10/22/14 V5i43 by South Florida Gay News

local name, global coverage

HISTORY MONTH Continues

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October 22, 2014 // vol. 5 // issue 43

Decision Days LGBT groups cast their ballots. And you? Pages 12-14, 20

SFGN Annual

Bars & Clubs Guide Debut!

IN THIS ISSUE

Special 32-page insert

– 92 pages of news this week – SouthFloridaGayNews

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Florida Pro 2014

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

Compiled by John McDonald

Amendment 2 Support Dwindling? Reports out of the Tampa Bay area claim support for the legalization of medical marijuana in Florida is waning. True or false is anyone’s guess, but the amendment did exceed the 683,000 petition signatures needed for ballot access. Recent million dollar ad campaigns by opponents of Amendment 2 have hyped ridiculous

situations involving marijuana in an attempt to ramp up hysteria surrounding the plant. If Florida voters give Amendment 2 more than 60 percent approval, the Sunshine State would become the first in the South to approve a comprehensive medical marijuana plan.

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest U.S. gay rights organization, is endorsing pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP. “Today, there is an unprecedented chance to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in part through PrEP’s aggressive prevention of new HIV infections,” said Chad Griffin, president

of the Human Rights Campaign. Some doctors have been reluctant to prescribe the once-a-day pill (Truvada) for fear it could encourage high-risk unprotected sexual behavior. HRC insists the drug is a “critically important tool” in combating HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Bishops Backtrack on Gays in Church One week after the Vatican released a document interpreted as reaching out to gays, a group of bishops, led by New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, backtracked on that message. The synod failed to build a consensus on homosexuals’ role in the Roman Catholic Church, while Cardinal Dolan stated there is “overwhelming agreement on things:

First of all on the definition of marriage, given us by God and faithfully handed on by the church — one man and one woman, lifelong, life-giving, faithful, bringing about new life with children — enthusiastic response to that.” Cardinal Dolan said he was able to gather strong support from African bishops during the synod.

See center spread to

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Bars & Clubs Guide

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October 22, 2014 • Volume 5 • Issue 43 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 / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.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 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

HRC Endorses PrEP

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

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Brian McNaught • Dana Rudolph • Wayne Besen Ric Reily • Steve Siler • Bil Browning Terri Schlichenmeyer

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Cover: Designed by Brendon Lies 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.

Associated Press

news highlight

Gay Marriage Comes to Rome John McDonald The gay marriage debate arrived within walking distance of the Vatican as Rome’s mayor registered 16 gay marriages celebrated abroad in open defiance of Italy’s government. Gay marriage is illegal in Italy. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano sent a notice to local prefects saying any registrations of gay marriages celebrated abroad would be voided, and Rome’s prefect has vowed to do so immediately. Rome’s mayor, Ignazio Marino, received thunderous applause as he arrived in the city hall reception room where the couples, their friends and family gathered to make their marriages official in Rome’s city ledger. One by one, the couples -- gay and lesbian, some with children -- were called up to witness Marino transcribe the date and locations of their weddings, including Spain, Portugal and the U.S. Marino said it was an important day in the fight for equal rights for all and that “the most important right is to say to your companion ‘I love you’ and to have that be recognized. “We have a lot of work to do to make sure everyone’s rights are recognized,” he said

before transcribing the first of 16 marriages, standing with the spouses after handing them the registration document and posing for photos. Jonathon Dominic Spada, a 26-year-old from Santa Barbara, California, and Fabrizio Maffeo, 35, a Roman computer specialist, were there to register their 2013 marriage in Boston. “It’s important -- a limited recognition, but it’s something,” Maffeo said. “I’m proud of our mayor.” The next step, he said, was for Italy to change its law to allow gay marriage and gay adoption -- a step he said they were looking forward to. Premier Matteo Renzi has said he would propose legislation allowing gay unions, though it wouldn’t include adoption.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.22.2014 //

News Briefs Compiled by John McDonald

Yellow Cab Apologizes to Gay Couple

Officials from the Yellow Cab company, based in Houston, Texas, have issued a second statement and are now apologizing, after one of their drivers booted a same-sex couple from his taxi and told them they were going to Hell after the two men kissed. “For over forty years, Yellow Cab has proudly served all communities,” said Cindy Clifford, Yellow Cab spokeswoman, in a statement. “We regret that the actions of one of our independent contract drivers took place, and are intently looking into the matter, which was undoubtedly an isolated incident.” Clifford added, “It is absolutely unacceptable that any passenger ever be denied service because of her or his sexual orientation. Yellow Cab has consistently been a vocal ally of the LGBT community in Houston and does not condone any discrimination whatsoever. No matter who you love, Yellow Cab will be there for you.” Couple Travis Player and Andres Orozco told ABC 13 this week that a Yellow Cab driver kicked them out of the car several blocks away from their home after the pair gave each other a

“PG” kiss. He then allegedly told them that they were going to go to Hell because they are gay. “We thought he was joking until he actually pulled over,” Player said of the taxi driver. “We gave each other a kiss and he told us to get out of the car.” Orozco added that the driver said he “doesn’t ‘give gay people rides...’ And he proceeds to tell us we’re going to Hell for being gay.” Yellow Cab officials initially released a statement after the incident -- albeit a lighthearted response -- about the incident. As you can probably tell, their tone has changed quite a bit: “Yellow Cab immediately investigated this allegation of discrimination, including talking to the independent contractor driver. The driver stated that he would have taken the same actions if it was a man and a woman in the taxicab. Evidently, the driver was overly sensitive to passengers kissing. Yellow Cab does not have a policy about passengers showing affection in taxicabs. In fact, we encourage kissing in our taxicabs.”

Receives Major Dems Herman Endorsements

French Conservatives Outraged

Members of France’s right wing party, Printemps Français, were outraged last week by U.S. artist Paul McCarthy. McCarthy assembled a giant green inflatable, what he called a tree, inside the hallowed streets of Paris. The French took it as an insult. Printemps Français members thought the tree looked more like an anal sex toy. “Giant butt plug appears in centre of Paris” was plastered across European news sites last week. McCarthy, 69, reportedly entered the “tree” in a French art festival. It was erected inside the Place Vendome, an upmarket section of the French capital. Following the initial outcry by Printemps party members, the exhibit was vandalized and continued to receive calls for its removal. McCarthy, himself, reports he was “slapped in the face” on three separate occasions. Paris Deputy Mayor Bruno Julliard joined the debate by calling the vandals who deflated McCarthy’s tree, “imbeciles” on Twitter. Printemps Français members claim the “tree” is a humiliation to the historical setting of Place Vendrome. McCarthy thought he was just getting ready for Christmas, although admitting to the French newspaper Le Monde he might have been inspired by the Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi.

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Scott Herman, the Florida Democratic Party’s candidate in District 93, received two major endorsements this week -- from Weston’s Nan Rich and DNC chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Herman is campaigning to take the seat of incumbent Rep. George Moraitis (R-Fort Lauderdale) in the 2014 midterm election. Rich, a former state senator, finished second behind Charlie Crist in the recent gubernatorial primary election. She is known as a champion of liberal causes. Wasserman-Schultz, a U.S. congresswoman representing Florida’s 23rd district, is often seen on MSNBC reciting Democratic talking points. Herman welcomed the endorsements. “I have always been honest to myself and I have always strived to do what is right for my constituents,” said Herman, 43, a disabled combat veteran who lives in Oakland Park. Moraitis, 43, has represented portions of Palm Beach and Broward Counties in Tallahassee since his election in 2010. This is Herman’s second attempt at the Florida legislature. In 2012, he ran as a Republican and was defeated by Democratic power broker Perry Thurston, Jr. Herman says there were many factors that led to his decision to switch to the Democratic Party, the party’s acceptance of many viewpoints, chief among those factors. He said removing Gov. Rick Scott, and his destructive policies, from the Governor’s mansion is the first step in securing a better Florida. “We can undo the damage Governor Rick Scott has done and begin to invest in jobs for Floridians and better infrastructure for our state,” Herman said.

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SouthFloridaGayNews

British Study Shows PrEP Works

The anti-HIV procedure, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), is showing promising results according to a British study. Proud Clinics is conducting the trial in co-operation with England’s Public Health department. The trial consists of one Truvada pill daily. Results from this British study indicate PrEP is effective against the HIV virus. Proud Clinics enrolled 545 participants in the study who were randomly assigned treatment programs, consisting of Truvada or another placebo. All participants were offered regular HIV testing as well as testing for other sexually transmitted diseases and information on safe-sex practices. Proud Clinics hailed the results in an interim analysis, stating its PrEP findings are “highly protective against HIV for gay men and other men who have sex with men in the U.K.” Results of the British study were announced Oct. 16, 2014.

ruz defends Texas pastors

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) came to the aid of church pastors in Houston last week, saying the city’s subpoenas of church sermons was “shocking” and “shameful.” Cruz said the subpoenas by Houston Mayor Annise Parker were an assault on religious liberty. A group of pastors in Houston have filed a lawsuit against the city’s LGBT-inclusion, non-discrimination ordinance. Parker, who campaigned and was elected Houston’s mayor as an openly gay woman, acknowledged that the subpoenas filed by outside attorneys working pro bono for the city were too broad and were used solely to determine if there were specific instructions given during sermons about how to complete petitions to put the ordinance up for a public referendum. Cruz, 43, is clearly positioning himself for a run at the White House. His rush to defend Houston pastors is the latest example of the Tea Party senator staking out socially conservative positions. Cruz called the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision not to intervene in same-sex marriage bans in several states, “tragic and indefensible.”

news bites

by John McDonald

rantalis Seeking ReElection

Photo: trantalislaw.com

Inside a packed warehouse Tuesday night, attorney Dean J. Trantalis announced his intentions to seek re-election to the Fort Lauderdale City Commission. Trantalis, who is openly gay, has a long record of championing issues of equality and human rights. He received his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University School of Law in 1979. “My role is to help convince others who we are,” Trantalis told the mostly gay audience at C & I Studios, part of an emerging arts district in Fort Lauderdale. A native of Connecticut, Trantalis has served as commissioner of District II since March of 2013. Previously, he served as Vice Mayor and District II Commissioner from 2003-2006.

iami Documentary Nominated For Emmy

The documentary “The Day It Snowed in Miami” has been nominated by the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for a 2014 Emmy Award. Presented by the Miami Herald and WPBT-Channel 2, the documentary chronicles singer Anita Bryant’s 1977 morality crusade and the subsequent battle for gay rights in the Magic City. The 86-minute film is narrated by Margot Winick and was co-produced by Miami Herald LGBT issues reporter Steve Rothaus. Its title serves as a reminder of a controversial period in Florida history and the last time snowflakes fell in Miami. Retail price is $19.99.

GBTI Umbrella Organization Launches In Turkey

Photo: lgbti.org

A new organization claiming to be the first of its kind has surfaced in Turkey, a predominantly Islamic country at the intersection of Europe and Asia. The organization is billing itself as an umbrella group based in the Turkish capital of Ankara and lists its website as www.lgbti.org. Founded by the gay activist Nikopol, the organization is attempting to combat homophobia and transphobia in a nation with conservative Muslim groups that are vociferous in their opposition to gay rights. Same-sex relations have been legal in Turkey since 1858, but the law does not include sexual orientation or gender identity in its legal or civil rights structure. Current Turkish law does not recognize same-sex couples.

oint Foundation Offering Scholarships

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students are encouraged to apply for Point Foundation scholarships. Point is the nation’s largest scholarship fund for LGBTQ students of merit and currently provides financial assistance and programming support to more than 80 fulltime students. “Through our supportive network of peers, mentors and allies, Point can open doors for these bright students to thrive in school, the community and life,” said Point CEO Jorge Valencia. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations, Point has invested $18 million in education since its founding in 2001. Applications open online Nov. 1 at www.pointfoundation. org/apply. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.22.2014 //

news local

OutClique – A New Place to Get the Scoop on Gay Events Denise Royal

A new local website has launched focusing on gay-friendly events, places and resources for South Florida. It’s called OutClique.org. “OutClique strives to be the one place that locals and visitors can visit to plan their days and nights,” said Steven Evans, the CEO and Founder of OutClique.org. While there are other sites catering to that audience, Evans says many factors set OutClique.org apart from the competititon. “OutClique has worked very hard to include all aspects of gay life in South Florida into our online database. Likewise, our company publishes as many gay and gay-friendly events that we can find. We

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get these from our own searches, from our host database entries, and from user submissions,” Evans said. The site also prides itself on being very user friendly. “Our event and host listings are all graphic driven, making it easy for users to scan and see what is available. And our site is calendar-based, meaning that the data is always up to date. All events must be entered by date, and are thus cataloged on the site appropriately. Event data on the site is always displayed in real time,” Evans said. The site has recently undergone a makeover, including a mobile-friendly version. That allows users to use their

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tablet or cell phone to check out events or plan their next trip. But users don’t need to visit the site to see all of its events. OutClique publishes all of its event photos on its social media page. This allows users to find albums much easier, as well as tag themselves and their friends. Hanging with your friends in person and online is the point of the site. OutClique encourages one simple idea: “Get out, be yourself, and enjoy every minute of it.” So what’s next for OutClique.com? The site is currently developing its iPhone and Android apps. For more information, check out www.OutClique.org.

SouthFloridaGayNews

EO Steven C Evans (right), the founder of OutClique, stands next to Darren Loli, the CIO.

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feature

Election Endorsements 2014

SFGN Staff Here is your guide to this year’s elections from the three largest LGBT rights groups in South Florida, SAVE, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council and Equality Florida.

SAVE Action PAC Endorsements Federal U.S. Congressman (Dist. 23), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz U.S. Congressman (Dist. 24), Frederica Wilson U.S. Congressman (Dist. 26), Joe Garcia Frederica Wilson U.S. Congressman

Statewide Governor - Charlie Crist Attorney General - George Sheldon

Miami-Dade County State House State House District 112, Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez State House District 114, Daisy Baez State House District 117, Kionne McGhee State House District 100, Joseph Geller (DEM)

Miami-Dade Municipal Scott Herman State House District 93

George Sheldon Attorney General

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Enid Weisman for Mayor of Aventura Denise Landman for Aventura Commission, Seat 2 Marc E. Narotsky for Aventura Commission, Seat 6 Shelley Stanczyk for Mayor of Palmetto Bay Karyn Cunningham for Palmetto Bay Village Council, Seat 1 Henry T. Clifford for Palmetto Bay Village Council, Seat 3 Claudia Cubillos for Mayor of El Portal Adam Old for El Portal Village Council, Seat 1 Harold Mathis for El Portal Village Council, Seat 4 Peggy Bell for Mayor of Cutler Bay Mary Ann Mixon for Cutler Bay Town Council, Seat 1 Connie Leon-Kreps for Mayor of North Bay Village Mario Garcia for North Bay Village Commission North Miami Mayor, Kevin Burns (NPA) soflagaynews //

Miami-Dade County County Commission District 8, Daniella Levine Cava

Broward County Broward County Commission District 4, Kenneth Keechl (DEM) Wilton Manors Mayor, Gary Resnick (NPA) Wilton Manors City Commission, Justin Flippen Oakland Park City Commission At-large, John Adornato III (NPA) Oakland Park City Commission At-large, Shari McCartney (NPA)

Gary Resnick Wilton Manors Mayor

Ballot Initiatives YES on Amendment 1 Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative YES on Amendment 2 Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative NO on Amendment 3 Florida Prospective Judicial Vacancies

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance Endorsements Federal

Scott Newton Wilton Manors City Commission

U.S. Congressman (Dist. 18) - Patrick Murphy U.S. Congressman (Dist. 20) - Alcee Hastings U.S. Congressman (Dist. 21) - Ted Deutch U.S. Congresswoman (Dist. 22) - Lois Frankel

Statewide Governor - Charlie Crist Attorney General - George Sheldon Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater (Rep.) OR William “Will” Rankin (Dem.)

SouthFloridaGayNews

Kenneth Keechl Broward County Commissioner

feature

Palm Beach County

Patrick Murphy U.S. Congressman

State Senator (Dist. 34) Ellyn Bogdanoff State Representative (Dist. 82) - Mary W. Higgins State Representative (Dist. 86) - Mark Pafford State Representative (Dist. 88) - Bobby Powell State Representative (Dist. 89) - Bill Hager School Board (Dist. 4) - Erica Whitfield Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (Dist.4), Steven Abrams (Rep) OR Andrew “Andy” O’Brien (Dem.) Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (Dist. 6) - Melissa McKinlay Palm Beach County Port Commissioner (Group 5) - Peyton McArthur Palm Beach County Soil and Water Conservation District (Group 5) - Karl Dickey West Palm Beach Mayor - Jeri Muoio

Ballot Initiatives: Amendment 1 - Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative - YES Amendment 2 - Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative - YES Joe Garcia U.S. Congressman

Amendment 3 - Florida Prospective Judicial Vacancies - NO Countywide Question 1 - Children’s Services Council Reauthorization - YES Countywide Question 2 - Ad Velorem Levy for School Operational Needs - YES

Equality Florida Statewide

Governor- Charlie Crist Attorney General - George Sheldon

Broward County State House State House District 100, Joseph Geller (DEM) State House District 93, Scott Herman (DEM) State House District 96, Kristin Jacobs (DEM) State Senator District 36, Oscar Braynon (DEM) State Senator District 34, Maria Sachs (DEM)

Broward County Broward County Commission District 4, Kenneth Keechl (DEM) Broward County Commission District 8, Barbara Sharief (DEM)

Broward County Municipal Margate City Commission 3, Lesa “Le” Peerman (NPA) Oakland Park City Commission At-large, John Adornato III (NPA) Oakland Park City Commission At-large, Shari McCartney (NPA) Wilton Manors City Commission, Scott Newton (NPA) Wilton Manors Mayor, Gary Resnick (NPA)

Miami-Dade County State House

State House District 86, Mark Pafford (DEM) State House District 89, Bill Hager (REP) State Senator District 34, Maria Sachs (DEM)

Charlie Crist Governor

State House District 112, Jose Javier Rodriguez (DEM) State House District 114, Daisy Baez (DEM) State House District 117, Kionne McGhee (DEM) State Senator District 36, Oscar Braynon (DEM)

Palm Beach County Barbara Sharief Broward County Commissioner

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz U.S. Congressman

Miami-Dade Municipal North Miami Mayor, Kevin Burns (NPA)

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Justin Flippen Wilton Manors City Commission SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.22.2014 // 13

feature

Ken Keechl’s Run for the Roses

Gay candidate seeks return to county commission

Elliot Joseph

Below: Ken Keechl (left) and Scott Herman (right).

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soflagaynews //

Democratic candidate Ken Keechl made history when he was the first openly gay person elected to the Broward County Commission in 2006. But the FSU law graduate, elevated to the position of county mayor in 2010, stumbled in his re-election bid. In a close race, and a very bad political year for Democrats, he was defeated by Republican Chip LaMarca. While beaten by the numbers, Keechl’s determination and resolve has led him to make a second try to get the seat back, for a job he calls “the best in the world.” He realizes the battle ahead. A similar attempt to gain back a commission seat was thwarted in 2012 when he finished second in a three way primary race. He and Fort Lauderdale city commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom split the same vote, opening the door for incumbent Tim Ryan. This year, Keechl has beaten back a fellow gay activist, Ben Lap, with a decisive 71 percent primary win. He is now poised to again challenge LaMarca , the man who took his seat away four years ago. Day after day, and night after night, Keechl hits the campaign trail. It’s a grind, even for a native Floridian who put himself through FSU with Pell Grants, off campus jobs and scholarships. Staying in Tallahassee after his college graduation, he went on to earn his law degree at FSU as well, in 1987. Ted Adcock, his partner of 26 years, acknowledges that Keechl “is never home.” There is little time for the summer home in Melbourne or rest while running. Keechl wants his job back. “Yes, I enjoyed the work, but we achieved many good things that need to be continued today. As mayor, I guided through the Broward County Commission, a complete rewrite of Broward’s Ethics Ordinance to stop lobbyists and business interests from giving gifts to Commissioners and County staff. It was the right thing to do. “ In a 2010 interview, Keechl remarked about his experience: “I ran for office as a fiscal conservative and as someone concerned about the environment, but I am aware of the historic nature of becoming a gay mayor and I am proud of it.” The generosity of Keechl and his husband, Adcock, have underwritten and supported a score of LGBT non-profits, from the Pride Center to HIV programs. Leaders of the gay community would like to see Keechl ascend to office again. But his campaign reaches beyond LGBT issues. As an environmental advocate, he wants to protect beach re-nourishment funding sources and defend the protection of Broward’s dwindling green spaces. He also asserts that he has been SouthFloridaGayNews

a consumer watchdog, voting against wasteful government spending. Keechl is also hitting talking points about Broward’s future. He says the commission has failed on public transportation. “Finding a dedicating source of funds for long-term transportation needs is critical,” Keechl has said. “Broward County is too autocentric.” Despite his aspirations, Keechl has been in a few battles himself, once accused of overly favoring the bail bond industry. Keechl challenges the criticism, by pointing to his advocacy on the Public Safety Coordinating Council, working to put caps on jail overcrowding. “You can’t please everyone,” Keechl states, “but you can stand up for the right things.” Keechl is finding enormous support in the LGBT community, with fundraisers sponsored by George Castrataro and events attended by Fort Lauderdale city commissioner Dean Trantalis. Still, the downtown business, real estate and financial district, which comprises the epicenter of Keechl’s uphill campaign, is one of the few areas of Broward County which remains a Republican stronghold. Opponents have challenged Keechl as a candidate “whose time has come and gone.” In two weeks, with a strong LGBT showing, Keechl hopes to prove them wrong. The demographics of the district are different now than 2010. The outcome could still be a big surprise. Both candidates are fighting vigorously for the job. LaMarca said he should be re-elected because he has put residents’ needs first, “always advocating for the best interests of district. I show up, and I work hard for them every day.” Keechl said he should be elected again because he wants to return to address issues he says haven’t been dealt with since his departure. He said he has a track record of building consensus, one the “community and commission needs.” Keechl has won the endorsement of the AFLCIO and the PBA. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors Association has backed LaMarca. Money wise, incumbency has its virtues. While Keechl has raised just under $100,000, La Marca’s last campaign report reveals he has over $400,000. “It’s going to be a close race, “ Keechl acknowledges. The one time president of the Dolphin Democrats is encouraging supporters to get to the polls on November 4. “ I know that every vote counts.” Few people can say that with as much experience.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.22.2014 // 15

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Gay Bars in Dire Need of Disability Training Belo Cipriani

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Nothing arouses my senses quite like a lively party. In gay bars, there are a multitude of things that scream out, “It’s time! It’s time to relax and have fun!” The sound of laughter coming from across the room suggests there’s a group of friends sharing stories. The shaking of ice in cups tells me the bartender is about to serve a frosty cocktail, and the smell of smoke tells me the place has a patio where patrons can enjoy a ciggy. And when I enter a bathroom, the scent of certain chemicals lets me know the toilet is off to my right. But, unfortunately, not every gay bar experience is relaxing and fun for someone who is disabled. Making a connection A warm rush of elation washed over me as I sped down the street with my guide dog, Oslo. I’d been curious about speed dating and was thrilled when a gay bar promoted the speedy singles night on their Facebook page. I heard a buzzing crowd a few feet away and I knew we had arrived at the club. Oslo guided me to the entrance and I heard a man shout in accented English, “No dogs allowed!” And so began another epic struggle for my pre-existing rights as a blind man. I explained to the bouncer that Oslo was a service dog, yet he continued to deny me entrance. I told him he was breaking the law and the men around me began to pipe up in my defense. The bar manager came out to speak with me and coldly said I could enter — albeit beneath a flurry of angry mutters. Feeling exhausted, I made my way in when suddenly I was approached by a woman with a cheery voice. “I’m sorry,” she huffed, “but you can’t be here.” I drew a deep breath and shared that the manager had let me in and that Oslo was a service dog. The woman exhaled and said, “Well, I don’t have any blind guys for you to date. Plus, the men here are guys that are

serious about meeting someone.” “I’m serious, too,” I replied. “Yeah, but this crowd is not expecting someone like you. Why don’t you give me your information and I will notify you if we do an event for people with handicaps.” My face felt hot. Tired and frustrated, I turned around and left. The tense and silent trip back home represents many of my experiences in dealing with personnel at gay venues. Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act protects my rights, I am constantly reminded by bartenders, bouncers and other staff that the LGBTQ community is not being trained on how to interact with the disabled. Losing my sight I was not born without sight. My vision loss was the result of a brutal attack that occurred in San Francisco seven years ago. The point being that I know what it’s like to enjoy gay venues as a sighted person. It was a shock when I went from being greeted politely by members of an establishment to having to instruct workers to ask me what I wanted, instead of asking my friends. In San Francisco, The Café in the Castro has been the only venue that has consistently given me great service. I have had a hard time in gay clubs in Miami, New York City and Los Angeles, to name a few. More and more, I see straight places offering more accommodations for people with disabilities, while gay establishments continue to offer poor service. A message to gay business owners It’s important for gay businesses to start recognizing the disabled as a viable market. By training workers to better serve the disabled population, gay businesses will be ensuring things run smoothly for them, as well as for all of their patrons. It’s time for a change. And with October being Disability Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to encourage businesses to adapt.

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 and Midday Dreams. Learn more at BeloCipriani.com.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.22.2014 // 17

letters to the editor

Time to Set the Record Straight (or Gay)

Mimi Planas

Miami Log Cabin president refutes liberal and gay media on their representation of Rick Scott and Pam Bondi

For months now we have been hearing about how evil Rick Scott and Pam Bondi are to the Gay Community. How we can’t allow another 4 years of the mean Rick Scott or the intolerant Pam Bondi. Well, the time has come for a little dose of what I like to call “THE TRUTH”. Let’s go back in time for one moment so that I can better prove my point and bring you some clarity. The year was 2008 and Barack Obama was elected and promised hope and change through-out the land! The Gay Community was completely on board! Even though at the time he had not yet “evolved” on Gay marriage, insisting then that he believed marriage was between a man and a woman. But it was ok! There was “hope.” Fast Forward July 13, 2010 – Log Cabin Republicans filed a lawsuit against the U.S. challenging the constitutionality of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (a piece of legislation signed into law by then President Clinton). At that point, Obama (and his hope) continued to send the Justice department to defend DADT (much like Pam Bondi is doing now on gay marriage). On September 9, 2010, Judge Virginia Phillips ruled that DADT is unconstitutional. On October 12, Judge Phillips issued an injunction banning the military from enforcing the policy. She subsequently denied Obama’s Justice Department their request for a stay of the injunction, and the Justice Department then took their request to the Ninth Circuit, which granted a stay. On November 12, the United States Supreme Court denied an application by the Log Cabin Republicans to vacate the stay. The Ninth Circuit vacated the stay on July 6, 2011, and ordered an end to enforcement of DADT. Any questions so far? Ok, to sum up. Republicans (gay republicans) sued the Government (Run by Obama) to put an end to DADT. The Justice Department (Under President Obama) for over a year continued to defend the law of the land (Much like Pam Bondi is doing now in Florida). There was no outrage from the Gay Media, Gay organizations or the LGBT community – only from LCR. Republicans won and it was declared unconstitutional. Then the Democrats finally moved on the matter and repealed it in Congress of which they controlled in September 2011. Two years in charge of the

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administration, the House and the Senate and they did not address the issue. It was the Gay Republicans who pushed to make that happen. Fast forward 2014, Gay Marriage Ban declared Unconstitutional in Florida by courts, Attorney General Appeals and defends the Florida Constitution (the law of Florida) – Much like Obama did with DADT. The Gay media, gay organizations and the LGBT community are outraged! Pam Bondi is a homophobe. Pam Bondi is evil! Must get her out! It is all her fault! So in other words, Obama and his administration can defend DADT and not a word from these groups other than Log Cabin Republicans. The gay community is silent and everyone still loves him and all of his administration. Pam Bondi defends the constitution of Florida and she is an evil homophobe and must be dealt with. What? Does this make sense to anyone? Let me be VERY clear, neither Rick Scott nor Pam Bondi made gay marriage illegal in Florida. Quite the contrary, the newly minted Democrat did! You got it! Charlie Crist not only signed the petition for the Gay Marriage Ban, but lobbied for and pushed it with the help of the Christian Family Coalition. He was also against Gay Adoption (you know, before he was for it). This ban was allowed to proceed and was voted into law by 60 percent of registered voters in Florida hence adding the law to our Florida Constitution while Crist was still Governor of the State. But wait, it’s all good now because Crist is a Democrat and has apologized for that. So to recap – Marriage Ban pushed by Charlie Crist – ok let’s support him (after all he is a Democrat now). Defending DADT by Obama’s Government for over a year – ok let’s support him (after all he is a Democrat). Florida Constitution defended by the Attorney General Pam Bondi (as sworn to under oath) No good, let’s get her (after all she is a Republican). I had the pleasure of meeting Pam Bondi at a fundraiser of hers on October 7th. Not only did I have at least a 10 minute conversation with her, but I stayed to hear her speech. In our conversation I realized 2 things. She is NOT AT ALL what the media is portraying her to be, secondly she is not even a “homophobe”! soflagaynews //

You heard it here first! Pam Bondi does not hate gay people and is NOT a homophobe. She gave me a big hug and was eager to discuss her position on the appeal with me. She proceeded to assure me that her intentions have always been and are only about upholding her oath and defending the constitution. I believe her and so should you. If you doubt me, I challenge you to find one quote or comment from HER (not the media) stating that she is in favor of the marriage ban. All she has done is repeatedly explain to the press and her foes that her only intention here is to defend the Florida Constitution (to which she has sworn under oath to protect). But our incompetent media chooses their own titles and selective quotes. Now I ask all the nay-sayers a question. Are you really asking her to ignore the law? Are you asking the Attorney General of our state – any state – to ignore their own Constitution? Should she also ignore Article I of the Constitution (our bill of rights) or how about article VII? Any other Amendments you would like her to ignore while we’re at it? If medical marijuana passes and there are people who oppose it, should we have her ignore that one too? We cannot sit here and ask a sworn officer of the law to ignore certain laws we

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do not like. I wouldn’t. We go through the system and change it. We fight for it, but we do not, under any circumstance, ask ANYONE to pick and choose which laws we would like them to enforce. Pam Bondi, I happen to know, is not against the Gay community. Those who believe this have been sucked into the whirlwind of deception that could only be drummed up by the experienced Democrat party in creating something that DOES NOT EXIST. Not only have countless people in the Gay Community reached out to me to tell me she is getting a bum rap, but I have seen it myself! The Media will just not quote her correctly. You see, everyone loves a villain, makes for a good story right? Here is the bottom line, if you are coming after Pam Bondi, then I challenge ALL of the Gay Media and Gay Organizations to take a step back and fire off a letter or two on how disappointed you were when Barack Obama did the same in 2010. Shame on all of you who report your own stories as truth. The Truth is not what you want it to be, the truth is based on facts. Get the facts straight. We will not allow the Left to carry the Gay narrative anymore. Mimi Planas Log Cabin Republicans of Miami

Readers Respond to SFGN’s Cover Story on Crystal Meth

SFGN Staff

Here are a few snippets of what readers are saying about last week’s cover story on the crystal meth epidemic facing the gay community. Visit SFGN.com/Meth to read the story.

From Our Website: Restoretherainbow This is an outstanding, well researched, well written article! Thank you for publishing this. It’s highly informative-and I will join the chorus by saying that it is absolutely an epidemic in our gay male culture. Just because the CDC has not labeled it as such does not mean it’s not happening. Just like the AIDS Holocaust of the 80’s, this is eating alive an entire generation of gay men and it’s horrible. Collectively, we have to get to the root of the issue. Until we do, our culture is always going to be terrorized by the drug of the moment. Thanks again for this incredible article! NoMoreMeth Thank you Jason! You guys have transcended the mediocrity we are so overwhelmed with here in South Florida, and instead, have created content this week, that is completely “on-par” with the

very best NYC, Chicago or San Francisco newspapers. Thank you for giving me hope that you have now “raised the bar” toward excellence here in our community. Let’s hope everyone will follow your lead. Thank you!!!!!!! Derek Spisak Excellent article. Thank you for putting the effort and time into it. Shizen Giggles Great reporting. I’m so deathly afraid of meth and the stories that go with it, I won’t even go near someone that I know uses it. It’s odd that people who “try” it don’t fear it, or get talked into it. They’ve obviously not seen the famous before-and-after mug shots of meth users. (Google it, it’s pretty gross!) I guess there will always be that “not me” stupidity factor. Education is key, thanks for bringing this to light!

From Facebook: Scott Foval Thank you for covering this issue Jason Parsley. Very important.

Ary Aracibo Serrano The article is long. But it is very educational and worth reading...

Jeff Berry Excellent article, Jason! Thanks for bringing attention to this, and to the work David and others are doing.

David Paul Meth is bad news! It ends relationships, ruins careers and often results in HIV infection.

Zard E. Tompkins What a comprehensive and indepth article. Thank you for including the history/ timeline. Meth... Bad shit man.

Jason Gregory I learned my lesson years ago . Meth is a devil drug that destroys you from the inside out. I have friends that have been paralyzed and had kidney failure and are just totally out of touch with reality and common logic. It turns honest people into liars and liars into shady azz mofos.

John Grzeszczak Great article, and so sad to see so many lives ruined by this crap! thats right, crap! Gilberto Montalvo It’s sad, very sad. It gets me discouraged to see the numbers when it comes to people staying clean. It’s a monster and we have an epidemic in Wilton Manors, I have been using that word for a while now.

Christopher Ryan Awful, and so true. I’ve seen first hand what “Tina” does to people. Sean McCabe Amazing article!! So perfectly written!!!!

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.22.2014 // 19

column publisher’s editorial

Elections Have Consequences Make them count

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

Scott Herman Queer is the new normal in politics. It is no longer fashionable to beat up on the gay community. In fact, it’s downright stupid. We have a place at the table. We have respect and clout- and voices, straight and gay, speaking out for us. The first thing we all have to remember is that we don’t have to apologize for who we are. It needs no explaining. It’s our time, and it’s about time. We were second class citizens for too long. We do not need or have to ask for the tolerance or acceptance of others. If others can’t deal with the fact that homosexual lives are as valid as heterosexual lives, it is their problem, not yours. Marriage equality is a fundamental right you should have always had, not one you should plead for in front of a city commission. Politicians who do not understand that have no business serving in public office. They are a disgrace to the emerging rule of law and moral principles of the 21st century. Mayors like Fort Lauderdale’s Jack Seiler simply have to be replaced over time. South Florida is an epicenter of national gay tourism. Nice guys who don’t support your rights should not be community leaders. They need to be voted out of office, not tolerated and excused. Similarly, in an election year like 2014, not a single gay dollar should be spent endorsing or underwriting a single politician who does not openly and outwardly support ending employment discrimination in the workplace for the LGBT community. Keep that in kind when you vote for local, state or federal candidates With principles as simple and fundamental as this at the core of our beliefs, it is correspondingly

Ken Keechl understandable why this newspaper supports Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist. For whatever he did in the past, he has come around in the present. He supports us. We should support him. More than just on marriage equality, Crist impresses us as a candidate who communicates and does not condescend. One gets the feeling he will welcome the gay community to his administration, not lecture us on how he believes marriage is between one man and one woman. Gay Floridians deserve a supportive voice in Tallahassee. Early voting has begun. Our present governor has thwarted even that effort. Let’s move in a new direction, but not just in the state Capitol. Let’s make sure all candidates understand that the LGBT community is not just a voting bloc, but a block of citizens caring, committed, and concerned about our community. Let our voices be heard affirmatively on Amendment 1, which enhances state environmental protections. Let’s similarly endorse Amendment 2, which allows marijuana use to be a decision between you and your physician, not some street cop. Let’s support the Democratic candidate for attorney general, George Sheldon, who will support marriage equality in the courts, not fight it. Locally, let’s elect some gay voices, like Ken Keechl, the former Mayor, running for the Broward County Commission and Scott Herman, running for Florida House District 93. As SunServe executive director Mark Ketcham advocated in an op-ed a week ago here in

SFGN, let’s enthusiastically support re-funding for the Children’s Services Council. We are lucky in South Florida. Legislatively, we have many voices speaking for us, including a slate of Democratic congressional leaders who embrace the LGBT community. So look beyond our newspaper’s borders and help ensure that Congressman Patrick Murphy wins his first re-election campaign. The man who beat Allen West should not be forgotten. The goal of a newspaper should not be necessarily to tell you who to vote for, though we have certain preferences, of course. Our duty is to make you care and understand that your voice and vote count. Your duty as a citizen is to make your voice heard. Some choose to do it in the privacy of a voting booth, and some by standing on a soapbox or writing letters to the editor. Unfortunately, we use the freedoms of our society to disparage and demean ourselves all too often. We have campaign committees that are conspiratorial and vicious. We have campaign financing that is scandalous and corrupt. We have campaign advertising that is misleading and malevolent. It just turns you off to politics. Public service? It’s more like a toxic elixir! Ultimately, though, we all create the world we live in by each and every choice we make every day. As Americans, we are blessed that we still have the opportunity to make these choices freely and openly, with ballots instead of bullets. Too many times, we have screwed up along the way. Democracy is no small achievement. We have to work to make it work. Do your part.

Check out SFGN.com/Out50 - Nominate your choices for 2015’s OUT 50 at SFGN.com/out50Nominations 20

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SouthFloridaGayNews

SFGN

presents

h istory people

History Month

O, Dem Golden Slippers!

Gender variance and the Mummers Parade Bob Skiba

Washington Blade

hey were called female impersonators, character types, lovely creatures, drag queens, pansies, divas. They were straight, bi, gay and queer. For over a century, hundreds of men used the all-male bastion of the Philadelphia Mummers’ New Year’s Day Parade to create a space in which they could publicly defy expectations about gender. Philadelphia’s Mummers traditions date back at least to the early 19th century, when bands of outrageously dressed men would roam the city making noise, creating havoc and shooting off guns to welcome in the New Year. From its beginnings, the traditionally all-male Mummers’ or “New Years Shooters’” spectacle turned convention on its head by lampooning local politicians, caricaturing ethnic types and by including some of its participants in female clothing. In 1895, an Inquirer reporter wrote: “Much amusement was created by a shooter who was so dressed as to make it impossible to believe that he was not a woman. A green sating gown with a train, the whole embroidered with pink roses, was set off by a white parasol, plenty of face powder and a coquettish smile, which went straight to the hearts of those whom she — rather he — looked upon with favor.” When the city officially began sponsoring the Mummers’ New Year’s Day Parade in 1901, among the categories it awarded cash prizes for was “Best Female Impersonator,” sometimes called “Character Type.” It’s important to note that this was a serious and prestigious prize; the award was in the Fancy Divisions category and not the Comic. The comic “wench” costume was a later invention, whose grotesqueness and exaggeration only had the opposite effect of the “character type” of playing up the awkward masculinity of the wearer. Many participants competed year after

year, creating spectacular costumes to earn that prize for their club. South Philadelphian Frank Carter, for instance, represented the Passyunk Club every year from 1909-28, almost always winning first or second place. The newspaper photos of the era show Frank to be a diva force to be reckoned with. Through the decades, competitors were impeccably dressed in the height of current fashion: the tight hobble skirts of 1914, the elaborate Ziegfeld Follies headdresses of the 1920s and the glamorous movie gowns of the 1930s. By 1933, as what was called “the pansy craze” in entertainment swept America, there were so many “female impersonators” in the parade that at least one writer, astonished at the sea of gowns and peacock feathers, equated “drag” as he called it, with homosexuality. In his book “Strange Loves,” La Forest Potter wrote “the strangest feature of the matter is that, for quite a number of years, the first prize has always gone to a ‘fairy,’ made up as a woman and dressed in the gorgeous gown of a woman. The most exquisitely designed costume in the entire parade was conceived, designed and worn — by a male designer, whose real vocation was that of an interior decorator.” Through the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, the Mummers’ parades drew hundreds of competitors each year from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Boston, who flocked to Philadelphia to show off their finery on Broad Street, creating a highly visible gender-variant contingent in an alreadycolorful extravaganza. The Mummers began including women in the parade in the late 1970s, just about the same time the Trilby String Band mounted a Parade production called “Las Vegas on Broadway” featuring several local diva impersonators. A few years later, in 1984, Trilby presented “La

Cage aux Folles,” a tribute to the gay-themed Broadway show of the same name. Philadelphia Gay News carried a story about the openly gay Philadelphians who took part in the show, calling them “Our Boys in the Band.” The number of female impersonators in the parade began to wane in the early 1990s and nearly disappeared for 20 years. In 2013, the Mummers’ Association invited Brittany Lynn and her Drag Mafia to participate. Brittany’s highheeled and sequined presence has revived a long and venerable tradition going back to the 19th century. There’s much research to be done on those early gender-variant pioneers, and many questions to be answered. Who were these men who spent so much time and energy each year to compete? What drove them to participate year after year? Did their interest in female clothing go beyond this once-a-year spectacle? Did some of them identify as female? How were they viewed by their fellow Mummers, the press and the general public? Importantly, did they feel connected to a self-identified gender-variant community in Philadelphia? It’s evident that their artful, theatrical performances made it possible for audience members of that community who lined the streets to be more visible and to feel included in the spectacle. During the 1950s, there were corners on Broad and Locust streets where the “queers” congregated to watch. For one day a year in Philadelphia, being different was something to be celebrated. Bob Skiba, a Philadelphia tour guide for 14 years, is president of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides and archivist at William Way LGBT Community Center. He coauthored “Lost Philadelphia” in 2013.

Left: The likenesses of Joel Grey (from left), Carmen Miranda, Shirley Bassey, Cher, Marilyn Monroe and Diana Ross marched with the Trilby String Band in the 1985 Mummers’ Parade. Credit: Harry Eberlin. Center: Female impersonator Frank Carter modeling his parade attire in advance of the 1916 Mummers’ Parade. Right: Female impersonator Lee Watson at the 1949 Mummers’ Parade. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 10.22.2014 // 21

h i s t o ry transgender

Trans History Matters Rebecca Juro Photo credit of Transparent Facebook Page.

HELP FEED LOCAL RESIDENTS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS The Holidays are around the corner. Poverello is in need of canned goods, nonperishable food & personal hygiene items for the local HIV/AIDS Community. You can help in several ways: 

Host a donation box at your business/ organization



Make a financial contribution online (poverello.org)



Place donated items at local sites that include: Wilton Manors City Hall, Sullivan Library, City County Credit Union, Wilton Towers, Midland Medical or Goodman Public Relations.

Sign up and place a food donation box in your business or organization today, or make your contribution online at www.poverello.org.

2056 North Dixie Highway Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 561-3663 • www.poverello.org 22

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soflagaynews //

mazon’s first hit show, “Transparent”, is a true groundbreaker in a lot of ways. It’s incredibly well written, and the characters are both believable and authentic, particularly transitioning 70-year-old retired college professor Maura Pfefferman, played by veteran character actor Jeffrey Tambor. “Transparent” is a truly wonderful show and it deserves all the accolades it gets, yet there’s also another aspect of this show that isn’t getting a lot of attention: The flashback depictions of what it was like for trans people who sought to understand themselves decades ago, before the term “transgender” had even been coined, much less become a popularly accepted identity. As a 52-year-old trans woman who came out publicly in 1997 at the age of 35, I know how much this matters to older trans people, particularly to trans women, of my generation. I remember vividly what it was like to know that I wanted to live my life as the woman I understood myself to be but felt forced to remain in the closet because of the cultural realities of the time which popularly cast trans women as objects of mockery and disdain. In addition, I also knew that presenting myself to the world at large as a trans woman was likely to be the death sentence for my career in retail. Indeed, my own coming out at work led to my firing almost immediately after I’d informed my boss I’d be transitioning from male to female and would soon begin presenting at work as a woman. This was the country and the culture trans people inhabited during the 80’s and 90’s. No one took us seriously, no one felt we were worth protecting from discrimination, and no one was willing to or even interested in standing up for trans equality except for our fellow trans people. Even those who you’d expect to be on our

side, the gay and lesbian community, were usually at best tepid in their support and at worst openly hostile. There was, of course, no real, cohesive LGBT community to speak of. On the rare occasions trans people were discussed in what was essentially gay and lesbian community media then it was far more likely than not that trans people would be presented in a negative light or even openly mocked and disparaged. Today, it seems much of that history is lost, forgotten, or even just ignored by younger generations of trans people and allies. Many seem intent on celebrating the rapid gains of the last year or two with little or no respect for how far we’ve come to get to a place where these celebrations are even possible. So few seem to be willing to honor those who put their careers, families, and even their lives on the line to step into the public sphere and speak out against the discrimination we faced on a daily basis with little if any recourse to the law. One of the things “Transparent” does so well is take the viewer back to a time when there was no Internet, when a closeted trans person looking for answers could only reliably find what little information there was on the topic in the magazine racks of seedy porno stores and at private, hidden events where trans women could openly present as we felt most comfortable. It’s my hope that younger viewers of “Transparent” will make that connection, that we are where we are today is a direct result of the efforts and sacrifices of the trans people of generations preceding their own. As we like to insist to politicians, no one should be left behind. Respect and acknowledgement for the trans community’s history and the people who made it happen should be no different.

Rebecca Juro is a nationally-published freelance journalist and radio talk show host who is the Media Correspondent for The Advocate website. Her work has appeared in the Huffington Post, the Washington Blade, Gay City News, the Albany Times Union, and The Advocate magazine, among others. Rebecca lives in central New Jersey and shares her life with a somewhat antisocial cat. Email: rjuroshow@gmail.com Twitter: @beckyjuro

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h istory landmarks

Scores of LGBT sites eyed for landmark status Mathew S. Bajko Bay Area Reporter

National Park Service project has identified hundreds of potential LGBT sites across America that could someday win federal landmark status. The list, which as of late last month was nearing 400 places, runs the gamut from gay bars and bathhouses to places of worship and LGBT community centers. It includes the homes of prominent LGBT individuals, such as the late gay civil-rights leader Bayard Rustin’s New York City apartment, and several gayborhoods, such as San Francisco’s Castro district and the hamlet of Cherry Grove on New York’s Fire Island. Last October, as part of its National Park Service LGBTQ Initiative, the federal agency issued a call to historians, preservationists and archivists who specialize in LGBT history to suggest sites that warrant being listed on the national register or designated as historical landmarks. Megan E. Springate, a queer archaeology graduate student at the University of Maryland, has been compiling the sites on an interactive online map that now contains nearly 300 places of import to the LGBT community. As the Bay Area Reporter, San Francisco’s gay newspaper, reported in January, Springate is working on a National Historic Landmark LGBTQ Theme Study and proposed framework for the National Park Service. This past May, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell publicly acknowledged the park service’s LGBT initiative at a ceremony at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The site of a riot in 1969 credited with launching the modern civil-rights movement in the LGBT community, the gay bar is currently the only LGBT-associated site that has been designated a national historic landmark by the National Park Service. “I am very pleased the park service has come around to wanting to recognize queer historic sites and I want to do everything I can to help them get those sites processed,” said Mark Meinke, 66, a gay man who founded the Washington, D.C.-based Rainbow History Project. Meinke has been assisting Springate with her work to locate properties with LGBT historical value that could be nominated for various federal landmark statuses. He is also working on nominating the apartment Rustin lived in at 340 W. 28th St. in Manhattan for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Rustin’s partner, Walter Naegle, who still lives in the apartment, is supportive of the landmark status proposal. Because the park service does not recognize individual units, Meinke is working on gathering support from other residents of the co-op to have the entire building be listed on the register. The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union built the property in the mid-1950s to house workers in the industry as well as low- or middle-income New Yorkers. The park service has given the entire complex a “declaration of eligibility” for landmarking status, said Meinke. “Rustin moved in in 1962, a year before the March on Washington, and lived there until his death in 1987,” said Meinke, who expects to present his proposal in March to the New York State Historic Preservation Office. “It should be considered for a national landmark historic status. But the first step is to place it on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a common path to take.”

Five Properties Recognized According to park service officials, only five properties in the country have been granted some form of federal historic preservation recognition specifically due to their relationship to LGBT history. In addition to the Stonewall Inn being deemed a National Historic Landmark, there are four sites presently included in the National Register of Historic Places, described by the park service as “the nation’s inventory of properties deemed central to its history and worthy of recognition and preservation.” The quartet comprises the Dr. Franklin E. Kameny Residence in Washington, D.C. (listed 2011); the James Merrill House in Stonington, Conn. (listed 2013); and Fire Island properties the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater (listed 2013) and the Carrington House (listed 2014). In 1957, Kameny was fired from his federal government job for refusing to answer questions about his sexual orientation. Considered “the father of gay activism,” he died in 2011 at the age of 86. Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Ingram Merrill, a celebrated American poet who died in 1995 at the age of 68, and his partner, David Noyes Jackson, who died in 2001 at the age of 76, bought their Stonington home in 1956. Merrill wrote almost all of his important works, including 25 volumes of poetry, three plays and soflagaynews //

A historian is working to nominate the Manhattan apartment where Bayard Rustin, right, lived with his partner, Walter Naegle, to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Naegle still resides there. two books, while residing in the house. The Carrington House is considered “an important link” in Fire Island’s development as a gay resort area on the East Coast. The Cherry Grove property opened in 1948 and is considered the country’s “longest continuously operating gay and lesbian theater.” The next listing will likely be the Chicago home of Henry Gerber, who in the early 1920s formed the Society for Human Rights, the first American gay civil-rights organization. As the B.A.R. reported earlier this year, the federal landmarks program is working with University of Michigan at Ann Arbor Professor Michelle McClellan on the nomination for Gerber’s house. Parks official are eager to see more properties related to LGBT history be nominated, but the agency relies on public individuals to submit the required paperwork before it will consider a property. And a key requirement is having the backing of the current owner(s) of the site in question. Designation as a National Historic Landmark, for instance, “actually takes some time (it’s a three-to-five-year process); this is compounded

SouthFloridaGayNews

by our need to negotiate with property owners (who must agree to nomination and potential designation),” explained Alexandra M. Lord, Ph.D., branch chief of the National Historic Landmarks Program. “That said, we have received a few inquiries regarding some potential sites.” One site that is frequently mentioned as worthy of receiving federal landmark status is 575 Castro St. in San Francisco, where the late gay Supervisor Harvey Milk lived, operated a camera shop and headquartered his campaigns for public office. The property is listed as a city landmark but has yet to be nominated for national recognition. Local preservationists are first waiting for the completion of a historic context statement for the city’s LGBT community, expected to be finished in early 2015. The local planning document is considered the first step toward preserving places and structures of significant LGBT historical value and is often referred to by government agencies when determining requests for historic preservation designations. “I am less anxious about reaching the point of having sites in San Francisco listed on the

PEACE

A mural of the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk is painted outside his former camera shop in the Castro.

PIPE

Photo: Rick Gerharter

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

(954) 368-9100

issued a call to historians, preservationists and archivists who specialize in LGBT history to suggest sites that warrant being listed on the national register or designated as historical landmarks. Megan E. Springate, a queer archaeology graduate student at the University of Maryland, has been compiling the sites on an interactive online map that now contains nearly 300 places of import to the LGBT community. As the Bay Area Reporter, San Francisco’s gay newspaper, reported in January, Springate is working on a National Historic Landmark LGBTQ Theme Study and proposed framework for the National Park Service.

Matthew S. Bajko is an assistant editor at the Bay Area Reporter. To read the B.A.R.’s earlier story, go to http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=69379.

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Medical Marijuana in Florida

ON NOVEMBER 4TH VOTE:

JOIN the Campaign & Get Updates www.unitedforcare.org

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BECAUSE:

Licensed physicians, not politicians, should be making health care decisions in Florida. Patients should not be criminalized for seeking access to the medicine they need to alleviate their symptoms from debilitating conditions. Our stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laws should be guided by compassion for the sick and suffering.

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SouthFloridaGayNews

Volume 1 • Issue 6

October 22, 2014

Wilton Manors to Crack Down on Panhandlers

City cites safety concerns; Mayor claims it’s not a “homeless issue” By Michael d’Oliveira In a move to ban panhandling at certain intersections in Wilton Manors, supporters cite safety while opponents say the homeless will be negatively impacted. On Oct. 14, commissioners voted 4-1, Vice Mayor Julie Carson dissenting, to approve an ordinance that would prohibit panhandling, selling and solicitation in the roadway within 200 ft. of any intersection on Wilton Drive, Dixie Highway, Northeast 26 Street, Oakland Park Boulevard, Andrews Avenue, Northeast 6 Street and Powerline Road. A final vote will be held on Oct. 28. Police Chief Paul O’Connell proposed the ordinance in March as a way to deal with the increase in panhandlers that arrived in the city after Oakland Park passed its ban on panhandling in 2012.

Michael Rajner, resident and local activist, said criminalizing panhandling was not the right solution. “We need to look differently at how we address the homeless issue.” He suggested a community forum be held. “This is not a homeless issue,” Mayor Gary Resnick said. “This is a public safety issue.” Residents in favor of the ordinance also insisted it was not about targeting the homeless. “There’s no easy answer . . . do at least something,” said resident Jake Valentine. Commander Gary Blocker said the ordinance is designed to improve pedestrian safety. According to police, there were 59 pedestrianrelated accidents in the city between 2009 and 2013. Of those, four resulted in deaths. At least one

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‘Find a Memory’ at Retro Video Old time video store offers customers nostalgia By Michael d’Oliveira When William Elliott sees a Redbox at the local Publix, he doesn’t see convenience. He sees the “death of originality” – a step down from the days when human interaction was a part of every movie rental. That’s what makes Elliott such a big fan of Retro Video in Wilton Manors. “It’s like going to a swap meet. [When you get a movie from a machine], chances are you’re not going to find strange and unique things. Some of this stuff never made the jump to DVD.”

Opened in March by Tim Abbott, Retro Video rents and sells Blue-rays, DVDs, VHS, laser discs and Betamax tapes along with movie and television memorabilia and t-shirts. Abbott likes to think of renting or buying from his store as “finding a memory.” He even stocks popcorn, candy and soda to enjoy with each flick. “I try to create an experience that’s fun . . . whether they buy or rent. I try to carry things people are going to see and say ‘wow.’” As a former Blockbuster employee during the early

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FOOD

Taste of the Island Returns to Serve up Local Fare Fried Oreos just one of the many dishes to be served By Michael d’Oliveira

Photos by J.R. Davis

Those looking to lose a little weight should probably stay away from this year’s Taste of the Island, especially Nick Berry’s table. Berry, co-owner of Courtyard Café and Rumors Bar and Grill, will be serving fried Oreos. As Berry has said before, his restaurant, Courtyard Café, is not a place for dieters. But it is a place for comfort food items like fried Oreos. Taste of the Island, now in its ninth year, is a non-profit event where local

bars and restaurants come together to serve attendees. The event will be held on Monday, Nov. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Richardson Park and Nature Preserve, 1937 Wilton Drive. Silent auction items will be also be available. DJ Rose will provide music. “Taste of the Island has grown over the years to become a signature annual event in Wilton Manors. The event reﬂects the diversity and uniqueness of our Island City,” said Richard Perez,

Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door and can be purchased at tasteoftheisland.org or at the following locations: Wilton Manors City Hall, 2020 Wilton Drive; Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive; Wilton Manors Library, 500 NE 26 Street; Wilton Manors Development Alliance, 2435 N. Dixie Hwy.; Barton & Miller Cleaners, 2600 N.

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vice president of Taste of the Island. “Around 1,000 patrons are expected to attend this year’s three-hour event which also raises funds for an amazing array of organizations that are dedicated to improve the quality of life we want to enjoy here.” Local organizations, including the Wilton Manors Historical Society and Friends of the Library, will receive a portion of the funds raised. WMG

Dixie Hwy.; Barton & Miller Cleaners, 2331 NE 26 St., Fort Lauderdale. Event parking will be available at city hall and the library. A free shuttle will provide event transportation to and from those locations.

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“Wilton Manors to Crack Down on Panhandlers” October 22, 2014 • Volume 1 • Issue 6 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

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Online Producer • Dennis Jozefowicz dennis.jozefowicz@sfgn.com

Correspondents

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

Staff Photographers

J.R. Davis • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing

of the deaths was not related to panhandling, a tourist who died in a hit-and-run when he tried to cross Wilton Drive in 2009. Blocker said 93 percent of all accidents occurred on the streets included in the ordinance. Non-pedestrian accidents from 2009 to 2013 amounted to 2,300. Oakland Park Boulevard had the most accidents with 834. Andrews Avenue was second with 600. Northeast 26 Street was third with 448 and Wilton Drive was fourth with 342. Blocker said a 30-day educational period would be initiated before the police started issuing citations. Carson criticized the numbers, saying that it is unknown exactly how many of the accidents were related to panhandling. She called the ordinance and expressed concern over its potential cost. “It’s going to be exorbitant,” Carson said. If the city prosecutes someone who breaks

the law it would be responsible for funding that person’s defense. Officials are unable to provide an estimate of what that would cost. Not doing something could also cost a lot of money. Resnick said the city could be sued if an accident occurs and one of the individuals involved takes the city to court for not taking action. There’s also legal precedent for cities banning panhandling in the street. In 2013, U.S. District Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum ruled that the City of Pembroke Pines ordinance that banned panhandling in the street was constitutional. The Homeless Voice had sued the city claiming it was violating its First Amendment right. Rosenbaum ruled in favor of the city because the law did not prohibit The Homeless Voice from exercising its First Amendment rights in other areas. WMG

Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping 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.

Associated Press

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OPINION

Your Newest Family Member is Waiting For You The Humane Society of Broward County is open during renovations By Cherie Wachter Vice President of Marketing The Humane Society of Broward County

Fiona

If you like big kitties, stop by the Humane Society of Broward County and meet Rambo (ID# 464315). This 4 year young fellow is 21 pounds of love. Sadly he was given up because his family had no time for him. Rambo lived with other pets, including a bird and he likes people of all ages. Can he be part of your family? Apple (ID# 462427) and Fiona (ID# 462426) are gorgeous female Siberian huskies who are looking for a home where they can go together. This four and six year old duo came to the shelter as strays and their family has not come looking for them. The girls love to run and play ball and will do best with an active family. Do you have room in your home and heart for these two beauties?

Apple

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All pets are spayed or neutered before going home. In addition they receive preliminary vaccinations, a microchip, heartworm test for dogs over seven months, feline leukemia test for cats, a limited 10 day health care plan courtesy of VCA Animal Hospital, a bag of Purina ONE food and more. For more information call the shelter today at 954-989-3977. The Humane Society of Broward County is located at 2070 Griffin Road, just a block west of I-95. Renovations are in progress and the shelter remains open seven days a week and opens daily at 10 a.m. To see who else needs a home visit www.HumaneBroward. com WMG

Rambo

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EVENTS

“‘Find a Memory’ at Retro Video”

Aloha! Hula Classes Offered

90s, Retro Video allows Abbott to once again share his passion for movies with customers. “I love talking to people.” As for the possibility of sharing the same fate as Blockbuster, Abbott thinks enough time has passed. “It’s been gone long enough so people miss it. You’d be surprised how many people rent VHS.” Although he carries a lot of the same new releases as Redbox and Netflix, Abbott’s main advantage is carrying movies that even the local big box stores don’t have. “Even if it’s a really popular one, like Ben-Hur, it can be hard to find [at other stores] sometimes.” Renting from retro Video is also slightly cheaper than Redbox. Abbott charges customers $1 for a two-day DVD rental, 50 cents for a two-day VHS rental and $2 for a two-day Blue-ray rental. Those who rent on Saturday can return their items on Tuesday without being charged the extra day. WMG

Twice a Week at Hagen Park Community Center By Natalya Jones

Wilton Manors residents can now experience a taste of Hawaii thanks to weekly hula classes at the Hagen Park Community Center. Beginners can shimmy their hips during classes on Monday night while those with a little more experience can dance on Tuesdays. Both classes will be hosted by Kua’aina Pa Hula O Hawaii, South Florida’s School of Hawaiian Dance & Arts, for participants ages 16 and older. The purpose of these classes is to continue and preserve Hawaiian culture. This will be accomplished through both traditional (“Kahiko”) and modern (“Auana”) styles. In addition, there will be enrichment workshops as well as lessons with Hawaiian language, otherwise known as Olelo Hawai’i. The instructor of the class is Kona Garcia. “I’ve been dancing my entire life and was taught by great grandmother when I was 3 years old,” said Garcia. So how long would that be? A whopping 26 years, to be exact. “I originally am from Hawaii and opened groups in California, Texas and now in South Florida,” Garcia said. “It’s a big journey of sharing the Hawaiian

culture with people open to learn. They aren’t the only ones learning [laughs]. I learn something every time I teach, too.” When asked what benefits hula dancing provides, Garcia replied, “You use your entire body. You have to coordinate your feet, your hips, your hands and your eyes when you’re dancing. You use every part of your body. It definitely helps with coordination and grace. It’s a good workout. Everyone is pretty sore after an hour workout… it’s definitely a disciplined art and requires a lot focus and coordination.” The school’s name Kua’aina Pa Hula O Hawaii translates to “country side hula studio of Hawai’i,” and appropriately so. Founded by Aunty Polita Johnson in Kea’au Hawaii, the popular Hawaiian dance was taught by Johnson for over 50 years in Big Island, O’ahu and Sacramento, California. In September 2012, Kua’aina Pa Hula O Hawaii was created in South Florida and is now directed by Johnson’s great grandson, who is Garcia. The school consists of about 30 members and strives to keep Hawaiian stories, traditions, songs, language and dances alive and well. WMG

Retro Video, located at 2420 N. Dixie Hwy., is open Tuesdays through Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m., Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. and closed Mondays. Rentals can be made with a credit card or cash. Those who pay with cash must leave a refundable $25 deposit. Call 248-259-7779.

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ELECTIONS

Wilton Manors Election a Free-For-All Seven candidates vying for two commission seats By John McDonald In Wilton Manors, it is democracy in its purest form. Seven candidates are vying for two seats on the city commission and three candidates are seeking the mayor’s office. The Island City has a population of just over 12,000 inside of 1.9 square miles. It is home to beautifully remodeled houses, restaurants, shops, parks and one of the hottest gay nightlife scenes in South Florida. Mayor Gary Resnick, 54, is attempting to hold off two challengers in November’s election. He has served as mayor since 2008 and was a commissioner for 10 years prior. The mayor has collected a slew of major association endorsements from police and firefighters unions to realtors and equality groups. “I’m always going to make sure our neighborhoods are our first priority,” Resnick said. “Wilton Manors is a wonderful community. We are leaders nationwide.” Challengers Doug Blevins and Boyd Corbin are perhaps best known for their roles in the city’s Halloween block party, Wicked Manors. Blevins, 56, a realtor and home designer served as director of the Wilton Manors Main Street program and helped organize the Halloween party which has grown into one of the most popular South Florida social events. “Having produced events in Wilton Manors, one of my goals is to continue to

Gary Resnick

Candidate for Mayor

Scott Newton

Candidate for Comissioner

Doug Blevins

Candidate for Mayor

Ted Galatis

Candidate for Comissioner

Boyd Corbin

Candidate for Mayor

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make the city more beautiful and safe,” Blevins said. Blevins noted that his support is at the ground level. “Ninety percent of my contributions are from real people,” he said. Meanwhile, Corbin, 46, is awaiting trial on felony charges of attacking a drag performer at the 2012 Halloween party. Corbin was dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan during his altercation with the Dame Edna performer. He has pushed forth a platform of taking the city’s parking meter contract in-house and adding surveillance cameras to Colohatchee Park. Meanwhile, in the commission race, there are two incumbents: Scott Newton and Ted Galatis. Newton, 57, has received the endorsement of Equality Florida, the largest state-wide organization dedicated to securing equal rights for the LGBT community. He is a 30-year business owner, Broward County native and has served as Wilton Manors Mayor from 2004-2008. Newton describes his campaign as “grass roots.” “We are moving forward and making sure Wilton Manors is an innovative place to live,” he said. Newton said he is interested in adding more bicycle paths and proudly noted the city did not fire one employee during the economic downturn.

ELECTIONS

Ted Galatis, 60, has served on the commission since 2002. A native of Broward County native, Galatis made national headlines when he admitted to using the N-word during a road rage incident in June. Galatis, an attorney, apologized for the incident and continues to serve as the chair of the Broward County Human Rights Board. “It was the worst thing that has happened in my life,” Galatis said. “I am not that kind of person.” Galatis said property values are on the rise in Wilton Manors and people can trust his leadership, adding “I can build a consensus on the commission.” Five candidates are also seeking a commission post. They are: Sal Torre, Lillie Harris, Justin Flippen, Naomi Ruth Parker and Christopher Warnig. Flippen, 36, is campaigning on his 16 years of public service at the federal, state and local levels. He says he has a “connectedness” to Wilton Manors that goes back to his youth. “I grew up here and I am fully invested in this city’s future,” Flippen said. An attorney, who currently serves as Tourism Project Manager for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Flippen said he has a “tool box” to bring with him to get the job done, adding “I am not at odds with any of the other commissioners or candidates.” Parker, 61, has raised a family in Wilton

Manors and is proud to see it become a city her children can come home to. “The residents here are so diverse, much more than when I moved here 20 years ago.” As a gay black woman, Parker said the city has a lot to offer and she will work hard to continue to strengthen its schools, library system and social services. “You can count on me as a good neighbor,” Parker said. Torre, 52, is a food service supervisor in Broward County and wears many hats in Wilton Manors. He serves as president of the Westside Neighborhood Association, one of three neighborhood associations in the city and is a member of the Wilton Manors budget advisory committee. This is Torre’s second attempt at a commission seat. He placed third in 2012. “I’m very optimistic,” Torre said. “My campaign team is out walking the neighborhoods and getting the message out.” Harris is a former Miami police officer with 25 years law enforcement experience. She said she understands the mayor’s role and is focused on green friendly business. Warnig, a security guard at George’s Alibi on Wilton Drive, could not be reached for comment. Early voting in Wilton Manors began Monday at City Hall. Polls open at 9 a.m. The general election is Nov. 4. WMG

Justin Flippen

Candidate for Comissioner

Sal Torre

Candidate for Comissioner

Naomi Ruth Parker

Candidate for Comissioner

Lillie Harris

Candidate for Comissioner

Christopher Warnig Candidate for Comissioner

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October

Wilton Manors Green Market

Dog Obedience Class Beginner Israeli Dance Class Friends of the Library Square Dancing

Wilton Manors Green Market

Happy Hour with Trixie Hula Dance Class Zumba Fitness

City Commission Meeting

Wilton Manors Green Market

Happy Hour with Trixie Hula Dance Class Zumba Fitness

Dog Obedience Class Beginner Israeli Dance Class Friends of the Library Square Dancing

Wilton Manors Green Market

Zumba Fitness Brains and Balance Past 60 Family Storytime Island City Book Club

Dog Obedience Class Beginner Israeli Dance Class Square Dancing Historical Society Meeting

Wilton Manors Green Market

Hula Dance Class Zumba Fitness

Brains and Balance Past 60 Family Storytime

Wilton Manors Green Market

Early Voting

Halloween Spooktackular Dog Obedience Class Beginner Israeli Dance Class Square Dancing Early Voting

Wilton Manors Green Market

Happy Hour with Trixie Hula Dance Class Zumba Fitness

City Commission Meeting Hula Dance Class Zumba Fitness

Family Storytime

Dog Obedience Class Beginner Israeli Dance Class Square Dancing

Early Voting

Dog Obedience Class Oct. 23 & 30 from 6:30 p.m. at Hagen Park (Basketball Court) Beginner Israeli Dance Class Oct. 23 & 30 from 7 p.m. — 9 p.m. at Hagen Park Community Center Square Dancing Oct. 23 & 30 from 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Island City Park Preserve Wilton Manors Green Market Oct. 25 & 26 from 9 a.m. – 2

p.m. at Wilton Manors City Hall / Hagen Park Happy Hour with Trixie (Meditation & Aromatherapy) Oct. 27 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Women’s Club Hula Dance Class Oct. 27 at 28 from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Hagen Park Community Center Preschool Story time October 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM at Richard C. Sullivan Public Library

500 NE 26th St. For ages 2 - 5. Caregivers must remain with their children. Zumba Fitness Oct. 27 & 29 from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Island City Park Preserve City Commission Meeting *at Hagen Park* October 28 at 7 p.m. at Hagen Park 2020 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Family Storytime

Oct. 29 6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Richard C. Sullivan Public Library Early Voting for General Election Oct. 22-31 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at City Hall Commission Chambers Halloween Spooktackular October 23, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Wilton Manors Elementary School The City of Wilton Manors Leisure Services

Early Voting

Wicked Manors

Department will present it’s annual HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR For children and adults of all ages Thursday, October 23, 2014 6:00pm-9:00pm at Wilton Manors Elementary School 2401 NE 3rd Avenue Wilton Manors, Florida. MORE INFO call 954390-2130 Wicked Manors October 31, 7 p.m. on Wilton Drive Our Dragtastic Emcee, Miss

Misty Eyez returns to the Mainstage alongside with some of South Florida’s FIERCEST DRAG QUEENS. Enter one of our EIGHT COSTUME CONTESTS with cash prizes! Trick or Treat On The Drive starts at 5:00 with a Kids Costume Contest at 7:00 and a Pet Costume Contest at 7:30! (NOTE: Wilton Drive will be closed to traffic from 1:00 PM on Friday, October 31 until 3:00 AM on Saturday, November 1)

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SFGN’S GUIDE TO what’s hot IN SOUTH FLORIDA’S NIGHTLIFE SCENE

local name, global coverage

2014

Bars & Clubs Guide

SFGN.com //

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SouthFloridaGayNews

Fall 2014

publisher’s column

An SFGN Toast to LGBT Hospitality Establishments In this special issue of our newspaper, in words and pictures, we showcase the array of nightclubs, bars and hospitality establishments, which populate our community. Since the inception of SFGN, we pride ourselves on delivering to you credible content and quality journalism, about the issues of our day, not the parties of our night. However, the hospitality establishments our community hosts have been the epicenter of gay rights and social activism for decades. When there is a Christmas party for Kids in Distress or a fundraiser for the Smart Ride, they seek popular social venues to promote them. For decades, it has been bar owners who have opened their doors and pocketbooks to help just causes- from fighting for HIV awareness, to advocating equal rights for our community. Consequently, whether it was Scoop Magazine under the aegis of Brad Casey 20 years ago, or Hotspots run by Peter Clark, today, the pictures you see are more than just shirtless guys hoisting cocktails. They are of our community not only at play, but often pushing a good and noble purpose. In fact, it is Hotspots which annually throws one of the community’s biggest holiday fundraisers at the Discovery Center underwriting the good deeds of Broward House. On these pages of SFGN, we salute Hotspots for simply doing each week what it does. As an entertainment guide, it is unsurpassed. Two decades in the making, and with distribution points all over the state, Hotspots is the premiere vehicle that showcases the nightlife of our community. It deserves to be heralded. Our community and our nightclub establishments have hosted scores of fundraisers for HIV, memorials for leading members of our community, full-fledged cabaret shows starring drag queens volunteering their time for charitable causes, and just fun karaoke nights for your birthday parties. We have decorated our lives with music and stage shows, often funding gay causes, political candidates, and non-profits. Those bars, too, deserve to be heralded. We do so today. Mona’s hosts an annual fundraiser for pets, the Alibi has underwritten scores of LGBT softball teams and

Broward County The Alibi Bill’s The Manor Progress Bar Hunters Johnny’s Swinging Richards Boardwalk Cubby Hole Corner Pub Monkey Business Mona’s Naked Grape 2

SFGN.COM //

Smarty Pants Rumors Scandals Sidelines Ramrod Village Pub PJ’s Cock & Tails The Stable Gregarious Funky Buddha Tropics Infinity Rosie’s

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Norm Kent

charities, and the Boardwalk and Sidelines donate thousands of dollars in liquor for pride events in south Florida. One Christmas party at the Manor last year raised over $50,000 for toys for tots. Our bars have been bulwarks of our community. Bill’s Filling Station holds an annual underwear party that clothes local HIV charities with green dollar bills they desperately need. Hunter’s, just new to our community, is helping underwrite Wicked Manors on Wilton Drive next week for the Pride Center. No, we can’t list all, but all give some. You see, for years, all the gay community had to rely on for organizational unity was our bars and nightclubs, and many have stood tall. Today, as the LGBT community of America has grown, we have a national lesbian and gay task force, pride centers, and pet projects. We have seniors in a gay environment and impulse groups led by organizations such as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. We have OurFund, the Smart Ride, and a host of new ways to foster social awareness. Nightclubs and bars still give these good groups a venue to spread their advocacy. Without the help of hospitality establishment and owners reaching into their pockets, we would not be where we are now. While today’s issue of SFGN just provides snippets and vignettes about many of our nightclubs, remember also that in the gay community they have always done more than just sell liquor. They have provided safe havens for us to congregate, meet people, cultivate relationships, and reward our charitable agencies. Yes, occasionally we may have partied too hardy and stayed too long, but owning a gay bar has also meant being a voice for the LGBT community, not just a filling station for a 2 for 1 night. Today, SFGN salutes the people and publications that have showcased these causes for so long. Over the years of our developing growth and stature as a community, what the bars have done at nighttime have helped all of us achieve the things we now have and often take for granted in the daytime. Let’s say thank you with a toast to them. And call Yellow Cab for a safe ride home. We thank them for sponsoring this special issue.

Miami-Dade County

Azucar Eros Lounge The Floppy Rooster Palace Twist Discotekka Score Club Boi House Nightclub

Fall 2014

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

Fall Bars & Clubs Guide • 2014

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 / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com

Editorial

Sales & Marketing

Director of Sales and Marketing • Mike Trottier mike.trottier@sfgn.com Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Cynthia Curtis cynthia.curtis@sfgn.com Sales Assistant • Jason Gonzales jason.gonzales@sfgn.com Distribution Services Manager • Brian Swinford

Palm Beach County

Fort Dix Mad Hatter Lounge H.G. Roosters Charlie’s Mixers Penny’s at the Duke

Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Senior Creative Designer • Bob Reilly sfgn@bobreilly.com Online Producer • Dennis Jozefowicz dennis.jozefowicz@sfgn.com Social Media Director • Sergio N. Candido sergio.candido@sfgn.com Arts/Entertainment Editor • JW Arnold jw@prdconline.com Correspondent • Michael Cook

Featured Columns

Homo History Gay Bars 3

Q-Balls All Around 20 Where The Bears Are 20 Miami’s Gay Bar Scene in 1974 23 Where The Divas Are 29

features

Fall 2014

Homo History

Gay Bars Pier Angelo

Gathering places favored by homosexuals have operated for centuries. The first recorded use of the term ‘gay bar’ is in the diaries of gay British comedian Kenneth Williams: “16 January 1947. Went round to the gay bar which wasn’t in the least gay.” The White Swan, on Vere Street, in London, England, was raided in 1810 during the so-called Vere Street Coterie. The raid led to the executions of Keith Mangum and Constanza Beucheat for sodomy. The site was frequently the scene of gay marriages carried out by the Reverend John Church. The Cave of the Golden Calf, in London, opened in an underground location at 9 Heddon Street, in 1912, and became a haunt for the wealthy, aristocratic and bohemian. It is considered the first gay bar in the modern sense. Het Mandje, in the heart of Amsterdam, Netherlands was opened in 1927 by lesbian Bet van Beeren. After her death in 1967, her sister Greet continued the business until it closed in 1982, but the bar and its entire interior

was preserved by her ever since and could be visited upon request. Centralhjornet, in Copenhagen, opened more than 80 years ago. The Black Cat bar in San Francisco was the focus of one of the earliest victories of the homophile movement. In 1951 the California Supreme Court affirmed the right of homosexuals to assemble in a case brought by the heterosexual owner of the bar. Julius Bar, NYC, founded, in the early 1950’s by local socialite Matthew Nicol is where the Mattachine Society staged a “Sip-In” on April 21, 1966 challenging a NY State Liquor Authority rule prohibited serving alcoholic beverages to gays on the basis that they were considered disorderly. The court ruling in the case that gays could peacefully assemble at bars would lead to the opening of the Stonewall Inn a block southwest in 1967, which in turn led to the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Julius is NYC’s oldest gay bar and one of the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the world. The Double Header, in Seattle’s

Pioneer Square, is acknowledged as the oldest gay bar on the North American West Coast, operating since 1933. The Admiral Duncan is a pub in Old Compton Street, Soho, in the heart of London’s gay district. On the evening of April 30, 1999, the Admiral Duncan was the scene of a bomb blast that killed three people and wounded around 70. The bomb was planted by Neo-Nazi David Copeland, who was attempting to stir up ethnic and homophobic tensions by carrying out a series of bombings. Chardees opened in Wilton Manors in 1990 and closed in 2007. Chardees was a glittering gay mirage in a desert of boarded-up strip malls, trailer parks, crack houses, and abandoned buildings strewn with garbage. The venue aimed specifically at the mature gay men, or silver foxes, and their admirers. It was renowned worldwide and featured two iconic bartenders, Mark Hess (now at The Alibi) and Jimmy Molloy. The “Supper Club” as it was also known, featured entertainers like Eartha Kitt, comedienne Pudgy, singer

Fall 2014

Jennifer Holliday, and Judy Tenuta. In April of 1997, George Kessinger opened a rocking sports bar called Georgie’s Alibi across the street from Chardees in a decrepit strip mall. And that opened the floodgates. A slew of gay or gay-friendly businesses followed — coffeehouses, real estate agents, eateries, clothing stores, banks, developers, more gay bars. That same year, Jim Stork started Stork’s Bakery and Café on NE 15th Avenue; three years later, Wilton Manors elected its first gay mayor, John Fiore. Norm Kent founded the tribe’s local paper, The Express, precursor of SFGN, in December of ‘99. Today, Wilton Manors is the center of Florida’s queer universe. Wilton Drive is the heart of one of the gayest towns in America; 40 percent of its 15,000 - plus residents identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. And it all started with one gay bar.

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

Fall 2014

broward county

The Alibi 2266 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-565-2526

2209 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-567-5978

alibiwiltonmanors.com facebook.com/alibi.wiltonmanors

billsfillingstation.com facebook.com/billswiltonmanors

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

The Alibi in Wilton Manors is a staple of the community that everybody locally knows. Opening in 1997, and recently purchased by the owners of Monkey Bar in P-town, it still has its long-time traditions with improvements to bring you a great mix of food, drink, and entertainment. The outdoor patio is a great place for sharing a meal in the fabulous South Florida weather with friends. Go inside for tasty cocktails, watch the game, enjoy the music videos, and mingle with the crowd. There are food and drink specials every day. Happy Hour (2-for-1) is Monday

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through Friday until 9 p.m. The locally famous “Long Island Iced Tea Night” is on Thursdays starting at 9 p.m. Wednesday nights bring you local community icon Nikki Adams to the main stage with Billboard reporter VJ Barry Bowder to host the insane “Game Show Night.” Or relax in the Manchester Room on Saturday with the zany and talented local cabaret performer Jennifer McClain. Check out their website and Facebook page for a complete listing of all their weekly events. Dennis Jozefowicz

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Bill’s

Fall 2014

Bill’s was originally established in 1995 on NE 11th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, but relocated to its current location in 2007 in the heart of Wilton Manors. Right in the middle of all the action, Bill’s is best known for its Friday night “Growl” bear night. The property has a large main stage and dance floor area, and a smaller room called Mustang Lounge, where the smooth jazzy sounds of “Tony And Gloria” can be heard weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays get stirred up with karaoke at 9 p.m. Misty Eyez and “Tranny Palace” perform their flavor of female impersonation every

Sunday at 10:30 p.m. Lots of drink specials all week long including their 2-for-1 Happy Hour Monday through Friday until 9 p.m. The second Saturday of every month brings you “DILF” night, a night of leather/levi cruising with world-famous Herbie James in the DJ booth. Pool tables, dartboards, and a tasty bar menu complete the experience. Smoking permitted, this large venue has something for everyone. Check their website or Facebook page for their complete schedule, and list of special events. Dennis Jozefowicz

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The Manor

Progress Bar 2440 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

2345 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-626-0082 themanorcomplex.com facebook.com/ManorComplex

Fall 2014

954-533-4916 ProgressBarSouthFlorida.com facebook.com/ProgressBarSoFL Wilton Drive’s newest club, which opened on Labor Day, is, like Hunters, part of a chain of gay bars that began somewhere else. The first Progress Bar opened in Chicago’s “Boystown” a year ago, and was soon followed by the Phoenix Bar and Nightclub in the Chicago suburbs near O’Hare Airport. Wilton Manor’s Progress Bar is located at the site of the now-defunct New Moon Lounge, in its day the Drive’s only lesbian bar. Justin Romme is General Manager of Progress Bar. He describes Progress as “beautiful yet welcoming,” “nonpretentious,” and “a fun place to come.” Though Progress is primarily a gay men’s bar, it welcomes women who still yearn for the old days at the New Moon. They need not fret, for every Wednesday night Progress hosts

“Ladies Night,” also known as “New Moon at Progress,” which features a familiar crowd and three former bartenders from the New Moon. Like its Chicago counterparts, Progress Bar promises its patrons “a unique blend of talent that creates the incredible Progress Bar experience,” with “an expansive floor plan.” This “expansive floor plan” includes a welldecorated main bar with TV screens that show the latest music videos. Progress also has “the nicest Patio Bar on the Drive” and even its own parking lot – a plus for those of us who have trouble finding a parking space during peak bar hours. Hours: MonThur 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Fri-Sat 2 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Sun 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Jesse Monteagudo

Shannon and Anthony’s

Corner Pub 1915 N. Andrews Ave. Wilton Manors

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

Open on Friday and Saturday nights until 4 a.m., The Manor Complex is a piece of authentic South Florida club scene that’s right in our own back yard, in the heart of Wilton Manors. The property, (and yes, we can call it a “property”, it’s that big,) consists of indoor and outdoor spaces like none other in town. The multilevel “Epic Nightclub” is a scene right out of Hollywood, with massive speakers, world class DJ’s, and entertainers on the stage. VIP booths and bottle service are available for up to 15 people. And lets not forget the huge dance floor, hosting the “Bubblegum

Fridays” and “Epic Saturdays” themes! Inside is like another nightclub inside a nightclub, the “Ultralounge” hosts the famous “Noche Latina Saturdays”, a local institution celebrating over 16 years, with the best in Latin music and entertainment in South Florida. And even more, another lounge area is here with a more traditional “bar” feel. The place is big, and it gets packed! Special events and performances happen on a regular basis. Check their Facebook and web pages for the latest happenings. Dennis Jozefowicz

954-564-7335 cornerpubbar.com facebook.com/ShannonAnthonysCornerPub Neighborhood bars are not dead, not by a long shot. And for more than four years, Shannon and Anthony’s Corner Pub is just one of the bunch that thrive in our area. Happy hour is every day from opening until 9:30 p.m. and there are themed drink specials and events going on every day of the week. For example, Thursday nights after 9:30 p.m. is $2 Skyy night, or shirtless happy hour on Monday nights at 9:30 p.m. (Though, as of this writing, we hear that a new weekly schedule is coming soon, so check with their sites for the latest!)

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Being one of the many bars that host the local gay bar pool league on Tuesday nights, Corner Pub has two pool tables, as well as a jukebox, and TVs. Be sure to watch out for annual events and fundraisers, this place does a lot of community fundraising and gatherings that aren’t on the typical gay radar. Smoking is permitted, and they are open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 a.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Dennis Jozefowicz

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Fall 2014 2014 column browardmessage county Fall

Hunters

Johnny’s

Fort Lauderdale

2232 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-630-3556

1116 W. Broward Blvd Fort Lauderdale 954-522-5931

huntersfortlauderdale.com Facebook.com/huntersfl

ilovejohnnys.com Facebook.com/JohnnysFans

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

When Patrick Volkert and Mark Hunter took over the old Boom nightclub, they knew exactly what they were doing. Hunters Nightclub is an awesome, new vibe on the drive that will get you shaking your booty on the weekends, and relaxing during the week. The remodeled lounge side is a flavor of greater taste and sophistication, while the dance floor side is a little bit louder, and with a better utilized lighting package than its predecessor, making it a much more energized dance experience. Their motto is “Spirits Elevated”, and they certainly live up to it. Weekly events include Karaoke Mondays and Tuesday at 9 p.m., DJ SOL supplies the music for “Fur

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Fridays”, an early evening bear gathering from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., and the fabulous performances of Cabaret Wednesdays starting at 9 p.m. Get rid of that Sunday hangover with the Bloody Mary bar, available on Sundays from Noon to 6 p.m. A personal favorite for many is the ultimate in disco, the Classic 54 Hi Tea Dance, Sundays from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., featuring the best in disco played by none other than DJ Richie Rich, and get a drink from an original Studio 54 bartender, local mixologist Sal DeFalco. Check their website and Facebook page for a complete guide to their weekly and special events. Dennis Jozefowicz

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For more than 33 years, Johnny’s Fort Lauderdale has been serving up drinks and dancer boys to locals and tourists alike. Even today, there are dancers and entertainment every night of the week. The boys start shaking their thing at 5 p.m. daily. Sundays feature “Open Mic Karaoke” starting at 9:30 p.m., and “Amateur Strip Contests” at midnight. Theme nights include “Man Crush Mondays”, “Boy Buffet Wednesdays”, and “Eden

Thursdays”. Drink specials correspond with each night’s theme or event. There is a kitchen on premises, serving the usual bar cuisine of burgers and finger foods. A game room offers pool tables and arcade games. Smoking is permitted, and valet parking is available. Check their website for more information, and like their Facebook page for daily updates and happenings. Dennis Jozefowicz

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Swinging Richards 1350 S.W. 2nd St. Pompano Beach 954-876-1129 florida.swingingrichards.com

Fall 2014 2014 Fall

Sidelines 2031 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

954-563-8001 SidelinesSports.com For nearly nine years, this is the place where the LGBT community comes to get their sports fix. With 24 TVs airing almost any sport you can think of, countless dart boards, and pool tables, owner Laurie Wittaker has created the Cheers of Wilton Manors. With football season in full swing, drinks specials are offered during games, including beer and liquor deals on Monday Night Football, draft

and bottle specials during college games on Saturdays, and Sunday beer buckets. Plus, throughout the week there are always pool, darts and Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments to jump in on, and now, customers can indulge in three-for-one drink specials during Friday Happy Hour, 4 to 6 p.m. Christiana Lilly

Cubby Hole 823 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

954-728-9001

“A Treat for the Ears and Eyes” If you enjoy a wide variety of music like 80’s, Techno and House and don’t mind chugging back a tasty cocktail, Swinging Richards might be your kind of place. Did I mention there would be totally naked men? (Hence the name.) The most popular nights to go are Wednesdays and Saturdays. On Wednesdays, it’s free to get in. “The more you drink, the prettier the boys get,” says Swinging Richards General Manager Matt Colunga. “And they are great looking to begin with,” he said. Swinging Richards caters to a gay male crowd. Women are welcome as long as they have a male escort.

August 2014 marks the club’s one-year anniversary at its Pompano Beach location. Management had a highly publicized battle with city officials in North Miami and eventually decided to relocate in Broward. Thus far, things appear to be working out. “The club is nice. The boys are hot. Our customers are friendly and we’re able to give back to the community,” says Colunga. Hours of operation are 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. from Wednesday through Sunday. Once fall picks up, it will reopen on Tuesdays again. Denise Royal

thecubbyhole.com Facebook.com/pages/Cubby-Hole-Bar/85947929085 The Cubby Hole is another great example of the local neighborhood bar scene (or should I say, bear scene) as it prides itself as “The best little butch bar in Fort Lauderdale.” Being close to downtown Fort Lauderdale, this place gets a great daytime lunch crowd all week long. And they serve pretty darn good food to boot, such as burgers and fries, munchies, and more, all day until 9 p.m. But don’t be fooled, their nighttime crowd is just as good. They have different themed drink specials throughout the week after their daily happy hour,

Fall 2014

which is until 9 p.m. Examples of weekly fare include Underwear Night, Bare Bear Chest Night, Moht’s Stoli Party Sunday, and more. They have a pool table, jukebox, and smoking is permitted. They’re open every day at 11 a.m., and 12 p.m. on Sundays, and close 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Be sure to check their Facebook page for the most up-to-the-minute happenings, and their website for more information. Dennis Jozefowicz

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Fall 2014 2014 column browardmessage county Fall

Ramrod 1508 N.E. 4th Ave. Fort Lauderdale 954-763-8219

ramrodbar.com facebook.com/RamrodFortLauderdale

Photo courtesy of Ramrod Facebook.

Every major city has a leather/ Levi/uniform bar, and here in South Florida, ours is the Ramrod. Located just a few blocks south on Wilton Drive, which turns into 4th Avenue, Ramrod is everything you would expect. It’s dark, edgy, they have a DJ seven nights a week, it’s quite loud, and it’s packed with sweaty shirtless men. During the day, it’s your typical neighborhood butch bar, with a 2-for-1 happy hour that lasts from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. They have a patio bar that opens at 6 p.m., and a different theme every night of the week. Notable nights include the insane LEATHER/Fetish/ gear Fridays with world famous

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DJ Herbie James, Saturdays are “Packed to the Rafters,” bringing caged hunks dancing at midnight, “Rock Hard Undies Night” on Tuesdays brings rock music and men in underwear, and lots more. Of course, smoking is permitted, and cigars and pipes are very common! Hugely popular monthly events include “Pig Dance” on the first Saturday of the month, and Enforced Dress Code (EDC) on the patio every third Sunday of the month 9 p.m. to midnight. Check out their website for a full schedule, and their Facebook page for daily happenings and announcements. Dennis Jozefowicz

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

Naked Grape Wine & Tapas 2163 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-563-5631 nakedgrapewinebar.com facebook.com/pages/Naked-Grape-Wine-andTapas/146484612063568

Remember Cheers - the TV bar where everyone knows your name? The Naked Grape Wine Bar on Wilton Drive may be as close as our area gets. The bar, which has been in business for eight years, serves a diverse crowd. “We offer a comfortable, relaxed, cozy environment where people can talk with their partners, friends, or co-workers. The vibe is intimate without the disruption of TV or overly loud music. We often think of it as a “conversation bar,” a place to relax and catch-up with those special people in your life. At night, the lights are low and the candles are lit to create an intimate environment. We also

have a covered outdoor patio that is pet-friendly. It’s a great spot to ‘people watch’ along the Drive,” said owners Caleb Ben-Avram and Tim Slivinski. The most popular wines by far are any of the red blends. Currently a red blend called “Saved” is very popular, followed closely by the Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Blend and The Tentacle. Naked Grape also offers an amazing artisan cheese list as well as fresh, made to order tapas offerings. Everything is made fresh to order. The best nights to go are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Denise Royal

Fall 2014

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Fall 2014 2014 column browardmessage county Fall

Lips

Monkey Business Bar

Restaurant 1421 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Fort Lauderdale 954-567-0987

2740 N. Andrews Ave. Wilton Manors

954-514-7819

lipsfla.com Lips is a drag cabaret and restaurant famous for its over the top shows and frozen cosmos. Differently themed shows are performed six nights a week. But the crowd favorite is Lips’ gospel brunch every Sunday with service at 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. “Our host Nicolette is the funniest!” says Lips Manager Sean Engler. Lips is a favorite for large groups celebrating bachelorette parties, birthdays or other special occasions. “Any sort of celebration,” said Engler.

Expect some big laughs while you eat and drink. With performers including Miss Twat Larouge and Misty Eyez, what else would you expect? Those shows are the real reason you go to Lips, not the food. Besides the meal, there’s a show charge that ranges from $5 to $10. Reservations are recommended for everyone; they are required for large groups. Denise Royal

facebook.com/MonkeyBusinessBar For those who like to monkey around in a relaxed environment, this is the spot for you. Monkey Business Bar offers a friendly neighborhood vibe with inexpensive drinks, especially for South Florida. The locale features a small stage, TVs, cute bartenders, and drink specials for just under three bucks a pop. Things liven up

for the weekly karaoke fun on Wednesday nights. See if you can take the stage and belt out your best version of “Turn the Beat Around.” And the frequent drag shows provide hot, sensual entertainment for your weekend enjoyment. The bar operates as early as 7 a.m. and closes at 2 a.m. Andrea Richard

Mona’s 502 E. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-525-6662 MonasBar.com Easily identified as the bar by the train tracks, this 17-year-old bar is as unique as they come. Not only do they have drink specials every day and karaoke on Wednesdays, but owner Jerry Schultz has worked to create a sense of community at Mona’s. In its annual fundraiser in the name of a late manager, $10,000 was raised for the Pet Project this past July Fourth. Not only that, but the bar hosts pet pageants, AIDS Walk fundraisers, adoption days,

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cookouts, and more. Perhaps the most highly anticipated event is the day after Christmas, where with the purchase of a drink, customers can choose a wrapped item from the back patio that Schultz collected from garage sales over the year -he hides cash in the gifts too! “We run a nice class bar,” Schultz said. “I’m very proud to say I own that bar.” Christiana Lilly

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Fall 2014

Boardwalk Bar 1721 N. Andrews Ave. Fort Lauderdale

954-463-6969 BoardwalkBar.com

Photo by J.R. Davis.

Open since 2002, staff says Boardwalk Bar is known for a hot commodity: their male strippers. With dancers hitting the stage every night, drag queens take over the microphones as MCs to lead the crowd into a frenzy of fun. But that’s not all the bar has to offer -Happy Hour runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. every single day with two-forone specials. Karaoke is set up on Wednesday nights, and with the cover, guests

can indulge in 75-cent drinks from 9 p.m. to midnight. On Sunday night, move your hips with the beats of Latin Night, including $4 margaritas and Coronas, as well as karaoke. If you’re looking for delicious bites, owner Victor Zepka has got you covered with their dining option, Beefcake’s Grills, serving burgers, wraps, salads and more with daily specials. Christiana Lilly

Fall 2014

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Fall 2014 2014 column browardmessage county Fall

Smarty Pants 2400 E. Oakland Park Blvd. # 101 Fort Lauderdale 954-561-1724 smartypantsbar.com

Rumors

Bar and Grill 2426 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-565-8851 rumorsbarwiltonmanors.com facebook.com/pages/Rumors-Bar-Grill/ 322936497806515

Smarty Pants is “the oldest ‘alternative lifestyle’ bar in Fort Lauderdale,” according to owner Mark Tison, serving our community for more than 30 years. Before Tison bought and renamed the bar in September 2003, it was The Bushes; before that it was Little Jim’s; and before that it was Simba’s Lounge: a “gay speakeasy” where closeted gays would gather discretely to drink and socialize. Today Smarty Pants continues to be a home away from home for many gay men. Tison calls it “the ‘Cheers’ of Fort Lauderdale, where everyone knows your name.” Smarty Pants regulars are fiercely loyal, and most would not go anywhere else. Tison and his staff return the favor, keeping most of their regulars’ names and phone numbers on file. Even when a regular moves out of town he maintains his ties. According to Tison, all a regular has to do when he comes back to visit is to call Smarty Pants ahead of time and he and his staff will be at the bar, waiting for his arrival. Smarty Pants attracts a variety of gay men, along with a few women. (“We are straightfriendly and lesbian-friendly.”) It is a full liquor bar but beer is

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most regulars’ drink of choice. It allows smoking but also employs two smoke-eaters, which allow us to breathe. Smarty Pants’ most popular feature is its daily Happy Hour, which runs until 8 p.m. except Sunday - where it runs until closing for all and Monday - where it runs until closing for those who are “in the biz.” Another popular Smarty Pants feature is Karaoke Zone, hosted by Don Casteel, which goes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 3 to 7 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke is followed on Sundays by Bingo, a popular fundraiser for local AIDS charities. Smarty Pants also serves Saturday morning breakfast, for those who survived Friday night. Smarty Pants is also famous for its Special Event Weekends. Its next one is “Trailer Trash Weekend” (Aug. 22-24), with a special Saturday afternoon show. Smarty Pants celebrates its 11th birthday with a festive “Anniversary Weekend” (Sept. 1921), including a Classic Car Show on Sunday afternoon. Jesse Monteagudo

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Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

Another one of the “newer” places on the drive is Rumors Bar and Grill. It fits the bill as an everyday video bar and gathering place that has a different special or theme every day. Inside, Hobo’s Grill serves up your favorite bar cuisine, but we hear the Alligator Bites are quite the awesome, popular “go-to”. 2-for1 Happy Hour is Monday through Saturday from 11a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Thursdays from open-toclose, which is also considered “Lady’s Night”. This bar also has a jukebox, pool table, DJs, karaoke in the “Red Room” Wednesdays

from 6 to 10 p.m., and weekly entertainment, including The Daisy Deadpetals Show, Fridays at 11 p.m. and midnight. Other happenings include Sunday Mimosas and Bloody Marys specially priced from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays have the After Dark High Energy Dance Party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Check their websites for a full calendar of regular events, latest bar ads, and Hobo’s food menu. And don’t forget their Facebook page for daily happenings. Dennis Jozefowicz

column message features dead bars

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Turning Back the Clock, Revisiting October of 1991 Norm Kent

‘Bar Tombstones’ courtesy of the Ramrod photo morgue. Available on display this week. Photo by J.R. Davis.

It was October of 1991, and gay life was at once emerging and thriving in Fort Lauderdale. On East Las Olas Boulevard, Wayne Gibson announced he was going to be selling the high end Cathode Ray Bar to John Manzi. The Cathode had already become the most premiere bar in the gay neighborhood of Victoria Park in Fort Lauderdale, especially on Sunday nights when the community’s movers and shakers would line the outdoor waterside patio. From WSVN’s news anchor, Craig Stevens, to WFTL’s afternoon talk show host, Al Rantel, well known names and hot numbers would crowd the narrow establishment. Not far away, just under the tunnel at US 1, Jungle Bar owners Zack Enterline and Steve Whitney announced in Hotspots! Magazine to columnist “Mrs. Beasley” that they would be featuring a “Dog Day Thanksgiving,” a free Turkey Day buffet for gay men and their pets. At the time, I was a minority partner in the bar. It was just down the block from the long-running gay strip club, Stanley’s, featuring “hot and young dancers,” hosting that month the 7th annual Dixie Awards, a charity event run to honor popular local entertainers. On Sunrise Boulevard, in what is now

Mona’s, a more subdued establishment named the Phoenix would serve the gay community. On the same street, in what is now Slammer’s 321, a young entrepreneur named George Kessinger ran a popular bar named Georgie’s. He would eventually go on to operate some place in Wilton Manors we now call the Alibi. Meanwhile, a new bar named Saturn was just opening, featuring promotions by a Brad Buchman, a local HIV activist. His work was promoted by Brad Casey, writing for a small gay magazine called, “A Friendly Voice.” Still, the mother of all gay bars, was on A1A at 17 South Atlantic Boulevard, the Marlin Beach Resort and Hotel, featuring “Mother” at its Sunday Brunch Buffett. Today, it’s the Beach Place, and you can say even now on a Sunday afternoon, it’s still where the boys are. Then, it was known for its underground swimming pool and lavish restaurant. In 1991, however, the most popular bar in town had become the Copa, on Miami Road in Dania Beach, elegantly operated by lovers John Castelli and Bill Bastiansen. A phenomenal dance club, with a 4 am closing time, it was a gay entertainment Mecca on the weekends, whether it was hosting a ‘wet jockey short contest’ or an AIDS fundraiser.

Nevertheless, the Copa had been raided by Sheriff Nick Navarro earlier that year in May, accused of being a “drug den.” Hundreds of gay men and women were illegally detained and inexcusably humiliated, forced to vacate the bar to waiting TV cameras- and law enforcement officers with guns in their hands and masks on their head, issuing threatening directives to stunned patrons. Meanwhile, a smaller dance club, the Lodge, was running successfully at the corner of Himmarshee Street and 2nd avenue, in the city’s historical district. Tucked away on the second floor, it competed with Backstreet on East Broward Boulevard, also in ownership of a late night liquor license. While the Lodge was short lived, it distinguished itself under other names as well, first as the glamorous Cabaret, hosting sit down dinners and featuring nightly performances by Electra. It also reopened as the District, and eventually Manhattan’s. Another popular gay supper club at the time was January’s, just west of I-95 on Davie Boulevard. Under the Lodge on the first floor, years before, there was also a male strip club called ‘Johnny’s Village Inn’ owned by Johnny Moses. He would move it to

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its present location on West Broward Boulevard, selling it to Sean David. On its ad pages, Hotspots heralded the opening of drag performer Cathy Craig at a gay themed hotel and bar, called Club Caribbean Resort on US 1. In one of its cottages, a year later, Brad Casey would start Scoop Magazine. Pompano Bill met him there, and the retiree began taking pictures of gay nightlife in South Florida. As the decade unfolded, Club Caribbean would go from owner to owner to foreclosure,

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

message Fall 2014 2014 column features dead bars Fall crushed in part by a multi-million dollar lawsuit after a drunken young gay man dove from the second floor bar into the pool and cracked his skull open. Meanwhile, another club, called 825, The Malebox proudly announced on Monday’s they would host a strip club contest called “Boys and Beer” and the “Men of X-Tacy.” The owner was a Boston entrepreneur, Joe McCallion, who ran into tax problems with the IRS. After shutting down, the bar was taken over by Paul Hugo, who turned it into a successful neighborhood locale. When he sold it to Ed Cosman though, the music died. FLPDS targeted it for multiple code violations. Hugo, however, found a new business partner, Brett Tannebaum, and the duo has squeaked by, eventually opening up The Coliseum on US 1 in Hollywood, and now, The Venue in Wilton Manors. In 1991, down the block from the Malebox was Lefty’s, a neighborhood institution owned by Lefty, and his partner Kevin. A big bear of a man, Lefty was promoting a Thanksgiving feast that month as well, probably

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offering some of the boar he would catch on one of his New York hunting excursions. Lefty would sell the bar at 710 North Federal Highway, eventually reopening as the Haymarket. The FLPD took down the place for drugs and lewd act violations in 2001. On the south side of Federal, just beyond the 17th street causeway, attorney Arthur Smith ran a popular club called ‘The Bus Stop.’ Gay themed nightlife was starting to emerge in Wilton Manors. A new bar would open in the Manors in December of 1991 at 2004 Wilton Drive, between the Dairy Queen and Siam Restaurant. What is now Tropic’s was then ‘the Cape.’ One other bar on Wilton Drive catered to lesbians. Where the Village Pub now sits, it was called ‘The Otherside.’ It was relentlessly and repeatedly harassed by

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city officials for parking problems and code violations. The Stud on Andrews Avenue boldly announced a ‘Master/Slave’ Auction for the Holidays ahead, to benefit Poverello, a food bank program for HIV patients. Down the block, a bar called ‘Rustlers’ attracted the country western crowd with square dancing. The Stud, though was so popular, it would move from Andrews to State Road 84, and reopen in a huge dance facility, which included an outdoor volleyball court and a host of showcase performers. It would eventually be sold and reopen as The Saint. But when the Coliseum opened in 1999, just a few hundred yards from the Copa, the Saint lost its staying power. But with its outdoor volleyball court, foam parties, teen nights, and large dance floor, it will be remembered. On Broward Boulevard, there was also Tacky’s, home of the Sunday Meat Market and an overflowing outdoor tea dance, with full liquor until 4 am. It met its demise later in the nineties after some attempted revivals, including an

effort to make it into a lesbian venue. No matter where you partied or worked in the early 90’s it seemed everyone would wind up late night at Tony Barone’s ‘End Up’ in the Romark Building on West Broward Boulevard near 441. Meanwhile, West Palm Beach became the first Florida city to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. They had a few bars of their own, notably Heartbreakers and Kozlow’s. Later Cupid’s would open up offering full nudity. In Miami Beach, there was plenty of activity as well. Warsaw was gearing up for Boy George on New Year’s Eve. The Cactus and the Boardwalk was also still alive and well. The Boomerang, Stables and Southpaws, also graced the pages of David. Dana Manchester was hosting a cocktail party and fund raiser on Coral Way at a Jack Campbell bathhouse. Life is a series of comings and goings. As we look back and reminisce, we can see where the road has taken us, maybe get an idea of where we are going. But for everything we do take with us, there is a fond memory left behind.

Fall 2014

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column message Fall 2014 2014 broward county Fall

Rosie’s

The

Stable

Bar and Grill 2449 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-563-0123

205 E Oakland Park Blvd. Oakland Park 954-565-4506

rosiesbng.com facebook.com/RosiesBarAndGrill

stablefla.com facebook.com/stablefla

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

Rosie’s Bar and Grill is one of the most popular places in town for casual food and drink for tons of reasons. With its open interior, and shaded outdoor seating, it’s a great place to enjoy the local tropical weather year round. Though there is single seating at the bar, most people come here on dates or in groups, and it’s a great place to celebrate a small birthday party, or even bring your straight friends. The atmosphere and staff are very happy and up beat, and the food and drinks are fantastic. The menu is themed, unique and fun, with options like “Rhoda Cowboy,” their BBQ bacon cheddar cheeseburger, or the “Young Ranch Hand,” a

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grilled chicken breast sandwich with bacon, Swiss, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing. But there is much more than just sandwiches. There’s “Big Girl Plates”, (full meals…) “Bowls of Stuff”, (variety of specialty salads…) and even a “GuiltFree Menu”. There really is something for everyone here, with a variety of main ingredients featured, such as shrimp, chicken, beef, and more. Happy hour is Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as many other drink specials throughout the week. Their full menu is available online at their website. Dennis Jozefowicz

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Fall 2014

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

The Stable, sister property to Scandals Saloon, offers the same generous cocktails as its sibling with happy hour prices until 9 p.m. daily, and all day Sunday. This neighborhood bar permits smoking, and has an outdoor patio, pool table and a dartboard. But unlike other neighborhood bars, this place has something going on almost all the time. “Underbear Tuesdays” at 8 p.m., and Comedy Campo Bingo with Miss Candy Cornhole on Wednesdays 8:30 p.m., both offer an evening of fun and prizes. 2-Guys-On-A-

Mic karaoke on Fridays at 8 p.m. will make you feel like a star, and some of the finest female impersonation entertainment on Saturdays starting with Lady Fancy at 9 p.m., and continuing with “Sloppy Seconds” with Jessica Channing. The drink of the week is a Bloody Mary, on Sundays with the infamous Russell. There is so much packed into this little place, we can’t fit it all here. Check their website for full details of their weekly schedule. Dennis Jozefowicz

Fall 2014

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

column message Fall 2014 2014 broward county Fall

Village Pub 2283 Wilton Drive Fort Lauderdale 754-200-5244 VillagePubWM.com

PJ’s

Cocks & Tails 2340 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 954-368-5516 PJsCornerPocket.com Photo courtesy of pjscornerpocket.com

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

Ask co-owner Greg Phelps about the secret to Village Pub’s success and he will tell you it’s because he and his partners run the business like a family. Celebrating two years in October, Village Pub has become a popular destination for all segments of South Florida’s LGBT community. “We view the bar as the community’s bar,” Phelps explained. “We’re the hosts of the party and there’s something for everyone.” On Sundays, Village Pub hosts the popular Retro T-Dance (and on the last Sunday of the month, Menergy, a popular party with the bear community), Monday is Dragicide with Misty Eyez, Tuesdays feature show tunes and on Wednesdays,

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patrons enjoy karaoke with Two Guys and a Mic. High Energy Thursdays feature special guest performers, shows and dance music late into the evening. Among the guest entertainers who have taken the Village Pub stage are Canada’s Miss Concepcion, Electra, “Sordid Lives” writer and comedian Del Shores and the musical duo Amy and Freddy, who helped the Village Pub celebrate their opening, first and second anniversaries. “Everybody should find at least one night that is good for them,” Phelps promised, noting the bar also extends its 2-for-1 Happy Hour special into Saturdays. J.W. Arnold

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

Dubbed as Fort Lauderdale’s only “interracial club,” this venue is touted as the first Black owned and run bar in Wilton Manors. The bar promotes an open-minded vibe in which all walks of life are welcome. Inside, patrons will find a relaxing lounge where the music won’t dominate your conversation. Want to get philosophical with that cutie you just met on a

cushy couch? PJ’s Cock & Tails is a good choice. This full-service bar opened in January 2014, and has exposed concrete walls yielding an artsy and loft like feel. Happy hour occurs from 4 to 8 p.m., and Sunday evenings are when to find a good karaoke show. Andrea Richard

column browardmessage county

Scandals

Gregarious Drinkery

Saloon

2033 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors

3073 NE 6th Ave. Wilton Manors 954-567-2432 ScandalsFla.com facebook.com/scandalsfla

Fall 2014 2014 Fall

754-779-7399 GregariousDrinkery.com One of the newest destinations on busy Wilton Drive is Gregarious Drinkery. Open just a few months, Gregarious is an oasis from the bustling drive, decorated in natural stone, dark wood and tactile surfaces. The environment is modern and clean, just like a tangy cosmopolitan. But whether you prefer a simple beer or the latest concoction from the bar’s talented mixologists, your quench will be satisfied. Best of all, Gregarious offers 2-for-1 Happy Hour specials all week long. If you’d like a bite to eat, Gregarious is also an eatery. The menu includes salads, freshly made potato chip and hand-cut fry baskets, and their signature Reuben fritters, a delicious sandwich in two bites with a unique

Russian dressing dipping sauce. For heartier meals, the chef serves up fresh Angus beef and turkey burgers, fish tacos, savory flatbread pizzas topped with gourmet ingredients and tasty pastas. Theme nights feature margaritas on Mondays, “Therapy” Tuesdays, Island City Punch Wednesdays and Cosmopolitan Thursdays. Diva headlines “Who’s the Bitch with the Microphone” on Sundays, “drag like you’ve never seen before,” featuring unscripted, spontaneous and interactive appearances by Diva and her friends and offering the audience the opportunity to select the music. J.W. Arnold

Funky Buddha Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

Scandals Saloon is South Florida’s only gay country bar, offering generous cocktails, with happy hour prices daily until 9 p.m., and all day Sunday. There’s a $10 beer bust starting Sundays 3 p.m. till close. There is an outdoor bar and patio, and smoking is permitted. Friday and Saturday nights are an open dance floor for country two stepping and line dancing starting at 9 p.m. till close. The large outdoor patio also brings DJs on Saturday nights starting at 9 p.m., and for Sunday Tea from 4 till 11p.m. Sundays at 9 p.m. till 1 a.m., 2-Guys-On-A-Mic run the best in karaoke.

Beginners’ line dance lessons are Mondays at 7 p.m., standard line dance lessons are Tuesdays at 7 p.m., line and two-step lessons on Wednesday at 7 p.m., and twostep lessons on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Quite frequently, when he’s not at his other bar, The Stable, you’ll see owner Ken Kelly sipping on his Absolut and tonic on the patio with his friends, which is practically everyone in the entire bar. It’s a large bar with a neighborhood feel you’re sure to enjoy, and it’s a great place to gather with friends, or meet new ones. Dennis Jozefowicz

1201 N.E. 38th St. Oakland Park

954-440-0046 FunkyBuddhaBrewery.com The second location of the Funky Buddha name (the original bar is in Boca Raton), at just a year old the brewery has become the place to be for lovers of craft beer — and bears. Although not a traditional gay bar, Tuesdays have turned into bear night for the gay community, calling themselves Bears for Beer. The spot is constantly bringing in new local flavors, celebrating with tap parties and inviting the whole

Fall 2014

community out to try the newest beers. Food trucks are parked outside so you’re not drinking on an empty stomach, and other special events include Om Brew Yoga sessions and weekend tours of the 40,000-square-foot brewery for just $5 (you get to keep your Funky Buddha glass too!). What else do we have to sell you on? Christiana Lilly

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

features

Fall 2014

Q-Balls All Around Christiana Lilly

With the slam of the cue into a rack of billiards balls, the game begins for a night of friendly competition. “This is a fun league where people can come out and get out of the house on Tuesday night,” said Joe Kruszewski, president of the Q Ball League. For more than 10 years, the gay pool league has invited men and women, both gay and straight, to hit the billiards tables in seasons under the rules of Bar Room 8-Ball. There are currently 14 teams, each with between five to eight members. Seasons run from January to May, then pick up again in the summer through October or November, depending on how many players join. Members meet at various bars on Tuesday nights in Wilton Manors, Oakland Park and Fort Lauderdale. The league

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Bears Are J.W. Arnold

differs from others because of its more relaxed atmosphere -while competition is high, the intensity that is in other leagues is not there. Rather, members are looking for a social experience. Also, pool players of all levels are welcome to participate and there’s no entry fee. At the end of the season, the players pool together to throw a banquet. “The only thing you are required to do is tip your bartender for your drinks and have good time,” Kruszewski said. “After you win a game, the euphoria is outrageous.” Those interested in joining as a single player or with a team are encouraged to sign up early, as the league must put together a schedule and other logistics. Bars looking to sponsor the league are also encouraged to reach out. Visit QBallPool.com.

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Fall 2014

It’s been more than 50 years since the Connie Francis movie, “Where the Boys Are,” that established Fort Lauderdale as the spring break destination for a generation, a reputation the city fought for many years to come. But, when it comes to bears, Fort Lauderdale is definitely the place to party and this time around, the city’s convention and visitors bureau is welcoming the association. Each spring, thousands of hairy gay men — and the guys who like them — converge on Fort Lauderdale Beach for Beach Bear Weekend. The area’s guesthouses, as well as the Wilton Manors entertainment district, are especially busy in early- to midMay with associated tea dances, restaurant crawls and dance parties. But, with a large local population,

every weekend can be a celebration of the bear culture. Fridays are a particularly popular night, as bears traditionally converge on Bill’s Filling Station, 2209 Wilton Drive, for happy hour and later, Growl, the bear appreciation party. Bears can also be found in numbers at Village Pub, 2283 Wilton Drive, on Sundays for the Retro T-Dance from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and especially on the last Sunday of the month for Menergy, featuring DJ Bill Hallquist and the bar’s popular $10 beer bust. Unlike in other cities, bears are hardly an endangered species, roaming freely at nightlife destinations across the area. Local bears can also be frequently sighted at the Cubby Hole, 823 N. Federal Hwy. in Fort Lauderdale; Scandals, 3073 N.E. 6th Ave. in Wilton Manors; and Tropics, 2000 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.

Fall 2014

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Fall 2014 2014 column browardmessage county Fall

Tropics

Infinity

Piano Bar and Restaurant

Lounge

2184 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors 754-223-3619

2000 Wilton Drive Oakland Park 954-537-6000

InfinityLoungeFL.com Facebook.com/InfinityLoungeFL

TropicsWM.com

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

Tropics has been serving the more mature patrons in our community for more than 20 years, with its great mix of food, spirits, personalities, and entertainment. Though, these days, you will find all sorts of people visiting this Wilton Manors institution. The restaurant is a great place to have a date, or to enjoy one of the many weekly specials. The most popular include 2-for-1 meal menus on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Prime Rib night on Wednesdays, and the Sunday Brunch. After your meal, grab a space at one of the three bars on the property for the best 2-for-1 happy hour anywhere, where it’s 2-for-1 drinks, all the time, all brands,

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7 days a week. Lets not forget about the nightly entertainment. From the cool sounds of well known local personalities ‘Tony and Gloria’, to the festive piano of Ruben Gonzales, Tropics has a full schedule of entertainment. They even brought back Sunday evening karaoke at 7 p.m.! Check out their new website with the full daily schedule of entertainment, and check out their restaurant menus. Restaurant reservations are highly suggested via phone or their website. If you haven’t been back in a while, come visit soon, as they’re under new ownership, and doing quite well. Dennis Jozefowicz

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

Photo by Dennis Jozefowicz

Ask anyone in the area where to go for good martinis, and more often than not, Infinity Lounge is the local favorite that everyone seems to answer. One of the newer bars on the scene, this is not your average t-shirt wearin’ watering hole. Designed with an industrial elegance of polished concrete and sparkling chandeliers, this is definitely a place that screams “upscale” without the attitude. The feel of the casual, yet sophisticated ambience, combined with a wide variety of martinis, (many served with creative fresh ingredients…) featured cocktails,

and friendly staff, make it a great place to loosen up before or after a special date. It’s also a great place to visit regularly to wind down after a long day at the office. (Nothing says “relax” like a good tropical martini!) The interior is intimate, and there is outdoor seating on the front sidewalk. Along with their cocktails, they also carry many wines and craft beers. Happy Hour is every day from 3 to 9 p.m., plus other specials. Check their Facebook regularly for updated specials and highlighted drinks! Jesse Monteagudo

miami-dade county

Fall 2014

Miami’s Gay Bar Scene in 1974 Jesse Monteagudo Miami in the 1970’s was a great time to be young and gay. As my fictional alter-ego, Joe Martinez, said in one of his adventures, “Miami was a candy store for a young gay guy just out of the closet.” With no AIDS in sight, and most venereal diseases treated with a simple shot, it was “the golden age of gay sexuality.” It was also a golden age for MiamiDade County’s lesbian and gay bar scene. Not only were there far fewer raids than before, but local laws that made it a crime for “known homosexuals” to be served liquor or congregate in a tavern were overturned. The legal drinking age was 18, which made things very convenient for a young gay man who was just coming out. A gay kid had many places to choose from in 1974. In fact, there were more gay watering holes in Miami Beach - and certainly in the Miami mainland - than there are today. In his 1972 directory, “The Gay Insider USA,” author John Paul Hudson (writing as John Francis Hunter) listed 15 gay or mixed pubs and clubs in the mainland (including Coconut Grove and Coral Gables) and 8 queer watering holes on the Beach. A 1975 bar rag, Where the Action Is - whose only claim to fame is that one of its contributors was a 22-year old newcomer named Jesse Monteagudo - listed 13 mainland bars and 6 Beach bars. They did not include the “down low,” mixed taverns that catered to minorities. Nor did they include the other places where gay guys cruised and socialized: The Club Miami and Regency Baths; the 21st Street and Virginia Beaches; Bayfront Park; Florida Pharmacy; Rio Theater; Danny’s Book Store; Downtown YMCA; the Greyhound Bus Station, and so on. The years between 1974 and 1975 were also my gay bar years. Never before or since would I frequent so many pubs or clubs, or as often, as I did back then.

Lack of money did not bother me, since student discounts and the kindness of friends and strangers often helped me get through. The lack of a car was a detriment, since it limited me to a great degree to bars that I could get to by foot or bus or ride. Interestingly, I never went to the Cactus Lounge on Biscayne Boulevard, which until its demolition a couple of years ago had the distinction of being the only 1974 gay bar in South Florida still in existence. And I was too late to enjoy Googie’s, a hot spot immortalized by Jack Nichols in his memoir The Tomcat Chronicles. But somehow I managed to visit virtually every other openly gay male bar in Miami-Dade County, save for a couple of Miami Beach or West Miami taverns. Significantly, my first gay bar (1973) was the Nook, Coral Gables’ only gay bar. I found out about the Nook by chance: I was working as an usher in a theater on Ponce de Leon Blvd when one of my co-workers happened to mention the existence of a “queer bar” nearby. Though I visited the Nook several times, it was never my favorite hangout. Located on a side street, the Nook acted as if the Stonewall Riots never happened. Discreet gentlemen in dark suits sipped martinis while listening to Judy Garland or Barbra Streisand records on the jukebox. Fortunately, I soon learned from the gayvine where the action really was. In 1974, Miami’s gay action was centered around the Warehouse VIII. Located on S.W. 8th Street and 36th Avenue, this former warehouse (hence the name) boasted a huge dance floor, a Levi-leather bar in the back, a cruise bar upstairs, and a rooftop where anything could happen. The Gay Insider USA described the Warehouse as a “huge place; [with a] suspended horse-drawn cart; [and] pool tables. Upstairs is a swinging bar, but not too friendly to

outsiders,” unless, of course, you were young and cute. It was also a late bar (closing time, 5 a.m.), which allowed us to party all night, drag ourselves over to the Dunkin’ Donut across the street for coffee, and get back to our family homes before Mami and Papi woke up.

Near the Warehouse VIII, there were several gay or mixed taverns. I never cared for El Carol, a long-lasting “mixed” bar on LeJeune Road, a block South of Calle Ocho. I much preferred the nearby Second Landing, so much in fact that I was a regular there. Located on the second floor of a building on the S.W. corner of 8th Street and Le Jeune the first floor was occupied by a straight strip bar - the Second Landing began its career as Step Mother’s, was Bachelor’s West in the brief period it was owned by the same people who owned Bachelor’s II on Coral Way, and became the Second Landing in 1975. An ad in Where the Action Is bragged about the Landing’s “intimate Cruisy Atmosphere, For the Late, Late Crowd” – it was open until 5 a.m. – “that wants a cozy place to cruise,” with “Most Drinks 75 cents” - certainly a plus for a kid who was working his way through college. The Second Landing was a great place for young Latin boys looking for older papis (or vice versa), which was what I was into at that time. The Second Landing was a thing of the past

Fall 2014

by the 1980’s; and since then the entire building was torn down and the site is now occupied by a Walgreen’s. Bachelors II, with a restaurant on the ground floor and a cruise bar on the second floor, was located on Coral Way between S.W. 28th and 29th Avenues. Though Bachelors II then boasted “the delightful piano stylings of the famed Walter Lena and Neil Martin,” to me it was just a place to grab a drink on my way to the nearby Club Miami Baths. The Hamlet, located on Main Highway in Coconut Grove - at the time Miami”s “gayborhood” - was a great place to hang out in the daytime or early evening. Also in Coconut Grove was the tony Candlelight Club, a members’ only restaurant and lounge. Since financial affluence was required to be a member, I only went to the Candlelight Club as a guest or, later (1976), when it hosted the early meetings of the Dade County Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays. Historian James T. Sears, in his 70’s gay history Rebels, Rubyfruit, and Rhinestones, described “this Coconut Grove landmark among the banyan trees” as a place one could “sometimes spot celebrities like Roy Cohn and Barry Manilow dining on rack of lamb and drinking Chateauneuf du Pape.” It was definitely not my kind of bar. I was more at home in Downtown Miami’s Levi-leather bars, like the Rack and the Ramrod (later the Double R). Space limitations keep me from mentioning some of the bars on Miami Beach, particularly the Mayflower Lounge - Billie Lee’s Bar during Jack Nichols’s “tomcat” years (1962) - and Basin Street, both on Alton Road. The same goes for Broward County bars that I managed to visit now and then: Keith’s Cruise Room in Hallandale, Tee Jay’s in Hollywood, and Tacky’s and Venture Inn in Fort Lauderdale. All in all it was a great time, and I might write about it again some day.

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

Fall 2014 miami-dade county

The

Azucar

Floppy Rooster

Nightclub 2301 N.W. 32nd Ave. Miami

305-443-7657

7018 N.W. 72nd Ave. Miami

AzucarMiami.com Facebook.com/ClubSugarmia “Lo major de la noche,” has gone through a name change. Azucar used to be called Club Sugar before it took up a more, ahem, Latin twist. Mmmm, mmm! This sweet venue is a nice place to hang out and flirt with a fun cutie. It is open later than its contenders, with a 5 a.m. closing time

786-766-0778

Wednesday through Sunday nights. Revelers can dress casual, socialize and kick back without dealing with too much pretention in this friendly club. The drag shows offer over-thetop drama, audiences are sure to be amused.

FloppyRooster.com

Andrea Richard

Eros Lounge 8201 Biscayne Blvd. Miami

305-754-3444 “No bull. Just rooster.”

Facebook.com/ErosLoungeMiami Want to sing with your buddies but can’t find a venue with an extensive song list? Eros Lounge provides an impressive sound library for its Wednesday night karaoke bash. Every Wednesday at 8 p.m., participants can sing to their hearts’ content.

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Also, on the calendar are bingo nights, drag shows, film screenings and TV-show viewing events. Happy hour features 2-for-1 drinks on the daily. Andrea Richard

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

This all-nude gay strip club and lounge is located within minutes of the Miami International Airport. Need to wind down before taking a flight? Come by here for a smashing good time, baby. The venue’s motto “No bull. Just rooster,” is a playful take on

what occurs on any given night. The place is open 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, and is known to heat things up when the buff and tone gentlemen shake it and grind it on stage. Now, flex those biceps! Andrea Richard

miami-dade county

Palace South Beach

Discotekka 950 N.E. Second Ave. Miami

305-371-3773

1200 Ocean Drive Miami Beach

305-531-7234 PalaceSouthBeach.com facebook.com/PalaceOceanDrive Photo courtesy of PalaceOceanDrive Facebook

Fall 2014

Discotekka.com Shirts off. Booty out. Hands up in the air. This downtown Miami dance club holds no bars when it comes to partying. Hip-hop is played here along with a slew of live-musical acts and infamous DJs. This hotspot hosts a Wednesday night bash “Mekka” featuring “new male meat” along with a drag contest and 75-cent

drinks before 1 a.m. And, of course, the after hours fiesta “La Puta Nota” is known to sauce things up on Fridays. It begins at 4 a.m. and rattles on until 11 a.m. where ladies get free admission. The bar has a 23-hour liquor license so, come here, knowing you can party on and on. Andrea Richard

Score 1437 Washington Ave. Miami Beach

305-535-1111 ScoreBar.net

“Every queen needs a palace.” When you want a night on the town in the ever pumping and hopping SoBe, Palace Bar is your best bet. This venue boasts a nightclub, Americanstyle restaurant, and a bar with fine cocktails. Patrons can score breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch here, and dine indoors or al fresco. Now in its 26th year, Palace is the first and

only LGBT bar/restaurant on Ocean Drive. And this sultry venue is located just a few steps from 12th Street Beach where the gay crowd is known to frequent. Drag queens perform nightly dinner shows and entertain on Sundays for a “Brunchic” shindig.

This rocking nightclub, which is the brainchild of Billy Kemp and Luis Morera, just celebrated its 16th anniversary (sharing a birthday with the one and only Madonna). Originally located on Lincoln Road, a year ago the club moved off the strip onto Washington Avenue, increasing in size with a massive dance floor, state-of-the art sound equipment, a full bar, and a constant flow of entertainers. “We have all the components

to make us a real night club,” Morera said. Each night has a different music theme -Latin, hip-hop, open format, underground, etc. -- with matching drink specials. Behind the bar, they’re most known for their large assortment of mojito flavors. Add in drag queens, gogo dancers, impersonators and other entertainers, and guests are in for a wild night. Christiana Lilly

Andrea Richard

Fall 2014

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

Fall 2014 miami-dade county

House Nightclub 1915 N.W. Miami Ct. Miami

Twist 1057 Washington Ave. Miami Beach

305-538-9478

855-694-6893

TwistSoBe.com

HouseNightClub.com Facebook.com/HouseNightClubMiami

For 21 years, Twist has been the “it” spot to go hard all night. With seven full bars and multiple rooms on two floors, customers can hit the dance floor, video bar, garden bar, bungalow, and enjoy the go-go dancers. DJs work the decks for different vibes throughout the complex, from hip-hop to Latin to

EDM. For drinks, every day, Happy Hour is from 1 to 9 p.m. with two-for-one specials on everything, as well as two-for-one call and domestics from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursdays. And the best part? Their tagline says it all: never a cover, always a groove. Christiana Lilly

Club Boi From famous nightclub visionary Mark Lowe, House nightclub is a concept like no other. From a sexy-driven food menu, to the high-end liquor selections, surrounded by a club of visual surprise in every corner, House is not for the average “club goer.” As described on their website, they are an “AOE” (Anything On Earth) establishment, meaning they will provide whatever you desire. This is a serious club scene, with enforced dress codes, themed nights, and people that experience life in

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extraordinary ways. Fridays is “My House” night, which tends to be more “straight” and Saturdays is “My Rules” night, which is more “alternative.” The entire concept surrounds “being hat home” you have to register for a “House Key” at their website to guarantee entrance. If you’re new to such concepts, and you do happen to get a key, you should be prepared to experience an evening of sight and sound, trend and transcendent. Dennis Jozefowicz

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

1060 NE 79th St. Miami

786-395-2272 ClubBoi.com Opened in 2002, this party spot boasts a sexy good time for gay and bisexual black men and women. Club Boi’s website states an ‘adult content’ warning before visitors can click through. This is no place for minors! But for those looking for high-energy dance music and a night on the prowl, this is the place to come. Hear a

music lineup featuring the best in hip hop, dancehall, Latin, House, R&B and so on. But that’s not all. Sizzling nude male stripper nights are sure to entice. The club allows for ages 18 to enter and play; but the 21-year-old and older crowd can enjoy the booze. Andrea Richard

Fall 2014

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

Fall 2014

palm beach county

Fort Dix 6205 Georgia Ave. West Palm Beach 561-533-5355

Mad Hatter Lounge

1532 N. Dixie Hwy Lake Worth 561-547-8860

facebook.com/fortdix.bar

facebook.com/MadHatterLounge

Nestled among neighboring industrial buildings on a street that gets pretty dark at night, Fort Dix has plenty of light outside welcoming a regular clientele of mostly middle-aged men. The inside is almost as dark as the outside. With dark walls and dim lighting the bar is nevertheless welcoming to many. “We’re a friendly neighborhood bar,” said manager Dale Ludwig, answering questions while keeping customers’ glasses full. “We’re also reaching out to the bears and the leather community,” he added. “They need a place to go and we’d like it to be here.” A quick trip to the bar’s Facebook page shows their invitation to the leather folk with

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$2.50 well and domestic drinks on Saturdays starting at 10 p.m. The bar offers daily specials including an early evening cocktail hour. According to Ludwig the most popular beverage is a toss up between Jaegerbombs and Jello shots. “We attract a number of sports fans,” said Ludwig. “We have pool tournaments and show football games on Monday night. Fort Dix was opened in 1988 by Daniel Williams and Mark Koslowski who gave the bar its original name, Koslow’s. When Koslowski left the business in 2006, Williams renamed the bar Fort Dix. Donald Cavanaugh

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

The Mad Hatter Lounge is the last gay bar in Lake Worth. There used to be several and many downtown. No more. Ron Amodio and Tim Rice bought the bar in December 2012. Since then, it’s gotten a facelift both inside and out. With lighter walls and softer lighting inside and some plants and flags and decor on the outside, there’s an upbeat feeling for regulars and visitors alike. “We’re definitely a neighborhood bar,” said Friday barkeep Jimmy Zoellner. “I think you’ll find that all four of the remaining bars in Palm Beach County see themselves that way. Some people like us; some like Roosters; some Fort Dix and some Penny’s. Some people visit all of us;

others not at all.” There are nightly specials every week. The current favorite is an $11 beer bust from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Another favorite is New Meat Mondays which features a guest bartender from 6 to 8 p.m. every week. “The guest brings friends and everyone meets new people,” said Zoellner. “The most popular beverage is vodka or beer, depending on the crowd,” he said. “And don’t forget karaoke is Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. with Frank-e-oke.” Donald Cavanaugh

features

Fall 2014

Where The

Divas Are? J.W. Arnold

954-777-7777

YOUR RIDE TO THE

Every drag queen needs a palace and in South Beach, you’ll find the grandest queens on South Beach at the Palace Bar, 1200 Ocean Drive. The performances spill over into the sidewalks at the Palace’s weekend Brunchic brunch, thrilling locals and terrorizing unsuspecting tourists. Throw in the hottest local and guest DJs and the Palace is definitely the destination on the busy Ocean Drive strip. In Fort Lauderdale, the ladies of Lips, 1421 E. Oakland Park, definitely rule with shows six nights a week and the infamous Sunday Gospel Brunch hosted by Nicolette. Lady LaRouge hosts Dragalicious Tuesdays and Misty Eyez presides over Bitchy Bingo Wednesdays. On Thursdays, it’s Dinner with the Divas — Whitney, Dolly, Madonna, Cher and Bette — while Fridays and Saturdays are Glitz & Glam hosted by “the” Diva. Fans can also catch an outrageous drag performance practically every night of the week at bars and clubs across the region. On Sundays, Misty Eyez hosts

the long-running Trannie Palace at Bill’s Filling Stations, 2209 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, and on Mondays, Florida’s Own Dame Edna brings her unique style of comedy and singing to the Manchester Room at the Alibi, across the drive in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. At the Village Pub, Misty Eyez, one of the busiest queens in town, hosts Dragicide Mondays, a wacky lip sync competition that tests both professionals and amateurs. Fans of country queens can catch Lady Fancy at Scandals Saloon, 3073 NE 6th Ave. in Wilton Manors, and The Stable, 205 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Recently South Florida lost a drag legend when Auntie Mame died. She was a regular on Sunday nights at Boardwalk, 1721 N. Andrews Ave. On the weekend, Latinas abound at The Manor, 2345 Wilton Dr., home of Noche Latina Saturdays, and in the Epic nightclub, many of the country’s biggest talents host themed parties every week, including many of the finalists of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

DRIVE!

Yellowcabbroward.com Fall 2014

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

Fall 2014

palm beach county

H.G.

Roosters 823 Belvedere Road West Palm Beach 561-832-9119

Charlie’s

Sunday Mixers www.facebook.com/groups/167175890107250 For four years, Charlie Fredrickson and a few friends have organized monthly Sunday movable mixers at a variety of venues such as the Chesterfield in Palm Beach and the Players Club in Wellington. “The purpose for the mixers is good socializing and networking among men and women in the community without smoke or loud music to contend with,” said Fredrickson, noting that women often account for more than a third of the guests. “It’s a comfortable atmosphere for everyone,” said local acupuncturist Maryann McCarthy who has attended the events. “It’s so nice just to be able to talk with people at a normal volume.”

RoostersWPB.com facebook.com/pages/HG-Roosters/ 43915759499

The mixers usually attract over 50 guests from all parts of gay and straight Palm Beach County. With these numbers, they can often negotiate specials with the venues, from hors d’oeuvres to two-for-one cocktails. A who’s who of the gay community often attend with people affiliated with Compass, Gay Lake Worth, Integrity of the Palm Beaches, MCC of the Palm Beaches Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, and, the county chapter of Prime Timers to name a few. Many unaffiliated Palm Beachers also attend and guests often come from Fort Lauderdale as well as Stuart and Port St. Lucie. Donald Cavanaugh

Penny’s at the Duke 902 N. Dixie Hwy Lantana

561-318-7359 Established in 1984, Roosters is the longest continually operating gay bar in Palm Beach County. Located on Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach, the bar is less than a quarter of a mile east of I95 so it’s a convenient location for customers from all of Palm Beach County and points north such as Martin and St. Lucie counties. “We’re mostly a neighborhood bar,” said David Hazen, manager on duty on Friday nights. “We welcome everyone and we often have a good number of women – which is good. “The local bar isn’t the only way to meet people anymore,” he added. “There’s a lot of new competition for our traditional

SFGN.COM //

customer base.” The bar has daily specials which can be found on their website. The site includes hours of operation and a gallery of photos. More information is available at their Facebook page. On Sundays at 5 p.m. they have a barbecue on the back patio and at 11 p.m., Jared Scott does karaoke. According to Hazen the most popular daily specials are the $3.00 Long Islands on Saturday while the overall most popular beverage is the apple martini. “We sell a lot of them,” he confirmed. Donald Cavanaugh

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

facebook.com/pennysattheduke The Duke opened in 1946 and keeping the name was part of the purchase agreement for Penny Johnson to buy the business. A patron suggested Penny’s at the Duke and it stuck. Then Penny laid down 9000 pennies in urethane to physically lay claim to the name and opened the place in August 2013. Penny’s is a neighborhood gay bar with a twist. A bunch of straight customers came with the territory and have stayed to become part of the regular crowds. “They have fit right in with us,” said Johnson. “They sing karaoke (Mindy and Todd) with everyone else on Wednesdays from 7 to 11 p.m. and they stay for the drag

shows.” Penny’s forbids smoking inside. There are two patios where people can take their drinks and smokes and most do without complaint. “The policy has been well accepted,” said Johnson. “No one likes going home reeking of smoke.” The bar has lots of specials, which can be viewed online at their Facebook page. The current favorite beverage is a cinnamon whiskey called Fireball. And whether you’re female or male, you’re welcome to be one of “The Ladies Who Brunch” on first Sundays at noon. Donald Cavanaugh

Fall 2014

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE // SFGN.COM

SFGN.COM //

BARS AND CLUBS ISSUE

Fall 2014

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history jesse’s journal

Telling Tales: For LGBT History Month Jesse Monteagudo

SOME HISTORIES. Since I came upon a newly-printed copy of Jonathan Ned Katz’s Gay American History (1976), I have been an avid reader and collector of LGBT histories. The following is a list of histories I have read and enjoyed. I recommend them.

hen I came out 40 years ago, I learned much of what it is to be gay from older gay men, Hispanic and Anglo, who I met in Miami’s thenflourishing gay bars. (There were more gay bars in Miami in 1974 than there are in 2014.) Some of those men told me tales about being gay in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s; in the United States, in Cuba, or in other Latin American countries. From them I learned how difficult it was to be gay back then; how far we have come since then; and how far we still had to go. As the son of heterosexual parents, I did not learn about my community’s history from my parents; nor from my teachers or my straight peers. Thus my education as a gay man came from gay sources, from books written by gay people and from the stories told to me by other gay men. Forty years later, I still remember the lessons that I learned from those men, especially those who are no longer with us. Now that I am an elder gay myself I want to continue that tradition and teach younger generations about our past, either in person or through my writing. I find this tradition to be especially relevant in this month of October, otherwise known as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month. LGBT History Month began in 1994 when Rodney Wilson, a high school teacher in Missouri, decided to do something about the lack of queer voices in history textbooks. He organized other educators and community leaders for the purpose of educating students and the general

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public about our history; the history that many of us learned from older LGBT people when we first came out. After much discussion, October was named “Lesbian & Gay History Month: A Celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History.” LGHM, modeled after Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March, was designed to “promote the teaching of LesBiGay [and Trans] history in secondary and post-secondary academic settings, as well as within the LesBiGay [and Trans] community and mainstream society.” October was chosen because it is full of LGBT history: the dates of the first (1979) and the second (1987) Marches on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights are in October, as is National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) and Halloween (Oct. 31). Furthermore, October falls in the middle of the academic calendar, unlike the month of June (LGBT Pride Month), which allows educational institutions to participate. To many people, including the fine folk from Equality Forum, LGBT history is basically a roster of “great LGBT people in history.” This was used by apologists for decades to justify sexual or gender variance: In other words, it is not so bad to be a gay man if Michelangelo was one. But Michelangelo’s sexual orientation, which is still debated, does not do away with homophobia any more than the fact that Albert Einstein was a Jew did away with anti-Semitism or the fact that Louis Armstrong was African-American did away with racism. For every Susan B. Anthony or Bayard Rustin there soflagaynews //

were thousands of women or men who struggled anonymously against a hostile society and religious, legal and scientific systems that branded them sinners, criminals or mentally ill. The fact that many of them survived such a regimen to create loving households, supportive social groups and flourishing communities says a lot about their survival skills. We are here today because of them. There are many books written about Walt Whitman and Radclyffe Hall. What about the anonymous lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people who lived their lives the best they could? Since 1990, our histories have gone beyond great queers in history to study the lives and times of our more ordinary ancestors. They include books of popular or scholarly history, film or video documentaries, and programs and exhibits by community institutions like Fort Lauderdale’s Stonewall National Museum and Archives. While we can learn much from books, videos or museum exhibits, they only supplement the knowledge that we learn from personal contact with those who walked ahead of us. Therefore, the next time older LGBT persons want to tell you their story, please listen. Their stories are quaint, funny, tender, touching and sad, and they all have something to teach us. And when the time comes, do not hesitate to tell your own story to those who come after you, so they too can learn. That is what LGBT History Month is all about.

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1. Berube, Allan; Coming Out Under Fire, Free Press, 1990. 2. Bronski, Michael; A Queer History of the United States, Beacon, 2011. 3. Carter, David; Stonewall, St. Martin’s Press, 2004. 4. Chauncey, George; Gay New York, Basic Books, 1994. 5. Faderman, Lillian; Odd Girls & Twilight Lovers, Columbia, 1991. 6. Faderman, Lillian & Stuart Timmons; Gay L.A., Basic Books, 2006. 7. Grahn, Judy; Another Mother Tongue, Beacon, 1984. 8. Kaiser, Charles; The Gay Metropolis, Houghton Mifflin, 1997. 9. Loughery, John; The Other Side of Silence, Holt, 1998. 10. Sears, James T.; Rebels, Rubyfruit and Rhinestones, Rutgers, 2001. 11. White, C. Todd; Pre-Gay L.A., University of Illinois Press, 2009.

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h istory people

Historical Members of the LGBT Community LGBTHistoryMonth.com

LGBTHistoryMonth.com features a new profile everyday in October. Visit their website to see more.

Kathy Kozachenko

CeCe McDonald

Freddie Mercury

Birth: ca 1954, date unconfirmed

Birth: May 26, 1989, Chicago, Illinois

Birth: September 5, 1946, Zanzibar, Tanzania Death: November 21, 1991, London, England

First “Out” Elected Official

“It is clear that they [Ann Arbor City Council members] don’t ever plan to enforce complaints under sexual preference.” Kathy Kozachenko was the first openly gay person to be elected to a public office in the United States. In 1974 she was elected as a Human Rights Party candidate to the City Council of Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the early 1970s only 10 cities in the United States had laws specific to homosexual rights. Most of these pertained either to housing or public employment. Ann Arbor was an exception. The city had enacted a human rights ordinance that protected homosexuals in both housing and employment. Kozachenko ran on a platform that the law had not been enforced. When the city refused to prosecute a restaurant manager who had allegedly separated two women who were dancing together, homosexuals in the town rallied. Said Kozachenko, “It is clear that they [City Council members] don’t ever plan to enforce complaints under sexual preference.” Kozachenko won against a Democratic contender by 43 votes. She was the first to prove that an openly gay person could run for and be elected to public office. Kozachenko helped pave the way for Harvey Milk, who was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

Visit LGBTHistoryMonth.com for more LGBT icons each day in October.

Transgender Activist

“I felt like they wanted me to hate myself as a trans woman.” CeCe McDonald is a transgender prison-reform activist. While on her way to the grocery store with friends, she encountered a drunken group outside of a bar. Seeing McDonald and her friends, the group began taunting them with racial, homophobic and transphobic slurs. After taking a stance that their hate speech would not be tolerated, McDonald was assaulted with a shattered drinking glass across the face. The attack perforated her cheek and lacerated her salivary gland. McDonald defended herself against a second assailant with fabric shears, the only weapon she had. The assailant died. McDonald was arrested and imprisoned. After two months in prison, she finally received care for her wounds. Experiencing the inhumane treatment of prisoners firsthand, McDonald began speaking out against the criminal justice system. “Prisons aren’t safe for anyone, and that’s the key issue,” she said. For McDonald, the issue of safety included her status as a transgender female in a men’s prison. Transgender prisoners were assigned to prisons based on their sex at birth rather than their gender identity. The penal system frequently placed them in solitary confinement—a psychologically debilitating isolation—purportedly for the safety of the individual. The experience served to strengthen McDonald’s character and establish her resolve to become a transgender leader. “Free CeCe,” a documentary about her experiences, focused on the issue of violence against trans women of color.

Rock Star

“Success has brought me world idolization and millions of pounds. But it has prevented me from having the one thing we all need, a loving, ongoing relationship.” Freddie Mercury ranks among the most sensational rock ’n’ roll vocalists in history. He was one of the leading musicians, record producers and songwriters of the 1980s. Born Farrokh Bulsara to Parsi parents, Mercury was a British citizen who spent his childhood in India. At age 7, he began to study piano. When he was 8, he matriculated to an all-boys school near Bombay (now Mumbai). While enrolled there, he adopted the name “Freddie” and formed a band, the Hectics. In his teens, he moved with his family to Middlesex, England. When he was 24, Mercury, with guitarist Brian May and percussionist Roger Taylor, formed Queen. Mercury designed the crest of the band, which features the zodiac signs of all the band members, a ribbon circled in the form of a Q and a phoenix symbolizing continual rebirth. Mercury’s unique musical style blended pop, disco, rockabilly, and operatic influences. He wrote many of Queen’s most popular songs, including “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Are the Champions” and his elaborate masterpiece, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Mercury was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame. He ranks 18 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 greatest singers of all time. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” one of the best-selling singles of all time, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. Mercury died at 44 of AIDS-related illness.

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lifestyle books

“Travels with Casey” by Benoit Denizet-Lewis Terri Schlichenmeyer

c.2014, Simon & Schuster $26.00 / $32.00 Canada 341 pages You are your dog’s only pack. And the pack is happy. A trip to the corner store started it all: you said “Go for a ride?” and he nearly exploded. That’s his favorite thing, which makes it your favorite thing and right then, you weren’t sure which moved faster – your vehicle, or his tail. Yep, your dog loves going places. And in the new book “Travels with Casey” by Benoit Denizet-Lewis, it’s the trip of two lifetimes. Does my dog love me? That’s a question that drove Benoit Denizet-Lewis to therapy. His good-natured Lab-Golden cross, Casey, didn’t seem happy and Denizet-Lewis wondered if maybe Casey would rather have a “different human.” It was silly, maybe, but a decision was needed quickly: Denizet-Lewis wanted to write a book, and he’d planned a cross-country, fact-finding, dog-loving RV trip – with Casey included, he hoped. Inspired by John Steinbeck’s travel-witha-dog tale, Denizet-Lewis says “I wanted to write a different kind of dog book. I planned to travel across America… and hang out with as many dogs (and dog-obsessed humans) as I could.” With a launching point near Boston, Denizet-Lewis coaxed Casey into a gasguzzling RV and headed to a dog park, then to visit a Massachusetts pet photographer. In Connecticut, he and Casey – who initially hated the RV – contributed efforts to a longtime search for a lost Corgi. In New York City, which didn’t have a pooper-scooper law until 1978, DenizetLewis spent a day at a dog run where snarling and fighting were common among the humans. He visited Westminster; the owner of the latest Georgia Bulldog mascot;

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and the founder of PETA. He petted wolfdogs, learned about an invisible dog in Savannah, witnessed the proceedings at a high-kill shelter, and watched dock-jumping competitors. He and Casey did doga in Florida, where Denizet-Lewis fell in love with a new man. They met a cynophobe, consulted a pet psychic, and added a new member to their family in Arizona. And “somewhere around Texas,” the question of dogs and love was answered… Why do we adore dogs so? You could answer blithely, but the real reasons are quite deep – and you’ll find plenty of them inside “Travels with Casey.” Making a great big country-wide loop, dog lovers will drool over this (almost) golden reading: we’re introduced to canine worlds populated mostly by aficionados, offered literary kibble about dogs, and we learn something about ourselves – all wrapped up in a delightful romp with a man and his pup. The “almost” comes, believe it or not, with ads. Author Benoit Denizet-Lewis admits that he received product support for his trip with Casey and to that end, he gives dozens of shout-outs to manufacturers and corporations. I suppose that’s the way to fund a book like this, but it got to be too much. Still, I couldn’t have resisted this book if I tried, and I think dog lovers will feel the same. If that’s you, and you love reading in bed, in the car, on vacation, wherever, “Travels with Casey” is the book to pack.

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lifestyle tony’s talks

The Iceberg Bishops Overcome The Warmth Of Pope Francis

Tony Adams

The synod (gathering) of Roman Catholic bishops from around the world meeting in Rome this month released an unofficial translation of a preliminary (draft) document about marriage. The document was really a trial balloon that succeeded in convincing many readers that the Catholic bishops under the leadership of amiable Pope Francis will make some changes in their teachings about marriage. Whenever the document quotes Pope Francis, its message is humane and loving, but as soon as its authors parse Francis’ words, there is a wholehearted retreat into the impenetrable fortress of traditional Catholic laws about marriage, divorce and sex. The headlines it generated were strong enough to give hope to disenfranchised LGBT Catholics but equally strong enough to infuriate anti-gay Catholic bishops who are like icebergs determined to sink the warm overtures of a caring Pope Francis. In reality, the document is a sleight of hand. I read it carefully to try to understand its real message. I watched it evolve throughout the two weeks during which the bishops argued about its contents. It starts out with a beautiful Francis quote that sets the tone, showing the Pope’s empathy for those who experience loneliness and are not part of any family. Francis seems guided by a belief that no one should be alone in this world. That, in itself, is significant. If the chain of modern popes before him felt pangs of loneliness, they certainly did not address it or speak about their feelings. Here is a pope who decries the unfortunate human reality that some people are alone. That is the foundation of all he says about family and children and the love of couples. It is this radiant global warmth that is infuriating for the conservative iceberg bishops. “Evening falls on our assembly. It is the hour at which one willingly returns home to meet at the same table, in the depth of affection, of the good that has been done and received, of the encounters which

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warm the heart and make it grow, good wine which hastens the unending feast in the days of man. It is also the weightiest hour for one who finds himself face to face with his own loneliness, in the bitter twilight of shattered dreams and broken plans; how many people trudge through the day in the blind alley of resignation, of abandonment, even resentment: in how many homes the wine of joy has been less plentiful, and therefore, also the zest — the very wisdom — for life […]. Let us make our prayer heard for one another this evening, a prayer for all.” Unfortunately, the derailing of the good sentiments begins immediately. The section called “Listening: the context and challenges to the family” contains a confusing rant against twin straw men of individualism and solitude that somehow threaten married folks. The dangers are not specified or explained. Also and oddly, in the same section, taxes are blamed for impotence! The next section acknowledges the existence of polygamy, arranged marriages, cohabitation without matrimony, migration, women’s rights and children born of pluralism as challenges or threats to marriage as conceived by God. It is unclear how well the bishops understand these sociological realities, but at least they are saying they know these things are out there! Some see this awareness as a major step forward in Catholic leadership. The author of the document seems to think that listing these realities is a sign of benevolence and perception on the part of the bishops. Sadly, that is akin to admitting that Coca Cola is available worldwide. Section Ten of the document entirely derails the opening quote from Pope Francis and scores points for the iceberg bishops. It laments “affectivity,” a word that refers to feelings or affection. It says that when feelings and affection are complex they are detrimental to marriage! The bishops seem to say that if we would only stop exploring the intricacies of love, and if we keep things simple and according to their rules, we’ll be happily married. soflagaynews //

This seems hugely naïve. The next section is a perfect example of why some people say this document is hopeful. It starts out by saying that concrete individuals must be known in all their diversity because they all come from God, but the section ends by recommending that mercy be trumped with dispensing the doctrine (i.e., laws and teachings) of the church! “This requires that the doctrine of the faith, the basic content of which should be made increasingly better known, be proposed alongside with mercy.” This is not a merciful document. Part II of the document begins with another good Pope Francis quote in which he says we must continually gaze upon Jesus Christ to know him and follow him. The iceberg bishops immediately scuttle that sentiment within just a few sentences in which they score a double punch against divorce and same-sex marriage by saying, “Jesus Himself, referring to the primordial plan for the human couple, reaffirms the indissoluble union between man and woman,” Again, the writers of this document are not expressing what their boss intended. The Vatican is the type of bureaucracy in which it is easy for the lieutenants to sabotage everything inconvenient that comes from the top. Pope Francis is trying to push more decision-making down to the level of the local bishops, but in his desire for collegiality, his compassion for LGBT Catholics gets suffocated by its opponents. Sections 18, 19 and 20 of Part II contain some very condescending imagery in which any coupling that doesn’t please the iceberg bishops is like a seed that falls outside the boundaries of God’s garden. The iceberg bishops say they try to appreciate the flowers that bloom on imperfect, weak and twisted extramural plants (like same-sex couples?) In the following two sections, the iceberg bishops perform what they consider a daring back flip in which they say that cohabiting couples can be seen

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as meritorious, but ONLY when they are “germs” for a future sacramental marriage. Oy. That must have hurt their elderly backs! The final sections propose the answer: Conversion! Conversion! Conversion! The iceberg bishops want to use sweeter terms to bring all couples into their traditional Catholic boundaries of marital perfection, but they flatly state that if you are divorced and remarried, you still cannot receive communion, and that there will never be same-sex Catholic marriages: “The Church furthermore affirms that unions between people of the same sex cannot be considered on the same footing as matrimony between man and woman. Nor is it acceptable that pressure be brought to bear on pastors or that international bodies make financial aid dependent on the introduction of regulations inspired by gender ideology.” This is basically a “read it and weep” document that changes absolutely nothing. I cannot believe that this document does not turn the stomach of Pope Francis. It is fundamentally anti-gay. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. By the end of the two-week synod session, the bishops eviscerated any good language that might cause hopeful stirrings in the heart of LGBT Catholics. In the English translation of the final report, the bishops removed the phrase “Welcoming Homosexuals” and replaced it with “Providing For Homosexual Persons.” Synod documents had to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the assemblage of bishops. The iceberg bishops are still too numerous to vanquish. The good news is that Pope Francis deliberately released the draft document in order to let the world know that he was aiming at real pro-LGBT change. As the iceberg bishops slowly melt under the warm sun of Francis’ papacy, they will be replaced by new ones chosen by Francis and his compassionate team. Future synod documents may be welcoming for LGBT Catholics before hell freezes over.

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lifestyle lanni’s logic

Tips and Tricks from the Gen-Y Tech Guy Anthony Lanni

Undoubtedly, in the current age of technology, social networking has redefined the cultural norm in which we interact and socialize with our peers. The culture has been over inundated by the latest status updates of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and which guy or gal is in proximity on favorite cruising app. At times we can be overwhelmed by information overload. Where to begin? How do I begin? In this new column I look to help inform readers to easily navigate through the prodigious amount of technological content available on the market and how to integrate the use of technological to suite your daily needs.

Beyond Grindr – 5 Social Networking Apps to Get Started

If you are a smart phone user than you may or may not be familiar with the profusion of LGBT social networking apps that flood the phone’s application market. If you never used Grindr, it revolutionized the way men are meeting depleting the need for traditional gay social outlets such as bars. The app works by accessing your smart phones Global Positioning System (GPS) in order to determine where are other men are located to you within your proximity. The app has opened the door to a number of other developers who have created smartphone apps to reach a variety of

sub-cultures within the community. Here are just a few others:

1. Scruff — 5 out 5 Stars Woof! If you are looking for a mans man look no further. The popular alternative to Grindr provides men matching characterized by preference. From college boy to daddy bear, Scruff has a little something for everyone.

2. Mister — 3 out 5 Stars Mister is an app that has derived from the popular website DaddyHunt.com . Just as the name implies it provides a niche market for older men seeking younger and vice versa. Yet since other popular social networking apps have began to integrate this preference, the shop is looking quite empty.

3. Jack’D — 4 out of 5 Stars Jack’D uses a featured called Scenes. Six scenes that fit just about every gay man. From twinks, bears, big muscles, strictly friends, long term relationship to Bi/Straight Curious. Jack’D remains a favorite in my book as it provides

more of an alternative beyond hooking up. If you are looking for the possibility of G-Rated conversation, check out Jack’D.

4. Dattch — 5 Out of 5 Stars I can’t tell you from personal experience the mechanics of Dattch but it has earned its star rating based on the fact that the market for lesbian dating app was non-existent till DATTCH founder Robyn Exton integrated a system exclusively for women. As Robyn states “We are designed to help all the dyke, queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual and bicurious to go out there and connect with each other”

5. Tinder — 3 out of 5 Stars Tinder has been called the “GrindR of the Hetro world” yet little to people know, the popular social media app is also built with gay and lesbian feature. What Tinder provides versus other apps on the market is a reduced tone in sexually explicit. If you are looking to just meet, tinder provides safe grounds. What it lacks in the search functionality settings that other LGBT apps have mastered.

Let’s talk about a contingency basis.

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The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisments. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information about the lawyers qualifications and experience.

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outeats

Special Advertising Section

2014 Taste of the Island SFGN Staff

On Monday November 3, 2014 from 6 to 9 pm at Richardson Historic Park & Preserve will be the 9th Annual Taste of the Island in Wilton Manors. Below is a list of participating

Another Perfect Party Aruba Beach Cafe Blue Martini Fort Lauderdale Bravo Ristorante Courtyard Cafe Funky Buddha Brewery Gold Coast Coffee HOBO’s Grill at Rumors Humpy’s Pizza J. P.’s Chocolates Joe’s Crab Shack Kelly’s Landing Menchies Naked Grape Wine & Tapas New York Grilled Cheese Red’s Bar & Package Spanx The Hog BBQ Thai Spice Tropics Village Grille Wilton Discount Liquor 80

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restaurants. Please visit www. tasteoftheisland.org for more information or to purchase tickets. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door.

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F O R

T H E

J.W. Arnold

S F G N I T ES

jw@prdconline.com

THUR FILM

W E E K

O F

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2 0 1 4

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

10/23

The Stonewall National Museum and Archives hosts a screening of “Mala Mala,” tonight at 7 p.m. at the Classic Gateway Theatre, 1820 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. This documentary explores the trans experience in Puerto Rico and the power of transformation, a fissure between self-discovery and activism, featuring a diverse collection of subjects, including boisterous performers at The Doll House. Afterwards, join in a discussion with filmmakers Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini. Tickets are $15 and may be reserved by calling 954-763-8565. For more information, go to Stonewall-Museum.org.

FRI

THEATER

10/24

High kicks and hot rhythms will grace the stage of the Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton, when the energetic dance musical, “Swing!” kicks-off the theater’s second season this week. A joyful celebration in both music and dance, “Swing!” is full of incredible hits from the greatest era like, “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Jumpin’ at the Woodside,” “Hit Me With a Hot Note,” “Harlem Nocturne” and “Stompin’ at the Savoy.” Kelly Shook directs the cast of 14. Tickets are $58 – $62. For tickets and show times, go to TheWick.org.

Faure and Andy Jones star in “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” the Tony Paige Award-winning musical coming to Miami’s Arsht Center on Tuesday for a limited run. Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg.

SAT

THEATER

10/25 SUN

Halloween is just around the corner, and who better to celebrate with than the denizens of Dr. Frank N. Furter’s home-sweet-castle in Richard O’Brien’s beloved cult classic, “The Rocky Horror Show.” Entr’Acte Theatrix invites you to dress up and come do the “Time Warp” just one more time at the Crest Theatre at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. through Nov. 1. Most performances are at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25 for adults. For tickets and information, call the box office at 561-243-7922.

// 10.22.2014// SFGN.com //

DRAG

10/26 MON ART

How’s this for an intimate Sunday Funday? The amazing Miss Coco Peru is coming to the Palm Beach Improv, 550 S. Rosemary Ave. at City Place in West Palm Beach today, Sunday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m., for one show only. Coco performs some of her favorite monologues and songs spanning her long career, as well as some new stuff too. Come see why Lily Tomlin called Coco “one of the last great storytellers” in heels. Tickets are $38 or $64 including a 2 p.m. pre-show VIP reception at MissCocoInWPB. Eventbrite.com.

soflagaynews //

10/27 TUE

ArtServe is going BIG! Stunning large-scale pieces in a range of media fill the gallery this fall, in the juried exhibition: “BIG: Big Beautiful Art.” Area artists present colossal new works from their collections as judged by a panel of experts. Be it a giant painting, a massive sculpture, a towering textile, photo or glass work, the epic art found at BIG will make an over-sized impression. ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, is Broward County’s public art gallery and cultural center. For more information about the exhibit and public programs, go to ArtServe.org.

SouthFloridaGayNews

theater

10/28

The Tony Award-winning touring production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” opens tonight at Miami’s Arsht Center. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, beautiful costumes, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments audiences love – the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more – plus some surprising new twists. Rediscover some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs in this heartwarming Broadway experience through Sunday, Nov. 2. Tickets start at $26. For tickets and information, go to ArshtCenter.org.

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a&e theater

Contradictions At Heart of World Premiere Play J.W. Arnold Playwright Michael Aman is the first to admit he is “attracted” to inherent contradictions in his work. Earlier this year, his play, “The Unbleached American” told the story of a black man at the turn of the 20th century who made his fortune composing minstrel songs that are seen as the epitome of internalized racism of the period. And the New Yorker is putting the finishing touches on another play, “Feeding the Bear,” about a gay middle aged man who suffers from body dysmorphia and is forced to care for an elderly father with Alzheimer’s Disease who fed his irrational body consciousness. But, this weekend, South Florida audiences will be introduced to the ultimate contradiction, when Aman’s play, “Poz,” receives its world premiere by Island City Stage at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Set more than a decade ago when HIV treatments were less effective, the play follows the efforts of a young man suffering from leukemia who decides the only way to obtain health care is to become infected with the AIDS virus that was still indiscriminately killing thousands each year. “To live, he must be infected by a deadly virus,” the playwright pointed out. “That’s certainly a contradiction.” But, the play explores larger emotions, particularly as the young man develops an emotional attachment with the older man he desperately seeks to infect him with HIV. “In the bigger picture, the play is about the desperation to live and a hunger for love,” Aman explained on the phone while traveling back to the city from the country home he shares with his husband in the Hudson Valley. Even though the play could be seen as a “period piece” set in the years before the Affordable Care Act and breakthrough HIV therapies, the themes are bigger, he argues. Local audiences had an opportunity to see Aman at work, when Island City presented two open rehearsals for the public. With a chuckle, Aman notes the play is much shorter now, after Tony-nominated and Carbonell-winning director Michael Leeds got through with his script. Tweaks were still being made days before the opening. “We’ve made changes this morning,” Aman said. “Michael Leeds is a night person, so he’d write comments after rehearsals and I’m a morning person and would write him back with changes.” No one is happier to have Island City Stage premiering the work than Aman. Perhaps, it

Submitted photo.

laywright Michael Aman’s P new play “Poz” follows the efforts of a young man

with leukemia whose only way to access healthcare is to become infected with AIDS.

was even karma that artistic director Andy Rogow ran across a notice of a reading of the play and snapped up the rights to premiere the new work, as part of the company’s mission to serve South Florida’s LGBT and allied community. Aman started writing plays while teaching music in a school. He wanted to stage a musical and could find appropriate works for the youngest and older classes, but had to write his own show for the middle group of students. Internationally-acclaimed playwright Dan Clancy, who also got his start writing plays for his students, saw the musical and encouraged Aman to continue. Last year, Island City Stage practically swept the Carbonell Awards with a stunning production of Clancy’s “The Timekeepers.” Aman has since moved on, and now teaches university students at the College of Westchester. The school operates on a trimester calendar and he strives to write a new work during each of the three week breaks, most often at that Hudson Valley retreat. “I like to light a fire, smoke a cigar and listen to the characters talk to me,” explained Aman. This weekend, Aman’s compelling characters will speak to sold out audiences at the intimate Empire Stage. Many shows are already sold out as anticipation builds for the world premiere of “Poz.”

Island City Stage’s world premiere production of Michael Aman’s “Poz” opens Thursday, Oct. 23 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 23 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Show times are Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 at IslandCityStage.org.

// 10.22.2014// SFGN.com //

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SouthFloridaGayNews

a&e dance

“Romeo and Juliet” a Timeless Classic

J.W. Arnold

Submitted Photo

“Romeo and Juliet” Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg and Carlos Miguel Guerra star in Miami City Ballet’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Credit: Daniel Azoulay Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers, “Romeo and Juliet,” is one of the great archetypes of Western culture, inspiring countless works for stage, dance, literature, television and cinema. Miami City Ballet revisited this moving tale, set to music by Sergei Prokofiev and choreography by John Cranko, in a grand production at Miami’s Arsht Center to open the company’s 2014-15 season. Again borrowing rich, gorgeous costumes and sets from National Ballet of Canada, the production is a worthy successor to Miami City Ballet’s 2011 debut of the three-act work, this time under the artistic direction of Lourdes Lopez. Prokofiev’s score is both lush and bombastic, his musical vocabulary drawing from the dissonance and fiery rhythms of the early 20th century. But, at the same time, he never forgets the syntax of the masters, framing the numbers in the classical forms of Mozart and Beethoven. Under the baton of Gary Sheldon, the Opus One Orchestra seemed to luxuriate in Prokofiev’s score, each section—brass, strings, woodwinds and percussion—coming to the fore as the music accentuated and advanced the emotional story. Cranko’s ballet, created in 1962 for the Stuttgart Ballet, is similarly sophisticated, yet profound in its simplicity. Each individual step is masterfully matched to Prokofiev’s score, but never dilutes the storytelling. His pas de

deux are intimate, fight scenes breathtaking and the large ensemble dances majestic. Real life husband and wife Carlos Guerra and Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg repeat their roles as the doomed lovers, exuding a visceral understanding of true love and offering audiences chemistry throughout that could not be replicated by just any couple, no matter how well they danced. And, even though they are both nearly twice the age of their characters, they offer youthful, impetuous approaches to their dances. As with so many of the great full-length ballets, the male characters dominate the story. Kleber Rebello is dashing and daunting as Mercutio, fearlessly leaping and jumping across the stage. Reyneris Reyes, as Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, danced with spirited abandon until his untimely end. Didier Bramaz has matured into a leading man who can command attention, cast as Juliet’s suitor, Count Paris. Jovani Furlan, an extremely talented young member of the corps de ballet, lent his usual dynamic athleticism as the colorfully costume King of the Carnival. Even though the company successfully tackled this ballet three years ago, this production feels subtly different, reflecting the changes in tone (and leadership) brought by the company’s optimistic young artistic director Lourdes Lopez. As the company settles into the production in coming weeks at the Broward Center and Kravis Center, it will undoubtedly continue to move audiences on every emotional level as only a tragedy like “Romeo and Juliet” can.

Miami City Ballet will repeat “Romeo and Juliet” at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, Oct. 24-26, and at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Nov. 21-23. For tickets and show times, go to MiamiCityBallet.org. soflagaynews //

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Datebook

Theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

broward county

Los Lonely Boys

Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. at the Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. The Texas brothers made their name known with their hit single “Heaven.” Tickets $35 to $45. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

* Comedicopia

Oct. 23 and 30 at 8 p.m. at the Ocean Manor Hotel, 4040 Galt Ocean Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Eight short comedies -- they say it’s perfect for those with ADD! Tickets $10. Call 954-476-2326 or visit OurTownScene.org/diamond.html

Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. at the Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. Hayward of The Moody Blues performs solo. Tickets $37.50 to $57.50. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

* Romeo & Juliet

Oct. 24 to 26 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The tragic story of starcrossed lovers is performed by the Miami City Ballet to Prokofiev’s score. Tickets $20 to $175. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

* A Night of Music and Memories starring The Duprees

Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. Reminisce in the sounds of the past with this quartet. Tickets $51.50 to $61.50. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

* Andy McKee

Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. McKee gained a following on YouTube with his dexterity on the guitar, producing what seems like an orchestra out of a single instrument. Tickets $25 to $35. Call 954462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

The Marvelous Wonderettes

Through Nov. 23 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Head to Springfield High School’s 1958 prom where four girls, the “wonderettes” sing hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s as they dream of their future. Tickets $45. Call 954462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

// 10.22.2014// SFGN.com //

Photo: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Tour

nrique Iglesias and Pitbull will bring their tour to the AmericanAirlines Arena on Oct. 26.

Judy Tenuta: The Goddess Returns

Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. The comedienne revolves her act around her religion, Judyism, her support for the LGBT community, and feminism. Tickets $35. Call 561-586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org.

* Sunday Funday with Miss Coco Peru

Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Palm Beach Improv, 550 Rosemary Ave. in West Palm Beach. The comedian and actress performs her favorite monologues. Tickets $36.12 to $61.90. Visit MissCocoinWPB. eventbrite.com.

Mame

Through Oct. 26 at the Lake Worth Playhouse, in Lake Worth. The wealthy Mame Dennis’s cushy lifestyle is in for a change when the son of her late brother comes to live with her during the Depression. Tickets $29 to $35 with dinner POZ packages available. Call 561-586-6410 or visit Oct. 23 to Nov. 23 at Island City Stage, 1140 N. LakeWorthPlayhouse.org. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale. A young man with tuberculosis discovers that he could be covered by * All That Jazz insurance if he is HIV+, so he sets out to date an Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. at Palm Beach State College’s HIV+ man. Tickets $30. Call 054-678-1496 or visit Eissey Campus Theatre, 3160 PGA Blvd. in Palm IslandCityStage.org. Beach Gardens. Big band music by Jazz Combos

* Justin Hayward

palm beach county

esteemed conservatory perform ballet, modern and hip hop. Tickets $12. Call 305-466-8002 or Oct. 25 at 8:30 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach, visit AventuraCenter.org. 1700 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. The band I and II. Tickets $10. Call 561-207-5900 or visit is on tour after releasing their last album five years * Patrick Bruel PalmBeachState.edu/theatre/eissey-campus- ago. Tickets $39.50 to $50. Call 305-673-7300 or Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 visit FillmoreMB.com. Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. The French theatre. singer is also an actor -- and professional poker * Batsheva player! Tickets $52 to $101.50. Call 305-673-7300 Our Town Through Nov. 9 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, Oct. 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht or visit FillmoreMB.com. 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. Based Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Israeli on the novel, the ordinary day-to-day lives of dance company performs contemporary pieces Murder Ballad Grover’s Corners’ residents are the focus of with music from around the world. Tickets $25 to Through Nov. 2 at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile in Coral this play. Tickets $62. Call 561-514-4042 or visit $90. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Gables. Sara is living in the Upper West Side, but PalmBeachDramaworks.com. * Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull her past as a downtown girl comes back to haunt Oct. 26 at 7:40 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, her. Tickets $15 to $53. Call 305-444-9293 or visit Free Friday Concerts Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The rapper and singer ActorsPlayhouse.org. the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy are back on tour together again, performing their live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket duos and solo hits. Tickets $43.80 to $201.95. Call The Cuban Spring Through Nov. 2 at the South Miami-Dade Cultural or lawn chair every week, for free! Call 561-243- 786-777-1000 or visit AAArena.com Arts Center’s New Theatre, 10950 SW 211 St. in 7922 or visit DelrayArts.org. Peter and the Starcatcher Cutler Bay. Family drama is started by secrets, Through Oct. 26 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, intensified by generational differences, and miami-dade county 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Twelve actors highlights the sacrifices to live in a democracy. take on the roles of more than 100 characters Tickets $26 to $31. Call 305-443-5909 or visit new* Hedda Gabler Oct. 23 to Nov. 16 at the Miami Theater Center, and scenery pieces in the story of how Peter Pan theatre.org. 9806 NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores. Hedda became the boy who never grew up. Tickets $45. PAMM Outdoor Music Series has returned from her honeymoon with her new Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, academic husband, a man she never loved, to a 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music home where her she thinks about how her youth * Rodgers and Hammerstein’s from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials is over. Tickets $35. Call 305-751-9550 or visit Cinderella Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, available. Free with museum admission. Call 305MTCMiami.org. 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Broadway giants 375-3000 or visit PAMM.org. bring the fairy tale to the theater. Tickets $26 to * Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra The Big Show Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center, $96. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Known for their Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection acrobatic spectacles on stage, the orchestra * New World Dance Ensemble returns to perform Chinese folk music and Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Aventura Arts of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and Western symphonies. Tickets $49 to $99. Call 305- & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St. in Aventura. sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit High school and college dancers from the JustTheFunny.com. 949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. * Denotes New Listing soflagaynews // SouthFloridaGayNews

* Brand New

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Datebook

Community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

broward county Let’s Talk About Meth

Oct. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in WIlton Manors. A forum with recovering meth users, doctors, psychologists, and more. Free. Call 954-463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.

* Make a Difference Day

Oct. 25 throughout Fort Lauderdale. More than a dozen community service projects that anyone can participate in to better the city. Call 954-828-8658, email neighborvolunteeroffice@fortlauderdale.gov, or visit FortLauderdale.gov/volunteer.

* Community Day

Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Get together with the neighborhood for costume contests, food, K9 demonstrations, fire trucks, police vehicles, and more. Free. Call 954-463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida. org.

* Wicked Bingo

Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Come dressed up and ready to shout BINGO! Tickets $20 game package, includes an open snack bar. Call 954-463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.

* Signature Grand Ghoul

Oct. 27 from 7 to 11:30 p.m. at the Signature Grand, 6900 W. State Road 84 in Davie. The hotel has been transformed into a 100,000-square-foot haunted mansion with NFL players, local celebrities, and South Florida greats. Tickets $100 or $150 for two. Contact Tracy Schuldiner at 954-390-0493 or tschuldiner@211broward.org.

* Lunch, Learn & Network

Oct. 28 from noon to 1 p.m. at Dapur Asian Tapas and Ultra Lounge, 1620 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Join the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for an overview of the newly formed Young Professionals Group. Tickets $35 for members, $40 future members. RSVP to Keith Blackburn at 954-523-3500 or Keith@gflglcc.org or Adam Alvarado at adam.alvarado@edwardjones.com.

* Professional Mixer

Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Stonewall Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. In honor of LGBT History Month, a mixer of light snacks and refreshments with the Gay, Lesbian, and Ally School Employee Network (GLASEN). Call 954-530-9337.

* “Queer Kids: Coming Out In America” Opening Reception Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Stonewall Museum – Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Michael Sharkey has photographed queer youth across the United States and Europe, telling a story of struggle and dignity. The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 4, 2015. Free. Call 954-763-8565 or visit Stonewall-Museum.org.

// 10.22.2014// SFGN.com //

* Wicked Manors: Freak Show

Oct. 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. The drive come alive with spooky creatures in this highly anticipated event, with flash mobs, music, costume contests, and drinks. Free. Visit WickedManors.org.

Loss, Sex & Love

Through Oct. 31 at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Works by Rosalia Curbelo created after the death of her husband by HIV, turning to art to fulfill her need for sex and love. Free. Call 954463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.

Man2Man Discussion

Mondays 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. A weekly informal discussion group among gay men of all backgrounds. Contact John Beuscher at 954-202-4469 or email johnnybushwick@aol.com.

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

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.

GayWrites

Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Stonewall Library, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Come join us and write your memoir, poem, blog, novel or short story. Free. Email garri1@earthlink.net

SunServe Youth Group

Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.

Survivor Support

First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954-384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.

Talkin’T

Third Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Fusion, 2304 NE Seventh Ave. in Wilton Manors. A open discussion group for the transgender and gender variant community. Call 954-213-0610 or visit T-HouseOnline. com.

Paint & Sip

First and Third Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and second and fourth Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bailey Contemporary Arts, 41 NE First St. in Pompano Beach. Grace Gdaniec leads classes aptly named Painting With Pinot, Sketching With Shiraz, Realism with Riesling, and much more. Must be 21 or older. Class $30. Call 954-284-0141 or visit BaCAPompano.org.

palm beach county BBAD Anniversary Art Walk

Oct. 23 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Boynton Beach Art District, 404-422 W. Industrial Ave. in Boynton Beach. soflagaynews //

Celebrate the art district with food trucks, music, new murals, vendors, and more. Call 786-521-1199 or visit Facebook.com/boyntonbeach.artdistrict.

Highway in Lake Worth. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they practice every week. Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com

Art Works: Cultural Agents Tackle Urgent Social Challenges

Out of the Closet NA Group

Through Oct. 25 at FAU’s Ritter Art Gallery, 777 Glades Road in Boca Raton. A collection of 122 posters each advocating for different causes that transcend culture and language. Free. Call 561-297-2661 or visit FAU. edu/galleries.

Wheels and Heels: The Big Noise Around Little Toys

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 561-8326196 or visit Norton.org.

* Mi Pajaro

Oct. 27 to Dec. 12 at FAU’s MacArthur Library Galley, 5353 Parkside Drive in  Jupiter. View the works of Rolando Chang Barrero, a sneak peek into his installation at Art Basel in December. Free. Contact at Diane Arrieta 561-339-9426 or email diane.arrieta@ gmail.com.

* The Dark Side of the Museum Collection

Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. In light of Halloween’s spookiness, learn all about the darker side of the art museum. Free with admission. Call 561832-6196 or visit Norton.org. Common Ground: Artists in the Everglades Through Nov. 5 at FAU’s Schmidt Center Gallery, 777 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Works by select artists from the Artists in Residence Everglades will be on display, showing what life is like to live in South Florida’s natural habitat. Free. Call 561-297-2661 or visit FAU.edu/galleries.

Out of the Closet, Into the Light

Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at MCC of the Palm Beaches, 4857 Northlake Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens. AA for the LGBT community. Free. Call 561-775-5900 or visit MCCPalmBeach.org.

Voices of Pride

Mondays at 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie

SouthFloridaGayNews

Mondays at 7 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for LGBT recovering addicts. Visit LambdaNorth.net.

miami-dade county Spotlight Mega-Mixer

Oct. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Modern Art, 770 NE 125th St., in North Miami. Meet the chamber members and other likeminded business over cocktails. Plus, prizes, food, music, and other entertainment. Tickets $15, members free. RSVP to GayBizMiami.com, rsvp@gaybizmiami. com or 305-673-4440.

* The New Marketing

Oct. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the FIU’s Wolf University Center, 3000 NE 151th St. Room 151, in North Miami. A seminar and networking breakfast with Dr. Carmen Delia Ortiz, covering the new marketing paradigm, web traffic, and online marketing. $35 (chamber members) / $50 (others). Free for FU students and staff. Limited space. RSVP required at www. gaybizmiami.com, rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or 305-6734440.

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.

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954.530.4970 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.

professional services WE NEED A HOUSEMAN: This position requires 5 years experience cleaning and serving in a high end home. Must be English speaking and legal to work in the U.S, with drivers license and car required. Competitive salary with full benefits. Please forward resume with contact information and photo to JoAnn@ servesyourightdomestics.com

roomates licensed massage 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 MASSAGE BY DENNIS $50/90 MIN (DELRAY BEACH) I give a fantastic Swedish massage for $50/90 min, out calls higher. 20 years experience, all clients are welcome including seniors, as human beings we all need to be touched in a therapeutic, loving, and nurturing way. I do body work without the attitude. Please call me at 561-502-2628. 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. ASK ABOUT WEEKLY SPECIALS!Calls only 561-2548065 for the very best massage experience you can get HANDS DOWN! #MA51008

GAY WHITE MALE TO SHARE 2BD/2BA GATED CONDO: Furnished room, W/D, TV in room, pool, must have steady income and own transportation, 1st-Last $675/month, utilities included, no pets no drugs. Call 954-401-8431 or 954-765-3665

rent/lease wilton manors ONE MINUTE TO WILTON DRIVE: Totally renovated large, quiet 2-bedroom, 2 full bath home. State of the art kitchen, beautiful granite countertops with maple cabinetry, Italian porcelain title throughout. Sit-in dining room, central a/c, ceiling fans, D/W, washer/dryer in unit & more. Charming, beautifully landscaped 5-plex, close to beach, restaurants & nightlife. $1,295/ mo. Call Rick: 954-254-1929. Photos at www. YourPerfectApartment.com

vacation rentals DAYTONA BEACH: Beach side, elegant 1929 Historic Spanish Mansion, private walled pool area. four blocks to beach. Near boardwalk, shops, bars and restaurants 386-248-2020. www.thevillabb.com soflagaynews //

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