LOCAL NEWS
PASSAGES
AQUA Men Party Canceled
Joe McCallion
By Ryan Dixon
W
hen the Aqua Foundation For Women’s Executive Director, Robin Schwartz, created Aqua Men, she did so in order to encourage more involvement between men and women in the gay community. Over the decade, AFW has produced the AQUA Girl party that welcomes thousands of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women to Miami Beach for a week-long celebration featuring nightclub events, film, and comedy. According to the Aqua Girl website, all proceeds benefit AFW, which funds LBT organizations in South Florida, and has awarded over $369,000 in grants and scholarships. “Sometimes because our name has ‘women’ in it, men may automatically think there is no place for them at Aqua; but there is,” stated Schwartz. “Aqua is fortunate to have many great guys support us, but I would like to see more men do so.” SFGN has learned that the AQUA Men party that was to take place at the Shore Club in Miami Beach has been canceled due to what Schwartz describes as an inappropriate sound level for the event.
“After being assured the sound was good, we found out the sound level at the Shore Club is not appropriate for this event. My contact had assured me it was and only on Friday (Nov. 2) did I find out it could be an issue,” Schwartz said. Schwartz went on to say that she and the DJ for the event, DJ Pride, visited the venue Sunday Nov. 4 and the sound was “way too low”. She added that the Shore Club is not willing to add speakers or do anything different in sound because the club is dealing with issues with a nearby hotel, The Satai. Schwartz wanted to stress that the Shore Club has been great to Aqua. “They are only trying to protect their business but without their cooperation to correct the sound we cannot move forward,” she said. Schwartz said that AFW is aiming to hold the AQUA Men event in early 2013. “The goal to bring men and women together is still high on our list. This speed bump will not stop us from moving forward.”
Businessman and Community Activist Passes The Florida Gold Coast members and friends of the Broward Log Cabin Republican Club are mourning the loss today of the club’s Honorary-Lifetime member, Joe McCallion. Joe McCallion was a very generous man when it came to helping out in the community. He was known as a long-time registered Republican and a compassionate fiscal conservative who was a social moderate that had no problem taking the heat because of his political beliefs. In 1991 he became one of the original founders of the Broward Log Cabin Club when he and a band of activists attended the first Log Cabin Federation convention held in Tampa Florida. Joe had no problem reaching into his pocket when the need arose and the cry for support echoed throughout the community. Joe was known for vigorously voicing his opinions. When attacked by some
socially conservative activists because of his egalitarian positions Joe never refrained from making a poignant response. Yet, few people knew what Joe endured while serving as a young man under the military’s anti-gay policies. He strongly supported those who came out and were subsequently demoralized because DADT and the hard-line prejudice against gays in the military. An active participant in the movement for equality of rights, he served as an early board member of Florida ’s Gold Coast Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Veterans of American. He and Jim hosted a number of fundraisers at the old 825 club on Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Joe McCallion and his long-time companion Jim Rafferty, a business partner and spouse, both resided in the Village of Lazy Lake and, for a number of years, attended and supported the MCC Sunshine Cathedral. Joe and Jim were recently married in their mother state of Massachusetts. Jim was by his side when he passed. -courtesy of the Log Cabin Republican Club
LOCAL NEWS
Left. Right. Left. Right. Gay. Lake Worth Gay Vets Organize to March in Veteran’s Day Parade
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alm Beach County’s BLAST (Bi, Lesbian and Straight Together) is calling all gay veterans to join them for the Lake Worth Veteran’s Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. Lineup will take place on Federal between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue. The parade steps off at 2 p.m. and will be followed by a reception at 3:30 at the Cultural Plaza. The parade title, “One Hundred Years of Heroes,” is in honor of the city’s 100th anniversary in 2013. According to the Lake Worth Sun (www.lakeworthsun.blogspot. com), a local blog, the city commission has allocated $8,000 to support the parade after three previous years without city underwriting. An LGBT contingent is being coordinated by BLAST and the local Veteran’s Administration (VA) according to BLAST
November 7, 2012 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com
Photo Courtesey of the National Guard
By Donald Cavanaugh organizer Toni Armstrong, Jr. “We’re calling all LGBT veterans as well as friends and families of veterans to join us to celebrate ‘One Hundred Years of Heroes,’” said Armstrong. “Everyone is encouraged to participate, even if you aren’t military.” Veterans from all branches of the Armed Services are welcome, including Coast Guard and National Guard, according to Armstrong, who invites interested parties to contact her (toniajr@ earthlink.net) to get on a master list of LGBT veterans. “With the overturn of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, LGBT military
veterans can finally march openly in parades to honor their service,” said Armstrong. “And you’re invited to participate.” LGBT veterans and supporters wishing to march should line up with the BLAST contingent on Federal, as noted above, between 3rd and 4th Avenues. Two red Miatas with BLAST signs are the demarcation point for GBT men in front of and LBT women behind the cars. “We salute all women veterans and civilian women who served,” said Armstrong “It’s free to participate,” she added. “People should bring flags, handmade signs, military gear, if possible, and the usual water, sunglasses, hats, etc.” For more information about the parade or LGBT veterans and the VA, contact Mary Chase at sis10808@aol.com.
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