8/20/14 V5i34

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INSERT IN CENTER August 20, 2014 // vol. 5 // issue 34

FERGUSON IS NOT SO FAR AWAY Page 14

SFGN Reveals the Truth about Asexuality • 12 SouthFloridaGayNews

SFGN Takes Home Journalism Awards • 10 soflagaynews

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Stories on SFGN.com Last week’s hottest items couldn’t wait to be printed...

Compiled by Nicole Wiesenthal

NJ Man Sues Grindr Over Encounter With Underage Boy

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(Edge Media) A New Jersey man is suing the gay hookup app Grindr in federal court, claiming the social media app has lax age restrictions, which he says allowed him to have an encounter with an underage boy, the New Jersey Law Journal reports.

William Saponaro Jr., of Cape May, N.J., faces criminal charges after meeting up with an under age boy. His lawsuit alleges he was invited

to have sex with two other males on June 21, 2012, after they met each other on Grindr. But a week after the encounter, Saponaro found out that one of them was just 13.

Saponaro was arrested and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He faces up to 20 year in prison, according to the newspaper.

Westboro Baptist Church to Picket Robin Williams’ Funeral (Edge Media) In what is probably the least shocking news you’ll hear today, the “God Hates Fags” Westboro Baptist Church announced this week that they will picket the late comedian and actor Robin Williams’ funeral, Gay Star News points out.

WBC said its members will hold signs at the memorial for Williams, who took his own life last week, and said he “decided to use his considerable talent to push filthy lifestyles, flagrant debauchery and hedonism.”

The WBC made their announcement via Twitter using the hashtags “#MustPicketFuneral” and “PicketFuneral.”

Williams, 63, was found dead in his Northern California home last week. He had been suffering from depression and San Francisco Bay Area sheriff officials said that he committed suicide by hanging himself with a belt.

A date for Williams’ funeral and services has not been announced.

Michael Sam Gets His First Sack To Bolster His Case For Rams’ Roster Spot (AP) St. Louis — Michael Sam waited a while longer to get back on the field in his second preseason game.

When he did, he made a bigger impact in a bid to bolster his case for a spot on the St. Louis Rams’ roster.

Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay player drafted in the NFL, raced around tackle Derek Sherrod

to flatten Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn in the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 21-7 loss to the Packers on Saturday for his first sack.

For Sam, the Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year with 11½ sacks for Missouri, it seemed like a long time coming.

“Finally. I finally got that under my belt, so it feels good,” Sam said.

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

August 20, 2014 • Volume 5 • Issue 34

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

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com

Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli

Associate publisher • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Editor In Chief • Nicole Wiesenthal wiesenthal1225@gmail.com

Editorial

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 Cover: Photos taken by CNN in Ferguson, Missouri 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

WNBA Player Proposes to Girlfriend; Makes History Nicole Wiesenthal

Star center of the Phoenix Mercury and last year’s top WNBA draft pick, Brittney Griner, made history last week when she proposed to her girlfriend Tulsa Shock forward Glory Johnson.

The couple made the news public by posting a photo of the proposal to Instagram.

Griner sported an anxious, excited look and a pink bow tie as she presented the ring to her girlfriend.

For the caption, Griner wrote “Last Night was a Night to Remember I became the happiest person on this earth! (almost pass out but when that one word came out I came back to life) Me and my baby @missvol25 are in it for Life!”

The two had been celebrating their two-month anniversary, according to the Washington Post.

Tulsa Shock responded with an Instagram picture of her own, of her lying in bed with the ring resting on shoulder.

Griner came out last year as lesbian and wrote a memoir, “In My Skin,” regarding her sexuality.

Picture: brittneygriner.instagram.com

The WNBA has been known for its large lesbian fan-base so it might seem surprising that the news went mainstream. The attention to LGBT athletes has become a positive reinforcement for the LGBT fight for equality over the past few years.

With such a large predominantly straight fan base, sports turning the attention towards LGBT players might help sway those opposed or hesitant to the idea of equality for LGBT people. Hopefully the news will continue to make it mainstream as Griner and Johnson tie the knot and live out their lives together as a married couple.

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News Briefs

Popular PA Bakery Denies Same-Sex Couple Cake

Compiled by SFGN Staff

A

rizona Gay Couple Wants Judge To OK Marriage

(AP) Phoenix – A gay couple from southern Arizona wants a federal judge to immediately order the state to recognize their marriage because one of the men is terminally ill.

Lawyers for George Martinez and Fred McQuire of Green Valley say the order is needed so McQuire can be recognized as Martinez’s survivor when he dies. That will allow him to take care of his affairs and collect larger Veterans Affairs and other benefits.

The men have been a couple for 45 years and were married in California last month after Martinez was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The men are parties to a lawsuit filed in March by a group of gay and lesbian couples who argue Arizona’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. It is one of two suits challenging the ban.

IFDAWD owa

oman Calls For onation Ban

Lift Of

(AP) Des Moines, Iowa - An Iowa mom is speaking out against the Food and Drug Administration’s ban on donations of some tissue from gay men after her son died and some of his organs were rejected.

The Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/1oJkJ9R ) reports that Sheryl Moore of Pleasant Hill was told that some of her 16-year-old son’s tissues wouldn’t be donated because his sexual history was unclear.

Moore says the Iowa Donor Network accepted his heart, lungs and kidneys. But they wouldn’t take other tissues, including bone, tendons and eyes.

Moore’s son, A.J. Betts, committed suicide last July. She says the refusal of his tissues floored her because she thinks the federal safeguards are archaic.

FDA regulations restrict certain tissue donations from men who have had sexual contact with other men within the past five years.

ST

mithsonian Adds LGBT o Museum Collection

History

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T

exas Anti-Gay Activist’s

(AP) Washington — Hundreds of photographs, papers and historical objects documenting the history of LGBT people are being added to the Smithsonian Institution’s collection this week, including items from the popular TV show “Will and Grace.”

Show creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick along with NBC are donating objects to the National Museum of American

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(Edge Media) A popular bakery located in Schuylkill, Bethany Petrich added that she is “very disappointed” Pa., is coming under fire this week after owners with the situation. They couple took to Facebook to get refused to sell a cake to a same-sex couple, Northern the word out abut the incident, which focused attention Pennsylvania’s NBC-affiliate station WBRE reports. on the bakery.

According to couple Bethany and Jennifer Petrich, The bakery’s owner, Lorraine Fleming, is sticking to they requested a cake to celebrate a ceremony to renew her guns, however. their wedding vows. They wanted a dessert from the “I’m not sorry for my decision and I feel strong. I know popular Cake Pros bakery. that I’m doing the right thing,” she told the news station.

“I loved the work they did and it tasted great. It’s a She added there are LGBT members in her family and hometown bakery. I wanted to support my hometown,” the decision was hard to make but it was based off her Jennifer Petrich told WFMZ. “My mom, who is planning religious beliefs. our wedding, called and made the appointment for us. It “I’m sorry for the damage that’s been done as far as was okay at that time and she was open and honest and hurt feelings,” she said. said it’s for Bethany and Jennifer.”

Fleming said she and her employees have been The women say things went down hill after they harassed and that the bakery had to take down his received a phone call from the bakery.

Facebook page due to heated comments.

“They had called and said to her that they were a “We asked her to make us a wedding cake and not Christian bakery and the owner had talked to Jesus for marry us. I didn’t understand,” Jennifer Petrich said. two weeks and that because it was two females getting Pennsylvania legalized same-sex marriage earlier this married she couldn’t make our cake,” Jennifer Petrich year. said.

The devout Catholic was already a socially conservative History. The collection includes original scripts, casting ideas, political memorabilia surrounding the show and the series lobbyist back in 2011 when his now ex-wife, Corrine Morris finale. The network agreed to donate props, including a pill Rodriguez Saenz, filed for divorce that August. In early 2012, bottle and flask, a sign from “Grace Adler Interior Design” and Saenz took the helm of Texas Values after the organization spun off from the Liberty Legal Institute, where he’d risen to chief Will Truman’s framed college diploma.

Kohan told The Associated Press the Smithsonian’s interest lobbyist.

By that point, Saenz had morphed into the state’s most in the show featuring gay principal characters was a validation they never dreamed about when the sitcom began airing in extreme anti-gay voices, leading the charge against same-sex 1998. “Will and Grace” ran through May 2006 depicting four marriage and even LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances in San friends both gay and straight, eventually ending with the main Antonio and Houston.

In doing so, he touted the ring-wing myth that sexual characters coupled off with children.

“These particular guests that were invited into people’s living predators would use these laws to prey on women and children rooms happened to be your gay friends,” Kohan said. “I don’t in bathrooms. (Is that where you lost your wife, Jonny Boy?) He helped push an amendment to the 2014 Texas GOP think people really had the opportunity to have that before, and it served to, I think, make people recognize that your close platform endorsing gay conversion therapy, which is widely discredited. He also says that same-sex marriage will lead to friends were gay.”

“The fact that it’s in the American history (museum), maybe polygamy and people marrying their stepkids. He suggests that we were a part of something that was bigger than we ever gay activists want to place Christians in concentration camps, and filed an amicus brief calling on a federal appeals court imagined,” Kohan said.

The donation is part of larger effort to document gay and to overturn a district judge’s decision to strike down Texas’ lesbian history, an area that has not been well understood at the marriage bans.

Saenz unsuccessfully sought to bar his ex-wife’s girlfriend museum. Curators are collecting materials from LGBT political, Ercimin Paredes from being around their three young kids, sports and cultural history objects from Arizona to Maryland.

Some items being donated include the diplomatic passports and tried to get his wife locked up for failing to undergo a of Ambassador David Huebner, the first openly gay U.S. psychological evaluation by a doctor of his choice, whose $2,500 ambassador confirmed by the Senate, and his husband; materials fee which he reportedly refused to pay.

The story is gaining traction on outlets like Raw Story, which from a gay community center in Baltimore; and photography collections from Patsy Lynch and Silvia Ros documenting gay notes that nearly two years after the divorce battle began, Saenz filed a counterpetition for divorce in May 2013, accusing his ex rights activism.

From sports history, the museum will receive a tennis racket of adultery. The divorce became final on Aug. 1, 2013, and the from former professional player Renee Richards who won a Agreed Final Decree stated that both parents had the right “to landmark New York Supreme Court decision for transgender direct the moral and religious training of the children.” rights after she was denied entry to the U.S. Open in 1975. And the museum will receive the first transgender pride flag from an activist and U.S. Navy veteran.

The Smithsonian has previously collected items opposing LGBT rights, including protest signs from the Westboro Baptist Church. for Another

Woman

Wife Left Him

(EDGE Media) A virulently anti-gay pundit from the Lone Star state found himself alone when his wife left him for another woman, reports LoneStarQ.com this week. According to the article, Jonathan Saenz, president of the anti-gay group Texas Values, got an extra boost of homophobia after his wife ditched him for another bitch, according to Hays Country district court records.

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

Corinne Saenz (left) and her lesbian girlfriend Ermicin Paredes (right).

news breaking West Palm Beach Passes Employee Benefits Ordinance – First in Palm Beach County Donald Cavanaugh

On Monday evening, August 18, 2014, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) won another victory on the path to civil equality for LGBT residents.

At the urging of the Council and its founder and president, Rand Hoch, the West Palm Beach City Commissioners voted unanimously to establish an equal benefits ordinance (EBO) requiring certain categories of contractors to provide equal benefits to the partners of unmarried employees.

“West Palm Beach has always been a leader in civil equality and family protections,” said Hoch after the vote. “Mayor Muoio has been one of our staunchest allies when it comes to family protection.”

“In fact,” Hoch continued, “Jeri came to us on this issue. We had originally requested consideration for the program in 2007 but with all the downtown construction turmoil at that time, we decided to table the request until the climate was more favorable. Jeri decided that now is the time and obviously she was rights.”

“We were thrilled with a unanimous vote,” said Hoch. “At the first vote two weeks ago, two of the commissioners voted against the proposal because they had questions that were answered before the vote last night.”

Muoio was quoted in a press release from the PBCHRC saying, “Requiring contractors to provide to employees with same-sex spouses and domestic partners benefits equal to those provided to employees whose marriages are recognized by the state of Florida will require contractors to maintain

a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining the highest quality work force, thereby improving the quality of goods and services that the city receives.”

The CBO affects only contracts of $50,000 and above being performed with five or more employees. Contractors are not required to provide any benefits not already offered to legally recognized married employees.

The city itself has had an EBO in effect for municipal employees for some twenty years.

The vote on Monday makes West Palm Beach the first city in Palm Beach County and the seventh in the state to enact such a policy.

The six Florida public employers with EBO protections are: Broward County, Hallandale Beach, Key West, Miami Beach, Oakland Park and Wilton Manors.

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Inc. is dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

The Council promotes equality through education, advocacy, direct action, impact litigation, and community outreach.

In addition to last night’s win, PBCHRC is currently working with the City of Boynton Beach to consider a domestic partnership ordinance. According to Hoch, that project is on hold for another few weeks.

When asked about the work of PBCHRC, Hoch said, “We keep plugging away until our work is no longer needed. We’ll be challenging some locale in Palm Beach County on the day the Supreme Court finally recognizes us as equal citizens.

(954) 376-1298

Take That, Jack Seiler SFGN Staff

LGBT activists left a very public message for Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler outside of City Hall last night.

Plastered onto the side of a truck was a photo of Seiler with the words “Marriage Equality for ALL! But Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler Says NO! Join The Fight!” and then directed folks to a website GetInvolvedInFortLauderdale.com.

“A Mayor needs to be a Mayor for ALL constituents. After 6 years as Mayor, Seiler has done little to make Fort Lauderdale a more inclusive and welcoming ‘All American City,’ especially for gays and lesbians. Not only did he vote against marriage equality, he has failed to mandate comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination policies for vendors doing business with the City,” said

Fort Lauderdale business owner, retired Air Force Lt. Colonel and former Fort Lauderdale Mayoral Candidate Earl Rynerson. “Dozens of mayors, in Florida cities large and small, are proactively supporting marriage equality and are putting pressure on Tallahassee to do the same. I believe it is important for Fort Lauderdale residents to understand that Jack Seiler is not among them.” soflagaynews //

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news local

news national Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair to be Held in NYC

News from SFAN August 1, 2014 Sean McShee

Denise Royal

The South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN) functions as the networking/advisory body for the parts of Ryan White Care (RWC) that fund the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), the AIDS Insurance Continuation Program (AICP), and the non-medical components

of Ryan White Care. ADAP pays for HIV medications. AICP provides funds for health insurance expenses for the HIV infected. SFAN encourages newcomers (providers, consumers, and interested individuals) to attend its monthly meeting and become members.

The South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN) recently changed its committee and reporting structure. Each month people will report on Florida specific HIV issues, HIV/ AIDS legislative issues, ADAP, and AICP. Some of these reports may be via skype or video-conferencing.

Joshua Rodriguez reported on changes to the budget for RWC Part B. These changes involved moving funds from two underperforming programs (Residential Substance Abuse and Medical Transportation) to five other programs (Home Delivered Meals, Medication Co-pays, Non-medical Case Management, Home and Community Based Health Services, and Referrals for Heath Care/Supportive Services). The Residential Substance Abuse program had just opened last year, but had failed to attract enough clients to justify its share of the budget.

Consequently that program lost about twothirds of its budget.

Two local agencies (Broward House and the Wellness Center) provide AICP services. A representative from Broward House reported on AICP issues. Some AICP clients had reported billing problems with Florida Blue plans. Other AICP clients were unaware that group level plans, like those purchased under the Affordable Care Act, only allow members to change plans during an open enrollment period. People attempting to change group plans outside of an open enrollment period can end up in serious financial trouble. The next time for people to change plans purchased under the Affordable Care Act will be the open enrollment period this November.

Mario De Santis reported that changes will be coming to the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) programs on January 1, 2015. Two factors are driving this

change: 1) a $2.2 million cut over the last two years and 2) a re-emphasis on HOPWA’s “temporary aid” focus.

The US Congress set up HOPWA to deal with threats to achieving and maintaining housing stability among the HIV infected.

Threats to achieving stable housing include barriers, such as large one-time cash outlays for utility deposits, security deposits, first/ last month’s rent, etc. Threats to maintaining stable housing include emergencies, such as large medical bills, household/family emergencies, loss of income related to hospitalizations, etc.

The Permanent Housing Placement (PHP) program addresses the problem of onetime large cash outlays acting as barriers to achieving stable housing. If HOPWA had provided the security deposit for a tenant that money was to be returned to HOPWA when that tenant moved out. Sometimes, however, the landlord retained the security deposit for damages to the rental property or for some other reason. HOPWA would then lose the deposit. The new policy will allow HOPWA to track those clients whose security deposits have been retained by the landlord.

If a client has two such incidents, they will be barred from future HOPWA assistance.

The Short-Term Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Assistance (STRMU) program provides assistance for those sudden emergencies that threaten the maintenance of stable housing. After January 1, 2015, a household will only receive a limited amount of assistance in a given year.

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From Aug. 21 to 23, the National LGBT Bar Association will hold its annual conference and career fair. It is the largest annual gathering of LGBT and allied legal professionals in the world. More than 1600 attendees from across the country, as well as some from abroad are expected to attend.

This year’s theme is “Lawyers Change Lives.”

“Every day, we hear stories about the direct impact legal professionals have on the lives of real people. From attorneys who help same-sex couples navigate often confusing state tax laws, to major firms with pro bono programs dedicated to helping underserved communities, our members make a real difference in the lives of countless people and families. Lavender Law is where the legal advocates working on cutting edge LGBT issues come together to learn, share, network and connect,” said Kelly Simon, Director of Development and Communications for the LGBT Bar. One of those issues is marriage equality.

“There will, no doubt, be much celebration of the string of recent victories striking down anti-marriage laws across the country. But as we saw recently in Tennessee, we still have important work to do to bring equality to all families in all 50 states. While many expect the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the issue of state marriage bans soon, our members are working to be sure families in every state Next Meeting: September 5, 2014 at 10:00 have the legal protections and recognition am, at the Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE they need today,” Simon told SFGN. 56th Street (at Dixie), Ft. Lauderdale, FL This year’s event also includes its largest33334. Newcomers are encouraged to attend. soflagaynews //

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ever career fair, with more than 180 exhibitors offering opportunities for everyone from law students to seasoned experts. “It’s where, their first job, their next job or maybe even their dream job,” Simon said.

A new program - “We Mean Business” – will also be unveiled during Lavender Law. This new initiative will replicate the current Lavender Law networking opportunities, where many lasting relationships between LGBT corporate counsel and outside attorneys, have been born. The new program will give “We Mean Business” members unparalleled opportunities to network, build their portfolios and raise the bar on their bottom line while helping to bring LGBTsupportive businesses together at the same table.

The Bar’s membership, as well as this year’s attendees, includes attorneys, judges, law students and others working in the law.

Their practice areas are equally diverse, including those working in large firms, solo practitioners; and those focused on finance, corporate law, family law, military law, transgender legal issues, employment law, tax law and more.

If you can’t make it to New York for the conference, videos of some of the events will be available online.

A complete list of Lavender Law programming is available online at LGBTBar. org/annual.

news national

Finding a Cure, Unconventionally Nearly $80,000 in Grants for AIDS Research to GWU Christiana Lilly

A local foundation awarded The George Washington University researchers nearly $80,000 to further their work to eradicate AIDS in those already infected.

The Campbell Foundation, located in Fort Lauderdale, accepted the university’s proposal for a very specific amount of aid: $79,375.

“By the time this grant is going to be over, they will have spent exactly to the penny,” laughed Ken Rapkin, program officer at the Campbell Foundation.

The researchers at GWU in Washington, D.C. are hoping to find a way to destroy “reservoirs” of infection in the body without damaging healthy surrounding cells. Even with a lifetime of treatment, these dormant HIV/AIDS cells remain. Should a patient decide to stop taking drugs, those cells could “wake up” and infect a patient who previously had an undetectable virus load.

“The medicine is doing its thing, but they can never go off that medicine,” Rapkin said.

“They have to keep taking the drugs even if there’s no detectable HIV in their blood, and so the side effects really lead to a lot of other conditions that are in some ways crippling.”

The medicine puts one’s body into hyperoverdrive, like when it’s fighting a fever, but it’s every day. This leads to side effects such as facial wasting, buffalo humps and weak bones.

The problem is that researchers need to be able to find those dormant reservoirs of cells by discovering what the biomarker is. Once

they can identify it, the next step is to figure out how to destroy them without damaging surrounding cells.

With money from the Campbell Foundation, the GWU researchers are hoping to get closer to finding these biomarkers.

For 19 years, the nonprofit has funded one-year grants for HIV/AIDS laboratory research and has given out more than $9.5 million since its inception. At the end of the year, the foundation also divvies up funding to local AIDS-related agencies, hospitals and nonprofits.

While there are much larger grant funders, what sets Campbell apart is that it will take on projects tackling the germ of ideas that usually will be turned down by bigger organizations.

With a year of research, they can put together a concise proposal for more funding.

“Our work is kind-of ground floor, but many of them go on to present to NIH and the Gates Foundation,” Rapkin said. “That’s what gets us into work every day; it’s the hope that somehow, some way they’re going to hit on it someday.”

The GWU researchers are required to submit quarterly progress reports to the Campbell Foundation, and a year after the grant is over, they will follow up on patents, continuing research, and more. This year, the Campbell Foundation also awarded grants to Johns Hopkins University and a VA medical center in Vermont. soflagaynews //

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news local

Discrimination within Assisted Living Facilities

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Bowling to Fight Hunger Charity Event

Christiana Lilly LGBT discrimination doesn’t stop as someone ages, and no one knows this better than Bruce Williams.

The senior services coordinator at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors, Williams began working on a project to compile LGBTfriendly assisted living facilities about five years ago. He would call and knock on doors to get more information on each location, and the results were “scary,” he said.

While some were open to participating in the project, others would hang up on his calls or give him “lame excuses” as to why he couldn’t come inside. Just a few weeks ago, while he was speaking with a regional marketer from a large, long-term care company of homes, her demeanor immediately changed when she saw his business card and where he worked.

“All of a sudden there was a wall of ice between us. I tried to pitch the [Pride Center senior expo] to see if they would want to represent their facilities there and her response was, ‘Well, I only have one facility that might possibly be interested in that.’”

According to the LGBT Aging Center, there are 1.5 million LGBT people older than 65 in the country. By 2030, the number is expected to double. Because LGBT seniors are more likely to be single, and without someone to care for them in old age, more are looking to find an assisted living facility to live in. However, many such facilities are not welcoming.

Williams says that he consistently receives calls once or twice a month with complaints from seniors looking for an assisted living facility. Sometimes the calls are from outside of South Florida or even the state. A gay man said he struggled to visit his partner and bring him food in hospice. A gay senior wanted to host an LGBT meet-up at his facility, and the idea was shot down.

“They would tolerate his orientation, but they were not going to tolerate any open advertising of any kind of activities,” Williams said.

This is a generation that experienced immense discrimination in their youth or perhaps did not even come out until recently. With that, the problem of LGBT senior housing becomes twofold: Not only are some facilities giving this population the cold shoulder, but the fearful senior community also tends to force themselves back into the closet. This might also explain why many LGBT-exclusive facilities have not been successful, aging LGBT people are just

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not ready.

“We need to make changes, but those changes should not be the responsibility of the people that need the care right now. The changes need to be brought about by those of us [younger LGBT adults] who are not yet ready for it. You can’t fight that battle from within; it’s just too much,” Williams said.

Perhaps one of the most successful facilities to the LGBT community has been Forest Trace in Lauderhill. Owner Stanley Rosenthal made bold moves by including same-sex couples in their marketing materials and ensuring that staff was trained to handle LGBT residents coming in.

“We wanted to show that we are gayfriendly and doing everything possible to reach out to and support the gay community,” Rosenthal told SFGN in a previous story.

Other facilities have teamed up with the Pride Center to help host its Coffee and Conversation programming, a weekly senior discussion group that draws about 150 LGBT seniors every week. Representatives will bring coffee and snacks and mingle with participants.

“They put their money where their mouth is,” Williams said. “There’s always a chance that may be done just to fill beds, but you can weed that out kind of in a hurry just by visiting and talking and getting a feel for the individual.”

However, even with open-minded management, should someone step down from their position, they could quickly be replaced by someone who is not in favor of LGBT residents. To avoid this, it’s important for facilities to make a companywide decision to be accepting of the LGBT community and aware of laws, to work to make accommodations within their facility and to publicize their stance so seniors know they are safe before they walk through the front doors, Williams said.

“The facilities take the lead in something like that. If they absolutely make it known and have policies to go ahead and back that up, that they are tolerant, that they are accepting, then the future resident has less to be concerned about that,” Williams said.

“They don’t have to go in wondering.”

Have you experienced discrimination in your assisted living facility? Or do you have a success story? Let us know! soflagaynews //

Poverellos’ 24th annual Bowling to Fight Hunger charity event, held on August 9th 2014, was a fantastic success. According to Poverello CEO, Thomas Smith, “This was the most successful Bowl-A-Thon in the organization’s 24 year history.” The presenting sponsors were Wells Fargo and AHF with SFGN as the media sponsor. This event wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of these generous companies.

The outpouring of support by the community, both in terms of time and donations, was truly impressive and a testament to the commitment to residents of Broward County living with HIV/AIDS. We are very excited to say that Bowling to Fight Hunger 2014 was a sellout. All 56 lanes at Sawgrass were committed to registered teams, with nearly 280 bowlers in attendance and many more who came out to cheer them on.

The event was MC’d by Miss Tiffany Fantasia, who kept the Bowl-A-Thon lively and drew raffle tickets throughout the event. Over 50 items were raffled off and more than 20 silent auction items were available for participants to bid on. All of these items were donated by local businesses who gave generously,

SouthFloridaGayNews

which provided additional revenue to the charity. To all of these companies, many of which are located in Wilton Manors, Poverello is very grateful.

The awards party, held at the Village Pub following the event, was a great celebration. Awards were given to the top fundraising team - Real Living | Infinity International raising more than $6,000. The top individual fundraiser was Tom Stravecky. The highest scoring female bowler was Lori Tanner and the highest scoring male blower was Frankie Swiderski. The top scoring team was Sideline’s Keith’s Rejects. A special recognition award was given to Sidelines Sports & Video Bar for outstanding community support and the most heart award was given to Rosie’s Bar & Grill who got the most individual pledges.

Poverello is both humbled and grateful to the entire community that provided sponsorships, helped raise funds, bowled and those who made donations to bowlers and provided auction and raffle items totaling more than $60,000. We expect this momentum to continue and know that the 2015 Bowling to Fight Hunger charity event will be even bigger and better!

Brian had his HIV under control with medication. But smoking with HIV caused him to have serious health problems, including a stroke, a blood clot in his lungs and surgery on an artery in his neck. Smoking makes living with HIV much worse.

You can quit.

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

#CDCTips

HIV alone didn’t cause the clogged artery in my neck.

Smoking with HIV did.

Brian, age 45, California

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 //

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feature

SFGN Wins Big at this year’s Sunshine State Awards Staff

THE

This past weekend the Society of Professional Journalists Florida Pro Chapter announced the winners of their annual awards contest, the Sunshine State Awards, Florida’s premier journalism awards contest.

SFGN walked away with five awards including first place wins in the Commentary & Criticism – Arts category for J.W. Arnold, SFGN’s A&E editor, and Beat Reporting – Minority Issues category for SFGN correspondent Christiana Lilly.

Arnold won for his reviews of “The Twilight of the Golds: Family Drama at Stage Door Raises Ethical Questions,” “Miami City Ballet Dazzles in Final Program,” and “Florida Grand Opera Takes Risk, Reaps Rewards.”

The judge was impressed by Arnold’s ability to review multiple forms of art.

“Expertise in one art is a must for a critic, but this entry excelled in its ability to credibly review three different forms of art.”

Lilly won for her collection of work that included an in-depth look at homelessness in the LGBT teen community, “LGBT Teen Homelessness in South Florida” Part 1 and 2, and an SFGN special report “Trans Behind Bars.” Additionally her portfolio included a profile, “Armed With a Syringe,” on a New York City doctor, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, that vaccinated thousands of gay men at nightclubs during last year’s meningitis scare; a light hearted feature on a local gay motorcycle club “Knight & Gay: How a South Florida Gay Motorcycle Club

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Made Its Own,” as well as a historical piece on the stonewall riots, “A Brief History of the Stonewall Riots.”

“These stories offer a powerful and personal look at important issues facing sexual minorities,” the judge said of Lilly’s work. “The writing is compelling, and the reporting places individuals’ stories in the larger context of issues such as homelessness.”

Lilly also took home third place for Best Profile in the magazine division for her Mirror story, “The Real Doogie Howser: At 16 Jack Andraka Invented a New Way to Detect Pancreatic Cancer.”

One of SFGN’s student reporters, Regina Kaza, took home first place in the student category for Best Profile for her piece “Mandi Hawke Raises Awareness for LGBT Youth with Her Life Story.”

“A close call between two well-written profiles,” the judge said. “Interviewing skills put this one on top.”

Lastly the Mirror Magazine took home an award for Best Single Issue for its Fall 2013 issue.

“Good mix of lifestyle, more serious issues and a bit of sex,” the judge commented.

“Congratulations to J.W., Christiana and Regina. These awards are well deserved.

I am so proud of my team here at SFGN,” said Jason Parsley, associate publisher.

“These wins only touch upon the amazing work do week in and week out here in the newspaper and online.”

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feature Breaking Up With rUssia 10

Latinos saLUd’s neW mission 15

BroWard hoUse’s amazing race 22

local name, global coverage

kaitlyn hunt in Jail amid new allegations

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august 21, 2013 // vol. 4 // issue 34

special report:

South Florida’s LGBT

Homeless Youth

SFGN takes a closer look at the challenges faced by LGBT homeless teens

a BUddy system for hiV? 9

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SoFlaGayNewS

//

cLassic fiLm fest at gateWay 40 SouthFloridaGayNewS

“A sunburned kid seeking cool air for a few minutes. A teen using the computer to apply for jobs.

While the LGBT Visitor Center in Miami Beach is primarily the center of the city’s tourism, its rainbow flags have also become a signal to gay teens living on the street that it’s a safe haven.

Karen Brown, the executive director of the center, said she has about a dozen homeless teens, both straight and LGBT, come into the center on a regular basis to apply for jobs at the computer center, charge their cell phones, cool off, or get snacks. When she first started, she naively gave them some cash to take the bus. She quickly learned the kids weren’t using it for that.

“I can’t be mad at them for trying to survive,” she said. “You still have to be compassionate.”

To read the full story, visit sfgn.com/SPJ.14.

What Made south fla. ChanGe its Mind aBout MeninGitis? 6

sanCtuaRy foR those in need 12

local name, global coverage

knight men on motorcycles & gay GayThe South Florida club you didn’t know about

Inside!

page 19

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Meet the PRide CenteR BoaRd 32

may 29, 2013 // Vol. 4 // Issue 22

Get Ready foR PRide Key West 36

“Why does your bike have glitter all over it?” Carlos asked, looking over at his friend’s red candy-painted Harley.

“I had it in drag the other night and can’t get it off,” Dennis replied, laughing.

With the blue skies above and the waves crashing on the sand, it’s another Sunday for the Stonewall Knights, a gay motorcycle group, as they ride down A1A. To read the full story, visit sfgn.com/SPJ.14. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 //

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feature

What it means to be Asexual

Nicole Wiesenthal Photo credit of Wikipedia

Asexuals represented themselves at World Pride 2012.

When Christine Preimesberger was asked to take photos of people she found attractive and then rate them, she realized she couldn’t.

“I was like, I don’t know how to do this. I don’t see anything at all. I just put them in some arbitrary order,” she said. “So that’s when I realized fully that how I think was different from everyone else.”

Exactly how different? Preimesberger identifies as asexual, meaning she doesn’t feel sexually attracted to people.

It was during that class assignment that Preimesberger, 19, realized how different she was from the other students.

Preimesberger struggles daily because her sexuality is so largely unheard of and underrepresented in the LGBT community.

Did you know that though all asexuals are uninterested in having sex, most are capable of feeling romantically attracted to others? People who identify as asexual can be romantically attracted to a spectrum of people, just like sexual people.

They can be panromantic (attracted to all people), heteromantic (attracted to genders not their own), homoromantic (attracted to their same gender) and biromantic (attracted to their gender and other genders).

Morgann Ramirez, a 22-year-old University of Southern California student, realized her romantic attraction after she began identifying as asexual.

“I found out that I didn’t want to sleep with

12

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women, and I didn’t have to sleep with men, so I’m romantically attracted to all genders, and I only realized this after I realized what asexuality was,” Ramirez said.

And then there are demisexual people — meaning that sexual attraction only comes after they form a strong emotional connection with a person.

“I’d say most of my attraction is aesthetic,” said demisexual 21-year-old Brent Stanfield.

“It’s a lot of appreciating how a person looks the same way you might think a piece of art looks. There’s also romantic attractions, looking at someone and being like I’d like to take them on a date and really like to get to know them better, but nothing sexual or physical.”

Asexual and demisexual people constantly face problems in a society that places so much emphasis on sexuality and sexual attraction. They combat stereotypes, assumptions and criticism.

“As a Latina, there’s a racial stereotype of being very sexual,” Ramirez said. “Because I’m not, I’ve gotten odd jokes and looks.

Stereotypes don’t define people. I definitely identify as asexual, and I’m totally Latina.”

Preimesberger, who identifies as aromantic (meaning she does not feel romantically or sexually attracted to others), also has to deal with the preconceived cultural attitudes towards relationships.

“In pop culture, romantic relationships soflagaynews //

are the most important thing, or you should be in a relationship,” Preimesberger said.

“It’s so prevalent, and it gets really annoying.

I make friends pretty easily, and I’m very close with my friends and family. I get my attachments from that and feel like I don’t need any romantic relationships” Romantic asexuals and demisexuals also face judgment because of the unconventional way they express themselves within relationships.

“I am open to open relationships because I know if I’m with a sexual person they might not be getting something from me that they need,” Ramirez said. “A polyamorous one for me would be nice. I would have two people to be comforted and loved from and they would be able to be sexual and happy by themselves.”

The most important problem demisexual and asexual people face, though, is that of others not believing them about their sexuality.

Preimesberger recalls a time when she came out to a friend about her asexuality, and he outright dismissed her.

“He said that wasn’t a thing,” Preimesberger said. “I was also kind of scared when I thought my mom didn’t believe me when I told her.”

Stanfield, as a demisexual, said others often dismiss his sexuality as well.

“It’s not really an identity that a lot

SouthFloridaGayNews

of people think makes sense as its own identity,” Stanfield said. “A lot of people I know will say that’s just being regularly sexual. They don’t think it makes sense as an identity or sexual category, especially in religious communities. For me, it’s been very important because the narrative for demisexuality is very different from what society has told me that sexuality has to be like.”

Asexuality and demisexuality do exist though and deserve to be recognized.

“It’s important to realize it’s all on a spectrum,” Ramirez said. “A sexual person can be aromantic; an asexual person can be romantic. It’s a lot of gradients that people can choose from.”

But should the LGBT community be more inclusive of asexuals and demisexuals?

“I think I would really like to see more inclusion particularly because I think asexuality does have a very helpful framework and very helpful concepts around sexuality and attraction that would really help discussion within the LGBT community,” Stanfield said.

Asexuals and demisexuals also hope to be more recognized within society in general.

“I don’t want to have to worry about people telling me that’s not a thing,” Preimesberger said. “You can have comfortable relationships with people of different varieties.”

To learn more, visit asexuality.org.

Glossary of Asexual Terms Terms from Anagnori, at anagnori.tumblr.com List compiled by Nicole Wiesenthal

1. Ace - short for asexual 2. Ace of Hearts - a symbol or nickname for asexuals who experience romantic attraction 3. Ace of Spades - a symbol or nickname for asexuals who are aromantic 4. Acephobia - prejudice or discrimination against asexual-spectrum people 5. Allosexual - a person who experiences sexual attraction to other people; a nonasexual person 6. Amatonormativity - the social force that treats romantic relationships as intrinsically superior, more valuable, or more necessary than friendships and non=romantic relationships. A problem for everyone, but especially aromantic people.

7. Anthony Bogaert - Currently the most prominent researcher of asexuality. Author of Understanding Asexuality.

8. Antisexual - ideologically opposed to sex, or having negative views of other people’s sexual lifestyles.

9. Aromantic - a person who does not experience romantic attraction 10. Asexual Flag - a flag of four horizontal stripes: black, gray, white and purple 11. Asexual Triangle - a downwardpointing triangle that is mostly white, but shades into gray and then black at the bottom tip. Represents the asexual spectrum. Originated as an expansion of the Kinsey Scale.

12. AVEN - Asexual Visibility and Education Network, asexuality.org. The most prominent website and forum dedicated to asexuality.

13. Biromantic - Potential to feel romantic attraction to two or more genders.

14. Compulsory Sexuality - The cultural force that expects all people to be either sexually available or in a sexual relationship, and which expects sex to be an important value or goal for people. Heterosexuality is especially valued. A major problem for asexual people.

15. Demiromantic - a person who can only feel romantic attraction to someone they have established a close emotional connection with.

16. Demisexual - a person who can only feel sexual attraction to someone they have established a close emotional connection with 17. Gray-asexual - a person who is somewhere between 100% asexual and allosexual; they might only experience sexual attraction on very rare occasions, or feel sexual attraction but not desire sexual relationships, or experience a feeling somewhere in between platonic and sexual.

Gray romantic is the same, but with regards to romantic attraction.

18. Heteroromantic - romantically attracted to people of a different gender than one’s own 19. Heteronormativity - the cultural force that expects all people to be cisgender, heteroromantic and heterosexual. Major problem that affects all queer identities, including asexuals. Closely linked to homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and acephobia.

20. Homoromantic - romantically attracted to people of the same gender as oneself 21. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) - controversial medical disorder; used as evidence that asexuality is pathologized by the medical community 22. Kinsey Scale - a model that categorized human sexuality as a spectrum between heterosexual and homosexual, with bisexuals in the middle. Asexual people were classified as “Group X” and not included on the scale.

23. Libido - sex drive, which may or may not be targeted at a person. Asexual people may have libidos despite not feeling sexual attraction.

24. Lithromantic - a person who feels romantic attraction but does not need their feelings to be reciprocated, or who does not like receiving romantic gestures.

soflagaynews //

25. Lithsexual - a person who feels sexual attraction but does not need their feelings to be reciprocated, or who does not like receiving sexual intimacy.

26. Nonamory - a lifestyle choice or relationship style that does not include intimate, long-term partnerships, whether romantic or platonic 27. Nonlibidoist - an asexual person who does not feel any desire to masturbate, or who has no sex drive 28. Panromantic - the potential to experience romantic attraction to someone of any gender 29. Pansexual - the potential to experience sexual attraction to someone of any gender.

Opposite of asexuality, but some asexual people go through a period of wondering if they are pansexual.

30. Polyamory - intimate relationships that are not exclusive. Non-exclusivity may be romantic, sexual, neither, or both. May be a lifestyle choice or an intrinsic part of someone’s sexuality, depending on the person.

31. Pomosexual - 1) a person decision not to identify with conventional orientation labels, or the belief that such labels do not apply; and 2) the belief or philosophy that conventional orientation labels are not useful for people in general, and can, or should be, disregarded 32. Romantic Orientation - the group of people or genders to which a person can become romantically attracted, if at all.

This concept does not work for all asexual people 33. Sensual Attraction - attraction that involves a desire to touch or be physically close to someone, but not necessarily in a sexual way 34. Sexual Attraction - a feeling of attraction to someone’s physical appearance with a sexual component, or desire to touch someone sexually. Difficult for some asexual people to define and recognize.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 // 13

column publisher’s editorial

Ferguson is not so Far Away Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

This week is the 45th anniversary of Woodstock, and America is celebrating it with swat teams surrounding peaceful protestors in Ferguson, Missouri. We have come a long way, right?

Before Woodstock, before Kent State, there were the police riots in Chicago, during the Democratic National Convention in August of 1968. Thousands of college kids gathered in Chicago to protest the administration that delivered to us a terribly unjust war in Southeast Asia.

This week, I am going to Chicago again.

Yes, I know it’s the home of Market Days and Wrigley Field, and it has a reputation for keeping its streets clean. For me, though, Chicago will always be stained by the ugly memory of Mayor Daley, police brutality. It is Chicago where 46 years ago, during the summer of 1968, police in riot gear attacked, beat, brutalized and stole freedom away from thousands of young Americans. It has left an indelible mark upon my soul.

In 1968, under the rule of a corrupt terrorist posing as the mayor of the town, the Democratic Party held its nominating convention. It showed me how pathetic political parties can be, how wrong politicians in power are, and how police power can be abusive, antagonistic, and unconscionable. That was even two years before Kent State, when our National Guard was called on to a college campus in Ohio

Photo credit of CNN

to slaughter four unarmed, protesting students.

For young students in the 1960s, the images of civil rights workers from the North getting murdered in the South had already been seared into our memories.

Protestors marching in the streets were met with police dogs and water hoses, gun toting sheriffs, cops in SWAT gear, and no mercy. Democracy has always had its risks.

In 1968, we had hoped to nominate an anti-war candidate, but that dream shattered on June 5, in a Los Angeles hotel when Robert F. Kennedy was murdered.

Earlier, in April, Martin Luther King was slain, resulting in riots in more than two dozen cities. Militarized police swarmed in to take control and save communities from burning themselves down. If you want to know what it looked like, you don’t have to watch the Emmy-nominated series CNN is running this week, called ‘The Sixties.’

You can just watch its live footage from Ferguson, Missouri instead.

Ferguson, we are learning is a small city where buffoons govern, fools rule, and lame cops carry guns, running roughshod over civil rights and liberties of decent citizens whose only crime is the color of their skin. A city that is 67 percent African American has a police force of 53, only 3 of whom are of color. Unemployment is nearly at 50 percent for young black males.

Thanks to a federal program though, there

is no shortage of police tanks, armor, and weaponry.

Gay journalists and publishers gathering at a convention in the Windy City this week will undoubtedly talk about our emerging freedoms and the rights we are gathering.

But Chicago is only a police bullet away from Ferguson, Missouri. It is a city also infected with crime and unemployment, violence and despair. It is a place where Ferguson can happen. It is a place where it once did.

What’s happening in Ferguson is sick, made sicker because military weapons we built for foreign wars are being used on our shores, against our citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Instead of just lynching blacks, I guess we are just hanging the U.S. constitution out to dry.

Here, in South Florida, we had a dozen murders in ten days in a village called Miami Gardens. What are they, gardens to bury young kids and victims of random drive by shootings? South Beach and the American Airlines Arena are beautiful, but we live in a community mourning more the loss of LeBron James than young lives.

The dreams I had in Woodstock, 45 years ago this week, were not that our country would be fighting more foreign wars in 2014. I did not think we would be marching for civil rights more fearful of the police than our adversaries. This is not the world we intended.

We live in a world of communal interconnectivity, with a great big disconnect corrupting the coil. We witness chemical warfare in Syria and hear about religious genocide in Iraq. Nigeria holds a world banking convention in its capital city and yet in its countryside, tribal leaders train kids to murder and abduct young girls. The world condemns, censures, and forgets. Meanwhile, someone can pay a quarter of a million dollars for a private spaceship to the stars, while a commercial plane can disappear into the sea, never to be found. What’s going on here?

The world can be so ruthless and repressive. But somewhere, a star shines, a tree grows, a child is born. Some kid is playing Frisbee in a park, somewhere else a grandmother is winning a bingo game in a local church. Some new talent is making a debut in a Broadway show or on a major league diamond. Find the good in this world of bad. Celebrate life; it is so fertile, yet fragile.

In the limited time you are here, plant your feet upon firm soil, and march to your own drummer. Question authority. Partner with freedom and democracy. Believe not people in uniforms, and enjoy a piece of bubble gum now and then. You’ll need it.

If you feel a need to carry your own AK47, watch James Bond movies on Netflix instead.

Check out SFGN.com/Out50 - Nominate your choices for 2015’s OUT 50 at SFGN.com/out50Nominations 14

// 8.20.2014 // SFGN.com //

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 // 15

column jesse’s journal

GNI’s NakedFest: A First-Time Experience Jesse Monteagudo

As most people know, Gay Naturists International (GNI) had to cancel its annual Gathering this year because of a scheduling conflict. Instead, GNI hosted its first-ever NakedFest at Ramblewood in northern Maryland, a venue more convenient than the Poconos for those of us who travel the Auto-Train from Florida. Holding NakedFest in early August also worked to my advantage, since my day job kept me from attending the late-August Gathering, year after year.

Though I have been a proud member of GNI since 2000, NakedFest 2014 is the first time that I attended a GNI event.

I was not the only first-timer. Up to onethird of the 300-plus men who attended Naked Fest were there for the first time.

Some of them, like me, signed up for all seven days; some came for the first or the second half of the Fest, a few for two days, and at least one man signed up for one day. (He had such a good time that he later signed up for a second day.) Ramblewood, a campground for alternative lifestyles, is an ideal place for NakedFest. (It already hosts International

Men Enjoying Naturism’s “other” Gathering.)

It is conveniently located between Baltimore and Philadelphia. It offers isolation and privacy while still being close enough to a town (Darlington) in case of an emergency.

The weather was ideal (if a bit rainy), though both the nights and the swimming pool were a tad bit cold for a South Floridian. The Camp staff was very accepting and tolerant – Having seen it all, they did not find a group of naked men running around to be too startling. The meals were regular camp food, though one evening the Camp boss brought a chef in from a nearby Indian restaurant who cooked some Indian delicacies for our dining pleasure. Now, that is what I call class.

NakedFest offered its participants plenty to do; certainly enough to keep a naked boy happy for seven whole days. At the same time, I never felt any pressure to do anything. One highlight of NakedFest was Kendall’s one-man show, “Clothes get in the way.” Another highlight was the daily GNI Social Hour, a time of gaiety (in both senses of the words) when GNI members “dressed”

in outrageous outfits that conformed to the day’s particular theme. But not even the Social Hour could compete with the nightly disco officially called the Dance Club (although its really a disco), with professional DJs who played everything from old school oldies to the most avant-garde hits. (They also played at the social hour.) Though my dancing ability is atrocious (I did not inherit the Cuban dance gene), I managed to close the disco almost every night, while enjoying every minute of it. The residents of Cabins 1 and 2, located next to the disco, kept our spirits up (so to speak) by hosting nightly parties where they generously shared their ample supply of liquor with those of us who were less favored. They even turned up the suds machine, turning Ramblewood into a foam party. For those who do not like disco, NakedFest had nightly movies and ritual drumming by the lake.

However, all things considered, what I most enjoyed about NakedFest 2014 was the men; especially all the new friends that I made that week. The 300 plus men who

Eli Halali

Reinaldo Cunha

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754.281.5368

BROKER

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attended NakedFest ranged from 25 to 89 and came from all over the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and other countries. One truly adventurous couple came all the way from New Zealand, leather gear and all. Almost 40% of the attendees were under 50; a welcome statistic for those of us who worry about attracting younger men to nudist events. NakedFest featured racial diversity as well, with AfricanAmerican, Asian and Latino men present, mixed in with the mostly Caucasian crowd.

There was even a Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat Service by the lake for Jews and those who love us.

Finally, Mr. Bob Morton, Executive Director of the Naturist Action Committee, was in attendance, to remind us that the right to be naked can be a serious business.

All in all, I had a great time at NakedFest, and so did most of the people there. The Board of GNI is seriously considering continuing NakedFest as an annual event along with the venerable Gathering. If they do so, I plan to be there.

// 8.20.2014 // SFGN.com //

BROKER

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

column Tampa Tribune Pulls “Repugnant” Anti-Gay Column

column letter to editor

The Gay Games, Jocks, Geeks, and the Rest of Us

Joe Strupp

Nathan Klarfeld

Media Matters for America

The Tampa Tribune has pulled a controversial column that alleged Disney is indoctrinating children with its “progay agenda.” The column, which was highlighted by Media Matters, had also drawn criticism from gay rights activists and Florida journalists.

On Aug. 11, Douglas MacKinnon, who is listed on the since-pulled column as “Tribune staff,” argued that Disney has been engaged in an underhanded effort to wrongly “indoctrinate” children. He also contended the company is trying to subtly push an agenda through its children’s programming.

The piece, titled, “Disney’s progay agenda is disturbing,” quoted an anonymous “former Disney executive” saying, “the company has taken direct aim at children to indoctrinate them about gay lifestyles and gay marriage through shows it airs on The Disney Channel and Disney XD.” MacKinnon later added:

The former executive said one of the more subtle techniques is to incorporate the colors of the gay-pride flag in as many shots as possible. The colors are woven in as a wink and nod to the gay community and show up on shirts, hats, posters, stacked cups and rings. The practice has been picked up by other children’s networks and national advertisers. Disney also pushes the gay agenda by introducing openly gay characters and couples on its children’s programing. Again, that is their right, but should they be in the business of entertaining children or indoctrinating them?

Media Matters had reached out to the newspaper on Wednesday and again today seeking comment on the column and critical reaction, but so far the opinion editor, Joe Guidry, has not responded to several requests. The column was removed midday today.

The newspaper posted several letters to the editor critical of the column, which termed it “boring” and “hate-filled.” The Tribune’s “letter of the day” on August 14 also focused on the column, stating it was “disturbing.”

Prior to the column’s removal from the Tribune website, several gay rights activists and journalists expressed concern to

Media Matters about its stereotypical and offensive arguments. Among them, Nadine Smith, founder and CEO of Equality Florida and a former Tribune reporter.

“The first time I read it I thought it was satire,” said Smith, who worked at the Tribune from 1989 to 1993. “It’s absurd.

He’s so fixated on this bizarre, paranoid fantasy that he’s actually missed the larger story. Businesses are speaking up and being very visible and speaking out quite publicly for equal rights.”

She also called it an embarrassment for the newspaper.

“People reading it have contacted me to say, ‘is this satire?’” she said. “It’s not simply that he has a point of view that is different from my point of view, this isn’t the assertion of a point of view, it is sort of a hysterical untethered rant. This is intended to appeal to an insidious idea of who gay people are, which is unworthy of serious people.”

Jason Parsley, president of the Florida Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and associate publisher of South Florida Gay News, agreed.

“It’s just typical right-wing propaganda; the word indoctrination is not one we see much anymore,” he said. “I guess he is against tolerance and acceptance, I don’t understand the idea. It is a ridiculous, repugnant disgusting view. It really reminds me of 90’s rightwing antigay propaganda.

Because of social media today and because of 24-hour news, I think the backlash ends up bringing so much awareness that it just completely discounts and diminishes the negative effect.”

Chris Alexander-Manley, president of GayDays.com, which holds pro-gay events for guests of Walt Disney World and other resorts, said MacKinnon’s views miss the positive aspects of such diversity.

“I would think they’re pretty narrowminded. There’s no lifestyle we’re trying to push. It is just being who we are,” he said.

“I want my children to realize there are other people like them, that is what I think makes our country strong. The diversity of accepting those differences.”

Photo: http://www.gg9cle.com/

The Gay Games 9 in Cleveland August 9-16 was a rousing success. The venues, the people, the city all opened their arms for a welcoming week of athletics, community, and fun. I can’t say enough positive things about the organizing committee, the hundreds of volunteers and the citizens of Cleveland who really were happy to see us there.

First, a confession. I was not born athletic nor have I ever had any natural talent. In Jr. High School I forged sick notes to get out of running laps, swimming, basketball, you name it; I avoided it. To this day, I do not understand football, tennis, or basketball and rarely follow any professional team sport.

I am a retired 63-year-old Jewish dentist from Kansas City, who up until a few years ago led a fairly sedentary life. Five years ago, for reasons still not clear to me, I took up martial arts: Kempo Karate and Mixed Martial Arts. I am presently at red belt level, a few months away from my black belt. My self-confidence, balance and general well being have taken a gigantic leap forward. I urge anyone who has an interest to consider taking up this sport at any age or any physical condition.

A year ago I decided I was going to compete in the Gay Games hoping to just make it through the competition. I have returned to Fort Lauderdale with two gold medals in Forms, open hand and weapons.

Forms in Karate, or Katas are a series of detailed moves simulating attacks from different directions. There are hundreds of variations of Katas each with specific schooling. The competition is divided into Reprinted with permission from Media age and experience brackets with both men Matters for America. soflagaynews //

and women’s divisions, with two to five athletes in each division.

After packing my gear, gi (uniform), weapons, and courage I started thinking about how I would feel if I made a fool of myself, tripped, forgot my routines, or just plain froze in front of a group of strangers.

My partner, Dr. Raphael Klarfeld, a retired psychiatrist assured me that the reward was in the journey, not the final destination, and that I was far ahead of the pack just putting myself out there. It didn’t help. I seriously considered writing another note pretending to be sick and just staying home with my normal routine.

All my fears vanished when we arrived at our hotel in Cleveland. A huge welcome sign with the 50 states and 45 countries represented greeted us as well as the organizing group from Paris promoting the next Gay Games in 2018 in France. I suddenly felt part of something, a member of a team, a recognizable group. I was a competitor in the largest inclusive LGBT sporting event in history. More than 9,000 athletes and 20,000 spectators would be participating in something that would truly change the world. Yes, sports do matter. They are a physical challenge of course, but they also have the ability to bring together men and women who otherwise would never meet and create a community of respect and admiration. Yes, I have two gold medals earned at the Gay Games, and yes, they will have to include that in my obituary. But what I learned about myself was the most valuable. You can always do more than you think you can.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 // 17

column letter to editor

Why the LGBT Community Must Embrace Israel Cantor Mark Goldman

Following a recent beings. You do not even vote by the Presbyterian live like animals. You Church to divest in accept homosexuality. three U.S. companies And now you criticize supplying Israel with us?” equipment used in By contrast, Israel the Israeli-controlled has a proud history of West Bank, Benjamin support for the LGBT Netanyahu the Israeli community. In 1994, Prime Minister shot the same year the back with an invitation U.S. instituted Don’t to those Presbyterian Ask Don’t Tell, the organizations.

He Israel Defense Forces encouraged them to specifically banned all take a bus tour of Israel, discrimination against the only democracy in sexual minorities. Gay the region, and then to couples are allowed to continue on to Libya, jointly adopt. Same-sex Syria, and Iraq. In his marriages performed remarks, he included in other countries are two pieces of advice for recognized in Israel. the latter portion of the Gays and lesbians serve visit: an armor-plated bus openly in the military. A and hiding the Christian 2012 survey carried out antor Mark identity of those onboard.

by American Airlines For those members and GayCities.com Goldman of the LGBT community named Tel Aviv as the who sympathize with world’s best gay city.

Hamas, I’d make a similar I’m dumfounded by bus tour offer, and for the sake of Allah, leave my LGBT brothers and sisters who lend behind “Priscilla,” drag and booze for this their voices to the treacherous and horrific road trip. terrorist regime that is Hamas.

In an April 2011 Hamas’s Al-Aksa TV interview, Syrian academic Muhammad Cantor Mark Goldman is the Co-Spiritual Rateb al- Nabulsi described homosexuality Leader of Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El in as a filthy practice deserving of the death Plantation, FL www.tkae.org and is the penalty. first openly gay president of the American Hamas cofounder Mahmoud Zahar has Conference of Cantors www.accantors.org. said, “You in the West do not live like human

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column seeing in the dark

Motherly Wisdom

Lessons in Love and Acceptance Belo Cipriani

Before I was blind and a writer, I was a boy with many questions. Every other sentence began with a why, who or what, which drove my family mad.

Like many siblings, my two older teenage sisters would ignore my questions, instead swaying their puffy hairdos to Duran Duran.

My younger sister would shrug and look away even before I finished my sentence.

Dad, who was usually sitting on the brown sofa, would nod or shake his head faintly, making the TV screen that was reflected in his glasses dance. The only person who put up with my inquisitive nature was my mother.

One school morning, a few days before my ninth birthday, I woke up to my eldest sister making breakfast. Alarmed, I asked her where mom was.

“She’s resting,” she shared, pulling milk out of the fridge. “The baby in her belly kept her up last night.”

I had watched my mom’s stomach grow and grow, and the idea of another brother or sister worried me. If it’s a girl, will she become the family favorite? And if it’s a boy, will he replace me? Quickly, I ate my cereal, rinsed my bowl in the sink and darted to my parents’ bedroom.

With a few pillows supporting her back, I found my mom watching the Spanish channel from the bed. She had a calm expression on her face.

“Where’s your book bag?” she piped up, smiling. “You can’t be late. It’s your last week of school.”

I nodded, making my way around the bed and sitting close to her. She scanned my

face and ran her warm hand through my hair. As though she read my mind, she continued, “This baby will not replace you. And for your birthday, we’ll get you your favorite chocolate cake.”

My older sister popped her head into the room, demanding I hurry to the car. There was a slight hint of annoyance in her tone.

“He’s gonna stay home with me,” Mom interjected, her voice authoritative. “He’s going to help me today.”

Over my shoulder, I watched my sister nod, casting her eyes downward as she quietly disappeared into the dim hallway.

My mom squeezed my hand and asked me to reach for a box in the closet. Wondering why my mom had broken her “no missing school unless you are really sick rule,” I grabbed the velvety maroon case from a shelf.

She slowly opened the box and we both stared at the bronze tree inside –our family’s Menorah.

“People are like trees,” she began, running her pale fingers over the metal bark. “And each person they love becomes one of their branches. You are one of my branches, and without you, I would be a smaller tree. I love all of you differently, and I won’t love you more or less when the baby arrives.”

Although her words comforted me, this was a lesson she would continue to bring up throughout my life. Especially when I started to date guys.

In my late teens, I began to have boyfriends, and I always claimed to love the current guy more than the previous.

“Don’t compare your relationships,” she warned. “It’s not fair to them. Besides, they were all put in your path for a reason.”

On occasion, my mom’s beliefs would frustrate me when I was sighted; but as a blind man, they brought me comfort. Each unique way of taking in the world helped me deal with the assault and the group of friends that beat me. Most importantly, she encouraged me to focus less on the betrayal and more on my rehabilitation. I

continued with the questions, and she with the answers.

“Will I be able to find work as a blind man?” I asked, practicing my Braille alphabet on the dining room table.

“Yes,” she replied, squeezing my shoulder.

“In losing your sight you have learned to adapt, a skill any business would want.”

“Will I ever find love?” I inquired, holding onto her elbow as I tapped my cane over the wet pavement.

“You’ll find many loves and grow many branches, just give it time,” she sighed.

My mother was right. A few months after losing my sight, I began to date again. When I had vision, I was a sucker for men with dark features. Middle Eastern, Asian, African, I liked them all. As a blind man, I developed a thing for men with squared jawlines and rugged hands. I built a new system for getting to know men and eventually began to have boyfriends.

Blindness also brought about a new kind of love, a bond I never imagined existed, the affection of a guide dog. Madge was 43 pounds of Lab energy. And even though we had a rough start, as I struggled to manage my first dog, she didn’t wait to show me how much she cared. Within the first six months of our partnership, she saved me from being hit by a car twice. Both times I felt her body push me back as the car ran the light and honked. Fearless, she positioned herself between the moving vehicle and me.

Madge became more than my eyes; she was my biggest confidant. She came everywhere with me and was the favorite guest at every party. One chilly morning, I was brushing her teeth when my mom came into my room and asked, “Why are you two getting ready? I thought you didn’t work on Fridays.”

“I have a date with Owen. He took the day off to hang out,” I replied.

“Aha, he loves you,” she cheered. “Or at least he’s starting to. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have broken the rules.”

“Break the rules?” I chuckled. “What do you mean? He took time off. Everyone gets to take vacation time.”

“He broke his routine for you, Belo,” she blurted. “That’s what people do when they care.”

Not fully appreciating her words, I reached for Madge’s harness and slipped it on. I gave

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my mom a hug and let Madge guide me out of my apartment.

Seven years later, my second guide dog, Oslo, and I waited for the BART train late one evening. Reflecting on my mom’s recent passing and Madge’s retirement, I once again felt my brain ignite with questions. I reached for Oslo’s head and began to caress it.

“Oslo,” I whispered, “Do you think I’ll get engaged again?”

He perked up and began to lick my face. I think that’s a yes, I thought, laughing.

I felt my phone vibrate, and I asked Oslo to settle down. As Siri read the text, I sensed confusion arise. The message was from a guy named Ray, someone who I had met at a bar a few weeks prior. Our hectic schedules had kept us from having a real date. In the message, he proposed we both take a halfday on Friday to hang out.

He’s nuts, I thought, shaking my head at the idea. After all, I barely knew the guy.

Suddenly, I heard a few guys murmur, “Check out his phone. It’s one of the new ones.”

I heard footsteps draw closer and felt Oslo’s head lift from my leg and turn to face the strangers. As the men got closer, I heard Oslo growl, then bark.

“That dog looks crazy,” the man said.

“Let’s just go.”

Guide dogs are not trained to bark or guard. Yet, Oslo had broken his training for a reason. I quickly shoved my phone in my pocket and felt his tongue on my hand.

Unsure if I should call the police, I praised him.

We made it back into our apartment, and I kneeled down to hold Oslo tight. For the first time in a while, I didn’t have questions, but answers. I finally understood what my mom had tried to tell me my whole life. I loved Oslo and Madge equally, and they each showed me their affection in different ways. So, maybe I wouldn’t marry Ray. Still, I would never find out by hiding behind my writer schedule. I pulled out my phone and agreed to meet him that Friday.

Belo Cipriani is the Writer-in-Residence at Holy Names University, a spokesperson for Guide Dogs for the Blind, the “Get to Work” columnist for SFGate.com, and the author of Blind: A Memoir. Learn more at BeloCipriani. com.

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column

The Marriage Ruling “Streak” And What it Means Made Simple Lyle Denniston SCOTUSblog

In sports, a “streak” can say a lot about talent, endurance — and plain luck. Cal Ripken, Jr., of the Baltimore Orioles set a major league baseball record by playing in 2,632 consecutive games. The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team owns the longest string of victories in the college basketball ranks — ninety games in a row.

In law, attorney Thurgood Marshall had a string of victories (sometimes interrupted by defeats) in his campaign to achieve racial desegregation in public education, and attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg did much the same in advancing the women’s rights revolution. But perhaps nothing in constitutional history matches the swiftly developing “streak” of court rulings in favor of same-sex marriage. Still, the actual meaning of that “streak” is open to debate — even about whether it is a streak. Let’s try to sort it out.

First, what are we talking about here?

Courts have been issuing decisions about the government’s power to ban same-sex marriage since 1993, in a Hawaii case, but that didn’t actually work out to permit such marriages. In fact, that ruling, favorable to the idea, produced just the opposite effect: a swift and long-running backlash, a wave of federal and state laws and state constitutional amendments reinforcing long-standing opposition to gays and lesbians seeking to wed.

If one views the streak starting with a ruling by the highest state court in Massachusetts in 2003, a decision that did actually open marriage to same-sex couples (the first such ruling with a definite effect), there has been a steady trend strongly in that direction, but it has not been continuous.

What most people have been talking about lately has been a line of court decisions that have come down over the past thirteen or more months. The starting point in that cycle was the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor, in late June of last year.

In that ruling, the Court struck down a key part of a 1996 federal law, the Defense of Marriage Act — one of the laws that had been prompted by the Hawaii court decision three years before. The Court nullified a provision in the law that allowed federal marital benefits to go only to opposite-sex couples. Those benefits, the Court majority said, must be available to same-sex couples who were legally married under their own

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state laws, for example, in Massachusetts, or other states that had since chosen to allow such unions.

The Windsor decision, however, actually decided nothing about whether states could do what the federal law had done; that is, limit marriage to opposite-sex couples.

Even so, the opinion did say many favorable things about the need to show respect for the families of same-sex married couples.

In the wake of that decision, a “streak” supposedly has developed, with court after court, at federal and state levels, declaring that the Windsor decision undermined state bans on same-sex marriage and struck those bans down.

In most public discussion, it has been said — on this blog, too — that there had been an unbroken string of court victories for samesex marriage. But this week, a state judge in Tennessee appeared to have broken that string by upholding his state’s ban in a samesex couple’s divorce case.

The reality, which has just become clear, is that the “streak” never really got started as a string of winning decisions for samesex marriage. The first court ruling to apply the Windsor decision came in a New Jersey trial court in September 2013, nullifying a state ban, but that was mainly an expansion of an earlier, pre-Windsor ruling by the state’s Supreme Court. The first court ruling to start from scratch on the issue went the other way; a state judge in Mississippi, in a same-sex divorce case, on Dec. 6 dismissed a constitutional challenge to the state’s ban. It was only a two-page order, so no one could be sure what reasons the judge had.

The string of victories that came after the Windsor decision started on Dec. 19, with a ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court. It is important to note though that the decision relied on the New Mexico constitution to nullify the state’s ban.

Then, one by one, federal and state courts began applying the Windsor decision directly to strike down state bans under the federal Constitution. (Even that string was interrupted in May, when a state judge in Tampa dismissed a same-sex marriage divorce case, seeking to challenge that state’s ban. Later, four state judges in other courts soflagaynews //

in Florida would rule in favor of same-sex marriage.)

But, even if the “streak” has not been an unbroken one, the pace and frequency of the decisions that did go against the state bans is, surely, unprecedented. Although groups that have been closely monitoring the string of rulings disagree on the actual number of victories for same-sex marriage, they agree it is about thirty, or more.

What the occasional breaks in the “streak” illustrate, though, is that the outcome is not necessarily predictable, as other courts take on the question, and an ultimate Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage is hardly inevitable.

But then does the “streak,” such as it is, have any real meaning? It certainly does.

As the number of rulings won by same-sex couples has risen, judges later joining in the trend have relied upon the strength of that trend. Each judge is obliged to decide the issue individually, but most of them recognize a consensus when they see one as vivid as this one has been.

Moreover, the strength of the trend has also led attorney generals in several states to decide that a defense of their state’s ban is no longer a promising strategy, and they have given up that defense. Others in favor of the bans have tried to step up to make a defense, but that has had its limits.

The “streak” also has created a lowercourt record that, even if it does not produce the same result each time, will surely impress the Supreme Court when it finally allows itself to be drawn into the fray. Some historians have said that they know of no instance when the Court has bucked a trend such as this one has become.

But the very nature of that trend can also be an argument against the Supreme Court choosing to get involved itself. If the only breaks in the “streak” have been a handful of rulings by divorce-court judges, none of whom so far has gone deeply into the issue before the ruling, the Court could conclude that the issue is working itself out sufficiently in lower courts.

The Court is often led to take on a controversy if the lower courts have split, at least when such splits are vivid and

SouthFloridaGayNews

meaningful. The supporters of bans on same-sex marriage have been arguing that there is already a split of significance on this issue, despite the “streak.” They are relying on the fact that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 2006 explicitly upheld Nebraska’s ban on such marriages, and they also cite a string of state supreme court decisions against same-sex marriage pleas.

Every one of those decisions, though, came out before the Supreme Court decision in the Windsor case. If that ruling changed the constitutional landscape, as so many judges have since concluded, the Supreme Court could conclude that a current split would provide a more compelling reason to take on the question.

A number of observers who listened to hearings held last week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit came away with the clear impression that a majority of the people in the three-judge panel might well uphold one or more of the state bans in effect in the four states involved in the hearing.

That kind of a break in the current “streak” would certainly demonstrate that there is a real division of opinion on the question, one that it would take a Supreme Court decision to resolve.

Of course, the existence of a genuine split on a major constitutional question such as this one does not necessarily dictate that the Court will be drawn in. The Justices do not agree to settle every lower-court conflict, by any means. They have almost complete discretion in what decision to put on their docket.

One thing about the “streak” does appear to be quite clear at the moment. Its pace has been such that the Supreme Court is likely to act on one or more cases soon after it returns to Washington in September, ending its summer recess. Any grant of review early in the Term would almost certainly mean a final decision by next summer.

If that were to happen, it would be a remarkable historic journey, from Windsor to a definitive ruling on same-sex marriage in just two years’ time.

Reprinted with permission from SCOTUSblog.com.

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column mombian

LGB Families: What We Know and What We Don’t

Dana Rudolph

A recent report from UCLA’s Williams Institute on the state of research about LGB families not only reiterates that our children are doing as well as anyone else’s, but also offers some lesser-known insights about the composition and strengths of our families— and gives thoughtful suggestions for the direction of future research.

The authors are among the leading names in LGB parenting studies and demographics.

Gary Gates is a Williams Distinguished Scholar and a widely cited expert on LGBT demographics. He’s joined by Williams Visiting Scholars Abbie Goldberg, associate professor of psychology at Clark University, and Nanette Gartrell, founder of the longrunning U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS). Together, they look at LGB family building, the transition to parenthood and the experiences of LGB parents and children. (Transgender families, they say, raises different issues, and they refer readers elsewhere for more on that topic.)

The report recaps scientific, peerreviewed research showing that despite encountering heterosexism in the healthcare, legal and educational systems, children born into LGB-parent families do as well as those born to different-sex parents in psychological adjustment, academic achievement and social functioning and are not significantly more likely to self-identify as exclusively lesbian or gay. Some studies have shown, however, that they may play and develop interests and abilities in less gender-stereotyped ways (but that seems to me a good thing).

All that should come as no surprise to most readers—but the report also surfaces some lesser-known findings.

Did you know, for instance, that despite the popular image of same-sex couples starting families together, “the majority of LGB parents likely have their children within different-sex relationships?” While some may have had kids before coming out as lesbian or gay, studies suggest that in fact, nearly two-thirds of LGB parents may be bisexual. Little research has been done, however, specifically on topics related to bisexual parents or around what happens when a parent (bisexual or not) ends a different-sex relationship and begins a same-sex one. Where do they turn for support? How do LGB stepparents navigate

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their new family roles?

Although same-sex couples who planned to have children together may be in the minority, most research to date has centered on these so-called “intentional” families.

Much of this research, however, has had the “relatively narrow focus” of whether lesbian and gay parents “measured up” to the “heterosexual gold standard” of parental suitability. While these findings have been vital in in custody and marriage equality cases, this focus has also had a degrading effect on the field.

In contrast, recent work has started to look at the demographics, dynamics, strengths and vulnerabilities within LGB families, independent of the need to “prove” our worth, but more remains to be discovered.

For example, since same-sex couples with children are about 4.5 times as likely as a different-sex married couple to have an adopted child, where do adoptive LGB parents or prospective parents find support? How do they decide whether to pursue public-domestic, private-domestic, or international adoption? How do they deal with discrimination in the process? How do they maintain the cultural heritage of their children if it differs from their own?

Class issues are also still largely unexplored, but critical in light of demographics showing that many same-sex parents live in less urban and less wealthy areas. How does class impact the method chosen to create a family? How do gay men pursuing surrogacy (likely affluent) negotiate the class, gender and possible race dynamics with a surrogate (who often has limited financial resources)?

Furthermore, how do overlapping factors of class, race, gender and sexual orientation shape the experiences of those LGB families that don’t fit the prevalent image of White, middle-class, same-sex parents?

Another mostly uncharted area is how the transition to parenthood affects a couple’s relationship to each other and to extended family.

Research has shown that samesex parents often share paid and soflagaynews //

unpaid labor more equally than differentsex ones. For example, researchers have also “tended to downplay any inequities.” This could spread the myth that all same-sex couples share labor equally—and alienate those who don’t.

When it comes to parent-child relationships in LGB families, several studies have shown that they are similar to those in other families in terms of parental warmth, emotional involvement and quality of relationships. This may be threatened, though, if the parents separate, particularly if one parent does not have a legal relationship with the child—but there has been little research on the details of children’s post-separation relationships with non-legal parents.

Additionally, while many worry about the need for same-sex couples to provide role models of the opposite gender, “it may be inappropriate and short-sighted” to emphasize this, since children are usually “exposed to a wide range of adults—male and female—in their daily lives.” Future

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work should instead look in “more nuanced ways” at male and female involvement in these families.

Other areas for further investigation, the authors say, include children’s relationships with their known donors, how lesbian and bisexual moms respond to infertility, military families, sibling relationships, intimate partner violence, families with a parent who has a chronic illness, and how children of LGB parents feel about marriage equality in today’s climate and GBT parents (lesbian moms have dominated research to date).

Such studies—detached from the nowsettled question of whether LGBT people can make suitable parents—can help policy makers, healthcare providers, social workers, educators and us parents better understand our families and how to best support them.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.

Volume 1 • Issue 2

August 20, 2014

Sex at Colohatchee Police chief: “All options on the table” to tackle issue

By Steve Bower

As individuals continue to use Colohatchee Park as a place for sexual rendezvouses, Police Chief Paul O’Connell said his department is looking at ways to make the park safer and eliminate it as a place to hook-up.

“It’s been a constant thorn in our side . . . all options are on the table,” O’Connell said.

Even a drone could be utilized to monitor the park.

“That might be one of the options. It’s a work in progress.”

Resident Carlos Bethart, who lives next to Colohatchee, compared the sex acts performed there to “an occupation” and called for more attention from the police. “It’s been going on forever. People think it’s only low-income [individuals having sex there]. It’s not,” he said. “You can see license plates from [wealthy] Palm Beach [County]. It’s become a real tourist attraction.”

As for solving the problem, one option that seems more likely is a License Plate Reader [LPR].

O’Connell wants to mount an LPR on one of his department’s police cars and station it at “hot spots” such as Colohatchee Park. It could also be used while a vehicle is on patrol.

When a license plate is read by an LPR camera,

the data is matched against the state’s criminal and vehicle databases. It can be tailored to alert authorities to any crime connected to the vehicle – from an unpaid parking ticket to a warrant for murder. Once alerted to a crime, the officer in the LPR vehicle can immediately arrest the suspect.

Previously, Commissioner Tom Green said he is in favor of the system but only if its scope is narrowed.

Green said he only wants the system to alert police to license plates connected with kidnappings, warrants, stolen vehicles and other serious crimes.

The system is already being used in several Broward cities, including Lighthouse Point. Officials there say their system, which is a series of cameras placed at the city’s entry points, has been very effective in catching criminals and helping to prevent crime. O’Connell calls that one the “Cadillac option.” Hollywood has started utilizing the mobile LPR “with mixed results,” said O’Connell.

The request to buy the $26,630 device with taxpayer dollars also got mixed results from commissioners.

It’s likely O’Connell won’t get the full amount he requested. Mayor Gary Resnick said he wants to see the system implemented but suggested the police department could use police forfeiture funds to buy Continued on page 3

Mary Ulm – Preserving Wilton Manors Past

By Denise Royal

Mary Ulm knows a lot about Wilton Manors.

She’s not only up to date on the newest restaurant on Wilton Drive – but she has extensive knowledge about the city’s history.

Ulm and her husband Ron moved to Wilton Manors 12 years ago. The couple, which has been married for 32 years, relocated from Atlanta to be closer to Ron’s father. The Ulms don’t have children;

instead, they’ve had a red parrot for 30 years.

They’d been visiting the Wilton Manors area since the late 1970s and made the move despite a less than stellar first impression. “When we first starting visiting, it was a little run down – especially Wilton Drive,” Ulm said.

During that time, Wilton Manors was home to mostly middle-income families, and the city was 99

percent white. Unlike today, Wilton Drive wasn’t filled with thriving shops and restaurants.

Back in Atlanta, Ulm worked for the state of Georgia, specifically workforce staffing. The selfdescribed workaholic put in between 60-70 hours a week. These days, she puts the same level of dedication into the Wilton Manors Historical Society where she serves as President, and Ron is an advisor Continued on page 2

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Continued from page 1 “Mary Ulm”

on Business, Research and Technology. The big living-situation difference: Ulm, now retired, doesn’t collect a paycheck for her hard work.

“It’s all volunteers who love Wilton Manors and preserve the gems that are here and make them known to people. We get excited about the past and the possibilities of the future,” Ulm said.

The organization’s future plans include making improvements to the Carriage House at the Richardson Historic Park. (It’s located directly across from Dairy Queen on Wilton Drive.) The Carriage House is the oldest existing structure in Wilton Manors.

After spending a short time with Ulm, you’ll learn a lot about the history of Wilton Manors such as who founded the city: EJ Willingham founded in 1925. Willingham was a wealthy entrepreneur from Georgia. At one time, he owned the largest fruit and nut shipping company in the U.S. His vision for Wilton Manors was for it to become a very upscale neighborhood.

He probably would be quite pleased with how the city turned out. Ulm is. She’s also very proud of the area’s long history of volunteerism. “We have a lot of people who are excited about the city and want to see

it sustain itself,” she tells WMG. Along with her duties at the Historical Society, Ulm is also on the board of Wilton Manor’s Taste of the Island. The annual event is an evening of food and libation featuring more than 50 area restaurants and drinking establishments. In addition, Ulm also serves on the Wilton Manors Budget Review Advisory Committee Board. But don’t expect to see her in the spotlight – that’s simply not where she’s the most comfortable.

“What I enjoy doing is helping an event be successful.

I’m more of a doer. I’d rather be volunteering in some fashion.”

Dog’s Head Out the Car Window - A Dangerous Habit From TripsWithPets.com

For most pups, the best part of a car ride is feeling trauma such as this can cause lifelong problems for the breeze in their furry faces as they stick their head your pup.

Allowing your dog to stick its head out the window out the window. Despite the feel good nature of this pleasurable experience, it’s actually a very dangerous can also lead to more severe outcomes, such as falling out of the car or getting his head stuck in the window habit.

In the early days of automobiles, most cars opening. Taking a turn a bit too fast, traveling over did not have windshields and their top speed was bumpy terrain or an overly excited pup can cause your approximately 45 mph. Given those conditions, dog to lose balance and easily fall out of the window. drivers wore goggles to protect their eyes. Now that we These types of incidents occur more frequently than have windshields to protect us, you wouldn’t consider one might imagine and can cause severe injury or death to dogs. sticking your unprotected head out It should go without saying; the window at 45 mph. Then why “The constant and but another very dangerous idea let your dog? rapid flapping of the is to allow your dog to ride in Allowing your dog to let it stick pinnae against your the bed of a pickup truck. All of its head out the window is a very dangerous habit. Their eyes are dog’s head from high- the dangers of sticking its head out the window from inside the exposed to dirt, rocks, dust and speed winds causes car are increased, since the bed other debris. These materials can trauma to the ear and of a pickup offers little or no easily puncture and scratch your results in swelling...” protection from wind, debris, or dog’s eyes. A line of pet goggles have falls. In addition, a pickup’s metal come out which are to help prevent these types of injuries. However, even if you can train bed can reach dangerously high temperatures on hot your dog not to paw them off his head, there are still days, which can cause damage to the soft tissue on a many other dangers when your dog’s head is out the dog’s paws.

The best place for your dog to ride is in the back window while driving.

Damage to the ears is another big concern. When seat or cargo area of your vehicle, properly restrained the dog’s ears flap in the wind, his soft ear flaps (pinnae) of course. Utilizing a pet safety belt, car seat, vehicle can easily become irritated, swell and become very pet barrier, or a travel crate is the best ways to ensure tender. The constant and rapid flapping of the pinnae that your pup’s travels are happy and safe. Sure, crack against your dog’s head from high-speed winds causes the window, but no heads out! trauma to the ear and results in swelling. Repeated 24

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About TripsWithPets.com TripsWithPets.com is the #1 online resource for pet travel. Named best pet travel site by Consumer Reports, TripsWithPets.com’s mission is to offer resources that ensure pets are welcome, happy, and safe while traveling.

About the Author Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel.

Continued from page 1 “Sex at Colohatchee” it. Forfeiture funds stem from money and property directly connected to criminals arrested and convicted. “The key is, does it fit within the statute,” said O’Connell.

“I definitely support [using an LPR].

Colohatchee absolutely needs to be made safe,” Resnick said.

Commissioner Ted Galatis said he would vote to fully fund the chief ’s request using taxpayer money.

“Hopefully, we can stop some of the crime at Mickel Field and Colohatchee Park,” Galatis said.

Commissioner Scott Newton suggested possibly implementing an old-fashioned solution: having city staff monitor the park more closely, if the city is willing to pay for it. “You’re going to have to spend the money [on extra staff time or a new employee].”

August 20, 2014 • Volume 1 • Issue 2 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com

Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli

Associate publisher • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Editorial

4800 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY, FORT LAUDERDALE JUST SOUTH OF COMMERCIAL BLVD.

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Wilton Manors Gazette is published twice monthly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. WMG is a publication of South Florida Gay News. 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.

Andrea Richard • Donald Cavanaugh • Steve Bower Christiana Lilly • Denise Royal • Sean McShee

local name, global coverage

Staff Photographers

PIPE

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

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Correspondents

PEACE

The city may get some help from the firm that wants to build a residential development next to Colohatchee in the old Yawt Property trailer park. The development, which was approved by the city and now is going through the county approval process, will include a security camera. That, said O’Connell, may be used to help monitor the park.

At some point, Colohatchee will have to be temporarily closed during construction of the development. When and how long is still a matter of debate though. At various meetings, officials have been engaged in rumor control, assuring residents that Colohatchee will not be permanently shut down. “If it has to be closed for a period of time, because of construction, I want more information,” said Green.

On the Dawn of the ‘Gazette’

A publication of

Associated Press

J.R. Davis • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing

Director of Sales & Marketing • Mike Trottier mike.trottier@sfgn.com

Copyright © 2014 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

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Wilton Manors Could Get Two New Multi-unit Complexes

By Steve Bower

The dilapidated trailer park that was once used for a scene in the film “Striptease” was leveled months ago. In its place, developers plan to build a brand new 179-unit apartment complex.

The complex, located on Northeast 24 Street next to Colohatchee Park, was approved unanimously by the city commission in 2013 and is now being reviewed by the county.

Executives from Ascend Properties, the firm building the project, and city officials say it will revitalize what was formerly the city’s most blighted properties. “It’s going to spur redevelopment [of the rest of the surrounding area]. It’s a class act,” said Commissioner Ted Galatis when he voted in favor of the development. “I’m looking forward to breaking ground.”

The 7.2-acre Yawt Property, as it was known, racked-up hundreds of thousands in code violations.

Violations stemmed from excessive garbage to abandoned vehicles and mobile homes to overgrown vegetation. The property previously drew interest from a hotel firm, which wanted to build a gaythemed resort. Commissioners approved that project but it never materialized.

Along with three four-story apartment buildings, there will be 300 parking spaces, a pool, gatehouse, urban art plaza, dog park, car wash, electric car charging station and a 5,000 sq. ft. clubhouse.

Developers said they plan to invest $30-million

and estimate it will take about 15 months to build.

According to the Broward Property Appraiser’s Office, the land is worth $1.7 million.

Previously, Michael Wohl, principal with Ascend, said this is a property his company intends to have a long-term stake in. “We’re going to do everything we can to keep it looking good.”

Another development, located just a few blocks from the old trailer park, could also soon be sprouting new residential units.

Owners of the Center for Spiritual Living and developers at Urban Development Communities, recently settled a lawsuit over the sale of the church property, located at Northeast 26 Street and Northeast 15 Avenue. Church officials say they can no longer afford to maintain their aging building – built in the 1970s.

Previously, Urban Development Communities had planned to develop the property into a residential complex but the Center for Spiritual Living pulledout about a month before a final commission vote was to take place. Richard Coker, the attorney hired by the developers, accused the church of being unfair.

Church officials said the developers took too long to get the project before commissioners.

Commissioners gave initial approval to the project but said they would vote no the second time unless developers made the proposed 72-units complex less dense.

Some residents opposed the development because they also said it was too dense. They also said the project looked cheap and similar to low-income housing. Urban Development Communities said those opposed wouldn’t be satisfied with any number of units. Originally, the proposed number was about 150.

Now that the property has been sold [$3.2 million] and the lawsuit settled, developers say they will consult with residents about a new residential project.

Developers will also have to start the review and approval process all over again. The church will be allowed to occupy the property for at least one more year.

Calendar Of Events (Compiled from the Wilton Manors City website) City Commission Meeting August 26, 7 p.m. at City Hall Commission Chambers 2020 Wilton Drive

Brains and Balance Past 60 August 20, 27; Sept. 3 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. at Hagen Park Brains and Balance Past 60 is designed for the unique needs of active older adults who know the importance of staying mentally sharp and physically stable. Researchers no longer believe that falling or losing your mental capacity are inevitable parts of the aging process and this fascinating class series operates based on the premise that specific exercises will decrease the risk of falling while increasing mental acuity.

Zumba Fitness August 20, 25, 26, 27; Sept. 1, 2, 3 - 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Island City Park Preserve 26

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All Breeds Welcome Beginners Obedience Class. Registration at 6:30 p.m., class begins at 7:30 p.m. Rally Obedience Class - Skill Building, Drill Class - Class starts at 8 p.m. $5 per class

Are you ready to party yourself into shape? Forget the workout, just lose yourself in the music and find yourself in shape at the original dance-fitness party. Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. Before you know it, you’ll be getting fit and your energy levels will be soaring! It’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating. Join the Party!

Square Dancing August 21 and 28 - 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Island City Park Preserve The South Florida Mustangs is the first GLBT International Square Dance Club organized in 1980. Positively no previous experience required. We’ll teach you the ropes beginning with an allemande left and a do-si-do. All you need is a desire to have fun. Questions?

Feel free to call Ken 305-343-1710; Randy 305-458-1649; Tom or Chris 954-525-8365. Dance fee only $5. Visit Caller4u.com.

Island City Book Club August 20, 6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. at Richard C. Sullivan Public Library The Island City Book Club gathers at the library on the third Wednesday of each month. Reading selections include current and classic novels as well as popular nonfiction. All are welcome to join and help select our next book!

Wilton Manors Green Market August 23, 24 and 30, 31 - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Wilton Manors City Hall / Hagen Park

Dog Obedience Class August 21 and 28 - 6:30 p.m. at Hagen Park (Basketball Court) soflagaynews //

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SouthFloridaGayNews

Wilton Manors Green Market every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. in the Wilton Manors City Hall / Hagen Park parking lot. The Market features Organic Produce, Regular Produce, International Baked Goods, specialty items, spices & herbs, soups, cheeses, coffees & tea, bagels, Nuts & dried fruits, baked goods, and various other international and local vendors.

The Market gives residents and visitors to Wilton Manors an exciting shopping alternative and a chance to view, sample and purchase products. For more information on The Market or to become a vendor, visit GreenWilton. com or contact Frank and Ron at 954531-5363.

Preschool Storytime August 25 - 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. at Richard C. Sullivan Public Library 500 NE 26th St. For ages 2 - 5. Caregivers must remain with their children.

column chamber chat

Summer’s Slow Season Can Equate to Amazing Autumn Profits!

SJ Strock

If it seems the lazy days of summer are 1. Invite people to sporting events. impacting your business’s bottom-line, have It’s a great way to get to know someone in no fear and gear-up for fall profits.

It is most certainly true that more people a casual environment. travel (away from hot, steamy South Florida) 2. If you are a golfer, then invite during June, July and the early part of August.

You may have noticed the networking some of your business acquaintances to events you regularly attend have decreased golf with you. Playing a four-hour or participation as the months pass; the phone more round is a good way to get to know rings a bit softer and your office door swings someone very well. to and fro a little less often than you‘d like.

3. Hone in on your personal If you’re crunching your numbers and ringing your hands because of the summer branding techniques. Take the time to slow period…STOP! Believe it or not, now is assess your current personal branding the time for you to go to those networking strategies and explore new strategies as meetings, call on active clients for lunch or well. simply check on any business relationships 4. Increase your social media that have fallen off. Using slow periods of production wisely may lead to an exponential presence. Spend more time with tools such increase in new accounts in only a short as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook so you amount of time. So, resting on your laurels can continue to stay on top of technology could be a design for disaster; instead make and your brand. summer sizzle by being visible to potential 5. Host your own happy hours or profits.

Here are the top ten tips for growing your BBQs. Take advantage of the nice summer business profits through networking during weather to bring your network together. summer’s slow season:

6.

Partner

with

7.

Send

teasers

8.

Make

synergistic

businesses for summer specials.

programs.

out

introductions

people in your network.

A

for

fall

between

great way to

stay at the forefront of someone’s mind

is to facilitate introductions between like-

The Gay and Lesbian Business Exchange [GLBX], a council of the Greater Fort 9. Read business books and Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, is Broward County’s premier support for Gaymagazines. Catch up on your reading and Lesbian-owned businesses as well as during the summer, which will give you gay-friendly businesses. We continually talking points with other professionals. support the quick-changing environment of 10. Visit referral and networking the economy by sharing similar strategies for business growth throughout the seasons groups you don’t usually have time for.

With fewer people in the room, you at GLBX Referral Advantage Group. For more information, please contact Rene will have a chance to connect at a more Cantu, Director of Business Development personal level with those you meet.

Introductions and time for commercials of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce (rene@ftlchamber.com, 954may be extended with fewer attendees.

462-7498) or Chad Thilborger, GLBX Council Chair, (954-793-7275). minded people.

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column for becker or worse

Your Cynicism Is Not Helpful John Becker

I’d like you, dear reader, to picture a series of hypothetical events. Imagine that something gallingly anti-gay happens; for example, voters in Chattanooga repeal a non-discrimination ordinance, or a lesbian Catholic schoolteacher gets fired after coming out of the closet, or a Florida pastor cancels a man’s funeral after finding out he was gay and married to another man. Disgusted, people take to blogs and social media to vent their frustration and (rightfully) condemn the perpetrators for harassing, abusing or discriminating against LGBT people. Before long though, some contrarian invariably chimes in with “What did you expect?” or “Is anyone really surprised this happened?”

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably watched similar conversations play out dozens of times or even participated in them yourself. Now, if you’re one of those people who publicly shame the bigots in situations like these, I say to you, “Carry on.” But if you find yourself playing the role of the unimpressed know-it-all, my message to you is this: Knock it the hell off; your cynicism is not helpful.

Why? First of all, it’s a matter of principle: It doesn’t matter whether it happens just once or it happens every single day; bigotry is wrong and worthy of condemnation.

Period.

“Okay, it’s wrong,” the cynic will, sometimes, admit. “But with all the evil our community has experienced, should we really be shocked by this?” My answer to this question is always an unequivocal yes.

I hope I never become so jaded and beaten down by life that I am no longer shocked by bigotry, regardless of whether or not it comes from an expected source.

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Sometimes the cynic’s argument is a personal one: “I’m so sick of hearing about these people” or “I’m so tired of dealing with haters.” That’s a fair point—calling out bigotry is tiring but frankly, that doesn’t matter. This is about far more than just us.

It’s about building a better world for the gay teen whose parents kicked him to the curb when he came out, the trans woman of color who walks home at night with her keys between her fingers because she’s afraid of being assaulted again, the elderly lesbian who goes back into the closet when she enters a nursing home. That’s why we call out the haters, for them. With so many LGBT people suffering and dying every day, tiredness is not a luxury any of us can afford to have in the battle against homophobia “Why bother calling this person out at all?” cynics will sometimes ask. “You’re not going to change their mind, and you’ll only be giving them unnecessary attention.

Their inhumanity is self-evident.” This is perhaps the most dangerous response of all, because it lets our oppressors off easy.

Here’s the cold, hard truth: Right now, in many parts of this country and in many segments of society, treating LGBT people hatefully is not self-evidently inhumane. In fact, many times it’s perfectly acceptable.

In places and social situations where the inhumanity of homophobic bigotry is self-evident, it’s only it’s only a result of LGBT advocates continually calling out and condemning acts of prejudice, hatred and violence against our community for decades. And we haven’t just insisted on the inhumanity of these acts, we’ve established it. Never forget that less than a generation ago, a pastor shutting down a gay man’s funeral would have been routine, not self-

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evidently inhumane.

In calling out bigotry, we’re not just defending our loved ones and ourselves, we’re also training the culture that homophobia must always be met with disgust, shame and condemnation. If we respond instead with a resigned shrug (“Is anyone surprised?”), we’re teaching the rest of the world to expect this kind of hatred rather than to resist it.

So the next time you find yourself confronted by anti-LGBT bigotry, drop the cynicism and choose a more productive response instead. Be a part of the solution!

John Becker is an LGBT rights activist and writer. As a writer he’s best known as a contributor to and the Editor in Chief of The Bilerico Project; his proudest moment as an activist is his undercover, hidden-camera exposé that revealed fraudulent “ex-gay” therapy at Marcus and Michele Bachmann’s Christian counseling clinic. A frequent guest on news networks including ABC, CNN, and MSNBC, Becker lives in Washington, D.C. with his beloved husband Michael and their dog Rosie.

SouthFloridaGayNews

column bil of rights

Tony Perkin’s No-Good Not-So-Bad Idea Bil Browning

They say even a stopped clock is right twice a day…

The (Not Your) Family Research Council’s head honcho, Tony Perkins’, latest scheme to persecute LGBT people is actually a not-sobad idea. Every now and then, he stumbles across something that actually makes sense - at least until he screws it all up again.

While decrying non-discrimination ordinances that include public accommodation protections for LGBT people on his radio show, Perkins floated the idea that business owners who provide a service to the queer community should turn around and donate the profit to an ex-gay group and post a sign announcing they would do so. I have no problem with most of that, but, as Perkins tends to do, he took things a step too far.

Right Wing Watch reports that “scoffing at the notion that anti-discrimination ordinances provide protection for marginalized groups, Perkins dismissed the laws as ‘clubs’ that can be used by gay people to ‘force everybody to accept and participate and facilitate their lifestyle choices’ and ‘sue people of faith.’”

First, let’s all acknowledge that while Perkins claims he opposes nondiscrimination ordinances, he only opposes them if they include LGBT people; he has no problem whatsoever with the religious protections they provide. Let a business post a sign saying, “No Christians Allowed” and see how fast he gets his knickers in a twist.

More importantly, business owners are free to do what they want with their money.

They can give it to charity, buy porn, pay their mortgage or invest in tech stocks for all that it matters to the consumer. Granted, if the customer disagrees with how the money

will be used, the business might change its decision, but that’s the free market, baby.

You see, that’s the point of public accommodation nondiscrimination laws; they require business owners to serve the public equally without regard to what they’re going to do with the product or how they live their private lives. Business is business, as they say. If you’ve got the money to pay for a good or service offered to the public, the business is required to serve you.

That being said, Perkins tries to sidestep the nondiscrimination laws by asking business owners to post a sign saying they will donate any profit from gay clients to an anti-gay cause. By pointing out LGBT people for special consideration, once again he steps out of bounds. Posting the sign discourages LGBT people from shopping at certain places, when instead the business should simply follow the law and do what they wish with the profits.

That’s the problem with Tony Perkins.

He’s obviously bright and knows how to manipulate the media. He just can’t help going one step too far in his zeal to persecute minority groups while claiming victim status for himself. If he ever managed to pull back to Mike Huckabee-level bigotry, he’d be dangerous.

Instead, he uses his gifts to swindle the gullible and feed them lies. He twists and turns things to confuse his audience by stirring together facts and religious propaganda. Sadly, Perkins isn’t the first charlatan to feed his flock a mixed bag of truth and hysteria. As the 19th century political philosopher Lysander Spooner said, “Those who are capable of tyranny are capable of perjury to sustain it.” soflagaynews //

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lifestyle bata’s beats

LaRoux John Bata

Personal preference in music is determined when one finds something in a song, album or artist that they can relate to or that grabs a hold of them, inspiring and moving them in a way others cannot. It’s 2014, and it seems most pop artists are groomed for the sole purpose of making money, lining the pockets of people who couldn’t care less about the consumer or the artist. It’s like art has been taken out of art and replaced with nothing real or important. Art Pop, my ass.

A friend recently gloated that he was a marketer’s dream when it comes to music.

That’s not exactly something to be proud of. What I respect about LaRoux is their independence and sense of “sticking it to the man;” they’re not some prepackaged product put together by corporate executives who only care about one thing: money.

Elly Jackson, the mastermind behind LaRoux, nixed her partner and cofounder after their successful Grammy-winning debut, which explains the title of the new LP, Trouble In Paradise. Now technically a solo act, the remaining cofounder Jackson took five laborious years to craft, plan and perfect her new LP. If you’ve listened to La Roux’s work before (“Bulletproof”) and you find the timber of Jackson’s voice appealing, you will love this album.

I, however, have a contrasting view; I find Jackson’s vocal timbre over bearing and shrill; it’s my main problem with her act. Her voice blankets most of the songs on the LP, sounding like fingers being dragged slowly and heavily across a blackboard. It acts as a distraction to the music.

Don’t get me wrong: this is a solid effort

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SouthFloridaGayNews

when it comes to musicianship. Hearing Uptight Downtown with Nile Rogers-like guitars, behind what sounds like a femalefronted Duran Duran is exhilarating. At best, her talent becomes clearer when she is not forcing her vocals on songs like 80’s reggae inspired, “Tropical Chancer.”

Trouble in Paradise brings up images of synthesized palm trees and neon sensuality without it appearing trashy—but, that voice!

Oh well. She’s got the look down in her videos with her decent 80’s hair flip and pouty new wave expressions. From her interviews, you can tell Jackson is truly passionate about making music and is coming from a pure place, which is an admirable trait found in emerging artists.

“Sexotheque” is fantastic, using stopmotion percussion; the “money, money, money” line in the chorus fits perfectly with the rest of the song. “Silence” is another standout.

“The Feeling” closes the set out and has a Prince- and The Revolution-era feel, but doesn’t quite hit the target; it’s not the best way to end an album that had some strong moments. Over all, it’s a mixed bag of feelings for me. What do you think?

John Bata is from Denver, Colorado and a local resident of Fort Lauderdale since 2013.

He is a published poet and music aficionado.

Currently he DJs at Ramrod on Sundays.

He has been a disc jockey since 1992 and jockey in Washington, DC, New York City and Fort Lauderdale. One of his passions is spotlighting the latest in indie and underground dance music.

lifestyle lifestyle history history

Gay History 101 Pier Angelo

Dates to Remember: April 23, 2010:

An estimated 20 to 25 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jamaican citizens took to the streets around Emancipation Park for the first time, wearing rainbow colored feather boas and T-shirts from various pride events in the U.S. The parade lasted for about two hours before the participants needed to disperse for safety reasons.

The 1989 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary defines gay as follows: Addicted to social pleasures and dissipations. Often euphemistically of loose or immoral life. A man given to reveling or self-indulgence.

Since 2011, dictionaries entries for gay as a noun, simply read: Someone who practices homosexuality; having a sexual attraction to persons of the same sex.

Important People: Franco Zeffirell, (born 12 February 1923) is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator (1994–2001) for the Italian centre-right Forza Italia party. He is principally known for his 1968 version of “Romeo and Juliet,” for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, although his 1967 version of “The Taming of the Shrew” (with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) remains the best-known film adaptation of that play as well. His miniseries “Jesus of Nazareth” won acclaim and is still shown on Easter weekend in many countries. He received an honorary knighthood from the British government in 2004 when he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In a 2013 interview with an Italian magazine he said, “I am not gay; I am homosexual. The term gay is a stupid way

T

he 1989 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary had a much less proper description for homosexuality. to describe who we are”. He went on to say, “To be homosexual is a serious undertaking, within ourselves and toward society”.

David Kato Kisule (1964 – 2011) was a Ugandan teacher and LGBT rights activist, considered the father of Uganda’s gay rights movement and described as “Uganda’s first openly gay man.” He served as advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). Kato was murdered in 2011, shortly after winning a lawsuit against a magazine which had published his name and photograph, identifying him as gay and calling for him to be executed.

D

avid Kato Kisule

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Interesting Facts: Arcigay (Italian: Associazione lesbica e gay italiana) is Italy’s first and largest national gay organization.

It was founded as a local association in Palermo in 1980, and then nationally established in Bologna in 1985. The organization became known throughout Italy for its campaign for civil unions.

Arcigay has often protested against the Vatican’s opposition to homosexuality and LGBT rights. Many Italian gay venues require their patrons, both native and foreign, to purchase Arcigay membership, in addition to the admission cost, even those who are just visiting the country for a short time.

Photo: Wikipedia

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lifestyle books Author Law Uncovers LGBT Culture in Asia with “Gaysia” Terri Schlichenmeyer

“Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East” by Benjamin Law, foreword by Aaron Allbright c.2014, Cleis Press $16.95 / $20.95 Canada

283 pages

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Throwing a dart at a board.

That’s one way to decide what you’ll do for vacation. You could also call a travel agent, hop in a car and just drive or head to the backyard. No matter what you do with those precious weeks of vacay, you’ll definitely use them.

If you’re looking for somewhere to vacation, might I suggest a whirlwind tour of the Far East, during which you could get to know its bedrooms, hotels and furtive parks?

Sound good? Well, before you book that trip, you might want to read “Gaysia” by Benjamin Law. It stands to reason: If most of the planet’s population lives in Asia, then the Far East is the gayest place in the world. Benjamin Law suspected that and, as an ethnically Asian gay Australian, he was genetically in a good location to prove it. He decided he’d find his “fellow Gaysians: the Homolaysians, BiMese, Laosbians, and Shangdykes.” But first, he’d go to Bali.

There, he found a “relaxing island getaway” that happily embraced gay men, where clothing was optional, even discouraged, at many resorts and “moneyboys” were willing to do anything for a fee. Sessions of “jiggyjiggy,” says Law, were a “creative” way out of poverty for (sometimes straight) boys and young men, but because the rate of condomuse was low, the rate of HIV was high.

In Thailand, which has a “long history of transexualism,” Law attended a beauty pageant for “ladyboys.” Acceptance for these beautiful girls was evident nearly everywhere – but with no legal recognition,

AJAROSZEWSKI@PRIMERES.COM WWW.PRIMERESFTL.COM PROUD TO BE PART OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY

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200 S. Andrews Ave #701 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 NMLS #3094 soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

they had few rights as women.

Gay Chinese men are pressured by their families to marry, and many of them enter mutually beneficial agreements with lesbians under the same pressure, Law discovered. Others marry straight women, but keep mum.

In Japan, “drag queens and camp gays” are accepted, but lesbians are almost nonexistent, hiding their identity. Harmful myths about contracting (or not contracting) HIV are common in Myanmar; so common that “roughly 240,000 people” live with HIV, and four out of five “die waiting for medication.” And in India, Law found an antiquated anti-gay law, a counselor who fought against it, the world’s only openly gay royal and a (rumored-to-be-closeted) yoga instructor who claimed to cure homosexuality…

I was somewhat taken aback when I first started this book: with a brief introduction and little-to-no fanfare otherwise, author Benjamin Law jumps feet-first into his travelogue, profanely and bluntly.

Fortunately for readers, his sense of the absurd and humor smooth the abruptness of what he finds. Before long, you’re well immersed in “Gaysia” and the open (and closed) atmospheres that Law uncovers.

That’s not to say, though, that this is a completely romp-ish book. Yes, Law has unusual adventures here, but in between the funny asides and sharp perceptions, he offers serious observations which show that Asia may be halfway around the world, but is closer to us than we think.

lifestyle lifestyle travel history The Dominican Republic is New Labor Day LGBT Hotspot Denise Royal

Homosexuality is not considered legal in the Dominican Republic. It is a very religious country, where Catholic and evangelical leaders openly express their disdain for LGBT people. So it’s an unusual destination for an LGBT destination vacation for Labor Day. But that’s exactly what D.R. Takeover is planning.

For four days, from August 28 through September 1, the group plans to descend on the tropical island and stay at an all-inclusive resort, Punta Cana’s Melia Caribe Tropical.

There’s still time to sign up, if you don’t have holiday plans. The event pass is $250 and depending on room amenities you can stay four days at the allinclusive Melia Caribe Tropical for about $1,000.

“It will be very feasible knowing you can lay by the beach with unlimited food and drinks from 13 restaurants and 14 bars included in your room rate. Plus the best parties on the planet?

D.R. Takeover is hands down the best place to be for Labor Day weekend,” said D.R. Takeover

Brand Ambassador Martell Todd.

The folks at D.R. Takeover don’t expect any bad vibes from the locals. “Honestly, people of the Dominican have always been friendly to us. We are glad to be able to support the country’s economy and help the under-served children of Bávaro. We show lots of love and they give us love back,” Todd tells SFGN. According to the D.R. Takeover website, it’s going to be a relaxing weekend and all are welcome. “D.R. Takeover is for both men and women, and we’ve been very aggressive to be all-inclusive. We do hope more couples show up to take advantage of the Romance by Melia options because the hotel does amazing weddings. But, our core is mainly single men and women of the LGBT community who are looking to party with a purpose,” said Todd.

During the weekend, the group will take a break from partying to launch its sustainable impact initiative within the local Dominican community. It has adopted a local school and will bring supplies and

in-kind donations to make like better for students at that school.

“About 250 students between the ages 3-16 years old attend Centro Educativo Shalom. After visiting the school last year and seeing how kind and wellmannered the children were, the D.R. Takeover team vowed that this year we would come back and shower them with love. Seeing their faces when we arrive with the things they need will be the best memory of this trip,” said Todd.

Organizers are asking participants to do one of three things: • Make an immediate cash donation • Make an in-kind donation of any of the listed school supplies • Bring any of the listed school supplies with you to D.R. Takeover.

Recommended school supplies include: • • •

Pencils Composition Books Crayons

soflagaynews //

• Markers • New or gently used Laptops • New or gently used Printers • New or gently used books in Spanish • Notebooks • Filler Paper • Folders • Backpacks • Kids Sneakers (Boys& Girls) – All sizes • Teen Sneakers (Boys) One-hundred percent of all cash and non-cash donations will go directly to the selected school on Friday, August 29, 2014.

Special guests for 2014 include actor Jensen Atwood (as seen in LOGO’s ‘Noah’s Arc’ and Here!

Network’s ‘Dante’s Cove’), YouTube sensation Julian Serrano, BET “Music Matters” artist Kimberly Nichole and Damien Crawford.

Visit www.DRtakeover14.com.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 //33

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SouthFloridaGayNews

lifestyle cars 60-Second Car Review 2014 Mercedes-Benz SL550 — Foxy brown

Steve Siler

2014 MercedesBenz SL550

Some cars make me feel mischievous, some make me feel badass, and some, like this week’s Mercedes-Benz SL550 test car, make me feel rich, like Beverly Hills housewife rich, black Amex rich, my-200foot-yacht-is-currently-docked-in-MonteCarlo rich. Indeed, while I test a lot of expensive cars through the course of my job, not all of them make me feel like I simply shit money the way that this big bitchy Benz convertible did during the week I drove it in L.A. It’s a splendiferous combination, brutal, turbocharged V-8 power, unbridled luxury, Mercedes-Benz cache, and oh yeah, brown. “Dolomite brown,” more specifically. And it is everything on the SL550, simultaneously satisfying the trendy crowd and the contrarian crowd, regardless of whether the see-through glass hardtop is

SUMMER

SPECIALS

raised or lowered. The interior was swathed in caramel-colored leather, offset by gorgeous matte-finished wood—stunning.

Performance-wise, it is fast yet eminently mannerly, only getting rowdy when you hit put the suspension and transmission in the sport settings. And alas, it is indeed expensive, but for once, a car this rich actually looks this rich and makes its driver look and feel rich, too. Which, methinks, is exactly the point.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 //35

outeats

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Alfredo Sauce Jay Rinaldi

A great deal of chefs and great cooks will say, “the simpler the better�. Well, nothing could be closer to the truth than the classic Alfredo Sauce recipe. A simple dish, with as many variations as the people who make it.

And, of course, yours truly is no different.

Alfredo Sauce has a special place in my heart. Thats for 3 GREAT reasons. 1. My first date with my first partner, 2. the fact he made it himself, and 3. obviously it was delicious.

There is ALWAYS that moment of reflection,

each and every time that first taste of pasta & sauce in my mouth, that I am transported back to that very special moment.

So here for you now, whether to update your current recipe or to create your own first date magic is my tried and true. Obviously this recipe is not for the faint of heart, but you can play with it and make caloric reductions wherever you like. Remember, this is to be your baby now. Consider me just your foodie tour guide. :)

Alfredo Sauce...Prep 2 tbsp Extra Virgin OLive Oil 2 shallots diced 2 tbsp Butter 3 cloves garlic diced zest & juice of 1 lemon 1 cup Pinot Grigio Prep and set aside your favorite pasta of choice. Many folkes use fettucine & such string pastas, but use what you like. Just remember, the water must be HEAVILY salted...taste like the sea...to season the pasta for best flavor.

Skillet 1 : 1 stick of butter and a cup or so of bread crumbs...these can be your own or store bought, panko, plain, or seasoned. The point is to cook over low heat to a sandlike consistentcy to top the pasta. Again USE YOUR FAVORITE. In Skillet 2 : Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) / butter to saute 2 shallots and chopped garlic for about one minute. Add lemon zest & juice and Pinot Grigio to deglaze, that is reduce by half and release any bits that may have stuck to skillet. Stirring often. Add Cream and Milk. Add Parmesan & a dash of grated or ground nutmeg. Remove from heat.

Add stick of butter and Worchestershire stirring till completely combined. Add pasta and transport to baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs and bake for 10-15 mins. Let rest for 10 mins before serving. And Enjoy.

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SouthFloridaGayNews

3 dashes Worchestershire 1 cup heavy cream & 1 cup whole milk 1 1/2 cup parmesan fresh grated nutmeg 1 stick of butter Now, here are a few helpful hints to try also if you like. Skip the bread crumbs altogether and combine pasta and sauce in skillet, cook for about 4 mins so the pasta reheats and absorbs some of the liquid and serve that way...its just as good.

Also, I like to add 1/2 of a container of marscapone cheese or ricotta during the milk/cream step for EXTRA creaminess, but my wasteline suffers.

Serve along with potato rolls that are drenched in garlic butter/evoo salt & pepper and grated parmesan.

You can also grill or pan sear chicken breast, shrimp or whatever you like. With such a simple dish the variations are endless.

Again, the point is to have fun and be creative. Make magic and memories.

Recipes to me are like rituals. Made with love the spell is happiness. I hope this recipe inspires everyone who reads this to do a little dance, make a little love, and you know the rest.

Jay Rinaldi is a great cook, avid SFGN reader, and local bartender extraordinaire.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 //37

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

2 1

-

A U G U S T

2 6 ,

2 0 1 4

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

8/21

John Watts and his talented Arts Radio Network team are bringing back the sounds of classic radio again at Arts Garage, 180 NE 1st St. in Delray Beach. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., they recreate “The Philadelphia Story,” the delightful comedy about a socialite whose wedding plans are complicated by the arrivals of her ex-husband and a tabloid magazine reporter. Take a step back in time as the cast recreates the sound effects and brings the story to life. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved at ArtsGarage.org.

FRI

THEATER

8/22

Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” may have been written in 1594, but it’s as witty and sharp in 2014 as it was 420 years ago.

Evening Star Productions tackles this classic comedy about two pairs of identical twins tonight through Aug. 31 at SOL Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Hwy. in Boca Raton. The cast includes South Florida theater veterans Joanna Mandel, Seth Trucks, Samantha Streich and Jim Gibbons. Performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 at EveningStarProductions.org

SAT

FUNDRAISER

Story” at Arts Garage.

Submitted Photo

8/23 SUN

For many, shopping is a pleasurable pastime.

Tonight, you can head to your local Macy’s department store and “Shop for a Cause.”

Purchase a $5 shopping pass good for savings all day long and 100% of the proceeds benefits a local charity. Talk about a win-win! In Fort Lauderdale, discount card purchases benefit the Pride Center and in Boca Raton, the shopping event benefits the Boca Raton Symphonia. Your purchases in West Palm Beach benefit Compass Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Lake Worth and the Palm Beaches. Visit your local Macy’s store for more information.

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he golden age of radio comes alive T on Thursday night when Arts Radio Network presents “The Philadelphia

// 8.20.2014 // SFGN.com //

NIGHTLIFE

8/24 MON

This summer has been sizzling and it’s about to get hotter. Compass Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Lake Worth and the Palm Beaches hosts “Boyz of Summer” Sunday Funday today from 2 to 6 p.m. at The Mad Hatter, 1532 N. Dixie Hwy. in Lake Worth. Later, the Compass “Entourage” will head to Suri Loft, 707 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. Don’t forget to wear your hottest summer outfit. For more information or to reserve discounted tickets to Suri Loft, go to CompassGLCC.org or call 561-375-0399.

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THEATER

8/25 TUE

Tonight is the last event in the South Florida Theatre League’s Theatre Fest, a hugely successful, summer-long series of new play readings at theaters across the region.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m., Jeremiah Musgrove’s new play, “Fuck the Universe: Scott and Charlie Steal Space,” will get its debut at Alternative Space Theatre in Miami. In a series of pop-up performances, Scott and Charlie crash public spaces and events all over Miami with “big money” schemes that never seem to go as intended. For more information, go to SouthFloridaTheatre.com.

SouthFloridaGayNews

EXHIBIT

8/26

Beat the summer heat with a trip to The Wolfsonian-Florida International University, 1001 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach, to check out the cool, modern designs of Norman Bel Geddes, “I Have Seen the Future.” Featuring more than 200 drawings, photographs, models and films, this exhibit chronicles his vision for the American future— streamlined, technocratic and optimistic—along with the famed Futurama exhibit Bel Geddes created for the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair. The exhibition can be viewed through Sept. 28. Admission is $7 for adults. For more information, go to Wolfsonian.org.

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hris Lopez

Submitted Photo

Internationally-acclaimed artist Cristobal Sanchez-Lopez got an early start, painting the white walls of his parent’s house in his native Spain as a youngster. Nearly four decades later, the Fort Lauderdale resident is going to nurture the talents of students as part of the faculty of the Boca Raton Museum – The Art School.

“My parents decided to send me to children’s art school at age eight. There, I started to do my first oils on canvas and learned different techniques, making my first art sales to neighbors and relatives,” recalled Chris, who said they were really weary of seeing his artwork all over the house.

Lopez continued to develop his skills in classical painting and drawing techniques, as well as photography and set design, before earning two bachelors degrees in graphic design and illustration at Pau Gargallo University in Barcelona. His work earned him a place on the team that designed graphics for the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Lopez first became aware of his sexuality at an early age, visiting his first gay bar at 15. He built a network of friends and finally came out to his family three years later.

“It was not an easy decision, but I was prepared. My parents saw that I was very confident about being gay, and I helped them to accept the situation. I was aware it was my role to teach them about being gay,” he said.

Lopez spent the next decade working in the family business and designing t-shirts.

Like the snowbirds who gravitate to South Florida, he yearned to escape European winters and ended up spending several years in Puerto Rico before eventually settling in Fort Lauderdale in 2001. In his first weekend, he met his partner, Oscar, who has been an advocate of his career every step of the way.

Lopez quickly developed a following, recognized for his paintings of striking, masculine male figures, “muscle bears.”

His traditional and graphic design-infused works have been featured in galleries in Wilton Manors and his own studio on

SouthFloridaGayNews

Federal Highway.

“I like to paint mostly the type of men that I like—a stronger type. They are not fat guys or skinny guys, bodies that have nice definition,” he explained. “My artwork is not sexual, rather intimate and comforting.

It conveys the pleasure of being alone naked by ourselves. Nudity for me is that intimate moment where there is nothing to hide when we are alone with our own vulnerability.”

He has published three books of his work, and his images have also appeared in international magazines and art anthologies.

This fall, he will again coach aspiring young artists like his past self, some who may have drawn and colored on the walls of their homes, too.

Lopez, who has been on the staff at several youth arts camps and teaches several private students in his studio, looks forward to working with students of all ages again.

“I’m very excited; it is something I always wanted to do again. I’m almost 50 and have been working in art since the age of eight.

I want to share everything I learned from my teachers and the things I’ve learned by myself,” he said. “I’m very proud that I’m going to be at the school.”

And the Boca Raton school is looking forward to Lopez’s contributions: “Chris will bring his strong background in classical drawing and contemporary design to the drawing classes he will be teaching,” said Walter O’Neill, director, who noted Lopez joins a faculty of 40 master artists/ teachers in disciplines from drawing and painting to sculpture and jewelry making.

“We’re very excited and fortunate to have him.”

The Boca Raton Museum of Art – The Art School, 801 W. Palmetto Rd. in Boca Raton, will hold an open house on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 1 – 4 p.m. For more information, go to BocaMuseum.org/TheArtSchool. Chris Lopez Studio, 831 N. Federal Hwy. Suite F in Fort Lauderdale, is open daily and by appointment. For more information, go to LopezGallery.com.

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Datebook

Theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

broward county 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 * The Philadelphia Story

Aug. 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Art Garage Radio Theatre, 180 NE First St. in Delray Beach.

The golden age of radio is brought back to life with live script readings, this time of the story of a socialite whose wedding planning is complicated by the return of her ex-husband and a nosy journalist. Tickets $15 to $25. Call 561-450-6357 or visit ArtsGarage.org.

* Drake and Lil’ Wayne

Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Cruzan Amphitheatre, 601 Sansbury Way #7 in West Palm Beach. The Canadian rapper is joined by his hip-hop mentor for a big night in rap, with popular songs like “Started From the Bottom.” Tickets $47 to $527.

Call 561-795-8883 or visit CruzanAmphitheatre. net.

* Kings of Leon

Sept. 6 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre, 601 Sansbury Way #7 in West Palm Beach. The rock band travels across the country in support

rake and Lil’ Wayne will be preforming on DSep. 3rd at 7pm at The Cruzan Ampitheater. of their Mechanical Bull Tour, with favorite hits like “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody.”

Tickets $46 to $672. Call 561-795-8883 or visit CruzanAmphitheatre.net.

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 blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

miami-dade county Miami

Centralia

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.

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 of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit * Siempre Flamenco Aug. 29 to 31 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, JustTheFunny.com.

1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The beautiful Spanish form of dance is celebrated in this festival. Tickets $45. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

Tori Amos

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.

H2OMBRE

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.

Leon will be preforming Sep. 6th KatingsTheofCruzan Ampitheater.

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PAMM Outdoor Music Series

Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live SouthFloridaGayNews

iempre Flamenco will be Spreforming Aug. 29th thru Aug. 31 at The Adrienne Arsht Center.

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Datebook

Community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

broward county * W Happening: SHINE

Aug. 20 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the W’s Living Room, in Fort Lauderdale. The hotel’s monthly pride event teams up with the Human Rights Campaign. Dance to beats from DJ Zim, sip on Stoli cocktails, nibble on light bites, and if you’re lucky, win a stay at the W. Cost $10 valet. RSVP at WFLL.Events@WHotels.com.

* Lunch, Learn & Network

Aug. 26 at Dapur, 1620 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Join the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for an afternoon of networking. Plus, Keith Blackburn, chamber president, will talk about the new website. Cost $35 for members, $40 for future members. RSVP to Keith Blackburn at 954-523-3500 or email keith@gflglcc.org

* Gay Tea Cruise

Aug. 31 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal. Celebrate the long weekend with Kitty Meow, DJ Greyson Jubilee, Deja Devonier, and dancers from Johnny’s and Boardwalk. Tickets $30. Email cruises@gayteacruisefl.org or visit GayTeaCruisesFL. 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 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

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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.

palmPalm beach Beachcounty 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.

* Sunday Funday

Aug. 24 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Mad Hatter Lounge, 1532 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth and after party 6 to 9 p.m. at Suri Loft, 707 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. Join the boys of summer in your hottest outfit for drink specials, music games, and socializing. Then head to the after party at Suri Loft for more fun. Cost: Mad Hatter is free, after party is $10 or $15 at the door; call Matt at 786-375-0399. For general information call 561533-9699 or email events@compassglcc.com.

* Art Walk Revival of 2014

Aug. 28 from 6 to 11 p.m. at BBAD, 404-422 W. Industrial Ave. in Boynton Beach. A night of artists, live music from the John Greco Band and the School of Rock, food, drinks, and an all around good time for the arts. Email FloridaArtsAssociation@gmail.com.

Wheels and Heels: The Big Noise Around Little Toys

recovering addicts. Visit LambdaNorth.net.

Yoga Among the Orchids

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.

Voices of Pride

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

Coming Out Support Group

* Verde and Cigar City Brewing

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

PFLAG

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 soflagaynews //

* LGBT Community Football Night: Miami Dolphins vs St. Louis Rams

Rapid HIV Testing

Zumba Fitness

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.

Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at db Bistro Moderne, 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way in Miami. Enjoy a family style dinner paired with handcrafted brews from Southern Tier.

Cost $65. Call 305-421-8800 or visit dbBistro.com/ Miami.

Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at Sun Life Stadium, 347 Don Shula Drive in Miami Gardens. Join other members of the LGBT business community as the Dolphins take on the Rams in this pre-season game. Game tickets $35 to $75.

RSVP to 305-673-4440 or GayBizMiami.com.

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

Positive Connection

* Southern Tier Brewery Beer Dinner

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.

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 dance moves. Donation of $5 or more. Call 561-3241626 or visit CompassGLCC.com.

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.

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.

Call Carole 561-716-9464 or Joyce 561-292-3273.

Boynton Beach Art Walk

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-dade Miami county Spotlight Mega-Mixer

SouthFloridaGayNews

Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at Verde at PAMM, 1103 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The restaurant teams up with Cigar City Brewing for delicious bites paired with beers from the brewery. Cost $50. Call 305-375-8282 or visit PAMM. org/dining.

* Full Moon Fitness: Yoga

Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, 455 Grand Bay Drive in Key Biscayne. Hit the mat for your yoga practice under the stars. Cost $25. RSVP to 305-365-4157.

* Full Moon Fitness: Spinning

Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, 455 Grand Bay Drive in Key Biscayne. Get your heart racing and your body working with this spin class under the stars. Cost $25. RSVP to 305-365-4157.

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.

HIV Support Group

Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at South Beach AIDS Project, 1234 Washington Ave. Ste. 200 in Miami Beach. A support group for those who are HIV positive.

Free. Call 305-535-4733, ext. 301 or email support@ sobeaids.org.

Modern Buddhist Meditation

Mondays and Tuesdays at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Find inner peace with instruction on meditation with Buddhist monk, Gen Kelsang Nurbu. Cost $10 and $5 per class.

Call 786-529-7137.

Book Study

Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Buddhist monk, Gen Kelsang Nurbu, will lead classes on learning the foundations of Buddhism. Call 786-529-7137.

* Denotes New Listing

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 //45

SFGN Classified$ To place a Classified Ad, call Jason Gonzales at 954.530.4970 or visit SFGN.com

Announcement ESTATE/GARAGE SALE Designer’s home, accessories & art, some furniture pieces, DON’T MISS OUT, many items to choose from. Please call 954-224-2299

attorneys

employment/jobs

SWINGING RICHARDS NOW HIRING Quality Male Dancers & Waiters. Full nudity/upscale club environment with great income potential.

Please text (865)385-9568 or email photos/info to jthoppy@gmail.com

TRAVEL AGENT PART TIME Full service travel agency located on Wilton Drive seeks experienced part time travel professional. Must have good internet and communication skills.

Ability to assist clients with airline, hotel, cruise, and tour package reservations. Call 954-5652345 for an initial phone interview.

home & garden

licensed massage

SWEDISH MASSAGE $50 PER 90 MIN - out calls higher. Swedish, Deep Tissue, Specialty Back, Lower Body & Feet. Couples discounts.

Seniors welcome. Delray Beach. 16 years experience. MA18563 Dennis 561-502-2628 www. massagebydennis.net

pets/supplies

Dependable Reliable Service Delivered with Love and Respect

INCREDIBLY AWESOME BODYWORK IN WPB In-calls at a private studio 15 minutes west of PBIA. Intuitive, experienced licensed massage therapist offers affordable rates 7 days, early to late. SUMMER SPECIAL for new clients only, $40 for 1 hour! Calls only 561254-8065 for the very best massage experience you can get HANDS DOWN! #MA51008

counseling

FAST A/C REPAIRS! Lic and insured, CAC057837. A&H A/C. 954-392-1301. We focus on repairs, not selling you new equipment. 24 Hour Service. Evening Appointments Available.

POOL SERVICE Mention this ad and receive your first month

cleaning services CLEAN IT RIGHT! The best cleaning for your buck. 1BD $60, 2BD $70, 3BD $80. Excellent rates & references. 10 years in business. Serving Broward, North Miami-Dade & S. Palm Beach.

Call Manny 954-560-4443

computers HATE WINDOWS 8? We can bring back the look and feel of windows. Same day service.

Call 954-986-1316 www.gaycomputerwiz.com

employment/jobs HAIR STYLIST/BARBER WANTED Professional motivated Stylist/Barber for Booth rental position or commission opportunity in upscale Wilton Manors Salon. Please send Resume to info@scissorium or call 954-563-1981

46

// 8.20.2014 // SFGN.com //

FREE! some restrictions apply

AFFORDABLE AWESOME MASSAGE BY JIM Offering Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and LomiLomi Massage for Men; in a very comfortable, relaxed and Private Massage Studio, NOW conveniently located in Wilton Manors on NE 26th Street, with plenty of free parking. Same Day appointments are welcome; please call Jim, 954-600-5843 email: info@massagebyjim.com or visit my website for testimonials, rates and more. GREAT OPENING SPECIAL NOW AVAILABLE! www.massagebyjim.com Licensed and Certified MM22293

piano lessons

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO? Learn from an experienced teacher. All levels and ages welcome. Learn to play classical, popular, jazz, or show tunes. Visit www.edwinchad.com or call 954-826-9555 for more information.

Serving Broward Since 1999

Call for a free estimate: 954-367-7007 Web: www.skimmerspools.com Email: skimmerspoolservice@gmail.com

HUSBAND FOR RENT! Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow??

After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more!It doesn’t cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait?

Neat, clean work for a reasonable price. Call Haim at 954-398-3676, sidnalll@yahoo.com soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

pets/supplies

LIC # 11000106488

realtors

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

rent/lease fort lauderdale

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

furnished housing **PERFECT RELOCATION RENTALS** *4-WEEK+SPECIAL FROM $350/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

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 FOR RENT - FORT LAUDERDALE: 1142 NE 4th Avenue, second floor, 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment. $700/month. Call George at 954-7640212 or 954-581-2573 MIDDLE RIVER TERRACE: 1/1 $750/month, all tile, eat in kitchen, W/D. May be able to help w/ move in costs, call for details. 954-527-9225 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.

SFGN.com

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING WORKS!

To place an ad in SFGN’s Classifieds call Jason Gonzales at

954.530.4970 soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.20.2014 //47

Talk

can be the perfect foreplay.

Protect yourself and your partner. Talk about testing, your status, condoms, and new options like medicines that prevent and treat HIV. Get the facts and tips on how to start the conversation at cdc.gov/ActAgainstAIDS/StartTalking

Follow us online at: 48

// 8.20.2014 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

facebook.com/StartTalkingHIV

SouthFloridaGayNews

@TalkHIV