local name global coverage August 23, 2017 vol. 8 // issue 34
s o u t h
f l o r i d a
g a y
n e w s
Women & equality Special Edition
Part One BEGINS ON PAGE 20
‘REAL FACES OF HIV’ EXHIBIT GETS NEW LIFE PAGE 6
SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS
OUTGAMES AUDIT SHOWS LACK OF OVERSIGHT, MISMANAGED FINANCES PAGE 10
SOFLAGAYNEWS
SFGN.COM 8.23.2017 • 1
NEWS highlight
SouthFloridaGayNews.com
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contract between Broward County The church also writes that “We believe that Public Schools and Celebration Church every person must be afforded compassion, Fort Lauderdale has some members of love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful the LGBT community accusing school officials and harassing behavior or attitudes directed of sheltering bigotry. toward any individual are to be repudiated The school system has entered into a three- and are not in accord with Scripture nor the year contract with Celebration. In exchange for doctrines of Celebration Church.” allowing Celebration to use Fort Lauderdale Some of those against the church’s contract High School for worship services on Sundays, say that although Celebration may not look the church will install a $251,000 sound like well-known anti-gay bigots such as Pat system at the school which will remain after Robertson and Focus on the Family, the the contract expires. message is essentially the same. But local LGBT residents and activists “This community will not allow bigotry,” said are saying the contract should be rescinded Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis, because of Celebration’s viewpoints on who remembers a time when real estate deeds homosexuality and transgender issues. could specifically spell-out restrictions against Increased traffic and noise problems were also gays, lesbians, blacks, Jews and other minority concerns. groups owning homes. “We have, for too long, Dave Mills, a gay Wilton Manors resident, suffered discrimination. It’s important to stand said he was disamyed. “It appears to me, up. Without that, we wouldn’t be here.” Commissioner, the School Board has sold out Trantalis was one of at least two dozen sexual minorities for the sake of people who packed Warsaw some media equipment,” wrote Coffee in Fort Lauderdale on Aug. “tell me, Mills in an email to School Board 14 during a meeting of the Middle commissioner, River Terrace Neighborhood Member Heather P. Brinkworth. “Tell me, Commissioner, how Association. He was joined by hoW much much is the well-being of a Brinkworth, activists, residents, is the Welltrans kid or staffer worth to community leaders, and the being of a you? $251,000? Will we also be pastor of Celebration, Layton seeing an increase in harassment Germann and his wife, Hannah. trans kid or of LGBT kids and employees? At times, passions ran high staffer Worth Will they demand teaching of but Colleen Lockwood, president to you? ‘Biblical’ Creationism? Will they of the Middle River Terrace $251,000?” demand the School Board reject Neighborhood Association, informative sexual education in asked everyone to remain civil. - heather P. brinkworth favor of ‘abstinence-only’?” “I think it’s important the SChOOL bOArD On its website, celebration. contract be rescinded,” said MEMbEr org, the church advocates that Steve Glassman. marriage should only be between one man Barbara Myrick, legal counsel for Broward and one woman and that “God wonderfully County Public Schools, said the school district and immutably creates each person as male can’t discriminate against Celebration because or female. These two distinct, complementary of its moral beliefs. “By law, there M E M B E Rwill be no genders together reflect the image and nature reconsideration [of the contract]. We have to of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is accept everyone has freedom of speech.” a rejection of the image of God within that She also cited the case in 2000 where the person.” Boy Scouts of America sued the school system MEMBER
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after the youth organization was banned from using school facilities because of its policy against allowing openly-gay leaders to join its ranks. “We were taken to court and we lost,” said Myrick. She added that the church is only legally guilty of discrimination if it stops someone from attending a service because of who they are, not just because of the language on its website. If it did discriminate, she said, that would be in violation of its contract and that would be cause for termination. “Go ahead and learn from this,” said one man. Brinkworth said the only way to keep controversial groups from renting school facilities in the future is to change the policy and stop rentals completely. “If we rent to one person, we have to rent to everyone.” Activist Michael Rajner addressed Pastor Germann directly and asked him to keep in mind how the church’s rhetoric makes LGBT individuals feel. He also asked how someone who is gay or transgender is supposed to feel welcome if the church has spoken out against “our mere existence.” Germann responded, saying that he heard the “thoughts, concerns, and fears” expressed and was not in favor of discirimation. “We are not for that.” He asked those in attendance to give his congregation time to prove “we can be a good neighbor . . . show you who we are.” As for the wesbite, Germann said the controversial language may be removed.
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MEMBER Cover: Aryah Lester (left) and Arianna Lint, two local female and transgender activists. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
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August 23, 2017 • Volume 8 • Issue 34
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NEWS local
Photo courtesy of Flip Flops Dockside Eatery.
Fundraiser to Combat LGBT Suicide on Sept. 1 Ryan Yousefi
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lip Flops Dockside Eatery in Fort Lauderdale (3051 NE 32nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale) will host a fundraiser to benefit The Pride Center on Friday, September 1. The Pride Center is inviting everyone to kick their Labor Day weekend off with the fundraiser, sponsored by Foresters Financial and The Trevor Project, that will include festivities at this dockside eatery where guests can watch boats parade by on the intra-coastal waterway. Guests who donate the $10 entry fee will receive one free cocktail or appetizer of their choice. Flip Flops has won SFGN’s Best Of award for Gay Friendly Straight bar multiple times. Proceeds for the Flip Flops benefit will go towards the vital programs and services The Pride Center provides to an assortment of projects, but especially towards the fight to end LGBT suicide. “The Trevor Project and The Pride Center are determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources that create a safe, supportive and
positive environment for everyone,” said Roger Roa, Director of Development at The Pride Center. The Trevor Project has been one of the leading national organizations in providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT youth since 1998. The Trevor Project has trained professionals answering calls twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about how you can help The Pride Center and The Trevor Project in their fight to lower LGBT youth suicide rates and for more information about the Flip Flops fundraiser, visit PrideCenterFlorida.org or contact The Pride Center at 954-463-9005.
8.23.2017 •
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NEWS national
Brittany Ferrendi
Timothy Zaal (left) and Matthew Boger. Photo Credit: Youtube.
Former sKinHead ‘terriFied’ oF CHarLottesViLLe VioLenCe
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o Timothy Zaal, violence was like breathing. “I gave up being a skinhead years ago,” he wrote in a column to Politico. “But now, I’m getting uncomfortable feelings of déjà vu as I watch footage of the bloody events in Charlottesville.” Zaal looked into the white supremacy groups that took over Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend and saw all the connections with his former days as a skinhead. “They hate the same minorities we did. They spew the same conspiracy theories. They consume the same kinds of propaganda.” The “Unite the Right” rally at Emancipation Park was led by armed white supremacists and right-wing groups protesting the removal of a statue dedicated to former Confederate General Robert E. Lee. During the rally, one individual slammed his sports car into a Black Lives Matter counter-protest, killing one woman and injuring at least 35 others. “TERRIFYING NEW GENERATION OF EXTREMISTS” Zaal believes the white nationalists succeeded in ways the older skinheads had failed. “When you see crowds of hundreds marching through the streets with their faces uncovered, when white supremacist leader Richard Spencer holds a news conference a few days after a woman was killed by one of his fellow travelers and hosts reporters in his home, it becomes clear just how much more terrifying this new generation of extremists is,” he wrote. “They’re savvier than we were. Better connected.” He related the growing hate group to his own former desire to join skinheads when he was a teenager. “I know how easy it is to slip into a racist group and become so passionate about the cause that it becomes unthinkable to leave.”
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“they’re savvier than We Were. better connected.” - Timothy zaal FOrMEr SKINhEAD
Zaal wasn’t recruited, though — he actively sought out white supremacist groups. His hatred for other races originated from when he was a child, when his brother was shot by a black man. He recounted a tale of violence that seemed so commonplace to himself at the time: Beating a gay man to death with his friends, leaving him for dead. Years later at Charlottesville, white nationalists would share a similar sentiment, shouting “Fuck you faggots!” But Zaal’s hatred dissipated, and he later met the gay man, Matthew Boger, by coincidence and have since worked together to deter people from committing hateful violence. In his twenties, Zaal also attacked an Iranian couple and a black man with other skinheads, landing himself a jail sentence and increasing his hatred of other races. “I felt more victimized by what I thought was the Jewishcontrolled state and by the police — paranoid delusions I bought into because of the warped media I was consuming instead of the mainstream press.” THE GROWING MOVEMENTS In his peak white supremacist days, Zaal was a part of both The White Aryan Resistance and Hammerskin Nation, becoming the face of white supremacy and passing
out propaganda to encourage more people to join them. “Because of this propagandist role, I was told to distance myself from the guys I knew who may have been making bombs and stockpiling weapons, because if I was found to have any connection with them, it would discredit the organization and the movement as a whole.” Zaal points out a main struggle of the white supremacist movement back in his days was a failure to “soften” their image — a struggle that the current white nationalists overcame. “When I was associated with the older white supremacist groups, we were told to go to college, to grow our hair out, to not get tattoos, to join the military, to get into influential business and political roles if possible — to become embedded in respected parts of society. Today’s alt-right has done that, from Spencer’s “think tank” that calls itself the National Policy Institute to protests like the one on Saturday, which was organized under the inoffensive name Unite the Right, as if it had more to do with conservative politics than it did white supremacy.” Eventually, Zaal left the movement. He traveled, meeting new people of all races and by extension distancing himself from the insulated white supremacistdominated world he lived in. The factors that kept him in the moment, which were largely propaganda footage and validation by other supremacists, seem “stronger than ever” to Zaal. In his day, the only ways to get propaganda media was to order them in the mail. Now with the internet, it’s far easier to locate white supremacist misinformation and find like-minded individuals to share your hateful racist and homophobic views. “I wish I could be more hopeful. Instead, I’m watching a new generation of white nationalist and supremacist organizations flourish right in front of our eyes. And I’ve never been more frightened for the future of our country.”
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8.23.2017 •
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NEWS local
NEWS local
Photo courtesy of the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center.
New Gay Kickball League Kicks Off Saturday with Happy Hour John McDonald
W
hen Jason Shervinski moved to Washington, D.C. he was in a strange land so the young computer systems engineer turned to a strange sport to reach others. “Being so brand new to the city kickball actually helped me find a group of friends that I enjoyed being around,” Shervinski said. “D.C. can be a very lonely city if you don’t know anyone. What kickball did for me in D.C. was kind of open me up to new people that I wanted to be around that shared the same ideas and desires that I did.” Shervinski, 32, moved to Fort Lauderdale in the summer and is organizing a new kickball league. The league – Varsity Gay League – is having a happy hour event Saturday, Aug. 26, (4 to 8 p.m.) at Gym Bar (2287 Wilton Drive) where prospective kickballers can register for fall play. The co-ed league starts Sept. 23 with games played at Mickel Park. Kickball is played much like baseball sans a bat. The ball is 10 inches wide and rubber. Players kick it and run the diamond field hoping to return to home plate safely.
Be
nt.
‘Real Faces of HIV’ Exhibit Gets New Life
John McDonald “It brings LGBTQ individuals together to play sports as random as it is,” Shervinski said. “For most people the last time they may have played kickball was fourth or fifth grade. It’s a reason to come together and enjoy the outdoors, have fun with each other and meet people.” More Info: VarsityGayLeague.com
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escued from a closet in Orlando, an educational HIV/AIDS exhibit has new life in Wilton Manors. On Thursday evening, “Unmasked: Real Faces of HIV” was unveiled at the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center. Around 30 people attended the opening reception, including three of the actual “faces” of the exhibit. A social worker from Orlando, Joee Pineda said he has no shame about his HIV positive status. When speaking to students at the University of Central Florida, Pineda said he often hears remarks about his appearance. “They say ‘you don’t look sick’,” he said. “And I say, ‘what am I supposed to look like?” Originally produced by the Florida Department of Health, the exhibit toured the state to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of 54 Floridians will receive an HIV positive diagnosis in their lifetime. Anthony Johnson was first diagnosed HIV positive 23 years ago. Johnson, a gay man, said the diagnosis pushed him back into the closet. “I’ve wanted to die many, many times because of this,” Johnson said. Johnson said he decided to participate in the “Real Faces of HIV” exhibit to reduce stigma and shame, correct false information related to HIV, help others infected and/or infected and encourage all to know their status. His video has more than 89,500 views on YouTube. “For me it was part of my awakening and catalyst for my advocacy,” said Johnson, a Wilton Manors resident. Tracey Dannemiller joined Johnson and Pineda at Thursday night’s reception. A straight woman, Dannemiller lives in Lakeland. She is a married mother of six children and has been HIV positive for 32 years. “I want to make a difference,” she said when asked why lent her likeness to the exhibit. “There’s still so much stigma and
misinformation out there.” Dannemiller described Polk County as “backwards.” Dannemiller’s daughter Leslie also attended Thursday night’s reception. Leslie, 27, was born HIV positive. “We’re very public about our status,” Tracey Dannemiller said. “And we’ve been fired from jobs and kicked out of churches because of it.” World AIDS Museum Chief Executive Officer Hugh Beswick welcomed attendees and gave an update on the progress of educating Broward County high school students about safe sex practices. Beswick admitted talking graphically to teenagers about HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections) is “not easy” work, but the mission has been well received and WAM has been invited back this year to continue the discussion. “We teach a stigma conversation with students,” Beswick said. “The elimination of stigma is really what we’re all about.” Beswick said when he thinks of stigma Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter comes to mind. In the book, a woman is forced to wear a scarlet A on all of her clothing as punishment for adultery. “That’s a pretty good definition of stigma,” Beswick said. The ultimate antidote to stigma, Beswick said, is compassion. “Compassion is really mercy and a step beyond awareness,” Beswick said. “Compassion requires putting ourselves in another person’s shoes and walking around in those shoes until we can wear them comfortably. We at the museum believe the more we can humanize HIV/AIDS the more comfortable we’ll all be with HIV/AIDS.” WAM operations manager Ed Sparan retrieved the “Real Faces of HIV” exhibit from storage in Orlando earlier this summer and is planning to take it to Miami next month to continue its educational tour.
More Info: World AIDS Museum and Educational Center 1201 N.E. 26th Street, Wilton Manors 954-390-0550
8.23.2017 •
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NEWS miami-dade
Photo courtesy Palace Bar.
Palace is back!
Iconic LGBT drag venue resurfaces at the Clevelander Hotel Jose Cassola
Y
ou can’t keep a good man — or in this “We wanted to give our loyal followers, case a good queen — down. our regulars a place to go on the weekends Six weeks after the iconic Palace while we finalize the paperwork on our next Bar held a Fourth of July Block party to close permanent home on Ocean Drive,” Donall its nearly 30-year location at 1200 Ocean said. “This also gives us a a chance to provide Drive, the LGBT and drag venue is back — our Palace family, our employees, some work just as owner Thomas Donall until we reopen in the fall.” promised. For now, however, Where Palace will reopen is “We wanted to home is at the rooftop of the a mystery Donall wants to keep give our loyal Clevelander Hotel, 1020 Ocean secret for now. He promises Drive. it will be a surprise and asks followers, our On Saturday, Aug. 19, the regulars a place everyone for patience. hotel hosted a Palace pop-up “Basically to do the shows to go on the T-Dance party, hosted by drag we are known for doing [i.e. weekends while sidewalk performances that legend Tiffany Fantasia. The event featured performances sometimes spill into the street], we finalize the by the host and fellow drag we need a new license,” Donall paperwork queen Elishaly D’Witshes, who said. Applying for a license with on our next recently went viral for jumping the City of Miami Beach can be permanent home a time-consuming process. We and doing a split off a double decker bus. The Palace popon Ocean Drive.” ask our regulars to be patient up returns Sunday, Aug. 27 while we sort everything out.” - Thomas Donall with drag host Missy Meyakie Donall is hopeful for a Owner Le Paige and music by DJ November opening. For now, Sushiman. Then every Saturday the Palace T-Dance at the and Sunday, starting Sept. 2 and Sept. 3, the Clevelander is longtime patron Matthew Palace Sunset T-Dance will take place from Thomas’ cup of “tea.” 5-11 p.m. until its official new home on “Palace was a home to so many people Ocean Drive opens in the fall. for 30 years,” Thomas said. “Even if it’s Owner Donall said the temporary location temporary, it’s great that Palace is back for at the Clevelander is a way to keep the the community, giving all locals a place on Palace name alive while giving the drag bar’s the weekends to come together, to be free; a regulars a place to go on the weekends. place to call home.”
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NEWS local
Photo courtesy City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
Anti-Trump Rally Planned for Hagen Park Michael d’Oliveira
B
efore President Donald Trump was protested the planned removal of a Robert E. elected, Richard Hughes never joined Lee statue in Charlottesville. a protest. “Trump has defended the KKK White Now, he’s organizing one. Supremacists this past week. Make your “This is the first time in my life I’ve voices be heard THIS IS NOT OK. This is actually protested a president. I don’t NOT America as we know it,” reads Project feel comfortable with him in office,” said Rise Up’s Facebook page. Hughes, a Wilton Manors resident who first But Hughes also wants to speak out against protested Trump the weekend after he won what he perceives as Trump’s actions against the election. members of the transgender Hughes is the co-organizer of community, including the the Anti-Trump Human Rights/ “Trump has transgender military ban Equal Rights Protest, which is Trump recently proposed defended the on Twitter. Hughes said he scheduled to take place Sunday, Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. at Hagen Park expects at least 200 people to KKK White in Wilton Manors. The rally is join him for the protest, but being hosted by Project Rise Supremacists hopes it’s more. One of the Up: Activism Network, an people who plans to join him this past organization that aims to build is Fort Lauderdale resident Lori a network of activists across the week. Make Canales. state. She’s a frequent critic “Mainly, it’s to show your voices of Trump on social media Trump that we’re not backing said she’s glad to have be heard THIS but down and we’re not going to an opportunity to join an stand for racism and hatred organized public protest against IS NOT OK.” in this country. He’s shown him. that he’s favored the white “Oh, my god. It’s so hard to - Project Rise Up supremacists,” Hughes said. put in words. It’s just these He was referring to Trump’s feelings. In my 52 years of life, recent controversial comments about the I’ve never experienced . . . I’ve never seen violence which took place in Charlottesville, racism as up close as I have lately since Virginia earlier this month. Trump’s “both January. It’s just very upsetting,” she said. “I sides” comments were taken by many in the think if we’re seen and heard we will stick media, Washington, and around the country out more instead of just being online. If we’re as not being tough enough on the white seen and heard, we have more of a chance of supremacists, Nazis and other racists who getting things done.”
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NEWS miami-dade
OutGames Audit Shows Lack of
Oversight, Mismanaged Finances Jason Parsley
Photos credit Carina Mask.
I
n October of 2016 the organizers of from the Board of Directors as staging the the World OutGames promised an $11 World OutGames became the responsibility million event with 15,000 registrants. primarily of a handful of individuals who It didn’t even come close. appeared to struggle with staging such a On opening they had collected about $1.4 large event,” the report continues. million in revenues while only 2,100 people According to the OutGames program then had registered – forcing organizers to cancel current board members included: Bruce most of the events. Townsend, Ivan Cano, Keith Hart, Jerry It was a disaster. Torres, George Neary, and Nick Tierno. The City of Miami Beach conducted a Past members included Steve Adkins, Bob financial audit of the games to determine Balsam (deceased), Cindy Brown, Karen what went wrong. Mostly it showed there Brown, Michael Góngora, Richard Murry was a lack oversight, while city officials put and Jose Sotolongo. too much faith in organizers. The highest paid official was OutGames For instance, in March, organizers revised CEO Ivan Cano, who walked away with their estimates with a new $106,992 in consulting fees. budget of $2.36 million – a To put that into context, “They did mere 20 percent of what they only $65,475 was spent on not have the planned for six months prior. sporting events. They ended up collecting Before taking over the authority to about $1.4 million, half of what OutGames, Cano was use our EIN to they hoped for in March. The executive director of Miami get a tax-exempt audit showed that almost all Beach Gay Pride. According status.Whatever that money had been spent, to his Facebook page he’s circumstances leaving $7,000 left in their since left the area and is there were, they bank account. now living in New Jersey. On The audit focused on the June 15 he posted: “Spending used it without numbers so it doesn’t show quality time … on a healthier our approval.” how organizers could have path. Today is a new day to realistically believed they build a better life.” - Steve Adkins would able to meet that $11 Immediately after the Past board member, Outgames million budget while getting collapse of the event a 12,000 more people to register criminal investigation was in the last eight months leading up to the opened. Along with the audit last week it games. was announced that the Miami-Dade State The audit given to city commissioners last Attorney’s Office determined “there was no week showed a lack of oversight and shoddy evidence found to proceed with a criminal accounting. It also showed organizers prosecution.” spent almost $600,000 on consulting, and Regardless OutGames appeared to have advertising and promotional fees. attempted to deceive some hotels it worked “Compounding matters was the lack with on its tax-exempt status. OutGames of sufficient, complete and organized was not a 501c3 nonprofit, even though at documentation to support a portion of the one point they were attempting to become monies that were received and/or disbursed,” one. the report reads. “As a result, great reliance In order to assist OutGames before had to be placed on the integrity of the they got their own tax exempt status, the [OutGames] management to help explain Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of these transactions' business purposes.” Commerce’s foundation agreed to act as their The audit does appear to place some of the financial agent but only for the purposes of blame on the board. securing two grants. “In addition, there was a lack of oversight Any other attempted use of the
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8 .23.2017
NEWS miami-dade “As the event got closer and closer, we got more nervous, there was no signed agreement, and they constantly asked us to revamp our proposal.” - Frankie Ruiz
local athletic event organizer
foundation’s tax exempt status was not appropriate said Adkins, President of the MDGLCC. “Additionally, [OutGames] failed to properly qualify for the tax-exempt status they represented they maintained, thereby increasing its liabilities to The National Hotel and their booked participants,” reads a statement from National Hotel in Miami. Adkins added: “World OutGames submitted our EIN number to one of the hotels in order to have the taxes waived. They did not have the authority to use our EIN to get a tax-exempt status.Whatever circumstances there were, they used it without our approval.” The MDGLCC found this out when a hotel contacted them to confirm the arrangement. “We were not pleased,” Adkins said. As soon as the games were canceled Adkins said MDGLCC resigned as their fiscal agent.
THE CANCELLATION When organizers canceled most of the events on opening day, it left athletes and locals infuriated. It’s still unclear though why they waited until the last minute. Many athletes were in route to Miami and had no idea until they landed that their events had been canceled. Even more troubling is that some athletes paid for their hotel stays through OutGames, but organizers never paid the hotel, forcing athletes to pay for their stay again or find other arrangements. “We are just the third party that didn't get fully paid by [OutGames]. The participants booked and paid a third party for their participation and accommodations and some of them for their meals,” said General Manager Yaser Mohamad. “As per our policies and signed registration cards, the guests are solely responsible for their charges in the event of non-payment. All
Top Paid People Ivan Cano (Chief Executive Officer) – $106,992 Lynare Robbins (human rights conference) – $69,400 Carol Coombes (culture, arts and film) – $57,344 Marc Brown (former Sports Director) – $28,308 Jordan Selders (current Sports Director) – $25,894 P313, LLC (fund raising) - $24,000
Top Sponsorship Dollars Adidas – $100,000 Blackpool Promotions – $49,965 My Gay Miami Sponsorship – $20,000 Happy Copenhagen – $19,944
Top Grant Dollars City Of Miami Beach – $200,000 Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (VCA) – $150,000 Miami-Dade County Tourism Development Council – $20,000
guests should dispute their charges they paid World Out Games and not to dispute the charges for goods and services received from The National Hotel.” After the cancellation announcement, most of the board immediately resigned. Not everything was cancelled though. The human rights conference went on as scheduled despite the drama elsewhere. Lynare Robbins, the person in charge of that event, also resigned from her position but decided to stay on without pay to make sure the conference continued. But to some behind the scenes organizers it was obvious to that the sporting events were not going to happen. “We were ready to make it happen a week out,” said Frankie Ruiz, who produces local running and triathlon events. “It was going to be tough but we still felt we could make it happen.” One week prior to the event Ruiz spoke with OutGames treasurer Keith Hart, who was supposed to call the next day to finalize details including payment. Ruiz never heard from anyone from OutGames again. Ruiz said organizers initially hired him
to plan a large-scale event that would have included 12 sports and cost upwards of $200,000. But as the event approached organizers continued to downsize. “As the event got closer and closer, we got more nervous, there was no signed agreement, and they constantly asked us to revamp our proposal,” Ruiz said. When organizers — including the board — walked away, Miami Beach city officials, Steve Adkins, and other locals stepped in to reschedule as many events as possible. THE FUTURE The 2020 World OutGames was slated to take place in Winnipeg, Canada. Last week the event was officially canceled. "With the incident that happened in Miami this past June and how the athletes were treated, we feel that we are no longer in a position to deliver an exceptional experience for LGBTTQ* athletes under the OutGames banner," Jonathan Niemczak, chair of the 2020 planning committee, told CBCNews.
Visit SFGN.com to view the entire audit online. 8.23.2017 •
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NEWS national
Transgender and Intersex Healthcare at the
Veterans Healthcare System Lynare Robbins
A
fter a tweet by President Trump advocated a ban According to Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Heather on transgender individuals from serving in the Cherry, who is the LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator at the United States military set off an alarm across the Miami VA Healthcare System, many of the VA Healthcare world, various news stories emerged with information System personnel are veterans. Cherry reported that about the more than 15,000 transgender service members there has never been a distraction from the work that who are currently serving in the United States military. healthcare providers and support personnel are doing in In addition to widespread concern that the VA Healthcare System. When asked if the tweet could become policy, confusion she could provide any insight as to why the “The mandates surfaced about how such a ban could not Department of Veterans Affairs pursued are also very only affect transgender service personnel a transgender and intersex inclusive path clear about who are already serving in the military, but sooner than the Department of Defense, appropriate also transgender veterans of the United Cherry responded, “I can’t specifically say pronouns, name States military who receive their healthcare what the catalyst was on a national level usage, room at veteran healthcare facilities throughout to create the mandates, but the mandates preference, the nation. paved the path. I know as a provider, and as While the ban against transgender a veteran, I am drawn to make sure that “no bathroom service personnel serving in the military veteran is left behind.” I believe the innate preference and was lifted by the Department of Defense on culture of the VA also holds this to be true. overall respect June 30, 2016, the Department of Veterans “We serve all who served” is a core belief for any veteran Affairs Veterans Health System had been who comes to the and as a system, we are always looking to on an inclusive track years before with increase the quality of our services and to VA for services.” an initial Department of Veterans Affairs make sure that all eligible veterans receive directive created in 2011, and updated in that highest standard of care.” - Heather Cherry LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator, 2013, that mandated specific health care In addition to the general services Miami VA Healthcare System treatment for transgender and intersex any eligible veteran would be provided, military Veterans (VHA Directive 2013the VA Healthcare System provides 003). The published policy of Veterans Affairs Lesbian, eligible transgender and intersex veterans with gender Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) healthcare on the counseling, hormone therapy, speech-language U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website states, “LGBT pathology, pre-surgical evaluations, and medically Veterans face increased health risks and unique challenges necessary postoperative care related to complications in accessing quality healthcare. The VA strives to be a from gender-affirming surgery. The current policy does national leader in the provision of health care to LGBT not provide gender-affirming surgeries with VA benefits. Veterans and assure that care is provided in a sensitive, The VA Healthcare System has a national training program safe environment at VA health facilities nationwide.” that involves computer trainings, classroom trainings and
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a national consultation team to provide guidance and training for VA healthcare providers on transgender and intersex healthcare topics. There are trainings related to mental health, endocrinology, medical concerns, and concrete services such as assistance with documentation changes. In addition, trainings on language, respect, and cultural awareness are also offered at the VA Healthcare System to build understanding. According to Cherry, “there is consistent ongoing training for providers and staff. It is vital that continued education is provided to individuals for development, understanding and compassion. The mandates are also very clear about appropriate pronouns, name usage, room preference, bathroom preference and overall respect for any veteran who comes to the VA for services.” According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Healthcare System website, an estimated amount of 5,000 transgender and intersex veterans are served at the Veterans Healthcare System. On her work at the Veterans Healthcare System, Cherry states, “ I am exceedingly proud of the work that I get to do every day. I love coming to work and watching veterans not simply survive but learn to grow and thrive. Veterans have resilience about them. At times they may feel lost but to watch it be regained, and for people to get their lives restarted, there is no job that could be more rewarding.” Beginning in 2013, the Veterans Healthcare System facilities started participating in the voluntary Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) that measures policies, trainings and a LGBTQ positive healthcare environment. For four consecutive years, the Miami VA Healthcare System received a score of 100, earning them the designation as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” from HRC.
NEWS local
Photo courtesy TransInclusive, Facebook.
NEWS local
Photo: Bruce Williams. Courtesy The Pride Center.
seniors asKed to Get FinanCes in order This week’s ‘Coffee and Conversation’ at Pride Center John McDonald
R
First LGbt transinCLusiVe prom ‘One Night Only’
d
ictionary.com defines prom as a formal dance, ideally one held by a class in high school or college at the end of a year. This year that definition will take on a totally different meaning thanks to the TransInclusive Group. They are taking the lead by creating the first ever LGBT TransInclusive Prom; the event will take place on August 26, at the Rodeway Inn located in Fort Lauderdale. Getting dressed, looking fierce, and dancing to Beyoncé in high heels is exactly what the doctor ordered, considering what the trans community has been through as of late. Thanks President Trump. TransInclusive is a Trans Led Action Support Group. As an organization, their mission and values are to basically minimize disparities in healthcare, education, housing and employment opportunities, in addition to lifting discrimination while focusing on social equality for the LGBT community. SFGN spoke with Carson Graham and Tatianna Braxton who serve as event directors and co-founders of the TransInclusive Group. “Before we had the TransInclusive Group, there was the organization Trans Women In Need of Services,” the organization started in 2016, mentioned Braxton. “When I started doing work in the community for trans women, especially trans women of color, I discovered that our population was underserved. As I continued working, I noticed that issues in the trans community were bigger than just trans women. When I joined the Transgender Health and Advisory Group, I then met Carson who is trans male. We came together to brain storm, and that’s how the TransInclusive came about.” Prom should be a joyous time, many view proms as a celebration of the end of the school year, and some view it as a popularity contest, while most view it as a traditional “rites of passage.” This is not the case for many LGBT students or adults. For years, high schools have put strict stipulations on prom and attire. We know that prom can get out of control, and we understand that the school districts are trying to establish rules in order to alleviate
Deon C. Jefferson controversy. More often than not, the rules tend to be less forgiving of flamboyant attire, especially when it comes to transgenders. “As a group we felt that it was important to have this prom so that people can go as their real authentic selves,” said Graham. “We wanted to make sure that all the letters especially the ‘T’ was represented. “Our mission was to create a safe place for them to be themselves and have a really good time.” Braxton chimed in by saying, “I did not go to my prom, I wasn’t fortunate enough to go. At that time, I was not in a space where I was comfortable to even go as a male or female.” So what can you expect? All are welcome. There are no age restrictions. Although this prom is non-traditional, there will still be a king and queen crowned. There will also be an elegant dinner, a photo booth, live entertainment from some of the finest queens this side of the equator. Be prepared to be wowed by Tayanna Love, Selena Jimenez, April Chanel, Melissa Hilton, Nikki Blaque, and Calypso Monroe Lords. Sponsors include Lips in Fort Lauderdale, Care Resource, Sun Serve, and The Pride Center. DJ Young Mal will be on hand to keep the crowd energized. One of the most exciting elements of the evening will come from the red carpet commentary. Seeing as though this is the first annual TransInclusive Prom, they have trusted red carpet hosting duties to Jsa Jsa, and popular transgender singer, activist, actress, and reality TV personality Rajee. When asked about ensembles for the evening Tatianna was happy to share, “I’m going to be in a long flowy gown, giving you Jessica rabbit”, she laughs. Carson on the other hand remained coy, “ I like to surprise people, I can’t give too much away.” In times when the world is divided and filled with turmoil, it’s refreshing to see members of the LGBT community come together in unity for woman and mankind. “Take advantage of this opportunity,” encouraged Carson. “Come as yourself, there's nothing like being in the room with people that can relate to you and can share some of their stories or experiences with you.”
oberto Torok encouraged attendees of Tuesday morning’s Coffee & Conversation program to consider leaving an after-life gift. “We leave people we love unprotected,” Torok said. A financial advisor for Prudential, Torok used his five minutes of microphone time to ask the mostly senior-aged group to have a simple conversation about their giving. Torok told a story about a lesbian from Cuba whose brother rejected her because of her sexual orientation and thus she directed her savings to the Humane Society and a church in South Miami. “Many of us try to forget about it,” Torok said about late life financial arrangements. “The time to act is now.” Prudential, Torok said, “is very, very supportive of diversity.” Elsewhere, Peter Kaldes, CEO of Impact Broward, offered tickets to attend a caregiver conference hosted by the Urban League of Broward County on Aug. 30. Impact Broward is an organization dedicated to solving
community problems with senior volunteers. A parade of speakers addressed the group this week. Ed Sparan, an actor in “Muscle Bears The Musical” said this weekend’s shows at Empire Stage are sold out. Isaac Martinez announced he will be teaching salsa dancing on Thursday nights and Pride Center CEO Robert Boo said a founders reception is scheduled for Thursday night at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. "They want us to gay it up," Boo said. Around 170 people signed in for this week’s program. Brian Kellows, editor of Opera News, is scheduled to speak next week. For more information, contact Bruce Williams, Senior Services Coordinator at 954-463-9005, ext. 109.
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8.23.2017 •
13
NEWS local
Photo: Mark Foley. Courtesy Compass GLCC.
Local Gay Repubs Criticize Trump Over Charlottesville Mark Foley, Miami-Dade and Broward Log Cabin Republicans all speak out
Michael d’Oliveira
A
s national Republicans speak out on President Donald Trump’s statements about the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, which occurred the weekend of Aug. 12, local Republicans are also weighing in. Trump, who condemned hatred “on both sides” has been criticized for painting a false equivocation between Nazis, the KKK, and other racist groups, and the counter protesters who showed up in Charlottesville to oppose them. On the day of the attacks, Aug. 12, which included one man driving a car into anti-white supremacist protesters, Trump condemned the violence and hatred “on many sides” but did not mention any white supremacist group by name. Two days later, Trump did condemn racism and call out the groups by name. The next day, Aug. 15, Trump reverted back to saying there was “blame on both sides.” On Aug. 12, former Republican Congressman Mark Foley, a now-openly gay man, wrote on his Facebook page that the president needs to reject the hatred expressed by racist groups. In an email to SFGN, Foley, who now lives in Palm Beach County, said Trump’s subsequent response was better, but late, but that he made things worse. “We cannot condone nor tolerate any hate groups. And we cannot justify any group’s actions by trying to balance the blame. The old saying in politics is when you’re in a hole quit digging. He brought in a backhoe and caused further consternation and angst. These people hate his son-in-law and daughter and grandchildren because they are Jews. That alone should have been enough to clearly condemn these thugs." Vincent Foster, president of the Miami-Dade Log Cabin Club, who has defended Trump in the past, also criticized him on Charlottesville.
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Foster said Barack Obama was criticized by the GOP for not using the words Islamic terrorism and Trump deserves the same criticism for not using the words white nationalist terrorism. “He needs to use those words. He needs to call it a terrorist attack.” But Foster also turned around and criticized the LGBT community. This was an example, he said, of how LGBT people always defend minority communities but minority communities don’t defend the LGBT community enough. “As a black man who is gay, I have a huge issue with the wider gay community taking such an issue with Charlottesville. Where are our minority allies? . . . I’m more afraid of minorities as a gay man than I am of white people as a black man. We need to acknowledge the fact that the Christian black community is more anti-gay than the white Christian community . . . It was a Muslim man from a mosque who shot up the Pulse Night Club. Homophobia isn’t a disease that only affects white people.” He added that he’s also more afraid of being gay in a black neighborhood than being gay in a white neighborhood. “Is someone going to beat my ass [in a black neighborhood] because of that?” Andy Eddy, a founding member of the Broward Log Cabin Republican Club in Wilton Manors, said he wasn’t happy with how Trump gave his response. “He sometimes doesn’t touch the heart and soul of the subject because he’s so quick to respond in a New York minute.” Eddy also criticized police in Charlottesville for not exercising better control in keeping the two sides further apart. In contrast, he commended the work police did in Boston at the rally held in that city.
8.23.2017 •
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Convictions
Publisher's Editorial
Who is Right – The Pride Center or Sal Torre?
The Answer May Surprise You. Norm Kent
norm.kent@sfgn.com
O
ne of my favorite stories is of a no shrinking violet is he. The Pride Center’s rabbinical scholar whose students CEO ripped the paper for publishing ‘Fake believe they have him trapped in an News,’ but more importantly than the intellectual crossfire. titillating title, he systematically used 2,000 The rabbi asked of his students to explain words to shred Sal’s argument into little a matter of consequence. The first student pieces. replied with a great answer, and the scholar Pointing out that Sal’s best source was a said to him, ‘You are absolutely right.’ guy named ‘Rumor has it,’ Boo methodically The second student gave an entirely stated his fundamental position, that contradictory explanation, but the rabbi the “residences at Equality Park will be replied, ‘You are absolutely right.’ affordable housing for senior adults, with a Now the third student thought he had the special focus on LGBTQ individuals.’ rabbi by the short hairs. He looked up and Therein lies the merits of the controversy. said, ‘But rabbi, that can’t be. Each student But here is the thing. That isn’t what set Boo gave a contradictory answer, but you said to off. each of them, ‘you are right.’ What really pissed off Boo was the charge The rabbi looked down, tugging on the and accusation that the Pride Center had whiskers of his gray beard, and said to his somehow covered this affair up. In his young ward, “You know what, column, he pointed out son, you are right too.” that a plethora of articles A newspaper has In the past few weeks, SFGN had appeared in a host of to question power, has apparently created a publications since 2012 position, and controversy over a legitimate discussing the plans for issue, which is something this project, and that they prestige. It has to newspapers ought to do. The hardly have been secretive open wounds and debate has been over the about it. Their argument is print stories about proposed development of an they have been open and the sores. LGBT senior housing project, transparent, and he laid and one of our columnists, Sal out their claim. Wisely, he You write Torre, threw the first volley. noted that no matter what about the In a column, a few weeks he does, ‘we can never ago, he accused Robert Boo, communicate enough.’ He train that the CEO of the Pride Center, is right, and that is what crashes, not and his ‘self-appointed’ board, a community newspaper the 99 that as if that is a bad thing, of is for – to give people a doing business ‘in the closet.’ forum, a voice, a platform. reach the You can look at Sal’s piece two He got one and so did Sal. station safely. ways. He was either pointedly Sal Torre used that repetitive or unnecessarily platform to criticize the redundant. center. He is right, too. He has a column which In the space of one column and a thousand has a right to be critical, raise questions, words, he accused the Center and its CEO no demand answers, and challenge the status less than four times of ‘sugar coating’ the quo. You don’t have to like it. We don’t sit truth, insisting that they ‘come clean,’ thus over his opinions, his editorial observations, essentially saying they are ‘dirty.’ Sal went or his views. You empower someone to write, on to say that Boo has been ‘masking the and write thoughtfully about matters of project.’ consequence. An LGBT housing facility on Sal may have some very legitimate the Pride Center grounds is such a matter, criticisms, but Robert Boo certainly did not worthy of continued discussion, honest think so. He took to the pages of SFGN, and debate, and credible dissent.
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Ultimately, it does not matter if Sal was right and Boo was wrong, or Boo was right and Sal was wrong. What matters to me is that you got to read two countering views, intelligently spoken, rationally debated, and legitimately raised. Somewhere in the Scriptures, Matthew, I think, is a passage about ‘comforting the afflicted, afflicting the comfortable.’ That is what a newspaper does. A newspaper has to question power, position, and prestige. It has to open wounds and print stories about the sores. You write about the train that crashes, not the 99 that reach the station safely. Not every story will be perfect, and not every ending will make you feel good. But if it makes you feel and think and want to make a difference, we will be doing our job. You are fortunate to live in a community that has a pride center with a dedicated CEO motivated by conscience and commitment. You are fortunate to have a
community newspaper open and receptive to controversy and criticism, willing to tread on calm waters. We are lucky that we have columnists who are critical, editors that are thorough, and leaders who are thoughtful. Let the discussion go forward, emphasizing principles and policies, not personalities and petty nuances that something is ‘fake news’ because you find an opinion offensive. Opinions, the First Amendment, they were not built for you to agree with. They are there for you to challenge. We are all right. Ask my rabbi. He will agree. We also have a duty to print the truth and not give a voice to alternative facts. For your voice not to be a vice, your source has to me more than rumor. You don't shy from controversy but you don't artificially create it. There is enough out there to print that which is real. You don't need fake news. The truth is stranger than any fiction you can create.
ConviCtions
editorial Cartoon
editoriaL Cartoon by andy marlette
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Jesse’s Journal
ConviCtions
tHe ‘Lost Cause’ and its monuments The South lost the war, it’s time for them to accept it Jesse Monteagudo
Stone Mountain, Georgia.
W
ith the United States on the verge of antebellum South was a golden age of a second civil war, it is appropriate chivalry, a land of elegant ladies and gallant that one of the things that divide us gentlemen ruling over posh plantations and today is our interpretation of the first one. It mostly contented slaves. seems that, though the Confederate States of This golden age, we are told, ended with a America lost the American Civil War, it won war that killed a generation of southern white the peace that followed. men, ravaged the South, and enfranchised In 1865, slavery was abolished, the Union freed Blacks who, according to Lost Cause was restored, and the eleven rebel states proponents, were inferior to whites. were under military occupation. By 1870, The “Lost Cause” view of history though southern home rule was restored, dominated interpretations of the Civil state governments were still dominated War and Reconstruction during the first by a combination of northern immigrants half of the 20th Century; in history books (carpetbaggers), supportive southern whites like Claude G. Bowers’s “The Tragic Era” (scalawags) and newly(1929) and in novels like freed, newly-enfranchised Stark Young’s “So Red the Black men. Confederate Rose” (1934) and Margaret these monuments veterans like Nathan Mitchell’s “Gone With the Bedford Forrest, their former Wind” (1936), both later Were dedicated leadership roles now held by made into movies. Though decades after Blacks – Mississippi’s Hiram the Civil Rights Movement Revels was appointed to and progressive historians the civil War, as the Senate seat once held like Eric Foner have by Confederate President changed scholarly Justifications for since Jefferson Davis - formed interpretations of the Civil the first Ku Klux Klan (1865War and Reconstruction, Jim croW or as 1871) to terrorize former there are still many who slaves and keep them from big middle fingers believe in the Lost Cause. voting. As memorials to the Lost aimed at the civil Unfortunately, American Cause, southern whites and Reconstruction, which others erected monuments rights movement sought to provide equal to glorify the Confederacy rights and opportunities to and the men who led it. and those Who African-Americans in the These monuments were South, did not last long. By dedicated decades after the support it. the end of the 19th Century, Civil War, as justifications white Confederate veterans for Jim Crow or as big middle and their children were once again in full fingers aimed at the Civil Rights Movement control of the South. Though they could not and those who support it. restore slavery, they made Blacks second According to a study by the Southern class citizens, drastically reducing their Poverty Law Center, there are at 1,503 right to vote and establishing a system of symbols of the Confederacy in public apartheid that we know as Jim Crow. spaces across the United States, including They also imposed their interpretation monuments and statues, flags, holidays of history upon both north and south, one and other observances, and the names of which interpreted the War Between the schools, roads, parks, bridges, counties, States as a heroic attempt by southern whites cities, lakes, dams, military bases, and other to preserve their way of life. According public works. to proponents of the “Lost Cause,” the The most famous of these monuments
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is the Confederate Memorial Carving in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The largest basrelief sculpture in the world, it depicts Confederate President Davis, General Robert E. Lee and General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on horseback. By the way, Stone Mountain is also the site of another day that lives in infamy. On November 25, 2015 a group of white men gathered on Stone Mountain to create a second Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a terrorist organization devoted to the Lost Cause. Recently a movement began to remove these monuments to a lost, and totally discredited, cause. Many view these Confederate memorials as what they
really are: as monuments to racism and white supremacy. Not surprisingly, these monuments are being defended by those who still believe in the Lost Cause: members of the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and those who seem to share their views (like Donald Trump). Though removing the monuments especially the really monumental ones, like the carving on Stone Mountain – will take time, this is a cause worth pursuing. For too long, white southern racists have dominated historical interpretations of the American Civil War. It time for them to admit that they lost the War: then, now and forever more.
Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. he has been an active member of South Florida's LGbT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations.
ConviCtions
Letter to the editor
Wendy Hunt (1952-2017), disC JoCKey
With broken hearts, we share with you that Wendy Hunt - known in her beloved world of music as DJ Wendy Hunt, Wendella Blendella, or Queen Mother of DJ’s - left this world August 7, 2017.
to see tHe FuLL Letter, Visit sFGn.Com/wendyHunt
Let your VoiCe be Heard! ▼ Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com
8.23.2017 •
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WOMEN intro
Women and Equality
South Florida LBT Women and Allies on the Many Fronts of Equality, Activism and Representation
Jillian Melero
T
his Saturday, August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, the date chosen to commemorate the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Women’s Equality Day is traditionally proclaimed each year by the sitting president. There has been no such announcement yet this year. Although President Trump declared March, Women’s History month, in June, Politico reported that President Obama’s Council on Women and Girls, established in 2009, had gone dark under the Trump administration. Earlier this month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo responded by establishing the state’s own council on women and girls. Women’s Equality Day was first proclaimed in 1973, following the Women’s Strike for Equality, on Aug. 26 1970, rallying for issues including equal opportunity in the workforce, political rights for women, and social equality in relationships, free childcare, and the right to choose abortion, and during ongoing arguments regarding the Equal Rights Amendment over ending legal distinctions
s& p u o r G ’s n e m Wo Resources Women in Network, Fort Lauderdale
Winner of SFGN’s Best Group for Women, 2016, Women in Network (WIN) established in 1987 is one of the longestrunning lesbian organizations in the state, for networking, socializing, organizing advocacy efforts, and health and educational programs. “For me, being a part of WIN means I have the chance to socialize and give back to my community,” WIN Board Treasurer Lynn Glover told SFGN. “I am driven by connection and making a difference. I have also cultivated many meaningful business relationships.” Each month of the first Wednesday, WIN hosts a “WIN First Wednesday” event at a different location across south Florida. “All of our events are meant to bring women together so that we can have a strong support system in our community and beyond,” Glover said. “I have many friends in WIN, both personally and professionally. They are my ‘sisters’ and I know that I can count on them for love and support.” Keep up with the WIN’s latest programs and events at WomenInNetwork.com
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between men and women in terms of divorce, property, employment and more -- Not a far cry from the issues we found ourselves still marching for this January. January’s Women’s March estimated to be one of the largest single day protests in the U.S., the day after President Trump’s inauguration, saw the country rallying for those causes with a renewed focus on LGBT equality, racial justice, gun control, and more. In advance of Women’s Equality day, SFGN looked at health and wellness issues including disparities in LBT cancer screening and treatment, IVF options for women starting their own families, and gender bias in sports. We spoke to women about representation in the arts. And we spoke with South Florida LBT women about their roles as business leaders, religious leaders, athletes, artists and activists who work to balance inequalities, to provide leadership in the workplace, and to strengthen their communities. Consider it SFGN’s own council on women and girls. Welcome to the Women and Equality issue, part I. Health and Wellness.
Next week part. II. Arts, Activism and Leadership
BLAST (Bi Lesbian and Straight Together) Women of the Palm Beaches
Winners of SFGN’s Best Social Group, 2015, BLAST Women of the Palm Beaches(WPB) describe themselves a social and professional networking group “for women, ladies, kings, lesbians, bisexual gals, girly-girls, butches, femmes, bois, transwomen, lesbian-feminist womyn, questioning, aces/aros, and gay-friendly straight feminists” on Meetup.com. “Some women plug in for just one or two special interests -- poker, say, or kayaking, or drum lessons, or anti-racism trainings, or women's dances, or the pagan circle -- while others come to lots of different things. There are no dues to pay and pretty much every event is a one-time stand-alone thing - though some meet monthly, such as the archery club,” BLAST co-founder Toni Armstrong Jr. told SFGN. Founded in 2008, the group has more than 2700 members, mostly locals, but some snow-birds and more than 1900 past meetups.
Women’s Wellness Conference Lake Worth
At Compass Community Center Sat, August 26, 2017 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Compass Center Operations manager Julie Seaver has been voted Best Palm Beach Activist by SFGN readers for two years, and her dedication to the community shows whatever her role. “Julie embodies the spirit of activism both in the office and out of the office,” said Ryanmarie Rice, Compass Chief of Staff. “She has certainly earned the Best Activist title for a second consecutive year. No one works harder for her community.” Craig Glover, president of A Better Way Home Care, has been working with Julie using the SAGE Care program to educate his staff about issues faced by LGBT seniors. "Julie’s openness in sharing her life stories has enabled our staff to talk more freely about their own experiences,” said Glover, “Julie is a convincing proponent of equality for everyone” he said. Compass Community Center will hold its third annual Women’s Wellness conference Saturday, Aug. 26. At 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth, FL 33460 The Wellness conference is free, but a donation of $20 is suggested, $10 from students and seniors. A free luncheon will be provided. Healthcare and testing services offered will include free on-site HIV/STI testing, counseling, and linkage to care; and screenings for blood pressure, glucose, and bone density.
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WOMEN community Photo Courtesy the Aqua Foundation For Women.
A Continuing Legacy for South Florida LBT Women
The Aqua Foundation for Women
I
Lynare Robbins
n 2004, a group of women in the South Florida LGBT community, Cindy Brown, Alicia Apfel, Vivian LaMadrid, Martha Sternberg, Elizabeth Schwartz, Alison Burgos, and Robin Schwartz believed it was time to have an organization for LBT women and run by LBT women. Their vision turned into reality with the conception of the non-profit South Florida organization, The Aqua Foundation for Women (AFW). “We wanted Aqua to focus on the needs of the LBT women in South Florida and be the voice of LBT women in South Florida,” said co-founder Robin Schwartz. “We wanted to bring more LBT women into the LGBTQ community in a more active way. We wanted more people to either volunteer more or give more financially.” Thirteen years later, this is still the foundation’s focus, along with an additional emphasis on the transgender community and youth homelessness. One of the accomplishments of the AFW includes its important impact on individual LBT women. “Emotional and financial support is extremely important. The other day I was in Wilton Manors watching a live band and a past scholarship recipient came up to me to say thank you,” Schwartz said. “She said she was so happy in her career and that she could not have done it without the support of the Aqua Foundation.” For many of the AFW scholars, the scholarship funds are the difference between going to college or not. In addition to the Scholars Program, there is a Mentor’s Program where someone who is established in their career signs up to mentor an Aqua Foundation scholarship recipient.
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“Many Aqua Foundation scholars and mentors say that Homelessness through a three-year initiative where the they end up being like family. For others the inspiration AFW committed itself to providing grant funding for the they get by meeting confident, out, and successful issue. LBT women at the Emerging LBT Women’s Leadership According to Schwartz, “Aqua reached out to The Conference that the Aqua Foundation produces, gives Miami Foundation and Our Fund and together they them what they need to take that next step in their gave $100,000 to support youth who find themselves career or even to come out to their parents,” explained homeless. In years two and three the Aqua Foundation Schwartz. continued to provide funding. The board of Aqua When given an opportunity to brag is dedicated to continuing this important work.” “We wanted about some of the AFW scholars, In the past, the AFW has also worked to “get Aqua to focus Schwartz mentioned two former out the vote.” Schwartz stated, “Aqua has worked on the needs scholars, Enbar Cohen and Bridget to get women to register to vote. Our voices are of the LBT Pelaez. heard strongly through our vote and I would like women in “Enbar Cohen went from scholar to to see Aqua do more of this work.” South Florida Commissioner of Aventura. She is now an To continue the work of programming, and be the Executive at Jackson Memorial Hospital. the organization relies on support from the voice of Bridget Pelaez graduated and is a nurse local community to attend their fundraising LBT women and an activist.” events. The AFW will be hosting their annual The AFW also produces “TransCon,” a “Aqua Affair” on Oct. 26 at the Betsy Hotel in in South yearly conference focused on transgender Miami Beach. The Betsy Hotel is a longtime Florida.” topics, trainings, and workshops. ally of the AFW and other LGBT non-profits in - Robin Schwartz, According to Schwartz, a former AFW South Florida, and is donating their venue and Founder board member, Jessica Lam, ascertained providing the fare for the event. the idea to start a conference for the “This event will be a wonderful cocktail party South Florida community to support the transgender in a gorgeous location with a great opportunity to learn community. a bit more about the Aqua Foundation and meet great “It was a progressive and important accomplishment people. I have had women in their mid-life tell me that as TransCon has become a vital source for discussion, going to our events have helped them feel accepted and information and support to the transgender community,” not alone,” Schwartz said. “We welcome LBT women Schwartz said. and our allies to join us in supporting the only women's The AFW has also been an instrumental South Florida organization of its kind in South Florida. Join the organization in addressing and fighting LGBT youth movement!”
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23
WOMEN sports
Women and LGBT Equality
Sports Edition “When I started getting really good and beating all the boys then it became an issue…then it became a questioning of if I belong.” - Lisa Gaylord, Miami Fitness trainer and Martial Artist (pictured)
I
want to say a few words about the problem with women’s sports. First, it has nothing to do with women. Second, it doesn’t have everything to do with men. When people ask “What’s wrong with women’s sports?”, or “Why aren’t women’s sports popular?”, we can instead consider how women’s sports and athletes are discussed. We should think about what language or lack of language, what care or lack of care, is put into conversations about female athletes. When we discuss equality, the language of equality is rarely discussed. When Connor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather exchanged insults on their media tour, two of the derogatory terms they used were “bitch” and “faggot.” We know that the average WNBA player makes $72,000 per year, while the average NBA player makes $7.12 million per year. “We know that there are people in the middle who are totally against this use of language, of the casual homophobia, the casual sexism that’s used day in, day out in sports.” - Chris Mosier, trans athlete, advocate for the You Can Play project
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Leisl Veach We also know that one out of every five women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. How we talk about women, how we treat women on and off the field and how we discuss women in public forums is vital to building equality for women everywhere. This is particularly true of LGBTQ athletes. If you are a female athlete that plays at a high level, your sexuality is immediately a topic of discussion. The success of women’s sports is often tied to an athlete's’ sexual preference. In 2005, Sacramento reporter Mardeio Cannon commented that Sheryl Swoopes coming out “set the [WNBA] back to its infancy stage.” After Billie Jean King was outed by a former partner in a 1981 lawsuit, the New York Times noted that “Some people close to the sport…were concerned that because its image has been so important to its success that public acceptance might be slowed unfairly.” Only eight years earlier, Billie Jean King was viewed as a tenacious, top athlete who won not only women’s tennis tournaments, but beat Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” match. Overnight, she went from feminist icon to putting the whole sport at risk. If the success of a sport isn’t tied to a woman’s sexual preference, then some other irrelevant topic becomes the focus of discussion. Serena Williams body is an obvious example. For nearly 15 years, newspapers, media
outlets, and even other players and coaches have courted primarily negative discussions about her muscular figure. A 2012 New York Times article noted, “Williams…has large biceps and a mold-breaking muscular frame, which packs the power and athleticism that have dominated women’s tennis for years. Her rivals could try to emulate her physique, but most of them choose not to.” If a female athlete isn’t gay, then her body isn’t female enough. Let’s also acknowledge one point; it isn’t as though other tennis stars don’t want to be as powerful or good as Serena, it is because they can’t. To continually focus on her figure is a method of deterring the conversation from her talent to how her body can be sexualized (or not). This overarching pattern of how we talk about women, sexuality, and gender roles also extends to how women talk about women as well. In 2004, Andrea Zimbadri, a standout catcher on the University of Florida softball team, sued the school because her coach singled out players she believed were lesbian because it didn’t align with her strong Christian beliefs. Zimbardi eventually won the case, but only after losing her place on the team and an opportunity to play her entire senior year. In a 2006 lawsuit, Penn State basketball player Jennifer Harris claimed that her coach Rene Portland had a policy of “no drinking, no drugs, no lesbians.” To put the word
WOMEN sports lesbian in the same statement as two things that are detrimental to an athlete’s ability to perform perpetuates the myth that something is inherently wrong with LGBTQ people. Harris was dismissed from the team and Portland later resigned. Not only were these athletes discriminated against due to their perceived sexuality, these cases also reveal the way gender norms and patriarchy continue to dictate how LGBTQ athletes are received. In other cases, it is an aspect of women’s socialization. As professional snowboarder Mary Rand told Witnessing Greatness, riding with women can often be a challenge because of their lack of confidence. “A negative is that [women] are going to sort of be feeding off one another’s fear while we are out there snowboarding. That’s a thing, [saying] ‘Don’t be a girl, just go, you can do it, be confident in yourself.’ With the guys that’s what I see all day long and they're better than me and I aspire to be better with them.” We are programmed to say “sorry” for things that we shouldn’t. We are taught that being scared is a feminine emotion. We are told that women are driven entirely by their emotions (or their menstrual cycles). Yet, LGBTQ athletes and their allies find a way to speak their truth to power, come out and share their stories. Former college football player Michael Sam, WNBA All-Star Sue Bird, professional skateboarder Brian Anderson, and professional boxer Orlando Cruz are all recent examples. But coming out isn’t the whole story. It continues as people struggle to succeed in their sport and in society. It is former NFL tackle Ryan O’Callaghan’s admission that he intended to kill himself after his football career was over. It is WNBA guard Shavonte Zellous’ decision to come out after three of her friends were murdered in the Pulse nightclub shootings. It can be something as simple as deciding that “I never wanted to be known as a follower.” Miami fitness trainer and martial artist Lisa Gaylord had her first black belt in karate by the age of 14. Gaylord never trained and rarely competed against women. In fact, it was her success in sports that triggered sexist reactions; “No one had an expectation on us, it was just you’re a girl, but when I
started getting really good and beating all the boys then it became an issue…then it became a questioning of if I belong.” Creating equality also requires allies who are willing to speak up and act out on the behalf of oppressed communities. As Chris Mosier, a trans athlete and advocate for the You Can Play project discussed in a 2017 interview, “We know that there are people in the middle who are totally against this use of language, of the casual homophobia, the casual sexism that’s used day in, day out in sports; when we are talking about our competitors, when we are talking about people who are underperforming, when we are just talking shit.” Providing these athletes and schools with the tools to speak out against harmful language is just one step in the long march toward equality. Being an advocate can be as simple as saying the right words at the right time. After a reporter at the 2017 Wimbledon match described Sam Querrey as the “first U.S. player to reach a major semi-final since 2009”, star tennis player Andy Murray quickly interrupted him and said “male player.” During the 2016 Olympics games, BBC reporter John Inverdale called him the “first player to win two gold medals” in tennis. Murray wasted no time, reminding him that "Venus and Serena [Williams] have won about four each." When we consider what the problem is with women’s sports, consider the language of inequality from which that question emerges. When we denigrate the abilities of another athlete, do we do so based on skill instead of arbitrary statements such as “he throws like a girl.” Do we attend women’s sporting events and support their expertise on an equal footing with men? When an athlete comes out, do we talk to our kids openly and support those athletes. And how do we take this behavior beyond the playing field? Do we show support, do we offer fair pay? Do we treat everyone with respect? And call out other people when they don’t? This is how equality starts, when each of us takes responsibility for everyone’s opportunity to succeed.
Chris Mosier.
Photo credit Philip Lee.
Leisl Veach is a freelance writer and communications consultant based in Seattle, WA. She is the creator and co-host of the sports podcast Witnessing Greatness, which focuses on a balance between mainstream sports and stories that highlight LGBTQ athletes and issues. She is also an avid athlete, board game enthusiast, and holds a PhD in English from the University of Washington. You can download the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and GooglePlay. Follow her on Twitter: @WG_Sports FaceBook: Witnessing Greatness Podcast
8.23.2017 •
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WOMEN health
LBT Women and Cancer Risks
What You Should Know A
Denise Royal
ll women face certain health risks including heart disease and cancer. However, LBT women, as well as women who have sex with women, have some specific health concerns and are at a higher risk for cancer than other women. And many LBT women don’t know it. While there is no single definition of the “LBT community” — it is a diverse and multidimensional group of people with unique identities and experiences, with variations of race/ ethnicity, income, and other characteristics — LBT women typically have a common experience of being stigmatized due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. In addition to the higher rates of illness and health challenges, some LBT individuals are more likely to experience challenges obtaining care. Barriers include gaps in coverage, cost-related hurdles, and poor treatment and fear of discrimination from health care providers. Studies have found that LBT women get less routine health care than other women, including breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening tests. If you’re relatively young and in good health, you may think this article isn’t about you. But you couldn’t be more wrong. Nan Van Dan Bergh, Ph.D., is a cancer survivor and founder of Area Resource and Referral Organization for Women (ARROW). She also started the Rainbow Survivor Network to offer support to LBT women with cancer. “We surveyed more than one thousand lesbian and bisexual women,” said Dr. Van Dan Bergh. “The most potent predictor for being at high risk for cancer and other serious health problems was age. It was young women, under age 30 who had the highest risk. They were less likely to have a Pap test, a clinical breast exam or a primary care physician. Their smoking rate was 30 percent—that’s twice as high as the United States’ rate of smoking among females.” Tobacco use is only one of the risk factors for LBT women that increase their chances of getting a chronic illness or disease. Obesity rates and alcohol consumption are higher among lesbian and bisexual women compared to heterosexual women. Transgender women, particularly transgender women of color, are also at high risk of HIV. Studies have found that more than one in four (28 percent) are HIV positive, and a majority are unaware that they are infected. Transgender people are also particularly vulnerable when it comes to health care, because of distinct health requirements. According to the medical journal “The Lancet,” transgender men and women remain susceptible to cancers of reproductive organs that are no longer in alignment with their gender. For example, trans women might not recognize the persisting risk of prostate cancer. Those who have undergone sex reassignment surgery might be unaware of the continuing possibility of reproductive cancers due to residual tissue that remains after surgery. This may also be complicated by transgender people opting out of cancer screening and examinations because of emotional or physical distress associated with the discordance between their gender and their reproductive organs. Although most risks for many LBT women are influenced by
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many factors beyond sexual orientation and practices, including age, family history, and lifestyle, it’s important to understand common health issues and steps you can take to stay healthy. Finding a competent, compassionate doctor and having regular cancer screenings is the first step in maintaining your health. There are many resources available to LBT women to help enhance their health. HealthLink is one of them. HealthLink is a program of CenterLink. It is made up of a community-driven network of experts working to enhance LGBT health by reducing tobacco, cancer, and other health disparities. It links people and information to promote healthy lifestyle practices. It works to reduce LGBT cancer and tobacco disparities. HealthLink also brings together departments of health, health care system providers, and LGBT community centers to tailor health promotional materials, provide culturally competent care, and engage LGBT communities. You can find out more at www.lgbthealthlink.org. These days, the Rainbow Survivors Network is run by SunServe in Wilton Manors. “The concept of the network is to connect LBT women who have been newly diagnosed with cancer with other LBT women who are cancer survivors. It is set up as a ‘buddy’ program, and we have been successful at developing lifetime friendships between women who can share experiences and hope,” said Emily Cohen, SunServe director of Women’s Service. “The ‘buddy’ would be available for the woman who is newly diagnosed to go to doctors’ appointments, help pick up medications, or just sit on their couch and talk all night long. It really is about creating a sisterhood.” Having access to resources is great, but there is no substitute for a woman knowing her own body and the risk factors for cancer. When should you have your first mammogram or Pap test? Answers to these questions and other important health issues will be addressed on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 from 5-8 p.m. at the Pride Center at Equality Park. The Pride Center is located at 2040 North Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. The event is called “Amping up Women’s Health.” “This is an event where women can come and get current information,” said Van Dan Bergh. “We will have information about resources and help for all women. There will be lots of entertainment. But the focus is on reducing cancer risk, especially those at high-risk, including younger women.” The Pride Center website also includes a link to a South Florida LBT health provider directory. It can be found at www.LBTHealth.org/Directory-Of-Providers.
What: Amping u p Women’s Health When: Sept 9th 5 p.m. -8 p.m . Where: Pride Ce nter
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WOMEN health
Becoming Mommy
Christiana Lilly
Jessica and Mandy Gerow during a maternity photo shoot. photo by Stephanie Sonju.
I
t was two years ago that Kara Matus stepped into the NICU to visit her tiny twin daughters, little miracles named Reese and Cameron. The nurses asked her, “Where’s dad?” She replied, “I’m dad.” Matus’s wife, Jaclyn, gave birth to their daughters thanks to the growing field of reproductive medicine, and many other lesbian couples like them are able to have children together — and in a variety of ways (check out our infographic). “There continues to be so many advancements that I noticed definitely there’s been an increase year after year in the LGBT patients that we’re getting,” said Dr. Lesley de la Torre, who practices at Associates in Advanced Maternal Fetal Medicine in Miami. Coming from a long line of obstetricians, de la Torre
“I never thought that this would be possible, that I could marry Jaclyn or I could be on the birth certificate.” - Kara Matus
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found she excelled when working with at-risk patients. Today, she consults with doctors to make sure families are using the best procedures and plans to have a child. She highly encourages couples to have in-depth meetings with their doctor to discuss a plan of action and to educate themselves. Dr. Carolina Sueldo, who specializes in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at IVF Florida in Margate, agrees. At her practice, she sees the gamut when it comes to her patient population. In the initial meetings, doctors discuss reproductive plans — who’s going to be pregnant? Whose eggs will be used? How involved does each person want to be? In her experience, most lesbian couples who come in have already done a lot of research and have a good idea of what they want. If it’s determined that both partners are on equal grounds physically, it’s a very personal decision to decide who will carry or donate their eggs. However, other factors come into play, de la Torre said — each partner’s age is vital, as well as their place in life with work, income, health insurance, maternity leave, and more. Before attempting to get pregnant, doctors run tests
to make sure there are no issues before they begin the process. This includes STD testing, blood testing, and a vaccine workup, among other things. “l hate to find out three or six [months] or longer that there was an issue that could have been prevented or that was possibly preventing pregnancy this whole time,” Sueldo said about the testing. When the Matuses were starting their family, they had no friends who had gone through the process and could only rely on their own research. They also interviewed doctors to find the right one who felt comfortable with a same-sex couple. Like many couples, they tried intrauterine insemination (IUI) first. When that was not working, they moved onto in vitro fertilization (IVF), using both of their eggs so they could both be a part of the mix, a process called reciprocal IVF. When it comes to fertility issues, Florida can improve. Resolve, also known as the National Infertility Association, gave the Sunshine State a C grade on its nationwide fertility scorecard. The score is based on a number of criteria, including the state’s insurance mandate and the number of doctors specializing in
WOMEN health
infertility issues. Florida does not require insurance companies to cover procedures that aid with infertility, so many companies opt not to. This leaves patients with a hefty bill when they’re looking to expand their family. On the other hand, Connecticut mandates insurance companies cover three rounds of IUI and two rounds of IVF. Also, lesbian couples go to a fertility clinic not because they have fertility issues, but rather, a lack of a sperm source. Because they are not considered to be patients with fertility issues — although there can be complications to receive that diagnosis — insurance will not cover prepregnancy testing. This would be the same as a single, straight woman who wants to have a child without a partner. “I’m hard-pressed to find an insurance company that is fully enveloped IVF,” de la Torre said. “I have yet to meet a great insurance company that is just going to take it all.” For healthy same-sex couples with no fertility issues, “they’re going to have a lot of trouble finding coverage,” she added. The doctor estimates that with medication, having a child through IVF can cost easily up to $25,000. Another cost is a visit to a psychologist. Patients who use donor sperm or eggs, straight or gay, are required by most practices to see a psychologist to ensure the couple is on the same page regarding starting a family. Finally, there are legal issues at hand when using donor sperm. When sperm comes from a cryobank, donors sign away their legal rights to any children. Couples have to decide whether to use an anonymous or known donor through the cryobank — more couples lean toward the latter option. This means that once the child turns 18, they can reach out to the cryobank for their biological father’s contact information. Mandy and Jessica Gerow opted to use a known donor for an at-home insemination. Before their daughter, Ellianna, was born, the donor went through a battery of tests and signed away his legal rights to the child. Although both women are listed on the birth certificate, for an extra layer of protection, Mandy’s wife will be legally adopting Ellianna as well. “We want to make sure there aren’t any issues later on,” Mandy said. “She’s our daughter.” The Matuses also came across the legal side of having children. When they had their eldest daughter, Eillek, five years ago, same-sex marriage was still not legal in Florida. By the time the twins came around, they were able to get Eillek’s birth certificate reissued with both women listed as parents. Both women are also legally recognized as the girls’ parents through step-parent adoption. “I never thought that this would be possible, that I could marry Jaclyn or I could be on the birth certificate,” Matus said.
The Gerow Family When Mandy and Jessica Gerow were ready to have a family, after nine years together, they were shocked by the cost of IVF. Instead, they opted to try at-home insemination using frozen sperm from a cryobank close to their home in Orlando. The timing had to be perfect — frozen sperm can only live up to 24 hours, and a woman’s ovulation usually lasts only up to 48 hours. After 11 unsuccessful attempts, varying the time period they would inseminate, the couple was emotionally drained. They decided to take a break. “I felt like a failure,” Mandy said. “[I thought,] ‘Is something is wrong with me? Why is it not taking? Did we do something wrong?’” One of Mandy’s colleagues was determined to find a sperm donor — when the sperm is not frozen, it can survive for up to five days — and her persistence paid off. A man who transferred to their office was interested, so he took blood tests, was tested for STDs, and even provided his baby pictures to the Gerows. Three weeks later, when Mandy was ovulating, he brought over his sperm in sterile cups in a brown bag. Mandy wore her menstrual cup, which her wife inserted, with the semen for 12 hours, twice in one cycle. “It almost felt like Jess got me pregnant,” Mandy said of her wife of two years. “We weren’t in a sterile, white room, there wasn’t a doctor with gloves on, it was me and her in our own moment. It was really special.” As soon as possible, she took a home pregnancy test and saw a faint second line — she was pregnant on the first try. She placed the test stick on a hamburger bun and put it in the oven to surprise Jessica that there was literally a bun in the oven. Nine months later, Jessica helped deliver their daughter, Ellianna. “Her eyes were wide open and she was staring around and it was so magical to see this life we were waiting for,” Mandy remembers. “We couldn’t believe she was actually here. She was perfect.”
“We weren’t in a sterile, white room, there wasn’t a doctor with gloves on, it was me and her in our own moment. It was really special.” - Mandy Gerow
Ellianna Gerow shows her pride. photo courtesy of the Gerow family.
The Cost of Becoming a Family* Vial of sperm: $415 to $965, depending on anonymous versus open donors. Extra information can be provided about donors for additional fees. **
Transport:
Starting at $195, price depends upon how quickly the sperm needs to arrive and the location.
Sperm storage: $475 a year, with prices decreasing the
longer the storage time. Couples who want to use the same donor for all their children opt for storage.
IUI: $300 to $600 per cycle
IVF: $12,000 to $17,000 per cycle Medications: Up to $5,000
* Costs will vary on the age and health of the mother, as well as her insurance company and the state she lives in. ** Costs from California Cryobank and Fairfax Cryobank, two well-known and popular banks
8.23.2017 •
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WOMEN health The Matus Family After seven years together — two as wives — Jaclyn and Kara Matus are the proud parents of 3 little girls: Eillek, 5, and twins Reese and Cameron, three. Both women always saw themselves as mothers one day, but Jaclyn was more interested in the pregnancy experience, Kara said. So, the couple did what is growing more popular with lesbian couples — reciprocal IVF. “On one hand, I just wanted to be a mom and I don’t care where I get a child from,” Kara said about the couple’s choice. “And on the other hand, you’re like, ‘I don’t want to wake up one day and not have a biological child.’”
From left, Mandy and Jessica Gerow with their daughter Ellianna during a family trip to Disney World. photo courtesy of the Gerow family.
“I don’t care who she ‘belongs’ to. But you don’t know that when you’re doing the process. You’re fearful of the unknown.” The couple first tried IUI, but when that was not successful, they decided to do IVF. In the first pregnancy, two embryos were implanted and one took, resulting in the birth of Eillek. The second time, both embryos took and the couple had twins. Kara called the process “scary, especially when you get a box delivered with $5,000 worth of needles and patches and pills, it’s like, ‘This is how I’m going to start a family?’” “It’s a hard process but it’s what felt comfortable and right for our family,” Kara said. “Everyone has their own journey.”
Below: Dr. Lesley de la Torre (right) with Victor Hugo González-Quintero, M.D., the medical partner who helped her deliver her own partner’s baby. photo courtesy advanced Maternal Fetal Medicine, llC.
The de la Torre Family Dr. Lesley de la Torre works with families that need extra help having children every day, but nothing could have prepared her for going through the same experience with her wife, Massiel. Together since 2006, the couple decided to try IUI to have their child. When multiple rounds didn’t work, they moved on to IVF. On the first round, Massiel was pregnant. “You can’t prepare yourself. You try, you try, and you try, but it is different,” Lesley said. “You are not a doctor in moments like those … you’re a partner or wife first and foremost in moments like that.” In fact, when Lesley first got word that her wife was pregnant, she cried tears of happiness — then the doctor in her demanded to see the proof and she laughed. During the delivery, Lesley’s medical partner
and she worked to deliver the baby, and she joked she “took the glory” with being the first to hold their daughter, Miranda, now 6 months old. “She’s intuitive. She’s really attentive. She was born like that. Her eyes wide open. I’ve never seen anything like it,” she remembers. “I’ve obviously brought many kids into this world — and not just because she’s mine, but I’m telling you, the moment she was born she didn’t blink forever. She just kept her eyes open and that’s not typical. She’s been recording every step from minute one.” As both a doctor and a mother in a same-sex family, Lesley’s advice to others is to take the decision to start a family seriously. With the process to have a family thankfully being easier for LGBT couples more than ever, she encourages couples to have long, hard discussions about where they see their future. “I don’t want them to take it for granted,” she said.
Becoming a Mother At-home insemination: In the least expensive procedure, purchased or donated sperm is placed inside the woman using a menstruation cup or medicine syringe during her ovulation cycle. Intrauterine
insemination: Sperm is injected into the uterus — if successful, an embryo is formed. This is typically the first procedure couples try before in vitro fertilization (IVF), as it is less invasive and expensive.
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In vitro fertilization:
A woman’s egg is fertilized by sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo. The embryo is then placed inside her uterus with the hopes of a successful implantation. Many couples opt to try more than one embryo at a time, since not all will implant, which can also result in multiples (twins, triplets).
Reciprocal in vitro fertilization: Here, both partners can be part of the experience. One woman’s ovaries are stimulated to encourage multiple eggs during her cycle. The eggs are extracted, fertilized by sperm in a laboratory, and then implanted in the second partner, who will carry the pregnancy. Some couples also opt to have both women’s eggs fertilized.
How do you speak to the LGBT community? Through the publications they know and trust.
Representing the “best of the best” in LGBT media, with over a million readers weekly in print and online. 212-242-6863 info@nationallgbtmediaassociation.com www.nationallgbtmediaassociation.com
Atlanta | Boston | Chicago | Dallas/ Ft Worth | Detroit | Los Angeles | Miami/ Ft Lauderdale | New York | Orlando/Tampa Bay | Philadelphia | San Francisco | Washington DC
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LIFESTYLE photos
PrIDELINES
Hosted at The Biltmore in Miami-Coral Gables on August 19, the Masquerade Ball by Pridelines was an event with silent auction, cocktail reception, and a formal dining experience topped with entertainment and dancing. J.R. Davis
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LIFESTYLE photos
MASQUErADE bALL Carina Mask
TO SEE MANY MORE PHOTOS, VISIT SFGN.COM ON FACEBOOK.
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LIFESTYLE books
‘tHe Lotterys pLus one’ by Emma Donoghue, illustrated by Caroline Hadilaksono
Terri Schlichenmeyer
M
ove over.
YOU’RE ALREADY A PART OF
HISTORY ● Rec
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You’re taking up too much space. There’d be enough seats if you didn’t have two of them, so skootch down. Let someone else in. There’s room for everybody and everyone fits, but in the new book “The Lotterys Plus One” by Emma Donoghue illustrated by Caroline Hadilaksono, not everybody fits in. Nine-year-old Sumac Lottery knew that her family was unique. It was no big deal, though; that’s what happens when a man from the Yukon and a man from India fall in love, and a Mohawk woman and a Jamaican woman fall in love, too. It’s what happens when there are seven kids, most of them from other “bios.” It wasn’t always that way. When MaxiMum was giving birth to Sic sixteen years ago, PapaDum and PopCorn were rubbing MaxiMum’s back when CardaMom found a winning lottery ticket that someone else had lost. They got lots of money, which allowed them to change their surnames and buy a big house for the big family that the four parents always wanted. That all happened long before Sumac was born. And it might’ve stayed that way, too – eleven Lotterys (plus pets) in one big, rowdy, happy family – but then PopCorn got a call from the Yukon. His father had accidentally almost burned his house down, and he could no longer live by himself so the parents decided that Iain (PopCorn’s pop) should be moved into Camelottery. And because Sumac had a main-floor bedroom, she was asked to give it up and move her things to the Artic (also known as the attic).
c.2017, Arthur A. Levine Books $17.99 / higher in Canada 320 pages
That was something she really didn’t want to do. She really didn’t want “Grumps” to come live at Camelottery at all because he was mean and nasty, racist, and he hated everything and everyone. To be truthful, Sumac didn’t like him very much, either, so she started to think up a plan… Let’s start here: “The Lotterys Plus One” is too: too messy; too cutesy; too padded with not-pertinent-to-the-story scenes; and, with a plethora of names, too confusing. It’s as if author Emma Donoghue tried too much to put an Age of Aquarius spin on what could have been a simple story of diversity and inclusion. It’s too over-the-top. That’s quite the departure from Donoghue’s adult novels, which are tight, vivid, and brimming with stunning plausibility; instead, this story is just plain weird, starting with character names that are new-agey and forced-clever. These same characters give funny-not-funny names to rooms (“Derriere” is – wait for it! – the backside of the house), and much of the dialogue consists of inside-jokes and preschooler misunderstandings (“Spare Oom.” Say it aloud). It’s as if Pippi Longstocking moved into a House of Wordplay, only not as charming and nowhere near as much fun. At its very basic, this story – a large, diverse family welcomes an elderly relative – is solid, even good. It’s the peripherals that are hard to get past, and 8-to-12-yearolds may not have much patience for it. For sure, adults can spot “The Lotterys Plus One,” and move on.
S ’ N G F S G N I C U D INTRO
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8 1 0 2 2017
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E D I GU
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Visit our NEW interactive directory website at www.SFGN.Guide
r o s s e n i s u b r u o y d t i d s i a v To E E R F r o f n o i t a z i e organ d i u g . N G F S . w ww k c i l c u n e m e h t n i d ” n S a S E N I
S U B A “ADD
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LIFESTYLE photos
PALACE bAr tea dance On August 19 , the Clevelander welcomed The Palace Bar to its temporary home with an event hosted by Tiffany Fantasia. Carina Mask
To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook.
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Photos courtesy of Mini Pita..
LIFESTYLE food
Rick Karlin
pita, pita, pita mediterranean spots on the drive
mini pita plus 2410 Wilton Dr. 954-999-0771 minipitacafe.com
F
or a while there, Wilton Manors was inundated with sushi places. Now it seems Mediterranean spots are popping up everywhere. First, there was Ethos, then Sea & Olive and now Mini Pita. It’s not like they’re all the same, though. Ethos is what I would classify as Greek bistro fare, Sea & Olive is Turkish, and now we have mini-Pita, where the food is decidedly Greek, but since the owner is Egyptian, there’s the influence of his cuisine as well. The Wilton Manors location is their second; the owners also have a larger place in the Southland Shopping Center, off Marina Mile and 12th SW. The menu at Mini-Pita is very helpful; with good descriptions of each dish indicating which menu items are vegetarian and/or vegan. There is a vast array of appetizers, which can also be ordered as mezze (small sharing plates similar to tapas). Among the options are; taramosalata (a spread of fish roe and cheese), saganaki (broiled cheese, usually
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feta or haloumi), hummus, babaganoush (eggplant dip), falafel, fava beans, tzatziki (a yogurt-mint sauce), stuffed grape leaves, feta cheese with kalamata olives, tabbouleh (a salad made with finely chopped cracked wheat, scallions, mint, and olive oil) and kibbeh (ground beef with sautéed onions and pine nuts in a wheat crust). Most apps are priced from $5-$8, or you can order a combo of any three for $14.95. All are served with pita bread. Entrée salads are quite filling and include such options as the “Middle Eastern” which tosses romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers and chunks of red and green peppers with the house dressing, a tangy vinaigrette. The similar “Mediterranean” starts with the same base but is sprinkled with chickpeas and fava beans. The Greek salad adds in feta cheese, kalamata olives and pepperoncini. Entrée salads are in the $7-$9 range and all can be augmented with a choice of proteins ranging from falafel, shawarma, gyro, shish kebab as well as the
standard chicken, beef, shrimp or mahi for specialties with Middle Eastern salad, an additional $4-$10. pita bread and a choice of rice or fries. For something more substantial, there In addition to some of the grain-based are pita pizzas and sandwiches. The pita and meat dishes listed above, the menu pocket sandwiches are includes kefta kabab (a spicy accompanied by a small ground meat “meatball” on a the menu at Middle Eastern salad. Among skewer), or shrimp saganaki the fillings are; gyro (try not (the only disappointment in mini-pita is to sound like a rube when our meal, it was mostly overlyvery helpful; you order, it’s pronounced salted tomato sauce with four With good ghyee-ro not geye-ro), shrimp and a few clumps shawarma (similar to gyro, of feta cheese). The dishes descriptions but made with chicken or average $14, or you can get a of each dish beef instead of lamb), falafel combo of three for $17.95. indicating or sautéed vegetables. For Mini Pita Plus also serves something unusual try the wine and beer. The wines are Which menu konafa; a light, shredded, rather pedestrian and the items are thin pastry that is layered pours are skimpy. Desserts vegetarian with fillings and baked until are what you would expect; golden brown; almost like and/or vegan. baklava and variations on that turnover. They are available theme. Service is friendly, if with spinach, eggplant, inexperienced. While there’s cheese, chicken, beef, lamb, or shrimp nothing ground-breaking about what fillings. Most run about $9-$12. Mini-Pita is offering, in terms of food or There’s an “Exotic Platters” section ambiance, it is nice to have the option of a of the menu, which pairs some regional lower-priced option for “Greek” food.
sea & olive 2390 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors 954-533-6660 SeaAndOlive.com
ethos Greek bistro 2055 Wilton Dr. Wilton Manors 754-999-0034 EthosBistro.com
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F O R
T H E
SFGNITES
W E E K
O F
A u g u s t
J.W. Arnold
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A u g u s t
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W W W . S F G N . C O M
Oh, x God!
jw@prdconline.com
THU
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8/24
theater When do you get when you put together eight playwrights, six extremely talented actors and four equally skilled directors? The answer is “Shorts Gone Wild,” the provocative LGBTQ-themed short play festival presented by Island City Stage and Miami’s City Theatre through Sept. 10 at Abyss Theatre, 2304 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll laugh again. Tickets are $35 at IslandCityStage.org.
FRI
8/25
concert Slip into your flip flops and slide into a beach chair each Friday evening at 6 p.m. for free Friday Night Sound Waves concerts at the Fort Lauderdale Beach Hub, 300 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Local musicians provide an eclectic range of genres from blues and Motown to classic rock and country. For a complete schedule of performers, parking information and special offers, go to FridayNightSoundWaves.com.
Thursday
8/24
theater
“Muscle Bears the Musical” receives its world premiere production through Sept. 24 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale. The show, featuring a book by Michael Aman and score by Matthew Doers, spins the tale of a young cub who is ready to give up on love (and shave) when his “Furry God Daddy” drops in to save the day. Tickets $20 – 35 at EmpireStage.com Photo courtesy Empire Stage.
SAT
8/26 SUN
8/27 MON
8/28 TUE
8/29
cabaret
nightlife
television
concert
Where can you find shots AND South Florida’s sassiest lounge singer? At Georgie’s Alibi/Monkey Bar, of course. Don’t miss the Jennifer Tonight Show with Brandon in the Manchester room at 8 p.m. Saucy songstress Jennifer McClain works hard for her shots and she’ll sing almost anything—beautifully— with some special liquid courage. All drinks are 2-4-1 all night long. More information at AlibiWiltonManors.com.
The weekend isn’t over yet! Tonight, head down to the Village Pub, 2283 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, for “The Dirty Game Show” hosted by Jeff at 8 and 10 p.m. There’s never a cover and you could win great prizes— and some crap, too. More than $100,000 in prizes have been won in 100 matches hosted by Jeff so far. The money may be clean, but are you willing to get “dirty?” More information at VillagePubWM.com.
Tune in tonight to the new Canadian comedy, “The Switch,” available on video-on-demand from Amazon, Vimeo, Ti unes and Google Play. This groundbreaking series is the first to feature a predominantly transgender cast. Each of the six episodes introduces unique characters—from text-message dominatrixes to ecoterrorist roommates—in life-changing situations. For more information, go to WeLoveTheSwitch.com.
To kick off its 20th anniversary season, the South Florida Symphony presents the internationally-acclaimed Russian pianist Svetlana Smolina in a special benefit recital tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living, 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park. The program includes virtuosic works by Schumann, Chopin, Strauss, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff and Balakirev. Tickets are $40 at SouthFloridaSymphony. org.
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ON ARTSCALENDAR.COM
Keep It Reel
A&E theater “Shorts Gone Wild 5,” the LGBTQ-themed short play festival, features a television game show format this season. Credit: George Wentzler
‘sHorts Gone wiLd’ is a winner J.W. Arnold
I
f you like classic television game shows, then you’ll love “Shorts Gone Wild 5,” the LGBTQ-themed short play festival running through Sept. 10. Each year, the festival’s co-producers, Island City Stage in Wilton Manors and Miami’s City Theatre, have introduced a clever gimmick to mix up each performance by allowing the audience to select the order. For the fifth installment, that vehicle is a crazy take on “Concentration,” the popular ‘50s and ‘60s game show that forces competitors to match photographic tiles from memory. So much for luck, this is going to require some skill, too, if everyone is going to make it through all eight 10-minute plays in just two acts. Interspersed between each play, the themes from memorable shows like “Match Game,” “The Price is Right,” “Jeopardy” and “The Newlywed Game” provide a touch of nostalgia as Ardean Landhuis’ retro-inspired set pulses to flashing lights. At times, “Shorts Gone Wild 5” is more like “Let’s Make a Deal.” For every curtain that is drawn to reveal a snazzy sports car or exciting vacation, there is also likely to be an unexpected “zonk” lurking elsewhere. Several of the plays are funny, touching and particularly insightful: “Give Me Space” by Spenser Davis imagines the first same-sex couple in space (Lawrence Buzzeo and Marquise Rogers) on the first manned mission to Mars. A jealous lovers’ tiff ends in an ironic twist. “Valkyrie in the Roller Derby” by Seamus Sullivan pits an immortal Nordic warrior (Sabrina Gore) in the battle of love with a butch roller derby dyke (Rita Jae) and Odin just may or may not approve. Michael McKeever’s “Carly’s Last Call” is a surprisingly melancholy experience that would make M. Night Shyamalan proud as a lesbian (Rita Joe) must come to terms with the Provided by ArtServe & Broward Cultural Division
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unexpected loss of a dear friend. The most powerful play is a one-man work by Korde Tuttle, “Clarity,” and featuring an incredibly raw and moving performance by Rogers. His soliloquy is crammed with touchy material—racism and tolerance, AfricanAmerican culture, same-sex marriage—more than enough for three plays really, and Rogers’ delivery is certain to cause some audience members to squirm in their seats. Other plays are like that “Price is Right” showcase that doesn’t include the new car: Michael Leeds’s “So a Rabbi, a Priest and a Minister Walk into a Bar” and Kris Thompson’s “The Adventures of Gay Man – Birth of a Hero” are clever, but seem like extended “Saturday Night Live” skits. Cassandra Rose’s “Persona” is that lesbian coming out story that we all have seen before. Nicely told, but not quite the “wild” night of edgy theater promised. And then there’s the play that was behind curtain number three (ZONK!): Steve Yockey’s “Déjà Vu.” Honestly, I still don’t have any idea quite what that play was about. Maybe a sort of absurdist take on “Groundhog Day,” but don’t count on it. Luckily, it came up early and everyone—cast and audience alike—was able to move forward quickly. “Shorts Gone Wild 5” offered the most even cast to date. In addition to Rodgers, extra kudos go to comedic actress Christina Groom, Island City Stage veteran Buzzeo and high energy “Shorts” virgin Jordan Armstrong. Joe continues to charm and Gore is a stalwart, tackling several difficult roles with ease. Unfortunately, the entire game show shtick adds at least a good 20 minutes to the evening and gets old by the second act. Most audience members didn’t seem to mind, but it might be interesting to see how the plays might work in a more “curated” order. That would be a real winner, but for now “Shorts Gone Wild 5” still takes the prize.
“Shorts Gone Wild 5” will be presented through Sept. 10 at the Abyss Theatre, 2304 N. Dixie highway in Wilton Manors. Tickets are $35 at IslandCityStage.org.
Get Your Tickets Today At LiveNation.com
All dates, acts, and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Ticket prices subject to applicable fees
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FEATUrE pets
A Better Life Ahead One year old Onyx (ID 580971) had a family that loved her, but when they lost their home and ended up living in a U-Haul truck, they wanted a better life for their girl so they brought her and her sister to the shelter. The girls are a little shy, but given what they have been through it is understandable. Onyx is sweet and affectionate once she gets use to you and will do best in a quiet home. Can you give her the loving home she deserves?
Onyx
When you adopt from the humane Society of Broward County all pets are spayed or neutered before going home. In addition, they receive preliminary vaccinations, heartworm test for dogs over seven months, feline leukemia test for cats, a limited 10-day health care plan courtesy of VCa animal hospital, a bag of purina one food and more. The adoption fee for dogs over six months is $100 and felines over six months are $30. For more information call the shelter today at 954-989-3977 ext. 6. The humane Society of Broward County is located at 2070 Griffin Road, just a block west of I-95 and opens daily at 10:30 a.m. To see who else needs a home visit www.humanebroward.com
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Datebook
Theater
auGust 23 auGust 30
Christiana Lilly
Calendar@SFGN.com
broward county Muscle Bears: The Musical
Aug. 24 to Sept. 24 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale. A young cub is about to shave his chest when his Furry God Daddy comes to him and shows him the life of a bear. Tickets $35. Call 954-678-1496 or visit EmpireStage.com
* Lez Zeppelin
Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. The all-woman band pays tribute to the ‘70s rock legends, Led Zeppelin. Tickets $35. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.
Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series
Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy live, outdoor music spanning genres and tributes every Friday evening through November. Free. Visit FridayNightSoundWaves.com
palm beach county Free Friday Concerts
Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org. picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.
miami-dade county Outdoor Music Series
Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.
The Big Show
Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit JustTheFunny. com.
* Denotes New Listing
Datebook
Community GENDER BENDER YOUTH GROUP
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
PFLAG
Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and locations.
* Movie Series: “The Children’s Hour”
Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Stonewall National Museum - Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Martha and Karen run a boarding school for girls, and when one student, Mary, is punished for lying, she spreads a rumor that the two women are in a lesbian relationship. When parents get word, they begin to withdraw their children from the school. Free, suggested donation $5. Call 954-7638565 or visit Stonewall-Museum.org.
School Supply Drive
Through Aug. 26 at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Support Broward County students and drop off school supplies or monetary donations at the center. All 954-463-9008, ext. 108 or email womenwithpride@pridecenterflorida. org.
8 .23.2017
SUNSERVE YOUTH GROUP
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.
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.
broward county
Aug. 26 from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Rodeway Inn and Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport Cruise Port, 2440 W. State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale. Attend prom as your authentic self, fit with a free drink and entree, crowning of king and queen, and more. Tickets $25, $40 for couples. Visit Facebook. com/Transinclusive.
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Calendar@SFGN.com
broWard support services
Inaugural Transinclusive Prom
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Christiana Lilly
* Pride Center Fundraiser
Sept. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Flip Flops, 3051 NE 32nd Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Donate $10 to the Pride Center and enjoy a free cocktail or appetizer. Visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.
OutWrite: LGBTQ Authors From the Special Collection
Through Sept. 3 at the Stonewall National Museum - Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. With more than 27,000 items in its collection, the museum has acquired rare and historic books from authors Oscar Wilde, Walt Whitman, Gertrude Stein, and more. Call 954-763-8565 or visit Stonewall-Museum.org.
Life Coaching
Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Latinos Salud Clubhouse, 2300 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Get one-on-one life coaching from certified CRCS coaches. For guys living with HIV, their partners, and anyone who identifies as transgender. Free. Call 954-765-6239 or visit LatinosSalud.org.
Rest Your Mind
Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Kadampa Meditation Center, 241 W Prospect Road Ste. B in Fort Lauderdale. Start your week with relaxing meditation to center yourself. Free. Visit MeditateinFortLauderdale.org.
auGust 23 - auGust 30 palm beach county Annual Women’s Health Conference
Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Compass Community Center, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A conference exploring the needs body, mind, and spiritual health of straight, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender women, with breakout sessions including tai-chi, transgender health, butterfly gardening, creative entrepreneurship, and more. Tickets $20. Visit CompassGLCC.com.
Kitsch and Kulture
Through Aug. 30 at The Box Gallery, 811 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. A look at the transition period of kitsch culture in South Florida from 1960 to 1990. Free. Call 786-521-1199 or visit TheBoxGallery.info.
* Unity Bash
Sept. 1 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Box Gallery, 811 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. Spend your long weekend at the gallery, with music by DJ Muzik Jones Drew, three photo stations for portraits, and art from artists from all walks of life. Tickets $5. Visit TheBoxGallery.info.
Sushi & Stroll
Sept. 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road in Delray Beach. The summertime fete returns with sushi rolls, drumming by Fushu Daiko, tours, and more. Admission $15. Call 561-495-0233 or visit Morikami.org.
Transcendence
Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A closed transgender youth support group for teens ages 12 to 19. For more information, email youth@compassglcc.com.
miami-dade county Arsht Center Farmers Market
Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Purchase fresh food from local farmers, including fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared foods, as well as chefs, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Tickets $45 to $75. Free. Visit ArshtCenter.org/en/Visit/Dining.
Yoga
Tuesdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Jose Marti Park, 362 SW Fourth Ave. in Miami. Yogis 18 and older of all levels are invited to a practice lead by a certified instructor. Bring your own yoga mat, water, and towel. Free. Call 305358-7550 or visit BayfrontParkMiami.com/ Yoga.html.
Book Study
Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Buddhist monk, Gen Kelsang Norbu, will lead classes on learning the foundations of Buddhism. Call 786-529-7137.
Yoga in the Garden
Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive in Miami Beach. Hit the mat for an indoor yoga practice overlooking the garden. Tickets $10 Wednesdays, $15 Saturdays. Call 305-6737256 or visit MBGarden.org.
HIV Support Group
Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at South Beach AIDS Project, 1234 Washington Ave. Ste. 200 in Miami Beach. A support group for those
who are HIV positive. Free. Call 305-5354733, ext. 301 or email support@sobeaids. org.
Prayers For World Peace
Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Buddhist teacher, Todd Ellenberg will lead prayers and meditation. Cost $10. Call 786-529-7137.
TransSocial Saturdays
Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. at Pridelines, 6360 NE Fourth Court in Miami. Come hang out with others for a movie, snacks, and discussion every Saturday. Visit TransSocial. org.
key west Aqua Idol
Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Aqua Key West, 711 Duval St. in Key West. Support your local artists and vote for your favorite! Benefits Waterfront Playhouse. Call 305294-0555 or visit AquaKeyWest.com.
* Denotes New Listing
POrN pulse
porn star biaGGi opens LoCaL spa & attaCKs beyonCe Hunter Houston
a
ntonio Biaggi is the big boy on the block these days. The porn star has built up quite a head of steam for the grand opening of his new Wilton Manors spa. To raise his profile, Biaggi launched a social media tirade against American singer, songwriter, actress and dancing legend Beyonce. Earlier this month Biaggi tweeted several times that Beyonce “sucked” and had “no talent.” Biaggi punctuated these insults with his signature middle finger emoji. “She has no talent whatsoever any black girl that has the decent Voice with a big crew of queens will do the same thing that she does,” Biaggi tweeted on Aug. 9. The 39-year-old Puerto Rican known for his big dick and low hanging balls also targeted Beyonce’s fans. “I’m so afraid of the beehive keep twerking and Voguing that will pay for your KFC on my
way to one of my three business great day” One of Biaggi’s businesses is Hush Spa and Barber Shop in Wilton Manors – located in the same block as Courtyard Café, Too The Moon and Southern Nights. The spa is celebrating its grand opening Saturday, Aug. 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. Hush Spa also has a New York location and services men only. Biaggi is quite the world traveler and has alerted his followers he is arriving in France and Spain soon. In his films he typically plays the role of a dominant, bareback top and often sports “pig” fetish gear.
Please email tips (or more, if you desire) to PornPulseSFGN@gmail.com
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attorney LAW OFFICE OF GEORGE CASTRATARO 707 NE 3rd Ave #300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.573.1444 Lawgc.com LAW OFFICE OF ROBIN BODIFORD 2550 N Federal Hwy #20, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954.630.2707 Lawrobin.com
attorney SELZER LAW 1515 NE 25th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.567.4444 SelzerLaw.com LAW OFFICE OF SHAWN NEWMAN 710 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.563.9160 Shawnnewman.com
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attorney LAW OFFICE OF GREGORY KABEL 1 East Broward Blvd #700, Fort Lauderdale, 33301 954.761.7770 gwkesq@bellsouth.net
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dental
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OAKLAND PARK DENTAL 3047 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954.566.9812 Oaklandparkdental.com
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handyman MIAMI/BROWARD/PALM BEACH Paint/Caulk/Remove Grout/Yard Work Fix Drips & Switches/Debris removal Assembles Furniture & Appliances Repair or Fix Call "Avrom" Keith 786-227-9981
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real estate Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors & Oakland Park REMODELED homes:
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electrician HARRY’S ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL - Additions, renovations, service upgrades, breaker panels,FPL undergrounds, code violations, A/C wiring, ceiling fans, recessed, security & landscaping, lighting, pools, pumps, Jacuzzis, water heaters, FREE PHONE ESTIMATES 954-522-3357 Lic & Ins. www.harryelectrician.com
employment wanted SPECIAL HIRE NEEDED - Looking for strong males (must be able to hold up fall risk gentlemen, dementia, Parkinson's, stage 4 cancer, etc.) for LGBT seniors, must be gay-friendly, many have live-in senior partners (must enjoy the company of gay people and comfortable in gay settings, restaurants, etc.) Call 954-629-1377 and leave a message ONLY, include your contact info, name, and level of experience in senior care or your willingness to devote your time to senior care. Faxes welcome at 754-301-5802
MIKE THE RENTAL GUY - NE Lauderdale/Wilton Manors/Oakland Park-1/1 from $1090, 2/1 from $1140. Victoria Park-2/1=$1290.00 cable included. Credit & Income Requirements-Pets okay with restrictions Call for Details Mike 561- 703-5533 or miketherentalguy@ aol.com ONE MINUTE TO THE DRIVE - Fully renovated 2 bed 2 bath Granite counters, maple cabinetry, central a/c, Ceiling Fans All Rooms, and Window Treatments. www. YourPerfectApartment.com or call 954-253-1929
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handyman HUSBAND FOR RENT - Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more! It doesn't cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price. Call Haim at 954-398-3676, sidnalll@yahoo.com
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music lessons VOICE LESSONS & MUSIC THEATRE COACHING - Over 30 years experience. Students have performed on (and off) Broadway, in National & International tours, recorded solo albums & placed in prestigious competitions. www.kreutzmusic.com 617-967-0575
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GREGG'S PAINTING - I paint both interior and exterior. Great rates, free estimates. I am detailed-oriented, friendly, reliable, punctual, and neat. No job too small. Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Call Gregg at 617-306-5694 or 954-870-5972 Email: gmanbenn44@gmail.com
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LARGE MIDDLE RIVER DUPLEX - Located in residential area near downtown Wilton Manors $305,900.00 Call Gary for details 954-736-7583.
real estate new construction UNITED REALTY GROUP - Building in Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Coconut Creek, Lauderdale Lakes and Hollywood. Starting in the 200's, 2 & 3 Bedrooms, 1 & 2 Garages available with building incentives. Call for details Michael 561-703-5533 or email mkltub@aol.com for more info.
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WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO? Learn from an experienced teacher. All levels and ages welcome. Learn to play classical, popular, jazz, or show tunes. Visit www.edwinchad.com or call 954-826-9555 for more information. COOL POOLS- RELIABLE POOL SERVICE Professional pool service.Covering Wilton Manors, Lighthouse Point, and eastside of Pompano Beach. 15 years experience. Licensed and insured.Free estimates. Call 954-235-0775.
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