redemption process. BASIC SYSTEM: $99 Parts and Install. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($1,007.64).

Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($671.76) for California. Offer applies See24-Month all off er details below.

1 RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL to homeowners only. Basic system requires landline phone. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Premier Provider customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Cannot be combined with any other offer. The $27.99 Offer does not include Quality Service Plan (QSP), ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. ADT Pulse: ADT Pulse Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Pulse”), which help you manage your home environment and family lifestyle, require the purchase and/or activation of an ADT alarm system with monitored burglary service and a compatible computer, cell phone or PDA with Internet and email access. These ADT Pulse services do not cover the operation or maintenance of any household equipment/systems that are connected to the ADT Pulse equipment. All 1 Subject to credit ADT Pulse services are not available with the various levels of ADT Pulse. All ADT Pulse services may not be available in all geographic areas. You may be required to pay additional charges to purchase equipment required to utilize the ADT Pulse features you desire.

ADT PULSE + VIDEO: ADT Pulse + Video installation is an additional $299. 36-month monitoring contract required from ADT Pulse + Video: $59.99 per month, ($2,159.64), including Quality Service Plan (QSP). Doorbell camera may not be available in all approval. areas. GENERAL: For all offers, the form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account, satisfactory credit history is required and termination fee applies. Local permit fees may be required. Certain restrictions may apply.

YOUR ENTIRE INSTALL! Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Call for details. **Offer valid at estimate only Additional monitoring fees required for some services. For example, Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert monitoring requires purchase and/or activation of an ADT security system with monitored Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert Sun: 2pm-8pm EST devices and are an additional charge. Additional equipment may be purchased for an additional charge. Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. Prices subject to change. Prices may vary by market.

Some insurance companies offer discounts on Homeowner’s Insurance. Please consult your insurance company. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the exact product/service actually provided. Licenses: AL-21-001104, AR-CMPY.0001725 AZ-ROC217517, CA-ACO6320, CT-ELC.0193944-L5, DC-EMS902653, DC-602516000016, DE-07-212, FL-EC13003427, EC13003401, GA-LVA205395, IA-AS-0206, ID-ELE-SJ-39131, IL-127.001042, IN-C.P.D. Reg. No. – 19-08088, City of Indianapolis: *The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally LAC-000156, KY-City of Louisville: 483, LA-F1914, LA-F1915, LA-F1082, MA-1355C, MD-107-1626, ME-LM50017382, MI-3601205773, MN-TS01807, MO-City of St. Louis: CC#354, St. Louis County: 100194, MS-15007958,MT-PSP-ELS-LIC-247, NCCARD:7656 $100License# Visa Gift Card fulfiLicense# lled by Protect Your Home through of a security system and execution monitoring contract. $4.95 shipping and handling fee,Vegas: gift3000008296, cards can take up toby8 the weeks arrive after installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501GIFT License# 50145 41354 License# 99338 third-party License#provider, 128344 Mpell, upon installation 25310-SP-FA/LV, NC-1622-CSA, NE-14451, NJ BurglarofAlarm Lic. # -NJ-34BF00021800, NM-353366, NV-0068518, City of Las NY-Licensed N.Y.S. to Department of Statefollowing UID#12000317691, NYS #12000286451,OH-53891446, License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 2705132153A LEAFFNW822JZ WV056912 License# the License# Mpell redemption process.License# BASIC SYSTEM: $99 PartsLicense# and Install.

36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 monthOR-170997, ($1,007.64).

24-Month Monitoring Agreement at $27.99 perRI-7508, monthSC-BAC5630, ($671.76) California.

OfferTX-B13734, appliesACR-3492, UT-6422596-6501, VA-115120, VTCity of Cincinnati: AC86, per OK-AC1048, Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration required Number: PA022999, RI-3582, SD- for 1025-7001-ET, TN-1520, WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 ES-2382(7C),WA-602588694/ECPROTEYH934RS, WI-City of Milwaukee: PAS-0002966, WV-WV042433, WY-LV-G-21499.

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Way South Indianapolis, IN 46240 Inc. dba Protect Your Home DF-CD-NP-Q220-FL to homeowners only. Basic system requires landline phone. Offer valid forRegistration# new ADT Authorized Premier Provider customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Cannot be combined with any TheDr.$27.99 Offer does©2017 notDEFENDERS, include Quality

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Ask about same-day 5% OFF LIMITED TIME OFFER—CALL TODAY! GIFT CARD: $100 Visa Gift Card fulfilled by Protect Your Home through third-party provider, Mpell, upon installation of a security system and execution of monito

installation! the Mpell redemption process. BASIC SYSTEM: Reply$99 ByParts and Install. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($1,007.64). 24-M to homeowners only. Basic systemJuly requires18, landline phone. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Premier Provider customers only and not on purchases fr 2020 Service Plan (QSP), ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. ADT Pulse: ADT Pulse Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Pulse”), which help you manage your hom monitored burglary service and a compatible computer, cell phone or PDA with Internet and email access. These ADT Pulse services do not cover the operation or ADT Pulse services are not available with the various levels of ADT Pulse. All ADT Pulse services may not be available in all geographic areas. You may be require ADT PULSE + VIDEO: ADT Pulse + Video installation is an additional $299. 36-month monitoring contract required from ADT Pulse + Video: $59.99 per m 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H Service Plan (QSP), ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. ADT Pulse: ADT Pulse Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Pulse”), which help you manage your home environment and family lifestyle, require the purchase and/or activation of an ADT alarm system with GENERAL: alltheoffers, theorform of payment must beequipment/systems by credit card orthatelectronic charge monitored burglary service and a compatible computer, cell phone or PDA with Internet and email access. Theseareas.

ADT Pulse services do notFor cover operation maintenance of any household are connected to the to ADTyour Pulsechecking equipment.or All savings account, satisfactory credit history is ADT Pulse services are not available with the various levels of ADT Pulse. All ADT Pulse services may not be available in all geographic areas. fees You may be required pay additional to purchaseBurglary, equipment Fire, required to utilizeMonoxide the ADT Pulseand features you desire.Alert monitoring requires purchase and/or ac Additional monitoring required for tosome services.charges For example, Carbon Emergency ADT PULSE + VIDEO: ADT Pulse + Video installation is an additional $299. 36-month monitoring contractdevices required from + Video: $59.99 per month, ($2,159.64), includingmay QualitybeService Plan (QSP). camera may not beAdditional available in allcharges may apply in areas that require guar and ADT are Pulse an additional charge.

Additional equipment purchased for Doorbell an additional charge. areas. GENERAL: For all offers, the form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account, satisfactory credit history is required and termination fee applies. Local permit fees may be required. Certain restrictions may apply.

Some insurance companies offer discounts on Homeowner’s Insurance. Please consult your insurance company. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may

1-954-390-2356

FEATURE PETS

G RICO IS WAITIN

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RICO

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If you would like to meet a pet, please visit www.humanebroward.com and click on the banner that says covid 19 update adoptions and essential services (the banners rotate). There you will find an application for adoption and other pertinent information. Complete the application (even if you have adopted before) and submit it.

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Dental Insurance

Dental Insurance Dental Insurance Get the dental care you deserve with dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. It can help Get the dental care you deserve with dental insurance cover the services you’re most likely to use — from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. It can help

Get the dental care you deserve with dental insurance cover the services It you’re most likely to use — from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. can help cover the services you’re most likely to use —

Cleanings

X-rays

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Cleanings X-rays Fillings Crowns Dentures Cleanings X-rays Fillings Crowns Dentures Preventive care starts right away Preventive care starts right away Helps cover over 350 services Preventive care starts right away Helps cover over 350 services Helps cover over 350 services to any dentistyou youwant want –– but Go Go to any dentist butsave savemore more with one in ournetwork network Go to any dentist you want –with but save one inmore our with one in our network No No deductible, deductible,nonoannual annual maximum maximum No deductible, no annual maximum

Call now to get this FREE Call now to get this FREE Call now to get this FREE Information Kit! Information Kit! Information Kit!

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Here’s the information you requested on Dental insurance

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Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating Providers and Preventive Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider.

Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type.

Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance catedetails of this type.this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not Contactpolicy/certifi us for complete Product not available in allabout states.

Includes the Participating Providers and Preventive Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. specifi c offer is notor respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A available in CO,This NY; call 1-888-799-4433 Benefi ts Rider.

Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-4433 or respond(ID: forC250E; similarPA: offer.

Certifi cate C250A C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA:TN: P150GA; NY:Rider P150NY; OK: P150OK; P150TN). kinds B438/B439. available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-4433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A TN: P150TN). Rider kinds B438/B439.

6154-0120 (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; 6154-0120 l

TN: P150TN). Rider kinds B438/B439.

6154-0120

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