SFGN 09/16/21 V12iss37

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 VOL. 12 // ISSUE 37

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he Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office postponed its Sept. 13 plea meeting with Alexander Jerich, who is accused of defacing the pride intersection in Delray Beach.

A new date has not been set, but Richard Clausi, the chief of the office’s misdemeanor division, tells SFGN he thinks it will be another month before they meet.

“We’re just moving it for a month so I can reach out individually to all of the parties that were involved primarily with the dedication,” he explained. “How it affected them, what they think would be an appropriate punishment. While it’s not binding on the state, we want to get everybody’s input.”

Jerich, 21, was arrested on June 17 days after he was recorded burning out his truck tires over the newly dedicated pride intersection in downtown Delray Beach. He was a part of a birthday caravan for former President Donald Trump when someone allegedly yelled at him to “tear up that gay intersection.” A member of the caravan, who said he is gay, came forward to police because he believed what happened was wrong.

The report from the Delray Beach Police Department states that the cost of street space was $16,720. The city’s Public Works Department is working with the vendor to have the intersection repainted, which is expected to cost several thousand dollars, Gina Carter, the public information officer for Delray Beach, told SFGN in July.

Clausi told SFGN that Jerich’s lawyer, Pedro Dijols, told him that his client “demonstrated willingness and an ability to pay the restitution to get the sidewalk back

@SFGN

September 16, 2021 • Volume 12 • Issue 37

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Special to SFGN Steve Rothaus

Correspondents

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

The Pride intersection. Photo courtesy of Jason Parsley.

up to where it should be.”

The restitution is a minimum of $8,000.

“We’ll at least have a better idea of what the plea offer is in 30 days and what, if anything, the defendant wants to do with it,” he said.

The Delray police originally charged Jerich with criminal mischief over $1,000, reckless driving and evidence of prejudice (felony enhancement). However, in August, State Attorney Dave Aronberg dropped the hate crime charge, saying in a press conference that the victim in this case was the city of Delray Beach, which does not have a sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Palm Beach County Human Rights

Council denounced the decision in a statement.

“Although I was not surprised that State Attorney Dave Aronberg shied away from charging Alexander Jerich under the new Combating Public Disorder Act, I was shocked that he refused to seek enhanced penalties under Florida’s hate crimes law,” wrote Rand Hoch, the president of the PBCHRC. “If surveillance cameras caught someone carving anti-Semitic slurs in the sidewalk in front of a store owned by a Jewish person in Delray Beach, don’t you think State Attorney Aronberg would charge the person with a hate crime?”

Those wanting to submit victim impact statements to the State Attorney’s Office can email Richard Clausi at rclausi@sa15.org.

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9.16 . 20 21 •

3

LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENNEDY MCKINNEY

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Pansexual

EMILY HAMPSHIRE CREDITS SHOW FOR DISCOVERING SEXUAL IDENTITY “Schitt’s Creek” actress Emily Hampshire revealed that the show helped her define her sexuality as pansexual.

Hampshire shared with Demi Lovato on her podcast “4D with Demi Lovato” that the famous wine scene which occurs in season one episode 10, where one character says that he “likes the wine, not the label” when describing being pansexual helped her learn more about pansexuality as a whole.

Hampshire said five years after the episode she was reading a message board where people were asking if she was gay and she said, “‘This is so weird. What am I?’ Because I truly just fell in love with a person and where they were on the gender spectrum did not matter to me.

And since then it really doesn’t matter

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

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P

Emily Hampshire. Photo via Instagram.

to me. I have to like the person. I’m really attracted to a person’s vibe.”

Transgender

TRANS MMA FIGHTER RECEIVES BACKLASH

Alana McLaughlin, the first transgender MMA fighter to compete in seven years, has received backlash following her debut victory on Friday.

McLaughlin fought Celine Provost in a featherweight match at the Combate Global event inside of Univision Studios in Miami, Florida.

“It was a nightmare trying to find an opponent,” McLaughlin said before the competition took place, according to ESPN. “I have nothing but respect for [Provost].”

MMA fans have been calling McLaughlin a cheater and she has received “a lot of variations of the same nasty messages.”

She is supported by Fallon Fox, the first transgender MMA who last competed in 2014.

“Right now, I’m following in Fallon’s

Alana McLaughlin. Photo via Twitter.

footsteps. I’m just another step along the way and it’s my great hope that there are more to follow behind me,” McLaughlin said. “If we want to see more trans athletes, if we want to see more opportunities for trans kids, we’re going to have to work our way into those spaces and make it happen.”

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9/23 9/24

LGBTQIA BITES

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Lesbian

RAVEN-SYMONÉ DENIED PLAYING LESBIAN CHARACTER IN DISNEY SPIN OFF

In 2013, Raven-Symoné publicly identified as a lesbian and has been married to Miranda Pearman-Maday for over a year. However, the actress shared that she turned down Disney’s offer to have her character identify as a lesbian on her spin-off show “Raven’s Home.”

“The reason I said no wasn’t because I wasn’t proud of who I was or [because] I didn’t want to represent the LGBTQ+ community in any way,” she said in an interview on the PRIDE Podcast. “It was because Raven Baxter is Raven Baxter.”

She also wanted Baxter to remain straight so that Symoné could put distance between herself and the character.

“Even if she is straight [and] cisgender, I don’t mind, let her have her moment,” said Symoné in reference to her iconic character.

Raven-Symoné. Photo via Facebook.

9.16 . 20 21 •

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NEWS NATIONAL

BY GILLIAN MANNING

THE COUNTRY ACROSS

OKLAHOMA

TEEN ABANDONED AFTER COMING OUT SEEKS FOREVER HOME

A queer Oklahoma teen is looking for a new forever home after their adoptive parents of seven years gave them back to foster care.

“It was nice, but then they like — they started not loving me anymore for who I was, being LGBTQ,” 16-year-old Dax said.

According to LGBTQ+ Nation, Dax is now looking for their forever home.

They hope that they will be adopted by a same-sex couple or a couple who is understanding of different queer identities.

Dax said they look forward to going out and doing activities as a family like road trips and bowling. They also love raising chickens and going to school.

“Give me a chance,” Dax told Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate. “I’m

Dax. Photo via YouTube.

open-minded. I care about a lot of different kinds of people.”

MISSOURI MISSOURI TEACHER QUITS AFTER PRIDE FLAG COMPLAINTS

A Missouri junior high school teacher was told he needed to take down the Pride flag in his classroom and sign a letter stating that he would not discuss human sexuality or gender with the students.

Instead, he resigned.

John Wallis, 22, said the flag accompanied a sign that read, “In This Classroom, EVERYONE Is Welcome” so his students at Neosho Junior High in southwest Missouri would know he was there to help them.

The Huffpost reported that Wallis was initially advised not to display the items in the classroom if they were not prohibited.

However, he did remove the sign and flag after he was informed about parent complaints.

When students asked him why they were removed, Wallis reportedly said,

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• 9.16 . 2021

Photo via Adobe.

“If you have a problem with the flag representing me, or students who identify as LGBTQ+, then you can probably find a different class.”

The school received more complaints from parents.

After that, Wallis said he was told to either sign a letter saying he will keep his “personal agenda on sexuality” out of the classroom or risk being fired.

Wallis then resigned and said he has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN COUPLE OPENS UP THEIR HOME TO LGBT TEENS

The Host Homes program of southwest Michigan launched in November by OutCenter and OutFront Kalamazoo with the mission to prevent homelessness amongst LGBT youth by connecting them with host families. The Bigelows are the first couple to volunteer for the program.

Gary and Sheila Bigelow are longtime LGBT allies, in the ‘90s they advocated for their pastor after he was outed as gay and his position on the congregation was threatened. When their daughter, Lisa, came out as a teenager, their support was never in question, Pride Source reported.

Lisa is now a librarian and author of three novels featuring LGBT main characters. She is currently fostering a teenager. Gary and Sheila recently hosted an unaccompanied minor from Honduras.

Photo via PxHere.

Though Gary and Sheila are the first couple to volunteer, they have yet to host the first youth of the program. This is partially due to the pandemic and its limitations.

To be eligible as a participant, LGBT youth must be between the ages of 1317 and must be experiencing housing instability.

MASSACHUSETTS CATHOLIC CHURCH SENTENCES BOSTON PRIEST TO ‘LIFE OF PRAYER’

The Archdiocese of Boston has found a priest guilty of sexual assault decades after the initial accusations.

Paul J. McLaughlin was ordained in 1955 and the accusations against him allegedly took place in the 1960s. He was placed on administrative leave in 2002 after the Boston Globe broke the story on the Catholic church and sexual abuse, according LGBTQ Nation. One victim accused McLaughlin of orally raping him at the age of 11 or 12.

This month, the Archdiocese of Boston found McLaughlin guilty and sentenced him to a “life of prayer.”

“He is expected to dedicate his life to praying for victims and repenting of his past offenses,” the archdiocese said. “In this way, the Church seeks even here to prevent any future abuse and to repair

The Archdiocese of Boston. Photo via Facebook.

the injustice that has already taken place.”

McLaughlin will no longer be able to act as a priest, celebrate public Mass, wear clerical attire, or provide spiritual direction.

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY EVERITT ROSEN

THE WORLD AROUND

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

ASIA

EUROPE

SOUTH KOREAN LGBT STUDENTS FACE DISCRIMINATION

PROTESTS RISE AGAINST HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN MADRID

According to a research report by the Human Rights Watch and Yale Law School’s Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic, young lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in South Korea face isolation and maltreatment in schools.

According to the Human Rights Watch, the 76-page report, “‘I Thought of Myself as Defective’: Neglecting the Rights of LGBT Youth in South Korean Schools,” found bullying and harassment, a lack of confidential mental health support, exclusion from school curricula, and gender identity discrimination are all major concerns for LGBT students.

“LGBT students often face bullying and discrimination in the classroom in South Korea, from adults as well as from other students,” said Ryan Thoreson, an

Photo via PxHere.

LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Without clear protections, many students suffer in silence at the expense of their education and well-being.”

After a spate of homophobic crimes that have rocked Spain in recent months, hundreds of people rallied in downtown Madrid to demand stronger protection for LGBT rights.

People held rainbow flags and placards that said “justice,” “touch one of us, touch all of us,” and “we are being killed.”

“We are here to protest against the continuous homophobic attacks and the constant aggressions that happen weekend after weekend,” said protester Gabriel Escribano to Reuters.

According to the Interior Ministry, hate crimes have been increasing at a rate of about 9% per year since 2014.

This comes after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez convened an emergency meeting of ministries, community

A past rally in Madrid. Photo credit: Adolfo Lujan, via Flickr.

leaders, and police to discuss ways to minimize them.

Interior Minister Fernando GrandeMarlaska Gómez said hate crimes were on the rise and becoming more violent.

AFRICA

CARIBBEAN

UGANDAN GOVERNMENT CALLS LGBT PEOPLE WHO LEAVE ‘ECONOMIC GAYS’

TRANS PEOPLE IN PUERTO RICO FEEL INVISIBLE

The Ugandan government has made the insulting assertion that some LGBT asylum seekers fleeing the country are just pretending to be gay in order to reside in Western countries.

According to PinkNews, in Uganda, which has among the harshest anti-LGBT legislation in the world, homosexuality is outlawed and punished by life imprisonment. Most LGBT Ugandans live by becoming invisible, and those who manage to flee risk being killed if they return.

Yet, as foreign ministry general Jeje Odongo pointed out, many male LGBT asylum applicants had spouses and children, casting doubt on the legitimacy of queer asylum claims.

“These Ugandans who went out on the pretext of being homosexuals. Now their

Foreign ministry general Jeje Odongo. Photo via Twitter.

lie is catching up with them because when they settle, they ask to bring their wives and children,” he said.

Lina, a trans woman, alleged an older guy drugged her and attempted to rape her while celebrating her 16th birthday at a gay bar in Puerto Rico a few years ago. She then went to the police station to report her ordeal.

“When I turned to the police station, they said, ‘You were in a gay bar, what were you expecting?’” she said in an interview with CBS News. “And it’s stuff that may, to them, be so insignificant, but for us, it changes our life.”

Transgender persons face assault from both Puerto Rican residents and local police for expressing their gender identification, according to activist organizations and victims, and police are typically dismissive of transgender crime victims.

According to the Human Rights

Photo via Adobe.

Campaign, six transgender or gender non-conforming persons were tragically shot or killed by violent means in the United States in 2020, accounting for 14% of the total — more than any other state or territory.

9.16 . 20 21 •

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NEWS LOCAL RaeJean Cox. Photo via Facebook.

TIME SENSITIVE: THIS EVENT IS THURSDAY, SEPT. 16

AN EVENING TO HONOR RAEJEAN COX John Hayden

F

rom Bingo nights to fierce performances will honor her memory. “Unfortunately he to raising tens of thousands of dollars did not recover, so, I’m just hoping we get for charities, RaeJean Cox (Earl enough money from the sale/auction of his Bunning) made an impression on everyone portrait to alleviate some of the expenses his who saw her. She died in August after being family is incurring or as seed money for a in a car accident. Now her friends and family special fund in his name.” are holding a night to honor and remember The idea honors the way she lived her life. her through art.

RaeJean worked tirelessly and The Box Gallery in West Palm creatively as ISCOAF Empress.

Beach is holding an exhibition She would literally stop traffic of The Paintings of Gil Martin and sell you the dress off her on Thursday, Sept. 16 from 6 back and donate the money.

8 p.m. The featured attraction “We are so thrilled that a will be Martin’s bejeweled, great artist is memorializing mixed-media painting of our Sun Empress 2 and 3 RaeJean. The work was inspired RaeJean Cox,” Michael Cyrus,

by Ron Comstock’s iconic ISCOAF’s Emperor, said. “Some photograph of RaeJean in full lucky supporter of hers will be regalia, representing her as Sun enjoying this painting for years Empress II and Regent Empress to come, and remembering the of The Imperial Sun Court of All way he made us laugh, cry, and - Michael Cyrus Florida (ISCOAF). feel important each time we ISCOAF EMPEROR Martin created the work after were around him.” the accident but before she Other items from Martin’s died. Rolando Chang Barrero, owner of The collection being displayed include paintings Box Gallery, says the original idea for the of other LGBT icons such as Cher, Betty Davis, portrait was a “get well soon” gift. “I thought Barbara Streisand and Donna Summer. Cava we would auction his portrait and get a few will be served and the event is being catered photos, make a few dollars, to be able to send by Chef Jamilette Alvarez. South Florida drag him a big bouquet of flowers for when he queen icon Big Mama will host the evening. woke from the induced coma and he would The Box Gallery is located at 811 Belvedere feel loved and appreciated.” Now the night Road in West Palm Beach.

“We are so thrilled that a great artist is memorializing our Sun Empress 2 and 3 RaeJean Cox.”

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• 9.16 . 2021

NEWS STATE

NEW CHEERLEADING GROUP RAISES MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES John Hayden

T

hree cheers for the return of Miami Beach Pride. When the venerable party returns this weekend, Sept. 17-19, a new group will have the crowd cheering: Cheer Fort Lauderdale. The organization started over the summer with the goal of creating a fun group for people who love cheerleading and raising money for local charities.

“I wanted to find a way to give back,” Cheer founder Aleksandr Dissan says. “What better way to give back? So I decided to create this organization.” When the group held its first practice in July, Dissan was hoping for about 10 people to show up. He was surprised when about 30 men and women came out to cheer on the effort. “I’m still in shock. I cannot believe we have so many members.

We exploded so fast. Everyone wants to work with us.”

Dissan started a similar group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a few years ago and raised thousands of dollars. He and his husband moved to South Florida just before the pandemic, keeping them from exploring their new neighborhood. He found out he wasn’t the only one with pent-up energy.

“I think it was actually the pandemic that may have helped, because we grew so fast. I incorporated on June first and then I started sending out flyers and posting pictures online and all over social media.”

The group ranges from people in their 20s to those nearing 50 as well as some nonbinary members. “They’re amazing! We’re

“I’M STILL IN SHOCK. I CANNOT BELIEVE WE HAVE SO MANY MEMBERS. WE EXPLODED SO FAST. EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK WITH US.” - Aleksandr Dissan CHEER FOUNDER

Photo via Cheer Fort Lauderdale, Facebook.

happy to have all ages because I want an inclusive charity where you’re not too old to get back [to cheering], and what a great way to meet new people, stay active, have some fun and do some good for the community.”

He grew up in Southern California, and was homeless for a time after being rejected by his family for being gay. While the group will vote on which specific charities to support, Dissan hopes Cheer will help homeless gay youths here. “I was kicked out of my house. I went through that struggle being homeless for a little bit, couch surfing and all. I feel like it’s made me the person I am today. It’s definitely helped make me a stronger person.”

In addition to Miami Beach Pride, Cheer plans to appear at Fort Lauderdale Pride in November and at Atlanta Pride. You can also look for them to be out and about holding fundraisers at local businesses. “We will be hosting happy hours and stuff. It’s such a great experience when you’re at the bar in your cheerleading uniform and people see you and you get their reactions.”

For more, visit CheerFortLauderdale.org and MiamiBeachPride.com.

9.16 . 20 21 •

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NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

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

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• 9.16.2021

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

Hamburger Mary’s Dale Warner and Rubin Lopez.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band with Kenny Calabria a.k.a. Daisy Deadpetals.

Timothy S. Hart, CPA and managing partner of R3 Accounting LLC, with wife Lisa.

Reverend Patrick Rodgers Senior Pastor of United Church of Christ with Howard Kaplan, the Angel Fund Homeless advocate and also Broward Health volunteer chaplain.

NEWS LOCAL

FORT LAUDERDALE COMMISSIONERS PASS RESOLUTION OPPOSING TEXAS’ ABORTION LAW Kim Swan

A

fter Texas passed a law that severely restricts abortions, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission passed a resolution asking for cities to join in the fight to oppose it.

Senate Bill 8, which bans abortions at approximately six weeks, was signed

by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott May 19 and became effective Sept. 1, according to The Washington Post. This means that if a woman is more than six weeks pregnant, she cannot get an abortion. It also does not include exceptions for women impregnated as a result of rape or incest.

Fort Lauderdale City Commission opposed this law by passing a resolution to fight for reproductive healthcare and abortion rights.

“I felt strongly about introducing this resolution and want to thank Mayor Trantalis and Commissioner Sorensen for their support and votes in favor,” said City Commissioner Steven Glassman in a press release.

Steve Glassman. Photo credit: Carina Mask.

Glassman, a gay man, has used some of his time on the commission to push equal rights and social justice causes.

According to the resolution, the law violates a person’s right to “choose, places the safety, health, and welfare of people at risk, as many people will nonetheless choose to terminate their pregnancies and will be forced to do so through unregulated, and potentially unsafe means.”

The City Commission also directs the City’s state lobbyists to advocate against legislation that would curtail a woman’s right to legal abortion.

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NEWS NATIONAL

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SECRETARY OF STATE EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER LGBT AFGHANS Michael K. Lavers Washington Blade

S

ecretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday expressed concern over the fate of LGBT Afghans who remain in the country after the Taliban regained control of it.

Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline asked Blinken during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that focused on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan about a 10-point plan to protect LGBT Afghans for which the Council for Global Equality and five other advocacy groups have called the Biden administration to implement. Blinken told Cicilline, a Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Democrat, that he had “not personally seen Photo via the GPA Photo Archive, Flickr. the report that you referred to …, but I’m going to take a look at that myself.”

Aug. 30. It remains unclear whether any “Thank you for rightfully putting the LGBT Afghans were among those who spotlight on concerns about were able to leave during the LGBTQI+ community in the evacuations from Kabul THE U.S. Afghanistan and the particular International Airport, but threat that they find themselves Immigration Equality last week EVACUATED MORE under,” said Blinken. “This is said it spoke “directly” with 50 THAN 100,000 something that we are focused LGBT Afghans before the U.S. PEOPLE FROM THE on.” withdrawal ended.

The Taliban entered Kabul, Canada is thus far the only COUNTRY BEFORE the Afghan capital on Aug. 15 country that has specifically AMERICAN TROOPS and toppled then-President said it would offer refuge to Ashraf Ghani’s government.

LGBT Afghans.

COMPLETED THEIR A Taliban judge in July said “It’s important, in my view, WITHDRAWAL FROM that the group would once again we take steps to ensure that THE COUNTRY ON execute gay men if it were to those who would be subjected return to power in Afghanistan. to violence or worse because AUG. 30.

The U.S. evacuated more of their sexual orientation than 100,000 people from the or gender identity are safe,” country before American troops completed Cicilline told Blinken during the hearing. their withdrawal from the country on Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.

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NEWS NATIONAL

HATE CRIMES SURGE REPORTING THEM DOES NOT

Many Florida Law Enforcement Agencies Fail To Collect Data John McDonald

L

ast week, in region of the country experiencing a sharp rise in extremist activity, a Washington man was sent to prison for nearly 20 years for the brutal murder of a transgender girl.

“She could have been anyone’s son or daughter,” Clark County, Washington, Superior Judge David Gregerson said during sentencing of David Bogdanov on Sept. 9, according to The Advocate. Bogdanov, 27, strangled 17-year-old Nikki Kuhnhausen and dumped her body near a remote mountain before fleeing to the Ukraine.

Visibly shaken during sentencing, Judge Gregerson said he was “struck by the darkness in this case.”

Bogdanov was convicted of second-degree murder and malicious harassment — the latter is a hate crime under Washington law.

According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, there were 77 hate crimes against LGBT people in the state of Washington during 2020.

“The trend around trans women in particular is something we have seen continue to rise over the last several years,” said Cathy Renna, Communications Director for the National LGBTQ Task Force. “I don’t

“A HATE CRIME IS NOT JUST DIRECTED AT THAT ONE PERSON, IT’S MEANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO AN ENTIRE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THAT’S WHY HATE CRIMES ARE SO INCREDIBLY DAMAGING BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS VICTIMIZED BUT TO THEIR COMMUNITY.” - Cathy Renna COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE

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• 9.16.2021

think it’s hard to connect the dots in terms of the increased visibility and attacks on the trans community by anti-LGBT organizations and attempts to pass anti-trans legislation and issues related to trans youth and sports.

The trans community very much has a target on its back.”

Bogdanov’s trial took place in Vancouver, Washington, a bedroom community across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon where right-wing extremists have frequently staged rallies under the guise of free speech in attempts to provoke the city’s left-wing activists. Bogdanov’s lawyers tried to argue the killing was in self-defense, claiming he discovered Kuhnhausen’s gender identity after sexual contact.

“When the defense asked him what was going through his head when he went through the struggle, his first response was ‘I was deceived,’” argued prosecuting attorney Kristen Arnaud, according to News 10. “It wasn’t ‘I was afraid,’ it wasn’t ‘I was threatened,’ his motivation this entire time have been about that, have been about his hate, his rage, and his shame for finding out Nikki is transgender, it’s not about fear.”

Kuhnhausen went missing in June of 2019 and her body was discovered six months later.

Bogdanov’s 19-year, six month prison sentence was the maximum allowed for second-degree murder. He will serve 12 months concurrently for the hate crime enhancement, reports the Columbian newspaper.

After Kuhnhausen’s death, Washington and Oregon passed laws banning the use of the LGBTQ panic defense by defendants accused of violent crimes against LGBT people. Both states also have penalty enhancements for hate crimes committed against a person based on the victim’s sexual orientation and/ or gender identity.

“A hate crime is not just directed at that

Nikki Kuhnhausen, whose murder led to the Washington case. Photo via Facebook.

one person, it’s meant to send a message to an entire group of people and that’s why hate crimes are so incredibly damaging beyond the individual who is victimized but to their community,” Renna said.

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the country and two weeks after the FBI released its annual hate crimes statistics, there has been no comment from the office of Florida’s attorney general. According to the FBI, Florida is one of five states — along with Alaska, California, New York and New Jersey — that are not certified by the National IncidentBased Reporting System (NIBRS).

Only 452 of Florida’s 687 law enforcement agencies participated in the FBI’s hate crime program in 2020 for a total of 109 hate crimes reported. By contrast, 243 of Washington’s 275 law enforcement agencies participated for a total of 451 hate crimes reported.

Washington’s estimated population is 7.7 million while Florida’s is 21.5 million.

In a press release, the Anti-Defamation League called on Florida law enforcement agencies to step up its data collection procedures.

“Underreporting of hate crimes in Florida, and nationwide, is a severe obstacle to investigation and prosecution of these crimes, which leads to a lack of accountability for bias-motivated offenses that can intimidate,

isolate, and terrorize entire communities,” said Sarah Emmons, ADL Florida Regional Director.

Only 54 Florida law enforcement agencies reported hate crimes to the FBI in 2020. There were 145 Florida cities with no hate crimes reported, including St. Petersburg, a city with over 250,000 people.

Also concerning, the ADL reports there are no penalty enhancements for hate crimes committed in Florida based on the victim’s gender or gender identity.

On a national scale, 2020 saw a 6% increase in reported hate crimes with 7,759 incidents.

In total, 57% of the country’s law enforcement agencies contributed to the NIBRS. This year’s report set off alarms at the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization that seeks to erase hate in the memory of Shepard, a 21-year-old gay college student savagely attacked and killed in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998.

“Not only are we alarmed by the continued increase in the number of reported hate crimes, but immensely disturbed that the number of law enforcement agencies participating in data collection has fallen for the second year in a row,” said Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother and the Foundation’s president. “Our communities deserve better.”

NEWS STATE Cameron Kasky. Photo via Facebook.

PARKLAND ACTIVIST COMES OUT AS QUEER Kim Swan

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ameron Kasky, a gun control activist specifically queer activists of color, giving and survivor of the mass shooting their lives for our right to exist,” he tweeted. at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Kasky also wrote about the stigma of School, has come out as queer. being bisexual or demisexual, and how being He made the announcement in a tweet told by white gay men “that bisexuality and Sept. 13, writing that he is indebted to past demisexuality are illegitimate.”

LGBT activists, especially those of color, The “Bisexual men are told they’re just gay but Advocate reported. afraid to admit it and bisexual women are “I don’t know what ‘type’ told they’re just straight and of queer I am, and I am finally having a little fun. We need okay with that. Bi? Maybe? I this to change forever,” Kasky don’t know, man. The journey wrote. towards self-acceptance is one He ended his tweet with I have been on for years now, some advice: “To those of you but the most difficult aspect who are also struggling to has been searching for meaning find an identity that you find in sexual identity when there authentic, take your time. Look truly is none. At least not for inwards and indulge in your me. I’ve wanted to be straight beauty and light. You’ll find so for so long. A straight guy who’s much to love, so much to be done some gay stuff here and proud of.” there. There’s so much security Kasky was one of the - Cameron Kasky in heterosexuality.” survivors of the massacre in ACTIVIST Kasky, 21, acknowledged how Parkland, which killed 17 of LGBT activists of color have his classmates. Along with allowed him to live the life he has today, other students that included out Parkland and the privileges he has as a white man, survivor X Gonzalez, Kasky helped organize according to The Advocate. the 2018 March for Our Lives gun control “My ability to proudly share who I am rally in Washington, D.C, The Advocate today only exists due to queer activists, reported.

“I don’t know what ‘type’ of queer I am, and I am finally okay with that.”

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HARVEY MILK GETS HIS ‘WAY’ IN MIAMI BEACH FRIDAY John Hayden

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Harvey Milk. Photo via the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, Facebook.

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n LGBT leader who was assassinated for being out, loud, and proud, is being granted a lasting honor in South Florida. Harvey Milk will have a street named after him Friday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in Miami Beach.

The street sign unveiling of Harvey Milk Way will be on the southeast corner of Pride Park at 1700 Convention Center Drive. The ceremony was originally planned months ago, but has been delayed several times due

HIS NEPHEW, STUART MILK, HELPS LEAD THE MILK FOUNDATION AND HOPES TO BE AT FRIDAY’S CEREMONY.

to the ongoing COVID pandemic.

His nephew, Stuart Milk, helps lead the Milk Foundation and hopes to be at Friday’s ceremony.

There was only one dissenting vote in the decision to name a street after Harvey Milk.

That person said Milk had no real connection to Miami Beach or South Florida. Miriam Richter of the Milk Foundation says that’s not true. While he may have never lived here, his presence was felt then and now. The idea of an openly gay man in government helped push Anita Bryant’s hateful 1977 campaign to repeal an ordinance in Dade County giving some equal rights to the LGBT community.

In the 1970s, Milk was voted on to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first out gay man elected to office in California. He made it his life’s work to help the LGBT community feel accepted in their public and private lives.

It was a struggle that cost him his career in the U.S. Navy and, ultimately, his life. He began serving in the Navy during the Korean War, but was forced to resign after four years because of his sexuality. Later this year the Navy will dedicate the USNS Harvey Milk, a new oiler ship that will resupply other ships at sea.

He was shot and killed about a year after taking office in San Francisco.

For more on the work of The Milk Foundation, visit MilkFoundation.org.

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GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 18 SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

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The Greening Of Wilton Manors Leisure Services advocates for more parks

By John McDonald As Wilton Manors begins to roll out a new budget each city department comes under a magnifying glass.

The city is proposing a $40 million budget for the fiscal year 2021-22. The budget had its first public hearing Sept. 13.

One department getting a lot of attention of late is leisure services. With responsibilities ranging from parks and recreation to library services to childcare, the department has a lot on its plate. During a summer budget workshop, commissioners eliminated a $33,000 proposed parks master plan. Vice Mayor Paul Rolli asked Leisure Services Director Patrick Cann to collect usage data from the department’s programs, facilities and parks.

“My question is: How are we going to deal with this going forward and the answer is not a parks’ master plan,” Rolli told Cann. “Right now we’re looking to put the budget on track to get us in a future direction. I’m not going to go down the same road we’ve been down for the last 10 years with any of the departments. We have to change our mindset here.”

Leisure Services has 59 employees on staff, 21 full-time and 38 part-time. The department’s

proposed budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 is $3,863,405. The budget has increased 4% in 15 years. Cann is going to bat for his staff, telling the Gazette all positions are being utilized properly.

“Yes, based on the rapid growth of doubling in the number of programs, services and amenities over a 10year period, the positions have been utilized efficiently,” Cann said. “Also, with the diverse and complex responsibilities including many public works functions with a lot of attention on the cleanliness of the city, especially on Wilton Drive, the Arts and Entertainment District, and at Bus Shelters.

With more program support for special events and programming activities, the Leisure Services Department takes on and resolves many community challenges. Especially during emergency conditions such as storms, and more recently COVID-19 — setting up parks and revising the operating policies to ensure public safety while meeting community needs, the Leisure Services Team adapts extremely well to changes.”

Cann has been out front at commission meetings of late pitching potential land acquisitions. The projects include expanding

The projects include expanding Colohatchee Park, buying the Kiwanis Club and taking Site 92, a waterfront bird sanctuary, off Broward County’s hands.

Colohatchee Park in Wilton Manors. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.

Colohatchee Park, buying the Kiwanis Club and taking Site 92, a waterfront bird sanctuary, off Broward County’s hands.

Commissioner Mike Bracchi wants the city to consider reducing the required acreage of park space in its comprehensive plan.

Currently, Wilton Manors requires 4.25 acres of park space per person. The county standard is 3.0 acres per person.

“I would like to take another look at that,” Bracchi said. “Twenty years ago everything was much different then, nothing was built out.

There’s limited opportunity for park space. I think we need to optimize the parks that we

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have. The playground is still not fixed. We don’t have turf for the dog parks. I think there’s a lot of ways we can spend money to optimize our parks to the fullest rather than trying to add park space that we don’t have the money to do.”

The debate over leisures services has several angles with Mayor Scott Newton pushing pickleball, Commissioner Chris Caputo advocating for more dog parks, Commissioner Gary Resnick asking for clay tennis courts and seemingly universal frustrations over the children’s playground at Hagen Park, which commissioners have dubbed the “tot lot,” that has fallen into disrepair.

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OPINION

WILTON MANORS

Twenty Years Ago To The Island City Manors resolution supports women’s rights

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

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women to decide what is best for themselves.

Thankfully our local elected officials here in Wilton Manors think otherwise and took a firm stand on defending a woman’s right to choose. At Tuesday’s City Commission meeting a resolution was passed by unanimous vote calling upon the Florida Legislature to take action safeguarding the fundamental constitutional right to abortion and opposing the latest efforts of several states to limit and outright ban abortion. Bravo to Commissioner Chris Caputo for bringing this resolution forward and bravo to our elected officials for strongly supporting passage. Unfortunately many more calls to action will be needed in the days and months ahead to prevent the continued backward march on individual rights and freedoms in our society.

Also this week, city budget season entered the final stages as our city commission held a Public Hearing on the proposed budget for upcoming fiscal year this past Monday night.

Commissioner Mike Bracchi gets high marks for being well-prepared for the meeting, holding firm on very important key points, and demonstrating a solid understanding of the financial realties facing our city. Good fiscal leadership needs to look down the road, on what effects decisions made today will have on the future sustainability of our city. Commissioner Bracchi demonstrated

such leadership throughout the budget process and definitely during Monday night’s meeting. The experience gained by serving on the Budget Review Advisory Committee before being elected as commissioner is an asset that will reap benefits as Commissioner Bracchi becomes a strong guardian of fiscal responsibility for our city’s taxpayers. Much input by many over the last few months will reach the final stage this coming Monday, Sept.

20, when the city commission will conduct the Final Public Hearing and vote on final approval.

Also making headlines, continued news of the devastating opioid epidemic. Families destroyed, loved ones lost, billions of dollars spent and still overdose fatalities continue to rise. Sadly, opium production surged in Afghanistan after the U.S. sent military forces into the country in 2001, which now accounts for more than 80% of the world’s supply.

During the same 20 years opioid involved overdose deaths in the U.S. rose five times to almost 50,000 per year. The blatant reality of complicity is hard to turn a blind eye too.

Harsh realities are sometimes made easier when you have a scapegoat. Casting blame to cover up failed policies and mistakes may make us feel better but does little to correct the ills from haunting us again and again. Having an honest debate on what has taken place in the 20 years since the horror that scarred our nation that beautiful September morning is the only way we can successfully move beyond the tragedy, to truly heal, and come away stronger as a nation. Having such an honest conversation will only make life just better here...

www.WMGAZETTE.com • 9.16.2021

September 16, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 18

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

Recent events in Afghanistan made this remembrance all the more poignant as we come to grips with some harsh realities 20 years later.

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

By Sal Torre This past week our nation paused to remember the tragedy and horror of Sept. 11, 20 years ago. Looking at photos from that day still bring back such deep emotional response for many of us even after so many years. For me, I still remember how beautiful the day began with the most wonderful blue sky on a gorgeous September morning in New York.

How quickly it darkened that day for so many in Lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon, on Fight 93 and for families and loved ones of those lost.

President Biden was correct when he stated that, “These memorials are really important, but they’re also incredibly difficult for the people affected by them, because it brings back the moment they got the phone call, it brings back the instant they got the news, no matter how years go by.” The pain is still very real for many.

Recent events in Afghanistan made this remembrance all the more poignant as we come to grips with some harsh realities 20 years later. Without giving in to the many conspiracy theories that consume social media, some points are worthy of inquiry if we are to move ahead, better able to deal with the dangers that our nation is faced with today.

It still seems ironic that 15 of the 19 hijackers that day were Saudi nationals, but we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. Going further, our government classified documents, prevented lawsuits, and continues a cozy relationship with the House of Saud all these years later.

Headlines over the past few weeks carry horror stories of how the Taliban in Afghanistan treat women, but yet no headlines on how women are treated in Saudi Arabia, where women are officially treated as permanent legal minors. Saudi Arabia’s is the by far the most draconian in the extent of its laws and regulations based on the male guardianship system over women.

Here in this country, states such as Texas seem to be moving in a similar direction with recent laws denying women the right to choose. Many in Florida are already salivating at similar restrictive legislation passing through the state legislature. Manatee County did not even want to wait for state action and rushed this week to create a “Safe Haven” from abortion and to deny rights for

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Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com.

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COMMUNITY

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COMMUNITY

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Island City Stage Hosts Police Forum, New Play

TIME SENSITIVE: THIS EVENT IS THURSDAY, SEPT. 16

By John Hayden

Oakland Park Elks Lodge. Photo via Facebook.

Local Elks Lodge Donate to Homeless Vets Hosting Drag Fundraiser Sept. 16

By Christiana Lilly The Oakland Park Elks Lodge 2407 has put together and donated 50 backpacks to help homeless veterans throughout Broward County.

The backpacks will be distributed by the United Way of Broward County as needed.

“We are so grateful to Elks Lodge #2407 for coming together and donating critical supplies for our veterans in need,” Kathleen Cannon, president and CEO of United Way of Broward County, said in an email. “The donations that we receive from the Elks Lodge and other organizations help us to provide the critical support that is needed by so many in our community.”

Douglas Satran, the first openly gay exalted ruler, or president, of the Elks Lodge Oakland Park 2407, told the Gazette that the backpacks were filled with water, food, toiletries and other essential needs. The program was paid for by the national fraternal organization’s Freedom Grant.

“One of the Elks’ mottos is that so long as there are veterans, they will never be forgotten,” Satran explained. “Partnering with a group like the United Way is a fantastic way for us to really tap into what our motto is … We’re looking at all the ways we can to continually get involved and get out there and

get our hands into it.”

The lodge has also participated in food drives and creating welcome home packages for veterans moving into homes after being homeless. The packages include curtains, towels, bedsheets, pillows, pots and pans and other important items to start a new life; the lodge is planning on participating again in early 2022. Veterans or friends and family of veterans who need support can go to missionunitedbroward.org.

The other part of the Elks’ charity work is helping local children, which they do by supporting the Harry Anna Investment Fund and the Elks National Foundation. On Sept.

16, the lodge is partnering with the ladies of Lips to host Drag It Out, a fundraiser for the Harry Anna Investment Fund, with proceeds (including all tips) going to children’s therapy services and overnight youth camps. Satran mentioned that he and other members of the lodge are planning on dressing in drag as well.

Many esquires and knights of the lodge are also gay.

“We’re trying to become more visible to let people know we’re here and this is what we do,” he explained. “The Elks are open to all …come in, have a drink, learn about who we are.”

Drag It Out is Sept. 16 at the Oakland Park Elks Lodge, 240 Prospect Road in Oakland Park, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 or $25 at the door, benefiting the Harry Anna Foundation. Don’t forget your dollar bills! Call the lodge at 954-563-2407 to reserve a ticket or for more information.

We’ve come a long way, and we still have a way to go. That was the message that came out of a community forum with local law enforcement officers at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors. The event was an opportunity to examine the often-dark history of interactions between the LGBT community and law enforcement.

Wilton Manors Police Department was represented by Assistant Chief of Police Darren Brodsky, Captain Michael Dodson spoke for Fort Lauderdale PD, and the Broward Sheriff Office (BSO) was represented by Lt. Paul Auerbach.

Each discussed their respective department’s work building better relations with the LGBT community in Broward County.

“There are two different aspects,” Capt.

Dodson said. “There’s within the department, what it’s like to be a [LGBT] police person. That has improved. There are policies in place to be sure you can’t be discriminated against. Then there’s the way we deal with the community.

We want to reflect this community and we think we do.”

Local trans activist Kat Rios sat on the panel, and shared a story of being physically attacked at work by her supervisor and feeling her trans status contributed to the man not being arrested. She was later told that, because there was no “imminent danger,” the attacker wasn’t taken into custody but did have to go to court. Capt. Dodson said he looked into the case and said it was handled appropriately.

Much was made of the “Broward Bubble” we live in, a community with a large and visible LGBT population, and how that can make progress easier. However, at the end of the day most officers are heterosexual and LGBT people are “the different ones.”

Each of the officers answered how their departments work to avoid bias during incidents involving the community. Fort Lauderdale PD does bias-based police training for all officers. While relations are improving, the panel acknowledged it’s impossible to root out all bias in officers. “We try to recruit

WMPD. Photo via Facebook.

and train officers and provide them with an opportunity to learn,” Brodsky said. “But there are outliers and officers that are out there, unfortunately, they may nod their head but they’re not gonna buy into it.”

Lt. Auerbach said being in a “bubble” gives local law enforcement an advantage to make change beyond the Broward County border.

“Our progressive policies, in our bubble, we have officers in the midwest [who reach out] and say they want to make changes in their department. So we are that stepping stone for them.”

The event coincides with Island City Theater’s 10th anniversary and their presentation of The Twentieth Century Way. The play is set in 1914, and looks at a sting operation to target and out gays in Long Beach, California.

Florida Atlantic University Professor Emeritus Fred Fejes, Ph.D., gave a brief history of South Florida law enforcement and the LGBT relations from the 1950s through the ‘80s. That period included “monitoring” people, collecting their addresses, and outing them to families.

The Twentieth Century Way was the first play ever presented by Island City Stage, and the revival runs throughout October.

While relations are improving, the panel acknowledged it’s impossible to root out all bias in officers.

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

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NEWS

OAKLAND PARK

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

Wilton Manors Commissioners Debate Varied Agenda Vacation rentals, Andrews expansion highlight discussion

By John McDonald

Tri-Rail. Photo via Facebook.

Oakland Park Wins Battle For New Rail Station FDOT deems Wilton Manors “not as robust”

By Christiana Lilly After evaluating multiple locations throughout Broward County, the Florida Department of Transportation has recommended Oakland Park over neighboring Wilton Manors as a commuter rail station.

FDOT hosted three meetings to hear from the public. The first was Aug. 30 and an in-person meeting was scheduled for Aug. 31 evening at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. A virtual meeting was on Sept. 1.

The 27-mile Broward Commuter Rail is planned to start in Aventura in Miami-Dade County and make its way north to Deerfield Beach. FDOT recommended nine potential station areas for the in a report submitted Aug. 30, including Oakland Park. The city was evaluated alongside Wilton Manors and the department decided that Oakland Park was a better fit “because of pedestrian connectivity and facilities, station visibility, street layout, on-street and public parking, and planned development.”

The report also states that the city of Wilton Manors requested that FDOT review “additional information provided by both cities” to better compare the two, but Oakland Park was still found to be a better location because it “demonstrated more active projects that have been advanced by the city

and a Mobility Plan which is currently being implemented.” The report adds that Wilton Manors’ “long-term projected growth and buildout are not as robust as in Oakland Park,” and it cited that the Island City’s zoning code “omits important [transit-oriented development] requirements.”

Should the city be chosen to serve as a train station, the FDOT’s recommendation is for it to be located on 12th Avenue between 36th and 38th Streets, just south of Funky Buddha Brewery.

Oakland Park is currently in the middle of finalizing plans for OP3D, or the Oakland Park Design Development District. Multiple community meetings have been hosted so that the city and Zyscovich Architects could hear from the public on green space, sidewalks, retail and restaurant space, and public transit.

The city passed a resolution of support for a train station in 2010 and again in 2019, and in a citywide survey, 77% of respondents were in favor of a station in their city. Construction has also started on multiple plans, such as the renovation of City Parkand an RFQ that was released earlier in August to redevelop six acres of land on Dixie Highway.

Oakland Park is asking the public to sign a letter of support for the rail project at oaklandparkfl.gov.

In a rare speedy meeting, Wilton Manors Commissioners sent a clear message to Tallahassee: stay in your lane.

In unanimous votes, commissioners supported abortion rights and opposed the state’s new anti-protest law.

Members of the Floridians For Reproductive Freedom coalition called into Tuesday night’s meeting to urge commissioners to pass a resolution — brought forward by Commissioner Chris Caputo — safeguarding accessibility, affordability and safety of reproductive healthcare. Following an extreme law passed in Texas that comes close to banning all abortions in the state, pro-choice activists are bracing for similar efforts in Florida.

“We’ve never seen such an aggressive early signal from Tallahassee,” said Joe Saunders, Equality Florida senior political director.

After hearing from representatives from the Southern Poverty Law Center and Public Rights Project, commissioners voted to oppose HB1, Governor Ron DeSantis’ controversial “antiriot” law.

Other notes from the meeting: The meeting lasted one hour and 48 minutes.

Commissioner Gary Resnick was absent.

Resident Paul Kuta implored the commission to set aside more open spaces during the planning and zoning process. Kuta quoted Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis saying governments are failed states when they fail to include open spaces.

Former Mayor John Fiore suggested relocating the children’s playground at Hagen Park to Site 92, a waterfront park the city is considering taking ownership from the county.

Police Chief Gary Blocker presented Kerlyne Pierre, records manager, with the department’s employee of the quarter award.

Six people were appointed to the Library Advisory Board: Daisy Allica, Barbara Gail Cuthbertson and John Fiore were appointed to full terms, Marcie Grady was appointed to an unexpired term and Ruby Tucker and David Pirola were appointed to alternate positions.

Fiore said Wilton Manors is one of only five cities in Broward County with its own library.

Kimberley Allonce, the city’s economic development manager, gave a goals presentation. Allonce said a $35,000 grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity would be used to study the Andrews Avenue corridor, reviewing vendor proposals, doing a branding and marketing

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Wilton Manors City Hall.

Photo via Facebook.

analysis and meeting with stakeholders.

Allonce also unveiled a new website, Investwiltonmanors.com.

Mayor Scott Newton read a proclamation recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Monica Elliott, president of the League of Women’s Voters of Broward County, thanked Newton for the proclamation and announced the League was hosting a forum on suicide prevention Sept. 28.

Vacation rentals were back on the agenda with Commissioner Mike Bracchi objecting to a draft proposal from the city attorney’s office as too extreme, but acknowledging the problem is, “figuring out how to stop the nuisance houses.”

Vice Mayor Paul Rolli said code enforcement needs better tools to mitigate nuisance houses.

Commissioners discussed additional exemptions for senior homesteaders. Finance Director Pennie Zuercher was directed to contact the Property Appraiser’s office to find out if wealth measurements are used in determining eligibility for the exemptions.

An event permit was approved to the Pride Center at Equality Park to operate Wicked Manors 2021. Officials from the organization, operating as the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Greater Fort Lauderdale, said the Halloween style event is expected to generate $50,000 — pre labor — in revenue. Costs to the city include $12,000 in road closures and another $3,000 in administrative staff assistance and waiving of building permit fees.

NEWS

OAKLAND PARK

Oakland Park Increases Fire Assessment, Solid Waste Fees; Stormwater Remains

By Christiana Lilly During a special commission meeting Monday night, the Oakland Park City Commission increased the costs of its fire assessment and solid waste fees for the upcoming year.

However, it will be the first time the fire assessment will have increased since 2017, and the solid waste fees will still be well below average for Broward County, according to Andrew Thompson, the city’s director of financial services.

The city’s fire assessment fee will be increased from $199 to $251 per unit; the county’s average fee is $297. There will be exceptions for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. The fee will generate $6.7 million for Oakland Park.

“Understanding that this is a significant

increase for a rate that has remained unchanged for many, many years, we also introduced a new exception to the commission approved in July,” Thompson said during the city’s Sept. 8 meeting. “This remains very low for Broward County.”

The city’s solid waste fee is also increasing, from $235 to $255, based on the results of a study done in 2017. Unlike many other cities, Oakland Park operates its own solid waste department and the fees will generate $2.7 million. Thompson noted that even with the increase, it is the fifth lowest rate in the county.

A resident addressed the rising cost of recycling during public comments, which Thompson acknowledged is happening, but that it was not the primary reason for the increase.

Thompson noted that even with the increase, it is the fifth lowest rate in the county.

“During the past four or five months we’ve seen a favorable decline in those processing costs. They’re still much higher than they’ve historically been, but they’re starting to level up more with our mainstream solid waste amounts,” he said.

In the third prong of fees passed during the special commission meeting, the stormwater assessment will stay at $84 per unit — unchanged since 2016 — and generate $3.34.

This is even after the city is losing funds from the school board, which cites sovereign immunity and has been implemented statewide.

The next step in the budget process for Oakland Park is to host its final budget hearing on Sept. 22, which will finalize the millage rate, budget, capital improvement projects and more. It will be the city’s largest budget, an amount of almost $128 million, of which $63 million is for the general fund.

Photo via Pixabay.

During its Sept. 8 meeting, the commission passed a tentative budget and millage rate decrease from 5.8910 to 5.8890. If passed, it will be the seventh reduction in eight years and the lowest operating millage rate for the city in a decade.

WILTON MANORS

With Changes to City Code, A Hotel May Be on the Horizon in Wilton Manors

By John McDonald There are a lot of storylines in Wilton Manors and one that seems destined for another round of discussion is the development of a hotel.

When the city changed its land use code at the Aug. 24 commission meeting, regulations were loosened to allow for the construction of hotels with 50 or more rooms. Now, said former Wilton Manors Commissioner Julie Carson, there is a path for a developer to approach city officials and interested stakeholders.

“The right boutique hotel in the Island City could spark tourism, boost business opportunities, foster arts and entertainment and power the city into a new chapter of sustainable economic growth,” said Carson.

Growth that Joe Pallant would like to see.

Pallant, founder of Pallant Insurance Agency, has attended commission meetings and spoke favorably for development projects.

“A hotel and a rail platform will transform Wilton Manors terrifically and bring more

people here,” Pallant told the Gazette.

Much of the past hotel speculation has centered on the Shoppes of Wilton Manors.

The shopping center, home to popular gay nightclubs Georgie’s Alibi and Hunter’s, sits on five and a half acres of prime real estate in the city’s arts and entertainment district.

However, the recent changes to city code have Mark Seymour, one of the owners of Hunter’s, concerned his business may have to relocate.

“If the property owners decided to put a hotel on the one side of the property where the current Sherwin Williams store is they would only be allowed as many units as two acres would permit, giving the developer an incentive to take down the whole site so the plan would have the full amount of units,” Seymour said. “Who would want to build a hotel on the property with 125 rooms as opposed to 300 rooms?”

Grass River Property, a Coconut Grove-based real estate investment and services company, is the owner of the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. At a July 27 public hearing, before Wilton Manors commissioners voted to increase heights and density in the city’s transit-oriented corridors, Jorge Espinal addressed the commission on behalf of Grass River Property.

“At Grass River we’re all about creating cool developments, what we like to call urban nodes,” Espinal said. “We want to keep Alibi and the Hunter’s and we want to keep this sort of hot spot in town, but with all these limitations that are being proposed we’ll never be able to develop something there that’s going to give back.”

Like Espinal, Traci Golownia, an architect with RSP Architects, has been present at commission meetings and spoken during the public hearings. Golownia told the Gazette she felt the city was headed in the right direction.

Photo via PxHere.

“The city is thriving and increasing density is a positive that will allow for thoughtful and appropriate development,” Golownia said.

“Everyone realizes the uniqueness of the community and any project should approach with respecting that uniqueness in mind.”

Golownia said a hotel is an important part of the development process, but it wasn’t at the top of her projects’ list.

“Yes, but it’s not the first area of development,” she said.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 5 •

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

9.16 . 20 21 •

23

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WILTON MANORS

Wilton Manors Exhibits Leadership On Reproductive Health Care & HB1 Full Charge Bookkeeping Services

On Sept. 14, the Wilton Manors City Commission approved resolution 2021-074 urging the Florida Legislature to act in order safeguard the accessibility, affordability, and safety of reproductive healthcare and the fundamental constitutional right to abortion. While passing a resolution is a strong statement, it is my belief that this was the appropriate response to the latest efforts of several U.S. states to severely limit or even outright ban abortion. In particular, the recent court ruling in Texas sets a dangerous precedent we must avoid here in Florida.

The vote passed 4-0, with Gary Resnick not present to vote. The City of Wilton Manors believes all have the constitutional fundamental right to make their own reproductive choices and the right to access reproductive healthcare services such as contraception, STD/HIV testing and treatment, OBGYN services, and comprehensive sex education for young people. The resolution also specifically addressed the concerns of transgender men and gender non-conforming people who have reproductive health concerns and deserve access to fundamental health care.

I wish to express my gratitude to Floridians for Reproductive Freedom, who authored the resolution, as well as Mary Eakins, Coral Springs Commissioner Metayer, and Equality Florida for their advocacy on the issue. Floridians for Reproductive Freedom reports that leadership in both chambers of the Florida Legislature have stated to the press that they are gearing up to pass more abortion restrictions, with the Senate President lauding specifically the new Texas ban.

In addition to addressing reproductive health care rights, the commission also took a leadership stand on HB1 that has been called the “antiprotest” bill. Besides overstepping citizens fundamental rights, it also limits the ability of municipal governments to reduce law enforcement funding. As a result of a 4-0 vote

Photo via PxHere.

In addition to addressing reproductive health care rights, the commission also took a leadership stand on HB1 that has been called the “anti-protest” bill.

by the commission, our city will sign on as a plaintiff to an existing lawsuit with several other Florida cities to challenge many provisions of HB1 which we believe violate home rule or are unconstitutional. Florida’s home rule law is what gives local governments the authority to dictate how to run their cities.

I hope residents in our community will consider getting involved and taking a stand on these important issues.

I also welcome your feedback via email at ccaputo@wiltonmanors.com.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 24

• 9.16.2021

6 •

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

— Chris Caputo

WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER

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• 9.16.2021

Open Closet

MORE THAN JUST A HAIRCUT Avraham Forrest

C

oming out as nonbinary, I didn’t think hair would be such an issue for me.

And yet, here I am.

I wish it wasn’t. Why should I give a damn how many curls I need to get through the day? But here I am, counting out the millimeters, wanting it longer, larger, more feminine, more masculine.

Maybe it goes back to grade school.

After all, what marker-made house wasn’t complete with mommy and daddy — twin stick figures distinguished by long and short hair.

Hair seems to be ingrained in my perceptions of gender, whether I like it or not.

My first goal was simply to grow, as much as I could. For about a year, I grew it to a shaggy mass of curls, and felt immeasurably better for it. However, as summer came, I inevitably needed a haircut, which brought on new challenges.

The main issue was I didn’t know any queer barbers. I came to understand the need for queer safe spaces, but the need to feel safe and comfortable with a hairdresser was new to me.

Regrettably, I cut it short, nervous at the prospect of asking for a haircut based on pictures of gender-neutral and feminine cuts.

I remember walking in with the pictures ready, forming and re-phrasing the question over and over — “can you cut it like this?”

— and an array of responses back: “That’s a woman, son.” “Are you sure?” “Sure, I suppose,” followed by a raised eyebrow.

My nerves seeped in. As usual, my presentation went toe-to-toe with anxiety.

I asked for a trim and kept quiet. I felt frustrated as my hair fell to the shop floor. A tilt in the wrong direction.

I left feeling removed, lost somewhere outside of my identity. I told myself I was just

Photo via Pixabay.

being childish, but as I examined myself in the mirror I felt like I had regressed.

My hair, my clothing, my pronouns, my orientation — I had used these to fully realize my identity. I did not expect resistance, a backwards pull towards the black hole of the closet. In that moment, short-haired and offbalance, I felt spaghettified.

However, it reminded me of the importance of claiming my image. Of looking the way I wanted to look. Because the alternative is lightless and crushing.

My hair, of course, grew back, but the lesson remained. Hair is integral to my presentation, and worth defending.

2520 N. Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305

www.NormKent.com 26

CONVICTIONS

Avraham Forrest is a writer from Indiana. They attend Indiana University. In their spare time they enjoy baking and jogging. Follow on Instagram @avraham_forrest.

CONVICTIONS

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Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

MORE RUMINATIONS FROM COVIDICALLY COMPROMISED CHAIRMAN NORM Like Billy Joel says, ‘I’m Still Standing’

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

HEALTH AND HEALING Been getting some nice letters and emails from many of you concerning the continuing “chronicles of Kent.”

CNN and now the national news has documented how tragically the unvaccinated are causing a spread of the pandemic, making it impossible for people to get necessary medical care because ICU’s are crowded.

I began this summer with brain surgery instead of a road trip to baseball parks and I am ending it with some type of biopsy for pancreatic cancer. It’s above my pay grade.

I don’t second guess the doctors. I just wait around for two years to find out what they prescribed that some class action lawyers will be suing them for.

By the way, have you seen the ads for paraquat lawsuits on TV? Do you realize that I sued the State of Florida 40 years ago, in 1982, for spraying paraquat on marijuana grows in our state parks? We knew that stuff was toxic then!

Anyway, I may be a little thinner and a tad weaker, but that will only make me stronger. After all, I am only happy when I am unhappy.

So better a biopsy than an autopsy. He who laughs-lasts.

Pastor Roberts, or was it Rogers, or Richards, I can’t remember who, told me that “God won’t give me more than I can handle.”

OK, I can accept that. But why does she trust me so much?

to be exposed to it. Just try driving on A1A or talking to someone at Comcast. You see it daily.

Life comes down to what Yogi Berra, the N.Y. Yankee, baseball Hall of Famer from New Jersey once said: “Half the game is 90% mental.”

People don’t plan to fail. They fail to plan.

The Boy Scout leadership may have screwed the LGBT community, but they left us with an aphorism worth treasuring: “Be prepared.”

“Keep yourself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally sound,” the Boy Scout slogan reads. Well, they said “morally straight” for the last admonition, but we all ditched that one a long time ago. Check out the cruising any weekend on Stonewall Beach if you don’t believe me.

RESPIRATORIALLY CHALLENGED RADIO My radio show returns next week on WWNN with Florida’s next governor, Nikki Fried, as my first guest. It’s on WWNN Monday at noon, and you should listen in. She is Florida’s best hope to rescue us from Governor Death Sentence.

Ron DeSantis, the All Too Rotten, is our present governor. He is frightening, but my dad used to say that “the bigger a man’s head gets, the easier it is to fill his shoes.”

We should bring this SOB down. Let the gay and transgender community lead the way. He is an abomination for who we are and what we believe in; a mendacious and mean wicked witch of the East.

DeSantis has policies that are transparently toxic. You just get the feeling he is evil incarnate, a warlock. If cancer had its own stamp, his face would be on it.

LIFE COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOGI BERRA, THE N.Y. YANKEE, BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER FROM NEW JERSEY ONCE SAID: “HALF THE GAME IS 90% MENTAL.”

BRAINS ARE BETTER WHEN USED Speaking of brains, there really is something called “brain fog.” The thing about living in South Florida is you don’t need brain surgery

28

• 9.16.2021

Nikki Fried, one of the first guests to be featured during the return of Norm Kent’s radio show next week.

Photo via Facebook.

This guy is a catastrophe and a calamity rolled into one. He reminds me of the apocalyptical presidential candidate played by John Savage, in a Dead Zone episode years ago, with plans to destroy the world. I guess that tells you how I really feel.

Didn’t we just go through that with the former guy? Oh, he is coming back, by the way, thinking the next Presidential race will be the World Wrestling Federation’s Great Rematch of 2024. Just what America needs. But Hulk Hogan should be a fun running mate.

Meanwhile, Melania Trump will attend the Log Cabin Republicans’ annual Spirit of Lincoln Dinner in November, where the gay GOP group will give the former First Lady an award. This is a transparent attempt by Mrs. Trump to appear pro-LGBTQ, despite her husband being the most anti-LGBTQ president in modern history.

GAY MEN AND SOCCER BALLS Fort Lauderdale’s mayor presided at the kickoff of the new soccer stadium in Fort Lauderdale last week and should be congratulated for his role in helping make this happen.

Unfortunately, he and the city will become defendants in an American Disability lawsuit if they don’t immediately figure out a way to

accommodate cars with disability placards into a secure stadium parking space.

You see, when you are a grown-up city, you don’t get a second chance to avoid the legal consequences of negligently turning a blind eye on a 30-year-old law.

The stadium itself had great disabled front row seating, but it’s worthless if you can’t get there. I couldn’t. I want my $40 parking fee back.

I don’t think the city planned to fail, but they sure failed to plan. The disabled community can’t be an afterthought for short sighted city code planners and traffic managers. What a freaking embarrassment.

WRAP UP I see theaters are opening, from Broadway to Ronnie Larsen hosting a “Sauna” on Wilton Drive. Be careful.

There is still danger in every crowd. The epidemic has not gone away. It is coming to pass that the longest-term effect of COVID-19 is not going to be one person’s dizziness, but society’s apathy.

When we come to tolerate the intolerable, we become like the characters, the Eloi, from H.G Wells 1895 novel, The Time Machine.

We feel nothing. We see nothing. Beware the Morlocks.

CONVICTIONS

Off The Wall

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Pier Angelo

M

any right wingers are applauding the Texas law that bans abortions before many women even know they are pregnant. Of course those lawmakers couldn’t stop with just an abortion ban, instead they also included an even more controversial provision that essentially leaves enforcement to private citizens through lawsuits against doctors or anyone who helps a woman get an abortion, such as the Uber driver who transports a woman to a clinic.

These same fanatics, or crazy Christers, are also the most virulent opponents of mandates for masks and vaccines. Go figure.

They want to prevent the “killing” of the unborn child but the kids that will die of COVID are just collateral damage. I guess that for our right-wing politicians, including our dumb Governor DeathSantis, it is a form of classrooms’ size reduction. Since early July the delta variant has sent over 2,000 children to hospitals in Florida alone, more than any other states. Gov. DeathSantis continues to stress that parents — not schools or government should decide whether kids need to mask up. These are living children risking their lives and exposing others to the virus but he is also looking into the Texas law to have the same abortion ban in Florida.

Hypocrisy and stupidity truly have no rock bottom.

People with this frame of mind are the first to make these off the wall statements: “It is about individual freedom “ or “I don’t think I’d be comfortable with myself if I did something that went against my belief by getting the vaccine. It’s about liberty and having your own choice to be your own person.” Ok got it, but what about “liberty & freedom of choice” for women to control their bodies?

And as always those that will be most affected by these new laws will be the poorer segments of our society, the ones that need

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protection more than anybody else. The rich will always find a boutique clinic willing to perform an abortion and if not they will get on a private jet and go to a more liberal country.

Maybe as a man I should not be discussing abortion since it is a woman’s issue but on the large scale, men, and society at large, are also affected by it.

The effect of legalized abortion on crime for example (sometimes referred to as the Donohue-Levitt hypothesis) is the theory that legal abortion reduces crime. Proponents of the theory generally argue that since children who are unwanted or whose parents cannot care for them well are more likely to become criminals and that an inverse correlation is observed between the availability of abortion and subsequent crime. It is argued that the legalization of abortion in the U.S., largely due to Roe v. Wade, has reduced crime in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

But also, this: Roe v. Wade was a Supreme Court Decision as it was the legalization of gay marriage. How long before the same fanatics will try and take that right away from us?

Think about it.

Pier Angelo was born in Italy, moved to England at the age of 17 and learned English at the Nelson School of English. He attended college and graduate school in Manhattan. In 2009 he founded SFGN with Norm Kent. Now he’s retired with his husband Tom and his Affenpinscher Cabbage. He still enjoys writing his column Off The Wall for SFGN.

HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? CONTACT US! 954-530-4970 Associated Press 9.16 . 20 21 •

29

LIFESTYLE READING WITH PRIDE

‘THE RIVER HAS TEETH’ Aurora Dominguez

F

or fantasy, adventure, mystery, plus even a touch of horror, make sure you check out “The River Has Teeth” by debut author Erica Waters who features LGBT characters and themes.

Waters has also written the haunting novel, “Ghostwood Song.”

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR MOST RECENT NOVEL? My books often grow out of their settings, and “The River Has Teeth” is a particularly strong example of this. I was inspired by nature parks in and around Nashville and wanted to set a story in a similar place. I was particularly inspired by the native flora, as well as invasive plants that grow here. The plants and animals I saw on my hikes weaved themselves into the magic of Della’s family. Most of the action of the book takes place in a (fictional) Tennessee nature park. Lots of things about this story changed while I wrote it — including the entire plot — but the setting has always been the same.

GET YOUR VOICE

HEARD

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WHAT CHARACTER IN THIS NOVEL DO YOU MOST RELATE TO AND WHY? I feel a kinship with both main characters of the novel, but I suppose I relate most to Della, a witch who connects much better with nature than with people. Della is emotionally distant and acerbic, but her tough exterior hides a surprisingly tender, loyal heart.

WHY DO YOU FEEL NOVELS WITH POWERFUL AND UNIQUE CHARACTERS ARE SO POPULAR AND HAVE SUCH A VOICE RIGHT NOW? I think it’s easy to feel small in this world, to feel as though you don’t really matter or make any difference. When we relate to characters coming into their power and becoming their best selves, it makes us feel a little less lost and a little more capable of achieving that too.

PLEASE DESCRIBE THE CONTENT OF YOUR LATEST BOOK AND WHAT CAN READERS EXPECT FROM IT. “The River Has Teeth” is a YA contemporary fantasy about a girl who’s determined to find her missing sister, who disappeared near a nature park. The search takes her to a local witch for help, but that witch is hiding secrets of her own — she thinks her mother, who was changed into a monster by a spell gone wrong, is responsible for the missing sister’s disappearance. Readers can expect spooky magic and monsters, a fast-paced plot, an LGBTQ+ cast, and a slow-burn romance between the two protagonists.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU IN THE BOOKISH WORLD? I have another YA novel out with Harper Teen next year called “The Restless Dark.” It’s about two girls who join forces in a macabre true crime contest to hunt for a serial killer’s bones in a creepy, foggy canyon.

WHO IS YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE WRITER? WHY? My favorite writers are Sarah Waters, Daphne du Maurier, and Shirley Jackson. However, because of pandemic life, I’ve been needing more expansive, escapist fare, so lately I’ve been reading a lot of Leigh Bardugo. I especially love “Six of Crows,” which I think has brilliant magic and such deep, complex characters that I love to root for. I’m really looking forward to the sequel to “Ninth House.”

ANY WRITING ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS? Focus on the writing. Write as much as you’re able, learn from others to improve your craft, and don’t give up after a single project. Writing is a long, slow process and it takes time to find your voice, to learn to plot well, to learn how to revise effectively. Don’t rush and don’t take shortcuts — commit yourself to be the best writer you can be. In the end, that’s the only thing truly in your control, not if you land your dream agent, sell your book, or win important awards.

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

LIFESTYLE PHOTOS

AHF RELIEF FOR HAITI SPIRITUALITY

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM

On August 24, volunteers with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) helped pack several truckloads of relief supplies, which were then moved into a cargo plane bound for Haiti. The donation effort followed the recent earthquake and tropical storm that devastated the country. Photo credit: J.R. Davis. To see more, visit SFGN on Facebook.

Rosh Hashanah begins Monday, September 6th Make your plans now for the New Year Join Us! Let’s bring in the holidays together!

Sign up on our website: www.EtzChaimFlorida.org

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

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

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

Our Shabbat service can also be viewed on Facebook Live Every Friday at 8pm

Congregation Etz Chaim

2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus www.EtzChaimFlorida.org / RSVP HERE: info@etzchaimflorida.org

Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 South Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www.churchofoursaviormcc.org Until further notice: Due to the current COVID-19 surge, our worship services are streamed on Facebook Live every Sunday at 10 AM, rather than held at our church property. https://www.facebook.com/ ChurchofOurSaviorMCC. Visit our web site for more details & updates.

Join us for masked, socially distanced in person worship.

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

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

954-633-2987

A home for your spirit.

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

9.16 . 20 21 •

31

LIFESTYLE FOOD

GETTIN’ SOME DECK Two restaurants. Two vastly different experiences.

Rick Karlin

The Deck on 13th. Photos courtesy of Rick Karlin.

DECK ON 13TH

545 NE 13th St., Fort Lauderdale 954-306-6070 facebook.com/thedeckon13 I’m dining out less often due to the upswing in COVID and the new Delta variant (how long before we have a drag queen named Delta Variant?). So, this week I went to two restaurants, both with Deck in the name and with vastly different experiences. What are the odds?

I really tried to like The Deck on 13th, finally open along the 13th Street corridor, just down the street from Milk Money and The Pride Factory. That area is working so hard to become something. The problem is it just doesn’t know what. The same could be said for The Deck on 13th. I live in this area and am grateful that co-owner J.J. Rojas (along with Laura Serrano) has done something to improve this space. Rojas says her confidence in the potential of 13th Street never wavered.

“We saw that the street had a purpose. The vision of the landlord, the vision of the community ... We needed the street and the street needed us. It was a mission,” she says.

I hope she’s right, but my first impressions weren’t stellar. You can walk along the side of the building into the backyard-like space or enter through the front door into a lounge area decorated with thrift store furniture that makes it look like a college kid’s first apartment.

There’s some innovative use of 45 records to make an art installation of sorts and I suppose this is supposed to feel like a quirky hangout space. The problem is, no one is there to serve you or make you feel welcome, and it just looks dirty and dingy.

Head a bit farther back and you encounter a deli counter/bar with two friendly twink bartenders. This is where you order your

THERE’S MORE ONLINE! 32

• 9.16.2021

drinks and a charcuterie platter, should you want one … and if they happen to have the ingredients. On the day of our visit, (a weeknight around 6 p.m., by the way) they were out of numerous items and the draft beer dispenser wasn’t working. BTW the cheese and meats looked as if they were nearing the expiration date, so we passed on those. If you do decide to assemble a board, it’s $5 for each cheese or meat selection.

For the only other dining option, you need to head out to the large backyard and titular deck. The backyard and outdoor deck are decorated with what seem to be cast-offs similar to those in the lounge area. There is a sun sail, but as the sun goes down it is situated so that there are few places to escape the blazing sun. This seems like more of a late-night hangout so that may not prove to be as much of a liability as it appears.

Lola’s Tacos and Sliders is emblazoned across the food truck nestled in a corner of the yard. The truck is operated by Rojas and Serrano and the menu is right up there with the name of the truck. Tacos and sliders predominate, along with a really good shrimp ceviche and tasty guacamole. Service is not as quick as you would expect from a food truck. For our meal of a side of guac and a large ceviche, it took a good 30 minutes to get our meal (and we were one of two couples ordering food) and we paid $40!

Normally after an experience like that, I’d write the place off, but I’ll give it another chance, maybe we’ll stop by for Taco Tuesdays when the namesake hand-held start at $1 each.

DECK 84

840 E. Atlantic, Delray Beach 561-665-8484 deck84.com

And now for something completely different. We stopped by this place for lunch when my mother-in-law was in town, and we all were delighted.

The beautiful waterfront dining was reasonably priced (for lunch items — dinner entrees are a bit pricier). The $15 veggie burger was well-prepared and came with a large order of fries. An appetizer of empanadas proved enough for a lunch portion. The grilled shrimp Caesar salad bore little resemblance

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

to a classic Caesar (tomatoes and cucumbers?) but was delightful and featured plenty of large perfectly grilled shrimp. The bacon-wrapped meatloaf was the sole disappointment. There was more bacon than ground beef and what meatloaf there was, was so light and airy it practically disintegrated on the fork.

The service was friendly and attentive.

Note: parking in the area can be difficult, but there’s a valet behind the restaurant, enter off the side street.

VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD!

Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor, but the views and opinions he expresses in his columns are solely his own and do not represent the official viewpoint of SFGN. Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share?

Email Rick at RickKarlinFL@gmail.com.

‘HOW WE DO FAMILY: FROM ADOPTION TO TRANS PREGNANCY, WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT LOVE AND LGBTQ PARENTHOOD’ Visit SFGN.com to find out more, and to see more LGBT friendly reading suggestions.

9.16 . 20 21 •

33

A&E NEWS

AREA ARTS VENUES PREPARE TO REOPEN WITH COVID PROTOCOLS AND A LITTLE LUCK J.W. Arnold

L

ocal arts venues are preparing to fully reopen after more than 18 months of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic and patrons can expect rigid or reinstated safety protocols, even if vaccinated.

Last week, the region’s three major the spread of delta variant throughout our performing arts venues, the Broward Center area,” said the Arsht Center’s Vice President in Fort Lauderdale, Arsht Center in Miami of Communications Suzette Espinosa and Kravis Center in West Palm Beach made Fuentes in a statement. major announcements as performance The Arsht Center also indicated further schedules begin to ramp up for the season. details are currently in the final stages of All three facilities will require development and will be communicated documentation of negative COVID-19 later this month to current ticket holders and PCR tests within 72 hours of attendance, the general public. in addition to the wearing of masks. As Rules for children vary by venue and ticket an alternative, patrons holders are encouraged to can provide evidence of check the centers’ websites vaccination, a workaround for the most recent updates. for Republican Gov. Ron Other smaller arts venues DeSantis’ prohibition on that have already opened “vaccine passports.” have reinstated COVID “The return of live protocols since the rise performing arts depends of the delta outbreak and on artist and audience growing concerns voiced by confidence. Many artists are patrons and performers. now requesting these types of The Foundry in Wilton safety protocols, and our new Manors was among the first policy is quickly becoming the to resume live performances industry standard and similar more than a year ago with to those being implemented limited capacity, heightened

by Broadway theaters, major sanitation procedures and concert promoters and mask requirements. venues around the nation,” As vaccinations became said Broward Center CEO available, Producer Ronnie Kelley Shanley in a statement.

Larsen gradually loosened The Broward Center restrictions until a COVID and its affiliate, the Parker scare arose during rehearsals - Kelley Shanley Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, for his current production, BROWARD CENTER collaborated early in the “Sauna.”

CEO pandemic with Cleveland One of the original cast Clinic to prepare for eventual members was diagnosed reopening, based on current with the virus — despite recommendations from the Centers for being fully vaccinated — sending all the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). actors and Larsen to be tested. Fortunately, “As we look to the return of full houses none of the others tested positive, but the for our 15th anniversary season, we believe Larsen resolved to require masks again for this extra layer of precaution, coupled with audience members in the intimate, 40-seat facial coverings and continued sanitation theater space. Cast members were tested practices, will keep our guests, artists and regularly throughout the run. staff as safe as possible, particularly given “It’s really changed my perspective,”

“THE RETURN OF LIVE PERFORMING ARTS DEPENDS ON ARTIST AND AUDIENCE CONFIDENCE.”

34

• 9.16.2021

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Photo via Facebook.

Larsen said. “I’m beginning to think this is the new normal, as [the pandemic] keeps going on because people won’t get vaccinated.”

Next door, Island City Stage has also reinstated masks at all performances, even though a large percentage of their regulars have been vaccinated.

The unexpected rise of the delta variant created unique headaches for Symphony of the Americas Executive Director Steven Haines. Last year, the orchestra’s board selected Spanish conductor Pablo Mielgo as their new artistic director, but international travel to the U.S. was banned due to the virus, trapping the maestro in Europe.

And just as an opportunity to finally get Mielgo’s visa processed appeared likely, the embassy in Madrid was charged with handling emergency requests from thousands of Afghan refugees after the evacuation of Kabul.

The symphony recently announced

concert dates in October, November and December and Haines is working on contingency plans should Mielgo not arrive in time.

“I’ve spoken with the board and patrons and supporters, and not one person is angered by this. They’re maybe frustrated, but everybody understands the reality of the situation,” Haines said. “It’s not just us.

This scenario has been replicated across the country — artists, singers, dancers are all faced with this continuing situation. Six months ago, we thought COVID would be in the rearview mirror, but it’s not. Who knows where we’ll be 60 or 90 days from now … what’s the next step?”

Like other arts leaders across the region who have been confounded at practically every turn, Haines remains hopeful.

“Our patrons want to see and hear their orchestra and we’ll see that it happens,” he concluded.

A&E DANCE

DANCE FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON ABILITIES, NOT DISABILITIES J.W. Arnold

Jesús Vidal de Leon (right) is one of the dancers featured in the Forward Motion Physically Integrated Dance Festival next week in Miami. Credit: Giorgio Vera.

J

ust a month ago, the Paralympic Games in Tokyo celebrated the ability of athletes to overcome their disabilities and physical limitations in sports ranging from cycling and swimming to basketball and tennis.

Next week, the Forward Motion Physically Integrated Dance Festival and Conference in Miami will redefine dance and showcase companies, dancers and choreographers who are inclusive of those with and without disabilities, “exploring a new terrain of beauty, movement and performance.”

Produced by Florida’s own groundbreaking physically integrated dance pioneers, Karen Peterson and Dancers (KPD), the third annual festival will also mark the reopening of South Florida’s performing arts season and feature some of the best dancers and companies of any kind, in performance, discussion and workshops.

“It’s with much relief and a renewed sense of commitment that we are bringing Forward Motion back to South Florida this September, after more than a year of reduced contact with our audiences,” explained Peterson, founder and artistic director. “Dancers and choreographers find beauty in the world — much needed right now — through the work we do, and that’s especially true for those of us pushing the boundaries of physical differences to discover new vocabularies and possibilities.”

A highlight of the busy schedule will be the South Florida premiere of “Remember When,” a solo dance by gay choreographer Marc Brew, artistic director of AXIS Dance Company in Oakland, California, and performed by Miami-based wheel chair dancer Jesús Vidal de Leon, who is also gay.

Brew, an Australian ballet dancer who was

paralyzed in an automobile accident 24 years ago in South Africa, described the piece as the story of “a dancer at the crossroads of life who actually doesn’t move. It’s a narrative through gesture and expression. It’s actually very complicated.”

For many performers, the accident would be devastating and Brew described it as a process: “I was 20 when the accident happened and I still identified as a dancer.

I’m a very stubborn, determined person and will always be that [so I] got together with friends who were dancers and explored what I could do. Dance is not just about being on two legs. As a wheelchair user, it opened up to new possibilities … how I can use the restriction, working with other people as creative solutions.”

Vidal de Leon, 32, was a professional gymnast who was paralyzed in a floor exercise crash in 2014. A friend from KPD invited him to give the company a try and he loved it.

“I enjoy it because for once — and I would say on behalf of other wheelchair dancers — we don’t think about our legs, what we can do or what we cannot do. We’re only thinking about the movement we can create, the expression we can give, the journey we can share,” Vidal de Leon explained.

Learning Brew’s choreography has not been easy, Vidal de Leon emphasized.

“Everybody is different and when it comes to disability, not everyone in a wheelchair has the same injury. The choreography was made by him, for him, so it’s a little hard to adapt choreography that was not meant for my body. We’re working together to make it about me. It’s a great piece because we have so much to relate to each other,” he said.

For more information and tickets, go to ForwardMotionMiami.com.

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J.W. Arnold

B

lake Lynch is a young man on a mission — make that several missions — and he doesn’t have plans to stop any time soon.

“I’m super busy,” he pointed out in a phone interview. “I’m lucky to have lots of support and love from my husband.”

While still in nursing school at the University of Central Florida, the Orlando native realized, as a gay man, he was prohibited from donating blood for a friend suffering from sickle cell anemia. He was determined to make a change and founded Banned4Life in 2013, a campaign powered by social media, and after two years of dogged advocacy successfully pushed the Food and Drug Administration to end the ban.

Then Lynch launched Nursecon, a robust online community and continuing education app that has grown to more than 50,000 members. His fellow nurses can enjoy his videos and complete their training requirements for free and on their own schedules. Lynch will even helm a Nursecon cruise next year. “A little team” is required to keep that growing business sailing smoothly.

He is a popular YouTube star with more than 2.4 million views and now a podcaster (husband Donnelly has a great radio voice, “That’s why I let him on the podcasts.”) with tens of thousands more fans, not to mention the scores of social media followers, all eager to enjoy his humorous takes on their demanding and stressful profession. And somehow, Lynch managed to work night shifts in the trauma ward until making the difficult decision to devote his energy full time to these enterprises.

“Nurses don’t receive a lot of support from our hospitals and administrations.

We’re short staffed, short on supplies, and need to laugh through this time and support one another,” Lynch explained. “No matter whether you work in U.S., Philippines, Australia or Canada, we can laugh together.”

This fall, Lynch embarked on a 34-city tour that will bring him to Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center on Sept. 25.

“Audiences can expect to see me live, instead of on social media, [with] a mix of

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YouTuber and podcaster Nurse Blake will bring his humorous take on health care to the Broward Center on Saturday, Sept. 25. Courtesy photo.

standup, videos that people have never seen before and skits,” he said of the 90-minute act.

“Most of my audiences are nurses and nursing students, but we have others and I make sure to break things down so they can understand, too.”

Most importantly, he aims to remind these hometown heroes that they’re not alone — especially in the pandemic era.

“They’re life savers and there are better days ahead,” he promised.

Lynch is also using the tour to promote an advanced study conducted by OneBlood, the nationwide network of blood banks.

The organization is seeking 150 gay males to participate in the study. Lynch and his husband are already signed up and committed to spreading the word within the LGBT community.

What does Lynch do when he’s not filming videos, recording podcasts, composing social media posts, managing his online community or touring the country?

“I don’t have any downtime, but I love to sleep, I love to nap,” he admitted. “That’s definitely a nursing trait.”

Nurse Blake “The PTO Tour” will be presented at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 25. Tickets start at $34.50 at BrowardCenter.org.

9.16 . 20 21 •

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The Grand Resort and Spa has an opening for an overnight Guest Service Associate. Applicants must be available to work from Midnight – 8 AM. FT Hospitality experience is a plus. No phone calls or walk-ins, please. Please submit resume to: jobs@ thegrandresortandspa.com DRIVER WANTED - Seeking someone to drive to my house in Upstate NY at the end of the month.

Will compensate and cover gas, mileage, etc. If interested contact Mickey at 954-661-9654

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rental wilton manors

FOR RENT - This residence is attached to a duplex and features a private patio entranceway. The common area includes a lush courtyard with a naturally shaded tree canopy. This Pet-Friendly residence is located in a quiet neighborhood setting within walking distance to Wilton Manors Drive. Included are two parking spots. Also included with rent are water/septic utilities, central AC, and trash/recycling services. The renter is only responsible for electricity.

Photos are available on Zillow/Redfin: 225 NW 23rd St, Wilton Manors, 33311. Flexible lease starts date as early as June 15th but no later than July 1st.

1st month/last month & security deposit required. If interested, please email: KennyWolf9@gmail.com

FEATURE PETS

WILL YOU BE ?

E M R O F E R E TH

GRAYSON

Grayson (ID 646291) would love to be part of your family. Do you have room for him? At 6 years old, Grayson is very vocal and likes to tell you stories. Once he settles in, be sure you are ready to share the bed, because this fellow will most likely want to sleep not next to you but on you. Grayson LOVES to be pet and will push his face onto yours for attention. He is also good with other felines and enjoys toys that crinkle and toys that are filled with lots of catnip.

Can this fellow be part of your family?

If you would like to meet a pet at the Humane Society of Broward County, please visit www.humanebroward.com to complete a pre-adoption application. Visit www.humanebroward.com to learn more or call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. Appointments are not necessary for the vaccine clinic which is open Monday — Friday 9 AM — 4:30 PM credit cards only. The banners rotate so click on the one that says COVID-19 update adoptions and essential services update and scroll down a little bit. There you will find an application for adoption and other pertinent information. Complete the application (even if you have adopted before) and submit it. Adoptions are being done by appointment only now. For more information call 954-989-3977 ext. 6.

FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED WHEN COMING TO THE SHELTER.

A LITTLE BIT OF FAITH AND

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

SEE MORE ONLINE AT SFGN.COM/TABLE/NEWS/RELIGION 9.16 . 20 21 •

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Discover your calling!

Join the Broward Sheriff’s Office today.

LIVE YOUR DREAM! APPLY ONLINE TODAY AT @browardsheriffsoffice

@browardsheriff

jobs.sheriff.org

@browardsheriffsoffice

SHOP TALK with the Sheriff P O D C A S T

BSO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on age, citizenship status, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Veterans’ preference per Florida law.

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9/14/21 2:14 PM