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January 28, 2015 // vol. 6 // issue 4

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

Alabama Same-Sex Marriage Ban Struck Down A federal judge ruled Friday that the State of Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade, a George W. Bush appointee from Mobile, Ala., found Alabama’s marriage laws violate the Due Process and Equal Protection Clause of

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HUNGARY FACES A HISTORIC STRUGGLE

SEX POSITIVE CULTURE CHALLENGES ETHICS

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the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced Monday his office would appeal the ruling and a twoweek stay on same-sex marriages as been issued.

among minors” reports European television station France 24. Klimova founded Children 404 which became a popular social networking site in Russia.

Her conviction carried a fine of 50,000 rubles ($783 USD) and Klimova says she will appeal.

Doctor Suggests Gays Could Be Poisoned For Pushing It Too Far

‘FIRST COMES LOVE’ PHOTO FEATURE

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Ben Carson, Republican

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Ben Carson, a Republican presidential hopeful, joked that gay couples could be poisoned if they push their newfound marriage rights too far. Speaking to reporters in Iowa over the weekend, Carson, a former pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University, said he had a problem when “people try to

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force people to act against their beliefs, because they say, ‘They’re discriminating against me.’” The response was a hint at same-sex couples and opponents of same-sex marriage who operate wedding MEMBER businesses. Carson then joked, “it is really not that smart because they might put poison in that cake.”

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

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Russian Court Convicts Journalist For Gay Propaganda A journalist who set up a website for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teenagers was convicted by a Russian court under the country’s controversial “gay propaganda” law. A magistrate court in the city of Nizhny Tagil found 26-yearold Yelena Klimova guilty of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations

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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.

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news highlight Gates predicts HIV vaccine by 2030 John McDonald Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week, American philanthropist Bill Gates said he expects to see AIDS basically cured by 2030.

“You get people on treatment, their viral load is vastly reduced and that reduces their infectiousness,” Gates said.

Gates remarked how advancements in treatment have helped save lives, but that long-term treatment is difficult on a person.

He stated the next step in eradicating AIDS would be a “one year treatment period” which would allow the patient to not have to endure a lifetime of taking medications. Gates predicted the science community would have the tools to make his prediction possible within the next 15 years.

Gates, 59, a computer programmer who founded Microsoft, is one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Together with wife Melinda, they chair a foundation aiming to research and combat deadly diseases. HIV/ AIDS has killed more than 36 million people globally since its discovery.

“Vaccines are a phenomenal investment.

They’ve saved more than six million lives since 2000,” Gates tweeted this week. Gates

also tweeted, “In 5,000 years of human history just one disease has been eradicated.

We can end four more in just 15 years.”

In Switzerland, Gates said we would not “see the end of AIDS” but that within the next 15 years we would see the invention of tools to reduce infections by 95 percent.

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News Briefs

Photo: Netflix

Compiled by John McDonald

‘Orange Is the New Black’ Wins Big at SAG Awards The hit Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black" won big at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, nabbing the Actor awards for ensemble in a comedy series. Co-star Uzo Aduba also took home the female actor SAG Award.

Aduba, who plays inmate Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren accepted the ensemble trophy for the cast of 40, who crowded the stage around her.

Aduba thanked series creator Jenji Kohan of "Weeds" fame, Lionsgate and the viewers of Netflix streaming service for making the show a hit.

Missing from the group was lead actress Taylor Schilling,

who plays Piper Kerman, a woman sentenced to federal penitentiary for 15 months, for a decade-old drug trafficking charge. Schilling is currently cast in a production of "A Month In the Country" co-starring Peter Dinklage at New York City's prestigious Classic Stage Company.

The ensemble beat out the crews from "Veep," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Modern Family."

It was quite an evening for Aduba, who launched the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards by winning the award for best female actor in a comedy role. The event was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

what's happening now is they are going after, in schools, twoyear olds...And this stuff is deadly, and it's spreading, and it will destroy our young people, it will destroy this nation."

Rep Introduces Trifecta of Anti-Gay Bills Oklahoma

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Sally Kern, the Republican Oklahoma State Representative who in 2008 said that the "homosexual agenda" posed a greater threat to the nation than terrorism, filed three anti-gay measures with the state legislature this week.

If passed, the bill would legitimize the harmful conversion therapy, financially penalize state employees who grant samesex marriage licenses, and establish a "turn away the gays" law for businesses, effectively allowing business owners to deny services to the LGBT community, Tulsa World reports.

"No employee of this state and no employee of any local governmental entity shall officially recognize, grant or enforce a same-sex marriage license and continue to receive a salary, pension or other employee benefit at the expense of taxpayers of this state," reads House Bill 1599 titled the "Preservation and Sovereignty of Marriage Act." Kern's second anti-LGBT bill, titled the "Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act," allows parents to pursue discredited reparative or conversion therapy to attempt to change a gay child's sexual orientation without interference from the state.

"The people of this state have the right to seek and obtain counseling or conversion therapy from a mental health provider in order to control or end any unwanted sexual attraction, and no state agency shall infringe upon that right," reads House Bill 1598.

"Parents may obtain such counseling or therapy for their children under eighteen (18) years of age without interference by the state."

The third bill would allow business to refuse service to anyone LGBT on religious grounds. It is similar to the bill vetoed in Arizona by former Governor Jan Brewer.

Kern made national headlines in 2008 when she was recorded saying, "Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades. So it's the death knell of this country. I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam - which I think is a big threat, okay? 'Cause

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azi Codebreaker Book Going to Auction

A handwritten notebook by Alan Turing, the codebreaking genius depicted by Benedict Cumberbatch in Oscarnominated “The Imitation Game,” is going on the auction block.

The 56-page manuscript was written at the time the mathematician and computer science pioneer was working to break the seemingly unbreakable Enigma codes used by the Germans throughout World War II. The notebook will be auctioned by Bonhams in New York on April 13, and is expected to bring at least $1 million.

The notebook contains Turing's complex mathematical and computer science notations. It is believed to be the only extensive Turing manuscript known to exist, according to the auction house.

It dates from 1942, when Turing was trying to break the seemingly unbreakable code with his team of cryptanalysts at Britain's World War II code and cypher school Bletchley Park.

In one entry, Turing writes about a complex calculus notation.

"The Leibniz notation I find extremely difficult to understand in spite of it having been the one I understood the best once! It certainly implies that some relation between x and y has been laid down eg, y=x2+3x ..."

Turing, who was prosecuted for being gay at a time when it was illegal in Britain, died in 1954 of cyanide poisoning.

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Photo:John McDonald

ake Dispute Raises New Questions

A dispute over a cake in Colorado raises a new question about gay rights and religious freedom: If bakers can be fined for refusing to serve married gay couples, can they also be punished for declining to make a cake with anti-gay statements?

A baker in suburban Denver who refused to make a cake for

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a same-sex wedding is fighting a legal order requiring him to serve gay couples even though he argued that would violate his religious beliefs.

But now a separate case puts a twist in the debate over discrimination in public businesses, and it underscores the tensions that can arise when religious freedom intersects with a growing acceptance of gay couples.

Marjorie Silva, owner of Denver’s Azucar Bakery, is facing a complaint from a customer alleging she discriminated against his religious beliefs.

According to Silva, the man who visited last year wanted a Bible-shaped cake, which she agreed to make. Just as they were getting ready to complete the order, Silva said the man showed her a piece of paper with hateful words about gays that he wanted written on the cake.

He also wanted the cake to have two men holding hands and an X on top of them, Silva said.

She said she would make the cake, but declined to write his suggested messages on the cake, telling him she would give him icing and a pastry bag so he could write the words himself. Silva said the customer didn’t want that.

“It’s just horrible. It doesn’t matter if, you know, if you’re Catholic, or Jewish, or Christian, if I’m gay or not gay or whatever,” said Silva, 40, adding that she has made cakes regularly for all religious occasions. “We should all be loving each other. I mean there’s no reason to discriminate.”

Discrimination complaints to Colorado’s Civil Rights Division, which is reviewing the matter, are confidential. Silva said she would honor the division’s policy and would not share the correspondence she has received from state officials on the case.

KUSA-TV reported the complainant is Bill Jack of Castle Rock, a bedroom community south of Denver.

In a statement to the television station, Jack said he believes he “was discriminated against by the bakery based on my creed.”

“As a result, I filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division. Out of respect for the process, I will wait for the director to release his findings before making further comments.”

Jack is a founder of Worldview Academy, a “nondenominational organization dedicated to helping Christians think and live in accord with a Biblical worldview,” according to the organization’s website.

Jack’s biography on the website says he is currently an educator who used to teach in public schools in the past, adding that he has appeared on numerous national radio and TV programs.

Jack did not respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment. No one answered the door at the address listed for Jack in Castle Rock.

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by John McDonald

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international

ritish Soap Opera Introduces HIV Positive Character

OFFICIANT

In researching his upcoming role as a newly diagnosed HIV positive gay man, British actor Kieron Richardson said the rise of infection rates is due in large part to mobile apps such as Grindr and Tinder. “Back in the day, if you wanted to have sex with somebody, you had to go to a bar and you had to meet them,” Richardson told the Daily Mirror. “You don’t anymore, you just tap a button on your phone and we can meet somebody ten metres away.” Richardson, 29, plays Ste Hay on the popular HollyOaks soap opera for Britain’s Channel 4.

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OTUS Reiterates Support for LGBT Rights

In his State of the Union speech last week, U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated support for the LGBT community.

The President said, “we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We do these things not only because they are right, but because they make us safer.” On gay marriage, Obama said, its gone, “from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in a state that seven in 10 Americans call home.”

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eys Republican Sponsoring Workplace Protections Bill

Florida Representative Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo) is sponsoring a bill in the upcoming Florida legislative session that provides workplace protections for LGBT people.

The Competitive Workforce Act, Raschein said, protects LGBT people from discrimination in the workplace and in housing. She added being a Republican is a natural fit for sponsoring the bill. “We are the party of liberty, equality and freedom,” Raschein said. According the Human Rights Campaign, Florida is one of 32 states in the country that lacks state-level explicit workplace protections for all LGBT people. In previous sessions, the act could not gain a majority approval in the House.

Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo)

local

“

Host to Grand Marshal Extra” Miami Beach Pride

Mario Lopez, host of the nationally syndicated entertainment program “Extra,” is the Grand Marshal for the 2015 Miami Beach Gay Pride, April 11-12. “We are extremely excited about bringing Mario to Miami Beach for our seventh annual Pride,” said Mark Fernandes, chair of the Miami Beach Pride board. “His personal charisma coupled with his universal appeal as a multi-faceted entertainer will delight Pride’s guests and help make this year’s event the biggest and best ever.” Lopez, 41, is married to former Broadway dancer Courtney Mazza. The couple have two children. “Extra” airs locally on NBC 6 South Florida weeknights at 7 p.m.

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

Meet us on the streets of Downtown Hollywood for the most unusual holiday shopping in South Florida! Support local!

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Harrison Street and 20th Avenue, Hollywood www.OddDuckBazaar.com

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news local

January News From

By Sean McShee

SFAN

The South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN) functions as the networking/advisory body for the Ryan White Care (RWC), Part B grant in Broward County. Its monthly meetings are open to the public.

The January 9, 2015 SFAN meeting began with Phil Reichert of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases, STD, and Viral Hepatitis Section reporting on the hepatitis programs of the Department of Health.

Hepatitis Programs

Similar to the sub-types of cancer, such as lung, prostate, and breast, the subtypes of hepatitis, such as A, B, and C, differ in their treatments and outcomes. Vaccines exist for subtypes A and B. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all gay / bi and other men who have sex with men get these vaccinations. For information on low-cost vaccines against Hepatitis, call the Department of Health at 850-245-4334.

Like HIV, Hep C has a long latency period with no noticeable symptoms. Without treatment, it can lead to liver cancer, a particularly deadly form of cancer. New drug treatments have transformed both HIV and Hep C into somewhat manageable conditions, but with yearly costs for those treatments ranging somewhere between the cost of a car and that of a house.

Around 312,000 Floridians live with Hep C infection, mainly “Boomers” infected in the 1960s and 1970s. As most infected people have no awareness of their infection, the CDC recommends that all “Boomers” get tested for Hep C.

RWC reports

HIV stigma may act as a barrier to entering treatment. Janet Vargas reported that Broward’s Ryan White Care (RWC) program has developed a media campaign to challenge HIV stigma.

She also reported on the transition of RWC/AIDs Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) clients to Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans. While some clients have transitioned successfully, problems have arisen for some clients, largely resulting from the two-stage selection process for HIV appropriate plans. Some of plans available in Broward provide better coverage for people with HIV than others. In the firststage, ADAP, the purchaser of insurance, identified those plans that met its criteria for HIV coverage: 1) coverage of HIV specific drugs, 2) availability of HIV specialists in the network, and 3) cost-effectiveness. In the second stage, the client selected among these ADAP approved plans. This two-stage selection process reduced the time available for the client to make decisions.

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Advisory Role

South Florida AIDS Network acts as the advisory body to RWC part B. In that role, SFAN can vote to advise transfers from one budget line item to another. Projections to the end of the fiscal year (March 31, 2015) indicated that about $25,000 would not be spent for bus passes. SFAN voted to advise local the Ryan White Care program to move those funds from bus passes to the local ADAP program.

Announcements

Donna Sabatino announced that the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care will be having their 13th Annual Conference on February 28, 2015 in Fort Lauderdale.

Registration is $50 ($35 for students) before February 14. Nurses can earn Continuing Education Units, but non-nurses are welcome. For more information, please visit http://www.nursesinaidscare.org/files/pub lic/2015ANACSpringBreakRegistration.pdf.

ViiV (makers of Tivicay and Triumeq) has made changes to its Patient Saving Card, which provides pharmacy discounts on prescriptions. This card has a maximum discount of $6,000. For more information visit www.mysupportcard.com.

For more information about hepatitis, visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis and www. floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/ hepatitis.

Next SFAN Meeting: Friday, February 13 at 10:00 a.m., at the Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE 56th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334. Newcomers are encouraged to attend.

news election 2016

Drug use is “seven times” higher among the LGBT community.

White House Watch:

Mike Huckabee

We treat the chemical dependency and the underlying mental health issue of drugs and alcohol.

Detox I Residential l OutpatientPM

In a new weekly feature here at SFGN, we will monitor potential and aspiring U.S. Presidential candidates. To launch this new element of our newspaper, we couldn’t think of a better person than former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee has a long and welldocumented history of unkind comments concerning the LGBT community. In his new book, “God, Guns, Grits and Gravy,” Huckabee suggests legalizing same-sex marriage will ultimately pave the way for bisexuals to have two marriages.

“Shouldn’t a bisexual be allowed to have a male and female spouse?,” Huckabee writes.

The 59-year-old former Baptist preacher, who ran for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2008, is considering another campaign for the Oval Office, telling NBC political director Chuck Todd that he is “moving in that

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direction.”

On Sunday’s “Meet the Press” television program, Todd asked Huckabee if he was advocating for nullification if the Supreme Court were to rule in favor of same-sex marriage this June. Huckabee dodged the question and instead stated that courts cannot write laws and it would be up to state legislatures to settle the issue. He cited the 1857 Dred Scott decision as an example in which U.S. President Abraham Lincoln refused to abide by the high court’s ruling.

“We recognize that he had the courage to realize that he didn’t have to enforce something that was morally wrong,” Huckabee said.

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news national

Marriage Ain’t Everything

Study lists many hardships still faced by LGBT people across the nation

Sasha Razumikhin On one side, you’ve got the early January awesomeness that is Florida’s samesex marriage allowances or, nationally, Medicare’s not excluding trans-specific healthcare anymore.

But on the other side, you’ve got the Movement Advancement Project saying there are “deep disparities” remaining for LGBT folk, “including an overwhelming lack of employment nondiscrimination protections, high rates of healthcare discrimination, poorer overall health, and poorer well-being.”

That powerful statement is backed up by a study from MAP, a think tank devoted to hardcore research into LGBT issues.

The research, 2014 Momentum Report: A Snapshot of Progress and Setbacks for LGBT Equality, focuses on what’s transpired in 2014 in regards to LGBT well-being (or lack thereof). The released material also includes an interactive timeline of all the LGBTcentric events that came to us in 2014. .

“At this time, LGBT people must navigate an unpredictable and nonsensical legal landscape. Same-sex couples can now marry in over a dozen states that otherwise lack almost any kind of other legal equality for LGBT people,” said Ineke Mushovic, executive director of MAP. “What this means is that a worker can get married over the weekend, then be fired on Monday because of his or her sexual orientation.

Meanwhile, in over 30 states, a person can be denied service in a restaurant or denied housing because they are transgender.”

Here are the report’s highlights, according to MAP:

Marriage

• The total number of states extending marriage to same-sex couples doubled in 2014, from 17 states plus D.C. at the end of 2013 to 35 states plus D.C. at the end of 2014.

The percentage of same-sex couples with the freedom to marry rose from 42 percent at the end of 2013 to 71 percent at the end of 2014.

• The federal government announced that it would recognize the marriages of all couples married in states that offer the freedom to marry and the Department of Justice released a comprehensive list of the federal programs and agencies that extend the rights and responsibilities granted through marriage to legally married samesex couples.

Health and HIV/AIDS

• The percent of LGBT people lacking health insurance dropped as millions signed up for insurance offered under the Affordable Care Act.

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• Medicare’s ban on coverage of transgender-specific healthcare was lifted, and the federal government lifted the exclusion of coverage for transgenderspecific medical care for its employees.

• The FDA shortened the ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood to twelve months after having sex with a man.

Transgender Equality

• The U.S. Department of Education issued guidance confirming that the federal prohibition against sex discrimination in education protects transgender students.

In April, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance confirming that the federal prohibition against sex discrimination in education protects transgender students.

Several states and local jurisdictions also took strong steps to protect transgender students in 2014.

• Transgender service members are still not permitted to serve openly. In 2014, several public figures, including former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, thenHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, spoke about the need to update military regulations to allow open service by transgender people.

• States and local jurisdictions continue to ease the process for changing gender markers on one’s birth certificate.

Public Service & Cultural Visibility

• LGBT people of color rose to several important federal positions, including judicial appointments.

• Many LGB elected officials were reelected. Massachusetts elected the first openly lesbian attorney general in the United States, Maura Healey.

• 2014 was a year of heightened visibility for transgender people in popular culture.

Actress Laverne Cox appeared on the cover of Time magazine in May 2014 and in November was declared one of Glamour’s Women of the Year.

• Michael Sam came out as an openly gay college football player and became the first openly gay player to be drafted to the NFL. • Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, came out as gay in October, becoming one the most powerful openly gay business leaders in the world.

How was your own LGBT 2014? Let us know on at Facebook.com/SouthFloridaGayNews.

To learn more about MAP, go to lgbtmap. org. To check out the 2014 timeline from MAP, go to lgbtmap.org/2014-timeline.

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WINTER 2015 • Vol. 3 Issue

Winter Arts Guide Editio GUIdE bEGINS ON PAGE 21

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Flip-Flops and Veils Mass wedding to take place on Fort Lauderdale Beach

Tony Adams ‘FIRST COMES LOVE’ PHOTO FEATURE

Photos supplied by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)

The MirrorWinter 2015

SEX POSITIVE CULTURE CHALLENGES ETHICS

HUNGARY FACES A HISTORIC STRUGGLE themirrormag.com

Now that the joyful flurry of midnight courthouse weddings that immediately followed the legalization of same-sex marriage in Florida is over, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is throwing a massive group wedding celebration on the beach in front of the W Hotel on Thursday, Feb. 5, at sunrise, to welcome the world to what may be the best wedding location imaginable for LGBT couples and their guests.

The CVB launched its “Love is Love” initiative in January, selecting 100 lucky couples from applicants across the nation.

The CVB, JetBlue, W Fort Lauderdale and area partners have joined together to provide a spectacular wedding. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds will make the short walk to the W Fort Lauderdale for a champagne toast and reception to commemorate the unique occasion. In addition, one very lucky couple will receive an ultimate wedding getaway to begin their new life together.

"I'm extremely proud of the willingness and openness of our hospitality community to affect change for the better. And as we commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the founding of Broward County, we're excited to extend our never wavering support of the LGBT community, and provide couples gay and straight from across the country to be a part of this significant day in history," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the CVB.

Richard Gray, the CVB’s managing director, LGBT market, said, "Greater Fort Lauderdale has long been a pioneering advocate of the LGBT community in Florida and our ‘Love is Love' campaign is another example of how we hope to continue to positively impact our resident community and visitors by offering this special day to rejoice as now we all can say ‘I Do' legally.”

The newlyweds with their guests and families will not lack for ways to celebrate while they are in town. The CVB notes that this region is “home to the highest concentration of same-sex couple households in the country, and as one of the top LGBT vacation destinations in the world, Greater Fort Lauderdale is one of the most diverse gay capitals and continues to be a destination of choice for LGBT travelers with hundreds of gay-owned and operated businesses.”

Same-sex weddings are a huge source of revenue for popular LGBT destinations such as New York City and Provincetown, Mass.

Florida businesses missed out on hundreds of millions of dollars spent in other states because of its laws prohibiting marriage equality.

The CVB’s group wedding bash is a fanfare letting the world know what the majority of Floridians already know: this community and its businesses welcome LGBT couples and their dollars.

Winter

For more information on the “Love is Love” wedding celebration, visit www.Sunny.org/loveislove.

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feature

Photos: Eau Palm Beach

Gay Marriage Expected to Boost Local Economy Christiana Lilly

Study shows marriage equality will create up to 2,600 full and part-time jobs in Florida

Just six days into 2015, the year has already proven to be a landmark one for the LGBT community.

Late into the night, the ban on samesex marriage was lifted and couples across the state celebrated by tying the knot with the loves of their lives. However, some are planning on forgoing the courthouse and going through the motions of planning a wedding — all good news for Florida’s economy.

“Anybody who does weddings, venues, caterers, hotels, restaurants -- everybody is going to gain,” Peggy M. Lewis said. “A lot of people would love Fort Lauderdale and Miami as a destination site.”

Lewis owns Florida Ceremonies, where for 13 years she has served as a life cycle celebrant and writes ceremonies for different life occasions. Before gay marriage was legalized in other states, about a third of her clients were same-sex commitment ceremonies. Then, when states started to legalize gay marriage, people flocked to Massachusetts, New York, and other states where they could legally get married.

However, with the ban lifted, the customers are flocking back. She said in the

two weeks following the legalization, she’s had many serious couples call to hire her for their wedding, including an Australian couple who will be traveling to Captiva for their nuptials. She estimates her business will see up to a 40 percent boost.

And it’s not just the more than 48,000 same-sex couples in Florida that would be adding to the economy — Florida has plenty to gain just by being the Sunshine State.

According to the 2012 Wedding Destination Study, the top three most popular places in the continental United States to get married are Florida, California, and Nevada, and 70 percent of Americans choose to stay in the country for their destination wedding. The study was conducted by XO Group, parent company of the popular wedding website, TheKnot.com The Williams Institute, an LGBT think tank at UCLA, estimates more than 24,000 same-sex couples will be married in the next three years and that Florida could benefit from as much as an extra $182 million in spending because of it. Plus, the researchers believe it could generate more than 2,600 full and part-time jobs.

Laura Ortino, social catering sales manager at the W Fort Lauderdale, recently took over the hotel’s weddings and is certified by the 14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute.

On Feb. 5, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitor’s Bureau is hosting a “Love is Love” wedding celebration at the W Hotel, a longtime partner with the Human

Rights Council. On that day, 100 gay and straight couples are invited to be married on the beach, followed by a champagne reception. All the couples will also be given a free night at the hotel as a part of the “Love is Love” package.

“W Fort Lauderdale has been a longtime friend of the LGBT community and supporter of marriage equality in Florida,” Ortino said. “We’ve been excitedly waiting with the community for the ban to be lifted officially and had been receiving inquiries over the past several months.”

For the honeymoon, the Grandview Gardens in West Palm Beach is a unique getaway and staff is expecting more gay couples to choose the location for their postwedding celebration. Especially because the owners are gay themselves.

“South Florida’s hospitality businesses will be positively impacted by marriage equality because many gay and lesbian couples who live in other states will rather either elope in the tropical paradise of Florida — a type of Las Vegas affect — or have their honeymoons here,” said Rick Rose, co-proprietor at the property.

The Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan recently introduced its Modern Family two-night-stay package in honor of gay marriage, including a private airport transfer, couples massage, dinners, chilled champagne, and other extravagances on the property. Also, the hotel recently celebrated the redesign of its 309 guest rooms by

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Jonathan Adler. He married his husband, fellow designer Simon Doonan in 2008, and the couple are part-time residents in the area.

“We’ve always marketed the property towards the LGBT market,” said Nick Gold, public relations manager for Eau Palm Beach. “Now that [gay marriage is] legal, I feel that the floodgates are now open.”

Already, a dozen local and out-of-state couples have reached out to the hotel for their weddings, and one is already booked for May. Also, vendors had been in touch with hotel staff in anticipation of gay marriage becoming legal.

A running theme among all these businesses is that they’ve always been gay friendly. Before the ban was lifted, the W Fort Lauderdale was host to many wedding receptions after same-sex couples returned from being married in states where it was legal. At the Grandview Gardens, many LGBT organizations hosted their special events there, including Compass, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Equality Florida, and the SMART Ride. Eau Palm Beach’s spa was awarded Best For LGBT

by Spafinder Wellness in 2013.

“Who wouldn’t want to get married in such beautiful weather, particularly in the winter months on the beach or at a lovely 5-star resort? There’s endless opportunities and there’s a whole new economy that’s starting here with gay weddings,” Gold said.

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11

feature

Why Former

‘Ex-Gay’ Randy Thomas’

Wayne Besen, Truth Wins Out

Former “ex-gay” activist Randy Thomas came out of the closet this week and didn’t even get a toaster. Few seemed to notice his big announcement and fewer cared. In an anti-climatic blog post Thomas spilled the beans: “I am gay. I am ok with who I am. I hope we can continue to journey together.”

As recently as three years ago this would have been major news. It would have saturated the LGBT press, been a hot topic on liberal blogs, the cause for consternation and spin in conservative outlets, and even made a splash in mainstream media. Today, it is a mere footnote in an ugly chapter where politicized religious zealots spent millions of dollars to berate and humiliate LGBT people into renouncing their humanity.

In years past, a major “ex-gay” coming out was big news because it was an anomaly. In 1998, the Religious Right declared war on LGBT people with its infamous “Truth in Love” campaign. The cynical tagline used by “former homosexuals” in these ads was “We’re living proof the truth can set you free.”

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Coming Out is a Huge Deal For a decade after this high profile campaign, it was critically important for LGBT advocates to debunk this lie. We had to provide ammunition for gay teenagers against relatives or church members who pointed to these bogus “success stories” and urged gay youth to attend “ex-gay” retreats.

Each time we outed a poster boy – such as John Paulk, Wade Richards, or Michael Johnston – we provided “living proof” that these programs were a sham.

The subdued reaction to Thomas’ announcement is vindication of this strategy. A powerful case has been made against the efficacy of “pray away the gay” organizations. Any parent thinking of forcing their child into such a program has a wealth of information that debunks the “ex-gay” myth. This doesn’t mean that some people won’t still have their lives destroyed by this lie. But, it does mean that anyone with an Internet connection can find evidence that warns of the profound damage these programs cause – most notably the failure of former poster boys (and girls).

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We have now reached the tipping point.

An “ex-gay” activist coming out is about as predictable as warm weather in July. These discredited programs are consumer fraud and when a person claims they are “exgay” the appropriate response is, “For how long”? As I say in my presentations on this issue: “Ex-gays are like actors playing roles. They may be very good and persuasive. If they believe strongly enough, they can convince themselves that the lines their character is reading are true. But like all good dramas, the show must end and the final curtain of reality will come crashing down. And at this point, the actor will take off the mask and be himself or herself again.”

This week, Randy Thomas honorably dropped the mask – and for this I am grateful. Not because I have forgiven his sins or forget the destruction he has caused.

Such damage cannot easily be undone.

There are likely LGBT youth who committed suicide because of Thomas’ words. How many doomed mixed orientation marriages occurred based on the lies promulgated by the now defunct Exodus International?

I am grateful because Thomas’ coming out lends further proof to the failure of the “ex-gay” farce. It will stop future LGBT youth from being put in harms way. And it will allow Thomas a second chance at living authentically – where he can do good instead of evil. Let’s hope he takes full advantage of his new lease on life.

As easy as it is to hate Thomas for his misdeeds, we must always remember that he was both victim and victimizer, harming himself as much as his innocent prey. Before he lied to others, he first lied to himself. No doubt, this destruction and duplicity must trouble his conscience, and in private moments, torment his soul.

If not, it should.

Thomas’ announcement is being downplayed because an “ex-gay” outing is no longer a “man bites dog” story. Still, this actually is a major blow to the dead enders who still populate the dwindling “ex-gay” industry.

While Thomas is now just another witty gay dude with a blog, we can’t forget that he was the caustic Vice President of Exodus International, where he served as the “ex-

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gay” industry’s chief political lobbyist during the movement’s zenith.

In 2003, Thomas condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark pro-gay Lawrence v. Texas ruling overturning sodomy laws, telling Christianity Today: “This ruling gives validity to the gay community. In addition to potentially redefining the family, it further solidifies their position as a political and social force.”

In 2006, Thomas, along with Exodus President Alan Chambers, attended a White House meeting with President George W. Bush. The purpose was to help organize opposition to marriage equality by capitalizing on the “ex-gay” message.

During this notorious trip, Thomas had contact with Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich.

We must remember that this effort was a genuine threat, because it occurred prior to the widespread public support for gay marriage. In 2004, for example, Bush’s reelection campaign promoted and helped pass constitutional same-sex marriage bans in 11 states.

In 2006, Thomas described constitutional rights for LGBT people as the “obvious degradation of our society.”

In 2009, the bombastic Thomas smeared anti-Prop 8 gay protesters as a “mob” and watchdogs of “ex-gay” organizations as “vipers.”

In 2011, Thomas bashed Truth Wins Out’s successful effort to have Apple remove Exodus International’s “ex-gay” app. According to Thomas, our victory was a: “baseless all-out assault on our lives and beliefs. It’s much more than just an iPhone app. God’s work through Exodus is being mocked, ridiculed and stigmatized. And while we do not fight as the world fights, we can speak up lovingly and redemptively in the face of persecution. Truth never comes back void and God’s love and grace abound much greater than anything the world has to offer.”

Thomas was also instrumental in speaking out and lobbying against federal hate crime legislation. The nadir of his career occurred when he appeared in a toxic newspaper ad campaign under the inflammatory headline: “Hate crime laws say we were MORE VALUABLE as

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homosexuals than we are now as former homosexuals.”

It was always ironic that Thomas had become Exodus’ political hatchet man.

Prior to his stint with Exodus, Thomas was the co-director of Living Hope Ministries in Dallas, where he upbraided the Religious Right’s role in the 1998 ad campaign as too politicized. According to Thomas: “My association with Coral Ridge has turned out to be more of a hindrance than a help to my ministry. I felt their motivation was to reach same-gender attracted people.

I don’t feel that now. The hundreds of thousands of dollars the coalition spent on the advertising campaign could have been simply given to Exodus and much more could have been accomplished. But I guess that means giving up control. Coral Ridge needs to stop using their videos to instill fear instead of redemption. They need to present a redemptive message and not a political one.”

Yet, Thomas opportunistically jumped on the political bandwagon and wallowed in extremist partisan rhetoric while he was second in command at Exodus. This included becoming a speaker for Focus on the Family’s traveling “ex-gay” road show “Love Won Out.” Thomas also had his share of outright fibs. Like the time he told the Asheville Citizen-Times, before an Exodus conference, “We get lumped into the groups that do reparative therapy, when it’s just not true.” In fact, Exodus materials, at this point in time, were saturated with reparative therapy – from the books they gave clients to read, to the junk science

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theories they used to explain the origins of homosexuality.

But the prickly Thomas was smarter than most “ex-gay” activists. He never seemed to buy the entire reparative therapy Party Line, which focuses on making male gay clients more masculine. While speaking at a 2007 Exodus conference, for example, the enigmatic Thomas declared: “Just because I stopped being gay 16 years ago doesn’t mean I can’t be fabulous.”

In 1988, Thomas was a young openly gay teenager who became a drug addict.

He kicked his habit while living among supportive gay friends. Like many young men of his generation, the constant threat of HIV and the sorrow from witnessing an abundance of death, left psychological scars. Here is one gripping account written

by Thomas: In the middle of a grease pit fast food place at 3:15 a.m. on a Sunday morning, Gary was weeping as I literally melted down into tears and anguish. Ron, the only partner I thought I had truly loved up to that point, had died of AIDS. Memories of him as a healthy vibrant man juxtaposed with what I had seen of the men that AIDS had taken before … I just couldn’t make any sense of it.

I literally don’t remember what happened

next except in brief flashes of still pictures among the sounds of grieving. I remember Gary crying and helping me find a seat. I remember my friends looking in my eyes asking me if I was OK. I remember that the whole place got silent with shared mourning and empathy. The “party” crowd might not have all known Ron but they all knew what AIDS was and this usually boisterous crowd was eerily humbled.

Then, I remember the moment I realized that I was at high risk to have gotten the virus from Ron. The dawning horror of this revelation is especially traumatizing. It’s traumatizing to realize your death sentence might have been handed to you without you knowing. This realization mixed with the loss of Ron profoundly impacted my life; it still affects my heart deeply today.

With the help of his LGBT friends, Thomas amended his self-destructive behavior: I’ll never forget one brave man living with the virus getting in my face and saying, “If you want to live you better quit acting like a slut! If some redneck doesn’t kill you AIDS will!” This man was HIV+ and dating one of my best friends at the time, who had also recently been diagnosed as HIV+.

Between Ron and this man’s exhortation, I know the value of the gay identified

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community holding itself accountable.

Because of the self-imposed accountability within my gay community, I was not a “slut” for very long.

The love of friends gave them the ability to get in my face where the rantings of TV preachers fell on deaf ears. And the love of friends gave me the ability to hear them and take their counsel to heart.

Still, Thomas learned all the wrong lessons from his HIV scare, soon turning with gusto and glee towards those intolerant preachers he once derided. In short order he had become a trusted Christian soldier, preaching the anti-gay gospel to anyone who would listen. His ignominious career should not be forgotten, nor should his reemergence from the closet be minimized or downplayed.

To his credit, Thomas has apologized for his past and is working to remake his life. An intelligent, creative man, Thomas has a chance to have a positive impact on society. In his blog post Thomas asks, “I hope we can continue to journey together.”

We certainly will and we suspect the best is yet to come, as it has been for other “exgay” activists who have embraced their true selves.

The lesson of Thomas’ coming out is clear: If a man as steeped in vituperative political rhetoric and vile “ex-gay” ideology can come out of the closet, then anyone can. While at first blush this coming out story doesn’t seem like a very big deal, it actually is A VERY BIG DEAL.

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5th anniversary

'Community' Built Your Paper Norm Kent

As our newspaper enters its sixth year, it falls upon me to share with you some fundamental facts about our mission and motivation. It's really a simple one. Our goal has been to present to you a credible and conscientious LGBT community oriented newspaper.

This is how we do it.

We are media partners with the Sun Sentinel, CNN, Associated Press, and the News Service of Florida. We are founders in the National Equality Publisher's Association, who we welcome to South Florida this week. We are also the sole LGBT publication in Florida that is a member of the National Gay Media Association.

Our news writers are journalism school graduates and members of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Our entertainment writers and critics are accredited members of validated associations that produce independent and genuine reviews.

Our freelance writers are anything but free. They are all compensated writers, many of whom are members of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. In our five years, SFGN and its team of writers have won numerous journalism awards.

In those five years, we have published over 250 issues and 10,000 stories, from breaking news, thoughtful columns, and lifestyle features, to entertainment, sports and finance pieces. Our headlines are e-blasted to thousands of readers thrice

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weekly, and our website is updated daily.

Our work has been cited in local mainstream newspapers and on national TV shows such as CNBC and CNN. We also feature a full time social media director, posting our stories on Facebook and Twitter. We recently redesigned out website, and we are constantly adding physical distribution sites, from South Beach to North Palm Beach.

As part of our community outreach, we partner with local non-profits to publish their newsletters as inserts in our paper.

We have done this in the past year with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Pride Center at Equality Park, the Poverello Food Bank, Compass, and SunServe. If you want your foundation to reach 15,000 people and nearly 400 locations, we are here for you.

Our glossy magazine, the Mirror, is aesthetically pleasing and content driven. Published quarterly, the present issue incorporates our renowned Arts and Entertainment Guide, highlighting the emerging and diverse cultural life of South Florida.

Since our paper is based in Wilton Manors, one of America's leading gay cities, it is no surprise that our 'Guide to

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the Drive' has doubled in size each year. It provides locals and tourists with a handy pocket guide to popular businesses in our city. Last year, we also introduced the twice monthly Wilton Manors Gazette, featuring the mainstream news here in our ‘island city.’

Most importantly, SFGN has become a voice for gay advocacy, illuminating the strength and success of our community.

We have thrived politically and publicly.

Five years ago, we were unable to wear the uniform of our own country's military openly. Today, we are getting married in uniform. We are empowered by our continued victories that make the news. But we are a newspaper. We can't close our eyes when there is pain instead of promise.

Personally, I am proudest of our ongoing commitment to keep HIV awareness in the news. We publish a dedicated HIV issue called ‘The Spirit’ twice a year, and regularly highlight the good works and noble undertakings of our community's bank of HIV resources.

As an LGBT newspaper, we must remain vigilant against AIDS. As individuals, we must act more responsibly with our in-bed partners.

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Significantly, the newspaper's success is measured by our community's remarkable support. Over these past years, these pages have featured over 750 individual advertisers that have invested in us. Our paper is free to you, but we understand we are still here because we deliver value.

People actually can pick our paper up and read real news. There is bang for your buck.

SFGN is governed by prudent management practices. We have grown modestly and steadily each year. We have no debt, pay all our taxes monthly, and meet our obligations weekly. We have a long-term lease, two new delivery vans, and the same business address and phone number for five years. Our staff is loyal and long term, dedicated and devoted to the community we serve.

From dentists and lawyers, to realtors and roofers, professionals place their faith in us. We are owned lock, stock and barrel by myself and my business partner, Piero Guidugli, who is also an outspoken columnist and outstanding businessman.

We are not offering up penny stocks.

We are selling you nothing other than a quality newspaper each week. That's all we aspire to or want to be- your credible, conscientious, community-oriented weekly newspaper.

We are here for the long run. Here’s a thank you to the readers for picking up our paper and the businesses who continue to advertise with us. Together, we can all be proud of what we have created.

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5th anniversary

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAY PUBLICATIONS Pier Angelo

1870: Urning (Uranus), the first known gay periodical. Started by Karl Ulrichs in Germany. It closed after a single issue for lack of support.

1896: Der Eigen (The Exceptional), began publishing in Germany in 1896 until 1931, it is considered the first known successful gay periodical.

1920s: Die Freundin (The Girlfriend), a

German magazine that openly discussed lesbian issues.

1925: FRIENDSHIP AND FREEDOM is the first American gay liberation periodical . Henry Gerber managed to publish two issues of this mimeographed newsletter before being falsely arrested and losing his job.

1926: FIRE publishes its first and only issue showcasing

the work of Harlem Renaissance writers, it included the poem “Smoke, Lilies and Jade” by Bruce Nugent, the first published piece about homosexuality by an African American writer.

1947: VICE VERSA

published under the pseudonymous Lisa Ben ( anagram for lesbian), is the first U.S. lesbian magazine.

1953 : ONE is considered the first wide-circulation gay

periodical in North America . By the mid-fifties it had subscribers in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Its publishers had to go to the Supreme Court to get the local postmaster to let them distribute it through the mail. It reported on entrapment and harassment cases as well as publishing intellectual and cultural articles. It ceased publication in 1969.

1967: THE ADVOCATE: now a bimonthly, is the oldest continuing gay publication in the U.S. In December of 2013 it was the first gay magazine to feature a Pope on its cover when it named Pope Francis “Man of the Year.”

1967: VANGUARD: a monthly publication by a group of radical gays who called themselves the Circle of Loving Companions.

1969: GAY POWER:

appear after the Stonewall Riots.

the first gay newspaper to

1969: The Washington Blade, originally called The Gay Blade, published its first issue on October 5, 1969. The Blade is the oldest LGBT newspaper in the United States and second largest by circulation, behind Gay City News of New York City. The Blade is often referred to as America’s gay newspaper of record because it chronicled LGBT news locally, nationally, and internationally from the early days post Stonewall.

1972 GAY NEWS was a pioneering fortnightly newspaper founded in England in 1972. It ceased publication in April of 1983 after a long and costly legal battle with the courts for printing a homoerotic poem about Christ, written by James Kirkup.

The poem was called “The Love That Dares To Speak Its Name.”

It can be read at http://torturebyroses.gydja.com/tbrkirkup.html (Warning: some readers might be offended by the content of the poem).

1972: THE OTHER WOMAN: a lesbianfeminist publication is produced in Toronto, it is followed in 1973 by Long Time Coming, a lesbian journal out of Montreal .

1964: GAY: first North American periodical to use gay in

1973: GAY COMMUNITY NEWS: is founded in Boston and is the only lesbian and gay news weekly in the U.S. at the time.

its title. It was founded in Toronto. It later became Gay International.

GAY PUBLICATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES: 1977: WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN, started as the newsletter of the Miami-Dade County Coalition for Human Rights (DCCHR). The Coalition had just lost the fight to preserve Dade County’s first human rights ordinance; South Florida did not have a gay community paper in 1977. The Weekly News Bulletin later became TWN and ran for 25 years plus.

1999: EXPRESS GAY NEWS: Founded in January 2000 by criminal defense attorney Norm Kent. In 2003, it was acquired by Window Media, the largest publisher of gay/lesbian weekly newspapers in the United States. On August 28, 2008, Express Gay News underwent a drastic rebranding effort, changing format and name. The newer version of the paper, called The South Florida Blade, was edited by Dan Renzi. In 2009 Window Media shut down amid a corruption scandal and shortly thereafter the paper was re-organized with most of the same staff by Mark Haines as The Florida Agenda.

(Bobby Blair Publisher).

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Germany, 1870.

1969: Time magazine’s “The Homosexual in America” becomes the first cover story on gay rights in a national magazine.

1964: TWO

is the first gay magazine in Canada, the name was inspired by the U.S. magazine One. Ceased publication in 1966.

The first and only issue of Uranus.

1978: MOM…GUESS WHAT

gay paper is the first to report a gay wedding .

1982: ONYX: bi monthly newsletter started in Berkley, CA by a black lesbian collective. A separate newsletter, San Francisco-based, called The BLACK LESBIAN NEWSLETTER, was publishing at the same time.

1986: THE MONTROSE VOICE: Houston, Texas, was the first gay daily but it did not have enough advertising revenues to sustain the effort and went back to weekly publication.

2014: BOMBASTIC: gay rights activists in Uganda are risking detention, violence and death threats for launching an LGBT magazine called Bombastic. Their aim is to “share the realities of being gay in Uganda.” In the past month a team of 130 volunteers handed out thousands of copies and are planning to publish the groundbreaking title four times a year.

Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco), Philadelphia Gay News, David (Atlanta), LGBT Weekly ( San Diego),PQ Monthly, Out in Jersey, Dallas Voice, Windy City Times (Chicago), GA Voice, BTL, Grab Magazine, Frontiers LA.com, Boston Bay Windows, Out Front, Watermark (FL),She (FL), Hot Spots (FL).

JANUARY 25, 2010: SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS (Norm Kent Publisher) starts as a weekly coinciding with what would have been the 11th anniversary of Express Gay News. A fiercely independent publication, a credible and legitimate newspaper, which has been featuring topical news, outspoken columnists, cuttingedge writers, and hard-hitting meaningful articles capturing the breadth and diversity of gay life, locally, nationally and internationally.

In 2011 SFGN was an honoree of the Stars of the Rainbow and winner of Media Star of the Year. In 2014 the newspaper was the winner of 5 SPJ Awards and 2 Florida Press Club Awards. SFGN also publishes THE MIRROR, a quarterly LGBT glossy magazine.

If you want to learn more about your gay heritage and those who paved the way, through activism, sacrifice, courage and civil disobedience to give us a better and freer life you can visit The Stonewall Museum & Archives in Wilton Manors. We should all know who our gay heroes are and be thankful for what they did on our behalf.

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a Sacramento

5th anniversary

Happy 5th Anniversary Pier Angelo

It is a pleasure to celebrate with you SFGN’s Fifth Anniversary. How did it all start? In the late summer of 2009 I had some legal matters to discuss with my attorney, Norm Kent. That day, in his office, he told me he was considering starting a gay newspaper. I have always been militant and the idea appealed to me.

According to him he needed four partners.

I offered to be one of the four.

I soon found out I was the only sucker in town who had taken the bait. But I was still intrigued. We agreed to be 50/50 partners and took a huge leap of faith.

The first issue came out January 25, 2010 and the rest is history. It has been a thrill seeing this newspaper grow and become a credible, respected, voice of the community. This is due to the hard work and dedication of our great staff and the support of our loyal advertisers and readers. I am very proud of SFGN and I look forward to another challenging five years. It will not be easy.

The same way video killed the radio star, the Internet, readers’ apathy and economics are killing newsprint.

Americans spend over 250 hours a month watching TV and surfing the Web. Newspapers are no longer the predominant go-to news source; the Internet overtook newspapers as a news outlet a few years ago. Your browser, or a host of apps, can in fact replace print news. (but thanks for picking up this publication).

The irreplaceable role of newspapers, to dissect, stimulate, expose, organize and analyze the public debate, is threatened by a free for all chaos. Some of the largest websites are aggregate news sites, meaning they simply pull news from other sources.

Newspapers all over the world are suffering, or closing, and reporters are dwindling through downsizing. Who will dig up corruption, white-collar crimes, exploitation, abuse of minorities, political scandals, and big business cover-ups when there are no more reporters?

Who will listen to whistleblowers and question authority?

Fact finding has been replaced by the hearsay of a blogger with a grudge.

Editorials can stimulate thinking and generate proposals for progress, change and reforms. The founding fathers called newspapers "the market place of ideas.”

Politicians, business leaders, the Church, and now even terrorists, resent being exposed and would not mind seeing the newspapers go the way of the Long Playing records. Napoleon once said: "I fear the newspapers more than a hundred thousand bayonets.” Nowadays terrorists react to lines drawn on paper by pencils.

On January 7, 2015 Islamic “Extrements” stormed the Paris offices of a satirical newspaper killing 12 people. Al Qaeda repeatedly threatened “Charlie Hebdo” for publishing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, among other controversial

sketches, calling them blasphemous but at the same time ignoring the real pornography of how their religion treats women and gays.

Newspapers are the watchdogs for the public interest. There is a saying in Latin that goes: "Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes ?" – “Who Will Guard The Guards?” With the cacophony coming out of thousands of bloggers, or flimsy social media outlets, good critics and good reporters are an endangered species. Everybody is a blogger or a twitter and nobody reads anything of substance anymore. In the UK, The Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society, has branded the majority of online news as little more than "recycled 'churnalism.'"

The preservation of this invaluable freedom of expression tool has been successfully demonstrated in the European union where Governments have extended media support to all daily publications — regardless of the newspapers' political affiliations. While we take for granted all of our publications, gay rights activists in Uganda are risking detention, violence and death threats for launching an LGBT magazine called Bombastic. Their aim is to “share the realities of being gay in Uganda.”

In the past month a team of 130 volunteers handed out thousands of copies and are planning to publish the groundbreaking title four times a year.

You can pick up SFGN, She, HotSpots, or any other gay newspaper, all around town, without fear. The Ugandan volunteers have already been detained by the police and threatened with court actions for trying to give their community

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a voice and a platform denied them by mainstream media and their homophobic Government.

In this country many think that reading and supporting a newspaper is a thing of the past. Gov. Sarah Palin made it very clear that she did not read newspapers.

Why should she? She can get all the news she needs from Tweety Bird.

At SFGN we are trying to prove that it’s still doable. We have featured international, national and local news, entertainment and theater reviews, editorial columns, breaking stories, exposed crooks and injustice, made you part of all this by allowing your comments to be read by all as if it was an open forum.

Yes, today we are giving ourselves a little pat on the back, seems self-serving but I like it!

We believe in what John Stuart Mill said: “if we silence an opinion, we may silence the truth.” Otherwise the landscape of America will soon resemble the 2007 movie "Idiocracy": a sarcastic comedy film where an average guy wakes up 500 years later and finds that everything has been dumbed down to the point that he is the smartest guy on the planet. Without doubt an uninformed and ignorant society is easy prey for dictatorship.

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.

— Thomas Jefferson, 1787.

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5th anniversary

My HIV Diary: Reflections Ryan Dixon

[Eds note: For just over a year SFGN published Ryan Dixon’s ‘My HIV Diary’ — a real time reflection of his hopes and struggles as he started his HIV medication. Here are his thoughts now.]

South Florida Gay News has been at the forefront of local, state, national and worldwide LGBT news for the last five years. When writing for SFGN, I was given the opportunity to seek out the stories that I thought the readers would want to know about. The pages of this paper also gave me an outlet to be able to help myself and others.

Most readers know me for chronicling my struggles and triumphs of living with HIV. I started that 55 week journey with you all with selfish intents in mind. I’ve said before that I view writing as a sort of therapy. I started writing because I didn’t know any other way to express the feelings I was having when I started taking experimental HIV medication. I

can now see how writing this diary has formed my opinion and perception on what is needed in the world of HIV. I’ve been told many times how brave I am for writing what I do. It wasn’t until my most recent visit to Florida that the magnitude of what I’ve put to paper finally hit me.

The Sunday I was leaving to head back home, I stopped at the Alibi to visit a bartender friend. I saw SFGN Publisher, Norm Kent, sitting at a table having brunch with a friend of his. I walked over to say hello and Norm regaled his friend about my writing as well as some baseball quotes that I can always count on from him. The man expressed interest in maybe picking up HIV advocacy and I encouraged him to do so. I miss having a weekly outlet to try and help others and told him that it’s up to others like himself now to continue the work - the same work I did - of others that came before me. Looking at this year’s POZ 100, I was encouraged by the many

young faces that I saw in the lineup.

It makes me feel the public exposure that I brought upon myself for the hopeful benefit of others was the right thing to do.

National organizations are touting an AIDS free generation in the future. I know we can get there if younger HIVers step up and decide to do something. Bring HIV out of the closet.

Yes, you might lose some friends or family and, God forbid, a few tricks but the end game is for everyone’s benefit. Erasing the stigma of HIV that shockingly still exists is one step we all can make to hopefully see an AIDS free generation in our lifetime.

In closing, thank you for reading what I had to say for the little over a year that I wrote the My HIV Diary. If you think that my words have ever helped you, made you think or helped someone you know, don’t thank me.

Thank the people at SFGN who have kept this

glowing beacon of your community and our culture alive. And most importantly, thank yourselves. Without the loyal readers, this publication would be nothing more thank ink on paper.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

— Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Happy 5th Birthday, SFGN Jesse Monteagudo South Florida Gay News is five years old. The child of Norm Kent and Pier Angelo Guidugli, SFGN flourished at a time when many print publications went out of business.

SFGN proves that South Florida’s LGBT community still appreciates a quality “news” paper that is not afraid to tell the truth. In addition to being Florida’s leading LGBT weekly and our community’s newspaper of record, SFGN also publishes Wilton Manor’s hometown journal, the Gazette. Another SFGN publication is the Mirror, a quarterly glossy that goes beyond its South Florida confines.

My own history as a journalist goes back to the 1970s, when I began my association with The Weekly News (twn), Miami’s gay community newspaper. I continued to write for twn until its demise in 2006, which kept me from contributing to Norm’s first gay paper, the Express. Fortunately, I was free from any journalistic ties in late 2009, when word got around that Norm was starting a new publication. I immediately contacted Norm, congratulating him on his new endeavor and offering my services to the cause.

I am happy to report that Norm took me up on my offer and signed me up as contributor to SFGN. Furthermore, Norm flattered me by making me a Senior Features Correspondent, a

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SouthFloridaGayNews

title that I share with Father Tony Adams.

In addition to allowing me to continue writing my opinion column, “Jesse’s Journal,” SFGN gives me the opportunity to write about interesting and newsworthy people, groups and events. Though I no longer write my book review column (“The Book Nook”) I occasionally get to interview authors and write about literary events like the Miami Book Fair International.

I also get to write about groups that matter to me, like Congregation Etz Chaim or the Dolphin Democrats, or about deeply personal matters, like my partner Michael’s mental illness.

In addition to providing me with opportunities as a writer and a journalist, SFGN allows me to work with some amazing and talented people: Jason Parsley, Joey Amato, A. Sebastian Fortino, John McDonald, Tony Adams, Paul Gallotta, Brian McNaught, Gideon Grudo, John Fugate, JW Arnold, Jarrett Terrill, Wayne Besen and many others.

While some of these people are no longer involved with SFGN, others are and hopefully will continue to offer their contributions to this fine paper and its subsidiaries. SFGN is a group effort; one that I hope will continue through the next five years and beyond.

Over the past 5 years SFGN has committed to covering the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Florida and America with regular features and bi-annual inserts known as our "Spirit Issues."

5th anniversary

HIV Coverage

Through the years

SFGN Staff

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19

5th anniversary

November 22, 1963 — A Day I Will Never Forget Reprinted From November 20, 2013

Norm Kent

I remember where I was then.

It was Algebra class, with Mr. O’Neill, in Lawrence High School.

Classes ended at 2:45 pm, and the school buses were already lined up in a perimeter around the school to take us home. But the buzzer would not ring that day.

Instead, the principal’s voice came over the P.A. system, broadcasting into every classroom at about 2:25 pm. The President of the United States had been assassinated, and we were all to proceed to our buses and homes at once. All afternoon activities at the school had been cancelled.

End of day school bus rides were typically giddy journeys, planning softball games on Branch Boulevard. Not that day. I still remember the ride home even today, a stunned silence gripping the students of all classes. None of us fully understood the depth and dimension of what happened. We were transfixed only by a surreal sadness.

Years later, we would learn from our teachers that the hurried rush home was in part due to the possible fear that the United States may have been under a Communist attack, and the president’s murder was a foreboding of a war that might be next.

In 1963, news came in black and white via news bulletins, teletypes, Western Union, and Walter Cronkite- once a day, at 6:30 pm on CBS. There was no CNN or Fox. My home was on the south shore of Long Island, New York, in the small town of North Woodmere.

Our family had one large 19-inch television set in the den to share.

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If you wanted to change the dial, you went to the set, and carefully, ‘slowly’- dad would warnmove the rotary dial from station to station. No picture-in-picture, save, or record buttons existed.

After all, Steve Jobs was only 8 years old.

We would spend that entire weekend transfixed at those TV screens, images of the dead president’s funeral seared forever into our memories. It was my mom’s 42nd birthday, but there was no celebration in my home or any others in America.

Sometimes now, 50 years later, I am surprised about how much I still remember about that weekend. Of course, each anniversary and decade drives home the memory again and again, from John-John’s salute to the lighting of the Eternal Flame.

The bucking, rider-less horse is what I remember the most about the somber funeral procession. His name was Black Jack, and he is one of only two horses in the United States to be buried with full military honors.

Before that, World War II veterans remembered the infamy of December 7, 1941 and the attack on Pearl Harbor. I understand most of today’s Americans were born after JFK’s passing. Today, we all share the shock and tragedy of September 11, 2001, instead.

JFK once said that the price of freedom “again and again is that each generation loses some of its best young men in defense thereof.” At 46 years old, on the afternoon of November 22, 1963, he became one of them.

Thousands of young Americans would also die in Vietnam in that same decade. So too would

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SouthFloridaGayNews

the president’s brother, Robert Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, both victims of an assassin’s deadly bullets.

For those of us in our 60’s, of the 60’s, it would be a turbulent decade of growth and change.

We would later be marching in Washington and singing at Woodstock, asking for peace and love in a world that was giving us war and hate.

Fifty years have passed, and new generations have dawned. The bullets of a false revenge have taken too many lives too many times over too many years, from civil rights workers in the 1960’s to John Lennon in 1980. The LGBT community has had its share of Harvey Milks. Violence has no virtues. In America, it just seems to have a repeat switch.

Today’s students enter schools through metal detectors, all of us are screened at airports, and intelligence agencies secretly monitor your phone calls. It is not the world we intended. We go to a mall hoping to buy sneakers, and joke if we get home without a crazed teenager armed with an AK 47 going postal on us. In 2013, we hear of Columbine, Aurora, or Sandy Hook instead of JFK, RFK, and Dr. King.

Somewhere else in America today, kids are also riding home on a school bus, shaken by recurring tragedies on their own campuses, which mar their past and will forever mark their tomorrows. Shocked by some stark new episode of transcending violence, they endure the same uncertain fears each of us felt riding home in school buses 50 years ago this week.

May these young men and women emerge from the pain, so we can light the torch for a new generation: a flame for the equality and peace JFK sought to ignite a half century ago. It is a flame that will burn in my generation’s hearts forever.

5th anniversary

THE ECSTASY, THE AGONY, AND THE ANGER Reprinted from April 20, 2011

Piero Angelo

He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that it would last for ever: I was wrong.

(Stop the Clocks by W.H. Auden)

• The Ecstasy: I thought I wasn’t looking for love when I approached him on the beach. I thought I was looking for company, someone to talk to and pass the time. It only took a simple hello and I felt I had known him forever.

Florida is the lightning capital of the world I had heard.I didn’t know one could be hit by a lightning strike on a clear morning with not a cloud in the sky. But it did happen and I was happily scarred for life.

In retrospect I must admit I was looking for someone to shake up my life, to disrupt my plans or lack thereof. I wanted to burn all my bridges and burst out of the closet’s door. Yes, I admit it, I was also looking for love. I wanted to be possessed and obsessed by it. I wanted to taste it. And all of a sudden there he was, a big wonderful man with flashing silver blue eyes and a wrap around smile. He made me see clearly when seeing was not quite clear. He pulled my head out of my ass and put something much better in its place. He then gave me his unconditional love and undying friendship.

When you are in love, you do not think about the passing of time. It passes slowly when you are alone, but it goes fast when you are with the one you love. It’s as if there were two kinds of time, one of happiness and one of sadness. And of course we

never really think about “till death do us part.” It’s just another cliché’ after all.

It is, until it turns into reality and hits you squarely in the face.

The Agony: And now time passes more slowly than I’d ever known possible. Each second is like a single drop of water that you watch falling from a leaking faucet. There are moments when I feel as if I’m able to begin the healing process, at least for a little while. And although he is ever present in my mind, his face burned in my memory, his voice recorded in my brain, I know already it will not always be so. There will be a time when minutes will go by, followed by hours, when I don’t think of him, when the words he said to me won’t come back. Perhaps there will be a time when I’ll be able to say: “I haven’t thought about him at all since this morning”.

I’m frozen in time. A friend said to me that it is Mother Nature’s “band aid” to protect my wound and initiate the healing process. Still, I can’t exorcise the past either by returning to it, or running away from it. I can’t put him out of my mind and memory because he is forever part of my mind and memory.

The Anger: I want to stop crying. I have cried enough. I have cried in places where his absence was so obvious and strong I felt he was right next to me. I cry just by looking at the empty spot on the den’s couch, at his car sitting quietly in the garage, or the last book he was reading, and cry because he will never know how it ends. I dial his cell phone just to hear his voice telling me: “Sorry I missed you, I will call you back shortly, leave a message,” knowing very well his name will never pop up again on the caller ID of my phone.

They say that time will file away the edges and

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the corners of pain. Maybe, but for now there is this unexplainable anger at the unfairness of it all. It is just simmering under the surface and in a strange way it is comforting. I want my anger, I need my anger, I crave my anger, leave me alone with my anger, it gives me the strength I don’t have.

I also have to think about getting a new life and that makes me even angrier. The one I had was just fine.

So think about this long and hard..

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left. (from “The Dash “ by Linda Ellis)

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5th anniversary

From comedy to controversy:

2010

Five Years of SFGN Staff

March 2010

January 2010

April 2010

The Revolution Starts Now!

Obama Mends Old Wounds; extends health care rights to gay partners

The first cover of SFGN makes its debut, featuring Mike Verdugo.

Neil Rogers

A Tribute by Norm Kent Page 12

May 2010

Leonard Matlovich The Original Dan Choi

December 2010

Story Of The Year Senate Repeals DADT

SENATE REPEALS DADT INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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4 10

page

Latino Salud Expands

page

Brock Launches Equality Matters

Special Section starts on Page 17

21 27

page

Annie Lennox

page

Danielle Staub Interview

5th anniversary

Front Page News

2011

Judge Walker at the Center of the Marriage Storm

May 2011

STONEWALL 2011 June 2011

July 2011

A Tale of 2 Donkeys

Michael Musto: Why I Hate Being Gay

August 2011 The Pink Swastika Theory

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November 2011

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23

5th anniversary

Covers

2012

January 2012

July 2012

A Lust to Bust

March 2012

Entrapping Gay Men in South Florida Parks

manor to host retiring congressman barney frank page 35

Remembering.

Raising.

Riding.

G

AY

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F A C

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Gay Truckers

The Men, The Myth, The Medical Reality

S

November 14, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ volume 3 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 46

October 2012

Remembering.

Raising. Riding.

Southernmost AIDS ride rolls from Broward to the Keys

Southernmost AIDS ride rolls from Broward to the Keys Page 12

We Grieve

from sea to shining sea lgbt candidates sweep the elections page 8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

page

7

Update: Broward House Scandal

14

page

Roundtable on Elections

equality florida gala page 36

24

15

page

20

White Update: Party Wilton page Returns!

Ponzi taste of the island page 37

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Thoughts about the day 20 children were killed and the Earth stood still

SouthFloridaGayNews

December 2012

WE DO, TOO

Marriage Equality Photo Exhibit

5th anniversary

2013

(Continued)

January 2013

September 2013

BALLS DEEP!

From touchdowns to fouls, 2012 was a big gay year for sports

May 2013

November 2013

WE DO, TOO

Marriage Equality Photo Exhibit

'I'm Gay'

Jason Collins, a pro athlete, comes out

CAN WE BELIEVE IN CHARLIE?

$1 MILLION

November 2013

Smart Ride Reaches Fundraising Milestone

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25

5th anniversary

2014

January 2014

Covers

(Continued)

Imagine All Were Equal!

John Lennon's Artwork is Coming to South Florida

Our Day Has Come June 2014

ARCHIE DIES

Killed saving gay best friend

November 2014

The Ricky Horror Picture Show

Haunting Election Coverage from SFGN

November 2014

TRIUMPH & TRAGEDY

Smartride Breaks Fundraising Record; Mark's List Publisher Struck & Killed

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SouthFloridaGayNews

July 2014

SFGN's special issue on marriage and love

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27

5th anniversary

Five Years In Gay South Florida SFGN Staff For the last four years SFGN has held a 'A Day in Gay South' sending photographers out to capture a glimpse of LGBT life in South Florida over the course of 24 hours. We also ask our readers to submit their own photos from that day.

Ever y Day Counts

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5th anniversary

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advertorial

On Monday, January 19th the nation and the world celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many recognized this day as “A Day of Service.” This day of service offered all Americans the opportunity to honor the memory of Dr. King by contributing their time, talent, and money to improve their communities. At Poverello our team of volunteers honored Dr. King on the 19th by continuing to do the important service work they do throughout the year.

Dr. King famously stated “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve!” Since that time many non-profits across the country have taken the lead in helping Americans transform the MLK holiday from simply a day off from work, to a day where people can come together to meet community needs. As our readers know Poverello has taken the lead in the local effort to meet the nutritional needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and to fight hunger in our community.

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

31

5th anniversary

Fans Fight Back

SFGN Publisher Blasts Adam Lambert in Editorial, Enraging Fans

Jason Parsley

When SFGN Publisher Norm Kent wrote an editorial piece “Adam Lambert’s GLAAD Award a Joke” in April 2013 we had no idea the backlash it would spawn.

Lambert’s fans went crazy leaving comments on our website, sending us dozens of emails, and even calling our office. In fact we received more emails and phone calls about Kent’s piece than any other article in SFGN’s history.

Kent blasted the pop singer after GLAAD gave him an award for LGBT advocacy.

Kent wrote his piece after the “Glamberts” crashed SFGN’s website for days after SFGN broke the story of Lambert and his then boyfriend Sauli Koskinen split up. A week later Lambert was featured on SFGN’s cover in advance of his upcoming appearance at Miami Beach Pride.

The “Glamberts” were especially outraged at these passages from Kent: “Therefore, seeing him on the cover of our

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newspaper a few weeks ago made my partner and me puke.”

“Both of us went ballistic that Lambert was on our cover. Other than feature new makeup every day, what has this kid done to warrant a cover story?” “…and the story that takes down our website is Adam Lambert’s breakup with his boyfriend? This is unreal. How shallow have we become?”

“Give me a break. This award is presented to whoever can fill the seats and make money for GLAAD at its annual fundraising dinner.”

Below are snippets from several dozen emails we received in the days following Kent’s piece.

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Photo: J.R. Davis I was very saddened to read the article regarding Adam Lambert and the GLADD awards. I live in a very conservative part of Texas were the radio stations would never "play music by that fag" even without radio play here, when I asked my 15 year old and his friends who are the "gay" celebrities, Adam and Ellen were at the top of the list.

Like it or not he is the most mainstream recognized gay person in the public eye.

I have heard him on TV & radio all over the world talking about his coming out and being proud of who you are. He is building bridges between the gay and straight community. Without support from the straight community there is no hope for equality. Every time Adam shows up in a county where homosexuality is illegal, or a radio station in a southern state, he's making a statement and changing people's perception of the gay community.

If you had issues regarding how GLADD made selections that's one thing but to personally attack Adam was just wrong and reflects badly on your news organization especially when the writer obviously had issues with Adam as a person even though he never met him and your prior promotion of him.

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

Since when does media complain that too many people read our article or visited our website?

So go back to your offices and complain about all the traffic this article brought to your news organization while Adam is in China out and proud performing in front of millions of people.

Quote from Adam:

"As a community, we’re a little bit resistant to a gay male pop star ourselves," Lambert says. "It’s very easy for people to look at my origin, which is American Idol, and automatically assume that I’m a commercial sellout or a puppet or a flash in the pan.

"I don’t think I’m any of those things. There’s something weird there. We’re very eager to celebrate a strong female. But to celebrate a fellow gay man – it gets catty sometimes.”

Point made Adam

– Michele San Miguel

5th anniversary

Photo: J.R. Davis

ity Another example of the gay commun er "bitt l eating its own, the stereotypica guys you are n queen" syndrome. Whe the going to realize that the support from is ule ridic so you that ity mun straight com Y ALIT the avenue that is going to bring EQU g goin not is ity to fruition? The gay commun n whe y ciall espe e, alon to accomplish this the gay we see bullshit like this: celebrate tear it community at Gay Pride, and then unolic, vitri , all down with a log-winded r you of one me defa to researched article at e swip a take it, at 're you le whi own. And GLAAD as well. small Finally, mainstream America, in no n. ntio atte ng payi y nall movement, is fi

, and Thank you, amazing Adam Lambert and OUT g livin are who so many like you is ress prog real the re whe is t Tha PROUD. at ber Dum being made. Too bad Dumb and your newspaper(?) don't get that. this Enjoy all the hits your gonna get from e caus er high a is e ther , usly serio sham but y entl ferv here. As a straight female, who ing join the and lity, supports marriage equa in a of the gay/straight communities y ever this ches prea m (Ada e caus common that sad me time he is interviewed) it makes Thanks shit like this will only hold it back. for reading this.

– Elizabeth McGuire

Shame on you, Mr. Kent.

Adam Lambert has done mo re to bring LBGT to the mainstream than many.

Never mind that you seem not to have his charitable history correct regarding LGBT organizations.

Never mind that you wanted to puke when seeing a picture of someon e who received the key to the City of Miami on your cover and was the first out pop artist to make #1 on the Billboard charts...and who does nothin g but promote love, tolerance and equality.

Never mind that your facts are wrong about his being out during Idol.

How silly of you to write an editorial that disrespects someone who has lived their life in the mainstream, out and proud, and has become an example of "living your truth" to so

many people across the wo rld. Had you done your homework, I would like to believe that you would not only have not puk ed at the sight of Adam Lambert on your cov er, but would have been proud of the decision tha t was made in your absence. – Andrea Davison It is counterproductive...and stupid in a way... to denounce Adam Lamber t and GLAAD... both who work hard in the ir legitimate ways to forward the cause with inte grity that you so proudly support through you r newspaper. Every positive contributor to a cau se has a place...have you not learned that?

Shame on you, Mr. Kent. I hav e no idea how old you are...I'm 65....but you sound old, bitter, jealous, and for a journalist...to tally uninformed.

– Andrea Davison

I was shocked to read comments by the owners of South Florida Gay News concerning their distain for Adam Lambert. Ironically, only two weeks ago I was talking with friends about how proud I am about the LGBT community acknowledging the many things Adam has done in support of the Gay community.

Then to read this tasteless article unfairly slamming Adam Lambert made me realize that just maybe the LGBT community is still non-accepting of celebrities who are successful in the music industry. It's extremely difficult for Gay men to make it in the music industry but to have two business man who should be accepting of other Gay men blast Adam openly in the media is seriously disappointing. They should have done their homework before writing such a disgraceful article for the world to read.

I will be totally honest in my opinion these two men are just jealous of Adam's appeal to millions of straight & members of LGBT community. If their site crashed, so be it. It's surely not Adam's fault so why put the blame on him. Adam has done so many things in support of LGBT community.

I'll list them here.

1)

Raised thousands of $'s at a Maryland Concert by performing for FREE on behalf of STATE to get Marriage Equality Bill passed. It was passed partly due to money raised for awareness & media attention of what Gay/Straight celebrities were doing in support of Marriage Equality.

2)

Several songs written by Adam on two albums were written about LGBT community social struggles.

3) 4)

Adam's dialog with talk show hosts in support of struggles by his own community.

Las Vegas, NV Hello Jason, to you in person. You It was SO good to speak say ich is MORE than I can were very gracious. Wh about "Norm.”

S! Hey, who needs the Wow, talk about VICIOU e one of your own hav "Moral Right" when you t What gives??? I sugges communities to BASH??? his ots sho he work before Norm do a little home y has raised a LOT of mone am Ad . off uth nasty mo US RO o received NUME for charity. He has als ne to raise awareness. – do s ha awards for what he Dinah Menard NASTINESS come from?

Just where does all this the just received the key to Especially when Adam city???? HELLO????? h heaven, really trying to This article stunk to hig

ed 't. I believe Adam is ow understand, but just can s fan 's am Ad ded s has offen an apology. Actually thi very deeply also. be standing PROUDLY By the way, we will all accepts his award from beside Adam when he has heard of it? Little GLAAD. Maybe Norm not ghting for the LGBT, organization that is fi fighting against it.

Absolutely SHAMEFUL. your rebuttal Jason as We all look forward to As man in your interview. you were a total gentle w no to sorry Miami has Adam is all the time! So am Ad . icle art a GARBAGE be associated with such resent in your city. rep to red no really was ho Sincerely,

– Dinah Menard

soflagaynews //

Most importantly, Adam has been "out and proud" since age of 18 & never denied he was gay at anytime on American Idol. He was never asked by producers or any one involved with the show. I didn't even know he was gay until he was interviewed

by RS magazine. So your bosses comments saying it was obvious he was gay from watching the show is not true. Once I learned he was gay it made no difference at all to me. In fact just being exposed to this wonderful man through his music, interviews, & live concerts has opened my mind and heart to the struggles of LGBT community & everyone I know who has met Adam adores him.

Please let the owners know that I feel Adam is more than deserving of the GLAAD award & hopefully he'll receive many more. Thanks for all you have written about Adam and the respect you have shown him.

– Sharon R. Sullivan SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

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5th anniversary Fans Fight Back (continued) Dear Jason, Photo: J.R. Davis

Thank you for your prompt response to the degrading article written by publisher Norm Kent! I no longer find the link to his article so that I can reply. I would greatly appreciate if you will please share the following with him. I applaud, respect and thank you! I am a 58-yearold married mom/grandmother who traveled from Ohio to attend Miami Gay Pride. I made our family vacation plans last winter before it was announced that Adam Lambert would headline this event. When I realized that he would be closing the Festival I changed my flight and sent my family home so that I would not miss his performance! I’m thrilled that I got to experience a full day at Miami Gay Pride in South Beach Florida! I will never ever forget the fun I had that day!

Mr. Kent, It’s true! Websites often crash when the name Adam Lambert is mentioned! The whole world LOVES Adam Lambert and for good reason! In early 2011 shortly after being a finalist on season 8 American Idol, Charity Water’s website crashed several times when Adam Lambert suggested giving the gift of life to people in need of water rather than giving him gifts for his birthday. Hoping to raise $29,000…one dollar for every year, $300,000 was donated within four hours and this number has only grown ongoing contributions.

Please view Charity Water founder Scott Harrison’s thank you to Adam Lambert and his fans video filmed in Ethiopia! (www.charitywater.org/adamlambert) At age 31 and hardly “a kid” as you refer to him, Adam Lambert has brought light ,excitement and energy to our world through his music, lyrics, performances, interviews, overall persona and tweets. Yes! Adam Lambert has nearly 2,000,000 followers, which does not include fans who would love to follow him but have no access to Twitter. This alone speaks volumes! I’ve read countless stories of how Adam Lambert has inspired people. Some say he inspired them enough to overcome serious depression and many admit that Adam taught them to judge less and be more LOVING, GIVING and ACCEPTING! Adam Lambert unites and brings people together!

Many beautiful bonds and friendships have formed thanks to Adam Lambert. I’ve been touched and inspired in countless ways because of this amazing, beautiful, mega-talented and very humble man! I’ve personally met many people through shared love of Adam Lambert. I met a young Russian fan who was suffering depression, being bullied in school and lacked self-confidence. I encouraged her using Adam’s lyrics and words “Believe in you.”

Using an online interpreter, I helped her understand Adam Lambert stories and interviews. She attributes learning the English language to reading everything she can related to Adam Lambert and to our frequent correspondence! She can now speak and read English! I send Adam Lambert inspired gifts to her and her family which they are extremely grateful for! She’s overcome depression and now her confidence soars! She and

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SouthFloridaGayNews

her mom CELEBRATE life and our Adam inspired friendship as they dance in their apartment to the Adam Lambert CDs that I’ve sent!

This fills my heart with so much love and joy! Adam Lambert has received numerous well-deserved honors and awards… too many to mention all of them. Adam received the Equality California Award (EQCA) for his participation in the “It Gets Better” campaign and for donating proceeds from his song AFTERMATH to The Trevor Project- a national suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ youth. Adam also collaborated with Pennyroyal Studios to create a signature pieces to support various charities. His Peace Pendant has his words “Believe in you” inscribed on the back. Proceeds from his Peace Pendant supported The Trevor Project.

Fans around the world CELEBRATE Adam Lambert by hosting annual birthday parties in his honor! I’ve personally attended these events which include Adam inspired silent auctions and raffles with all profits going to his favorite charities. Adam also received the “Do Something Music Artist Award” for throwing huge support toward The Trevor Project. Adam Lambert fronted Queen when they joined Elton John (6/30/12) in Kiev, Ukraine at Maiden Nezalezhnosti ( Independence Square) in a grand charity concert dedicated to the fight against AIDS. In recognition of the importance of the charitable status of this project Adam Lambert waved his fees. He is about to do yet another AIDS benefit In May when he performs at the Vienna Life Ball 2013 which is one of the biggest AIDS charity events in the world!

Last fall Adam Lambert pledged his support for “Marriage Equality” when he headlined a benefit show in Maryland. He thrilled the crowd with an intimate stripped-down performance of OUTLAWS OF LOVEa song he wrote and dedicated to the gay community.

Last December Adam Lambert joined Cyndi Lauper and other celebrities at New York City’s historical Beacon Theater To help raise awareness about LGBTQ homelessness and to help support True Colors fund – Forty to None Project.

On his recent world tour, Adam Lambert made a strong statement in support of GAY RIGHTS when he performed in Russia wearing a pink triangle on the back of his jacket. This was used as a symbol in Nazi concentration camps…identifying males who were in prison because of their homosexuality. Adam Lambert will be honored at the 2013 GLAAD Awards and will receive the much deserved and earned Davidson/ Valentini Award!

Along with the above mentioned please do not forget the many charity donations a result of auctions and bids on jackets, shirts and other items belonging to Adam Lambert. There is good reason that the mayor presented Adam Lambert with the Key to The City of Miami and that he won “Favorite International Artist” in China the other evening!

Far…. We could go so far with our minds wide open” Adam Lambert lyrics-Outlaws of Love

– Kim

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about a contingency basis.

www.kenkeechllaw.com

soflagaynews //

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

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

35

5th anniversary

Letters to the Editor Happy Fifth Anniversar y

Congratulations on your up coming Fifth Anniversary.

A lot has happened in tho se five years.

You've grown in both dep th and breath.

The depth part is best seen in the various lengthy feature stories examin ing subjects of importance to our community . The operative word being "examining." Rec ent examples include detailed stories on PrE P, transgender issues, the crystal meth epid emic in the gay community, and homeles sness where the extensive reporting give s needed and helpful insight into areas tha t simply can't be adequately covered in the normal course of weekly news stories. These stories are the "NPR of print journalism."

The growth in "breath" is see n every week in the kaleidoscope of articles and columns touching on local, national and international news items of interest to our community.

These news stories are sup plemented by

columnists (some better tha n others, of course) but each brings a per spective that merits consideration.

The "breath" also includes you r inserts of the Pride Center's Voice and the welcome new Wilton Manors Gazette which do a terrific job of keeping readers cur rent on what's happening in these two importa nt entities.

Extensive news, commenta ry, in-depth analysis, cultural coverage, a calendar of happenings, and even the helpfully large (sometimes size is important) classified and advertisements reflect five yea rs of stunning growth, all to your readers adv antage. And all on line, updated 24/7, too!

Well done! I look forward to five more--at least.

Sincerely,

– Tom Jones

Reader responds to ‘Wilton Manors Ponzi Scheme’ Gentlemen: Good morning -- I had to write a note to you about the Wilton Manors ponzi scheme article and the follow up.

It is my understanding that Rick Kuhn has come under some criticism for speaking out against this extraordinary and reprehensible chain of events that has affected some of the members of the Wilton Station Association -- the full impact of which has yet to be determined.

I have known this gentleman for some time, and know him to be a good businessman, a straightforward individual, and an understanding friend.

What shocks me most is that someone who has been defrauded by illegal activity would be criticized for standing up for his rights.

Moreover; as someone who has been the president of an association on several occasions, it is astonishing to me that a Board of Directors has given a sanctioned endorsement of someone who might turn out to be involved in something which may be determined to be

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illegal.

As a fiduciary of the members of the association, it is incumbent upon members of a board to exhibit real and dedicated due diligence for all activities which affect the association, particularly when someone is employed by the association.

Even the slightest taint of activity, which may be illegal, should be carefully scrutinized, investigated, and not dismissed in a cavalier and self-indulgent manner. This policy should also be that of the management company as well.

There is no end to the devious nature of those who would take advantage of others, nor is there a limit to the methods used to achieve a nefarious end result.

And to use a well know quote, paraphrased here: "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing."

Yours,

– Charles Bryant Fort Lauderdale soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

A Thank You Dear Jason: recent issue Kudos on the most finitely earning of SFGN. You are de glad they have your salary. I am d, competent, ille someone as sk sed as yourself and community ba tion. to lead this publica Kent, and the r.

M u, yo k an Th such beacons g in entire staff for be community of information, unity building, leadership, comm . I am proud and breaking news publication ur yo t to be able to ge

of Our Savior each week at Church d also have it in Boynton Beach (an regants and ng co available for our members). ateful to all I am also very gr us all with g of you for providin mmunity co le ab this most valu wait until you resource. I cannot grow statewide. work and Keep up the good ur service, yo r fo God Bless you all ip. passion, and leadersh

rski

– Deacon Ed Kaczpe

5th anniversary

The "Kay Jewlers" story We received a print copy of your Feb. 1 edition of SFGN in the mail in which Pier writes about his shopping experience in our Kay Jewelers store in Boca Town Center.

We were very pleased to read how happy Pier was, and proud of the service he and his partner received, and how they were treated by our store team. We pride ourselves on superior customer service as an important differentiator, especially when customers have so many

shopping choices today.

I have shown Pier’s column to our Executive team and we would like to acknowledge the recognition by Pier of our team member, Aviva Zinberg, in our company newsletter and wanted to make sure that was okay with you.

We hope you’ll share our appreciation with Pier, and forward our very best wishes to him and his partner.

– David A. Bouffard

Dear Piero;

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u all on? s turn yo utdoor e e tr f o the smell t’s be honest, o have should u o afters y use, le t, a – Beca oks far better in ty… That was gre e y s a s o p x to e e reali hav Your x lo d of it. I ntroversial, se rts than it is in ou don’t go u ro p y r e adve be v ows y this co ryone kn e with t unless may find and you bviously disagre olice said, eve ad Heath at nigh ing to p o te s o p I nded Ham m or h p lice fu to o whilst T x g ta in … p x po pee any g se ne havin you are a e Michael. … no pily.. wasting p trap anyo Y MEN AND rg a n o h e e G g to n g e sha tim H GA ets alo g IT e W n o IT y r and eve e Queen (s).

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PARKS?? on, the nature eath, God Save d H n o L d a In pste B. on Ham George – Daniela happens ou remember e k li t y o n perhaps – Seriously, it’s ? om, do Michael fford a hotel ro a he can’t

“

First Gay Custo

I am proud to report that MotoVermont has finally brok en motorcycle re ntal barriers by having had its first openly ga y customers toda y! They were a bit guarded at first, but when I foun d out that one of the ladies was fr om Hollywood, FL I nonchalantly mentioned my Uncle (I still refe r to you as that, soun ds more person al than godfathe r) and contributor is a creator at SFGN — al l

mers

barriers were dr opped. They ar e both huge fans and loyal reader s!

They finally op ened up and I w as able to get a fe el were looking fo for what they r out of their tr ip.

I mapped out a route I thou ght they would like and some eclect ic stops I though t they'd like an d they just left a message that th ey were having an amazing time so far and all the recommendatio ns were spot-on.

Just wanted to share that with you.

– Eric Milano

Why Does SFGN Hate America Your [Norm Kent’s] latest editorial “The Tabula Rasa of a New Year” suggest that we clean slate for the New Year and ends with listing many of the old ills of America. Which is it?

In my lifetime most of the problems you listed as part of America have been addressed. In the 60's the President and the Reverend King referred to his people as Negroes — not Blacks or African Americans. No one uses that word today. Things have changed. In case you haven't noticed we now have a Black President and Attorney General. We have three women and a Black man on the Supreme Court. Three recent Secretary's of State were women, one of them Black.

The previous Speaker of the House of Representatives was a woman. A crazy woman, but a woman none the less.

There were several things that America did in my lifetime

that you failed to mention. We won World War II and ended the Holocaust. After the war we spent billions to rebuild Europe. We helped Japan to establish a democracy.

We created the United Nations and still provide most of the funding for its numerous humanitarian and peace-keeping programs. We passed the GI Bill to help veterans get an education and buy homes. You speak as though shock treatment was an American invention and aimed at gays. In fact it was an accepted treatment throughout the developed world. In the 50's however, we found a cure for polio and put an end to the iron lung. In the 80's we identified and developed treatment for the HIV virus. You failed to mention any of those accomplishments of "Evil America."

America is the most generous country in the world and has been for a long time. When was the last time you heard soflagaynews //

of a natural disaster that didn't include relief efforts from America. And we're pretty generous to our own as well.

Each day millions of school kids receive free breakfasts and lunches and sometimes free dinners. Each month a family of four on welfare receives more than $600 a month in food stamps. In fact, since the "Great Society" and the "War on Poverty" were instituted the American people have generously contributed between seven to nine trillion dollars to the poor and needy of this country. Seven to nine trillion dollars! Think about that.

I know America isn't perfect as your publication often reminds us. But, for the life me, I can't understand why you found it necessary to end this New Year's message with a vitriolic attack on America

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

37

5th anniversary Letters (continued) Some Readers Upset With ‘Prison Diaries’ Dear Editor, I am writing you concerning your decision to give a convicted child pornographer a voice and column in SFGN. I am a Gay man and Father that works with a group called DADsquared.

We are a community of men working endlessly towards the day that all Gay men, with the calling to be Fathers, can see their dreams realized.

Your giving Mr. Reina this platform is truly deplorable on so many levels.

I hear from good, upstanding, law biding men on a daily basis that are turned away from Fatherhood by groups and organizations that still believe that many Gay men are pedophile's, you sir have just given them more of the perceived “proof they need.”

Mr. Reina says that he has accepted responsibility for what he has done and yet in his own words states in your paper, “I have never inflicted harm on any child or minor in my life, nor would I ever do so.”

That statement in itself is proof that he does not fully understand his role in his own actions. Distributing pornography containing boys as young as six having sex with older men and some appearing to be struggling is INDEED inflicting harm on a child, in the most heinous of ways. That distribution only fueled

another pedophiles desires, which led to another boy, somewhere, being victimized, and Mr. Reina had a hand in that.

Mr. Reina also states that these actions were brought about due to his drug addiction which is also another deflection of personal responsibility, there are (sadly) thousands of Gay men suffering addiction and I can safety say that turning towards sexual child abuse is not the norm.

I also find it unbelievable that the paper states that in lieu of compensation for writing the column, as if he deserves to profit from his actions, Mr. Reina will be “paying it forward” by donating to his favorite PET charity... really... how about donating to an organization that advocates for the victims of child abuse?

SFGN is a leading publication working for the LGBT community; I can not understand why you made this extremely sad and dangerous decision.

You should be leading the community towards equality and helping us to transcend stereotypes, instead, these types of actions keep us bound to the past and to old societal negative beliefs.

I hope you reconsider this decision and remove his column from your publication.

Dear Jason,

Newseum Responds to ‘Almost All The News That Fit’

During Mr. Pier Angelo’s recent visit to the Newseum in Washington, D.C. we left him with the mistaken impression that there is nothing about gay rights, people or news in our exhibits. While no single exhibit focuses on gays in the media, we should have suggested he visit several areas of the museum that focus on this subject.

For example, in the News History Gallery on level five, Randy Shilts, one of the first openly gay journalists at a major newspaper is profiled in a display titled “Civil Rights: Using the Media for Social Change.” His reports led to a bestseller about bungled government attempts to deal with the AIDS epidemic - “And the Band Played On.” Nearby in the same gallery we have a 1981 issue of the gay-oriented New York Native, one of the first publications to address AIDS. In our newspeople database, accessible via digital kiosks, we profile Leroy Aarons who founded the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association in 1990. In 1989, as executive

nd to Thank you for the opportunity to respo ldn’t Shou You y your November 29th article, “Wh y.”

Arm Donate to The Salvation The Let me first of all state emphatically, le. peop all to sive inclu and open is y Arm Salvation ve recei will s door Anyone who comes through our t. assis to city capa our and help based on their need need in s rican Ame on milli 30 nd We serve arou grounds each and every year from a variety of back based serve we – we do not pick and choose who r. facto r othe any or n tatio on religion, sexual orien laid as fs belie our of core the to This promise goes t: out in our organizational Mission Statemen nal natio inter “The Salvation Army, an ersal univ the of part al movement, is an evangelic on the Christian church. Its message is based // 1.28.2015 // SFGN.com //

– Jonathan Thompson Senior Manager/Media Relations NEWSEUM

– Henry Amador

ponds to SFGN article Salvation Army res Over the motivated by the love of God.

38

editor of the Oakland Tribune, he surprised the American Society of Newspaper Editors by declaring his homosexuality while presenting a confidential survey of gay journalists. The database also includes Lisa Ben, who in 1947 founded a magazine for lesbians called Vice Versa, and who has been called the “founding mother” of the contemporary gay and lesbian press. And in our First Amendment Gallery on level four, one of the current First Amendment issues is the question of whether students have the right to discuss their homosexuality at school or to publicly speak out against being gay.

We appreciate the opportunity to respond and apologize for leaving Mr. Angelo with an incomplete look at the museum. Beginning this fall we will add information to our visitor guide that directs guests to these and other areas of the museum that focus on gay issues.

Sincerely,

years, The Salvation Army has Bible. Its ministry is y to work with Christ demonstrated a consistent abilit Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus izations that organ and ls without and alongside individua and to meet human needs in His name theology. our with t men agree in be ys may not alwa rces discrimination.” resou ial nanc fi and time with us ort supp direct They Any instance of discrimination is in serve to nt itme st all of because of a common cause comm opposition to our core beliefs and is again love the people in need. Like Jesus, we strive to when our policy. even – all to nate assio comp be our unloved and d Some have raised concerns about woul way r othe any in act to kly, Fran ree. on we disag statement position was y organizational Arm tion Salva Army is contradict the very reason The homosexuality. Because The Salvation on a founded more than a century ago. ions tmas, a church, we do have theological posit So, when you pass by a red kettle this Chris y, which bors variety of topics, including homosexualit neigh in. Your officers. we hope you’ll consider chipping are intended for our church members and disagree in need will thank you.

We recognize that people of good faith may d on base with some of these positions but they are – Salvation Army .

Bible the our reading and interpretation of

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

Newseum

5th anniversary "Dream Catchers" d desperation. alcoholism, guns an e and they tim Dear Editor, Now it's payback served ride, de r ou taking us for e ar g in sh for publi le are flocking to I want to thank you with interest. Peop he ‘T , ek t we e mega venues their almost tax fre a great column las li. ug eaper id Gu ro Pie gamble, and buy ch Dream Catchers,’ by e to drink, s of th er t ff ou co ab e th ad up re g arettes, fillin It is rare to cig in d an rta ce in ere is a in this ve the reservations. Th American Indian As ct it. bje su to e e th justic bine cosmic beauty and unheard of to com ng. y.

Ya lit d ua an n ex Yi os , m id sa ho with is you an di In n ica er Today the Am with casinos Kudos to SFGN. instantly associated l pioneers na igi or e Th . ng bli and gam pox, an alien – Charlie gave them small ion, syphilis, lig re ic ist he ot on m

In response to "Pa p Poisonous for Gayal White Smoke Catholics" Good day,

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Hollywood, Florida

Readers Praising SFGN’s ‘HIV Diaries’ Dear Ryan, Thanks for your honest and revealing blog, "My HIV Diary." In this week's edition (Week 29, "Over It") you admitted that you'd stopped taking your antiretroviral medications for a week. This reality — that guys living with HIV get burnt out, and take drug holidays — is not generally acknowledged. While I worry about the impact of this drug holiday on you personally, I'm glad that your column has shined a light on this issue.

For any of your readers who don't know, the basic problem is this: In the hours since a last dose of your regimen, your body is progressively clearing out the medicines.

Each of the different drugs in a multi-drug regimen has a different time to clearance (this is usually true even if you take a single pill regimen containing all the medicines in one pill). After your liver filters the other medicines out of your body, the one that's left is now basically trying to fight HIV by itself.

(This is called monotherapy. The early days when doctors prescribed just AZT showed us how ineffective any one drug is against HIV).

The virus can then beat up on the one drug left in the bloodstream, mutating against it so that when a person decides to start taking their pills again, the regimen won't work as well, if at all. A few years ago, one large study found that some people who

missed their doses or dosing time too often burned through all available medications in just six years. While that's the cost of missing pills, your blog points out that there's a psychological cost of taking them.

Undertaking HIV treatment starts a lifelong commitment. You become married to your HIV pills. And until some future day that science makes a huge leap forward, at this time, you can't get a divorce.

There's a big push in the medical literature and at conferences now to get people living with HIV into early treatment (not just earlier than "too late," but earlier than nation's official recommendation). There's also a simultaneous push for guys to take these medicines in advance, to keep them from catching HIV in the first place. If a lifelong commitment to HIV meds is hard to keep even amongst guys fighting against an aggressive virus, how committed will people feel if they’re doing something that’s “optional” or "early"?

There have been tremendous advances in HIV medicines these past six years. But the medicines can't fight HIV unless they are taken. Your blog opens a discussion about why that's not always as simple as it sounds.

Best regards,

– Stephen J. Fallon, Ph.D.

Bullying...

Dear Editor, item of the Bullying has been a top last few the for a LGBT rights agend gressed pro e hav es issu years. Although n-p no rofits and law makers and epidemic s thi are getting involved, that we e iev bel I continues to exist. of why rce sou the to need to get address the bullying exists in order to many that by problem. It is assumed and they re ecu ins bullies are deeply rity on ecu ins of gs lin fee project their much so is it easy targets.. But what if as a dy rea we more than that? Are our y wh ut abo k tal society to really n eve ssmates kids are bullying their cla I g? on wr m though they know right fro fsel and ce den do agree that self-confi m. Kids often worth is part of the proble n at home. see e hav y the act out what should blame I am not saying that we s, however; ent everything on the par

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y need to be we need to realize that the . These kids ion a part of the conversat evaluated be uld sho who are bullying of mental e typ any or r rke by a social wo need to teach health counselor. We also gence. These elli children emotional int skills. We life ng rni kids are not lea ool that sch in s kid r ou ch need to tea portant im every child is worthy and e place saf a has ld because not every chi these t tha t den evi is to call home. It get not ting kids who are bullying are me or at ho the help they need from on nong yin rel of school. Also, instead teach to nt me ern gov profits and the should have sensitivity classes, we Like any skill, these lessons everyday. ay and learn ryd we must practice eve r. from one anothe Thank you,

– Nicole Rivera

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

39

5th anniversary

Bad Boys

In the past five years, SFGN has covered a number of criminal cases involving gay men accused of criminal activity.

Here’s an update on some them.

Norm Kent

PENDING:

Serge Avsenew

It was four years ago this week, on Christmas Day in 2010, that a gay couple — Kevin Mark Powell and Stephen Adams — was found slain in their Wilton Manors home. The crime scene was violent. The accused murderer was a young man from Hollywood that they had apparently at one point entrusted to stay at their home. Now 30 years old, Avsenew is facing charges of murder in the first degree, robbery with a firearm, and the death penalty. He was caught driving the couple’s stolen car and using their credit cards. The case is next set before Judge Ilona Holmes on January 15, 2015. Robert Wills, one of the chief assistant public defenders in the PD’s office, a gay man himself, is representing the accused killer.

Justin William Newman A local businessman, 34, who worked in the printing industry, from Russelville, Arkansas, was charged as part of an undercover sting for travelling to meet a minor, a teenage boy, for sex. He met a police officer instead and now faces a second-degree felony charge, with the possibility of a long jail sentence. The pending case is set in front of Judge Lisa Porter in February.

Michael Anguille

The former SFGN reporter won an acquittal on a DUI charge in 2013, but he apparently did not learn much of a lesson. Earlier this year, he was charged with possession of cocaine, and while out on bond, allegedly became intoxicated while driving, and is accused of paralyzing a woman. He is now in jail and awaiting trial on multiple charges of DUI with serious bodily injury, reckless driving, and failure to use due care.

John William Snavely

The one time porn star from San Antonio, Texas, now 27, lived brazenly after apparently brutally slaying businessman Sam Del Brocco in his Pompano Beach condominium in September of 2010. Leaving a trail of DNA evidence that was only identified in 2014 after allegedly being in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend, Snavely is facing first degree murder charges and is in custody while the courts deal with extradition issues and other related legal matters. No trial date is set, but Snavely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

He is likely to spend the rest of his life in a prison cell.

Gregg Evan Bernard

For over a decade in the 1990’s, the one-time realtor made news weekly as the club owner of the largest and most prominent nightclub in South Florida, the Copa. Bernard made news last year when he was accused of stealing escrow monies from a local condo association he was supposed to be managing.

Charged with a second degree felony, the 50 year old is next set before Judge Raag Singhal in mid-February.

Jonathan Bleiweiss One of the most newsworthy

The 50 year old businessman, who once operated The Joshua Tree on North Andrews Avenue, is still facing pending charges of trafficking in methamphetamine and ecstasy.

Insisting on his innocence since he was first arrested in October of 2009, Joshua claims that he unknowingly received, at his home from Federal Express, packages of meth. Vigorous in his defense, he has tried to uncover the source. The case carries a mandatory minimum of three years in Florida State prison if convicted, and is next set in early February before Judge Andrew Siegel.

cases to ever impact the LGBT community, Bleiweiss was an out and open gay Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy in 2009 when his stunning arrest shocked the gay community. Charged with illegally detaining young immigrants and ordering them to perform fellatio upon him, Bleiweiss, who is out on pre trial release, living out of state, is facing a lifetime in prison on charges of armed false imprisonment and battery. The case is still pending, with motions by both parties moving it towards a resolution, one way or the other, in 2015. It is set again in mid January before Judge Michael Robinson.

RESOLVED:

Boyd Corbin A Wilton Manors mayoral candidate in November, was only weeks ago released from any pending criminal charges for an alleged aggravated battery against a female impersonator, the entertainer Dame Edna, for a 2013 incident in the Manchester Room of the Alibi Bar. A video surfaced on You Tbe, which exonerated Corbin of the accusation, and prosecutors dropped all charges against him.

Jack Lee Padgett

Christopher Donald Waring

Waring, at 22, just ran for city commission in Wilton Manors, after aborting a run for county commission. He did so while having a pending charge of falsely impersonating a police officer. He pled no contest, and is serving a term of felony probation, which will terminate in August of 2015, and even possibly earlier, if he petitions Judge Matthew Destry for early release.

The popular philanthropist and owner of Bill’s Filling Station was arrested on October 18, 2013, and charged with possession of cocaine and DUI after a minor traffic accident in front of the Pride Center at Equality Park. The case is closed and Padgett is serving six months of probation for the DUI. Photo credit of Dennis Jozefowicz.

The Ponzi schemer who defrauded residents of Wilton Station and the Manors is presently serving a 38 month federal sentence for his part in a multimillion Dollar investment scam that was exposed in part by an award winning investigative report initiated and carried through by SFGN reporter Gideon Grudo.

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Rob Lopicola The former WPTV weatherman, who later served as a dance manager for the Boardwalk, has not had a good year. Early on, he was convicted and sentenced to 56 months in prison as a child sex offender for his conduct with underage boys. But in September, a federal grand jury in St. Louis indicted him for his conduct as a telemarketer in a 2009 condo timeshare scam. The 44 year old is charged with felony conspiracy and wire fraud charges that are now pending. The 14.5 million dollar fraud is said to have bilked over 7,000 investors. Lopicola is looking at up to 25 years.

Mario Careaga A gay Fort Lauderdale insurance executive, and local businessman, who invested in the Dennis Dean gallery, was found guilty last March of two counts of DUI manslaughter in the 2010 death of Miami Heat dancer Nancy Lopez-Ruiz."I wish it was me instead of Nancy," Careaga said, at his sentencing, where he received 15 years.

Anthony Livoti and Steve Steiner

Jim Ellis

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Robert Alan Joshua

Two of Broward County’s leading AIDS activists in the 1990’s, and principles in Mutual Benefits Corporation, are both serving federal prison terms for their role in a major AIDS viatical insurance policy scandal. Livoti, an attorney, was sentenced to 10 years last fall after being found guilty after trial. Steiner, who like Livoti, served on the Board of Directors of Center 1, pled guilty and was sentenced to 15 years for his role in the billion dollar fraud.

SouthFloridaGayNews

5th anniversary

What Happened to that Gay Cop Fired for Doing Porn?

SFGN catches up with Mike Verdugo

Christiana Lilly Tucked away on Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors is Bodytek Fitness, a workout studio offering up personal and group training sessions. One of three studios, Mike Verdugo calls the business his baby.

“My life has always been around fitness,” the owner said. “I’ve been working out since I was 13 years old.”

The 40-year-old started out training in his garage with his friends, and soon there were rows of cars parked outside. He knew he had to turn it into a business, and opened the first location in Davie in January 2011. While he was starting up Bodytek Fitness, he was also in the middle of a battle with the Hollywood Police Department, his primary job.

Five years ago, Verdugo’s name was splashed among local and national publications as the gay police officer fighting to keep his job because of one day in his early 20s. He was young, ripped, and he laughs today that it was on his bucket list to be in a porn movie.

He had a part in the fetish film, “Rope Rituals,” in 1996 — he put in a few hours being tied up and called it a day.

“It was a one-day thing. It was in and out and it was quick. There was no sex involved, it was more of a role playing movie,” he said.

“I did my one [film] and that was it.”

However, the couple hours of contract work would come back to haunt him more than a decade later. Verdugo accomplished another goal to become a police officer, serving two years in the Lauderhill Police Department and then eight in the Hollywood Police Department. In the latter, he was a part of the elite SWAT

Team and used his fitness expertise to create a fitness plan for the team. In 2008, he was on HGTV as a contestant on "Design Star", putting his interior design expertise to use.

However, Verdugo says he was the only openly gay officer in a “good ol’ boy” department and filed a sexual harassment complaint. At that point, the department put him on administrative leave, claiming he failed to mention his stint in “Rope Rituals” on his application when asked about prior work experience.

Verdugo believes that if he were straight, it wouldn’t have been an issue.

“They’d probably get high fives in the hallway,” he said. “It would be totally different.”

Verdugo took the department to court and was represented for free by George Castrataro and Norm Kent, the publisher of South Florida Gay News. Any money he won was promised to go to an LGBT charity. After much back and forth, including speaking at a hearing before a panel in Tampa, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement allowed him to keep his law enforcement certification.

And that story became SFGN’s first cover Jan. 25, 2010.

“Knowing that I won the case, walking away, winning my certificate, and keeping it to me was everything. That’s what I fought so hard to keep,” he said of the 2010 win.

The plan was for Verdugo to return to law enforcement as a reservist and he completed his re-certification with the Police Academy. However, since his career in interior design and

his burgeoning Bodytek business was booming, he decided not to go back.

Now, Verdugo is the proud owner of his three fitness studios, expanding from Davie out to Wilton Manors and Wynwood in Miami. This year, he’s planning on franchising Bodytek Fitness. He also has a boyfriend and jokes that marriage isn’t for him.

Would he go back and scold his younger self for doing “Rope Rituals?” He says no.

“If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today,” he said.

“Everything in life leads you somewhere else. I’m glad I did it.”

Steve Stagon Updated

Gay Trucker Timothy Anderson Still Hard At It

EGRIFTA And The World AIDS Museum Tony Adams

Tony Adams

Three years have passed since SFGN published Gay Truckers: The Men, The Myth, The Medical Reality from March of 2012, about the life and work of Timothy Anderson, a gay trucker with a degree in creative writing and a desire to improve the health and healthcare of his fellow truckers.

The story has become one of the most popular features on SFGN’s website so I decided to give small update on the story.

I recently caught up with Anderson in Boca Raton and asked him if any of the grim health statistics about truckers have changed since then.

“The struggle continues,” he said. “The

magazine Men’s Fitness also did an article on truckers’ health and showed that the stats are still appalling.”

While continuing his advocacy for trucker health, Anderson has continued to write. He is featured in a recent collection of stories titled “Blue, Too: More Writing by (for or about) Working-Class Queers.” The book contains work by twenty writers who speak about the gay working-class experience.

Anderson is currently recuperating from serious spinal neck surgery but he will be back on his feet very soon. You can’t keep a tough gay trucker down for long.

Steve Stagon invited me, in 2011, to attend and report on a presentation by medical professionals about EGRIFTA, a new drug to decrease the accumulation of interstitial (organ) fat that besets some HIV positive men.

I lived through the earliest years of AIDS and watched friends lose their looks because of the virus and the meds. Many of them would become reclusive and fall victim to a chain reaction of related health issues so I was eager to learn about EGIFTA. I’m also glad to have met Steve, a survivor who has since become a successful activist for the HIV positive community of South Florida and now the founder of the World AIDS Museum in Wilton Manors.

That story “EGRIFTA, Erasing The Scarlet Letter Of HIV” from March of 2011 has become a highly story on SFGN’s website so I decided check back in with Steve.

When I contacted him for an update about EGRIFTA, he said, “The drug worked for me but I had to stop taking it because my doctor biopsied some cells on my tongue that proved to be cancerous. Although I am free and clear of that cancer, I am a cancer risk and EGRFTA might spark that kind of cell growth. Many of the men in my POZitive Attitudes group chose to start taking EGRIFTA after the presentation you

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attended and they are pleased with the results. It is still difficult to get insurers to cover it because some of them think it is cosmetic. They don’t understand the health risks.” When I asked Steve if any new versions of treatment have surpassed EGRIFTA, he said he was unaware of any.

Steve continues to moderate and facilitate POZitive Attitudes, a topic-driven and peerled support group for gay and bi men who are infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The group, in its fourteenth year, meets every Wednesday at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors.

Shortly after I first met Steve, he contacted me about his idea to establish an AIDS museum. I ended our meeting by giving him a list of tasks I thought were essential: assembling an influential board, finding a suitable location, getting legal help to set up a 501c3, securing funding, etc. I drove home that day thinking he’d never be able to realize his dream. I am happy to report that I was wrong. His World AIDS Museum is a huge success. Its recent grand opening gala featured a performance by the South Florida Symphony. On January 10, The SmartRide announced a grant of $5,000 to the museum. Steve Stagon may be a survivor, but he is also the future of the HIV/AIDS community of south Florida.

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

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5th anniversary

A Look Back at SFGN's Biggest Stories SFGN Staff In 2010 SFGN launched a joint investigation with Truth Wins Out and revealed the frontman for an “ex-gay” Jewish organization was indeed a con man and convicted felon.

Arthur Abba Goldberg, leader of JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality) was serving as President of a New Jersey temple where he promoted reparative therapy for gay people. SFGN and TWO discovered Goldberg was a ex-con who served 20 years in federal prison for defrauding the U.S. government.

SFGN's year long investigation into a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's undercover operation targeting gay men having sex in public parks. SFGN examined more than 300 police reports to discover an apparent pattern of entrapment tactics the police routinely used to ensnare unsuspecting gay men.

The undercover operation has since disbanded.

In 1976, Tiny Tina, a drag queen, hosted a wet jockey contest at the Copa and wound up with a conviction for performing a lewd act in a live stage show. 24 years later, she was a performer and nursing assistant in a retirement home, who was fired for the quarter old century offense.

SFGN exposed the injustice and helped her get the job back.

Some studies show that up to 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT. Reporter Christiana Lilly has followed the story over the last several years here in South Florida.

SFGN's first cover story reported on Mike Verdugo, an openly gay cop suing the police department after being fired for appearing in a sexless gay porn video ten years earlier. Verdugo worked at the Hollywood Police Department where he was a part of the elite SWAT Team. After he filed a sexual harassment complaint in 2008 the department put him on administrative leave, claiming he failed to mention his stint in in the video in his application when asked about prior work experience. Verdugo argued the police was discriminating against because he was gay. Eventually he won his case and was allowed to keep his law enforcement certification.

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SouthFloridaGayNews

Reporter Gideon Grudo exposed businessman James “Jim” Ellis as a crook and a con man who orchestrated a Ponzi Scheme defrauding local Wilton Manors residents out of millions. SFGN's 11-month long investigation revealed that Ellis was a front and decoy for George Elia, enticing Wilton Station residents with promises of riches and fortune in exchange for their investments.

5th anniversary

SFGN has closely followed the developments of Truvada, a mainstream HIV medicine that is now being used to prevent HIV in what’s called pre-exposure prophylaxis, more commonly known as PrEP. While most HIV and health organizations now approve of PrEP, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has launched several campaigns casting doubt on its effectiveness.

"Meth Madness" is one SFGN's longest and most in-depth stories its ever published, chronicling the comeback of the crystal meth epidemic in the gay community and what's being done about it.

In one of its more ambitious projects SFGN has undertaken, the paper attempted to cover the 2012 election – from coast to coast, in real time. With regular social media updates and online stories the staff of four worked through the night keeping readers informed while simultaneously putting the print edition together.

When SFGN came across a story circulating in many mainstream media outlets, such as the Washington Post and Toronto Sun, about poll that claimed Britney Spears was the gay community’s greatest icon SFGN went digging.

Eventually SFGN tracked down the source of the story, who SFGN exposed as a fraud who was fabricating many stories with made up sources and organizations. The Washington Post ended up retracting the story and media outlets across the country reported on SFGN's work.

"We were so tired. Some of us took naps in between the long sessions at our desks, glued to our monitors. We looked up every once in a while to listen to some anchor say something exciting.

Most of it was surreal, and will remain one of my favorite memories at SFGN, for the weight of the experience and for its 27-hour long absurdity."

— Gideon Grudo, former editor in chief of SFGN "The way we envisioned our coverage in real time was really ambitious and we did the best we could under the circumstances. I remember Obama mentioning the LGBT community in his reelection speech, which was so important at that time.It was just a great experience to be covering the presidential election focusing on the LGBT community. It was a pivotal time for the community as well. I learned a lot about people and about myself during my time at SFGN. I'll be forever grateful for the opportunity."

— Sergio Candido, then SFGN's webmaster

In a series of articles SFGN detailed the unusual secrecy Pride South Florida adopted after SFGN questioned it about which charities they would be donating their money to that year. As the story unfolded it took seveal unexpected twists and turns such as SFGN uncovering the organization's potential loss of its non-profit status.

Meanwhile SFGN Publisher Norm Kent wrote several scathing editorials calling for the resignation of its then leader Marc Hansen.

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In this story about a local charity, the Brian Neal Foundation, was forced to admit it mismanaged its funds after SFGN examined their financial records. It's back on track now

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

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5th anniversary

The Miami Beach Bruthaz Are Back The story that just keeps going and going

Photo by J.R. Davis

J.W. Arnold With tens of thousands of hits, this 2011 story about the annual Miami Beach Bruthaz weekend has become the most frequently clicked online article in SFGN’s five-year history. Even though the story is about a particular event that has long passed, the article continues to rack up hits.

“It is a surprise and we’re very pleased to hear that,” commented Ian Smith, founder of the annual weekend event that was originally founded in 2006 to foster community among gay men of color.

Over its nine-year history, Miami Beach Bruthaz has grown from an impromptu gathering of 30 friends into an international event, drawing hundreds of participants from Australia, Europe and South America.

The weekend also attracts women and a much more diverse group of participants.

The event will return to South Beach, July 16-20.

“This event has always been more than just a party weekend,” Smith explained. “It’s

about camaraderie and a way to address the rising HIV rates that were happening in our community around the 2006 time frame.”

The first weekend featured author J.L. King, who wrote a groundbreaking book about closeted African-American men living on the “down low,” pool and dance parties and a fashion show.

For 2015, the popular Saturday night Brazilian-themed party will return and the issues forum, previously held over brunch, will be moved to a cocktail party format with a nationally recognized speaker to be confirmed soon. Smith particularly hopes this evening event will attract more local participants. Also, Sunday will feature an excursion to nearby Haulover Beach and he encourages locals to join them.

“For the first time, we’ve had tickets selling in January,” he said, raising expectations for the biggest Miami Beach Bruthaz celebration ever. “It’s amazing how it’s grown.”

Is God Still Listening To Ray Boltz?

Tony Adams

Five years have passed since SFGN first profiled Fort Lauderdale’s Ray Boltz, who sacrificed his huge career as a Christian music star (4.5 million albums sold) when he came out of the closet to his loving and accepting wife and children, and to a music industry that promptly shunned him.

That profile (along with a second one written two years later) is the most widely commented on SFGN profile, having received tens of thousands of views with comments both supportive and hateful.

I sat down with Boltz to see how his life and his music have evolved since that SFGN profile first appeared in March, 2010, at a time when he was releasing “True,” his first album as an out singer/song-writer. “True” won numerous “OutMusic Awards,” and his catalogue continues to sell well, despite the antigay cold shoulder of the Christian music industry.

Boltz laughs easily these days as he

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Photo of Ray Boltz (January 12, 2015)

by Tony Adams describes a life of contentment centered on family, friends and his partner of eight years, Franco Sperduti.

“I have eight grandchildren! I spend as much time with them as I can. I’m still close to my children and to my ex-wife. She and I are both 62 and I think that changes how you see your life and what you concentrate on,” he says.

Boltz still writes music but no longer thinks of his music in business terms. His music is his personal expression and its own source of satisfaction. He continues to perform, make appearances, and advocate for LGBT equality.

“I’m thrilled that we have equal marriage rights now in Florida and that the courts decided that the will of the majority cannot deny my right to love,” he says.

Boltz recalls grabbing his guitar and heading downtown in 2008 to protest “Amendment 2” that added to the Florida Constitution the definition of marriage as exclusively between soflagaynews //

one man and one woman. At the protest, he performed his popular anthem “Don’t Tell Me Who To Love.”

His life may be calm and steady, but Boltz is still passionate about spirituality and the personal calling he feels to define a God who loves all people equally. He describes the source of inspiration for a song he is working on currently.

“This new song has a working title ‘If You’re There.’ It came to me because of an email I got from a lady who told me that I am going to hell because I’m gay. In the song, I talk directly to God and ask him about the isolation and distance we all feel when God seems silent and absent,” he says. “Not all my email is negative. I often get messages from people who thank me for coming out and say it gave them the courage to face the same reality.

Often they ask me for advice about how to handle the process of coming out to a spouse and children in the context of religion and

SouthFloridaGayNews

faith. I never give advice about that. Everyone has to work that out for themselves. I only know that what I chose to do has brought me much happiness. I never would have imagined having eight grandchildren who love me and Franco!”

Boltz assured me that the business world of contemporary Christian music remains extremely antigay, but his personal spirituality as expressed in his passionate music celebrates a God who remains his biggest fan.

Ex-Gay Leader Found To Be Convicted Fraudster

5th anniversary Arthur Abba Goldberg is being sued

by Southern Poverty Law Center

Arthur Abba Goldberg

John McDonald

One of the more popular topics SFGN has covered during its existence is the “Ex-Gay” ministry. In 2010, shortly after the newspaper launched, a joint investigation with the organization Truth Wins Out revealed the frontman for an “ex-gay” Jewish organization was indeed a con man and convicted felon.

Arthur Abba Goldberg, leader of JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality) was serving as President of a New Jersey temple where he promoted reparative therapy for gay people. Goldberg authored “Light in the Closet: Torah, Homosexuality and the Power to Change” in which he claimed people with same-sex attractions could change because there

is no genetic cause for homosexuality.

SFGN and Truth Wins Out discovered Goldberg was a excon who served 20 years in federal prison for defrauding the U.S. government. In the 1980s, Goldberg was known as “Abba Dabba Doo” on Wall Street for his investment schemes.

“We have long considered Arthur Goldberg a con-artist, but our investigation shows he is also an ex-con,” Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen said in an article published February 15, 2010.

Ex-Gay Ministries have long been a sensitive topic and wedge issue. Recently, PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays) erected a billboard in Virginia showing photographs of identical twins with the words, “One gay, one not. We believe nobody is born gay.” Further review of the billboard revealed the model used, Kyle Roux of South Africa, was in fact gay and not a twin.

“This latest episode solidifies PFOX’s reputation as a gutter organization that is more than willing to scrap the bottom of the barrel to promote a discredited myth,” Besen said.

Time and time again, ex-gay ministries have been discredited and proven to be fraud, Besen says, with unfortunate collateral damage. Co-founder of Love in Action, what is believed to be the first modern ex-gay ministry, John Evans, passed away this month from heart failure.

Blood Boils Over Brennan Cathy Brennan

One of the more controversial stories to erupt in 2014 came from the transgender community and its response to the organization, Gender Identity Watch. Headed by Maryland attorney Cathy Brennan, Gender Identity Watch was accused of harassing transgender people and Brennan was called out by trans activists for being insensitive and inappropriate.

“I am not a bigot,” Brennan said in a telephone interview with SFGN. Many others disagreed, flooding the newspaper’s website with accounts of Brennan’s actions.

“She hates an entire class of people, that’s what a bigot is,” wrote one commentator, under the name Jess Tea. Another commentator, Lisa Harney, wrote how Brennan contacts physicians of transgender people to “deny them medical care”

Evans quit the ex-gay ministry after his friend, Jack McIntyre, committed suicide because he could not change his sexual orientation.

In Goldberg’s case, the ex-con is facing a lawsuit from the Southern Poverty Law Center for consumer fraud. The New Jersey Supreme Court disbarred Goldberg in 1995 citing his criminal convictions and his “reckless indifference to a conspiracy of considerable magnitude.”

Investigators found Goldberg had knowingly conspired with others to enter into a fraudulent scheme to sell fake bond issues and take commissions on them anyway.

Goldberg orchestrated a scheme that bribed public officials, deceived investors and issued bogus checks to nonexistent parties. In exchange for underwriting $300 million in bogus deals, Goldberg and his investment firm, Matthews & Wright, received a fee of $10.6 million. They created the impression these bonds would be used to help construct desperately needed single-family housing in Guam and elsewhere.

In 2012, the Southern Poverty Law Center sued Goldberg, JONAH and others on behalf of four young men and two mothers. The lawsuit alleges that JONAH's conversion therapy amounts to consumer fraud. The case is expected to go to trial in Jersey City, NJ this April.

Maryland woman draws ire of transgender activists John McDonald

and “contacts their workplace to get them fired.”

Harney also noted Brennan’s ties to the conservative Pacific Justice Institute, which promotes reparative therapy. “Catherine Brennan is a extremely prominent and active transmisogynist who does her level best to harm trans women.”

SFGN reached out again to Brennan for comment via email, but she refused to answer any questions. On Twitter, under the handle @BadhbhCatha, which shows a picture of what appears to be Brennan, the account user says they are “AntiSex Positive, Anti-Gender, Anti-Prostitution and Anti-Porn and Pro-Woman.”

Following last year’s article in SFGN, Gender Identity Watch donated money to the Southern Poverty Law Center in what appeared to be effort to avoid being labeled a hate group. A group called Secular Women started a petition to have Gender Identity Watch designated as a hate group and gathered thousands of signatures.

SPLC said that Gender Identity Watch was nothing more than a blog and not technically a group.

Mark Potak, senior fellow at SPLC, in an email obtained and published by the Transadvocate.com website, confirmed SPLC “would not be accepting any further donations from Ms. Brennan.” soflagaynews //

In last year’s article which ignited a firestorm in the LGBT community, Brennan, 44, dismissed the Transadvocate’s attempts to label her organization a hate group, calling Transadvocate editor Cristan Williams, “nuts” and saying Williams “has an axe to grind and let her grind it.”

More recently, Gender Identity Watch has come to the aid of reality television star and conservative Christian Michelle Dugger, posting on its website that MRAs (Men’s Rights Activists) should back off attempts to condemn the family’s role defending an Arkansas municipal ordinance regarding gender separate bathrooms.

“We encourage gay and lesbian people to stop hitching our efforts for anti-discrimination protections to overbroad gender identity bills that do not take women and girls into account.”

Brennan has publicly stated she is a lesbian feminist.

Others are not so sure.

Harney writes Brennan is "one affluent cisgender white woman using her privilege and her power to harm an entire community while insisting that somehow we magically oppress her."

Adds, Tea, “She’s an evil sack of crap, simple."

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

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5th anniversary

Taliban Boy Sex Slaves Story Shocks

Instant outrage over Afghani’s denial of cultural practices John McDonald The headline sent shockwaves across the Internet — “Soldiers Die While Taliban Plays With Boy Sex Slaves” Published in March of 2010, the article details findings from an unclassified military research study in southern Afghanistan in which men from the ethnic group known as Pashtuns exhibit homosexual behavior yet refuse to admit it. The report, obtained by Fox News, indicates several Pashtun men engage in same-sex relationships while shunning women and, all the while, rejecting the label of “homosexual.”

The report also details how Taliban commanders often keep young boys for sexual purposes. Its findings authenticate previous reports first appearing in the Times of London in 2002.

“It is sad to state that this practice of making boys dance, sexual abuse and sometimes even selling boys has been going on for years,” General Asadollah

Amarkahil, a commander of security forces in the Kunduz province said at the time of the investigation.

Kandahar, capital of the Taliban movement, is cited in the report as the homosexual capital of South Asia where the boy sex trade is rampant. The Times report concluded that is viewed as status symbol among the wealthy and powerful Afghani men, including many Taliban and mujahideen commanders, to take young boys as sex slaves.

Around the time of the controversial study’s declassification, the Los Angeles Times interviewed an Afghani professor at Kandahar Medical College who estimated around 50 percent of the Taliban warlords were having sex with teenage boys. Dr. Mohammed Nasem Zafar went as far to state, the Taliban commanders were plucking the boys among ages 12 to 16, “before their beards grow in.”

According to the study, Pashtun men interpret the Islamic prohibition on

From Porn Star to Jailbird David-Elijah Nahmod

Muscular porn hottie Robert Van Damme won't be going before the camera any time soon. The allegedly gay for pay superstar's checkered legal history finally landed him behind bars — he'll be serving nine years in prison in his native Czech Republic.

SFGN first reported on Van Damme, who's real name is Robert Kovarik, in 2010 when he was arrested for a series of beatings he subjected his then wife to.

In a letter published at the time by the gay porn website The Sword, ex-Mrs. Kovarik Mimi Letuska reports of being hit across her mouth and knocked to the floor bleeding.

She said that her volatile ex also smashed her daughters' cell phones against a wall during a temper tantrum.

"I loved Robert and did everything for him," Letuska wrote. "But I have learned that

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// 1.28.2015 // SFGN.com //

Robert only used me. He used my status as an American citizen to start a business and have a life that he wasn't entitled too."

That business was Van Damme's own, highly successful porn production studio.

Prior to that, he was seen in videos produced for Hot House.

Apparently his porn notoriety and his domestic violence arrest raised even more red flags — Van Damme was wanted in his home country for a series of armed robberies he committed there in 1999 and 2000. He had been tried in absentia by a Czech court after fleeing the country to do porn in the U.S. On September 13, 2013, an extradited Van Damme appeared in a Czech courtroom for a retrial.

He was sentenced early in 2014.

Robert Kovarik will remain in prison until 2023.

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

homosexuality in terms of “love” meaning they are free to use boys as “sexual gratification.” In the study, it is mentioned time and time again that Pashtun men were fond of saying, “women are for children, boys are for pleasure.”

In its 2013 human rights report, the U.S. State Department said sexual abuse of boys is on the rise in Afghanistan and becoming quite common in the country’s capital city of Kabul. The practice is referred to as “bacha baazi” or dancing boys.

The military study was done by the U.S. Army and is comprised of personal field notes dated May 15, 2009 by Human Terrain Team AF-6, which was assigned to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion and co-located with British forces in Lashkar Gah. It was requested to provide insight into Pashtun cultural traditions regarding male sexuality.

To this day, the story ranks No. 2 in online hits for any article ever published by the SFGN.

Gay for pay hottie Robert Van Damme in Czech prison

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

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column transforming gender

Living The Dream Rebecca Juro

rjuroshow@gmail.com

When I came out and began identifying and living as a woman full time in 1997, there really wasn’t much in the way of media that focused on or even included trans people and the issues that matter in our lives. We had just one well-known and well-respected community columnist, Gwendolyn Ann Smith, and one broadcast radio show focusing on trans people and issues, GenderTalk, hosted by Nancy Nangeroni which was streamed and archived online.

Both Gwen and Nancy were profound influences on me in terms of figuring out what I wanted to do to participate in the effort to promote transgender rights and inclusion.

I knew I wanted to be an activist, but it was through these women and the examples they set that I also came to understand that I wanted to be a media maker too, a journalist and a radio host. I found my passion as an activist in striving to become the kind of community voice they were.

A little less than a year later, I started my own email list called “Becky’s List” where I’d publish op-eds on trans issues and topics.

A few years later, in 2001, I teamed up with another trans woman to create “Trans-Sister Radio,” which was, as far as I know, the very first Internet radio show by, for, and about trans people and the issues that matter in our lives.

For a few years, we were pretty much it as far as trans-relevant media went. Gwen was the only one of us to be able to score a paying job when she began writing “Transmissions” for the Bay Area Reporter in 2000, and it probably wasn’t a coincidence that she was hired by a paper which serves San Francisco, the U.S. city with the highest percentage of trans residents in the country.

Since then, we’ve seen a steady increase in the amount of media content specifically by, for, and about trans people in LGBT media

and elsewhere, but it’s only very recently, within the last two years or so, that trans people in media are truly breaking through to the mainstream, culturally and socially.

It’s always been frustrating for me that even as efforts around gay and lesbian issues like marriage and military service have benefitted immensely from significant coverage on cable news networks like MSNBC and CNN, there’s far less legislative progress on the historically mostly ignored issues of LGBT and trans-specific antidiscrimination protections, with Delaware and Maryland being the only states to add trans protections to their antidiscrimination laws in the last two years.

Now, it looks like even that wall is finally coming down. MSNBC’s new digital platform Shift features several new online-only shows, including two, which are nothing short of groundbreaking.

So Popular! with Janet Mock is the very first national mainstream news media offering to be hosted by a trans person, and Out There with Thomas Roberts is the very first national mainstream news media show to specifically focus on LGBT people and issues.

This is huge, and I’m not just saying this because I’ve appeared on Out There… For the first time ever, MSNBC is making trans people, our lives, our stories, our issues, and our voices, a real priority.

No longer are trans people just on the outside looking in at mainstream news media, hoping cisgender hosts would notice us now and then, as we were years ago. Now we’re taking that critical step I’ve dreamed of for so long: We’re starting to become an integral part of the mainstream media ourselves.

The dream is real.

This changes everything.

Rebecca Juro is a nationally-published freelance journalist and radio talk show host who is the Media Correspondent for The Advocate website. Her work has appeared in the Huffington Post, the Washington Blade, Gay City News, the Albany Times Union, and The Advocate magazine, among others.

Rebecca lives in central New Jersey and shares her life with a somewhat antisocial cat. Email: rjuroshow@gmail.com Twitter: @beckyjuro

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

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advertorial THE SOUTH BEACH BROADWAY SERIES KICKS OFF ITS INAUGURAL SEASON WITH

LINDA EDER

What happens when a critically-­‐acclaimed Broadway playwright and producer teams up with the owner and presenter of one of the top gay internationally-­‐recognized entertainment venues in the world? In five words: The South Beach Broadway Series. Producers Matthew Lombardo aTHE nd R ick MBurray ave set their sights on South Beach this SOUTH EACH BhROADWAY SERIES OFF Iw TS ildly INAUGURAL SEASON WITH Series to Miami, winter to bKICKS ring their successful Broadway having just enjoyed a LINDA sold out E run in Provincetown this past summer.

DER Murray owns the landmark venue The Crown and Anchor and produce

What happens when a p critically-­‐acclaimed Broadway p hundreds of shows er year. Lombardo, wlaywright hose Band roadway credits producer teams up with the owner and presenter of one of the top gay include Looped and High (both national ours mIade internationally-­‐recognized entertainment venues in tthe world? n five stops here in Fort words: T he S outh B each B roadway S eries.

P roducers M atthew Lauderdale) was also responsible for bringing the Seth Rudetsky Lombardo and Rick Murray have set their sights on South Beach this Broadway Sberies to wtildly he sPuccessful arker BProadway layhouse winter. winter to ring their Series ltast o Miami, having just enjoyed a sold out run in Provincetown this past summer.

Murray owns the landmark venue The Crown and Anchor and produces “What I learned from hat experience s that caredits lthough people found the hundreds of shows per ytear.

Lombardo, whose Biroadway include Looped and High (w both national made tops hoere n Fort series enjoyable, they anted to tours hear msore f tihe artist singing rather Lauderdale) was also responsible for bringing the Seth Rudetsky than tBroadway he constantly interrupted black and forth with the host” Lombard Series to the Parker Playhouse ast winter. said. “ That’s why we decided to give our audiences a full scale Broadw “What I learned from that experience is that although people found the concert in enjoyable, a more intimate etting a full band”. series they wanted to hsear more ow f tith he artist singing rather Added Murray “W constantly interrupted back and o forth the host” Lombardo want than to rthe ecreate the experience ne wwith ould feel as if attending a concer said. “That’s why we decided to give our audiences a full scale Broadway at 54 concert Below New York.

So ww e ad ecided o actually bringing those in ai n more intimate setting ith full band”. Atdded Murray “We want tio experience one would fB eel as if attending a concert concerts n recreate their tehe ntirety to South each and again to The Crown and at 54 Below in New York. So we decided to actually bringing those Anchor in Pin rovincetown this summer.” concerts their entirety to South Beach and again to The Crown and Anchor in Provincetown this summer.”

And w hat better o koff ick osff their eason n M And what better ww ay ay to ktick their eason in Msiami with oine of iami with one of America’s m ost b eloved s ingers –

L inda E der.

America’s most beloved singers – Linda Eder.

“I am so very excited to come down to Miami and perform in The South roadway Series” tM der said.

“I am bringing my four piece “I am Beach so vBery excited o s. cEome down to Miami and perform in The South band that I have been playing with for years and the show is really Beach Broadway Series” s. said.

“I am boringing my four piece really fun!” And why wouldn’t M it b e? EMder s. Eder showcases one f the voices of our tw ime.

Her diverse repertoire band greatest that I chontemporary ave been playing ith for years and stpans he show is really Broadway, standards, pop, country and jazz. As the tragic character really “Lucy” fun!” nd why w ouldn’t e? from Ms. composer Eder sFhowcases one of the in tA he Broadway musical Jekyll i&t Hb yde, rank greatest contemporary voices of our time. Her diverse repertoire span Broadway, standards, pop, country and jazz. As the tragic character “Lucy” in the Broadway musical Jekyll & Hyde, from composer Frank

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soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews

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approval, Croteau became depressed and, he says, “I started thinking about killing myself.”

He couldn’t, so he began running. When he realized that exercise and weight were things he could control, he ran even more.

He cut fat from his diet entirely, then he avoided almost all foods and began to starve.

“I knew that my father would rather I be dead than be gay,” he says. “There was noting I could do but obey the orders I was given, until I disintegrated into nothingness… and no one was going to stop me.”

In his preface, author Jon Derek Croteau (who obviously livedSilk to tellLaser the tale) says Center that he almost didn’t write this book, until 1 SUBSTRATE / MEDIA: he realized that “My QTY: Thinning Years” might SIZE: 60”W x 24H” FINISHING: N/A inspire others to “let hope in” when faced with abuse for being gay.

For sure, victims who start this emotional (x1) 60”W x 24H” Photopaper rags-to-riches story will know they’re in print the company of a kindred spirit because of what Croteau bravely shares. Those heartbreaking recollections make this a hard book to read for anyone (including LGBT allies, who will be horrified) but, at the same time, it’s also hard to turn away from the firm promise of triumph we’ll get in the end. “It Gets Better” was never more apt than here.

I think that if you’ve taken an anti-bullying stand this year, you will surely appreciate what’s inside this book. It may not exactly be a pleasure-read, but “My Thinning Years” is thick with meaning.

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When you’re dieting, there are no sweeter words. Losing weight is work, sacrifice, and lots of self-control. For sure, it’s not for wimps.

But how much is too much? Can you shed your past while you shed pounds, too? In “My Thinning Years” by Jon Derek Croteau, you’ll read about gains and losses that have nothing to do with a scale.

From a very young age, Jon Derek Croteau feared his father.

A salesman who traveled a lot, the man was loud, controlling, and abusive to the entire family, both physically and mentally.

Croteau remembers when he was small, and his father screamed at him for singing in front of family friends. When Croteau confessed to playing dress-up in preschool, his father withheld food. Years later, after the family moved from Ohio to the Boston area, Croteau’s father forced Croteau into sports, vowing to “make… a real man” of him.

Croteau fiercely hated sports but he played anyhow. He desperately wanted his father’s approval; football, basketball, and baseball seemed the way to get it.

But the older Croteau got, the more relentless the abuse became. He started staying with friends as much as possible, avoiding his own home. By then, he’d “internalized” his father’s homophobia and, in doing so, began to fear his own feelings and his confusion about his sexuality. He prayed to God to deliver him from being gay.

He developed an unrequited crush on his best guy friend.

Disgusted with himself, loathing his father but unable to stop trying to win his love and

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

51

presents historic january events

Visit the Stonewall National Museum & Archives Gallery at 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors to learn more about our gay heritage and those who paved the way—through activism, sacrifice and courage—to give us a better and freer life.

above 1892: Freda Ward Alice Mitchell right 1901: Murray Hall middle right

1919: Painting, Turkish Bathhouse, by gay artist Charles Demuth. right 1948: An early gay novel. below 1977: Anita Bryant attempting to look devout on TV.

1989: Activists on Golden Gate Bridge

2013: Richard Blanco

from top 1953: One. 1955: Mattachine Review. 1982: Gay Men’s Health Crisis. right from top 1969: Black Cat Cafe.

Lance Loud, top left. 1977: Rev. Barrett.

2013: Jim Nabors and Stanwallader.

1892 January 25 When the Memphis’ upper-class 1962 January 8 Max Perkins and Robert McCorkle 1977 January 18 In Miami, former beauty queen and 2000 January 11 Britain allows homosexual military parents of Freda Ward, 17, denied Alice Mitchell, 19, contact with her, Alice slashed Freda’s throat. Mitchell was later committed to an insane asylum.

1901January 16 When Murray Hall dies, a doctor discovers the twice-married New York politician was a woman.

1919 January 5 Police raid NYC’s Everard Baths; nine customers and the manager are arrested for lewd behavior.

1948 January 3 Alfred Kinsey and co-writers publish

Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, revealing a high incidence of same-sex activity among American men. Society is shocked—and fascinated. January 10 Gore Vidal’s The City and the Pillar presents positive gay characters but Vidal agrees to the publishers insistence on an unhappy ending.

are arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the charge they “did unlawfully, willfully, maliciously and feloniously commit the abominable and detestable crime against nature with each other.” They are convicted and imprisoned.

1965January 31 The Washington Post publishes the first chapter of a five-part series, “Those Others: A Report on Homosexuality,” a mostly positive presentation.

1967January 1 At midnight in the Black Cat Cafe in Silver Lake, Los Angeles plain-clothes police attack patrons and employees exchanging New Year’s kisses; several gay men are beaten and sixteen are arrested. January 5 Several hundred people, mobilized by the Los Angeles homophile group P.R.I.D.E, demonstrate on Sunset Blvd. to protest police raids on gay bars. January 16 The Louisiana Supreme Court upholds the conviction of lesbians Mary Young and Dawn DeBlanc for “Unnatural Carnal Copulation.”

orange juice spokesperson Anita Bryant launches a nationwide crusade against gay rights in response to Dade County’s new municipal rights ordinance forbidding housing and employment discrimination against lesbians and gay men.

January 10 The Episcopal church ordains first out lesbian Rev. Ellen Marie Barrett in New York..

A narcissist is someone better looking than you.

— Gore Vidal

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in New York City.

1976 January 19 Campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, Vice President Hubert Humphrey becomes one of the first nationally known politicians to endorse gay and lesbian rights.

soflagaynews //

2005

January 31 Josh Cottrell, 22, using the “gay panic” defense, is convicted of manslaughter not murder in the death of Guinn “Ritchie” Phillips, 36.

2010

1978 January 23 On his first day in office, New York

January 1 Same-sex marriage becomes legal in New Hampshire.

1979 January 24 The Detroit City Council approves a

January 1 Same-sex marriage legal in Maryland.

January 15 Jim Nabors, 82, famous as TV’s Gomer Pyle, marries Stan Cadwallader in Seattle, Washington. January 20 Barack Obama is the first U.S. president to mention gay rights in an inaugural address. Poet Richard Blanco is the first Latino and openly gay man to read a poem at a presidential inauguration.

City mayor Ed Koch issues an executive order banning discrimination against lesbians and gay men in city agencies, including police and fire departments.

comprehensive human rights ordinance, making the city the largest in America to guarantee gay civil rights.

1982January 12 Larry Kramer and other New Yorkers form the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in response to the epidemic 1953 One, the first major gay magazine, debuts. . of fatal illnesses in their community.

1955 Mattachine Review begins publication.

1971January 17 The New York Times Magazine presents a seven-page essay, “What It Means to Be a Homo- 1989 January 31 AIDS activists bring morning rush1956 January 10 About thirty people attend the first sexual.” The author, Merle Miller, expands it into a book. hour traffic to a standstill on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Twenty-nine demonstrators are arrested. public meeting of the Mattachine Society.

1973 January 18 On the twelve-part PBS documen1958 January 13 The U.S. Supreme Court affirms the tary An American Family, son Lance lives an openly gay life 1990 January 1 Activists bring the Rose Parade in right of One to be distributed across the nation, the first time the Court rules in favor of homosexuals.

personnel.

Pasadena, California, to a brief halt with a banner reading “Emergency—Stop the Parade—70,000 dead of AIDS.”

1993 January 1 The World Health Organization officially deletes “homosexuality” from its list of diseases.

SouthFloridaGayNews

2013

SOME DEATHS January 19, 2003 Morris Kight, gay rights activist.

January 22, 2003 Sarah Pettit, 36, co-founder of Out magazine.

January 27, 2008 Major Alan G. Rogers, 40, first openly gay combat fatality of the Iraq War. January 15, 2011 Student Kameron Jacobsen, suicide following alleged bullying on Facebook.

January 26, 2011 David Kato, Uganda’s first openly gay man, murdered. ©2015 BY CHARLES L. ROSS + STONEWALL NATIONAL MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

advertorial

SMART Ride 11 Photos by J. R. Davis

Distributes over $1.1 Million to AIDS Service Organizations

Work of The Power of One from over 750 heroes breaks records

Fort Lauderdale, FL, January 16, 2015: On November 14th and 15th over 750 individuals participated in the 11th annual SMART Ride (Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride) they pedaled and crewed over 165 miles to raise awareness, raise funds and help those infected, affected or at risk for HIV and AIDS in Florida. On Saturday January 10th, all the hard work, all the dedication, all the commitment was distributed to 9 AIDS Service Organizations with more money to be given out.

“SMART Ride is unique”, said Glen Weinzimer, Founder of the event. “We don’t just raise money, we honor those who have passed from this still incurable disease and we focus on those alive and their needs as well as look to those most at risk, our youth, and so many minorities disproportionately affected”. Glen went on to say. “We can’t forget that AIDS continues to increase in the Gay community as a new generation believes it’s a manageable disease.” Florida now ranks #1 in the nation for new cases of HIV and AIDS with Broward and Dade county leading that trend, more than just sunshine in the state of Florida.

The participants of this year’s ride broke

all records and raised $1,153,220 -100% of it will be returned around Florida. The main beneficiaries for SR11 funding are: AIDS Help, in Key West $132,921.28 Foundcare/CAP in Palm Beaches $126,544.22 Miracle of Love in Orlando $131,988.88 Metro Wellness & Community Centers in Tampa/St Pete $145,972.68 Pride Center at Equality Park in Broward County $166,629.38 Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Broward County $167,696.14 Pridelines Youth Services in Miami/Dade $167,036.13 To add to the above beneficiaries, SMART Ride’s 10% Lifeline which is funded from the proceeds of the event will give away over $115,000 throughout this year to help additional agencies with pressing needs.

At the check presentation party held at the new Elan 16Forty several past 10% Lifeline recipients were present including The Pet Project, Poverello, Latino Salud, OASIS, & Camp4Health. Two checks were given, one to Broward House for their compassionate care program for $11,500 and one to the World AIDS Museum to help get 500

This advertorial was paid for by Smart Ride.

students to see the museum first hand and show them the effects and history of AIDS. *SMART Ride 12 will take place next November 13th & 14th 2015, for more information, to ride, crew, donate or sponsor, visit www.TheSMARTRide.org.

soflagaynews //

SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

53

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And for anyone who’s looking for a good time, save the date for the Chorus’s spring show:

Lounge-array 8 p.m., Saturday, March 14 at the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale

Special Thanks to our media sponsor:

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SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

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F O R

T H E

J.W. Arnold

SFGNITES

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O F

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

The Tony Award-winning dancing newsboys of Disney’s hit musical, “Newsies,” come to the Arsht Center in Miami, Feb. 3 – 8.

Actress Lainie Kazan will be in South Florida tonight for a special screening of her 2010 film, “Oy Vey, My Son is Gay” at 7:30 p.m. in the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion. The film is presented by the Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, running through Feb. 8. The comedy is more than a “gay” film; it’s a heartwarming look at a modern Jewish family. Tickets are $25 or $75 for the film and a dessert reception following with Kazan. For tickets and more information, go to PBJFF.org.

FRI

MUSIC

1/30

Singer Roslyn Kind may be Barbra Streisand’s kid sister, but she is a dynamic, multi-talented entertainer in her own right, who has forged a successful career from critically-acclaimed recordings to sold-out performances on Broadway and in top concert venues and nightclubs the world over. This weekend, she’s bringing her own stirring renditions of ballads and jazz standards from the Great American Songbook to the celebrated Royal Room at the Colony Hotel, 155 Hammon Ave. in Palm Beach. For show times and reservations, go to TheColonyPalmBeach.com.

SAT MUSIC

1/31 SUN

The ultimate “All-American Boy,” singer Steve Grand returns to South Florida for one show tonight at 8 p.m. on the stage of the Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW 9th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Grand became an overnight sensation with the YouTube launch of his first, self-financed music video and he continues to thrill audiences with his unique blend of pop, rock and country. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door. VIP tickets are $50 and include a reception before the concert. For tickets and more information, go to SunshineCathedral.org.

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THEATER

2/1 MON

CULTURE

Island City Stage presents the regional premiere of Steve Yockey’s “Octopus.” This dramedy explores the consequences when a young couple plans their first “four way” encounter with an older, more experienced couple. They are left trying to salvage their relationship after a pummeling mix of jealousy, betrayal, telegrams from a soaking wet delivery boy and a ravenous sea monster.

Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler in Fort Lauderdale.

Tickets are $30 at IslandCityStage.org. soflagaynews //

2/2 TUE

Sip cocktails and discuss the aesthetics and business of contemporary design with acclaimed potter, designer and author Jonathan Adler and his partner Simon Doonan, creative ambassadorat-large of the famed Barneys department store, tonight at 5 p.m. at the Colony Hotel, 155 Hammon Ave. in Palm Beach. The event is part of Palm Beach Cultural Council’s Culture and Cocktails series. The power couple are also part time residents of Palm Beach. Admission includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and is free for members and $60 for non-members at PalmBeachCulture.com.

SouthFloridaGayNews

THEATER

2/3

They delivered the papers…until they made headlines! The smash Broadway hit, “Newsies,” based on the film, tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York. It’s a rousing tale about fighting for what’s right and staying true to who you are. The 2012 Tony Award-winner for choreography opens tonight at the Arsht Center in Miami and playing through Sunday, Feb. 8. Tickets start at $26. For tickets and show times, go to ArshtCenter.org.

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a&e opera

Music Timeless in Updated Mozart

J.W. Arnold

“Cosi fan Tutte” Florida Grand Opera presents:

Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte” The Arsht Center in Miami, Jan. 30-31 The Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, Feb. 12 and 14.

Tickets start at $19 at FGO.org.

Photo: Florida Grand Opera gives Mozart’s 1790 opera, “Cosi fan Tutte,” an update at Miami’s Arsht Center. Credit: Rod Millingon

For the past 25 years or so, it’s been in vogue for daring theater and opera directors to yank the works of the masters from the settings they were intended and explore their eternal truths in new contexts.

We’ve seen Shakespeare’s plays set in art deco mansions and antebellum plantations and Verdi’s operas sung in grungy diners and seedy nightclubs. But, regardless of the context, the themes remain just as compelling and relevant.

Mozart’s opera, “Cosi fan Tutte,” which opened this weekend at Miami’s Arsht Center and transfers next month to the Broward Center, is the latest work to receive this treatment. In this original production for Florida Grand Opera, director Bernard Uzan places the story in modern day Monte Carlo, an appropriate setting for Mozart’s 1790 opera buffa, with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte.

Two young soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo (portrayed on opening night

by Jason Slayden and Jonathan Beyer) are convinced by their friend, Don Alfonso (Arthur Woodley), that their fiancés, like all women, are fickle and will eventually stray, given the chance. The men make a wager and then decide to test the sisters, Fioridigli and Dorabella (portrayed on opening night by Sari Gruber and Brenda Patterson).

The men march off to war, but secretly return, disguised as bearded Turks, determined to prove their lovers loyal.

Meanwhile, the crafty Don Alfonso enlists the ladies’ maid, Despina (portrayed on opening night by Ava Pine), to convince them they should take advantage of the opportunity to seek true love. The girls spurn the advances of these suitors at first, but eventually give in, and only in the final minutes do the men come clean after Despina is discovered impersonating the notary enlisted to marry them. All is forgiven and they laugh it off, acknowledging that love and marriage should never be taken too seriously.

At first, Monte Carlo seems a brilliant setting. Italian is one of the languages of choice in the wealthy city-state and the opera is sung in Italian. The action takes place

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within extravagant chambers adorned with a gold leaf proscenium designed by Riccardo Hernandez. But, the costumes by Howard Tsvi Kaplan don’t stand up to the concept and execution.

In the opening scenes, the men are appropriately dressed in stylish European cut suits and cool Panama hats. As the show progresses, the costumes seem increasing out of place: The soldiers are uniformed in brilliant blue Napoleonic jackets and Prussian helmets, instead of the camouflage fatigues worn by soldiers going to war. The sisters wear sheer gowns that went out of style in 1963. As the disguised suitors, the men are dressed in satin, jewel-bedecked Technicolor coats and turbans.

But the most egregious moment, in what starts as a serious approach, occurs when Despina arrives disguised as a doctor to revive the men who have downed arsenic in desperation. She wears oversized glasses, a goofy wig and cartoonish robe, stuffed with a pillow. The premise would still have been very funny—but equally believable—had such a silly departure been avoided.

Criticisms aside, opera is ultimately about the music and the opening night cast was marvelous (they will be alternating performances with Daniel Bates, Isaac Bray, Hailey Clark, Carla Jablonski and Rebecca Henriques during the run).

Slayden and Beyer are dashing as both the young soldiers and their alteregos, tackling their arias with gusto. Gruber and Clark demonstrate the perfect blend of technique and artistry throughout. Most importantly, they all exhibit rare chemistry, whether singing as comrades and sisters or paired as lovers.

Woodley and Pine as the wily foils mix musicality with a fine grasp of their characters, never overplaying their roles (except when Despina is dressed as the comic doctor).

Conductor Ramon Tebar does double duty, performing on the harpsichord during the baroque-style recitatives, and leading the orchestra, punctuated by outstanding woodwind and horn solos throughout.

a&e theater GableStage’s “Choir Boy” is Much More than a Coming Out Tale J.W. Arnold

Credit: George Schiavone

Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play, “Choir Boy,” chronicles a year in the lives of five young men who sing in the choir at a private school for boys. and feared. The tensions mount as graduation approaches and Pharus hopes to again be tapped to sing the school’s alma mater.

Throughout the play, the storyline is punctuated by a touching infusion of gospel hymns—beautifully sung a cappella in tight four-part harmony (with musical direction by Christina Alexander)—that underscores the challenges these boys face as they approach manhood, reconcile their dreams and aspirations and learn to accept each other.

Certainly, McCraney has drawn on some of his own experiences when crafting the character of Pharus and the gay men and women in the audience will also instantly identify with the insecurities that ebb and C fall beneath his audacious manner and failed attempts to fit in with the other boys.

M But “Choir Boy” is much more than a coming out story and, under Joseph Adler’s astute Y direction, each character is a complex human being who matures immensely in just 90 fast paced minutes. It’s been years since theseCMmen were in high school, but they convincingly capture the sometimes misguided energy MY of teenagers struggling to become adults.

The production is highlighted by a CY functional set by Lyle Baskin that transforms from headmaster’s office to dorm room CMY in seconds, subtle lighting effects by Jeff Guinn and sound design from Matt Corey that accentuates the religious roots ofK the institution.

After the show’s four-week run, the production will move to the Joseph Caleb Auditorium in Liberty City for a series of free performances for Miami-Dade students and then to the Lyric Theater in Overtown for another weekend of free community shows.

“Choir Boy” is destined to make a difference in the lives of thousands of Miami-Dade youngsters, just as the theater changed Tarell Alvin McCraney’s life.

After years of attending all of those other weddings...

it is finally time for you to say

Photo: JAG Studios www.jagstudios.net

Miami native Tarell Alvin McCraney is beyond doubt the preeminent young, gay playwright—no, make that preeminent young playwright—of his generation.

McCraney grew up in Liberty City, the son of a single mother living with HIV, and a product of Miami-Dade Public Schools and the New World School of the Arts. He went on to DePaul University and Yale and, in 2013, was awarded the prestigious MacArthur “genius” Fellowship.

His latest play, “Choir Boy,” opened at GableStage last weekend—the fourth production there of one of his works, including “The Brothers Size” and his adaptation last year of Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra,” the critically-acclaimed collaboration between GableStage, Royal Shakespeare Company and New York’s Public Theater.

At first, “Choir Boy,” a coming-of-age story about five teens at the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys, seems conventional.

Beginning at commencement, we are introduced to Pharus (Din Griffin), the confident and flamboyant young man selected to lead the school’s prestigious chorus in his senior year. There’s his roommate, A.J. (Datus Puryear), an athlete on scholarship, and David (Samuel Enmund), a young man who quashes his personal demons with desires to become a minister. Bobby (Melvin Cox) is Headmaster Marrow’s (James Randolph) nephew and the bully who taunts Pharus at every opportunity. Junior (Vlad Dorson) is his unlikely wingman. They are introduced to a white professor, Mr. Pendleton (Peter Haig), who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and is charged with broadening the young men’s perspectives.

Pharus, wielding his new responsibility as choir lead, immediately strikes back at Bobby after a snide remark at the first rehearsal.

Headmaster Marrow must demonstrate to Pharus the difference between being respected

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GableStage, 1400 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables (in the Biltmore Hotel), presents Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “Choir Boy” through Feb. 22. For tickets and show times, go to GableStage.org. soflagaynews //

www.IDOcustomevents.com (954) 626-0131 SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 1.28.2015 //

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Datebook

Theater Christiana Lilly

Calendar@SFGN.com

Fully Committed

Through Feb. 1 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. John Manzelli stars in this one-man show as the highly stressed maître d’ at a hot restaurant. Tickets $45. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

palm beach county * Les Liaisons Dangereuses

* Golden Boys

Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The South Philly boys Frankie Avalon, Fabian, and Bobby Rydell are back on the stage.

Tickets $25 to $115. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place in Miramar. Puccini’s famed opera of young bohemian artists making ends meet in the Latin Quarter of Paris in 1830 would inspire the Broadway hit, “Rent.” Tickets $45 to $50. Call 954-602-4500 or visit MiramarCulturalCenter.org.

Dancing Divas

Jan. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Broward County Main Library auditorium, 100 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Witness the art of classical Indian dance by Srinwanti Chakrabarti and Sahana Balasubramanya. Tickets $10 to $30. Visit APAIArt. com.

Free Friday Concerts

South Pacific

Through Feb. 1 at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. Stationed in the South Pacific during World War II, Nellie and Joe both find love with a French expat and the daughter of a local grass skirt maker in the middle of war.

Tickets $29 to $72. Call 561-586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org.

Flashdance the Musical

Through Feb. 1 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The beloved story of a woman working in a steel mill by day and a bar performer by night, all with dreams to become a dancer. Tickets $25 to * Laine Kazan: The Music That Makes Me $76. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

Sing

Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs. A star on the silver screen, television set, and the stage. Call 954-344-5990 or visit CoralSpringsCenterfortheArts.com.

* The Pure Zeppelin Experience

Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St. in Fort Lauderdale. The legendary rock band comes to life by this extraordinary tribute band.

Tickets $30 and $40. Call 954-462-0222 or visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Orphans

Through Feb. 1 at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. Two orphaned brothers are living in a Philly row house when the eldest kidnaps a rich man -- who ends up being the father figure they’ve always wanted. Tickets $15. Call 561586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org.

Celebrity Autobiography

Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Call 561-2437922 or visit DelrayArts.org.

Through to Feb. 1 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The all-time Disney favorite comes to life on stage with actors playing out the roles of lions and other African animals on the plains.

Tickets $40.42 to $91.16. Call 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org.

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* Newsies

Feb. 3 to 8 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. In this Broadway hit, a group of newspaper boys become the headline as they fight New York’s most powerful men. Tickets $26 to $125. Call 305949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

* A Night in New Orleans

Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield is joined by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra for a unique brand of sound. Tickets $35 to $125. Call 305-9496722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

Into the Woods

Through Feb. 15 at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. See the musical that inspired the blockbuster film, entangling the Brothers Grimm Capitol Steps: How to Succeed in fairy tales all in one story as a husband and wife travel through the woods. Tickets $50. Call 305Congress Without Really Lying Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural 949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org.

Center, 3385 NE 188th St. in Aventura. The comedy troupe has been spoofing the madness Choir Boy of Washington, D.C. politics for more than 30 Through Feb. 22 at GableStage at the Biltmore years. Tickets $35. Call 800-745-3000 or visit Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. Young Pharus is given the opportunity to become the new AventuraCenter.org. leader of his black prep school’s gospel choir, but it means ignoring a gay slur, leading to an inner * Ragtime Jan. 28 to Feb. 22 at the Actors Playhouse at the turmoil within the talented singer. Tickets $42 to Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Miles in Coral Gables. $45. Call 305-445-1119 or visit GableStage.org.

Set in New York City at the turn of the century, follow an African American couple, a white upper PAMM Outdoor Music Series class family, and Eastern European immigrants Third Thursdays at the Perez Art Museum Miami, as they all vie for the American Dream. An LGBT 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music theatre night is planned for Feb. 5 with a pre-shoe from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials wine reception from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Tickets $15 available. Free with museum admission. Call 305to $59. Call 305-444-9293 or visit ActorsPlayhouse. 375-3000 or visit PAMM.org. org.

miami-dade county

Through Feb. 1 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Lainie Kazan, Gary Beach, Eugene Pack, and Dayle Reyfel act out real celebrity autobiographies. Tickets $38. Call 561-832-7469 or * Twelve Angry Men Potted Potter Jan. 30 to Feb. 22 at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Through Feb. 1 at the Broward Center for the visit Kravis.org.

Arts Center, 10950 SW 211st St. in Cutler Bay. Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort In the 1950s, 12 men are stuck in the jury room Lauderdale. British performers Daniel Clarkson * Mariinsky Orchestra and Jefferson Turner spoof the Harry Potter series Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the to decide the fate of a teenager, and one juror is in 70 hilarious minutes. Tickets $39 to $75. Call Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The orchestra is joined by Uzbekistani 954-462-0222 or visit BrowardCenter.org. piano youngster Behzod Abduraimov. Tickets $35 to $110. Call 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

The Lion King

* Ballroom with a Twist

Jan. 31 at 5 and 8:30 p.m. at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Dancing pros from Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, and other TV competitions hit the stage, including Cheryl Burke and Dmitry Chaplin. Tickets $35 to * Wuthering Heights Feb. 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kravis Center for $300. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter.org. the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Emily Bronte’s classic is transformed * Billy Joel into the theatre, telling the story of two lovers on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 the English moors. Tickets $38. Call 561-832-7469 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The Piano Man is back in South Florida for a performance of songs you’re sure or visit Kravis.org. to know all the words to. Tickets $16 to $124.50. Call 786-777-1000 or visit AAArena.com. * I And You Through Feb. 8 at ArtsGarage, in Delray Beach.

Caroline, who is cranky and always sick, is paired * The Piano Guys to work with Anthony, the star of the basketball Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne team, to work on a poetry project together. Tickets Blvd. in Miami. With a mix of piano and cello, these $30 to $45. Call 561-450-6357 or visit ArtsGarage. guys soared when their videos went viral. Tickets $35 to $129. Call 305-949-6722 or visit ArshtCenter. org. org.

Jan 30 to March 1 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. broward county Set in Paris just before the French Revolution, two ex-lovers trapse throughout the city causing havoc on other people’s lives for their own * Octopus Jan. 29 to March 1 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler amusement. Tickets $62. Call 561-514-4042 or visit Road in Fort Lauderdale. Island City Stage presents PalmBeachDramaworks.org. the play of a younger gay couple that tries to keep up with an older, more experienced crowd during a * David Wilcox night that challenges the core of their relationship. Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kravis Center for the Contains nudity. Tickets $30. Call 954-519-2533 or Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. For more than 25 years the performer visit IslandCityStage.org. has created beautiful folk music. Tickets $39. Call Shenandoah 561-832-7469 or visit Kravis.org. * Luis Chataing: Todo Gira Through March 1 at the Delray Square Performing Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Arts, 4809 W. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach. * Other People’s Money Civic Center Place in Miramar. The Venezuelan Jan. 31 to Feb. 15 at the Delray Beach Playhouse, A Virginia farmer struggles to keep his family funny man is known for his role on “Stand Up 950 NW Ninth St. in Delray Beach. Lawrence together and alive during the throes of the Civil Comedy.” Show is in Spanish. Tickets $35 to $55. Garfinkle decides to save himself during the 2005 War in the American answer to “Fiddler on the Call 954-602-4500 or visit MiramarCulturalCenter. housing bubble, even if it means taking other Roof.” Tickets $37.50. Call 561-880-0319 or visit org. people down. Tickets $30. Call 561-272-1281, ext. DelraySquareArts.com. or visit DelrayBeachPlayhouse.com.

* La Boheme

stirring things up. Tickets $26. Call 786-573-5300 or visit SMDAC.org.

The Big Show

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

* Patsy

Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. Barbara Van Eycken pays tribute to the country star, Patsy Cline.

Tickets $25 to $30. Call 561-586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse.org.

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Billy Joel

Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.

AmericanAirlines Arena, Tickets $16 to $124.50.

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Datebook

Community Christiana Lilly Calendar@SFGN.com

broward county * Alvin Granowsky Author Presentation

Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Stonewall National Museum -Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Granowsky reads pieces from his books, “Teacher Accused” and “Our Lives Together,” both novels about bigotry in small, conservative towns.

Free. Call 954-763-8565 or visit Stonewall-Museum. org.

Vishnu Therapy

Jan. 31 from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at Lisa’s Healing Center, 4301 N. Federal Highway Suite 4 in Pompano Beach.

Learn the therapy of a solar plexus and abdominal massage. Mustard oil and class folder will be provided. Cost $30. Call 954-782-6564 or visit LisasHealingCenter.com.

* How Creative Activism Leads to Change—Examples from the Street

BRAIN: The World Inside Your Head

Through May 3 at the Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St. in Fort Lauderdale.

Learn more about our mysterious brain, from how it works to disorders, with special effects displays.

Entry $19 adults. Call 954-467-6637 or visit MODS. org.

* PrEP Workshop

Fourth Saturdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at The Pride Center Room 200, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Dr. Rob Shore, The Pride Center’s PrEP specialist, will be available with information and to discuss any aspect of PrEP with community members interested in it. Free. Call 954-463-9005 x 210 or email PrEP@pridecenterflorida.org.

Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Latinos Salud Clubhouse, 2300 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Get one-on-one life coaching from certified CRCS coaches. Free. Call 954-765-6239 or visit LatinosSalud.org.

Introduction to Modern Buddhism

Mondays 6 to 6:30 p.m. at the Drolma Kadampa Buddhist Center, 140 W. Prospect Road in Fort Lauderdale. Join a guided meditation and instruction with Western Buddhist teacher, Jay Radin. Free. Visit MeditationinFortLauderdale. com.

Man2Man Discussion

* Hot Hollywood Glam

Jan. 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, 1650 Harrison St. in Hollywood.

Enjoy a night of food and drink, dancing, silent auction, magic acts, and live music. Tickets $115.

Call 954-921-3274 or visit ArtAndCultureCenter.org.

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

* Messages of Hope and Love... from Spirit!

PFLAG

* Tea & Art History

Feb. 4 at 2:30 p.m. at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, One Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.

Barbara Buhler Lynes, senior curator, leads an afternoon discussion of Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Jackson Pollock over tea.

Tickets $25 members, $32 non-members. RSVP to 954-262-0204 or email moareservations@moafl. org.

Inspiration

Through Feb. 4 at TeddsARTWorks, 2422 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Artwork by Fabrizio Cruz and Rachel Piering that will have you inspired for the new year. Visit Facebook.com/ TeddsARTWorks

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Mondays 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pride Center, 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. A weekly informal discussion group among gay men of all backgrounds. Contact John Beuscher at 954-3194292 or email johnnybushwick@aol.com.

Gender Bender Youth Group

Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth. com for dates and locations.

GayWrites

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

Women4Women Support

Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at SunServe, 2312 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. An open meeting and discussion group of all topics brought up by participants. Call 954-764-5150 or visit SunServe. org.

Men in Community

Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at SunServe South, 2312 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.

A psychotherapy group for men focusing on connectivity and relationships. An intake appointment is necessary, call Tom Wasik at 631848-0696. Visit SunServe.org.

soflagaynews //

iChama Cylinder Highlands

Vases

of

Maya

Through Feb. 1 at the Griffin Gallery of Art, 608 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton. Pieces excavated from Mayan tombs and palaces are on display in this exhibit opening. Call 561-994-0811 or visit GriffinGallery.net.

* Aristophanes: The Father of Comedy

Feb. 3 at 2 and 7 p.m. at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. in West Palm Beach. Mark Perlberg leads a talk on the work of the 5th Century Greek comedian. Tickets $20. Call 561-514-4042 or visit PalmBeachDramaworks.org.

* Delray Beach Garlic Fest

Life Coaching

Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Deerfield Century Village East activities center, 3501 West Drive in Deerfield Beach. Medea Benjamin, cofounder of Code Pink and Global Exchange, leads a talk on human rights activism. Donation $5 donation suggested. Call 917-344-0798 or visit DeerfieldProgressiveForum.org

Feb. 1 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Metaphysical Chapel of South Florida, 1480 SW 9th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Roland Comtois, a spiritual medium, will talk about how spiritual messages are delivered to us in our daily lives -- random audience members will receive sacred messages from their dearly beloveds. Tickets $30 donation. For tickets, call 860-779-2750 or visit BrownPaperTickets.com/ event/975369.

palm beach county

Feb. 6 to 8 at Old School Square, 64 SE Fifth Ave. in Delray Beach. The annual event returns with great stinkin’ food, a children’s area, and music from Rebelution and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Tickets $10 to $20. Visit DBGarlicFest.com.

* The Wild Wild West

Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. Head to the theatre for a fun night of casino-style games, light bites, dancing, libations, and entertainment. Tickets $40.

Call 561-586-6410 or visit LakeWorthPlayhouse. org.

* Gay Chili Cook-Off

Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. at Penny’s at the Duke, 902 N. Dixie Highway in Lantana. Come out for a good cause with your best pot of chili in a cook off benefiting Compass GLCC! Donation $5 or more.

Call Penny Johnson at 954-594-7295 or email pjsmallchangejohnson@gmail.com.

Coming Into Fashion: A Century of Photography at Conde Nast

Through Feb. 15 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive Ave. in West Palm Beach. From the publishing house that prints famed magazines Vogue, Glamour, W, and Vanity Fair are 150 images from 80 of the world’s best fashion photographers.

Admission $12. Call 561-832-5196 or visit Norton. org.

Afterlife: Tombs Ancient Egypt

and

Treasures

of

Through April 18 at South Florida Science Museum, 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach.

Explore the world of the afterlife with a screening of “The Mummy,” activities, a mummy wrapping contest, and more. Tickets $20. Call 561-832-1988 or visit SFScienceCenter.org.

Zumba Fitness

Mondays at 6 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Get moving with a certificated Zumba instructor for an infusion of exercise and dance moves. Donation of $5 or more.

Call 561-324-1626 or visit CompassGLCC.com.

Sober Sisters

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

Out of the Closet, Into the Light

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

SouthFloridaGayNews

miami-dade county * Winter Party Festival Recruitment Event

Volunteer

Jan. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Vagabond Hotel, 7301 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Winter Party is coming up March 4 to 9! The staff is inviting volunteers to learn more about how you can help out this year over cocktails at this new hotel. RSVP to rsvp@ thetaskforce.org.

The Latina Women’s Art Showcase

Jan. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Platinum Condominiums’ pool deck, 480 NE 30th St. in Miami. Benefitting the World OutGames Miami scholarship fund, a silent auction and art exhibit of works from some of Miami’s best artists, from paintings to photography. Tickets $100 donation. RSVP to 786241-2983 or email ron@alasconsultinggroup.com.

* Ritz-Carlton Unveiling

Jan. 29 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, 455 Grand Bay Drive in Key Biscayne.

Come enjoy the newly renovated grand lobby, Havana-inspired RUMBAR, and the hotel’s brand new Key Pantry. Attire is cocktail chic. Free. RSVP to Krismar Arellano at 305-365-4528 or email Krismar.Arellano@ritzcarlton.com.

Miami Jewish Film Festival

Through Jan. 29 throughout Miami. Dozens of films from around the world portraying Jewish history and culture throughout time. Visit MiamiJewishFilmFestival.org.

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.

key west * Tom’s Birthday and Xena Fund Fundraiser Jan. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Aqua Key West, 711 Duval St. in Key West. Celebrate a birthday and a good cause! Call 305-294-0555 or visit AquaKeyWest.com.

* She Loves Me

Through Jan. 24 at the Waterfront Playhouse, 310 Wall St. in Key West. Two coworkers who can’t stand each other have no idea they’re each other’s anonymous love letter pen pals. Tickets $20 to $50.

Call 305-394-7445 or visit WaterfrontPlayhouse. org.

* Key West Food & Wine Festival

Jan. 27 to Feb. 1 throughout Key West. Celebrate the best restaurants and wines from the Keys in this annual fete of indulgence. Call 800-474-4319 or visit KWFWF.com.

Aqua Idol

Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Aqua Key West, 711 Duval St. in Key West. Support your local artists and vote for your favorite! Benefits Waterfront Playhouse. Call 305-294-0555 or visit AquaKeyWest.com.

* Denotes New Listing

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SFGN Classified$ To place a Classified Ad, call Cindy Curtis at 954.530.4970 or visit SFGN.com

assisstance

home care

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

licensed massage

MASSAGE BY DENNIS $50/90 MIN (DELRAY BEACH) I give a fantastic Swedish massage for $50/90 min, out calls higher. 20 years experience, all clients are welcome including seniors, as human beings we all need to be touched in a therapeutic, loving, and nurturing way. I do body work without the attitude. Please call me at 561-502-2628.

home & garden

Contact us for your free in-home evaluation today Phone: 561-685-5254 Email: gratitudehomecare@gmail.com http://gratitudehomecare.yolasite.com

attorneys

help wanted

POOL SERVICE

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ft. Lauderdale business since 1956 seeking professional, experienced & honest Adm Asst.

Bookkeeping background helpful. E-mail: kj1@ bellsouth.net

Mention this ad and receive your first month

CHIEF ACCOUNTANT- CENTERLINK CenterLink, known as the premiere resource provider for LGBT community centers, is looking for a Chief Accountant to oversee all accounting operations/functions. We need somebody with a B.S/B.A. in Accounting; 3-5 years progressive managerial accounting experience; and a strong knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and financial analysis ratios and tools. If you are self-motivated, able to multi-task, and have insane attention to detail then we want to talk with you! Email your resume to denise@ lgbtcenters.org.

home & garden

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

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

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

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

POLICY SPECIALIST(F/T)-LBGT HEALTHLINK Do you have a passion for helping people?

Experience developing, drafting and publishing articles and content blog articles, periodic opinion editorials, biweekly news communications, and other communications? Can you multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment? Have a Bachelors or an MPH? Do you know major public health resources useful to education and adoption of enhanced health policies? If the answer is ‘YES’ then submit your resume and cover letter to denise@lgbtcenters.org.

SOCIAL MEDIA /PROJ.SPEC-HEALTHLINK Are you a hotshot with great organizational skills, a real interest in LGBT wellness, and desire to really make a difference on a national project? LGBT HealthLink is looking for one superstar to round out our small team. The ideal project specialist will have strong skills in a variety of office software, be self-motivated, good at prioritization, great at details, have substantive experience in crosscultural workspaces, and LOTS of social media chops (do you know what a Klout score is? Do you often find yourself thinking in 140 characters?).

Submit your resume, social media handles and cover letter to denise@lgbtcenters.org.

To place an ad in SFGN’s Classifieds call Cindy Curtis at

954.530.4970 soflagaynews //

FREE! some restrictions apply

Serving Broward Since 1999

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

life coach COACH BILL FOR LIFE Holistic Health, Wellness & Spiritual Coach

CERTIFIED HYPNOTIST Holistic Life and Nutrition Coach Personal Trainer Spiritual Life Coach and Minister Reiki/Energy/Chakra Healer Couples/Relationship Coach Addiction Coach

954.641.8315 • WWW.COACHBILLFORLIFE.COM

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

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professional services THIRD GENERATION PAINTING: Quality work by an experienced, reliable professional. Fully insured, free estimates, excellent references. Painting, plastering, wallpaper removal, color coordinating and more. Call Steve at 954-804-6026 or email twilopainter@aol.com

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

home & garden cleaning services

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 954560-4443

pets/supplies

(954) 368-9100

real estate - other

spiritual

(954) 368-9100

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

Place an ad in SFGN’s Classifieds

954.530.4970

Not valid with insurance

*Not valid for those with gum disease

spiritual

THE BEST IN TOWN 2517 NE 9TH AVE. WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 soflagaynews //

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