SFGN 07/01/21 V12iss26 by South Florida Gay News

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE

JULY 1, 2021 VOL. 12 // ISSUE 26

WHITE HOUSE

HONOR

PRESIDENT DESIGNATES PULSE AS NATIONAL MEMORIAL PAGE 14

FlockFest Floats

Jesse’s Journal

PAGE 2

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@SFGN

SFGN.COM

PAGE 25

Arts For Women

PAGE 31

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NEWS HIGHLIGHT

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INFLATABLE FLAMINGOS TO INVADE FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH JULY 10 FOR FLOCKFEST

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

John Hayden

Editorial

he sun beats down on a sea of floating flamingos as people flock to the beach for FlockFest. The party is back Saturday, July 10 at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard and this year it’s bigger and more beach chic than ever. “We’re moving to the ‘big beach’ which gives us more space for social distance. We’ve also added the ability to buy individual tents,” Ryan Young, FlockFest’s VP of Programming and Community Relations told SFGN. This year tents go for $1,000 and 10 people can relax in each one. VIP packages also include an open bar and food, a float blown up and ready for you, and a FlockFest swag bag. Regular admission is $110. The event is 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., with the official after party at Hunter’s Nightclub from 6 - 9 p.m. Young joined FlockFest’s board in 2020 but started attending long before and loves seeing the floats. “We’ll be on the flamingo floats, those are the signature floats. Some people bring other floats,” he said. “The unicorns are really popular. Someone brought a unicorn float and it was the biggest float I ever saw. It had an anchor.” One of Young’s goals is to turn FlockFest from a day at the beach to a year-round event. “I want Flock365. All year we can have fundraisers and different events.” One of those came about during lunch. “I went to lunch at Bar Rita when they first reopened after the pandemic. One of the owners said they were thinking of starting Pride Mondays again.” Young suggested Pride Mondays be a charity event. FlockFest organized the details and Bar Rita gave back 10%. That was just the beginning. Soon they

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@SFGN

July 1, 2021 • Volume 12 • Issue 26

• 7.1. 2021

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

Senior Feature Columnists

Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo

Special to SFGN Steve Rothaus

Correspondents

Donald Cavanaugh • John McDonald Deon Jefferson • David-Elijah Nahmod Denise Royal • Elliot Rodriguez John Hayden • Kendall Little • Everitt Rosen • Corey Rose • Kennedy McKinney

Contributing Columnists

Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Rick Karlin • Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily

Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires

Sales & Marketing Photo via FlockFest, Facebook.

added “Wednesday Fla-Mingle” at Tatts and Tacos in Oakland Park. “Many Flockers that live further north wanted an option that was closer to home,” he said. They also do the Santa Sip and Strut on Wilton Drive around the holidays. Young said doing the fundraisers is fun and rewarding.

“Growing up my mother always believed in giving back to charity and helping people,” he said. “I’m always looking for things like that to do.” “We’re non-profit but we don’t deliver services. We give to charities and they deliver services,” he said. “Everything with Flockfest is to have fun and benefit charity.”

For more details of the event, ticket info and the availability of VIP packages, go to their website at FlockFestEvents.org.

For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970 Sales Manager • Justin Wyse Justin@sfgn.com Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann Edwin@sfgn.com Sales Consultant • Charles A. Reid National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping Printing by Stuart Web Inc.

SFGN Winner of & 5 Florida Press Club Awards And runner-up for

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COVER: President Joe Biden signs the Bill to memorialize Pulse. Photo via President Joe Biden, Facebook.

Associated Press

NLGJA Journalist of the Year SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS.COM, INC. — — FOUNDED, DECEMBER, 2009 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 or gender identity of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations in SFGN. SFGN contracts with independent entities for stock images. 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.

7.1. 20 21 •

LGBTQIA BITES

BY KENNEDY MCKINNEY

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE G Transgender

JAPANESE SOCCER PLAYER COMES OUT AS TRANS Kumi Yokoyama, a Japanese soccer player for the Washington Spirit, has come out as transgender. “I’m coming out now. In the future, I want to quit soccer and live as a man,” said Yokoyama during a YouTube interview. Yokoyama explains that being in the U.S. allowed him to explore his gender identity because his teammates and friends were more open to sexual diversity. Yokoyama says that in Japan he would have never come out because there is bigger pressure to conform to social norms. Yokoyama’s mission now is to continue to live his truth and help raise awareness for queer and trans people back home. “More people in Japan are becoming familiar with the word LGBTQ and it’s seen more, but I think awareness won’t grow

Kumi Yokoyama. Photo via Twitter.

unless people like myself come out and raise our voices,” Yokoyama said. President Biden praised Yokoyama alongside Carl Nassib, another prominent athlete who came out last week, for their courage and inspiration to live their truth.

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

Bisexual

MEGAN FOX OFFICIALLY COMES OUT AS BISEXUAL

Megan Fox celebrated pride by posting a selfie with rainbow-colored nails with the caption “putting the B in #LGBTQIA for over two decades.” The actress has always been open about her sexuality and first spoke on it in 2008 in an interview with GQ. “I’m not a lesbian. I just think that all humans are born with the ability to be attracted to both sexes. I mean, I could see myself in a relationship with a girl,” said Fox. The following year Fox told Esquire that there was no doubt in her mind that she was bisexual. “I think people are born bisexual and they make subconscious choices based on the pressures of society,” she said. Fox’s pride post is earning her the nickname of “bisexual queen” and “bi icon.”

Megan Fox. Photo via Facebook.

LET’S STOP HIV TOGETHER

HIV prevention our way. PrEP is a daily pill that can help prevent HIV. FIND A PrEP PROVIDER NEAR YOU

• 7.1. 2021

NEWS LOCAL Photo via The Pride Center at Equality Park, Facebook.

PRIDE CENTER AT EQUALITY PARK REOPENS

CELEBRATE

MONTH

With All The Latest Ford Models

John Hayden

community center makes its and attendance limits will be enforced. For community stronger, and after a now the kitchen remains closed and no year of pandemic The Pride Center outside food and drink is allowed in. Pride at Equality Park is coming back stronger Center CEO Robert Boo told SFGN every than ever. They’ve begun the next phase detail was considered. “This was done with of reopening, including the staggered a balance of precaution and protection, reintroduction of groups, meetings, and combined with ongoing analyses of the rentals on campus in stages and the limited needs of clients, staff, volunteers, tenants reopening of the David Bohnett CyberCenter. and visitors to access campus. The manual The focus is on the well-being of all members includes sections related to programs, of the Pride Center. “This was done with services, HIV testing, group rentals, events a balance of precaution and rentals, operations, facilities, protection, combined with sanitation, building access, HR, WITHIN ongoing analyses of the needs room usage agreements, visitor of clients, staff, volunteers, responsibilities, support group WEEKS OF THE tenants and visitors to access meetings, legal concerns and PANDEMIC campus.” communications.” Within weeks of the pandemic HIV testing continues, and SHUTTING DOWN shutting down the Pride Center now you can drop in, without THE PRIDE most of their services were up an appointment, Mondays, CENTER MOST OF Wednesdays, and Fridays from and running virtually. While that got the job done, they say THEIR SERVICES noon until 6:30 p.m. there’s nothing like coming The Pride Center used WERE UP AND together in community. “We the last year to make some RUNNING have been anxious to move to upgrades. Some you’ll see, some the next stage of re-opening and you won’t, but they all make VIRTUALLY. welcome back groups. Having the place better for everyone. face-to-face support is vital for You’ll notice better parking, so many in our community, especially for and lots of spaces labeled for visitors. Some those in recovery, those who are isolated disinfecting will be done automatically using and those needing life-saving community environmentally friendly products. Some connection.” air filtration and HVAC systems have been As Pride Center moves through these improved, and there are plexiglass shields next stages, some things remain the between computers in the cybercenter. same. Mask wearing and social distancing These are just some of the reopening are still important, as some visitors and actions. Protocols and hours will be clients haven’t been vaccinated for medical changing over the summer and fall, so for reasons. Meeting rooms will have furniture the latest info please go to their website at arranged with social distancing in mind, PrideCenterFlorida.org.

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7.1. 20 21 •

NEWS LOCAL

J.R.’s SNAPSHOTS

OF THE

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

AHF President Michael Weinstein with Max Alvarez, associate director of events for AHF.

John Castelli, owner of Castelli Real Estate Services, with Joe Pallant of Pallant Insurance.

• 7.1. 2021

WEEK Photos by J.R. Davis

Husbands Jeff Delmay, board co-chair of Equality Florida and COO at Delmay and Partners, with Todd Delmay, who is running for Florida House District 100.

Welcome to South Florida, Felipe González and husband Dan Tyler. Happy nine-year wedding anniversary!

NEWS MIAMI-DADE

ARGENTINE GAY COUPLE MISSING IN MIAMI CONDO COLLAPSE Jason Parsley

abián Núñez, 55, Andrés Galfrascoli, 45, and their 6-year-old adopted daughter Sofía, are among the missing in the Surfside condominium collapse that happened in the early hours of June 24. According to media reports, as of the following morning, at least 159 people were still unaccounted for. Rescuers continue to search for victims in the rubble of the 12-story building. The Washington Post reported Galfrascoli is a plastic surgeon from Argentina, and had borrowed a friend’s apartment in the tower. He traveled to Surfside with his husband, a theater director, Núñez and their justadopted daughter, Sofía, to get vaccinated against COVID. According to Zyri.net, Nicolas Patoka, a friend of the couple, loaned the apartment to them for just one night. “I wish we had told them no,” Zyri.net reported Patoka saying. “They weren’t just friends, they were family.”

Andrés Galfrascoli, Sofia Nuñez Galfrascoli, and Fabián Núñez. Photo via Instagram.

According to Zyri.net the couple had been staying with Patoka in Hollywood but decided to break up their routine and so he offered the couple his place at Champlain Towers in Surfside, a small beachside town next to Miami Beach. “They live in Argentina and they came here for about three months to get vaccinated and escape the pandemic and spend more time with us,” Patoka said. “It is impossible to describe how they fought to have their little angel and now she too is missing. This has no name.”

MASKS ARE COMING OFF

TIME TO

SHOW YOUR

SMILE

AGAIN!

7.1. 20 21 •

NEWS NATIONAL

BY COREY ROSE

THE COUNTRY ACROSS

PENNSYLVANIA

PHILLY PRIDE PRESENTS DISSOLVES ORGANIZATION AND CANCELS PRIDE EVENT The 33-year-old organization behind the Philadelphia Pride March and Festival has disbanded itself and canceled its upcoming Pride event following calls from the community for increased accountability. The leadership behind Philly Pride Presents apologized for now-deleted Facebook posts that misgendered protesters at the 1969 Stonewall Riots and included a rainbow-striped Blue Lives Matter flag before taking down its entire Facebook page and canceling its upcoming “Pride-Lite” event at Penn’s landing. Local activist Kendall Stephens told Philadelphia Gay News, “Instead of facing the community with the Pride that this month represents by addressing the concerns of those in our community who

Photo via PhillyGayPride.org.

feel underrepresented and underserved in Pride events, PPP chose to systematically silence those voices once again in one last act of profound disinterest and unwillingness to transform Pride into a more inclusive and equitable space for everyone in our community.” An ad hoc group of community leaders have come together to plan a new event aimed for October, using the resources from the disbanded organization to center Philly’s most marginalized.

NEW YORK QUEER FRIENDLY, BLACK-OWNED BARBERSHOP CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING A local barbershop in BedfordStuyvesant has opened its doors as a one-of-a-kind space created by and for Black and LGBT community members. After witnessing homophobia and transphobia last year at his old shop, Enkel’s Barbershop owner Kadeem Woodson opened a space that wouldn’t force LGBT patrons back into the closet to get groomed. He began taking customers in April, and celebrated a grand opening on June 26. Enkel’s Barber Kenshy Delva told FOX5NY, “We always hear in our community, people having very traumatic or uncomfortable situations, experiences in male-dominated barbershops. This is a place that is basically going to be a safe space for us.” Woodson told NY Daily News, “All I

• 7.1. 2021

Enkel’s Barbershop. Photo via www.EnkelShop.store.

can do is hope that just this barbershop being a presence will start a conversation and help them know, ‘Hey, we aren’t comfortable when we’re in your spaces.’ The idea is not to divide, but it’s more so to get us to be in the same places, and to have them come here and we go there, and everyone kind of understands our differences and what makes us unique.”

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

OREGON

TRANS RUNNER RULED INELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN US OLYMPIC TRIALS CeCe Telfer, the first openly transgender woman to win a NCAA title, was not allowed to compete at the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, due to an eligibility requirement involving testosterone levels. Telfer’s manager, David McFarland, told the Associated Press, “CeCe has turned her focus towards the future and is continuing to train. She will compete on the national — and world — stage again soon.” Telfer won the NCAA title in 2019 for the same event, and would have been one of the first openly transgender athletes to compete in any Olympic event, a title that has gone to New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard. Telfer told Women’s Health Magazine,

CeCe Telfer. Photo via Instagram.

“To other athletes who don’t accept me as a competitor, meet me on the track and when we are running the same race, the books will tell you something you can’t deny: She’s fast.”

LOUISIANA LOUISIANA GOVERNOR VETOES TRANS YOUTH SPORTS BILL Louisiana Republicans are considering a July override session to sidestep the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 156, which bans trans girls and women from participating on athletic teams or in sporting events designated for girls or women at elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools. Gov. John Bel Edwards wrote in his veto announcement June 22, “We should be looking for more ways to unite rather than divide our citizens. And while there is no issue to be solved by this bill, it does present real problems in that it makes it more likely that NCAA and professional championships, like the 2022 Final Four, would not happen in our state.” If held, the veto override session would be the state’s first under the current Louisiana Constitution, adopted

Gov. John Bel Edwards. Photo via Facebook.

in 1974. The original bill passed the Senate 29-6 and the House 78-19, but a majority of both branches would have to approve the session for it to occur. In April, Arkansas lawmakers overrode Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto of a similar bill, which the ACLU has vowed to fight in court.

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

BY EVERITT ROSEN

THE WORLD AROUND

ASIA

MALAYSIA SEEKS STRICTER LAWS AGAINST ‘PROMOTING LGBT LIFESTYLE’ On June 24, a Malaysian government task force recommended changes to Syariah law that would allow action to be taken against social media users insulting Islam and “promoting the LGBT lifestyle.” According to CNA, sodomy and samesex acts are illegal under Islamic law, but convictions are rare. Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, the deputy minister in charge of religious affairs, stated in a statement that the revisions to Syariah criminal law were proposed in response to social media posts celebrating the LGBT community during Pride Month in June. “We have found that certain parties uploaded statuses and graphics that insulted Islam on social media in their efforts to promote the LGBT lifestyle,”

Ahmad Marzuk Shaary. Photo via Facebook.

Shaary said, according to CNA. According to Shaary, the proposed legislation would allow law enforcement to take action against any Muslim “who insults the religion of Islam” and commits other Syariah criminal crimes “by using network facilities, network services, or application services.”

AFRICA MALAWI CELEBRATES FIRST PRIDE PARADE The streets of Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, were blanketed in rainbows for a few hours over the weekend when approximately 50 members of the country’s persecuted LBGT population marched in the country’s first Pride parade. Those taking part in the parade faced high risks, as homosexuality is still illegal in Malawi. According to The Guardian, those on the streets of Lilongwe June 26, on the other hand, were overjoyed that, after a year of events being canceled throughout the world, their march was finally taking place during Pride Month. Many marchers stated they were still stigmatized and persecuted, and that they lived in constant terror. They told of being denied housing, being blackmailed

Photo via the Malawi Human Rights Commission, Twitter.

by cops, being tormented at school, being rejected by their families, and being forced to disguise their sexuality in public.

EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

EUROPE THOUSANDS MARCH IN PARIS TO DENOUNCE ANTI-LGBT LEGISLATION IN HUNGARY

Thousands of people flocked to the streets of Paris on June 26 for an LGBT Pride march, with many using the first gathering of its type since the coronavirus outbreak to denounce the situation in Hungary. According to Reuters, marchers carried rainbow flags and colorful banners as they marched from Pantin on the outskirts of Paris to Place de la République on the city’s Right Bank, chanting “Gay rights are human rights!” and more. One marcher, when asked about the situation in Hungary, where new legislation prohibits the dissemination of material in schools that promotes homosexuality or gender transition, said it was unacceptable. “No country in the world, no part of the

Pride in Paris. Photo credit: Jeanne Menjoulet, via Flickr.

world should criminalize homosexuality. Its representation shouldn’t be banned, it’s absurd,” Marc Pauli, 58, told Reuters TV.

NORTH AMERICA CANADA PASSES BILL CRIMINALIZING CONVERSION THERAPY Canada’s House of Commons passed a bill criminalizing LGBT conversion therapy June 22 with a vote of 263 to 63. Conversion therapy, which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, could involve talk therapy, hypnosis, electric shocks, and fasting. The practice has been denounced as “harmful and ineffective” by the American Medical Association. The vote occurred as the House attempted to complete its legislative agenda before the start of the summer recess June 23 and the possibility of elections later this year. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration. The bill marks a victory for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government, which had promised to eliminate the practice, which is

Photo via Pixabay.

considered a human rights violation in much of the Western world.

7.1. 20 21 •

PA L M B E A C H

‘PRIDE ON THE BLOCK’ ROCKS WEST PALM BEACH

news

COMPASS TEAMS UP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH TO OPEN UP CLINIC Jason Parsley

Deon C. Jefferson

COMPASS COMMUNITY CENTER HELD A GRAND OPENING OF A NEW MEDICAL CLINIC INSIDE THEIR FACILITY ON FRIDAY.

THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH HELD “PRIDE ON THE BLOCK” ON CLEMATIS STREET. ALTHOUGH THE EVENT STARTED WITH RAIN, IT ENDED WITH MORE THAN A POCKET FULL OF SUNSHINE ALONG WITH A RAINBOW. “Having the opportunity to help organize such an amazing event leaves me honored and overwhelmed with love, said Adam Sessa, founder of the Haus Lounge, and one of the sponsors of the event. “When the community comes together, we can make powerful and big things happen. It was a wonderful time working with Transpire to raise funds towards amazing causes.” Transpire Help is a non-profit organization established in 2016 to assist LGBT people who are committed to living free from drug addiction and/or alcoholism. They aspire to connect individuals to the care and resources necessary to create a solid foundation for a healthy and fulfilling life in recovery. POTB was organized by a host of community members and local organizations. The sole purpose was to unite the City of West Palm through Pride, while raising money for Transpire Help. POTB was held on the 500 Block of Clematis Street, right by Respectable. There were a little over 600 people that showed up for the party. The sidewalks were filled with vendors and organizations that were either allies or LGBT friendly. People were able to purchase artwork, holistic candles, and other cool goodies. Local shops and restaurants were also open for the public to shop and mingle. Like the inaugural year, POTB had several events to keep the crowd entertained.

“Having the opportunity to help organize such an amazing event leaves me honored and overwhelmed with love.” - Adam Sessa

FOUNDER OF HAUS LOUNGE

• 7.1.2021

“This is a marriage of two families coming together. Thirty-three years ago, Compass started as the Stop AIDS Project. We were created and born out of a need at the height of the AIDS epidemic,” said Julie Seaver, executive director of Compass. “And Compass, now with CAN, will be here until it’s over.” CAN Community Health will operate the clinic. “We’re honored to be here today with Julie and her incredible team,” said Roger Capote, senior vice president Corporate Services for CAN, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This has been a day, three years in the making.”

Julie Seaver (right). Photo via Compass.

Among other things the clinic will offer medical services for the trans community, HIV services, and STD testing and treatment. “[This is] what we do best, is we find great community partners to create client-centered services,” Seaver said. In order to build the clinic, Compass had to renovate a portion of their building, which included the front lobby and giving up almost a third of their ballroom.

Photo credit: Adam Sessa, Facebook.

One program in particular, “Speed Dating,” gave people the chance to mingle and talk about different issues regarding the LGBT community. It was hosted by Puppy Mills at Alchemy Juice and Co. The live entertainment was pretty stellar as well. The Matt Brown Band and Royce gave the crowd plenty to vibe out to. Around nine, the drag performances took over the stage. There were sizzling performances from Big Mama, Mary Jane Petrone, and Kataleya Davenport. Anita Buffett made the biggest statement of the night as she wowed the crowd with her drag performance art. POTB was sponsored by Inspire Recovery, Sub-Culture Group, Hullabaloo, Mass, Dr. Limon Ceviche Bar, and the Haus Lounge, just to name a few. Guests were able to purchase a drink ticket for $20. The drink ticket meant that you could get a free drink at any of the nine locations. All funds raised go directly to Transpire Help. “Twenty-twenty, 1st Annual Pride On The Block was the last Fundraiser for Transpire Help before the COVID shutdown. The 2nd Annual Pride On The Block was our first fundraiser post COVID. It was a hit,” says Donna Weinberger, CEO of Transpire Help. “We raised close to $10,000 in donations. The day felt wonderful and full of unity as the LGBTQ community came together to celebrate Pride 2021!”

THE

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NEWS LOCAL

FLAG FLAP IN OAKLAND PARK John Hayden

A pride flag flies during pride month. Photo credit: Brendon Lies.

ride flags have flown from flag poles and street lights, windows and balconies throughout June, which is recognized as Pride Month. One place they weren’t welcome was in an Oakland Park community. Bob Plominski and Mike Ferrari hung a relatively small rainbow flag from their mailbox every day in June. But by June 5, someone complained and the Eastland Cove Homeowners Association sent them a message: take it down or pay a $50 per day fine. Ferrari and Plominski felt they were being singled out, saying they had posted political signs and other messages in their yard without any problem. Eastland Cove said it was not discrimination and were applying rules that

“WE FEEL THAT WITH THIS VOTE, THE COMMUNITY CAN BEGIN THE HEALING PROCESS AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY.” - Bob Plominski and Mike Ferrari PARTNERS, OAKLAND PARK RESIDENTS

all residents agreed to follow, and that the men could appeal at an HOA meeting. Once the story spread through the community, many of Plominski’s and Ferrari’s neighbors rallied around them, and the association held a special meeting on June 23 to address the issues. In the end, it didn’t take long. In less than an hour, nearly a dozen of their neighbors spoke up on their behalf, and the HOA unanimously adopted a motion that since the mailbox is a pole permanently in the ground, it counts as a flagpole and therefore the flag could stay and all violations and fines were wiped out. Plominski and Ferrari told SFGN, “We feel that with this vote, the community can begin the healing process and celebrate our diversity.” They say no one in the community complained, but that someone on the board saw the flag and thought it was a violation of community rules. Their story gained international attention, including stories in the New York Times, Britain’s Daily Mail, and several major online outlets. In the end, Plominski and Ferrari say this helps show that they live in a great community with amazing neighbors. “Eastland Cove is our home. We celebrate the diversity of our neighbors. We are a group of families, some gay, some families of color, and several other ethnicities living and caring for each other.”

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Don’t miss a

NEWS LOCAL

FORT LAUDERDALE RANKED #4 FOR LGBT HOME BUYERS

tastE Feeling the hunger?

Read SFGN’s weekly food column for an exclusive bite on local bars, restaurants, and seasonal flavors.

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or Pride Month, a new ranking lists Fort Lauderdale as No. 4 for LGBT home buyers in the country. According to Realtor.com, because of the affordability and being gay-friendly, the city ranks higher than other major cities in Florida. Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors also have the highest concentration of samesex couples in America, and combined, have more than 200-gay owned hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops according to Florida’s tourism bureau. THE CRITERIA THAT WENT INTO CONSIDERATION INCLUDED: •A 100 ranking on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Municipality Quality Index •Having its own Pride celebration festival •The median list price of homes for sale in May

• 7.1. 2021

Photo via Adobe.

The median price for a home in May was around $350,000. It’s also worth to note that Fort Lauderdale passed a law protecting LGBT discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations in 2019. Other cities that have made it to the Top 10 ranking list include Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Providence, Rhode Island, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Madison, Wisconsin, Bloomington, Indiana, Atlanta, Georgia, Salem, Massachusetts, Austin, Texas, and Long Beach, California. To allow geographic diversity, Realtor.com limited the number of cities to one per state.

NEWS NATIONAL

WORK IT! A jobs website for professionals launched to help LGBT people find the right job. John Hayden

espite moderately high unemployment, companies are struggling to fill millions of open jobs. One reason is that, after the pandemic, people aren’t looking for any job, they’re looking for the right job. Potential for growth, salary, location and benefits are common considerations. But LGBT people also have to navigate corporate attitudes toward the community. OutBüro is a new site working to make it a little easier. “OutBüro is like Glassdoor and LinkedIn met at a summer pool party, fell in love, and had a queer baby,” site founder Dennis Velco said. The site looks to create a community while also confirming the often hard to pin down policies of employers. Human Rights Campaign has an index but only works with Fortune 1,000 companies. Dennis wants OutBüro to fill a huge void. “What about all the midsize companies? What about the Fortune 2,000? What about government entities and universities?” For more than a decade Velco, who used to live in Wilton Manors, has moderated an LGBT group on LinkedIn. Seeing flaws in many employment sites he hopes to have an all-in-one place for people to connect and share. Companies wanting to work with the site have to jump through several hoops. “Not only do we catch all the ‘yes/no’ do you have this policy, do you have this benefit, I also ask the employers to social-proof it. Don’t just tell me, show me,” he said. “If you have transgender employee healthcare then link to the policy it’s covered by. It goes into ‘are you actively recruiting LGBT,’ ‘what is your strategy’ and ‘who is the main HR recruiter contact for the LGBT community?’” Velco points out that despite some favorable court rulings and anti-harassment laws there are still problems simmering just below the surface. “There’s still that intrinsic hate, ignorance, and misinformation. That law didn’t just automatically switch all of that off,” he said. “There are still cases right now with LGBT discrimination in major firms and major corporations.”

Dennis Velco. Courtesy photo.

OutBüro believes bringing employers into the fold is key. “Companies can become part of OutBüro and then they can proactively interact with ratings and reviews,” he said. “We can work with them on internal marketing, internal campaigns.” For people looking for jobs OutBüro wants to get people sharing their professional experiences with each other. People create a profile, upload their resumé, join groups, send DMs and review employers. Velco says the reviews have to be genuine, not just trashing a former boss or company, and requires proof of employment before it posts. OutBüro also has a job board that is constantly updated. Recently OutBüro started publishing in 103 languages reaching LGBT communities worldwide and boosting traffic. “People are coming to the site because it’s in the language they speak,” he said. Many members are in places that don’t have much information about friendly employers. “It’s so rewarding to see people from [mideast countries] finding the site, seeing it in their language and having some type of content at a professional level,” he said. “Some days the information that they share with me I literally cry.” Velco is working to expand his staff to help build the site and is excited about the possibilities. “I don’t think small,” he said. “I think big.”

NEWS STATE

GLMA TO HOST VIRTUAL CONFERENCE ON LGBT HEALTH Kim Swan

fter Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an antitrans law on the first day of Pride Month, the organizers of an upcoming LGBT health care pulled their event out of Florida. GLMA, a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for LGBT individuals and health professionals, decided to host its 39th Annual Conference on LGBTQ Health virtually from Sept. 22-25. It was originally planned to be in-person, but due to COVID-19 and the anti-trans law, it has changed course. These conferences strive to create a “welcoming environment and safe space” for all participants. The organization vows to fight the anti-trans law by using medical science and ensure policymakers in the state and across the nation prioritize LGBT health, as stated on its website. The GLMA Education Committee and

GLMA President-Elect Nicholas Grant. Photo via Facebook.

Nursing Section leadership said it’s focusing its efforts on creating high quality and successful virtual programming for the Annual Conference and Nursing Summit for the second consecutive year, while working on returning to in-person conferences in 2022.

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NEWS NATIONAL

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNS BILL DESIGNATING PULSE

A NATIONAL MEMORIAL Steve Lemongello Orlando Sentinel

resident Biden signed into law June 25 the bill designating the site of the Pulse nightclub as a national memorial, according to the White House.

“Just over five years ago, the Pulse “Pride is back at the White House,” Biden nightclub, a place of acceptance and joy, said. became a place of unspeakable pain and loss,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Biden said. “And we’ll never fully recover, but the first openly gay member of a president’s will remember ... May no president ever have Cabinet, introduced 16-year-old transgender to sign a monument like this.” advocate Ashton Mota of Lowell, Biden was be joined at the White House Massachusetts, with the group GenderCool by First Lady Jill Biden, survivors and Project. family members of the victims of the Biden called on Congress to pass the June 2016 shooting, as Equality Act, describing bills well as Florida Congress targeting transgender people members and members of such as the one signed by the Congressional Equality Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida Caucus. Behind them were as “nothing but bullying names and photographs of disguised as legislation.” the 49 people who died. “These young people The bill designating the aren’t hurting anyone, but National Pulse Memorial, these laws are hurting them “IN MAKING PULSE A sponsored by U.S. Sen. Rick and they have got to stop,” NATIONAL MEMORIAL, Scott, passed unanimously Biden said. earlier this month in the Central Florida’s three WE HONOR NOT ONLY Senate The U.S. House’s Democratic Congress THE VICTIMS, BUT version of the bill, sponsored members all stressed the WHAT THEY STOOD by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto along importance of the memorial with U.S. Reps. Val Demings designation. FOR, WHAT THEY and Stephanie Murphy, also “The victims of Pulse are REPRESENT, AND passed unanimously in May. important to us. They are WHAT OUR COUNTRY Congress “enshrined in loved,” Rep. Demings said. perpetuity a monument “In making Pulse a national COULD BE AND to the loss that occurred memorial, we honor not SHOULD BE.” there,” Biden said. “And an only the victims, but what absolute determination that they stood for, what they we’re going to deal with this represent, and what our - Val Demings every single solitary day, and country could be and should U.S. REPRESENTATIVE make sure that we’re not in a be.” position to see this happen “With this signing today, again.” we declare that Pulse was a national tragedy, After the signing, the Bidens met with not only for what it was, but for what it LGBT advocates, faith leaders, state and local meant,” Demings added. “It will be a national elected officials, and members of Congress in memorial not just to commemorate our past, the East Room for a Pride Month event. The but to guide our future. Love will always event took place near a White House ground triumph over hate if we have the bravery to floor corridor that has been illuminated in embrace it.” rainbow colors for the first time as part of a On Twitter, Murphy wrote she was Smithsonian LGBT exhibit. “thrilled that POTUS has signed our bill

• 7.1.2021

Photo via Joe Biden, Facebook.

to honor the lives of the 49 innocent souls taken from us at Pulse by designating the location as a National Memorial Site. Proud to have worked with Rep. Darren Soto & Rep. Val Demings to get it done.” Soto said he was “humbled by the support that our #OrlandoStrong community has received for the last five years as we work to honor those that were taken from us on that tragic night. #Forthe49.”

Steve Lemongello is the Sentinel’s senior content editor for politics. A Fordham University graduate, he worked at the Press of Atlantic City and the Jersey Journal in New Jersey and joined the Sentinel in 2014. He covered Winter Park, Maitland and Osceola County before becoming politics reporter in 2016. He also covered Orange County government.

NEWS NATIONAL

JESSICA STERN SELECTED AS US ENVOY FOR GLOBAL LGBT RIGHTS Michael K. Lavers Washington Blade

Jessica Stern. Image via YouTube.

he White House on Friday announced it has named Jessica Stern as the next special U.S. envoy for the promotion of LGBTQ rights abroad. Stern for the past 11 years has been the executive director of OutRight Action International, a global LGBTQ advocacy group. The White House in its announcement notes Stern is also an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. “Serving as OutRight’s executive director has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Stern in an OutRight Action press release that announced her appointment and departure from the organization. “I can think of no organization that works with more integrity, more skillful staff, more motivated board members, more valued partners or greater impact. After 11 years with OutRight, leaving will be bittersweet, but I know that the organization could not be stronger.” Then-Secretary of State John Kerry in 2015 announced the position within the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. It had remained vacant since 2017. President Biden in February signed a memorandum that committed the U.S. to promoting LGBTQ rights abroad. Secretary of

State Antony Blinken during his confirmation hearing pledged to make the envoy an ambassador level post, but the White House’s announcement about Stern’s appointment does not refer to her as such. Stern was also a vocal critic of the previous administration over its LGBTQ rights record, among other issues. “Another Trump administration would mean more funding for U.S.-based rightwing organizations to spread homophobia and transphobia globally,” Stern told the Washington Blade last October in a statement ahead of the presidential election. “It would mean more opposition to life-saving global institutions that serve LGBTIQ people, like the World Health Organization. It would mean more examples of the U.S. forging coalitions to oppose social justice movements and equal recognition of the family with some of the most conservative countries in the world.” The Council for Global Equality in a statement congratulated Stern over her appointment. “The special envoy is a key leadership position at the State Department and Jessica Stern is a respected leader in the global movement for LGBTQI equality,” it said on its blog. “We could not imagine a better choice to lead President Biden’s vision for equality and human rights abroad.”

Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.

7.1. 20 21 •

NEWS NATIONAL

CARL NASSIB First Active NFL Player To Come Out As Gay Everitt Rosen

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arl Nassib, a defensive lineman with the Las Vegas Raiders, made history by being the first active NFL player to come out as gay. According to CNN, Nassib, 28, came out June 22 in a video on Instagram. “I’m Carl Nassib. I’m at my house here in West Chester, Pennsylvania,” Nassib said in the video. “I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest.” Nassib is in his second season with the Raiders after spending five years with three other clubs. In a statement accompanying the video, he claimed he had anguished for 15 years over the choice to come out as gay. Before his announcement, Nassib previously played with the Cleveland Browns from 2016-2017 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 and 2019, according to USA Today. He set himself apart from the pack with 20 and a half sacks in five NFL seasons. Nassib also previously played for Penn State in 2011. Four years later, he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and won the Lombardi Award, which is given to the top college lineman or linebacker in the country. When Penn State head football coach saw his former player’s message, James Franklin voiced how proud he was and claimed that Nassib has a huge heart. “I am very proud of Carl for his courage and voice. This announcement doesn’t surprise me because if you know Carl, you know his strength. Carl’s story continues to add chapters which will have an impact well beyond the field of play,” he said in a statement, according to CNN. “His care and love for those around him, particularly those in need, has always been obvious ... Carl’s brave announcement will forge a path for others to be true to their authentic self.” In reaction to Nassib’s announcement, Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, praised him. “The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,” Goodell said, according to CNN. “Representation matters. We share his hope

Carl Nassib. Photo via Instagram.

that someday soon statements like his will no longer be newsworthy as we march toward full equality for the LGBTQ+ community. We wish Carl the best of luck this season.” According to the New York Times, the Raiders quickly showed their support by writing “proud of you, Carl” on the team’s official Twitter account. Two of Nassib’s teammates, defensive lineman Darius Stills and edge rusher Maxx Crosby, also voiced their support by commenting on Nassib’s social media post. The CEO and President of GLAAD Sarah Kate Ellis stated that Nassib’s announcement was a strong message and reflects the growing state of LGBT visibility and inclusion in the world of professional sports. In addition to coming out, Nassib also announced that he has donated $100,000 to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization focusing on suicide prevention among LGBT youth. According to Market Watch, in the wake of his announcement, The Trevor Project saw a 350% surge in traffic to its website. The NFL has announced that the organization is supporting Nassib by matching his contribution. “We proudly support the LGBTQ+ community and will continue to work alongside the Trevor Project and our other community partners to further enhance our collective work and commitment,” the NFL said in a statement released on Twitter.

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NEWS INTERNATIONAL

UGANDA POLICE ARREST 44 PEOPLE AT LGBT SHELTER Michael K. Lavers Washington Blade

Photo via Adobe.

olice in Uganda on Monday arrested 44 people at an LGBT shelter outside the country’s capital of Kampala. Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a Ugandan LGBT advocacy group, told the Washington Blade in an email the arrests took place in Nansana, a municipality in the Wakiso District. Mugisha in another tweet said prosecutors have charged 42 of the 44 people who were arrested with “negligent act likely to spread infection of disease.” Mugisha added authorities subjected them to so-called anal tests to determine whether they are gay. Mugisha said a bail hearing for 39 of the 44 people who were arrested took place on Wednesday. He tweeted the court “adjourned the matter to Friday.” Mugisha said three of those who were arrested have been released on bail. Pan Africa ILGA is among the organizations that have urged the Ugandan government to release those who were arrested. A State Department spokesperson on Wednesday told the Washington Blade in a statement the U.S. Embassy in Kampala is “following developments in the case closely.” “We understand the individuals are

being charged with violating government of Uganda restrictions on the size of gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said the spokesperson. “The United States remains committed to supporting democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, and prosperity in Uganda,” they added. “No one should face arrests, violence or torture because of who they are or who they love. We continue to engage with the government of Uganda on a wide range of issues, including those related to human rights, including LGBTQI+ rights, to improve the lives of all Ugandans.” Uganda is among the dozens of countries around the world in which consensual samesex sexual relations remain criminalized. Lawmakers last month passed a bill that would further criminalize homosexuality in the country. Police in April 2020 arrested 19 LGBT people at a Kampala shelter and charged them with violating regulations the Ugandan government put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Prosecutors subsequently dropped the charges against them, and a court ordered their release.

Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.

• 7.1.2021

NEWS NATIONAL

SUPREME COURT GIVES WIN TO TRANS STUDENT GAVIN GRIMM Michael K. Lavers Washington Blade

he U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the case of a former high school student who challenged his Virginia school district’s bathroom policy. Gavin Grimm was a sophomore at Gloucester County High School when he filed a federal lawsuit against the Gloucester County School District’s policy that prohibited students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that did not correspond with their “biological gender.” The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond in 2016 ruled in Grimm’s favor. The Supreme Court in 2017 was scheduled to hear oral arguments in his case, but the justices sent it back to the 4th Circuit after thenPresident Trump rescinded guidance to public schools that said Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires them to allow Gavin Grimm in 2017. Photo courtesy of the ACLU. transgender students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity. Human Rights Campaign President A federal judge in 2019 ruled in favor of Grimm, but the Gloucester County School Alphonso David also praised the Supreme District appealed the decision. The 4th Circuit Court’s decision. “Everyone has the right to high-quality, in August 2020 once again ruled in favor of public education without the fear of being Grimm. “I am glad that my years-long fight to have discriminated against simply for being brave my school see me for who I am is over,” said enough to show up as you truly are,” said Grimm in an American Civil Liberties Union David. “This is a battle Gavin Grimm has been fighting for over four years — we press release. “Being forced to are grateful that his resilience, use the nurse’s room, a private courage and determination has bathroom, and the girl’s room finally been rewarded.” was humiliating for me, and The Supreme Court’s decision having to go to out-of-the-way in the Grimm case comes against bathrooms severely interfered the backdrop of bills in Florida with my education. Trans youth and other states that ban trans deserve to use the bathroom in athletes from participating in peace without being humiliated high school and college sports and stigmatized by their own teams that correspond with their school boards and elected gender identity. officials.” The Loudoun County School Josh Block, a senior staff Board last month suspended a attorney with the ACLU LGBTQ - Gavin Grimm physical education teacher who and HIV Project, in the press TRANS ACTIVIST said he would not use a student’s release noted it “is the third time preferred pronouns to refer to in recent years that the Supreme Court has allowed appeals court decisions in them. The teacher has been reinstated, but efforts to implement a Virginia Department of support of transgender students to stand.” “This is an incredible victory for Gavin and Education directive to school districts to make for transgender students around the country,” their policies more trans-friendly have been said Block. “Our work is not yet done, and the met with vocal opposition. The Biden administration on June 16 ACLU is continuing to fight against anti-trans laws targeting trans youth in states around the officially announced that Title XI prohibits discrimination against LGBT students. country.”

“I am glad that my years-long fight to have my school see me for who I am is over.”

Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.

7.1. 20 21 •

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NEWS NATIONAL

STATE DEPARTMENT FLIES PRIDE FLAG FOR FIRST TIME Michael K. Lavers Washington Blade

eputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Gina AbercrombieWinstanley were among those who helped raise the Progress Pride flag at the State Department on Friday. Sherman noted it is the first time “a flag recognizing the LGBTQI+ community will fly over State Department headquarters.” Sherman also pointed out the so-called “lavender scare” during which upwards of 1,000 State Department personnel lost their jobs because of their sexual orientation. “Our mission is to serve the interests of the United States and to promote American values around the world,” said Sherman. “Our ability to stand up for human rights, for democracy and for justice overseas is utterly dependent on the actions we take here at home. As much as progress we have made, as we are celebrating today, we still have to work to do to guarantee equality for LGBTQI+ people in our workplaces, in our schools, at the Department of State, in our government and in our society.” “We raise the Progress flag today as a signal to people everywhere that the United States is firmly committed to doing that work and for fighting for LGBTQI+ people at home and everywhere,” added Sherman. “We raise this flag in recognition as well as the countless civil service and foreign service officers, locally employed staff, contractors, even us appointees, past and present, who have worked to change the State Department, the country and the world for the better.” Abercrombie-Winstanley, who Secretary of State Antony Blinken appointed as the State Department’s first chief diversity and inclusion officer in April, in her remarks noted her two children are gay. Abercrombie-Winstanley also reiterated her commitment to help ensure the State Department’s workforce becomes more diverse. “We lead the department’s efforts to ensure that the workforce of the United States State Department comes to look like the country which we lovingly represent,” she said. “We must finally ensure equitable career outcomes for all of our employees.” Jeff Anderson, president of GLIFAA, an association of LGBT employees of Foreign Service agencies, opened the ceremony. “Today we are flying this Progress Pride

Image via the U.S. Department of State, Facebook.

flag for many people and in doing so we are remembering and honoring those who serve and have served our country with honor and dignity and we are inspiring a new generation of public servants to enter their doors, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation,” he said. The ceremony took place less than five months after President Biden signed a memorandum that committed the U.S. to promote LGBT rights abroad. Blinken in April announced the State Department will once again allow U.S. diplomatic institutions to fly the Pride flag. State Department spokesperson Ned Price a few weeks later told the Washington Blade that decriminalization of consensual same-sex sexual relations is one of the five priorities for the White House in its efforts to promote LGBT rights abroad. The White House on Friday announced it named Jessica Stern, executive director of OutRight Action International, a global LGBT advocacy group, as the next special U.S. envoy for the promotion of LGBT rights abroad. Stern is among those who attended the flag raising ceremony.

Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.

• 7.1.2021

NEWS NATIONAL

‘PRIDE IS BACK AT THE WHITE HOUSE’ Biden Holds Reception for LGBT Leaders

Michael K. Lavers Washington Blade

resident Biden commemorated Pride Month for first his year in office on Friday with a reception at the White House, detailing the initiatives his administration has made on behalf of the LGBT community and declaring “Pride is Back at the White House.” “We’re also making progress, but I know we still have a long way to go, a lot of work to do,” Biden said. “We must protect the gains we’ve made and fend off the cruel and unconscionable attacks that we’re seeing now to ensure the full promise of dignity and equal protection.” Joining Biden on stage for the reception in the East Room was first lady Jill Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who could claim historic status of participating in the event as the first openly gay official to obtain Senate confirmation for a Cabinet-level role. Buttigieg, paying heed to his spouse, Chasten Buttigieg, who was seated in the audience, said being able to serve in the Biden administration as a gay man was important. “Not that long ago, well within the lifetimes of many people in this room, being outed could be disqualifying from public service, any public service — not just being a Cabinet officer, or a member of the military, but being a bookkeeper or an astronomer,” Buttigieg said, making a reference to Frank Kameny’s termination from the U.S. government in the 1950s. A heavy focus of the event was the wave of state laws against transgender youth, including restricting their access to transition-related health care and schools’ sports. Biden called them “nothing but bullying disguised as legislation.” “These are some of the ugliest, un-American bills I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been around a while,” Biden said. Listing the initiatives his administration has undertaken for the LGBT community, Biden recalled he signed an executive order on his first day in office against anti-LGBT discrimination that has led to non-discrimination measures stemming from various federal agencies. Two other news items on same day: Biden signing a congressional resolution designating the Pulse Nightclub as a national memorial and the appointment of Jessica Stern as international envoy for LGBT human rights, also were part of Biden’s remarks. Biden also renewed his call to pass the Equality Act, legislation he said in the 2020 election would be a priority, but has languished

Pete Buttigieg (left) with President Joe Biden. Photo via Facebook.

in Congress and is all but dead. Introducing Biden at the event was Ashton Mota, a 16-year-old transgender advocate from Lowell, Mass., and a leader with the GenderCool Project. Mota, delivering a personal speech about his transition and his advocacy for transgender youths, thanked President Biden for the actions taken by his administration. “Mr. President, thank you for having our back,” Mota said. Notables in attendance, and pointed out by Biden, were Assistant Secretary for Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender presidential appointee to obtain U.S. Senate confirmation; Delaware State Sen. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender state senator; Virginia State Del. Danica Roem, the first openly transgender elected and seated to a state legislature. Biden, who signed an executive order reversing President Trump’s transgender military ban, also pointed out in the audience Lt. Col. Bree Fram, a high-ranking openly trans service member. Members of the Congress who are LGBT were also in attendance for the event, including Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas). A notable absence, however, was Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), the only out bisexual in Congress. Ruben Gonzales, executive director of the LGBTQ Victory Institute, was also in attendance at the event and pointed out it included many LGBT appointees his organization has supported. “It’s something to celebrate,” Gonzales said. “It’s great to see a collection of so many appointees, LGBT leaders in a space together to be welcomed and affirmed by this administration. I think it’s a testament to what Biden is creating.”

Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.

7.1. 20 21 •

NEWS photos

STONEWALL PRIDE ALTHOUGH PRIDE ENDED WITH HEARTACHE, THERE WERE STILL MANY GOOD MEMORIES AT WILTON MANORS’ FIRST PRIDE IN TWO YEARS. Photos by J.R. Davis

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The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival is normally held every year on Wilton Drive, but was canceled last year due to COVID-19. This year the event was held on June 19. Due to a tragic incident with a truck that left one dead and two injured, the parade portion of the event was canceled this year as well.

Sheriff Gregory Tony (right) with another guest at Stonewall Pride.

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COMING NEXT WEEK! 22

• 7.1.2021

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7.1. 20 21 •

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE POWER OF ‘I’M SORRY’ A float sits stranded after Stonewall Pride was canceled. Photo credit: Carina Mask.

2021 PRIDE NEGLIGENCE! Hello with Much Respect Dear SFGN, After taking a few days to process what occurred in Wilton Manors Entertainment District this past Saturday I am writing to express my concern and opinion. This “Terrible Accident” that canceled the “Out of the Dark into the Light” Parade could have been prevented! Why on Earth is an elderly 77-year-old man with known leg and walking problems put behind the wheel of an oversized pickup truck to drive in a parade? This is not a tragic accident. It is negligence on both the guilty driver and organizers who knew of his handicap! I dealt with much emotional pain with this incident, even after I learned it wasn’t intentional. The driver should be charged with Reckless Driving and Vehicular Homicide! NO EXCUSES. Future Parades also need a consideration: NO Vehicles. JUST MARCH!

Kirk Johnson, Gables Wilton Park

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!  Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com

South Florida’s LGBT community was sadly in the news last week after a 77-year-old man drove his truck into the crowd at Wilton Manors Stonewall parade, killing one and injuring another in a horrifying accident. Lives were lost and forever altered by the heartbreaking tragedy. Unfortunately, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis quickly mischaracterized the truck accident as a “terrorist attack against the LGBT community,” moments after the incident took place. That Trantalis made an emotionally charged misstatement after witnessing such a frightening event is forgivable. But when Trantalis learned that this was not a hate crime and that the gay community had not been targeted, he should have done what people do when they realize they have made a mistake: apologize. To err is human, and the mayor should have understood that there is no shame in owning a gaffe. Being truthful and honest takes strength, but it’s what is expected from public officials. The fact that this is still a topic of conversation so many days later is unfortunate. It’s a reminder that you prolong your pain when you fail to simply address a mistake head-on, admit you were wrong and say two simple words: “I’m sorry.”

Evan Nierman Evan Nierman is the founder and CEO of crisis management firm Red Banyan, which provides crisis PR consulting to clients around the world.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!  Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com 24

• 7.1.2021

CONVICTIONS

Jesse’s Journal

EMANUEL XAVIER POET AND ACTIVIST

Jesse Monteagudo

manuel Xavier (born 1970) is a Latinx poet, spoken word artist, author, editor and LBGT activist. Born in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, Xavier was sexually abused by a relative while still a child and was kicked out of the house at 16 when he came out to his mother and her live-in boyfriend. Like a character in Pose, young Xavier survived as a teenage hustler at the Christopher Street West Side Highway piers and became involved in the House of Xtravaganza and the ‘80s ball scene. He was also introduced to the world of designer drugs, which he sold and consumed. “Twenty-five years ago, in 1996, I was in my mid-20’s and working at an LGBTQ bookstore in New York City [A Different Light]. I had already experienced a lifetime of pain,” he recalls. Even so, “I proudly embraced being a ‘pier queen’ hanging out at the edge of the city with trans women and men, voguers, ball children, prostitutes and dealers. We existed in our own underground bubble oblivious to the rest of the world.” While all this was going on, Emanuel Xavier discovered he had a talent for poetry. He read his poems at the Nuyorican Poets Café, winning the Grand Slam. In 1997, now clean and sober, Xavier self-published his first poetry collection, “Pier Queen.” He went on to create a spoken word poetry House — the House of Xavier — and to publish four more poetry books and a novel, “Christ Like” (1999). Xavier survived a vicious hate crime attack in 2005, which made him permanently deaf in one ear and almost wrecked his literary career. Recognized as one of our leading LGBT Latinx poets, Xavier was named an LGBT icon by The Equality Forum and was honored with a New York City Council Citation Award and an International Latino Book Award. “Selected Poems of Emanuel Xavier” ($12.95) is a good introduction to the inspirational life and creative talents of

Emanuel Xavier in the studio, recording a spoken poem. Photo via Twitter.

Xavier. This 72-page collection was published by Queer Mojo, an imprint of Rebel Satori, “independent publishers on the frontiers of liminal space.” It features selections from Xavier’s five poetry collections — “Pier Queen,” “Americano,” “If Jesus Were Gay,” “Nefarious” and “Radiance” — as well as a newly published poem, “Pulse,” about the 2016 Orlando club massacre. It is a testimonial to the life and art of a man who survived and thrived despite poverty, racism, and homophobia. “This collection serves as my own personal journey within the long history of spoken word poetry, Nuyorican poetics and LGBTQ culture. I have been blessed to enjoy such a unique and varied life. Through so many challenges, this art is what has kept me going. May it inspire others to continue sharing their stories and pushing to make this world a better place.”

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida's LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations.

7.1. 20 21 •

LIFESTYLE CELEBRITY

BY ELLIOT RODRIGUEZ

GAY VINE THE

KEEP UP WITH THE CELEBRITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY

ANIMATION

FILM

‘RUGRATS’ GOES GAY!

TAKE TWO!

REBOOT WILL FEATURE SOME FRESH, HEALTHY LGBT REPRESENTATION The beloved show “Rugrats” that everyone has grown up with will be doing something that might knock your socks off. They are making Betty DeVille’s character gay in the new upcoming paramount reboot. To everyone who has watched the original show, they could pretty much guess that DeVille was queer. “Betty is a single mom with her own business who has twins and still has time to hang out with her friends and her community, and I think it’s just so great because examples of living your life happily and healthily as an out queer person is just such a beacon for young queer people who may not have examples of that,” Natalie Morales, an actress, told the AV Club.

The new “Rugrats.” Photo credit: Paramount.

The “Rugrats” reboot will definitely look different and feel different with its new LGBT character in the mix. The YouTube trailer shows an animation style which kind of resembles a stop-motion, claymation type of vibe. Catch the “Rugrats” reboot on Paramount’s streaming service.

‘ICARLY’ REBOOT TO FEATURE NEW QUEER CHARACTER Nickelodeon fans rejoice! If you were a fan of the original “iCarly” series, then you’ll love this news. Along with other reboots such as the beloved “Rugrats,” Paramount’s streaming service will feature a canon character named Harper, played by Laci Mosley. Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, Nathan Kress return from the original series to reprise their iconic characters, Pride reported. The first three episodes premiered last week, featuring Harper (Mosley), Carly’s hilarious new roommate who is revealed to be queer. While Harper’s sexuality isn’t pinpointed to a specific sex, most fans of the show have speculated her to be pansexual. Josie Totah, who many have known

Image via @mirandacosgrove, Instagram.

from “Saved By the Bell,” has also guest starred in the show. Fans of the show greatly appreciate the LGBT representation that “iCarly” is giving to the show. One fan tweeted, “I was right about Josie Totah being in iCarly. Not only do we have bi/pan representation, we have trans guest stars. Progress and representation [are] beautiful.”

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For all the anime fans out there looking to add something to your new watch list, “The Stranger By the Shore” is the next hot thing for fans everywhere. This anime focuses on a gay couple’s journey of their trials and tribulations, following the main characters Shun Hashimoto and Mio Chibana. Pride writes, “As each day passes, both young men find themselves in an everunique, undisturbed voyage of friendship and romance. But self-doubt, family, acceptance, and fear will challenge these young men, as nothing worth fighting for goes without taking chances.” English dub voice actor Josh Grelle took to Twitter to express his appreciation to FUNimation. “You guys. This one is

• 7.1.2021

incredibly special. I am so effing proud of FUNi for bringing this tour de force of gay love to the west!” For an exclusive LGBT anime to be shown overseas to places such as the U.S, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Brazil, and Mexico, is a huge deal. This just means that more room is starting to accumulate for the LGBT community. FUNimation is all pumped up and ready for launch. “Just in time for summer, a refreshing new love story set by the sea is heading exclusively to FUNimation!” FUNimation tweeted. “The Stranger By the Shore” can be streamed July 9 on FUNimation.

“The Stranger By the Shore.” Credit: Shodensha Publishing Co. Ltd.

LIFESTYLE SHOP WITH PRIDE

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“I have always loved loose leaf tea and enjoyed blending my own custom flavors, so I wanted to try my hand at sharing my blends with others and thus Mountain Tempo was born,” he said. Mountain Tempo is a small business that specializes in premium loose-leaf tea. “All of our teas are made in small batches from organically sourced ingredients with the intention of maximizing the flavor profile of each tea,” Shaw said. On the Mountain Tempo website, customers can buy single bags of tea, sampler bundles, and even specialized gift box sets. “We make and sell various tea gift boxes for any occasion which include tea samples, a tea infuser, honey sticks and a special card!” Shaw said. Shaw especially loves the Mountain Tempo box that serves as a tribute to his own sexual identity as a gay man. “I am particularly loving our Pride Gift Box that we recently launched too because we love seeing fellow LGBTQIA+ individuals celebrating Pride!” he said. Mountain Tempo offers 12 different flavors of tea that are able to be purchased on their own or in a set. “Our teas come in 2.0 oz bags and also 0.5 oz sample bags perfect for those who want to try out our teas without the commitment of a large bag,” he said. With so many flavors for customers to choose from, Shaw offered up a

A LITTLE BIT OF FAITH AND

PRIDE

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

SEE MORE ONLINE AT SFGN.COM/TABLE/NEWS/RELIGION

The Pride Gift Box at Mountain Tempo. Photo via mountaintempo.com.

couple of his favorite blends. “I love all of our teas, but I have definitely been in a Mountain Breakfast [a version of an English Breakfast] and Pomegranate Green Tea mood lately!” Shaw said. “Mountain Breakfast gives me the perfect amount of caffeine to start my day while the Pomegranate Green Tea gives a little boost of energy and is really good both hot and cold.” To Shaw, Mountain Tempo teas are more than a refreshing beverage. “We created MountainTempo as a way to take a step back and enjoy the moment. Our tea blends are a great way to enjoy all of the day’s little moments from energizing the start of your day to unwinding in the evening, and every moment in between,” he said.

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LIFESTYLE FOOD

TOAST IS TOASTED

From Grampa’s Bagel Bakery and Pink Donuts & More to Fat Tap Beer Bar, here are some new local hot spots to try out Rick Karlin

ertrude Stein may have famously said, “A rose is a rose is a rose.” Perhaps what she really meant is, “A rosé is a rosé is a rosé.” We’ll never know, but we do know that the Greek diner, Toast closed last winter, after struggling through the pandemic and the death of owner Gus Halmoukos. Now Toast has become TOASTED BAGELRY & DELI. The latest of a Miami-based franchise, with locations in Brickell and Coral Gables. Other than the name, there’s little to compare the two. Toasted is open for breakfast and lunch, serving breakfast and deli sandwiches, paninis, and salads. 3020 N. Federal Highway, Suite 1, Fort Lauderdale; 954-533-2420, ToastedBagelry.com Instead of a scoop of soft serve, at the former Dairy Belle on Federal in Dania Beach, you can now get a scoop of guacamole, as well as barbacoa, carne asada and pastor de pollo (chicken) as taco selections at the new fastfood restaurant in that location, GUACAMOLE STATION. The tortillas will be made on location. 118 N Federal Highway, Dania Beach; 954-544-2259. Quietly opening in the space occupied by the short-lived XES, right across the street from Island City Stage is UNION KITCHEN AND BAR. Run by the husband-and-wife team of Christie and Roberto Colombi, it is a modern American restaurant inspired by the feel of South American and Northern Italian cuisine and wines. Specializing in fresh-made pasta. 2309 N. Dixie Hwy., Wilton Manors. 754-2160143, unionkb.com. Da Livio Ristorante Italiano barely gasped for breath before closing. The space is now home to FISH N’ BUBBLES, run by veteran restaurateurs Filomeno and Kremena Giannino (EATapas and Dal Contadino Trattoria). 2822 E. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-999-0612, Fish-N-Bubbles.Business.Site. Everyone is raving about the goodies

THERE’S MORE ONLINE! 28

• 7.1.2021

available at PINK DONUTS & MORE, one of Oakland Park’s newest spots. Among some of the gourmet takes on the ringed treat are lemon pie filling and dulce de leche meringue topped doughnuts. The Nutella stuffed monkey bread is to die for. The family-owned shop also serves empanadas and assorted, cream-filled croissants. Vegan and health-conscious baked goods are also available. 827 E. Oakland Park Blvd., thepinkdonuts.com. Jason Hadley’s stall at the Yellow-Green Farmer’s Market was always popular. BANG SHACK’S dipped chicken is now available at a brick-and-mortar fast-casual restaurant in downtown Hollywood. 120 S. 20th Ave.; 786223-5395; thebangshack.com. Oakland Park is becoming brewery central. In addition to Funky Buddha, you can now add FAT TAP BEER BAR, relocating to a larger space in a converted warehouse along Dixie Highway. The new space will consist of two buildings, one will feature a craft beer taproom and kitchen with a 2,000-squarefoot beer garden. Behind that will be the brewhouse. 3553-3555 N. Dixie Highway, 954376-8748, FatTapBeerBar.com. HAMBURGER MARY’S held its “soft” opening during Pride weekend. The place was packed with the queens performing before cheering crowds in the parking lot and folks relaxing inside in the cool airconditioned space. There will be two bars and plenty of table service, plus that large outdoor patio. 2426 Wilton Dr., 754-779-7424, hamburgermarys.com. Cooking like grandma used to do, if she

Toast is now Toasted Bagelry & Deli. Photo via Facebook. came from Italy, is the focus of the food at LYNORA’S, opening in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. The company plans to open a total of six locations in Palm Beach and Broward counties by the end of the year. Focusing on standards such as pasta tagliolini, alla carbonara, linguine alle vongole, and cannelloni al forno, expect to see these places open by the winter holidays. Lynoras.com. GRAMPA’S BAGEL BAKERY DELI CAFÉ, Dania Beach has been taken over by New Yorkers Mark Fried (Bagel Boys Café) and Marc Goldberg (Goldberg’s Famous Bagels). They plan to style it as a New York-style deli and

HUNGRY FOR MORE? 

open a second location in Fort Lauderdale in the mall directly across the street from Brooklyn Water Bagel. 2364 N. Federal, 954923-2163, grampasbakery.com. The trendy, high-end oceanfront restaurant DUNE has closed temporarily, even though it was doing great business. The property and business were sold to Michelin-star chef Laurent Tourondel who will re-open the place as Dune by Laurent Tourondel. At the other end of the price spectrum DOCKERS, in Dania Beach has shut its doors. They’re consolidating their team with sister restaurant, DOWNTOWNERS in Fort Lauderdale.

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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Andrés Cárdenes will conduct Orchestra Miami in an all-Piazzolla program on July 9 in Miami Beach. Courtesy.

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ARTSBEAT CELEBRATE ARGENTINEAN INDEPENDENCE WITH TANGOS J.W. Arnold ORCHESTRA MIAMI Orchestra Miami will celebrate the centennial of composer Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) with an all-tango program at Miami Beach’s North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., on Friday, July 9 at 8 p.m. The concert coincides with Argentina’s Independence Day. Piazzolla, considered the most influential tango composer, spent his early years with his family in New York City, where he became known as a child prodigy bandoneon player. After returning to Argentina in 1937, he began performing in nightclubs at the age of 17 and studied theory and composition with composer Alberto Ginastera. Looking to leave tango behind, he studied the works of Stravinsky, Bartok and Ravel and won a scholarship to study with the legendary pedagogue Nadia Boulanger in France. Boulanger encouraged him to continue composing tango, but infused with his knowledge and love for jazz and classical styles. After returning to Buenos Aires, he went on to revolutionize the art form and still composed concertos, pieces for full orchestra, opera and chamber music. The orchestra will be joined by special guests from Buenos Aires: guitar and vocal duo Rosa Incaica and bandoneon master David Alsina, led by guest conductor Andrés Cárdenes. Tickets are $20 at OrchestraMiami.org. Free parking is available after 6 p.m. in the Collins Ave. municipal lot.

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD On the first Monday of each month and beginning July 5, Plays of Wilton! (POW!) will be celebrating the great Hollywood movie musicals at the Foundry at Wilton Theater Factory, 2306 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Sing-a-long to clips from the featured movie (July’s film is “Sweet Charity”), plus enjoy live performances, trivia and costume contests, pizza and wine. Bobby Peaco will be on the piano and the evening is hosted by Charles Baran. “I cannot tell you how excited I am to host this amazing Movie Musical Madness night every month at the Foundry. I love movies … especially if they’re musicals! As a kid growing up in Queens, New York, I sat for hours in front of our Sony TV watching Ann Miller tap her way across our 13-inch screen and Gene Kelly bat his eyes at my 14-year-old face,” said Baran. Seating is limited. Tickets are $30 at RonnieLarsen.com.

A TRIBUTE TO PLAYWRIGHT MICHAEL AMAN

Norm.Kent@sfgn.com•954-530-4970 30

• 7.1.2021

Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale, presents the world premiere of Michael Aman’s comedy, “Off Balance: A Comic Parade,” July 9 – 25. Aman died recently of cancer and the play is offered as tribute by his husband, Director Michael Bush, friends and colleagues in the local theater community. Set in a restored farmhouse in the Catskills, owner Billy suddenly finds himself under the spell of a dangerously attractive young man who was originally revealed to him as a male escort. When Billy’s best friend April suddenly starts feeling earthquakes and develops vertigo and a mysterious woman named Loretta appears, the entire house is thrown off balance. Tickets are $30 at EmpireStage.com. Use promo code EMPIRE for $5 off individual tickets.

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n her youth, Carol Wartenberg always dreamed of a career on the stage. She pursued roles in school, but eventually, “I realized I had to start working on my career because I wasn’t going to be a great actress … or even a mediocre one.” Wartenberg taught physical education for a few years and went on to became a clinical psychologist, but she never abandoned her love of theater. Nearly four decades later and retired in Wilton Manors, she’s dedicating her energy to creating arts experiences for other women at the Foundry. Wartenberg met theater producer Ronnie Larsen last year and expressed her desire for more programming for women. “Right after the pandemic started, I ran into Ronnie and told him there were no places for women’s only theater, women’s only events. Women have no place to meet,” she recalled. “I was so interested into getting back into the theater at that point … that’s when he told me he was starting a new nonprofit, Plays of Wilton.” Larsen, the creator of gay male-oriented shows with lots of nudity like “Making Porn” and “The Penis Talk Show” might have seemed like an unlikely champion for theater for lesbians, but he enthusiastically encouraged Wartenberg to pursue her mission and invited her to join his board to give the lesbian community a voice. She sought out “every lesbian group and talked to just about everyone in South Florida who does women’s arts,” seeking ideas and drumming up interest. She also created a Facebook group, LESBIAN Thespians, and website. “I’m not looking to be competitive, but give women more choices, things they can do a couple of times a month,” Wartenberg explained, noting that there are only 26 lesbian bars remaining across the country and South Florida’s LGBT scene already skews heavily towards men. More than 50 women attended the first open house at the Foundry this spring. And just this week, she hosted a successful “casting call” for women interested in performing and a sold out sing-a-long cabaret night featuring pianist Maxine

Board Member Carol Wartenberg is leading Plays of Wilton’s efforts to offer more programming for women at the Foundry Theatre. Courtesy.

Lemarr and vocalist Tanya Gigante. A busy summer calendar also features more open houses on July 12, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13; two evenings of storytelling, “Les Stories,” on July 16 – 17; “An Exotic Evening with Jade,” a pole dancer, on Aug. 14; and a play reading of a comedy about lesbians in space on Aug. 23. Later this year, Wartenberg has booked popular singer Tret Fure for performances at the Foundry in November. She’s also looking at holding performances featuring magicians and comedians, and features the work of visual artists in the lobby at each event. As the local audience continues to grow, she anticipates the shows and social activities will also attract women from outside the area, especially those who vacation in the area or may be departing on cruises as that industry picks up following the pandemic. “I’m just trying to think outside the box as much as I can,” she said enthusiastically. “It’s just so exciting and the women have been so thrilled to be able to get together in a women’s only space and be comfortable.” Wartenberg thanked Larsen and her fellow board members of POW! for providing financial and moral support to the effort. (She also thanks her “theater wife” of 35 years, Laura Hohnecker, for her understanding, too.) “POW! has been so wonderful at this point for covering the events,” she said. “Women tend to have less money than gay men and we’re working very hard to make the events free. Eventually we’ll need to charge, but the theater is not expecting a profit from us. I do want to get there for them, since they’ve been so good to us.”

For more information about women’s events presented by POW! at the Foundry, go to Facebook.com/PlaysOfWilton and LesbianThespians.com. 7.1. 20 21 •

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PEPE

Handsome Pepe (ID 643274) is just over a year old, and 78 pounds. He looks like he could have some Labrador Retriever in him, mixed with cuteness and fun. This fellow came to the shelter as a stray nearly a month ago and fortunately he had microchip. The staff were excited - he could quickly be reunited with his family. Days have turned into weeks and after calling his family, they haven’t bothered to pick him up. Pepe is sweet, playful and would love a yard to run around in and a family to spoil him…can you make his wish come true?

If you would like to meet a pet at the Humane Society of Broward County, please visit www.humanebroward.com to complete a pre-adoption application. Visit www.humanebroward.com to learn more or call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. Appointments are not necessary for the vaccine clinic which is open Monday — Friday 9 AM — 4:30 PM credit cards only. The banners rotate so click on the one that says COVID-19 update adoptions and essential services update and scroll down a little bit. There you will find an application for adoption and other pertinent information. Complete the application (even if you have adopted before) and submit it. Adoptions are being done by appointment only now. For more information call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED WHEN COMING TO THE SHELTER.

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