local name global coverage December 20, 2017 vol. 8 // issue 51
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SouthFloridaGayNews.com Julian Cavazos cuts the ribbon on his new LGBT youth organization Dec. 7 in Fort Lauderdale.
December 20, 2017 • Volume 8 • Issue 51
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Editorial
LGBT Youth Facility Opens In Fort Lauderdale John McDonald
J
ulian’s Fountain of Youth cut its ribbon last week in Fort Lauderdale. The new organization attracted a little more than 50 people on a cool Wednesday evening. Its founder, Julian Cavazos, showed off his new office and provided food and beverages to invited guests. “I’m very happy for Julian to see his dreams become reality,” said David Levison, who attended the ribbon cutting with his husband, John Melecio Davila. “And I’m really excited that we get to help these kids and maybe make a difference in some lives.” Levison and Cavazos are partners at Elan 16Forty a fitness business on Sunrise Blvd. To open his new non-profit venture, Cavazos chose the Sanctuary Church on North Federal Highway. Julian’s Fountain of Youth intends to quench “LGBT youth’s thirst for acceptance, knowledge and betterment,” reads a press release. Cavazos is a Fort Lauderdale resident, U.S. Navy veteran, and community activist who has organized events such as “Reverse Quinceanera” and “Bunnies on the Bayou.” Creating Julian’s Fountain of Youth, Cavazos said, was inspired by experiential learning courses 11 years ago. “It truly changed my life,” he said. The Sanctuary Church, pastored by Dwanye Black, is a historic site marveled for its mid twentieth century design. A brochure for the church describes it as a “widely diverse congregation, covering a variety of social and economic groups.” “We include and welcome people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, orientation, and family arrangements,” the brochure reads.
Cavazos’ office is in a building adjacent to the church’s main sanctuary. At last week’s ribbon cutting, supporters crowded into the office where an outline of the youth program was presented. Experiential learning courses, Cavazos said will be offered to LGBT youth at no cost. Julian’s Fountain of Youth will support LGBT youth in courses and camps with like minded peers, Cavazos said. “Quenching the LGBT youth’s thirst for acceptance, knowledge and betterment,” Cavazos said is the organization’s tag line. Julian’s Fountain of Youth’s core objective is to host a six-day experiential learning retreat locally, monthly teen meet and greet with learning component and social setting and weekly dance and health and wellness classes. The goal is to bring support for a difficult stage of life, Cavazos said. “As we all know, it’s tough being LGBTQ as a teenager,” Cavazos said over a microphone to an audience inside the church’s banquet hall. “Those are some tough times.” Cavazos went on to thank Pastor Black for facilitating his dream, recognizing it was the same space that launched his Reverse Quinceanera seven years ago. Overlooking the Middle River, the Sanctuary Church was first constructed in 1961 as the Second Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) of Fort Lauderdale. Coleman Prewitt attended the ribbon cutting with his husband Mark Conagham. Prewitt, MEMBER
an attorney and Fort Lauderdale resident for 17 years, said he was glad to support Julian’s Fountain of Youth. “The world needs more Julians,” Prewitt said. Prewitt said Cavazos is a “great asset for the community” and expects a solid organization will be built to serve children that are “often neglected.” “Julian is very passionate about helping kids and putting together a top notch program,” Prewitt said. Julian’s Fountain of Youth almost didn’t get off the ground. Cavazos revealed he spent much of last year in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery. The recent health battle gave him an incentive to start the organization. It was while recovering from surgery that Cavazos said he became determined to make a difference. “I’m laying in that bed and all I’m thinking is ‘Oh hell, I’m going to die and didn’t do what I said I was going to do,” he said. “I didn’t leave a legacy and I really haven’t done anything to change the world. I was very upset with myself so I made a commitment that I was going to do this.” In the process, Cavazos said, a sustainable business is being created for LGBTQ youth and mentors. Cavazos said the show of support at last week’s ribbon cutting was satisfying. “I was really happy,” he said. “There was four other events happening the same night and so we were truly blessed to have so many people present.”
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Tropics Piano Bar and Restaurant to Reopen…Again Michael d’Oliveira
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Photo courtesy of Tropics.
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he new owners of Tropics Piano Bar and Restaurant have announced that they plan to reopen the 25-year-old establishment by Dec. 27. “That’s great news . . . A belated Christmas present to the community!” wrote Fort Lauderdale resident Larry Scholl on Facebook. The restaurant, which closed in July, had been owned by Jackson Padgett at the time it shuttered its doors. Now, former owners Alex Meyer and Godfrey Thompson, who sold it to Padgett but kept ownership of the building, have taken over again. Meyer said opening on the 27 will be dependent on the state responding to his request for tobacco and liquor licenses. Meyer said he and Thompson had a choice: reopen Tropics or do something else. “We believe Tropics is very important for the community. That’s why we decided to reopen it. It’s [going to be] the old Tropics
with a twist. I don’t want to say much about it because people need to come in and see it,” he said, adding that the quality of the restaurant would be better than it was before.
12.20.2017 •
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In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.
What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).
Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:
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Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.
Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).
Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you
What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.
What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.
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• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE 12.20.2017 •
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LGBTQIA bites Lesbian
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Arkansas Dept. of Health Ordered to List Same-Sex Parents on Birth Certificates
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By Ryan Lynch Gender Neutral
‘Doctor Who’ Actor Pearl Mackie Says The Doctor is Genderless Pearl Mackie. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson directed state officials to allow for samesex parents to receive birth certificates with both of their names on it. State Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ordered the governor and state officials to follow the ruling in the US Supreme Court’s 2017 case Pavan v. Smith, according to Metro Weekly. The case found that same-sex couples have the same rights as straight couples in being listed on a child’s birth certificate, even when they are not the biological parents.
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Arkansas has a “presumption of parentage,” law which states the male married to a female is given parental rights even if they are not the biological parent. The Supreme Court found that same sex couples should have that same right. “We are pleased Governor Hutchinson is taking this step to ensure that married same-sex parents in Arkansas are treated equally,” the family law director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights Catherine Sakimura said in a statement. “This is settled law.”
Former “Doctor Who” Actor Pearl Mackie has responded to criticism of a female playing The Doctor by telling fans the role is a genderless entity. Mackie was responding to criticism of the reveal that Jodie Whittaker would be the 13th Doctor in the series, becoming the first female actor to do so according to PinkNews. Mackie defended the choice by saying that the Doctor is an alien that doesn’t have a set gender. “Time Lords are gender-fluid – that was established ages ago,” Mackie said in an interview with iNews. “Why can’t the
Doctor be a woman? I think it’s important, and I think if people are frustrated by that then, I don’t know, maybe they need to update their views.” Mackie played Bill Potts, the first-ever lesbian companion for the doctor in the show’s history. She will depart the show around Christmas this year. “For people to see a mixed-race woman, a woman of colour, being completely comfortable with being a lesbian on a global prime-time series is phenomenally important,” Mackie said of her role.
LGBTQIA bites
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Transgender
New Mexico Transgender Woman Alleges Discrimination at Congresswoman’s Office A former worker for Democratic Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham is suing her office for allegedly firing her because she is transgender. Riley Del Rey was an intern with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in 2015 when she claims multiple workers talked about her appearance, according to the Las Cruces Sun-Times. She claims a discussion about her gender identity later led to her dismissal three weeks into her internship. Lujan Grisham was a supervisor of the program at the time Del Rey participated. “Our office takes the rights of the [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community very seriously, and we are dumbfounded by any suggestion that we would discriminate against anyone for any reason,” spokesman for the congresswoman Gilbert Gallegos said to the Sun-News.
Riley Del Rey. Photo courtesy of Youtube.
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The Top Ten List
The LGBT community’s most important stories of the year revisited Lisa Keen
Keen News Service An anti-Trump rally takes place outside of Trump Tower in New York on August 14, 2017. Credit: Sonia Moghe, CNN.
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he year 2017 was the year the 1960s tried to make a comeback. There was the resurgence in white nationalist activity, widespread sexual harassment, and renewed concern about the use of nuclear weapons. The new president, Donald Trump, fanned perilous fires. He also tried to make friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin while an unfolding investigation was showing the Trump campaign had met with Russian officials as Russian operatives hacked into and leaked damaging information from the campaign of Trump’s 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton. There was fierce resistance to the white nationalist uprising. Crowds of counter-protesters met them on the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, and other towns around the country. And large numbers of women (and some men) came forward to point a finger at men in powerful places who had sexually assaulted or harassed them. Pro-LGBT legal groups doubled down to fight efforts by right-wing groups to find loopholes in the law that could open the floodgates to discrimination against LGBT people. And the pro-LGBT groups sought new ways to use existing laws to provide protection from such discrimination. By year’s end, the “cultural war,” which in the United States has frequently included a prominent conflict over equal rights for LGBT people, had reintensified and seemed to reach a standoff. Many political observers looked to a U.S. Senate race in Alabama –one to fill the seat vacated when Senator Jeff Sessions became U.S. Attorney General—to break the tie. The two Senate candidates were a virulently anti-LGBT Republican and a quietly progressive Democrat. Right-wing evangelicals, staunch Republican partisans, and President Trump backed the Republican; progressives, women, African Americans, and LGBT organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign, backed the Democrat. The Democrat won, and that vote in Alabama seemed to many people to signal a change in voters throughout the country. It gave hope to many LGBT leaders that control of Congress might also change in 2018. Here is a closer look at ten stories that made 2017 such a tumultuous year for LGBT people:
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10. The U.S. Supreme Court wobbled.
After Congress refused to consider then President Obama’s nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, the LGBT community braced itself for a Scalia-like replacement from newly inaugurated President Trump and the Republican-dominated Senate. And Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, filled that bill. But what LGBT legal activists did not anticipate was that one of the champions of equal rights for LGBT people on the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy, would begin to falter. First, he voted with a majority in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer to say that church schools should receive state grants the same as non-church schools. Lambda Legal said the ruling amounted to state support for discrimination based on sexual orientation. Then, six months later, during oral arguments for Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado, Kennedy appeared to favor the idea that a business could simply claim a vague religious belief hostile to LGBT people to gain a right to refuse service to them. The decision in that case –and future prospects for Kennedy’s record on LGBT record— will be revealed sometime next year.
9. Jeff Sessions became U.S. Attorney General.
As Alabama’s U.S. Senator, Jeff Sessions established a reputation of hostility toward LGBT people. So when President Trump named him to head the Department of Justice, the LGBT community braced for trouble. In short order, Sessions withdrew the Obama administration’s efforts to defeat an anti-LGBT law in North Carolina, opposed in court the application of Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination in employment to protect LGBT employes, issued a memo stating that the administration’s policy would not recognize sexual orientation discrimination under Title VII, and issued a second memo suggesting that individuals and businesses could exercise their religious beliefs without limitations while doing business with government.
8. President Trump gutted executive order on contractors.
President Trump issued an executive order in March that revoked one by President Obama that had required companies winning contracts from the federal government to demonstrate they are in compliance with 14 federal laws, including those that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender stereotyping, and gender identity. Lambda Legal said Trump’s executive order would make it “extremely difficult” to force federal contractors to comply with non-discrimination laws.
NEWS national
7. Courts roller-coastered on fight over Title VII.
Two federal appeals courts ruled this year that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act should be interpreted to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. But in December, the U.S. Supreme Court refused an appeal brought by an employee in Georgia trying to establish the right to protection under that law. LGBT activists say the fight is not yet over and that other cases will likely come before the Supreme Court to test the issue in the future.
6. Gay ambassador nominee still pending.
In one of the few pieces of good news involving President Trump and the LGBT community this year, President Trump nominated an openly gay political operative, Ric Grenell, as ambassador to Germany. But at year’s end, the full Senate had yet to vote on Grenell’s nomination, and reports indicated Democrats were behind the stall.
5. President Trump’s transgender executive order.
In July, President Trump announced on Twitter that the Department of Defense should ban transgender people in the military. A month later, he issued an official memorandum, directing the DOD to do so. But the ACLU and LGBT legal groups jumped into action, filing lawsuits and requesting injunctions to stop the order from taking effect. By year’s end, at least three federal judges issued preliminary injunctions to stop the Trump order from taking effect until the courts can decide whether the ban is unconstitutional, but the Department of Justice is seeking stays of those injunctions.
4. Trump administration gutted many policies for LGBT people.
Under President Trump, the Department of Education, with the Department of Justice, withdrew an advice letter to schools that had suggested transgender students were protected by Title IX. The Department of Health and Human Services announced it would no longer interpret the Affordable Care Act to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and it removed questions from at least two federal surveys that would have identified data specific to LGBT people. Housing and Urban Development canceled a survey to determine the prevalence of homelessness among LGBT people, and removed from its website a link that instructed emergency shelters on sensitivity to transgender people seeking help. The Census Bureau removed any mention of LGBT people among potential questions for the all-important upcoming surveys.
1. Alabama voters chose Democrat for Senate seat.
A special election in Alabama in December became a bellwether. In a surprise development, the heavily and historically Republican state chose a progressive Democrat over an ultra-conservative Republican to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions’ departure to the Attorney General’s seat. This was not a simply partisan or ideological race. Moore’s claim to being a staunch Christian with reliably conservative, family-oriented values was shredded by persistent widespread allegations that, in his thirties, he had sexual contact with two females under the age of consent in Alabama (16) and five who were between 16 and 18. LGBT people had plenty of reason to oppose Moore’s ascension to the U.S. Senate long before those revelations drew national attention to the state. Going back more than a decade, Roy Moore was quick and comfortable with expressing his opposition to LGBT people.
After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state bans on sexual relations between same-sex partners, then Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Moore said he thought such relations should be illegal. When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down bans on marriage for same-sex couples, Moore refused to comply. And during his contentious campaign this year for a U.S. Senate seat, he claimed his campaign troubles were LGBT people trying to ruin his campaign and “change our culture.” Moore, in the U.S. Senate, would have been a reliable vote against LGBT people in any context. And Moore had the endorsement of President Trump, who won 62 percent of the Alabama vote in 2016, despite his own problem with widespread allegations of sexual misconduct. But on December 12, by a narrow margin, voters in Alabama elected progressive Democrat Doug Jones, who pledged to “fight hate and discrimination in all forms.” Some commentaries say the vote indicates voters are beginning to turn against Republicans and President Trump. They predict next November’s Congressional races could change the partisan majority in the Senate, maybe even the House, from Republican to Democrat. It’s the kind of change that could be as dramatically good for the rights of LGBT people as this past year has been bad.
3. Resurgence in activities by white nationalists.
One of the loudest chants by white supremacists staging a violent protest in Charlottesville, Va., in August was “Fuck you, Faggots.” The driver of the car who plowed into a group of counter-protesters was associated with a right-wing group that called LGBT people “sexual deviants.” President Trump offered words of support for the right-wing protesters who chanted and carried signs with messages that were hostile to African Americans, immigrants, and LGBT people. “Not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me,” said Trump. “Not all of those people were white supremacists by any stretch.” He blamed counter protesters for the violence. And soon, there seemed to be an uptick in incidents of hate against LGBT people, women, Muslims, Jews, African Americans, and Latin Americans –many in very public places, like major league ballparks and public schools. A Southern Poverty Law Center study found that 37 percent of 1,094 hate crimes recorded during the first 34 days after Trump’s election “directly referenced either President-elect Trump, his campaign slogans, or his infamous remarks about sexual assault.”
2. Donald Trump was sworn in as president.
Presidential candidate Trump made a few supportive comments about the LGBT community during his campaign, but those remarks essentially disappeared after his inauguration. The only positive things he had to say about LGBT people in his first year were statements purporting to explain why he sought a ban on Muslims coming into this country (he said it would protect LGBT people from such attacks as the one on an Orlando nightclub in 2016). Many LGBT people felt more like they needed protection from Donald Trump. He chose heads of departments with notorious anti-LGBT histories who rolled back many of the pro-LGBT policies established under President Obama, he appointed federal judges who disagreed with landmark pro-equality Supreme Court decisions, he initiated and directed a ban on transgender people in the military, he repeatedly praised Russian President Vladmir Putin, whose anti-LGBT policies have escalated in recent years, and he used the most high profile bully pulpit in the world to give solace and encouragement to extreme right-wing protests that included anti-LGBT chants and signs.
A Chicago protest on May Day, 2017. Credit: Christine Geovanis. 12.20.2017 •
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NEWS miami-dade
Art Gaysel at Hotel Gaythering showcases queer art and artists Artists discovered on Instagram, given chance to show and sell art during Art Basel week
Jose Cassola
jocacommunications@outlook.com
“I’m trying to find that balance of how to highlight Blackness, how to highlight queerness in the same realm.”
A
lexander Guerra, co-owner of Hotel Gaythering, is all about art. An artist himself, whose photos of gorgeous male models in red rabbit masks adorn his hotel rooms, Guerra decided three years ago to do a group show for Art Basel called Art Gaysel, a play on everyone’s mispronunciation of Art Basel. “They say Art Basil. Basil is a fresh market,” Guerra laughs. Guerra says his Art Gaysel event tries to incorporate artists that he’s found through Instagram, “artists that normally wouldn’t have had an opportunity to show during Art Basel Week. We give them that opportunity here,” Guerra said. For year three, called “Ménage à Trois,” Art Gaysel incorporated eight rooms at Hotel Gaythering with 10 artists, including four of them from Spain and two featured queer artists of color. More than 20 artists’ work were on display in the main library of the hotel downstairs from Dec. 6-10. Jeremy Lucido (www.jeremylucido.com; www. starfuckermagazine.com), a photographer based in Los Angeles, has been doing Art Gaysel at Hotel Gaythering from its inception three years ago, coming down early every year to help Guerra set up. “This is actually my favorite trip because I get to come here and meet other queer artists, a reunion of sorts to meet up with people I’ve been following on social media for a while,” Lucido said. “Then I go check out different fairs and art shows around town.” The following were some of this year’s featured artists:
- DePaul Vera
DePaul Vera
(www.depaulvera.com), Cadiz, Kentucky:
“I’ve been following [Alex Guerra’s] work for quite some time on Instagram and Facebook and all the social medias. We’ve been communicating back and forth but this is my first time actually meeting with him. This is my first Art Gaysel, my first time in Miami, my first art fair. It’s been nice. I’ve never been involved with this big of a queer community. It’s amazing. I’m in graduate school at the University of Nevada. For my final year, I’m working on these collages that are racially charged about Black oppression within a white society, where I’m using a Black vernacular to talk about racial differences in our country today. Right now I’m more worried about how society handles Black relationships in general and how Black communities are mistreated in our society heavily. And with that I’m adding like a queer overtone to it, as well. So I’m trying to find that balance of how to highlight Blackness, how to highlight queerness in the same realm.”
Adam Chuck
(www.adamchuck.me), Brooklyn, New York:
Adam Singer, Adam’s Nest
(www.adamsnest.com), Provincetown, Massachusetts:
“I’m doing a pop-up shop here in Miami. I’m in Provincetown during the summer. I represent queer artists, as well as doing graphic T-shirts. A lot of the different graphic T-shirts benefit certain causes and organizations. I met Alex Guerra through Instagram. Alex reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in coming and doing a pop-up. I happened to literally be driving from New York to Miami at that moment, so it was just meant to be.”
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Jonathan Kent Adams
(www.jonathankentadams.com), Oxford, Mississippi:
“I’m a painter. I do ink sketches. I was invited by Alex the first year he started. He found me through Instagram. This is my third year. He’s invited me back each year. It’s a really cool, relaxed way to view art, which I feel like art can be very pretentious sometimes. But when you have an environment where it’s so laid back and people can just walk in if they’re interested or not...it’s a really awesome way to see what’s going on and people that are up-and-coming artists, which is really cool.”
“This is my first year physically being immersed in the Miami Art Gaysel. My work is based off photographs. None of these are live drawings. They’re from social media. I had started doing this work when I was sharing a studio with someone and using it also as a gallery space. The easiest thing to make do was work off my cellphone. I found on social media platforms like Tumblr, Instagram and some of the gay dating web sites people will take, send and post these images. A lot of times there’s a certain aesthetic I look for, but these are the ones where somebody took the time to make sure the lighting was really good and the composition is nice. And they’re putting these images on the internet to get likes and followers, which is really important in today’s society. So I’ve been taking these “selfies” that are well composed aesthetically and turning them into paintings on a one to one ratio from my cell phone to the canvas. I’ve always thought painting is inherently kind of fleshy, especially oil paintings. I’ve always loved painting. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid. I always knew what I wanted to do was something with the arts, and being gay, it’s easiest to paint something that I love like the male body. That’s definitely my inspiration.”
12.20.2017 •
11
FEATURE housing
Smash the Slumlords Dedicated group of volunteers is fighting back against corrupt slumlords in Miami-Dade Tucker Berardi
L
ive rats in the toilet. Bathroom floors covered in mold. This isn’t a third world country. These are the living conditions in some apartments in Miami-Dade County. Smash the Slumlords is trying to change that. According to New Geography the average population of cities throughout the United States is a little over 20,000 residents. In Miami-Dade county, over 75,000 people — nearly four times the average city population — is currently on the waiting list for affordable housing. Most of them won’t settle into their affordable units for years. While those that have made it into affordable housing need not worry about the wait, their struggles are far from over. The vast majority of them are living, in the most basic sense of the word, in some of the worst conditions imaginable. “One of our residents opened up his toilets one day to live rats,” Adrian Madriz, CEO of non-profit organization Smash the Slumlords said. “The bathroom tiles are covered in mold, it has completely decayed the tile from underneath. Repairs for these kinds of things cost a lot of money and landlords just don’t want to do it.” Smash the Slumlords was created to combat gentrification and — you guessed it — smash corrupt slumlords in Miami-Dade county. Madriz and his organization aren’t pulling their punches,
labelling affordable housing buildings as “dumpsters” and utilizing lawsuits against slumlords as one of their driving tactics. “There is absolutely an affordable housing crisis in Miami. No one would want to pay $600, $700 to live in what is basically a dumpster if not for how expensive the rest of the housing in Miami is. The landlords are aware of this fact, and taking advantage.” Smash the Slumlords — along with its sister company “Worlds,” a mobile for-profit video game company — aim to raise funds and awareness for this issue by starting at a ground level, bringing community members together for weekly video game nights to build relationships and inform the public of the housing problem in the city. While the living conditions of some of these buildings are horrendous, habitable housing costs significantly more in Miami. Affordable housing is locked around 60 percent of the median income in Florida. Without those restrictions, the other prices of other housing locations skyrocket each year as the demand for real estate in Miami rises.
Madriz speaks to the community at a cookout event Courtesy of Smash the Slumlords.
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For Madriz, what people get for the base Additionally, Madriz hopes to lock the rent in Miami blatantly shows how corrupt price at 30 percent of the median Floridian some of the landlords can be. They are income, half that of the usual 60 percent. taking advantage of the high demand of “These people are the poorest of the poor, housing, and even those who want to do and they need truly affordable housing,” something to fix their buildings don’t have Madriz said. the space to relocate existing tenants. Smash estimates that there are currently “There literally is such a lack of 150 families living in these situations, with affordable units that there an average of 3-4 members per is no flexibility as a city to family. If the organization is “Even the city relocate these families as able to keep its momentum, their buildings are repaired,” Madriz believes that they will can’t do major Madriz said. be able to address this issue in work on these He continued, “The five years or less. buildings because people right now are living In order to achieve this and they’d need to in buildings controlled by a ensure truly affordable housing condemn and slumlord or in co-ownership in the future, the organization by the city and a slumlord. plans to sue slumlords for destroy the Even the city can’t do major ownership of the land, and put building and work on these buildings that land under control of a relocate families, because they’d need to community trust. the buildings are condemn and destroy A community trust basically that bad.” the building and relocate puts decisions made for that families, the buildings are land — what and where to - Adrian Madriz that bad.” build, rent prices, etc. — CEO Smash is currently under the control of the working predominantly in people who live there. That Liberty City to build affordable housing way the community and Smash will be that will be used to relocate tenants living able to ensure quality housing that is truly in condemnable conditions while their affordable for the people who need it the buildings are repaired. That way Smash most. In order to build dedicated housing and the Slumlords will be able to go building to building and renovate affordable housing to repair slum housing in its current state, the organization is constantly looking for a higher, actually livable standard.
FEATURE housing A community trust basically puts decisions made for that land — what and where to build, rent prices, etc. — under the control of the people who live there. That way the community and Smash will be able to ensure quality housing that is truly affordable for the people who need it the most. Volunteers with Smash the Slumlords. Courtesy of Smash the Slumlords.
sources of funding, and one solution is their sister business Worlds. “We provide video gaming entertainment to parties and events, we bring consoles and games and activities people can do with the equipment — we provide the games and the experience,” Madriz said. Worlds is one stream of income, but Smash the Slumlords needs more resources to accomplish their goals, and are actively looking to secure funding sources as well as individual donations. So far the organization has raised $2,278 on Give Miami, powered by the Miami Foundation. The goals of the organization also go beyond building affordable housing units and renovation. One of Madriz’s goals involves dedicating units to homeless LGBT youth, helping some of the displaced with free housing. According to the Miami Herald, 40 percent of homeless people in the United States under the age of 24 identify as LGBT. While there are homeless shelters geared toward people under the age of 18 in Miami, there are no shelters in Miami-Dade county geared toward people between 18-24. In youth shelters and otherwise, the Herald reports that many LGBT youth, especially trans youth, often report negative experiences such as bullying or inaccurate
housing assignments based on gender. “LGBT homelessness in Miami-Dade county is a huge issue,” Madriz said. “We want to devote some units of our affordable housing buildings solely to LGBT youth who need housing. When this is all over we want to have opportunities for completely free housing for LGBT youth.” Even as Smash the Slumlords works to provide liveable affordable housing to people living in deplorable situations, there is still the much larger issue of the thousands-long waiting list for affordable housing in Miami. Smash the Slumlords may be working at ground level, but they hope that setting a new precedent for affordable housing in Miami-Dade county and establishing supportive communities will inspire the city and other organizations to follow suit in developing quality affordable living. “By emphasizing small clusters of families and buildings and organizing communities in the most essential way, developing relationships between neighbors, we will plant the idea of moving collectively into prosperity,” Madriz said. “We will start to have communities that are truly holistic, communities in the most basic sense of the word: living together and looking out for each other.”
For more information on Smash the Slumlords, as well as volunteer and support opportunities, visit SmashTheSlumLords.org.
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NEWS miami-dade
Miami Drag Queens Making Dreams Come True This Holiday Season Jose Cassola
Photo courtesy of Logan Almazan and Stavros Stavrakis
jocacommunications@outlook.com
A
thena Dion thinks most drag queens Stavrakis said. The group planned an event have hearts of gold. But if that’s so, for the homeless women of the Lotus House then the hearts of Dion and her in September, but Hurricane Irma blew Dream Queens must be multi-platinum. away those plans. Earlier this year, Dion, real name Stavros An event yet to be determined or finalized Stavrakis, started volunteering his time at is scheduled to take place in January. Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Burn Center “The queens want to be a part of to bring burn survivors a makeover and something special. They want to change the some fun. Stavrakis said the first event at world, and I’m figuring out a way that we can the burn unit in April, organized by Logan do that,” he said. “I think most drag queens Almazan, a trauma and burns critical care have hearts of gold, it’s just a matter of giving registered nurse at the Ryder Trauma an opportunity for everybody to do it.” Center, motivated him to do more events The Dream Queens work with local like that. charities, shelters, children’s hospitals “The good I saw come out of it and the and any organizations “in need of a outpouring of local support and requests queen’s touch,” doing hair and makeup to be a part of any other future events...I parties, dance workshops and special realized that my fellow drag queens wanted performances. Now through Sunday, an avenue to use their Dec. 24, add a toy drive for specific talents to give back to homeless children to that members of our community list. who would appreciate them The Dream Queens have most,” Stavrakis said. joined forces with Miss Almazan said the event at Florida FI Kalah Mendoza to Jackson Memorial was “life raise toys and essentials for changing for everyone... homeless children and their the burn survivors and us families this holiday season. that volunteered. It was an “We will be collecting amazing high.” toys up until Christmas A winner of Mr. Macho Eve during R House Drag with Coming Out Cuba, Brunch,” Stavrakis said. Almazan has volunteered “After brunch, we will load at the Children’s Burn up our sleigh and head down - Logan Almazan Foundation of Florida for to deliver the toys to the critical care nurse eight years. It was Almazan children and their families. who asked Stavrakis to help We’re going to take all of the his burn girls, patients he actually helped toys we gathered and we’re going to drive save, to teach them make-up tips. down to Homestead in drag and deliver the “I wanted those girls to feel beautiful toys as Dream Queens.” again and well, it worked,” Almazan said. Brazilian drag queen Olga Dantelly is “I see Athena as the best in our community. going to be Santa Claus. Stavrakis said the Of course without me even finishing what I Chapman Partnership in Homestead will had planned, she said yes. That’s how it all “have about 100 kids and they’re really started.” excited to have the Dream Queens come After that visit to the burn unit, Stavrakis down and donate the toys.” founded Dream Queens, a traveling troupe of Collections are happening at Score drag queens and drag fans who visit people Nightclub on Fridays in Miami Beach, R from all different backgrounds to “uplift, House Wynwood, Azucar Nightclub in empower and motivate the human spirit Miami and Pekaditos Mi Viejo San Juan through our talents and skills of beauty, Restaurant, also in Miami. personal strength, dance and laughter,” Stavrakis said the Dream Queens’
“I wanted those girls to feel beautiful again and well, it worked.”
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ultimate goal is to “share laughter, light and fabulosity to anyone going through a rough patch in life or anyone who wants to add a little bit of razzle-dazzle” to their event. Almazan said he and Stavrakis want to next do an event at the women’s homeless shelter and for victims of domestic violence and eventually cancer patients. He said the “abused women are gonna get some big time love,” as salons have contacted him to donate flat irons and blow dryers and nail people and make-up artists have also reached out. “[This will be] a glam day for women who need hope that was taken away from abuse and hate like many of us in the gay
community,” Almazan said. “Speaking from experience, being homeless when I came out and mental abuse from my ex, this is personal and I’m paying it forward. Athena has a big heart, so I knew who I needed to help me help others.” Stavrakis said the Dream Queens are using their skills as performers and artists to uplift and empower the less fortunate. “Our goal is to motivate the human spirit to shine bright, look fierce and be fabulous,” Stavrakis said. “Everyone wants to be a part of this. Everybody wants to help, all of the drag queens, all of my drag sisters. Our queens love to make dreams come true.”
For more information about Dream Queens or volunteering opportunities at future events, email Missathenadion@gmail.com.
NEWS miami-dade
Tiffany Fantasia appears on ‘Watch What Happens Live’ with Andy Cohen Jose Cassola
jocacommunications@outlook.com
Sts. Francis
and
Clare
Where we welcome and appreciate diversity.
Photo courtesy of Tiffany Fantasia.
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T
iffany Fantasia, drag entertainer and hostess of drag brunches at Palace Bar and Señor Frogs on Miami Beach, was recently invited by Andy Cohen to join him on BRAVO’s “Watch What Happens Live” as his guest bartender. Fantasia was on the show Sunday night, Dec. 17, to promote the new Palace, which reopened at 1052 Ocean Drive, a block and a half away from its old location on 1200 Ocean Drive, which closed on July 4 after 29 years on the corner of 12th and Ocean. Former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Kim Zolciak was the show’s main guest. Fantasia isn’t the only Palace alum to have appeared on WWHL with Cohen, who has visited Palace and is a huge fan of the venue and its performers. Noel Leon appeared in June ahead of the bar’s closing, doing her signature split on national television for all to see. Latrice Royale, a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 4 finalist and Palace’s most famous
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NEWS international
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President of Ghana: Legalisation of Homosexuality ‘Bound to Happen’ Tucker Berardi
I
n certain terms, Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo said that while same-sex marriage is not on the country’s agenda as of yet, the issue is sure to be addressed in the near future. “These social, cultural issues … I don’t believe that Ghana, so far, a sufficiently strong coalition has emerged to change public opinion, and have a new paradigm in Ghana,” Akufo-Addo said. “Like elsewhere in the world, the activities of individuals and groups [will lead to change].” While African sentiment toward homosexuality is still negative, AkufoAddo likened Ghana to the UK in the 1960s, when homosexuality was still illegal. “I lived [in the UK] at a period when among British politicians it was anathema to even think about changing the law. But the activities of individuals and groups and a certain awareness grew and grew stronger, and it forced a change in law,” Akufo-Addo said. And change is certainly the goal for many LGBT groups in Ghana. According to
PinkNews, it is currently illegal to be gay in Ghana, the penalty for which is up to three years in prison. Violent attacks against LGBT people are reportedly common, and even encouraged by religious leaders and in some cases the media. The Human Rights Advocacy Center of Ghana is avidly working to promote human rights and protection for LGBT citizens in the country. Solace Brothers Foundation is another advocacy group that hires paralegals to challenge the unfair treatment of many LGBT individuals in legal situations. “The judges in Ghana who would normally handle LGBT rights are very homophobic and even though we have human rights lawyers who support us … generally it is very hard to get support from [other] lawyers,” Abu, founder of the Solace Brothers Foundation said. He continued, “We are not making it about LGBT rights, we want it to be human rights … these are our rights, and as every other human being in Ghana we also have our rights.”
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12.20.2017 •
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NEWS miami-dade
SAVE Luminaries Honor Local LGBT Professionals Jose Cassola
Photo courtesy of SAVE.
jocacommunications@outlook.com
W
hen Tony Lima took the helm at SAVE in September 2013, he was inspired by the young activists that he met working within the community. “Generally, people are recognized at the end of their careers, and I thought, how inspiring to uplift the stories of young people that are also doing great work,” Lima said. “How wonderful would it be to highlight these folks for their merits and also show them as glowing examples for other young professionals and the community at large.” It was then that the SAVE Luminaries were born. The first event was celebrated as a cocktail party in October 2013, honoring professionals like Dr. Hansel Tookes of University of Miami, Tori Bertran of SunServe and Victor Diaz-Herman of Pridelines. From there, the Luminaries have continued to honor local LGBT people accomplishing great things and giving back to their communities. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, SAVE hosted its fifth annual Luminaries ceremony at the CIC Miami. Lima and local drag superstar Tiffany Fantasia emceed the event and gave out awards honoring the following individuals: Broward County State Rep. Shevrin Jones; MJ Castells, program director for the Aqua Foundation for women; Pioneer Winter, Miami choreographer and director of the Pioneer Winter Collective; Rick Morgan, philanthropist and community volunteer, who works in politics and helped pass protections for transgender people in 2014; Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, founder and CEO of Radical Partners, a startup and management consulting agency; and local drag entertainer and hostess of The Lab Fridays at Score and the Sunday drag brunch at R House Wynwood, Athena Dion, who volunteers her time to visit and perform makeovers on burn victims at the the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Burn Center. Jessica Fernandez, president of the Miami-Dade Young Republicans, presented Dion with her award. “Athena’s not just a pretty face in our community. She uses her platform to affect positive social change as she
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often agrees to emcee and support fundraisers and charities throughout our community,” Fernandez said. “She uses her talent to be a volunteer at Jackson’s Burn Unit, dedicating her time and energy and talents to teaching people with burns and disfigurements how to apply makeup. She brings confidence and hope back into people’s lives.” A humble Dion happily accepted the award, thanking Lima, SAVE and the community at large for empowering her. “I’ve never been this honored in my entire life,” Dion said. “When you start doing drag, you do it because you like the clothes, the makeup, just being a little gay boy and fabulous. To be able to use this platform and to be recognized...for me, it just leaves me speechless.” Additionally, Melba de Leon was named the Super Volunteer and Community Hero and Juan Claudio Oves Jr., co-chair of Latinos Salud, walked away with the People’s Luminary Award. Also nominated in this category were Adrian Madriz, project lead of SMASH, or Struggle for Miami’s Affordable and Sustainable Housing; Daniel Anzueto, co-founder and board chair at Maven Leadership Collective; and Ashley Mayfaire, director of operations at TranSocial South Florida. “I am honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of Latinos Salud and to join past recipients who I have long
“To be able to use this platform and to be recognized...for me, it just leaves me speechless.” - Athena Dion
admired and respected,” Oves said. “Being Ryan White’s birthday tonight, this award goes to him and every person who fought and continues to fight against HIV stigma. This People’s Luminary award belongs to each one of you who are continuing the fight against HIV stigma. We all play a role in this epidemic. Latinos Salud believes in the power of community, and together we will turn around this epidemic and move into an era of health equity for all regardless of your sexual orientation and gender identity.” Among the major attendees and supporters of the SAVE Luminaries were newly elected Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and the LGBT liaison for the City of Miami, Officer Christopher Bess. Suarez applauded SAVE for putting together an “incredible annual event to commemorate its champions.” He also congratulated Bess for highlighting “LGBT issues as they relate with policing.” “It really is an honor to have someone in our department who is leading the forefront of police-based LGBT issues,” Suarez said. Interspersed with the honors throughout the night were complimentary bites and cocktails, raffles and prizes and performances by some of Miami’s most popular drag entertainers. These included Tiffany Fantasia, who brought the house down to Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama;” Missy Meyakie Le Paige, who performed Diana Ross’ “The Boss;” Noel Leon, who executed her signature split to Mariah Carey’s holiday classic, “All I Want for Christmas is You;” Athena Dion, who performed Christina Aguilera’s “Telepathy;” and Tlo Ivy, who wowed audiences with her sexy performance of Camila Cabello’s “Havana” and a medley of Selena Quintanilla Perez’s hits, including “Como La Flor” and Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.” Lima called this year’s Luminaries a success. He said as CEO of SAVE, it is important for him to “show the passion and talent of our next generation of leaders. This event tonight did that,” he said.
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12.20.2017 •
19
NEWS health A Much larger Percentage of Blacks in Florida Live with HIV Than Other Racial Groups:
December SFAN Report Sean McShee
This report discusses the monthly meeting of the South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN). SFAN is the advisory for the RWC program of the Florida Department of Health in Broward (FL-DOH RWC). Broward has one other HIV planning body that meets monthly, the HIV Planning Council (HIVPC). The HIVPC is the planning body for the Ryan White Care (RWC) Program of Broward County (Broward-RWC).
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his SFAN meeting occurred on World AIDS Day. In honor of World AIDS Day, Joey Wynn, SFAN Chair, presented recognition awards for service to the HIV communities. Lisa Agate, Evelyn Morales, and Shirley Scott received these awards for their years of service. Serena Cook, FL-DOH RWC, reported on changes to Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC)’s residential substance abuse treatment program. Current evidence indicates that a 60-day treatment program produces better outcomes than a 30-day program does. Currently BARC has a 30-day program. At present funding levels, switching to a 60-day treatment program would require that the number of potential clients be cut in half. In order to serve the same number of clients, $30,000 would have to be moved from an underutilized program to this program. Kim Saiswick, state chair of the Florida HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Planning Network (FCPN), discussed its November meeting. Saiswick reported on what people presented at that meeting. Lorene Maddox said that about 15 percent of people living with HIV in Florida were unaware of their HIV infection. At the FCPN meeting, Dr. Jeffrey Beale discussed Florida’s Test and Treat Program. According to Dr. Beale, 915 people had enrolled in that program. In Broward County, 382 people had enrolled in its Test and Treat program. About 42 percent of all people in Florida in the Treat and Treat program had enrolled in Broward. Saiswick attributed this high rate to Broward’s twelve locations. In contrast, MiamiDade has only one Test and Treat location.
Samantha Sam, ViiV Healthcare, reported on changing ways to maintain HIV viral suppression over a lifetime of HIV infection. About 55 percent of new infections occur among those under 35 years of age. Because of advances in HIV treatment, people infected today may be taking antiretrovirals for 40 years or more. New research indicates that people with stable, suppressed HIV viral loads could benefit from changing their antiretroviral regimen. Changing drug regimens can lessen chances of developing drug resistant strains of HIV. People can find the side effects of antiretrovirals to be intolerable or dangerous. Some antiretrovirals have dangerous interactions with drug treatments for other conditions. Simplifying a drug regimen can improve adherence. ViiV and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have developed a two-drug antiretroviral regimen, Juluca. It contains dolutegravir, an integrase inhibitor, and rilpivirine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The FDA approved Juluca in November of 2017, its first approval of a two-drug antiretroviral regimen. People take Juluca only once per day with a meal. Its most common side effects are diarrhea and headache. Insurers may not yet cover Juluca, given its recent approval. ViiV may provide bridge financing until insurers begin to cover this drug. In January, both SFAN and the HIVPC will elect new officers. No one has yet agreed to run for SFAN offices. Raquel Lopes has agreed to run for HIVPC chair. Carla Taylor-Bennett, David Shamer, and H.B. Katz have agreed to run for HIVPC vice chair.
Next SFAN Meeting: Friday, January 5, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., at the Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE 56th Street, Ft. Lauderdale. SFAN welcomes newcomers. The next HIVPC meeting will occur on January 25 at 9:30 a.m. at 115 S. Andrews Ave. For exact room location, call 954-561-9681 ext. 1343, or visit http://www.brhpc.org/programs/hiv-planning-council/. Follow Sean McShee on Twitter @SeanMcShee
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12.20.2017 •
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Publisher's Editorial
Convictions
George Carlin Can Now Add Fetus to His Dirty Words List
Photo courtesy of Bonnie, wiki.
Norm Kent
norm.kent@sfgn.com
transgender
fetus
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entitlement
science-based evidence-based
vulnerable hen I write my columns for SFGN, sometimes I must remember all my readers were not 18 years old in 1968, that some of you may not remember Vietnam, Watergate or Woodstock. Some of you may not even know George Carlin. Today, Donald Trump’s latest antics, a move out of Rick Scott’s playbook, bring back the life and legacy, the lunacy and the laughter of George Carlin. More than just being a comedian, George Carlin was a piercing social theorist, a biting monologist, and an ever so sophisticated individual. He came to American notoriety in 1972, when he went on stage doing a monologue titled ‘Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.’ These words were ‘fuck, shit, piss, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.’ Even today, I am uncomfortable using them in print or my writings. I think there is a better way to say things. At the time, the words were considered highly inappropriate and unsuitable for broadcast on the public airwaves in the U.S., whether radio or television. As such, they were avoided in scripted material, and bleep censored in the rare cases in which they were used. Broadcast standards differ in different parts of the world, then and now, although most of the words on Carlin’s original list remain taboo on American television. The list was not an official enumeration of forbidden words, but rather was compiled by Carlin for use in his routines. Nonetheless, a New York City radio broadcast on WBAI featuring these words led to a U. S. Supreme Court ruling that helped establish the extent
diversity
to which the federal government could regulate speech on broadcast television and radio in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission reprimanded the station. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the FCC action in 1978, by a vote of 5 to 4, ruling that the routine was “indecent but not obscene”. The Court accepted as compelling the government’s interests in: • Shielding children from potentially offensive material, and • Ensuring that unwanted speech does not enter one’s home. The Court stated that the FCC had the authority to prohibit such broadcasts during hours when children were likely to be among the audience, and gave the FCC broad leeway to determine what constituted indecency in different contexts. This eventually led to the Communications Decency Act, but if you have heard him at his public rallies, it is one of many laws that our current president apparently has no use for. However, while our president has no problem being vulgar, acting despicably, or cursing frequently, he does have a problem with some words when they involve protecting the rights of minorities, speaking out about diversity or enhance the stature of African’-Americans.
Some would even call Trump racist, but hey the White House has a new unofficial explanation. He is just ‘racial.’ Frankly, I think he is Neanderthal and the latest playbook he is using is proof for the pudding. Last week, his administration directed policy analysts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the use of seven specific words and phrases would be prohibited. On the list are the words “vulnerable,” “diversity,” “entitlement,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based,” and “sciencebased.” The decision has not only been deemed as reckless and dangerous, but an offense to the scientific community. Florida’s governor Rick Scott used the same tool to ban the words ‘climate-change.’ As CNN has noted, this would not be the Trump administration’s first attack on scientists or their abilities to communicate to the public. Since his days on the campaign trail, Donald Trump has denied, belittled or argued against the impacts of climate change. Ever since he assumed the office of the presidency, he has not only surrounded himself and his cabinet with climate change skeptics, but has acted to suppress scientific action and thought. He is a moron, essentially, and he proves it daily. I mean I went back to George Carlin but this is even reminiscent of the masterful
The decision has not only been deemed as reckless and dangerous, but an offense to the scientific community.
book and play ‘Inherit the Wind.’ We already knew about Mike Pence. We may have people in this administration denying the theory of evolution. I don’t have to tell you about the ‘Scopes’ trial do I? Damn, just go google it, okay? This goes far beyond an attack on lexicon or word-choice. A ban on words not only creates barriers for scientists who need to communicate, but also breaks public trust in the areas they are meant to investigate and research. William Jennings Bryan. Donald Trump. Brothers of the same mother. The defense attorney in the ‘Scopes’ case was Clarence Darrow, one of America’s finest. They have made one man plays of his stature and nobility, one of the finest lawyers our country has ever seen, a man whose career every attorney looks up to. In his closing, and this was back in 1925, he said “We have the purpose of preventing bigots and ignoramuses from controlling the education of the United States.” As for me, I admired George Carlin, and even got to interview him once. A genius with words, clarity with insight, a marvelous modern man. Go watch that video on YouTube. You will love it, even today. I promise. He would not be as polite with Trump as Clarence Darrow was with William Jennings Bryan. Today, George Carlin would tell Donald Trump to “Go fuck yourself, motherfucker.” How can you oppose climate change and diversity, inclusion and transgender people? I think I join with Carlin in using those indecent words in my column. Trump made me do it. I know it’s sad. But, anything goes for the white wing.
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Convictions
Seeing In The Dark
Deaf Painter Discusses Barriers for Artists with Disabilities Belo Cipriani
Photos courtesy of Bex.
A
ccording to a 2012 Census report, 56.7 million Americans have a disability. This figure translates to roughly 19 percent of the population — making people with disabilities the largest minority group in the country.
But despite the size of this demographic, Grandma just goes, ‘So what? Just teach people with disabilities have the lowest her sign language.’” numbers of educational attainment and Bex’s journey into the arts began as a work participation — facts that queer small child, and her earliest drawings were and deaf artist Bex knows all too well, in pen. and believes heavily impacts artists with “According to my parents, I didn’t care disabilities. that I couldn’t erase, so pencils, colored “Having the time and the space to create pencils, and crayons came much later,” she art is a luxury,” she said. “Disabled people said. are twice as likely to be poor compared to She moved on to oil painting by the able-bodied people, and far more likely to age of 7 and at 18, moved to Northern be unemployed.” California to study at the California College The 28-year-old San Francisco Bay Area of the Arts (CCA), where she completed resident believes people with disabilities her undergraduate degree and an MFA in face discrimination and Comics. lack of access — despite the But while Bex was able to She states existence of the Americans pursue an art education, she with Disabilities Act (ADA) points out most people with her — and that people with disabilities are not able to disability, disabilities incur additional attain training due to cost. costs that create barriers to “The most expensive queerness, art training. colleges in the country are and Jewish art schools, not Ivy League “The cost of living for disabled people is higher schools. Ivy League schools, faith have than average due to medical being rich, distribute a lot of all had care and adjustment costs,” financial aid to their students she said. “And that’s all so if you make a list of the some impact — before you even get to the art 10 most expensive four-year, on her world side itself.” private, nonprofit colleges and Bex was born and raised in subtract the average amount work. Los Angeles, and is the only of grant/scholarship aid at deaf person in her family. each institution, a majority of She shared, “When I was finally the list would consist of art schools and diagnosed, I was about 1.5 years old. It conservatories,” she said. took a while to get the diagnosis, because The artist also shares that navigating my mother unfortunately had to deal the art world is tougher for people with with a succession of extremely dismissive disabilities — especially for those without doctors, one of whom even suggested that art contacts. it was all in her head.” “Breaking into the art world demands “Initially,” Bex continued, “My parents copious amounts of networking, and a were pretty upset and sad about the fact lot of that begins in art school,” she said. of my deafness. There’s a story about my “Unless you’re awarded a full scholarship, mom despairingly talking about it on the playing field is usually not level, and the phone with my grandmother, and I think it’s why so many disabled artists’
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work ends up being categorized as outsider art.” Bex’s brush strokes have been described, by the arts and design magazine Eclectix, as a mixture of surrealism, science fiction scenarios and a female under the influence of German Expressionism, and she states her disability, queerness, and Jewish faith have all had some impact on her work. “There is a very strong sense of abjection in my work. I believe it rises not just from being queer, but also from being disabled, as well as Jewish — the implicit knowledge that just by having the audacity to merely exist, you are loathed,” she said. The painter mentioned her art is not
about deafness, but admits she does share some similar themes as other deaf artists. “There are sometimes themes such as isolation that do have a history of being in other deaf artists’ work as well,” she shared. “It’s a specific kind of isolation — not the universal, generic sort, but one that stems from a baked-in language barrier and lack of comprehension on hearing people’s parts. They might distantly relate, but have never personally experienced it.” Bex interned with the Emmy-winning show “Robot Chicken,” and is now working on a graphic novel. You can follow her on Twitter @radiant_spores or visit her website at www.bexfreund.com.
Belo Cipriani is a disability advocate, a freelance journalist, the award-winning author of Blind: A Memoir and Midday Dreams, and the spokesperson for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Learn more at www.belocipriani.com.
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Feature centerlink
CenterLink
Bringing Out Pride Center Potential Tucker Berardi
T
he Wilton Manors area plays host to many well known LGBT related nonprofits like the Pride Center, SunServe and Latinos Salud. But then there’s CenterLink, an unknown but extremely important national LGBT non-profit that provides for emerging LGBT centers across the country. Their mission: “to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers.” It was in 1971 when the first LGBT centers opened their doors in Los Angeles, California and Albany, New York. Today there are Pride Centers across the U.S. and throughout the world providing services like counseling, social events, STI screening and even housing to the LGBT community. In order to offer those services and expand their capacity for helping community members, pride centers need proper resources and funding. CenterLink, a nonprofit organization headquartered close to Wilton Manors works everyday to ensure that those centers here in Florida and across the country get the resources necessary to continue their work. “Every center focuses on the need from their community,” CenterLink CEO Lora Tucker said. “Most are small and they are trying to grow, and we help them to find grants to grow capacity.” Founded in 1994, CenterLink is a member-based coalition that works to ensure that LGBT community centers have the resources necessary to address the needs of their respective communities. Currently the organization serves over 200 LGBT centers in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, as well as centers in Canada, Australia and China. “When I started at Compass in 1997 CenterLink was an all volunteer organization,” said Tony Plakas, the CEO of Compass. “They were a group of people who just wanted to help emerging centers, to help new centers get their footing and create a support structure so they didn’t have
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The non profit organization works with a network of LGBT Centers to secure funding and maximize operations Photo courtesy of Centerlink, Facebook.
to reinvent the wheel. Once upon a time CenterLink was a really important component of the work we do at Compass today.” According to CenterLink, over 60 percent of LGBT centers provide some direct health services including counseling, peer-led programs and support groups, as well as physical health and other mental health services. “A fundamental goal of our mission is to help build the capacity of centers to meet the social, cultural, health and political advocacy needs of LGBT community members across the country,” CenterLink’s website reads. “CenterLink also acts as a voice for the LGBT community centers in national grassroots organizing, coalition building and social activism in order to strengthen and build a unified center movement.” The same percentage of centers also operate with 5 or fewer paid staff, and over 30 percent of LGBT centers nationwide make do without any paid staff members. Despite the humble resources many centers operate with, CenterLink believes that LGBT centers offer some of the most important services to the LGBT community, and ensuring they are able to operate to their fullest potential is crucial when it comes to helping LGBT individuals and
“We are working on a grassroots level to empower our allies and support advocacy efforts.” - Lora Tucker CenterLink CEO
the pursuit of equal rights. “Whether they provide direct services, educate the public or organize for social change, community centers work more closely with their LGBT constituency and engage more community leaders and decision-makers than any other LGBT network in the country,” CenterLink’s site reads. In order to ensure that LGBT centers working within CenterLink’s network can maximize their capacity, CenterLink has been hard at work with national organizations to hold down Obama-era policy changes during an unsympathetic administration. According to Tucker, they are also working on state and local levels to protect and pursue inclusive policies. “When I look at CenterLink and they way things are going with the new administration, things are crazy,” Tucker said. “On a state level we are working on equality work, to ensure that we elect good people and that people are paying attention to policies affecting the LGBT community.” On a local level, CenterLink has established the Center Action Network (CAN), which is an attempt to highlight projects and efforts by local organizations and LGBT centers, helping them to secure the funding, expertise and opportunities necessary to maximize their impact. “We created the Center Action Network, or CAN, to maximize the capacity of LGBT centers to mobilize. We are working on a grassroots level to empower our allies and support advocacy efforts. We are also helping to secure government funding channels, which are the lifeblood of these LGBT centers.” Tucker is a firm believer that the fight for equal rights is far from over, and working with LGBT centers and programs that seek to promote and secure inclusive policy as well as ensuring more LGBT representation in policy is a must.
Feature centerlink
Lora Tucker. Photo courtesy of Lora Tucker.
Lora Tucker, New CenterLink CEO, has Long History of Leadership Denise Royal
L
ora Tucker has been at helm of “My passion is leadership and I enjoy CenterLink, the national association helping organizations learn and become of LGBT community centers since adaptive in today’s volatile, ambiguous the beginning of the year – just as LGBT and uncertain world in which we live, so communities nationwide adjust to big that they don’t go the way of the dinosaur. changes happening across the country. Organizations today have to continue Tucker is new to South Florida, but not to learning in order to thrive. The thing that I do leadership. She’s a retired United States Army really well is build and grow teams because colonel who led troops in Operation Desert I really enjoy the professional development Storm, jumped out of airplanes aspect of being a CEO.” as part of the Airborne Corps, Tucker has been in her new “As part of my directed public affairs officers role since April and said it’s in the U.S. Army Reserve, and job, sometimes I going very well. commanded a joint press camp “I have fallen in love with this was taking young at Guantanamo Bay. team and the area,” she said. “I Americans into “As a military officer, I have had the opportunity to get dangerous places; out and travel and meet with changed roles every two or three years,” Tucker said. “I I learned to lead a some of our centers. All I can was dealing with a different diverse population, say is that my heart is full.” team or a different mission. As CenterLink is home to with different part of my job, sometimes I was nearly 200 national LGBT cultures in extreme organizations, and every taking young Americans into dangerous places; I learned to center has different needs. circumstances.” lead a diverse population, with “Kalamazoo is different than - Lora Tucker different cultures in extreme Los Angeles,” Tucker said. “And CenterLink CEO circumstances.” Los Angeles is different than Tucker earned the Bronze Star Dallas, which is different than Medal and served 25 years as a soldier and New York City. Our challenge is to create officer for the U.S. Army. Those experiences a space where the leadership from within helped prepare Tucker for the top roles that those organizations has the opportunity to followed, including CEO for the Girl Scouts in network and learn from each other. As well Kentucky and southern Indiana. From there, as us really learning how to meet the needs Tucker attended the leadership program of our centers whether small, medium or at Georgetown University and became a large.” leadership coach. She is currently earning a In the country’s current Trump era, doctorate degree in leadership from Spalding Tucker describes the feeling among many of University. That’s in addition to her B.A. in CenterLink’s member groups as “anxious.” social science from Boston College, a master’s “I think some of our constituents are in administration from Central Michigan still in a state of shock because we made University, and a master’s in strategic studies such wonderful headway under the Obama from the U.S. Army War College. administration,” Tucker explained. 12.20.2017 •
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Courtesy.
LIFESTYLE photos
CHARDEEs LOUNGE is BACK! On December 13, Chardees Lounge unveiled the return of the once-famed lounge with the first of two nights’ grand opening ceremonies. Entertainment was performed by Ruben Gonzalez, and complimentary well drinks and hors d’oeuvres were provided. J.R. Davis
To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook.
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LIFESTYLE tony's talks
The Man Behind Sea & Olive From Turkey to South Africa to Miami Beach Ahmet Demir now brings his culinary delights to Wilton Manors Tony Adams
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Photos by J.R. Davis
LIFESTYLE tony's talks
I
always wonder what and who is behind the food I enjoy on my first visit to a new restaurant. I did not have to wait long for the answers on my first visit to Sea & Olive, a recent addition to the fine dining options on the Drive in Wilton Manors. The attentive owner Ahmet Demir came to our table to make sure we were satisfied, graciously answering all my questions. Starting, growing and selling restaurants is what Demir does best. It is also what he enjoys doing more than anything else. He got into the business as a high school student washing dishes in a restaurant in his native Turkey. He took to the business instinctually and during his university years – he studied languages – he acquired expertise in the world of restaurants and hotels. In 2006, he fell in love with Cape Town, South Africa while on vacation there. That is where he moved, getting a job at a popular tourist restaurant. Within a year, he had become the managing partner
of that restaurant, learning not only the production side of food service, but also the business elements involving partnerships and financial management. He must have been a quick study. Sea & Olive, 2390 Wilton Drive, is Demir’s eighth restaurant! In 2009, he moved to the U.S. (His wife is a New Yorker.) where he opened his own Mediterranean-style restaurant on Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan’s Alphabet City neighborhood. It was successful, but the cold winter weather drove them to Miami for a vacation. As often happens, it wasn’t long before he sold his venture in NYC and moved to Miami. He scouted locations for his next restaurant, finding the vacant space he was looking for near the gay club Twist at 11th Street and Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. He renovated from the ground up. (In addition to orchestrating the delivery of fine food, Demir takes great pleasure in personally designing his restaurants. He selects the furnishings, lighting and
“We don’t cut corners and our food is authentic. I come from a Turkish farming family. Turkish country style cooking is what I know.” - Ahmet Demir, Owner Sea & Olive
colors that make his space food is authentic. I come from inviting and comfortable.) a Turkish farming family. Because of its location near Turkish country style cooking Twist and Score, Demir’s is what I know. ” “As soon as I restaurants developed a I tested out Demir’s claim of saw the place, strong gay clientele. His authenticity at a subsequent understanding of the gay visit accompanied by a man I said, ‘Know market made his eventual who had been stationed what? This is move to Wilton Manors in Turkey during his years very easy. going to work of military service. He He sold that Miami pronounced their signature perfectly for a dish, the lamb shank, excellent Beach restaurant, called Romelia (the ancient name Mediterranean and he was full of praise for the for Istanbul) and opened Turkish tea served to us after restaurant.” a Greek tapas restaurant, dinner, saying it was exactly as Meze Aegean Bistro, also he remembered it. I will add to - Ahmet Demir, in Miami Beach. He and a that my praise for the soft and Owner Sea & Olive business partner wanted savory grilled octopus. There a much larger space, is also dorado and bronzino acquiring another Washington Avenue served on a bed of arugula. location where they opened Babylon Having happily relocated his young Turkish Cuisine with 300 seats and a family to Wilton Manors, Demir describes gorgeous courtyard. doing business here as “unpredictable” He sold his share of that restaurant to in that Sea & Olive can be both extremely open a bar called Groovy’s on Lincoln Road. busy or quiet, often without explanation. Despite its ongoing success, he could not Even though Sea & Olive is only six months shed his love for the restaurant business. old, Demir is already in the process of When a real estate agent told him about a starting an additional restaurant on the wonderful space with a gracious outdoor Drive. Construction and permitting are in patio, he was intrigued. gear for what will be a “gourmet burger and “I told the agent ‘Yes, show me.’ And beer” place on Wilton Drive near NE 20th that’s when he said, ‘It’s in Fort Lauderdale.’ Street. As soon as I saw the place, I said, ‘Know Ahmet Demir said that he has learned what? This is going to work perfectly for a that the restaurant business is only for Mediterranean restaurant,’” Demir said. those who love it. It is not a business for When I asked Demir why a visitor to those who want to get rich. He has put Wilton Manors seeking Mediterranean down some roots here, and intends to stick fare should choose Sea & Olive over other around, bringing a wealth of experience options, he said, “We make everything and skill to the tables he sets. Check out his from scratch and we have two chefs from menu and visit Sea & Olive soon. Turkey who have excellent reputations and experience at some of the most famous Online: restaurants in Turkey, including the Four SeaAndOlive.com/menu.html Seasons. We don’t cut corners and our 12.20.2017 •
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he best restaurants in South Florida are often to be found tucked into the corner of a grocery store. I’m not talking about the hot food bar at Whole Foods, I’m talking about little hole-in-the-wall ethnic groceries. That’s not unusual throughout much of the rest of the world. Elsewhere most grocery stores offer a café of some kind and until the 1950s that was true in the U.S. as well. However, the advent of the supermarket chains did away with the grocery/café.
Visit
SFGN.com/FOOD to read the rest of this article.
We know you have fine taste... so come treat yourself.
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SFGNITES
W E E K
O F
D ece m b er
J.W. Arnold
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D E C E MB E R 2 6 ,
2 0 1 7 W W W . S F G N . C O M
On the Second Day of Christmas
jw@prdconline.com
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theater The holiday season can be confusing for some “modern families.” That’s why funnyman Steve Solomon created “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy.” His hilarious, long running one-man show is returning to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach just in time for Hanukkah and Christmas. Catch a performance in the Rinker Playhouse through Saturday. Tickets are $35 at Kravis.org.
FRI
12/22
concert The handsome singing quintet Rockapella comes to the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, tonight at 7 p.m. with plenty of holiday musical cheer, “Rockapella Christmas.” All of your favorite holiday carols and songs get the unique “fullband a capella” treatment like you’ve never heard before, as these guys use their voices in amazing ways to imitate real rock bands. Tickets start at $30.74 at TheCenterCS.com.
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Tuesday 12/26
theater
Did you know the 12 days of Christmas traditionally start on Christmas Day, not before, as retailers might have you believe? So, starting on the second day of Christmas, why not enjoy the holiday magic of “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale? Instead of two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree, you’ll be treated to dozens of acrobats, tumblers, dancers and singers. Playing through Dec. 30. Tickets at BrowardCenter.org. Photo Credit: Cirque Dreams.
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Christmas is just days away and, if you’re looking for a little religious instruction, head to the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale for “Sister’s Christmas Catechism.” It’s “CSI: Bethlehem” as Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages: Whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? Experience the nativity story in a new way that is sure to become a holiday tradition. Tickets start at $35 at BrowardCenter.org.
It’s Christmas Eve and—if you’re not going to church—do what good gays do and worship at the altar of theater. Slow Burn Theatre Co. presents Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon’s tuneful Tony Award-winning musical “The Secret Garden” in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center through Dec. 31. This classic children’s tale of forgiveness and renewal is perfect for the holiday season. Tickets start at $47 at BrowardCenter.org.
Grammy Award-winning singer Melissa Manchester celebrates the traditions of all faiths with a special holiday concert on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and today at 2 p.m. at the Wick Theatre and Costume Museum, 7901 N. Federal Hwy. in Boca Raton. She’ll perform her biggest hits, along with lots of holiday favorites. Don’t forget to wander the theater’s magical Winter Wonderland lobby while there, too. Tickets at TheWick.org.
Escape the crowds at the malls with the musical “Finding Neverland” tonight through Dec. 31 at the Arsht Center in Miami. This Broadway hit tells the story of J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Thanks to amazing special effects, colorful costumes and sets and touching musical numbers, the magic of Barrie’s tale springs to life on stage in a memorable theatrical setting. Tickets start at $29 at ArshtCenter.org.
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M A R K C O R TA L E P R E S E N T S S E T H R U D E T S K Y ’ S
BROADWAY CONCERT SERIES
JEREMY JORDAN
DECEMBER 26–30
W I T H H O S T S E T H R U D E T S KY
JANUARY 6 Known for his critically-acclaimed Tony-Award nominated performance in Newsies and his starring roles on screen in Smash, Supergirl and Tangled¸ Jeremy Jordan is hitting the Parker Playhouse stage Sirius XM host and superstar Seth Rudetsky for a night of sining, stories and laughter.
TICKETS at BrowardCenter.org
Ticketmaster: 954.462.0222 Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office & Group Sales: 954.660.6307 Follow us:
BrowardCenter
The Broward Center 2017-2018 season is presented by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation.
TICKETS at ParkerPlayhouse.com Ticketmaster | 954.462.0222 Group Sales | 954.660.6307 Follow us:
#ParkerPlayhouse
The Parker Playhouse 2017-2018 season is presented by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation.
12.20.2017 •
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A&E dance Miami City Ballet debuted a new production of the traditional holiday ballet, “The Nutcracker,” last weekend at the Arsht Center. Photo Credit: Alexander Iziliaev.
New Nutcracker a Technicolor —and Technological—Treat J.W. Arnold
“T
he Nutcracker” is arguably one of the American designers Ruben and Isabel Toledo most beloved family holiday traditions. to reimagine “The Nutcracker” and the results Ballet companies around the world pack were unveiled to South Florida audiences last theaters (and pad their tight operating weekend at the Arsht Center in Miami. budgets) in the weeks leading up to Christmas Stylized animations projected on the with productions set to the familiar suite by curtain open a multimedia experience Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. that evokes the stylized early works of the All are roughly based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s French Impressionists and even Picasso. The scary 1816 story, “The Nutcracker and The mansion is warm and the guests dressed Mouse King,” and later adapted by Alexandre in colorful Victorian and Edwardian party Dumas (“The Count of Monte Cristo”) clothes. The mice and animated toy soldiers and further lightened by the lend a whimsical touch before composer and his Russian the journey to the magical the ballet is choreographers: kingdom. Opening in the manse of a Snowflakes in crisp white the tale of a wealthy European family, the tutus worthy of Vera Wang coat Christmas toy, the stage with snow as the couple ballet is the tale of a Christmas toy, an enchanted nutcracker an enchanted arrive by boat to be treated by that comes to life and battles technicolor sights. Candy Canes nutcracker the evil mouse king. He then in striped body suits dance to whisks the new owner, Marie, the “Trepak” or Russian dance. that comes to a magical kingdom inhabited The flowers shimmer in pastel to life and by dolls. orange and pink dresses before battles the Since its founding, Miami City the Sugarplum Fairy and her Ballet has performed the classic cavalier dance in elegant lime evil mouse choreography of the legendary sherbet-colored costumes. The king. George Balanchine, the ballet concludes as the young mentor of its founder, Edward prince and princess are whisked Villella. The production was traditional and away by a hot air balloon reminiscent of the predictable—not to mention dark and dour fantastical imagination of Jules Verne. in the opening scenes—so artistic director The music, choreography and high caliber Lourdes Lopez deemed the time right to performances remain the same, but through commission a new production that would the vision of the Toledos, this tradition is update the ballet for an audience that is more vibrant and whimsical, the perfect holiday easily entertained by smartphones and tablet treat for audiences who may be inclined to computers. say “bah humbug” to another trip to see “The Lopez tapped New York-based Cuban- Nutcracker.” Miami City Ballet presents the new production of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” at the Arsht Center in Miami through Dec. 24 and in West Palm Beach at the Kravis Center, Dec. 28 – 30. For tickets and more information, go to MiamiCityBallet.org.
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A&E D V D s
Queerly Digital LGBT cinema on DVD/Blu-Ray, a monthly column
David-Elijah Nahmod
Maurice: Gay Classic Returns In New Special Edition
W
elcome to Queerly Digital, a monthly column for cinema lovers from across the LGBT spectrum. All titles are available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or both. This column will as the months progress, be sure to include titles which honor all LGBT experiences.
I
n celebration of its thirtieth anniversary, the classic gay romance "Maurice" comes to DVD/Blu-Ray in a new deluxe, two-disc special edition. It's difficult, when viewing "Maurice" today, to realize how groundbreaking—even shocking—the film was in 1987. A tale of gay love lost and found in Edwardian England, the film was made ten years before Ellen DeGeneres' historic coming out. "Maurice" is based on the same-named novel written by E.M. Forster around 1913, the era in which the story is set. Forster would not allow the book to be published during his lifetime, and so it was not published until 1971, the year after he died at age 91. James Wilby stars as the titular character. While attending Cambridge University in 1909, he enters into a romantic, albeit platonic relationship with classmate Clive (Hugh Grant). Maurice wants their relationship to be sexual, but Clive refuses. A few years later, when one of their classmates is sentenced to six months in prison for trying to pick up a man in a bar, a terrified Clive ends their relationship. The two men don't speak for a year—until Maurice is invited to be an usher at Clive's wedding to a woman. Against his better judgement Maurice accepts.
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Maurice finds himself battling his gay urges while at Clive's palatial country home. One day he notices that Scudder, a young gamekeeper (Rupert Graves) is paying a great deal of attention to him. At first Maurice treats this servant with contempt, but late one night, Scudder brazenly climbs into Maurice's window. "I know sir," Scudder whispers. "I know." The two men proceed to make love—it's an unforgettable sequence. Maurice was directed by James Ivory, who received his greatest fame with a trio of big screen Forster adaptations. "A Room With A View" (1985) and "Howard's End" (1993) were highly successful films, nominated for eight and nine Academy Awards respectively. "Maurice" could be considered Ivory's coming out film—his producing partner, Ismail Merchant, was also his life partner for 44 years. Throughout their career the men worked with screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala—they were a trio which the Guinness Book of World Records cited as the longest partnership in independent film history, according to Wikipedia. As with Ivory's other Forster films, "Maurice" was lushly
shot on location in England. The film's elegant settings, period costumes and the stage trained cast effectively capture the England of a century ago. But most importantly "Maurice" captures the beauty of gay love. Maurice and Scudder might not seem like a well-matched couple: Scudder is a foul-mouthed servant, while Maurice is a "gentleman." Their attraction to each other transcends class. They're soulmates, unable to resist their deep need to be with each other, unable to do anything other than make personal sacrifices so they can be together. "Maurice" also reminds us that it wasn't always as easy to be gay as it is in today's world. In Maurice's world being gay is a crime punishable by jail time. The portions of the film that deal with these issues are a sobering reminder of the horrible things currently being done to gay men in places like Chechnya, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Is "Maurice" one of the greatest gay films ever made? That would be up to each viewer to decide—"great" is a subjective term. The film certainly is one of the best in the annals of Queer cinema. In addition to a newly restored, pristine print of the film, "Maurice" includes interviews with auteur James Ivory and stars James Wilby (Maurice) and Rupert Graves (Scudder). Background information on the film's story is also included. "Maurice" is now available.
A&E review Photo Credit: Pompano Bill.
Tony & Gloria
That’s Entertainment Pier Angelo
A
mainstay of Wilton Manors and announces itself in genetically enhanced Fort Lauderdale, Tony and Gloria voices; at other times through a subtle began their musical careers on 52nd yin-yang of two halves creating a whole. Street in Manhattan, and have played up The appeal of pop music duos with and down the East Coast, from New York both male and female singers has never to Key West for years. been particularly susceptible to the riseThey have also performed in France and and-fall trends of decades or musical eras, on the tropical island of St. Martin. South thriving quite consistently across genres. Florida has been their home for the last 20 Their creative honesty and integrity, years. Gloria’s musical origins are rooted supported by a rich foundation of fine in the church, singing with musicianship, elevates each her sisters and perfected selection with the distinct Their creative through numerous club signature of Tony and Gloria. honesty and engagements. Tony’s roots You can tell that Tony are in jazz, playing around and Gloria are made up of integrity, the country with many big husband-and-wife, as their supported by a bands and such jazz greats songs, at times, sound like rich foundation something two sweethearts as Chuck Wayne and Evelyn Blakey. would dance to thirty years of fine The Duo offers a ago. Maybe it’s their natural musicianship, delicious blend of Jazz and affinity for that beautifully elevates each Standards interlaced with soothing sound, or maybe it’s selection with contemporary influences the bond that they have that from Pop to Latin to Blues. is so readily translated into the distinct Cool hot passionate and their music that makes Tony signature of playful, the sounds of “Tony and Gloria’s span of songs Tony and Gloria. so listenable. Whatever the and Gloria” resonate with the performers’ love of music. reason may be, this duo This is a successful integration of works well together on more than one two distinct musical talents producing level. The combination of voices and delightful harmonies in every sense of memorable melodies helps transform the word. Gloria’s sensual and smokey every performance into something more. voice is wonderfully accompanied by They have just landed a gig at the Tony’s guitar. They possibly know every newly opened Chardees Lounge in Wilton song ever written and will gladly play Manors, every Saturday night. and sing it for you. Less narcissistic than Go and have fun, sing along with them solo performers, more intimate than a or sway to the music , their loyal fans will mere “band,” this musical duo embodies be there. Who knows you might become a special chemistry. Something that one of them.
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Datebook
Theater Christiana Lilly
Calendar@SFGN.com
Top
Picks
Steve Solomon’s “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy”
Through Dec. 23 at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Solomon returns with an updated version of his one-man comedy show. Tickets $35. Call 561832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.
is joined by Wil Shriner. Tickets $25 and up. Call 954-777-2055 or visit LPACFL.com.
* Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Dec. 23 at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Charles F. Dodge City Center Pembroke Pines, 601 City Center Way in Pembroke Pines. The story of the misfit reindeer is told using puppets, projections, costumes and characters. Tickets $30 to $50. Call 954-392-9480 or visit PembrokePinesCityCenter.org.
Stalker Bob and His Mother
Through Dec. 23 at the Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Jim and Jimmy retire to Florida and one of their “tricks” turns out to be the son of a career criminal who uses her child to lure her victims. Tickets $30. Call 954-678-1469 or visit EmpireStage.com.
The Christmas tradition comes to life on stage. Tickets $18 and up. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.
Through Dec. 23 at GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. Dr. Ruth is more than a sex therapist — the one-woman show tells her story as a Holocaust survivor, Haganah sniper, single mother, and teacher. Tickets $45 to $60. Call 305-445-1119 or visit GableStage.org.
Secret Garden
Newsies
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
A Civil War Christmas
Becoming Dr. Ruth
Dec. 26 to 30 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Cirque brings together Broadway and family for a show with more than 300 costumes, 20 acts, musics, and gravity-defying acrobatics. Tickets $29.50 to $123. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.
* Denotes New Listing
broward county * Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold
Dec. 23 at 1 and 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Catholic School is back in session with a comedic recounting of the nativity story with Sister, as well as a local choir and audience participation. Tickets $35 to $45. Call 954462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.
* Louie Anderson
Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place in Lauderhill. Named one of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time, Anderson
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Through Dec. 31 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Mary moves in with her unapproachable uncle when she becomes an orphan, but her and her cousin discover a new world in the property’s garden. Tickets $47 to $60. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. Through Dec. 23 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Ave. in Pompano Beach. The American version of “A Christmas Carol,” a musical showcase of how America came together for Christmas. Tickets $35. Call 954-545-7800 or visit CCPompano,org.
Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series
Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy live, outdoor music spanning genres and tributes every Friday evening through November. Free. Visit FridayNightSoundWaves.com
palm beach county * Christmas Wonderland
Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. A Christmas party with singers and dancers performing with favorite songs, Santa Claus, elves and more. Tickets $25. Call 561-8327469 or visit Kravis.org.
* A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage
Dec. 23 at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach.
Tom Wahl and Nicholas Richberg star in the world premiere of Terry Teachout’s play “Billy and Me” at Palm Beach Dramaworks. Photo Credit: Samantha Mighdoll.
Through Dec. 27 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Road in Jupiter. Newspaper boys become the news when they fight against their employer for fair wages. Tickets $58 and up. Call 561-575-2223 or visit JupiterTheatre.org.
Billy and Me
Through Dec. 31 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. The play takes place over 15 years, beginning with Tennessee Williams at a bar after a tryout of his play, and then years later after the flop of his friend William Inge’s first Broadway play. Tickets $55 and up. Call 561-514-4042 or visit PalmBeachDramaworks.org.
Free Friday Concerts
Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair
every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.
miami-dade county Winter Shorts
Through Dec. 23 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Eight- to 10-minute comedic shorts with a holiday twist by City Theatre. Tickets $39 to $54. Call 305-9496722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.
Outdoor Music Series
Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.
The Big Show
Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit JustTheFunny.com.
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12.20.2017 •
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This week’s featured
photo
By Carina Mask
● Rec
Datebook
Community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com
Top Picks Victorian Christmas
Dec. 18 to 23 at 7 p.m. at the Stranahan House, 335 SE Sixth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The city’s oldest home comes to life with extravagant decor, period costumes, tours, live music, and more. Tickets $30. Call 954-5244736 or visit StranahanHouse.org.
TransSOCIAL Saturday
Want to see more? Santa’s Sip n’ Stroll Art Walk MDGLCC Holiday Party
Facebook.com/SouthFloridaGayNews
Nite Life Law
954.763.1900
Norman Elliott Kent & Russell Cormican 12 S.E. 7th Street, Suite 709 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 www.NormKent.com
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PFLAG
Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and locations.
SunServe Youth Group
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.
Divas
First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954-384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.
Through Dec. 29 at Hatch 1121, Lucerne Ave. in Lake Worth. Paintings of divas and drag queens on a number of media. Free. Visit LakeWorthArts. com.
* Denotes New Listing
Survivor Support
broward county * Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture
Criminal Defense Law Center
Broward Support Services
Dec. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Pridelines, 6360 NE Fourth Court in Miami. The weekly meetup celebrates the holidays — help stock the Project SAFE community closet and bring a gift card, new toiletries, and new underwear and socks for homeless LGBT youth. Free. Visit TransSocial.org.
If you drink, don’t drive. If you drive, don’t drink. If you do both, call us.
Kent & Cormican
December 20 december 26
Dec. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. A night of comedy, food, singing, spoken word, music, African attire, and more. Free. Call 954-463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida. org.
A Community Responds: Our Response to HIV/AIDS
Through Jan. 7, 2018 at the Stonewall National Museum - Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. An exploration of the response to HIV/AIDS over time. Free to attend, suggested donation $5. Call 954-763-8565 or visit StonewallMuseum.org.
Voices of Pride
Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they practice every week. Free.
Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC. com for rehearsal details.
Life Coaching
Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Latinos Salud Clubhouse, 2300 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Get one-on-one life coaching from certified CRCS coaches. For guys living with HIV, their partners, and anyone who identifies as transgender. Free. Call 954-765-6239 or visit LatinosSalud.org.
Rest Your Mind
Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Kadampa Meditation Center, 241 W Prospect Road Ste. B in Fort Lauderdale. Start your week with relaxing meditation to center yourself. Free. Visit MeditateinFortLauderdale.org.
Man2Man Discussion
Mondays 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. A weekly informal discussion group among
December 20 - december 26 gay men of all backgrounds. Contact Lewis Shena at klezmerman2@gmail.com.
Toastmasters
Mondays 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Learn the art of public speaking with positive reinforcement and encouragement from your peers. Call Ted Verdone at 954-5662074 or email tedverdone@comcast.net.
palm beach county Transcendence
Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A closed transgender youth support group for teens ages 12 to 19. For more information, email youth@ compassglcc.com.
Sober Sisters
Mondays at 6:15 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for female recovering alcoholics. Visit LambdaNorth.net.
Out of the Closet, Into the Light
Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at MCC of
the Palm Beaches, 4857 Northlake Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens. AA for the LGBT community. Free. Call 561-775-5900 or visit MCCPalmBeach.org.
Out of the Closet NA Group
Mondays at 7 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for LGBT recovering addicts. Visit LambdaNorth.net.
Positive Connection
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Men who are HIV positive are invited to come together for support, education, and advocacy. Closed group. Call 561-324-1626 or visit CompassGLCC.com.
Bisexual Support Group
Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Share your thoughts with other members of the bisexual community, discuss issues, and address concerns in a safe environment. Email marissa@compassglcc.com or visit CompassGLCC.com.
miami-dade county Zoo Lights
Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 30, including Dec. 26 to 30, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St. in Miami. See the zoo alight with colorful lights, as well as boat rides, hot chocolate, music, and more. Tickets $9.95. Call 305-251-0040 or visit ZooMiami.org.
Arsht Center Farmers Market
Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Purchase fresh food from local farmers, including fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared foods, as well as chefs, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Tickets $45 to $75. Free. Visit ArshtCenter.org/en/Visit/Dining.
POZCONNECT Support Group for Spanish Speakers
Mondays 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Pridelines, 6360 NE Fourth Court in Miami. A support group for HIV+ people, in Spanish. Free. Call Eddie at 305-571-9601, ext. 105 or visit Pridelines. org.
POZCONNECT Support Group for Gay and Bi Men
Tuesdays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Pridelines, 6360 NE Fourth Court in Miami. A gay and bi men’s roundtable HIV+ support group. Free. Call Eddie at 305-571-9601, ext. 105 or visit Pridelines.org.
Book Study
Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Buddhist monk, Gen Kelsang Norbu, will lead classes on learning the foundations of Buddhism. Call 786-529-7137.
key west Hot Naked Hump Days
Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Island House, 1129 Fleming St. in Key West. Relax in the middle of the week with two-forone drinks, free shots, videos and music, giveaways, and naked boys at the pool. Call 305-294-6284 or visit IslandHouseKeyWest. com.
12.20.2017 •
43
THE
GUIDE
Business Directory
attorney
attorney
Law office of george castrataro 707 NE 3rd Ave #300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.573.1444 Lawgc.com
law office of Gregory Kabel 1 East Broward Blvd #700, Fort Lauderdale, 33301 954.761.7770 gwkesq@bellsouth.net law office of Shawn Newman 710 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.563.9160 Shawnnewman.com
Law office of Robin bodiford 2550 N Federal Hwy #20, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954.630.2707 Lawrobin.com
call us to reserve space! a&e Ft Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus PO Box 9772, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33310-9772 954-832-0060 www.theftlgmc.org
To place an ad in the Business Directory, call our sales team at 954.530.4970
auto SoutheaSt
beauty
toyota
Jef Frankfort aka Jef Fantastic PROS Certified Sales Consultant Phone (561) 305-8758 Fax (561) 454-5555 jeffrankfort@edmorse.com www.jeffantastic.com Ed Morse Delray Toyota 2800 S. Federal Hwy. Delray Beach, FL 33483
cleaners
Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida 2040 North Dixie Hwy, #218, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-763-2266 Gaymenschorusofsouthflorida.org
call us to reserve space! transportation RAINBOW RIDES-SAVE MONEY ON YOUR RIDE! - We treat you like family! SPECIALIZING IN AIRPORT RIDES! Need a ride to FLL, MIA, or PBI? (or anywhere else?) I'm a friendly driver with a nice, clean Chevy Malibu. My fixed-rate pricing beat all ride sharing - apps every time. Call or text me to schedule a ride, I'll be there early and I'll text you when I arrive. No 'surge" prices, no hassles. Call or text Nikki at 954-600-3133.
Licensed & Insured
954-725-3633
custom alarm contractors, Inc.
Est. 1989 “Experience Matters” Service after the sale! ▶ residential security ▶ commercial security ▶ closed circuit tV www.customalarmcontractors.com 44
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dental
furniture
Oakland Park Dental 3047 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954.566.9812 Oaklandparkdental.com Andrews Dental Care 2654 N Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311 954.567.3311 Andrewsdentalcare.com Island City Dental 1700 NE 26th Street, Ste. 2, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954-564-7121 Islandcitydental.com
www.sfgn.guide
final arrangements Kalis-McIntee Funeral & Cremation Center
2505 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-7621 Kalismcintee.com
call us to reserve space!
financial services WE’RE HERE FOR ALL YOUR
FINANCIAL NEEDS Taxes IRS Issues Accounting
Bookkeeping Small Business Advising
954-667-9829
health insurance Medicare/MedicaID Florida Blue / Blue Cross Blue Shield 2765 West Cypress Creek Road Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 Call Steve Herbstman @ 954-554-7074
health American Pain Experts 6333 N. Federal Hwy, Ste. 250, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954-678-1074 Americanpainexperts.com
professional services
ACCOUNTING@STERLINGACCOUNTING.COM
2435 North Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305
call us to reserve space! getaway
Taylor & Turner Pest and Termite Control, Inc
William D. Turner taylorandturner@yahoo.com 2520 North Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954.630.2627 therapy
handyman Miami/Broward/Palm Beach Paint/Caulk/Remove Grout/Yard Work Fix Drips & Switches/Debris removal Assembles Furniture & Appliances Repair or Fix Call "Avrom" Keith 786-227-9981
professional services
12.20.2017 •
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THE
GUIDE
Business Directory
To place an ad in the Business Directory, call our sales team at 954.530.4970
real estate Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors & Oakland Park REMODELED homes:
2 bedroom/2 bath condos from
spirituality
sports Tennis Lessons at Hagen Park in Wilton Manors. Individual or group lessons. Call Robert 732-604-0362 for more information.
Clare
Where we welcome and appreciate diversity.
101 NE 3rd St Fort Lauderdale FL 33301 Mass Times: Saturday 5:00 PM Sunday 10:30 AM Christmas Eve Mass: 10 PM Christmas Day Mass: 10:30 AM Ecumenical Catholic 954.731.8173
www.stsfrancisandclare.org Baptisms • Weddings • Memorial Services
call us to reserve space!
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SFGN Classified$ To place a Classified Ad, call Tim Higgins at 954.530.4970 or email at Tim.Higgins@sfgn.com
electrician HARRY’S ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL - Additions, renovations, service upgrades, breaker panels,FPL undergrounds, code violations, A/C wiring, ceiling fans, recessed, security & landscaping, lighting, pools, pumps, Jacuzzis, water heaters, FREE PHONE ESTIMATES 954-522-3357 Lic & Ins. www. harryelectrician.com
handyman HUSBAND FOR RENT - Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more! It doesn't cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price. Call Haim at 954-398-3676, sidnalll@yahoo.com
home health care REGISTER NURSE (PRIVATE DUTY) - Male RN with 20 years’ experience, for short term assignments, postsurgical care, IV administration, new medical diagnosis, ect. Call John at 954-918-5410
painting
GREGG'S PAINTING - I paint both interior and exterior. Great rates, free estimates. I am detailed-oriented, friendly, reliable, punctual, and neat. No job too small. Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Call Gregg at 617-306-5694 or 954-870-5972 Email: gmanbenn44@gmail.com
pool service COOL POOLS- RELIABLE POOL SERVICE Professional pool service.Covering Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and eastside of Pompano Beach. 15 years experience. Licensed and insured.Free estimates. Call 954-235-0775.
rentals wilton manors
MIKE THE RENTAL GUY - NE Lauderdale/Wilton Manors/Oakland Park-1/1 from $1090, 2/1 from $1140. Victoria Park-2/1=$1290.00 cable included. Credit & Income Requirements-Pets okay with restrictions Call for Details Mike 561- 703-5533 or miketherentalguy@ aol.com
rentals fort lauderdale
PRIVATE COMPLEX FOR RENT - 1 Bed Apt, Must See, Private complex, Fully renovated, laundry, ask: $1150.00 Progresso, 1214 NE 5th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, 33304 Call 954-552-2831
real estate for sale
piano WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO? Learn from an experienced teacher. All levels and ages welcome. Learn to play classical, popular, jazz, or show tunes. Visit www.edwinchad.com or call 954-826-9555 for more information.
professional services COMPANION AIDE - Strictly Professional, TBI, PCA, and NHTD certified Over ten years’ experience. Provide light personal care, light cleaning. Laundry and major meal prep. Respite for caregiver. Serious inquires call Karl 954-616-8952 RESUME Consulting - Nearly 20 years of recruiting experience. Consultation includes one-on-one session, job hunting tips and tricks, social media review. Email Jason@TheDriveRecruiting.com
employment wanted SPECIAL HIRE NEEDED - Experienced, self-motivated professional salesman needed. Work competitively in a highly flexible and relaxed LGBT-friendly environment. Fax resume to 954-530-7943.
Classified Advertising Works! Place an ad in SFGN’s Classifieds
954.530.4970
real estate wilton manors FANTASTIC WILTON MANORS DUPLEXeS - Both units are 3 bedrooms & 2 baths. Newer Roof, New Electric Panels and more. Huge Pie Shaped Lot on Quiet Street. Please call for Appointment Michael Tublin United Reality Group 561-703-5533
rentals oakland park 1BD/1BT $935/MONTH near Wilton Manors Nice clean 1BD/BT, with semi private landscape patio and fenced back yard off bedroom. Updated Kitchen. Tile floors and good size rooms. Walk in closet. Off street parking, about 4 blocks from the drive. Located in one story 4-Unit apartment with Laundry room. $50.00 application fee—Background check. NO SMOKING, NO PETS, CALL 754-336-7563
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