RUMINATIONS ON THE CHAIRMAN HIMSELF

A BOOK FOREWORD WRITTEN WITHOUT NORM’S PERMISSION

Brendon Lies

His voice always carries itself too loudly, speaking with as much vigor and command as it can muster, as though its owner can never stop practicing for his next victory in the courtroom.

He is a lawyer, a dog lover, a newspaper publisher, a pot activist, and a founding pillar of South Florida’s LGBT community. With all the love in my heart, I would describe Norm Kent as somehow a caricature of himself. Everything that he encompasses and cares for, he makes it a part of his life, then advocates for it relentlessly while turning the volume up to 11.

I would be genuinely shocked by the mere concept of a second person like him existing anywhere else in the world. And what a shame that is.

Why? Because there’s something else Norm is, and it’s the reason I chose to write this foreword.

In order to introduce him properly, it must be said that Norm is one of the most selfless and caring people you could possibly imagine.

I’m sure he’d be happy to tell you so himself, but in order to really believe it, it’s for the best that you hear it instead from one of the many people whose life he’s changed. In this case, that person will be me (the former Art Director of South Florida Gay News, who he foolishly hired to design this book).

For countless young LGBT people — myself included — Norm has played the role of a family member when no one else has been willing to do so. Like a father for all of Fort Lauderdale’s LGBT community, he is always there for anyone who needs a hand, a listening ear, or even a few words of hope.

It was my pleasure for eight years to work with Norm as the Art Director at SFGN. I started there fresh out of college and only months after coming out as a trans man, and it was during my time at SFGN where I saw the very best (and at times, the very worst) of Norm’s life.

His patience with me during my time at the newspaper gave me the room I needed to grow into the professional I am today, and whenever my newly out-and-proud life began to falter or feel not quite so proud anymore, he always had my back without hesitation.

I sincerely consider crossing paths with him to be one of the most fortunate things to have ever happened to me.

Sure, even today, our friendship is not always roses. Norm has even told me to fuck off a few times (possibly due to one of my many pranks on him). But to be fully honest, I see Norm not as a former employer. Instead, I see him as a family member.

Without his guidance, I can’t even imagine what my life would be like today.

And that, reader, is perhaps what Norm stands for most of all: the act of love and acceptance towards others, treating them as if they were a member of your own family, even if their lives are radically different from your own.

I have enough stories about Norm — and the many times that he saved my ass — that I could really write my own book.

The sad news is, the vast majority of people in the world will not have the privilege I’ve had to work so close to Norm, or to have seen so deep into his life.

But fear not... the answer is right here in your hands.

See, this book contains the very best of the best in Norm’s own writings, scribed during his many years as a publisher.

Each section was originally printed as a column in SFGN, and was a rumination meant to shed much-needed light on a situation that affected our community.

And what makes up a community? All of us... you included.

While some of the columns might be years old, each was carefully chosen — with the help of Norm himself, of course — based on which ones would be most relevant to our lives today.

Without much further ado, I welcome you to take a brief journey through many years of ruminations of our dear publisher, our chairman, and my very dear friend, Norm Kent.

Donations to the Norm Kent LGBTQ Newsmaker Fund can be made here: www.rb.gy/2s1c8.