7/26/16 V7i30

local name global coverage July 27, 2016 vol. 7 // issue 30

s o u t h

f l o r i d a

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n e w s

A Powerful Address Pages 15, 25

Michelle Obama brings down the house; makes case for Hillary RNC and DNC strong contrast Pages 12 - 18

SouthFloridaGayNews

2016: the new 1968 Page 22

soflagaynews

SFGN.com

The Opening Line

Comments from SFGN’s

online outlets

Compiled by John McDonald

Trump Gives Most LGBT Inclusive RNC Speech Ever

Photos: Facebook, Twitter.

Progress Bar Responds To Towing Incident

Michael Walters –

David Michael Rameaux –

Y'all need to just get over it...

Acting petty. Grow up and learn to read a damn sign.

Historical that he mentioned it? Perhaps. But did you notice that he could barely say it? He sounded like he was ordering a sandwich. Maybe Mrs. Obama should have written it for him. So, he mentioned our community in one speech? *slow golf clap* I suppose that makes up for that virulently anti-gay platform the GOP adopted? I suppose a cursory mention, a token acknowledgement is the remedy for choosing an incredibly anti LGBT running mate who has cost his state millions because of his theologist and discriminatory laws. No thank you, GOP. I'll never support a party that would stick me back into the closet of shame and silence. Their entire convention was four days of hate. All that was missing were the hoods and the burning crosses.

SFGN

Junior Ferdinand Ortiz –

No need to shame a business over a parking situation where they have posted signs. Had they towed cars and had no signage I would be more empathetic. Well done Albert Pierantoni on the response.

Robinson Almanzar – We all need to get along better!!

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

July 27, 2016 • Volume 7 • Issue 30 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com

Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli

Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Designer • Charles Pratt Editorial Assistant • Tucker Berardi TBerardi2014@fau.edu Webmaster • Brittany Ferrendi webmaster@sfgn.com Arts/Entertainment Editor • JW Arnold jw@prdconline.com News Editor • John McDonald john.mcdonald@sfgn.com Miami-Dade Reporter • Anthony Beven Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • Michael D'Oliveira Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis jrdavis12000@hotmail.com

Senior Features Correspondents

Jesse Monteagudo • Tony Adams

Correspondents

Dori Zinn • Andrea Richard • Donald Cavanaugh Christiana Lilly • Denise Royal • Sean McShee Alex Adams • Gary Kramer • David-Elijah Nahmod

@mafoxj –

No one will believe him after seeing the audience at Republican convention.

Contributing Columnists

Brian McNaught • Dana Rudolph • Wayne Besen Ric Reily • Steve Siler • Bil Browning Terri Schlichenmeyer

Associate Photographers

Sean Blank –

Gay Republicans are like Jews for Hitler or Blacks for the KKK.

Proposed Hi-Rise Condo Project Draws Scrutiny Noah Kitty –

world class project equals world class traffic and the world class problems they bring. If you live in the neighborhood, as I do, your life will be changed, and not for the good.

MEMBER

Mike Capul –

We need the new development and the increased density will help EMBER support the localMbusinesses....

As well fund additional Wilton Manors development!

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Anything that revitalizes that dead area would be an amazing improvement!

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GUIDE TO THE DRIVE 1

Cover:

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Michelle Obama speaks out at the Democratic National Convention. Credit: Adam Rose/CNN.

South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations.

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

Copyright © 2016 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

news local

Lawyers Network Elects New Board

T

he Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Network released names of its new board of directors in an email, last week, to supporters.

Tom Runyan is the network’s new President. Runyan heads his own Fort Lauderdale based law firm specializing in real estate and business contracts. Following the tragic massacre at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, it was Runyan who led the charge to claim the corner of Federal Highway and Oakland Park Boulevard in the name of LGBT rights. The corner had previously been a gathering spot for hardcore conservative activists.

“The message of the rally is love always wins,” Runyan told SFGN. Joining Runyan on the GLLN board are Meghana Saoji, Vice President, Gian Ratnapala, Secretary, Andrew Jimenez, Treasurer, Megan D. Widmeyer, Membership Director, Heather Weeter, Social Director and Michele A. Crosa, Communications Director.

Tom Runyan

Photo: Facebook

John McDonald

According to its website, the mission of the GLLN is to provide educational seminars, lectures and presentations in addition to social and charitable events to enhance and develop the practices of gay, lesbian and gayfriendly lawyers, law students, professors and legal workers. For more information, visit www.glln.org

7.27.2016 •

3

news national

Trump Calls for Repeal of Religious Tax Exemption

D

uring his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland Thursday, Donald Trump again called for the repeal of the restrictions on tax-exempt religious organizations getting involved in politics.

Known as the Johnson Amendment, devised in 1954 Lyndon B. Johnson when he was in the U.S. Senate, the law prohibits religious organizations from directly or indirectly participating in political campaigns. The penalty for such activity is the loss of an organization’s tax exempt status.

“You have so much to contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds from your own pulpits,” said Trump as he thanked the

"You have so much to contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds from your own pulpits."

-Donald Trump 4

• 7.27.2016

evangelical community for their support.

It was a repeat of similar remarks he made earlier this year.

“I have so many ministers that are endorsing me. So many friends and pastors.

And they’re all afraid to get too involved because they don’t want to lose their tax exemption. It really is a serious problem because they’re so afraid to talk . . . they’re afraid to get involved politically,” said Trump in February.

But long before Trump joined the presidential race, many pastors, including anti-gay pastors Jerry Falwell and Pat Roberson, had a history of speaking out on political and social issues, including making political endorsements. In 2008, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (Mormons) was credited with helping pass Proposition 8 in California, which made gay marriage illegal at the time.

Earlier this year, a group of black pastors endorsed Hillary Clinton.

In 2015, Los Angeles Times reporter David Lauter cited Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in an article he wrote about the possibility of churches losing their tax exempt status for speaking out against gay marriage.

In his Obergefell v. Hodges opinion, the ruling that legalized same sex marriage nationwide, Kennedy wrote, “Finally, it

must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered.”

Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, is worried repealing the exemption rules could cause “tremendous damage” to religion. “The Republican platform seeks to turn America’s houses of worship into miniature political action committees,” wrote Lynn in statement. “I can’t imagine a more disruptive idea for our nation’s religious community or a real impediment to campaign finance reform.”

Added Lynn, “Religious communities are places Americans can go to escape the partisan divide of ‘red’ and ‘blue’ that has polarized our nation. Repealing the ‘nopoliticking’ rule would inevitably lead some houses of worship to focus on supporting candidates in exchange for financial and other aid.”

Bishop John Joseph Reid, of Divine

Photo: CNN

Michael d’Oliveira

Mercy Chapel in Wilton Manors, said that repealing the restrictions would embolden the churches that are already involved in politics. It would, he said, give them more power and influence. “It’s going to be worse for everybody. They’ll be using their churches, creating more fear and more hatred.”

Pastor Leslie Rutland-Tipton of Church of the Holy Spirit Song in Wilton Manors said the law doesn’t impact her church because politics is kept far away from the church’s activities. “Our church does not engage in political lobbying or action. The church is not the place for that.” She joked that her church has too much religious and spiritual work to finish to spend time on politics.

As for the churches that do get involved in politics, she said they should take a look at why they exist.

“I also believe it is a good attempt to maintain the separation of church and state, so that we don’t have what we are seeing more and more of- candidates tripping over themselves trying to prove their religious bonafides,” said Rabbi Noah Kitty of Congregation Etz Chaim.

But Kitty added that ultimately it’s hard to trust what Trump says.

“The problem with Trump having a position on anything is that he is as likely as not to change his mind,” she noted.

news national Photo: Dan Taylor.

Anger at PayPal Founder Over Support of Trump May be Misplaced Michael d’Oliveira

I

n the wake of Peter Thiel’s support for Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, people on social media are promising to cancel their PayPal accounts.

“Every American has a unique identity.

I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all, I am proud to be an American,” said Thiel in his speech to the convention. “I urge all of my fellow Americans to stand up and vote for Donald Trump.” He added that he doesn’t agree with every Republican platform but called for an end to “fake culture wars,” such as the controversy over transgender bathroom use.

The response by many on social media didn’t take long.

“Time to cancel my #PayPal account. #RNCinCLE,” wrote @cdeanbrown on Twitter. “@peterthiel You are quite blind. GOP was never kind to the LGBT community.

Sad. Not going to use #PayPal #peterthiel,” wrote @sfcalling85.

But the anger at PayPal may be misdirected.

Thiel, who co-founded PayPal with Tesla founder Elon Musk, sold the company to eBay in 2002. “Peter Thiel was one of PayPal’s founders, but he is no longer associated with the company in any way,” wrote a PayPal representative in an email to SFGN. In April, PayPal announced it had cancelled its expansion plans in

Charlotte, North Carolina over that state’s controversial transgender bathroom law.

Dan Schulman, PayPal’s president and CEO, said a global operations center, and the 400 jobs that go with it, would be located elsewhere.

“The new law perpetuates discrimination and it violates the values and principles that are at the core of PayPal’s mission and culture. As a result, PayPal will not move forward with our planned expansion into Charlotte. This decision reflects PayPal’s deepest values and our strong belief that every person has the right to be treated equally, and with dignity and respect. These principles of fairness, inclusion and equality are at the heart of everything we seek to achieve and stand for as a company. And they compel us to take action to oppose discrimination,” wrote Schulman in a statement.

On Facebook, David Jobin also stated he had cancelled PayPal. Asked if he knew that Thiel was no longer part of the company, Jobin responded, “I was aware of it. But I still think that it makes a statement given his high profile, roots and identification with the company. I am furious that the GOP tried to assuage LGBT folks on the last night of the convention with Thiel's speech and Donald's LG…BTQ reference about keeping us safe from foreign terrorists. It's the domestic terrorists that we fear most who are trying to strip us of our human rights.”

7.27.2016 •

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Compiled by Tucker Berardi

Philadelphia Students Plan Pride Celebration (PGN) A group of young adults has spent months planning the Youth Pride celebration, which is returning next month.

The second Youth Pride will take place noon through 4 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Palumbo Playground, 700 S. Ninth St. Last year, Youth Pride was held in July due to a collaboration with Philly Pride Presents, and fell on a holiday weekend, but August was more convenient this year for organizers.

As the Ally Safe Schools Coordinator at the Mazzoni Center, Tasha Wirth keeps the youth organized, but they handle the bulk of the work.

“I help to create spaces and move things along in the planning process, but it’s all youth-driven. It’s students from our student leadership board as well as just students from other schools across the city who connected with us through other programs,” Wirth said. “But it’s all their vision, what pride means to them. And I’m just sending the word along and

F

Society

ather Sues School After Antigay Bullies Drove His Son to Suicide

Tristan Seehus was a 13-year-old boy who committed suicide after being taunted by bullies at a Minnesota school.

The boy’s father is suing the school for failing to safeguard his son from being targeted as a “gay freak,” according to LGBTQ Nation.

According to the suit, the district failed to respond to the repeated complaints of bullying Tristan had been exposed to, including constant homophobic slurs including “freak,” “homo,” “fag,” “emo” and more.

The suit also states that Tristan did not “conform to the traditional stereotypes of masculinity.”

Tristan, as well as other boys, were called names, told they “looked like a girl,” physically abused, shoved in lockers and more in “plain view of school officials and school surveillance cameras,” according to the complaint.

The suit says that the only response to by district officials “was to ignore, minimize and dismiss abusive behavior.

Tristan’s suicide was a foreseeable result of Defendants’ failure to provide him a safe educational environment.”

Photo: Cnn

6

• 7.27.2016

making the purchase requests.”

There will be some changes from last year’s Youth Pride.

The workshops and drag performances will be replaced by more spoken-word performances by young people. There will be a variety of other activities such as crafts, water balloons and a dunk tank. Along with the carnival-themed activities, the event will even have its own Snapchat filter.

Youth Pride provides an opportunity for young people ages 13 through 24 to enjoy themselves and celebrate their identities in a non-alcoholic environment. It also recognizes the efforts of youth, who have tirelessly worked towards LGBT safety in schools.

“I think that the work that young folks do is sometimes overlooked and this space specifically is for them to be able to let their hair down, to feel safe and to be recognized for the work they’ve been doing,” Wirth said.

C

Legal

leveland Mayor Signs Transgender Rights Bill

According to the Washington Blade, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson signed a bill Friday that expands his city’s nondiscrimination law to include transgender protections.

Ordinance 1466-13 amends Cleveland’s discrimination law to prohibit businesses from banning employees and customers from using restrooms consistent with their gender identity.

“Cleveland is a place where we want to be welcoming to everyone and that everyone is the same and everyone is someone that has equity,” Jackson said before signing the bill.

Jacob Nash, the transgender man who co-chaired the campaign in support of the proposal, said Ordinance 146613 makes Cleveland “a more welcoming city for every individual.”

“It doesn’t matter if you are gay or straight, cisgender or transgender, racial or white,” he said. “Cleveland has come together today to say we are ready for all people, we welcome all people and we would love for you to visit our city because our city is one of the greatest cities in the country.”

Nash also noted that Ordinance 1466-13 passed against the continued outrage over a North Carolina law, which prohibits transgender use of public bathrooms consistent with their gender identity, and bans local municipalities from enacting LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances.

“We are seeing so much visceral responses to transgender people in restrooms,” Nash told the Washington Blade.

“We have Cleveland that’s saying no, we want transgender individuals to be able to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity.”

identify as LGBT, Martinez.

P o according l i t i to cs

H

illary Clinton: ‘It Is Still Dangerous to Be LGBT in America’

According to the Advocate, presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton met last week with Orlando community leaders, friends and family of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting that claimed 49 predominantly LGBT and Latino lives on June 12.

“We need to acknowledge and be very clear who this attack targeted: The Latino LGBT community,” Clinton said to the Orlando Sentinel. “What does that mean? Well among other things, it means that it is still dangerous to be LGBT in America.”

Later during the meeting, Clinton said it was an “unfortunate fact” that LGBT community members “are more likely than any other group in our country to be targets of hate crimes.”

Clinton pledged to advocate for change at every level of government during a closed meeting at Holden Heights Community Center. She aims to “promote the kinds of changes that will prevent this from happening to other people, other families, and other communities.” She also cited a ban on assault weapons, as well as “sensible gun reform” to be among these changes.

Clinton ended her visit by leaving flowers at a memorial at the Pulse nightclub and met with first responders.

Photo: Cnn

News Briefs

G

Continued National

ay Victim of Trump Rally Violence Sues San Jose Photo: Facebook

(EDGE) A gay Latino Republican is among the 14 people who filed a lawsuit last week against the city of San Jose, its mayor and police chief due to being attacked after attending a Donald Trump rally.

As the B.A.R. reported last month, Santa Clara resident Juan Hernandez was one of several supporters of the Republican presidential nominee who were punched by anti-Trump protesters after leaving the June 2 event held at the San Jose Convention Center.

Hernandez, 38, a rehabilitation counselor, suffered a broken nose and said he was contemplating suing the city. He has been vocal in his criticisms of how city leaders, particularly Mayor Sam Liccardo and Police Chief Edgardo Garcia, handled the incident.

Liccardo, while defending the actions of the police and city, also laid blame for the violence with Trump and his incendiary language he has used. The police have arrested 22 people accused of attacking the Trump supporters.

Nonetheless, Hernandez is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by attorney Harmeet K. Dhillon, a former chair of the San

D

Francisco Republican Party. The plaintiffs are alleging their constitutional rights, including the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly and due process, were violated and are seeking unspecified damages and have requested a jury trial.

“My intention is someone needs to be accountable for it, either the mayor or the police chief,” Hernandez told the B.A.R. about why he decided to join the lawsuit.

“Also, I wanted to change the way rallies happen. Other cities need to be aware more. They need to protect their citizens no matter who they are voting for. This mayor failed because he let his political bias get in the way.”

Politics

emocratic Convention Makes History With First Openly Transgender Speaker

Sarah McBride, HRC Foundation national press secretary, will make history at this week’s Democratic National Convention by being the first openly transgender individual to speak at the party’s convention, according to Gay Star News.

The LGBTQ civil rights group made the announcement July 24 that McBride would be a featured speaker at the DNC. She will speak on the assembly’s last day, July 28. The organization’s president, Chad Griffin, will also speak on that day.

McBride is a volunteer for the steering committee Trans United for Hillary, the political group that supports the party’s presumptive nominee, Hillary Clinton.

“People must understand that even as we face daily harassment, tragic violence and an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ political attacks across the country, we are real people merely seeking to be treated with the dignity and respect every person deserves,” McBride said in a statement. “I’m so proud to stand with the LGBT Caucus and speak out in support of Hillary Clinton, because we know

Photo:facebook

she stands with us.”

Griffin released a statement on McBride’s participation in the DNC, stating, “Sarah’s inclusion in Thursday’s program is a significant milestone for our community, and it sends a strong message that transgender people and their voices matter.”

The HRC endorsed Clinton this past January, according to Gay Star News.

7.27.2016 •

7

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NBA to Move All-Star Game over North Carolina Law

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(CNN) The 2017 NBA All-Star Game will move from Charlotte, North Carolina, because of that state’s controversial transgender bathroom law, the league announced Thursday.

The league said it would make an announcement about where the February game would be played in the coming weeks.

The NBA also said it hopes to hold the 2019 game in Charlotte “provided there is an appropriate resolution to this matter.”

Gov. Pat McCrory slammed the decision.

“The sports and entertainment elite, (N.C.) Attorney General Roy Cooper and the liberal media have for months misrepresented our laws and maligned the people of North Carolina simply because most people believe boys and girls should be able to use school bathrooms, locker rooms and showers without the opposite sex present,” the governor said. “Left-wing special interest groups have no moral authority to try and intimidate the large majority of American parents who agree in common-sense bathroom and shower privacy for our children.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had worked with other NBA officials to try to get North Carolina to change the law, which requires people to use bathrooms in government buildings, schools and universities that correspond to their gender at birth and prevents local governments from passing anti-discrimination ordinances.

The law does not apply to facilities in privately owned buildings.

Turner Broadcasting, which broadcasts the game on TNT, released a statement supporting the decision.

“At Turner, and our parent company Time Warner, diversity in all its forms is core to our value system and to the success of our company,” said Turner, which comprises CNN. “Laws to the contrary go against our

fundamental belief of equality and inclusion for all individuals. We fully support the NBA’s decision to relocate the 2017 All-Star Game and all of the weekend’s events originally scheduled to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina.”

Earlier this month, the law, which initially passed in March, survived largely unscathed after last-minute wrangling at the close of the state legislative session.

The measure was modified to restore workers’ rights to use state law to sue over employment discrimination. McCrory, who requested the change, signed the legislation on Monday.

Still, most of the provisions that outraged gay rights advocates, entertainers and business leaders remained.

“Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change,” the NBA’s statement read.

The All-Star Game is scheduled to be held in February. Yahoo reported officials are looking to hold the game in New Orleans instead. New York also is a possibility, ESPN reported.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city would welcome the festivities, which also include a celebrity game, a rising stars game, dunk contest, a development league all-star game, a skills challenge and 3-point shooting contest.

The team that would have hosted the weekend’s events said it understood the NBA’s decision.

“There was an exhaustive effort from all parties to keep the event in Charlotte, and we are disappointed we were unable to do so,” the Charlotte Hornets said.

news key west

Photo: Facebook.

FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES? JEFF DEAN

CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

As a highly experienced defense attorney, Jeff Dean vigorously defends people facing charges from DUI and drugs, to domestic violence and sex offenses, and Jeff fights hard to prevent deportation for immigrants charged with a crime. Jeff Dean has the experience of having defended thousands of people, yet he treats each client and case as his most important.

Tropical Heat Weekend Promises to Scorch Key West Denise Royal

D

Dangerously high temperatures are expected to pass through Key West in August as part of Tropical Heat – the annual Key West celebration featuring all-male adult fun. Four days of drinking, partying and sheer entertainment – there’s no better way to have fun in Key West. If you like your parties and your men hot, this is the place to be.

The sizzling events include late-night parties, naked paddleboarding, drag shows, pool parties and a cruise. The official start of the heat wave is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, with a kick-off party at Island House, 1129 Fleming St. The clothing-optional event is complete with free shots and free appetizers.

Friday is filled with fabulous parties; at 4 p.m., Alexander’s Annual Traffic Light party is held at 1118 Fleming Street. But the fun doesn’t stop there. The festival schedule offers attendees the chance to be "best dressed" at a tropical toga get-together at Equator Resort, 818 Fleming St. At 10 p.m.,

the ‘Hotter than Hell’ party overheats with a clothing-optional gathering at Saloon One, 801 Duval Street rear.

Attendees are encourages to unleash their fetishes.

Saturday’s main event during the day is a Skinny Dip Pool party from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 1129 Fleming Street at Island House Key West.

From 6:30-8:30, DJ Neil spins the tunes for the Tropical Heat Tea on the Sea. Check-in is at 6 p.m. on the corner of Greene and Elizabeth Streets. The highlight of the evening is the Big “O” Exhibition: A Voyeur’s Dream Come True.

Dancers, the pool and jacuzzi keep the heat on at this party from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at 724 Duval Street.

Sunday's festival highlight is an island city tradition: the 4 p.m. tea dance at La Te Da, 1125 Duval St. The Afterglow party wraps up the weekend at 10 pm.

Tropical Heat VIP access passes are available for $99 per person. Alternatively, attendees can pay individual event admissions.

For more information, please visit, GayKeyWestFL.com/events

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I have a lot going on - I don’t need to be mocked, misgendered, or marginalized, and I don’t have time to hunt out news that matters to me.

That’s why I read EDGE on my Android tablet.

I’m being true to my future - and that’s where it will be.

The person depicted here is a model. Their image is being used for illustrative purposes only.

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I’m 26 and transitioning.

news local

The Volunteers at Gilda's Club in Florida.

Gilda’s Club Teams up with Thirteen for LBT Cancer Event Dori Zinn

W

hile everyone is at risk for breast cancer, there’s a group of women that may be getting cancer and don’t even know it yet.

LBT women are more likely to get breast cancer than their straight counterparts. The American Cancer Society says they also skip routine healthcare checkups because of lack of insurance or discrimination from providers. Because of this, LBT women are diagnosed with cancer later in life, which makes it harder to treat.

That’s why Gilda’s Club is starting the Touched by Cancer: Women Partnering with Women series. This is the first of eight workshops educating the LBT community on the importance of early detection and screenings for cancer.

Stacey Balkanski, program director for Gilda’s Club, said that since women who partner with women don’t have regular doctor experiences like straight women do, they are missing out on vital healthcare visits.

“Many times, a woman’s first experience with a doctor is when she goes on birth control,” Balkanski said. “If women haven’t been married or had children prior to coming out, they probably haven’t been to an OB/GYN or had regular healthcare until after age 30.”

Due to fear of discrimination or past negative experiences with healthcare providers, the American Cancer Society says this group more than others will skip routine visits, which can lead to a late cancer diagnosis.

“Susan G. Komen put out a report that one of the most underserved populations in Broward County were women who partner with other women,” Balkanski said. “I applied

to Komen and other organizations for grant funding. We realized we hit a really raw topic because we were funded by all of the grants we applied for. I’ve been writing grants for 20 years and that’s never happened.”

At Friday’s event, OB/GYN Dr. Lanalee Sam will be speaking about regular checkups and early detections of breast cancer, among other cancers. The event will also have an informal Q&A, medical and mental health organizations, and local artists and entertainers on hand.

Carol Moran, owner of Thirteen, said it’s a great cause and she thought it was another way she could give back to her community.

“I am blessed that I have never had to deal with cancer but unfortunately some women aren’t as lucky,” Moran said. “This is a fun, social way for these folks to interact.”

Gilda’s Club and Cultural Anthropologist Naomi Cobb of Wilton Manors are planning the series of events to reach out to the LBT community.

“We would think women have this information because of technology but it’s not so,” Cobb said. “With all of our partners, men included, it really speaks to how valuable they see this information being to all components of our community.”

Cobb has been involved in local social and political issues since she moved to Wilton Manors 25 years ago. This program is specifically designed to reach women who partner with other women.

“Women’s health is still one of those areas where we don’t have enough information about women in all corners of our community,” she said. “It’s important to reach all women.”

If You Go Touched by Cancer: Women Partnering with Women Series Friday, July 29, 6-9 p.m.

Thirteen Restaurant & Bar, 2390 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, Florida 33305 Cost: Free

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7.27.2016 •

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politics republican national convention

RNC

Photo Credit: John Nowak/CNN.

Trump Supporter: Armed Club-Goer Could Have Stopped Fla. Massacre Michael K. Lavers Washington Blade

(WB)supports

A prominent gun control opponent who Donald Trump said on Monday that fewer people would have been killed inside the Pulse nightclub if a club-goer had shot the gunman with their weapon.

“What happened to all those people,” said Jan Morgan, founder of Armed American Women, as she spoke at the “America First” rally in Settlers Landing in downtown Cleveland. “If one citizen had been in that club with a gun, they could have stopped [it].”

Morgan — who owns a shooting range in Hot Springs, Ark., from which Muslims are banned — had a handgun

"Why the hell hasn’t somebody been arrested for breaking up into America’s house? That’s breaking and entering."

- Lynette Hardaway Youtube Star

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• 7.27.2016

tucked into her waistband as she spoke to hundreds of people who attended the rally that radio host Alex Jones and GOP operative Roger Stone organized.

“Maybe some people would have died,” said Morgan, referring to the Pulse nightclub massacre. “But the statistics prove that fewer people die in situations where law-abiding citizens have guns.”

Forty-nine people died inside the Pulse nightclub on June 12.

Trump in the days after the massacre suggested that clubgoers should be able to carry firearms. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee later backed away from these comments.

A man who was attending Monday’s rally had a semiautomatic assault rifle next to him with an American flag placed into its muzzle. Another man who declined the Washington Blade’s request for an interview was holding a large pole with Trump and rainbow flags.

Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, two black Trump supporters from North Carolina who are known as Diamond and Silk on YouTube, did not mention the Pulse nightclub massacre when they spoke at the rally. They did, however, touch upon the so-called Islamic State and immigration.

“When I go up and walk up in your house, ain’t this breaking and entering,” asked Hardaway. “Why the hell hasn’t somebody been arrested for breaking up into America’s house? That’s breaking and entering.”

Hardaway also described Hillary Clinton as a “bitch.”

“We’re not going to let a crook off the hook,” she said

immediately after she and Richardson took the stage that overlooked the Cuyahoga River. “You know I hear some say life’s a bitch, that’s why we shouldn’t vote for one. Don’t need one in the White House.”

A handful of Trump supporters taunted a group of protesters who gathered on the street adjacent to the rally.

Several police officers broke up a scuffle that broke out between two of them on the sidewalk.

Many of the protesters who gathered outside the “America First” rally attended an anti-Trump protest that took place earlier in the day near the Cleveland Convention Center.

Cameron Childers, a student at Case Western Reserve University who is originally from Texas, wore a white t-shirt that had the hashtags #BlackTransLivesMatter and #BlackLivesMatter written on it. Childers criticized Trump and the Republican Party’s platform during a brief interview with the Blade.

“Their politics are based off of human rights violations,” said Childers. “What Trump stands for and what the RNC stands for is really the oppression of a lot of the people who are out here today.”

Philistine Ayad, a Palestinian American who lives in Cleveland, wore a hijab at the protest.

She told the Blade that she feels “very real fear” when Trump speaks about banning Muslims from entering the country. Ayad added that the billionaire could place them into internment camps if he were elected president.

“Nobody thought that Hitler would go as far as [he] did,” she told the Blade. “I see Trump as the next Hitler.”

“He’s a fascist for sure,” added Ayad.

politics republican national convention

Business is Booming for Male Escorts at RNC Brittany Ferrendi Business is booming for male prostitutes — and it's all thanks to the Republican National Convention.

According to the NY Post, mostly-married RNC attendees have been utilizing the services of the male escorts in the Cleveland area.

“Business has been way better. I’ve seen ten clients so far,” a male escort told the NY Post.

“Most of them were first-timers. You could tell they were nervous, but once they became more comfortable, they seemed to be having a good time.”

Whereas one particular male prostitute would make between $200 and $300, he's now already made $1,600 since Monday.

This surge in male escort profits marks a stark contrast to the anti-LGBT message expressed at the RNC so far.

“When it comes to anything people aren’t supposed to be doing, they like to do it,” an escort told the NY Post, implying that many of the men openly oppose same-sex marriage. “The Republicans have a lot of delegates in the closet, let’s put it that way.”

In contrast, the NY Post reports that female escorts are actually making much less money than usual.

“Business is slower than usual,” one said. “I haven’t been getting any calls.”

Carson Compares Being Transgender to Changing Ethnicities (CNN) Donald Trump supporter Ben Carson compared a transgender person to someone who wakes up one morning and decides he or she is Afghan after watching a movie or reading books about Afghanistan.

"For thousands of years, mankind has known what a man is and what a woman is," Carson said to applause Tuesday at the Florida delegation breakfast near the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. "And now all of a sudden we don't know anymore. Now, is that the height of absurdity? Because today you feel like a woman, even though everything about you genetically says that you're a man or vice versa?"

"Wouldn't that be the same as if you woke up tomorrow morning after seeing a movie about Afghanistan or reading some books and said, 'You know what? I'm Afghanistan. I know I don't look that way. My ancestors came from Sweden, or something, I don't know. But I really am. And if you say I'm not, (then) you're racist,'" the former presidential candidate continued.

The retired neurosurgeon, who has proposed separate bathrooms for transgender people, has made controversial statements about LGBT issues in the past.

The Obama administration issued guidance in May directing public schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity.

A joint letter from the Departments of Education and Justice went to schools with guidelines to ensure that "transgender students enjoy a supportive and nondiscriminatory school environment," the Obama administration said.

Carson said he's "disturbed" that "secular progressives" are trying to make transgender issues a "civil rights issue."

"Anytime the secular progressives want to get people on their side, they go back to the civil rights movement, and they say this is a civil rights issue and it's not a civil rights issue," he said. "But we have to be willing to stand up, we have to be willing to call out people for this absolutely ridiculous stuff that they're trying to put over on us, that they're trying to put over on our children."

editorial glance

7.27.2016 •

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politics republican national convention

RNC

Photo Credit: Kelly Marshall Smoot/CNN.

Trump Makes History with LGBT Inclusion in Acceptance Speech

Chris Johnson Washington Blade

(WB)Convention, Donald Trump made history with an

On the final night of the Republican National

explicit pledge to protect LGBTQ people during his speech accepting the GOP presidential nomination.

Trump made the remarks while invoking the mass shooting last month at a gay nightclub in Orlando, saying the 49 left dead at the hands of a shooter, who pledged allegiance to Islamic extremists, were “wonderful Americans.”

“Only weeks ago, in Orlando, Fla., 49 wonderful Americans were savagely murdered by an Islamic terrorist,” Trump said. “This time, the terrorist targeted the LGBTQ community. No good, and we’re going to stop it. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology. Believe me.”

The audience at the Quicken Loans Arena applauded those words, a stark contrast to the Republican National Convention in 1992 when attendees chanted “Family Rights Forever/Gay Rights Never” during a speech delivered by anti-gay conservative leader Pat Buchanan.

In response to the applause, Trump ad-libbed: “And I have to say, as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said.

Thank you.”

Those words mark the first time a Republican presidential nominee invoked the LGBT community in a positive way during an acceptance speech at a GOP convention. In 2012, then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney took the opportunity of his acceptance speech to “honor the institution of marriage” at a time when the LGBT community was seeking the legalization of gay nuptials.

Ric Grenell, a gay Fox News commentator and delegate from California pledged to Trump, told the Washington Blade on the floor of the Quicken Loans Arena he doesn’t think “anybody is surprised”

by Trump’s inclusion of LGBT people in his acceptance speech.

“Trump has always made perfectly clear that he has a lot of gay friends, that he is totally for equality,” Grenell said. “And for me, it’s actually, I know we have a lot of work to do within the Republican Party on gay rights, but it’s really emotional for me to be here on my seventh convention.”

Recalling being present in 1992 listening to Buchanan, Grenell said, “To be here and to really see the acceptance, we made dramatic progress in four years. I just think it’s time that the gay left leadership in Washington, D.C. realize that we can remove this issue from being a partisan issue.”

But Trump’s pledge to protect LGBT people against terrorism stands in contrast to positions on LGBT rights he has staked out on the campaign trail.

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• 7.27.2016

Although Trump hasn’t had as much vitriol for LGBT people as he has had for other minority groups, Trump has told social conservatives to “trust” him to oppose same-sex marriage, said he would “strongly consider” appointing U.S. Supreme Court justices who would reverse marriage equality and offered conditional support for the First Amendment Defense Act, a federal “religious freedom” bill that would enable anti-LGBT discrimination.

Moreover, Trump delivered the LGBT-inclusive speech in the same week delegates at the Republican National Convention ratified a party platform considered the most anti-LGBT in history.

Among other things, the platform seeks to overturn the Supreme Court decision for same-sex marriage through either judicial reconsideration or a constitutional amendment.

On Twitter, Hillary Clinton pointed out when Trump thanked his audience for supporting LGBT inclusion in his speech, the Republican platform indicates support for widely discredited “exgay” conversion therapy.

“Your party's official platform supports 'conversion therapy,' @ realDonaldTrump.”

Later in his speech, Trump undercut his goodwill toward the LGBT community by recommitting himself to appointing conservative justices — a move critics contend could led to a reversal of the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage.

“We are also going to appoint justices to the United States Supreme Court who will uphold our laws and our Constitution,” Trump said. “The replacement of our beloved Justice Scalia will be a person of similar views, principles and judicial philosophy. This will be one of the most important issues decided by this election.”

Trump also singled out evangelical Christians — a group that has historically opposed the LGBT community — to thank them for helping him win the Republican presidential nomination, saying, “the support they’ve given me, and I’m not sure I totally deserve it, has been so amazing, and has been such a big reason why I’m here tonight.”

To assist the evangelical community, Trump said he’d “work very hard” to repeal the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Undoing that language would “protect free speech for all Americans,” Trump said.

Trump also stoked fears about undocumented immigrants in the United States.

“Of all my travels in this country, nothing has affected me more deeply than the time I have spent with the mothers and fathers who have lost their children to violence spilling across our border,”

Trump said. “These families have no special interests to represent them. There are no demonstrators to protest on their behalf. My opponent will never meet with them, or share in their pain.”

Invoking the names of individuals who were allegedly killed by undocumented immigrants in “sanctuary cities,” Trump renewed his pledge to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and said Clinton wants to pursue a policy that amounts to “mass amnesty, mass immigration and mass lawlessness.”

“We are going to build a great border wall to stop illegal immigration, to stop the gangs and the violence and to stop the drugs from pouring into our communities,” Trump said.

President of the Human Rights Campaign Chad Griffin pointed out on Twitter, Trump’s attacks on other minority groups are still attacks on LGBT people.

“LGBTQ people ARE women, Muslim, Latinx, Jews, Black, immigrants, those w/ disabilities. @realDonaldTrump has attacked & maligned all of us,” he said.

Trump’s pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border was apparently the source of ire for a “Code Pink” protester who made it into the Quicken Loans Arena with a banner reading, “Build Bridges Not Walls.” As she was being escorted out, Trump said, “How great are our police and how great is Cleveland?”

But the newly anointed Republican presidential nominee generally strived for a tone of inclusion throughout his speech.

Although he maintained his priority would be “struggling citizens,” he said he’d be “considerate and compassionate to everyone.”

Introducing him on stage was his daughter Ivanka Trump, who made the case her father would champion gender equality.

“There have always been men of all backgrounds and ethnicities on my father’s job sites and long before it was commonplace you also saw women,” Ivanka Trump said. “My father values talent.

He recognizes real knowledge and skill when he finds it. He is colorblind and gender-neutral. He hires the best person for the job.”

Closing his speech, Trump returned to the slogan that helped propel him to the Republican nomination.

“So to every parent who dreams for their child, and every child who dreams for their future, I say these words to you tonight: I’m with you, I will fight for you, and I will win for you,” Trump said. “To all Americans tonight, in all of our cities and in all of our towns, I make this promise: We Will Make America Strong Again.

We Will Make America Proud Again. We Will Make America Safe Again. And We Will Make America Great Again.”

Photo: Adam Rose/CNN.

news national

Photo: Facebook.

news local

Log Cabin Republicans.

Local Gay Republicans React To Convention

John McDonald

B

eing gay is hard enough. Being a Donald J. Trump queer is yet another level.

Trump, a New York businessman, claimed the Republican Party’s nomination last week in Cleveland. Here in South Florida, he does have support, but not without costs. Eric Gilbert, a Boca Raton resident and bisexual man, said he has received harsh treatment for his backing of Trump.

“Most of the gays and lesbians have been very, very rude to me for not supporting Secretary Clinton and not being a part of the Democratic Party,” Gilbert told SFGN. “It’s the worst, meanest, cruelest group of people…. not understanding we have a democracy in this country and they should be glad that we can vote and support who we want to support.”

In his victory speech in Cleveland, Trump made a passionate promise to protect “LGBTQ” Americans from terrorists.

“As your President, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology,” Trump said, adding “Believe me.”

Andy Eddy, a Broward County Republican, said he was “very impressed” with the Trump family during last week’s convention. Eddy, a member of the Log Cabin Club of Florida, said it was good to see Eric and Donald Trump, Jr. speak on behalf of their father.

“The boys did a stunning job,” Eddy said.

“I couldn’t get over how much respect and commitment they showed for their father and, quite frankly, it was nice to see,” Eddy told SFGN in a telephone call.

Meanwhile, Gilbert said he is receiving steady backlash from gays for openly supporting Trump.

“People have defriended me on my Facebook,” Gilbert said. “They’ve called me names. It’s not just me, it’s other GLBT supporters of Mr. Trump. They have the same issues too, lots of friends and people not talking to us anymore. “ And Milo Yiannopoulos is not tweeting anymore.

Yiannopoulos, a conservative gay activist and Trump supporter, was banned from using Twitter last week after allegations surfaced that he coordinated an attack on a Hollywood celebrity. The social network suspended Yiannopoulos’ account, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Last week in Cleveland, Yiannopoulos hosted a party to draw attention to his conservative political opinions. Of particular note, Yiannopoulos took aim at the Islamic State.

“Growing up gay wasn’t that fucking bad, let’s be honest,” Yiannopoulos told the Washington Blade. “But, I still don’t see the reason why the left-wing press mollycoddles and panders to an ideology that wants me dead.”

Likewise, Gilbert cited terrorism and instability as reasons why he supports Trump.

“We don’t like what’s happening in this country now,” Gilbert said. “Unemployment rate is very high. Wages are at 1990 levels. We have police killings all the time. We have to be fearful about what happened in Orlando.

The biggest thing is this President is not really addressing the Islamic problem that we have in this country. With these terrorist groups that are coming in here and who have no problem just coming in here and killing people just like what happened in Orlando.

It’s definitely time for a change.”

Michelle Obama: I’m With Her

Jen Colletta

Philadelphia Gay News

(PGN) First Lady Michelle Obama gave an impassioned speech seeking to unify the Democratic Party behind Hillary Clinton Monday night at Wells Fargo Center.

Obama sought to energize the crowd, and emphasize the impact of the presidency on individuals, urging listeners to vote with an eye toward the future rather than politics.

Obama teared up when talking about her daughters having spent the last 7.5 years in a house built by slaves.

That transformation, Obama said, reflects the falsehood in Donald Trump’s campaign slogan.

“Don’t let anyone tell you our country isn’t great,” Obama said. “This right now is the greatest country on earth.”

7.27.2016 •

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politics democratic national convention

DNC

Photo: CNN.

Clinton Introduces VP Pick to Miami Audience John McDonald

Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia was well received

Hcandidate, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, to illary Rodham Clinton presented her Vice Presidential

supporters at a rally in Miami Saturday afternoon.

Clinton, the Democratic Party’s nominee for President, said Kaine’s track record of success weighed heavily in her decision to bring him on the ticket.

“At every stage of Tim’s career, people who know him best have voted to give him a promotion,” Clinton told a packed arena on the campus of Florida International University.

Kaine, 58, a former Governor of Virginia, thanked Clinton and said it was a humbling experience to serve.

“I’m feeling a lot of thanks today, most of all gratitude,” Kaine said.

Clinton’s selection of Kaine ended months of speculation with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker being considered along with U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro. Ken Evans, Clinton’s LGBT community liaison for Florida, attended Saturday’s rally in Miami and met Kaine.

“He’s a moderate,” Evans said. “He’s also a Catholic and a Jesuit and they’re different.”

Evans said Kaine’s name was always mentioned first among campaign insiders. When asked about Warren, the first term female Senator from Massachusetts, Evans replied, “that was just too much. I saw them together on the stage and they are both equally powerful, but didn’t seem to complement each other.”

On Saturday, U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-West Palm Beach) said as a progressive man, it is time to put a woman in the White House. Hastings also denounced

Republican Party nominee Donald J. Trump.

“Don’t vote for Donald John The Con,” Hastings said.

Following Hastings, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz appeared on stage and shared her recent experience in Cleveland at the Republican National Convention.

“I’ve been in Cleveland,” she said. “I walked the streets and invaded their space and I received a few choice comments.”

Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Convention, assured the audience that Cleveland is a “Democratic city” and then swiftly pivoted to an attack on Trump’s convention speech.

“All we heard was bitter division and doom and gloom,” Wasserman Schultz said. She then referred to two words in Trump’s speech, she said, summed up the businessman’s desires. “'I alone' is not democracy,” the DNC chair said.

At his RNC victory speech in Cleveland, Trump railed against the state of affairs in America and the world. He cited incidents of violence with police, terrorism abroad and economic slumping among a maligned native workforce in a speech that lasted well over one hour.

“Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it,” Trump declared.

That line misses the mark, said Clinton.

“As Americans, we solve problems together,” Clinton said.

“If Donald doesn’t understand that, he doesn’t understand America.”

Kaine too blasted Trump. “(Trump) leaves a trail of broken dreams and wrecked lives where ever he goes,” Kaine said.

Thousands attended Saturday’s rally inside the FIU Arena in western Dade County. Matt Hersch came from Aventura to see Clinton’s introduction of Kaine as her pick for Vice President.

“He’s really good for the middle class,” Hersch told SFGN. “I can see why Hillary picked him. He’s an amazing Senator and has a great back story.”

Part of Kaine’s story is the years he spent in Honduras working as a Jesuit missionary. Kaine, a civil rights attorney, told the audience he taught teenagers the basics of welding.

In return, the youth taught Kaine to speak Spanish and he used it Saturday in Miami.

“God created a rich tapestry for this country,” Kaine said.

“It is a rainbow of cultural diversity.”

Michael Rajner, a Broward County human rights activist, said Kaine’s message was well received.

“Oh absolutely,” Rajner said. “People really connected with him.”

Rajner, who serves on national committees relating to HIV/AIDS, got face time with Clinton on Saturday from his position in the VIP section.

“The campaign is definitely hearing us,” said Rajner, who suggested Kaine could help in dealing with issues of discrimination in housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. Meanwhile, delegates are gathering in Philadelphia at the site of this week’s Democratic National Convention. Evans said he is attending as a member of the Broward County delegation and that momentum is certainly building.

“It was an incredible day,” said Evans of the Miami rally.

“I’ve been to many rallies, but this one was definitely electric.

The amount of energy in that arena was super.”

Visit SFGN.com/DNC for daily coverage of the Democratic Convention.

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politics democratic national convention

Dem Platform More Aware of LGBT Voters as GOP Shunts Them

Paige Cooperstein Philadelphia Gay News

(PGN) parties hold their conventions As

America’s

two

major

this month, their platforms take opposite approaches to LGBT voters, with Democrats bringing the community closer into the fold and Republicans excising it.

The proposed 2016 Democratic Party Platform addresses LGBT rights in their own section for the first time. But the goals are more general than in the past.

While the 2008 platform stated positions on specific laws, and 2012’s enumerated the Obama administration’s policies in support of the LGBT community, the current platform reads more like a progressive pivot.

Aiming to recognize intersectional LGBT identities, the 2016 platform names the issues of LGBT homelessness, bullying and discrimination. But it makes no mention of legislation like the Equality Act, which would prohibit LGBT discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation.

Delegates are expected to adopt the platform at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next week.

For more information, visit http://www. demconvention.com.

Here’s a look at how the platforms from 2008 and 2012 compare to the present:

Marriage 2008: “We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us.”

2012: “We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.

We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.” 2016: “Democrats applaud last year’s decision by the Supreme Court that recognized LGBT people — like every other American — have the right to marry the person they love.”

Nondiscrimination 2008: “We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits and protections. We will enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment nondiscrimination act.”

2012: “We know that putting America back to work is Job One, and we are committed to ensuring that Americans do not face employment discrimination. We support the Employment Nondiscrimination Act because people should not be fired based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

2016: “A restaurant can refuse to serve a transgender person, and a same-sex couple is at risk of being evicted from their home. That is unacceptable and must change. Democrats will fight for comprehensive federal nondiscrimination protections for all LGBT Americans and push back against state efforts to discriminate against LGBT individuals … We will promote LGBT human rights and ensure America’s foreign policy is inclusive of LGBT people around the world.”

HIV/AIDS 2008: “We support a comprehensive national strategic plan to combat HIV/AIDS and a Ryan White Care Act designed and funded to meet today’s epidemic, that … focuses on the communities such as African-Americans and Latino-Americans who are disproportionately impacted … We support providing Medicaid coverage to more low-income HIV-positive Americans.”

2012: “President Obama established the first-ever comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for responding to the domestic epidemic, which calls for reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care, optimizing health outcomes and reducing HIV-related health disparities. This is an evidence-based plan that is guided by science and seeks to direct resources to the communities at greatest risk, including gay men, black and Latino Americans, substance users and others at high risk of infection.”

Photo: CNN.

discrimination to include sexual orientation and other categories.”

Without mentioning same-sex couples or gay and lesbian Americans, the platform “condemn[s]” the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in United States v. Windsor for

“wrongly remov[ing] the ability of Congress to define marriage policy in federal law,” and Obergefell v. Hodges for “robb[ing] 320 million Americans of their legitimate constitutional authority to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

The Republican platform is available at www.gop.com.

editorial glance

2016: “Democrats believe an AIDS-free generation is within our grasp … We will implement the National HIV and AIDS Strategy, increase research funding for the National Institutes of Health, cap pharmaceutical expenses for people living with HIV and AIDS, address HIV criminalization laws and expand access for HIV prevention medications, particularly for the populations most at risk of infection.”

Republican Party Platform The 2016 Republican Party Platform almost entirely ignores LGBT people. The only mention of the community comes in a discussion of Title IX, a statute that prohibits discrimination in education based on gender.

The platform notes that Obama is “imposing a social and cultural revolution upon the American people by wrongly redefining sex 7.27.2016 •

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politics democratic national convention

Meet Zach Wilcha, a DNC Diversity Working Group Member

Paige Cooperstein Philadelphia Gay News

DNC

(PGN) (although he drank water; he doesn’t like

Zach Wilcha already had a coffee meeting

coffee) and a 20-minute phone call with an LGBT business owner by the time he biked to his glass-walled office at the Industrious Workspace on Broad Street on a recent Thursday morning.

Independence Business Alliance, the region’s LGBT chamber of commerce, moved to the trendy space in March.

There’s a popcorn machine in the lobby on the 17th floor and succulents on the tables.

“These are my Melanie Griffith ‘Working Girl’ shoes that I wear on the commute,” Wilcha said as he pulled off his sneakers and stowed them under his desk. He pulled on some wingtips while he opened his email.

“I get a lot of correspondence,” he said. “Today, I want to catch up on finances.”

The IBA fiscal year ended June 30, soon after the 310 member businesses renewed their annual memberships.

It’s been a busy year for the IBA. The chamber, which had run with only a volunteer board since 2007, hired its first two full-time staffers, moved to a new building, refreshed its brand and started hosting events in the suburbs. The chamber serves 11 counties.

Amid that growth, the IBA has also been intimately involved in planning for the Democratic National Convention, so LGBT business owners could take advantage of the 50,000 people expected to flock to Philadelphia July 25-28.

“Philadelphia’s having a real moment,” Wilcha said. “It’s been fantastic, from the pope to the DNC. We really are on the world stage right now. As people come to recognize us as a world-class city, it’s important that LGBT people, and especially the LGBT business community, have a voice in Philadelphia’s growth.

“People didn’t necessarily frequent the businesses [when the pope came in September],” he added. “The DNC has been excited to share Philadelphia’s commerce with the world.”

Wilcha has served as a member of the Diversity Working Group with the local host committee since October, when he became the IBA’s first executive director. The group is nearing the end of its work to help the DNC with its commitment to spend 35 percent of its budget with diverse businesses.

Two LGBT-owned businesses have received contracts for work associated with the convention, one from Atlanta and one from Orlando.

Wilcha said the IBA would like the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau to adopt a commitment to diversity spending.

“If all conventions that came to town used that model,” he said, “it’d be a lot more business for LGBT processionals and it’d be a real feather in Philadelphia’s cap to make that happen.”

In the immediate future, Wilcha wanted to follow up with the DNC to find out if local LGBT businesspeople could be connected with attendees of the LGBT caucuses, which are

Photo Credit: PGN.

open to the public during the convention.

Jess Gregan, who started with the IBA in May, said she’s heard Wilcha described as a duck and she agrees.

“His legs are always paddling beneath the surface, but on the surface everything runs smoothly,” she said. “Prior to me, Zach was doing everything. It’s been a transition to delegate some of the work. But we complement each other.”

As the chamber’s administrative assistant, Gregan attended an event organized by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority while Wilcha continued planning for the packed week of the convention.

Member businesses should use demlist.com to connect with resources, Wilcha said, adding they could bring people into their establishments by using #DNCDeals on social media. Creative deals will be featured on phldnc.com.

In addition to serving as an institution where LGBT business owners can turn for DNC information, the IBA is also hosting its first mixer in Bucks County July 26 and connecting people for the counter-protest of the Westboro Baptist Church at the Mazzoni Center earlier that day.

Wilcha had that 20-minute phone call on his way to work with Christopher Whibley, a former board member who works for Elsevier. Whibley had texted earlier that morning to brainstorm ideas for the counter-protest. Wilcha said he planned to connect Whibley with Mazzoni’s director of development and resources with the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs.

Rich Horrow, IBA’s board president, said Wilcha’s ability to

develop new partnerships is pivotal to the chamber.

“He really increased our bandwidth,” Horrow said. “He’s grown our relationships in the community. He’s everywhere.

It’s really about those relationships.”

When the board first sought to hire Wilcha, one reference gave a glowing account of his geniality.

Horrow remembered the reference saying, “Not only is Zach terrific in all his skill sets, but Zach is the one that everyone wants to grab a beer with after work.”

He has a dry sense of humor that always lightens the mood, Horrow added.

Wilcha is a veteran runner with three marathons, 17 halfmarathons and seven Broad Street Runs under his belt.

He also loves to read fiction, recently finishing “Beijing Comrades,” about a relationship between two men in the 1990s. It was banned in China and recently translated into English.

As the IBA heads into its 10th year, Wilcha has two big projects on the brain: increasing the racial diversity of the chamber’s members and starting an economicempowerment initiative for the transgender community, which would educate businesses on hiring more transgender employees and connect transgender entrepreneurs. The work requires meeting with a lot of stakeholders, including LGBT people who may not yet be chamber members.

“Being able to be the person who’s able to take the time to listen to what others say has been instrumental in helping us grow,” Wilcha said.

Visit SFGN.com/DNC for daily coverage of the Democratic Convention.

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• 7.27.2016

in memoriam

Photo Credit: Pompano Bill.

Marc Hansen, Former Pride Fort Lauderdale Chair, Dies Michael d’Oliveira

M

arc Hansen took pride in pride.

Hansen, who was HIV positive and had been in and out of the hospital for the past couple months, died Tuesday. According to his former partner, Mark Maybee, Hansen had a blood infection but the exact cause of death is still a mystery.

Originally from California, Hansen, 53, was an Air Force veteran who moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1989. He got his start in community involvement by emceeing at charity fundraisers.

“He tried to do everything he could for the community. He’d volunteer for anything and everything he could. He volunteered for a lot of things in the community,” Maybee said.

Hansen, the former president and co-chair of Pride Fort Lauderdale and Pride South Florida who resigned amidst controversy two years ago, was involved in multiple LGBT organizations and causes.

He was a give his shirt off his back kind of guy, said Maybee. “He would do anything to help anybody out if he could. He would try to help one way or another. If he couldn’t help he would try and find somebody who could.”

Hours after Hansen’s death, condolences and remembrances poured in on his and other Facebook pages.

“I’m so sorry to hear that Marc has passed away. His energetic spirit made bowling and bingo that much more fun!

His commitment to the LGBTQ community was priceless. He was a good, kind, fun loving man. He will be missed. Rest with the Angels Marc!” wrote Robert Leguizamon.

“My heart is aching. Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for all the laughter and smiles you shared. Thank you for making ‘O Holy Night’ my favorite

Christmas song, even though it makes me cry the first time I hear it each year. Thank you for being such a force for good in the world. You are loved. The world will be a little bit darker without you in it. Rest in Paradise, my friend,” wrote Valorie Daniels.

Rocky Bowell, who knew Hansen for many years and worked with him on LGBT events such as the Stonewall festival, remembers Hansen as “very passionate, very driven as far as trying to help the community or help people out. He was very fun loving and very serious when it comes to being involved in a job.”

“It’s tough because we just lost Ms. Vicky [a Pride South Florida board member who died] two months ago. We obviously will try and honor what he did,” said Bowell, who regrets not returning a phone call from Hansen the week before his death.

“That even hurts worse.”

As of publication time, no information was available yet on funeral services.

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7.27.2016 •

19

lgbtqia bites

L

Lesbian

NYC Cab Driver to Pay $14k to Lesbian Couple He Ordered to Stop Kissing The NYC Commission on Human Rights has ordered Mohammed Dahbi to pay $7,000 to both Christina Spitzer and Kassie Thornton after telling the couple to stop kissing in the back of his car in Oct. 2011, according to Pink News.

“We never wanted to financially ruin him,” said Thornton to the NY Post. “We want him to acknowledge what he did, say he’s wrong, do the training and be a better human.”

Both the driver and lesbian couple claimed to have received verbal abuse during the incident. Based on emotional damages, the driver was ordered to pay the couple.

Dahbi was also ordered to work with the Community Relations Bureau at the Commission for 164 hours. The goal of the Bureau is “encouraging understanding and respect among New York City’s many communities.”

Both sides reported an exchange of offensive names from both the driver and

20

• 7.27.2016

the couple. The cab pulled over and the couple left without paying the fare, but it is unsure whether they were kicked out or asked the cab to pull over, due to conflicting stories.

He filed the complaint with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, the ACLU LGBT Project and West Des Moines lawyer Melissa Hasso.

Q

By Tucker Berardi

Queer

Photo: Facebook.

Queer Black Lives Matter Founders Put ‘Terrorist’ Trump Among ‘Worst Fascists in History’ The queer co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement are sounding the alarm after Donald Trump’s angry speech accepting the Republican Party’s nomination on Thursday night, according to the Advocate.

“The terrorist on our television tonight was Donald Trump,” said a statement from Patrisse Photo:Los Facebook.

Cullors, Angeles-based queer woman who co-founded #BlackLivesMatter alongside Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in 2014. “He pledged to fight for Americans, while threatening the vast majority of this country with imprisonment, deportation and a culture of abject fear.”

Garza, another co-founder, had more to say on Trump’s speech, which included referenced support of the impoverished, minorities and LGBT people, but also included rhetoric rich in xenophobia, inherent racism and nationalism that has frequented the nominee’s campaign thus far.

“The terrifying vision that Donald J. Trump is putting forward casts him alongside some of the worst fascists in history,” Said Garza.

“While our movement envisions a bright future

where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, Trump is proposing a new, dark age where police have carte blanche authority to terrorize our community.”

Trump’s speech made multiple references to attacks against police and framed undocumented immigrants as criminals, values that, according to Garzam stand in stark contrast to those upheld by the Black Lives Matter movement.

lgbtqia bites

continued

Transgender

T

Transgender Iowa Prison Nurse Files Complaint Over Restrooms

The Department of Corrections officials in Iowa have violated a transgender prison worker’s constitutional rights, refusing him access to the men’s bathrooms and showers at work, according to LGBTQ Nation.

Jesse Vroegh, 34, filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission on Thursday, and is also challenging the denial of medical treatment and surgery by his state-provided insurer. He said he has been required to use a unisex private restroom at work that does not include a shower, preventing him from showering

at work — a benefit his coworkers have.

Corrections officials denied his request to use the men’s restrooms and showers, telling him it was due to concerns for the male officers at the prison, according to the complaint.

“All I want is for my employer to treat me like my co-workers by allowing me to use the work restrooms and locker rooms that match my gender and by offering me insurance for medical care I need,” Vroegh said. “I don’t want different treatment. I just want the same treatment and facilities as every other employee.”

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21

Convictions

Publisher's Editorial

There is Too Much of 1968 in 2016

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

T

here is a picture of me next to this column.

It’s 1968, and I am an 18-year-old college sophomore from Hofstra University, on a bus to Rochester, New Hampshire, to campaign for Gene McCarthy, the insurgent Democratic candidate for President.

The ‘Clean for Gene’ campaign stirred the conscience of American youth. He was the anti-war protest candidate, standing up to the establishment sending young men to a far off and distant war in Southeast Asia. He was Bernie Sanders before Bernie Sanders was Bernie Sanders.

Tens of thousands of students gathered in Grant and lincoln Parks in Chicago to protest the war, the establishment and the rigged system promoting Humphrey to his inevitable nomination.

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• 7.27.2016

McCarthy’s success was so electric that it induced Robert F. Kennedy to make a run for the presidency himself. The U.S. Senator from New York, he galvanized yet thousands of more young Americans, minorities, and college campuses. We were going to take back our country.

Sadly, the dream we were seeking -a newer world- came to an abrupt end in Los Angeles, on June 5, 1968, when Senator Kennedy was slain moments after winning the California primary.

Only two months before, in April of 1968, Martin Luther King had also been assassinated, and nearly 100 American cities began rioting in anger, over poverty, inequity and social injustice. Every day, the national news would shake your conscience with stories of death abroad and violence at home.

An unpopular Republican, Richard Nixon, was emerging as their presidential candidate, with a “secret” plan to end the Vietnam War. Defeated for the presidency eight years before by John F. Kennedy, Nixon billed himself as the ‘law and order’ candidate who would bring sanity to the streets and safety to your homes.

You see, it’s 1968 all over again. The Democratic Party establishment was running their own Vice President, Hubert Humphrey, once a civil rights leader, but tarnished nevertheless by his ties to an embattled administration escalating the conflict in Vietnam. The Tet Offensive by the North Vietnamese blew away the cover of how we

Norm Kent, 19

68

were supposedly winning the war. If you will, the ‘junior varsity’ showed up to be a lot stronger than the American military ever thought they were.

Remember how Trump capitalized on an incident where Iranians held 10 Marines at gunpoint earlier this year while on a U.S. boat? It was January of 1968 when the USS Pueblo and its Navy sailors were captured and taken hostage by the North Koreans. America was humiliated abroad again.

When it came time to nominate a Democratic presidential candidate, the convention was raucous, rowdy and unlike anything America had seen before. Anyone promoting the opposition was gaveled down inside the house. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of students gathered in Grant and Lincoln Parks in Chicago to protest the war, the establishment and the rigged system promoting Humphrey to his inevitable nomination.

Outside the political halls, Mayor Daley wanted order in the streets. He allowed, directed and ordered his cops to beat and maim students senselessly, with Billy clubs and mace. There was warfare in the streets. It wasn’t pretty.

Over 100 students wind up in emergency rooms; double that in jails.

Meanwhile, a week before the convention, the Russians celebrated by invading Czechoslovakia. Here is the thing, though. America could not take it anymore. Watching the turmoil abroad and seeing the chaos at home, they disregarded the civil rights gains of the Democratic leaders

Convictions at home. They elected Richard Nixon and his war machine of crooks and con artists, political panderers and plumbers.

Nixon only got 43.4 of the vote, but it outdistanced Vice President Humphrey, who earned 42.7 per cent. The remaining 13.5 percent went to the Southern racist who was promoting segregation, George Corley Wallace. That’s the world we lived in. So I heard David Duke, Donald Trump’s buddy, announced yesterday for Congress. Wonder if they will campaign together?

So here we are, in 2016, 48 years later. And what do we know? One, that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Two that the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. Is America turning backwards?

If we don’t act, perhaps, very much so!

Mark me down then as one who is legitimately concerned that Trump, the all too mendacious, the very evil, can be elected. It’s frightening, but true.

Trump is crude and condescending, belligerent and bombastic, a vile and vicious soul, degrading and demeaning.

But he is a master of the media, and he toys with the press like one of his lackeys.

He will take legitimate social protest and exploit it for his own political gain.

Trump is also one of two major candidates running for the presidency, and he is already brutalizing his opponent not with brashness, but outright bullying, callous lies, and disgusting insults.

A campaign that was ugly already will get filthier tomorrow. Trump is more like the segregationist George Corley Wallace though, than he is the legitimate nominee. Even leaders of his own party hate him. They created a Frankenstein who they can’t control. But neither can the Democrats.

Hillary Clinton did not mobilize the disenfranchised by naming Bernie Sanders as her running mate, and the protests in Philly are mild today compared to Chicago yesterday. Still, the truth is many of the markings of the past are present today.

We have uncontrollable violence abroad and spontaneous instances of chaos at home. We have a rebel Republican running against an establishment candidate for the incumbent party. Rumor and innuendo, emails and social media posts are damaging Hillary. It’s relentless.

This is not going to be an easy election to win, not for Hillary, the Democrats, or this country. But we damn well better.

As Bernie Sanders said last week, Hillary Clinton on her worst day is better than Donald Trump on any day.

Clinton has been a great spokesperson for our community and has fought for social justice her entire life, learning government and goodness at every level. Donald Trump has never fought for anything but himself. Now it is up to every one of us to fight against him.

Left: The DNC saw protests outside. Adam Rose/ CNN. 2016.

Right: Supporters ralley for Humphrey, 1968.

7.27.2016 •

23

column letter to the editor

Letter to the Editor

An Open Letter to Wilton Station Members of the Board, I read the article in the SFGN newsletter concerning your reluctance to install the pool lift at the Wilton Station swimming pool, and felt compelled to respond. I find your attitude and actions to be disturbingly short-sighted and contrary to the atmosphere described on your web page.

You state that the site boasts a resort-style pool/spa area.

Apparently, it is resort-style only if you are not disabled.

You state that the site boasts a resortstyle pool/spa area. Apparently, it is resortstyle only if you are not disabled. Then it becomes unusable, or usable only if you can afford to hire someone to place the assistance device required for the disabled person to enter and exit the pool. That is rather like calling corn syrup “maple-style” and expecting people to accept it as maple syrup.

The whole point of the Americans with Disabilities Act was to empower those with disabilities to lead a life comparable to one who is not so afflicted, to give them the independence which you or I enjoy in our day-to-day activities. To then make it impossible for David (and the other disabled persons involved) to use the facility as you or I can, without the assistance of another person, takes that independence away. This smacks rather loudly of discrimination. As a world-class facility it would behoove you to support the spirit of the ADA. Supporting merely the letter of the act is small, very small.

I remember the day I visited Wilton

Station and toured the “State-of-the-art Sales Center” and the amenities area. While the salesman touted the benefits of living there and its “World-class resort” character, he failed to mention the parts that may not be available to you because the board would suddenly be less interested in you, the customer and resident, and more interested in what it would cost management to actually be world class.

I read in your online disclaimer that the information contained is for information only and, in essence, does not necessarily conform to what you are really selling. It also states that oral representations cannot be relied on. This seems to mean that when you say that the spa/pool facilities are provided for all tenants, what you really mean is that it is available for tenants who do not need to manhandle a cumbersome machine into position in order to use it.

That, unfortunately is rather like saying that everyone can vote, if you pay your polltax.

When you unleash your salesmen to say whatever they have to in order to make a

sale, knowing that you can always retreat to “the law does not require us to fulfill these oral offerings,” you are, in my opinion, running a con game. Although I may have considered renting at Wilton Station at one time, since I will shortly be convalescing following knee surgery, I will not waste my time listening to what you claim to offer and trying to discern what you are really offering in its place. I must also discourage others from entertaining any thought of buying, renting or investing in your development.

Were you to modify your stance and BE rather than merely claiming to be worldclass, I would, of course, reconsider my position. Until then, I must consider you merely another of the sleazy, moneygrubbing real estate developer schlocks for which Florida has become notorious over the years.

Sincerely, John Terry

Let your voice be heard!  Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com 24

• 7.27.2016

Guest Column

Convictions

A Word From OUr First Lady Michelle Obama

First Lady of the United States

T

hank you all. Thank you so much.

You know, it’s hard to believe that it has been eight years since I first came to this convention to talk with you about why I thought my husband should be president.

Remember how I told you about his character and convictions, his decency and his grace, the traits that we’ve seen every day that he’s served our country in the White House?

I also told you about our daughters, how they are the heart of our hearts, the center of our world. And during our time in the White House, we’ve had the joy of watching them grow from bubbly little girls into poised young women, a journey that started soon after we arrived in Washington.

When they set off for their first day at their new school, I will never forget that winter morning as I watched our girls, just 7 and 10 years old, pile into those black SUVs with all those big men with guns.

And I saw their little faces pressed up against the window, and the only thing I could think was, what have we done?

See, because at that moment I realized that our time in the White House would form the foundation for who they would become and how well we managed this experience could truly make or break them. That is what Barack and I think about every day as we try to guide and protect our girls through the challenges of this unusual life in the spotlight, how we urge them to ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith.

How we insist that the hateful language they hear from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country.

How we explain that when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high.

With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents are their most important role models. And let me tell you, Barack and I take that same approach to our jobs as president and first lady because we know that our words and actions matter, not just to our girls, but the children across this country, kids who tell us I saw you on TV, I wrote a report on you for school.

Kids like the little black boy who looked up at my husband, his eyes wide with hope and he wondered, is my hair like yours?

And make no mistake about it, this November when we go to the polls that is what we’re deciding, not Democrat or Republican, not left or right. No, in this election and every election is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives.

And I am here tonight because in this election there is only one

person who I trust with that responsibility, only one person who I believe is truly qualified to be president of the United States, and that is our friend Hillary Clinton.

That’s right.

See, I trust Hillary to lead this country because I’ve seen her lifelong devotion to our nation’s children, not just her own daughter, who she has raised to perfection… …but every child who needs a champion, kids who take the long way to school to avoid the gangs, kids who wonder how they’ll ever afford college, kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but dream of a better life, kids who look to us to determine who and what they can be.

You see, Hillary has spent decades doing the relentless, thankless work to actually make a difference in their lives… …advocating for kids with disabilities as a young lawyer, fighting for children’s health care as first lady, and for quality child care in the Senate.

And when she didn’t win the nomination eight years ago, she didn’t get angry or disillusioned.

Hillary did not pack up and go home, because as a true public servant Hillary knows that this is so much bigger than her own desires and disappointments.

So she proudly stepped up to serve our country once again as secretary of state, traveling the globe to keep our kids safe.

And look, there were plenty of moments when Hillary could have decided that this work was too hard, that the price of public service was too high, that she was tired of being picked apart for how she looks or how she talks or even how she laughs. But here’s the thing. What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has never quit on anything in her life.

And when I think about the kind of president that I want for my girls and all our children, that’s what I want.

I want someone with the proven strength to persevere, someone who knows this job and takes it seriously, someone who understands that the issues a president faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters.

Because when you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips and the military in your command, you can’t make snap decisions.

You can’t have a thin skin or a tendency to lash out. You need to be steady and measured and well-informed.

I want a president with a record of public service, someone whose life’s work shows our children that we don’t chase form and fortune for ourselves, we fight to give everyone a chance to succeed.

And we give back even when we’re struggling ourselves because we know that there is always someone worse off. And there but for the grace of God go I. I want a president who will teach our children that everyone in this country matters, a president who truly believes in the vision that our Founders put forth all those years ago that we are all created equal, each a beloved part of the great American story.

And when crisis hits, we don’t turn against each other. No, we listen to each other, we lean on each other, because we are always stronger together.

And I am here tonight because I know that that is the kind of president that Hillary Clinton will be. And that’s why in this election I’m with her.

You see, Hillary understands that the president is about one thing and one thing only, it’s about leaving something better for our kids. That’s how we’ve always moved this country forward, by all of us coming together on behalf of our children, folks who volunteer to coach that team, to teach that Sunday school class, because they know it takes a village.

Heroes of every color and creed who wear the uniform and risk their lives to keep passing down those blessings of liberty, police officers and the protesters in Dallas who all desperately want to keep our children safe.

People who lined up in Orlando to donate blood because it could have been their son, their daughter in that club.

Leaders like Tim Kaine… …who show our kids what decency and devotion look like.

Leaders like Hillary Clinton who has the guts and the grace to keep coming back and putting those cracks in that highest and hardest glass ceiling until she finally breaks through, lifting all of us along with her.

That is the story of this country, the story that has brought me to this stage tonight, the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done so that today I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves.

And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.

And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.

So, look, so don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great, that somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on earth!

And as my daughters prepare to set out into the world, I want a leader who is worthy of that truth, a leader who is worthy of my girls’ promise and all our kids’ promise, a leader who will be guided every day by the love and hope and impossibly big dreams that we all have for our children.

So in this election, we cannot sit back and hope that everything works out for the best. We cannot afford to be tired or frustrated or cynical. No, hear me. Between now and November, we need to do what we did eight years ago and four years ago.

We need to knock on every door, we need to get out every vote, we need to pour every last ounce of our passion and our strength and our love for this country into electing Hillary Clinton as president of the United States of America!

So let’s get to work. Thank you all and God bless.

7.27.2016 •

25

Mombian

Convictions

Dana Rudolph

I

The Republican Platform

had a good time poking fun at the plagiarism and grandstanding of the Republican Convention, as did many of my left-leaning friends. My amusement quickly turned sober, however. The fact remains that the 2016 GOP platform directly targets LGBTQ families and LGBTQ youth.

The platform asserts bluntly, “We do not accept the Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage and we urge its reversal, whether through judicial reconsideration or a constitutional amendment returning control over marriage to the states.”

This view of marriage is tied directly to child raising: “Traditional marriage and family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, is the foundation for a free society and has for millennia been entrusted with rearing children and instilling cultural values.”

While they “honor the courageous efforts” of single parents who “should be treated with dignity and respect,” the Republicans continue, “But respect is not enough. Our laws and our government’s regulations should recognize marriage as the union of one man and one woman and actively promote married family life as the basis of a stable and prosperous society.”

Their platform would also promote legislation to “bar government discrimination against individuals and businesses for acting on the belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.” This would, of course, allow people to discriminate against same-sex couples and their families.

Then they claim: “Children raised in a twoparent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier, more likely to do well in school, less likely to use drugs and alcohol, engage in crime or become pregnant outside of marriage.” Even if that’s true (a point I leave aside for now), it doesn’t lead to what the Platform calls the “inescapable conclusion” that “Every child deserves a married mom and dad.” Two-parent households can just as easily have two moms or two dads.

I do agree with the platform’s statement, “Families formed or enlarged by adoption strengthen our communities and ennoble our nation” and even “Private entities which facilitate adoptions enrich our communities.” I balk, however, when it says

26

• 7.27.2016

Leaving Out Love

we should “ensure these entities do not face government discrimination because of their views on marriage and family.” Yes, truly private entities may have that right. But when private adoption agencies receive public funds and contract with the state, as many do, to place children who are in the state’s care, it’s a whole different ball game, and they should abide by non-discrimination laws.

The platform is also vehemently antichoice. It would defund Planned Parenthood and similar organizations, which provide vital health care to LGBTQ youth, among other services.

It would also “[replace] ‘family planning’ programs for teens with sexual risk avoidance education that sets abstinence until marriage as the responsible and respected standard of behavior.” Study after study has shown that abstinence-only programs do not lead to a reduction in sexual activity and may mean youth are less likely to use birth control or condoms. This harms LGBTQ and straight, cisgender children alike.

Not only that, but the platform touts “the right of parents to determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children.” This phrasing is actually a thinly veiled modification of an amendment that called for support of “conversion therapy,” or the curing of children who are LGBTQ, but which was seen as too extreme for the final platform, the Human Rights Campaign reported on its blog.

On another topic, the platform says that Title IX, which bans gender-based discrimination in education, is being used “to impose a social and cultural revolution upon the American people by wrongly redefining sex discrimination to include sexual orientation or other categories.” Among other things, the Obama administration has used Title IX to support transgender students’ right to use the bathroom of their identity. Republicans in contrast want to restrict Title IX to stopping gender-based discrimination against (presumably cisgender) women and girls.

And not LGBTQ-specific, but worrisome after Orlando and other recent shootings, is the passage, “We oppose ill-conceived laws that would restrict magazine capacity or ban the sale of the most popular and common

modern rifle… We oppose federal licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners, registration of ammunition, and restoration of the ill-fated Clinton gun ban.” That rifle they mention? It’s the AR-15, which the NRA called “America's Most Popular Rifle” in a January 2016 blog post. A version of the weapon was used in the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The rifle used at the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando was a similar type of assault rifle, although a different brand.

There is much more in the platform related to education, immigration, health care, voting rights, protecting the environment and other areas that impact our families (and many others). Read the whole thing at GOP.com.

The bottom line is clear: A Republican presidency would be a very dangerous thing to LGBTQ families and youth, especially if coupled with a Senate that remains Republican. Hillary Clinton may not be perfect – I realize opinions on her vary widely – but she is far, far better than the alternative.

One final observation. The platform states that the “daily lessons” of the American family, “cooperation, patience, mutual respect, responsibility, self-reliance — are fundamental to the order and progress of our Republic.” I couldn’t agree more — but also can’t help noticing that they left out one of the most important family lessons of all — love.

May love win in November.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory for LGBTQ parents.

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7.27.2016 •

27

lifestyle photos

'Love Always Wins'

J.R. Davis

Weekly rally takes place every Monday night at the corner of U.S. 1 and Oakland Park

k nyan, Dere lly Tom Ru ra e th f o Foundersand Michael Tank Maingot

SFGN 28

• 7.27.2016

lifestyle photos

To see more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook!

7.27.2016 •

29

lifestyle books

'Being Jazz'

by Jazz Jennings

Terri Schlichenmeyer

T

here’s nothing special about you.

You’re just an ordinary kid, nothing unique – except, there is. You have your own thoughts, passions, creativity and sense of humor. There’s nobody else like you; you’re ordinary and special and so is Jazz Jennings.

In her new book “Being Jazz,” she writes about being an everyday kid, with a difference.

As a very small child, Jazz Jennings knew that something was wrong with the way adults were acting toward her. Her parents dressed her in boy clothes, gave her trucks and said things like “Good boy!” But Jennings knew even before she could speak that they were wrong. She was a girl, though her body said otherwise.

For most of her toddlerhood, Jennings (known then as Jaron) fought against anything that was remotely masculine. At two years of age, she asked her mother when the “Good Fairy” was coming to change her into a girl; Jennings’ mother then realized that this “probably wasn’t a phase.”

At home, the Jennings were fine with Jaron’s girliness, but preschool was different.

Even then, there were bathroom issues; the principal of the school made concessions about school uniforms but Jaron wasn’t allowed to use the girls’ restroom. Shortly after that, she started calling herself “Jazz,” and Jazz often wet herself at school.

But that was just little-kid behavior. As Jennings grew up, she became an inspiration for many with Gender Identity Disorder (later, gender dysphoria). She and her father fought for her right to play soccer with other girls, a battle that took “years.” She was up-front with friends, Barbara Walters, and others about being a girl in a boy’s body, and she had plenty of haters but she learned who her

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• 7.27.2016

c.2016, Crown Books for Young Readers $17.99 / $23.99 Canada 272 pages friends really were. She says she still struggles with depression sometimes, as well as typical teen issues but overall, she’s confident. And if she can help other transgender kids, then that’s all good, too.

Who’d ever thought that bathrooms would be such a hot-button issue in 2016? Author Jazz Jennings has, perhaps; she’s been dealing with potty parity nearly all her life, which is just one of the topics she tackles in “Being Jazz.”

Right from the outset, it’s obvious that this is one exceptionally upbeat book. There’s almost no poor-meing here; even when she writes about struggles and occasional anger, Jennings’ cheery optimism is frontand-center. She gives props to her family for this, praising their easy acceptance and unconditional support, and acknowledging that many trans teens don’t enjoy the same familial benefits.

That praise can almost be expected, but I noticed one refreshingly unexpected thing: because of her honesty and openness, Jennings has become a role model, a status of which she seems nonchalantly abashed but secretly delighted, with a tone of pride there, too. Who could fail to be charmed by such straightforward authenticity?

While this book is supposedly for teens ages 12-and-up, I think a transitioning twenty-something could certainly benefit from what’s inside this book. For sure, its buoyancy and optimism makes “Being Jazz” all kinds of special.

lifestyle tech addict Photo Credit: Facebook.

The Pursuit of Happy Couple Chris Ayala

W

e’ve all been there. Sure, love is grand but it can also be difficult. Between the arguing and disagreeing, sometimes we need help. Then I was told about an app that caters to couples! I was fortunate enough to speak with the staff of this interactive new app called “Happy Couple” to ask a few questions.

What makes Happy Couple stand out from competitors like Match.com, eHarmony.com, or OkCupid.com?

These are not actually competitors. These sites are directed towards singles who desire to meet a new partner. Happy Couple is for couples to play together once they have met and are dating or are already in an intimate relationship.

That’s fantastic! How can your app strengthen couple interactions?

By learning more about your partner, you'll know how they want to be treated when they are sick or what their partner can do to make them feel loved. This way you can treat your partner in the way that they most desire to be treated. Also, the app brings up subjects couples may be too shy to initiate discussions on and this can help couples safely experiment sexually because they may find that they are both interested in trying things that neither were comfortable bringing up. And a better sex always adds positively to a couple's relationship.

The app sounds very unique and exciting! Where did the inspiration for this app come from?

The CEO, Julien Robert had met his new girlfriend on Tinder and was looking for an app to help him make this relationship succeed. He realized that there were no helpful relationship apps out there so he started gathering a team together to figure out how we could come up with a game

that was fun to play yet would help couples improved their relationships and their relationship skills.

It seems by your company's website that this app caters to straight couples. Does the app offer options for gay/lesbian individuals searching for love?

We cater to all couples regardless of gender or sexual orientation. There are questions that are specifically written for gay and lesbian couples, couples in long distance relationships, couples who have children and those who do not.

How about transgender individuals?

Our gender categories are male, female, and other. I hope that covers everyone.

Which phones is the app available for?

All of them. It works on all smart phones as well as iPads, and other tablets. It can be downloaded on Google play, the app store, the Windows store as well as on your desktop.

What can users expect in coming updates?

We have a lot of ideas in the works. We are offering love packs with questions in different special areas such as experimental sex, marriage preparation, wedding planning, parent prep 1st year, money issues, family history questions, favorites, etc. The app store will have gift ideas for special occasions and just for saying "I love you".

We are going to enrich the messaging with GIFs and other kinds of visuals in addition to the existing texting. We are planning to make it possible for couples to compete against their friends. And we will be adding surprise suggestions to keep couple's interactions new and fun.

Chris Ayala studied screenwriting and worked in television in Los Angeles before pursing his dream of writing novels. He currently resides in Fort Lauderdale where he’s published two series: the fantasy saga “The Last Days” and the gay concentration camp novella “Confinement.”

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lifestyle food

Rick Karlin

O

Summer Coolers

n a hot summer day, is there anything better than sitting under a patio umbrella and sipping a nice cool cocktail? Well, yes there is, having that cocktail being served to you by a scantily clad attractive person of the gender of your choice. But, until I can talk my husband into allowing me to hire a houseboy, I’ll have to make and pour my own. Here are a few recipes to make any sweltering day more bearable. Each recipe will provide at least four cocktails, or a small pitcher.

Almost all of these can be made into a mocktail by substituting or eliminating the alcohol portion of the recipe. At the end of each recipe, a substitute is suggested.

Many of these recipes call for simple syrup, which you can find at any liquor store, but it is simple enough to make your own. I give a recipe here for plain simple syrup, but you can always infuse it with a flavor by simmering an extra ingredient (I use chunks of peeled ginger, but orange, grapefruit or lemon rind work just as well) and then straining it out at the end.

2 cups filtered or spring water 2 cups sugar Place water and sugar in a saucepan, place over medium heat, bring to just below a boil so that the sugar crystals dissolve completely, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until slightly less than the consistency of maple syrup.

Allow to cool slightly, strain into a cruet or jar. Stored in the refrigerator, it will keep up to six months. Allow to come to room temperature before using in recipes.

Watermelon Margaritas 4 cups fresh, seedless watermelon ¼ cup sour mix ¼ cup simple syrup ¼ cup Grand Marnier or Cointreau ½ cup tequila Ice cubes (about 2 cups worth) Puree watermelon in a blender, strain to remove any seeds or pulp. Place back in blender with remaining ingredients and puree until slushy. Serve with a salted rim and garnish with a slice of watermelon. For a non-alcoholic version leave out the liquor and replace with additional watermelon juice and the juice of a lime.

Lemon-Ginger Coolers 12 oz. lemonade ¼ cup vodka

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¼ cup Canton ginger liqueur 12 oz. ginger beer Combine lemonade, vodka and ginger liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well blended. Pour over ice in a tall glass, add about 2 oz. ginger beer for fizz and garnish with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon peel, or candied ginger on a swizzle stick. Non-alcohol version: eliminate the vodka and liqueur and add more ginger beer.

Cucumber Mojitos 1 cucumber, peeled and seeded ½ cup light rum 4 limes ¼ cup simple syrup fresh mint 6 oz. club soda Puree cucumber in blender, strain. In a tall pitcher mix cucumber liquid, rum, the juice of four limes, simple syrup and mint.

Muddle the mint. Add club soda and stir to mix. Serve over ice in rocks glasses, garnish with a sprig of mint and a slice of cucumber.

For non-alcohol version, eliminate rum and double the amount of simple syrup.

Raspberry Pisco Sour 1 cup Pisco ¼ cup fresh lime juice 2 oz. simple syrup ¼ cup fresh raspberries Angostura Bitters ¼ cup beaten egg whites Add Pisco (a South American liquor), lime juice, simple syrup and raspberries to a cocktail shaker, muddle the raspberries. Add a few drops of bitters (to taste) and egg whites.

Add ice and close shaker, blend vigorously until the egg whites have emulsified. Strain into chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with fresh raspberries. Eliminate Pisco and add an equal amount cocktail sour mix for an alcohol-free version.

Photo: Spacekid

Simple Syrup

Blood Orange Mimosas

White Sangria

6 blood oranges 1 bottle champagne (or sparkling white grape juice)

This is what I serve at every party and it gets raves. Don’t waste a lot of money on an expensive wine — with the juice added nobody can tell. I actually use a box of Chablis. For extra fun, put the fruit on bamboo skewers and add one to each glass.

Squeeze the juice of a blood orange into a champagne flute, top with chilled champagne or sparkling grape juice. For an even more festive touch, freeze additional blood orange juice into ice cubes and place one in the base of each flute.

Hawaiian Gin & Tonic

1 large bottle or box of dry white wine 2 liters tamarind soda (available at any Latin American grocery) 1 quart white grape juice assorted fresh fruit

8 oz. gin 8 oz. coconut water 8 oz. tonic water limes

1 additional quart of white grape juice, (freeze the second quart of the juice in cups to make giant cubes, which will keep the sangria cold longer)

Blend gin and coconut water; pour into tall glasses filled with ice. Top with tonic water, stir until blended. Add a squeeze of lime and garnish with a lime wedge. Eliminate gin and increase other ingredients for a non-alcoholic version.

Mix wine soda and juice, add cut up fruit.

Allow to chill overnight. Add large frozen juice “cubes” to pitcher or jug before serving. For virgin sangria sub club soda or sparkling grape juice for wine.

Photo: John McDonald.

outeats Special Advertising Section

Kuro Cocktails Boost Hard Rock Experience John McDonald

I

n the mood for a cocktail – shaken, not stirred?

Welcome to Kuro, an upscale bar option inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Japanese-styled hotspot is still relatively new at Hard Rock, a massive entertainment complex located just east of Florida’s turnpike in Broward County.

During a recent visit with the social media director, SFGN was treated to a delicious dinner. At Kuro, patrons can request a personalized course, totaling turning over the experience to your server and trusting the work of the kitchen, which is open air for all to see.

“Led by Creative Culinary Director and Executive Chef Alex Becker, menu items boast bold and complex flavors

that are balanced and harmonious, and are designed with sharing in mind,” said Katherine Schober, Hard Rock Social Media Specialist.

If you wish, begin your culinary journey with a cocktail. You can experience the five tastes – sweet, sour, umami, bitter and salty – in each creation.

A Hachi is Japanese four-mushroom bourbon, mirin, black pepper syrup and lemon juice. For sweeter tastes, there’s “Ni” – rum, yuzu, watermelon, thai basil, fennel syrup and togarashi. Or go with the house “Kuro” brand of rum, squid ink, black sesame seeds and lime juice.

And you’ll want to get a seat by the window and enjoy the poolside view.

Cheers!

Kuro Bar & Lounge opens daily from 5 p.m. till close. To book your table, call 954-3277625 or visit www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com

7.27.2016 •

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F O R

T H E

SFGNITES W E E K

O F

J u l y

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a u g u s t

2 ,

2 0 1 6

W W W . S F G N . C O M

J.W. Arnold

jw@prdconline.com

THU

7/28

theater Sick of the presidential election campaign yet? Well, take a break from Facebook and head down to the Broward Center for the Capitol Steps, tonight through Sunday, July 31. The latest edition of the politicallythemed musical review from our nation’s capital, “What to Expect When You’re Electing,” will inject some much needed humor into this serious quadrennial decision. Tickets are $39 at BrowardCenter.org.

FRI

7/29

theater The award-winning GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables, presents “Stalking the Bogeyman,” a powerful thriller based on a true story that aired on NPR’s “This American Life,” through Aug. 28.

The play explores journalist David Holthouse’s secret pursuit of justice for a 25-year-old crime and reveals the dangers of vengeance and the power of forgiveness. Tickets are $55 – 60 at GableStage.org.

Miss D. and her Dancing Dolls from Jackson, Miss. will “Bring It! Live” to the Broward Center on Saturday for an evening of high-energy team dance routines.

Photo Credit: A&E Networks.

SAT

7/30 SUN

7/31 MON

8/1 TUE

8/2

Dance

theater

nightlife

film

You can admit it: “Bring It!” on Lifetime is one of the guilty pleasures of reality television. Miss D. and her Dancing Dolls from Jackson, Miss. will “Bring It! Live” to the stage of the Broward Center tonight at 8 p.m. for one performance only. The live show features the hot routines, high kicks and sassy stand battles that have taken the young dance troupe to the top. Tickets start at $29.75 at BrowardCenter.org.

Don’t miss Jonathan Tolins’ brilliant comedy, “Buyer & Cellar,” playing through Aug. 7 at Actors’ Playhouse, 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.

Chris Crawford plays an out-ofwork actor who takes a job minding the store in the vintage shopping mall constructed in the basement of Barbra Streisand’s Malibu complex.

Any serious Barbra fan simply must see this show. Tickets are $45 at ActorsPlayhouse.org.

Head down to Georgie’s Alibi/ Monkey Bar in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors to kick off your week with comedy and cabaret. Celebrity impersonator Michael Walters takes the stage in the Manchester Room as South Florida’s own Dame Edna from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Then, the music moves to the main stage for Jennifer McClain’s Cast Party, featuring your favorite show tunes and more. Info at AlibiWiltonManors.com.

The best way to beat the summer heat is to escape to the cineplex. This weekend, the comedy “Bad Moms” opens in theaters or you could check out the original “bad mom,” Eddy and her pal, Patsy, in the big screen adaptation of the British sitcom, “Absolutely Fabulous.” Handsome Matt Damon also returns to the big screen in his latest action flick, “Jason Bourne.” Check local listings for theaters and show times.

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a&e film Credit: HBO.

Looking: The Movie

Actor Frankie J. Alvarez sad to see HBO series end David-Elijah Nahmod

AndrewsLivingArts.org Brown Paper Tickets: 800.838.3006

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O

n July 23 HBO premiered "Looking: The Movie," a feature-length finale to its short-lived comedy-drama about a close-knit group of 30-ish gay men in San Francisco. Eighteen episodes were produced over two seasons.

Since its January 2014 premiere "Looking" kept looking for it's audience – though generally well received by the press, the ratings were low. The target gay male community for whom the show was made largely shunned the series – many in the gay community felt that the series was dull and that the cast lacked diversity.

"This is the best show you're not watching," wrote The Wall Street Journal, while BBC's Keith Uhlich opined that Looking "is one of the most revolutionary depictions of gay life ever on TV – and that’s because it makes it totally ordinary."

"I know the numbers were not there," Frankie J. Alvarez, who played the bumbling-but-lovable artist Augustin in both seasons, told SFGN. "We were telling stories about male intimacy — Looking was about forwarding the medium."

Alvarez said that the cast and crew was "shocked and dismayed" when HBO decided to pull the plug, but the network's agreement to produce a feature-length film in order to give the storylines a proper finale helped to soften the blow. "We got together, got drunk and mourned," Alvarez recalled.

"Then we rallied and came back together for the movie — everyone came back."

Alvarez pointed out that "Looking's" primary goal was to show positive images of gay men who were fully integrated into their communities. "We didn't want to show any gay men who were victimized or marginalized," he said. "We were dismayed

that a lot of our detractors were from within the LGBT community — to have the biggest rocks come from the community was hurtful."

Alvarez feels that this may have been because LGBT people still aren't used to seeing realistic images of themselves in mainstream entertainment, in spite of recent strives which have been made. "For so long gay men turned to "Golden Girls" and "Sex and the City"," he said. "Those women were conduits because there wasn't a history of gays on screen. "Looking" was a first step, hopefully doors will continue to open."

Alvarez said that he couldn't reveal too much about the film. "I'm sworn to secrecy," he said. "The film is set ten months after the series' end. Patrick (Jonathan Groff) comes back to town for a life-changing event.

Augustine is in a crisis — he understands the repercussions of his past behavior and is now becoming the thing he fears most."

A screener of the film was made available to SFGN. We're happy to report that there were no loose ends at the final fade-out.

Both Patrick and Augustine do a great deal of self-reflection as the film unfolds and beautifully resolve their inner turmoils.

That final scene might be the ending that "Looking" devotees had hoped for.

As he prepares for his appearance in "Bathing in the Moonlight," a new play about a Cuban-American family, Alvarez hopes that it would be wonderful if "Looking: The Movie" pulls in bigger numbers than the series and leads to more reunion films.

He noted that "life changing friendships" happened both on and off the screen.

"I see the love we have for each other burning on the screen," he said.

a&e theater Todrick Hall comes to the Broward Center with his unique musical adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Submitted photo.

YouTube Star Adds Unique 'Twister' to Familiar Tale J. W. Arnold

"I

I’ve always been a humongous fan of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ ‘The Wiz’ and ‘Wicked’,” explained performer Todrick Hall.

The YouTube star and “American Idol” Season 9 finalist will bring his own unique musical interpretation of L. Frank Baum’s classic tale, “Straight Outta Oz,” to the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale this week.

Hall continued, “The story has always been very personal to me, the story of my life and my career and my amazing mom.”

His show features original songs and a cast of 20 singers and dancers.

“It’s crazy. There are lots of little pieces and moving parts,” he said of the stage production. “I live on fumes of energy,” as he combines the demands of touring with his weekly music video shoots.

The performer became an internet sensation after posting a video of himself singing in a McDonald’s. That initial effort has now been viewed by more than 30 million people. Hall quickly recognized that his success could also become an important source of income and a way to promote his performing career.

The popularity of his videos and international fan base also propped up his confidence during the grueling stint on reality singing competition, “American Idol.”

“I lost a lot of confident singing on Idol,” Hall recalled. “Simon Cowell ripped me to shreds. I thank YouTube for helping me build my confidence.”

SFGN spoke to Hall shortly after the murder of fellow reality show contestant

Christina Grimmie by an obsessed fan in Orlando and the horrific massacre by an Islamic terrorist days later just across town at Pulse nightclub.

“She was a fellow YouTuber,” Hall pointed out.

The night before her murder, Hall composed a song called, “Water Guns,” about how he and his father would play.

“It was a sad situation, odd and ironic,” he said. “I shot (the video) the next night.

It really opened my eyes to the fact that life is so fragile. After living in Los Angeles and New York for so long, you lose sight of so many parts of our country and the world that don’t understand us,” speaking to his homosexuality. “My heart was so heavy during the shooting of that video.”

Hall donated a portion of the box office receipts from his Orlando show to Grimmie’s family and the victims of the Pulse attacks.

In the meantime, Hall’s star continues to shine. He is serving as a resident judge on Logo TV’s current season of “RuPaul’s AllStar Drag Race.”

“He’s such a great role model,” Hall said of the show’s host. “He’s my fairy drag mother…

I’ve learned so much during the filming.

I’m just on cloud nine. I’m having the best summer of my life.”

This week, Hall is focused on his show and the audiences who will fill the Broward Center.

“I’m a Broadway kid at heart and I love performing live,” he said. “Every time I make a video, I think about how I would do it live.”

sponsored by

Todrick Hall stars in “Straight Outta Oz” at 7:30 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets start at $27.50 at BrowardCenter.org.

7.27.2016 •

37

a&e music Photo: Facebook

Out SoFla Singer Raphael Releases Album 'The Dark of My Mind' David-Elijah Nahmod

T

Nite Life Law If you drink, don’t drive. If you drive, don’t drink. If you do both, call us.

Kent & Cormican Criminal Defense Law Center

954.763.1900

Norman Elliott Kent & Russell Cormican 12 S.E. 7th Street, Suite 709 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 www.NormKent.com

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he first thing viewers might notice while watching the videos for the new songs “Boys are Trouble” and “Superstar” is the blatant homoerotic imagery in both.

In “Boys Are Trouble,” SoFla resident Raphael is seen standing outside a boxing ring, lusting after one of the fighters, who is male.

They soon share a kiss in the locker room. In “Superstar” Raphael is at a pool party. Both he and the camera gaze lovingly at a scantily clad young man.

“You are my Superstar, I touched every part of you,” Raphael sings in a soft, gentle voice which combines elements of rap and romantic ballads. “Can I get to the heart of you, my favorite part of you?”

Both songs are included on “The Dark of My Mind,” Raphael’s new album.

“There are a lot of open minded talent that I have been fortunate enough to work with, but there are still challenges as some people cling to an idea of what music was and wish for a world not inclusive to everyone,” Raphael, who is openly gay, told SFGN. “Because I am a male singing about my own multiple rendezvous there is surprisingly a window of slutshaming involved and extra scrutiny about my appearance, even from the gay community.”

But the young singer is building a fan base nonetheless. “I do receive a lot of love and support, which is beautiful and that is the world I choose to be a part of,” he said. “There will always be challenges in life which is why it is important to be versatile.”

Raphael added that one of his goals is to take his videos beyond YouTube and into the mainstream world of broadcast television. “I would like a world where we aren’t defined by our sexual orientation, where the music video is

about the song and story, not about the gender of who the artist is kissing,” he said. “A big theme in my album is the self-proclaimed guy worship.

In my world desire knows no rules, the guys are always interested, and I always say yes.”

Raphael cites Latin superstar Enrique Iglesias as a major musical influence — he points to Iglesias’ vulnerability as part of his appeal. That vulnerability, that need to be in love, often inspires Raphael when he sits down to compose his own songs.

“My style of writing is stream of conscious which means I rarely sit down with the intention to write a song,” he explained. “Instead, when spirit comes to me, I need to write very quickly before it leaves. I typically have a lot to say and with rap you can tell a story without so much structure as traditional song verses.”

The laid-back but serious young musician says that he enjoys calling South Florida home, though he also spends time in New York City.

He points to the hot Latin men in SoFla, which for him are part of the area’s appeal. “There are so many Latin guys here which means brown eyes, tans and accents which equals hot. I usually have a new “ancrush” everyday!” he said.

What’s an “ancrush,” we wondered? ‘’CubAN, VenezuelAN, Puerto RicAN, ColombiAN.” Raphael explained. “I am always ancrushing here.”

Raphael tells SFGN that his friends, neighbors and fans will soon be able to see him performing live. He’s got a stage show in the works, which will incorporate music from “The Dark of My Mind” with some choreography to be included. Stay tuned to his website, where his videos have already been posted, for further details: TheDarkOfMyMind.com

KEEP YOUR EYES ON

South Florida Gay News

SFGN.com @SoFlaGayNews

SouthFloridaGayNews It’s about time. It’s about us. A paper that speaks with you, to you, and about you.

A paper that pulls no punches, protects our friends, defends our allies, and defines our adversaries. Our goal is to have you make our paper your home page.

Welcome to the South Florida Gay News.

7.27.2016 •

39

Datebook

Community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

Broward Support Services Gender Bender Youth Group

Top Picks Remaking South Beach as an LGBT Friendly Post-Gayborhood July 28 at 7 p.m. at Stonewall National Museum, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. A discussion of “pink tourism” in South Beach and new endeavours to promote the neighborhood. Free. Call 954763-8565 or visit Stonewall-Museum.org.

Miami New Times Iron Fork

July 28 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Try food and drinks from more than 70 restaurants in Miami — the favorite wins the Iron Fork Award. Tickets $55 to $95, benefits Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry. Visit microapp.miaminewtimes. com/ironfork/2016.

Palm Beaches Prime Timers

Second Saturdays at 3 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth.

An active fraternal and social organization dedicated to bring together mature gay and bisexual men for friendship, activities, support, and personal growth for the best times of our lives. Free. Call 561- 533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com.

Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at SunServe Campus, 1480 SW Ninth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. A group for LGBT youth 13 to 21 to discuss gender, gender expression, binary systems, friendship, family and whatever else comes up!

Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com

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

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

Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.

Survivor Support First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.

broward county * Artist Talk: Aurora Molina

* Cocktails for Humanity

July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Art and Culture Center, in Hollywood. Molina discusses her exhibit “Selfie,” a collection of embroidered selfies showcasing society’s ego and sense of self. On display through Aug. 21. Free. Call 954921-3274 or visit ArtandCultureCenter.org.

July 30 from 6 to 11 pm. at General Provision, 525 NW First Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The monthly cocktail fundraiser returns with former NFL players, Henri and Zack Crockett, serving as celebrity guest bartenders to raise money for the Crockett Foundation. Free, drinks $8. Visit CrockettFoundation.org.

* Art Walk, ArtPop #evoke and Creative Clash

* Oh La La Wine

July 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pompano Citi Centre Suite 104, 2201 N. Federal Highway in Pompano Beach. Watch six graffiti artists battle to create the best work in 45 minutes. Free. RSVP to http://bit.ly/29Z8AZj.

“ART-rageous” Juried Competition & Exhibit

Art

Through Aug. 6 at Tedds ART WORKS Gallery, 2422 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors.

View works by 37 South Florida artists from a number of media. Call 703-269-8244 or email tedd@tedddavisevents.com

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Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at the NSU Art Museum, One Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.

Philippe Carrie of Esprit du Vin explores summer French wines with tasty bites to accompany each. Tickets $25 members, $40 nonmembers. Call 954-525-5500 or visit NSUArtMuseum.org.

* Healthy Living HIV Men’s Support Group

Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. at Fusion, 2304 NE Seventh Ave. in Wilton Manors. A discussion group for gay and bisexual men who are HIV positive. Call 954-630-1655.

July 28 to AUG 4 palm beach county PFLAG

Second Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A rap and support group for LGBT and straight spouses and their families and friends. Call Carole 561-7169464.

Food Truck Invasion

Second and fourth Wednesdays at 5 p.m at the Seabreeze Theater at Carlin Park, 400 S. SR A1A in Jupiter. Enjoy a night of food trucks and live music twice a month. Free.

Visit Facebook.com/seabreezeamphitheater.

Sex Talk

Second and fourth Thursdays at Pridelines, 9525 NE Second Ave. #401 in Miami Shores. Conduct outreach events, record video messages, participate in a series of performances, and organize special events with a purpose. Free. Visit Pridelines.org.

Shutterbugs

Third Mondays at 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Love photography? Join BLAST and other women

to explore the art of digital photography. Free.

Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com

porn pulse

Singaporean Sex Tape Makes Waves Hunter Houston

PFLAG

Fourth Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Temple Shaarei Shalom, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road in Boynton Beach. A rap and support group for LGBT and straight spouses and their families and friends.

Free. Call Carole 561-716-9464.

miami-dade county * Yoga in the Garden

Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive in Miami Beach. Hit the mat for an indoor yoga practice overlooking the garden. Tickets $10 Wednesdays, $15 Saturdays. Call 305-673-7256 or visit MBGarden.org.

Free Rapid HIV Testing

Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Latinos Salud, 555 Washington Ave. Suite 235 in Miami Beach. Receive the results of your free, confidential HIV test in minutes. Call 305-397-8967 or visit LatinosSalud.org

* Denotes New Listing

Photo: Facebook.

L

okies Khan wants a sex tape banished from the Internet.

Lokies is an entertainer from Singapore. The 24-year-old claims a sex tape was leaked online and that’s not okay.

“Contents of me engaging in sexual activities,” Lokies says in a video posted on the webpage, www.DearStraightPeople.com Lokies describes it as an “invasion of privacy” and says it’s been a challenging week.

“I have been swamped with messages since the video came out, which has been extremely positive and supportive,” Lokies told Mashable, an online news source which describes him as a “Singaporean Man.” But not all responses were sunny and cheerful as Lokies does claim to have been bullied and slut shamed.

“All this backstabbing. All this gossiping.

All this slandering. What are we in high school?!” he asks during a four-minute long video that starts soft but rages near the end.

Having his nude photographs and scenes

posted on Tumblr and re-blogged time and time again is starting to weigh heavily on Lokie’s emotions. He says he’s “trying to contain the situation.”

Employing the hashtag, #RespectPrivacy Lokies says “I’m tired of it” and “This is not something I want people to see.” The files Tumblr is using, Lokies calls, “gifs” and he says their distribution is not within his control because “I do not give my consent.”

“Slut shaming in the gay community is just one of the most pot calling the kettle black issues,” Lokies says in the video.

7.27.2016 •

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July 28 to AUG 4

Datebook

Theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

Top

Picks

The Capitol Steps: What to Expect When You’re Electing

July 28 to 31 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The musical comedy returns with the whole host of characters — Hillary, Donald, Ted, Bernie and more — singing “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Crimea?”

“Deleter of the Facts,” “Dirty Lies!”

Tickets $39. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Dave Matthews Band

July 29 and 30 at the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. The band is on the road for its 25th anniversary tour, making its annual pilgrimage to West Palm Beach.

Tickets $132. Call 561-795-8883 or visit WestPalmBeachAmphitheatre.com.

Stalking the Bogeyman

July 30 to Aug. 28 at GableStage at the Biltmore, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. A play based on the true story of journalist David Holthouse’s search for the truth in a 25-year-old crime. Tickets $55 to $60. Call 305-445-1119 or visit GableStage.org.

* Denotes New Listing

broward county Todrick Hall: Straight Outta Oz Tour

July 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Hall puts his own twist on the classic story with more than 20 original songs. Tickets $27.50 to $100. Call 954-4620222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

* Bring It! Live

July 30 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Miss D’s girls from the Dollhouse Dance Factory will have you dancing in your seats! Tickets $29.75 to $99.75. Call 954-4620222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

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* Pitbull: The Bad Man Tour with Prince Royce and Special Guest Farruko

July 31 at 7 p.m. at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway in Sunrise. Rapper Pitbull is joined by singer-songwriter Prince Royce and special guest, Farruko. Tickets $27.50 to $135.70. Call 800-745-3000 or visit TheBBTCenter.com.

* The Go-Go’s Farewell Tour

Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The legendary punk-pop-rock band will perform favorites like “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “Vacation.”

Tickets $25 to $15. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series

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

palm beach county

miami-dade county * No Strings Attached

July 29 at 8 p.m. at the Miami Theater Center, 9806 NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores. A “wildly inappropriate” adult puppet show

by Jerry Halliday. Tickets $22.50 to $60. Call 305-751-9550 or visit MTCMiami.org.

* Laura Pausini

July 30 at 8 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Italian pop singer-songwriter performs in support of the Similares US and LATAM Tour. Tickets $33.75 to $195. Visit microapp. miaminewtimes.com/ironfork/2016.

Cirque Eloize: Cirkopolis

Through July 31 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Circus arts returns to the center with a combination of dance, theater, and high-flying feats.

Tickets $49 and up. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

* At the End of the Exodus

Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. at Main Street Playhouse, 6766 Main St. in Miami Lakes. A family

of many generations and cultures come together over three holidays and must face the tragedies they encountered. Free, donations are welcome. Call 305-558-3737 or visit MainStreetPlayers.com.

Buyer & Cellar

Through Aug. 7 at the Actors’ Playhouse, 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Alex More goes to work at Barbra Streisand’s Malibu basement, which can only lead to moments of comedy in this one-man play. Tickets $45 to $53. Call 305-444-9293 or online at ActorsPlayhouse.org.

Songs for a New World

Through Aug. 7 at Main Street Playhouse, 6766 Main St. in Miami Lakes. A musical looking at the moment of decision for the characters. Tickets $25. Call 305-558-3737 or visit MainStreetPlayers.com.

PAMM Outdoor Music Series

Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.

Gwen Stefani and Eve

July 27 at 7 p.m. at the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. Fifteen years after their duet “Let Me Blow Your Mind,” the ladies come back for a night of their hits and new songs.

Tickets $24 and up. Call 561-795-8883 or visit WestPalmBeachAmphitheatre.com.

311 with Matisyahu

Special

Guest

July 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 20405 Amphitheater Circle in Boca Raton. Jam out to reggae rock and rap grooves. Tickets $34.50 in advance or $38.00 day of show; $10 Regular and $15 premier parking fee. Visit AXS.com.

Once Upon a Mattress

Through July 31 at FAU’s Studio One Theatre, 777 Glades Road in Boca Raton. The university performs the hilarious rendition of “The Princess and the Pea.” Tickets $20.

Call 800-564-9539 or visit FAUEvents.com.

Free Friday Concerts

Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

#OrlandoUnited: Every week, SFGN will pay tribute to one member of our community who was lost in Orlando.

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Business Directory a&e Ft Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus PO Box 9772, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33310-9772 954-832-0060 www.theftlgmc.org Andrews Living Arts Studio 23 NW 5th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.530.1879 Classcreations.com Kravis Center 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL (561) 832-7469 Kravis.org

dental Wilton Manors Dental 2517 NE 9th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-564-4746 Wiltonmanorsdental.com Island City Dental 1700 NE 26th Street, Ste. 2, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954-564-7121 Islandcitydental.com

To place an ad in the Business Directory, call our sales team at 954.530.4970

handyman Miami/Broward/Palm Beach Paint/Caulk/Remove Grout/Yard Work Fix Drips & Switches/Debris removal Assembles Furniture & Appliances Repair or Fix Call "Avrom" Keith 786-227-9981

chiropractic

Coast Chiropractic Injury & Wellness Center 2608 NE 16th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33334 954.463.3036 www.coast-chiropractic.com

Pre-Need Counselor

954-494-0366

Call For Your FREE No Obligation Consultation Budget Friendly Payment Plans Available

florist

dental Oakland Park Dental 3047 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954.566.9812 Oaklandparkdental.com Andrews Dental Care 2654 N Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311 954.567.3311 Andrewsdentalcare.com

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sfgn.com health

MASTER HYPNOTHERAPIST AND LIFE COACH

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American Pain Experts 6333 N. Federal Hwy, Ste. 250, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954-678-1074 Americanpainexperts.com

JOE PUNDAI

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Dr. Tory Sullivan 2500 N Federal Hwy #301, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954.533.1520 Torysullivanmd.com

Natura Dermatology 1120 Bayview Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 754.333.4886 naturadermatology.com

final arrangements

Adrienne Arsht Center 1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 305.949.6722 Arshtcenter.org Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida PO Box 39617, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33339 954-763-2266 Gaymenschorusofsouthflorida.org

health

ADDICTIONS • SMOKING • WEIGHT LOSS • INSOMNIA • STRESS REDUCTION • ROAD RAGE • ANGER MANAGEMENT • PAST LIFE ANALYSIS • RELATIONSHIP COACHING Coach Bill For Life

WWW.COACHBILLFORLIFE.COM

954.641.8315

investments American Tax & Insurance 2929 E Comm. Blvd, 8th Floor Penthouse D, Fort Lauderdale, FL

954.302.3228 Americantaxandinsurance.com

legal Law office of george castrataro 707 NE 3rd Ave #300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.573.1444 Lawgc.com Law office of Robin bodiford 2550 N Federal Hwy #20, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954.630.2707 Lawrobin.com law office of Gregory Kabel 1 East Broward Blvd #700, Fort Lauderdale, 33301 954.761.7770 gwkesq@bellsouth.net law office of Selzer & Weiss 1515 NE 25th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.567.4444 Selzerandweiss.com law office of Shawn Newman 710 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.563.9160 Shawnnewman.com

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professional services

Barton & Miller Cleaners 2600 N. Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-4314 r Ad Cont. 8/17/15 1:56 PM Page 1

Kalis-McIntee Funeral & Cremation Center

2505 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-7621 Kalismcintee.com

professional services

restaurants Storks Bakery 2505 NE 15th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.567.3220 Storksbakery.com

real estate

IRIS SEYMOUR SALES

&

RENTALS

Boutique Wine Shop & Wine Bar The Ultimate Wine Tasting Experience Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat., at 8:00 p.m.

ONLY $15 PER PERSON!

Where we welcome and appreciate diversity.

Mass Times: Saturday 5:00 PM Sunday 10:30 AM

J. Mark’s 1245 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 390-0770 Jmarksrestaurant.com

The Best Cellar

The Parish of Sts. Francis and Clare 101 NE 3rd St Fort Lauderdale FL 33301

BEEFCAKES 1721 N Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 954.463.6969 boardwalkbar.com

Ernie's B-B-Q 1843 S Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 954-523-8636

spirituality

Ecumenical Catholic 954.731.8173

954.610.8816

www.stsfrancisandclare.org Baptisms • Weddings • Memorial Services

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sfgn.com veterinarian

Dr. Pierre B. Bland, DVM 1332 E. Commercial Blvd., Oakland Park, FL 33334 954-673-8579 Doctorblandvet.com

954-630-8020 1408 N.E. 26th St. Wilton Manors, FL 33334

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Have you made your wishes known?

sfgn.com retail

We’re here to help.

1-800-343-5400

www.levitt-weinstein.com

Pre-Arrangement Discounts For All Our LGBT Friends

Peace Pipe 4800 N Dixie Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954.267.9005 Facebook.com/peacepipefl

Daoud’s Fine Jewelers 2473 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.928.2437 Daouds.com

real estate

Income Tax Preparation •Individual •Small Business •Free Consultation Doug Turner, Enrolled Agent Best Books and Taxes 2201 Wilton Drive bestbooksandtaxes.com

954-565-1041

Call today for appointment 7.27.2016 •

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SFGN Classified$ accommodations *GAY EXTENDED STAY RENTALS* -

PERFECT FOR VACATION & RELOCATION

Gay Owned and Operated Tropical Resort Garden Apartments, Safe, Secure seven unit lushly landscaped PRIVATE compound.Incl. Wi-Fi, free laundry, private parking, utilities, prem. cable.

Beautifully Furnished & Fully Equipped Studio & One Bedrooms with Full Kitchens. Located just south of the Airport in Historic Dania Beach, Central to Haulover Nude Beach & Wilton Manors.

SPECIAL SUMMER RATES from $425/WEEK & $79/NIGHT Celebrating 19 years. Pets Always Welcome. Call Joe or Jack at (954) 927-0090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com

attorney

electrician

HARRY’S ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL - Additions, renovations, service upgrades, breaker panels,FPL undergrounds, code violations, A/C wiring, ceiling fans, recessed, security & landscaping, lighting, pools, pumps, Jacuzzis, water heaters, FREE PHONE ESTIMATES 954-522-3357 Lic & Ins. www. harryelectrician.com

employment part time

WEEKEND BAR TENDER NEEDED - Position available now can turn into much more with right candidate. Willing to train must be personable and eager. Shift pay plus good tips. Call 954-701-2641

handyman

HUSBAND FOR RENT - Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more!It doesn't cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price.

Call Haim at 954-398-3676, sidnalll@yahoo.com

help wanted - full time

ELECTRICIAN WANTED - Fort Lauderdale Electrical Contractor needs local Journeyman Electrician and experienced Apprentice for Service and new Construction. Must be punctual, dependable, professional and neat. Send resume or basic info to localelectrician954@ gmail.com.

entertainment JAZZ TRIO AVAILABLE - 25% DISCOUNT TO SFGN READERS!!!!!!! - Jazz vocalist with over 30 years experience performing in South Florida is available with her trio for your special event,party or corporate fundraiser.Booking now for the balance of 2016 and into 2017 so reserve today.Recent performances include JAZZ IN THE PINES and WALK ON WEDNESDAY MUSIC SERIES. I work with South Florida’s finest jazz musicians to make your special affair one to remember. Reasonble rates. 25% Discount when you mention you saw ad in SFGN CLASSIFIEDS.Call Cindy at 954-298-8158. www.myspace.com/cindycurtisandcompany I can’t wait to sing for you!

To place a Classified Ad, call Tim Higgins at 954.530.4970 or email at Tim.Higgins@sfgn.com

items for sale DESIGNER CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES Get 50% off now on clothing and accessories to shoes and handbags.I also have D & G belts and shoes. Brutini shoes and name brand items such as Prada and Gucci. Call John at 954-854-8048.

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pets/supplies

AFFORDABLE AWESOME MASSAGE BY JIM Offering Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and LomiLomi Massage for Men; in a very comfortable, relaxed and Private Massage Studio, NOW conveniently located in Wilton Manors on NE 26th Street, with plenty of free parking. Same Day appointments are welcome; please call Jim, 954-600-5843 email: info@ massagebyjim.com or visit my website for testimonials, rates and more. GREAT OPENING SPECIAL NOW AVAILABLE! www.massagebyjim.com Licensed and Certified MM22293 MASSAGE BY DENNIS - $50 per 90 min-Out calls higher. Swedish, Deep Tissue, All clients and Body types welcome, Reflexology and Feet. Couples Discounts. Delray Beach. 22 years experience.

MA18563 Call Dennis 561-502-2628.

Place an ad in SFGN’s Classifieds

954.530.4970 moving & storage ICON MOVING SERVICE.. PROMISES/ DELIVERED - ICON MOVING SUPPORTS THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND SENDS ITS DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES AND VICTIMS OF ORLANDO! We are your Local, Long Distance, and Overseas moving company! We have extensive corporate and local moving experience with A+ rating from BBB. Call for a free estimate! 561-338-3157 VOICE LESSONS & MUSIC THEATRE COACHING - Over 30 years experience. Students have performed on (and off) Broadway, in National & International tours, recorded solo albums & placed in prestigious competitions. www.kreutzmusic.com 617-967-0575

painting

GREGG'S PAINTING - Interior/exterior,great rates, friendliness, reliability, neatness. No job too small.

Call Gregg at 617-306-5694 or 954-870-5972.

pool service

COOL POOLS- RELIABLE POOL SERVICE Professional pool service.Covering Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and eastside of Pompano Beach.

15 years experience. Licensed and insured.Free estimates. Call 954-235-0775.

• 7.27.2016

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO? Learn from an experienced teacher. All levels and ages welcome. Learn to play classical, popular, jazz, or show tunes. Visit www.edwinchad. com or call 954-826-9555 for more information.

licensed massage

music lessons

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piano

real estate for sale MARK EAGLE YOUR #1 ROYAL PARK CONDO REALTOR - Water view 1BD/1.5BA move-in condition for sale at just $89,000. Also, water view 2BD/2BA for rent at just $1,275/month.

2 miles to Wilton Drive at 1/2 the cost! 954-2032345 merealtr@aol.com Coral Shores Realty

rentals wilton manors

RENTALS IN WILTON MANORS - Looking for a great rental in WILTON MANORS? One bedrooms starting at $1,000. Two bedrooms starting at $1,200. 1st/last/security + good credit. Visit my website and call me today. www.mikesREteam. com 954-627-1222 ext. 901 Mike Trottier, Realtor @ Mike’s Real Estate (iHome Florida Real Estate)

room for share Apartment to share - Gay Community Action League, has a room to rent, for a gay guy, 16 to 30 in gated condo/pool, tennis, etc. U provide copy of license for id. & complete lease and questionnaire. 500.00 + utl. George @ 954-5293490/gejejeffsubri@yahoo.com

sfgn.com rentals fort lauderdale FORT LAUDERDALE RENTALS - Looking for a great rental in FORT LAUDERDALE? One bedrooms starting at $900. Two bedrooms starting at $1,000. 1st/last/security + good credit. Visit my website and call me today. www.mikesREteam. com 954-627-1222 ext. 901 Mike Trottier, Realtor @ Mike’s Real Estate (iHome Florida Real Estate)

rentals oakland park OAKLAND PARK RENTALS - Looking for a great rental in OAKLAND PARK? One bedrooms starting at $1,000. Two bedrooms starting at $1,400. 1st/ last/security + good credit. Visit my website and call me today. www.mikesREteam.com 954-6271222 ext. 901 Mike Trottier, Realtor @ Mike’s Real Estate (iHome Florida Real Estate)

rentals

MIKE THE RENTAL GUY - NE Lauderdale/Wilton Manors/Oakland/Victoria Park-1/1 from $950 2/1 from $1150. Credit & Income RequirementsPets okay with restriction. Call for Details Mike 561-703-5533

rentals - vacation WILTON MANORS CALYPSO INN SPECIAL - Our $89 midweek rack rate is now even lower.

NEW summertime lowered rates only good Sundays through Thursdays. One price for any room, any two consecutive nights, only, total price $139.00 plus taxes additional nights $69 Guest must mention this ad when making reservations or during walk in. Based on availability. A major non debit major credit card required. Wes Leigh, 954605-3561

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