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october 1, 2020 vol. 11 // issue 39

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

TRANSCON REDEFINES ITSELF WITH NEW NAME, MISSION AND LEADERSHIP

@SFGN

October 1, 2020 • Volume 11 • Issue 39

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

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

Editorial

Denise Royal

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

T

ransCon is a South Florida fixture.

Now, the conference by and for trans and non-binary people has new leadership, a new mission, and a new name — TransConnect.

In past years, TransCon was an opportunity to network and learn about a wide variety of resources during workshops and panel discussions. Now, the annual gathering will continue but will have more input and leadership from the trans and nonbinary communities.

The event’s tenth annual gathering was canceled this year due to the coronavirus — and organizers are refocusing, reorganizing, and rebranding. TransConnect, which is also the name of the organization putting on the event, says it is the very first nonprofit funded solely by donations from the trans and non-binary communities in South Florida, and likely anywhere.

“We are founded and funded entirely by transgender people here in South Florida,” said Scott Migliori, Chairperson of TransConnect. “Our mission is to take over the responsibilities for the TransCon conference.”

TransConnect represents a diverse community — transfeminine people,

“THE TRANS COMMUNITY ISN’T A MONOLITH. IT’S A HUGE THING ... WE HAVE SPACE FOR ALL.” - Scott Migliori

CHAIRPERSON OF TRANSCONNECT

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Correspondents

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

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Guests and volunteers at a past TransCon. Photo via TransConnectFL.org.

transmasculine people, and non-binary people of all backgrounds, races, ages, and sizes. The people under that umbrella and their issues and challenges will be represented at the next conference.

“There are a lot of stereotypes about who is a member of the trans community and who is not,” said Migliori. “The trans community isn’t a monolith. It’s a huge thing. And what we want to make sure we’re doing is creating space for all of the different sub-communities at this conference while ensuring that people are aware that there are a bunch of different subcommittees. We have space for all.”

While there’s space for all, there’s also information, resources, and support.

Many trans people struggle with unemployment and underemployment, legal issues, financial challenges, and medical concerns. Since its inception, TransCon offered comprehensive workshops and panels on trans-related topics. There was also an opportunity for cisgender attendees

to learn what it’s like to live as a transgender person.

In the future, the workshops will focus more on the trans and non-binary communities and reflect what the community wants to cover. There will still be space for cisgender participants to learn about allyship.

“But in order for this work to continue, TransCon must become its own entity, unfettered by the limitations of primarily cis-led organizations,” the group writes in a statement.

That’s where the most significant change will likely come. Future conferences will reflect the wants, desires, and needs of trans and non-binary participants.

“We put out a bunch of rounds of calls to the community about what programming they’d like to like to see,” said TransConnect Treasurer Tobias Packer. “As much as this is a volunteer-led and driven event, it’s very much a forum by the community.”

TransConnect hopes to have its next conference on August 7-8, 2021.

To find out more about TransConnect, visit Transconnectfl.org.

COVER: Guests at the locally-proclaimed “Stonewall Beach” in Pompano Beach. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.

Associated Press

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• 10 .1. 2020

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

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

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

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

10 .1. 20 20 •

3

NEWS STATE

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

MIAMI BEACH PRIDE LOOKING FOR FRESH FACES John McDonald

Last year’s Miami Beach Pride. SFGN file photo.

C

ash, prizes, a photoshoot... what more do you want?

Miami Beach Pride is on the hunt for four people to take on their brand. The organization announced a recent statewide effort to recruit faces that reflect diversity, uniqueness, strength and authenticity.

“The Faces of Pride launches a statewide campaign in search of four individuals that live their truth out loud and proud every day,” reads a press release from MBP. Enter online at miamibeachpride.com/ faces-of-pride for a chance to be a part of the Miami Beach Pride 2021 marketing campaign.

THE ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCED A RECENT STATEWIDE EFFORT TO RECRUIT FACES THAT REFLECT DIVERSITY, UNIQUENESS, STRENGTH AND AUTHENTICITY.

The Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, City of Miami Beach and Celebrity Cruises are the title sponsors of Miami Beach Pride.

Pre-pandemic, MBP produced a weeklong festival honoring the LGBT community and featuring celebrity entertainers such as Gloria Estefan, Adam Lambert, Jordin Sparks, Bebe Rexha, Betty Who, Iggy Azalea, Elvis Duran, Gus Kenworthy, Ross Mathews and Mario Lopez.

Finalists for the Faces of Pride Campaign will be announced Oct. 30.

Photo via PxHere.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR PITCHES STIFF PENALTIES FOR PROTESTS John McDonald

F

lorida Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing Services, called DeSantis’ proposal harsh penalties for unruly protests. “unconstitutional” and a scary reminder In a press conference on Sept. that you get what you vote for — or not vote 21 in Polk County, DeSantis announced for. plans to discourage violent protesters.

“Elections have consequences,” Harris The Republican governor, flanked by law said. “This breaks my heart to see the enforcement officers, said governor trying to criminalize tougher measures are needed protests. Principles don’t seem to counter agitators and to mean very much right now, it’s disruptors. like we’re living in the wild, wild The Combatting Violence, west.”

Disorder and Looting and DeSantis’ proposal would also Law Enforcement Protection put donors at risk of liability Act, DeSantis said, would under the state’s racketeering be a focal point of the (RICO) laws. The governor next legislative session in wants the Republican-controlled Tallahassee.

DeSantis’ legislature to pass his act in proposal would make it November ahead of the regularly a felony to participate in scheduled March session. protests that result in In a statement, Rep. Shevrin - Nik Harris property damage or block Jones (D-West Park) said the LGBT CONSUMER ADVOCATE, roadways. Participating in proposal is “actively undermining FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND what the governor deems the constitution.”

CONSUMER SERVICES “violent or disorderly “We’re going to fight this tooth assemblies” would result in and nail,” Jones said. “To the six months in jail and loss of state benefits, governor, with all due respect sir: You’ve if convicted. just declared war on our civil rights. We Nik Harris, the LGBT Consumer Advocate are prepared to strap up our boots, in the to Commissioner Nikki Fried at the Florida spirit of John Lewis, and get in some good Department of Agriculture and Consumer trouble.”

“THIS BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THE GOVERNOR TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE PROTESTS.”

2266 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 • (954) 565-2526

4

• 10 .1. 2020

NEWS STATE

CHRISTIAN LEADERS RAIL AGAINST LGBT ISSUES IN FLA. GROUP’S FORUM John McDonald

D

escribed as a gospel centered approach to leading in 2020, a panel of church officials offered viewpoints on Florida’s family culture.

Issues of life, marriage and politics were discussed Tuesday. It was an executive webinar billed as “a thoughtful discussion with some of America’s best thinkers, theologians and pastors on how Christians should engage this election.”

On the panel of six men were R. Albert Mohler, Phd., Wayne Grudem, Phd., Pastor Rob Pacienza, Pastor Dean Inserra, Kevin Baird of the Florida Capitol Project and John Stemberger of the Florida Family Policy Council.

Mohler and Grudem were featured panelists and both had strong opinions about marriage.

“You’re looking at people with marriage being so corrupted and redefined such that it’s not recognizable to us and that project’s not over,” said Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. “You and I know that can’t lead to human happiness.”

Abortion, Mohler said, remains the “front door issue” for him and he announced his plans to vote for President Donald Trump.

Grudem, 72, an evangelical theologian from Wisconsin, said the Democratic party platform would force Christian businesses to pay for abortions and “sex change surgeries” and “declare counselors to be prohibited from counseling people who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle.”

Grudem also said bakers, photographers and florists would “face heavy fines if they don’t contribute their artistic talents to celebrating same-sex marriage.”

A Trump supporter, Grudem said the Democratic party platform would “require Christian adoption agencies and foster care agencies to close because of discrimination unless they place children with homosexual, lesbian and transgender couples.”

Christian colleges, Grudem warned, will be forced to close unless they “allow transgender students to use restrooms, locker rooms, showers and on-campus housing that

John Stemberger of the Florida Family Policy Council, an Orlando attorney and longtime opponent of samesex marriage and trans rights, was one of the panelists speaking at the event. Photo via Facebook.

corresponds to their chosen gender identity.”

“It’s almost like they are redefining the human experience and everything is subjective,” added Stemberger, an Orlando attorney and longtime opponent of same-sex marriage and transgender rights.

Pacienza, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale and Baird, a Jacksonville minister, did not express antiLGBT sentiments during the webinar.

Inserra, pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, said there is an onslaught on college campuses against evangelical Christians.

“I see a lot of them being a little confused about gender and sexuality in terms of how they should think about it, not because of their biblical issues but because of their influences,” said Inserra. “That’s something to really pay attention to — is how they are being influenced.”

Inserra said younger people are much more reactionary with strong opinions and influenced by social media or “relationships where they know someone in a same-sex relationship who’s a friend of theirs and that really has kind of an emotional weight on them.”

The webinar was hosted by the Florida Family Policy Council, an anti-LGBT organization.

THE WEBINAR WAS HOSTED BY THE FLORIDA FAMILY POLICY COUNCIL, AN ANTI-LGBT ORGANIZATION.

10 .1. 20 20 •

5

NEWS STATE

WEEKLY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA Sean McShee

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 CASES IN THREE SOUTH FLORIDA Cumulative Known COVID-19COUNTIES: Cases in Three South Florida Counties: SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 29 September 23 through September 29

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases from 9/23 to 9/29 Palm Beach 1.6%, Broward 1.3%, and Miami Dade 1.3%

76,146

9/23

9/24

76,854

9/25

9/26

Palm Beach

77,122

76,874

46,310

46,283

46,183

46,023

45,866

45,743

76,700

76,520

76,329

9/27

Broward

170,086

169,466

169,426

169,144

168,775

168,272

167,880

46,485

9/28

9/29

Miami-Dade Source Fl DOH Dashboard

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 DEATHS IN THREE SOUTH FLORIDA COUNTIES: Cumulative Known COVID-19Cases Deaths Cumulative Known COVID-19 in in ThreeSouth South FloridaCounties: Counties: 29 Three Florida SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH SEPTEMBER September2323through throughSeptember September2929 September

Percent Increase Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases Percent deathsfrom from9/23 9/23toto9/29 9/29 Palm Beach Beach 3.2%, 1.6%,Broward Broward3.1%, 1.3%, and and Miami Miami Dade Dade 3.7% 1.3% Palm 3,231

3,202

3,163 168,272

3,127 167,880

3,231

3,243

3,228

170,086

169,466

169,426

169,144

168,775

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76,329

76,520

76,700

76,854

1,343 1,308

1,358 1,330

1,364 1,337

1,379 1,342

1,379 1,342

45,743

45,866

46,023

46,183

46,283

76,146

76,874 1,380 1,343

77,122 1,384

1,350

46,310

46,485

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9/23 9/23

9/24 9/24

9/25 9/25

Palm Beach Palm Beach

9/26 9/26

Broward Broward

9/27 9/27

9/28 9/28

Miami Dade Miami-Dade

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

9/29 9/29

Source DOHDashboard Dashboard Source Fl FlDOH

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10 .1. 20 20 •

7

NEWS LOCAL

BEST OF 2020 IMPRESSIVE FIELD OF NEW BROWARD LGBT ACTIVISTS CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY AT SFGN.COM/BESTOF John McDonald

T

here are five contenders for Broward’s Best New LGBT Activist award.

They are: Howard Andrew, Mario Campos, Elijah Manley, Josie Smith-Malave and Alfredo Olvera.

“I supported him very strongly when he did that,” said Kathleen M. Bonczyk, Esq., of the Workplace Violence Prevention Institute. “Elijah understands what needs to be done to prevent tragedies.”

Mario Campos. Photo via Facebook.

Howard Andrew. Photo via Facebook.

ANDREW is the owner of FabScout, an adult entertainment company. During the coronavirus pandemic, Andrew partnered with another business — Pink Sub — to provide meals for unemployed service workers.

“Howard is one of my dearest friends, he’s family,” said Pink Sub owner Dawn Holloway. “He’s just an amazing man. He’s always there to help, which I can’t say about a lot of people. He’s always there.”

Before emigrating from El Salvador, CAMPOS was crowned as Miss Gay El Salvador. The 25-year-old has developed different projects to empower the Salvadorian LGBT community. Stephen Fallon, PhD., the Executive Director of Latinos Salud, notes Campos led a legislative initiative demanding fair treatment and equal employment opportunity for the LGBT community in the Central American country.

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• 10 .1. 2020

In 2019, Campos was selected by the U.S. Department of Health for a youth fellowship at the national convention for HIV. In 2020, the president of El Salvador awarded him the recognition of “Young Influencer El Salvador 2020.”

Today, as a test counselor at Latinos Salud, Campos provides counseling services and support to undocumented people recently diagnosed with HIV.

Elijah Manley. Photo via Facebook.

MANLEY is a 21-year-old Black queer activist who has campaigned for the Broward School Board and Florida House of Representatives.

His campaign for school board — following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland — received 43,009 votes and drew the attention of safety and education advocates.

Josie Smith-Malave. Photo via Facebook.

Alfredo Olvera. Photo via Facebook.

SMITH-MALAVE is a chef and restaurateur currently campaigning for Mayor of Wilton Manors. She has appeared on four seasons of the Bravo television show “Top Chef.”

She is a host on “It’s Happening Out,” a local queer television show.

In a post on Facebook, Chef Josie supporter Angie Oz said this: “EVERY DAY presents a new challenge, and this moment requires BOLD leadership, COURAGE and COMMITMENT to SOLUTION. Josie SmithMalave creates RESULTS we need NOW so vote for her this upcoming election as your 2020 mayor for Wilton Manors!”

“I couldn’t be prouder to follow someone,” said Harris, LGBT consumer advocate at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“Alfredo is a powerful leader with a unique lived experience that helps him connect with many different communities. He was raised by powerful Latin women who taught him the importance of listening and following and he knows when to speak up and knows when to fall back and let others speak. He has created spaces at the table for marginalized communities when no space was available.”

OLVERA is the president of the Dolphin Democrats, Florida’s oldest LGBT political organization. A realtor from Ecuador, Olvera insists he has rebuilt the Dolphins into a viable organization again and has tangled with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis about direction. Nik Harris, the Dolphins’ vice president, had nothing but praise for Olvera.

So there you have it, five qualified candidates. One to be crowned Broward’s best new LGBT activist.

Voters have until Oct. 8 to cast their ballots.

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10 .1. 20 20 •

9

NEWS STATE

UNITY COALITION GIVES LGBT HISPANICS & INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE CULTURE John McDonald

I

t’s not the best of times to be celebrating, but some cultures know how to lift spirits. ¡Viva Orgullo!

The event — a homage to the Hispanic Florida, and most of the U.S. in 2020.” and Indigenous communities — is in its 10th The article, written by Daniel Shoer year.

Roth, examined how Hispanic and Presented by the Unity Coalition, Celebrate Latin immigrants suffer aggression and ORGULLO is traditionally a week filled with harassment due to their sexual orientation arts and cultural experiences. Due to the or gender identity.

COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s edition is “The study mentioned is a great tool, almost entirely virtual. The exception being and I commend FIU, SAO and SAVE ... but a drive-in movie on the final night. only useful if real reform, real changes in “We’ve had to retool our festival,” said culture and mindset. Real respect for those Herb Sosa, the Unity Coalition president and that are different from you, actually is taken chief executive officer. seriously,” said Sosa.

The virus has “equalized everybody’s Hispanic heritage was first recognized in needs,” said Sosa, while laying 1968 when former President bare societal problems. “We’ve Lyndon Johnson made it a realized how vulnerable we week-long observation. Former are.”

President Ronald Reagan Sosa’s family comes from expanded the designation to a Cuba. The Communist island 30-day period (Sept. 15 to Oct. south of Florida plays an 15) in 1988. Sept. 15 marks the integral part of Miami’s Latin anniversary of independence American culture. Cuban rum, for Latin American countries cigars, plátanos and flamingo Costa Rica, El Salvador, dancing are often noted by Guatemala, Honduras and Hollywood filmmakers and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile globe-trotting journalists. celebrated their independence The dream of freedom is days Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, a difficult reality for some. A respectively. More than 20 - Herb Sosa recent article in the Miami nations share the Spanish UNITY COALITION PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER El Nuevo Herald revealed language with different visions violence against Latino LGBT of Hispanic culture. immigrants sometimes goes unreported to “There is no one voice and that’s how it authorities. should be,” said Sosa. “We can have diversity “Crimes against our LGB — and especially even among our own parents and family.”

T — communities in South Florida is a real A women’s community forum on Thursday, issue,” said Sosa. “Cultural stereotypes, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. kicks off the ORGULLO misled religious beliefs, ingrained mistrust schedule. Trans activist June Raven Romero of law enforcement and government … and is slated to be one of the forum’s participants. now a green light on all things hate from the Raven Romero was quite critical of the Miami highest office of the land. Welcome to South area in a recent appearance on UCTV.

“THE STUDY MENTIONED IS A GREAT TOOL ... BUT ONLY USEFUL IF REAL REFORM, REAL CHANGES IN CULTURE AND MINDSET.”

Photo via Celebrate ORGULLO’s website.

WHAT: Celebrate Orgullo WHEN: Oct. 1-15 MORE INFO: CelebrateOrgullo.com 10

• 10 .1.2020

NEWS STATE “I think people are under this impression expression of gender fluidity, feminism and that Miami is this metropolis and it’s a skin color. megacity that is welcoming to all kinds of ORGULLO also highlights the work of people, that it’s very liberal and there are all Richard Blanco, a gay Cuban American, who resources here, but the truth is trans people provided the words for former President come here because they know the weather Barack Obama’s second inaugural poem, is good, it’s more liberal than the rest of “One Today.” An affiliate faculty member Florida,” Raven Romero continued. “The at Florida International University’s Center livelihood is easier than San for the Humanities in an Urban Francisco or New York City Environment (CHUE), Blanco ALONG WITH to afford, let’s say, but the is scheduled to participate in truth is the resources and ORGULLO’s spoken word night, EDUCATION AND the networks are not here Thursday, Oct. 8, live on YouTube HEALTH, ORGULLO for trans people. They have and Facebook beginning at 8 p.m.

OFFERS DANCE, not been long established, “I haven’t settled on anything BALLET, JAZZ, they are not good and quite yet,” Blanco told SFGN in a SPOKEN WORD, A large enough, they’re not telephone interview on Friday. “... connected properly.” sort of interested in the way our VIRTUAL TOUR OF Raven Romero, head cultural identities intersect with THE EVERGLADES trainer at TransSocial, our sexuality, something I call AND MICCOSUKEE brought up the issue of sex cultural sexuality. Longing for a SACRED LAND AND A place and home. As a gay child, work with host Samantha Letroy.

The pandemic that sense of somewhere over the MASK AUCTION FOR coupled with Florida’s rainbow of someday belonging to CHARITY. historically low wages and a community and supported by a a too often dysfunctional community and proud. Our own unemployment benefits system, will cause country so to speak.” some transgender people to do sex work, Celebrate ORGULLO concludes Oct. 14 Raven Romero said. with a drive-in movie at Dezerland Park.

“This economy is going to push us into “Two Eyes,” a gay, trans and Indigenous film survival work,” Raven Romero said. “That’s set in the western United States, makes its been true for the transgender people and South Florida premiere. Tickets are $40 and it will be even more true in this economy. the film begins at 7 p.m. at 14401 NE 19th Ave. We’re going to have to venture out and do in North Miami. sex work, just statistically, that’s what’s going to happen and I would say to people INTERESTED IN UNITY COALITION? who do venture out and do that work, start THE GROUP OPERATES A YOUTUBE familiarizing yourself with the organizations CHANNEL WHERE DISCUSSIONS in your city that defend that kind of work HAPPEN ON VITAL ISSUES IN THE and defend your rights.”

LGBT COMMUNITY. Raven Romero also emphasized sex workers should get tested regularly for an array of diseases, not just COVID-19.

“Make it a thing now,” she said, “Now that COVID tests are so common and so necessary, work in the rest of the litany of tests.”

Along with education and health, ORGULLO offers dance, ballet, jazz, spoken word, a virtual tour of the Everglades and Miccosukee sacred land and a mask auction for charity.

“That mask brings out the beauty in your eyes,” said comedian Fay, an ORGULLO hostess. The compliment is one of Fay’s COVID-19 pick-up lines.

Celebrities have designed masks for bid during a virtual auction for charity on Oct. 6.

The auction benefits the MicroGiving LGBT Relief Fund, which, Sosa said, is sending aid to Colombia.

On the same night, choreographer Randolph Ward adds to the event’s DJ Reddy Arjun Reddy and MC Marco Perez, at “BlackOUT Performances” with an exclusive Museum Park during the 2015 Celebrate Orgullo. piece that brings elements of Peruvian Photo via Facebook. and Brazilian movements together for an

10 .1. 20 20 •

11

NEWS NATIONAL

REGISTER TO VOTE BY OCT. 5 DON’T BE LATE!

Christiana Lilly

T

he deadline for Florida voters to register or update their registration is coming soon — Oct. 5.

Here are some things you need to know in order to conduct our most patriotic duty as Americans: exercising our right to vote.

REGISTER TO VOTE If you need to register to vote for the first time or you want to update your information, such as your address, political party or name, visit RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov by Oct. 5.

On this site, you have the option to register or update your information.

Remember that Florida hosts closed primary elections — that means you can only vote in the Democratic or Republican primaries (which were in August) if you are a registered member of that party. There are other minor political parties, such as the Green Party and Libertarian Party, or even just No Party Affiliation. They are not eligible to vote on Democratic or Republican primary races.

You will be mailed your voter registration card. On this card, you will have information like your polling place and your precincts. This will help you know which races you need to pay attention to based on the people who represent your neighborhood. If you don’t get your card in time to vote, that’s OK — you can look all that information up on your county’s Supervisor of Election website.

Before you vote, you will also receive a sample ballot in the mail. This will have the exact layout and questions you will find on Election Day or during early voting. Again, if you don’t receive one, you can see a copy online.

VOTING BY MAIL

• 10 .1.2020

to help customers track their mails — including their ballot!

If for some reason you aren’t able to get your ballot in the mail on time, or you change your mind, you can still drop it off at any early voting site. You can find a list of locations on your county’s Supervisor of Election website.

VOTING EARLY If you want to beat the lines on Election Day or won’t have a chance to make it to the polls on Nov. 3, in Florida, voters are able to vote early. Early voting is Oct. 19 to Nov. 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. During early voting, voters are able to go to any early voting site to cast their ballot. This is different from Election Day voting, where you must go to the poll that you are assigned (you can find this on your voter registration card or online on your county’s Supervisor of Election website).

When you go to vote, you must bring a form of ID that includes signature verification — the most common form of ID that people bring to the polls is their driver’s license. Because of COVID-19, you must also wear a mask. In Florida, ballots are pieces of paper that you fill in a bubble to cast your vote. The ballot is then inserted into a machine to begin the counting process. Polling places have been offering hand sanitizer and single-use pens for voters to take home with them.

DURING EARLY VOTING, VOTERS ARE ABLE TO GO TO ANY EARLY VOTING SITE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

Unfortunately, the deadline to request a mailin ballot has passed. However, if you have a mailin ballot, fill it out just like you would in person and then put it in the envelope provided. Be sure to read all the instructions — for example, you must sign the ballot envelope or your vote will not count.

While the Florida Department of Elections is recommending that you mail your ballot back at least seven days before Election Day on Nov. 3, voting advocates are encouraging voters to mail it out by Oct. 19 to make sure their vote is counted.

After mailing your ballot, you can track the status of your ballot on your county’s Supervisor of Elections website. The US Postal Service also has a program called Informed Delivery

12

Photo via Adobe.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY If you have not voted by Nov. 1, you will have to vote on Election Day, Nov. 3. Many people enjoy the energy of voting

on Election Day, but things may be different this year because of the pandemic.

When voting on Nov. 3, you must go to the polling place that you are assigned to. You can find the address for this location on your voter registration card or on your county’s Supervisor of Election website. There’s no way to tell how long lines are going to be — some polling places are in high voter turnout communities and have lines, while others you can just walk in.

Like we said before, because of the pandemic, polling places are taking extra precautions by offering hand sanitizer and single-use pens for voters. You must also wear a mask to vote.

Also like early voting, the polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be given the chance to vote no matter the time.

A reminder that voting is not a test!

Feel free to bring your notes or a cheat sheet of the people and amendments you want to vote for. This will help ease your anxiety and also get you out the door faster.

IF YOU FEEL THAT SOMEHOW YOUR VOTING RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, CALL THE ACLU AT 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION WEBSITES PALM BEACH COUNTY: PBCELECTIONS.ORG BROWARD COUNTY: BROWARDSOE.ORG MIAMI-DADE COUNTY:

MIAMIDADE.GOV/GLOBAL/ELECTIONS/HOME.PAGE

MONROE COUNTY: KEYS-ELECTIONS.ORG

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OF THE

WEEK

Marc Possien, the former owner of Catalog X, now in the consignment business and residing in Boynton Beach, enjoys the upstairs, outdoor dining at Andy’s Kitchen on South Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

Photo via Facebook.

mesablue123@aol.com

10 .1. 20 20 •

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FEATURE GAYBORHOOD

’ ?

D O O H R O B A NEW ‘GAY Rendering of the planned Isle Casino

development.

Pompano Beach, Palm Aire dial gay vibe up a notch Damon Scott

T

he LGBT attractions and amenities in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors usually get most of the attention, but Pompano Beach and Palm Aire are giving the two a little friendly competition of late.

Earlier this summer, a group of almost twodozen men raised a large rainbow flag near the Pompano Beach Pier and ceremoniously dubbed a section of it as Stonewall Beach.

One of the men had been at the New York City Stonewall Inn in 1969 during the riots that would spark the modern LGBT rights movement.

There are no such riots at the beach, but there is the inviting Lucky Fish tiki

14

• 10 .1.2020

hut bar near the workout station that has been attracting gay clientele. While it’s not specifically a gay bar, the Oceanic Restaurantmanaged spot has some gay employees looking to serve up food and drinks to eager beachgoers.

The area in and around the pier has other new action recently. There was a boost when the popular $6.5 million Beach House Pompano restaurant welcomed residents and

visitors about two years ago. The Oceanic came about a year after that.

Other additions are on the way. Filling in areas of the wide, three-mile long beach are more restaurants, a Kilwins and more.

Anthony Kulp also wants to make sure you to know about the easy parking.

“One of the things that prompted [Stonewall Beach] was people complaining about the parking at Sebastian [Beach],” Kulp said. “I used to go there, but I don’t want to get there at 10 o’clock in the morning to get a parking space. When I would go, you’d have to sit there to wait for someone to pull out in order to park.”

Fort Lauderdale’s Sebastian Beach is often referred to as the gay beach in Broward.

Kulp is the force behind Stonewall Beach.

He said he’d been thinking about it for over a year and once the Pompano pier was finished with its revamp, he thought it was time.

“I put the idea up on my ‘Palm Aire Social’ [Facebook] page, which has about 800 members, and I said: ‘this is what I want to do,’” Kulp said.

CITY SUPPORT Pompano Beach City Commissioner Barry Moss, naturally, thinks all of the hoopla is great.

He’s been a commissioner for six years and represents district five, which includes Palm Aire — the vast development and country club in southwest Pompano — where he also lives.

To be sure, there are plenty of residents on the right of the political spectrum living in Pompano, but Moss said the city is progressive and LGBT friendly.

“I can tell you that I’m openly gay, and my colleagues know it,” Moss said. “No one bats an eye.”

Moss, 71, came out 50 years ago.

FEATURE GAYBORHOOD with older people, it changed. Now an Uber is more reasonable — almost the cost of one drink,” he said.

Kulp is one of the most active agents in Palm Aire and said it’s a great place for gay people.

“It has a distinct gay vibe,” he said. “But it’s been that way for a long time. There are gay people who bought here in the 1970s. At the time, there was no Wilton Manors.”

Kulp said you could buy a house in Wilton Manors for about $50,000 in the 1970s.

The same house today would go for about $500,000, he said.

So even though Pompano is further away from the beach or an entertainment district like Wilton Drive, gay people like it. You’ll often see vehicles driving around with Kulp’s rainbow colored Palm Aire stickers on windows and bumpers.

“All these guys are coming out saying: ‘I live in Pompano, I’ve been living here, this is so wonderful,’” Kulp said.

Barry Moss.

ONLY IN FLORIDA

“I’ve seen such a sea change in attitude. Not only from the general public, but also from gay people. Most people don’t care — just cut your grass; don’t have trash in your yard. I’ve never met anyone in Pompano that’s been disparaging,” he said.

Moss said Pompano and Palm Aire often attract gay retirees who have good finances — former business professionals, teachers, doctors and lawyers.

“They have more disposable income and aren’t afraid to spend it,” he said.

Kulp said more gay people are casting an eye toward what Pompano has to offer, and that Palm Aire has attracted LGBT people to the area for years.

So much so, that he started the Palm Aire Social, which was attracting 250 men every second Tuesday of the month at the Oaks Clubhouse before the pandemic hit.

It’s not all to say that Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors have lost their standing or their touch. But Kulp thinks its northern neighbors offer a value that’s hard to beat and even a comparable lifestyle.

“A lot of people I sell to are coming from Wilton Manors like I did,” Kulp said. “The first Meanwhile, Kulp is also a thing I ask [clients] is: ‘What do force as a realtor. In fact, he’s you like to do? Do you like the known as the “King of Palm beach? Do you like to golf? Do Aire.” He lives there with his you like to drink?’ If they like lp Ku ny tho An husband, Jim Beauter. to drink, they usually prefer REALTOR The two are from Wilton Manors. If they like to Pennsylvania. entertain, you want to live in “He’s a little older and when Palm Aire.” we met he said he was going to retire and He said Palm Aire units offer large kitchens, move to Fort Lauderdale,” Kulp said. “And dining rooms and living rooms. Typical units that’s how I got into real estate.” run about 2,000 square feet with balconies.

Kulp’s been in real estate for 21 years and Today there are about 7,000 units, from housing for 40. He was a contractor doing efficiency-sized condos to $1 million-plus mostly kitchen and bath remodeling. homes.

The two would eventually buy a home in Not only that, but Kulp said for those who Wilton Manors, but it ended up being a little like to go to Wilton Drive and have drinks, it’s bit too small for their taste. So they moved to not as far as it might seem.

Palm Aire about five years ago.

“And when Uber became more popular

SHORT(ISH) DRIVE TO WILTON DRIVE

Palm Aire’s history has unique and colorful Florida flair, too — some of it with a little dash of myth.

The land used to be home to five golf courses. As the story goes, Kulp said, the son of a really big builder from Philadelphia saw it in the early 1960s and thought it’d be a great place for high-rise condos, a luxurious spa and the like. But because it was in Pompano Beach, the traditional banks took a pass.

So the son went to the mob in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia for the seed money.

“Supposedly he got Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Jackie Gleason, Elizabeth Taylor and Natalie Wood to come down and stay at the spa he had built,” Kulp said. “They even owned houses and I’m sure they owned some villas.”

Ringo Starr and George Harrison owned two houses as well.

“They probably spent two nights there,” Kulp said with a chuckle. “But that got people interested.”

Homes started selling in 1966 and took off from there. There are three golf courses now, with clubhouses, hair salons, spas, pools and tennis courts.

ON TAP The stock of Pompano and Palm Aire could rise even more in the coming decade.

The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, adjacent to Palm Aire, is getting a major facelift and additions.

Horse racing is going away and Jai Alai is coming in.

In all, 223 acres are being developed over 10 years. Plans call for a lake, a park, 4,500 condos, a town center, retail and restaurants.

The same firm that built the new Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood is spearheading the project.

“THERE ARE GAY PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT HERE IN THE 1970S. AT THE TIME, THERE WAS NO WILTON MANORS.”

Anthony Kulp.

10 .1. 20 20 •

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PA L M B E A C H

c o m m u n ity

BEST OF 2020 AND THE 5 NOMINEES FOR BEST ACTIVIST IN PALM BEACH COUNTY ARE… CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY AT SFGN.COM/BESTOF Jason Parsley

T

here are five contenders for Best LGBT Activist in Palm Beach County.

They are: Dylan Brooks; Lucas O’Ryan; Rolando Chang Barrero; Toni Armstrong Jr. and Adam Sessa.

The actual title of the category is “Best LGBT Activist NOT Named Julie Seaver.”

Seaver serves as the Executive Director of Compass, Palm Beach County’s LGBT community center. She’s dominated the category each year so this year SFGN wanted to give a chance to someone else — with Seaver’s blessing.

BROOKS works for Compass and has been in the field of HIV prevention for eight years. He recently took on the new role of Director of HIV Prevention and Education.

“It’s an honor to be nominated,” Brooks said. “With a title like that, those are some big heels to fill and I am nominated along with other amazing LGBT activists who are making a difference to make Palm Beach County more inclusive, more accepting, and more LGBT friendly every day.”

In 2018 Brooks tied Seaver for the top spot in this category.

Lucas O’Ryan (left) and Dylan Brooks.

Photo via Facebook.

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• 10 .1.2020

O’RYAN is the Transgender Youth Services Coordinator at Compass. His job includes working with trans-identifying individuals and their families to provide resources and services. He also facilitates the weekly Transgender Youth Group and the monthly trans supprort grous that meet at Compass.

“I am excited to be nominated,” O’Ryan said. “The work we do serving trans youth, giving them a safe space to be themselves and to grow is priceless. I am honored everyday to be able to come to work and spread light, love and hope in a world that desperately needs it right now.”

Rolando Chang Barrero. Photo via Facebook.

Adam Sessa. Photo via Facebook.

CHANG BARRERO is an artist, activist and owner of the Box Gallery in West Palm Beach. He’s also the president of the Palm Beach County Hispanic Democratic Chapter and belongs to several other minority focused democratic clubs.

“Fighting for equality and a better understanding of the intersectionality of our community is just what we do everyday,” Chang Barrero said. “Advocacy, activism, education, protests and civil disobedience are always on the table to secure the equality of our whole community and that of our allies.”

SESSA is a realtor who purchased Studio 205 in Lake Worth this year renaming it the Haus Lounge, with the slogan “The QUEER Inclusive destination of the Palm Beaches.”

“I love doing anything I can to help anyone in need, that’s why I opened The Haus Lounge. We pride ourselves on bringing the Community together for safe/affordable freely expressed LGBTQ+ Pride,” Sessa said. “No justice till we are equal has been my motto since I can remember. Ever since I was a kid, I was always doing anything I could for the community, environment, and still ongoing struggle of equality for all.”

ARMSTRONG JR. is a life-long self described “lesbian culture activist.” She was a co-founder and publisher of HOT WIRE: The Journal of Women’s Music and Culture, and has been a concert producer, festival photographer, conference organizer, and founder of multiple woman-identified organizations and anti-racist coalitions.

Locally she’s probably best known for being the founder of BLAST (Bi, Lesbian and Straight Together) Women of the Palm Beaches. The organization launched in 2008 and has 4,000-plus members and hosts 200-plus events every year.

Toni Armstrong Jr. Photo via Facebook.

WMG Volume 7 • Issue 19 October 1, 2020

Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE

ELECTION

Wilton Manors Candidates Share Future Plans With Residents in Zoom Forum

By Sallie James It was a candidates’ night like no other, with mayoral and commission hopefuls weighing in via Zoom from the comfort of their homes as they answered questions about their plans for the city’s future.

Thanks to COVID-19, voters with an interest in how candidates for Wilton Manors mayor and city commission had to log into a Zoom meeting earlier this month to find out how the competitors measured up.

As many as 145 people in addition to the nine candidates joined the event, which took the place of traditional doorknocking and face-to-face fundraisers.

Organizers said the participation level was almost the same as in person.

“A lot of residents have expressed deep appreciation for doing the Zoom meeting. A lot of the people know nothing or very little about the candidates running,” said Jon O’Connor, vice president of the Westside Association of Wilton Manors. “We always do it for every election and we normally do it so residents can make an informed decision on candidates because they may not meet them.”

Meeting candidates in the best of times is often hard for the general public. The pandemic has made it even trickier.

Three candidates are running for mayor: Julie Carson, an incumbent city commissioner; Scott Newton, a former longtime mayor and city commissioner who lost his bid for re-election in 2018; and political newcomer Josie SmithMalave, a chef and owner of Bubbles & Pearls restaurant in Wilton Manors.

In addition, six people are vying for two open commission seats: Chris Caputo, board chair for the Pride Center at Equality Park; Mike Bracchi, who manages a pharmacy consulting business; Doug Blevins, vice-chair of the Wilton Manors Improvement District; Joseph Sansone, a licensed realtor; Jason Basilico, owner of Matty’s at Wilton Park; and Juan Melecio, who has managed a barbershop and has acted in porn films.

The candidates all logged into Zoom and answered questions from three neighborhood association leaders during the event.

Former Wilton Manors Mayor John Fiore, president of the East Neighborhood Association, explained that Zoom was the only way they could give residents a chance to “meet the candidates.”

“All in all it worked out well. There were some technical glitches,” Fiore said, noting that the sound cut out a few times

AS MANY AS 145 PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THE NINE CANDIDATES JOINED THE EVENT.

The three candidates running for mayor were among those who attended, including Julie Carson (left), Scott Newton (center) and Josie Smith-Malave. Photos via Facebook.

when Sansone and Melecio tried to speak.

Those listening in couldn’t ask questions; one of the down sides, Fiore said.

“We had to do it ourselves, which made it different. The people I talked to thought it went well,” Fiore said.

Candidates answered questions on everything from development and density to taxes, vacation rentals and whether or not a hotel should be built in downtown Wilton Manors.

HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS: Newton, who is straight, said he would bring balance and experience to the city.

Everyone on the current Wilton Manors Commission is gay. He portrayed himself as a defender of the city’s neighborhoods in the face of development and voiced disapproval for vacation rentals, which are sometimes disruptive and noisy.

“We need to hammer on those people who just don’t care about our communities,” Newson said.

When it comes to development, Carson said elected officials must be mindful not to “deteriorate” the quality of life in the city. She said she invites conversation and open dialogue to find out what residents want. Asked if she would approve an eight-story building, she said it would depend on where it would be located.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3.

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10 .1. 20 20 •

17

OPINION

RIP RBG

By Sal Torre

 Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Photo credit: Wake Forest University School of Law, via Flickr.

As the news of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death hit the media outlets, I wondered how long it would take the Republican wolves to start reacting to the scent of blood.

Before flags were placed at half mask, before one 24-hour news cycle, before RBG was even laid to rest, good ole Rich Mitch was salivating over the opportunity to name a conservative successor to the high court bench.

Closer to home, our former Governor, now Senator, Rick Scott was quick to stand right behind good ole Rich Mitch in calling for quick approval of President Trump’s nominee.

They say that American voters have a very short-term memory when it comes to politicians and their actions in office.

Amazing how quick these Republican wolves, reacting to a whiff of blood, have so quickly cast aside their own statements of just four years ago when faced with a similar situation. This band of charlatans successfully halted former President Obama from having the opportunity to name a successor to the court following the sudden death of Justice Scalia.

Their moral outrage back then was that the vacancy on the high court so close to an election should not be filled until we have a new president.

How quickly to be singing a different tune, exposing themselves as hucksters instead of men of their word.

Four years ago there were 11 long months before the end of former President Obama’s second term when Justice Scalia passed away. Eleven months was too short of a time for Mitch McConnell four years ago, but now he stands ready to approve a nominee in just 45 days before an election.

Shame, shame, shame.

Hopefully RBG has the last laugh as these band of charlatans get defeated at the Ballot Box comes November.

Speaking of elections, here in our Island City the race for mayor and two city commission seats has entered the final

WMG October 1, 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 19 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

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

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com News Editor • Sallie James

Correspondents

Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun

Staff Photographers

J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970

Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping

stretch and things are heating up. Candidates have a rough time this election season reaching out to residents due to COVIDrelated issues.

We don’t have the usual campaign parties and events at local establishments to meet the candidates and enjoy socializing with neighbors. Residents should do their part and reach out to candidates and get to know more about them before placing their vote.

If you are choosing to vote by mail this election, you will be receiving your ballot in just a week or so here in Broward County. Early voting will be another good option and then if you’re like me, you can wait till Election Day to cast your vote in this very important election.

Hopefully our municipal candidates in the last few weeks before the election will behave like leaders of our community and not like a band of school yard brats.

Recent neighborhood chatter has been about stolen yard signs, confiscated door

HOPEFULLY RBG HAS THE LAST LAUGH AS THESE BAND OF CHARLATANS GET DEFEATED AT THE BALLOT BOX COMES NOVEMBER.

hangers and similar childish antics. If you think you stand a better chance of winning your election by stealing some else’s yard signs, or knocking down larger signs, or removing other candidates’ door hangers as you replace them with your own, then maybe you need to take a step back and really question your motives to serve our community.

I do miss the usual fall season campaign events at local watering holes. A small donation would get you a free drink and some good nibbles while socializing with friends and neighbors.

However, 2020 has been a very different reality with no signs of normalcy returning anytime soon. I am ready for the election to be over yesterday and hope that we can leave the last four years of insanity behind as we move ahead to better days.

Hope and optimism for a better tomorrow has always been a driving force behind the American spirit. One day we will move beyond the fear and danger of the COVID pandemic, beyond the divisiveness and fearmongering of Donald Trump, and wake up to a better tomorrow.

That hope and optimism are what makes life just better here… WMG

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

SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in ballots are a more popular option than ever. If you ordered a mail-in ballot and haven’t received it yet, it should be arriving soon. Don’t forget to send it in!

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• 10 .1.2020

2 •

October 1, 2020

ELECTION

NEWS

Wilton Manors Candidates Share Future Plans With Residents in Zoom Forum  Continued from page 1

Smith-Malave hyped her experience as a Wilton Manors business owner, saying she has her “finger on the pulse” of what is going on in the business community. She said neighborhoods needed to be unified and called for controlled development, adding that she would bring the city a “fresh perspective on old projects” that have stopped moving forward. But when Fiore asked her to describe the city’s borders, she gave a long, rambling description that included portions of Fort Lauderdale.

Bracchi, who is chair of the city’s Budget Committee, highlighted his familiarity with the city’s finances, noting that the COVID-19 recovery will pose a challenge. Bracchi said he didn’t support free parking along Wilton Drive, noting that business employees will Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo via the City of park there and take up spots for customers.

Wilton Manors, Facebook.

Buffering and thoughtful development will help maintain Wilton Manors small-town Wilton Manors in five years. The city must charm.

Caputo said he would step down from incentivize smart growth and focus on the his position as chair of the Pride Center at type of development it approves in the future.

Sansone said the city must loosen its Equality Park if elected and emphasized the many steps the Pride Center has done to be a parking restrictions in order to grow and better neighbor in the light of past complaints. voiced support for extending free daytime He called for the “right development in the parking. He agreed the city needs a clear right places” to maintain the city’s small-town plan in regard to development to maintain its appeal and still move forward. He voiced small-town feel and still grow. He said the city needs more daytime businesses. support for short term leases He acknowledged the to help address the vacancies residency issues that have downtown. plagued his candidacy and said Basilico said the city needs he would step down if they create to put more emphasis on a problem. Sansone owns a house environmental policies, and find in Wilton Manors but doesn’t out more about what is going live in it because it’s under on with King Tides. He supports construction. a “common sense approach” “I think it was great everybody to development that includes had the opportunity to hear listening to residents’ concerns. from the candidates,” said Sal Melecio said he is running - Sal Torre Torre, president of the West for office because he thinks the PRESIDENT OF THE Neighborhood Association. Torre city has been mismanaged and WEST NEIGHBORHOOD is also a Wilton Manors Gazette makes it too difficult for business ASSOCIATION columnist. owners to open their businesses.

Ray Carrier, president of the He supported more business development along the Dixie Highway and Central Neighborhood Association, was Oakland Park corridors as a way for the city to pleased with the participation.

“It was very positive to have the three increase its daytime tourism appeal. He said neighborhood associations work so closely the city needs more density and growth.

Blevins expressed support for a downtown together on a project,” Carrier said. “To do hotel as well as vacation rentals, but said anything different or not to do this would they must be properly regulated. He said have been wrong — this is one of the services a city study said a hotel would be viable in that residents expect.” WMG

“I THINK IT WAS GREAT EVERYBODY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES.”

A concept for the new location of Sprouts. Photo courtesy of Ram Realty.

Sprouts and Residential Dog Park Given Greenlight in Oakland Park

By Christiana Lilly After a second hearing on building a room, dog park, swimming pool and outdoor mixed-use land development in Oakland recreation area. There will also be 403 parking Park, the city commission has officially given spaces, green space, a ride-share pickup zone, the developer the go-ahead to build a Sprouts a multi-use path from Oakland Park Blvd. to grocery store, residential space, a restaurant, the riverfront, and a promenade.

“I’m glad that it’s out of the hands of and green space.

The virtual meeting was hosted on Sept. Walmart and now in the hands of RAM [Realty 16 and the applications were approved Services],” Mayor Matthew Sparks previously unanimously by the commission, except for told the Wilton Manors Gazette. “They’re Commissioner Sara Guevrekian, who has turning this from a basic big box store with a parking lot to a lot of greenery.” not been present at commission RAM had a traffic study done, meetings for almost a year.

THE CITY which was then reviewed by the “I very much approve this city’s own traffic consultant, who project,” said Vice Mayor Jane COMMISSION HAS agreed with the conclusion that Bolin. “When you look at where OFFICIALLY GIVEN development would have lower it started and where we are now, projected traffic in the area than this is pretty phenomenal and THE DEVELOPER if Walmart were on the property. will really change the feel of THE GO-AHEAD TO However, some residents who Oakland Park and will give us, all BUILD A SPROUTS would be living in the area are of us as residents of OP, access we not convinced and spoke during didn’t have before.”

GROCERY STORE, public comments.

The property, located at RESIDENTIAL SPACE, “It’s a mess already,” resident the southeast intersection of Oakland Park Boulevard and A RESTAURANT, AND Harry Redlich said of waiting at the light on Northwest Sixth Ave. Northeast Sixth Avenue, was GREEN SPACE. “The backup is 20 or 30 cars long originally a Kmart then closed in waiting at the light … you’re kind 2014. The land was purchased by of taking your life into your hands when you Walmart, then by Ram Realty.

The lot is split into two areas. The northern make the turn.”

Robert B. Lochrie III, who represents RAM, lot will have 7,800 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 124 parking spots. To the assured the commission that the development south, there will be 288 residential units in a “should not add much to that queue.”

“One car at most and that’s because of the five-story building, as well as 12 townhomes with private garages. Residents will be able way that rolls over,” he said. “Cars do back up, to access a fitness center, indoor community really only during peak hours.” WMG

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October 1, 2020

10 .1. 20 20 •

19

NEWS NATIONAL

LGBT ORGS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER

TRUMP’S SCOTUS PICK Lisa Keen

P

resident Donald Trump announced Sept. 26 his nominee to replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and, as expected, it is jurist LGBT groups are expected to vehemently oppose.

In a crowded outdoor event at the White House, President Trump said his nominee, federal appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett, would receive a “very quick” confirmation.

Does this spell doom for existing protections for LGBT people under the law? Does it close the door to the Supreme Court for any future LGBT plaintiffs seeking their rights under the constitution? LGBT legal experts are both deeply concerned and somewhat confident.

Barrett comes to the nomination after serving just two years at the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals where she did not weigh in on any LGBT-related cases. However, in her years prior to that, as a professor at the University of Notre Dame School of Law, she signed onto a letter from Catholic Women supporting the church’s views on various issues, including that “marriage and family [are] founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman.”

During her 2017 confirmation process, one senator asked Barrett, via written questionnaire, how she could assure members of the LGBT community that she is committed to rendering decisions impartially and without bias or prejudice?

Barrett responded: “I do not think it lawful for a judge to impose personal opinions, from whatever source they derive, upon the law. If confirmed, I will apply the law faithfully and impartially in accordance with the judicial oath.”

“Do you agree that the church’s view regarding marriage as a union between a man and a woman is irrelevant to the legal question of the right of same-sex couples to marry?” asked Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI.) in the questionnaire.

Barrett responded with one word: “Yes.” She then repeatedly stated that several important LGBT decisions at the Supreme Court were “binding precedent that I will faithfully follow if confirmed.” They included Obergefell v. Hodges, U.S. v. Windsor, and Lawrence v. Texas.

LGBT groups opposed Barrett’s nomination then. They said her views on civil rights issues were “fundamentally at odds with the notion that LGBT people are entitled to equality, liberty, justice and dignity under the law.”

In a letter to then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, 27 national and state LGBT groups said in 2017 that they were concerned that Barrett’s “religiouslyinfused moral beliefs would inform her judicial decisionmaking” on issues of specific interest to LGBT people. And they expressed alarm that Barrett had delivered a paid speech to the “most extreme anti-LGBT legal organization in the United States” (the Alliance Defending Freedom).

In reaction to the news that Trump would nominate Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court, Lambda Legal issued a statement, saying, “Barrett will unleash a Supreme Court majority that is hostile to all of our basic civil rights, and

BARRETT COMES TO THE NOMINATION AFTER SERVING JUST TWO YEARS AT THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS WHERE SHE DID NOT WEIGH IN ON ANY LGBTRELATED CASES.

20

• 10 .1.2020

Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Photo via Facebook.

the impact will be felt for decades.”

In the coming U.S. Supreme Court session, the court is set to hear Fulton v. Philadelphia, a case in which a Catholic adoption service wants the court to declare that it has a First Amendment right to violate a Philadelphia law against sexual orientation discrimination. And a Virginia school district is expected to appeal its loss in a case that tests whether Title IX of the federal Education Amendments Act — which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education — prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

There is some optimism still around the Title IX case. That’s because, just last June, a 6 to 3 majority of the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act — which prohibits job discrimination on the basis of sex — also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. That ruling, Bostock v. Clayton County, is expected to serve as a precedent for the Title IX litigation, too.

While Ginsburg is gone now from that 6 to 3 Bostock majority, Chief Justice John Roberts,

who joined the majority opinion, and Justice Neil Gorsuch, who authored it, are still there.

And “because Justice Gorsuch’s opinion for the Court was so relentlessly textual,” said Stanford University Professor Pamela Karlan, who successfully argued the case for the gay employee in Bostock, “I don’t see the Court coming out the other way on Title IX’s coverage.”

Jon Davidson, former legal director for Lambda Legal and current chief counsel for Freedom for All Americans, agrees.

“That majority [in Bostock] also should agree that other federal laws prohibiting sex discrimination [including laws barring sex discrimination in education, housing, and credit] encompass discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity because the Supreme Court’s decision [in Bostock] did not rest on anything unique to the federal employment nondiscrimination, but rather on the correct conclusion that, as a general matter, one cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity without discriminating based on sex.”

But Both Karlan and Davidson expressed

NEWS NATIONAL concern for what the Supreme Court didn’t rule on last session: accommodating religious employers, such as the one in the Philadelphia case, set for oral argument on Nov. 4.

“The outcome could have broad implications for the application of nondiscrimination laws and government policies around the country,” said Davidson.

Davidson said he doesn’t think existing marriages of same-sex couples are at risk.

“Those who married same-sex partners after The United States Supreme Court. Credit: Joe Ravi. the Obergefell decision did so in compliance with the law at the time and have strong due process rights in not having those lawful Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, even marriages dissolved against their will,” said though Obama still had 11 months to go in his Davidson. “Whether a new justice will respect second term. McConnell left the seat open until the precedent of Obergefell going forward, after the 2016 presidential election and, because however, is of course of concern.”

Trump won that election, the Republican But Jenny Pizer, senior counsel at Lambda president was given the opportunity to appoint Legal, notes that, even with the marriage ruling the seat left open by the death of Justice in favor of same-sex couples, “we still have Antonin Scalia in February 2016. had to continue fighting for family equality for Kavanaugh’s confirmation was marred by LGBTQ people and their children.” controversy surrounding accusations that “For example, we are in court now fighting emerged following his nomination that he had for two married same-sex couples whose sexually assaulted women. He denied those daughters are being denied citizenship by the accusations, and the Republican-controlled Trump administration even though the law is Senate approved his nomination. explicit that their American citizen parents’ The Senate approved Gorsuch’s nomination being married entitles them to citizenship,” by a vote of 54 to 45; it approved Kavanaugh by said Pizer.

50 to 48.

And Barrett, says Pizer, “has been outspoken Barrett’s nomination also begins in in her belief that same-sex couples do not have controversy: While McConnell claimed he the same fundamental constitutional right couldn’t advance former President Obama’s to marry that different-sex couples have, and nominee because it was a presidential election that the marriages of same-sex year, he has promised to rush couples do not deserve legal through Barrett’s nomination respect.” even though this, too, is a MCCONNELL HAS Barrett also wrote a law presidential election year.

MADE CLEAR HE HAS review article arguing that, McConnell has made clear TO VOTES TO CONFIRM he has to votes to confirm the while all Supreme Court decisions serve as a precedent nominee and that he intends to THE NOMINEE AND for lower court decisions and rush through that confirmation THAT HE INTENDS subsequent Supreme Court process ahead of the Nov. 3 decisions, some are “super presidential election.

TO RUSH THROUGH precedents” and others are President Trump said Sept.

THAT CONFIRMATION more susceptible to change.

26 that Barrett “will defend the PROCESS AHEAD Barrett’s super-precedent sacred principle of equal justice theory, said Pizer, “seems for citizens of every race, color, OF THE NOV. 3 designed to create room for religion, and creed.”

PRESIDENTIAL reconsidering and reversing Barrett professed “love” for precedents that justices do not the United States Constitution ELECTION. consider ‘super.’” and said she is “mindful” of Barrett is Trump’s third the legacy of Justice Ginsburg, opportunity to select a Supreme Court justice. whose seat she has been nominated to fill.

He previously nominated, and the Senate Ginsburg died at age 87 on Sept. 18, following a confirmed, two other federal appeals court long struggle with cancer. judges to the Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch Barrett noted that Ginsburg was good friends and Brett Kavanaugh. Gorsuch’s nomination with Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom Barrett was marred by the controversy that ensued clerked, despite the fact that Ginsburg was one when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of the court’s most liberal jurists and Scalia one refused to give consideration to then-President of its most conservative.

Lisa Keen is the Chief Correspondent for Keen News Service, a professional news organization specializing in national political and legal news that involves or affects gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

10 .1. 20 20 •

21

Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

AN OPEN COMMUNITY LETTER FROM NORM KENT

A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER SFGN STANDS BY YOUR SIDE

x

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

Life is a blank tablet. We complete the slate Furloughed staff. Limited office hours. We have each day with the decisions we make. We color all been there this past year. it in with pastels of pleasure or portals of pain.

As businesses start to reopen, this week again It’s our call, our pencil, our paintbrush.

SFGN is increasing our weekly print run. We The future may be beyond our vision. It is not have also added a dozen new red distribution beyond our control. We can shape it with love boxes and locations. Let me know if you want and laughter, or anger and resentment. It’s up one. to us.

Hitting the stands also in the next few In the face of adversity and challenge, there days will be our special Elections Edition of is a door that opens always for good change, the MIRROR Magazine. The “Vote” cover is renewed hope and newer accomplishments. demonstrably pointed. Do so. Your life depends Today, as we enter the fourth quarter of the year on it.

2020, we are challenged to be sure.

Meanwhile, our sales manager, Justin Wyse, This is a year where we have become is now marketing our annual, very popular, pandemically compromised.

“Guide to South Florida.”

But the truth is we are not Get it while you can. paralyzed. We will rise again, If you want to show us THIS IS A YEAR maybe wounded, but surely some love, advertise with WHERE WE wiser. us. Help sustain our mission The page turns today to Oct. 1, and maintain our voice as HAVE BECOME but you are still standing. Don’t your advocate. People pick let your guard down. Don’t buy up and read our paper. Look, PANDEMICALLY the governor’s guidelines or you are right now!

COMPROMISED. BUT the moronic presidential rants.

A thousand or so People are still getting sick. advertisers for the past 10 THE TRUTH IS WE COVID-19 is still a killer virus. years have not been wrong.

Mask Thyself!

ARE NOT PARALYZED. They know they get bang for SFGN is proud to say that we their buck.

WE WILL RISE AGAIN, have been a First Amendment If you have a cause you first responder, publishing care about, a restaurant or MAYBE WOUNDED, weekly throughout the bar to promote, or a business pandemic. Those issues are to spotlight, contact our BUT SURELY WISER. displayed on the page adjacent editorial department. Our to this editorial column. pages are open for you.

If you have missed the weekly editions of our Don’t ever take a free gay press for granted, paper during the pandemic, they are available the way a certain Fort Lauderdale gay mayor online at www.sfgn.com. does. This paper has gotten more advertising If you want them to read in your home and for this election from his opponent then we got hand, stop by our office and pick one up. They from him. If it’s embarrassing to him, it should record our history. be.

SFGN is plugging away and here to stay.

The back-page ad of this month’s MIRROR Our paper is a small business that faced the features an ad for Joe Biden. His campaign did same challenges you did. Less income streams. not pay for it. Private backers did, even though

22

• 10 .1.2020

Norm Kent. Photo via Facebook.

the Biden campaign has received 10 million dollars to spend on media buys in Florida.

To date, in fact, SFGN has gotten more money from the Log Cabin Republicans then we have from Biden’s buyers — or Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016. They should be ashamed of taking us for granted too.

SFGN is and will remain forever an independent, free, gay press, so please, don’t be misled by this seeming solicitation. Our principles and passion are not for sale.

A newspaper is a community forum for your voices to be heard. Out of the discussion and debate, you get to draw your own conclusions.

Render your own opinions.

SFGN hardly expects for you to agree with us all the time. Nor should we. Hell, we don’t even always agree with each other here at the paper.

But by all means, let us know what you think.

SFGN’s mission is simply to do the reporting.

Faithfully. Factually. We don’t control what happens. We report on what does. We don’t deliver fake news. We expose the fakes. That’s our job, and we take it seriously.

We are not here to just pat community leaders and public officials on the back. We will

praise them for their good deeds and hold them accountable for their bad decisions.

You don’t get pleasure in publishing an article that a respected attorney has become a common crook. But even if he spent a hundred thousand dollars advertising in this newspaper over 10 years, it does not give him a right to steal half a million dollars from his clients in one.

You have to write about it.

This is our 10th anniversary year. Over 550 issues. Over 25,000 pages of print and thousands of articles. Controversy. Celebration.

Parades and Funerals. Love and Loss. That’s a community.

Online and in print, SFGN is by your side, through thick and thin. That’s who we are.

That’s what we do.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Norm Kent Publisher

THROUGH STORM AND STRIFE SFGN IS BY YOUR SIDE Advertising Opportunities Call 954-530-4970

10 .1. 20 20 •

23

LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

WILL LOVE GET US THROUGH THIS MESS? Brian McNaught

Photo via Pixabay.

T

his feels like the Universe’s big exam before many of us graduate to the next level of awareness.

We’re worn down, antsy, more than a bit depressed by the COVID containment. The majority of us didn’t vote for Trump the first time, are horrified by his Presidency, and look anxiously at the upcoming election.

He behaves despicably, as do many of his followers, and the possibility of four more years of having our values trampled upon is totally disheartening.

Some of us can’t breathe because of the smoke in the air.

Others are without electricity because of the storm. What’s happening to our planet?

Then, a champion, the protective lioness, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, dies.

Before we’ve had the chance to digest the news, the Republican head of the Senate announces he’ll ensure that Trump’s nominee to fill the seat is voted on before the end of his term.

“Wait. Wait!” we think. “That’s hypocrisy.

That’s not what you did when Obama was president.” He doesn’t care. Neither do the needed majority of Republican senators.

“My party, right or wrong, my party.”

We prepare ourselves, to the best of our ability, for the emotional roller coaster of the confirmation hearings, and of the election, the latter of which might drag on for days, weeks, and maybe months. Every email asks us for money.

We walk and drive by Trump flags, signs, hats and masks.

We want to scream, “Are you insane?”

So, what do we do? How do we respond to the challenges that keep coming up, one after another, during this most difficult time? What’s the correct answer to the examination?

“Love, and do what you will,” St. Augustine.

What does that mean? I think it means, if you love the Universe/God/the Creator with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind, and if you love your neighbor as you love yourself, your thoughts, words and deeds will follow accordingly.

“Love and do as you will” is a kick-ass imperative. I’ve asked for guidance from God my whole life, and I was, and am, a powerful human and spiritual warrior who, as a young man, took on the Catholic Church, went on a hunger strike,

SO, WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES THAT KEEP COMING UP, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, DURING THIS MOST DIFFICULT TIME?

24

• 10 .1.2020

guided the Mayor of Boston, created the initial Massachusetts response to AIDS, and helped transform the workplace globally. Don’t imagine that love makes us soft.

Love is an action verb. It allows for many possibilities, as long as the sincere intent is love. I choose to love with social action toward equality. I walked picket lines, participated in sitins, marched on Washington, wrote editorials for magazines and newspapers, put out a gay newspaper, wrote letters to the editor, hosted fundraisers, provided secret refuge for the victimized, hosted dinner for people with AIDS when no one would touch them, and counseled closeted bishops and politicians.

I have never not voted. I have never not spoken up. Love wouldn’t allow it.

Why resort to violence when love always wins? Always.

Love is ending the “isms” that make us separate. It ends wars. It is much harder to bring love to a political rally than it is a loaded gun, but it’s a much more powerful weapon.

Was Gandhi powerful? Successful? What about Nelson Mandela? Rosa Parks?

We, who choose to love, may lose battles, but never the war. Maybe we don’t see monumental success in our lifetimes, but we have helped build and fortify an army of lovers who will continue to hunger and thirst for the sake of justice, for freedom, for peace.

Choosing to do battle with ignorance, hatred, envy, fear, and greed calls for constant vigilance. We daily look for opportunities to make a difference. We step forward. Get involved.

Am I frightened? You bet I am. I’m scared, doubtful, angry, hurt, confused, and distracted. I think about running away, leaving the mess, isolating. But, my mind and heart are not newcomers to battle. I allow myself to be human. And, then, I am reminded by every fiber in my being that I am simply an instrument of God, and God is love.

See the big picture. These dramas are short scenes in the full story that is long from being over. We have roles to play.

We’re not actors but actors.

So act, sticking to the script to love.

Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The Godfather of gay diversity training.”

DUE TO COVID-19, CLERGY ASK THAT YOU STAY SAFE AT HOME. PLEASE WATCH SERVICES ON FACEBOOK AND/OR ONLINE. FIND DETAILS ON HOW TO WATCH ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGES AND WEBSITES. THANK YOU AND BE WELL!

Our holiday cycle began with a New Year and ends with Sukkot, an ancient harvest holiday that reminds us Those who sow in tears will reap in joy! It is a call for us to join together as neighbors.

Our sukkah will be up from 5-7pm on Sunday, Oct.4th, on the Pride Center campus, rear building

Stop by and say hello, neighbor!

Shabbat service Friday 8pm on our Facebook Page

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 s. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www,churchofoursaviormcc.org

SPIRITUALITY

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM

Until further notice: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, 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!

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 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors 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

10 .1. 20 20 •

25

LIFESTYLE photos

STAYING TRUE IN THE

FIGHT FOR BLUE ACTIVISTS IN FORT LAUDERDALE HAVE CONTINUED THEIR REGULAR DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE INFAMOUS CORNERS OF E. OAKLAND PARK BLVD. AND FEDERAL HWY. THE GROUP REGULARLY CONVENES TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR BIDEN AND HARRIS IN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Photos by Yariel Valdes Gonzalez

TO SEE MANY MORE PHOTOS, VISIT SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS ON FACEBOOK. 26

• 10 .1.2020

LGBT HISTORY

The Criminal Defense law CenTer of souTh floriDa

MONTH

SFGN TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-NEWSPAPER October marks LGBT History Month, which started in 1994 by a Missouri high school teacher, Rodney Wilson. Wilson sought out other teachers and community leaders for his effort and they chose October because school was in session and it coincided with National Coming Out Day on October 11.

Soon enough LGBT History Month was endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay ad Lesbian Task Force, and the National Education Association. In 2006 Equality Forum took over the responsibility for providing content, promotion and resources for the month, including the website LGBThistorymonth.com which features a different LGBT icon each day in October.

SFGN will be participating, along with two dozen other LGBT publications around the country, in a special history project

HISTORY PROJEC T

spearheaded by the Philadelphia Gay News throughout October.

SFGN will contribute two pieces this year to the project – one of which will be a look at the gay history of Miami’s Vizcaya, home of the legendary White Party. In the past we’ve explored the histories of Florida’s infamous Johns Committee and whether Addison Mizner, an iconic South Florida architect, was a gay man.

“For many years the LGBT community didn’t know it’s own history. In many cases historians tried to censor those voices from the past,” Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, has previously said.

“We’ve attempted to examine and record our history so we as a people are no longer invisible from current events to history books.

All segments of the population have a past, our’s has been invisible for too long.”

SFGN.COM/HISTORYMONTH2020

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LGBT HISTORY MONTH

JESSE’S JOURNAL

FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KIGHT (A NEW BIOGRAPHY OF MORRIS KIGHT)

Jesse Monteagudo

I

met Morris Kight (1919-2003) in 1978.

That year, Kight came to Miami to serve as Grand Marshal in the annual Pride Parade. Since the Pride Committee did not have money to entertain its guests, I ended up driving Kight, his Co-Grand Marshal Rev. Lucia Chappelle, and Pride Chair Rev. Joseph Gilbert to Fort Lauderdale, where my lover Stephen Jerome made dinner.

Alas, dinner with “the most famous gay in America” (Gilbert’s phrase) was a disaster due to Jerome’s inability to keep his mouth shut, which only managed to drive the great man out of the room.

During the early decades of the LGBT movement (1950-1980) our community was headed by a remarkable group of leaders; men and women who combined great courage, determination and more than a touch of narcissism. One needed a large amount of selfesteem to represent the gay community at a time when homosexuality was thought by most to be a mental illness, a sin, and a crime; and when most queers hid in the closet.

High among those individuals was Morris Kight. In 1957 the Texas-born Kight moved to Los Angeles, where he made a name for himself by assisting gay youth with financial, heath or legal problems. In the ‘60s he played a leadership role opposing the Vietnam War and, after Stonewall, fighting for gay liberation. Kight’s resumé is quite remarkable.

He founded or co-founded the Gay Liberation Front of Los Angeles (1969); Christopher Street West (L.A.’s Pride Committee) (1970); the Gay Community Services Center of Los Angeles (1971); and Asian/Pacific Lesbian/ Gays (1980), just to name a few. Indeed, one could write a history of the LGBT movement in Los Angeles during the second half of the last century around the activities of Morris Kight. A personality as vast as Kight was deserves a biography, and he finally has one.

Mary Ann Cherry, who knew Kight during his last decade of life, has written a fascinating life of one our greatest leaders. “Morris Kight: Humanist, Liberationist, Fantabulist - A Story of Gay Rights and Gay Wrongs” (Process Media Publication $22.95) is to L.A. what Randy Shilts’s The Mayor of Castro Street was to San Francisco; only Castro’s history ended abruptly in 1978 when its subject Harvey Milk was assassinated. Kight’s story moves forward, from the dark days of anti-gay violence and police brutality against lesbians and homosexuals to the “heroic age” of queer liberation (1969-73) to the AIDS epidemic and beyond. All the great names are here: Harry Hay, Jim Kepner, Don Slater, Troy Perry, Pat Rocco, Joseph Hansen, Don Kilhefner, Jon Platania; and even Milk makes a cameo appearance. Above all there was Kight; always convinced of his own greatness and that of the community that he loved.

Morris Kight, based on interviews with Kight’s friends and foes living or dead, is clearly a labor of love. Though Cherry obviously admires Kight, she is careful to note the great man’s faults, primarily his “boundless ego.”

Cherry calls him a “fantabulist,” which the dictionary defines as “a person who benignly imagines or invents wonderful, but untrue, aspects of their character or history.” Kight’s narcissism was a turn-off for many people, especially lesser figures like Advocate publisher David Goodstein.

However, if anyone in the movement had a right to be vain, it was Kight. Younger activists who came out after Stonewall admired the avuncular Mr. Kight, who was fighting the good fight when they were still in their diapers.

The LGBT community showered him with well-deserved honors, most notably a Chinese magnolia tree that the City of West Hollywood dedicated to “the Venerable Morris Kight.”

The plaque is still there, for all too see.

Human-rights activist Morris Kight in Los Angeles, 2002. Portrait by Henning von Berg.

MORRIS KIGHT, BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH KIGHT’S FRIENDS AND FOES LIVING OR DEAD, IS CLEARLY A LABOR OF LOVE.

28

• 10 .1.2020

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist.

He has been an active member of South Florida's LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations.

HISTORY MONTH THE 1953 GAY RAID IN WACO

By Brandon Wolf On Saturday, April 11, 1953, nearly 70 gay men packed into a small four-room house at 2117 South 19th Street in Waco, Texas, about ten blocks from Baylor University. David Owen, a ministerial student at the Baptist school, had invited the men to attend the gathering, which was billed as an “interstate convention” that would culminate in a mock wedding ceremony for two men, one of whom would dress in drag as the bride.

READ MORE AT SFGN.COM/HISTORYMONTH2020

PRESS A, BE GAY

LGBT REPRESENTATION IN VIDEO GAMES

By Jason Villemez In the 2014 Playstation 4 game “Dragon Age: Inquisition,” Dorian is a powerful wizard who helps the main character save the world from a demon army. As the son of a powerful political family, Dorian trained in magical arts under the best instructors, and his life at first glance appears to be one of privilege. When interacting with the main character — controlled by the player — Dorian is unafraid to flaunt his pedigree and does little to hide his arrogance. He is also a romantic option for the main character to pursue, providing the player makes strategic, personal, and political choices that please him.

Amidst all the intrigue, there’s a pleasant catch: Dorian will only kiss a man. He’ll only be with a man. He’ll only marry a man.

READ MORE AT SFGN.COM/HISTORYMONTH2020

Join SFGN during October for LGBT History Month and see where it all began for our community...

It’s our past, you deserve to know about it.

SFGN.COM/HISTORYMONTH2020 10 .1. 20 20 •

29

CHANGE OF LIFE LIFESTYLE FOOD

Here are just some of the changes that might become permanent Rick Karlin

E

ven after we go back to sense of normalcy, the COVID crisis will have changed the way we dine out forever.

Some of these changes are long overdue. Who thought allowing customers to refill their own drinks was a good idea? Think about it. Someone has had their mouth on the glass that they’re then going press against the dispenser.

There are plenty more changes to the dining landscape. The Microsoft News website recently ran an article highlighting some things that we’ll probably never see again, even after restaurants return to “normal” operations. Among some of the highlights of the article: Say goodbye to pre-set tables. In pre-COVID times, most restaurants would pre-set every setting at an open table, so it was ready and waiting for diners.

Drink garnishes are a thing of the past. Too much handson touching goes into prepping and placing those slices of fruit, so most restaurants are likely to opt-out of the risk.

Unwrapped straws, it seems like a bit of a dubious practice, even if it’s just the bartender who’s repeatedly reaching into the supply.

Tabletop condiments, instead of bottles of catsup and mustard, expect to see individually packaged or individual servings of your favorite sauces and dips.

Standard menus will give way to disposable models or QR available apps. If you’re noticing a pattern here, it’s that most things that end up being touched over and over by different patrons are being eliminated.

Shared tables will no longer be viable and I for one couldn’t be happier. I prefer to choose with whom I want to spend my evening.

Bins of cutlery at casual restaurants. This

is another change that’s for the better. The containers holding that cutlery were breeding grounds for bacteria and allowed anyone to touch something you were going to put in your mouth.

Napkin dispensers will disappear or at least be replaced by the pop-up variety.

Waitstaff filling water from pitchers. I admit, this one surprised me. I never considered the fact that those water pitchers often used to touch the water inside the glass from which the diners had sipped. Gross!

Self-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt machines. I stopped using these years ago when, on a cruise, I saw a kid eating directly from the machine.

The article also strongly argued that this would be the end of all-you-can-eat buffets and salad bars. I doubt that will happen. People love the allyou-can-eat concept, so it won’t disappear. You may see a change in format.

In Chicago, many sushi restaurants had an all-you-can-eat option. Diners ordered from a special menu, limit of three items per order. As long as they finished what was on their plate, they could reorder as many times as they liked. We may see this practice being implemented in more places.

As in nature, it will be survival of the fittest and the restaurants that learn how to adapt will manage to live to serve another day.

STANDARD MENUS WILL GIVE WAY TO DISPOSABLE MODELS OR QR AVAILABLE APPS.

30

• 10 .1.2020

Photo via PxHere.

Restaurants aren’t the only places learning how to adapt to the new normal.

Hunter’s, one of Wilton Manors’ most popular clubs, has transformed itself into a supper club of sorts. You’ll now find the dance floor is home to bistro tables, appropriately distanced. And in addition to cocktails you now can (and must) order food.

Mark, the socially minded owner of Hunters, offers menu items provided by local eateries. In addition to Hunter’s own dishes, including Patrick’s all beef wiener, you can also enjoy Bubbles & Pearls’ shrimp cocktail, Bona’s antipasto plate, and Le Patio’s house-made hummus, served with assorted crackers and parsley. Business has been fantastic and with reduced capacity you can expect a wait for a table, unless you arrive early.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD!

Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor.

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

A&E BOOKS

MIAMI BEACH AUTHOR OFFERS HINTS ON ‘HOW TO BE F***ABLE AT 90’ J.W. Arnold

P

rolific nonagenarian author, actor and lyricist David Leddick is not slowing down. His oeuvre ranges from a series of critically-acclaimed illustrated volumes about the male nude and steamy novels to commentary on gay culture. He wrote the authoritative guide “How to be Gay in the 21st Century” and now offers his latest title, “How to F***able at 90,” now available on Amazon.

In the introduction, Leddick recalls an encounter with renowned photographer Duane Michals at the Morgan Library in Manhattan. Michals basically equated life to energy: “What if you could see pure energy? ... In science, energy is not created or destroyed.

Here’s Duane alive, here’s Duane dead. And when you die the energy in you is transformed into another package, that’s all.”

Leddick responded, “That is how I feel about life. We are in some enormous system of energy. We enter carrying it, spend our lives using that energy. Perhaps to make this world a better place. Perhaps to make it worse.

Who knows? But in this 70, 80, 90-year visit we are on this beautiful globe, spending the time with other people. We can try to fully experience this time we spend here or we can do it a bit and then just sit about not using the life energy most of the time we are here.”

The longtime Miami Beach resident said he awoke one morning soon after with the inspiration for the book.

“I must write something about what it is like to be approaching 90 years old. Everyone is living to be so much older. They need advice as to what is ahead of them. From someone who has been there. So they will know what to expect. What they can do to fight off what the world thinks being ninety is like,” he wrote.

Leddick started with a daily diary. He figured that even with a page or two on occasional days, it would only take six months to get enough thoughts down on paper to complete a book. He also compiled a series of questions for readers to ponder. Ever compassionate for those who might overthink their responses, Leddick tested the questions on a mixed group of friends and included their responses as a touchpoint.

Leddick’s goal was not to recreate “The Joy of Sex” for gay seniors, but rather to demonstrate that sexual attraction is an

and

Prolific local author David Leddick has released his latest book, “How to be F***able at 90.”

Credit: David Leddick.

evolving — and optimistic — mindset, as well as a physical act.

“Admit it. Your waistline may have expanded. Your memory may have shrunk.

But sex is still of interest. You thought it might fade, but it hasn’t no matter how much you may have explored such activities as meditation or yoga,” he wrote in the first entry, adding, “…you may have been thinking about your sex life in terms of how it has been in previous years. This you must forget and move on. You may be attracting others and have no idea that you are. These others may be a good bit younger than you are. They may be of some other race. They may be of the same sex. They may be very much involved with someone else and thinking about you as a tempting addition to their private life.”

Now that the book is available for purchase, Leddick again draws on the Duane Michals metaphor.

“This book is to encourage you to not just sit about. Now that more and more people are somehow having more and more years to spend on this ‘energy’ visit, shouldn’t we try to make our interactions with those around us as meaningful as possible? Shouldn’t we feel and interact with the world around us as much as possible?” he concluded.

“How to be F***able at 90” by David Leddick is available for $11.95 in paperback or $3.99 for Kindle/e-reader at Amazon.com.

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