8/26/15 V6i34

local name, global coverage

August 26, 2015

s o u t h

vol. 6 // issue 34

f l o r i d a

g a y

n e w s

Rent Boy Raided Worldwide escort site Shut down pages 9, 20

Also This Week: LGBT Leaders decide what's next for community SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS

SOFLAGAYNEWS

pages 6 - 8

SFGN.COM 8.26.2015 • 1

the opening line Photos: Facebook.

wilton manors

to Negotiate for More Parking

SouthFloridaGayNews.com

comments from sfgn’s

online outlets

AUGUST 26, 2015 • VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 34

Compiled by John McDonald

2520 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY • WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 PHONE: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943

kentucky cleRk

PUBLISHER • NORM KENT NORM.KENT@SFGN.COM

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER • PIER ANGELO GUIDUGLI

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / EXECUTIVE EDITOR • JASON PARSLEY JASON.PARSLEY@SFGN.COM

Still Refusing to Issue Gay Couples Marriage Licenses

Joel s. slotnick –

Why the heck is Wilton Manors consistently falling on deaf ears when it comes to doing the right thing to combat parking: BUILD A PARKING GARAGE. I'm so tired of hearing they want to be the destination place for people, yet, they don't listen to the people who support the city.

Sorry, I refuse to battle for a parking space on a Friday or Saturday night..............or any other night

Editorial

ART DIRECTOR • BRENDON LIES ARTWORK@SFGN.COM DESIGNER • MARTIN GOULD FOCALIZENOW@GMAIL.COM INTERNET DIRECTOR • DENNIS JOZEFOWICZ DENNIS.JOZEFOWICZ@SFGN.COM EDITORIAL ASSISTANT • JILLIAN MELERO JILLIANMELERO@GMAIL.COM ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • JW ARNOLD JW@PRDCONLINE.COM NEWS EDITOR • JOHN MCDONALD JOHN.MCDONALD@SFGN.COM

patrick smith –

Is she wearing jewelry, blended clothing, not subservient to men? She should be put to death according to her religion. Women shouldn't even be in a position of authority according to her "God!"

Senior Features Correspondents

JESSE MONTEAGUDO • TONY ADAMS

michael J weinstein – Or, like, just implement better public transport systems.

gary lonier –

Hope you all learned your lessons not to vote for the typical politicians! These guys are clowns! What is 24 parking spaces going to do? Build a garage over the street if you don't have space like the one in downtown Fort Lauderdale. There has to be better options than a few parking spots. That's just wasteful.

terry edwards –

Someone needs to step up and enforce the law and fire her, and her son.

PERIOD.

Food/Travel Editor RICK KARLIN

will glitzern –

Correspondents

If I tried this excuse to get out of doing my job, they would fire my ass in a heartbeat.

DORI ZINN • ANDREA RICHARD • DONALD CAVANAUGH CHRISTIANA LILLY • DENISE ROYAL • SEAN MCSHEE GARY KRAMER • DAVID-ELIJAH NAHMOD

Contributing Columnists

BRIAN MCNAUGHT • DANA RUDOLPH • WAYNE BESEN RIC REILY • STEVE SILER • BIL BROWNING TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Staff Photographers

one million moms

J.R. DAVIS • POMPANO BILL • STEVEN SHIRES

Sales & Marketing

Attacks Jazz Jennings

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liam hodgson –

Jazz is brilliant enough to deal with these VD ridden C**ts

MEMBER

martin talbot –

Bigoted dinosaurs !

Jazz, don't listen to these idiots. As you know everyone has an opinion. What matters is that your friends and family love you. Stay strong.

MEMBER

Out Now! MEMBER

PICK uP yOuR COPy ON a STaND NEaR yOu!

THEMIRRORMaG.COM

2

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Photo: J.R. Davis.

craig Ross –

NATIONAL ADVERTISING RIVENDELL MEDIA 212-242-6863 SALES@RIVENDELLMEDIA.COM ACCOUNTING SERVICES BY CG BOOKKEEPING

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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 © 2015 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

• 8.26.2015

MEMBER

Photo: Facebook.

highlight

Racial Allegations Surface As Broward Dems Reorganize John McDonald

B

roward County Democrats are divided by the recent firing of party office director, Michael R. Howson.

Howson, a gay black man, was removed from the paid position by acting Democratic Executive Committee chairwoman Cynthia Busch. SFGN has reached out to Howson for comment, but has yet to hear from the ousted party operative.

At last week’s Broward DEC meeting in Plantation, Leslie Wimes, president of the

Democratic African-American Women’s Caucus of Florida, said Howson's departure was handled wrong.

“It needs more looking into,” Wimes told SFGN. “It’s not over. [Busch] may think it is, but he [Howson] doesn’t. [Howson] thinks it’s racially motivated.”

Wimes is a harsh critic of Busch and the Broward Democratic executive committee.

On her Facebook page, Wimes refers to Busch as the HRIC “Head Racist In Charge”

of the Broward County Democratic Party. At last week’s meeting, Wimes sat front row to listen to Busch speak of the changes on the Broward DEC. Busch spoke to a crowd of 300 party leaders, activists, candidates and elected officials at the Edwin F. Deicke Auditorium. An 11-year party volunteer, Busch said Broward’s Democratic Party is at a “crossroads” and was “a bit backward” during the previous election cycle.

“We need significant change,” Busch said.

Broward County has the largest registration of Democratic voters in Florida and more than 12 U.S. states. The county of nearly two million people typically votes Democrat at the national, state and local levels. Inside the Deicke Auditorium in Plantation on Aug. 18, Democrats assembled to hear from their new party boss.

State committeeman Ken Evans called the meeting to order and announced chairman Mitch Caesar had taken a leave of absence to campaign for Broward County Clerk of Court. Caesar’s departure opened the door for Busch, the party’s first vice chair.

SFGN spoke with Caesar at the meeting where he reaffirmed his commitment to the LGBT community.

“I have a 35 year record as an attorney and I was an activist for 40 years,” Caesar said.

“I supported LGBT rights when it wasn’t

popular and I was attacked for it. For me, it’s just automatic.”

Political junkies may recognize Caesar from his appearances on the MSNBC cable television program “The Ed Show” where Caesar often provided commentary on national and Florida topics. He did not speak at Tuesday night’s change of command, but instead listened from the audience alongside his wife, Donnie.

Following Busch’s remarks, Broward County Vice Commissioner Martin David Kiar addressed the meeting. Kiar endorsed the County’s deal with the ride-sharing app, Uber and laid out a new policy concerning marijuana use.

Most of the chatter from the audience, however, had to do with Busch’s take-over of the party apparatus. Busch spoke of a need for party members to stop complaining and start building. She also emphasized training and education programs and when questioned on fundraising, Busch said the party needed to raise a quarter of a million dollars this election cycle.

“We need to invest in local areas,” Busch said.

Busch declined to comment on racial allegations concerning her decision to remove Howson as office director. When question on the move, Caesar said, “I hired him, I didn’t fire him.”

8.26.2015 •

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news state

politics white house watch

Photo: Facebook.

Vice President Joe Biden.

Houston Mayor Says The Fight Is On

Photo: CNN..

Mayor Annise Parker (center).

John McDonald

H

ouston Mayor Annise Parker predicted an arduous fight lies ahead to protect citizens from discrimination in America’s fourth largest city.

Prior to her speech to the Florida Democratic Party’s LGBTA Caucus Saturday in Tampa, Parker spoke with SFGN about the city’s efforts to pass an equal rights ordinance.

Parker said Houston passed the ordinance in May of 2014.

“We did not add sexual orientation and gender identity we actually passed a ‘from scratch’ ordinance that covers the federally protected characteristics as well as sexual orientation and gender identity,” Parker said.

“A group of pastors in Houston did a repeal petition. They failed to meet the standards and they’ve been litigating it since.”

Voted No. 1 Dry Cleaners in South Florida

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• 8.26.2015

The Texas Supreme Court ruled last week that Houston must ask voters whether the city should have a non-discrimination ordinance.

That question goes on a ballot this November.

Houston Unites is a campaign to prevent repeal of the ordinance, known as HERO (Houston Equal Rights Ordinance).

“Houston Unites will talk about how this ordinance provides relief from discrimination in 15 different characteristics, the other side is saying this is the Mayor’s bill to allow sexual predators into women’s bathrooms,” Parker said. “That’s the whole campaign on the other side, it’s going to be ugly, divisive and expensive.”

Parker, 59, is the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. She married her partner of 18 years, Kathy Hubbard, in 2014.

White House Watch Jason Parsley

O

n the Democratic front many media outlets have upgraded Vice President Joe Biden’s chances of running for president. His timeline for making a decision has also been pushed back to now possibly October. Most analysts believe he must make a decision before the first democratic presidential debate that takes place October 13.

If Biden does decide to run it would be his third time. He first ran in 1988 but dropped out he was accused of plagiarizing a speech

by Neil Kinnock, then-leader of the British Labour Party. He ran again in 2008 to what Politico recently called “massive voter indifference.” In fact in Iowa, the first state to vote in 2008, Biden did not even register 1 percent of the vote leading to his withdrawal from the race the next day.

Right now it appears Biden is content with keeping the media guessing at his intentions.

“This half-campaign helps Biden keep his options open, building on some other advantages he has as a potential late entrant,” writes FiveThirtyEight, an influential New York Times political blog. “…Still, no candidate in the modern primary era has won a nomination after entering as late as Biden would enter.”

On the Republican front Trump’s campaign continues to mystify political pundits. He continues to lead in the polls and has broad based support meaning it’s not just the evangelicals or tea partiers who are backing him. This is good news for his campaign because even if one faction of the Republican Party tires of him he’ll still be a viable candidate.

Most pundits, however, continue to discount his candidacy and believe that no

matter what the polls suggest voters simply will not cast their vote for him.

In other Trump news on Friday he held a massive rally in Alabama with 15,000 to 30,000 people attending. That number all depends on which estimate you believe. The Trump campaign has claimed 30,000 plus people while local media outlets estimated the crowd to be about 18,000. The city claimed there were 30,000 with national media outlets all noting that the stadium appeared to be half empty. But whatever the number actually was it’s clear Trump is drawing bigger crowds than any of his Republican rivals.

And in still other Trump news he went on the offensive again against Megyn Kelly Monday night in a series of tweets blasting the Fox News anchor.

Here are just two of them: I liked The Kelly File much better without @megynkelly.

Perhaps she could take another eleven day unscheduled vacation!” @megynkelly must have had a terrible vacation, she is really off her game. Was afraid to confront Dr. Cornel West. No clue on immigration!

He also retweeted a tweet that called Kelly a bimbo.

Besides Trump former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush continues to underwhelm pundits; businesswoman Carly Fiorina continues to shine but still may not make it into the debate next month; and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s presidential hopes continue to dwindle.

8.26.2015 •

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news local

What’s Next? A New Focus

SFGN interviews LGBT activists and leaders to see what comes next for LGBT rights in Florida now that the fight for marriage is over Nicole Wiesenthal

M

arriage equality is now the law of the land.

So what’s next in LGBT rights in Florida? As many leaders and activists point out same-sex marriage was never the be-all and end-all to LGBT rights.

So SFGN decided to reach out to LGBT leaders and activists to see what the community needs to focus on now that marriage is off the table.

call their child a tom boy or a sissy. This has been something that has been an acceptable form of parental scolding to essentially tell kids that they’re not conforming to the proper gender.”

Compass has been holding meetings and presentations to try to educate the public on sexual orientation and acceptance, Plakas said.

“We’ve gotten marriage equality, but forgotten the people that have been most Transgender Education dehumanized by their gender,” he said.

The Palm Beach County Human Rights While the recent attention Council has been focusing to transgender people in on educating people in mainstream media has the judicial system, said led the way toward more PBCHRC President Rand acceptance, many Florida Hoch.

LGBT organizations believe He said he noticed a the community can do more few years ago that some to educate people on how to of the judges and court treat and act around trans personnel needed training people. because they didn’t know Palm Beach County’s the right terminology and Compass’ biggest focus right how to properly address now is educating parents transgender people. and adults on transgender “We’re trying to work Rand Hoch youth, said Tony Plakas, the with the court systems to President of the PBCHRC executive director. get some training for court “Sometimes parents are unknowingly the personnel so that they’re more comfortable first bullies to their [children],” he said. “They when people come into court who are not

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what they expected to see “We have been doing or aren’t comfortable with,” long form work in the most conservative he said. neighborhoods in Miami in While both Compass and order to reduce the prejudice the PBCHRC have specific in the trans community,” target audiences, both SAVE said Tony Lima, executive (Safeguarding American director.

Values for Everyone) and the Broward County Human Competitive Rights board has been focusing on educating the Workforce Act public in general.

The Florida Competitive Michael Rajner, a Workforce Act is a member of the BCHR board, Michael Rajner bi-partisan piece of said the group has been Member of the BCHR board legislation that prevents trying to facilitate a better discrimination based on sexual orientation understanding of the transgender identity. “[We’re] helping others understand and gender identity in the workforce. the process and discrimination down to While counties have passed ordinances that the very basic things like which pronoun prevent this type of discrimination, in most a transgender person would refer to be parts of the state people can be fired for their addressed as so I think we’ve done a great sexual orientation or gender identity.

It’s no surprise that many organizations deal,” he said.

Soon Broward County will welcome the have been focusing on the Competitive Southern Comfort Conference, the largest Workforce Act because without it, people national transgender conference, to its can still be fired for being in a same-sex marriage, and transgender people can still shores.

SAVE, who works mostly in Miami-Dade, be fired just for identifying as they choose.

Bishop SF, from the Pride Center in Wilton has taken a different approach, canvassing and visiting neighborhoods to try to educate Manors and a member of Equality Florida’s transgender advisory board, said the biggest the people.

news local issue they’ve been working on is the Florida Competitive Workforce Act. “I know that Equality Florida is seeking to move this through the legislature, and I think that if that is accomplished, we’ll have a better Florida where all Floridians are protected from employment discrimination,” he said.

Hoch from the PBCHRC said he’s been waiting 41 years to see an act that would protect people in the workforce.

“There are still no federal laws that protect them based on sexual orientation and gender expression,” he said.

While in Palm Beach County, ordinances have been passed to ensure that discrimination is illegal, it still has to be properly enforced, Hoch said.

Caitlin Wood, the executive director of the Aqua Foundation for Women, said the Aqua Foundation wants to focus on education about workplace fairness.

Lima said SAVE has been working on making sure that in Florida the complete community is protected when it comes to the work force.

“Right now, you can be fired from your job, denied public services, denied public accommodations,” he said. “You can get married today, but fired tomorrow.”

One of the ways that these organizations are hoping to get the Florida Competitive Workforce Act passed is by getting LGBT allies elected to the legislature.

Electing LGBT Allies A crucial step in protecting the LGBT community has been electing LGBT allies to the Florida legislature. Many organizations have been advocating and campaigning for people they think can make LGBT-friendly laws and ordinances happen.

Tony Lima, Executive Director of SAVE.

Bishop said an important step to ensure change is made is finding people on the legislature who will ensure protection for trans citizens.

“The reality is that we have to find and identify committee members who are willing to go before the municipalities,” he said. “We have to find the legislators who understand that transgender citizens need these protections and encourage those allies to sponsor these pieces of legislation, and then we move forward from there.”

He said stakeholders and other key people involved in creating change should also be identified.

Hoch agrees. The PBCHRC has stressed the importance of maintaining longstanding relationships with elected officials and people involved in law.

“We’ve been at this since 1988,” he said.

“It’s easier here than in other parts of the state, and we have people who have supported us [working with the law]. The relationships really help us move forward with our goals.”

At SAVE, Lima said, they’re focused on electing equality minded leaders to represent the community. They seek to replace seats of discriminatory officials with LGBT allies.

Most notably, they’ve helped Rep. David Richardson, the first openly gay legislator, get elected by preparing him and supporting him.

“He’s still working on very hard,” he said.

“He’s the strongest voice in the legislature right now.”

SAVE has recently backed Richardson for the Florida Senate in 2016.

“We’re helping to pass policy, such as being able to fight the bathroom bill,” Lima said. “We want to squash the adoption bill.”

“We’ve gotten marriage equality, but forgotten the people that have been most dehumanized by their gender.”

- Tony Plakas

Executive Director of Compass in Palm Beach

HIV/STD Prevention Another major issue that has continuously been at the forefront of LGBT organizations’ attention is HIV/STD prevention.

Luigi Ferrer, bisexual activist and director of Health Services at Pridelines Youth, stressed the importance of educating LGBT youth.

“As director of Health Services, I would hope that one of the issues we can take up in the near future is the lack of Comprehensive Sex Ed in our school,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Miami has the high HIV transmission rate in the U.S. and we have no Sex Ed in our schools. Furthermore what is offered is heteronormative to a fault and does not include any information on same-sex HIV/STI prevention.”

He said he believes that “LGBTQ teens growing up in the highest HIV incidence metro area in the country have the right to accurate, unbiased, science-based sexual health information.”

Other organizations also feel that HIV/ AIDS education is important within the community.

Plakas said Compass was one of the first groups to get involved with HIV and AIDS education.

“Thirty years later, we are the experts in how to engage groups of people free of bias and stigma,” he said. “I’m making sure the emerging population have someone they can turn to and [access to] mentoring and assistance. We’re up to speed on an epidemic that has been a blight on the community for over 35 years.”

Rajner said it’s important to work to ensure that sexual health and sex educations are important.

“We continue to drill down these efforts through legislations and good public policy so our community is prioritized, especially when looking at issues with HIV men,” he said.

Continued on next page.

8.26.2015 •

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news local

Continued from previous page Protecting the Elderly

Photo: Facebook.

Tony Plakas speaking on the pressure to marry.

Anti-Bullying and LGBT Youth Support

something prevalent in [schools like Central, Northwestern and Homestead High]. We want to really build those and have a support network for cities in lower income areas to be supported.”

Wood, of the Aqua Foundation, said they’ve been focusing on youth homelessness, especially in the transgender community. They also offer scholarships and mentorship programs.

“We’re definitely focused on providing safe spaces and opportunities and support, especially youth homelessness as well,” she said.

LGBT students and youth have been of growing important for the LGBT community as acceptance grows. Students have become to come out more in school and have created clubs, GSAs, to create a safe space where they can be themselves.

While acceptance has grown, students still face their own problems which Florida organizations hope to combat.

Hoch said the PBCHRC has done a lot of work with students. Currently, he said, Encouraging LGBT there is no statewide law Leaders that specifically protects LGBT students from A great step to ensure that bullying. the LGBT community stays They got a policy passed strong and continues to in 2008, working with fight for equality is ensuring Caitlin Wood the ACLU of Florida, to Executive Director of the Aqua that there are leaders to make sure teachers and Foundation for Women fight for the community. administrators know that if Wood said the Aqua Foundation provides they see any form of bullying, they have to leadership conferences and scholarships to report it.

The PBCHRC also helped a man who focus on emerging LGBT leaders.

“We want to provide people with the skills founded and headed his HIV go to college by and networking opportunities to be LGBT providing him with a scholarship.

SAVE has been helping to build a network leaders in the community, “she said.

SAVE recently gave out its Luminary of GSAs in high schools in inner city areas.

“You often find GSAs in schools in the Awards, which honors young LGBT-allies higher income areas,” Lima said. “We want and leaders in the community.

“I would hope that one of the issues we can take up in the near future is the lack of Comprehensive Sex Ed in our school. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Miami has the high HIV transmission rate in the U.S. and we have no Sex Ed in our schools” - Luigi Ferrer

Director of Health Services at Pridelines Youth

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• 8.26.2015

How You Can Help

Another focus of many of the groups SFGN asked these leaders how people at has been on encouraging and supporting home can help, and here are some tips on domestic partner benefits and protection how you can create change. and care for the elderly.

Bishop encourages people to sign up for Some have suggested that since marriage the newsletters of Equality Florida, SAVE is now legal for same-sex partners it’s time to Dade and the Pride Center – to name a few. get rid domestic partnership benefits but for “I encourage them to stay informed about Rajner, those benefits are really important to the issues that impact our community,” he continue. said.

“One of the things is that as we move Hoch said that people should thank the beyond marriage, the issue of domestic elected officials who support LGBT rights partner benefits is something that’s going and encourages people to fund and donate to be debated,” he said. “I think that to pro-equality organizations. marriage isn’t for everyone, and domestic People should also get involved in LGBT partnerships give people the minimal level events and share their stories, Rajner said. of protection.”

“Share your stories He said the community should with others about continue to be supportive of what the decision domestic partnerships for older for equality means to people regardless of sexual you, how it’s affected orientation and gender. your lives and how Plakas, of Compass, said he these discriminatory agrees that senior needs are laws have affected important to keep in mind. you,” Rajner said.

“Recognize we’re “They’re coming out at a very getting past that.” late stage in their lives after they’ve Wood advises had children and been married,” he people to volunteer said. “They have no desire to take and help mentor advantage of marriage equality Bishop SF other LGBT people because they’re from different LGBT activist and Equality Florida transgender advisory through the Aqua generations and have different board member Foundation. values.”

news national U.S. Attorney's Office Speaks The United States Attorney's Office issued a statement stating the RentBoy.com employees were charged with "conspiring to violate the Travel Act promoting prostitution." The report goes on to read: "Rentboy.com is a male escort advertising site founded in 1997 which hosts thousands of paid advertisements. While the site has disclaimers stating that the advertisements are for companionship and not sexual services, Rentboy.com is designed primarily for advertising illegal prostitution. The website charges subscribers a minimum monthly fee of $59.95 and up to several hundred dollars to advertise sexual services. Once the fee is paid, subscribers can select from a number of categories created by Rentboy.com the sexual services they are willing to perform and the price charged. Subscribers can also include their physical descriptions and provide links to another website where their sexual services are rated by prior customers. Between 2010 and 2015, Rentboy.com had over $10 million in gross proceeds."

HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Sorge stated, “The facilitation and promotion of prostitution offenses across state lines and international borders is a federal crime made even more egregious when it’s blatantly advertised by a global criminal enterprise."

Homeland Security Raids Rentboy SFGN Staff

T

he Department of Homeland Security illegal prostitution," quoting Acting United (DHS) and the New York City Police States Attorney Kelly T. Currie.

Department (NYPD) yesterday raided The document paid tribute to the U.S the Manhattan headquarters of Rentboy. Drug Enforcement Administration and the com, which bills itself as the “original and New York District Attorney's Office for their world’s largest male escort site.” help in bringing down the popular escort CEO Jeffrey Hurant and six other advertising site. employees were arrested "Rentboy.com profited based on a criminal from the promotion complaint enumerating their of prostitution despite According to alleged misconduct. Law their claim that their enforcement authorities also advertisements were not NBC New York, seized their homes, bank for sexual services," said RentBoy.com's accounts, and $1.4 million.

NYPD Police Commissioner Charged with conspiring William Bratton. has more than to violate the Travel Act by But "thanks to the 10,500 male promoting prostitution, the detectives, agents, and seven accused persons are prosecutors of the U.S. users located facing five years in prison and Attorney’s Office in the in more than a quarter of a million dollar Eastern District involved fine. They will face a jurist in in this investigation, these 2,100 cities the U.S. district Court for the individuals will be held worldwide.

Eastern District of New York. accountable for running The Justice Department this racket." issued a simultaneous press The individuals arrested release announcing that "Rentboy.com along with CEO Jeffrey Hurant were Michael attempted to present a veneer of legality, Sean Belman, Clint Calero, Edward Lorenz when in fact this Internet brothel made Estanol, Shane Lukas, Marco Soto Decker, millions of dollars from the promotion of and Diana Milagros Mattos. By yesterday

afternoon, most were released on bond.

RentBoy.com has marketed itself as “the world’s largest male escort site.” Authorities agreed, alleging in the complaint that Rentboy.com is “a worldwide social networking site of the male sex industry, where members pay fees to list and buy services.”

According to reports released yesterday, Rentboy has more than 10,500 male users and is located in over 2,100 cities worldwide.

Subscribers can find a rentboy or a masseur by searching through different countries and cities, as well as by age, rate, talents and physical features.

The government announced on Tuesday that they would be taking steps to bring the sites down and bring an end to the services provided by rent boy clients. As of yesterday, the site was still operating, but gay media sites such as str8upgayporn were going viral with discussion and debate over the law enforcement activity.

The arrests consumed and was dominating twitter accounts of the gay porn industry as well. Meanwhile, the government justified the use of multiple federal agencies, arguing that since Rentboy operated in foreign countries around the

globe, numerous resources were required.

Columnist Chris Sosa went on the Huffington Post, and called the raid a transparent attack on LGBT rights. He wrote “The site has operated within public view for many years. This is not a secretive, dark web enterprise hidden from the public eye.

It's a popular online destination that allows escorts to set their own rules and rates.

RentBoy's platform gives its escorts a degree of agency that sex workers forced to walk the street or be managed by a pimp simply do not have.”

Founded in 1997 by Jeff Davids and Melanie Nolan, their Wikipedia site suggested that their offices “employed ten people and hosted 40,000 escort profiles.”

This year, they launched a scholarship program for younger sex workers that would help reduce a social stigma.

Rentboy.com also hosted an annual awards show for escorts called the Hookies, the complaint says. Asked by an undercover investigator who went to the 2015 Hookies how the show started, Hurant responded, "Have you ever had sex with anyone and it was so good you had to tell someone? That's what this is about," the complaint alleges.

Also in this issue: Publisher’s Editorial condemning Rentboy Raid.

8.26.2015 •

9

Compiled by Jillian Melero

foo fighters 'Rickroll' westboro Baptist Church (CNN) – Foo Fighters won the Internet over the weekend.

The group turned the tables on Westboro Baptist Church members protesting outside the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday before the Foos' concert.

Lead singer Dave Grohl and the gang showed up in a pickup and "rickrolled" the protestors in person by blasting the Rick Astley '80s hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" from the speakers while holding signs that said "You got Rick roll'd (again)" and "Keep it clean."

The Topeka, Kansas, church is known for

M

ich. Couple That Challenged Gay Marriage Ban Wed

Photo: Facebook.

(AP) April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse - the two Michigan women who legally challenged the state's ban on gay marriage - exchanged vows Saturday during a ceremony in suburban Detroit.

Federal Judge Bernard Friedman, who overturned the state's ban in 2014, performed their wedding at a banquet hall in Southfield.

Between 250 and 300 family members and friends attended the wedding. DeBoer wore a cream-colored wedding dress and Rowse a black tuxedo. With their children and DeBoer's father as escorts, they walked down the aisle to late Beatle George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun." "Little did I know that you would bring me four beautiful kids ... and drag me into the Supreme Court," DeBoer said, the crowd laughing as she read her vows. "I am honored to soon be your legal wife."

DeBoer and Rowse, both hospital nurses, are raising four adopted children at their Hazel Park home. The children read their own vows during the wedding and said they would take each woman as their "legal mommy."

In 2012, the couple sued the state, which at the time barred them from jointly adopting each other's children because same-sex couples couldn't marry in Michigan. Their case grew into a challenge to a 2004 Michigan constitutional amendment that recognized marriage only between a man and a woman.

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u

S Marine admits Choking Trans Filipino, Denies Murder

A U.S. Marine charged with murder has testified in court that he choked a Filipino unconscious during a fight that started when he discovered that she was a transgender woman in a Philippine motel.

Lawyer Rowena Flores says Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton told the regional trial court Monday that Jennifer Laude was alive when he left her in a shower in October last year. Pemberton panicked after seeing her unconscious and left.

Flores says she and other defense lawyers will present evidence that raises the possibility that someone else killed Laude.

Government prosecutors charged Pemberton with murder, saying there was probable cause that he killed Laude, who had apparently been strangled to death.

I

slamic State Claims 30 Killed for Sodomy

(AP) The head of an international gay rights organization is telling the U.N. Security Council that the Islamic State extremist group has claimed responsibility for executing at least 30 people for sodomy.

Monday's event is the first time the council has met on gay rights. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power calls the closeddoor meeting "historic."

The executive director of The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission says that courts established by the Islamic State group claim to have punished sodomy with stoning, firing squads, beheadings and pushing from tall buildings.

Jessica Stern, whose remarks were released publicly, says fear of the group has fueled violence by other militias and "private actors" against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals.

The Islamic State group holds large parts of Syria and Iraq.

Photo: Youtube.

protesting funerals and other notable events, its members holding signs with inflammatory inscriptions such as "God hates fags."

The Foo Fighters' actions were met with cheers online, with many applauding the group for turning the tables on the protesters.

It's not the first time the group has counterprotested the church. Grohl serenaded them in 2011 outside the same venue.

This time around, it seemed like Westboro had a sense of humor about the incident. A Twitter account linked to the church posted, "Did @ FooFighters just #rickroll us? Oh well!"

J

erusalem Gay Pride Parade attacker Charged With Murder

(AP) An ultra-Orthodox Israeli who fatally stabbed a teenage girl at a Jerusalem gay pride parade has been indicted on a murder charge.

Jerusalem's District Court indicted Yishai Schlissel for murder on Monday for last month's deadly attack, along with multiple attempted murder charges for those he wounded.

Schlissel, who had been freed from prison weeks earlier after serving a sentence for stabbing several people at the city's pride parade in 2005, stabbed six people at the July 30 parade. One of them, 16-year-old Shira Banki, later died of her wounds.

Jerusalem, known for its rich religious history and tradition, holds a modest gay pride parade annually in contrast to the large parade in the nearby liberal city of Tel Aviv, which drew over 100,000 people this year.

News Briefs

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Continued

akery in Gay Wedding Cake Case Sends Gifts to LGBTQ Groups

Photo: Twitter.

(AP) The owners of a Portland-area bakery who were fined for denying service to a samesex couple have sent cakes and copies of a Christian film to 10 LGBT groups on the West Coast.

Melissa and Aaron Klein, of Sweet Cakes

by Melissa, told The Oregonian (http://bit. ly/1J8LHx8 ) they sent the custom-designed cakes and copies of the movie "Audacity" to the groups as "an expression of love."

The packages also included $25 restaurant gift cards provided by Ray Comfort, a New Zealand evangelist and the film's executive producer.

The theme of "Audacity" is that Christians who speak up about their belief that homosexuality is a choice aren't trying to spread hate or hurt someone, but are doing it to warn people and save them from God's wrath.

I

The cakes, which have a red heart on top with 'We really do love you!' written across it in frosting, were sent to organizations in California and Nevada.

One of the groups that received a cake Thursday, Equality California, said it considered the package a publicity stunt. The group was planning to invite gay-friendly faith leaders to share the cake, spokesman Jason Howe said.

"I think the Kleins are continuing a false narrative that there's a conflict between LGBTQ and Christianity," Howe said. "There's a mainstream that thinks discriminating against people in places of business is wrong."

Melissa Klein said the cakes were not meant as a publicity stunt.

"Our purpose is to express our love for them as a Christian," Klein wrote in an email.

"We don't hate them."

llinois Enacts Gay Conversion Therapy Ban For Minors

(AP) Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday signed legislation banning therapists from trying to change a young person's sexuality.

Under the new law, those under 18 years old can get counseling to discuss concerns or thoughts about their sexuality, but professionals licenses by the state may not try to change the minor's orientation.

"These so-called 'therapies' treat homosexuality as a disease," Evanston Democratic Sen. Daniel Biss said in a statement after Rauner signed the bill Biss sponsored with state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat. "They're out of date and can be deeply destructive to youth.

Outlawing these practices is a small step in our pursuit for LGBT rights, but it's an extremely important step in protecting young people in Illinois."

Backers of the measure were unsure how Rauner, a first-term Republican who has kept his stance on several social issues private, would act. Rauner has refused to discuss his views on same-sex marriage.

After announcing the bill's signing, spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said Rauner has no social agenda and believes the measure protects the children's interests.

"The administration carefully reviewed this legislation to ensure it would not prohibit or otherwise interfere with religious freedom or family access to religious counseling," Kelly said in a statement.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat, has said Rauner met with a "survivor" of such therapy and appeared moved by what he heard.

8.26.2015 •

11

Compiled by Jillian Melero

Some LGBT People Could be at Risk over ashley madison hack

J

osh Duggar: 'I'm the Biggest Hypocrite Ever'

(EDGE) Josh Duggar, who was the subject of a molestation scandal that involved his own sisters earlier this year, admitted Thursday to being unfaithful to his wife Anna Duggar and claimed he has an addiction to porn, the Daily Mail reports.

The confession comes shortly after Gawker reported Josh Duggar, 27, paid for at least two accounts on Ashley Madison, a controversial website that helps married people cheat on their partners. The website was recently hacked and Gawker found data that allegedly links the former member of the antigay conservative group the Family Research Council to Ashley Madison.

Though Josh Duggar doesn't explicitly say he paid for the Ashley Madison accounts in the newly released statement, he does confess he has been unfaithful to his wife and claims he is addicted to porn, calling himself a "the biggest hypocrite ever."

You can read Duggar’s statement in the Daily Mail at http:// dailym.ai/1NKX7dE The Ashley Madison hack has impacted more than 37 million users, revealing names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card info and more sensitive data to the public. So far, it seems Josh Duggar is the biggest name tied to the incident.

In Gawker's report, the website shows credit card information that links Josh Duggar to at least two Ashley Madison accounts that were used in 2013 through 2015.

D

an Savage: Duggar Deserved to be Outed as adulterer

(EDGE) Author and gay rights activist Dan Savage stopped by MSNBC this week to speak with Chris Hayes about the recently hack on infidelity website Ashley Madison, which exposed the information of 37 million users including former Family Research Council employee Josh Duggar.

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the recent massive data dump, the Independent notes.

Homosexuality is illegal in 75 countries around the world, including many in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and all of the Caribbean. The newspaper reports human rights activists said the hack is putting many LGBT people around the globe at risk.

According to CybleAngel, the firm that is monitoring the data leak, 1,200 email addresses out of the 37 million accounts exposed belong to people who live in Saudi Arabia. Adultery is punishable by death in the Middle Eastern country.

More than 50 accounts are reportedly from Qatar, where same-sex relationships are punishable up to five years in prison. Another 5,000 accounts come from Turkey, a country that does not ban homosexuality, but where being gay can be the reason why someone is booted from military service.

After a report by Gawker, which alleged Duggar, who was the subject of a molestation scandal that involved his own younger sisters earlier this year, paid for two Ashley Madison accounts.

Hours after Gawker's story was published, the former "19 Kids and Counting" reality star released a statement admitting he's been unfaithful to his wife and claimed he has a porn addiction.

Pink News points out Savage wrote about the ethics of outing in general.

"Outing someone for their private sexual conduct-even if everyone agrees that it's wrong-is a brutal tactic that should be reserved for brutes," he said. Who's a legitimate target for outing?"

"People who accuse others of trying to destroy their marriages, fundamentalists who quite literally demonize other people, and who then go back to their apartments in Washington, D.C., and cheat on their spouses are political hypocrites and legitimate targets for outing. People like this guy," Savage added.

When the columnist appeared on MSNBC Thursday, he explained his views further.

"Josh Duggar is not a private citizen. He is a public figure who has benefited politically and financially from attacking other people for their marriages, sex lives, for their alleged immorality.

So his morality his germane," Savage said. "His hypocrisy makes him a legitimate target for an outing of this sort."

Watch the video of Savage at http://bit.ly/1PqEAE3 around the 5:30 mark.

Josh Duggar.

Photo: Facebook.

(EDGE) The recent hack on the controversial infidelity website Ashley Madison, which exposed the personal sensitive information of 37 million users, could put some LGBT people at risk, the Independent reports.

Ashley Madison users who are looking for same-sex encounters and live in countries where homosexuality is illegal stand at risk of persecution. The website, which helps married people cheat on their spouses, also caters to people who are "married men seeking other men for casual, no-strings fun." Not only have users' sensitive information, like credit card numbers, addresses and names been revealed in the data breach, but users' sexual preferences were also exposed to the public this week.

Accounts made on the Ashley Madison-affiliated websites for same-sex relationships, like ManCrunch and We Know Down Low, were also compromised during

of Infidelities Spreads Evidence Online in Wake of Hack

(AP) Husbands and wives across the world are being confronted with their partners' extramarital affairs after a catastrophic leak at adultery website Ashley Madison spewed electronic evidence of infidelity across the Internet.

Online forums were buzzing Thursday with users claiming to have found evidence that their significant others were on the dating site. In Britain and Israel, parliamentarians have been put on the defensive after their email addresses were identified in the trove.

Ashley Madison marketed itself as the premier venue for cheating spouses before data stolen by hackers started spreading across the Internet earlier this week. The prospect of finding the name of a loved one or an acquaintance amid the site's more than 35 million registered members has drawn strong interest worldwide.

Websites devoted to checking emails against the leaked data appeared to be experiencing heavy traffic. Forums such as Reddit - the user-powered news and discussion site - carried stories of anguished husbands and wives confronting their partners after finding their data among the massive dump of information.

The emotional punch of the Ashley Madison leak puts it in a separate category than the parade of recent data breaches, said Eduardo Ustaran, a data protection and privacy lawyer with Hogan Lovells in London.

"Passwords can be changed and credit cards replaced," he said in an email. "But the Ashley Madison breach is different because it threatens to destroy lives and families."

It could also threaten political careers.

Journalists are combing through the data, looking for the names of celebrities, top officials or religious leaders. Their task has been complicated by the fact that many of the profiles were tied to fake or borrowed email addresses, which users did not necessarily have to validate.

News Briefs

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B

(AP) Sheriff's investigators plan to recommend prosecutors file a vehicular manslaughter charge against Caitlyn Jenner for her role in a fatal car crash last February, officials said Thursday.

Investigators found that Jenner was driving "unsafe for the prevailing road conditions" because her SUV rear-ended a Lexus, pushing it into oncoming traffic, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.

Jenner was hauling an off-road vehicle on a trailer behind her Cadillac Escalade on Feb. 7 when she steered to avoid cars slowing for a traffic light in front of her on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Jenner's SUV rear-ended two cars, pushing a Lexus into oncoming traffic and hitting a Prius.

The Lexus driver, 69-year-old Kim Howe, was killed when her car was struck head-on by a Hummer.

The case will be presented to prosecutors for final review next week, Nishida said. The district attorney's office will determine what charges Jenner ultimately faces.

If convicted of such a charge, Jenner could face up to one year in county jail.

Jenner's attorney Blair Berk declined comment.

The fatal crash occurred months before Caitlyn Jenner's transition. She was formerly known as Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic decathlon champion and Kim Kardashian's stepfather.

Photo: Facebook.

nvestigators to Recommend Caitlyn Face Manslaughter

Continued

roward Department of Health Officials Honored For Innovation

(DOH Broward) The Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward) has recently received the Large Local Health Department of the Year award by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) at the 2015 Annual Conference.

The award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of small, medium and large local health departments for their innovation, creativity and impact on their community. As an active partner in community health with DOHBroward, Broward County Human Services Department congratulates them on a welldeserved recognition.

"The ability to measure the effectiveness of public health services is key to ensuring a quality of life for Broward County's more than 1.8 million residents. DOH-Broward has established itself apartment among public health programs nationally," said William Green, Broward County Health Care Services Administrator on news of the award. "We are extremely proud of our health partners when excellence is exceeded in the delivery of care in our community.�

"We are proud to receive this award," said Paula Thaqi, M.D., M.P.H, Director of DOHBroward. "The award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team and to the support of the entire Florida Department of Health, Broward County Government and our community partners."

8.26.2015 •

13

news bites

Compiled by Jillian Melero

Gay

Lesbian ellen page sQuaRes off against cRuz on lgBt issues

dustin lance Black diRects gay-inclusive coke ad

(EDGE) Out actress Ellen Page took on 2016 GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz while he was campaigning at the Iowa State Fair Friday.

Page, who came out publicly last year at a Human Rights Campaign event, called out Cruz while he was grilling pork chops. The exchange was caught on camera by ABC News and the Hollywood Reporter confirms the exchange will also be used in Page's new gig, hosting a show for Vice Media called "Gaycation With Ellen Page."

Cruz and Page exchanged words, debating about religious liberties and LGBT discrimination. When the actress asked the Texas senator about people being fired because they're gay or transgender, he said: "Well, what we're seeing right now, we're seeing Bible-believing Christians being persecuted for living according to their faith."

"You're discriminating against LGBT people," Page told Cruz, according to ABC News.

Page then asked him if he would use that same argument in regards to segregation.

(EDGE) Out Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black recently wrote and directed a short film for CocaCola, which puts the spotlight on bullying and two gay teens.

Coca-Cola hired Black, 41, to direct three shorts for the soda company. The aids will air in Latin America and aim to stop bullying. In an interview with AdWeek, Black said one of the shorts, "El SMS" ("The Text"), is "aimed at the LGBT community." He said he wanted to show "a crossroads moment where you've got to make a decision: Are you going to go the way of kindness, or are you going to go for the easy joke when someone's having a tough time?"

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Plans, elevations, specifications, features, colors, designs, dimensions and materials are all subject to availability, and to change or substitution at any time and without notice. SobelCo expressly reserves the right to make modification, revisions and changes as may be required for lot fit or by governmental bodies and law, or other reasons as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Illustrations of elevations and plans are artist’s depictions only. Plans are only for illustrative and conceptional purposes, are not to scale, and may be the reverse (mirror image) of those shown. The drawings and floor plans in this brochure should not be relied upon, express or implied, for the final detail, feature or dimensions of any home. All measurements, including, but not limited to, room dimensions, balconies, porches and ceiling and wall heights are approximate and may vary from those shown as a result of, among other things, (i) the elevation and home-site selected, and/or (ii) construction materials, construction practices, field conditions and flooring thickness. Square footages are approximate and are measured from the outside of exterior walls. In production, plans and elevations may vary in precise details and dimensions, and may not actually be constructed as shown. The fixture shapes shown are graphical in nature and are not necessarily indicative of a particular style or model. In addition, some features shown in the model homes may not be included in the purchase price of the home as quoted. Please consult your sales representative and refer to the Purchase Agreement in order to determine which features, specifications and elevations are included in any home you may purchase. Stock photography includes stock images and is used to depict the spirit of lifestyle and not for specific references. Map is for illustration purposes, not to scale and for approximate location only. For exact locations consult a sales representative.

CBC017578

• 8.26.2015

Black, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the 2009 film "Milk," also told AdWeek how some LGBT people have responded to the short.

"The response in the LGBT community to 'The Text' was remarkable. I heard from one of the heads at the ABC network about how much it moved her," Black said. "I heard from Cleve Jones, one of the leaders of the LGBT movement, about how much it moved him. And these aren't people I sent it to. They found it, which I find remarkable, since it's in Portuguese on the Internet.”

Watch the short at: http://bit.ly/1PqE48W

Photo: Youtube.

Photo: Facebook.

"Now I'm happy to answer your question, but not to have a back-and-forth debate," Cruz said. "No one has the right to force someone else to abandon their faith and their conscience."

He went on to say: "Imagine, hypothetically, you had a gay florist and imagine two evangelicals wanted to get married and they decide, 'You know what, I disagree with your faith and I don't want to provide flowers.'"

news bites

continued

Bisexual

Transgender

one in three Young Americans Identifies as Bisexual

Health Care Costs for Trans Military Is Minimal

(SFGN) According to a study by YouGov, researchers used a version of the Kinsey scale to gauge participants’ sexuality ranging from “exclusively heterosexual” to “exclusively homosexual.”

“Overall 78 percent of Americans say that they are completely heterosexual while 4 percent say that they are completely homosexual. 16 percent of American adults say that they fall somewhere in between. In this group, the bulk of the respondents (10 percent) said that they are more heterosexual than homosexual, while 3 percent put themselves in the middle, and another 3 percent say that they are predominantly homosexual,” the study finds.

However, a number of those who identified as heterosexual, roughly 15 percent of straight women and 8 percent of straight men, admit to having had same-sex experiences. Age was found to be a factor in the study, as “24 percent of people aged 30 to 44 say that they're somewhere on the scale of bisexuality, compared to 8 percent or less of over-45s.”

(EDGE) A new study published on August 12 in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine finds that the cost of providing transition-related health care for transgender service members will be minimal after the Pentagon lifts its ban.

In "Caring for Our Transgender Troops -- The Negligible Cost of Transition-Related Care," Dr. Aaron Belkin, Palm Center director and visiting professor at University of California, Hastings, concludes that the analysis should allay concerns about financial implications of inclusive policy.

"Under any plausible estimation method," Belkin said, "the costs are minimal."

In response to Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter's announcement last month that a working group would study ways to end the military's ban over the next six months, some opponents of the policy change have cited cost as a reason to continue to prohibit service by transgender personnel. Belkin's key finding, however, is that the total price tag for the military's healthcare system would be an estimated $5.6 million each year, or 22 cents per member per month.

Full survey results are available at http:// bit.ly/1U2tjjZ The study comes shortly after YouGov’s sexuality survey of the UK, which found that “23 percent of British people surveyed do not consider themselves exclusively heterosexual. As many as 49 percent of adults aged 18-24 described themselves as ‘not 100 percent heterosexual,’ indicating bisexuality is more common among younger adults, who enjoy more sexual fluidity,” according to a report in the Advocate.

That amounts to one one-hundredth of one percent of the military's $47.8 billion annual health care budget.

In June, the American Medical Association passed a resolution urging that "transgender service members be provided care as determined by patient and physician according to the same medical standards that apply to non-transgender personnel."

Four retired former U.S. Surgeons General issued a statement endorsing the AMA resolution. Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said last year that the military's health care system must be "top performing" and that "we cannot accept average when it comes to caring for our men and women in uniform."

For more information, see www. palmcenter.org.

8.26.2015 •

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news national

Photo: Ken Borland/CNN.

Ted Cruz.

Gays Should Be Able to Discriminate Against Christians Says Cruz

By Lisa Keen

Keen News Service

D

arriage equality is now the law of the land.

Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz said last Friday he thinks a gay florist should be able to refuse services to an evangelical couple if the florist disagrees with the couple’s faith.

That, however, would constitute discrimination based on religion, and both federal and state laws prohibit discrimination based on religion in public accommodations.

Cruz is a lawyer and should know better, but campaigns provoke candidates to say all kinds of strange things. For instance, at this same campaign event August 21, Cruz derided the Obama administration for sending millions of dollars to Iran, even though Iran is executing gay people.

Cruz himself has done nothing to protect the lives of LGBT people in the United States.

A centerpiece of his campaign for the White House has been a message that the U.S. needs more laws to protect Christians who want to discriminate against gays.

Cruz’s poster couple while campaigning in Iowa last week was an evangelical couple, Dick and Betty Odgaard of Grimes, Iowa, who said their religious beliefs wouldn’t allow them to rent space or sell flowers to a gay couple.

The Iowa human rights law, like that of all other states, prohibits discrimination based on religion, but like that of a few other states, the Iowa law also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Iowa human rights commission declared that the Odgaards’ refusal of service to the gay couple was discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Cruz has produced a campaign video highlighting the Odgaards’ experience and invited them to a campaign rally in Iowa last Friday as an example of “Christians being persecuted” for “living according to their faith.”

Before that rally, Cruz participated in a pork chop fry as a way to meet with voters at

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the Iowa State Fair, when openly gay actress Ellen Page approached him and attempted to have a colloquy about rights for LGBT people.

Cruz said he didn’t want to have a “back and forth,” but he did offer, at length, his defense of the idea that people should be able to refuse services to gay people based on their religious beliefs.

During the discussion, Cruz referred to the Odgaard, who operated a business that rented out a former church building and provided other wedding services but who refused those services to a gay couple. Cruz characterizes the couple’s business as a religious institution, which it was not, and then suggests that gay florists should be able to discriminate against evangelicals.

The following is a transcript of the ABC News coverage of the interaction between Cruz and Page: Page: What about the question of LGBT people getting fired because they’re gay or trans?

Cruz: Well, what we’re seeing right now is actually we’re seeing Bible-believing Christians being persecuted. So for example...

Page: For discriminating against LGBT people.

Cruz: No, for living according to their faith.

So, for example…

Page: Yeh, but people would use that argument during the segregation era.

Cruz: I’m happy to answer your question but not to have a back-and-forth debate. So, one of the couples that are going to be featured in a video, they’re from Grimes, Iowa, wonderful couple. They own an historic Lutheran Church.

For many years, they hosted weddings in their church. A couple of years ago, two men came and wanted to have a same-sex wedding in their church. Now, the Odgaards are devout [Mennonites]. So they respectfully explained it would be contrary to their faith for them

to celebrate in their church a wedding that was not [indiscernible]. The Odgaards were promptly sued, they were dragged into protracted litigation. They ended up spending $5,000 to settle the case. And they made a promise never again to host another wedding in their church. Driven out of business. This month, they laid off all their employees. That is fundamentally wrong. Let’s take the other side: No one has the right to force someone else to abandon their faith and conscience. Imagine, hypothetically, you had gay florist and imagine that two evangelical Christians wanted to get married and the gay florist decided, ‘You know what, I disagree with your faith and I don’t want to provide flowers.’”

Page: I would say they should provide flowers.

Cruz: And I would say the gay florist has every right to say, ‘If I disagree with your faith and don’t want to participate and, you know what, there are lots of other people they can buy flowers from.’ We don’t have a right to force a Jewish rabbi to conduct a Christian wedding ceremony. We don’t have a right to force a Muslim Iman to conduct a Jewish wedding.

We’re a country that respects pluralism and diversity, and there is this liberal intolerance that says that anyone that dares to follow a Biblical teaching of marriage –that marriage is between one man and one woman-- must be persecuted, must be fined, and must be driven out of business.”

Page: I disagree. I [indiscernible] more tolerance for LGBT people who were constantly persecuted in this country. It used to be illegal, they were thrown in jail. And we’ve come a really, really long way.

Cruz: Who’s thrown in jail?

Page: Gay people used to be thrown in jail.

Cruz: You know it is interesting right now.

Do you where gay people are being persecuted right now? ISIS…

Page: All over the world, all over the world.

Cruz: ISIS is executing gay people. Iran is

executing homosexuals.

Page: Yes. Cruz: And on the left, you hear complete silence…

Page: That’s not true.

Cruz: …about Iran hanging homosexuals.

And yet the Obama administration is sending over a hundred billion dollars to a regime that murders homosexuals. That is fundamentally wrong.

Page: [Indiscernible] Christians in Uganda, Christians in Jamaica are persecuting gays to a really, really violent extent.

Cruz: But does that trouble you draw at all that you draw a moral equivalence between Christians in Jamaica and radical Islamic terrorists in ISIS beheading children. They’re not….

Page: [indiscernible] gay persecution around the world…

Cruz: But, m’am, they are not morally equivalent. Murder is murder is murder, and it is wrong. And it is wrong across the board.

And there is a difference between a community like Jamaica that may have different standards, may not be celebrating a gay pride parade but they are not murdering people. If they were murdering people, it would be wrong.

Page: A lot of gay people are getting killed…

Cruz: But in Iran and ISIS, it is the governmental body that is executing them for being homosexual. And why does Obama administration not stand against it?

Page: [indiscernible] talk to Obama about that’d be great.

Cruz: Great. Then we’re agreed on that.

Page: No, no we’re not. Don’t do that.

Cruz: But we’re agreed. M’am we’ve had a long discussion.

Page: Yeh, I appreciate it.

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feature local

Photos: J.R. Davis.

Smart Ride in 2012.

Jason Parsley

T

Get Ready to Ride A first timers guide to the Smart Ride

This year the Smart Ride takes place he first time Fort Lauderdale resident Keith Willard rode in the annual two-day 165 November 13-14. And while that’s still a couple mile Smart Ride he admits he was woefully of months away now is the time for a first timer to start preparing and training. underprepared. Among other The annual bike ride raises things his bike was too small money for local HIV-related and was only one speed. charities and is entering its “I did almost no training,” The annual bike twelfth year, raising more than the 46-year-old admits. “I was $1 million last year alone. so under prepared. I told myself ride raises For many just the thought ‘Of course I can ride 100 miles of biking 165 miles is in a day.’ I was very innocent to money for local overwhelming.

So SFGN the process.”

HIV-related wanted to see just what it takes Miraculously he still finished to prepare for such an arduous the ride despite all of the charities and journey. obstacles he had to overcome.

“It’s a challenge. But allow “It was a pathetic try,” he is entering its yourself to be challenged. said. But then adds “When Really take that on. Don’t you get it wrong on so many twelfth year, give up,” said Fort Lauderdale different levels and still make raising more resident Uli Schackmann. it, it proves anyone can do this.”

“This ride is very different.

Since that first try he’s ridden than $1 million It’s a loving community that’s twice more – with a lot more preparation though. last year alone. moving from Miami to Key West. It’s very inspiring.

“I went to a bike store, got Something very profound takes measured and I bought a place on this ride.” different bike. I reached out to Glen Weinzimer, founder of the ride, tells other riders,” he said. And of course he trained. rider not to worry.

“A little bit of training goes a long way.”

“Most of the riders are not professional riders.

His advice to a newcomer is to train, ask They just want to make a difference,” he said. “I questions and follow instructions.

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• 8.26.2015

tell them to look at is 5, 20 mile rides in the first day. A part of this is psychological.”

Weinzimer recommends being able to ride 60 miles two days in row within a few weeks before the ride. He said the event is fully supported so all a rider’s needs are taken care of during the two days.

“We have cheerleaders that will motivate you, medical support, water, Gatorade, bike techs and food,” he said. “Remember you might not have some of these things when training on your own to keep you healthy.”

Weinzimer recommends three months of training to prepare, which would include 3 15mile rides a week. He also recommends looking for organized training rides on the weekends, of which he said are aplenty.

This year will be Orlando resident Andrea Hays’ fourth ride. Unlike Willard she did her first time the right way.

“I took it very seriously,” the 39-year-old said.

“I made sure I had a few 60-80 mile rides under my belt. I knew if I could get to that point I could continue on.”

feature local

Top Fundraisers So Far Top 10 Riders 1. Joseph Locke $16,195 2. Uli Schackmann $4,242 3. Roland Merchant $3,845 4. Sandy Blumberg $3,695 5. Graham Savage $3,151 6. Albert deAtienza $3,150 7. Gerry Williamson $2,894 8. Nick Bell $2,850 9. Frank Pilewski $2,769 10. Timothy Uber $2,586

Her biggest concern that first year was how painful it was going to be and whether physically she could handle it.

“I encourage people to ride as a group or pack.

When you have the camaraderie it helps with motivation,” she said. “Make sure to agree as a team to what the pace is. No one left behind.”

Hays belongs to the Miracle of Love team.

They meet every other week to discuss training routes, share fun ideas and tips, ways they’re fundraising, and make sure they are not double dipping.

“One of things people have to remember this is not a race,” Weinzimer noted while adding that the speeds of the riders usually fall between 12 to 23 miles an hour. “It’s about making a difference.”

He also said there are rest stops every 15 to 20 miles to rest and refuel.

Now and then there are people who do fall behind. And if that happens the Smart Ride crew will pick a rider up and move them forward to help them along the way. No one is allowed to ride after dark so everyone has to be off of the road by dusk.

Many folks, he said, wrongly believe they’re too out shape, not athletic enough, too old etc.

“Our youngest rider was 18 and oldest was 82,” he said.

For those that take the ride seriously and really prepare, it can offer some health benefits such as slimming down, and helping to lower blood pressure.

“It’s a really great way to get in shape,” he said.

The second aspect to the ride that scares people off is fundraising. Each rider has to commit to raising at least $1,250.

Weinzimer said once you put it out there, especially on social media, it’s easy to raise the funds. And if that doesn’t work many people belong to teams who fundraise together.

“It’s amazing how many people want to give

Top 10 Teams 1. YOLO $22,197 2. Stamina Gym-STEAM Cycling $12,567 3. Mile Markers $11,613 4. Broward House Give A Shift $7,471 5. CINTORA $7,428 6. Tampa Bay Area Cyclists $7,340 7. HE Travel $6,553 8. Wells Fargo $5,760 9. Rumors Riders $5,450 10. WoJo $4,420

to an event like this,” Willard said. “Put a note out there on Facebook and watch how quickly $200, $300, $400 adds up.”

In addition, every rider gets a rider rep, someone who will periodically check in with them to check on their training, fundraising and answer whatever questions or concerns they may have.

Teams will routinely fundraise together so those riders that aren’t adept will be lifted by those who are better at that aspect.

“Most people surprise us. On average $2,200 is raised. It becomes a lot easier when you start asking. Write a letter to everyone you’ve ever known including acquaintances. Let them know you’re doing this. Most people make the goal,” Weinzimer said. “I encourage riders to join teams. You have more of a safety net. As long as the average of the team is $1,250 it counts.”

Even after reading this someone still isn’t sure they can handle the ride, Weinzimer said they’re always looking for volunteers to be a part of the 300-person crew it takes to organize the event. Some of those jobs include: driving the vehicles, bike techs, people to handle the bike parking, medical staff, massage therapists and even cheerleaders.

Riders have told Weinzimer afterwards that cheerleaders have really motivated them to keep going even when they didn’t think they could.

“The crew really do play major roles psychologically and physically,” he said And for all of the riders, finishing the ride, is a personal triumph – and very emotional.

“It’s exhilarating,” said Hays, who choked up on the phone even talking about it. “My eyes start to tear up just thinking about the impact that we’ve made on the community and the people that are in need.”

Visit TheSmartRide.org for more information.

What to Bring Required items: Bicycle (mechanically safe and in good working order, make sure to have it inspected for bike fit prior to the ride) Helmet (ASTM, Snell, ANSI or CPSC approved) 2 Water bottles (one filled with an electrolyte replacement drink) OR 1 hydration pack (like a Camelbak), plus a bottle filled with an electrolyte replacement drink.

Bike frame pump or CO2 cartridges Patch kit or spare tube that will fit your tire size.

Bicycle multi-tool for making adjustments Bike seat bag (to carry multi-tool, tire irons, patch kits, tubes, cell phone, cash/credit card)

Useful, but not mandatory items: Sunscreen Insect Repellant, Hand wipes or hand sanitizer Lip balm w/ sunscreen Band-Aids Bike computer Cycling gloves Sunglasses

Other Items to pack: Variety of riding clothes for 2 days (make sure to be prepared for variable weather) Clothes for evening functions and Key West (shorts, t-shirts, jeans, flip flops, very casual) Swimsuit (yes there is a pool at Hawks Cay) Any prescriptions you need Antacid, ointments, bandages, Ibuprofen Toiletries Earplugs (to drowned out the snoring from your roommate) 8.26.2015 •

19

column publisher´s editorial

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

T

oday, there should be unified national outrage.

Less than a week after ISIS beheaded an archaeologist in Syria, Homeland Security has beheaded Rentboy.com in New York.

This is from the ‘you can’t make this up department.’ Really.

In closing down Rentboy’s New York office, federal agents were deployed from the offices of Homeland Security.

Is that why we mobilized a federal agency to combat international terrorism? To use those ass-ets to targets boy’s ass-es? Our nation, our government, those prosecutors should be so ashamed of themselves. It is unconscionable, unbelievable, and almost surreal.

Seven years ago, banks all over this country conspired to virtually bring the nation to a financial standstill, defrauding consumers, robbing lenders, destroying your credit, foreclosing your mortgages and robbing you blind. Stocks collapsed, careers were lost, and portfolios were ruined. Everywhere you turned, people lost their wealth and standing.

Barely a soul was prosecuted.

But as one of the largest gay websites in the world, with over 10,000 men plying their trade gets popped – seven people are already in jail. This, my friends, is why governments everywhere are held in disgust.

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• 8.26.2015

Rent Boy ‘Raid’ A National Disgrace Ultimately, legalizing the sex trade for U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Kelly Currie said in a statement. adults is the next step in everyone’s civil rights The agent from Homeland Security struggle. It’s all about free choice. While you jumped in and said it was may find prostitution morally part of a “global criminal objectionable, the fact that it enterprise.” Really? Hiding offends your sensibilities is Some people in open sight, for anyone to insufficient to deny that right to access? another party. Legalizing the sex want to buy The criminal enterprise trade means respecting the free is the use of our nation’s choice people have to make their couches; resources to attack an LGBT own moral decisions without other people enterprise and diminish interference by another agency. our rights. America created Some people want to buy cocks. Deal a Department of Homeland couches; other people cocks.

Security after 9-11 to Deal with it. The matter is not for with it. The combat terrorism, not you to judge. Adult men seeking testicles. masseurs and escorts should have matter is not With more than 20,000 that unfettered right. Rentboy. followers on Facebook and com provided the Internet vehicle for you to Twitter, and nearly 11,000 wherein consenting adults made judge. men listed as contractors, free choices. you have to wonder While the site has disclaimers what the Department of stating that the advertisements are for companionship and not sexual services, Homeland Security is going to do with the cartons and boxes of data they carried out prosecutors say Rentboy.com is designed of the Rent Boy offices. Your privacy will be primarily for advertising illegal prostitution.

“As alleged, Rentboy.com attempted to invaded.

Think about the absurdity of this. It’s present a veneer of legality, when in fact this beyond imagination. While terrorists are Internet brothel made millions of dollars from the promotion of illegal prostitution," Acting arming themselves with AK47’s to hijack an

Amtrak train heading from New York City to Albany, some Homeland Security Agent is going to be contacting a kid name Dante in Fort Lauderdale to ask him whether Andre in Chicago had a happy ending to his massage.

Look, Rentboy may be the world’s largest gay prostitution site ever. I don’t know. I do know that consensual male prostitution is not the greatest threat to our homeland.

I do know that if we are utilizing the assets of our Department of Homeland Security to target a consensual adult hookup site that the people who so authorized this investigation should be hookup and strung by their genitals to the nearest light pole.

I do know that we live in a world where terrorists bred in South Florida flew passenger planes into the World Trade Center. I know things have not got better since then, not with citizens anywhere being threatened with brutal massacres by terrorists everywhere.

I know that the National Security Agency should not be monitoring your twitter account, and that Homeland Security should not be worried about a gay adult escort site.

If there is a story here, it is not about gay men seeking hookups. It is about a national security agency so misdirecting its energies, efforts and equipment that we should all be astonished and appalled.

8.26.2015 •

21

Photo: Dennis Jozefowicz.

column publisher´s editorial

Norm Kent

norm.kent@sfgn.com

D

ear whoever you may think you are, You have now written this newspaper two nasty, condescending letters, which ever so transparently reveal how selfish and arrogant each of you are.

A horse kicks you once; shame on him. He kicks you again; shame on you.

I am going to publish each of your letters now.

Ask and you shall receive. Push and guess what? I push back.

Criticizing our coverage of the unfortunate traffic death on Wilton Drive, you sent SFGN a letter on July 30, all about you and no one else.

You wrote: “In your article ‘Danger on 'The Drive', you write the following sentence: 'Tony Dee, owner of Tropics Piano Bar & Restaurant where the accident occurred...

We Godfrey Thompson and myself Alex W Meyer are extremely angry with you. Not only you SHOULD you know about the change in ownership, but also we asked you to check about advertising and you never came back on us.

It seems to us as if SFGN isn't interested in the older gay community in Wilton Manors.

Sad news to see this.

We wanted to invite you to Gregs ‘Celebration of Life’, but now we have to assume you're not interested in such things as well."

On August 1, my Associate Publisher, Jason Parsley, ever so professionally and politely responded thusly: "I apologize for our mistake. And I am sorry that you are angry with us.

We realized our error the next morning and immediately corrected it online.

SFGN.com/Local/danger-on-the-drive.html

We strive for accuracy here at SFGN but do fall short from time to time.

Thank you for understanding."

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• 8.26.2015

An Open Letter to the Owners of Tropics I was ready to put the issue to rest. Had I Futchi, not the tragedy that this community will endure with you as proprietors of Tropics. replied, I would have told you to go suck a hot The following week, our newspaper rocket. published a correction noting What we did was provide that Tony Dee was incorrectly this community with the most identified; that he had sold exhaustive coverage in this the bar last year. entire county of Greg Futchi’s Just in case you That was our obligation, untimely death. We gave the had not noticed, the to clarify the inadvertent story more articles, pages miscommunication. It was and ink than all the LGBT storyline was not not to give you publicity. You newspapers AND mainstream about you buying were not part of the story publications combined. As before or after the error. usual, for free. We don’t charge a bar.

It was a Nor should you be, unless for our paper. It’s free. you were to carelessly allow Just in case you had not feature on a loved your customers to become noticed, the storyline was and cherished so intoxicated that they not about you buying a bar. It would become a threat to was a feature on a loved and 68-year-old human themselves or others upon cherished 68-year-old human being who was leaving the bar. being who was struck and Still not understanding killed by a motor vehicle. It was struck and killed your irrelevance, you have not to pay homage or tribute now proceeded to write a to you or your ownership of by a motor vehicle. second scathing letter to the establishment where the SFGN desperately attempting tragic death occurred. So it is to sound intelligent. completely clear, your role and relevance to this storyline is inconsequential Unfortunately, you come across as crude and condescending. and irrelevant.

You fail again.

And no, I was under no obligation or You wrote: continuing duty requiring that I “SHOULD have known” you bought that bar and "Hello, restaurant. Many people lease, purchase and start businesses in our community. Some are Wikipedia has as a definition of memory: In even worthy of features and attention, but psychology, memory is the process in which there are no guarantees. Earth to Godfrey information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. I and Alex: a new bar owner in a town with two am surprised that a journalist from SFGN come dozen bars is not breaking news. to Tropics and talks with us for over one hour and In case you have never heard of Carly all you print is: 'Correction: Last week, SFGN Simon, let me share her Grammy-winning incorrectly identified Tony Dee as the owner of words: “You're so vain, I'll bet you think this Tropics. Dee actually sold the restaurant last Fall. song is about you.”

We regret the error.'

Our reporter and this newspaper made a Coming back to the memory statement at the simple error in failing to correctly identify beginning. We told the journalist/publicist that we the current owner of the bar when writing bought the place on April 30th 2014. How t h i s the story. Tony Dee was interviewed for his is ‘last Fall’ in your terms is an enigma for me. perspective on the tragedy that befell Mr.

On the same page you wrote your new article "Wilton Drive Lane Reduction" and show a picture of Tony and Andy. Seems to me the whole post about your mistake is hypocrite act. Is this your form of journalism? Maybe you should change the name of your paper to South Florida Gay Tweets, then you can post even shorter messages and you don't have to care about correctness."

Who the hell do you think you guys are?

First, you allege our failure to properly name you meant that we were not interested in covering a memorial for a deceased friend.

Nonsense.

Second, you then accuse SFGN of being disrespectful of the elder gay community in the Manors. Why? Because we did not know who you are? More gibberish.

Your letter only exposes you and your partner as shallow and self aggrandizing. Like Carly Simon said, that song was not about you.

This one is though.

The only thing I apologize for is hearing that a reporter from my paper actually went to talk to you and express his regret for our purported error. I should have scolded his ass. You are owed no apologies. You have earned only rebuke for your foolish vanity.

The paper I have been delivering for free to your establishment for the past five years I will gladly move to another locale, one that appreciates our energy and excellence, our spirit and our success.

The product that we create is proudly engineered and professionally managed, award-winning, credible, conscientious, and committed to this community. We didn't show up yesterday with a pocketful of money and try to buy our credibility by cooking a new steak on an old stove.

SFGN will be around a long time after you sell your last drink. But I will be sure to send a reporter as the door closes behind you on your way out.

8.26.2015 •

23

column bil of rights

Photo: Facebook.

The first Pride At Work Converence in 2012.

Bil Browning

I

saving youR Relationship at the magic kingdom

’ll be in Orlando, Florida this week You might have missed P@W, but the preventing a divorce at the Magic labor unions know who they are. They count Kingdom. That’s right, I’ll be keeping a on their advice and expertise. It's a marriage relationship together at the triennial Pride of sorts; they support each other and work At Work (P@W) conference. together to make life better for both of them.

P@W is the LGBT They're a team. For better or organization you probably for worse. haven’t heard about before My dad was incredibly Sure, we could if you're not in a labor proud to be the treasurer have split up union. With only two of his union local. He spent employees, they toil away many extra hours balancing when he spent in the headquarters of the the books and helping to too much money AFL-CIO in Washington, DC. negotiate the contracts for or I demanded My husband, Jerame Davis, his fellow workers. Every too much, but is the executive director summer, he would pack and Kristina Pace is his his bags and head off to his together, we're loyal deputy. Together they union convention to listen a team. When accomplish miracles for to speakers, attend trainings push comes to our community with fewer and hang out with peers from staff and less money than other locals. shove, we have 99 percent of the national One year, Dad came back each other's LGBT groups. That’s pretty from the convention and backs. amazing, even if I am slightly announced he was leaving biased. my mom for another woman.

"We don't just bring They'd met at the convention the message of labor unions to the queer and had been carrying on an affair for community," the incredibly handsome years. Apparently trainings on contract Davis told me. "We also bring the needs and negotiations wasn't the only incentive for challenges of the queer community to the Dad. labor unions."

Mom blamed the union for years as the Details like LGBT nondiscrimination source of their divorce, but always neglected language and transgender-inclusive health to consider that the marriage had been on care benefits don’t appear in union contracts rocky ground for years. Blaming the union on their own after all. Someone has to train for her own problems wasn't rational, but it the union negotiators on what to demand; made her feel better about herself in an odd your average straight steel worker in a rural sort of way. factory more than likely isn’t well versed in The American people have a similarly the cultural needs of our community. twisted relationship with labor unions. For

24

• 8.26.2015

years, folks have blamed waste, corruption and greed as the main reasons for the steady decline in union membership. People bristle when they hear how much union members are making compared to their own wages.

Just like good ole Mom though, they don't stop to realize that their blame is misplaced.

The problem isn't that union members' wages are too high; it's that their non-union wages are too low.

Instead of recognizing the actual issue - corporate greed has depressed wages, eliminated benefits, and crippled the middle class - Americans have bought the Republican anti-union talking points. No wonder corporations and wealthy fat cats love Republicans; those CEOs making 300 times the amount of the average worker knows which side of the bread is buttered.

Gullible workers, however, have misplaced their anger just like my poor mother.

America's relationship with labor unions has crumbled in recent years and the middle class has suffered like children caught in the middle while the parents bicker about the small things and nurse old grudges.

Jerame and I have been together for almost twenty years now. Sometimes the road has been rocky but, like responsible adults, we've worked through our problems

with patience and perseverance. Sure, we could have split up when he spent too much money or I demanded too much, but together, we're a team. When push comes to shove, we have each other's backs.

Labor unions and the LGBT community have a similar long-term connection. Unions were the first organized group to stand up for our rights. They've been beside us the entire time - cheering us on, using their clout to make life easier for us, and protecting us as much as they've been able. They've taken on our fights as if they were their own and lived up to their motto: "An injury to one is an injury to all."

Workers in Florida aren't protected by a statewide nondiscrimination law. A union contract is the only way most workers are protected in the state outside of local human rights ordinances that generally lack any real enforcement mechanisms since state laws always trumps local ones.

The unions are still diligently working on their relationship with the queer community.

If we truly love them - and ourselves - we can't give up now; true love is steadfast and can't be derailed by outside interests. That's why I'll be in Orlando this week.

I'm working to save your long-term relationship. Mom would be proud.

Bil Browning is a freelance writer and gay activist based in Washington, DC. Known for his political and social commentary, Bil also does consulting work for political, communications and new media projects. His papers and activism memorabilia are part of the Smithsonian’s American History Museum archives center.

8.26.2015 •

25

Photo: pbs.org.

column letters to the editor

Letters to the Editor i was theRe with maRk segal at stonewall

26

• 8.26.2015

Photo Credit: Eduardo Montes-Bradley.

Dear SFGN,

several years at the University of Pittsburgh where we met when we were both involved in Students for Peace (a movement against the Vietnam engagement of the US). He was It was with great interest that I read your in law school and I was majoring in Cultural story on the Stone Wall uprising. Mark Segal, Anthropology. We both went to Washington however, is not quite accurate on one point: to march in protest and we both stood silent Michael (Mike) Lavery and he are not the vigil in front of the University of Pittsburgh only ones left who originally participated chapel to protest the war many times. with Marty Robinson and One of the things others in the movement after that we did as the Gay Stone Wall. The movement Liberation Front (please I later organized was originally called the "Gay don't laugh but think in Liberation Front" and I was part terms of the times) was a march to the of it. knit on the subway. I German consulate On the evening of the Stone later organized a march Wall attack by the police, I was to the German consulate to thank Germany in my apartment on Houston to thank Germany for for repealing Street. My roommate, a former repealing Paragraph 175, female co-student of mine, which was an anti-gay law Paragraph 175, Carol, was leaning out of from the Nazi era. The the window (we had no airwhich was an representatives of the conditioning) and told me that German consulate anti-gay law there was a lot of noise and received us graciously. I light coming from where the from the Nazi era. was working at that time Stone Wall was. for the then daily GermanWe went there and stayed language newspaper New outside of the ring of policemen Yorker Staats-Zeitung und while everything transpired. We did not Herold. German is my mother language leave until it was over. though I was born in the US. Shortly After that I became active in the movement thereafter, Mike and I broke up a second with Marty. Mike was yet to come from time - we were living at that time together on Pittsburgh, where he was working for a legal East 84th Street-and I went to live in company that was at that time developing Germany. a system to use key-word-in-context combinations in order to codify and study Yours sincerely, American law. He and I had been together for - RoBB kvasnak

Julian Bond was a gReat activist

T

he first political demonstration that I ever went to was a �seat Julian Bond now� demo. The Georgia Legislature had refused to seat him, because he opposed the Vietnam War. It was a small demo but it was the first of many. It was less than twenty people in the snow in January in Philly.

I followed his career and was continually impressed, particularly as he was a vocal supporter of LGBT and HIV issues. I had

always felt a special connection to him because of that demo. I had fantasized that if I ever met him in person, I would tell him about that first demo. Now I will never get that chance. Bond achieved a great deal and always maintained his integrity. I admire and respect his legacy. He was one of the giants of the 60s that stood the test of time.

- sean mcshee

8.26.2015 •

27

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Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the below signs and symptoms of liver problems.

• dark (tea colored) urine • yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes • pale colored stools (bowel movements) • nausea • vomiting • pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs • loss of appetite • PREZCOBIX may cause severe or life-threatening skin reactions or rash.

Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash. Stop taking PREZCOBIX and call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any skin changes with symptoms below: • fever • tiredness • muscle or joint pain • blisters or skin lesions • mouth sores or ulcers • red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye” (conjunctivitis) • PREZCOBIX when taken with certain other medicines can cause new or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should check your kidneys before you start and while you are taking PREZCOBIX. See “What are the possible side effects of PREZCOBIX?” for more information about side effects.

What is PREZCOBIX? PREZCOBIX is a prescription HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1) medicine used with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

PREZCOBIX contains the prescription medicines PREZISTA (darunavir) and TYBOST (cobicistat).

It is not known if PREZCOBIX is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

When used with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection, PREZCOBIX may help: • reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood. This is called “viral load”.

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• 8.26.2015

• increase the number of CD4+ (T) cells in your blood that help fight off other infections.

Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

PREZCOBIX does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must keep taking HIV-1 medicines to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.

Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection to others.

• Do not share or re-use needles or other injection equipment.

• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.

• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions on how to prevent passing HIV to other people.

Who should not take PREZCOBIX? Do not take PREZCOBIX with any of the following medicines: • alfuzosin (Uroxatral®) • cisapride (Propulside®, Propulsid® Quicksolv) • colchicine (Colcrys®, Mitigare®), if you have liver or kidney problems • dronedarone (Multaq®) • ergot-containing medicines: • dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Embolex®, Migranal®) • ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Ergomar®, Ergostat®, Medihaler®, Migergot®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®) • methylergonovine (Methergine®) • lovastatin or a product that contains lovastatin (Altoprev®, Advicor®, Mevacor®) • lurasidone (Latuda®) • midazolam (Versed®), when taken by mouth • pimozide (Orap®) • ranolazine (Ranexa®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®), when used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) • simvastatin or a product that contains simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®) • St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), or a product that contains St. John’s Wort • triazolam (Halcion®) Serious problems can happen if you take any of these medicines with PREZCOBIX. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking PREZCOBIX? Before taking PREZCOBIX, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have liver problems, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C • have kidney problems • are allergic to sulfa (sulfonamide) • have diabetes • have hemophilia • have any other medical condition • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if PREZCOBIX will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking PREZCOBIX.

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION • Pregnancy Registry: There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiretroviral medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take PREZCOBIX. • You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV to your baby.

• It is not known if PREZCOBIX can pass into your breast milk.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines interact with PREZCOBIX. Keep a list of your medicines to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with PREZCOBIX. • Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take PREZCOBIX with other medicines.

How should I take PREZCOBIX? • Take PREZCOBIX exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.

• Do not change your dose or stop taking PREZCOBIX without talking to your healthcare provider.

• Take PREZCOBIX 1 time a day with food.

• If you miss a dose of PREZCOBIX by less than 12 hours, take your missed dose of PREZCOBIX right away. Then take your next dose of PREZCOBIX at your regularly scheduled time.

• If you miss a dose of PREZCOBIX by more than 12 hours, wait and then take the next dose of PREZCOBIX at your regularly scheduled time.

• If a dose of PREZCOBIX is skipped, do not double the next dose. Do not take more or less than your prescribed dose of PREZCOBIX at any one time.

• If you take too much PREZCOBIX, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What are the possible side effects of PREZCOBIX? PREZCOBIX may cause serious side effects including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about PREZCOBIX?” • Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Some people who take protease inhibitors including PREZCOBIX can get high blood sugar, develop diabetes, or your diabetes can get worse. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice an increase in thirst or urinate often while taking PREZCOBIX. • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medications. The changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The exact cause and longterm health effects of these conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

• Increased bleeding for hemophiliacs. Some people with hemophilia have increased bleeding with protease inhibitors including PREZCOBIX.

The most common side effects of darunavir, one of the medicines in PREZCOBIX, include: • • • • • •

diarrhea nausea rash headache stomach area (abdominal) pain vomiting

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of PREZCOBIX. For more information, ask your health care provider.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store PREZCOBIX? • Store PREZCOBIX tablets at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).

Keep PREZCOBIX and all medicines out of reach of children.

General information about PREZCOBIX Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use PREZCOBIX for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give PREZCOBIX to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about PREZCOBIX that is written for health professionals.

For more information call 1-800-526-7736.

What are the ingredients in PREZCOBIX? Active ingredients: darunavir and cobicistat Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, and silicified microcrystalline cellulose. The tablets are film-coated with a coating material containing iron oxide black, iron oxide red, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol (partially hydrolyzed), talc, and titanium dioxide.

Manufactured by: Janssen Ortho LLC, Gurabo, PR 00778 Manufactured for: Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, Titusville NJ 08560 Issued: January 2015 © Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 027415-150108

8.26.2015 •

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editorial cartoon

column speak out

speak SFGN Staff

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SFGN’s “Speak OuT” is a weekly feature giving a regular voice to South Florida LGBT leaders.

What’s one story this week you’d like to highlight?

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Recently we had two big wins in the fight against using religion to discriminate against LGBT people: A federal judge ruled that despite religious objections, Rowan County, KY Clerk Kim Davis must issue marriage licenses to gay couples or risk setting a "dangerous precedent;" And, the Colorado Court of Appeals backing a lower court ruling that said a baker in suburban Denver had illegally discriminated against the two men when he cited his religious beliefs in refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. Winning Religious exemptions is the Right's new strategy for institutionalizing anti-gay discrimination into law, so these wins are important!"

— Lee Rubin, Blogger and Community Organizer

“

In the past three months, we’ve learned that Josh Duggar (shame on TLC for ever unleashing this awful brood on America) molested five underage girls (including two of his sisters) AND committed adultery through operating two accounts on the Ashley Madison website. His apology, (“I have been the biggest hypocrite ever”), doesn’t begin to make up for the damage he tried to inflict on LGBT people as the Executive Director for Family Research Council Action (good hire, FRH President Tony Perkins!). Yet no one will deny serving Josh pizza or will turn down the floral work for his next wedding (is there someone out there crazy enough to marry him?). That’s because the religious exemption isn’t really about faith. Because if it were, the religious right would refuse service to adulterers (for which there is an actual commandment!). The religious exemption fight is about social conservatives using religion to wage their war against anything to which they take offense. Social progressives need to do a better job of calling the entire lot of them out on the double standards by which they live."

—David Jobin, executive director of The Stonewall National Museum & Archives

Dr. David K. Warner, DDS, FAGD Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry

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A new study suggests that young people in Great Britain are increasingly likely to identify themselves as bisexual. If we eliminated the fear of losing status in both the gay and straight communities, the majority of people would self-identify as bisexual."

— Brian McNaught, noted columnist, author and LGBT activist

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• 8.26.2015

speak

ut

Visit SFGN.com/SpeakOut to see more of this week’s responses.

Send an Email to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com if you know of a LGBT community leader that should be or wants to be a part of this list.

8.26.2015 •

33

column sound bite q

sound Bite Q Norm Kent

norm.kent@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 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.

Doctor Pierre Bland

A

veterinarian who makes house calls?

Yes, it’s for real, and it is just one of the many companion services offered by Dr. Pierre Bland, whose offices are located at 3225 N Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, sharing facilities with Shank Animal Hospital.

A 1985 graduate of the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Bland has been a resident of South Florida since 2000. He originally came to the area as the County Veterinarian for Broward County Animal Care and Regulation.

His career includes tenures as an epidemiologist, clinical research veterinarian, and a university professor.

“Even though I feel I made significant contributions and gained invaluable experiences in those positions, they all bring me back to being a private practitioner”, states Dr. Bland.

The veterinary practice he administers is designed for “common sense medicine.” Dr. Bland’s goal is to allow his clients to make

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• 8.26.2015

informed decisions by being fully aware of from ophthalmology to oncology and their pet’s needs and options. everything in between, so it is great to have “I think the pet and client are best served those options if a pet and client should need by identifying the problem, them.” solving the problem, and Dr. Bland also offers educating the client to several options in his prevent reoccurrence of the practice that aid in “I want to problem. “, says Dr. Bland. increasing the quality of life help people do for his patients while saving He also realizes pets sometime develop some clients’ money and the right thing the very complicated medical offering the highest quality for their pets. medical care and services. conditions. “Since pets are living longer, the incidences The Free Vaccines For The goal is to of chronic and acute life Life Program give clients the threatening diseases are opportunity to make sure have the best being diagnosed and treated pet received a yearly quality of life their more frequently.” physical examination and Explaining these for the pet and vaccinations, an important outcomes to his clients is part of a pet’s preventative the client.” an important feature of his healthcare plan.

By practice. Says the doctor; enrolling in the program, the “We are fortunate to live pet’s yearly core vaccination in an area where we have access to pretty is at no cost for the life of the pet. On one much every veterinary medical specialty hand it reduces costs, while allowing for

other preventative medical services and products to become more affordable.

To our knowledge, Dr. Bland is the only trained and certified veterinarian in South Florida providing Zeuterin, the nonsurgical neutering procedure for male dogs.

Zeuterin is FDA approved and sterilizes your pet with an injection, eliminating the surgical removal of the testicles, reducing anesthesia exposure, pain, and recovery time. My six month old lab may have a surprise visit real soon.

Live Video Consultations with Dr. Bland are available through the Vet24seven app.

The app is available from the Apple App store and will soon be available for Android devices this fall.

Dr. Pierre Bland is accepting new patients into his practice. If you need a veterinarian, feel free to contact him for an appointment or just a conversation to answer a pet question or concern. He can be reached at 954 673-8579, Facebook.com/doctorbland, or doctorblandvet.com.

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lifestyle books

Course Correction: A Story of Rowing and Resilience in the Wake of Title IX Terry Schlichenmeyer

T

he song went ‘round and ‘round in She started training, running, and your head. practicing. Within six weeks, she was Maybe that’s why it’s called “a competing. round.” You know how it works: one group “Everything hurt,” she says, “including starts to sing and, when they get to a certain my butt. My hands sported new blisters, my point, the next group begins anew and so lungs felt like they had been rubbed with on, until the endings lap like sandpaper... I had never felt waves. But, as in the new happier.” book “Course Correction” by For the rest of that year, She was out Ginny Gilder, the things we Gilder threw herself into plan don’t always go merrily, her newfound love, barely of shape and merrily, merrily. socializing except with inexperienced, The first time Ginny Gilder teammates at workouts, ever saw a rowing team in training, and competitions. but determined. action, she was sixteen and Rowing helped her focus and She started didn’t quite know what she forget about the home life was seeing. Everything about she’d escaped: her family’s training, that boat, its rowers, and the wealth, her father’s infidelity, running, and motion spoke of serenity and and her mother’s mental control – things Gilder lacked health issues. Rowing helped practicing. in her young life. hide her self-consciousness Within six She was “a goner.” and lack of self-esteem. weeks, she was Two years later, while She saw her teammates enrolled at Yale, she finally swagger and confidence, competing. got a chance to try the sport, and she saw two of them try though the women’s rowing out for the US Olympic team coach strongly discouraged in Montreal. At least one her. Gilder was physically shorter than is teammate was gay and didn’t try to hide it; optimal for a rower and, because Title IX says Gilder, “I couldn’t imagine being that (ensuring an end to gender discrimination bold or comfortable…” Her self-doubts were at federally funded institutions) had only exacerbated by family naysayers and by recently passed, she’d never seriously Gilder’s own inner critic – a voice she had engaged in sports before. She was out of to silence before she could excel at the sport shape and inexperienced, but determined. she needed to her core.

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• 8.26.2015

By Ginny Gilder

She also had to come to terms with all aspects of herself – including her sexuality.

I’m very happy to say that “Course Correction,” while sometimes a little rough in a first-time-author way is, overall, a nice surprise.

Between a breathless story of the making of an athlete, author Ginny Gilder writes of the past that caused her to lose faith in herself, even as she was gaining strength, physically and intellectually. That

uncertainty of self – a big part of this book – led to many regrettable decisions, and is portrayed so well that it’s hard not to feel empathetic. That empathy only leads us to want more.

Add in heart-pounding accounts of races and trials and you’ve got a nice memoir about a subject that’s largely unsung by an author to watch. And if that sounds like an ideal read to you, then try “Course Correction.”

This book is but a dream.

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8.26.2015 •

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lifestyle photos

Poverello's 25th bowling to fight hunger

J.R. Davis

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Poverello Breaks Record; Raises $107,000

倀爀攀猀攀渀琀攀搀 䈀礀

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䴀攀搀椀愀

䴀甀猀椀挀 䈀礀

䐀䨀 䄀䨀 刀攀搀搀礀

䈀爀漀渀稀攀 倀氀愀渀攀琀 䰀椀最栀琀椀渀最 簀 圀䔀 䘀氀漀爀椀搀愀 簀 䐀甀渀欀椀渀 䐀漀渀甀琀猀 夀攀氀氀漀眀 䌀愀戀 䈀爀漀眀愀爀搀 䌀漀甀渀琀礀 簀 倀愀礀氀攀猀猀 䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀

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吀椀û愀渀礀 吀⸀ 䘀愀渀琀愀猀椀愀 8.26.2015 •

39

lifestyle history During an interview, Fidel Castro blamed himself for the mistreatment of homosexuals in Cuba.

Pier Angelo

homo histoRy 101

History was never as straight as we are told. Recording our history means reporting the truth.

LGBT persons in Cuba

may face legal challenges not experienced by non- LGBT residents. Public antipathy is high, reflecting regional norms. This has eased somewhat since the 1990s.

Educational campaigns on LGBT issues are currently implemented by the National Center for Sex education, headed by Mariela Castro daughter of President Raul Castro.

No alternative to marriage such as civil unions or domestic partnerships is available. Several measures favorable to the LGBT community, including the legalization of same-sex unions, have not passed the National Assembly. Since June 2008, qualifying Cubans have been able to have free sex reassignment surgeries. In his autobiography “My Life,” Fidel Castro criticized the machismo culture of Cuba and urged for the acceptance of homosexuality.

He has made several speeches to the public statements regarding discrimination against homosexuals. In a 2010 interview with Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Castro called the persecution of homosexuals while he was in power "a great injustice, great injustice!" Taking responsibility for the persecution, he said, "If anyone is responsible, it's me.... We had so many and such terrible problems, problems of life or death. In those moments, I was not able to deal with that matter [of homosexuals].

Castro personally said that the negative

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• 8.26.2015

Latino, Cuban, gay, or 'white'—but I embrace them all.

On August 14th 2015 Richard Blanco read on the grounds of the formally reopened U.S. Embassy in Havana, a poem he wrote for (1968) is an that occasion. He dedicated his poem titled American poet, public speaker, author and "Matters of the Sea" to "the people of both civil engineer. He is the fifth poet to read at our countries who believed that not even the a U.S. presidential inauguration, having read sea can keep us from one another… the 90 for Barack Obama's second inauguration. He miles between these two countries, might is the first immigrant, the first Latino, the as well be 9,000 miles. So I started thinking first openly gay person about that and how to make that and the youngest person something not about separation, to be the U.S. inaugural but about unification. And so it's poet. the sea that separates us, but it's No alternative Born in Madrid he also the sea that unites.” to marriage immigrated as an infant with his Cuban exile such as civil family to Miami, and unions or (1943 –1990) was a Cuban poet, was raised and educated novelist, and playwright who there. He explored domestic despite his early sympathy his Cuban heritage in for Fidel Castro and the 1959 partnerships his early works and revolution, grew critical of and his role as a gay man is currently then rebelled against the Cuban in Cuban-American government. He was persecuted available in culture in Looking for by the Castro regime because the Gulf Motel (2012).

Cuba. his writing and homosexuality He explained: "It's trying defied socialist orthodoxy. His to understand how I fit autobiography, “Before Night between negotiating the world, between being mainstream gay and Falls” was on the New York Times list of the being Cuban gay, I don't exclusively align ten best books of the year in 1993. In 2000 myself with any one particular group— this work was made into a film, directed treatment of gays in Cuba arose out of the country's pre-revolutionary attitudes toward homosexuality.

Richard Blanco

Reinaldo arenas

by Julian Schnabel. An opera based on the autobiography with libretto and music by Cuban-American composer Jorge Martin was premiered by the Fort Worth Opera on May 29, 2010. Before Night Falls, tells his life story ,the film stars Javier Bardem as Arenas and co-stars Sean Penn and Johnny Depp. At the 2000 Venice film festival it scooped the grand jury prize, and Bardem was nominated for best actor. In 1987, Arenas was diagnosed with AIDS, but he continued to write and speak out against the Cuban government. He committed suicide on December 7, 1990. In a letter written for publication, Arenas wrote: “Due to my delicate state of health and to the terrible depression that causes me not to be able to continue writing and struggling for the freedom of Cuba, I am ending my life. . . . I want to encourage the Cuban people abroad as well as on the Island to continue fighting for freedom. . . Cuba will be free. I already am.”

cuban-american actor guillermo diaz (1975) of “Half Baked” fame is openly gay.

fellow cuban-american mario lavandeira (1978) writes about celebrities on his notorious gossip blog PerezHilton. com.

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F O R

T H E

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SFGNITES

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THu aRT

W E E K

O F

A U G U S T

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S E P T E M B E R

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

8/27

Head down to the Nova Southeastern University Art Museum (formerly Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale), 1 E. Las Olas Blvd., for Starry, Starry Nights with free admission between 4:30 and 8 p.m. Beat the heat and enjoy world class exhibitions, lectures and films with 2-4-1 beer and wine specials and a light tapas menu in the museum café.

Make it a date night and impress your guy or gal with a little culture in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. For more information, go to NSUArtMuseum.org.

FRI

TELEVISION

8/28

It’s okay if you don’t have any plans for Friday night because Logo will help you get out of the rut and make you popular. Just tune in to “The Secret Guide to Fabulous” and “Food to Get You Laid.” Plenty of selfhelp there, covering all the bases from food to fashion. Chef Ronnie Woo, the breakout star of “Food” is certainly easy on the eyes, in the kitchen or out. Or you can just binge watch “Game of Thrones” again on HBO. Check local listings for theaters and show times or go to LogoTV.com.

SaT

THEaTER

• 8.26.2015

Photo Credit: Geoffrey Short.

8/29 SuN

Outré Theatre Company returns to the Broward Center’s Abdo New River Room with “Bed and Sofa,” the emotionally charged “silent movie opera.” Based on an old Soviet film, the musical presents a classic love triangle complicated by the kinds of sticky social issues that continue to confound couples today. The challenging musical score is unlike the usual Broadway fare, also, presenting challenges for the three person cast. For tickets and show times, go to BrowardCenter.org.

44

The cast of Outré Theatre Company’s “Bed and Sofa”, opening this weekend at the Broward Center, left to right: Noah Levine, Rebeca Diaz and Elvin Negron.

NIGHTLIFE

8/30 MON

It’s not Labor Day weekend yet, but that’s no excuse not to check out the nightlife on Wilton Drive, especially the heated tea dance wars. In the Shoppes of Wilton Manors, Hunter’s has been attracting huge crowds with its Studio 54 retro tea dance while Georgie’s Alibi/Monkey Bar continues its transformation with Barry Browder playing the now retro hits of the ‘80s. Across the street, newbie Gym is packing the boys into its renovated space next door to neighborhood stalwart Village Pub.

THEaTER

8/31 TuE

The South Florida Theatre League presents “The Dana Plays 2015,” a series of new plays inspired by the life of Dana Castellano, a local theatre supporter who succumbed to cancer last year. Nine local playwrights, including Tony Finstrom and Michael McKeever, contributed new works for the reading tonight at 8 p.m. at The Vanguard, 1501 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.

Tickets are $15 and donations are also being accepted. For more information, go to SouthFloridaTheatre.org.

SPORTS

9/1

Okay, so you’d prefer the opera or theater, but for some real drama, head down to Miami for the WWE Smackdown, tonight at 8 p.m. at the American Airlines Arena.

These greased up specimens of unbridled masculinity are only topped by a catfight in the dressing room at a drag show. We’re not even going there with the ladies, either.

Anyway, step out of your comfort zone and see how the straights define entertainment.

It’s educational. Tickets start at $23 at Ticketmaster.com.

Free Vaccines for Life Enroll your pet in the Free Vaccines for Life Program and get the yearly core vaccinations free for the life of your pet.* Core Vaccines for Dogs and Pups DHLPPC, Borditella, and Rabies

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For details, pricing, and appointments call 954 673-8579 Facebook.com/doctorblandvet doctorblandvet.com * Core Vaccines and vaccinaton schedules determined by American Veterinary Medical Association Reccomendations Free Vaccines for Life Program requires a yearly regular price physical exam and excludes rabies tags, lab testing, flea and heartworm preventative, medical services, and prescription medications.

Registration in the program is non transferable and other restrictions apply.

ASPIRE TO BE SMOOTH AT SILK. Get $75 off 75 units or more of Dysport Offer good only for patients new to Aspire Rewards Exp. 9/30/15

Pierre B. Bland DVM

Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery Office Calls and House Calls By Appointment

3225 N Andrews Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

954 673-8579

8.26.2015 •

45

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a&e theater Sweet Baby Rock will host the second annual Florida Burlesque Festival, Sept. 5 – 6 at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale.

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BuRlesQue festival BRings “sexy” Back to foRt laudeRdale Gay Performer Helps Put the “Sexy” Back into Burlesque J.W. Arnold Burlesque isn’t just for paunchy, middleaged men in smoky dive bars anymore. In fact, it’s not just for men promised Pretty Boy Rock, the master of ceremonies for the second annual Florida Burlesque Festival in Fort Lauderdale.

Last year’s inaugural event at Cinema Paradiso was a complete sell-out and producer Bambi La Fleur has assembled another world class line-up, including Miss Dirty Martini, Dixie Dynamite and Rose Rainbow, as well as the king of “boylesque,” Ray Gunn, for the ladies and many gay fans.

Pretty Boy Rock, stage name for singer and entertainer Jade Esteban Estrada, has traveled the world, hosting festivals from Amsterdam to Australia and will be serving as master of entertainment, as La Fleur calls him. It’s a role he takes seriously.

“I’m honored to usher in these performers and be a guide for the Florida audiences to what they are going to see,” he said.

“Many times you want a comic to be an emcee at a burlesque show because we’re living in a world where words have a lot of weight and people can be easily offended and empowered by what you say,” Estrada explained. “The mostly female cast should always be and feel empowered. It’s easy to be sexist in a burlesque show, but being sexy and suggestive presents a very thin line with sexism.”

Ultimately, he pointed out, burlesque is all about sexy seduction, not just bare boobs and butts.

Estrada discovered his love for burlesque while hosting his first show in Austin, Texas, six years ago.

“I’ve always been tuxedos and boas anyway, kind of a rare bird in comedy, and something magical happened,” he recalled. “I could easily stay home and work stand up comedy clubs because they pay a lot more, but there’s something about being in the middle of a movement that is steering the zeitgeist. That’s exciting.”

After the South Florida performance, he will headline shows in Poland, Malta and New Zealand. He predicts the entertainment form will continue to gain global popularity, but fears in 10 to 15 years, burlesque will become commercialized and “watered down,” not nearly as exciting as it is today.

Estrada understands the art form intimately because he himself has taken the stage to take it all off.

“I’ve jumped in the pool with all of these performers and taken off my clothes. My understanding deepened tremendously when I became a boylesque performer Wardrobe malfunctions happen much more frequently than they do at the Super Bowl,” he said with a chuckle.

Why does he continue to put himself on stage, show after show? Certainly, his family still has difficulty reconciling his fascination and dedication.

“Once you see what burlesque is and experience the best, you’ll understand. After watching a 94-year-old burlesque legend stripping, I will never complain about anything again, like ‘my leg hurts’. It’s a life changing moment,” he concluded.

Bambi La Fleur presents the second annual Florida Burlesque Festival, Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6 at 8:30 p.m. at Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6th St. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $35 -100.

For more information, go to FloridaBurlesqueFestival.com.

46

• 8.26.2015

Presents the Theatrical Event of the Century...

Created by Broadway Director & Cirque Dreams Founder NEIL GOLDBERG

S AT U R DAY, O C TO B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5

Broward Center for the Performing Arts | 201 SW 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 Tickets at BrowardCenter.org | AutoNation Box Office | Ticketmaster | 954-462-0222

Broward100.org

#Broward100 8.26.2015 •

47

Datebook

theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

Top

picks

Bed and Sofa

Aug. 28 to Sept. 14 at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. When Kolya’s friend, Volodya, is down and out, he invites him to crash on his couch. However, the new guest starts sleeping with Kolya’s wife, Ludmilla, and Kolya finds himself on the couch scheming ways to stop the two from getting together again. Tickets $30. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

110 in the Shade

Through Aug. 30 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. It’s the 1930s and the town is desperate for rain -meanwhile, Lizzie Curry is desperate for love. Starbuck comes on the scene, and promises he can make it rain in the next day. Tickets $42. Call 561-5144042 or visit PalmBeachDramaworks. org.

Bingo! It’s Murder

Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler St. in Fort Lauderdale.

Theatre and games come together when five suspects are investigated by the audience to solve the murder.

Tickets $15. Call 786-683-6078 or visit EmpireStage.com.

broward county

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 Photo: WIKIPEDIA comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

miami-dade county I’ll Eat you Last

Through Aug. 30 at GableStage at the Biltmore, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. Enter the home of Sue Mengers, who survived Hitler’s Germany, and is now a major actress. Tickets $45. Call 305-445-1119 or visit GableStage.org.

* WWE Smackdown

Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The big fight between Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt, with appearances by Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, the WWE Divas, and more.

Tickets $23 to $118. Call 786-777-1000 or visit AAArena.com.

* Mötley Crüe

Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Catch the rock band on their final tour. Tickets $25 to $54. Call 786-777-1000 or visit AAArena. com.

* Chris Brown

Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The singer is joined by Kid Ink, Omario, Fetty Wap, Teyana Taylor, and Migos. Tickets $36 to $122. Call 786-777-1000 or visit AAArena. com.

Lazy Fair

Through Sept. 6 at Miami Theater Center, 9816 NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores. A bank heist takes a turn when the money stolen is a lot more than the burglars though.

Tickets $25 to $50. Call 305-751-9550 or visit MadCatTheatre.org or MTCMiami.org.

PaMM Outdoor Music Series

* The Pure Led Zeppelin Experience

The Big Show

Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. at Parker Playhouse, in Fort Lauderdale. A tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time, with proceeds benefitting The Butterfly Project and Artists for Multiple Sclerosis. Tickets $25 to $35. Call 954-4620222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.org.

• 8.26.2015

Free Friday Concerts

* Lita Word, Slaughter, with Kix and La Guns

Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at The Amp, 1806 NE Sixth St. in Pompano Beach. The punk guitarist for The Runaways is joined by ‘90s metal band, Slaughter. Tickets $26.50 to $75. Call 95451905500 or visit PompanoBeachArts.org.

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palm beach county

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

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. * Denotes New Listing

8.26.2015 •

49

Datebook

community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

Top Picks Beats, Brew & Barbeque

Aug. 30 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the National Hotel, 1677 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach.

Head to the beach for live music by DJ D-Stu, beer, BBQ, and more benefitting Care Resource. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 the day of. Visit WhiteParty.org.

Social Security Workshop for Same-Sex Couples

Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Compass Community Center, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Congresswoman Lois Frankel invites the public to a discussion on Social Security and how it will impact same-sex couples. Free. Call 561-9989045 or RSVP to charity.lewis2@mail. house.gov.

LaST CHaNCE Summer Starry Nights

Thursdays through Sept. 3 at the NSU Art Museum, One E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Make your Thursdays a night of art with exhibitions, films, lectures, and wine and beer specials at the museum. Free. Call 954-525-5500 or visit NSUArtMuseum.org. org.

broward county Stonewall Movie Series: “But I’m a Cheerleader”

Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Stonewall and ArtServe Auditorium, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. In this satire, high school cheerleader Megan is sent to a conversion therapy camp. Instead, she finds love and acceptance of her sexual orientation.

Free. Call 954-763-8565 or visit StonewallMuseum.org.

Out of the Shadows

Through Aug. 30 at the Stonewall National Museum -- Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. An exhibition telling the story of the hidden life of LGBT people from 1903 to 1969, from police raids to the Stonewall riots. Free. Call 954-763-8565 or visit Stonewall-Museum. org.

* Denotes New Listing 50

• 8.26.2015

Support Services SunServe Youth Group Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21.

Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.

Survivor Support First and third Wednesdays, 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.

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

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.

* Dine Out Fort Lauderdale

Sept. 1 to Oct. 12 throughout Fort Lauderdale.

Celebrate area restaurants with $35, threecourse prix fixe menus. Visit Facebook.com/ VisitLauderdale.

From Within and Without

Through Oct. 4 at the NSU Art Museum, One E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. A display of Haitian photography from the 19th century to now. Admission $12. Call 954-525-5500 or visit NSUArtMuseum.org.

Pablo Picasso: Painted Ceramics and Works on Paper, 1931 to 1971

Through Nov. 1 at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, One E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. The eccentric artist is mainly known for his paintings, but he also made art into rugs, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, and other media. Call 954-525-5500 or visit NSUArtMuseum.org.

palm beach county * august Business alliance Mixer

Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach.

Network with other alliance members at the museum, surrounded by works from Picasso, Monet, Pollock, and more. Free for members, $10 for nonmembers. RSVP to eventbrite.com.

* Food Truck Invasion

Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. at Sunset Cove, 20405 Amphitheater Circle in Boca Raton. Hit up the number of food trucks parked for the event, followed by live music by Steve Vincent Cluthe. Free. Visit Facebook.com/ SunsetCoveAmphitheater.

Sushi & Stroll Summer Walks

Second Fridays through Sept. 11 at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road. in Delray Beach. An annual summer series, explore the gardens and museum for sushi, sake, and taiko drumming. Tickets $15 museum admission.

Call 561-495-0233 or visit Morikami.org

Japan’s Robot Kingdom

Through Sept. 13 at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road. in Delray Beach. A look at Japanese robotics from the last 50 years and its impact on pop culture and technology. Tickets $15.

Call 561-495-0233 or visit Morikami.org.

Eww! What’s Eating you?

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 ticks. Tickets $11 to 15. Call 561-832-1988 or visit SFScienceCenter.org.

miami-dade county The Local LGBT Hospitality Market

Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. An expo and luncheon with area businesses specializing in weddings, boutique, restaurants, and events for the LGBT community. Tickets $40 to $50. Visit GayBizMiami.com

arsht Center Farmers Market

Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Purchase 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.

Rainbow Circle

Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University of Miami Flipse Building #302, 5665 Ponce de Leon Drive in Coral Gables. An open discussion about coming out, relationships, peer pressure, bullying, depression and more. Free. Visit Pridelines.org.

HIV Support Group

Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at South Beach AIDS Project, 1234 Washington Ave. Ste. 200 in Miami Beach. A support group for those who are HIV positive. Free. Call 305-5354733, ext. 301 or email support@sobeaids. org.

Modern Buddhist Meditation

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

Call 786-529-7137.

Book Study

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

Prayers For World Peace

Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 1273 Coral Way in Miami. Buddhist teacher, Todd Ellenberg will lead prayers and meditation. Cost $10.

Call 786-529-7137.

key west * Key West Womenfest

Sept. 10 to 13 throughout Key West. Celebrate the ladies for a long weekend of parties, contests, pageants, a sunset sail, and more.

Visit WomenFest.com.

* Southernmost Tattoo Mustache Ride

Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. at Bayview Park in Key West.

Join the bicycle parade during Womenfest.

Visit KWMicroDJ.com and Womenfest.com.

SMaRT Ride Bingo

Sundays through Oct. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Poinciana Royale, 16th Street and Duck Avenue in Key West. Help raise money for Team Milemarkers for the SMART Ride

Gay Key West Trolley Tours

Saturdays at 4 p.m. meeting at 628 Duval St. See the gay side of Key West on this trolley tour. Tickets $25. Call 800-535-7797 or visit GayKeyWestFL.com.

Hot Naked Sundays

Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. at Island House, 1129 Fleming St. in Key West. A pretea pool party. Call 305-294-6284 or visit IslandHouseKeyWest.com.

porn pulse

Hunter Houston

L

orelei Lee is anti-condom. The porn star has been written up in Cosmopolitan Magazine for her views on wearing prophylactics while working.

“I oppose a legal mandate for condom use, as well as a legally mandated testing system,” Lee told Cosmo in an article published April 14, 2015. Lee is in the Porn Pulse crosshairs this week due to her involvement in a lawsuit where she is listed as a defendant along with Kink.com Studios. The lawsuit was filed July 24, 2015 in Superior Court of California County of San Francisco. Plaintiff Cameron Bay alleges negligence along with 10 other counts of misconduct on the part of Lee and Kink.com, according to the lawsuit.

In her interview with freelance journalist Cheryl Wischhover, Lee explains why condoms do not work for her.

“Condoms break, condoms cause chafing.

Under those conditions, that can create an abrasion that can increase your risk of STI transmission,” Lee tells the magazine.

In the lawsuit, Lee is accused of battery as Bay alleges she continued shooting a scene after one of the actors was visibly bleeding.

Photo: Twitter.

Kink Talent Rebukes Condoms

Another allegation states Lee fisted an actor against the terms of her contract.

Kink.com is an adult company started in 1997 by bondage enthusiast Peter Acworth.

On its website, the company states its mission is to “demystifying and celebrate alternative sexualities by providing the most authentic kinky experiences.”

8.26.2015 •

51

Business Directory legal

dental

SELZER & WEISS 1515 NE 25th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.567.4444 Selzerandweiss.com

WILTON MaNORS DENTaL 2517 NE 9th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-564-4746 Wiltonmanorsdental.com

SHaWN NEWMaN 710 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.563.9160 Shawnnewman.com

ISLaND CITy DENTaL 1700 NE 26th Street, Ste. 2, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954-564-7121 Islandcitydental.com

LaW GC 707 NE 3rd Ave #300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.573.1444 Lawgc.com

ISLaND CITy SMILES 1946 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-565-7666 Islandcitysmiles.com

GREGORy KaBEL 1 East Broward Blvd #700, Fort Lauderdale, 33301 954.761.7770 gwkesq@bellsouth.net LaW ROBIN 2550 N Federal Hwy #20, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954.630.2707 Lawrobin.com

JIMENEZ LaW 100 SE 3rd Ave #1514, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394 954.848.3111 Jimenezlawoffices.com

dental

health EMERaLD ELITE 2301 Wilton Drive, Suite 3, Wilton Manors, FL 954.629.1377 Emeraldelitehomehealth.com

DR. TORy SuLLIVaN 2500 N Federal Hwy #301, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954.533.1520 Torysullivanmd.com THE FLORIDa HOuSE EXPERIENCE 505 S Federal Hwy, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 800.778.6792 Fherehab.com

To place an ad in the Business Directory, call our sales team at 954.530.4970 health

aMERICaN PaIN EXPERTS 6333 N. Federal Hwy, Ste. 250, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954-678-1074 Americanpainexperts.com

investments aMERICaN TaX & INSuRaNCE 2929 E Comm. Blvd, 8th Floor Penthouse D, Fort Lauderdale, FL

954.302.3228 Americantaxandinsurance.com

professional services BaRTON & MILLER CLEaNERS 2600 N. Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-4314 KaLIS-MCINTEE FuNERaL & CREMaTION CENTER

2505 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-7621 Kalismcintee.com

restaurants

restaurants J. MaRK’S 1245 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 390-0770 Jmarksrestaurant.com SaNTa LuCIa RISTORaNTE 2701 E. Oakland Park Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954-396-0930 Santaluciaristorante.com

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$250 a yEaR retail PEaCE PIPE 4800 N Dixie Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954.267.9005 Facebook.com/peacepipefl DaOuD’S 2473 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.928.2437 Daouds.com

STORKS BaKERy 2505 NE 15th Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.567.3220 Storksbakery.com

NaTuRaL SLEEP 3040 N 29th Ave, Hollywood, FL 33020 954.951.2678 Naturalsleepfd.com

THE FLORIDIaN RESTauRaNT 1410 E Las Olas Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.463.4041

POVERELLO THRIFT STORE 2056 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.561.3663 Poverello.org MODERN HOME 2 GO 4000 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.530.5650 Mh2go.com

LaNE & ERIKS DENTaL aSSOCIaTES 1831 NE 45th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 954.771.3331 Laneanderiksdental.com

SIMPLy MEN’S HEaLTH 5405 Okeechobee Blvd #205, West Palm Beach, FL 561.459.5356 Simplymenshealth.com

OaKLaND PaRK DENTaL 3047 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954.566.9812 Oaklandparkdental.com

NaTuRa DERMaTOLOGy 1120 Bayview Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 754.333.4886 Coolsculptingnaturadermatology.com

NaKED GRaPE 2163 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.563.5631 Nakedgrapewinebar.com

aNDREWS DENTaL CaRE 2654 N Andrews Ave, Wilton Manors, FL 33311 954.567.3311 Andrewsdentalcare.com

MaRK ENGEBRETSON Palm Beach & Boca Raton 561.400.9297 heartofthemystery.com

BEEFCaKE’S 1721 N Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 954.463.6969 Boardwalkbar.com

ESTaTE auCTION CO. 6 South Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33304 954-921-2828 Estateauctionco.com

CINDY CURTIS

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• 8.26.2015

retail Estate Auction Co. 6 South Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33304 954-921-2828 Estateauctionco.com

realty

Henri Frank Group 401 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.604.9999 Henrifrank.com

travel / leisure

Aquafest Cruises A Division of CruiseCenter © 800-592-9058 Aquafestcruises.com

theaters Ft Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus PO Box 9772, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33310-9772 954-832-0060 www.theftlgmc.org Andrews Living Arts Studio 23 NW 5th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.530.1879 Classcreations.com Kravis Center 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL (561) 832-7469 Kravis.org

theaters Adrienne Arsht Center 1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 305.949.6722 Arshtcenter.org Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida PO Box 39617, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33339 954-763-2266 Gaymenschorusofsouthflorida.org

veterinarian Dr. Pierre B. Bland, DVM 3225 N. Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954-673-8579 Doctorblandvet.com

MASTER HYPNOTHERAPIST AND LIFE COACH ADDICTIONS • SMOKING • WEIGHT LOSS • INSOMNIA • STRESS REDUCTION • ROAD RAGE • ANGER MANAGEMENT • PAST LIFE ANALYSIS • RELATIONSHIP COACHING Coach Bill For Life

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Pre-Arrangement Discounts For All Our LGBT Friends

8.26.2015 •

53

SFGN Classified$ attorney

electrical

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

home care

TOP DOG ELECTRIC-QuaLITy CRaFTSMaNSHIP aT a FaIR PRICE - Any and all types of electrical work performed by craftsmen who care about their work. 954-533-5005 guy@ topdogelectricfl.com www.TopDogElectricFL.com Lic# 97-CME-1724-X

home & garden

POOL SERVICE Mention this ad and receive your first month

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954.530.4970

employment - full time

counselor

Serving Broward Since 1999

SEEKING FRONT DESK PERSON FOR DENTaL OFFICE - Looking to hire full time 8-5 front desk person for receptionist, answering phones, filing, making appts. Full time position with benefits and fun, relaxed working atmosphere for the right person. No previous dental experience needed. Willing to train if you have good attitude and work ethic. Call 954-566-9812 or email opdentalung@aol.com

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

employment - other aCTIVISTS - Activists needed to collect signatures to get Medical Marijuana on ballot. Earn $300+ per day. 954-616-7736; 754-204-0114 Make own hours

for sale MIN-PIN PuPPIES FOR SaLE - 2 Male stag red puppies for sale.Born 5/24.Non-yappy. $600 each. Contact John at 954-249-0957 or email at JohnJMakos@bellsouth.net.

home & garden cleaning services

entertainment/dj's 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.

LIVE JaZZ FOR yOuR NEXT PaRTy OR SPECIaL EVENT - Have your next special occasion be extra special with live jazz. Jazz vocalist with over 30 years experience performing in South Florida. Can work as a duo, trio or more.

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

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

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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.

home and garden painting

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

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

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

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