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More Nuts and Bolts about Ray Boltz

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May 23, 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 21

AIDS WALK

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Ponzi scheme exposed, investors sue PAGE 20 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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LGBT Seniors

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Key West PrideFest

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Orlando’s Gay Days

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Nude Gay Gathering in PA

IT HAPPENED THIS WEEK

NAACP Backs Gay Marriage But will the black community follow along?

M

IAMI — The NAACP passed a resolution Saturday endorsing same-sex marriage as a civil right and opposing any efforts “to codify discrimination or hatred into the law.”

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s board voted at a leadership retreat in Miami to back a resolution supporting marriage equality, calling the position consistent with the equal protection provision of the U.S. Constitution.

“The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure political, social and economic equality of all people,” Board Chairwoman Roslyn M. Brock said in a statement. “We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law.”

Same-sex marriage is legal in six states and the District of Columbia, but 31 states have passed amendments to ban it.

The NAACP vote came about two weeks after President Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage, setting off a flurry of political activity in a number of Roslyn M. Brock states. Obama’s announcement followed Vice President Joe Biden’s declaration in a television interview that he was “absolutely comfortable” with gay couples marrying. courtesy of The Brock Report

By Associated Press

“Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of

Student in Rutgers Webcam Case Sentenced The Tyler Clementi saga ends with Dharun Ravi in jail

By Associated Press

T

he former Rutgers University student convicted of bias intimidation for using a webcam to see his roommate and another man kissing days before the roommate committed suicide is getting a 30-day jail term and then probation.

see as a misguided decision — but one that may not have been linked to Clementi’s suicide.

A jury convicted Ravi in March of all 15 criminal counts he faced.

A judge sentenced 20-year-old Dharun Ravi (dahROON’ RAH’-vee) on Monday.

The father of Tyler Clementi told a judge on Monday that the former Rutgers student who was convicted earlier this year of bias intimidation for using a webcam to spy on his son deserves punishment.

Ravi’s roommate, Tyler Clementi, was held up as a symbol of what bullying can do to young gays. He killed himself in September 2010 by jumping off the George Washington Bridge.

The statements came during sentencing of Dharun Ravi. Joe Clementi said Ravi saw his son as undeserving of basic human decency, and that he saw him as below him because he was gay.

Advocates for Ravi have protested the idea that he could be sent to prison for years for what they

He said Ravi “still does not get it” and has no remorse.

THE REGULARS

By Karl Hampe

all people” said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous, a strong backer of gay rights.

Gay marriage has divided the black community, with many religious leaders opposing it.

In California, exit polls showed about 70 percent of blacks opposed same-sex marriage in 2008. In Maryland, black religious leaders helped derail a gay marriage bill last year. But state lawmakers passed a gay marriage bill this year.

Pew Research Center polls have found that African Americans have become more supportive of same-sex marriage in recent years, but remain less supportive than other groups. A poll conducted in April showed 39 percent of African-Americans favor gay marriage, compared with 47 percent of whites. The poll showed 49 percent of blacks and 43 percent of whites are opposed.

The Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights advocacy group, applauded the step by the Baltimore-based civil rights organization.

“We could not be more pleased with the NAACP’s history-making vote today — which is yet another example of the traction marriage equality continues to gain in every community,” HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a statement.

Tyler Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge after learning of the webcam.

Ravi’s lawyer, Steven Altman, said his client has been “demonized by the gay community” and the case “is being tried and is being treated as if it’s a murder case.”

See full story online.

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 Pier Angelo Guidugli

Chief Executive Officer Creative Director. . . . . . . . . . George Dauphin george.dauphin@sfgn.com Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chance Taffer Online Website Director. . . . Dennis Jozefowicz Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Swinford

Editorial Editor in Chief. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . Michael Anguille News Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gideon Grudo Arts/Entertainment Editor . . . JW Arnold jw@prdconline.com International Travel Editor. . . Joey Amato Business Editor . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Gary Senior Features Correspondents . . . . . . . . . . T ony Adams Jesse Monteagudo Correspondents. . . . . . . . . . . D onald Cavanaugh Gideon Grudo Lisa Lucas Mike Rothman Tana Velen

Contributing Columnists. . . . Wayne Besen

Both families sat through nearly every minute of Ravi’s four-week-long trial, where he was convicted in March of 15 criminal charges including invasion of privacy and tampering with evidence. And both appeared in public forums last week just before Ravi is to be sentenced for his deeds. The two most serious counts — bias intimidation — could have gotten him up to 10 years in prison, though prosecutors have said the maximum penalty was not necessary.

[See editorial page 19]

May 23, 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 21

Susan Estrich Brian McNaught Victoria Michaels Leslie Robinson Dana Rudolph David Webb

Health Columnist. . . . . . . . . . Peter Jackson Editorial Cartoonists. . . . . . . K arl Hampe Darryl Smith

Sales

Marketing Director. . . . . . . . . J ohn Fugate Sales Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Trottier Sales Associates . . . . . . . . . . . Edwin Neimann Justin Wyse

National Sales Representative.Rivendell Media todd@rivendellmedia.com Distribution Manager. . . . . . . JR Davis 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.

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May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

WHAT HAPPENED THIS MONTH IN GAY HISTORY 1990 - On this date ACT UP organized a large choreographed demonstration at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus in Washington, DC. According to Larry Kramer, this was their best demonstration, but was almost completely ignored by the media because of a large fire in Washington, D.C. on the same day.

david shankbone

2004 - On this date Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize MARRIAGE EQUALITY in the United States.

Larry Kramer

2010 - On this date PORTUGAL’S PRESIDENT ANIBAL CAVACO SILVA resisted a concerted campaign from the Vatican and ratified the nation’s Marriage Equality law, which was bound for approval whether he vetoed it or not. Interestingly, Silva’s decision came on the International Day Against Homophobia and made Portugal the sixth European country to allow same-sex couples to wed.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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COMPLERA (emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a prescription medicine used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV medicines before. COMPLERA does not cure HIV or AIDS or help prevent passing HIV to others.

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Patient model. Pill shown is not actual size.

INDICATION COMPLERA® (emtricitabine 200 mg/rilpivirine 25 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) is a prescription HIV medicine that contains 3 medicines, EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine), EDURANT™ (rilpivirine), and VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) combined in one pill. COMPLERA is used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 infection in adults (age 18 and older) who have never taken HIV medicines before.

COMPLERA does not cure HIV and has not been shown to prevent passing HIV to others. It is important to always practice safer sex, use latex or polyurethane condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with any body fluids, and to never re-use or share needles. Do not stop taking COMPLERA unless directed by your healthcare provider. See your healthcare provider regularly.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Contact your healthcare provider right away if you get the following side effects or conditions while taking COMPLERA: • Nausea, vomiting, unusual muscle pain, and/or weakness. These may be signs of a buildup of acid in the blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical condition • Light-colored stools, dark-colored urine, and/or if your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow. These may be signs of serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly), and fat in the liver (steatosis) • If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV), your liver disease may suddenly get worse if you stop taking COMPLERA. Do not stop taking COMPLERA without first talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will monitor your condition COMPLERA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how COMPLERA works, and may cause serious side effects.

Do not take COMPLERA if you are taking the following medicines: • other HIV medicines (COMPLERA provides a complete treatment for HIV infection.)

• the anti-seizure medicines carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®, Epitol®), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®, Dilantin-125®, Phenytek®) • the anti-tuberculosis medicines rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®, Rifadin®) and rifapentine (Priftin®) • a proton pump inhibitor medicine for certain stomach or intestinal problems, including esomeprazole (Nexium®, Vimovo®), lansoprazole (Prevacid®), omeprazole (Prilosec®), pantoprazole sodium (Protonix®), rabeprazole (Aciphex®) • more than 1 dose of the steroid medicine dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium phosphate • St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) • other medicines that contain tenofovir (VIREAD®, TRUVADA®, ATRIPLA®) • other medicines that contain emtricitabine or lamivudine (EMTRIVA®, Combivir®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, Epzicom®, Trizivir®) • rilpivirine (Edurant™) • adefovir (HEPSERA®) In addition, also tell your healthcare provider if you take: • an antacid medicine that contains aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take COMPLERA • a histamine-2 blocker medicine, including famotidine (Pepcid®), cimetidine (Tagamet®), nizatidine (Axid®), or ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac®). Take these medicines at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take COMPLERA • the antibiotic medicines clarithromycin (Biaxin®), erythromycin (E-Mycin®, Eryc®, Ery-Tab®, PCE®, Pediazole®, Ilosone®), and troleandomycin (TAO®) • an antifungal medicine by mouth, including fluconazole (Diflucan®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), posaconazole (Noxafil®), voriconazole (Vfend®) • methadone (Dolophine®) This list of medicines is not complete. Discuss with your healthcare provider all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you are taking or plan to take.

4

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

de Common e fect side assoc effects ated with associated COMP wERA th COMPLERA: • trouble eping (insomnia), sleeping (ins abnormal mnia),dreams abnormal he dreams, dache, headache, zzi ess, d dizziness, arrhea, diarrhea, h ausea, ti ed ess ra h, nd tiredness, depression and depression Other f e t side assoc effects ated with associated COMP wERA th COMPLERA: s• omac vomiting, pastomach n r discomfo pain or t skin d scomfort, scoloratio skin discoloration (small s ots(small or freckles) spots or freckles), and pain Te lthl your are provider healthcare if you provider have any if you side have effect anythat sidebothers effect that you bothe or t ats you or that does awa not These go away are n These t all the areposs not all b ethe sidepossible effects side of OMPLERA. ef ects of COMPLERA. For more For more information, ask your healthcare ask yourprovider healthcare or pharmac provider or st pharmacist.

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FDA-Approved Patient Labeling Patient Information COMPLERA® (kom-PLEH-rah) (emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) Tablets

COMPLERA may help: • Reduce the amount of HIV in your blood. This is called your “viral load”.

• Increase the number of white blood cells called CD4+ (T) cells that help fight off other infections.

Important: Ask your doctor or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with COMPLERA. For more information, see the section “What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA?”

Reducing the amount of HIV and increasing the CD4+ (T) cell count may improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

Read this Patient Information before you start taking COMPLERA and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about COMPLERA?

COMPLERA does not cure HIV infections or AIDS. • Always practice safer sex.

• Use latex or polyurethane condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with any body fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

• Never re-use or share needles.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to prevent passing COMPLERA can cause serious side effects, including: 1. Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in HIV to other people. some people who take COMPLERA or similar (nucleoside analogs) medicines. Lactic Who should not take COMPLERA? acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death.

• Do not take COMPLERA if your HIV infection has been previously treated with Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like HIV medicines. symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you • Do not take COMPLERA if you are taking certain other medicines. For more get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: information about medicines that must not be taken with COMPLERA, see “What • feeling very weak or tired should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA?” • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain • have trouble breathing What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA? • have stomach pain with Before you take COMPLERA, tell your healthcare provider if you: - nausea (feel sick to your stomach) • have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection - vomiting • have kidney problems • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • have ever had a mental health problem • feel dizzy or lightheaded • have bone problems • have a fast or irregular heartbeat • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if COMPLERA can harm your unborn child Pregnancy Registry. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. Its purpose is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms • are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. The Centers for Disease Control and of liver problems: Prevention recommends that mothers with HIV not breastfeed because they can pass • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice). the HIV through their milk to the baby. It is not known if COMPLERA can pass through • dark “tea-colored” urine your breast milk and harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best • light-colored bowel movements (stools) way to feed your baby.

• loss of appetite for several days or longer Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription • nausea and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

• stomach pain 2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take COMPLERA or similar medicines. In some cases these liver problems can lead to death.

Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis) when you take COMPLERA.

You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are COMPLERA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking COMPLERA or a similar affect how COMPLERA works, and may cause serious side effects. If you take certain medicines with COMPLERA, the amount of COMPLERA in your body may be too low and medicine containing nucleoside analogs for a long time. it may not work to help control your HIV infection. The HIV virus in your body may become 3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection resistant to COMPLERA or other HIV medicines that are like it. and you stop taking COMPLERA, your HBV infection may become worse (flare-up). A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Do not take COMPLERA if you also take these medicines: COMPLERA is not approved for the treatment of HBV, so you must discuss your HBV • COMPLERA provides a complete treatment for HIV infection. Do not take other HIV medicines with COMPLERA. therapy with your healthcare provider.

• the anti-seizure medicines carbamazepine (CARBATROL®, EQUETRO®, TEGRETOL®, • Do not let your COMPLERA run out. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare TEGRETOL-XR®, TERIL®, EPITOL®), oxcarbazepine (TRILEPTAL®), phenobarbital provider before your COMPLERA is all gone.

(LUMINAL®), phenytoin (DILANTIN®, DILANTIN-125®, PHENYTEK®) • Do not stop taking COMPLERA without first talking to your healthcare provider. ® ® • If you stop taking COMPLERA, your healthcare provider will need to check your health • the anti-tuberculosis medicines rifabutin (MYCOBUTIN ), rifampin (RIFATER , RIFAMATE®, RIMACTANE®, RIFADIN®) and rifapentine (PRIFTIN®) often and do regular blood tests to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking • a proton pump inhibitor medicine for certain stomach or intestinal problems, including esomeprazole (NEXIUM®, VIMOVO®), lansoprazole (PREVACID®), omeprazole COMPLERA. (PRILOSEC®), pantoprazole sodium (PROTONIX®), rabeprazole (ACIPHEX®) • more than 1 dose of the steroid medicine dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium What is COMPLERA? COMPLERA is a prescription HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) medicine that: phosphate • is used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV medicines before. HIV is the • St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

If you are taking COMPLERA, you should not take: • contains 3 medicines, (rilpivirine, emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) • other medicines that contain tenofovir (VIREAD®, TRUVADA®, ATRIPLA®) combined in one tablet. EMTRIVA and VIREAD are HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency • other medicines that contain emtricitabine or lamivudine (EMTRIVA®, COMBIVIR®, virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and EDURANT is an EPIVIR® or EPIVIR-HBV®, EPZICOM®, TRIZIVIR®) HIV-1 non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).

• rilpivirine (EDURANT™) It is not known if COMPLERA is safe and effective in children under the age of 18 years. • adefovir (HEPSERA®)

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May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Also tell your healthcare provider if you take: The most common side effects of COMPLERA include: • an antacid medicine that contains aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium • trouble sleeping (insomnia) carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take • abnormal dreams COMPLERA. • headache • a histamine-2 blocker medicine, including famotidine (PEPCID®), cimetidine • dizziness (TAGAMET®), nizatidine (AXID®), or ranitidine hydrochloride (ZANTAC®). Take these • diarrhea medicines at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take COMPLERA. • nausea ® ® ® • the antibiotic medicines clarithromycin (BIAXIN ), erythromycin (E-MYCIN , ERYC , • rash ® ® ® ® ® ERY-TAB , PCE , PEDIAZOLE , ILOSONE ), and troleandomycin (TAO ) • tiredness ® • an antifungal medicine by mouth, including fluconazole (DIFLUCAN ), itraconazole ® ® ® (SPORANOX ), ketoconazole (NIZORAL ), posaconazole (NOXAFIL ), voriconazole • depression (VFEND®) Additional common side effects include: • methadone (DOLOPHINE®) • vomiting Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is • stomach pain or discomfort one that is listed above.

• skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your • pain healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Your healthcare provider and your pharmacist can tell you if you can take these medicines with COMPLERA. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking COMPLERA without first talking with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that can interact with COMPLERA. How should I take COMPLERA? • Stay under the care of your healthcare provider during treatment with COMPLERA. • Take COMPLERA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.

• Always take COMPLERA with a meal. Taking COMPLERA with a meal is important to help get the right amount of medicine in your body. A protein drink does not replace a meal.

• Do not change your dose or stop taking COMPLERA without first talking with your healthcare provider. See your healthcare provider regularly while taking COMPLERA. • If you miss a dose of COMPLERA within 12 hours of the time you usually take it, take your dose of COMPLERA with a meal as soon as possible. Then, take your next dose of COMPLERA at the regularly scheduled time. If you miss a dose of COMPLERA by more than 12 hours of the time you usually take it, wait and then take the next dose of COMPLERA at the regularly scheduled time.

• Do not take more than your prescribed dose to make up for a missed dose.

• When your COMPLERA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. It is very important not to run out of COMPLERA. The amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time.

• If you take too much COMPLERA, contact your local poison control center or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What are the possible side effects of COMPLERA? COMPLERA may cause the following serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about COMPLERA?” • New or worse kidney problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. If you have had kidney problems in the past or take other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider may need to do blood tests to check your kidneys during your treatment with COMPLERA. • Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms: - feeling sad or hopeless - feeling anxious or restless - have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself • Bone problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do additional tests to check your bones.

• Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the main part of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The cause and long term health effect of these conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time.

Tell your healthcare provider if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of COMPLERA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

How do I store COMPLERA? • Store COMPLERA at room temperature 77 °F (25 °C).

• Keep COMPLERA in its original container and keep the container tightly closed.

• Do not use COMPLERA if the seal over the bottle opening is broken or missing.

Keep COMPLERA and all other medicines out of reach of children.

General information about COMPLERA: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use COMPLERA for a condition for which it was not prescribed.

Do not give COMPLERA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

It may harm them.

This leaflet summarizes the most important information about COMPLERA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about COMPLERA that is written for health professionals. For more information, call (1-800-445-3235) or go to www.COMPLERA.com.

What are the ingredients of COMPLERA? Active ingredients: emtricitabine, rilpivirine hydrochloride, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Inactive ingredients: pregelatinized starch, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, povidone, polysorbate 20. The tablet film coating contains polyethylene glycol, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, triacetin, titanium dioxide, iron oxide red, FD&C Blue #2 aluminum lake, FD&C Yellow #6 aluminum lake.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Manufactured and distributed by: Gilead Sciences, Inc. Foster City, CA 94404 Issued: August 2011 COMPLERA, the COMPLERA Logo, EMTRIVA, HEPSERA, TRUVADA, VIREAD, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. or its related companies.

ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved.

202123-GS-000 02AUG2011 CON12377 4/12

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President of Palm Beach County NOW

Meredith Ockman fights for equality on many levels

By Donald Cavanaugh

occasional visits back to Florida.

She worked in childhood education for a f not me? who? If not now? When?” asked Meredith Ockman, presi- number of years before moving to West Palm dent of the Palm Beach Coun- where she volunteered for Compass, the ty chapter of the National Organization for gay and lesbian community center of Palm Beach County. Not long afWomen (NOW). “When you terward, Compass hired her think that a single paragraph as a full time fiscal assistant in Germany’s 1930s code of and volunteer coordinator. law authorized the detention, She also worked with Comtorture and death of lesbian pass’ youth group in sex eduand gay people during those cation and prevention of HIV horrible years, it’s critical that and other sexually transmitwe all remain vigilant in the ted diseases. fight to secure and keep civil Ockman began working rights for everyone.” with the Pro-Choice CoaliShe continued: “We all have tion of Palm Beach County to take steps to keep people and the Treasure Coast in aware of our histories and 2003. She helped organize prevent these kinds of things the largest delegation of parfrom being repeated. This is Meredith Ockman ticipants from South Florida why I volunteer with Equality Florida, Planned Parenthood and The in the March for Women’s lives. She has also Women’s Foundation of Palm Beach County, provided escort assistance for the past 7 years at The Presidential Women’s Center in West among other things I do for equality.”

These words come from a woman whose Palm Beach.

Ockman is a past legislative director for father’s family suffered at the hands of the Nazis in Poland during World War II. Many Florida State NOW and was one of the leadof them were killed but several survived and ers to merge the North and South Palm Beach came to the United States after the War. “A County chapters. She is currently serving her third term as president of Palm Beach Councousin lived in Boston and was ty NOW, the largest chapter in the state. married to a U.S. citizen She is vice president of the Floriwho was able to sponsor da state chapter and is the 2011 my father’s family to move Feminist Leadership Award to the states,” Ockman recipient from the Veteran said. “Subsequently they Feminists of America. moved to Florida where I was “Merging the north and born and raised in Miami Beach.” south NOW organizations was a noAfter graduating from Miami Beach High School she attended Florida International Uni- brainer,” Ockman said.

“North Palm Beach had done well with LGBT versity where she studied philosophy and earned and pro-choice issues. South Palm Beach had a certificate in early childhood education.

“I came out in college,” Ockman said. “I the history and education expertise. By mergmet my first girlfriend at school and decided ing the two groups we expanded our combined I had to come out to my mother. At first she reach dramatically. There was some pain and seemed pretty cool but she was going through that’s to be expected but overall we’re a much menopause and about a week later she lost it. stronger group than we were before.”

Ockman is also proud of the quality of new It was all down hill from there. She started imposing curfews and setting restrictions on members the combined group has attracted.

“There are several who will be able to take what I could do and whom I could see. It just became impossible. So after one particular- the reins when I’m ready to hand them off,” ly violent argument I was thrown out of the she said. house at 2 in the morning.”

She lived with a friend in Wellington for a People interested in learning more about Palm while and then moved with her girlfriend to Beach County NOW should contact Ockman New Jersey where she lived for two years with at president@pbcnow.org. submitted photo

“I

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May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Business and Professional Group branching out to non-LGBT causes

By Gideon Grudo

I

t was a Thursday in 1984. Thom Carr had been with the Business and Professional Group for just three months.

He was shy, but something came over him when he saw Jay Heider walk into the group for the first time. There was what Carr called a spark, so he introduced himself to Heider while the group was mingling.

They’ve been together ever since.

That’s partly how the Business and Professional Group (BPG) works.

“I think it goes back to our main formula,” Carr said. “Business first, social second, and avoiding controversial issues.”

That describes BPG, a coalition of LGBT professionals in South Florida that bring business to each other, befriend each other, and help the community. It’s been around for forty-five years, when the LGBT community was a different place.

“There were a lot of older members who

lived their lives in the closet. This was probably their only LGBT networking group, the only outlet other than bars,” Carr said. “They were all upstanding members of the community. It kind of evolved as the older members started retiring — the group started taking on a younger attitude. Suddenly the G word — you could say it.”

And indeed the group is more different than it used to be, when in the nineties it was the only LGBT professional group in the area, according to Donna Watson. When she joined BPG in 1997, the chiropractor was the only female in the group, which she said she never minded.

“They treated with such amazing grace and welcoming,” Watson said, currently beginning her fourth term as president of the group, a never-before seen tenure for BPG. “It was fun being the only female there.”

One of the things Watson wanted was to see BPG become more formal, but maintain its so-

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

submitted photo

LGBT Business Org. Still Going Strong After 45 Years

ciability. She started a public relations position on the board, as well as networking position, both aimed at community outreach and involvement.

“It’s really a ‘sit down, get to know us’ type of environment,” Watson said, but added that BPG runs a background check on incoming members to ensure the safety of the rest.

“It’s like doing business with your family.”

For local business owners, Watson said, BPG can bring in that extra referral or networking opportunity.

“We’re not going anywhere. The relationships that you build in this room are long-term — and in my experience lifetime — relationships,” Watson said abstractly to people thinking about joining. “It’s a group that’ll make your business flourish. Your business becomes part of our circle — we want to help you flourish in your business.”

To add to her community outreach, Watson noticed that BPG has never really been involved in philanthropy, as it’s not a nonprofit, she said. Now, for the first time that the group is somewhat profitable, she decided to change that.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we actually became something that people thought of more than just a business group,” Watson said.

“We should stand for something and we should help.”

So last year, the BPG donated money to the Cancer Center of South Florida’s breast cancer department and Habitat for Humanity. In 2012, the group donated to the Pet Project — all three organizations are not LGBT-specific — and is looking for a strong bullying advocate to donate to next.

“We have always and will always support the gay community and its effort on AIDS and have donated our time to all agencies over all of the years,” Watson said. “But we are bigger than that as people and as a long standing part of the South Florida community,” Thom Carr explained that it’s the exact type of people that BPG attracts which has kept him coming for 28 years now — people like his partner.

“I think the main thing is the unique quality of people at this group — it’s not necessarily the bar crowd. In this particular group, it seems to attract good people,” Carr said. “The majority of the people in the group fall into that same ideal of upstanding citizens. The group can do this because it requires effort from the people who join.”

For more information on the group or how to join, go to www.bpgftl.com.

9

SFGN BRIEFS

Associated Press

Albania holds International Day Against Homophobia

National News Championship Boxer Denounces Anti-Gay Allegations

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The examiner.com story contained a Bible passage from Leviticus calling for the death of “a man (who) lies with a man,” and Pacquiao said many readers erroneously believed he had quoted that verse.

He said he had not, and the writer later clarified in a follow-up post that he had included the verse himself.

“My favorite verse in the Bible is ‘Love one another,’ and ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself,”’ Pacquiao said. “It’s in the Bible: Do not judge. I’m not judging.”

OS ANGELES (AP) -- Manny Pacquiao says he loves and supports gays and lesbians, even though he does not approve of gay marriage.

The world champion boxer and Filipino congressman has been criticized ever since he was quoted in an interview on the examiner.com website saying he opposed President Barack Obama’s support for gay marriage.

Pacquiao said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press that he doesn’t support gay marriage because of his Roman Catholic beliefs. But he said he has gay friends and relatives, and supports their rights.

“I’m not against the gay people,” Pacquiao said. “I’m not condemning them. ... I have a cousin (who is) gay. I have relatives (who are) gay. I have a lot of friends (who are) gay, so I’m not condemning gays. What I said is I’m not in favor of same-sex marriage. That’s the one thing I said to the guy.

“I told (the reporter) I’m against same-sex marriage,” Pacquiao added. “He said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘It’s the law of God.’ That’s all I said.”

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IRANA, Albania (AP) – Albania has launched its International Day against Homophobia with a series of events promoting gay rights, while supporters of a Muslim forum demonstrated nearby accusing organizers of violating family values.

The event was among hundreds around the world Thursday promoting tolerance, respect and freedom for gays and transgendered people. Albania, however, dropped Transphobia from the official title – International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. No explanation was given and spokespeople’s phones rang unanswered.

The event opened with a news conference, and was followed by photo exhibitions, leaflet distribution, and lectures. It will end with a party at a bar in the capital’s downtown area.

Elsewhere in Tirana on Thursday, scores of Muslims gathered near the Defense and Interior ministries as imams denounced the gay community as ``perverse,’’ ``deviant’’ and “degenerate.’’ Police kept a close watch on both events.

Manny Pacquiao

10

He also has success in major gift and planned-giving attainment and management.

Before joining SunServe, Thilborger SunServe Names New was Development Director for Stonewall Director Of nstitutional Library Museum Archive; Development Advancement Director/Regional Finance Director for The Florida Red Blue Democratic Party; DevelunServe, one of the South Florida’s opment Director for the Humane Society largest nonprofit organizations of the Treasure Coast; and serving the LGBT Assistant Director of Corcommunity, announced porate Relations for Florida that Chad Thilborger has International University. joined as Director of Among his many comInstitutional Advancement. munity involvements, Thilborger, who has extenThilborger was appointed sive experience working to the City of Fort Lauderwith charitable organizadale’s Code Enforcement tions, will oversee the Board, and a volunteer overall growth of SunServe with Glam Doll Strut for through marketing, fundBreast Cancer. raising, strategic planning, Thilborger earned a masand community affairs. ter’s degree in Arts ComThilborger has more munication and bachelor of than 12 years of superviarts degree in Philosophy sory experience in training, Chad Thilborger from Saint Louis University. budget development, orgaHe resides in Wilton Manors. nizational development, leadership, project Visit www.SunServe.org for more information. management, education, and consultation.

Local News

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New Rules for Prison Rape

W

ASHINGTON – The Justice Department today released a final rule to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse in confinement facilities, in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA). This landmark rule sets national standards for four categories of facilities: adult prisons and jails, lockups, community confinement facilities and juvenile facilities. Today’s rule is the first-ever federal effort to set standards aimed at protecting inmates in all such facilities at the federal, state and local levels.

The standards have three clear goals: to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse.

The new rules include protections for LGBT inmates.

Prevent: To prevent sexual abuse, the standards require, among other things, that facilities: • Incorporate unique vulnerabilities of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and gender nonconforming inmates into training and screening protocols; Detect: To detect sexual abuse, the standards require, among other things, that facilities: Respond: To respond to sexual abuse, the standards require, among other things, that facilities: In addition, the standards require that each facility be audited every three years to assess compliance.

The rule may be read in its entirety at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/programs/pdfs/prea_final_rule.pdf.

The Executive Summary is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/programs/pdfs/prea_executive_summary.pdf. The Regulatory Impact Assessment, which summarizes the costs and benefits of the rule, is available at www. ojp.usdoj.gov/programs/pdfs/prea_ria.pdf. For more information on the National Resource Center for the Elimination of Prison Rape, ter org visit pr ar sourc

Virginia House Says No Way to Gay Judicial Nominee

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ICHMOND,Va. (AP) — The House of Delegates, voting in Tuesday’s early morning hours, blocked an openly gay Richmond prosecutor from appointment to a General District Court judgeship in the city.

Tracy Thorne-Begland received 33 yes votes, 31 no votes — all from Republicans — and 10 abstentions in his bid to become what gay-rights advocates said would have been Virginia’s first openly gay jurist.

Twenty-six House members, including seven Democrats, did not vote.

A minimum of 51 votes in the 100-member House is required for election.

Thorne-Begland, a former Navy pilot who was honorably discharged after publicly disclosing his sexual orientation, was one of only two candidates among scores of judicial nominees not to be approved during a ’round-the-clock marathon that lingered from 1 p.m. Monday to 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Among Thorne-Begland’s fiercest critics was Del. Robert G. Marshall, an outspokenly

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Ellen DeGeneres Wins Top Humor Prize

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ASHINGTON (AP) — Ellen DeGeneres, who broke ground in 1997 as the first lead character on prime-time TV to reveal she was gay, is winning the nation’s top humor prize.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Tuesday that DeGeneres will receive the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. She will be honored Oct. 22 with a lineup of star performers in a tribute show that will be recorded for broadcast at a later date.

In a written statement, DeGeneres said receiving the same award as past honorees Bill Cosby, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell makes her wonder, “why didn’t I get this sooner?”

Okla. Senate panel blocks Dem from Election Board

International News

O

Georgian Capital’s FIRST Gay March Ends in Scuffle

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BILISI, Georgia (AP) – A small gay-rights march in the capital of the ex-Soviet nation of Georgia ended after a scuffle with opponents.

The march Thursday of about 50 people was the first such demonstration in Tbilisi. It marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The march on the sidewalk started at the national concert hall and aimed to reach the city’s main avenue, Rustaveli Prospekt, about one kilometer (a half-mile) away.

But several dozen members Gay rights marchers react to confrontation of the conservative religious group Union of Orthodox Parents blocked the way. A scuffle broke out, but was broken up by police. No injuries were reported. Police say three march participants were detained for trying to block traffic.

It was 15 years ago — just before the humor prize was created — when DeGeneres came out on Time magazine’s cover and as her character on the sitcom “Ellen” to a record 46 million viewers. The popular show began losing viewers, though, and was canceled a year later. DeGeneres said at the time that ABC caved in to fear and abandoned the show. She faced tough questions over whether the sitcom was “too gay” and if she had torpedoed her career by pushing a “gay agenda.”

“When I’m accused of becoming politi-

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

reuters

anti-gay Republican from Prince William who is among four candidates seeking the GOP’s U.S. Senate nomination in next month’s primary.

Marshall said he opposed Thorne-Begland on grounds that he denied his true sexual orientation in a statement those entering the armed forces at the time were forced to sign in the era before President Bill Clinton instituted the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays in the military.

“That statement asked the question as to personal sexual behavior: Are you a homosexual,” Marshall said. “To get into the military, Mr. Tracy Thorne-Begland had to sign a statement, ‘No, I am not.’”

Later, Marshall said he also considered Thorne-Begland unfit for the bench because being openly gay clashes with his duty to uphold the Virginia Constitution, which includes an amendment that defines marriage solely as a monogamous union between a man and a woman.

cal, I’m showing love,” DeGeneres told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in a 1998 interview.

“How is that political to teach love and acceptance?”

“Ellen” paved the way, though, for future shows to also break the taboo of showing gay characters. “Will and Grace” would follow, along with “Glee,” “Modern Family” and others.

The Mark Twain prize honors people who have an impact on society in the tradition of Samuel Clemens, better known as Twain, as a social commentator and satirist.

KLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Republican-controlled Senate Rules Committee blocked Gov. Mary Fallin’s nomination of an Oklahoma City attorney to the state Election Board, drawing the ire of Democrats who contend it is because he is openly gay.

The committee chairman, Sen. Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher, said Wednesday that the sexual orientation of former Democratic Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth is not an issue. Johnson said he thought it was inappropriate to appoint a former elected official to a post where he may have to rule on issues connected to a former opponent.

“If the governor appointed any other former elected official to the state Election Board, we would have the same exact concerns on whoever that individual might be,’’ said Johnson, who sought to run against Roth for a spot on the Corporation Commission in 2008 but was defeated in the GOP primary.

Democrats were quick to point out that the committee Wednesday approved another Election Board member, Republican Jerry Buchanan of Tulsa, who has been active for years in the Republican Party and currently serves as the Oklahoma GOP’s 1st District vice-chairman.

State Sen. Connie Johnson, who sponsored Roth’s nomination in the Senate, accused Senate Republican leaders of hypocrisy and prejudice. She said the interests of women, gays and minorities are not being represented by Republicans in the Oklahoma Legislature.

“All of these groups have continually been excluded by this Republican leadership, and here’s another example of it,’’ said Johnson, D-Oklahoma City.

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Special Report: Conference on Aging

Part 2

By Tony Adams

T

he primary benefit of LGBT visibility is the consequent ability to demand services, equal rights and protections at the local, state and federal levels. That may sound obvious, but older LGBT people who have spent most of their lives closeted and fearful about losing community support and safety if they came out, will welcome the good news delivered at the White House LGBT Conference on Aging held at the University of Miami on May 7.

The demographics of invisibility are being replaced by increasingly accurate counts of the growing number of LGBT seniors living among us, including many who live alone and would face unique and life-threatening challenges if not for the government initiatives outlined at the conference.

In her welcoming remarks, Florida U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz invoked the adage “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it” in her encouraging prediction that we may look forward to better times for LGBT seniors in which health care providers, nursing home staff, medical personnel, home visitation professionals, social workers and retirement community managers will not be allowed ignorance or insensitivity about their senior LGBT clients. She promised to work to “ensure that all of our seniors in south Florida can age with dignity, security and peace of mind.”

In his keynote address, Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Development & Research, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, spoke about housing as a healthcare issue, saying, “The two are strongly related and it is surprising that

12

HUD has kept LGBT data only for the past two years. There has truly been a sea change of how LGBT issues are talked about in DC. This administration has appointed more out LGBT people than all other administrations combined. Now we have a wave of LGBT elders coming into our communities and we need to be ready for them.”

Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida, spoke about her agency’s preparation for that huge wave of LGBT seniors in Florida. “In October/November of this year, we will release a handbook that will contain comprehensive policy, goals and expectations for helping LGBT seniors, and provide detailed information for that group and for those preparing for their senior years.”

Bostic and Smith appear ready to catch the wave, but what about the State of Florida? Jim Crochet, State LGBT Ombudsman with the Florida Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, repeatedly stated his willingness and readiness to be responsive. He was on the “Community Perspectives” panel with Mark Ketchum, executive director of SunServe, who welcomed Crochet’s remarks but expressed concern about how long it might take federal funds to reach the targeted LGBT seniors in Broward County if those funds have to pass through Tallahassee.

Ketcham said, “The federal pots of money for these initiatives don’t yet exist, but when they do, we already have a model that works well for their distribution: it would good, for example, if 5 percent of Older Americans Act funds were targeted to the LGBT community and it would be great if those funds were dispersed on the county or local level rather than on the state level using the Ryan White

TONY ADAMS

Will the Growing Wave of LGBT Seniors Get Services and Protection?

Mark Ketcham (far right) is the executive director of sunserve.

Title 1 and Title 2 models where Title 1 funds went to the largest local entity—counties in Florida—and Title 2 funds went through the State to smaller communities. To reach the goals of the funds rapidly and efficiently, local control is better than State control.”

Also on the panel was Karen FredriksenGoldsen, PhD, Professor and Director, Institute for Multigenerational Health, University of Washington, who delivered the significant results of a study, The Health Report: Disparities and Resilience among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults, which is available at http://CaringAndAging.org, and was funded in part by the National Institutes of Heath and the National Institute on Aging.

Across the nation 2,560 diverse LGBT adults ranging from 50 to 95-years-old participated in this study. The results showed that LGBT older adults are resilient with: 89 percent feeling positive about belonging to their LGBT communities; 91 percent engaging regularly in wellness activities; 82 percent engaging in moderate physical activities; 38 percent attending spiritual or religious activities at least once a month; and 41 percent of transgender older adults and 41 percent of bisexual men having served in the military.

The health disparities revealed were: LGBT

older adults have higher rates of disability and mental distress than heterosexuals of similar age; lesbians and bisexual older women have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and obesity compared with heterosexual older women; and that gay and bisexual older men are more likely than heterosexual older men to experience poor physical health and to live alone. Additionally 82 percent of the participants in the study had been victimized at least once in their lives, and 13 percent had been denied healthcare or provided with inferior healthcare. While 31 percent experience depression, 53 percent report loneliness, 27 percent have experienced the death of a partner, 30 percent do not have a will, 36 percent do not have a durable power of attorney and 14 percent of gay and bisexual male participants are living with HIV. The conference presenters stressed the need and benefits to reaching out to LGBT senior neighbors who may be hesitant about self-identification as LGBT. With the number of LGBT seniors and their needs growing rapidly, the conference presenters expressed optimism about future funding and increased willingness and ability to deliver the specifically tailored services and protections required by LGBT seniors.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

BREAKING NEWS

Kesckemety Hospitalized Popular journalist battling cancer

By Norm Kent

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Photo by Pompano Bill

popular local journalist, Bob Kesckemety, living the past year with a spreading and inoperable bone cancer, was hospitalized Tuesday at Broward General Medical Center, in grave condition.

He is being watched over by his close friend, and caregiver, Tim Yatteau, who describes Kesckemety “as a genuine person who was friends with everyone he came into contact with.” Yatteau has also been watching over his dogs, Stippie and Sparkie.

A homeowner and resident of Poinsettia Heights, born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 23, 1951, Kesckemety recently has been convalescing at the Manor Pines in Wilton Manors, while discussing with physicians the possibility of moving into a hospice.

“It’s ironic,” he told SFGN on Friday, “that as a kid I worked as delivery boy at the Williams City Drug Store down the block, delivering medications to patients here in the Manor Pines Convalescent Home, and now I am a patient here myself, waiting for someone to bring me my meds.”

He said that between puffs of a cigarette. “It can’t hurt me now,” he joked, “It can’t hurt me now. And it still relaxes me.”

A graduate of Fort Lauderdale High School who went to Broward Community College, Kesckemety became well known to the gay community through his entertaining column in Scoop Magazine in the 1990’s, titled ‘Shut Up and Focus.’

Trained in audiovisual work, Kesckemety and his camera are often a fixture at community events, such as the annual World AIDS Day festivities in Wilton Manors, along with Pride fest functions.

Kesckemety was also the graphic designer and lay out artist for Scoop, long before becoming a writer and editor for other gay publications, including Buzz Magazine, the Independent and the Florida Agenda.

Many people did not know that Kesckemety, along with the profiles he did of many interesting personalities locally and nationally, most recently put together the GLCC Voice for the Pride Center. Recognizing that his time may be limited, Kesckemety recently met with Executive Director Robert Boo, in the hopes of setting up a legacy to insure that the Voice will continue to be published when he passes.“If that happens, it would be an honor for us and a tribute to him,” Boo noted.

Recalling some of the more popular experiences of his life, Kesckemety reflected that he loved trips to America’s national parks, citing particularly an excursion to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee as a “special one.”

“I am at peace,” he said. “Whatever comes, I am at peace.”

As SFGN went to press, Kesckemety’s condition at the hospital was serious.

“I am at peace” --Bob Kesckemety May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Kicking and Biting

P e r s o n a l I n j u ry • f r e e c o n s u ltat I o n

New SunServe group aims to support victims of intimate partner abuse

By Gideon Grudo

Affordable Estate Planning Packages From Your Neighborhood Law Firm

a phone number needed to sign up, will attempt to show victims that they’re not alone and provide them with resources to better their situations.

“Sadly, the problem is equally prevalent in the LGBT community as it is in the heterosexual community,” said Kris Drumm, SunServe’s staff therapist and groups coordinator. “We can’t assume that because someone’s in a lesbian relationship or a gay men couple aren’t as much at risk.”

Drumm, who worked for the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project for domestic violence in the nineties, has seen first hand the effect of abuse on hundreds of LGBT people who were battered. According to her, the LGBT community tends to be more secretive about issue of abuse because of three main reasons.

“We don’t want to air our dirty laundry,” she said about the first factor. “I think there’s a protectiveness so we don’t fuel any homophobia.”

Secondly, Drumm said, the LGBT community is in a much better place today than it was in the very recent past. She said some even consider it a utopia.

“We don’t want to burst that bubble,” Drumm said.

Lastly, if someone’s not openly LGBT, then talking about abuse is simply not desirable.

They not only have to keep the good parts of their relationship veiled, but also the bad.

“A lot of times, people in abusive relationships think there’s something wrong with them,” Drumm said about victims of abuse.

“In a group of people, others can identify. You can [get] a feel of other people going through similar dynamics.”

And that’s the idea of it. Come talk to people who are going through the same thing, find out how to cope, how to fix the situation, or how to leave.

“Often time, we’re talking about potentially lethal situations,” Drumm said. “No one should live with emotional and physical abuse. What’s really great about SunServe hosting this group is that it’s an LGBT group offering it.”

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I

t’s using weapons, curse words, slurs It’s actively trying to destroy someone’s self worth. It’s intimate partner abuse — and SunServe is here to help.

Newly launched, a weekly support group from one of the LGBT community’s favorite organizations will focus on people who are currently or have recently been victim to partner abuse This abuse can manifest itself as name calling, put downs, humiliation, isolation from the public, isolation from friends and/or family, keeping money from the victim, intimidating or threatening the victim, sexually coercing them, being sexually violent toward them, et cetera. The support group, completely anonymous with only

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Guest Column

My 1969 High-School Prom

By Mark Segal

M

y 1969 high-school prom came 43 years late. Like many people of my generation who knew they were gay in high school — unlike heterosexuals who looked forward to that night — I looked at the prom as a night of dread and oppression. For LGBT people, if we participated, we may have acted a part with a friend of the opposite sex, who might or might not have known who we really were. Or we simply skipped the event. Yes, no matter what your feelings on the prom, it is still a major part of the high-school experience.

As a high-school senior, I knew exactly who I was — not that I was shouting it in the school halls, but it was something I knew — and, like those of my generation, did not completely understand it, but knew enough not to make it public. And since, in those days, you didn’t take a same-sex date to the prom, this senior was not participating. It simply was not who I was.

Through the years, I often thought about what would have happened at the prom. Who

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would have been my date? Like everyone who comes across that fork in the road, you wonder what would have happened if you chose the other road; but in this case, I just wondered about the prom experience I missed.

Enter The SeniorLAW Center and its major event of the year, “The SeniorPROM.” Like all fundraisers, it has speeches and awards. About a month before the prom, the organizers informed me that I’d be receiving the Senior Advocate of the Year Award. Since my work on the LGBT-friendly affordable seniorliving facility (the reason for the award) was taking up so much time, I didn’t give it much thought. About a week before the event, it dawned on me that this was the prom I never went to and it was my opportunity to have

that personal moment ... even though I’d have to hope the audience, prom attendees, appreciated it.

So in my acceptance speech, after thanking the organization and the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, I explained how many of my generation never had a chance to go to the prom. Many were actually terrorized by the concept; others stayed home in sorrow and loneliness. I told them I was one of those who did not go. Then I reached for a box I had hidden and said, “With your indulgence, I’d like to correct that now.” Walking over to my boyfriend, Jason, I took the yellow rose boutonniere out of the box and, standing in front of him and the audience, I said, “Will you be my prom date?” He smiled, which was a relief, and said of course, and the audience went wild.

Later we danced.

And, no matter what you tell me, we were king and king of the prom.

Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s mostaward-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

McNaught’s Notes

We, the Abused and the Abusers

By Brian McNaught

I

s there a person who has never been abused in some way by others, or a person who has never participated in the abuse of another person? It would make it easier for all of us to empathize if we could recall the moments when our bodies or our spirits were roughly handled When we are abused, it leaves a wound that never fully heals. Abuse creates fear, anger and other destructive feelings. When we abuse others, we’re fully responsible for the damage we do.

To “abuse” means to “use wrongly or improperly; to injure by maltreatment.” Some abuse is major, such as being tortured Other abuse, such as being shoved as others exit the subway car, has less long-lasting impact. Both, however, are an assault on our sense of safety and well-being.

I have both been abused, and have been an abuser. I’ve been physically beaten, sexually mistreated, threatened with death, and bullied with hate mail. I’ve also repeated or cultivated negative stories about others when it served my selfish purposes.

The current Pope was abused as a child when he was forced to join a Nazi youth corps, and he has been an abuser, most recently in minimizing the life work of nuns, and the dignity of gay people.

We are all aware of the abuse of waterboarding. Gay people who were given electric shock treatment so that they might become straight were abused in a major way, too. We think of others being abused, and of others doing the abusing, but rarely do we see ourselves in the role of the abuser. Yet, gossip is abuse, as is withholding compliments. Not making eye contact with people you feel are less worthy is abuse, as is aggressive driving and horn honking. Refusing to talk with another person is abuse, as is refusing to listen.

We abuse others with our angry outbursts, our profanity, our Bible quoting and our unwanted solicitation telephone calls.

If I’m denied what is due me, or subjected to what is unwanted, it is abuse. If you think about it, all of us participate in some form of abuse every day.

We abuse ourselves. Drinking too much alcohol or taking unnecessary drugs is abuse, as are crash diets and running with a bad knee. Eating more than is sufficient is abuse, as is pretending that we have no connection with people who are hungry.

We abuse animals when we aren’t responsible caretakers, and we abuse the Earth

sought security in the company of the more experienced older gay man, and put up with abuse because he didn’t know that he wasn’t supposed to be beaten up in the gay world.

The people who denied him the opportunity to learn about the goodness of his sexual orientation, and the option of dating someone of the same sex in high school, were his abusers too. They created the circumstances that allowed for the abuse in his first relationship.

A lot of the examples we can give of daily abuse are signs of self-centeredness and selfishness. I know that when I abuse others it is because I am thinking only of myself. More serious examples of abuse are often signs of mental and emotional illness. Spiritual-

ly healthy people don’t want themselves or others to suffer. Love and abuse are opposites. If we love ourselves, and our neighbors throughout the world, we can’t engage in behaviors that assault safety and well-being.

Brian McNaught was named “the godfather of gay diversity training” by The New York Times.

He works with corporate executives globally, is the author of six books, and is featured in seven educational DVDs. He and his spouse Ray Struble divide their year between Ft. Lauderdale and Provincetown. Visit Brian-McNaught.com for more information.

when we litter, which Ray and I won’t do, or leave all the lights on in the house, which Ray and I do. We abuse the Earth when we leave the water running, and otherwise take more from it than is necessary.

When I read about corporations and individuals figuring out ways not to pay their fair share of taxes, I feel they are abusing the country they claim to love. During every election cycle, the airwaves and print media are filled with the abuse of political opponents. Rush Limbaugh is paid lots of money to abuse other people with his diatribes. His sponsors and listeners are as responsible for the abuse as he is.

The young men and women who have been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to fight the “war against terrorism,” have been horribly abused by our politicians, and by all of us who have not stepped forward to stop the physical and emotional carnage. The broken bodies and spirits of our youth, and of the people living in the war zones, will all be forgotten after we have officially withdrawn from these Middle Eastern countries. We may say, “thank you,” but then hope those with artificial limbs won’t show up at the supermarket and scare our children. I saw that happen during and after the war in Vietnam.

All is forgotten except by those whose nightmares keep them awake.

Spousal abuse is one of the most horrifying forms of mistreatment, because love is promised to the person who is physically or emotionally traumatized. The person who seeks safety and comfort becomes a possession of the abuser, to be treated as he or she wishes.

I recently finished a book about gay male spousal abuse. The younger of the two men

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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TRAVEL

By Jon Fairbanks GayTravel Team Member

E

veryday in Key West feels like a pride celebration!

This popular Florida resort town was the first to pursue the LGBT dollar and it continues to be one of the top gay destinations in the United States. An inspirational haven for writers such as Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote, Key West is paradise for the queer literary or history buff. In June, thousands of gay and lesbian travelers from around the world get caught in this intoxicating tourist trap. The occasion? PrideFest Key West.

From gay dance parties and drag shows to street fairs, the atmosphere during PrideFest is amped up beyond belief and it’s an experience not to be missed. This year, the fes-

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tivities kick off on June 6 beginning with a pride luncheon with Erin Davies, Pride Grand Marshal and the creator of FagBug. The FagBug campaign began when Davies’ Volkswagen Beetle was vandalized with homophobic slurs. In response, Davies decided to travel the country in the car to help bring awareness to gay issues. She also filmed and produced a documentary based on the experience.

The Miss, Ms. and Mr. Pride competitions are always hits. The contestants are judged on looks, talent and most importantly – personality. The pageants may be high-pressure on high-heels for the finalists but they’re a lot of laughs for the audience.

On Saturday, June 9, wake up bright and early and take part in the annual GLCC Pride Ride. It’s a great opportunity to trek across the island with hundreds of other proud cy-

submitted photo

PrideFest Key West: One Week, One Family clists of all ages. When you’ve finished your morning exercise, head over to the KW Pride Street Fair. Bars, restaurants and shops between the 700 and 900 blocks of Duval Street show off their goods, set to beats offered by popular DJs including Nick Hatziantonio and Edwin Lucas.

If you’re heading to Key West for the first time, you have to hop on the Gay KW Trolley Tour. It’s a fabulous way to experience the city “with a gay twist.” The tour lasts about an hour and includes stops at mainstream and gay historic spots, narrated by experienced guides.

After a day of biking, shopping and sightseeing, head over to the Waterfront Playhouse and enjoy “Fruit Fly,” a one man show hosted by one of the most hilarious ‘mos in the business, Leslie Jordan.

The show dives into Jordan’s childhood memories, more recent adventures and asks the age-old question, “do gay men really become their mothers?”

Sunday evening it’s all about the main event, the Key West Pride Parade. Revelers descend on Duval Street for an elaborate, colorful and flamboyant celebration. The parade begins at 5 p.m. and ends around 7 p.m., followed by drunken, exuberant partying spilling over into the surrounding gay bars.

Most of Key West’s gay bars are located on Duval Street. From dance clubs to piano bars, there’s a venue to suit each and every taste or preference. Bourbon Street Pub is the most popular dance club on the island.

In addition to great music, the venue also offers drag shows, karaoke and live entertainment. Kwest offers happy hour specials and a popular piano-sing-a-long party each week.

Leather daddies and the sons who love them

head to Saloon One. It’s the only gay leather bar in Key West, located behind Bourbon Street and 801 Bourbon Bar. One thing you should know before embarking on a trip to Key West is that it’s a great place to get naked. The incredible climate encourages many to head to a clothing-optional resort or to the beach and strip down. There’s also a watering hole for you brazen exhibitionists. Garden of Eden is the only clothing-optional bar on Duval Street.

The venue, located above the Bull & Whistle Bar attracts an eclectic crowd. Just be sure to leave your modesty at the door.

Ladies looking to mingle with other fine ladies head to Pearl’s. This is a tropicalthemed lesbian bar featuring amazing specialty drinks like the “Cosmopearlitan” and “Pearl’s Passion.” Want to keep the party going after closing time?

There’s a clothing-optional bed and breakfast attached to the bar. Be sure to make your reservation well before PrideFest.

You don’t have to take your clothes off to have a good time in Key West, oh no, especially during PrideFest. During this week, attending one of the popular pool parties is a must. Big Ruby’s, Pearl’s and Kwest are just a few of the venues hosting pride poolside soirees. In addition to great drinks and scantily clad hotties, there are also contests and incredible live performances.

Whether you’re looking for a pride experience that’s balls to the wall or looking for a relaxing dream gay beach getaway, Key West will not disappoint. When you leave this homo-utopia, you’ll understand why the city’s motto “One Human Family” applies not just during PrideFest, but all year round.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

May 23, 2012

SFGN Editorial

30 Day Sentence for Hate Crime Not Enough

Norm Kent, Publisher

Defendant Dharun Ravi (above) and deceased Tyler Clementi (left).

E

vil acts deserve more than 30 days in jail, but that is not the way a judge in New Jersey looked at the mendacious acts of Dharun Ravi.

By now, we are all aware that Tyler Clementi, a young Rutgers University student, committed suicide last year by jumping off the George Washington Bridge.

As the facts surrounding his death unfolded, we discovered that Clementi was a young man coming to grips with his homosexuality, and having a difficult time with the process.

His roommate, Dharun Ravi, did not make things easier. In order to humiliate Clementi, Ravi surreptitiously used a computer webcam to spy on a homosexual encounter of Clementi’s. Then he proceeded to tweet on the Internet how his roommate was caught ‘making out with another dude.’ Ravi added to the pain by announcing how he was going to have a “viewing party” for the sexual act. He wanted to share his film with the school. Clementi could not handle it, and he took his own life.

Even though he set into motion those forces, Ravi had no forewarning that Clementi was going to commit suicide. The school took disciplinary action against him, but a state prosecutor did more. They charged and convicted Ravi of a charge of ‘invasion of privacy’ and major counts of bias intimidation — in effect, anti-gay hate crimes.

The case focused national attention on antigay bullying, teen suicide, and hate-crime laws in the fast-changing Internet age.

The menial 30-day sentence imposed on Ravi by a New Jersey judge sent another message-that we still have a ways to go in order to make people more sensitive to bullying. 30 days? Come on, this was a lot more than a shoplifting case.

In law, you look at mens rea, or mental intent. When Ravi secretly filmed his roommate, it may have been viewed as a teenage prank. When he announced that he was going to have a ‘viewing party’ for everyone else in the college to see the sexual act, he showed his intent was to harm, humiliate and hurt.

After a trial that lasted four weeks, Ravi was not only convicted of all 15 charges against him, the evidence revealed he had attempted to cover his tracks by destroying text messages and tweets, and tampering with a witness. Those later acts were further probative of his evil intent.

Judge Glenn Berman said our society must demand “an intolerance for a lack of tolerance,” but he showed too much tolerance in sentencing Ravi to only 30 days in jail. The judge did order Ravi to serve three years probation, get counseling, and pay $10,000 toward a program to help victims of hate crimes. Sorry, but that’s not enough.

With a young man gone, and a life lost, no one comes out a winner. But if the loss of Clementi’s life is to have meaning going forward, our courts must send a message that hate has no place in our schools, and bullying has no place in our society.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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From parti

PON

Jim and Janet Ellis name

Jim and Janet Ellis

F

or the past few months, a number of residents in Wilton Manors have been alleging they were victims of a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by a father-daughter team, working their purported fraud in local venues, such as bars and private parties.

Many of the alleged victims have resided at Wilton Station in Wilton Manors.

Fourteen residents have now put their money where their mouth is. They have filed a suit in Broward County Circuit Court, accusing George Elia, Jim Ellis, and his daughter Janet Ellis of multiple counts of fraud and deceit.

SFGN exclusively reported the stories of many of these victims in three separate issues earlier this year. The plaintiffs, including those reported in SFGN, are now suing four people and six companies for eleven counts, all involving allegations of fraud and misrepresentation.

The plaintiffs include Lloyd Pagels and Ken Kelley, owners of the local popular country western gay bars, Scandals and the Stable.

The SFGN investigation revealed that Jim Ellis, a local businessman, solicited Wilton Manors residents for investments in stock plans underwritten by George Elia. Dating back to 2004, Ellis, allegedly working with his daughter Janet, a property manager for Wilton Station, was accused of enticing investors with cocktails, drinks and expensive dinners, soliciting them at lavish parties she hosted, often in the local condominium complex.

“By acting as satisfied investors,” the lawsuit reads, “Jim and Janet Ellis lent an air of legitimacy to Elia’s scheme.” It accuses Ellis and his daughter of vouching for the security of the phony investments, thus inducing a false sense of confidence into prospective investors. The suit goes on to directly accuse Ellis and his daughter as being “every bit as involved in the scheme as Elia himself.”

The riveting lawsuit claims Jim Ellis was “well-known amongst the plaintiffs…for his grandiose and lavish lifestyle,” thus he was an “accomplice perfect for the role.” But he is now accused of

20

making scores of false representations, “knowing them to be false.”

His daughter, Janet, the suit alleges, used her position as property manager at Wilton Station, and the proprietary information she gained in that capacity, to further the fraudulent scheme.

The complaints and the lawsuit allege that Jim was able to induce potential investors into believing that Elia was a sound businessman, a stock market guru, and that their investments would be secure.

Victims told SFGN they were assured of profitable returns of more than 20 percent annually, and were allegedly coaxed with guarantees and assurances from Jim. It was not to be. Investors discovered they could not get their monies back, and no accurate accounting was provided of where their monies had been placed.

This lawsuit is only part of Elia’s problems today, already named as a defendant in a California suit accusing him of a separate $4 million dollar fraud. He had left the United States with his wife, only to return to Las Vegas, where the FBI arrested him in late March, charging him with wire fraud. Elia is now sitting in a cell of the MiamiDade Federal Detention Center, having been charged with eight counts of criminality by the authorities for his previous investment scandals, known as ‘Ponzi Schemes.’

The new civil suit in Broward County, however, now alleges he orchestrated his frauds in concert with accomplices Jim and Janet Ellis, who preyed on gay men, investors residing in Wilton Manors, and more specifically, Wilton Station. It accuses them of following a specific script that arranged for dinners at Capitol Grille, where diners would be given lobsters as a main course, and false representations as an appetizer. Given numerous opportunities to defend their actions to SFGN, both defendants had repeatedly declined to comment.

The lawsuit, filed by the firm of Becker and Poliakoff, accuses not only Elia, but Jim and Janet of eleven counts of common law fraud and negligent misrepresentation. One of the lawyers for the many

plaintiffs is Daniel DeSouza, who told counts could rise as discovery on the ca living document, and is likely to grow,” he “Elia and his conspirators have been ro for years,” DeSouza said. “I think it’s enti additional bad actors here. Anyone inv not be comfortable that they haven’t b promised to root out “wrongdoers” th process.

DeSouza says the devious schemes o promises that monies were being sec accounts, IRAs, and initial public offe investors he himself had spent fortune the victims he would allow no harm to accuses him of knowing Elia was engaged and being a part of them.

“This was a conspiracy between Elia, J DeSouza said. “Everyone had a major par contributed to the plaintiffs’ losses.” D around 2.5 million dollars.

The first and second counts of the Fraud and Negligent Representation. Th Ellises knowingly lied to the plaintiffs, ta intention to ever uphold their side of the Since the suit accuses Elia of involving h alleges that the defendant engaged in a vio Unfair Trade Practice Act. The fourth co of Conversion, which means that Elia and the plaintiffs’ money, converting the righ to his.

The fifth count — the only one dire companies— is a Breach of Fiduciary Dut to follow a standard of care he owed violating the agreements he signed with The sixth and seventh counts are Un Conspiracy. These are charges which j the Ellises knowingly and unlawfully con allowing themselves to be unjustly enrich never have been theirs to acquire or mis The eighth count in the complaint ch Aiding and Abetting a Fraud, purposefull the plaintiffs of their money and using promised, but for other self-serving in

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

ies to

NZI

PlaIntiffs Gary Bramble Michael Camfield Bob Chase Joe Cortese Peter Dolan Ken Kelley Rick Khun Frederick Okolowitz Joseph McRae Lloyd Pagels Sandra Rich Kenneth Tuch Sammy Whitford Robert Zalesky

By Gideon Grudo

d as defendants in multi-million dollar fraud lawsuit

SFGN that the number of se evolves. “The lawsuit is a e said. obbing the defendants blind rely possible that there are volved in this scam should been named yet.” DeSouza hrough the legal discovery

orchestrated included false ured in direct investment rings. Jim repeatedly told es with Elia, and reassured come to them. But the suit in fraudulent acts for years,

im, Janet, and likely others,” rt in the scam and everyone eSouza said the losses are

purposes were illegal.

The final three counts allege that all the defendants violated state and federal statutes pertaining to financial investments, disclosure laws, and legal obligations.

“Our collective hearts go out to the plaintiff group,” attorney Daniel DeSouza said, commenting that the defendants took advantage of long-time friendships and relationships as a means to their corrupt ends.

“Elia and [Jim] Ellis knew that they were soliciting funds from people who couldn’t afford to lose them,” DeSouza said. “But it did not stop them.”

He promised to bring justice to the table with this lawsuit.

DefendAnts George Elia Darlene Elia Jim Ellis Janet Ellis International Consultants & Investment Group Limited Corp.

International Consultants and Enterprises, Inc. Vision Equities, Inc. Vision Equities II, LLC Vision Equities III, LLC Vision Equities IV, LLC

Editor’s Note: The defendants will be invited to reply to SFGN if they so wish, and we will report on their defenses either way when their answers are filed in circuit court.

lawsuit are Common Law hey allege that Elia and the aking their money with no e investment agreements. his businesses, a third count olation of the Deceptive and unt accuses the defendants the others essentially stole htful ownership from theirs

ected solely at Elia and his ty.This means that Elia failed to the plaintiffs, purposely them. njust Enrichment and Civil ointly allege that Elia and spired against the plaintiffs, hed with money that should sappropriate. harges the defendants with y and knowingly defrauding it not for investments as nterests, fully aware those

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Counts Common Law Fraud Negligent Misrepresentation Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Conversion Breach of Fiduciary Duty Unjust Enrichment Civil Conspiracy Aiding and Abetting Fraud Violation of Fla. Statute 517.301 Violation of Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act Violation of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act

Jim Ellis (far right) and Janet Ellis (cat suit) at a Halloween party at Scandals country western bar several years ago with plaintiff Joe Cortese (second from left).

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VIEWS OF THE NEWS

Florida AIDS Walk Photos by JR Davis

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, presented the Florida AIDS walk in Fort Lauderdale this past Sunday, May 20. More 3,400 walkers raised more than $826,000 for HIV testing, prevention and medical care services in Florida.

Presented by AHF Pharmacy and Out of the Closet Thrift Store, the Walk is dedicated to raising awareness of the fact that more than 100,000 Floridians are living with HIV/AIDS, and to generating as much financial support as possible to provide the lifesaving care and services they need. This year’s Walk benefited an expanded list of organizations as the team strives to have an even greater impact on the community. Also new this year: Florida AIDS Walk 2012 included a food and music festival on the beach.

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Walkers were welcomed by Elvis Duran and Carolina Herrera of Y100’s Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and were treated to a beachfront concert featuring musical guests: The B-52s, Berlin, CeCe Peniston and Ultra Nate. Additional acts include: Joi Cardwell, Jason Walker, Tony Cruz, DJ Michael Tank, DJ Doug Jackson and more.

“Florida AIDS Walk has grown in size and success year over year,” said Mark Martin, AHF’s Regional Director, Community Relations & Development and the lead organizer of the Florida AIDS Walk. “In years past, participants have asked for a different, shorter route, and for something entertaining to do after the Walk to celebrate their hard work – and we’ve listened. This year’s Walk took place along the Fort Lauderdale beach, and culminated in a food

and music festival that the whole community will enjoy.

This new event is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our participants for their dedication and generosity in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as an opportunity to raise the bar for a whole new era of Florida AIDS Walk fundraising.”

According to the Florida Department of Health’s most recent HIV/AIDS fact sheet, through 2010 the total number of people living with HIV and AIDS in Florida increase 5.3 percent for a total of 97,978. The number is likely higher as it’s estimated that nationwide 20 percent of people who are HIV-positive are unaware they are infected.

For more information visit www.floridaAIDSWalk.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/floridaAIDSWalk and Twitter @FloridaAIDSWalk.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

VIEWS OF THE NEWS

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Florida AIDS Walk Photos by JR Davis

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May 23, 2012 • 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

Theater Broward County *The Soul Seekers

The Los Angeles California Grammy, Stellar, and Dove Award Winners, The Soul Seekers will be at the Parker Playhouse on May 27 at 8 p.m. Visit BrowardCenter.org

*ACES presents Talent Showcase 2012

Aventura City of Excellence School proudly presents “ACES Talent Showcase 2012” at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on May 23 & 24 show times may vary. Let the students from Aventura City of Excellence School dazzle you as they sing, dance, and play instruments. Visit BrowardCenter.org *Kathy Griffin Returns Popular comedienne Kathy Griffin is back for more applause at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 2 at 8 p.m. Two-time Emmy winner, NY Times bestselling author, Grammy nominee, 2009’s GLAAD Vanguard recipient and 2011 Trevor Project Life Award honoree Kathy Griffin is a multi-faceted performer with a rapid fire wit.

She has been making audiences laugh for years discussing Hollywood gossip and celebrity blunders. Visit SeminolehHardRockHollywood.com

Palm Beach County Lift Up Your Voice

Lift Up Your Voice is an original musical theatre showcase featuring Santaluces High School musical theatre students and will be at Persson Hall Cabaret on May 27 at 7 p.m.

Inspired by the themes of Les Misérables, Santaluces students explore poverty and oppression through literature and theater. See them sing, dance, cry and even laugh as they explore oppression and what it means to students of today.

Join us, as they lift their voices! Visit Kravis.org

*Proof

This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning drama Proof will be at the Palm Beach Dramaworks located at 201 Clematis Street. This play is about a daughter of a brilliant but mentally disturbed mathematician tries to come to grips with her possible inheritance: his insanity. Visit Palmbeachdramaworks. org/index.php

*The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks is the world’s longest running musical and is about captivating love story about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall, the narrator, El Gallo, creates a world of moonlight and magic, then pain and disillusionment, until the boy and girl find their way back to each other. The score, which includes “Try to Remember,” is as timeless as the story itself!

Visit Palmbeachdramaworks.org/index.php

Miami-Dade

*The Dranoff Foundation presents Piano Slam: Volume 4

This concert is a free Urban Classical Concert Featuring Miami’s Young Poets, and will be at the Knight Concert Hall on May 24. Back for the fourth year, the Dranoff Foundation presents Piano Slam, a classical/hip hop mash-up featuring the classical and jazz music of Gershwin, Bach, and Miami’s own Brian Murphy, performed by award-winning piano duo Van Veen, also featuring the beats of DJ Brimstone 127, the steps of the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet and debut works by Miami’s hot young poets. Visit Arshtcenter.org

The Lion King

Experience the phenomenon of Disney’s The Lion King.

Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle at the Ziff Ballet Opera House through June 10. Times vary. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pride Lands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning song “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.”

Let your imagination run wild at the Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation Newsweek calls “a landmark event in entertainment.” Visit Arshtcenter.org

*Ayikodans

A little over a year ago, the Adrienne Arsht Center’s President and CEO John Richard, alongside The Miami Herald’s World Editor, John Yearwood, made a trip to visit disaster-strewn Haiti. On his journey to understand how the Arsht Center could make a meaningful contribution to Haiti’s recovery, John was introduced to the country’s premier dance ensemble, Ayikodans, a company that was then on the brink of closing their business for good. With the help of passionate Miami community leaders, the Center was able to help save Ayikodans - and has commissioned a new piece that will see its world premiere on May 25 & 26 at the Carnival Studio Theater. Visit ArshtCenter.org

Key West

Red Barn: Match

This Broadway hit stars like the hysterical Tom Luna as Tobi Powell, an eccentric and endearing dancer, choreographer and teacher. A married couple arrives at Powell’s apartment to interview him about his life, but it is soon evident that their agenda is as multi-layered as Tobi’s life story. Call 305-2969911 or Email: info@redbarntheatre.com

Key West Pops: Kiss Me Kate

The annual musical-in-concert features Cole Porter’s production starring Susan Powell and Richard White. This classic from the Golden Age of Broadway musicals is pure entertainment gold with hits songs and great dance sequences. The guest artist roster is to reflect the Pops’ usual practice of bringing together out-of-town artists and Key West favorites. Starts at 7:30 p.m. and is at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. Call 305-296-6059 or Email: info@ keywestpops.org

Community Calendar Broward County

*Vegetarian Potluck Dinner w/ Love Panel Discussion

Come out to the Drolma Buddhist Center on June 2 for an evening of food, fun, and meaningful conversation. The topic is love, and here is how it works: bring your favorite vegetarian dish, and after dinner there will convene for the Love Panel. Our distinguished Master of Ceremonies, Gui Passow, will draw the questions out one-by-one, and pose them to the panelists: Gen Norbu, Tatiana Buonassisi, Carol Strandberg, and “Buddha Bob” Brockman. Their job is to answer your questions, with the occasional participation of the crowd (you!). Cost $5. Visit Meditationinfortlauderdale.org

*The Power to Benefit Others: Skillful Means

We often feel helpless, wanting to help people but not knowing how, or not having what it would take. We need to develop wisdom to benefit others effectively, and we also need to be skillful with our body and speech. This comes from a real understanding and empathy for others’ experiences, and unconditional love. As we cultivate these, we will find our efforts to benefit others becoming far more powerful. $10/class or $30/series. The series begins May 27 with Judging Doesn’t Work: Patience Acceptance, and on June 3 with It’s Not about You: Exchanging Self with Others, and June 10 with What are they Going Through? Compassion. Visit Meditationinfortlauderdale.org

WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings

WIG is a new and exciting weekly event that will inspire and empower you to celebrate life. Imagine a gay revival mixing spirituality, disco meditation, drag divas, WIG’s Gayngster Choir and a fabulous message from Rev. Jamie! WIG seeks to empower gay youth, adults and our allies with positive energy, a fun environment and a gay spirit. Doors open at 7:30, curtain up at 8. Tickets: $10 suggested donation, VIP booth seating $30. 754-444-1WIG (1944)

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May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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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. *Cleaning Yourself: The Four Powers of Purification

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do the same things keep happening to us, even though we have already learned from them? This is the result of negative karmic imprints. Until this karma is exhausted, suffering will keep appearing, and we will continue to feel stuck in a cycle. Learning how to purify this negativity before it ripens is one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves. $10/class or $30/series includes vegetarian food. Series begins June 14 with It is Not About Guilt: The Power of Regret, and June 21 with Faith & Compassion: The Power of Reliance, and June 28 with Making Up for the Past: The Power of the Opponent Force, and July 5 with Setting Realistic Goals: The Power of Promise. Visit Meditationinfortlauderdale.org

*Leadership Broward Foundation Hosts 30th Anniversary Celebration

The Leadership Broward Foundation, Broward County’s premier leadership development organization, hosts “30ROCK- Dancing through the Decades” in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Evening features cocktail reception, dinner, dancing and performance by The Sheffield Brothers.

Event will take place on Friday, June 8. Cocktail reception at 7 p.m. Midnight anniversary party at 8 p.m. at the Signature Grand located at 6900 State Road 84 In Davie. Tickets are $100 per person. Contact Suzanne Higgins at 954-767-8866 or Suzanne@leadershipbroward.org

Saturday Nite Alive

The free event will showcase the best of Fort Lauderdale Beach for 11 fun filled Saturday nights: June 2 through August 11 (7 p.m. – 11 p.m.). The entertainment lineup includes more than 20 high-energy entertainment acts i.e. Billy Bones, Taiko Drummers, Swahili, House of Flying Cards, Rafael & Ligia and the Bahamian Junkanoo Revue.

Each Saturday night, entertainers will perform on the sidewalks along the west side of AIA on Fort Lauderdale Beach from Hall of Fame Drive to Castillo Street. Visit Wizard-Entertainment.com

ARUBA Beach Café Beach Bash 2012

On May 28 come to ARUBA café from noon to 7:30 p.m. for an off the wall beach bash. The Aruba café will be having two live bands, fun dancing in the sand, 3 tropical bars and a complimentary pig roast. Bring your friends and family to this fun filled day on the beach. Aruba beach café is located on Commercial Blvd. For more information call 954-776-0001.

Corporate Challenge of Florida

Opening ceremony begins August 2012. Corporate Challenge of Florida is bringing the spirit of the Olympics to Broward County. Offering many different sporting events throughout Broward. The largest sporting event in South Florida will have the opportunity to show unity, sportsmanship and camaraderie. Each company’s registration fees will support the American Heart Association, breast cancer research, Make a Wish Foundation and more local charitable South Florida organizations. Visit Ccoffl.org/thanks.php

Meditation Classes

These meditation classes will be held at the pride center May 23 to June 6 in room 206. Attachment is one of the most Insidious and pervasive delusions, lurking in our minds almost all the time. These classes will be held by western Buddhist teacher Tatiana Buonassisi. Visit MeditationInFortLauderdale.org

GLBTA Diversity Summit

The Florida Diversity Council is please to be sponsoring its Inaugural GLBTA Diversity Summit on Friday, June 22 at the Pride Center at Equality Park from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Registration for the half day event is $49 and the event will be held at The Pride Center in Wilton Manors, Florida. Visit Glbtsummit.com

Latin Night Bingo

Latin night bingo and dinner fundraiser for Hildana Ciser at the Pride Center in the main hall, building A. The Latin inspired dinner starts at 530 p.m. and bingo starts at 730 p.m. Dana will be raffling away one of her paintings. Don’t miss out on owning an original Dana work of art. There are sponsorships available for those interested. The will also be an open snack bar for all that attend. Call 954-463-9005

STAGE DOOR

By J.W. Arnold

The Sounds of Spring

ensemble of local musicians and the show will include excerpts from several original or music lovers, good music can found films. Tickets are $15-20 in advance at in venues across South Florida in the ArtsGarage.org or $20-25 at the door. coming weeks: After enjoying gospel drag brunch at Lips The piano gets hip on Thursday, May 24 in Oakland Park, head over to the Parker when the Dranoff Two Piano Foundation Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, and the Arsht Center May 27 for The Soul present “Piano Slam 4,” a Seekers, the Los Angelesclassical/hip hop mash feabased gospel singing turing the award-winning group. The Grammy, pianists Duo Van Veen, Stellar and Dove poet Alexis Caputo and DJ Brimstone 127. Award-winners will bring their signature Dancers from the Thomas Armour Youth hand-clapping, toe-tapping, spine-tingling Ballet will also perform as the works of sev- gospel sound to South Florida. One way eral hot young local poets have their works or another, you’ll be screaming “Jesus” by debuted. Performance artist Teo Castellanos the end of the day. Tickets are $55-65 at directs the unique cultural experience that ParkerPlayhouse.org. begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Arsht Center’s The South Florida Symphony kicks off Knight Concert Hall. The performance is Pride Month with a series of intimate free, but tickets are required.Visit Arshtchamber music concerts featuring music Center.org or Dranoff2Piano.org. by two gay composers, Russian Pyotr Ilyich Delray Beach is a South Florida hotspot, Tchaikovsky and American Samuel Barber. not only for its popular dining spots, but Violinists Alla Krolevich and Karen Banos, also for the new Arts Garage performance violist Marda Todd and cellist Arthur Cook space, which offers a wide variety of music will perform Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet and theatre performances through the No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11, and Barber’s week. On Friday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m., Mat- String Quartet in B, Op. 1, in two perforthew Farmer takes the stage to sing songs mances, Sunday, June 3 at The Arts Garage from the greatest Broadway musicals and in Delray Beach, and Monday, June 4 at All motion pictures, including Love Never Dies, Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale.

Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar, as Both performances begin at 7 p.m. with a well as Disney classics and Steven Spielpre-concert reception. Tickets are $25 at berg films. He’ll be accompanied by an SouthFloridaSymphony.org.

F

*Learning from Death, Waking up to Life

Tundra Tuesday

Kickoff Party May 29, 2012 $5 Martini Madness $5 Appetizer Menu $3 Domestic $4 Imports Vodka Luge Dinner For Two at Tundra Drawing See our web page for details and coupons:

tundralasolas.com/tuesdays Tundra Las Olas, 1017 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301, 954 761 2122

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It can feel like our life is one mundane task after another, until we are exhausted, with no time or energy for spiritual activities. Worse, our preoccupation with worldly affairs is a source of tremendous anxiety and frustration, leaving us with no peace or contentment. Strangely, the most powerful solution to these problems is to remember that we are going to die. By seeing our existence in this much broader context, we realize what really matters and make time for it, finding deep satisfaction and fulfillment. From Joyful Path of Good Fortune. $10/ class or $30/series begins June 17 with Overcoming Anxiety: The Eight Worldly Concerns, and June 24 with Freedom from Denial: Death is Certain , and July 1 with Making Every Moment Meaningful: The Time of Death is Uncertain, and July 8 with Preparing for the Future: At Death and Afterwards, What Helps? Visit Meditationinfortlauderdale.org

Latinos Salud’s programs

Multiple programs and groups for bi/gay Latino guys. Latinos Salud’s SOMOS program is for guys 18 to 30. All proceeds will benefit Latinos Salud in our efforts to educate on HIV Prevention and testing. Every Thursday night at 7 p.m. join the Core Group, and help plan alternative activities. Also offers Popular Opinion Leader group for guys ages 25 to 44 and a Life Coaching program for guys ages 18 to 44. Come by Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for free one-on-one life coaching with certified CRCS coaches. Located at 2330 Wilton Drive. Call 954-533-8681 or visit Latinossalud.org

SunServe Youth Programs

LGBTQ Inclusive Youth Prom (ages 13-21) Saturday, June 2, from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. A safe place to be yourself and meet new friends. Special guest MCs, DJS and performers. Friday night queer youth. A safe space to be yourself. Ages 13-21 between 6 to 10:30 p.m. Queer Themed Movie showing at 7 p.m. Gender Bender Youth Group for ages 13-21 on Mondays at 7-8:30 p.m. Youth Group for LGBTQ youth and allies 13-21 in Fort Lauderale, Plantation, Coral Springs, Southwest Ranches, Deerfield Beach, and Hollywood. Check website for days and times. Located at 1480 SW 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Visit www.SunServeYouth.com

Queer Youth Nights

LGBTQ & allied youth 13-21 are welcome any time after 6 p.m. at the SunServe building on Wilton Drive for a great place to meet new friends, play board games and a Queer Themed Movie at 7 p.m. Email Afrosch@sunServe.org

Man2Man Discussion Group

Man2Man Discussion Group meets at the Pride Center on Mondays from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Any subject may be discussed. Members regularly reassemble afterwards for ‘repast’ at The Courtyard, PeterPan Diner. Visit Glccsf.org

Meditation After Work

On Mondays from 6-6:30 p.m. there will be Guided meditation w/ western Buddhist teacher Gui Passow. Looking for a way to rest and re-charge before starting your evening? Come in for a free guided meditation to clear your mind at the end of the day. This class is free at Drolma Buddhist Center. Call 954-537-9191 or visit meditationinfortlauderdale.org

Buddhist Meditation Classes: Happiness from a Different Source

All the happiness there is in the world arises from wishing others to be happy. By abandoning self-centered thoughts and replacing them with the belief that others are important, we will overcome our suffering and find true happiness inside our own hearts. $10/class or $30/series includes vegetarian food after class. Call The Drolma Buddhist Center at 954-537-9191.

Intimate Partner Abuse Group

SunServe is offering a new weekly support group for LGBT people that are experiencing abuse in their intimate relationships, or have just left an abusive intimate relationship. Abuse includes: name calling, put downs, slurs, humiliation, isolation, being kept from friends and family, economic deprivation, threats, intimidation, violence, sexual coercion, and sexual violence. Call 954-764-5150 extension 104.

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May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

A Letter from the Bishop Read in New York after Stonewall Premiere

By Pier Angelo

T

ony Adams, a Roman Catholic priest who has been on an extended vacation from that vocation for many years, is Senior Features Correspondent with SFGN. He’s also editor of the 20 member queer arts and culture blog, Queer New York.

To prepare for the priesthood, Tony went to live in a seminary where he was the youngest of six hundred students ranging in age from fourteen to twentyfive. After two weeks in the seminary, he realized that he and most others therein were gay and that it was not to be discussed. Twelve years later, after spending four years in the Vatican, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest.

He worked for five years in an urban parish in New England before deciding to explore. He became the Chief Financial Officer of a large state agency before taking a very early retirement in 2007.

Tony and his husband Chris have been together for 27 years and were married in Connecticut in December 2008.They divide their time between homes in Fort Lauderdale, Manhattan and Connecticut.

In November of 2011, Father Tony wrote A Letter From The Bishop, a play about three gay priests and their Catholic bishop who is against marriage equality. It’s also about promises, obedience and conscience. Most of us are familiar with the latent homophobia of the Roman Catholic bishops of America, but very little is known about the soul of the gay priest who must follow that agenda. Or not.

The first reading of the play was hosted by The Stonewall National Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Monday February 13, 2012 . It is now headed for New York City.

Fort Lauderdale’s Ken Averett who originated the role of Father Ed will be reprising his performance at the New York reading.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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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.

Beach Walk for Florida AIDS Walk

Sidelines Sports Bar is proud to once again announce its sponsorship of the 2012 Florida AIDS Walk. Team Sidelines, a group of the popular gay sports bar’s patrons, staff, friends, family, sports team members and selected vendors will take to Fort Lauderdale Beach on May 20, to help in the fight to stamp out HIV/AIDS. This will be Sidelines’ fifth year as sponsor and participant in the annual walkathon. Visit SidelinesSports.com

Dream Car Classic

Boardwalk Friday Fest

*Motivation Man Triathlons

Toastmasters

Music for the Mind

Come out to Hollywood Beach Theatre East of A1A at Johnson St and the ocean. Admission: Free every Friday of every month. Live jazz, blues, pop and everything in between along Hollywood’s signature 2.5 mile boardwalk. Charming oceanfront cafes and restaurants serve up delicious innovative cuisine while you enjoy the best array of live music and tropical ocean breezes. Visit Hollywoodfl.org or call 954-924-2980

Every Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-1980s classic cars, modern classics and custom cars from 19812012 will be showcased. $10 car registration from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (Show Car Entrance: 20th Avenue & Tyler Street).

People’s Choice Award - 2 Classes; Top Ten Vehicles Award.

Call 954-214-2457

Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of about 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or so. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian. Toastmasters meet at the GLCC/Pride Center Monday at 7:15 p.m. Call Ted Verdone at 954-566-2074 or email: Tedverdone@comc​ast.net

Living Healthy

Safe “T”

Fusion in Wilton Manors will be having a free workshop on healthy choices, and healthy living on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This workshop provides interactive learning, practice and mastery techniques for a healthier and more active life, and positive changes for quality of life. Call 954-630-1655

Community-Wide Weight Loss Challenge

This is a community-wide eight-week weight loss program aimed for people ages 15 to 80 to shed excess weight. The “Body Beach Challenge” will take place through June 2.

Part of the proceeds will benefit the 2012 Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Cost is a $25 registration fee. Participants will receive a body transformation guide with weight loss and healthy living guidelines as well as a spiral bound daily exercise and nutrition guidebook. The individual with the most dramatic improvement will be declared the winner. The grand prize includes a $400 personal training package at Push Fitness.

Visit PushFitnessFTL.com.

Life Coaching program

Latinos Salud’s Life Coaching program is for Latino gay/bi guys ages 18-44. Come by Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for free one-on-one life coaching with certified CRCS coaches. Set your goals, and meet action steps to make them come true. Stop in for more info at 2330 Wilton Drive or call 954-765-6239. Visit Latinossalud.org

Sex and Love Anonymous

S.L.A.A. believes that sex and love addiction is a progressive illness which cannot be cured but which, like many illnesses, can be arrested. It may take several forms -- including, but not limited to, a compulsive need for sex, extreme dependency on one or many people, or a chronic pre-occupation with romance, intrigue, or fantasy. Meets at The Pride Center at Equality Park in Bldg A, Room 200 Fridays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Visit Slaafws.org

A Survivor Support Group

A Survivor Support Group is being held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the 211 Community Center, 250 NE 33rd Street, in Oakland Park. The Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention (FISP) is sponsoring this free support group and is open to all family members and friends of those who have died by suicide. Call 954-384-0344 to register. Meets from 7-8:30 p.m. Visit Fisponline.org.

Grief Support Group

Meets every 3rd Tuesday at American Burial & Cremation Center @ Jennings Funeral Home 1801 E. Oakland Park Blvd. from 2-4 p.m. Call 954-731-4321.

Eating Disorder Support group

Meets Friday evenings from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. At Sun Serve’s Wilton Manors location at 2123 Wilton Drive, second floor. A “drop-in” psycho-educational support group. Free. No registration required. Donations welcome.

Call 954-764-5150

SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch

First Sunday of every month. An ideal way to relax and enjoy Fort Lauderdale’s scenic Riverwalk. Live, outdoor concert series bringing the area’s best local jazz artists. Listen to the soulful sounds on four different stages. Well-behaved, leashed pets welcome. Plenty of room for chairs, blankets and picnic baskets.

Young Adult GLBT

A social group open to all LGBT people ages 18-35. Meets Fridays at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors from 7:15-9 p.m.

Meeting starts with a discussion on current events followed by introductions and then a group activity. Visit PrideCenterFlorida.org/contact-us

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Safe “T” is a support group for gender variant adults. Meets Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Sunserve’s Wilton Manors location at 2312 Wilton Drive, second floor. A “dropin” psycho-educational support group. Free. No registration required. Donations welcome. Call 954-764-5150.

Tuesday Night Eatin Meeting

Tuesday Night Eatin’ Meeting will be held at The Alternative MC Clubhouse at 4322 NE 5th Ave in Oakland Park. Fun, food, and fellowship. There will be hamburgers, hotdogs, all the fixins, cold drinks, desserts, and snacks. Meeting begins at 8 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Visit Alternativemc.com/events/ florida-events

Gay Men’s HIV+ Long Time Survivors’ Group

Choose your distance and choose your race! Ready to prove you can do it solo or did you want relay participation with friends? Either way, it’s your way to swim, bike and run through picturesque streetscapes and historic neighborhoods of The Palm Beaches. This event is free to spectators and will take place in beautiful Downtown West Palm Beach.

For more information Visit Motivationman.com Kretzer Piano presents Stuart School of Music. Offering lessons in piano, voice, clarinet, guitar, violin, viola and cello from a faculty of nine professional teachers. Honor students along with faculty members will perform. Proceeds will benefit music scholarships and the school’s music education program. Takes place June 19 at 7 p.m. at the Harriet Himmel Theater. Visit Kretzerpiano.com/local-events-concerts

New Alternatives

Social group with regular outings and social mixers for LGBTQ ages 18 to 30. This meeting will take place at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Palm Beach County. Email matthew@compassglcc.com or Visit Compassglcc.com.

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

SunServe Therapy Groups

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

Fusion Wilton Manors - Connections

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. Starts at 7 p.m. Call 954-630-1655.

Women4Women Support Group

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

Man2Man Discussion Group

Man-2-Man talk is an informal discussion group of gay men, with all age ranges and backgrounds welcomed. Bldg A, Room 206. Visit Glccsf.org/calendar/

Palm Beach County

The West Palm 100th Annual Gala

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

PBC Gender Support Group

Miami-Dade

Support group is dedicated for lesbians who are recovering from alcoholism. Meeting happens every Monday at 7 p.m. at Lambda North Clubhouse. Visit LambdaNorth.net All ages support group dedicated for transgender individuals.

This meeting happens the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. These meeting will take place at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Palm Beach County. Visit Compassglcc.com

*Transgender Symposium

On Sat. June 16 at 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. come the Coral Gables Congregational Church, Fellowship Hall for this amazing discussion featuring Internationally Recognized Sexologist Marilyn Volker. This workshop has a $10 registration fee. The registration fee, payable when attendees sign-in, helps cover cost of materials, continental breakfast and lunch. This is going to be one workshop you will not want to miss. For more information email Melanie@safeschoolssouthflorida.org

European Film Festival 2012 *MARA Memorial Day BBQ

West palm beach has got it going on with MARA nightclub on May 26 for MARA’s Memorial Day BBQ from noon till 6 p.m.. This BBQ will have a rare but awesome Jousting arena.

Teri Caitlin will be performing, and DJ Joshua Atom spinning the hottest hits and a great BBQ menu. For more Information contact Rodney Briguglio at Rodney@mara-live.com

Good Orderly AA

These meetings now take place at Lambda North at 18 S. J Street, and geared toward recovering alcoholics. Every Tues. and Thurs. at 7 p.m. and on Sat. at 5:30 p.m. These meetings will help recovering alcoholics cope with the stress of everyday life without the use of alcohol. Email tcamie@aol.com

Seniors vs. Crime

Seniors vs. Crime is a free service that provides help to seniors who have been victimized by businesses or service providers and need assistance. This event will take place at Mae Volen Senior Center at 1515 W. Palmetto Park Road. By appointment only so call 561-736-3820 or 561-395-8920.

Yoga On The Waterfront

Lake Pavilion at 101 S. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL / Yoga On The Waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach on Wednesday Evenings at 5:45 p.m. Residents $40 per 8 week session, Non-Residents $50 per 8 week session, Drop-ins $10 per class. To register, please call 561-804-4902.

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. Classes are Wed. at 9 a.m. Cost is $20 and RSVP is suggested. Call 561404-2011. Visit OrchidWeb.org

Jazz on the Palm

On May 19 West Palm Beach 100 will be having their 100th annual gala. This event will be taking place at 101 S. Flagler Dr. Enjoy live music, a silent auction and delicious bites and beverages from several downtown businesses in the Lake Pavilion. Tickets are $65 for West Palm 100 members and $85 for non-members. Visit Westpalm100.org

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

PFLAG

BrothasSpeak

PFLAG is a monthly support, coming out and rap groups for families of & for Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender people. Meeting in Palm Beach County is at 6:30 on the third Wednesday of the month. Call or e-mail Carol at 561-716-9464 Pflag@pobox.com

Paths

Sober Sisters AA

Gay Male Empowerment Group

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

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

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

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. Meets on 1st and 3rd Thursday at SunServe 2312 Wilton Drive from 6:30 – 8 p.m. No cost. Donations welcome.

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

Sunday on the Waterfront

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

The European Film Festival [in Miami] has a unique position in the landscape of the major film festivals. For the last 6 years, thousands of film enthusiasts and industry professionals from all over the world meet in Miami and transform the city into an international capital of amateur cinema. Opening night Thursday May 31. Visit Europeanfilmfest.org

Sizzle Apocalypse Soak Him Pool Party

Sizzle has landed “The Pool” where it will host the largest pool party ever at the Finnegan’s river located on Miami’s Historic riverfront. The atmosphere will be absolutely captivating. The Soak Him pool party is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Featuring amazing entertainment, a show stopping swimwear fashion show starring the Men of Sizzle, and a head-turning hot body contest. For more information visit Sizzleevents.com

AIDS QUILT PANEL WORKSHOPS

Miami Beach Community Health Center’s “Making Memories” will assist those interested in creating an AIDS Quilt panel as a way to pay tribute to a life lost to AIDS. Workshops begin Saturday, May 26 (the workshops will be held the fourth Saturday of every month through October 2012) 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Workshops are free. Visit Miamibeachhealth.org or 305538-8835 or 1-800-393-1290

Business Builders Lunch

MDGLCC presents its monthly networking program held on the 1st Thursday of each month at Anacapri Restaurant, 2530 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Coral Gables. Luncheon/networking from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost: MDGLCC members ($30), Potential Members ($40, $10 applied to new MDGLCC membership).

RSVP requested: 305-673-4440 or RSVP@gaybizmiami.com.

LGBT Lawyer’s Assn. Luncheon

MDGLCC/GALLA presents its monthly networking program tailored for attorneys, judges and legal professionals held on the middle Wednesday of each month. Morton’s Steakhouse at 1200 Brickell Avenue. Guest speaker (TBD). Luncheon/ networking from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost: MDGLCC members ($35), Potential Members ($50, $10 applied to new MDGLCC membership). RSVP requested: 305-673-4440 or RSVP@ gaybizmiami.com.

Sandpipers Networking

MDGLCC presents its monthly networking program held on the middle Wednesday of each month. This month’s location is West Avenue Cafe, 929 West Avenue #3, Miami Beach. A cocktail networking event and business card exchange with drawing for prizes 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Offering half price wine, beer and appetizers all night beginning with a complimentary wine tasting. Free admission. RSVP requested: 305-673-4440 or RSVP@gaybizmiami.com.

continued on page 26

May 23, 2012 • 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.

One Magical Weekend – GayDays in Orlando One Magical Weekend, receive a FREE 6-hour podcast of Randy’s RipTide 211 set…amazing. presents two of the premier events Saturday, June 2: during GayDays in Red T Shirt Day at Magic Kingdom Orlando each year.

The first event, in 1991, had 3,000 lesbians and gays from Central Florida going to Here’s a roundup of area theme parks on one day wearing red their events.

Friday Night June 1: The Crown Jewel of the week, RipTide at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Waterpark An aquatic spectacle filled with as much splash and spirits and revelry one could possibly fathom…6,000 of LGBT’s finest… screaming down the water rides and surfing the tidal wave at the 52-acre world class waterpark. From 8 pm to 2 am… if you can’t get juiced about this private party then you ought to check your own pulse. Yeah…it’s that good.

Brought to you by the boys of Let’s Go Play and presenting sponsor Bud Light, this legendary event will feature thousands of hot boys and girls dancing and frolicking to the amazing beats of DJ Randy Bettis. The park is all ours for the night, so you can let your imagination run wild.

Gently cruise down Castaway Creek with a “new” friend or catch a six-foot wave in the Wave Pool. Or just chill on the Sandy White Beach with friends new and old? There is something for everyone; it’s impossible not to have a great time.

A portion of the ticket sales will go to two in-need Florida HIV/AIDS charities (www.browardhouse.org and www.hopeandhelp.org). Giving back has never been this much fun!

Back for another exciting year behind the turntables at Riptide at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, will be international DJ/ Producer Randy Bettis. From mega-events of thousands to intimate house parties, DJ/ Producer Randy Bettis is among the most sought-after mixmasters in the dancemusic industry. Sign up for their Newsletter at www.onemagicalweekend.com and

shirts to make their presence more visible.

By 1995, the event had grown to 10,000 gays and lesbians traveling for the gay day at Disney. As of 2011 approximately 150,000 LGBTs, their families, friends and supporters attended the six-day gathering (including various pool parties, conventions, festivals, a business expo, activities for kids, etc.) with 20,000 to 30,000 going to WDW on the final day. Held on the first Saturday in June (with numerous other events in the area during the preceding week), it is now one of the largest gay pride events in the world.

Sunday, June 3: Drink Around the World and Retro T at Epcot A new addition last year to One Magical Weekend, Drink Around the World and Retro T-Dance at EPCOT with one of the most famous Retro Music DJ’s in existence, DJ Robbie Leslie. Robbie has been performing on the international circuit for 35 years. Think the Saint and the Saint-AtLarge, Studio 54, Underground, Private Eyes, Palladium, the Red Parrot, 12 West, and the Ice Palace. Robbie has been the resident DJ for RSVP Vacations for 17 years. Join us in Germany, Italy, Mexico and England along with hundreds of other new friends…then for a Retro T at the private Odyssey Disco.

For the spectacular finale, join us at our private VIP close up viewing area of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth…Epcot’s world renowned fireworks and laser show.

Visit www.onemagicalweekend.com for more information. Also join the excitement at www. facebook.com/letsgoplay and www.twitter. com/riptideorlando.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

29

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.

Upper Eastsiders Networking Event

MDGLCC presents its new networking program held monthly in the Upper East Side. This month’s location is News Lounge & Steel Gym @ 55th Street Station, 5556 NE 4th Ct., Miami.

Cocktail networking event and business card exchange with drawing for prizes. Happy Hour cash bar and free hors d’oeuvres. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free admission. RSVP requested: 305-673-4440 or RSVP@gaybizmiami.com

LGBT Walking Tours of South Beach

The MDGLCC, Greater Miami Convention Visitor Bureau (GMCVB), and the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL), present a ninety-minute guided Gay & Lesbian Walking Tour of South Florida. Tour starts at 5 p.m. and departs from the MDPL Art Deco Welcome Center at Ocean Dr. and 10th St. Miami Beach. Reservations are not required.

Tickets are $20, and can be purchased at MDPL’s Art Deco Welcome Center. Free to MDPL and MDGLCC members.

RSVP to 305-672-2014.

Women’s Empowerment Luncheon

MDGLCC’s popular Women’s Empowerment Luncheon series continues at the Hyatt Regency Miami, 400 SE 2nd Avenue, Miami with special guest speaker Hedy Goldsmith, executive pastry chef at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. Noon to 1:30 p.m. lunch. Cost: MDGLCC Members ($35), Potential Members ($45, $10 applied to new MDGLCC membership). A full sit-down luncheon with a Q&A to follow. RSVP required: 305-673-4440 or RSVP@gaybizmiami.com. Co-Sponsored by Aqua Foundation & NCLR

Women’s Empowerment Luncheon

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, Friday and Saturday night live DJs. 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 9 p.m. $10 Miller Lite Beer Bust

Boardwalk

1721 N. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. (954) 4636969. 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 9 p.m. $3 U-Call-It Shots

The Club Fort Lauderdale

Bathhouse. 110 NW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL, (954) 5253344 Good. Clean. Fun. 1/2 price rooms...Tuesday Nights and 1/2 price Lockers. Thursdays Nights. Always busy.

MDGLCC’s popular Women’s Empowerment Luncheon series continues at the Sanctum Room of the Epic Hotel (270 Biscayne Boulevard Way), with special guest speaker Cristina Serralta, CEO of Amazon Services Inc. speaking on “Small Business Ownership from the LGBT Perspective.” 11:30 a.m. Registration; Noon - 1:30 p.m. Lunch at Epic Hotel. Cost: MDGLCC Members ($35), Potential Members ($45, $10 applied to new MDGLCC membership). A full sit-down luncheon with a Q&A to follow. Co-Sponsored by Aqua Foundation & NCLR. Visit mdglcc@bellsouth.net

Clubhouse II

Galla Luncheon Networker @ Morton’s Steakhouse

Cubby Hole

MDGLCC/GALLA presents its monthly networking program tailored for attorneys, judges and legal professionals held on Wednesdays. New location: Morton’s Steakhouse, 1200 Brickell Avenue, Miami. Networking from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with networking and a full sit-down lunch. Cost: MDGLCC members ($35), Potential members ($50, $10 applied to new MDGLCC membership). Visit mdglcc@bellsouth.net

Business Builders Luncheon

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 N. 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.

823 N. 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 drinks 9 p.m. to 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

MDGLCC presents its monthly networking program held on the last Thursday of each month. This month it will be at City Hall the Restaurant. Registration at 11:30 am with luncheon/ networking from noon to 1 p.m. Includes seated style lunch limited to 25 people. Please bring a friend. RSVP requested: 305-673-4440 or mdglcc@bellsouth.net

Dudes Bar

Lambda Dade Clubhouse

2266 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 565-2526. Fort Lauderdale’s best & longest happy hour.

Wednesdays $2 Domestics & $1 Schnapps after 9 p.m.

A meeting place for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender communities and friends in recovery. Hosts Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Al-Anon, Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA), Debtors Anonymous (DA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), meetings. (305) 573-9608. 212 NE 24th Street. Miami. Visit Lambdadadeclubhouse.org

Key West Pride

On June 6 - 10, come show your pride in our tropical paradise, and you’ll find yourself in the midst of a celebration unlike any other. From the opening party to the closing parade, you’ll discover quickly that the best place to show your pride is on an island whose official motto is “one human Family.” The welcoming island invites you to join us at Key West Pride! Visit Gaykeywestfl.com

17th Annual Golf Tournament

3270 NE 33rd St Fort Lauderdale FL 954-568-7777. Sexy hot men starting to shake the booty daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Sundays enjoy karaoke with Peter Petrucci. Great drink specials every Monday with $1 well drinks from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Georgie’s Alibi

Johnny’s

1116 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, (954) 5225931. Monday Dragon with TP Lords, Daisy D. and DJ Rob Sky Some of the hottest guys around with great happy hour drink specials. Bring all your friends to this sexy Bar.

The Manor

Key West

One of the longest running golf tournaments in the Florida Keys, the event supports scholarships for Florida Keys students in the hospitality and culinary fields of study. Just $100 per player includes greens fees at Key West Golf Club, goodie bag, food (Breakfast and Lunch), drinks, hot dog stand, Mimosas and Bloody Marys and much more! Team up with four of your friends or sign up individually. Call 305-296-4959 or Email: executiveoffice@ keyslodging.org

30

nightlife Broward County

2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 626 0082 - Come Dine, Dance, Drink, Mingle and of course Relax. 2 for 1 happy hour Tues-Friday 3-9 p.m. Indoor/Outdoor Dining. Dance the night away Thursday through 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 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 5256662. 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 8 p.m. Enjoy College Boy’s Choice 2 for 1

Rosie’s Bar and Grill

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.

May 23, 2012 • 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.

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 Fort. 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

Scandals Country Western Bar

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 4 p.m. to 2am

Smarty Pants

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.

Miami-Dade 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.

Club Sugar

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.

Discotekka

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

Johnny’s

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.

Score

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.

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.

Swinging Richards

The Stable

Twist

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

17450 Biscayne Blvd, N Miami Beach, Fl 33160 954-357-2532 Tuesdays-Saturdays from 6p.m. to 6 a.m. Come and enjoy fully nude guys dancing to the best music in South Florida.

1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, Fl, 33139. (305)5389478. 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.

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.

Key West

Palm Beach County

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.

The Cottage (Tea-Dance Sundays)

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

Fort Dix

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.

H.G. Rooster

823 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach Florida 33405, (561)832-9119. H.G. Roosters is West Palms oldest gay club.

Sunday’s Complimentary BBQ 5 p.m., Hot Male Dancers 6 p.m., Karaoke 11 p.m.

Mara (Thurs-Sat)

1132 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth FL $3 Drinks. No Cover.

Open till 5 a.m. Ladies night on Thursdays and Karaoke on Fridays.

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.

The Bar Lake Worth

2211 North Dixie Highway Lake Worth. (561) 370-3954 Thebarlakeworth.com. Men and women share this mostlylocals space as a calm and friendly watering hole. The bar often features live music which can be a nice break from thumping bass.

801 Bar

The Bourbon St. Pub

724 Duval St. (305)296-1992. Key West’s premier video bar with LIVE DJ’S nightly. A taste of N’Awlins in the heart of Old Town – Enjoy Key West’s hottest music videos on the large screen while the boys entertain on the bar. No Cover.

La Te Da

1125 Duval St. 305-296-6706 Fun Gay-Friendly atmosphere.

Cabaret entertainment during season including Randy Roberts and Chris Peterson. Enjoy great live music Tuesday thru Sunday with Lenore Troia. Cover charge may apply. Great outside bar if you just want to enjoy a cocktail and chat while people watching on Duval Street.

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.

Kwest

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.

Pearl’s Patio Bar

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 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Sharks Swim into

Museum of Art Exhibit

N

early 40 years ago, lights dimmed in movie theaters around the world and ominous music picked up tempo as danger circled a young woman taking a moonlight swim in still ocean waters. Suddenly, the creature attacked and the image of nature’s ultimate predator was seared into human consciousness.

Steven Spielberg’s hit movie, Jaws, may have made “Bruce the shark” a pop culture icon and seeded nightmares for millions of vacationers splashing on the beach, but a new exhibit at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale aims to explore this fascination and dispel many myths about this fascinating creature.

“SHARK,” a collaboration with Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center, is actually many exhibits in one— part anthropology and zoology lesson, and part historical survey with plenty of pop culture thrown in.

While an entire room is devoted to Peter Benchley’s landmark novel, Jaws, and Spielberg’s film, the exhibit looks at historical portrayals of sharks, current methods to study the animals in their natural habitats, fishing and ecological impacts on the species.

“Sharks have long fascinated man,” explains marine artist and author Richard Ellis, curator of the exhibit, “some ancient societies even revered them as gods….

This exhibition delves into a variety of issues in an examination of the human impact on sharks. It explores the shark as a predator and its portrayal in culture, the importance of shark conservation, the biology of the myriad of shark species and the thrill of shark encounters.”

The exhibition opens with a reproduction of John Singleton Copley’s painting “Watson and the Shark” (ca. 1778), the first known depiction of the shark as a man-eater.Copley’s fascination is shared by contemporary artists, including Robert Longo, Jose Bedia, Kcho and Damien Hirst, all of whom have works included in the exhibit.

By J.W. Arnold

Visitors wander among native carvings and tools crafted with shark teeth, displaying the reverence afforded the creature by native tribes who coexisted with them on remote islands. They can also explore the reinforced steel cages and mesh dive suits that allow contemporary scientists and adventurers to get up close and personal with the unpredictable sharks in relative safety.

One of the highlights of the exhibit is a room filled with contemporary and abstract renderings of sharks constructed from found objects and neglected machine parts, hung from the ceiling as if swimming across the gallery.

Among the most dramatic installations is a series of watercolors by British wildlife illustrator Marc Dando depicting more than 400 species of shark.

While the shark is more frequently depicted as an unmatched killer, the reality is they are becoming endangered by overfishing, particularly by Asian fisherman who harvest the coveted shark fin only to throw the remaining carcass overboard.

Without action, sharks could disappear from the wild within our lifetimes.

And, as for those shark attacks that nearly always garner sensational international headlines, the exhibit points out that attacks on humans are extremely rare.

Irvin Lippman, director of the museum, says, “SHARK is a stunning and timely exhibition about how the shark has entered the public imagination and how artists, over the decades, have portrayed one of the most fascinating, vulnerable and misunderstood marine animals on the planet.”

Lippman, who will be retiring from the museum in June, adds, “Even though ‘Jaws’ came out in 1975, there is hardly a sixyear-old who comes in who doesn’t know about the movie….this exhibit really appeals across the generations.

“Shark” Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale 1 Las Olas Blvd.

Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mondays Through Jan 6, 2013 Admission: $10 adults, $7 seniors, children 6-17 $5 Group rates available For more information, go to MOAFL.org

31

Ray Boltz Still Gay, Still Christian, Still Living the Dream

By Tony Adams [Eds Note: This story was originally published in March of 2010. Because of the continued comments, even two years later, we decided to update it and republish it.]

A

s I was welcomed by Christian music star Ray Boltz into the Fort Lauderdale home he shares with his partner Franco, I was delighted to see that Ray has lost the mullet he wore in the YouTube videos of his older performances.

Ray’s hairstyle is the smallest of the changes he has survived. Curious about his album True, I sat down with a humble artist who has been tried by the fires of religion, music, love, family, Jesus and truth.

Having raised four children with his wife Carol, and having sold 4 5 million Christian music records, Ray Boltz came out of the closet to his family at home In Indiana on Dec. 26, 2004 as a tsunami struck the coast

of Thailand.The comparison Ray draws between those concurrent events is clear to anyone who has gone through the trauma of coming out to immediate family, but the results were opposites.

That tsumani killed thousands, but Ray’s revelation?

“We were all at home for Christmas, my wife, my four grown children. My son says ‘What’s going on with you, Dad? You just don’t seem to be yourself.’ And I said ‘Well if you really want to know, I’ll tell you. You all don’t know who I really am. I’m gay.’

“Their reaction was incredible. They affirmed me and told me they loved me. I am still very close to my wife Carol even though, in the counseling we received after I came out, we decided to lead separate lives. Carol’s greatest fear was that we wouldn’t have a family any more. But our family didn’t die.

We are very close. Carol is wonderful. She is now on the board of Soulforce, working to end religious oppression of LGBTQ people.

“It was not easy coming out, but it was good. I had grown up in the Bible Belt, and when I was 19, I went to a Christian music concert that changed my life, and yes, I had some gay sexual experience as a teenager and I thought it was sinful but…for the next

Courtesy of ray boltz

Music

Ray Boltz

30 years I had this great family and career and after 30 years I said to myself ‘This just isn’t working.’ I had been in counseling and on anti-depressants and then I finally came out to them.

“I did not come out publically at the same time. That happened later. I knew this would be a problem and I didn’t want to come out of the closet and at the same time put my wife and kids into a closet, so they knew that they could talk about it with friends and family, and many people knew I was gay and then two years ago, I made it public.

“I was very well known in the Christian music world when I came out. I had some people tell me to buy a gun and shoot myself. Other people demanded that I return

the music awards I had received. Some people mailed my CDs back to me. They never bothered to understand that I wasn’t going out and picking up hustlers during all those years. Some people hunted me down here and knocked on the door to give me a piece of their mind.

“I moved here to become unknown but affirmed. I remember the first time I went to Bill’s Filling Station—the old one—I was amazed at the open affection of the men.”

Does Ray Boltz still believe in God? “I don’t believe in a judgmental God, one with a flyswatter. And I can just hear the religious right scream as I say that, but I look at Jesus. He was so unconventional. He hung out with prostitutes. He didn’t seem to enjoy religious people. I believe I am accepted by a caring God who doesn’t love just my soul. He loves the whole me. Of course, I could show you twenty thousand emails I’ve received that say I am going to hell….

“My music is still very spiritual but not religious. My old stuff always had one foot in the church world. I hope you will like the song Don’t Tell Me Who To Love. It’s about marriage equality. It’s been remixed as a dance track and I think it’s really cool to be branching out of ‘just religion’. Another song on True called Who Would Jesus Love? came in second in a Billboard Magazine contest in the Christian Music category. That was really crazy because there are many Christian radio stations that won’t even play my stuff, so it’s weird to get an award for it. I can still be recognized but I am still being judged.

“I was unaware of the gay Christian community until I moved to Fort Lauderdale.

When I perform for a gay Christian audience, I am very aware of how much these people have been hurt by religion.

“There’s a song on True called God Knows I Tried. Some religious people say to me ‘You didn’t try hard enough’ or ‘You should have let Jesus try for you’. I spent all those years with a secret in my heart, thinking that if anyone knew it they’d be disgusted. Now I know that Jesus does not hate me.”

At the Seventh Annual Out Music Awards in 2011, Ray Boltz, with six nominations, won three awards: Songwriter Of The Year for Don’t Tell Me Who To Love, Album Of The Year for True and Spiritual Song Of The Year for I Will Choose To Love.

Upon receiving these awards, Ray thanked his partner Franco for his support, and his family and ex-wife Carol for their love and acceptance, saying, “I am so proud to be part of a group of people who are attempting to live honest and authentic lives.”

Visit http://www.rayboltz.com for more information about Ray Boltz. Visit soulforce.org to learn more about Soulforce.

32

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

SFGN CEO

weds in floating commitment ceremony

EO of SFGN Pier Angelo Guidugli (right) married C his partner Tom Douglas Fillmore (left) on May 20.

The ceremony took place on the Catalina yacht on the

Fort Lauderdale intercostal and was attended by friends and family as far away as Italy. Retired priest and SFGN columnist Father Tony Adams officiated at the ceremony.

Trevor Lavelle (bottom left) served as Guidugli’s best man and Stephen Berridge (bottom right) as Fillmore’s best man.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

33

Nude. And Gay. And Fun! I

magine a place with rolling green hills leading down to a beautiful lake, the lawns are lush and green, the trees are tall, the cabins are red, the days are warm, the nights are comfortably cool and the men are all naked.You’re at The Gathering for the first time wondering “why haven’t I heard of this before,” and “how can I make this a part of every summer vacation from now on.”

That’s the impression heard from many an attendee of Gay Naturists International’s signature event, The Gathering. This year it takes place August 17 to 26 and you should be there. The Gathering has been going strong as an annual event for over 25 years and about 80 percent of first time attendees go back for another and another. Why not? It’s just like summer camp for adults, well gay men anyway, who bring out their inner child every year to go to camp in the Poconos in Pennsylvania and enjoy both typical arts and crafts and camp activities as well as things you can only find at a ‘Gay Naked Camp.’ Shake it all out at the world’s largest gay nude dance club for example,

or maybe have your buns cast in plaster followed by a turn at oil wrestling, body painting and a naked canoe race.

The entire event is naked although this year first timers are allowed a couple of clothing optional days, but only if they arrive early. This camper found his way there in 2003 and I’ve been back almost every year since. I’ve heard guys say it’s their best vacation ever and coming from a gay man that’s kind of a big deal.

Along with hundreds of activities scheduled throughout the week many guys just take their time there as a chance to put the real world aside.Yes there’s a large well stocked gym, weight room and Wifi but unless you have to be hooked into the camp twitter feed, it’s a great time to forget all that and relax, join a yoga class, play volleyball, learn about the latest kink or the salient naturist issues of the day, improve your bridge game or just sit on your little red cabin’s front porch and visit with your fellow campers.

Nightly social hours include some hilarious themes that the guys tend to take to unexpected places and there may submitted photo

By Seabrook Jones, Title (???)

be some late night shenanigans around the campfire if you’re so inclined. Evening shows go from campy drag of course, to amazing talent shows with celebrity guests, to a leather themed party and show. There’s really something for everyone. Meet a sweet bear at the bear pool, learn the latest dry shave techniques in man-scaping class, rave it up at a cabin party or just take it easy and be yourself - your naked self.

Be warned though you can enjoy a 4, 6 or 10 day All-Inclusive option, “butch-it-up Monday” comes around very quickly where the real world sets back in and most campers begin longing for the rolling green hills of the Poconos, naked, all over again.

Find out more about GNI and The Gathering at www.gaynaturists.org and click on “The Gathering” or the naked video gallery.

34

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

35

The

Fitness Guy

EXERCISE OF THE WEEK BARBELL GOOD MORNING R ay Chenoweth, a client at Push Fitness, demonstrates the Barbell Good Morning. Photography by TobysPhotos.com.

By Peter Jackson, CPT

GLUCOMANNAN: MAGIC WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENT? Q: Have you heard of a supplement called glucomannan that’s supposed to help you lose weight? – John R., Pompano Bch. A: Glucomannan has been getting a lot of attention since national talk show celebrity Dr. Oz gave it his stamp of approval as an appetite suppressant.

Derived from the root of a plant found in sub-tropical regions of Asia called Amorphophallus konjac, glucomannan is a water-soluble fiber that expands and fills the stomach making you feel full. This means you eat less and don’t have the cravings between meals that lead to overeating.

Scientific reviews generally suggest it is safe and effective, although there have been isolated reports of bloating, nausea, abdominal pain and even blockages of the esophagus and intestines.

Glucomannan is available in both tablet and capsule form, but the general recommendation is to dissolve a capsule in a shake or water to lessen the chance of the fiber expanding before it reaches the stomach. A prescription is not necessary, but please exercise caution and consult with your physician before taking this supplement. Remember, too, that an exercise program is necessary for lasting weight loss.

Q: Should I be taking a protein supplement to build muscle? Is whey protein better than casein protein?

A: Protein doesn’t build muscle directly: strength training using heavy weights and resistance exercises are responsible for muscle growth. Consuming protein alone, in the absence of weight training, will not result in muscle growth.

However, protein does play a vital role in the repair and recovery of muscle fibers that are broken down during muscle-building exercises.

Proteins are made up of amino acids which our bodies need and use to build tissue and are a building block of bones, skin and blood – as well as muscles. When you engage in strenuous exercise, your muscle fibers become stressed and literally tear. Protein is needed in this process of repair and recovery, leading to bigger and thicker muscle fibers.

The general recommendation for individuals who are exercising and keen to build muscle is to consume 1 gram of protein per pound of your desired body weight. So if you want to be 170 pounds, consume 170 grams of protein daily (1 gram of protein = 4 calories). Good sources of protein include chicken breast, fish (especially tuna), turkey, eggs, beans, yogurt, cheese, milk.

It is possible to get an adequate supply of protein by eating well-balanced meals, but in today’s fast-paced world when many of us eat on the go, it’s a good idea

36

➊ This

➋ exercise is great for building your

45-degree back!

about a

angle .

Do

not round

hamstrings and glutes (buttocks) and

your

strengthening your lower back.

Return to the upright position and repeat.

Consider starting with just the barbell until your form is perfect, then

Balance a barbell on your shoulders while standing just slightly wider than shoulderwidth. Keep your knees slightly bent.

Bend at the waist, push your hips back and lower your upper body until it is at

(and very convenient) to use a protein supplement to make sure you are getting all of this important nutrient your body needs. Drink a protein shake at least two hours before you work out and again within an hour of finishing your session.

A biological value (BV) is assigned to the absorption rate of proteins we consume; the higher the BV, the better the absorbing rate. Whey protein is digested and absorbed by the bloodstream faster (great for post-workout consumption so that your muscles get fed the nutrients they crave) than other proteins and has a BV of 104. By contrast, a whole egg has a BV of 100; a glass of cow milk, 91; and casein protein (which makes up about 80% of the protein found in milk), has a BV 77. But both whey and casein protein are excellent sources of branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) and both play important roles in repairing muscle; the major difference is the absorption rate.

gradually add plates to increase the degree of difficulty.

TIP OF THE WEEK

YOGURT AND FRUIT SHAKE

This is a terrific post-workout drink, containing 410 calories with 16g protein and 89g carbohydrate.

1 ripe banana 1 cup (240g) fat-free yogurt 1/2 cup orange juice 1 cup (256g) fresh or frozen fruit (berries, peaches, kiwi, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe) Combine ingredients and blend until smooth.

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

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Neel Amin, MD

Tom Macek, MD

Board Certified in: ANESTHESIOLOGY PAIN MANAGEMENT

Board Certified in: ANESTHESIOLOGY PAIN MANAGEMENT

Dr. Amin and Dr. Macek are double board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

Both physicians are fellowship trained in Pain Medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, the birthplace and leading program of modern pain management in the United States.

Treatment For: • back pain • neck pain • joint disease • HIV neuropathy • diabetic neuropathy • headaches • shingles • cancer pain

Procedures Offered: • epidural steroid injections • joint injections • spinal cord stimulation • physical and massage therapy • back braces • Botox (cosmetic and therapeutic) • radio frequency ablation

Medicare and private insurances accepted.

Imperial Point Medical Arts Pavilion 6333 N Federal Highway, Suite 250 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

T: (954) 678-1074 F: (954) 938-2127 www.americanpainexperts.com

37

To place an ad, call Sales Manager

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.

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Affordable Rates. Contact Peter at (954) 816-4126 Or peter@ netechsystems.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------COMPLETE COMPUTER REPAIR FREE ESTIMATES – no extra charge for IN-HOME. FREE Computer tune-up with any service.

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38

INSURANCE & FINANCIAL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------WOMEN’S SHOES UP TO SIZE 16! We have Sexy & Stylish shoes and boots with heels up to 6 inches. To view our footwear go to www.carringtonshoes.com. Like Us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter for updates on sales & specials.

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Fort Lauderdale Location Only!

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(954) 564-7733

Apply Online Today! www.bestbuy.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS IS HIRING If you are retail and customer focused, computer literate and proficient, web knowledgeable, have outside or Inside sales experience…then you’re hired! Advertising Sales Representative. Call on clients, guide their advertising campaigns and make a good living. Fax your resume to 954-530-7943 or email norm.kent@sfgn.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------CG BURGERS in Fort Lauderdale is looking for a General Manager. Experience in fast paced food service environment is necessary. Excellent pay and benefits. Please send resume to mike@carmines.com for consideration.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------PART-TIME DELIVERY DRIVER Nights/weekends. Must have own car and insurance with good driving record. Restaurant/ prep experience preferred and familiar with Wilton Manors.

Humpys Pizza 954-566-2722 --------------------------------------------------------------------------P/T HELP NEEDED- VARIED DUTIES New resort campground west of Ft Lauderdale needs part-time workers. Housekeeping, bartender, front desk help email responses to martin@bazullc. com Be a part of this exciting new venture.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------BARTENDERS WANTED TWIST the popular gay bar and club in South Beach seeks bartenders to join our team. We look for bartenders with experience working in high volume situations that are fun, friendly and outgoing people with a positive attitude. Candidates should be responsible, accurate and honest, team players that can work late nights and weekends.

Interested persons can send or email resume or apply in person Mon–Fri from 2pm to 6pm. TWIST,1057 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 / www.twistsobe.com / valentino@ twistsobe.com

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30 years of providing guidance in the USA and Europe

Joseph 954-882-6493

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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I offer a FREE online market analysis and more at www.

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Large outdoor patio. Onsite management, pool and laundry.

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Call 954-873-7048.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------LET ME FIND THAT PERFECT RENTAL OR HOME FOR SALE FOR YOU ABSOLUTELY FREE! At no cost to you, we review hundreds of properties in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors areas to meet your specifications and price range. We will even review and prepare the final lease to insure your protection. Call Dick at 954-616-7662 Century21 Hansen Realty --------------------------------------------------------------------------ALIBI AREA - FURNISHED EFFICIENCY Efficiency w/ private entrance and parking. Walk-in closet, ceiling fan, A/C, kitchenette, laundry on-site. Electric & DirecTV included. No smoking. No pets. $625/Mo. First + Sec. 6 month lease required. Call 954-682-9428 or 954-249-1181.

ROOMMATES ROOMMATE WANTED Share a 3BD house in Wilton Manors, $600/Mo. Includes utilities. Mature professional gay male. Call Gary 954-268-6547 --------------------------------------------------------------------------TOWNHOUSE CLOSE TO THE DRIVE 2BD/2.5BA Townhome to share with professional, non-smoker. No Drugs. Employeed. $600/Mo. + 1/2 Utilities. Unfurnished bedroom. Pool, parking. 2 blocks to the Drive. Call Juan 786-553-5129.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------ROOMMATE TO SHARE 3BD/1BA WILTON MANORS HOME GWM seeks roommate - non-smoking (outside ok), no pets, can work on dep, all the regular stuff included, $500/month.

Send a little info about you. E-mail me placetlive@aol.com. 5 min walk to Boardwalk Bar and Monkey Business. 10 min walk to Wilton Drive.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------ROOMMATE WANTED - 3BD/2BA IN OAKLAND PARK WEST OF I-95 . Nice, quiet home in the Isles of Oakland Park. Available Now. Responsible non-smoker to share home with 2 professionals. Must like cats and dogs. Pool with Clubhouse.

Clean, employed, drug-free. $550/Mo. Deposit required. Call Sam at 786-417-3093.

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

39

Comfort Zone.

KE

Y

LA

RG

O

With warm water, endless sunshine and a myriad of gay friendly accommodations and activities, Key West will always be a place where you can relax and be yourself. fla-keys.com/gaykeywest 1.888.524.4917 ISL

KEY W EST

Island House Award-winning clothing-optional resort for men. Luxurious rooms.

Poolside café and bar. Gym, sauna, steamroom, Jacuzzis.

Poolside massage pavilion.

800-890-6284 or 305-294-6284 islandhousekeywest.com

DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Key Resort – Key West Full-service, pet-friendly “green” resort with on-site restaurant, masseuse, Tiki bar, pool, gym, business center, and complimentary Internet and shuttle service.

888-310-1540 or 305-293-1818 doubletreekeywest.com Pearl’s Key West All-welcome historic inn offering guesthouse ambiance and resort amenities; breakfast, 2 pools, 2 hot tubs, Wi-Fi, gym, bar and grill.

800-749-6696 or 305-292-1450 pearlskeywest.com

40

BIG PINE KEY & THE LOWER KEYS

MARA

THO

AM

OR

AD

A

N

The Reach, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Best beach in Key West, intimate boutique resort, on-site watersports and an easy walk to Duval Street. Rates from $199.

888-318-4316 reachresort.com

New Orleans House Only all-male guesthouse on Duval St. Cottages, rooms, full gym, complimentary happy-hour, above Bourbon St. Pub. Stay where you play!

888-293-9893 or 305-293-9800 neworleanshousekw.com

May 23, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com