11/16/11 V2I45 by South Florida Gay News

November 16, 2011 • Volume 2 • Issue 45

Leonardo as ‘Gay’ Edgar Hoover PAGE 21

Leather Masked Ball INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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BREAKING NEWS:

Fire Island Burns

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Stonewall Museum’s ‘Our Stars’

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Page 4

60 LGBT Candidates Win Elections

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White Party Features New Venue

Winner of the 2011 Stars of the Rainbow Media Star Award November 16, 2011 • Volume 2 • Issue 45

SoundBiteQ Paul Domenick

Notes from Publisher Norm… New newsworthy news

Nate Klarfield

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

Norm Kent Publisher norm.kent@sfgn.com

ason Burns, the Development Officer for the Pride Center at Equality Park has been appointed to The Broward County School Board’s Diversity Committee by Board Member Katie Leach… Michael Rajner at the United States Conference on AIDS in Chicago last week, seen wearing a media badge, not reading SFGN, but ‘Troublemaker.’ Gotta’ love the kid… Meanwhile, no such pressures for Howard Andrew of FabScout Entertainment, enjoying a Caribbean Cruise.

By Karl Hampe

Online Website Director. . . . . Dennis Jozefowicz Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Swinford

Editorial Editor in Chief. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Arts/Entertainment Editor . . . JW Arnold jw@prdconline.com

Especially proud to say that we are also having a national college contract for a full page ad to promote their university. Going to hold back and surprise you on that one…And special thanks to Wilton Manors Doggie Day Care, who will be running with us weekly, featuring their star ‘Pet of the Week.’ Start lining up your pet portrait soon. Speaking of which, nice poster at Rosie’s on Wilton Drive about why dogs are better than men.

Correspondents. . . . . . . . . . . P aul Domenick Ed Donato Donald Cavanaugh Lisa Lucas Denise Royal Michael Anguille

Congratulations to Nate Klarfield, formerly at the Stonewall Library. He will take over the role of head of the Broward Steering Committee for Equality Florida. Phillip Dearborn is stepping aside after a job well done. Wanted to thank David Jacovitz for joining the family of advertisers on SFGN. For the past ten years, David had been working as a local litigation counsel for banking institutions, working with many gay couples. He has now started a new law practice in the field of estate planning, and we want to wish him the best of luck.

THE REGULARS

Creative Director. . . . . . . . . George Dauphin george.dauphin@sfgn.com

Last week I proudly announced that Lipton Toyota would be joining our family of advertisers, but I forgot to thank Comcast, whose diversity outreach in our community is ever so commendable. They had our back page two weeks ago, and are coming back again in January. Happy to also add that the Marlins are coming back to us as well, though they officially became the Miami Marlins last week. I have ordered up my partial season ticket package, have you?

A few months ago we ran a feature on ‘Davey Wavey.’ Funny kid, and now a cute Facebook feature on ‘How to Meet Gay Men.’ On the other hand, if you wanted to help abused and neglected disadvantaged youth, (HANDY) you would have joined George Castrataro last Thursday at an event he sponsored for the organization at Market 17. Nice too of Sweet Tomatoes to sponsor a party at the Manor to benefit Sunserve this past Monday. Speaking of parties, if John Evans and his partner Steve Wozencraft throw any more, I am going to get a bedroom in their Barcelona Isle cottage. The gentlemen hosted Equality Florida sponsors this past weekend, and will also open their home for the GLAAD Gala in December.

David Jacovitz

Pier Angelo Guidugli

Chief Executive Officer

Finally this week, Mayor Suzanne Boisvenue will be issuing a World AIDS Day proclamation at tonight’s city commission meeting at 6:30 pm in Oakland Park. Many other groups, including Broward House are planning events in South Florida in two weeks.

Arts Correspondent. . . . . . . . Mary Damiano Business Editor . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Gary Senior Features Correspondents . . . . . . . . . . T ony Adams Jesse Monteagudo

Contributing Columnists. . . . W ayne Besen Susan Estrich Brian McNaught Victoria Michaels Leslie Robinson Dana Rudolph Health Columnist. . . . . . . . . . Peter Jackson Editorial Cartoonists. . . . . . . S teve Sack Darryl Smith

Sales

Marketing Director. . . . . . . . . J ohn Fugate Sales Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Trottier Miami/Dade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Esterby National Sales Representative.Rivendell Media todd@rivendellmedia.com Distribution Managers. . . . . . JR Davis, Kenneth Justeen South Florida Gay News.com is published weekly on Wednesdays. Our paper is a member of the Associated Press. The views and opinions expressed within this publication, in bylined columns, stories, and letters to the editor are those of the writers expressing them. They do not represent the opinions of South Florida Gay News.com, Inc., or the Publisher. They are included to promote free speech and diversity of thought. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations in SFGN, and it would be careless to do so. For the sake of readable newswriting, the word “gay” in SFGN should, when relevant, be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community. All of the material that appears in SFGN, both online at www. southfloridagaynews.com, and in our print edition, including articles used in conjunction with our contract with the Associated Press and our columnists, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Thus, nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher of SFGN, at his law office, Kent & Cormican, P.A., 110 Southeast 6th Street, Suite 1970, Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33301. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright©2011 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

Associated Press Florida Press Association National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 16, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

J.R. Davis

Local News

Holiday Blast Features Leather Masks T Staff Report

his year’s annual Leather Masked Ball will be hosted at Boom in Wilton Manors and will feature, 3 DJs, a separate VIP lounge, and outdoor chill area. “It just makes sense to have this event, which benefits LGBT organizations, in our backyard,” says Pete Trimble, Leather Men’s Brotherhood’s Vice President. “The management at Boom, Craig, Chris and Russ, have gone far above the call to ensure the Leather community and curious will have a party like no other.” The VIP party will feature complimentary cocktails courtesy of Bud Light, Pisco Porton and Zyr Vodka, and hors d’ouvres provided by The Courtyard Café. The VIP lounge will have 2 bootblacks on duty, a puppy play pen and a full schedule of BDSM entertainment. The main floor will feature a musical journey with DJ/Producer John LePage from San Francisco. LePage’s extensive list of events includes The Black and Blue Ball (Montreal), White Party (Miami), LazyBear Weekend (Guerneville), The Factory (Los Angeles), The Onyx Ball (Toronto), and Folsom Street East (NYC). Live BDSM entertainment is also provided by the 2011 International titleholders, LeatherSIR Alan Penrod

and leatherboy pup nitro. The front room has DJ JimmyP bringing his style from years at The Eagle and Tunnel in NYC, as well as Fort Lauderdale’s Eagle and Chainz. Also in the front room, the ever popular silent auction is showcasing many items and services donated by local businesses. Peruse the tables to find that perfect item you’ve always wanted. Upstairs has studio photography by Jason Leidy (Middle River Photography) and 2 bootblacks ready to shine your soles. Proceeds from The Leather Masked Ball SIX will fund a $10,000 grant to a new Teen Suicide Prevention Program at Broward House as well as $10,000 to the Leather Archive and Museum in Chicago, North America’s only repository of artifacts and history of the Leather Community. These grants will bring to more than $110,000 The Leather Masked Ball total contributions to community non-profits. Event Parking is available at The Pride Center with complimentary shuttle service. Tickets are General Admission - $30 in advance/$35 at door,VIP -$45 in advance, $50 at door.Visit LeatherMaskedBall.org for more information. Tickets also on sale at Leatherwerks Main Store and at the Ramrod, Tropixx Video and Gaymart..

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Rynerson Announces Run for Lauderdale Mayor By Richard Gary

Earl Rynerson

submitted photo

ort Lauderdale civic activist Earl Rynerson, a popular gay businessman who is the proprietor of CLAD Tile on Northeast 4th Avenue has announced his candidacy for the city mayor’s race. He will oppose the incumbent, an attorney, Jack Seiler. Rynerson has stayed active in city politics via his news blog, a “Vision for Fort Lauderdale,” which focuses on “what we can do to make our City better, more progressive and less costly in the future.” His bold statements and forthright approach, by his own admission, has “ruffled the feathers of many of the ‘Old Guard’ here in the City who don’t want to see any change or improvement.” Rynerson’s initial campaign volley targeted economics, pointing out that the city’s budget has doubled “from $345 Million to $635 million in just the last 8 years… We have a spending addiction. Our Mayor, rather than reduce spending, continues to hand out pay raises to City employees, and has been raiding the City’s savings account to cover the higher costs.”     A United States veteran who is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Rynerson vol-

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unteered for both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and was in Middle East days after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Now a business owner here in Fort Lauderdale, Rynerson relocated to South Florida ten years ago from San Francisco, because of “the quality of life he saw here.” He previously ran unsuccessfully for the City Commission of Fort Lauderdale..

BREAKING NEWS FLAMES ON FIRE ISLAND

ketchy information flooded Facebook last night as a fire swept through the Fire Island Pines commercial district on Long Island in New York, an internationally popular gay vacation destination. Now with the light of day comes some clarity. As SFGN goes to press, we are reading that the Fire Island News is reporting that the fire destroyed and gutted the Pavilion complex and at least one home. Andrew Kirtzman, a co-owner of the properties, released a statement from the scene Tuesday morning via Facebook. He said the fire was under control and officials did not believe the cause to be suspicious. The Suffolk Country Fire Department suspects the fire started outside

LaFountaine before spreading to the Pavilion. Kirtzman also noted that Canteen, Blue Whale, the hotel and Pantry are all fine. The Sip n’ Twirl, the Bistro and the stores below them are in ruin. The roof over the Pavilion is gone, and the high tea deck has been destroyed. Fire Island features a thriving community for many gay and lesbian owners and renters during the spring, summer and into the fall months. Though the blaze took place after many people had already packed up, winterized their homes and left for the season, approximately 300 fire fighters responded to the crisis. P.J. McAteer, owner of Sip N’ Twirl, posted on his Facebook page: “Please remember Fire Island Pines is more then just buildings, it is an institution, it is a community. We will survive!”

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

MCC of the Palm Beaches Celebrates 30 Years of Ministry

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New drop-in center for HIV patients

By Donald Cavanaugh

he Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beaches (MCCPB) will hold its 30th anniversary celebration of ministry in the age of AIDS with guest speaker Rev. Elder Troy Perry, a religious, social and civil rights activist who founded the MCC in 1968, from Nov. 18-20. “We’re thrilled that Rev. Perry can join us,” Pastor Lea Brown said. “We expect a lot of the community will be interested in meeting and hearing such an important, living piece of our history.” Entitled “Seeking First What Is First,” the weekend gala is completely free, open to everyone and features different programs every day. See the calendar of events below. “We were founded the same year that AIDS was starting to get media coverage as the frightening, complex and deadly disease that it was,” said Brown, the current pastor of the church at 4857 Northlake Avenue in Palm Beach Gardens. “People were scared; the government was silent; and mainline faith communities were finding one more reason to reject their LGBT members.” Fortunately, in 1968, some 13 years prior to the advent of the AIDS information age, Rev. Troy Perry had launched the Metropolitan Community Church, a predominantly gay Protestant denomination that insinuated a faith community into the heart of the incipient gay rights movement that caught fire the next year in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots in New York City. Now, 30 years later, Perry will join the congregation of MCCPB to honor the work they have done to date and help them launch a major new drop-in center for people with HIV and AIDS. MCCPG was started by Rev. Richard Ross at his home in West Palm Beach on Nov 22, 1981. For the first few years church services

were held at a store front on North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. The church has had many homes and many pastors since then. The congregation settled into its current location in 2000, according to Brown who signed on as pastor about a year ago. “About 125 people call this their church home and make it a vibrant, active community of believers,” Brown said. “The drop-in center is one more project the members felt called to undertake to help people in the congregation and the community at large. The drop-in center will be open on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from noon to 4 p.m. starting Nov 22. It is named after deceased church member Kevin McGee who died from AIDS and knew what it meant to find a community for support.

Schedule of Events Friday, Nov 18 at 7 p.m. there will be a musical review of 30 years of memorable moments in music and entertainment, which have been held at the church over the years. On Saturday, Nov 19, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Perry will share his reflections about the 30 year history of AIDS in MCC and world-wide. This will be followed by a catered brunch and the grand opening of a new drop-in center for people with HIV and AIDS. Saturday evening, a new documentary on Perry, “Call Me Troy,” will be screened at Compass at 201 North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Discussion and a reception will follow. Sunday, Nov 20 the regular church service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Perry will preach at the service, which will be followed by a barbecue on the church grounds. “We expect a large turnout for this opportunity to meet an icon,” Brown said. “The documentary is full of original archival footage from the ’60s and ’70s and really shows Perry as a powerful religious leader and amazing political activist” All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are needed for the Saturday catered brunch so please call 561-775-5900 by Wed Nov 16 to confirm or if you have any questions.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

VIEWS OF THE NEWS

LGBT community rallies to support abused, neglected and disadvantaged youth at fundraiser Photos by J.R. Davis

Roger Handevidt, Dean Trantalis and Keith Blackburn

Craig Novek and Luke Freeman

Nathan Brunner, Chris Caputo, and Gary Farmer

Captain Richard Wierzbicki, Michael Albetta, Sheriff Al Lamberti and George Castrataro

Stonewall Museum Presents “OUR STARS” Photos by Paul Domenick Stonewall National Museum & Archives party gives homage to “Our Stars” with an exhibit and awards.

Robin Tyler and Elaine Noble Stonewall Museum awarded Noble the Stonewall Heritage of Pride Award

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Brian McNaught and Partner, Ray Struble, hosts of the party to celebrate the “Our Stars” opening exhibit

Stonewall awarded Joel Burns the Stonewall Spirit of Pride award

VIEWS OF THE NEWS Florida Atlantic University Lambda United and Student Government held a rally Nov.14 in support of the FAU Board of Trustees adding sexual orientation to the University Anti-Discrimination Policy. Although the Board is set to vote on the issue Nov. 16, many of the speakers at the rally expressed concern about the exclusion of gender identity and gender expression. “Most people don’t discriminate on sexual orientation, they discriminate on expression,” said FAU graduate student Amy Milin. Ryan Ebanks, Governor of FAU’s Boca Raton campus, encouraged the Board to listen to the students. FAU is currently one of two universities in the state of Florida that does not include sexual orientation to the anti-discrimination policy. The addition of sexual orientation to the policy has been a work in progress since 2009, and

Students Rally in Support of Equality at FAU Story and Photos by Charles Pratt

President of Lambda United Frank Gorritz gives a speech about equality to students. Members of FAU’s Student government, Boris Bastidas, Ryan Ebanks, stand united with Lambda. since September some students have been trying to add gender identity and gender expression to the policy as well. Frank Gorritz, president of Lambda United stated that “Re-

gardless of weather it passes or not, I will continue to be an activist for LGBTQA rights and I will not rest until gender identity and gender expression gets included in the anti discrimination bill.”

FAU student Daniela Feriozzi encourages students to attend the rally at the traditions plaza on the Boca Raton campus

EQUALITY FLorida FUNDRAISER RAISES ROOF by Elliott Joseph Photos by J.R. Davis A record crowd raised $260,000 for LGBT rights at the Broward Gala this past Sunday at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. The fired up crowd included dozens of key elected officials, including Congressman Alcee Hastings, who had first fought for LGBT rights as a city council member in the 1970’s. Candidates and community leaders from the School Board to Congress were pressing the flesh, seeking endorsements and votes. Both candidates in the Democratic Primary for Republican Congressman Alan West’s seat were there, Patrick Murphy and Lois Frankel. The evening was a fundraiser for Equality Florida Institute and a night to honor Teri Williams and Michael Rajner for their work ending bullying and securing equal rights for LGBT Floridians. The evening came on the heels of a tremendous victory for equality in Broward- passage of an Equal Benefits Ordinance that requires companies doing business with Broward to provide the same benefits to domestic partners that are given to married couples. Former county Mayor Ken Keechl was present, now running again for a seat on the county commission.

Honorees and presenters: Nadine Smith and Michael Rajner, Teri Williams and De Palazzo

Mikey Verdugo, Luis Weber and Ryan Donahue

Congressman Alcee Hastings

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Openly Gay Businessman Elected to Lake Worth City Council

Andy Amoroso

By Mike Anguille

olling is over, the votes have been tallied and for the first time ever an openly gay man has been elected to the Lake Worth City Council. A 32 year Lake Worth resident and business owner Andy Amoroso, 47, was sworn in Nov. 14 after defeating incumbent Jo-Ann Golden in a Nov. 8 election which saw Amoroso receive more than 59 percent of the vote. Amoroso is one of the founding members of the Lake Worth Downtown Cultural Alliance and a member of the Community Redevelopment Association a post he had to relinquish due to conflict of interest with his running for office. In order to get elected he harnessed his support as a local businessman to flex his political muscle. “He’s such a big part of the business owning community. He gives us advice and is a friend to all of us. Pro-business is what this city needs,” says Debbie Null, 54, a three and a half year Lake Worth resident and owner of the Mango Inn Bed and Breakfast. “Even before he ran, people were always in his shop talking about business happenings in Lake Worth and he was always there to lend an ear and voice his opinion.” Amoroso owns Studio 205, an LGBT store, in downtown Lake Worth, and adds that he is also the first business owner to be elected in Lake Worth. As far as he sees it, though, business was not the only concern people took with them to the polls. He’s more than quick to admit that his predecessor, and the prior administration as a whole, kept residents in the dark about how they were impacted or rather, negatively impacted through the actions of city council whom, he adds, raised taxes and made judgments for people that had no idea what affect it was having on them.

Not only does Amoroso believe that he brings with him a sense of what the community and local businesses need, but his track record is, if nothing else, far transcendent of the apathetic, non-involved citizen. “The people wanted change,” Amoroso says speaking on his defeat of incumbent Golden. “She was there for four and a half years and not a lot got done. I brought in the New Publix, the Palm Beach County cultural commission got a $23 million grant through the Obama administration and now we’re buying abandoned and foreclosed properties and using both Habitat for Humanity and Adopt-A-Family to sell these houses at fair market value to help families move to this area and help stimulate tax revenue.” And he did it all as a volunteer to this point. “He’s one of the biggest cheerleaders the Lake Worth community has,” Null says enthusiastically. “People didn’t vote on his sexuality regardless of there being a large gay population in Lake Worth…it was way more than that.” “They wanted someone who knew the community and someone who would support them in all of their endeavors both socially and economically,” she continued. Speaking on the issue of sexuality, Amoroso adds, “I had a woman walk in to my shop a couple of weeks ago and say she was voting for me because she supports the gay community and I told her that I couldn’t accept that. I told her to look at the issues, not my sexuality, and then make a decision. My being gay has never been a point of contention nor has it drawn attention to me, so I certainly didn’t want it to become a part of my political platform, and it didn’t.” Looking to the future, Amoroso looks forward to transforming the city he loves in to one that others enjoy equally. “Lake Worth has great assets, but we don’t do anything to market them and we need to start,” he says. “The Sun-Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post both recently wrote stories on us being one of the top new tourist destinations in south Florida particularly because of our diverse culture and LGBT population.” “We have everything here. A beach, great shops, cottages, places for people to stay and we need to start using these things to our advantage,” he says. “And that’s what I’m here for.”

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LGBT Candidates Surge Nationwide More than 60 elected to office

ast week was a very good week for openly LGBT candidates around the country, with three out of four of more than 60 won, including Annise Parker, who secured a second term as mayor of Houston. But the real excitement in the November 8 results came in some of the low-profile races of the day, many in notoriously conservative places such as Montana. Four out of five openly gay candidates won in conservative North Carolina, including LaWana Mayfield, the first openly LGBT member of the Charlotte City Council. Attorney Mike Laster became the first gay man to be elected to the Houston City Council, and businessman Zach Adamson became the first openly LGBT member of the Indianapolis City Council. And attorney Chris Seelbach, who helped overturn Cincinnati’s anti-gay charter amendment seven years ago, won a seat on the City Council Tuesday. Data collected independently by Keen News Service and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund indicates there were at least 63 openly LGBT candidates on the ballot Tuesday: 47 of them won, 14 lost, and two outcomes remain uncertain. Eight of nine openly gay candidates for mayor won Tuesday. Parker in Houston secured 50 percent of the vote in a field of six candidates, though none of her five opponents had anywhere near the funding or organization that Parker did. Still, going into the race, Parker had reason to worry. In mid-October, a local television news poll found that voters were split on her effectiveness. Fifty percent rated her job performance in her first two-year term as either “Fair” or “Poor,” while 47 percent rated it “Good” or “Excellent.” Right-wing groups that opposed Parker in 2009 tried again to portray her as a lesbian

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Keen News Service

activist, creating a Youtube video that showed a slow-motion clip of her giving her partnerin-life a peck on the cheek after being sworn in. It also showed a news clip of Parker appointing a transgender person, Phyllis Frye, to a local judgeship, and a news clip of an executive order Parker issued to ban discrimination in public restrooms on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The video also showed a letter in which Parker referred to her partner, Kathy Hubbard, as “First Lady.” In Holyoke, Massachusetts, recent college graduate but longtime local youth and community activist Alex Morse won an upset victory against an incumbent who had been Daniel Hernandez of Arizona a top town official for many years. The key issue had been over casinos weren’t hidden either. The local daily newswith Morse being against and incumbent paper, the Missoulian, ran an article about Elaine Pluta being for. Morse had served on her involvement “with the Pride Foundathe one-time governor’s LGBT commission tion, which works to connect and strengthen Montana’s gay rights movement.” and started a non-profit LGBT group. Four of the 63 races Tuesday were for In Palm Springs, California, incumbent Mayor Steve Pougnet, who is openly gay, seats in state legislatures. One of the most won re-election over a field of six other can- important of those was Adam Ebbin, who moved from the State House to the State didates, taking 70 percent of the vote. The only losing mayoral candidate Tues- Senate in Virginia, becoming the first openday was Bevan Dufty in San Francisco, ly LGBT person in that chamber. Unfortuwhere, as of Wednesday morning, Dufty had nately, the State Senate lost a number of earned less than four percent of the vote in Democrats Tuesday and is switching from majority Democrat to majority Republican, a field with more than a dozen candidates. In other interesting news from election giving the state a Republican majority now in both chambers and the governor’s office. day: An openly lesbian candidate, Caitlin Cop- Two gay men won Assembly seats in New ple, has won a seat to the city council of Mis- Jersey: Tim Eustace and Reed Gusciora. The soula, Montana a state with a very sparse only loss on the state level was Patrick ForLGBT population. While Copple’s connections rest, who fell short in his bid for a State Sento the gay community were not consistent- ate seat in Virginia. Two out of three candidates for judgely highlighted during the campaign, they photo courtesy of equality forum

By Lisa Keen

Annise Parker, Mayor of Houston

ships won last week. The winners were Anthony Cannataro in New York and Hugh McGough in Pittsburgh. Daniel Clifford, a Republican, lost his bid for a judgeship in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. All five candidates for local school boards won Tuesday, including Daniel Hernandez, with 60 percent of the vote, in Tucson. Hernandez is the openly gay aide to U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) who is credited with saving her life after a gunshot shot and killed a number of people attending a meetand-greet the Congresswoman was hosting at a local grocery store. Of the 41 candidates running for City Council or its equivalent in their cities, 28 won. Two others are still pending. Brad Bender’s big for a Town Council seat in Southampton, New York, is too close to call. Lance Rhodes has been thrown into a runoff for a seat on the East Point City, Georgia, City Council.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

International News

rights to freedom of association and expression guaranteed by international human rights law and the Malaysian constitution,’’ the group said in a letter to Prime Minister Najib Razak. The ban contradicted Najib’s call to promote unity in diversity and indicated that a “discriminatory, homophobic agenda persists’’ within the government, the group said. It urged Malaysia to overturn a decades-old law that makes sexual relations between same-sex adults punishable by 20 years in prison. Najib and his aides couldn’t be reached immediately for comments.

Transsexual Makes Debut in New Polish Parliament By Monika Scislowska and Vanessa Gera Associated Press

Anna Grodzka

The seventh parliament since communism fell was opened by a former speaker, Jozef Zych, who invoked words spoken by the late Polish pope, John Paul II, and acknowledged the presence of archbishops and other church leaders who observed from a balcony.

Malaysia urged to rescind ban on gay arts festival Human Rights Watch urged Malaysia’s government Wednesday to rescind a ban on an annual gay arts festival and amend criminal laws that it said discriminated against homosexuals. The “Sexual Independence’’ festival was launched in 2008 to promote gay rights in the Muslim-majority nation and was held without interference for three years. But it drew growing criticism this year from politicians and religious leaders after awareness of the event became widespread. This year’s festival was due to start Wednesday, but police banned it last week on grounds of national security after several Muslim groups threatened to launch protests against the event. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said police showed no evidence that the five-day event, to be held in a private art center, would disturb public order. “The banning of this festival violates basic

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

EPA/Radek Pietruszka POLAND OUT

ARSAW, Poland (AP) A transsexual woman and an openly gay man took seats in Poland’s newly elected parliament Tuesday, historic firsts that reflect profound social change in this traditionally Roman Catholic country. Anna Grodzka, who was born a man but underwent a sex change, entered the assembly hall to warm greetings. Several men and women shook her hand, while one male lawmaker kissed her on the cheek. She was later introduced to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who also shook her hand. Grodzka sat next to Robert Biedron, an activist who is the first openly gay person elected to Poland’s parliament. Both belong to Palikot’s Movement, a new progressive party that became the third-largest party in parliament in the Oct. 9 election. Grodzka said she felt overwhelmed by emotion as the session opened with the national anthem and when she later took her oath of office. “It is a symbolic moment, but we owe this symbolism not to me but to the people of Poland because they made their choice,’’ Grodzka told The Associated Press. “They wanted a modern Poland, a Poland open to variety, a Poland where all people would feel good regardless of their differences. I cannot fail them in their expectations.’’ Palikot’s Movement, led by outspoken entrepreneur-turned-politician Janusz Palikot, has vowed to push for liberal causes. It opposes the influence of the church in political life, promotes gay rights, and wants to challenge the country’s near-total ban on abortion. Ewa Kopacz, the outgoing health minister, was then elected the new parliament speaker the first time a woman was chosen for a post that the constitution defines as the second most powerful political position, after the prime minister.

Gay rights activists had said the festival was meant to counter widespread homophobia in this socially conservative Muslim-majority nation, where a young gay man received death threats last year after posting a YouTube clip defending his sexuality. The agenda for this year’s festival, themed “Queer Without Fear,’’ included talks on sexuality, an art exhibition and a makeup workshop by a drag queen. Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, currently on trial for sodomy, earlier this week joined the public outcry over the ban and said he supported the movement’s right to free expression.

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SFGN BRIEFS

By Associated Press Castro’s daughter, blogger in Twitter spat

aul Castro’s daughter and an antigovernment Cuban blogger have engaged in a prickly back-and-forth on Twitter, which has a small but growing presence on the island despite scarce Internet connectivity. Mariela Castro’s debut on the social media service began smoothly enough when she sent her first tweets Tuesday talking about a visit to the Netherlands and her work as the country’s leading gay rights activist. Then dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez fired the first salvo. “They tell me Mariela Castro opened a Twitter account,’’ Sanchez wrote. ``A question for her, ‘When will we Cubans be able to come out of other closets?’” Two more tweets directed at the first daughter quickly followed: “Welcome to the plurality of Twitter ... here nobody can shut me up, deny me permission to travel or impede entrance,’’ and “How can one ask for acceptance only in one area? Is tolerance total or not?’’ Castro, who is the head the National Sex Education Center, shot back at Sanchez by name, saying, “Your approach to tolerance reproduces the old mechanisms of power. To improve your ‘services’ you should study.’’ Later, she grumbled about ``despicable parasites’’ criticizing her on Twitter: “Were you ordered by your employers to respond to me in unison and with the same predetermined script? Be creative.’’ Cuba accuses dissidents like Sanchez of being mercenaries in the hire of Washington. On Wednesday Sanchez tweeted, ``I would love it if everyone on the (Communist Party’s) Central Committee got on Twitter. We would tell them in the virtual world what they don’t let us in the real one.’’ ``Good for them to get practice with plurality starting now on Twitter, soon the day will arrive when they will have to deal with it in reality,’’ read a second missive.

Traverse City voters give strong OK to gay rights

raverse City residents have voted decisively in favor of retaining a city ordinance that protects gay rights. With all precincts reporting Tuesday, there were 2,818 votes in favor of the law and 1,661 opposed. That’s a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent. The law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in the northern Michigan city of about 15,000. Last year, the Traverse City Commission approved the measure to prevent discrimination against gays in employment, housing and other areas. Opponents of the law collected signatures to require a referendum.

approved a gay marriage law, but it was overturned by a statewide referendum in 2009.

Maine GOP head takes heat for ad mentioning gays

aine Republican Chair Charles Webster is defending campaign ads that mention a gay rights group’s funding of Democratic candidates and the campaign for same-day voter registration. Webster said Tuesday the ads are factual, and meant to highlight the difference between his party’s constituency and that of the Democrats. The ads, which appeared in weekly newspapers and as inserts, said the EqualityMaine group, which supports gay rights and samesex-marriage, donated $5,000 and helped in the petition drive in support of the voter

video along with Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jared Polis of Colorado. It’s part of the “It Gets Better Project,’’ an online initiative featuring messages of support for gay and lesbian teens. All four are Democrats. In the video, Cicilline says there’s nothing wrong with being gay. He says “If we can be members of Congress, you can be anything.’’ Other “It Gets Better’’ videos have been recorded by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Town clerk in NY same-sex marriage flap re-elected

town clerk in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region who refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of her religious beliefs has won her re-election race. Longtime Ledyard town clerk Rose Marie Belforti defeated Ed Easter, a write-in candidate who said he ran because Belforti’s stance on licenses was wrong. New York became the sixth and largest state to sanction gay marriage this summer. Belforti said her Christian beliefs preclude her from issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Her solution was to have her office issue all marriage licenses by appointment so a deputy can handle them. Belforti had 305 votes to Easter’s 186. Belforti’s plan was criticized by some in the town, and a lawsuit from a lesbian couple denied a license was being considered.

W.Va. aiming to protect LGBT students from bullies Beautiful horizon of the Great Lakes seen from Traverse City, Michigan

Gay marriage group exceeds petition goal in Maine

ay marriage supporters in Maine have surpassed their goal for petitions to be used if they decide to press forward with another referendum next year. Betsy Smith of EqualityMaine says 396 volunteers collected more than 36,000 signatures on Election Day, bringing the total number to 100,000. That’s more than enough petitions to get gay marriage onto the statewide ballot if the group chooses to do so. Smith says the group will make its decision on a referendum in January. Maine is currently the only state in New England that doesn’t allow either gay marriage or civil unions. Maine lawmakers

registration referendum. State Democratic Chair Ben Grant and Betsy Smith of EqualityMaine both called the ads “homophobic,’’ and the political activist group Maine’s Majority called them “shameless and disgusting.’’ Andrew Ian Dodge, a tea partier and GOP Senate hopeful, called for Webster to resign. Webster says he will not.

RI, Mass.Reps. make new anti-gay bullying video

ongressmen from Rhode Island and Massachusetts have joined two other openly gay colleagues in a new video message to help teens cope with bullying over their sexual orientation. U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (sihs-ih-LEE’-nee) and Barney Frank appear in the three-minute

proposed anti-bullying policy for West Virginia schools acknowledges that sexual orientation and gender identity are common reasons for harassment. The state Department of Education is taking public comments until 4 p.m. Tuesday about the 75-page student conduct and disciplinary policy that the Board of Education will consider Dec. 14. If approved, changes that specifically acknowledge the targeting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students would go into effect July 1, 2012. The civil rights group Fairness West Virginia lauds the new language as “a landmark achievement.’’ It says the policy effectively provides political and legal cover to teachers and others who might hesitate to help a student. But the Family Policy Council calls it “dangerous and expansive.’’ It says bullies should be identified by their actions, not their victims.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres Named Special Envoy for AIDS Awareness

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uring an address Nov. 8 on HIV/ AIDS at the National Institutes of Health, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that Ellen DeGeneres has been named as a Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness. In this role DeGeneres will use her celebrity platform to raise awareness about the global fight against AIDS. “By lending us your energy, compassion, and star power to serve as our Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness, your words will encourage Americans in joining you to make their voices heard in our campaign to achieve an AIDS-free generation,” Clinton stated in a letter to DeGeneres. “The enormous platform of your television show and your social media channels will enable you to reach millions of people with the strong and hopeful message that we can win this fight.”    While talk show host Ellen DeGeneres said: “I’m honored to have been chosen by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as Special Envoy for Global AIDS awareness. The fight against AIDS is something that has always been close to my heart. And I’m happy that I can use my platform to educate people and spread hope. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go look up what “envoy” means,”

State Dept Releases Path to AIDS-Free Generation

ecretary Clinton, on Nov. 8, called on the world to join the United States in working to achieve the goal of an AIDS-free generation during an address at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. An AIDS-free genera-

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Study shows importance of co-parent adoption

ecently, Family Relations, an interdisciplinary journal of the National Council on Family Relations, published the first longitudinal study on dissolutions among lesbian couples whose children had been born after their relationships were formed. The study, based on interviews with 40 separated lesbian couples and their 17-year old adolescents, found no difference in the well-being between children who had been adopted by their co-mothers and those who had not. However, the study did find that the mothers were more likely to be sharing custody if there had been a co-parent adoption, which provides legal recognition of the parental rights of both the biological and non-biological mothers. The former couples with co-parent adoptions also remained in their relationships significantly longer – on average four years longer -- than those without co-parent adoptions. In addition, the percentage of 17-yearold adolescents who reported closeness to both mothers was significantly higher in families with co-parent adoption. Those adolescents also spent significantly more time with both of their mothers after the dissolution than those whose mothers had not had a co-parent adoption. The new findings are from the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS), led by Williams Institute Distinguished Visiting Scholar Nanette Gartrell, M.D., and Henny Bos, Ph,D., who will be visiting with the Williams Institute from the University of Amsterdam in the Spring of 2012. The study also found that most of these relationships (80%) dissolved before the mothers were able to enter into a legally recognized relationship in any state in the United States.

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tion means that virtually no children are born with the virus; that as these children become teenagers and adults, they are at a far lower risk of becoming infected than they would be today, thanks to a wide range of prevention tools; and finally that if they do acquire HIV, they have access to treatment that helps prevent them from developing AIDS and passing the virus to others. Three key scientific interventions have been identified as pivotal: stopping motherto-child transmission, expanding voluntary male circumcision, and scaling up treatment as prevention. When used in combination with each other, condoms and other prevention tools, these three interventions offer an historic opportunity to drive down the worldwide rate of new infection. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission: Today, 1 in 7 new infections worldwide occur through mother-tochild transmission. In 2010, PEPFAR helped prevent 114,000 babies from being born with HIV. In June, PEPFAR and UNAIDS launched a global plan for eliminating new infections among children by 2015. Voluntary medical male circumcision: This low-cost procedure reduces the risk of female-to-male transmission by more than 60 percent. It is a one-time intervention with a lifelong benefit. PEPFAR has financed three-fourths of the one million male circumcisions for HIV prevention around the world since 2007. Treatment as prevention: Once people do become HIV-positive, recent science has shown that treatment with anti-retroviral drugs helps prevent the transmission of the virus to others. Effective treatment of a person living with HIV reduces the risk of transmission to a partner by 96%. To learn more about the U.S. commitment to the global HIV/AIDS response, visit www.pepfar.gov.

Congressman Alcee Hastings

Cong. Hastings to Speak at Trans Day of Remembrance

ach November, the worldwide transgender community turns its attention to its family, friends and loved ones lost to violence and prejudice. A tradition inspired by the a vigil for slain transsexual Rita Hester in 1998, this day has become the worldwide rallying point for a community long under siege. This year, on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., the South Florida community will gather at Sunshine Cathedral at 1480 SW 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, for a candlelight vigil. US Congressman Alcee Hastings will speak on the injustice and struggle suffered by our transgender brothers and sisters and what action Congress must take to protect the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community. A reception will follow the vigil. This is a free event and all are welcome to participate. This year’s observance will also include “A Face to a Name.” A series of posters will be displayed using pictures, actual statistics and other information as a tribute to the transgender people, who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender bias, prejudice or hatred. “The Transgender Day of Remembrance provides us a time to remember our transgender brothers and sisters who were murdered and forgotten, simply for being themselves; it is also a time to highlight our daily struggle and the injustice we endure as transgender Americans”, stated Jacqui Charvet, cofounder of TERI.

The Transvestigator

Transgender Town Hall

he Pride Center hosted the first “Transgender Town Hall Meeting” on Friday Nov. 4, which had an overwhelming attendance of Transgender people and offered an open dialog to help better address the needs of the local T-Community here in Broward County. T- House Coordinator, Jodi Ihme, of the Broward County Health Department spoke passionately to the packed room which included a host of local transgender brothers and sisters, LGBT activists, and local celebrities including Tiffany Arieagus who also

“It wasn’t that long ago when there were a group of homeless T-girls living under a bridge here in Fort Lauderdale because there was no place for them to go.”

– Tiffany Arieagus

works for The Broward House. “We need your participation because without you we can not begin to make a difference addressing the health needs within the transgender community,” Jodi Ihmes said. She went on to stress the importance and need for critical data collection throughout our transgender community. The goal of a needs assessment is to gather information accurately in order to understand, compare, report, and apply it to enhancing and improving services, or inspire new efforts. The CATCH program (Coalition in Action for Transgender Community Health) was introduced at the meeting by Community Mobilization Specialist, Danielle Castro of San Fransisco. In a nutshell, this meeting was a collaborated effort between T-Houseonline. com, T.H.I.A.( Transgender Health In Action) a program of the Broward County Health Department-- and CATCH which labels itself the “Center of Excellence for Transgender Health.” Their mission is to protect and promote the health of all transgender residents and visitors in Broward County. Co-founder of T.E.R.I. (Transgender Equality Rights Initiative) and LGBT community activist Michael Rajner was in attendance

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By Victoria Michaels

Jodi Ihme

and offered his support for the coming together of the Trans-Community. “It was very pleasing to finally see so many transgender’s at one table voicing their concerns and needs,” Rajner said. Although the group originally expected to meet to discuss health issues, it grew into a much bigger conversation. Tiffany Arieagus shed some light and attention towards the need for housing for the transgendered homeless within Broward County.

“It wasn’t that long ago when there were a group of homeless T-girls living under a bridge here in Fort Lauderdale because there was no place for them to go,” she said. She went on to suggest that the time has come for us to reach out to homeless shelters and other housing programs and organizations to educate them on the need for the T-community so that we can eliminate this problem. It was a true blessing to see so many members of our community come together and meet for the town hall as each individual that attended came prepared, and it was refreshing to see that we all had something unique and valuable to bring to the table. We united as a community and agreed to work feverishly to bring profound changes to the T-Community in education, health care, advocacy, legislative policies, and economic justice aimed at working with Work Force One. I am working on a list to identify “transfriendly” health care providers in Broward County, and as a group we hope to bring positive changes to health care, suicidal prevention, employment, housing, community assistance programs, and to work on laws and amendments so they include “transgenders.” Just A Trans-Friendly Reminder: The Sunshine Cathedral in Ft Lauderdale will be honoring Transgender Remembrance Day 2011 on Saturday Nov. 19 starting at 6 p.m. with guest speaker (D) Congressman Alcee Hastings in which I’d like to extend the invitation to our community.

marketplace

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

General Gayety

Come and meet author, Brian McNaught present

Enquiring About Chaz By Leslie Robinson

he National Enquirer claims in a Nov. 14 cover story that Chaz Bono will die within four years due to his gender transition. The corpse-to-be is perturbed. His lawyer sent a cease and desist letter to the tabloid, accusing it of defamation and demanding a printed retraction and apology. According to the lawyer, the story asserts that “obesity, testosterone supplements, and high suicide rates among transgender people all increase Chaz’s risk of an early death.” As everybody this side of Carol Burnett knows, the National Enquirer doesn’t let truth get in the way of a fabulicious story. So, despite Bono’s threat to sue if the tabloid doesn’t apologize, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Enquirer instead continued to hound him by producing another cover story similar to the following. Chaz Bono: TRYING TO CONTACT SONNY! Weekly Séances. Chaz Bono misses his daddy and how! The ENQUIRER has learned that Chaz, the transgender activist and recent “Dancing With the Stars” contestant, hosts séances in his home every Sunday night in a sad, touching attempt to contact his father Sonny Bono, the singer and politician who died tragically in 1998 when he slammed into a tree while skiing. “The séances are weird, man. I go for the food,” said one insider who has attended three of these macabre gatherings where some 15 people assemble around a spooky table. “We all hold hands while Madame Mertzola chants and groans and moans and stuff. I think she’s getting sort of frustrated. The last time she kept screaming ‘The beat goes on!’” So far, said the insider, Sonny has not materialized, “although a couple of people thought they saw that tree he hit.” Headstrong Chaz refuses to stop these whacky attempts to reach Sonny. The sad, distressing reason is he desperately wants to speak to his father about mascu-

linity! “Y’know, now that Chaz is a dude and all, he wants guidance and stuff,” said the insider. Dr. Scott Pitts, distinguished owner of a framed diploma from the Acme School of Transgender Mental Health, let The ENQUIRER in on a shocking fact: Transgender individuals are often drawn to the occult! “I know one who owns a magic store. That’s good enough for me,” said the esteemed expert. Cher, the mother of Chaz and ex-wife of Sonny, is baffled that Chaz wants advice on masculinity from his father. “Why Sonny? Most of the time I wore the bell bottoms in that relationship,” Cher told an insider, who told The ENQUIRER, which is telling you. Oh, and remember how Cher sadly, desperately, had two ribs surgically removed to make her waist smaller? The ENQUIRER has learned that she plans to put them back in again! Inspired by Chaz’s efforts to be who he really is, Cher has bravely decided to return her rib cage to normal. Meanwhile, all indications are the Sunday-night séances will carry on. The insider who attended three of the sad, heartbreaking events said Chaz has booked Madame Mertzola the medium through the end of the year. “I’m not sure I’m going again,” the insider said. Chaz wants to change up the energy in the room, in case, y’know, any of us are keeping Sonny away. That’s cool with me. Last time when the lights went off I got groped.” The insider hopes Sonny appears, either in body or spirit. “Chaz is cool. He wants this bad. He deserves it. Can I have my check now?” -end-

OUR STARS EXHIBIT On Saturday, November 19th at 2 PM at The Stonewall National Museum & Archives 1300 E Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale If you havenʼt visited the Stonewall in a while or have never been there, come join Dignity Ft Lauderdale for some Saturday afternoon fun.

For more information on this or other Dignity Fort Lauderdale sponsored activities, please visit DignityFTL.org or email Dignityftl@bellsouth.net

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Leslie Robinson lives in Seattle. Email her at lesarobinson@gmail.com, and for more LGBT humor, head to her blog at www.generalgayety.com.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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McNaught’s Notes

Are You Still a Catholic? By Brian McNaught

columnist who just left the em- his Death Eaters. Despite the faith of the ploy of the U.S. Catholic Bishops questioner, everyone seems to be in agreerecently wrote in The Pilot, the ment that the Catholic hierarchy in Rome newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and in the U.S. today is an embarrassment. that homosexuality is the work of Satan. Jesus wouldn’t wear Prada, nor preach hate. While I no longer identify my beliefs or The Archdiocese has since apologized, saying the piece was based on faulty theology. myself as Catholic, I admit to paying atThe piece was actually based in faulty “love tention to what Catholics are doing. I was heartened by the news reports that most of the sinner” gibberish, better known as American Catholics support marriage equalhomophobia. The hatred of the bishity. They do so despite the threats of the ops’ man, and the Church politics he Pope and the conservative bishops he represents, is as evil as one can find. has cultivated. Our straight allies who The institutional Catholic Church has have stayed in the Church vote contrary lost the cultural war, and they know to Catholic teachings and still feel fully it. Their own people in the U.S., IreCatholic. The same is true for land, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and those LGBT people who throughout Central America identify as Catholic. I are thumbing their noses cheer them on, though I at the Church’s anti-gay worry what staying in rhetoric and marriagean abusive household inequality lobbying. will do to them. So now, the Catholic I’m actually quite hierarchy is focusing taken with LGB Cathits attention on Afolics and former Cathorica, where it knows holics. The first group chalmophobia has squeezed lenges my sense of reason, the heart out of Uganda, just as do LGB RepubliNigeria, and nearly all cans. It’s my shortcoming, I other countries in the “Dark suppose. It’s really none of my Continent,” save South Africa. business what someThe question is ofone else believes, and ten asked of me, “Are it only causes indigesyou still a Catholic?” When former Catholics tion when you talk It’s usually not a disinmy age connect, we often about it. That’s why terested query. Either the person asks strong- talk about our early days religion and politics ly hoping that I am a of Catholic practice. Most aren’t supposed to be discussed at the dinCatholic, or strongly of us were good boys and ner table. hoping that I’m not a girls growing up. I do, though, graviCatholic. Their sexual tate in social settings orientation is rarely a toward former Cathofactor, as LGB people can be either devoutly religious or devoutly lics. I especially have a lot in common with those who went to Catholic schools in the irreligious. I am devoutly spiritual. I respond, “No, I don’t identify as Catholic ‘50s and ‘60s. I trust that they understand except to help others understand that reli- how I can both love parts of my past, and gion’s influence in my life. My spiritual path hate the character and the influence of the today is influenced by Buddhism and Tao- institutional Church, waning as it may be. When former Catholics my age connect, ism.” Though it’s not my goal, that answer seems to appease everyone. The ones who we often talk about our early days of Cathoare worried about my soul are happy that lic practice. Most of us were good boys and I’m still spiritual. The ones who are worried girls growing up. We sat up straight in our about my sanity, are relieved to know I’m classroom seats, responded the rote annot still in the flock of Lord Voldermort and swers to questions from the Baltimore Cat-

echism, knelt silently as we waited to make our first confession, stood in line devoutly to receive our First Holy Communion, memorized answers for the bishop at our Confirmation, and treated the priest with great deference when he entered our home, the hospital room, or the funeral parlor. But after a short while, we quit talking about the Church, except to say we have no use for it. The reminiscing creates a bitter taste in our mouths, as we silently recall the early horrors of hearing proclamations of

“abomination,” the anti-gay political campaigns of the hierarchy, and the question from our nearly-defeated parents, “Are you going to hell?” Am I still a Catholic? No. I was at one time but I am no longer. I headed out the door when I realized the hierarchy of my Church was destroying my relationship with life and spirit. Their abuse of me felt like the work of the Satan. www.brian-mcnaught.com

ANNOUNCEMENT

The owners of all the businesses in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors would like you to know they are not the ones towing your cars. To insure that customers of the tenants have parking, the owners of the shopping center have placed a security guard on premises to guarantee that persons parking in the plaza are using that plaza for that purpose. So be forewarned that if you park in the Shoppes and cross the street to patronize other businesses, you may be dealing with a tow company when you return to your car. November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

The Rare Reporter

Conversion Therapy, Its Practitioners Pose Hideous Threats to LGBT Community By David Webb

Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out

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magine being told your lifetime of thoughts and feelings were unacceptable, and that what you think and feel in the future would need to be remolded to conform to what others consider acceptable. That’s the reality of conversion therapy, an unscientific methodology rooted in conservative Christian philosophy that is designed to reorient homosexuality to heterosexuality. It is condemned by all major medical, psychiatric, psychological and professional counseling groups, yet fundamental religious leaders advocate its widespread practice to “cure” homosexuality. The treatment is recommended for both adults and gay and lesbian teenagers, who are often forced into the therapy against their will. Opposition to conversion therapy is strong in the LGBT community, and it gained momentum recently when the Southern Poverty Law Center and Truth Wins Out launched a coordinated campaign to counter proponents of the controversial therapy. The prestigious civil rights group and the LGBT rights organization scheduled a series of community meetings in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., for former patients of the therapy to share their stories. One of the campaign’s goals is to seek help from community activists and elected leaders in monitoring and evaluating local conversion therapy programs. For most people, the notion of conversion therapy achieving any measure of success would probably be laughable if it were not so destructive to those who are exposed to it. Critics of the therapy warn that individuals who undergo it often suffer anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts in addition to retaining their sexual orientation. The radical therapy is reminiscent of unscrupulous scientific experiments from previous decades that horrified the world when they came to light. In those events groups of scientists in the U.S. and other countries carried out hideous psychological and medical experiments using as their subjects prisoners, orphans, mental patients, minorities and other powerless people. Through my work as a journalist I have met

help from a counselor whose facility was located on the campus of a large mainstream church. Placing his trust in the counselor in part because he supposedly was a straight married man the patient participated in a bizarre treatment program that involved the patient removing his clothes during the sessions. The “treatment” eventually progressed to the counselor instructing the patient to perform fellatio upon him. Eventually, the patient came to his senses, reported the counselor to law enforcement officials and filed a lawsuit against him. The patient suffered severe psychological problems as a result of the contact with the counselor, but he recovered through the help of a traditional counselor who helped him accept his sexual orientation. The last time I heard from the patient he was attempting to get on with his life as a gay man and had met someone with whom he was trying to bond. The files of Truth Wins Out are full of stories of unscrupulous conversion therapists who masquerade as professional counselors when in fact they are what the organization’s founder, Wayne Besen, refers to as “quacks.” He has also cornered advocates of conversion therapy who claim to be “ex-gay” in gay bars and exposed others as frauds because they still engage in homosexual activity.

The influence of the powerful Southern Poverty Law Center which is best known for its work in waging successful legal fights against violent White Supremacist groups will likely help Besen spread his message to an audience that he might not have otherwise reached. The nonprofit group’s Teaching Tolerance project has received high praise for its outreach. As regards religious leaders who recommend conversion therapy, they are doing neither the individual nor their families any favors. Coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation for both the gay man and the lesbian and their family members is challenging enough without the interference of religious leaders who apparently are less concerned with the welfare of the individual than they are in demanding observance of antiquated religious laws. For the gay or lesbian person who is attempting to deny their sexual orientation it might be useful to learn a lesson from the legions of people who have already struggled with the same issue and finally came to realize that a person’s basic nature cannot be transformed. David Webb is a veteran journalist who has covered LGBT issues for the mainstream and alternative media for three decades. E-mail him at davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com.

several individuals over the years that underwent conversion therapy. Without exception, all reported the therapy caused them more anguish than they felt before receiving it. One person who was raised by a domineering, Bible-obsessed mother was sent from his East Coast home when he was in his twenties to a conversion therapy treatment program in of all places San Francisco, the gay capital of the U.S. It’s not difficult to figure out what happened there. The group of like-minded individuals in the program reportedly had the time of their life when the lights went out at night, and at one point they went over the wall to see the sights of Baghdad on the Bay. Again, the lack of logic is humorous, but the therapy left the young man and his family that had expected him to return home “cured” more troubled than ever. In subsequent years he engaged him in the abuse of alcohol and illegal substances, promiscuity and criminal activity. His mother drifted into a state of denial and even though her son contracted the HIV virus she maintained that he did not engage in sex with other men. The last I heard the man was still allowing his mother to run his life, which she was dedicated to ensuring would not include the company of a male partner. In another case, a man in his 30s sought

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Jesse’s Journal

Arthur Evans

Philosopher and activist

rthur Evans, who died September 11 at the age of 69, was a gay activist who was also a scholar, a rare combination in the United States but common in Europe (Michel Foucault, Guy Hocquenghem). Like the late Jack Nichols, Evans was a writer whose books gave meaning to the fight for LGBT rights and an activist who translated his words into action. Born in York, Pennsylvania (Oct. 12, 1942), Evans earned a B.A. degree at City College, New York and studied philosophy at Columbia University. He was active in the antiVietnam War movement and a member of Columbia’s Student Homophile League, an early gay student group. In August, 1969 Evans and his then-partner, journalist Arthur Bell, joined the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), one of the militant new groups that emerged after the Stonewall Riots. But Evans soon became disenchanted with GLF. “The group insisted that it had no leaders, yet a few Non-Leaders were clearly calling many of the shots,” Evans recalled, in an article he wrote for GayToday.com in 1999. “In addition, the same questions were often re-debated and re-decided, with little or no group memory from one meeting to the next. Finally, the group had no problem of consistent street activism.” Along with friends Marty Robinson and Jim Owles, the two Arthurs realized the need for a new organization, one that would “be exclusively devoted to gay and lesbian issues.” Such a group would “engage the political system but without becoming entangled in it. The solution: the group would question candidates for public office, publicize their response, but never endorse any candidate or political party. We would rock the system without becoming a part of it.” On December 21, 1969 a dozen activists met in Arthur Bell’s apartment and formed Gay Activists Alliance (GAA). They elected Owles president and approved a preamble and constitution that Evans wrote. This preamble, Evans recalled, “called on the larger

society to recognize four basic rights.” They are: [1] “The right to our own feelings;” [2] “The right to love;” [3] “The right to our own bodies;” and [4] “The right to be persons.” Though Evans was never elected GAA president, he represented the group on The Dick Cavett Show (November 1970). The Gay Activists Alliance, Evans wrote, was a “group dedicated to street activism on behalf of gay issues.” Robinson, one of the founders, “wanted the group to personally confront our oppressors, but never resort to violence. The solution: we would use “zaps” (as Marty called them).” In a subsequent GayToday article, Evans described “zaps” as “nonviolent, but militant, face-to-face confrontations with homophobes in positions of authority. . . . Zaps had two intended audiences - our own community and the larger political world. In regard to our own community zaps often used humor and theater to build up group morale and gay identity.” Four decades before New York State legalized samesex marriage, GAA challenged Herman Katz, then City Clerk of New York. A dozen activists invaded Katz’s office with a coffee wagon and a large wedding cake, topped with a male couple and a female couple. While clerical workers helped themselves to some wedding cake, Evans took over the switchboard, telling all incoming callers that the Clerk’s office was only issuing same-sex licenses that day. Though nothing much was accomplished that day, the “zap” got people’s attention. One of the GAA’s main targets was John V. Lindsay, then Mayor of New York City. In 1972 Lindsay, a “liberal” Republican (by today’s standards) planned to run for President against the more conservative GOP incumbent, Richard Nixon. GAA members Marty Manford, Ernest Cohen and Corona Rivera infiltrated a Lindsay for President rally, where they chained themselves to the balcony railing and threw down leaflets to the audience below. But “zaps” had their dangerous side. At the Suffolk County Dis-

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By Jesse Monteagudo

Arthur Evans

trict Attorney’s Office on Long Island, Evans and other zappers were pushed and shoved by plainclothes police officers. During Gay Pride Week 1970 Evans, Owles, Robinson, Tom Doerr and Phil Raia were arrested for criminal trespass when they “zapped” the offices of the Republican State Committee. Evans soon became the spokesman for “The Rockefeller Five.” (Nelson Rockefeller was then GOP Governor of New York.) By the end of 1971, the “heroic age” of gay liberation was nearing its end. Evans dropped out of Columbia, broke up with Bell, and left New York with his new partner, Jacob Schraeter. They formed a group called the “Weird Sisters Partnership” and bought a 40-acre piece of land on a mountain in Washington State they called the New Sodom. In 1974 Evans and Schraeter moved to San Francisco, to an apartment in the Haight-Ashbury district that Evans lived in until the day he died. In the fall of 1975, Evans founded the Faery Circle, a neo-pagan, gay spiritual group. This and Evans’s writings and lectures on Faeries inspired other activists to form the Radical Faeries in 1979. Though it all, Evans continued to write. In 1978, Evans published Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture: A Radical View of

Western Civilization and Some of the People It Has Tried to Destroy, based upon a series of articles by Evans that first appeared in Out and Fag Rag magazines. “The professionals have suppressed Gay history, just as they have suppressed the truth about Third World people, women, the poor, the imprisoned, and the insane,” Evans wrote. “This book is an attempt to record some of the things that professional historians usually leave out.” In 1984 Evans directed a production of Euripides’ play The Bakkhai, which Evans translated from the Greek and which became the basis of his second book, The God of Ecstasy: Sex-Roles and the Madness of Dionysos (1988). Evans later returned to his philosophical roots when he wrote A Critique of Patriarchal Reason, published in 1997. While living in San Francisco, Arthur Evans remained a committed activist, contributing to AIDS and LGBT-rights groups in the San Francisco area. In his later years, Evans shocked progressives when he backed a ballot measure that curtailed the rights of San Francisco’s homeless community. Evans died of a massive heart attack, a year after he was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Mombian

Lesbian Teen Launches LGBT Youth Book Project

extremely supportive from

Organization aims to make schools safer for gay teens

the beginning. I feel so happy

By Dana Rudolph

“Both my parents were

or LGBT youth, age-appropriate books about LGBT people and issues can be a lifeline. Not every school has the resources or desire to include such books in their collections, though. But 14-year-old Amelia Roskin-Frazee, an out lesbian ninth grader from California, founded The Make It Safe Project to solve that problem. The project gives free packages of LGBT books to schools that need them, and works to ensure the books will be readily available to students. “When I figured out that a lot of schools didn’t have any resources about what it means to be LGBT or how to come out,” explained Amelia, “I decided that I wanted to help send those books to schools.” “My goal is to provide awareness for people and also to provide the reading material that will make them safe,” she added. She launched the project a month ago, and has already sent free packages to schools in Arizona, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, and North Dakota. To pay for the books, she collects monetary donations through a PayPal link on the project’s Web site. All donations go towards the cost of the books each package of 10 books costs roughly $100. Amelia welcomes smaller donations, though even $10 or $25. She sends the books directly from Amazon, which provides free shipping on orders of that size. The package includes six fiction and four nonfiction books: Ash by Melinda Lo, Annie On My Mind, by Nancy Garden, Empress of the World, by Sara Ryan, Luna, by Julie Anne Peters, Boy Meets Boy, by David Levithan, Rubyfruit Jungle, by Rita Mae Brown, It Gets Better, ed. by Dan Savage and Terry Miller, GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens, by Kelly Huegel, Queer: The Ultimate LGBT Guide for Teens, by Kathy Belge, and Like Me, by Chely Wright. Amelia chose the books from among 30

bestselling books for LGBT teens. The final selection includes books that both she and her gay friends “responded well to and that covered a wide range of topics,” she explained. The topics include coming out, preventing suicide, and staying healthy, “because most books on adolescent health don’t cover LGBT issues and bullying.” For one school that includes grades K-8, she swapped in a couple of LGBT-inclusive picture books. Already, the packages are providing resources to students who would not other wise have them. She sent a package to one private middle school in California, for example, where parents had resisted using school money or parent donations towards books with LGBT content. Another request came from an eighth-grader in Arizona, whose middle school had told her she could not start a gay-straight alliance (GSA) club. The girl then started a GSA at her church. Students from far-flung communities began to attend, since few schools in the state have GSAs. GSA members can now borrow the books that Make It Safe has sent, share them with friends back at their schools, and then return them to the GSA. In general, Amelia said, the books “are sent directly to the GSA president or faculty adviser to put on a classroom bookshelf, where a teacher will ensure that the books will be available for all students.” The books may also be put in the school library “if the GSA is sure that the library will keep them safe and available for all students.” One school has also put some of the books in the school counseling office for students to borrow. “My basic job is to ensure that regardless of where they go in the school, they are available to all students at any time,” she explained. One additional part of the project lets students post anonymous stories on the Make It Safe Web site about their experience with GSAs. That way, other students

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

that I have the parents that I have. I just wish that other LGBT kids who maybe aren’t so fortunate could have a similar experience.”

– Amelia Roskin-Frazee

who are considering joining or starting one can learn from peers at schools similar to theirs. Even at 14, Amelia is no newcomer to activism. She came out during middle school, where she founded the school’s Gay Straight Alliance and was one of the school’s student representatives on the Diversity Committee. Now in high school, she is a Student Ambassador for the national Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Alliance Network (GLSEN). “Both my parents were extremely supportive from the beginning,” she said. They helped her start the middle school’s GSA when some other parents resisted the idea.

“I feel so happy that I have the parents that I have,” she said. “I just wish that other LGBT kids who maybe aren’t so fortunate could have a similar experience.” Her mom is now helping her with the Make It Safe Project, including assisting with the paperwork needed to turn it into a registered non-profit. They hope this will happen next year. Amelia is spreading the news about her project through word of mouth, including her middle school friends who are now at different high schools, and through social media such as Facebook and Twitter. “So much of this right now is just letting the schools find us, because it’s hard for people to have the courage to go look for these books,” she said. Her sights are high, however. She hopes to send a package to every state by the end of 2012. Beyond that, she would like to send books to schools around the world. She asserted, “I really want to get them to any school that needs them, because there are so many that do.” Visit the Make It Safe Project at makeitsafeproject.org. Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (www.mombian.com), a blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.

November 16, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

The surprise love story of the 2011 movie season!

J. EDGAR

courtesy of warner bros.

THE (GAY?) MAN BEHIND THE MASK

(Left to right) Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, director Clint Eastwood and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.

By Chris Azzopardi

o milk for Dustin Lance Black – the 37-year-old filmmaker who says he feels 10 years older today – on this recent morning in a suite at a Beverly Hills hotel. Instead, the screenwriter is nursing a hangover after last night’s premiere of his latest film, J. Edgar, with a bottle of water, joking that “it just means more honest answers; the filter’s down.” Even without the last drops of Jack and Cokes flushing from his system (proof: lots of bathroom breaks), Black’s always spoke

his mind. It’s how the writer has become one of the most admired LGBT activists of our generation, passionately speaking out on hot topics like Prop 8, being a lapsed Mormon and curious dinners with Taylor Lautner (more on that later). Today, however, all the talk, or most of it anyway, is around his big Clint Eastwood-directed, Leonardo DiCaprio-carried followup to Milk, Black’s biopic about Harvey Milk’s life and legacy that won the writer an Oscar. “It puts a lot of pressure on a lot of your work,” says Black, leaning forward on a sofa. “It’s a dangerous thing to have around

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

the house, so I wrapped him up and flew him to Virginia with my mother. I love him, but he’s not allowed in the house while I’m working. I don’t want to think I’m writing toward that. I want to keep taking risks, and this is a risky film.” It’s risky not just because of the controversial career of its subject, J. Edgar Hoover, the notoriously snaky FBI director who dominated the bureau for nearly 50 years, carrying his tenure through eight presidencies and three wars. What’s attracting the most controversy is the attention the film gives the infamous G-

Man’s mysterious private life: Was Hoover’s closest colleague, Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer of The Social Network), more than just his right-hand man? “Women were very interested in him and he didn’t respond, but he did like to show up to work every morning with Clyde Tolson and drive home with him each night.” Black laughs. “And this is well before it was fashionable to carpool! So it became incredibly apparent that he wasn’t straight and I started to wonder, ‘Well, what did gay look like? Why was he behaving like that?’” continued on page 22

“J. Edgar” By interviewing gay men of the time – before Stonewall and the sexual revolution, when homosexuality was so vague that gay people were called “daffodils” – Black was able to piece together Hoover, who was never married and lived with his mother (played by Judi Dench) until she died. “This portrait of this man was a very complex one and a very interesting one,” says DiCaprio, in the titular role through a half-century stretch, seen in his later years with makeup that took up to seven hours to apply. “I just loved the research that (Black) did and the take that he had on J. Edgar Hoover’s life. No matter what his sexual orientation was, he was devoted to his job and power was paramount to him. Holding onto that power at all costs was the most important thing in his life.” Black’s screenplay, though, doesn’t slight the importance of Tolson in Hoover’s life. How gay does Black go with J. Edgar? “It’s not Milk,” Black explains. “Milk was gay from head to toe. This is not that.” The men were nothing alike: “Milk came out and gave people great hope,” he says, “but this man was incredibly closeted and spread fear. I thought, ‘If I’m able to sell this thing, I might be able to finally examine why.’” He looked into the hearsay regarding Hoover’s hankering for drag, but that turned out to be just what many thought – a rumor. But this is what Black knew: Hoover was an emotionally repressed mama’s boy who was smitten with Tolson; they had many meals together, up until their last moments alive, and they traveled to attend horse races, often sleeping in the same room to, you know, save pennies. J. Edgar, then, doesn’t ignore the love story. It’s there in the flustered face of Hoover the first time Tolson interviews for associate director of the FBI, their affectionate handholding and a tussle-turned-makeout scene. The poignant ending, as the two are seen growing old together, is convincing on its own that the men were more than just

courtesy of warner bros.

continued from previous page

Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover colleagues. Eastwood had lots of inquiries regarding the script and the research behind it, but he let Black run with all of it. “He never once asked about the love story or the gay relationship,” says Black. “I didn’t know what to think of that until it got to production and I saw how he was treating these scenes. He was doing it in not just an incredibly respectable but loving manner.” Eastwood’s one suggestion came lastminute after Tolson professes his love to Hoover, who then reciprocates the sentiment – but only after Tolson’s walked out. “That’s not in my script,” Black says, “That was Clint on take two or three shouting out to Leo, ‘Tell him you love him.’” “As this is happening,” he continues, “I was reading on the Internet that he was degaying the film. I don’t think so. People assume that because he’s Clint he might, but he treated it incredibly loving.” Eastwood, a defender of marriage equality, says: “I had my own impressions growing up with Hoover as a heroic figure in the ‘30s and beyond. We never knew

too much about Tolson or any of his close confidantes, but through researching this movie… we’re putting our stamp on history. Sure, a lot of things probably didn’t happen the way they happened in this film, but they’re pretty close. Lance has done a great job researching.” The first time Hammer looked over the script, he wasn’t sure what to make of the men’s codependency. He couldn’t get how anybody would stay so dedicated to such a vile beast of a man like Hoover. “With Clyde, I thought that in order for it to make sense for him to be there and to stick around and to almost take that hotand-cold abuse, it had to be a love story,” Hammer says. “I didn’t understand the love story; it didn’t make sense. After having conversations with Fiona Weir, who cast the project, and several friends of mine, the complexities of their relationship was made more and more clear to me and I became obsessed with it.” Black was also consumed by it, and his research caused him to get a “creepy feeling”

for how much he started to empathize with the historical figure. “Hoover was this young man who was incredibly promising and brilliant,” he says. “Hoover is the ultimate cautionary tale of: Do not replace love and family and your fellow man with admiration and fame. Don’t let your kids grow up to be Hoovers, and the way you do that is to teach them the importance of love – and when they come to you and say that might be someone of the same sex, you have to encourage that and not discourage that.” DiCaprio felt similarly. “Lance put it best when he said, ‘Look, if we can better understand these people and their motivations and how their ambition manifested itself into their politics we can learn from them, we can learn from history.’” History tells us that Hoover was driven, ruthless and manipulative in how he created a system of federal laws that transformed our country into what it is today. He founded the FBI in 1935 and remained director until his death in 1972, originating forensic laboratories and fingerprinting. Hoover was as remarkably heroic as he was feared. “You look at the things he did in his teens and into his 20s and boy, what a mind and what potential,” says Black. “Can you imagine if this young man was allowed to love and love openly and have a family and foster things like empathy and maintain a moral compass?” He may have turned out a lot like Black, the posterboy for LGBT activism. He speaks regularly on issues concerning the gay community and recently wrote 8, a play about the battle against Proposition 8. Up next? Under the Banner of Heaven, an adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s bestseller that riffs on Mormonism, and next year’s release of his directorial debut, What’s Wrong with Virginia, starring Jennifer Connelly. Black is not, however, linked to Twilight stud Taylor Lautner and filmmaker Gus Van Sant’s vague project, despite having a meal with both of them recently – food for too much thought that put Lautner’s sexuality in question. About that brouhaha: “It wasn’t one,” Black says, laughing. “It was a nice dinner!”

IMMIGRATION LAW ATTORNEY Attorney At Law 12000 Biscayne Blvd Suite 704, Miami, FL 33181 P.305-899-0333 F.305-899-9005

Questions About Residency? Asylum? Deportation?

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

White Party Features New Venue, Surprises

Miami Beach Community Health Center presents

THROUGH THE EYES OF

LOVE

In honor of World AIDS Day “Eternal Energy” by Barry Gross

By J.W. Arnold

White Party at Muscle Beach tion and Viva Las Divas casino, with prizes worth over $10,000. Patterson also promises “a special unannounced entertainment that is going to floor everybody, but unfortunately, we can’t announce it.” In addition to the main party that will draw 2,500 – 3,000, the weekend also features a number of other events at local clubs, including the popular Muscle Beach outdoor dance on Miami Beach. The weekend-long event has drawn the support of Macy’s, as well as the Miami Beach Tourist Development Council and Convention and Visitors Bureau, acknowledging the big boost the White Party gives to the local economy. “It’s a lot of work,” emphasizes Patterson. “There are always lots of challenges—it’s our biggest fundraiser—and we couldn’t put it on without the effort of the agency personnel…every single one of them has assignments.” Nearly all of Care Resources’ 120 full and part-time employees will be working the events. Patterson says it won’t be unusual to meet doctors working the doors at clubs in the early hours of the morning, and the event would be simply impossible without the assistance of nearly 350 volunteers. Individual tickets and packages are still available for all White Party weekend events, including the signature events at Miami Seaquarium and Muscle Beach. For a complete schedule or to buy tickets, go to WhiteParty.org.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

ByWayne Tepley

fter more than two decades, the White Party, the largest event of the year, is getting a makeover. Held over Thanksgiving weekend, the iconic event, a fundraiser for HIV/AIDS service organization Care Resource, is moving to Miami Seaquarium and promises to be bigger than ever. According to Wade Patterson, Care Resource’s director of marketing and communications, the move will open the party up to new possibilities: “We decided to change it up a bit, that’s why we chose the theme, ‘Evolution.’ We had been doing the party for 25 years and it allows us the opportunity to expand the hours and offerings,” he explains. Because the longtime venue for the party, Vizcaya mansion, was a county-owned property and located in a residential neighborhood, the hours of the party were short and expenses high. The 2011 main event, held this year on Friday, Nov. 25, will stay open until 4 a.m. and feature new attractions, like a fireworks display. Patterson also mentions, for the first time, the organization will offer a discounted, nondrinking youth ticket for 18-21 year olds. “It’s important to get the younger generation involved,” Patterson stresses. “A lot of people have witnessed the (AIDS epidemic) over the past 30 years, but the disease hasn’t gone away and infection rates haven’t gone done. It’s important for them to learn about prevention and the services that are available.” With a little over a week until the party, many last minute details are still being finalized. Internationally renowned event producer Mark Baker has lined up A-list entertainers including JES and DJs Joe Gauthraux and Pagano. The event will also include a silent auc-

Join Miami Beach Community Health Center as they recognize World AIDS Day with creative expression and heartfelt compassion.

ART EXHIBITION

November 29 - December 3 Tuesday, 6pm - 8pm (Opening Reception) Wednesday - Friday, 7:30am - 7 pm • Saturday, 9am - 3:30pm Miami International University of Art & Design,1501 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami A collection of paintings, sculptures and fashion designs, created by featured presenter Barry Gross and other fine artists, express how HIV/AIDS has affected the lives of so many. (Free admission)

AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT CEREMONY December 1 at 9am

Miami Beach Community Health Center, 710 Alton Road, Miami Beach Pay tribute to those who have lost the battle to AIDS over the years and celebrate life with care providers, friends and family.

www.miamibeachhealth.org • 305-538-8835

Everyone's favorite dragapella beautyshop quartet, The Kinsey Sicks, regales audiences with their twisted version of a holiday musical comedy. Contains adult content and language. For tickets & group discounts callBroward Center’s AutoNation Box Offce 954.462.0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org

BrowardCenter

Scan to get your tickets now!

Become a VIP and enjoy access to priority seats and privileges while supporting the Broward Center.

All programs, artists, dates and times are subject to change

“KATHLEEN TURNER IS BRILLIANT!

IT IS BY FAR THE BEST THING SHE HAS EVER DONE!” Rex Reed, New York Observer

“A MUST-SEE!” – Broadway World

KATHLEEN TURNER

HIGH

MATTHEW LOMBARDO ROB RUGGIERO

DIRECTED BY

WITH AND

TIM ALTMEYER

EVAN JONIGKEIT

ONE WEEK ONLY! FEB 29 - MAR 4

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

By Brian Swinford

Have an event you want to list? If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com.

*denotes new listing

HIGHLIGHTING THE ARTS

By J.W. Arnold

Theatre Broward County

Beauty and the Beast at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Charlotte’s Web

The Parker Playhouse will be showing Charlotte’s Web on Nov 9. E.B. White’s classic fairy tale in the Performance Project’s production brings to life the madcap and endearing characters of Charlotte the spider, Wilbur the pig, Templeton the rat and the rest of the farm animals as they learn about bravery, selflessness and the true meaning of friendship. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com

The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee WIlliams’ classic play “The Glass Menagerie.” Performances Nov. 12 through Nov. 20. Saturday performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday performances at 2 p.m., and a performance Friday evening, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. All performances are at the Pine Island Multi-Purpose Center. Call 305-823-5330 or 954-767-5637, or e-mail billfra@usa.net

The Secret Garden

The Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts will be showing The Secret Garden on Oct. 28-Nov. 27. This is a moving musical with a soaring based on the classic children’s book. For more information visit Pptopa.com

Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story Based on the true story of Leopold and Loeb, the so-called thrill killers who murdered a young boy in 1924 in order to commit the perfect crime. While this crime was previously depicted in the film dramas Hitchcock’s Rope and Compulsion, this is the first musical version, and reveals the couple’s mutual sexual attraction. Takes places Oct. 21-Nov. 20, Visit Risingactiontheatre.com

Comedian Margaret Cho

Joan marcus

The fiercely blunt and provocative Margaret Cho will showcase her non-conformist brand of humor at the Broward Center’s Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 1. Broward House is presenting the comedy Diva as part of their World AIDS Day commemoration. Tickets start at $30. Visit BrowardCenter.org/margaretcho

Judy Gold

The Coral Springs Center for the Arts welcomes back comedienne Judy Gold, for one night only, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. Judy Gold gets around. It’s pretty hard to miss Judy these days. She’s the saucy, gregarious host of HBO’s “At the Multiplex with Judy Gold” and is a regular fixture on Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn” and “Hollywood Squares.”

Guys and Dolls

In a dead heat with Gypsy for the title of best musical ever written, this classic is based on Damon Runyon’s short stories about Broadway gamblers, nightclub singers and Salvation Army babes funneled through a brilliant score by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows. Takes place Oct. 28-Dec 4 at Broward Stage Door Theatre. Visit Stagedoortheatre.com

Palm Beach Letters Home

This play puts it all in to perspective. Come to the Watson B Duncan lll Theatre in Lake Worth and feel a little of what are soldiers are feeling. The production is inspired by the New York Times Op-Ed Article “The Things They Wrote” and the subsequent HBO documentary Last Letters Home. It also uses letters and correspondences from Frank Schaeffer’s books, Voices From the Front, Letters Home From America’s Military Family, Faith of Our Sons and Keeping Faith. Visit Palmbeachstate.edu/x1794.xml

The 39 Steps

On Nov 1-13 come to the Maltz Jupiter Theatre and enjoy this great play. Farcical retelling of the Alfred Hitchcock’s movie thriller which, in turn, retold John Buchan’s straight espionage novel. Mounted as an English music hall vaudeville piece, it features four actors with two human chameleons taking on scores and scores of different parts. Visit Jupitertheatre.org

continued on page 26

MGLFF Hosts Monthly Screening The Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF) continues its monthly film series, HBO Glow, on Tuesday, Nov. 22 with a double feature of The Grove and Mom and Dad, I Have Something to Tell You. The Grove, a film about the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, depicts how the community of survivors who built the restful memorial respond to plans by younger activists to construct a new monument that will be of more “significance.” The film made its South Florida premiere during the Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival this fall. Mom and Dad, I Have Something to Tell You is a documentary about the journeys many parents are forced to take when they children finally come out as gay or lesbian. While most previous films on the subject

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

have taken the perspective of the person coming out, for the first time, this film takes a look at the emotions of parents. Filmmaker and Israeli television star Assi Azar will also be present to discuss the film. The screenings will be held at the Miami Beach Cinemateque, 1130 Washington Ave., first floor. Tickets are $6.25 - $16.25 and include a cocktail reception at 7 p.m. The films will be shown at 8 p.m. followed by discussion. For tickets or more information, go to MGLFF.com or call 877-484-8499.

Be Our Guest The hit Broward musical, Beauty and the Beast, rolls into Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts this week for a limited engagement. True love conquers all as the inquisitive Belle finds herself stranded in an enchanted castle inhabited by animated cups, saucers, candlesticks and

furniture….and a tortured young prince who has been transformed into a ghastly beast.You’ll hum along to the Grammy winning title song, along with other favorites like “Be Our Guest” and “Bonjour.” Performances Tuesdays through Sundays until Sunday, Nov. 27. Tickets start at $25.25 and are available at the Broward Center Box Office or BrowardCenter.org.

Legend of the Gridiron If you’re tired of the Penn State sex abuse scandal, Mosaic Theatre in Plantation offers a theatrical portrait of a true sports legend, Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. Starring Ray Abruzzo (The Sopranos), Eric Simonson’s Lombardi is not to be missed, whether you’re a sports fan or not. Through Dec. 4 at American Heritage School. Tickets are $34 to $39.50 at MosaicTheatre.com.

November 16, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

To Submit Listings Email: Brian at Calendar@sfgn.com Fax: 954-530-7943. Please include a brief description, address, phone number, date, time and cost. The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife

The Boca Raton theatre Guild at the Willow Theatre at Sugar Park is presenting The Tale of the Allergist Wife. Marjorie Taub: shopaholic, avid reader, loved by her devoted husband, but her beloved psychiatrist has just died, her mother obsesses about her gastric track and her husband is now retired and devoted to sinus infections for the homeless. On Nov. 5-20. Visit Brtg.org

The Addams Family

On Nov 8-13 The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts will be showing The Addams Family. A mainstream musical about a group of decidedly non-mainstream relatives based very loosely on the cartoons in The New Yorker, the ‘60s television sit-com and the films, it follows the family’s efforts to clean up their act to impress the parents of Wednesday’s upper crust fiancé. Visit Kravis.org

After The Revolution

Come to the Caldwell Theatre Between Oct 16-Nov 20 and see After the Revolution. After the Revolution is the story of the brilliant, promising Emma Joseph who proudly carries the torch of her family’s Marxist tradition, devoting her life to the memory of her grandfather, much revered for refusing to “name names” during the McCarthy hearings. For more information Visit Caldwelltheatre.com

All My Sons by Arthur Miller

This morality play about the cost of lying and the price of truth telling, examines a troubled family and a father who placed duty to his family above the lives of others, and now must face the consequences. This play is showing at The Palm Beach DramaWorks Clematis Theater Nov. 12 through Dec. 11. Visit PalmBeachDramaWorks.org

Miami Captiva

Come to the Zoetic Stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts on Nov3-20 to see Captiva. Over the course of a weekend reunion, three siblings come together in the hopes of celebration and re-connection. When their parents join them, rivalry, sex and a hurricane turn the family upside down. Stranded together, they are forced to face each other with honesty and bottles of wine. Visit Zoeticstage.com

Red

Come to the Gable Stage at the Biltmore Hotel on Nov 5Dec 4 and see this stunning two-man play, which won the 2010 Best Play Tony, examines the nature of art and creativity, illustrated by the ramblings of abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko as he works with a young apprentice. Rothko is working feverishly in his studio on the Bowery to complete the biggest commission in the history of modern art. Visit Gablestage.org

Forever 54

Key West

Waterfront Playhouse presents: It Takes Two – An Evening of Duets

See 25 of Key West’s best performers sing duets, trios and quartets from the world of pop, Broadway and the classics. Party following the performance on Nov. 18. Showtime 8 p.m. : Call the Box Office at 305-294-5015 or Email: Box_Office@waterfrontplayhouse.org

August: Osage County

In Key West at the Waterfront Playhouse on Dec 20, it’s August in Oklahoma. A father is missing, a mother is in the grip of addiction, a marriage is unraveling and lies are being exposed. This raucous dark comedy transforms one family gathering into an evening filled with sex, secrets, and really inappropriate behavior. One of the most lauded plays of the decade, August: Osage County is a can’t-miss hilarious and stinging look at the American family. Visit WaterfrontPlayhouse.org

Dead Man’s Cell Phone

In a quiet cafe a cell phone rings. And rings. The stranger at the next table has had enough. She confronts the owner of the cell phone, but, well...he’s dead. She begins to answer his calls and suddenly finds herself enmeshed in his life and family. Unfortunately, the dead guy has quite a number of shady loose ends. This plays opening night is Feb 2 at The Waterfront Playhouse at 8pm. Visit Waterfrontplayhouse.org

Community Calendar Broward

Celebration of Life Service Seminar

Preplanning your Burial or Cremation Celebration of Life Service Seminar will be at the Church of the Holy Spirit Song, 2040 N. Dixie Hwy (Equality Park), Wednesday, November 16 at 12 Noon. Lunch will be provided. In this brief seminar you will learn about your many options and the benefits of prearranging your service your way. This is sponsored by American Burial & Cremation Center @ Jennings Funeral Home. RSVP is a must - 954-731-4321.

*13th Annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance

South Florida’s Transgender Community extends a warm welcome to all who would like to attend this event to memorialize the dead, and underscore the seriousness of the suffering of the LGBTQ community. Key Note Address by US Congressman Alcee Hastings. This will be taking place at the Sunshine Cathedral In Fort Lauderdale. Contact Michael Rajner at 954-899-8077

On Nov 9-19 come to the University Of Miami Dept. Of Theatre Arts Jerry Herman Ring Theatre and see Forever 54. Conceived by Tommy Tune and written by Mark Saltzman, this musical is described as “Once upon a time in New York City, there was a magical disco that everyone clamored to get into. Passing through Studio 54’s velvet ropes were the world’s most famous stars, politicians, and athletes — the glitterati of the 1980s. This is a world premiere. Visit Miami.edu/ring

Celebration of Life Service Seminar

Lobby Hero

Greif Support Group

From Nov 10-27 come to the Alliance Theatre Lab at Main Street Playhouse and watch this critically acclaimed play that tells the story of Jeff, a luckless young security guard trying to get his life together after being thrown out of the navy. Visit Thealliancetheatrelab.com

*Wally Cardona: Tool Is Loot

Come to the Colony Theatre and watch this play where each choreographer solicited weeklong encounters with non-dance experts, treating their artistic positions to the constant reassessment, opinions and desires of an “outsider” creating a new work with each expert. Takes place on Jan. 21 at 8:30 p.m. Visit Tigertail.org

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol

Get ready for a holiday treat Dec. 7 through Jan. 1 at the Actors Playhouse. Move over Scrooge, it’s time for Jacob Marley to tell his story! Join Marley and his heroic behindthe-scenes effort to save old Scrooge’s soul - and in the process save his own, in this delightful gem of a show. Visit Actorsplayhouse.org

Preplanning your Burial or Cremation Celebration of Life Service Seminar will be at the Church of the Holy Spirit Song, (2040 N. Dixie Hwy (Equality Park) Tuesday, November 29 at 6:00 PM. A light dinner will be provided. In this brief seminar you will learn about your many options and the benefits of prearranging your service your way. This is sponsored by American Burial & Cremation Center @ Jennings Funeral Home. RSVP is a must - 954-731-4321. Greif Support Group led by Heartland Hospice meets every 3rd Tuesday at American Burial & Cremation Center @ Jennings Funeral Home 1801 E. Oakland Park Blvd. from 2-4 pm. Call 954-731-4321. If you need support in your time of loss they invite you to attend.

Eating Disorder Support group

An Eating Disorder Support group is starting Nov. 4. This group will meet Friday evenings from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. At Sun Serve’s Wilton Manors location at 2123 Wilton Drive, second floor. This is a “drop-in” psycho-educational support group. No registration required, free- however donations are welcome. Call 954-764-5150 for more information

Equality Park Garden Club

On Nov 16, at 730pm come and enjoy a meeting to discuss great holiday designing technics by Mark Turner a former concierge florist In Washington DC and event consultant for the white house. They are encouraging members to bring their creative ideas to share with fellow members. For more Information email Chip Jones at ChipJones14@ Hotmail.com

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November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

To Submit Listings Email: Brian at Calendar@sfgn.com Fax: 954-530-7943. Please include a brief description, address, phone number, date, time and cost. Shut Up! Workshop - “Coming Home”

Robin Korth will be presenting an ALL NEW workshop in the Insights On Aging - Shut Up! series called “Coming Home” on Sat., November 19 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. “Coming Home” is a workshop that helps us discover what is really driving our behaviors and thoughts. It is about discovering the who of who we are--both the good and the bad. Register at Insightsonaging.com/shut-up-coming-home.php

*Nature Lecture at Fern Forest Nature Center This lecture will be held on Nov. 20 and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. There will be live animals at the program, but the public will not be allowed to handle them. Today’s session focuses on “Snakes.” From noon to 1 p.m. For all ages. A $3/person donation to the Fern Allies volunteer group is requested for admission. For more information, call the nature center at 954-357-5198

*NAGA Softball Tournament at Brian Piccolo Park

A softball tournament for adults. Nov. 26-27 Call the park at 954-357-5150 for fees and additional information, or visit www.hurricaneshowdown.com. The park’s regular weekend and holiday gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect.

*SE Florida Chamber Expo

Come to the War Memorial Auditorium and see what your local businesses have to showcase on Jan. 28-29. Come and see your local community’s businesses. Free Admission. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call Gino Alessio at 561-245-8985.

Safe “T”

Safe “T” is a new support group for gender variant adults 18 plus that meets Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Sunserve’s Wilton Manors location at 2123 Wilton Drive, second floor. This is a “drop-in” psycho-educational support group. No registration required, free- however donations are welcome. Call 954-764-5150.

Via Luna Italian Sunday Brunch

Sundays, Noon to 3 p.m. Savor the most spectacular oceanfront Sunday Brunch in Fort Lauderdale. A mouthwatering selection of breakfast favorites, gourmet delicacies, grilled-to-order dishes, fresh seafood, pasta and meatball buffet, imported cheeses, charcuteries, carved meats, lavish desserts free flowing Mimosas and Bloody Marys- all with an Italian twist- await at a spectacular Sunday Brunch with personalized Ritz-Carlton service. Visit Ritzcarlton.com

Light-Up Lauderdale

Light Up Lauderdale is a holiday centric promenade of lights in Riverwalk Park. This event connects the cultural, historical and business districts along New River. November to January 2012. Visit www.goriverwalk.com

New River Raft Race

Form a crew with friends, family or co-workers and compete for prizes. Course is 1.5 miles. Event takes place Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit NewRiverRaftRace.com

The All New Broward County Fair

The All New Broward County Fair is scheduled for Nov. 17-27 in Pembroke Pines. Celebrating 36 years. See the Winterfest Fantasy Boat Student Art. Visit BrowardFair.org

Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade

Get ready to catch your share of peppermints and candy canes at South Florida’s premier holiday celebration, the 56th Annual Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade. An estimated 40,000 people will line the Broadwalk. Takes place Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. Call 954-921-3404

Bereavement Support Group

Bereavement Support Group is a support group led by a Hospice of SE FL social worker to assist those who have lost a loved one in the grieving process. Light refreshments will be served. This group will meet beginning October 18 from 2-4 and every 3rd Tuesday of the month at American Burial and Cremation Ctr. @ Jennings Funeral Home 1801 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Call for reservation 954-731-4321.

Kids In Distress Kicks Off Thanksgiving Food Drive

ids In Distress of Broward and Palm Beach counties is now collecting gift certificates and food for its annual Thanksgiving drive to benefit more than 500 children and their families. “We want to make the holidays as special as possible for the children and their families that are in our care,” said Chief Operating Officer of Kids In Distress Mark Dhooge. “We are so appreciative of how supportive the community is, especially during the holiday season.” On the wish list for collection are Gay Men’s HIV+ Long Time Survivors’ Group This is a support group that gives men who have been HIV+ for a long time (5 yrs +) the opportunity to give and receive support around topics of interest and issues for concern that are raised by the members. This group meets on 1st and 3rd Thursday at Sunserve 2312 Wilton Drive from 6:30 – 8 p.m. There is no cost, but donations are welcome.

Gay Male Empowerment Group

Topic discussions include issues and concerns about being a gay man in South Florida. Meets on Thursdays at the Pride Center from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Call 954-353-9155 or e-mail info@ sunserve.org.

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tues. of the month at the Sunshine Cathedral at 1480 SW 9th Avenue to support the parents of LGBTQ youth in Broward. No charge. Visit Community.pflag.org/pflagfortlauderdale for more information.

For more information, please visit http:// www.kidinc.org or Facebook at http://www. facebook.com/kidsindistress.

Palm Beach Beach Bon Fire

The city of Lake Worth invites everyone to come out and enjoy the beach bon-fires with a different dress up theme each night. Bonfire Dates: November 11th (Hawaiian) & 25th ( Thanksgiving ), December 9th (Winter) & 23th (Crazy Holliday shirt ), January 13th (New Year) & 27th (Favorite Movie), February 10th (Pirate) & 24th ( 70’s Night ). Visit Lakeworth.org

The Festival of Chocolate

Nov 19-20 come and get your sweet tooth on at the Palm Beach Convention Center. The Festival of Chocolate, named one of the Top Ten Chocolate Festival’s in the USA, is the Largest All-Chocolate Event in the Southeastern United States featuring an incredible Vendor Showcase with tastes and treats from the region’s best Chocolatiers and Confection Companies. Festivalofchocolate.com

Buzz Bake Sale 16

SunServe Therapy Groups

The Buzz Bake Sale is back and better than ever on Dec 3. Sixteen years and still going strong with more bands, more music and much more for your money. The Buzz Bake Sale is a South Florida Tradition, taking over West Palm’s Cruzan Amphitheatre and kicking the holiday season into high gear with a whole day full of live Rock. Visit Buzz103.com

Fusion Wilton Manors - Connections

3rd Annual Town of Palm Beach United Way 5k Turkey Trot

Provided for the LGBT community at SunServe on a regular basis. Groups require an intake interview. Call the Intake Coordinator at 954-764-5150 to learn which therapy groups have openings. Visit SunServe.org Gay men’s group discussion. Different subject every week. Dr. David Fawcett, a gay therapist, who has been in private practice in Fort Lauderdale for the last ten years, leads the event. No charge with no commitment to attend every week. Starts at 7 p.m. Call Fusion Monday-Friday at 954-630-1655.

Women4Women Personal Growth Support Group

This is a safe and loving place to explore all the concerns and topics raised by group members. This open drop-in meeting is held Wednesdays at 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the New Sun Serve Building at 2312 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Call 954-764-5150

Publix, Wal-Mart and Target gift cards, stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, canned sweet potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, French fried onions, canned green beans, canned corn, turkey gravy or gravy mix, canned cranberry sauce and cake or pie mixes. All Thanksgiving donations can be dropped off at the Kids In Distress campus located at 819 NE 26th Street in Fort Lauderdale through November 18.

The “Islanders” of the Town of Palm Beach United Way invite you to join them on Thursday, November 24, 2011 for the 3RD ANNUAL TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY 5K TURKEY TROT! Kick-off the holiday by touring the beautiful island of Palm Beach with your family, friends and neighbors. Visit Palmbeachunitedway.org/turkeytrot

YOGA Among the Orchids

It’s time for Yoga Among the Orchids at the American Orchid Society, 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach. Relax and replenish the flower inside with an hour of breathing exercises, toning, and yoga poses under a canopy of lush orchids. This is orchid headquarters so pick up a few pointers from the pros in between sun salutations. Classes are Wed. at 9 a.m. Cost is $20 and RSVP is suggested. Call 561-404-2011. Visit OrchidWeb.org

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

To Submit Listings Email: Brian at Calendar@sfgn.com Fax: 954-530-7943. Please include a brief description, address, phone number, date, time and cost. 9th Annual Cocktails For Compass

On Dec 18, 2011come to the Cocktails for Compass which is largest fundraiser which recognizes Compass’ top donors and supporters while highlighting the successes of the year’s achievements and programs. Thanks to the generosity of PNC Wealth Management in Palm Beach, who has sponsored the premiere host table each year since its inception,100% of the proceeds continue to benefit the valuable, life-saving services Compass provides to over 25,000 visitors a year. If you are interested in supporting the gala or would like to attend please contact Cocktails For Compass email at events@compassglcc.com.

Mack Mixer

On Nov 16 at 6:30pm come to The Cottage for Palm Beaches new Gay/ Straight Friendly Professional Cocktail Social. ENTRY $10 Includes one complimentary Grey Goose VODKA cocktail. For more information visit Mackplanet.com Salsa-Fest. On Sat. Nov19, between 11am and 10 pm come to Greenacres Community Park and experience this spicy family festival in Palm Beach County featuring the rhythms of Salsa music, the best of Salsa dancing, and the tastiest of ethnic foods. They will feature carnival rides, Chihuahua races, bounce houses, salsa cook-offs, domino & dance competitions, business expo, arts & crafts, and many other activities. Visitors are guaranteed to enjoy a great day with their family and friends. Visit Palmswest.com

MDGLCC Networker Spotlight Mixer

The MDGLCC presents its Chamber SpotlightMixer on Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the “Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes Miami Beach” located at 1691 Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach 33139. Mingle and network with fellow members and guests. Come ready to enjoy a fun night of free bowling, pool table, games, and music to the tunes of DJ Vertigo. Drawing for great prizes. FREE food & Open Bar. Complimentary admission for MDGLCC members. $10 general admission. Limited to 250 people. RSVP Requested 305-673-4440

Shecky’s Girls Night Out

Girls Night Out is coming to Miami at The Moore Building in the Design District Ne 41st St Miami on Nov 18, and you’re invited! Discover unique designers, sip our delectable drinks, and cap your night with some pretty pampering and glorious Goodie Bags (trust us, you don’t want to miss the goodies). Visit Sheckys.com

Miami to Key West Ride

This coming Nov. 18 and 19 will be the Miami-Key West Ride for Charity. Every year, the SMART Ride donates 100 percent of donations to benefiting agencies. Not only that, you decide which agencies receive the funds you’ve raised. Visit TheSmartRide.org

80’s Baby

Jazz on the Palm - Downtown West Palm Beach Waterfront - Gather with friends and family to enjoy the diverse vibrant sounds of jazz under the stars every 3rd Friday of month at the new Downtown West Palm Beach waterfront concert series. Free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Visit Wpbgo.com/2010/06/jazz-on-the-palm

Come to Badrutts Place every Tuesday and re-visit the days of bad fashion-sense and egos bigger than baggy pants. Happy hour is on Tuesday nights. European tradition and cuisine, with an 80’s twist, meet for a night that’s a bit more tasteful than acid-washed jeans. DJ Lenym plays 80’s favorites and there’s half off drinks from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ladies drink complimentary cosmos until 10 p.m. Visit Badrutts-place.com

Sunday on the Waterfront

*Miami International Art Fair

Jazz on the Palm

Sunday on the Waterfront is a free concert series, which takes place the third Sunday of most months in the beautiful downtown West Palm Beach Waterfront area. Bring blankets, chairs, and coolers or purchase treats at the concert. Free parking in all city lots and at city meters. 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. May through October. Visit OnTheWaterFront.com

BrothasSpeak

This group is a black gay men’s discussion group that is held at the Compass in West Palm Beach. Every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. this group will be directed toward issues for and about black men. Visit Compassglcc.com

Paths

Paths is a social/discussion group held at Compass in Lake Worth. This men’s group takes place every Monday from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Paths men’s group will be discussing relationships, coming –out, safer sex issues and more. Visit Compassglcc.com

Yoga

Yoga with Deborah will change your life. Bring a mat and get ready to stretch the stress away every Tuesday at The GLCC in Palm Beach from 6 to 7 p.m. This yoga experience will uplift and transform your life. $6 Entry Fee. You must bring your own mat. Visit Compassglcc.com

Living Buddhism

On the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Compass in Lake Worth will be holding a discussion group for overcoming obstacles and obtaining happiness. This group is great for getting internal enlightenment. Release your inner stress, and become free. Visit Compassglcc.com

Good Orderly AA

These meetings take place at Compass, and geared toward recovering alcoholics. Every Tues. and Thurs. at 7 p.m. and on Sat. at 6 p.m. These meetings will help recovering alcoholics cope with the stress of everyday life without the use of alcohol.

Miami

Swan Song

On November 28 at 11pm-5am will be the last chance to see all the people you met at The White Party. Swan Song sets the stage as the longest-running favorite party of locals and tourists alike at this legendary multi-room indoor and outdoor entertainment complex, with a sweet spot for everyone. Twist Nightclub is the only place to go for the final send off and thank you from Care Resource and the 27th Annual White Party Week. No cover. For more information visit Whiteparty.org

MIA features contemporary, cutting-edge art of all media including photography, painting, mixed-media, sculpture, installation and video. The fair is unique in the unparallel support it provides to the local Miami art community, integrating innovative and educational art projects, linked to important local artists, museums and other art-related organizations. This year MIA will be held aboard SeaFair. The opening night vernissage debuts January 12, 2012. Visit Mia-artfair.com

Key West Triathlon (TRIKW)

The second annual Olympic Distance and Sprint Triathlon event returns to Key West! A full-day Expo from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. is planned for Dec. 2 at the Casa Marina Resort; race is scheduled Saturday morning, Dec. 3. Limited to 1,200 participants. Visit web site for details and registration. For more information call: 305-294-0693

Keys Chorale 2011 Holiday Concert

On Dec 9, come see The Keys Chorale at Florida Keys Community College, under the direction of Dean Walters, presents its annual holiday concert featuring seasonal favorites from around the world. Highlights include a featured selection of “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi, accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble. Tickets for Friday night are $30 for reserved seating and $20 for general admission. Staged at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. For more information call 305-296-1520

Schooner Wharf Bar 21st Annual Lighted Boat Parade

On Dec 10th enjoy lighted and decorated vessels from rowboats to tall ships proceed around Key West’s Historic Seaport and harbor areas. before the boat parade, at 6 p.m., the Gerald Adams Elementary School Steel Your Heart Band will welcome spectators with songs of the season. Holiday revelers can watch and applaud from bars, restaurants and resorts in and around the Historic Seaport. For more Information call 305-292-3302

52nd Annual Key West House & Garden Tours

Come tour a series of elegant and a unique part of Key West on Dec 27-28 decorticated for the holidays! Proceeds help benefit the old Island Restoration Foundation. Presented by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, this house and garden tour offers a rare opportunity to see inside some of Key West’s magnificent, charming and tropical residences. For more information call 305-294-9501 or via email tickets@ oirf.org

Florida Keys New Year’s Eve Celebrations

The Southernmost City celebrates with a conch shell drop at Sloppy Joes Bar, 201 Duval St.; a descending 6-foot red high heel shoe carrying drag queen Sushi at the Bourbon Street Pub/New Orleans House complex, 724 Duval St.; and a pirate wench descending from a tall ship mast in the island city’s Historic Seaport. For more Information call: (305) 296-2388, (305) 293-9800

nightlife Broward 321-Slammer

Bathhouse. 321 W Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33311. Slammer sex club the best place to cruise for the hottest gay men. Thursday’s is leather night, fri-sat night live dj’s. Monday & tuesday -- $9 entry fee

Atomic Boom

2232 Wilton Drive ,Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 630-3556 Best Sound & Light Show in Broward County. Mondays Porn Bingo with Desiree Dubois. $3 Margaritas, $1 Draft

Bill’s Filling Station

2209 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 567-5978. Large Bar/ Nightclub, Amazing. Drink Specials in Wilton Manors. Wednesday’s After 9pm $10 Miller Lite Beer Bust

Boardwalk

1721 North Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. (954) 463-6969. A Cute Little Hangout in Fort Lauderdale Pool-Room/Game Room on One Side and a Bar-Strip Club on the other. Mondays $3 Well & Dom, after 9pm $3 U-Call-It Shots

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*US Sailing’s 2011 Rolex Miami OCR

This event will take place Jan. 22-28 and is being held at the US Sailing Center in Miami a mainstay on the winter circuit for sailors who are campaigning for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games. The event is part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, a world-class annual series for Olympic sailing. Visit Rmocr.ussailing.org

*Homestead Championship Rodeo

This exciting event will take place Jan. 27-29 at the Doc Demily Rodeo Arena in Miami. This seven-event rodeo includes bull riding, saddle-bronc riding, bareback-bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and women’s barrel racing. The fun also includes cowboy poetry performances, a parade, live music and dancing. Visit Homesteadrodeo.com

Key West

Key West ‘Bight’ Before Christmas Holiday Celebration

On Nov24-Dec31 come get you’re jiggy on with great Live holiday music, games for the kids, free cookies and eggnog, holiday cheer and a chance for photos with Santa highlight this event. Created as a gift to the community, the gala is produced by the Key West Bight Preservation Association and tenants of the Key West Bight. For more information call: Tom Stroh 305-304-2633

Pirates in Paradise 2011

Scheduled Nov. 24 – Dec. 4, The Pirates in Paradise Festival celebrates the glorious days of sail & seafaring adventure and offers tall ship pirate sails, pirate encampments, music, storytelling, re-enactments, literary activities and live theater. Featuring 11 days of swashbuckling fun, over 30+ special events are scheduled at the Truman Waterfront alone! The Festival’s Pirate Village features lots of pirate booty, vintage vittles and grog, as well as wares from some of America’s finest period artists and crafters... including exquisite handcrafted leatherwork, jewelry, pottery, glass, fibers, photography, and paintings. Outdoor stages feature non-stop entertainment and swashbuckling swordplay by national performance troupes. Visit Piratesinparadise.com

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

To Submit Listings Email: Brian at Calendar@sfgn.com Fax: 954-530-7943. Please include a brief description, address, phone number, date, time and cost.

AFTER DARK

By J.W. Arnold A Week to Go….

VS and Walmart have been ready for Christmas for months, it seems, but we’re counting down to Turkey Day! Thanksgiving Weekend is one of the biggest in South Florida (think White Party, folks), but the excitement is building this week as many clubs and bars are kicking it up a notch as the holiday approaches. Here are a few of the highlights of the upcoming week:

Billiards at Sidelines

The Club Fort Lauderdale

Bathhouse. 110 Northwest 5th Avenue,Fort Lauderdale, FL ,(954) 525-3344 Good. Clean. Fun. 1/2 price rooms... Tuesday Nights and 1/2 price Lockers. Thursdays Nights. Always busy.

Clubhouse II

Bathhouse. 2650 E. Oakland Park Blvd , Fort Lauderdale, Florida (954) 566-6750. A Private Club for Bi/Gay men. Bear and Cub Thursday $4 Off For Bear & Cub. Tuesday Leather Night - $4. off wear any type of leather.

Corner Pub Bar

1915 North Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311, (954) 564-7335. Redefining What a Bar Should Be. Thursday’s Margarita. Madness $4, Monday’s Underwear Night. 2 for 1 until 9:30 p.m.

Cubby Hole

823 North Federal Highway ,Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 728-9001. The Cubby Hole is one of Fort Lauderdale’s Most Unique and Popular Neighborhood Bar for Men. Underwear Wednesday’s. Boxers n’ Briefs get 2 for 1 on Drinks 9 p.m. till Close

The Depot Cabana Bar and Grill

2935 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 5377076. Voted the “Friendliest” Gay Bar in Fort Lauderdale. Monday’s $1.99 Drinks and $.50 Wings Open to Close

Georgie’s Alibi

Monkey Business

2740 North Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311, (954) 514-7819. The Monkey Business Bar is a Small Outdoor Bar Among The Shops Just off Marina Blvd. No Frills But Comfortable and a Great Place to Stop and Meet Good People. Happy Hour 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Naked Grape Wine Bar

2039 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 563-5631 A Casual, Hip, Fun Experience and if You Have a Taste for Deliciously Unique Wines, You Need to Make This Your Next Stop! Happy Hour All Night on Thursday

New Moon

2440 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 563-7660 Your neighborhood lesbian bar in the heart of Fort Lauderdale and just minutes from Ft. Lauderdale Beach. Wednesday All the fun, half the price 2-4-1 All Day, All Night

PJ’s Corner Pocket

924 North Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 533-0257. One of The Most Diverse Bars in Fort Lauderdale. $2 Drinks Every Wednesday, Spades Every Thursday

Ramrod

1508 NE 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 763-8219 South Florida’s Leading Levi, Leather and Uniform Bar/Club. Every night is Bear Night. Bear Happy. Hour Every Thursday. Caged Hunks Sat Night

2266 Wilton Drive ,Wilton Manors, FL 33305 ,(954) 5652526. Fort Lauderdale’s Best & Longest Happy Hour. Wednesdays $2 Domestics & $1 Schnapps after 9 p.m. Wednesdays

Rosie’s Bar and Grill

Johnny’s

Scandals Country Western Bar

1116 West Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, (954) 5225931. Monday Dragon with TP Lords, Daisy D. and DJ Rob Sky No cover, drags/trans drink free 10 p.m. to midnight . Everyone else gets $3 drinks all night!. Finally something fun to do on Monday 18+

The Manor

2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 626 0082 Come Dine, Dance, Drink, Mingle and of course Relax. 2-4-1 Happy Hour Tues-Friday 3-9pm. Indoor/Outdoor Dining. Dance the night away Thursday - Sunday. Live Music Weds, Fri, Sat, Sun - Visit themanorcomplex.com FOR MORE DETAILS.

Matty’s on the Drive

2426 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 564-1799. Matty’s is one of the few bars in Wilton Manors that’s just that –a bar. Wild Wednesday’s $.75 Drinks, 13 Drinks for less than $10. 5 p.m.

Mona’s

502 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 525-6662. The eclectic décor and a friendly staff makes. Mona’s a great place to have fun in Fort Lauderdale. Thursday’s College Boy’s Night 8pm Enjoy College Boy’s Choice 2 for 1

2449 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 567-1320 Wilton Manor’s Best Burger in Town. Try the Fat Elvis. Happy Hour 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oakland Park, FL 3334, (954) 567-2432. Scandals Gay and Lesbian Country Western. Dance Bar in Wilton Manors. Tuesdays Pool League, and Free Dance Lessons

Sidelines Sports Bar

2031 Wilton Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305, (954) 563-8001 Sidelines Sports Bar and Billiards is a unique, friendly, And accepting place to relax with a cold beer, great drinks and Martinis. Happy Hour M-F 4pm to 2am

Smarty Pants

3038 North Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306, (954) 561-1724. Great Local Hangout in Fort Lauderdale with Great Drink Specials. Saturday’s Free Breakfast to Order – 8 a.m.

The Stable

205 East Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park, FL 33334, (954) 565-4506 A neighborhood bar with a different theme every night, from drag shows and bingos, to bears and underwears.

Torpedo

2829 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, (954) 587-2500. Your Dance Destination Till Dawn. Open Late for You To Devour The Night. Open 7 nights a week till 4 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 17 on’t have the energy to tackle I-95 during rush hour? Get off the highway at Jake’s Bar, 812 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., for a free drink between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Stick around for the music, dancers and drink specials all night long. Thursdays are Latin Night at Johnny’s, 62 NE 14th St. in Miami. In addition to the hot Latin men, enjoy free Cuba Libres from 10 p.m. to midnight and $5 afterwards. Teresita La Caliente will be performing and don’t miss the sexy underwear contest at 1 a.m. with $1000 in cash and prizes.

Friday, Nov. 18 J Herbie James is back in the booth for the Ramrod’s Muscle Bear Man Dance. Herbie will provide the high energy sounds for an intense evening at South Florida’s leather/Levi/uniform headquarters, 1508 NE 4th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.

Saturday, Nov. 19 oardwalk is hosting a fetish party this weekend with live performances by Dylan Roberts and Robby J. The Fort Lauderdale go-go bar already has some pretty hot dancers, but they’ll be hotter on Friday and Saturday nights in all sorts of kinky gear. Boardwalk is located at 1721 N. Andrews Ave. There’s always an event at The Manor and tonight, recording legend CeCe Peniston will be in the house performing

her hit, “Finally” and more. DJ Oren nizri wil be in the booth and, for a change of pace, bounce back and forth to the Noche Latina Room for salsa and fantastic drag shows. The Manor is located at 2345 Wilton Dr. in Wilton Manors. Sunday, Nov. 20 iami dance palace Discotekka is launching a new Sunday party featuring the best of South Florida’s drag divas. After an intense and competitive casting call, the new cast will be announced tonight at the downtown club, 950 NE 2nd Ave. Doors open at 11 p.m. and there’s a $5 cover. Stretch the weekend to the last possible second at Twist, South Beach’s neighborhood club, 1057 Washington Ave. Enjoy the Gaiety Dancers and you’ll definitely want to catch the amateur strip contest. Pussila is your MC and the winner pockets $100.

Monday, Nov. 21 re you a night owl? Scandals Saloon, 3073 NE 6th Ave. in Wilton Manors, is extending its happy hour prices on domestic and well drinks from midnight to close through the end of the year. The clock is ticking as we race to 2012.

Tuesday, Nov. 22 eorgie’s Alibi in the The Shoppes of Wilton Manors gets all “loungey”—if that’s a real word—on Tuesdays with live performances by the sultry Debra Hampton. She’ll be performing her unique mix of easy listening, jazz and R&B for three shows at 8, 9 and 10 p.m. There’s a reason she’s called, “The Voice.”

Wednesday, Nov. 23 core, located conveniently on Miami Beach’s trendy Lincoln Road, hosts the Night Before Thanksgiving Party featuring the multitalented actress, DJ, singer/songwriter, comedienne and all-around “ho” Lady Bunny. She’ll be in the booth along with DJ Alex Infiniti to help you give thanks.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

To Submit Listings Email: Brian at Calendar@sfgn.com Fax: 954-530-7943. Please include a brief description, address, phone number, date, time and cost.

Palm Beach

Johnny’s

522 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth, Fl, 33414. (561) 586-0080 Great Service, Great Food, Full Stocked Bar, Great Professional. Tea-Dance every Sunday

Miami 62 NE 14 Street Downtown Miami Florida (305)640-8749 No Cover 7 nights a week. The hottest men in the universe strip shows nightly from 6 p.m. Sexy from Wall to Wall. Saturday SEPT 3 in Miami: FIRE & ICE at the SPOT…The Hottest POP, Hip Hop and Latin alongside the COLDEST Electro and House Beats.all on Miami’s Best Sound System.

Fort Dix

Score

The Cottage

6205 Georgia Ave, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405 Directions, (561)533-5355. Mostly local crowd looking to mingle and relax. Place rocks with a Fabulous DJ on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday T-Dance.

727 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, Florida, 33139,(305)561-5521. Score is located in the heart of South Beach, In the thriving and infamous promenade, Lincoln Road. Bigger Saturday’s Sexy Male Dolls

H.G. Rooster

Twist

823 BELVEDERE ROAD, WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA 33405, (561)-832-9119. H.G. Roosters is West Palms oldest gay club. Sunday’s Complimentary BBQ 5pm, Hot Male Dancers 6 p.m., Karaoke 11 p.m.

1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach , Florida , 33139, (305)538-9478 Never a Cover…Always a Groove. Resident star DJ Mika spins tribal. Every Saturday TWIST is full of the hottest men in Miami. Muscle boy dancers taking it off in the Bungalow Bar.

*The Lounge

1132 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth FL $3 Drinks No Cover open till 5AM New location Better than Ever.

Key West

The Mad Hatter

1532 North Dixie Hwy ,Lake Worth, FL 33460. (561) 547-8860. Cheap drinks, friendly bartenders, and free pool SundayThursday. Stop by and relax at this no-attitude haunt.

801 Bourbon Bar

801 Duval St. , Key West, Florida,(305)294-4737 Cabaret shows upstairs with nightly performances by famed performers Sushi, Kylie, RV Beaumont, Margo, and others. Happy Hour specials daily from 11a.m. – 8 p.m.

Tag Bar

25 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33483 954-8013247. Delray Beach’s only Gay Bar. Mon - Sun: 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. Awesome Drink Specials

Club Aqua

711 Duval St.,Key West, Florida,(305)294-0555 Monday’s Dueling Bartenders. Your Bartender’s sing, shake, and stir their way through happy hour 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Miami

Kwest

Club Space

34 NE 11th St ,Miami ,Florida, 33132,(305)350-1956 Space Miami Voted Best U.S Club IDMA 2011. The go-to venue for any nightlife enthusiast in the nation,The club is proudly marching on into its second decade of operation.

705 Duval St. , Key West, Florida,(305)292-8500 Key West All-Male Strip Club. Daily Happy Hour from 3-8 p.m., And a piano sing-a-long every Wednesday night.

Club Sugar

525 United Street, Key West, FL(305)293-9805 ext. 156 Pearl’s Patio is a great place to enjoy a drink and relax. Happy Hour – every weekday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday’s are Extended Happy Hour 5pm-9pm

Discotekka

Virgilio’s

Pearl’s Patio Bar

2301 SW 32nd Ave, Miami, Florida, 33145,(305)443-7657. All the Sweetness you’ll need in one Club. Every Thursday Drag Wars with TP Lords. $5 House Drinks & $4 Domestic Beers all night

524 Duval St, Key West ,Florida, (305)296-8118 Classic Cocktails, Italian Cuisine ,Live Music. $5 Martini Mondays, Late night dancing in Their Garden Bar Setting.

950 NE 2nd Ave, Downtown Miami, Florida 33132,(305)3509084 One of the Best Night Clubs In Miami. Every Saturday The Hottest DJ’s from the Top Performers. Drink Special Every Saturday

*Swinging Richards

17450 Biscayne Blvd, N Maimi Beach, Fl 33160 954-357-2532 Tuesdays-Saturdays from 6pm til 6am come and enjoy Fully nude guys dancing to the best music in South Floirda.

Queer Speak “I really do regret not coming out publicly earlier. It’s like carrying around a secret, you know, and carrying around luggage and just never being allowed to be yourself. On a daily basis I had to constantly be aware of the things I said, who I said it to.” – Former pro soccer player David Testo on recently coming out

Flickr / PirmaCanada

21st Century Quotes on Being Gay

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

EXP. january 2012

November 16, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

POSTCARDS FROM KEY WEST

Key West Revelry Continues with Parrot Heads and Pirates By Steve Smith

antasy Fest, themed “Aquatic Afrolic,” came to a close in Key West with the “Fat Lady Sings” tea dance at La Te Da. At this year’s festival, we were treated to elaborate headdresses, creative costuming, artistic body painting, hundreds of zombies promenading down Duval Street, and the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade through the streets of Old Town with more than 50 glittering floats and marching groups. Many attendees this year enjoyed themselves so much that they’ve already booked their rooms for the 2012 festival, to be themed “A-Conch-Alypse!” and take place Oct. 19-28 — so start thinking about your costumes and booking your accommodations! November slid in behind the festival, beginning with the 20th annual Parrot Heads in Paradise convention. Some 3,500 of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett’s fans descended on the island with their colorful

headgear, tropical shirts, flip flops, shorts and/or sundresses to dance in the streets of the island that inspired many of Jimmy’s classic songs. In reality, Parrot Heads are a very charitable group who enjoy the music of their idol and focus on contributing to local and national charities. Since 2002, some 27,000 members of 237 Parrot Head chapters from three countries have raised more than $22.1 million dollars for charitable organizations — and collectively contributed nearly 2.7 million hours of community service. Unfortunately, I’m missing the lively group since I’m at the opening of the 12th International Conference on Gay and Lesbian Tourism in Palm Springs, California. Several hundred global leaders in gay and lesbian tourism are meeting to share ideas, network, and learn about LGBT travel trends garnered from a survey of more than 60,000 gays across North and South America. We learned that LGBT/GLBT, gay, lesbian, partner, husband/wife, sexual orientation,

and gender identity are widely accepted phrases when referring to our community; it is no longer accepted to consider us an “alternative” lifestyle or market, mention “sexual preference” or say “those people.” It’s somewhat taboo now to call our community “homosexuals” or “queers.” There will be great discussions with this group of travel professionals — who may come from very rural areas, communities like Key West, or even countries that have much different cultural attitudes than we do in the Conch Republic. On another note, if you’re into pirates, we’ll be hosting the annual Pirates in Paradise festival in a few short weeks. Starting Nov. 24, our island will be invaded by swashbucklers, wenches, and bold buccaneers — all in traditional seafaring attire. You can join their festivities at the Pirate Village & Market, dine with pirates and wenches at Thanksgiving’s “Thankstaken

Pirates’ Holiday Party & Feast,” unleash your inner swashbuckler by competing in the “Most Buxom Wench & Bad Ass Pirate Contest” and much more. In addition, you can cruise the high seas on daily sunset sails on the Schooner Wolf with Admiral Finbar and the Pirates in Paradise crew. Just before the pirates sail away at the festival’s end, we ready the island for Christmas with our annual Holiday Parade set for Dec. 3.You may think you’ve seen a Christmas parade, but you haven’t seen anything till you watch how we Key Westers strut our holiday cheer down Truman Avenue and Duval Street. This is a family affair with Santa in a boat, drag queens and kids on floats and families lining the streets hoping for candy.Yes, we throw tons of candy to the multitudes along the parade route.) I’ll have more on the holidays next time! Steve Smith can be found at KeysVoices.com.

SFGN’s Miami Homestead Speedway Sweepstakes Winner

Marketing Director John Fugate with contest winner Wendy Viloria

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

TRAVEL P h o t o graph y b y T o n y A dams

Tales of the Canyon I Part Two

Second of a three part series detailing Alyson Adventures’ Grand Canyon tour

n our first day on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, when our young, straight and cute river guide tied our pontoon to a rock and announced that we would go for long hike up the cliff side to the storage granaries built by Indians a thousand years ago, I was not particularly terrified despite my moderate discomfort with heights. I followed along with the group, keeping up with the pack, and passing a few who chose to stop, rest and wait for the group to intercept them on the descent. Part of my motivation was my absolute unwillingness to show my husband photos of any hiking destinations that I had been afraid to tackle. Keep in mind that the Grand Canyon averages one mile in depth. Hiking it involves a good amount of zigzagging and some serious sweat. I learned a great deal from our first hike about the need for frequent hydration; setting a rational pace as you change altitude; and staying with your guides, fellow hikers and letting them assist you. For me personally, I learned to not look down at the river far below once I reached the top and clung to the steep side of the granaries, the location of which made them safe from water and rodents. I aimed my camera at the dizzying vista without looking at the viewfinder, and I enlisted the help of a fellow hiker to take my picture as proof of my improbable achievement. When our guide told me that this would be the most challenging hike of the entire trip, I was vastly relieved and spent the days to follow scampering over rocks and through streams with the growing skills of a mountain goat. I was very

glad to have tested my new shoes for three weeks in the rainy canyons of Manhattan before embarking on this trip, as I watched the dispensing of bandages to two men who developed blisters on their feet. Frequently in the course of our hikes and as we waded through deep streams in search of a hidden waterfall or spectacular chasm, I had the thought that if a stranger were to observe our band of a dozen gay

men exploring the Grand Canyon, he would never detect our gayness. Although we were not above the occasional “Go gurl” or “Hang on, Mary” and despite the sporadic unfurling of our rainbow flag, there was nothing “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” about us. That changed only slightly each evening after our guide had selected and docked at our campsite. The Canyon has about 250 sites and there are never more than 1,500 persons in the Canyon at any given time, so our site was always secluded and private. First we formed a bucket brigade to offload our personal gear which included one rubberized bag and one small metal “ammo can” for personal stuff and sleeping gear which was another rubberized bag holding your tarp, sleeping bag and self-in-

flating mat and the components of the kitchen set-up. Afterwards we would each select a flat sandy place for the night while our two guides set up the “groover”—a diamond-plate metal box topped with a toilet seat—at the end of a secluded path. They always chose to set it up so that the user had a spectacular view of the river and the soaring cliffs on the opposite side. With so little traffic on the river, no passing rafts inspected my usage of this bucolic facility. While our guides each evening set up the groover and then got busy making the most amazing dinners, we would peel off our clothes and wade into the river to wash off the dirt and sweat of the day. The air temperature may be in the hundreds, with the stone walls surrounding us holding that heat long into the night, but the water temperature is about 47°F. If you had told me before this trip that I would be taking naked delight in cold rushing water while scrubbing my gear on a rock, I’d have walked away from you, but I enjoyed this refreshing ritual every night of the journey. I would then hang my gear on a tree branch, knot my sarong around my waist and join the group for happy hour and merriment as we toasted our guides, the savory food they prepared for us, and the river gods who welcomed us, while harboring private speculation about who might be visiting whom in the course of the night to come. Read the previous article in this series at http://bit.ly/sfE7FP To book a tour, go to Alyson Adventures at http://www.alysonadventures.com/gay/arizona/rafting.htm

Look for further installments of this series only in SFGN

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 16, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

The

Fitness Guy By Peter Jackson, CPT

QUICK TIPS TO GETTING STARTED IN THE GYM

Q: I enjoy reading your articles. You have actually inspired me to join a gym and start lifting weights for the first time in my life (I’m 35 years old). What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the gym? – Jimmy G. A: Joining a gym is a good first step, but what you do there – and how you do it – is what really matters. The good news is that it’s never too late to begin an exercise regimen and you’ll be surprised by how quickly your body responds to the stimulus of resistance training. With consistent effort in the gym, you will find in a few weeks that you have more energy, your metabolism increases (burning more calories and incinerating body fat), muscle tone visibly improves, quality of sleep is better and, overall, you simply feel better. Scientists estimate that every hour of vigorous exercise extends our lives by two hours. Here are five bits of basic advice for you or anyone starting out in the gym: LEARN PROPER FORM: Guys tend to become “know-it-alls” in a gym environment and would rather turn blue in the face than ask for help. The fact is if you don’t know or execute proper form, not only will you deny yourself the full benefit of an exercise but you could actually injure yourself pretty badly. Investing in even a handful of sessions with a personal trainer is worth the investment to learn the correct form and benefits of specific exercises. If that’s not an option for you, find a gym buddy with some experience to show you the ropes. I also encourage you to educate yourself by watching videos of exercises online and reading magazines such as Men’s Health. DO COMPOUND EXERCISES: Compound exercises – that is, multi-joint exercises which recruit multiple muscles or muscle groups – should be the staple of all of your workouts. These include exercises such as the Seated Row, Bench Press, Lat Pull-down, Chin-up and, the best of them all in my opinion, the Squat. For example, the Squat, when executed correctly, will work your quadriceps (front of your upper leg), hamstrings (back of your upper leg), gluteus maximus (buttocks), calves, lower back and even your core. The benefits of incorporating several compound exercises in each workout are staggering. Among them, you will be able to use heavier weights and build strength faster, your heart rate will remain elevated resulting in great cardio conditioning, and you’ll burn more calories during each workout. OPT FOR FREE WEIGHTS: It’s easy to jump from one machine to another at the gym and believe you’ve

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Here’s a simple

➊ Standing

➋ Keeping

but effective

with your feet

your elbow

exercise to

shoulder-width

close to your

apart, grab a

torso, raise

pair of light

your forearm

weight plates in

towards your

strengthen the forearms.

one hand and squeeze them

shoulder.

together using

➌ Return

your thumb and

to starting

fingers. Let the

position. Do

plates hang at

three sets of

arm’s length

TRY THIS EXERCISE: PLATE PINCH CURLS

8 12 reps on each side.

Chandler Wright demonstrates the

Plate Pinch Curl.

done a great workout, but the truth is machines typically restrict your range of motion and are less effective than free weights and cables in building muscle. Use free weights such as dumbbells or an Olympic bar with weight plates as much as possible and learn all the ways you can use a Cable (pulley) Crossover station. PLAN AND TRACK: It sounds nerdy to carry a notebook and pen around the gym, but planning your workouts in advance and tracking your progress are extremely important.You will want to record the date, name of the exercise, weight and number of repetitions. Many cell phone apps now offer this ability.Your goal is to progressively increase your weight. In the first three months of your program, I would recommend you plan total body workouts in order to condition your muscles. Ultimately, you can target specific muscle groups in different workouts. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: Exercise is important and is an essential key to good health – but your efforts will be counter-productive if you don’t also learn how to eat properly. Eating balanced meals comprising the correct ratio of proteins, carbs, and fats, ensures you have the energy you need to perform in the gym.

Peter Jackson is a certified personal trainer and the owner of Push Fitness, a private, full-service personal training gym in Oakland Park which offers a variety of fitness programs for individuals, couples and small groups. Peter welcomes your questions: e-mail peter@PushFitnessFTL. com or visit him online at www.PushFitnessFTL.com or www. PozFitness.com.

TIP OF THE WEEK

If you’re one of the guys who execute your bench press with your feet on the bench and your butt in the air – STOP! This is a surefire way to lose your balance or injure yourself. For best results, keep your feet firmly planted on the floor, with your buttocks firmly planted on the bench. Most importantly, pretend you are bending the bar in two. This will increase the tension in your chest and the effectiveness of the exercise.

To place an ad, call Brian Swinford

954.530.4970

or fill out form online at SouthFloridaGayNews.com/classifieds

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COMPUTER/TECH FAST, RELIABLE SERVICE, AT YOUR PLACE or ours! New PC’s and Laptops • Virus Removal. Hardware Repairs • Telephone Systems. PCLauderdale • 279 E Oakland Park Blvd. 954.636.3322. www. pclauderdale.com

------------------------------------------------COMPUTER/NETWORK SUPPORT FOR HOME OR OFFICE. Personable and Reliable Computer Network Support. Professional with over 15 years of Enterprise Level Experience. Affordable Rates. Contact Peter at (954) 816-4126 Or peter@netechsystems.com

EMPLOYMENT WANTED HIGHLY QUALIFIED INFORMATION technology professional and Veteran seeks IT position. 10+ years experience in help desk and desktop support. Will consider other career opportunities in South Florida. Please call Michael at 954.243.7175 ------------------------------------------------ALL FOOD HANDLING EXPERIENCE. I can prepare all seafood. Sauté, Sous Chef, Line Cook, Short order Breakfast, Baker, Prep, and also Catering. With over 23 Experience. Please contact Butch at 754-204-8463.

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FOR SALE BEDROOM FURNITURE. Mattress & Bedroom sets. King $200 Queen $150 Full $130 Twin $100 Frames $39. Six piece bedroom set $479. Come in five colors. Pillowtop king $250 can Del. Call 954-465-6498.

HANDYMAN SERVICES INEXPENSIVE ELECTRICIAN. Electrician 55.00 an hour or set price. Residential,Commercial & Industrial work Fans,Outlets, Service changes Licensed and Insured, EC0001777. 954931-5121 ------------------------------------------------LOCKSMITH & GLASS SERVICES All Pro Locks & Glass, Inc.. 24/7 Commercial & Residential. 954-780-5188 office / www. aplag.com. Servicing Southeastern Florida

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TAKE THE PLEDGE

ACCOMMODATIONS

The NoShame Project exists to transform those places that would have us hide or deny our gayness into places that embrace us for who we are.

www.no-shame.org

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------------------------------------------------SOUTH MIDDLE RIVER /FT.LAUDERDALE. Large 2 BD, 1 Bath Tile Floors, Parking, Lots of Closets. Half a Duplex, $850/ month, Large 2BD/1 BA, Central A/C, Tile Floors, Washer/Dryer Large Updated Kitchen, lots of closets, Fenced Yard, Dog Friendly, Call: 954-815-2550. ------------------------------------------------1/1 CLOSE TO WILTON MANORS & downtown, half duplex, quiet community, private parking, water/garbage included 600/mo + one month security call 954736-7583 ------------------------------------------------SPACIOUS OFFICE FOR RENT. Office suite in great building available approx 2500 sf set up as offices with conference room in two adjoining suites. Located at 1220 ne 4th ave just south of wilton manors. 954-763-4214 To see. Rent $ 2500 with annual lease ------------------------------------------------ANDREWS GARDENS: Oct. 1st Occupancy. 5111 NW 1st Ave., cozy, clean, happy 2/1 private home. Patio, fenced, paver drive, close to everything. 985/mo. (1st + sec.). 954-629-0393. ------------------------------------------------2/2 WILTON MANORS. Quiet area, w/ pool, laundry, small pets accepted. First and 1 month deposit. Call Astrid: 954-806-7607. ------------------------------------------------WEST HOLLYWOOD 2/2 Large Unique Duplex, Small office in unit, open kitchen w/ dishwasher, W/D, wood deck patio + privacy fence all around, we are extremely pet friendly, call Rita 954-549-9228

ROOMMATES GAY/GAY FRIENDLY ROOMMATE WANTED IN BOCA. Located in Boca Raton, right off Military Trail (north of Palmetto Park). Available now. 1 Unfurnished bedroom/ 1 Full Bathroom for rent in townhouse. Neighborhood is family friendly, safe and gated. Community has its own pool and tennis court. Very close to shopping, restaurants, I-95 and schools. Looking for a mature, easy going, gay/gay friendly individual. Non / outdoor smoker preferred. $650.00/ month with a 6 to 12 month lease. Water + Trash included. Call Jeff 561-315-0746 ------------------------------------------------ROOM 4 RENT IN 2 BED/1 BATH. Clean! $500 mo. includes utilities. North of Sunrise/East of Andrews. Walk to Wilton Manors. Must be gay friendly male/female. Call 954-297-9270 ------------------------------------------------ROOMMATE WANTED TO SHARE TOWNHOUSE IN S. POMPANO. $450 a month. Everything included. Male or female. Call Margie at 954-829-3933. ------------------------------------------------VICTORIA PARK LARGE TOWNHOUSE Lge. Pvt. Bedroom w/full use of home Key West Style Street with view. References with happy stable life. $625 plus 1/2 utilities. cbado@Live.com or 954.709.0505 ------------------------------------------------FTL-CORAL RIDGE POOL HOME Male to share remodeled 4BD/4BA home w/2 males. Unfurn, W/D, chef’s kitchen, wi-fi, lg pvt backyard w/dive-in pool,1.5 mi to beach. $800/mo. 954-609-9405. ------------------------------------------------ROOM FOR RENT in immaculate 2 bedroom 1 bath single family home. Fully fenced backyard, new granite/cherry kitchen. Close to public transport and Wilton Manors. Pets welcome. $500 includes utilities. 201-696-8752

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Canada’s Same-Sex Penguin Pair to Be Split Apart T

oronto’s zoo is splitting up a pair of male penguins whose affection has drawn headlines and jokes about “Brokeback Iceberg.” The African penguins have shared the nest they built since coming to the zoo about a year ago. But since the penguins are an endangered species, zoo officials plan to separate Pedro and Buddy so they can mate with females. The pair has what’s known as a “social bond,” but it’s not necessarily sexual, Tom Mason, the zoo’s curator of birds and invertebrates, said Wednesday. The zoo has received hundreds of calls about the pair. Mason said he even got a call from someone claiming to represent a group called the Canadian Society for Gay Animals. Such a group could not immediately be located. The story of the same-sex pair has gone viral online, leading to cheeky YouTube videos. Late-night TV comics have jumped into the icy waters of penguin passion. Jimmy Kimmel riffed on the story during a recent monologue, calling it “Brokeback Iceberg” and claiming the lovebirds were spotted at a Lady Gaga concert. But it’s really not the way it looks, Mason said. “Penguins are so social they need that ... company. And the group they came from was a bachelor group waiting for a chance to be paired up with females,” said Mason, who received the penguins from a U.S. zoo earlier this year. “They had paired up there, they came to us already paired, and it’s our job to be matchmakers to get them to go with some females.” Buddy, who is 21, had a female partner for 10 years and produced some offspring but his partner died, Mason said. Pedro, 10, has yet to produce offspring.

November 16, 2011 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 16, 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com