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August 13, 2014 // vol. 5 // issue 33
introducing “transforming gender” • 23
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Endorsements for the August 26 Election • 13
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Stories on SFGN.com Last week’s hottest items couldn’t wait to be printed...
Obama Opens Gay Games With Surprise Video Message (AP) CLEVELAND — President Barack Obama has helped kick off the international Gay Games in Cleveland with a surprise video message shown at the opening ceremonies. Obama welcomed athletes, coaches, families and spectators from around the world to Ohio and the United States as the event began Saturday night. The president said the United States has come a long way in its commitment to equal
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(AP) Florida’s attorney general is asking state courts to stop considering same-sex marriage cases until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether states have the right to ban gay marriage. Attorney General Pam Bondi filed two motions on Friday in a state appeals court, requesting a freeze on appeals of cases concerning the state’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Voters approved the amendment in
Broward County
rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. He also noted that some athletes come from places where publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation can put them at risk. He affirmed the United States’ commitment to standing “with you and for your human rights.” Performers Lance Bass and the Pointer Sisters also helped kick off the weeklong games. About 8,000 people are registered to participate.
2008. Judges in four Florida counties have overturned the ban, but no marriage licenses are being issued because Bondi has appealed each case. Bondi says the state will defer to the Supreme Court and that any further state proceedings are a waste of judicial resources. Utah and Oklahoma this week asked the Supreme Court to decide the issue.
Tampa Church Cancels Funeral Service Of Gay Man (Watermark) Tampa – A Tampa mother received a phone call a day before her son’s funeral saying the service was cancelled after the pastor found out the deceased was gay. Julie Atwood, Julion Evans’ mother, was told she could not have the funeral services at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church because it would be “blasphemous.” Pastor T.W. Jenkins for New Hope said he did not know Evans, 42, was gay until he saw his obituary which listed a surviving “husband.” After members of the congregation saw and
called to complain, Jenkins said he did not think it was acceptable to hold the funeral services at New Hope. Kendall Capers, Evans’ husband and partner of 17 years, said their relationship was not a secret. The two were even married a year ago in Maryland. “This is 2014, this is not the 60s or the 70s,” Capers said to WFLA News Channel 8. “So at the end of the day I just want his wrong-doing to be exposed.”
B reaking News C P B S M ommission
asses
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upporting
arriage
August 13, 2014 • Volume 5 • Issue 33
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Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com
Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli
Bondi Wants US Supreme Court to Decide Gay Marriage
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Compiled by Nicole Wiesenthal
SouthFloridaGayNews.com
Equality
Editor In Chief • Nicole Wiesenthal wiesenthal1225@gmail.com
Associate publisher • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com
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Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Online Producer • Dennis Jozefowicz dennis.jozefowicz@sfgn.com Social Media Director • Sergio Candido sergio.candido@sfgn.com Senior Creative Designer • Bob Reilly sfgn@bobreilly.com Arts/Entertainment Editor • JW Arnold jw@prdconline.com News Editor • John McDonald jeanmichelmcdonald@gmail.com News Intern • Nicole Wiesenthal
Senior Features Correspondents
Jesse Monteagudo • Tony Adams
Correspondents
Andrea Richard • Donald Cavanaugh Christiana Lilly • Denise Royal • Sean McShee Dori Zinn • Gary Kramer • David-Elijah Nahmod
Contributing Columnists
Brian McNaught • Dana Rudolph • Wayne Besen Ric Reily • Steve Siler • Bil Browning Terri Schlichenmeyer
Staff Photographers
J.R. Davis • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires
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Director of Sales & Marketing • Mike Trottier mike.trottier@sfgn.com Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Sales Assistant • Jason Gonzales jason.gonzales@sfgn.com Distribution Services • Brian Swinford National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Covers: Nan Rich, Democratic primary challenger for Governor of Florida. Designed by Bob Reilly. South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, 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, 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.
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news highlight
Robin Williams, Birdcage Actor, Dies of Suicide at Age 63 Nicole Wiesenthal
The day before Robin Williams passed, I watched “The Birdcage” for the first time. I laughed so hard that I cried, and immediately told all my friends to watch the movie. Robin Williams humorously depicted a gay man struggling to be straight so that his son’s fiancé’s diehard Republican family would agree to the marriage. In “Mrs. Doubtfire,” Williams slipped on his high heels and played a cross-dressing man again trying to be something he wasn’t to protect those he loved. “Boulevard” is a film that did not make it to the theater before Williams’ death about a married man (Williams) who found love in a young gay man on the street and struggled with keeping it from his wife whom he loved. Perhaps Williams roles ironically foretold his death. He acted happy and carefree on the surface, emitting such positive vibes, but in doing so he hid his reality of the pain, hurt and depression within him. Williams probably did this for the same reason his characters hid themselves, to protect us, those he loved.
Picture: wikipedia
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Williams died Monday, at the age of 63, as a result of suicide due to asphyxia, according to US News. According to the Associated Press, his press representative Mara Buxbaum said he had been dealing with severe depression recently. Last month he announced that he would be returning to a 12-step treatment after 18 months of nonstop work. Williams had gone to rehab previously, in 2006, after a relapse which followed 20 years of sobriety. Many will mourn his loss, but there’s hope that this will bring more awareness to and will raise more support for finding the resources to help those who suffer from depression.
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News Briefs Compiled by SFGN Staff
(EDGE Media – Winnie McCroy) The Mayors of Cleveland and Akron were on hand to welcome thousands of athletes and visitors from more than 50 countries and 48 states when the 2014 Gay Games kicked off on Saturday night. CBS46.com reports that on hand were Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, Cleveland Foundation CEO Ron Richard, Federation of Gay Games Co-Chairs Kurt Dahl and Joanie Evans and Gay Games 9 Executive Director Tom Nobbe. “In 2009, I told the Gay Games Selection Committee that we will do all we can to be the best Games you ever had. We are well on our way,” said Jackson. “Months ago, a minister said I’ve started a process for us [ministers] to talking about tolerance and acceptance,” added Plusquellic. “The Gay Games coming to our area has started a conversation by religious leaders to welcome all.” Even President Barack Obama made a surprise
to g e t h e r , w e w i l l m a k e h i sto ry.
o n yo u r m a r k ...
g e t s e t...
games. 35+ sports & cultural events festivals, ceremonies performances, parties and more 2014GayGames.com
9-16 August 2014
A
nti-Gay
Ex-SNL Cast Member Gets Trounced in Local Election
(EDGE Media – Bobby McGuire) The worlds of entertainment, gay rights and local politics scored a minor victory Thursday when “Saturday Night Live”-cast-member-turned-Tea-Partyactivist Victoria Jackson was trounced in her bid to win a seat on the Williamson County Commission in Tennessee. According to the Tennessean, the washed up comedienne was a far distant third, receiving only 632 votes, losing out to Judy Lynch Herbert, with 1,422 votes, and Betsy Hester, with 1,380 votes. There were also nine write-in votes. The County Commission has 12 districts with two commissioners in each district. A born again Christian and self-styled Tea Party activist, Jackson has been public about her conservative and anti-gay views since falling into career obscurity in the mid 2000’s.
F
ire Island
Goes Up in Flames
(EDGE Media - Bobby McGuire) The wooded area between Fire Island gay communities in Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, commonly known to locals as “the meat rack,” was the site of a blaze that took 17 fire departments close to two hours to put out early Thursday evening. “Basically what started out as a cloud of smoke has turned into a beast of a brush fire,” Mike McLean of mainland Long Island’s Lake Ronkonkoma told local Long Island 24-hour news channel News 12. The fire reportedly started at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Thursday. Local fire departments from Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines were joined by scores of fire fighters from numerous local Long Island fire departments who traversed the Great
Gay Games 9 Opening
South Bay to reach the site of the fire. Fireboats from mainland Long Island were also called upon to put out the blaze, which was extinguished by 7:30 p.m. No injuries were reported and no homes were harmed. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The site of the fire, which has long gone by the nickname “the meat rack” for its well-earned reputation as being the site of countless trysts each summer, is a quarter mile stretch of woods and brush that separate Fire Island’s two gay communities Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines.
W
Gay Marriage Supporters Launch Website
isconsin
(AP) MADISON, Wis. — Gay rights advocates are starting a website to build support for same-sex marriage in Wisconsin. The American Civil Liberties Union’s Wisconsin chapter along with Fair Wisconsin, a gay rights organization, and Freedom to Marry, a national organization pushing for gay marriage, announced Thursday they plan to launch an effort dubbed Wisconsin Unites for Marriage. Their plans call for a website with testimonials from gay couples who feel they should be allowed to get married. Federal appeals courts in Chicago and Cincinnati are currently weighing whether a half-dozen states, including Wisconsin, should recognize gay marriage. Arguments in Chicago are set for Aug. 26. Wisconsin ACLU head Chris Ahmuty says he doesn’t know if the advocates’ website will influence the judges but noted they pay attention to the media like everyone else. Online: www.wisconsinunites.org.
P
Bridal Shop: No Wedding Gowns of Lesbian Couple
ennsylvania
(AP) A bridal store’s refusal to sell wedding gowns to a samesex couple is stirring debate in a central Pennsylvania town. The Press Enterprise of Bloomsburg reports the women tried to schedule an appointment but were turned down. W.W. Bridal Boutique owner Victoria Miller tells the newspaper that “providing those two girls dresses for a sanctified marriage would break God’s law.” Bloomsburg Town Council plans to discuss the incident at a meeting on Monday. Council members say they will consider
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SouthFloridaGayNews
video appearance after the National Anthem to kick off the Gay Games and welcome friends and family, saying, “Good luck to the athletes... and go Team USA.” “The Gay Games is thrilled to have President Obama take his time to show his commitment to the Games’ mission of inclusion, participation and personal best,” said Hollie Ksiezyk, co-chair. The Opening Ceremony continued with special appearances from Greg Louganis, Lance Bass, the Pointer Sisters, Broadway’s Andrea McArdle and Alex Newell. Gay Games 9 will run through the week, with the closing ceremony next Saturday. Participants say that the city of Cleveland is rolling out the red carpet for them. “Everyone’s cheering us,” said Andrew Farrell, from the Australia wrestling team. “You go into shops and everyone’s friendly and welcoming. It’s great!”.
whether to propose legislation to ban businesses from refusing to serve gays and lesbians.
M
issouri Gay Marriage Case Moved To Federal Court
(AP) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A lawsuit challenging Missouri’s ban on gay marriage has been moved to federal court instead of state court. The lawsuit was originally filed in Jackson County by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses. Attorney General Chris Koster’s office intervened in the case and moved it to U.S. District Court. Koster’s office said federal court is appropriate because the lawsuit alleges that Missouri’s gaymarriage prohibition violates the U.S. Constitution. Missouri voters adopted a state constitutional amendment in 2004 that limits marriage to one man and one woman. A separate legal challenge still is pending in St. Louis Circuit Court. That case was prompted when St. Louis issued marriage licenses to several gay couples despite Missouri’s prohibition.
L
Councilwoman Target of Constant Hate Speech
esbian
(Edge Media) Richmond, California’s Vice Mayor Jovanka Beckles, the city’s first openly lesbian councilwoman, has faced constant hate speech since she was elected to her position four years ago in 2010, reports Towleroad. And it’s coming from both the public and her fellow council members. “I’m going to keep coming up here and tell you how gays have no morality... You’re filth. You’re dirt. Because I have the constitutional right to say it,” said Mark Wassberg during a July council meeting, as reported by the SFGate. Since she was elected in 2010, Beckles, 51, has endured taunts, rants and ridicule about her sexual orientation and race -- she’s from Panama and identifies herself as a black Latina -- during City Council meetings. Although the councilwoman mostly ignores the taunts, last month, she told heckler Ken Davis, who was taunting her with homophobic slurs, to “get the fuck out of my face.” “I thought that was totally appropriate,” Councilman Tom Butt said last week. “They never leave her alone. She puts up with a hell of a lot more than I would.”
news briefs
P
ro-Gay Takai Gets Democratic Nomination For US House
(AP) HONOLULU – State Rep. Mark Takai on Saturday emerged from a crowded field of seven candidates to win the Democratic nomination to represent urban Honolulu in the U.S. Congress. Takai had 43.7 percent of the vote in the second results released after polls closed. Senate President Donna Mercado Kim had the second-most votes with 26.4 percent. ``We’re very pleased, excited, exhausted, all of the above,’’ Takai said after winning. ``It was a long year, but we put together what we thought was the right campaign strategy and we executed. Tonight showed that the hard work all paid off.” Takai, 47, will face Republican Charles Djou in the general election. Djou held the same seat for seven months from 2010 to 2011 after he won a three-way special election. Equality Hawaii Action Fund threw its support behind Takai for his work on gay marriage.
U
gandan
Gays Hold Pride Parade
(AP) ENTEBBE, Uganda – Scores of Ugandan homosexuals marched through sprawling botanical gardens in the lakeside town of Entebbe on Saturday, their first pride parade since a Ugandan court invalidated a controversial anti-gay law. Many marchers wore masks, signaling they did not want to be publicly identified in a country where homosexuals and their supporters face severe discrimination. Although organizers had expected more than 500 people to attend the event, fewer than 200 turned up, said gay activist Moses Kimbugwe, who noted that many were afraid of possible violence following a court’s decision earlier this month to jettison an anti-gay law that had wide support among Ugandans. ``We are here to walk for those who can’t walk, who are afraid to walk,’’ said Kimbugwe. ``We are here to celebrate our rights.’’ Uganda’s Constitutional Court ruled last week that the anti-gay law enacted only five months ago was illegal because it was passed during a parliamentary session that lacked a quorum. This was the third annual gay pride event, organizers said. The first one, in 2012, turned violent after local police tried to break it up, said Ugandan lesbian activist Jacqueline Kasha. This time they had been given assurances by the police that they could go ahead with the march, she said. ``We are a group of people who have suffered enough,’’ she said. Homosexuality had been mostly a taboo subject in Uganda until a lawmaker, saying he wanted to protect children from Western gays, introduced a bill in 2009 prescribing the death penalty for what the bill described as serious homosexual offenses. The bill was revised to remove the death penalty and instead have jail terms of up to life for convicted homosexuals. Watchdogs groups and some Western governments condemned the bill as draconian and unnecessary in a country where homosexuality had long been a criminal offense.
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Park Service Focusing on LGBT heritage to Diversify Program Effort underway to preserve and protect gay history John McDonald
jeanmichelmcdonald@gmail.com
Jamie Nickel spends her days telling tourists about the marvels of Glacier National Park. A native Californian with long, golden blonde hair, Nickel, 25, came to Montana for the summer to drive one of Glacier’s historic red buses. It’s the perfect match. She enjoys the outdoors and likes to hike, fish and kayak, and Glacier gets a friendly face with an easygoing personality to interpret the park’s many wonders. So when word spread over the summer that the National Park Service was conducting an LGBT heritage initiative, Nickel, a lesbian, was thrilled to see the agency involved. “Gay rights have come a long way just in the last few years,” she said. “I’m surprised to see it come to this level.” The Park Service’s plan is to identify locations that are significant to the history of America’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities and protect those places for future generations to enjoy and remember. The U.S. Department of Interior
made the announcement in May at the Stonewall Inn in New York City; Secretary Sally Jewel announced the park service’s new efforts to include stories of LGBT Americans National Park Service programs. People widely regard the Stonewall Inn, where riots exploded in 1969, as the birthplace of the American gay rights movement; the new program might protect and preserve the area for future generations. Presently, four LGBT-themed locations are included in the National Register of Historic Places. They are: the Dr. Franklin E. Kameny Residence in Washington, D.C., the Cherry Grove Community House and Theatre on New York’s Fire Island, the James Merrill House in Connecticut and the Carrington House on Fire Island (where author Truman Capote penned his famed novella, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”). With the help of the National Park Service’s study, more places will soon be added. “In 2016, the National Park Service will
celebrate its centennial, and our goal is to expand the stories that we tell to represent the diversity of the American experience and to make history more relevant to all Americans,” said NPS director Jon Jarvis. For Nickel, driving one of Glacier’s iconic red buses offers an opportunity to tell those stories. For years the job of being a red bus driver, or Jammer, as it’s called locally, usually went to college-aged men. As a young woman and a lesbian, Nickel is breaking ground in a staunchly conservative section of the country.
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“It is challenging here (Montana) because you never really know who is accepting of you,” she said. “But, I love nature, and the recreation is awesome.” The National Park Service is expanding in all areas. In cooperation with the study, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is seeking to diversify its portfolio by adding treasures of importance to the LGBT community. To recommend an endangered American LGBT property for future research, please visit www.savingplaces.org.
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news local
Equality Park Garden Club Dedication Denise Royal
The Equality Park Garden Club will proudly dedicate its garden on Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. This special dedication is years in the making. More than two years ago, the Community Foundation of Florida provided a grant for the development of the Pride Center’s Pavilion area. At the same time, a benefactor contributed $20,000 to the Equality Plant Garden Club to enhance the Eastern section of the garden. The garden consists of plants native to Florida. The mission of the garden club is to educate and inform individuals of plants that grow well in South Florida. The club currently has about 75 members. “The garden club will continue to enhance the outdoor area of the campus as dollars become available through donations. Working with The Pride Center, we are encouraging individuals to make donations to further enhance the garden, including three primary
outdoor sculptures. Several major Florida nurserymen have indicated they will be donating trees that may be planted in-lieu of some of the lesser trees that had been planted earlier,” said Chuck Nicholls, President of the Equality Park Garden Club. The dedication of the garden will take place prior to the EPGC meeting that evening. Craig Morell, the Chief Horticulturist of Pinecrest Gardens, will be the guest speaker, and the title of his presentation is “Turning Your Outdoor Living Space into Your Own Tropical Paradise.” The EPGC meets the third Wednesday of each month except in December. The EPGC also sponsors the annual Tropical Plant Fair. The next TPF will be held on March 14-15, 2015. The Pride Center at Equality Park is located at 2040 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors. For more information about the Equality Park Garden Park, visit http://www. pridecenterflorida.org. soflagaynews //
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news local
Latinos Salud Expands to South Beach Denise Royal
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Funded In Part By
Latinos Salud, a South Florida-based agency that offers free HIV and STD testing, prevention education, outreach and linkage services is expanding its services to Miami Beach. Beginning Aug. 8, 2014 the agency will have a second location at 555 Washington Ave., Suite 235. The new location will be open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 9 p.m. The Miami Beach expansion was made possible thanks to a grant from the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health. The Office of Minority Health program requires recipients to provide a partial cash match for each grant dollar they receive. Latinos Salud will match the new $159,000 grant with over $50,000 in other private grants and in-kind donations. The agency received a grant from the SMART Ride’s 10 percent Lifeline to assist with the matching requirement. “We are so grateful to the SMART Ride for supporting this new project. With these and other funds, we’ll be purchasing a second
SouthFloridaGayNews
HIV testing mobile unit, specifically for use in the Miami region,” said Stephen Fallon PhD, Latinos Salud’s Executive Director in a statement. The Miami Beach location will utilize a blend of in-office and community-based services. Staff will perform late-night outreach and education every week, offer testing in a new mobile HIV-testing vehicle and make regular deliveries to keep businesses stocked up with free condoms. Latinos Salud’s long-time staff member Johnathan Medina was promoted to Health Program Manager and will serve as pointperson at the new location. “This first grant will support full office hours Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays. At other times, staff will be out in the field, taking services to gay Latinos and other men living with HIV throughout Miami-Dade County,” said Medina. All free services are described on the website at www.latinossalud.org.
elections
The Votes are In
Endorsements for the August 26 Ballot SFGN Staff
The Equality Florida Action PAC is proud to announce our
Broward County Commission District 4:
Ken Keechl
endorsements for candidates Website: kenforbroward.metromediaworks.net in Broward County.
Broward County School Board District 1:
Read more about each candidate below and Felicia Brunson Website: feliciabrunson.com consider contributing to their campaigns! State Senate District 34: Maria Sachs Website: mariasachs.com
Broward County School Board District 6:
State House District 92: Gwyndolyn Clarke-Reed Website: www.gwynclarke-reed.com
Margate City Commission District 3: Lesa Peerman Website: peermanformargate.com
State House District 96: Kristin Jacobs Website: www.jacobs2014.com
Oakland Park Mayor of Wilton Manors: Gary Resnick Website: garyresnick.blogspot.com
Broward County Commission District 6: Joe Gibbons
Oakland Park City Commission: John Adornato Website: facebook.com/JohnAdornatoforOP
Website: joegibbonsforcountycommission.com
PBCHRC Voters Alliance endorsements for the August 26, 2014 Primary Elections: U.S. Congressman District 20: Alcee Hastings U.S. Congressman District 21: Ted Deutch Governor: Nan Rich Attorney General: George Sheldon State Representative District 81: Kevin Rader Circuit Court Judge Group 14: Diana Lewis
State House District 117: Kionne McGhee
In addition to endorsements issued earlier this year for State House District 113 Representative David Richardson and District 8 county commission candidate Daniella Levine Cava, SAVE (Safeguarding American Values for Everyone) Action PAC issued the following list of endorsements in local races:
County Court Judge in group 19: Rachel Glorioso 11th Circuit Court Judge in group 27:
Alberto Milian
11th Circuit Court Judge in group 58:
Martin Zilber
11th Circuit Court Judge in group 67:
Fleur Lobree
State House District 112: Jose Javier Rodriguez
11th Circuit Court Judge in group 70:
Veronica Diaz
State House District 114: Daisy J. Baez
Mayor of North Miami: Kevin Burns
Laurie Rich Levinson Website: www.laurierichlevinson.com
YES on Amendment 1: Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative YES on Amendment 2: Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative NO on Amendment 3 : Florida Prospective Judicial Vacancies After a lengthy process involving panels composed of members of the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied community, candidates were recommended for endorsement based on their answers to questionnaires and their
responses to interview questions posed by SAVE Action PAC’s endorsement panels. After the panels issued their recommendations, endorsement decisions were ratified following a vote by SAVE’s Board of Directors.
Circuit Court Judge Group 30: Jaimie Goodman County Commissioner District 6: Melissa McKinlay
The Equality Florida Action PAC is proud to announce our
School Board Member District 3: Karen Brill
endorsements for candidates in
Miami-Dade County.
School Board Member District 4: Justin Katz
Miami-Dade County Commission District 8:
Daniella Levine Cava Website: daniellalevinecava.com
School Board Member District 6: Marcia Andrews
State Representative District 112: Jose Javier Rodriguez Website: josejavierrodriguez.com
School Board Member District 7: Debra Robinson Soil
and
Water Conservation District
Group 5: Karl Dickey
State Representative District 114: Daisy Baez Website: www.daisybaez.com
soflagaynews //
State Representative District 117: Kionne McGhee Website: www.kionnemcghee.com Miami-Dade County Commission District 8:
Daniella Levine Cava Website: daniellalevinecava.com
Senate District 36: Oscar Braynon Website: www.oscarbraynon.com Mayor of North Miami: Kevin Burns Website: www.kevinburns4mayor.com
SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com //
8.13.2014 // 13
election cover
She’s Fiery. She’s Feisty. And She Ain’t Giving Up.
Jason Parsley Compassionate. Principled. Unwavering. Assessable. Determined. These are just a few of the words that supporters of Nan Rich have used to describe the democratic gubernatorial candidate. The former state senator recently gave an extensive interview to SFGN in anticipation to the August 26 democratic primary. Rich knows her path to the democratic nomination is an uphill battle. First, she has to overcome a huge elephant in the voting booth blocking her way — Charlie Crist. The republican-turned-independent-turneddemocrat is a fundraising machine. Despite this long shot chance, the fiery and feisty 72-year-old isn’t giving up and hopes that her grassroots campaign over the past two years can overcome Crist, his money and the party establishment. “The fact is I am a life-long democrat who is committed to progressive values and issues,” she said. “I believe I’m the better candidate. I represent the values and principles that we talk about in the Democratic Party.” And that’s why she believes a candidate who has stayed true to their core beliefs over their political career will have a better shot at defeating Gov. Rick Scott in November over a candidate who has unabashedly flipflopped on just about every issue. “Look at the things he’s flipped on. It’s on every single issue of importance to the voters,” she said. “I understand how people change positions; when new information comes available, they change their mind. But 180 degree on everything? That’s hard for people to believe.” Vice Mayor of Wilton Manors Julie Carson and long-time supporter of Rich agrees. “She knows that we can’t decide where we stand on issues by sticking our finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing, and she won’t govern Florida on a whim,” Carson said. Before running for governor Rich served in the state legislature from 2000 to 2012. In her final two years, she became the first woman to be elected leader of the Senate Democrats. Before being elected into office, she served as the National President of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) from 1996-1999. In 1999 she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as a Board Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. When it comes to LGBT rights, Rich has
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Meet Nan Rich.
never had to evolve, unlike other candidates, including many democrats. She’s not just supporter of the gay community, but she’s been a staunch advocate before and during her time in the state legislature. “Nan Rich was a supporter of same-sex couples adopting children when it wasn’t the most popular thing to do as a politician,” said supporter Vanessa Alenier. “She supported it because it was the right thing to do for the children in our system.” Vanessa and her wife Melanie Alenier have supported Rich for many years and are both grateful for the support they received from Rich when they were adopting their child together. Rich not only introduced them to their eventual attorney, but later helped them raise funds to cover their growing attorneys fees. In 2010, a judge ruled in favor of their adoption. “Senator Nan Rich had no agenda when showing so much support for our family,” the Aleniers said. “She was supportive all the way through because it was in the best interest of our son to be adopted by his mommies.” And the word “advocate” is important to Rich.
Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich rides in the Annual Stonewall Pride Parade in Wilton Manors.
“Once elected, I became a strong advocate for the things [democrats] believe in,” she said. “But I was advocate before being elected and I never lost that title.” Carson can’t say enough about the importance of Rich’s values. “Throughout her career, she has fought discrimination, and she has modeled soflagaynews //
behavior that has changed Florida’s political dialogue,” Carson said. “Nan’s reputation as an advocate for society’s most vulnerable remains unquestioned. In a State where everyone has an agenda, Nan is pure at heart, always fighting for the people who most need it.” Where did Rich’s values come from? Well, for one, her upbringing. “I was taught [growing up] that there should be opportunity and fairness for all people,” she said. “Those were the values that I was taught as child [in my household] and my synagogue.” When it comes to the progression of LGBT rights, Rich understands. She met a lot of openly gay people through she and her husband’s flooring business. “Before this business, I didn’t really think about [gay rights],” she said. “But in the course of that business, we became friends with a lot of people who are gay and I saw them as people with the same desires and wants as we all have. We’re all the same. And it’s those experiences that helped formulate my values over the years.” And so when she was first elected to the legislature, LGBT rights became a priority for her, despite it not being a popular issue to champion. “When it comes to the rights of the LGBT community and other communities disenfranchised from economic opportunities, equality and more, Nan has always been the first to step forward to give a voice to the voiceless,” said LGBT activist Michael Rajner. “Even when the odds were piled up against the issues she championed, she made certain the challenges and issues of communities of underserved people did not go unnoticed.” Rich recalls the first time she introduced legislation in Florida that would overturn the ban on gay adoptions, for which she was the only democrat standing at the press conference. Determined, every year she kept introducing the same legislation knowing it would fail in the Republicandominated legislature. “I used it as an educational tool,” she said. And it hasn’t always been Republicans she had to battle either. Her fellow democrats haven’t didn’t always support LGBT rights.
SouthFloridaGayNews
“When Nan was serving as the Florida Senate Minority Leader, I brought to her attention changes that needed to be made to the Florida House and Senate Democratic Caucuses’ ‘Guiding Principles.’ When the document was drafted, it failed to include non-discrimination protections for the transgender community, and it also stated that the respective Caucuses supported the Florida Constitution and all its amendments,” Rajner said. “I was troubled that the document would ever imply support for the discriminatory Marriage Protection Act (also known as Amendment 2). Despite resistance from fellow Democrats in the House to correct the document, Nan fought and won to make sure the changes were made.” This campaign for governor, though, has been frustrating for Rich because Crist has essentially ignored her candidacy. “My opponent calls himself the people’s governor. How so, when you don’t listen to the people. They want a debate. They don’t know where he stands on the issues. Ignoring my candidacy, which Crist has done, is not the democratic way. He’s running his campaign like a republican,” she said. “You can’t learn about someone in a 30 second sound bite. That’s just telling people what you want them to hear. Let’s debate with an independent person moderating and where each candidate has to respond publicly with a give and take, a back and forth.” And if there’s one thing Rich isn’t scared of, it’s a good old-fashioned debate during which she can highlight her past policies and her future vision. “We each have records, positions we’ve taken throughout our political careers,” she said. “My record shows my commitment to those issues. I know the voters want that. We may not agree on everything, but the voters respect that I stand on my convictions. I have strong convictions, and I want those values expressed in this campaign. I am a policy person. This is about substance, not style.” Rajner worked hard to make sure there would be a debate between Rich and Crist. “I’m disappointed Crist will not agree to a primary debate. As legislative director for the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, I authored and championed a resolution urging the Florida Democratic Party to challenge all Democratic candidates running for a cabinet office to debate,” Rajner said.
“There are people such as myself who will support the Democratic Party’s nominee leading up to November, but it would help us coalesce around the nominee and bring all sides together if there was a meaningful debate and dialogue on issues most important to us.” Rich goes on to dismiss the main arguments she’s been hearing on the campaign trail from people who support Crist — most of them being along the lines of “You’re not known north of South Florida.” “I’ve been traveling for almost two years around the state. I’ve got a grassroots network out there. I don’t want us to go backwards; I want to put us on the right track. I’ve been to the Panhandle on three different swings. I don’t know where that vote is going to come from that’s going to put me over the top,” she said while rattling off the names of counties not know to most in South Florida. “I go where I’m invited to talk about the issues and my vision for Florida.” And what is that vision? Here’s a glimpse. “The things that are important to me are family and people, strong public schools, protecting abused and neglected children, healthcare,” she said. “These are what I consider to be the bread and butter issues for democrats.” But even being an obvious champion of
LGBT rights wasn’t enough to secure her the endorsement of the major LGBT rights groups including Equality Florida, SAVE (formerly SAVE Dade), as well as the Human Rights Campaign. But Rich isn’t bitter and understands all too well that’s how politics come into play in these decisions. “I think the overwhelming majority of the LGBT community is standing with me. There is a political nature to this,” she said. “I meet individuals all of the time who are so supportive of me everywhere I go in this state.” One local LGBT-rights group Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC), though, wasn’t afraid to buck the trend and stand by Rich. “The entire time she was in Tallahassee, Nan was the legislative leader on trying to get the adoption ban repealed. And when Ted Deutch initially introduced PBCHRC’s bill to amend the Florida Civil Rights Act and Florida’s Fair Housing Act back in 2007, Nan was the first co-sponsor. Nan Rich has always been a passionate advocate for minorities and women,” said PBCHRC president and founder Rand Hoch. “Nan Rich will be an effective Governor for all Floridians.” But that’s only if voters give her the chance on August 26.
Nan Rich faces off Charlie Christ in the Democratic Primary on August 26.
against
daniel.pye
soflagaynews //
SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com //
8.13.2014 // 15
feature
The Plight of LGBT People Around The Globe IGLHRC Brings You The Truth By Tony Adams Uganda’s horrific Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) of 2014 has been struck down on a technicality: lack of a quorum at its passage. While the news is good, Uganda remains a critical situation receiving the highest level of attention from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) says Executive Director Jessica Stern. On the day when the law was struck down, I was at IGLHRC (they pronounce it “Iggle hark”)’s Manhattan office to learn about their work. IGLHRC’s interventions in Uganda go back to 1999 when leaders there demonized and jailed homosexuals for political gain. That was when IGLHRC brought us the words of Uganda President Museveni who is still in power today: “I have told the CID [Criminal Investigations Department] to look for homosexuals, lock them up, and charge them.” The statement followed false press reports of a marriage ceremony between two gay men in a suburb of Kampala. IGLHRC reminded us that this was not Museveni’s first foray into officially sponsored homophobia. In July 1998, he told reporters, “When I was in America some time ago, I saw a rally of 300,000 homosexuals. If you have a rally of 30 homosexuals here, I would disperse it.” In 2004, IGLHRC delivered reports of a dramatic escalation of intimidation, persecution and torture of LGBT activists by the government of Uganda. Throughout the years since, IGHRC continued to partner with Uganda’s LGBT activists and brought us the real story of harassment, persecution and the continuous evolution of Ugandan anti-homosexuality laws and punishments. IGLHRC’s presence on the ground in Uganda and its delivery of the facts behind LGBT headlines worldwide have been constant and reliable as it approaches its 25th anniversary. At the helm, Jessica Stern describes how IGLHRC helps LGBT communities in danger. “Let’s use Africa as the example. African leaders are in Washington D.C. for the first-ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Aug. 4-6, and IGLHRC urges President Obama to guarantee that
human rights will be prioritized under any new U.S. economic alliance,” she said. When asked how IGLHRC inserts itself into that meeting/ agenda, Stern outlined a nine-part process that typifies IGLHRC’s approach. “We dialogued with the White House about the importance of including LGBT rights in the meeting. We conducted similar discussions with members of the House/Senate. We wrote letters to the President about our concerns for the well-being of LGBT people in Africa. We wrote letters to the US-based multi-national corporations that will participate,” she said. “We worked with media to insure that in the reporting no one forgets about the vulnerability of African LGBT people and the importance of including that community in structuring trade/ investment relationships. We will have representation at the civil society meetings preceding the summit. We will go back to DC as soon as the summit ends with recommendations for follow-up. We produced a fact sheet explaining why any trade agenda must include LGBT rights. We have been in dialogue with African activists to see what their priorities are.” Her previous work in the fight for women’s rights and antipoverty initiatives shaped her for leadership in LGBT advocacy, but Stern says her influences go back to childhood and South Florida. “I have a very deep connection to Florida because my grandparents spent their winters in Boca Raton. I came to my activism through listening to their stories and learning their experience of being Jewish.” We can thank her grandparents for making Stern such an engaging storyteller. When asked to list some of the IGLHRC accomplishments of which she is most proud, she spoke not only about its ongoing presence in Uganda but spoke also about Iran and the Philippines and St Lucia in the Caribbean. “In Iran, local media covered LGBT news by using a derogatory word akin to ‘faggot.’ IGLHRC conducted media training, suggesting better words. Our effort included the launch of a Persian website with key information on sexual orientation
and gender identity [iglhrc.org/persian] and the publication of a media sensitivity training manual in Persian on LGBT issues,” Stern said. “IGLHRC suggested the proper terminology to refer to the LGBT community, including the words ‘Degarbash Jensi,’ which literally means ‘sexually queer.’ In Persian, this term does not have a negative connotation and has been well received by the media and the public. It was wonderful to actually hear those words come out of the mouth of an Iranian newscaster as a result of our work.” IGLHRC’s work in the Philippines is a good example of what Stern calls its multi-layered approach. “We focus on holding governments accountable. Why is that important? If you can’t get justice from your own government you have to have someplace to go for it. You know the saying, ‘if you are not at the table you are on the table.’ We also encourage LGBT people to tell their own stories. Too often, we are maligned with no recourse. When the government of the Philippines came up for review at the UN by the Human Rights Council, we produced a report documenting serious problems, raids on gay bars and extortions. Thirty-eight organizations signed onto that report. Next, we funded activists to go to the UN to testify,” she said. “Then, we did a media blitz about what the UN said and what the Philippines said in response. Their Minister of Justice said ‘We want to be a leader in LGBT rights.’ We took that statement and ran with it. Today we are part of the team in the Philippines working on a bill prohibiting all forms of discrimination including protections for the LGBT community. It will be a groundbreaking law, basically their ‘Civil Rights Act.’ Due to pass in 2015, they have been fighting for this bill for fourteen years. The opposition is weaker today, and the LGBT movement is stronger. We have indications that if the bill reaches their president’s desk, he will sign it. “Also in the Philippines, IGLHRC conducted an extensive sensitivity training for the police. During that training, police officers were able to open up for the first time about their own LGBT friends and relatives.”
“Iran takes a negative view of open conversation about sexuality and gender in general, and same-sex relations in particular. For decades, the Iranian authorities have banned unbiased discussion about homosexuality, and have imposed severe punishments for those who ignore the official policies and regulations regarding ‘glorification’ of sexual relations outside of traditional heterosexual marriage. Over the past few years, university professors were fired from their job, newspapers were shut down, reporters were sent to jail, and the publication licenses of bookstores were withdrawn by the government in response to discussion of homosexuality outside of state guidelines. On the other hand, the government-controlled media and conservative religious and political figures regularly make public statements in condemning homosexuality and the supposed ‘Western conspiracy to spread homosexuality.’” - Hossein Alizadeh, IGLHRC program coordinator, Middle East and North Africa
16
// 8.13.2014 // SFGN.com //
soflagaynews //
SouthFloridaGayNews
feature Ging Cristobal, IGLHRC Project Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific Islands Region, describes the concrete and encouraging results of that training. “A gay man communicated to me that the police in one of the cities where we conducted the workshop were very respectful and professional in addressing his safety and security needs when his brother wanted to physically harm him and he had locked himself inside his room. Also, this man’s neighbors would regularly verbally harass and threaten him because of his sexuality. He called the police and they went to his place and told him of his rights and even gave their mobile numbers in case the same incident happens again,” he said. “Just recently, a friend of mine whose appearance shouts ‘gay’ told me that when he was robbed in one of the streets of Quezon City at around 2 a.m., he was left naked. When the police saw him they immediately asked him to go inside the car, provided clothes for him to wear, respectfully asked questions, then brought him home and told him that their inspector will be calling or visiting him to get his statement. All the time, this friend was waiting for the expected negative remarks, but the police never said anything against his ‘gayness.’ He was really grateful that despite being robbed, threatened and left naked in the street, he was treated quite humanely by the police.” That successful IGLHRC police training is now being replicated in other parts of the Philippines. “In the Philippines, IGLHRC was the only organization to partner with the police to confront these issues and gave them the correct information: That LGBT persons are not asking for special privileges or treatment, but just basic respect when police do their work in serving and protecting people,” Stern said. Stern describes IGLHRC’s work in the Caribbean. “The Caribbean is the only region in the western hemisphere that still has sodomy laws on the books, so it merits the attention it gets. There is no doubt that when these laws are on the books, the state is giving its approval of anti-gay governance, but if you are only reading about the violence there, you miss the story of activism,” she said. “In Jamaica, local LGBT activists made the anti-gay happenings an issue because they wouldn’t take it. We are launching a new partnership with a group in Saint Lucia, involving local LGBT activists from five Caribbean countries. In St Lucia there is an LGBT group called ‘United and Strong.’ We met them in 2012. Their office was burned down because of their work. At the time, it seemed that on this small island there would be no way to escape persecution. Now, in 2014, we are partnering with them. They have recovered, and are leading the media-sensitivity charge.” With IGLHRC for four years, Stern has many other stories of positive impact for LGBT people whose oppression would have gone unnoticed had IGLHRC not been the eyes, ears and megaphone of the worldwide LGBT community. “You may be at home in New York City or Fort Lauderdale, trying to understand LGBT headlines from Nairobi or Bangkok or accounts of anti-LGBT violence in Nigeria, Uganda or Russia. Delivering the real picture of LGBT life in those places is one
Executive Director Jessica Stern will speak at the annual PFLAG gala in Naples, Fla. on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Vineyard Country Club. strength of IGLHRC,” she said. “We have a staff of twenty, and we have the right partners on the ground reporting the facts of a situation. IGLHRC is the bridge between the grassroots and the treetop. Laws won’t change overnight. We have to start by changing hearts and minds, working to train media people about sensitive reporting on LGBT rights, and government about the basic rights of their LGBT communities.” Visit iglhrc.org for more about its four goals of advocating for the elimination of discriminatory policies and practices, such as sodomy laws; supporting the enactment of just laws, policies and practices; striving to reduce family, community and statesanctioned violence; and actively promoting economic, social and cultural rights in employment, housing, education and health. Jessica Stern will speak at the annual PFLAG gala in Naples, Fla. on Sunday, Nov. 16 at the Vineyard Country Club. Uganda’s horrific Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) of 2014 has been struck down on a technicality: lack of a quorum at its passage. While the news is good, Uganda remains a critical situation receiving the highest level of attention from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) says Executive Director Jessica Stern. On the day when the law was struck down, I was at IGLHRC (they pronounce it “Iggle hark”)’s Manhattan office to learn about their work. IGLHRC’s interventions in Uganda go back to 1999 when leaders there demonized and jailed homosexuals for political gain. That was when IGLHRC brought us the words of Uganda President Museveni who is still in power today: “I have told the CID [Criminal Investigations Department] to look for homosexuals, lock them up, and charge them.” The statement followed false press reports of a marriage ceremony between two gay men in a suburb of Kampala. IGLHRC reminded us that this was not Museveni’s first foray into officially sponsored homophobia. In July 1998, he told reporters, “When I was in America some time ago, I saw a rally of 300,000 homosexuals. If you have a rally of 30 homosexuals here, I would disperse it.” In 2004, IGLHRC delivered reports of a dramatic escalation of intimidation, persecution and torture of LGBT activists by the government of Uganda. Throughout the years since, IGHRC continued to partner with Uganda’s LGBT activists and brought us the real story of harassment, persecution and the continuous evolution of Ugandan anti-homosexuality laws and punishments.
soflagaynews //
IGLHRC’s presence on the ground in Uganda and its delivery of the facts behind LGBT headlines worldwide have been constant and reliable as it approaches its 25th anniversary. At the helm, Jessica Stern describes how IGLHRC helps LGBT communities in danger. “Let’s use Africa as the example. African leaders are in Washington D.C. for the first-ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Aug. 4-6, and IGLHRC urges President Obama to guarantee that human rights will be prioritized under any new U.S. economic alliance,” she said. When asked how IGLHRC inserts itself into that meeting/ agenda, Stern outlined a nine-part process that typifies IGLHRC’s approach. “We dialogued with the White House about the importance of including LGBT rights in the meeting. We conducted similar discussions with members of the House/Senate. We wrote letters to the President about our concerns for the well-being of LGBT people in Africa. We wrote letters to the US-based multi-national corporations that will participate,” she said. “We worked with media to insure that in the reporting no one forgets about the vulnerability of African LGBT people and the importance of including that community in structuring trade/ investment relationships. We will have representation at the civil society meetings preceding the summit. We will go back to DC as soon as the summit ends with recommendations for follow-up. We produced a fact sheet explaining why any trade agenda must include LGBT rights. We have been in dialogue with African activists to see what their priorities are.” Her previous work in the fight for women’s rights and antipoverty initiatives shaped her for leadership in LGBT advocacy, but Stern says her influences go back to childhood and South Florida. “I have a very deep connection to Florida because my grandparents spent their winters in Boca Raton. I came to my activism through listening to their stories and learning their experience of being Jewish.” We can thank her grandparents for making Stern such an engaging storyteller. When asked to list some of the IGLHRC accomplishments of which she is most proud, she spoke not only about its ongoing presence in Uganda but spoke also about Iran and the Philippines and St Lucia in the Caribbean. “In Iran, local media covered LGBT news by using a derogatory
SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com //
8.13.2014 // 17
feature
officers were able to open up for the first time about their own LGBT friends and relatives.” Ging Cristobal, IGLHRC Project Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific Islands Region, describes the concrete and encouraging results of that training. “A gay man communicated to me that the police in one of the cities where we conducted the workshop were very respectful and professional in addressing his safety and security needs when his brother wanted to physically harm him and he had locked himself inside his room. Also, this man’s neighbors would regularly verbally harass and threaten him because of his sexuality. He called the police and they went to his place and told him of his rights and even gave their mobile numbers in case the same incident happens again,” he said. “Just recently, a friend of mine whose appearance shouts ‘gay’ told me that when he was robbed in one of the streets of Quezon City at around 2 a.m., he was left naked. When the police saw him they immediately asked him to go inside the car, provided clothes for him to wear, respectfully asked questions, then brought him home and told him that their inspector will be calling or visiting him to get his statement. All the time, this friend was waiting for the expected negative remarks, but the police never said anything against his ‘gayness.’ He was really grateful that despite being robbed, threatened and left naked in the street, he was treated quite humanely by the police.” That successful IGLHRC police training is now being replicated in other parts of the Philippines. “In the Philippines, IGLHRC was the only organization to partner with the police to confront these issues and gave them the correct information: That LGBT persons are not asking for special privileges or treatment, but just basic respect when police do their work in serving and protecting people,” Stern said. Stern describes IGLHRC’s work in the Caribbean. “The Caribbean is the only region in the western hemisphere that still has sodomy laws on the books, so it merits the attention it gets. There is no doubt that when these laws are on the books,
18
// 8.13.2014 // SFGN.com //
Photo Couresty of Melanie Nathan & Gay Flag of South Africa
word akin to ‘faggot.’ IGLHRC conducted media training, suggesting better words. Our effort included the launch of a Persian website with key information on sexual orientation and gender identity [iglhrc.org/persian] and the publication of a media sensitivity training manual in Persian on LGBT issues,” Stern said. “IGLHRC suggested the proper terminology to refer to the LGBT community, including the words ‘Degarbash Jensi,’ which literally means ‘sexually queer.’ In Persian, this term does not have a negative connotation and has been well received by the media and the public. It was wonderful to actually hear those words come out of the mouth of an Iranian newscaster as a result of our work.” IGLHRC’s work in the Philippines is a good example of what Stern calls its multi-layered approach. “We focus on holding governments accountable. Why is that important? If you can’t get justice from your own government you have to have someplace to go for it. You know the saying, ‘if you are not at the table you are on the table.’ We also encourage LGBT people to tell their own stories. Too often, we are maligned with no recourse. When the government of the Philippines came up for review at the UN by the Human Rights Council, we produced a report documenting serious problems, raids on gay bars and extortions. Thirty-eight organizations signed onto that report. Next, we funded activists to go to the UN to testify,” she said. “Then, we did a media blitz about what the UN said and what the Philippines said in response. Their Minister of Justice said ‘We want to be a leader in LGBT rights.’ We took that statement and ran with it. Today we are part of the team in the Philippines working on a bill prohibiting all forms of discrimination including protections for the LGBT community. It will be a groundbreaking law, basically their ‘Civil Rights Act.’ Due to pass in 2015, they have been fighting for this bill for fourteen years. The opposition is weaker today, and the LGBT movement is stronger. We have indications that if the bill reaches their president’s desk, he will sign it. “Also in the Philippines, IGLHRC conducted an extensive sensitivity training for the police. During that training, police
the state is giving its approval of anti-gay governance, but if you are only reading about the violence there, you miss the story of activism,” she said. “In Jamaica, local LGBT activists made the anti-gay happenings an issue because they wouldn’t take it. We are launching a new partnership with a group in Saint Lucia, involving local LGBT activists from five Caribbean countries. In St Lucia there is an LGBT group called ‘United and Strong.’ We met them in 2012. Their office was burned down because of their work. At the time, it seemed that on this small island there would be no way to escape persecution. Now, in 2014, we are partnering with them. They have recovered, and are leading the media-sensitivity charge.” With IGLHRC for four years, Stern has many other stories of positive impact for LGBT people whose oppression would have gone unnoticed had IGLHRC not been the eyes, ears and megaphone of the worldwide LGBT community. “You may be at home in New York City or Fort Lauderdale, trying to understand LGBT headlines from Nairobi or Bangkok or accounts of anti-LGBT violence in Nigeria, Uganda or Russia. Delivering the real picture of LGBT life in those places is one strength of IGLHRC,” she said. “We have a staff of twenty, and we have the right partners on the ground reporting the facts of a situation. IGLHRC is the bridge between the grassroots and the treetop. Laws won’t change overnight. We have to start by changing hearts and minds, working to train media people about sensitive reporting on LGBT rights, and government about the basic rights of their LGBT communities.” Visit iglhrc.org for more about its four goals of advocating for the elimination of discriminatory policies and practices, such as sodomy laws; supporting the enactment of just laws, policies and practices; striving to reduce family, community and statesanctioned violence; and actively promoting economic, social and cultural rights in employment, housing, education and health. Jessica Stern will speak :at the WO LLEannual F CRHLPFLAG GI NA Tgala A KOin OLNaples, A Fla. on Vineyard Club. ADSunday, NAGU ,RNov. EDN16 EFat EDthe STH GIR NAMCountry UH ,EDN ELA K LAV
Val Kalende (right) helped launch Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), the only lesbian organization in Uganda, and is in the leadership of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a coalition of LGBT groups.
soflagaynews //
SouthFloridaGayNews
htiw ereh dnats I yadoT“ TBGL eht morf egassem a ot adnagU ni ytinummoc
column jesse’s journal
PEACE
Godwin’s Universal Law
PIPE
Jesse Monteagudo
I will start this article with an undisputed truth: The Nazis were evil. As rulers of Germany and conquerors of most of Europe, Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist German Workers’ Party killed tens of millions of human beings. Though they are most infamous for their genocidal murder of six million European Jews (in the Shoah or Holocaust), the Nazis also combined prejudice with power in the extermination of countless Roma Gypsies, Slavs, LGBT people, people with physical or mental disabilities, political dissidents, allied troops and anyone else whom they did not like (which included almost everybody). Hitler’s “Thousand Year Reich” (thankfully shortened to twelve years) set a standard for totalitarianism matched only by the Communist regimes of Josef Stalin and Mao Zedong. Almost 70 years after the end of World War II, Hitler and the Nazis are remembered as the epitome of evil, just as WWII itself is still referred to as “The War.” The survival of Nazis in the uneasy memory of humanity, as hateful, despicable people, makes them ideal movie villains. Nazis are also part of our vocabulary; not only to describe certain people with certain beliefs, but as a way to attack people and things we oppose or just do not like. We refer to this phenomenon as Godwin’s Law. Named after Mike Godwin, who coined the concept in 1990, Godwin’s Law asserts: “As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.” In other words, if a debate goes on long enough, sooner or later someone will compare someone or something to Hitler or the Nazis. Originally limited to Internet discussions, Godwin’s Law now applies to all kinds of human communication, whether they be spoken, written or otherwise. Godwin’s Law is a universal law. Sooner or later we all break that law. Mr. X has political views different from mine? He must be a Nazi! Ms. Y belongs to a group I do not like? She must be as bad as Hitler! Hardly a day goes by when one person does not compare another person to the leaders of the Third Reich. Just open a newspaper, turn on a television set or go online, and you will find Godwin’s Law in action. Recently, Tennessee State Senator Stacey Campfield, criticizing the Affordable Care Act, noted that “Democrats bragging about the number of mandatory sign-ups for Obamacare is
like Germans bragging about the number of mandatory sign-ups for ‘train rides’ for Jews in the ‘40s.” Saginaw, Mich. Councilman Dan Fitzpatrick compared supporters of an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance to “a real big youth movement in Germany called the Party of National Socialists.” Britain’s Prince Charles, speaking to a woman who lost relatives in the Holocaust, declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is doing just about the same as Hitler.” And Canterbury, England Chef Gemma Calver took Godwin’s Law to a ridiculous extreme when she accused litter wardens of using “Gestapo tactics” when they fined her for dropping a cigarette butt on the street. As originally defined, Godwin’s Law came with a penalty: Whoever brought up Hitler or the Nazis lost the online debate. Unfortunately, people can now freely use Nazi metaphors with impunity, though they might apologize if the resulting uproar is loud enough. Godwin’s Law is ecumenical, and is as easily broken by the political Right as by the political Left. The recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan brought about as many N-Bombs (to quote David Weigel) as real ones: Neocons called Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein “the new Hitler” while anti-war activists compared the Bush Administration to the Third Reich. Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh screams about “feminazis;” tea baggers think Barack Obama is a fuhrer; progressives compare Karl Rove or the Koch Brothers to Heinrich Himmler or Joseph Goebbels; and speakers from all over the political spectrum fume with thoughts of concentration camps whenever someone dares to hold an opinion different from their own. To which I say, STOP! There was only one Adolf Hitler. There was only one Nazi Party. What Hitler and the Nazis did was uniquely evil, not only because they killed so many people, but also because they put into practice the disgusting belief that some people are inherently inferior to others and thus deserve to die. By calling the person who gave me a traffic ticket or the boss who watched over me too closely at work or even a politician who opposed something that I passionately value “a Nazi,” I insult the memory of all the women, men and children who were brutally killed because Adolf Hitler ordered it. There are many ways that we can express our opposition or contempt for someone without resorting to the N-Bomb. soflagaynews //
4800 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY, FORT LAUDERDALE JUST SOUTH OF COMMERCIAL BLVD.
SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com //
8.13.2014 // 19
column publisher’s editorial
Pride Board Member Becomes Community Crime-stopper Norm Kent
norm.kent@sfgn.com
As some, and now many of you know, two weeks ago I went for knee replacement surgery. After a family reunion in the Catskills Mountains of New York State, and a short summer vacation at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, I thought I would have a few quiet weeks of rest, rehabilitation, and recovery at home. I never planned to be the lead story on the Channel 7 news. I never thought that my former partner, the caregiver at home watching over me, would become a local hero. But one thing is clear. Don’t screw with John Fugate. For the past few months, John has been making news and noise as one of the activists demanding reforms and change at Pride South Florida, where he serves on the board of directors. He has demanded more transparency and higher trust of the volunteers who donate their time. John now lives a few blocks away from me with his new partner, SFGN’s distribution manager, Brian Swinford. Because John was a patient care tech who graduated Nova Southeastern, it was a natural fit to have John and Brian move back in with me while I was incapacitated. I wasn’t exactly able to cook or fend for myself or my three dogs. Setting up an operations and living center on my double wide large living room recliner, I have been spending evenings watching baseball games and movies on satellite. With a pretty good surveillance camera system, and 8 TV sets, I am able to check on the pool area or the front driveway, or even the front yard by the gate, where the shepherd likes to sleep.
Around 1 a.m. last Thursday morning, the Dodgers and Angels were locked in a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 8th. Dozing in and out, I was woken by the shepherd’s barking. Both Brian and John were fast asleep. I looked up into the cameras and saw two intruders simultaneously trying to break into the SFGN company van and Brian’s PT Cruiser. These nighttime burglaries have become epidemic in Victoria Park. I shouted for John to wake up. Turns out he was on the couch right behind me. I warned him that intruders were breaking into our cars. ‘Like hell they are, ‘ he said.
J
He leapt up, ran to the gate and saw the would be thief in his partner’s vehicle, the door partially open. He slammed the door on the guy’s foot, pinning him in. The guy tried to escape. Bad move. First, a left cross, then a reverse headlock, leading to a takedown, dragging the guy to the ground. Brian, who had been sleeping upstairs, was now also awake. As he ran outside, I warned him about a second culprit. Arming himself with a shovel, he entered the fray, standing over the thief while John forcefully held him down. Meanwhile, I am laid up in a recliner,
ohn Fugate and Brian Swinford
wrapped in bandages and strapped to a tens unit and an icing system, immobile absent a walker. Can’t even get to my gun. Yes, I have one. Hell, I am a kid who grew up in the country. On the phone with 911 dispatch, I am waiting an agonizing four minutes for police to arrive. Just a nice simple week of quiet rehab and recovery at home, right? John’s gutsy and courageous capture of the suspect saturated local TV news and radio stations, with Channel 7 running it and the video footage as their top local news story on five separate newscasts. It’s still there. He was more than butch. He was ballsy, placing himself at risk to defend his friend and partner, and their property. That’s loyalty you love forever. It turns out the dude breaking into my house is a serial thief, with an astounding record of over 52 arrests, including over a half dozen felonies. How many times more do you think he got away with this? All I know is that my neighborhood is a little safer today because of John Fugate. Everyone that knows about this is congratulating him as a local hero, and he is. Finally, the bad guy got caught, and the good guy won. It’s a feel good story with a happy ending. We don’t have enough of those anymore. John is really pushing me in physical therapy, and I will be back to work soon. Meanwhile, he is looking again for a job in his field as a patient care tech. Alternatively, if you need a security guard, well I can’t think of a better choice to have around. And to all these bumbling burglars, don’t you dare interrupt me while I am watching a Dodger game ever again.
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column letter to editor
Theater Responds to SFGN Story “No ‘Clit Tease’ For Island City Stage’”
Photo credit of John Manzelli
(954) 368-9100
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We did not want to escalate this into a major conflict as this seems to happen far too often in the gay community. However, we feel it is our duty to respond to the disparaging and completely false accusations made by Kim Ehly about her 10-minute play that we chose to drop from Shorts Gone Wild 2. Ms. Ehly has chosen to represent herself as a victim of some heterosexual attack on the Lesbian community. She would have her readers believe that Island City Stage and City Theatre censored her play because it was somehow too edgy and controversial for us to produce and that two straight actors refused to perform in it because of this purported edginess. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that whether intended or not, Ms. Ehly wrote a play that strongly mirrored well known local events and contained several characters that could easily have been recognized by members of our own small and tightly knit theatrical community. After first reading of the play, multiple members of the company’s producers, directors, writers, and actors expressed immediate concern as to the play’s seeming locally “inspired” characters. In that local context, the plays “truth” and valid universal message (the elements of the work that we praised Ms. Ehly for writing) were immediately transformed into a seemingly bitter and mean-spirited attack on several people’s character and even sexual orientation. On it’s own merits it’s a good 10-minute play, and should have a life in other communities. However, the Producers
SouthFloridaGayNews
of the show believed that piece was not in the interest of inclusion that Shorts Gone Wild was created to foster and chose to remove the well written, but deeply questionable, play after more than two weeks serious and respectful contemplation of Ms. Ehly’s work. It is a shame Ms. Ehly wants to further divide the LGBT community by implying that we somehow are censoring a lesbian voice. Shorts Gone Wild 2 includes lesbian, gay, transgendered, bi-sexual and straight characters and themes as well as a diverse cast of straight, gay, lesbian, African American and Hispanic cast members, directors, playwrights and designers. Those who are familiar with our work will recognize that we strive to present plays that speak to our diverse community and that we have never shied away from controversial subject matter or sexual content. Sincerely, Andy Rogow, Artistic Director Island City Stage and
John Manzelli, Artistic Director City Theatre Editor’s Note: Andy Rogow did speak to SFGN before the original story went to print and at that time he told the reporter: “We can be accused of a lot of things, but it came down to a choice between a play or two actors. Both sides were right, but they couldn’t be reconciled.”
column transforming gender
Welcome to The New America
Rebecca Juro
A few years ago, the column you’re reading now probably wouldn’t have existed. Finding a transgender journalist working in commercial media was only slightly easier than locating the proverbial needle in a very large haystack, and columns like this one, written by a trans woman about topics and issues that impact transgender people, were only slightly less difficult to track down than Shakespeare’s First Folio. The speed at which we are progressing is nothing short of stunning, and most progress has happened within the last year or so. A year ago, hardly anyone outside of the trans and allied community had heard of Laverne Cox or Janet Mock. Today, Cox is the first openly transgender person nominated for an Emmy, and Mock is a contributing editor for Marie Claire and bestselling author. But the change isn’t only in the increase in well-known trans celebrities. A year ago, like many of my fellow trans journalists, I was a blogger contributing to sites like the Huffington Post and The Bilerico Project. Today I’m a freelance journalist with the intent and, hopefully, the ability to make this work as an actual career. What was a dream just a few short months ago is now an attainable goal. A large portion of the credit for the increased acceptance of trans people and issues should be attributed to print and online editors and publishers, as well as radio and television producers. These are the people who keep their ears to the ground, keeping track of the latest trends and capitalizing on them to engage and increase their audiences. They’ve witnessed what Time Magazine called the “Transgender Tipping Point,” and they’re opening the doors for people like me to walk through. This column is evidence of the trend. In future editions of the column, I’ll bring you
personal stories, thoughts on political issues and topics of interest to trans people, allies and even those who just want a better idea of what this whole transgender thing is about. If you’ve been around a while, it’s probably no secret to you that this cultural shift didn’t happen overnight, even though, for many, it probably seems like it did. It’s a lot like a newly famous musician who’s now selling out arena concerts. It may seem like the star just recently popped out of nowhere, but, in most cases, that newfound popularity is the result of years of work, of playing for small audiences and sleeping on friends’ couches. Before “Orange Is The New Black” became a hit, making Cox a star, Cox worked in a drag restaurant in Manhattan called Lucky Cheng’s. Before Mock was a bestselling author, she was a staff editor for People. com and a trans activist. A year ago, neither of these ladies had the media profiles they do today, even though, both were working professionally in their chosen fields. It’s arguable that as both Cox and Mock have risen in notoriety and achieved new heights of personal success, trans media makers like myself have benefited immensely as the doors these women kicked open have stayed open. Where once a trans person could feel extraordinarily lucky to score even a little paid work as a journalist and media maker, LGBT and mainstream media are now seeking out trans voices to introduce to their audiences. The positive and long-awaited results are obvious for all to see. Trans people have arrived in popular American culture at last, and now that we’re here, in your newspapers and magazines and on your televisions and radios, what happens next? That’s one of the questions I’ll be exploring in future editions of this column. I hope you’ll join me.
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lifestyle speak out
column
What has been your biggest or most surprising triumph as an LGBT activist/ leader so far? SFGN Staff SFGN’s “Speak OUT” is a weekly feature giving a regular voice to South Florida LGBT leaders. Below are some of their answers:
“
As President of Impulse Group’s South Florida Chapter, just a year since our inception I have seen the growth of the movement that is Impulse through our events, marketing and advocacy message and how it is making its mark on the community. To see something that began so small, grow and help empower a much larger movement nationwide, truly makes everything we do worthwhile. Producing a form a marketing never thought of to reach a demographic that needs it most has had its criticism but the results and impact have been life changing and I wouldn’t change a thing.” — A.J. Alegria, President of Impulse Group — Fort Lauderdale
“
Undoubtedly my biggest triumph was my election in 2006 to the Broward County Commission as Florida’s first openly gay county commissioner. Having my colleagues on the commission subsequently select me to be Broward’s Vice Mayor in 2008, and Broward’s Mayor in 2009, made my accomplishment even more astounding.” — Ken Keechl, noted trial attorney and candidate for Broward County Commission
“
Without question, it was back in 1992, when the-Governor Lawton Chiles appointed me to serve as Florida’s first openly gay judge. In the 22 years since my appointment, more than a dozen openly gay men and lesbians have been appointed or elected to serve as judges in the State of Florida.” — Rand Hoch, President and Founder, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council
“
My most significant achievement is opening dialogue on LGBT issues in the corporate world, and in Asian countries. My most satisfying achievement is having a positive impact on the selfesteem of others through my early writing and speaking.” — Brian McNaught, noted columnist, author and LGBT activist Visit SFGN.com/SpeakOut to see more of this week’s responses. Send an Email to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com if you know of a LGBT community leader that should be or wants to be a part of this list.
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advertorial
What’s Smarter — Paying Off Debts or Investing? Darcy Beeman
It probably doesn’t happen as much as you’d like, but from time to time, you have some extra disposable income. When this happens, how should you use the funds? Assuming you have adequate emergency savings — typically, three to six months’ worth of living expenses — should you pay off debts, or fund your IRA or another investment account? There’s no one “correct” answer — and the priority of these options may change, depending on your financial goals. However, your first step may be to consider what type of debt you’re thinking of paying down with your extra money. For example, if you have a consumer loan that charges a high rate of interest — and you can’t deduct the interest payments from your taxes — you might conclude that it’s a good idea to get rid of this loan as quickly as possible. Still, if the loan is relatively small, and the payments aren’t really impinging on your monthly cash flow that much, you might want to consider putting any extra money you have into an investment that has the potential to offer longer-term benefits. For instance, you might decide to fully fund your IRA for the year before tackling minor debts. (In 2014, you can contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $6,500 if you’re 50 or older.) When it comes to making extra mortgage payments, however, the picture is more complicated. In the first place, mortgage interest is typically tax deductible, which makes your loan less “expensive.” Even beyond the issue of deductibility, you may instinctively feel that it’s best to whittle away your mortgage and build as much equity as
possible in your home. But is that always a smart move? Increasing your home equity is a goal of many homeowners — after all, the more equity you have in your home, the more cash you’ll get when you sell it. Yet, if your home’s value rises — which, admittedly, doesn’t always happen — you will still, in effect, be building equity without having to divert funds that could be placed elsewhere, such as in an investment. In this situation, it’s important to weigh your options. Do you want to lower your mortgage debts and possibly save on cumulative interest expenses? Or would you be better served to invest that money for potential growth or interest payments? Here’s an additional consideration: If you tied up most of your money in home equity, you may well lose some flexibility and liquidity. If you were to fall ill or lose your job, could you get money out of your home if your emergency savings fund fell short? Possibly, in the form of a home equity line of credit or a second mortgage, but if you were not bringing in any income, a bank might not even approve such a loan — no matter how much equity you have in your house. You may more easily be able to sell stocks, bonds or other investment vehicles to gain access to needed cash. Getting some extra money once in a while is a nice problem to have. Still, you won’t want to waste the opportunity — so, when choosing to pay down debts or put the money into investments, think carefully. This article was submitted by Darcy Beeman, Financial Advisor at Edward Jones.
Darcy J. Beeman, CFP®, AAMS® Financial Advisor Edward Jones
954-463-1933
717 SE 2
nd
Street – Suite 204, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 soflagaynews //
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lifestyle lifestyle history history
Gay History 101
W
hen the film “Bringing Up Baby” made a reference to the word gay, audiences thought he meant “carefree”.
Pier Angelo
Dates to Remember:
Important People:
APRIL 2010: The Philippine Supreme Court recognized Ang Ladlad (Out of the Closet) as a legitimate political party for the first time. The Justices said the party complied with all legal requirements and that there is no law against homosexuality.
Heinrich Hoessli (1784-1864) published, in 1836, the first volume of “Eros: The Male- Love of the Greeks,” a defense of same-sex love. He is considered the first advocate of gay rights.
JUNE 28, 1970:
Thousands of gays and lesbians take over Sixth Ave in NYC to commemorate the first anniversary of Stonewall in what became The First Gay Pride.
Bertrand Delanoe became, in 2001, the first openly gay European Mayor (Paris, France).
Photo: Wikipedia
Interesting Facts: In 1938, “Bringing up Baby” was the first film to use the word gay to mean homosexual. Cary Grant, in one scene, ends up having to wear a lady’s robe. When another character asks about why he is wearing that, he responds, ad-libbing, “Because I just went gay.” At the time, audiences didn’t get the reference so the line was thought to have meant, “I just decided to be carefree.” In 2003, The Canadian Oxford Dictionary announced it was changing the definition of marriage to read: “the legal or religious union of two people.”
Let’s talk about a contingency basis.
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon
www.kenkeechllaw.com soflagaynews //
advertisments. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information about the lawyers qualifications and experience.
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8.13.2014 //27
lifestyle
Boxers and Briefs
Bill’s holds the Annual Bartenders’ Boxers & Briefs Underwear Auction
J.R. Davis
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lifestyle books
Isn’t It Romantic?
Jim Provenzano’s tales of love David-Elijah Nahmod Author Jim Provenzano, whom I sometimes work with at San Francisco’s Bay Area Reporter (Provenzano is the nightlife editor), is a hopeless romantic. He’s also a staunch advocate for people with disabilities. In his 2012 novel “Every Time I Think of You,” he chronicled the tender love story of Reid and Everett, two young men who fall deeply in love during the late 1970s. Everett, a paraplegic, is confined to a wheelchair, while Reid is fully able-bodied. The boys also come from opposite sides of the tracks — Everett is from a wealthy and influential family while Reid’s parents are working-class. Provenzano, a 2012 Lambda Literary Award winner, tells a heartfelt tale of how the boys met, fell in love and Everett lost the use of his legs soon after. Their relationship, and their love, was put to the test as Everett rehabilitated himself. The couple returns in “Message of Love,” a just-published sequel in which readers find Reid and Everett in college. It’s the early 1980s, and their love is tested once again. Provenzano chats with SFGN about his enchantingly romantic and thoughtprovoking saga. How
would you describe the
Reid/Everett
stories to potential new readers?
“Every Time I Think of You” is a romantic novel set in various towns in Western Pennsylvania in 1979. While it has an almost corny plotline (boy meets boy, something bad happens, but they find a way to stay together), I like to think that I found a way to rethink the contemporary gay romance. In the sequel “Message of Love,” Reid and Everett go to college, first together, then separated at different universities in Philadelphia. Their attempt to sustain their passion and create the idea of a home together become their challenges, as well as the encroaching AIDS epidemic, which becomes a part of their lives in a surprising way. What
do you want readers to learn from
the stories?
theme, I deliberately chose to make it more explicit, with smart teenage guys who are self-aware and intelligent. They encounter a lot of difficulties but find ways to work it out. I suppose the “message” is obvious from the second book’s title. What inspired you to write these Are they based on real people?
stories?
The first four chapters from “Every Time I Think of You” are from a sequence of dreams I had in mid-January 2011. Thank goodness it was a weekend because I woke up at five in the morning, cranked up the coffee and wrote for about six hours. At first I thought I had a short story or a novella, but I didn’t stop. I decided to give myself a deadline of 500 words a day. It’s really not that much, considering that I write twice that much at work each day. I then decided to give myself to the end of the year to finish it. Are they based on real people? In parts. Physically I could point out a few celebrities or high school crushes, but they are each only a part of who the characters became. I let the characters do what felt right. Is
there acceptance of disabled people in
the
LGBT community?
July 2014 is the 25th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Can you
address the importance of this law?
When I was researching this pair of novels, I bought and read a lot of history books and essay anthologies about disability rights. I couldn’t help but compare it to my own AIDS activism: how people fought, their techniques for turning anger and protest into action. What was frustrating for me is that the setting for both books is before the ADA, so I had to avoid a lot of anachronisms. Things are more difficult for Everett, but it’s as if the future is at hand for them, meaning more accessibility. Anything you’d like to add? Support independent bookstores!
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More info: www.Facebook.com/ JimProvenzanoAuthor and www.JimProvenzano.blogspot.com.
That’s a big question and should be answered by someone who’s dealing with a disability. I’ve gone out to gay bars with gay and straight wheelchair-using friends, and people have been polite. They deal with bumps and curbs quite well. But there are still examples of horrendous discrimination by able-bodied people. I follow several Facebook groups, which chart the news of innovations as well as images of stupidly designed ramps and terrible abuses. It’s quite amazing. The first thing anyone should stop doing is call people “wheelchair bound.” That’s a stupid, antiquated term. And yet lazy writers in corporate media continue to use those terms.
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and
“Every Time I Think of You” and “Message of Love” are available in print and Kindle editions. All five of his novels are available on Bookshare.org, a site for visually impaired readers.
I don’t expect people to learn anything, except whether I’m a good writer or not! Even though the story has what could be, in the wrong hands, a sort of “Afterschool Special”
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authors
SouthFloridaGayNews
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outeats
Special Advertising Section
My Cuban Sandwich Jay Rinaldi
Growing up in the Florida Keys, I have one very special memory shared just with my Father. Every now and again he would take me along with him to work. And each time, we would stop at this local store and snag a couple of their Cuban Sandwiches. The memory still makes my mouth water. So I have searched high & low for the perfect combination and here’s my take. Done the night before: In equal parts: 1 tbsp fresh peppercorns, 1 tbsp cumin seeds, and 1 tbsp red chili flakes toasted & ground... add 1/2 tsp fresh ground nutmeg...1 tbsp kosher salt & 1 tbsp dark brown sugar. Rub all over a good slab of PORK BELLY and let cure over night in the fridge. The next day set oven to 225°. Smear the
pork belly with molasses and slow cook for 4 hours covered in a baking dish. Once done, the meat will simply fall apart. Now to assemble the sandwich. Melt about 2 tbsps of butter to brush the outside of each roll crust. On inside of one roll spread Dijon mustard (or your favorite) & on the other spread mayo. Layer meat on the inside, your favorite hot sauce, Swiss cheese, smoked ham slices, pickles, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Place in a Panini maker or skillet and press. Be sure to flip sandwich. When toasted, slice into two equal parts and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Jay Rinaldi is a great cook, avid SFGN reader, and local bartender extraordinaire.
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F O R
SFGNITES
T H E
J.W. Arnold
jw@prdconline.com
THUR THEATER
W E E K
O F
A U G U S T
1 4
-
A U G U S T 1 9 ,
THEATER
W W W . S F G N . C O M
odzilla rises from the depths of the G Pacific Ocean once again, but instead of terrorizing, he’ll have audiences rolling
8/14
in their seats. “Rifftrax Live: Godzilla” brings the campy 1998 film to local theaters on Tuesday, accompanied by commentary from the team that made Mystery Science Theater 3000 a classic.
Last fall, audiences raved over “You Made Me Love You – A Tribute to Brice, Cantor & Jolson.” Due to popular demand, the electrifying show returns tonight to the Plaza Theatre, 262 S. Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan and runs through Septe. 14. Featuring their most memorable hits, including “My Man,” “Second Hand Rose,” and “California, Here I Come,” this musical revue pays tribute to the incomparable trio of vaudevillians turned Broadway and movie stars: Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson. Tickets start at $30. For show times and tickets, go to ThePlazaTheatre. net.
FRI
2 0 1 4
8/15
Arts Garage, 180 NE 1st St. in Delray Beach, presents the new musical, “Judge Jackie Justice,” by Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman, tonight at 7:30 p.m. as part of its “Summer TuneUp” series. Judge Jackie rules over her reality television courtroom with an iron fist, presiding over a three-ring circus of America’s most chaotic civil cases….until she suffers a surprise drop in ratings and must face the liability of her own love life in this over-the-top courtroom comedy. Tickets are $15-20 at ArtsGarage.org or call 561-450-6357.
SAT
CABARET
8/16 SUN
The legendary Royal Room at the Colony Hotel, 155 Hammon Ave. in Palm Beach, presents the sultry jazz sounds of Nicole Henry, tonight and August 23 and 30. Her repertoire includes the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz titles, contemporary standards, blues, and originals and she has earned coveted spots on the Billboard Top-10 and HMV Japan jazz album lists. Enjoy the music, along with a three-course prix fixee dinner for $100 per person, excluding beverages and gratuity. For reservations, go to TheColonyPalmBeach.com or call 561-659-8100.
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Submitted Photo
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ART
8/17 MON
Unleash your inner Michelangelo, Picasso or Matisse at the monthly men’s drawing class, tonight from 2 to 5 p.m. at Push Fitness, 1098 Floranada Rd. in Oakland Park. A nude model will be provided for long poses, but you’ll need to bring your own art supplies. Whether you prefer pencil, watercolors, oils or chalk, this is an opportunity to explore your creativity. Internationally recognized artists will be coaching participants. Cost is $25 in advance or $35 at the door. To reserve your spot, email MensArtEvent@ AOL.com or go to mensartevent.tumblr.com.
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THEATER
8/18 TUE
The Theatre League of South Florida’s summer play reading festival is winding down. Tonight, enjoy a reading of Paul Tei’s “Instant Classic,” at Mad Cat Theatre Co. at The SandBox, 9816 NE 2nd Ave. in Miami Shores, at 7:30 p.m. The play explores the disintegrating relationships between four friends on one long night. As the booze and stories flow out of control, so do pressing questions about a missing partner. Tensions grow as they discover the uncomfortable truth. For more information and a schedule of remaining readings, go to SouthFloridaTheatre.com.
SouthFloridaGayNews
CINEMA
8/19
Hot on the tail of “Rifftrax Live: Sharknado,” the RiffTrax crew – Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, best known for the groundbreaking “Mystery Science Theater 3000” – are back to skewer that campy 1990s creature feature flop, “Godzilla,” as only they can. Nobody escapes the trio’s deadpan commentary, not even the radioactively mutated lizard in this crazy cinema event featuring performances from Matthew Broderick and Hank Azaria. Catch the national broadcast in theaters across the country tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 at FathomEvents.com.
AMERICAN TAX & INSUR ANCE “e safe return of your money is our top priority.”
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a&e film
“Golf Alpha Yankee”
Gay Man Documents Journey of LGBT Refugees Fleeing Iran For Turkey Anthony Lanni New York filmmaker Rick Flynn addresses and exposes the daunting realities that exist for LGBT abroad in his debut feature documentary “Golf Alpha Yankee.” The film documents LGBT life in Iran and depicts the war on terror gay Iranians face in their daily lives. In Iran, police and others flog, imprison and, sometimes even, execute citizens for publicly displaying affection towards someone of the same-sex. Flynn states, “It’s insane how love between two men or two women can cause such hate.” Flynn, in his documentary, focuses on the journey of gay Iranian refugees who fled the country, seeking asylum in neighboring Turkey. There, the men open up to Flynn about the years of abuse they faced and their hope that one day the United Nations would grant them permanent resettlement in the West, where they could love freely without consequence. Flynn’s interest in theatrics started at a young age. As a child, he would coax his family members into playing a stage game in which he had them act out various roles and play characters from his favorite films.
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His educational and professional career took him away from the joys of his youth and into the arts; he studied voice and piano for his undergraduate degree and worked for years as a vocal coach and choir director. As Flynn progressed further into his career, he found he missed the thrill of directing others, of orchestrating what he calls an extravaganza. “That’s really what making a film is, practically speaking; it’s planning and executing an immense, complex extravaganza,” Flynn said. Flynn’s passion to pursue such a challenging and controversial subject for his first feature film derived from own his struggles with his sexuality. “I remember, when I was young, seeing an article and photo of two teenage boys being hanged in Iran, supposedly because they were gay or did something gay. I remember thinking, wow, here I am feeling, what I think is a lot of pressure to stay in the closet, because I am worried what others will think if they find out I’m gay.” That moment burned a lasting image into the filmmaker’s mind, and when he received
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a grant from the Free University of Berlin, he began his research on the topic. Flynn’s quest for knowledge took him to Turkey where he worked closely with organizations such as LAMBDA Istanbul, the Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees and the Helsinki Citizens Assembly which helped Flynn locate refugees, an often difficult task as the LGBT refugees’ lives depended on them hiding their true identity and remaining discreet. While living in a small conservative town in the outskirts of Turkey, Flynn developed a plan to win the trust of the local LGBT refugee community. Flynn understood that many of the refugees were nervous with the interviewing process because refugees have to go through years of extensive interviews for the United Nations High Commissioner to make a decision on ultimate refugee resettlement status. Flynn decided not to use his camera for the first couple weeks to provide a sense of comfort for those who wanted to speak. His plan backfired, though, as a rumor started spreading that Flynn was a secret agent from the U.N. who was looking to identify people who lied about being
SouthFloridaGayNews
gay to flee from Iran. Through hard work and dedication, Flynn eventually gained the trust of the men and women in the camp. Despite the challenges, Flynn regrets nothing from his time spent abroad; he’s just glad to have had the opportunity to immerse himself and his audience in the traditionalist lifestyle of LGBT refugees in Turkey. “This is a story the world needs to hear- one that hasn’t been told before, and we are going to make that happen,” Flynn said. The producers of “Golf Alpha Yankee” have recently launched an online fund raising campaign through the popular crowd-sourcing site KickStarter in order to raise money for the post-production and necessary finishing costs of the film. The campaign will run until Aug. 20. For details and more information on the documentary film “Golf Alpha Yankee” or for how you can contribute, visit www. golfalphayankee.com. You can also follow the film on Twitter @GolfAlphaYankee and Facebook.com/GolfAlphaYankee.
a&e theater “Shorts Gone Wild 2” Serves a Sumptuous Buffet of LGBT Theater J.W. Arnold
C
Here’s a recipe for a tasty night of theater: Take seven talented local playwrights, mix them in with a quirky cast of six actors, season with some LGBT themes and allow five award-winning directors to perfectly cook the concoction. Wilton Manors-based Island City Stage and Miami’s City Theatre are once again serving up “Shorts Gone Wild,” a short play festival at Fort Lauderdale’s Empire Stage, and the results are simply delicious. The show kicks off with Michael Leeds’ hilarious “The Emperor is Naked.” A twist on the Hans Christian Andersen play, the short sets up the evening, as well as some running jokes that connect the other seven short plays, including ones about marital tensions between real-life husband and wife, Nikki Fridh and Matt Stabile. Meanwhile, the statuesque, muscular Craig Moody must continually conceal his private parts as props and costumes are shuffled about a la Austin Powers. Again, the show borrows a gimmick from last year, allowing the audience to select the order of the plays, and fortunately, the first was Michael McKeever’s “Lion in a Bear Bar.” This hilarious romp is like getting served dessert as the first course. Set a few years after Dorothy’s departure from Oz, Larry Buzzeo star as the Cowardly Lion who is having some boyfriend problems and confronts his boyfriend, Stabile, in a bear bar. Other plays include Fielding Edlow’s “A Bump Between Friends” (Gail S. Garrison, director), starring Renee Elizabeth Turner as a narcissistic woman who reacts jealously when Fridh announces she is pregnant after a one-night stand with the child of Turner’s old boyfriend. The play is very funny, but is like an onion soup without the delicious mozzarella topping, lacking a solid punch line. Tony Finstrom’s contribution, “The Last Time I Saw Bathhouse Betty” (Gail S. Garrison, director), is also entertaining, sharing the experiences of a fictitious group of people who gather at the Olympic Baths in the early 1970s for a performance by Bette Midler. Again, laughs abound with references to Barry Manilow, “Let My People Come” composer Earl Wilson, Jr. (who happened to be in town for a production of his show last weekend) and the other gliterrati of the era. “Game On,” by Gary Garrison (Andy Rogow, director) involves a heart-to-heart examination
aption: Gladys Ramirez, Craig Moody, Matthew Stabile, Renée Elizabeth Turner, Larry Buzzeo and Niki Fridh star in City Theatre and Island City Stage’s co-production of “Shorts Gone Wild 2.”
of the qualities that define and attract gay men after a first date gone bad. Buzzeo portrays a flamboyant gay man while Stabile is seeking someone on Grindr who is a little more “straight acting.” The play has lots of heart, but substitute AOL or Manhunt for Grindr and we’ve heard this story many times before. More savory fare includes McKeever’s second contribution, “Sarah Stein Sends a Selfie,” (Margaret Ledford, director) with Fridh as Sarah, a bride who accidentally sexts a drunken selfie to her maid of honor’s mother after her bachelorette party. Turns out that the message was intended for her friend, portrayed by Gladys Ramirez, and that the two may have a little more history than others believed. Sarah is faced with a tough decision when the big day finally arrives. Carey Crim’s “Glamping” (Teddy Harrell, director) sends Moody and Ramirez to a destination wedding, a camping trip. The only problem is the bride and Ramirez used to be lovers. The short explores the conflicts bisexual’s face when dealing with complicated and conflicting emotions and attraction. Unfortunately, Christopher Demos-Brown’s “I Alone” (Andy Rogow, director) is the only play that just doesn’t work. Demos-Brown’s writing is smart and heartfelt, a rich soufflé. The short is set at a high school reunion, and is a dialogue between two friends, one of whom is not who he was in school. It takes several minutes—a lifetime for a short play—for the audience to realize “I Alone” is written as dialogues between both the current friends and their “former” selves. It would be a worthwhile effort to explore some other staging ideas to save what became a collapsed soufflé. If you also eat with your eyes, then credit goes to Peter A. Lovello and Michael McClain for their clever color-coded costumes and props, another throwback to last year’s production, but a critical ingredient in this banquet, nonetheless. “Shorts Gone Wild 2” runs through Sept. 7 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $30 at IslandCityStage. org. soflagaynews //
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Datebook
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broward county Chris MacDonald’s Memories of Elvis in Concert
Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The tribute artist performs The King’s greatest hits with an eightpiece band and dancers. Tickets $51.47. Call 954462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.
* The Pure Zeppelin Experience
Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. at Parker Playhouse 707 NE Eighth St., in Fort Lauderdale. The breathtaking tribute band is dead on in their performance of one of the greatest bands in the ‘70s. Tickets $30 to $40 benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Florida. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.
palm beach county Palm
Amos: Unrepentant Geraldines Tour will be Toripreforming Aug 24th at 8pm at The Fillmore.
The Summer Nationals Tour
Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. at Cruzan Amphitheatre, 601 Sansburys Way #7 in West Palm Beach.
The Offspring will be celebrated the 20th anniversary of “Smash” with bands Bad Religion and Pennywise. Tickets $47 to $1,007. Call 561795-8883 or visit CruzanAmphitheatre.net.
Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 20405 Amphitheater Circle in Boca Raton. The reggae rock band will be opened by Stephen Marley and G. Love & Special Sauce. Tickets $34.50 in advance and $40 day of show. Visit http://tinyurl.com/n88f7s3.
Aug. 14 to 31 at 8 p.m. at the Miami Theater Center, 9816 NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores. AN underground fire in the ‘60s is still burning 20 years later, and all but three residents of the town decide to leave. Tickets $30. Call 866-8114111 or visit MadCatTheatre.org.
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* Tori Amos
Brad Paisley: Country Nation World Tour
Mid-Life 2! (The Crisis Continues)
H2OMBRE
Through Aug. 17 at the Actor’s Playhouse, 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Sketch and musical comedy pokes fun at growing old and midlife crises. Tickets $45. Call 954-444-9293 or visit ActorsPlayhouse.org.
Through Aug. 31 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. More than 6,000 gallons of water is used in this incredible show melding aerial feats, thumping music and visuals. Tickets $50 to $125. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.
The Whale
PAMM Outdoor Music Series
Slightly Stoopid
Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at Cruzan Amphitheatre, 601 Sansburys Way #7 in West Palm Beach. The country singer will be joined by Randy Houser, Leah Turner & Charlie Worsham. Tickets $37 to $256. Call 561-795-8883 or visit CruzanAmphitheatre.net.
OneRepublic Native Summer Tour with The Script
Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. at Cruzan Amphitheatre, 601 Sansburys Way #7 in West Palm Beach. The pop rock bands take on the summer in their tour. Tickets $42 to $319. Call 561-795-8883 or visit CruzanAmphitheatre.net.
McDonald will shake, Chris rattle and roll his way into
Broward Center August 16th at 8pm.
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blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Call job at a car dealership, and when a customer mistakes her for a widow, she goes along with 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org. it and leads a double life. Tickets $18 to 25. Call Miami 305-558-3737 or visit MainStreetPlayers.com miami-dade county
Free Friday Concerts
Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic soflagaynews //
Through Aug. 17 at the Biltmore’s GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. A 600-pound gay man lives as a recluse in his disheveled apartment teaching English composition online When he wants to reach out to his daughter, he finds she’s turned into an unhappy teen. Tickets $42.50 to $45. Call 305446-1116 or visit GableStage.org
Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. The singer stops in Miami in support of her Unrepentant Geraldines Tour with Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou. Tickets $51 to $67. Call 305673-7300 or visit FillmoreMB.com.
Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.
The Big Show
Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection Becky’s New Car of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and Through Aug. 17 at the Main Street Playhouse, sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit 6766 Main St. in Miami Lakes. Becky takes a JustTheFunny.com.
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Datebook
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broward county Monster Jam
Aug. 15 and 16 at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway in Sunrise. An annual tradition at the arena, mega monster trucks return to battle it out. Tickets $30.30 to $37.45. Call 800-745-3000 or visit TheBBTCenter.com.
* Coral Springs City-Wide Market Aug. 16 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs. An indoor market filled with vintage and antique items, jewelry, locally made products and bites, crafts from local artists, jewelry, clothing and more. Call 954-785-7475 or visit Facebook.com/ events/1457935144465405
* Disaster Preparedness and Response Team Training
Aug. 16 11 a.m. to Noon at HandsOn Broward, 6600 W. Commercial Blvd. in Lauderhill. Training for those who are looking to join the team to help during an emergency situation. Free. Visit HandsOnBroward.org.
* PrEP Discussion Group
Aug. 16 at 12:30 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. An initial meet and greet for people using Pre-Exposure Phophylaxis as an additional method of HIV prevention. Call 954-463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.
Gay Nuptials: A Wedding Showcase
Aug. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Hagen Park Center, 2020 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Engaged same-sex couples can meet with weddings vendors for their special day. Tickets $20, benefiting the Pride Center. Visit MyGayWeekend.org.
Dance Underwear Auction
Aug. 17 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Swinging Richards, 1350 SW Second St. in Pompano Beach. Enjoy drink specials and hors d’oeuvres as you browse the auction items, then, the dancers hit the stage for the event of the night! Benefits the Pride Center. Call 954-876-1129 or visit Florida.SwingingRichards.com.
In Pieces
Through Aug. 17 at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, 1650 Harrison St.in Hollywood. The visual artist uses solely LEGO bricks to create works of art that will have you look at that childhood toy a whole different way! Free with center admission. Call 954921-3274 or visit ArtAndCultureCenter.org.
* “Koch Brothers Exposed”
Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Gateway Theater, 1820 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Join the Dolphin Democrats in a screening of this controversial film about the political activities of the Koch brothers.Tickets $25 for movie and $100 for wine reception and movie, benefits Get Out the Vote. Visit DolphinDems.org.
Gender Bender Youth Group
Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at SunServe Campus, 1480
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SW Ninth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. A group for LGBT youth 13 to 21 to discuss gender, gender expression, binary systems, friendship, family and whatever else comes up! Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com
* A Snapshot of Service: The Pride Center at Equality Park
Tuesdays through Saturdays from 2 to 10 p.m. through Aug. 31 at the Stonewall Museum -- Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. The exhibit chronicles the beginnings and growth of the Pride Center and its impact on the community. Call 954-763-8565 or visit Stonewall-Museum.org.
PFLAG
Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and locations.
L.I.F.E. Project
Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Get the tools you need to treat your HIV positive diagnosis and live a full, productive life. Free. Call 954-463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.
GayWrites
Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Stonewall Library, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Come join us and write your memoir, poem, blog, novel or short story. Free. Email garri1@earthlink.net
SunServe Youth Group
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.
Survivor Support
First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954-384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.
Beachcounty palmPalm beach * Shark Preservation Week
Through Aug. 15 at the South Florida Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. Celebrate sharks with tooth labs, conservation movies, crafts, touch tanks, and more. Free with admission. Call 561832-1988 or visit SFScienceCenter.org.
* Ladies Night Out
Aug. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the South Florida Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. Ladies are invited for a night of cocktails, food, and wine samples as well as raffles, silent auctions, and fun vendors. Tickets $7 in advance, $10 day of to benefit Girls Excelling in Math and Science (GEMS). Call 561832-1988 or visit SFScienceCenter.org.
* Wheels and Heels: The Big Noise Around Little Toys
dance moves. Donation of $5 or more. Call 561-3241626 or visit CompassGLCC.com.
Positive Connection
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Men who are HIV positive are invited to come together for support, education, and advocacy. Closed group. Call 561-324-1626 or visit CompassGLCC.com.
Sober Sisters
Mondays at 6:15 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for female recovering alcoholics. Visit LambdaNorth.net.
Out of the Closet NA Group
Mondays at 7 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for LGBT recovering addicts. Visit LambdaNorth.net.
Fourth Thursdays from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Boynton Beach Art District, 404-422 W. Industrial Ave. in Boynton Beach. Art studios will be open for the public to view, as well as food, music, dancers and live performances. Call 786-521-1199.
PBC Gender Support
First and third Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A support group for transgender individuals of all ages. Contact Heather Wright at A1AHeather@aol.com.
Miami county miami-dade * GALLA (Gay & Lesbian Lawyers Association) Luncheon
Wednesdays at 9 a.m. at the American Orchid Society, 16700 AOS Lane in Delray Beach. Practice your yoga in the presence of beautiful, calming orchids. $20 a class. Call 561-404-2011 or visit OrchidWeb.org.
Aug. 13 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, The Restaurant, 2004 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Lunch and networking at this monthly event. Cost $35 for members, $45 for potential members. RSVP to GayBizMiami.com, rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or 305673-4440.
Voices of Pride
Dolphins Kickoff Luncheon
Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they practice every week. Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com
Overeater’s Anonymous
Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. A safe place to discuss their eating habits and goals. Free. Call 561533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com
Aug. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the InterContinental Downtown Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza in Miami. Have lunch with all the players and coaches of the Miami Dolphins, followed by a Q&A, silent auction, performance by the cheerleaders, and more. Tickets $125, $110 for chamber members; includes lower level seating at the Sept. 21 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Visit Dolphins.com/lunch.
Masquerade Ball
Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. a Compass GLCC of the Palm Beaches, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Get support as you explore your sexual identity and be your true self. Call Forrest at 561-479-8313.
Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at theBiltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. A Venetian-style gala supporting Pridelines Youth Services. bring your elaborate masquerade mask -- Beatnix in South Beach will take 20 percent off if you mention the gala. Tickets $150. Visit PridelinesMasquerade.com.
Rapid HIV Testing
* 6th Annual Talent Show Down
Coming Out Support Group
Mondays and Thursdays from 4 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Knowledge is power, and you can find out your status in less than 20 minutes. No need to make an appointment. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com.
Shutterbugs
Third Mondays at 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Love photography? Join BLAST and other women to explore the art of digital photography. Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com
Green Market
Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon at West Palm Beach Waterfront, 101 S. Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. A relaxing morning of shopping through green vendors and live entertainment. Contact Katrina Resch 561822-1520 or KResch@wpb.org.
Rusty Gordon GLBT Democratic Caucus
Third Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Meet other like-minded people in this group open to the public. Free. Call 561533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com
Zumba Fitness
PFLAG
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Boynton Beach Art Walk
Yoga Among the Orchids
Through Oct. 26 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. A look at two iconic childhood toys: the miniature car and the “teenage doll,” or Barbie. Free with admission. Call 561-832-6196 or visit Norton.org.
Mondays at 6 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Get moving with a certificated Zumba instructor for an infusion of exercise and
Call Carole 561-716-9464 or Joyce 561-292-3273.
Third Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Temple Shaarei, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road in Boynton Beach. A support group for friends and family of LGBT youth.
SouthFloridaGayNews
Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at Hard Rock Café Bayside, 401 Biscayne Blvd. R-200 in Miami. Cheer on EnVee from The Cabaret South Beach, the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber’s representative singer, as well as network with more than 200 guests from various chambers and business organizations. Free. Parking $10, bring your tickets for a $5 credit on a bar drink. RSVP at GayBizMiami.com, rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or 305-673-4440
* Spotlight Mega-Mixer
Aug. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gale South Beach, 1690 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach. Join the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber for a mixer with, including cocktails courtesy of Grey Goose, networking, raffles, and other fun. Tickets $10 for members, $20 for prospective members to benefit Celebrate ORGULLO. RSVP to GayBizMiami.com, rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or 305-673-4440.
* Dueling Dishes
Thursday nights through the end of September at Balans Biscayne, 6789 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Sample two courses and a tasty drink to help decide which items should be added to the menu. Cost $30. Call 305534-9191 or visit Balans.co.uk.
Rainbow Circle
Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Miami Flipse Building #302, 5665 Ponce de Leon Drive in Coral Gables. An open discussion about coming out, relationships, peer pressure, bullying, depression and more. Free. Visit Pridelines.org.
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8.13.2014 // 41
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furnished housing **PERFECT RELOCATION RENTALS** *4-WEEK+SPECIAL FROM $295/WEEK* Award Winning Gay Apartment Hotel. All the comforts of home. Beautifully Furnished & Full Equipped Studio, 1 & 2 BR Apts. with Full Kitchens. All Men, Clothing optional heated pool, laundry, private parking. 5 Min. south of Airport in Dania Beach. Central to Haulover Nude Beach & Wilton Manors. Incl. Wi-Fi, utilities, cable, tel. Gay Owned & Operated. Pets Always Welcome. Celebrating Our 17th Year Call Joe or Jack at (954) 927-0090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com
pets/supplies Dependable Reliable Service Delivered with Love and Respect
rent/lease fort lauderdale COMPLETELY RENOVATED: Studio Fully Furnished With A Full Kitchen, Granite Counter Top, Stand Up Shower, Gorgeous View Of The Butterfly Garden. Price Included Internet Cable TV Water And Electricity Great Central Location Min Drive To Wilton Manors Night Life The Beaches. $900 a Month 954-638-7034 COMPLETELY RENOVATED: Super Large Fully Furnished One Bedroom With Den Facing An Amazing Butterfly Garden. Granite Counter Top, King Size Bed. Price Included Internet Cable TV Water And Electricity Great Central Location Min To Wilton Manors Night Life The Beaches. $1500 A Month Eli 954-638-7034 1/1 WITH FRENCH DOORS TO PRIVATE COURTYARD: Ft. Lauderdale 1/1, large walk-in closet, tile floors in a small quiet complex. Small quiet pet okay. Coin laundry on property. $725/ mo Call James at 305-213-3473
rent/lease RENTALS WILTON MANORS wilton manors 1/2 MINUTE TO WILTON DRIVE & 1/2 MONTH FREE: Nicely updated 2nd floor 1BD/1BA in small building! Central Air, bright kitchen w/ granite counters, pantry, large bdrm, tile floors, beautiful large bathroom, laundry on premises! Quiet, dead-end street by WM Park, one car only, no pets, $825/month 954-242-7566.
LIC # 11000106488
real estate business opportunities GAY GUESTHOUSE-RESORT HOTEL GREAT BUSINESS - EST. 17 YEARS Rare opportunity to enter the booming Fort Lauderdale Gay Tourism Market. Owners retiring and offering the award winning Liberty Apartment & Garden Suites in Historic Dania Beach, Convenient to Airport, Wilton Manors & Haulover Beach. Situated on 2 properties w/18 fully furnished & equipped apartments with full kitchens. Currently operated as vacation & extended stay rentals, with high repeat clientele. Perfect for working retirement. Immaculate condition, easy to operate, excellent investment. Turn-key business. All Inclusive. Offered at $1,495.000. Qualified Buyers Only. Visit www.LibertySuites.com or for more info, contact: Joe Van Eron at (954) 3835548 or Joe@LibertySuites.com
WALK TO WILTON DRIVE RESTAURANTS AND CLUBS: 2BD/1BA, End unit w/windows on 3 sides, central A/C, decorator paint, granite kitchen, built in micro, D/W, ice maker, tile floors, pool. Only $1050/Mo. Call Glen @ Coastland Realty 954-873-4220 or David at 917-710-8852. RENTALS OAKLAND PARK rent/lease oakland park ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: 1BD/1BA Remodeled apt. w/ new stainless steel kitchen. Hardwood floors, extra large covered deck, great view of running park, Quiet gay complex w/ pool, laundry and res. parking. 3670 NE 6th Ave. $995/mo 954-815-5600
rent/lease fort lauderdale
2BD/2BA W/POOL - POINSETTIA HEIGHTS: A beautiful duplex surrounded by lush gardens and well maintained landscaping. Updated kitchen w/ granite counters, terrazzo floors, large closets, central A/C, W/D. Small pets allowed. Nonsmoking. Perfectly suited for a roommate. Avail Oct 1st, phone 954-563-1576 LAUDER LAKES: 2/1.5 in 55+ community. Immediately available, fully furnished, 2 car parking, private yard, new appliances. Clubhouse with pool, laundry, sauna and more. Small pets allowed. $1,200. Call Cosmo 954205-7514. www.lauderlakes.com
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