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November 21, 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 47

Tap that App How one social network changed the way we meet, greet & skeet

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More White Party

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broward house speaks out after ceo resigns page 17

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Cancer Barney Uganda Sexual Resource Frank at page Government page page page Bingo Center Hacked Manor 165-mile SMARTride 9 sees all-time high donations page 18

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Top 3 on SFGN.com

By Sergio N. Candido

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

Publisher Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Chief Executive Officer Pier Angelo Guidugli

Despite controversial anti-gay donations, company voted best chicken nationwide Go back to mid-July and many would have probably predicted Chick-fil-A would be facing more financial troubles than the newspaper industry by this time of the year.

But despite repudiations by politicians and boycott campaigns, it’s got the best chicken—and that’s what the

majority of Americans seem to care about.

According to a survey by Market Force, Chick-fil-A was voted the best chicken chain nationwide, beating Raising Cane’s , Boston Market, KFC and Pepeyes, among others.

Why? Because respondents (7,600 customers surveyed) thought the company ranked best in terms of food quality and taste,

customer service, cleanliness, atmosphere and overall value compared to other chicken restaurants, the Huffington Post reports.

Chick-fil-A, with its 1,600 stores in 39 states claimed the most votes per location.

Last summer, Chick-fil-A was at a center of a media firestorm for it’s anti-gay donations to religious organizations.

Is Elton John Expecting a New Baby?

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

Graphic Designer Mark Pauciullo

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

The music legend said he doesn’t want his son to be an only child Gay pop legend Elton John and his partner David Furnish are reportedly looking to get their son Zachary a brother or a sister.

According to The Sun, people close to the couple

said they will be using the same surrogate mother who gave birth to their son.

“Elton and David love this lady like a sister and they feel indebted to her for life,” a source told The Sun. “Naturally she has been well rewarded. But her identity will never be revealed.”

Last June, John told The Guardian

Tony Adams Jesse Monteagudo Donald Cavanaugh Andrea Dulanto

he didn’t want Zachary to grow up an only child.

“I want him to have a sibling so he has someone to be with. I know when he goes to school there’s going to be an awful lot of pressure, and I know he’s going to have people saying, ‘You don’t have a mummy’,” he said.

Contributing Columnists Wayne Besen Brian McNaught Leslie Robinson Dana Rudolph David Webb Michael Verdugo Ric Reily Victoria Michaels Calendar Editor Brian Swinford Editorial Cartoonists Karl Hampe Darryl Smith Staff Photographers J.R. Davis Pompano Bill Steven Shires

Supreme Court Pushes DOMA, Prop 8 Cases Justices will announce their decision on the gay rights cases in December

edith windsor, currently fighting her doma case in court

The Supreme Court has rescheduled the date it will decide whether or not to hear cases challenging C a l i f o r n i a ’s proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. According to the American Foundation

for Equal Rights, the Justices will make the decision on Friday, Nov. 30; 10 days after the original hearing had been scheduled.

“For far too long, gay and lesbian couples in California have been waiting to exercise the fundamental freedom to marry that the United States Constitution already tells them they have,” Adam Umhoefer, executive director of AFER, the legal advisory group behind the Prop 8 lawsuit, said in a previous statement.

“With the distribution of our case for the Court’s consideration, we move one step closer to the day when the nation will be able to live up to the promise of liberty and equality enshrined in our Constitution, and all Americans will be able to marry the person they love.”

It will take a four-judge majority to decide whether the high court hears each specific case.

& • Three More Quickies to Wake You Up

Nigeria Moves Ahead with Anti-Gay Bill Criminalizing Homosexuality

If approved, gay couples who try to marry or live together could get 14 years in jail

•Anti-Gay Boy Scouts Philadelphia Council Down to 500 Youth

The Boy Scouts Philadelphia chapter is losing support after its decision to ban gay members

•Macy’s “Dump Trump” Petition Reaches Over 500,000 Signatures Petitioners are asking the retailer to drop the billionaire’s clothing line from stores

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November 21 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 47

Chick-fil-A is America’s Favorite Chicken

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

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U Read our daily stories at SFGN.com You can also find us on Facebook: SouthFloridaGayNews Twitter: @soflagaynews.

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Marketing Director John Fugate Sales Manager Mike Trottier Sales Associates Edwin Neimann Justin Wyse National Sales Representative Rivendell Media todd@rivendellmedia.com

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.

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Associated Press Florida Press Association National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

STATE NEWS

Lesbians in Love Triangle Steal $1.4 Million from Jewelry Stores

By Sergio N. Candido Two women in Australia have been sentenced to prison and a third one is awaiting trial after stealing over $1.4 million dollars from a chain of jewelry stores where one of the women worked as an accountant.

According to the The Australian, Luisa Touli convinced former girlfriend Anna Rajkowski into committing fraud by manipulating the numbers in the books for Kings Jewelers, a chain of stores where Rajkowski had worked since 1998.

Rajkowski would then transfer money from the jewelry stores into Touli’s account and the account of Touli’s current girlfriend, 23-year-old Faagata Uelese.

From 2007 to 2009, Rajkowski transferred a total of $39, 451 into her own account, $234, 633 into Uelese’s, and $1. 2 million to Touli.

“The acts were done to feed the gambling and drinking habit of Ms Touli,” Prosecutor Ken Spinaze said.

The heist resulted in the jewelry company having to close six of its stores and lay off 60 employees, according to The Australian.

Both Touli and Uelese pleaded guilty on Nov. 19. Uelese was ordered to serve a twoyear suspended prison sentence and two-anda-half years’ probation.

Touli was sentenced to nine years in jail.

Rajkowski is set to go on trial on Feb. 18, 2013.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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tasered, despite having her hands in the air and apparently posing no threat to the officers, as the video below shows.

s w s e N ief r B

By Sergio N. Candido WNBA Star Arrested After Ex-Girlfriend Fight Retired women’s basketball star Chamique Holdsclaw was arrested on Nov. 15 after she allegedly attacked her ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lacy, a professional basketball player for the Tulsa Shock.

Holdsclaw was charged with aggravated assault, criminal damage to property and reckless conduct after she broke a window in Lacy’s car with a baseball bat and fired a gun inside the vehicle, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Exactly what sparked the incident remains unclear. According to Yahoo!

Sports, Lacy told police that Holdsclaw asked her to put some things in her car.

When Lacy left to meet with a friend, Holdsclaw started following her and then the situation became violent.

No one was injured in the incident.

“I want to thank my family, friends, fans and Shock family for their concern during this difficult time. I have never felt more love from my fans in supporting me,” Lacy said in a released statement, according to the Associated Press.

TMZ reports that Holdsclaw from jail earlier today with an ankle monitor. Her court date is scheduled for Nov. 30.

Holdsclaw and Lacy were teammates on the Atlanta Dream in 2009.

Holdsclaw was the No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft and played on the U.S. Olympic team in the 2000 Games. Her last team was the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2010.

Trans Woman Tasered by California Ranger A transgender woman in California filed a lawsuit for excessive force against

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miami-dade judge william thomas

the U.S. Bureau of Land Management after getting tasered twice—once in the groin—in an incident last year.

According to the lawsuit, Brooke Fantelli was doing a photo shoot with a group of people in the Imperial County desert, near the city of El Centro, when a BLM ranger approached her to find out what they were doing, UT San Diego reports.

The lawsuit states Ranger J. Peter’s attitude changed when he looked at Fantelli’s ID, which still identified her as “Rodd.”

“He was super nice, until he saw the ID,” Fantelli told UT San Diego. “He went from calling me ’ Miss’ and ‘Ma’am’ when it first started, to ‘Sir,’ ‘Dude’ and eventually calling me ‘it.’ ” The ranger called an Imperial County sheriff’s deputy to the scene.

After around an hour, Fantelli approached the authorities asking them if they could leave because the models for the photo shoot were uncomfortable with their presence. The ranger then proceeded to arrest Fantelli for public drunkenness (Fantelli said she had had two beers but wasn’t intoxicated).

At this point, someone in Fantelli’s group started to record the incident, which concluded with Fantelli getting

Miami Gay Black Judge Nominated as Federal Judge Miami-Dade Judge William Thomas could become the first openly gay black man to serve as a federal judge after being nominated by President Obama for the lifetime-tenured judiciary post.

The White House made the announcement on Nov. 14, BuzzFeed reports.

In a statement, Obama made reference to the diversity of Thomas and six other nominees.

“They ... represent my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves,” he said.

“These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system. I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law with the utmost impartiality and integrity. Too many of our courtrooms stand empty. I hope the Senate will promptly consider all of my nominees and ensure justice for everyday Americans.”

If the Senate approves Thomas, he would be the second openly gay black judge after Judge Deborah Batts.

Thomas has served as Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge since 2005.

“We’re delighted in the president’s appointment of Judge Thomas, who we recommend as a patient and hardworking man of incredible character,” said Chuck Wolfe, CEO and president of the Victory Fund & Institute.

“We believe he’s made an excellent jurist in Florida and will make an excellent federal jurist.”

Utah Schools Sued Over Lesbians Book A mother is suing Utah’s Davis School District after a book featuring lesbian parents was removed from school library shelves and can only be checked out with parental permission.

The book, called “In Our Mothers’ House” is about a lesbian couple raising their kids. According to theHuffington Post, it was added to five of the district’s 50 elementary schools in 2010.

In April of this year, a teacher-parent committee voted to have to book remain behind the libraries’ counter instead of

on the shelves after a group of parents signed a petition against having the book in schools.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Utah filed the lawsuit on behalf of Tina Weber on Nov. 13.They argue the First Amendment prohibits schools from removing books from libraries because officials or parents disagree with the materials.

“Our job as parents is to make sure we teach our children about our values,” Weber said in a statement.

“We can do that without imposing our personal views on the rest of the school community.”

Catholic Church Spent $2M in Gay Marriage Fight As a last resort effort to preserve what they believe to be the sanctity of marriage, the Roman Catholic Church contributed $2 million to unsuccessfully fight gay marriage in Maryland, Maine, Minnesota and Washington.

According to a report from the Human Rights Campaign, the Catholic Church, through its affiliate Knights of Columbus, spent over $1.3 million trying to get Minnesotans to approve a ban on gay marriage. The Church also spent $100,000 in Maine; $250,000 in Maryland; and $307,000 in Washington.

Despite the cash boost, all their efforts failed and gay marriage triumphed in all four states.

The HRC reports also points out that the National Organization for Marriage, an ultra-conservative religious group close to the Catholic Church spent more than $5.2 million fighting gay marriage this election.

Anti-gay marriage in the four states totaled $11.3 million.

“The American people went to the polls and affirmed one of the core values of the Roman Catholic Church: the belief that all humans are worthy of dignity, respect, and love,” said HRC President Chad Griffin in a statement.

“The Church and NOM can continue pouring money into discriminating against LGBT people, but the writing is on the wall for their anti-equality agenda. The Roman Catholic hierarchy should be focusing on taking actions that actually improve people’s lives, not spending precious resources on spreading malicious lies aimed at tearing down an entire community of people.”

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Two Gay Male Penguins at Danish Zoo Become Fathers

By Sergio N. Candido

G

ay parenting is proving to be successful even in the animal world: two King penguins in Denmark have reportedly become the first gay-penguin parents in captivity.

It looks like the gay penguin couple at Odense Zoo had wanted their own chicks for a while. The Star reports the penguins began performing mating rituals on each other for several years now, then they tried to steal other female penguins’ eggs, and even sat on dead herring to mimic incubation as a last resource.

Luckily for them, they got their chance at parenting when a female penguin abandoned her eggs.

“In the lifetime monogamy of the King penguin world, this is extraordinary,” zookeeper Nina Christensen told The Star.

“Now we have an extra egg and this pair that have been standing with fishes.”

Christensen said they first tested the gay penguins parenting skills with a ball, until the coupled proved they could take care of an egg.

“With King penguins, they mix it between the male and female. One stands with the egg while the other goes to feed and then they shift. It was the same with this pair—they both incubated the egg,” Christensen said.

“The chick hatched about a month ago and the new little family remains separated from the colony while they bond but will soon rejoin them. Penguins recognize their offspring by their distinctive cries, indistinguishable to humans, and this trio are no different.”

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Hacked

‘Anonymous’ Hacks Several Ugandan Government Websites Over ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill

By Sergio N. Candido

I

nternational “hacktivists” organization Anonymous has published access keys to eight Ugandan government websites — including the president’s office of communication — to protest the country’s announcement that it will pass a bill making homosexuality punishable by death.

On Thursday, Nov. 15, a member of the group who identifies himself as “Doktor Bass” posted on Pastebin the usernames and passwords for several of the country’s official government sites.

“HOMOSEXUALITY IS A FREEDOM. It is a choice every man or woman has. It is NOT something to be governed. It is NOT a sin,” Doktor Bass writes on the post.

The action follows a Nov. 12 warning message by Anonymous New Jersey, an arm of the hackers group.

“If they actually do pass the bill id image that itd be free game on the entire Ugandan government,” the group told SFGN via Twitter. “No court would convict anyone of trying to save lives.”

Anonymous New Jersey warned the Ugandan government in a previous Pastebin post to “expect us” if the bill passed.

That post included the names and contact information of members of Uganda’s Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

According to the Gay Star News, Rebecca Kadaga, the country’s speaker of parliament, said the bill, known as “Kill the Gays,” will pass by the end of the year as a “Christmas gift.”

Anonymous has encouraged people to contact Kadaga and warn her that “we will give her a Christmas present that she will never forget” if the law is approved.

Christmas came earlier than expected, thanks to Doktor Bass.

The post includes access keys to Uganda’s National Bureau of Standards, Health Service Commission, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, a biodiversity information facility, the Justice Law and Order Sector, Kampala Capital City

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Authority Uganda’s Media Centre from the office of the president, and Ministry of Agriculture.

If passed, “Kill the Gays” bill will divide the criminalization of homosexuality into two categories: aggravated homosexuality and the offense of homosexuality.

“Aggravated homosexuality” is defined as gay acts committed by parents or authority figures, HIV-positive people, pedophiles and repeated offenders. If convicted, they will face the death penalty, the Gay Star News reports.

The “offense of homosexuality” includes same-sex sexual acts or being in a gay relationship, and will be prosecuted by life imprisonment.

Last August, another person a s s o c i a t e d with Anonymous under the username DramaSett3r hacked the websites of the office of the prime minister of Uganda and the Uganda Justice Law and Order Sector in an operating dubbed #OpFuckAfrica.

The activist also downloaded the databases of both sites and threatened that their contents may be revealed.

“Today’s hack and deface of the Ugandan Prime Minister’s site was the latest in a long

list of actions against the government and infrastructure of Uganda for crimes against LGBT people,” the hacker wrote in a Pastebin post.

“We will not stand by while LGBT Ugandans are victimized, abused and murdered by a ruthless and corrupt government. #TheEliteSociety and #Anonymous will continue to target Ugandan government sites and communications until the government of Uganda treats all people including LGBT equally and with respect, dignity and immediately ends the arrest and harassment of LGBT.” A message was also posted on the website of the office of the prime minister of Uganda as follows: “You have been warned, repeatedly to expect us. “Your violations of the rights of LGBT people have disgusted us. All people have the right to live in dignity free from the repression of someone else’s political and religious beliefs. You should be proud of your LGBT citizens, because they clearly have more balls than you will ever have.”

“Real Ugandan Pride is demonstrated in standing up to oppression despite fearing the abuse, torture and murder inflicted on LGBT at the hands of the corrupt government. Fuck you Ugandan government! See you again soon x.”

The message included a picture from the first LGBT Uganda Pride which took place in August.

An international petition has been launched in protest, with more 1.5 million signatures already. Several countries have also promised to cut aid to the African nation of the law goes into effect.

Enacted in 2009, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill had been postponed due to mounting international criticism.

Several European countries, including the United Kingdom, have threatened to cut aid to Uganda if the bill passes.

For his part, President Barack Obama described the legislation as “odious,” the Associated Press reported.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

NATIONAL NEWS

How Marriage Equality Won

By Jason Parsley

O

ne of the strongest arguments opponents have used against gay marriage has been that the issue never won at the ballot box.

On 32 different occasions, voters have rejected the concept of gay marriage.

That argument was blown out of the water, four times over, this year with big pro-marriage wins in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington.

But it took a whole lot more than just casting a vote to win marriage equality in three states and hold back a constitutional ban in the fourth.

In fact, it took more than $37.5 million and 46,000 volunteers to achieve such a feat. In Minnesota alone, 27,000 people volunteered in the last week alone, making 900,000 phone calls and knocking on 400,000 doors.

“It was amazing,” said Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United for All Families. “We had 68,000 individuals invest in this campaign who donated money at least one time. That is unbelievable. That’s a serious investment. And that doesn’t count people who contributed less than 20 bucks. The fact is thousands and thousands invested in this campaign.”

Carlbom said they raised more than $11 million while their opponents raised close to $3-4 million.

In Minnesota, though, gay marriage is still illegal.

“We’re going to now determine what the next step in this conversation will be,” he said. “First we want to celebrate the fact that we beat this amendment.”

Unlike the other three states, Maine is the only one that had several years to get their message across to voters. In 2009, Maine was poised to become the first state to pass gay marriage legislatively with a governor’s signature. Instead their opponents got it on the ballot and repealed the law.

This time around, instead of playing defense, they played offensive.

“We started from scratch in 2010. We decided to be proactive and take our time, instead of going through the courts. We developed a grass roots approach. We were setting the pace. We were the ones setting the timeline and we didn’t know if we were going to bring it up in 2012 or 2020,” said Matt McTighe, campaign manager for Mainers United for Marriage. “Whenever we felt like the approach was working we’d bring it up. The last 2-and-a-half-years have been hard work and we’ve used a sophisticated strategy.”

This time around, McTighe said it was all about changing minds one voter at a time.

“Our whole entire approach was different.

We took a door-to-door approach. We built a sizable infrastructure and taught our volunteers how to have really in-depth, oneon-one conversations with voters,” he said.

The campaign contacted 250,000 people through phone calls and door knocks. They had more than 6,000 volunteers and raised more than $8 million.

Their biggest challenge?

“Gay marriage had never won before.

Our opponents had a playbook they had successfully used 32 times. That’s why we put a considerable amount into research

and well thought out testing, to create and execute a game plan. We used the most sophisticated voter modeling known to man,” he said.

But unlike the other states they also had a considerable time advantage.

“We had some great partners to try new things. We had so much time to work out any of the kinks in the system and really hone the strategy,” he said.

The other two states, Maryland and Washington, took similar paths this past year with both state legislatures voting for gay marriage and then opponents getting it

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

on the ballot where they had to defend it.

In Maryland, they focused a lot of their outreach on African Americans.

“We nearly split the vote in the African American community. That’s a huge milestone. We had the sense that African Americans were not willing to vote for marriage equality so we put a lot of time and effort into getting the message out and it paid off,” said Josh Levin, Campaign Manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

It also helped that the NAACP is based in Baltimore and earlier this year they endorsed marriage equality.

“Our partnership with them was tremendous. I can’t say enough about them,” he said.

The campaign also focused a lot of their effort on people of faith.

“We won the support of the Presbyterians and other mainline Christian denominations,” he said. “We helped religious people realize this was about re l i g i o u s freedom.

We did a great job making sure it was crystal clear this is about c i v i l m a r r i age and not religious marriage.”

Their outreach paid off in some unlikely places, Levin noted.

“We were especially happy to see the margins we go in our much more Republican counties and we even won some traditional republican strongholds.”

Like the other states, the Washington campaign focused on recruiting volunteers and getting their message out to voters. They had 7,000 people volunteer just in the last 72 hours before the election.

“We had an extraordinary volunteer effort,” said Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage. “It was one of the largest volunteer efforts in Washington State ballot measure history.”

In the last 10 days before the election the campaign was making 100,000 phone calls a night.

Additionally, the campaign raised more than $11 million, which included some big name donors like Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and former CEO of Microsoft Bill Gates who gave $2.5 million and $600,000 respectively.

But it was the small donors that really surprised Silk. More than 26,000 individuals

donated to the campaign.

“The community response here in Washington State was amazing,” he said.

“All of the largest corporations in the state endorsed the campaign for the first time including Amazon, Starbucks and Microsoft.

We also had strong support from the music community.”

But besides the money, big names, and community Silk said ultimately they just “ran a better campaign.”

“We hired campaign professionals. People with strong campaign experience,” he said.

“We learned how to defeat our opposition by studying their playbook very carefully.

We found weaknesses in their execution and ultimately defeated them.”

Massive is the word Silk used over and over again to describe his organization’s campaign.

“The way you win these things, you have to run a massive campaign. We were running the largest operation in the state. We were as large as the governor’s race, presidential race,” he said. “It was a full-scale campaign.

When you’re up against opposition with such a successful track record you have to marshal enormous resources to make this happen.”

But it certainly didn’t hurt that President Obama had come to publicly support marriage equality earlier in the year and then endorsed the marriage equality campaigns in Maine, Maryland and Washington.

“What was so compelling is that the president ran not away from, but on his support for the freedom to marry,” said Evan Wolfson, Founder and President of Freedom to Marry. “We took away the last talking point of the opposition: That as a minority we could never win the vote of the majority.”

Wolfson noted that each time gay marriage proponents achieve a milestone, their opponents keep moving the goal post.

“First they said the American people would never put gay and marriage in the same sentence,” he said. “They said we’d never get a court to legalize it, never get a legislature to pass it. They said we’d only win on the coasts and then we won in Iowa. Each step of the way they keep moving the goal post. All they can do is try to throw money and scare tactics to block our momentum.”

And finally the last goal post was that gay marriage would never win at the ballot box.

“The last barrier we needed to overcome is to win an up or down vote,” he said.

“The election was a complete triumph and irrefutable momentum for freedom to marry.”

What’s next?

Wolfson said that looking to the future there may be more battles ahead in Rhode Island, Illinois, Oregon and possibly several states in between.

Finally he said: “We already have several states laying the groundwork.”

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LOCAL NEWS

Sex Press

FAU professor teaching newest version of 27-year-old class on LGBT and the media

By Dylan Bouscher

W

Photo courtesy of FAU

hen Fred Fejes started her identity. When he started teaching it in teaching his class on sexuality the ‘80s, however, the LGBT community was and the media in 1986, the far less visible and accepted than it is today.

New York Times wouldn’t “Much of the focus on the class back then have called Fejes gay had they reported on was on negative stereotypes in the media,” it. They would have considered it libelous Fejes said. “AIDS brought out a lot of people. and referred to him as a homosexual for Up to that time you could be gay and nobody another year. Fejes has taught a class on had to know about it.” Fejes also credits the sexuality and the media — which traces 30 media with bringing more exposure to the years of changes in the LGBT community’s community and teaches students why that representation — for the last 27 of those is both helpful and hurtful. “The more we years. And his class wasn’t called “sexuality become mainstreamed, the more we think and the media” back when he started about our community,” Fejes said. “A lot teaching it, either. It was called AIDS in of people feel the community is losing its American Society. identity, we’re no longer as tight as we were.“ “The most interesting part of this class, René Perez — a queer 19-year-old FAU probably, would student majoring in be for students Spanish and minoring becoming aware of in women’s studies — how different it was likes the exposure.

20 years ago, 25 years “You know every ago, 30 years ago,” community has Fejes said. “Ironically, their stereotypes, the AIDS crisis played has their issues, but a big movement in we’re finally getting that, after the first what we fought for,” couple of years, it Perez said. “People really injected a are recognizing us, really strong dose they’re knowing who of activism in the we are, and I feel gay community.” like that’s going to Although Fejes pave the way for us credits the AIDS crisis into acceptance in with mobilizing the society.” Perez also LGBT community, believes the media’s Florida Atlantic University professor Fred Fejes a class on sexuality and the mehis class reviews a Ph.D. has taughtdia representation of the for 27 years. history of activism LGBT community starting before the has improved in his Stonewall riots in 1969. The riots, which lifetime. “It’s gotten better I guess, when took place in New York City, were a response I used to see gays in any kind of media it to a police raid on a gay bar in Greenwich was very flamboyant gay homosexuals and Village called the Stonewall Inn. One of the whatnot, now there’s more of a mix,” Perez first assignments in the class is watching a said. “They’re starting to portray more documentary on the riots. clean cut gay guys that are professionals But one of the most interesting like doctors and lawyers that are very assignments Fejes gives students is to respectable, but like to have fun.” But produce their own videos. He recalls when a the class isn’t taught for LGBT students group of three or four students made a video specifically, Fejes encourages students of all on the history of gay pornography. “It was gender identities and sexual orientations to funny, before they showed the video, the take his class. “I’m not in there to change students in the class had to sign a waiver,” anybody’s mind,” Fejes said. “But on the Fejes said. He also recalls a handful of other hand, I do want them to become students coming out to the class during aware of other perspectives.” Registration the time they were taking it, as well as a for spring classes is open to FAU students transsexual woman who learned to accept now. And as Perez picks out his schedule,

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he’s considering taking “Sexuality and the Media.”

“I would definitely take it,” Perez said.

“Classes like this professor’s class are going to further benefit our community and awareness in general of society.”

Fred Fejes — Rated Fred Fejes, the FAU professor teaching an undergraduate class called “Sexuality and the Media,” has been rated by former students on the popular website RateMyProfessors.com.

On a scale of zero to five, Fejes was given the following rates by 16 former students Overall quality: 3.2 Helpfulness: 3.1 Clarity: 3.4 Easiness: 3.4 Fejes wasn’t aware of his ratings when SFGN asked him about them.

“That’s nice to know, that’s funny because that is a very contentious site,” Fejes said. “There are some professors who hate that thing.”

Source: FAU Tuition Breakdown

If you’re interested in taking the class When: Wednesdays (from Jan. 7 to May 13 Where: FAU’s Boca campus Room 344 of the Arts and Letters Bldg.

How Much: Undergraduate Residents: $675.52 Undergraduate Out of State: $2,231.17 (Class counts for three credit hours)

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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LOCAL NEWS

Boca, 1966

It’s been 46 years since the city updated its anti-discrimination policies

By Dylan Bouscher

A

ll it took was for an openly gay 17-year-old high school student to get the Boca Council to change their tune on the issue of gay

rights.

That’s after the Palm Beach Council Human Rights Council launched a media campaign “Boca Bigots Run City Hall.” That’s after multiple stories appeared in local newspapers casting the Boca Council in an unfavorable light. That’s after the assistant city manager responded to the controversy by comparing LGBT rights to the rights of pet lovers.

It all started with a hazardous waste contract between the city of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County commissioners.

The county protects LGBTs in its antidiscrimination policy — the city does not.

The county also promises not to do business with organizations that don’t protect them.

12

In January 2011 the Boca city council adopted Ordinance 5161, which opted them out of Palm Beach County’s antidiscrimination policy.

“That was more a concern of home rule and not having county ordinances regulate us,” Boca Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie said at the Nov. 14 council meeting.

Then the county commission and city council came into conflict when a hazardous waste contract from the county could have cost Boca $235,000 earlier this month. Rather than update its policy to add protection for LGBT employees across the board, the city council approved the contract with the stipulation that only employees working under the hazardous waste contract would be protected.

City officials initially defended their actions with Assistant City Manager Mike Woika telling SFGN: “What’s to keep other

groups from wanting to be protected? How about me? I’m a pet lover. I think should be included in your anti-discrimination law.

Someone who has dogs should not be discriminated against either.” And Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie saying: “We did not take away anyone’s rights. We are not discriminatory.”

That was until Tyler Morrison, an openly gay 17-year-old Boca resident, spoke directly to the council.

“I’m greatly saddened that my hometown would take such extraordinary steps Tyler Morrison, a gay 17 year-old Boca resident, asked the Boca City to put in danger the well- Council to consider updating its anti-discrimination policy at the Nov. 14 meeting. being of its LGBT citizens,” Morrison said. “Let’s make Haynie said. a bold statement to the country that we Boca Mayor Susan Whelchel then will not put in danger any of our citizens, quipped. “Well you know there’s some because it’s simply the right thing to do.” people who’d like for us to go back to 1966.”

City Attorney Diana Frieser reminded Whelchel then declined to comment when Morrison that state and federal anti- the meeting ended as she has done in two discrimination policies don’t protect LGBTs.“ other instances. Whelchel has yet to speak The city is in compliance with state and to SFGN. federal law,” Frieser said.

“I would like to look into updating our But Morrison believes the city government policies,” Haynie replied should do more than comply with state and City council member Michael Mullaugh federal law. agreed.

“The first priority of any government “I think looking into the policy and having should be to protect its people, all of its us discuss it in the very near future is a people,” Morrison said. “Let’s value our wonderful idea,” Mullaugh said. diversity by rejecting what was done in “It was a great deal of satisfaction, I wasn’t January 2011.” expecting them to address me,” Morrison After Morrison spoke, Haynie reminded said after the meeting. the rest of the council that it had not Then city council member Scott spoke updated its anti-discrimination policies with Morrison. since 1966. City council member Constance “We want to see more of you,” Scott said.

Scott wanted to know why.

“2014, I have some ideas,” Morrison said, “What would prevent us at this time from hinting at a run for the city council. moving forward to make those necessary Because of the council’s response to changes and moving into the 21st century Morrison the Palm Beach County Human with additional categories?” Scott asked.

Rights Council, has decided to suspend their “That was the part where I started to tear media campaign against the council. up a little bit,” Morrison said.

“Our organization looks forward to But Frieser had an answer for Scott: “There working with the City,” PBCHRC President is no legal requirement to do so,” she said.

Rand Hoch wrote in an email. “Again, thank Then the rest of the council erupted. you from urging staff to move from 1966 to “I certainly would like us to get in front 2012 - and beyond.” of 1966, that’s kind of a frightening number to think we haven’t looked at our policy,”

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

I am a best friend, a leader, and a force.

And I am living with HIV. TM

Robert (right) has lived with HIV since 2011.

Get the facts. Get tested. Get involved. www.cdc.gov/ActAgainstAIDS November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

13

Breakdown of the white festivities for November 21 through 26

By SFGN Staff

G

11/25

etting psyched for the White Party?

The 28th installment of the Care Resource’s annual party is in Miami this week.

Here’s a schedule of all of the events.

For more information, go to www. whiteparty.org.

Muscle Beach Party

www.whiteparty.org/events/muscle-beach/ Where: 12th Street Beach, Miami Beach 12th Street on the sands of Miami Beach When: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

White Splash Pool Party

11/22

www.whiteparty.org/events/white-splash-poolparty/ Where: Maxine’s 1752 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

White Journey

www.whiteparty.org/events/white-journey/ Where: Score Bar 727 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

white party

11/23 White Paradise Pool Party www.whiteparty.org/events/white-paradise-t/ Where: Dream South Beach Hotel 1111 Collines Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Urge: White Dreams

www.whiteparty.org/events/white-dreams/ Where: Space Nightclub 34 NE 11th St., Miami, FL 33132 When: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Bang

www.whiteparty.org/events/bang/ Where: Score Bar 727 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

14

2011

11/26

11/24 Heatwave Pool Party

www.whiteparty.org/events/heatwave-pool-party/ Where: Dream South Beach Hotel 1111 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

White Sunset Tea

www.whiteparty.org/events/white-sunset-tea/ Where: The Palace Bar 1200 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Kenneth Cole Shopping Event www.whiteparty.org/events/kenneth-coleshopping-event/ Where: Kenneth Cole South Beach 190 8th St., Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

White Horizons White Party Fashion Show

www.whiteparty.org/events/white-party-fashionshow/ Where: SOHO Studios 2136 NW 1 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33127 When: 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The White Party

www.whiteparty.org/events/the-white-party/ Where: SOHO Studios 2136 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33127 When: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Cirque Blanc

www.whiteparty.org/events/cirque-blanc/ Where: Nikki Beach Club 1 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

www.whiteparty.org/events/white-horizons/ Where: Discotekka 950 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida When: 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Swan Song

www.whiteparty.org/events/swan-song/

Where:

Twist 1057 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 When: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“

For more information, go to www.whiteparty.org.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

SOME FEATURED EVENTS

FOR COMPLETE LISTING OF EVENTS VISIT

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

15

PASSAGES

Jeffrey Tobin

By Dale Madison

W

hat is it that we remember when we think of Jeff Tobin? One thing we would all agree that it was his witty sense of humor as he could always find some way to make a joke about any situation.

That is what everyone will miss about Jeffrey. He had the ability to make everyone laugh when they were really sad. He always wanted to see people happy.

We all need to remember him and that this is not a time to grieve his death but to celebrate his life.

He will never be forgotten.

Jeff never wanted to see people cry, he always wanted to see people happy. Everyone should be happy to have known him. This is not a time to shed tears but to be thankful for having known him.

Jeff had a passion for gambling, dining out and participating in things such as the Poverello Bowl-A-Thon and the past two years the Smart Ride.

16

March 28, 1964 – November 12, 2012 “I will never forget the time that we were at Hard Rock and he was betting and every game came up a Wild Card. Had he bet the full amount he would have won $860,000.

But since he only bet thirty cents he only walked with $300,” said Jason Mazza, Jeff’s best friend.

“He was the kindest person I have ever met. If you needed something, he would give it to you.” Jennifer Morales of Sidelines Sports Bar. “This last year was tough but he was always upbeat and always had a smile on his face.” Sonyi Aguero, long time friend.

“He had a love for life, took it by the balls and continued to fight. He was an inspiration to anyone who had inkling.

He wouldn’t give up. Sidelines was his social bond and his memory will live on,” said Laurie Whittaker, owner of Sidelines.

“He was the number one supporter of Alibi Angels Softball team. He was a man who would do anything for anyone,” said Steve Stefanko, friend of Jeff and fellow team mate.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LOCAL NEWS

man from Massachusetts told them that McGuigan had molested him years earlier. In February 2011, a Broward County judge ruled that McGuigan would no longer be allowed to house foster children — this is when an 8-year-old told caseworkers McGuigan had molested him. The Herald reported that by then DCF had removed three children from McGuigan’s foster care, after which he got rid of his foster license. Finally, in a deal by maintained that the final call was based on which McGuigan wouldn’t fight Florida’s McGuigan’s history with the organization. allegations against him, a Broward judge “He’d been doing such an outstanding terminated McGuigan’s parental rights to an job,” Budwig said. “It really wasn’t an issue. adopted 6-year-old.

The accusations were unfounded.”

The board knew all of this, Budwig said, but These “unfounded” allegations started felt it was in the clear and didn’t strategize a as far back as 2000, according to the Miami response to the public had the situation ever Herald, when a Delray teenager come to scandalous fruition, as the board alleged that McGuigan had believed it never would. shown him child pornography “At this point, I’d have to say we’re and solicited him to perform moving on. The issue’s been resolved,” sexual acts. Police wanted Budwig told SFGN. “What happened prosecutors to charge him with yesterday happened yesterday. We’ve lewd and lascivious behavior, learned.” but the State Attorney’s Office Before this resolution, when the wouldn’t do it. In 2009, a board was still backing McGuigan 7-year-old committed suicide and standing behind him, two shortly after his time board members resigned: at McGuigan’s foster Charlotte Mather-Taylor home, according to of North Broward Hospital the Herald. While District and Cindy Cohn Margate police were of Memorial Regional investigating, a Hospital.

As of press time, mark budwig

Unfounded Allegations?

Broward House looking to leave scandal behind

By Gideon Grudo

W

hen it approved Michael McGuigan as the CEO of the HIV service center, the Broward House board of directors didn’t expect his troubled past to become a pertinent part of his — and its — present.

“We talked about it. We felt the allegations were unfounded,” said Mark Budwig, president of the board, and around when the directors were being briefed on McGuigan’s past of accusations of child molestation.

“He’s never been arrested, so we said let’s make this man president and CEO. We did discuss it, though.”

Budwig explained that McGuigan’s merit proved him a good candidate and nothing else mattered. He had been working at Broward House for nine years and was promoted to CEO in September when thenCEO, Pembroke Pines Commissioner Angelo Castillo resigned. Castillo had vouched for McGuigan to the board, but Budwig

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

SFGN could not reach either for comment.

The resolution is the appointment of Stacy Hyde, long-time Broward House worker — she’s served in five different positions at the agency: Director of Case Management, Director of Behavioral Health, Senior Director of Residential Programs, Senior Director of Contracts & Performance Management, and Chief Operating Officer.

Hyde has a clean and clear past according to Budwig.

While Broward House maintains that employees go through a rigorous background check before being hired and again every five years, Budwig said new policies will be implemented to prevent a McGuigan situation from happening again, though he couldn’t specify what those policies are yet, as he said they’re still being developed.

Like Budwig, who said that Broward House’s main concern is to continue and expand its services — in his tenure of nine years, Broward House’s budget rose from $4 million to $12 million, its client base from three to six million — Hyde also wants to keep focus on the future. And she’ll do what she has to do to regain momentum from the scandal.

“I know because of the staff that we have here and the commitment we have, we will move forward and regain any confidence we may have lost,” she said.

17

LOCAL NEWS

‘For All Those We’ve Lost’

Bicycle ride to Key West raises record amount

By SFGN Staff

T

hey left Miami and headed down to Key West, their bicycles oiled, their spirits raised.

It was the SMART Ride — the most successful one yet. In its ninth year, the bicycle ride to raise awareness and money for HIV/AIDS raised $860,000, and donations are still coming in.

Founder Glen Weinzimer, however, said

coming in from other states. Today, SMART Ride is the second largest cycling event of its kind in the country, first place going to the AIDS Life Cycle in California. It is, however, the only cycling event of its size to give 100 percent of its proceeds away. Almost half the out-of-state participants this year came from California, many of them having ridden in the Life Cycle.

•Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center •Pride Center at Equality Park •Metro Wellness and Community Centers •Center for Positive Connections •AIDS Help •Miracle of Love •Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County

5 teams

The SMART Ride’s top

These top 5 teams raised 347,894, which is more than 40 percent of the total amount raised this year

1. SoBe SAFE Riders $100,741 2. Pride Pack $71,546 3. Friends of Rosies $68,248 4. Lets Roll Bitches $60,626

Photo courtesy of Stephen Toby Blades Harmer

5. Live Free Be Strong $47,015

The SMART Ride’s top

10 riders

These top 10 participants raised, 124,667, which is almost 15 percent of the total amount this year

1. Timothy Haymon $20,775 2. Ed Pascoe $12,675 3. Julie Slater $12,424 4. Michael Dillon $12,300

that his favorite moment was “knowing every rider was safe and had arrived into Key West.” Hopefully, the record-breaking donations were a cause for celebration, as well.

Weinzimer attributed the success of this year to the completely-volunteer staff and participants who “gave 100 percent.”

Other key attributes to the successful year were the massive involvement from the community and the ever-luscious destination: Key West.

This year participation from out-ofsate doubled with 82 riders and attendees

18

Weinzimer founded SMART Ride back in 2003 to give back. Having worked for HIV agencies, Weinzimer — who’s been positive since 1993 — saw how fundraising events could go awry, no one really benefitting from them. This was his way of ensuring that the agencies in charge of helping those affected by the virus got the funding they needed to operate.

“Going in and making photocopies wasn’t doing it for me,” Weinzimer said. “That was my motivation.”

The beneficiaries of the money this year will be strewn all across the state:

This year, a new element makes its way into the fund allocation, called the 10 percent Lifeline. Essentially, SMART Ride will keep a portion of the funds to allocate throughout the year to agencies that may be in need of quick cash infusions.

“From the very start when I created the event, the goal wasn’t just to help the largest agencies, but also the smaller ones,” Weinzimer said, and added that places like the Poverello Center will now be able to appeal for something like $10,000 to run an event, anytime through the year.

For more information, go to www. thesmartride.org.

5. Dave Fletcher $12,281 6. Michael Fowler $11,410 7. Will Richardson $11,186 8. Gabriel Hernandez $10,892 9. Neal Harry Barton $10,610 10. William Renaud $10,114

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Salutes SMART Riders JAMES DELORGE TODD FERBER KAYSIE MCALISTER OSCAR RATTENBORG DOUGLAS WITTIG CRICI STROY-MARTIN JOHN RADAJER ERIC KILMAN JOHN ROGATZKI CAROL SPICER ANDREA WEINZIMER PAUL BUTLER MARTHA ALLEN LAZARO HERNANDEZ STEVE FIGLMILLER DEIDRA BERGMANN RON CALL III GLORIA CORSINI POLLOCK MARK BYRD DEAN ALLEN MORAN, LMT GARY ORDELHEIDE SCOTT FITZWATER MICHAEL GLUCKMAN RICHARD ELLIS LINDA TALTY VAUGHN HENDERSON VICTOR MARTIN RUSSELL LEE NANCY MAYHEW ROBBIN RODRIGUEZ GERRY THOMPSON ROBERT ELLIOTT DON HORINE DAVID HOUGHAM STEPHEN JERGE SUSAN SMITH REGINA MEHALKO JERRY HUGHES GREGORY KOSS ELIZABETH CLARK JEAN JOHNSON JEFF BURKE LUCY VIRGO LAVERNE MARTIN PAUL KELLY JOHN HICKEY LEONARD BARNETTE CHRISTOPHER HITT JAIME BAHAMONDES PATRICIA BAHAMONDES GREG BISTOLFI JOSEPH NORTH PASQUALE AMENDOLA CARMINE MARTORILLI DONALD CLAPSADLE MARK RUTHERFORD TOM DAVIS SHERRY BROWN SCOTT GRAY AIDAN HERNANDEZ LOURDES CARISEO PAUL BIRKLA MARIA GARCIA KRISTINE KOFFLER SARA DONALDSON MATTHEW TOCHTENHAGEN ANN SMITH JODI GREENWALD CAROLINE LETO YOLETTE BONNET SHANTONIA DAVIS JOHN GEARRITY KENNETH GOODMAN JOHN HARRIS PAMELA SCHAEFER BYRON SPICE JR. ANGUS BRADSHAW JR. NIKIA LAFONTANT NICOLA GUERRERO LINDA HARTWELL NANCY GOLDWIN LAWRENCE DAVANZO DEREK MANN ELIZA ANDER TAMARA LEONARD REUNNA LOVETTE DERRICK MIDDLEBROOK GLENN KRABEC COREY KUKOWSKI KIM GIULIANO JIA GIULIANO MARCIO SANTOS NESTOR LLANOS ELAINE ESPLIN LOU POKRIEFKA VIVAN VELTRI MICHAEL FIORANI JANE DUNLAP DENICE JENKINS PHIL SAPOVCHAK TOM MCCLEAVE PATRICK RUTA JEAN STARKEY NANCY COSEO STEVE KORN SHANNON HETTENBACH MAGGIE FEILER SHARLENE LONDON

CHRISTINE BENKLY RICHARD SWEENEY GINA THOMPSON-SMITH CORA ROMERO TODD ADKISON PHILIP CHEN SHARON CAPPELLAZO DAVID BUDLONG ISABELLA HERNANDEZ KENNETH HIERMAN PIETER SNYMAN DENNIS DEDOMENICO JULIAN CAVAZOS REINALDO RIVERA CARMEN SUAREZ VINCENT FECONDA KEITH WILLARD LJ WOOD DEE NEWLAND GREGORY CASTRO EFRAIN CAMACHO MAYRA DOMINGUEZ CHARLES BROWN TIMOTHY DESMOND RICHARD GUERETTE ANDREW SEGALOFF MICHAEL HAIGH BILLIE HAIRSTON BEN OLEARY SEAN PISCHEDA KORENE JOHNSON SANDRA BALBUENA PAM SCHAEFER STEVEN DOUGLAS ROBB WOOTEN COLIE LANCASTER FRANCIS ORTIZ-FORNES SABRINA PEREZ-KING GREG LEOCE LYNN ALBERTELLI CAROL CLOTHIER STEVEN LUTZ TODD STUART RYAN ROBINSON CAROL BROWN ROSE HORNEDO PATRICK SMIKLE JEWEL MORACE ROBERT BOO JOHN TROUT DEE RANADE MARAH LEE ROBERT BARKER STACIE ACKERMAN HERIBERTO BARRERA MARTHA BLACK VICKY ORONA VINI COSTANZO RICHARD BIVIANO HARRY WATTERS TOBYBLADES RAY ACEVEDO ANA PUGA ANTHONY NOBILE JACK ANDERSON DEVON MCCRAE DANA OAKLUND LISTRON BLUE MANNIX KAREN CARROLL TROY GOODIN SCOTT BELDING DAVID LAU MARIE HAYES JOSE PEREZ DONNA NIXON JOSE ROMERO RACHEL PARKS PRIYA RAJKUMAR MARIE MITCHELL ALBERT VAZQUEZ JULIA DELMERICO BILL CLEAVER MARIA COLONNA STEPHANIEROMERO MARY BARTON DAVID DISKIN ZOE DISKIN JOE FAHMIE JENNIFER LOMAS CARLOS RODANES JOHNNY ROGERS LAURA TONER JULIO VILLANUEVA DERICK LEE ROGERS HARRELL ALEXIS RACINE XOAQUIMA DIAZ GARY LAWSON JADE DISKIN TERENCE WEST JOHNNY MCGEE CJ ORTUNO LEMUEL RUCKER NANCI KERSCH DIANE WAGNER DANAE THOMAS FELICIA JIMENEZ JOHN ROMANO JEREMIAH GRANTHAM

DAVID GRIFFITHS KENNA ESPLIN FLASH MARONCELLI PHIL ANDERTON KAREN FRANK-NOLL JAMIE BLOOD GARRY BREUL LEANTHONY DAVIS DEBORAH DEJEAN ROB ANGLE, RN BARBARA LAPSLEY PATRICK SAUTER ROBIN ROSEMEIER DENNIS DEAN THOMAS CLARK JOSEPH SMITH PAUL BERMAN MICHAEL MCGREEN ERIC KENNEY CHARLES ZALEPESKI JOSH MATOS DANIEL GIMENEZ RANDY GETTEL DR REBECCA COLON JORDAN SELA SHAMSHER-PATRICK LAMBA JEFFREY THOMSEN BRODERICK JONES SUSAN LOZANO NESTA ELLIOTT GREG GARCIA CHRISTINE POLITZ TROY KELLEY PAUL CHOUINARD STEPHEN CROWE ALAN STEEL KHADIJAH CHARLES PAUL OROURKE ANDY LAUER ED PASCOE MICHAEL DILLON NEAL HARRY BARTON JULIE SLATER JOHN LABUS WILLIAM RENAUD GLEN WEINZIMER ADAM KOTTLER ROB HONCHELL ELIO RAMOS DAVE FLETCHER ALLISON RUB WILLIAM DAVIS RANDY CANNON GARY WOLANSKE WILL RICHARDSON VALERIE WOJCIECHOWICZ EVANDARLING ERIC HOWARD BRUCE UVEGES MICHAEL LOGAN MARC VIENS CLARENCE ROLLS DONALD JONES TANYA SCHREIBMAN MATS ANDER MARK SALVADOR RON DEVILLIERS JOSEPH HARLOW SETH LEVERENCE DAVID MASHER KEVIN HOPPER RANDY POWELL STEVEN RULE LORI HENRICKSEN ANNETTE YURATOVAC JOANNE CARRON BOB POSTER SCOTT GREENBERG MARCI GREENBERG ANNIE ELMER LUIZ CAVALCANTI ALEJANDRO ISAVA ROBBIE KIRKLAND JOHN RILEY MICHAEL NORFLEET JAMES KISELICA PATRICK HATCHWELL MARK MARRANZINI MARK STEIN LAURIE WELTON NOAH FREEDMAN DAVID PHILLIPS STEPHANIE KEEGAN KEVIN LANE CHAD DAUGHTREY PHILIP SCHIFF PHOENIX ADAMS DAWN KING MELISSA RATTENBORG RIK PAVLESCAK BRAD MANN RON SCHORSCH JADE FRIEDLAND KENNETH JOHNSON KRISTOFER FEGENBUSH DEAN TOWNSEND ROBERT ELDREDGE

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

AL MAGDALENO MARTIN STAATS BILL DEYOUNG ROLAND MERCHANT PACO BECERRA SPENCER QUINN JACOB HAMM CHRISTOPHER RUDISILL MATTHEW DOYLE DAVID MARION JOHN WEISS RICHARD GONZALEZ WILLIAM GUNNING STEPHEN PULLEY ASHLEY HANSEN ROB LOSER MIKECOURNOYER SHAWN MCCORMACK HOWARD LEVY DEBRA VOEGE KENDAL JOLLY TOM BOYKO JAMES VAN MIDDLESWORTH J PATRICK MERCIER DAVID BILLINGSLEY CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON OLMAN MONJARREZ DOUGLAS BROWN PAUL GORDON BRYAN GILCHRIST EDDIE OROZCO JOHN HANNUM PATRICIA CAYA RUSTY OBANION MARK MIONI RICHARD NIXON CHRISTIAN GRAY JENNIFER DAVIS SHARON JAFFE HARARY FRANC MAS JOSEPH COYNE LOUIS GAFFORD CHRISTIAN KLIMAS CHRISTOPHER MAGDALENO TIM WAGONER ROBIN HOLTSINGER EFSTATHIOS EFSTATHIOU CHRISTY HEATH KIM ANDREWS SONNIE MAUGHAN JOHN POLLOCK SUE KRONAUGE STEVEN KANE FRED DOPMAN ELLEN HUNLEY JOANNE KANE JT TEAHAN SIG BRUNNACKER SCOTT BOEBEL TIFFINY REED OCTAVIO GODOY CHUCK LANZA WILL GRUBBS CINDIE RUIZ TIFFANY BARBER VICKY HARRISON MAGGIE WILLMAN JEAN BATES ADAM BOND RHONDA HOOPER JOHNNIE CALLOWAY DAVID ROY JAMES LONGWORTH DAVID GUZMAN STEPHANIE CHAMBERLIN AMANDA HOWARD MARK STEVENS NATALIE DAY ALAN CORDS CYNTHIA WILLIAMS LORI BROWN DONNA DICRESCENTO NICHOLAS RASHID KEVIN MURDOCH ILENE SCHNALL DREW MILLER CHRIS CAPUTO STEVEN DAHLQUIST KRISTIN FARRELL MELANI YERPE JON MARCH TROY FELDKAMP SCOTT THOMPSON SOHAN PATEL RICHARD CYR JASON BENOIT JENNIFER ROSS CHRISTOPHER SANTRY R. J. HADLEY ROBERT STEELE LORI RICHARDS SUSAN ANN BONITATIBUS SYLVIE LE NOUAIL MICHELLE TUCKER BROOKS YARBROUGH MARGIE LONGSTRETH BILL LONGSTRETH JAMIE MOGER

HUMBERTO NUNEZ GENEVIEVE DILLON ROBERT PAGLIARO TIFFANY COUTEE JUSTIN KJERULF MICHAEL KOSTAS MARK MARTIN LEIGH HOPPE CONNIE ARMSTRONG DAMIAN SIRIANI LETICIA GRAHAM KELLY GRAHAM ROBERT PANAYI JAMES PLACE RICK MARTINEZ JOSEPH ORTLIEB VICKI STANBURY JORGE HERNANDEZ BILLY SPRAYBERRY NANETTE WINZELL KIM MORGAN-VAGNUOLO KEN DISHMAN CHRIS FREEZE MICHELLE MOCK CAROLINA DIAZLARACUENTE JOHN PATCHETT DAN OROPESA MELINDA ELMER KERRY CASTILLO KEITH MANGOLD LARRY MAILLOUX BERNICE DETIG JASON STANCKIEWITZ BECKY STONE MICHELLE DURKEE MICHAEL DAVIS DONALD HARVEY IRMA LARANCUENTE SAMANTHA BEEHNER ARIELLA JONAS JANE DIANGE NICHOLAS TUCCI ANDREA LANZA LORI DOODY MICHAEL MILLER JEFFREY DAVIS LYNN HERALD HUGO MORO CAMERON MCKENZIE PAUL BRATTAN GABRIEL SALINAS KELLY CLAPSADLE DAVE SCHREIBMAN CHRISTINE KING DONNIE ROTH JEFF BLEITZ CHRISTINE HORNE KATIE SAPOVCHAK JEFF MACOMBER GREGORY GOOKINS STEVE MILLS ALFRED LAFAVE MICHAEL PERNA SARAH MCGUIGAN JOSE MENESES JOE PADULA CARLOS VARGAS KEN MOORE MICHAEL FOWLER VICKY NADON SUSAN MICHEL CHRISTOPHER GARCIAHALENAR RUSSELL CHRISTENSEN MICHAEL MUNIZ SALVATORE DI MARCO KIMBERLEY HALL ELIZABETH LOVE ALEJANDRO KALAF III DAVID MEADORS MICHAEL BIEBER MAUREEN KEMPA ANDRE MCINTOSH SUMMER HEYERLY SHEP AGOLLI YESSENIA MORFIN DON BRUST ERIN DEADY JULIA DEBUCHANANNE CAMERON KABINOFF WILLIAM JONES MELISSA COBB HARLEY GARZA LETA WARD ASAEL MARTINEZ MAX GROSO TOM HETTENBACH TOM RUNYAN DAN WADE MARITZA BEDOYA CAROL MORAN FIONA SCHLOSSER LEE ELMSLIE

JULIE GOFORTH MATTHEW GOFORTH APRIL PATERSON MELANIE HENDERSON FIONA BELL JOHN TRAPP JEFF SHORT TROY LOUTSENHIZER VICKY GILL RENEE CAPUTI MILTON DE TRINIDAD MASIS CHARLIE LONDON CHAD GOFORTH JASON BOLLACK JOHN CARRINO LENNY CHESAL DAVID KITCHEN RITA ROMERO CHRIS MURRIN ERIC KRAUSE AMANDA JAGELMAN JACKIE GWIDT WILLIAM LAY STEFANIE MARKHAM JAMES GRANT PAUL RYCHECK KATIE HANEY ANNA MARCHISIO MICHAEL ATKINS GEORGE HEHNER JESS FEILER JOHN WALKER JED CICAK CHRISTIAN SIGLER KRISTIN BARTHOLOMEW ROGER MAHMOOD CHARLES ACKERSON

Nov 16-17 2012

UMBERTO VELTRI GEORGE STROM BRIAN LOGUE JAMIE GWIDT SHANE WICKHAM CINDY VINCENT DUSTAN WILLIAMS DONNA PHILLIPS BECKY DAVIS ANNE SUTTON ALEXANDER LOPEZ JESUS ROMAN ALFRED PHILLIPS DAVID POTAMI SIMON YOUNG BRUCE ETSHMAN BARRY DURST JAMES DIEFENBACHER FAITH DISKIN MICHELLE DAVIS CARMEN MELENDEZ MICHAEL TREILING RAPHAEL CLEMENTE JOHN GUY BRETT ROSE JEREMY BLACKLOW DEIRDRE ROBBINS JIM BOWMAN SHALON HOPKINS ALLISON PARNELL MICHAEL KINSLEY ED JOHNSON GRANT MCKENZIE LESLIE TIPTON JAIME BAHAMONDES ALEKSEJS PECERSKIS REBECCA LEE

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MARTHA ALVAREZ DANA PEARSON ALYSON NASH MR. STACEY WALL ISRAEL GUTIERREZ JEFFREY BALLINGER PETE GALLETTA ROBERTO MAMELI BILL COLLINS JON BERRY JUSTINE YOUNGLESON FRANK CONWAY VINCENT TAMARIZ JOSEPH DECOSTANZA JAMES WALKER KIT LOGAN LINDA MARINO BOBBY ODOR BILL PATCHETT DOUGLAS WATKINS ARNIE BRAMAN EDWARD ALCAZAR JODI KNOX ANDREA HAYS KEVIN BROOMELL JASON GRODENSKY

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LOCAL NEWS

Halloween Beat Down

Local entertainer assaulted on Halloween; alleged attacker arrested

By Ryan Dixon

Photo Courtesy of Stephen R. Lang – Jump On Mark’s List

Photo Courtesy of Broward Sherriff’s Office

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“That’s untrue,” Walters said. “My God, he was wearing a fucking KKK outfit. I said if I saw his face again, yes I’d know it.”

Corbin’s costume consisted of striped sheets, a wooden cross, a lit torch and a sign around his neck that read: “Stop the race war against whites. Vote for Romney.”

A day after the Oct. 31 incident, Walters went to the emergency room just as a precaution. It was determined nothing was

and how police had questioned him and let him go. He would eventually get arrested on Monday, Nov. 12, and released on $6,000 bond early the following morning on Nov 13.

Corbin refused to be interviewed, but his lawyer provided SFGN with a statement: “Mr. Corbin is a caring and peaceful person who would never hurt anybody. The incident was not an assault and he did not intend to cause harm. Mr. Corbin’s intentions were misconstrued and the situation escalated as a result,” Attorney Jeff Dean wrote. “Mr. Corbin wore his costume to put down, mock and ridicule people who are racist and homophobic.

Some people didn’t get it and emotions ran high. Mr. Corbin is supportive of the community, is a wonderful person, and is innocent.”

Jackson Padgett, who owns the Alibi along with partner Mark Negrete, told SFGN that they “as owners and responsible community members are doing [their] own investigations as well.”

“However, what happened was certainly unfortunate,” He wrote.

“We also believe that no one should be assaulted in anyway, physically nor verbally, as I find both to be equally damaging just as rumors and innuendos.

Both can be very damaging michael walters as himself & dame edna was assaulted on halloween night. and should be addressed severely and through the wrong and Walters was released. Thanks appropriate channels.” to Walters’ Facebook followers who put Walters, who leaves Florida next week Corbin’s picture online, Walters learned his to participate in a second reading for the name, address and phone number just hours Broadway version of The Honeymooners, after the incident. said this incident has left him hurting both Equipped with a disc full of Corbin’s physically and mentally. photos, Walters and Lucas went back to the “I’m very upset by the way this has police on Nov. 1. transpired,” he said.

A few days after the incident, a friend Walters does intend to pursue all avenues informed Walters that Corbin was at a local to the fullest extent of the law concerning restaurant, bregging about what happened him and Corbin.

Photo courtesy of Michael Walters

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ichael Walters, known as one may have thought he had fallen off the stage of the world’s premier Dame rather than being pulled off by Corbin.

Edna impersonators, had a “I don’t know what people thought. It rather turbulent night while all happened so fast. There were so many hosting the costume contest outside of the people; it was packed so tight,” he said.

Alibi on Halloween night.

Someone in a security shirt helped pick Walters claims a man attacked him with him off the ground and brought him inside a burning torch during the Alibi costume the Manchester room at Alibi, Walters said, contest. He would post about the attack on and sat him down at the bar. But Walters was Facebook and soon friends would identify only concerned about worrying his partner, the man as Boyd Corbin.

“I was onstage and it happened so fast. He was behind me and I kept seeing out of my peripheral vision a burning torch,” Walters said.

Corbin was photographed that night by several people carrying a wooden cross and a lit garden torch — he was also dressed a member of the Klu Klux Klan.

Walters says Corbin was on the curb by the tree outside the front doors of Alibi.

“I turned around and said ‘put that thing out’ and he just kept waving it around, he even thrust it at me a couple of times. Had he come any closer I would have gone up like Michael Jackson,” Walters said regarding the chemicals in his wig. “I grabbed it and tried to blow it out but [the corbin, hours after his arrest boyd corbin in his controversial ku torch] didn’t go out – that’s boyd for assault with a deadly weapon. klux klan costume. when [Corbin] reached up and pulled my wig off, at the same time grabbing my arm and pulling Doug Lucas. me off the stage. I landed with all of my “All I wanted was someone to tell Doug weight on my right leg and I felt something where I was.” pop really bad.”

Later that night, after the festivities and Walters said Corbin then leaned over him shock of being attacked wore off, Walters and Walters kicked at him. and Lucas went to the Wilton Manors Police “I was going to kill him,” said Walters. He station to file a report of the incident. admitted that he hasn’t sought out medical Walters then told SFGN he disputed some attention other than right after the incident of the details in the police report, especially because of his lack of insurance. where it stated Walters was “unsure if he SFGN asked if Walters thought people could identify the patron.”

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Editorial

SFGN Wishes its Readers a Happy Thanksgiving

Manors Should Merge With BSO

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he Wilton Manors Police Union last year voted 28-0 to encourage a merger with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Next Tuesday, the city commission should vote 5-0 to ask the Sheriff’s office to send them a proposal to effectuate such a merger.

Very simply, Wilton Manors is becoming too big a city with too small a police force.

While South Florida Gay News is published in three counties, and now has over 550 distribution spots, Wilton Manors is still our hometown. It is where we planted our roots because it has become a leading American LGBT community. (By the way, it would be prudent and prideful if the website WiltonManors.org could more accurately depict that life here is significantly different than life in Peoria.)

Our LGBT community has infused this economy with new and refurbished residences, revitalized commercial enterprises, and even an ever-emerging nightlife on the ‘Drive.’ Our community deserves first class law enforcement support, not second hand excuses of why traffic patrols are unavailable or burglaries can’t be timely processed.

With an LGBT supportive Sheriff-elect, Scott Israel, now about to take office, we know that the command staff of a new law enforcement administration will be friendly to our own leadership. In fact, the new general counsel for the sheriff-elect, Ron Gunzburger, is an openly gay administrator.

Transitioning to the sheriff’s administration does not mean we will be losing a ‘hometown’ police force. What we will be gaining is a greater level of public safety, improved resources, better staffing, more efficient response times, and less cost overruns. There will still be local commanders.

Financially, a new three year contract with BSO has the potential of saving Manors taxpayers over $4 million, freeing revenues for other purposes. Presently, Manors police officers have had their training funds been cut by 38 percent, civilian personnel by 29 percent, and road patrols by 20 percent.

Those numbers should be unacceptable to all our citizens, regardless of whether you are straight or gay.

The police union is encouraging friends, neighbors and supporters to turn out to the City Commission meeting at 7 p.m.

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By Publisher Norm Kent on November 27, in order to advance the proposal, an idea whose time has come. At the very least, it is an idea worth listening to.

First of all, it has to be financially practical for the sheriff’s office to move forward.

The city of Wilton Manors needs more than to just issue proclamations celebrating Sunday green markets. To drive business on ‘The Drive,’ the street needs to be made more pedestrian-friendly. To induce businesses to build, and customers to feel welcomed, we need to make the state road our own. We need city commissioners who are visionary and vocal, not nearsighted. We need law enforcement on that path too.

Ultimately, we need to celebrate LGBT diversity in our community, on items as simple as our website and as broad as our police force. It is the judgment of SFGN that accessing and harnessing the resources of the Broward Sheriff’s diverse, better equipped, and more professional staff enhances those opportunities.

The Smart Ride Rolls On

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aising over $850,000 along the way, the Smart Ride gives life to the testimony of the late anthropologist, Margaret Mead, that a small group of committed people can change the world.

As we featured last week in our cover story, over 713 riders cycled from Miami to Key West in order to commemorate the lives lost from the pandemic of AIDS, which we will celebrate again next week in somber ceremonies on World AIDS Day. In a sense, as the drugs improve, and people live with HIV rather than die from it, we have become too complacent over the way things are. But in the past few years, the waiting lists for life-saving drugs has grown, and a cure is still not certain. So the walks, the rides, and rallies must continue.

Next year, SFGN will work with,

sponsor and embrace the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Walk and Concert on the Fort Lauderdale Beach, March 24, 2013. We encourage you to participate. What you gain from a Smart Ride or AIDS walk is something words can’t adequately describe.

To partake with friends in journeys like these is to infuse yourself with a mobilizing spirit, an indomitable energy, and irrepressible force. Every step you take, every spoke you turn, brings you closer to the day when you celebrate not a crisis, but a cure.

To those who pedaled last week from Miami to Key West, we support and salute you. To those who provided support and succor, the crew, the massage therapist, the first aiders, we admire and applaud you. You have helped make our world a healthier, safer place, and by bringing to light the plight of many, you have, with pride and passion, illuminated your own lives as well.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

GUEST COLUMN

THE SAVINGS START NOW

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By Mark Segal, Publisher of Philidelphia Gay News

I

t’s magic time in Washington, D.C., and Senate, then be signed by the president, and our LGBT media, bloggers and whose support we already have. We know particularly lobbyists like Human we also have the support of Democratic Rights Campaign are not feeling that leadership and the overwhelming majority magic. Most are tripping over themselves to of Democrats in the House and Senate. OK, give what they believe should be the LGBT here comes the problem, and a suggestion. priorities for the Obama administration’s From that scenario, you should devise second term. All their suggestions are that the hold-up would be in the House of worthy, but they all Representatives, whose miss the Washington speaker is Congressman magic.

They’re John Boehner.

The looking in the wrong speaker controls all. If place. he wishes, legislation Let’s take a cue will make it to the floor from the Latino and to a vote. He does community.

It’s not necessarily have to the other side of have his name on the Pennsylvania Avenue legislation. The point is, we should be focusing he has the Republican on — the U.S. votes and the authority to Senate and House of get it through the House.

Representatives. The And as magic season has Latino community it, he’s very much aware gets the game: Their of not only the future lobbyists have a of Republicans in the american businessman, attorney, and political focus and make it figure who served as the campaign manager for House, but those around the 2004 re-election campaign of george w. simple for legislators him who want his job. bush, ken mehlman to understand. For That, my friends, spells them, it’s the Dream opportunity. Choose your Act. For us, it should be the Employment partner and dance. Anyone in for a fox trot Nondiscrimination Act. with Congressman Cantor?

Magic time in D.C. happens rarely. It comes Time for our friends at GOProud and Log every four to eight years and only when there Cabin and people like Ken Mehlman to prove is a true shift in the populace that one of the themselves. They should either, on their political parties begins to look inward to try own or with a coalition of organizations, and find their deficiencies. That magic time focus like a laser beam on ENDA and usually runs from the election to the end of Boehner. If you guys don’t have the access, the current congressional term, since the then it’s time for you to stand your ground, congressional leadership can count on the as Latinos have with the Dream Act. Ken, majority of outgoing members for their votes raising money for marriage equality will not in trade for future assistance, and on current wash the blood off your hands, but standing members looking for plum positions in the in front of the Capitol at a news conference new Congress. fighting for nondiscrimination starts you on ENDA is the only major part of our that path. priority list that is not accomplished. It’s Here’s the rub: We have about four weeks important, since most LGBT Americans are left of this Congress. Think that is not still not protected in employment. Military enough time? Remember the end of “Don’t servicemembers are; if you work for the U.S. Ask, Don’t Tell”? That’s all it took, just two government you are. To our lobbyists in D.C., years ago. isn’t it time to use our political capital for the Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s rest of the people? most-award-winning commentator in LGBT How to make it happen: It takes three media. He can be reached at mark@epgn. steps. First, ENDA must pass both the House com.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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23

FEATURE

‘An Instrument of Social Change’

Project LEAP offers free dance classes for GLBTQ teens and their allies

By Andrea Dulanto

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t 24 years old, Pioneer Winter presents an impressive roster of work as a dancer, choreographer and media artist with Reaching the Surface, a performance that confronts the stigma of HIV/AIDS; 42: A Stonewall Prospective; and the upcoming Mother-Son (days) at Open Stage Miami at Little Haiti Cultural Center.

In addition, Winter is Director of Miami Dance Studio, which opened in August with affordable dance classes for children and adults.

Winter’s commitment to the arts is also reflected in his artist statement, which views “dance as an instrument of social change.” In order to transform theory into action, The Miami Foundation GLBT Community Projects Fund provided Winter with a grant for Project L.E.A.P. (Living Equality through Arts and Performance).

Project LEAP presents free dance and creative communication workshops for 14- to18-year-old GLBTQ youth and their allies. Starting Nov. 24, classes meet at the Miami Dance Studio every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. until May 2013.

In an interview with SFGN, Winter discussed Project LEAP and what participants can expect.

How did Project LEAP come about?

After teaching for a number of years, including participating in many enrichment programs, I could see how the arts play an active role in personal development.

Noticing how the arts have the power to improve confidence, increase self-efficacy, and bring people together with unique, shared experiences, is how I came up with the program mission.

In a nutshell, Project LEAP removes significant barriers for an at-risk population of 14- to 18-year-old GLBTQ teens and their friends to access the performing arts, receive mentoring from experienced teaching artists, and showcase their talent and ideas to the community at large.

What kind of response has Project LEAP received?

Everyone who heard about Project LEAP has been very receptive and

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interested. We’re looking to serve between 30 to 60 teens, so we have sought out many organizations including Pridelines Youth Services, Safe Schools South Florida, and Culture Shock Miami.

Who will provide instruction?

Marie Whitman (creative communication; director of the North Miami Arts Collective, a well-respected performance and spoken word artist); Neil de la Flor (creative communication; a professor at several South Florida colleges and arts writer for Artburst Miami and Knight Arts Blog); Marissa Nick (dance); and myself (dance).

Who is the ideal participant?

All teens who value equality. While teens with previous experience in dance are welcome, we are also gearing this program to kids who haven’t had the opportunity to try dance yet.

Why is it important to be open to GLBTQ youth and their friends?

While this program is structured to develop self-efficacy and confidence in GLBTQ youth, it will also build the same confidence, plus awareness, in allied teens… This project hopes to demonstrate that acceptance and mutual respect is built through understanding of shared ties — a demonstration of similarities instead of differences.

Is there a limit to the number of participants?

Even if we were to reach our capacity of 60 participants, we’d figure out an alternative schedule in order to include everyone.

Is late registration allowed?

We will allow late registration for the first few sessions. Interested individuals just need to give us a call or e-mail.

Please describe the ‘creative communication’ component.

Creative Communication includes poetic and theatrical expression, interpretation of non-verbal communication, and even some visual art.

Teens will develop their written and spoken strengths by creating poetry and plays, journaling, and engaging in open discussion.

Can you provide a brief preview of visiting artists and cultural/ performance venues?

Teens will have the opportunity to maintain dialogue with [guest speakers] throughout the program, [and] will also perform with professional local artists in their culminating event at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Peacock Foundation Studio.

Why are the arts important for teens?

The performing arts encourage full body expression. Project L.E.A.P. affords an opportunity for them to have a voice and express themselves in a supportive environment, providing a cathartic experience.

For more information, go to www. miadancestudio.com.

If you’re interested in taking the class When: Starts Saturday, Nov. 24, 3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Meets every Saturday until May 2013 Late registration accepted Where: Miami Dance Studio 222 NE 25 Street, Unit 102 Miami, FL 33137 How To Register: Send an e-mail to info@ miadancestudio.com or call 305572-1119

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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The Regulars

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By Karl Hampe

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Jesse’s Journal

“Frankenstorm” Sandy Devastates Ali Forney Center in New York City

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By Jesse Monteagudo

urricane Sandy was arguably the most destructive Atlantic storm since Katrina. Its impact on the eastern United States, Canada and the Caribbean will be felt for a long time to come. Though self-appointed guardians of morality blamed the LGBT community for Sandy, this “Frankenstorm” struck people and their property regardless of race, color, gender or sexual orientation.

Some of the effects of Sandy were relatively

was started in 2002 and named after a transgender youth who was murdered in 1997. The Ali Forney Center’s “mission is to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) youth from the harm of homelessness, and to support them in becoming safe and independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood.”

The Center provides short- and long-term housing, medical care, HIV testing, mental health services, showers, food, computer

trivial, like the cancellation of the annual Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. More serious was the loss of power, property and lives experienced by too many people, LGBT or otherwise. Fire Island, a barrier island that served as a LGBT resort and getaway for almost a century, suffered significant damage, though thankfully no one was hurt.

In lower Manhattan’s largely-gay Chelsea neighborhood, Sandy left floods, power outages, and chaos in its wake.

One of Hurricane Sandy’s best-known Chelsea “casualties” was the Ali Forney Center for queer youth. Made famous by public service ads featuring “A-List” photographer Mike Ruiz, the Center

access and job training.

During its first decade, the Ali Forney Center has benefitted from the generosity of many, most notably a large bequest from the estate of actress Bea Arthur. Even so, the Center has been short of funds even before Hurricane Sandy struck. Sandy caused major water damage to the Center, forcing it to close its doors.

“I am saddened to report that this past weekend we were finally able to inspect our Drop-In Center on West 22nd Street - which serves as the entry point to many of our programs for LGBTQ youth,” reported Carl Siciliano, the Center’s Executive Director, on November 5. “Water went at least four

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

feet up the walls, and everything in there, including phones, computers, refrigerators, supplies, and the building floors has been irreparably damaged. I do not see us being able to return there, especially since our lease ends in January.”

Siciliano continued: “Having our dropin center destroyed means it is likely that we are among the hardest-hit of all LGBTQ organizations in the city.”

The devastation incurred by the Ali Forney Center is doubly tragic; because the

aliforneycenter.org) and making online donations there or by making a check out to the Ali Forney Center and sending it to the Ali Forney Center, 224 West 35th Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

AFC is also in need of such items as toiletries, cleaning supplies, office supplies, twin sheet sets, towels and wash cloths, socks, underwear and T-shirts, school supplies and book bags. (But NOT used clothing, linens, or toiletries) Some of you might say that the Ali Forney

anything that affects our brothers and sisters anywhere affects all of us everywhere. people they serve are the ones most likely to suffer from the likes of Sandy. Happily, the LGBT community was not one to abandon the most vulnerable among us. New York City’s LGBT Community Center stepped up to the plate, inviting the AFC drop-in center to resume operations at the Center located on West 13th Street in the West Village. The Ali Forney Center will remain in that location until it can move into its new permanent home, now scheduled for late December.

Meanwhile, groups and individuals large and small have organized fundraisers for the cash-strapped Center. A recent fundraiser at Industry, a gay bar on West 52nd Street in Hell’s Kitchen, attracted such luminaries as Mike Ruiz, actress Ally Sheedy, activist Corey Johnson, MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts and his husband, Patrick Abner. A total of $33,000 was raised at that event.

As part of the effort to save the Ali Forney Center, LGBT journalists from coast to coast have written about its plight, most notably Patrick J. Hamilton for Bilerico. Even so, the Ali Forney Center is a cause worth repeating, even by this humble author. Though there are several fundraising campaigns on behalf of the Center, direct donations can be made by visiting the Web site (www.

Center is up in New York and thus it does not affect those of us who live elsewhere.

However, anything that affects our brothers and sisters anywhere affects all of us everywhere. Though we might not need the services that the Center offers, there might come a time when (God forbid!) one of our loved ones could. Also the Ali Forney Center serves as a role model for similar operations across the USA and around the world. It is a worthy cause, and I urge all of you to support it.

Full Charge Bookkeeping Services

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McNaught’s Notes

Our Favorite Teachers

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n an attempt to protect my privacy, an Internet site asked me to name my favorite teacher. Apparently, my secret answer would block others from access to my account. The first name that came to my mind was that of my Eighth Grade nun, who taught me to listen to opera, be aware of current events, memorize poems, and follow the Stock Market.

But since plugging in my response to the site’s question, I’ve given a lot of thought to all of my teachers, including those who taught me to add numbers, endorse a check, be aware of the feelings of others, and enjoy sex. The names of those who taught me how to swim, dance, write, speak before an audience, quit drinking, find my spiritual path, know truth, and love myself won’t mean anything to anyone other than to the people who were my mentors. But the process of remembering the significant people in the formation of our skills, insights, and self-perceptions is a worthy endeavor for everyone.

Thinking about the individuals who most impacted the creation of Brian McNaught as he approaches 65 is enabling me to give them recognition in my own mind, thank them with positive thoughts, and, just as importantly, understand and appreciate that my name might appear on the lists of other people as a favorite teacher of theirs. Every living person is on someone’s list, even if the designation of “teacher” is about how not to think, or how not to behave. One of my teachers was a person who couldn’t be satisfied with his fame. He died frustrated at the lack of acclamation. Humility and gratitude are important lessons to learn.

Accidental or unintentional influence on a person’s life is nice if the influence was good, but we have a responsibility to teach others. I’m not talking about proselytizing by annoying people with home visits, or using bullhorns on the street to warn of the perils of sin. I’m talking about being aware of how our behavior impacts others, and proactively stepping forward to offer people the benefit of our experiences.

There’s nothing wrong with saying, “If you ever decide to quit smoking, I can tell you what worked for me.”

I hope that the influence I’ve had on

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By Brian McNaught the lives of others has been positive. I’ve been receiving a lot of anonymous hate mail recently from someone who is very angry at me for not promoting impersonal sex.

He feels I’ve co-opted the sexual revolution by writing and speaking about my lifelong relationship with Ray. Perhaps I’m on his

knowing and spending time with David and Drew impacted me far more than their written words. They were Californians in the fields of psychiatry/psychology, which might explain why their attitudes toward the importance, or lack thereof, of sex in a relationship was far more progressive than Ray’s and mine. But their affirmation of their maleness and homosexuality provided really fine role models that enabled me to question, challenge, and overcome my internalized heterosexism. I wouldn’t trade my relationship with Ray for the one they had with each other, but I gladly shed my self-consciousness of being a minority person who needed to make the majority person comfortable enough to accept me.

Some of my other favorite teachers, like David and Drew, are dead. Many of them

The lessons my mother taught me on how to dial a telephone, or keep my cowlicks down with a bar of soap, aren’t as useful to me today as the examples she gave me of decency and kindness.. list of teachers whose life taught him to live quite differently. (Personally, I have no objection to anonymous sex, as long as it’s safe. It’s like fast food. Not quite memorable but it satisfies a hunger.)

My favorite teachers about gay male relationships, sex, and gay pride were Drs. David McWhirter and Drew Mattison.

They wrote the book, The Male Couple. It outlines the stages that couples generally go through in their relationships. But

didn’t live in my lifetime, such as Jesus, Buddha, and Lao-Tzu who lived over two thousand years ago. But, amazingly, some life lessons will always be the same. Dance steps change. The means of communicating changes. Standards of good cooking can change. But the lesson that we create our own suffering, and our own happiness, never changes. Nor do the components of love, the essence of orgasm, or the truth of our own “divinity.”

The Latin my father taught me to

memorize to become an altar b oy is no longer useful to me, but his example of generosity will always be relevant to my life.

The lessons my mother taught me on how to dial a telephone, or keep my cowlicks down with a bar of soap, aren’t as useful to me today as the examples she gave me of decency and kindness. I hum and sing during the day, as my mother always did, but more importantly, I hope to be as thoughtful as she taught me to be.

The dance steps and the swimming strokes my sister Kathy taught me are still very relevant, and have given me a great deal of pleasure in my life, but her eagerness and willingness to have fun is her primary gift to me.

My spouse Ray taught me the difference between stocks and bonds, (I think), and a variety of other useful skills, but he is a favorite teacher for making real to me the meaning of unconditional love.

I don’t regret meeting the people who taught me how to smoke cigarettes, get drunk, or make grass brownies, but I’m more likely to give the Internet the names of the people who taught me to exercise, to meditate, and to self-pleasure without guilt.

My favorite teachers include those who put a face on the issues dealt with by people with disabilities, people of color, women, bisexuals, transsexuals and cross dressers, Jews, atheists, and others with less privilege than I have in my life. I’m particularly grateful to the teachers who enabled me to see every living thing as completely connected to me.

We share the same essence. Everything that divides us is superficial and transitory.

The lessons that I hope younger people learn from all of us is to love themselves completely and unconditionally. They are perfect just the way they are. They have no need to win our acceptance. Their life goal should be awareness of the moments in which they live. Every experience is good if something is learned from it, and no harm is done to others.

Though I’m a bit shaken up by the need to go on Medicare, and being called “sir” by younger people, I know that I have many more years of lessons to learn. I hope to approach every person I meet as a teacher whose name may jump to the head of my list of “favorites.”

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.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Heard it on...

Media Matters

By Elliot Joseph

National Enquirer This past week, the esteemed National Enquirer ran its annual feature of ‘Who’s Gay and Who’s Not.’ And not many of the revelations were that revealing, but if you pick up the piece you will learn that the erstwhile Betty White reported that ‘Cary Grant’s homosexuality never hurt his career;’ that McCauly- you may remember him in bed with Michael Jackson- has a heroin addiction, and there is a 66% possibility that Jessica Biel is gay.

photographs capturing the events and surroundings of South Beach.

Publisher and Editor Rafa Carvajal is ‘kvelling’ over the new look and pizzazz the magazine generates, and is hopeful that it will drive the Thursday weekly to new successes. It certainly is bright and beautiful, and we wish them great success with the new look.

With so many Hollywood stars lining up to come out of the closet, you almost have to wonder if this 12 page spread could have been a 36 page special edition. More importantly for you bears out there who have seen Mickey Rourke on South Beach occasionally, the 60 year old muscled straight star is set to be lining up a role to play the renowned gay British rugby player Gareth Thomas in a major motion picture bio. If you stop and think about it, there have been very few gaycentric bios, and that is what draws Rourke to the role, he says.

Wire Goes Glossy The popular photographic weekly that permeates gay friendly Miami locales has taken a step onto the slick side. The news magazine, previously printed on high stock white paper, has gone all glossy.

Wire has been around 20 years, and has been embraced by the city and its numerous cultural and non profit organizations, primarily populating its pages with

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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FEATURE

Turning the Tide Stonewall event at The Manor a big hit

Photos By JR Davis

T

he Nov. 17 Stonewall National Museum and Archives event at the Manor, Stonewall Stars: Turning the Tide, brought Barney Frank to South Florida.

The benefit was a staple celebration and support-showcase for gay marriage.

Here are some of the night’s biggest moments.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FEATURE

Gay Sex: Just Feet Away How one app single handedly changed the landscape of sex and interaction

By Ryan Dixon

W

hat’s yellow and black and full of raging hormones? No, not the campus of Georgia Tech. If you’re a gay man, and a few straight women who love their gays, it’s most likely a little app on your phone that has revolutionized the way gay men do anything.

Grindr co-founder and Senior VP of Product & Design, Scott LeWallen, dreamed up his self-funded smart phone application with Joel Simkhai while living in New York City.

“We thought, ‘how can we make it easier to meet and find each other?’” LeWallen told SFGN. LeWallen, whose department is tasked with design and dreaming up the cool new features for Grindr users, said he and Simkhai had high hopes for the app when it launched on March 29, 2009. “When it started to snowball, to me that’s a testament as to how tech can help people.”

Three years later Grindr now boasts more than 4 million users, representing 193 counties with 1.5 million in the United States alone. The smart phone app launched on the iPhone, but is now a cross platform app compatible with Android and Blackberry as well.

Eryx, a 28-year-old gay Brazilian now living in Miami told SFGN that even though there were always gay bars and clubs, those are closed environments and some people just aren’t into it.

“A guy that is in his 30s without ever having sex can now check into Grindr and find a fuckbuddy at his gym, class or any other scenario where figuring out a person’s sexuality isn’t that easy or exposed” said Eryx. “There’s also the targeted violence deal (straight homophobes and groups that make profiles to find and interact with gay guys they lure from these apps), the risks of finding someone you know or from your family, and the higher rate of infidelity

Grindring Around the World Breakdown Thailand

63,000

Brazil

67,000

Germany

98,000

Italy

107,000

Spain

122,500

Canada

125,500

Australia

198,000

France

224,000

United Kingdom

425,000

United States 0

200,000

400,000

600,000

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

because of the apps making it easier for a cheater to find an occasional or recurring lover.”

Not everyone is as high praising or optimistic about the app.

David Rameaux is 26 and originally from New York like LeWallen. The Fort Lauderdale resident was quick to offer this thought when asked how Grindr has changed the way he interacts with other gay men and sex: “Grindr destroyed the idea of meeting a guy at a bar. Hookups are now at the tip of your fingers; tucked away in your pocket. You can find sex while you sit on the toilet.”

Robbie Smith, a writer for the Melbourne, Australian gay news site SameSame, thinks Grindr is to blame for the “death of gay strips in our major cities.”

“Once havens that of global users attracted a ‘liquorice all-sorts’ in the gay fraternity are now seen as desperate and dateless dance parties littered with ageing drag queens,” Smith said. “Instead of waltzing to the local pink palazzo, stacks of guys are powering up Grindr at any hetero nightspot and scouring the talent, discreetly of course.”

LeWallen knows you can’t change who a person in in this day in age.

“People will live in the virtual world. By doing so, it opens up the chance for them to 1,443,500 connect to people they never would meet.”

1,400,000

He also believes that gay men shouldn’t have to go to obviously gay places to meet other gay people like Smith suggests. “Places where being gay is criminalized, Grindr helps those people find one another” LeWallen said. “What we at Grindr found is there are a lot of gay destinations, and Grindr offers an alternative way to meet and greet people.”

Dennis Sundquist thinks Grindr is just a tool to help the egos of gay men.

“I don’t think it really changed sex,” Sundquist said. “It pretty much just built itself on the foundation of other online personal sites like Adam4adam, Manhunt and Outpersonals.”

Sundquist thinks Grindr has added a new level of ageism and narcissism.

“Some 20-year-old without a face pic, sent me one of his anorexic, yet somehow flabby torso, hit me up to tell me I was fat; that he was glad he wasn’t a whale like me” Sundquist said. Sundquist did add that he believes that apps like Grinder and Scruff, and sites like Adam4Adam can be helpful in places that don’t have the benefit of a prominent gay community.

Contacting another gay person in remote areas of America, or anywhere in the world, can be difficult. “We get testimonials from guys in remote areas who have no way to meet people” LeWallen said. At least with Grindr you know someone is close. We’re creating lasting relationships, whether they are in person or over our app because you’re separated by hundreds of miles.”

Everything in life has its pros and cons.

LeWallen promises exciting new changes to the app including a new communities section and a more advanced filter option.

He summed up all his thoughts with this: “No matter what, your experience, the outcome of anything is all up to you.”

1,600,000

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November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FEATURE

Condom Bingo Misty Eyez and Florida Atlantic University put a fun spin on sex and bingo

Jeffrey Seth Selzer, eSQ. • Scott A. WeiSS, eSQ. IsLANd CItY CENtEr ACross From stork’s 2550 Northeast 15th aveNue • WiltoN MaNors, Florida 33305

By Ryan Dixon

L

Photo courtesy of DCourtney Weaver

et’s face it, sex for young people can Condom Bingo was first started at the FAU be a dicey subject. Sex Education Davie campus, and FAU Boca Student Health classes in middle and high school Services’ Courtney Weaver decided to bring are as awkward as a virgin on the sexy game over to her campus and throw their wedding night. There is hardly any her own little spin on it. “Who doesn’t like opportunity for teenagers or young adults pizza, sex and drag queens,” quipped Weaver. to talk openly and candidly about sex and There was never a moment she wasn’t sexual health. Florida Atlantic University involved with checking cards or handing out and both of their campuses in Davie and Boca more condoms.

Raton, have come up Weaver brought with creative ways to a sense of fun and break that sometimes nonchalance to uncomfortable barrier talking about sex. that comes with One student talking about sex. who won the “sexy The FAU Student time” prize after the Union is the center third game was so for community embarrassed he had and leadership on just won masturbation the Boca Raton crème and a sex toy he Campus, facilitating had to bury his face student learning and in his shirt for several involvement, through minutes. His friends a variety of programs, around him ribbed facilities, and services. him to no end, but Among those services Weaver reassured him is a place for the to the chagrin of his Student Health friends that he was Services to host such “going to be having a events as Condom good time real soon.”

Misty Eyez was the guest caller at FAU Student Health Services’ Condom Bingo Bingo.

Safe sex practices Condom Bingo and education are isn’t your normal, run-of-the-mill bingo an important topic to Misty Eyez. As a local game your grandmother plays on Thursday entertainer and safe sex advocate, people afternoons at the community center. Local young and old look to here for direction and drag queen Misty Eyez was on hand to be the guidance. guest bingo caller. Students were handed a “I didn’t have things like this when I was playing card upon entering the hall. Instead in college. I’m glad FAU is empowering and on the usual BINGO and numbers on the educating their students,” she said. card, it was covered in sexual organs and Eyez is a graduate of the conservative jargon. Everything from penis and blue Christian college Oral Roberts University. whales to “splooge” and cunilingus was “Sex is fun and should be made fun,” she listed on the bingo cards. Eyez didn’t just call said. “Kudos to FAU.” out answers. Question and definitions were Weaver has plans to continue Condom randomly drawn, and their corresponding Bingo in the future along with other sexy and answers were marked on the bingo cards. fun events including Sex in the Dark, where Students were enticed to come play with Weaver answers students’ questions about prizes, including FAU gear, movies and an sex in the dark. iPod shuffle if they stuck around for the fifth “I’m like the ‘Dear Abby’ of college sex,” and final game. Student Health Services also she said. provided Papa John’s pizza.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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FEATURE

LGBT Cancer Organization Offers More Than Ever The LGBT Cancer Network wants you to get screened

By Gideon Grudo

I

f an LGBT person isn’t open to his or her doctor, how can that doctor make astute recommendations? If that doctor isn’t privy to LGBT health issues, how can a patient expect to get an informed opinion?

These are the questions that concern Liz Margolies, the founder and executive director of the National LGBT Cancer Network. It’s home to a database of resources that LGBT people can use in each of the 50 states. Specifically, these resources aim to try and help LGBT people get screened for cheap by providers who understand their concerns. But Margolies says that’s just one of three main focuses of the Cancer Network, which she started in 2007.

First, there’s the obvious: Educating the gay community. From how to treat their bodies to how they should expect their partners to treat their bodies, education is key to a healthy community. Second, there’s training healthcare providers on LGBTfriendly service.

“One of the reasons our people don’t engage with the healthcare system is because they’ve had so many discriminatory problems,” Margolies said.

The third focus is advocating on behalf of the gay community in areas like cancer research and media.

“We know, for example, that LGBT people smoke at twice the national rate — but I can’t really tell you that our incidence of lung cancer is higher because no national surveys or registries collect information about gender identity or sexual orientation,” Margolies said. “For example, we know that white women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer but black women are more likely to die from it, but there’s no specific information like this on the LGBT community.”

To this extent, Margolies added some more insight. Lesbians, for example, are more likely to smoke, drink, and eat unhealthy foods — on the whole, she said. And gay men have very high rates of HPV, also smoke and drink more, and have a higher rate of anal cancers. One in 5 transgender people claimed in a survey that they had been turned away by providers who said they didn’t know how to deal with them.

Knowing how to deal with them is called cultural competency, a guide to which the Cancer Network was contracted to create — what Margolies called one of the

42

organization’s big successes. The guide and test allow hospitals to get their providers certified in how to deal with and understand the health concerns of the LGBT population. Perhaps most importantly, cultural competency shows a provider how to talk to an LGBT person.

This is important because providers may not know how heavily the risk of cancer lies on an LGBT person’s shoulders. In California, for example, Margolies said that the incidence of cancer is 50 percent higher than the national average. It’s only one state, and she wants to see more research being conducted on the rest of the country.

“Cancer is a large and growing problem in the LGBT community. We have larger risk and less screenings,” Margolies said. “The greater risk is connected to the stress of living with the stress and stigma of being LGBT.” And that’s why when you go the Cancer Network’s website, the first bold headline that hits you is “Take Care of That Body.”

Jenna McDavid, who’s now in charge of marketing for the Cancer Network, was originally going to join Planned Parenthood, but realized that even in such an LGBT-savvy organization, there was a gap between what the doctors and nurses knew and what the gay community needed.

“A lot of the missteps that providers make are not malicious. They don’t understand that the LGBT community has different needs and uses a different language to explains these needs,” McDavid said. “A lot of times we think about how we want to be treated, so our curriculum gets people thinking in different directions — I wish every healthcare provider in the world would go through this training.”

Cancer is the issue, and the Cancer Network hope people will use it and get the help they and their loved ones need.

“Whether you have cancer or not, someone in your family or surroundings will be affected by cancer at some time,” McDavid said. “Cancer is such a big, huge, scary problem.”

For more information, go to www. cancer-network.org.

liz margolies

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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IT’S A FABULOUS LIFE NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 2 Ring in the holidays with this way gay holiday musical!

Using the premise of It’s a Wonderful Life, a young gay man wishes he hadn’t been born gay, an angel grants his wish, and madcap musical mayhem ensues. Celebrating real family values and the holiday season, the gay hero faces troubles Jimmy Stewart’s George Baily never dreamed of! From show boys to drag queens and dancing reindeer, this show has it all!

Don your gay apparel and be there...with bells on!

For tickets and group discounts call Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office at 954.462.0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org Follow us:

BrowardCenter

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

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

43

T H E

FRI MUSIC

W E E K

O F

N O V E M B E R

1 5 - 2 2 ,

11/23

The 1940’s Radio Hour

F

or some The 1940’s Radio Hour will be nostalgic, taking the audience back to the good ole times, for others though, it will be more like a historical documentary, taking the younger crowd back to a more simpler time before smart phones, and the internet.

The musical follows the final holiday broadcast of the struggling Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade. It takes to the air during World War II to record its broadcast for the troops overseas.

It features hit songs from the era, holiday tunes, dancing and old time sound effects, and a behind the scenes a look at what it took to produce a radio hour in the 1940s.

The musical continues this weekend and plays through December 15 at the Lake Worth Playhouse. For tickets and more information visit LakeWorthPlayHouse.org. – Jason Parsley

SAT EVENT

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

2 0 1 2

Photo Courtesy of Economic Forum

F O R

NITES

The cast of the 1940s Radio Hour playing now at the Lake Worth Playhouse

11/24

White Party Continues South Florida’s largest gay party of the year continues in Miami. The main party takes place tonight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. at SOHO Studios, 2136 N.W. 1st Avenue, in Miami. Other events include the Heat Wave Pool party, White Sunset Tea, the Kenneth Cole Shopping Event, and finally the White Party Fashion Show. Visit WhiteParty.org for a full listing of events or turn to page 14.

– Jason Parsley

SUN MUSIC

11/25

Oy! Merry Christmas!

Dave Koz may be Jewish, but the gay jazz saxophonist will also be the first to tell you his favorite holiday is Christmas. Koz returns to South Florida on his 15th annual Dave Koz and Friends Christmas

44

Geneva Lee Browne: The southern Belle of WOV got her start in music at age 17 performing in local Swing ballrooms around the Atlanta area.

Tour, accompanied by Sheila E., David Benoit, Javier Colon and Margo Rey, for a night of fresh, uplifting, high-energy arrangements of seasonal favorites.

Each of the talented performers will put distinctive spins on the familiar songs you’ve been singing for decades. And, after several years filling the massive Au Rene Theatre at the Broward Center, Koz will be changing things up this year with a stop at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center on Sunday, Nov. 25. Tickets start at $20 at www.Kravis.org. – J.W. Arnold

TUE EVENT

11/27

It’s Snowing on Las Olas

T

he merchants along Fort Lauderdale’s trendy Las Olas Boulevard shopping district are always among the first to ring in the holidays with Christmas on Las Olas, Tuesday, Nov. 27 from

5 to 10 p.m. This year marks the 50th anniversary for this holiday tradition that features music and entertainment on three stages, lots of sales and South Florida’s only snow mountain. A custom iceskating rink is being set up on the lawn next to the Riverside Hotel and will remain open through Jan. 6. Oh, and don’t forget to get your photo taken with Santa Claus, too. More than 40,000 visitors are expected to kick off the season at Christmas on Las Olas. For more information, go to www.

LasOlasBoulevard.com. – J.W. Arnold

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

wicked is flying back to ft. lauderdale.

JAnuARy 30 - FeBRuARy 17 BRoWARD CenteR FoR the PeRFoRminG ARts tiCkets on sAle FRiDAy, nov. 16th At 10Am browardcenter.org or 954-462-0222, Groups 15+ 954-626-7814 or 954-462-0222 wickedthemusical.com • Grammy® Award-Winning Cast Recording now available on Decca Broadway

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

45

Before There Was Rent Opera offers timeless tale of love, loss

By J.W. Arnold

Y

ou’re familiar with this story: A group of starving—yet very hip—young artists and musicians struggling to survive in Manhattan’s Lower East Side during the dark days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Their lust for life keeps them going even as the budding romance between the protagonists takes a tragic turn. If you’ve seen Jonathan Larson’s award-winning musical, Rent, then you know its inspiration, Giaccomo Puccini’s romantic opera, La bohème.

Now turn back the clock about 100 years, move the setting from Manhattan’s East Village to the Latin Quarter of Paris and substitute tuberculosis for AIDS and you’ve got the gist of Puccini’s beloved work, the inspiration for countless adaptations, including Rent.

The Florida Grand Opera (FGO) opened its 72nd season at Miami’s Arsht Center with a moving production, directed by David Gately

46

and sung under the baton of the opera’s resident conductor, Ramon Tebar.

FGO’s production makes it easy to see why Puccini’s masterpiece has inspired so many adaptations — it’s become an archetype on par with Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol — with its timeless tale of young love.

Soprano Ailyn Pérez and tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz headline as the star-crossed young lovers, Mimi and poet Rodolfo.

Pérez’s Mimi is charming and vulnerable and her crystal voice soars throughout the performance. Chacón-Cruz perfectly exudes the bravado of a 19th-century “player” who knows his words have the power to melt the hearts of young women, even as he struggles to commit to Mimi.

Many singers have successfully performed the signature arias associated with these roles over the past century, but it’s the chemistry between the two that ultimately

sells the show. As Chacón-Cruz placed his Tebar’s passionate conducting from the pit hand on Perez’s while singing “Che gelida is nearly as entrancing as the action on stage manina” (“What a Cold Little Hand”) the as he interprets Puccini’s soaring melodies and dramatic attraction interludes, could be felt, and matched continuing to equally by the final curtain. the orchestra.

M e z z o Unfortunately, soprano Brittany the orchestra Ann Reneé o cca s i o n a l l y Ro b i n s o n tends to delivers a strong overpower performance as some of the chanteuse the more Musetta, a kept delicate arias, young lady especially who demands a Musetta’s certain lifestyle Waltz (Quando and knows how me’n vo’) in to get it, despite Act II. her attraction For the to struggling painter Marcello, uninitiated, FGO’s La ably portrayed bohème is a by bass Mark wonderful Walters. ailyn pérez as mimì and arturo chacón-cruz as rodolfo at the introduction Many of the florida grand opera’s la bohème 2012. to opera. strongest scenes The story is take place in the artists’ loft, as Rodolfo and Marcello, familiar and accessible and punctuated by joined by comrades Colline, Schaunard well-known melodies that have crossed over and Benoit (Adam Lau, Ryan Milstead and to popular culture. The show also makes use Craig Colclough) celebrate their Bohemian of a children’s chorus and a small army of lifestyle. Puccini’s intricate score is supernumeraries, providing a delicious taste of the grandest scale of the genre. accentuated by delightful staging.

Photo courtesy of DGaston de Cardenas

A&E

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

A&E

It’s a Fabulous Life Musical Offers Gay Take on Holiday Classic

By J.W. Arnold especially the songs.

“The challenge was writing the songs. I’m a ‘hummer’,” he said. “I don’t write music and I don’t read music, but I would sing the songs and they would take down that melody and improve it and change it around.”

He also developed the musical’s book further, based on his own experiences.

“In the Midwest, you’re gay, but here you’re GAY with a capital G, capital A, capital Y AND an exclamation point,” he laughed.

“I focused on the outrageous characters you find in South Beach—all celebrities in their own minds—while our protagonist is a little Midwestern person, trying to fit into this very out and outrageous of South Florida.

That’s part of his disconnect.”

The show has been performed around the country, as far away as San Diego and Chicago, but this year’s Broward Center production is special for Sexton, marking the tenth anniversary of the first Miami Gay Men’s Chorus performance.

In the years since that premiere, Sexton, 42, has focused on his writing, pursuing freelance projects and a gig at Marvel Comics.

He is now developing a cabaret series for the Aventura Arts and Cultural Center, with the first show, My American Idols featuring Kimberley Locke, opening a week after It’s a Fabulous Life.

This new show, starring the American Idol season two finalist, will take audiences on a musical journey featuring the divas who inspired her musical career, from Etta James, Judy Garland and Dinah Washington to Whitney Houston, Regina Belle and Gladys Knight.

With so many successful projects right now, Sexton isn’t making any crazy holiday wishes. He’s happy to be gay and he’s happy to be alive — and, if tickets sales are any indication, his audiences are happy, too.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Photo courtesy of David Vance

W

e all know what happens when down-on-his-luck salesman George Bailey wishes he’d never been born in Frank Capra’s 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life. An angel appears and grants George’s wish, showing just how different everyone’s lives would be if he were never born.

This holiday classic gets a new twist in David Sexton’s play, It’s a Fabulous Life, opening next week at the Broward Center, only in this version, the protagonist wishes he was never born gay.

Sexton got the idea for the story more than a decade ago while talking with his mother.

Even though he and his sister, who is also gay, had been out for years, his mother wondered aloud “where we went wrong.”

“I thought to myself, she doesn’t realize how great things have been because I’ve been gay,” remembered Sexton.

He originally adapted the story for a Miami Gay Men’s Chorus concert, with the story serving as the narrative to connect the chorus’ musical numbers. But Sexton realized the story could also have a life of its own as a musical.

“It was a huge hit and I decided I wanted to make it a real show,” he said.

Sexton had majored in theater at the University of Texas at Austin, but concentrated on the fitness industry for many years after he moved to South Beach from Ohio in the mid-1990s. He owned a popular gym, Ironworks, at the intersection of Alton Road and Lincoln Road, that he eventually sold.

He called on several friends—Carbonell award-winning musical director Eric Alford and composers Albert Evans and Andrew Sargent—to help him adapt the new show,

47

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November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

It’s A Fabulous LIfe

By Brian Swinford

Have an event you want to list?

If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com.

Theater Broward County *Cirque Chinois

One of the oldest and most distinguished circus troupes in China, the National Circus of the People’s Republic of China will perform Cirque Chinois on Friday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Miramar Cultural Center | ArtsPark. The award-winning acrobats will perform feats such as balancing on a teeterboard, flying on a trapeze, group contortionism, and juggling. Tickets are $35, $40 and $45. Call 954-602-4500

*The Original Ft Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert

The Original Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concerts “In the Spirit” under the direction of the founder of the Chorus, Dr. Gary Keating. Thursday, Friday, Saturday Dec. 6, 7, 8 at 8 p.m. Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art auditorium. Tickets $25, $40. Call 954-832-0060 or visit www.theftlgmc.org

Wanda Sykes

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

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, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. Tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a little barn spider, Charlotte. Tickets are $6, $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, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.

Pacheco 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. Tickets are $31.50 and $39. Performances continue through December. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com

Million Dollar Quartet

Million Dollar Quartet 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

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

From Nov. 28 through Dec. 2 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Returning 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 *Musical Theatre Masters Series

Palm Beach Dramaworks, (201 Clematis Street/ West Palm Beach), announces new Musical Theatre Masters Series.

Modeled after PBD’s very popular Master Playwrights Series, the new series will kick off on Jan. 11-13. The series will be directed by Clive Cholerton, Musical director for Camelot is Caryl Fantel. All tickets are $35.00. Call 561-514-4042 or visit Palmbeachdramaworks.org

Miami-Dade *An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will honor director and choreographer Debbie Allen, violinist Joshua Bell and actor and alumnus Adrian Grenier at An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala on Saturday, Jan. 12, held in Downtown Miami at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and the Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building. Contact Ellen Gray at 305-377-1140 X1208 or Email: egray@youngarts.org

*Winter Recital 2012

United Cerebral Palsy Diamond Minds Transformational Leadership Academy presents Winter Recital 2012 on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. This two-act production features dance numbers from The Nutcracker in the first act, and students dancing hip-hop, contemporary and jazz styles performed to popular music in the second act. Tickets are $12. Visit AventuraCenter.org

*The AT&T Young Stars Showcase

Northwestern Mutual/Laser Financial Group presents The AT&T Young Stars Showcase on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $26.50 and $51.50 with proceeds benefitting Aventura Marketing Council Education Foundation. Free lap tickets are available at the box off for kids 12 months and under. All tickets include a post-show VIP reception at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Visit AventuraCenter.org

*My American Idols with Kimberley Locke

The inaugural season of the Cabaret by the Bay Series launches as the City of Aventura presents My American Idols with Kimberley Locke on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. The season two American Idol finalist will sing hits from Etta James, Judy Garland and Dinah Washington to contemporary divas Whitney Houston, Regina Belle and Gladys Knight. Tickets are $34.50. Visit AventuraCenter.org

*Jorge Luis Prats

The Miami International Piano Festival presents Cuban piano virtuoso Jorge Luis Prats on Sunday, December 9 at 5 p.m. in A Voyage from Vienna to Cuba. The program will include works such as “On the Blue Danube” by Johann StraussAndre-Schulz, “Carmen” by Busoni-Saraste and Cuban favorites by Cervantes and Lecuona. Tickets are $30. Visit AventuraCenter.org

Gen Silent

Free public screenings of “GEN SILENT,” the critically acclaimed documentary, from filmmaker Stu Maddux, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. - At The Miami Theater Center, 9806 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores. “GEN SILENT” addresses the question, Do LGBT seniors need to go back in the closet. Screening to be followed by a panel of local experts. www.gensilent.com Call Ellen Wedner: 305-573-6477, wednerfriends@hotmail.com

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Pozitive Attitudes

Life Coaching

Queer Youth Friday Nights

Sex & Love Anonymous

GLBX Business Advantage Referral Group

Survivor Support

Queer Youth Nights

Eating Disorder Support

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

Have an event you want to list?

If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com.

*Denotes new listing

Broadway in Miami 2012-13

This season Ziff Ballet Opera House through 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

*Color Vibe 5K

Color Vibe 5k run is coming to Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5. At the Color Vibe 5k run, YOU are the color canvas, and when you’re finished with us you’ll be an exciting and vivid masterpiece.

So tag your friends and hook everybody up with the coolest 5k run to hit the streets. This is one amazing color blast you won’t want to miss! Event begins at 9 a.m. The Color Vibe Ft. Lauderdale 5k run will take place at the Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Visit TheColorVibe.com

The Four Noble Truths

Community Calendar

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

Broward County

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

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

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

A Survivor Support Group 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.

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 Latinos Salud’s programs

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

Man2Man Discussion

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

Join us for a PARTY

Holiday

Gay & Lesbian Lawyers Network Holiday Party & Fundraiser Enjoy 2 FREE premium drinks and unlimited gourmet appetizers!

Help us raise money for the Community Foundation of Broward (Suggested $10 minimum donation at the door.)

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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.

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 13th from 6pm-8pm WHERE: Blue Martini at the Galleria Mall

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 954-214-2457

Living Healthy

2432 East Sunrise Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Sponsored by :

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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

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

Young Adult GLBT

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

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

Boardwalk Friday FestCome 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

Toastmasters

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.

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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

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

*The Santaland Diaries

The Santaland Diaries will open Parade Productions’ second season on Dec.13, and run through Dec. 23 at the Studio Theatre at Mizner Park in Boca Raton. The Santaland Diaries hilariously relates David Sedaris’ experiences when he reluctantly worked as an elf in Macy’s Christmastime Santaland display, and offers an uproarious behind-the-scenes look at how department stores manufacture Christmas spirit. Visit ParadeProductions.org

*Women of Ancient Greece and Rome

Griffin Gallery Ancient Art invites you to its upcoming exhibition opening of Women of Ancient Greece and Rome on Dec.13, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Our holdings include over five hundred authentic artifacts that reflect a spectrum of the cultures of Antiquity in addition to Contemporary fine works of art. Among our treasures are pieces from Greece, Rome, Egypt, the Far East, the Near East, the Holy Land, Pre-Columbian cultures, and pre historic Native America. Visit Griffingallery.net

Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival

Palm Beaches Marathon & Run Fest

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

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

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

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

The all new

See his package before you hookup.

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South Florida News 4.875" x 5.25" November 21,Gay 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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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

Have an event you want to list?

If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.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

Yoga

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

Living Buddhism

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

Miami-Dade *PhilanthroFest 2013

The PhilanthroFest 2013 launch party is a wonderful gathering of philanthropists, business professionals, non-profit staff and volunteers. Includes a sponsored bar, sponsored food, music, raffles and more. Everyone is welcome to attend on Nov. 29 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. The goal of this event is to promote the upcoming PhilanthroFest 2013, to be held in April of 2013. Also, this will provide an excellent networking opportunity for south Florida non-profits and those interested in philanthropy. Visit Rsvp.philanthrofest.com

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

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

nightlife Broward County 321-Slammer

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

Atomic Boom

*BIG BANG Event

Young Patrons and Big Bang Committee invite you to Kick Off our Event Season and celebrate the coming of the Third Annual Big Bang, the Museum’s premiere young professional gala event on Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Complimentary admission and Open Bar. This event will take place at the Miami Science Museum. Call at 305-646-4200

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

Bill’s Filling Station

2209 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 567-5978.

Large bar/ nightclub, amazing drink specials in Wilton Manors!

Wednesday’s after 9 p.m. $10 Miller Lite Beer Bust

Boardwalk

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

1721 N. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.

(954) 463-6969. A Cute Little Hangout in Fort Lauderdale.

Pool-room/game room on one side and a bar/strip club on the other. Mondays $3 Well & Dom, after 9 p.m. $3 U-Call-It Shots

The Club Fort Lauderdale

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

Clubhouse II

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.

Rainbow Circle

Corner Pub Bar

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

Cubby Hole

1915 N. Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311, (954) 564-7335. Redefining what a bar should be.

Thursday’s margarita madness $4, Monday’s “Underwear Night. 2 for 1” until 9:30 p.m.

823 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 728-9001.

The Cubby Hole is one of Fort Lauderdale’s most unique and popular Neighborhood bar for men. Underwear Wednesday’s. “Boxers n’ Briefs” get 2 for 1 drinks 9 p.m. to close

The Depot Cabana Bar and Grill

2935 N. Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 537-7076.

Voted the “Friendliest” Gay Bar in Fort Lauderdale. Monday’s $1.99 Drinks and $.50 wings open to close

Dudes Bar

3270 NE 33rd St Fort Lauderdale FL 954-568-7777. Sexy hot men starting to shake the booty daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Sundays enjoy karaoke with Peter Petrucci. Great drink specials every Monday with $1 well drinks from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Georgie’s Alibi

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.

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November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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.

Naked Grape Wine Bar

2039 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305. (954) 563-5631.

A Casual, Hip, Fun Experience and if You Have a Taste for Deliciously Unique Wines, You Need to Make This Your Next Stop! Happy Hour All Night on Thursday

New Moon

2440 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, (954) 563-7660.

Your neighborhood lesbian bar in the heart of Fort Lauderdale and just minutes from Fort. Lauderdale Beach. Wednesday All the fun, half the price 2-4-1 All Day, All Night

PJ’s Corner Pocket

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

Ramrod

1508 NE 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, (954) 763-8219.

South Florida’s Leading Levi, Leather and Uniform Bar/Club.

Every night is Bear Night. Bear Happy. Hour Every Thursday.

Caged Hunks Sat Night

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

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.

Mara (Thurs-Sat)

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

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

The Mad Hatter

1532 North Dixie Hwy ,Lake Worth, FL 33460. (561) 547-8860.

Cheap drinks, friendly bartenders, and free pool SundayThursday. Stop by and relax at this no-attitude haunt.

The Bar Lake Worth

2211 North Dixie Highway Lake Worth. (561) 370-3954 Thebarlakeworth.com. Men and women share this 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.

Discotekka

950 NE 2nd Ave, Downtown Miami, Florida 33132,(305) 3509084. One of the best night clubs In Miami. Every Saturday the hottest DJ’s from the top performers. Drink Special Every Saturday

Johnny’s

Miami 62 NE 14 Street Downtown Miami Florida (305) 640-8749.

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

Score

727 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, Florida, 33139. (305) 561-5521.

Score is located in the heart of South Beach in the thriving and infamous promenade, Lincoln Road. Bigger Saturday’s sexy male dolls.

Swinging Richards

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.

The Stable

Key West

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.

he holidays are the perfect time for sequins and glitter, so kick off your holiday season in style, with class, and just a touch of crass at South Florida’s hottest new performance venue, the Arts Garage in Delray Beach. On Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1,Voices of Pride, the Gay Men’s Chorus of the Palm Beaches, will warm your hearts with gorgeous renditions of familiar holiday tunes and have you laughing out loud and rolling your eyes at others. Of course, there are always surprise guests and grand costumes that are a VOP hallmark. Grab some friends and come enjoy an evening of holiday celebration like none other, performed by some of the best male vocalists in South Florida.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at Arts Garage, 180 NE 1st St. in Delray Beach. Tickets are $35-45 in advance at ArtsGarage.org, $5 more at the door. For more information, go to www.VoicesOfPride.org. – J.W. Arnold

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.

Twist

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

T

Club Sugar

Smarty Pants

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

Voices of Pride Kicks Off Season

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.

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

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

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

Club Aqua

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

Pearl’s Patio Bar

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

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

November 21, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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