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History... City Tax Rate Won't Increase for 20th Year
in Row
By Mayor Dean Trantalis
Fort Lauderdale is setting a record – a record that has benefited taxpayers year in and year out while also maintaining public safety and shaping an amazing community.
What’s the record? For the 20th consecutive year, the city is not increasing its property tax rate. Few other municipalities in Florida can make a statement like that. The tax rate has increased in Broward County’s other cities an average of 36 percent in the same timeframe.
This accomplishment is especially meaningful now.
Across the nation, families are still dealing with inflation, elevated insurance costs, higher borrowing rates and economic uncertainty. In Florida, housing affordability has become one of the defining challenges of our time –for both homeowners and renters. Businesses, too, are watching costs closely as they decide where to invest, expand and hire.
People want government to be disciplined, accountable and sensitive to the burden carried by taxpayers. Fort Lauderdale has been doing exactly that.
Even while we’ve avoided tax rate increases, the city has stepped up to the challenge of advancing the priorities that matter
For two decades, we have held the line on the city tax rate while still moving forward on the priorities that matter most — public safety, infrastructure, resilience, parks, water quality and neighborhood services. We have not always had easy choices, but the result has been a city that is more vibrant, safe, successful and prepared for the future.
That is the balance reflected again in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
Public safety remains our top priority.
The budget continues funding for the Group Violence Intervention program, ShotSpotter gunshot detection program and the Real Time Crime Center. It expands our license plate reader network and increases public safety aide coverage at schools. Money is included to buy new marine vessels for both Fire Rescue and Police
Photo Courtesy of the CIty of Fort Lauderdale
and replace 81 public safety vehicles. We also set aside funding for the new Holiday Park Fire Rescue Station.
These are practical investments in prevention, response and readiness. They will help ensure our police officers, firefighters and paramedics have the tools and support they need. That is why over 60% of our annual budget is dedicated to public safety.
The proposed budget also makes one of the strongest investments in recent years to combat homelessness.
The budget expands shelter access through the Broward Partnership. It supports mental health and substance abuse treatment initiatives, the Community Court Program, the Police Homeless Outreach Unit, reunification efforts and the Mobile Integrated Health -- Homeless Action Team. It funds five positions supporting homelessness initiatives and adds support for the Rotary Connection transportation and relocation program.
These efforts reflect the seriousness of the issue. We must continue working with Broward County, service providers, hospitals and the business community to transition people from the streets to needed services and housing, while maintaining the quality of life on our streets and in our public spaces that residents and businesses expect.
Infrastructure and resilience continue to dominate capital spending because they are central to Fort Lauderdale’s future.
The proposed budget continues major investment in flood mitigation, including $58.3 million for the Fortify Lauderdale program and $9.4 million for stormwater improvements. It also provides additional operating funds to maintain completed Fortify Lauderdale projects.
As a coastal city, we live with the realities of heavy rain, tidal flooding and sea level rise. Strengthening drainage, protecting neighborhoods and planning watershed improvements are essential to our long-term resilience.
The budget also advances critical water and sewer priorities, including $22 million in new capital projects, $36.7 million for the operation of the new Prospect Lake Clean Water Center. It should come online by September of this year. There is also $4.2 million to support transition
staffing as the city moves from its current operations at the Fiveash Water Treatment Plant.
This is one of the most important infrastructure transitions in Fort Lauderdale history. Clean, clear, reliable water is fundamental to public health, economic development and public confidence. The investments we make now will shape the city’s utility system for decades.
Seawalls are another major focus.
The proposed budget includes $8.3 million in new seawall replacement funding, along with $22.3 million in previously appropriated seawall project balances and $5.1 million in grant funding. These investments help protect neighborhoods, roads and public property.
Transportation and mobility also receive continued attention.
The budget supports implementation of the Las Olas Mobility Plan, bridge replacement projects, roadway and sidewalk improvements, traffic calming projects and enhanced pedestrian safety through installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. These projects will help improve safety, walkability and neighborhood quality of life.
The budget process belongs to the public.
Residents have opportunities to review the proposed budget, follow the city’s financial data, participate in meetings, use online tools and share their priorities. I encourage everyone to take part as a budget is strongest when it reflects not only professional analysis but also the lived experience of the people we serve.
The public hearings are set for 5:01 p.m. Sept. 9 and Sept. 14 at the new community center in the Police Station at 1300 W. Broward Blvd.
As mayor, I believe our responsibility is clear. We must spend wisely, and we must invest where investment is needed. And we must respect the pressure that families, seniors, homeowners, renters and businesses are facing.
Yours,
Dean
Healthcare That Makes Getting PrEP Easy
By Megan Fitzgerald, PhD
With social media feeds, TV ads, and billboards all calling for you to get your PrEP with them, how do you choose? We’ve reviewed all the important benefits of various clinics, to help you decide where to get your PrEP.
Easy appointments
Most of us have grown to expect hassles and delays in healthcare: waiting on hold to schedule with someone, or scrolling through appointment apps only to find that every appointment is taken, sometimes for weeks.
Well, click your heels together, Dorothy: you’ve always had the power … to access PrEP! We found one clinic that makes appointments easy and stands by them. How about tomorrow? Or even today? Maybe even in the next couple of hours?
Don’t believe us? Try it out yourself. Type “Latinos Salud” into your browser or map app. Once you’re on their website, click “Appointments” (the big yellow button), choose “PrEP enrollment,” select one of their four locations, and click Next. Then sit back and watch the available appointments pour out for you to choose from. This is heaven! I mean, even scheduling a haircut is usually harder than this! No
time to schedule? They even take walk-ins at Latinos Salud, though those may require a bit of a wait.
You say you’re not Latino? Doesn’t matter. Everyone is welcome at Latinos Salud.
Service to fit your schedule
Who wants to have to ask their boss for permission to clock out, just so you can rush to a clinic before they close at 5:00 or 5:30 PM? Some PrEP clinics have a special night or two each week when they stay open “late,” maybe to 7:00 or 8:00. Latinos Salud stays open later than any PrEP or STD agency or clinic in the state, to 9:00 PM every weeknight, and half days on Saturdays. Had a lastminute schedule change? They can often cover you by telehealth.
Speaking of scheduling, at Latinos Salud, you can also choose to receive your PrEP as a daily pill or one of the long-acting injectables.
Is FREE good for you?
There’s a reason that most PrEP clinics advertise for you to visit them: they want your out-of-pocket payments— one for the medical visit, another for the lab fees. It can cost $70, $120, even $190 to get to the point where you get a prescription for the PrEP that your insurance covers for free. How is that free?
Not at Latinos Salud. They waive co-pays entirely. What does that mean? If you have insurance, they’ll scan your card to earn the federally mandated clinic reimbursement. But whatever co-pay or deductible your insurance plan says you owe the clinic, Latinos Salud covers it for you.
Insured or uninsured
Some clinics have nothing for you unless you walk in with a gold or platinum insurance card. Latinos Salud is almost always able to get you PrEP even if you don’t have insurance. Their Wellness Navigators know the patient assistance program systems, to get you the medication at no charge.
If you’ve had a change in your life situation (lost your job or your employer-covered insurance, coverage under your parent’s plan at age 26, coverage through a spouse’s plan, or you’ve moved), they might even be able to enroll you in good health insurance for free
Through its ACA Premium Support program, Latinos Salud is paying the monthly insurance premiums for over 500 of their patients. That means, not only do people get their PrEP free, but they walk out having real health insurance—some for the first time in their lives.
PrEP as part of your whole healthcare
Some clinics begin and end with PrEP. If you’re looking
to be screened or treated for other STDs, they don’t offer those services, because there’s “no profit in it.” Latinos Salud believes strongly in the “profit” of a healthy community. So, their navigators and providers screen and treat STDs as well. You can even get DoxyPEP (for protection against bacterial STDs) with your PrEP prescription there, too.
Latinos Salud’s medical providers also take the time to look at your whole health and wellness situation. Some patients who came in only seeking PrEP learned that they had undiagnosed HIV, diabetes or hypertension, and were able to get it treated right there at Latinos Salud before it got out of control. Latinos Salud’s providers have even identified cancer, lupus, and leukemia that patients had no idea were putting them at grave risk.
Where you belong, and they speak your language
We saved the best for last: once you arrive at one of Latinos Salud’s sparkling clinics, you know you’ve got it made: friendly gay staff at the front desk whisk you through to where the service makes you feel like a VIP.
There are no awkward moments when you sit with one of Latinos Salud’s Wellness Navigators or PrEP Specialists. Prefer Spanish or English? They’re all bilingual. Feeling embarrassed about that last encounter? You can relax: they’re all gay, and we’ve all been there.
What about the switcheroo, when you meet the medical provider? That’s when you get the scorn and judgment, right? Nope. Their providers are gay, too, and about the nicest people you could hope to meet anywhere, let alone in a clinic.
You can get PrEP just about anywhere. If you want a hassle-free experience, the choice is clear.
Photos Courtesy of Latinos Salud
Summer Heat Safety
5 Tips to Protect Children
Summer means long days, outdoor play, family gatherings, and trips to the park or beach. It’s a season kids look forward to all year. But as temperatures climb, the heat can pose real health risks families should take seriously.
Children are more vulnerable to heat than adults. They often don’t notice when they need a break, water, or a cooler spot to rest.
Furthermore, infants and young children rely entirely on caregivers to keep them safe and hydrated. Left unchecked, hot weather can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Meaning, a medical emergency marked by a very high body temperature, confusion, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.
The Dangers of Overheating
Even mild overheating can bring:headaches, cramps, fatigue and nausea. Repeated episodes of overheating can affect a child’s well-being over time. No child is immune. Infants, toddlers, school-age kids, teen athletes, and children with certain medical conditions all need extra attention during high heat. A few simple habits can keep summer safe and fun.
5 Tips to Keep Children Safe and Healthy in the Summer Heat
1. Encourage Water Breaks Throughout the Day
Children get absorbed in play and forget to drink, so offer water regularly —don’t wait for them to ask. Keep a bottle on hand during outdoor activities, and add water-rich foods like watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers, and oranges.
2. Plan Outdoor Activities During Cooler Hours
Heat typically peaks from late morning through early evening. Schedule play, sports, and walks for early morning or evening when possible, to keep kids active while limiting heat exposure.
3. Dress for the Weather
Lightweight, loose, light-colored clothing helps the body stay cool; add a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen outdoors. Check playground equipment first — metal slides and handrails heat up fast in direct sun.
4. Learn the Signs of Heat Illness
Watch for heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, fatigue, muscle cramps, dry mouth, dark urine, or nausea. If symptoms appear, move the child to a cool spot, offer fluids if appropriate, and seek care if symptoms persist or worsen.
5. Never Leave a Child in a Parked Vehicle
Temperatures can turn dangerous fast, even on mild days. The CDC reports interior temperatures can climb nearly 20°F in the first 10 minutes, even with a window cracked. Always check the back seat before locking up.
If you have questions about heat-related illness or summer wellness, Care Resource is here to help. Our pediatricians can offer guidance and connect families with trusted resources. Don’t wait if you’re concerned about a child’s symptoms – reach out and seek care when needed.
Holy Cross Health Breaks Ground on a New Era of Care in Fort Lauderdale
By Paige Feigenbaum
A major investment in Fort Lauderdale’s healthcare future is underway. Holy Cross Health broke ground on the $57.3 million Holy Cross Health Center & Emergency Care – Fort Lauderdale at Sunrise that will expand access to emergency, specialty and diagnostic care for residents and visitors across the region.
Phase one of the nearly 45,000 square-foot campus is expected to open in Spring 2027, bringing 24/7 emergency care, advanced imaging and multispecialty physician services to 200 E. Sunrise Blvd. The campus will span two 22,416 square-foot floors, with the second floor opening in a future phase as Holy Cross Health expands services to meet the community’s growing needs. Once fully operational, the campus is expected to care for more than 73,000 patients annually.
“We’ve been part of this community for many years, and we’ve seen how Fort Lauderdale continues to grow,” said Pierre Monice, MBA, FACHE, President and CEO of Holy Cross Health. “We’re not just turning soil or building a new facility. We’re creating more opportunities for people to get the care they need without putting it off because it’s too far away or too difficult to reach.”
The Fort Lauderdale campus is the second Holy Cross
Health Center & Emergency Care location in Broward County, following the opening of the Deerfield Beach campus earlier this year. Together, the two locations reflect Holy Cross Health’s commitment to bringing emergency, specialty and outpatient care beyond its main campus and into more communities across the county.
“When people see a groundbreaking, they see the start of construction,” said Brea Elles, Director of Planning, Design and Construction at Holy Cross Health. “I see the patients and families who will one day walk through these doors. That’s what has guided this project from the very beginning.”
With MPL Construction leading development, the project now enters its next chapter. As the campus takes shape, it will not only expand healthcare services for the community but also create approximately 120 health care jobs during phase one, with more than 200 positions anticipated as future phases are completed. In time, what is now a construction site will become part of the Fort Lauderdale community—a place where neighbors know they can turn when it matters most.
For more information, visit holy-cross.com.
(left to right) Fernando Ramos, MPL Construction Project Manager; Daniel Breitner, MPL Construction Architect; Taren O’Brien, MSN, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer; Mary Carter Waren, D.Min., Mission Leader; Linda Carter, Holy Cross Health Board Member; Pierre Monice, MBA, FACHE, President & CEO of Holy Cross Health; Christian Fernandez, MPL Construction Project Manager; Brea Elles, Director Planning Design & Construction at the ceremonial shovel box during the groundbreaking ceremony. Credit: Carlos Aristizabal Photo & Video Corp.)
Understanding Stem Cell Therapy
A Conversation with Dr. Ferdinand Cabrera
Regenerative medicine is changing how physicians approach healing, mobility, and quality of life. Genesis Health Institute offers stem cell therapy to carefully selected patients with chronic pain and certain musculoskeletal concerns.
Baxter Martin: For those who may be unfamiliar, what are stem cells?
Dr. Cabrera: Stem cells are unique cells that support the body’s natural repair processes. In regenerative medicine, they are used with the goal of supporting healing in areas affected by damage, inflammation, or degeneration.
Baxter Martin: How is stem cell therapy used at Genesis Health Institute?
Dr. Cabrera: We focus on specific medical indications (wound healing, orthopedic conditions, pain management, and chronic pain) that may affect comfort, movement, and daily activity. Every patient receives a thorough evaluation to determine whether treatment is medically appropriate. Stem cell therapy is not right for everyone, so careful patient selection is essential.
Baxter Martin: What makes this different from simply treating pain?
Dr. Cabrera: Many traditional treatments focus primarily on controlling symptoms. Regenerative medicine takes a different approach by supporting the biological environment involved in healing and recovery. For some patients, treatment may help improve comfort, mobility, or function over time.
Baxter Martin: Who may be a candidate for stem cell therapy?
Dr. Cabrera: A potential candidate may be someone with persistent pain, reduced mobility, or a musculoskeletal condition that has not responded adequately to conservative care. However, we must first understand the source of the problem and determine whether regenerative therapy is appropriate.
Baxter Martin: What should patients realistically expect?
Dr. Cabrera: Stem cell therapy is not an instant fix. Healing takes time, and results vary. Some patients may experience gradual improvements, while others may have a more limited response. We believe in honest conversations about potential benefits, limitations, and alternatives.
Baxter Martin: How does stem cell therapy fit into your approach to longevity medicine?
Dr. Cabrera: Longevity is about preserving health, movement, independence, and quality of life. Stem cell therapy is one potential tool within that broader, personalized approach.
The first step is a comprehensive medical consultation.
Call Genesis Health Institute at 954-561-3175 or scan the QR code to learn more.
Thousands Join We the People March for Freedom in Fort Lauderdale
By Imara Canady, National Director, Community Engagement & Communications, AHF
Photos Credit: Jesus Aranguren/AP Content
Services for AIDS Healthcare Foundation
On the eve of America’s 250th birthday, thousands of concerned Americans, from across the country, descended upon Fort Lauderdale on July 3, 2026, for the We The People March for Freedom. Taking place in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale a brief rally kicked off the event at Esplanade Park, which featured a diverse array of national and local program participants, including American labor leader and activist, Dolores Huerta, Haitian American activist Santra Denis, Healthcare advocate Alecia Tramel-McIntyre, Gen Z activist Maxx Fenning, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) President/CEO Michael Weinstein. Immediately following the rally, attendees marched through the streets of downtown Fort Lauderdale, returning to the park to culminate the event with a powerful musical performance by awardwinning gospel artist Erica Campbell.
Initially launched in 2023, the We The People coalition is a growing movement of organizations, advocates, and community members coming together to defend human rights and demand a more just future. Representing diverse communities from across Florida, current coalition members include:
● Afro Pride
● AQUA
● Avanse Ansanm
● Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC)
● BLINC
● Broward House
● Decrim 305
● Dolphin Democrats
● Dream Defenders
● Equality Florida
● Faith in Florida
● Financial Tea
● FLIC (Florida Immigrant Coalition)
● Florida Coalition to Advance Racial Equity
● Florida Rising
● FLUX
● HIV Health Advocacy and Education
● HIV Possible
● Hope Community Center
● Hope & Action Broward County
● Human Rights Campaign
● IMPULSE Group
● Indivisible Wilton Manors
● Joyful Resistance South Florida
● Latinos in Florida Local Government
● LatinosSalud
● League of Women Voters Broward County
● Miami Beach Community Health Center
● National Forum for Black Public Administrators – South Florida Chapter
● NMAC
● No Reservations
● Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. – Eta Nu & Zeta Nu Nu Chapters
● Palm Beach County Human Rights Council
● Positive People Network
● Pridelines
● PRISM
● SAVE
● Social Change
● SOMOS Loud
● SPARK
● SunServe
● The Pride Center
● The Robin Foundation
● Transinclusive Group
● UJIMA
● United Church of Christ – Fort Lauderdale
● Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami
● Urban League of Broward County Young Professionals
● We Count!
“At a time in our nation when healthcare is being rationed and rents are outpacing wages; teachers are working second jobs and rural hospitals are closing, we must continue to stand up for what’s right for all Americans. July 4, 2026, marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. The We the People March for Freedom is not just an event to celebrate this document or its declaring independence, but the night before the fireworks, to remind America what and who it’s for,” stated Esteban Wood, AHF Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs and March for Freedom coordinator.
To learn more about the We the People March for Freedom and become engaged in the movement, visit www.wtpmarch.org .
Henderson Behavioral Health Launches Public Art Initiative to Honor Veterans and Support Mental Health Services
By Fran Folic
Henderson Behavioral Health (HBH) recently launched The Poppy Project, a public art initiative and visual display of remembrance and patriotism which honors veterans while raising awareness and funds for critical mental health services. The five-and 6-foot striking fiberglass poppy flowers, a remembrance of those who protect and serve our country, made their first appearance at Tunnel Top Plaza in Downtown Fort Lauderdale just in time for Memorial Day. The next pop-up garden photo opportunity experience will be at Galleria Fort Lauderdale (2414 East Sunrise Boulevard) from September 10 – November 10, 2026.
“The Poppy Project is a powerful way for our community to come together in remembrance of those who have patriotically served our country and to honor them by supporting vital mental health programs and services,” said Dr. Steven Ronik, CEO of Henderson Behavioral Health. “Through this initiative, we are not only honoring service and sacrifice but also ensuring that those who have served and continue to protect our country receive the care they deserve.”
This launch also kicked off the virtual Legacy Wall which allows friends and families to honor loved ones who
(L-R) Ana Rodriguez, Melissa Milroy, Nadine Floyd, Michael Goodman, Marilyn Johansen, Carolyn Lee, Patricia DuMont, Suzanne Higgins
have served or are currently serving our country. The campaign will continue throughout the year, aligning with nationally recognized holidays including Independence Day and Veterans Day. Poppy flowers are still available for individual or business sponsorships.
Funds raised will directly support Henderson Behavioral Health’s VICTORY (Veterans in Counseling to Obtain Recovery) Program, which provides free mental health services to veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families, including outreach and education across South Florida, workshops addressing mental health challenges impacting military families, and individual and relationship therapy offered both in clinical settings and within the community.
Inspired by the poppy’s historical significance as a symbol of sacrifice, rooted in the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields,” and later adopted as a national emblem of remembrance, The Poppy Project brings this tradition to life in a local and meaningful way.
Since 2023, Henderson Behavioral Health has served hundreds of veterans, including more than 250 in 2025 alone, reflecting the growing demand for accessible, high-quality mental health care. As a vital safety net within the community, the organization continues to see increasing demand for veteran-focused services, highlighting the need for continued resources to support and expand access to care.
Henderson Behavioral Health’s Poppy Project is made possible through the support of key community partners, sponsors, and supporters including The Leo Goodwin Foundation, Arlene Pecora, the Henderson Behavioral Health Board of Directors, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), Community Foundation of Broward, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale.
For more information about Henderson Behavioral Health’s Poppy Project go to www.HendersonBH.org
Photos Courtesy of Michael Murphy Photography
(L-R)
Linda Carter, Patricia DuMont, Carolyn Lee (L-R) David Cooley, Kathy Koch and Dr. Steven Ronik
City of Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor/Commissioner
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LGBTQA+ Travel
2026
8/18 - 8/26 | Prague & Danube River Cruise | Brand g | Prague / Passau / Linz / Melk / Dürnstein / Vienna / Bratislava / Budapest
8/30 - 9/8 | Total Eclipse Med Cruise: Barcelona | VACAYA | Barcelona / Ibiza / Tangier / Lisbon / Porto / A Coruña
9/18 - 9/ 26 | Big Gay Cruise | Royal Caribbean - Adventure of the Seas | Orlando / St. Croix / St. Thomas / San Juan / Perfect Day at CocoCay
10/7 - 10/19 | Mekong River Cruise: Vietnam & Cambodia | Brand g | Siem Reap / Kampong Cham / Wat Hanchey / Angkor Ban / Phnom Penh / Gieng Island / Hong Ngu / Sa Dec / Cai Be / My Tho / Ho Chi Minh City
10/17 - 10/25 | Luxury Galapagos Cruise | Source Journeys | Guayaquil / San Cristobal Island / Española / Floreana / Santa Cruz / Bartolome Island / South Plaza / North Seymour Island
10/17 - 10/27 | Mystical & Modern Japan | Source Journeys | Tokyo / Nikko / Hakone / Kyoto / Himeji / Osaka
10/25 - 11/1 | Mexico Resort: Puerto Vallarta | VACAYA | Puerto Vallarta / Riviera Nayarit
10/31 - 11/5 | Big Gay Halloween Western Caribbean Cruise | Big Gay Cruise | Galveston / Costa Maya / Cozumel
11/14 - 11/19 | San Diego to Mexico Cruise | Atlantis Events | San Diego / Cabo San Lucas / Puerto Vallarta / Mazatlán
11/14 - 11/19 | Big Gay Cruise | Virgin Voyage - Scarlet Lady | Miami / Grand Turk / Bimini Beach Club
11/22 - 11/30 | Chile & Easter Island Adventure | VACAYA | Santiago / Rapa Nui (Easter Island) / Puerto Natales / Torres del Paine National Park / Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
12/16 - 12/25 | New Years Mexico City | Source Journeys | Mexico City / San Miguel de Allende / Guanajuato
6/8 - 6/15 | Castles of the Rhine River Cruise | Brand g | Amsterdam / Utrecht / Cologne / Cochem / Koblenz / Rüdesheim / Mannheim / Speyer / Strasbourg / Basel 1
9/11 - 9/19 | Luxury Galapagos Cruise | Source Journeys | Guayaquil / San Cristobal Island / Española / Floreana / Santa Cruz / Bartolome Island / South Plaza / North Seymour Island
10/6 - 10/18 | Mekong River Jewel Cruise | Brand g | Siem Reap / Kampong Cham / Wat Hanchey / Angkor Ban / Phnom Penh / Hong Ngu / Sa Dec / Cai Be / My Tho / Ho Chi Minh City
10/11 - 10/18 | Dreams of Tahiti Cruise | Source Journeys | Papeete / Moorea / Raiatea / Motu Mahaea / Bora Bora / Huahine
All dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please contact the venues or organizers for official information, requirements, and specifications.
Pompano Beach Continues to Build Its Identity Through Inspiring Public Art
By Samantah Rojas
The City of Pompano Beach continues to distinguish itself as one of South Florida's premier destinations for public art with the installation of Infinity, a monumental sculpture by internationally-acclaimed artist and designer Volkan Alkanoglu. Now permanently installed at Pompano Beach Community Park, the striking artwork reflects the City's ongoing investment in creating memorable public spaces that inspire residents and visitors alike.
Rhonda Sigerson-Eaton, Commissioner - District 2 said, "All over this City we are seeing more innovative art pieces that truly make Pompano Beach special—more special than it is already."
Commissioned by the City, Infinity reimagines the iconic American star as an endless loop, symbolizing imagination, creativity, optimism, and limitless possibility. Standing approximately 17 feet wide and 11 feet tall, the iridescent sculpture transforms throughout the day as it reflects changing light, movement, and perspective. Illuminated each evening, it serves as a dramatic gateway landmark along Federal Highway.
Audrey Fesik, Commissioner District 1 added, "This
artwork is something we can enjoy, as it draws attention to the surrounding nature and also to the collective creativity that we have in our City."
The addition of Infinity further strengthens Pompano Beach's growing collection of innovative public art installations that have helped transform the City's cultural landscape and reinforce its reputation as a vibrant destination for arts and creativity.
"When people think about great cities, they rarely remember the roads or the infrastructure, though those are also critical," said Ty Tabing, Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Pompano Beach. "They remember the places where they brought their friends; the places that made them stop and take photographs. Public art creates those moments."
Designed by Volkan Alkanoglu—an internationally recognized artist, architect, educator, and founder of VA | DESIGN LLC—Infinity joins an impressive portfolio of public works installed in cities across the United States. The sculpture stands as another example of Pompano Beach's commitment to creating inspiring public spaces where art, community, and civic pride intersect.
Photo Courtesy of Jasmine Barrett
Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary
By Tony Adams
back. Medici says that 60% of the guests who stay with him are return customers. He likes it that way, saying, “I keep the rates low because I want those guys to come back.”
The guesthouse is just off Sunrise Boulevard near Holiday Park and Publix and the Stonewall Archives, and just a short jaunt into Wilton Manors. There is ample parking and 17 spacious rooms, many with kitchens and everything you need for an extended stay that might even include cooking and dining in your room or in the gracious courtyard. They provide coffee and light breakfast items every morning, and they host a happy hour on weekends. They sell out for Pig Week, Halloween, and often during their peak season of December through April.
When thinking about the Big Coconut, you ask yourself, “What do gay men really want from a gay resort when they travel?” They want their hosts to be attentive. That means providing a comfortable bed in a safe and clean venue where you will meet like-minded men who will share easy laughter. The Big Coconut gives you all that and more. Been traveling for a while? Been getting down and dirty? They have a complimentary washer/dryer.
Hazel and Medici want everyone to know that The Big
Coconut is an unpretentious place. They emphasize that guests here tend to be sociable at the pool and in the private courtyard. Hazel adds with a wink, “We manage things without trying to be on top of you…unless you ask for that.” That said, Medici is a hands-on owner who is passionate about plants. The lush landscape of the courtyard is ample evidence of that. He owns an additional property across the street which he calls “The Little Coconut.” It is accessible to all guests, contains two apartments, the communal washer/ dryer, and a tropical garden that is a work-in-progress. Medici envisions it as a place of repose for his guests who seek a few moments of refuge from the excitement of Fort Lauderdale.
The newly renovated apartment of the Little Coconut is sleek and contemporary, in contrast to the vintage, high quality, mid-century vibe of the furnishings in the 17 rooms of the Big Coconut.
Both friendly Coconuts are for men who like a lush, laid-back, casual, and clothing optional lodging that is close to everything, except attitude.
Photos by Tony Adams
Meet The Men Behind The First New Addition to Gay Key West in Decades
By Tony Adams
Cover Photo Courtesy of Jeff Smead and James Braun
Photo credit: Larry Blackburn Photography
Jeff Smead and James Braun, partners who both live and work together, love Key West for what it affords them: a life in a gay paradise. And the island loves them for what they bring: energy, renovation skills, and an appreciation of local history fused with a vision for the future, preserving and enhancing all that is good about Key West. The duo not only serves as co-general managers of Island House Key West , but are also the proprietors of the adjacent newly opened “Island Mates Manor.”
James designed and built the components of the recently renovated Island House and did the same for the property the couple acquired and transformed next door. Even though the powers-that-be in Key West know and respect the two men, having seen their work on two earlier home renovations in Key West’s Old Town, the process of transforming a very old house, and building two rental units with a secret door leading into Island House so that their guests have private access to the resort, is daunting. A high level of trust among James, Jeff, the city of Key West, and owner of Island House, Bobi Lore, was the essential element that brought their project to fruition.
The most amazing part of this project is that they brought it to dazzling completion while planning and directing the yearlong 50th anniversary of Island House with its array of fabulous events filling the calendar throughout 2026. While most come to Key West to relax, Jeff and James are supercharged.
Jeff says, “The purchase, development, and execution of Island Mates Manor has been at the forefront of the last four years for me and my husband, James. Beyond that door next to Island House Café awaits another world - an extension of the Island House ‘experience’ that delights in the roots of gay Key West. It’s like your own private Island House, directly connected to the main resort.
“James and I purchased the dilapidated Fleming Street property adjacent to Island House in June of 2022 with big dreams for this massive 7000 square foot lot. First, it meant picking up and relocating the historic triplex back to its original location at the front of the lot, correcting an error that was mysteriously made in 1960 when they moved it to the rear of the lot. After elevating the home to our
Photos credit: Larry Blackburn Photography
current flood regulation height and pouring a new foundation, we gutted the house from a triplex of sad apartments into a grand single-family home, built a pool and jacuzzi behind it, and then with the two displaced licenses, we did a ground-up construction of the next chapter: The Villas @ Island Mates Manor. Little did James and I know how challenging it would be to take on such a huge risk, invest everything we had into it, and bring this vision into fruition.”
Island House is itself a luxury property, but Jeff and James wanted to go beyond what the resort offers. Jeff says, “The Villas are an elevated experience for gay men who want a luxurious refuge during an extended stay in paradise. They are directly connected to the resort via a private locked gate with biometric access, offering a crazy level of exclusivity. We rent each of the two Villas on a monthly basis, with many of the highly sought after months booked with guest deposits well before we even finished construction. Literally ten paces from your Villa door, you can enter the pool area and café of Island House, giving you the party atmosphere that our guests love. You can mingle with new friends at pool parties and invite them over with you to the Villas to swim, sip, and play. It really is like Narnia!”
Back at the ranch, as it were, Jeff takes a moment to reflect on the “50 Years of Fabulous” celebration at Island House. He says, “Our 50th Anniversary set a tone that I won’t soon forget. The most enjoyable part for me was on Saturday evening during the ‘Island House Awards’ session. There I was standing poolside with a microphone, being showered with love from a group of men who represent the last 50 years of Island House success.
Photos Courtesy of James Braun
Seeing special guests hear their name get called to receive an award and share their sentiments was especially rewarding. We were surrounded by friends and confidants, all while hosting an army of gays who relished the spirit of old Key West nostalgia, shared experience, and living history. I didn’t expect to choke up when I announced Levi Poulter & Leigh Bates for their poolside award for being the ‘face’ of Island House marketing for the last few decades. Watching people be recognized by surprise is such a heartwarming experience, especially since I’ve spent so much of my career working closely with those special men. I will always remember how good that made me feel to be the steward of Island House in that moment, and of the Key West I’ve always known and loved. The next 50 years are in our sights. We have to keep polishing this resort from the structures themselves to the guest experience. Managing this place is a huge weight to carry for gay Key West, and our goal above all is to keep the Island House experience intact and ensure it stays what it is for decades to come.”
During one of the many post-happy hour tours of the Villas that Jeff and James are always glad to provide, Jeff continues to describe the excruciating construction process. He says, “James and I have done a number of home renovations in Key West, but we knew that a multi-family property like this one would really test our limits. Our earlier projects were small conch homes in Old Town. We learned about pulling ownerbuilder permits, working our full-time jobs from M-F and using each weekend to tackle our project. We lived like boy scouts camping in those homes while they were built one weekend at a time. The scope of work we dreamt up for Fleming Street didn’t allow us that luxury of living inside the mess. Not to mention, it’s
Photos Courtesy of James Braun
rather intimidating to bite off a piece of Key West located on what’s known as ‘Millionaire’s Row.’ This is the ‘hot chick’ block of Fleming that is easily visible to anyone who drives in Old Town. It felt like four years of everyone watching our every move because the mysterious ‘Addams Family mansion’ finally had new owners with big ideas. We got to know the daily dog walkers, the delivery folks, and, of course, the hundreds of gay men traversing Fleming Street to get to the gay bars on Duval. It was far different and on a scale beyond what we were used to. As a couple I don’t think anything has tested us so much as this. Obtaining permits alone in the historic district of Key West is like an act of Congress, let alone agreeing on design aesthetics.
“ When Jame and I met in 2012 at Island House - table 3. He shared that he was fairly handy and that he took some years of furniture making back in his stomping grounds of Chicago. Then we bought our first project on Olivia Street on the Key West Cemetery, and he let it rip. With no real formal training, James has this unbelievable ability to learn how to do impossible things by scouring the internet, watching YouTube videos on repeat, and asking millions of questions. He’s fearless. Whether it was design software mastery, tools and carpentry skills, or all-around impeccable taste, he does it all so well. He had an active role in every aspect of this mammoth project, to the point that our legally required general
Photos credit: Larry Blackburn Photography
contractors were blown away that the homeowner had this level of savvy. James was on site daily before the team even showed up, and stayed late into the morning hoursfor four years. It was his passion project, the driver of his ambition, and his signature mark on Key West. I’ve never met a more productive human being than James Braun. I definitely can’t keep up with him. However, I am particularly suited to sweeping up after him in more ways than one.”
Both Villas are finished, have their certificates of occupancy, and are ready to welcome guests in their inaugural year. Each Villa has two king suites, as well as a powder room on the first floor by the pool, chef’s kitchens, expert level woodwork and millwork, and amazing levels of integrated tech. Each Villa has two covered parking spots, private entrances, and balconies off every bedroom. The split-level
Photos credit: Larry Blackburn Photography
design with three floors, offers unparallelled privacy and luxury. They are equipped with split king beds that are motorized, thermostatic showers, TOTO Washlet bidets, full laundry, and even a dedicated office space for those working while on vacation. The finish levels were inspired by Jeff and James’ trips to Dubai, Bali, and Thailand; including Armani-inspired glossy walnut cabinetry, 3D feature walls, linear light installations. The Villas are a clothing optional paradise for gay men - the first new addition to gay Key West lodging in over 25 years.
Jeff says, “James and I are ‘lifers’ in Key West, with fierce loyalty to our market and an honest desire to share its special vibe with those who come to stay with us.
“We both tend to lean into a modern aesthetic, and that’s where the Villas shine. From the outside, they look appropriate for the historic district with full width porches and hot tin roofs. But they are built like a fortress for resiliency, made completely out of concrete with all impact windows and doors. Inside, you can tell that this was designed and built by gays, specifically for gays. Monochromatic colors with slick surfaces and leather texture. Linear lighting can be found throughout, with showstopper installations above the kitchen island, task lighting, and headboards. James went wild selecting ultra-modern fixtures with a generous level of custom walnut millwork, and Dade-county pine. Even the stair treads are made from the reclaimed Dade-county pine we pulled out of our front house during renovation. We
would dumpster dive each night wearing headlamps to find the pieces we could salvage for special projects like the stairs. The effort put into those elements shows through as if it was all planned from the very beginning. The heated saltwater pool offers two ledge loungers where you can sit your butt in the pool and doze off, all while the water luminaries flow lighted rays of water effortlessly by your feet. The pool deck is picture frame Brazilian Ipe wood, enveloping the swim-up bar and sixman jacuzzi. There’s formal outside dining underneath a Pergolux mechanical pergola, and modern LED lit umbrellas that set the vibe for nighttime.
“After four years of non-stop stress, problem solving, budgeting, and endless impossible tasks, we are finally here to meet the moment. Right now, we need gay spaces like this to remind us how to enjoy our lives when the world seems always to be on fire. This project represents a loyalty to Key West and its long history with the gay community, a modern take on today’s island living, so it’s only appropriate that a gay couple from Key West that came from nothing could pull it off. You’ll see signs of our personality at every turn, as we spent countless 3AMs pining over decisions that would appear seamlessly in the final design. If you’re looking for the next big thing to discover in Key West, it’s right here.
“It’s the best gay vacation rental in the world, directly connected to the best gay resort in the world. Free daily happy hour included, and no bathing suit required.”
Photos Courtesy of James Braun
Photos credit: Larry Blackburn Photography
Bars Clubs & Nightlife
WEEKLY EVENTS
Mondays | Jockstrap Night | CODE Bar | Eagle Wilton Manors
Tuesdays | CODE Tuesday: Happy Hour All Night | Eagle Wilton Manors
Tuesdays | The Groove Session w/ LeNora Jaye | Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar
Tuesdays | Drag Bingo w/ London Adour | Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar
Tuesdays | Happy Hour All Night | Eagle Wilton Manors
Wednesdays | Underwear & Singlet Night | CODE Bar | Eagle Wilton Manors
3/17 | St. Patrick’s Day Block Party | Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar 3/17 | St. Paddy’s Day Shenanigans | The Pub on the Drive
Photos Courtesy of SRL Media
Photos Courtesy of SRL Media
Photos Courtesy of SRL Media
Pride, Scene & Circuit
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER 2026
FEBRUARY 2027
MARCH 2027
APRIL
2027
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY 2027
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
Coneheads A Behind-the-Scenes
Look at Hurricane Coverage
By John Hayden
There are two types of cones South Floridians concern themselves with as we swelter through the dog days of summer.
The first cone is the kind you get at Dairy Queen. Smooth, cool, refreshing soft serve ice cream. There’s always a line at the DQ on Wilton Drive, with Lynn and her staff working to keep everyone cool. This is my favorite type of cone.
The other cone is not nearly as much fun. This cone is an angry red that curves and shifts and has ominously increasing numbers. On TV, meteorologists calmly call it The Cone of Concern. In the newsrooms we call it everything from the Cone of Panic to the Cone of Doom.
Gallows humor, to be sure. But it’s a way we cope. During one particularly active hurricane season, someone coped by wearing an orange traffic cone for Halloween. It was more tasteful than it sounds.
While hurricane season technically started June 1, it’s August through October when South Florida is in the Category 3 crosshairs. We start watching dust storms over the Sahara move into the Atlantic. If they start to “organize,” we await The Cone.
Cone Customs
There are several cone-related rituals we all know.
First, even though the forecast is only updated every six-ish hours, we all refresh our weather apps every few minutes while intoning “No Whammie, No Whammie, No Whammie!” Insider tip: most updates from the National Hurricane Center come down about 15 minutes before the scheduled time. So the 2PM update comes down about 1:45.
Many go spiritual. Some pray The Cone away. Some burn incense. Some try to put a santeria-like curse on the hurricane. It’s much like the cursed bats of Pedro Cerrano in the movie Major League . And if the gods don’t accept your offerings of cigars and rum, at least you have something to smoke and drink during a hurricane party.
But my favorite ritual, which I’ve been seen doing on TV, is waving my arms to the right or left like I’m watching a field goal attempt. “Go right.. go right.. go right.. NOOOOOOO!”
I guess it all comes down to the power of positive thinking. If you live here long enough, The Cone will haunt your dreams.
That said, here’s to making it to Halloween, and the only cones in our future are at the DQ. Tell ‘em John sent you!
26 | BENISE: 25 Years of Passion | Coral Springs Center for the Arts
26 | Michael Lives Forever: Rodrigo Teaser | The Plaza Live | Orlando
27 | BENISE: 25 Years of Passion | The Moss Center
27 | Michael Lives Forever: Rodrigo Teaser | Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker | Ft Lauderdale
27 | BENISE: 25 Years Of Passion! | Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center | Cutler Bay
1/27 | Lab Playwright & Actor Incubator | New City Players | LauderAle Brewery
29 - 10/18 | Hamilton | Broadway in Orlando | Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
29 - 10/4 | Buena Vista Social Club | Broadway in Miami | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
9/30 - 10/24 | Social Justice: LOI Submission Window | The Our Fund Foundation
TBD | LGBTQ Arts & Culture Fund | Funding and Grant Award Announcements | The Our Fund Foundation
TBD | William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure / Adapted & Directed by Ronnie Larsen | Swivel Theater / Plays of Wilton | Ronnie Larsen Presents | Wilton Manors
OCTOBER 2026
1 - 25 | Who Killed Joan Crawford | Island City Stage | Wilton Manors
3 | River City Pride Festival | CAN Community Health | Riverside Park | Ft Lauderdale
3 | Unlimited Devotion: Celebrating The Music Of The Grateful Dead | Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center | Cutler Bay
4 | River City Pride Parade | CAN Community Health | 5 Points, Wilton Manors
10/8 - 11/1 | Mel Brooks: Young Frankenstein the Musical | Wick Theatre |
9 | Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood | Coral Springs Center for the Arts | Coral Springs
All dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please contact the venues or organizers for official information, requirements, and specifications.
| Britnee Kellogg Special Guest Orlando Mendez | Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center | Cutler Bay
10 - 15 | Monty Python's Spamalot | Kravis on Broadway | Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
10 - 22 | Hamilton | Broadway in Ft Lauderdale | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
11 | Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 & Shostakovich 12th Symphony | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | The Parker
12 | Taste of the Island | Richardson Park | Wilton Manors
13 | Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 & Shostakovich 12th Symphony | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | New World Center 13 - 14 | Jim Henson's Labyrinth: In Concert | The Parker | Ft Lauderdale 13 - 14 | Mamma Mia! | Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW | Ft Myers 14 | A Musical Night with Gabe Salazar | Sunshine Cathedral Center for the Performing Arts | Ft Lauderdale
C.
- 21 | Lucia di Lammermoor | Florida Grand Opera | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
- 12/20 | The Sound of Freedom: A Celebration of American Music & Musicians | Symphony of the Americas | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
25 | Disney Worlds Collide Tour | Kia Center | Orlando
27 - 29 | The Bodyguard | Kravis on Broadway | Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
28 & 29 | Men Who Dance | Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Ft Lauderdale
28 | Disney Worlds Collide Tour | Benchmark International Arena | Tampa
TBD | Casual Encounters | Ronnie Larsen Presents | Plays of Wilton | Witlon Manors
DECEMBER 2026
1 | World AIDS Day Concert | AHF | (Venue TBD)
1 - 2 | Mystic Pizza | Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall | Sarasota
1 - 6 | Death Becomes Her | Broadway in Orlando | Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
1 - 6 | A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical | Broadway in Miami | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
1 - 12 | World AIDS Day & Memorial Quilt | Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center | Lake Worth Beach
1 - 13 | Hamilton | Broadway in Jacksonville | Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
3 | Social Justice: Final Application Deadline | The Our Fund Foundation
3 | Holiday Magic | Bonnet House
5 | A Merry Motown Christmas | Symphony of the Americas | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
5 | Handel’s Messiah & Holiday Pops | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | The Parker
5 | Gala | Equality Florida | Gainesville
5 | Holiday Magic | Bonnet House
5 - 6 | The Nutcracker | Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center | Cutler Bay
6 | Handel's Messiah & Holiday Pops | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | Barry University | Miami
6 | Holiday Concert | Sunshine Cathedral
TBD | St. Oscar | Ronnie Larsen Presents | Plays of Wilton All dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please contact the venues or organizers for official information, requirements, and specifications.
10 | Yo-Yo Ma and Solon Gordon | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts | Miami
12 - 17 | The Great Gatsby | Broadway in Miami | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
1/14 - 2/14 | Wicked | Broadway in Orlando | Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts | Miami
15 | One for All | Seraphic Fire | St. Philip's Episcopal | Coral Gables
15 - 16 | One for All | Seraphic Fire | Moorings Presbyterian
15 - 16 | Naked Magicians | Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall | Sarasota
1/15 - 2/20 | Grey Gardens | Island City Stage | Wilton Manors
1/15 - 2/20 | Upcoming Winter Premiere | Ronnie Larsen Presents | The Foundry | Wilton Manors
16 | One for All | Seraphic Fire | All Saints Episcopal | Ft Lauderdale
17 | Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA | The Moss Center
17 | One for All | Seraphic Fire | St. Gregory's Episcopal | Ft Lauderdale
17 & 19 | On the Water: A Classical Homage to America's Venice | Symphony of the Americas | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
23 | Bobby Jo Valentine in Concert | Elliott Hall | UCC Fort Lauderdale
24 | Indiantown Community Health Fair | CAN Community Health | Martin County
26 - 31 | Beethoven's Fifth & Bottesini | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | Tennessee William Theatre
26 - 31 | The Sound of Music | Broadway in Jacksonville | Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
1/30 - 2/1 | Beethoven's Fifth & Bottesini | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | The Parker | Ft Lauderdale
1/30 - 2/1 | Don Giovanni | Florida Grand Opera | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
TBD | Health & Wellness Grant Awards | The Our Fund Foundation FEBRUARY 2027
2 - 14 | Mamma Mia! | Broadway in Ft Lauderdale | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
8th
9 - 14 | The Sound of Music | Broadway in Miami | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
12 | Mr. & Miss Palm Beach Pride Pageant | Lake Worth Playhouse | Lake Worth Beach
13 | Pride Pageant | Lake Worth Playhouse | Lake Worth Beach
13 - 28 | The Great Gatsby | Broadway in Orlando | Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
13 - 28 | Mean Girls | Slow Burn Theatre | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
14 - 21 | Pride Pageant: Mandatory Registration | Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center | Lake Worth Beach
16 | Munich Philharmonic | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
16 - 21 | Florence Price's Violin Concerto No. 1 | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | The Parker
16 - 21 | Florence Price's Violin Concerto No. 1 | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | Tennessee William Theatre
- 21 | The Sound of Music | Kravis on Broadway | Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
- 20 | The Wiz | Broadway in Jacksonville | Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
18 - 20 | Don Giovanni | Florida Grand Opera | Broward Center for the Performing Arts 19 | Northern Lights | Seraphic Fire | Church of the Little Flower 19 - 27 | 41st Annual FLIFF (Feature Fest) | Savor Cinema | Gateway / Pompano
|
Gala | Art Ovation Hotel | Sarasota 20 | Sarasota Red Ribbon Gala | CAN Community Health | RitzCarlton Sarasota 21 | Northern Lights | Seraphic Fire | St. Gregory's Episcopal
9 | Florence Price's Violin Concerto No. 1 | South Florida Symphony Orchestra | New World Center 23 - 25 | A Sacred Symphonic Celebration | Symphony of the Americas | UCC Fort Lauderdale
23 - 25 | Randy Rainbow | Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall | Sarasota
23 - 28 | 16th Annual Youth Pride Band Season Finale | South Florida Pride Bands | The Parker 23 - 28 | Six | Broadway in Ft Lauderdale | Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Ft Lauderdale
All dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please contact the venues or organizers for official information, requirements, and specifications.
Scott Newton Campaign Kick off at Pub on the drive
Photos
Courtesy of SRL Media
August marks Transgender History Month. When we reflect on transgender history, certain pioneering names rightfully take center stage. We remember Christine Jorgensen (1926–1989) whose 1952 gender confirmation surgery made global headlines, launching her lifetime of outspoken advocacy. We honor Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992), a transgender woman and liberation activist at the heart of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. History also shows us Dr. James Barry (1789–1865), a 19th-century transgender man and British Army surgeon who performed the first successful Cesarean section in Africa where both mother and baby survived. We learn from Michael Dillon (1915–1962), the British physician who became the first transgender man to undergo and chronicle gender confirmation surgery in 1946, and Lili Elbe (1882–1931), the Danish painter whose early 1930s transition in Germany inspired the book and film The Danish Girl.
To this list of historic achievers, it is meaningful to add a religious dimension. Scripture itself invites this expansion. While Genesis tells us that humankind (both male and female) is made in the divine image, St. Paul later proclaims that in Christ "there is neither male nor female." Furthermore, despite centuries of patriarchal language referring to God as "He," "Father," or "Lord," the only explicit biblical mention of God possessing reproductive anatomy is found in Job 38, which speaks of God’s womb.
A Religious Perspective for Transgender History Month
By Bishop Durrell Watkins, D.Min.
gender neutral. Several early church theologians referred to the holy Spirit as "Mother," a phrasing echoed in the apocryphal Gospel of the Hebrews, where Jesus calls the Spirit his mother.
Even the mechanics of biblical creation challenge rigid gender binaries. In Genesis, Eve emerges from a male body without a maternal birth-giver. Conversely, the Gospels describe Jesus as being conceived without a human father. Taken literally, this would mean the masculine-presenting Jesus carried no Y chromosome. If we approach these foundational texts at face value, they inherently feature intersex and nonbinary realities.
Of course, interpreting ancient texts about ultimate reality is always speculative. But the point is clear: transgender, nonbinary, gender-fluid, and intersex individuals are not only natural parts of our world—their essence may also be woven into our sacred stories. Even God, who exists both beyond and inclusive of every human experience, can be beautifully understood as nonbinary.
Traditionally, Jewish and Christian mysticism view God’s Shekinah (glory) and Ruach (Spirit) as feminine or
The "T" in LGBTQIA+ is essential. All boats rise together, and we cannot achieve true liberation by securing justice for only a few letters of our community’s acronym. We are a beautifully diverse family, and every part deserves to be seen, protected, and celebrated. All people are made in the image of a nonbinary God who is love—and who, as love, fiercely embraces every single one of Their children. Praise God!
Bishop Durrell Watkins, DMin. is the Senior Minister of the Sunshine Cathedral. Sunday worship is at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM (10:30 is live streamed on Facebook and YouTube).
Photo Courtesy of Bishop Durrell Watkins,
The Gorgeous Art of Breathing
By Rev. Aaron Lauer
In her poem “You’ve Got to Start Somewhere,” Deborah Landau writes about the “gorgeous art of breathing.” Our lives have become so hectic, spurred by technology, the media, and our cultural anxiety, that breathing has indeed become a lost art.
We are always being told to do more, worry more, and seek convenience over connection. If things can’t be done quickly, then we shouldn’t do them at all. If we aren’t juggling at least 10 different projects at once, then we aren’t truly committed and don’t really care.
Breathing challenges us by asking the question, “What is life all about?” Is it about doing and achieving simply for the sake of doing and achieving? Or is it about connecting, enjoying, listening, repairing, and being present?
By framing breathing as a gorgeous art, Landau invites us to enjoy the beauty of breathing, to practice the art of inhaling and allowing our body to be still and filled with the air that gives us life.
In the second creation story in Genesis 2 (yes, there are two creation stories in Genesis!) God takes some dirt from the ground and breathes life into it. And from that stuff of earth and breath of life, the first human is formed. In fact, the word for “breath” and “wind” in ancient Hebrew is also the word for “spirit.”
How beautiful that the breath that gives us life, the breath that formed us and made us who we are, is the breath of our Creator! What if we recognized the divinity of each breath, the sacredness of inhaling and exhaling, the presence of God with us every time we breathe in and breathe out?
I hope that you can find some time each day to engage in the gorgeous art of breathing. I invite you to still your body, be present with spirit, and fill your lungs with the breath that gives you life. The world and all of its busyness will keep turning, don’t worry. But your sacred breath is always calling to you. And it’s as easy as breathing in and breathing out.
Pastor Aaron
Your Dignity Requires No One’s Permission
By Fr. Rich Vitale
For many LGBTQ+ people, this is a moment when authentic spirituality is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.
We are living in a political climate where our identities are constantly debated and our humanity is too often treated as a topic for public discussion. Turn on the television, scroll social media, or listen to certain political speeches, and the message can feel relentless: you are less worthy, less deserving, somehow less than.
No human being can absorb those messages indefinitely without consequence.
Human beings become, in many ways, the stories we repeatedly hear about ourselves. If a young person keeps hearing that people like them are dangerous simply for existing openly in public, those messages do not stay on the screen. They work their way into the heart. What begins as prejudice can become self-doubt. What begins as discrimination can become shame.
Authentic spirituality pushes back against that shame.
It begins with a simple but revolutionary truth: your dignity is not granted by politicians, governments, religious leaders, or public opinion. It belongs to you because you are human.
For Christians, that dignity rests in the conviction that every person is created in the image of God. Before anyone knew your sexual orientation or gender identity, you were already beloved.
But even beyond faith, spirituality reminds us that the most important things in life cannot be measured. We can calculate height, weight, income, and even map the human genome, yet none of those things can explain why a human life is precious.
The odds of you existing, exactly as you are, are almost beyond comprehension. Every generation before you, every chance encounter, every decision across history had to unfold precisely as it did for you to be here. In a universe of billions of galaxies, your existence is astonishingly improbable.
Some see in that the fingerprints of God. Others simply recognize that every human life possesses extraordinary value.
Either way, the conclusion is remarkably similar.
Your existence is not an accident to be apologized for.
It is a miracle to be honored.
In a world eager to define your worth for you, authentic spirituality becomes an act of resistance. It reminds us that we are more than the labels placed upon us, more than the fears projected onto us, and more than the worst things ever said about us.
Your dignity never required permission.
It never will.
One for All
By Savannah Whaley
As the country celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Ujima Men’s Collective (UMC) is continuing to advance our motto, E pluribus unum, out of many, one.
The non-profit organization for Black same gender loving men and those who love and work with them enables its members and volunteers to meet, educate and build a strong network to address issues of safety and health concerns in their community as well as strive for equality and enlightenment in the greater community.
“We chose our five tenets as leadership, advocacy, spirituality, relationships, and health and wellness so that they were broad enough to empower and enable us to be very holistic about what we do,” explained UMC Founder and Executive Director Lorenzo Robertson.
The genesis for UMC came to Robertson when he was living in Tampa and working with the People of Color AIDS Coalition. It was there he witnessed Black men networking at a conference and where he also was introduced to the annual cultural holiday Kwanzaa.
“Heterosexual men are in fraternities, they're in civic organizations, they're in Masons and there's a plethora of ways they can collectively come together and have conversations, where, unfortunately, in the gay community it was really about going to bars,” he explained. “I was looking at the different principles of Kwanzaa, and Ujima was the one with collective worker responsibilities that stood out to me because it brings people together. We’re responsible for what we're doing for community, but regardless of what we are doing together, we still have individual responsibilities.”
Since its founding, UMC has received crucial support from The Our Fund Foundation grants for social justice and arts and culture programming.
“Many years ago, when we initially started our mentoring
We chose our five tenants as leadership, advocacy, spirituality, relationships, and health and wellness.
Lorenzo Robertson Credit: Tony Brown
program, we received funding from The Our Fund Foundation to implement our protege project,” Robertson said. “It opened the door and was the catalyst for how we were able to bring older and younger Black same gender loving men together, building relationships. We try to pair people so that they're going to be beneficial to each other because we want the mentoring to be reciprocal.”
As a diverse collective of members ranging in age from 18 to 80, UMC has produced a documentary about its efforts to create intergenerational connections, which recently premiered and is being offered to film festivals.
“We're using that as a tool to educate community members about the need for more interaction within our senior community because so many times there's this divide between older and younger LGBTQ communities,” Robertson shared. “The documentary is about who the older men are now, who they were, and how they went through the AIDS epidemic.”
Another educational program that UMC has launched is the B.R.O.T.H.A.S. Project, an acronym for Brothers Reaching Out to Help Another Son, that fosters leadership and advocacy.
“We conduct these once a month at our office,” Robertson said. “They're called the Brothers’ Table because in the African American community so many things happened at the dinner table as we sat around and talked about family and ‘What did you do today?’ So, we modeled our educational session on that design.”
Since Black men have higher rates of cholesterol, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues, UMC hosts its annual Man Up Festival in the Park, offering a full day of health screenings, entertainment, education, food, and activities. UMC also offers HIV testing throughout the year and works with other organizations that do health screenings and refer those with health issues to providers who can assist them.
Robertson acknowledges that it takes a broad collective approach to meet today’s challenges.
“Our organization is here in the community, and we are here to serve the community and not just one particular population,” Robertson stressed. “There is no cost to join, and we do a lot of activities which are not specifically for and about Black men. Everyone is welcome to attend our events and functions. We still have some challenges with acceptance in our community around HIV and same sex marriage. It's gotten much better, but we still have a way to go.”
The Art of Community
The Merriam-Webster dictionary tells us that as a noun, collective is a cooperative unit or organization. However, it is that dictionary’s definition of the word as an adjective that is a clarion call for our community: “a number of persons or things considered as one group or whole” and “involving all members of a group as distinct from its individuals.”
We recently celebrated Pride. As individuals, we rejoice in our own selfrespect, acceptance, and joy in who we are. However, it is when we act beyond ourselves and work together that we move our community forward — from the Stonewall Inn rioters, to the ACT UP activists of the early AIDS crisis, to the many organizations that The Our Fund Foundation supports.
Find a group that speaks to your passion and get involved. Now, that’s something of which to be proud.
David Jobin
The Our Fund Foundation President & CEO
Angel Burgos Campaign Kick Off
at the Gray Box Theater
Photos Courtesy of SRL Media
Razor-Sharp Satirical Look at
Parenting, Privilege, and the Minefield of
Modern Communication
Closes Island City Stage’s Season
Eureka Day, winner of the 2025 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, will close out Island City Stage’s 14th season of bold, inventive storytelling! Don’t miss this smart, satirical look at parenting, privilege, and the minefield of modern communication. Tickets are on sale now for this bitingly funny and startlingly timely play running August 20 –September 13, 2026.
“When I first read Eureka Day more than five years ago, I knew we had to produce it,” said Andy Rogow, artistic director of Island City Stage. “Through searing comedy and heartfelt storytelling, this explosive play confronts us individually and as a community to question what inclusion for all really means and what we're willing to sacrifice to be inclusive.”
Welcome to Eureka Day, the ultra-progressive private school in California where every voice matters—until a mumps outbreak turns harmony into hysteria. In this, a well-meaning board of directors prides itself on consensus and inclusion. But when public health collides with personal beliefs, even the most open-minded parents find themselves at odds. As tensions rise and Zoom meetings spiral into chaos, the community must confront the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, doing the right thing means not pleasing everyone.
Eureka Day premiered at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley, California in April 2018 then moved to New York at Walkerspace the following year. Its European premiere at The Old Vic in September 2022 featured Mark McKinney, Helen Hunt, Susan Kelechi Watson, Kirsten Foster and Ben Schnetzer. In 2024, Eureka Day premiered on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre starring Bill Irwin, Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Thomas Middleditch, Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz and Eboni Flowers.
By Fran Folic
Jonathan Spector is a Tony Award-winning playwright based in Oakland, California, whose work has been produced on and off-Broadway, regionally and internationally. His plays include Eureka Day (2025 Best Revival: Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award & Dorian Award); This Much I Know (Edgerton Award, Glickman Award, BATCC Award); Birthright; Best Available; Siesta Key; and Good. Better. Best. Bested Spector’s work has been produced with Manhattan Theatre Club, the Old Vic/Sonia Friedman Productions, Pasadena Playhouse, Hampstead Theatre, Miami New Drama, Colt
Coeur, Theater J, Syracuse Stage, Asolo Rep, Aurora Theatre, Marin Theatre and Mosaic Theater, among others. He has been a MacDowell Fellow, Playwrights Foundation Resident Playwright, TheatreWorks Core Writer, Playwrights Center Core Writer, SPACE on Ryder Farm Resident and PlayPenn Haas Fellow. Jonathan is currently under commission with Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company and La Jolla Playhouse.
Added Rogow, “When Eureka Day finally became available - due, in part, to the generosity of GableStage - I grabbed and scheduled it at the earliest possible date. It is an explosive finale to a season that has been an especially strong one in terms of storytelling.”
Island City Stage’s production of Eureka Day is directed
Top Row: Brandon Campbell, Jen Chia, Rita Cole
Bottom Row: Maribeth Graham and Ted DeChatelet
Photos courtesy of the actors
by Rogow and stars Brandon Campbell (Eli), Jen Chia (Meiko), Rita Cole (Carina), Ted DeChatelet (Don), and Maribeth Graham (Suzanne).
Eureka Day Lights and Sound Sponsor is Scott Bennett and Costume Sponsor is Howard Kurzweil. Additional funding is provided by the following: The Our Fund Foundation, The Schubert Foundation Inc., the SHS Foundation, the Warten Foundation, and OutClique
Individual show tickets start at $45. A Mimosa Sunday performance sponsored by Marc Martorana & Don D'Arminio will take place on August 30. A Women’s Night at the Theater with a pre-show reception sponsored by PJ Hitchins will take place on September 4. The show runs for one hour and 50 minutes with an intermission.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org.
Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStage and on Instagram at @islandcitystage.
8th Annual Family Pride Celebration
Photos by Michael Murphy Photography, Courtesy of MODS
OutClique Celebrates Persons Of The Week
By Charles Baran
One of the major reasons I like working for OutClique Magazine is the way creative ideas about new articles, fun features, and possible cover stories are welcomed. Dr. Steven Evans, our fearless Publisher and Editor in Chief, always tells us in our weekly meeting, “If there’s something you want to write about, let me know. We’ll make it happen.”
So, a few months ago, I brought to the table an idea that had been brewing in my mind for some time—a weekly social media post on our OutClique Instagram that highlights, celebrates and honors members of our fabulous community. And by “members”, I didn’t mean the beloved and well-known leaders of our art scene, political scene, nonprofit scene and nightlife scene, who, while extremely important in making our community “tick” get a fair amount of coverage in the local LGBTQ publications. (You know who you are and we are grateful for the service you bring to our community.)
No, no, no. I mean the hard working, creative folks, that wait on us in restaurants, clip our dog’s nails, mix our cocktails, sweep the hair off the floor in our salons, sell us our morning coffee, entertain us on stage and ring up the pair of gently used jeans we just found on a back rack at Out of the Closet. These unsung heroes deserve to be honored and…gosh darn it, I wanted to honor them.
Needless to say, my idea went over like “gangbusters” when I brought it up, so I ran with it. Welcome to a roundup of the first 10 OutClique Instagram “People of the Week.” Each and every one a superstar!
I’ve had a ball working on this and I look forward to the future “People of the Week”, whomever they may be. Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Margate and all the other Broward County cities have such amazing people it would be terrific to shine a spotlight on each and every one of them. And maybe we can!
With that said, if you would like to suggest someone for “Person of the Week”, shoot me an email at charles.baran@ OutCliqueFamily.com. Because it’s all about community. Diversity. Inclusivity. As Broadway lyricist Tom Eyen wrote in his hit 1981 musical Dreamgirls:
We are a family, like a giant tree Branching out toward the sky
Photos Courtesy of Charles Baran
Cee Jay
Clovis Capuzzo
Richard Becker
Ellie Lei
Jodie Arrington
Larry Toyter
Chris Shin
Danna Davis
Eytan Deray
Katie Duvall
2026/27 Season Announced
Unstoppable Music. Unforgettable Moments.
Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso leads South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s 29th season in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Key West.
From the unmistakable first four notes of Beethoven’s epic Fifth to the exultant power of his monumental Ninth the choral masterpiece that erupts in the triumphant “Ode to Joy” finale—to Florence Price’s trailblazing Violin Concerto No. 1—these history-making works soar with heart and soul. The season opens with Shostakovich’s propulsive Symphony No. 12 and concludes with the beloved Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, one of the most treasured works in the Chinese symphonic repertoire and often called the “Romeo and Juliet of the East.”
Join us for a season that moves. That breathes. That is unstoppable.
Nov. 11 & 13 | Ft. Lauderdale & Miami Beach
Shostakovich | Symphony No. 12, “The Year 1917”
Tchaikovsky | Piano Concerto No. 1
Featuring Sheng Cai, piano
Higdon | “Cathedrals” from All Things Majestic
Dec. 5 & 6 | Ft. Lauderdale & Miami Shores
Handel’s Messiah* & Holiday Pops
Featuring the South Florida Symphony Chorus and special guest vocalists
Jan. 20 & 23 | Ft. Lauderdale & Key West
Beethoven | Symphony No. 5
Bottesini | Concerto for Double Bass No. 2
Featuring Nina Bernat, double bass
Esmail | Perhaps
Mozart | Overture to Don Giovanni
Feb. 9-13 | Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale & Key West
Barber | Adagio for Strings
Price | Violin Concerto No. 1
Featuring Melissa White, violin
Nielsen | Symphony No. 2, “The Four Temperaments”
Mar. 20-24 | Key West, Miami Beach & Ft. Lauderdale
Beethoven | Symphony No. 9 with Grand Opera Arias
Featuring the South Florida Symphony Chorus and dazzling guest vocalists
Apr. 14 | Ft. Lauderdale
Brahms | Symphony No. 4
Chen & He | Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto
Featuring Huifang Chen, violin
Beethoven | Overture to Coriolan
*Subscription Add-On. Dates and programming subject to change.
Stonewall Pride BBQ
at the Home of Don D’Arminio and Marc Martorana
Photos Courtesy of SRL Media
Don D'Arminio’s Campaign Kick Off Party at
Hagan Park
Photos Courtesy of SRL Media
STATEWIDE REACH
In South Florida, our clinics are here to support individuals with personalized accessible care:
- PrEP, PEP, and DoxyPEP Services
- HIV Care and Support
- Medical Telehealth Appointments Available - Comprehensive Primary Care
