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[ JUST ADAM
The week reflected back through fabulously funny eyes
A QUIET REALIZATION. I apparently need to buy new batteries for my TV remote? Who owns batteries anymore? So passé… I think I buried them with my 1995 high school class time capsule. TOP SECRET ENCOUNTER. Was hoping to have a quiet lunch by the pool, but I didn’t realize that I happened to walk in on intense negotiations of the douche world G8 summit. I would take pictures, but would defiantly be found dead tomorrow in a Cadillac, like Morty, the wig guy in “Goodfellas.”
F*CK ME GENTLY WITH A CHAINSAW. On hold with the Florida Attorney General’s Office, and it seems Pam Bondi takes time from her busy schedule of taking bribery checks, making photo ops, whining about liberals and hating gays to RECORD THEIR MUSICAL HOLD...IN THAT VOICE...ALL 6 HOURS OF IT. It’s like listening to The Children of the Corn!!! THE NEXT COMEDY HOUR. Word on the street is that no respectable Republican officials plans to speak on behalf of Donald Trump at the Republican convention this month, so he’s doing it his way. I can only imagine the “huuuuuge” political, media, and other glitterati he invites to speak for him all running for the nation’s highest office. Mike Tyson? Perhaps consumer finance advocates Teresa Giudice? Omarosa from his show? Melissa Rivers and her host of “poker playa cast mates on The Apprentice?” All around the world-renowned savvy intellectualist Kid Rock? The world can only watch and wait… JULY 4 IS ALWAYS THE WORST. Days and days of explosions. I wonder, is it thunder? Nuclear warfare? A trailer park in Davie blowing up? It’s always a mystery! CALL THE FASHION POLICE. Jerry Hall---your cool gay hall pass has been revoked! What respectable person shows up a star-studded fabulous gay event, the premiere of AbFab: The Movie with, 1. Rupert Murdoch, the most evil geriatric troll in the universe? 2. Cheap white nylon L’eggs stockings that you buy right next to the cash register at the 7-Eleven? And 3. Flats? Fashion is pain, honey. Lock her up in jail and throw away the key. Court is dismissed! (Drops gavel). TO TELL THE TRUTH. NeNe Leakes chewing the scenery as one of the panelists? Have several seats, “Wig”, and just appreciate that you’re even in the shadow of the queen of planet earth, Betty White!
Adam Cohen is South Florida’s favorite and most fabulous social commentator. He’s also single. Find him on Facbook to keep up with his hilarious take on the week’s headlines. 4
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING... Random thoughts from social media and beyond this week Dolly Parton shared how much joy she gets when she sees her male fans dressed like her at concerts. “I think it’s fun! You know, we usually have boys all dressed like me, and so when I do ’Jolene’ and I see a bunch of drag queens out there, I start singing [to the tune of the “Jolene” chorus] ‘drag queen, drag queen, drag queen! Please don’t take my man!’ [Laughing] They know that I completely love and accept them, as I do all people. I’ve struggled enough in my life to be appreciated and understood. I’ve had to go against all kinds of people through the years just to be myself. I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are, and to love who they love. I don’t think we should be judgmental.
“She’s a lady everyone! Now you and Fox & Friends can rest easy knowing that the 93 meters and 450,000 pounds of copper and iron we’ve had to greet immigrants since 1886 is a lady hunk of metal and not a male one.” Said, Edward Berenson, a professor of history and director of the Institute of French Studies.
Caitlyn Jenner plans to vote Republican come November, Jenner said, “Trump seems to be very much for women. He seems very much behind the LGBT community because of what happened in North Carolina with the bathroom issue. He backed the LGBT community.”
Singer Ryan Beatty, a 20-year-old who became famous posting covers of songs to YouTube has come out as gay on social media. “Proud to be a raging homosexual, it’s taken 20 years of suffocating in the closet for me to become comfortable enough to say it, but now I can finally breathe. I did it!”
a NHL Commissioner Garry Bettman says the league is ready for one of its players to come out as gay. “I think it’s very difficult to generalize as to why in a particular league or a particular industry somebody has or has not come out. We certainly don’t want a player to come out for our sake. It should be what’s right for him and something that he has to be comfortable with. But I think it’s our job to create a culture and an environment where a gay player knows he is safe and welcome. If and when that happens, believe me, that person will have the full support of the commissioner’s office.” July 07, 2016
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News Briefs Go to floridaagenda.com for other exclusive stories.
Rent increase may close celebrated San Francisco gay bar The Stud
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No parental rights for woman at end of same-sex relationship
DETROIT (AP) - A woman whose same-sex relationship ended before gay marriage became legal doesn’t have parental rights to a child born to her partner in 2008, the Michigan appeals court said Wednesday. The case, which comes a year after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage across the country, raises complex issues, the court said. nn
Court nixes school’s latest bid in transgender bathroom case
RICHMOND, VA (AP) - A federal judge says a transgender teen should not be blocked from using the boy’s bathroom at school while the school board pursues an appeal in the student’s discrimination lawsuit. U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. Doumar had ordered the Gloucester County School Board in June to let Gavin Grimm use the bathroom corresponding to his gender identity while the court examines the legal issues of his case. nn
Federal judge blocks Mississippi religious objections law SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - One of the nation’s most celebrated gay bars may soon go out of business after a new landlord more than doubled the rent. At 50 years old, the Stud is the longestrunning gay bar in San Francisco. It’s known throughout the country as one of the bohemian, gender-bending, anything-goes institutions that made the city into a gay mecca. In June the building was sold, and the bar’s
owner received a notice that the monthly rent would leap from $3,800 to $9,500 in September. On Sunday, he called an emergency meeting to break the news to regulars. The tale is familiar in a city that is becoming ever wealthier with the arrival of newcomers taking high-paying technology jobs. Old-timers lament that many of San Francisco’s dilapidated and diverse areas are disappearing. nn
JACKSON, MS (AP) - A federal judge has blocked a Mississippi law that would let merchants and government employees cite religious beliefs to deny or delay services to same-sex couples. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves filed orders in two lawsuits blocking the law just moments before it was to take effect Friday. State attorneys are expected to appeal his decisions. nn Assembled through Associated Press
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INTERNATIONAL Paris gay pride parade goes ahead under tight security
PARIS (AP) - Thousands of people have marched in a gay pride parade in Paris amid tight police security, three weeks after the massacre at a Florida gay nightclub. France itself is still under state of emergency following last year’s attacks. Some participants in Paris were wearing black armbands to pay tribute to the Orlando victims. The U.S. embassy in France was officially represented in Saturday’s parade. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay also joined the march, which was reduced to a short 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in the city center to ensure better security. nn
Cologne’s gay pride parade pays tribute to Orlando victims
BERLIN (AP) - Tens of thousands of people are taking part in Cologne’s annual gay pride parade, with many paying tribute to the victims of the attack on a Florida nightclub last month. Some held placards with the words “We are Orlando” while 49 rainbow flags were hung at halfmast to symbolize those killed in the attack. Sunday’s Christopher Street Day parade is one of the biggest LGBT events in Germany and was first held 25 years ago to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York. nn
Justice Department asks judge to block transgender law
RALEIGH, NC (AP) - The U.S. Justice Department has asked a federal judge to halt North Carolina’s law requiring people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates, citing the harassment of transgender people since the measure was enacted earlier this year. The request for a preliminary injunction, filed late Tuesday, provides the most extensive look yet at the Justice Department’s argument that the bathroom-access requirements violate federal law. nn
North Carolina lawmakers leave LGBT law largely intact
RALEIGH, NC (AP) - A law limiting protections for LGBT people emerged largely unchanged after North Carolina lawmakers revisited it during their yearly legislative session. After days of closed-door meetings to discuss possible changes, the North Carolina General Assembly voted Friday to restore workers’ right to use state law to sue over employment discrimination. But the change won’t enhance workplace protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, nor does it affect other provisions decried by gay rights advocates, business leaders and other high-profile critics. “This was the lowest of the low hanging fruit. It does nothing to fix the core discrimination in that law,” said Rep. Grier Martin, D-Wake. nn
Agreement reached on Massachusetts transgender rights bill
BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a bill that would expand anti-discrimination protections for the state’s transgender residents. The compromise announced on Wednesday could get final votes in both chambers and be sent by Thursday to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who’s expected to sign it. The measure would allow people to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identities, among other things. A six-member conference committee resolved differences between versions of the bill approved first in the Senate and later in the Hous nn
PASSAGES Larry Gierer, former Oakland Park Mayor, dead at 60
OAKLAND PARK—Former Oakland Park mayor, vice mayor and commissioner Larry Gierer died last Saturday after a protracted illness. He was 60. First elected to the City Commission in 2001, Gierer continued to serve in various capacities until term limits took effect in 2009. Much of his work remains on display with the revitalized downtown area and the culinary district, all began during his time on the city commission. Ironically, Gierer won his first seat after his opponent made an issue of Gierer’s open homosexuality. Father Bob Caudill, of the All Saints Church and Soup Kitchen, remembered Gierer for his kindness and volunteering. “You are in our hearts always,” he said. Jeff Helyer of Oakland Park’s Lloyd Estates Neighborhood Association said, “(Larry’s) work and legacies carry on through Oakland Park and beyond. Gierer is survived by his spouse, Carlos Lobo; his mother, who lives in the St. Louis area; and numerous siblings, nieces and nephews. A celebration of Gierer’s life will be 4 p.m., July 15 in the community room at the Jaco Pastoriuos Park. nn July 07, 2016
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COVER STORY
IT WAS A WAR ZONE: DR. JOSEPH IBRAHIM BY RICHARD HACK
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“It was a war zone,” Dr. Joseph Ibrahim said, remembering the morning of June 12 when he was called at 2:15 am to come into work at the Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center. For all the surgeons, doctors, nurses and technicians on call that morning, the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub remains a career altering tragedy. Even more so for Dr. Ibrahim, who is the medical director of the hospital’s trauma center—for like the man who killed 49 people in the LGBT nightclub that night, Ibrahim is the son of a first generation Muslim. Growing up in Tennessee, and graduating from East Tennessee State University, Ibrahim is not a Muslim like his father. His voice is accented not in Arabic, but rather in the gentle southern dialect that is characteristic of the country music capital. But the sadness in his voice still echoes a memory that will take decades to dim. “We had patients in every corner,” he said. “We saw the full gamut of wounds, from wounds to extremities, wounds to the chest, wounds to abdomen and pelvis area.” Of the 53 wounded at Pulse Nightclub, Ibrahim’s team worked on 44 patients, eight of whom died in the emergency room of the hospital and one on the way to the operating room. “We did what we could, and then we had to move on. But you
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just wish you had a few more moments, or one more thing,” Ibrahim said, allowing the thought to hang in the air. He worked 36 straight hours during the aftermath of the shooting before finally pulling himself back to his family—his wife, a physical therapist from Elizabethton, Tennessee (population 14,008) and their 11-yearold twin sons. “Leaving that day, I drove by Lake Beauty where they have a
bunch of memorial’s set up,” he told a film crew from the BBC. “Seeing the friends and family come together and crying over somebody potentially you were working on… that really tears at you.” Yet unlike the other doctors affected by the tragedy, Ibrahim feels compelled to be a goodwill ambassador of sorts, to prove that neither names nor religions are suggestive of behavior. His late father, an ear, nose and throat doctor, had moved to
Tennessee from Egypt, where he met Ibraham’s mother—a former Tennessee farm girl turned nurse. “I have to prove to people that I am trying to do good,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “And I do want to represent, even though I am only half-Egyptian.” Still, he hears the talk encouraged by Donald Trump about prohibiting Muslims to travel to the US. “I wouldn’t have had the honor to be here and work beside these folks who were working incredibly hard to save all the lives they could,” he said. “To think I could have missed that if my dad had not been allowed in, that’s bothersome.” Ibrahim wondered whether the very diversity that makes Orlando great is the exact thing that attracted the mass murderer. ““Maybe we’re a target because of our diversity and tolerance,” he said. “Here you constantly see people from all over the world, and it’s wonderful.” Ironically, the hospital, which is located just blocks from Pulse Nightclub, had practiced an “active shooter” mass casualty drill just two months before the massacre. In the latest updates from the Orlando Regional Medical Center, of the 44 patients originally admitted, only three patients remain hospitalized— one in critical condition. All of the twelve patients that were taken to Florida Hospital, another area treatment center, have been discharged. nn
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AS I SEE IT
Haters and other freaks of nature
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It’s been quite the week. We don’t know if you’ve noticed, but over the past seven days there has been a renewed outpouring of anti-gay venom that stretches the boundaries of Freedom of Speech to its very limits. Case in point is rapper Badazz. who formerly was known as Lil Boosie— all 5’6” of him. In an interview BY on VladTV, RICHARD Boosie HACK Badazz claimed that TV is trying to make everyone gay. The father of seven says that “they’re trying to make everybody f**kin’ gay. That’s what I think. They’re putting it on our culture. They’re putting it everywhere. Gay stuff is everywhere. I think they’re just doing it to make a monetary gain. They’re not doing it for the gays. They’re not really fans of the gays. They’re doing it for monetary gain. They try to make money off these people, man.” The rapper, who spent from 2009 to 2014 in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, and was at one time indicted for first degree murder, thinks that the biggest offenders are kids’ cartoons. “You got cartoons that have gays,” he said. “These are kids. Let kids make 10
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their own decision if they wanna go that way. Six- and seven-yearolds, five-year-olds shouldn’t be turned onto gay cartoons when their mind not even developed yet. What if they like how that cartoon talk? Now, you’re forcing them to be gay. Every TV show is gays. They’re kissing each other. It’s out of hand.” While claiming to have nothing against gays per se, if any of his children, especially his son, turned out to be gay, he would try to beat it out of them. “First, I’ma try to slap his ass back straight,” he says. “I’ma kick his ass. Maybe he’ll realize that he’s not gay. But if I can’t stop him from being gay, I’m not gonna ban my son from my life. I’ll just have to find some crazy ass way to deal with it. But my sons love women.” Fascinating observation since his son is still a pre-teen. From the absurd to the insane, we move next to Pat Robertson. It was only last month that Robertson, the aging evangelist of 700 Club fame, said that liberals were facing a dilemma because they love both LGBT rights advocates and Islamic radicals. Huh? “We’re looking at a favored group by the left, the homosexuals, and that in Islam is punishable by death or imprisonment or some sanction, so what are the left going to do? How are they going to describe it? And they don’t know quite what to do now. The fact that this Islamic gentleman opens fire in a gay nightclub and kills almost 50 homosexuals,
that says something and tells the fact that Islam is against homosexuality, so the liberals are going to be scrambling to find some rationale, I think they’re going to have a hard time doing it. “In the meantime, Donald Trump is riding high because he said we should screen these people and he’s absolutely right. We should screen them. So the left is saying, ‘Oh you’re anti-Muslim, you’re racist’ and all this. Suddenly, that part of the narrative doesn’t play too well and they’re stuck as to what to do. But Trump is enjoying a victory.” Yet, Donald Trump and Pat Robertson aren’t the only ones jumping on the back of the Orlando tragedy to get attention. There’s also Pastor Roger Jimenez, of Verity Baptist Church, in Sacramento, CA, who said that it was a tragedy that more didn’t die.
Of the massacre itself, Jimenez said, “I think that’s great. I think that helps society. I think that Orlando, FL is a little safer tonight. But I’m kind of upset that he didn’t finish the job because these people are predators,” Jimenez said. “They are abusers; they take advantage of people.” Baptists everywhere should be ashamed. But in reality, it is just the beginning of open season on the LGBT community as we stand before the firing squad of Republican haters and conservative fear-mongers. What’s next? We’ll keep you posted.
Richard Hack is the awardwinning author of 26 books, and the Vice President of Content for Multimedia Platforms’ publications.
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It is just the beginning of open season on the LGBT community as we stand before the firing squad of Republican haters and conservative fear-mongers”
OPINION DR. DURRELL’S SPIRITUAL PRESCRIPTIONS
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THE GOSPEL TRUTH inherited a prejudice against Canaanites, and can accurately quote a scripture to justify the prejudice. But the Canaanite woman doesn’t accept his rejection of her. He calls her a dog, an ethnic slur. But she challenges him to show her the same kindness he would show a dog. ?And Jesus then sees her as a human being who deserves compassion. He praises the woman’s faith and affirms hope for her daughter. When religion or society says you are worthless, when you are in pain and no one cares because they’ve decided you deserve it--a kind word, a moment of human compassion, can make a difference. Something as simple as a moment of human kindness can lift us up. In John’s gospel, we see Jesus encountering a Samaritan woman at a well. She’d been disrespected by every man she ever tried to love. Her religion, her ethnicity, and her circumstances made her a pariah in the eyes of many people, but not to Jesus. He affirms her as a daughter of God, sees her sacred value, sees that she hasn’t gotten the best breaks but even
PAUL BERGE
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In the Christian bible there are four gospels: Mark, Matthew, John, and Luke (their chronological order; their order in the canon is Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). In Mark’s gospel, we see Jesus telling a rich young man to share his wealth with the poor. In fact, generosity is what will allow him to enjoy By Rev. a full relationship with Durrell God forever, or so Jesus tells him. Watkins By being one who lifts up others, we each can be part of a divine healing process. Matthew’s gospel shows Jesus being visited by a Canaanite woman whose daughter had problems. The bible Jesus would have known said that Canaanites should be destroyed. And a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus hoping he can help her tormented child. Jesus has
so, she deserves better than she’s had so far. She was down and out, but Jesus lifted her up by affirming her dignity. Even when we’ve had difficulties in life, we deserve kindness, and a little actually goes a long way. And Luke’s gospel shows the prodigal son hitting bottom, but being loved into wholeness, embraced unconditionally by family love. The story is an allegory for the unconditional and all-inclusive power of divine Love. Yes, the gospels are filled with stories meant to lift up those who have been marginalized, vilified, forgotten, abused, or knocked down. Of course, there are sacred stories and poems and narratives beyond the collection that is revered in my religious tradition, but my point is simply this: if religion has been used to knock or keep you down, you don’t have to accept that misuse of faith traditions. At their best, spiritual traditions are meant to lift us up. As a spiritual leader I passionately declare that you are, whoever you are, a person of sacred value and you deserve a life filled with hope, peace, and joy. This is the gospel truth! nn
Rev. Durrell Watkins, M.A., M.Div., D.Min. is the Senior Minister of Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, “a different kind of church.”
What’s your opinion?
The Florida Agenda welcomes signed Letters to the Editor, up to 400 words in length, on topics of general interest to our readers. You may e-mail submissions to Editor@mmplgbt. com. We welcome comments on our Facebook page also. July 07, 2016
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Reflections on Stonewall National Monument n I am an avid fan of our national parks having visited over half of the sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS) including national parks, monuments, historic sites, and others. With Stonewall National Monument, we now have 412 sites, so you can do the math. In fact I have visited over 230 of those 412 sites and purposely take vacations to visit these places. I believe whether it is appreciating a breathtaking view of Yosemite Valley, camping on Isle Royale, snorkeling the Dry Tortugas, reflecting upon the sacrifices made at Gettysburg and Valley Forge, or contemplating the courage displayed at Seneca Falls, Selma, and Stonewall, visiting our National Park Service sites makes you a better American. The designation of Stonewall National Monument is an important acknowledgment and incorporation of the LGBT civil rights movement and the contribution of the LGBT community to the history and evolving story of our nation. In Wilton Manors we appreciate this deeply. Our city is home to a vibrant LGBT-friendly entertainment district, the Stonewall National Museum Gallery, the World AIDS Museum, and our annual signature Stonewall Street Festival and Parade held every June commemorating National LGBT Pride Month drawing tens of thousands of attendees. Estimated attendance this year was around 25,000. This year Wilton Manors also made history becoming the first city in the nation to permanently display the LGBT 12
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Pride Flag as the foundation to a monument and memorial dedicated to the contributions of the LGBT community. I was not alive when the Stonewall riots broke out, but I firmly believe those who stood against then government sanctioned harassment, discrimination, and police brutality laid the foundation to the movement that would allow me the ability to not just be open as a gay man but also be elected to office as an openly gay man. Stonewall, which I have visited in years past, represented in 1969 as it does today, a sanctuary LGBT people can go, feel safe, and be comfortable being who they are. Pulse Club in Orlando was
a similar sanctuary. In the wake of the Orlando mass shooting, the importance and right of LGBT people to feel safe whether in places of our own like a gay bar or out in public at a restaurant for a dinner as a couple or with friends is reaffirmed by the United States with President Obama officially designating the Stonewall Inn as the first LGBT National Monument. Wilton Manors takes pride in also being a model example of a safe and welcoming community, a neighborhood sanctuary even, for the LGBT community and everyone. We certainly didn’t get here overnight, and it wasn’t without growing pains. It took effort, edu-
cation, dedication, and investment from all segments of our residents, LGBT and allies. Stonewall National Monument is a source of pride to the LGBT community and place to educate and enlighten all people of the contributions made by our community. Through tragedies like the brutal killing of Matthew Shepard and those slain at Pulse Club to triumphs like the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, passage of hate crimes legislation, and the bravery of Edie Windsor, James Obergefell, and others who helped achieve victory with marriage equality, the journey towards a more perfect union and society that recognizes, understands, and respects LGBT equality is far from over. In fact, in Florida and other states, you can still be fired from your job and denied housing for being gay. But just like those patrons of Stonewall who had the courage to stand up for their place in America, citizens in Wilton Manors and in cities across our nation can now look to the history and courage of Stonewall National Monument to find a piece of their own courage to enjoy, recognize, and stand up for their place in their communities and in the fabric of our great country. *Justin S. Flippen, J.D. “The People’s Commissioner” is a Wilton Manors City Commissioner, former Wilton Manors Vice Mayor, a Juris Doctor, and a Project Manager with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. nn
SPOTLIGHT Photo credit: Metropolitan
NEW CUTTING-EDGE METROPOLITAN APARTMENTS IN WILTON MANORS GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
(l to r): Wilton Manors City Commissioner Justin S. Flippen, Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Scott Newton, Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick, Wilton Manors City Commissioner Tom Green, Wilton Manors City Commissioner Julie Carson and Ascend Co-Developer Richard Finkelstein celebrate the grand opening of Metropolitan with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Second row: Metropolitan Manager Kenneth Sanchez, codeveloper Michael Wohl, co-developer Dean Borg.
Photo: youtube.com
(l to r): Ascend co-developers Dean Borg and Michael Wohl, Wilton Manors Police Chief Paul O’Connell, Wilton Manors City Commissioner Julie Carson and Ascend Co-Developer Richard Finkelstein.
Metropolitan Apartments
2 Bedroom Model July 07, 2016
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CAPITOL BEAT
After Brexit, Is the UK LGBT Community More Vulnerable?
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As we wrote in last week’s Capitol Beat, the Brexit vote in the UK was about intolerance. Despite attempts to shroud “Leave” arguments in economic double-talk, at the end of the day the big exit sign was turned around and pointed firmly at minorities. And inevitably, those minorities include the LGBT community. While superficially baffling — the EU referendum had absolutely nothing to do with gay rights — it’s symptomatic of what happens when you give permission and a platform to bigots to wield the megaphone. Everyone and everything is fair game, especially if you don’t look like, live like, BY or love like, LINDA a tight-knit PENTZ bunch of white xenophobes who hold you responsible for all the world’s wrongs. And so there was anti-gay chanting in the streets of central London — London, the enlightened, mosaic city that voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the European Union. “Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves. First we’ll get the Poles out, then the gays,” chanted an ugly mob to a familiar tune as they swaggered down Drury Lane in the heart of London’s theatre
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district. (Encouragingly, the group was described in the media as “thugs.”) Colin Appleby, the actor who observed and blogged about the chanting, warned: “To those who voted Leave but didn’t have the balls to stand up and counter the racism underpinning that campaign, I say be careful what you wish for.” Indeed, a cast of very bad actors could be about to take the stage. Anecdotal evidence suggests that reports of hate crimes rose 57% in the UK since the Brexit vote. The victors, sensing an opportunity, are unleashing their vitriol, seizing what they perceive as a mandate to persecute whomever they wish. And that means not only immigrants and people of color but the LGBT community as well. Because it always does. Consequently, it comes as no surprise to learn that one of the candidates hoping to step into Prime Minister David Cameron’s shoes when he resigns in three months, has a history of homophobia. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Stephen Crabb, voted against marriage equality in Britain in 2013 — a law that passed — and has long-standing ties to a group that held a “gay cure” conference. A long-shot candidate but a disturbing presence nonetheless, Crabb now claims he is “happy with the result of the marriage equality” despite having voted against it. This chameleon act is rapidly becoming a familiar and
recurring theme, a symptom of the complete chaos of post-Brexit. One-time PM heir apparent, Boris Johnson, who led Brexit, appeared to be vacillating once he won, and has now withdrawn from consideration. Would that be a Boxit? Back-stabbing rival Michael Gove, who once said he did not want to be Prime Minister but now says he does, is blamed for Johnson’s career crash. But it’s possible that Johnson also had a quick look in the mirror and saw “political suicide” written there. Bad actors yes, but great theatre. Brexiter Nigel Farage’s racist UKIP party opposed same-sex marriage in 2013 but its 2015 manifesto doesn’t mention LGBT rights at all. When asked his party’s position, Farage, sensing a no-win situation politically, has consistently refused to give a direct answer. On the bright side, people are massing on the streets of London in an effort to reclaim reason and tolerance. With uncertainty clouding both sides of the Atlantic, we need these kinds of demonstrations. They remind us that we are — and must remain — better than the haters. nn
Linda Pentz is the Washington correspondent of the Florida Agenda. She can be contacted at lindapentz@mmplgbt.com. Follow her on Twitter @CapitolAgenda
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FYI
I’M JUST SAYIN’
Gay in the UK The Office for National Statistics said that across the UK an average of 1.1 per cent of the population said they were gay or lesbian, with another 0.5 per cent describing themselves as bisexual. The figure was higher in London where 2.6 per cent of those questioned describe themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual. The next highest figure was in the South East region, where the total as 1.8 per cent. The lowest proportion was the 1 per cent recorded in the East Midlands. The findings also show that the proportion of gay, lesbian and bisexuals is highest among professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, with 2.1 per cent of this group nationally describing themselves in this way. That compares with a 1.4 per cent figure for manual workers. James Taylor, Head of Policy at Stonewall, said, “The figures should be taken with a pinch of salt, but they do show that there are certain professions and areas of employment where LGBT people feel more comfortable and these are typically professional workplaces.” He added, “There’s definitely a geographical issue here too. People feel less confident about being open about their sexual orientation outside of big cities, because there aren’t always the same support networks in place.” Amongst the nations, Scotland had the lowest proportion of people identifying themselves as gay and England had the highest. Men were twice as likely as women to state their sexuality as gay or lesbian. nn--Kevin Broady
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CREEP OF THE WEEK
James Dobson BY D’ANNE WITOWSKI
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I went to go see Finding Dory with my son and I feel compelled to report that there is no transgender stingray featured in the film. I repeat: there is no trans-ray featured in the film. At least not that I saw. I mean, one scene features hundreds of them swimming by and there’s just no way I could clock them all. Granted, right-wingers who probably won’t even see the movie because of Dory’s lesbian voice, have been freaking out about this ever since Ellen DeGeneres made the “announcement” in a June 10 interview. “Here’s a little secret that I’ll tell you,” DeGeneres said, “there’s a stingray that’s becoming StingRhonda. So there’s a trans-sting in the movie.” She was actually making a joke. A joke that many, many people on the right and the left took seriously and took to the Internets to spread the word. And you know what? I think that’s awesome. Granted, I don’t think the joke was so awesome. DeGeneres should know better than to make fun of trans people and sea life. However, there are people who were super happy or angry that Disney would do such a thing. Which is evidence of how far trans people have come in a relatively short time. Of course, there are still legislators all over this country who are writing laws about where trans people can pee 16
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(and poop. I mean, let’s just get it out there: transgender people poop, too. Let’s embrace all of their humanity, shall we?). However, the fact that having a transgender character in a Disney movie seemed like something that actually could happen, something that was even within the realm of possibility, is a good sign, I think. Of course, not everyone agrees with me. Take Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, for example. Dobson, who recently made the claim that Donald Trump is a “baby Christian” (which finally explains the tiny hands!), said on his June 24 radio show that Obama was King Chaos and that he was using trans people as a way to impose tyranny. Now, you might remember that back in May, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education released guidelines that suggested that trans students should be treated like human beings and be allowed to get an education free from discrimination and harassment. A radical idea, I know. Alas, too radical for Dobson. ”It seems like everything he’s tried to do has been to move us toward chaos,” Dobson said. “Chaos in the military. Chaos in medicine, certainly. Chaos in the family, and in marriage. Chaos in the judiciary and in the courts.
Chaos in the economy. Chaos in every branch of government. Chaos in education, from kindergarten through the largest and most influential of the universities. It’s been chaos and now he’s trying to tell parents how to raise their children and that will be the most chaotic of all because that leads towards the next generation. He gets control of the next generation, then his predecessors will have an easier time of controlling us and that is what it comes down to. It comes down to tyranny.” Honestly, his argument doesn’t make sense. Chaos seems to be a code word for “change.” It seems like an old white heterosexual man like Dobson doesn’t like change much. But there is no evidence, besides right-wing conspiracy theories like this one, that Barack Obama wants to become the next Pol Pot or Saddam Hussein. Then again, Hussein is Obama’s middle name… Seriously, though. Dobson’s panic about treating trans kids with respect is illuminating. When you live in a world where President Obama is laying the groundwork for some kind of tyrannical take over, it’s no wonder that even the smallest gestures made toward trans people seems like a descent into a pit of chaos and madness. Because you’re already there. nn
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OPINION
WHO IS?
James Dobson James Clayton “Jim” Dobson, Jr. (born April 21, 1936) is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder in 1977 of Focus on the Family (FOTF), which he led until 2003. In the 1980s he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesmen for conservative social positions in American public life. Although never an ordained minister, he was called “the nation’s most influential evangelical leader” by Time. He is no longer affiliated with Focus on the Family. Dobson founded Family Talk as a non-profit organization in 2010 and launched a new radio broadcast, “Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson”, that began on May 3, 2010 on over 300 stations nationwide. As part of his former role in the organization, he produced Focus on the Family, a daily radio program which according to the organization was broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and reportedly heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries.Focus on the Family was also carried by about sixty U.S. television stations daily. nn –Kevin Broady
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Be among the first to learn about Wilton Manors’ new, LEED certified, luxury residential project. PRESENTATION 6:30pm Developers of Urban Dynamic Communities “Plans for the new luxury residential community” Rene Gonzalez, award-winning architect “Inspiration from the Florida Hammock” Light refreshments Artist’s Conceptual Rendering
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305.324.4700 or log onto 1550WiltonManorsCondos.com
Crimestoppers
REWARD $3,000 HOMICIDE That occurred on June 22, 2016 at 4 am 300 E Cypress Creek Road (Cypress Creek Road and I-95) Oakland Park.
LEONARD HANKINS JR. PHOTO OF THE VICTIM
WILTON MANORS
HIT AND RUN
REWARD $6,000
RAYMOND KING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE IDENITY OR LOCATION OF THE SUSPECT(S) IS ASKED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT, PLEASE CALL DETECTIVE MICHAEL WILEY AT 954-321-4841.
954-493-TIPS (8477) 866-493-TIPS (TOLL FREE) www.browardcrimestoppers.org July 07, 2016
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THE TROPICAL GARDENER MUSSAENDA
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re you seeing massive splashes of color (usually salmon or white) on bushes around town this time of year? Chances are it is the Mussaenda plant that is showing off an incredible display of flowers. Mussaenda plants are members of the Rubiacea family which includes coffee. While there are over 200 known species of Mussaenda, only ten are found in cultivation that can be grown in Zone 10 (South Florida) and up to Zone 12, which is closer to the equator. The common one grown in this area is Mussaenda philippica, which has yellow flowers and white or salmon/pink sepals. The yellow flowers are only visible upon close inspection because they are overwhelmed by the very large spectacular sepals. The Mussaenda plant is relatively fast growing and usually planted in full sun, although I have seen them blooming in partial shade. They grow best in well drained fertile sandy loam soil. It is usually grown as a specimen plant in the ground; however I have seen them grown in large tubs and pots around a patio. They are relatively tolerant of salt which makes them easy to grow in protected
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areas. Fortunately, they are free of major pests. Depending on weather conditions during the winter, the plant may lose its leaves temporarily until new leaves develop. Propagation of the plants is relatively easy using hardwood cuttings. I have used 8-10 inch hardwood stems in March or April and placed them in a well-drained sandy soil mixture. The bottom of the stems is first covered with a root enhancing powder (found at nurseries and garden centers). Plants usually root in 6-8 weeks and can they be transferred to larger pots or directly in the soil. Mussaenda plants can be obtained at various local nurseries including Living Color Garden Center and Jesse Durko’s Nursery. Three-gallon container plants sell for about $25.00. You can learn more about this shrub and other plants by attending The Equality Park Garden Club which meets at the Pride Center every third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm. The Pride Center is located at 2040 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors.
By Chuck Nicholls Master Gardener
THE SECRET RECIPE
By Maura Mumball Lane
HEALTHY DUCK ON THE GRILL
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he 4th of July may be over but your grill has never been in better shape. Whether you purchased a new one or cleaned out the old, the flames are ready for some tasty meats. Meat and fish are the common guests on the grates, but this recipe calls “foul.” While duck might not be the first dish you think of for a healthy choice, the breast is a low-fat juicy cut. Served over a bed of mixed greens, this is a smart entrée to get you back on the eating-right track. Ingredients: 2 pound skinless duck breast thawed 1 ½ cup Orange Juice ¾ cup good balsamic vinegar 3 shallots (minced) ½ cup chicken broth 1 tablespoon orange zest Salt and Pepper Slice duck breast into four sections, place in a Ziploc bag with 1 cup orange juice and ½ cup balsamic vinegar. Make sure the marinade is coating the duck and squeeze all air out
of the bag. Refrigerate overnight. Drain and discard juice. In a medium saucepan, add the remaining orange juice, vinegar, broth, orange zest, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes, watching and
stirring until the sauce reduces to about ½. Bring your sauce (glaze) to the grill for basting the bird. Grill duck on medium high heat. (about 8 minutes per side) Carve duck and serve with remaining sauce.
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SUMMER BINGE WATCHING
n n n n n BY MAURA MUMBALL LANE
SERIES/ NETFLIX
DAMAGES SEASONS 1-5
One of those you-might-havemissed shows. Damages stars Glenn Close in a raw and gory thriller. Now, Netflix has the entire Damages collection ready for you to stream. Damages centers around the relationship between uber New York lawyer Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) and her protégé Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). 22
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This is a modern day who-dun-it with pretty clear motivations and clues. Favors owed, positioning for status and outrageous amounts of monies in suits and settlements enables the characters to live in spacious city apartments and elegant second homes. Patty is constantly testing and tormenting Ellen throughout the seasons. What starts out as a cat and mouse game develops into lioness
and lioness. The struggle to make your mark vs the struggle to keep your crown play out as Damages takes the time to develop its characters. Although each season follows one major case, you won’t be treated to the normal courtroom drama, You’ll learn the backstory and how their situation came to be. This is a bloody series. Twists and turns are not what you expect.
ENTERTAINMENT AMAZON PRIME/HBO
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE SEASONS 4-6
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ike cotton candy at the carnival, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 4-6 is pink fluffy fun. The pleasure of watching cliffhanger “who will be next” is ultimate in streaming a series. Zip through RuPaul’s Drag Race and enjoy performers pushing their limits, face – ing and shade – ing off before those were a thing. RuPaul is the most specific coach ever to grace the screen. She is direct in her corrections, focused
in her compliments and intent on making stars out of her cast. You’ll find you get closer to the contestants and you’ll discover that you have seen them before! Maybe even around town promoting their tours or their own post seasons. The fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race began airing on January 30, 2012. We won’t tell you the winner, You can be your own spoiler.
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES NETFLIX
T
he leading premium streaming video service is number one because it is simple. For about $10 a month, you’ll have access to thousands of movies and tv shows to watch instantly. The $10 fee allows use of 2 screens at a time, meaning your partner can watch a movie on his iPad, while you stream a series on your tv. Streaming is different from downloading, streaming is transmitting a continuous flow of audio and video, while earlier parts are being used.
Once the earlier parts are used they are discarded. Netflix streaming is commercial free and you can pause, fast forward and rewind as often as you like. If you have a great bandwidth and prefer a crisp picture, many titles are available in HD. Netflix is becoming a major player in original series. Only on Netflix can you watch the award-winning House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black. Over 81 million worldwide are Netflix subscribers.
HARDWARE CHROMECAST
C
hromecast is a media streaming device that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. Simply use your mobile device and the TV you already own to cast your favorite TV shows, movies, music, sports, games and more. Chromecast works with iPhone®, iPad®, Android phone and tablet, Mac® and Windows® laptop, and Chromebook. To cast a show from your
mobile devise to your Chromecast, you must first install the Chromecast to your tv. Once installed, you will look for the Chromecast “casting” icon when you launch Amazon or YouTube or other Chromecast compatible subscription services. Chromecast is only $25.00 and available for purchase at Best Buy. Chromecast supports Netflix, but not Amazon Prime.
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Coconut Grove Swim Trunks
Summer Style Sheet:
If you’re nowhere near a beach this summer, you can still invite the essence of the open sea to your bestie’s backyard with the Coconut Groves, tropical-inspired trunks from Chubbies. These macaw-crotched butthuggers (if you’ve got an ample pirate’s booty, that is) are equal parts ”aaarrr!” and shiver-me-timbers for sky’s-out-thigh’s-out time-outs. $60, chubbies.com
Shorts, Shades & Sunny Swag Let color-blocked brightness, tropical prints and kaleidoscope statement accessories – plus a few spots of leather – help elevate your boardwalk swag this summer of ’16. BY MIKEY ROX
Trigger Sunglasses Give your sure-thing wayfarers a rest and shake up your sunglasses game with the polarized Trigger specs from Sunglasses Warehouse. Pink floral and silver frames with amber non-mirrored lenses provide 99 percent UVA/UVB sun protection to soak up the rays without ruining your retinas. $14, sunglasswarehouse.com
‘Pineappleade’ Gold Leather Slip-Ons Unsuspecting hand grenades masquerading as shimmering pineapples – the signature stencil of Colombian street artist DJ Lu – let you explode onto the scene of your next summer shindig (and make a political statement about the country’s armed conflict that displaced its outer region’s farmers) without uttering a word. Available in women’s sizes five to 10; men, order two sizes up from your normal size. $17, bucketfeet.com 26
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Sunnys Cap It’s hard not to light up when you see AMBSN’s Sunnys Cap in melon. Emboldened with an embroidered sunglass-sporting smiley-face emoji, you’ll be doing everyone around you a favor as soon as you pop it on. $32, jackthreads.com
Carbon Collection Watches
Parsonii’s Carbon Collection – the box set of which comes with one of its unique watch faces in gold, silver or brushed bronze – keeps your beachhopping schedule tight and on time while three wardrobe-friendly straps let you swap out a selection of colors to easily transition from drinks at the marina to that bonfire by the bay. $145, theparsonii.com
Mixed Brights Bracelets Doublehighfive BK’s hand-curated, multicolored bracelets – made from recycled flip-flops by women in Mali – come in an assortment of cool colors, like mixed bold, brights, pastels, pinks, and blues and greens, so you can keep this “Summer of Pride” haute until the temps take a dive. $20, doublehighfivebk.com
‘Get Lost’ Luggage Tag Your vacay motto may be to “get lost” during your travels, but that sentiment stops at your baggage. Enhance its chances of making it to the final destination with this phrase-embossed tag from American Bench Craft made from a single-piece of full-grain leather and hand cut from vegetable-tanned steerhide. $22, americanbenchcraft.com
Luzon 18L Daypack Durable, packable and versatile – so you can hit the road fully equipped for the adventure of a lifetime – Cotopaxi’s Luzon Del Día features repurposed ripstop nylon, mesh backpack straps and an internal hydration sleeve… plus a twist: Each pack is proudly made in the Philippines by an employee who has total creative control of the pack’s colorway so no two are ever the same. $50, cotopaxi.com
Fly Gelada Wallet Simple yet stylish, Paperwallet’s Fly Gelada – with its bold lines and friendly imagery to hold close that jet-setting spirit wherever you go – features two credit card slots, two business card flaps, two side pockets and a cash compartment. It’s Tyvek composition can take a good beating, too – because we know you like it rough. $17, paperwallet.com
Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox. July 07, 2016
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PUZZLE Gay Anthems
Across
1 1997 song of Ultra Nate 5 For this, for Caesar 10 Water-to-wine town 14 Spencer-Devlin’s sport 15 Word after “pinky” 16 Some have it to grind 17 Word with gratification or abuse 18 Care for 19 Polished surface, for drag queens 20 1978 song of Gloria Gaynor 23 Claim of some porn stars 26 Moon position 27 Narcissist 28 Lorca’s “Later!” 30 What you could get caught in 31 Brought into alignment 32 Film noir classic 35 1992 song of kd lang 39 Take too much of 40 Alaskan language 41 Culture Club’s “___ Miracle” 42 Be a ham in Hamlet? 43 It may be leather or strait 45 She hoped Gibson was gay in What Women Want 47 Family member, to a homophobe 48 1976 song of ABBA 51 Off-Broadway prize 52 Spud, in slang 53 Lesbian character in No Exit 57 Ice in the sea 58 1979 Broadway debut 59 Beauty that’s only skin deep? 60 Provide, as for oneself 61 Place for a pickup 62 1978 song of Village People
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Down
1 3-pointers to Kopay 2 Lesbian opponent of Wade 3 Wing for Philip Johnson 4 Scarecrow and more 5 Lend a hand 6 Didst reside 7 Command to one’s bitch 8 Stallion’s supper 9 Bet middler? 10 Kahlo painting, perhaps 11 Erotic diarist Nin 12 Easily screwed 13 Trucker’s rod 21 Bentley of American Beauty 22 Mary’s MTM girlfriend 23 Literary lesbian Sylvia 24 Home near polar bears, perhaps 25 Auctioneer’s word 28 Glee character Abrams 29 The vas, for one 31 Threaded fastener 32 “Iron Mike” of football 33 First appearance 34 Material for nice stones 36 Elizabeth Taylor’s The Last ___ Saw Paris 37 Rubbed with oil 38 Neighborhood 42 Hosted the Oscars, for example 43 Taunt with homophobic slurs, e.g. 44 Caesar’s salutation 45 Pool parlor fixture 46 Cocktail ingredient 47 On account of 48 Remove from the head 49 Put out 50 Bit of gay advice? 54 Locale for Brando’s Apocalypse Now 55 And that’s not all 56 Half of a Hollywood name
For the solution to this puzzle go to: floridaagenda.com/puzzle
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SOCIAL MEDIA
n n n n n BY MIKEY ROX
SUMMER SITOUT:
WEAN YOURSELF OFF SOCIAL MEDIA IN 7 EASY STEPS.
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e all love social media – myself included. But if checking in, updating your status, taking photos of your food and scrolling through the bubble butts of Instagram are taking up too much of your time – and thereby leaving less of it to actually enjoy life – perhaps it’s time for a break. This summer, get back to basics – and remember what it’s like to live real life in real time – with these ways to wean yourself off Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and the like for a more memorable summer.
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ENTERTAINMENT
1 2 3
Set a Time Limit For Daily Social Media Use If you’re constantly checking social media for new likes and comments, and scrolling through every-other-second posts from your friends, the easiest way to stop relying on your favorite platforms to cull your boredom is to set a time limit for usage. You don’t have to go cold turkey straight out the gate but rather condition yourself to hop online for, say, one hour a day. You can use the hour up in one fell swoop, or you can break it down to 15 minutes four times a day. However you want to portion it is fine, so long as you stick to the limit you’ve set for yourself. If you need help, set a timer to hold yourself accountable.
Change Your Notification Settings
4
Delete the Apps From Your Phone
5
Block Your Favorite Platforms On Your Computer
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To avoid getting sucked into a downward spiral of wasted time, change the notification settings on your phone so you’re not pinged whenever somebody posts their pearls of wisdom. When you’re not alerted to their musings every time you blink, it’ll be easier to put social media on the back burner in a Ron Popeil kinda way.
Schedule a Trial Run For Being Free of Social Media Whenever I’ve tried to cut something out of my life – like smoking, for instance – I’ve had greater success in setting reasonable, achievable milestones, like eliminating the habit from my daily routine for a week opposed to adopting a mentality of complete abolishment forever. The problem with the latter is that if you fail – and you likely will because the endgame is too harsh to accept unless you have serious discipline (and if you did, you wouldn’t be reading this article) – you’ll get disappointed and head straight back into the habit for comfort. Give yourself time to adjust and evaluate how you feel about the change in a trial run before committing to a longerterm hiatus.
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Last year, I self-imposed a social media ban for about a month and a half when I was dealing with a lot of stress in my personal life, and I found it much easier to stick to my guns when the apps weren’t on my phone. By removing them altogether, they’re out of sight, out of mind. If you start experiencing withdrawal symptoms, their nonexistence on your phone will give you pause so you can collect yourself, think about whether you really need to access the apps while (hopefully) choosing to continue the hiatus.
If you’re afraid that you’ll succumb to weakness when you’re on the computer – especially since the apps are no longer on your phone – block the platforms on your browser. This is accomplished differently on each browser, but a quick Internet search will walk your through the steps. This is probably more important at work than it is at home, so put the provisions in place on your office computer first then try it on your PC.
Ask a Friend to Join You in Your Moratorium We’ve been taught about the buddy system since we were kids for good reason – it works. If you don’t think you can implement a social media moratorium on your own, ask a friend if they’ll join you. Certainly it’s not the most attractive proposition, but I bet you can find someone in your circle who’s secretly lamenting their own social media use. Put a plan in place that you’ll both follow, and help support each other through the process. You’ll find it easier to accomplish when you have a crutch – and you might even develop a strong bond with one another because of it.
Start Living For the Moment Shunning social media for the summer is not all for naught. The reason for going dark is so you can let more real life happen. Fill the time you’d normally spend on social media with more productive activities, like exercise, concentrating on work or enjoying the company of your friends and family without having your faces buried in the blue light of a smartphone. Sounds like an impossible feat in this day and age, but it wasn’t that long ago that we all used to talk to one another face to face without worrying about what digital strangers are up to. Which may pose a deeper question for your reflection: Why do you even care?
Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose ork has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He splits his time between homes in New York City and the Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. July 07, 2016
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DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD
n n n n n BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE
Romeo San Vicente came crawling back to Broadway.
LAURA LINNEY AND ARMISTEAD MAUPIN PITCHING BRAND NEW
TALES OF THE CITY L aura Linney is committed to playing Mary Ann Singleton. When other ongoing film/TV series might recast due to scheduling troubles or a host of other reasons, writer Armistead Maupin’s main character for his novel Tales of The City has become a shared creation between author and actor. Proof: the two have been pitching an updated miniseries to studios, which, come on, had to be the charming highlight of any of those executives’ days. The series, as it’s currently described
BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION has a cast of thousands
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ell, OK, not thousands. But a lot of people. And this forthcoming documentary is from Rick McKay, whose career is very sincerely focused on documenting the Broadway stage. He already made Broadway: The Golden Age, Elaine Stritch at Liberty and this year’s Broadway: Beyond The Golden Age, so he’s pretty much your guy for this sort of thing. As you might guess from its title, it’s set to showcase the people taking musical theater into the next few decades. People like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jonathan Groff, Anika Noni Rose, 32
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Billy Porter and Megan Hilty. Not that the old guard isn’t represented. They speak, too. And by “they,” we mean Barbara Cook, Lillias White, Betty Buckley, Michael Crawford, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lea Salonga, Joanna Gleason, Rosemary Harris, Kelly Bishop, Debbie Allen, Cherry Jones, Nathan Lane, Richard Thomas, Loretta Devine, Donna Murphy, Bebe Neuwirth, John Lithgow, Frank Langella, and about seven dozen other names you know. The bad news? It’s not due until 2018, which is probably still sooner than you’ll get a ticket to Hamilton.
by Maupin himself, will be set in modern-day San Francisco, with Mary Ann and best friend Michael Tolliver in Baby Boomer late-middle age. What they’ll be up to is a mystery, but it hardly matters (honestly, it could well be an actual mystery, since they’ve become embroiled in those before); we just want to watch these lovable characters grow as old as possible. Olympia Dukakis is already attached to the project, too, so now all that has to happen is for that elusive “go” light to turn green.
ENTERTAINMENT
JIM PARSONS JOINS THE CAST OF HIDDEN FIGURES
T
he forthcoming nonfiction book Hidden Figures is that rare property so movie-ready that even before its publication date (Sept. 6), a film version is already in production. Concerning the little-known history of the African-American women mathematicians who provided NASA with the data necessary to dominate the Space Race and give the US an edge in that arena of the Cold War, the book by Margot Lee Shetterly should go a few steps toward
dismantling the historical face of science as white and male. And the movie, already scheduled for release in early 2017 – no doubt to coincide with Black History Month – and directed by Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent) will star Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Kirsten Dunst, Kevin Costner and Jim Parsons. We’re ready to see this one right now, just as long as it doesn’t prioritize its helpful white characters and turn into The Help Helps In Space.
WANDA SYKES’ DREAM TEAM
W
anda Sykes’ recurring role on Black-ish has us wanting more. It’s been too long since she was a regular on a hit series, and frankly we need her. That’s why it’s good news to hear she’s working on a pilot for My Name is Earl producer Marc Buckland that could land her back on weekly TV. The title – for now, anyway – is Dream Team. It’s about a soccer coach who’s gotten a little rusty and who
then has to shepherd a group of 8-year-olds as they learn the sport. Justin Long stars as the coach, alongside Betty Gilpin (Nurse Jackie) and gay comic actor Parvesh Cheena (Outsourced). As with all pilots, this may be the first and last you ever hear about it, but you never know. In the meantime, Sykes is also shooting an untitled action comedy with Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer. Look, anything but another Ice Age movie. July 07, 2016
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nevents
nnightlife
n FOREVER PLAID
THURSDAY 7/07 @ 7:30PM Wick Theater This fantastical musical tells the story of Frankie, Jinx, Sparky, and Smudge (a quartet of male singers dubbed “the Plaids”) who take a detour to heaven on their way to their first big concert. Forever Plaid showcases charming choreography along with the lead singers’ perfected harmonizing. Many of the classic pop hits of the 1950s will be a part of the show, including “Moments to Remember,” “Heart and Soul,” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.” 7:30 p.m. Wick Theatre. 7901 N Federal Hgwy Boca Raton. 33487
n MODEST MOUSE
FRIDAY 7/08 @ 7:00PM Bayfront Park Amphitheater Isaac Brock’s notorious histrionics will take center stage as Modest Mouse performs their experimental indie rock. The critical darlings maintained cult appeal throughout the 1990s until finding commercial success with the 2004 album Good People Who Love Bad News. That popular album spawned the ubiquitous single “Float On” and elegiac minor hit “Ocean Breathes Salty.” Their newest album is titled Strangers to Ourselves and features the singles “Coyotes” and “Lampshades on Fire.” Joining the indie-rock legends is Brand New. 7:00 p.m. Bayfront Park Amphitheater. 301 N Biscayne Blvd 33132.
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CULTURE CLUB
FRIDAY 7/08 @ 8:00PM Broward Center The greatest hits tour for one of the 1980s notable LGBT bands will include all of the popular hits that made Boy George and his crew so famous. Expect to hear such new wave singles as “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” “Karma Chameleon,” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” Boy George has had quite a few years without the band: he wrote the musical Taboo loosely based on his life, served a time in prison for cocaine possession and false imprisonment.The much ballyhooed reunion tour has been receiving raves. 8:00 p.m. Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 201 SW Fifth Ave Fort Lauderdale 33312. 34
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ntheatre
By Patrick Robert
T he Week entertainment calendar
nexhibits
n ROCK OF AGES
n MEET SATU
n BROADWAY BOUND
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BROADWAY SHOW TUNES
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CIRQUE ELOIZE: CIRKOPOLIS
SATURDAY 7/09 @ 8:00PM Lake Worth Playhouse This wildly successful jukebox musical first started as an L.A. club show before becoming a Tony-nominated Broadway hit that was later turned into a poorly received major motion picture (featuring a miscast Tom Cruise). The show takes glam rock music from the big hair era of 1980s rock and weaves it into a loose story about an aspiring rocker named Drew Boley trying to make it big while falling in love with an aspiring actress named Sherrie Christian. Some of the featured songs include “Sister Christian,” “Here I Go Again,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” 8:00 p.m. Lake Worth Playhouse. 713 Lake Ave. Lake Worth. 33460.
SATURDAY 7/09 @ 8:00PM Broward Stage Door Theatre Part three in legendary playwright Neil Simon’s autobiographical trilogy revolves around Eugene and his older brother Stanley trying to become professional comedy writers in the world of show business as their parents break-up and eventually divorce. Their material finally makes it to the radio but unfortunately the family notices that the work is a thinly-veiled portrait of their dysfunctional lives. The original play ran for 756 performances and featured the late, great Joan Rivers in the role of Kate in its final months on Broadway. 8:00 p.m. Broward Stage Door Theatre. 8036 W Sample Rd Margate 33065.
n ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
SUNDAY 7/10 @ 2:00PM Studio One Theatre at FAU Mary Rodgers’ classic reimagining of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Princess and the Pea” fairy tale has been nominated for best musical twice, in 1970 for its original production and 1997 for the revival. It is consistently one of the top five shows in the United States and has provided many actresses (notably Carol Burnett) a start to their career. Other famous actresses who have starred in the show include Sarah Jessica Parker, Jake Krakowski, and Jane Connell. The current production is a part of FAU’s annual summer Festival Repertory Theatre lineup. 2:00 p.m. Studio One Theatre at FAU. 777 Glades Rd Boca Raton 33431.
MONDAY 7/11 @ 1:30PM Zoo Miami The highly endangered Sumatran tiger species just welcomed their newest member, Satu, last November. With only seventy Sumatran tigers living in U.S. zoos and around five hundred left in the wild, it is certainly special to be up close and personal with a little tiger cub. Come spend a day at Miami Zoo and see Satu and his two parents, Berani and Leeloo. Satu and Leeloo will be given access to the exhibit from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day. 1:30 p.m. Zoo Miami 12400 SW 152nd St. Miami. 33177.
TUESDAY 7/12 @ 7:30PM The Betsy Hotel The Miami Music Festival Opera Institute brings some of their best singers and alumni together to celebrate the music of the Great White Way. The Betsy Hotel’s Lobby Salon will host these singers as they choose their favorite Broadway songs to perform. Expect to see a vast range of styles, from opera arias to duets to ensemble pieces. These performance are free and open to the public. 7:30 p.m. The Betsy Hotel. 1440 Ocean Dr Miami Beach 33139.
WEDNESDAY 7/13 @ 8:00PM Adrienne Arsht Center With over twenty years touring more than 440 cities around the world, Cirque Eloize has become a major force in theatre. Their current production Cirkopolis transports audiences to a stern and imposing city with giant gears and dark portals melding with acrobats, break dancers, and contortionists. The ninth Cirque Eloize production integrates multimedia and utilizes ten acrobats and multidisciplinary artists. Jeannot Painchaud and Dae St-Pierre direct. 8:00 p.m. Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. 1300 Biscayne Blvd Miami. 33132.
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FROM OUR ARCHIEVES
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Million Dollar Date 36
July 07, 2016
You’re so f***ing hot,” he says, and skims my hand with his. We’re in a nice restaurant right now, my date and I. My eyes dart around the dining room: Armies of servers carry stemware, champagne bottles, and food, while others, standing at tables, recite the night’s specials. All of them are meticulously dressed, and none, it seems, has heard the outburst from my companion. Patrons are similarly unaffected— too preoccupied with their own conversations, their own embarrassments, their own food. No one heard the unexpected announcement, By thankfully. Justin “STEVE,” I Jones say, leaning in over my bread and towards my date—my voice low, but stern. “That was really loud.” “I know,” he says and smiles, in a manner as laid back as he. “I don’t care. I want you.” Steve is a doctor. Until this point, we’ve had a pleasant evening—a particularly delicious first date, I’d judge. We started the evening at a wine tasting and art show, and then went off to the theater for an avant garde interpretation of Hamlet. And now we’re here, at a toast-of-thetown restaurant. This is where the wealthy eat their dinner. He’s taken me here for the conclusion of our date, and the wine—the singular constant throughout our evening, yes, even during Shakespeare—the wine has begun to affect poor Steve. His normally professional, cool demeanor is suddenly sexual. This isn’t the place for it. “You want me to tie you to that chair, don’t you, boy?” Steve asks, somehow both nonchalant and fiercely sexual. And louder
than before. “Oh my gosh—Steve!” What’s the matter with this guy? I haven’t had time to process Dr. Steve’s sudden change in behavior. He’s on a road to imminent embarrassment—for both of us. Did he really have that much to drink? Our waiter arrives at our table for our food orders. “Good evening,” he says. “My name is Mark, and—” Steve interrupts. “Mark! How are you, cutie?” Our waiter, who’s clearly gay, blushes. Mark doesn’t know Steve, but the alcohol permits no social boundaries. “Mark, isn’t this boy I have here—isn’t he a doll? Just as cute as—” Steve hiccups (or burps) in mid-sentence. How is he suddenly so drunk? Our waiter is the consummate professional. He takes the lead with Steve, elicits a food order, and moves on quickly. “I have a million dollars, Justin,” Steve says when Mark has left the table. “I have a f***ing million f***ing dollars, Justin.” He takes a long sip of his wine, and raises his eyebrows as he drinks. “How does that make you feel? You like that, boy?” His voice is loud. My face is flush. I want to get out of here. He chugs the rest of his wine and sits back in his chair. He looks at me, and I visualize him bursting into an acapella, badly drunk version of Tom Jones’ “Sex Bomb.” I’m mortified, and I sense that any attempt at controlling the conversation will end poorly. I feel his foot sliding up my leg. He’s removed his shoe. And—BAM!—his foot emerges out from under the white tablecloth and lands IN MY LAP. He pokes my abdomen with his big toe. He smiles at me and says “You like that foot, don’t you, boy?” I would’ve preferred Tom Jones.
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Market Place CONTACT NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR, MAURA “MUMBALL” LANE AT 954-543-5947 OR MAURA@WIRLD.COM TO GET ON THE LIST.
ACCOUNTING
FURNITURE
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ATTORNEYS REAL ESTATE
Dean Trantalis Attorney 2255 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-566-2226 / trantalislaw.com
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CHURCH / SPIRITUAL
INCOME TAX Best Books and Taxes 2201 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-565-1041 / bestbooksandtaxes.com
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FITNESS Pump’n Inc Tom Bonanti 1271 NE 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-557-1119 / pumpnincgym.com 38
July 07, 2016
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INSURANCE Dunham Fort Lauderdale 2601 E Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 303 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 954-564-7772 / dunhamins.com We Insure 1975 E Sunrise Blvd, Suite 602 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954-903-7519 / weinsurefl.com
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The Pride Center 2040 N Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-463-9005 / pridecenterflorida.com Out of the Closet 2097 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954-358-5580 / outofthecloset.org
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July 07, 2016
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SUMMER INCENTIVE—ONLY 3 REMAINING
9'-0"
SOLD! PARK VIEW
7'-8"
9'-0"
LUXURY VILLAS WITH OCEAN ACCESS
9'-0"
10'-2"
16'-0"
97%
9'-0"
9'-0"
10'-2"
FROM THE $600’S
8'-2"
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MARINA VIEW ENTER
N.T.S. N.T.S.
Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer, for correct representations, make reference to this brochure and to the documents required by section 718.503, Florida statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee. Obtain the property report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits of value, if any, of this property.
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July 07, 2016
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