APRETUDE is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (at least 35 kg). APRETUDE
APRETUDE is given every other month by a healthcare provider after initiation injections have been given 1 month apart for 2 consecutive months. Stay under a provider’s care while receiving APRETUDE. You must receive it as scheduled. If you will miss a scheduled injection by more than 7 days, call your provider right away.
This is only a brief summary of important information about APRETUDE and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine. AP-reh-tood
Important information for people who receive APRETUDE to help reduce their risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, also called pre-exposure prophylaxis or “PrEP”:
Before receiving APRETUDE to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1:
• You must be HIV-1 negative to start APRETUDE. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection.
• Do not receive APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.
• Some HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting APRETUDE or at any time while receiving APRETUDE. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include: tiredness; joint or muscle aches; sore throat; rash; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin; fever; headache; vomiting or diarrhea; night sweats.
Please see additional Important Facts About APRETUDE at right.
While you are receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP:
• APRETUDE does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections. Practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to reduce the risk of getting sexually transmitted infections.
• You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP.
° Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.
° Ask your partners with HIV-1 if they are taking anti-HIV-1 medicines and have an undetectable viral load. An undetectable viral load is when the amount of virus in the blood is too low to be measured in a lab test. To maintain an undetectable viral load, your partners must keep taking HIV-1 medicine as prescribed. Your risk of getting HIV-1 is lower if your partners with HIV-1 are taking effective treatment.
° Get tested for HIV-1 with each APRETUDE injection or when your healthcare provider tells you. You should not miss any HIV-1 tests. If you become HIV-1 infected and continue receiving APRETUDE because you do not know you are HIV-1 infected, the HIV-1 infection may become harder to treat.
° Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. These infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you.
° If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. They may want to do more tests to be sure you are still HIV-1 negative.
° Get information and support to help reduce sexual risk behaviors.
° Do not miss any injections of APRETUDE. Missing injections increases your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.
° If you do become HIV-1 positive, you will need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE is not approved for treatment of HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and receive only APRETUDE, over time your HIV-1 may become harder to treat.
APRETUDE is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (at least 35 kg). HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if APRETUDE is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 77 pounds (less than 35 kg).
DO NOT RECEIVE APRETUDE IF YOU:
• already have HIV-1 infection. If you are HIV-1 positive, you will need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE is not approved for treatment of HIV-1.
• do not know your HIV-1 infection status. You may already be HIV-1 positive. You need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE can only help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection before you are infected.
• are allergic to cabotegravir.
• are taking any of the following medicines: carbamazepine; oxcarbazepine; phenobarbital; phenytoin; rifampin; rifapentine
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
• have ever had a skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain cabotegravir.
• have or have had liver problems.
• have ever had mental health problems.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if APRETUDE will harm your unborn baby. APRETUDE can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after the last injection. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while receiving APRETUDE.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if APRETUDE can pass to your baby in your breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while receiving APRETUDE.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with APRETUDE. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with APRETUDE. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to receive APRETUDE with other medicines.
APRETUDE may cause serious side effects, including:
• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with APRETUDE. Stop receiving APRETUDE and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; trouble breathing; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.
• Liver problems. Liver problems have happened in people with or without a history of liver problems or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver function.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or "tea-colored" urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area; itching.
• Depression or mood changes. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless; feeling anxious or restless; have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself.
The most common side effects of APRETUDE include: pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, bruising, redness, itching, warmth, loss of sensation at the injection site, abscess, and discoloration; diarrhea; headache; fever; tiredness; sleep problems; nausea; dizziness; passing gas; stomach pain; vomiting; muscle pain; rash; loss of appetite; drowsiness; back pain; upper respiratory infection.
These are not all the possible side effects of APRETUDE.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
• Go to APRETUDE.com or call 1-877-844-8872 where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.
Trademark is owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.
©2022 ViiV Healthcare or licensor.
CBTADVT220017 September 2022 Produced in USA.
The Respect for Marriage Act passed in the U.S. House – again. But this time fewer Republicans voted for it. In July all four South Florida House Republicans voted in favor of the bill, but three of those representatives, Brian Mast, María Salazar, and Mario Díaz-Balart, flipped their votes.
“My record shows that I am a longstanding advocate against discrimination of all types. I, however, cannot support any effort that undermines religious liberties by failing to provide legitimate safeguards for Faith-Based organizations that object based on their deeply-held religious beliefs,” Díaz-Balart said. “It is unfortunate that the Senate missed an opportunity to protect marriage equality while also guaranteeing religious freedom. After multiple efforts by my colleagues to offer amendments, Senate Democrats rejected each amendment and doubled down on a bill that fails to uphold the religious liberties which are sacred to our nation.”
In the Senate, 12 Republicans voted for the legislation. Senate Republicans had refused to advance the House’s version that passed in July. Instead they continued to negotiate to craft a version some Republicans could vote for. Some of those Republicans hail from very conservative parts of the nation, including West Virginia and Wyoming.
According to the Catholic News Agency: “The final version of the bill includes a bipartisan amendment meant to ensure that nonprofit religious organizations will not be required to provide services, facilities, or goods for the celebration of a same-sex marriage. It also provides for individual conscience protections to the
extent provided under the Constitution and federal law, and makes clear the bill does not authorize the federal government to recognize polygamous marriage.”
The legislation passed in a 258-169-1 vote with all Democrats and 39 Republicans voting in favor. In July it passed 267–157.
“I am disappointed to see the final House version of the Respect for Marriage Act did not include full protections for churches and Americans with sincerely held religious beliefs. I voted for the first version of the bill because I believe in human dignity and respect for all individuals,” Salazar was quoted as saying in Politico. “However, we cannot pass laws that advance one interest and bypass long-held legal protections for others.”
According to Politico Tommy Garcia, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, blessed the Miami-area
Representative.
“María Elvira Salazar’s vote change shows Floridians that she is willing to say and do anything to get elected,” Garcia said. “Salazar’s shameless vote against the Respect for Marriage Act sends a clear message that she doesn’t believe people’s right to marry whomever they love should be protected.”
Miami-area Rep. Carlos Giménez, Kat Cammack and Michael Waltz all still voted in favor.
Florida’s two Republican Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio also voted against the legislation.
The legislation also protects interracial marriage. The legislation does not set a national requirement that all states must legalize same-sex marriage; it does require individual states to recognize another state’s legal marriage. President Joe Biden signed the legislation on Dec. 13.
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.
Singer Becky Hill has a new YouTube documentary titled “You/Me/Us” discussing life since coming out.
In April 2021, Hill came out as queer via Twitter saying, “I’ve definitely felt uncomfortable branding myself as straight, or anything else for that matter, but queer seems to be the most fitting identity for who I am.”
Since then, Hill goes by she/they pronouns. “Coming out as queer was a big thing for me,” she reflected in the documentary, “because I never really felt like it was something that I could be a part of.”
The show features drag stars Dosa Cat, Freida Slaves, Rilease Slaves, Chio and Margo Marshall.
It is available to watch now on YouTube the channel “Becky Hill Official.”
Artist Jenifer Prince is creating pinupesque illustrations of lesbian couples.
Prince describes her work as “lesbian and Sapphic storytelling in a vintageinspired aesthetic, especially comics and pulp illustrations.”
Since it is rare to see old images of queer couples, Prince told The Huffington Post that her work is a quiet form of activism.
“In my work, I want to show that lesbians and bisexual women have always existed. Our love stories have always existed, even though they were erased from history. I believe illustrating with this vintage-inspired aesthetic helps to combat the erasure of our existence in history,” she said. “That’s why I like to draw positive and often wholesome stories.”
“Holy Cross is an exceptional facility. I was fortunate to experience it firsthand with my back fusion surgery. From the extremely knowledgeable and caring doctors and nurses, to the facilities, rooms and state-of-the-art equipment. My back surgery was a five hour operation, the care I received by everyone made this difficult need simpler for me to endure and recuperate quickly. The health care professionals at Holy Cross are truly “Remarkable.” My warmest thanks to all.”
Elliot Page has announced his new memoir, “Pageboy,” that is set to be released in the Summer of 2023.
“Writing a book has come up a few times over the years, but it never felt right and quite frankly, it didn’t feel possible,” Page wrote on Instagram. “I could barely sit still, let alone focus long enough to complete such a task. At last, I can be with myself, in this body. So, I’ve written a book about my story.”
He started acting in Canada at age 10 and earned an Academy Award nomination by age 20.
“The act of writing, reading, and sharing the multitude of our experiences is an important step in standing up to those who wish to silence and harm us. Books have helped me, saved me even, so I hope this can help someone feel less alone, feel seen, no matter who they are or what path they are on,” said Page.
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DR. SHEETAL SHARMA DR. MICHAEL SENSIONOut Loud Colorado Springs Men’s Chorus has been one of the organizations LGBT people have been seeking since the Club Q nightclub shooting that occurred in November.
“Gay and lesbian choruses like Out Loud were born out of the 1978 assassination of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and have remained steadfast pillars of the LGBTQ community from the AIDS crisis through mass shootings such as Orlando’s Pulse nightclub in 2016,” stated Summit Daily.
The all-men’s gay choir had their biggest show since COVID-19, with three sold-out back-to-back shows, according to CPR News.
The University of Wyoming asked a church elder to take down a sign that was transphobic to one of their students.
The sign read, “God created male and female and [redacted] is a male.”
One of the school’s faculty immediately acted and told the man to change his sign. He did comply and removed the name.
Todd Schmidt, the man who targeted the student, said he wanted “to tell the truth and bring people to God,” according to Cowboy State Daily.
“While [Schmidt] engaged in heated exchanges with students and perhaps
Drag Brunch was a big success in Dowagiac, Michigan. The event’s $2,700 proceeds went to OutCenter of Southwest Michigan.
The Drag Brunch event flew in popular drag queens from Chicago: Kimberly Summer, O’laysia, Boy J, and Khloé Coulee.
“According to Burns, ticket purchase data showed that approximately 75% people at the event were from Dowagiac
and surrounding communities,” reported Moody on the Market. “Local bakery The Baker’s Rhapsody donated a beautiful variety of pastries and custom cookies.”
The event was held at The Wounded Minnow. OutCenter Southwest Michigan partnered with Stay Dowagiac Collective, a short-term rental property business, hoping to bring more tourism to the county.
“We will grieve, we will feel anger and sadness, and in the midst of that we will feel joy and hope,” said Concert Artistic Director Bill Loper.Photo via Out Loud Colorado Springs Men’s Chorus/Facebook.
TRANS IRISH TEEN FIGHTS TO STAY IN CANADA
According to CBC, the County Kildarebased Tyrrell Haslam family has been residing in a Vernon, British Columbia, hotel room for 15 months thanks to Turning Point, a charity that helps the homeless. The family has been forced to live off of charity and is no longer allowed to work or go to school.
Their journey to become Canadian citizens started in 2013, highlighting the difficulty of the country’s immigration laws — especially at a time when the pandemic was limiting access to legal representation and other government services.
The family claims their application for permanent residency was first refused in 2013 due to an employer writing the incorrect labor code on paperwork. As a result, they were forced to return to Ireland in 2015.
Cuba, a powerhouse in boxing, has approved women competing in events for the first time since Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959, according to sports officials.
Since Munich in 1972, the Caribbean Island has dominated international competitions by winning 41 gold medals at the Olympic games. The island is also known for producing top-ranked men’s boxers.
However, Cuba’s ambitious female boxers, who have been prohibited from partaking in matches for decades, have until recently had no alternative but to emigrate in order to compete at the top levels of their sport.
“Women’s boxing in Cuba ... is going to bring us to the international medal table,” said Ariel Saínz, vice president of Cuba’s
Institute of Sports (INDER), to Reuters.
The legal foundation for the action, according to Sainz, was supplied by Cuba’s newly passed family code, a series of rules intended to eradicate prejudice against women and the LGBT population in Cuba’s “machista” society.
ANWAR FILES SUIT AGAINST PKR CHIEF AFTER LGBT REMARKS
The manager, Katarzyna N, was hauled to court by prosecutors and Ordo Iuris, an extremely conservative Catholic legal organization and research tank known for its anti-LGBT and anti-abortion campaigning. The decision affirmed the conclusions of a lower tribunal came to in February.
According to Channel News Asia, liberals and religious conservatives in Poland are at odds over LGBT rights. LGBT “ideology,” according to the ruling Law and Justice party, is an intrusive foreign influence that threatens the country’s
steadfastly Catholic traditions.
The regional court in Krakow stated in its ruling that it had not discovered any proof of religious discrimination or any covert reasons for the dismissal.
Acloser look at Fort Lauderdale’s District 4 election results reveals a very competitive landscape.
Seven candidates campaigned for the commissioner seat formerly held by Ben Sorensen, who made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination in Congressional District 23. Warren Sturman, who placed second to Sorensen in 2018, won the race by just 49 votes over political newcomer Kevin Cochrane.
Located in the southern part of the city, District 4 has 13 of Fort Lauderdale’s 46 precincts. Data from the Broward Supervisor of Elections show the district has 36,148 active voters with 35.9% registered Democrats, 31% Republican and 30.8% unaffiliated.
White voters make up 71% of the electorate, followed by 13% for Hispanic voters and 7% for Black voters.
The top of a ticket was split as Democrat Val Demings edged Republican Marco Rubio by just 11 votes in the Senate campaign, while Ron DeSantis defeated Charlie Crist, 51.6% to 47.7%
in the governor’s race.
Seven precincts in the district’s western section are in Congressional District 25, where Debbie Wasserman Schultz nipped Carla Spalding, 46.4% to 45.7%. The other six precincts are in Congressional District 23, where Jared Moskowitz beat Joe Budd, 49.3% to 48.7%.
In the commissioner’s race, which saw an active voter participation of 42%, Sturman’s margins in the Harbordale and Tarpon River areas were the difference. Cochrane took five precincts, including the coastal R013. A gay man and marathon runner, Cochrane entered the race after leading a successful effort to thwart a proposed downtown micro-housing project by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
The sponsor of a law that made Florida ground zero in the culture wars has resigned in the wake of a federal indictment.
Prosecutors charged Representative Joseph Harding of Ocala with six counts of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements. Investigators allege the Republican lawmaker participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration of more than $150,000 in coronavirus relief loans.
The indictment was announced on Dec. 7 by Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. A trial is scheduled for Jan. 11 in Gainesville.
On Dec. 8, Harding resigned as Representative for House District 24, effective immediately.
Harding, 35, raised his profile during the 2022 legislative session by authoring and pushing through the Parental Rights in Education bill, which banned certain instructions on sexual orientation and
gender identity in public schools. Dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, it was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law in March by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Harding is accused of making false statements and using dormant business entities on applications for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
On his Facebook page, Harding said he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“I want the public and my constituents to know that I fully repaid the loan and cooperated with investigators as requested,” Harding wrote.
The scheme allegedly took place between Dec. 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021. Harding faces a maximum of 35 years in prison, if convicted on all charges.
Twelve Republican senators crossed the aisle to support marriage equality with the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. They hailed everywhere from independent minded states like Maine and Alaska, to conservative strongholds like Wyoming, West Virginia and Utah.
But in Florida both Republican senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott opposed the Respect for Marriage Act that President Joe Biden signed into law Dec. 13.
It’s not a surprise.
Neither had indicated they would support the legislation. In July, Rubio, as he was walking into an elevator, told CNN that voting on the bill was a “stupid waste of time” in front of Tammy Baldwin, who is the first openly LGBT United States senator.
Scott had taken a less aggressive stance telling CNN in July he would “wait and see.”
Both voted no when the senate voted Nov. 29. The Respect for Marriage Act codified same-sex and interracial marriage into federal law. The law also forces states to recognize marriages from other states, but doesn’t compel a state to issue a marriage certificate to anyone, including same-sex couples.
“I proudly support the gay community in Florida and across the nation and will aggressively fight any attempt to take away the ability for same-sex couples to marry and live their dreams in our great country,” Scott said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the bill under consideration by the U.S. Senate does not adequately protect the religious liberties of all Americans, as guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Meanwhile Rubio offered up an amendment to the legislation that was rejected.
“This bill does not protect religious liberty. Nuns running orphanages will find themselves in court if it becomes law. That’s outrageous. No faith-based organization will be immune from the insanity. Christian. Jewish. Muslim. Everyone,” Rubio said in a statement. “The Senate had a chance to fix this obvious problem, but it failed. Now faith-based organizations will suffer the consequences.”
Meanwhile the Mormon Church, once a major opponent to same-sex marriage, supported the bill.
“We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious
freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters,” the Church’s statement reads. “We believe this approach is the way forward. As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding.”
Rubio’s statement even notes the bill does in fact protect nonprofits whose “principal purpose” is the “study, practice, or advancement of religion.”
Rubio had this to say to one SFGN reader when he emailed the senator’s office.
“There is no more fundamental and sacred bond than a marriage between a man and woman. I have long advocated that marriage is the essential foundation for raising children and serves as the core of a healthy and productive society,” Rubio said in the letter. “Children are best positioned to thrive when they are raised in a household with a married mother and father, and the stability provided by this environment is the most conducive structure to ensure local communities can flourish. I have championed pro-family efforts during my time in the Senate to ensure that families can provide for their children, and that parents raising children are prioritized in any legislation that comes before the Senate.”
SFGN attempted to authenticate the email, but Rubio’s office did not respond to an email inquiry.
“In addition to the substantive policy concerns, this legislative effort is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the real issues facing Americans,” Rubio continued in the letter. “Congress should be focused on alleviating real problems facing Americans today. Before this partisan stunt, no one in our country was talking about the definition of marriage.”
Read the full article at SFGN.com.
By John Hayden
The last meeting of 2022 for Wilton Manors City Commissioners was unique for two reasons: it was exceptionally brief and, as noted by Mayor Scott Newton, all public comments had a positive tone.
The first part of the meeting was spent learning about a new, hopefully safer way for bicyclists to get around busy intersections. Commissioners liked the idea of trying something new but weren’t ready to sign off. FDOT sent a representative to unveil how a Protected Intersection Crosswalk (PIC) would work. The idea is proposed for Wilton Drive and NE 20th St.
If you’ve never heard of a PIC, that’s understandable. This would be the first one in Florida. A video explaining how to use one was shown and then a diagram was put
up. This one intersection would involve changing the way pedestrians, bike lanes, auto lanes, and street-side parking interact. It would also create an apron on some corners for trucks to have extra space while turning.
Commissioner Chris Caputo, an avid bike rider and bike safety proponent, had a lot of questions about how bike lanes would function for “Warrior Riders” versus your average leisure bike rider. Another concern of the commission is that, due to structural issues on the Richardson Park corner, only three points of the intersection would be truly affected.
It would also take a lot of education to get people to re-learn how to drive/park/walk/ bike at that area. Commissioners also wanted to know would this intersection be one-anddone? Or would this be a pilot program in Wilton Manors with more intersections to come? The FDOT representative said she would look into many of the questions and meet further with city officials.
Vice Mayor Mike Bracchi asked perhaps the most pertinent question: What problem is being solved? He asked Police Chief Gary Blocker to research traffic issues for that area.
Commissioners also spent time addressing a traffic safety issue in front of Ethos and Chef Nate’s restaurants. Ethos has offered to pay $220 per month for one dedicated parking space in front of their restaurant
($420 per month for two spaces during season). This would be a reduced rate for a meter spot, only about seven dollars per day.
The reason behind the request is that there is extremely limited parking for restaurants in that building, and many get their orders to go or use delivery services. That forces drivers to park illegally and dangerously, often during peak times. This would allow drivers a safe space to do their jobs.
Commissioners’ concerns were about treating Ethos differently and setting a
precedent for future dedicated parking space rentals. To the last point, it was noted that most restaurants along Wilton Drive have access to at least some lot parking so future requests are expected to be few, though no criteria were established for future requests. Newton was concerned that other restaurants by Ethos would be put at a disadvantage. It was decided that the signage wouldn’t be specific for any restaurant, even though Ethos is paying for it
THIS ONE INTERSECTION WOULD INVOLVE CHANGING THE WAY PEDESTRIANS, BIKE LANES, AUTO LANES, AND STREET-SIDE PARKING INTERACT.
Oakland Park remains a solid base of support for Democrats, a post-election review showed.
Data from the Broward Supervisor of Elections show there are 26,697 active voters in Oakland Park with 53% registered as Democrats, 27% unaffiliated and 18% Republican.
Oakland Park has 10 precincts and Democrats won them all with the strongest support coming in the four precincts (D007 to D010) west of I-95. Precinct D004 in the North Andrews Gardens area has the most active voters, 3,933, in the city.
In the race for U.S. Senator, Val Demings won handily with 8,898 votes (68%) to 4,051 (31%) for Marco Rubio. In the governor’s race, Charlie Crist got 8,656 votes (66%) to 4,363 (33%) for Ron DeSantis.
Six precincts (D001 to D006) are
in Congressional District 23 and Jared Moskowitz took those, getting 5,443 votes (64%) to 2,941 (34%) for Joe Budd. The other four are in Congressional District 20, where Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick ran up big numbers, defeating Republican Drew Montez Clark, 3,272 (76%) to 1,001 (23%).
In the only city race, Tim Lonergan and Steven Arnst were elected commissioners
using an at-large format among six candidates where voters could vote for up to two. Lonergan got 4,168 votes (26%) and Ernst received 3,799 votes (24%). Ernst’s 38 vote margin over Letitia “Tish” Newbold triggered a recount, but did not change the outcome. Overall, White voters make up 45% of the electorate in Oakland Park, followed by 22% for Black voters and 18% for Hispanics.
Almost six years after a sneaky armed robbery in Wilton Manors, two of the assailants remain behind bars.
In the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2017, Adolfo Vela, Darrion Vankleeck and Corey Dukes assaulted and robbed Denis Kladchihin as the victim was walking home from Wilton Drive. The attack happened at the corner of NE 21st Ct. and NE 1st Ave. and was partially captured by surveillance cameras.
Video showed the attackers hiding behind bushes and then chasing Kladchihin, who was later pistol-whipped and robbed. Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker, who served as Operations Commander at the time, made the case a top priority, stating the department “will not tolerate acts of this nature.”
An anonymous tip led to the trio’s apprehension three days later. Arrest records show WMPD Detective Patrick Newton caught up with them at a house
in the North Andrews Gardens area of Oakland Park.
All three assailants were 18 at the time and pleaded no contest to felony charges.
Circuit Judge Tim Bailey ordered a $9,800 joint restitution payment to the victim.
Court records show Vela is serving an eight-year prison sentence with a minimum of three years after his probation was
revoked. Vankleeck originally got three years probation, but violated those terms with trespassing and drug smuggling charges and is now serving a four-year prison sentence.
Dukes was sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of probation, but violations earlier this year had him serve a 120-day sentence in Broward County Jail.
2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
Publisher/Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
Associate Publisher•Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com
Assistant to the Editor • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com
South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright
Consider one exchange between Justice Neil Gorsuch and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher. Keep in mind that Justice Gorsuch, just two years ago, led a majority to say that the federal civil rights act protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. He was drinking a different tea Dec. 5, when discussing whether a business could discriminate based on sexual orientation. The case, 303 Creative v. Colorado, challenges Colorado’s public accommodations law by seeking to allow a web designer to refuse to create wedding sites for same-sex couples. Here’s how the discussion went:
GORSUCH: We also have stipulations from Colorado that the [web designer] is willing to work with all people, regardless of classifications such as race, creed, sexual orientation, and gender, right? [“Stipulations” are facts that both sides have agreed to be true.]
FLETCHER: In some respects, yes but not -
GORSUCH: No, that is the [stipulation] - I just read it. Do you disagree with that? It’s a stipulated fact in this case.
FLETCHER: That is stipulated, but it’s also clear that [the web designer] will not provide any wedding website for a same-sex couple.
GORSUCH: Well, for a same-sex wedding -
FLETCHER: For a same-sex wedding, yes.
GORSUCH: And she wouldn’t provide it to a heterosexual couple either, right?
The contorted supposition - that a heterosexual couple might want to buy a same-sex marriage wedding website - was probably concocted by Justice Gorsuch to illustrate his position. That is, he thinks the discrimination in this controversy is based on message (the web designer’s religious beliefs) versus status (the sexual orientation of the couples whom the web designer excludes). He later stated that “what would be impermissible is discrimination on the basis of status, but what would be permissible is refusing service because of a disagreement about views.”
Setting aside for the moment that there has never been a clamor by heterosexual couples to buy same-sex wedding websites, one has to wonder: What happened to Justice Gorsuch who wrote, in the Title VII case Bostock v. Clayton County: “Judges are not free to overlook plain statutory commands on the strength of nothing more than suppositions about intentions or guesswork about expectations”?
Gorsuch was not the only guest at the tea party.
Consider the claims made by the attorney Kristen Waggoner, representing web designer Lorie Smith: Waggoner claimed that the U.S.
Supreme Court has already “held” that views opposing same-sex marriages are “honorable and decent” (it has not said that as a matter of law) and that the court made “promises” in Obergefell v. Hodges “to protect those who would believe marriage is between a man and a woman from having to express a view that violates their conscience.”
Waggoner, head of the Alliance Defending Freedom, which organized the initial lawsuit, was referring to the 2015 landmark Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. Written by then Justice Anthony Kennedy, Obergefell struck down state bans on same-sex marriage. In his majority opinion, Kennedy included a sentence that said he thought there could be “decent and honorable religious or philosophical” reasons for opposing same-sex marriage. When Waggoner and others quote Kennedy to support discrimination against same-sex couples, they omit significant content and characterize the non-binding observation as a “promise.” It is worth revisiting what Kennedy actually wrote: “Many who deem same-sex marriage to be wrong reach that conclusion based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical
premises, and neither they nor their beliefs are disparaged here. But when that sincere, personal opposition becomes enacted law and public policy, the necessary consequence is to put the imprimatur of the State itself on an exclusion that soon demeans or stigmatizes those whose own liberty is then denied. Under the Constitution, same-sex couples seek in marriage the same legal treatment as opposite-sex couples, and it would disparage their choices and diminish their personhood to deny them this right.”
Taken in full, Kennedy’s statement does not seem to support the idea that a web designer in the public marketplace can treat same-sex couples differently from male-female couples. In fact, the text of the recently passed federal Respect for Marriage Act, which says no state may deny recognition of a same-sex or interracial marriage licensed in another state, echoes Kennedy’s “decent and honorable” statement, too. It states that diverse beliefs about marriage are held by “sincere people based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises” and that “Congress affirms that such people and their diverse beliefs are due proper respect.”
Read the full story at sfgn.com/303creative
THE CONTORTED SUPPOSITION - THAT A HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE MIGHT WANT TO BUY A SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WEDDING WEBSITE - WAS PROBABLY CONCOCTED BY JUSTICE GORSUCH TO ILLUSTRATE HIS POSITION.Photo via PxHere. There were times during the U.S. Supreme Court’s oral argument in this session’s highly significant LGBT case when some listeners might have thought they were hearing a modern-day dramatic interpretation of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
“Today’s a good day,” said Biden during a signing ceremony that took place on the White House’s South Lawn. “Today America takes a big step towards equality.”
The ceremony took place five days after the Respect for Marriage Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives with 39 Republicans voting in favor.
The bill passed in the U.S. Senate on Nov. 29 by a 61-39 vote margin. The Respect for Marriage Act was first passed in the House in July.
Biden during the signing ceremony specifically thanked U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and other lawmakers who helped secure the bill’s passage. Biden also reiterated calls for Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal civil rights law, and for an end to anti-LGBT violence in the wake of last month’s massacre at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the proliferation of anti-trans bills across the country.
“When a person can be married in the morning and thrown out of a restaurant in the afternoon, this is still wrong,” said Biden. “We must stop the hate and violence.”
Vice President Kamala Harris was San Francisco’s district attorney in 2004 when she became one of the first public officials in
the country to officiate a same-sex wedding. Harris was California’s attorney general when she successfully challenged the state’s Proposition 8 before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on June 26, 2013, struck down Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. The Supreme Court on June 25, 2015, issued its landmark Obergefell decision that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples across the country.
Harris noted Dec. 13 is “a day, when thanks to Democrats and Republicans, we finally protect marriage rights in federal law.” Dozens of same-sex couples who sued for marriage rights across the country and their families stood on the steps leading to the Truman Balcony as she and Biden spoke.
“For millions of LGBTQI+ Americans and interracial couples, this is a victory and part of a larger fight,” said Harris.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in a concurring opinion he wrote in the decision that overturned Roe v. Wade suggested the Supreme Court should also reconsider Obergefell and two other decisions that guaranteed the right to private, consensual sex and the ability of married couples to purchase and use contraception.
The House first passed the Respect for Marriage Act less than a month after the Supreme Court overturned Roe in Dobbs v. Jackson. California Congressman Mark Takano, who is openly gay, earlier this month told the Washington Blade that Congress was “reeling” from the ruling and Thomas’ opinion and lawmakers said “we need to protect what we can.”
Harris said the Dobbs decision is a reminder that “fundamental rights are interconnected, including the right to marry who you love, the right to access contraception, and the right to make decisions about your own body.” Biden noted Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act “because of an extreme Supreme Court has stripped away the right important to millions of Americans that existed for half a century.”
House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Gina and Heidi Nortonsmith, one of the plaintiff couples in the lawsuit that led Massachusetts to become the first state in the country to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples in 2004, also spoke at the ceremony. Cyndi Lauper,
Sam Smith and members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed.
Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg; National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Kierra Johnson; Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund Executive Director Andy Marra; David Mixner; Robyn Ochs; Alabama state Rep. Neil Rafferty; Pennsylvania state Sen. Malcolm Kenyatta; Arizona state Rep. Daniel Hernández; former New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson; Maryland state Del. Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City); GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis; Garden State Equality (N.J.) Executive Director Christian Fuscarino; Equality Florida Communications Director Brandon Wolf; Wanda Alston Center Executive Director June Crenshaw; and Japer Bowles, director of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, are among 5,300 people who attended the ceremony.
Sinema, Baldwin, Collins, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D.N.Y), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.) were also in attendance.
“Today is a historic day and a muchneeded victory for our community,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson in a press release. “It should be
lost on no one that this bill signing comes less than a month after a deadly attack on our community in Colorado Springs, and at a time when the community continues to face ongoing threats of online and offline violence, as well as legislative attacks on our rights. In signing this bill, President Biden has shown that LGBTQ+ peoples’ lives and love are valid and supported.”
GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders Janson Wu said “millions of couples and their children across the country now have the assurance that their families will continue to be respected by our state and federal governments because President Biden has signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law.” Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang echoed these sentiments.
“This is a historic milestone for our movement and an important victory for hundreds of thousands of loving couples and their children across the nation,” said Hoang in a statement. “All Americans deserve the freedom to marry the person they love, and this bill is a reflection of the fact that for the majority of Americans — across all political parties, backgrounds, and in every corner of the country — the debate over marriage equality is settled.”
“WHEN A PERSON CAN BE MARRIED IN THE MORNING AND THROWN OUT OF A RESTAURANT IN THE AFTERNOON, THIS IS STILL WRONG, WE MUST STOP THE HATE AND VIOLENCE.”
- President Joe BidenPresident Joe Biden, center, signs the Respect for Marriage Act on Dec. 13, 2022. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) President Joe Biden on Dec. 13 signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law.
If you are a person with HIV (PWH), you have the power and responsibility to shape your care. Results from previous surveys guided patient care lead agencies and planning councils in prioritizing community unmet needs and determining where to distribute financial resources.
The survey is available online and will remain open through December 31, 2022. All responses are confidential.
To access the survey, scan the QR code below or visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RL5FPGP
Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri was in tears as she gave her speech on the House floor speaking during the debate over marriage equality.
But Hartzler wasn’t shedding tears of joy at the prospect of making sure LGBT Americans had access to marriage. Nope. Instead she was crying in fear of same-sex marriage and begged her colleagues to vote no on the Respect for Marriage Act.
“I’ll tell you my priority: protect religious liberty, protect people of faith, and protect Americans who believe in the true meaning of marriage. I hope and pray that my colleagues find the courage to join me in opposing this misguided and this dangerous bill,” she said in a tearful plea on the House floor.
She also called the bill unnecessary and said “Obergefell is not in danger.”
Hartzler’s nephew, who is gay, blasted the congresswoman on TikTok “Today, my aunt Vicky started crying
because gay people like me can get married,” Andrew, 24, said in the video, which was shared last week and has over 1.2 million views. “So despite coming out to my aunt this past February, I guess she’s still as much of a homophobe.”
Andrew told NBC News he has struggled with his sexuality throughout his childhood and has undergone so-called gay conversion therapy.
Vicky’s term ends in January. She ran for the senate this year, but lost in the primary.
Just hours before his Melbourne United team’s National Basketball League season opener, Isaac Humphries publicly came out as gay.
“I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with how much support I’ve had not just from my team and our community in Melbourne and Australia, but globally I’ve had messages from support from every part of the world. It feels like I’ve touched every part of the globe,” Humphries told Outsports.
Melbourne ultimately suffered a 9186 defeat against the Adelaide 36ers. It’s interesting to note that Humphries spent the previous two seasons playing for the 36ers.
He ended up with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists during his first post-comingout game.
Shelter pets should not have to spend the holidays alone, so the Humane Society of Broward County is hoping you’ll open your heart and home and give a furry friend in need a cozy place to spend the holidays.
According to Cherie Wachter, VP of Marketing, “sleepovers are normally five days long and give potential adopters the opportunity to see how the pet they choose will blend in with their family. For the holidays, select pets will be available for holiday sleepovers for two weeks starting Dec. 19! This gives the pets a break from being in the shelter and lets them get spoiled. Of course, the ultimate goal is for the pet to spend not just this holiday season in their sleepover home,
but many more future holidays as well. We started doing sleepovers during the pandemic and since then more than 30 cats and dogs have found their permanent families as a result.”
There are more than two dozen dogs, cats and rabbits who are candidates for a holiday sleepover that can last up to two weeks, sorry but puppies and kittens are excluded.
Visit www.humanebroward.com and look for the animals with the special ribbon on their photos starting Dec. 19. Complete the pre-adoption application on the website and then stop by. The Humane Society of Broward County is located at 2070 Griffin Road and opens daily at 11 a.m. Call 954-989-3977 ext. 6 with questions.
Rick Karlin
Using prepared frozen meatballs makes this dish easy to prepare and a popular party dish. Serve on cocktail rye or cut triangles of rye bread from a deli loaf.
Cooking spray, for the baking sheets
2 large eggs
1 small onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons mustard powder
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon liquid smoke
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
I package (2 lbs.) frozen meatballs
1 cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
brown deli mustard, for serving dill pickle chips, for serving
•Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
•Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.
•Add onion, garlic, mustard, and spices to eggs, beat to mix thoroughly.
•Toss frozen meatballs in egg mixture.
•Mix breadcrumbs and parsley in a separate bowl.
•Take meatballs 1-2 at a time and roll in breadcrumb mixture, remove and place on greased baking sheet.
•When all meatballs are on the sheet spray them with cooking spray.
•Bake meatballs until cooked through and beginning to brown, about 20 minutes.
•Allow to cool slightly.
•Meanwhile, spread rye squares on a baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes.
•Top each piece of toast with a squirt of brown mustard.
•Top with 1 meatball and 1 pickle chip, hold it all together with a toothpick.
•Makes about 32 portions.
You can make your own puff pastry, but why bother?
The pre-made packages you’ll find in the frozen section are perfectly fine. The same can be said for cranberry sauce and fillings.
1 large egg
1 package, (8 oz,) goat cheese
1 package (17-ounce package) frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed all-purpose flour, for dusting
½ cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
halved pecans (optional)
•Set pastry out to defrost.
•Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
•Whisk together the egg with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl for an egg wash.
•Cut the goat cheese into 32 even pieces. Set aside.
•Unfold a defrosted puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface.
•Roll out into a 16-inch square. Cut into 16 squares.
•Repeat with the second sheet so you have 32 squares total.
•Top a pastry square with about 1/2 teaspoon cranberry sauce, a piece of Brie, and a pecan half.
•Use your finger or a pastry brush to brush the edges of the pastry square with egg wash until lightly coated and tacky.
•Pinch 2 opposite points together, then pinch the remaining 2 points together.
•Repeat with the remaining pastry squares and filling.
•Transfer the pouches to the prepared baking sheets.
•Brush all with the remaining egg wash.
•Bake until puffed and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
•Allow to set for 5 minutes before transferring to a platter for serving.
•Makes 32 appetizers
There were plenty of pint-sized princesses wearing tiaras and gowns in the audience at a recent matinee of “Cinderella” at the Wick in Boca Raton. They were dazzled with lilting tunes, whimsical sets and plenty of stage magic – just not the Disney kind they were expecting.
The holiday season is the perfect time for a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1957 television version (written seven years after Disney’s iconic animated feature) later adapted for the stage and revived on Broadway a decade ago.
The famed Broadway team sticks closely to the story’s French origins and there are the same elements of Disney’s version, including the prince and a ball, wicked stepmother and stepsisters, mice transformed into footmen and, of course, a pumpkin coach.
“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” and “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” are substituted with “In My Own Little Corner” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?,” two melodic classics largely forgotten except by the most dedicated musical theater buff. And, for the 2013 revival, Douglas Carter Beane updated the book for a Millennial audience – Prince Christopher is now “Topher” and social issues like the environment and income inequality take center stage.
In her curtain speech, Executive Managing Producer Marilynn Wick said the production was the most ambitious in the company’s nineseason history and she wasn’t kidding.
In addition to a cast of 26 (it literally takes a village), the production boasts large scale, whimsical sets by Sean McClelland and elaborate projections by Josieu T. Jean, leveraging the investment the Wick recently made into projection mapping technology (on
display in the new adjoining Museum Club). And then there are the costumes! Wick leveraged the vast resources of Costume World, her theatrical costuming company, to both outfit knights and knaves and the local townspeople in opulent gowns and suits for the ball. Designer Travis Grant also manages to recreate William Ivey Long’s Tony Awardwinning onstage transformations of the Crazy Marie into the Fairy Godmother and Cinderella into the princess she dreams of becoming.
In a production with endless special effects, costumes and big ensemble numbers, it might be easy to lose the individual performances, but director Norb Joerder never lets that occur. In this particular performance, Cinderella was portrayed by local Carbonell winner Mallory Newbrough (sharing the role with Daniela Moss), who charmed adults and children alike, and Elliot Mahan proved a suitable suitor as Prince Topher. The reigning grand dame of South Florida theater, Angie Radosh, also shines as Madame, Cinderella’s ill-willed stepmother, as does Alexander Blanco as Jean-Michel, writer Beane’s social conscience among the cast.
New York choreographer Oren Korenblum’s intricate ball numbers, executed capably by the cast, also deserve mention. Fresh off a Carbonell win for his work on “Come Out! Come Out!” at the Foundry, he demonstrates creativity across diverse styles.
Even though the Disney princesses in the audience – and likely their parents, too –didn’t quite get the show they were probably anticipating, the Wick does not disappoint. Rather, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” offers a magical surprise for the holiday season.
The 150-member Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will take the stage at Hard Rock Live on Sunday, Dec. 18 for their annual holiday concert.
Credit: Courtesy.
a 49-year-old. What do you reckon the equivalent
be
than to say that Lips, the Fort Lauderdale drag dining destination, celebrated 15 years on Dec. 12 and it’s going strong. The gay glitterati were on hand for the A-list party, which included appearances by some of the drag palace’s most popular performers, including Amanda Austin, Franchesque Richards, Nicolette and Velvet LeNore. Austin will present her special Holiday Spectacular with the Dragettes on Dec. 15 and 22 with a special Christmas Eve show on Dec. 24. Lips is located at 1421 E. Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.
For more information, go to LipsUSA.com.
Broadway diva and recording artist Shoshana Bean will appear with the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Bean was most recently seen on stage in “Mr. Saturday Night” snagging a Tony nomination, and she previously starred as Elphaba in “Wicked” and Jenna in “Waitress.” Her six independent studio albums and EPs have landed her on top of the iTunes and Billboard charts, topping the magazine’s jazz category. She has sold out concerts around the globe and lent her voice to countless films and television shows, including “Sing,” “Sing 2,” “Enchanted,” “Jersey Boys,” “Glee” and “Galavant.”
Artistic Director Gabe Salazar conducts the 150-member chorus on the Hard Rock stage.
Tickets are still available, starting at $41 at MyHRL.com. Additional fees may apply.
Only one weekend remains to catch Matthew Lombardo’s comedy “Who’s Christmas,” at Empire Stage. Local comedian and actress Sheba Mason stars as Cindy Lou Who, the innocent little Whoville resident who runs into the Grinch on Christmas Eve. The New York Times called the one-woman show “a raunchy riff on Dr. Seuss’s yuletide tale … The little tyke has become a bottle-blonde adult who spends her days in a trailer appointed with Airstream functionality and seasonal kitsch … a holiday offering that dirties up Christmas while ultimately reveling in its spirit.”
Catch “Who’s Christmas” at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale, Dec. 16–18. Tickets are $30 at EmpireStage.com. Use promo code EARLY to save $3.
Harpist Charlene Conner will be the featured artist for “A Celebration of Carols” on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 1955 W. Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.
Conner, former harpist with the Symphony of the Americas from its founding until last season, will perform classical and popular holiday selections, accompanied by organ and piano. The program will also include audience sing-a-longs of traditional carols and Christmas songs.
Afterward, enjoy a Christmas cookie reception and a display of nativity sets collected by members of the congregation.
The performance is free and the public is invited. Christ Lutheran Church is a welcoming and affirming congregation. More information at ChristLutheranFL.org.
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Cable networks like Hallmark and Lifetime abound with holiday movies designed for the whole family to enjoy. It’s an annual tradition. Now legendary gay adult studio Falcon is tossing its hat into the ring. Falcon has released “Cumming Home for Christmas,” which the producers say is the first gay porn Christmas movie.
As with all Falcon films production values are high. The film was shot in a beautiful, elegantly appointed mansion somewhere in Los Angeles.
The plot is a bit threadbare. A New York lawyer comes home to spend the holiday in California with his brother, who’s struggling to keep the family business, a bakery, afloat. Naturally the characters spend only a minimal amount of time trying to save the bakery as they’d rather have sex. And the film is indeed loaded with plenty of hot man-on-man action, featuring a bevy of beautiful men, including the lawyer’s ex-boyfriend and a wealthy conglomerate owner who attempts to acquire the bakery.
Cade Maddox, one of the film’s stars, said that he’s excited to be in the first adult gay holiday movie.
“I’ve been with Falcon for four years, and I don’t think we’ve ever done a Christmas movie,” Maddox said in an interview with SFGN. “So it was nice to have a totally different concept for a movie. For the acting, it’s nice to step out of the box sometimes.”
Maddox added that Falcon was quite helpful in getting the cast ready to recite their dialogue.
“What they did to help us get into character for this movie was, we FaceTimed with Ben Rush, who wrote it,” Maddox said. “He knows better than anyone how he wants each character portrayed, so we FacedTimed, and we went over the lines. So then he would tell me, no, you need to be stronger on this, or more dramatic on this, so he kind of directs us.”
In addition to writing the film, Rush shared co-directing duties with Steve Cruz.
“Cable television Christmas movies have become a seasonal staple,” said Rush. “And we wanted to add Falcon Studios’ signature twist to the format. With people like actress Candace Cameron Bure vowing to feature only traditional marriage in her films, I wanted to write and direct something that is, shall we say,
more inclusive and that gives viewers the kind of action they really want to see.”
“Fans have been asking for holiday themed movies,” said Cruz. “We wanted to produce something high-end, more than just holiday hats on naked boys. We drew inspiration from the cable TV classics but with horny gays at the center of that world.”
Falcon fans are loving “Cumming Home for Christmas” according to Rush. “They’ve been snatching up the limited-edition holiday gift sets to prove it,” he said.
“Falcon/Naked Sword membership sites have been seeing a lot of hustle and bustle,” added Cruz. “It’s almost like it’s Christmas. Fans seem eager to get their holiday horn on.”
Maddox, for his part, is loving his time in the porn business. He found his way into the industry after divorcing his ex-husband. Wondering what to do next, he met a low budget producer on Grindr who has several websites and a bit of a fan following. Maddox was asked if he had ever thought of doing porn.
“I was fucking anyway, and I thought it’d be pretty cool to get paid for it,” he recalls. “And it turned into something way bigger than what I was expecting. Best decision I ever made in my life.”
Maddox plans to stay in the business for as long as he can.
“I don’t think that’s up to me,” he said. “That’s more up to the consumers and the fans. I give myself 10 years, but if it’s longer than that, great. And when my time in front of the camera is up, maybe I can be on the other side of the camera.”
And in spite of preparing for his dialogue scenes, Maddox has no illusions about pursuing an acting career.
“I’m not really an actor,” he said. “I’m more of a fucker.”
“Cumming Home for Christmas” can be purchased on DVD or viewed at FalconStudios. com
Porn Pulse is a column featuring news and tidbits on the gay porn industry. Have a tip? Send us an email at PornPulseSFGN@gmail.com.
