12/12/12 V3I50 by South Florida Gay News

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DECember 12, 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 50

Marriage Mayhem

•Supreme Court takes on Prop 8 and DOMA page10 •Gays Get Hitched in Washington page 13 •Marriage Equality is a business solution page 22 •If I Were a Supreme Court Justice: How I Would Rule, by Norm Kent page 25

Activist and author Dan Savage, left, and his husband Terry Miller after their wedding at Seattle City Hall, Sunday, Dec. 9. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Nazi Persecution of Gays Exhibit in Palm Beach page 34 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

page

Outgames 2017 Eyes Miami

page

Travel: Copenhagen

page

Knicely Leaves Stonewall

page

Strength, Balance and Core

Holiday Photos from Around South Florida

page 5-7

Top 3 on SFGN.com By Sergio N. Candido

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

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

Publisher Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com

Captain America’s Gay Brother Busted for Drugs

Chief Executive Officer Pier Angelo Guidugli

The actor attempted to buy drugs from an undercover cop in Los Angeles Scott Evans, an openly gay soap opera actor and brother of Captain America actor Chris Evans, was arrested for trying to buy drugs from an undercover police officer. According to TMZ, Evans was busted on Dec. 4 in Los Angeles for an attempt to

possess a controlled substance. He was out on $10,000 bail that same night. The celebrity gossip site says Evans posted a comment on his Facebook page about the arrest: “Most ridiculous night of my life in LA so far. At least I made it a year before getting arrested,” he wrote. The 29-year-old soap opera actor is best known for playing Officer Oliver Fish on ABC’s “One

Life To Live.” He has also had small roles on Guiding Light, Fringe, and White Collar. Out Magazine writes that Chris Evans outed his gay brother during an interview with The Advocate in 2009. It’s unknown what drugs he tried to buy, however Out Magazine writes that “it must have been something more fun than a bag of pot.”

Gay Couple Divorces in Israel

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 country approved the first-ever divorce of two men married abroad A court ordered Israel’s ministry of interior to register a gay couple as divorced, setting a new precedent for both straight and gay couples. Marriage and divorce in Israel are under the jurisdiction of the religious courts: Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and

Christian. While gay marriage is not legalized in Israel, the country’s Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that foreign gay marriages can be registered in Israel, letting samesex couples enjoy the same rights as straight couples, according to the Associated Press. A Ramat Gan family court approved last week the request of two men to order Israel’s ministry

Tony Adams Jesse Monteagudo Donald Cavanaugh Andrea Dulanto

of interior to register them as divorced, JTA reports. This decision sets a new precedent because “the judge rejected the state’s arguments that only the rabbinical courts have the authority to dissolve marriage, and instructed Israel’s interior ministry to register the former lovers as divorced,” according to the Gay Star News.

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

Gay-Centric YouTube Channel to Launch The channel is set to start streaming on Jan. 14 with 10 original series Following Logo TV’s announcement earlier this year that the channel was going to focus less on LGBTspecific programs and more on general culture and lifestyle shows, Logo founder Matt Farber is launching a new outlet to continue the type of shows that made the channel popular in the first place.

Here’s where Gwist comes in, a YouTube channel for LGBT audiences Gwist, which stands for “TV With a Gay Twist,” is set to launch on Jan. 14 with 10 original series. “An online video network is a natural next step in the evolution of gay media and entertainment,” Farber said in a statement. “The social media, on demand, and universal distribution aspects of online and mobile video

are perfectly suited for niche programming.” Among the shows will be “Gwissues with Howard Bragman,” a panel discussion about a topic the LGBT community is talking about hosted by the legendary PR kingpin and television pundit, and “Love’N Mo,” a gay girls guide to sex and relationships for straight men starring former WNBA star Margot Clark.

& • Three More Quickies to Wake You Up Gay Couple’s Dildo Prank Lawsuit Against Airline Dismissed

The couple claimed that Continental Airlines’ employees taped a dildo to their luggage.

•Catholic University of Notre Dame Establishes LGBT Organization The university finally accepted the creation of the group after two decades-long push

•Princess of Norway Aids Gay Palace Employee

Mette-Marit traveled in secret to India to care for the infant twin boys born of an employee

December 12 2012 • Volume 3 • Issue 50

ck Sti ith W s! U Read our daily stories at SFGN.com You can also find us on Facebook: SouthFloridaGayNews Twitter: @soflagaynews.

Sales

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. All of the material that appears in SFGN, both online at www.southfloridagaynews.com, and in our print edition, including articles used in conjunction with the Associated Press and our columnists, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher of SFGN, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright©2012 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

Associated Press Florida Press Association National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

NATIONAL NEWS

Top 10 Promiscuous Gay Cities in US By Sergio N. Candido

f you use Grindr or any other hook-up website on a regular basis then this post is for you: A new poll has been released counting down the top 10 most promiscuous cities for gay men in the country. SeekingArrangement.com, a dating site that calls itself the world’s largest “sugar daddy” website, polled 11,000 of its gay members to know how many join dating websites just to have casual flings. According to the results, 82 percent of gay men admitted to joining the websites just to find hook ups. “According to our study, more gay males utilize online dating for ‘hooking up’ compared to heterosexual males,” Seeking Arrangement Founder Brandon Wade said in a statement. “While there is always potential to fall in love, online dating makes it very easy to find singles who are similarly looking for something less serious.” The survey also ranked the top 10 most promiscuous cities in the country based on

how many gay male members responded to having 10 or more sexual partners in the course of a year. The results showed the slutttiest gay city in the country is West Hollywood, followed by Washington, D.C. and San Francisco in second and third place, respectively. Here’s SeekingArrangement.com’s complete list of the top 10 most promiscuous gay cities in America below:

1. West Hollywood, California 2. Washington, D.C. 3. San Francisco, California 4. Seattle, WA 5. Columbus, OH 6. Chicago, IL 7. San Diego, CA 8. New York, NY 9. Houston, TX 10. Atlanta, GA

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December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

s w s e N ief r B By Sergio N. Candido

Gay Hair Stylist Stabs Man with Scissors A British hair stylist was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stabbing a man with scissors during a confrontation over his sexuality. Lee Howett, 26, was waiting for the train on June 24 at Basildon station, in Essex, England, when a group of men closeby started shouting homophobic slurs at him, the Gay Star News reports. The men had come from watching a soccer match and were drunk; Howett was also under the influence after having a fight with an abusive ex-boyfriend. The confrontation broke out when Howett told the men to shut up. GSN writes that security cameras shown during the trial showed the gay hair stylist was knocked to the floor and kicked repeatedly before taking out a pair of hairdressing scissors stabbing one of the men, inflicting a wound that required five stitches. “People who use scissors as a weapon in a public place to stab somebody must face imprisonment,” Judge David Owen Jones told the defendant. Howett plead guilty to one count of wounding with intent.

German Chancellor Says ‘No’ to Gay Tax Reform Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel refused to back a plan to treat gay couples the same as straight couples under tax law. According to The Australian, the politician opposes the measure because she “sees marriage directly linked to the family and both are under the special protection of the state.” The move is believed to be strategy by Merkel to secure the support of the most conservative side of her party, the Christian Democratic Union, with sights on the general election in nine months, where she’ll be seeking a third term as chancellor.

The country’s top court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of tax inequality next year. Germany has recognized same-sex partnerships since 2001.

More Parts of Florida Consider DPR While gay marriage still seems like a long shot in Florida, more cities and counties are expanding rights for the LGBT community. Pinellas County in Central Florida’s west coast is currently discussing implementing a countywide domestic partner registry, the Tampa Bay Times reports. “It makes sense for the county to do it countywide instead of having a registry in every little town, but it didn’t happen that way,” Commissioner Susan Latvala told the Times. “So we’re playing catch-up.” According to the newspaper, “It will be some time before the commission votes on the proposed registry, but a majority of its seven-member board supports the idea.” While the domestic partner registry doesn’t equate marriage rights, gay couples who register would be able to make decisions for one another regarding health care or funeral services. Gulfport, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater are among the cities within the county already have domestic partner registries. The City of Tavares, located about 40 miles north of Orlando, is also drafting a new ordinance that could make it the first city in Lake County with a domesticpartnership registry, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

me as, “This is Katy Perry, she is straight. I hope in the future that we will all grow beyond labels, beyond treating gays as a novelty friend group.” According to a previous press release, Perry was set to receive the award “for empowering youth and increasing visibility and understanding of the LGBTQ community.” Her song “Firework,” strives to let gay teens know that they have value and that they can be anything, the group says. Lady Gaga received the award last year for helping to change the culture, Pink News reported.

Kidding;”Janis for her book “Society’s Child: My Autobiography;” and Rachel is up for “Drift: The Unmooring of American Political Power,” according to SheWired. Others representing lesbians at this year’s awards include indie rock chicks Tegan and Sara, Australian singer Sia, and comedian Margaret Cho. The Grammy Award will be held on Feb.10, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Lesbians Duke it Out in the Grammy’s

Almost a year after their split, Calvin Klein’s former boyfriend Nick Gruber has come out to promote a soon-tobe-published, tell-all book about his relationship with the underwear designer. In an interview with the New York Post’s Page Six Magazine, the 22-year-old said that he was the first man Klein, who until then had been living a closeted heterosexual public life, ever fell for. “I don’t know why, but there’s, like, something about me that attracts everyone,” Gruber told Page Six. “I have a nickname called Romeo. I get every girl, and even guys. Something about me draws them all in.” Gruber reportedly met Klein while he was serving in the U.S. Army. He was discharged after his superiors found out he appeared in a bisexual porn film. That’s when the fashion designer took him under his wing “He taught me a lot,” Gruber said about Klein, 48 years his senior. “You know, like how to present myself to an older crowd. Traveling the world is an education in itself. ... I did not ask for gifts or money or anything. I’m not a user.” According to the magazine, the relationship deteriorated when Klein suspected Gruber was cheating on him and made him take a lie detector test. Gruber’s later arrest on drug charges only made things worse. “I fell in love with him, but then, sooner or later, I realized it was paternal,” Gruber said. “That’s what I learned in therapy.” Gruber said he’ll reveal much more private details of the fashion designer on his book, titled “Obsession: My Life With Calvin Klein.”

Lesbians will get their fair share of representation at this year’s Grammy’s, with three of the most powerful lesbians in the nation nominated for the same award: the Grammy’s Best Spoken Word Album. MSNBC political pundit Rachel Maddow, daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and singer Janis Ian are all nominated in the same category. This doesn’t mean the award is secured to go to a member of the LGBT community as they are facing some tough competition, with former President Bill Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama also landing the nominations. Ellen is nominated for “Seriously … I’m

Katy Perry Wins ‘Hero’ Award for Gay Rights Pop star Katy Perry was honored with the “Hero Award” from gay teen suicide prevention organization The Trevor Project for encouraging LGBT youth to be themselves through her songs. The gala took place in Hollywood on Dec. 2. “The real heroes are the folks … at the call centers. [They’re] incredibly inspiring,” Perry said as she received the award. “I grew up in a very intolerant environment. For a long time, I was told that people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning were an abomination. As I’ve grown up, I’ve freed myself from the mindset,” she added. “There was some perspective growth in my family. I believe in change ... believe that sexuality is fluid - nobody introduces

Calvin Klein’s Ex-Boy Toy Speaks Out

calvin klein

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

the Staff a m t Fro

Warm Wishes to You This Holiday Season turn the page to enjoy more festive photographs from local holiday parties

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Some photos from this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Holiday Festivities Photos By Steven Shires, J.R. Davis & Brian Swinford

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

U.S. NEWS

Bill Gates Funds Female Condom That Delivers Anti-HIV Drug By Sergio N. Candido

protect themselves from HIV infection and unintended pregnancy,” Kim Woodrow, a UW assistant professor of bioengineering and one of the researchers, said in a statement. “We have the drugs to do that. It’s really about delivering them in a way that makes them more potent, and allows a woman to want to use it.” The electrospun cloth could be inserted directly in the body or be used as a coating on bill gates vaginal rings or Photo courtesy of Domain Barnyard

esearchers at the University of Washington are working on a new form of contraception for women that they believe will be safer, cheaper and “more discrete” than using condoms or taking pills. The new contraceptive will consist of an “electricallyspun cloth with nanometersized fibers can dissolve to release drugs,” which would provide protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $1 million for the project last month. “Our dream is to create a product women can use to

other products. “At the time of sex, are people going to actually use it? That’s where having multiple options really comes into play,” Emily Krogstad, co-author of the project, said. “Depending on cultural background and personal preferences, certain populations may differ in terms of what form of technology makes the most sense for them.”

Here’s how it works, according to the release:

At a lab meeting last year, Woodrow presented the concept, and co-authors and Cameron Ball, both first-year graduate students, pursued the idea. They first dissolved polymers approved by the Food and Drug Administration and antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV to create a gooey solution that passes through a syringe. As the stream encounters the

electric field it stretches to create thin fibers measuring 100 to several thousand nanometers that whip through the air and eventually stick to a collecting plate (one nanometer is about one 25-millionth of an inch). The final material is a stretchy fabric that can physically block sperm or release chemical contraceptives and antivirals. “This method allows controlled release of multiple compounds,” Ball said. “We were able to tune the fibers to have different release properties.” One of the fabrics they made dissolves within minutes, potentially offering users immediate, discrete protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Another dissolves gradually over a few days, providing an option for sustained delivery, more like the birth-control pill, to provide contraception and guard against HIV.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

NATIONAL NEWS

Supreme Court Takes up Gay Marriage and DOMA

After many delays nation¹s highest court finally makes a decision

By Lisa Keen, Keen News Service

n a surprise development, the U.S. Supreme Court announced today (Friday, December 7) that it will review both the Proposition 8 case concerning a statewide ban on same-sex marriage and a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) case concerning a ban on federal recognition of same-sex marriages. Many observers had predicted the court would hear a case involving DOMA, but many more expected the court to pass on reviewing a lower court decision concerning Proposition 8, the California ban on samesex marriage. Ted Olson and David Boies, the high-profile attorneys who had successfully challenged Proposition 8 in the courts below had urged the Supreme Court to deny review of the Ninth Circuit ruling. That ruling, they noted, did “not conflict with any decision of [the Supreme] Court or any other court of appeals.”

But refusing to hear the Yes on 8 attorneys’ appeal of the lower court decision would have meant same-sex couples could start obtaining marriage licenses within days, dramatically increasing the population of states allowing same-sex marriage. And while many expected the court to take one or more cases concerning DOMA, the big question was which case or cases it would review. The court has chosen to review a Second Circuit case, Windsor v. U.S., in which the surviving spouse is challenging the federal government’s refusal to recognize her marriage when it comes to estate taxes on her deceased spouse’s estate. In both cases, the Supreme Court has presented attorneys on both sides with a question on a procedural issue of standing in addition to the original question on merits. In the Proposition 8 case, Hollingsworth

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v. Perry, the court asks that attorneys argue whether the Yes on 8 supporters of the initiative have legal standing to appeal the lower court’s decisions given that the state of California chose not to press an appeal. That means it may be possible the court will let the lower court decision stand by simply ruling that Yes on 8 did not have legal standing to file its appeal. The result would be the samesex couples would be able to marry—but the resolution would be delayed until June and be politically less consequential. The Olson-Boies legal team raised the standing issue after Yes on 8 filed its first appeal to a Ninth Circuit panel. Asked whether the court might use the standing issue as a way out of ruling on the merits, Olson said he thinks the court will “probably get to the merits” of the case but said that, if it doesn’t, then the 134-page U.S. district court decision declaring Proposition 8 a violation of equal protection would be the prevailing decision in California. “Everyone is anxious to get to the merits,” said Boies, but he acknowledged his legal team has argued that Yes on 8 does not having standing to make their appeal. But ruling that Yes on 8 does not have standing would still allow the citizens of California to enjoy marriage equality, said Boies. In the DOMA case, the Supreme Court asks attorneys on both sides to argue the Obama administration’s agreement with courts below that DOMA is unconstitutional “deprives” the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to decide the case. It also asks whether the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) has standing to appeal the lower court decisions to the Supreme Court. Ted Olson told reporters on a telephone conference call Friday afternoon that he is “very confident” that the outcome of the case before the U.S. Supreme Court “will be to support the rights of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.” “We could not be more gratified that this

is the case” on which the Supreme Court may decide “the most important civil rights issue of our time,” said Olson. David Boies was more guarded, saying he was “encouraged and excited about the prospect that we will finally get a decision

The Supreme Court Building

on the merits.” Asked whether the Obama administration might weigh in on the Proposition 8 case at the high court, Olson said “we would certainly hope they would participate…and would support our position….” The Obama administration has weighed in on the DOMA cases, arguing in court that it believes the core section of the law to be unconstitutional. Arguments in both cases are likely to be scheduled for the second half of March. The high court did not indicate Friday whether it would hear an appeal from Arizona, seeking to preserve a state law that bars gay state employees from receiving health benefits for their domestic partners the same as straight state employees are able to obtain for their spouses. Some indication of that, as well as denying review on several other DOMA cases, could be issued on Monday’s routine orders list. One of the Proposition 8 plaintiffs, Kris Perry, said “we have learned how to be patient” and that, while she would like to be getting married next week, she is hopeful that, by hearing the Proposition 8 case, the court might rule in a way that will make same-sex marriage possible for many others. © 2012 Keen News Service. All rights reserved.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

NATIONAL NEWS

Gay Couples in Washington Start Taking Wedding Vows

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By Associated Press state’s three-day waiting period, the earliest weddings could take place was just after midnight, early Sunday morning. In King County, home to Seattle, more than 600 same-sex marriage licenses were issued by Saturday. Some courthouses, including in King and Thurston Counties, opened right at midnight, and started marrying couples. While numerous weddings were taking place across the state, both private and public, the city hall weddings were the largest public event, with more than 130 couples taking part. The city set up five separate chapels to accommodate the revelers. Starting at 10 a.m., cheers and applause regularly broke out as another couple’s marriage became official. Weddings were held until 5 p.m. After couples married, they exited city hall, greeted by a steady rain and by dozens of supporters who cheered them with shouts of “congratulations” and flowers as they descended a large staircase down to the street. “I don’t even have words for this,” said Caren Goldenberg of Seattle, who married her partner of seven years, Casey Evans. “It just makes me really proud of my city.” The law doesn’t require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and it doesn’t subject churches to penalties if they don’t marry gay or lesbian couples. Married same-sex couples will still be denied access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits available to heterosexual couples because the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, bars federal recognition of gay unions. The U.S. Supreme Court said Friday it will take up gay marriage sometime during the current term. Several pending cases challenge the federal benefit provision of DOMA, and a separate appeal asks the justices to decide whether federal courts were correct in striking down California’s Proposition 8, the amendment that outlawed gay marriage after it had been approved by courts in the nation’s largest state.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Photo courtesy of Ben Salter

eith Bacon and Corianton Hale wore dress shirts as they recited their vows at Seattle City Hall, as the city hosted more than 100 weddings on the first day same-sex couples could marry in Washington state. A few hours later Sunday, the happy couple had changed into matching t-shirts that read “Looks Like We Made It.” “It’s tremendously meaningful,” Hale said. “It’s really powerful to have the official approval and exact same rights as all of our heterosexual friends.” For Bacon and Hale, and the scores of other gay and lesbian couples that chose to marry in a very public venue, they said they wanted to share with others the significance of the day. “It’s not very private, but very historic,” said Deb Needham of Renton, who married her partner of 14 years, Nancy Monahan. Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass samesex marriage by popular vote. They joined six other states - New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont - and the District of Columbia that had already enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election results of Referendum 74 on Wednesday afternoon, and the law took effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Same-sex couples who previously were married in another state that allows gay marriage, like Massachusetts, will not have to get remarried in Washington state. Their marriages became valid here as soon as the law took effect. The referendum had asked voters to either approve or reject the state law legalizing same-sex marriage that legislators passed earlier this year. That law was signed by Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54 percent of voters approved the measure. Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples picked up their marriage licenses as early as 12:01 a.m. Thursday, but because of the

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LOCAL NEWS

Florida vs. Iceland Miami and Miami Beach one of two finalists to host the World Outgames in 2017 By Ryan Dixon

he Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA) has announced that Miami and Miami Beach is up against Reykjavik, Iceland for the honor of hosting the 2017 World Outgames. GLISA co-president Daniel Vaudrin made the announcement during a press conference for the 2013 Antwerp World Outgames. GLISA is the governing body of the World Outgames. Reykjavik just successfully hosted the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics completion in May and June of 2012. The first World Outgames was held in 2006 in Montreal and attracted more than 12,000 participants. The event was based on three components: Sport, Culture and Human Rights. The second World Outgames was held in Copenhagen in 2009. It was an attractive, open and inclusive event that welcomed the local and international LGBT community as well as the wider population of Copenhagen and Denmark. The Miami Beach-Miami Sports & Cultural League, Inc. is the group behind the successful bid to make Miami and Miami Beach a finalist in the selection for the host city for the 2017 event. The thirteen-member league is comprised of civic leaders with extensive backgrounds in community events who are active members in the South Florida LGBT community with widespread expertise in human rights, cultural and sporting events, activities and organizations. Members include the Executive Director of Miami Beach Pride Ivan Cano, Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Sports Commission Jose Sotolongo, Social Catering Sales Director for Centerplate at the Miami Beach Convention Center Bruce Townsend and Miami-Beach Vice-Mayor Michael Gongora. “There’s not a city in the world more capable or more excited to host the Outgames than Miami Beach and Miami,” Townsend

said in a statement released by the League. “Miami Beach and Miami exemplify the true spirit and true culture of world-renowned South Florida. From the sexy sands of South Beach to the exotic wildlife of Zoo Miami to the natural beauty of the Florida Everglades, South Florida overflows with the energy of constant activity -- literally 24/7. We are eager to showcase our hometown to visitors from throughout the world.” Not only is the League excited and committed to ensuring the games comes to South Florida, but so is Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “For years, Miami-Dade has been home to a vibrant, thriving LGBT community, so

we’re a natural fit to host the 2017 World Outgames,” Mayor Gimenez told SFGN. “Events like this one present an opportunity to introduce our beautiful hometown to a truly global audience and to show them why so many diverse people have chosen to make this wonderful place their home.” GLISA Co-President Daniel Vaudrin told SFGN that the selection committee should have a decision on which city will be hosting the 2017 games by the end of February. “We sent out an email to the bid committees for both cities,” Vaudrin said. “Hopefully logistics will work out and we will all be able to meet in February.” Vaudrin also added that the selection committee is committed to making a decision by Feb. 28. “That’s really the last day we have to choose,” Vaudrin said laughing. The 2013 games will be taking place in Antwerp, Belgium and are slated for late July 2013.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LOCAL NEWS

Women’s Health Matters The Pride Center launches new health directory for LBT women in South Florida. By Ryan Dixon

he Pride Center in Wilton Manors plays host to a bevy of resources for the gay community in South Florida. Funded by the Aqua Foundation for Women, the Tri-County LBT Women’s Health Initiative has created an on-line, searchable database for people and programs pertinent to women’s health. The Pride Center also collaborated with Women in Network, Sun Serve and Blast on the Initiative.

Photo courtesy of Brian Swinford

“The creation of a health directory for LBT women has been discussed for many, years in our community,” says Aqua CEO Robin Schwartz. “Aqua Foundation for Women is proud to lead the charge to get it done and provide funding for this important work. “ Pride Center’s Deputy Director Kris Fegenbush is thankful for the monies from Aqua to make this vision a success. “It’s been an honor to help organize this tri-county effort to provide this vital support resource for women’s health,” said Fegenbush. “We’re collaborating with dynamic groups and leaders who have dedicated years of energy, passion and service to the health of LBT women. All of us are committed to improving access to healthcare for women. We all are thankful to Aqua for backing this vision with their dollars.” Women in Network Pride Center Board Vice President Ilene Berliner with Aqua Girl CEO President Denis e Spivak Robin Schwartz say the forming of this directory will help LBT women seek out medical care. “We’re a community that has historically not sought out medical care,” said Spivak. “It’s uncomfortable to go to a GYN and be called sir.” Spivak went on to say Women In Network were on hand to show their support and gratefulness the reasons to not seek for the new LBT Directory. care, ranging from fear of revealing one’s sexuality to The on-line directory contains over 300 fear of rejection, still ecist. “A lot of doctors health care practitioners in Dade, Broward don’t know how to care for a transgender and Palm Beach counties, including person who is transitioning; this directory gynecologists, primary care physicians, and will ensure they get the care they need from mental health professionals who work with a person who is sensitive to their needs.” LBT patients. The Initiative has a strict The main goal for this directory is for process to ensure that providers demonstrate women to live full, healthy lives according to cultural understanding of the gay community Schwatrz. “There is no doubt having access and their potential lesbian, bisexual and to the information provided in the directory transgender patients. The user-friendly will save lives.” online directory also includes information on insurance accepted by providers, and free View the directory at www.lbthealth.org. and low-cost health providers.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LOCAL NEWS

Richard Gray Says “Hello Sunny!” As Fort Lauderdale’s New Gay Marketeer By Tony Adams

that transferred me to New York City in the early 80s. By 1991, I was burnt out. Fort Lauderdale was already my favorite place to visit. I was travelling constantly for work, but I never stayed in gay establishments because they were always below par, and I began to be convinced that there was an opportunity and a need for a superior gay hotel. That is when I opened the Royal Palms Hotel. My product was the upscale sort of place gay travelers wanted. I began to get involved in the local tourism support efforts and I helped move the IGLTA [International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association] to Fort Lauderdale. In 1995, I approached the CVB with a business plan for marketing Fort Lauderdale as a gay destination. We started out in 1996 with a $35K gay marketing initiative. It grew and succeeded, and very quickly,

by 2000, there were 30 gay resorts in Fort Lauderdale. We are already the top gay destination in Florida. Look at other gay destinations around the country and you see much business shrinkage in tough economic times, but not here.” Gray is aware of the fact that being a tourism guru is a thankless job: when tourism tanks in a bad economy, the guru gets the blame. When business booms, locals view his job as superfluous. How will he ride out the ups and downs of gay tourism? “Well the market is competitive and we have to sharpen our marketing tools and be creative, so that is why we are doing what we do. We have a new TV commercial to be launched predominantly in the northeast. We are aiming at our strongest markets including Toronto, New York City, Philadelphia and London. Check out the hot guys with the yellow surfboard in our “Hello Sunny” videos. You can find them on YouTube. We think they will get some attention.” Gray has clear and ready answers when asked for specifics about his marketing goals for the next year. He says, “We have a new campaign, and there are three tactics in our gay initiative: a) beyond print, b) gorilla marketing and c) integrating GLBT into mainstream. The CVB online has a ‘Mild to Wild’ site worth looking at. We still have some print ads but they come with ‘scan tags’ that bring the ads to life. For the gorilla marketing campaign, we have the ‘beach mobile’ that we bring to different cities. It’s basically a beach on wheels with hot gorgeous guys in skimpy bathing suits, and yes, those guys complain when we park them in freezing weather! Another campaign was ‘Defrost your swimsuit’ which we did in London, New York City and Toronto where we displayed a Speedo frozen in a block of ice. Visitors got ways to upload funny speedo photos and send them

to friends. This was successful and got a lot of mainstream press. I do think the most important thing is to incorporate the GLBT market into our mainstream campaign.” There is not much that even a savvy salesman like Gray can do about the fact that same-sex marriage is not legal in Florida, and that other states like New York where Photo courtesy of Justin Vallejo of msilverassociates

espite the scratchy metaphor, we get the point when Richard Gray says, “The sands of Fort Lauderdale run through my veins and I’ve always wanted to be a part of the community since I first moved here more than 20 years ago. Greater Fort Lauderdale has become the top GLBT destination in Florida. My role is not to rest on our laurels and success, but to grow this affluent market even more.” Gray is the newly appointed managing director for the LGBT Market for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB.) Gray explains how he got into the hospitality industry and how he ended up in Fort Lauderdale. “I used to work for a UK investment bank

huge amounts of gay revenue pour into the local economy because of marriage equality, are eating our lunch. He does have the numbers and they speak for themselves. He says, “For 2011, greater Fort Lauderdale welcomed 11.1 million visitors who spent $9 billion dollars. The gay and lesbian portion of that number was 1.1 million visitors who spent $1.2 billion. It is also significant to note that Broward County recovered much faster than the rest of Florida after 9/11, and a lot of that was attributed to the gay visitors who were the first to return to us. The GLBT economic impact for this region is huge.” For more information: http://www.sunny. org, http://youtu.be/ou-8o42SL68, http:// youtu.be/ou-8o42SL68

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

LOCAL NEWS

Pills for a Payday

“Incurable Diseases” dives into the controversy surrounding the truth behind disease and how we fight it.

By Ryan Dixon autistic child, caused uproar when she shed light on the controversy presented at The Autism One conference surrounding genetically modified in May 2012 and endorsed Miracle Mineral organisms (GMOs) and how genetically Solution (MMS), a controversial sodium modified food has been shown to cause chlorite solution, immune dysfunction, as an autism cure. organ damage and Rivera claims that reproductive problems. she recovered 69 kids There will also be an suffering from autism in intense focus on the 24 months using MMS. failure of California’s The FDA says that MMS Prop. 37, which would is, “a form of industrial have required proper bleach,” and a serious labeling of genetically modified food. The health threat. In the film, Rivera will speak supposed link between to her experiences with the unregulated the Miracle Mineral beauty industry and Solution and share deadly diseases will why she believes also be thoroughly the backlash is only investigated. Carla Sanchez, director/producer of spouted by those who Sanchez’s “Incurable Diseases” have a stake in the documentary will profitable medical and feature Kerri Rivera, pharmaceutical industries. founder of Autism02, a DAN! based nonIncurable Diseases will also feature profit autism clinic in Puerto Vallarta, experts including Pamm Larry, initial Mexico. Rivera, a mother of a recovering

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Photo courtesy of Carla Sanchez

arla Sanchez believes not everything in the medical world meets the eye. The CEO of COS Productions, a Miami-based production company, is taking on the medical, beauty and food industries in a new documentary, Incurable Diseases. “Industry shareholders act as puppeteers, manipulating these industries in order to pad their own pockets and fulfill their own agenda,” said Sánchez. Sanchez says poor health is a direct result of greed and regulations that are unchecked, even going as far as to say that the irresponsibility of the medical field is the reason we have some diseases. “Sadly, the state of our nation’s health is a lucrative business opportunity; they put profits over people, turn a blind eye to regulation and ultimately cause diseases and other health problems,” Sanchez said. Incurable Diseases attempts to compare costly, FDA-approved medical procedures used to treat diseases to curative alternative treatments available for a fraction of the cost. The documentary also aims to

instigator for the California Prop. 37 to Label GMOs, Jim Humble, creator of MMS Protocols and Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The film is in the middle of raising money to complete production. Sanchez and COS Productions has recently launched a crowd funding campaign to help cover costs needed to complete the project. Interested individuals can donate from $5 to $5,000, with rewards including stickers, t-shirts, movie tickets and associate producer credits. “We hope that everyone who believes there is a way to heal ourselves with alternative medicine will be inspired to support our project,” said Sanchez. “We need an educated society to enforce better-regulated industries, more research and regulation of genetically modified organisms, and more access to alternative medicine over costly pharmaceutical and surgical options. Our goal is that this film will inspire a nation to take back control of our society’s health and wellness.”

LOCAL NEWS

Palm Beach Prime Timers Group celebrates one year anniversary and moves to Compass

alm Beaches Prime Timers recently announced that they will move their monthly meetings to Compass Gay & Lesbian Community Center at 201 North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth, starting with their December meeting on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. “When we started the group about a year ago Compass wasn’t open on the weekends,” said George Sauers, co-creator of the newsletter and advertising programs for the group. “Now they’re open on Saturdays so we’re real pleased to be able to use their space. It makes us more a part of the community at large,” he added.

According to the Prime Timers World Wide website, Prime Timers is an organization for “older gay or bisexual men (and younger men who admire mature men) who enrich their social lives, engage in diverse activities, and enjoy opportunities and friendships with other Prime Timers throughout the world.” It was founded in 1987 in Boston by a retired professor, Woody Baldwin, who recognized the need for friendship, fun social activities and community support for older gay and bisexual men. Today the organization has more than

Photo courtesy of Charlie Fredrickson

By Donald Cavanaugh

Typical monthly meeting at the Palm Beach County main library in West Palm Beach

80 chapters throughout North America, Europe and Australia. “We have been looking to expand the social programming for seniors for quite some time now and a partnership between Compass and the Palm Beaches Prime Timers is a perfect fit,” said Julie Seaver, Compass Center Director. “Compass recognizes a tremendous value of organizational partnership and coalitionbuilding, and we are proud to host a safe venue at the center for the growing number of LGBT seniors and baby boomers we have in Palm Beach County.” According to Sauers, the group that would become Prime Timers first met in Oct. 2011 at the Main County Library on Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach where they have held their meetings for the past year. Around 30 people attended the first gathering at the library. Today they have over 50 members, about half of whom are couples. Sauers said it was obvious from the start that the group felt there was a need for a Palm Beaches Prime Timers chapter. “Fort Lauderdale has a lot of stuff going on but the attendees agreed that most of us live in Palm Beach because we like what we have up here,” he said. “And meetings are only a small part of what we do,” said Sauers. “We go places and do things and more people come for the activities than for the meetings.”

Some of the regular activities listed on the club’s website include walking dogs at John Prince Park, biking, bowling, monthly dinners, pot lucks, movie nights and more. “Personally, I like the pot luck suppers a lot,” said Sauers. It’s a good way to get to know people better.” The club also offers a variety of trips including fall foliage viewing in the northeast, and gay Caribbean cruises in the winter. “One of the nice things about the travel arrangements is the fact that you can sign up and go on trips with other clubs for their cost,” said Sauers. “It’s a great way to expand the number of travel opportunities.” Sauers also said the club anticipates a big influx when the snowbirds arrive for the season. Some of them are members in chapters in their summer locations so they just participate in the local meetings and events but there are many people who will be hearing about Prime Timers for the first time and will want to join. The club’s website is www. palmbeachesprimetimers.org. In addition to the calendar, the group publishes a monthly newsletter on the site and provides space for advertisements. You can click on the membership link and sign up for $20 per year.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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WWW.TINTWORLD.COM/FL/FT-LAUDERDALE-023 December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

NEWS ANALYSIS

Marriage Equality (Not Tax Reimbursements) is a Business Solution

ecent news reports that TD Bank will equalize taxes for same-sex domestic partners opens a curtain on the extraordinary disparities in the workplace, finances, taxation and civil rights of gay vs. straight couples. There is such a linty of issues that keeps gays in an inferior position financially that marriage is simply the only solution to resolve it all. The Defense of Marriage Act precludes same-sex partnerships from recognition as marriage under federal law, and many state laws reiterate and compound that discrimination; as a result gay people enrolled in domestic partner health benefits must pay tax on the value of their domestic partner’s benefits. TD Bank will make a onetime payment to equalize the tax impact to its LGBT employees that have enrolled their domestic partners in the bank’s health insurance. One wonders if that one time payment will also incur additional tax; that

By Ric Reily question could point to a mathematical reality, if you always consume half of what you have left you will never have none, meaning that there is no way to get absolutely equal without equal civil rights. Which is not to say nor in any way infer that the efforts of TD Bank to equalize benefits to all their associates is faulted, it is not, and is actually quite magnanimous in its intent. Though the underlying current in this conversation is that no matter how much any single individual, group, organization or even government recognizes and works toward equality, so long as official discrimination exists, currently in the name of DOMA, there can be no true equality, only shadows of it dancing in the political limelight. Employers, especially multi-state employers, have to deal with a bizarre set of tax, retirement and administrative rules to deal with employees’ relationships; legal

marriage in one state, civil unions in others, ignored in yet more, all banned at the federal level. Payroll, legal, tax and HR departments have to deal with endless rules and law. Uniformity is the simplest path to achieving savings, and treating employees equally. Marriage equality is simply a practical business solution. There is a long standing settled body of law that deals with virtually every aspect of the coupled relationship called marriage, that couple currently defined by DOMA as a man and a woman. Common law states even provide for the woman to be automatically married to the man in the event that they live together for some designated period of time; marriage in its essence is a security blanket for women Bharat B. Masrani President & Chief Executive Officer of TD Bank who have historically been held as chattel. the banks have all the money. Perhaps a The body of law that has grown up around good use for some of TD Bank’s money is the legal relationship of marriage provides a call or two to their servants and minions the only way to clarify the milieu of attempts in Washington requesting that Republicans by organizations and governments to resolve cease and desist in their defense of DOMA in same-sex issues on a piecemeal and event by federal court. From there we can move to a event basis. The clearest route to equality repeal of DOMA and then passage of a new is to establish marriage including all its Civil Rights Act inclusive of all persons. benefits and detriments for any two persons Being lucky enough to work at TD Bank is a who decide to enter into the contract. Short financial boon for those gays who happen to of nationally recognized same-sex marriage be employed there. Gays who work for other a hodgepodge of rights and benefits will major corporations including some Fortune continue to exist here and there; continuing 500, even some Fortune 200 companies, to create extraordinary situations such as and the vast majority of small businesses same-sex divorce in states without same-sex across the nation that provide little or no marriage and same-sex couples in mutual recognition, protection or benefits to their bankruptcy with comingled assets though same-sex domestic partners can easily view the federal bankruptcy court is disallowed TD Bank’s generosity as merely window in considering the same-sex couple as such. dressing. While TD Bank is certainly forward Real change in equality will, in the end, looking and generous in offering to fill the come from recognition of equal rights for financial gap between the actual benefits all, as stated in our founding documents, of legally married couples and same-ex not from individual persons, companies or couples, the end result is a perpetuation of local and state governments. Equality does the existing inequality. not remove rights from some in providing The majority of Americans now agree that equal rights for all. Rights are not voted same-sex marriage is okay. Law will begin on nor bestowed by virtue of some others’ to change much more quickly when the benevolence. Equal rights are by definition real money gets behind the issue. We know inalienable and ours by virtue of birth. that following the recent great recession

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

OPINION

Stereotypes are the New Normal for ‘Glee’ Co-Creator Ryan Murphy n 2012, Ryan Murphy had three distinctive shows airing: the comedy The New Normal, the horror-fantasy American Horror Story, and the musical dramedy Glee. Each show has his signature factor: stereotypes. With all of Ryan Murphy’s highly visible LGBTinfused shows, he relies on stereotypes with minimal diversity and nostalgia. I’m the first to say that I’m obsessed with Ryan Murphy’s wickedly foul imagination. I’m glued to my laptop from Tuesday to Thursday which borderlines on obsession. I understand that his jokes are campy and bombastic. But with all three shows featuring prominent gay characters, is he harming the representation of the LGBT community to the mass audience? Emily Nussman of the New Yorker writes in her article Queer Eyes, Full Hearts that “Murphy is a pioneer and a radical…he pushes the limits of television in ways as exciting as anyone up on that Mt. Rushmore of TV.” If Ryan Murphy is seen as groundbreaking, why must he consistently rely on tired and dangerous stereotypes? They only perpetuate the stereotype and harm the community, as it is the only perspective leading to mockery. 1995’s Documentary film, The Celluloid Closet, depicts the LGBT community’s representation through the first 100 years of cinema as we have been portrayed as asexual sissies, evil monsters, and tragic figures. Now, stereotypes aren’t all bad. Using archetypal characters in media is relatable and hooks the audience immediately. Unless you understand the humor and know there are different perspectives, it becomes a problem if you constantly rely on them. His major success, Glee, rides on stereotypes from the flamboyant male fashionista to the exotic lesbian cheerleader to the

evil gay. The LGBT community has more diversity than these old, tired tropes. To understand Ryan Murphy, a viewer needs to know that he does not rely on realism or subtlety. For example, another gay character from Glee, Blaine, attended an all-boys private school where they had zero tolerance on bullying and homopho-

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore

By Chris Huqueriza, Dot429.com

representation we have for our community. A homophobic-closeted character’s plight was handled admirably as teen suicide and cyber bullying were accounted for. Murphy has also introduced the T in LGBT with Wade and his alter ego, Unique, which is often marginalized and rarely talked about. But again, Murphy started with a stereotype and worked from there. Murphy’s other shortcoming is minimal diversity and it is prominent in The New Normal. It’s typical of most television shows, but the show focuses on a middleclass (let’s just call them rich) white gay couple in Los Angeles. And therein lies the issue. Where’s the diversity? According to GLAAD’s Network Survey, 66% of LGBT representation on broadcast TV is Caucasian. Aside from the white gay couple, there has yet to be any prominent lesbian characters. Let’s hope they are more than white and middle-class. American Horror Story has the issue of highlighting the problems of the past to show how things are better now. The main backdrop is the second season’s setting of the early 1960s. A woman can’t hold hands with her female lover in fear of being ostracized by their community as deviants. Zachary Quinto, an openly gay actor, questions the methods of the LGBT treatment. “Your hospital still administers electroshock to homosexuality; it’s barbaric,” he says in the second season focused on an insane asylum in a midcentury setting. “Behavior modification is the current standard.” Murphy is showing it is a time when things were really bad for the LGBT community. It’s been done extensively in war times when dealing with questionable futures to depict happier times of year’s past. For example, the 1944 film, Meet Me in Louis, was set in 1904 when post-WWI I had the nation undergoing a tough transition. In both instances, we are conditioned to feel good about our current situation. While we have made strides, we still have a long way to go. As much as I am a fan of Ryan Murphy’s genius, he hurts the LGBT community with his one-note stereotypes, minimal diversity, and nostalgia. I get the joke; I hope everyone else does too.

co-creator of glee, ryan murphy

bic slurs. As a former student who attended an all-boy’s private school that was very masculine and slightly homophobic, I had an issue with a fantasy school that sang and danced about zero tolerance. But I understand that the world of Glee isn’t always connected to reality. However, I do commend Glee for using these characters to shed light on serious issues the community is facing - from bullying/teen suicide to coming out. I do hope the audience knows they’re not the only

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Jesse’s Journal

Queer and Lefty

ccording to a 2003 study by Canadian scientists, lesbians and gay men are more likely than others to be left-handed. Putting together the results of 20 previous studies that involved more than 23,000 men and women, the scientists concluded that the odds of being left-handed are 39 per cent higher in homosexuals than in heterosexuals. Broken down by gender, they found that gay men are 34 percent more likely to be left-handed and lesbians are 91 percent more likely to be left-handed. “This is one more piece of evidence that sexual orientation is at least partly determined in the womb,” said Ray Blanchard, head of the Clinical Sexology Program at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toledo, one of the authors of the study that appeared in the July 2003 issue of Psychology Bulletin. Blanchard et al. followed that with a 2006 study that suggested that left-handed men without older brothers are more likely to be gay than non-right-handed men who have

By Jesse Monteagudo older brothers. As Blanchard & Co. said in that report, “the odds of homosexuality is higher for men who have a non-right hand preference or who have older brothers, relative to men with neither of these features, but the odds for men with both features are similar to the odds for men with neither.” This was not the first time that scientists noted a connection between being queer and being left-handed. In 1993, researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario found that 69 percent of lesbians and 45 percent of gay men interviewed were left-handed in at least one of 12 simple manual tasks. Sandra Witelson, a co-author of the McMaster study, speculated that the higher incidence of left-handedness may be because “brain organization may be different than in others” resulting from differing hormonal levels while in the mother’s womb. Coincidentally, that study appeared at the same time as another study, this one by the University of British Columbia —

Canadians seem to be fascinated with the subject — that concluded lefties are more accident-prone and have “noticeably, and significantly shorter” life expectancies. As a left-handed, gay man, I am interested in all possible links and similarities between my dexterity and my sexual orientation. Though it is tempting to presume a common, prenatal origin for both left-handedness and homosexuality, the fact remains that both conditions are not necessarily linked. There are, after all, many straight “lefties” and many gay “righties”. Still, gays and lefties have a lot in common, if not in origins then in numbers, conditions and consequences. For one thing, it is estimated that one out of ten people is left-handed; precisely the same percentage of the population that many of us believe is LGBT. M a k i n g comparisons between being gay and being left-handed are nothing new. In their 1988 book, Looking at Gay and Lesbian Life, authors Warren J. Blumenfeld and Diane Raymond devoted a whole chapter, “A Discussion About Differences: The Left-Handed Analogy,” to the topic. Blumenfeld and Raymond reminded us that lefties, like LGBT people, are discriminated against just for being who they are in a world where most people are different from them. “Though you might not think your friend or mother or classmate is all weird because she or he is left-handed, such tolerance has not always been the case,” they wrote. “In fact, for centuries, left-handed people have been viewed with scorn and even, at times, with fear . . . [I]n the Middle Ages, lefthanded people were sometimes accused of being witches or sorcerers,” just like gay people — the Devil himself was thought to be left-handed. Language reflects prejudice: while righties are “dexterous” (right), lefties are “sinister” (left); and those words have become part of our vocabulary as synonyms for good and evil, respectively. Until recently parents of left-handed children would force them to write with their right hands, just as parents of lesbian and gay children would force them to behave heterosexually. Even today, according to Jack Fincher in Lefties, “Left-handers are one of the last surviving minorities in our society with no organization, no collective power or goals, and no real sense of common identity.” Fifty years ago, this statement could have applied to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people.

In practical terms, I probably suffered more from being left-handed than I have for being gay. Like other lefties, I have had to deal with the complexities of being lefthanded in a right-handed world, and learn to manage tools and machinery that were built for righties. According to Fincher, “the left-hander’s lot must have taken a quantum leap for the worse with the Industrial Revolution. Machine-made tools meant that he had better learn to make his maladroit (not “dexterous,” hence not right, as opposed to “adroit,” or dexterous) best of a bad arrangement.” If lefties are accidentprone, as the British Columbia study suggests, it is because we are forced to live in a mirror image world. “In a lifetime of left-handedness, my poor body has experienced many broken bones, cuts, and other injuries resulting from that split-second’s time necessary to adapt to a world oriented to right-handed people,” wrote Jay Quinn, gay author and lefty, in The Mentor. In fact, according to James T. de Kay, author of The Left-Hander=s Handbook, “about the only thing that actually favors lefthanders is the toll booth.” Like gays, lefties are thought to be more creative than others. “A lot of hard evidence shows that most left-handers — because they are dominated by a different kind of brain — are a distinctly different kind of people,” wrote de Kay. “They literally think differently, . . . tend to translate everything into visual imagery [and] . . . are more apt to think holistically, skipping over the details . . . Which explains why so many creative people have been left-handed . . . And why left-handers seem almost to dominate show business.” Both queers and lefties try to bolster their causes by listing famous gays and lefties, as if the knowledge that Leonardo and Michelangelo were both queer and lefty would help Sinister Dick or Lavender Jane cope with their daily lives. There is a danger in taking the left-gay analogy too far. After all, it is not against the law for a lefty to marry another lefty. But in a world that values conformity, both queers and lefties stand out by the very nature of their differences. Just as LGBT people have come out of our respective closets, left-handed people are finally asserting ourselves, if only by demanding tools and equipment that is “left-friendly”. For myself, I am as happy and proud to be a lefty as I am to be an Out gay man, and I would not change either my dexterity or my sexuality.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

PUBLISHER’S EDITORIAL

How I Would Rule... H

...if I were a Supreme Court justice

By Norm Kent

ere is Justice Norm Kent’s ruling in the DOMA and Prop 8 Cases The first question before this court is whether a California law stating that marriage is an institution only available to men and women can be sustained as constitutional. Of course not, and it’s an easier question to answer than most might think. Discrimination against gay men and women in the United States is legally intolerable, morally unconscionable, constitutionally unacceptable, inherently invidious, and must come to an end. Ours is a nation of growth and acceptance. Our constitution is an evolving document, which has grown with the ages. Our nation is one of acceptance and inclusion. What once was, no longer is. African Americans are no longer three fifths of a citizen, even though our Constitution once read that way. They serve in our military too, though it took a presidential order to do so. Women have the right to vote, even though it took a constitutional amendment to make it happen. Women have a right to control decisions about their bodies, though it took a Supreme

Court decision to preserve and protect that right. Inter-racial marriages are now legal, and African American students attend public schools and colleges, even though it took federal troops and this court to insure that equality. Our nation fought a civil war to ensure that the Emancipation Proclamation protected the rights of African Americans. Today, we address a legal war to insure the rights of gay and lesbian Americans. Americans with disabilities now have access to campuses and public institutions, by law, by statute, and by moral imperative, even though it took legislation to enact and ensure it. For decades, many classes of Americans remained unprotected by law or statute, and it has fallen upon the Supreme Court to implement and ensure those protections. We do so again today. Gay men and women now hold public office, serve in the military and hold a precious space in the rubric and fabric of America. Their rainbow is America’s, and their rights can no more be denied than that of women or blacks or other American populations once treated as second class. Those days are over.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

As this Court wrote in Lawrence vs. Texas, declaring sodomy laws to be illegal, mere disapproval of an institution without a rational basis cannot be sustained as a public policy. Our society comes together as a society not to restrict the rights of any, but rather to secure the rights of all. Some like butter on their bread, others margarine, but all Americans ought to be able to make their own lunch. Our decision today to declare gay marriages legal does not turn the Constitution on its face. It ensures that it is an enduring, expansive document, embracing equal rights for all, repairing the errors of the past by ensuring sound principles for the future, while saving and rescuing lives in the here and now. Congress has no duty to protect heterosexual marriage and traditional notions of morality, reasons it gave for passing this law in the first place. The duty of Congress is to protect the rights of heterosexuals and homosexuals, not to empower a class they are comfortable with while shutting out others of equal stature and circumstance. If anything, historically disadvantaged groups need laws that insure parity, not preserve discrimination. It is easy to conclude that homosexuals have suffered a history of discrimination. The most telling proof of animus and discrimination against homosexuals in this country is not just a tax code that treats same sex couples differently than heterosexuals, but for so many years, and in so many states, homosexual conduct itself was criminal. Even today, it is still the cause for wrongful bullying and physical abuse. Thus, this court must necessarily have a heightened scrutiny of any legislation and laws that could further perpetuate discrimination against this class of citizens. Consequently, we find the law passed by Congress, known as the Defense of Marriage Act, unconstitutional, as there is no rational basis for treating same-sex couples any

differently in a courtroom or their bedroom, then opposite-sex couples. As Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs in New York wrote, “the laws of this land is not concerned with holy matrimony… a state may enforce and dissolve a couple’s marriage, but it cannot sanctify or bless it. For that, they must go next door.” DOMA imposes unique and unconstitutional burdens on gay couples. Any attempt by government to discriminate against gay people must have an “exceedingly persuasive” justification. This law does not. Correspondingly, we find the law passed by California citizens, Proposition 8, barring same-sex marriage also unconstitutional, as it unjustly discriminates against similarly situated citizens, same-sex couples, to perfect their love with civil unions and contracts already granted to opposite-sex couples. We did not allow the governor of Mississippi the right to deny James Meredith entrance into Ole Miss in 1962 because the Caucasian public disapproved of Negroes in a state university. Nor can we disallow a same-sex couple to share equal marital status in a California community because a majority of their citizens find it offensive. It is not for them to so decide. Moral disapproval is an insufficient justification for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. As stated by U.S. Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt, “Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples. The Constitution simply does not allow for laws of this sort.” The duty of this court is customarily to give breadth to the acts of congress or the will of the people, but those acts and decisions must protect and embrace the rights of all Americans, not the partisan preferences of some. It is therefore the ruling of this court that gays can marry anywhere and everywhere, from Seattle to Santa Fe, from South Florida to the shores of Maine. Gentlemen, you may now kiss your husbands. Ladies, you may now kiss your brides. Justice Norm Kent, presiding….

The Regulars

By Karl Hampe

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

The Transvestigator

Transgenders with Addictions Face More Difficulties

By Victora Michaels, Transvestigator

he Center for American Progress—a leading progressive public policy research organization— released an alarming report attesting that transgenders are much more prone to addiction than society as a whole. The report also reflects that transgenders are far less likely to have health insurance and much more likely to self medicate as a result. In order to lower these rates our health care system needs to better meet the needs of transgender people, and our government needs to advance public policies that promote equality for the transgender population. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducted a study that estimates 30 percent of transgender people abuse substances, compared to just around 9 percent of the general population. The report states, “The stress that comes from daily battles with discrimination and stigma is a principal driver of these higher rates of substance use, as transgender people turn to tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs, and other substances as a way to cope with these challenges.” Transgender individuals report higher rates of substance use than others due to three main factors: Many transgenders live with a high level of stress that comes from social prejudice and discriminatory laws

in areas of daily life such as employment, relationship recognition, and health care. Also, a lack of cultural competency in the health care system discourages transgender

people from seeking treatment for substance abuse. For those who do seek help, it often leads to inappropriate or irrelevant services. In addition, targeted marketing efforts by alcohol and tobacco companies, and illegal drug dealers exploit the connection many transgender people have to bars and clubs as safe spaces for socializing and increase easy access to tobacco products, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Transgender individuals often times live with a great deal of emotional pain and confusion. They feel isolated and alone. Many will self-medicate using illicit drugs, prescription medication, or alcohol as a means

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

of escaping the depression and anxiety they feel on a daily basis. By the time a transl individual does finds his or her way to a rehab program, they likely have a full-blown dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis patients are those who suffer from co-occurring mental health and addiction conditions. They are high-risk patients who are always at risk for suicide or other self-harm behavior. It takes a special kind of facility to treat trans patients. The treatment center must provide a comprehensive approach to recovery – having both addiction treatment teams and psychiatric professionals on staff. These teams should work together to treat every aspect of the individual’s condition in detail. The major problem is that enough of these sort of rehabs don’t exist, or if they do, at a cost that most trans can’t afford. Another dilemma that occurs for transgenders seeking help for addiction related problems is that in-patient rehabs are mostly gender segregated, thus creating even more turmoil and confusion. Even if a trans is able to find an in-patient rehab facility in Florida that might accept them, they are prohibited from being able to continue hormone therapy as it’s considered an elective drug. By now it should be common knowledge that hormone therapy is crucial for trans

people. It should not be considered an elective drug as it’s a necessity. Any treatment center that calls itself “trans-friendly” yet prohibits transgenders from receiving hormone therapy needs to reexamine the definition of “trans-friendly.” This is not only an absurd requirement, but it’s downright idiotic and ignorant as well. With addiction running high in the transgender community the time to act is now, and a call for change is dyer. To date there is no facility in Broward County that fully accepts transgenders on hormone therapy seeking treatment for addiction. Until we see changes within these treatment center guidelines both locally and nationally, then we can only expect the statistics to grow. In retrospect, let’s “JUST SAY NO” to idiotic guidelines. Victoria Michaels is the reigning Miss Florida 2011 F.I. and serves as an advocate for the LGBT community. She is transgender (male to female), and before her transition in 1999 she was a student at the College Of Philadelphia and worked as a show producer at WDEL AM News radio in Delaware. She is currently a premiere emcee at Boardwalk Bar in Fort Lauderdale. Visit Missfla.com or Myspace.com/missvictoriamichaels for more information. Email her at VictoriaMichales@aol.com.

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TRAVEL

Copenhagen Come!

On dancing and dining in Denmark

By Sophie Needleman, GayTravel.com

hen most vacationers travel to Europe, cities like London, Paris, and Rome are on the top of the destination list. While these are classic European hotspots, there is a lot to be said for the hidden gem cities that are more off-the-beaten path. The Danish capital of Copenhagen is not only a beautiful tourist destination- it is also warm and welcoming to the gay community. With quaint eateries, gorgeous architecture, and vibrant nightlife, Copenhagen should be on every gay traveler’s radar. Copenhagen is one of Europe’s friendliest cities toward the LGBT community, with a liberal and open mindset regarding gay locals and tourists alike. Copenhagen is actually known for the positive attention it gives to its lesbians- some of the city’s hottest DJ’s and musicians are lesbian and strongly advocate for the community. The best part about Copenhagen’s gay community is that lesbians and gay men mix freely and openly. Come on ladies, we all know the gay boys really make the best dance partners in those gay bars! Because of this element of diversity, there is something for everyone in Denmark’s capital. There is truly no better place to expand your social network and indulge in all the Danish gay culture has to offer. Because of its miles of beaches and clean water, Copenhagen is a great place to travel during the summer months. July and August are the warmest months in Denmark but the weather is pretty pleasant all year round. Even when the rains come in Spring and Fall, Copenhageners are out and about indulging in the natural beauty of their gorgeous city. Bellevue Beach is the city’s favorite gay beach, and gets even more of a crowd during summer because the north end of the

beach is also a nude beach. Amager Beach is recently constructed and provides all day fun for every sort of outdoors advocate. The beach features a long stretch of sand, a shallow lagoon, and a special beach lane for rowers and swimmers. The beaches Ishoj and Tisvildeleje are a bit more removed from the

If you work up a bit of an appetite during your beachy Copenhagen excursions, you won’t be disappointed with all of the adorable eateries this town has to offer. There are more cafes and restaurants around the city these days, and while locals used to go out only on weekends or for special occa-

city but offer plenty of gay action among the picturesque dunes and pines. Just because Copenhagen isn’t tropical doesn’t mean it isn’t a great place to hit the sand and catch some rays!

sions they have definitely gotten up to par with their socializing standards. Even on the wettest of evenings this cozy town boasts a vibrant social scene in bars and cafes all around the city.

Kafe Knud is a local favorite drop-in café for all people affected with HIV. Oscar Bar Café is a hip and modern eatery with an inviting atmosphere and incredible vibe for all. Once nighttime rolls around, check out Can Can, the gay bar in the city center. Centralhjornet is Copenhagen’s oldest gay bar, and Jailhouse is a prison-themed bar with staff notorious for their sexy and stylish uniforms. If this sort of dress up vibe is up your alley, look no further than Men’s Bar which is the city’s only leather bar. Lesbians can especially get their girly fix at Copenhagen’s Masken Bar. No matter what your taste or style, Copenhagen has plenty to offer you, sure to keep you busy throughout your stay! It may come as a surprise, but the world has only just begin to notice Copenhagen as a center of design, architecture, and fashion. The cobblestone squares and copper spires of this city are only the start of the vibrant culture it has to offer its residents and tourists. As if that wasn’t enough, Copenhagen has been home to a booming culinary revolution the past few years, which continues to drive its economy. All of these elements come to a head at the Copenhagen Gay Pride celebration, kick off this summer from August 14 to August 19. London and Paris may be some of Europe’s most popular travel destinations, but by going off the beaten you can discover the quaint and cultural gems of Copenhagen, Denmark. This capital city is a safe and clean city that is incredibly easy for tourists to get to know. Locals speak great English and are more than willing to lend offer a lending hand. The transportation system in Copenhagen will blow you away- after making your travels exceptionally easier you won’t want to leave this city at all! Copenhagen, known as one of the world’s most livable cities, is definitely of the most visit-able too.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FEATURE

Greg Miraglia: Coming Out from Behind the Badge By Jesse Monteagudo

reg Miraglia understands the difficulties of being gay and being in the law enforcement field. He had to largely navigate the unchartered territory by himself and so that’s why since coming out he founded Coming Out From Behind the Badge and has published two books on the subject to help others facing the same situation. Coming Out From Behind the Badge is an organization and a set of books by Greg Miraglia that deal with the process of coming out as an open LGBT police officer, firefighter or EMS professional. Miraglia himself has a lot of experience in this matter. Miraglia started his law enforcement career as a police officer at the Walnut Creek, California Police Department in 1978. At the time, he said, being gay was a

reason to deny someone employment, and of course, the explorers were part of the Boy Scouts of America who continue today to discriminate against gay people. Miraglia worked at Walnut Creek PD until 1988 and then moved to the Fairfield, CA Police Dept. until 1998. At the same time he also taught at the police academy at Napa Valley College in 1986 and went full time in 1999 as the academy director. During that time he also served as the deputy chief of the Napa Valley Railroad Police Department until 2007. Today he’s a dean at Napa Valley College and teaches all of the diversity and human relations topics in the police academy as well as the LGBT Studies Program at the college. Coming Out from Behind the Badge, published in 2007, was Miraglia’s first book.

“My partner, Tony, encouraged me to share my own coming out story as a means of inspiring other closeted law enforcement officers to come out. Although I was living a largely double life for more than 25 years in law enforcement, I did not come out publicly until 2001 at the age of 41. There were no books available at the time showing positive stories of success, so I wanted to provide examples from around the country of out LGBT officers who were successful on the job,” he said. Miraglia followed his story in 2011 with a second book, American Heroes Coming Out From Behind the Badge, which includes “stories from firefighters and EMS professionals in addition to more amazing stories from law enforcement.” As an organization, Coming Out from

Behind the Badge helps sell Miraglia’s books of the same name. It also, according to its founder, “focuses on helping individual closeted officers come out by providing individual support and networking. We also are being called upon to do training and to advise on training for law enforcement agencies seeking to create a more supportive environment for LGBT personnel. By simply being present, we hope to create a greater awareness of the LGBT professionals working in law enforcement today.” “One important part of our organization that was always part of my dream for the books is our scholarship program. In 2009, we started the Out To Protect Scholarship fund that provides the only national scholarship opportunity for out LGBT students currently attending a law

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

enforcement training program. The goal is to reward role models for the LGBT community who are entering law enforcement and who will represent the LGBT community.” For more about Out to Protect, visit www.outtoprotect.og Back during the pre Stonewall gays, and even post Stonewall, the LGBT community had an antagonistic relationship with police officers. Stonewall, after all, was our community’s response to a police bar raid. To LGBT people of my generation, police officers were often the men who raided our bars and clubs, and who arrested us for breaking all kinds of antigay laws. Happily, according to Miraglia, our community=s relationship with law enforcement officers has improved. “The relationship has improved dramatically in many places in the country. The key to this change, I believe, is the visibility of LGBT personnel within the ranks of law enforcement. Laws and policies only punish offenders after discrimination and harassment has occurred. It is the individual role models who come out on the job that can truly change the minds and hearts of those in law enforcement who continue to harbor homophobic

attitudes. Today, you see LGBT law enforcement personnel and straight allies marching together in LGBT pride parades. Several progressive departments actually

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Officer Greg Miraglia

recruit personnel at LGBT events.” The process of coming out as an openly LGBT law enforcement officer, Miraglia notes, “was a gradual process that can be traced back the 1970’s after the American Psychological Association (APA) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. New York and San Francisco Police Departments led this movement. The change occurred one person and one experience at a time and it continues to evolve ever so slowly. I believe that the chief makes all the difference. Good examples of positive leadership that can create fast moving change are the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Prior to 2000, these agencies were largely homophobic and openly discriminated against LGBT officers. Today, they actively recruit personnel from the LGBT community. The chief and sheriff in Los Angeles have both spoken out in support of LGBT

personnel. And these are only two examples.” Here in South Florida, Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti and municipal police department lead the process in support of LGBT officers. “I believe homophobia is still pervasive in law enforcement,” Miraglia admits. “Even here in California, where I live, there are large agencies who deny having any LGBT personnel working within their ranks. In fact, in the county I now work, there are currently and never have been, any out gay male officers. However, change can happen as soon as even one officer within the department comes out. The amount of awareness and attention that just one person can create will make the difference from that point on.” Things are slightly different, Miraglia tells us, for openly LGBT fire fighters or EMS professionals. “I have worked on a year in the fire service and that was part time right out of high school. From what I have gathered from talking to firefighters and EMS professionals, because of the living situation, coming out tends to have another level of complexity to it.” Readers interested in Coming Out From Behind the Badge (the organization and the books) should visit the website: www. comingoutfrombehindthebadge.com. There you can order signed copies directly from the site or link to the publisher for e books.

FEATURE

‘The Lean, Mean, MAP Machine’ One of the Most Important Think Tanks You Don’t Know About By Gideon Grudo

hey each live in a different state, but the four-person, full-time crew of the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is responsible for collecting national data about the LGBT population — information that’s crucial. “We’re kind of a funny organization,” said Ineke Mushovic, MAP’s executive director. “I think a lot of people think we’re bigger than we are.” Founded in 2006 to answer the demand of advocate agencies desperately looking for national LGBT research, MAP would become a think tank for the community, working to further equality through gathering numbers.

“One of the things that a think tank can do is deep dive into the various issues that affect the LGBT community — that’s what helps the on-the-ground organizations,” Mushovic said. “We don’t have that everyday capacity that other nonprofits have. I think it strengthens the movement to have that capacity. The reality is that a lot of our organizations have a lot of constraints.” MAP aggregates information and presents it in long form studies, easily digestible and loaded with facts. Advocates can then take this data to Washington, to the streets, or to anywhere they need it. So how does it work? Mushovic is the executive director. Then there are three others, each in charge

of on of the three core areas of MAP. The policy and issue analysis area is focused on LGBT families and adoption, foster care, LGBT people of color, taxes and how they affect different segments of the LGBT community, the elderly LGBT, transgender people, etc. The LGBT movement area is focused on creating national updates on the LGBT movement, analyzing the various advocate organizations and community centers, and keeping an eye on the progress in laws in various states. The messaging and communications area is focused on how the community tries to change hearts and minds of policy makers, of Americans and of the media.

“I think that what we provide is a very rigorous and comprehensive analysis that is packaged in a way that is both compelling and understandable — across a slew of area,” Mushovic said. “The long term impact of that is both that we strengthen the LGBT community — because we know what it needs and how to do that — and we also hopefully have an impact on advancing equality.” Laura Deaton is MAP’s policy research director. She’s in charge of the policy and issue analysis area, and told SFGN that each report that MAP generates can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months. “We take all of the academic research,

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

legal precedents, laws and trends, family stories, real stories — we’re almost an aggregator and synchronizer of work that’s being done in the community and outside of it,” Deaton said. “It’s the multitude of sources that we draw from that makes us unique.” Before the research, however, comes the brainstorming. All of the area heads get together and outline the issues they want to cover in a given year, each offering up information from their respective perspectives. Then the process for getting the research done in a timely manner is developed, and then get to work interviewing experts, sometimes close to a hundred of them for just one report. “We’re a pretty organic organization. I like to think of us as the lean, mean, MAP machine,” Deaton said. “We’re able to bring LGBT to the table on issues that might not otherwise be there. I think that all of us realize we can’t catalyze community change unless we’re responsive to what the community needs, staying flexible and adapting.” Naomi Goldberg spends most of her time running circles around the LGBT movement. She’s MAP’s LGBT movement and policy researcher. Her area is responsible for the National Movement Report, an annual look at the largest LGBT advocacy organizations and their capacity to bring change. Every other year, her area produces a momentum report, a look at what’s been accomplished

in the last two years. The next momentum report is due around August 2013. She was responsible for making an interactive map of laws around the country, allowing the user to see trends by state or topic. The interactive map went live in April, an upgrade from a static one that MAP showcased beforehand. “You can visually see how many laws were around ten years ago, for example, and how many are around now,” Goldberg said. “It’s crazy to think how far we’ve come when only nine years ago, there were sodomy laws on the books.” MAP’s latest report lends its focus to children of LGBT couple. “Securing Legal Ties for Children Living in LGBT Families: A state Strategy and Policy Guide,” took numbers from over 30 states, and checked in on discriminatory policy as it relates to kids growing up with an LGBT family. What does the report show? Three main areas of concern are apparent, according to it. These laws deny children loving families, they put children’s health at risk, and they undermine children’s security and place children in jeopardy when a parent dies or when parents’ relationships dissolve. For more information on MAP and its pursuits, go to www.lgbtmap.org.

Facts and Figures A look at MAP’s 2012 LGBT Community Center Survey, in which 79 centers from around the country reported their stats. • LGBT Community Center serve about 33,000 people a week (or a little over 1.7 million people annually). • Of those 33,000 helped, 4,458 were referred to other organizations. • On average, community centers are open to the public about 50 hours a week. • Combined revenue for the 79 participating centers exceeded expenses in 2011 by $9.8 million. Those expenses are about $106.3 million. • Of that combined revenue, 27 percent came from federal grants, 12 percent from state grants and 7 percent from local grants. • On average, community center patrons are people of color, make, transgender, and of low-income. • On average, 78 percent of the centers’ expenses went to programming. • One in five centers relies on unpaid staff completely. O FF ER

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December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FEATURE

Remember, Remember

Exhibit explores Nazi persecution of gays during Holocaust

By J.W. Arnold

ore than 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, along with 5 million Poles, Roma (“gypsies”), the mentally and physically handicapped and Jehovah’s Witnesses. But, the Nazis also targeted homosexual men, arresting an estimated 100,000 homosexual men, of whom 50,000 were imprisoned and some 15,000 sent to concentration camps. A new traveling exhibit from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on display in Lake Worth at the Compass Gay and Lesbian Community Center sheds light on the systematic persecution of homosexuals from 1933-1945. The exhibit draws on materials from more than 40 archives and other repositories in eight countries. The Nazi campaign against homosexuality targeted the more than one million German men who, the state asserted, carried a “degeneracy” that threatened the “disciplined masculinity” of a rapidly militarizing Germany still scathing from the psychological and economic penalties enacted by the allies after World War I, according to Ted Phillips, the exhibit’s curator in Washington. Not long after Hitler ascended to power, Germany’s homosexual community began to feel the impact. Under Paragraph 175 of the German criminal code, male homosexuality was illegal in Nazi Germany. Paragraph 175 drew its origins from an 18th century Prussian law. “When Germany unified those states in 1871, it became the law of the German Reich,” Phillips said. The law was named Paragraph 175 in 1935 when the Nazis revised it. Stormtroopers shut down virtually all same-sex bars and clubs and closed public meeting places frequented by gays and lesbians, ending any semblance of public life. “The exhibition explores why homosexual behavior was identified as a danger to Nazi society and how the Nazi regime attempted to eliminate it,” said Phillips. “The Nazis believed it was possible to ‘cure’ homosexual behavior through labor and ‘re-education.’” Gay men were subject to castration, institutionalization and deportation to concentration camps. They were easily identified by the pink triangle symbols that became icons of the modern gay rights movement a generation later. Ironically, in the racist practice of Nazi eugenics, women were valued primarily for their ability to bear children. The state presumed women homosexuals were still

capable of reproducing. Lesbians were not systematically persecuted under Nazi rule, but did suffer the loss of their own gathering places and associations. “There are historic lessons to be learned for sure, but there are present day applications, too. Political currents aimed at denying gays and lesbians employment protec-

tions, hate crime legislation, and the denial of equal recognition of marriage illustrate how legislation and law enforcement can be used to forward harmful political and social agendas. It’s difficult to walk away from this (exhibit) and not be moved,” said Tony Plakas, Compass CEO. The exhibit opened on Dec. 6 with a re-

Photographs of homosexual prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp, 1941. These men likely served as forced laborers in the construction of the three-camp Auschwitz complex. Many of these prisoners died within months of their arrival. National Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Oswiecim

ception and student program featuring Norman Frajman, a local Holocaust survivor who was in camps with gay prisoners whom he befriended and remains in contact with today. He shared many of his own stories with students touring the exhibition. A number of special events have been planned to coincide with the exhibit, including several films. On Dec. 13 at 6 p.m., the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival will offer a special screening of Nicky’s Family, as well as a Q&A session with special guests, survivors and family members. The event marks a new, robust collaboration between Compass and the festival. The series will continue on Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. with Paragraph 175, a documentary about the gays sent to German concentration camps. Fewer than 10 are thought to survive today. Additional educational activities include scholarly lectures and workshops. On Jan. 10 at 7 p.m., Dr. Laurie Marhoefer will present a public lecture on the impact of the Third Reich on lesbians in Germany, and, on Jan. 15 at 4:30 p.m., a special workshop focusing on resources for teaching the LGBT experience will be offered. Ironically, on Dec. 7, the day after the exhibit opened, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would take up arguments in two groundbreaking marriage equality cases, reinforcing Plakas’ assertion about the timeliness and power of the exhibit. For more information, www.CompassGLCC. com or 561-533-9699

Forced laborers in the quarry at the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. The SS-run quarries and brickyards attached to the major concentration camps within the German Reich relied heavily on the manual labor of camp inmates. Homosexual prisoners, usually assigned to the “punishment companies,” were forced to work long hours with few breaks, often on reduced rations. The work claimed many lives, not only from exertion but also in “accidents” caused by sadistic SS guards. Nederlands Instituut voor Oorlogsdocumentatie, Amsterdam

If You Go When: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Jan. 25, 2013 Where: Compass Gay & Lesbian Community Center of the Palm Beaches 201 N. Dixie Hwy., Lake Worth, Fla. 33460

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FEATURE

December Cheer I

Your Holiday Mom Provides Solace for LGBT Community — But Is It Enough?

By Andrea Dulanto

f Lifetime and Logo had an Internet love child, then it would be Your Holiday Mom: Loving Moms Supporting LGBTQ Children This Holiday Season. The website was started by a woman known as Shamama (yes, the screen names can be a bit much —we’ll get to that). Each day since Thanksgiving, mothers (and in some cases, fathers and aunts) have posted messages of support and acceptance to LGBT youth, and will continue posting until New Year’s Day. Many messages are addressed as letters to the “adopted holiday child.” Audio and pictures often accompany the text, enhancing the emotional significance. Reading Mom Marji’s words: “you are allowed to be different from everyone else” is one experience. Hearing her say them is another. Although Your Holiday Mom is directed towards LGBT youth, older LGBT individuals visit the website. A woman of 57 responded

to Mom Teri’s message: “Hope you don’t mind if I take your recording to heart cause I need a mom right now.” No matter the age of “adopted holiday children,” the mothers frequently respond to comments, affirming the caring relationship promised in the messages. Honestly, suspicion may arise at the schmaltz, since a few mothers are known by screen names such as “Shamama,” “Mamabear,” “Mama Sunshine.” One header picture looks like a hymnal cover with a close-up image of a pair of hands, palms outstretched to the dawn sky. But there is a sincere desire for connection, and the expression of love for all who need it. As far as religion, a few messages talk of faith or forgiveness. Yet Mom Logan is an

atheist and Dad Burt “wish[es] you a hearty Happy Everything.” As the website states, “the moms here represent diversity.” Some mothers describe how they would

spend the holidays with their adopted child: “Can you see me at the door, with my arms open, waiting to hug you?” This visualization technique could bolster an

LGBT individual’s self-worth. One person commented about how she uses the messages as affirmations. Your Holiday Mom provides powerful support for LGBT individuals who do not feel accepted by their own families. That is validating. However, it would be helpful if Your Holiday Mom also connected LGBT individuals to resources — for example, CenterLink or Safe Schools Coalition. That way we could add “reallife” support networks to our virtual connections, and have something to build on when the holidays are over. For more information, visit http://www. yourholidaymom.com

Don’t miss

The Pride Center’s VOICE newsletter in next week’s issue of SFGN! + Photos from The Senior Health Expo, Breast Fest, Founders Events, Latino HIV/AIDS Awards & more!

nect Con our Y with unity m Com

+Articles on SMART Ride, Young Adult Group, LIFE Program, Women with Pride, BrothasspeakFTL & more! December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

FEATURE

Moving Up, Moving On Bryan Knicely leaves Stonewall with bigger, better GPS, says Tom Tabor By Tony Adams

initiated by means of some creative, daring and risky thinking. Chairman Tom Tabor gave a startling report when asked about the transition in leadership. Knicely has been, with the board’s blessing, quietly making trips all over the globe, establishing partnerships and cooperative ventures that will lead Stonewall into a fantastic future if everything he set in motion comes to fruition in the next few years. Tabor said, “When Bryan Knicely joined Stonewall in March of 2011, he signed on to an organization that was in a state of flux. A new board had decided to grow Stonewall in ways not previously envisioned. Bryan has done a fantastic job for us, and accomplished tremendous things for the gay

community and for gay history. We are very When organizations like Stonewall expesorry to have him go. Some of our board rience a rapid growth spurt, there is always members are also leaving because of big the danger that its original customer base promotions in their professional lives.” will wonder if attention and services are Knicely will remain as a consultant to being diverted. Tabor is reassuring in this Stonewall. area. “His first assignment when he came in “The board must make choices about was to reorganize Stonewall, and to redi- what to do. Can we take advantage of all rect it as a national entity, and I want to these huge opportunities while serving the attribute to Bryan the success we have had local community? That is why we love our with that decision. I volunteers. Because am thinking about our they can participate trip to California to on the projects or meet with educators programs that interto respond to their est them according to desire for informathe amount of time tion about gay history. they have to offer,” This has resulted in an Tabor said. “We will exciting educational be building on the project with Broward base that has been County that will soon created. We have just be announced,” Tabegun to do these bor said. “Bryan also things. It was the increased outreach at board’s decision to home via local Pride do these travel inievents. We took our tiatives to see what message further. He we could become. went to MinneapoThe timing could not lis to represent us at have been better with a conference where all that has happened Tom Tabor he convened a group nationally in term of of gay museums and gay rights, and we are libraries, and that led to a trip to Amster- really very mainstream.” dam in the summer for the International Will the direction of Stonewall change Conference of Gay Museums and Libraries. drastically in the year to come? For this, we required of Bryan a leadership “I hope we will really be able to accomrole at the conference, and he had to sub- plish all that we have started and to take mit a paper on what he would accomplish. advantage of all these opportunities. Our He delivered the keynote address, and as a vision statement will list our options. You result we made a successful bid to host the can’t stay the same. You become either biginternational conference in 2014. ger or lesser. The choice is up to the comHow did Stonewall become so energized munity to decide to support us,” Tabor said. and dynamic during Knicely’s time at the “If there is anything we lack it is a large helm? treasury. We have very loyal supporters but “It has been a team effort. Our philoso- we need more of them. When you impact phy at Stonewall is cooperation. He will more people you unlock more funding. The be difficult to replace, but we are having a opportunities are with us. We need to make retreat in early January to put together the choices.” business plan,” Tabor said. “We are in tremendous growth mode. We have not had a For more information, visit www.stonewalldevelopment director for a couple of years.” nationalmuseum.org. photos courtesy of Tom Tabor

tonewall National Museum & Archives Executive Director Bryan Knicely is leaving to become Executive Director of the Coral Springs Museum of Art. But this news has a bright silver lining that Knicely has been quietly polishing during his twenty-month tenure and he will remain in an advisory capacity to Stonewall, helping to bring to fruition the energetic projects he has initiated. Even if you are among those who visited their 1300 East Sunrise Blvd location this year, or among the smaller group who generously supported Stonewall, you probably do not know anything about what Knicely and the Stonewall board of directors have

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Happy Holidays Give the Gift of Whitening Ask Us About Gift Certificates

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Dr. David K. Warner, DDS, FAGD Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry

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December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

THE FITNESS GUY

Using free weights on a bosu ball

Strength, Balance & Core Training By Michael Verdugo & Frankie Watson

he Bosu Ball is a very versatile fitness tool in which you can work out your entire body through a variety of challenging, core, strength, balance and stability exercises. At the core of the bosu’s workout science and philosophy are actual core exercises. The bosu ball allows you to “amp up” those traditional exercises, such as push-ups and crunches, by adding that extra challenge to the workout equation. Instead of just isolating, say, your biceps in a traditional curl, you can sit on the bosu, balancing your body with your feet off the floor, thereby engaging your core and getting a great ab workout at the same time. Through working out your core, you’re gaining the strength that your upper and lower body requires to achieve and maintain a high level of fitness. Your body’s core muscles are directly connected to your upper and lower body movement. Having said that, you can understand the importance of a total body workout; a workout routine that isn’t routine; rather one that constantly shocks your body by exercising your muscles in a different way. A term called Muscle Confusion is a type of training that ensures you see continued results by mixing up how you work out certain muscle groups. It also keeps you motivated by avoiding boredom with a stale workout. The exercises illustrated here take traditional methods using free weights and give them an extra kick by adding the bosu ball. These exercises challenge your balance and core, so try lighter weights to start with.

Mike Verdugo Owner/Trainer www. bodytekfitness.com Two Locations, 2216 N Dixie HWY, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 & 7020 SW 22nd CT, Davie, FL 33317

Grab a pair of free weights and sit slightly forward on the bosu.With you arms extended out, palms up, bring your hands together squeezing your chest muscles in one fluid motion to eye level. Return back down to your side keeping your arms straight out. Complete three sets of twelve to fifteen reps. Rest for thirty seconds between each set.

Chest Press

Grab a pair of free weights and, with your feet planted firmly on the floor, position your back and neck on the bosu. Keep your hips up to engage your core. Don’t sink down towards the floor. Bend your arms at a ninety-degree angle and press up having both free weights meet. As you return your arms back to starting position, maintain the ninetydegree angle and keep your upper arms parallel to the floor. Don’t allow your elbows to extend back down towards the floor. Complete three sets of twelve to fifteen reps. Rest for thirty seconds between each set.

Chest Fly

Grab a pair of free weights and with your feet planted firmly on the floor, position your back and neck on the bosu. Keep your hips up to engage your core. Don’t sink down towards the floor. Free weights in hand, extend your arms out with your palms facing up. Keep your arms straight as both hands meet directly in your line of sight. Bring arms back down to starting position and complete three sets of twelve to fifteen reps. Rest for thirty seconds between each set.

Decline Fly

2 December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

SFGNITES

F O R

T H E

THUR THEATER

W E E K

O F

D E C E M B E R

1 2 - 1 9 ,

2 0 1 2

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

12/13

SUN THEATER

Oh no, he didn’t!

Bits and Pieces

ichael McKeever is back. But this time the prolific, award-winning, charming and insanely talented playwright is taking another turn on stage. McKeever stars in David Sedaris’ wicked take on the holidays, The Santaland Diaries, at Studio Theatre at Mizner Park in Boca Raton. McKeever reprises his role as a slightly jaded Macy’s elf with plenty of behindthe-scenes commentary on how department stores manufacture Christmas spirit. “The play is witty and smart and tells truths about our heart and our callousness, making us laugh,” said Parade Productions’ director Kim St. Leon. “It truly is a celebration of the human spirit covered in covert commercialism. And Michael McKeever is a dream to direct.” The Santaland Diaries opens Dec. 13 and runs through Dec. 23, with performances Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $40 at ParadeProductions.org or 866-811-4111. - J.W. Arnold

FRI THEATER

12/16

P Ta’Rea Campbell and Hollis Resnik in Sister Act

12/14

Ta’Rea Campbell, Alysha Deslorieux and Trisha Jeffrey

Cast of Sister Act

How do they do it?

TUE

erelle Bunn and David Torres of Stage Door Theatre are two of the busiest producers in South Florida with not one, but two major musicals currently running. Down in North Miami Beach at the Byron Carlyle, Side by Side by Sondheim, a cabaret salute to the great composer and lyricist’s earlier masterpieces is running through Dec. 30. You’ll all the best loved songs from Follies, Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, West Side Story and Gypsy. The price of admission is worth it just to listen to Music Director Caryl Fantel’s flawless execution of Sondheim’s challenging piano accompaniments. Meanwhile, in Coral Springs, Showboat opens this weekend and runs through Dec. 31. Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s unforgettable song, Ol’ Man River, powers this tale of star-crossed love between a shady gambler and the daughter of the steamboat captain. For show times and tickets, go to StageDoorTheatre.com.. - J.W. Arnold

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

lantation’s award-winning Mosaic Theatre announced it would be shutting down this week after 12 seasons. While the company was financially sound, Artistic Director Richard Jay Simon is expecting a child with his wife and resigned to allow more time with his family. The board pulled the plug after they failed to get Simon to reconsider. Another big loss for local theater fans….. The Sanctuary Choir at Second Presbyterian Church, 1400 N. Federal Hwy. in Fort Lauderdale, presents Let the Whole World Sing, a multicultural Christmas cantata accompanied by Celtic instrumental ensemble, during the church’s Sunday worship service, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend the service and musical devotion….. Broward College dedicated a beautiful new fine arts building at its central Davie campus last week. The two story, 37,000 sq. ft. building is also green and will provide a home for visual and performing arts students and their works. Theatre students are currently presenting Dog Sees God, described as the Peanuts characters gone amuck, in the black box theatre. For more information, go to Broward. edu. - J.W. Arnold

THEATER

12/18

Oh yes, she did!

Cast of Sister Act

Ta’Rea Campbell Florrie Bagel in Sister Act

elores VanCartier, the bluesy Las Vegas chanteuse with a thing for gangsters, is back in the Broadway adaptation of Sister Act. We all remember Whoopi Goldberg in the hit film, but you never saw nuns sing and swing like this version of a good old gospel revival. This time around, Ta’Rea Campbell takes on Delores and leads the sisters of the convent to salvation in a production sponsored by Broadway Across America at the Broward Center’s Au Rene Theatre. The road show pulls into Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, Dec. 18 and plays through Sunday, Dec. 30. Show times vary. Tickets are $39.50-79.50 at BrowardCenter.org or 954-462-0222. - J.W. Arnold

Guardian Circle

has always been and will continue to be members of our community who have come together to guard and protect those who are most vulnerable within our community. Members of the Guardian Circle know that ninety-one cents of every single dollar contributed goes directly to serving the needs of SunServe clients. Whether it is a youth with self-esteem issues or bullying in school, an uninsured adult with a dual diagnosis needing therapy, or a senior who has become shut off from the larger community because of illness or injury or a senior who needs daycare so his/her partner can continue to work so bills can be paid; SunServe is committed to them all. SunServe and its Guardian circle members have been, are and will be here to guard and protect ALL members of our Community.

$100 $250 $500

Per month can facilitate one of our 7 youth drop in groups for one month Per month allows one client five weeks of Mental Health Services Is two weeks of day care for one of our seniors

Offices and Mental Health Services

2312 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, FL 33305

Senior Center

1480 SW 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

To Join Guardian Circle Call Chad Thilborger or email Chad at CThilborger@sunserve.org

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

A&E

Black Out

Lord’s South Beach throws a ghoulish and mystic spin on Art Basel

By Ryan Dixon

visited the Lord’s before will most definitely notice is how committed the Lord’s South Beach is to this instillation – the façade of the building has been painted all black. After taking in the sight of Gypsy, if viewers are brave enough they may approach the demon dog and ask for their fortune. A podium in front of the menacing eyes of Gypsy is where wondering minds may approach the dog and ask of her wisdom. Whether the question is out loud or silentl, truth seekeers press a botton on a touch screen and Gypsy responds with her answer. Whether it’s a “yes”, “no” or “maybe”, she always responds with laser eyes, a smokey breath and sounds of her barking while running away. Visit www.lordssouthbeach.com for more information on Santiago’s designs or to find out how to book your next visit to South Beach with them.

photos courtesy of Billy Farrell Agency

LadyFag (center) poses with Lord’s founder Brian Gorman (left) and HGTV Design Star winner David Bromstad. photos courtesy of Billy Farrell Agency

Friends Laura Rodriguez and Monica Hernandez share a candid laugh during Black Lord’s.

Lord’s South Beach is overrun by Gypsy, a fortune telling black dog.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

photos courtesy of Billy Farrell Agency

estled one block off of Ocean Drive in Miami Beach is the Lord’s South Beach Hotel. The hotel, normally painted all white with a soft color pallet on the inside, turned shades of black and red for Art Basel. Presented by New York based nonprofit BOFFO and Perrier Sparkling Water, Black Lord’s is a larger than life public art instillation that transformed the boutique hotel into a dark entity. Designed by Puerto Rico native Desi Santiago, Black Lord’s used lights, smoke, dark colors, interactive elements and a huge inflatable black dog. The dog, named Gypsy, is a menacing creature made out of low-fi materials including construction netting and inflatable parts. Gypsy is a mainstay in many of Santiago’s designs all over the country. Gypsy’s menacing head overlooks Lord’s courtyard with her paws hanging over the entrance and tail looming in the back. The first thing people who have

Artist Desi Santiago poses with his latest dark creation.

A&E

Eat Up!

Cookbook Dishes Up Favorite Holiday Recipes of Hollywood Legends

By J.W. Arnold

hen it came to holiday fun, the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age knew how to make merry — on stage, on screen, and especially on the dinner table. A new cookbook will help you put the kitsch in your kitchen with a quirky salute to notable celebrities who are gone, but definitely not forgotten. “The original idea came to me for two reasons: First, I had gone to a ‘dead celebrity’ party when I went to college many, many moons ago,” author Frank DeCaro recalled. “Second, I’m really the consummate collector and I started collecting anything with a celebrity recipe, old cookbooks, the kinds of things they handed out in the meat department in 1962 as a promotion.” Eventually, DeCaro, who hosts a live callin show on Sirius XM’s OutQ channel, decided it was time to do something with all those cookbooks and recipe cards. “I love pop culture and I had these interns who never knew what I was talking about… and the result was the Dead Celebrity Cookbook,” he said. Not surprisingly, a holiday sequel followed this year from HCI Books ($14.95): The Dead Celebrity Cookbook Presents Christmas in Tinseltown: Celebrity Recipes and Hollywood Memories from Six Feet Under the Mistletoe. DeCaro has even tried some of the recipes he’s collected. “I’m really looking forward to getting inebriated on Robert Mitchum’s eggnog,” he said. “A dozen eggs — and then some — and a whole bottle of alcohol. I like that one a lot.” Fruitcake is perhaps the most maligned holiday delicacy, but DeCaro has also long been intrigued with the idea of making Dinah Shore’s fruitcake recipe, preserved forever in a 1971 cookbook, “Someone’s in the Kitchen with Dinah.” Long before Shore became a lesbian icon, the very straight singer and entertainer hosted a popular talk show, founded the Colgate Dinah Shore Open golf tournament and managed to woo movie hunk Burt Reynolds. But that’s not why DeCaro developed a fas-

cination with fruitcake. “I remember a PeeWee’s Playhouse Christmas special,” he explained, “and PeeWee hired this shirtless hunk to build an extra room out of fruitcake. Talk about construction that was built to last.” For New Year’s Eve, DeCaro plans to try out Dick Clark’s spicy turkey meatloaf. He’s also planning an Italian version of the cookbook, a perfect volume for Frank Sinatra’s famous spaghetti sauce. All of the cookbooks have been a labor of love for the New Yorker. “Nobody does these books to get rich. It’s fun and takes a lot of man hours getting it all together and researched. It’s my little Christmas baby out there,” he said. In a last ditch attempt to bolster sales, he added, “Oh, and my mother would want my fellow gays to buy this book.”

Robert Mitchum’s Eggnog Serves/Makes: 5 qt.

Directions:

Dinah Shore’s Fruitcake Serves/Makes: 6 gift-sized loaves

Ingredients:

1 lb. dried figs, halved lengthwise, stems removed 1 lb. pitted dates, halved lengthwise 4 c. flour, divided 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. cloves 2 tsp. cinnamon 2 c. butter, softened 2 c. brown sugar 12 egg yolks 1/2 c. molasses 1/2 c. brandy 12 egg whites, beaten until firm but not dry 1/4 lb. candied orange rind, diced 1/4 lb. candied lemon rind, diced 1 lb. golden raisins 1 lb. seedless raisins 1 lb. candied pineapple, diced 1/4 lb. citron 1 lb. candied cherries 1/2 lb. blanched almonds 1/2 lb. pecans 1/2 lb. English walnuts

Line 6 loaf pans with waxed paper, leaving extra paper above the rims. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix the figs and dates with 1 cup flour and set aside. Mix the remaining flour with the baking soda and the spices in a large bowl. In an even larger bowl, cream the butter, then add the sugar and egg yolks and beat well. Add the flour-spice mixture to the butter-egg mixture alternately with the molasses and brandy. Stir in the dried fruit and nuts and mix well to evenly distribute them. Divide the batter between the pans, making sure they’re no more than 2/3 full. Place 3 loaf pans inside each of 2 roasting pans. Pour hot water into the roasting pans to a depth of 1 inch. Bake the fruitcakes 2 1/2 hours, covering them with more waxed paper if they look too brown. Carefully remove the loaf pans from the water, and then bake the cakes without the water bath for half an hour more. Remove cakes from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes; turn them out of the pans, remove the waxed paper and place the fruitcakes on a rack to cool completely. When they’re cool, wrap them in fresh waxed paper and then aluminum foil. To keep the cakes fresh, sprinkle them with a little brandy every week until Christmas. They can be stored in a cool dry place for up to six months.

Ingredients:

12 eggs, separated  1 lb. confectioners’ sugar  1 qt. rum, brandy or whiskey  2 qts. cream  1 qt. milk  1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

Combine egg yolks and sugar, beating well. Add liquor, beating well. Add egg whites and salt to mixture. Beat until stiff. Fold into liquid.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

A&E

WIGS Premieres Kendra Web Series

“Twilight Room” Nurse Finds Her Truth

By Andrea Dulanto

eal lesbians are not as visible in mainstream pop culture. That’s why there’s the current WIGS web series Kendra with Sarah Jones (Alcatraz, Vegas). WIGS is a YouTube channel initiated in May 2012 by filmmakers Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes, Black Swan) and Rodrigo Garcia (Albert Nobbs, In Treatment) “to produce premium, female-centric drama with well-known actors and actresses,” stated current COO Jake Avnet. Jennifer Beals and Julia Stiles are some of the actors featured in other WIGS series. At the creative helm of Kendra is Jon Avnet. Nurse Kendra Adams presents as a femme butch, a young white woman with short blond hair, a military veteran with

a strong shoulder stance, and a matterof-fact tone. When we first see her, she is working in a hospital, wearing her nurse’s scrubs, talking on her cell phone in a dimly lit room, making a dialysis appointment for someone not related to her, but who she calls her grandfather. As the person on the other line puts up bureaucratic resistance, Kendra refuses to yield: “I am calm. You should see when I’m not.” As she ends her call, a picture appears on her phone — a younger Kendra and an African-American woman, both in army combat uniform. A doctor, who is also a veteran (as are many characters on the show), glances at the photo and asks where they served, whether the other woman came back. Iraq, and she did not, answers

Kendra. This is one level of the truth. Kendra attends to the “twilight room” of a hospital. After minor surgical procedures, patients wake up here under the influence of Versed, an anesthetic that obliterates any inner censor as well as memory. A doctor queries his male patient (played by Harry Potter’s Jason Isaacs) after surgery: “You want anything?” “Blowjob?” he responds. Yet throughout the eight episodes of the series, Kendra explores how twilight room revelations do not necessarily form a complete truth, how the truth outside of that room can be questioned. Kendra’s interactions with women help build a connection to her emotional truth. She develops a bond with Macy (Kate Beahan), a patient’s wife unsettled by her husband’s disclosures under Versed. Kendra also forms a new friendship with Leslie (Sydney Tamiia Poitier), an anesthesiologist, fellow veteran, and based on her flirtations with Kendra, possible love interest. At home, Kendra shares an apartment with her grandfather as well as two gay men who are in a relationship and have also served in the military. Bill Brochtrup (NYPD Blue) portrays one of these men, Arnold, and “admire[s] Arnold’s fearlessness… he’s a war vet who is openly gay, has a steady,

loving relationship with another vet who happens to be African-American and in a wheelchair… And he protects the people he loves.” He also noted the “breakthrough” of having “a lead [character] who’s a lesbian, who’s a veteran.” Although Kendra is compelling, the fragmented narrative loses some viewers, and the ominous background music is more distracting than affecting. Furthermore, it is clear that Kendra is attracted to women, but she never directly says that she is a lesbian. She has had at least one past relationship with a man, so she could be bisexual. However, she may not be certain of her sexuality or want to be defined. That would reflect the show’s theme of how truth is elusive. What is even more interesting is how Kendra interacts with different parts of her world, often simultaneously — straight and queer, military and civilian. In this way, the web series creates an authentic depiction of the LGBT experience. Kendra episodes premiere on Mondays and Fridays on YouTube and at the WIGS website http://www.watchwigs.com/. Previous episodes 1-4 can also be viewed.

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

hhBroadway in Miami 2012-13

By Brian Swinford

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

Theater Broward County

Sister Act from Tuesday, Dec. 18 through Sunday, Dec. 30 in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center. Visit BrowardCenter.org

*Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders

Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus:

Agatha Christie’s Classic Mystery Series The BBC Murders on Tuesday, Jan. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 3. Four Agatha Christie classics, Three Blind Mice, Yellow Iris, Butter in a Lordly Dish and Personal Call have been adapted for the stage by Judith Walcutt and David Ossman from lost BBC radio scripts. Tickets are $26.50 to $66.50. Showtimes vary. Call Rachel at 954-776-1999 ext. 230

*An Evening With The Stars Of Doo Wop

Sunday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. The Doo Wop extravaganza will include stars such as Kenny Vance and The Planotones (“Looking For An Echo,”) Terry Johnsons Flamingos (“Only Have Eyes For You,”) Jimmy Clanton (“Venus In Blue Jeans”) and The Mystics (“Hush a Bye”). Tickets range in price from $41.50 to $61.50. Call Rachel 954-776-1999 ext. 230

*Romeo and Juliet

The State Ballet Theatre of Russia presents Romeo and Juliet, the ultimate Shakespearean tragic love story, Friday, Jan. 4 and Saturday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. This two-act ballet is choreographed and produced by Michael Lavrovsky, principal dancer and choreographer of 25 years for the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Tickets are from $31.50 to $61.50. Call Rachel at 954-776-1999 ext. 230

*Monty Python’s Spamalot

At the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy of beautiful showgirls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. Tickets start at $25, $39, $49, $59 and $65 with Club Level seats available for $109. Call 954-462-0222

*Laffing Matterz

Laffing Matterz at the Broward Center continues in the Abdo New River Room Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and selected Sundays throughout the season at 4:30 p.m. Taking on the latest scandal, social media, current events and everything in-between, Laffing Matterz at the Broward Center combines the best of dinner theater with the hilarity of topical satire. Admission is $59 and $65 and includes the show and a dinner with house salad, a choice of entrée and warm sourdough bread. Visit BrowardCenter.org *Itzhak Perlman Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman returns to the Broward Center for an intimate new recital performance on Monday, Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Au-Rene Theater. A master of baroque, classical, romantic and modern music, Perlman has also delighted audiences with everything from the brave old world of klezmer to the limitless frontiers of jazz and beyond. His performances are “everything one wants a violin sound to be,” wrote veteran critic Andrew Porter in The New Yorker. Tickets are $35, $55, $75 and $95. Visit BrowardCenter.org

Cheryl Bentyne – Let’s Misbehave

Gold Coast Jazz Society presents Cheryl Bentyne – Let’s Misbehave, The Music of Cole Porter on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7:45 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater. Bentyne is the reigning soprano of nine-time Grammy winners, The Manhattan Transfer. Blessed with a four-octave vocal range, she performs everything from swinging big band to the smooth West Coast Cool. Tickets are $40. Visit BrowardCenter.org

Shear Madness

The longest running play in American theater history Shear Madness is cutting loose and heading to the Amaturo Theater from Thursday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 30. The Shear Madness hairstyling salon is scandalized by the wacky murder of its illustrious upstairs neighbor and if the shop doesn’t get to the bottom of things soon someone is going to die laughing. Showtimes are Tuesday to Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $39. Visit BrowardCenter.org

Palm Beach County

A Holiday Circus Spectacular, an all-new powerful surge of circus entertainment. Come experience the magic of the season like never before with The Greatest Show On Earth as they harness the energy of the audience to power the performers. Celebrate as they light up the floor and transform energy and power into megawatts of thrills and excitement at this limited holiday performance. Dec 25. Visit Ringling.com

Women’s Minyan This is the story of a respected rabbi’s wife in an ultraOrthodox community in Israel. After years of abuse by her husband, she breaks her silence and finds herself excommunicated and separated from her twelve children. She asks a group of women closest to her, including her mother, mother-in-law, and sister asking them whether she should be allowed to see her children. Through Sunday, Dec.16 at the Levis JCC West Boca Theatre Company 21050 95th Ave South, Boca Raton. Call 561-852-3241

Music Man

This classic American musical takes the audience on a toe-tapping adventure with fast-talking salesman Professor Harold Hill, who convinces the townspeople of River City, Iowa that they need a band, instruments and uniforms. His plans to skip town is turned on its head after falling in love with the local librarian. Through Dec. 16 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Road in Jupiter. Tickets are $46$68. Call 561-575-2223 or visit JupiterTheatre.org

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

Community Calendar Broward County *Floral Designs for the Holidays

“Flower Designs for the Holidays”. Janice Hamlin, Master Flower Show Judge from the Manatee River Garden Club in Bradenton, Florida will inspire us by demonstrating the creation of flower designs for the holidays. Call 954-561-8475. Visit FLGardenClub@gmail.com

*Hollywood ArtsPark Experience Spain

Join the City of Hollywood, Community Redevelopment Agency and the Rhythm Foundation as they experience Spain at ArtsPark Sunday, Dec. 16 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will feature Antonio Carmona, former lead singer of the popular group Ketama. Also, enjoy Spanish flavors, food vendors, arts and crafts, tourism displays, as well as dance and music performances on the main stage. Free. Visit Bigmouthgirlz.com

LGBT Quit Smoking Groups - Free Nicotine Patches

Did you know that LGBT people are more likely to smoke than most any other population group in the United States? Being around other

Jersey Boys

This is the story about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons, and how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. Dec. 19 through Jan. 6 at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts. Visit Kravis. org

The 1940’s Radio Hour

Take a trip though time with the 1940’s Radio Hour. For some the show will be nostalgic, taking the audience back to the good ole times. For others it will be like a historical documentary, taking the younger crowd back to a simpler time before smart phones, and the Internet. The musical follows the final holiday broadcast of the struggling Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade. It features hit songs from the era, holiday tunes, dancing and old time sound effects. Through Dec. 15 at the Lake Worth Playhouse. Visit LakeWorthPlayHouse.org.

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

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

GLBX Business Advantage Referral Group

Have an event you want to list? If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com. Smokers can make it more difficult for people in our communities to quit. But many of us are trying, and the Quit Smoking Now Program in Wilton Manors is here to show us how to quit and stay without smoking. Visit My.vcita.com/myquitcoach QuitsmokingWM.com or call 305-942-6378

The 6th Annual I Care I Cure…I Run 5K

The 6th Annual I Care I Cure…I Run 5K and Family Fun Day! is on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 a.m. at the BB&T Center (formerly BankAtlantic Center), 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise, Florida. Register online at: www.icareicure.org, Adults $25 and Children $20. The I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation supports the development of, and raises public awareness about, cutting-edge research for targeted therapies for childhood cancer. Contact Sue Trilling at 800-807-8013

Fashion’s Fight

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation presents Fashion’s Fight, a charity Fashion Show and luncheon. Taking place Dec. 12 at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale. The show will feature COURAGE.b, a one-of-a-kind luxury boutique. Will feature model Shannon Rusbuldt, who has walked the runway for Giorgio Armani, and Tommy Hilfiger. Contact The TransMedia Group at 561-750-9800 x210

*Denotes new listing

Island City-Wide Yard Sale

Annual Island city-wide yard sale. The Yard Sales are held at Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive, on the second Saturday of the month through April 2013 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The City Yard Sales spaces will be available to purchase. Takes place Jan. 12 and February 9. Last year, the yard sales hosted from 60 to 90 vendors, so register early while there is still space. More info call the Leisure Services Department at 954-3902115 or 954-390-2130.

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

Pozitive Attitudes

Topic driven Peer lead support group for gay and bisexual men who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Meets every Wednesday 7-9 p.m. at the Pride Center 204 N.Dixie Hwy Room 204. Refreshments, no charge, open meeting. PAHereandNow@aol.com www.PozitiveAttitudes.com

Queer Youth Friday NightsLGBTQ 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

Queer Youth Nights

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

Latinos Salud’s programs

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

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 19812012 will be showcased. $10 car registration from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (Show Car Entrance: 20th Avenue & Tyler Street). People’s Choice Award - 2 Classes; Top Ten Vehicles Award. Call 954-214-2457

Living Healthy

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

Life Coaching

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

Sex & Love Anonymous

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

Survivor Support

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

Eating Disorder Support

Meets Friday evenings from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. At Sun Serve’s Wilton Manors location at 2123 Wilton Drive, second floor. A “drop-in” psycho-educational support group. Free. No registration required. Donations welcome. Call 954-764-5150

Sunday Jazz Brunch

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

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Young Adult GLBT

Alternative Life Style Show

Boardwalk Friday 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.

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

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 954566-2074 or email: Tedverdone@comcast.net

Tuesday Night Eatin Meeting

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

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

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

PBC Gender Support

Gay Male Empowerment

Good Orderly AA

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

PFLAG

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

SunServe Therapy Groups

Provided for the LGBT community at SunServe on a regular basis. Call the Intake Coordinator at 954-764-5150 to learn which therapy groups have openings. Groups Include a Gay Men’s HIV+ Long Time Survivors’ Group, a Safe “T” support group for gender variant adults, an Intimate Partner Abuse group and others. Visit SunServe.org

Fusion Wilton Manors - Connections

Gay men’s group discussion. Different subject every week. Dr. David Fawcett, a gay therapist, who has been in private practice in Fort Lauderdale for the last ten years, leads the event. No charge. Starts at 7 p.m. Call 954-630-1655.

Women4Women Support

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

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

Seniors vs. Crime

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

Yoga On The Waterfront

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

YOGA Among the Orchids

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

Jazz on the Palm

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/

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

The Santaland Diaries

BrothasSpeak

Man2Man Discussion

Palm Beach County

The Santaland Diaries will open Parade Productions’ second season 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

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 non-bikers. Visit Lakeworthbikenight.com

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

Paths

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

Yoga

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

Miami-Dade Ransom Mondays

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Have an event you want to list? If so send me an email at Calendar@sfgn.com. zNeed an excuse to keep partying well after the weekend

is over? The Monday-night party at the recently renovated Collins Park lounge. This amazing party will take place at Mokai in Miami Beach. The party, hosted by Mark Lehmkuhl, sort of takes now-defunct Bella Rose’s Black Sunday murder mystery theme but gives it a Patty Hearst twist. Every week, some prominent nightlife fixture gets held for ransom, and the only way it gets returned is if you party your ass off. Only $20 to attend. Visit Mokaimiami.com

Rainbow Circle

Rainbow Circle is a peer-led LGBTQ support & discussion group. Topics covered often include coming out, relationships, bullying, peer pressure, drugs & alcohol, depression and self-esteem. 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

*Denotes new listing

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

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4.875" x 5.25" 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com December

CHRISTMAS What’s happening for the Holidays

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant: THE FORT LAUDERDALE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT features a festive opening scene with familiar carols in a turn-of-the-century setting, a concert of inspirational contemporary songs, and a musical drama of the nativity and life of Christ. This year’s Pageant includes a spectacular snow-filled winter wonderland (watch for the falling snowflakes, not just on stage, but in the audience as well!) and an elegant cityscape. Be sure to bring your friends and family to this Christmas Pageant Dec. 16 at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Lauderdale. For more information visit Firstfortlauderdale.com

Water Taxi Winter Festival of Lights: Bring the whole family in December for an amazing spectacle of Holiday lights along the Intracoastal Waterway and New River. Board any Water Taxi after 5:00 pm and you can see the lights all night for only $13.00. Water Taxis also stop at popular shopping destinations including the Galleria Mall (Stop 2) and Las Olas Boulevard (Stop 9) so you can enjoy a night out and some last minute shopping at the same time! For more information call 954-467-6677.

Chanukah Festival at Gulfstream Park: The 33rd Annual South Florida Chassidic Chanukah Festival is getting bigger and better. Considering that over 10,000 people have participated each year since the event was moved to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach back in 2007, the staff and volunteers preparing the upcoming Festival set for Thursday, December 13th at 7pm have coordinated a star studded program that will guarantee the biggest attendance ever. The crowd will be even bigger than last year, as tens of thousands of tourists, in love with Jewish Music, are expected that week in South Florida. For more information visit Thevillageatgulfstreampark.com

Holiday Fantasy of Lights: The Holiday Fantasy of Lights will be at Tradeswind Park between 6-10pm, Mon-Wed. This event will only cost you $10 per car, ThursSun: $13 per car; $35 buses; 3-D Experience $3 for 3 pairs of glasses. Three miles of giant animated holiday displays and illuminated trees, larger than ever blending the favorites of the past and the excitement of new creations by Brandano Displays. Tradewinds Park will again

be a fantasy of color, lights and design this holiday season. Through the generous efforts of Alzheimer’s Family Center and Brandano Displays, Broward County Parks Department and the city of Coconut Creek. For more information call Steve Klein at 954-971-7155.

Light Up Lauderdale, Downtown Fort Lauderdale: Light Up Lauderdale is a ten week celebration of glittering holiday lights and holiday garland presented by Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale and the City of Fort Lauderdale. This event takes place through Jan 14. Thousands of lights will be displayed along the Riverwalk Park and other public areas. Huizenga Plaza, the Stranahan House, the Historic District, Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Esplanade Park will be decorated with lights, displays and festive decor. For more information visit Goriverwalk.com

West Palm Beach

3rd Annual Toys for Children Holiday Bowl: The PALM BEACH MARINERS host the BAY AREA PIRATES in the 3rd Annual Toys For Children Holiday Bowl football game at Inlet Grove Field in Riviera Beach at Inlet Grove Field on Saturday, Dec 15 3:00pm to 6:00pm Admission is $5 or a new unwrapped toy of equal or greater value. All ticket proceeds benefit the child patients at the St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in West Palm Beach. Visit Hometeamsonline. com/teams/default.asp?u=PBMARINERS&t=c&s=f ootball&p=custom&pagename=HOLIDAY+BOWL

The Colors of Christmas: What better way to celebrate the holiday season than with five of contemporary music’s brightest stars! Singing hits from their individual repertoires as well as songs of the season, this stellar lineup of awardwinning artists will be joined by a gospel choir for an evening of unforgettable music that the whole family will enjoy on Dec 16 7:30pm at the Kravis Center. Some of the artist to be at this event will be Marilyn McCoo, James Ingram, and many more. For more information on this event visit Kravis. org/index.cfm?fuseaction=performances. detail&performance_id=1589

By Brian Swinford

Christmas favorites. This unique fabric of flute voices delivers traditional Holiday classics. Ring in the Holidays with the exciting sound of the Tropical Flutes! Tropical Flutes Christmas will take place at Tropical Sands Christian Church on Sunday, Dec 16 at 6:30pm. For more information visit Tropicalflutes.org

Christmas Concert First Prebyterian Church of Tequesta: Free Christmas Concert on Dec 16 4:30pm, First Presbyterian Church of Tequesta. The Chancel Choir of the First Presbyterian Church presents our annual Christmas Concert for your listening pleasure, featuring an assortment of lovely Christmas pieces. Please come and celebrate Christmas with the whole community. For more information visit Facebook.com/pages/ Christmas-Concert-Tequesta-Florida/45106840 8293187?ref=ts&fref=ts

Royal Palm Beach Movie Night: Bring the family out for a night under the stars on Friday, December 14 at 7:30pm at the beautiful Veterans Park Amphitheatre. Enjoy a Free movie night featuring the family fun movie “Polar Express”, where on Christmas Eve; a doubting boy boards a magical train that’s headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus’s home! Call for more information at 561- 7905149. Please bring seating!

Miami

The Miami Outboard Club Holiday Boat Parade & Bayfront Park’s Tree Lighting:

season on Dec 15 6:00pm to 10:00pm at Bayfront Park in Miami. This event Features about 100 boats in the parade, gourmet food trucks, bounce houses, DJ and fireworks show. “Official” lighting of park’s holiday tree is at 7 p.m., one hour after the event opens, and you can sing along to your favorite holiday music and get into the holiday spirit. For more information call 305- 358-7550

Miami’s Official Bad Santa Bar Crawl: Deck the Halls, Tuck the kids into bed and don your gayest apparel on Dec 15 12:00pm at Baru Urbano. BarCrawls.com is bringing you the biggest bar crawl in Miami and it’s time to get wild. This time Santas bringing a bag full of drink specials. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice cuz we’ll all be drunk. Make sure to leave your sleigh at home and tell Mrs. Claus not to wait up because this crawl will go all day. So grab Christmas by the bells and buy a ticket while you still can. Visit BarCrawls.com

Movies on the Plaza: A Christmas Story: Brickell World Plaza presents Movies on the Plaza featuring A Christmas Story, the 1983 holiday classic on Dec 21 7:00p at Brickell World Plaza. Santa will make a special appearance from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Take your own photographs with Santa for free. Movies on the Plaza are a free, family-friendly event sponsored by Brickell World Plaza each month. Parking is free in the surface lot. Chair rentals are available. For more information call 305358-9807.

Coconut Grove Candy Cane Village: Families will marvel at the winter candy land featuring a 40-ft tall Cupcake Nutcracker with his giant cupcake & matching ice cream cone at the center of the festival! Plus, there will be 20 carnival rides, an “ice” skating rink with a 30-ft tall Gingerbread Man and his two Candy Canes overseeing the action! There’ll also be Santa in his Gingerbread Forest of lights, a food court, & vendor tents for last-minute holiday shopping! The icing on the cake will be 1 hour of falling snow on Dec 21 5:00pm to 10:00pm at Peacock Park. Visit Coconutgrovecandycanevillage.com

Bring the whole family to kick off the holiday

Tropical Flutes of Christmas: South Florida’s premier Flute Choir featuring flute in all sizes performs your

December 12, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com

December 12, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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