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Rainbow Railroad’s New Campaign helps LGBT people escape dangerous areas Tucker Berardi
T
he Rainbow Railroad, an international charitable organization, has just launched the #HelpOthersOut campaign — a social media initiative that will raise public awareness alongside life-saving funds for LGBT people who face persecution, violence, and the threat of death in any countries around the world where it is still considered a criminal offense to be LGBT. In almost 70 countries it is a crime to be LGBT, and in 11 of those countries members of the LGBT community can even be sentenced to death, and their route to escape the country often isn’t easy. “Everything is being done so that they can’t flee the country,” said Igor Kochetkov, an LGBT group leader in Chechnya where individuals were detained for being gay. “It is very bad for use because it makes out work much more difficult in terms of evacuation.” The Rainbow Railroad’s campaign comes out in recognition of Coming Out Day (October 11), which is an annual celebration of LGBT people who can safely come out as their authentic selves. The campaign encourages people on social media to change their profile picture to the ‘anonymous avatar’ in order to symbolize the countless LGBT people for whom it remains impossible to come out due to the threat of violence, persecution and even death in some countries. The #HelpOthersOut campaign will also feature stories of LGBT individuals who faced threats of violence or persecution.
1 0 .16.2019
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evacuation, relocation, and other associated costs for LGBT people in imminent danger. “Right now, countless LGBTQI people are forced to suffer in silence due to hateful laws that make them the target of state-sanctioned violence, persecution, and even death,” Rainbow Railroad Executive Director Kimahli Powell said. She continued, “It’s up to each of us to ‘Help Others Out’ by calling attention to the many countries around the world that puts a target on the backs of their LGBTQI citizens. Coming out is one of the most powerful ways LGBTQI people can change hearts and minds — this Coming Out Day we celebrate those who can safely be who they are, while we remember and fight for those who are forced to live in hiding.” Supporters are being encouraged to share messages on social media of support for LGBT people living in the darkness of danger.
Cover: A man poised with a rainbow flag in front of the Supreme Court. Photo credit: Ted Eytan, via Flickr.
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10.16.2019 •
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NEWS state
Judge Overturns Ban on Conversion Therapy in Tampa The ruling could be a harbinger of bad news for the LGBT community going forward Jason Parsley
E
arlier this year LGBT rights activists were dealt a blow when a federal magistrate recommended overturning Tampa’s ban on conversion therapy for minors.
But activists like Rand Hoch, a retired be LGBTQ to harmful ‘talk therapy’ practices judge and president of the Palm Beach by professionals licensed by the State of Human Rights Council, were hopeful the Florida. I fear for the wellbeing of these judge would ignore the recommendation. children. U.S. District Judge William Jung, a Trump Meanwhile Sansone had based her appointee, recently reached the same reasoning on First Amendment grounds. conclusion as U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda Regardless the Tampa decision will not Sansone did, but for a different reason. affect South Florida because the geographic “If there is any good news to come out of areas are in two different districts. the ruling, it is that Judge Additionally a judge in Palm Jung’s order is based only Beach County earlier this on one narrow legal issue -year upheld the local bans whether or not Florida law prohibiting conversion preempts the City of Tampa therapy on minors in Palm from enacting a conversion Beach County.” therapy ban,” Hoch said. “...the Court concludes “The ruling was not based that Defendants have on First Amendment issues. identified a compelling So, if the Tampa case ever is interest in protecting the heard by the U.S. Supreme safety and welfare of minors. Court, the ruling will not be Protecting minors may be as harmful had it could have the paradigm example of a been to our community.” compelling interest,” Judge Jung wrote in his 41 page Robin Rosenberg wrote ruling: “The city’s ordinance at the time. “Defendants creates a danger of conflict have pointed to and relied - Rand Hoch with the legislature’s broad upon extensive credible President of PBCHRC program for the healing evidence of the damage that arts in Florida. The strong conversion therapy inflicts. policy reasons for a statewide, uniform This body of information comes from wellsystem of substantive healthcare regulation known research organizations and subject and discipline are clear, as is the legislature’s matter experts.” intent for same.” Rulings like this could become more Hoch said it was a sad day for the LGBT commonplace though if President Trump community in Tampa. continues to appoint conservative judges to “As a result of the ruling in the Tampa the bench. conversion therapy case, it is a very bad day “A ruling like this underscores the dangers for LGBTQ kids in the City of Tampa,” Hoch LGBTQ people face when conservative judges said. “Narrow minded parents in Tampa can are appointed, which has been a major goal continue to subject children they perceive to of the far right and a tactic of the Trump
“As a result of the ruling in the Tampa conversion therapy case, it is a very bad day for LGBTQ kids in the City of Tampa.”
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Downtown Tampa. Photo credit: Antoine Gady, via Flickr.
administration,” said Brandon Wolf, Media Relations Manager for Equality Florida. “It’s one more reason elections matter and it’s one more reason we have to demand Tallahassee takes action to protect our community.” The South Florida lawsuit against the bans was brought by two therapists, Julie Hamilton and Robert Otto. They’re being represented by Liberty Council — a Southern Poverty Law Center designated hate group. Liberty Counsel’s main argument was that conversion therapy bans violated their clients’ free speech rights. Hoch pushed back on that argument. “For the time being, young LGBTQ people in Palm Beach County will remain safe from the psychological abuse caused by a handful of quacks who would like to resume practicing conversion therapy here,” Hoch said earlier this year. The two local bans in Palm Beach County were spearheaded by PBCHRC. Earlier this year the Liberty Council told the Palm Beach Post they’ve already appealed the decision to 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mathew Staver, Liberty Council attorney,
told the Post: “I think [Judge Rosenberg is] flat-out wrong, with all due respect to the court.” Conversion therapy is also known at “reparative therapy” or “sexual orientation change efforts” (SOCE). The practice has been rejected by every major professional health organization in the U.S. including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Psychiatric Association. “[The Tampa ruling] is a dangerous decision that puts some of our most vulnerable young people at risk,” said Jon Harris Maurer, Equality Florida’s Director of Public Policy. “The decision stands completely alone in its reasoning. Regardless of this decision, experts agree that conversion therapy is a dangerous and sometimes deadly practice, and we know it is still routinely practiced on children and teens in Florida. We support the City of Tampa’s leadership in protecting minors, and the Florida Legislature can and should also act immediately to protect children from this fraudulent practice.”
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What is BIKTARVY®? BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about BIKTARVY? BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects: } Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking BIKTARVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
Who should not take BIKTARVY? Do not take BIKTARVY if you take: } dofetilide } rifampin } any other medicines to treat HIV-1
What are the other possible side effects of BIKTARVY? Serious side effects of BIKTARVY may also include: } Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. } Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. } Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. } Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (5%), and headache (5%). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking BIKTARVY? } All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. } All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements. BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all of your other medicines. } If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. } If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/ medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the following page.
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NEWS national
Fighting HIV In
Latinx Communities October 15 marked National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day Denise Royal
O
ctober 15 is National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day. It is an excellent time to look at the challenges Latinos and undocumented immigrants in Florida face with HIV/AIDS. Despite the great strides made in fighting the HIV epidemic, the ongoing health crisis still disproportionately affects the Latinx community at a much higher rate. “National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day is important because Hispanics are like Latin X people represent 18% of the U.S. population that they are 26% actually of all new HIV diagnoses,” said Robin Lewy, Director of Programming, Rural Women’s Health Project. “That, to me, is staggering because I think that reflects a slow movement in recognition of the impact of HIV amongst our people. I think historically, we focus only on white gay men, then we only focus on black gay men or MSMs, and we forget that HIV can attack any of us.”
Latino, or Hispanic,” Lewy said. “They’re Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, that’s who they are. They are not Latinx. Latinx is a fancy way of siloing people. And my concern has been that the siloing is what allows epidemics to break out in new areas. Many of the people that we work with are immigrants. So we’re not just talking about like, the Latino population on South Beach, we are talking about immigrants, who are new arrivals, with great challenges because of documentation, and lack of awareness of protocols.” Understanding everyone is at risk for HIV is a small part Here are some relevant statistics: of the work performed by the Rural Women’s Health Project Photo via Rural Women’s Health Project, Facebook. (RWHP). The organization works with many immigrants in • Latinx people represent 18% of the U.S. population, but rural areas. 26% of all HIV infections. (Avert – Global Information on “I can tell you that in rural areas, whether you’re in Southern people find medical homes,” Lewy said. “We believe that HIV/AIDS) Florida or Northern Florida, there’s a lack of testing in those medical care should be between an individual and their • Approximately 1 in 6 Latinx people living communities. People want to test the LGBTQ provider. We’re thrilled doing health education and access with HIV are unaware they have HIV due to a community versus the general population. You to care. But we believe that once we get people, that’s where Because men lack of education about the disease or testing can’t judge a book by a cover, right? So we don’t their education should happen. That’s where good health care resources. (Centers for Disease Control) know what people do privately. We know that should take place. So if you’re an immigrant and if you are are more likely • From 2005 to 2014, Latinx men who have of us have the same probability of becoming undocumented, you’re very limited in where you can access to contract HIV all sex with men (MSM) saw a 24% increase in infected if we’re not informed if we’re not taking care. And first of all, you’re just mortified. I mean, you’re just than women, new HIV diagnoses while white MSM saw an precautions and if we’re not proactive.” afraid to access care because of fears of deportation at the 18% decline. (NPR, 2/25/16) Because men are more likely to contract HIV political moment.” they are tested RWHP works with funding from Gilead to reduce the HIV more often. That than women, they are tested more often. That In Florida, the numbers are even more leads to women being under-tested, and in many epidemic. It employs women living with HIV to become leads to women cases, not tested at all. sobering. The rate of new HIV infections among community health workers. being underHispanics is rising. According to the Florida “The least amount of testing is done amongst “They’re not just community health workers about HIV; Department of Health: women in the United States,” Lewy said. “In our they’re just community health workers,” Lewy said. “We’re tested, and in those who are white have to fight to be there to link them to care. We hold people’s hands and if it’s many cases, not area, • 24% of persons living with an HIV diagnosis tested for HIV. If you’re black, they test you right not health care that they’re worried about at that moment, tested at all. in Florida in 2018 were Hispanic/Latino away. If you’re Latino, they don’t even ask you but they’re about to be evicted, we work with them in order • 34% of persons who received an HIV because they don’t have translators.“ to figure out their housing situation because if that’s not diagnosis in Florida in 2018 were Hispanic/Latino. Beyond gender issues, money is the great equalizer when it stabilized, again, they’re at higher risk for doing what they • 24% of persons who received an AIDS diagnosis in comes to having access to adequate health care. Monthly HIV need to survive, which could put them at risk for HIV. So this Florida in 2018 were Hispanic/Latino treatment regimens range from $2,000 to $5,000 — much approach does two things. One, we’re working to build the of it for drugs. The CDC estimates about half of the people skills and the future, opportunities for women living with HIV, When it comes to turning the tide on new infections, diagnosed with HIV in the U.S. don’t receive regular health which are limited in rural areas. The second is we’re going knowing the complexity of the Latinx community is vital. care. Of those who do, less than half receive Medicaid, and into rural communities, and we’re making sure that people Hispanics/Latinos now make up almost 1 in 4 Floridians. about a quarter are uninsured. are getting linked to the care that we believe helps to diminish That’s up from 1 in 6 a decade ago. “One of the things that the RWHP focuses on is helping their risk.” Latino Floridians have roots in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, and many other countries. You can learn more about the RWHP here: www.facebook.com/rwhporg “The communities I serve don’t consider themselves Latinx,
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10.16.2019 •
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NEWS NATIONAL
CNN’s LGBT Town Hall Historic but Filled With A Lot of Unexpected Drama Lisa Keen
Keen News Service
T
he bar had been set pretty high for CNN’s Oct. 10 town hall on LGBT issues for Democratic presidential candidates. It was the first national television broadcast by a major media outlet of an LGBT-specific discussion with presidential candidates. It was preceded just one month earlier by a very similar event with most of the same candidates answering many of the same questions. And it was scheduled to take place over the course of four-and-a-half hours: nine candidates, 30 minutes each. While it is sometimes informative to hear a candidate answer the same question in a different forum from time to time, the CNN event, sponsored with the Human Rights Campaign, appeared to be structured toward a purpose other than getting the candidates’ responses. The real purpose of the night seemed to be one of public education. Over the course of the event, more than 50 members of the LGBT community –male, female, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, students, professionals, activists, health care workers, military veterans, and even two elementary school children— told their stories and asked their questions. There was the husband of the parachuting instructor whose Title VII case had been
Elizabeth Warren Photo: CNN.
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argued earlier in the week before the U.S. Supreme Court. The mother of a young man, Matthew Shepard, who had been beaten to death in Wyoming. A gay man who had survived the gun massacre at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. And CNN moderator Anderson Cooper, who acknowledged that he and other LGBT people “just like me” had been “forced to live in silence for decades” for fear of losing jobs or suffering harassment. And there was Democratic presidential hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the openly gay candidate who has been criticized in a few mainstream media of being both “Mary Pete” and too straight-looking. One audience member, Robby Goldman, a doctoral candidate from Illinois, noted that members of the LGBT community are not a monolith but that Buttigieg had faced questions about whether he could adequately represent the community. “I, too, am not always the right kind of gay,” said Goldman, who then asked Buttigieg how he would go about representing the community. Buttigieg agreed there is “much diversity” within the LGBT community and that he is “very mindful” of the limitations imposed on him by his experience as a “white cisgendered gay man.” But, he added, “diversity
Photo: CNN.
is what we have to offer” and “there is no right or wrong way to be gay….” Buttigieg, the first openly gay presidential candidate for a major party nomination to have garnered a large amount of support beyond the LGBT community, was greeted at the town hall by a prolonged, enthusiastic standing ovation. But so was current frontrunner, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Warren had her touching moment during the event when a nine-year-old transgender boy from her home state asked a question. Jacob LeMay was one of two young transgender students to pose questions at the town hall. Both were accompanied by their mothers, and Jacob posed the twoferquestion himself: “What will you do in your first week as president to make sure kids like me feel safe in schools? And what do you think schools need to do better so I don’t need to worry about anything but my homework?” Warren answered that she wanted to appoint a Secretary of Education who would care about all kids and enforce civil rights
laws to protect them. She started to lay out the history of the Secretary’s position but then seemed to change course. “And here’s my plan, Jacob,” she said. “I’m going to find just the right Secretary of Education, but here’s what I plan to do. I want to make sure that the person I think is the best Secretary of Education meets you and hears your story and then I want you to tell me if you think that’s the right person and then we’ll make the deal.” It was an unabashed one-on-one pander by the former schoolteacher who has clearly not forgotten how to talk, with respect, to children. It was also a powerful image for the American public to see: that the victims of anti-LGBT discrimination include children. Shortly after that interaction, CNN moderate Chris Cuomo noted that, in 2012, Warren criticized the idea of prisons providing surgery for transgender-related medical needs. He asked if she regretted taking that position. “Yes, it was a bad answer,” said Warren. “Everyone is entitled to medical care that
NEWS NATIONAL they need, including transgender people.” The viewing public also got to see the unfiltered anger of black trans women, a demographic that has increasingly become a target for people who harbor anti-LGBT hostility. Trans activists of color interrupted the forum several times to draw attention to the growing number of murders of trans women in the United States. CNN moderators Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon both enabled the activists to speak their minds to the studio and television audience before resuming their interviews with the candidates. Other highlights of the forum included: -U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey related the struggle of transgender people to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity to segregated facilities, including bathrooms, for people of color. He also said laws “cannot allow people to use religion as a justification for discrimination.” - Former Vice President Joe Biden shared a laugh with the audience for his choice of words when he started to tell the story of publicly revealing his support for letting same-sex couples marry. “When I came out,” he said, then immediately realized his choice of words had a double meaning and tried to change it to “when I publicly stated…” The audience laughed, and Biden laughed with it. “That would be news,” quipped moderator Anderson Cooper. Biden, smiling, walked over to him, put his hand on Cooper’s shoulder and joked, “I got something to tell ya.” -Asked what he says to people who tell him homosexuality is a sin, Buttigieg said, “I don’t believe it is, but I also get that people reach their own understandings of their own faith.” He said his goal is not to
Thirteen Years Serving the CommUNITY respond in a way that pushes such people “back into the arms of the religious right” but to encourage them toward “greater acceptance.” -One audience member, noting that teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in the schools was often controversial, asked Warren for her thoughts. Warren said she supports such curricula because “it’s teaching children about our world, about people, about differences.” “I strongly support…doing it in age appropriate ways when very young.” Prior to the Oct. 10 forum, several of the Democratic presidential candidates released plans for addressing a wide range of LGBT issues. U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, for instance, said she would appoint a “Chief Advocate for LGBTQ+ Affairs” at the White House, fund a “new office” to work with the community in conjunction with various federal agencies, and appoint openly LGBT people to positions throughout her administration, “including her cabinet.” Harris and Buttigieg have been jostling for position in the polling for the Democratic nomination, but campaign news in recent days have suggested there may be some new jostling underway. In four of the last six national polls, Senator Warren has led the Democratic field, dropping Vice President Biden to second place and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders to third. Sanders, 78, recently suffered a heart attack and the sudden loss of his daughterin-law to a fast-moving cancer. He said he would resume campaigning, but his poll numbers had begun to drop even before the heart attack. Biden, meanwhile, has become a nearly constant target of President Trump in a controversy involving Ukraine.
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NEWS NATIONAL
Supreme Court analysis A look at the probabilities in the Title VII rulings Lisa Keen
Keen News Service
U
.S. Supreme Court observers are more reluctant than usual to try and predict how the court might come down on the always hotbutton issue of rights for LGBT people. There is a newly minted conservative majority on the court since the last LGBT case was heard and, this time, the bench’s reliable swing vote in favor of equal protection –Justice Anthony Kennedy—is in retirement. So it is no surprise that post-argument a woman in a same-sex relationship. He said analysis by many Supreme Court observers the bathroom issue was a “huge problem.” this week sees a toss-up: It is simply too hard He worried about how the law would to predict how the court will rule on whether handle employers with religious objections sexual orientation and transgender status are to gay people. And he essentially said that variations of sex discrimination and, thus, transgender status was a “whole different case” prohibited in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of and a “different answer” than discrimination 1964. based on biological sex. But it is possible to narrow down the In the past 11 cases which had significant prospects. This can be done by looking at each specific interest to the rights of LGBT people, individual justice -- what they Roberts voted against such said during the Oct. 8 arguments, rights 55 percent of the time (in “There’s nothing six cases). A notable exception how they voted in past LGBT matters, and relevant remarks in the record as was Hollingsworth v. Perry, they have made in past opinions. Chief Roberts led the 5 far as I can see where Combined, the information to 4 majority that dismissed an points to some probabilities. that there was appeal brought by proponents The court must make two California’s Proposition 8 –a a policy on the of rulings: Whether Title VII proposition which had banned employer’s part same-sex couples from marriage. prohibition of employment discrimination “because of sex” of discharging But as some observers noted, the can cover sexual orientation. And could have struck down lesbian women.” majority whether it can cover transgender such bans in all 50 states, but it status. did not. - Justice Ruth A “No” means the justice rules On a technicality, it struck the Bader Ginsburg against LGBT people and finds ban only in California. And in his that Title VII does not prohibit opinion, Roberts emphasized discrimination based on sexual orientation or that he sees as “an essential limit” on the transgender status. A “Yes” means the justice court’s power: “we act as judges, and do not rules for LGBT people and protecting them engage in policymaking properly left to elected from employment discrimination under Title representatives. National Center for Lesbian VII. Rights legal director Shannon Minter said, at least on the transgender case, Roberts is Chief Justice John Roberts: “plainly not on board.”
Strong Probable No
During oral argument, Chief Roberts gave voice to the idea that the Title VII challenges were asking the court to “update” the federal law to include sexual orientation. This, he said, seemed more like a responsibility for Congress. He also wondered why it would be sex discrimination to fire a man in a same-sex relationship if the employer would also fire
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Justice Clarence Thomas: Almost certain No Justice Thomas is famous for almost never speaking or asking questions during oral arguments, so his silence Oct. 8 was simply routine. Plus, he had missed the first day of the session (October 7) due to illness. In the past 15 LGBT-specific cases Thomas
has voted on, he has opposed equal rights for LGBT people 13 times (87 percent opposed). Of all the justices on the bench today, his record is the most consistently opposed to the interests of LGBT people.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Almost certain Yes During oral argument, Justice Ginsburg was the fourth most active questioner, and her questions and comments were pointedly helpful to the attorneys arguing in favor of Title VII covering discrimination based on sexual orientation and transgender status. She prompted attorney Pamela Karlan (who was representing two men fired for being gay) to address the chief arguments of those who want to limit the reach of Title VII—including that Congress never intended, when it passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, to cover sexual orientation. She undercut the opposing side’s claim that firing a male employee for being gay would not be sex discrimination because the employer would fire a female employee for
being gay. As Ginsburg pointed out, “There’s nothing in the record as far as I can see that there was a policy on the employer’s part of discharging lesbian women.” And she said, in the transgender case, that “the object of Title VII was to get at the entire spectrum of sex stereotypes.” In 15 previous LGBT cases before the court, Ginsburg voted in support of equal rights for LGBT people 13 times (87 percent supportive). Her voting record is the most consistently proLGBT of any justice on the bench today.
Justice Stephen Breyer: Almost certain Yes Justice Breyer was the most vocal of the justices during the Oct. 8 oral arguments, asking questions and commenting 35 times, with the bulk of his questions aimed at challenging the opposition to Title VII covering sexual orientation and transgender status. He constructed a hypothetical for the opposition attorney Jeffrey Harris (representing the employers who fired two
NEWS NATIONAL men for being gay) that led Harris to agree that firing a Catholic for marrying a Jew was still “religious discrimination” even if the employer claimed he fired the employee because he was against interfaith marriages. Breyer said his hypothetical was “an identical case to this one.” And he dismissed opposing attorneys’ “parade of horribles” (concerning bathrooms, locker rooms, sports teams). Historically, Breyer has voted in support of equal rights for LGBT people in 11 out of 15 cases (73 percent supportive).
Justice Samuel Alito: Almost certain No During oral argument, Justice Alito’s position became immediately clear: This issue needs to be resolved by Congress. “What some people will say [if this court rules Title VII covers sexual orientation],” said Alito, “is that whether Title VII should prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a big policy issue and that it is a different policy issue from the one that Congress thought it was addressing in 1964….And if this Court takes this up and interprets this 1964 statute to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, we will be acting exactly like a legislature.” In 11 decisions involving LGBT issues, Alito has voted against the interests of LGBT people seven times (64 percent opposed). His dissent in U.S. v. Windsor (in which the majority struck down the Defense of Marriage Act) focused on there being no “right to enter into samesex marriage” because there was no explicit statement about same-sex marriage in the Constitution. “Any change on a question so fundamental should be made by the people through their elected officials.” That was essentially what he repeated during oral argument regarding sexual orientation and Title VII.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor: Almost Certain Yes on Sex Orientation only Justice Sotomayor was tied with Justice Gorsuch for second place in terms of the number of questions and comments asked by the justices Oct. 8. Perhaps anticipating that some justices would express concern about
the “social upheaval” some believe would be caused by recognizing sexual orientation and transgender status in Title VII, Sotomayor put the issue on the table very early in the argument. She said the concern about the bathroom issue was “raging in this country” and asked how the courts should deal with women who are uncomfortable with a transgender person in the bathroom. She also stated emphatically that “we can’t deny that homosexuals are being fired merely for being who they are and not because of religious reasons, not because they are performing their jobs poorly, not because they can’t do whatever is required of a position, but merely because” they are gay. “It was clear that the Justices are much less familiar with transgender people than they are with gay people,” said Minter. “And it was also clear that many of them, including even Justice Sotomayor, are still affected by many of the most common misconceptions about transgender people—including especially just a fundamental inability to believe that a transgender woman is really a woman or that a transgender man is really a man.” Sotomayor’s voting record has favored equal rights for LGBT people 9 out of 11 times (82 percent supportive).
Justice Elena Kagan: Almost certain Yes During oral argument Oct. 8, Kagan pointedly emphasized the court’s fixation on looking strictly at the text of a law, rather than other factors. “For many years,” she said, “the lodestar of this Court’s statutory interpretation has been the text of a statute, not the legislative history and certainly not the subsequent legislative history. And the text of [Title VII] appears to be pretty firmly in Ms. Karlan’s corner.” Speaking to attorney Harris, who represented the employers who fired gay men, Kagan said, “Did you discriminate against somebody…because of sex? Yes, you did.” Minter said Kagan was “very active and eloquent—and did a tremendous job of poking holes in the arguments of the government and the employer.” Kagan’s voting record on LGBT cases has been pro-LGBT six out of nine times (67 percent supportive). She surprised many in
“It was clear that the Justices are much less familiar with transgender people than they are with gay people, and it was also clear that many of them, including even Justice Sotomayor, are still affected by many of the most common misconceptions about transgender people—including especially just a fundamental inability to believe that a transgender woman is really a woman or that a transgender man is really a man.” - Shannon Minter
National Center for Lesbian Rights legal
the LGBT community last year when she voted with the majority that said a Colorado commission showed hostility to a baker’s religious beliefs against same-sex couples marrying.
Justice Neil Gorsuch: Possible on Sex Orientation; uncertain on trans
Justice Gorsuch’s performance got the lion’s share of media attention because he made a couple of comments that suggested he is on the fence. For instance, he said that, while sexual orientation discrimination may have been in play when the employers fired the men for being gay, “isn’t sex also in play here”? “And isn’t that enough?” for a Title VII violation, he asked. “The statute,” he said, “talks about a material causal factor …not the sole cause, not the proximate cause, but a cause.” Gorsuch said he was “really close” to seeing the argument that Title VII’s text should cover sexual orientation and transgender status, but he also expressed concern about what he said would be the “massive social upheaval” of such a decision. Based just on those comments, said Minter, “it would have been easy to conclude that we may well have his vote.” But the transgender discussion, said Minter, “was much tougher.” Gorsuch joined the bench in April 2017 under a cloud of controversy: Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to let then President Obama’s nominee to replace the recently deceased Justice Antonin Scalia to proceed through the confirmation process. Once President Trump took office, McConnell allowed Trump to nominate Gorsuch. During his confirmation hearing, Gorsuch evaded answering questions about his positions on LGBT legal issues, but he did say, “if you want to create a revolution in the area and change the law dramatically, that’s for [Congress] to do.” He was also criticized for an article he wrote before becoming a judge that claimed “liberals” were filing lawsuits on “everything from gay marriage to assisted suicide” to achieve their “social agenda.” In four LGBT-related cases, Gorsuch has
voted against the interests of LGBT people twice (50 percent).
Justice Brett Kavanaugh: Probable No Justice Kavanaugh is the newest member of the bench, joining in October 2018. His confirmation, too, came under a storm of controversy, after several women went public with allegations that he had sexually assaulted them in high school and college. During the two hours of arguments, Kavanaugh spoke up only once. He asked attorney Harris (representing employers), “Are you drawing a distinction between the literal meaning of ‘because of sex’ and the ordinary meaning of ‘because of sex’? And, if so, how are we supposed to think about ordinary meaning in this case?” Harris responded that he didn’t see a difference, and Kavanaugh did not offer any explanation or delve further. Title VII does not define sex, but a 1975 decision at the U.S. Supreme Court (Burns v. Alcala) said “words used in a statute are to be given their ordinary meaning absent persuasive reasons to the contrary.” In another decision four years later (Perrin v. U.S.), the court said, “A fundamental canon of statutory construction is that, unless otherwise defined, words will be interpreted as taking their ordinary, contemporary, common meaning.” Minter said a “literal” reading of the word “sex” in the statute helps LGBT people, while an “ordinary” reading would help an employer who wants to discriminate. “Justice Kavanaugh was either highlighting a potential weakness in the employer’s argument or— more likely—warning the attorney not to make an argument that would require the Court to disregard the literal text….” Disregarding the literal meaning, Minter said, “would push Justice Gorsuch to support the plaintiffs based on a strict textualist interpretation of the law.” Kavanaugh has yet to vote on an LGBT specific case before the Supreme Court. Like Gorsuch, he dodged questions about his views on LGBT issues during his confirmation process.
Kagan’s voting record on LGBT cases has been proLGBT six out of nine times (67 percent supportive).
10.16.2019 •
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NEWS miami-dade
Miami-Dade Votes to Create
LGBT Advisory Board Jason Parsley
E
arlier this month the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved the creation of an LGBTQ Advisory Board.
The initiative was sponsored by youth, seniors, people living with HIV, and Commissioner Eileen Higgins, District 5. The the transgender community, is always a part vote was unanimous. of the conversation.” SAVE, Miami-Dade’s LGBT rights “While progress has been made for the LGBTQ community, we know there is much organization, also welcomed the decision. “This is common-sense legislation that work left to be done,” Higgins said in the prepared statement. “This new board is a will continue to make Miami-Dade one of great way to have engaged residents advising the most welcoming, inclusive and diverse the County on issues that are most pressing metro areas in the world. We are thrilled to have such strong support from to our LGBTQ community. the Miami-Dade Commission For Miami-Dade, it means and Commissioner Higgins a significant impact on leadership on this issue,” economic development in our Orlando Gonzales, Executive county.” Director at SAVE, said in a According to a county press press release. release the newly created board According to Equality “will serve to address quality of Florida, they along with a life issues and propose policy slew of other local LGBT recommendations to address rights groups, have worked for social, economic, cultural, and months with Commissioner political problems facing the Higgins to pass the “landmark” LGBTQ community.” ordinance. Each county commissioner Arianna Lint, a local trans will get to appoint one board activist and founder of member, while the county Arianna’s Center, said she’s mayor will get to appoint two hopeful the new board will members. be inclusive of the trans Equality Florida, Florida’s community. She plans on statewide LGBT rights meeting with Commissioner group, applauded the county Higgins soon to discuss trans commission’s decision. - Eileen Higgins representation. “This is a turning point District 5 Commissioner “We hope to meet with the in building a stronger other commissioners so they relationship between the LGBTQ community and our county know our stories and everything about local government,” Stratton Pollitzer, Equality black and brown trans people,” she said. “We Florida’s Deputy Director, said in a press believe in the importance of our voice being release. “We are working together for a present at the conversation table. We will future where meeting the needs of the most soon see the changes and true inclusion for vulnerable in our community, including our entire community.”
“While progress has been made for the LGBTQ community, we know there is much work left to be done.”
Eileen Higgins. Photo via the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, Facebook.
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Your smile should leave a great impression!
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P A LM B E A CH Palm beach Compass datebook Raises $2,500 Art After Dark For SMART Ride Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach View an exhibition, attend a talk, participate in an art activity, enjoy a performance, concert, or film, sip cocktails, and dine in the Museum’s elegant new bar and restaurant. Free admission. Visit Norton.org. Palm Beaches Prime Timers Second Saturdays at 3 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth An active fraternal and social organization dedicated to bring together mature gay and bisexual men for friendship, activities, support, and personal growth for the best times of our lives. Free. Call 561- 533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com. STD Testing and Flu Vaccinations First Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth The Department of Health comes monthly. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com. Free Friday Concerts Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.
and
Coffee Clatch at Compass First Monday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Compass, 201 N. Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth A social group focusing on the mature LGBT+ community in Palm Beach County, providing a relaxed environ-ment for meeting friends, discussing interesting topics, and engaging in community projects. Free to at-tend, email joekolb@ compassglcc.com fir details. Transcendence Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth A closed transgender youth support group for teens ages 12 to 19. For more information, email youth@compassglcc.com.
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Their annual White Party out raised last year’s event by $1,000
Kristen Grau
C
ompass, the LGBT center of the Palm Beaches, added on to its SMART Ride fundraising efforts earlier this month during their sixth annual White Party. Compass, the LGBT center of the Palm Beaches, added on to its SMART Ride fundraising efforts earlier this month during their sixth annual White Party. The event at Penny’s at the Duke in Lantana raised $2,500, Compass announced. The money raised will go toward both the SMART Ride and Compass’ HIV/AIDS prevention programs and services. Last year, the White Party raised $1,500 for the SMART Ride. The SMART Ride is a 165-mile bike ride from Miami Key West over the course of two days. With its 16th year approaching, the SMART Ride has raised over $10 million in total for Florida health services. The SMART ride takes place Nov. 15 and 16. This year’s White Party entertainment included local drag queens Kataleya Davenport Dupree (who was named Miss Palm Beach Pride 2019), Vasti Love Montana and RaeJean Cox. Compass is just one of several organizations the SMART Ride is supporting. Others include Metro Inclusive Health, Pridelines, AIDS Help and Miracle of Love Inc. Visit thesmartride.org for more information.
Co mpass P o ints
P A LM B E A CH
column
What Makes a Nonprofit Agency Great?
Its Volunteers! Claudia Harrison
Chief Information Officer At Compass, our volunteers do so much - they are host committee members for special events, they offer behind the scenes assistance with mailings and cards, and many of them are the face of Compass each and every day, for everyone who walks through our doors. One of our long-time volunteers is Wayne Lefkowitz, who not only has been a reliable and friendly face at the desk for over five years, but also gives of his time and talent as a professional photographer. Wayne was recently nominated as Volunteer of the Year in the Hats Off Nonprofit Awards presented by Nonprofits First, so we’d like to shine our spotlight on him this month. Wayne first moved to Palm Beach County from his home in New York City in 1988. After years of struggling with confounding health issues, Wayne received a diagnosis, and began to feel better. At that point, he knew he was ready to give back to the community in some way. He had often seen the Compass outreach team in the local gay bars, handing out condoms and talking to people about HIV. He was hearing a lot about the center and its good work in the community, and decided to see what he could do. He still remembers the day he walked in and announced that he wanted to volunteer. He was met by Executive Director Julie Seaver, who gave him a tour and welcomed him so warmly, he left thinking to himself: “Wayne, you’re home.” Ever since, he’s been welcoming others to the center with that same warmth. He tells the staff that he loves the immediate gratification of helping someone by sharing what Compass is about, or connecting them with a person who can help them right away.
Julie Seaver, who gave him a tour and welcomed him so warmly, he left thinking to himself: “Wayne, you’re home.”
Wayne Lefkowitz.
But Wayne does more than man Compass’ front desk. Wayne is a fixture at nearly every Compass event, grabbing lively candid photos, creating group shots on the fly, and generally making sure Compass has great photographs to share with the world the work we do and the community members who are involved in that work. He says it’s important to him, because the LGBTQ community is not only about bars and parades (though he LOVES working the Pride Parade!). As he says, we eat together, we meet and play together - in settings that are both happy and serious. His is an effort to “fully document our lives” for the world to see. Wayne also brings people together himself, hosting a six-week photography class several times over the past year, right in the center. He charges nothing for students to participate. Since he began the Photo Club classes last summer, dozens of people have taken part in both the beginner class and his ongoing master class series, which is for those who’ve completed the beginner class. Compass couldn’t have the impact we do in the community if it weren’t for volunteers like Wayne and so many others who give selflessly and creatively of themselves to the center and to the community. If you’d like to learn more about volunteer opportunities with Compass, please contact our center director, Ernie Gonzalez at ernie@compassglcc.com
Claudia Harrison is Compass’ chief information officer. She can be reached at claudia@compassglcc.com
10.16.2019 •
17
LISTINGS SUNDAY EUCHARIST 8 AM and 10:30 AM
spirituality
SouthFloridaGayNews.com
HEALING SERVICE 10:00 AM Thursday
BINGO Thursday 1-4 PM (doors open at Noon) Sundays 2-5 PM (doors open at 1 PM) THRIFT SHOP Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 1PM Come As You Are - As One Loved By GOD Absolutely All Welcome We Are Pet Friendly!
www.stnicholasfl.org www.holygrill.org
All Souls Episcopal Church 4025 Pine Tree Drive. Miami Beach Sundays at 8am and 10:30am. 305-520-5410 | allsoulsmb.org 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 Christ Lutheran Church 1955 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale (954) 564-7673 - christlutheranfl.org pastordeborah@christlutheranfl.org Worship: Sunday 10:00am
Document. Remember. Empower. HIV is Still here. Broward County is #1 in new HIV cases #itsnotoveryet
Church of our Savior, MCC Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach. churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM
DARSHAN CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION 1410 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, Fl 33305 917-579-3750 www. darshancenterwiltonmanors.org RevDrGTelesco@gmail.com Interfaith Spiritual Services on Sundays 6:30PM Spiritual Study Group Thursdays 7PM St. Nicholas Episcopal Church 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach (954)942-5887 - stnicholasfl.org office@stnicholasfl.org Sundays 8:00AM & 10:30AM (9:30AM only from Memorial Day through Labor Day) First Congregational United Church of Christ 1415 North K Street, Lake Worth 561-582-6691 - fcclw.org office@lakeworthchurch.org Service Time: Sunday 10:30AM United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale 2501 NE 30th Street, Fort Lauderdale (954)563-4271 - uccftl.org revpatrickrogers@gmail.com Service Times: Thursdays 10:30AM (Elliot Hall) & Sundays 10:30AM (Sanctuary)
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FAITH & PRIDE spirituality
All Hallows Eve
All
Souls’ Epi copal Church
All Are Welcome! SERVICES SUNDAY AT 8 A.M. & 10:30 A.M.
Father Jamie
Souls’ Epi copal All
Church
Holy Angels National Catholic Church 4025 PINE TREE DRIVE, MIAMI BEACH 305-520-5410
| ALLSOULSMB.ORG
CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC 2011 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach, FL 33435
O
1955 East Oakland Park Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306 www.christlutheranfl.org
Sunday Service @ 10am
Wherever You Are On God’s LGBTQIA Rainbow, You Are Welcome...
ne of the fringe benefits of going to a catholic school was November 1: All Saints Day. That day was a holy day of obligation meant that there was no school on that day. We could stay out later counting and enjoy our booty from our night of sanctioned extortion, otherwise known as trick-or-treat. It was a great holiday and is still one of my favorites. It has become for me the national gay (meaning all in the LGBTQ family) holiday. Over the years I have heard many explanations for this holiday. In catholic schools we were taught that the evening before All Saints Day was a time to pray for all the dead, for the release of their souls from Purgatory so that they could be honored the next day. I heard that in other cultures that was the night when the spirits of the dead who were trapped in this world would somehow be released and walk the earth that night. Costumes and treats soon entered into the traditional observance for this night. As catholic school children we were encouraged to dress up as our favorite saint (yeah, right), others assumed costumes to either scare the away the dead spirits or blend in with them so that you wouldn’t be attacked by them. Treats were given to appease these spirits to either wish them well on their way or to bribe them not to do harm to you or your property. In our modern celebration of Halloween
Christ Lutheran Church
Fellowship after Service
SUNDAY SERVICE 10 A.M. Rev. Rick Rhen-Sosbe, Pastor
few think of it as a time to remember, honor, and pray for the dead. It is a time to celebrate life by mocking death with ghouls, zombies and monsters. It is a time to celebrate the magic of life as we don costumes of fairies, royalty and even clergy. It is a celebration of fantasy and imagination. Take a walk on Wilton Drive on Halloween and see the creativity of the LGBTQ community. Feel the energy and the enthusiasm for life. Let your inner child come out and play. Celebrate the spirit, celebrate life! Halloween is also a reflection of our everyday lives, for in truth we are spiritual beings. For the span of our life we wear the costume of being human, but our true nature is spiritual. In this world we know that there are demons and saints, things that scare us and things that bring joy and laughter. On Halloween we poke fun at death, because we know that death has been defeated. We celebrate life knowing that the spirit springs eternally. On Halloween, the spirits do indeed walk the earth. Spirits of hope and love. We are those spirits. While we see all of the fabulous costumes, be aware of the ones you can’t see; the angels and the saints that constantly surround us. Those spirits of God’s love that call us to trust and celebrate that even in the scary, love wins. So celebrate the spirit of Halloween that reminds us that we are all saints.
Fr. Jamie is the pastor of Holy Angels National Catholic Church in Wilton Manors, an independent catholic community welcoming all of God’s saints in a spirit of love without judgement.
561-733-4000
www.ChurchOfOurSaviorMCC.org MCC, Transforming Ourselves as We Transform The World
“Love without judgement” Holy Angels National Catholic Church 2917 NE 6th Ave Wilton Manors, FL 33334 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org
954-633-2987
A home for your spirit. Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday 11:00 AM mass in English • All are welcome!
Join us for Shabbat service Every Friday night at 8pm The 2nd Saturday of every month $15 Door includes 7 games Specials 3 cards for $1 Food available for purchase: Hot dogs, drinks, chips Doors open 6:30pm/Play starts 7pm Cash only please
Learn more about our many programs & events www.EtzChaimFlorida.org
Congregation Etz Chaim
2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus For more information: www.EtzChaimFlorida.org or 954Ͳ564Ͳ9232 10.16.2019 •
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Publisher's Editorial
Convictions
Debauchery and Decadence Coming to the Drive The Norm Kent Show Providing a Forum for Gay Voices
Norm Kent
norm.kent@sfgn.com
I
n about two weeks, some 10,000 men and women will parade up and down Wilton Drive in Batman capes and Wonder Woman costumes celebrating Halloween.
It’s an innocuous indulgence of decadence and debauchery ever so unique to our community. After all, we earned our identity. Now we have to keep it. ‘Wicked Manors’ is an iconoclastic block party brought to you by the Pride Center at Equality Park, because let’s face it, they can’t build their affordable housing project in the nighttime. By the way, I heard the Pride Center website is calling the new facility the ‘House of Love,’ but I hope it is not like those houses of love I
represented for over forty years on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Seriously, though, the first phase of the residences of Equality Park promise to be designated for low-income seniors living with disabling conditions. The population of Wilton Manors is getting older. Just check out the early bird special at Tropics. Besides, we may all one day need a facility like that. Anyway, it was not surprising then to learn that playwright David Goldyn’s first show this year is ‘Daddy Issues,’ opening this Friday night at the Center for Spiritual Living. Our gay community loves theater. SFGN’s magazine, the Mirror, just published its Arts and Entertainment issue, over a hundred pages of thespian and operatic delight. Get one while you can. They are going fast. South Florida’s theatrical season has also
y r o t s i H t Gues ent Show The Norm
K
Illuminating our allies and LGBTQ Voices 20
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Richard Vitale and Adrian Vargas from Impulse Group stand with Norm Kent after a show.
just kicked off. At the Broward Center, an updated version of ‘Le Mis’ just debuted. Not too many adjustments to the score. Jabert still jumps off the bridge. John Ambrusano, one of their cast members, was on my radio show last
Monday 9/16 Dr. Sheldon Warman, MD VIP Program 9/16 Keith Stroup, NORML Founder 9/17 Bob Norman, Investigative Journalist 9/18, Duff Lindsey, Neil Rogers Program Director 9/19 Michael Mayo, Sun Sentinel Food Critic 9/20 Jeff Kasky, Ban Assault Weapons Now 9/23 Fernand Amandi, Radio Talk Show Host, WIOD 9/23 Ronnie Larsen, Producer, Manors Theater Factory 9/24 Jason Parsley, SFGN Editor in Chief, ‘Best Of’ 9/24, Russell Cormican, Cannabis Counsel 9/24 Dr. Howard Cunningham, Oakland Park Dental 9/25 Jorge Rodriguez, Producer, Neil Rogers Show 9/26 Lori Parrish, Broward County Property Appraiser 9/26, Boca Brittany, WNN Transgender Talk Show Host 9/27 Wayne Besen, Truth Wins Out 9/27 Marc Possien, Catalog X 9/30 John Laprada, Parker Smith, Pallant Insurance
Thursday, which featured ‘Theater Week.’ There were many cultural icons on the show last week, including Ronnie Larsen from the Wilton Manors Theater Factory. Who knew he grew up as a Mormon from Bakersfield? The
9/30 Michael Swartz, Medixall.com 10/2 Adrian Vargas, Richard Vitale, IMPULSE of AHF 10/3 David Goldyn, Playwright, ‘Daddy Issues’ 10/3 Ellie Murray, Actress 10/4 James P. Cox, President, Museum of Science 10/7 Howard Finkelstein, County Public Defender 10/8 Rosemary O’Hara, Sun Sentinel Editorial Page Editor 10/9 Ed Sparan, Epiphany Theater 10/9 JW Arnold, SFGN Theater Critic 10/9 Jeff Sterling, Wilton Stonewall Festival 10/10 John Ambrusano, out Le Mis Cast Member 10/10 Mark Kent, Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida 10/10 Michael Valdez, James Smith, GMCSF 10/11 Row Iliescu, Stratton Politzer, Equality Florida 10/14 Al Rantel, Radio Talk Show Host 10/15 John Castelli, Castelli Real Estate Services 10/16 Scott Greenberg, LGNTQ Freedom Fund
Convictions Publisher's Editorial man is working at a fever pitch. He is producing ‘Making Porn’, ‘Grindr Mom’, ‘Penis Talk’, and something called ‘An Evening with John Gacy’ in one venue- I think Joe Pallant’s back yard. Adjacent to the Manors Theater Factory, the Island City Stage is another gay venue opening with ‘Lipstick’ and ‘Altar Boyz’ this year. The United Church of Christ is getting into the act as well. Ed Sparan, late of the World AIDS Museum, is inaugurating the Epiphany Theater to showcase LGBTQ productions there next month, with an open house today. On Sunday, when real men should be celebrating Mickey Mantle’s birthday, many in our community instead will be going to bat for SAGE at the Pride Center as they host members of the Florida Grand Opera, performing some teasing excerpts of their 2019-2020 season, including Madame Butterfly and Rigoletto. Not to be outdone, the Carbonell Award-winning Slow Burn Theatre Company has announced its Fall schedule, opening with the much talked about, ‘Shrek The Musical.’ SFGN’s arts critic who was on the show last week, J.W. Arnold, says it is a star waiting to shine. It opens next weekend. Even the Museum of Science is running a new show about aviation, and let’s face it, many people have said I have been in Space for a while. I had its president, James P. Cox, on the air last week. The Outshine Film Festival concludes this weekend, and pretty soon you will be hearing more about the annual Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. The gay community is a house of many colors. In no time at all, we will go from costumes to tuxedos, leather and lace to shirts and ties. On November 9, Equality Florida will honor its annual role call of champions at the Westin on the Fort Lauderdale Beach. In Key West, where too much of a good thing was not enough, this Sunday, instead of just celebrating Fantasy Fest, they are promoting a Zombie Bike Ride. I have one of those with my partner every evening when he comes home from work. The LGBT community has simply always had a love affair with indulgence. It is who we are. We have coronated summers on Fire Island, made it to the Factory in Mykonos, the
Boatslip in Provincetown, the Black Party in Montreal, and the White Party at Vizcaya. Now its Wicked Manors right here On Wilton Drive. Sure, the list is even longer than that. We know how to party. Next April, Pride Fort Lauderdale will be partying- and partnering - with the Greater Convention and Visitors Bureau to throw one heck of a celebration for all the Americas, right here in South Florida. It is an awesome undertaking. Our community will grow immeasurably from the venture. We are everywhere. Just about the same time, the AIDS Health Care Foundation will again generously be underwriting another AIDS walk and concert on the beach. Fund raising for this year’s Smart Ride is already under way. SFGN gives ALL these events a platform. You live them. We write about them. You can pick up our paper or go online. You can share them, not only with your friends, but the moms and dads you left behind in Fargo, North Dakota. These parades and parties, our events and festivals, are just not showcased in the Miami Herald the way they are at www.sfgn.com. We have provided a forum for 10 years and 500 issues. Your paid ads allows our free paper to portray your principled lives, and our collective worth and measure as good people doing great things. With my live radio show daily, we are now able to even further amplify who we are, and what our paper does. The voices and personalities enriching our community are given a daily showcase. Last week, we learned on the air that the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will be appearing at Fan Fest during next year’s Super Bowl festivities. For too long, the gay community had no place on Main Street. In South Florida, it is now ours to share. In many places across the world, it still is not. While celebrating on the shore, let’s never forget those still drowning at sea. Keep fighting the good fight, in dress or in drag. Make your voice heard. Who knows, one day we might even elect not only a gay mayor, but a gay president. That can happen, right?
The LGBT community has simply always had a love affair with indulgence. It is who we are.
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21
column letters to the editor
Wheel of Fortune
Needs to be More Inclusive Photo via the Wheel of Fortune, Facebook.
I’m not saying Wheel of Fortune (or Vanna White or Pat Sajak) is homophobic but the program seems to shy away from placing gay and lesbian contestants on the game show. When they have a couples week it excludes any gay couples. At the beginning of the game show Pat Sajak makes a big point of asking the contestants, especially the straight players, to tell the audience about their significant others or spouses and children in addition to some of their personal interests and hobbies. When an apparently gay person is interviewed it appears they’d rather not have him or her talk about their relationships or families. Sometimes we get to see these relationships when the gay contestant goes to the final round and introduce the audience to their spouse or significant other in the audience but it is a rare instance. I know this show is “family oriented” but I believe they are not addressing the gay families. My husband and I love this game show and watch it almost every evening. We just would like to see more inclusion of gays on the show, especially gay couples.
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2019
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BUYING AND SELLING IN SOUTH FLORIDA
MOVING COMPANY SCAMMERS
SWEEPING THE STATE Here’s how to avoid them A RUNDOWN ON NEIGHBORHOODS
FIND A REALTOR THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU DECORATING FIXES and much more
We’ll Help You Make the Right Move South Florida has an array of real estate options: from glistening sea-side condos to Mediterranean masterpieces with romantic barrel tile roofs and porticoes. But making the right choice on the type of home shouldn’t be your only concern. Finding your dream home requires a team with local knowledge, business acumen and a special knack for translating a wish list into reality. Enter Robert MacKilligan and Peter Catalfu. This real estate dream team will make you a their top priority and help in navigating the entire process. “Our team’s focus is on you and meeting your goals” remarks Catalfu, “Robert and I pride ourselves on helping you find the perfect place to call home.” Raised in the Northeast, both Robert and Peter share the work ethic along with a love for the South Florida lifestyle. Robert reports that they complement each other quite well when it comes to providing the complete package for buying and selling homes here. “I consider myself a clients’ life partner when it comes to real estate. There is a level of trust that is bestowed upon us, and also the reliance of expertise that Peter and I deliver, let us put that expertise to work for you.” says MacKilligan.
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10.16.2019 • 2 SFGN’s Real Estate Issue // October 2019 •53
REAL ESTATE intro
Home Sweet
Home
Pier Angelo
According to a National Association of Realtors study the average person looks at 10 houses before buying. Most of us have been there and the process can be frustrating at best, especially for first time buyers who don’t often know what they want. It can turn into an emotional roller coaster. After all, for 99% of the people, buying a property is the biggest investment of their life.
This is our first Real Estate themed issue, we hope you enjoy viewing the variety of exceptional realtors we showcase in this edition. If you are looking for a house or are thinking of selling yours we encourage you to start creating your own wish list after learning about all the home professionals we are featuring, take advantage of their expertise right here in your own backyard. Florida has long been one of the most popular states for homebuyers both nationally and internationally (9.5% of all international home sales in the U.S. were in South Florida). Consumer confidence is holding steady, mortgage rates are stable, our state’s population continues to grow, employment is strong, which bodes well for the real estate market. As you initiate the process it’s important to have a clear idea of what matters most to you and what you can live without. Realtors suggest that the first step is showing up for “open houses” as part of the learning experience. The professionals we have spoken to also say that their clients should have handy a list of the top 10 things they want with the first 3 items as must-haves. Of course as a buyer you want to get the best deal and so does the seller. There is a happy medium, be ready to give a little in order to get a little. Happy Hunting.
HOUSING IN THE REALITY TV MARKET While most reality television is mindless, we always learn a thing or two from watching real estate TV shows. The best real estate shows are a mix of quirky couples with a heartwarming story, handsome hosts who hold hammers, and wish fulfillment that involves seeing gorgeous houses you’ll never live in. Whether you’re surfing through HGTV on a day off or Sunday afternoon, burning hours at a time on Netflix, or actively seeking out and sharing clips of your favorite house hunting shows online, there’s no denying that the top house hunting shows can glue us to the couch in the living room and keep us there. So let’s call our real estate agent, decide if we need that walk-in-closet after all, and rank the best house hunting shows ever. Chances are you’ve seen “Property Bothers” Jonathan and Drew Scott – the hottest twins ever to grace reality television — as they team up to help homeowners flip, renovate, sell and buy homes on a series of shows on HGTV. Their adorable faces and on-screen antics have won them a huge following that goes beyond HGTV. And why wouldn’t they?
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They are the total package: looks, smarts, and personality. The handsome Canadian twins, have been delighting fans with their charismatic on-screen banter for years. But in case you’re wondering if they’re single, sadly, they’re not. And, sadly again, no, they’re not gay. “Good looking guys with good looking designs, they have to be gay!” Drew jokingly told Closer Weekly during an interview Putting any speculation to rest. Here are some of the most popular shows, some have been running for years and years: PROPERTY BROTHERS HOUSE HUNTERS LOVE IT OR LIST IT FLIP OR FLOP MILLION DOLLAR LISTING MY FIRST PLACE THE REAL ESTATE PROS DESIGNED TO SELL CURB APPEAL LOCATION,LOCATION,LOCATION
The Property Brothers. Photo via Facebook.
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REAL ESTATE feature
Moving companies with no trucks or movers can break your bank account, your stuff and your heart.
Here’s how to avoid them Ron Hurtibise
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Summer is peak moving season across the United States, and despite recent state and federal crackdowns, complaints about scams by South Florida-based moving companies show no sign of ending. A typical scam starts with a visit to a company’s slick website, with lofty promises like, “We will be with you from start to finish!” Then the consumer gets an estimate that’s much lower than the well-known movers’ estimates. And the customer sends money — likely $1,000 or more. And the hook is in. Nasty surprises await. The truck that arrives is not driven by the company with the slick website and lofty promises that took the down payment. The new company demands hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars more for unforeseen items, packing materials or additional weight. Then the hauler disappears for weeks with the contents of the consumers’ entire lives, leaving them angry and frightened in their empty new homes and wondering if they’ll ever see their belongings again. When and if they show up again, the men on the truck will often ask for even more money. “I’m about to cry. It’s been so horrible,” Laurie Retzer said by phone from her new home in Bandon, Ore., after 3 1/2 weeks sleeping on the floor waiting for her possessions to arrive. Retzer said she agreed to pay a Lake Worth-based company called Merit Moving $4,400 to move the contents of her twobedroom home 1,200 miles from Kingman, Ariz. When an unfamiliar mover showed up, workers filled their truck with her belongings and demanded $4,000 more. The drop off cost another $1,200 because they had to transfer her stuff to a smaller truck to get it down her street. Her TVs arrived broken and numerous items were missing, she said.
The retiree said she realized her mistake after looking up the company’s reputation online. On Yelp, it generated 54 one-star reviews just since January, when the owners of J&J Moore Nationwide Van Lines — which generated numerous complaints in 2018 — started doing business under the name Merit Moving. The company is rated F by the Better Business Bureau and subject of 54 complaints and a BBB advisory warning of a pattern of customer complaints. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s complaint history database shows customers filed 60 complaints against the company over the past two years. In addition, the Florida Attorney General’s Office has received 16 consumer complaints about the company since January, all of which “are currently under active review,” spokeswoman Kylie Mason said. One of the complaints, by Bill Ingram of Carthage, Mo., described a heartbreaking end to what was supposed to be an exciting life chapter. Originally quoted $7,000 to move the contents of his four-bedroom home 1,240 miles to Carthage from Kingman, Ariz., the price escalated to more than $21,000, Ingram wrote. He wrote, “My goods arrived with 75% of the furniture scuffed or severely damaged, numerous broken dishes, figurines, lamps, and a 50” TV. Approximately 20% of the boxes were separated at the seams or had holes punched in the sides. Some lamp shades were packed in partially full wardrobe
When and if they show up again, the men on the truck will often ask for even more money.
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REAL ESTATE feature boxes with no wrapping. Some lamps were bent to fit boxes rather than dissembled.” If Retzer and Ingram hadn’t hired Merit Moving, they could have just as easily contracted with any of dozens of other moving brokers, many of which change their names as often as Starbucks changes latte flavors, that experts say follow the same script. State and feds targeting dozens of South Florida moving companies State and federal authorities are beginning to look more closely at the industry, and take action when warranted. In U.S. District Court in Miami, Florida’s Attorney General is suing 14 defendants from Broward and Miami-Dade counties accused of operating moving scams under dozens of ever-shifting business names. Combined, the defendants were subjects of more than 200 consumer complaints, Mason said. One of the defendants, Yehoshua Vaknin, is identified in one suit as owner of U.S. Moving Services Inc., Moving & Storage SF Inc. and Moving Systems Inc. Those North Miami-based companies conducted business under 13 other names, such as Safeway Moving & Storage, Apex Moving, Number One Van Lines and Upline Moving, the suits state. The companies “advertise themselves as being professional movers staffed by welltrained employees who use the utmost care with consumers’ belongings and are scrupulous in preparing and following estimates,” it says. In reality, the companies “regularly use unskilled, untrained laborers who often damage or steal property and routinely provide deceptive, low ball estimates then extort higher fees by holding consumers’ property hostage.” Other defendants include: • Maxx J. Socher and Grace Metzger and their Pompano Beach-based companies that operated under the names Full Service Van Lines and Remax Van Lines. • Charles Ohana, whose Hallandale Beach-based Finest Movers Inc. operated under the name East Coast Moving & Storage. • Itai Carmel, owner of Ocean Moving & Storage Corp., based in Pembroke Pines. Movers targeted by the attorney general in state circuit court are: • Ohad E. Guzi, and his Hollywoodbased companies All USA Van Lines, Moving Group Inc., Top Movers Inc., Guzi’s Investments LLC, Cross Country
Movers LLC, 24/7 Moving Services Inc., Transworld Movers Inc., and Emoving Co. • Daneshia L. Augustin, principal of Hollywood-based Upline Moving & Storage Inc., formerly known as #1 Van Lines Inc. Working with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the attorney general is seeking injunctions barring the defendants from further violations of federal interstate moving regulations, plus restitution to victims and civil penalties. All of the cases, filed in late December, remain open. Defendants who have responded to the charges deny wrongdoing. The state’s cases followed the August 2018 arrests by federal authorities of 12 people accused of operating a multistate scam based in Hollywood that bilked more than 900 victims. Charges against the 12 are still pending, according to federal court records.
Strategies are slick and smart When Jared Delaney hired Lake Worthbased Merit Moving to handle his move this summer from Grand Rapids, Mich., to Austin, Texas, he thought he was hiring a larger company — Merit Moving Systems, based in Buena Park, Calif. After all, the names are similar, and Merit Moving’s website listed Merit Moving Systems’ California address as its own until just a few days ago. The site changed the address to that of a Phoenix postal center. Merit Moving Systems’ website features a banner alerting customers that it’s not affiliated with the Florida-based meritmoving.com. “It’s my own damn fault for not doing my due diligence, which I usually do,” said Delaney, who works for a website developer. “It’s pretty rare that I let my guard down to make a stupid move, but it happened.” Managers of the limited liability corporation, including registered agent and authorized member Salvatore Viscount, did not return phone calls and an email from a reporter seeking to talk about complaints against his company. It’s understandable that consumers are falling prey to moving brokers’ strategies, said Joshua Swyers, an attorney who supervises the nonprofit agency Move Rescue, which provides support and advocacy for victimized consumers. The organization was founded in 2003 by Unigroup, owner of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, after the large legacy moving companies became concerned about damage to the industry’s reputation. The organization has responded to 506 customer complaints and
How an opened and poorly-resealed box with items allegedly taken from it looked after delivery to a customer of Full Service Van Lines. Photo credit: Kenneth H., Yelp.
initial sales call, Swyers said. One is if concerns this summer, Swyers said. “Unfortunately, the people that do the company doesn’t want to come to the this are professionals,” Swyers said in house and take an inventory — or ask an interview. “They put on the front of a the customer to walk around the house and photograph its contents — before very professional company.” But what the companies don’t reveal — providing an estimate, Swyers said. If the estimate is 50 percent to 75 either on their websites or on the phone percent lower than what the with potential customers bigger companies provide — is that they aren’t fullservice moving companies, “Unfortunately, — that’s a red flag, he said. Also, the customer should with fleets of trucks, drivers the people that carefully read the contract and laborers. emailed by the broker to Instead, they are thirddo this are see if it includes promises party brokers who know what the full-service professionals. and guarantees made over the phone by the sales rep companies charge and They put on the — that the quoted price deliberately provide increase, and that the estimates that are $2,000 front of a very won’t movers will show up at a set to $3,000 less than what time with a specific kind consumers likely received professional of truck. Those promises when they called the bettercompany.” are never in the broker’s known companies, he said. contract, Swyers said. The brokers don’t have - Joshua Swyers When the truck does to own any trucks and can Attorney, Move Rescue show up, it’s often a U-Haul operate with a few phone or Ryder rental and driven lines, computers and savvy salespeople, Swyers said. “The broker by a company the customer has never never tells the customers they’re a heard of and was not given a chance to broker. They say, ‘We’ll do everything. investigate, Swyers said. And because the broker is likely keeping the customer’s You’re protected.’” There are legitimate brokers, he said. entire deposit, the new company will be But because of the proportion that use looking for reasons to charge hundreds if shady strategies, Swyers says he advises not thousands of dollars more than what the customer was led to believe would be consumers not to use them. the outstanding balance. Watch out for red flags Often, the broker purposely omits possessions listed by the customer to Customers should be aware of red give the contracted moving company flags that can emerge as early as the justification to claim it received an
Story courtesy of the Sun Sentinel.
Continued on Page 10 10.16.2019 • 2 SFGN’s Real Estate Issue // October 2019 •97
VEGA HOUSE OF DESIGN
Vega House of Design is your premier source for some of the world’s most unique imported furniture. Specializing in design pieces from Indonesia, India, Africa and the World. Vega House of Design is a place to find inspiration and make your design esthetic fit your core. Nestled in the Fort Lauderdale Village District among a row of unassuming warehouses lies an oasis. Greeted by a popping display of color, you’ll soon find yourself surrounded by an eclectic display of one-of-a-kind furniture as soon as you park your car. Each piece is meticulously selected from all over the globe. From tables, chairs or accent pieces and everything in between, you will quickly become fixated on each piece. A slow walk around the warehouse, you’ll find colorful repurposed items such as beautifully decorated Boatwood, wind-weathered dressers, live edge dining tables and rustic inspired coffee tables to name a few. Indian and Indonesian influences are everywhere, as are African and Asian touches. Proprietor, John Kubinec describes his philosophy, “Vega House of Design is inspired by travel, but we’re driven by passion. Our philosophy is to bring the world to you. Every item here tells a different story and starts a different conversation. So many customers come and experience Vega House of Design over and over because our selection is always changing.” Coming from the four corners of the world and beyond, Vega House of Design brings these exotic concepts to South Florida. “My business partner and I looked at the Florida furniture market and noticed a serious lack of innovation. We knew that the growing diversity of South Florida was definitely looking for more choices than your standard, run-of-the-mill chain store, or cheaply made box store furniture.” Vega House of Design strives to provide its customers with an engaging and fun environment with a truly unique experience. To show how much Vega appreciates the community it serves, they are giving away a free gift to anyone who mentions this article. Owner John says, “Vega house of design is not just about furniture: it’s about creating stories. What will your story be?”
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10.16.2019 • 3 SFGN’s Real Estate Issue // October 2019 •19
REAL ESTATE feature “They’re almost always late because a majority of consumers wait until the last day of their lease or the day before closing [on a new house]. They leave themselves with no Plan B and the moving company knows this.” - Lucille Hilmers, customer of Merit Moving Continued FROM Page 7 incomplete inventory list, Swyers said. lawn and leave, leaving the consumer That’s what Merit Moving customer with no other option but sign the new Lucille Hilmers claimed happened in her paperwork and move on.’” complaint to the Florida Attorney General. Before the truck leaves, consumers “When the inventory person called, are left to believe it will arrive at the new she neglected to write down several large destination on the date written on the pieces of furniture that I even measured contract next to the words, “First date of during the phone call,” Hilmers wrote. delivery,” he said. “Also, they neglected some paintings, Actually, most contracts give the writing down one when I had a total of company a 21-day window to reach six (I am an artist, there’s no way I would their destination, Swyers said. If it’s 21 neglect my paintings).” business days, the consumer could wait Hilmers ended up paying $7,829 for a month. a move originally estimated by Merit During that month, a mover that owns Moving as costing $3,521, she wrote. just one or two trucks will typically put The contracted company will likely the customers’ goods in storage, often show up hours late, Swyers said. This is with other consumers’ stuff, to free up by design. “They’re almost always late the truck for more moves. because a majority of consumers wait That’s when theft, loss and breakage until the last day of their lease or the day occurs, Swyers said. Delaney said he before closing [on a new house],” he said. figures his movers caused about $2,000 “They leave themselves with no Plan B in damage, including an irreplaceable and the moving company lamp he got from his late knows this.” grandmother. Merit Moving By this time, the After the truck told him its insurer is willing consumer is likely five or to pay 60 cents a pound for leaves with six hours behind schedule the damages, Delaney said. to make their flight or After the truck leaves consumers’ begin their drive to the new with consumers’ goods, destination, Swyers said. goods, brokers brokers often stop returning “That’s when the movers phone calls or responding often stop start applying pressure, to emails. Movers who do telling the customer, respond might demand returning ‘There’s more stuff than you even more money to deliver said,’ and, ‘We’ll keep your phone calls or their belongings, Swyers deposit.’” said. responding to Legitimate movers, David Poon said his Swyers said, don’t ask for daughter paid Merit Movers emails. deposits. “They ask for a $2,200 up front for a move signature on the estimate. from West Virginia to That’s it.” Rhode Island. She wasn’t home when the movers loaded her things. After they left, Taking your goods hostage she was notified that her belongings were in a Chicago warehouse and the movers A common tactic is for the movers wanted another $3,000 to deliver them, to wait until the truck is loaded before Poon said. presenting the customers with additional They eventually accepted $1,300 to charges. That’s against federal law, deliver her stuff, which included broken Swyers said. “The consumer is cornered. cups and glasses, Poon said. They’re already mad, already scared, and The family has chalked off the suddenly it’s thousands of dollars more. experience as an expensive lesson and Maybe the company foreman says, “Fine, are grateful that Poon’s daughter didn’t we’ll dump all your items on the front have to spend much more than if she had
What you see is not necessarily what you’ll get. Photo via Merit Movers.
hired a legitimate company from the outset.
How can consumers avoid costly surprises? Swyers says Move Rescue advises consumers to choose a mover certified by the American Moving & Storage Association. Its website is moving.org. Member companies pledge to operate under the association’s consumer protection, and the association will intervene on the consumer’s behalf if problems occur≥ Consumers should take a closer look at moving companies’ websites before paying a deposit, he said. Do the photos on the site show workers and trucks bearing company logos? Stock photos of movers and trucks with no logos should set off warning bells. Does the site’s Facebook link go to the company’s Facebook page? More warning bells should sound if the links simply go to
Story courtesy of the Sun Sentinel.
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the Facebook site — or nowhere at all. Are there a lot of pages and links to affiliated organizations? Or does the site look plain and generic with few links? Delaney suggests: “Ask flat out: Is this a brokerage? Are you the actual company that will transport my goods? If not, who will move my goods?” Swyers advises searching the company’s physical address on Google. Is it a business with signage and trucks? Or is it an office with no sign, or a house? Look up reviews on Yelp, Google and the Better Business Bureau’s websites. Be wary of companies with a lot of one-star reviews and a lot of five-star reviews. That suggests companies are paying people to post phony praise to counteract criticism and warnings. “Vet the company,” says Poon. “Read the contract carefully. Don’t pay in full in advance. Basically, do your homework.”
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$250,000
• Almost New CBS 4 Bed, 2 Bath • Freshly painted inside and out. • New stainless steel appliances and wood floors imported from Germany. • Screened porch and 2-car garage complete this hill top property.
Asher 917-797-8957
Billero & Billero Properties Gene Billero, Broker
Cell: 772-532-0011 BilleroProperties.com
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REAL ESTATE selling
Need to quickly sell your house?
Here are some ways to do it David Lyons
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Homeowners: Had enough of those pesky, disruptive storm seasons? Is a new job forcing you to relocate to another region of the country? Two national real estate firms are descending into South Florida to help make expedited sales happen. The needs to sell quickly vary, real estate experts say. They include job relocation, divorce, impending foreclosure, mortgage default, personal bankruptcy or a property unexpectedly inherited from deceased relatives. But what consumers need to understand, local brokers assert, is that the speed and certainty of a sale are often accompanied by discounts and lower sale prices. The “iBuyers” who are appearing on the scene are really investor buyers who will buy a home at a discount, clean them up and sell them for a profit. A look at two players:
Zillow Offers South Florida is the 16th market that Zillow Offers of Seattle has entered in the U.S. “We have big goals,” said spokeswoman Jordyn Lee. “Miami is a very diverse market and one we wanted to go in for awhile.” The program started April of last year in Las Vegas and Phoenix. “We wanted to start where housing markets were newer and had similar housing stock,” she said. The company is looking to enter Los Angeles later this year and hopes to be in 26 markets by the middle of next year. Since Zillow Offers launched, more than 170,000 sellers have requested an offer from Zillow to buy their home. How does it work? Would-be sellers go to Zillow’s website
and type in their home address. The company will deliver an initial offer within 48 hours. If the owner wants to proceed, the company will dispatch an evaluator to look at the home. “We will adjust our offer depending on what we find,” Lee said. “We get your final offer back 48 hours after that.” It’s up to the owner to select a closing date. “We know Zillow Offers is not going to be for everybody,” Lee said. “It is for people who want the convenience. It’s a ton of things that make [selling] a stressful process. Our offers are fair-market value and we charge a convenience fee.” Lee said that in the second quarter of this year, the average fee was 7 percent of the home’s fair market value. She said values are arrived at by examining photos of the home and comparable homes in the area. No seller is required to sign any contracts until they are prepared to enter into a deal. Once a deal is done, the company performs some renovations and places the home back on the market to sell. The company partners with local Realtors in each area. In South Florida, the agent is Laurie Finkelstein Reader of Plantation, who represents Zillow Offers in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. “We work really closely with her,” Lee said. “We do have general managers and teams and in-house evaluators in every market.” Reader was unavailable for comment Friday.
Photo via AdobeStock.
Curbio The Potomac, Md.,-based company specializes in turnkey renovations for homeowners who want to sell quickly for the best price possible. Its “renovate-now, pay-when-you-sell” model is designed on the theory that an upgraded, better-looking home will sell more quickly than those that are sold as-is. Curbio soon will partner in the effort with The Keyes Co. in South Florida, said Mike Pappas, founder and CEO of Keyes. As part of a national expansion program, Curbio recently entered Tampa and Orlando, and soon will be operating in South Florida. “The homeowner doesn’t want to do the repairs,” Pappas said. “They don’t have the money. We found in today’s market that the buyer ... will pay more for the upgraded home.” “Through this enhancement, [sellers] can get a new roof, they can get a new kitchen,
Story courtesy of the Sun Sentinel.
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baths, carpeting, paint and windows,” Pappas said. “The funds are paid at closing.” The partnership with Curbio, he said, will give would-be sellers the opportunity “to upgrade their property at no upfront cost to them.” The idea is to enhance the sales prices and “not to discount and shortchange the consumer.” “I wouldn’t make a decision [to sell] quickly because it is the biggest net worth of most homeowners,” he said. “A quick decision can be very costly to the consumer.” He said Keyes associates are being briefed now on the program, which is expected program to be rolled out within the next 30 days. Overall, he said, Keyes is looking to be build out a suite of services for homeowners, including insurance, renovations, loans and property management. “There are a lot more levers to be used to maximize the price,” he said. “Our offerings are not just transactions-based.”
REAL ESTATE rent
Rent prices keep rising, but here’s how some renters may
finally get a break David Lyons
South Florida Sun Sentinel
South Florida’s ever-rising rents can be a pain, but a wave of new apartments may help keep rent prices from skyrocketing, according to a national survey. In a favorable sign for millennials and new arrivals seeking housing, South Florida ranks fourth nationally in 2019 apartment construction, with more than 13,000 new units coming online by year’s end. “As it usually happens, whenever the apartment supply is abundant, there’s a certain slowdown in rent growth,” said RentCafe analyst Florentina Sarac. RentCafe each month analyzes rent data across the 260 largest U.S. cities. For July, the latest month for which rates are available, average rents in Miami were $1,729, a year-over-year change of $59. The average in Fort Lauderdale was $1,948, up $58, while West Palm Beach was at $1,448, based on a relatively small year-over-year increase of $17. Miami’s monthly rent, which trails cities in Broward and Palm Beach counties, didn’t shoot up drastically, and that could be because “of the considerable number of apartments that the city built in the past years.” Miami is the only large city in the region “to have witnessed the lowest rent increase between 2018 and 2019 — of 2.7%,” Sarac said, citing data from Yardi Matrix, RentCafe’s survey arm. Apartments of various types are in the works, from shared living spaces to multifamily units in shopping malls.
Among the survey’s regional findings: – Miami is building the largest number of new apartments compared to all other U.S. cities, with 6,989 units expected to be supplied by the end of the year. Doral, which is west of Miami – – International Airport, will be adding 311 units. Fort Lauderdale, which RentCafe calls the most expensive rental market in South Florida, is expected to add 1,343 new units to its inventory. Pompano Beach will add 471 units. – West Palm Beach shows 695 apartments are in the works. Still, it remains to be seen whether rents ultimately would decline in the face of the emerging new supply. That’s because new residents keep moving into South Florida in large numbers, driven in part by higher taxes in the Northeast. “We also noticed that [Miami’s] occupancy rate dropped from 97% in 2015 to 95% in 2019, meaning that despite the healthy boost in population — fueled by job growth, among other possible factors — Miami still has available units for new residents,” Sarac said. If supply in Miami keeps pace with demand in the following years, “the increase in rent [price] growth could continue to be moderate,” she said.
Story courtesy of the Sun Sentinel. • •313 5 SFGN’s Real Estate Issue10.16.2019 // October 2019
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REAL ESTATE home improvement
Quick & Easy
Decorating Fixes Rick Karlin
T
he problem with many apartments is that they’re generic. You can personalize your space easily, but if you’re renting you don’t want to spend too much money on a place that isn’t yours. Your property owner will also want you to restore the space to the same condition it was before you moved in (even if you think it’s an improvement, your property owner may not think so). Here are some easy fixes that are just as easy to remove should you decide to move on.
It’s Curtains For You Inexpensive drapery panels can hide a multitude of sins, and they don’t need to be used just to block an ugly view. If the walls are in bad shape use curtains to mask the damage. Install rod holders near the ceiling (don’t forget brackets in the idle for support on long walls). If you can’t find a curtain rod that’s long enough, buy a wooden dowel (easily available in up to 12 foot lengths.) Or create an upholstered wall by screwing a small strip of wood (a 1”x2”) along the top of the wall, near the ceiling. Do the same along the bottom, just above the floor molding. You can have the people at the lumberyard (or at Home Depot or Lowe’s) cut one to the exact length (they usually only charge a few cents for each cut). Buy inexpensive muslin or a printed fabric. Fold the cut side under and staple along the board. Cut the fabric slightly longer than the length you need to reach the bottom board. Pull taut, fold the cut side under and staple to the bottom piece of wood. When it’s time to move, just take down the 1”x2” pieces of wood, fill the holes with a little patching plaster and everything will look good as new. If you want to hang pictures, simply use wires to suspend the pictures from nails in the top board.
Fan Club Hate the ugly ceiling fan in your room? Simply remove the blades (easy to do with a screwdriver), scrub them down (you’ll be amazed at how greasy and dirty they are). Trace the blade to make a template, transfer to Contact paper, and trace the outline at least 1” larger than the fan. Peel and stick the Contact paper, wrapping the excess around to the top of the blade. Poke holes through the paper where the screws go, reattach to the fan and enjoy your one of a kind statement. You can also use window cling (see below) to dress up a blade easily.
Hate the View? We’re not talking about the TV show; we’re talking about the view out of one of your windows! Head over to Home Depot or Lowe’s and look for the window cling sheets (usually in the same aisle as window shades). These peel and stick sheets come in translucent, frosted and varieties made to look like stained glass. There are even clings designed to look like leaded glass, when you just want to add architectural interest.
Paint Most apartments are painted with boring colors. Painting is one of the cheapest ways to transform a room. Try doing an accent wall in a dark shade; you can always repaint it white before you move. If you’ve one of those apartments with a long, narrow hallway, here’s a trick to make it look larger. Paint one of the walls one shade lighter or darker than the other. Look at the paint strips and pick two adjacent colors. It’s subtle enough that it’s not noticeable, but it actually makes the hallway seem much wider.
Short on Storage Buy an inexpensive bookcase, and attach a spring-tension drapery rod to the inside of the bookcase and hang inexpensive curtains down the front of the bookcase or wooden roll-up blinds and you have instant hidden storage space. For an entire wall of storage, use the same technique, except use the brackets for closet rods attach them to the top of the bookcases and hang the curtains along the entire wall.
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REAL ESTATE home improvement
Ugly Tile Floors If your bathroom has ugly tile floors, hide them with thick luxurious carpet. Carpet in the bathroom, you say? Yes. Head over to a carpet liquidator and buy a remnant the approximate size of your bathroom. Line it up at the doorway unroll it, cutting away excess and trimming around fixtures with a razor knife. If you choose a high pile carpet, it will hide any little mistakes you make; you can even put down patches. About every two weeks pull up the carpet, flip it over and let it air out overnight. Even with an expensive carpet, it won’t cost much to do a typical apartment sized bathroom, so you can replace it when necessary.
The Renter’s Tool Kit Everybody should have a tool kit to take care of little repairs. You needn’t spend a fortune, and can usually fine good kits at home improvement stores or Ikea, you can even assemble your own.
Each kit should have:
• lightweight claw hammer • rigid tape measure (at least 8 feet long) • pliers • utility knife • adjustable wrench • set of Allen wrenches • two screwdrivers, a Phillips (pointy) and flat- head • torpedo level • stud-finder • rechargeable flashlight. • •317 9 SFGN’s Real Estate Issue10.16.2019 // October 2019
REAL ESTATE interest
Some Interest-ing Information James Oaksun
In this special issue on real estate, I decided to share with you some important information on the role of interest rates in the real estate market. I hope you will find it, of “interest.” (Get it?) While there are of course exceptions, most people will borrow money when they purchase real estate. In many ways this can make real estate an attractive investment; for no other hard (and typically, to some degree at least, appreciating) asset can a person borrow a significant portion of the purchase price. Generally speaking, the rate of interest depends on various factors, including: • availability of funds in the market (there are times when funds are amply available, as well as times when money is tight; • perceived credit-worthiness of the borrower; • required profit for the lender; and • the rate of inflation in the economy (both current and anticipated). Stir these all up in a pot, plot it all out
over a 50-year timeframe, and you get a very jagged line with many ups and downs. In this analysis, I will use the rate of interest adjusted for price inflation – known as the “real rate”. And since we are in election season (yet again), I decided to show you something a little less jagged. Chart One shows the average inflationadjusted rate of interest on a 30-year mortgage, broken out by timeframe of various presidents’ terms of office, going back to 1973 – the start of Richard Nixon’s second term. In this nearly 50 year timeframe, you should note a couple things. First is the very high real rates that prevailed during President Reagan’s term in the 1980s. Generally, that was a time of considerable growth in the economy and in the stock market. Yet in his first term the typical real interest rate on a 30-year mortgage was more than nine percent! (The actual rates were in the 12-14 percent range, as consumer price inflation was around four percent.) Then you should note how real
2
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1
rates have been declining over time, since investors believed that stocks were a better Reagan’s first term. The average prevailing investment than real estate in south Florida. real rate in President Trump’s term has been It’s also worth noting that there was a lot 2.3 percent. In addition, there were times in of new construction going on in the western President Obama’s first term when the real half of the county. Supply was keeping rate actually dipped below one percent. (But up with demand much more robustly more on that in a moment.) than in other timeframes, such as today, The price of money (as reflected in the generally, unless you look at the downtown real rate of interest) indeed has an impact on Fort Lauderdale skyline (there are always real estate prices. Chart Two is a repurposed exceptions). version of the “bubble chart” Now, most of us know what I have shown in a couple started happening around 1999 As a rough rule previous columns. Instead of and continuing for about seven of thumb (just showing the actual values, the years – an unprecedented to tuck in your chart shows the year-over-year boom in real estate prices, in change in real estate prices here pocket) every half south Florida and in many in Broward County, adjusted for parts of the country. In a percent increase other inflation. inflation-adjusted terms, prices in interest will Start by taking a look at the here increased by 130 percent! first 20 or so years. You note Yes, real interest rates increase the the line is bouncing along continued their gradual decline. monthly payment pretty close to the zero axis But something else happened: on a $250,000, line. That is because, adjusting mortgages became much 30-year mortgage, more available, both through for changes in the price level, real estate prices here in relaxation of lending standards by about $75 (all Broward County essentially other things being and from introduction of new did not change in that entire and innovative (or so many equal). timeframe! But then recall the thought at the time, which first chart on interest rates. All ultimately turned out to be risky) through that time, it was relatively expensive types of mortgage products. Chart Three shows to borrow money for real estate, even though the spike in availability through 2006. real rates were decreasing. In addition, that And then lenders’ wallets slammed shut. was a time of a tremendous boom in the Real interest rates kept falling a bit. But securities markets, and undoubtedly many with credit not as freely available, and
REAL ESTATE interest
Finding the right home is an art.
3
a recession in 2008-09, prices in the hottest markets (like South Florida) plummeted. In inflation adjusted terms, prices here decreased by 52 percent from peak to trough. Many lost big. But many who were wise enough to buy in the 2010-2012 timeframe, and had access to capital, gained big (or, if you prefer, bigly). A strong economy, continued decreases in real interest rates, a degree of loosening of lending standards relative to the early 2010s, and high demand for property here led to higher prices (though not percent increases like the early oughts bubble). As mentioned earlier, having real interest rates below one percent was something of a catalyst for the turnaround. On an inflation adjusted basis, prices have increased by more than 60 percent since the 2011 trough. Which brings us up to the present. Price increases have slowed, and while interest rates continue at their lowest levels in more than 40 years, days ago it was reported that the manufacturing sector in the US has gone into recession. Many project that other sectors of the
economy are soon to follow. Absent weakening of lending standards (probably unlikely), it is unclear where support for housing values will come for the next several quarters. Which leads us, finally, to Chart Four. There is really not much room for further mortgage rate reductions. So in Chart Four I plotted out the dollar impact on the monthly payment (principal and interest only) of a $250,000 mortgage, at various actual (not inflation-adjusted) rates of interest. As a rough rule of thumb (just to tuck in your pocket) every half a percent increase in interest will increase the monthly payment on a $250,000, 30-year mortgage, by about $75 (all other things being equal). I hope you have found this to be an educational and interest-ing discussion!
Your South Florida Real Estate Expert. BUY · Call today to discuss how we can work together to find you the perfect home. SELL · I have the tools and experience to sell your home quickly. RENT · Contact me to find the perfect place to call home.
www.HomesBySteveFL.com
STEVE MARGOLIS REALTOR®
954.684.7888 SteveMargolis954@gmail.com
1103 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 3908 N Ocean Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
James Oaksun, Florida’s Real Estate Geek(SM), is Broker-Owner of New Realty Concepts in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).
4 • •419 1 SFGN’s Real Estate Issue10.16.2019 // October 2019
Real EState neighborhoods
Fabulous?
Or Basic? James Oaksun
I
f you are a loyal reader of this publication, I can pretty much guarantee, given the option, you would rather people describe you as “fabulous” instead of “basic.”
That’s only natural; I’m the same way. So why wouldn’t you want your home to match (or even possibly exceed) your own level of fabulousness? I took a look at single family home sales in the last year, within two miles of Stately SFGN Headquarters. Thirty-nine percent of the sales had final prices of $500,000 or higher. And 10 percent of the transactions hit or exceeded the $1 million mark. Certainly many of these residences were fabulous, in their own way. In this column, I am going to point out some locations in South Florida where you can find something a little different, not of the “basic” 1955-70 generic one level variety. Areas, perhaps a little off the beaten track of the Gayborhood, where you (and perhaps more importantly, your friends) will say the “F” word (fabulous, people, come on) when they see your home and those nearby. Yes, some of them are a little pricey. But hey, as I said above, people obviously are willing to spend a lot to
live in or near WilMa, only to end up with something that looks no different from what you would find in the Vast Undiscovered Territory (which I define as everything west of 95 or north of Jupiter). And many of them can be bought for less than you think. Having lived most of my life (so far) in New England, I am accustomed to seeing (and living in) homes from the 19th or even 18th Century. Yet there was, indeed, life here in South Florida – not just in Miami-Dade, but in Palm Beach and even Broward counties – before the Baby Boom. Many of these older homes, built prior to 1940, are architecturally stunning. So, put on your art and architecture appreciation hats, and let’s go on a drive. You are going to find most of these homes in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. While there are some here in Broward, the history of South Florida really started in the 1920s in Miami and Palm Beach. Broward was not developed in earnest until later. But we will begin with Broward and extend outward.
1. Downtown Hollywood.
The only significant historic district in Broward is the stretch of Hollywood Boulevard between Young Circle and (roughly) Dixie Highway. And within walking distance of that district are some staggeringly beautiful prewar homes. They don’t come onto the market often, but smaller ones can be bought in the $300-500k range when they do.
2. Southwest corner of Fort Lauderdale.
Yes there are some beautiful prewar homes in Victoria Park, Colee Hammock and Rio Vista. But the preponderance of prewar homes in Broward’s principal city lay west and south of there – in the Sailboat Bend, Tarpon River and Riverside Park neighborhoods. In the time I have lived in Fort Lauderdale, I have seen increased interest here. Come take a look sometime and expect to spend $300-500k for a small prewar home with a high FI (Fabulousness Index). Next, let’s venture into Miami-Dade. Here we find two entire neighborhoods on the National Register of Historic Places. One requires a large chunk of change, but the other is a bit more reasonable price-wise. And as I said, why spend big money on ho-hum?
3. Bayside/Morningside Park area of Miami.
Look east of Biscayne between roughly 50th and 60th Streets for some of the most amazing homes you will find in South Florida. These homes are usually larger and more elegant than those of the same vintage in Broward. But for those who like the energy, culture and nightlife of Miami, and can afford a premium price, I believe it to be an outstanding option. The homes are generally in excess of 2,000 square feet, and while you can on occasion get one for around $800k, you’re going to need more than $1 million to buy here.
Downtown Hollywood. Photo: HollywoodFL.org.
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4. Normandy Isle.
The other National Register neighborhood is on the east side of the bay, on this lovely island off the west coast of the Beach as you go out 71st Street toward North Bay Village and the mainland Prices here are lower than on the mainland, though the homes are typically smaller (in the 1500-1800 square foot area). Expect price tags in the 400s and 500s, but again, the fabulousness is free. An added bonus is from wherever you are on Normandy Isle, you’re no more than a 10-minute walk from a gorgeous view of Downtown Miami across Biscayne Bay. Now let’s head north into Palm Beach County for some grand examples.
5. Delray Beach downtown.
I’m a little biased, I love Delray and consider Atlantic Avenue a superior alternative to Las Olas. Your price of entry here is going to be at least $350k for a smaller home, going into the high six figures (or more) for larger and more elegant. But you will be in an easy walking distance to restaurants and fun, and you (and your friends) will say “wow.”
6. Certain parts of Lake Worth Beach.
There are a couple residential neighborhoods here in the National Register. You’re a stone’s throw from West Palm and Palm Beach, and you would not only have a cool house but would be part of the renaissance of this community. Focus on College Park (between Dixie and Federal and north of 19th Street) and the area east of Federal toward the Lake. Inventory is generally strong. You will find many opportunities between $200 and $400k. There are also a plethora of smaller prewar homes in other areas of Lake Worth that could make excellent investment or rental opportunities.
7. Palm Beach.
I can hear you – Are you kidding me, James? No, I’m not, and yes I realize I’m not talking to that many of you. But if you have the means to spend $1 million for a home, what would you rather tell people including your know-it-all friends from Boston and DC: that you live in Pompano (now I like Pompano, and no offense, But) or that you live in Palm Beach? Just north of the Breakers there are a couple streets of smaller (you might call them large bungalow) homes that on occasion hit the market in the $1 million area. Think about it.
8. And finally, any of the several historic residential districts in West Palm Beach (for example, Northwood, El Cid and Flamingo Park).
Don’t scoff until you check the events schedule at the Kravis Center, or enjoy City Place for a while. Parts of West Palm are architecturally amazing, and at prices you might find surprising. A goodly number of these homes are generally available in the $350-550k range. Expect premium prices (more than $1 million) for El Cid. Maybe you can trade up to there. The question then becomes: what do you do with the place once you buy it? Especially at the lower parts of the price ranges, you are going to need to do some updating. You can not only have a fabulous home from the street view all the way in, but you can preserve a wonderful part of Florida’s history and do the right thing environmentally by making the workings and landscape smarter and more efficient. That’s a three-fer that will make the home maximally attractive to the next owner.
OPEN DOOR. OPEN MIND.
Real EState neighborhoods
REAL ESTATE WILLS & TRUSTS BANKRUPTCY PROBATE BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
Dean J. Trantalis Attorney at Law 2301 Wilton Drive, Suite C1A Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954.566.2226 James Oaksun, Broward’s Real Estate Geek(SM), is BrokerOwner of New Realty Concepts in Oakland Park. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI).
Dean@Trantalis.com • www.TrantalisLaw.com The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not only be based on advertisements. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information about their qualifications and experience. • •421 3 SFGN’s Real Estate Issue10.16.2019 // October 2019
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REAL ESTATE home improvement
Let There Be Light! The easiest way to redecorate Brendon Lies
T
hanks to Gilbert Baker, you’d be hard pressed to find a gay man or woman who doesn’t love a little color.
If you’re thinking of bringing it into your house, there’s a way to do it so it doesn’t involve layers of tedious paint or expensive furnishing. Of course, those are certainly options too. But whether you’re tearing out walls or just throwing a new lamp in the corner, lighting is undeniably the number one way to cast new ambience in your home. Here are three ways to get the most out of your lighting.
1. Pick a color I’m not just talking about red, green, or blue. Even with “normal” lighting, you have a choice between warm light and cool light. Warm lighting, which more closely mimics evening light, is perfect for a room with more yellow, red or brown. Cool lighting – the crisp bluish light of high noon – is best with teals, soft blue, purple, or gray rooms. If you have a green room, consider the choice yours. No matter which one you choose, the difference is in what pigments are drawn out. In order for a room to glow with its full potential, you should pick lighting that will draw out its strengths. It’s a good idea to have at least one “pure” light in your room. But once you have that, don’t be afraid to experiment with some real colors. If your walls are red with yellow accents, try throwing red and yellow light bulbs into that lamp in the corner. If your bedroom is themed like a forest, consider hanging a green string of lights around the nightstand. If you’re not feeling restrained to a particular color scheme, check out the Smart Bulb by LUMENTY (Amazon, $19.99), a Bluetooth LED multi-colored light bulb that can be changed to any color with just your cell phone – and get ready to taste the rainbow. Even if your walls weren’t painted before, they will be once the lights come on.
2. Position and placement Cool vs. warm light.
Where a light is at makes all the difference. If part of your room is fairly busy, small bursts of light might help break up the clutter. Think about adding a nest of LED lights behind your porcelain collection, or create a gap on your bookshelf for a color-changing orb. How about if a wall feels fairly empty? A wall light fixture – especially one that casts light up or down the wall instead of outward – will paint the wall with new life, giving your room a handsome main attraction (besides yourself, of course). This would be the perfect opportunity to try out some theme-matching colored lights. If your heart is set on an elegant hanging lamp or chandelier, pay careful attention to the layout of the room itself. A busy room could make it feel choked; hanging lamps are bright, and require plenty of breathing room in order for guests to admire their full grandeur.
3. Accent lighting It doesn’t all have to steal the show. Say you’re already happy with the way light casts, and it seems to balance well with the other décor in your home. Instead, opt for a lighting fixture that gives a subtle burst or twinkle to your existing flourishes. There are fairy lights for every theme imaginable – you can line your ceiling with orange and gold mini lanterns, nautical sea creatures, or just stick to tiny led lights that will cast a starry spectrum amongst your previous décor. Not only can fairy lights become their own soft light source, but you can choose a level of warmth or coolness that will further accent the lights already in the room. How about a few candles, or a wax burner? Both come in every style under the sun! Next time you look around your room, keep your eyes out for dark corners that your eyes normally avoid. That’s the perfect spot for a new lamp, or even a clock with backlights. LED light strips stuck beneath ledges, under bed frames or counter edges are an easy way to transform a room into an exhibit. When it comes to décor, it’s not just about furniture, painting walls or matching curtains. If you have a beautiful burgundy and pink room lit by nothing but stark white light, you’re missing out on an opportunity to play with those shades and colors. Transform your home in an instant, there’s no need to wait for any paint to dry. All you need is a little light.
24 Real Estate Issue // October 2019 46• SFGN’s • 1 0.16.2019
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WMG Volume 6 • Issue 20 October 16, 2019
Wilton Manors Gazette Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette
community
Wilton Manors Bans Plastic Straws By Sallie James
Wilton Manors has become the latest was pleased with the new law. “I can’t help but say how pleased I am city in Broward Country to ban the sale and distribution of single use plastic that we are finally doing something on this. We have beaten 11 of the cities in straws. City officials in September voted 4-1 to Broward County. I had hoped we would be No. 2 or No. 3 but we’re here,” Green said. approve the ban. Exceptions include prepackaged drinks Commissioner Gary Resnick opposed that come with plastic the ordinance, saying straws, straws used at he was concerned about medical or dental facilities, prohibiting all retail Straws are and at county, state, and businesses from selling permitted if needed federal properties, and at straws in the city. The new Broward County schools. law goes into effect on by someone with Straws are permitted if Sept. 1, 2020 and includes a medical or needed by someone with a $100 fine for the first offense, a $200 fine for a physical condition. a medical or physical condition. The ban also second offense and a $500 The ban also does does not apply to those fine for every subsequent violation. not apply to those who receive special events to host events of “People who use plastic who receive special permits 200 or few people. straws are going to have to events permits to City contracts or buy them outside the city,” concession agreements Resnick noted. “I can’t host events of 200 that were entered into support the ordinance on or few people. before the ordinance was that basis.” approved are also not The city’s ban also affected. includes the sale of The city of Fort Lauderdale passed a single-use plastic stirrers in the spirit of protecting the environment. According to ban on single-use plastic straws in January the ordinance, 8.8 million tons of plastic 2019 which goes into effect in January pollution flows into the ocean each year, 2020. Like the Wilton Manors law, the an amount that is expected to double by Fort Lauderdale ban will also prohibit both the distribution and sale of plastic 2025. Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green straws in the city.
And as of July 2019, businesses in Fort Lauderdale may only provide plastic straws upon request. Other cities that have approved a ban on single-use plastic straws include Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-bythe-Sea, Dania Beach, Hollywood, and Hallandale Beach. Green said many of the businesses in
Wilton Manors already comply with the new ordinance. “I have gone around as a public servant to as many of the bars and restaurants to check what they are using and there are very few, so I don’t think it will really affect a lot of the businesses. I am so very happy about it,” Green said. WMG
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COMMUNITY
City Debates Special Magistrate to Handle Liens Commission Divided
WMG October 16, 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 20 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com
By Sallie James The Wilton Manors City Commission. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington
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Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Clark Rogers clark.rogers@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. MEMBER
Should property owners who accumulate Flippen said he has received numerous hefty fines for code violations appear before comments from the general public saying a Special Magistrate? they did not “see consistency from us.” City Commissioners here want to explore “How we arrive at our decisions is not very the possibility. Currently violators’ cases are consistent,” Flippen said. “I prefer a clearly reviewed by the City Commission, which articulated policy to ensure consistency, levies fines or reduces equity of treatment. I don’t liens. Under the existing see this as a ceding of According to system, property owners authority. We are establishing can file an application for a process.” Code Compliance a lien reduction, which is According to Code Supervisor Julio either approved or denied Compliance Supervisor Julio by the City Commission, Davila, the sum of the total Davila, the sum of explained Commissioner liens in the city from 2016the total Julie Carson. 2019 to date is $1,764,000, liens in the city to Mayor Justin Flippen an amount was reduced to and Commissioners Gary $975,753.54 in fines. Of that, date is $1,764,000, Resnick and Paul Rolli want $769,696.46 has been paid, an amount to explore the possibility Davila said. of switching to a Special City Manager Leigh Ann was reduced to Magistrate to remove Henderson suggested that $975,753.54 in the subjectivity from the a proposed ordinance set existing process. limitations for how much a fines. Commissioners directed fine could be reduced. She City Attorney Kerry proposed that a lien on an Ezrol to research the matter and create an owner occupied property be reduced by no ordinance for future review. less than 15 percent of the total lien, and a lien
on a non-owner occupied property be reduced no less than 25 percent of the total lien. Vice Mayor Tom Green was strongly opposed to the proposed switch to a Special Magistrate, saying it was against his personal philosophy. “I feel this City Commission has less authority than most City Commissions in the county. I certainly would not be in support of another such thing happening,” Green said. Carson agreed. “I think the City Commission has done a good job is expressing their authority and not losing our small town atmosphere. I would like to continue in similar manner. I really believe it is critically important we remain accessible to the community and be able to make decisions,” she said. Resnick disagreed, saying the city needs a more objective way to review liens. “There is no objectivity to this. It’s based on the opinions of five people. I think we’re not doing a good service to the residents of our city,” he noted. Rolli said he would like to see a process that is more transparent. “I’m in favor of it,” Rolli said. WMG
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Woof & Wine, an event for you and your favorite sidekick, is on October 10, 2019. Don’t forget to get your dog permit before the event! For more information, visit http://bit.ly/WMDogPark Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
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this, justin
Keeping a Sound City Budget By Justin Flippen Wilton Drive. Photo via The City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
The City Commission has approved the 2019-2020 Wilton Manors budget of almost $39 million. While small by most city comparisons, the budget is big to us, and encompasses new programming, capital improvements, and programmed costs for employee health care and collective bargaining agreements. It also maintains the recommended unassigned fund balance percentage of 17%. I’m proud your city commission voted unanimously to NOT increase the general tax rate, maintaining the previous year’s millage rate of 5.9587, and establishing the lowest combined debt and operating millage rate in 11 years. This kind of fiscal responsibility sets an important precedence for us to consider for future budget years. Most of the key elements of our budget relate to the goals and objectives of the city’s strategic plan, which is our roadmap to the future. A few key highlights include: Hiring an economic development manager to act as a liaison between the city and businesses, both new and existing. The manager will also help recruit developers for the property owners who wish to redevelop their aging infrastructure.
beautification project and renovations of Jaycee Park. Setting aside funds to invest in the proposed train station platform when the timing is right. Reduced dog park fees for both residents and non-residents alike. Resources for a Fourth of July celebration event (something we haven’t had in years which I was pleased to work with the city commission on including in the budget). I believe one of the best ways forward to maintain funding for our city’s level and quality of services and alleviate the burden on current property owners is to expand the tax roll through carefully and limited increased density along our commercial and transit oriented corridors with redevelopments that conform to our city’s scale and small town sensibility. The fiscal year to come should bring progress in this area by us all working together. And the way we work together in the City of Wilton Manors, is just one more reason why our city’s tagline is ‘Life’s Just Better Here.’
Forward progress on the Andrews Avenue/Oakland Park Boulevard corridor land use amendment. Funding for due diligence should we wish to move forward with redevelopment of the land surrounding City Hall. Funding for the Wilton Drive
Justin S. Flippen, J.D. “The People’s Mayor” Wilton Manors Mayor WMG
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Paul Rolli
Our Fund’s mission is to promote responsible philanthropy in order to make South Florida the most livable community in the country for LGBT people.
Everyday Philanthropist As South Florida’s only LGBT community foundation, Our Fund Foundation improves peoples’ lives by providing various ways to give, and supporting causes within the LGBT community. Every month we will feature a local philanthropist and ask them about what inspires them to give, hopefully inspiring new everyday philanthropy. Paul Rolli, another committed supporter, talks about what inspires him to give to South Florida causes:
Where are you from, and where do you consider home? My husband Bennett Quade and I moved here from the greater Washington DC area 13 years ago and consider Wilton Manors our home. When did you first begin giving, and what inspired you to do so? What was the first organization you gave to? We have both donated to a variety of organizations during our lifetimes. We volunteered some during our working careers including Special Olympics, Food and Friends in DC and Pets DC. Giving resources and time always seemed to be in our backgrounds and it always felt good to give and share. Which causes and organizations do you support with your time and resources? Once we moved to Florida and both retired, we got very involved in the local community and saw the great need to help financially and in person. Bennett sat on the Board of Tuesday’s Angels and volunteers at the Wilton Manors Police Department and serves on the Wilton Manors Library Advisory Board. I got actively involved with city business and was the Chairman of the City Budget Review Committee and served as the President of the Central Area Neighborhood Association. I am currently a board member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida. l served on the board of the Dolphin Democrats, Taste of the Island, Senior Advisory and the Finance Committees of the Pride Center. We are supporters of the Achievement and Rehabilitation Center of Broward County, Centerlink, Equality Florida, Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, Island City Stage, LGBTA Democratic Caucus, Our Fund, Pet Project for Pets, Stonewall National Museum and Archives, SunServe, Wilton Manors Historical Society, as well as a host of others. Our largest gift is my service on the City
LEGACY GIVING AGENCY FUNDS DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
OUR FUND FOUNDATION supports projects that serve the LGBT community in a number of different fields: Commission of Wilton Manors. I say our gift because there is a lot of time and effort involved and Bennett is very supportive of my position. Our ultimate goal is to have a positive impact on the city for the benefit of all. What do you find most rewarding about giving to the causes you care about? Getting involved with organizations that provide valuable services. The connection to so many others and the opportunities to meet new people is as rewarding as the giving back itself. There is no greater gift than the gift of giving especially when one makes a personal investment of their own time and effort. What sort of guidance would you give to someone considering giving back to their community? Our advice is to get to know an organization through meetings with their staff and talk to supporters and then determine if their mission, goals and actions are something that one might want to support. It’s not all onesided, the organizations also need to value their donors and volunteers. That way we can all make a positive difference.
YOUTH ELDERS WOMEN TRANSGENDER HIV/AIDS ARTS & CULTURE SOCIAL JUSTICE
To learn more about how you can support Our Fund’s mission to support agencies advancing LGBT causes in South Florida, visit us at www.Our-Fund.org or call us at (954) 565-1090
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Feature pets
The incredible journey
Miss Mary
Our featured pet this week survived hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. She has completed a quarantine period, and is now looking for a loving family who will give her a forever home‌could it be you?
Miss Mary (ID 620469) is a 3-year-old, 29-pound fawn colored gal who will do best in a home where she is the only dog. This is because she likes to guard her food and treats. The shelter dog trainers say Mary is a real love bug once she gets to know you and enjoys cuddling. This little Bahamian gal likes to go for walks and is sure to win you over if you come and spend some time with her. Can she be part of your family?
The adoption fee for dogs over 6 months is $100 and felines over 6 months are $30. When you adopt from the Humane Society of Broward County the dogs and cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, receive preliminary vaccinations, cats are feline leukemia tested, and dogs over 7 months are tested for heartworm. They also receive a flea/tick preventative, a 10-day limited health care plan from VCA Animal Hospitals, 30 days of Trupanion Pet Insurance and a bag of Purina ONE pet food. The HSBC opens daily at 10:30 and is located at 2070 Griffin Road, a block west of I-95. For more details call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. To see who else is looking for a home visit www.humanebroward.com.
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Convictions
Editorial Cartoon
Editorial Cartoon By Mike Luckovich
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history month Media
Welcome to LGBT History Month LGBT History Month October marks LGBT History Month, which was started in 1994 by a Missouri high school teacher, Rodney Wilson. He sought out other teachers and community leaders who then chose October because school was in session and it coincided with National Coming Out Day on October 11. SFGN will be participating in a special history project spearheaded by the Philadelphia Gay News throughout October. More than two dozen LGBT media outlets around the country will run the weekly features. Since print space is limited, SFGN will run many of the stories online. Visit SFGN.com/History2019 to read them.
Headlines Stonewall 50 Finally Gets Our History Right This piece is written about Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News. He comments on being at the Stonewall Riots in 1969. A Portrait of Charlotte Cushman – the Greatest American Actress of Her Era This piece by award winning journalist Victoria A. Brownworth explores the life of actress Charlotte Cushman (18161876), a theatrical superstar and a gender-nonconforming lesbian. Her life on and off stage was amazingly out and progressive for it’s. time. (edited) Authors and Activism: A History of LGBT Bookstores This piece by Jason Villemez takes an in-depth look at the history of LGBT Bookstores, going back to the very first one, Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop in NYC, to the most recent, Category is Books in Glasgow Scotland. The story explores the impact of LGBT bookstores on our community from Stonewall to AIDS to government censorship.
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Mayor Pete Speaks to LGBT press on Historic Campaign Each week in October SFGN will publish a series of stories to showcase our history. For more visit SFGN.com/history2019 Mark Segal
P
ete Buttigieg, who has served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana since 2012, came out as a gay man in a self-penned essay published by the South Bend Tribune. This past April he declared his candidacy for President of the United States. Mayor Buttigieg and I spoke on the phone about his campaign, his values, and who he looks up to in the LGBTQ community. When you entered the race as an openly gay man, did you realize the historical significance and what the LGBT community expected? You know, it’s one thing to realize it in theory; it’s another to see it play out in practice. Seeing teenagers come up to me and let me know what this campaign means to them, and folks who are of a different generation, who just never thought that they would see this, sometimes coming up with tears in their eyes, really has made me feel a different level of awareness and fulfillment but also responsibility around that fact about this campaign. What people from people from our community historically do you admire? Wow, well of course anybody who seeks office and is out owes a lot to Harvey Milk and the tradition that he now represents. It’s almost impossible to imagine, I think now looking back, what that would have
Pete Buttigieg at a rally. Photo via Pete Buttigieg, Facebook.
meant at the time. And then more recently, in my own lifetime, I remember seeing the judiciary hearings, when they were trying to impeach President Clinton, and seeing Barney Frank just run circles intellectually around so many people. Realizing that he was also an out member of congress I think changed my awareness of what was possible. I also admire people who have come into the public eye recently, some even later than I have. Danica Roem in Virginia, just extraordinary the way she has been able not just to break barriers and challenge the backwards-looking culture warrior that she beat but also to do it in a way that truly focused on her constituents, and talk about issues like traffic and commuting as well as issues like equality. There’s so many really inspiring figures out there, Annise Parker, I could go on and on. And obviously I’m aware that I’m standing on the shoulders of so many who helped pave the way. It’s sort of amazing that in just a few short
decades we went from zero candidates running for public office to a man like yourself now running, openly gay, for President of the United States. Have you sought advice from some of those pioneers like Barney Frank or Tammy Baldwin or Elaine Noble? Yeah, I’ve had a chance to meet Tammy Baldwin, and again Annise Parker has been a great source of encouragement and support as well as advice. I’m not sure what’s more amazing, the fact that we’re the first to do this or the fact that we can do it at all. Part of just living it seems strange that I’d be the first major candidate to do this, then again you think about where we were just a decade ago. That’s a great point. Many in our community never thought we’d see someone being so open and running for President, and we’d always looked at what that opposition would look like. While you’ve been running, the largest number of those opposing you have been religious protesters, and you’ve
history month Media been very good by saying ‘I’m going to be judged by my god, not by you.’ Is there a time that either on a personal level or on the campaign that you’ve faced homophobia one-on-one? Well yeah, somebody will come up on a rope line and have something nasty to say, or you see stuff coming in the mail, although I don’t pay too much attention to that. But I gotta say that any homophobia that comes my way is less concerning than what’s happening to so many youth and really vulnerable people out there of any age around the country, what’s happening to black trans women endangering their life, I try not to dwell on the irritation of any of the nonsense that might come my way because I’ve got, I can feel all the support that I have, folks from my own team, and from millions of people out there. I think of all the people who don’t know that they have that support, who don’t know that we’re rooting for them when they’re dealing with whatever it is their up against.
of ways, I may need to find new ways to do it. I think not only about President Obama’s example, but also the steps that President Kennedy had to take to reassure voters that they could vote for the first Catholic President. So often it comes into form, and I remember this from 2008, is people saying ‘this is not an obstacle for me but I’m just not sure about everybody else,’ and finding a way to speak to that and stay ahead of it. I think we’ll continue seeking the right ways to do that, true to who I am and true to what we need to convey as well.
There’s this old political saying, politics is a dime and a day, meaning politics can change on any given issue, and you can’t stay in politics unless you raise funds. You’ve had an incredible success at raising funds. In fact, so well, that you are basically one of the only candidates who can stay in the entire game if they wish up to the convention. You have an enormity of support from the LGBT community, which would like you to stay in through the convention. Do you One of the most amazing similarities I see feel an obligation that regardless of where the polls go or where the votes go in your campaign is one I saw in that you need to stay in just to President Obama’s campaign. be front and center on this When he was a candidate, “I’m not sure issue? being the first major Well, you know, I African American what’s more think there’s so many running for President, amazing, the fact things that motivate he kept running up this campaign. We’re to the race issue no that we’re the first to certainly conscious matter how many do this or the fact that of the historic nature issue papers he we can do it at all.” of it, and at the same put out on certain time, there are many subjects. Similarly, - Pete Buttigieg reasons why we’re in you’re the first out gay Presidential Candidate this and why I’m going to man, and therefore no stay in it. We want to know matter how many issue that I’ve got the resources to go papers you put out, it still comes the distance. And if you say not knowing up. President Obama, then candidate Obama, did something spectacular. He how things may evolve even from week to decided he had to address the issue in a week, I’m glad that we do, because the very major speech in March of 2008, just on race. same things that can be a disadvantage in Do you think if that one issue keeps plaguing terms of an issue that’s visible or something you, you’re going to have to give the LGBT that’s in the news, sometimes what’s making equality speech, and are you prepared to do things harder for you politically can turn around and be an asset a few months or that? Well, I’m not sure my equivalent of that weeks later. So we’re definitely in this to speech will be a speech, although it might be. go the distance and feeling increasingly I think it is important for folks to hear me tell bullish about how this is going to my story, and while I’ve done it in a number unfold.
Pete Buttigieg at a rally. Photo via Pete Buttigieg, Facebook.
Some of the candidates who will be appearing with you at this week’s CNN Town Hall meeting on LGBT equality have long standing positions, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and have evolved on our issues long before most others. How do you differ from them on LGBT issues? I think we all have different areas of emphasis. I’m certainly proud of my record, not just in terms of my identity but what we’ve done because I think it’s important not to take for granted or assume that, just because I’m out, LGBTQ voters are going to automatically decide I’m the best person to make a difference in their lives. I think that what’s really important is to have a robust and strong plan. And to me, the equality act is very important but I hope it’s also understood that that’s table stakes, that there’s a lot more that we need to do proactively around issues like conversion therapy, protecting LGBTQ youth, attacking the AIDS epidemic, diplomacy around human rights including the way we think about how we treat refugees, work for community based programs. There’s so many things that we need to do that I think each of us has an obligation to put forward a robust plan and not simply make it seem as though we think that the struggle was won when marriage equality came to the land or that the equality act is all we’ve got to do.
One of the most important things you do is the fact that you’ve become a role model for LGBT youth. That’s a heavy responsibility. How does that weigh on you? You know, I liken it to a moment of growth that happened to me, around what’s now been a very small thing when I was mayor, which was, when I was a candidate I used to think, when I was riding a bike, a little bit of irritation, oh I better wear a helmet because if somebody sees me without one they’re going to say something. And somewhere along the line I realized my responsibility was different, and I started thinking I better wear a helmet because somebody might see me without one and decide not to, and I’d be responsible for their safety. And I think it’s the same now on a much bigger stage. When people are looking to you, and people see in you so much more than one person can really be, you realize that it’s not just you but what you’re building. And to me, the best way to make good on that is not only to seek to act with integrity and do the right thing, but also to make sure that our campaign organization shows the values that we’re trying to promote, including the idea of belonging. It’s part of what I’m trying to build for the whole country. And I’m very mindful of the obligation to live up to the need to model and support those values, knowing just how many people have pinned their hopes on the conduct of this campaign as well as its outcome.
“When people are looking to you, and people see in you so much more than one person can really be, you realize that it’s not just you but what you’re building.’” - Pete Buttigieg, Presidential Candidate Continued on next page. 10.16.2019 •
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lifestyle food
Sheer Indulgence Rick Karlin
Big City Tavern is a BIG Delight
Big City Tavern 609 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale 954-727-0307 bigcitylasolas.com Big City Tavern is the perfect place to go pork chop, while my husband salivated in with a group, especially when you can’t agree anticipation of his lobster macaroni and on what kind of food you want. If someone cheese. Neither of us was disappointed. My wants a burger, they’ve got those. Pizza? Yes. chop was a behemoth, cooked perfectly Something healthy? Yes. Seafood? Yes! Meat medium and with a pineapple glaze that and potatoes? Definitely yes! It’s also the augmented the tender meat perfectly. The place to go when you want to be a little over- large bowl of rich and creamy mac and indulgent. I don’t know what it was, maybe cheese featured perfectly tender lobster, at that last bite of kale salad, but the hubby and least an entire crustacean’s worth. I were both in the mood to be bad and order In a continuation of our Bacchanalian all those dishes we normally deny ourselves. adventure we even ordered dessert. My We sat down and looked at the appetizer husband selected the Big City Sundae, section of the menu. It was tempting, with an enormous confection with vanilla ice options such as; meatballs, fried calamari, cream, chunks of pecan blondies, praline, coconut crusted shrimp and crab cakes. and sauce. Usually the sauce is Whistle Pig But we were into serious carbBourbon Butterscotch, but loving madness, so we skipped since my husband doesn’t drink My chop was past the charcuterie boards and or like the taste of liquor, the each placed an order for Big City kitchen kindly substituted a a behemoth, Tavern’s hand cut fries. And not regular caramel sauce. It was just any fries, we went for the cooked perfectly delightful. gourmet versions. My dessert was the only medium and My husband was all exotic disappointment of the night. with his taters that were topped with a pineapple Listed on the menu as Steve’s with wasabi, sriracha, micro Carrot Cake, it is not as you might glaze that cilantro and toasted sesame expect a slice of cake, instead seeds. At first, I eyed the obvious augmented the it is a kind of deconstructed contender; fries topped with dessert. Destructed might be a tender meat beer cheese, gravy, bacon and better description. The carrot scallions, but in the end, I opted cake was the size and texture of perfectly. for truffle Parmesan tubers a hockey puck. I couldn’t even drizzled with truffle oil and cut it with a knife. Pity, because truffle salt and served with a side of Caesar the caramelized pineapple and spiced brown aioli for dipping. Priced between $8.50 and sugar sauce accompaniments were quite $11, any of these dishes could serve as a table good. Our otherwise attentive server didn’t appetizer or a full meal. We hunkered down comment on the uneaten dessert, maybe she and finished at least half a plate each. I told thought we were just full. you we were in the mood to indulge. Luckily, I also ordered the tasting flight That mood continued as we eyed the of dessert cocktails. My favorite was the entrée menu, skipping right past the salads Key Lime Pie, a combination of Key Lime (Caesar, wedge, burrata Caprese, chopped), rum, cream, Absolute Vanilla vodka, and we surveyed the vast selection; chicken fresh Key Lime juice, but the other options Milanese, jerk chicken breast, shrimp pad flavored to taste like German chocolate thai, pastas, seafood, steaks and chops (I did cake, banana cream pie and a peanut butter mention something for everyone, didn’t I?). and jelly sandwich were all delightful and I finally settled on the pan roasted 12 oz. yummy.
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Photo via Big City Tavern, Facebook. If you want to indulge yourself, check out one of these great bargains during Crave Fort Lauderdale Casa Sensei 1200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-530-4176 casasensei.com
Naked Crab 1140 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 954-564-1000 nakedcrabftl.com
The Crave menu offers a choice of starters; fish tacos, charred octopus or salt & pepper prawns. Entrée options are Peking duck, steak chimichurri or lobster curry. Green tea crème brûlée and Thai donuts are offered for dessert. The Crave menu is available for lunch and dinner Sunday through Thursday.
The Crave menu is only offered for dinner Sunday through Thursday, but includes appetizers such as seafood ceviche and fried oysters. For your entrée consider Sicilian fisherman seafood with shrimp, clams, and mussels or veal osso buco with agnolotti. A lemon tart and Belgian chocolate mousse with vanilla gelato are your dessert options.
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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.
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SFGNITES
F O R THE W EE K O F o c t o b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 9 - O c t o b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 9 J.W. Arnold
Celebrate Stonewall with Miss Coco Peru
jw@prdconline.com
THU
10/17
film The second and final weekend of the Fort Lauderdale edition of OUTshine LGBT Film Festival begins tonight with the centerpiece film, “Defiant Souls” (“Insumisas”), at 7 p.m. at Savor Cinema, 503 S.E. 6th St. in Fort Lauderdale. This historical drama chronicles the true story of a woman who successfully practiced medicine in 19th-century Cuba while disguised as a man. Tickets and schedule at OUTshineFilm.com
FRI
10/18
theater Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire, “the Pulitzer Prizewinner that is on virtually every critic’s short list of greatest American plays, runs through Nov. 3 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. Tonight’s OutStage performance at 8 p.m. includes both a pre-show and post-show reception for LGBTQ audience members. Tickets are $92 at PalmBeachDramaworks.org.
saturday
10/19
concert
Miss Coco Peru will help the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots tonight at 7 p.m. at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. The region’s LGBT and allies concert band will perform two newly commissioned pieces, alongside moving works that tell the story of the gay rights movement. Artistic director Dan Bassett conducts with several featured guest performers. Tickets $35 at BrowardCenter.org. Photo credits: South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble, David Shankbone.
SAT
10/19
SUN
10/20
MON
10/21
TUE
10/22
theater
concert
film
comedy
What could possibly go wrong when an openly gay man invents a long lost “grandson” for his overbearing Jewish parents? That’s the notso-unbelievable premise of David Goldyn’s hilarious Off-Broadway hit comedy, “Daddy Issues,” opening this weekend and running through Nov. 3 at Theater at CSL (Center for Spiritual Living), 4849 N. Dixie Hwy. in Oakland Park. Tickets start at $25 at DaddyIssuesThePlay.com.
The Miami Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Eduardo Marteret, opens its season tonight at 6 p.m. at the Arsht Center in Miami with “Themes and Variations.” The eclectic program includes Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Carl Maria von Weber,” the world premiere of Martinez’s “Contrapunto” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Tickets start at $35 at TheMISO.org.
It’s Movie Monday and, if you spent your weekend taking in all the great LGBTQ films at the OUTshine LGBT Film Festival, it’s time for some big Hollywood blockbusters. Just in time for Halloween, we’ll be queueing up for tickets to Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” A24’s “The Lighthouse” and Columbia Pictures’ “Zombieland: Double Tap.” Check local listings for theaters and show times.
Puppeteer and comedian Jerry Halliday brings his hilarious show to Tropics Grille, 2000 Wilton Dr. in Wilton Manors, tonight at 8 p.m. Halliday has performed at big name Las Vegas resorts, including the Rio, Bally’s, Riviera and Harrah’s, and has toured comedy clubs and cabarets nationwide. He now calls Wilton Manors home. The performance is free. For more information, call the restaurant at 954-530-3361.
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A&E theater LOCAL NAME. GLOBAL COVERAGE.
Local Drag Performers Bring Halloween Film to Life on Stage
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oday, the Disney comedy “Hocus Pocus” may be a Halloween tradition, but when the Disney film starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy premiered 26 years ago—in July—it was a box office bomb. “Timing is everything,” said Nicole Halliwell, a local drag performer and producer who has adored the movie since. “Like pretty much everyone on the planet who loves Halloween, I’ve always been pretty much obsessed with this movie.” Halliwell vividly recalled standing on her bed with a broom re-enacting the scenes. “As a kid, I was a huge Bette Midler fan, which is so typical of my gay heritage, and would pretend to be Winnie,” she said. While most fans might be content collecting posters or other memorabilia, Halliwell took her obsession further, creating a stage version and enlisting “her” sisters to bring the Sanderson witches back to life in a tribute not affiliated with the Disney Company. “I’ve been extremely lucky to know and work with these absolutely phenomenal people who put 110% into everything they do. Our show stars some incredible entertainers including Calypso Monroe and Nicky Monet,” Halliwell said. She couldn’t have imagined the monster she created seven years ago as a short Halloween “bar skit” evolved into touring production, performed in theaters across the
Calypso Monroe, Nicole Halliwell and Nicky Monet star as the Sanderson Sisters in “Hocus Pocus” Live at the Kelsey Theater in Lake Worth. Credit: 84 Media Group.
state before thousands. Halliwell, a professional graphic designer and photographer who draws a distinct line with his male persona, recreated not only the characters, but the sets and props in painstaking detail, and her efforts have been rewarded every year. Along the way, her efforts have been noticed by film stars Najimy (Mary Sanderson) and Doug Jones (Billy Butcherson), and Disney has even flown Halliwell to California to perform as Winnie at studio events. This season, local performances on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Kelsey Theater in Lake Worth sold out so quickly, she added two shows on Thursday, Oct. 24. Audiences will be treated to a pre-show taste of “Queenz,” one of the many other reviews Halliwell has created featuring local drag performers. She is also putting together “Night of 1000 Gagas” at the W hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Oct. 22 and “Icons,” a celebrity tribute, at Mizner Park Cultural Center in Boca Raton on Nov. 15. And, in between the big productions, Halliwell hosts her own unique brand of drag bingo at several local brewhouses and is a regular on the stages of local nightclubs. But, it’s “Hocus Pocus” Live that remains closest to her heart during the autumn months: “It makes me happy to see so many new generations getting to experience and love this movie the way I do…(it’s becoming) a tradition for decades to come.”
Tickets are still available at HocusPocusLive.net for “Hocus Pocus” Live on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Kelsey Theater, 700 Park Ave. in Lake Park. For more information about other Nicole Halliwell productions and performances, go to NicoleHalliwell.com.
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A&E art
Penis Painter Performs at ArtsUnited Fundraiser
Brent Ray Fraser creates paintings with his penis. Photo: Courtesy Brent Ray Fraser.
J.W. Arnold
It’s time to add another letter to the LGBTQIA alphabet soup: “A” for “artsexual.”
OUT NOW!! ON A RED RACK NEAR YOU
S O U T H
F L O R I D A
G A Y
MENT
ARTS & ENTERTAIN
N E W S
Vol. 8 Issue 4 • September - October 2019
W E I V PRE Y OMED C M O FR R... AINED E T A RT HE NTE TO T EE
EED
N OU
Y ALL READ IT ONLINE AT THEMIRRORMAG.COM
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PICTURED: ANDY COHEN AND ANDERSON COOPER. PHOTO VIA TWITTER.
One of the world’s first self-described artsexuals, Brent Ray Fraser, is coming out in South Florida to demonstrate exactly how that works. Fraser, a former adult entertainer who is pursuing his dream as an artist, uses his penis to create original works of art and will paint live on Oct. 25 and 26 to benefit ArtsUnited, the local LGBTQ and allies arts organization. The Vancouver-based artist got his start a decade ago, first imprinting his painted penis on canvas. Today, he creates large canvases with his penis as paintbrush. “If I’m doing a large-scale painting, having my dick be flaccid is better from a technical point of view,” Fraser said. When used as a stamp, his penis paints better when fully erect. “The paint is cold (and) it’s hard to stay hard, so I tie it off. And working on the art gets me aroused,” he explained. If you think Fraser sounds self-assured, outright “cocky,” think again. “I grew up pretty shy. I could paint and draw and I wanted to be a famous artist like Picasso, but would hide my paintings. I thought about how I could get rid of the shyness and went in the opposite direction. I became a male stripper,” he recalled. “Painting was still my passion. After I retired, I thought about how to incorporate painting into a show.”
The self-taught painter would eventually complete a degree in fine art, but it was his unique approach that would take him around the world and make him a YouTube sensation. His family has been supportive, for the most part. “They’ve watched me grow over the years and it was a natural transition,” Fraser said. “We joke about it. They’ve become very open-minded people. My mom was an artist, my grandmother was an artist, and I have a distant relative, Thomas Gainsborough, who painted ‘The Blue Boy’.” Fraser enjoys coaching his sister’s four children on projects, but, “I don’t talk about it. There will be a time when they Google me and find out,” he admitted. Aside from the need to be sensitive to his nephews and nieces, Fraser says there is still one big downside to his vocation. “It’s very taxing on the body. There’s a lot of positives, but also negatives. I’ve been doing this for 12 years now and the surface of the canvas is rough (on my penis),” Fraser explained. “I’m in a relationship and it’s hard to do both!” Regardless, he’s committed. “I never really expected to be doing this, but the things that I do along the way have dictated my path. I love art and I don’t do anything else. It steers me in the right direction,” Fraser concluded. “There’s just the struggle if I can keep doing it until I’m old and gray—or until my penis falls off!”
The penis painter, Brent Ray Fraser, will appear on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 p.m. at Wilton Theater Factory, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. An Oct. 26 performance is sold out. Ticket includes admission to ArtsUnited’s “Provocative Art Show” opening night reception at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Tedd’s Art Works, 2422 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. For tickets and more information, go to ArtsUnitedFlorida.com.
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LGBT CRUISES & TOUR EVENTS
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