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Prague & Danube River Cruise (August 12-21, 2022) India & The Ganges River (October 24-November 6, 2022) European Christmas Markets River Cruise (December 4-10, 2022) 1.800.433.4303 | info@brandgvacations.com www.brandgvacations.com
Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida’s Annual Gala Brunch Fundraising Event
LET’S MISBEHAVE! with Gabe Salazar, Artistic Director Steve MacLaughlin, Emmy® Award Winning Meteorologist from NBC6 Gala Co-Chairs, Anthony Corrente and Marianne Pink Rodrick Minnis as Miss Ruby Sponsored By
11:00 AM Silent Auction and Cocktails Costume Contest 12:00 PM Brunch Begins Welcome/Opening Remarks Al LaMorges Community Leadership Award Musical Performances by members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida Special Video Presentation 1:00 PM
Live Auction
1:45 PM
Beverage Service Concludes
2:00 PM
Event Concludes
Program book developed and produced through the generous support of
Funds generated through the silent and live auctions support GMCSF’s service to the community through inspirational concerts, community service activities, and scholarship funds vital to ensure that financial barriers do not stand in the way of any person’s desire to join our music and our mission.
ANNUAL GALA COMMITTEE We are grateful to the following, whose hard work and dedication made our annual gala possible: Fred Boykin, VIP Event Co-Chair Tony Corrente, Gala Brunch Co-Chair Mimi Pink, Gala Brunch and VIP Event Co-Chair Bill Spinosa, Auctioneer
GALA STEERING COMMITTEE Fred Boykin, Auction Committee Co-Chair Michael Gillespie, Auction Committee Co-Chair Michael Jacobsen, Auction Committee Co-Chair Jorge Ornelas, Decorating Committee Co-Chair Robert B. Thompson, Auction Committee Co-Chair Michael Valdez, Decorating Committee Co-Chair Rich Vaughan, Host Committee Chair Kerry Waldee, Secretary
GALA VOLUNTEERS Eric Alayon Ronni Arden David Baier John Chaffin Cheryl Cohen Guy D’Arcangelo Chad Edgar Frank Ferri Andrew Fletcher Steven Freeman
Cary Giacalone Terry Hirsh Dean Hitsos Victor Jannett Kris Jarmann Jack Killen David R. Littlefield Jim Lopresti Tom Malone Terry Moore Hal Noble
Doug Peachey David Pfeffer Peter Reinoso Jonathan Sanz Steven Shapiro Don Thompson Jerry Tvrdik Kely Van Eaton Tim Yarborough Howard Yopp Eric Ziegler
GMCSF STAFF Gabe Salazar, Artistic Director and Programming Chair Mark B. Kent, Executive Director Edward Otto Zielke, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship Doug Leib, Office Manager and Registration Committee Chair James Smith, Event Production Director
2022 GALA HOST COMMITTEE Bruce Anderson Ronni Arden Fred Boykin and Jack Killen Janis DiMonaco Michael Foley Island City Stage
John Knox Village Mark Kent Doug Pew and Don Croxton Mimi Pink Paul Rolli and Bennett Quade Harvey Shapiro and Mike Dager
Bill Spinosa and Frank Molano Dennis St Jean Rich Vaughan and Walter Sherman Kerry Walee and Joseph Fletcher
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
We send a special thank you to our generous hosts for our VIP Special Event Kerry Waldee and Joseph Fletcher
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
SPECIAL GUEST
Steve MacLaughlin is an Emmy® Award winning meteorologist. He joined NBC 6 in February of 2017 as a meteorologist and climate change reporter. His career began as an intern for NBC 4 in New York City. MacLaughlin was later hired as a weather producer for NBC 4 and for NBC’s “Today” show, where he worked with his mentor, Al Roker. After college, MacLaughlin worked for NBC 12 in Richmond, Virginia, then became Chief Meteorologist at WPHL in Philadelphia. From there, he spent six years at KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas, Texas. MacLaughlin has had the opportunity to fill in at CNBC, MSNBC, The Weather Channel and PIX 11 in New York City. MacLaughlin has won five Emmy® awards; his most recent wins were in 2021 for “Best Weathercast” and in 2019 for “Outstanding Weathercaster”. He has been nominated a total of sixteen times. He has also won an Associated Press Award for “Best Weathercaster”. Graduating with honors from Rutgers University in New Jersey MacLaughlin has a degree in meteorology and a double major in broadcast journalism. He is also a Certfied Broa cast Meteorologist through the American Meteorological Society. MacLaughlin is a proud advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2021, he had the honor of hosting the annual galas for The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, Latinos Salud and Equality Florida. He was Grand Marshal for the Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade and has been invited back for the 2022 parade. A vegan and animal rights advocate, MacLaughlin also leads the station’s coverage of “Clear the Shelters” throughout the year. Outside of work, MacLaughlin’s passion is music. He is a guitarist, drummer, singer and songwriter.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
LIVE AUCTION European Christmas Markets Vacation (Value $ 9,000) Sailing December 4 - 10, 2022; This vacation has it all - Christmas markets, historic sites, charming towns, world-class wine and cuisine, and more! Take this spectacular river cruise during the most festive time of year and visit the very best Christmas Markets along the Danube River. Explore sleepy little towns and riverscapes, warm yourself with a delicious glass of mulled wine, and immerse yourself in the wonderful traditions of the holiday season. Operated by premier LGBTQ+ river cruise company, Brand g, your all-LGBTQ+ river cruise takes you from vibrant Vienna to Melk, Passau, or an optional tour to Salzburg and Regensburg, and culminates with an overnight in the German city of Roth/ Nuremberg. On board the beautiful Amadeus Star, you will be pampered by attentive crew in an atmosphere of total relaxation, while enjoying signature Brand g entertainment and the kind of experience that only comes with a cruise fully chartered by Brand g for their guests. This item is for a category A cabin. The winning bidder(s) will be responsible for paying port charges of $180 per person, as well as pre-paid gratuities of $165 per person. Guests will also be responsible for obtaining their own flights to and from the cruise. Donated by Brand g Vacations Alexander’s Key West and Dinner (Valued: $1,150) Enjoy a $1000 gift certificate to one of the finest LGBTQ+ Guest houses in Key West. Relax in your luxurious room, hang out by one of the pools, dine on a complimentary continental breakfast, and indulge in a daily happy hour for guests. Also, enjoy a brunch at Blue Heaven and a dinner from the amazing Italian restaurant Mangia, which makes and serves its own pasta daily. Donated by Alexander’s Guest House Tropical Wave, Performance (Valued: $500) The Chorus’s premiere ensemble, Tropical Wave can perform for a private event. Time and availability are limited. Donated by the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida Dixie’s Tupperware Party! (Valued: $1,000) Treat your guests to a virtual Tupperware Party from the acclaimed star of “Dixie’s Tupperware Party,” one of the longest-running off-Broadway tours
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
LIVE AUCTION (CONTINUED) in history! You won’t believe how much mischief one can get into when you allow Dixie Longate into your living room (virtually of course), as she introduces you to items that you had no idea could be used as a kitchen accessory! Get your friends together for an evening of creative food storage solutions that will have you laughing till your face aches, while filling your cupboards with the latest and greatest of the iconic plastic products. A fantastic gift bag of Tupperware items will be awarded to the winner as well. Donated by Dixie Longate Wondrous Wall of Wine (Valued: $1,800) Wine, wine, WINE! So many choices to go along with the many wonderful moments in your life, when a glass of wine just sets the tone. Over 100 bottles make up this luxurious collection. Donated by GMCSF and its Board of Directors Gourmet Evening for Eight (Valued: $1,400) Savor a custom, seven-course dinner for eight. The intimate dinners prepared by Rick Vaughan have become legendary in the community. Includes wine and menu chosen by the winner and the chef. Donated by GMCSF Board Chair, Rick Vaughan Evening Sail and Dinner for 2 Value ($800) You and your companion’s New River evening boating cruise begins as you board “JJ” at the Esplanade Park dock where co-captains Hal and Doug will greet you. As you are seated in the very comfortable bow area, your cruise begins with cool beverages and appetizers. From the vantage point of Fort Lauderdale’s New River, you will be entertained by the sounds of other boats and yachts making their way around the winding waterway and the beauty of evening lights from private homes, high rises, and restaurants. Your boating experience includes stopping at South Florida’s acclaimed 15th Street Fisheries, where you will enjoy a sumptuous dinner for two in their high-end, upstairs dining room. Following your dinner, you will board JJ for your cruise back to Esplanade Park dock enjoying an after-dinner drink. Note: the date requested may need to change due to weather. Must be used by 2/28/2023 Donated by Hal Noble and Doug Peachey * Funds generated through the silent and live auctions support GMCSF’s service to the community through inspirational concerts, community service activities, and scholarship funds vital to ensure that financial barriers do not stand in the way of any person’s desire to join our music and our mission.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
DRIVEN BY JAZZ – MARCH 25, 2022
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
PROGRAM NOTES MISBEHAVIN’: THE QUIET & QUEER REBELLION OF THE 1920S The Volstead Act, better known as the National Prohibition Act, enforced the 18th Amendment's ban on alcohol in America on January 12, 1920. This attempt to apply governmental control to an individual's personal choices created criminals out of everyone who consumed alcohol. The change resulted in a general disregard for the law, especially by those who diagreed with the tenets of the Temperance movement. Instead of stopping the use of alcohol, it rapidly increased consumption, establishing opportunities for people to take advantage of the new black mar ket in the production, distribution, and sale of intoxicating spirits. It proved to be a profitable enterprise, birthing organized crime and mob bosses like the infamous Al Capone. The violent gang wars to control the money flow contributed to the reversal of this law with the passage of the 21st Amendment to the US Constitution over 13 years later. The parties and merriment were supposed to end when they enforced the prohibition. Instead, it gave birth to the period now known as the "Roaring 20s". It proved to be one of the most transformational chapters in US history, changing the lives and attitudes of every member of society. The phrase "speak softly shop," meaning a "smuggler's house," appeared in a British slang dictionary published in 1823. The similar term "speakeasy shop," denoted a place with unlicensed liquor sales, appeared in a British naval memoir written in 1844. In the United States, a newspaper article from March 21, 1889, refers to "speakeasy" as the name used in the Pittsburgh-area town of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, for "a saloon that sells without a license." Speakeasies were so-called because of the practice of speaking quietly about such a place in public, when inside, not to alert police or neighbors. A familiar American anecdote traces the term to Kate Hester, who ran an unlicensed bar in the 1880s in McKeesport. In January of 1920, there was an explosion of these secret meeting places in every town in the country. The large urban areas had thousands upon thousands in existence, with actual numbers never known because of the secretive nature of the business. Within these hidden spaces, we saw the blending of races, classes, and people at all levels of society. These newly formed clubs brought together people from all walks of life. The marginalized people expressing their sexuality, musicians, entertainers, social elites, celebrities, politicians, working-class Blacks, and upper-class, White, cis-gendered, gay, and straight alike all rushed to be a part of this new progressive way of living. Leading this transformation were people who lived on the fringe of society with no language but their own to describe themselves. Today, this oppressed tribe of individuals is still working to develop the vocabulary to explain to others who they are as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. At the beginning of the 20th century, a homosexual subculture, uniquely African American in substance, began to shape in New York's Harlem, the so-called
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
WRITTEN BY TIM YARBROUGH "Harlem Renaissance." This period in time has long been recognized as a seminal moment in African American history. It was also a significant moment in the history of gay Americans in that Black lesbians and gay men and the interracial gay social networks they created played a key role. The literary renaissance and music of the blues and jazz in the clubs made Harlem famous in the 1920s. Female impersonator Phil Black, entertainer Frankie "half-pint" Jaxson, and singer George Hanna used elements of homosexuality in their professional acts and were still highly respected within the entertainment community. Many bisexual and lesbian Black women, including Bessie Smith, Gladys Bentley, Jackie "Moms" Mabley, Alberta Hunter, Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Josephine Baker, and Ethel Waters, found their fame on the stages of Speakeasies and Rent Parties, popular during this time. However, nearly most women adopted a heterosexual public persona and kept their love affairs with women a secret, but few openly acknowledged their sexuality. Gladys Bentley was an exception, as was Ma Rainey. Rainy was a short, squat, dark skin woman with a deep, earthy voice and a warm, friendly gold-toothed smile. Though married, the flamboyant entertainer was known to take women as lovers. Her memorable song, "Prove it on Me," speaks directly to her issue of lesbianism. She admits to her preference for male attire and female companionship; yet dares the audience to prove it to her. White lesbians and gay men were among those invading Harlem. With its sexually tolerant population and its quasi-legal nightlife, Harlem offered an oasis to White homosexuals. But, for some, a trip to Harlem was part of a more significant rebellion against the prohibition era's conservative moral and political climate. The Speakeasies were one of the vessels for societal change in the early 20th century of America. The community they built attracted White and Black homosexuals, creating friendships between people of disparate ethnic and economic backgrounds and building alliances for progressive social change. However, with the stock market crash of 1929 and the repeal of prohibition, the pendulum began to swing back to a more conservative nature of American society. America has always progressed; two steps forward and one step back. We should look back to this time for inspiration as we continue the struggle to be visible, appreciated, contributing participants in the dream of what it means to be an American.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
GMCSF LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rick Vaughan, Board Chair Mimi Pink, Board Vice Chair Michael Foley, Treasurer Bill Elliott, Board Secretary Fred Boykin, Chorus President Larry Small, Chorus Representative
Ronni Arden Adam Barber Bill Spinosa Kerry Waldee Boggy Wang
CHORUS LEADERSHIP TEAM Fred Boykin, Chorus President Tony Corrente, Chorus Vice President Michael Foley, Treasurer Jonathan Sanz, Chorus Secretary Bill Spinosa, Vice President of Membership Robert B. Thompson, Vice President of Community Relations John Lewis, Vice President of Equity, Access, and Belonging
Doug Ferguson, Tenor 1 Section Administrator Rick Heal, Tenor 2 Section Administrator Joe Fletcher, Baritone Section Administrator Aubrey Williams, Bass Section Administrator
GMCSF STAFF TEAM Gabe Salazar, Artistic Director Mark B. Kent, Executive Director Artistic Team Anthony Cabrera, Assistant Conductor James Smith, Production Director Edwin Neimann, Principal Accompanist Kevin Combs, Accompanist Christopher Toth, Accompanist Scott Hindley, Choreographer Administration Edward Otto Zielke, Director of Marketing and Sponsorship Doug Leib, Office Manager Howard Yopp, Volunteer HONORARY ADVISORY COUNCIL Harvey Shapiro (Council Chair), Louis Benevento, Don Croxton, Mike Dager, Dino Georgiou, Gary Hoffman, Gerry Kennedy, George Kling, John Olson, Joe Pallant, Doug Pew, Rick Vaughan.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
OUR HOLIDAY 2021 CONCERT AT SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Historic Partnership
Establish a legacy that will live on For future generations
A legacy fund with Our Fund Foundation provides you with an opportunity to include charitable giving in your estate plan and make a continued impact in your community for years to come.
Ted Schultz
Paul Fasana
Jack Huizenga
Before their passing, Ted Schultz, Paul Fasana and Jack Huizenga each created estate plans entrusting Our Fund Foundation to disseminate to causes according to their respective personal wishes, ensuring they will each have a lasting impact on South Florida’s LGBTQ community for generations to come.
To learn more about how Our Fund Foundation can help you establish a legacy plan, Visit Our-Fund.org or call us at (954) 565-1090
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