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Hundreds Of People Protest Florida’s Horrid “Don’t Say Gay” Bill An Aggressive HIV Variant Silently Spread In The Netherlands For 2 Decades Out Trans Actress Tommy Dorfman & Husband Are Getting Divorced
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Tori Cooper 1st Black Trans Woman On Presidential HIV/AIDS Panel Seeks To Focus On Equality Disney+ Is Creating A Series Based On This Queer YA Novel RPDR UK Vs The World’s Lemon On The Judges, Jimbo & How She Really Felt Going Home First Jen Psaki Says Joe Biden Won’t Pledge To Put An LGBTQ Person On The Supreme Court Pride Journey: Palm Beach
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Hundreds Of People Protest Florida’s Horrid “Don’t Say Gay” Bill By Deborah Miller
Roughly 100 people, including students, have protested H.B. 5057, Florida’s proposed “Don’t Say Gay” bill, a bill that would ban teachers from acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ people.
“no promo homo” laws also had Tom Landers, a former teacher some of the worst HIV rates in the entire nation. and board member of Safe Schools South Florida, told the The LGBTQ student advocacy news station, “When I was group GLSEN says that young, I couldn’t be out. And schools often misapply vaguely it’s important. As a history written “no promo homo” laws The protest occurred February teacher, I always make sure to apply to health curriculum, 2nd Tuesday evening outside that I mention people from all school events, and even of the Pride Center in Wilton parts of our community.” extracurricular activities. Such Manors. Chasten Buttigieg, husband of states also offer little to no sexual health education, The bill’s text would make it out Transportation Secretary illegal for teachers from Pete Buttigieg, has said of the leaving LGBTQ students kindergarten through fifth grade bill, “Whether this bill passes or completely ignorant about their identities or how to protect to discuss anything in the not, it’s important to point out themselves from anti-LGBTQ classroom related to LGBTQ that trauma [against LGBTQ bullying. identities. If they do so, parents kids and kids from same-sex can sue them. families] has already started. The bill is just part of a larger They see us talking about it. anti-LGBTQ push from state If the bill passes, children They see their identity up for conservatives. In late 2021, the raised by same-sex parents debate right now.” Florida Department of won’t be able to discuss their Education yanked down an anti families in schools, even While the bill is being -bullying portal following though it’s completely legal for considered by the Florida same-sex couples to wed and House, a companion bill hasn’t pressure from right-wingers. raise kids, Scott Galvin told been introduced in the Senate. The department said the information is “under review,” WFOR-TV. Galvin is executive A 2017 Hornet article found but it’s unclear when, if ever, it director of Safe Schools South that seven states with similar will return online. Florida and a North Miami city
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council member.
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An Aggressive HIV Variant Silently Spread In The Netherlands For 2 Decades By David Vandygriff
of HIV out there. It was just spreading faster than other strains of HIV," Joel Wertheim, an associate adjunct professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, who wasn't involved in the research.
The discovery of VB European researchers recently took so long, he added, detected something unusual because the cases didn't seem about a cluster of HIV cases in out of the ordinary, though they the Netherlands: More than a presented as more severe than dozen people with HIV many HIV infections. infections had high amounts of virus in their bodies, suggesting "You have to sequence the their infections could progress viral genome and build these viral family trees and, once you quickly to AIDS if they didn't do that, this variant stands out seek treatment right away. against all others," Wertheim That was just the beginning. said. After scouring a database of The study underscores an HIV patients, the researchers important lesson for the identified 109 people in total with identical or near-identical coronavirus pandemic: Any genetic sequences, dating back virus that's spreading can mutate, and a mutating virus to the 1990s. can evolve to become more The group had all been lethal. infected with an aggressive HIV "We saw the same thing with variant the researchers called the Delta variant," Wertheim "VB" in reference to the said, adding, "It was more variant's lineage. The variant transmissible and more belongs to subtype B, a virulent. There's a general widespread group of HIV mistaken assumption that, in strains. the long term, all viruses will In a study published Thursday, evolve to be benign. That's researchers at the University of simply not true and this study Oxford determined that VB had stands in stark contrast to that been lurking undetected in the idea." Netherlands for two decades. While the first known case was HIV drugs still work against the variant, despite its virulence diagnosed in Amsterdam in 1992, cases in the study are Without treatment, VB seems from 2003 onward. to cause more severe disease in a shorter amount of time "It was spreading since the 90s, just like every other strain than other common HIV variants.
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Most people with HIV are vulnerable to developing AIDS around six to seven years after they're diagnosed, assuming they don't seek treatment, the researchers wrote. But people with VB could develop AIDS within two to three years if the variant goes untreated. Among men in their 30s, the variant could progress to advanced HIV just nine months after their diagnosis, the study found. By contrast, men in their 30s who contract other variants typically don't develop advanced HIV until three years after their diagnosis. Both scenarios assume the men haven't received treatment. Fortunately, VB responds to the same virus-blocking drugs as other HIV strains. The researchers didn't detect large differences in mortality between people who contracted the variant and those who contracted another HIV strain, most likely because people with VB started treatment shortly after their diagnosis. However, the researchers expressed concern about areas outside the Netherlands where HIV screening is less common. In some parts of the world "the probability of reaching advanced HIV before diagnosis would be even greater," they wrote, since people could be diagnosed much later in the course of their infection. HIV has evolved at a much slower rate than COVID-19 While the VB variant has been spreading for decades, it hasn't
torn through populations quickly.
researchers caution there's a high degree of uncertainty about the trend. "HIV operates on a much slower time scale than, say, our Wertheim said there's still a question of whether VB will current pandemic," Wertheim persist into the future. said. "Evolutionary change is going to happen over the In a paper published Tuesday, course of years and decades, Wertheim argued that as opposed to Omicron, which maintaining some level of swept through the world in a virulence is crucial to HIV matter of months." transmission, since virulent strains produce high viral There's still a lot that loads, giving the virus more researchers don't fully opportunities to transmit before understand about the variant, a patient seeks treatment. But though, including why it he noted that HIV infections emerged in the first place. have followed a different The study's models suggest VB evolutionary pattern from one grew more prevalent until region to the next. around 2010, then potentially started to decline, although the "In some places in the world,
like in Uganda, HIV seems to be evolving to be less virulent," Wertheim said. "Here in the United States, we've seen over the decades, HIV seems to be getting slightly more virulent and transmissible. And now we have this example in Europe of HIV evolving [toward] increased virulence."
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transition on Instagram for over a year. “For a year now, I have been privately identifying and living as a woman – a trans woman,” Dorfman said while Out Trans Actress Tommy Dorfman noting that her “coming out” wasn’t & Husband Are Getting Divorced really necessary By By Felix Jones since she had been posting photos of her transition Tommy Dorfman, the actress regularly. best known for portraying Ryan Shaver in the hit Netflix series “It’s funny to think about coming out, because I haven’t 13 Reasons Why, is getting gone anywhere. I view today as divorced from her husband Peter Zurkuhler after more than a reintroduction to me as a woman, having made a five years of marriage. transition medically. Coming The couple has been out is always viewed as this separated since last year, and grand reveal, but I was never according to Los Angeles court not out. Today is about clarity: I records obtained by TMZ, am a trans woman. My Zurkuhler filed for divorce on pronouns are she/her. My Tuesday. name is Tommy.” Dorfman officially came out as Dorfman also said that her a transgender woman in a relationship with Zurkuhlen had TIME interview last July after evolved as well. quietly documenting her
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“I was in a nine-year relationship in which I was thought of as a more malebodied person, with a gay man. I love him so much, but we’ve been learning that as a trans woman, what I’m interested in is not necessarily reflected in a gay man. So we’ve had incredible conversations to redefine our relationship as friends,” she said. In the wake of the article’s r elease, Zurkuhlen expressed his love and support for Dorfman. “So much love. You are gorgeous and you are fully you,” he wrote on Instagram at the time.
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data comparing male and female cisgender athletes, who identify with their sex assigned at birth, that shows that the top-ranked woman in 2021, on average, would be ranked much USA Swimming Announces New Policy For Elite lower in male events Transgender Athletes across short and long By Drew Williams swimming distances. The national governing body The update comes a few for competitive swimming in the weeks after the NCAA, which United States released a new oversees collegiate athletics, policy Tuesday for transgender announced it would scrap its female athletes, and it faced previous trans athlete policy swift criticism from some and instead adopt a sport-byadvocates. sport approach, similar to that USA Swimming, which has of the International Olympic more than 400,000 members Committee. Under this who compete on club teams all guidance, athletes will look to the way up to the Olympic the trans athlete policy team, released the Athlete developed by their sport’s Inclusion, Competitive Equity national or international and Eligibility Policy, which is governing body. For swimming, effective immediately. those organizations are USA It lays out two requirements for Swimming and FINA, the trans women who are members international governing body. of USA Swimming: The The timing of the NCAA concentration of testosterone in announcement — in the middle their blood must be less than 5 of a season — surprised many nanomoles per liter advocates and athletes, with continuously for at least 36 some arguing the organization months before they apply to “caved” to pressure from critics compete, and they must of Lia Thomas, a trans provide evidence that going University of Pennsylvania through puberty as their sex swimmer who swam the fastest assigned at birth “does not give times in the nation this season the athlete a competitive in the 200-yard freestyle and advantage over the athlete’s 500-yard freestyle and qualified cisgender female competitors.” for the NCAA championships. A panel of three independent USA Swimming said in a letter medical experts will be charged to its members Tuesday that it with reviewing applicants and released the new policy due to implementing the policy. the NCAA’s announcement and after “a reevaluation of FINA’s In a news release Tuesday, USA Swimming cited statistical expected policy timeline,” The Washington Post reported.
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It’s unclear how the new policy will affect Thomas, who is not a member of USA Swimming. A spokesperson for the organization said in an email that NCAA events are not included in the policy's list of elite events. A spokesperson for the NCAA said in an email that, consistent with the group's policy, "the Committee on Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport will review this change at its next meeting and will make recommendations as it deems appropriate to the NCAA Board of Governors." Until then, the policy adopted Jan. 19, which defers to USA Swimming and FINA and requires athletes to document their testosterone levels four weeks ahead of championship selection, remains in effect. The policy says an athlete's testosterone level has to fall below the "maximum allowable level for the sport," which under USA Swimming's policy would be 5 nanomoles per liter. Some advocates and experts criticized the new policy. No other national or international sport governing body has required more than 24 months of hormone therapy (or low testosterone) for trans female athletes, said Joanna Harper, a trans runner and a visiting fellow for transgender athletic performance at England’s Loughborough University who published the first performance analysis of transgender athletes in 2015. She added that most policies require 12 months of low
testosterone or hormone therapy, and there is no data suggesting that 36 months “will be any more effective in mitigating advantages than 24 months would be.” “I doubt that it is a coincidence that Lia will have had 34 months of hormone therapy by March 2022,” when the NCAA championships will be held, she said in an email. Thomas, who declined an interview, told the SwimSwam podcast in December that she began hormone therapy, which included estrogen and testosterone suppressants, in May 2019, so she had been on it for 2 and 1/2 years by the time she began competing on the women’s swim team in November. Regarding how it chose 36 months for its policy, a spokesperson for USA Swimming said the organization — like the IOC, NCAA and World Athletics (the international governing body for running events) — "created a policy and guidelines under the advisement of medical, ethical, and legal experts that fits athletes at every level of our sport."
13-14 age group will need to abide by the policy in order to set USA Swimming national age group records. Not all trans people want to undergo hormone therapy, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, a nonprofit organization considered the leading body in transgender care, states in its standards of care that treatments are highly individualized. Trans youth who want puberty blockers start it during the very early stages of puberty, usually between 8 and 13 years old, and might begin hormone therapy in their early or mid-teens. Some have applauded the new policy. Nancy Hogshead-Makar, an Olympic champion in swimming and founder of Champion Women, a nonprofit group that provides legal advocacy for girls and women in sports, said on social media that USA Swimming “deserves our appreciation for prioritizing biological women in new eligibility guidelines.” Harper, however, has said in previous interviews with NBC News that trans athlete policies should be less about eliminatSome advocates on Twitter ing competitive advantage — argued that USA Swimming targeted Thomas in particular. which is allowed in sports, generally — and more about “This was a decision SOLELY ensuring meaningful to eliminate Lia Thomas from competition between trans the team,” one person said. women and cisgender women. Others argued the new “As a population group, trans guidance will bar young trans women will have an advantage athletes who haven’t in any sport (including undergone hormone therapy swimming) where height is from competing for years. The advantageous,” she said. policy states that athletes in the “Height is not markedly
reduced by hormone therapy. Is this unfair?” She said it's also uncertain whether the NCAA would apply the new policy to Thomas given that she's followed all of the previously established rules. “It is also not clear if the NCAA would suspend Lia from the NCAA championships given that she was eligible weeks ago, has done nothing to incur suspension and has consistently done everything asked of her by the NCAA,” Harper said. USA Swimming announced the change the same day some of Thomas’ teammates released a public statement in support of her participation. Their statement also addressed an anonymous interview given by at least one supposed team member who criticized Thomas. “We value her as a person, teammate, and friend,” the statement said. “The sentiments put forward by an anonymous member of our team are not representative of the feelings, values, and opinions of the entire Penn team, composed of 39 women with diverse backgrounds.”
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researchers that LGBTQ youth of color and trans and nonbinary youth are disproportionately affected by Homelessness Linked To Poor Mental homelessness and mental Health Among LGBTQ Youth health issues. By By Tat Walker More than 1 in 4 LGBTQ youth have experienced homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives, a new report from The Trevor Project shows, including nearly half of Native/Indigenous LGBTQ youth and nearly 40 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth. Thirty-five percent of LGBTQ youth who are homeless and 28 percent who have experienced housing instability also reported a suicide attempt in the last year, compared to 10 percent of LGBTQ youth who are not housing insecure. Homeless LGBTQ youth are also two to four times more likely to report depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. These findings, said Jonah DeChants, one of the authors of the study and a research scientist for The Trevor Project — an LGBTQ youth crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization — “paint a pretty serious picture about the need to provide better mental health services for folks who are experiencing housing instability.” It came as no surprise to the 18 www.jaxgay.com
homeless LGBTQ youth and people living with HIV in New York, said the hopelessness of the pandemic is driving some suicides among clients. “We’re seeing people who’ve gotten disconnected from their medical and their mental health services,” Barnhart said. “Telehealth is fine if you’re “When you start middle class, but if you don’t adding homophobia, plus have a device, or you don’t racism or transphobia, plus anti- have Wi-Fi or you’re in an Indigenous racism,” DeChants eight-man room at the shelter, said, “then we again start to see and you don’t have the privacy that young people who are to talk to your psychiatrist … experiencing multiple forms of that doesn’t work that well.” marginalization and oppression Researchers note that the — those are the folks who tend passage of LGBTQ to be pushed out of housing nondiscrimination protections supports and experiencing and LGBTQ competent housing homelessness.” programs can help close the Experts say the pandemic has gaps in care. also exacerbated housing and Elisa Crespo, the executive mental health concerns. Last director of the New Pride year more than 80 percent of Agenda, an LGBTQ advocacy LGBTQ youth reported that the group, advised that increased pandemic has worsened their access to employment and housing situations, according to permanent housing can also The Trevor Project’s 2021 help LGBTQ young adults who National Survey on LGBTQ are experiencing homelessness. Youth Mental Health. “That means putting funding “Nothing repairs the damage behind the implementation and that is typically done by being education process of the rejected by your family, your policies that may already exist community, the culture at large,” — so that not only young people Bill Torres, director of drop-in understand their rights and support services at the Ali protections, but housing Forney Center in New York, one providers understand as well,” of the largest LGBTQ youth Crespo said. homeless shelters in the U.S., said. “In regards to the impact of If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suihow Covid is affecting everyone, it just increased those cide Prevention Lifeline at 800273-8255, text HOME to issues tenfold.” 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuiKate Barnhart, the executive cide.com/resources for additiondirector of New Alternatives, a al resources. drop-in crisis center for
delivering health care to marginalized groups is a big reason for the disparity in those numbers. "My goal as an Tori Cooper 1st Black Trans Woman individual who's part On Presidential HIV/AIDS Panel of a collective is to Seeks To Focus On Equality By David Vandygriff make sure that we are bringing more Tori Cooper in late 2021 equitable health outcomes and became the first Black even the playing field [to] transgender woman to serve increase people's capacity to on the Presidential Advisory live healthily and happily," Council on HIV/AIDS and she Cooper said. hopes her historic appointment The presidential council helps shine a light on the disparities in health care for the Cooper is joining — which was created in 1995 by President Black trans community. Bill Clinton — provides advice, "I never expected that those information and folks would know who I am or recommendations on HIV and have any idea about the work AIDS to the secretary of Health that's being done," she tells and Human Services. Jax Gay. With over 30 years of Cooper, the director of experience as a health and community engagement for the equity consultant, Cooper has transgender justice initiative at worked to raise awareness for the Human Rights Campaign, HIV in various volunteer roles says she is eager to advocate and as executive director and on behalf of all transgender founder of Advocates for Better and nonbinary people, Care Atlanta, which pushes to including those who are living educate and empower with HIV. marginalized people across the More than 40% of Americans country. diagnosed with HIV in 2019 "Being the first of anything is were Black, according to the always daunting," Cooper said latest data from the Centers for of her new role on the Disease Control and presidential panel. "But it also Prevention. And Black is a great opportunity to break transgender women have down barriers and open doors infection rates that are nearly for other people as well." four times higher than those for white trans women, according HIV and AIDS stigmas in the Black community create to a separate study. barriers to care In an interview with Jax Gay, According to the latest data Cooper said inequality in from the Centers for Disease
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Control and Prevention, in 2019, nearly 37,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV, with roughly 16,000 identifying as Black/African American. In a CDC study of HIV prevalence in transgender women across seven U.S. cities, 62% of Black transgender women were infected, compared to 35% of Hispanic trans women and 17% of white trans women. Tori Cooper is a health and equity advocate, community organizer, educator, published author and leader in the transgender and HIV communities. She leads with more than 30 years of experience at all levels of HIV service, from volunteer roles to her service as executive director and founder of Advocates for Better Care Atlanta, LLC. She now serves as the Human Rights Campaign’s Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative. In this role, her focus includes economic empowerment; capacity building programs; public safety; and expanded public education campaigns.
Before joining HRC, Cooper was a consultant and Prevention Specialist at Positive Impact Health Centers in metro Atlanta. In 2015, Cooper created Advocates for Better Care Atlanta, LLC which is an organization dedicated to the education and empowerment of marginalized people across the country. Since its inception, she has self-financed this agency which prioritizes transgender women and men as well as people living with HIV. Cooper has received numerous awards for her work and is a published author, most recently appearing in print and video. Her work is featured in a new documentary titled, “Silent Epidemic” where she talks about the trans community and HIV in the South. She is currently matriculating towards her Master of Arts degree in Public Health. Tori believes that empowerment, education, and opportunity are three important factors in success.
Disney+ Is Creating A Series Based On This Queer YA Novel By Mey Grisham
Disney + is adding to its stable of queer representation. Former studio executives Foster Driver and Zoe Kent are producing a new show under their Driver+Kent Media banner, set to be a series adaptation of a new LGBTQthemed, sci-fi, young adult title The Temperature of Me and You. The Temperature of Me and You is the debut novel from public health advocate and researcher Brian Zepka. It’s described as “a story of first love, journey of trust and identity, and a ticking clock for survival.” Queen in the suburbs of
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Philadelphia pining for love. That’s when he meets Jordan, a cute boy with a unique trait: his resting body temperature is 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The two begin spending time together, and after a while, Dylan catches a fever and begins coughing up flames. Jordan asks Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret, but eventually, that pushes Dylan away from his friends and family and he becomes distant. This development forces Jordan to reveal his “out-of-this -world secret.” The book was published by Disney-Hyperion on January 25th and is already garnering
praise as one of the best YA books of the year. Alden Derck is set to write the series. He started on television as a writer’s assistant on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, where he also wrote some original songs. He also recently sold the horror/ comedy/musical series Student Bodies to Peacock, and set up a pilot about behind the scenes of the pop music world called Hit, at Hulu. This new series is said to be at the top of the list of projects for Driver+Kent, so hopefully we’ll see it sooner rather than later. The Temperature of Me and You is currently available wherever books are sold.
about Lemon’s early exit.
Jax Gay caught up with the queen herself to find out her take on all the drama… Drag Race UK Vs The World’s JG: Hi Lemon! What Lemon On The Judges, has it been like Jimbo And How She Really Felt watching the episode back and seeing the Going Home First fan reactions on social By Brittany Davis media, after all this time? Unless you’ve been living under one of RuPaul’s old Lemon: It’s crazy! Honestly, wigs, you’ll know that Drag it’s my dream come true. We Race UK has gone global. found out about this a long time ago, so waiting for this In the BBC’s new UK vs The experience to be public World series, all-star queens from Drag Race shows across knowledge was really, really taxing. So you kind of get this the world are competing against each other for the first thing in your head of being like: “If I go home first, no one’s time. Baga Chipz, Blu gonna want to book me!” Hydrangea and Cheryl Hole are representing the UK against queens from Canada, Thailand, Holland and the USA. Episode one was a fascinating spectacle, giving viewers a teaser of the wide variety of drag that will be showcased over the coming weeks. The first challenge was a good But really, I feel like, if old-fashioned talent show, anything, this just made featuring some hilarious everyone want to book me and lip-syncs and much-memed come to my shows! And as a costumes. drag artist, that’s the dream. So The first queen to be I’m very happy. eliminated was Lemon, who What was it like representing finished in fifth place in the first Canada? It must have been season of Canada’s Drag quite an honour to be one of Race. This time, it wasn’t only two Canadian queens? meant to be. But it also wasn’t without controversy: on social I think Canada honestly produces some of the best media, fans were not happy artists in every field. I’m a dancer, and the dance educa28 www.jaxgay.com
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tion and the dancers that come from Canada are some of the most talented in the entire world. But something that is really interesting is that we have to sometimes leave the country in order to kind of get the recognition and get the bookings and get ourselves taken seriously. And so, I think, what I really wanted from this series and what I really wanted from this journey is for people to see me and see Canadians as being at the same level, as being just as fierce as the Americans and the UK queens. And I think, even though I did lose, I think I still did that. What was your favorite piece of British slang that you learned on the show? My mum is Scottish, so I feel like I grew up in a half British household. There was no slang that I heard for the first time. You know, my mum will still say things sometimes that I’ve never heard! But one of my favorite phrases UK people do, is saying: “Y’alright?” In North America, if you say: “Are you all right?” You’d be getting into a big conversation about how you are, but for you guys it’s just a greeting. Who are some of your favorite British drag queens? I love UK drag! I think Drag Race UK is absolutely amazing as a series. Maybe I’m biased, but I’m going to have to go with Ginny Lemon. I mean, there’s just something about the name Lemon that’s so perfect! And
I was going to do Tim Gunn from Project Runway, I was very excited about it. What did you learn about drag across the world from the different queens in this series? The most interesting thing about drag is that it can be so different, but it is also a universal language. It’s, at the end of the day, typically queer people getting up on stage and showing their heart and trying to entertain! When you go see a drag show, you feel joy, you feel love, you feel fun, you feel all these things. So it was cool getting to see each person’s drag. But me and Jimbo are both from the same country, and you she is always in such beautiful would never be able to pick two colors. things that we do the same. You’re a trained dancer, were Do you have any advice for you looking forward to the anyone watching who was dancing challenges? inspired by your drag and might want to try it Well, I’m very excited for everyone else, because isn’t it themselves? much more fun watching Well, my advice is: don’t start people not pick up drag to get on Drag Race. You choreography?! I think so. It should want to do drag makes better TV. because you love drag and you should have a love for drag that Are you a queen who was is not related to trying to be dreading Snatch Game or famous, because that never looking forward to it? works. I love Snatch Game. I love And then my second piece of Drag Race. I’m not afraid of any challenge and I know that advice is I would just say, the true best way to get booked I’m funny. and to keep yourself working I know I’m pretty. I know I can forever, is to be a nice person! dance. I know I can rap. So, People want to work with bring it on, motherf**ker! So I people that they enjoy wasn’t afraid of anything! spending time with, because at Who would you have been the end of the day, that’s what for Snatch Game? you’re doing when you’re
working with someone, is spending multiple hours working with them. Did you think your elimination was fair? Should someone else have gone home? I mean, I think, the term “fair” is… I signed up to be judged by the four judges and their opinion is what goes. So yes, I think this fair in that regard. Do I agree with the decisions that were made? No, I don’t, I personally don’t think that I had the worst performance and I really don’t think I had the worst runway. I think there are a few contenders for people whose runways didn’t read as well, at least to me. I think I was judged pretty intensely for someone who they’ve never seen before. It was not my not my choice, but at the end of the day, I signed up for them to make the choice Who are you backing to win the show now? Jimbo – team Canada all the way! www.jaxgay.com 29
people of color, who are women,” Psaki responded. “He has nominated and confirmed an extraordinarily diverse bench of Jen Psaki Says Joe Biden Won’t qualified Pledge To Put An LGBTQ Person individuals to serve on the On The Supreme Court By Terrell Williams courts and that is nominated to a federal court in certainly a priority Colorado and would be the first White House Press Secretary for him.” out LGBTQ woman federal Jen Psaki said that the White “I don’t have any new pledges judge in the west of the U.S. House isn’t pledging to put an to announce for you but I think I But she has not yet been LGBTQ person or an Asian confirmed by the Senate and would point you to his record American on the Supreme the Senate Committee on the which speaks to his Court if future vacancies arise. commitment to ensuring the Judiciary is currently deadlocked on her Biden promised in March 2020 court is more diverse.” confirmation, which is unusual during his presidential While Psaki was willing to for a district court judge. campaign to nominate a Black defend Biden’s record on woman to the Supreme Court, nominating people of color and While all Democrats on the which would be a historic first. women to federal benches, she committee voted for her confirmation and all A reporter at the White House did not extol Biden’s LGBTQ Republicans voted against it press briefing in February 2022 judicial nominees. asked about two other groups Biden has nominated three out (the committee is evenly divided between Republicans that have never been LGBTQ federal judges out of and Democrats), Republicans represented on the high court, the 82 nominations he has haven’t explained what their despite having their rights both made so far. One was Beth objections to her nomination expanded and curtailed by it: Robinson, who was confirmed are. Asian Americans and out by the Senate and is now the LGBTQ people. first out lesbian federal appeals “Throughout her career, she’s built a reputation for integrity “Given the president’s court judge in history. and respect,” Sen. Dick Durban commitment to diversify [the The second is federal district (D-IL) said about Sweeney. No Supreme Court], will he make court Judge Alison Nathan, similar pledges should he have whose nomination is pending in senators asked her any questions during her another opportunity to the Senate for the U.S. Court of confirmation hearing. nominate someone?” the Appeals for the Second Circuit. reporter asked. “For example, “Charlotte Sweeney has the During her confirmation there’s never been an Asian temperament, character and American justice or an LGBTQ hearing, Republicans asked integrity to serve the people of questions like “How many justice. So, will he make a Colorado, and all Americans, biological sexes do you believe with honor and distinction,” similar pledge?” there are?” She is expected to wrote Judy Shepard, the “He has had an enormous be confirmed. mother of Matthew Shepard, to number of justices — judges – The third is civil rights attorney the committee for the hearing. he has nominated who are Charlotte Sweeney, who was
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Atlantic Avenue for lunch and try order the Lobster Roll. You will not be disappointed. From Delray Beach, head Pride Journey: Palm Beach north on I-95 – By Joey Amato or jump on the Tri-Rail to West Palm Beach On my recent visit to The Palm and visit the Norton Museum of Beaches, I wanted to explore Art. During my visit, the parts of the region I hadn't had museum was exhibiting Origin the chance to visit when I lived Stories: Photography of Africa in the area a little of a decade and Its Diaspora, a collection ago. Palm Beach County that confronts the intertwined encompassed dozens of cities relationship between identity and towns, each with its own and colonialism in communities unique charm and attractions. across the African continent. While most people think of The museum also contains a Florida's beaches as the main permanent collection of Asian attraction in the Sunshine and European artwork. State, Palm Beach County After the museum, take a walk stretches all the way to the Everglades in the west and has along Clamatis street, the dining and entertainment hub developed into one of the top agri-tourism destinations in the of West Palm Beach or journey over to Palm Beach Island, country. where the world's wealthiest I began my trip in Delray people go to play during the Beach, the town I used to live winter months. Mansions and in. One of Delray Beach's sprawling estates surround the hidden gems is Morikami island which includes many Museum and Japanese historic properties including the Gardens. Guests get to Flagler Museum, The Breakers experience authentic Japanese and Mar-a-Lago, which was culture and stroll through acres originally built for cereal of lush trails transporting them company heiress Marjorie to a different land. I didn't even Merriweather Post. feel as if I was in Florida as I There are many hotels located spent time at the reflection pond, the bamboo forest, or the on Palm Beach, but they can get a bit pricey depending on old museum. While in Delray the time of year you visit. A Beach, head to the Pineapple Grove arts district, a stretch of great option is the Hilton West Palm Beach, located across downtown devoted to art galleries, cafes, and boutiques. the street from Rosemary Square and within walking Swing by City Oyster on distance to many of the area's
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main attractions. The luxurious property features a grand lobby, large fitness center and massive outdoor pool, perfect for a nice relaxing dip after a long day of sightseeing. Grab dinner at Table 26, one of West Palm Beach's most popular LGBTQ-owned restaurants. My guest and I began our meal with the Squash Blossoms and Burrata & Tomato salad, a simple yet delicious selection that is always a favorite of mine. For dinner, we wanted to order something a little on the lighter side, so we opted for the Zucchini pasta prepared with roasted heirloom tomatoes, pine nuts, basil pesto and shaved parmesan. If you are in the mood to grab some cocktails, head to The Mad Hatter lounge located in Lake Worth, a town known for its thriving LGBTQ culture. Lake Worth is also home to Compass, the area's LGBTQ community center. After grabbing a morning coffee, head to Jupiter, about a 20-minute drive north from the hotel to the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. The free attraction relies on donations to help maintain the property and support its animals. Last year alone, the sanctuary cared for over 6,000 animals who arrived to the facility, which was established to care for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals, while promoting wildlife and habitat conservation. All of the animals at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary are native to Florida.
While in Jupiter, head to Lucky Shuck for lunch and grab a table with a view of the intracoastal waterway. The restaurant offers wonderful service, fresh and simple food, and a relaxed island time environment. I decided to try the Ceviche Trio, prepared three different ways and was so surprised at the differences between each of the preparations. For dessert – yes, I had dessert for lunch – try the Key Lime pie served with a coconut meringue and passion fruit glaze. It was one of the most delicious items I had on my entire visit. After lunch, jump on the Love Street Outdoor Center PonTiki Cruise a few steps from the restaurant, for a 30-minute or hour-long cruise around Jupiter inlet before heading back to the Hilton for some R&R before dinner.
Sanctuary. The guided tours are so informative, and guests learn the stories of each animal and how they arrived at the Sanctuary. Whereas Busch Sanctuary only cares for animals local to the region, McCarthy's is home to a variety of animals from all corners of the globe including Amur leopards, Bengal Tigers, lions and even a snow leopard. Many of these animals were illegally owned and taken in by the sanctuary as they can't be allowed into the wild.
No trip to Palm Beach would be complete without a shopping spree or stroll along Worth Avenue. High-end boutiques such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Akris line the street. Even if you don't want to shop, it is still a fun experience to window shop and watch the parade of exotic cars that drive up and down the avenue.
All of the animals are well cared for and were quite friendly and playful. The jaguar was purring during our entire visit Although it is easy to navigate and the beautiful white tiger West Palm Beach via public was rubbing up against the entransportation, I would closer seeking some attention recommend renting a car if you from us. In addition to big cats, really want to explore the the sanctuary also houses exdestination and some of its otic birds, most popular attractions lemurs, and a feisty fox. including McCarthy's Wildlife
It takes a good week to explore the destination, especially if you want to visit numerous cities and attractions. One of my favorite times to visit Florida in general is the spring and fall, as the weather is divine. To book your West Palm Beach gaycation, visit www.Orbitz.com/pride Enjoy the Journey!
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