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Pull-Out Section Middle of Paper October 31, 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 44

the Gay

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Special Section: Election 2012 page 10

Gay and 22 years old, boy meets mother for first time page 52 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Our New Global Coverage

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PBC Okays History Month

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Who is Andy Weiser?

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Flugtag in Miami

BOCA RATON OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE LGBT COMMUNITY PAGE 29

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October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Top 3 on SFGN.com

By Sergio N. Candido

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October 31, 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 44 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943

Publisher Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com

Village People Say Their Music is not Gay

Chief Executive Officer Pier Angelo Guidugli

The legendary disco band assures there’s no gay innuendo in their lyrics

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ongs by the Village People like “YMCA” and “In The Navy” have been adopted by the LGBT community as their unofficial anthems, playing at gay bars and clubs all over. But the band is now saying that there was

no gay double-meaning in their songs.

“People always talk about the double entendre. There was not one double entendre in the music,” David Hodo, the band’s construction worker, said in a new documentary about disco music as reported by The Sun. According to Hodo, the song “In

The Navy” was just about enlisting.

The lyrics of the song say: “they have everything for young men to enjoy, you can hang out with all the boys.”

Another band member, the original Native American character who happens to be a gay man, Felipe Rose, said the group is “just a party band.”

Chick-fil-A Business Booming Despite Anti-Gay Debacle

Editorial

Editor in Chief Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Managing Editor Gideon Grudo gideon.grudo@sfgn.com

Website Director Dennis Jozefowicz

Online News Director Sergio N. Candido sergio.candido@sfgn.com

It is commonly said in the Hollywood celebrity scene that any publicity is good publicity. In the case of Chick-fil-A, that phrase might actually be true.

Despite the nonstop waves of negative publicity the fried chicken

company received over the summer after company head Dan Cathy said they were “guilty as charged” for donating millions to anti-gay groups, Chick-fil-A is actually thriving.

A survey published on USA Today found that 2.2 percent more people consumed Chickfil-A products in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the same

Arts/Entertainment Editor JW Arnold jw@prdconline.com

International Travel Editor Joey Amato

Business Editor Richard Gary

Sports Editor Ryan Dixon ryan.dixon@sfgn.com

Correspondents Tony Adams Jesse Monteagudo Donald Cavanaugh Andrea Dulanto

time last year.The poll also showed that ad awareness for the fastfood brand went up a sizeable 6.5 percent The results come from a survey of more than 30,000 consumers.

Chris Goddard, president of PR agency CGPR, said he can’t seem to understand how the company’s numbers went up, since they did “everything wrong in the book.”

Contributing Columnists Wayne Besen Brian McNaught Leslie Robinson Dana Rudolph David Webb Peter Jackson Ric Reily Victoria Michaels Calendar Editor Brian Swinford Editorial Cartoonists Karl Hampe Darryl Smith Staff Photographers Dani Justice Steven Shires

Log Cabin Republicans Endorse Romney

Sales

Gay Republicans say they care more about the economy than marriage rights Gay conservative group the Log Cabin Republicans o f f i c i a l ly endorsed Mitt Romney for president last week; something which has raised the ire of gay Democrats,

who can’t fathom why they would support a candidate who’s against gay marriage.

“Despite our disagreement with Governor Romney on the issue of marriage, on balance it is clear that in today’s economic climate, concern for the future of our country must be the highest priority,” said R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of the LCR.

Three More Quickies to Wake You Up

•Gay Man Says He Was Held Hostage for Months by Church

Graphic Designer Mark Pauciullo

The fried chicken company increased sales despite negative attention

The response from liberal gay organizations to the Log Cabin Republicans endorsement of Romney came almost instantaneous.

“Their endorsement of Mitt Romney isn’t just shameful - it’s insulting. Mitt Romney stands for nothing positive for LGBT people,” said National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jerame Davis

ckh i t S it W s!

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Read our daily stories at SFGN.com You can also find us on • Gay Man Killed by California Police After Bath Salts-Induced Rampage Facebook: A gay couple “went on a naked, drug-fueled rampage” after taking bath salts.

SouthFloridaGayNews • Russian Anti-Gay Activists Target Lady Gaga Twitter: @soflagaynews.

The Mother Monster may be charged with breaking St. Petersburg’s anti-gay law A 22-year-old was held hostage for four months to get rid of his “gay demon.”

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

Marketing Director John 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.

The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor are those of the writers. They do not represent the opinions of South Florida Gay News.com, Inc., or the Publisher.

You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations in SFGN. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community.

All of the material that appears in SFGN, both online at www.southfloridagaynews.com, and in our print edition, including articles used in conjunction with the Associated Press and our columnists, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consentfrom the Publisher of SFGN, at his law office, at Norm@ NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

Copyright©2012 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

Associated Press Florida Press Association National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

NATIONAL NEWS

Justin Timberlake Apologizes for Wedding Video Mocking Homeless, Trans People

By Sergio Candido

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Photo Courtesy of Gary King

ustin Timberlake has publicly across as sad and mean-spirited, with most apologized for a “distasteful” video people condemning it on social media.

The best wishes video has been taken made by a friend for his wedding which shows a bunch of toothless, down from the website due to litigation threats from Hunchel. homeless people “Mr. Huchel made [the] and a transsexual video to be used and woman sending him exhibited privately at Justin and Jessica Biel warm Timberlake’s wedding as wishes. a private joke without Mr. “I am deeply sorry Timberlake’s knowledge,” to anyone who was read part of the letter sent offended by [it],” to Gawker from Hunchel’s Timberlake wrote on his website, according lawyer.

In the video, one to TMZ. apparently homeless man Timberlake also says: “Jeez I miss you so clarified that the video much. I wish I could be was never shown at the there.” actual wedding, as it Biel and Timberlake’s has been said. justin timberlake wedding reportedly cost The footage was $6.5 million, and it took acquired by Gawker. It was made by Timberlake’s close friend and place at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Puglia, real estate agent Justin Huchel. Whether the Italy. video was meant it be funny or not, it came

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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person apology until recently.

Tomlin said neither the yearbook editor nor his former bullies have contacted him to apologize.

Photo By Bob Jagendorf

And he goes on: “Not only are they on the wrong side of history, but they will be on the wrong side of eternity.”

The panel also included Maryland Marriage Alliance head Derek McCoy,Austin Nimocks from the Alliance Defending Freedom and self-proclaimed “ex-gay” Greg Quinlan.

School District Apologizes for Use of “Fag” 42 years later

By Sergio N. Candido

Anti-Gay Speaker Implies LGBTs ‘Worthy of Death’

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panel discussion by an anti-gay group is making its rounds around the blogosphere for the extremist comments of one of the speakers.

The Maryland Marriage Alliance, a group working to oppose a ballot measure that would legalize gay marriage in the state, held a town hall meeting on Oct. 19 to discuss marriage.

During the forum, an Reverend Robert Anderson implied that members of the LGBT community are “worthy of death.”

“If we don’t vote against it, then we approving these things that are worthy of death,” he said, as first reported by Good As You blog.

Canadian gay man will finally get some peace after being haunted for 42 years by the word “fag.” The North Vancouver school district apologized this week to Robin Tomlin for printing the anti-gay slur next to his 1970 high school yearbook photo.

“They just said how sorry they were and how it slipped through the cracks,” Tomlin, now 60 and living with terminal liver cancer, told The Vancouver Sun.“And they’ll institute remedies so that it won’t happen again.”

Tomlin said he suffered from harassment on a daily basis during his high school years, being targeted by jocks who would shove him and say, “You little faggot, get out of the way.”

He was so afraid of being bullied that he ended up missing his high school graduation.

After the apology and as a way to celebrate, Tomlin’s friends arranged a “graduation ceremony” for him, complete with a cap and gown in front of the school.

According to the Sun, the school agreed to reprint the yearbook page without the homophobic slur, but refused to issue an in-

nj govenor christopher j. christie

NJ Gov. Announces $19 Million for HIV Funding

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oudmouth New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has allocated over $19.5 million in state funding to 54 different AIDS/HIV organizations and clinics for the prevention and treatment of the deadly virus.

“Today’s funding announcement is a significant investment in our community organizations that are on the frontlines in the battle against HIV,” Christie said at the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation in New Brunswick, as reported by NBC 40.

“It’s community organizations just like Hyacinth that are providing a vital safety net and vision that is worthy of our continued support. We are joined by a common vision and belief that we have a moral imperative to help people in need of treatment.”

Hyacinth received the largest funding award ($2.1 million) to continue providing their services to those who need them the most.

Mary O’Dowd, deputy commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Health, said the grants “ensure that more New Jersey residents will know how to protect themselves, have the opportunity to get tested and get the treatment they need.

Working with our partners, we can reduce the transmission of HIV and improve the quality of life of those living with HIV/AIDS.’’ According to NBC one in five people living with HIV in New Jersey are unaware they are infected. The number of infected people in the state sits currently at 36,000 people.

Back in February, Christie vetoed a passed bill that would have made it legal for gay couples to get married in New Jersey.

Despite that, the governor still holds that he supports gay rights.

Trans Army Vet Fights for Equality in Military

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hile gays and lesbians have been allowed to serve openly in the military for over a year now, transgender service members are still living in the shadows.

For this reason, the two biggest militaryoriented LGBT rights groups are coming together to make one last push for equality, and for that, they’ve designated a new leader: Allyson Robinson, a transgender army veteran.

Robinson is set to become the head of

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a new LGBT rights organization resulting from the merger of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and OutServe, according to The Huffington Post.

“Allyson Robinson is exactly the right person at the right time to be our leader and voice in Washington in the fight to achieve full LGBT equality in the military,” April Heinze, a retired Navy captain and cochair of the SLDN board of directors, said in a statement.

“She comes with an exemplary military background, strong political and policy acumen, and a deep commitment and vision for bringing about the changes needed to carry forward the work we began with the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”

The new trans leader is a graduate of the West Point military academy; she commanded a Patriot missile unit in Europe and the Middle East before becoming a Christian minister. She has also worked for the Human Rights Campaign.

“We cannot stop until we reach the day when all qualified Americans who wish to wear the uniform of our armed forces have the opportunity to do so with honor and integrity -- and without fear of discrimination or harassment -- whether they are gay, bisexual or transgender,” Robinson said in a statement.

She’ll be taking over SLDN leader and Army veteran Aubrey Sarvis and OutServe founder Josh Seefried.

Gays are Eternally Damned Says MLK’s Niece

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hat would Martin Luther King Jr. say if he found out one of his close relatives supports limiting the civil rights of others? This is the case with his niece, Alveda King, who has recently appeared on a Maryland ad saying gay marriage is an “unholy alliance.”

“I believe that the NAACP leadership and gay rights activists have formed an unholy alliance by trying to convince you and me that marriage should be redefined,” she says in the ad, recorded for the anti-gay Maryland Marriage Alliance.

Then she slams Missouri Rev. Phil Snider, who gave a pro-gay speech at a Springfield City Council hearing on the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance just a few days ago.

“Some preachers are saying that gay marriage is inevitable and that they want to be on the right side of history. Well I believe that we are on the right side of history and the right side of eternity. Support marriage as God’s holy union between one man and one woman—vote against Question Six,” she continued.

Question Six is Maryland’s ballot measure that, if passed, would legalize gay marriage in the state.

Contrary to Alveda King, Corretta Scott King, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s wife and Alveda’s aunt, was a supporter of gay rights.

“I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation,” Corretta said at the Atlanta Pride Festival in 1996.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

PALM BEACH NEWS

DADE NEWS Coral Gables Passes More History’s Made Just In Time Domestic Partnership Benefits

As LGBT History Month Closes, More Good News from Palm Beach County

By Sergio N. Candido

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ollowing on the footsteps of the Broward County School Board, the Palm Beach County School Board has unanimously issued a proclamation in support of LGBT History Month.

According to Equality Forum, on Oct. 17 the proclamation had the support of Superintendent E. Wayne Gent and was accepted by Dan Hall, gay activist and longtime Treasurer of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

“We are pleased that Superintendent Gent and the entire Palm Beach County School Board are taking this opportunity to recognize the contributions made by LGBT Americans,” said Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.

Last September, the Broward County School Board was the first in the nation

By Sergio N. Candido

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fter a one-year back-and-forth with Coral Gables, lesbian CGPD Major Rene Tastet will finally get the work benefits she’s been fighting for: The city commission unanimously passed, on Oct. 30, a Domestic Partnership Ordinance that will guarantee to pass a resolution officially recognizing LGBT city employees the same workplace October as LGBT History Month.The Los Angeles Unified School District followed up rights as their heterosexual counterparts.

“I have been a police officer with the City for in early October, announcing their support 22 years and today I finally have the same as well. rights as my fellow officers,” Tastet said.

LGBT History Month was launched in On April 2011, Tastet was denied 2006; the campaigns website features an LGBT icon every day for the entire month of bereavement leave, a benefit guaranteed to all city employees, when she wanted to October. attend the funeral of her partner’s father in “Previously, the LGBT community was North Carolina. the only minority not taught its history “Although I knew I would not be fired, at home, in public schools or religious institutions,” said Malcolm Lazin, executive my career and position as an acting Major within the police department is important director at Equality Forum and founder of to me and I feared the unknown that even LGBT History Month.

“The recognition of LGBT History Month today many gay people still experience,” she by the Broward, Los Angeles and Palm Beach said.

The passing of the legislation was also County school boards is a giant step in made possible thanks to pressure from embracing LGBT inclusion and respect.”

Miami LGBT rights advocacy group SAVE Dade.

“The Coral Gables City Commission took

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

a bold step today for equality acknowledging that equal benefits for equal work is a core value in our community,” CJ Ortuño, SAVE Dade executive director, said in a statement.

“Coral Gables workers can now feel safe that their public officials will stand with them.”

With this outcome, Coral Gables joins seven other cities in Miami-Dade County— including Miami Beach—that have adopted domestic partnership benefits.

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Undecided?

Here’s the breakdown: • Top 5 National Elections Concerning LGBT page 11 •Romney Vs. Obama on LGBT IssueS page 12-13 • Final Opinion about Romney page 14 • SFGN’s OfficIaL Endorsement for POTUS page 15

SFGN is Here to Help

• A Message From Our publisher Norm Kent page 16

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• The Thoughts of the Major South Florida LGBT

s elections draw nearer, SFGN has dedicated a special section in this week’s issue to final comments about voting.

From opinion to news, the following six pages should give you everything you need to make an informed and responsible decision at the booths.

Organizations page 18-19 • Thoughts about National LGBT Races page 20 •OPENLY

GAY REPUBLICAN RUNS FOR OFFICE PAGE 21

The Battle for Gay Marriage %

The percentages represent the latest polls in each state. The blue ones represent those in favor of gay marriage.

Washington

Four states will vote on the gay marriage question on Tuesday Minnesota

Of the four states voting only Minnesota will vote whether to ban gay marriage.

49%-45%

In February of this year Washington State signed a bill into law legalizing gay marriage. Opponents though gathered enough signatures to place Referendum 74 on the ballot.

Maine

55%-39%

51%-44%

52%-43% Maryland In February of this year Maryland signed a bill into law leaglizing gay marriage.

Opponents though gathered enough signatures to place referendum Question 6 on the ballot, leaving it up to the voters.

States where gay marriage is not legal, but no constitional amendment has passed banning it.

States where there is a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

States where gay marriage is now legal.

States where gay marriage will be voted on Tuesday.

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In 2009 gay marriage was signed into law.

Opponents successfully put it on the ballot that year and the voters overturned it with 53% of the vote.

National Polls on Gay Marriage Six different national polls taken this year have shown more than 50 percent of Americans now believe gays and lesbians should have the right to wed.

Florida Voters amended the state constitution in 2008 to ban gay marriage. It passed with 62 percent of the vote.

By Jason Parsley

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

election 2012

By Sergio N. Candido

Baldwin is currently the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 2nd congressional district; if she wins in November, she would become the first openly gay U.S. senator ever. According to the latest polls, she holds a slight edge over her opponent, Republican nominee Tommy Thompson, for the open seat being vacated by retiring U.S. senator Herb Kohl.

Baldwin spoke at this year’s Democratic National Convention about tax policy, campaign finance reform, and especially equality.

“Our president has made historic progress toward equality. He repealed “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” so that no American ever again has to lie about who they are in order to serve the country we love. Republicans want to write discrimination into our Constitution.

But the Wisconsin I know believes that with each passing year and each generation, our country must become more equal, not less,” she said during the convention.

The lesbian politician, serving as U.S. representative since 1999, counts with the support of several LGBT organizations and Democratic PACs to make the jump into the U.S. Senate. She has received about $125,000 in donations from Democracy for America, a political action committee spearheaded by former Virginia Gov. Howard Dean. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and the Lesbian Super PAC, LPAC, have also endorsed Baldwin.

2. David Cicilline (Dem) for U.S. House - Rhode Island 1st C.D.

The former gay mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, is running as the incumbent to try to get a second term as congressman for the newly redrawn 1st district. He’s facing

tammy baldwin

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Photo Courtesy of US House of Rep’s

1. Tammy Baldwin (Dem) for U.S. Senate - Wisconsin

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Photo Courtesy of US Congress

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penly LGBT candidates are duking it out in many states to gain office and increase the visibility of the gay community and its issues.

Here are some of the national candidates that, if elected this November, would rise to influential positions of power within the U.S. government.

david cicilline

Republican challenger Brendan Doherty, a retired colonel from the Rhode Island State Police.

The mayor of Providence for eight years, Cicilline was elected to the U.S. House in 2010 and hopes to retain that position. He’s being backed by LGBT organizations and non other than Bill Clinton.

“David Cicilline was one of America’s most innovative and effective mayors,” the former president said during a speech on Oct. 27.

“David Cicilline is the best candidate for Rhode Island,” Clinton said, “he’s the one on your side.”

Cicilline has said that his biggest priority in Congress is helping the creation of jobs in his state. He also supports small businesses, seniors, Medicare, and bringing all the remaining the troops in the Middle East back home, according to his website. He’s also pushing to legalize gay marriage in the state.

3. Sean Patrick Maloney (Dem) for U.S. House - New York 18th C.D.

Maloney, gay former aide of New York governor Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson and President Clinton, is looking to get elected for the newly created Congressional district in New York.

He is running against Tea Party-backed Republican Nan Hayworth, who has also been endorsed by gay conservative group the Log Cabin Republicans.

During the Clinton Administration, Maloney served as senior adviser to the former president, who’s currently campaigning on behalf of his ex-staffer.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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4 sean patrick maloney

“Sean worked closely with me in the White House to create jobs, grow our economy and balance the budget. It’s time to bring a common sense approach back to Congress, and Sean Patrick Maloney is the right Democrat to help restore the economy and get people back to work in the Hudson Valley,” Clinton said in June.

Maloney also counts with the endorsement of the New York Times.

“She [Hayworth] has favored limiting contraception coverage for employees and voted to defund Planned Parenthood. Mr. Maloney promises to support health care reform, help the middle class and oppose tax cuts for the rich. We recommend Mr. Maloney,” the newspaper wrote.

4. Mark Takano (Dem) for U.S. House - California 41st C.D.

If Takano wins the seat for this new district, he would become the first nonwhite openly gay member of the House of Representatives.

“The significance of that achievement is the unique voice that an openly gay member of Congress of color can bring to the House floor and the House committee rooms,” Takano said in an interview with the Washington Blade last year. “It’s a double-awareness of what it means to be vulnerable.”

The family of this Japanese-American politician emigrated to the U.S. after World War II. The 51-year-old is a Harvard graduate and a British literature public school teacher for over 20 years.

He said he expects to help end the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

5 mark takano

Photo Courtesy of Richard Tisei

Top 5 Gay National Races

The most important political races outside of Florida

richard tisei

during his tenure in Congress, wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and pass the Uniting American Families Act, which would allow immigrant partners of gay U.S. citizens to obtain permanent residency in the country.

Takano will face Republican John Tavaglione for the seat.

The Human Rights Campaign and retiring gay Rep. Barney Frank, among others, have endorsed Takano.

5. Richard Tisei (Rep) for U.S. House - Massachusetts 6th C.D.

Tisei, a moderate Republican, could become the first openly gay Republican to be elected to Congress. He’s currently ahead of his opponent eight-term incumbent Democratic Rep. John Tierney, according to a recent poll.

He was a supporter of gay marriage in his state, lobbying to get the law changed.

Tisei said he is also pro-abortion, and told The Advocate he would have voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama.

The bill lengthens the statute of limitations on gender discrimination cases in the workplace.

On possibly becoming the first gay Republican in Congress: “I feel like yeah I’m probably — I might be the catalyst because I’d be one of the first people to break through and I embrace that,” Tisei told ABC News. “I’m not afraid of being myself.”

He has been endorsed by the Boston Globe.

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election 2012

By Sergio N. Candido

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xperts and political pundits say gay rights is not a deciding campaign issue, but for millions of LGBT Americans what the candidates say they will or will not do in regard to their rights to marry and to equal workplace protections matters greatly.

Several months before the final stretch of the presidential race, both Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama publicly expressed their stance on the dividing issue.

As early as December of last year, Romney was telling a gay Vietnam veteran to his face and in front of television cameras that he believes marriage is the union between a man and a woman. For his part, Obama took to Twitter and later to television in early May of this year to express his support for gay marriage.

Here’s where gay rights and gay marriage officially falls on each candidate’s platform, and what they say they’ll do about it, according to their websites.

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ROMNEY On

From Romney’s official campaign website: • As president, Romney will appoint an attorney general who will defend the Defense of Marriage Act – a law that defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

• Romney will also champion a federal marriage amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

election 2012

vs OBAMA Gay Rights

From Obama’s official campaign website: •First sitting president to publicly announce his support for marriage for same-sex couples.

•Believes LGBT Americans should be treated fairly and equally.

•Obama repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” so that gay and lesbian service members no longer have to lie about who they are to serve the country their country.

•Endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act, a proposed bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and require the federal government to recognize gay marriages.

•Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding the U.S. hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

•Extended hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights to LGBT couples

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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election 2012 Romney’s Anti-Gay Past Surfaces

By Lisa Keen, Keen News Service

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new revelation surfaced about Mitt Romney Thursday (October 25), revealing yet another step he took as Massachusetts governor to thwart equal treatment of gays in the state.

The Boston Globe said it was able to obtain records from an anonymous source this month that shows then Governor Romney tried to block the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics from complying with a state supreme court decision that allowed same-sex couples to marry. The court decision required all state agencies revised documents necessary to comply with the court’s ruling and, for the Registry, that meant revising birth certificate forms to accommodate the designation of two samesex parents instead of only a “mother” and a “father.”

The Globe said the Registry sought to change the word “father” on the birth certificate form and have it say “father or second parent” instead, in recognition of the fact that many lesbian couples were and would continue to use the forms. The Globe said Romney rejected the plan and instructed his legal staff to individually review the birth certificate applications of every same-sex couple.

“Only after winning approval from Romney’s lawyers,” said the Globe, “could hospital officials and town clerks…cross out by hand the word ‘father’ …and write in ‘second parent’.”

The Globe said it discovered the effort after reviewing dozens of emails and legal memos sent between the governor’s office and lawyers at the state Department of Health, which includes the Registry. In a December 13, 2004, email to Romney’s general counsel Mark Nielsen, the DPH’s deputy general counsel Peggy Wiesenberg warned that Romney’s instructions violated state law and compromised “the integrity of the vital record-keeping system.”

According to the Globe, Wiesenberg warned the Romney administration that Romney’s plan would likely pose problems for the children of same-sex couples later in life when they registered for school, applied for

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a passport or driver’s license, or registered to vote.

The Globe found few instances of Romney’s actions leading to a denial of a proper birth certificate for a child of a same-sex couple.

Wiesenberg’s email refers to at least 23 cases of lesbian couples giving birth to children conceived using anonymous donors.

But in all 23 of those cases, according to Wiesenberg’s email, Romney’s General Counsel “instruct[ed] the hospital to list mother & same sex spouse as the second parent on the child’s birth certificate.”

However, the Globe did find one instance in which a lesbian couple asked that the second parent be identified as “wife,” instead of “second parent.” That request, according to the Globe, was denied. And in a second case, Romney’s chief legal counsel Brian Leske rejected a request to list both same-sex parents on the birth certificate because the parents were not married.

Romney led an unsuccessful effort as governor of Massachusetts to push the legislature to try and overturn the historic 2003 state supreme court ruling in Goodridge that said the state constitution requires treating same-sex couples the same as straight couples in the issuance of marriage licensing. He also testified before Congress in favor of a U.S. constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. And he quashed an existing governor’s council to advise ways to help LGBT young people.

The Globe said birth certificates revised to comply with the Goodridge decision did not become available until after Democratic Governor Deval Patrick took office in January 2007.

The Globe said that, in June, it formally requested records related to the Romney administration’s deliberations on birth certificates but that the Department of Public Health “withheld most of the documents,” saying they reflected information protected by the attorney-client privilege. The documents were later provided to the Globe from “a source who requested anonymity.”

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

election 2012 SFGN Endorsement:

We Choose Barack Obama T From the Editorial Board

Barack Obama is that leader.

Four years ago, Obama made a lot of promises to the gay community. And while his record isn’t perfect on LGBT rights, it’s pretty damn close.

The president repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, stopped defending the Defense of Marriage Act in court, signed into law a federal hate crimes prevention act protecting LGBT people, ensured hospital visitation rights of LGBT patients, banned discrimination in federal workplaces based on gender identity, and lifted the ban that prohibited people with HIV/AIDS from entering the U.S. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Sometimes, though, words and actions are more meaningful than actual bills.

The president recorded an “It Gets Better” video to support LGBT youth experiencing bullying; endorsed the repeal of DOMA; awarded the highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to Billie Jean King and Harvey Milk; and supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. This past June the Pentagon took an extraordinary step by celebrating Pride Month for the first time.

And then this past May Obama finally came to publicly support gay marriage. That pronouncement alone will go far to start changing the hearts and minds of others.

Imagine what kind of message this sends to the entire world, that the leader of the free world supports gay marriage.

Some say, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Right?

Wrong!

While the economy is important, there’s a lot more at stake for the LGBT community than just that.

Since we’re an LGBT paper, our focus is on LGBT issues. We’re not experts on the economy, so we can’t discuss the complex economic issues facing the country.

However, we will point out the economy is recovering, albeit slowly. Remember Obama inherited the worst economy since the Great Depression. It took more than a decade for

the U.S. to recover from that economic crisis.

And even in 1940, 11 years after the stock market crash of 1929, the unemployment rate was 15 percent. Looking back shows us that four years isn’t a long time.

But let’s take a closer look at the economy in regards to the gay community. Obama repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, opening up numerous opportunities for LGBT people, while at the same time protecting

Instead of taking a softer, gentler stance on gay marriage, he’s taken the furthest right stance there is. Not only is he against gay marriage, he’s also against civil unions. A poll from May of this year showed that 62 percent of American’s favor some sort of legal recognition for gay couples. Within the Republican party, 46 percent are in favor and 49 percent are opposed. He’s clearly out of the mainstream and on the wrong side of history on this issue.

But Romney takes his stance even further to the right. He supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, while his website states he will “also champion a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.”

This is a man who will go above and beyond to deny civil rights to the LGBT community. But his hostility to the gay community doesn’t stop at marriage.

Romney was against the repeal of DADT, is against ENDA and a whole range of other pro-equality measures. Recently he’s said that hospital visitation rights should be left up to each state. Obama has already federally given us that right. Would Romney take that away?

Obama has made numerous attempts to showcase his record on LGBT rights and reach out to the gay community. He has an entire website (http://www.barackobama. com/lgbt) devoted to our community. This is a man who cares about our vote and who has gone above and beyond to make sure we count.

Some LGBT organizations like the Log Cabin Republican’s gloss over Romney’s hostility toward the gay community. But at least they acknowledge this much: “If LGBT issues are a voter’s highest or only priority, then Governor Romney may not be that voter’s choice.”

Photo Courtesy of Hiperpato

he gay community’s future is at stake and we need a leader who is going to accept it and protect it.

president barack obama

gay and lesbians already serving our nation. Furthermore, Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which if passed, would protect the jobs of millions of gays and lesbians.

And then there’s marriage. If LGBT people had the right to marry, there are clear economic benefits ranging from taxes to inheritance.

There are two ways the LGBT community will achieve rights: Legislatively and through the Supreme Court. It’s likely that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who’s almost 80-yearsold, will retire in the next fours years. If Mitt Romney wins, there’s no doubt he will attempt to appoint someone in the vein of Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia, likely setting back gay rights for years to come.

Right now there are several important cases making their way to the Supreme Court, so the gay community cannot take a chance on Mitt Romney.

The moderate from Massachusetts is long gone. This new Mitt Romney is a right wing fanatic when it comes to social issues.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

However, they are wrong when they say, “Mitt Romney is not Rick Santorum, and Paul Ryan is not Michele Bachmann.” Romney may not make outrageous statements regarding gays and lesbians but his policies are exactly the same as Santorum and Bachmann.

Frankly, the LCR’s position makes no sense. Later in the endorsement, they state: “While many of our members will also be working hard on behalf of Governor Romney, growing the pro-equality Republican presence in the House and Senate is our highest electoral priority this year.”

So they want to elect an anti-equality president while at the same time putting in place pro-equality senators and representatives. And then they take their contradictory statement even further saying, “While even the suggestion of enshrining discrimination in our nation’s most precious document is deeply offensive, there is a significant difference between a valid threat and an empty promise made to a vocal but shrinking constituency.” If they’re suggesting that the gays and lesbians should not trust Romney on this issue, then how can he be trusted on any issue?

The point we’re making is that for any LGBT person to support Romney, he or she has to either completely ignore his stance on equality, or justify it with nonsensical rationalizations as the Log Cabin Republicans do.

Now these gay republicans tell the rest of the community to sit back and wait for our rights to be handed to us by a court, or when the economy improves, or the threat of terrorism is no longer. But there will always be another issue out there more important than equality to these folks. That’s why we cannot wait. Now is the time. Imagine if the black community had decided to wait to fight for their rights until the threat of communism had subsided.

Martin Luther King Jr. summed it up best: “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was ‘well-timed’ in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’”

Justice for the LGBT community is long overdue and that’s why we must re-elect President Barack Obama.

15

election 2012 Publisher’s View

By Norm Kent

Why I Chose Obama

F

or three years now, our newspaper has tried to represent the face of our diverse community.

For four years now, we have had a President in the Oval Office who has embraced that diversity, endorsed that community, and enhanced our rights.

Though only a young Senator from Illinois when elected, he was tested at once by obstructionist Republicans, a national banking crisis, the collapse of the American auto industry, foreign wars and terrorists wishing all Americans ill.

His vision was one of hope and all those dreams have not been fulfilled in these past four years. But the truth is that Wall Street has been tamed and the auto industry survived. Osama Bin Laden has not. Regulations and safeguards are in place in the financial community that previously did not exist. A war in Iraq has been brought to an end, and we have been promised that the battles in Afghanistan will come to a close as well.

Whether or not you support Obamacare, it was a presidential effort that demonstrated leadership and a concern not for 47 percent of Americans, but all of them.

The word ‘all’ is important for clarifying why we endorse President Obama. He understands that the foundation of

16

American thought is the belief that we come together as a society not to restrict the rights of any, but rather to secure the rights of all.

The President does not have binders for women. He has unlimited boundaries for every one of us, from those who are sick and in need of health care, to those who are poor and seek opportunity. Immigrants get a chance, not walls; students get loans, not expulsions; and all of us are inspired to heal and share in a more diverse and open America.

The world and our military units did not fall apart when the dark days of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell passed into ignominy. What passed with this President in office were fruitcakes and nutjobs taking their holy war to ears in the White House. With Obama in the Oval Office, reason and Planned Parenthood will continue to prevail on Connecticut Avenue, not lunatic voices trying to justify how rape is rational or reasonable. The President is not trying to recreate the 1950’s, which were never quite as illustrious as many Americans think. He is trying to build a 21st century we can all be proud of.

Mitt Romney has been everywhere on social issues, but resurrecting Roe v.

Wade and opposing a women’s right to an

abortion a half century after American courts have made it law, is a frightening retreat to yesterday. He is wise to have focused his campaign on jobs and the economy, because the man just leaves you with the feeling that his America is not our America. You get the sense that our rights and our concerns, and those of minorities everywhere are an inconsequential intrusion to him.

You see, this race is not just a thumbs up or down about the President. This race is about who his replacement might be in 2013 and beyond. Mitt Romney, his values dug deep into the past, on issues such as gay rights, women, immigration, and social reform, is simply a bad leader for America tomorrow.

Romney’s positions on too many other issues also transition so often you get the feeling that which defines him remains elusive; what he stands for remains evasive. Is he the moderate who governed Massachusetts or is he the ‘severely conservative’ brown-noser who sucks up to monolithic right-wingers at every political turn?

With Romney, you get a headache just trying to grasp some of his convoluted economic policies, a trillion here, a billion there. He is not a consistent candidate.

Don’t you want a president who would look to make China a future trade partner rather than a combatant in a trade war? Do you want belligerence and bellicosity in the White House, or outreach and overtures?

Given the choice of these two men, President Obama’s record warrants his reelection, and not just because he has been supportive of gay rights.

Yes, we are a gay paper representing the gay community.

Yes, Barack Obama is a man in the Oval Office who has welcomed us at every turn.

Yes, he is our friend and he has embraced our dreams and aspirations.

But the President has also stood tall and made his mark as a respected and levelheaded international leader who will not countenance bigotry or hate, terrorists or warmongers, at home or abroad. He has shown himself to be a man of the 21st century, not pandering to the past.

The President of the United States deserves your vote next Tuesday. Mitt Romney does not.

Other Choices How and Who to Vote For First and foremost, this is a choice that of course should be your own. However, since we are often asked for suggestions, let me share with you my thoughts on a couple of key candidacies and issues.

Number one, vote no on all the amendments. Special interests groups who do not serve you have propagated them.

One amendment, number 5, is so offensive that if Florida’s right wing legislature had its way, it would repeal the supremacy of judicial rulings and subject them to partisan political review. Disgraceful.

Number two; the judges on the fourth district court of appeal and the Supreme Court deserve retention. They embody diversity and have exemplified judicial grace and wisdom.

Number three, if you are supportive of gay rights and human values protections, the Democratic ticket in Florida has endorsed and embraced your vision, much more so than Republicans. That does not mean all are honest or automatically deserve your vote. Look closely at each race and its candidates.

Unfortunately, even in the year 2012, outside of the incumbent Republican Sheriff in Broward, Al Lamberti, or Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, few on the right side of the aisle back your rights. One more exception might be a local state house candidate, openly gay Scott Herman.

Whoever you choose, consider early voting and make your vote count. There are real choices that matter for our future, and it is a far, far better world when we determine our fate by casting ballots rather than shooting bullets. We are fortunate to live in such a society. Make it count. Make it matter.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Don’t Miss it SFGN’s Election Coverage

L

iberals will flock to MSNBC, conservatives to Fox News … Here’s where you can go to find out the outcomes of local and national races that matter to the LGBT Community:

On Election Day, South Florida Gay News will provide unprecedented, minute-byminute coverage of all the political races in our home state and nationwide that could change the course of gay rights in the near future.

Be sure to check out SFGN.com on Nov. 6.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

’ us e k i L ‘ Also ok o b e c on Fa low ol and f witter.

T us on

17

election 2012

From The Pros

Three LGBT Groups Share Final Thoughts on the Election

By SFGN Staff

B

eing a regional newspaper with our territory stretching from West Palm Beach to Key West it makes it difficult to cover the multitude of elections taking place across South Florida.

Since SFGN does not generally endorse local candidates we still want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible, so that’s why we’ve reached out to three prominent LGBT organizations to weigh in on this year’s elections. SAVE Dade, Equality Florida and the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council are three groups dedicated to ensuring equality for all LGBT people in the state of Florida.

A few weeks ago SFGN printed each of these organization’s endorsement lists, which can still be found online at http://bit. ly/PnJAzf Here is what they have to say:

By Rand Hoch PBCHRCVA

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters’ Alliance (PBCHRCVA) GetOut-The-Vote campaign is well underway.

Our work is to ensure that every LGBT and allied voter in Palm Beach County casts a ballot to re-elect President Obama.

Since two current strongly LGBTsupportive members of Congress from West Palm Beach - Ted Deutch and Alcee Hastings - will win their races by landslides, PBCHRCVA has been focusing on the two other congressional races being conducted in Palm Beach County.

We have the opportunity to elect to Congress one of our most effective and outspoken supporters – Lois Frankel. Since the mid-1980s, we have worked with Lois as a legislator and as the Mayor of West Palm Beach. No one who has ever served in public office in Florida can match Lois Frankel’s record on LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues. No one. We have never had to lobby Lois, because she fully understands – and advocates for – our issues. In Congress, Lois

18

Frankel will be a strong voice on LGBT, HIV/ AIDS and women’s issues.

Some Palm Beach County voters also have the opportunity to rid the U.S. Congress of one of its most embarrassing (and homophobic) members of Congress – Allen West. Moreover, we get to replace him with a solid supporter of LGBT rights – Patrick Murphy. While this change will not tip the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives or even the outcome of any legislation, it will send a strong message that the divisive politics of hate will no longer be tolerated.

It is critical that Floridians vote to retain Florida Supreme Court Justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince, and Fred Levin. If Governor Rick Scott is given the opportunity to pack the Florida Supreme Court, all Floridians will be in big trouble.

Regarding the races for the Florida Legislature, since the far-right Republicans will remain in solid control, no matter who is elected nothing is likely to change for the better for LGBT Floridians for the foreseeable future. That having been said, re-electing State Representatives Mark Pafford and Lori Berman will serve our community well.

Similarly, whomever is elected to replace our LGBT-supportive public officials serving on the County Commission and the School Board will not have much of an impact, if any, on LGBT issues. Fortunately, the County and School Board have LGBTinclusive nondiscrimination policies and offer domestic partnership benefits to their employees. In addition, the Palm Beach County School District has one of the strongest LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying policies in the nation.

By Mallory Wells Equality Florida

Florida is Changing. We Can’t Stop Now It feels like every election cycle we are told “This is it! This is the most important election of your life!” and you know what?

This is it. 2012 is the most important election of your life.

As an LGBT person the stakes have never been higher. We have reached a critical point in our struggle for equality, and this election cycle decides if we continue to push ahead or if the clock gets reset.

Over the last four years we have seen a tremendous change in the political landscape for LGBT people both here in Florida and across the country. Nationally, we have seen marriage equality pass in more states; the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’; the passage of the hate crimes bill; the President making history by declaring his support for marriage equality and increased support for women and LGBT people abroad.

The Sunshine State has also changed a lot in the last four years. Florida has ended its discriminatory ban on gay adoption. We have elected the first out, gay person to serve in the Florida legislature and elected LGBT people to more local offices than ever before.

The majority of Floridians now live in a place that provides both non-discrimination protections and domestic partner benefits, including in the so-called “red” counties.

One of the most encouraging signs of progress has been our allies’ willingness to step up and speak out in more ways than ever before. Elected officials, candidates for office, business and religious leaders are engaging more deeply in our work because its the right thing to do for LGBT people, and it’s the right thing to do for their communities.

While we are winning the public education battle, our political strength is growing as well. During the 2012 primary, Equality Florida Action PAC endorsed Katherine Leech, a Republican appointed candidate for re-election to the Broward County School Board. Katherine had also been endorsed by the local Tea Party. When the Tea Party heard that Equality Florida endorsed Katherine, they demanded she reject our endorsement.

In the end, she chose to stand by our endorsement and the Tea Party rescinded theirs. Katherine handily won her election

in the first round. While it is true that most of our champions are Democrats, the fight for equality requires bipartisan leadership and every day we are finding strong allies on both sides of the aisle stand with us.

It is truly remarkable to think about all that has changed in the 15 years since Equality Florida formed and yet there is so much more to be done. This election is so important because we are at a crossroads.

We can either move ahead and finish the work that needs to be done, or stall and further delay equality. Go vote. You must vote all the way down the ballot because the Presidential race is not the only race that is important to LGBT people. Many laws concerning our rights are decided here in Florida by our state legislature.

Our state legislature decides if statewide we are protected from employment discrimination or if LGBT students are included in anti-bullying programs. The state legislature can grant statewide domestic partner benefits and they choose funding levels for HIV/AIDS patients waiting for life-saving medication. Be sure to educate yourself on where your state and local candidates are on issues important to the LGBT community.

On the 2012 ballot there are also 11 proposed changes to Florida’s constitution.

Equality Florida Action PAC is asking voters to vote NO on amendments 5, 6 and 8. Each of these amendments are bad for LGBT Floridians. Amendment 5 gives the Florida legislature undue influence over the judicial branch, upsetting the balance of power.

Amendment 6 limits a woman’s ability to make private medical decisions with her doctor and sets a dangerous legal precedent by undermining the right to privacy for all Floridians. Amendment 8 eliminates the law that prevents taxpayer money from going to religious organizations, including those that discriminate against LGBT people.

There is so much at stake for our country in this election. For the LGBT community we may spend election night lamenting a tragic reversal of fortunes for our families or

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

celebrating the moment when full equality is not just in sight but within reach.

For more information about where the candidates stand on LGBT equality and about the proposed constitutional amendments, please visit www.eqflpac.org.

By CJ Ortuno SAVE Dade

SAVE Dade is dedicated to being your local LGBT political advocacy organization.

Each election cycle SAVE Dade is ensuring it takes a lead role in electing pro-equality candidates – this year is no different.

2012 is of particular importance because we elect a President. Additionally there are eleven constitutional amendments placed on the ballot by the legislature. There are judicial retention questions and local races to consider. In the midst of a presidential election, it’s difficult to get folks to focus on anything other than the names on the top of the ballot. But this year more than ever, it is crucial that voters get informed and get ready to vote all the way down the ballot.

Every race is important this year; every amendment is significant; every judge and county commissioner has some role to play in the future of our community. If we want to see a future that is closer to achieving fullequality for LGBT people, then every single

one of us has the responsibility to let their voice be heard all the way down the ballot.

SAVE Dade has reviewed all of the races and has issued endorsements for your consideration. Our process is one of the most thorough and fair of any advocacy organization in the state. We start off with a two to four page questionnaire touching on a wide array of LGBT issues for each race. The candidates are invited to attend an interview panel with SAVE Dade board members, donors, volunteers, and staff to answer questions about their campaign, their history, where they stand on LGBT issues, and what they see for the future of our community. The panel then votes to recommend one of the candidates and the full SAVE Dade board votes to endorse.

The process by which our endorsements are selected is important because we strive to give you more detailed information for your consideration so you can make an honest choice about the future of our community.

We feel confident that the slate we have recommended is one that you can trust.

We have also targeted certain races that are important to our community. In addition to an endorsement, we help get out the vote, recruit volunteers to canvass, hold multiple phone banks, and even raise money. A SAVE Dade endorsement means the candidates stand with us and our community.

Our process is working. This year SAVE

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Dade recruited and helped elect the first openly gay state legislator David Richardson.

We’re proud to report that 78 percent of our endorsed candidates won their August elections.

For this year’s general election, SAVE Dade has an exciting list of endorsed candidates. One of our local priority races is Greer Wallace for Miami-Dade County Court Judge against an incumbent. Mrs. Wallace stands with the LGBT community and is outspoken about her support, while her opponent has accepted the endorsement of an anti-gay advocacy group. SAVE is also proud to endorse Jose Javier Rodriguez (112), Ian Whitney (120), and Dr. Jeffrey Solomon (115) for State Representatives – all of which

were interviewed and selected based on their support for LGBT issues over their opponents. For State Senate, SAVE Dade is proud endorse former Senate President and long-time LGBT advocate Gwen Margolis (35) as well as current State Representative Dwight Bullard running for state senate seat 39.

Your job is to vote! We can screen the candidates and ensure our advocacy.

However, we do not have a vote. By electing our slate, you amplify our ability to fight for LGBT equality. For a full listing of our endorsed candidates go towww.savedade. org/2012.

Equality means Vote!

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October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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19

election 2012 Tammy Baldwin in Fight for (Political) Life Would be first openly gay U.S. senator

By Lisa Keen, Keen News Service

K

arl Rove’s conservative super PAC Crossroads has poured more than $7 million into opposing U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s bid to become the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate. That’s as much as Republican Senate candidate Tommy Thompson’s own campaign has spent trying to win the seat. The dollar figures are high, but Rove notoriously orchestrated then President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election by setting up ballot measures opposing same-sex marriage in key states to attract conservatives.

As of the latest reports filed with

and available from the Federal Elections Commission, Baldwin had raised $11 million to Thompson’s $7 million. And much of that money is apparently going into negative advertising by both candidates and their supporters and opponents. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday that the Baldwin-Thompson race seems “destined to go down as one of the most negative U.S. Senate races in recent political history.”

In one ad, Thompson accuses Baldwin of having voted against honoring the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States. Baldwin responded that the bill in question, formulated in 2006,

was not just a bill to honor the victims of 9-11. It was, as many pundits have pointed out, a Republican partisan construct to seek votes endorsing a number of then President George W. Bush’s policies. The 9-11 provision was inserted to put Democrats in the awkward position of either endorsing Bush policies or appearing to disrespect the victims of 9-11.

Baldwin has also been taking heat late in the campaign for having voted “present” in 2007 on a resolution calling on the United Nations to condemn Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for calling for Israel to be “wiped off the map.” Baldwin told the Milwaukee paper that she agreed with the sentiments of the resolution but voted present because she was afraid President Bush would use the passage of the resolution as a reason to go to war against Iran.

The polls in the past week have been roller-coastering. Thompson was up one point on October 14, then Baldwin was up four points October 17. As of October 25, Thompson was back up by one point.

Of the nine Senate races that are considered close contests, the BaldwinThompson race is the tightest. Democrats need the seat to maintain their grip on the Senate, and the LGBT community would like to have the first openly gay person win a seat to the U.S. Senate and provide a face and a voice for the community in such important proceedings as the confirmation of Supreme Court justices.

An early October survey of 979 likely voters in Wisconsin found that 44 percent had a “favorable opinion” of Baldwin, but 47 percent had an “unfavorable opinion.” But Thompson fared worse: 50 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 43 percent favorable.

A mid-October poll of 870 likely voters by Marquette University found Thompson with a one-point lead over Baldwin, a loss of a four-point lead Baldwin held just two weeks earlier. Poll director Charles Franklin told the Milwaukee Journal that the negative advertising appeared to be responsible for the trend.

As of October 28, realclearpolitics’ average of the most recent polls on the race in Wisconsin shows Baldwin with a onepoint lead.

RACE TO REPLACE

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s openly gay State Rep. Mark Pocan is given good odds at winning the U.S. House seat left behind by Baldwin in her race for the Senate.

The district has been considered solidly Democratic for the past five of Baldwin’s seven terms, a factor that bolsters Pocan’s prospects.

The owner of a print shop, married for six years to spouse Philip Frank, Pocan, 48, has served in the state Assembly for the past 13 years. In the state’s recent highprofile showdown between incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker and state union employees, Pocan sided with the unions. He was recognized by Planned Parenthood for his effort in writing and pushing for passage of a “Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act,” to require Wisconsin hospital emergency rooms to inform and, if requested, provide to rape victims emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy following an assault.

If elected, Pocan will likely join reelected openly gay Democratic members of the U.S. House Jared Polis of Colorado, David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

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October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

election 2012 Veteran. Republican. Gay.

Scott Herman Takes on Democrat Minority Leader Perry Thurston

By Jason Parsley “Back in 2008, Representative Thurston continuously dialogued with Black community and church leaders on the importance to oppose Florida’s Marriage Protection Act. Thurston included his opposition to the Florida Marriage Protection Act on his palm card widely distributed among Black voters,” he said.

into the hands of anti-gay pastors, he is not anti-gay.

“My record speaks for itself. I’m behind anything that expands people’s rights. I try to maintain that position as often as I can,” he said, and then referred SFGN to his voting record.

As for Dozier, he said “I don’t agree with Dozier on much.” And as for the other church mentioned above, Mount Calvary, that’s been Perry’s home church for the past 52 years.

“I’ve been through four ministers at that church. They don’t control what I vote for. These ministers are in the community.”

Rajner isn’t concerned with those donations.

“He was in a faith-based community.

Those were his constituents,” Rajner said.

Herman, however, used the donations to attack his opponent.

“Perry Thurston has put his money where his mouth is on LGBT issues. Thankfully the press has done its job in uncovering the truth about Thurston and his anti-LGBT Photo Courtesy of Scott Herman

S

cott Herman likes to defy stereotypes. He’s not your typical gay, liberal leaning, democrat activist. Instead he’s a war veteran, a republican and openly gay.

But just because he’s gay doesn’t mean the LGBT community is throwing their support behind him for state House District 94, which includes Wilton Manors. And while the gay vote might not be in his pocket, another unlikely group did endorse him – The South Florida Tea Party.

Herman believes that it will take a gay Republican to have LGBT issues seriously considered in Tallahassee. Right now Republicans hold a veto proof majority in the House and Democrat voices have become marginalized.

“I know I can get more done for the LGBTQ Community because I will have the seat at the table as member of the majority party and have the respect of others due to being a combat veteran,” he said.

But others aren’t so sure or confident in Herman’s ability.

“As a former Republican myself, while I commend Scott Herman to stepping forward in an attempt to reform Florida’s extreme Republican Party, he will fail miserably given the Republican Party continues to engage in a culture war against LGBT-Floridians,” Democrat activist Michael Rajner explained.

Herman, though, is quick to blast his opponent Democrat Perry Thurston on his lack of leadership regarding LGBT rights.

He points out that Thurston didn’t even fill out Equality Florida’s scorecard while Herman did so where he acknowledged that he supports non-discrimination, domestic partnerships, repealing DOMA, adoption equality, safe schools, reproductive choice and sex education. Additionally Herman has said he supports marriage equality.

Thurston may not have answered Equality Florida’s questions, but he has told SFGN he supports marriage equality and campaigned against the amendment that banned gay marriage in Florida in 2008.

“I took a lot of flack about that in the community,” he told SFGN in July. “I was in staunch opposition of that amendment. I’ve been for gay marriage as far back as 2008.”

Rajner agrees that Thurston has been a big supporter of LGBT equality.

scott herman

But Thurston has also donated money to anti-gay churches.

Records show Perry’s campaign has spent more than $2,500 in donations and on advertisements. The bulk of the money was given to Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Pompano Beach.

The Sun-Sentinel reported that the pastor of that church, Anthony Burrell, was active in the 2008 effort that added the ban on same-sex marriage in Florida. Another, arguably more disturbing donation, was made last year to Rev. O’Neal Dozier Ministries. That donation, however, was a mere $250, which paid for an ad celebrating the pastor’s anniversary and birthday.

Dozier is well-known for his anti-gay rhetoric. In January, liberal magazine Mother Jones reported that Dozier referred to homosexuality as “something so nasty and disgusting that it makes God want to vomit.”

Thurston explained that just because some of his campaign’s money has made it

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

allies before he may take over as the voice for the Democrats in the Florida House,” Herman said in an e-blast to supporters.

“What kind of Democrat stands against inclusion? With bigoted leadership like this in the Democrat Party, I’m truly afraid for the bipartisan fight for progress and equality in Florida.”

Herman moved to South Florida from North Carolina in 2009. In N.C., he served a four-year term as a commissioner for Cabarrus County. While in office he solicited and received bipartisan support for a law requiring employers to adopt more stringent non-discrimination policies for sexual orientation.

He believes that because he’s held public office as an openly gay man in a conservative state, he knows how to win over the other side.

“I used the political experience of over 16 years of being elected and appointed to even win over the far right group such as the South Florida Broward Tea Party for an endorsement and I am not even a member of the group,” he boasted.

And because Democrats have so little power in the House he believes he can be an effective legislator.

“So let’s truly examine why I know I can get more done for the LGBTQ community. I will point out that since 2006 till 2012 my opponent has not introduced even one bill of Legislation to help our community and he’s a Democrat,” Herman said. “So we have to face the cold hard facts that just because one is a Democrat does not make him or her pro equality.”

21

LOCAL NEWS

Manors Police Union Seeks BSO Merger

By Norm Kent

T

he Wilton Manors Police Union, which last year voted 28-0 to encourage a merger with the Broward Sheriff’s Office is planning to present their city commission with a proposal to effect such an arrangement.

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The Manors police group, and its PBA, intends to outline their ideas at a November 27 meeting, pointing out that current staffing levels are insufficient, and put the public’s safety at risk.

A recently created brochure, circulated to the community, suggests that a new three year contract with BSO has the potential of saving Manors taxpayers over $4 million, while enhancing police services.

Manors police officers have pointed out that their training funds have been cut by 38 percent, civilian personnel by 29 percent, and road patrols by 20 percent. Their sentiment is that an affiliation with BSO will enable them to recruit more police officers, access better services, and offer quicker emergency responses to crisis management.

The union is encouraging friends, neighbors and supporters to turn out to

the City Commission meeting at 7 p.m. on November 27, in order to advance the idea. In order to advance the concept, the City Commission would have to ask the Broward Sheriff’s Office to come forth with a proposal for the commissioners’ ultimate review.

SFGN will cover the developing story as it unfolds.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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NATIONAL NEWS

Quick & Easy

Over the Counter Rapid HIV Test Hits Shelves

By Jason Parsley

G

etting an HIV test just got easier.

This month, OraQuick’s rapid HIV tests hit the shelves of retailers across the country, including CVS, Walmart and Walgreens.

This is the first FDA approved in-home rapid HIV test. Testing centers, though, have been using it for years.

“It’s quite a breakthrough now for people to test themselves in the privacy in their home. This is another tool, another option for people,” said Ron Ticho, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications for OraSure. “We’re focusing on those individuals who aren’t getting tested or should be getting tested.”

The FDA approved the first home testing kit in 1996. But this is the first home rapid testing kit, which provides results in 20 minutes. And it’s an oral swab versus a blood sample that had to be sent away to a

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lab as did the other home testing kit.

“This is the first rapid test for any infectious disease that’s available over the counter,” Ticho said.

HIV/AIDS organizations around the country are excited about its release.

•“It is important for people to learn their HIV status and the “home test kit” is one way to do that. We support people learning their HIV status in whatever way best fits for them.” – Rik Pavlescak, Chief Operating Officer Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County •“Anything that results in more people being tested is beneficial. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 Americans who are HIV-infected don’t know their status. If we can get more of these individuals tested and into

treatment, we help them ... and also reduce HIV transmission to their sexual partners.”

– Robert Heglar, Associate Medical Director Care Resource in Miami •“Anything that can help maintain someone’s negative status, or show they’re positive so they can get care is a good thing.” – Steve Gibson of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation Some people have suggested that the test could be used to screen potential sex partners.

“But it’s not a license to not use condoms that night,” Gibson said. While the test is 99 percent accurate it only tests for HIV antibodies, which can take up to six months to show up. That means someone recently infected might not show up as positive. And newly infected individuals are sometimes more infectious because the body hasn’t started fighting it off.

Heglar adds that even if a positive result shows up, it’s still important to see a doctor.

“If your OraQuick results are positive, it’s important to have the results confirmed by a blood sample since occasionally OraQuick results are falsely positive,” he said.

He also added that while these home tests may be more convenient there are a lot benefits having it done by a professional.

“This includes the counseling that is available immediately if the result is reactive. For example, at CAP, we can work quickly to help a person identify support systems, link to a doctor, and, if needed, case management,” Heglar explained.

“These resources aren’t instantly available if someone is learning they’re HIV positive in their home.”

However, OraQuick does offer live support 24/7 through their support center where representatives will provide information on HIV and the test itself.

“We’ve developed a very comprehensive support center … that’s staffed by trained professionals,” Ticho said. “They’ll be able to answer questions related to ‘what if I’m positive,’ ‘what if I’m negative.’”

The suggested price of the test is $39.99.

Important Dates in HIV Testing

1985 – First test for HIV Licensed (ELISA) 1987 – First Western Blot blood test kit 1992 – First rapid test 1994 – First oral fluid test 1996 – First home and urine tests; FDA approves viral load test, a new test that measures the level of HIV in the body 2002 – First rapid test using finger prick 2004 – First rapid oral fluid test 2012 – First over the counter rapid oral inhome test kit which results are obtained at home

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LOCAL NEWS

Senior Health Expo 2012 at Wilton Manors’ Pride Center Photos By Steven Shires

The Pride Center at Holiday Park hosted a magnificent Senior Health Expo on Oct. 20, and the standing room only crowd

were hosted by a wealth of exhibitors featuring multiple services, including Broward Health, Forest Trace, Park Summit

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Senior LIving, Dr. Teresa Taylor’s Medical Aesthetics, Serenity Funeral Homes, Innovative Hospice Care (Vitas), Urgent

Med and AARP, along with many, many more.

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A Digitalized Life

T

here was a time when I would watch a movie and be so taken by the beauty of the setting that I would want to visit it with Ray. Today, I’m suspicious that almost every perfect setting I see in a movie is digitalized.

A computer program has created a makebelieve world which can never be physically visited.

The same is true with the gardens in movies. The flowers they show in full bloom all around a house are generally fake.

Perennial summer plants can’t all bloom at the same time. The perfect gardens shown in movies are make-believe flowers in a makebelieve world. Knowing that has made me a gardener with more realistic expectations, and greater appreciation for what blooms for me, and when.

Gay guesthouses create unrealistic expectations, as do gay cruises. Their ads or promotional brochures never show older, slightly overweight, pale white men lounging

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By Brian McNaught around the pool, which is often the reality.

Instead, we are led to believe that if we stay or travel with them, we’ll be in the company of smiling, young, muscled, handsome guys who can’t wait for us to arrive.

And it’s not just movie directors and gay male merchandisers who create fantasy worlds.

The recruiting brochures of private schools show students of mixed races fraternizing happily, something that recent news stories tell us isn’t quite true.

Minority students are often shocked and disappointed to find out how isolated they are. The same is true for corporate ads that highlight the diversity of their workforce. Prospective employees need to remember that while gay, lesbian,

“

bisexual, and transgender people work at the company without blatant discrimination, the picture they’re getting of daily life is airbrushed.

On a couple of occasions, Ray and I have been asked if the home in which we’re living might be photographed for a magazine.

We’ve said, “No,” because we know that if we say, “Yes,” our furniture and art will be removed or rearranged to create a romantic image of our lives that isn’t true. Roses will be set on the dining room table for the shoot, giving the impression we always have roses on the table. (They are, however, always in the kitchen.)

In our home are paintings that create false

made up by the person commissioned to do the painting. The parents wanted to give the impression of nobility and wealth. On another wall is a painting of a parrot, a dog, and a squirrel, all together in a study. One might look at the painting and long for the days when such a life existed. It didn’t. It’s a beautiful painting, like the one of the boy with the horn, but it’s not a representation of reality.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with romanticizing, but knowing the truth enables us to find greater happiness in life, and equips us to deal with reality. There are fewer disappointments when we know what to expect. If we romanticize, we need to be clear with ourselves and others when we’re doing it.

I like life as it is. My world is beautiful enough each day that I don’t need or want the scenery to be digitalized. The flowers I have planted bloom just as I hope they will. One Japanese Lantern Hibiscus flower, or one lilac cluster, is enough to make me glad I’m alive to see it and smell it that day.

When I go to a gay guesthouse or on a gay cruise, I don’t want the people around me to be young, buffed, and handsome. I’d be so distracted, I’d never get a book read, and I doubt I’d make conversation with anyone who might become a lifelong friend.

I’m suspicious of people who project an image. This includes religious leaders, politicians, movie stars, and individuals you meet at a dinner party. No one is as pious, patriotic, talented, or special as they purport to be. I think that’s why so many people like reading about scandals, especially when the person brought down is someone who pretended to be someone or something they weren’t.

Reality is beautiful. It doesn’t need to be photoshopped. That doesn’t mean you don’t keep things clean, watered, and functioning.

But you don’t need to pretend something is what it isn’t.

People are beautiful too. That doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t strive to become their best. It just means they don’t have to pretend to be something they’re not.

No one is truly fooled by the fake mountain, garden, or guesthouse brochures. Nor are we fooled by others, or by ourselves, when pretense blocks reality. So why not relax, and see the world and ourselves as it is and we are?

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.

“

McNaught’s Notes

I like life as it is. My world is beautiful enough each day that I don’t need or want the scenery to be digitalized.

impressions. One of them is an oil painting of a little boy, holding a small horn, who is standing next to a large dog. It’s an early American or Scottish piece, but beyond the face of the boy, everything has been

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Broward Gala Sunday, November 11th 10th ANNUAL EQUALITY FLORIDA

5 – 7:30PM at the MUSEUM OF ART 1 East Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

It’s opening weekend of the new Warhol exhibit!

Please join us as we celebrate our 10th Annual Broward Gala, the work of Equality Florida, and our Voice for Equality winner, Broward County Commissioner, Sue Gunzburger, with drinks, hors d’oeuvres, music, friends, and the State of the state address by Nadine Smith.

Our guests will receive an exclusive viewing of “Warhol and Cars--American Icons” and may enter the museum at no additional cost, up to an hour before the Gala to enjoy the galleries.

Tickets $125

sponsorship opportunities begin at $500

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RSVP at www.eqfl.org/browardgala or (407) 462-9692 RUNYAN LAW FIRM

THE LAW OFFICES OF GEORGE CASTRATARO

The Law Offices of Greg Kabel

YOUR 2012 EQUALITY FLORIDA BROWARD GALA STEERING COMMITTEE: Doug Candler, Philip Dearborn, Dominick Destefano, Nate Klarfeld (Chair) & Grover Lawlis, Thomas Leffler, Charles Loring, Dennis Miller & Timothy Elverman, De Palazzo, Tom Runyan, Mary Wheatley & Meryl Friedman, B. Rodney White & Michael P. Williams Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Equality Florida Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are deductible for income-tax purposes to the full extent of the law.

Corporate sponsors as of 10/19/12. Additional sponsorships are available.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LOCAL NEWS

Boca Raton Blows Off Gay Controversy, Media

By Dylan Bouscher

Boca Bashing

Community Leaders Blast City “The statement by the city manager is wrong in so many ways. To point out one way; when he equates LGBT people to dogs he is trying to be disrespectful. The ironic part is he could learn a lot from dogs. They don’t discriminate against any human being, no matter what group one identifies with.” – Robin J Schwartz,

Executive Director of Aqua Foundation for Women “Palm Beach Human Rights Council should be applauded for not backing down to bigots and fight the elected and city officials in Boca Raton to battle the greater injustice.

I completed my degree in social work at Florida Atlantic University on the Boca Raton campus. There I learned how critical it is to have inclusive policies to protect minority classes in order for society to value it’s rich diversity. While I can respect

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Emanuel Rajner, BSW is the Legislative Director for the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus and GLBT Representative for the Broward County Democratic Party.

“It never ceases to amaze me the length that people will go to rationalize mean-spirited actions towards others.

Fascinating that the true victim here is the city government of Boca Raton, and their right to home rule, is absurd. It is the message the city government is sending to city employees that does harm - to employees and to us as a collective.

The city’s actions should be considered a crime motivated by hate.” –

and gender identity. Boca Raton has done a disservice to their diverse population and real harm to the reputation and economic competitiveness of the city.” – Stratton Submitted Photo

a city’s argument over home rule, the city just wrong and fails to protect or value the diversity of its residents and the thousands who come to Boca to attend universities or to shop and play. It’s an outrage too learn in this day and age, when discrimination continues to be a major issue in our society, that Boca Raton would rather be part of the problem then be part of a sensible fair minded solution. Perhaps they are blinded by white privilege.” – Michael

michael emanuel rajner

Submitted Photo

told SFGN. Boca Vice Mayor Susan Haynie addressed the recent articles about the council at their last meeting.

“These are certainly unfounded, we are not discriminatory,” Haynie said.

Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council disagrees.

“It’s one small step in the right direction,” Hoch said. “The real problem is it doesn’t really change anything.”

The city further antagonized the gay community when three weeks ago, Boca assistant city manager Mike Woika compared protecting LGBT employee rights to protecting pet lovers.

Hoch has already called the Boca city council bigots, but he has a new name for them now.

“There’s a name for people who do things for money,” Hoch said.

“That’s apparently what the Boca Raton city council are ... The Palm Beach Human Rights Council is not going to let up on the city of Boca Raton because they are the only public employer in the county to retain the right to discriminate against LGBT employees and that is unacceptable.”

kevin muth

Submitted Photo

I

t started with a $235,000 hazardous waste contract between the Palm Beach County Commission and the Boca Raton City Council, and ended in a fight over the LGBT rights in Boca.

This issue arose when the Palm Beach County Commission found out about the city’s lack of protection for LGBT employees; the county has a policy of not doing business with entities that don’t adhere to its own anti-discrimination policy. The county’s policy includes sexual orientation and gender identity protection.

“When the Hazmat agreement came forward, it was a new opportunity to discuss how that provision works and what the implications are,” city attorney Diane Frieser said during the city council meeting where they approved the contract with a clause including protection for people on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression — for this contract.

However there’s a catch. Because the city decided to opt out of the county’s antidiscrimination policy in January 2011 the county does not have jurisdiction to enforce their anti-discrimination policy on city employees. So even though the language in the contract stipulates that they won’t discriminate against an LGBT employee, if they do, that employee has no legal recourse.

The county, however, would be able to terminate the contract.

“The county’s ordinance applies in the county, and the city’s applies in the city,” Frieser said. “No rights have been taken away, they are the same rights.”

On Tuesday Oct. 23, minutes after the last council meeting ended, Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel declined to answer questions about the city excluding protections for the rights of LGBT employees.

“We’ve complied with state and federal law,” Whelchel said. Then she pointed at Frieser, and walked away. “You really need to talk to her.”

Then Frieser declined to answer questions as well.

“I’ve been here 13 years, I don’t talk to the press,” Frieser said.

Without discrimination protection for sexual orientation and gender identity, LGBT public employees remain open to discrimination outside of this contract.

“I fully support the county’s nondiscrimination policy and do not believe there should be any exceptions,” Palm Beach County Commissioners Paulette Burdick

Pollitzer, Deputy Director of Equality Florida “Regardless of how officials in Boca Raton try to spin it, the bottom line is that the city has explicitly taken steps to discriminate against LGBT members of the community.

In recent years we have seen a dramatic shift in awareness nationally, across Florida, and here in Palm Beach County regarding how the patchwork of laws affecting LGBT individuals does not create a level playing field.

Officials in Boca Raton can choose to do the right thing and add ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity and expression’ to its protected classes. The city stands to lose a significant sum of money in its contracting if it does not adhere to County policies. That should be a strong incentive and a positive message -discrimination hurts people and their pocketbooks.”

– Kevin Muth, President,

Rusty Gordon GLBTA Dems of Palm Beach County

“I’d like to say I am surprised that this conflict is continuing but given Tony Plakas, Executive the demographics of Boca Director of Compass Raton the more obvious assumption is that LGBT “At a time when persons aren’t the only folks communities across facing systemic bigotry in Florida are actually the “mouth of the rat” (literal strengthening their nontranslation of Boca Raton). discrimination laws, We at Trans*Action Florida Boca Raton has taken a fully support Rand Hoch huge step in the wrong stratton pollitzer and the Palm Beach County direction. By opting Human Rights Council in out of the Palm Beach the “Boca Bigots Run City Hall” campaign.”

County Human Rights Ordinance they – Michael Keeffe, Executive Director have branded Boca as the only city in the TransAction Florida entire South Florida region that allows discrimination based on sexual orientation

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LOCAL NEWS

Drinks from Donkeys Palm Beach County Democrats host celebrity bartending fundraiser

By Dylan Bouscher

Photo Courtesy of myfloridahouse.gov

Three representatives and two senators from the Florida Legislature will work for tips while attendees enjoy free Hors d’oeuvres, music, and door prizes. The Rusty Gordon GLBTA Democratic Caucus, a Palm Beach county democratic club, is hosting its second annual celebrity bartender fundraiser.

held last year) is excited to bring it back this year.

“It’s just a really great event,” McPartland said. “It’s really high energy.”

McPartland confirmed the event would have happy hour rates, while Kevin Muth, President of the Rusty Gordon GLBTA Democratic caucus, confirmed there would be a special pink cocktail, called the Sweet Revenge Wild Strawberry Sour Mash Liqueur.

Rep. Pafford and Rep. Berman might serve

fla. representative mark pafford

fla. representative lori berman

This year’s theme is Pink Slip Rick, in reference to Fla. Gov. Rick Scott. The celebrity bartenders include Florida state senator Maria Sachs (Dist. 34), senator Jeff Clemens (Dist. 27), Rep. Lori Berman (Dist.

86), Rep.-Elect Dave Kerner (Dist. 87), and Rep. Mark Pafford (Dist. 88).

“Anything that is titled Pink Slip Rick Scott will be a fun event,” Pafford said. He participated in the fundraiser last year said returning was a no-brainer.

“It’s a great event in terms of people who are trying to do some good things and promote that everyone should be living an equal life in the state of Florida and there should be no discriminatory policies of who you love,” Pafford said.

Pafford attended last year’s fundraiser and expects pink lingerie at this year’s event, but he has another reason for coming back.

“I gotta make sure I raise more tips than everybody else,” he said.

Rep. Lori Berman is attending as a supporter of the LGBT community.

“I know how to pour a mean drink and have a good time,” Berman wrote SFGN. “I look forward to bartending this for my colleagues and seeing lots of friends in attendance.”

Jimmy McPartland, the owner of The Cottage in Lake Worth (where the event was

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Photo Courtesy of myfloridahouse.gov

T

here’s only one place you can find politicians wearing pink and serving drinks on a Sunday night.

something other than the Sweet Revenge Wild Strawberry if it’s up to them.

“Jack [Daniels Tennessee Whiskey] with diet coke is my favorite drink because I’m diabetic,” Pafford said.

“My favorite drink is California chardonnay,” Berman said. But she wants attendees to know more than that. “The Democratic party supports everyone including women, the middle class, the LGBT community, veterans, seniors and working families,” Berman said.

For more about the first celebrity bartending event, go to http://bit.ly/RnZR4w.

If You Go Fund Raiser When:

Sunday Nov. 4, 5 - 7 p.m.

Where: The Cottage, 522 Lucerne Ave. Lake Worth, FL 33460 How Much:

Free

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FALL 2012

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

Follow us! | www.facebook.com/ThePrideCenter | @PrideCenterFL

VOICE

Princesses, Pirates and Police Officers

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GBT families in creative Halloween costumes mixed with strapping police officers demonstrating SWAT equipment and a K-9 Unit. Local youth hung spooky decorations for the evening’s Haunted Swamp youth dance.

Couples and singles engaged in thought-provoking roundtable discussions upstairs. Beautiful ladies holding hands sampled tasty food from gourmet food trucks. Seniors pet the noses of beautiful horses and took pictures with tricked-out squad cars.

The Pride Center once again

By Scott Kraft s we move through this season of debate and definition of leadership, I find my own voice needing to be heard.

Whether it is the controversy surrounding gay marriage, or Chick-Fil-A’s contributions to anti-gay agenda issues, there is an even more fundamentally challenging issue facing us.

HIV infection and HIV related illness is on the rise within our community.

A

Darkness to Light LIFE Program graduate shares his journey from desperation to hope

PG. 4

PG. 8

gathered diverse visitors for its annual Sheriff’s Community Day at the Pride Center. “I love Community Day at the Pride Center,” says Richard Alalouf, organizer for South Florida Family Pride. “It is an opportunity for the families of our organization to come out and have a fun day and truly feel a sense of fitting in within a community. To come together and participate in Community Day at the Center gives us all a sense of belonging and a sense of being home. It’s a day that LGBT families come together with the Wilton Manors community

Our fight is far from over.

Helping us in our battle to reduce HIV infection, and in support of the HIV positive community, we have a tremendous resource in the Pride Center. One of the key programs of the Pride Center is offered through the PALS office, and funded in part by the Department of Health.

The LIFE (Learning Immune Function Enhancement) program is a structured 18 week program based on a

PG. 10

Community Day Combines BSO Outreach, Valuing Our Families, Costume Contest and Youth Dance

broad range of different cofactors that affect GLBTQ men living with HIV. I came to the LIFE program as a participant in January of 2012 as a desperate and broken man. I had begun to lose hope that my life could be the future I had always dreamed of. From the moment I walked in the doors of the PALS office at the Pride Center, I felt a sense of calm, support, and purpose. It wasn’t until I

PG. 12

and paint the same fire truck, play in the same bounce house, dress up for Halloween, meet the Sheriff, meet other families within the community.....and fit in.”

This year, The Pride Center expanded the collaboration with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, South Florida Family Pride and PrideLines Youth Services to include SunServe and PFLAG. Inside the Center, SunServe provided their ninth annual Valuing Our Families conference with informative, engaging round table discussions and dramatic presentations. +Continued on pg. 3

+Continued on pg. 3

PG. 15

Get Out The Vote

Pride Center Staff

A Letter From Robert Boo, Executive Director of The Pride Center at Equality Park

VOICE Fall 2012

T

he Fall Season has quickly arrived and already my calendar is full of events, seminars and fundraisers.

The holidays will be upon us before you know it. The Pride Center has many social, educational and fundraising activities going on that you should check out on our website. We continue to improve our website so that it is easier for you to find the information you need and want. Additionally, if you aren’t currently subscribed to receive our electronic weekly email, please take a moment to do so on our website. Our weekly email has a new format and we have reduced the number of notices we send so we do not clutter your inbox.

Additionally, if you aren’t

currently subscribed to receive our electronic weekly email, please take a moment to subscribe on the home page of the PrideCenterFlorida.org web site. If you are a member of the Founders Circle and have not been receiving my letter, please contact me directly.

With all the activities going on in South Florida, there is one activity that you cannot forget – the right to vote. The big question is: how many voters will take advantage of it? In the most recent primary elections this past August, Broward County had the lowest voter turnout in the state, 10.7%.

This November you need to make your voice heard. It doesn’t matter which side of the discussions you are on, you have the ability to use your voice. The right to vote is a concept almost every American says they cherish, but the low voter turnout in South Florida suggests something different. We have

the opportunity to make changes locally such as new tax rates, the cut or increase of county services, and healthcare, just to name a few.

On a national level, decisions will be made affecting the economy, civil rights, job creation, privacy and healthcare. It is up to you.

One vote can make the difference.

There are three ways to vote: Vote By Mail, Early Voting or Election Day Voting on Tuesday, November 6th. I personally choose to vote by mail so that I can take my time, research the candidates and the 12 local amendments on the ballot this year. Quite selfishly, I do this so I don’t have to wait in line on Election Day. All of this information, and more details of where and when, can be found on the Broward County Supervisor of Elections website:www.browardsoe.org” www.browardsoe.org.

I hope to see you at the Post Office with your ballot in hand.

About the Pride Center

The Pride Center Voice

Production Managers: Chris Caputo, Kristofer Fegenbush, Kevin Murdoch Creative Director: Mariam Aldhahi Contributing Writers: Lynn Glover, Scott Kraft, Roger Williams, Robert Boo, Chris Caputo, Frank Gurucharri, Robert Saunders, Kevin Murdoch and Kristofer Fegenbush Photographers: Steven Shires, Dennis Dean, Eddie Garcia, Chuck Nicholla, Armand Daiguillon, Robert Saunders, Samantha McCoy and Kristofer Fegenbush

The Pride Center’s Mission is: “We provide a welcoming, safe

2

space--an inclusive home--that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ communities and our friends and neighbors in South Florida.” For more than 19 years, the Pride Center’s programs and services have met the distinct socioeconomic, health, social and safety needs of the LGBTQ community.

More than 17,000 adult and youth attended activities at the Center over the past year. We host more than 60 regularly-meeting groups each month. Support, social and educational groups focus on women, seniors, youth, men, transgender, recovery, health, the arts, athletics, spirituality, games and more.

Outreach activities over the past

Robert Boo, Executive Director, rboo@PrideCenterFlorida.org Kristofer Fegenbush, MSW, Deputy Director, kfegenbush@PrideCenterFlorida.org Janet Weissman, Business Manager, jweissman@PrideCenterFlorida.org Jorge Gardela, Health Outreach Director, jgardela@PrideCenterFlorida.org Frank Gurucharri, PALS Project Manager, fgurucharri@PrideCenterFlorida.org Samantha McCoy, Customer Service Coordinator, smccoy@PrideCenterFlorida.org Jeff Grigsby, LIFE Coordinator, jgrigsby@PrideCenterFlorida.org Magno Morales, CHOICES Coordinator, mmorales@PrideCenterFlorida.org Listron “Blue” Mannix, Minority Testing Initiative Manager, bmannix@PrideCenterFlorida.org Andres Santofimio, CRCS Counselor, asantofimio@PrideCenterFlorida.org Emilio Aponte, RESPECT Coordinator, eaponte@PrideCenterFlorida.org Albert Taylor, Health Coordinator, ataylor@PrideCenterFlorida.org S.F. Makalani-Mahee, Data Entry Specialist, smakalani-mahee@PrideCenterFlorida.org Michael Childers, LIFE Goes On Coordinator, mchilders@PrideCenterFlorida.org Ed Garcia, Social Media and Marketing Coordinator, egarcia@PrideCenterFlorida.org Donna Woessner, Women with Pride Coordinator, dwoessner@PrideCenterFlorida.org Ellen Slavin, LBT Women’s Health Initiative Coordinator, eslavin@PrideCenterFlorida.org Daniel Dardenne, Testing Specialist, ddardenne@PrideCenterFlorida.org Shanna Ratliff, Information Analyst, sratliff@PrideCenterFlorida.org Norris Wildhagen, Facilities Specialist, facilities@PrideCenterFlorida.org Charles Dickey, Health Counselor, cdickey@PrideCenterFlorida.org Yamil Cruz, Health Educator, ycruz@PrideCenterFlorida.org Gary Sheppard, Testing Specialist, gsheppard@PrideCenterFlorida.org Chris Douglas, Testing Specialist, cdouglas@PrideCenterFlorida.org Ebony Wilson, Testing Specialist, ewilson@PrideCenterFlorida.org Bryan Bowlby, Development Assistant, bbowlby@PrideCenterFlorida.org Dr. David Fawcett, CouplesSpeak Clinical/Program Consultant, dfawcett@PrideCenterFlorida.org Dr. Lincoln Pettaway, CouplesSpeak Evaluation Consultant, lpettaway@PrideCenterFlorida.org Lorenzo Robertson, CouplesSpeak Facilitation Consultant, lroberton@PrideCenterFlorida.org Clarence Collins, Facilities Assistant, ccollins@PrideCenterFlorida.org Robert Miller, Facilities Assistant, rmiller@PrideCenterFlorida.org

Board of Directors

year directly impacted 26,262 residents and visitors to South Florida. The Pride Center is a major site for HIV testing, prevention, education, support, holistic health and counseling. Stop in and learn about all we do: a community Flea Market; women’s health initiatives; family outreach days; unique exercise classes for women, seniors, men and more; financial investment series; art gallery openings; adult educational opportunities through

Pride University; Bingo; “Coffee and Conversation” events for seniors; music events; a variety of health fairs; and a spectrum of creative symposiums, speakers, forums and events for the entire community.

We own more than five acres of property with 30,000 square feet of office space that provide homes for programs and services, as well as synergy among organizations. Our Vision is to be the premier point of connection for our community.

Richard Stoll, Esq, President Irwin Drucker Ilene Berliner, Vice President Brenda Hartley James Walker, Secretary Jack Johnson Craig Engel, CPA, Treasurer George Kling Ted Adcock Lea P. Krauss, Esq, P.A. Mitchell Bloom Leslie Tipton Mark Budwig Richard Safaty Chris Caputo The Pride Center 2040 N. Dixie Highway Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33305 Mail Correspondence to: P.O. Box 70518 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307-0518 (954) 463-9005 Fax (954) 764-6522 Email: info@PrideCenterFlorida.org Website: www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

The VOICE newsletter is published in the memory and through the donation of the Robert S. Kecskmety Trust.

“We focused on the need for community, connection, and meaningful relationships,” says Kat Campbell, Director of Clinical Services at SunServe. “Finding one’s sense of community can be difficult for many.

Through these roundtable discussions and an

interactive Sociodrama, participants had an opportunity to share and connect. We aimed to breakdown that sense of isolation that many feel.”

All the organizations combined forces to provide a well-received Haunted Swamp youth dance at the Pride Center that evening.

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

+Princesses, Pirates and Police Officers continued from pg. 1 The Pride Center plans to continue to expand, enrich and enhance the event each year.

“We plan to make the Sheriff’s Community Day at The Pride Center an annual BSO event,” says Captain Rick Wierzbicki.

“We will add a few surprises each year!”

Vision 2015 Contributors JOHN GRAVES SOCIETY

John C. Graves Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward

CORNERSTONE SOCIETY Gil Corwin

PILLAR SOCIETY

Anonymous Jan Carpenter & Dale Russell Mona Pittenger

LUMINARY SOCIETY

J. Michael Heider, DDS & Thom Carr Kenneth M. Goss Former Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl & Ted Adcock John Ramos Richard Schwarz & Tom Massey

STAR LEAGUE Doug Candler James Jagielski

George A. Kling, MD Estate of James Rampe Attorney Arthur B. Smith Jim Stepp & Peter Zimmer Sunshine Athletic Association Doug Tinklepaugh & James Rickard Estate of Lawrence Zinman

EQUALITY LEAGUE

D.C. Allen & Ken Flick Hansen Reality Vince Di Pietro Paul Galluccio Mark Gordon & Aldo Buono Ed Nicholas & Chris Griswold Chuck Nicholls & Mark Turner Coleman Prewitt

VISIONARY CLUB

Anonymous Darcy Beeman Ileen Berliner & Maura Lane John Bowles Mark Budwig & Nick Scalzo Michael Dager & Harvey Shapiro Chris Dunham &

Joseph Dominguez Forest Trace Gay Bridge Cal Harrison Tyler Healis Kenneth Hollander Charitable Foundation Robert L. Hubbard & Bill Greeves Robert Joshua David Kyner & Richard Bray Dr. Christopher Manhon W. Lynn McLaughlin & David Webb David Moon & Eugene Smith Michael Preihs & Khoi Loung Herb Reis & William Coffey SAGE Men’s Drop In Jeffrey & Belinda Shover Donald Schultz Calvin Steinmetz & Brian Boyle Stork’s Bakery Dave Stubbins The Bears of South Florida, Inc. Dean Trantalis, Esq Ted Verdone & John Curtin Charles Walker Sumner T. White

attended the 18 week cycle and experienced first-hand the sharing of personal insightful and impactful testimonials from the Staff and Facilitators that I knew I had found my answers.

Each week held more information on the subjects that mattered to me personally. The knowledge gained was focused on three key components; Biological health, Social health, and Psychological health.

Once I attended my first intake interview I knew this was EXACTLY the program that would provide me with a road back to good health. Upon acceptance into the program (which is limited to a group of approximately 40 or so men), I prepared

an extensive online assessment which helped to drive my course of improvement throughout the entire LIFE Cycle.

Participation each week was a personal goal, and was rewarded in ways too significant to count, but the net result was a complete turnaround in my overall perspective on living with HIV. Sharing my story here is further testimony that I have come a long way in taking on my role as both a business leader in this community, as well as a leader when it comes to my own life. While sharing my story may elicit some level of surprise within the community, I can proudly say that I have a purpose in helping to

lead this community from the darkness of today, into the bright and hopeful future of tomorrow.

In carrying out this purpose, I have returned to the LIFE Program as a CoFacilitator this cycle, and have found the personal rewards even more gratifying than attending as a participant. This program and the entire premise of the Pride Center are, and should remain, a key area of focus and pride for South Florida. I encourage any LGBT member of our community to actively seek out the rewards this program has to offer.

Yours in Pozitive good health, Scott Kraft

VOICE Fall 2012

+Darkness to Light continued from pg. 1

3

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

Why I Ride

O

n November 15, The Pride Center’s Pride Pack team will begin to cycle 165 miles from Miami to Key West on the SMART Ride. They will join hundreds working together to raise awareness

and much-needed funds to serve those impacted by HIV/AIDS. 100% of funds raised benefit HIV/AIDS service organizations. Some riders and crew members of the Pride Pack share what motivates them to participate.

VOICE Fall 2012

Chris Caputo

I learned I was HIV+ just 6 months before the last SMART Ride, and staying focused on training and fundraising for the ride was the only thing that got me through some days. I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be HIV+ since then, thanks to programs such as the Center’s LIFE program and as a result of friendships I’ve formed with other HIV+ individuals at the Center. I know the money that we raise will make the difference in the lives of so many people (including my own!) right here in South Florida. Living with HIV is never easy, but participating in the SMART Ride and utilizing the Pride Center’s HIV/AIDS services have taught me I never have to be alone in the journey.

Pastor Leslie Tipton

I ride to show people I will probably never meet or get to know that I care about them. I ride to tell them that I wish they didn’t have to be sick or suffer. I ride to be an example to the world that we are here to care for our neighbors. I ride to tell them, in some small way, that I love them.

Jean Johson

I’ve been at every SMART Ride except the one when my dear Betty passed away. We always have worked a Pit Stop to make sure everyone pee-peed, and drank their Gatorade and ate their bagels to keep up their electrolytes and their potassium. Betty and I had many friends who passed away with HIV/AIDS. We always wanted to do as much as we can.

R.J. Hadley

I ride for those who cannot; for those who will need the services our dollars provide. I ride for myself, to show that I can, despite adversity or challenges. I can do my part, to share others’ stories, to do all I can. I ride for life.

Kristin Farrell

I ride for those who I love that are affected by this disease as well as for those who I don’t even know. Most importantly, I ride to raise money for organizations like the Pride Center, who provide services, programs, counseling, plus much more, for those affected. I wasn’t even aware of the level of support available until it was needed by someone I love dearly, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

4

Adam Taylor Bond

I’ve grown accustomed to what occasionally becomes the “elephant in the room” when I tell the story of my connection with the Pride Center. With the undeniable tensions that sometimes exist between the gay community and the Christian community, how does a straight pastor in a local church end up partnering with a central institution in the LGBT community? It’s simple, really. I love my friends in the gay community. And I love our city. And while I know I can’t do much, I’m convinced I can do something about the suffering in our city. We’ve made a lot of progress in the struggle against HIV/AIDS, but people are still suffering. As long as that’s happening, I’m compelled to partner with those who are making a difference.

The Pride Center is making a massive difference in the lives of thousands of women and men, gay and straight, black and white. And I am truly honored to be a part of this family, serving shoulder to shoulder.

Kevin Murdoch

Call me selfish but I like the feeling of making a difference and I especially like meeting new people.

Being involved in the SMART Ride has afforded me the ability to help others and, at the same time, meet other people also wanting to make a difference. For me, good friends, strong family bonds and giving back are the biggest ingredients to a happy life.

Deidra Bergmann

I ride because I can, I ride for those that cannot, every mile I ride I see faces that cannot be with me. My community far and local are with me. I see them when others do not.

Jim Walker

Everyone knows the ride is hard; two days, 165 miles, alone on a bike. But the journey is much longer and harder, but you are never alone. The real journey begins when you commit yourself. For without a commitment to something

big, scary and improbable, we go nowhere. And without seeking the support of others, it is impossible to truly succeed. I ride because to do so makes me a better person. I ride because it reminds me how much stronger I am with the help of others. And I chose this ride because this ride matters, to me and to thousands of others whom we ride to support.

Kristofer Fegenbush

I ride in honor of friends, clients and loved ones living with HIV/AIDS. I ride in solidarity with a community responsible for education, prevention, treatment and support. I also ride for my waistline.

Have you seen how much blubber I’m trying to stuff into my cycling spandex?

Pride Center hires new Women with Pride Coordinator

member of our community since the mid 90’s. The Pride Center has been an important and significant part of her life. She previously served as the Women and Senior Services Coordinator at the Pride Center. She has been an active member of many groups and organizations including SisterSpeak, Unity in the Community, Women’s Alliance, Women’s Inclusion Initiative, and Lavender Events.

Funds from a grant through Our Fund helped the Center hire Donna to provide education, outreach and linkage services, as well as organize requested activities, events and groups.

The Center now has opened a fullyequipped central office where local Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender women can receive needed information, referrals and support.

Donna is an out and proud mom of two great sons, Jay and Ben; a grandmother

to one brilliant granddaughter, Kylie; and enjoys a loving, comfortable life with her long time partner, Deb. Donna co-hosts The Lesbian Lounge, a weekly live internet radio talk show, with her best friend, Denise Warner.

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

Welcoming B Women

oth women and men packed around arts-and-craft tables at the Pride Center recently.

They used glitter, ribbons, tassels and candy kisses to decorate and don bras to compete in a sassy, sexy, competitive contest at Breast Fest.

Who’s spearheading the organization of these engaging, creative activities?

Meet Donna Woessner!

Donna recently returned to the Center as its new Women with Pride Coordinator. The hiring of this women’s resource coordinator is part of the Pride Center continued expansion of women’s resources, support and activities. The Center launched its Women with Pride campaign this year to provide ongoing capacity and ensure sustainability for women’s services and programming at the Center and within the South Florida community.

Donna has been an out and proud

+Donna Woessner Women with Pride Coordinator

Groups at the Pride Center Bi-weekly Recurring Meetings

Ballet & Opera Group, Educational, 2nd & 4th Sunday, 1-4p AA – Attitude Adjustment Group, Recovery, Mon-Fri, 7-8a AA – Candlelight Meditation Group, Recovery, Tues, 8:30-9:30p Bereavement Group, Support, 2nd & 4th Sunday, 2-4p AA – Each Day a New Beginning, Recovery, Daily, 9-10a Broward Anti War Coalition, Support, 1st & 3rd Wed, 7:30AA – Northeast Group, Recovery, Mon, 8:30-9:30p 9:30p AA – Sober, Proud and Gay, Recovery, Fri, 8:30-10p POZ Long-Term Survivor, Gay Men/HIV Support, 1st & 3rd Thur, AA – Pride 5:45 Meeting, Recovery, Daily, 5:45-6:45p 6:30-8p BrothasspeakFTL-Social, Wed, 7:00p-9:00p Senior Games Day, Social, 2nd & 4th Tue, 1-4p Coffee and Conversation – SAC, Social/Seniors, Tues, 10:30a-12noon Double Winners, Support, Wed, 5:45-6:45p Monthly Recurring Events and Meetings Drolma Buddhist Meditation Group, Wed, 6:30-7:30p Big Men’s Club: Chubbies & Chasers, Social, 3rd Sat, 1-4p Games Day, Social, 2nd & 4th Tues, 1-4p Pride Center BINGO, Open to Public, 2nd Sat, 7-10p Gay Bridge Club, Fun, Mon & Fri, 1-4p Dolphin Democrats, Mthly Meeting, 2nd Wed, 7:30-9:30p Gay Hearts, Social, Sun, 1-3:30p Lavender Speaks, Social, 3rd Thurs, 7:30-10p Mahjong, Social, Wed, 1-5:00p Pride Center Memorial Garden Club, Educational, 3rd Wed, 7-9p Man2Man Talk, Social, Mon, 7-8:30p Pride Center GLEE Club,Social, Bi-Monthly Monday Night Women’s Group, Social, Mon, 7:30-9p Pride Center Flea Market, Open to Public, 1st Sat, 8a-2p Narcotics Anonymous Rainbow Group, Recovery, Wed, 8-9p New Path Narcotics Anonymous Group, Recovery, Mon/Tue/Thu, Primetimers, Open to Public, 1st Sun, 2-4:30p SAGE Computer Club, Educational, 2nd Wed, 4-6p 7-8p New Path Narcotics Anonymous Group, Recovery, Sat/Sun, 4-5p SAGE Movie Movie, Social, 3rd Mon, 4-6p Overeaters Anonymous, Recovery, Sun, 12n-1:30p S. F. Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, Support, 1st Sun, 2:30-3:30p Overeaters Anonymous, Recovery, Fri, 7:30-9p Transgender Support Group, Support, 3rd Fri, 7-8:30p POZ Attitudes Here and Now, HIV Support, Wed, 7-9p, TransCaringBrothers,Support, Positive Connections, HIV Support, Tue, 6:30-8:00p Women in Network, Social, 1st Wed, 7-9p SAGE Men’s Social, Social/Seniors, Wed, 1-3p Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), Recovery, Fri, 7-8p Senior Exercise Class Health, Senior, Mon/Wed/Fri, 10:15-11:15a For further information call Samantha McCoy at Senior Exercise Class Health, Senior, Mon/Wed/Fri, 11:15a-12:15p 954-463-9005.

Senior Gay Men’s Support Group, Support, Mon, 11a-12n Visit www.pridecenterflorida.org Calendar of Smart Recovery, Recovery, Mon, 7:30-8:30p/Thur, 6:30-8p Events for meeting room assignments.

Toastmasters, Educational, Mon, 7:15-9:15p Women’s Non-Competitive Basketball, Social,Wed/Thur,5:45p Sat, 3-5p Pride Center Young Adult Group, (23-35 yoa), Support, Thur, 8:30-9:45p

VOICE Fall 2012

Weekly Recurring Meetings

5

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org VOICE Fall 2012

Not Afraid To Use Her Voice Community remembers activist Judy Shepherd

“T

he world is a little quieter now. Judy had a mouth and she was not afraid to use it. Judy said what she meant and she meant what she said.”

As Deacon Jean Johnson shared these words, most in the crowd nodded in agreement, some with more vigor than others. As Judy would have wanted, the crowd chuckled--this was, after all, a celebration of her life.

Hundreds of friends recently gathered at the Pride Center to remember local activist, volunteer

and community leader Judy Shepherd.

“Judy never hesitated to get involved and she volunteered for everything,” said Janet Weissman, Pride Center Business Manager. “She

was everywhere. She was a giver. She was tenacious. She was loyal. She was uniquely Judy. While dedicated and determined, Judy was a passionate and caring person. Her toy drive and back pack drive will continue and is her legacy to our community.”

Ronni B. Dowd recalled how Judy volunteered for everything. Judy was a staple at the GLCC/Pride Center, dedicated to ensuring the women’s community was well represented in the community.

Ronnie told us how Judy would fundraise first and find programs second.

She was passionate.

She was relentless and she was always there.

Denise Spivak, President of Women in Network, shared letters from the community.

Many friends shared how they bonded with Judy over their mutual love of animals. She was there for many friends taking care of their animals when they were out of town. Tears of laughter and sadness flowed as many told stories of the crazy ways they met Judy, how she became family and how their friendship grew stronger as they came to know her as a person whose generosity was enormous and whose heart was even bigger.

“Judy started a lot of conversations by saying, ‘you know what we should do…’ Then, it was Judy who gave her time, energy and lots of love to get it done,” recalled Kristofer Fegenbush, Pride Center Deputy Director. “She made it happen. Now we have a

Judy-size hole, and we all need to fill it.”

During one of Judy’s chemo treatments, Lynn Corning asked Judy to describe her happy place.

Judy’s response was: “Fireworks.” Whenever we see fireworks, we’ll all know that it’s Judy spreading sparks of light all around us.

SAVE THE DATE PRESENT:

AN EVENING IN PARADISE --GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013 7:00 – 10:00 PM RICHARDSON HISTORIC PARK MANOR HOUSE WILTON MANORS

6

T Second Annual Breast Fest A packed house enjoyed speakers, entertainment, informational booths, testimonials and bra decorating contest as part of an educational and entertaining evening for Breast Cancer Awareness.

he Pride Center Board of Directors recently added two new members.

Craig Engel, CPA, recently was appointed as Board Treasurer after serving on The Pride Center’s Finance Committee. A South Florida Native, Craig

+Reverend Leslie Tipton

the Christian faith, and serves as the Associate Pastor of Administration and Outreach at Church of the Holy SpiritSong in Wilton Manors, FL, on the Campus of Equality Park. Pastor Leslie is very active in the South Florida communities.

She resides in Miramar with her wonderful wife and their many pets.

grew up in Miami and graduated from Killian High School. Craig earned a degree in Accounting from Florida The Pride CenTer has sPaCe renTal oPPorTuniTies for your every need International University.

He Weddings has lived in Fort Business Meetings Lauderdale since Parties 1993. Craig began training sessions a career in public ConferenCes accounting in 1985 Life CeLeBrations and launched trade shoWs his own practice and More! in 1992. An avid lover of animals, Craig has a home in Victoria Park with bird aviaries, live-reef fish tanks, waterfalls and hundreds of animals.

Animal rescue agencies 954-463-9005 and animal lovers www.PrideCenterflorida.org rentaroom@PrideCenterflorida.org throughout Florida 2040 north dixie highway

GeT a room Today!

FACE 2 FACE: Domestic and International Adoption for LGBT Parents We welcomed a panel of professionals and adoptive families moderated by Rob Lamarche from Modern Family Consulting to discuss practical strategies and helpful hints for adoption as part of our ongoing “Growing My Family” series.

VOICE Fall 2012

+Craig Engel, CPA

have recognized his home as a sanctuary that respects and protects animals and nature for many years.

Reverend Leslie Tipton recently rejoined the Board of Directors, after previously serving for three years as Board Secretary.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Rev. Leslie affectionately refers to herself as a “Valley Girl.” After earning a B.A. in Psychology at San Diego State University in 1986, she served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer in the United States Marine Corps for over ten years. Rev. Tipton has lived in the Greater Fort Lauderdale since 2003. She is an ordained reverend in

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

Two community leaders join Pride Center Board of Directors

Wilton Manors, fL 33305

7

+We have collected completed surveys from over 300 LBT culturally-competent healthcare providers for our tri-country LBT Women’s Health Directory. +We distributed over 25,000 condoms to community members over the last three months. +We are expanding our PALS Project’s cutting-edge Couples Speak program to provide it at FUSION, SunServe, and Broward House.

The Hispanic HIV Leadership Awards The annual event at the Pride Center recognizes the efforts of outstanding individuals or groups who raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the Latino communities of Broward County.

VOICE

Fall 2012

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

Did you know?

8

Flea Market

Bingo

The first Saturday of every month, the Pride Center hosts a fabulous bazaar with over 100 vendors.

Proceeds enable the vital services and activities at the Pride Center.

The second Saturday evening of every month, the Pride Center hosts a wacky, entertaining, packedhouse Bingo event. Proceeds benefit the lifechanging programs and events of the Center.

Mayors at Galleria Mall hosted a recent Founders Reception for financial donors to the Center, generously cosponsored by Another Perfect Party. Funds donated by Founders Circle members underwrite life-enhancing programs and services to the community.

For more photos visit PrideCenterFlorida.org/photos

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

Founders Reception at Mayors

VOICE Fall 2012

Stuff The Bus This campaign collected more than $46,000 of school supplies for local school children. The Pride Center/ Women in Network, GLBX team was the top fundraiser county wide for Stuff the Bus.

Did you know? +Coffee and Conversations events at the Pride Center now gather around 100 Seniors every Tuesday. Our Seniors also now partner with our PALS Project to host “Chat and Chill” events on Friday mornings.

+We will host the local observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Tuesday, November 20 at 7 p.m.

Join us as we gather with local trans activitists and community leaders!

+Over 125 people have benefitted from attending our LGBT Family Planning Series.

+We provided over 1000 HIV tests over the past three months.

Founders Reception at Daoud’s Fine Jewelry Daoud’s Fine Jewelry hosted and generously sponsored this Founders Reception for financial donors to the Center. To help support vital services and programs at the Center, contact Robert Boo at RBoo@PrideCenterFlorida.org

9

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org Fall 2012

VOICE

The Pride Center Founders Circle Lifetime Alan Schubert Bob and Hal Bernier-Peterson Gill Corwin

LGBT Senior Health Expo Over 275 people attended our third annual LGBT Senior Health Expo. The Expo provides seniors with a unique, comprehensive overview of available healthcare services. Over forty LGBT-friendly medical, senior living, social service, insurance, financial, legal, travel and home health providers showcased their services and products through this trade show. Majors sponsors included Broward Health Imperial Point, Freedom Travel, Stork’s and CareFree Insurance Services.

Platinum Level ($10,000 and above) Anonymous (2) AIDS Healthcare Foundation Aqua Foundation for Women Bobby Blair / Florida Agenda Community Foundation of Broward Ed Garcia Designs LSeven Solutions Mona Pittenger Norm Kent / South Florida Gay News Peter Clark / HotSpots Magazine The Kenneth S. Hollander Charitable Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation Will Spencer / CAMP Inc. Diamond Level ($5,000 $9,999) Anonymous (1) Arthur Smith, Esq. Brenda Hartley, Board Member / BankUnited Chris Caputo, Board Member / Metro Media Works Dale Russell and Jan Carpenter David McLaren and Joe Laurino / Periodic Products DC Allen and Ken Flick Greg Hardy and Rick Soloway / Solutions Insurance Jim Stepp and Peter Zimmer Ron Ansin and Jim Stork Ted Schultz Gold Level ($2,500 - $4,999) A Celebration of Friends, Inc. Bill Greeves and Robert Hubbard Bob Young Carlos Perez Varela / Peninsula Assisted Living Chris Dunham and Joseph Dominguez / Dunham Insurance Coffee and Conversation Dave Litty /Agel Independent Diplomat Pharmacy Dolphin Democrats Don Biehn Doug Tinklepaugh and James Rickard / Pinnacle Constructors, LLC George Castrataro / Law GC Herbert Reis and William Coffey Howard Cunningham, DDS J. Alan Shemelya Joe Pallant and Danny Selvin Law Office of George Castrataro Lea P. Krauss Esq, Board Member Lee Rubin and Jim Walker, Board Member Maria Kondracki and Jim Dwyer Mark Budwig, Board Member, and Nick Scalzo / S.MarkGraphics Maura Lane and Ilene Berliner, Board Vice-President Richard Safaty, Board Member/ Freedom Travel Richard Schwarz and Tom Massey Ronnie Pryor and Dustin Cranor / Source Salon Robert W. Eldredge / RWE Real Estate Tracey Cramer / Ameriprise Victor Flores / Fast Printz Silver Level ($1,200 - $ 2,499) Anonymous (4) Anthony Molluso and Bill Volbrecht Anthony Timiraos and Arthur Crispino B Ocean Fort Lauderdale Bears of South Florida Bill Linehan Bret Johnson

10

Brian Farley and Ron Alose Bruce Lane Bruce Presley and Chris Hedlund Bruce Walther Cal Harrison Carmine Martorilli and Robert Poster Carol Moran / New Moon Bar Chantal Ingerson Dr. Charmaine Johnson-Leong, DDS Jack Johnson, Board Member Charles Walker Chuck Loring Craig Benoit / Challenges Treatment Center Craig Engel and Greg Briche Dan Oropesa and DJ Harvey / Mack Multimedia Daniel Pye and Peter Mangone Daniel Wasinger and Howard Cohen Darcy Beeman and Jenn Bodner Dave Stubbins David Bebbington David Treece / Treece Financial Group David Guzman Dr. David Kyner and Richard Bray David McConnell David Moon and Eugene Smith David Webb and W. Lynn McLaughlin Dennis Fitzkee and Bernie Langeluttig Dominick Destefano Don Barlow Don Kramer Donald Croxton and Douglas Pew Doug Candler Ed Nicholas and Chris Griswold / Eastside Property Management Ellen Krider / RBC Wealth Management Eric Reivik and Andy Harrison / PC Lauderdale Erwin Mayer and Didier Moritz Erich Kissel Ernest Olivas / Nautilus Senior Home Care Fred Goodyear Fred Wahl and Fred Marzec Gables Wilton Park Apartments GALLERYone Fort Lauderdale Gary Kempler George Douglas and Ray Wieder George Kling, Board member Geph Scarr / Scarr Insurance Gerald Byers and Rudy Wengenroth Glenn Goldberg Greg Moore and Allan Barsky Hank Stembridge and Theron Watson Hans Hochkamp and Joseph DeBacco Harvey Chasser Hospice of Broward County / David King Iberia Bank Irwin Drucker, Board Member Dr. J. Michael Heider and Thom Carr / Ultimate Smile Dental Jack Kosko and John Fitzgerland Jack Schlossberg James Cox / Remora General Contrators James A. Johnson Jan Zilmer Jared Falek and Don Chorpenning Jason King Jeffrey Gross Jeffrey and Belinda Shover Jim Doan Jim Jagielski Jim Pierce / Pierce Aire, Inc. Joe Guerrero Joe McConnell Joel Schulman, Esq. John Bolton John Jovanovich and Paul Holoweski John Leyden and Tom Valentine Julia Landis and Shawn Fanshier Justin Proffitt Karen Carol and Julie Slater / Chic Optique Ken Kalederian Ken Keechl and Ted Adcock, Board Member Ken Moore and Hector Valdes Kevin Murdoch and Drew Miller

Kristofer Fegenbush Law Office of Cal Steinmetz Law Office of Gregory W. Kabel Lee Rubin and Jim Walker, Board Member Leslie Tipton, Board Member / Church of the Holy SpiritSong Linda Wood and Dr. Kate Kominars Lynn Corning / Newman Insurance Louis Benevento and Patrick Duffy Mark Gordon and Aldo Buono Marc Grossman Maria Kondracki and Jim Dwyer Mark Halacy and Tom Pollock Mark Ketcham and Werner Lutz Mark Turner and Chuck Nicholls Martin Gould Michael Albetta Michael Alexander Michael D’Agostino Michael Faerber / D’Angelo Realty Group Michael Hisey Mick Howard and Brian Jackson / Mayors Jewelry Mike Dager and Harvey Shapiro Miriam Richter and Michelle Altman Mitchell Bloom, Board Member / Wells Fargo Bank Monica Salis, Esq. Neill Hirst MD and Greg Hughes Norman Berkowitz Northern Trust Bank Norton C. Lyman and Kimeo Sato Pamela Kirkpatrick Patricia A. Nugent, Esq. Patrick Harris and Wesley Walton Paul Alpert Paul Fasana Paul Hyman and Bill Bracker Paul Jennings Paul Rolli and W. Bennett Quade Peter Hardy-Smith and Steven Devito Peter Pileski and Bob Avian Randy Grant and Bruno Trambusti Reggie Barnes Regions Bank Richard Nolan and Robert Pingpank Richard Stoll, Esq., Board President Robert Boo Robert Collier, M.D. and Charles Hunziker Robert Judd and Russell Neal Robert Kuhn and Steven Geyer Rosie’s Bar and Grill Russell Sassani MD and Michael Schneider / Take Shape Plastic Surgery PA Sam Chalfant and Tom Rouland Scott Belding Scott L. Bennett Scott Kuhn Stacy Lenehan Stephen Banigan and William Van Scoy Stephen Cox Stephen Schram and Richard Powers / PowersSchram, LLC Steve Barnard Steve Harmon and Donn Rubin Steve Shires Photography Steven and Thomas Begert-Clark Steven C. Lowensten / Five Dollar Fund of the Community Foundation Steven Wetzler Sumner T. White TD Bank Ted Emery Terry Stone and Mike Bush The Pride Institute at Fort Lauderdale Hospital Group Theron Watson and Hank Stembridge Tim Singer and Richard Cascarelli Tom Runyan / Runyan Law Firm, P.A. Tyler Healis Victor Zepka/ Boardwalk Vince DiPietro and Richard Berg William Jordan and Andres Rodriguez Dr. Will Richardson / Natura Dermatology William Thornton and Adam Kratochwill

Join the Pride Center’s Founders Circle!

Support the programs and services of the Pride Center.

For more information, please contact Executive Director Robert Boo. RBoo@PrideCenterFlorida.org

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

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VOICE Fall 2012

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11

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org Fall 2012

VOICE

Did you know? +Our Cyber Center provided free internet and computer access to more than 4,000 logged users over the past three months.

Suicide Prevention Seminar

+HotSpots Holiday Celebration on December 4 will benefit the Pride Center and Broward House.

Over 175 people attended “To Be Or Not To Be: Turning on the light in the darkest hour” with the Pride Center, Living Rainbow, Florida Institute for Suicide Prevention and Cohen Counseling. Suicide continues to be a very serious problem within the LGBT community, and the incidence of suicide and suicidal ideation is statistically much higher in our community than in the general population.

Garden Club Connects Plant Lovers O

nce a month, visitors to the Pride Center might feel they’ve stumbled into a tropical jungle.

Bromeliads, orchids, vegetables and palms fill the main hall.

The Equality Park Garden Club works to provide information and education on a variety of horticultural topics relating to South Florida Gardening and to support the proposed waterfront garden at the Pride

12

+Over 162,000 children will benefit from our “Stuff the Bus” efforts to provide school supplies for local children. The community collected more than $45,000 of supplies.

+We will host “So Where Do I Start?” a Face 2 Face conversation on transitioning on Friday, November 30 at 7 p.m.

We will host a panel of local trans community members, mental health and medical providers.

Center’s Equality Park campus. Outstanding local speakers address topics on landscaping, herbs, various fruit, medicinal and other tropical plants that can be grown in Zone 10. Fall topics include: Landscaping with Bromeliads in the Urban Garden; Butterfly Gardening; and Decorating for the Holidays using materials from the garden.

“The Garden Club was important to me originally as a vehicle to help improve the grounds for the Pride Center, an organization that I think very highly of,” says group member Paul.

“However, the Club has expanded to an organization with monthly meetings where I can meet and talk with other gardeners in the area and get ideas and feedback. I particularly like the monthly plant swap, since I enjoy starting plants from cuttings and nurturing them until they are ready to go in the ground.”

The Garden Club originated in April 2010 with a few interested people. The club has grown substantially with 40 to 50 plant enthusiasts who attend each meeting.

“Gardening is a form of therapy for me,” says group member Arthur. “I learn

something and expand my horizons every time I attend and hear an interesting speaker.”

South Florida gardening is unique, and people want to learn more about tropical gardening.

Members are encouraged to ask each other questions at the meetings. Questions may relate to specific plants, fertilizers to use or plant pests (such as white fly). A favorite activity among members is an annual bus ramble to various South Florida nurseries.

“It gives me a burst of positive energy to be with others who share my interests,” says another frequent participant.

Meetings are free and held the third Wednesday of each month at The Pride Center.

Individual and household memberships are available at $20 to $25 annually. Contact: Canick@aol.com. On March 16, 2013, The Pride Center will host its first Tropical Plant Fair with the Garden Club. For more information, contact Samantha McCoy at SMcCoy@PrideCenterFlorida.org

en Goss has just given $50,000 to the Pride Center.

You might imagine that if he can do that, he probably hasn’t a care in the world. You’d be very wrong.

So many things in Ken’s life have been calamitous.

The recent loss of his ex-wife – his best friend – in a terrible car accident has clearly been devastating to Ken, and the death of his father piled on more grief.

Having to deal with the pain and debilitating effects of Crohn’s disease is a constant challenge for him, and keeping diabetes under control adds another layer of complication.

“I’m sorry, my back is killing me,” he said when he met me at his front door, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “It’s the Humira for the Crohn’s disease, it’s one of the side effects,” he explained.

As we talk, a story of heartache and woe unfolds and it seems his tribulations approach biblical dimensions, yet life has also showered him with great rewards.

going to bars “because you can’t have a conversation” and much prefers lunches and social gatherings. In fact, he admits, a small part of the reward of charitable giving is getting to meet many different and interesting people.

Still, that doesn’t really explain why he gives away so much -- up to a quarter million annually. “OK,” he finally explained, “I’ve been giving since I was a kid. I guess it doesn’t matter what your religion is. I was always told that giving is a miracle, a blessing, and there are all types of giving – and the holiest is anonymous.”

A mischievous smile tweaks the corner of his mouth.

“Well, I’m not good at that! I like to be recognized, I want my name out there. I want an article about me ... no, I want a biography!” he laughs.

And he laughs and laughs some more. Pain forgotten for the moment. The biography is yet to come but, for sure, his generosity will always be long remembered at the Pride Center.

VOICE Fall 2012

For a start, he’s super proud of his young-adult kids -- even if they don’t call often enough, he adds wryly.

He has also had great success in business. Through hard work and smarts, his home health care agency grew exponentially, delivering wealth that at first was “intoxicating.” He owned several homes in different parts of the world, enjoyed pampered travel to exotic sites, reveled in the arts -- and donated extensively to charities.

“I’ve always been philanthropic, aiming to help people,” Ken said. “The difference now is that I donate mainly to LGBT causes.”

He came out when he was 40. He was divorced, then he met his first gay lover. That sudden overwhelming connection changed everything. “Before that, I was married, period. When we took our vows and we broke the glass, that was it. That was my life.” Now 51, he has chosen to live as an openly gay man in South Florida.

The sale of his business led him to set up a charitable foundation, but he doesn’t have that anymore. His donations now come out of his personal money, and currently support Lambda Legal, Equality Florida, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, among others -- and of course, the Pride Center.

“I’ve been to many cities, lived in different places, and some of them have had LGBT community centers. The Pride Center is unique,” he said, because of its inclusiveness and the range of programs and services they offer for everyone.

Ken is evidently very much a people person. Loves the encounter, no matter the age or background of the person he meets. It’s all good. He dislikes

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

A Latter-Day Book of Job: The Highs and Lows of A Major Donor K

Did you know? +We provided individualized internet based outreach on HIV prevention to over 570 individuals over the past two months. +The Pride Center is the largest site for Enhanced Fitness classes for seniors offered with the YMCA in the United States. +On December 1, the World AIDS Day candlelight vigil will start at Hagen Park and end at The Pride Center.

13

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

“Without the Noise and Pressures” Young Adults Group Coordinator Shares the Values of the Social Group

By Armand Daiguillon

T Investment Allocations and Estate Protection For LGBT Community

VOICE

Fall 2012

Our series with OurFund continued our estate, financial and gift planning series with a session presented by George Castrataro, Esq., Arthur Smith, Esq., and Maria Kondraki, Financial Advisor.

14

he Pride Center’s Young Adults group started back in 2003 by people who were growing too old to go to the Youth group. We realized that a need existed for a way to meet people without the noise and pressures of going to a bar.

Our group is purely a social group. Our weekly meetings consist of some light getting-to-know-you discussion followed by activities like board games, charades and other low-key fun things. When it’s cool outside we might even do things like play Frisbee and dodge ball right outside the Pride Center.

We also meet several

times a month outside of the Friday meetings to go see a movie, go bowling, play laser tag or canoeing. All of the things that we do both at our meetings and at our outside activities are voted on monthly by the group. That way we know that what we are doing as a group is truly what our members enjoy.

One thing that our members also appreciate about our group is that unlike other similar groups in the area, we do not have any agenda, other than providing a place for people to meet and make friends. At our meetings you will not be pressured in any way to commit to any causes nor do we require you to listen to

lectures or divulge any personal information.

We are purely a social group.

Our only goal is to provide a place for people to meet and get to know each other.

Many of our members were new to the area when they first came and were looking to make friends in a new town.

Providing a means to make friends in a clean environment is a community service that we are happy to provide.

Our meetings are every Friday at 7 p.m. at the Pride Center. They are open to any adults age 35 and under. So, if you are new to the area, or just want to meet some nice people, feel free to stop by and visit us anytime.

Uniting and Strengthening the Black, Same-Gender-Loving Community One Discussion at Time.

W

hat would you get if you combined a weekly meeting with a non-judgmental and comfortable environment where gay men of African descent are able to meet and discuss issues affecting their community? BrothasspeakFTL, of course!

“I am very pleased to have a forum to discuss issues, ideas and concerns that affect my life and the lives of black same gender loving men in South Florida,” says Paul Smith, one of BrothasspeakFTL’s facilitators and founding-members. “This community is very diverse, broadly scattered and disjointed in many ways which makes it even more important that we

opportunity to meet and fellowship with such men in a space that is dedicated to fostering discussion by and about us without the need to overly explain or worry about being honest”.

BrothasspeakFTL is truly a unique gathering of individuals sharing their life stories and experiences in a safe, non-judgmental environment. This group meets weekly at the Pride Center in Room 208 on Wednesdays.

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org

BrothasspeakFTL

have a safe place to gather for a reality check with men who share our life experience. We cover a variety of round table topics which address issues that impact us in every aspect of our lives.”

Some may believe that BrothasspeakFTL is new, but meetings have been taking place in the Ft. Lauderdale area for a few years now. The brainchild of Lorenzo Roberton, a stalwart for AIDS/HIV awareness in the Black LGBTQC community, BrothasspeakFTL continues to grow and is becoming an important part of, not only the Pride Center, but the community-at-large.

When asked how important BrothasspeakFTL is to him, Lonzo Lowery – a member who recently joined this burgeoning group -- had this to say: “The sense of fellowship and community that I experience with Brothasspeak is inspiring and gives a feeling of belonging. The topics that are discussed in the group each week are thought-provoking and relevant to me as an SGL (Same-Gender-Loving) black man. The group is open and welcomes men of color, a safe haven to express their point of views, vent their frustrations, and share their stories and experiences.

That can only lead to a positive impact.”

Broward County is well-known for its many night clubs, bath houses, beach spots, card parties, balls and other venues and events, but as G Winston James, long-time BrothasspeakFTL facilitator and respected author and poet, puts it: “I don’t often have the

VOICE Fall 2012

Women’s Basketball Group Every week women meet at the Pride Center for friendly, healthy games of basketball. The group meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m.

15

www.PrideCenterFlorida.org Fall 2012

VOICE 16

The Fight Continues Pride Center Awarded $350,000 HIV Prevention Grant

T

he Pride Center has been a leader in creative, impactful HIV prevention efforts locally over the past decade.

Tens of thousands of people have received an HIV test or participated in a vital HIV support program at the Center. One key source of funding for the Pride Center’s HIVrelated programming has been a Department of Health Grant that expires at the end of 2012. As part of the Center’s long-term strategic plan, a new grant application was submitted seeking $350,000 for the design, implementation, and operation of high-impact HIV prevention programs. The Pride Center recently received the full $350,000 requested as part of its grant application.

Funds provided by the Department of Health grant will ensure the continuation of many essential HIV prevention services provided by the Pride Center, including: +HIV testing, counseling, and linkage services; +Comprehensive programs that educate, support, and improve the lives of those living with HIV/

AIDS including the nationally recognized PALS Project and L.I.F.E. and CHOICES programs; +Condom distribution.

In addition, the Pride Center has identified and developed new and innovative ways to positively impact those affected by HIV and to reduce HIV transmissions rates, including: +The implementation of a business response to AIDS among LGBT businesses and their customers to disseminate targeted HIV prevention messages, influence change in community norms, and reduce HIV stigma; +The creation of a new faith based community mobilization project among LGBT-affirming communities of faith in Broward County; +Cutting-edge outreach and marketing programs to reach, education, and interact with high-risk populations via social networks such as Facebook and Grindr; +The development of multiple new testing locations and condom distribution points throughout our community, allowing the Pride Center to expand its reach exponentially and serve more people in need.

For more information about the Pride Center’s HIV-related programs and services, please visit our web site at www.PrideCenterFlorida.org.

Third Annual Founders Sunday Brunch at the Pride Center This recent Founders Reception for major donors to the Center was sponsored by Dunham Insurance and Periodic Products. To learn more about donating to the work of the Center, please contact Robert Boo at RBoo@PrideCenterFlorida.org

The Regulars

By Karl Hampe

October 31, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

47

“War on Religion”?

Siri: It ‘s unacceptable that our laws and culture aren’t based solely on the interpretation of The Bible.

Off the Wall

Conversations with Siri

N

owadays when we look for answers we turn to Siri the intelligent personal assistant app attached to any iPhone.

You can speak to Siri as you would to a person — in a natural voice with a conversational tone. If you want to know what the weather will be like tomorrow, simply say “What will the weather be like tomorrow?” Or “Does it look like rain tomorrow?” Or even “Will I need an umbrella tomorrow?” No matter how you ask, Siri will tell you the forecast So I sat down with this modern Delphic Oracle and asked her a few questions.

Remember words are not the ultimate truth, rather words are symbols, and are open to interpretations.

This virtual conversation went something like this.

48

By Pier Angelo

- Hello?

Siri : What can I help you with?

- What do Republicans mean when they say “Family”?

Siri : the war on gays.

- What do Republicans mean when they say “Pro -Life”?

Siri: Pro-War, Pro-Death Penalty, Pro-Guns and Pro-We Choose For You. - What do Republicans mean when they say “Religious Freedom”?

Siri: freedom to spread Christianity.

- What do Republicans mean when they say

- I think you are wrong Siri, that’s exactly what Muslims say about the Koran and what they use to govern their countries.

Siri: I eschew theological disquisitions but I could search the web for it if you like.

- Ok forget it, tell me what do Republicans mean when they say “Capitalism”?

Siri : A market economy that’s rigged towards the job creators.

- I am not sure I understand you, who are the job creators?

Siri: the source of lobbying funds that keep the system rigged.

“What do Republicans mean when they say “Family”?”

“The war on gays.”

Siri : educated - Since when it is a crime to be educated?

Siri: I am sorry I am afraid I can’t answer that but I could search the web if you like it.

- What do Republicans mean when they say “Liberal Bias”?

Siri : the facts don’t fit our narrative.

- Do you think gays are important politically?

Siri : Democrats love you, Republicans fear you and the Tea Party is too busy just trying to control dIng bats like Palin and Bachman to have much an opinion of you right now.

- Why are Republicans so obsessed with sex?

Siri: the most important sex organ is the brain. And they have a small one.

- What do Republicans mean when they say: “ Class Warfare” Siri : stop pointing out that the system is rigged.

- Thank you, one last question: Siri: I am still here for you.

- You are very helpful, I have a few more questions.

Siri: I am here for you

- Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

Siri: you are never too old to learn something stupid.

- What do Republicans mean when they say “ Elitist”?

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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By Publisher Norm Kent

New newsworthy news From the publisher’s desk

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tommy le of lavish manors nail spa

ere at SFGN we like to celebrate our advertisers.

Why? Because they keep us in business and allow us to keep you, the reader, informed.

Below are two of our recent additions.

Thank you Maven, Lavish Nail Spa, and Richard S. Bernstein for supporting your community newspaper.

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Says Bernstein, “We look forward with confidence and excitement to a future as part of Raymond James, a firm that has been recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the ‘Best Companies in the World’ and by Smart Money as the Top Full Service Broker in 2011.”

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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FEATURE

Reunited

22-year-old Orlando man meets his birth mother for the first time.

By Ryan Dixon

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would come.”

Di’Costa admitted that he had no hard feelings toward whoever his mother was when he decided to search her out earlier this year. “I wanted to let her know I was okay and that she doesn’t have to worry about my safety.”

“When I first realized he tried to contact me I couldn’t believe it,” Loretan said. “It

finally felt complete.”

According to Di’Costa, their first day together was like any other day. They went to a pumpkin farm to pick some pumpkins and then went out to a local gay nightclub later that night.

“It was kind of overwhelming being in the club with your accepting mom dancing on the pole.” When asked about giving birth to

definitely be seeing more of each other” he said. “It will be kind of hard to visit a lot due to me living in South Florida and her living all the way in Philadelphia. We will have to work on getting her more to South Florida as soon as possible.”

The take-away from this is for Loretan is that life decisions affect all those around us in one way or another, but that we should

Photo courtesy of Julia Wilkinson

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ife is full of firsts: Your first day of school, your first date hopefully followed by your first kiss, first triumph and your first failure. Many adults look forward to having their first child.

Benjamin Di’Costa had all of those firsts, and got to experience one that not many people like him in the world do, he sought out and met the woman who had given birth to him before giving him up to another family.

“I found out I was adopted when I was seven years old” Di’Costa said. “For some reason I had a weird fascination with my mother’s labor experience and I kept bugging my mom. She finally had to own up to it.”

Di’Costa had been living with the same adoptive family since he was but nine months old, before which he was in foster care.

Being young and learning difficult things was no different for Di’Costa’s birth mother, Tara Loretan. She was eleven days past her seventeenth birthday when she gave up Di’Costa to an adoption agency. “After three days of labor and a C-section to get baby Benjamin to join the world, I decided that I could not go through with it. I wanted to keep my baby.”

Things quickly changed after Loretan brought her baby home, though. With little to no emotional support and suffering from post-partum depression, she decided to give Di’Costa a chance at a better life.

“God, my conscience or whatever you would want to call it — I call it God — whispered in my ear and told me that I need to be selfless and allow him to have a better life than I could offer,” Loretan said. “So after almost a week I called the agency and let them know. They came and picked him up.”

She never saw her baby again.

Loretan, who is now a nurse in a hospital psychiatric ward, said the most difficult thing for a mother is not know if her child is safe while putting the needs of that child first.

“I believed that he had most likely formed a bond with another family. Who was I to interrupt that process?” She said, adding that as time went on she would think about him not wanting to know her for whatever reason, whether it was being content, being angry or not wanting to hurt his adopted family’s feelings. “I had to talk it out a lot of times and just wait and believe that this day

finally reunited after

had been long time of wishing, waiting and praying. It was a dream that finally came true.”

22 years later, 19 years to the day she left Di’Costa’s father, a mother met her son again, but this time as he walked off a plane in Philadelphia — not into a delivery room.

Loretan said she cried every day from the time she read his first message to her until the day she picked him up at the airport.

“I had tears of gratitude. However, I did not really cry when saw him. I was expecting to cry when I saw him but I felt nervous and at peace when we hugged,” she said. “I

22 years, son benjamin di’costa and mother tara loertan share their first embrace

a son who turned out to be gay, Loretan said she was so excited. “All I ever wanted was a gay son. I’d love him even if he was straight.”

After a lifetime apart and a few days to reconnect, what comes next for the newly united pair?

“I already didn’t want him to leave on Monday (Benjamin’s trip was lengthened three days courtesy of Hurricane Sandy). I hope that this is a new beginning of building a life-long relationship,” Loretan said.

Di’Costa said that visiting often won’t be too easy.

“We hit it off pretty well so we will

never regret the choices we make.

“If I could change anything, I would not have ever let him go. I wish that I had more community support and that I wasn’t so young,” Loretan said. “I tried on so many occasions to kill myself and then tried to numb the feelings with drugs. Last time I used was on Benjamin’s 5th birthday and I’ve been clean the 17 years since.”

When asked to sum up the whole experience, Loretan said, “Nothing else in my life ever mattered more. I feel so blessed and whole now.”

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FEATURE

Two of Hearts for President Obama W

Lesbian couple goes all in to get their man re-elected

By Ryan Dixon

hile their two-year marriage may not be recognized on a Federal level, Joan Waitkevicz and Shirley Herman use that discrimination to fuel their fight for LGBT and Women’s rights.

Together for 39 years, Waitkevicz and Herman moved to Florida in 2001 from New York. Waitkevicz’s parents lived here in a retirement home and the two would spend hours driving around the state when not spending time with Waitkevicz’s parents.

“The first thing we used to do when we’d get to town is grab your [Express] news paper to see what was going on with the

institutions to receive public funding.

Proposition 6, known as the Florida Abortion Law, seeks to prohibit the use of public funds for abortions except as required by federal law and to save the mother’s life.

Additionally, the measure stipulates that the state constitution cannot be interpreted to include broader rights to abortion than those contained in the United States Constitution.”

The couple also wanted to stress the importance of the reason they’re voting and encouraging others to re-elect President Obama. Herman, who is on Medicare and Social Security, said it is very important to

too much money. Waitkevicz’s job insured me for a fee that we had to pay. President Obama’s health care act takes the high price sting away so people don’t have to rely on the decency of employers to extend them benefits.”

It’s not hard to see why these two love President Obama.

“The fact that the President would put my equal rights out there no matter the criticism, that means a lot to people like me,” Waitkevicz said.

Waitkevicz is convinced the Palm Beach County is where the key to this election lies.

“We’re organizing; we’re working to bring in the victory. We’ll have the victory eventually but I want it now. If we deliver Palm Beach we’ll deliver the Country,” they said.

When asked what has led to that conclusion, Waitkevicz continued saying that she believes “most people are appalled at the other side, their anti-views, not just anti-gay. They find it so despicable.”

Herman added that “more and more will say, ‘I don’t hate the poor, or women.’

Climate has changed for gay people; people aren’t that mean that they would vote for someone who aren’t like themselves.”

While professing her faith in the President, Herman choked up a little on the phone.

“I feel a part of the process to have a President that stands up for me. What he’s done has come from who he is.”

Emphatically Waitkevicz added, “Yeah, he’s got my vote.”

joan waitkevicz and shirley herman

community,” Waitkevicz said about SFGN’s predecessor the Express Gay News. “The lower cost of living and the gay community is what made us want to move here.”

Waitkevicz and Herman, who are a part of the National Organization for Women and board members for Compass, want people to know the specifics as to why they’re voting for President Obama from a woman’s and a gay couple’s perspective. As precinct leaders in West Palm Beach, their jobs are to get people out to vote and to energize them.

Waitkevicz said that she and Herman “work with Women for Obama to ensure women know what each candidate stands for as far as women’s and LGBT rights goes. Women need to know how to vote on key amendments like Proposition 8 and 6. Proposition 8 would allow religious

keep these two programs intact.

“We have friends who are younger who are going to depend on it in the future,” they said.

Herman and Waitkevicz had a meeting with six friends who used to be married and had come out later in life.

“Many of these women will only have their Social Security to retire on. We don’t want women or anyone to lose their retirement because Romney considers being old a preexisting condition,” they said.

When asked about Mitt Romney wanting to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act, Herman said that would be devastating to her and Waitkevicz.

“I was working when we retired here to Florida. My Cobra insurance from my previous job ran out and Cobra wanted

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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FEATURE

Designing Social Change The Real L Word’s Lauren Bedford Russell supports President Obama with forward bracelet

By Andrea Dulanto

like boys.

This past season, one of the newest cast members, Lauren Bedford Russell, found a dramatic niche with Kiyomi McCloskey, lead singer/guitarist of Hunter Valentine. Their narrative revolved around their increasing intimacy, i.e., lots of kissing scenes.

One of the critiques of The Real L Word is the limited representation. Add to that the excessive focus on love and lust.

There is much more to a lesbian than her relationships.

Viewers may have known that Russell is a jewelry designer and the owner of Lyon Fine Jewelry. Yet that aspect of her life stayed in the background.

It could have made for good television, because Russell has established herself as a socially conscious entrepreneur.

Her style is urban and urbane. Rings, necklaces, bracelets and other items made of black jade, black diamonds and sterling silver are priced in the thousands. However, Lyon Fine Jewelry asserts the gemstones are conflict-free, and Russell plans to offer affordable designs.

A line of charity bracelets — most under $100 — support voter registration, marriage equality, Adaptive Action Sports, and President Obama’s re-election campaign.

At $48, the silver alloy bracelet is inscribed with the Obama/ Biden slogan, Forward, and is available in various colors including a red, white and blue version. Ten percent of the Forward bracelet’s proceeds will be donated to the Obama/ Biden campaign.

In addition, Lyon Fine Jewelry tweeted on Oct. 3 about an upcoming bracelet to benefit organizations that help abused animals; and on October 9, Russell hosted a Rock the Vote event in Los Angeles, which signed up fifteen voters.

In an email interview with SFGN, Russell shared both parts of her life—the business owner who supports social change, and the woman who fell in love on a reality show.

Submitted Photo

T

he Real L Word depicts its share of lesbian drama — Dinah Shore love-ins, impromptu same-sex weddings, girls who like girls who

When did you decide to promote social awareness through Lyon Fine Jewelry?

[One] year ago, I started with the Equality bracelet…

Once that bracelet was a success, I moved to the next cause. I am able to donate to all of these different causes, and I feel very lucky to be able to do that.

Someone from Obama’s campaign came to me with the idea [for the Forward bracelet], and I jumped at the chance to support the President.

I plan on making more charitable bracelets. It has really become a passion.

Who are your business role models?

What are your goals for Lyon Fine Jewelry?

My parents taught me how to manage a business and employees, as well as the importance of customer service.

I am also making a lower priced line. So soon I will have the fine jewelry company and a more affordable line of sterling silver jewelry.

How would you describe the 54

lauren bedford russell

experience of beginning a relationship on a reality show? How is your current relationship with Kiyomi?

When we started falling for each other, it was pretty instant and pretty shocking for both of us. Plus add in being filmed in our first few months of dating. It wasn’t a bad thing, it was just very different than what I was used to! The hardest part was keeping it a secret from the public.

We’ve just celebrated six months. Of course every relationship has its moments, but we love each other so much that we appreciate each other and have a good time.

What would you say to voters before this election?

Do your research. I don’t think most people do their research before voting.

To view the charity bracelets and other items, visit http://lyonfinejewelry.com

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LGBTMonth History Return to Studio 54: A Conversation with Jack Ricardo

By Jesse Monteagudo and Jack is Paul. In a fictitious setting. I lived at the Bryant Hotel in Times Square and in the same circumstances. I overindulged in all three. Dope, dick and disco.” Ricardo also has memories of Studio 54, having “spent too many stoned nights and early mornings there in the summer of 1977. I also did know Andy Warhol and visited him at his studio

militancy, of course, and that was good. But it was also the era of unhindered promiscuity and unlimited dope. A sad era for gay men.

We blew our respective minds (and maybe our hearing) at blaring discos. We fucked, we doped, we haunted the bathhouses, with no thought to the consequences. As Paul says, ‘If the grime that encrusts the mirthless men at The Barracks led to anywhere, it was to the free clinic where a shot of penicillin and a cure awaits.’

But AIDS was already incubating inside many of us. I figure the only reason I escaped the disease was because my sex of choice was oral not anal.”

Ricardo calls Last Dance at Studio 54 “something of a historical book, showing both the glory and the doom of the worldwide phenomenon called Studio 54. Even today, just about everyone is familiar with the name ‘Studio 54.’ Older readers might recognize themselves in the pages of the book (or might not, since all gay men of the era did not overdose on dope, dick and disco).

The younger reader might be curious about Studio 54 and why it was so popular, since now it only exists in memories and photos.

Younger readers might also discover that they did not invent dancing, doping, and sexing. But maybe in reading this book, the young might also learn about the wastefulness and the perils of overindulgence, in sex, in dope, in dance. The 1970s in NYC played havoc with the lives of many gay men. I sure as hell was not wallowing in the bars, the docks, the baths and the discos all by my lonesome.”

Now 72 years young, Ricardo remains active, and urges his readers not to “let age stop you from doing anything you believe in.”

Photo Courtesy of Jack Ricardo

I

first met Jack Ricardo back in 1993 when the two of us were writing for The Community Voice, a short-lived LGBT monthly out of Palm Beach County. Ricardo was in his literary heyday then, with two gay mystery novels under his belt: Death With Dignity (1991) and The Night G.A.A. Died (1993). Since then Ricardo and I have crossed paths in life and in print; the latter as mutual contributors to several short fiction anthologies published

by STARbooks Press.

Now semi-retired, Ricardo continues to write, as witnessed by his most recent novel, Last Dance at Studio 54. A self-styled “biographical novel,” Last Dance at Studio 54 takes the reader back to New York City of the 1970s and to Studio 54, the legendary nightclub and disco that defined that era.

“I was raised in Smalltown, New Jersey during the 1950s and fell head over heels for Judy Garland’s Vicky Lester and helped crown Elvis king while bopping to his 45s and styling my hair (badly) into a DA, and I saw the anguish of Jim Stark and Cal Trask in my mirror,” Ricardo recalls. “In the 1960s, I fell in love, not wisely, and returned to NYC as a foolish young adult, escaping into the tarnished silver screens of 42nd Street. During the 1970s, I fell in love again, and again not wisely, plus I manned the barricades as a gay activist, and dove into the deep end of the dope and disco pools and survived intact. The 1980s drew me to Florida where I wrote and sold mounds and pounds of porno. The 2000s still sees me in Florida, and both my epic saga Sam’s Hill and my detective mystery Desperate Innocence are e-booked and awaiting discovery. I still dream of living happily ever after.”

Though obviously a work of fiction, Last Dance at Studio 54 is also true to life.

Ricardo admits that the protagonist, Paul Markey, is based on the author: “Paul is Jack,

jack ricardo

fairly frequently, but it was strictly business.

My lover and I were antiques wholesalers.

(Andy bought mostly Art Deco jewelry.).

Studio 54,“ Ricardo continues, “is a story about [Paul’s] search for Adam” another Ricardo doppelganger, “and about the search for Paul, which is really one and the same.”

Unlike some other writers, Ricardo does not idealize 1970s New York City in Last Dance at Studio 54.

“I tell it like it was. There was the new gay

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Last Dance at Studio 54 is available from Amazon.com, both in paperback ($9.99) and in eBook (Kindle) form ($5.99).

55

PRESENTS

RICHARD O’BRIEN’S

The Rocky Horror Show Directed by Kevin Black

October 25 - November 4

Box Office: 561-243-7922 www.EntrActeTheatrix.org Tickets: $25 $20 Groups - 15 or More $10 Student Rush with ID Crest Theatre Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach 33444

Scan the QR Code with your Smart Phone for Ticketing and complete show schedule or visit tinyurl.com/RockyHorrorTicks facebook.com/EntrActePB twitter.com/EntrActePB

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Lisa La Monica Saves Gay Kids’ Lives

By Donald Cavanaugh

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isa La Monica saves gay kids’ lives. their lives with other LGBT youth.

When you see her coming you’d “It took three years before my first group better get on board or get out of the happened although I had made the space way but don’t try to stop her when available and kept putting out notices and she reaches out to catch another child on the fliers,” said La Monica. “I learned you just verge of despair. had to be patient and persistent.”

Miss La Monica, as she is affectionately “Then one day three students came and known by youth all over South Florida, will that was the start,” she said. “For the rest of stand up to the tallest, ugliest and meanest the time I was at Jackson I had between three people in her quest to make it ok for all and six teens at every session.” children to be who they are.

Krop was a very different story. From the “It hurts me to see the new high school day the school opened, there was a demand students whose self-esteem has been for LGBT support. There were seven or eight shattered by middle youth at the first meeting and school abuse or by it’s not uncommon to have 45 family rejection, or to 50 students show up. both,” said La Monica.

About six years ago La “There’s a lot of pain for Monica engaged with the such young people to be newly formed Safe Schools carrying around. I just South Florida, which had have to do something.” grown out of the local And she does. chapter of the national La Monica was born Gay, Lesbian, and Straight in Brooklyn and raised Education Network (GLSEN). in Staten Island where In addition to being a she attended Wagner trainer/facilitator for their College, a small private programs, she trains youth institution. She started speakers who participate her career in education in the workshops – all llisa la monica at Catherine McAuley this on top of running two High School, a private LGBT student groups and Catholic school for girls with an outreach to a guidance counselor workload of five to poor and under educated young women. seven hundred students.

However, La Monica wanted to buy a La Monica has also become sponsor for house and New York prices were prohibitive. the Krop GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance).

Besides, her sister who had moved to South “The GSA youth have taken up the Florida some years before and was now challenge and do a lot,” she said. “We’re one expecting twins; so she opted for Miami and of very few schools that honors Transgender moved down in 1990.

Day of Remembrance with displays and Her first Florida job was at Miami Jackson activities,” she added.

Senior High School, an inner city school On top of everything else, La Monica’s with many of the troubles she recognized husband of 14 years, Brian Braun, is the from her own inner city high school days in SpeakOUT Bureau Coordinator for Safe New York.

Schools South Florida coordinating adult It was here in the early ‘90s that she speaker training with La Monica’s youth volunteered to participate in the Sexual program.

Minority Network being developed by the “He always supports my work and is an Student Services Department in the Miami- advocate for LGBT youth as well,” said La Dade School District.

Monica. “We met in an online chat room The program invited educators to where he was the resident guru on ADHD participate in training programs on sexual and I was doing research to help my students minority issues to be the “go to” resources at with ADHD diagnoses.” their home schools. They were also expected Lisa La Monica saves gay kids’ lives. When to facilitate youth groups to provide LGBT you see her coming you’d better get on board students a safe place to gather and share or get out of the way.

Photo Courtesy of Lisa La Monica

ENTR’ACTE THEATRIX

FEATURE

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

October 31, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

57

LOCAL NEWS

A Conversation with Andy Weiser, Realtor

By Jesse Monteagudo

A

ndy Weiser is arguably South Florida’s best-known and most successful gay realtor. Weiser has consistently been ranked in the top 1 percent of Coldwell Banker’s 96,700 agents at 3,300 offices in 49 countries.

Media as diverse as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald and CNN use him as a resource regarding current trends in the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate market. However, as far as many community members are concerned, Andy Weiser is best-known for appearing on bus benches in ads that promote his real estate practice.

“I get lots of laughs about that,” Weiser admits. “The bus bench is actually the first bit of advertising I ever did in Fort Lauderdale. The running joke was that I would call people to speak to them about listing their property and they would say, oh yes, I see your face all over the place, on so many signs. Well, the truth is they were seeing one sign on Federal Highway. But in their minds they were seeing it all over the place so that is one of the ways that I

58

started. It was with a single bus bench.”

Today, Andy Weiser has two bus bench ads, both on Federal Highway and neither one in the “gayborhood.”

Weiser is a native New Yorker, born and bred in the Big Apple.

“I put myself through NYU and went into advertising,” he recalls. “At NYU I graduated from The Tisch School of the Arts with a major in television and business because I wanted to go into advertising. But after six months I realized that advertising and Andy did not mix. While I was searching for what I was going to do next, I got mugged.

And I was laid up for almost six months and in that six-month period I gave it a lot of thought. And I still didn’t know what to do.

So a couple of friends said to me, you have a big mouth. You are usually pretty good about approaching people. Why don’t you think about real estate? I didn’t really know a lot about real estate at the time. I learned by the seat of my pants. I was very lucky to have learned real estate from some of the best in the business.”

Weiser worked as a real estate broker in New York for 18 years before he moved to

Fort Lauderdale in 1998. estate can be a great new thing to do. When “Like a lot of people I got really tired of the market was going nuts everybody cold, grey New York winters. But I was at thought it was easy money. But then when a place in my life when I knew I wanted a the going got tough some people didn’t change. I came down here not knowing really feel like working terribly hard and anything about Florida real estate,” he they got out of the business. And why did it recalled. “I interviewed with a few firms seem that half the gay male population of and had accepted a Florida was doing it? Everybody position, but, I had set down here knows realtors. Most up an interview with people have at least two Realtors Coldwell Banker. So as in their immediate circle of not to be rude I went in friends!” for the interview and Though Weiser admits that absolutely flipped for the ”the last few years have not been receptionist. She was a great for the housing market,” doll. My rationale was that he notes that “we have seen a if the office was run that turn” and that “the market is well, if the receptionist much stronger now than it has was that responsive, it was been in the last six years in Fort going to be a great place Lauderdale.” to work and I haven’t In addition to his work as a looked back since. realtor Weiser is also an active realtor andy weiser I’m still with Coldwell member of Fort Lauderdale’s gay Banker.” community.

Weiser attributes his success to hard work “I have done a lot of community work and his training in customer service. since I got down here 15 years ago,” Weiser “My style is very individualized, very says. “I actually started to get involved personalized. I become your real estate in the community before I moved down. concierge. Buyers who work with me come However, in the last few years I have to me because they either don’t want to or decided that I am better off letting the don’t have the time to wade through the all community sprout new leadership. That the listings in the MLS themselves. They sometimes the old guard isn’t the best like that I really listen to what they want guard. So my involvement in the community and then find it for them. They are of the has become that of an advisor. Community same mind set as I am which is that you leaders call me “to chat.” And since I am to go to an expert to get something done. not officially part of any board I can be an Sellers appreciate the fact that I don’t blow outside source who is knowledgeable about smoke or make unrealistic promises. And the workings of our community groups. I’m that I focus on marketing their property for someone who people who are on boards the best price possible in today’s market. or who head up groups can bounce ideas Not yesterday’s price or next year’s price but off of. They know I am going to tell them today’s price.” the truth. I don’t have an agenda. I can be Weiser estimates that 50 percent or so of pretty direct. And I am willing to play devil’s his customer base is gay. advocate with them.”

“Unlike some other realtors I do Andy Weiser lives in South Florida with not specialize 100 percent in the gay Richard, his partner of over six years. community. The gay community has been Richard “is incredibly private. He is also great to me. I am a part of it, obviously, the exact opposite of me. Whereas I can everybody knows that. But that is only a be Type A sometimes, Richard is very laidpart of my life. I am a man who is gay, not a back. Richard really lets everything roll gay man. And a realtor who is gay. There is off his back, which is the opposite of me.” more to Andy than just being gay.”

Andy and Richard have three dogs: two But Weiser was not alone. There was a Welsh Corgis and an Italian greyhound-Jack time, in fact, when it seemed that half the Russell mix, which Weiser describes as “an gay male population in South Florida was Italian greyhound’s body, a Jack Russell’s involved in real estate. However, Weiser head and hair and the energy of both.” does not think that being a realtor is a “gay As far as hobbies go, Andy and Richard phenomenon.” do a lot of traveling: “We are taking more “A lot of people come to our part of and more vacations. It’s time to be good to Florida to reinvent themselves. And real ourselves.”

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LGBTMonth History

Tom Waddell Athlete 1937-1987 “Winning is doing your best.”

T

om Waddell was an Olympic athlete and founder of the international sporting event, the Gay Games.

Born Thomas Flubacher in New Jersey, Waddell’s parents divorced.At 15, he moved in with his neighbors, Gene and Hazel Waddell, who adopted him. Waddell attended Springfield College, where he studied premedicine and was a star gymnast and football player. In 1960, he enrolled at New Jersey College of Medicine.

In the early 1960’s, he participated in the AfricanAmerican civil rights demonstrations in Alabama.

In 1966, Wadell joined the Army and served as a medical doctor. Two years later, he competed in the Olympics, placing sixth in the decathlon. Because of a knee injury, he retired from athletics. After the Army, Waddell completed a graduate fellowship at Stanford University.

In the mid-1970’s, Waddell came out to friends and family and began exploring the burgeoning gay scene in San Francisco. After attending a gay bowling competition, he was inspired to organize a gay sporting event. Modeled on the Olympics, he founded the Gay Games, which first took place in 1982 in San Francisco. Originally called the “Gay Olympics,” the U.S. Olympic Committee sued Waddell for the use of the word “Olympics” and the organization was renamed “Gay Games.”

In 1981, Waddell began a relationship with Zohn Artman. That same year, he met lesbian athlete Sara Lewinstein, and they decided to have a child. After their daughter was born, Waddell and Lewinstein married to ensure joint custody.

Waddell experienced the success and international impact of the Gay Games. “Tom wanted to emphasize that gay men were men, not that they were gay,” said Waddell’s biographer. “He didn’t want them to lose their homosexual identity, or hide it; he just didn’t want them to be pigeonholed by it.” In 1987, Waddell died of AIDS-related complications.

Jon Stryker

Philanthropist 1958- “It’s about supporting people who are trying to live in peace as openly gay or lesbian or transgender people.”

J

on Stryker is a philanthropist and leading funder of national and international LGBT organizations.

Stryker was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kalamazoo College and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. He is an heir to the Stryker fortune and a major shareholder in Stryker Corporation, a hospital and surgical equipment manufacturer.

Stryker founded and solely funded the Arcus Foundation, the largest grantmaker for LGBT issues.

Established in 2000, the foundation’s mission also includes conservation of the great apes.

In addition to the foundation, Stryker has personally donated more than $247 million to LGBT causes and great ape conservation. He is a founding board member of the Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya and Save the Chimps in Fort Pierce, Florida.

The threatened colobine species Rhinopithecus strykeri was named in his honor.

A registered architect, he is the president of Depot Landmark, which specializes in the rehabilitation of historic buildings. Since 2004, he has been a Global Philanthropists Circle Member. In 2008, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force awarded Stryker the Creating Change Award.

Stryker is divorced with two children. In 2011, he was listed among The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s top 50 donors. The following year, Forbes named him one of the “400 Richest People in America.”

SFGN was proud to have shared the stories of LGBT icons during LGBT history month. check SFGN.com for more.

Rev. Robert Wood Gay Pioneer 1923-

“Is it proper for two of the same sex to enter the institution of marriage? To which I must reply, ‘Yes.’ ”

T

he Reverend Robert Wood authored the first book in the United States on Christianity and homosexuality. He is the first clergyman to picket for gay rights.

Wood was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He enlisted in the Army and was severely wounded in the invasion of Italy. He was awarded a Purple Heart, two Battle Stars, a Combat Infantry Badge and a Bronze Star.

With the help of the G.I. Bill, Wood graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and the Oberlin School of Theology.

In 1951, he was ordained in Vermont in the Congregational Christian denomination. He served on the Board for Homeland Ministries for the United Church of Christ and on the World Ministries Board.

In 1956, he wrote an article titled “Spiritual Exercises” for a gay physique magazine, which featured a photo of him in his clerical collar. After meeting Edward Sagarin, author of the groundbreaking book “The Homosexual in America” (1951), Wood was inspired to write “Christ and the Homosexual” (1960). Wood’s book was the first to call for the Christian faith to welcome homosexuals without repudiating their sexuality.

In 1960, the Mattachine Society and The Prosperos honored Wood with Awards of Merit. Each Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969, Wood picketed in his clerical collar at “Annual Reminders,” which launched the LGBT civil rights movement. He appeared in “Gay Pioneers,” a documentary about the demonstrations.

In 2001, the Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania honored him as a gay pioneer.

Wood retired from the ministry after serving 35 years in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

For 27 years, he lived openly with his partner Hugh Coulter.

All photos Courtesy of LGBTHistoryMonth.com. For More LGBT Icons Visit: LGBTHistoryMonth.com

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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LGBTMonth History

These Walls Can Talk LGBT Walking Tour Tells South Beach Stories

By J.W. Arnold

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came in 1985 when a Calvin Klein advertising shoot was scheduled here. Ironically, the hotel was under renovation and, even though it was suggested the models hang from the scaffolding, photographer Bruce Webber did the shoot on the roof.

Just down the street are some of the pioneering “institutions” of South Beach’s gay history: The famous News Café, 800

Gianni Versace and supermodels Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford.

Along the way, Ruiz points out the interesting architectural highlights and of course dishes about the stories behind many of the restaurants and businesses, most of which have been through many incarnations since their heydays. We pass the Wolfsonian, 1001 Washington Ave., the

Ocean Dr., which got its start as an ice cream parlor in 1988, and the Park Central Hotel, 640 Ocean Dr., which still bears the colorful paint scheme designed by Leonard Horowitz.

Around the corner is the “Main Street” of South Beach, Collins Avenue. At the southeast corner of Collins and Seventh St. is the site of Torpedo (now Intermix), one of the first gay clubs opened by Lee Schrager and designer John Jacobus in 1987. At the time, there was one other club, Warsaw (more about it later), and people would walk between the two, Schrager recalled in an email. Early patrons at Torpedo included

design museum that served as a cultural anchor for the community for decades and is now affiliated with Florida International University.

We stop at Twist, 1057 Washington Ave., one of the longest continuously running bars, opened in 1993. Over the years, the bar has been patronized by Drew Barrymore, Katy Perry, Jenny McCarthy, Jennifer Coolidge and Jim Carrey.

That corner was also a hub, attracting as many as seven bars over the years, and is purportedly still the best place to pick up a date in the wee hours of the morning after last call.

“It is quite the place to be,” Ruiz says, with a cute, sheepish grin. “You can feel the love.”

We pass the Lord’s South Beach, the swanky gay hotel that has become an international destination. The hotel boasts three pools and a popular bar and restaurant, The Cha Cha Rooster, before happening upon the Historic City Hall.

The building, located at 1130 Washington Ave., was built in a Mediterranean style, like many of the buildings constructed after the devastating hurricane of 1926. Like the community, it has found new life, serving as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and headquarters to the active Miami Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Again, we proceed up the street, passing the former Mansion nightclub, at one time owned by Prince and site of the only Janet Reno Dance Party, as well as several former clubs, Luxe and Liquid. It seems like all the biggest DJs and entertainers either got their starts at one time or another at one of these groundbreaking clubs or were regulars. Ruiz points out the World Erotic Art Museum and the trendy club wear store where he admits he bought his first—and only—pair of heels.

Ruiz guides the group for a cool respite in the air conditioned historic post office, 1300 Washington Ave. Unlike the prevailing art deco and Mediterranean styles, the post office exemplifies the influence of the New Deal with its stark concrete structure and gilded 1941 mural depicting the history of the colonization of Florida.

Florida’s Spanish heritage comes alive along Espanola Way in the “Spanish Colony” between Washington and Pennsylvania Ave. Drag queen Varla regularly performed Photo Courtesy of J.W. Arnold

T

aking a stroll up and down Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Boulevard in South Beach is entertaining—the people watching is amazing as tanned and toned bodies stroll along, decked out in fashions that cost more than my monthly mortgage payment. There are pasty Europeans, bronzed Brazilians and Frenchspeaking Canadians, all drawn to the nightlife, shopping and wide sandy beaches. It is the place to see and be seen.

But, this hasn’t always been the case. For more than two decades, South Beach has been a popular tourist destination for gays and lesbians, but behind the glitz is the rich story of a community that has seen its share of ups and down since coming into vogue in the 1920s.

To learn more, I joined the LGBT History Walking Tour offered at sunset on the last Saturday of each month by the Miami Design Preservation League. Our guide is Mat Ruiz, a longtime resident of South Beach. By day, the 40-yearold handsome muscle bear is a contractor whose passion is restoring old buildings, so I know we will learn a lot. The tour begins at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Dr. Miami Beach was a glamorous vacation destination during the Roaring ‘20s, drawing the biggest celebrities of the era, Ruiz tells us. The Depression hit the city hard and many of the buildings began to crumble in later years. Through the efforts of a gay man, Leonard Horowitz, and his ally Barbara Capitman in the mid-1970s, attention was brought to the condition of the district and led to the formation of the Miami Design Preservation League and designation of the area as a historic district.

Our first stop is just across the street at the Breakwater Hotel, 940 Ocean Drive. The start of South Beach’s modern incarnation

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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 and straight, alike—step up to the gate where Versace was brutally gunned down in 1997.

The building, like those around it, has seen many lives throughout its history. It was built in 1930 and the adjoining 1950 Revere Hotel was demolished in 1992 to make room for the gardens and pool. Gay interior designer Wallace Tutt was responsible for the opulent design and furnishings.

Since Versace’s death, the residence has served as a commercial event facility and restaurant for famed local party planner and Photo Courtesy of J.W. Arnold

from the balconies overlooking the quaint lane that was the site for early expressions of gay pride and today serves as a location for television and movie productions.

Our tour is in the home stretch as we approach the granddaddy of South Beach’s gay club scene, the site of the nightclub Warsaw. Originally built as the PolishAmerican Club and now the home of Jerry’s Deli (formerly Hoffman’s Cafeteria), Warsaw was famous for introducing both male and female nude go-go dancers. Not surprisingly,

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this led the city to adopt an ordinance that prohibited nudity in venues that served alcohol. One of the leading promoters was Manhattan celebutante Suzanne Barscht.

Just across the street is Grillfish, formerly a joint called the Stray Dog. During Warsaw’s run, the owners attempted to lure partiers across the street with racy homoerotic art on the walls that remains in the swanky seafood restaurant—and definitely seems tame by today’s standards.

As we make our way back to Ocean Drive, we pass the Carlyle, famous as the location for the Robin Williams film, The Birdcage, before stopping for a drink at the Palace.

The Palace, 1200 Ocean Dr., is popular with tourists and locals alike. Founded in 1988, the bar just celebrated its 24th anniversary. The friendly café is packed on Sunday mornings for the famous drag brunch and again at happy hour, but people-watchers flock to the bar at all hours in-between.

And, of course, no gay history tour of South Beach is complete without a stop at Casa Casuarina, the Italianate villa that was the home to celebrated fashion designer Gianni Versace. The ornate mansion is one of the most photographed buildings in Florida, Ruiz tells us, and thousands of visitors—gay

caterer Barton G., known as “The Villa by Barton G.” The current owner, Peter Loftin, recently listed the property on the market for a mere $120 million.

As Ruiz bids farewells, I find myself overwhelmed with both the rich architectural and LGBT history of the neighborhood around me. Unlike a museum, South Beach is a vibrant, living community and there will be certainly changes to come and history to be made.

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Where: Miami Design Preservation League 1101 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach How Much: $20 per person at MDPL.org or Art Deco Welcome Center

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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October 31, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Passages

A Gay Leader, Richard Cimoch, Passes

By Richard Gary

R

ichard Cimoch, a long time Broward County Democratic activist, who hailed from Philadelphia, and championed his Nittany Lions, has suddenly passed away.

A politically active Dolphin Democrat, who won their Volunteer of the Year Award in 2001, Cimoch had served for many years as the enthusiastic and energetic co-chair of Pride South Florida.

Cimoch recently revitalized his interest in politics with a run for Democratic committeeman in Precinct 004, the North Andrews district of Broward, a race he lost to Tim Ross.

A professional event and party planner since 1980, his decorative creations were etched out beautifully and aesthetically in hundreds of LGBT venues over the past two decades.

Under the banner of Blaise ProductionsBlaise was Cimoch’s middle name- he decorated everything from Center One’s Red Ribbon Awards to Pride South Florida’s one time move to the Broward Convention Center. As a PSF co-chair, he moved the pride parades from off-road locales to Las Olas Boulevard, the epicenter of Fort Lauderdale.

Ron Mills, another Dolphin Democrat

leader, said of Cimoch: “Richard put the PRIDE in PRIDE, from Pride South Florida to the Stars of the Rainbow.”

SFGN Publisher Norm Kent remarked on his passing, “In his own way, Richard Cimoch moved the needle and advanced LGBT awareness, pushing and creating partnerships between gay and straight venues, and showcasing LGBT businesses and persons in a positive light.” Indeed, if you go back and read the old Express Gay News from 2001 to 2005, you will see that Cimoch’s name comes up in no less than 39 articles, usually associated with his participation in Pride South Florida events.

“Richard has been an important activist within the gay community, and his loss will be greatly felt,” commented Dean Trantalis.

Recently returning to politics, Cimoch was interviewed by Dale Madison in the Florida Agenda in August, stating that he wanted to work enthusiastically for President Obama’s re-election: “Florida is crucial to Obama’s victory, and as gay men and women, we have a lot to lose if he doesn’t win.”

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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SATURDAY PAGE 66

FRIDAY PAGE 65

Red Bull Flutag takes flight

Last chance to see Rocky Horror in Delray Beach

sfgnites N O V E M B E R

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W W W . S F G N . C O M / S F G N N I T E S Photo Courtesy of NAC Gallery

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11/2 ART

Avenue Q – A Puppet Show for Adults

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hat do you get when you mix profanity, sex and monsters? Give up?

Avenue Q, a musical featuring foul mouthed, sexually charged puppets. That’s right, puppets. The show plays through the weekend at Slow Burn Theatre at West Boca High School, 12811 West Glades Road. The Broadway musical won the “Triple Crown” of Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book.

The story follows recent college grad Princeton, who moves into a run down New York apartment on Avenue Q. Feeling lost in life Princeton struggles to find his purpose while making new friends and finding love in the building.

With songs like “It Sucks to Be Me,” “If You Were Gay,” “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” and “The internet is for Porn” you can’t help but laugh throughout the show. And once again Slow Burn does not disappoint with an outstanding cast, stage and hand made puppets.

“I thought it was amazing,” said Boca Raton resident Beth Amato, who has seen the musical on Broadway. “It was as good as the one on Broadway. I loved every minute.

The cast was excellent. It was my first time at Slow Burn. I would definitely come back to this theater.”

Avenue Q opens up Slow Burn’s fourth season. Their next show will be Side Show taking place February 1 – February 10.

Catch Avenue Q Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20-35. Visit SlowBurnTheatre.org or call 866-811-4111 for more information. – Jason Parsley

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SUN

11/4

THEATRE

Remembering Holocaust Thru Dance

B

“everything is perfect” by diego jacobson

SAT

11/3

THEATRE

Artist Overcomes Disability, Opens Solo Show

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or abstract expressionist painter Diego Jacobson, every brushstroke is painful, but that didn’t stop the Miami resident from conquering dystonia, a crippling neurological disorder, to become one of the most exciting new Latino artists of his generation.

As a child, Jacobson underwent an experimental surgery that would restore much of his movement and allow him to pursue his dream to paint. Today, Jacobson’s works have been exhibited around the world, including

leading Manhattan galleries and international shows in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Peru and the Dominican Republic. His works have fetched up to $20,000 at auction.

For the first time in Fort Lauderdale, Jacobson’s works will be featured in a solo show opening Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at NAC Gallery, 3325 NE 32nd St. in the emerging North Beach Arts and Design District.

The show will include a number of smaller works suitable “Diego’s works have been difficult to categorize, but it’s that intangible quality that makes him such an exciting artist,” explained Vincent Harrison, co-founder of NAC Gallery, which is mounting the show.

“Throughout his life, he has struggled to pursue his art and this passion is evident in the works we’ll be featuring at the exhibition.”

For directions and more information, go to www.NACGallery.com. - J.W. Arnold

allet Austin will bring the three-month long Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project in Miami-Dade County to a close with moving performances at the Arsht Center on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.

Set to the spellbinding music of Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, and others, Austin Ballet’s full-evening contemporary ballet — considered Artistic Director Stephen Mills’ masterwork — turns the spotlight on discrimination and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit, inspired by one woman’s stirring journey of survival to endure and rebuild life after unimaginable loss.

Ballet Austin’s performances are the culminating events of a three-month community-wide human rights focus and Holocaust education partnership that promotes awareness of the work in our community for the protection of human rights against bigotry and hate through performances, arts education and public dialogue. The project is supported by The Knight Foundation, The Miami Foundation and several Miami-based media partners.

Tickets are $25-95 at www.ArshtCenter. org or by calling (305) 949-6722.

“

“

W E E K

Diego’s works have been difficult to categorize, but it’s that intangible quality that makes him such an exciting artist

October 24, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

SFGNITES

Crossing the Void S

By Andrea Dultano

ex and the City, Will & Grace, even CNN — they tell the stories of gay men and straight women.

Yet the friendships between gay men and lesbians are non-existent in the mainstream.

We may not have a sitcom, but we have a history of sustaining each other. During the onset of the AIDS crisis, lesbians provided support for the gay community. And we continue to work together for LGBT rights.

In this tradition of building connection between gay men and lesbians, Aqua Foundation for Women (AFW) has created a new event—AQUAMEN Beach House and Pool Party.

For thirteen years, the not-for-profit AFW has produced Aqua Girl, the springtime bacchanal that welcomes thousands of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women to Miami Beach. The week-long celebration features nightclub events, film, and comedy.

According to the Aqua Girl website, all

proceeds benefit AFW, which funds LBT organizations in South Florida, and has awarded “over $369,000 in grants and scholarships.”

Although gay men are welcome to attend Aqua Girl events, this is the first time that an AFW event has been specifically marketed to them.

AFW’s Executive Director, Robin Schwartz, created Aqua Men in order to encourage more involvement from the gay male community.

“Sometimes because our name has ‘women’ in it, men may automatically think there is no place for them at Aqua; but there is,” stated Schwartz. “Aqua is fortunate to have many great guys support us, but I would like to see more men do so.”

Although AQUAMEN hopes to draw in the gay male community, women are encouraged to attend the event. Schwartz particularly underscored the importance of uniting lesbians and gay men.

Aqua Foundation for Women Reaches Out to Gay Male Community “I was also motivated to see men and women spend more time together,” she said. “Too often we are segregated in our own LGBT community. We love our guys and want to spend more time with them.”

The response from AFW supporters has been encouraging. According to Schwartz, “the women get that we are broadening our support for our mission.”

When it came time to decide on a venue, the Shore Club was selected “because it is a beautiful and sexy location.” It will also allow for an exuberant atmosphere with music by DJ Brett Henrichsen and DJ Pride, as well as a relaxed dress code. “We expect some to show up in bathing suits and others in their weekend chill outfits,” said Schwartz.

For non-members of AFW, general admission is $35 and VIP tickets are $75.

Members of AFW receive a discounted price — general admission is $25 and VIP is $65.

VIPs can socialize in an air-conditioned

cabana, and indulge in appetizers and open bar by Bacardi. General admission offers two complimentary drinks.

All proceeds from AQUAMEN benefit AFW.

If You Go When: Saturday, November 10, 2 to 7 p.m.

Where: Shore Club 1901 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 How Much: $25 to $75 How Much: $25 to $75 Tickets available at www.aquafoundation. org/events or at 305-576-2782 or at the door

Rocky Horror Show in Delray

By Jason Parsley

W

hat better way to wrap up Halloween week than a performance of the Rocky Horror Show?

Entr’Acte Theatrix did a splendid job bringing the show to life. Juan Gonzalez Machain’s (Brad Majors) performance truly stood out. His vocals were perfect and his voice soared throughout. Ross Parris (Frank ‘N’ Furter) and Alisha Todd (Columbia) also were excellent in their roles. Entr’Acte’s last show Jesus Christ Superstar, over the summer, had been riddled with sound problems, making it difficult at times to pay attention to the show and cast. Thankfully this time around everything ran smoothly allowing the cast to shine like the bright stars they are.

It’s hard to believe a 1970s musical would feature a bisexual Transvestite, homoeroticism, and infidelity.The musical follows the story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and ending up at a mad transvestite scientist’s house where he

is about to unveil his latest creation – a sexy scantily clad muscle man, Rocky Horror. But really who cares about the plot? It’s ridiculous nonsense, which is why the show is so fun and has attracted a cult-like following over the years.

But it’s the music, the over the top corny, yet catchy numbers, that make the show so enjoyable. They include “Damnit Janet,” “Sweet Transvestite,” “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me,” and the show’s signature song “The Time Warp.”

The show takes place at the Crest Theatre at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square, 51 North Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25; $20 for groups of 15 or more; or $10 Student Rush. Visit www. entractetheatrix.org or call 561-2437922 for more information.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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SFGNITES

Flugtag!

By Ryan Dixon

Red Bull Flugtag gives South Floridians a chance to earn their wings

A

wacky flight crews — including the Bacon Soldiers, Banana Pelada, $2.50 and Space Cadets.

Paolo Pincente, executive producer for Miami Beach Pride 2012, is the team captain for the Space Cadets, as well as general manager of space Miami. The team is comprised of Paolo, a few gorgeous girls from the bar and another male worker who has doubled as the designer and pilot of the Photo Courtesy of Red Bull

t Red Bull Flutag (Flugtag is German for “Flying Day”), teams of up to five people have worked for months building homemade, human-powered flying machines which one person pilots off of an elevated flight deck, through the air, and into a body of water.

Teams are judged based on three criteria, like flight distance, creativity and showmanship, by a panel of local and

miami flugtag

national celebrities. Red Bull has produced more than 100 Flutag around the world — from Rome to Los Angeles. The first Red Bull Flugtag took place in 1991 in Vienna, Austria, as the brainchild of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

Red Bull Flugtag Miami 2012 sets up shop at Miami’s Bayfront Park on Saturday Nov. 3. at 12 p.m. the proverbial hangers will open where the crafts will be lined up with the team members getting ready for flight. At 2 p.m. the first craft is set to take flight off a 30-foot high ramp after the team’s 30-second skit as an attempt to win over the judges and crowd.

After the last team takes off, the awards ceremony will follow, when the Red Bull Flugtag Miami 2012 winner and the People’s Choice winner will be crowned.

More than 30 teams have signed up to throw themselves and their flying machines into the bay in front of an expected crowd of more than 85,000 people. Members of Magic Carpet Ride are back to defend their soaring 2010 title to fly the farthest against some

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2010

team’s craft.

“Space and Red Bull have a great partnership. We missed the chance to participate two years ago so our owner wanted to be sure we were in for this year,” Pincente said.

Pincente added they have put together the most remarkable group of people together to have fun and to hopefully win.

“We even had an engineer come in to spec out the details of our craft to make sure it worked,” he said.

Their craft, measuring 20 feet long and 30 feet from wing tip to wing tip is comprised mostly of PVC and Styrofoam and is piloted by a single person.

“When we remolded Space in 2010 we built a space man and in the lobby there is a miniature space shuttle there too,” Pincente said. “The idea was for people to see our design and know exactly where it came from.”

For more information, redbullflugtagusa.com.

visit

www.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

SFGNITES

Storytelling Takes Center Stage

By J.W. Arnold Three productions opening in South Florida theatres display the power of vivid storytelling, although each takes unique perspectives — the angst of youth, the simple lives of two men living in the Canadian heartland, and the pent up passions of six incarcerated women.

ready to go out to the rest of the country,” he said. “If it’s successful, we’ll be very proud, but our primary goal is to bring a new musical to the public. We help playwrights and writers to have an opportunity to refine their works. It’s very expensive and hard for playwrights to put together a show.”

Girls vs. Boys

The Drawer Boy

Thinking Cap Theatre continues its 201213 season at Fort Lauderdale’s Empire Stage with Michael Healey’s The Drawer Boy, a play named one of the “Top 10 New Classics”

by Time magazine. Set in 1972 in rural Ontario, The Drawer Boy is based on the real life dramatic efforts of a troupe of Canadian actors, who set out to research and write about the lives of everyday people living in the heartland. In Healey’s play, Miles, a young actor, takes up residence with two bachelor farmers, Morgan and Angus, and makes their lives the subject of his own original drama.

Artistic Director Nicole Stodard said the play “attests to art’s power to reveal, heal, transform and, of course entertain, but it was the storytelling component that really spoke to me.” Healey’s play is “not the kind of provocative, experimental theatre we’ve become known for. It’s a play that speaks across all kinds politics, class, race and gender. It seemed like a good thing for us this season.”

Empire Stage’s intimate space serves as a perfect setting the for the three-actor play, but Stodard plans a complete experience for audiences, beginning with a two-piece folk band performing before the play and during intermission on opening night. On Fridays, Friar Tuck’s Food Truck will be serving food outside the theater, with each of the menu items named after characters and references from the play.

journey as we delve through the process of unraveling the upheavals these characters are trying to manipulate to their personal advantage.”

She added, “Working through the fabric of this clever script has been very rewarding.

I’m delighted with the nuanced development of these Divas by my very talented cast. So far I have not had to sentence anyone to solitary confinement!”

Photo courtesy of Arsht Center

Girls vs. Boys is the latest production in the Arsht Center’s ongoing collaborations with the University of Miami (House of Bernarda Alba) and the innovative House Theatre of Chicago (The Sparrow, Death and Harry Houdini).

Scott Shiller, the center’s executive vice president, describes Girls vs. Boys as the latest rock musical, following in the tradition of Hair, The Who’s Tommy, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Spring Awakening and American Idiot.

Artistic Director Genie Croft opens the company’s next act this weekend with Delval Divas, a comedy by Barbara Pease Webber, about the personal challenges faced by six women serving time in prison.

A cast of South Florida favorites, including Sally Bondi, Lela Elam, Jacqueline Laggy and Karen Stephens, star as the capable and intelligent who just happen to be in jail.

Croft said of her jailbirds: “Rehearsing Delval Divas is a creative and imaginative

New Theatre Productions Open Across South Florida

the cast of girls vs. boys

While the concept of a rock musical is not new, this show, conceived for the theater department at Northwestern University and reworked with the support of the Arsht Center, has the potential to reach the latest generation of future theater goers with its driving score and energetic young cast.

“All of these shows tell traditional theater stories and deal with the same issues of adolescence we’ve been dealing with over centuries,” he said. “We just continue to work to make them accessible.”

Shiller and the creative team will see the result of months of writes and rewrites this weekend.

“Audiences over the next four weeks will tell us whether it needs minor tweaks or it’s

Delval Divas

It’s okay to breathe a sigh of relief. The Women’s Theatre Project, which abruptly suspended its season last winter after losing its Fort Lauderdale venue, is back up and running in Boca Raton at the cozy Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park.

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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SFGNITES

Hellrotika was Hellish — In a Great Way! SAVE Dade’s Annual Celebration Draws Nearly 1,000 Photos and words by Gideon Grudo

A

t 8:30 p.m., the place wasn’t packed, but the line was beginning to flow outside the front doors of the Moore Building in Miami’s Design District.

By 9 p.m., the place was shoulder to shoulder.

It was SAVE Dade’s 18th annual Hellrotika, the organization’s famous Halloween party. Attendees were encouraged to come dressed, which almost all of them did. The building was laid out to look like a Roman house in line with this year’s theme: Odyssey of the Gods.

To complete the effect, performers were decked out as Greco-Roman sculptures, painted head to toe in white and sporting togas. They stood around motionless, or posed for pictures. Columns kept the theme consistent, and the portable bars kept everyone happy.

“It was a hugely successful event with all attendees having a wonderful time at the

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Moore Building,” said CJ Ortuno, SAVE Dade’s executive director. “Amazing costumes, fun atmosphere, and who would have thought that Pee-Wee Herman won the costume contest!”

As time went on, it was hard to concentrate with so many detailed and colorful costumes, from cops to soldiers to queens and even princesses. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence even showed up. It was definitely a night to remember.

“18 years has created some amazing memories and with nearly 1,000 partygoers this weekend the significance of our event was reinforced,” Ortuno said.

“Whenever we bring our community together whether to revel in celebration or take action for our rights, it is a winwin.”

For more information about SAVE Dade, go to www.savedade.org.

emily rose dressed for day of the dead

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

By Brian Swinford

Have an event you want to list?

If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com.

Theater Broward County *Steven Wright

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and AEG Live present Academy Award-winning comedian Steven Wright as he brings his off-kilter yet on-the-money observations to the Parker Playhouse on Saturday, November 3 at 8 p.m. With Grammy Award-nominated recordings, TV comedy specials and numerous film and TV roles, Wright is a prototype comedian that many others continually try to follow. Tickets are $37.50. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com

*Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White’s beloved classic, comes to life on stage as part of the Smart Stage Matinee Series on Thursday, November 15 at 10 a.m. The heartwarming children’s book tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a little barn spider named Charlotte. Tickets are $6 for individual seats, $5.50 for groups of 10 or more and $3 lap seats are available for infants 12 months and under. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com

*Nathan Pacheco

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and PBS-TV WPBT Channel 2 present power pop and classical crossover sensation Nathan Pacheco on Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m. An exciting PBS sensation who is being called “the voice of a new generation,” Pacheco masterfully bridges the worlds of opera and pop, delighting audiences with classical favorites along with beautiful original compositions. Tickets are $27.50 and $37.50. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com

*Divorce Party the Musical

Still reeling from her divorce, Linda is rescued by her three friends who have come to turn her despair into a weekend of hilarity in Divorce Party The Musical: The Hilarious Journey To Hell…and Back! on stage from Tuesday, Nov. 27 to Friday, Nov.30 at 8 p.m. From the producer who brought you the Off Broadway hit Menopause The Musical, it’s the ultimate Girls’ Night Out. Tickets are $31.50 and $39. Performances continue through December. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com

*Million Dollar Quartet

Bank of America Broadway Across America-Ft. Lauderdale and Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents Million Dollar Quartet from Tuesday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 18 in the Au-Rene Theater. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time recreates that legendary night. Visit BrowardCenter.org

*It’s A Fabulous LIfe

Will be performed from Nov. 28 through Dec. 2 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. An audience favorite that is returning due to popular demand to the Broward Center for a third time, this gay musical borrows the premise of It’s a Wonderful Life to tell the story of Joe, a gay actor cast in Randolph the Rainbow Reindeer, who has a difficult holiday season filled with family tensions and backstage backstabbing that make him wonder if heterosexuals are happier. Wednesday, Nov. 28 to Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec.1 at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $35. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org

Palm Beach County Avenue Q

Won the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Tells the story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it’s clear this is not your ordinary neighborhood.

Call 954-323-7884 or visit SlowBurnTheatre.org

The Rocky Horror Show

Halloween is just around the corner, and who better to celebrate with than the denizens of Dr. Frank N. Furter’s home-sweet-castle in Richard O’Brien’s beloved cult classic, The Rocky Horror Show. And Entr’Acte Theatrix is inviting audiences to come do the Time Warp again… when they present ‘Rocky’ at the Crest Theatre at the Delray Center for the Arts at Old School Square from October 25 through November 4. Visit Entractetheatrix.org

Jake Shimabukuro

Renowned for lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, this ukulele sensation’s concerts – featuring an array of genres including jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco and rock – are a high-energy, jawdropping musical treat not to be missed. Jake Shimabukuro will be at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall at the Kravis Center on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Visit Kravis.org

Miami-Dade

Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project

Through Nov. 4, at the Arsht Center is convening community organizations, in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, in a county-wide calendar of performances, activities, education programs and public forums. This program will be a three-month, county-wide human rights collaboration that will focus attention on the work that is being done in Miami-Dade County toward the protection of human rights against bigotry and hate. Visit ArshtCenter.org

Broadway in Miami 2012-13

This season Ziff Ballet Opera House on Oct. 9 to May 12 will hold the Broadway In Miami spectacle. Experience the return of the world’s greatest musical spectacle - Les Misérables - in its lavish new 25th anniversary production, along with the Miami premieres of Broadway’s biggest fun-filled hits - including the high-stepping Mary Poppins, the outlandishly colorful Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the awesomely cool Rock of Ages, and - the 2010 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical Memphis, a triumph of explosive dancing and powerhouse songs. Visit Arshtcenter.org

Community Calendar Broward County

*The SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch

The SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch featuring hours of soulful sounds of jazz on four stages takes place on Sunday, Nov. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. One of Fort Lauderdale’s most popular community events. Visit BrowardCenter.org

The Four Noble Truths

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Have an event you want to list?

If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com.

*Denotes new listing

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

Man2Man Discussion We all have certain things that feel to us like true sources of happiness, but which in reality have caused us no end of suffering, time and time again. It is our mind of attachment that continues to deceive us, causing us to relate to these things in mistaken ways, and leading us straight into problems and misfortune. Learn how to break this cycle. $10/class or $30/ series includes vegetarian food after class, members free. Visit MeditationInFortLauderdale.org

Topic driven Peer lead support group for gay and bisexual men who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Meets every Wednesday 7-9 p.m. at the Pride Center 204 N.Dixie Hwy Room 204. Refreshments, no charge, open meeting. PAHereandNow@aol.com www.PozitiveAttitudes.com

Queer Youth Friday Nights

Wilton Manors is holding its 7th annual Taste of the Island at historic Richardson Park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets available at Barton Miller Cleaners, Wilton Manors Library, and at Wilton Manors City Hall. Includes a Silent Auction, which will take place in the Richardson’s historical house. Visit TasteOfTheIsland.org

LGBTQ and allied youth group for people13-21. This Is a drop in group anytime from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. This youth group will be SunServe building on 1480 SW 9th Ave on the second floor. A Safe Space to be yourself! Queer Themed Movie showing at 7 p.m. on Friday nights. This group is a safe hangout to meet new friends, free Wi-Fi to bring your laptop or your iPad, plus board games that you can bring or play the ones that they provide at the group. Visit Sunserve.org/youth/index.htm

Adventure Bears - Fall 2012 Caribbean Cruise

GLBX Business Advantage Referral Group

Taste of the Island

Adventure Bears offers a truly unique travel experience where you can relax/recharge from a stressful job or be social with other like-minded traveler -- all while being pampered on one of the finest cruise lines in the world, Princess Cruise newest ship, the Ruby Princess. Call or email Paul B. Stalbaum at paul@crusiedesignstravel.com or 954-566-3377

Broward House presents Wanda Sykes, A World AIDS Day Benefit Concert

Sykes will make her only South Florida appearance in 2012-13 in this one-night only engagement during World AID Days weekend on Dec 2, at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center Au Rene Theater as a benefit for Broward House, Broward County’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS community service organization.

Wanda Sykes is considered “one of the funniest stand up comics” by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America. Visit BrowardCenter.org

Pozitive Attitudes

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GLBX Business Advantage Referral Group will be held at the chamber offices on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 8 to 9 a.m. The leads group is looking for additional members. If you are interested joining, please contact Ken Stollar at Kenneth.Stolar@sci-us.com to see if your category is open and to attend as a guest. Visit Ftlchamber.com/index. php?src=gendocs&ref=GLBX_home&category=GLBX

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

Latinos Salud’s programs

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

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.

Dream Car Classic

Every Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-1980s classic cars, modern classics and custom cars from 1981-2012 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 954214-2457

Living Healthy

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

Life Coaching

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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.

2330 Wilton Drive. Call 954-765-6239. Visit Latinossalud.org

Sex & Love Anonymous

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

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

Boardwalk Friday Fest

Survivor Support

Toastmasters

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.

Eating Disorder Support

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

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.

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 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

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/floridaevents

Gay Male Empowerment

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

PFLAG

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. Call the Intake Coordinator at 954-764-5150 to learn which therapy groups have openings. Groups Include a Gay Men’s HIV+ Long Time Survivors’ Group, a Safe “T” support group for gender variant adults, an Intimate Partner Abuse group and others. 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

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

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

GLBTA Dem Caucus Annual Celebrity Bartender Fundraiser Theme: A “Pink Slip Rick” Event (Pink attire encouraged).

Featuring our “celebrity” bartenders: Rep Lori Berman; Sen Maria Sachs; Sen Elect Jeff Clemens; Rep Mark Pafford; Rep Elect Dave Kerner. No admission charge - generously tip your favorite “celebrity bartender.” Special “Pink” cocktail created for our event featuring Sweet Revenge Wild Strawberry Sour Mash Liqueur. 50-50 raffle / Doorprizes / Music / Food. When: Sunday November 4. Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Location: The Cottage, 522 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth.

Mask-Erade

The exhibition continues through. November 7. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday by appointment only and closed Sunday. These amazingly crafted masks were worn by the indigenous people of Peru living under the Spanish occupation in the 19th century. At a time when the Spanish allowed little room for self-expression among native Peruvians, the indigenous people crafted these masks for their dance festivals, subtly mocking their overlords.

Visit Griffingallery.net

Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival

Foodies have a reason to celebrate as a flood of epicurean talent descends upon the area for the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival 2012. Award-winning chefs and culinary personalities, authors, winemakers, journalists, and mixologists are creating a culinary event of a magnitude never before seen on the illustrious island and beyond. This sixth anniversary year of the Festival includes an expanded lineup, growing from five nights of culinary delights to nearly a dozen events with both day and evening programming, including a star chef golf tournament and trade-only panel discussion. On Dec7-11 at various locations. Visit Pbfoodwinefest.com

Palm Beaches Marathon & Run Fest

December in Florida and striding through tropics. Now that will impress your friends and family. Palm Beaches Marathon & Run Fest isn’t just a race or a way to keep in shape before the holiday parties and cheer; it’s a vacation onto itself. This event will start and finish on Flagler drive on Nov 20-Dec 2. Visit Runpalmbeaches.com

Lake Worth Bike Night

The Lake Worth bike night is fun, and it’s for a cause. Join loads of people in downtown Lake Worth every Thursday from 7 p.m.-10 p.m.. The event is free and open to bikers and nonbikers. Visit Lakeworthbikenight.com

Alternative Life Style Show Featured guests contribute to the community. All are welcomed to call in. Many give aways and prizes including a contest for free buffets at Isle Capri Casino in Pompano. You can also listen by adding W4CYRADIO to SKYPE or call in at 561-623-9429. Up coming spotlights on parties of interest and special events.

PFLAG

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 email Carol at 561-716-9464 Pflag@ pobox.com

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Have an event you want to list?

If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com.

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.

Sober Sisters AA

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

PBC Gender Support

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

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.

*Denotes new listing

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 561-4042011. Visit OrchidWeb.org

Jazz on the Palm

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

BrothasSpeak

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

Paths

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

Yoga

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

Living Buddhism

Taste of the

Island Wilton Manors Taste of the Island is an evening of food and libation featuring samples of the cuisine from more than 50 area restaurants and drinking establishments.

Drag Queens at Sea

Join ALandCHUCK.travel and CRUISE on Dec 1, with the largest gathering of Drag Stars ever! Join nearly 40 stars along with Celebrity Hostess Michelle Visage for an incredible 8 day cruise with cocktail parties, drag performances, comedy shows, Q&A panels and so much more. Visit Facebook.com/ events/148246971907863/.

Ransom Mondays

Need an excuse to keep partying well after the weekend is over? The Monday-night party at the recently renovated Collins Park lounge. This amazing party will take place at Mokai in Miami Beach. The party, hosted by Mark Lehmkuhl, sort of takes now-defunct Bella Rose’s Black Sunday murder mystery theme but gives it a Patty Hearst twist. Every week, some prominent nightlife fixture gets held for ransom, and the only way it gets returned is if you party your ass off. Only $20 to attend. Visit Mokaimiami.com

Rainbow Circle

Rainbow Circle is a peer-led LGBTQ support & discussion group. Topics covered often include coming out, relationships, bullying, peer pressure, drugs & alcohol, depression and selfesteem. You pick and develop discussion topics and are able to express your thoughts and feelings without fear in a safe and supportive environment. This group will take place every Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the University of Miami, Flipse Building #302. Visit Pridelines.org

Sex Talk

Sex Talk: Peer Health Educators are young LGBTQ adults who learn how to talk to other young adults about sex, sexuality and HIV/STD prevention. You’ll conduct outreach events, record video messages, participate in a series of performances and organize special events with a purpose. This event takes place the second and fourth Thursday every month at Pridelines Headquarters located at 9526 NE 2nd Ave #104 In Miami Shores from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit Pridelines.org

Lambda Dade Clubhouse

Sous Chef Level Sponsor:

Sous Chef Level Sponsor:

Entertainment Sponsor:

Volunteer/T-Shirt Sponsor:

Green Sponsor:

Best Dressed Table Sponsor:

1721 N. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.

(954) 463-6969. A Cute Little Hangout in Fort Lauderdale.

The Club Fort Lauderdale

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.

Johnny’s

1116 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, (954) 522-5931.

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

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 to 9 p.m. Indoor/Outdoor Dining. Dance the night away Thursday through Sunday. Live music Wed., Fri., Sat., Sun. Visit themanorcomplex.com

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

Monkey Business

2740 North Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311. (954) 5147819. 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 2 a.m.

Clubhouse II

Smarty Pants

Bathhouse. 2650 E. Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (954) 566-6750. A Private Club for Bi/Gay men.

“Bear and Friends” Thursday $5 Off a room 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Tuesday Leather Night - $5 off for those in full leather gear.

Corner Pub Bar

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Georgie’s Alibi

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

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

Wine Tasting presented by:

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.

Broward County

Boardwalk Marketing Sponsor:

Dudes Bar

New Moon

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

Buy your tickets online at: www.tasteoftheisland.org

2935 N. Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 537-7076.

Voted the “Friendliest” Gay Bar in Fort Lauderdale. Monday’s $1.99 Drinks and $.50 wings open to close

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

Bill’s Filling Station

Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/tasteoftheisland

The Depot Cabana Bar and Grill

Naked Grape Wine Bar

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

Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cubby Hole

Key West nightlife

Atomic Boom

Location: Richardson Historic Park & Preserve, 1937 Wilton Drive

Media Sponsor:

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

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

Date: November 5, 2012

Sous Chef Level Sponsor:

Miami-Dade

321-Slammer

Join us for an Evening of Food and Libation in the Island City

Entertainment Sponsor:

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.

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

7th Annual

Water/Soda Sponsor:

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

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

The Stable

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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 underwear.

Torpedo

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

Palm Beach County

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.

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

The Bar Lake Worth

Johnny’s

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

Tag Bar

25 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33483 954-801-3247.

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

October 31, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Miami 62 NE 14 Street Downtown Miami Florida (305) 640-8749.

Open Wed. through Sun. The hottest men in the universe strip shows nightly from 6 p.m. sexy from wall to wall. Free entrance.

Free parking. Free VIP rooms. Featuring the Hottest Male Dancers and The Best VIP ROOMS and always $5 Drinks. Full Lineup at ed at http://www.Facebook.com/JohnnysMiami

801 Bar

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

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

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.

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.

Swinging Richards

Club Aqua

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

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.

Twist

Kwest

Score

1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, Fl, 33139. (305) 538-9478.

Never a Cover…Always a Groove. Resident star DJ Mika spins tribal. Every Saturday TWIST is full of the hottest men in Miami. Muscle boy dancers taking it off in the Bungalow Bar.

Key West

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

Pearl’s Patio Bar

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October 31, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

October 31, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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I am a boyfriend, a volunteer, and an artist.

And I am living with HIV. TM

Christopher (left) has lived with HIV since 2011.

Get the facts. Get tested. Get involved. www.cdc.gov/ActAgainstAIDS