SFGN 12/02/21 V12iss48

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE

DECEMBER 2, 2021 VOL. 12 // ISSUE 48

THE SMARTEST WAY TO RIDE SMART RIDE SEES ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR YET PAGE 4, GAZETTE PAGE 1 (CENTER)

Our Fund Saves The Day PAGE 2

Pridelines Food Drive Underway PAGE 19

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Community Rallies Over Miami Hate Crime PAGE 18

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

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OUR FUND SAVES THE DAY The local foundation steps in to subsidize The Pride Center’s rental rates for 12-step recovery groups

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December 2, 2021 • Volume 12 • Issue 48

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

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

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

Editorial

John Hayden

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I

n addition to a growing number of deaths and long-term illnesses, the COVID-19 crisis is also affecting how groups struggle to regain a semblance of normalcy as the world opens up. From electricity to groceries and COVID prevention measures, everything costs more, including holding meetings.

As part of its reopening plan, The Pride Center at Equality Park raised the rates it charges for meeting space. Many groups that used The Center, pre-pandemic, said they were being priced out. Our Fund Foundation (OFF) is stepping in with help. They are giving money to offset the new costs for health, wellness, and support groups that call The Pride Center home.

“The health and wellness of South Florida’s LGBTQ+ community is Our Fund’s primary concern,” said Our Fund President and CEO David Jobin. “Many in our community were concerned that new rental rates would cause some groups to seek lower rental agreements at facilities outside of central Wilton Manors at venues that may not be hospitable to LGBTQ+ clients. We are proud to help remedy the situation.”

The new costs reflect higher prices for staff, security, utilities, cleaning, and sanitation.

“We want those seeking support to find a safe, welcoming home at The Center,” said The Pride Center at Equality Park CEO Robert Boo. “The Pride Center subsidizes and helps underwrite the costs of groups that meet on campus. We always have, and always will.”

Boo said restarting in-person meetings, which were stopped for more than a year, is vital.

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Special to SFGN Steve Rothaus

Correspondents

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

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Gregg Shapiro • Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

The Pride Center at Equality Park. Photo credit: Sandy DeWitt Photography.

“Our Fund’s donors want to provide for people in need. Having face-to-face support is vital for so many in our community, those who are isolated and those needing lifesaving community connection.”

“We understand that The Pride Center needed to adjust fees,” said Jobin. “Both to bring equity among the diverse groups renting space and to help offset the many expenses that The Center has invested in rental spaces in recent years to greatly improve security, safety, air conditioning, sanitation, cleaning and COVID protocols. It is Our Fund’s role to see if philanthropy might provide a solution that allows individual health and wellness support groups to continue to pay the rates

they have for many years.”

To help solve the cash crunch, Jobin reached out to local LGBTQ+ philanthropist Michael Kalb, who stood up and helped out.

“The Pride Center is a key institution in Broward County and making rental space available to support groups is a core component of their services,” said Kalb.

“Along with Our Fund, I felt compelled to help ensure that members of recovery support groups can continue to attend regular, inperson meetings to receive uninterrupted, vital peer support and treatment at a place where many in the recovery community have met for many years.”

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COVER: Chris Caputo (left) stands with Carvelle Estriplet. Both participated in this year’s SMART Ride. Photo via Chris Caputo, Facebook.

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BY PIER GUIDUGLI AND NORM KENT South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations in SFGN. SFGN contracts with independent entities for stock images. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

Copyright © 2021 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

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NEWS STATE

GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR SMARTRIDE John Hayden

Photo courtesy of Brian Souter.

D

an Hutton needs ice for his knees and Icy Hot for his calves after completing what may be the most epic trip in SmartRide history. He began his journey toward Key West when most riders were still doing final practice rides and prep.

While the annual ride was officially Nov. 18-19, Hutton started on Nov. 15 north of Jacksonville.

“I wanted to start at the northernmost point of Florida and ride to the southernmost point.”

Even for someone on their fifth ride, training for the event takes months. More

“I WANTED TO START AT THE NORTHERNMOST POINT OF FLORIDA AND RIDE TO THE SOUTHERNMOST POINT.” - Dan Hutton

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• 12. 2.2021

than doubling the 165-mile ride meant Hutton had to give a singular focus.

“I stopped running and got on the bike every day, with no breaks.”

He rides for Team Equality Florida, and his fiancé, Wally Ericks, is part of the crew, and crewed the extended trip. After arriving to lots of cheers in Key West, Hutton said he was ready for a break.

“The ride was amazing, perfect conditions.

My feet still hurt!”

But there was to be no rest for Hutton, Ericks, or their friends on the trip. Once they finished the ride, they started the rest of their lives. After 10 years together, they got married in Key West after the SmartRide.

“He is my partner in everything I do,” Hutton said.

They live in the Jacksonville area and are working to develop a memorial in a park that remembers and honors the more than 6,000 people from North Florida who died during the darkest days of the AIDS/HIV crisis. Prior to this year his top fundraising total was $4,000. This year he set the goal at $6,000 and blew past it, raising more than $7,000.

Hutton plans to ride again next year because he has fun and helps a cause he believes in.

“The importance of this event cannot be downplayed.”

Bes0t21of

DON’T MISS THE WINNERS

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BEST MIAMI BARTENDER EFRAIN R. R House Wynwood

Efrain R. at R House Wynwood has won Best Bartender in Miami!

His skills haven’t gone unnoticed. He received many compliments from customers on R House’s Facebook page.

“The bartender Efrain brings it. If you want a carrot in your drink, he will put it there. Awesome happy hour deals,” wrote a reviewer.

When contacted by SFGN for comment he was shocked to have won.

“What an amazing accomplishment it was to be nominated Best Bartender in Miami.

But the fact that I won? I’m over the moon!” he said.

Efrain, 31, left his job of eight years as an Operations Manager because “I was no longer happy doing what I loved.”

That’s when he applied to work at R House Wynwood. He started off as a busser.

“Within a year I moved up to a Food Runner and Barback. After the Pandemic in 2020, a few returned back to R House, me being one,” he said. “A bartender was needed, so I was thrown behind the bar.”

Rocco Carulli, owner and head chef of R House, taught him the basics of how to make drinks.

“Fifteen months later I have learned a lot about this craft. I’m so passionate about it,” Efrain said.

RUNNER-UP: ROME F. AT THE GAYTHERING – Kim Swan

SEE WHO ELSE WON THIS YEAR! SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM/BESTOF2021

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NEWS NATIONAL

BY GILLIAN MANNING

THE COUNTRY ACROSS

NORTH CAROLINA

POLITICIAN BLAMES LGBT FOR ‘PERVERSE LIFESTYLE’

The Clinton Community Church in North Carolina had a partnership with the Missoula Food Bank — until it learned the food bank was providing Pride-themed inserts with some meals.

The Missoula Food Bank provided inserts pertaining to Pride with the free sack lunches they provide. That summer, the church ended its relationship with the food bank and started its own lunch program, Missoulian reported.

A citizen then filed a complaint to the Missoula Organization of Realtors arguing that the church’s pastor “cannot separate his religious bias from his entire person and will continue to be inherently biased against the LGBTQIAS+ community.”

Brandon Huber is now suing the MOR. “We never took food away from gay children,” Huber said.

Clinton Community Church. Photo via Facebook.

Theresa Manzella, a Republican member for the Montana Senate, visited Clinton and voiced her support for Huber.

“My right to live a righteous lifestyle based on my sincerely held beliefs does not end where their choice to live a perverse lifestyle begins,” Manzella said.

Protestors stood outside the church wearing Pride flags. Sam Kelley, a resident, voiced support for the LGBT community and said, “They need to know that they’re not alone.”

GEORGIA

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PENNSYLVANIA

TRANS BLACK WOMAN SHOT; 47TH VICTIM TO DIE BY VIOLENCE THIS YEAR

On Nov. 11, Black transgender woman Angel Naira, 36, was shot inside of her apartment. This makes Naira at least the 47th trans, nonbinary, or gendernonconforming person in the U.S. to die by violence in 2021, the Advocate reported, making this year the deadliest year for the community on record.

Naira’s death in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, has been ruled a homicide. While local law enforcement has not released much information about her death, friends speculate that it was a hate crime.

“It is devastating but unsurprising that we are remembering yet another bright soul during Trans Week of Awareness and just days before Trans Day of Remembrance,” Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice

Angel Naira. Photo via the HRC.

Initiative, said in a press release.

Local media outlets have misgendered Naira and used her deadname while covering the story.

Naira’s friend, Linda Slade, wrote on Facebook, “Fly high my dear friend Angel Naira Ima gonna miss u so much you were such a beautiful person with a very big heart.”

MARYLAND

CHURCH HOSTS DRAG SHOW

A Pride organization at Emory University, known as Emory Pride, hosted its annual drag show at Glenn Memorial Methodist church, which is affiliated with the university.

Tommy Greenler, a senior at Emory and host of the show, told Campus Reform that “there is something very subversive about hosting a drag show at a church, especially a Methodist church like Glenn Memorial.”

The drag show also hosted hip hop dance performances and a costume contest.

“Drag has provided a space for queer expression when homophobia, transphobia and racism make the world unsafe,” said Layla Aberman, president of Emory Pride.

The church hosted a similar event

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

PRIEST TELLS STUDENT TO REMOVE PRIDE SHIRT; COMMUNITY STEPS UP

Image via Instagram.

in 2019 but took a hiatus during 2020 because of the pandemic.

“I think it says a lot about Glenn Memorial as an individual church that it has continued to welcome the drag show in their space … I personally think it’s kind of punk, to be a queer person hosting an unapologetically queer event in a church like this — I feel like this kind of breaking barriers is what drag is all about,” Greenler said.

St. Francis of Assisi School in Baltimore, Maryland, hosts regular “dress down” days where students get a more relaxed dress code. A 12-year-old student usually uses these days to wear a Pride-colored shirt that reads, “Proud 365,” to symbolize supporting the LGBT community every day of the year.

But this time, at the end of mass, Father John J. “Jack” Lombardi told the student’s teacher to have her remove the shirt. As they stood in the back of the church, the teacher told her to remove it in front of her peers, the Brew reported.

“For the rest of the day, everyone was very angry about it,” said Dylan Hoffman, one of the student’s 7th grade classmates.

The mother of the student requested that her name be kept anonymous.

After removing the shirt, the

St. Francis of Assisi School in Baltimore. Photo via Facebook.

student was sent to principal Karmen Collins’soffice, who told her that the shirt was against dress code.

“She said it was because it was a Catholic school,” the student said. “I thought it was a poor excuse.”

To show support for the student, church congregants arrived wearing rainbow masks and other Pride accessories.

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY EVERITT ROSEN

THE WORLD AROUND

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

EURASIA

EUROPE

COMMISSIONER ACCUSES NETFLIX OF BREAKING RUSSIA’S ‘GAY PROPAGANDA’ LAW

GERMANY PLEDGES LGBT RIGHTS REFORMS

According to Reuters, Russia is considering a complaint against Netflix (NFLX.O) after the public commissioner for safeguarding families accused the streaming service of breaking Russian legislation on “gay propaganda.”

The commissioner, Olga Baranets, protested to the Interior Ministry that Netflix, when streaming LGBT-themed shows with a 16+ designation, was in violation of a 2013 rule that prohibits distributing “propaganda on nontraditional sexual relations” to Russians under the age of 18.

Netflix did not respond to requests for comment. If proven to have broken the legislation, Reuters reported the corporation might face a fine of up to 1 million rubles ($13,400) and a temporary suspension of service.

Photo via Pixabay.

Human rights organizations have slammed Russia’s law. The European Court of Human Rights decided in 2017 that Russia’s homosexual propaganda law violated European treaty principles, infringed on freedom of expression, and discriminated against LGBT individuals, a decision Moscow denounced as discriminatory.

Germany’s chancellor-elect, Olaf Scholz of the centre-left SDP, and his coalition partners revealed commitments for major LGBT rights changes.

According to Pink News, after months of discussions, the coalition of the SDP, Green Party, and Free Democrats, who won the federal election in September, unveiled their reform agenda on Nov. 24.

However, the three-party coalition has promised to implement a slew of measures to boost Germany’s LGBT rights.

The alliance wants to reform the way trans people in Germany get legal recognition by allowing them to selfidentify.

The existing system requires trans people to go to court to have their legal gender changed, and it allows for a

Olaf Scholz. Photo via Facebook.

spousal veto. After a veto, the trans person must wait three years before applying again. Medical professionals must also assess them, and they must have lived as an openly trans person for at least three years.

The reform would allow trans persons in Germany to choose their own gender for the first time.

AFRICA

AUSTRALIA

‘ETERNALS’ BANNED IN EGYPT FOR FEATURING GAY COUPLES

AUSTRALIA LEGALIZES ANTI-GAY VIEWS

“Eternals,” Marvel’s latest blockbuster film, was reportedly banned in Egypt only hours before its opening for showing same-sex couples.

According to Egyptian Streets, IMAX Egypt said on Facebook that it will no longer be exhibiting “Eternals” despite having recently released a clip for its marketing tickets. GaLaxy Cinema in Mansoura said on Facebook that the film had been “banned” and that the theater would no longer be exhibiting it.

“Eternals” allusions have also been deleted from other Egyptian theatres.

Egypt’s censorship body made a lastminute decision to prohibit the film’s screening. The decision is claimed to be based on the film’s representation of a homosexual superhero and sequences of same-sex romance, which “contradict the

“Eternals.” Credit: Marvel.

ideals” of Egyptian culture, according to sources speaking to Youm7. Authorities have not issued a public statement formally confirming the restriction.

The Morrison government’s Religious Discrimination Bill is before parliament after three years and many versions.

However, the bill faces many obstacles from within and beyond the Coalition, making it unlikely that it would become law before the next election.

On Nov. 25, the Pentecostal prime minister submitted the bill to parliament, emphasizing its personal relevance and boosting its prominence as a topic in the next federal election.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Morrison told parliament that the bill’s main goal is to provide legal protection for people of religion against discrimination in employment and education. In the cases of color, sex, handicap, and age, similar prohibitions against discrimination already exist.

Parliament of Australia. Credit: Maksym Kozlenko, Wikipedia.

Religious freedom is also recognized in states and territories other than NSW and South Australia. However, the bill has measures that go far beyond existing discrimination laws, allowing people of religion to discriminate against others.

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LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENDALL LITTLE

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Lesbian

DISNEY’S TEXT-TO-SPEECH CENSORS WORDS LIKE ‘GAY’ AND ‘LESBIAN’ TikTok recently revealed a new feature by Disney that transforms users’ voices to popular Disney characters such as Rocket the Raccoon, C-3PO, and Stitch. However, it was quickly revealed that the voice automated refused to say words like “gay,” “lesbian,” and “queer.”

The feature was created as part of a Disney Plus promotion and after this censorship was brought to people’s attention, Disney and TikTok quickly made a change. However, it caused an online debate on whether or not the software was implemented with the idea of censoring LGBT people’s identities. Neither Disney nor TikTok offered an explanation for this situation but rather quietly made the fix.

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• 12. 2.2021

Photo credit: Adobe.

L

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

B

Bisexual

SAMANTHA PRABHU SET TO PLAY A BISEXUAL WOMAN IN UPCOMING PROJECT

Samantha Prabhu, a 34-year-old Telugu actress, is set to star in the feature film “Arrangements of Love” directed by Welsh director Philip John, who is best known for his work on “Downton Abbey.”

In the film, Prabhu will play a bisexual character who comes from a traditional family that wants her to have an arranged marriage. The book-to-film adaptation will look into the bisexual experiences in a traditional household. This film will mark Prabhu’s first international movie experience.

She took to Instagram to express her gratitude, “A whole new world. I last auditioned in 2009 for Ye Maya chesave.

Twelve years later, and auditioning again, I felt the very same nervousness … I guess it’s not everyday you get to audition for a

Samantha Prabhu. Photo via Facebook.

BAFTA award winning, critically acclaimed, director of your most favourite series ‘Downton Abbey.’ Jumping for joy that you picked me sir #PhilipJohn. Thank you @sunitha.tati @ gurufilms1 for the opportunity. Can’t wait to start this exciting journey!”

The movie is set to start shooting in August 2022.

LGBTQIA BITES

T

Transgender

NFL LOGO DESIGNER COMES OUT AS TRANS

Maureen Raisch, an award-winning illustrator and NFL logo designer, recently came out as transgender.

Raisch is set to design the next Super Bowl logo and came out during Transgender Awareness Week. “Contributing something of value to the Super Bowl as a brand, for America to know that a trans woman created it, I think is a powerful thing. It’s not about me, it’s just important to know the visibility of that,” Raisch told Forbes.

Dubbing this coming out as her “rebranding,” she has received hundreds of positive comments and 1.7 million views on her LinkedIn announcement. The illustrator is a Clio award recipient and is behind the design of the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays logos and is creative director of NFL’s Stackhouse.

“The NFL is a microcosm of America,” said Raisch. “These issues that come to the forefront that are important are about, you know, race, equality, what Colin Kaepernick was saying, and mental health of players,

Maureen Raisch. Photo via Twitter.

all those things. And somehow, I brought up a real relevant conversation about identity and gender and transition into the league. I wanted to be my authentic self, be balanced, be whole, be complete. One of our art directors said this really well: ‘That this conversation, if it starts with the NFL, it can disseminate back into America.’”

12 . 2 . 20 21 •

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Christiana Lilly

he passing of an appropriations bill turned into a debate on advocacy during Fort Lauderdale’s City Commission meeting on Nov. 16.

Commissioner Steve Glassman proposed that when sending the appropriations bill to the city’s lobbyists representing them in Tallahassee, the resolutions the commission has passed should be attached. This would include support for trans athletes and abortion rights.

However, Vice Mayor Heather Moraitis and Commissioner Robert McKinzie were opposed to the idea, with the former going as far as offering to step down from her role representing Fort Lauderdale with the Broward and Florida League of Cities.

“Just please know that I probably won’t advocate some of the social issues I disagree with, but I will certainly advocate for the appropriations requests,” she said. “I’m also happy, if you feel like I misrepresent this body, to step aside and let one of you all do it.”

McKinzie said, “I don’t blame you.”

Glassman told the commission that their resolutions “should have some teeth,” hence his proposal to provide them to their Fort Lauderdale City Hall. lobbyists. McKinzie said that the advocacy Photo via the City of Fort Lauderdale. and appropriations are two separate things — he called resolutions “a philosophical nothing piece of paper” — and Moraitis warned that that we’re almost there, we’re going to change they could jeopardize the city’s chances of the rules to allow the biologically stronger receiving funding if they press too hard on men to replace females on the field or pool or wherever you are competing,” she said at the the social issues.

“I’m concerned about our appropriation time.

When Carvelle Estriplet, a local business request if we’re going to go start advocating owner who is trans, spoke a lot of positions that may be before the commission at the against the majority party,” she next meeting about transgender said.

THE being women, Moraitis Commissioner Ben Sorensen APPROPRIATIONS women told her, “I do have to say I think said the city is already doing BILL PASSED 3-2, you have a physical advantage that, citing Fort Lauderdale’s plastic bag and Styrofoam bans WITH MORAITIS over me, being born a biological female.” and firearms regulations.

AND MCKINZIE “Do you want to stand next to The appropriations bill VOTING AGAINST me? Do you want to compare? passed 3-2, with Moraitis and Do you want to arm wrestle me?”

McKinzie voting against it.

IT. Moraitis continued. “I do believe The commission hasn’t men are biologically stronger.” passed its resolutions on social In September, the commission passed issues unanimously, either. Moraitis voted against the commission’s April resolution another resolution in opposition to Texas’ restrictive abortion law. Moraitis voted against the state’s trans athlete ban.

“We fought long and hard for equality. Now against it while McKinzie was excused.

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

ACCUSED MIAMI GAY BASHERS TO CLAIM ‘STAND YOUR GROUND’ DEFENSE IN UPCOMING TRIAL Jason Parsley

D

efense attorneys for the four Miami area men accused of an anti-gay hate crime threw a curveball in court Nov. 18 when they told the judge they wanted a continuance in order to file a stand your ground motion.

The judge was not happy. At one point she told the courtroom she was “bored to tears” because the case was taking so long to resolve.

The alleged hate crime took place April 8, 2018.

“Are you aware of how many continuances have been granted? Get your act in order.

COVID is not an excuse anymore,” she said.

The trial was supposed to start Nov. 30.

The judge granted the defense’s request while also saying “no more continuances.”

Under the Stand Your Ground law in Florida a person who is attacked has no duty to retreat and allows them to “stand their ground” and “meet force with force.” When a defendant files a stand your ground motion it allows the judge to dismiss the charges without going to trial if they find the actions were justified.

In this case the attack was caught on video and according to the arrest report, the video footage is consistent with what the victims told police.

In March prosecutors seemed hopeful a plea deal might be reached to avoid a trial.

“We are in the midst of plea negotiations [...] there are some discussions going back and forth with some various options,” prosecutor Justin Funck said at the time.

But at the hearing in August, Funck sounded less confident about eventually reaching a deal.

“I know that at some point, there was, you know, hopes of resolving the case short of a trial,” Judge Andrea Wolfson said.

“I am going to have more discussions with the defense attorneys,” Funck said.

WHEN A DEFENDANT FILES A STAND YOUR GROUND MOTION IT ALLOWS THE JUDGE TO DISMISS THE CHARGES WITHOUT GOING TO TRIAL IF THEY FIND THE ACTIONS WERE JUSTIFIED.

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The four defendants — Adonis Diaz, Juan Carlos Lopez, Luis Alonso-Piovet, and Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa — all in their early 20s, have pleaded not guilty.

Here’s a recap of what allegedly happened: the attack took place when Rene Chalarca and Dmitry Logunov were leaving a public bathroom in Lummus Park in Miami Beach after the local Pride festival had wrapped up.

“We were walking and holding hands and needed to use the bathroom,” Logunov told SFGN in 2018. So the two of them stopped at a public restroom as they headed home for the evening.

As Logunov walked out of the restroom he was allegedly called a “faggot” in Spanish, punched, and then beaten unconscious.

His boyfriend at the time, Chalarca, quickly intervened, but three more men jumped in and began to attack them both.

The attack was caught on camera and the four defendants were charged with three counts of aggravated battery. A hate crime enhancement was later added to the charges.

A third person, Helmut Estrada, attempted to assist Chalarca and Logunov. He was also attacked during the altercation and injured.

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Jose Cassola of Miami Gay News contributed to this report.

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NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

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

14

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

DJ Tracy Young, Grammy Award-winning Producer, Remixer, DJ, Composer, and Owner of Ferosh Records, poses with Carolyn Maldonado, M.D.

Fernando Escorcha, CEO of Tepuy Catering Miami, with Luiz Oliveira, regional sales manager also at Tepuy Catering.

Husbands of eight years Peter Mentek and David McConnell, bankers at Chase Bank.

Natura Owner Will Richardson, M.D. FAAD, with Josh Serra, director of sales and marketing at Natura Dermatology and Cosmetics Las Olas.

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

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MEDICARE AND PRIVATE INSURANCE ACCEPTED

12 . 2 . 20 21 •

15

NEWS LOCAL

BROWARD BASED OUR FUND SETS SIGHTS ON MIAMI TO EXPAND Steve Rothaus Special to SFGN

I

n October, Our Fund Foundation presented $355,000 in Health and Wellness Fund grants to South Florida nonprofits serving the local queer community. That money couldn’t come soon enough for Lambda Living, the LGBTQ senior program of Jewish Community Services of South Florida.

“In this recent [Our Fund] grant cycle, we were awarded $30,000 to continue the work with these LGBT seniors,” said Cindy Brown, Lambda Living’s program manager. “They’re located all over Miami-Dade County. Not everyone lives on South Beach.”

Brown, a longtime activist who directed the first Miami Beach Pride festival in 2009, said “Our Fund has been a tremendous supporter of Lambda Living and Jewish Community Services, especially through the pandemic.”

“They were there at the beginning of COVID, reaching out to us to find out what we needed and throughout the pandemic, making sure that LGBT seniors had the programs they needed, had necessary food — we bought a lot of Publix gift cards to distribute to these seniors — so not only could they buy food, but also things that food stamps do not buy,” Brown said. “That meant that they could buy PPE, buy Clorox wipes at the store, they could buy soap and toothpaste.”

Previously, Lambda Living relied on grants from the Miami Foundation’s LGBTQ Community Fund. In 2017, for example, the fund gave $10,000 to Lambda Living. This year, according to Brown, a change came that disqualified Lambda Living from receiving Miami Foundation LGBTQ grant money — which is wholly dependent upon profits from the National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual Miami Beach fundraising Gala and Winter Party Festival.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 National LGBTQ Task Force events in Miami were canceled or abbreviated. As a result, the LGBTQ Community Fund was not able to host an open-call grant process either year,” reads a statement on the Miami

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Foundation website. “Instead, the committee reviewed all of the Fund’s grant partners since 2005 and exercised its responsibility to invest the limited remaining resources according to the Fund’s priorities and current community needs. Small grants were made to a handful of high-impact organizations with LGBTQspecific missions, particularly supporting the most underserved, to help sustain and rebuild during this challenging time for our community.”

Brown translates: “The Miami Foundation’s LGBTQ Community Fund no longer supports organizations that are not LGBTQ-mission driven. The mission of Jewish Community Services is not an LGBT mission. Therefore, the Lambda Living program does not get funded.”

As a result, she said, “Without the funds from Our Fund, we wouldn’t be able to provide the services to these folks in Miami-Dade County.”

Wilton Manors-based Our Fund, which already grants a quarter-million dollars a year to Miami-Dade LGBTQ nonprofits, is now moving forward with plans to give even more money to Miami-area agencies — and to raise more money from Miami philanthropists.

“We interviewed about 20 LGBT-supporting philanthropists in Miami over the summer, and really just learned from them what they knew about Our Fund and what it would take to engage them with Our Fund,” said David Jobin, the foundation’s CEO and president.

“What we heard resoundingly from everyone is that there is a need for Our Fund in Miami, but I think there was a misunderstanding that we’re a Broward-specific organization. I don’t think anyone realized, though, the investment we’ve been making in Miami LGBT agencies in

Our Fund Vice Chair Len McNally, financial advisor Gene Sulzberger and infrastructure developer Ric Katz (husband of journalist Steve Rothaus) attend a Nov. 10 Miami Shores reception for several dozen Miami-area philanthropists. Credit: Steven Shires.

the last three years.”

Jobin said Our Fund has given $250,000 annually to Miami-Dade-based agencies including Lambda Living, YES Institute and Maven Leadership Collective, along with nonprofits that cross county lines including OUTshine Film Festival, Latinos Salud and Prevention 305.

Our Fund’s model is different from what Miami donors are used to. Jobin and others emphasize that unlike the Miami Foundation’s LGBTQ Community Fund (fueled by Task Force events), Our Fund money isn’t generated by — or reliant upon — festivals or galas.

Instead, there are three main ways Our Fund raises money, according to Jobin: • Legacy giving. “People put us in their wills and they can be very direct — they can say ‘I want money to go out to these agencies in this number of years.’ Or they can say they want Our Fund to make the decisions of how this money goes out.”

• Donor-advised funds. “People open a

donor-advised fund, just like you would at Fidelity or a general community foundation, and we help you with your philanthropy — or we don’t help you with your philanthropy. We have donoradvised fund holders who are very specific and they send their gifts out annually and they don’t ask us for our engagement at all in that process, except for writing the checks and sending them out. We have other donor-advised fund holders who rely on us: ‘What are the greatest priorities in the community? I want to give away 5% of my fund this year. Can you direct me how to do that?’”

• Annual giving. “We’ll say, ‘We just interviewed 25 agencies in the health and wellness space. We want to award 15 of them grants totaling $300,000. We have $250,000 from our endowment. We’d like to raise an additional $50,000.’ And people will give directly to those grants. And we take nothing from that. If you give us $10,000, it goes right out to grants.”

Our Fund launched in 2010. Since Jobin

NEWS LOCAL

Several dozen Miami-area philanthropists learn more about Our Fund at a Nov. 10 reception in Miami Shores.

Credit: Steven Shires.

joined six years ago, the foundation assets have or fundraising costs. grown from $2 million (all in donor-advised Sulzberger said he has known Our Fund funds) to a current $25 million. “I would say $15 Treasurer Sue Wilder, a retired financial million of that right now is from legacy giving,” services industry executive, about 20 years, he said, the rest from donor-advised funds. and Vice Chair Len McNally since the 1990s.

Four legacy-giving donors who died the “He’s somebody I have a lot of faith in.” past few years have left multimillion-dollar McNally retired in 2015 after 25 years at the gifts. “One person left us $5 million at our New York Community Trust (one of the oldest discretion,” Jobin said. and largest in the nation) as program director On Nov. 10, Our Fund held a reception for for Health and People with Special Needs. He several dozen Miami-area philanthropists at volunteered with Our Fund four years ago after the Miami Shores home of husbands John becoming a full-time Wilton Manors resident.

Ruark and Sergio Papa Ruark. Several Our Fund “The $25 million we have today at Our Fund founders and funders also attended, including mostly has come from donors in Broward attorneys Donald Hayden of County. There is no entity Miami Shores and former board in Miami right now that has chair Coleman Prewitt of Fort really significant amounts of SINCE JOBIN Lauderdale. endowed funds for the needs JOINED SIX Reception attendee Gene of the LGBT organizations YEARS AGO, THE Sulzberger, an attorney and in Dade,” McNally said. “So president of Sulzberger Capital what we are going to hope to FOUNDATION Advisors in Miami, said he is do is to help philanthropically ASSETS HAVE impressed by the people behind oriented people in the region GROWN FROM $2 work together, work with us to Our Fund.

MILLION (ALL IN “You want some oversight. You identify how they can be most want to make sure it’s being done effective in the region.”

DONOR-ADVISED and used correctly as opposed to McNally is a strong proponent FUNDS) TO A incorrectly. Every year or so, you of raising money from CURRENT $25 used to see all these front-page philanthropists rather than articles about some non-profit depending upon event ticket MILLION. doing something nefarious,” sales.

Sulzberger said. “Not everybody “With COVID, for 18 months does everything according to the highest of organizations couldn’t do events. So they ethical and fiscal standards. So it’s good to have were significantly down in their revenue. They somebody in there to make sure that things did some virtual events, but it’s not the same. are being done correctly and right, that the Events are expensive to put on — you don’t do funds are not being used to pad a salary or for an event for nothing. There are costs and then a program that is not what was intended with you hope that you raise enough money, but the dollars.” you’re never guaranteed when you do an event.

Charity Navigator, which objectively tracks So it’s risky money. It’s not safe. and evaluates more than 160,000 nonprofits, “We don’t have to say, ‘Oh, I hope our event has scored Our Fund with a 100 out of 100 goes well so we can keep going.’ Our Fund rating for Finance & Accountability — nearly does not do fundraising events. We would be 91% of its 2020 expense dollars went directly to in competition with the nonprofits. We look to programs ($2,762,984) and not administrative have an entirely different approach.”

AN SFGN SPECIAL REPORT

23 TRANS PEOPLE KILLED IN FLORIDA SINCE 2015 WHERE THE CASES STAND A REPORT BY CHRISTIANA LILLY

In recent years, murders of people in the trans community have escalated at an alarming rate. In their memory, we looked back at these murders in Florida since 2015 and tracked down the latest on each case.

Journalist Steve Rothaus covered LGBTQ issues for 22 years at the Miami Herald. @SteveRothaus on Twitter.

TO READ THE REPORT, VISIT SFGN.COM/TDOR2021 12 . 2 . 20 21 •

17

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

SURVIVOR OF BRUTAL ATTACK ON MIAMI BEACH RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM HIS LGBT COMMUNITY Jose Cassola

Miami LGBT News

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en days after a 25-year-old man gay man was attacked by presumed homophobes on South Beach, the LGBT community — including prominent leaders of local nonprofits such as Unity Coalition | Coalicion Unida and the LGBTQ Advisory Committee for the City of Miami Beach — has rallied behind Luis Carlos Herrera to offer support in his time of need and healing.

Herb Sosa, director and CEO of UC|CU, and Paul Thomas, chairman of the LGBTQ Advisory Committee, are assisting Herrera, a Chilean born man living in Sweetwater on a year-long visa, who was the victim of a seemingly random attack in Miami Beach on Oct. 30.

Police are still searching for several suspects.

According to a police report, Herrera and a female friend were walking westbound along Ninth Street, approaching Mega Pizza located at 865 Collins Ave. Officers arrived at the Mega Pizza just after 1 a.m. that Saturday, where witnesses said Herrera was attacked by a man and was given a bloody nose, among other serious injuries. Herrera said he accidentally brushed up against one of the male suspects, a person of color, who became aggressive and struck him several times, causing the bloody nose. Surveillance footage shows the moment the fight broke out.

One witness said she tried to stand between the male suspect and Herrera, but then one of the female suspects grabbed her by her hair and knocked her to the ground. Miami Beach Fire Rescue responded and treated Herrera on the scene. He was later transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was hospitalized until his discharge on Nov. 3.

Herrera believes he was attacked because of his sexual orientation.

“I was celebrating my friend’s birthday at a gay bar called Palace, then we left and I started to hear the taunts of these guys treating me as the worst because of my sexual condition,” Herrera told local news stations NBC 6 and WSVN 7. “…When I tried to defend myself, I was beaten by five people and left on the floor unconscious.”

Herrera said that things escalated to violence when he was punched in the face.

“Now I’m scared … I’m panicking about going out on the street and being beaten again … I live here in Miami, that’s what makes me

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the most angry and sad … I work with my image, I’m a dancer and a Zumba teacher,” said Herrera, who suffered facial fractures and brain bleeding.

Mitch Novick, owner of the Sherbrooke Hotel, said the attack “was a little too violent for [his] taste … It appeared as if he remained unconscious even after the police arrived,” Novick said.

Miami Beach police said crime scene officers were not able to immediately respond to the crime due to an active shooting scene that morning near 15th Street and Collins Avenue.

Speaking through a translator from his hospital bed the day of the attack, Herrera said he was beaten and nearly knocked unconscious, all because he’s gay.

“I have a cheekbone broken, all this because of a homophobic attack,” he said.

Herrera believes the group of three men of color and two females were indeed “homophobic, and I remember I told them to stop bothering me and teasing me. Then a person came over to me and kicked me in the face, and after that, I don’t remember anything,” Herrera said.

Surveillance video showed the victims’ friends trying to help, but there wasn’t much they could do. Herrera said he was knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched until the attacker just walked away, leaving him with severe injuries, including a broken nose and fractured face. He hopes the security footage video will help catch the man who has caused him so much pain.

“I would like justice and these guys arrested,” he said. “They should not be out and about, because they are a danger to society, because what happened to me could happen to another person.”

A friend of Herrera’s has set up a GoFundMe page for the Zumba instructor to assist with his finances while he recovers.

Paul Thomas, chairman of the LGBTQ Advisory Committee for the City of Miami Beach, said he is speaking with organizations about Herrera’s GoFundMe to help him while he’s recovering.

“I’ve been in communication with Carlos and we will research what type of supports are available within our community to assist him as he recovers from his injuries,” Thomas said.

Added Sosa, “On Friday, Oct. 30, Carlos

The victim Luis Carlos Herrera Quiroz. Courtesy of Steve Rothaus via WSVN.

Herrera was brutally attacked, beaten and left for dead by thugs on Ninth Street and Collins Avenue on South Beach on his way home from the Palace. Please help by giving generously today to his GoFundMe.” Sosa continued: “ANY attack on an individual by a group of thugs is unacceptable. Bystanders filming a human being beaten unconscious, rather than seeking help or intervening, is inhumane and barbaric. ANY attack of this kind is disgusting, unjustified in any way, and simply the lowest form of humanity imaginable. This latest attack was on a young man who identifies as a Hispanic gay person. To introduce his perceived sexuality as any kind of explanation or justification, is just nauseating and irrelevant.

A brutal crime like this has NO reasoning or justification.”

Sosa said Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida’s involvement and support of Herrera is “simply what we do and have been doing since 2002, and what needs to always be done — Support, Uplift and Lead our community — in the best and worst of times. I am personally overseeing that Carlos’ case gets the highest of priority — maintaining direct and daily communication with Miami Beach Police Chief Richard

Clements’ office and team, as well as with Commissioners Michael Góngora and David Richardson and setting up a variety of support services he will need once he has physically healed. What the community can and should do is make sure this horrible attack does NOT go unpunished, downgraded, or dismissed as anything less that the unjustified brutal hatedriven attack by thugs on one unarmed human being, that it was.”

Herrera is grateful for the community support. He told Miami Gay News: “Thank you very much to all who have supported me in this difficult time. I want to do justice for me and for all those whose human rights are taken from them simply because they are gay, lesbian, trans, queer, etc. LGTBQ+ persons are more than a community; for me, they are my family. Thank you for not leaving me alone.”

Officer Ernesto Rodriguez, public information officer for the Miami Beach Police Department, said, “Detectives are investigating the incident to include the events that transpired, which led to the altercation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.”

When reaching Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers, callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Jose Cassola, jocacommunications@outlook.com.Excerpts from NBC 6 and WSVN 7 news reports contributed to this story. Reprinted with permission from Miami LGBT News.

NEWS NATIONAL

‘TIS THE SEASON PRIDELINES COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE UNDERWAY Denise Royal

RESERVE YOUR AD NOW! 954-530-4970, EXT. 1

E D I U G

THE

THE HA

TO W NDBOOK

HAT'S H

OUTH OT IN S

FLORIDA

Photo via Adobe.

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he holidays are a time to give thanks and help those in need.

The food bank Feeding South Florida estimates more than 700,000 people are experiencing food insecurity in our region.

Pridelines is holding a community food drive for young people experiencing homelessness and families struggling to make ends meet. Pridelines’ food drive is underway.

If you don’t live near a drop-off location, monetary donations work too. You can donate online at www.pridelines.org/donate.

“Each $35 feeds a family of four,” said Ken

Demsey, Volunteer Coordinator at Pridelines.

“The meals go to individuals who have fallen on hard times. This year donations are more important than ever. so many people are in need.”

The food drive runs until Dec. 17. The drop-off locations are Pridelines Community Center locations in Miami and Miami Beach, Monday through Friday, from 1-7 p.m. The addresses are:

6360 NE 4th Ct, Miami, FL 33138 1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NEEDED: Bags of Rice Instant Potatoes Canned Corn Canned Peas Canned Green Beans Canned Gravy Canned Yams Canned Chicken Canned Beans

Canned Carrots Canned Muffin Mix Boxed Jell-O Stuffing Mix Bags of Beans Marshmallows Canned Mixed Vegetables Canned Collard Greens

If you have questions about donations or drop-offs, you can contact Demsey directly at ken@pridelines.org.

12 . 2 . 20 21 •

19

NEWS NATIONAL

184 LGBT CANDIDATES WON IN 2021 Kim Swan

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his year was a huge win for LGBT candidates. According to new data, 184 LGBT candidates have won elected offices — more than any other odd-numbered election year in the United States.

The previous record was 169 in 2019.

Victory Fund released new data that shows demographic breakdowns of the LGBT candidates. Of the 184 LGBTQ candidates who won, 112 were non-incumbents, and 73 of 89 incumbents won. When they take office, there will be approximately 1,038 LGBTQ elected officials in the U.S. — surpassing 1,000 for the first time.

There are currently 995 out elected officials serving, according to the Victory Institute.

The key findings show the breakdown of the 430 known out LGBTQ candidates who ran in 2021 — looking at sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, incumbency and endorsement status.

Transgender women won 63% of their races, the highest win rate of any gender identity. Cisgender women won 51% of their races.

“Trans women candidates were enormously successful at the ballot box — outperforming candidates of all other gender identities and further highlighting the disconnect between voters and the politicians who promote antitrans agendas,” said Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund.

“Beyond that notable exception, LGBTQ candidates who face the most structural barriers were often those who struggled most at the ballot box. But many are first time candidates who will run again and the experiences from this year will be invaluable in their next campaign.”

OTHER KEY FINDINGS FROM THE DATA INCLUDE: • Forty-six percent of known out LGBTQ candidates won their races in 2021, including 59% of Victory Fund endorsed candidates • Lesbian candidates outperformed all other sexual orientation groups, winning 60% of their elections • Cisgender women outperformed cisgender men by seven percentage points: 51% compared to 44%

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• 12.2.2021

Photo via Adobe.

• Thirty-seven percent of LGBTQ candidates were people of color and 37% won their races, with Asian and Pacific Islander candidates winning 58% of races • Non-binary (16) and queer-identified people (53) ran, but their win rates were 28% and 35%, respectively “... As anti-LGBTQ politicians introduce hundreds of hateful bills and extreme rightwing activists attack trans students in school board meetings, it is imperative we elect more LGBTQ people to counter their efforts,” said Parker in the press release. “There is no better weapon than an LGBTQ elected official who can humanize our issues and lives for their legislative colleagues and constituents.”

When the newly elected officials take office, LGBT people will hold just 0.2% of all elected positions in the U.S., despite representing at least 5.6% of the U.S. population. Currently LGBT elected officials hold just 0.19% of positions, according to the Victory Institute.

THE

GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 24 DECEMBER 2, 2021

FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

Wilton Manors Commissioner Pedals for Dollars for SMART Ride

By John McDonald If there is such a thing as a role model volunteers and participants than years past.

Caputo, Weinzimer said, is a joy to work for resilience, one needs to look no further than Wilton Manors Commissioner Chris with.

“I’ve known Chris for over 15 years Caputo.

Caputo peddled down to Key West last and I’ve watched him grow and seen him weekend as a participant in the annual mature,” Weinzimer said. “He’s always been a caring and giving person SMART Ride. This year and a cheerleader for marked the 18th edition of everybody.” the cycling event that raises First diagnosed with money for HIV/AIDS service HIV in 2012, Caputo said organizations in Florida. he cried it out but then For Caputo, the ride is got to work. He put his personal. tech skills to good use to “Today marks the provide local agencies and completion of my 10th SMART businesses with software, Ride and 1,650 miles later, I am web design and marketing. still living with HIV,” Caputo His energy, Weinzimer told SFGN on Saturday. “We said, is infectious. haven’t been able to fully “People are drawn to prevent new infections, let him,” Weinzimer said. alone cure the disease. People “He’s like a little jackrabbit. in our most marginalized There are leaders and communities continue to - CHRIS CAPUTO there are followers and die due to a lack of access Wilton Manors Chris is most certainly a to care and education. It’s City Commissioner leader.” heartbreaking. There is more At 40 Caputo is the work to be done. We can’t stop before the finish line, so each year we ride youngest member of the Wilton Manors Commission. He is frequently seen running and every year I am glad I did.”

Over $1.2 million was raised this year, or cycling around town and has pushed for organizers announced. Glen Weinzimer, more pedestrian-friendly development.

“All the things he does I don’t know how SMART Ride Founder, said more than 10,000 people donated this year and the he finds the time,” Weinzimer said. “He’s event met its fundraising goal with fewer amazing at multitasking.”

“We can’t stop before the finish line, so each year we ride and every year I am glad I did.”

Chris Caputo (back row, fourth from the left) poses with other riders from Wilton Manors.

Photo via Chris Caputo, Facebook.

www.WMGAZETTE.com

12 . 2 . 20 21 •

21

NEWS

WILTON MANORS

Financial Incentive Improves Vaccination Rate In Wilton Manors

By John McDonald

THE

GAZETTE December 2, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 24 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

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

Editorial

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald

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

The Wilton Manors City Commission chamber. Photo credit: Carina Mask.

Payments will go out in December to employees of the City of Wilton Manors who were vaccinated for COVID-19.

Through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the city is offering a $500 incentive for employees who are fully vaccinated.

Employees have until the end of the year to claim the incentive.

“I can report to you that the incentive has actually resulted in some of our employees taking the initiative to go out and get vaccinated,” said City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson.

Based on voluntary information provided, 55% of the Wilton Manors Police Department is fully vaccinated, said Human Resources Director Dio Sanchez. The number is slightly lower but above 50% for general employees, Sanchez said.

Other notes from the Nov. 23 regular city commission meeting: Police Chief Gary Blocker announced Code Compliance Officer Kim Holinko and Officer Daniel Plunske are the department’s top employees of the third quarter. Blocker also reported of an attempted robbery that was thwarted in the 900 block of NE 29th Drive in

the early morning hours of Nov. 23. Anyone with information about this incident, Blocker said, is encouraged to call Det. Fernando Arias at 954-533-2193.

City Clerk Faith Lombardo presented Island City University graduation certificates.

In its fifth year, Island City University, Lombardo said, gives residents access to the inner-workings of various city departments and includes hands-on activities such as “how to scope a drain pipe.”

Seventeen people completed the program.

Commissioners executed an agreement with the South Florida Audubon Society for the management and maintenance of M.E. DePalma Park. Mayor Scott Newton gave the Audubon Society kudos for what he called “tremendous work” at the public garden on the corner of NE 7th Avenue and NE 20th Drive. “It’s nice to go in there now,” Newton said.

Commissioners passed a new ordinance that provides tax exemptions to residents over the age of 65. The first exemption — not to exceed $50,000 — is for seniors with an annual income of less than $31,100. There are

Through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the city is offering a $500 incentive for employees who are fully vaccinated.

114 residences that may qualify at a cost of $15,563 to the city. The second exemption is for seniors who have lived in their homes for over 25 years. To be eligible for the long-term exemption, a homeowner’s property must be under $250,000 in just value as determined by the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office. There are 17 residences that may qualify for the exemption at a cost of $4,256.17 to the city. Finance Director Penny Zuercher said the law will be implemented into the 2022-23 fiscal budget.

Community Affairs Advisory Board Chair Michael Sansevero asked the commission to review the resident parking program and bring the issue to a vote and to appoint a staff member to serve as a public art coordinator.

Sansevero also asked the commission to revisit a term limits referendum for voters to decide.

“I believe that’s what the residents would like to see,” he said.

Former Commissioner Julie Carson thanked Mayor Newton and Vice Mayor Paul Rolli for attending the Transgender Day of Remembrance at the Pride Center and visiting with residents at Independence Hall assisted living facility. Carson also thanked Commissioner Gary Resnick for attending the commission meeting in person.

The meeting was one of the shortest regular commission meetings in recent years, lasting 40 minutes.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 22

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

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NEWS

OAKLAND PARK

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

Q&A with Former Broward Mayor Ken Keechl

By John McDonald

Michael Carn being sworn in. Photo by Carina Mask.

Michael Carn Takes Oath as Mayor of Oakland Park

By Christiana Lilly Outside of Oakland Park City Hall, draped in red, white and blue, Michael E. Carn stood with his right hand up taking the oath of office as the city’s new mayor.

The city’s government votes in commissioners with each rotating into the mayoral seat each year. Just before him, former Mayor Jane Bolin was sworn in as commissioner and Aisha Gordon became vice mayor. All were flanked by their loved ones as the sun began to set over the city. City officials, including former Mayor Carol Stevens, were in attendance.

“Tonight is not about either one of us singularly,” Carn told the crowd. “But it is about this tribe, it is about the opportunity afforded to us by you the citizens of Oakland Park to serve you and serve in leadership in this time and in this time and in this place. We are grateful to you.”

He emphasized to The Gazette that the commission works as a team and their recent strategic plan that includes redevelopment of the west side of Oakland Park, raising the

standards of the city, as well as its goals to better the environment.

Carn recently stepped down from his campaign for the House 94 special election, which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis scheduled for Jan. 11, 2022 with an executive order. Through a statement on Facebook, Carn explained that in order to continue with the campaign he would have to step down from his role as mayor the day after he was sworn in.

He told The Gazette that he couldn’t do that to the people he serves and his “tribe” who helped him get to where he is today.

“They’ve invested in me, they’ve brought me to where I am since I was 5 years old,” he explained. “They’re the ones that took me aside and I couldn’t do that to them. And my heart is here.”

Carn will, however, participate in the regular election, which will begin with the August 2022 primaries. This will force him to leave his post as mayor a few months early and hand over the reins to Vice Mayor Gordon.

The city’s government votes in commissioners with each rotating into the mayoral seat each year.

Last week Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed two new Broward County commissioners.

Jared Moskowitz, the state’s former director of the Division of Emergency Management, and Torey Alston, chief of staff for the Florida Department of Transportation, accepted the appointments to begin in January. Moskowitz, a Democrat from Parkland, replaces Barbara Sharief in District 8, while Alston, a Republican and Sharief’s former chief of staff, replaces Dale Holness in District 9.

Sharief and Holness resigned their commission seats to run for the vacant congressional seat in District 20. Holness lost by a razor thin margin to businesswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in the Democratic primary election.

On the commission’s agenda is redistricting and approving new maps as required every 10 years to ensure fair representation. Longtime activist Michael Rajner raised concerns some of the proposals could dilute the LGBT community’s voice by breaking Wilton Manors into two districts or siphoning the city off from its familiar partners Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale.

For insight and analysis into the process, the Gazette reached out to former county commissioner Ken Keechl. Elected to the commission in 2006, Keechl was the county’s first openly gay mayor, leading Broward from 2009 to 2010. An attorney with over 30 years of experience, Keechl owns a law practice in Wilton Manors specializing in LGBT relationships.

Q: OF THE FOUR COMMISSION MAPS, WHICH DO YOU FAVOR AND WHY? I favor Map A. It retains the basic characteristics of my District 4 from 2006 to 2010.

Q: THERE HAVE BEEN PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT THE MAPS “DILUTE” THE LGBT COMMUNITY BY DIVIDING WILTON MANORS OR LUMPING THE CITY INTO A DISTRICT WITH A GOV. DESANTIS PICKED COMMISSIONER. DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT? No, I don’t. Map A retains a significant portion of Wilton Manors, Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale. These areas have numerous LGBT voters and they elected me as an openly gay candidate. Also, I know both of Gov. DeSantis’ appointees personally. They are very LGBT-friendly. While I don’t agree often with the governor, I think he got it right on their selections.

Ken Keechl. Photo courtesy of Ken Keechl.

Q: WHAT IS THE TERM LENGTH FOR A COUNTY COMMISSIONER? ARE THERE TERM LIMITS FOR THE OFFICE? DOES THE ENTIRE COUNTY VOTE IN THE ELECTION OR IS IT LIMITED TO THE DISTRICT? The length of the term is four years.

Commissioners are limited to three terms or 12 years. A voter in the county only votes for the candidate running in his or her district.

Q: OF THE COMMISSION’S CURRENT MAKEUP, WHICH COMMISSIONER DO YOU THINK IS THE LGBT COMMUNITY’S CLOSEST ALLY? That’s a hard question because they are all allies of the LGBT community and they are all personal friends of mine. If I had to pick one, it would probably be County Commissioner Nan Rich. When she was in the Florida Legislature years ago, she advocated for marriage equality even before the majority of LGBT individuals thought it was ever possible. As a Democrat, her bills didn’t go far, but that wasn’t the point. She was normalizing the idea of marriage equality.

And her colleagues in the State Senate and House heard her loud and clear.

Q: AS THE STATE’S FIRST OPENLY GAY COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A GAY CANDIDATE NOW? Be yourself. Be proud. And be passionate.

It’s an awesome responsibility asking people to let you lead them. Especially when they do and you become the mayor of a major county like Broward. It was a responsibility I never took lightly. Today, we have so many great LGBT elected officials and candidates — just look at Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park and Wilton Manors.

You know the old saying — if you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu. It was true in 2006 when I was first elected, and it’s true today.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 3 •

DECEMBER 2, 2021

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23

BUSINESS

WILTON MANORS

Christmas Comes Early at To The Moon

By John Hayden Christmas surprises aren’t reserved for late December. Antonio Dumas, owner of To The Moon in Wilton Manors, took over the role of Santa and brought holiday cheer to hundreds of first responders in South Florida.

He created 700 gift bags at his store, and gave them away at area hospitals, police and fire stations.

“I knew that first responders were going through a tougher time than anybody, going through major risks,” he told SFGN. “I wanted to make them happy if they were having a bad day.”

Dumas brought 100 bags each to seven spots from Hollywood to Boca Raton. He says it was his empathy with first responders that inspired the

holiday giveaway.

“I was working through the whole pandemic and I knew others that were working. I knew that first responders were going through a tougher time than anybody, going through major risks. I wanted to make them happy if they were having a bad day.”

To The Moon is stocked with lots of hard-to-find candies and collectibles. The unique candies were very popular with bag recipients.

“Candy, snacks, chips.

Anything where you open the bag and it makes you smile.”

And he says the sweeter, the better.

“No fruit or anything, you can get that anywhere. We are about sugar!”

Dumas created 700 gift bags at his store, and gave them away at area hospitals, police and fire stations.

To The Moon. Photo via Facebook.

Stocking Stuffers & Surprises Retro and classic merchandise fills To The Moon’s display windows and shelves. For holiday trends this year, he sees four familiar faces: Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia.

“Golden Girls is always huge. Even the younger generation knows the Golden Girls now. Fleece blankets and shot glasses, puzzles have been big because of the pandemic.”

The pandemic is also driving culinary curiosity.

“Anything for the kitchen. A lot of people are home cooking more. They’re using more than they did before.”

Dumas says what’s old is always new again.

“Classics are coming back, like the Garbage Pail Kids. Oven mitts and dish towels, for the last couple years, have been huge. We sell hundreds of them. Fun for any age group.”

WILTON MANORS

Arianna’s Center Celebrates 6th Anniversary

By John Hayden Progress is being made, but much work remains. In a year when violence against the trans community has nearly doubled, that statement is about as optimistic as trans activists can get.

Hope and frustration were side by side as Arianna’s Center celebrated its sixth anniversary at Sunshine Cathedral on Nov. 17. Arianna’s Center works to engage, empower, and uplift the trans community of South Florida. About 100 people sipped on drinks and munched on hot hors d’oeuvres and talked about what’s next for the center and the trans rights movement.

A town hall-style panel took the stage to discuss treatments, political possibilities, struggles, and successes. Hosted by Al Ferguson, it included the center’s founder, Arianna Lint, former CEO at Arianna’s Center Tony Lima, trans activist Rajee Narinesingh, and Wilton

Manors City Commissioner Chris Caputo. Lint talked about living life as a trans woman living with HIV, growing up in Peru and coming to America, and her goal of improving the lives of the trans community.

Narinesingh has a big heart and gives warm hugs, and that’s a testament to her love of life and belief in others.

Despite surviving botched surgeries and more, she keeps her positive attitude. After the panel, she talked with SFGN, and believes the situation is improving.

“I remember the time when I used to leave my home and it felt like I was in a war zone.

At least here in America and in South Florida specifically I’ve noticed in recent years the people aren’t as combative and abrasive towards trans people.

When I leave my home now I feel like I don’t have to wear as much armor.”

Dumas created 700 gift bags at his store, and gave them away at area hospitals, police and fire stations.

Small victories, like feeling safe when you leave your home, lay the foundation for bigger victories.

“Don’t get me wrong, I know we still have a long way to go and I still proceed with caution when I’m out and about but I just don’t feel as threatened as I did!”

The most poignant moment of the night was when Lint’s mother took the stage. The love and admiration she has toward her daughter was felt with every word she spoke.

Sunshine Cathedral has had a connection with nearly every South Florida LGBT group for nearly 50 years. Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin the church has always been, and always will be, a welcoming, safe space.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to be together as a community, and to say we’ve come a long way and we have a long way to go.”

He says the first step is for the L, G, B, and the Q to better support the T. “Education in the gay community. We are really trying to pull that rainbow flag together and we’ve got work to do.”

www.WMGAZETTE.com 24

• 12.2.2021

4 •

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Arianna Lint. Photo via Facebook.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WILTON MANORS

Community Funds LGBTQ Theater Initiative The City of Wilton Manors recognizes the importance of Art, in its many forms, and the impact the art has on our quality of life.

Arts and culture are such an integral part of our identity as a community that our city commission has identified the development of a public arts and culture policy as a key objective within our 2021-2026 strategic plan.

While progress is being made on that goal, one important reality to acknowledge that we lack the needed resources within our city’s budget to fully fund all the possibilities I’d personally love to see come to life. I continue to seek ways to work with the non-profits and philanthropic individuals within our community to fund arts-related initiatives in our city.

As city commissioner, I often brag about the fact that we are the only city in the world to have two full time, year-round gay theaters that operate side by side (The Foundry and Island City Stage). This past year, I joined the board of Plays of Wilton (POW), a LGBTQ theater incubator that funds the development and production of LGBTQ theater in Wilton Manors and beyond. It has been so rewarding to connect with our community through POW’s work.

When POW’s Founder, Ronnie Larsen, suggested that hosting a National Playwriting Award would deepen our city’s connection to the LGBT theater community and attract national attention, I committed to finding a way to fund it. Playwriters from around the world will be invited to submit their script, teams of script readers will score them, and the winner will receive a cash award along with the possibility of having their work brought to the stage right here in Wilton Manors.

To celebrate my 40th birthday this past week, I asked our community to help create and fund the POW National Playwriting Award through a Facebook fundraiser. As usual, our community stepped up! I wish to express my gratitude to the 70+ donors that stepped up to fund the award, raising more than $6,000 so far.

We raised more than we originally planned, allowing us to expand our vision with

THE

ISLANDER

“Brides of the Moon,” which was performed at The Foundry in August. Photo via Plays of Wilton, Facebook.

A WILTON MANORS NEWSLETTER

THE NEWSLETTER YOU NEED NEED. WILTON MANORS NEWS... RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX. From events to local announcements, fun facts and so much more, the Islander is everything you need to wake up ready for a beautiful day in the Island City.

visit sfgn.com/islanderwm to sign up!

additional prize categories and increase our community outreach effort for submissions.

It is our intention to ensure that our entire community, including trans, Black, brown, lesbian, and bisexual are represented in LGBT theater. Two ways we will ensure that happens is by having submissions reviewed without their authors identified and creating a specific category focusing on the diverse experiences of our community.

Plays of Wilton will be sharing specific details in the coming months at PlaysOfWilton.com.

Once again, I’d like to thank everyone who invested in LGBT theater in our community and the POW National Playwriting Award. I invite the community to continue to think about unique ways we can fund arts initiatives. If you have an idea you’d like to share, please email me at ccaputo@wiltonmanors.com or text me at 954.557.2801

I wish to express my gratitude to the 70+ donors that stepped up to fund the award, raising more than $6,000 so far.

— Chris Caputo

WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER

www.WMGAZETTE.com 5 •

DECEMBER 2, 2021

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25

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION SEAT STAYS GAY John McDonald

Alex Fernandez. Photo via Facebook.

T

he Group III seat on the Miami Beach better equipped police department is a good Commission will stay in gay hands. first step, he said.

Alex Fernandez won the run“We certainly do need that visibility off election, becoming the city’s newest and well-trained police on sensitivity and commissioner. Fernandez, 35, replaces diversity issues but it also means working Michael Góngora, who was term-limited. with other levels of law enforcement together He won with Góngora’s endorsement after with the state attorney and the criminal running against him 12 years ago. justice system to ensure proper justice for “I am overwhelmed with the community,” Fernandez said. gratitude to the community “People must become aware that FERNANDEZ, 35, that will allow there to when they commit these crimes continue being two openly gay they will be punished, they will be REPLACES MICHAEL commissioners serving on the prosecuted and they will go to jail GÓNGORA, WHO dais,” Fernandez told SFGN and we gotta keep pushing on that WAS TERM-LIMITED. as leaders in the community.”

(Group VI Commissioner David Richardson is also gay).

Fernandez has served on HE WON WITH “I will work hard alongside my many committees and boards GÓNGORA’S amazing colleagues to make in the city. His infrastructure sure Miami Beach remains wish list includes alleviating ENDORSEMENT a welcoming community traffic congestion, mitigating AFTER RUNNING that proudly embraces and street flooding and establishing a celebrates its diversity — better permitting and inspection AGAINST HIM 12 especially as we advance process.

YEARS AGO. on efforts to make our city “In a post-Surfside collapse cleaner and safer for all to world we must make sure our enjoy.” building department permits and inspections In the Nov. 16 run-off, Fernandez got 3,844 are processed efficiently,” Fernandez said. votes for 59% to defeat Stephen Cohen, who “We need to reclassify essential permits for came in with 2,644 votes for 41%. structural issues, wiring and plumbing and Fernandez campaigned on improving safety expedite those permits and anything else that in Miami Beach and protecting vulnerable has to do with the integrity of a structure, communities. Having a fully staffed and especially historic structures.”

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Publisher's Editorial

CONVICTIONS

ANOTHER WORLD AIDS DAY SHADOWS THE PLANET We won’t forget the friends we lost Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

T

he new variant of Omicron for COVID was uncovered by South African immunologists because their country has some of the best research scientists in the world.

Sadly, AIDS has given them a lot of practice. AIDS has never taken a vacation. It is still with us, without a vaccine or a cure.

It has been since the early days of the 1980s.

Nothing has come to protect us at warp speed.

A young Dr. Fauci working on AIDS 40 years ago warned us there was no cure, that it was deadly, and highly transmissible.

We have made magnificent inroads, but not without pain and loss along the way.

Millions of lives; our friends, our partners, are gone. Over decades.

In the past year, we have seen what a pandemic can mean. But in the past year we have seen what can happen when the world works together. Vaccines. Boosters.

Monoclonal Antibodies.

Hope.

Years ago, we were alone, abandoned, and almost ignored. AZT was the only word we heard. Let’s not forget those who are no longer with us; who worked so hard for so long to reach the place we are today. They are our heroes.

In fact, it was Michael Weinstein, the president of the AIDS Health Care Foundation, who, in February and March of 2020, pleaded with the United Nations and the World Health Organization to declare the coronavirus a worldwide pandemic. Too

many died when world leaders refused to listen.

A gay newspaper can’t ignore the fact that HIV is a disease that has ravaged the LGBT community for 40 years. Next week, SFGN will cover in visually and in print the ceremonies held yesterday in our communities.

AIDS-related sickness in the United States has decreased dramatically since the development of antiretroviral drugs in the mid-1990s. Still, HIV infection and AIDS remain among the nation’s leading causes of death.

HIV has a disproportionate impact on certain populations. Gay and bisexual men are also at high risk for HIV. There is no shortage of clients at Latinos Salud, Broward House, Care Resources, or the AIDS Health Care Foundation.

There are still newly diagnosed cases walking into the Pride Center daily, seeking counseling and compassion. You may not realize it knocking down a Margarita poolside on a Sunday at Tropics, but South Florida is still ground zero for the virus in the USA. Even with awareness programs from corner to corner in our community, AIDS is still an issue. COVID proved America is still Marlboro country. Too many of us don’t pay attention. We don’t listen. We don’t hear.

With HIV, too many think with the wrong head.

So how do we stir people from apathy? It takes more than speeches on Dec. 1. HIV is

MAY WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT HIV WITH THE TENACITY AND DRIVE WE HAVE FOUGHT COVID. IF ONLY WE HAD WAY BACK WHEN…

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• 12.2.2021

Above right: Rock The Ribbon. Below: Photo via Adobe.

not a once-a-year-disease. It takes annual SMART Rides and AIDS Walks and so much more. Most of all, it takes you being smarter at night so you are not kicking yourself in the morning. The mask goes over your mouth, not your eyes.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation remains a trendsetter in provocative, thoughtful, and memorable advertising that promotes condom use, open dialogue about sexual health, and getting tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

AHF is not afraid to speak out when called out, whether it is challenging presidents in America, Kings in Africa or mayors in Fort Lauderdale. They have bucked the tide and made their own waves.

No agency has stood up to unfair drug pricing like they have. AHF has both your person and pocketbook in mind. And they support so many of our nonprofits, backing their activism with financial support. But keep this in mind, for all aspects of your life, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”

Whether your community is flush with iPhones and gay beaches, or in the parched

deserts of Africa, AIDS is real, and the consequences are not pleasant. But it is within our ability to lessen the spread by our own actions and deeds. It’s obvious the world has so much more to fight. Let’s help ease the burden.

Today, on World AIDS Day, as I write this, the first confirmed U.S. case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in California. May we continue to fight HIV with the tenacity and drive we have fought COVID. If only we had way back when…

May we find a common bond that unites us against everything from COVID to Cancer.

May we use our lives to promote harmony and healing and hope. There is enough hurt and hate to go around. Don’t be part of it. Be apart from it.

Be a force for goodness, a voice for life, and an advocate for the day when we celebrate an end to World AIDS days, not an anniversary for them.

What did Little Richard once sing: “You’ve got the whole world in your hands.” Mold it with light. Live it with love. Now go get tested and don’t forget to play safe.

CONVICTIONS

Open Closet

ANXIETY AND SHOPPING

CONVICTIONS

EDITORIAL CARTOON

By Mike Luckovich

Avraham Forrest

S

ometimes I find little moments of personal growth with friends, out with the community, in sunlight and nature.

Sometimes it hits me in a rainy Goodwill parking lot.

My hands grip the steering wheel, breath fluttering in my chest. I feel like I shouldn’t be this nervous. In a moment I am going to lock my car, tighten my coat against the rain and buy some clothes. Simple.

The car beeps and I cross the parking lot, thoughts swimming with every step. Inside, rows of used clothing stretch outward under fluorescents.

I survey the racks. Thick crops of wool, polyester, cotton sit stacked on hangers, colors undulating from acid green to deep red. I take a step to the right.

My heart gets heavy. I feel it sink into my chest, brewing additional weight. As I get closer to the rack it beats faster. Stares stab through me, though part of me suspects they are self-inflicted.

I shuffle awkwardly around the other customers in the aisle. I would give anything to be alone right now, but I keep a tight focus on the wire hangers.

My hands flip through the rack. The search is quick and nervous. My heart threatens to thunk down my ribcage like an overripe apple. Anxiety begins to seep in. I feel out of place, ridiculous, like an incendiary sore thumb with a neon sign marked “QUEER” pulsating overhead.

I want to leave. I feel oddly exposed, like I’m sitting upright in an open field rather than a corner of a clothing store.

I take a deep breath. Then I straighten. In a moment of clarity I square my shoulders underneath my heart and carry the weight.

Suddenly I’m doing it. Pushing under an unseen yoke. I feel sturdy and unwavering.

I feel like Atlas, or as much as a nervous

Sixteen Years Serving the CommUNITY

Photo via Pixabay.

19-year-old from Indiana can.

My feet find their way back to the front. I am patient in line, purchases folded over my arms, assuming a pose I hope conveys that I am fine and that this situation is normal, even mundane.

I deposit three skirts on the counter, pay quietly and make a curt walk to the entrance.

Outside rain pours.

Inside my car I feel like a thief. Like I had run into the Goodwill, grabbed what my hands could carry and sprinted out. But it feels more like a plundering, like I claimed something forever mine. I feel vaguely optimistic as I turn the key and drive home.

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

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CONVICTIONS

My Best Gay Self

WE ARE OUR OWN GREATEST LIMITS Mark A. Turnipseed

E

veryone has heard it said that we are our own worst critic, but have you ever realized that we are also our very own greatest limit? The good news is that those limits lift dramatically when we find out how to get out of the way.

Why does this happen?

IT’S ALL A MATTER OF TASTE When we are born, we have a taste for, a smell for, and a touch for that which will nourish us and keep us safe and warm. Basically, we are born wanting to get back into the womb, but since we can’t have that we develop a taste for, a smell for, and a touch for that which feels the closest to that womb. Mother’s touch, her milk, her pheromones. Some call it survival instinct, but I think I see it more as comfort instinct. If we had it our way from the start we would stay in the womb and never come out, it was perfect in there.

As we grow, we are introduced to new things, each one getting further and further from the womb. Often, it’s uncomfortable, and in raising children you must be careful about introducing things that may cause too much discomfort because that can lead to trauma. Think about the oral retention that would develop for instance, if you replaced the nipple with Tabasco instead of a slow ween to a bottle. In a decade or two’s time, however, Tabasco sauce may become more comforting than milk.

TASTES CHANGE BUT HABITS REMAIN Now here is a curious thing. We develop these behaviors of going toward things that are good for us, initially at least. We think they are the best things for us. Our tastes tell us our mother’s milk is our livelihood and so we gravitate towards it. But, very quickly it becomes more of a habit than a taste that is good for us. At some point we need much

30

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more than mother’s milk, but it’s too late because now we have a habit. Our taste for and our habit for mother’s milk is weakening our ability to grow.

THE EASY ROAD Now that we have a habit it’s very hard to introduce new tastes unless it’s sugar.

Sugar for kids and other easy pleasure foods like pizza for adults can act to stimulate similar hormonal response to breastfeeding. Feeding a toddler is no easy feat, and that’s why for the next 10 years of life in a lot of households it’s like, “Honey let’s stop the fight, just load the kid up with sugar!” Tastes however, as we have seen, quickly become habits and at this point our tastes have become driven solely by what is most comforting.

What we think will satisfy us based on tastes and habit, however, is the number one killer on this planet… yet we continue.

A NOTE ON LIMITS How much different is this from how we think we know what’s best for us.

We think we know the man who is “our type” or we think we know the music that “gets us going” best. This taste and the subsequent habits lead to small lives.

We are stuck only seeking our type, meanwhile missing out on a huge and vastly bountiful sea of possibility. We find ourselves going to the same club night after night and miss out on a new style of music or dancing that may, in fact, help to liberate our soul more than we could have ever dreamed.

BACK TO FOOD How many times has a friend gotten you to try something to eat that you thought you wouldn’t like only for you to come back around and say, “Thank you for making me try that, it’s my new favorite!” That feeling, that epiphany, is

Mark Turnipseed harnessing the power of celery — and himself. Photo via Mark Turnipseed, Facebook.

so much better than climbing back into the womb because it’s a discovery. That discovery, when we get out of our own way, is something that can drive us to greatness by stretching our limits and exploring deeper our relationships, sex, travel, foods, and career opportunities.

TO DISCOVER YOUR TRUTH You must get out of your way. You must let your tastes and habits and opinions drop. You must realize that they aren’t your safekeeper. They are just a remnant of you sucking your mamma’s teat and

the poor eating is a symptom much like throwing a fit if you don’t get that teat. If tastes and habits are destroyed and the only way you feel satisfied is through pizza and sugar, then it will take great work and lots of time. But eventually, through consistency, you can change those tastes and habits. I, for one, hated fruits and vegetables, but now, it’s what I crave. I hated exercise, but now it’s a main component of my daily life. My taste, however, was for the couch, a movie, and a pizza… Not the gym and veggies. In other words, I had to get out of my own way.

My Best Gay Self is a column by author, speaker, fitness coach and LGBTQ addiction and wellness advocate, Mark A. Turnipseed. He is also the Owner and CEO of Integrity Endurance, a network of personal trainers with the goal of fighting the opioid crisis through fitness. Visit www.markaturnipseed.com to learn more/contact or to find his book “My Suicide Race: Surviving the trauma of addiction, recovery and coming out.”

CONVICTIONS

Opinion

SENATORS RUBIO AND SCOTT

YOU CAN LEAD THE WAY TO COMMON GROUND LGBT Floridians, Like All Americans, Deserve Non-discrimination Protections

Reverend Danny Morales

A

s a pastor in Miami’s Liberty City, I hope Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott will help find common ground to ensure fairness and equality for all Americans. For decades, Congress has neglected its responsibility to protect the LGBT community — but with both parties now offering proposals to add nondiscrimination protections to the law, that could change in 2021. I look to Florida’s senators to help hammer out the details of this crucial legislation.

I serve as Interim Pastor of the New Covenant Presbyterian Church. Today, New Covenant is a largely Black congregation proud of its traditions of diversity and inclusion. As Liberty City gradually transformed in the 1960s from a predominately White neighborhood to one with increasing numbers of Black residents, New Covenant was the first Presbyterian congregation in the South to break racial barriers by integrating. New Covenant MY FAITH adopted the motto “A church for all TEACHES ME THAT people.”

JESUS’ MESSAGE As a gay man, I like to emphasize exactly what that motto means, encouraging our WAS VERY CLEAR: community to look around and see who’s Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. Photo via Facebook.

WE ALL SHARE A missing. As part of that effort, I’ve had the opportunity to counsel young LGBT adults RESPONSIBILITY protections, yet, like my friends, most themselves, with nearly half of same-sex couples who are searching for a faith home that TO LOVE AND incorrectly believe those protections reporting discrimination in seeking senior housing. welcomes them. Some of them share the RESPECT THE already exist on a federal level.

But there is now hope Congress might finally act. struggles they’ve had finding acceptance They do not.

For the first time, both Democrats and Republicans and support from their families.

DIGNITY OF And here in Florida, there are no have put forward measures adding LGBT protections to The role that the church plays in EVERYONE statewide laws protecting the LGBT our nation’s civil rights laws. The major disagreement honoring every person is at the heart of AROUND US. community from discrimination or between the two parties involves balancing the urgent my ministry. My faith teaches me that its youth from bullying in schools. need to protect LGBT people with the religious freedoms Jesus’ message was very clear: we all share I’ve learned that discrimination we cherish as Americans. a responsibility to love and respect the Finding a path to getting that job done is what dignity of everyone around us. The love of justice for has profoundly damaging consequences for LGBT Americans here and nationwide. One in three, according legislators do when committed to solving problems, and everyone is integral to our congregation’s mission.

I sometimes hear people complain that the LGBT to a 2020 survey, experienced discrimination — in Senators Rubio and Scott can look to the 21 states with community is seeking special rights, when in fact public spaces, on the job, in schools, and in their own laws that prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination without compromising religious freedoms. our goal is simply to be confident in having the same neighborhoods — in just the previous year.

That number rises to 60% among transgender Washington can follow suit, with senators reaching rights as every other American. Friends I’ve known for years tell me they’ve been unaware of the rights our people, who experience exceptionally high levels of across the aisle to end the divisive pattern pitting community lacks — for example, in securing housing, unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. They religious liberties against LGBT rights. Every major accessing public accommodations open to the general are also stalked by violence, with a record 44 hate- civil rights advance — from the 1964 Civil Rights Act to the Americans With Disabilities Act — has found the public, and being free from discrimination in obtaining motivated murders nationwide last year.

Black and Latino LGBTQ folks face greater poverty appropriate balance. credit.

Senators Rubio and Scott: Nearly one million LGBTQ We know that Americans from all regions, walks rates than communities of color generally. Less of life, and political outlooks — by a lopsided 69-24 than half the states protect the community’s youth Floridians and their families and friends are counting percent margin — support LGBTQ non-discrimination from bullying in school. Elders must often re-closet on you.

12 . 2 . 20 21 •

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A PERFECT UNION LIFESTYLE FOOD

Rick Karlin

UNION KITCHEN & BAR 2309 N. Dixie Hwy., Wilton Manors 754-216-0143 unionkb.com

One of the lesser-known definitions of union is that of “a unified condition, something that is made one” or something “formed by a combining or coalition of parts or members.”

Both of those definitions apply to the Union Kitchen & Bar, the newest upscale dining establishment in Wilton Manors.

This is a place where all aspects of the dining experience from service to food prep to atmosphere unify to create something remarkable.

Union is run by husband and wife Roberto Colombi and Christie Tenaud, who came from different backgrounds, and two different parts of the world, each with its unique culinary history. Tenaud was born in Peru and Colombi in Northern Italy. They met in south Florida while they developed their skills independently. They met doing what they love, and a “Union” was formed. The menu is a reflection of both of their backgrounds with Tenaud running the kitchen and the charming Colombi running the front of the house, both at the top of their game.

The food on its own is terrific, but when combined with the terrific service and comfortable atmosphere it becomes more than dinner out; it becomes a dining event.

Normally, I would start with the food; that’s the main reason we dine out most of the time. But it is the impeccable service, which manages to be attentive and friendly and not the least bit stuffy, that makes dining at Union such a lovely experience.

While other places complain that they’re having trouble finding help, Union seems to have managed to stock itself with a staff full of professionals who genuinely like their jobs.

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• 12.2.2021

Dishes arrive at just the right moment, and empty plates are whisked away just in time for the next course and each dish is delivered to the diner who ordered it! That shouldn’t be remarkable, and yet it is.

We began our meal with the crispy pork belly tacos and, for once, the pork belly was served as it should be: crispy on the outside, with a juicy interior. The pickled onions and aji Verde sauce perfectly augmented the dish.

Marinated goat cheese with olives, Marcona almonds, and pearl onions confit offered for a rich blend of flavors, especially when spread on the perfectly toasted bread slices accompanying the dish. At this point, I was ready to go home and proclaim this the best dining experience of the year, but we still had three more courses to go.

We split the Asian pear salad. Baby mixed greens with candied walnuts and blue cheese caressed with the lightest honey-cider vinaigrette. Exquisite in everything from execution to appearance. I enjoyed a glass of Austrian Grüner Veltliner, the fruitiness of which perfectly complemented the appetizer and salad course and was reasonably priced at $9 for a healthy pour. The same was true of the Mount Fishtail New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc I enjoyed with my entrée.

For his entrée, my hubby chose the squid ink fettuccine, cooked impeccably al dente and drizzled with a white wine and lemon sauce.

It was topped by five perfectly poached plump shrimp. I was in a carnivorous mood and torn between the pork chop and rib eye. At our server’s suggestion, I opted for the rib eye and was rewarded with a Flintstone-esque portion of the steak, which arrived overlapping each side of the plate. It also completely covered a medley of roasted rainbow fingerling potatoes and carrots. If there was one component of the meal that was a tad below perfection, it’s that the chimichurri sauce overwhelmed the dish a bit. I would have preferred a touch less. But there was no denying its freshness and garlicky unctuousness. The steak was, of

Marinated goat cheese. Photo via the Union Kitchen & Bar website. course, cooked to the flawless medium-rare I ordered.

Although neither of us was able to finish the generous portions of our entrées, we decided to have dessert anyway. My chocolate brownie trifle featured Chantilly cream, chocolate pudding, and brownies. I would have preferred that the brownies be a bit chewier. Their light cakey base disappeared into the chocolate pudding. The blackberry galette was a textbook dessert, with the flaky pastry supporting a rich mascarpone base. A simple scoop of buttermilk ice cream drizzled with local honey rounded out the perfection of this dish.

It was a beautiful night and we opted to dine on the front patio. Although the rear patio is more expansive and beautifully decorated, we enjoyed the people-watching from our cozy seats near the firepit in front. I’ve noticed that many restaurants in South Florida have eased face mask restrictions among their employees.

I was pleased to note that at Union, every single employee was still masked, and I saw several applying hand sanitizer frequently.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

SIDE DISHES Café Pelican, in Palm Beach County, features Broadway and cabaret star Avery Sommers on Nov. 28 and Dec. 12 and 26. The Sunday evening performances of show tunes, jazz standards, and favorites from the great American songbook will be held from 7-9 p.m. Reservations are required by calling 561-842-7272. For more information, go to thepelicancafe.com.

The South Beach Wine and Food Festival will fan out across MiamiDade and Broward counties with 85 events (so far) spread out over four days, Feb. 24-27. In Broward, events include dinners on Fort Lauderdale Beach, one at soon-to-open Dune by Laurent Tourondel, at Riviera by Fabio Viviani and at Etaru Hallandale.

VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD!

Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor.

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

READING WITH PRIDE | ‘THE CHARM OFFENSIVE’ Visit SFGN.com to check it out, along with many other reading suggestions.

LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

THE CONDITIONS OF LOVING ANOTHER Brian McNaught

Photo via Pikist.

A

s Lincoln and I took our evening walk tonight, two guys holding hands passed us. We said, “hello,” and then I asked them, “Did you ever imagine in third grade that one day you might be able to hold the hand of another man, and walk down the street like this?”

“Never,” they replied.

“Life is good. We’ve come a long way,” I said.

They smiled and agreed, and walked on, perhaps more conscious of the joy and freedom they now enjoy holding hands as they walked home.

Our ability to live and love with self-esteem was celebrated the night before at the gala of the Stonewall National Museum & Archives. Ray and I were there, and delighted to see so many people we adore but haven’t seen for many, many months because of COVID. There were LGBT history quiz cards on the tables that tested our knowledge of our movement’s early days. The ability of gay men and lesbian women to deeply love a life partner without worry about being arrested at a public event such as that dinner is a right fought for by thousands of us over the past 60 years.

THE OLDER YOU While having dinner, Ray and I got a GET, WHETHER text from a niece that my beloved older sister might not make it through the night.

YOU’RE GAY, She had entered the hospital a few days BISEXUAL, OR ago to repair a broken femur, got terribly STRAIGHT, THE constipated from the pain meds and required emergency surgery for a burst MORE LIKELY IT IS colon, and then developed fluid in her THAT YOU HAVE lungs.

We apologized to our table mates, and TO LET GO OF THE to our dear friend, Alix Ritchie, who was HANDS OF THE being honored for her philanthropy, and went home rather than cry the rest of PEOPLE YOU MOST the night in front of the 200 guests. Love, CARE ABOUT. whether it’s gay, bisexual or straight, At this very moment, my beloved Ray, who and spend my life with another man, nor did I imagine I’d for a life partner or a family member worked non-stop for three days trying to perfect ever lose my beloved sister. My desire as an adult is to hold or friend, carries with it not just the the layout of my new book on Amazon, “On Being Ray’s and Kathy’s hands forever. greatest joy life has to offer, but also the greatest pain. When Gay and Gray,” is beside me asleep, as is our much-loved The older you get, whether you’re gay, bisexual, or straight, we allow ourselves to love and be loved, we agree to accept labradoodle, Lincoln, who lives in trust that he is safe and the more likely it is that you have to let go of the hands of the extraordinary suffering as part of the deal. loved. My eagerness to be in relationship with them both, to people you most care about. Love and loss have no sexual My older sister made it through the night, and seems to experience the deepest level of love for them both, comes orientation. be stable, but her children, siblings, and dear friends went with the agreed upon condition that the more I love, the I go to sleep now, with my big sister sleeping in her hospital through agonizing hours of fear imaging the loss of someone more I will one day suffer. bed, Ray asleep beside me, and all of the people I love most so central to their sense of being. I woke up this morning from Choosing not to love doesn’t protect us from suffering. still present and available to me. These moments are to be a very fitful sleep feeling grateful for the 5 a.m. text that she Life without love, without intimacy, without years and years treasured. We only truly realize that when we spend time had survived the night, but also shaken to my core, and weak of good, happy memories, is not a life without suffering. lying awake with the awareness of, or fear of, loss. beyond belief. Such is the power of love. A few hours later, Loneliness can be much worse than the anguish of loss.

Sing and dance now, and hold hands on the street if you when I met two friends at Stork’s for a regularly scheduled When I was in third grade, I never imagined I could love can. coffee, I cried openly without the ability to stop myself.

Love is manifested in multiple ways each moment of the day. It can be the comfort of holding the hand of the person Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his you adore, and sitting up all night beside the bed of your many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The seriously ill mother. It’s a feeling that can make us want to Godfather of gay diversity training.” Brian has a weekly YouTube/Facebook podcast called, “Are You sing and dance, and also weep ourselves to sleep.

Happy Without the Movie?”

12 . 2 . 20 21 •

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A&E APPOINTMENTS

Comedy Central debuts “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” on Saturday, Dec. 4 and starring Rachel Dratch, Cheyenne Jackson, Vella Lovell and Ana Gasteyer. Credit: Comedy Central.

ARTSBEAT HOLIDAY COMEDY, DRAMA AND TRADITIONS J.W. Arnold HAD ENOUGH HALLMARK MOVIES YET? It’s barely December, but Hallmark, Lifetime, UpTV and other cable networks have been running their syrupy holiday movies nonstop for more than a month already. Comedy Central enters the fray with its own original parody, “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. SNL alumnae Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer wrote the screenplay.

Holly (Vella Lovell), a go-getter real estate exec from New York City, heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a mega-resort. First, she must convince the inn’s spinster owners (Gasteyer and Dratch) to make the sale. But before she can, she meets their nephew Frank (Cheyenne Jackson), a hunky woodsman. Will she go back to her fast-paced city life or will she fall in love with Frank and find the spirit of Christmas?

Check local listings for channels and showtimes.

PIGS FLY AT EMPIRE STAGE Pigs Do Fly Productions, the South Florida theater company founded by Ellen Wacher to “spotlight actors over 50 living their lives in involved and exciting ways,” returns to Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale this weekend with “Helen on Wheels,” playing Dec. 3 – 19.

The comedy, written by Cricket Daniel and directed by Deborah Kondelik, is the story of “a feisty, bingoplaying, gun-toting, ruckus-raising, independent woman living in the small town of Crockett, Oklahoma. When Helen isn’t locked up in the local clink, she’s on her front porch shootin’ up critters and the local kids.”

Tickets are $39 at PigsDoFlyProductions.com. Use the code BLAST for a $10 discount at purchase.

Note: Masks are required to enter the theater and during the performance.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON Symphony of the Americas will transport audiences at the Broward Center on a world tour, celebrating the sounds of the season in their new seasonal tradition, “Holidays of the Americas,” Friday, Dec. 3 at 7:45 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 and 7:45 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center.

Guest conductor William Garfield Walker will lead the symphony, along with Florida’s Singing Sons and the North Broward Preparatory School Concert Choir, in a program featuring Piazzolla’s “Winter in Buenos Aires,” Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite,” “Christmas on Broadway” and an audience sing-along.

Tickets start at $35 at BrowardCenter.org. Recent negative PCR COVID test results or, alternately, proof of vaccination and masks required.

34

• 12.2.2021

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