06/27/13 v4i26

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june 27, 2013 // vol. 4 // issue 26

equality SUrvives

page 8

Supreme Court Dooms DOMA, Prop 8 OP-ED: PRIDE SOUTH FLORIDA BOARD DISGRACES LGBT COMMUNITY 11 SOFLAGAYNEWS // SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS SFGN.COM //

Top 3 on SFGN.com

Last week’s hottest items couldn’t wait to be printed

Sergio N. Candido

sergio.candido@sfgn.com

Dolce & Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion the sentence on June 19, concluding a long investigation into the financial affairs of the designers that started back in 2004, when two of the company’s main brands were sold to a Luxembourg-based holding company, Gado Srl. Dolce and Gabbana reportedly undervalued their company in order to avoid paying more taxes.

The court found them guilty of

bypassing about $1.3 billion.

The Journal writes that the couple probably won’t be facing jail time, as Italian law states that sentences of less than three years are served with house arrest or community service.

For their part, the designers will probably appeal the sentence, something which may delay imprisonment for years.

Advocates File Gay Marriage Ballot Initiative In order to get Arizona residents to vote on it, activists need to gather 259,213 signatures by registered voters by the July 3, 2014 deadline in order to put the initiative on next year’s ballot. Arizona voters in 2008 passed a gay marriage ban defining marriage as a heterosexual union.

“This isn’t about politics,”

said Phoenix Libertarian businessman Warren Meyer, who along with Arizona Log Cabin Republican chairwoman Erin Ogletree Simpson filed the paperwork. “This is about individual liberty.”

They said the plan was to wait for the outcome of the U.S Supreme Court cases before moving full force with their plan.”

RussiaÕ s Foreign Adoption Ban Nears Passage

& 2

house, or Duma, voted to unanimously ban LGBT events or public discussion of LGBT issues that might be accessible to minors.

The European country started enforcing a ban on U.S. citizens from adoption Russian orphans on January 1.

The Gay Star News writes that the ban came as a result of the U.S. introducing visa and financial

sanctions to Russia for its corruption and human rights violations.

Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alekseev said that the ban will only harm the orphans.

“It will hardly have big consequences for foreign gays and lesbians but will harm Russian children who are kept in very miserable conditions,” he told GSN.

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graPHIC sPeCIalIst • mArK PAuCiullo artwork@sfgn.com arts/entertaInment eDItor • Jw ArNold jw@prdconline.com Senior Features Correspondents

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The bill will now go to the upper house and is expected to pass next month

Russia’s lower house of parliament unanimously passed a bill banning gay foreign couples from adopting Russian children.

On June 18, legislators voted 443-0 to pass the bill, according to AFP. The bill will now go to the upper house and will then need to be signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier this month the lower

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Editorial

Activists in Arizona are looking to modify the state’s definition of marriage

LGBT advocates in Arizona are looking to repeal the state’s definition of marriage with a ballot initiative.

Equal Marriage Arizona launched a campaign on June 17 to modify the state’s ban on same-sex marriage and redefine it as the union between two adults, as opposed to the union between a man and a woman, The Arizona Republic reports.

June 27, 2013 • Volume 4 • Issue 26

eDItor-In-CHIeF • gideoN grudo gideon.grudo@sfgn.com

The fashion designers undervalued their company to avoid paying taxes Designer duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana may have to continue their runway legacy under arrest.

The on-and-off gay couple behind the fashion powerhouse was sentenced to 20 months in prison for tax evasion in Italy, according to the Wall Street Journal.

An Italian court handed down

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Three More Quickies to Wake You Up Folk Singer Jenny Owen Youngs Comes Out The 31-year-old alternative singer announced she is “super gay” in a blog post

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

SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright©2013 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski Now Supports Gay Marriage The Alaskan senator has become the third Senate Republican to support gay rights Study: Gay Couples Suffer Discrimination in Rental Market Under the same circumstances, gay couples faced more discrimination than straight couples

// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

Associated Press Florida Press Association National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association

news national

Top 20 LGBT Brands Revealed Sergio N. Candido

sergio.candido@sfgn.com

When it comes to the LGBT community, which brands are perceived as the most gay-friendly?

A new survey reveals the top 20 gayest brands as seen by respondents.

According to The YouGov BrandIndex, YouTube has claimed the top spot this year, climbing from number six in the past. Last year’s top brand was Android, which is now down to number 15.

Nearly half of all brands on the top 20 are either technology or entertainment brands, including Netflix, Amazon.com, Samsung, Kindle, Google, Android, iPhone, PBS, HBO. In order to rank the brands, respondents had to answer the question: “If you’ve heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?” While the number of participants in the survey is not revealed, it states that all identified as LGBT. Some of the companies that made the most progress appealing to LGBT people are Capital One and Coca Cola.

Those to drop out of the top 20 are Disneyland/Walt Disney World, Apple, Comedy Central and Starbucks.

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News Briefs

Sergio N. Candido

sergio.candido@sfgn.com

+Florida Rep. Darryl Rouson Now Supports Gay Marriage Florida House Democratic Leaderdesignee Darryl Rouson has changed his stance on gay marriage, throwing his support under the cause.

The Republican-turned-Democrat, who represents Florida’s district 70 in the State Legislature, told The Huffington Post that he has “evolved on the issue.”

“I have been listening to my constituents and to other members of the LGBT community, but the turning point

came when I attended an Equality Florida event,” he said following the annual Jefferson-Jackson conference. “ ... I will defend love. I will defend people’s right to love who they choose and to be proud of that love.”

Equality Florida is the state’s largest gay rights organization. Rouson said the turning point came after listening to a story of discrimination from a gay colleague.

“His pain was so real ... and so unnecessary.

Why should anyone be treated differently because of who they love? Because of who they are? I finally got it — this is the civil rights movement of our day,” he said.

In the past, Rouson has been quoted as saying: “I think lesbianism and homosexuality is morally wrong.

The law is supposed to discriminate sometimes, in some respects, it is supposed to discriminate against social order and anarchy.”

+

Orlando-based Ô Ex-GayÕ Group Apologizes to LGBT Community, Announces Disintegration

Exodus International, the conservative Christian ministry that battled homosexuality for nearly 40 years, has announced its plans to shut down.

According to a press release posted on its website on the night of June 19, the Orlandobased group will disintegrate alleging a “change in culture” in the last few years.

Part of the organization may resurface as a separate ministry that aims to be more welcoming to gays.

“We’re not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change — and they want to be heard,” Exodus board member Tony Moore said.

The group gained national prominence as a place where gay people could be “cured.”

The announcement comes just hours after Exodus released a statement apologizing to the LGBT community for years of undue judgment.

“Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism,” said Alan Chambers, president of Exodus. “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.”

The Christian organization started showing signing of shifting attitudes last year, when Chambers stopped endorsing gay “reparative therapy.”

Then last April, John Paulk, a former chairman of Exodus and the poster boy for the “ex-gay” movement renounced his past

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// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, commended Rep. Rouson for his evolution.

“Representative Rouson has shown time and time again his willingness to listen and have empathy for those harmed by discrimination.

His leadership on this issue is in line with the evolving sentiment of Florida voters who now support equal access to marriage for gay couples.” legislative strategy, because it has not worked,” gay rights activist Todd Fernandez, who is working to advance the cause, wrote in a piece for The Huffington Post.

Some of the groups that have joined the effort include nationwide PFLAG groups, Equality Pennsylvania, Equality Nevada, Equality Nebraska, Equality Hawaii, Equality Illinois, and Equality Maryland. LGBT Pride committees supporting the cause include one from Jacksonville, Florida.

Fernandez writes the idea is to get 250 groups from all 50 states to take the pledge by the end of Pride Month. And they hope for passage by 2014, the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. “We need to get to the root cause faster, because mothers rejecting their own children is barbaric, and children taking their own lives must end,” he wrote.

Olympic Champion Greg + Louganis Announces Marriage Darryl Rouson Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Times

involvement with the organization and said he was still gay.

Over 135 LGBT Groups + Join Forces Pushing for AllInclusive Gay Rights Bill

Tired of having to wait years for bills to give partial rights to the LGBT community, a group of activists and organizations are launching a campaign to get Congress to draft and pass an all-inclusive bill. soflagaynews //

Over 135 LGBT and LGBT-supportive organizations from 36 states have joined the Pledge for Full LGBT Equality campaign. The groups are calling upon the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus to file a national bill for full equality -- something that would encompass marriage, workplace protections, education, everything.

“To change course, it’s important that our existing strategy of filing multiple single-issue bills not be treated as a sacrosanct pragmatic

SouthFloridaGayNews

(AP) -- Former Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis plans to get married this fall.

People magazine says the 53-year-old Louganis will marry paralegal Johnny Chaillot.

The four-time gold medalist is the only man to win consecutive Olympic titles in springboard and platform diving - in 1984 at Los Angeles and 1988 at Seoul.

After his diving career ended, Louganis revealed he was gay in 1994 and announced he was HIV-positive a year later.

Louganis is helping Olympic hopefuls as an athlete mentor for USA Diving. He’s also been featured as a coach on ABC’s reality diving competition “Splash.”

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

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news local

Major Donor of Brian Neal Foundation Demands Accounting Tim Evans is mad as hell; feels ‘betrayed’ and ‘defrauded’ Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

On the heels of an SFGN expose revealing the mismanagement of their donations, the Brian Neal Foundation is under attack from some of their major donors.

At least one of them, the Gibson Leon Trust, is demanding a full accounting of their contributions, declaring it has been “deceived from the start.”

Bobby Blair, the publisher of the Florida Agenda, administers the Brian Neal Fitness Foundation. It is named after his life partner, Brian Neal, who is presently on probation for resisting arrest without violence and DUI. Last week, SFGN revealed that Brian Neal had used the foundation’s debit card to improperly withdraw funds for his personal use. Blair and his bookkeeping team classified the late night ATM debits, from restaurants and strip clubs, as ‘payroll expenses’ and ‘management consulting fees.’

Executives at the Association of Fundraising Professionals censured the practice, as did Anthony Timiraos, the local executive director of Our Fund.

Stated Tony Keefe, the local AFP chapter president, “receipts and records are mandatory if you are properly running a federally protected 501(c)(3) foundation.”

While Blair promised to issue an apology in last week’s Agenda, instead its editor ran a congratulatory and self-serving piece announcing the foundation was “thriving,” listing its donors.

It was that article which angered Tim Evans, who noted that Blair had failed to list the Gibson Leon Trust as a major contributor to the Neal Foundation.

“Not including cash donations, or items I paid cash for at an auction, we gave Bobby Blair and Brian Neal at least $3,500 in checks as donations in 2011 and 2012,” Evans said.

However, an SFGN audit of the foundation’s QuickBooks reports, revealed no deposits classified anywhere as “auction items.”

Evans went on to say “I have no problem going on record about our astonishment and disappointment about our donations being not earmarked for the HIV cause that we were under the impression it was intended for.”

The Gibson Leon Trust has also donated to Broward House and Out of the Closet, but Evans says he has never run into problems with those groups.

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// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

“Due to our good faith beliefs that our generous donations were being utilized in a proper and fair manner, we must now demand a full audit and accounting of the Brian Neal foundation’s funds and how they were applied or used,” he said.

Evans concluded by stating that his goal was to “get the word out about educating LGBT youth about safe sex,” and that “someone now has to account to us for the obvious fraud that has been purported” by the Brian Neal Foundation.

The foundation reported that in 2012 it raised nearly $40,000 in community funds, under the umbrella of buying gym memberships for individuals living with HIV. But only $11,000 of the agency’s funds were used on purchasing gym memberships.

Aside from payments to Brian Neal in excess of $3,300, the foundation hosted parties such as ‘tea cruises’ and ‘dancing with the stars’ galas, designed to raise monies for the foundation. Nevertheless, it reported losses of in excess of $7,621 dollars last year. However, its former executive director, Felix deBruin charged that Bobby Blair and his partner mismanaged the organization, “skimming off the top,” and accusing the foundation of being reckless and negligent. And when asked about Evans’ donations deBruin told SFGN he had never heard of the guy. Evans admitted that he made the checks directly to Bobby Blair and Brian Neal.

Blair has denied most of the charges, but told SFGN “that in the future, use of our debit card will be restricted.” In last week’s Florida Agenda, the publisher saluted many of the donors, including Wilton Wings, who they bounced a check to for $420 after they catered a party for one of their tea cruises.

At least five of the major donors named in the Agenda article were not named in their financial reports to SFGN. The major “sponsors” that are listed in last week’s Agenda include: Chuck Panozzo Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Dean Trantalis Florida Agenda Greater Ford Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Grave’s Foundation Guy Magazine Howard Cohen Intense Fitness Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrette (Alibi soflagaynews //

Brian Neal (left) and Bobby Blair (right)

and Bill’s) Michael Festa PALS Project Pride Center [at Equality Park] Pride South Florida Rainbow Business Coalition

SouthFloridaGayNews

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6/5/13 // 1:17 PM 7 SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13

news cover story

Gay Marriage Lives!

DOMA, Prop 8 dead Lisa Keen,

Keen News Services In a stunning double victory, the U.S. Supreme Court today issued decisions that strike down both the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8.

The DOMA decision, a 5 to 4 split, was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy and joined by the four liberal justices of the court. It strikes DOMA as unconstitutional because it violates the guarantees of equal protection and due process.

The DOMA dissent, based largely on matters of standing, was led by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by the court’s three other conservatives.

The Proposition 8 opinion, a 5 to 4 vote led by the Chief Justice, vacates a Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling. It says Yes on 8 defenders of the law lacked standing, under federal rules of law, to make the appeal. The decision appears to leave intact the district court decision, a much broader ruling.

The dissent was a surprise: Justice Kennedy led two conservative justices plus liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor. They said the court should accept the California Supreme Court’s determination that Yes on 8 had standing.

Reaction was understandably euphoric from LGBT legal activists and the thousands of supporters of same-sex marriage gathered outside the Supreme Court building and town hall in San Francisco.

“It’s nearly perfect. I’m thrilled,” said Mary Bonauto, civil rights project director for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the group which launched the first successful lawsuit challenging DOMA and secured the first right to marry from a state supreme court.

The DOMA decision, said Bonauto, “not only strikes DOMA but makes clear what we’ve been saying all along –that DOMA is discriminatory and that it is an effort by the federal government to deprive same-sex couples of their rights and to demean them.”

“We have won the freedom to marry in California,” said Evan Wolfson, head of the national Freedom to Marriage group, on MSNBC right after the decision was released in the Proposition 8 case. Wolfson noted that, with the addition of California, at least a third of the nation’s population now lives

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in a state with marriage equality. Prior to today, it was at about 18 percent.

Jon Davidson, legal director for Lambda Legal, called both decisions a “huge victory for married same-sex couples and their families because it will affect almost every facet of life from health care to retirement to taxes.”

The two plaintiff couples emerged from the Supreme Court building on the front steps at 10:45 a.m., with Chad Griffin, who organized the Proposition 8 lawsuit, and David Boies, one of the two lead attorneys who pressed the challenge. As they did, a chorus sang the national anthem.

Boies spoke about both decisions and noted that June 26 is the tenth anniversary of the Lawrence v. Texas decision, striking down sodomy laws.

In striking DOMA, said Boies, the court ruled “there was no purpose” in denying same-sex couples the right to marry.

In the Proposition 8 case, said Boies, the court ruled that the Yes on 8 defenders of the law did not have standing to press the appeal.

But he said the court’s opinion makes clear that “when” a case involving a similar ban comes before the court on merits, it is clear the majority will find it unconstitutional.

Plaintiff Kristin Perry emphasized the importance of the Prop 8 decision to the children of same-sex parents, children who can now know that their parents are equal to other parents. Her spouse-to-be, Sandra Stier, said the struggle must now continue to secure the right to marry for same-sex couples in states that deny them marriage licenses.

President Obama, aboard Air Force One on his way to Africa, called the plaintiffs while they were at the impromptu press conference in front of the Supreme Court building. He said he was “proud” and “so glad for California” and thanked them for their leadership.

The White House also posted a Twitter message quoting the president as calling the DOMA ruling an “historic step forward for marriage equality.”

The court issued its decision in the two high-profile marriage cases at 10 a.m. EDT soflagaynews //

Yohandel Ruiz and his husband Daniel Zavala in Washington D.C. getting married.

Photo courtesy of Joanna Chau

on June 26, the last day of its 2012-13 session.

The opinions in Hollingsworth v. Perry (concerning Proposition 8) and U.S. v.

Windsor (concerning DOMA) can be read in their entirety at http://www.supremecourt. gov/opinions/slipopinions.aspx.

DOMA details and reaction

In the majority opinion on the DOMA case, U.S. v. Windsor, Justice Kennedy was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. The majority affirmed a Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision that

SouthFloridaGayNews

found DOMA to violate the guarantees to equal protection and due process. The majority said DOMA went “far” beyond an attempt at providing uniformity in federal policy affecting married persons and was “directed to a class of persons that the laws of New York, and of 11 other States, have sought to protect.” Regulation of marriage licensing, said the majority, “has long been regarded as a virtually exclusive province of the States.”

“The Federal Government uses this statedefined class for the opposite purpose—to impose restrictions and disabilities,” wrote

Kennedy. And by doing so, he said, “DOMA seeks to injure the very class New York seeks to protect” and “violates basic due process and equal protection principles applicable to the Federal Government.”

“The Constitution’s guarantee of equality ‘must at the very least mean that a bare congressional desire to harm a politically unpopular group cannot’ justify disparate treatment of that group,” wrote Kennedy, quoting a 1973 decision in USDA v. Moreno, a decision in which the court said the government couldn’t deny food stamps to “hippies” living in communes.

Bonauto, who was reached before she had a chance to finish reading the 26-page majority decision, said it’s not clear yet whether or to what extent married same-sex couples living in states that ban recognition of marriage licenses for same-sex couples would be able to obtain federal benefits.

“Clearly, if they live in a marriage equality state, they’re protected,” said Bonauto. She said many would also be able to obtain benefits related to immigration and the military to the extent those areas recognize marriage licenses regardless of what state they were issued in. She said there may be some additional legal work necessary to secure federal benefits for all married samesex couples but that the federal government “has the flexibility,” such as with tax returns, “to recognize marriage licenses as soon as they are formed.”

“I think we’ll have a patchwork at first but it will become a tighter quilt as time goes on,” said Bonauto.

Edith Windsor’s attorney Roberta Kaplan told reporters, “It is now clear that discrimination against gay people solely because they are gay violates the United States constitution.”

CNN legal analyst Jeff Toobin called the DOMA decision “an immense victory for same-sex marriage supporters” and one that “will change the lives of thousands of marriages in 12 states where it is legal.”

Prop 8 details and reaction

Toobin said that, in the Proposition 8 case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, the court could have said same-sex marriages must be allowed in all 50 states “and it did not say that.”

“But it did seem to open the door to same-sex marriages in California and it … certainly does look like court is moving in the direction of everybody has the right to marry,” said Toobin.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority decision in the Proposition 8 case, joined

by Justices Antonin Scalia, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Elena Kagan.

The majority decision vacated the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision with instructions to dismiss the appeal pressed by the Yes on 8 coalition that won passage of Proposition 8. It said Yes on 8’s

“only interest in having the District Court order reversed [at the Ninth Circuit] was to vindicate the constitutional validity of a generally applicable California law.” Such a “generalized grievance,” said the majority, is “insufficient to confer standing.”

“A litigant ‘raising only a generally available grievance about government—claiming only harm to his and every citizen’s interest in proper application of the Constitution and laws, and seeking relief that no more directly and tangibly benefits him than it does the public at large—does not state an Article III case or controversy.’”

Once Proposition 8 was approved by the voters, said the majority, “the measure became ‘a duly enacted constitutional amendment or statute.

Petitioners have no role—special or otherwise— in the enforcement of Proposition 8….

They therefore have no ‘personal stake’ in defending its enforcement that is distinguishable from the general interest of every citizen of California.”

“We have never before upheld the standing of a private party to defend the constitutionality of a state statute when state officials have chosen not to. We decline to do so for the first time here,” wrote Roberts.

“Because petitioners have not satisfied their burden to demonstrate standing to appeal the judgment of the District Court, the Ninth Circuit was without jurisdiction to consider the appeal,” wrote Roberts. “The judgment of the Ninth Circuit is vacated, and the case is remanded with instructions to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.”

Once the Ninth Circuit dismisses Yes on 8’s appeal, the district court ruling by former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker will remaining the law concerning Proposition 8. Walker, who came out as gay after retirement, ruled that Proposition 8 violated the federal equal protection clause because there was no rational basis for limiting the designation of marriage to straight couples. He also said it violated the federal due process clause because there was no compelling reason for the state to deny same-sex couples the fundamental right to marry.

In dissent, Justice Kennedy, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Sonia Sotomayor, said they would have recognized Yes on 8 as having standing because the state supreme court had ruled Yes on 8 did have standing.

CNN interviewed a Baptist minister who said the rulings would “radically transform the institution of marriage” and be “very, very devastating” for the country.

Family Research Council leader Tony Perkins told CNN the Prop 8 decision was a “punt” on the question of same-sex marriage bans. He predicted the two decisions would lead to teachers teaching homosexuality in school and religious groups losing their taxexempt status.

publisher’s editorial Doom for DOMA:

A Victory for America Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

‘By seeking to injure the very class New York seeks to protect, DOMA violates basic due process and equal protection principles applicable to the Federal Government.’

- Justice Kennedy, writing for the majority….

Let me try to give you an easy way of understanding what happened in the Supreme Court yesterday.

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a 1996 law denying federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples is unconstitutional.

Justice Kennedy, in his opinion, wrote that the law was “unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.”

The ruling overturned the Defense of Marriage Act. However, folks, not everybody believes that. Within minutes of the ruling, a leading representative of a right wing group declared that the Supreme Court “has now made the normalization of polygamy, pedophilia, incest, and bestiality inevitable. It is just a matter of time.”

Another guy got on CNN and said the decision “marginalized marriage” and was “devastating for society.”

There were a couple of other people who wanted to get on CNN but they were too busy cheating on their wives or abusing their kids to get airtime.

Look, the whole world is not on our side, but history is. So have faith. Gays and lesbians will love and marry, and the Earth will stay on its axis, trains will leave the terminal on time, and kids will still be taught mathematics in school.

The decision will immediately extend some federal benefits to same-sex couples.

But it also sends a signal to Americans everywhere that loving couples, gay or straight, may marry and be treated equally.

The promise of the Declaration of Independence granting inalienable rights to all, means gay people, too. Any schoolteacher that tries to say otherwise will now have a series of Supreme Court opinions telling him otherwise.

The decision on the Defense of Marriage Act does not immediately alter any state laws governing whether same-sex couples can marry. But it sends a salvo out to legislatures everywhere the time for discrimination is

soflagaynews //

over; the time to rescind their discriminatory law is here. It is DOOM for DOMA. DOMA barred the federal government from recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples. The Supreme Court ruling strikes down that provision. It’s an enormous victory for tens of thousands of married same-sex couples and their families. Today’s decision will touch many facets of life, from health care to taxes, and from benefits at work to security in retirement.

In addition to DOMA, the Court’s decision ended the Prop 8 case, which will soon restore the freedom to marry in California.

Instead of a ruling on gay marriage they dismissed it and upheld the original court’s decision, which overturned Prop 8.

The 5-4 decision avoids, for now, a sweeping conclusion on whether same-sex marriage is a constitutionally protected “equal protection” right that would apply to all states.

Nonetheless, as LGBT attorney George Castrataro noted in an email to his clients, “The collective implications of the DOMA and Prop 8 rulings affirm and validate LGBT Rights and set into motion enormous legal momentum in further advocacy efforts.

This is a monumental day for LGBT persons and for Equal Rights.”

Indeed, it is, and if you have been a warrior for human rights, an advocate for social change, a fighter for individual freedom and justice, there is much to savor in these rulings.

The battle is not yet over though. As Nadine Smith opined, from the offices of Equality Florida, where she is the Executive Director, “For those of us who live in state’s like Florida where our marriages are still not recognized, today’s decisions are a reminder that we cannot wait for justice to be handed to us, we are going to have to get engaged and fight.”

We had hoped that the Supreme Court would issue a sweeping ruling that solidifies what we all already know -- that the right to marry is guaranteed within the U.S. Constitution. That did not happen. We did not get a declarative, conclusive ruling for marriage equality across the country.

We’re thrilled for those couples that live in states with marriage equality that will now be able to cement their love and their lives together under the law. But make no mistake about it. We still have work to do.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

9

news local Pride South Florida Refuses to Release IRS Records to Own Board Member Jason Parsley

jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Pride One of Broward County, also known as Pride South Florida the organization that hosts the annual PrideFest in Fort Lauderdale, recently denied SFGN’s request for certain IRS documents that the board’s minutes referred to. In those minutes it stated that the organization could lose it’s tax-exempt status. Co-Chair Marc Hansen said their legal counsel, as well as the IRS told him that they should not turn over those documents.

Now the board has gone one step further.

At their bi-monthly meeting on June 25, advisory board member, John Fugate, also requested to review those IRS documents.

He was denied, with Hansen telling him that he’s a part of the media and isn’t allowed to see them. Fugate, works for South Florida Gay News as its Community Outreach Coordinator, but insisted that he, as board member, had the right to see them.

Hansen disagreed and refused to turn over the documents saying no one has them.

It’s unclear whom Hansen was referring to.

No other board members spoke up during the discussion.

Before the meeting SFGN contacted PSF’s assumed legal counsel, Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Dean Trantalis, who said “The situation with the IRS is an administrative matter that is being resolved between the Service and the organization. We appreciate your interest in the organization and this matter. Once it is determined that any disclosure to SFGN would assist the organization and is appropriate, we will get back with you.”

After SFGN’s initial article detailing PSF’s IRS problems the two co-chairs of the organization, Rocky Bowell and Marc Hansen released this statement: Pride South Florida (PSF) would like to state the facts as they relate to recent articles published in the South Florida Gay News.

PSF is in no way attempting to engage in a “conspiracy of silence”, nor is it hiding anything from the community it represents and depends on for support.

Marc Hansen Photo courtesy of Pride South Florida

The facts are as follows:

Confident in your smile?

1.PSF received a form letter from the IRS

following a recent audit covering the years 2010 & 2011. The letter was a result of the IRS not receiving information that was sent to the auditor following a request made for same. A response is being pursued by PSF to the IRS to rectify the issue.

2.As this is an important and pending

situation, PSF requested legal advice.

Upon receiving a news media request for information on this matter, PSF was advised not to release anything until the matter is resolved. This is what the media was told.

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3.Regarding communication to the media,

in order to maintain consistency and abide by the by-laws of the organization, the Board was reminded that only the Officers are to make statements to the media. The revised & adopted 4/23/13 state: ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS Section 1: President/Vice President President/Vice President (aka Co-Chairs): … The Co-Chairs will act as the sole spokespersons for the Board, and will represent the Board to outside organizations and the media…

PSF respectfully requests the communityat-large to understand they are acting in good faith and with no malice of intent. PSF

SouthFloridaGayNews

will share the outcome of this event when it is closed and final.

We thank you for your patience and understanding, along with your continued support as we strive to maintain our good standing for and within the community we represent.

THANK YOU! Immediately after PSF posted its refusal to release the records, the publisher of the Florida Agenda jumped into the fray, using the PSF Facebook page to announce that: “The Florida Agenda will take pride in printing the truth with no underlying motive. Publishing took a big hit this week.

I am here to help restore publishing integrity not just because my partner and I are under attack from SFGN, because the community must trust us who report the news and not twist and turn things to suit our ego, or personal business enterprises. I can assure you and our community the Florida Agenda has never and will never entertain such behavior. Looks like its time for a new day.”

Meanwhile, the letter Hansen described as a “routine form letter from the IRS” was anything but, at least according to the board’s own minutes. The notice that Pride South Florida refuses to reveal to SFGN included a directive from the IRS that the organization could lose its 501(c)(3) status if it failed to turn documents over to the agency by June 15, 2013, which apparently it has done so.

special editorial

Pride South Florida Board is a Disgrace to You Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

With the pending decision from the Supreme Court on gay marriage, SFGN elected to postpone its publication of our newspaper to Thursday in order to include the ruling in today’s paper.

But it also gave us an opportunity to attend the meeting of Pride South Florida on Tuesday night. At that meeting, the board had an opportunity to reprimand or discharge Marc Hansen, its co-chair, for refusing to turn tax records over to SFGN for review.

The board also had the opportunity to dutifully turn the notices the IRS sent them to SFGN. You should be aware that they have been audited and they were required to turn documents over to the IRS. This is an organization whose past executive director went to jail for fraud and embezzlement.

This is a pride group that should be red faced, ashamed of its past directors, eternally grateful that the LGBT community gave them a second chance.

Instead of transparency and openness, the disgrace and stain that was initially just Marc

Hansen has now tarnished and irrevocably doomed the entire board of Pride South Florida.

They have silently stood by and done his bidding.

The same board that brought you a convicted felon, who stole your money, now has entered into a mutual conspiracy of silence to prevent you from learning about information concerning their IRS audit.

Here are the facts.

First, the Board of Pride South Florida hurriedly met in the middle of the night last Thursday to copy secret documents, which had to be turned over to the IRS by last Saturday.

Apparently, Pride South Florida does not want to tell you they may have failed an audit or improperly prepared their returns.

So they refuse to turn the IRS notices over to SFGN for review.

For all we know, we could have another felon on the PSF Board embezzling your money. You would think PSF would double over backwards to make sure no one had any such impression. All you can say is, ‘Wow!’ Instead, Marc Hansen had the audacity

to post on the Pride South Florida Facebook page the request they got from the IRS was a “routine form” not warranting public review.

The truth is he was so alarmed over it he told the board he was going to ask Congressman Diana Wasserman Schultz to intervene in their behalf.

Then Hansen announced he would ask attorney Dean Trantalis, a Fort Lauderdale city commissioner, to intervene. Trantalis has foolishly defended the cover up, trying to explain it as an “administrative” matter.

No, it is not, and no lame defense will make it so.

It is an administrative debacle, a community nightmare, and instead of opening up and sharing with you what the IRS is looking for, or why they are looking into Pride South Florida, they have chosen to deny you access to public information.

Hansen apparently is willing to do anything but simply tell you the truth about what is going on. The entire board could have demanded the same as well, but they have

chosen not to do so. Instead, they have said you are not worthy of their trust. And you have to say now they are not worthy of yours.

They have chosen hypocrisy over honor.

This is more than just Marc Hansen now.

The rest of the board has supplicated itself to his authority. Find out who has courage and who are the cowards. Please, by all means, stop them, question them, and ask them what they are hiding and why. Why? On Tuesday, the board stood silently by as Marc Hansen even denied an advisory board member a copy member of their own tax documents. Utterly shameful! Are they kidding? Here at SFGN, we intend to find out whether a circuit court judge will agree with them. We doubt it.

When all is said and done, keep in mind all that Pride South Florida had to do was turn over to SFGN a notice the IRS sent to them regarding their tax-exempt status. The question you have to ask is why are they afraid to do so. What are they trying to hide from you – if not the truth?

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11

news local

Get Tested SFGN has compiled a list of testing sites in South Florida. We’ve broken it down by county, and cities in alphabetical order.

Tear it out, cut it up, highlight it, or whatever else. Just have it handy and use it.

Knowing is the first step.

Miami

Adolescent Counseling & Testing Site – 1601 NW 12th Ave. 1st Floor-Mail Center University of Miami AIDS Healthcare Foundation Men’s Wellness Clinic/Out of the Closet Thrift Store – 1510 Alton Road

miami-dade County Aventura

King David Foundation, Inc. 17971 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 117-118

Coconut Grove

Condom USA – 3066 Grand Avenue Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, Inc. – 3634 Grand Avenue

Cutler Bay

Community Health of South Florida, Inc. 10300 S.W. 216th Street

Hialeah

Family AIDS Coalition, Inc. 300 East 1st Avenue, Suite 112

Homestead

Sembrando Flores 815 N. Homestead Blvd. #616

North Miami Beach

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Men’s Wellness Clinic – 100 N.W. 170th Street, Suite 208 Miami Beach Community Health Center North – 11645 Biscayne Blvd.

Suite 103-104 North Miami Beach Medical Center – 13899 Biscayne Blvd. #132

12

// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Out of the Closet – 2900 Biscayne Blvd.

Belafonte Tacolcy Center, Inc. – 6161 N.W. 9th Avenue Camillus Health Concern – 336 N.W. 5th Street Camillus Health Concern – 1603 N.W. 7th Avenue Care Resource – 3510 Biscayne Blvd.

Suite 300 Center for Haitian Studies – 8260 N.E. 2nd Avenue

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1 FIND 2 Map a testing location a route there Miami Beach

Beverly Press Health Center – 1221 71st Street Miami Beach Community Health Center – 710 Alton Road Miami-Dade County Health Department – 615 Collins Avenue

University of Miami AIDS Clinical Research Unit – 1800 N.W. 10th Ave. soflagaynews //

Calvary Chapel Church, Inc. – 2401 W. Cypress Creek Road, #1111

Stanley C. Myers Health Center – 710 Alton Road

Compassionate Hearts-Serving Hands, Inc. – 2300 N.W. 22 Street

Miami Gardens

More Than Conquerors Outreach Ministries Church 18350 N.W. 2nd Ave. Suite 616

Miami Shores

Pridelines Youth Services 9526 N.E. 2nd Ave. #104

Covenant House Florida – 733 Breakers Avenue Minority Development & Empowerment, Inc. – 5225 N.W. 33rd Avenue, Bldg. 5 Mount Olive Development Corporation – 401 N.W. 9th. Avenue RCP Movement (Merit Pharmacy) – 2464 North SR 7 Red Hispana Florida – 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd, Suite 108

Jessie Trice Community Family Health Center, Inc. – 5361 N.W. 22nd Avenue

Union Positiva, Inc. – 215 S.W. 17th.

Ave. Suite 310

Broward House, Inc. – 1726 SE 18th Ct

South Beach AIDS Project, Inc. – 306 Lincoln Road

Helen B. Bentley Family Health Center, Inc. – 3090 S.W. 37th Avenue

Miami-Dade County Health Department – 18255 Homestead Ave.

Broward County Health Department – 900 N.W. 31st. Avenue

Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Inc. – 1401 South Federal Highway

Empower U Inc. – 8309 N.W. 22nd Ave.

Miami-Dade County Health Department – 1350 N.W. 14th. St. Suite 401

Broward County Health Department – 780 S.W. 24th Street

broward County Fort Lauderdale

Broward Co. Health Department Eastside Health Center – 2421 S.W. 6th Avenue Broward County Health Department – 2421 S.W. 6th Avenue

SouthFloridaGayNews

Specialty Care Center – 1111 West Broward Boulevard

Hallandale

West Park Community Health Center 5801 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd.

Hollywood

Broward Community & Family Health Centers, Inc. – 5010 Hollywood Blvd Suite 100-B

Miramar

Community Access Center 8910 Miramar Parkway Suite 208

Oakland Park

Care Resource 871 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Wilton Manors

AIDS Healthcare Foundation — Out of the Closet Thrift Store – 2097 Wilton Drive

Delray Beach

Comprehensive AIDS Program – 220 Congress Park Dr. Suite 100 Palm Beach County Health Department – 225 South Congress Ave. Palm Beach County Health Department – 345 South Congress Ave. Women of Color Rise Above Your Shame, Inc. – 2605 W. Atlantic Ave Suite D-101

Jupiter

3

GO get tested!

Latinos Salud – 2330 Wilton Drive Project Link of South Florida, Inc. – 2927 N.E. 6th Avenue The Pride Center at Equality Park – 2040 N. Dixie Highway

Palm Beach County Health Department 6405 Indiantown Road

Lake Worth

Compass – 201 N Dixie Hwy Planned Parenthood-Lake Worth Health Center – 4889 Lake Worth Rd. #109

Lantana

Palm Beach County Health Department 1250 Southwinds Drive

Mangonia Park

Drug Abuse Treatment Association (DATA) – 1720 E Tiffany Drive #102 Minority AIDS Initiative Network, Inc. – 1216 Pioneer Road

Palm Springs

Minority Development & Empowerment, Inc. 3175 S. Congress Avenue Suite 207

Pahokee

Florida Community Health Centers – 170 S. Barfield Hwy. Suite 101 Palm Beach County Health Department – 1839 E. Main Street

Riviera Beach

Palm beach County Belle Glade

Comprehensive AIDS Program (Belle Glade) – 1500-A N.W. Avenue L Minority Development & Empowerment, Inc. – 136 South Main Street Palm Beach County Health Department – 38754 SR 80

Boca Raton

Jesus People Proclaim International Ministries – 3200 North Federal Highway Planned Parenthood-Boca Raton Health Center – 8177 Glades Road Bay 25

Boyton Beach

Genesis Community Health, Inc. 564 E. Woolbright Road

Heart Health & Healing Ministries – 1330 W. 1st. Street Saint James Missionary Baptist Church – 1524 West 35th Street

West Palm Beach

Community Health Center – 2823 N. Australian Avenue Comprehensive AIDS Program – 2330 S. Congress Ave Families First of Palm Beach County – 3333 Forest Hill Blvd., 2nd Floor Palm Beach County Health Department – 1150 45th Street Partnership for a Drug-Free Community of South Florida – 3361 Belvedere Rd. Suite C Planned Parenthood-West Palm Beach Health Center – 931 Village Blvd. Suite 904

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

13

news local Compass Stonewall Ball Celebrates 25 Years of Community Service Donald Cavanaugh

donald@donaldcavanaugh.com

Compass, the gay and lesbian community center for Lake Worth and the Palm Beaches will hold its Twelfth annual Stonewall Ball on Saturday, June 29 from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Harriet Himmel Theater in City Place, West Palm Beach. DJ Josh will be spinning the latest hits and all are welcome on the dance floor.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Compass or online at www.compassglcc.com.

Preceding the ball, a VIP reception will be held at the Harriet at 8 p.m. during which time members of the community can meet and chat with elected and appointed officials with a violinist providing background music.

VIP tickets are $50 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. They include admission to the ball.

Not knowing what will happen with the Supreme Court and the two gay civil rights cases after this copy goes to press, “We’ll either have a party or a riot,” said Tony Plakas, President and CEO of Compass. “It’s possible they will delay the decision,” he added. “But very unlikely. In any event, there will be a bunch of gay people responding one way or another.”

Instead of the usual awards presentations during the ball, Compass will use the reception to recognize the many officials who have supported the ball from the beginning as well as all the board members, employees, and volunteers who keep the organization running smoothly and often go on to assume significant positions with other agencies and businesses, “The Stonewall Ball has become a major social event on the LGBT community calendars,” said Jimmy Zoellner, Development Director at Compass. “We’re expecting over a thousand people but you never know until it’s over. Many people buy tickets at the door.”

“There’s also been some confusion about attire,” said Zoellner. “Some people think a ball requires tuxes and gowns but nothing could be further from the truth.” Compass suggests casual, cocktail or costume and emphasizes the white and black theme.

“This year we’ve added silver to recognize Compass’ silver anniversary of 25 years of community engagement.”

Compass has also invited anyone interested in recognizing the group’s silver

anniversary to submit photographs of themselves – alone or with others – holding a “25” sign. People can also stop by Compass and get their photos done there. The signs will be displayed at the ball.

“Something else different this year,” Zoellner said. “We’re not having any drag shows. We’ve invited our drag community to attend in costume and enjoy the festivities with the rest of us.

There will be a silent auction on the first floor and Zoellner promises over 50 items, many of them with “very affordable price tags.”

Additionally, this year Compass will be participating in the Macy’s Shop for a Cause (see box). Five dollars buys a shopping pass entitling the holder to a 25 percent discount on August 24 at any Macy’s.

For more information or to order tickets for Saturday’s events visit www.compassglcc.com or call 561533-9699.

Compass Team celebrates successful 11th annual Stonewall Ball in 2012 at the Harriet Himmel Theater in West Palm Beach Photo courtesy of Compass GLCC

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// SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

15

news national

Queers For Palestine

What do they stand for?

David-Elijah Nahmod

One of the many graffiti pictures on a wall that separates Palestine and Israel.

Photo courtesy of Zachary Baumgartner

On Christmas Eve, 2012, representatives from QUIT Palestine (Queers Undermining Israeli Terror) entered Cliff’s Variety, a family owned hardware and housewares store in San Francisco’s predominately gay Castro district. The store first opened its doors in 1932.

“They did not identify themselves when they entered the store,” Cliff’s manager Martha Jasten said to SFGN. “We felt ambushed. I had no idea what they’re after.”

After singing a mock Christmas Carol, the protesters loudly announced that the store was supporting the allegedly apartheid and genocidal policies of the Israeli government towards the Palestinian people. Store employees and security guards took the protesters by their arms and physically escorted them off the premises. Cliff’s protester Peter Menchini videotaped this incident. That same evening, Menchini posted the video on Maya Meditated, his YouTube account.

16

// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

On January 3, 2013, Menchini was interviewed on camera by San Francisco journalist Carol Harvey regarding the Cliff’s Variety incident. The video, titled Peter Menchini Puts Eye on Cliff’s Variety, was posted on Harvey’s YouTube page. During the nine-minute interview, Menchini claims that he and other protesters, whom he describes as elderly women, were assaulted. Menchini showed a tiny scab wound to Harvey’s camera, which he claims was inflicted by a store employee. Menchini stated that he turned his own video of the incident over to the San Francisco Police Department, but expected them to take no action.

But what exactly does QUIT stand for?

Well according to their website it states: “As queers, we are part of an international movement for human rights that encompasses the movement for Palestinian liberation, and all other liberation movements. Since 2000, QUIT! has been one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most soflagaynews //

active and consistent voices for boycott, divestment & sanctions against Israel. We are also part of a growing international queer movement to stop “pinkwashing” by the Israeli government and its supporters.

Pinkwashing is a part of the Brand Israel public relations campaign which attempts to hijack the queer movement to promote ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”

Can the queer movement though align itself to the Palestinian liberation movement?

QUIT Palestine, which was joined at Cliff’s by the women’s anti-war activist group Code Pink, was protesting SodaStream, an Israeli-produced machine which carbonates drinking water. SodaStream has a plant on land that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority are laying claim to. The protesters further claim that SodaStream exploits Palestinian workers, paying them low wages and forcing them to work in inhumane conditions.

SouthFloridaGayNews

SFGN reached out to SodaStream, but was unable to get a comment as of press time.

In the protest video posted by Peter Menchini, store employees could clearly be seen grabbing protesters by the arms and pushing them out the door. Employees could also clearly be heard saying “Get out of the store.” No protester was struck. There were several sharp jump cuts in the video. When questioned by SFGN regarding those cuts, Menchini responded by screaming expletives.

Cliff’s Variety has been a vocal supporter of LGBT equality since the 1970s, according to Jasten.

“The weekend after Black Friday is set aside as a fundraiser for the Harvey Milk Academy,” she said. “We also donate to the AIDS Emergency Fund.” The Milk Academy is a high school for LGBT youth located a few blocks from the store. The AIDS Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to low-income people with AIDS. Since this incident, there have been

several “Buy-ins” at Cliff’s Variety. These events were hosted by Stand With Us, a Bay Area pro-Israel group.

SFGN contacted Stand With Us representative Faith Steinberg Meltzer, who has also been quite vocal in her support of LGBT equality.

“In the Jewish tradition, the only way to dispel darkness is to increase the light,” Meltzer stated. “That’s the beauty of the ‘buycott’ tactic. We wanted to show Cliff’s Variety that the community supported their decision to stand firm against the bullies, and I feel we succeeded. Cliff’s isn’t alone in this struggle.” Meltzer provided SFGN with a video of a pro-Palestinian rally in front of San Francisco’s Israeli consulate.

In the video, dated November 16, 2012, a protester demands to not be videotaped.

When the request is declined, the protester repeatedly screams “Fuck you, Jew!” Meltzer also shared a May 22, 2013 posting from the Facebook page of jazz musician Gilad Atzmon, who supports the Palestinian liberation movement. In the posting, Atzmon refers to Meltzer as “the wildest Zionist bitch in the Bay Area.”

(Kate Raphael, a Jewish lesbian, is a cofounder of QUIT Palestine. The group’s website does not currently provide a founding date. At Raphael’s page at www. discoverthenetworks.org she is reported to have taken part in anti-Israel activism dating back to 2002. QUIT’s website describes the group as “an international movement for human rights that encompasses the movement for Palestinian liberation and all other liberation movements.” At QUIT’s About page, Raphael offers this statement: “It is the right of any occupied people to fight for their freedom, in fact it is their duty. Historically every freedom struggle has been accompanied by acts of terrorism from the oppressed.”)

The statement is accompanied by a photo of Burka-clad women standing in front of a destroyed home. The date and location of the photo is not specified.

“There was no duplicity. Let me also mention that we had been tabling and leafleting outside Cliff’s for nine months by the time this happened,” Raphael told SFGN regarding the Cliff’s protest in question. “We had attempted to meet with the manager to discuss our demand that they stop selling SodaStream, and every single time we came to hand out leaflets, they called the police and tried to get them to deny us our legal right to stand on the sidewalk and educate our community. Every time the police informed them that we were within our rights.”

“We called the police once or twice to verify they had the right to be there,” said Martha Jasten. “Most of the time we closed the door and ignored them.”

“Legally people have the right to protest,” stated Officer Albie Esparza, Public Information Officer for the SFPD. “As long as they don’t interfere with the business, block

doors, block sidewalks, etc.”

Raphael said that Jasten and the rest of the employees at Cliff’s had no reason to feel ambushed.

“We were disruptive, yes, but in no way threatening. Our singing was good-humored, we had a liaison whose job was to mediate any conflict with the store or police,” Raphael said. “If she had listened to her for one second, she would have explained that we would only be in there for a few minutes.

Instead, the liaison herself was shoved and screamed at.”

According to a 2010 report published

by The International Lesbian and Gay Association (www.ilga.org), homosexuality is illegal in the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip, and is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

(On April 8, 2012, The International Middle East Media Center reported that Hamas executed three Palestinians for a variety of crimes including murder, treason, and homosexuality. The story claims that the families of the executed men were in favor of killing them.)

“If any Palestinian queers asked us to support any campaign around LGBT rights in Palestine, I expect we would be glad to do so,” said Raphael. “We have never been approached by any group or Palestinian individual doing any such thing. We have been willing to criticize the Palestinian Authority for the death penalty and for any legitimate and proven acts of anti-gay oppression.”

(Raphael stated that QUIT takes no position on marriage equality. An April 17, 2013 posting at her Facebook page begins with the words “we’re here, we’re Queer, and we don’t want marriage equality.”)

In June 2012, QUIT protested screenings of the Israeli produced documentary Invisible Men, which shines a light on the harsh antigay repressions faced by Palestinian gay men who reside in the occupied territories. These showings were sponsored by Frameline, San Francisco’s annual LGBT film festival.

“Our protest was not aimed at Invisible Men,” Raphael said. “Our demand to Frameline has always been to stop partnering with the Israeli government, and the reason we chose to do an action at that film is because it was sponsored by the (Israeli) consulate.” (On June 23, 2012, SF Bay Area Independent Media Center (www. indybay.org) posted “Will QUIT Silence Palestinian Queer Voices?” The piece, credited to PIBB, posed this question: “Will Quit firmly establish itself as a hate group by silencing the already marginalized voices of Palestinian Queers? Or will they choose to open their hearts and minds and actually listen to the stories of those they claim to support?”)

When contacted by SFGN, Frameline director K.C. Price declined to discuss the incident.

Quit Palestine: www.quitpalestine.org Cliff’s Variety: www.cliffsvariety.com. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

17

news national

The Real Price of DOMA Bi-national couple struggles to stay together Caity Kauffman

caitykauffman@gmail.com

Yohandel Ruiz and his husband Daniel Zavala in Washington D.C. after getting married.

Photo courtesy of Joanna Chau

Committing your life to another human being marks the beginning of a flourishing new existence. Whether it is legally-binding matrimony or a domestic partnership, commitment is intended to strengthen a relationship.

But could you promise your devotion to another person, knowing your choice could seriously suffocate your lifestyle, rendering your partner unable to earn an income, have health insurance, or even be able to drive a car? Could you make that decision, knowing this choice could possibly carry on for the rest of your lives, with no way out?

For Daniel Zavala and Yohandel Ruiz, their union thrust them into a standstill. The two are trapped in legal purgatory, an arduous battle between immigration laws and the Defense of Marriage Act. Zavala, 28, is a Mexican citizen. Ruiz, 38, is a Cuban-born American citizen. Zavala’s 90-day tourist visa expired last year, shortly after his nuptials to Ruiz in May 2012, and he’s been living in Coral Gables illegally. If Zavala ever leaves the United States before obtaining legal status, he’ll be banned from returning ever again.

“We got married because we wanted to stay together. I knew my visa would expire and I would be left without a status,”

18

// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

Zavala explains with his thick Mexican accent. “But then our lawyer said ‘well, getting married, there’s no legal procedure right now for a marriage like yours.’”

Deportation is a possibility, but unlikely.

Their future hinges on DOMA being overturned in the near future.

It’s a game of Russian Roulette.

Despite having a college education, the bubbly 28-year-old is unable to find a job that will pay the hefty fees to sponsor his visa and the pair depends on Ruiz’s single income working in cruise ship architecture. Zavala spends his days riding his bicycle around their quaint neighborhood, since he can’t obtain a drivers license. He takes care of their feisty yorkie, Parker. He tries his hardest to convince Ruiz to learn to love salad. But mostly, he hopes and prays the Supreme Court will overturn DOMA. For Ruiz, their struggle against DOMA is a punishing reality contrary to the life of freedom he came to America in search of. When he was six-years-old, his family immigrated to Miami from Cuba, seeking refuge from the dilapidated country.

“My dad said to me, ‘We’re going to this place where you can have everything you ever wanted, and be happy, and have soflagaynews //

toys, and go to school be a professional,’” Ruiz says.

But now, Ruiz is realizing he can’t have everything he’s ever wanted. Because from the moment they met, Zavala is all he ever wanted.

It was August 16, 2011. On a random Tuesday, a friend dragged Zavala, who was on vacation from Monterrey, Mexico, to Score nightclub on South Beach.

On the heels of New York legalizing gay marriage just weeks earlier, Zavala was wearing a tee shirt emblazoned with “I Love New York” in rainbow lettering.

That bright, bold shirt caught Ruiz’s eye.

“It was like wow, what a beautiful person,” he remembers of Zavala. “From the minute I met him I knew, he was such a special person and there was this connection on every level.

It was [love] at first sight.”

They struck up a conversation, and Ruiz invited Zavala to dinner the next day, Wednesday. Zavala reminded him he had to leave on Thursday, but Ruiz didn’t care. He needed more.

The next day, the innocent dinner turned into 5 a.m. They fell asleep talking, and Zavala woke up late for his flight home to Mexico. From the start, it seemed as if fate never wanted him to leave in the first place.

When Zavala was back in Monterrey, he and Ruiz began regularly video chatting.

They met each other’s parents over FaceTime. They had dinner together: Zavala with his family, Ruiz at home in Coral Gables.

“Thank you, Steve Jobs,” Zavala laughs.

Quickly, they made plans to reunite. A few weeks later, they took a four-day cruise to the Bahamas and Key West.

“It was like a little honeymoon,” Ruiz said. “The whole cruise we were talking about going to Paris and everything we wanted to do on our bucket list, and we were like, wouldn’t it be great if we did that together?”

Before long, the couple was investigating options to move Zavala to the United States permanently.

When their attempts at a work visa didn’t pan out, they considered sending Zavala back to school with a student visa. But the cost of education is steep and Zavala already has a Bachelor’s degree. They were doing nothing more than putting a tarp on a tsunami. It was a quick fix.

SouthFloridaGayNews

They even considered breaking the law and finding a woman for Zavala to marry in an attempt at securing him a green card.

They were desperate.

“We would just wake up at night in cold sweats, like what are we going to do? We just wanted to be together,” Ruiz says. “Any woman or any man can get married. Even a convicted criminal! You could marry someone who’s on death row! Meet them, marry them in jail, and they would have more [marriage] rights than I have.”

The duo spent the Thanksgiving holiday together, and Zavala returned home to Mexico with plans to be back again in time for New Year’s Eve. But this trip would be special, because Zavala didn’t return to Miami in December empty-handed: He brought back an engagement ring.

“I wanted to [propose] on the first day of the year because it’s like a cycle. We were starting over,” Zavala explains. “And it was funny because we had the New Years party, we went to the beach, we got crazy, and then I wake up, and the first thing that goes through my mind is that I have to go get the ring before he wakes up.”

Zavala presented the silver, engraved ring to Ruiz just as he opened his eyes on New Year’s Day. “I was choked up. I didn’t know what to say,” Ruiz remembers. “It was so nice that it happened. I was so happy.”

While their family and friends were delighted, they also had valid concerns of their quick engagement and rush to the altar.

“We got married for the same reason anybody else would get married,” Ruiz explains. “Why would you get married, why would my parents get married? They got married because they found that person they want to spend the rest of their lives with, and when you find that person, it’s so hard, you don’t want to let them go! You want to be together.”

While they dreamed of a destination wedding in Playa la Carmen, time and logistics weren’t on their side. They were worried that Zavala’s frequent comings and goings would flag immigration and prevent him from getting back into the country once again. They weren’t able to get Zavala’s family to the United States, and Ruiz felt too guilty to have only his family present.

So they planned a private wedding in a much more curious location: Washington, D.C., right in front of the Capitol Building.

“So there we were, in front of the Ulysses S. Grant memorial, there were Duck Tours passing by and people clapping. We felt we need to get married in front of the place where the laws are enacted that are discriminating against us,” Ruiz says. “We need to let the world know…”

“It’s a protest,” Zavala interjects. “Gay marriage is a reality already. And it has been forever. Maybe not with the label of marriage or the law of marriage, but it is a reality. Making it legal it would be just like an acknowledgement from society of that reality. The way I see it now, the U.S. is just closing their eyes to what’s happening.”

But Zavala and Ruiz’s bold protest didn’t come without a price.

Shortly after their wedding, Zavala’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

He was unable to visit her in Mexico, but they were able to bring her to Miami after her surgery and chemotherapy. Luckily, she is in remission today, but the possibility that Zavala could’ve lost his mother without ever seeing her again, haunts them.

“When your spouse is crying because he can’t be with his family, and you feel guilty because in a way you’re keeping him here,” Ruiz says. “He decided to leave everything behind to be with me. I feel guilty he can’t see his mother and be with her. I feel guilty that if God forbid he gets

sick and doesn’t have medical insurance…

I feel guilty because what if I lose my job and we don’t have a place to live because we’re only on one income and can’t save as much as we should. I feel guilty all the time. It’s constant.”

Zavala and Ruiz are embroiled in the forefront of two of the country’s biggest issues today, and their fate could change at any moment.

Immigration and same-sex marriage continue to be scrutinized. U.S. border security is undergoing an overhaul that could add 20,000 new border patrol agents, boost surveillance and add thousands of miles of fencing along the U.S. – Mexico border. The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on DOMA any day.

Regardless of the uncertainty that lies before them, Ruiz and Zavala continue to have faith in the institution of marriage.

They don’t believe in divorce and impress the importance of communication and realizing each other’s dreams. They both say marriage is better than they expected it to be. But they’re ready for a resolution to the same-sex marriage debate.

“People who first get married shouldn’t worry about this,” Ruiz says. “They should be planning their future and their kids and whatever, and we’re planning how to stay together and how to fall asleep knowing our future is in the hands of nine justices who don’t even know who we are.”

Ever since getting married Yohandel Ruiz and his husband Daniel Zavala have been worried about Zavala’s immigration status since DOMA prevents the federal government from recognizing their marriage in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of Yohandel Ruiz

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State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

19

news national

Unequal Opportunity

FAU professor claims getting booted for being gay — and he’s not the only one

Lulu Ramadan

aramadan723@gmail.com

Buried in a box in Robb Kvasnak’s home is a small, silver award from Florida Atlantic University for his five years of service and dedication to the university — his former employer.

Kvasnak was a professor at FAU’s College of Education since 2008, but worked as a graduate teaching assistant before that since 2005.

Then, out of nowhere, he told SFGN, the new head of the department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry in the College of Education informed him that his contract would not be renewed in March.

They would be letting him go.

“She had always been on my case. I tried so hard and I was good at my job,” Kvasnak said. “It was just useless.”

The ‘she’ he’s talking about is Gail Burnaford, and he said a fellow professor had even warned him about Burnaford’s homophobia.

“I don’t think he or anyone else has such evidence,” Burnaford told SFGN. When

Robb Kvasnak Photo courtesy of Lulu Ramadan

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asked if she had any personal issues with Kvasnak, she concluded: “I don’t think I need to be talking to you about that.”

Burnaford received her Master of Arts in Religion from the Lancaster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania — a seminary that provides theological education for possible church leaders — in 2011. She then took a sabbatical to become a protestant minister. A few months after her return, she let Kvasnak go.

Around the same time that Kvasnak’s contract was not renewed, two other FAU professors in the same department also had their contracts let go, but were offered adjunct positions — a pretty way of giving them part-time work. Kvasnak was not offered the same opportunity.

“There was just no room for him on staff,” Burnaford said, who added that FAU has “many LGBT students and faculty, and we pride ourselves on diversity at FAU.” “I knew I was fired for being gay, but everywhere I went, people told me there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” Kvasnak said.

Whether Kvasnak was fired for being gay has yet to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: He’s right about not being able to do anything about it.

A new research report released in early June by three LGBT advocacy groups back that up.

The reality is that workers are fired every day based on sexual orientation — which is not protected under the law.

There is no federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“A Broken Bargain,” the name of the June report, was released by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), Center for American Progress, and Human Rights Campaign, and details how LGBT workers are legally fired based on sexuality, denied soflagaynews //

equal benefits, and left paying thousands of dollars more in taxes.

When Kvasnak reached out to a lawyer about his situation, his biggest fears were confirmed.

“While you no doubt were discriminated against based on your sexual orientation, as you know, we, GLBT individuals, are not protected in Florida. I wish I had better news,” Kenneth Keechl, a local lawyer, wrote to Kvasnak in early May. “I just didn’t see it until it hit me, until it actually happened to me,” Kvasnak said.

According to Greg Nevins, a civil rights lawyer with Lambda Legal — a national legal organization advocating for LGBT equality — termination based on sexual orientation is “one of the most called upon subjects legally at Lambda Legal.”

Interestingly, under federal courts, transgender workers are protected from employment discrimination as of 2012, but sexual orientation is not protected under federal civil rights laws.

“It’s not so much the right to go to court when you are discriminated against, but to be protected under the law in the first place,” Nevins said.

This kind of lack of protection could be broadcasting bad news to LGBT people.

“This is the government sending a message that if you’re gay, we’re not going to protect you,” said Ineke Mushovic, executive director of MAP and the primary author of “A Broken Bargain.”

According to “A Broken Bargain,” 81 percent of people believe that it is illegal to fire someone based on sexual orientation — in other words, more than eight in 10 people are wrong about the federal protections afforded to LGBT people.

“It’s really hard for people to believe it,” Mushovic said. “We live in America, land of equal opportunity, so it’s hard to believe that you can be living in a certain state and someone can fire you for being gay and it would be perfectly legal.”

Only 21 states in the U.S. have protections in place for discrimination based on sexual orientation — Florida is not one of them.

Kvasnak is one of many that would have benefited from statewide employment protection.

Local counties can put their own protections in place, and have done so.

Broward and Palm Beach counties prohibit

SouthFloridaGayNews

employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Miami-Dade County only protects sexual orientation.

According to Equality Florida — Florida’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, more than 9.6 million people in Florida are protected from employment discrimination against sexual orientation and identity under these local ordinances.

But even with these protections, sometimes it’s not enough.

“The weakness of these local ordinances is that they don’t have the teeth that statewide laws would have,” Stratton Pollitzer, deputy director of Equality Florida, said.

According to Pollitzer, if someone believes they were unfairly discriminated against, they can file a complaint with their county.

But even if they are successful in filing a complaint, the result can be as simple as a fine on the company that discriminated against them.

“Sometimes, the fine ends up being small enough that the company decides they just don’t care and pay it anyway,” Pollitzer said. “We eventually do need the enforcement of state laws.

Those who believe they are victims of discrimination are sometimes shocked at the reality of their helplessness.

“This isn’t the 1960s, this is 2013,” Kvasnak said. “Why, in Florida, are we still so backwards?”

According to “A Broken Bargain,” 40 percent of LGBT workers remain closeted at work so as to not risk losing their jobs.

“In a way, this statistic is even more surprising than the number of people who lose their jobs,” Mushovic said. “This is the number of people who constantly live in fear and hide who they are.”

In early February, the Competitive Workforce Act was introduced to the Florida Senate and would have established statewide discrimination protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity — but it didn’t get that far. While a poll taken by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service showed that 73 percent of Floridians supported the act, it was dropped in early May. Although the act was abandoned, it was “just 11 votes away, which is a sign of incredible progress over time,” according to Pollitzer. Equality Florida plans to continue working with political leaders to move towards a more equal state.

“A Broken Bargain” also details the lack of benefits for LGBT couples compared to heterosexual couples.

Kvasnak married his husband, Edmar, in Brazil 13 years ago and has since been living in Wilton Manors with him. But their marriage is not recognized in Florida, and because of that, the couple pays more in taxes and get less in benefits than average heterosexual couples.

“Look at the benefits that average Americans take for granted,” Mushovic said.

“These are the same benefits affects our everyday lives.”

“A Broken Bargain” offers the scenario of two families: One heterosexual couple with two children and one lesbian couple with two children. The lesbian couple pays over $4,000 more annually in health insurance and doesn’t receive the same tax benefits as the heterosexual couple.

“That’s just the statistic, but think about the actual family and the challenges this puts forward for them,” Mushovic said.

“I could never put Edmar on my insurance.

The difference we ended up paying was like $1,500,” Kvasnak said. “That money could go towards a great vacation.”

“A Broken Bargain” offers solutions to the problem of discrimination in the workplace in the report, including recognizing the families of LGBT citizens and protecting them from employment discrimination on a federal and state level — solutions that would help millions of people in situations like Kvasnak’s.

“People don’t understand that we need these protections,” Mushovic said. “If people really understood what we go through as LGBT workers, they’d be more inspired to make a change.”

Gail Burnaford Photo courtesy of Florida Atlantic University

Ineke Mushovic Photo courtesy of Movement Advancement Project

Americans Are So Wrong

People have no idea that LGBTs can be legally discriminated against for orientation and support non-discrimination policy

527,209 LGBT Americans living in Florida 81 percent of Americans mistakenly believe

that it is illegal to fire someone based on sexual orientation

73 percent of Americans support workplace

nondiscrimination protections for LGBT workers

Nearly one on 10 LGBT workers report

losing their jobs in the past five years based on sexual orientation.

14 percent of LGBT American adults are

unemployed, compared to 10 percent of heterosexual adults.

Partnered LGBT couples are twice as likely to have incomes near the poverty line compared to married heterosexual couples.

Sources: Movement Advancement Project, “A Broken Bargain” soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

21

opinion off the wall Pier Angelo

Sex and The (Vatican) City “We don’t have any explanation of what ‘gay lobby’ means,” said Rocco Palmo, a Vatican watcher who runs “Whispers in the Loggia,” a website on Catholic news and church politics.

There has been a lot of talk and speculations recently about an alleged gay lobby in the Vatican.

Most devout Catholics hoped the gay lobby was, perchance, a stunningly decorated entrance hall somewhere in the Eternal City. Alas, hints that the Curia harbored a network of gay clergy surfaced last year in a series of leaks to the Italian news media. “La Repubblica,” a leading Italian newspaper, reported that the Cardinals, appointed by the former Pope to find the source of the leaks, investigated high-level Vatican clergy involved in homosexual affairs who might have been vulnerable to blackmail. They found evidence of a “gay network” within the Vatican but gave few details about it.

And now the confirmation of its existence comes from the very top. Pope Francis said a “gay lobby” is present inside the Vatican: “…there are holy people, …but there is also a stream of corruption.”

SFGN is proud to contribute to the secrecy breakdown with its own whistle blower.

Father Tony Adams, our Senior Features Correspondent, was interviewed last week by an Italian daily about his past experience in the Vatican.

He was spending time in Southern Italy, for Alyson Adventures/Hanns Ebenstenn Tours for their “Gay Cycling Puglia Experience” with home base at Villa Cappelli. The

owners of the Villa, Paul Cappelli and Steven Crutchfield, are becoming community leaders, despite being Americans (Paul is originally from Italy and his gay cousin is the governor of Puglia.) Paul had been contacted by a newspaper about gay marriage and gay tourism in Puglia. He told the reporters that he had a guest at the Villa Cappelli who is a Catholic priest who does gay marriages. “La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno” quickly sent two reporters to interview Father Tony.

These are some of the Q&As paraphrased and translated from Italian: You have never been suspended by the Vatican?

No I am still a priest and in the USA. I regularly officiate and perform gay weddings.

What I have learned during my tenure at the Vatican is that the clergy loves power and when I was there I had a sexual relationship with a high prelate, but I was not the only one.

Are you sure you have not been excommunicated?

Absolutely not, and I am tired of this veil of hypocrisy that engulfs the Church.

Everybody inside the Vatican knew about the affairs between priests and bishops and cardinals, everybody pretended it wasn’t happening.

Did you have an affair with someone high up in the Church hierarchy?

Yes, I was young and I did not resist his sexual advances, I did it hoping to further my career.

Seniors Features Correspondent for SFGN Father Tony Adams recently gave an interview to an Italian newspaper exposing the gay sex that happens behind closed doors in the Vatican.

Photo courtesy of DSLR Travel

Why do you feel you have to tell your story?

My crusade against the Church’s hypocrisy started when I saw the hard line position the Vatican took against gay couples and same sex marriage. A large number of priests within the church and the Vatican are gay, they have sex and even love affairs, it is time the Church stops pretending it is not happening. It is not acceptable.

After the newspaper hit the stands I spoke to Father Tony in Italy.

This is what he had to say to complement the interview: “I would hate to give the impression that Vatican City is a hotbed of gay sex. It is a hotbed of gay sexual desire, but most of the priests, bishops and cardinals in the Vatican do not have sex. Power is their indulgence and when they court power, they give up sex which would very easily make them inconvenient and result in their being driven out of the power structure. That is why I declined

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

most of the opportunities I had for sex in the Vatican. Machiavellian sex is distributed parsimoniously. It doesn’t pay to be easy.”

The fact that most bishops and cardinals deny themselves gay sex is probably the reason they feel free to demand that gay Catholics do the same.

They are proud of their misguided celibacy and don’t want the rest of us to enjoy what they deny themselves. This is not spiritual leadership. This is twisted and perverse shepherding.

For those of you who can read Italian here is the link to the newspaper article http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno. it/dalla-puglia-la-storia-io-prete-gay-esposato-ecco-i-segreti-no628105 Tony Adams, a Roman Catholic priest who has been on an extended vacation from that vocation for many years, is Senior Features Correspondent with South Florida Gay News.

He is also the editor of the 20 member queer arts and culture blog, Queer New York.

opinion dixon diaries

My HIV Diary Turmoil in Atlanta

The Only 2 Guaranteed Insured investments are a Bank CD and a Fixed Annuity!

Ryan Dixon contemplates sharing a very personal problem.

Photo courtesy of Mike Miley

Ryan Dixon (a.k.a former porn star Kameron Scott) has started taking HIV medication.

He’s keeping a diary of his experience.

Being in my mid-20’s isn’t easy, add HIV on top of that and we have one hell of a complicated life. I’m making the best out of the hand life has dealt me and the decisions I’ve made along the way. Writing helps free my mind. Hopefully these words will help you understand the plight of others like myself, and inspire you to live each and every day in the moment.

Week 42

(June 14 to June 20) I have to admit that I struggled a lot with what to write this week. I’ve literally racked my brain to put into print what I was feeling.

An internal battle was raging within me on whether or not I should put one personal item on blast. The dilemma I was having is that I’m not the only one involved in the matter. I had to take another person into consideration for once.

I don’t know what I’m feeling right now, but I think you, the readers, deserve to know that this piece you’re reading wasn’t the first one I wrote for this week. I wrote nearly 1,000 words pouring out a very personal and vulnerable situation that involved me and another person. After writing it and reading it many times, plus running it by a couple of people with knowledge of the situation, I decided to pull the original piece. I toyed with the idea that I had to abide by ethics and report the truth, but truth be told, I don’t think personal problems count. I’ve always been open and honest in writing this diary about any problem that arises, but not this

time. This situation has nothing to do with my HIV-positive status.

Now that that is out of the way I do have a few things to report. The guy I had been working with at MISTER Center to get me set up with a doctor and Ryan White called me to see if anyone for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation had called me to set up an appointment yet. To my surprise, they hadn’t called me yet to which the case worker said didn’t surprise him. When he called AHF, they said they were waiting on my call. Seeing as they were 30 minutes and several bus transfers away from me, I decided to change providers and be seen at the local clinic in downtown Atlanta. That appointment was set up in just a few hours and I went in on June 24.

I did receive another bit of good news amid all the turmoil that is my life in Atlanta. I was really worried about my involvement in the medicine study, more specifically, losing my medication. I made it to my last appointment with some assistance, but I was still worried about making the next on in August. I was called and told that I would be flown in for the study when the time came, paid for by the study. I’m so thrilled I don’t have that cloud hanging over my head while I’m trying to figure out my next day in the big city.

Day by day – that’s all I can really do, right?

It’s been hard to focus on work this last week when I’m more worried about me. I’m being told that people care and are concerned about me, but I really don’t feel that at this moment, especially here in Atlanta. I’ve got my chin up. I’m a resourceful kid … I’ll figure this out.

-Ryan Dixon soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

23

opinion

letter to the editor

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We seem to be almost at the mercy of some local people who are entangled in a web of positions of some authority -- members of boards of directors, etc. -civic associations, business development associations, tourist development associations, charities, and so forth. They cannot operate without accountability as long as you are here!

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Brian Neal (left) and Bobby Blair (right)

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

5/10/2013 5:40:28 PM

opinion

compass points

Stonewall Ball is Gonna Be Big Annual event takes place Saturday

By Julie Seaver, Operations Director

Now, more than ever, elected officials are coming out of the closet in support of equality, same sex benefits and antidiscrimination laws for LGBT individuals.

While the rest of the nation suffers from the up and down, wait and see approach, Compass has been going strong and moving forward serving the LGBT community at the local level for 25 years this year.

The struggle for equality in the U.S. began long before 1969, but most activists mark the Stonewall riots in New York City’s West village as the beginning of the modern push for gay and lesbian liberation. Riding the equality roller coaster over just the last few years feels like new territory for today’s youth, but to many of us, the days of routine raids and government sanctioned anti-gay discrimination doesn’t seem so long ago. But the tides, they are a-turning.

Compass’ Stonewall Black and White Ball is always memorable, and this year will be no exception. Two years ago, when my home state of New York passed gay marriage the night before Stonewall Ball, the party just exploded in celebration. TV stations showed videos of people dancing in the streets of New York, and then shot to all of us celebrating at the Harriet in downtown West Palm Beach: we were known as the “sixth borough of New York.”

We were hoping today, we would hear

about DOMA and Prop 8. As I sit writing this, now waiting for Monday’s Supreme Court’s announcement, this year’s Stonewall Ball will either be a really big party or a really big riot. Either way, it’s gonna be big.

Growing up in small town America, I never knew the history of Stonewall and what that meant for our community. Stonewall is a time for community members, elected and appointed officials to stand together, remember our history, the work it took to get where we are, and where we’re going.

Whatever your thoughts are about the current administration, or how nine Supreme Court justices hold the balance of our lives in their hands, just think about this: For the first time ever, our President and the leader of the free world has made a declaration about our rights. Just think about that for a minute. For even the most at-risk of LGBT youth who may not be seeing visible hope or support from their parents, teachers or peers, Obama’s message is a very bright beacon that represents a reason to live and dance another day.

And that’s something worth celebrating.

Julie Seaver is the Center Operations Director for Compass Community and can be reached at julie@compassglcc.com. For more information about Compass or Stonewall 25th Anniversary Party, please visit them on the web at www.compassglcc.com. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

25

lifestyle festival

Florida Supercon Boldly Goes There: George Takei, David Yost & more scheduled to appear at local comic con Andrea Dulanto

adulanto03@gmail.com

Openly gay George Takei, most known for his role on the original Star Trek series and six Star Trek films, will be appearing a this year’s Supercon in Miami.

Photo courtesy of George Takei

Florida Supercon has often featured comic book/ sci-fi/ anime guests and events that appeal to not only mainstream fans, but also to an LGBT audience. This year, Florida Supercon 2013 promises to exceed expectations.

The Eighth annual comic con event returns to the Miami Airport Convention Center on July 4-7, with George Takei, as one of the headliners.

Science fiction fans know Takei as Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek television series, which aired from 1966- 1969. In recent years, Takei has become a social media favorite, particularly on Facebook, and he has written about this experience in Oh Myyy! (There Goes the Internet). However, some of his fans may not know that as a child during World War II, Takei was incarcerated in Japanese-American internment camps in the U.S. He has also starred in a musical, Allegiance, which explores this often untold part of American history. A Broadway debut is anticipated for 2014.

In 2005, Takei publicly came out. Since then, he’s become an LGBT activist, one who often uses humor to communicate his message—see Takei’s recent Buzzfeed response to same-sex marriage protestors.

In a phone interview with SFGN, Takei reflected, “When I was a teenager, marriage

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// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

equality was an unthinkable thing. Now it is inevitable. I’m very optimistic about the [upcoming] Supreme Court ruling.”

When Takei spoke to SFGN, he had just finished filming as a guest star on SyFy’s Lost Girl, a supernatural television series that features characters with a fluid sense of sexual orientation.

He described his character as “elegantly evil, very boppish in dress, with aweinspiring powers.”

“I enjoyed chewing the scenery, and left my teeth marks all over the set.”

Takei has traveled quite a path from Star Trek to Lost Girl.

“Rejection is the thing you get the most as a young aspiring actor,” he recounted.

“Being gay [added] another reason to get rejected. So you stay closeted.”

There were supportive heterosexual work colleagues such as Walter Koenig who played Pavel Chekov on Star Trek. Takei recalled that one morning on the set, his co-star subtly gestured towards “a goodlooking young male extra in a tight Star Trek costume.” Koenig then smiled at Takei.

“It was a quiet way of letting you know, that they know,” he shared.

Although Takei was not officially out to the public, he stayed connected to the gay community. He went to bars, and had gay soflagaynews //

friends. Twenty-five years ago, he met his husband, Brad Altman (who is now Brad Takei), in a gay running club.

“I was quietly out for a long time.”

Yet in 2005, the California legislature passed a same sex marriage bill that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger later vetoed.

As Takei watched the eleven o’clock news, he saw “the young people on Santa Monica Boulevard who were angry and yelling.”

“I thought ‘I need to be engaged in that’…I need to be advocating for equality.”

This motivated Takei to publicly come out.

Subsequent years have seen Takei’s LGBT activism reach out to a wide range of audiences.

In a December 2012 issue of Archie Comics, Takei was written into a story involving Riverdale’s first gay character, Kevin Keller.

“When I was a kid, I used to read Archie Comics,” Takei said. “There was America to me. They were all white, certainly they were all straight. I wasn’t even on the periphery of that. Now I’m on the cover…me as a gay Asian man on the cover. It is an undreamed of advance in American pop culture.”

More surprisingly, “straight, white, male” fans have found a connection with Takei by following him on social media and listening to him when he appears on Howard Stern.

“They tell me ‘I like what you’re saying, I like what you stand for, and if there’s a pro-LGBT issue in my community, I will support it.’”

“That’s how we bring about change—by getting them to understand the normality of our lives.”

Florida Supercon also presents David Yost, who played Billy Cranston/ The Blue Ranger in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie and Power Rangers Zeo during the 1990s.

However, Yost abruptly left Power Rangers Zeo before the end of its season. In 2010, he revealed to No Pink Spandex that his departure was due to a homophobic work environment.

As he stated in that interview, “I was continually being told I’m not worthy of where I am because I’m a gay person…And you can’t be a superhero.”

Yost spoke to SFGN over the phone and further elaborated on his ordeal.

“In the 90s, being gay was still not widely accepted,” Yost said. “[The homophobia] did come from people at high levels. It was

SouthFloridaGayNews

difficult for me because I didn’t feel like I had any protection or anyone to go to. We didn’t have a Human Resources person to get issues resolved…I was either going to take my life or [I needed to] get out of the environment I was in. I chose to leave.”

However, Yost continued to struggle with his sexual orientation as he underwent “the pray the gay away thing,” and later suffered a nervous breakdown.

Eventually, he came to the realization: “There’s nothing wrong with who I am.”

“I’m very much a happy gay person now but it wasn’t overnight. It was a long process of learning to accept myself, and therapy. There’s no magical remedy.”

At comic cons, Yost meets many people who thank him for coming out.

“I am honored to have an impact on their lives…I hear at least twenty different stories per con from gay people. Each one is meaningful.”

When asked about the increased presence of LGBT characters and story lines throughout the comic con world, Yost responded: “It needs to make sense to the storyline… [but] it’s helpful to see us represented as…superheroes, to make sure people see…we can be just as powerful as anyone else.”

LGBT comic book writers and/or artists who are just starting out may be interested in attending Florida Supercon panels about independent comics and self-publishing.

There will also be discussions about diversity in comics such as Planet Black: Ethnic Portrayals In Science Fiction and Who Runs The World? Women and Minorities in Comics.

Writer Laura Diaz de Arce leads Who Runs The World? Along with illustrator Mary O’Neill, Diaz de Arce has co-created Splitting Seams, a fairy tale of twin sisters who are sewn together. Her panel will mainly consider the image of women and minorities, but she will also discuss LGBT representation.

SFGN contacted Diaz de Arce on Facebook for her views about how comic books deal with LGBT characters and story lines.

“The comic industry has been more friendly to the LGBT community as far as characters,” Diaz de Arce responded in a statement. “Kevin Keller and Clay [in Archie Comics]…drew lots of attention for their wedding… one of the better executions of a gay character, portraying them less as a

stereotype and more as a human being.”

Diaz de Arce also lauded the Marvel characters in Runaways—Karolina Dean, a “well-rounded and complex” lesbian character, and Dean’s love, Xavin, “an interesting transgender [female] character.”

However, Diaz de Arce is wary of how “mainstream comics have tried to exploit a gay audience…[with] shotgun gay weddings as an inauthentic money-grab.”

She concluded that “it is best when a character’s sexual orientation is authentic, fully conceived… and not some stunt.”

Other LGBT events of interest include an expanded selection of cosplay activities, and the comedy theatre troupe PineappleShaped Lamps is back with shadow casts of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Burlesque shows, stunt fighting, costume contests, raves/ dances— whatever you need to get your LGBT geek on, you should be able to find it here.

FLORIDA SUPERCON GUESTS WITH LGBT THEMES/ INTERESTS

exploitation as an underage porn actress in the 80s, Lords is also a supporter of LGBT rights.

•Sunday, July 7 • 12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

TRACI LORDS Q&A

Check the complete schedule online for rooms and additional photo op / autograph signing events

GEORGE TAKEI

ERIN GRAY

J. MICHAEL TATUM

Many an LBT woman in the 70s must have crushed on Buck Rogers’ Erin Gray, who appears at a Q&A, and also leads a Tai Chi/ Chi Kung workshop.

•Saturday, July 6 • 5 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

SPOTLIGHT Q&A: ERIN GRAY •Sunday, July 7 • 8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

TAI CHI & CHI KUNG WORKSHOP WITH ERIN GRAY

LAURIE HOLDEN

Did Michonne and Andrea have a lesbian relationship on The Walking Dead? Depends on your view of the subtext. However, the story did find a new LGBT fan base for the show. Laurie Holden (Andrea) appears at Florida Supercon.

•Saturday, July 6 • 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

LAURIE HOLDEN on STAGE

DICHEN LACHMAN

In 2009, Dichen Lachman starred in Joss Whedon’s short-lived series Dollhouse. Although Lachman is not a lesbian, she earned a lasting accolade at AfterEllen.com—one of the “100 hottest women on screen” for that year.

•Sunday, July 7 • 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

DICHEN LACHMAN Q&A

TRACI LORDS

Known for her dance music, her roles on Roseanne and John Waters’ Cry Baby, and her

•Saturday, July 6 • 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Q&A Returning to Supercon is J. Michael Tatum, an anime voice actor, ADR director and script writer His extensive credits include Ouran High School Host Club and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

•Friday, July 5 • 3:15 p.m. – 4 p.m.

J. MICHAEL TATUM Q&A •Sunday, July 7 • 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

THE MEN OF ANIME: THE J MICHAEL TATUM, DARREL GUILBEAU, ERIC STUART & BLAKE SHEPHARD PANEL

DAVID YOST

•Saturday, July 6 • 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

BLACK AND BLUE: MEET THE BLACK & BLUE POWER RANGERS

This year’s Supercon is gayer than ever. The event kicks off July 4.

Photo courtesy of Florida Supercon

IF YOU G What

Florida Supercon 2013

When

Thursday, July 4, 2013 – Sunday, July 7, 2013

Where

Miami Airport Convention Center 711 NW 72nd Ave Miami, FL 33126

How Much

Single day tickets: Thursday ($30), Friday ($30), Saturday ($30) and Sunday ($30) Four day full event tickets $65 until July 2. $70 at the show Children 9 years and under are Free with paid parent or guardian Tickets can be purchased at http://floridasupercon.com/ buy-tickets

Join David Yost and Walter Jones,

•Sunday, July 7 • 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

•THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY POWER RANGERS PANEL Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Power Rangers with the original stars for a special moderated panel discussion and Q&A. •1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Jason David Frank •2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Robert Axelrod, Barbara Goodson and Richard Horvitz •2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Walter Jones and David Yost

More Info.

http://floridasupercon.com http://floridasupercon2013.sched.org/ 954-399-1330 info@floridasupercon.com

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

27

See it ForÊ Yourself

SFGN Staff Photos courtesy of Mark’s List & Ginny Dixon

June 2013

Ft.Lauderdale

HRC Holds Cocktail Party at Chill The local chapter of the HRC held a cocktail party last weekend at Chill Lounge on East Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale featuring Miami Herald columnist Steve Rothaus, who addressed LGBT issues in the media and the pending Supreme Court decisions on gay marriage.

June 2013

Ft.Lauderdale

Lights! Camera! Action!

Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida performing Lights!

Camera! Action! at Sunshine Cathedral on June 21-22.

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

June 2013

Ft.Lauderdale

Stonewall Summer Pride

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

SFGNITES F O R

T H E

W E E K

O F

J U N E

2 6

-

J U L Y

3 ,

2 0 1 3

W W W . S F G N . C O M

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jw@prdconline.com

THUR Music

6/27

Pianist Orli Shaham plays one of the great works of classical music, Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, tonight at 8 p.m. as part of Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ’s summer concert series. Shaham has performed with the Boston, Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, the Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego and Utah Symphonies, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and many others. The internationallyacclaimed performer wil also play works by Brahms and Chopin at the historic church, located at 3010 DeSoto Blvd. in Coral Gables. Tickets are $30-45 at CommunityArtsProgram.org.

FRI Film

6/28

Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., offers the final presentation in this season of “live” performances from the National Theatre of London, The Audience, starring Helen Mirren, today through Sunday, June 30 at 1 pm. Mirren reprises her Academy Award winning role as Queen Elizabeth II in the highly-anticipated West End production.

For 60 years, the Queen has met each of her 12 Prime Ministers in a weekly audience at Buckingham Palace—a meeting like no other in British public life—it is private. This play imagines what might have transpired at those private meetings. Tickets are $16-20 at GablesCinema.com.

Music

Award-winning Broadway star and icon of the musical theater Avery Sommers takes the stage tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale’s Horvitz Auditorium, 1 Las Olas Blvd., for an evening of cabaret and a “meet the artist” reception. Sommers will also conduct an intimate master class with a moderated conversation on Saturday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to noon, a rare opportunity for an in depth discussion about music and the singer’s successful career in musical theater.

Tickets are $85 for both appearances or purchase a concert ticket only for $60 at MOAFL.org.

Actress Helen Mirren reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience, the Olivier-winning play about the Queen’s weekly meetings with her Prime Ministers over the past 60 years.

Photo Courtesy of National Theatre of London

SAT Theater

This is your last opportunity to catch City Theatre’s annual Summer Shorts play festival. Guaranteed to be the most fun 90 minutes of your life, Summer Shorts features a dozen eight to 10 minute long plays from award-winning playwrights. Directors John Manzelli, Margaret Ledford and Antonio Amadeo lead a comedic cast including Ken Clement, Todd Allen Durkin, Renata Eastlick and the always hilarious Irene Adjan in the zany line-up. Join the fun at Miami’s Arsht Center on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 4 p.m. Tickets are $35-40 at ArshtCenter.org.

Music

6/29 MON

ArtsGarage in downtown Delray Beach is one of the coolest arts venues in South Florida, offering intimate concerts and theatre. Tonight at 8 p.m., the summer heat is tamed by cool jazz performed by the Nate Najar Trio. Called “one of the most interesting and stylish guitarists on the jazz scene,” Najar channels the essence of Charlie Byrd with an expressive blend of phrasing, groove and rhythmic refrain ranging from blues and gospel to sizzling Brazilian beats. Tickets are $25-35 at ArtsGarage.org. Reserve your tickets early as shows often sell out. ArtsGarage is located at 180 NE 1st St. in Delray Beach.

soflagaynews //

Parade

7/1

Parade Productions presents a world premiere reading of award-winning South Florida playwright/director Michael Leeds’ new work, The Gift, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre, 201 Plaza Real, second floor, in Boca Raton.

The reading wil feature critically-acclaimed local actors Clay Cartland and Lindsey Forgey. The premise of The Gift is simple: A young man and woman are stuck in adjoining elevators; however, their gradual realization they might actually be trapped in each other’s dreams leads the characters on an intriguing journey as they discover things about one another and themselves.

Tickets are $10 at ParadeProductions.org.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

33

a&e tv

LucciÕ s Back And LifetimeÕ s Got Her All My Children star returns in Devious Maids David-Elijah Nahmod Well known for her 41-year run as the much married vixen Erica Kane on the soap opera All My Children, Susan Lucci is one of the few bona fide celebrities to emerge from the world of daytime drama.

Whether or not Lucci can return to the recently revived serial remains in question, as she’s committed to playing a leading role in Lifetime’s new prime time series Devious Maids, which premiered on June 23.

Set in the same “universe” as the mega-hit Desperate Housewives, Devious Maids comes to the small screen via Housewives creator Marc Cherry. There’s a definite gay vibe in openly gay Cherry’s work. A self-described “somewhat conservative gay Republican”, Cherry was awarded the 2006 Visibility Award from the Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative gay political advocacy group.

“I love working with Marc Cherry,” Lucci said in a telephone interview with SFGN. “He’s a great writer. I love the scripts and I love my character. I love her name, Genvieve.

Like Erica, she’s got great clothes. She’s been married five times. At the moment she’s not married. She’s not feeling very attractive and fears she’s losing her mojo. So she starts seducing pool boys.”

Genvieve “self-medicates” according to Lucci. “Every single character, the maids and the homeowners, are fully developed,” she says. “No character is one dimensional.

There are many twists and turns. It’s fantastic stuff: I’m a very lucky actress.”

The series will follow the comic adventures of four Latino maids and their wealthy employers. One of the maids, Carmen (Roselyn Sanchez) was introduced

in the final episode of Desperate Housewives. Dallas. Her starring role on Broadway in SFGN asked Lucci if she thought the new a revival of the classic musical Annie Get series would appeal to gay viewers, as the Your Gun made front-page news and played previous show did. to sold-out crowds. Yet, to-date, Lucci has “It’s all up to the individual,” she said. yet to appear in a theatrically released “I think it will appeal to gay and straight feature film. viewers. I can’t give away too much, but “It’s the only area I haven’t worked in,” she there are great stories and great humor.” said. “I hope it will happen. I love movies.”

A supporter of LGBT equality, Lucci Devious Maids premiered on Lifetime shared fond memories of her favorite All on June 23. Episodes will be available On My Children storyline: In 2000, Erica’s Demand and online after they air. For more daughter Bianca came out as a lesbian. At info, go to mylifetimetv.com first, Erica tried to pay Bianca’s girlfriend to leave town, but eventually she came around. When the series ended its network run in 2011, Bianca was a happy lesbian mom who had her mother’s love and support.

“I was thrilled to be a part of it,” Lucci said. “It was an important storyline. It breaks my heart to think of people committing suicide because they got no support. If I can help one teen be more comfortable in coming out, I’d be honored.”

All My Children fans are hoping that Lucci will return to the beloved serial, which now produces two episodes per week for online viewing. Since returning on April 29, the new All My Children has consistently been counted among Hulu’s top ten most viewed shows.

“In my heart, I hope I can return to All My Children,” Lucci said. “I adore AMC creator Agnes Nixon.

My schedule is crazy, their schedule is crazy. But we’re going to meet and see if we can make it happen.”

As Erica’s popularity grew, Lucci’s star ascended. Though her loyalty to All My Children never wavered —she stayed with the show until its final broadcast episode — she became the first soap star to appear regularly in other roles. After guesting on numerous prime time series, she began appearing in TV movies, garnering high ratings and decent reviews. She also enjoyed a high Actress Susan Lucci profile story arc on the mega-hit Photo courtesy of The Heart Truth

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

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AFTER HOURS NETWORKING Thursday, July 11, 2013 • 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Pride Center at Equality Park 2040 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors Each year, Tools for Schools Broward distributes nearly $500,000 in free school supplies to teachers in low income schools. Yet, the need for supplies continues to grow.

Please help by bringing any of the following needed supplies to this reception: Glue Sticks • Crayons • Index Cards • Pens • Pencils • Pink Erasers Lined And Plain Paper • Two Pocket Folders • Dry Erase Markers If you can't shop prior to the event, we kindly request a minimum $10 donation and we do the shopping for you.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

35

a&e theater

Just the Facts, MaÕ am: Play Parodies Popular Sitcom at Empire Stage J.W. Arnold

jw@prdconline.com

parody,” he said in a phone interview. “We all grew up with it.

Half the work was done because the characters are already there. I just had to give it my twist.”

Dubbed, The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode, the play starts with the announcement of budget cuts at Eastland that will result in the layoff of Mrs. Garrett. The girls are determined to do anything to save her job, even take up the world’s oldest profession, to raise a few bucks. The story goes downhill from there.

The play premiered nine years ago in Provincetown and has been thrilling mostly gay audiences ever since. Morris said using male actors lends an The iconic ‘80s sitcom, The Facts of Life, comes to life and gets a naughty makeover in a production coming this summer to Empire unusual degree of camp to the Stage in Fort Lauderdale. production and the rotating cast Photo courtesy of Shawn Barber members each bring unique touches to every incarnation.

You take the good, you take the bad, Morris stars as Mrs. Garrett while Brooks you take them both and there you have Braselman portrays Natalie and Charlie Logan The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life.

For eight seasons, these familiar lyrics is Jo. Both Morris and Braselman brought kicked off one of the most iconic sitcoms audiences to their knees when Mommie of the 1980s. A generation of viewers grew Queerest last played at Empire Stage two up with the girls of Eastland School—Blair, years ago. Joining the cast are two local actors, Jo, Natalie and Tootie—while devoted David Tracy as Blair and Shawn Burgess as housemother Mrs. Garrett struggled to keep Tootie, who were auditioned via Skype.

Morris still resides in Las Vegas with his them out of trouble. partner, Christopher Kenney, the show’s The girls were mostly good, but what if director and host of the Cirque du Soleil they hadn’t been? That was the question production, Zumanity.

Morris stars as Father playwright and performer Jamie Morris Mark in the long-running Tony and Tina’s asked himself nearly a decade ago.

Like so many others, Morris, 45, found Wedding, but always looks forward to the himself in front of the television every opportunities to hit the road with one of Saturday night laughing at the girls’ his own productions, especially the sunny misadventures. One night over cocktails, beaches of Fort Lauderdale.

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soflagaynews //

he asked himself that very question. In just a few minutes, Morris, the creator of the long-running parody Mommie Queerest, had sketched out a story on a napkin.

“I was cleaning out my apartment in New York, getting ready to move to Las Vegas and found that napkin,” he recalled with an evil chuckle. “I couldn’t believe I’d saved it.”

Morris and his Mommie Queerest castmates had been in a bar in Portland, Oregon after a performance enjoying several drinks when a video from the musical, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, played.

“I had always wanted to do something with Facts of Life and then that video came on. I thought, ‘What if we made them all hookers?’”

The Facts of Life was certainly “ripe for

SouthFloridaGayNews

IF YOU G What

The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode by Jamie Morris

When

Thursday – Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m. Through Aug. 4 (no show July 4)

Where

Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr., Fort Lauderdale

How Much

$30 at EmpireStage.com Save $5 by using discount code ‘EMPIRE’

advertorial

Why Are So Many Members Leaving Sunshine Cathedral?

Caption goes here Photo courtesy of Jan Smith

I have been kicked out of the Sunshine Cathedral. You might ask me “for what?”

I can say only this: All I did was practice my freedom of speech and press as well as ask too many questions about what was happening at the Sunshine Cathedral.

I have been going to this church for over 15 years and have never interrupted any Sunday service during this time. Only one question was asked at all of the three past annual meetings for members. We usually have only about fifty members attend the annual meetings to establish the majority to do business. All the business is done before the meeting by Durrell Watkins because he seems to be the only one who knows how to run a church, so he states. The meetings are only a rubber stamp for his policy. The question that was asked was, “why are so many members leaving our church”?

At the January 2013 meeting, I told Durrell that I had a list of about one hundred members who have recently left our church since he became pastor. He told me that he did not want to see the list, and refused to take the list when I tried to give him a copy.

Can you believe a pastor would turn down this offer?

The rest is history.

With the members who left, or shall I say pushed out of the church pastor, most took with them their agreements to leave the Sunshine Community Foundation (owner and provider for our church property) their life estates. It is estimated to be about 10 million dollars. Durrell Watkins seems to

care less, as long as he can get laughs and standing ovations to support his wannabe Broadway star as a drag queen. When I see more members supporting the pastor and less showing their Christian faith, it is time for someone to question the purpose of the Sunshine Cathedral. Yes the pastor is more important then Christ. I have never heard our pastor tell the congregation from the pulpit that he was a Christian.

I guess at my age of 78 that I am used to believing the Bible and not having a pastor change the words of OUR FATHER in the Lord’s prayer. He says he knows how to run the church. Durrell appears to have little interaction with the members. He passes all the conflicts with members to his partner, Robert Griffin. I have never heard any CEO (Pastor) placing his husband in charge of all conflicts. Is it because he could easily loose his coolness in handling conflicts? I might say I believe he is a hypocrite in trying be a pastor and a man of God. Who else would kick a person out of the Lord’s church? I think he believes it is Durrell’s church. He preaches about love and peace but never practices it in his every day life. Why would he have been so hurtful and hateful toward me to have me kicked out of Church.

I am still waiting for Jesus to return to the Sunshine Cathedral.

Thanks for hearing my story.

Joe Mumpower PastorMustChange@aol.com soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

37

T

DateBook Theater

By Christiana Lilly, Calendar@SFGN.com

* Denotes new listing

Broward County Juanes

June 27 at 8 p.m. at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, One Seminole Way in Hollywood.

Colombian rocker Juanes will be hitting the stage to perform fan favorites. Tickets $64 to $94. Visit HardRockLiveHollywoodFl.com

ÒB ob Marley: The Making of a LegendÓ

June 27 at 8 p.m. at the Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place. A screening telling the story of legendary reggae artist, Bob Marley, and his rise to stardom beginning in the 1970s. Afterward, Jamaican actress and former Island Records manager, Esther Anderson, and High Chief Nathaniel B. Styles, Jr. will be hosting a Q&A. Free; pick up voucher to save spot.

Call 954-602-4500 or visit MiramarCulturalCenter.org.

Avery Sommers

June 28 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Museum of Art, One E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. The awardwinning Broadway star will be performing. She will also be participating in a “conversation with the

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// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

artist” June 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. Tickets $60 concert, $25 conversation, $85 for both and VIP meet up. RSVP to Gail Vilone at 954-262-0249 or visit MOAFL.org.

*Journey

June 28 and 29 at 8 p.m. at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, One Seminole Way in Hollywood. Legendary American rock band hits the stage twice at the casino.

Tickets $104 to $204. Visit Ticketmaster.com.

* Kathy Griffin

July 11 at 8 p.m. at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, One Seminole Way in Hollywood. Funny lady Kathy Griffin will have you laughing all night. Tickets $51 to $81. Visit Ticketmaster.com.

* Monty PythonÕ s SPAMALOT

Through June 30 at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. A musical “lovingly ripped off” from the classic comedy, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Tickets $10 to $20. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayCenterfortheArts.com

* A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

June 28 to July 21 at the FAU University Theatre, 777 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Roman slave Pseudolus must help his master woo the woman next door to win his freedom. Tickets $20. Call 800-564-9539 or visit FAUevents.com.

* The Man Who Came to Dinner

July 13 to 20 at the FAU University Theatre, 777 Glades Road in Boca Raton. In the 1930s, radioman Sheridan Whiteside injures his leg while dining at a prominent family’s home. While following doctor’s orders to stay on bedrest, he entertains himself by meddling in the family’s business. Tickets $20. Call 800-564-9539 or visit FAUevents.com.

Side by Side by Sondheim Sundays through July 7 at the FAU Studio One Theatre, 777 Glades Road. A presentation of the music and lyrics Steven Sondheim

Palm Beach County Miami-Dade Bob Dylan and his Band

June 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cruzan Amphitheater, 601-7 Sansbury’s Way in West Palm Beach.

Legendary rocker Bob Dylan is joined by Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Bob Weir. Tickets $32.10 to $95.

Visit Ticketmaster.com

soflagaynews //

Red

June 28 to 29 and July 5 to 6 at the Miami Theater Center, 9806 NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores.

The story of Ruby Bridges, whose parents fought to desegregate elementary schools in the South, is expressed through dance theater. Tickets $20.

SouthFloridaGayNews

Call 305-751-9550 or visit MTCMiami.com

* Solange

July 5 at 8:30 p.m. at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Making a name for herself as more than just Beyonce’s little sister, singer/songwriter Solange comes to Miami after performing at the Glastonbury Festival. Tickets $25 to $50. Call 305949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

8cho

Through June 30 at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. An aerial performance that takes the Argentinean art of tango to a whole new level. Tickets $35 to $75.

Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

* Hispanic Theater Festival

July 11 to 28 at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami.

Two weeks of theater in tribute to Peru. Visit ArshtCenter.org/HispanicTheatreFestival1314 for full schedule and tickets.

Summer Shorts 2013

Through July 30 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Back for another round, almost two months worth of nightly shows featuring 90 minutes of theatrical shorts from local actors. Tickets $35 per show. Call 305-9496722 or visit ArshtCenter.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.

C

DateBook

Community Calendar

By Christiana Lilly, Calendar@SFGN.com

Broward County

Printed Matters

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.

Through July 10 at ActivistArtistA Gallery, 422 West Industrial Ave. in Boynton Beach Art District.

Photographs and stories, “Often Overlook,” by Cary Polkovitz. Opening reception June 20 from 7 to 10 p.m. with readings by other writers. Free. Call 786521-1199 or visit ActivistArtistA.blogspot.com.

SunServe Youth Group

Doris DukeÕ s Shangri La

Gender Bender Youth Group

Miami-Dade County

PFLAG

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.

Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at SunServe Campus, 1480 SW Ninth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. A group for LGBT youth 13 to 21 to discuss gender, gender expression, binary systems, friendship, family and whatever else comes up! Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com

* A Dialogue with Bunny Yeager

June 29 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Museum of Art, One E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Believed to be the first female pin up photographer and the woman who discovered Bettie Page, Bunny Yeager will be discussing her famed photos and some of her newer work. Free. RSVP to Kelly Medlin at 954-262-0227 or visit MOAFL.org.

* Great Gatsby Night

June 29 from 8 to 10 p.m. at Mickey Byrne’s Irish Pub, 1921 Hollywood Blvd. Help raise money for Gilda’s Club with a party fit for Jay Gatsby himself -- jazz, flappers, bathtub gin, raffles, and a costume contest.

Tickets $10 donation. Call 954-763-6776 or visit gildasclubsouthflorida.org.

* Fireworks Viewing

July 4 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Vista View Park, 4001 SW 142nd Ave. in Davie. You’ll be in awe of the display in the the night sky, celebrating America’s birthday.

Call 954-357-8898.

Survivor Support

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.

Palm Beach County

* Stonewall Black and White Ball June 29 from 8:30 to midnight at the Harriet Himmel Theater, 700 S. Rosemary Ave. in West Palm Beach.

Dress in black and white “Palm Beach casual” attire with silver to celebrate Compass’ 25th anniversary.

Tickets $25 to $50Visit CompassGLCC.com/swb.html

Fourth of July Celebration

July 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 12551 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Food trucks, live music by the Shindigs, and fireworks to celebrate America’s birthday. Free. Visit Facebook.com/ SunsetCoveAmphitheater.

Through July 14 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1415 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. A travel exhibit of Duke’s private collection of architecture, landscapes and art inspired by the Middle East. Tickets $12. Call 561-832-5196 or visit Norton.org.

* Architecture & Archaeology Tour

June 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at History Miami 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Explore the Miami River and Biscayne Bay for a deeper look at Miami’s history, starting with the Tequesta people. Tickets $20 to $30. RSVP to 305-375-1621. Visit HistoryMiami.org.

* Cuban Cuisine and Culture Walk June 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at History Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Walk through the Little Havana neighborhood and discover the Ceiba tree, hand-rolled cigars, and Domino Park. Tickets $30.

RSVP to 305-375-1621 or visit HistoryMiami.com

Zumba with Sori

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. through July 31 at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 St. in Cutler Bay. Get fit and have fun doing it with this Brazilian-style dance workout. $6 first time students, $12 a class.

Call 786-573-5300 or visit SMDCAC.org.

Rainbow Circle

Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Miami Flipse Building #302, 5665 Ponce de Leon Drive in Coral Gables. An open discussion about coming out, relationships, peer pressure, bullying, depression and more. Free. Visit Pridelines.org.

Key West

*Traditional Cuban Pig Roast

July 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Jack’s, 6000 Peninsular Ave. in Key West. A full Cuban meal with cash bar and live music to raise money for the Task Force Dagger Foundation. Tickets $25. RSVP to 305-292-3121.

Tai Chi Classes

Mondays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 a.m. through July 23 at the Clinic of Alternative Medicine, 3420 Duck Ave. in Key West. Practice the ancient art of Tai Chi for an hour to work on balance, coordination, flexibility and strength. Free. RSVP to 508-801-7529.

Gay Key West Trolley Tours

Saturdays at 4 p.m. meeting at 628 Duval St. See the gay side of Key West on this trolley tour. Tickets $25. Call 800-535-7797 or visit GayKeyWestFL.com.

Visit SFGN.com/datebook soflagaynews //

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DateBook Nightlife

By Christiana Lilly, Calendar@SFGN.com

Broward County AngelÕ s Cafe

2287 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Enjoy happy hour on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. with $3 wines and beers, free snacks, raffles, and music by DJ Sol. 2-4-1 Sunday dinner special Valet parking in rear. Call 954-900-5217.

Boardwalk

1721 N. Andrews Ave. in Wilton Manors. Share drinks over a game of pool or check out the bar and strip club. Call 954-463-6969.

Alibi

2266 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Best and longest happy hour; Wednesdays $2 domestics and$1 Schnapps after 9 p.m.

JohnnyÕ s

1116 W. Broward Blvd in Fort Lauderdale. Some of the hottest guys around with drink specials to make it even sweeter. Call 954-522-5931.

The Manor

2345 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Indoor and outdoor dining followed by hitting the dance floor.

Live music Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Call 954-626-0082.

Rumors

2426 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. For a chill night, hit up the bar with great prices. All 954-564-1799.

Sidelines Sports Bar

2031 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Relax with a cold beer for some friendly competition on the pool table.

Call 954-563-8001 or visit SidelinesSports.com.

Naked Grape Wine Bar & Tapas

2163 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. A casual, hip bar to try out all sort of wines. Happy Hour all night on Thursdays. Call 954-563-5631.

New Moon

2440 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. The area’s favorite lesbian bar with Wednesdays half-priced drinks. Call 954-563-7660.

Palm Beach County The Cottage

522 Lucerne Ave. in Lake Worth. Tea Dance Sundays with great service, food and drinks. Call 561-5860080.

Fort Dix

6205 Georgia Ave. in West Palm Beach. A great place to mingle and relax with DJs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Call 561-533-5355.

H.G. Rooster

823 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. The city’s oldest gay club, with hot male dancer, free BBQ and karaoke. Cal 561-832-9119.

* The Palm Lounge

131 E. Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton. Tuesday country night, Wednesday karaoke, singers or tribute artists on the weekends. Call 561-672-7561 or visit PalmLoungeBoca.com.

The Mad Hatter

1532 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Cheap drinks, friendly bartenders and free pool from Sunday to Thursday. Call 561-547-8860.

The Bar Lake Worth

2211 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A friendly watering hole with live bands. Call 561-370-3954.

Miami-Dade County Club Space

34 NE 11th St. in Miami. Known for crazy all-nighters to electronic dance music and hip hop. Call 305-3501956.

Club Sugar

2301 SW 32nd Ave. in Miami. Drag Wars on Thursdays, $5 house drinks and $4 domestics. Call 305-443-7657.

Discotekka

950 NE Second Ave. in Miami. Come on Saturday nights for some of the best DJs around. Call 305- 3509084.

Eros Lounge

8201 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. NYC house music on Thursdays. Call 305-754-3444.

Score

727 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Located in the heart of South Beach on the famous Lincoln Road strip. Call 305-561-5521.

Swinging Richards

17450 Biscayne Blvd. in North Miami Beach. Fully nude men dancing to the best music in South Florida.

Call 954-357-5521.

Twist

1057 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. Awesome music, muscle boy dancers and never a cover. Call 305- 538-9478.

Key West

Point5 Cocktail Club

915 Duval St. in Key West. Happy Hour every day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with $5 premium cocktails and gourmet pizzas. Call 305-296-0669 or visit 915Duval. com.

The Bourbon St. Pub

724 Duval St. in Key West. Get a taste of New Orleans with the best video bar with live DJs every night. Call 305-296-1992.

Visit SFGN.com/datebook 40

// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

Classifieds accommodations

accounting/tax service RNB ASSOCIATES Income Tax/ Accounting/ Book Keeping for Individuals ,Small Business or Corporate. Very reasonable rates, fast and efficient service. 35+ years experience to help you save money! Registered with the IRS. Email info or meet. Visa/MC accepted. Call (248) 8942600 (FL based) or email info@RNBassociates. com for faster response. Mention SFGN AD for a 5% discount.

air conditioning HONEST, RELIABLE AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING SERVICES Gay owned and operated company, Eiland Air, Inc. 24 hour service. Reasonable prices.

Licensed & Insured #CAC1817222 Call Mike 786-247-6022

antiques/collectables MOVIE POSTERS WANTED Private collector buying vintage movie posters, lobby cards, film stills, photography and other old entertainment memorabilia. Call for a free appraisal to find out what your stuff is worth! All calls confidential.

Ralph (800) 392-4050 email: sell@ralphdeluca.com

counseling/psychotherapy TERRY DAVIS, LCSW, LLC #SW1079 Supportive male therapist, specializes in LGBT issues, HIV/AIDS,addictions, etc. Affordable, sliding scale. Eves/weekend. TdavisLCSW.com* (954) 731-5505

home care

ENTRY LEVEL SALES EXECUTIVE Full time Sales, Client Services, Direct Marketing, Lead Generation, Telemarketing & Email Services. Microsoft Word & Excel experience.

Competitive Salary plus Commission, Medical/ Dental, 401k & Profit Sharing . Email Resume: aleen@ lighthouselist.com

COMPANION,HOME CARE,SENIOR SERVICES. Make life a little easier for you or your loved one.

53 yr old experienced caregiver available. Light Cleaning, cooking and laundry included. Also shopping, appointments, gardening and organizing Im friendly, engaging and compassionate. Hourly or afternoon/evening/late night shifts available. Bonded insured, college educated and references. Call for more info, Robert 954-707-0264.

MEDICAL ASSISTANT Ð FULL TIME Natura Dermatology and Cosmetics is seeking a personable, and well educated medical Assistant. Experience is preferred yet not required. Email resumes to bobby@ NaturaDermatology.com

PERFECT VACATION RENTALS! Spring & Summer specials from $69/night and $395/week.Award Winning Gay Hotel. Beautiful Studio, 1 & 2 BR Self Catering Apts. with Full Kitchen.Clothing optional heated pool, laundry, private parking. Central to Wilton Manors &HauloverBeach.Incl.Wi-Fi utilities, cable, tel. Gay Owned & Operated. Pets Welcome.

Celebrating 15 YearsCall Joe or Jack at (954) 927-0090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com *Four Week+ Relocation Discounts Offered* LOOKING FOR LODGIING NEAR SUNLIFE STADIUM? Completely furnished luxury 1/ BD/1BA Condo. Easy access to public transportation and major express ways.

Shopping and dining are in walking distance.

Gated Community and private parking.

Reasonably priced @$375 a week or $1,500 a month plus $400 processing and move in fees.

Call 305-793-8650.

employment

attorneys

REAL ESTATE RUMFORD MAINE A UNIQUE CAMP SITE (or whatever). A retired 180 ft communication tower and a 12x24 support structure on 2.5.acres with a deeded ROW through a dense woods. Area known for skiing, snow mobile and ATV clubs and trails. jpm8145@gmail.com for pictures. $40k.

(251)867-8134

SALES POSITIONS Sales position open at high end antiques gallery in WPB. Knowledge of antiques, sales experience required. Reply: HillcrestAntiquesWPB@gmail.com

cleaning services HEAVENLY HOUSE CLEANER Upscale service that’s out of this world. Trustwort hy & reliable. 10 years exp, references, not an agency, pet friendly, call Nina 954-601-6141 CLEAN IT RIGHT The best cleaning for your buck. 1BD $50, 2BD $60, 3BD $70. Excellent rates & references. 10 years in business. Serving Broward, North Miami Dade & S. Palm Beach.

Call Manny 954-560-4443

computers COMPLETE COMPUTER REPAIR FREE ESTIMATES - no extra charge for in-home.

FREE Computer tune-up with any service.

Replacement of laptop screen & key board.

Viruses, spyware, data recovery, lockouts & more. SAME DAY SERVICE - LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE Call Ernesto: 754-234-5598

To place an ad call 954.530.4970 or visit SFGN.com/getlisted

ACCOUNT MANAGERS ,BOOK KEEPERS AND SALES REPRESENTATIVES Work your own flexible schedule! Pays $1500 to $2000 monthly plus benefits. Must be computer literate, have 2-3 hours access to the internet weekly . We are looking for efficient and dedicated people who are at least 21 years of age. contact us for more details .If you are interested and need more information send your resumes to ruthmace7@gmail.com EXPERIENCED COOKS AND SERVERS To work breakfast , lunch and dinner. To apply in person at Angels Café , 2287 Wilton drive, Wilton Manors , FL 33305 or email resume to Angelscafewiltonmanors@aol.com CAREGIVERS NEEDED! Looking for honest, caring, reliable caregivers (male/ female). Agency in Wilton Manors.

(954)226-4660.

home improvement

THINGS YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH? Minds at ease, A+ handyman service. Prompt, Reliable & Honest. Call Keldon Keller 954-551-3127 krkeller@aol.com TOP NOTCH CONTRACTING Knows all and does all!! Many years experience and easy on the eyes! Remodeling, Trimming, Ground molding, Drywall, Painting, Landscaping, Roofing , Tile work, Electrical, Windows, Doors and more. Very reasonable rates and free estimates. Call Shawn 954-549-8243

human resources WE GOT YOU COVERED! Advocates for student needs. Specializing in helping foster student and others transition into responsible, independent Adults. We are here to help find resources and outlets for stable and healthy adult lives. Call 786-793-8650 for more information.

insurance GARUNTEED ISSUED LIFE INSURANCE HIV/ Aids accepted. NO health questions. NO medical exams. Simplified Issue Life. Leave tax free money for your partner. Free end of life planning.

All Health & Life lines. Affordable “A” rated insurance cos. Miller Insurance Co. 561-221-2072

pool services

HATE WINDOWS 8?We can bring back the look and feel of windows. Same day service. Call 954-986-1316 www.gaycomputerwiz.com PERSONAL COMPUTER TUTOR! Basic computer skills* Emailing pics /docs, scanning* Microsoft office programs*Excel, Word, Outlook and Powerpoint* Virus Removal* PC speed optimization* Secured Wireless home network setup* Wireless printer installation* PC purchasing consultant. Call (954) 980-0383 or email jamesjcarter22@gmail.com.

home care

landscaping

COMPANION,HOME CARE,SENIOR SERVICES. Make life a little easier for you or your loved one. 53 yr old experienced caregiver available. Light Cleaning, cooking and laundry included. Also shopping, appointments, gardening and organizing. Im friendly, engaging and compassionate. Hourly or afternoon/evening/ late night shifts available. Bonded insured, College educated and references. Call for more info, Robert 954-707-0264.

IRRIGATION SYSTEM REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE 19 years experience, excellent work, referrals upon request. Call Roberto 954383-8980

Visit SFGN.com

soflagaynews //

plumber BUTLER PLUMBING, INC.Residential & Commercial, Licensed & Insured, Palm Beach 561-613-338, Broward 954 -999-3315, Miami-Dade 786-999-2152 24/7 -365 days,info@butler-plumbing.com, www. bultler-plumbing.com“ Just tell your friends the BUTLER did it”

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

41

licensed massage

pets STEVEN JAYÕ S LOVING PET CARE! I care for your pet in my home. One client at a time if requested. Multiple pets and all pets welcome!

I have a very clean home and low rates! Call Steven Jay , 954 -565-1996

EXP. MATURE MALE WPB MASSEUR In-calls only, private studio setting by Belvedere/SR7 in quiet area. Highly skilled, intuitive theraputic bodywork by friendly LMT. Affordable rates but cash only. Early to late, 7 days. Call (561) 2548065 for appt. or walk-in OK. RELIEVE STRESS & TENSION WITH MAGICAL HANDS PRO MASSAGE (FL: MA51008) THE BRITISH POUND John Maroussas LMT Sports Massage, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular, Trigger Point, Swedish, Salt or Sugar Scrubs.

Private Studio w/ Shower. Wilton Manors Location near Bill’s Lic#MA51123 954-999-2240 RECESSION RELIEF $40 per 90 MIN - Out calls higher. Swedish, Deep Tissue, Specialty Back, Lower Body & Feet. Couples Discounts.

Seniors Welcome. Delray Beach. 16 years experience. MA18563 Dennis (561) 502-2628 BEST MASSAGE & BODYWORK IN SOUTH FLORIDA READ MY REVIEWS AT WWW.SCHEDULENOW.INFO KEITH ANGEL, LMT (954) 816-7260 MA62951 MM27048

real estate services

property management

Dog Walking: $10.00 starting at Pet Sitting: $40.00 In House Pet Sitting: $45.00 Training: $10.00 starting per visit Pet Taxi (FTL Area): $20.00 Dependable • Reliable Service Delivered with Love and Respect

954-297-5336

WILTON MANORS MASSAGE Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports. $59 Swedish Hour. call or Text Chris Tunkus 954-258-8779 1322 NE 4th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL www.WiltonManorsMassage.com AFFORDABLE AWESOME MASSAGE BY JIM Offering Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and LomiLomi Massage for Men; in a very comfortable, relaxed and Private Massage Studio, NOW conveniently located in Wilton Manors on NE 26th Street, with plenty of free parking. Same Day appointments are welcome; please call Jim, 954-600-5843 email: info@massagebyjim.com or visit my website for testimonials, rates and more. GREAT OPENING SPECIAL NOW AVAILABLE! www.massagebyjim.com Licensed and Certified MM22293

www.greendogpetservices.com

WPB/ LAKE WORTH MASSEUR

Lic# 11000106488

Strong , caring perceptive therapist for your body in need. Full time therapist for over 15 years!Easy and relaxed home studio for your comfort and healing.Convenient and affordable, flexible hours, in and out calls. MA64031, Alan 954-279-993

painting services LEENYX HOME IMPROVEMENT Interior and Exterior Painting, Popcorn Removal, Baseboard/ Crown Molding Install. Residental and Commerical. No job is too small!! We service all of broward with great competitive prices!

Visa/Mastercard accepted. Call 954-696-6840 or email, tizpo11231@yahoo.com

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rent/lease west palm beach

PB COUNTY-LAKE PARK 2/1 CONDO 2nd Floor Corner - Next to Kelsey Park across from Intracoastal Great Locations. $750 per month - 1 year Lease • No Pets • No Smoking • 1st & Security Call 561-310-0615

real estate for sale MIAMI WATERFRONT LOCATION, KeystoneNew Stunning Renovation. Boca Style 3274 sq ft, 2 story, Open design Cherry wood kitchen. granite counter,stainless steel appliances. 10 ft ceilings, 4br/2ba +26 ft bonus room,dining room,den large lot and 40 ft long pool. Best Buy $895K, 305-433-1775,631-433,0690

rent/lease hollywood hills

2 ROOMS FOR RENT 1BD/1BA new carpet, kitchenette, $1,200/Mo. will reduce to $775 for experienced handyman. Also 1BD $700/Mo. will reduce to $400 for experienced handyman. No pets allowed. Preferably young and strong male.

Contact John 954-549-8243 for more info.

rent/lease furnished PERFECT RELOCATION RENTALS 3 TO 6 MONTHSFrom 325/week & 1300/month.

Gay owned and operated hotel resort with beautiful studio, 1 & 2BRself catering turnkey, fully furnished & apartments with full kitchens.

Clothing optional pool! Central to Wilton Manors & Haulover nude beach in historic Dania Beach . Pets welcome. Includes ,utilities, parking , cable, wifi , internet/telephone . Call Joe & Jack at 954927-0090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com

psychic services CHRISTIAN PSYCHIC READER AND ADVISOR BY SHAWN Reunite you with loved ones or family. Will guide you for success. Tell past, present and destiny to come. For further information call Shawn at 954-549-8243

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// 6.27.2013 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

roommates WILTON STATION LUXURY CONDO Share 2/2 with loft, private bath, parking, pool, gym and Jacuzzi. Utilities included. Looking for mature professional, background check required. $875 a month ,call 516-655-3216 LAUDERLAKES ROOMATE WANTED Share a 2/2 on lake w/ hot tub, private bath, W/D , dishwasher ,central a/c and cable. $ 400/mo includes utilities & internet. Looking for a mature professional. 1st & security deposit. Background check req. Call Gary 954-803-0885 MALE ROOMMATE WANTED Male roommate wanted for 2/1/13. Beautiful WPB 2BD/2BA apt to share $650/Mo. Water, Elect, Waste Mgt included. Deposit + 1st. mo. Required. Call 561316-7236

rent/lease wilton manors

LARGE 2BR/1 BA Beautiful wood floors, private yard, single family home with canvas covered parking, amazing bonus room, washer/ dryer. Quiet neighborhood walking distance to Wilton Drive/restaurants, clubs, etc. Background check/credit check required. Available NOW!!! $1,650month Please call Terri Wright with Sea Island Realty, Inc 954-401-4918

AFFORDABLE-READY TO MOVE IN NEWLY REMODELED, Wilton Manors, ready to move-in 1BD/1BA for $695.00, in newly renovated. Our largest unit. Walk in closet, renovated kitchen and bath, new appl., new tile floors, off-street parking.

Smoke free. No pets. $695.00. Call 754-366-7563

rent/lease ft. lauderdale LARGE TOWNHOME WITH POOL, EAST FORT LAUDERDALE Beautiful 2BR/2BA townhome in quiet 5-plex.Large eat-in kitchen, central a/c, ceiling fans, Washer/dryer in unit, dishwasher, sparkling pool and more. All in tropical paradise within 5 minutes of the Atlantic Ocean & 1-95 & 8 minutes to Wilton Drive.

Master bedroom has walk-in closet and sliding glass doors to private balcony. Great neighbors and neighborhood. Small pet ok. $1,225/mo.

Check out photos & complete descriptions at www.YourPerfectApartment.com or call Rick at 954-253-1929 LAKERIDGE FURN. GARDEN STUDIO Central to beach/downtown/Wilton Drive.Clean newly ren. 1 rm and bath. Lg. private fenced courtyard. private entry with parking,laundry onsite, water and electric included. $765/mo. 1st and security with lease. Avail March 1st call 941-548-7989 MIDDLE RIVER TERRACE 1/1 efficency $675/ mo. Or $165/week, 6 mos or 1 year lease. Large 3BD house $1,250, carport, office, and all tile.

Pay your first month’s rent with an approved application and you’re in. Water & electric included* Call for details. 954-527-9225 HUGE 2/2 POOL DUPLEX - POMPANO BEACH Updated, Lushly Landscaped, East of Fed Hwy 1 Mile to Beach, D/R, Sep. Laundry W/D, Fab Lrg Pool, New Central AC, Tile Floors, Small Dog or Cat ok. $1390, Available 2/1/13 Call Tim: 754-235-2911 1BD APARTMENT UPSTAIRS 1142 NE 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale $700/Mo. Yearly Call 954-764-0212 or 954-581-2573

Let’s Be

Blunt.

If you need legal help, We can help.

The Law Offices of Norman Kent & Russell Cormican

NORMKENT.com 954.763.1900 the criminal defense law center of south florida soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 6.27.13 //

43

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