Hotspots! May 13, 2021 (Issue 3610)

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36th Year

Publisher Peter Jackson Associate Publisher Scott Holland

ART Art Director Frank Mendez DIGITAL PUBLISHING Digital Manager Troy Maillis ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Alyson Thomas ADVERTISING Advertising Account Executive Anthony Verrico EDITORIAL Editor-at-large Jameer Baptiste CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amanda Austin | Chris Azzopardi Tom Bonanti | Katina Caraganis Mike Jeknavorian | Andreus Quinones STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER J.R. Davis

Published alternate Thursdays (26 issues/year) by

CEO | Jeff Sterling President | Peter Jackson VP Operations | Scott Holland VP Development | Fr. Jamie Forsythe 2435 N Dixie Hwy Wilton Manors, Florida 33305 Telephone (754)200-2979

WE’RE BUILDING A STRONGER BUSINESS COMMUNITY. Please Join Us. The bedrock of every city is the strength of its business community. That’s why we are inviting you to join the Wilton Manors Business Association (WMBA) to help build and galvanize the businesses of Wilton Manors and Oakland Park.

For about $10 a month, your membership can make a difference in helping us to continue the important work of promoting local businesses like yours, attracting new merchants to the area Julietta Wenzel and ensuring our communities President remain attractive to shop, play, dine and live. Your membership is chock full of benets, including after work networking events, Lunch & Learn educational events, two community expos and inclusion in the Wilton Manors Business Directory & City Guide.

Join us. It’s easy to sign up online.

Copyright 2021, WMEG Community Marketing and Events. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without written permission by the Publisher is prohibited. Publication of the name or photograph or any person, living or dead, is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organizations.

WMEG Community Marketing and Events is a 501 (c)(3) nonprot dedicated to promoting South Florida, and especially Wilton Manors, as a welcoming LGBTQ+ destination through marketing and events. WMEG produces close to 50 events a year, including the annual Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival in Wilton Manors.

Monthly events include Art Walk on Wilton Drive and Vibes On The Drive. Visit WMEG.org for more information.

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HOT Talk LGBTQ+ CHATTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA

TRANSGENDER ISSUES THANKS, MR. PRESIDENT

T

he issue of whether transgender females should be allowed to participate in girls’ and women’s sports is dominating the news headlines these days.

4 Florida lawmakers on April 28 passed a controversial transgender sports bill prohibiting trans girls and women from playing in sports that match their gender — following attempts or successes at similar legislation in 30 states.

4 Wilton Manors resident and trans female activist Carvelle Estriplet spoke at a Fort Lauderdale City Commission meeting about her experiences and views on the matter, only to be challenged to an arm wrestling match by Vice Mayor Heather Moraitis.

Here’s some of what people are saying on the topic ...

Biden

AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD

“We’re going to protect our girls. I have a fouryear-old daughter and a one-year-old daughter.

They’re both very athletic. We want to have opportunities for our girls. They deserve an even playing eld, and that’s what we’re doing."

— Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS who signed the bill prohibiting transgender females from participating in girls’ or women’s sports.

YEP, SHE WENT THERE

“Do you want to arm wrestle me? I mean, I know you’re stronger than me.”

—Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor HEATHER MORAITIS, at a City Commission meeting, to transgender Wilton Manors resident Carvelle Estriplet who had called out the vice mayor for not supporting transgender females.

MISSING THE POINT

Glassman

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“To all transgender Americans watching at home — especially the young people who are so brave — I want you to know that your president has your back.”

— President JOE BIDEN, in his rst joint address to Congress.

“It shows a lack of understanding of this entire issue. You can have an entire room full of straight women that are bigger and stronger and able to defeat the vice mayor in arm wrestling. It has nothing to do with being a transgender woman.”

– Fort Lauderdale Commissioner STEVE GLASSMAN, quoted by the Sun-Sentinel.

‘IT JUST ISN’T FAIR’

Jenner

Caputo

“

"This is a question of fairness, that's why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girl's sports in school. It just isn't fair, and we have to protect girls sports in our schools."

–CAITLYN JENNER, trans reality star and candidate for governor of California, quoted by TMZ. As a male decathlete in 1976, Jenner won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Montreal.

“I stand with Carvelle Estriplet, a black trans resident, business owner and volunteer in City of Wilton Manors who serves on our Community Affairs Advisory Board. The City of Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor’s dialogue with Carvelle was heartbreaking, transphobic, and utterly shocking considering the diversity of the City of Fort Lauderdale… It is important at times like these that we don’t match hateful comments and ignorance, but instead, do as Carvelle did and rise above it — have a respectful dialogue that fosters change from the inside out. It’s my hope that Vice Mayor Heather Moraitis will do some soul-searching, look to her faith that inspires her to be a loving person, and apologize for her remarks.

— CHRIS CAPUTO, Wilton Manors City Commissioner, on Facebook.

MEANWHILE, IN UTAH...

The Utah Supreme Court ruled on May 6 that transgender Utahns have the right to change the name and gender marker on their birth certicates.

“It has been an unprecedented year for transgender Americans.

Over 30 states introduced legislation to restrict the freedom of transgender youth. But here in Utah, we chart a different path,” said Equality Utah Executive Director Troy Williams. “The Utah Legislature rejected two anti-transgender bills, and today, the Utah Supreme Court has upheld transgender rights to live freely as their authentic selves. This is ‘equality under the law’ in practice, right here in Utah.”

RECORD LGBTQ+ APPOINTMENTS

One-hundred days into his presidency, President Joe Biden has appointed at least 200 known LGBTQ appointees to his administration, exponentially more than any other president at this point in their administration.

Among them are groundbreaking appointees Pete Buttigieg, the rst out LGBTQ Senate-conrmed Cabinet member, and Dr. Rachel Levine, the rst out Senate-conrmed trans appointee.

Buttigieg serves as Secretary of Transportation and Dr. Levine as Assistant Secretary for Health.

President Barack Obama held the previous record for LGBTQ appointments at 100 days, but with just 37 known LGBTQ appointees.

The Biden administration is well on-track to appoint the 225 LGBTQ people necessary to achieve equitable representation in appointments – about 5.6 percent of the roughly 4,000 presidential appointments.

Gallup estimates LGBTQ Americans at 5.6 percent of the U.S. population – with younger Americans identifying more often as LGBTQ (including 9.1 percent of millennials and 15.9 percent of generation Z).

“President Biden’s administration is already the most LGBTQ-inclusive in history and his appointees have shattered longstanding political barriers thought unthinkable not long ago,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute.

More than one-third of LGBTQ appointees so far were recommended to the administration by Victory Institute’s Presidential Appointments Initiative.

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Photo: Facebook

By Mike Jeknavorian

THE MAN BEHIND ‘PLAYS OF WILTON’

F

rom prostituting in New York at a young age, to writing about gay prostitutes, playwright RONNIE LARSEN has seen and written about many facets of gay sexuality. But take a peek behind the proscenium to see what this modern libertine has in store for audiences in South Florida.

What’s your claim-to-fame?

Writing plays about sex.

Where did you grow up? I was raised in Bakerseld, but I’m still waiting to grow up (laughs).

What’s something special about it there that isn’t common knowledge? For a very conservative town, I felt mostly embraced as an openly-gay kid in the 80s.

How long have you lived in South Florida? About ve years.

Why did you move here? Because of the fabulous audiences.

What part of South Florida do you live in? Pompano Beach.

What do you like most about living here? The people… and the parking.

Where do you hang out in South Florida? The theater, my house, and Walmart.

What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? The 24hour Walmart (laughs).

If you had to live somewhere

else other than here, where would you live? In Times Square, in the 1970s.

Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? I prostituted when I was 18 in New York City to pay for theater tickets, so I learned early on the link between money, sex and theater.

What’s the best theater piece that you ever wrote? Come Out! Come Out! It has everything that I love in one show—sex, tap dancing, and vaudeville music.

Of all your productions, which one was the most important to you? My rst play was, because it made me think that I could write more plays.

I prostituted when I was 18 in New York City to pay for theater tickets, so I learned early on the link between money, sex and theater...

What’s the best role that you ever performed? Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. It was a great production, and I love that character. I miss doing Shakespeare, a lot.

What’s the sexiest production that you’ve ever been a part of?

Probably Afterglow, because my husband built a giant shower on stage, and there was steam in it. It

was just really sexy to watch.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened during one of your productions?

In Chicago, porn star Ryan Idol beat me up during the intermission of Making Porn, so we had him arrested and cancelled the second act. He was led out in handcuffs in front of the whole audience, but they thought that it was part of the show (laughs). That was pretty crazy.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge during the pandemic? The pandemic actually inspired me to write political theater, and it taught me to be grateful even if there are only two people in the audience. So it's been a very productive time for me.

What have been the challenges of your new theater company, POW! POW! Stands for “Plays of Wilton,” and it’s a non-prot company. So far there have been no challenges, except for paperwork—I hate paperwork. Otherwise, it's going great. We have a great Board of directors!

What’s your dream project? To have a long-running show on Broadway.

Other than your own theater company, what’s the best local theater company? I'm a huge fan of Erynn Dalton's theater company, Innite Abyss. They do crazy-fun Continued > HotspotsMagazine.com | 71

Continued

horror-themed shows, and Erynn Dalton is really the reason gay theater is thriving in Wilton Manors. I also love my neighbor, Island City Stage. They’re always so polished and professional.

How do you enjoy spending your time? Doing anything that involves sitting or lying down.

What celebrity do you have a crush on? John Hamm. Google him.

Who’s your favorite local performer? Jennifer McClain relaunched our theater during the pandemic, so she’ll always be my hero.

If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? My Mother. The second runnerup would be my father.

What’s your favorite show? The rst 15 minutes of La Cage Aux Folles.

Who’s your favorite playwright?

William Shakespeare.

What would your drag name be?

TruckStop Sally. That actually is my drag name.

What have you personally been doing to keep yourself busy during the quarantine? Working, writing, forming POW!, and watching way too much TV. Will you ever retire? I hope not!

What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked you? Someone asked for my autograph, because they thought that I was Kevin James.

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Harvey Fierstein. It did not go well.

What’s the last thing that you looked at online? JoeMyGod.com.

I check him 50 times a day. I'm obsessed.

Where would you go in a time machine? To see the original productions of Gypsy, Hamlet and Oedipus Rex. One of Larsen’s most popular plays is “Making Porn”.

What do you worry about? My last meal. membered? I would really prefer it if God would not take me tomorrow What’s your favorite drink? I was addicted to Diet Coke for over 30 years, but I haven't had one in 10 months, so now it's these no sodium, no caffeine, no calories, no sugar, carbonated sodas from Walmart. I forget their name...

What are you afraid of? Dying… and Donald Trump being re-elected.

But not in that order.

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A microphone.

Who are you closest with? My husband.

What’s your most treasured possession? My iPhone.

What would your autobiography be called? A Pamphlet.

Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with? My parents.

What’s on your bucket list? Diving with sharks.

What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That life goes by way too fast.

Would you ever pose nude? Yes. I was naked in one of my plays once, so it was no big deal. Literally (laughs).

What did you learn from your parents? I was adopted, and they always reminded me that I was chosen and that I belonged with them.

What are you an expert at? Fellatio.

What’s your best characteristic?

My optimism.

If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be re-

What’s your favorite quote?

“Life is too short.”

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What would your last meal be?

Ice cream.

What’s your greatest regret in life? I regret discovering the Snickers doughnut last week at Dandee Doughnuts on Atlantic Boulevard (laughs). I can't stop thinking about it.

Where can we see you? On Facebook. I post way too much on Facebook. You can also see me at PlaysOfWilton.com.

4To learn more about Plays Of

Wilton, visit PlaysOfWilton.com

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