5/13/15 V6i19 by South Florida Gay News

Pages 14, 16 A Closer Look At The Supreme Court

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May 13, 2015 // vol. 6 // issue 19

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Robert Boo.

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See what news is breaking across the internet Compiled by John McDonald

international

Luxembourg Prime Minister To Tie The Knot With Partner

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg is expected to marry his longtime partner next week according to several European news agencies. Xavier Bettel, 42, the PM of the small European country of just 550,000 people, is expected to wed his partner, Gauthier Destanay, an architect. Luxembourg’s constitutional monarchy

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HUNGARY FACES A HISTORIC STRUGGLE

SEX POSITIVE CULTURE CHALLENGES ETHICS ‘FIRST COMES LOVE’ PHOTO FEATURE

ON STANDS NOW! The Mirror

Winter 2015

national

HIV Positive Man Gets 6 Months For Knowingly Infecting Partner An HIV-positive man from San Diego who was accused of intentionally infecting a partner with the disease was sentenced to six months in prison last week. Thomas Guerra, 30, showed no remorse when San Diego County Judge Katherine Lewis angrily said she wished she could order him to more time in prison. Guerra blamed the unnamed

victim, whom he met via the gay hookup app, Grindr. "I did not rape this person. I did not take him against his will," Guerra said in court Monday. "Within five minutes of Grindr text-messaging he was there. If you're that reckless with your life, how can you blame anyone else for your actions?"

local/state

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Miami Survey Reveals Gaps In Seniors Healthcare A recent survey conducted by the University of Miami Center on Aging uncovered the need for employee training in regards to eldercare agencies. The survey, administered in collaboration with Our Fund and Sage USA, found that 73 percent of South Florida’s healthcare agencies and facilities report providing services to the

WINTER 2015 • Vol. 3 Issue

LGBT community, although less than a third report providing any staff training in LGBTrelated needs. “This is an alarming, but not surprising statistic, and the survery confirms EMBER consistent concerns we Mhear from our LGBT elder population here in South Florida,” said Anthony Timiraos, CEO/President of Our Fund.

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‘FIRST COMES LOVE’ PHOTO FEATURE SEX POSITIVE CULTURE CHALLENGES ETHICS HUNGARY FACES A HISTORIC STRUGGLE themirrormag.com

MAY 13, 2015 • VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 19

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Photo: Bettel (left), Twitter.

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passed marriage equality last June by a landslide vote of 56-4, and implemented the law in January. Details of Bettel’s nuptials are being kept tightly guarded in Luxembourg, a member of the European Union and NATO. Bettel did disclose to the L.A. Times that it was his partner, Destanay who popped the question.

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Cover: Robert Boo and Stuart Milk at the Diversity Honors Gala. Photo by J.R. Davis.

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.

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

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news highlight

UNC Launches HIV Cure Center John McDonald

A science-led global healthcare company is joining forces with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to search for a cure for HIV/AIDS. GlaxoSmithKline PLC, a majority British company, that researches and develops medicines, vaccines and consumer health products, is launching a joint research center at UNC. This public-private partnership is an effort to bring about a cure for the virus that causes AIDS. “The excitement of this public-private partnership lies in its vast potential,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “Carolina has been at the forefront of AIDS research for the last 30 years. This first of its kind joint-ownership model is a novel approach toward finding a cure, and we hope it serves as an invitation to the world’s best researchers and scientists.” Glaxo and UNC have agreed to jointly own and manage intellectual properties and other business matters for the new company — Qura Therapeutics LLC. Glaxo intends to invest $20 million over five years into the UNC project.

“Although today’s treatment for HIV mean that millions of lives have been saved, people still have to take a lifetime of treatments, which takes an emotional toll and places an economic burden on society that is particularly challenging in countries with limited resources,” said Zhi Hong, senior vice president and head of the GSK Infectious Diseases Therapy Unit. GSK also announced on Monday its HIV Discovery Performance Unit, ViiV Healthcare, heralded for its success in antiretroviral therapies (ARV), will play an advisory role at the UNC HIV Cure Center.

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News Briefs

SFGN Staff

Gay Couple Speaks Out After Attack by Football Player (EDGE) The same-sex couple who were allegedly attacked by a now suspended Marshall University running back is speaking out about the incident, according to local news station WSAZ. Zackary Johnson and Casey Williams have shared footage of the incident, which allegedly involves college football player Steward Butler and took place in Huntington, W.V., in April. The couple was visiting friends and was heading back to their hotel after a night out. "I had pulled him in for a kiss and they happened to see it, so we just kind of ignored it at first," Williams said, referring to Johnson. The couple then said Butler yelled gay slurs at them and the rest of the incident was caught on video. "He punched Zack in the head, and then right after that he punched me in the head," Williams told the news station.

WSAZ reports that in the video, a number of slurs and derogatory names are hurled at the men. The clip also shows that the couple was at least punched one time in the April incident. Butler claims the incident was in self-defense but the couple disputes that. The men said they were punched in the face but not seriously injured. The couple is currently working with the authorities and said the video they recorded of the incident captured the license plate of the car Butler was in during the alleged attack. West Virginia, however, does not have a hate crime law that protects attacks based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Butler was suspended from Marshall University after he was arrested Wednesday on battery charges for allegedly attacking Williams and Johnson.

Keeping the measure could prompt a broader legal fight over a state law that takes effect later this year aimed at preventing such local protections. The proposal is highlighting the dual personalities of the town of roughly 2,000 people that for almost a decade has taken the lead on gay rights issues, including being the first city in Arkansas to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Ripa Wins GLAAD National Kelly Media Award Coast Pride Social and Volunteer Space

(Press Release) Space Coast Pride will host a coffee social Wednesday May 13 at Ossorio in Cocoa Village from 6:30 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30 p.m. for a discussion on LGBT life in Brevard County, On Thursday May 14, Space Coast Pride will also hold a volunteer session from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sun Shoppe at 540 East New Haven Avenue, downtown Melbourne to begin preparations for the upcoming Space Coast Pride festival and parade in the Eau Callie Arts District on September 26.

(SFGN Staff ) Anderson Cooper presented Emmy Awardwinning talk show host Kelly Ripa with GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on Saturday night. The Excellence in Media Award is presented to media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equality. Previous Excellence in Media Award honorees include Russell Simmons, Tyra Banks, Judy Shepard, Julianne Moore, Glenn Close, Barbara Walters, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Diane Sawyer, and Vanessa Redgrave.

Ark. Town Split Over LGBT Anti-Discrimination Measure Small

(AP) A vote on an anti-discrimination ordinance is dividing a northwest Arkansas town that's known both for an outdoor play depicting Jesus' final days and as a gay-friendly tourist destination. Voters in Eureka Springs will decide Tuesday whether to keep a measure that would prohibit the city and private businesses from discriminating against someone based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

Kelly Ripa. Facebook. SouthFloridaGayNews

"For over a decade, Kelly Ripa has greeted millions of viewers with messages of acceptance and inclusion," said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "By sharing inclusive stories with her audience and loudly voicing support for her LGBT friends and fans, Kelly is helping to drive acceptance forward." Ripa has also participated in GLAAD's Spirit Day campaign to support LGBT youth and hosted the Point Foundation's Point Honors event alongside friend and out TV personality Andy Cohen. She and husband Mark Consuelos also executive produce Logo's Secret Guide to Fabulous, in which gay co-hosts Rob Younkers, John Gidding, and Theodore Leaf, help everyday people enhance their daily lives.

Cardinal Sees No Change Vatican in Family Teachings

(AP) A senior Vatican cardinal predicted Saturday that there will be no change in the Catholic Church's practice and teaching about marriage, divorce and the reception of Communion at an upcoming meeting of bishops on family issues. Cardinal George Pell told a gathering of conservative, antiabortion Catholic activists in town for an annual ``March for Life'' that he believed the October synod ``will massively endorse the tradition'' of the church. ``I don't anticipate any deviation from that at all,'' Pell told the few hundred people gathered in a Vatican audience hall. Pope Francis convened the two-year study on family issues in hopes of providing more compassionate pastoral care for families confronted with increasing rates of cohabitation, divorce and acceptance of gay unions. Specifically, he wants the church to adopt a more merciful approach to Catholics who divorce and remarry civilly. Church teaching holds that without an annulment, or a church decree that the first marriage was null, such Catholics are living in sin and cannot receive Communion. While many progressive Catholics have praised Francis' overtures, conservatives say his initiative has only created confusion over the church's true teaching on the indissolubility of marriage and homosexuality. They have called for Francis to clarify his intent and the church's beliefs before the next meeting opens in October.

news briefs

A day you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss....

Continued

y a G n I y a AD a d i r o l F h t Sou

ill GOP Establishment Reshape Marriage Platform?

sfgn.com/daygay2014

(CNN) Whatever the Supreme Court decides, social conservatives active in the Republican Party are vowing to leave tough language opposing same-sex marriage in the GOP's 2016 platform. But a group of establishment GOP leaders wants to drop the language, believing it hurts the party with young people and some other voters. And CNN is told they hope Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio will take a lead role in reshaping the platform. Why Portman?

Well, for starters the platform will be debated and adopted in his home state of Ohio. The Republican convention is in Cleveland. More significant, though, is the senator's personal journey on the issue. Portman switched to become a supporter of same-sex marriage in 2013. He said at the time he was swayed by his son, Will, who told his parents in 2011 that he is gay. Taking a lead role in such a platform battle would be a huge challenge for Portman, who is also up for re-election in 2016.

sfgn.com/daygay2014

astro's Daughter Sponsors Blessing of Gay Couples

Mariela Castro. Photo: Northside.

(AP) A day before Cuban President Raul Castro visits the Vatican, his daughter has sponsored a blessing ceremony for gay couples on an island where gay marriage remains illegal. Nearly two dozen gay couples held hands or embraced as American and Canadian Protestant clergyman blessed them Saturday. It was part of official ceremonies leading up to the Global Day against Homophobia on May 17.

Castro's daughter Mariela heads Cuba's Center for Sex Education, which has been pushing for gay rights in a country with a history of persecuting homosexuals. Cuba has also been growing closer to the Catholic Church, which had a troubled relationship with the communist government during much of the Cold War. Mariela Castro was careful not to call Saturday's ceremony a wedding.

Suspended Over Chick-ďŹ l-A Students T-shirt

Photo: bangor.k12.pa.us.

(AP) Parents and students say a Pennsylvania school district suspended about 15 students who took to social media during schools hours after two classmates wore Chick-fil-A shirts during a Gay-Straight Alliance event. Bangor Area High School senior Erin Snyder tells The Morning Call newspaper the backlash began after two students appeared wearing the T-shirts last week on the school's morning TV announcement.

Some students felt the shirts were offensive because Chick-fil-A's CEO Dan Cathy made comments against gay marriage in 2012. Offended students who took to Twitter were called to the principal's office. Snyder, who was suspended, says they were told they were being punished for tweeting during school hours and because some of their messages contained obscenities. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania is investigating. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

News Briefs Continued

Texas Lawmakers To Vote On Anti-LGBT Bills

(AP) Mere weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court heard unprecedented arguments about whether the Constitution protects same-sex couples' rights to marry, Texas Republicans are moving to shield the state from abiding by an eventual ruling that may not go their way. Two bills on the issue are scheduled for hot-button House votes Tuesday. The most-watched proposal would bar state, county and local officials from issuing or enforcing a same-sex marriage license, and prevent recognition of gay marriages performed in other states. Also up for debate and passage is a religious objections bill that could give Texas a taste of the uproar similar measures caused when legislatures

approved them recently in Indiana and Arkansas. Rep. Scott Sanford wants to excuse clergy members from presiding over weddings that violate their religious beliefs. The McKinney Republican's bill would also allow religious organizations to refuse to sell goods or provide services to same-sex couples. Those votes come as the Senate prepares, perhaps as early as Monday, to approve its own religious objections measure - this one also shielding clergy members from officiating gay marriages they oppose on religious grounds. The language of the bill is not as controversial, but conservative pastors supporting it lined up last week to decry gay marriage as offensive to God.

Dragons Lead Fight for Gay YPD Releases Video of Alleged Mama Mormon Kids NChelsea Assailant

athedral Agrees to Baptize Gay Couple’s Son

(Watermark) A local couple is moving forward with their son’s baptism after being told that the church was postponing it due to them being gay. Rich McCaffrey and his husband, Eric, met with Bishop Greg Brewer, the Diocese of Central Florida, after a Facebook post stated the church had prevented the McCaffrey’s son, Jack, from being baptized because “the congregation opposed” it. “We received a message from Dean [Tony] Clark asking us to contact him regarding ‘a development’ concerning the [April 19] baptism,” McCaffrey wrote in a Facebook post on May 2. “The Dean shared there were members of the congregation who opposed Jack’s baptism and although he hoped to resolve the conflict, he was not yet able to.” Brewer scheduled a meeting with the McCaffreys on May 7 after a firestorm erupted on social media with people asking for an immediate explanation from the church. McCaffrey released a statement May 8 letting everyone know that the baptism was back on and to take place this summer. It also said that Brewer would be taking an active role in the baptism. “We spoke frankly and openly about the chain of events,” McCaffrey said. “The Bishop acknowledged he learned the Cathedral set a firm date of April 19 for the baptism, but did not support postponing the baptism. He genuinely wanted to learn about us and expressed his apologies for how it had been handled. Most importantly, he was clear he is supportive of Eric and I, two dads, baptizing our son at the Cathedral and offered to be a part of it.”

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

(AP) For these Mormon moms, their "coming out" - as activists - often follows the same storyline. They are fairly traditional members of The Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints. Their sons or daughters announce they are gay. They search high and low for LDS advice about how best to love their children. They find their church's mormonsandgays.org website and plenty of counsel for rearing straight kids, but hear little from their religious leaders about how to help their loved ones navigate the path to adulthood. Their offspring mostly stop attending church. In desperation, the Mormon mothers turn again to the Internet. They find Mama Dragons. A little more than a year ago, eight LDS women got together in a Facebook message group, then created a private page. Now the group has 245 members and grows larger by the day, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Facebook.

And it's not just online. Mama Dragons run support groups for gay Mormons, their families and even allies in other groups, including Family Fellowship, Affirmation and Mormons Building Bridges. They set up a speakers bureau of moms willing to help educate fellow believers and the public. They helped open the Youth Futures Shelter in Ogden for homeless kids. The Dragons open their homes to gay Mormons fleeing their families for fear of retribution or shunning. They invite lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids over for dinner on holidays or anytime the young people feel lonely or, sometimes, suicidal.

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

(EDGE) The NYPD released clear video footage of the man many believe to have been involved in the chair-beating of a gay couple at a Chelsea Restaurant Tuesday. He is being sought by police and remains at large. The assault, which was captured on cell phone video and was first reported by DNAinfo , took place at Dallas BBQ in Chelsea and involved Jonathan Snipes, 32 and his boyfriend Ethan York-Adams, 25. In one video posted to Instagram, an attacker screams anti-gay slurs at the couple before picking up a wooden restaurant chair and clobbering them with it. "A table near us audibly started making pretty gross comments about the two of us like, 'White faggots, spilling drinks. He was calling them faggots all night," Meyers told DNAinfo.com of the attacker. "It's disgusting. It's unbelievable." The attackers left the scene after the incident and are yet to be apprehended by the police. The assailant with the chair is described as a bearded 6'4" 35-year-old man. Anyone with information on the incident that can assist the NYPD in their investigation should contact 1-800-577-TIPS or www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

news briefs

Continued

ederal Judge Orders Atlanta Police to Implement Reforms

(AP) The Atlanta Police Department has been told by a federal judge to implement training that was ordered after a settlement in a lawsuit over a raid on a gay bar. WABE-FM (http://bit.ly/1KMxJDk ) reports one of the attorneys involved in the suits, Dan Grossman, appeared in court Tuesday and said reforms that were ordered after the settlement haven't been implemented. In 2009 police raided the bar and ordered patrons to the floor. An investigation revealed officers lied about what they saw inside the bar and deleted evidence from their phones to obscure what happened. Grossman said among other things the department isn't training officers on protection from illegal search and seizure. City Attorney Robert Godfrey said the department hasn't complied with the settlement but is hoping to resolve the issue. The city settled with the Atlanta Eagle plaintiffs in 2010 for more than $1 million. As

part of that settlement, the city acknowledged it violated the patrons’ constitutional rights and promised to implement court-ordered reforms as part of the APD’s standard operating procedure (SOP), including: • documenting warrantless detentions, frisks and searches; • prohibiting officers from interfering with the public’s right to take photographs and videotape and make audio recordings of police officers and activity; • requiring uniformed officers to always wear clearly visible nametags and identify themselves when asked; • requiring the APD to rule on citizen complaints of police misconduct within 180 days; and • requiring the city of Atlanta to conduct mandatory in-person training for all police officers every two years regarding Fourth Amendment issues and the safe use of firearms.

o-Over Marriage Licenses for Idaho Couples

(AP) Six same-sex couples in northern Idaho who received marriage licenses before state officials say a federal court made such unions legal are being given a unique state-approved opportunity for a do-over. Northern Idaho officials are offering a marriage license application that has the unusual option of selecting already married. The application available only to the six same-sex couples in Latah County who married in early October is intended to allow them to get a new license without denying they're already married. The couples say they'd be lying and could face legal penalties if they filled out a new marriage application and put down anything but married. Events unfolded rapidly on Oct. 10 when the U.S. Supreme Court denied appeals from five

soflagaynews //

states, including Idaho, seeking to retain their bans on same-sex marriage. That prompted lines at county offices throughout the state as same-sex couples sought licenses. Most counties waited for clarification from the Idaho attorney general's office, except Latah County, which issued licenses to six couples that day. The attorney general's office eventually said a final order was needed from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage would no longer be in effect. That didn't happen until Oct. 15. As a result, the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics said the state can't file the six same-sex marriage licenses and certificates from Latah County because on Oct. 10 samesex marriage in Idaho was illegal.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

news bites

by Jillian Melero

lesbian

Athletes Marry Weeks after WNBA Domestic Violence Charges

WNBA players Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson married Friday at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix. The wedding comes within a month of the women being arrested on domestic violence charges in their Phoenix home. Griner’s charges will be dismissed if she completes 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling. "It is never OK for an argument to turn physical," she said in a statement, "This will never happen again, and I take my relationship and my responsibility as a role model seriously.” Johnson wore a gown selected on the TLC series "Say Yes to the Dress." People magazine featured photos of the wedding online. Griner plays for the WNBA defending champion Phoenix Mercury, while Johnson plays for the Tulsa Shock.

Photo: Instagram.

gay

erminally Ill Florida Woman Makes Plea to Rick Scott For Gay Son

Dr. Marie Bristol, ill with scleroderma, has requested to meet with Fla. Governor Rick Scott to discuss LGBT protection on behalf of her gay son. Bristol wrote a letter to Scott asking him to meet with her to discuss supporting and passing the Competitive Workforce Act. “I am a dying woman,” she wrote. “While I would like nothing more than to have my child by my side in these last months God grants to me, I cannot because my son, Douglas, lives and works in another state,” she wrote. “You see, in Florida, depending on where he lives, Douglas could be fired just for being gay. I don’t understand, Governor Scott, why there are protections in some of the counties and not all?” The Competitive Workforce Act would protect LGBT persons against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Dr. Marie Bristol. Youtube.

bisexual

id 12-year-old Commit Suicide because of Bullying?

Nicole Morgan is speaking out about the suicide of her 12 year old daughter Alyssa. Morgan says that Alyssa’s suicide was the result of bullying she received at school after coming out as bisexual. Morgan says Alyssa came out to her family after her 12th birthday and was accepted by her parents, siblings, and grandparents. However, Morgan says despite the family’s support, classmates at Southeast Polk Junior High bullied Alyssa and school officials did not do enough to help. Morgan said the administration's attitudes towards bullied children are to "toughen up." Associate Principal Nathan Ballagh said, "over the last four years our students and staff have stepped up our bullying prevention efforts. A lot of our efforts are led by our students… (they) have really been the driving force and have taken ownership in preventing bullying in our schools."

transgender It’s Time for Mass. Kennedy: Broaden its Trans Protections

U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy is pressing lawmakers in Massachusetts to approve legislation strengthening legal protections for transgender people. Kennedy, a Democrat, said the state lags behind 17 others and Washington, D.C., which have updated public accommodations laws to include transgender people. Former Gov. Deval Patrick, also a Democrat, signed a bill in 2011 protecting transgender people from discrimination in the workplace and housing by adding "gender identity and expression" to the state's civil rights laws. An aide to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said he backs the law signed by Patrick but doesn't support changes to the state's public accommodations law.

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

Rep. Joe Kennedy.

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news local

Gov. Scott Rejects Medicaid Expansion HIV Patients at Risk John McDonald

Wikipedia

! D E T C E J E R State Senator Dwight Bullard (D-Cutler Bay) said Florida Governor Rick Scott should have accepted the U.S. government’s Medicaid expansion program in order to care for the needs of an estimated 800,000 low income Floridians. And that’s bad news for those living with HIV. “When you give someone access to comprehensive healthcare — not just drugs for HIV — they do better,” said Michael Kaplan, President and CEO of AIDS United. In Florida many HIV patients rely on access to the Ryan White HIV program for their medications. But Kaplan said it’s been proven that patients that have access to comprehensive medical care are more likely to live longer, get and stay on treatment, have lower viral loads, and generally have improved health outcomes. Kaplan pointed to Massachusetts as example of a success story noting that by providing comprehensive healthcare to their residents they’ve been able to reduce the new HIV infection rate by 42 percent over the past 5 years. “The South is not seeing the successes,” Kaplan said. “Florida has a huge portion of the epidemic.” He also noted that gay, bi and MSM (men who have sex with men) make up two-thirds of new HIV infections and those statistics are more troubling in communities of color especially young gay men of color. Senator Bullard, a teacher who represents portions of Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier and Hendry Counties in the Florida Senate, spoke with SFGN via telephone last week.

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

When asked his thoughts on the current deadlock in Tallahassee, Bullard said it was unfortunate that a special session was needed. The Florida House and Senate are at odds over how to craft a budget with medical coverage front and center. “I urge Governor Scott to expand Medicaid,” Bullard said.

“When you give someone access to comprehensive healthcare — not just drugs for HIV — they do better.” Michael Kaplan, Pres/CEO Aids United

Scott met with officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. last week but was rebuked by HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell. The pool of resources for low income Floridians is set to expire on June 30. “The federal government should not just completely cut off a federal program for low income families that has been working for years,” Scott complained to the Sun Sentinel. Bullard said there are new models that will help low income families and those would be discussed during the special session, adding the Governor should not be “obtuse” to the idea of accepting federal funding. Scott, meanwhile, is suggesting Florida’s hospitals share what he calls, “record-high profits.”

news election 2016 White House Watch:

Rick Santorum

John McDonald

He’s the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, who finished second in the Republican Party’s 2012 nominating process and rumors abound Rick Santorum may just campaign for the nation’s highest office again. Santorum, 56, is expected to announce his Presidential plans later this month, telling the Politico news organization he will return to his hometown of Butler, Pennsylvania on May 27 to make his decision known. “Taking about what we can do to help strengthen that family structure is going to be certainly part of the campaign,” Santorum said in the interview with Politico’s Nick Gass. Santorum has a history of antagonizing the gay and lesbian community. He has consistently spoken against same-sex marriage and once compared homosexuality to bestiality. A devout and practicing Roman Catholic, Santorum received more than four million votes during his 2012 campaign, including victories in 11 primaries and caucuses. Conventional wisdom suggests he is next in

line for the Republican Party’s nod based on the theory that a candidate waits their turn as did previous nominees John McCain (2008) and Mitt Romney (2012). Santorum’s campaign this go-around appears to be an attempt to recast himself as a fighter for working families. “It’s time to put politics and profits aside and side with the average working American,” Santorum is quoted on his Facebook page. Known for his bruising style in the GOP debates, Santorum has stated America should bomb the terrorist group ISIS “back to the 7th Century.” Santorum and wife Karen, a nurse, have eight children.

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

news cover

Diversity Honors Lights Up Seminole Hard Rock John McDonald

Robert Boo, Deborah Cox, and Stuart Milk. Photo by J.R. Davis.

Leaders in South Florida’s march for equality gathered together Saturday evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Awards were given and attendees enjoyed a fine-seated dinner while being entertained by top notch performers. “Our differences are going to be honored tonight,” said Stuart Milk, the nephew of famed LGBT icon Harvey Milk. And those differences were, with official recognition going to multiple individuals for their commitment to diversity. Those honored included Judy and Dennis Shepard, parents of slain Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard, Billboard chart topping recording artist Deborah Cox, Palm Beach Human Rights Council Founder Rand Hoch, teenage transgender star Jazz Jennings, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge William Thomas, Planned Parenthood CEO Lillian Tamayo, South Beach entertainer extraordinaire Elaine Lancaster, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Dean Trantalis and South Florida Gay News Publisher Norm Kent. “It says something important about who we are as a community here in South Florida,” Milk said of the honorees assembled. “It says that we will continue to recognize and award those that have brought us together, that we will highlight the extraordinary individuals and individual acts that affirm life and humanity.” A total of 350 people attended the plate dinner on the Seminole Reservation in Hollywood, Fla. Many of the guests were fitted in black tie attire, including U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) and event host Craig Stevens, anchor for WSVN’s News 7 Team. New York cabaret singer Joey Arias was the featured performer. Arias, a transgender entertainer, took the show into the audience for interactive bits, asking Stuart Milk’s

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SouthFloridaGayNews

mother, “Can I kiss you?” Milk was all smiles Saturday evening as he introduced honorees and welcomed attendees into the ballroom. The founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation said he was glad to share proceeds raised from the evening with his “amazing” partner, Pride Center at Equality Park and “incredible” sponsor, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. “Our shared vision is coming into reality tonight,” Milk said. “To once a year set aside an event which provides distinguished recognition of people who have made our entire community stronger, more just, more humane and more enlightened.” Few speeches were given from the honorees; the Shepards did mention they were in the minority as Democrats living in Wyoming. “We’re tokens,” Judy said. “When we leave they always ask when we’re coming back.” Dennis was particularly brief, “Matthew was not my gay son. He was my son who happened to be gay.” Milk said the strength of the couple to continue on after the brutal murder of their son was a sign of greatness. “We recognize the great ones who can get up after an unimaginable darkness, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to ensure to that such darkness does not happen again anywhere in the world.”

Jazz Jennings. Photo by J.R. Davis.

news national

Southern ADAP Advocacy Summit Talks about Pharmacy Mandates Sean McShee

The second session of The Southern Regional AIDS Drug HIV specialty pharmacy, John Marangio, described what an Assistance Program (ADAP) Summit in Atlanta on April 10 HIV specialty pharmacy does and what would be lost under a examined a pharmacy issue with some of the Affordable Care mail order pharmacy. Act (ACA) marketplace plans purchased through ADAP (ADAPMarangio emphasized the nursing and clinical perspectives ACA plans). Some of these plans have required customers to of HIV specialty pharmacies. They employ large numbers of purchase pharmaceuticals through clinically trained staff with expertise mail order pharmacies, usually linked in HIV or Hep C. Their customers For people with to drug store chains. could have six or seven co-occurring Large numbers of ADAP clients disease conditions. For healthy people, undetectable viral loads, have begun to transition to ACA plans. the pharmacist functions as human a supply chain approach As of May 2014, about 13,000 national vending machine, but for people with might be the best and ADAP clients had transitioned into complex health issues, the pharmacist cost-effective option. Mail has to be more than that. ADAP-ACA plans. About 2,000 Floridians on ADAP, about 10 percent HIV specialty pharmacies have delivery may provide the of all Floridians on ADAP, had both managers and couriers. anonymity that walking into While case transitioned to ADAP-ACA plans as of the courier delivers the the local pharmacy lacks. March 31, 2015. drugs, the courier can observe the These mail order pharmacies customer’s home surroundings and operate more like a supply chain than a clinical care system. For physical appearance. The case manager coordinates between people with undetectable viral loads, a supply chain approach the pharmacy, the physician, and the customer. This system might be the best and cost-effective option. Mail delivery may allows the pharmacy to contact the customer when adherence provide the anonymity that walking into the local pharmacy problems appear such as the prescription running out, or the lacks. customer leaving his residence. Joey Wynn affirmed the value of mail order under certain This type of intense interaction may cost more, but the conditions, “Mail order is a very good thing for a lot of people desired outcome is a suppressed viral load, not dispensed pills. most of the time.” While some customers may find mail order Marangio described the role of HIV specialty pharmacies as pharmacies a good match, other customers may not. “trying to keep costs down through adherence.” A supply chain approach may not be best for those The ACA has known positive effects. More people now have customers with adherence issues or multiple complex, chronic access to health care. Other effects, both positive and negative, conditions. Requirements to use mail order pharmacies could remain unknown. Two known negative effects have already save money, but may not lead to a suppressed viral load. emerged: Cost “savings” without cost-effectiveness squanders scarce 1. ACA marketplace discrimination (An insurer designing a resources. plan to discourage people with an expensive health condition Requiring ADAP-ACA customers to use mail order from purchasing it) pharmacies bars the use of HIV specialty pharmacies. They 2. Mandated use of mail order pharmacies. People need to evolved to serve those customers needing more than an become aware of both the positive and negative effects of the efficient supply chain. A Registered Nurse working in a local ACA on RWC to inform its reauthorization. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

feature

What Will The Supreme Court Do?

SFGN takes a closer look at the gay marriage cases

By Lisa Keen/Keen News Service

The U.S. Supreme Court has almost certainly made its decision about the right to marry for same-sex couples. The justices met in private conference Friday, May 1, and took a vote. They have until June 30 to issue their decision. Most legal observers who watched or listened to the oral arguments from April 28 in Obergefell v. Hodges, an appeal seeking to strike down bans on same-sex marriages in four states, predict Justice Anthony Kennedy will vote with the court’s four liberal wing and find the bans unconstitutional. A few, like University of California School of Law Professor Erwin Chemerinsky, believe the vote could even be 6 to 3, with Chief Justice John Roberts on board. Those who think Roberts could join a majority to strike down the laws were heartened by a question he posed to the attorney defending Michigan’s ban, John Bursch. “I’m not sure it’s necessary to get into sexual orientation to resolve the case,” said Roberts. “I mean, if Sue loves Joe and Tom loves Joe, Sue can marry him and Tom can’t. And the difference is based upon their different sex. Why isn’t that a straightforward question of sexual discrimination?” If the court decided state bans on same-sex marriage constitute sex discrimination, “then I can promise you that lawyers in almost any case where a law discriminates against gay people will make the argument that the law constitutes unconstitutional sex discrimination,” said Roberta Kaplan, who argued on behalf of Edith Windsor in the case that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). “On the other hand, there is always a bit of a disconnect with this argument, particularly when it’s clear that the law at issue was passed to treat people differently based on their sexual orientation, not their gender.” For instance, Kaplan said she would be surprised if a ruling in Obergefell will stop the passage of the growing number of laws attempting to provide a religious exemption for businesses to discriminate against LGBT people. The impact of those “religious freedom” laws, she said, is going to be “hotly litigated, no matter what.” Many had expected that the Supreme Court might use the Obergefell case to designate what level of judicial scrutiny for courts to use in evaluating laws that disadvantage LGBT people. To date, the high court has used only the easiest level: requiring governments to identify a legitimate rational purpose for the law. And many had hoped the high court would at least designate “heightened scrutiny,” the same as used for laws that discriminate on the basis of sex. But there was almost no discussion in the Supreme Court on April 28 about what level of scrutiny discrimination based on sexual orientation should take. “In part, that is probably because there really is not a lot of legitimate room for debate about the factors that would apply --for example, is there a history of discrimination against gay people,” said Kaplan. The court also seeks to determine whether the characteristic being singled out for discrimination is relevant, whether the

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characteristic is immutable, and whether the group that shares that characteristic is politically vulnerable. But Kaplan said the court may not have discussed the level of scrutiny because “the justices have already decided not to address the issue in Obergefell, similar to their failure to address it in Romer and Windsor.” Interestingly, during oral arguments on California’s Proposition 8 case in 2013, it was Kennedy who said he was “wrestling” with the idea of sex discrimination. But that case was dismissed on a procedural issue, and Kennedy’s authorship of the majority opinion in U.S. v. Windsor found DOMA served “no legitimate purpose.” And Roberts’ seeming willingness to recognize sex discrimination in the context of bans on same-sex marriage stood in stark contrast to his equally blunt comment to same-sex couples’ attorney Mary Bonauto. “My question is you’re not seeking to join the institution, you’re seeking to change what the institution is. The fundamental core of the institution is the opposite-sex relationship and you want to introduce into it a same-sex relationship.” To that remark, Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried said he would have replied, “So what?” “At one time, people thought women were inferior to men intellectually and physically, and Aristotle thought women made no contribution to the genetic component.” said Fried, a U.S. Solicitor General under President Reagan and a former member of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. “They were wrong then, and we soflagaynews //

think we’ve got it right now. If I had been arguing… I’d have said, ‘Maybe that was the definition back then, but it’s the wrong definition of the concept we’re talking about now’.” Jenny Pizer, law and policy project director for Lambda Legal, said that limiting the definition of marriage to only male-female couplings is “a sex discrimination problem right on its face” because it “involves a core sex stereotype that men should seek intimate relationships with women, and vice versa.” And, she noted, many lower courts have already recognized as sex discrimination certain harassment of gay men at work and the denial of spousal benefits to employees with samesex spouses. Among them were federal district court decisions in the California on Proposition 8 case (Perry v. Schwarzenegger) and the federal benefits case (Golinski v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management). Pizer said the majority could be heading toward a conclusion that says a state ban on marriage for same-sex couples is sex discrimination on its face and is based on gender stereotypes. A number of legal observers commenting on last week’s oral argument have been saying much the same thing. For instance, Cornell Law Professor Michael Dorf wrote: “…laws that ban SSM do not merely draw formal distinctions based on sex. They rely on the very sorts of stereotypes about proper sex roles that the modern sex discrimination cases condemn as the central problem with laws that discriminate on the basis of sex. “Just as it’s sex-stereotyping for the state to say a woman can’t be a lawyer because women are supposed to be wives and mothers,” wrote

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Dorf, “so it’s sex-stereotyping for the state to say a woman can’t marry a woman or a man can’t marry a man because men should be with women. Put differently, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is sex discrimination in a substantive, not just a formal sense.” And a ruling like that, said Dorf, would have “broad implications for other state laws and policies that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.” But it’s not clear why Roberts asked the question about sex discrimination. And his question regarding sex discrimination has to be viewed against the backdrop of his dissent in Windsor. There, Roberts prominently stated, “Interests in uniformity and stability amply justified Congress’s decision to retain the definition of marriage that, at that point, had been adopted by every State in our Nation, and every nation in the world.” The “at that point” phrase may say something important, too, especially given Roberts’ subsequent statement in the Windsor dissent that, “The Court does not have before it, and the logic of its [majority] opinion does not decide, the distinct question of whether the States, in the exercise of their ‘historic and essential authority to define the marital relation,’ may continue to utilize the traditional definition of marriage.” The transcripts and audio recording of the oral argument in Obergefell v Hodges is available at supremecourt.gov. (Click on “Oral Arguments” in the black band under the banner, then, on the pull-down menu, choose either “Argument Transcripts” or “Argument Audio.”

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

feature

Quotes from Gay Marriage Supreme Court Arguments Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Excerpts from arguments before the Supreme Court on Tuesday about whether states must allow same-sex couples to marry and whether states must recognize same-sex couples’ marriages performed in other states:

Chief Justice John Roberts, on the institution of marriage: “You’re not seeking to join the institution, you’re seeking to change what the institution is. The fundamental core of the institution is the opposite-sex relationship and you want to introduce into it a same-sex relationship.”

Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy “The word that keeps coming back to me in this case is millennia, plus time. … This definition (of marriage) has been with us for millennia. And it’s very difficult for the court to say ‘Oh well, we know better.’”

Mary Bonauto, representing same-sex couples:

“In terms of the question of who decides, it’s not about the court versus the states. It’s about the individual making the choice to marry and with whom to marry, or the government.”

Justice Samuel Alito, to supporters of same-sex marriage:

John Bursch, representing states that ban same-sex marriage:

“If this court ensconces in the Constitution a new definition of marriage and it reduces the rate that oppositesex couples stay together, bound to their children, because of that different understanding, even a 1 percent change … is many, many children.”

“Suppose we rule in your favor in this case and then after that, a group consisting of two men and two women apply for a marriage license. Would there be any ground for denying them a license?”

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, representing the federal government:

Associate Justice Elena Kagan: “It’s hard to see how permitting samesex marriage discourages people from being bonded with their biological children.”

“Gay and lesbian people are equal. They deserve equal protection of the laws, and they deserve it now.”

Kennedy:

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Roberts: “Same-sex couples say, of course, we understand the nobility and the sacredness of the marriage. We know we can’t procreate, but we want the other attributes of it in order to show that we, too, have a dignity that can be fulfilled.”

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“It’d simply be a matter of time until they would in effect be recognizing that within the state, because we live in a very mobile society and people move all the time. In other words, one state would basically set the policy for the entire nation.”

Douglas HallwardDriemeier, representing same-sex couples:

“These petitioners have built their lives around their marriages, including bringing children into their families, just as opposite-sex couples have done. But the non-recognition laws undermine the stability of these families, though the states purport to support such stability.”

Joseph Whalen, associate Solicitor General for Tennessee:

Roberts, to the proponents of gay marriage: “If you prevail here, there will be no more debate. I mean, closing of debate can close minds, and it will have a consequence on how this new institution is accepted. People feel very differently about something if they have a chance to vote on it than if it’s imposed on them by the courts.”

Roberts, on the question of forcing states that ban same-sex marriage to recognize those unions formed in other states:

“If Sue loves Joe and Tom loves Joe, Sue can marry him and Tom can’t. And the difference is based upon their different sex. Why isn’t that a straightforward question of sexual discrimination?”

SouthFloridaGayNews

“Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky and other states with a traditional definition of marriage have done nothing here but stand pat. They have maintained the status quo. And yet other states have made the decision, and it certainly is their right and prerogative to do so, to expand the definition, to redefine the definition, and then to suggest that other states that have done nothing but stand pat now must recognize those marriages imposes a substantial burden on the state’s ability to self-govern.”

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

column publisher’s editorial

Photos by J.R. Davis.

Diversity Honors Celebrates South Florida’s LGBT Community Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

Each year, when SFGN publishes its OUT 50 issue, we recognize those persons whose lives have illuminated the LGBT community. In our vast, gay-friendly, tri-county community, there are so many people who do so much good it is never easy limiting the selection process. Last week, the Pride Center at Equality Park and the Harvey Milk Foundation engaged even a tougher task. Uniting three counties, Palm Beach, Broward, and MiamiDade, they chose to recognize a dozen or so individuals who have distinguished themselves with contributions to the LGBT community. The flawless program was conducted at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the premises ever so generously donated

by the Seminole Tribe. More than 350 persons came together in a celebratory Oscar-like affair to watch Cirque Dreams perform acrobatic acts and Joey Arias sing some soul-like numbers. The name Harvey Milk crosses geographical divides, and the event came together because of generous donors like Mark Griffis, and the hard work of Michael Goodman’s public relations firm. So many did so much, it is hard to name them all, but Whole Foods provided spectacular floral centerpieces, the Serendipity Foundation financing, and local gay media entities like Metro Media Works, Hot Spots and SFGN donor tables. The main honoree was Judy and Dennis Shepard, parents of Matthew, slain almost 20 years ago now on a cornfield

Stuart Milk and Robert Boo stand with Matthew Shepard's parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard.

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in Laramie, Wyoming. They have carried their son’s message for nearly two decades, fighting for human rights and equality. Judy’s 2009 memoir, “The Meaning of Matthew,” catalogues her journey through life, turning grief into action, after losing her son. The piece I did two weeks ago celebrating her life is online at www.SFGN. com So too has Stuart Milk, the director of the Harvey Milk Foundation, fought to keep his uncle’s name alive. His work as a global ambassador for human rights has won him numerous awards and accolades, but more importantly, has kept the fight for LGBT equality alive worldwide. In his own right, Stuart Milk has received awards and honors not just from our White House, but also in Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Canada. The ceremonies at the Hard Rock were unifying, but there were so many things going on, and so many people being honored, it was hard to do them all justice. Let me take a moment to share with you the background of some of our best and brightest, because their work is entitled to public recognition. Due to the length of the program, these honorees had to accept their awards simply with a smile, photo op, and a wave. They did not even get to make a 30 second acceptance speech. So let me say a few things for them. Each of the chosen few has made their name as gifted artists, in advocacy, or in the community. As Stuart Milk noted, they have lived “different lives and pursued different careers, but they are united by passion; and the vision that our lives can make a difference.” Deborah Cox is a Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter who has become a gay icon with her soulful dance anthems. Her perseverance for LGBT rights won her the ‘Civil Rights Award’ from the New York Senate in 2007 and the California State Senate Award in 2014.

SouthFloridaGayNews

Rand Hoch founded the Palm Beach Human Rights Council in 1988. His tenacity led to laws protecting the LGBT community in Palm Beach both in the workplace and housing. Hoch became the inspirational force that have led to more than 85 laws and policies extending equal right to LGBT Floridians. Hoch was also named as one of SFGN’s OUT 50 in 2014. Jazz Jennings may only be 14 years old, but she is the co founder of the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation, and will soon actually be seen on her own television reality show. Her candor and transparency has led to her being featured on national television shows, along with an Oprah documentary. She was recognized in 2013 by GLAAD and TIME Magazine. Jennings also won SFGN’s Achievement in Excellence Award for 2014. Elaine Lancaster, an acclaimed entertainer, has helped raise millions of dollars for charitable causes over the past 20 years. A female impersonator who has her own cosmetics line, Elaine, a/k/a James Davis, has been a political activist, while also starring on “The Real Housewives of Miami.” Lillian A. Tamayo is the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, whose stewardship of the organization has broadened both its clinical and educational service to diverse and emerging Florida populations. A past recipient of the Compass Leadership Award and a Woman of Valor from the National Council of Jewish Woman, Lillian has also been recognized by the ACLU and served on the Knight Foundation’s Community Advisory Board. Tamayo was also named as one of SFGN’s OUT 50 in 2014. Judge William Thomas has gained distinction as a Circuit Court jurist, but earned his mettle as an assistant state and federal public defender in the southern district of Florida. He has been an advocate for legal reforms in both institutions,

Deborah Cox and Jazz Jennings.

and has served with dignity and grace on the state bench, in the civil, criminal and juvenile divisions. Dean Trantalis began fighting for human rights in the 1980’s in South Florida, serving in roles as the Co Chair of the United Citizens for Human Rights, eventually emerging to chair both the Dolphin Democrats and Americans for Equality. He was a dominating force in pioneering Broward County human rights referendums, and has now been elected and re-elected to the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, where he now serves as the District 2 member. His boutique Wilton Manors law firm serves many civil needs in the LGBT community. Trantalis was also named as one of SFGN’s OUT 50 in 2014. This cross-section of individuals were all award recipients of the Inaugural Diversity Honors Event at the Hard Rock last weekend. There were also two surprise honorees, whose names were not on the program receiving the first Harvey Milk ‘Lifetime Achievement Award.’ Joey Arias is an internationally known cabaret performer and drag artist, who provided live entertainment during the show, as he has for over 30 years in New York City. Recognized and celebrated for renditions of Billie Holiday and multiple other personalities, Arias has performed with Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Zumanity’ and on European as well as American stages, gaining fame as a “demigod of the demimonde.” Introducing the other one, Craig Stevens, the WSVN newscaster who was acting as the emcee for the evening, referred to the lifetime honoree as a “criminal justice and civil rights activist, who you know as a publisher, radio talk show host, and one of

the leading advocates of medical marijuana in the United States.” Stevens added, “you may love him, you may hate him, but you all know him.” Then my name was called, and flabbergasted, I came forward and accepted the award, but in a moment of purposeful torture, both Stuart Milk and Robert Boo, the Executive Director of the Pride Center, shut off the microphone and barred me from talking. Shocking! If I could only describe the agony; the monstrous frustration then and there consuming= my soul- denied a microphone, a platform. Et tu, Brutus? I do know this. Had I an opportunity to speak, which this paper now affords me, I would have made it short, simple, and sweet. You win awards not by knocking over windmills yearly, but my plowing the fields daily. “If Athens shall appear great to you,” Pericles wrote, “consider that her glories were won simply by good men doing righteous deeds daily.” Within the LGBT community, we have all met with adversities, and still do. We rise to these challenges. The life we once lived in the shadows has come to an end. We are now illuminated under the broad lights of the Hard Rock Hotel. The moral of the story is that if a man stands by his convictions and there abides, eventually the whole world will come around to them. I guess I have now lived long enough to learn my youthful indiscretions have become my lifelong achievements. Gay rights and cannabis law reform. They are not just for social outcasts anymore. Eat your heart out, Nancy Grace. soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

community announcement Hot Bachelors and Bachelorettes Put Up First Dates for Charity John McDonald

An auction for charity is taking place May 20 at Village Pub in Wilton Manors. Eligible men and women shall present gifts and raise money for the charity of their choice. It all intends to be a good time, say organizers. SFGN’s entry into this elite field is Edwin Neimann, an advertising executive. Neimann, a gay man, comes with an impressive prize package. The 6-foot-2 Iowa native’s itinerary includes a one hour couple’s massage courtesy of Grand Resort and Spa, a $100 gift card to Café Vico 3 in Fort Lauderdale and two movie tickets at The Classic Gateway Theatre.

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// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

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SouthFloridaGayNews

The charity auction is hosted by Deliver the Dream, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help families heal. At the Village Pub some of South Florida’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes are scheduled to take the stage Wednesday evening around 7:30 p.m. They are being described as brave for doing so and will offer their own unique and distinctive prize packages. Sponsors include WalMart, Jaguar, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Isle Casino, Iberia Bank, PNC Bank, SFGN and many more. This is the third year for the auction, according to a press release from Deliver the Dream.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

opinion letters to the editor

Reader Blasts: “How Can SFGN Support Log Cabin Republicans” Letter Defends gay Republicans, Reagan and more

Dear Sir: Ronald Reagan never ignored the AIDS crisis, that is an on-going Goebbels-like lie from the Gay Left, aka Gay Gestapo. The writer of this letter is telling bald-faced and deeply rooted lies that have been perpetuated by hate-filled gay activists masquerading as civil rights activists for four decades now. Ronald and Nancy Reagan visited their dying friend, Rock Hudson, when he had AIDS. They were also the first First Couple who had a gay man and his partner stay overnight in the White House Guest Quarters adjacent to the White House Residence where Ron and Nancy slept. The Gay man’s name is Jim Nabors, aka “Gomer Pyle,” who was invited every year to sing Christmas Carols at the official Lighting of the White House Christmas Tree. Mrs. Reagan also has a lot of gays as senior staff managing his Presidential Museum tours and Library upkeep. Bruce Jenner is a regular visitor. As far as the Miami Log Cabin Fundraiser is concerned, it was attended by many gay-friendly GOP Clubs, including Young Americans for Liberty, Miami Young Republicans, the Latin American GOP Club, Rand Paul 2016, Inner-City Black Republicans, the Lauderdale Beach Republican Club. It was a wonderful Hispanic gala. And the special speaker was Miami GOP freshman Congressman Carlos

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SouthFloridaGayNews

Curbelo, who said the Miami Gay GOP Club set the standard for all MiamiDade Clubs to emulate. Carlos danced with some of the gay Republicans, too. In fact, during the week leading up to the highly successful fundraiser, triumphant Miami LCR and Log Cabin Republicans - Florida members were quoted in the Financial Times of London, the BBC NEWS, the BBCSpain, the National Journal, 103Nueve Radio from El Salvador, Politico, the Orlando News telecast, the Palm Beach Post, the Miami Herald, in addition to 20 plus other on-line publications. Certainly, the group is thankful for SGFN Publisher Norm Kent in objectively acknowledging that a substantial portion of the gay community votes Republican. After all, Rick Scott narrowly carried the statewide Gay vote in 2010, and captured nearly 30 percent in 2012. Apparently, Christopher Gardner, who wrote this deranged letter to the editor, is a close-minded perennial bigot who loathes diversity and the one-out-of-three gay people who almost consistently vote Republican. He can certainly do better if he chooses to search for the truth, and not rely on the lies he likely has a death grip on to sustain his bigotry and intolerance of his fellow gays.....just like to limp-wristed Joseph Goebbels.

— Matthew V. Tsien

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

column sound bite q

Sound Bite Q

Make Your Pains Go Away

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

Neel Amin, MD

Tom Macek, MD

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

Welcome to Sound Bite Q, the column that thanks advertisers who support SFGN. We invite you to support them, because without their outreach to us, we would not be here to reach out to you. More importantly, local papers only survive in our busy world because we are all connected

Getting older makes your body a little bit less pliable and flexible. You wake up in the morning and find that parts of your body that you did not even know existed are sore and hurt. Well, Dr. Neel Amin and Dr. Tom Macek of American Pain Experts want you to know that you do not have to live with pain. At their beautiful office in the Imperial Point Medical Arts Pavilion, at 6333 N. Federal Hwy in Fort Lauderdale, they see patients every day who desire relief from all kinds of aches and pains. In just the last ten years or so, the technology and techniques used for alleviating pain have progressed so far that Dr. Amin and Dr. Macek are able to reduce a patient’s pain in most cases by 60–80 percent, and sometimes by 100 percent! “The X-ray machines are better now and the techniques for procedures we do such as radiofrequency ablations and epidural injections have come so far,” Dr. Macek say. “The downtimes after the procedures are next to nothing, and the risks involved with

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to each other. For me, this column does more than encourage you to patronize one of SFGN’s advertisers. It lets you know a little more about our friends and enables you to feel a little more comfortable using their services with the limited dollars you have.

the procedures are almost zero.” “When a patient comes to us, they let us know where their pain is. Our next step is to diagnose the precise source of the pain, be that an entrapped nerve, a herniated disc, a joint, or any other structure that can generate pain,” said Dr. Macek. The doctors then utilize painless procedures to eliminate the pain. Dr. Amin and Dr. Macek also believe it’s important to address the mental health component of pain. “It is difficult to manage a patient’s pain if their depression and/or anxiety are not controlled, so we make sure to address any mood disturbances a patient might be experiencing.” A concerned and caring staff at American Pain Experts, along with a soothing environment, makes you feel at ease. “The greatest satisfaction is hearing a patient tell us how they have gotten their quality of life back and how they don’t have to live on pain medications any longer,” Dr. Amin said.

SouthFloridaGayNews

Both physicians are double board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management, and both graduated from the University of Washington, the leading program for Pain Management in the United States. The office accepts Medicare and most of the major insurance plans. While presently operating their practice out of the Imperial Point Medical Arts Pavillion, the doctors are planning to move to a new state-of-the-art facility at 1164 East Oakland Park Boulevard this fall. For more information or to schedule an appointment, simply call 954-678-1074.

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D R . M INNA S ELUB A G P H C LLOWS

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ith gay and lesbian marriage being legalized in Florida, the question arises: What if these couples want children? Aside from the option of adopting, there is the option of using Florida Institute for Reproductive Sciences and Technologies (FIRST), a fertility center run by Dr. Minna Ruth Selub, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. Dr. Selub went to Smith college which was an all women’s school where she became interested in women’s reproductive issues. She chose that specialty instead of obstetrics, finished her residency in 1984 and attended the prestigious Duke University to do the subspecialty training. She then moved to Miami in 1991, where she worked for 2 years. After, she worked in the medical practice at UM and when it expanded in Broward, took her talents there. Although she said the South Florida practice were very liberal, she heard of stories of previous patients who dealt with rejection. “The doctors were not doing single women insemination or required the patients get married,” Minna said. “I’m from the North East. I found it shocking because I was more user-friendly. I may have established a rep for single women and after that, people came out as often as now.” In short, Dr. Selub has been a doctor for 31 years, particularly in the field for infertility patients for 27 years. She opened her private practice in 1998, where she has worked for 13 years. Dr. Selub was inspired by another event. “In 1995, my stepbrother died of AIDS right before treatments became available. I met my stepbrother once or twice, and we didn’t even know he was gay,” she said. “He came out and my stepfather was really OK with it…we met his partner who my stepfather didn’t even know he was living with and my mother especially was just shocked with how beautiful a relationship they had and he

took care of him [her stepbrother] until his last day. When gestational surrogacy became a more common way of reproduction, and using surrogates and commissioning them, it was something that I was really, really comfortable with because I knew that if my stepbrother could have done it, he would have. So, that was one of the things that inspired me in that direction.” She also added that her uncle had a lifelong partner. “We were always very comfortable with gay couples because of that,” Dr. Selub explained. About 10-20 percent of her patients are gay or lesbian couples who want children. Regarding what she thinks of people who are more close minded about this, Dr. Selub said , “I think that people are entitled to their opinions, but I don’t think people should…limit reproductive rights for another person. …those kids are no different than heterosexual kids... they actually have exposure. My youngest son is 14 and has a very good friend whose parents are lesbians. I think the kid came to my house…the kid told him that he had two moms. My son said, ‘That’s ok! That’s what my mom does.’…he doesn’t experience any bullying or teasing because of it.”

Dr. Selub’s practice is located at 2300 N. Commerce Parkway, Suite 313 in Weston. For more information, visit http://www.firstivf.net/ or call (954) 217-3456. There is also an office in Hialeah at 2300 West 84th St, Suite 500. This content was sponsored by First IVF.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

feature

Submitted photo.

Aqua Girl Celebrates its Sixteenth Year This Weekend Nicole Wiesenthal

The largest charity women’s week in the country will be celebrating its sixteenth year starting Wednesday. The week, which will run from May 13 to May 17, will feature eleven events like karaoke, pool parties and cocktail receptions. All of the proceeds for the events, which range in price from free to $85, will go to the Aqua Foundation for Women. The foundation is a not-for-profit whose goal is to serve as funding for LGBT wellness and equality in South Florida through grants, scholarships and initiatives. This year’s theme, according to Tommy Gomez, the marketing manager for the Aqua Foundation, is comic books. “This year, we have re-invigorated our identity with a fresh, new, comic book inspired theme,” Gomez said. “Our program book is a comic book; our welcome center is an ‘Aqua Cave,’ and our VIP pass is called the ‘Superhero Pass.’” The most anticipated events, Gomez said, are the performance of Tamara Sky, a female DJ who performed at Donald Trump’s birthday party, and Shannon DeFreitas, a body-painting artist who will paint models on stage and will also, later, be painting audience members. He also said he also expects the pool party to be a big hit.

“Splash, taking place on Friday, is free this year, and we’ve already reached capacity,” he said. “We expect to see a lot of new faces who perhaps haven’t been able to afford our events in the past.” Chelsya Saunders, who has volunteered with Aqua Girl for five years, also looks forward to the pool party. “It’s probably the best event that happens,” she said. “You get all of these people coming out to the party in their bathing suits. Everybody looks great. The music is awesome. It would be my favorite part of volunteering.” Lisette Gomez, the Aqua Foundation volunteer co-chair, said this year’s Aqua Girl will be different from other years because it is more organized. “I like to call it controlled chaos,” she said. “Last year, we hired a company to handle all of our logistics for set up and breakdown at most of our events. Now our volunteers can focus more on improving our guest experience.” Lisette said she believes this year will be the best yet. Saunders said volunteering is her favorite part about the event, and she hopes to meet many new volunteers and visitors. “It’s more than about the women,” she said. “It’s about involving the whole community. Everyone is welcome.”

ON STANDS NOW! Check out

The Mirror

Winter 2015 26

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

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WINTER 2015 • Vol.

Winter Arts Guide Ed GUIdE bEGINS ON PAGE 21

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SEX POSITIVE CULTURE CHALLENGES ETHICS

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A RT I NSTITUTES T EAM M EDIA P ROJECT C OLLABORATES WITH P OVERELLO

mall non-profit organizations like Poverello operate in an increasingly competitive financial environment. There are many worthy charities and donors have the difficult task of deciding to whom they will give their valuable time and money. In order to remain financially viable, Poverello must continually seek new sources of income and innovative ways to encourage people to give. Sophisticated tools like filmed public service announcements, slick print ads and TV commercials are typically beyond the reach of charities like Poverello. Therefore, we are very pleased to announce that we recently received a boost to both our moral and our power to encourage people to donate when the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale agreed to Poverello’s request for free media art services. Poverello was chosen to be the recipient of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale’s Team Media Project 2015. This is an 11 week program, during which a large group of entrepreneurial and creative cinematography students will document the inner workings of Poverello. The films (slated to be syndicated via Poverello social media networks online)

will show our local community, and those abroad, how our many facilities work and how the Food Pantry gives life-saving, nutritious and medically necessary food to people living with HIV/AIDS. The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is committed to thinking globally and acting locally. The Media Arts departments have a long history of supporting charitable organizations like Poverello. In these Team Media Project’s, students collaborate with local government agencies and nonprofits to meet their media needs. Staffed with digital filmmaking, video production and visual effects students, the goal of the Team Media course is to combine the classroom with the "real life" experience of a working project. Award winning productions have been produced by the Art Institute for the Humane Society, the American Red Cross, United Way, the Wildlife Care Center and many others. The Team Media class plans, writes, shoots and edits a project during the college quarter. In this collaborative project they will work with the Poverello team to film footage of volunteer activities, service provision and client testimonials.

Once the Art Institute chooses a client, such as Poverello, the creative services, professional gear and crew labor are donated to the organization free of charge. This is of particular importance for an organization like Poverello where we must constantly monitor our spending. Every dollar saved represents food that can be purchased to feed needy people with HIV/AIDS in Broward County. Only those expenses requested by Poverello that are outside the group’s project budget are charged to the client such as hard drives, props, specialty gear or copies of the final video on DVD. These expenses are typically kept at a minimum. Poverello is honored and privileged to be the recipients of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale’s Team Media Project this year. We have already begun filming exciting footage which documents the important work we do. We hope readers of SFGN will soon see professional quality public service announcements, short films or other media art which highlights Poverello and the important role we play in the Fort Lauderdale community.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

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2005: On July 20 Canada became the first country, outside of Europe, to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act which provided a genderneutral marriage definition. Court decisions, starting in 2003, had already legalized same-sex marriage in eight out of ten provinces and one of three territories, whose residents comprised about 90% of Canada's population. Before passage of the Act, more than 3,000 same-sex couples had already married in those areas. Most legal benefits commonly associated with marriage had been extended to cohabiting same-sex couples since 1999. The Civil Marriage Act was introduced by Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal minority government in the Canadian House of Commons on February 1, 2005 as Bill C-38. It was passed by the House of Commons on June 28, 2005, by the Senate on July 19, 2005, and it received Royal Assent the following day. On December 7, 2006, the House of Commons effectively reaffirmed the legislation by a vote of 175 to 123, defeating a motion of the Conservative minority government to examine the matter again. This was the third vote supporting samesex marriage taken by three Parliaments under three Prime Ministers in three different years. 2010: On August 30 Fidel Castro gave a rather candid and surprising interview to a Mexican reporter touching on various issues, his health, his nemesis, the Internet, world economy and terrorism. But, in what was the most stunning part of the interview, he surprisingly apologized for the mistreatment of homosexuals during his tenure. He described it as one of his most serious mistakes. He did not deny that homosexuals were forcibly marginalized from society, arrested, and sent to hard labor. He admitted that those were actions of grave injustice. After the revolution homosexuals became scapegoats since they were considered to be against the new regime. According to Castro, he himself failed to address and correct the issue. He claimed that the responsibility was his alone. Ironically, it is also widely known that Fidel had several long time friends who were, and are, gay. In Cuba homosexuality was decriminalized in 1990 and since 2008 socialized medicine covers sex change operations.

1682: The Province of Pennsylvania, a Quaker colony, enacts legislation that makes sodomy by ‘ any person’ a non-capital offense. It is the first American colony to show such ‘ leniency.’ 30

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SouthFloridaGayNews

2005, Canada became the ﬁrst country, outside of Europe, to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act.

1942: The U.S. military issues further official prohibition against homosexuals in the armed forces.

1948: The Kinsey Institute publishes its ground-breaking study of sexual behavior in American men. "My Old Kentucky Home"

is a song written by Stephen Foster. It was published as "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" in January 1853. It is believed that Foster took inspiration from Harriett Beecher Stowe’s 1851 bestseller Uncle Tom’s Cabin and hoped to exploit its popularity. In Foster's sketchbook, the song was titled "Poor Uncle Tom, Good Night" and each verse ended with the line "Den poor Uncle Tom, good night.” The song described originally an everyday scene on a slave plantation and was a beloved song in minstrel shows. It became the official state song of Kentucky on March 19, 1928, by an act of the Kentucky legislature. In 1986, Japanese students visiting the Kentucky General Assembly sang the song as a gesture of respect, but Carl Hines (D-Louisville), the only black state representative at the time, was quoted as saying that the lyrics "convey connotations of racial discrimination that are not acceptable." Within days, Hines sponsored House Resolution 159, which revised the lyrics to amend the second line of the first verse from: “Tis summer, the darkies are gay” to “Tis summer, the people are gay,” for all official state functions involving the performance of the song. It is surprising that nobody in Kentucky has put forth a resolution to also remove the word gay. Hallmark after all did just that. For the Christmas Season 2013 Hallmark changed the words of one of its holiday keepsake ornaments from: “Don we now our gay apparel” to “Don we now our FUN apparel.” in the song “Deck The Halls.” 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.

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CONTACT Jeff Stubins Realtor (305) 389 - 0601 • Email: jstubins@stubins.com soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

lifestyle photos J.R. Davis

Diversity Honors Sponsored and hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Saturday nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innaugural Diversity Honors Awards Gala to benefit the Pride Center and the Harvey Milk Foundation was a glittering community whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-who gathering of more than 350 attendees, honoring nearly a dozen local and national activists, humanitarians and policymakers for their efforts to achieve support for diversity and equality around the world.

PHOTOS COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1. Cirque Dreams performer opens program; 2. Guests dress to impress at the event; 3. Diversity Honoree Rand Hoch; 4. (From L) Honorees Dennis & Judy Shepard with Pride Center CEO Robert Boo; 5. Joey Arias with SFGN Publisher and Honoree Norm Kent; 6. Master of Ceremonies Craig Stevens, WSVN Anchor; 7. Robert Boo and Harvey Milk Foundation President Stuart Milk with honoree Judge William Thomas; 8. Honorees (L-R) Lillian Tamayo, Elaine Lancaster (James Davis) and Commissioner Dean Trantalis. 9. (L-R) Honorees Doboarah Cox and Jazz Jennings; 10. (L-R) Kitty Meow, Nikki Adams, and Ericha Lichter; 11. (L-R) Brenda Hartley with her wife Janette Delgado.

3 32

5 // 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

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lifestyle food

BBQ-Tips The best and not so best

Rick Karlin

s there anything better (or messier) than good barbecue? Whether you prefer ribs with meat that drops off the bone, tender brisket, chicken or pulled pork, ‘cue satisfies a primal urge. Before we go any farther, let’s define what barbecue is not. It is not meat grilled and slathered in sauce. That’s what your father made in the backyard. Rather true barbecue is cooked slow and low over a smoldering wood fire. Barbecue sauce should be added at the table and sauces vary from region to region. Just like other religion, no

Smoke BBQ 8 E. Atlantic Ave Delray Beach 561-330-4236 EatBBQnow.com

In looking for a pit master, the owners of Smoke searched the globe and came up with a winner, literally. Bryan Tyrell has been on the team that captured the American Royal (the World Series of barbeque) Championship Team. He has developed a menu that features the best barbecue I’ve ever had, not just in South Florida, but anywhere. Start off with the chicken wings. Get the buffalo style sauce, on the side, if you must, but it truly isn’t necessary. Another great starter option is the homemade potato chips dusted with Smoke’s BBQ rub. The pulled chicken lettuce wraps, while good, aren’t the best way to enjoy Smoke’s pulled chicken. However, the fried parmesan Brussels sprouts are perfection, either as a light app or a side dish. For the full experience, I recommend ordering one of the platter combos. There’s enough for two (if you’re willing to share). The rib and chicken combo, serves up a half slab of baby backs just shy of falling off the

bone, and a choice pulled pork or smoked turkey breast (one taste of the turkey, and that stuff from the deli counter will never satisfy you again). The rib and brisket combo offers up a plentiful serving of moist, flavorful beef alongside the pork ribs. Of course, smaller appetites can opt for any of the meats solo or on a sandwich, nestled between layers of a bun just tough enough to handle the meat. Add a squirt or two of the sweet, thick sauce and you’ve entered BBQ nirvana. Your best side dish options (if you have room) are the tater tots, baked beans or the aforementioned sprouts. If you can fit in some dessert, your top bets are the chocolate flourless cake, or banana coconut cream pudding, both served in Mason jars. If you prefer to stay closer to home, there are a number of barbecue options in the area. Here’s a run-down of some of the most popular, which doesn’t always equate with the best.

Another no frills spot, but this one’s not quite as successful. An adequate, though not abundant amount of slightly dry and tough pulled pork graced a cheap-ass bun. Another trip with a serving of pulled chicken

Dixie Pig Bar-B-Q 4495 N. Dixie Oakland Park 954-772-5977

was a little more flavorful. Mac and cheese tastes as if it was under a heat lamp for too long. This place does get points for being one of the few places to offer Brunswick stew, a Carolina favorite.

When it comes to execution and variety, Red Cow wins hands down. Not many barbecue spots serve brunch or the spectrum of options this place does. Standout starters include the chicken wings (which could serve as a meal), available a number of ways; best bets are the garlic honey or maple bacon glazed versions. I’m also a sucker for smoked salmon deviled eggs. If you’re looking for a lighter meal (then why you at a BBQ spot?), the chopped salad is a good way to sample the meats. There is also a sweet watermelon

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soflagaynews //

Jack’s Bar-B-Q Smokehouse 500 E Oakland Park Blvd. Oakland Park 954-567-9595

salad with jalapeno vinaigrette. In addition to the expected fare, Red Cow also serves up beef ribs, good for those who don’t eat pork or want to feel like Wilma Flintstone. The shepherd’s pie features beef brisket in gravy with a baked mashed potato crust on top. For vegetarians (in addition to salads) there’s the “No Meat” combo offering a choice of any side items. Among which the best bets are the sweet potato grits and creamy mac and cheese with a crunchy topping.

pastrami. How good is it? There’s a limit of two orders per person for the sandwich, served on rye bread with coleslaw. The best side dish is the out of this world cornbread (available plain or with bits of jalapeno) studded with kernels of sweet corn.

Driving by, if the cloud pouring out of the outdoor smoker doesn’t get your attention, the aroma certainly will. Sadly, nothing lives up to that initial impression. The atmosphere is that of a prison cafeteria. Surly counter servers dish out your order while you stand

SouthFloridaGayNews

Red Cow 1025 N. Federal, Fort Lauderdale 954-652-1524 RedCowFTL.com

Blue Willy’s Barbecue 1386 S. Federal, Pompano Beach 954-224-6120

There’s no web site, which matches this no-frills place. Walk up to the counter, place your order, grab a seat at a picnic table and wait till it’s time to pick up your order. You must go on a Thursday. That’s the only day that they serve their phenomenal homemade

Red Cow and Blue Willy's: Facebook. Smoke BBQ, Jack's Bar-B-Q, and Dixie Pig: Submitted Photos.

one kind is better than the other, it’s simply a matter of preference. In the Carolinas, sauces tend to be vinegar based, and in North Carolina, mustard is the primary ingredient. Most sauces are tomato based, whether sweet and thick, as in Texas or Kansas City or spicy as in Louisiana. I was introduced to my favorite spot for the ‘cue by Denise Richetti during the Delray Beach Savor Our City culinary tour (www.SavorOurCity.com). It’s a bit of a drive up to Delray, but well worth it.

and wait. Pulled pork was stringy and dry. The sauce bottle was so sticky it practically welded itself to my hand. I’ve had better baked beans out of the can and the mac and cheese was so dried out it was crunchy.

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F O R

SFGNITES

T H E

J.W. Arnold

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THU

THEATER

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5/14

O F

M A Y

1 4

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“Anything Goes” closes out the Broadway Across Fort Lauderdale season this weekend with old fashioned, toe-tapping musical numbers.

Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach, opens “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” by Lanie Robertson. Just four months before her death, the great Billie Holliday takes the stage at a watering hole in Philadelphia, where she relates the hard knocks story of her life and triumphantly shares more than a dozen songs. Tracey Conyer Lee stars as the legendary Lady Day. Catch this splendid production through June 7. Tickets are $62 at PalmBeachDramaworks.org.

FRI

MUSIC

5/15

Famed South Beach promoter Edison Farrow of SoBe Social Club is also the impresario behind The Cabaret South Beach, 233 12th St. in Miami Beach, bringing some of the hottest names to the club’s intimate stage. Tonight, Tito Puente, Jr. performs with his Latin jazz ensemble for one show at 8 p.m. Puente will perform selections from his album, “Got Mambo?,” as well as his upcoming release. Tickets are $45 with a two drink minimum. For info, go to TheCabaretSouthBeach.com.

SAT ART

5/16 SUN

Tonight is a great night to take to the streets of Wilton Manors. On the third Saturday of the month, businesses along Wilton Drive stay open and display works by local artists. Stop by the Stonewall Museum & Archives – Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive and check out photographer Carolyn Scherer’s fascinating exhibit, “Living in Limbo: Lesbian Families in the Deep South.” This collection put a face on Birmingham’s overlooked lesbian community. Info at StonewallNationalMuseum.org.

Credit: Jeremy Daniel

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THEATER

5/17 MON FILM

The Broadway Across Fort Lauderdale season comes to a close tonight with the final performance of “Anything Goes” today at 2 p.m. at the Broward Center. The toe-tapping, tap dancing Cole Porter musical about a madcap trans-Atlantic cruise features gangsters and molls, wealthy heiresses and handsome heroes in this Tony Award-winning revival. Spoiler alert: The show has a happy ending and the guy eventually does gets the girl. Tickets start at $34.75 at BrowardCenter.org. soflagaynews //

5/18 TUE

Monday is a great night to take in a movie. Head down to The Classic Gateway, 1214 E. Sunrise Blvd., for “Welcome to Me,” starring “Saturday Night Live” alum Kristen Wiig and James Marsden. The dramedy tells the story of a woman with Borderline Personality Disorder who wins the lottery, quits her psychiatric meds and starts her own talk show a la Oprah. Her dirty laundry gets broadcast as both a form of therapy and exhibitionism. For show times and tickets, go to ClassicGateway.com.

SouthFloridaGayNews

NIGHTLIFE

5/19

The gays love their show tunes. Well, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” tonight at Village Pub, 2283 Wilton Drive. VJ Bill Hallquist will be playing all your favorite Broadway musicals and you’re invited to sing along. From “Cabaret” and “Oklahoma” to “The Wiz” and “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” he’s got just about everything and you’re encouraged to sing along, beginning at 8 p.m. It’s happy hour through 9 p.m. and drinks are 2-4-1. For information, go to VillagePubWM.com.

mario cantone ON THE WAY TO BROADWAY With music, comedy and a kickin’ band, Mario Cantone is On the Way to Broadway in his new show that features his irreverent humor and wickedly funny impersonations.

JUNE 13

TICKETS at ParkerPlayhouse.com

954.462.0222 • Group Sales | 954.660.6307 Follow us:

BrowardCenter

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

a&e opera

DON’T MISS THE 2015 HONOREES!

FGO’s 'The Consul' Strikes A Nerve In City Of Refugees

Go to sfgn.com/2015out50

’

OUT 50

J.W. Arnold

Submitted Photo.

Photo by Steven Shires.

and read

Kara Shay Thomson stars in Florida Grand Opera’s production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Consul” at Miami’s Arsht Center. Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution would not sweep the island nation for another decade, but Gian Carlo Menotti’s 1950 opera still manages to strike a nerve decades later in Miami, a city of refugees. Menotti’s opera, set in an unidentified European totalitarian country, is the story of a desperate young mother, Magda Sorel, who seeks a visa to join her dissident husband, John, who escaped across the frontier to freedom in America after being wounded by the police in a raid. She is hounded by the secret police and frustrated by the bureaucracy she encounters in the consulate. On Broadway, shows almost always have to have a happy ending. In opera, tragedy is also an acceptable outcome. Fortunately, after losing her child and mother-in-law, Magda gets the fateful call from the consul just as she is about to stick her head in the oven. Tragedy averted, earning Menotti Pulitzer and Drama Critics’ Circle awards. Unlike so many 20th century operas, women’s roles dominate “The Consul,” and the Florida Grand Opera cast on Sunday afternoon proved up to the task: soprano Kara Shay Thomson (Magda), contralto Victoria Livengood (The Mother), mezzo Carla Jablonski (The Secretary) and Hailey Clark (The Voice). Livengood, with her sonorous voice, proved to be a standout, as was the dramatic prowess of Thomson. As John Sorel, baritone Keith Phares, proves to be the true “hero, a lover of freedom” Magda so fervently wants to be reunited with.

Menotti is best known as the composer of “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” the first opera composed specifically for television. “The Consul,” an earlier work is not as melodic and accessible as the works of Menotti’s classical and romantic predecessors or even his contemporary Leonard Bernstein. His orchestrations are reminiscent of his partner in life and work, composer Samuel Barber (“Medea,” “School for Scandal,” “Adagio for Strings”). The rich, powerful score is most dramatic during the orchestral passages and the FGO orchestra, under the baton of Andrew Bisantz, aggressively tackled the challenge, with standout performances from the horns and double reeds throughout. The scenery from the Seattle Opera is most effective in the scenes in the consulate, as giant filing cabinets tower over the stage, punctuating the bureaucratic hurdles Magda must navigate if she is to rejoin her husband. The first act closes with a brilliantly written exchange between the officious secretary and Magda: “Your name is a number, your story is a case.” Howard Tsvi Kaplan’s dour costumes, constructed in Miami by FGO, perfectly accentuate the bleak setting. If only there were a way to include vintage American automobiles on the stage, then the comparison to Castro’s communist Cuba would be complete.

Florida Grand Opera repeats the performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Consul” on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 at the Arsht Center in Miami. For tickets, go to ArshtCenter.org.

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

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SouthFloridaGayNews

a&e music

Chorus Names New Executive Director J.W. Arnold

Mark Kent is passionate about the arts. For the past 25 years, the Florida native has guided nationally-recognized arts organizations in West Palm Beach and, more recently, Atlanta. This spring, he is bringing his expertise back to South Florida. Following a nationwide search, Kent was recently named executive director of the 200-voice Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida. Kent had been serving as the vice president of education and community engagement when he saw the notice for the position. “I thought it would be a great way to take what I have been doing and bring it back home,” he recalled. Kent, 50, who spent his early years in Homestead and later Plant City, completed his education at Florida State University before joining the staff of the newly organized Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, where he helped open the popular venue. He then moved to Atlanta, where he also held key positions with the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, Children’s Museum of Atlanta and Hands On Atlanta. Kent knew he made the right decision early in the interview process, noting “sometimes a wheel falls off, but the absolute opposite happened,” he said. As he learned about the history and growth of the chorus, he realized “it was obvious people were passionate and making smart decisions.” “It’s a very authentic group. As I’ve met every single person, I’m struck by the authenticity and the sincerity with which they approach the art form….also, the responsibility of fulfilling the mission of using music to touch people. (The chorus) is reaching audiences with messages of hope and joy and love.” Kent credits maestro Gordon Roberts and the chorus board for promoting this mission. One of Kent’s first challenges will be to deal with the chorus’ enormous popularity. Most of the ensemble’s regular concerts at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale sell out weeks before the performances, frustrating many music lovers who cannot get tickets. “Isn’t that a great problem to have?” he asked, pointing out that most classical music

Submitted photo.

Following a nationwide search, Mark Kent was recently named executive director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida. organizations struggle to draw audiences and sell tickets. He anticipates seeking opportunities to perform in additional venues and partnerships with other groups, like the very successful series with the Symphony of the Americas at the Broward Center. The chorus also added a performance this spring at the 1100 seat Bailey Hall on the campus of Broward College in Davie. “It does require a balancing act,” Kent said, “as we reach out to others, but not walk away from the people who have made us who we are today. As the gay community becomes closer and closer to mainstream, it gives us an opportunity to create greater dialogue.” South Florida is a progressive community and Kent believes many new opportunities still exist to build relationships and reach even more new audiences. When he’s not working, Kent delves into another art, describing himself as a “very bad amateur armchair artist” who likes to draw and paint as a welcome diversion from the stresses of running a large organization. He recently moved with his partner of 15 years to Oakland Park, a convenient 5-minute commute to the chorus’ new offices in the Pride Center in Wilton Manors.

To learn more about the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and purchase tickets to upcoming performances, go to GMCSF.org.

TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, MAY 15TH, AT 10AM!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH AT THE JACKIE GLEASON THEATER

CHARGE BY PHONE: 800-745-3000. ALL DATES, ACTS AND TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. TICKET PRICES SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE FEES.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

a&e books

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR. GARY KEATING

presents

MAY 30, 2015 8pm NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale TheFTLGMC.org

The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus presents its final concert for the season. Join us as we share some of our favorite pieces inspired by the Music of the Night.

Tickets are $40 Premium Seating and $25 General Admission. You can RSVP by visiting theftlgmc.org or by calling 954.832.0060.

Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council. For updated information on our concerts, events or joining our chorus, please visit our website www.theftlgmc.org or call 954.832.0060.

Gay Christian Turns Blog Into Memoir

Nicole Wiesenthal

Brandon Wallace sat down at a Starbucks to write a blog post. Seven days later, he finished a 238-page memoir. Wallace’s memoir, “Straight-Face,” began as a 1,000-word blog post explaining to his high school and middle school students why he had to leave Arkansas, but turned it into a revealing story about how he struggled with accepting his identity as a homosexual Christian. “It was like I kept this secret inside of me for so long,” he said. “Now I had the opportunity to really tell it all so I just did.” Wallace grew up and lived in Arkansas for most of his life. He was heavily involved in his church which is why when he realized he was gay, he hid his sexuality. He came out to friends and family two years before he wrote his memoir. “When I first came out it was psychologically devastating,” he said. “All of these people I spent years with in the church were just telling me I’m a spawn of Satan and I’m going to Hell and I’m sending people to Hell with me.” Wallace had to change his phone number, lock his social media accounts and create a new email. The criticisms he received prepared him for writing his story. He said the memoir allowed him to reflect on his life and what it meant to be a follower of Christ as a homosexual. “I spent my whole life thinking that there was no overlap between the two,” he said. “But after writing, I realized that I really have been interweaving the two things my whole life without realizing it.” Wallace hadn’t even intended to publish it as a blog post because it felt so personal, but a friend read it, loved it and shared it. She passed it around, and it went into the hands of a publisher. Soon enough, 23-year-old Wallace, who’s only writing experience was on his blog, TheGayChristian.com, was offered a book deal with Green Bridge Press. “The way I wrote is very personal because I wrote it for me and not for anyone else,” he said. “I wrote it very stream-of-thought to show how I was feeling when I was going through all of this stuff so at the end of the book you really get a feel for what it was like psychologically to be inside the mind of someone who’s in the closet.” Most of his readers, he said, were in their 50s and 60s. “They had a lot of the similar stories, but in the time that they grew up and they were my age, they weren’t able to express that like

Submitted Photo.

we were,” he said. “I think they were excited for the first time that we were able to get that story out there to know people are really understanding.” He said he hopes everyone struggling to understand homosexuality within their faith will read the book. “I hope everyone picks up a copy, not just because it is my book,” he said. “It could help someone who struggles with issues of faith and sexuality even if it’s a family member or friend.” Connie Waters, a visual arts teacher and pastor in Memphis, Tennessee, met Wallace through an online group called Outlaw Preachers, where ministers who had struggled over their faith could talk about their struggles. “Brandon is just very charismatic,” she said. “Kids and young adults are just really attracted to him because he’s just so positive and interested in their lives.” Waters said she was happy when she read his book and learned it was going to be published because of the message he would share. “When I read it I felt that it was so heartfelt,” she said. “I was so proud of him for wanting to share his story so that other people would know they were not alone as he had discovered in his journey.” Wallace offers words of advice for people currently struggling with their sexuality and faith. “The first step is to take ownership of [your] faith,” he said. “Until you can really own your faith, you’re going to let people tell you what you should be.” He also recommends people read the scriptures. “Understand that God loves [you] for who God created [you] to be because he created you, and that’s a lot of love,” he said.

His book currently is on sale on TheGayChristian.com and Amazon, where it has a five-star rating. 42

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

soflagaynews //

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DISTINCTIVE HOMES

Visit us online at

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401 E Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 100 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 ©MMXIV ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed real estate broker. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. The information contained herein is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Prices subject to change without notice.

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Datebook

Theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

Top

Picks

Betrayal

May 14 to 31 at the Arsht Center, in Miami. Emma and Jerry have been having an affair for seven years -in this play, inspired by the writer’s real life, the story is told backwards. Tickets $45. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

John Fogerty

May 17 at 8 p.m. at Coral Sky Amphitheatre (formerly Cruzan), 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. The former lead singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the solo artist has made a name for himself as an impressive songwriter and guitarist. Tickets $34 to $87. Call 561-795-8883 or visit CruzanAmphitheatre.net.

Last Chance The Little Dog Laughed

Through May 16 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Road in Fort Lauderdale. Mitchell Green is a movie star with a crush on a cute boy (who has a girlfriend) but his agent, Diane, keeps sending him back into the closet. Tickets $30. Call 954-5192533 or visit IslandCityStage.org.

broward county Mike Longo and Gold Coast Jazz

May 13 at 7:45 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The jazz pianist, who worked with Dizzy Gillespie, is joined by Gold Coast Jazz. Tickets $45. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson

Through May 17 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. A look at America’s first populist president, the rock star Andrew Jackson, and his dark side that has been ignored. Tickets $30. Call 954-462-0222 or BrowardCenter.org.

Anything Goes

Through May 17 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The musical takes place aboard the SS American, where all the rules go out the window when it comes to love. Tickets $34.75 and up. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

The Cole Porter classic, Anything Goes, continues its run at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts through May 17. 954-462-0222 for tickets.

* Summer Jamz Concert

May 23 at 8 p.m. at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway in Sunrise. The radio station, 99 Jamz, presents a concert with big artists like Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Future, and more. Tickets $45.50 and up. Call 800-745-3000 or visit TheBBTCenter.com.

palm beach county * Pierce Pettis

May 17 at 7 p.m. at ArtsGarage, 180 NE First St. in Delray Beach. The folk singer-songwriter is joined on stage by Ellen Bukstel. Tickets $25 to $35. Call 561-450-6357 or visit ArtsGarage.org.

* Stanley Jordan

May 21 at 8 p.m. at ArtsGarage, 180 NE First St. in Delray Beach. Jordan celebrates 30 years of performing jazz guitar. Tickets $25 to $50. Call 561-450-6357 or visit ArtsGarage.org.

performance of the season, the chamber ensemble performs the Brahms Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60 and Fauré’s Piano Quintet #2 in G minor, Op.45. Tickets $25. Call 305 673-2183 or visit SobeChamberEnsemble.org

La Sylphide

May 14 at 8 p.m. at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St. in Aventura. A young Scotsman, due to be married, is kissed by a sylph in his sleep and is haunted in his pursuit of it. Tickets $25 to $65. Call 800-745-3000 or visit AventuraCenter.org.

The Consul

Through May 16 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. A mother struggles to get visas for her family to escape the oppression from her home country. Tickets

$16 to $184. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

* S. Beach Chamber Ensemble

May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive in Miami Beach. In the last performance of the season, the chamber ensemble performs the Brahms Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60 and Fauré’s Piano Quintet #2 in G minor, Op.45. Tickets $25. Call 305 673-2183 or visit SobeChamberEnsemble.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.

* Life in Color

May 23 at 3 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. A former actress, Mrs. Wickham teaches theater and asks her students to pick a color and has them write a monologue about it. Tickets $18 and up. Call 561-382-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

* Darius Rucker, Brett Eldredge, Brothers Osborne and A Thousands Horses

May 23 at Coral Sky Amphitheatre (formerly Cruzan), 601-7 Sansburys Way in West Palm Beach. A part of Coral Sky’s 2015 Megaticket event, the first installment of a series of country acts. Tickets $31 and up. Call 561-7958883 or visit CruzanAmphitheatre.net.

Free Friday Concerts

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

miami-dade county * S. Beach Chamber Ensemble

May 14 at 8 p.m. at the Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave. in Coral Gables. In the last soflagaynews //

Hootie & the Blowﬁsh lead singer Darius Rucker performs wth country music stars Brett Eledredge, Brothers Osborne and A Thousand Horses at the newly renamed Coral Sky Amphetheatre in West Palm Beach, May 23, the ﬁrst in a series of country music shows. Photo: Wikipediea

SouthFloridaGayNews

* Denotes New Listing

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

Datebook

Community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

Top Picks

* Ladies Night Out

May 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the South Florida Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. The ladies are invited for a fun night at the museum with gem and mineral presentations, cocktail concoctions, lotion potion labs, and food and wine samples. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 the day of to benefit the GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) program. Call 561-832-1988 or visit SFScienceCenter.org.

Island City Canoe Race

May 16 at 10 a.m. at the Colohatchee Boat Ramp, 1975 NE 15th Ave. in Wilton Manors. Watch the 10-person teams paddle down the river to kick off a celebration of Wilton Manors’s 68th birthday at Richardson Park. Free. Call 954-390-2130.

Spotlight Mega-Mixer Networker aboard Lady Windridge Yacht

May 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. docking at the Bayside Hard Rock Cafe, 301 Biscayne Blvd. All aboard! Mix and mingle with the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce with cocktails provided by Bacardi and Grey Goose vodka and music from DJ Double ii. Tickets $10 for members, $20 nonmembers. RSVP to 305-673-4440, rsvp@gaybizmiami.com or gaybizmiami.com.

broward county Transgender Medical Symposium

May 14 and 15 at Embassy Suites, 1100 SE 17th St. in Fort Lauderdale. State-ofthe-art medical information for medical mental health, and other licensed health professionals working with the transgender community. Free. Register to 954-213-0610 or T-HouseOnline.com.

* Chris Berman

May 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Berman talks about his 35year stint as a broadcaster and commentator on ESPN. Tickets $36.36 to $53.30. Call 954462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

* Pints and Palates

May 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at NSU Art Museum, One E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Dave Crisafi, author of the South Florida Beer Blog, leads an exploration of beers from New Belgium Brewing. Tickets $40, $25 for members. RSVP to 954-262-0204 or moareservations@moafl.org.

* The Color Theory & Geometry Light Impression

Through June 5 at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. An art show by Manuel Leon. Call 954-463-9005 or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org.

The Art of Pop & Comics

Through May 23 at the Coral Springs Museum of Art, 2855 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs. An exhibition of works by more than 30 artists known for their contributions to comics such as “Superman,” “Batman,” “The Transformers,” as well as pop art. Artistrepcetion is March 5 at 8 p.m. Admission $6. Call 954-340-5000 or visit CoralSpringsMuseum.org.

Gender

Bender

Youth

Group

Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at SunServe Campus, 1480 SW Ninth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. A group for LGBT youth 13 to 21 to discuss gender, gender expression, binary systems, friendship, family and whatever else comes up! Free. Visit SunServeYouth. com

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.

palm beach county * Robotic Surgery: How Did we Get Here?

May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at O’Shea’s Irish Pub, 531 Clematis Street in West Palm Beach. A part of the South Florida Science Center’s Science on Tap series, Dr. Itzhak Shasha, will discuss robotic surgery over some beers. Free. Call 561-832-1988 or visit SFScienceCenter.org.

* Discover Sake

May 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road in Delray Beach. Learn about the art of brewing sake with five of Japan’s most respected brewers. Tickets $55 members, $75 nonmembers. Call 561-4950233 or visit Morikami.org.

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. 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.

miami-dade county

Eww! What’s Eating You?

Xu Bing: Writing Between Heaven and Earth

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.

Through Sept. 27 at the South Florida Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. Explore the creepy crawlies of our planet that live off humans -- parasites! -- like tapeworms, fleas, lice, mosquitoes, and tick. Tickets $11 to 15. Call 561-832-1988 or visit SFScienceCenter.org.

Through May 24 at the Frost Art Museum, 10975 SW 17th St. in Miami. The Chinese artist took four years to create a 5,000 square foot exhibit of writing and text, showcasing communication through the ages. The piece is so large it can only be exhibited in select museums. Free. Visit TheFrost.FIU.edu.

SunServe Youth Group

Sober Sisters

Arsht Center Farmers Market

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

Survivor Support

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

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 561-775-5900 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

SouthFloridaGayNews

Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Fresh food from local farmers, including fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared foods, as well as chefs, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Free. Visit ArshtCenter.org/en/Visit/Dining.

* MDGLCC Networking Breakfast

May 7 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the LGBT Visitor Center, 1130 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. Network with other business leaders and learn more about the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Free admission. RSVP: 305-673-4440, rsvp@ gaybizmiami.com, or gaybizmiami.com.

* Denotes New Listing

Datebook

Nightlife Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

Alibi

broward county

2266 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Best and longest happy hour; Wednesdays $2 domestics and $1 Schnapps after 9 p.m. Call 954-565-2526 or visit GeorgiesAlibi.com.

Bill’s Filling Station

2209 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Check out this huge bar and nightclub with drink specials to boot. Karaoke Tuesdays, GROWL Fridays, DILF Saturdays, and happy hour prices until 9 p.m. every day. Call 954-567-6969 or visit BillsFillingStation.com.

Cubby Hole

823 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. A unique butch bar for men. Underwear Wednesdays get 2-for-1 drinks from 9 p.m. until close. Call 954-728-9001 or visit TheCubbyHole. com.

Mona’s

502 Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. An eclectic bar with décor that will keep you entertained for hours. Thursdays is “In The Biz”. Call 954-5256662 or visit MonasBar.com.

Naked Grape Wine Bar & Tapas

2163 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. A casual, hip bar to try out all sort of wines. Happy Hour all night on Thursdays. Call 954-563-5631 or visit NakedGrapeWineBar.com.

Ramrod

1508 NE Fourth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The region’s leading Levi, leather and uniform bar and club. Every night if bear night and caged hunks on Saturdays. Call 954-763-8219 or visit RamroadBar.com.

Rumors Bar & Grill

2426 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Come check out Rumors Bar & Grill. Call 954.565.8851 or visit rumorsbarwm.com

Scandals

3073 NE Sixth Ave. in Wilton Manors. Gay and lesbian country western bar for a night of dancing to your favorite country tunes. Call 954567-2432 or visit ScandalsFla.com.

Sidelines Sports & Video Bar

2031 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Relax with a cold beer for some friendly competition on the pool table. Call 954-563-8001 or visit SidelinesSports.com.

Village Pub Wilton Manors

2283 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Never miss out on a happy hour, as the pub is serving up two-for-one drinks Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, hit the dance floor with world class VJs. Call 754200-5244.

palm beach county

Fort Dix

6205 Georgia Ave. in West Palm Beach. A great place to mingle and relax with DJs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Call 561-533-5355.

H.G. Roosters

823 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. The city’s oldest gay club, with hot male dancer, free BBQ and karaoke. Call 561-832-9119.

The Mad Hatter

1532 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Cheap drinks, friendly bartenders and free pool from Sunday to Thursday. Call 561-547-8860.

The Palm Lounge

131 E. Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton. Tuesday country night, Wednesday karaoke, singers or tribute artists on the weekends. Call 561-672-7561 or visit PalmLoungeBoca.com.

Vita Ultra Lounge Saturdays

1225 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. LGBT Saturdays with the best drag queens around. Call 561-835-8482 or visit VitaUltraLounge.com.

miami-dade county

Azucar

2301 SW 32nd Ave. in Miami. Jock night Wednesdays, drag Thursdays, girls night Fridays and more. Call 305-443-7657 or visit AzucarMiami.com

Club Space

34 NE 11th St. in Miami. Come out for a night at the infamous nightclub known for crazy all-

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nighters to the best live electronic dance music. Call 305-350-1956 or visit ClubSpace.com.

Discotekka

950 NE Second Ave. in Miami. Come on Saturday nights for some of the best DJs around. Call 305350-9084 or visit Discotekka.com.

Eros Lounge

8201 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Bingo Tuesdays and Born to be a Drag Fridays. Call 305-754-3444 or visit ErosLoungeMiami.com.

Mova Lounge

401 SW Third Ave. in Miami. For a night of dancing and cocktails made by the best mixologists around. Call 305-534-8181 or visit MovaLoungeMiami.com.

Score

1437 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. Located in the heart of South Beach with hot male dancers, Pop Fever Thursdays and Filthy Gorgeous parties Fridays. Call 305-535-1111 or visit ScoreBar.net.

Therapy

60 NE 11th St in Miami. An all-nude male cabaret, party it up with Latin Wednesdays, college night Thursdays, bear nights on Friday, men hitting the dancing poles on Saturday, and sophisticated Sundays with $9 martinis. Call 305-316-7150 or visit TherapyCabaret.com.

Twist South Beach

1057 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. Multiple rooms to give you the music you want, muscle boy dancers, and never a cover. Call 305- 5389478 or visit TwistSoBe.com.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

SFGN Classified$ air conditioning FAST A/C REPAIRS - Licensed and insured, CAC057837. A & H A/C.954-392-1301. We focus on repairs, not selling you any new equipment. 24 Hour Service. Evening Appointments Available.

attorneys

electrician

To place a Classified Ad, call Cindy Curtis at 954.530.4970 or email at cindy.curtis@sfgn.com

health care

home care

home & garden

entertainment/dj's

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

home care SOUTH FLORIDA’S BEST LGBT HOME CARE LICENSED AND INSURED

GRATITUDE HOME CARE

classified advertising works!

POOL SERVICE Mention this ad and receive your ﬁrst month

Phone: 561-685-5254 Email: gratitudehomecare@gmail.com http://gratitudehomecare.yolasite.com

FREE!

Place an ad in SFGN’s Classiﬁeds

954.530.4970 computers

some restrictions apply

Serving Broward Since 1999

LIVE JAZZ FOR YOUR NEXT PARTY OR SPECIAL EVENT - Have your next special occassion be extra special with live jazz. Jazz vocalist with over 30 years experience performing in South Florida.No tapes or tracks.I work with South Florida's ﬁnest jazz musicians to make your special affair one to remember. Reasonable rates. Call Cindy at 954-298-8158 www.myspace.com/cindycurtisandcompany.

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.

painting

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

health & body - yoga PRIVATE YOGA SESSIONS - Vinyasa "ﬂowing" yoga. All levels welcome. No experience necessary. Personal instruction to your level, including any physical limitations. $70 your space. $100@studio. Contact Drew @954-817-3021. www.drewmiller. biz - fb Drew Miller

CLEAN IT RIGHT! The best cleaning for your buck. 1BD $60, 2BD $70, 3BD $80 and up. Excellent rates & references. 10 years in business. Serving Broward, North Miami-Dade & S. Palm Beach. Call Manny 954-560-4443

Honest, Genuine Auto Maintenance and Repair

PROFESSIONAL HOUSEMAN/ HANDYMAN NEEDED- An experienced and professional handyman is needed to work 5 days a week, year round for a home in Boca Raton. This is a handson position where the candidate will perform dayto-day duties to take care of the property, and supervise outside contractors.Must be experienced and be responsible for handling general repairs around the home,including HVAC, plumbing and electrical, car maintenance, do some pick up/ make deliveries and run errands.Dog walking. Ability to speak and understand English, neat appearance and professionalism are required, must be trustworthy,mature,speak good English, be authorized to work in the United States, and have a car with a clean driving record and valid driver's license. Contact by email: Atma4him@msn.com. // 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

pressure cleaning

PARIS AUTO REPAIR

employment - full time

GREGG'S PAINTING - Interior/exterior,great rates, friendliness, reliability, neatness. No job too small. Call Gregg at 617-306-5694 or 954-8705972

Complete in-house service Foreign & domestic including classic cars Same location since 1985 ONLY 4 BLOCKS from FAU main campus

10% OFF COUPON JUST MENTION THIS AD

PARIS AUTO REPAIR 1801 NW 1st Ct Boca Raton, FL 33432

561-395-7765 Ask for John (“Curly”)

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SouthFloridaGayNews

licensed massage 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 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 CertiďŹ ed MM22293

moving

LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE - Icon Moving, your local licensed and insured moving company! Here to help with your moving needs,www. iconmoving.com for a free estimate! Can also do overseas 561-338-3157 $50 off when you mention ad!

pets/supplies

professional services APPRAISAL SERVICES - Appraisal services for art, furniture,antiques, household contents,etc. for insurance purposes,estates,donation and valuation for sale.Auction advisory service also available. Reasonable rates, professional service. Call 917826-5819 or email Joe@rothwarren.com

rentals vacation rentals

2 BD/1 BA FT. LAUDERDALE - Perfect rental house close to Wilton Manors;5 blocks west of the Boardwalk Bar; All amenities; salt water private pool. Laundry. Can sleep 6. For details check out www.vrbo/663110 or call Eli at 515-238-6023

home health care

HOME HEALTH CARE AID NEEDED -PRIVATE RESIDENCE PT OR FT - Patient is an octogenarian suffering with mild dementia. Care is provided in a beautiful downtown residence. Must have clean driving record and pass background check. This is a DFWP. Excellent salary and beneďŹ ts. Send resume w/cover letter.Include salary requirements and availability to: PO BOX 2213, Ft.Lauderdale, Fl. 33303-2213

rentals wilton manors

THE GROVE 2/1 - Cosy with lots of charm. Centrally located in the heart of Wilton Manors with shopping, dining, entertainment close by. Pool and laundry on site. Small pets ok. 1st, last, & security. $1,195/ month. Credit/background check required. Call iHome Florida Real Estate 954-627-1222 ext. 901

rentals oakland park

ROYAL PARK CONDO 1/1.5 - Great community in Oakland Park. Unit has been maintained and in great condition. Steps away from clubhouse and pool. 24 hour security, gated community. Minutes away from 95, shopping, restaurants, and Wilton Manors area. Credit/background check required. No pets. 1st, last, & security. $975/month. Call iHome Florida Real Estate 954-627-1222 ext. 901

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

plumber

AAA BLOUNT PLUMBING Kitchen & Bathroom remodeling, sewers, plugged drains, new construction and underground leaks. Over 30 years of experience. 24 HR Service. Call Dan 954-980-7499 Lic# CFCO22525

personal care

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

rentals fort lauderdale PRESIDENTIAL CONDO 2/2 - Coral Ridge, remodeled ﬁrst ﬂoor condo, small pets ok with dep. Quiet residential neighborhood 2 miles from beach. Large modern tile in living area. Granite counters with wood cabinets. Both bathrooms updated too. Onsite laundry. Ready for June 1st. 1st, last, & security. $1,200/month. Credit/background check required. Call iHome Florida Real Estate 954-6271222 ext. 901

rentals

MIKE THE RENTAL GUY NE Lauderdale/Wilton Manors/Oakland/Victoria Park-1/1 from $885 2/1 from $1090. Credit & Income Requirements-Pets okay with restrictions. Call for Details Mike 561703-5533 FLORIDA'S TOP GAY REALTORS - Instant FREE Access to Florida and the Nation's Top Gay Realtors. Free Buyers Representation! On-line: www.GayRealEstate.com or Toll Free 1-888-420MOVE (6683)

roommates GAY WHITE MALE TO SHARE 2BD/2BA GATED CONDO - Furnished room, WI-FI, W/D, TV in room, pool, must have steady income and own transportation, 1st-Last $650/month, utilities included, no pets no drugs. Call Zack at 954-4018431 or 954-765-3665.

rentals furnished housing

*PERFECT LOCATION RENTALS* 4 WEEK + SPECIAL FROM $395/WEEK - Intimate 7 unit Liberty Garden Suites offering all the comforts of home. Beautifully Furnished & Full Equipped Studio & One BR Apts. with Full Kitchens, in lush tropical resort setting. 5 Min south of Airport in Dania Beach. Central to Haulover Nude Beach & Wilton Manors. Incl. WI-Fi, laundry, private parking, utilities, cable, tel. Gay Owned & Operated. Longer term Monthly rates available for 3 months + Stays. Pets Always Welcome. Celebrating Our 18th Year. Call Joe or Jack at 954-927-0090 or visit www.LibertySuites.com

spirituality

porn pulse

Gay Porn Trial Of The Century On The Horizon Hunter Houston

In investigating charges of extortion, prosecutors discovered Palm Beach society figure and Republican Party fundraiser Donald A. Burns has a taste for expensive young men. Currently, Burns has alleged adult entertainer Jarec Wentworth is responsible for an elaborate plot to extort millions from him. Wentworth, also known as Teofil Brank, is being held on no bail on felony extortion charges. Both sides appear to be filing multiple motions in what observers say could become the trial of the century in the porn industry. Burns, sources say, prefers his escorts keep quiet about their dealings. He decided to bring charges against Brank, 25, after the model threatened to post compromising photos of the two on Twitter. Over the weekend, the government added six more charges against Brank, including a weapons charge, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. Burns is well known in Palm Beach power circles for his philanthropy efforts, the majority of which benefit Republican

rentals - wanted LOOKING FOR UNFURNISHED EFFICIENCY Single Gay Male, 60+, Looking For an unfurnished efﬁciency or studio apartment Close proximity to Wilton Manors or surrounding area. A/C, private entrance. No Pets. I have excellent references. Call Doug 954.261.9073 or Email dtrncon@aol.com.

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954.530.4970

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

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Teoﬁl Brank (Jarec Wentworth Twitter)

SouthFloridaGayNews

politicians. He has been photographed with Kip Forbes, brother to former U.S. Presidential candidate and publishing magnet Steve Forbes and a Sean Cody model named Ashton. In court papers, acting federal public defenders are asking for the prosecution to hand over all evidence related to Burns’ hiring of escorts and “engaging in sex acts with minors.” The website Str8UpGayPorn.com is reporting the FBI found Burns tried to hire 11 gay porn stars via Jarec Wentworth, aka Teofil Brank.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 5 .13.2015 //

// 5.13.2015 // SFGN.com //

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