12/10/14 V5i50 by South Florida Gay News

local name, global coverage

VOICE December 10, 2014 // vol. 5 // issue 50

INSERT IN CENTER

2014 PERSON OF THE YEAR Tim Cook

Pope Francis

STALEMATE SFGN Honchos in Duel You decide at SFGN.com/Person2014 PAGES 24-25

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STORIES ON SFGN.COM Last week’s hottest items couldn’t wait to be printed...

Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas Rated Worst Movie of All Time by IMBb

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Homophobe Kirk Cameron’s new movie “Saving Christmas” has been rated the worst movie of all time by IMBd with 1.5 stars. The popular movie website has a list of the “Bottom 100” where “Saving Christmas” takes the number 1 spot beating out other decidedly terrible movies such as “From Justin to Kelly,” “Glitter” and “Gigli.” Cameron attempted to artificially inflate the movie’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes

asking his social media followers to rate the movie saying they needed to “storm the gates of Rotten Tomatoes.” The plan worked and “Saving Christmas” quickly sored to a 94 percent rating. However it immediately created a backlash with people slamming the artificial ratings. Since then the movie’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes has plummeted to an abysmal 32 percent where it stands now.

Egypt Arrests 25 Men In Gay Bathhouse Raid (AP) — Egyptian security forces raided a bathhouse and arrested 25 men suspected of homosexuality, dragging them naked out of the building in downtown Cairo, an official said Monday. Egyptian law does not explicitly prohibit consensual same-sex relations but prosecutes and imprisons gay men on charges such as “debauchery” and “shameless public acts.”

In 2001, Egypt made headlines around the world when 52 men were arrested in a police raid on a Nile boat restaurant and accused of taking part in a gay sex party. After a highly publicized trial in an emergency state security court, 23 of the men were convicted and sentenced to prison terms of one to five years for immoral behavior and contempt of religion.

Spanish Doctors Believe They’ve Found a Cure for HIV MEMBER

(Edge Media) Doctors in Barcelona, Spain believe that they have found a possible cure for HIV via a blood transfer from a donor with a genetic mutation, but researchers warn that it’s going to be a long time coming. HIV Plus Magazine reports that the Spanish research team is following the similar hypothesis to Harvard researchers who believe that a blood transplant from a donor with the CCR5 Delta 32 genetic mutation could “close the door” on HIV, as

it prevents HIV from entering healthy white cells and replicating. This mutation occurs in about 1 percent of the population. The announcement was spurred by encouraging results in the experimental treatment given to a 37-year-old man who contracted HIV in 2009. This “Barcelona Patient” developed lymphoma M E M B E R in 2012, and when he received his transplant of umbilical cord blood, doctors made sure it was from a donor with the CCR5 Delta 32.

MEMBER

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DECEMBER 10, 2014 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 50 2520 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY • WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 PHONE: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943

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Cover: Tim Cook (Photo: CNN) vs. Pope Francis (Photo: POOL) for man of the year Vote at sfgn.com/Person2014

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

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news highlight

Broward Judge Again Overturns Gay Marriage Ban Dan Sweeney Sun Sentinel

Florida’s ban on same-sex marriages is back off the books in Broward County. On Monday, Broward Circuit Court Judge Dale Cohen issued a ruling striking down the state’s same-sex marriage ban, just as several county judges had before him – including Broward Circuit Court Judge Dale Cohen. The case involved Heather Brassner, who wanted a divorce after getting a civil union in Vermont in 2002. But Florida’s ban on same-sex marriages prevents the state from recognizing same-sex marriages or civil unions performed in other states. Therefore, Brassner couldn’t get divorced in the state. She went to court to fight and on Aug. 4, after hearing her case, Cohen overturned Florida’s same-sex marriage ban. However, Cohen vacated his ruling when he learned that Brassner’s attorneys did not give the state enough time to file an appeal. On Monday, Cohen once again ruled the ban unconstitutional and put his ruling on hold pending appeal. Still, that will not affect the swiftly approaching deadline in a federal case in Tallahassee.

Federal judge Robert Hinkle overturned Florida’s same-sex marriage ban on Aug. 21, and put his ruling on hold until Jan. 5. A federal appeals court still needs to hear the case, and could reverse Hinkle’s decision, but that will not happen until well after the Jan. 5. The only way the deadline can now be extended is if the full appellate court or the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to extend Hinkle’s stay, which lawyers involved in the case consider a long shot. So, barring unlikely circumstances, on Jan. 6, gay and lesbian couples in Florida can get marriage licenses, and Florida must recognize those already married in other states. Also, Heather Brassner can finally get that divorce.

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News Briefs Compiled by SFGN staff

Male Military Sex Assault Victims Slow To Complain

(AP) — Greg Nelson had just turned 21 when he went out partying with friends in Southern California and got really drunk. So, when a man he didn’t know offered to let him crash in a nearby apartment, his friends urged him to accept. A Marine who had joined the Corps in 2007, Nelson remembers getting sick and being offered water that seemed to have white specks in it. He said the man then offered him another glass of water and a pill that was supposedly Motrin. What happened next is a bit of a blur to Nelson, who says he blacked out and woke up feeling like he was “in a vegetative state.” He remembers the man sexually assaulting him, but says he couldn’t move and blacked out again. Sexual assaults on men in the military happen more often than people might think. But Nelson, who left the Marine Corps in 2011 as a corporal, is one of the rare men willing to report it and talk about it openly. According to an anonymous survey released last week by the Pentagon, nearly 1 percent of males in the U.S. military

said they had experienced unwanted sexual contact, compared to 4.3 percent of women. That equates to about 10,500 men and 8,500 women. Yet only 14 percent of assaults reported last year involved male victims. “The question is, ‘Is our population in the military ready to talk about this?’” says Nate Galbreath, senior executive adviser for the Pentagon’s sexual assault prevention office. “We want to get them there. But it’s going to be bit by bit. Because it’s very, very hard for people to think about someone who is a soldier and is strong” as a victim of sexual assault. Military leaders turned for advice to Jim Hopper, a Harvard University expert on male sexual abuse. “In our culture in general, to be sexually assaulted is completely the opposite of what men are supposed to experience,” he says, noting a common belief that, “men aren’t supposed to be sexually dominated, they’re not supposed to express vulnerable feelings.”

.A. Trans Woman Shot & Killed While Looking for Help

alif. Boy Commits Suicide After Being Bullied

(Edge Media) A 12-year-old boy from California took his own life on Dec. 3 after classmates bullied him for being a cheerleader, friends and family said, ABC 10 reports. (via ABC 7) Ronin Shimizu was a sixth grader at Folsom Middle School in the city of Folsom, located 100 miles northeast of San Francisco, before his parents removed from the school after he became the subject of intense harassment from fellow classmates. Shimizu’s friends and family said students went after the young boy because he was the only male cheerleader for the Vista Jr. Eagles squad. “He was bullied very badly,” Folsom student Riley Coleman told ABC 10. “It’s not OK to bully people.” After Shimizu took his own life, families and friends gathered at his home to mourn and pay tribute to the boy. “I was devastated when I found out. I started crying,” Ronin’s friend Grace Velander told the news station. “I’ve known him since 6th grade. Me and him had classes all last year together.” Folsom Middle School principal John Bliss sent an email to parents about Shimizu’s death and the Folsom Cordova School District released a statement. “We are shocked and deeply saddened by this unspeakable tragedy, and our hearts go out to Ronin’s family during this difficult time,” the statement reads. “Many students, teachers and staff who knew Ronin remember him as a positive and outgoing child, and our school communities are truly grieving this loss today. We are moved by the outpouring of support from families and community members asking how they can help.”

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(Edge Media) A transgender woman from Los Angeles was shot and killed early Wednesday morning on the front porch of a home as she pounded on the door looking for help, according to police. The New York Daily News reports Deshawnda “Tata” Sanchez, 21, was discovered by the homeowner around 4 a.m. on Dec. 3 after she was shot a number of times. KTLA-TV reports that a neighbor’s surveillance camera captured the incident and that the Los Angeles Police Department is currently searching for the killer. “She was definitely at that door, pounding on that door seeking help,” LAPD Detective Christopher Darling told KTLATV. The footage shows a car allegedly drive up to the home, someone run out, go inside the home, run back to the car and peel out in reverse. Police believe the person is the one who shot and killed Sanchez. Family told the news station that Sanchez did not live in the home where she was killed, however, and that they have no idea what she was doing in south L.A. The video shows Sanchez fleeing her attacker but police are calling the attack a robbery, with Darling saying “at this point we cannot say it’s a hate crime but we have not ruled out that as being a possibility.” The Los Angeles Times reports that Sanchez is at least the third transgender woman to be killed in Southern California since June.

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Council: No Surgery NYC Required for Gender Tag

A person does not need to have sex reassignment surgery to change the gender designation on his or her birth certificate, the City Council has decided. The council on Monday passed a bill eliminating what it called the “antiquated” requirement, which California, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C., also have removed. Advocates have long argued that making the surgical procedure mandatory is discriminatory. The city’s previous policy required anyone wishing to change his or her birth certificate to undergo the surgery, which can be medically and financially prohibitive.

ay UK Porn Star Sentenced for Smuggling Meth in His Anus

Gay British porn star Bruno Knight was sentenced to two years in federal prison Thursday for trying to smuggle a half-pound of meth out of Los Angeles International Airport by hiding it in his anus in June, City News Service (via Los Angeles Daily News) reports. Knight, whose real name is Philip Gizzie, was arrested on June 16 after telling LAX customs officers that he “inserted three large objects containing methamphetamine” in his anus. He will also serve three years of supervised release after he leaves prison. “I am sorry to you and your country,” the 31-year-old porn star told U.S. District Judge Manuel Real. He also apologized in a letter to the court, saying he was thankful for being sober during the last five months in a federal lockup. SouthFloridaGayNews

news bites

by SFGN staff

national

OP Divided Over Marriage Equality

Politico’s James Hohmann writes that the GOP establishment is now officially divided over the issue of gay marriage where just a few years ago there was universal opposition. “Watch the tone. The Republican establishment doesn’t want to talk about gay marriage, knowing that many major donors, not to mention younger people, support gay rights,” he writes. “But several would-be candidates need strong support from evangelicals in Iowa and South Carolina to have any path to the nomination. It’s easy to imagine former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee or former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who need these voters, calling out other candidates for appeasing the gay rights lobby.”

state

Competitive Workforce Florida Garners Bipartisan Support

Act

Representative Holly Raschein (R- Key Largo) and Democratic Whip Senator Joseph Abruzzo (D- Boynton Beach) filed legislation in the Florida House and Senate that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT people in employment, housing and public accommodations. The legislation, known as the Florida Competitive Workforce Act (FCWA), would amend the Florida State Statutes that currently prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap or marital status to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Last year Rep. Raschein served as the prime co-sponsor of the bill and helped to secure more than 10 GOP cosponsors.

? Holly Raschein, R-Key Largo

local Judge Broward Marriage Ban

Overturns

Gay

[Watermark] On Dec. 8, Circuit Court Judge Dale Cohen in Broward County ruled in favor of Heather Brassner, who had wanted to divorce her estranged spouse for more than four years, but couldn’t do so because the Vermont union wasn’t recognized in Florida. In his decision, Cohen wrote that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, approved by voters in 2008, violates the due process of equal protection clauses of the United States Constitution. It also states that Florida’s failure to recognize legal out-of-state civil unions, like Brassner’s, violates those same clauses “without any rational basis.”

local Votes to Protect Transgender Miami Folks

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners voted in favor 8-3 a historic proposal to extend nondiscrimination protections to transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. The update adds protections from discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. The commissioners voting in favor of the update were Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa; Sally Heyman, Audrey Edmonson, Bruno Barreiro, Barbara Jordan and Daniella Levine Cava; as well as Xavier Suarez, and incoming Chairman Jean Monestime. Those voting against were Commissioners Esteban “Steve” Bovo, Jose “Pepe” Diaz, and Juan Zapata. Commissioner Dennis Moss co-sponsored the proposal, but could not be present to cast his vote. soflagaynews //

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news analysis

Death of a Gay Porn Star

What happened the night Brad Chase died David-Elijah Nahmod

Chicago area resident Carl Szulczynski has been determined to find out what happened since his brother’s mysterious death in 2000. Carl and his brother William Hobbs had come from an abusive home. Left to fend for themselves while still in their teens, they became sex workers. Szulczynski performed in gay porn as Kyle Matthews, while Hobbs’ nomde-porn was Brad Chase. For Carl, his years on the streets and in the skin trade were the worst of his life, and he attempted suicide several times. He begged for help, but none was forthcoming. At around age 22, Carl was taken in by the man who is now his husband. Nearly 25 years later, they enjoy a good life in the suburban home where they raised two sons. Carl, now retired from his career as a DJ on a Chicago area radio station, spends his days working in his garden and cooking for his beloved family. For William, there was no happy ending. In 2000, the young man was found dead, hanging from a tree in the backyard of the Salem Indiana home he shared with Gary Hobbs, a lover he reportedly had an abusive relationship with. The death was ruled a suicide, but Szulczynski has long believed that his brother was murdered. Fourteen years after Hobbs’ death, Szulczynski was still fighting with authorities to obtain copies of documents that he believes would prove what really happened the night his brother died. Szulczynski was able to obtain copies of the police report that was written by Salem Indiana Officer Joseph Keith on April 19th, 2000. That report can now be seen and read in it’s entirety on “Naked Truth: Was My Brother Murdered?” a video Szulczynski posted on “The Tube Whore,” his You Tube channel. The report states that Gary Hobbs, William Hobbs’ lover, would not stand where instructed. The report also verifies that the body was not cut down from the tree for an hour after discovery and that no attempt was made to revive William Hobbs. Fourteen years later, Szulczynski was still fighting to obtain copies of death scene photographs and his brother’s autopsy report. He claims that his many requests to the Salem Indiana police, and the offices of the Washington County coroner and prosecutor saw no results. According to the Salem police, Szulczynski reports, Hobbs left behind a suicide tape in which he said he intended to take his life by taking a lethal dose of Valium combined with whiskey. Yet Hobbs’ toxicology report, which Szulczynski was able to obtain, showed that

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Hobbs had no alcohol in his system, and only a small amount of Valium. Szulczynski said he wants closure. He wants to know what happened the night his brother died. Why, he asks, has he been unable to get copies of his brother’s death scene photographs, since taking such photos are part of standard police procedure when a death occurs. Was there an autopsy after William Hobbs died, and if yes, where is the report? The Guidebook for Indiana Coroners states that such records are to be kept on file. “If my brother had been heterosexual, I believe his death would have been more thoroughly investigated,” Szulczynski told SFGN. On Friday, October 10, SFGN contacted the office of Washington County prosecutor Dustin Houchin. “No one has ever contacted my office or made a records request regarding this case,” Houchin replied via email. Szulczynski provided SFGN with an email sent to Houchin on October 5, five days earlier. That email was sent to prosecutor@ washingtoncounty.in.gov, an address which matches the contact info posted at the prosecutor’s official government website. Szulczynski stated his intent to contact the FBI regarding his concerns in the October 5 email. SFGN also spoke via telephone to Rondale Brishaber, coroner for Salem County, Indiana, who stated that the sexual orientation of the brothers has nothing to do with the missing records. Brishaber said he had no idea where the missing death scene photos were. “If I had them, I’d send them to that guy,” he said. Roughly two hours after SFGN contacted Houchin and Brishaber, the emails Szulczynski sent to Houchin’s office were found, as were the photos taken on the day William Hobbs died. Houchin said that he had not been receiving emails through his website, but that Szulczynski’s email came through after IT repairs were made. Around fifteen minutes later, SFGN received an email from Brishaber, who stated that the Salem Indiana police had located the death scene photos of William Hobbs. Brishaber acknowledged that Szulczynski was entitled to those photos and directed him to contact the police to request them. Szulczynski is now hopeful that he’ll find out what happened the night his brother died. Did William Hobbs hang himself, or was he murdered by an abusive lover, as Szulczynski believes? Perhaps the photos will give the still grief-stricken brother the answers and closure he desires.

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news local

11th Circuit Won’t Extend Florida Same-Sex Marriage Stay Curt Anderson Associated Press

A federal appeals court last Wednesday refused to extend past Jan. 5 a hold on a ruling that declared Florida’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, possibly bringing same-sex weddings one step closer to reality. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said Wednesday it will consider the substance of the state’s appeal on an expedited basis. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi wants the court to reverse a Tallahassee federal judge’s decision in August that would strike down the same-sex marriage ban. In that ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said the Jan. 5 date would give enough time for appeals to be considered before any Florida marriage licenses are issued to samesex couples. If the appeals court were to reverse Hinkle’s decision, the date would become irrelevant. Still, Equality Florida Chief Executive Officer Nadine Smith hailed Wednesday’s single-page ruling as a

victory, noting that if the stay expires, gay couples could begin applying for marriage licenses after Jan. 5. “Every day of delay is another day of harm experienced by thousands of loving and committed same-sex couples in Florida,” she said. “Now it’s time to break out the wedding bells. Florida is ready for the freedom to marry.” The Florida Family Policy Council, one of the groups that supported the 2008 Florida constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, released a statement criticizing Wednesday’s decision. “The court today is wrong,” Council President John Stemberger said in a news release. “The courts will never have the final word on an institution as fundamental to the human experience as marriage. You simply cannot build a civilization without natural marriage.” Bondi spokeswoman Jennifer Meale said officials are reviewing the decision. One of the state’s options would be to

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ask the U.S. Supreme Court to extend the stay past the date as appeals are pending. Like many other judges, Hinkle ruled that the state’s gay-marriage ban violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. Most federal appeals courts have adopted a similar view, except for a recent decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upholding the right of four states to decide whether to allow gay marriage. More than half the states allow gay marriage. It’s unclear when the 11th Circuit will rule on the substance of the state’s appeal. Ultimately it will likely take the U.S. Supreme Court to decide the issue nationally, particularly since there is now a split among the circuit courts. Judges in four Florida counties have also declared the same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, but those decisions are also being appealed by Bondi and no marriage licenses have been issued.

SouthFloridaGayNews

news local

Survivors Helping Survivors Support for LBT Women Diagnosed with Cancer Andrea Dulanto

Rainbow Buddies at Rainbow Survivor Network Fundraiser, June 2014 Left to right: Debra McDonough, Helen Calvit, Magadalena Andrade, Yvonne Rohrbacher, Nan Van Den Bergh, Lele Turin, Ellen Walleser Photo Credit: Quincy Quintana

If you are a lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered woman who has been diagnosed with cancer, you can now turn to the Rainbow Survivor Network for one-onone peer support. Established in early 2014 by South Florida nonprofit ARROW, this network connects newly diagnosed LBT cancer survivors with current LBT cancer survivors. According to the American Cancer Society, lesbians and bisexual women have higher rates of breast cancer than heterosexual women. ACS also reports that transgendered individuals confront access to care disparities due to “past negative experiences and mistrust of the medical establishment.” Nan Van Den Bergh is the founder of ARROW and a professor at Florida International University’s School of Social Work. Also a breast cancer survivor and lesbian, Van Den Bergh states that the Rainbow Survivor Network provides a way for LBT women to speak “with someone who not only ‘has been there…’ but who would be ‘safe’ in terms of acceptance.” ARROW trains current LBT cancer survivors to be mentors (or Rainbow Buddies) who are aware of confidentiality, handling risks, active listening, and boundaries. Newly diagnosed cancer survivors can call ARROW to complete a confidential questionnaire. The Rainbow Survivor Network considers the type of cancer, treatment, and specific interests of mentees to match them with a mentor. For instance, a mentee who is a parent may prefer a Rainbow Buddy who is also a parent. Van Den Bergh shares how mentors “wished they could have had a Rainbow Buddy to talk with after their diagnosis, even those who had support from a partner, family and friends.” Debora McDonough, 59, of Dania Beach, For information about the Rainbow Survivor Network, contact: ARROW (Area Resource and Referral Organization for Women )

was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago. Although her family did not live nearby, they visited after McDonough’s bi-lateral mastectomy. However, she also relied on “a wonderful support system of friends” and experienced an excellent recovery. As a Rainbow Buddy, McDonough offers hope to newly diagnosed women: “I am here to listen to their concerns and share what I have experienced.” Yvonne Rohrbacher, 55, of Fort Lauderdale is an “almost five years” breast cancer survivor. Same as McDonough, Rohrbacher’s “birth family” was supportive, but they did not live in South Florida. Her support came from her partner and friends. As a “long-time community involved lesbian,” Rohrbacher realizes some lesbian cancer survivors may be less supported because they lost their families of origin when they first came out. “Sharing the research, efforts, and experiences with others who are going through the same illness really appeals to my heart,” says Rohrbacher. One of the youngest Rainbow Buddies, Jamie Bendola, 29, lives in Miami Beach. At the age of 25, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “All my friends were happy, healthy, and living life. I was very much alone in that aspect.” Bendola adds “everyone’s experience with cancer is different. There is no right or wrong way to handle it…Everyone is not going to have a positive attitude. It sucks! ‘You’re going to be fine’ gets annoying to hear unless it’s from your oncologist.” As far as what the Rainbow Survivor Network offers, Bendola reflects: “There’s no judgment with a buddy.” P.O. Box 814986 Hollywood, FL 33081 954-981-1090 information@arrowlbt.org http://arrowlbt.org soflagaynews //

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feature

It’s a Lonely World for Gay Prisoners Website gives hope through a connection with outside

David-Elijah Nahmod Prison can be a lonely, dangerous place. The dangers can be greatly magnified for an LGBT identified person — sexual assault and gay bashings are not uncommon occurrences. Help is often not forthcoming. A person’s spirit can be broken inside prison walls. Therefore, communication with the outside world can offer a glimmer of hope, a reminder that a better life can still be lived. Lee Young, a journalist from the Midwest, runs Gay Prisoners USA so as to help gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners connect with people on the outside. Young chats with SFGN about his website. What inspired you to launch Gay Prisoners USA? I guess it all started out many years back when I wrote a couple of Missouri inmates who had placed ads in the local alternative newspaper seeking pen pals. I was never seeking anything more than friendship. A few years passed and I felt I should do something more with my computer equipment and skills than just travel the Internet highway. That was more than ten years ago: I decided pen pals for gay inmates was almost nonexistent on the internet. What better way to be productive, develop web skills and at the same time serve, in some small capacity, my fellow man. Since then GPUSA has been a work in progress. How do you make the initial contacts with the prisoners and the pen-pals? In the beginning it involved stealing addresses on other pen pal sites of gay inmates. You have to start somewhere even if it involves a bit of larceny — that process ended years ago. There is the old saying that the best advertising is word of mouth and that certainly works for GPUSA.

There is no better grapevine in the world than the one in prison. Every week there will be 15-20 requests for an application to join GPUSA. It is our policy not to get involved in the interaction concerning an inmate, who he is writing or if he has a problem with the prison mailroom staff. There would be no more slippery slope than for us to get involved in a menage-a-trois. How are the prisoners and the pen pals matched up? GPUSA does not have a process of matching inmates to compatible pen pals. A prospective pen pal finds someone on the site he might like and writes him a letter — that’s how the “process” begins. We have no interaction in what happens from that point forward. Are there any instances you can share where pen pals/ prisoners might have become real life friends, or more, after the prisoner is released? I’ll direct you to the Thanks page on GPUSA. You will find positive comments from many of the site’s former users, including from some who say they’ve formed close and/or loving friendships. Beyond what’s on the page we don’t get involved. What challenges do gay-bitrans prisoners face that are speciﬁc to their sexual/gender identity and what can be done to make things better? It’s no secret that being in jail or prisons can, but not always, pose a threat to life and limb. I suspect that it’s more true when it comes to kids who are incarcerated as adults and those who are pretty boys. As I understand it, there are generally two paths for them to follow: ally yourself with a protector or opt for

administrative segregation. Neither option is the better path. With a protector the inmate can become somewhat of a slave and be sold, traded or borrowed for sex. While in administrative segregation you don’t have to worry about the sexual abuse, just the boredom and loneliness. Other abuse may be suffered at the hands of prison staff who may look the other way or even participate in the sexual abuse. This comes from what I’ve heard from inmates — I have no direct knowledge. Federal legislation in the past has curbed some of that abuse. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’m afraid abuse will never be fully eliminated from this country’s prison system. Is there a fee for your service? It started out as a free service for both web visitors and prisoners. It wasn’t too long before I realized that prison inmate scammers were descending on the site. After dumping the free option, we started charging $10 in stamps because U.S. postage stamps are real money in the prison system. That option lasted for a number of years until higher operating costs prevailed and we moved to accepting only money for a membership — $10 for regular membership and $25 for premiere membership. Details of the memberships can be found at the site. I felt that since the inmate is likely getting the most benefit that they should be the ones to pay the freight and not the web visitor. Anything you’d like to add? Never, ever under any circumstances approach inmates (or for that matter anyone at the gay bar) with the attitude that I’m going to find Mr. Right today. You will surely be disappointed.

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POVERELLOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE

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column jesse’s journal

Our LGBTQ Leaders Jesse Monteagudo

LGBT leaders, like the late Rodney Dangerfield, get no respect. We expect them to be paragons of perfection, impeccable role models without flaw. They cannot have outside jobs, interests, friends or partners, because they could get in the way of full time service to the cause. We expect them to do the dirty work for us and complain if they fall short. We bewail the lack of a queer Martin Luther King, Jr. or Nelson Mandela, without realizing that a King or a Mandela can only emerge from a supportive base. Hardly a day goes by when one of our leaders does not come under severe criticism from the LGBT media or from other self-appointed representatives of our community. The executive directors of GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign and the newly-renamed National LGBTQ Task Force are routinely criticized for everything from their past political affiliations to their current love lives. But we do not have to go to Washington to witness the defiling of our leadership. Our own local leaders are frequently the targets of self-appointed monitors who have no following or credibility themselves but who think they are entitled to attack those who do. Having been on both sides of the leadership controversy, I see the need to keep our leaders on their toes. Without a free press or people, those who are in charge become smug, arrogant, corrupt or dictatorial. It is good that there are newspapers or blogs like ours that point out the flaws in our representatives and urge them to do better. On the other hand, our leaders are all too often the victims of unfair condemnation. These people are trying to do the best they can in a usually difficult situation and do not deserve all the mud we keep throwing at them. Though LGBT leaders are criticized for many things, criticism usually falls into the following categories: We did not elect them to represent us. LGBT leaders are usually chosen by the boards or the membership of the organization that they lead. They owe their success to years of professional experience or back-breaking work. The reason why our leaders are chosen by a relatively small group of people is because most of us are too busy or apathetic to be active in those organizations. Those who complain that A, B or C lead X, Y or Z should (a) join X, Y or Z and change their leadership from within or (b) start a group of their own and see if they can do any better. They are not qualified to lead. Some of our community leaders are skilled fundraisers, able organizers, and charismatic speakers, while others seem to do everything wrong. But as anyone who keeps track of politics knows, incompetency is not limited to LGBT people. In democracies, which most queer organizations theoretically are, the “people” (the

members) choose their leaders (the board), who in turn choose the executive directors and other professional staff. If our leaders turn out to be imbeciles, which they often are, then those of us who elected them must turn them out the same way we turned them in, through the ballot box. Sometimes outside forces can determine the leadership of an organization, as is often the case with various community centers or Pride committees. More often people express their disgust with the way a group is run by walking away from it. In short, if we don’t like what our leaders do, we can do something about it. They are power-mad egomaniacs who are in it for themselves. I admit that some of our leaders get carried away by their egos, especially when it comes to publicity, and chase after publicity the way some lawyers chase ambulances. But remember, shrinking violets do not seek high office. If a little ego gratification helps those in charge do their job better, then it is well and good. This does not apply to those who seek office in order to steal from the treasury, destroy their enemies or acquire absolute power. Corruption is corruption no matter where we find it. Their personal and professional lives are an embarrassment to our community. All too often, we judge our leaders by standards that have little to do with their leadership qualities. Their qualifications often take a back seat to their health, opinions, affiliations, sex lives, drug use or past war record (or lack thereof). It is getting so that nobody would want to run for any office, be appointed to any position, or do anything that would put them under the public scrutiny. But we are all human, and none of us are perfect. The fact that Leader X runs a sex club or that Leader Y was connected to a corporation that once gave money to an anti-gay politician should not disqualify them out of hand. I agree that a person’s personality or background determines her or his performance in high or low office. I would not want a murderer, a child molester or a member of ISIL to run a group that I pin my hopes on. Nor would I want a leader who is a bigot or whose views are otherwise anathema to me. On the other hand, the fact that somebody made a stupid comment or wrote a controversial article twenty years ago should not keep her or him from being elected or confirmed. In choosing our leaders, we must strike a balance between judicious selection and nitpicking. Our leaders, like the rest of us, are fallible beings. But they have one thing going for them. For better or worse, our leaders are people who are willing to step forward, take chances, and do something. How many of us can make that claim?

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida’s LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations. soflagaynews //

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opinion

If You Could Read My Mind: A PTSD Diary #4: Therapy works!

David-Elijah Nahmod

So I’m back in therapy. I was inspired to do so when I realized that the recent recurrence of my PTSD symptoms was creating problems between me and a close friend. When I felt triggered, I would become somewhat manic. I would start talking and be unable to stop, going on and on about all the terrible things that had happened to me. This is not uncommon with people who have PTSD. Our condition is caused by experiencing severe trauma — reliving that trauma is often our primary symptom. The friendship in question was particularly valuable to me. After years of meeting gay men who could only be described as embittered, bitchy, two-faced queens, I had finally met an intelligent, educated gay man who was a genuinely nice guy. He cares about other people. He’s funny and fun to be around. I didn’t want to lose this friendship. He had been supportive above and beyond the call of duty, but at one point our conversations had become all about me and my sad little life. The support had stopped going both ways. No matter what we’ve been through, no matter how much pain we’re in, we mustn’t forget that other people also have needs. No man is an island, as the old saying goes. And so I started meeting with Jim, a gay therapist who specializes in working with LGBTQ trauma survivors. The gay conversion therapy I lived through as a child, and the more recent attempts by gay bloggers to inflame anti-gay and anti-Semitic hate against me for nothing more than a cheap laugh (which I’ve written about in various publications) certainly qualifies me as a trauma survivor. Though writing about these incidents was cathartic, I hadn’t, in recent years, been taking care of myself. It was time to do some real healing work and get myself back on track. Jim and I are now going into the second month of our client/therapist relationship. Our first few sessions made me realize how hurt I am: there were so many topics I needed to talk about: anti-gay religious abuse, growing up in a home with abusive parents who wouldn’t accept me for who I was, being bullied in the neighborhood for being gay, getting caught up in the gay-on-gay bullying that a traumatized LGBT community now inflicts upon each other — where to begin? For our first few sessions I ranted, jumping around from topic to topic. It felt great to get it out. It’s a beginning. Christopher Pennock is an actor with a long list of credits on TV, in theater and in film. He’s best known for his runs on the daytime dramas

Dark Shadows and General Hospital. Chris and I are Facebook friends. At about the time I was beginning my own work with Jim, Chris, who has suffered from severe bouts of anxiety and depression, posted about his recent bipolar diagnosis. Chris can verify that not getting help when help is needed can damage a person’s relationships with friends and loved ones.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

“My marriage has suffered greatly, but I think we’re going to be OK,” Chris told me. “It has gotten much worse this past year when I invited all 5,000 of my Facebook friends to my birthday party!” Chris reports that his career had also suffered, but that a combination of medication, therapy and spirituality are getting him and his life back on track. “The meds are just starting so I’ll let you know in a month or so,” he said. “My spiritual path is Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhism, the White non monastic sanga, with the emphasis on Dzogchen, Tantra and Chod practice.” Chris is not ashamed of his condition, and in fact, no one who lives with a mental illness should feel shame of any kind. It’s not something we chose. “I say they should embrace their sensitivity and love their neurosis,” Chris said. “Know that there are so many truly great people with much more severe mental illnesses.” And now things are looking up for Christopher Pennock. “I’m gonna renew my marriage vows, gonna act in 3 TV mini-series, a new feature film, and we’re continuing our exploration of Waiting For Godot at The Actor’s Studio.”

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

Chris, who is also a comic book artist, it starting work on a new graphic novel. Therapy works. It gets you back on track.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

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point person of the year

SFGN’s Person of the Year Should Be Pope Francis, The Vatican’s Gorbachev

Pier Angelo

Vote for SFGN’s Person of the Year at SFGN.com/Person2014

As a recovering “catholic” and more precisely as a proud practicing atheist, I find myself in uncharted territory. I despise organized religions. Everywhere you turn somebody is killing, bombing, terrorizing in the name of God. A god, whose existence has never been proven, and most importantly nowadays, does not have a Facebook page or a Twitter account. Once in awhile a charismatic figure appears on the world stage: Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama: spiritual, compassionate, non-violent men, capable of changing planetary consciousness. I did not imagine that such a person could come out of the Vatican. But a tsunami named Francesco is that man. He hails from a place down under where its most revered icon, until now, was Eva Peron. In less than two years he has tried to show us where we are so that we know how to get somewhere else. And it’s not a simple task teaching Christians to be Christian. The 266th Vicar of Jesus Christ on Earth stepped on the balcony of St Peter’s Cathedral April 2013. The Catholic Church and the world at large have not been the same since. A man whose obvious humility, empathy, and dedication to the disenfranchised, is perfectly suited for our times. His humanity is revolutionary. What has emerged so far is the tone of the dialogue combined with a defined sense of justice. Gone are the fire and brimstone speeches replaced by groundbreaking comments on a score of sensitive subjects. He has tackled and addressed science, corruption, divorce, poverty, exploitation, mafia, globalization, the environment and most importantly he has made the historical first fledgling, timid, embrace of gays as members of the world community. The latter is a monumental shift if one considers the engrained anti-LGBT culture within the Catholic hierarchy. It does not yet mean that we can sit at the table as equals but the door is ajar. Simply by being non-judgmental and embracing the right of homosexuals to live their lives with dignity and respect, Pope Francis is quietly saying there is room for everyone under the cupola. It is a subliminal message of unprecedented universal tolerance. In tone and substance, his words “Who am I to judge” were the most uplifting words ever spoken by a pontiff to the LGBT community, anytime, anywhere. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan said that the pontiff wants the Church to study same-sex unions, ‘rather than condemn them.’ And that’s stunning in itself. Concern instead of censure? What a powerful message to send to the one billion Roman Catholics on this Earth. He has been blunt, attacking tax evasion, migration, debt, corruption, sexual abuse, and the excesses of free markets. He has repeatedly spoken against mass layoffs: “attempting to increase profits by reducing the work force and thereby adding to the ranks of the unemployed is unconscionable, it is an economy

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of exclusion and idolatry of money by a financial system which rules rather than serves”. Words that Jesus himself would have spoken if he were here today. Francis seems unfazed by the expected backlash many of his comments have generated. The “Who Am I to Judge” phrase has grabbed headlines around the globe and it has become the key narrative of his pontificate. It is sublime, divine, irony to watch the GOP scramble. After having played the GOD card for years it finds itself in a quagmire to rebuff the most revered and loved critic of income inequality. True to script once the trump card became worthless the GOP has pulled the second best in the deck: Rush Limbaugh, and the ultraconservative American Catholics, called the Pope’s message “pure Marxism.” In response to his critics a smiling and almost chuckling Francis said: “Am I a Communist because I speak on behalf of the poor and the homeless? That’s odd because the love and concern for the poor is the core of the Gospels, it is the social doctrine of the Church, and it is the true meaning of being Christian.” Francis has also called for interreligious dialogue; “so that there will be an end to all forms of fundamentalism and terrorism, which gravely demean the dignity of every human being and exploit religion.” Recently he even had to say this on the matter of science: “I am happy to express my profound esteem and my warm encouragement to carry forward scientific progress.” It would be nice if Republicans were capable of that kind of enlightened thought. But, in the U.S., that might take a miracle.

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SouthFloridaGayNews

There are moments in time when history suddenly accelerates its course and punishes those who remain behind, and history can be even harsher on those who try to set up obstacles and barriers in its path. This is one of those watershed moments. Last month, Raymond Burke, America’s highest-ranking cardinal at the Vatican, was officially removed from the Vatican’s Supreme Court. The ultra-conservative and anti-gay cardinal continuously challenges the jurisdiction of Pope Francis, and the new receptive stance on homosexuality. Even the Catholic Church is moving ahead of anti-LGBT lawmakers and extremists in our country. Pope Francis is not afraid of opening the sea and leading his flock to a new promised land. He is already changing the course of history through his words and symbolic gestures, distancing himself from an archaic religious dogma that has alienated so many of its followers. No, I am not a born-again Catholic but he is my choice for Man of the Year. If they let him work, and live, he might turn out as The Man of the Century.

Pope Francis shakes hands with the U.S. President, Barack Obama. Source: The White House.

counter-point person of the year

SFGN’s Person of the Year Should Be Tim Cook

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

Vote for SFGN’s Person of the Year at SFGN.com/Person2014

As SFGN prepares for 2015, and celebrates its 5th anniversary, we are compelled to select our Person of the Year for 2014. Our choice must be Tim Cook, the extraordinary CEO of Apple. Earlier this year, in an op-ed in Bloomberg’s Business Week, Cook ‘came out’ in print. It was not that he had ever concealed his sexual identity to family, friends, or colleagues, but in this piece he shared it with the world. “Being gay,” Cook wrote, “has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.” When the chief executive officer of a Fortune 500 company can comfortably assert his sexuality, America not only listens, we all grow in stature and substance. Apple though just isn’t a member of the Fortune 500, it is the most valuable company in the world. As Cook appropriately noted, if hearing that a major business leader is open and out, “can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality,” then it’s worth the trade off of his

own privacy. After all, he was hiding nothing to begin with. Psychologists who have studied the ‘coming out’ process say there are typically three stages of evolution, which starts with owning up to yourself, then your family and friends, and then your colleagues in the workplace. Supposedly, the last stage is the toughest. We understand it may be easier for you living in South Florida, but try South Dakota. The world is a small place, but in some venues, discrimination can still be very large. Only a year ago in Arizona a governor was debating whether to sign a bill into law, which would discriminate against homosexuals. Tim Cook and Apple spoke out against it, not so the Pope. The Pope does influence millions, and his outreach towards the LGBT community has been commendable, but it has been tame and modest, with hints, innuendos and suggestions we are all not so bad as the Church has made us out to be. Tim Cook, on the other hand, should be SFGN’s Person of the Year, not just because he has said he is one of us, but because by his words, he has opened the door for thousands of young Americans shielded by false secrets. Tim Cook, at 53, is helping tear down the burning crosses he grew up watching as an adolescent young boy in Alabama in the 1970’s. Cook’s words in Business Week were simple and straightforward but forever will be etched into American history: “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.” Tell that to the religious right which has been so wrong for so long- and the Pat Robertson’s of the world who declared for decades homosexuals gave us pestilence and famine, not world business leaders. Tell that to the Arab emirates who still whip and chain gays to submission. Tell that to the African nations who still pass laws threatening the lives and freedom of gay men. Tell that to the teenage bullies in high school who want to beat up teenage gay kids with their fists. The world is evolving and in parts

and places discrimination is dissolving. Still, we can’t fool ourselves. Tolerance at home is still tempered by legislators who try to stop marriage equality. The majority of states still allow employers to fire people based solely on their sexual orientation. There are many places where landlords can evict tenants for being gay, or where we can be barred from visiting sick partners and sharing in their legacies. Tim Cook’s testimony will help put an end to those days. The 1982 Auburn graduate with a degree in industrial engineering has a reason to be proud. He has gone on to address the United Nations and worldwide business communities. But his coming out column addressed citizens across the globe- not bad for a guy who earned a graduate business degree at Duke University. Out and proud business guru Suze Orman echoed Cook’s words in a Huff Post interview earlier this year. As tough as it may be, she pointed out, “You’ll never be powerful in life until you’re willing to be totally honest about who you are.” Whether you are Jodie Foster talking to the Academy of motion picture artists, or Anderson Cooper delivering news to America, authenticity is awareness. When you become your own Tim Cook, you disarm prejudice, you destroy myths, and you reach the mountaintop. You free yourself from who you were and you let yourself become who you can be. Today some people say that there is no more closet to break out of, just a curtain to push aside. If that is so, if that is true, it was the impassioned pleas of the Harvey Milks who helped make that day come to pass. So too will it be the calm and collected words of Tim Cook that provide a comfort zone for the business leaders of tomorrow. Silence is an anchor that binds you, speaking out words that liberate you. Tim Cook built his career as a behind-the-scenes operations expert, but now leads Apple into a new era, broadening the company’s legendary laser focus, forged when Apple was a much smaller company. Challenged by Google, Android, and Samsung, Apple is no longer the underdog that Steve Jobs rescued from the brink of bankruptcy. It is a world leader in technology, and it now has as its world leader a gay man in charge. That is something we can all be proud of. That is the reason Tim Cook should and must be SFGN’s ‘Person of the Year.’

“I believe deeply in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said: ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’’”

- Tim Cook, CEO of Apple

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Photo source: Apple, Inc.

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lifestyle photos

The South Florida Wind Ensemble Breezes Through the Broward Center

J.R. Davis

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lifestyle passages

Cal Steinmetz, Local Attorney, Dies

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Norm Kent Softball was his passion, but law was his life. Cal Steinmetz, 62, a loved and local attorney has passed away, about two years after being diagnosed with brain cancer, which has now claimed his life. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1952, Steinmetz started his legal career in Washington, D.C., as an openly gay attorney advertising weekly with a business card advertisement in the Washington Blade. He had gotten his Doctor of Laws degrees with honors from George Washington University in 1977, following his BA with distinction from the University of Rochester in 1974. He was an AV Rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell; the highest distinction lawyers can receive. Admitted to numerous federal and state courts, including the United States Supreme Court, Steinmetz relocated to South Florida and focused his law practice on serving the LGBT community with civil litigation and minor criminal matters. He became very active with the Gay and Lesbian Lawyer’s Network. A memorial service is being planned for him this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Pride Center. Survived by his partner, Brian Boyle, tributes from the past three decades have populated Cal’s Facebook page this past weekend. They praise him as a courageous lawyer, great friend, and wonderful teammate, who played softball passionately, underwriting and sponsoring teams and participating on the field with never ending zeal, enthusiasm, and energy. Cal loved the sport of softball, whether he was on the field near his old home in Arlington, Virginia, or at Mills Pond Park in Fort Lauderdale, sponsoring the ‘South Florida Metz.’ The team was a play on words. He loved the New York Mets, and on more than one occasion, if I am allowed a personal moment, tried to wrestle my own 1973 New York Mets World Series ring off my finger. Cal, who in his 50’s competed in the Smart Ride for AIDS from Miami to Key West, also played in an array of gay softball tournaments, from the Gay Olympics in New York in 1994 to the Gay World Series in Phoenix in 2007. In the year 2000, while playing in an Atlanta tournament, he found and rescued a tiny kitten from

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drowning in a storm puddle. Turning the kitten over to friends for adoption, a decade later “Puddles” was still alive, thanks to Cal’s initiative. He loved his partner Brian, his parrots, Mingo and Vanna, and his dog, Rita. Friends used to call him a “Jewish Leprechaun.” In Arlington, Virginia, he would host a ‘Christmas for Jews’ party that became the talk of the town. He would continue the tradition with his partner Brian Boyle, here in Wilton Manors. “He was the kindest, gentlest, most good natured and patient person I’ve ever met,” said long-time friend Gigi Sohn. “Cal was a mentor to me,” said Victor Flores, a friend and local businessman. Added attorney George Castrataro, a colleague and friend, “We lost a great soul this weekend. We love you, Cal.” Stated Miriam Richter, who shared law office space with Cal in the Manors, “Cal was the epitome of a good guy. He was always there when anyone needed a hand and even coached me for an important hearing in State court that I won easily because of his help. He never admitted that cancer was going to defeat him and was optimistic to the end. He was always fun to be around. I will greatly miss his tenderness and caring and especially his friendship.” Cal was a compassionate man, who touched the lives of many and influenced even more over four decades, in communities from Virginia and the District of Columbia to South Florida. He ran his law practice with a quiet and simple dignity, moderately pricing his services so the community could reach him and he could reach us.

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Cal was the son of the late Arthur and Lillian (Scherman) Steinmetz, survived by his partner of 30 years, Brian Boyle, his devoted sister, Barbara Parker, his nephew Jody Parker and his wife Jordana, and his niece, Mara Smith and her husband Mike. He asked that donations in his memory be made to your local No Kill Animal Shelter or Rescue League. Emerald Elite Senior Home Care will present a memorial service for Cal this Sunday at 2 pm at the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, FL 33305. soflagaynews //

* R ATES EFFECTIVE 7/16/2014 SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

lifestyle books “The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good Business” by John Browne Terri Schlichenmeyer

$27.99 / $34.99 Canada 240 pages c.2014, Harper Business The view from your office is quite magnificent. When you moved into that space, you also got the perfect desk, a credenza to match, and a plushy, throne-like chair. It’s a workspace anyone would envy. Yes, your office is well-appointed. But your closet…? Not so much. Therefore, according to John Browne in his new book “The Glass Closet,” maybe it’s time to come out of it. Starting as a young man in 1969, John Browne rose through the ranks at oil-giant BP until 2007, when he resigned as chief executive. He might’ve still been there, if not for an unfortunately splashy scandal that seems tame today: Browne is gay. When “a tangled skein of allegations” pulled him out of the closet, he resigned from his job, fearing that his life was over. Obviously, it was not, but he discovered that his experiences aren’t unusual. Even though there have been strides made, and though nearly all Fortune 500 companies have in place policies to prevent discrimination based on sexual preference and identity, more than 40 percent of American LGBT workers remain closeted on the job. According to a survey, 90 percent of transgender employees report problems at work. “Years of progress have reduced the risk of harassment,” says Browne, “but they have not completely eradicated it.” Coming out is still risky, as evidenced by the interviews he completed with people who mostly asked that their last names not be used. Businesses, Browne says, should understand that inclusion levels the “playing field” and widens the choices available in the “war for talent,” something Fortune 500 companies already know. Extending benefits to samesex partners serves to retain workers, and

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SouthFloridaGayNews

policies supporting LGBT employees also send a positive message to other minority groups. Marketing and ad departments must remember that the LGBT community is “traditionally under-served” but represents an “often sizeable opportunity.” As for LGBT workers, Browne recalls how much effort it took to keep his secret, and how much it weighed him down. Still, “[n]o matter how skilled you think you are at hiding your true self, those closest to you… will see you through the closet door.” Coming out is risky, but “the risk will be worth the reward.” Color me irritated. Seemingly meant for business, “The Glass Closet” is not exactly business-related for the first third of it. Instead, author John Browne begins with his life story, and a tired LGBT history that includes little-to-nothing about the world of work. That doesn’t leave much room for biz-related information in this too-short book – but getting past those first pages is where the irritation subsides. Browne continues by offering eyeopening stats; several interviews to prove that there are others experiencing similar issues; and points to ponder, interspersed with helpful info for employers and employees, both LGBT and straight. If you’re interested in a biography, that’s here. The real appeal of this book, though, I think, is for the starter help it offers, and the modicum of support. For those small, brief, shaky reasons, “The Glass Closet” is worth a look-through.

lifestyle cars

2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon vs.

Volvo V60 R-Design Steve Siler

They’re Versatile (Really) But Which is Best in the Garage?

Winner: 2015 Volvo V60 R-Design

Wagons get short shrift in the gay world, with most of us either wanting a nice low sedan, or a practical SUV. Heaven forbid we drive a car that combines the two, lest one invoke the woodpaneled station wagons that dragged us off to scout camp every summer. But in reality, wagons are the “true versatiles” of the automotive world: they do car stuff and truck stuff equally well. And like a “true vers,” they should be appreciated. Most of today’s wagons wear European luxury brand labels and all come with all-wheel drive, and we just got some wheel-time in two of the best: the prestigious Mercedes-Benz E350 wagon and the new Volvo V60 R-Design. In this matchup, the Volvo gets the win due to its slick,

sporty styling, fresh interior design, fabulous seats (as always with Volvo) and lower price. By comparison, the Benz feels older and richer, yet a bit more suburban. Also, with 325 hp, the Volvo is surprisingly swift, more powerful than the pricier Benz and gets better fuel economy to boot. On the other hand, only the Benz has a Three-Pointed Star on the hood, and for some of us, prestige counts for a lot. That said, if image drives your purchase decisions, you’re probably not brave enough to drive a wagon. So at the end of the day, it’s the true vers from Sweden that we’d rather spend our days with. Ikea run, anyone?

Renowned automotive journalist and gay car geek Steve Siler has turned his life-long love of cars into a fruitful and enthusiastic career traveling the world to test thousands of new vehicles as they are introduced. Siler is s regular contributor to Car and Driver Magazine, Edmunds.com,AutoTrader.com, AOL Autos and Yahoo! Autos, and also pioneered automotive writing for the LGBT community more than a decade ago. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

lifestyle photos

J.R. Davis

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SouthFloridaGayNews

lifestyle books

Growing Up Golem

Lesbian journalist Donna Minkowitz pens memoir with a magical twist David-Elijah Nahmod Donna Minkowitz, a Lambda Literary Award and GLAAD Media Award winner, has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an out lesbian journalist. It was Minkowitz’ who first reported on Brandon Teena, a transman who was murdered in Lincoln Nebraska when his friends realized that he had been born a biological female. Minkowitz’s story about Teena in the Village Voice inspired the acclaimed biopic “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999), in which Hilary Swank won an Oscar for her courageous portrayal of Teena. At the time, little was known about the transgender community. Trans people were just beginning to ask for their place at the table, and many other LGBT people were not yet familiar with proper, respectful transgender vernacular. “Transgender activists were upset with me,” Minkowitz told SFGN via telephone from the home in New York where she lives with her wife. “I now understand why. I did not understand a lot about transgender people when I wrote that story, so I wrote a lot of things that were insensitive. I did a lot of misgendering. I wasn’t sure whether to think of him as a transman or a lesbian. I’d like to apologize to the transgender community.” In addition to the Village Voice, Minkowitz’s work has appeared in The Advocate, The Nation, Ms., and New York Magazine, among others. Minkowitz is now promoting her magic infused memoir “Growing Up Golem: How I survived My Mother, Brooklyn and Some Really Weird Dates”, which is written as though she were a Golem. Golems are the clay figures which were built and brought to life centuries ago by Eastern European rabbis. The Golem legends are now part of Jewish folklore--the creatures were made in order to protect the Jewish people from those who wanted to harm them. “I have always loved fantasy and science fiction,” she said. “I think a memoir is a work of art about a person’s life and not a history. A memoir should convey how a person feels about their life.” A big portion of the book deals with Minkowitz’ relationship with her mom. “My mother had so much power over us,” the author recalled. “She had emotional power and got us to do whatever she wanted. It was intense and scary to grow up with, but I

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loved her. There were many appealing things about her. She was political, a feminist and a Marxist. She raised us to be Marxists.” But there were problems which arose. “She told us that we were smart and better than everyone else,” Minkowitz said. “This was not helpful to grow up with.” In “Growing Up Golem,” Minkowitz recalls her somewhat strange childhood, and her coming of age as a lesbian journalist at the Village Voice. She often reported on difficult topics, such as a piece which explored the emotions of Matthew Shepard’s killers. Shepard’s gay bashing and death at age 22 in 1998 drew national media attention and led to the signing of expanded anti-hate crimes legislation, which President Barack Obama signed into law in 2009. “People don’t want to think about the emotions of the killers,” Minkowitz said. “I didn’t want to excuse the killers. I wanted to explore how we can raise people not to beat and kill people they’re threatened by.” “Growing Up Golem” touches upon many intense topics, including physical abuse. The author feels that wrapping these issues in a quasi-fantasy context makes her story more palatable for readers. “It’s easier for the readers to put down their barriers when there’s a fantasy coating,” Minkowitz said. “It makes it easier for the reader to run away with it.” Minkowitz, who wants to branch out and write in the science fiction genre, was thrilled when noted sci-fi author Terry Bisson contributed Golem’s cover blurb. She’ll no doubt be beaming proudly as she promotes the book. soflagaynews //

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

lifestyle finance

How LGBT Financial Aid Can Fuel South Florida’s Economy

Richie Bernardo

South Florida is hot. Not only does the lower half of the state boast the only tropical climate in the continental U.S., it’s also a magnet to the LGBT community. And the more educated they are, the bigger the dollar signs they bring to the region, underscoring the importance of financial aid for LGBT students. Now, let’s examine some of the facts supporting the need to make education affordable for the LGBT community: Population: In 2004, Florida had the fourth highest concentration of same-sex couples in the United States, according to The Gay and Lesbian Atlas, published by the Urban Institute. Narrowed down by city, most of those couples hailed from South Florida, particularly the Fort Lauderdale metro area, Wilton Manors, Miami Shores and Key West. Education: More recently, the Williams Institute, a UCLA think tank specializing in LGBT issues, reported that both single and coupled LGB individuals aged 25 and older were more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to have a college degree. This is more pronounced among married individuals than singles, though both groups surpass the educational attainment of their heterosexual peers. Income: In 2011, same-sex couples with both partners in the labor force earned an annual household income of $94,000 compared with $86,000 for heterosexual couples. And the researchers responsible for the study assert that the higher level of education among same-sex couples strongly contributes to their higher incomes. How do these numbers translate in the context of South Florida’s economy? Consider this: In August 2013, the Economic Policy Institute reported that states have the potential to prosper immensely by investing in quality education for their residents. “There is a clear and strong correlation between the educational attainment of a state’s workforce and median wages in the state,” a finding that echoes Bureau of Labor Statistics figures proving higher education is a worthy investment. But college degrees aren’t cheap. Fortunately, funding options by way of special types of aid are available to LGBT students. In the absence of any meaningful government intervention, here’s advice on how cash-strapped LGBT students can find some of the resources they need to achieve their educational goals:

Contact Your LGBT Resource Center:

Find out if the university or college where you’re enrolled in or plan to attend has an LGBT resource center. Besides offering a safe and positive environment on campus, these centers often stay abreast of university, local, state or national scholarships targeted at LGBT students. They can provide information about the incentives, eligibility requirements, application procedures and deadlines. If a center’s website doesn’t display such information, ask to be added to the center’s listserv, so you can receive email announcements of LGBT-specific scholarships as they become available. At a couple of South Florida-area universities, the following scholarships are awarded to enrolled LGBT students: University of South Florida: USF Alumni Association LGBT Scholarship University of Miami: The Lawrence R. Hyer/Edward Pascoe Study Abroad Scholarship (preference given to gay- and lesbian-identifying students) and LGBTQ Minor Scholarship (reflects a past deadline; contact the university regarding updates)

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Join a GSA or GLYS: Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs)

focus primarily on promoting tolerance and safety of LGBT students in public and private schools. Regional Gay & Lesbian Youth Services (GLYS) organizations also provide support and advocacy to LGBT youth and their families, though these programs are not as pervasive as GSAs. But both GSAs and GLYSs often are connected with other LGBT organizations in your area that either supply information about student aid or directly provide the incentives. In addition, some scholarship providers require students to actively participate in such programs or demonstrate leadership in their local LGBT communities to qualify for their awards. South Florida has a GSA.

Seek Guidance for FAFSA: Transgender students

who legally change their names to reflect their gender face unique hurdles when they complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application requires the student’s name to match the full legal name on his or her Social Security card and sex to match official records. Present a discrepancy, FAFSA will reject the application. Students in such situations should explain their circumstances to and seek advice from their campus financial aid adviser or with the Transgender Law Center. Until recently, the application also failed to recognize family structures of LGBT people. But new and more favorable rules apply beginning with the 2014 to 2015 financial aid year.

Cast a Wide Net During Your Search:

Don’t limit your research to groups and programs at your school or in your locality. Although these are excellent sources, they likely won’t be aware of every educational incentive that’s available. Online, there’s no shortage of resources when it comes to LGBT-specific financial aid. Visit the following websites to learn about the variety of scholarships, grants and fellowships for LGBT students pursuing higher education: Point Foundation Human Rights Campaign Campus Pride Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays LEAGUE Foundation College Scholarships FinAid Fastweb Student Debt Relief These organizations provide information about financial aid to specific groups of LGBT students: Queer Foundation (for high school students) Gamma Mu Foundation (for gay male students) Pride Foundation (for students in Northwestern states) Richie Bernardo is a reporter for the personal finance websites CardHub and WalletHub.

SouthFloridaGayNews

lifestyle history

tephen Fry is an English S comedian, actor, writer, HOMO HISTORY 101 presenter, and gay activist. He

THE HANNUKAH EDITION

Pier Angelo

Gad Beck, (1923 –2012) was an anti-Nazi Zionist resistance fighter and the last known gay Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. Beck was a pioneering gay activist and educator in a severely anti-homosexual, repressive postWorld War II German society. Perhaps the single most important experience that shaped his life was the wartime effort to rescue his boyfriend. Beck donned a Hitler Youth uniform and entered a deportation center to free his lover, Manfred Lewin, who had declined to separate himself from his family. The Nazis would later deport the entire Lewin family to Auschwitz, where they were murdered. Speaking about his life as a gay Jew, Beck invoked a line frequently cited about homosexuality: “God doesn’t punish for a life of love.” He immigrated to Israel in 1947. After his return to Germany in 1979, the first post-Holocaust head of Berlin’s Jewish community, Heinz Galinski, appointed Beck director of the Jewish Adult Education Center where he organized regular gay singles support meetings. Kessler would regularly attend the annual Christopher Street Day Gay Parade in Berlin and wave an Israeli flag. Beck was survived by his partner of 35 years, Julius Laufer.

Stephen Fry (August 24, 1957) is an English comedian, actor, writer, presenter, and gay activist. Besides working in television, Fry has contributed columns and articles for newspapers and magazines and written four novels and three volumes of autobiography, Moab Is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. He also appears frequently on BBC Radio 4. Fry struggled to keep his homosexuality secret during his teenage years at public school, and by his own account did not engage in sexual activity for 16 years from 1979 until 1995.When asked when he first acknowledged his sexuality, Fry quipped: “I suppose it all began when I came out of the womb. I looked back up at my mother and thought to myself, ‘That’s the last time I’m going up one of those.’ He is a signatory member of the British Jews for Justice for Palestinians organization, which campaigns for Palestinian rights. Rabbi Allen Bennett

(born Allen Blumenstein in 1946 in Akron, Ohio.) Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, has the distinction of being the first openly gay rabbi. He came out in the New York Times in 1978 by saying“ staying in the closet is a death sentence.”

is a signatory member of the British Jews for Justice for Palestinians organization.

Norman Elliott Kent (October

18, 1950) is a criminal defense attorney, publisher, gay activist, and radio talk show host. The founder and publisher of The Express Gay News in 1999, and South Florida Gay News in 2009. He is a life member of the National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and has appeared on CNN’s Crossfire, NBC’s Dateline, and Court TV as a political and legal commentator. In 2014, as the Chair of the Board of Directors of NORML, he has been a frequent guest on HLN’s Nancy Grace Show, advocating for the legalization of cannabis. As a constitutional rights attorney, he has represented juveniles in a class action against detention centers, and sued to enjoin the State of Florida from illegally spraying paraquat on marijuana fields. In his practice, and his editorials, he is a vigorous defender of the constitutional and first amendment rights of his clients, which also include radio stations, newspapers, and prominent talk show hosts.

JUNE 2014, Flamboyant First as Jewish Boat Floats in Amsterdam 19TH Gay Pride Canal Fest. Its passengers included

soflagaynews //

various celebrities, a rabbi and revelers in biblically themed costumes. The Jewish boat, at Amsterdam’s gay pride parade, stood out for more than just its riders. Following a west-to-east course along the Dutch capital’s Prinsengracht canal, along with dozens of similarly flamboyant vessels, the Jewish boat was the only one in the parade isolated by police. Two boats with three officers each escorted the barge, while two additional agents sailed aboard the Jewish boat itself. “We have planned this just to show that we [gay Jews] exist as a community and we are here to stand up for our rights to live as equals without threats by those who want to see Jews or gays silent or dead,” said Gideon Querido van Frank, the Jewish boat’s chief organizer, who boarded the boat wearing a Bronze Age soldier outfit laced with glitter. If you want to learn more about your gay heritage and those who paved the way, through activism, sacrifice, courage and civil disobedience to give us a better and freer life you can visit The Stonewall Museum & Archives in Wilton Manors. We should all know who our gay heroes are and be thankful for what they did on our behalf.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

Rack ‘em Up Would you like your business to be a distribution center for SFGN? We have acquired 50 new racks to house all our productions. Contact Norm.Kent@sfgn.com if you want to cleanly and neatly display our publications. SFG

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outeats Special Advertising Section Easy Holiday Quick Bread Recipes Rachel Paxton

Quick breads are a quick, easy accompaniment to any holiday meal. For the best-tasting holiday quick breads, here are some helpful hints: - Only grease the bottoms of the loaf pans or the sides of the bread will pull away from the sides of the baking pan. - Bake in the center of the center rack of the oven. - When adding liquids to the dry ingredients, stir only until dry ingredients are moistened. Batter will be lumpy. - Quick breads can be made ahead and frozen from 1 to 2 months. Cranberry Bread 2 cups flour 1 egg 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup cranberries, sliced 1 cup sugar 1 cup nuts, chopped (optional) 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon baking soda Juice and rind of 1 orange 1/2 teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add water to orange juice to make 3/4 cup liquid. Mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 30 minutes.

Pumpkin Bread 5 cups flour 4 cups sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 1 large can pumpkin 2 cups nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together vegetable oil, sugar, and eggs. In another bowl, mix together flour and baking soda. Add flour and pumpkin alternately to the egg mixture. Add nuts. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour.

Apple Bread 3 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 1/4 cups oil 2 apples, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) 1 teaspoon baking soda Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients until well blended. Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for about 1 hour.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more holiday recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

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he Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is a Fort Lauderdale tradition as dozens of brightly decorated boats parade up and down the Intracoastal Waterway.

Come deck your halls with the fabulous holiday wreaths up for grabs at the First Annual Wreath Auction tonight at Village Pub, 2283 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Here’s your chance to share the holiday spirit with the less fortunate right here in our community while having a good time. Proceeds benefit Kids in Distress. The incredible Electra will be your hostess for the auction beginning at 9:45 p.m. If you or your business would like to donate a wreath to help the cause, contact Greg Phelps at info@VillagePubWM.com.

FRI

CONCERT

12/12

Seraphic Fire, South Florida’s Grammy Awardnominated professional choral ensemble, sings in the holiday season with “A Seraphic Fire Christmas: Carols by Candlelight” in three performances under the direction of artistic director Patrick Dupré Quigley. Enjoy the timeless music of the season—heartwarming carols, glittering motets and solemn chant— tonight at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Coral Gables, Saturday at All Souls Episcopal Church in Miami Beach and Sunday at All Saints Episcopal Church in Ft. Lauderdale. Tickets are $55 each. For concert times and more information, go to SeraphicFire.org.

SAT EVENT

12/13 SUN

“The Greatest Show on H2O,” the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade will make its annual procession out the New River and up the Intracoastal Waterway tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m. Flo Rida is the grand marshal for this one of a kind parade of festively decorated boats. This year’s theme is “TV’s Greatest Hits.” Reserve seats in the grandstand at Birch State Park or party with friends who live along the route. Watch the parade live or see it streaming online. For more information, go to WinterfestParade.com.

Photo courtesy of Winterfest.

// 12.10.2014 // SFGN.com //

THEATER

12/14 MON FILM

The legendary Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Leslie Uggams takes the stage at The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum through Dec. 28 as everyone’s favorite auntie, “Mame.” Uggams will perform the iconic songs by Jerry Herman, including “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Bosom Buddies,” “Open a New Window” and “He Walked into My Life,” Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Boca Raton theater, located at 7901 N. Federal Highway. Tickets are $72 at TheWick.org. soflagaynews //

12/15 TUE

Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6th St. in Fort Lauderdale and home of the Broward County Film Society, continues its special fall LGBT film series with “The Circle,” a powerful and little known history of underground gay life and activism in Switzerland. “The Circle” has won multiple festival awards and been lauded by critics around the world. The film opens on Friday, Dec. 12 and continues through Thursday, Dec. 18. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 seniors and students and $6 for film society members. For information, go to FLIFF.com.

SouthFloridaGayNews

THEATER

12/16

The hottest ticket in South Florida—and Broadway, for that matter—is the hilarious musical comedy, “Book of Mormon,” from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and the musical genius behind “Avenue Q,” Robert Lopez. Nothing’s sacred in this tuneful parody on blind faith and the rituals of the Mormon Church opening tonight at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach and playing through Sunday, Dec. 21. You’ll laugh until you cry, it’s that funny. Tickets start at $45. For tickets and show times, go to Kravis.org.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

PEACE

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PIPE

Corpus Christi

Spreading a Message of Love David-Elijah Nahmod

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

There were massive protests when Terence McNally’s play “Corpus Christi” opened in New York in 1998, and no wonder. The play posed an interesting, if controversial question: what if Jesus was a gay man living in Texas? Though there were threats of violence, “Corpus Christi” played to capacity audiences without incident. Years later, the play was staged in North Hollywood California. Eight years later, that cast continues to tour the world performing in “Corpus Christi.” In “Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption,” James Brandon and Nic Arnzen document the journey of these performers, the family they’ve become, and the message of love they’re spreading. Brandon, who stars in the play as Joshua/Jesus, spoke with SFGN about the film, and about his own personal journey. SFGN: Did you ever consider ﬁlming the play instead of making this documentary? Brandon: The play itself is such a visceral theatrical experience, it would be hard to fully capture on film. We were only meant to do eight performances of the play when we revived it in a small church in North Hollywood in 2006. What we created as a family of actors through the visionary genius of our director Nic Arnzen was nothing short of theater magic. The play was instantly recognized by audiences as a transformative and healing experience, and it is because of them we were taken to a larger theater in Los Angeles following that short run, followed by the international tour we found ourselves on. The play was becoming a great catalyst of growth emotionally and spiritually for everyone involved. The stories we were sharing with our audience after every performance organically led us to pick up a home video camera and just start capturing this powerful and truly unique journey we found ourselves traveling. SFGN: Any plans to ﬁlm the play? Brandon: We never say never, but no plans at the moment. Right now we are focusing on the I AM Love campaign that was developed out of this experience. We created the I AM Love campaign to deepen the dialogue. In each city we visit, over a weekend of events we will perform the play, screen the film, hold educational and art based workshops with our company, and culminate in a Town Hall Open Forum with local LGBT, religious and community leaders to have a larger dialogue about the issues within the play that directly connect to the issues within the community. SFGN: Has the Corpus Christi cast stayed in contact?

ames Brandon stars in the play J as Joshua/Jesus.

Brandon: We still Photo: IMDB. perform together eight years later. A true family was created from this experience like nothing any of us has ever experienced before. Although we don’t perform the play as much as we used to, we all stay in touch and get together whenever we are called to do the play again. We just finished launching the I AM Love campaign in St. Louis a few weeks ago and it was amazing to see nearly everyone together again who was there from the very first opening night in 2006. It’s a testament to what this play is all about, what playwright Terence McNally created, and what we all created together. We don’t get paid for this experience, we just believe that strongly in the importance of this message of inclusive love for all people, and we are told over and over again how healing the experience was for an audience member. It’s hard to ignore that. SFGN: Tell us who James Brandon is. Brandon: Growing up in St. Louis, I honestly didn’t even know that being gay was a possibility. But I remember connecting all the dots when I had my first experience in high school with another guy and realizing why so many things didn’t make sense to me. It was a lonely time, especially because there were so few outlets on how to connect through community to the LGBT family. As I began coming out to myself, a resurgence of pain was brought to surface because of all the old tapes and stories I was told by my church that I was either “going to hell” or “just didn’t belong.” This turned me to years of self destructive behaviors and patterns that could have ended my life, but actually allowed me to eventually see the light. There were many people and places along the way that helped me see it, and I immersed myself in many forms of religious and spiritual practices to deepen my connection to self, from one extreme to the other. And over time I began forming my own family and community. I know I was lucky and blessed. I had many friends at the time who were experiencing the same pain I was who are no longer with us. I keep their spirit alive with me everywhere I go, and it’s exactly why I continue to do this show. My mom is my personal hero. Coming out to her was not easy when I did over 15 years ago, and she had to go through her own personal journey with it to understand and accept it, especially coming from such a conservative, Catholic background. But by letting go of my attachment to her acceptance of me, and allowing her to feel what she needed to feel, she could personally understand what it meant to her that her only son was gay. We actually became closer in the process. I now consider her my best friend.

For more information on Corpus Christi DVDs and the I AM Love Campaign, please visit: http://www.iamlovecampaign.org

// 12.10.2014 // SFGN.com //

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SouthFloridaGayNews

a&e theater

‘Book of Mormon’ Still a Big Hit Show wraps up in Miami this weekend, heads to West Palm next

J.W. Arnold

Photo: Joan Marcus.

“The Book of Mormon,” a hilarious parody from the creators of “South Park,” returns to South Florida this month.

Thank God! Yes, audiences in Miami and next week, West Palm Beach, are thanking their God, Goddess, Prophets or even the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster for the long anticipated return of “The Book of Mormon” to South Florida after a three-week run last year at the Broward Center. The Tony Award-winning musical, an outrageous riff on the theology and culture of the Mormon Church from the creators of “South Park” and the composer of “Avenue Q,” is definitely the hottest ticket of the fall theater season. Ushers at tour venues are routinely coached on how to appropriately handle offended patrons who might leave mid-performance. Considering the first scene features Jesus Christ and the prophets Mormon and Moroni speaking in the voice of Eric Cartman—courtesy of creator Trey Parker—the chances were good. But from the start, the audience of mostly gays, Jews and obviously liberal-minded Christians, Muslims, Pagans, Agnostics, Atheists and everything else had little trouble laughing with the irreverent humor. Like most “South Park” episodes and their marionette action movie, “Team America: World Police,” Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s musical is, at its heart, a tale of personal redemption. The protagonists are two young Mormon missionaries, Elder Price (David Larsen) and Elder Cunningham (Cody Jamison Strand) who have completed their training in Provo, Utah and are awaiting their assignment for a two-year long mission. Price is handsome, confident and selfrighteous, raised to believe that if he prayed hard enough, he would be sent to Orlando, Florida, and someday become the prophet of the church. He is destined to do something great, he believes, until he is partnered with the hapless Cunningham and instead assigned to Uganda. Cunningham is overweight, insecure and a compulsive liar who has never bothered to read the Book, but is tickled pink to finally have even a reluctant friend in Price and who, according to mission rule #72, cannot leave him alone except to go to the bathroom. They no sooner land in Uganda, only to be robbed at gunpoint by the henchmen of the local warlord, General Butt-Fucking-Naked (an allusion to the real General Butt Naked, played by David Aron Damane) who is obsessed with female circumcision. They finally arrive at the

village only to discover the horrifying realities of life in Africa—famine, poverty and AIDS. The duo’s misadventures provide plenty of opportunities to take potshots at Mormon theology, especially as a despondent Price leaves and Cunningham musters the courage to proselytize the natives. He weaves an even more amazing tale of Jesus, Mormon and Moroni, Nephites and Lamanites, Ewoks and Hobbits, Darth Vader, Captain Kirk and the starship Enterprise, which the natives buy, hook, line and sinker. Word of Cunningham’s miracle spreads to Utah and the mission leader decides to visit. That’s when the shit—and other things—hit the fan. Ironically, it’s the natives who recognize the metaphors in Cunningham’s religious tales and profess the power of faith. Robert Lopez, co-composer and lyricist (“Avenue Q”), writes traditional, tuneful melodies that pay homage to his own Tony Award-winning show and also parodies its closest competition in 2004, “Wicked,” and the Broadway smash, “Lion King.” Some of the big, dazzling numbers include “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” (scary funny), “Joseph Smith, American Moses” (a trashy tribute to “House of Uncle Thomas” from “The King and I”) and “Hasa Diga Eebowai” (the translation can’t be printed here). Co-director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw draws on the clichéd dances of the ‘50s and ‘60s to portray a Mormon culture rooted in an idealized past. Larsen and Strand deliver heartwarming performances, backed up by a wholesome, energetic chorus of Mormon mission boys who sing and dance flawlessly throughout the demanding show. And, Pierce Cassedy (Elder McKinley) takes his own star turn as a closet queen who half-heartedly advises the elders how to fight off inappropriate impulses in “Turn it Off.” This holiday season, give the gift that keeps on giving—I’m not talking STDs—and take a friend to see “The Book of Mormon” while you can. It’s funny, well performed and guaranteed to restore your faith.

Sunday, December 14th, from 10a - 4p

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“The Book of Mormon” plays at the Arsht Center in Miami through Sunday, Dec. 14 and moves to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Tuesday, Dec. 16 – Sunday, Dec. 21. For show times and tickets, go to ArshtCenter.org and Kravis.org. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

a&e theater

Cirque du Soleil’s Newest Production Celebrates Women J.W. Arnold

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// 12.10.2014 // SFGN.com //

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The signature blue and yellow “grand chapiteau” will rise again at Sun Life Stadium this week when Cirque du Soleil returns with its newest touring production, “Amaluna,” but South Florida audiences will be treated with a different kind of show. Written and directed by Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus, the Canadian circus troupe’s 33rd production is a celebration of love and a tribute to the work and voices of women. According to Cirque du Soleil’s director of creation, Fernand Rainville, the title of the show is a fusion of the words “ama,” which refers to “mother” in several languages, and “luna,” or “moon.” “Amaluna” serves as a symbol of the femininity of both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of a goddess and protector of the planet. It is also the name of the mysterious island that is the setting for production. Cirque du Soleil’s design team, choreographers and international performers take audiences to a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-ofage ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance, symbolically passing these insights and values from one generation to the next. In the wake of a storm created by Prospera, a group of young men washes ashore the island, triggering an epic and emotional story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test and the couple must face numerous demanding trials before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony. The story “is a tribute to the work and voice of women,” explained Rainville, who noted the cast is nearly 70 percent women and the band is comprised entirely of women. “The show is a reflection on balance from a women’s perspective.” Paulus, the Tony Award-winning director of “Pippin” and “The Gershwins’ Porgy &

SouthFloridaGayNews

Submitted Photo.

Bess,” was a natural to develop the story and lead the production. She drew from many classical sources, including Greek and Norse mythology, Mozart’s opera, “The Magic Flute,” and Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest,” for inspiration. Perhaps, even a little bit of “Wonder Woman.” “I didn’t want to build a ‘women’s agenda’ show. I wanted to create a show with women at the center of it, something that had a hidden story that featured women as the heroines,” Paulus has said about “Amaluna.” For company manager Franck Hanselman, “Amaluna” is still about “girl power.” “I use that term a lot,” he said via telephone from the band’s previous stop in Atlanta. “It celebrates women and femininity….it’s different, but audiences will still recognize it as a Cirque du Soleil show.” Like all Cirque du Soleil productions, audiences will again be wowed by an international cast of tumblers, jugglers, clowns and dancers, incredible costumes and an original musical score. Hanselman singled out two elements—the all female band and the 3-ton water bowl—that really make this production distinctive. The music is influenced by rock anthems and the performances in the water bowl, in contrast, are balletic and beautiful. Audiences have also responded strongly to Paulus’ direction, frequently sending the performers from the stage into the seating areas. He’s definitely not surprised the show has garnered standing ovations night after night, especially from the little girls in the audience who are empowered by the show’s message.

Cirque du Soleil’s “Amaluna” will be presented Dec. 11 – Jan. 4 in the Grand Chapiteau at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. Tickets start at $30 at CirqueDuSoleil.com.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

Datebook

Theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

broward county * The Chocolate Nutcracker

Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The traditional Christmas ballet is revamped with African American culture, including African drummers and multicultural modern dancers telling the story of Kwanzaa. Tickets $15. Call 800-7453000 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

* Sarge: the Chanukah Chutzpah Tour

Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs. The comedian, singer, and pianist brings together an act of laughter and music. Tickets $39.50 and $44.50. Call 954-344-5990 or visit CoralSpringsCenterfortheArts.com.

* Seraphic Fire

Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The group’s performance of “Messiah” has become a holiday favorite. Tickets $35 to $115. Call 800-745-3000 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Free Friday Concerts

Winter Wonderettes

Through Dec. 28 at the Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs. When Santa comes up missing at a holiday party, the Wonderettes must find him while singing holiday favorites with ‘60s flair. Tickets $59. Call 954-344-5999 or visit CoralSpringsCenterfortheArts.com

palm beach county

miami-dade county * The Colors of Christmas

Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Ruben * It’s a Wonderful Life Studdard, Taylor Dayne, Jennifer Holliday, and Dec. 17 to 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Arts Garage, 180 NE Peabo Bryson take the stage for a stunning First St. in Delray Beach. The classic Christmas performance of Christmas tunes. Tickets $39 to movie of a man who sees what the world would $114. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org be like without him is performed life in the style of old school radio production. Tickets $20 to * Jazz Love Night $30. Call 561-450-6357 or visit ArtsGarage.org. Dec. 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Peter Jo Dee Messina London Global Dance Company performs jazz Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at Palm Beach State College’s dance numbers with five young South Florida Duncan Theatre, 4200 Congress Ave. in Lake dancers. Tickets: $35. Call 305-949-6722 or visit Worth. The country singer has spent plenty of ArshtCenter.org. time in the number one spot in the Billboards and will be performing hits such as “Bring on * Camp Holocaust the Rain,” “My Give a Damn’s Busted” and “I’m Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Main Street Playhouse, Alright.” Tickets $45 or $90 for VIP meet and 6766 Main St. in Miami Lakes. A reading of greet. Call 561-868-3309 or visit DuncanTheatre. the comedy about the children of Holocaust org. survivors. Tickets $10. Call 305-558-3737 or visit MainStreetPlayers.com.

A Chorus Line

Through Dec. 14 at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Kicking off a celebration of the center’s 25th anniversary, the Broadway play of 17 people auditioning for a spot on a musical’s chorus Bill Charlap Trio line. Tickets $45. Call 561-243-7922 or visit Dec. 10 at 7:45 p.m. at the Broward Center, 201 DelrayCenterfortheArts.org. SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Bill Charlap is joined by bassist Peter Washington and Over the River and Through the Woods drummer Kenny Washington. Tickets $45. Call Through Dec. 14 at the Delray Beach Playhouse, 800-745-3000 or visit BrowardCenter.org. 950 NW Ninth St. in Delray Beach. Nick is the apple of his Italian grandparents’ eyes in New An Evening with Kenny G Jersey, but when he is set to accept a job in Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Washington state, the four work together to find Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. The Grammy a girl to make him stay. Tickets $30. Call 561Award-winning saxophonist performs hits from 272-1281, ext. 4 or visit DelrayBeachPlayhouse. career spanning more than two decades. Tickets com. are $57.50 to $77.50.Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com. PIAF Through Dec. 14 at the Delray Square Performing The Nutcracker Arts, 4809 W. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach. Dec. 12 to 14 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Edith Piaf, who was allegedly raised in a brothel Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The Miami City Ballet by her grandmother while her parents worked performs the classic holiday tale of Clara’s toys as performers, lived in a life in the spotlight. coming to life Christmas Eve, leading to a battle Tickets $37.50. Call 561-8880-0319 or visit between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. DelraySquareArts.com. Tickets $25 to $139. Call 800-745-3000 or visit BrowardCenter.org. The Timekeepers Through Dec. 21 at West Boca Theatre Company Othello at the Levis JCC, 21050 95th Ave. S. in Boca Dec. 12 to 14 and 19 to 21 at the Broward Raton. A revival of the Island City Stage play Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. of a Jewish prisoner who stays alive in a Shakespeare’s controversial play of Othello, a concentration camp by fixing watches, and a Moorish general, who crosses racial lines and gay hustler who befriends him. Tickets $29. Call marries a European woman, then rises through 561-558-2512 or visit LevisJCC.org/BoxOffice. the ranks and gains immense power. Tickets are $30. Call 800-745-3000 or visit BrowardCenter. My Old Lady org Through Jan. 4, 2015 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. A man Silver Balls: A Life in Dragée from New York inherits a Parisian apartment, Through Dec. 21 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler and down on his luck, he’s forced to live with Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Rich girl Francie goes his tenants, and old woman and her daughter. on the adventure of a lifetime, starting with her Tickets $62. Call 561-514-4042, ext. 2 or visit stint as a cabaret singer in New York City and PalmBeachDramaworks.org. then hitting the high seas. Tickets $30, $20 for first-night preview. Call 954-678-1496 or visit EmpireStage.com.

Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

// 12.10.2014 // SFGN.com //

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* Sarge: the Chanukah Chutzpah Tour

Dec. 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St. in Aventura. The comedian, singer, and pianist brings together an act of laughter and music. Tickets $39.50 and $44.50. Call 305-466-8002 or visit AventuraCenter.org.

* Joy Around the World

Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St. in Aventura. Susan and Sarah Wang from the Dranoff Piano 2 Foundation perform Hanukkah and Christmas tunes, including works by Schubert and Prokofiev. Tickets $35 and $55. Call 305-4668002 or visit AventuraCenter.org.

The Nutcracker

Dec. 12 and 13 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St. in Aventura. The Miami City Ballet performs the classic holiday tale of Clara’s toys coming to life Christmas Eve, leading to a battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Tickets $10 to $40. Call 800-7453000 or visit Ticketmaster.com.

The Gospel According to Jerry

Through Dec. 14 at the New Theatre at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10-950 SW 211 St. in Cutler Bay. A rabbi and a gospel singer have an unlikely relationship, and with each one experiencing a life changing moment, they need each other more than ever. Tickets $26. Call 896573-5300 or visit New-Theatre.org.

Bad Jews

Through Dec. 21 at GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. When a family’s grandfather has passed away, they start clawing at a family heirloom with strong religious significance. Tickets $47.50 to $55. Call 305-445-1119 or visit GableStage.org.

Miracle on South Division Street

Through Dec. 28 at the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. The Nowak family is business as usual in Buffalo, NY until the family heirloom, a 20-foot shrine to Mary, causes the family to question their beliefs and all that they know. Tickets $15 to $53. Call 305-444-9293 or visit ActorsPlayhouse.org.

PAMM Outdoor Music Series

Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-375-3000 or visit PAMM.org.

The Big Show

Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. at Just the Funny Theater, 3119 Coral Way in Miami. A collection of comedy mixing the likes of improvisation and sketches. Tickets $12. Call 305-693-8669 or visit JustTheFunny.com

Seraphic Fire will perform the holiday favorite “Messiah” at the Broward Center on Dec. 19 at 8 p.m.

Photo: Seraphic Fire Facebook

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FALL 2014 •

Vol. 3 Issue

TAKING BROADWAY BY STORM PAGE 48 ASEXUALITY & AGENDERISM

GAY PLAYS & QU EER COMICS BROADWAY BA BES & TRANS ADULT S

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 12.10.2014 //

Datebook

Community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

broward county 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 954-3840344 or visit FISPOnline.org.

* Cheers! The Art of Champagne

Dec. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, One E. Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale. There’s always lots of bubbly during the holidays -- Wayne Ballard leads a tasting of fine champagnes, with perfect food pairings. Tickets $40, $25 for members. Call 954-262-0204 or visit MOAFL.org.

* “Dancer From the Dance” Book Discussion

Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to noon at Stonewall Library & Archives, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Andrew Holleran’s 1978 novel of gay literature will be discussed at the SAGE Book Discussion Group. Call Philip Collier 443-614-7135 or Alan Dorfman 561-499-2913.

* Judy Shepherd Toy Drive

Through Dec. 15 at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the center to benefit area children this holiday season. Call 954-4639005, ext. 108 or email womenwithpride@ pridecenterflorida.org.

* Toy Drive

Through Dec. 17 at Care Resource, 871 W. Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Donate toys for area children to enjoy for the holidays. Call Awilda Gomez-Lopez at 305-576-1234, ext. 218.

* Santa’s Enchanted Evening

Dec. 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Wilton Manors Elementary, 2401 NE Third Ave. in Wilton Manors. The school is transformed into a Christmas village with cookie decorating, bounce houses, pictures with Santa, hay rides, and 22 tons of snow. Free. Call 954-630-3118 or visit WiltonManors.com.

* Gender Outlaws

Dec. 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. A talk exploring gender fluidity in a world demanding concrete gender identity. Free. Call 954-463-9005, ext. 108 or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.

JUNTOS

Fridays at 8 p.m. at the Latinos Salud Clubhouse, 2330 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Latino men 25 and older are invited to meet new people, develop leadership skills, and learn to stay safe from HIV and other STDs. Call 954-533-8681 or visit LatinosSalud.org

Strategize with LinkedIn

Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Join Chris Caputo, the CEO and founder of MetroMedia Works, to discuss how you can use LinkedIn to help your job search. Free. Register to Bruce Williams at 954-463-9005, ext. 109 or email bwilliams@pridecenterflorida. org.

An Evening with the Stars

Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 S. Lyons Road in Coconut Creek. Join the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association for a night of stargazing. Visit Broward.org.

Fantasy of Lights

Through Jan. 3, 2015 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road in Coconut Creek. The park comes alight with Christmas- and holiday-themed displays for the community to drive through and enjoy. Tickets $14 per car. Call 954-357-9970 or visit HolidayLightsDriveThru.com.

palm beach county * “Home Alone”

Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Canyon Amphitheater, 8802 Boynton Beach Blvd. in Boynton Beach. Enjoy the classic “Home Alone” from the comfort of your lawn chair or picnic blanket. Pets on leashes are welcome. Free. Visit Facebook.com/CanyonAmphitheater.

* If I Had a Hammer: The Life and Song of Pete Seeger

Dec. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at FAU’s Rosenthal Complex, 5353 Parkside Drive in Jupiter. The Lifelong Learning Society hosts a seminar about Pete Seeger. Tickets $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers; tickets are an extra $5 at the door. Call 561-799-8547 or register online at FAU.edu/divdept/ lifelong/LLSJupiter/forms/fall14_catalog_web.pdf

// 12.10.2014 // SFGN.com //

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Mi Pajaro

Through 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.

Exit 26

Through Dec. 12 at FAU’s Ritter Art Gallery, 777 Glades Road in Boca Raton campus. A thesis exhibition by 26 emerging student artists and designers spanning the range of media. Free. Call 561- 297-2966 or visit FAU.edu/galleries.

Coming Into Fashion: A Century of Photography at Conde Nast

Through Feb. 15, 2015 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. From the publishing house that prints famed magazines Vogue, Glamour, W, and Vanity Fair are 150 images from 80 of the world’s best fashion photographers. Admission $12. Call 561-832-5196 or visit Norton.org.

Sober Sisters

Mondays at 6:15 p.m. at Lambda North, 18 S. J St. in Lake Worth. A support and discussion group for female recovering alcoholics. Visit LambdaNorth. net.

Out of the Closet, 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 561775-5900 or visit MCCPalmBeach.org.

Voices of Pride

Mondays at 7 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Join the Gay Men’s Chorus as they practice every week. Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com

Out of the Closet NA Group

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

Positive Connection

Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Men who are HIV positive are invited to come together for support, education, and advocacy. Closed group. Call 561-324-1626 or visit CompassGLCC.com.

SouthFloridaGayNews

miami-dade county * Coping With Grief During the Holidays

Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brockway Memorial Library, 10021 NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores. Patricia Stauber, a registered nurse and clinical social worker discusses caring for yourself, expressing grief, eliminating unnecessary stress, and other tips for grief during a time of year that can be extra stressful for some. Free. RSVP 305-751-8855 or info@ DavidTreece.com or phone.

* Toy Drive

Through Dec. 17 at Care Resource, 3510 Biscayne Blvd. and 1901 SW First St. in Miami. Donate toys for area children to enjoy for the holidays. Call Awilda Gomez-Lopez at 305-576-1234, ext. 218.

Gay & Lesbian Lawyers Association Luncheon

Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at City Hall the restaurant, 2004 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. GALLA and the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce meet for an informational lunch with Damian Pardo, financial advisor at The Pardo Group at Morgan Stanley, to discuss LGBT planning issues. Cost $35 for mmebers, $45 for potential members. RSVP to 305-673-4440, rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or GayBizMiami.com.

Steve Martorano: It Ain’t Sauce, It’s Gravy Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave. in Coral Gables. Known for his Fort Lauderdale restaurant, Martorano has since opened spots around the country and shares his experience of growing up in Philly and turning his life around through food. Call 305-442-4408 or visit BooksandBooks.com.

HoliGay Celebration and Toy Drive

Dec. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the LGBT Visitor Center, 1130 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. CElebrate the holidays with donations to the Miami Beach Police Department’s Children’s Holiday Relief Fund, as well as selfies with Santa, free cocktails, food, and music from DJ Maximus 3000. Free with donation of an unwrapped toy. RSVP to lori@gogaymiami.com.

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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LOUNGE/BAR: The Copa in Ocala, Marion County, on busy 301/441 highway. 6,000 sq. ft, 3/4 of an acre, dance ﬂoor, circular bay, separate summer bar, formerly restaurant, $449,000 Monsees Realty 352-591-1513

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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 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

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home & garden - electric HARRY’S ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL - Additions, renovations, service upgrades, breaker panels,FPL undergrounds, code violations, A/C wiring, ceiling fans, recessed, security & landscaping, lighting, pools, pumps, Jacuzzis, water heaters, FREE PHONE ESTIMATES 954-522-3357 Lic & Ins. www. harryelectrician.com

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HUSBAND FOR RENT! Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We ﬁt right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more!It doesn’t cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price. Call Haim at 954-398-3676, sidnalll@yahoo.com

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// 12.10.2014 // SFGN.com //

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licensed massage 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.

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professional services

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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

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