SFGN 02/11/21 V12iss6

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE FEBRUARY 11, 2021 VOL. 12 // ISSUE 6

SCOTT TRAVIS A JOURNALIST’S STORY — FROM PARKLAND TO PULITZER PAGES 10

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

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QUEER TEACHER BEHIND BERNIE SANDERS’ NOW FAMOUS MITTENS

2

• 2 .11. 2021

Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com

Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Webmaster • Kimberly Swan Webmaster@sfgn.com Social Media Director • Christiana Lilly Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold JW@prdconline.com Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • John McDonald HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com

R

emember Bernie Sanders’ now famous mittens from inauguration day? Turns out a queer school teacher from Vermont is behind them. And now she’s using her newfound fame to raise money for summer camp for LGBT youth.

With the Bernie Sanders’ mitten meme growing popular each day, Camp Outright came up with a way to earn money for LGBT youth to attend camp.

Perhaps one of the reasons why the meme is so popular is because rather than wear formal attire, Sanders wore a parka and a large pair of fluffy mittens.

Sanders reacted to the memes by defending his choice of clothing: “In Vermont we dress warm. We know something about the cold, and we’re not so concerned about good fashion. We want to keep warm, and that’s what I did [on that day],” he told CBS 8.

Another reason why the mittens went viral is because of the queer teacher who created ELLIS ADMITTED them in the first place: Jen Ellis.

TO THE Ellis admitted to The Advocate that she gave Sanders Camp Outright is a place ADVOCATE the mittens when he lost the for LGBT youth to find a THAT SHE GAVE election to Hillary Clinton in sense of belonging since they 2016.

SANDERS THE face rejection and isolation “I was just sad because even worldwide, therefore they MITTENS WHEN though I like Hillary, I’m also are always looking for ways to HE LOST THE super pro-Bernie, and as a make the youth feel like they public school teacher, I can belong, according to the press ELECTION TO see every day how families release.

HILLARY CLINTON are struggling. People are just The organization also trying to make ends meet and provides other programs such IN 2016. they need things like student as Friday Night Group, which loan forgiveness and free is a support group for selfeducation and a lot of the things that Bernie identified queer, trans, and questioning youth is fighting for,” Ellis told The Advocate. “I ages 13-22, and another social group for kids sent him these mittens kind of as a shout- under 13 who their parents/caregivers can join out to who he is, and I put a note in that said as well. something to the effect of ‘I hope you run By using the mittens to her advantage, Ellis again.’” helped raise nearly $20,000 by people from

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February 11, 2021 • Volume 12 • Issue 6

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Correspondents

Dori Zinn • Donald Cavanaugh Christiana Lilly • John McDonald Denise Royal • David-Elijah Nahmod

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

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Jen Ellis. Photo courtesy of Jen Ellis.

across the country in just six days, according to the press release.

On Jan. 29, Outright held an auction with John Canning being the top bidder for mittens at $7,650. Being a longtime supporter of Outright, he donated the mittens back, causing a second bidder to win them and raising a total of $14,850 that day, according to the press release.

Because of the success of the auction, Canning came up with a challenge that if Outright could raise an additional $10,000

by Feb. 5, Physician’s Computer Company will match those gifts dollar for dollar.

To help support LGBT youth attend camp, you can donate to Mitten Magic Continues on the Outright website.

In the wake of the pandemic, the camp will be held virtually this year.

COVER: Scott Travis posing with the Pulitzer Prize. Photo courtesy of Scott Travis.

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BY PIER GUIDUGLI AND NORM KENT South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community.

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2 .11. 20 21 •

3

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY AVRAHAM FORREST

THE WORLD AROUND

CENTRAL EUROPE

AFRICA

THREE COUNTRIES LEAVE PROJECT AFTER POLISH ANTI-LGBT RESOLUTION

FOUR LGBT SHELTERS OPEN IN CAMEROON

Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein pulled out of a $2.25 million culture and natural heritage project in Poland after the country passed an anti-LGBT resolution, Reuters reported.

The decision became known on Feb. 2, Reuters reported. The three nations canceled a grant to Poland’s Carpathian Mountains in September.

Letters between Poland and Norway officials posted by a Polish LGBT activist on his website revealed the decision, Reuters reported.

Poland’s minister of funds and regional policy said in a letter that the nation’s LGBT-free zones, the subject of much of the uproar, are not discriminatory. The letter was also published on the activist’s website.

Podkarpackie, a region in Poland,

• 2 .11. 2021

Carpathian Mountains, Poland. Credit: kallerna, via Wikipedia.

passed a resolution in 2019 which expressed opposition to the promotion and affirmation of LGBT ideology, Reuters reported. In September, Norway said it would not fund the Polish municipalities that have passed LGBTfree resolutions, almost a 100 now.

In Cameroon, four organizations have opened shelters in response to violence, human rights abuses and family rejections LGBT people have faced, Erasing 76 Crimes reported.

LGBT advocacy organizations Camfaids, 2HRC, Alcondoms and Colibri run the shelters.

Shelters provide medical and psychological assistance as well as employment training, 76 Crimes reported.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is funding the project, the United States Agency for International Development is supervising and Care Cameroon’s Human Rights Grant program is supporting it.

The shelters also provide bunk beds, bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms, 76 Crimes reported. Each shelter can fit

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the shelter run by Camfaids in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Photo courtesy of Camfaids.

around 15 residents.

Residents can stay in shelters between one and three months based on their circumstance. Each shelter comes with a manager who monitors security, in addition to other duties.

EASTERN EUROPE

NORTH AMERICA

GAY CHECHENS FACE DANGER

QUEBEC RULINGS MARK PROGRESS FOR TRANS COMMUNITY

A LGBT rights group said two gay men face danger in Chechnya after they were seized by near Moscow last week, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The two men were detained for unknown reasons and sent back to Chechnya. A spokesman for the LGBT Network, a rights group, said the Federal Security Service domestic intelligence agency detained and sent back the two men, AFP reported.

The two Chechen men attempted to flee to a region East of Moscow in June of last year after they were tortured by Chechen special police in April, AFP reported.

Spokesman Tim Bestsvet said the two men were initially arrested due to their sexual orientation, AFP reported.

Officially, the men were arrested for

4

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Photo via PxHere.

operating an opposition Telegram, an instant messaging service, channel.

A Quebec Superior Court judge invalidated several Civil Code articles on Jan. 29, which included articles preventing the change of the legal sex listed on individuals’ “act of birth” documents, the CBC reported.

Also invalidated was a provision requiring someone be an identified as mother or father in birth documents, excluding non-binary options. The CBC reported Justice Gregory Moore gave the province of Quebec until the end of 2021 to make the amendments.

Sophia D’Aoust, president of Gender Mosaic, a transgender social and support group, told the CBC changing hearts or minds of society is another hurdle.

“Society needs to be changed through education, understanding,

Photo via Adobe.

comprehension, support, acceptance and love,” D’Aoust told the CBC.

2 .11. 20 21 •

5

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY ELLIOT RODRIGUEZ

GAY VINE THE

KEEP UP WITH THE CELEBRITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

MUSIC

DRAG

OUT AT LAST

BITCH PLEASE!

GINNY LEMON MAKES ‘HERSTORY’ IN ‘DRAG RACE UK’

COUNTRY SINGER T.J. OSBORNE IS GAY T.J. Osborne, lead vocalist of the band The Brother Osborne, opened up about his sexuality in a recent article published

by Time.

“I’m very comfortable being gay,” Osborne told Time. He also noted, “I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don’t have a problem with. That feels so strange.”

Osborne may now just be telling the public he’s gay; he’s been out to family and close friends for a long time.

It is understandable to see why Osborne was a little hesitant over the years to go public with his statement. Time notes, “Country music remains a bastion of mainstream conservatism in American arts and culture. If liberal Hollywood

T.J. Osborne. Photo via Facebook.

is notorious for pushing a progressive agenda, the country has historically been its counterpoint.”

The brothers still plan on continuing their journey with music and plan on opening a wider horizon for new fans to feel welcomed.

Ginny Lemon, after appearing in the bottom two in the competition, decided to just walk out and not do a lip-sync battle.

Pinknews UK said, “Not since BenDeLaChrist has a ‘Drag Race’ queen shook up proceedings quite like Ginny Lemon.”

Lemon was obviously not feeling a lipsync battle, but she did fancy a cup of tea.

In an interview with Pinknews UK she said, “I’m making herstory, as they say.

Basically all I decided to do was go and have a cup of tea, and by the time I came back all the lights were off. And as far as I’m aware RuPaul has never said ‘Ginny Lemon, sashay away,’ so I’m still in the competition, technically.”

What caused her to just leave during

Ginny Lemon. Photo credit: RuPaul’s UK Drag Race.

the middle of the competition? Lemon said it was a multitude of reasons, but the biggest reason was that she had to go with her gut feeling.

“It said to me ‘Ginny, they’re not buying what you’re selling.’ And there was no way that I was going to go up against somebody I had such a blossoming friendship with.”

FILM

DIVERSITY

GERMAN ACTORS DEMAND REPRESENTATION German actors are calling for more screen diversity. One hundred and eighty-five out German actors have taken it upon themselves to write a letter to the German entertainment industry to resolve the issue.

The actors published an “#ActOut manifesto” in the leading German newspaper the Süddeutsche Zeitung, according to Queerty.

“Until now, we haven’t been able to be open about our private lives without fearing professional consequences.

All too often, many of us have been cautioned — be it by managers, casting agents, colleagues, producers, editors,

6

• 2 .11. 2021

directors, etc. — to keep quiet about our sexual orientations and gender identities to avoid jeopardizing our careers,” Queerty noted.

The actors say that straight white men dominate the television industry in Germany.

German actors know that the audience is changing, and is ready for diversity on screen. They refer to the advances that America has taken in recent years and the effort that they have put in to include more of the LGBT community on screen.

Another actor said, “The experience of the last few years has shown that the

viewing habits for film and TV series are expanding and changing ... Diversity has long been a lived social reality in Germany. Sadly, this fact is still hardly reflected in our cultural narratives.”

To go along with the manifesto written up by the German actors, Queerty said that the “Süddeutsche Zeitung ran an article about how it came to be created, including interviews with some of the signatories.”

It looks like Germany and its audience is ready to see some changes to the big screen; change seems to be right around the corner one brave step at a time.

Tom Keune, one of the 185 out German actors to add their name to the “#ActOut manifesto.” Photo via Tom Keune, Facebook.

NEWS STATE

WEEKLY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA Sean McShee

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 CASES IN Cumulative COVID-19 Cases in THREE SOUTHKnown FLORIDA COUNTIES:

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 DEATHS IN THREE SOUTH FLORIDA COUNTIES: Cumulative Cumulative Known KnownCOVID-19 COVID-19Cases Deathsinin

Three South Florida Counties:

FEBRUARY 2 THROUGH February 2 through FEBRUARY February 8 8

Three Florida ThreeSouth South FloridaCounties: Counties: FEBRUARY 2 THROUGH FEBRUARY 8

February February22through throughFebruary February88

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases from 2/2 to 2/8 Palm Beach 3.0%, Broward 2.9%, and Miami Dade 2.6%

174,679

175,306

176,144

177,319

178,116

384,971

383,601

382,186

380,716

377,999

376,552

375,322

Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 from Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 casesdeaths from 2/2 to 2/2 2/8 to 2/8 Beach Broward and Miami PalmPalm Beach 3.0%,3.2%, Broward 2.9%,3.1%, and Miami DadeDade 2.6% 2.7%

178,948

179,745

2,199 174,679

2,119

2/2

2/3

Palm Beach

2/4

2/5

111,437

111,024

110,639

110,108

109,219

108,585

108,173

2/6

Broward

2/7

2/8

Source Fl DOH Dashboard

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

2,125

2/2 2/2

177,319

176,144 2,238

2,139

2/3 2/3

Palm Beach

2/4 2/4

178,116 2,249

2,249 2,150

2,162

2/5 2/5

Palm Beach Broward Broward

2,250 178,948 2,169

2/6 2/6

179,745 2,269 2,185 111,437

111,024

110,639

110,108

109,219

108,585

108,173

Miami-Dade

175,306 2,212

5,039 384,971

5,011 383,601

382,186 4,979

380,716 4,964

4,942 377,999

4,919 376,552

4,907 375,322

2/72/7

2/82/8

Miami Dade Miami-Dade Source Fl DOH Dashboard Source Fl DOH Dashboard

Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

2 .11. 20 21 •

7

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This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

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Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

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BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.  BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

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• 2BVYC0218_BIKTARVY_B_10X10-75_SouthFloridaGayNews_Dimitri_r1v1jl.indd .11. 2021

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GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.  Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP ASPIRING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0218 04/20

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2 .11. 20 21PM • 4/13/20 4:57

9

NEWS STATE

A STORY THAT SLOWS YOU DOWN GAY EDUCATION REPORTER CHANGED BY PARKLAND TRAGEDY John McDonald

F

or Scott Travis, his career in journalism could be described as a course in for better or for worse.

What began with monitoring comics for gay content eventually led to writing for a Pulitzer Prize winning team. Feb. 14 marks the three-year anniversary of the Parkland shooting when a troubled teen walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with a semi-automatic rifle and killed 17 people. Travis was part of the Sun Sentinel’s reporting team that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service for exposing the failings by school and law enforcement officials in preventing the tragedy.

Scott Travis posing with the Pulitzer Prize.

Photo courtesy of Scott Travis.

10

• 2 .11.2021

“I thought that winning a Pulitzer was an incredible honor and an incredible outrage,” Travis said. “It was an outrage because of the fact that 17 people died, and if that hadn’t happened then we wouldn’t have won it.

It was so preventable in all the reporting that we did because all the warning signs were there that this person was gonna do something.”

Travis began working at the Sun Sentinel in 1999, where he covers education. He admits to being a thorn in the side of the Broward County Public Schools. Recently, Travis’ reporting led to the indictment of the School District’s Chief Information Officer on charges of bribery and bid rigging.

“There’s a lot of problems with the school district,” Travis said. “There are many concerns that it’s not run very well. They’re the subject of a grand jury investigation right now. Depending on what the outcome of that is, it makes everybody in the district’s future uncertain if it turns out to be something real bad.”

In terms of equality and acceptance of LGBT issues, Travis gave the district high marks.

“Broward is better than most,” he said. “It’s probably one of the most LGBTQ friendly school districts in the country. As much corruption, misspending and incompetence there has been, their heart seems to be in the right place when it comes to LGBTQ. It was one of the first school districts to do a proclamation for LGBT history month.

They’ve done a number of forums and included LGBTQ views in a lot of their programming on vulnerable teens.”

Travis admits he was spared any sort of discrimination growing up in Alabama. He came out to his mother at 27, frustrated with her constant inquiries into his dating life.

“She kept asking me over and over again about what seemed like every woman I had ever met,” Travis said.

Over time, Travis said, his parents became more accepting.

“Their generation just didn’t talk about it,” he said.

It was a gradual coming out process in his first reporting jobs in Mississippi and North Carolina.

“I wasn’t out at my first job in Natchez,” he said. “”In Hattiesburg and Fayetteville most

NEWS STATE

of the reporters knew I was gay, some of the editors did but nobody ever treated me bad because of it,” he said.

It was at Hattiesburg American in Mississippi where an editor asked Travis to check the comic strips for gay subject matter.

“He wanted to know if it was there so he could be prepared,” Travis said.

Later, while working at Fayetteville Observer in North Carolina, Travis endured a demeaning company policy which refused to recognize homosexuality as normal, did not encourage reporting on gay issues and advised against listing gay lovers in obituaries.

“We have no interest in being a homosexual bulletin board,” Travis recalled of the policy, which is long gone.

It was through NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists that Travis got a fresh start in South Florida. He took a vacation day at the Fayetteville paper, traveled to Atlanta for the annual NLGJA convention and was hired by the Sun Sentinel. Looking back, it was a covert move, Travis said.

“I went on my own to the gay conference so I obviously didn’t feel comfortable about it,” he said.

Nearly two decades later, with sexual orientation disclosure issues behind him, Travis had one of the country’s biggest stories erupt on his beat. Simply put, the Parkland shooting changed him.

“This was a story where there was no moving on,” he said.

Emotion, Travis said, is often lacking in journalists who have death, destruction, illness, and mishaps as daily assignments.

Parkland put a pause on the easy dismissal of bad news.

“It probably made me a lot more police reports and find out that a lot of stuff empathetic and in touch with reality,” he never got reported and nobody had any real added. “Before Parkland it was really easy for clue how safe their school was.” me to move from one story to the next and Nora Rupert was Chair of the School Board not fully take in the grief I would see people when Parkland happened. She called Travis experiencing after the tragedy.” a consummate professional.

Brittany Wallman is one of Travis’ “I found him very funny, engaging and colleagues at the Sun Sentinel and was a extremely knowledgeable,” Rupert said. member of the Pulitzer Prize “What he doesn’t know, he winning investigations team. finds out. He’s relentless in She describes Travis as a asking for information even “truth warrior” with a great when people are trying to sense of humor who works shut him down.” long hours exposing cover Travis’ reporting ups, trying to get information eventually drew retaliation leaked and staying in contact measures. In December with sources. They worked of 2018, a public relations together in the newspaper’s consultant hired by the Deerfield Beach offices. district called Travis a “I always teased him, ‘Do “skanky jerk” who was you live here? Where’s your “sloppy,” “reckless” and pillow?” Wallman said. “He “smells bad.” was always at his desk every “He handled that so night before I left.” gracefully,” recalls Wallman.

Travis penned five of the “He was the bigger person.

Sun Sentinel’s Pulitzer Prize The best kind of people winning articles. He said the are the ones who can smile big lie was that the school through adversity and not was super safe and rarely let the barbs get under - Scott Travis had discipline issues. your skin. Obviously in “If you looked at the crime journalism, we have a lot of stats of Stoneman Douglas haters.” it looked like the safest school in the state With the anniversary approaching so too because every incident whether it was come the reminders of denial. There are guns, bullying, or trespassing, whatever, it people who float theories that Parkland was would look like zero and it would look like staged and carried out by “crisis actors.” everyone wanted to go there because this is a These conspiracy theorists are part of the safe school,” Travis said. “It turned out to all QAnon cult, promoted by the likes of newly be a lie because we were able to get copies of elected Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. A video recently surfaced showing Greene harassing Parkland survivor David Hogg outside the U.S. Capitol building.

Greene has also called Hogg, now 20, a “coward,” “idiot” and “trained dog.”

“It’s horrible,” Travis said. “I covered a professor at FAU who was a Sandy Hook denier. To see somebody do that really angers me because it totally disregards the pain and the grief that so many people are having to go through. There’s nothing fake about what happened. These people clearly died. I don’t understand why they do that.

I don’t know what they get out of it. It just seems like a mental illness when people start to say stuff like that.”

Parkland, Travis said, was a wake-up call for the system and some of the participants, like Hogg, Emma Gonzalez and Fred Guttenberg, have become well-known advocates for gun control and red flag laws.

The tragedy also propelled conservative figures like Andrew Pollack, whose daughter

“BEFORE PARKLAND IT WAS REALLY EASY FOR ME TO MOVE FROM ONE STORY TO THE NEXT AND NOT FULLY TAKE IN THE GRIEF I WOULD SEE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING AFTER THE TRAGEDY.”

Photo courtesy of Scott Travis.

Meadow was killed, into the national spotlight and led to the election of two current board members — Debbi Hixon and Lori Alhadeff — who lost family members in the shooting.

“It turned a sleepy community into a catalyst for action,” Travis said.

In the aftermath, when most of the national and international media left, it was up to local reporters to stay with the story and hold those in power accountable.

“The Sun Sentinel put in a lot of time, experience and manpower,” said Rupert.

“I don’t know how they did it because they were certainly getting quite thin. It was truly a remarkable effort by the Sun Sentinel and for Scott because he led their reporting.”

As for his future, Travis said he misses the newsroom. The COVID-19 pandemic required the Sun Sentinel to go remote.

Travis, 50, is single and lives in Delray Beach.

He enjoys singing karaoke, performing in community theatre and is occasionally mistaken on Twitter for the hip-hop rapper Travis Scott.

“It’s a little lonely, we’ve been remote since the pandemic,” he said. “I like not having to dress up and work from my couch, miss being around other reporters and collaboration that goes on and the camaraderie that goes on. Reporters are sort of my people, probably more so than gay people are. Being a journalist is in my DNA.” Ironically, the Parkland school is named in honor of award-winning journalist, conservationist and woman’s suffrage advocate Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

“I think it’s important to remember that as journalists we’re human too and we feel hurt and suffering too,” Travis said.

A memorial in Parkland. Photo courtesy of Scott Travis.

2 .11. 20 21 •

11

LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENDALL LITTLE

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Transgender

FORMER WWE WRESTLER COMES OUT AS TRANS Retired WWE wrestler Gabbi Tuft, formerly known as Tyler Reks in the ring, has come out as transgender in an emotional Instagram post.

She reflected on her journey saying, “The previous eight months have been some of the darkest of my entire life. The emotional turmoil of being transgender and having to face the world has almost ended me on multiple occasions.”

Even though accepting herself has been difficult, Tuft says that she loves who she is.

“I am no longer afraid and I am no longer fearful. I can now say with confidence, that I love myself for WHO I am,” she said.

Tuft says that her family has been by her side throughout her transition and that she is eternally grateful for them.

She said that the key to coming out and

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• 2 .11.2021

T

Gabbi Tuft. Photo via Instagram.

accepting yourself is ignoring what others may say.

“The day I stopped caring about what other people thought was the day I truly became limitless and allowed my authentic self to come into the light,” Tuft said.

... HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY

B

Bisexual

BI ACTRESS NOMINATED FOR GOLDEN GLOBE

Sarah Paulson, best known for her work in “American Horror Story,” has been nominated for a Golden Globe this year for her role in “Ratched.”

Paulson plays a young nurse named Mildred Ratched who uses manipulation to gain power at the hospital that her brother is locked up at. Ratched also explores her sexuality throughout the first season, realizing that she is attracted to other women.

In its first 28 days on Netflix “Ratched” was watched by 48 million Netflix users, which made it the most successful season 1 Netflix original for the year 2020.

The Golden Globes nominated Paulson for her leading role in the drama series along with Olivia Colman, Jodie Comer, Emma Corrin, and Laura Linney.

Sarah Paulson. Photo via Facebook.

The five women were nominated for Best Television Actress — Drama Series.

LGBTQIA BITES

L

Lesbian

NEW AMERICAN GIRL DOLL HAS LESBIAN AUNTS

This year’s American Girl Doll of the Year, Kira Bailey, has brought controversy for an unusual reason — she has lesbian aunts.

The book that comes with the doll, titled “Kira Down Under,” explains that Kira travels to Australia to visit her aunts’ wildlife sanctuary. PinkNews says that “the book casually mentions that the two women got married after the law was changed to allow it.”

This is the first time that there has been LGBT representation within the brand and it has received mixed reviews.

One Twitter user said, “AMERICAN GIRL DOLL MADE LESBIAN DOLLS IM SO HAPPY IM BUYING ONE AAHHHH.” Another Twitter user said, “Wait how do I buy this American girl doll with the lesbian aunts for my niece????”

However, not all the reactions were as pleasant.

“Over 20,000 people have backed an online petition asking The American Girl

“Kira Bailey.” Credit: American Girl.

company to scrap an LGBT storyline tied to its 2021 Girl of the Year doll, urging the company to remain neutral in what they call a ‘culture war,’” says the Christian Post.

Their reasoning? “As Christians, we know that even though something is legalized doesn’t make it moral or right,” said One Million Moms.

As of now, American Girl has not responded to the petition.

and

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NEWS LOCAL

GAY MAN RECOVERING AFTER HIT-AND-RUN INCIDENT IN FORT LAUDERDALE Christiana Lilly

A

lmost a month after being hit by a car and left on the side of the road, Matt Masters is still recovering from his injuries — and wants to know who did it.

“I just remember the headlights and the revving engine. I just couldn’t believe it, it just came out of nowhere,” he remembers.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 16, Masters was walking his bicycle through a crosswalk after having dinner with friends. As he goes through the crosswalk at Northwest 16th Street and Northwest Seventh Avenue, a car sped through a stop sign and the crosswalk, sending Masters flying into the air and landing by the sidewalk. The car did not slow down or stop, and another car traveling at a high speed followed behind him.

According to surveillance footage recovered by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and shared with SFGN, Masters is seen slowly rolling closer to the sidewalk, as if to get away from the road. He says he doesn’t remember anything after being hit — he’s not sure if he blacked out or was in shock. His bicycle was cracked and bent, landing about 20 feet away from him.

“I’m lucky I’m not dead,” he said. “I thought I was unconscious, but from the video, I think I was more in shock. I wasn’t coherent of where I was.”

Luckily, about 10 minutes later, a waste management employee drove past and stopped to check on Masters. He called the police, who arrived minutes later. Emergency medical services arrived and took him to Broward Medical Center, where doctors worked on his fractured pelvis, lacerations on his knees, legs and on his side. He was given stitches and sent home a few hours later.

However, it seemed he was released too quickly. Later that afternoon while recovering at a friend’s home, he passed out on the lawn from the pain. He was taken to Coral Springs Medical Center the next day.

Today, Masters is undergoing physical therapy twice a week with a home health aide.

He gets around using crutches and a walker, or if he has further to go, he uses a wheelchair. A

Matthew Masters. Screenshot via WPLG Local 10, YouTube.

project manager for a construction company, he hasn’t been able to go to site visits and does what he can working from home.

“This case is currently listed as inactive,” Fort Lauderdale Det. Ali Adamson said in a statement to SFGN. “At this time, all available leads have been exhausted and the case will remain inactive pending any new follow-up information.”

According to the police report, based on the pieces of the car left behind, the vehicle was a black Nissan.

“I explained to [Masters] that without something further to follow up on, this investigation is complete,” the report reads.

Masters said he hopes the driver is found and “doesn’t hurt anybody else.” Just two days before Masters was injured, a 59-yearold woman was killed in a hit and run accident about 3 miles away in Oakland Park.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office hosted a press conference with the late woman’s daughter, who asked for the driver to come forward.

“I would like to see something done about pedestrian-friendly roads and cracking down on speeding so nobody else gets hurt,” Masters said.

If you have any information, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.

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INT’L CONDOM DAY

SCAN FOR TICKETS

2 .11. 20 21 •

15

NEWS LOCAL

LATINOS SALUD ANNUAL GALA GOES VIRTUAL — WITH A TWIST John Hayden

Photos courtesy of Latinos Salud.

F

or now, if you want to party, you need to bring the party to you. Latinos Salud is doing just that with their annual gala.

Usually the fun affair brings the South Florida community together in a huge ballroom with engaging hosts, eye-popping entertainment, and lots of surprises. The same is happening with this year’s event, minus the huge ballroom.

On Feb. 27, Latinos Salud will present From Social Bubbles to Community: A “Blended” Gala. Executive Director Stephen Fallon told SFGN that the virtual party will be nothing like the virtual events we’ve gotten used to over the past year.

“While we won’t be able to dance and dine together in the same venue, this Gala will stand out from the screen-staring affairs that have turned viewers into Zoom-zombies. Latinos Salud’s Gala will innovate, by breaking through the virtual wall, and turning the camera around to share all the fun from safe watch parties taking place all over the region.”

Latinos Salud wants everyone to organize small, safe parties at home.

They will provide the party atmosphere. Before the event, a Benefit In A Box will appear at your place. Inside will be everything you need to feel the social connection we’re all missing these days.

What’s inside the Benefit In A Box depends on what you sign up for.

Like all good galas, you need a ticket. “Freemium” tickets get you online access to all the action and a box. Premium level features early access to the silent auction (and the ability to “buy it now”) and you may get to be featured on the gala’s feed. That means you need to be ready to strut your stuff and make a little noise. If you want to go big and be a VIP, you get all that plus the VIP Benefit In A Box, with supplies for up to four people.

From the ticket upgrades to the silent auction to donations made during the party, the money is worth it. Latinos Salud has consistently served the community despite the challenges and dangers posed by the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, Fallon said they’ve done even more.

“Latinos Salud stayed entirely open for all individual level services during the pandemic. Because we were absorbing community members who found their usual place of service closed, we actually served more community members in 2020 than ever before, with over 5,500 HIV tests, among other services.”

Once you join the party, which starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, you’ll barely be able to keep up. Videos from the community, along with live feeds from fellow partiers will hit the screen, along with surprise guest artists.

For up-to-the-minute details and to register for tickets, visit their website, LatinosSalud.org 16

• 2 .11.2021

LATINOS SALUD HAS CONSISTENTLY SERVED THE COMMUNITY DESPITE THE CHALLENGES AND DANGERS POSED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS.

THE

GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 3 FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Wilton Manors & Oakland Park FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

Healing — One Brush Stroke At A Time Wilton Manors Parkland mural gets a much needed facelift

By John Hayden It’s been three years since the school be expressed in a creative way instead of having shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High those emotions push down inside. And when School (MSD) in Parkland. While the shock has they placed the tiles together, it was almost slowly faded, the pain remains for the survivors, electric.”

This turned out to be a positive first step, but the families of victims, and the South Florida community. Now a place dedicated to healing, due to the scope of the tragedy, Dr. Busciolano knew more had to be done and reflection, and peace in Wilton took a leap of faith.

Manors is getting some TLC, “I wanted more! And as I making sure it will be here for “... They could looked around I saw an empty a long time to come. allow their raw wall in front of Lola’s Bazaar, The mural and MSD and without specific plan, Memorial Rock Garden outside emotions to be I called Evan Anthony, the Lola’s Bazaar Market was expressed in a owner, and said ‘Would you created in the aftermath of the give me that wall for the MSD shooting. While many of the creative way instead students?’” student survivors made sure of having those Anthony was happy to the world paid attention by provide the canvas. Now the using their political leverage of emotions push down project needed direction. the moment, others suffered in Next Dr. Busciolano was silence. inside. And when able to meet Lauren Rosa, the Dr. Julio Busciolano is a they placed the tiles art teacher at MSD. Being able mental health therapist who to work with someone who worked with many of them, together, it was had an established physical and told SFGN about what he almost electric.” and emotional connection saw, and how he was inspired to the students helped bring to help them heal through art.

- Dr. Julio Busciolano everything together.

“I saw in these survivors “Meeting Lauren was a gift. an initial sense of confusion, related to PTSD symptoms: lack of sleep, An amazing and talented professional that tendency to isolate, flashbacks, panic with led the project every weekend,” he said. “But noises, etc.,” he said. “Above all a sense of by the end of July she had to leave for her new job at the Department of Defense in Tokyo. It disconnection with self and others.”

In the days after the shooting, students were was difficult for the young artists but they were given tiles and encouraged to express their resilient and continued to come on their own.”

Even though he isn’t a trained artist, Dr. feelings through art.

“So they could allow their raw emotions to Busciolano stayed close to the project by

Photo credit: Courtesy Dr. Julio Busciolano.

setting up a booth at the bazaar, selling his vinyl records. He watched as the students painted the eagle, then used portraits of the victims to create their images on the wall.

When you visit, you can’t help but be moved.

Each picture is a lost member of our community, memories kept alive by a community that cares and refuses to forget.

“When you experience trauma, words are insufficient,” he said. “Positive change happens when human beings can express themselves through artwork, reframing feelings and I believe, mostly in this case, they produce a deliberate response to an experience.”

Now, to mark the three year anniversary, the mural is getting some much needed upkeep.

www.WMGAZETTE.com

From heavy rains to fading in the sun, South Florida weather is tough on outdoor art.

Viviana Werner, an MSD alum, started the restoration, and is thankful to Kimberly Marie from Holy Mackerel who donated the paint, as well as the continued support from Wesley Schultz and Evan Anthony at Lola’s Bazaar.

Dr. Busciolano is glad the mural will continue to be here for others.

“Throughout these three years I’ve seen people stopping by and crying, praying, getting angry, struggling to make sense, and families talking to their children,” he said. “A powerful moment: the day when a Sandy-Hook survivor joined an MSD survivor at the mural and held hands.”

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WILTON MANORS

OPINION

Red Dot Technology is Not the Best Use of Resources

Preventing and deterring crime is a justified use of funds but there are other technologies that are more suited for the Island City

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Webmaster • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com

Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald

Correspondents

Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun

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and to public safety. Many other crime prevention methods could also have been paid for utilizing this funding source. Unfortunately limited resources will now go to the purchase of Red Dot technology for patrol firearms.

I welcome the difference of opinions and the factual debate when arguing the pros and cons of certain projects before our City Commission.

However, I was somewhat put off by the disingenuous response by police hierarchy in a response to City Commission inquiry on the need for such Red Dot technology.

The response sited the recent killing of the FBI agents in the City of Sunrise as a need for any technology that brings our uniformed officers home safely to their families at night.

The use of Red Dot technology would have done nothing to save the lives of those FBI agents. Perhaps laws that prevent criminals from purchasing armor piercing bullets and having stricter gun purchasing laws might have made a difference, but Red Dot equipped firearms would not.

There is no doubt that such technology benefits specific areas of law enforcement. Swat teams, sharp shooters, special trained forces are definite areas where such technology is needed and justified. Our city relies on those services from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office to my knowledge.

The need to equip all our patrol officers

with such technology just does not carry any merit, especially when you look at what such a program achieves.

Compare this to the purchase of much needed crime prevention technology which have measured success rates in the reduction of criminal activity within a city’s boundaries along with the increased apprehension of criminals looking to target residents, their homes and their vehicles.

To me the choice is clear.

In a perfect world, where money is no object, and we can all have everything we want — then perhaps we might be able to justify the cost and required training hours needed for Red Dot technology here in our small city. Unfortunately we do not live in such a world and tough decisions have to made every day on how best to use limited resources. This week, in my opinion, our City Commission failed to make those tough choices.

Being the eternal optimist that I am, I await promises from police brass that they have a plan for the purchase of much demanded and needed crime prevention technology such as the license plate scanners. Hopefully we will see them quicker than other long-promised items that keep getting pushed back year after year due to budgetary restraints.

Sometimes you have to accept the decisions of others who might not share the same point of view. Hopefully our city leaders have made the right choice and my doubts tonight are over blown. The ability to have a difference of opinion, to be able to question, to express one’s doubts and beliefs are all part of what makes life in Wilton Manors just better here…

www.WMGAZETTE.com • 2 .11.2021

February 11, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 3

Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com

The need to equip all our patrol officers with such technology just does not carry any merit, especially when you look at what such a program achieves.

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GAZETTE

Editorial

By Sal Torre In a city the size of Wilton Manors, with limitations on funding for lofty ideas, the watchdog function of our City Commission to question certain projects is ever more important. Unfortunately our City Commission missed an opportunity this week to exercise this important function of our local government.

The Wilton Manors Police Department requested City Commission approval for the use of funding from the State Forfeiture Fund to purchase what is called Red Dot technology for patrol firearms. This technology retrofits firearms with the ability to project a red dot to improve the accuracy, safety and efficiency when a patrol officer needs to discharge their firearm in the line of duty.

On the surface such technology sounds wonderful and useful. In reality here in Wilton Manors, some might think this is as an unnecessary expense, especially when other much-needed crime prevention technology and equipment are monetarily out of reach for our small city.

Use of State Forfeiture Funds are governed by state statute, which specifically states funds be utilized for crime prevention, safe neighborhoods, drug abuse education and drug prevention programs.

One would need to stretch the scope of this program to include Red Dot technology for firearms, along with the cost of many hours of specific training of personnel, as a needed program that represents the best usage of such funding.

Many in our community affected by the increase in criminal activity can rest easier tonight knowing that our police patrols will now be equipped with Red Dot technology for firearms rarely discharged in the line of duty.

Some might argue that technology such as license plate readers might be a more effective and needed technology for our local police department. Criminals entering our city in a stolen vehicle pose a real threat to our residents

THE

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com.

SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs.

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A brown anole.

Photo via Pixabay.

WILTON MANORS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Slow Down on NE 26th Street I’m writing to ask you to run a public service blurb, once again, to alert tourists and snowbirds, heading for the warm fun and frolics of Wilton Manors, about the speed trap on NE 26th Street, perpetrating as a school zone. They will be looking to SFGN for information on what’s happening in the neighborhood and my hope is that, with your help, they’ll be patronizing local businesses rather than being forced to give inordinate amounts of money to the city.

Despite poor markings and police just waiting to hugely capitalize on the situation, tickets are issued when no students, buses or significant indications of a school building’s existence are in evidence.

I’ve written to Vice Mayor Tom Green, asking for improvements, and got no response.

So, please be sure your readers know that they should go less than 15 miles per hour on NE

Photo via Adobe.

26th Street, between Andrews Avenue and NE 6th Street.

Thanks!

Steven Wilkinson Stoughton, Massachusetts

DRIVE-THRU TESTING SITE AT

MILLS POND PARK 2201 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale Open from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Closed Thursday and Sunday

COVID-19 RAPID TESTING Available to individuals of all ages, regardless of symptoms.

Rapid tests are typically available within an hour.

PCR tests remain available upon request.

Appointments not required, Drive-thru only

A public service message from SFGN

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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19

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

After 44 Years

Wilton Manors Planning To Rein In Short-Term Rentals

Still More to Give

By Paul O’Connell

By John McDonald Wilton Manors approved its legislative action plan at Tuesday night’s commission meeting with short-term rentals at the top of the list.

Commissioners voted unanimously to support collaboration with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to rein in short-term rental properties.

Peter Nasca, a 12-year resident of the city, spoke against short-term rentals during the public comments portion of the virtual Zoom meeting. Nasca specifically singled out Airbnb, the San Francisco-based online lodging company.

“What my wife and I are deeply concerned about is a proliferation of Airbnb homes,” said Nasca, adding that three Airbnb homes are on his block with another likely on the way.

“This is getting out of control,” Nasca said.

Nasca said with Airbnbs come noisy incidents and excess garbage.

He recommended the city put a 30-day limit on Airbnb stays.

“We gotta do something Photo credit: Hector Falcon, about this,” Nasca said. “We via PxHere. don’t want Wilton Manors to become an upscale flop could ruin the neighborhood. house.”

“I moved here because I Wilton Manors’ legislative loved knowing my neighbors,” action plan supports proper Newton said. “I don’t know licensing, insurance and them anymore. Every week industry-accepted safety there’s new people there.” practices regarding shortNewton said the short-term term rentals. The city also rental market is more concerned supports legislation clarifying about money than people. The that existing grandfathered mayor went on to say he knows municipal short-term rental of better behavior from halfway ordinances can be amended houses than short-term rentals. without penalty.

“It disrupts the nice quiet “I’m certainly a big fan of - Peter Nasca neighborhood,” Newton said. cracking down on problem Other legislative action vacation rentals,” said 12-year Resident items include the importance Commissioner Chris Caputo. of home rule, water quality Caputo said the city has software that can detect if vacation rentals improvements and alternative water supply are operating unregulated and asked if city development, climate change strategies management could provide an update on and natural resource protection strategies, expansion of affordable broadband internet violations at the next meeting. cybersecurity enhancements, Mayor Scott Newton voiced his frustration access, with short-term rentals, saying there are three transportation funding, affordable housing on his street and if the trend continues it and sales tax fairness.

“We gotta do something about this,” Nasca said.

“We don’t want Wilton Manors to become an upscale flop house.”

On April 2 I will retire from the Wilton Manors Police Department.

It has been my privilege to serve as your Chief of Police for the past 10 years. My service to the Wilton Manors community truly has been the highlight of my 44-year career in law enforcement. Gratitude only begins to describe the feelings that I have for this experience and this community! When I think of our police department I think of one word: family.

When I started in 2011 I changed our Mission Statement to read as follows:

POLICING WITH PASSION FOR OUR PROFESSION AND COMPASSION FOR THOSE WE SERVE This mission statement was embedded into every aspect of our law enforcement work, especially as we trained our new hires. I know each member of our team, regardless of assignment, carries in their heart this policing philosophy. In a very real sense police officers throughout our country carry the mission eloquently summarized in the words of Senator Ted Kennedy (paraphrased) when, in June 1968, he stated in his eulogy for his brother, Bobby:

“To see wrong and try to right it; to see suffering and try to heal it; to see war (on our streets) and try to stop it.”

• 2 .11.2021

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Police Chief Paul O’Connell.

Photo credit: City of Wilton Manors.

Please know that a central component of planning my exit is to ensure your Police Department is in good hands with a strong foundation which entails strong ethics, steel courage and visionary leadership. I assure you these traits are in place and ready to steer our ship into the future; steady and true.

As I take my final bow allow me to use a quote from Ellen Goodman (final column, 1/02/2010, Washington Post): “I am told that there is a trick to a graceful exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, a relationship is complete — and letting go.

It means leaving what is over without denying its validity or its importance in life. It involves a sense of future and a sense that for every exit there is an entry.”

So, as I enter “retirement” I have been asked by friends, “What will you do”? My answer; I will do MORE because my search for social justice is a journey that has not yet ended. Indeed, after 44 years I still have more to give!

I ask that you rise with me above the distant noise and confusion and acknowledge the many acts of courage and kindness by our police officers.

My friends, these words are the story of us, of who we are, of what we do and why we do it. We are the “guardians at the gate” who are called upon in moments of danger and in times of grief. The media and some on our streets try to define us by the misdeeds of a few. I will always define us by the bravery of the many.

I ask that you rise with me above the distant noise and confusion and acknowledge the many acts of courage and kindness by our police officers.

Winston Churchill was correct when he stated, “Making a living is what you get. Making a life is what you give.” These words truly define our profession and those who wear our badge of honor.

www.WMGAZETTE.com 20

GUEST COLUMN

WILTON MANORS

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021

2 .11. 20 21 •

21

COMMUNITY

WILTON MANORS

Defaced Mural Angers Artist and Locals A new mural will be painted in its place

By Christiana Lilly

I

t was the evening of Jan. 22 when artist Nara Rosa got a call that her mural had been defaced. A wall located at The Yard in Wilton Manors, what was once filled with paisley and floral prints was now covered over with silver bubble letters.

“I was speechless when I got the message,” Rosa said.

A man with a bag of spray paint cans came onto the property and started painting over her work. When approached by management, he said he thought it was an open wall — he was asked to leave the property.

But Rosa is as bubbly and optimistic as her artwork. She took it as a sign that with the new year, she’s due for a new project. For the last week, she’s been back at it, creating two brandnew murals at The Yard. The artist is using her signature bright colors, flowers, and this time is incorporating a rainbow into the piece.

“I stopped and said, you know, it’s a new

A photo of the man who painted over the mural at The Yard. Photo courtesy of Nara Rosa.

22

• 2 .11.2021

year, a new life for everybody because of this pandemic, it’s time to change and life is like that. Sometimes you have bad stuff that you have to deal with,” she said. “I said, ‘I’m going to repaint another one,’ and I’m glad I have that inspiration to do that in this life. Problems appear and disappear and that’s it. It is in our mind to start over.”

The Yard, previously known as Eucalyptus Gardens, is owned and operated by Lazy Lake Mayor Evan Anthony. The village is a collection of shops, including a wine bar, farmers market, coffee shop, a clothing The Yard owner and Lazy Lake Mayor Evan Anthony paints over the store in a silver Airstream, vandalism on Nara Rosa’s mural. Photo courtesy of Nara Rosa. and the popular concrete walls that have been painted over with stunning artistry. what were you thinking?’” asking the public if they knew who he was and There’s Frida Kahlo, a pink Anthony recounted. “I don’t to hold him accountable for painting over the spoonbill traipsing through even know what it says mural. water, a whimsical mandala, because I was so irate that The mural went up two years ago, a splash a tribute to the students killed I asked them to leave the of bright paisley prints and flowers. Rosa at Marjory Stoneman Douglas property and the police came.” said it was inspired by psychedelic imagery High School, and more.

Wilton Manors Police from her “hippie times.” In the two months it That was before an created an incident report took her to complete the mural, she said she unknown man came onto the and told Anthony that they woke up every day excited to go back to The property the evening of Jan. 22 should put up signs to let the Yard to continue working on it. When it was and started spray painting over public know that the walls are completed, it became a popular, InstagramRosa’s work. Wesley Schultz, private. Since the vandalism, worthy backdrop for visitors.

- Nara Rosa the manager of Lola’s Bazaar they have installed the signs.

“I got lots of emails, a lot of Facebook LOCAL ARTIST at The Yard, caught him and “This guy just goes in there, messages,” Rosa said. “I have a lot of people called Anthony to come over. brazen, and paints right over,” who support me.”

The man said he was doing an Anthony said. “If you’re an Rosa hopes to finish the mural before her advertisement and he thought it was an open artist — [he] told me [he’s] an artist — you birthday in March, when she hopes to have a wall. don’t do that. It’s a known fact.” glass of wine with a few friends in front of the “I said, ‘No you’re totally mistaken. You have Photos were taken of the man and the finished piece. no authority to be here and you just desecrated vandalism, which Schultz and Rosa shared “It will be my own birthday gift to myself,” somebody’s hard, three months of painting, on social media. People spread the message, she laughed.

“PROBLEMS APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR AND THAT’S IT. IT IS IN OUR MIND TO START OVER.”

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021

GUEST COLUMN

WILTON MANORS

Wilton Manors May Have 99 Problems, But Code Compliance Is Probably #1

By Chris Caputo Many residents in Wilton Manors received a legislative action alert request directly from the City, encouraging them to email their State Representatives with the statement that “short-term vacation rentals are bringing down property values, and in many cases, forcing residents to put their home on the market.”

This statement, sent from the city, does not reflect my values and beliefs as commissioner nor is it a factually accurate statement.

The goal of the legislative action alert was to help convince our state representatives to support cities rights to regulate short-term vacation rentals. I am a huge fan of keeping the right to govern locally (home rule) and I firmly believe our city should have the right to regulate what happens in our community.

I am, also, firmly against making inaccurate statements about the effect of short-term vacation rentals.

Multiple studies have shown that vacation rentals are increasing property values in our city and serve a key role in supporting LGBT tourism and our local business community.

It is important to know that state law currently prevents us from banning vacation rentals.

That’s an important basis for any conversation.

Also, know that I am firmly against problem vacation rentals in our community as well as an outspoken ambassador for properly run vacation rentals.

There are countless vacation rentals that don’t allow fast turnovers and excessive guests (which can lead to unacceptable parties!) in favor of encouraging longer stays with a smaller number of guests.

As city commissioner, I am here to accept responsibility for the problem as I recognize it. Our Code Compliance department is not yet as effective as it needs to be. This isn’t the fault of our existing code compliance staff — they are working tirelessly and passionately — but they are short-staffed. We lost Julio Davila, our Code Compliance Supervisor, to a nearby city that paid more for a job with less responsibilities. (One part of our problem as a city is that we continue to lose staff to nearby

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cities who pay employees more for the same or less work.)

This problem is manifesting not just in terms of short-term rentals, but for many different types of code complaints as well.

As a city, we need to work as efficiently as possible to solve the problem for insufficient code enforcement in our city. There are about a dozen vacation rental property owners in our city who are threatening the reputation for the community as a whole. We need code compliance to rapidly begin fining these problem property owners, and we need those fines to escalate rapidly for repeated offenses so we can weed out the problem property owners.

We also need our police force to be capable of responding to noise violation complaints — whether they involve a short-term rental or a resident exhibiting bad behavior — and be able to turn that into a code violation without the onus being on our residents to come in and file more paperwork.

Our slow, ineffective delivery of code violations is threatening this key economic driver keeping our city alive during COVID-19.

A dozen bad apples, or less, who own shortterm rentals are putting all of our vacation rentals at risk. We have to fix that.

— Chris Caputo

WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER

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7 •

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

2 .11. 20 21 •

23

NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

From your life... into our pages! SFGN takes a special look at a community that has stood together through countless trials and victories in the past year alone.

Hair By Victor Owner Victor Alarcon with husband Albert Dastoli.

Worthington Alcazar Resorts Owner Jim Durhan with GM Dean Harberts and manager Dennis Wurch.

24

• 2 .11.2021

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

Owner of Gym Sports Bar Rick Schmutzler with Joe Chapin the GM.

Newly engaged Olympic boxer Orlando Cruz with his partner Kell Wynn.

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

LIGHT THE NIGHT

MARCH 1-7 Spectacular 3D Video Displays

Lighting Up Downtown Fort Lauderdale For locations and details visit ArtsCalendar.com/LighttheNight Free and open to the public with social distancing maintained Light The Night is presented by Broward Cultural Division @BrowardArts

#LightTheNightBroward

2 .11. 20 21 •

25

NEWS LOCAL

LGBT PROTECTIONS ENHANCED FLORIDA COMMISSION EMBRACES NEW DEM DIRECTION X

Steve Rothaus Special to SFGN

Monica Cepero, Broward’s deputy county administrator and a former SAVE LGBTQ board member. Photo courtesy of Monica Cepero.

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• 2 .11.2021

NEWS LOCAL

A

Miami civil rights lawyer hopes his client — a butch lesbian evicted from her rental at a North Bay Village condominium — is among the first vindicated through a recent decision by the Florida Commission on Human Relations.

“Civil rights laws in Florida have to mirror the interpretation of federal civil rights laws,” said attorney Matthew Dietz, who represents plaintiff Vanesa Daschuta. “My client was essentially pushed out of her condo that she was renting.”

The U.S. Supreme Court last June ruled 6-3 that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act — which bans most workplace discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin — also protects workers from being fired on the basis of their sexual orientations or gender identities.

Using that court decision as a base, Florida’s appointed Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) voted in January that in this state you can’t discriminate against LGBT people in areas of workplace, public accommodations and housing.

Daschuta first rented the 14th floor unit in 2008. Her landlord “loved her,” Dietz said, but after a 2012 change in condo board leadership, she was “highly scrutinized, harassed, and threatened with electronic communications for warnings of minor violations,” according to a court filing.

Eventually, in 2015, “My client was essentially pushed out,” Dietz said. Daschuta filed a complaint with the Human Relations Commission and also sued in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. That case still hasn’t been settled.

Then in June 2020 came the Supreme Court ruling, led by Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch, that under Title VII, Clayton County, Georgia, illegally fired Gerald Bostock, a juvenile-court employee, because he is gay.

Until Gorsuch and five fellow justices ruled that the word “sex” in Title VII covers sexual orientation and gender identity, Dietz was unable to simply say Daschuta was discriminated against because she’s a lesbian.

Instead, he wrote in the court filing, Daschuta was singled out because her “appearance and mannerism are not typical with traditional female gender stereotypes.”

“We had to file it under gender nonconformance because she didn’t dress like a typical woman from the Miami Beach area,” Dietz said. And “How do you prove that somebody looks like a lesbian in order

to prove gender nonconformance?”

Now, Dietz won’t have to. Since the court case is still ongoing, Dietz plans to update the complaint to say Daschuta was discriminated against because of her sexual orientation.

“The most important thing is that people understand they have the right to seek justice and they can actually use the mechanism in place to safeguard their civil rights,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, which has long lobbied for LGBT nondiscrimination protections.

After the commission published its ruling on Jan. 28, Smith described it as “a huge win and cause for celebration statewide.”

“No matter where you live in the state of Florida, if you experience discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, you have the right to pursue justice through Florida’s civil rights laws,” Smith said.

Smith said that since word got out about the commission decision, “We have heard overwhelming praise from a bipartisan cadre of legislators who have made the [Florida Competitive Workforce Act] the most cosponsored issue in Tallahassee year after year,” adding that support from the business community and local elected leaders “has been resounding.”

“This is a story that is shining a favorable

The Supreme Court of Florida. Photo via Adobe.

spotlight on the state of Florida,” Smith said.

Smith and SAVE LGBTQ Executive Director Orlando Gonzales both say, however, it’s still necessary for Florida to pass a law that fully protects queer people.

“The statewide nondiscrimination bill is still very relevant,” said Gonzales, who describes the commission’s vote as “a tremendous milestone in the movement for equality and equity.”

“But it is important that Florida law is codified with the upcoming, hopeful, passage of an equality act,” he added.

In 1969, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Commission on Human Relations “to enforce the Florida Civil Rights Act and address discrimination issues through education, outreach and partnerships,” Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. according to the FCHR website. “The Photo courtesy of Equality Florida.

Commission has investigated and closed more than 74,000 cases and has negotiated close to $13 million in settlement amounts “The FCHR accepts claims of sex for more than 1,500 people through its discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation for investigation in mediation services.”

Last July, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed employment and public accommodations Furthermore, the FCHR Monica Cepero, Broward’s deputy county complaints. administrator, to a four-year term on the investigates housing discrimination under the Florida Fair Housing Act and Title commission.

Cepero, a former SAVE LGBTQ board VIII, based upon race, color, national member, says her appointment came “as an origin, religion, sex, familial status, and The FCHR is committed to openly gay woman who got married to her disability. investigating housing violations based upon partner, Zenaida Cepero, in 2019.” sex discrimination due to At her second FCHR meeting non-conformity with gender on Sept. 17, Cepero “brought stereotypes.” forward an agenda item, Also on Jan. 21, Cepero ‘Supreme Court Guidance on introduced a motion proposing Sex Discrimination.’” that Florida pass a version Cepero said the commission of California’s 2019 CROWN had “a conversation about (Create a Respectful and Open Bostock and I wanted to make Workplace for Natural Hair) Act, sure that we were following which prohibits discrimination the letter of the law and the based on hair style or hair guidance of the Supreme Court. texture.

It was unanimously approved.”

“Society’s bias has resulted At the Jan. 21 meeting — a - Nadine Smith in unfair judgment and day after newly inaugurated EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF discrimination against Black President Joe Biden issued EQUALITY FLORIDA women based on hair texture an executive order citing and protective hairstyles Bostock to prohibit LGBT discrimination in the workplace, healthcare, including braids, locs, and twists that are housing and other areas — the commission inherent to their race,” according to Dove voted to “embrace, endorse and support soap and shampoo, which lobbied for the the contents and protections of the Florida California law.

“Discrimination of any sort is just Competitive Workforce Act,” a bill long supported by Equality Florida and many unacceptable,” Cepero said. “Part of what this businesses throughout the state that would commission does are outreach and education. prohibit discrimination on the basis of This is an important step. We want to make sure that everyone in Florida is aware of the sexual orientation and gender identity.

The commission posted on its website: protections that are afforded to them.”

“THIS IS A STORY THAT IS SHINING A FAVORABLE SPOTLIGHT ON THE STATE OF FLORIDA.”

Journalist Steve Rothaus covered LGBT issues for 22 years at the Miami Herald.

2 .11. 20 21 •

27

Off The Wall

CONVICTIONS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

GAME & LIFE CHANGERS Pier Angelo

I

taly in the late ‘60s was a 99.9% white insular Catholic country, the only exposure to Black people was limited to a few Black soccer players peppering the richest teams in the league. Black Brazilians with exotic names like Jair, Amarildo, and Nene. Fantastic athletes, untouchable gods.

In those days America was the gold standard. We were taught that America was, and it was, the liberator who had saved us from the scourge and horrors of Nazism and that it was the dreamland of milk and honey.

We believed its streets were covered with gold and could do no wrong. We really didn’t know anything about its past or present.

They were just better than us or anybody else. I was just a repressed ignorant scared gay boy. Until the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games opened my eyes and changed my world forever.

Sports were my escape and I was glued to the then still black and white screen watching athletes from all over the world competing in a great variety of categories, always rooting for the Italians, but amazed by all. And then something extraordinary and unexpected happened. A game changer that forever took my life to a different level. A

EVEN THOUGH I KNEW NOTHING OF THE BLACK AMERICAN EXPERIENCE I SOMEHOW FELT I RELATED TO THEM AND THEY WERE ALSO SPEAKING TO ME, TELLING ME NOT TO BE AFRAID ANYMORE AND TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF. 28

• 2 .11.2021

milestone of cosmic proportion. Something that taught me and inspired me to look at life and my life in a different way.

During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. While on the podium, Smith and Carlos, who had won gold and bronze medals respectively in the 200-meter running event, turned to face the U.S. flag and then kept their hands raised until the anthem had finished. In addition, Smith, Carlos, and Australian silver medalist Peter Norman all wore human-rights badges on their jackets.

The two U.S. athletes received their medals shoe less, but wearing black socks, to represent Black poverty. Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent Black pride, Carlos had his tracksuit top unzipped to show solidarity with all-blue-collar workers in the U.S. and wore a necklace of beads which he described “were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed and that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred.”

Smith and Carlos delivered the salute with heads bowed, a gesture which became frontpage news around the world. As they left the podium they were booed by the crowd.

Smith later said, “If I win, I am American, not a Black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are Black and we are proud of being Black.

Black America will understand what we did tonight.”

And even though I knew nothing of the Black American experience I somehow felt I related to them and they were also speaking to me, telling me not to be afraid anymore and to stand up for myself. I still have the famous picture of the event taken by photographer John Dominis.

Smith and Carlos were largely ostracized by the U.S. sporting establishment and they were subject to criticism. Both Smith and

Gold medalist Tommie Smith (center) and bronze medalist John Carlos (right) showing the raised fist on the podium at the 1968 Summer Olympics; both wear Olympic Project for Human Rights badges. Peter Norman (silver medalist, left) from Australia also wears an OPHR badge in solidarity. Public Domain.

Carlos were subject to abuse, ostracized by white America, and they and their families received death threats.

I had never seeing anything like that or completely understood what it meant at that moment but somehow I knew that it was a courageous, inspirational gesture with great consequences.

I will always be grateful to them. People can change the world for the better and many pay a high price for doing it, and we are still at it, we don’t have to go back in history by much as we all witnessed the controversy

surrounding Colin Kaepernick when he took a knee during the national anthem to draw attention to the treatment of African Americans.

Colin Kaepernick sacrificed his career for what he believed back in 2017 with a gesture that today has become the symbol of respect for the lives of the oppressed.

History and life are a spider’s web in which one never knows when certain threads cross and become entangled together to form the destiny of people and even of a country’s history.

Pier Angelo was born in Italy, moved to England at the age of 17 and learned English at the Nelson School of English. He attended college and graduate school in Manhattan. In 2009 he founded SFGN with Norm Kent. Now he’s retired with his husband Tom and his Affenpinscher Cabbage. He still enjoys writing his column Off The Wall for SFGN.

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29

LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG

LEARNING TO SAY NOTHING Brian McNaught

T

Photo via PxHere.

he secret to a happy marriage, said Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is sometimes being a little deaf. I’d add it’s also important to sometimes be a little mute. As one of my mentors used to muse, “Wisdom is knowing what to overlook.”

This is true not just in happy marriages but in all successful interactions, be it with family members, neighbors, other drivers, and people at the deli counter. Some things, of course, can’t and shouldn’t be blocked out, and many times something must be said, but in order to create an environment that allows for my optimum awareness and satisfaction in life, I need to carefully choose what requires my attention, and what to overlook.

My husband, Ray, and I daily decide how we’ll interact with the other. At our best, we’re mutually attentive, respectful, patient, supportive, kind, thoughtful, and forgiving, but, neither of us are always at our best. Why not? Maybe we didn’t sleep well, or we’re hungry, or we don’t feel good. If one of us is off, the other usually rises to the occasion, and plays deaf, or mute. If we’re both off, there’s a much greater risk of conflict.

“This isn’t you who’s talking,” Ray, on EVERY PERSON occasion, has said to me. That means my current behavior is unlike the me he WHO HAS EVER knows and loves best. In those instances, LIVED HAS FACED I’ve given up trying to be in control of what I say, or how I say it. For Ray to call DAILY DECISIONS me on it, means that he’s given up playing ABOUT HOW TO deaf. It happens, not just with each other, but also with all others. On occasion, we INTERACT WITH might choose not to vibrate at our highest THEMSELVES, level with family, neighbors, other drivers, and people in the deli line.

THEIR LOVED and everything that happens impacts others, isn’t the me who’s writing, at least not the me I aspire to be.

“Will you give it a rest? It’s always the ONES, STRANGERS, including the dog at home, children listening in Every person who has ever lived has faced daily decisions same with you.” at the other end of the telephone conversation, about how to interact with themselves, their loved ones, “Is that your car alarm that’s been going AND PERCEIVED other neighbors, other drivers, and the butcher. strangers, and perceived enemies. Our intention to operate on for the past ten minutes?”

ENEMIES. Oftentimes, I’ll take a good amount of time, out of love, and our skill in maneuvering through the “Asshole.” Honk. Honk. and thought, composing a Facebook post that challenges to “happy marriages,” are impacted by any “Wait your turn. I’m next in line.” expresses my strong feelings about current events, number of factors, including our childhood “normal,” role Our ability sometimes to be a little deaf often corresponds with our age, and our experience. Many particularly in politics and in religion. I’ll read and re-read modeling, exposure to options, values, health, and age.

Ray’s and my nephews and nieces tell us that our of us have learned that nothing is gained by engaging every the post to make sure it says clearly, and thoughtfully, what unappreciated comment or behavior. It’s exhausting to be too I want to say about the congresswoman from Georgia, the relationship has provided them a role model for being a vigilant about what’s right, what’s fair, what’s a slight, what’s senator from Kentucky, the governor of Florida, or the loving couple. They see in us a mutual respect and kindness annoying. There’s wisdom to some of the old adages, such archbishop in Detroit, and, then, I’ll click on the “delete” they want for themselves. It doesn’t happen without effort.

It’s often a challenge to let go of what I’ve seen or heard, and as, “A happy wife means a happy life.” (What rhymes with button.

I ultimately decide that nothing is to be gained by my to bite my tongue. But, the quality of my life, of my marriage, “husband?”)

I choose to be a little deaf, and a little mute, in the world joining in the fray. People who know me can accurately have benefitted greatly from my, and Ray’s, self-control, for a variety of good reasons, first of which is that I aspire to assume how I must feel about bad behavior, but, the post just ideals, and wisdom to know what to overlook. always be my best self. Doing so is its own reward. Second, I don’t really know the other person’s story, and what’s going on for them at that time. Third, I don’t like how conflict impacts me. Horn honking doesn’t calm me. Arguing about who’s next Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his in line takes away the joy of selecting what I want. many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The Also, I embrace the belief that we’re all connected, Godfather of gay diversity training.”

30

• 2 .11.2021

DUE TO COVID-19, CLERGY ASK THAT YOU STAY SAFE AT HOME. PLEASE WATCH SERVICES ON FACEBOOK AND/OR ONLINE. FIND DETAILS ON HOW TO WATCH ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGES AND WEBSITES. THANK YOU AND BE WELL!

Shabbat service Friday 8pm on our YouTube channel Congregation Etz Chaim

2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus www.EtzChaimFlorida.org / RSVP HERE: info@etzchaimflorida.org

Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 s. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www,churchofoursaviormcc.org

SPIRITUALITY

SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM

LISTINGS

Until further notice: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, our worship services are streamed on Facebook Live every Sunday at 10 AM, rather than held at our church property. https://www.facebook.com/ ChurchofOurSaviorMCC. Visit our web site for more details & updates.

Join us for masked, socially distanced in person worship.

11 AM Sundays. Services also LIVE-streamed on Facebook and posted on website for safe at home viewing.

“Love without judgement” Holy Angels National Catholic Church 1436 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors. 33305 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org

954-633-2987

A home for your spirit.

Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday Mass at 11 AM in English • All are welcome!

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PRIDE ALL ARE WELCOME

CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org RabbiNoahKitty@etzchaimflorida.org Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m.

HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 2917 NE 6th Avenue Wilton Manors 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC Church of Our Savior, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach. churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM TEMPLE BAT YAM 5151 NE 14th Ter Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 954-928-0410 Friday Night & Saturday Morning Streaming Online at templebatyam.org

SFGN is here for you, no matter who — or what — keeps you going. Check out the Spirituality Section each week to stay in touch with your local religious LGBT community. The only requirement? Be yourself.

SEE MORE ONLINE AT SFGN.COM/TABLE/NEWS/RELIGION 2 .11. 20 21 •

31

TWO OF HEARTS LIFESTYLE FOOD

Rick Karlin

L

ove conquers all, even COVID fears, or so hope these area eateries and hotels offering special deals for lovebirds looking for a break from self-quarantine. Of course, to ensure that you will be able to celebrate for many Valentine’s Days to come, observe all safety protocols while celebrating your special day.

Whether you prefer to dine out or take your meal home, TOOJAY’S has your Valentine’s meal covered with a special “Sweetheart Dinner for Too,” for $25.99, available through Sunday, Feb. 14. It includes a choice of two soups or salads, two entrées, two nonalcoholic beverages that can be upgraded to wine or beer for an additional $3 each, and a choice of one dessert to share. Guests are required to present a coupon (available online) before ordering.

The theme at BONA ITALIAN is “Be who you are, love who you love.”

Among the menu specials are shrimp bisque, basil and tomato salad atop a goat cheese crostini and osso bucco. Reservations are required, call 954-5657222.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek will celebrate Valentine’s Day with dining specials at two of its restaurants, as well as live entertainment. The property’s NYY STEAK will offer dinner features from 4 to 10 p.m. with Ellison & Co. performing in the Legends Lounge beginning at 6 p.m. 1ST STREET DELI, serving from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., will offer special luxury dishes such as shrimp bisque, filet mignon, and lobster ravioli.

LONA COCINA & TEQUILERIA is celebrating with several specialty dishes by Chef Jorge Gutierrez and a featured cocktail, available from Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14. The featured entrée will be a Mexicanstyle surf and turf with filet mignon and garlic

shrimp. Also on offer throughout Valentine’s Day weekend is the La Rosa Margarita, Hiatus Blanco tequila with grapefruit, rose-infused simple syrup, rose petal, and a sea salt rim.

Chinese New Year occurs the same weekend as Valentine’s Day this year, so you can make your celebration a two-for. HAKKASAN, in Miami’s Fountainbleu, will mark 2021 Lunar New Year with a celebratory menu.

The Year of the Ox prix-fixe menu is available through Monday, Feb. 15. The $108 per person menu includes a series of traditional dishes to bring prosperity and luck.

Dishes include quail blossom puff paired with a seafood dumpling; crispy kumquat chicken; steamed scallop and braised abalone and roasted duck fried rice.

SISTRUNK MARKETPLACE & BREWERY and SHADY DISTILLERY are offering Valentine’s Day romance with many exciting offers including pairing dinners, art workshops, food tastings, and distillery tours with live music. How about a tour of Shady Distillery to learn the basics of distilling vodka and rum? The experience includes a tasting of two signature Shady cocktails accompanied by light bites. Available Feb. 12-14 from 6-7 p.m. for $20 person. Or take a tour of Sistrunk Marketplace with a cocktail with tasting stops at EMPANADA BODEGA, NELLIES SOUTHERN, and OSOM CREPES on Friday, Feb. 12 from 5-7 p.m. for $53.10 per person + tax. If you’d prefer a full meal, there are two options. An Italian wine

CHINESE NEW YEAR OCCURS THE SAME WEEKEND AS VALENTINE’S DAY THIS YEAR, SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR CELEBRATION A TWO-FOR.

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A margarita at Lona Cocina & Tequileria.

Photo credit: Lona Cocina & Tequileria. pairing dinner starts with a 45-minutelong wine tasting followed by a four-course dinner, offered on Feb. 24 and March 10 for $64.90 per person. Or go east for a fourcourse sake tasting dinner on Thursday, Feb. 25 for $64.90 per person (prices for both dinners include gratuity, but not tax).

Book online at sistrunkmarketplace.com/ valentines.

How about a staycation? Special Valentine’s Day weekend rates at Le Méridien Dania Beach start at $379 per night and include a tequila flight for two upon arrival from the hotel’s popular LA BIBLIOTECA DE TEQUILA; an upgraded room with breakfast for two; and a five-course dinner for two at TORO. Holiday celebrants not staying at the hotel can also enjoy the prix-fixe dinner for $125 per couple.

NEW COOKBOOK OFFERS A TASTE OF MIAMI Taste of Miami, the much-anticipated COVIDrelief cookbook, is now available featuring 50 recipes provided by some of Miami’s favorite restaurants. Celebrity Chef Yisus from Univision Network donated his time to prepare each dish on camera and assist in organizing the recipes.

The hip and colorful book offers an array of Miami staples that people have come to know and love. The recipes in the book are the most popular dishes that people order in Miami area restaurants, such as the Cap’n Crunch pancakes from Eating House, green curried mussels by Phuc Yea, lomo saltado from 33 Kitchen, rabo encendido from Finka Table & Tap, and Abuela’s ham & chorizo Cuban macaroni from Sergio’s Restaurant, among many others. Eateries that have been struggling through this pandemic will receive 100% of the profits. A digital version is available for $24.99 and a hardcover for $34.99 at www.cookbook.miami.

HUNGRY FOR MORE?  VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD! Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor.

Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at RickKarlinFL@gmail.com.

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2 .11. 20 21 •

33

A&E FILM

REMEMBERING BILL ELD David-Elijah Nahmod

B

ill Eld (1945-1986) is not well-remembered today, but long ago he was a popular model in gay magazines and adult films.

Eld’s career began in 1970, just a year after Stonewall. It was a time when being gay was not considered acceptable by the majority of mainstream society, yet Eld unashamedly shed his clothes and had sex with men on camera. Sometimes referred to as “Big” Bill Eld, he became well-known for the size of his penis, for his physique, and for his beautiful face.

Eld was a star at a time when there were few gay porn stars. But his star didn’t last, and Eld came to an early and sad demise in his early 40s.

Now, Eld’s life and career are remembered in “Bill Eld: American Pop Culture Icon,” a new feature length documentary from gay porn auteur Toby Ross, who worked with Eld back in the day and became well-known in his own right for writing and directing a series of artsy gay porn films. Ross lit his

DVD box cover for “Bill Eld: American Pop Culture Icon.”

Photo credit: Toby Ross.

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• 2 .11.2021

films carefully to create a mood. His films had full dialogue and stood out from the rest.

Ross serves as onscreen host and narrator as he shares the story of Eld’s life. Ross did his homework. He connected with a nephew of Eld’s, who gave his blessing to the production.

“He loved it,” Ross said of the nephew in an email interview. “We connected when I made Toby Ross and the 70s and stayed in touch. He is really into his own family tree and takes pride in studying it.”

Early in the film Ross talks to the nephew on the phone. The nephew offers some background information on Eld’s family and his childhood, which humanizes him. He becomes a real person, not just a nude model.

The personable Ross, who clearly loves his subject, tells the story of Eld’s life, the Toby Ross. Photo courtesy of Toby Ross. good, the bad, and the ugly. He shares some fascinating and unexpected tidbits about Eld, such as the fact that he worked of Eld’s rise and fall. He tells the truth. He knew Eld, such as photographer John as a physical education teacher and a shoe does not shy away from the ugly side of Michael Cox, also share their memories. salesman before entering the porn world.

Eld’s life, his half-hearted attempts to find Cox photographed Eld for a magazine, and Ross tells of how Eld first got into the employment outside of performing and during the shoot Eld claimed to be a married adult entertainment industry his descent into drugs. Eld straight man. Cox recalls seeing Eld at an and shows clips from several of ultimately emerges as a tragic adult theater sometime later working as a IT’S A BEAUTIFUL figure.

Eld’s films. Fans of today’s porn janitor and remarks about how depressing films might be surprised when “It’s not that I loved the this was. The star was on a downward spiral.

SHOT THAT they see this vintage footage. It person so much,” Ross said in “The only real male pinup whose career COULD HAVE was a different era. During one his interview. “He was difficult transcended his own botched porn career,” lengthy clip Eld and his scene and unreachable but it’s that Ross said. “Sex in an overload abundance can APPEARED IN partner don’t just have sex, I was head over heels in love run amok and be a disadvantage without the A FASHION they spend some time getting with the legend. Do you get mental capacity to manage it. His beauty was MAGAZINE AND to know each other, and they the difference? I also love one thing but then having that fat gorgeous smile. They act like real people IT UNDERSCORES stardom to the abyss stories dick was the extra gift that kept him in the and look like they’re enjoying Payton and Bill is rat race and possibly destroyed him, a pipe THE MAGNITUDE athela Barbara the sex. This further humanizes quintessential prototype bomb, a torpedo aimed at his life. He was not Eld. for this metaphor. No matter really a porn star, that is the uniqueness.”

OF ELD’S Further into the film Ross how great you are or how sexy Ross wants people to know that Eld was BEAUTY. shows a photo of a fully you look if your drug habit is very much a star. He spoke of what he hopes clothed Eld standing in front out of control you have bought people will take from the film. of a building. It’s a beautiful shot that could a one-way ticket for the train on its way to “The idea that in his own way he was an have appeared in a fashion magazine and it Loserville. It almost happened to me.” icon a ‘la Marilyn Monroe and Elvis not just underscores the magnitude of Eld’s beauty.

Ross is not the only person in the film a gay icon a ‘la Al Parker,” Ross said. “He Ross’ love for his subject seems to shine who addresses the audience. Others who transcends the gay frame.” through as he continues telling the tale

“Bill Eld: American Pop Culture Icon” is now available on Amazon.

A&E THEATER

LIFESTYLE PHOTOS

LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS ANNOUNCE BROADWAY SERIES J.W. Arnold

T

he razzle dazzle of Broadway musicals may return to South Florida stages more than 18 months after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered Miami’s Arsht Center and the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale.

Broadway Across America, one of the largest presenters and producers of live theater, recently announced resumption of the popular series at both venues later this fall. The 2020-21 seasons had just been announced when the pandemic hit. Theaters were shuttered and touring companies disbanded.

“We have been working diligently with producers, booking agents, and national tour representatives to reschedule these shows,” said Susie Krajsa, Fort Lauderdale-based president of Broadway Across America. “It’s a complex jigsaw puzzle and all the pieces have to fit together in order to reopen.”

Krajsa said her organization and partners have attempted booking and rebooking the seasons several times since last March based on the changing forecasts from the Centers for Disease Control and local public health agencies.

She is still cautiously optimistic: “That’s the big question: Where are we going to be at the time we’re scheduled to reopen?

Originally, it was about temperature checks, and then rapid testing, obviously masks, and now vaccinations,” she added.

“Since we re-opened for limited events in November 2020, the Arsht Center has tested and implemented new measures for the safety and peace of mind of our guests, staff and artists. We will continue to work with medical advisors and officials as conditions evolve to develop and share new recommendations prior to Broadway’s return,” said President and CEO Johann Zietsman in a statement.

In Fort Lauderdale, the Cleveland Clinic, originally a sponsor of the Broward Center performances, has been consulting on health and safety measures since earlier in the pandemic, when the scope of the pandemic was still unfolding, Krajsa said.

The Arsht Center will be first to welcome

RAINBOW SPORTS LEAGUE

KICKBALL

On Jan. 30, the Rainbow Sports League hosted a kickball playoff at Sunset Park. Shown here are Las Sucias, preparing the next strategy for their team.

Photo credit: J.R. Davis. To see more, visit SFGN on Facebook.

The Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown” will open the Broadway in Miami series at the Arsht Center in late September. Credit: Charles Sykes.

back shows with the 2019 Tony Awardwinning best musical “Hadestown,” Sept.

28 — Oct. 3, a retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in a Depression-era Louisiana speakeasy. The season continues with “Hairspray,” Dec. 28 — Jan. 2; the Miami premieres of “Dear Evan Hanson,” Feb. 15 — 20, and “Anastasia,” March 22 — 27; and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” March 31 — June 5.

The Broward Center season begins with the poignant 9/11 story about passengers forced to land in a small Newfoundland town, “Come From Away,” Nov. 3 — 14, and continuing with touring productions of the newest Broadway shows before the shutdown: “The Prom,” Dec. 14 — 19; genderbending comedy “Tootsie,” Jan. 11 — 23; and the Temptations’ jukebox musical, “Ain’t Too Proud,” Feb. 8 — 20. The season concludes with the Disney blockbuster, “Frozen,” March 9 — 20, which recently announced will not be reopening on Broadway when shows resume.

“We are so grateful for our subscribers, who’ve stuck with us throughout this entire time,” noted Krajsa, “whether the news has been good or bad. We’re all hopeful and excited.”

Keep your eyes on

South Florida Gay News

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2 .11. 20 21 •

35

COCO PERU! World famous comedian and drag actor goes all out on air

A&E THEATER

ISLAND CITY WORLD PREMIERE STRIKES A NERVE J.W. Arnold

The world-famous Miss Coco Peru, the American actor, comedian and drag performer known for her role in the 1999 independent film Trick and for her series of live theater performances, will be the featured guest on the Norm Kent Show next Monday, February 15, at 4 pm EST.

I

For 20 years Peru has starred in various “one-woman shows” across the US and other countries, and hosted LGBT events.

Live at 4 !

Ad opportunities:

954-661-3361

95.3 FM 96.9 FM 1470 AM

Afternoon Drive... local and LIVE. hear past shows at www.normkentshow.com

Live streaming • wwnnradio.com 36

• 2 .11.2021

t’s been a long time since I’ve left a theater angry. It’s been an even longer time since I found myself still fuming days later as I write a review. To say Hannah Manikowski’s world premiere play “Compensation,” currently playing at Island City Stage, is a stinging gut punch to this white, middle-aged gay man is an understatement — and that’s exactly the reaction she wanted.

Elliott (Israel Viñas) and Gabriel (Stephen Kaiser) are an affluent gay couple in their mid-30s who have toyed with the idea of starting a family. Elliott’s sister will supply the egg and presumably one of the men will be sperm donor. All they need is a surrogate to carry their baby to term.

Unbeknownst to Gabriel, Elliott has engaged a promising candidate online. Tara Stephen Kaiser, Gaby Tortoledo and Israel Vinas (Gaby Tortoledo) is an attractive 24-yearstar in the world premiere of “Compensation,” old college student who becomes his BFF in currently playing at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors. Credit: Matt Tippins. almost no time. Elliott is giddy, while Gabriel is cautious as subtle warning signs emerge that this perfect arrangement may be fraught is NOT an attack on gay men per se, but a surprising catalyst for deep discussion about with complications.

This may be somewhat of a spoiler, but gender, power and ethics. Many a straight the girl has some serious emotional issues couple have found themselves in similar and, weeks into the pregnancy, begins to situations.

The cast, which is self-quarantining have misgivings about the whole thing after learning there might be complications between performances and tested for COVID twice weekly, displays that would preclude her from a cohesive understanding of having a child of her own.

BE CLEAR, the complicated characters and Never mind that she led Elliott nuanced, constantly evolving and Gabriel to believe she held “COMPENSATION” relationships. Director Roy no such desires.

IS NOT AN Abbott makes the most of Despite the legal contract ATTACK ON GAY Manikowski’s smart dialogue and sizable payment she MEN PER SE, BUT with a fairly fast-paced staging received, let alone the couple’s of the 90-minute, one-act play. dashed dreams, this is an A SURPRISING In pre-pandemic times, a issue of a woman’s control of CATALYST FOR playwright often collaborates her own body for Tara — and DEEP DISCUSSION onsite in the development Manikowski, who is also 24 ABOUT GENDER, of the premiere production. and a lesbian who has been Zoom seems to have provided considering her own plans for a POWER AND an adequate substitute for future family.

ETHICS. Manikowski, a CarnegieLike a presumed majority of Mellon directing graduate.

Island City’s gay male audience, I’m biased in favor of the men, just as A professional produced video of the Manikowski plainly writes from a female production will be available for streaming perspective. But, to be clear, “Compensation” online through Feb. 28.

Island City Stage presents the world premiere of Hannah Manikowski’s “Compensation,” through Feb. 20 at Wilton Theater Factory, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Tickets are $35 plus a $3 online processing fee at IslandCityStage.org. Note: Masks are required throughout the performance and socialdistancing measures are in place at the theater.

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Love

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John Knox Village is committed to compliance with all federal, state and local fair housing laws. It is our policy to offer senior living to those that qualify without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, or handicap. The employees of John Knox Village have a legal obligation to treat each individual in a consistent and equally fair manner. In order to assist you with your decision on your new home, we are providing a list of guidelines used to qualify residents for tenancy in our community. Please note that this is our current rental/ownership criteria; nothing contained in these requirements shall constitute a guarantee or representation by John Knox Village that all residents and occupants currently residing at the community have met these requirements. There may be residents and occupants that have resided the community prior to these requirements going into effect. Additionally, our ability to verify whether these requirements have been met is limited to the information we receive from various credit and screening services used.