SFGN 10/27/22 V13iss43

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

may cause serious side e ects, including:

of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY.

not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine

to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

other medicines to treat HIV-1

or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis

any other health problems.

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.

breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

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.

and other medicines may a ect 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.



POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, 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 that may have been hidden in your body. 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, lightcolored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

to

Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

LESLIE JORDAN DIES IN HOLLYWOOD CAR CRASH

Beloved out actor and comedian Leslie Jordan died in a single-car crash Monday morning in Hollywood after suffering an unspecified medical emergency, a Los Angeles Police Department source said.

The news of his death was first broken by the entertainment gossip news website TMZ.

The 67-year-old saw a resurgence of fame with his viral and hilarious videos on social media during the lengthy coronavirus pandemic. Jordan was best known for his roles as Lonnie Garr in “Hearts Afire” (1993–1995), Beverly Leslie in “Will and Grace” (2001–2006, 2017–2020), and several characters in the American Horror Story franchise (2011–present.)

Jordan, an accomplished stage actor and playwright, was also devoted as an advocate for LGBTQ rights. Early in during AIDS crisis, Jordan, a Los Angeles resident, became involved in AIDS Project Los Angeles as a buddy and as a food delivery person for Project Angel Food, a nonprofit founded during the HIV/AIDS pandemic that to this day prepares and delivers healthy meals to feed people impacted by serious illness.

In a statement to the Washington Blade after

learning of Jordan’s death, Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub said:

“Leslie was more than just a supporter of Project Angel Food, he was family. When Leslie first moved to LA in the ‘90s he wanted to help people with AIDS so he volunteered as a driver for Project Angel Food. Leslie presented Project Angel Food with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Creative Business Award in 2019, and was such a joy to be around. Our hearts ache.”

Two years ago in a lengthy interview with Page Six, Jordan revealed he once hated himself for being gay. The star and social media phenom told Page Six that homophobia and self-loathing were planted deep inside him growing up in a church-going family in 1950s Tennessee.

“If you’re born homosexual, it’s not a choice,” said Jordan, who has released a book

of essays called “How Y’All Doing?”

“I think for myself when you know something in your heart and you’re [told] that’s just wrong … I talk to a lot of my gay friends and I say it’s a wonder we’re even alive!”

In a 2018 interview with the Blade, Jordan spoke about his career:

“It feels amazing. I’ve always been the funny guy that came in with a zinger. That was my job from the day I got here in 1982, with $1,200 that my mother pinned into my underpants on a Greyhound bus,” he quipped during a panel at the Television Critics Press Tour.

“I got off at the corner of Vine Street and De Longpre and I realized that was my job … 30 years I did that. ‘Will & Grace’ [which he guest starred in] won an Emmy for it. And I thought, ‘you know what? It’s time.’ Just the way it’s unfolded has been amazing.”

THE ROAD WITH

‘CALL

MOTHER’

Brody Levesque Washington Blade

Photo via Leslie Jordan/Facebook.

HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY

“Real Housewives of New York” officially announced at BravoCon 2022 that Jenna Lyons will join the cast as the first queer housewife.

Lyons is the former president and creative director of J Crew and she previously had her own reality show on HBO Max called “Stylish,” which followed her as she attempted to start her own design company. She was previously in the headlines when she discussed the trauma of being outed publicly a few years back.

“From the outside looking in, I had everything you could possibly want,” she said. “I just knew something was off.”

Following the announcement, Lyons took to Instagram to thank everyone for their support, including some people she said she hadn’t heard from in a very long time.

Kody and Christine Brown’s daughter Gwendlyn opened up about her sexuality in the latest episode of “Sister Wives.”

Gwendlyn is one of 18 children Kody Brown has with his four wives. While her family seems to have known for a while, the 21-year-old revealed for the first time publicly that she was bisexual.

“I’m being bullied,” Gwendlyn jokingly announces in the episode. “It’s Pride Month, you can’t talk to me like that.”

Later in a confessional, Gwendlyn discusses her sexual orientation.

“I’m bisexual. I’m not only attracted to women; I’m also attracted to men and people that fall into other gender spectrums,” she explains.

Since the episode’s recording back in June, Gwendlyn has shared her relationship on

Instagram and recently celebrated her sixmonth anniversary with a woman named Beatriz Queiroz.

JENNA LYONS JOINS THE CAST OF ‘RHONY’

‘SISTER WIVES’ DAUGHTER GWENDLYN BROWN COMES OUT AS BISEXUAL

Gwendlyn Brown, photo via Instagram.

Jenna Lyons, photo via Instagram.

“Apex Legends” has introduced its first transgender character.

Respawn Entertainment introduced the character, named Catalyst, in a clip.

During a conversation, she confirms that she is transgender by saying, “I feel like the whole world has opened up, now that I’m myself,” adding that transitioning “was sort of hard.”

Her friend, Margo, replies saying, “Look at you now, you’ll go on to do great things.”

According to GamesRadar, developers of Apex worked with both the pro-LGBTQ+ media nonprofit GLAAD and several of its trans employees to bring the character to life.

Fans are excited for the progressive change. “When I first saw myself represented … it changed my life. Everyone deserves to feel that,” wrote a fan via Twitter.

Catalyst will be playable starting in November along with a few other updates.

Catalyst in Apex Legends photo via Electronic Arts.

PROVIDING OF EXPERIENCE

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THE COUNTRY

COVERING LGBT NEWS SWEEPING THE NATION

MAURA HEALEY COULD BE THE FIRST LESBIAN GOVERNOR

Maura Healy, the current Massachusetts Attorney General, is slated to be the first lesbian governor of Mass. and in United States history.

“If I can be someone who represents and also gives others the belief that they can be anything they want to be and do anything they want to do, regardless of race, gender, identity, religion, that’s where I want to be,” Healey told NBC News. “That’s something I take seriously, and I think that’s what other LGBTQ+ leaders do as well — recognizing that we’re not just in a vacuum.”

Healey will be facing off with Republican candidate Geoff Diehl, a former state representative endorsed by

AN ‘ALTERNATIVE’ LGBT CLUB IS COMING TO YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

After over a year of a legal battle with the YU Pride Alliance, Yeshiva University is offering to create an “approved traditional Orthodox alternative” according to NBC News.

The New York Orthodox Jewish private university hopes that the new club will create a safe space for students through a Halacha framework in mind. (Halacha is Jewish law and jurisdiction under Talmud.)

YU Pride Alliance believes that the university’s new club will be a “sham.”

“The YU sham is not a club as it was not formed by students, is not led by students, and does not have members; rather, it is a feeble attempt by YU to continue denying LGBTQ students equal treatment as full members of

Prince William County, Virginia, Delegate Elizabeth Guzmán is calling out WJLA after they reported inaccuracies about a recent bill.

The bill was intended to protect LGBT children from “physical or mental injury on the basis of the child’s gender identity or sexual orientation,” according to Guzmán’s tweet

“The Virginia GOP responded online saying Guzmán and Virginia Democrats ‘want to set the police on you and charge you with a felony if you refuse to give your kids puberty blockers and irreversible sex change surgery,’” WTOP News reports.

Contrary to WJLA’s reporting, the bill is not meant to criminalize parents who do not gender affirm their kids as

reported by Nick Minock. Guzmán does not have plans to reintroduce the 2020 bill.

Elizabeth Guzmán, photo via Facebook.

the YU student community,” YU Pride Alliance said in a statement.

Photo via YU Pride Alliance/Facebook.

former President Donald Trump. Healey

Maura Healey, photo via Facebook.

AROUNDWORLD

LGBT ACTIVIST IN PERU PROTESTS AFTER HARVARD STUDENT’S DEATH

Anger has been expressed over the murder of a trans Harvard graduate student in police custody in Bali, and campaigners are calling for demonstrations outside Peruvian embassies and consulates throughout the world to demand an impartial inquiry.

Rodrigo Ventosilla, 32, and his new husband Sebastián Marallano traveled to the well-known Indonesian tourist resort for a planned honeymoon. Shortly after their arrival, customs officials stopped them and eventually charged them with marijuana possession.

He died in the hospital five days later, for reasons that are still unknown. According to a Bali police spokeswoman, Ventosilla became unwell after consuming medication that was not among the things the police seized and died due to “failure of

bodily functions.”

His family said that both Ventosilla and Marallano experienced “racial discrimination and transphobia” while being held by the police; these allegations have infuriated the Peruvian LGBT community and sparked demonstrations in the nation’s capital, Lima.

ASIA

CREATES NEW PARTNERSHIP SYSTEM

To commemorate another victory for LGBT rights in Japan, the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo’s waterfront district was illuminated in its namesake hues.

The Japanese capital has started accepting applications from LGBT couples and will soon start awarding certificates of recognition. The method is applicable to same-sex couples, trans people, and nonbinary people, but it is not legally binding.

According to Nikkei Asia, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported that 54 couples had submitted applications. Both parties involved in an online procedure must certify that they are at least 18 years old, not lawfully wed to anybody else, and not related by blood. One of the two must reside or work in Tokyo.

Children of LGBT couples are recognized

under Tokyo’s system as well. Tatsushi Omichi, chief of project coordination in the human rights division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, expressed his hope that this would enable couples to discuss their connection with their partner’s child when visiting institutions like hospitals.

EUROPE

THOUSANDS GATHER AT BRATISLAVA BAR IN SLOVAKIA

Thousands of people showed up for a vigil in Slovakia to remember two people murdered outside a gay club.

The people were allegedly killed by gunfire in the Slovak city of Bratislava.

According to organizers, 20,000 people attended the vigil to mourn the men’s murders and call for progress on LGBT rights.

Zuzana Čaputová, the president of Slovakia, addressed the occasion while flying the rainbow flag above her office.

“I’m sorry that our society was not able to protect your loved ones,” she said, according to BBC. “You belong here, you are valuable for our society.”

According to Slovakia’s National Crime Agency, the shootings were premeditated

murders spurred on by animosity for a sexual minority.

In Slovakia, a traditionally conservative EU nation where same-sex marriage is illegal, there have been calls for more protection for LGBT people as a result of this.

The Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo.

Photo by Gussisaurio, via Wikipedia.

Rodrigo Ventosilla, photo via Facebook.

Photo via Zuzana Čaputová/Facebook.

Photo by J.R. Davis

VOTE

VISIT LAUDERDALE LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN FEATURING LGBT PEOPLE

Visit Lauderdale officially launched their new, groundbreaking campaign titled Everyone Under the Sun. The presentation was made at a packed luncheon at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

The campaign is one of the most, if not the most, inclusive travel marketing campaigns ever. Everyone Under the Sun is the brainchild of Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale.

“We firmly believe that what makes us special are the people who live here,” she said.

Groups the campaign reaches out to include disabled, seniors, families, and LGBT. The LGBT ad may be the most surprising, as a man and woman enter a bar arm-in-arm, then hug and go to their same-sex partners to enjoy the night.

“You aren’t relegated to specific places because you’re gay,” Ritter said. “You’re mainstream. That was a mainstream bar and nobody cared. They’re two couples having a

good time.”

The male couple featured is Joel Vasquez and Carlos Martinez, a real-life couple from South Florida who just celebrated their fourth anniversary.

One ad features a trans person, and while the ads use professional actors, many if not all are from South Florida. Ritter said that adds to the authenticity of the message.

One of the main images of the campaign is a group shot of the actors with their backs to the camera, staring out at the beach. Thurman Brown is front and center in a pair of white shorts with rainbow colors on the back. He grew up in Fort Lauderdale and, while he is straight, he is proud to represent.

Despite fading from the headlines, the latest outbreak of Monkeypox in the U.S. continues. South Florida became the epicenter and continues to report new cases. With a weekend of Halloween parties that could have lots of skin-on-skin contact (the primary way Monkeypox is spread), it’s a good time to see where LGBT communities stand.

Nationwide, about 28,000 cases have been diagnosed, with six resulting in death. Florida has seen 2,700 cases, with the vast majority, about 1,700, coming from South Florida. As time goes on, doctors are seeing it start to change.

“We are noticing the presentation deviate a lot from what Monkeypox was suspected to be in the past,” Dr. Zachary Henry, Medical Director for AHF’s Healthcare Center Northpoint in Fort Lauderdale, said. “Presentations where people come with just

a sore throat or just rectal pain/bleeding/ discharge and their throat/anus is the only site where lesions exist. Also, people with advanced immune suppression can expect they might have a more complicated prolonged course of illness should they be infected.”

Monkeypox is spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, usually with an infected person’s lesion touching the uninfected person. While some children and cis-gender women have been diagnosed, this outbreak remains centered around men who have sex with men since it originated at circuit parties in Europe.

Vaccinations are available but you need to schedule one. Your doctor or local health department can help get you set up. Dr. Henry said “at risk” unvaccinated individuals are more than 14 times more at risk than those who have had both vaccination doses.

John Hayden

Photo courtesy of John Hayden.

John Hayden

LESBIAN THESPIANS SCARE UP FUN ON OCT. 29

John Hayden

The ladies of the Lesbian Thespians are doing their warm-up exercises for their Halloween party.

This Saturday, Oct. 29, they’re holding their Halloween Party Fundraiser at the ArtServe Gallery at 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.

The party is from 7-10 p.m. with DJ “Spooky” Lauren driving the beats, but that’s just the beginning. The troupe will present a short play, along with games, a raffle, and a costume contest. Tickets are $20, and there will be a cash bar, along with food from local restaurants.

Lesbian Thespians is a diverse, womanidentified troupe that proudly has an audience of gay, straight, and in-between.

“Lesbian Thespians is an innovative performing arts group founded and led by women, dedicated to bringing cutting edge performances to the stage while offering opportunities to up-and-coming playwrights,

directors and performers,” troupe founder Carol Wartenberg said. “LT is focused on diversity, inclusivity, broad appeal and maintaining strong relationships within the greater South Florida theater community.”

Despite being relatively new to the South Florida theater scene, they’ve been expanding wildly.

“Our last two events, Enid’s Fly Trap and our music program ‘Music Time’ were sold out with over 100 attendees each. Both to Standing Ovations!”

After finding a home at ArtServe, they have broadened their types of production beyond plays to include spoken word and more. They hope to have an entire spoken word production early next year.

For more on the troupe and the party, visit LesbianThespians.com.

A recent musical performance. Courtesy photo.

Magic is in the air. More importantly, it’s in the streets. Wicked Manors is returning to Wilton Drive on Halloween night. This year’s theme is We Are Magic, which will likely encourage many magic-themed costumes ranging from witches and warlocks to dusting off the old Harry Potter costumes. But the logo hints at a secondary purpose of the party: protest.

If you look beyond the logo’s fun, mystical icons, you’ll see words. Words to invoke how the relentless political attacks at state and local levels on the LGBT community. Say Gay. Say Trans. Say Non-Binary. Say Queer. Say Lesbian and more. This year Wicked Manors is a week before major elections in Florida (though early voting and vote by mail are both well underway) and can serve to galvanize people to make their voices heard.

WICKED GOOD TIME

But primarily it is a party, and party we shall. Up to 40,000 people are expected to pack Wilton Drive, its bars, its parking lots, anywhere costumed revelers can fit. Three stages will line The Drive, with the main stage at Sixth Ave. across from Hunters. The Manor will have its stage, and a third will be by Rosie’s and Hamburger Mary’s. Alibi and Hotspots will have their own stage in the plaza parking lot.

The main stage will host a series of costume contests, starting with kids at 6:30 after their trick or treat time. 7:30 is for sexy costumes followed by the group costume contest at 9:00. Best Overall Theme Costume Contest is at 10:00.

As usual, many bars are expanding outside and setting up service areas on the sidewalks while DJs pump beats up and down The Drive.

PREPARED TO PARTY

Just four months ago, Stonewall Pride almost didn’t happen because of soaring expenses for security and emergency response costs. That will not be the case for Wicked Manors. Wilton Manors police say everything is on track for the event. The Pride Center, which produces Wicked Manors, has worked with law enforcement and their partners, including fire departments, to make sure the event is safe. The final meeting on security preparations was held last week.

That’s pretty much the state of affairs for the event. Carla Calavitta, Pride Center’s Director of Development, said, “We’re tying everything up, doing a hard push on marketing as we want people to know that Pride Center puts on the event. We want folks to know it’s a fundraiser.”

Money raised will go toward helping the Pride Center fund its year-round mission of being a gathering place for LGBT community members and organizations. Tickets this year are $10 and can be bought ahead of time online. There will be nine entrances staffed by members of other organizations. They will get 15% of their gate even if the ticket was bought online. So if, for example, you support SAVE, go to their entrance and they get 15% of your ticket fee.

The Drive will close at noon on Monday. There will be no parking on the Drive, and there are few spaces nearby, although parking is available at The Pride Center for $20. People are encouraged to use the new Circuit electric car service if they’re in Wilton Manors. If you use rideshare, pickup and drop-off points are at Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors at 600 NE 21st Court and Publix at Five Points.

The party starts at 5 p.m. and runs through 11 p.m., with Wilton Drive expected to reopen overnight around 2 a.m.

For more information and presale tickets, visit WickedManors.org.

John Hayden

Wicked Manors 2021. Photo by JR Davis.

DOVATO is different: unlike other HIV treatments that contain 3 or 4 medicines,

contains just 2 medicines in 1 pill.

a complete

adults new to HIV-1 treatment or replacing their current HIV-1 regimen when their doctor determines they meet certain requirements.

more at

Important Facts About DOVATO

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

What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?

you have both human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• Resistant HBV. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV infection before you start treatment with DOVATO. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the HBV can change (mutate) during your treatment with DOVATO and become harder to treat (resistant). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in people who have HIV-1 and HBV infection.

• Worsening of HBV infection. If you have HBV infection and take DOVATO, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking DOVATO. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

° Do not run out of DOVATO. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your DOVATO is all gone.

may vary.

° Do not stop DOVATO without first talking to your healthcare provider.

° If you stop taking DOVATO, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your liver function and monitor your HBV infection. It may be necessary to give you a medicine to treat hepatitis B. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking DOVATO.

For more information about side effects, see “What are possible side effects of DOVATO?”

What is DOVATO?

DOVATO is a prescription medicine that is used without other HIV-1 medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults: who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in children.

Please see additional Important Facts About DOVATO on the following page.

Important Facts About DOVATO (cont’d)

Who should not take DOVATO?

Do not take DOVATO if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains dolutegravir or lamivudine.

• take dofetilide. Taking DOVATO and dofetilide can cause side effects that may be serious or life-threatening.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DOVATO?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have kidney problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. One of the medicines in DOVATO (dolutegravir) may harm your unborn baby.

° Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine than DOVATO if you are planning to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

° If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider may perform a pregnancy test before you start treatment with DOVATO.

° If you can become pregnant, you and your healthcare provider should talk about the use of effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with DOVATO.

° Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are planning to become pregnant, you become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant during treatment with DOVATO.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take DOVATO.

° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

° One of the medicines in DOVATO (lamivudine) passes into your breastmilk.

° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines interact with DOVATO. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with DOVATO.

• Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take DOVATO with other medicines.

What are possible side effects of DOVATO?

DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?”

What are possible side effects of DOVATO? (cont’d)

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with DOVATO. Stop taking DOVATO and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of the skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; problems breathing.

• Liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with DOVATO. Liver problems, including liver failure, have also happened in people without a history of liver disease or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Too much lactic acid is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: feel very weak or tired; unusual (not normal) muscle pain; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Lactic acidosis can also lead to severe liver problems, which can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms of liver problems which are listed above under “Liver problems.”

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female or very overweight (obese).

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking DOVATO.

• The most common side effects of DOVATO include: headache; nausea; diarrhea; trouble sleeping; tiredness; and anxiety.

These are not all the possible side effects of DOVATO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where can I find more information?

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to DOVATO.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

March 2021 DVT:6PIL

©2022 ViiV Healthcare or licensor.

DLLADVT220015 September 2022 Produced in USA.

Voting has started and LGBT rights are at stake. Many groups are mobilizing to turn out support for candidates with strong LGBT voting records and public support. One of these groups is the Hollywood LGBTQ Council. At 9 a.m. on Oct. 29 they are holding their Equality Voters March, a half-mile walk from 2131 Hollywood Blvd. to the Hollywood Regional Library.

“The idea was inspired in 2020 when we as the Board of the Council felt we had to get people out to visibly show our support of Equality Candidates. COVID was still hanging over everything, and we needed a way to turn how anxious we were about the election into action,” Hollywood LGBTQ Council President Todd Delmay said. “We drew over 30 people to the event, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke and helped lead the march alongside the Council. This year we expect at least 100 people to come out, although we are hearing enthusiasm that could lead to many more.”

The march ends at the library because that’s where Broward residents can vote early or drop off their mail-in ballots.

Hollywood is increasing its profile in South Florida’s LGBT activism. The Hollywood LGBTQ Council has been actively working with the city to consciously improve inclusion. Their Municipal Equality Index (MEI) is a perfect 100, up from a paltry 49 just a few years ago. Earlier this year they held the first My Hollywood Pride, and planning for the second one, scheduled for January 29, 2023, is already underway.

MAKING A SPLASH

Former Planned Parenthood CEO and President Lillian Tamayo was awarded the SAVE Champions of Equality award for Planned Parenthood’s expansion of transgender care.

“I was so deeply honored to have been recognized this year for my work at Planned Parenthood and for representing the intersectional issues of the care that we provide at Planned Parenthood, about our values around the self-determination agency, and how we stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ community,” Tamayo said.

Tamayo stepped down as the President and CEO of Southeast and North Florida this past April after 22 years in the position.

The SAVE Champions of Equality award honors individuals and organizations that have worked to improve equality for the LGBT community.

Tamayo detailed how trans individuals are often the most discriminated against members of the LGBT community, and Planned Parenthood’s mission to provide fair

and equal healthcare to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or immigration issues is what inspired her to expand Planned Parenthood’s care of trans individuals.

“We knew that our LGBT community was growing in South Florida and throughout the state, and that there was a gap in the care that we were delivering to the community that we wanted to double down and to better serve,” Tamayo said.

Planned Parenthood is committed to delivering higher quality care throughout the entire organization and developing cultural competence to provide better clinical care. As a gay Latina, Tamayo wanted her colleagues and the Board of Directors to stand with the trans community.

chasers,

of

the Future.

in

annual event is one of the biggest

and is a fun,

zone.

are a lot of events out there. One of the things [the LGBT community doesn’t]

well is promoting body positivity,” Cannonball’s Senior Operations Manager Matt Quillen said.

party is from Oct. 27-Nov. 1. This year’s theme

off a futuristic vibe under the modern sunny skies of South Florida. The Westin Fort Lauderdale will host the group for their Halloween party, bear yoga, a gay circus, DJs, a fashion show and more. As the host hotel, the Westin is party central but hardly the only place to go. Cannonball’s team has set up spa excursions, airboat rides, bus tours,

more.

Quillen said this is a weekend for people to come, relax and feel comfortable. One guest from last year sticks out in his mind. Early in the weekend, he saw the pool and was hanging out but didn’t feel comfortable jumping in or being in swimwear. By the end of the weekend the guest was having the time of his life.

Howard Andrew is one of the main vendors at the party. He’ll be selling accessories like toys, lubes, aromas, etc. He’s a regular at the event and says it’s one of his favorites of the year.

John Hayden

Cannonball Bash Party 2021. Photo via Facebook.

Lillian Tamayo. Photo courtesy of SAVE.

John Hayden

Image via The Hollywood LGBTQ Council Facebook.

ORLANDO DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME CANCELED AFTER THREATS FROM NEO-NAZIS

Christiana Lilly

After discovering threats of violence on the social media site Telegram, the LGBT+ Center Orlando canceled its upcoming drag queen storytime.

Performer Bridgette Galore was scheduled to read to children at the center during a Halloween event on Oct. 29.

“We take these threats very seriously and would not want to endanger or expose children and their parents and guardians to bigotry and hate,” the center wrote on Facebook. “We have the support of so many in our community including law enforcement, but as much as we would like to continue this fun-loving, innocent event, we feel that the safety of our community is our number one concern.”

According to Watermark Online, messages from the National Socialist Movement were discovered on the social media site Telegram. Members planned to protest the event. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the group as the largest neo-Nazi group in the 2000s, “notable for its violent anti-semitic

Because the event involves children, the center felt it was best to cancel the event for safety reasons. Disappointed supporters suggested making the event virtual to continue the fun.

“Thank you for your understanding that we live in challenging times right now, and we don’t want to expose or endanger innocent children to hate, bigotry or violence,” the center said on Facebook.

rhetoric, its racist views and its policy allowing members of other racist groups to join NSM while remaining members of other groups.”

The LGBT+ Center Orlando canceled its upcoming Drag Queen Story Hour after discovering plans by a Neo Nazi group to protest the event. Photo via Facebook, LGBT+ Center Orlando.

By Christiana Lilly

By Christiana Lilly

Ma Rainey. Photo by Dana L. Brown, Flickr.

MIAMI BEACH PRIDE ATTACKERS PLEAD GUILTY

Case Has Lingered for 4 Years

SAVE TO HOST MASQUEERADE BALL OCT. 28

JUSTICE WASN’T SWIFT, BUT JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE.

Four and a half years after viciously attacking two men outside a restroom in Lummus Park during Miami Beach Pride on April 8, 2018, the four men charged have all pleaded guilty.

Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa, Juan Carlos Lopez, Adonis David Diaz, and Luis Manuel Alonso-Piovet all pleaded guilty to two counts of battery with prejudice, which are second-degree felonies. Alonso-Piovet also pleaded guilty to assault with prejudice on religious or institutional grounds, a misdemeanor.

They could have faced 15 years in prison.

Instead, the court is withholding adjudication and sentencing them to five years probation, 200 hours of community service, anger management, mental and substance abuse evaluations and any recommended treatments. They must all stay away from the victims. Diaz was also sentenced to 37 days in jail, which he has already served.

They were all also required to apologize to the victims in court, which all four did on the spot.

Alonso-Piovet said “I was raised in a family that [inaudible] violence and to turn the other cheek. I wish we had acted in a different way and offered my sincere apology to both [victims].” Lopez said. “I want to offer my sincere apologies to Rene Chalarca and Dimitry Logunov. My actions that day do not define who I am or how I was raised. It was never my intention to hurt them. My wish is that everyone involved can move past and take the lessons.”

Both victims, Rene Chalarca and Dmitry Logunov, were there and signed off on the plea agreement. A statement was read on

their behalf, which reads in part, “It’s been almost five years. Almost half of my time living in the United States. I’m dealing with the fears of being myself, the reason I left my home country.”

They expressed hope that the four men will use their second chance to get their lives on track and learn from this.

Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan gave them the benefit of the doubt, saying she doesn’t know if the defendants set out that day to do violence, or if it was a poor decision on the spot, saying, “Actions have consequences and whether you intended those consequences or not, all of you can see how actions taken have consequences that have offended the community in South Florida tremendously.”

YEARS OF DELAYS

Their defense attorneys have forestalled this day for more than four and a half years by filing motions, taking depositions, and other legal tactics. Often the hope is that witnesses start to forget details.

The most brazen attempt to get them off the legal hook came earlier this year when they tried to use a “Stand Your Ground” defense, essentially saying the victims were to blame for the confrontation. However, there is a clear surveillance video that shows that wasn’t the case, and Judge Fajardo Orshan dismissed the defense.

One point that was never brought up outright during the hearing was the homophobic and gay-bashing angle of the case. While the charges do address that the attack was done with “prejudice,” nothing was said on behalf of the LGBT community.

The judge and prosecution were ready to seat a jury and go to trial , which may have facilitated the timing of reaching the plea deal.

Lording over the night will be TP Lords and company, including music by DJs Mike Trotter and Darelectric. Spooky photo booths will lurk everywhere, waiting for you to step inside and capture the moment. Between elaborate costumes, booming beats, and photo ops, guests can grab some Halloween spirits because Bacardi is sponsoring the open bar.

Guests will be greeted with a view of Miami’s skyline and an outdoor terrace serving up food and drinks. Inside will be the

DJs and dance floor.

Before midnight comes the clash of the costumes. Heroes against villains, heroes against heroes, villains against villains, it doesn’t matter. All super powers must be focused on being the most creative.

SAVE works to promote and defend equality while fighting unrelenting attempts to discriminate against the LGBT community in South Florida.

“It’s always a weekend that leads up to election day,” SAVE Executive Director Orlando Gonzales said. “This is a chance to emphasize the message of get out the vote, and undoubtedly see costumes that poke fun or highlight the politics of the last year.”

The Halloween MasQUEERade Ball starts at 8 p.m. in the Penthouse Riverside Wharf, located at 125 SW North River Dr. in Miami. For more information on SAVE and the MasQUEERade Ball, visit SAVE.LGBT/Halloween.

MIAMI DOLPHINS HONOR

LGBT FANS WITH TAILGATE PARTY

John Hayden

BEFORE THEIR HOME GAME AGAINST THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS ON OCT. 16, THE MIAMI DOLPHINS HELD A TAILGATE PARTY FOR THEIR LGBT FANS. SMIRNOFF SUPPLIED THE DRINKS, LOCAL RESTAURANTS FROM WILTON MANORS SUPPLIED THE FOOD, AND LOCAL DRAG QUEENS PROVIDED THE ENTERTAINMENT.

“It is crucial to recognize and thank LGBTQ+ fans because they are a part of our Dolphins fan base and community,” Miami Dolphins Senior Director of Community Relations and Youth Programs RaShauna Hamilton said. “We have shown up in spaces that affirm and recognize the community by partnering with great organizations like AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Equality Florida, Pridelines, SAVE and SunServe, and it was important to have them join us here at Hard Rock Stadium.”

This was more than an average tailgate party. There were burgers and beers, but there was also a fabulous pregame drag show hosted by London Adour. One of the

featured performers was the bearded beauty Jasmine Pryce Lords.

“It’s an important opportunity for us to use our platforms in drag and come to an event in a place that is not typically as welcoming. I’m a Miami native and I want to take every chance I can to be out and be visible.”

Also visible were LGBT restaurants. Wilton Creamery was serving up scoops, and New York Grilled Cheese had plenty of melted goodness on hand.

The event was a recognition of the LGBT fans who have always been there, even when they weren’t recognized. Lifelong Dolphin fan Lulu Gannon was there with her wife, Julia, and appreciated the moment.

From left: Luis Alonso-Piovet, Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa, Adonis Diaz and Juan C. Lopez. Photos via Miami-Dade corrections.

John Hayden

John Hayden

ARE YOU A VILLAIN? A HERO? MAYBE A LITTLE OF BOTH? YOU’LL FIT RIGHT IN AT SAVE’S HALLOWEEN MASQUEERADE BALL. ON OCT. 28, THE PENTHOUSE RIVERSIDE WHARF BECOMES THE ULTIMATE BATTLEGROUND WHERE HEROES AND VILLAINS FACE OFF TO SEE WHO HAS THE BEST COSTUMES AND THE MOST FUN.

Annual SAVE Halloween Ball 2021. Photo via SAVE/Facebook.

Photo by John Hayden.

When Matthew Mitcham won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, he not only shattered records but also won over hearts.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has given the out Australian diver his due.

The LGBT Olympic winner, Mitcham, was inducted in Fort Lauderdale.

“In China, eight is a lucky number, and I know China was hoping to win all eight diving gold medals in Beijing 2008,” said Mitcham to OutSports

The Olympic moment for Mitcham in Beijing will live on in LGBT sports history. In May 2008, he came out in the open, and he participated in the Olympics as his boyfriend watched from the stands.

Mitcham’s gold-winning dive garnered the greatest rating ever thanks to the emotional

support. The record remained unbroken until the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Photo via Matthew Mitcham/Facebook.

Everitt Rosen

Church of Our Savior

South Federal

Beach,

561-733-4000

POST-STONEWALL LITERATURE CONVICTIONS

The lesbian and gay liberation movement (though not yet the bi or trans movement) that flourished after the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 was reflected in the explosion of queer literature that appeared in its wake. This literary explosion was not yet in fiction: the “Gay Cultural Renaissance” (to quote Winston Leyland) did not reach its full fruition until 1978. Post-Stonewall LGBT literature mostly expressed itself in nonfiction: personal memoirs, political manifestos, historical analyses. These books have great historical and literary value. Even so, books by Dennis Altman and Merle Miller are available at Amazon.com, and other titles can be found at Bolerium.com. The Stonewall National Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale is another valuable resource.

Though Stonewall changed the political landscape as soon as it happened, it did not affect our literature until 1971. That was the year that Dennis Altman, an Australian journalist and scholar, published “Homosexual Oppression and Liberation” (Outerbridge). Altman’s book was followed by several volumes that combined the authors’ own coming out stories with their experiences with New York City’s epochal groups the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance: Dancing the Gay Lib Blues: A Year in the Homosexual Liberation Movement by Arthur Bell (Simon & Schuster); “On Being Different: What It Means to be a Homosexual,” by Merle Miller (Random House); and “Homosexual Liberation: A Personal View” by John Murphy (Praeger).

Though the Task Force on Gay Liberation of the American Library Association gave its first Gay Book Award in 1971 to “A Place for Us” (Patience and Sarah), a historical novel by Isabel Miller, in 1972 it recognized the Literature of Pride when it gave its prize jointly to “The Gay Mystique: The Myth and Reality of Male Homosexuality” by Peter Fisher (Stein and Day) and “Lesbian/ Woman” by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon (Bantam). That year lesbian activist writers combined the spirit of lesbian and gay

liberation with the thought of the modern feminist movement, as they did in “Lesbian/ Woman” and in “Sappho Was a Right-On Woman: A Liberated View of Lesbianism,” by Sidney Abbott and Barbara Love (Stein and Day). Activist authors continued to enlighten us with their stories, most notably Lige Clarke and Jack Nichols in their memoir “I Have More Fun with You than Anybody” (St. Martin’s Press), which this critic called “the happiest gay book” of that age. Meanwhile, Kay Tobin and Randy Wicker profiled 15 lesbian and gay activists in The Gay Crusaders (Paperback Library) while Karla Jay and Allen Young collected some of the most important postStonewall movement literature in Out of the Closets: Voices of Gay Liberation (Douglas). If you can only read one post-Stonewall queer liberation book, Out of the Closets is the one.

Jesse Monteagudo

Out of the Closets: Voices of Gay Liberation (Douglas) Edited by Karla Jay & Allen Young.

Image courtesy of Jesse Monteagudo.

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.

‘INNATE MAGIC’

Aurora Dominguez

If you’re interested in books set in the 1950s with a hint of magic in them, then check out “Innate Magic” by Shannon Fay.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR MOST RECENT BOOK?

The earliest kernel of the idea goes back to when I was taking a course on theater in Renaissance England. I learned about the old British sumptuary laws, part of which limited who could wear what kind of fabrics or even colours. It got me thinking about what if there was a magical underpinning to these laws — if people could make magic clothes how would that would affect society? Especially in a country as class-conscious as England? My novel is set in 1950s London and follows Paul Gallagher, a middle-class lad who is trying to move up in the world by learning magic. I decided to set it in the ‘50s because to me it’s such an interesting time in England, with coldwar tensions, post-war scarcity, and moral panic over gay people.

WHAT DOES “READING WITH PRIDE” MEAN TO YOU?

Growing up I only heard about books with LGBT content when there was some kind of scandal around them (of course, that just made me even more eager to read them!). Since there weren’t a lot of books with gay characters available to me when I was a teen, as an adult, I feel like I’m making up for lost time. I love that there is so much amazing stuff coming out from fellow queer creators — I will drop everything whenever Carmen Maria Machado or Rivers Solomon has a new book out. For me, Reading with Pride is about acknowledging a part of myself that for a long time I didn’t see in fiction, and lifting up the people creating queer stories.

WHY DO YOU FEEL REPRESENTATION OF A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING BOOKS?

I think even when writing fantasy or science fiction, it’s important to still hold to a realworld truth, that truth being that every single person on Earth has their own wholly unique experience and identity. To not have a cast that featured gay people, people of colour, disabled people, would be to write a book that misses out on the complexities of the world and the chance to revel in the joy that comes with it. To not have a diverse cast renders a book not just flat, but would for me feel dishonest, not reflective of my own lived experiences.

TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE BOOK AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO WRITE IT.

For most of my life, when a bisexual character showed up in a movie or TV show, it was often used as a punchline, or a throwaway storyline to make a show seem more ‘racy.’ It rarely delved into what it was like to be attracted to genders besides your own, to have to justify your sexuality not just to others but to yourself, to try and find a space for yourself in the broader queer community. Part of what I wanted to do in Innate Magic had a bi main character who felt true to me and my experiences. Paul and I are very different (I wish I had his confidence!) but writing him has helped me express some of my own feelings on attraction and sexuality.

WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR BOOK?

“Innate Magic” is an adventure story with twists and turns, magic and mayhem. I wanted to write something that would make people laugh on one page, and have them biting their nails in suspense the next. It’s set in a time and place that was often hostile to gay people, but the characters weather it with grace and wry humor.

WHAT’S UP NEXT FOR YOU IN THE BOOKISH WORLD?

I’m just wrapping up my edits on External Forces, the sequel to Innate Magic. It’s been a lot of work but I really hope fans of the first book enjoy it! I love the world and the characters, but I am also looking forward to working on something new — either a historical crime novel, or a murder mystery on a spaceship.

Shannon Fay, photo via Facebook. Book cover photo via goodreads.com.

THE BIG CHILL

No, it’s not a restaurant decked out like the ‘80s movie, but rather a reference to the latest ice cream spot to open in Fort Lauderdale, Churn & Scoop. Artisanal creations abound at this spot on the border of Victoria Park and Flagler Village. Colorful confections with flavors that are based on such exotic ingredients as ube (Asian purple sweet potato), corn, brown butter cookie dough, balsamic syrup and peanut butter can be encased in hard-shell dip with flavors such as birthday cake, cotton candy, chocolate, and cherry.

TASTE-FULL

The fourth annual Taste of Recovery will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5. at the Old School Square Pavilion, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Guests will enjoy savory and sweet bites from Louie Bossi’s, Elisabetta’s, City Oyster & Sushi Bar, Rocco’s Tacos, Josie’s Ristorante, J & J Seafood, Driftwood, Mike’s Chili, Eat Thai, Tim Finnegans, Rogie Pierogies, New Orleans Pralines, Windy City Pizza, Sexz Chef, Nature’s Corner Café, Catering CC, Subculture, and Proper Ice Cream along with live entertainment by Damon Fowler. The event is to benefit The Crossroads Club, a nonprofit organization in Delray Beach. Tickets are $50 prior to the event or $60 at the door and are available at go.thecrossroadsclub.com/taste-of-recovery

FRIENDSGIVING

Give thanks, South Florida foodies! Critically acclaimed chefs Ryan Fisch, and Paula DaSilva, of Burlock Coast and Timon Balloo of The Katherine, all at the RitzCarlton, Fort Lauderdale, kick off the holiday season in a delicious way at Burlock Coast’s 5th Annual Friendsgiving Dinner on Sunday, Nov. 13. For $79 per person, diners will toast the arrival of the holiday season with a festive welcome cocktail and hors d’oeuvres at followed by a family-style feast. The vibrant menu, a nod to DaSilva’s Brazilian heritage and Balloo’s Chinese and Trinidadian heritage, was created in collaboration by the three chefs. Reservations required by calling 954-302-6430.

OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal is sending his Big Chicken franchise to South Florida, with 45 franchises in Florida, with Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach slated to open in 2022 and 2023. The menu features Chicken sandwiches and tenders, CheezIt-crusted mac-’n’-cheese, jalapeño slaw, and sweet potato French fries … Anthony’s Runway 84 will reopen in late October after a $3 million makeover, just in time to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The Italian supper club will have a new menu, new business partners, and a private dining room … Khan Baba, a Pakistani restaurant, opened

summer in Plantation Square … Thai Bayshore

Federal near Commercial closed at

July after 30 years in business … Hollywood Donut

a second location on Las Olas sometime this winter … Former Miami firefighter Derek Kaplan

open

third

250 N. Federal later

and savory (pot pies and empanadas) items

in his Little Haiti-based kitchen …

the name the dough’s the same — Max Santiago and business partners Adam August and Nick Hicks, explained that they chose to rebrand their popular cookie café from Batch to Blueprint to dodge a “lawsuit nightmare” over naming rights with Batch Gastropub, a local mini-chain.

left

right, purple

Churn & Scoop, photo

Facebook; Burlock Coast dining room, photo via Facebook; and Taste of Recovery, photo via go.thecrossroadsclub.com/taste-of-recovery

Rick Karlin

ACCEPT THE THINGS I CAN NOT CHANGE

Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do. Yesterday, as I waited for the light on 15th Ave. to turn green, I spotted a pigeon on the road.

“Get going,” I said. “You’re gonna get run over.”

The pigeon tried to move quickly, but its wing was damaged, and the bird couldn’t fly. It continued to walk around the cars and big trucks. I opened my car door hoping it would walk past, but it didn’t. I planned to take it home, and then to our extraordinary vet, Dr. Brandon Cox at Gentle Care Animal Clinic. But the light turned green, I was at the head of the line, and there was nothing I could do for the disabled pigeon.

Returning an hour later from my meeting at the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, I waited in traffic on 15th Ave. heading east. On the corner I watched a skeleton of a grisly man in a wheelchair trying to reach down and get the coins a guy on a bike gave him. It was heartbreaking. When I saw him turn his chair to cross the intersection, I pulled out a $20 hoping that he’d come close enough so that we’d see each other. I don’t know where he went, but the light turned green. There was nothing I could do.

These are really challenging times for me personally, as a gay man, living in a state whose governor, soon to be a candidate for president, is signing legislation right and left to limit access to information about being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, nonbinary, or other.

What do you do? You do what you can, keep doing what you’re doing, and be aware that not achieving your goal is not failure.

What the governor of Florida doesn’t realize, though, is that his behavior is promoting straight and cis-gender people to ask questions so they can understand what’s going on and help.

“Help me with the pronouns ‘they’ and ‘them’,” a friend asked while we were playing cards. “Is nonbinary the same as bisexual?”

“No, nonbinary, and the use of personal pronouns such as ‘them’ is about a person’s gender,” I said. “‘Bisexual’ is about a person’s sexual attractions. They’re totally different. You have ‘gender’ over here, and ‘sexual attraction’ over here.”

“Oh, wow, that’s helpful,” she said.

I continued on for a few more minutes, helping my friend understand why a person prefers the pronouns “they” and “them.” We talked about being “sexually fluid,” and she laughed. “Sexually fluid,” and “bisexual” are the same.

It took courage to ask for an explanation of “nonbinary,” revealing late in age that there are still many unanswered questions about one’s sexuality and gender identity, and it felt so good to be able to help because I may not be able to get the car’s hood open, but I can sure lift the lid on sex and gender and charge your battery.

Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do, and sometimes you’re the perfect person to do what you can.

Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The Godfather of gay diversity training.” Brian has a weekly YouTube/FaceBook podcast called, “Are You Happy Without the Movie?”

Brian McNaught

Photo via Adobe

AUDIENCE IS BIG WINNER IN ‘PAGEANT’

JW Arnold

The Off Broadway hit musical “Pageant” at Island City Stage pokes fun at beauty pageants. Credit: Matthew Tippins.

Beauty is only skin deep, especially for the six gender-bending contestants vying for the title of Miss Glamouresse in “Pageant,” currently playing at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors.

The 1991 Off Broadway show by writers Bill Russell and Frank Kelly and composer Albert Evans alternately celebrates and skewers the uniquely American tradition of beauty pageants as the “girls” compete in talent, swimsuit and spokesmodel categories.

Over the course of 90 minutes, the audience – and five judges selected somewhat haphazardly at random – are introduced to Miss Bible Belt (Christopher Calhoun), Miss Deep South (Michael Scott Ross), Miss Texas (Conor Walton), Miss Industrial Northeast (Kevin Veloz), Miss West Coast (Matthew Buffalo) and Miss Great Plains (Marcus Davis). Frankie Cavalier (Larry Buzzeo) is the emcee.

The show’s gimmick is that all of the contestants are portrayed by men – years before RuPaul brought the art of drag into living rooms around the world thanks to “Drag Race.” And the audience is in on the joke as the sextet profess to be “Natural Born Females” and tout that “Something Extra” each brings to the competition.

Unlike contemporary “RuPaul’s” queens who have elevated the art of female impersonation, the jokes are more akin to the campy portrayals of drag made famous by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in “Some Like It Hot” or even Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari in “Bosom Buddies.” We’ve come a long way since 1991, but that doesn’t matter.

Director and choreographer Ron Hutchins is perfectly comfortable with the somewhat dated material, providing plenty of winks in the overthe-top production numbers and especially the

"Pageant"

individual talent competition and spokesmodel vignettes.

Musically, the demands on the girls are minimal in mostly ensemble numbers, but music director Michael Ursua coaxes enthusiastic performances from all. The actors are backed up by pianist Cheryl Barth and drummer Taylor Shay Eischen.

While an evenly strong cast, standouts include Ross, who, at 6’4” tall (without heels), towers above the others and delivers a hilarious act involving non-politically correct hand puppets. Buffalo, the reincarnated California flower child, slays in an autobiographical interpretative dance number (and later portrays the outgoing Miss Glamouresse). Walton steals the scene as the jilted second runner-up in this particular performance. And Buzzeo, a local stage veteran, effortllessly carries the heaviest musical load while connecting the various segments of the competition.

Kudos go to the Island City design and stage team: Ardean Landhuis’ shiny and sparkly set, costumes by W. Emil White, hair and makeup by Bonnie DuBeck and the glittery props utilized during the spokesmodel segments, managed by Denise Proffitt and Michael Madigan.

Despite multiple costume changes and multiple props, the cast delivered a polished performance on opening weekend that almost certainly get better. The only awkward moment was when the five audience judges were asked to make their picks for the winner, but that should also improve over the monthlong run.

On this particular afternoon, Miss Great Plains was deemed the best, but make no mistakes, the audience is the clear winner at the Miss Glamouresse Pageant in Wilton Manors, no matter who wears the crown.

THEATERS GRAB CARBONELL NOMINATIONS

Arnold

Two LGBT-centric regional theater companies are in the hunt for the coveted Carbonell Awards, the local version of Broadway’s Tonys.

Ronnie Larsen Presents, which produces in partnership with the nonprofit POW! (Plays of Wilton) at the Foundry in Wilton Manors, snagged 13 nominations for productions of the musical “Come Out! Come Out!” the Michael McKeever Hollywood comedy “The Code,” and Larsen’s critically acclaimed “The Actors.”

“Come Out! Come Out!” and “The Code” are competing with four other shows for Best New Work, Play or Musical. “The Code” is also vying for Best Production, Play with Christopher Renshaw in the running for Best Direction, Play, against Stuart Meltzer for “The Actors.” And Larsen made the cut for Best Direction, Musical, for “Come Out! Come Out!” also shortlisted for Outstanding Production, Musical. Michael McKeever, Mia Mathews and Jeni Hacker are among the contenders in acting categories for “The Code” and “The Actors,” respectively.

Next door, Island City Stage’s powerful production of Donja Love’s “One in Two,” a look at the effects of HIV/AIDS among African American men, is competing in four categories: Outstanding Production, Play; Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, Best Direction, Play; and Nathaniel J. Ryan and Randall Swinton, Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Male Role, Play. Island City’s other nomination went to Jeanine Gangloff Levy for Best Performance by an Actor in a

Lead Female Role, Play, for “Suddenly Last Summer.”

A total of 62 productions at 21 different theatres were evaluated by a diverse group of 30 experienced judges representing all three participating counties (Broward, MiamiDade, Palm Beach) and utilizing a new, transparent grading process.

Among participating theaters, Miami New Drama topped the list with 24 nominations, followed by Area Stage and Slow Burn Theatre Company (15 each), Ronnie Larsen Presents (13), Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre and Palm Beach Dramaworks (12 each), and Zoetic Stage (10).

After announcing this year’s list of Carbonell Award nominations on Oct. 7, the organization realized that clarifications and additions were necessary. One production was omitted from the initial evaluation, and certain nominees were listed for incorrect shows or in the wrong category.

In categories where the omitted show was added, or where a nomination was moved to a different category, the number of nominations increased from six to seven so that no previously announced eligible nominee would be deleted. The updated list of nominations was released on Oct. 11.

The 45th Annual Carbonell Awards will be presented on Monday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 N.W. 11th Place in Lauderhill. Tickets are $32 at Showpass.com/Annual-CarbonellAwards/

Ronnie Larsen’s period musical “Come Out! Come Out!” picked up six 2022 Carbonell award nominations. The winners will be announced in November. Credit: Ronnie Larsen Presents.

Mielgo