local name global coverage december 11, 2019 vol. 10 // issue 50
Fairness For all
or some? is new federal law a small step or a slippery slope? begins on page 14 SouthFloridaGayNews
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NEWS highlight
Trump Administration Expands Access to PrEP T
To qualify for the plan, people must test negative for HIV, have a valid prescription for the medications, and not have prescription drug coverage.
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Publisher • Norm Kent Norm.Kent@sfgn.com
CEO • Pier Angelo Guidugli piero@sfgn.com
Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com
Editorial
Jesse Monteagudo
Correspondents
Dori Zinn • Donald Cavanaugh • Christiana Lilly • Denise Royal • David-Elijah Nahmod
Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
HIV infection when taken as directed,” said Assistant Secretary for Health Brett P. Giroir, M.D. “It is a critical tool for ending the HIV epidemic, but to make an impact it has to be available for people who need it most. Ready, Set, PrEP will increase access to this effective and preventive drug for people at risk.” Gilead Sciences donated enough of its drug Truvada to cover about 200,000 people. The distribution is set to begin this week. Truvada costs about $20,000 per patient per year, and often receives criticism for its high cost. But cost is only part of the problem. the CDC report shows that the vast majority of people currently taking PrEP are white men. Fewer than six percent of PrEP users are black and just under 11 percent are Hispanic/ Latino. In order for this plan to work, an increased number of at-risk groups must start taking the medication. There are other issues about PrEP. “There are a few concerns that I personally have regarding adherence to medication,” Lowe says. “Treatment adherence is important and many patients aren’t use to taking medications daily. I hope funding is used to
expand the program to include adherence workshops and direct access to medical professionals for questions. It is important that education remains the foundation of all programs. This is more than just taking one pill a day. Everyone should learn about ways to enjoy safer sex and PrEP is just one more option for many, along with using condoms. I’m hoping this new program will offer communities a buy-in to taking control over their health all together.” To qualify for the plan, people must test negative for HIV, have a valid prescription for the medications, and not have prescription drug coverage. All medications are fully covered for qualifying participants; however, the costs of necessary clinic visits and lab tests may vary depending on an individual’s income. Beginning in March, those who do qualify will be able to pick up their medications at more than 21,000 CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid pharmacy locations at no cost. These pharmacies will also provide patient counseling and take steps to promote patient adherence to the regimen.
Eligibility requirements are available at GetYourPrEP.com or by calling 855-447-8410.
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Cover: The fairness for all act... Half full, half empty, or all talk? Illustration by Brendon Lies.
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@SFGN
December 11, 2019 • Volume 10 • Issue 50
Art Director • Brendon Lies Artwork@sfgn.com Digital Content Director • Justin Musial Webmaster@sfgn.com Arts/Entertainment Editor • JW Arnold JW@prdconline.com Social Media Manager • Tucker Berardi tberardi@ufl.edu Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • Sallie James HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis JRDavis12000@hotmail.com
Denise Royal he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today launched a new national program that makes preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) free to people without insurance coverage. The plan is called Ready, Set, PrEP. It’s part of the Trump administration’s goal to get 50 percent of people at risk for HIV on PrEP therapy by 2025. “Ready, Set, PrEP is a step forward in the right direction,” Lorenzo Lowe, Director of Prevention Compass Community Center, tells SFGN. “The implementation of this program comes at a time when the access to these medications is limited for most individuals. It’s not that often we are able to say there’s enough attention being brought to the fight against HIV/AIDS, but this is significant in ending new transmissions of the virus.” More than one million people in the United States are at risk for HIV, and could benefit from PrEP medications, but according to new data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only a fraction receive them. The medications work to prevent HIV from creating an infection. It is not a cure for HIV. “PrEP is highly effective in preventing
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NLGJA Journalist of the Year South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright © 2019 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.
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LGBTQIA bites Bisexual
Liam Payne slammed for ‘fetishizing’ bisexuality in song ‘Both Ways’ Liam Payne fans accused him of fetishizing bisexuality in a trach on his album LP1. The song, titled “Both Ways,” seems to detail sex with two women, Teen Vogue said. Some of the lyrics, like “Lovin’ the way that she’s turning you on / Switching the lanes like a Bugatti Sport / Nothing but luck that she got me involved, yeah,” angered fans. Some even compared him to former bandmate, Harry Styles, who’s seen as an ally to the LGBT community Payne has yet to respond to fans, as of publication time. “I’m sick and tired of people thinking my sexuality is made for threesomes. Bisexual women are NOT for your sexual fantasies,” one person wrote in a tweet, according to Teen Vogue. The hashtag, #LiamPayneIsOverParty was trending on Twitter over the weekend.
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Liam Payne. Photo via Liam Payne, Facebook.
B
T
By Cameren Boatner
Transgender
Marvel announces first official transgender superhero Marvel announced their first official transgender superhero, The Mighty Rebekah, inspired by a 12-year-old girl with the same name. The Mighty Rebekah was revealed on “Marvel’s Hero Project,” a series on Disney Plus. The real Rebekah came out as transgender at 7 years old, and Marvel found her when her and her mom were advocating for transgender protections in New Jersey schools. “It’s really surprising and cool. But I also think that it’s really important to have a transgender kid in one of these companies because representation is really helpful for kids who are going through their transition to know that they are not alone and that there are people fighting for them,” Rebekah said, according to We Got This Covered. Marvel donated $10,000 to The Trevor Project because of how much Rebekah inspired them.
Cover featuring “The Mighty Rebekah.” Image via Marvel.
LGBTQIA bites
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Asexual
‘Attitude’ becomes first UK magazine featuring an asexual woman on cover
Yasmin Benoit. Photo via Yasmin Benoit, Facebook.
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Attitude featured Yasmin Benoit on their front cover, becoming the first magazine in the UK to feature a cover image of an asexual woman. Benoit, a model and asexual activist, is pictured alongside other LGBT activists for Attitude’s January issue titled “The Activists and Allies Issue,� The Independent reported. “[This] is a testament to our society’s growing interest in asexuality, my work, and the LGBT community’s increased inclusiveness in spite of debates about whether we should be included or not,� Benoit told The Independent. “To be the first person to achieve it makes me feel like all of the hard work I’ve been doing is paying off. It’s an honour and a responsibility I’m proud to take on!� Attitude has in the past featured people such as Ru Paul and Prince William on its cover, The Independent reported.
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news international
By Cameren Boatner
the world around
europe
asia
Pro-athletes wear rainbow laces in support of LGBT community
First gay Miss Universe contestant is from anti-gay country
UK soccer players are wearing rainbow laces in support of Stonewall’s campaign to bring equality to sports called “Rainbow Laces,” according to Stonewall. But one former player, Graeme Souness said more needs to be done to make gay people feel accepted. Souness, 66, a former Liverpool and Rangers soccer player, said that when he played from the 70s to the 90s, it was an “extremely homophobic” climate. “You ask the question ‘why has no one ever come out?’ I don’t think football has created an environment where anyone would feel comfortable and confident about saying ‘I am gay,’” Souness said, according to FourFourTwo. “There must be gay and bisexual players playing in the Premier League, there has to be, but no
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Photo via @stonewalluk, Twitter.
one has felt comfortable enough to come out and say ‘this is me.’”
Miss Myanmar, Swe Zin Htet, is Miss Universe’s first openly lesbian contestant, but she hails from a country that isn’t accepting of her sexual orientation. Homosexuality is still a crime in Myanmar, also known as Burma, according to People. Htet came out as lesbian on Nov. 29 in a post on the blog, Missology, just days before the Dec. 8 pageant. “I have that platform that, if I say that I’m a lesbian, it will have a big impact on the LGBTQ community back in Burma,” Htet told People. “The difficult thing is that in Burma, LGBTQ people are not accepted, they are looked down on by other people and are being discriminated against.” Htet has been dating Burmese singer
Swe Zin Htet. Photo via Swe Zin Htet, Facebook.
Gae Gae for three years, People reported, but had not come out publicly until last month.
Africa
north america
ambassador to Zambia ‘threatened’ for standing with jailed gay couple
Human rights report: Mexican businesses more LGBT friendly
Daniel Foote, the US ambassador to Zambia said he was “horrified” by Zambia putting a gay couple in jail. After Foote urged the Zambian government to revisit the case and their anti-gay laws, he said he faced threats, according to BBC. Zambian President Edgar Lungu said he would complain to the Trump administration because Foote questioned Zambia’s constitution. “I was shocked at the venom and hate directed at me and my country, largely in the name of ‘Christian’ values, by a small minority of Zambians,” Foote said in a press release. “It is up to Zambian citizens and the courts to decide if your laws correspond to your constitution.” Foote had to cancel his appearance at World AIDS Day due to the threats.
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Exploring LGBT News Events Across the Globe
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Daniel Foote. Photo via U.S. Embassy to Zambia.
LGBT friendly Mexican companies have nearly doubled in the past year, according to a report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). Equidad MX, the annual report by the HRC said the number grew from 15 companies with LGBT friendly work policies in 2018 to 36 this year, according to the Thompson Reuters Foundation. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been illegal in Mexico since 2003, but a Mexican advocacy group reported in 2014 that 35 percent of LGBT workers said they’d been discriminated against at work. The HRC measured the LGBT friendliness of the different companies based on their non-discrimination policies and their public support of the LGBT community, Reuters reported.
Mexico City. Photo credit: Ismael Villafranco
HRC attributes the rise in inclusive workplaces to progressive legislation in Mexico.
NEWS white house watch
Getting older and know you’re supposed to “plan” your estate? Will your hard earned savings be eaten by long term care costs?
Mayor Pete’s Firm Under The Magnifying Glass Alice Reiter Feld Law Offices of
Rivals Question Buttigieg’s Time At McKinsey & Company
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A
s President Donald Trump met with foreign heads of state at the NATO conference, his Democratic rivals continued their primary tussles. South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg has been criticized by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for private fundraisers. Speaking to reporters in Boston last week, Warren said Buttigieg should “open up the doors so that anyone can come in and report of what’s being said.” “Those doors shouldn’t be closed, and no one should be left to wonder what kind of promises are being made to the people that then pony up big bucks to be in the room,” she added. Buttigieg has asked his previous employer, McKinsey & Co., to release internal documents — including his full client list — from his time at the firm. He summarized his work as assignments in Michigan, Toronto, Canada, Chicago, Connecticut, California, Afghanistan, Iraq and Washington. In his autobiography, “Shortest Way Home,” Buttigieg wrote he left the firm questioning its mission. “And so it may have been inevitable that one afternoon, as I set Bertha to sleep mode to go out to the hallway for a cup of coffee, I realized with overwhelming clarity the reason this could not be a career for very long: I didn’t care,” Buttigieg wrote. Bertha was the nickname Buttigieg gave his computer at McKinsey & Co. Buttigieg worked at the firm from 2007-2010. WHW has contacted the media relations department at McKinsey & Co. seeking comment for this column. Meanwhile, Buttigieg and Warren are part of a field of 15 major candidates in the running for the Democratic party’s nomination. Also running are former Vice President Joe Biden — tied to Trump’s impeachment trial via Ukraine — U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Michael Bennet of Colorado, Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, billionaires Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, spiritual author Marianne Williamson, former housing secretary Julian Castro, former Massachusetts governor Deval
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Pete Buttigieg. Photo via Pete Buttigieg, Facebook.
Patrick and former Maryland representative John Delaney. The sixth DNC debate, moderated by PBS and Politico, is scheduled for Dec. 19 in Los Angeles. The debate field has yet to be announced. Elsewhere, Trump returned from England where he called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “two-faced.” His administration awaits a House Judiciary Committee vote to send impeachment proceedings to the House floor.
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LGBT NOTES: Daniel L. Foote, the U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, has asked the African nation to adopt a softer stance on homosexuality. In a press statement recognizing World AIDS Day, Ambassador Foote denounced blowback over proposals to decriminalize same-sex conduct. “I was shocked at the venom and hate directed at me and my country, largely in the name of “Christian” values, by a small minority of Zambians. I thought, perhaps incorrectly, that Christianity meant trying to live like our Lord, Jesus Christ. I am not qualified to sermonize, but I cannot imagine Jesus would have used bestiality comparisons or referred to his fellow human beings as “dogs,” or “worse than animals;” allusions made repeatedly by your countrymen and women about homosexuals. Targeting and marginalizing minorities, especially homosexuals, has been a warning signal of future atrocities by governments in many countries. In my heart, I know that real Zambian values don’t merit your country’s inclusion on that list, ever,” Foote said.
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IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.
ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. 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. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: } dofetilide } rifampin } any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: } Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. } Have any other health problems. } Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. } Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: } Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. } BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
Get HIV support by downloading a free app at
MyDailyCharge.com
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BVYC0103_BIKTARVY_B_10x10-75_SouthFloridaGayNews_KeepEmpowering_DR4_r1v1jl.indd All Pages
(bik-TAR-vee)
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. } Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. } Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. } Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. } Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. } The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. 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. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY. HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food. GET MORE INFORMATION } This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. } Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5. } If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP EMPOWERING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: December 2018 © 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0103 02/19
KEEP EMPOWERING.
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are. BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. To learn more, visit BIKTARVY.com.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.
12.11.2019 • 3/4/19 4:42 PM
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NEWS business
Target hits LGBT market,
with much-improved aim Scott Stiffler
Washington Blade
F
ifty years after Stonewall, LGBT people who listen to a song, stream a series, or read a book have more positive images to draw upon than ever before.
But where are our faces in the ads that sell us those things—or, for that matter, pretty much everything? Rarely seen is the same-sex couple sizing up choices at a car dealership, passing around a tube of toothpaste during their morning routine, or sharing a smooch as anniversary rings are exchanged. “There’s just a very small group of companies that make an effort to educate themselves, and to progress… to show us as we are, or appeal directly to the LGBT consumer,” says Todd Evans of Rivendell Media. As Rivendell’s president and CEO, it’s Evans’ job to place advertisements for the National LGBT Media Association. (The Washington Blade and SFGN are among its members.) Absolut Vodka and Wells Fargo, Evans notes, are on the short list of high-profile corporations that market to the LGBT community with creative content that depicts lives being lived in something other than heterosexual accordance. Include Target on that list, says Evans, who points to the general merchandise retailer as an example of a company committed to LGBT-specific marketing and products. “This is a group that has wanted to educate themselves,” says Evans, recalling, “years ago, Target faced a boycott for [indirectly] donating to an anti-LGBT politician. They rose to the occasion by not only stopping that, but becoming LGBT-friendly.”
In July 2010, Target became a, well, target of backlash, after donating $150,000 to MN Forward, a group that proclaimed to function as a champion of Minnesota’s economy, but also funded campaign ads for Tom Emmer— the Republican candidate for governor who, The Minnesota Independent reported, “authored a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage and civil unions” in 2007, while a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. As reported by Minnesota’s MPR News in an Aug. 20, 2010 article, Gregg Steinhafel, CEO of Target (whose headquarters is located in Minneapolis), apologized for the financial contribution—but only after, MPR noted, “Democrats, gay rights groups and others called for a boycott of the company.” Steinhafel’s Aug. 5, 2010 letter to Target employees asserted the company’s commitment to “fostering an environment that supports and respects the rights and beliefs of all individuals,” and pledged to bring together “a group of companies and partner organizations for a dialogue focused on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including GLBT issues.” Making good on that diversity pledge, ironically, raised the hackles of the anti-LGBT American Family Association, which has been boycotting Target since April 2016 for, it alleges, endangering “women and children by allowing men to frequent women’s facilities”—a dog whistle reference to Target’s policy allowing transgender people
“[Target] went from the verge of a boycott... to really embracing their LGBT customers, and speaking directly to them.” - Todd Evans Rivendell Media
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Target now represents itself at pride marches across the country.Photo via NYC Pride, Facebook.
to use changing rooms and bathrooms in accordance with their identity. Whether the product of public embarrassment, genuine enlightenment or a little bit of both, Target, says Evans, “went from the verge of a boycott” during its MN Forward days “to really embracing their LGBT customers, and speaking directly to them.” Target got its feet wet with 2012-2016 ads in Out magazine and The Advocate, then, in 2017, Evans said the retailer “expanded those national buys to a number of local markets, including Dallas, New York City, Miami, Boston, Orlando, Salt Lake City, and Denver. They also started carrying Pride merchandise every June, which shows they really educated themselves about the market, and the best way to reach it.” One series of ads featured individuals of, Evans notes, “every shape and color.
It really speaks to Pride itself, and being accepted. They even end it with the hashtag ‘takepride.’ I don’t think you can ask for anything better.” Danielle Schumann, Corporate Public Relations Lead at Target, declined numerous requests for an interview, instead referring this reporter to links within the corporate. target.com destination. Therein, Caroline Wanga, Target VP and Chief Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, proclaims, “In order to continue to be a place where people want to come and spend their money, we have to be connected to who our potential customers are across the board, and in order to stay relevant as a business, we have to be sure our guests are seeing experiences, products, and services that reflect who they are.” This year, corporate.target.com notes, Pride month was observed in the form of
NEWS national more than 90 Pride-themed items created by Community engagement, says Segal, working “closely with Target’s Pride Business pays dividends. “Various companies in the Council—an HQ-based team member Philadelphia area that advertise with us resource group—to create an assortment and make their presence known feel the that is inclusive.” Those items were made strength of the LGBT market coming into available in 350 of Target’s 1,868 U.S. stores. their doors,” he notes. “We hear this by their A perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights reps calling us and telling us that, or about a Campaign’s 2019 Corporate Equality Index congratulatory letter written from an LGBT and “presenting partnership” status with customer.” GLAAD’s Spirit Day—described by the Gay Less impressive was the response to the & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation as outreach of PGN senior advertising media “the world’s largest and most visible LGBTQ consultant Joe Bean, who has 23 years of anti-bullying-campaign”— experience in media sales and are among demonstrations of says he’s “used to going for solidarity touted by Target, big accounts.” Bean noticed “This year, which also made a $100,000 the then-new local Target was Target didn’t Pride month contribution to placing recruitment ads in “all GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and advertise at all... the other papers similar to Straight Education Network), in circulation,” including But I did notice ours and said that in 2019, Target the local Spanish language they were a team members would “be on publication. tap to volunteer at more than “I kept calling and calling,” World Pride 30 Pride events across the Bean recalls. “I got to the Stonewall country, including this year’s person who had jurisdiction World Pride in New York City.” over recruitment, who didn’t 50 Platinum In a case of funding Peter have to go through corporate sponsor.” by shortchanging Paul, Evans in Minneapolis. But my notes, “This year, Target didn’t efforts fell on deaf ears. They - Todd Evans advertise at all” with the print should be encompassing Rivendell Media publications he represents—a everyone, especially in a city stark departure from their like Philadelphia, which has a Pride month advertising of the past. “But I large LGBTQ footprint.” did notice they were a World Pride Stonewall For Evans, despite gains, “There is a lot 50 Platinum sponsor. I think this year, a lot of of misinformation out there,” on the part of people’s budgets went to that.” corporate buyers. Attempts to engage Target on the local “The media habits of other niche markets level have been unsuccessful, says Mark differ drastically than that of the LGBT Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay shopper, yet many corporations are using News, a member of the National LGBT Media the same formula,” says Evans. “Digital is Association. king in Hispanic media, and for the African“We’ve reached out to them on numerous American market, it’s mobile. LGBTs, we use occasions, and the response has been zero,” our phones for breaking news and for finding says Segal. “They have a store very close Mr. Right or Mr. Right now, but almost all to the gayborhood here. I also see them digital and editorial news content comes advertising in neighborhood and community from the print product. Face it. There is no newspapers in Philadelphia, so you could Telemundo for the gays. There is no CNN for say they are, at the very least, ignoring our our people. They go local. It’s all about trust.” community.”
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St Pete Pride and executive director part ways Ryan Williams-Jent Watermark
S
t Pete Pride confirmed Dec. 6 that Luke he wrote. “It’s been an incredible ride, to say Blankenship will no longer serve as the the least … It goes without saying, my time at organization’s executive director. St Pete Pride was incredibly special.” “Luke Blankenship is no longer employed He also noted that while “I’m not entirely by St Pete Pride,” St Pete Pride President sure what’s on the horizon, this is far from Chrys Bundy shared with Watermark. “We farewell. Several next moves are in the wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” works. Whatever my next steps are, know Blankenship was named executive director this: my energy and passion for LGBTQ+ of Florida’s largest LGBTQ Pride celebration advocacy will never wane.” in May 2018, making him the youngest When asked if Blankenship resigned or executive director of any Pride organization was terminated from his position, Bundy in the country. He had previously served advised, “I’m unable to speak to that.” as interim executive director beginning in Blankenship also declined comment. late 2017 and had worked in various roles in Blankenship’s last day with St Pete Pride years prior, including logistics was Nov. 20. An interim coordinator, parade director executive director has not been “... I’ve and development director. named and the organization’s “For six unbelievable executive committee will thoroughly years, I’ve been honored with handle the role’s functions at enjoyed the opportunity to impact this time. feeding my thousands of LGBTQ+ people “The board of directors is around the world,” Blankenship looking forward to a national passion while shared via social media Dec. 5. search to recruit our next getting to live executive director who will “Blessed with an amazing group of people to help build St Pete take the organization and our out a dream.” Pride to where it is today, I’ve mission to the next level,” - Luke Blankenship thoroughly enjoyed feeding my Bundy says. “Our talented Former Executive passion while getting to live out production board, dedicated Director of St. Pete a dream.” volunteers and staff are hard at Pride Blankenship touted highlights work preparing for what will be during his time with the organization, an amazing Pride season in 2020.” including collaborating with more than St Pete Pride will next focus on the 400 LGBTQ-friendly businesses, increasing organization’s annual Red and Green Party, sponsor funding by 143% in two years and welcoming more than 500 guests to Sunken more. He also thanked volunteers, vendors, Gardens Dec. 7. The celebration will feature coworkers, mentors and colleagues. a silent auction benefiting the St Pete Pride “My tenure at St Pete Pride is now over,” Community Grants program and more. The next St Pete Pride will be held June 26-28, 2020 and more than 250,000 are expected to attend. For more information, visit StPetePride.com.
Last summer, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation presented the greater Fort Lauderdale community with a bold initiative to address the low-income housing crisis in the city. Partnering with a coalition of nonprofit organizations, including the United Way, AHF announced plans to break ground on a housing complex for low-income residents in Fort Lauderdale. SFGN saluted the effort then, and stands by it today. The LGBT community is a part of our city, not apart from it. There are gay and lesbian men and women in our midst who struggle to pay their rent and meet their needs. We are not all affluent. Our sunny shores radiate opportunity, but not everyone prospers and tans. Some of us get burnt. Nearly a year has past, and AHF should have been able to launch their project. But the city staff is blocking them, neighbors are blacklisting them, and city officials, including the mayor, are retreating inexcusably and unconscionably. We won’t have it. These are the toxic effects of the perverted “Not-In-My-Backyard-You-Won’t Syndrome,”— we love you, we love you, we love you — as long as you don’t move in next door. The truth is that this project is not even “next door.” The housing complex proposal is for a parcel of land near many other small apartments and office buildings, not far from the county courthouse, accessible to public transportation. Last week, the city attorney rendered an opinion that the new development should be classified as a ‘social services residential facility.’ This makes the complex a ‘non permitted use.’ I take exception to that finding. In my judgment, it is flawed. While there is a lot of legalese involved, we think it is subject to a broader interpretation, permissible under local zoning codes. In other words, the city attorney is playing with words to tie a noose around AHF’s neck. But what is being hung instead is Justice. One day, a vote will be cast in the public record. One day, our elected commissioners will have to put their money with their mouth is. They can’t speak out for hope and opportunity in one breath while denying it with the other. Over 789,000 Floridians spend more than half of their income on rent each month. There is little left over for health care and insurance needs. Low-income housing frees up money for financially challenged families to use on basic necessities. AHF is a leader in health care for our community. They understand good health starts with people having a good home, and a place to hang your hat; to be sheltered from the storm. Common sense dictates we move the project forward, not slow it down. A caring community should embrace the opportunity to create a place where less wealthy residents find and secure clean and safe housing. A concerned city commission would endorse the AHF proposal, not run from it. Over a history of decades, Fort Lauderdale officials disgraced themselves by subordinating the needs of its disenfranchised populations. We once even had a mayor who encouraged citizens to pour bleach in their garbage cans to discourage desperate people from poaching for food. In 2019, can we please move to a higher moral plateau? Across America, from NY to LA, we are witnessing a growing tide of homelessness in urban communities. Tent cities are being set up. We do not have to let this happen here. We can lead the way by providing modest accommodations for those who can afford low-income housing. The employable residents of this proposed complex would have easy access to mass transit and those scooters popping up on every corner of downtown. There will be downtown jobs in the hospitality industry and on the beach within their reach. The Fort Lauderdale project is specifically targeted to families, along with assisting low-income and chronically ill individuals, focusing on sustainable rental-toownership models. It is designed to be a home, not a hospital. This project will not hurt Rio Vista, but it will help those who can’t afford to live there. We can’t let the false concerns of the rich deny the legitimate concerns of those not so blessed with such good fortune. AHF has been working to address the housing needs of the chronically ill for 30 years. They were once in the forefront of advocating ADAP housing in Miami. This is not their first rodeo. They have fought this fight before. They should be applauded, not accosted. An affordable roof over your head creates and fosters self-esteem. No matter how small, it gives you something you can call your own. We are all but a step away from walking in soles that are torn. But let our souls be full, caring for those who need help. What is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right. The city commissioners and our mayor, particularly, should embrace this project. They cannot afford to do less. You can’t help but notice that the city of Fort Lauderdale is redoing its Andrews Avenue Bridge. Build one low-income families can cross as well. We bill ourselves as the Venice of America. Let’s make sure everyone has a gondola to row and paddle just above the tides, not to sink under them. Let’s make sure Mayors who drive Mercedes-Benz Maybachs do not forget the citizens who can’t afford scooters. They are his constituency as well. Don’t just give them your voice through lip service. Give them your vote. Editorial published in South Florida Gay News, September 25th, 2019.
12.11.2019 •
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NEWS national
Compromise or Capitulation?
Fairness For All Act seeks middle ground on LGBT rights Chris Johnson
Washington Blade
N
ewly introduced legislation in the U.S. House backed by the Mormon Church seeks to strike a middle ground on LGBT rights and religious freedom in federal civil rights law, although major proponents of each refuse to support the legislation. Introduced by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) on Friday, the Much like the Equality Act, the Fairness for All Act would Fairness for All Act would strike balance between LGBT make anti-LGBT discrimination against federal law, but it rights and religious freedom in way proponents say would would also institute an accommodation for institutions protect First Amendment rights. That way, however, permits like religious organization and small-business wedding anti-LGBT discrimination from religious institutions and vendors. small-business wedding vendors. The Fairness for All Act would prohibit “Throughout history, there are time when anti-LGBT discrimination in employment, The Fairness for principles come into conflicts, and often housing, jury selection, credit, federal All Act would they are conflicting good principles, both programs and public accommodations, of them with equal value,” Stewart said at but do so without defining anti-LGBT also extend Capitol Hill news conference Friday. discrimination as sex discrimination. The protections to “The job we have before us in our society bill would also expand the definition of small businesses public accommodations beyond the Civil today is a good example of that, where we whose owners have the principle of non-discrimination, Rights Act of 1964. that every American should be treated fairly But in contrast to the Equality Act, the refuse to provide and with respect and with dignity, and at Fairness for All Act would preserve Religious services to same- Freedom Restoration Act and protect the the same time, the sincerely held belief that sex weddings religious faith and principles also matter, and tax-exempt status of religious colleges and how do we reconcile those two conflicting universities that oppose same-sex marriage, based on principles,” Stewart added. “This is what we such as Brigham Young University, Bethel religious are trying to do with this legislation.” University and Catholic University. objections. The Fairness for All Act is seen as an The Fairness for All Act would also extend alternative to the Equality Act, legislation protections to small businesses whose approved by the House in May under the Democratic owners refuse to provide services to same-sex weddings majority — with five Republican votes. The Equality based on religious objections. Among them is Jack Phillips, Act would make anti-LGBT discrimination a form of sex the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who gained notoriety discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and when his reached the Supreme Court and justices ruled clarify the Religious Freedom Restoration Act can’t be a narrowly in his favor based on the facts of the case. justification for discrimination. The measure would prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination Protests outside the Supreme Court. Photo via Adobe Stock.
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NEWS national
Shirley Hoogstra, president of Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. Photo via CCCU.org.
at “any store, shopping center or online retailer or provider of online services that has 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year,” but states the threshold doesn’t apply to claims of discrimination based on race, color or national origin or the small business wedding vendors excluded under the measure. Similarly, the measure says “a property owned or operated primarily for noncommercial purposes by a non-profit religious corporation that holds itself out to the public as substantially religious, has as its stated purpose in its organic documents that it is religious, and is substantially religious in its current operations” is not a public accommodation under the legislation. Lastly, the Fairness for All Act purports to protect religiously affiliated adoption agencies “so they can continue to serve vulnerable children and willing couples, while at the same time ensuring the ability of LGBT persons to adopt and foster children too.” Unlike the Equality Act, the Fairness for All Act also makes clear access to abortion services aren’t protected, but stipulates the measure shouldn’t be construed to impose a penalty on women who have had an abortion or seek abortion-related services. Among the proponents of the Fairness
for All Act is the Church of Latter-day Saint and Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which expressed support for the legislation in a statement Friday. Shirley Hoogstra, president of Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, spoke out in favor of the legislation at the Capitol Hill news conference. “This coalition represents civic pluralism at its best,” Hoogstra said. “We want a society where people with deep differences can live alongside each other with respect and understanding.” But the nation’s leading advocacy group for LGBTQ rights says the Fairness for All Act doesn’t go far enough, and an anti-LGBT legal firm that purports to protect religious freedom also doesn’t support the legislation. Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said he “strongly oppose[s]” the Fairness for All Act because it sells LGBTQ people short and erodes existing protections under federal civil rights law. “The so-called Fairness for All Act is an unacceptable, partisan vehicle that erodes existing civil rights protections based on race, sex and religion, while sanctioning discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people,” David said. “For LGBTQ people living at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, this bill is a double whammy of dangerous rollbacks and discriminatory carve-outs. This bill is both wrong and harmful, and we strongly oppose it.” David said the right path for advancing LGBTQ rights is the Equality Act, which he said is necessary because “LGBTQ people deserve full federal equality, period.” “The Equality Act, on the other hand, has already passed through the House of Representatives with a bipartisan majority, the support of more than 260 leading companies and more than 500 civil rights, religious, medical and social welfare
Masterpiece Cakeshop, a small business that made headlines when its owner refused to provide cakes for same-sex weddings based on religious objections, would also be protected under the Fairness for All Act. Photo credit: Jeffrey Beall.
Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, is one of those who says the Fairness for All Act doesn’t go far enough. Photo via the HRC.
organizations, and is our movement — and, are religious organizations that are going to most importantly, our community’s — top have the freedom to refuse to serve me or legislative priority,” David said. employ me.” A spokesperson for Alliance Defending Deaton said the Human Rights Campaign’s Freedom, the anti-LGBT legal firm that opposition to the Fairness for All Act was has represented Masterpiece Cakeshop “disheartening,” especially the assertion and schools seeking to deny transgender it would undermine existing protections kids access to bathroom consistent with based on race, sex and national origin. their gender identity, referred to the “I think that the statement exaggerates Washington Blade to a 2018 statement from impacts that the bill would have on existing the organization against the Fairness for All civil rights,” Deaton said. “And I want to be Act. clear on this point, which is that Fairness “Every person should be treated with for All does not touch, or erode, or diminish dignity and respect,” said any civil rights that are on ADF Senior Vice President of the books today, and in fact, “... Sexual U.S. Legal Division Kristen it is biggest expansion of orientation and Waggoner. “Unfortunately, civil rights since the passage sexual orientation and gender in 1964 of the Civil Rights gender identity identity laws like the so-called Act, and that’s similar to the laws like the ‘Fairness for All’ proposal Equality Act.” so-called undermine both fairness and Another supporter of the freedom. This proposal is ‘Fairness for legislation is Republican a SOGI law under different LGBT ally Margaret Hoover, All’ proposal branding, with special — who voiced support for the undermine both and likely temporary — measure in an interview last fairness and exemptions that protect only month with the Los Angeles a favored few.” Blade and at the Capitol Hill freedom.” A chief proponent of the news conference. - Kristen Waggoner Fairness for All Act, however, “We know that we expect ADF Senior Vice President is the American Unity Fund, that this bill will be met with of U.S. Legal Division a pro-LGBTQ Republican criticism from both sides organization backed by of the aisle,” Hoover said. philanthropist and GOP donor Paul Singer. “Compromise is never easy, but it is our view Tyler Deaton, senior adviser to the that LGBTQ Americans cannot afford to wait American Unity Fund, said his organization a single day longer.” supports the Equality Act, but prefers the Just about every LGBTQ advocate pushing Fairness for All Act to prohibit anti-LGBT for the Equality Act came out against the discrimination. Fairness for All Act, including Justin Nelson, “We have to have black letter laws on the president of the National LGBTQ Chamber books that can make it explicit when we’re of Commerce. protected and when we’re not,” Deaton said. “NGLCC reaffirms its support for the “This is hard thing from me to say as a gay Equality Act, and cannot support any guy. There are going to be times that there legislation containing loopholes designed to
Turn the page to keep reading. 12.11.2019 •
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NEWS national further keep tax-paying, law-abiding LGBT of sex in employment, also applies to cases of citizens from achieving success and safety in anti-LGBT discrimination. their own country,” Nelson said. If the court rules in favor of LGBT workers, But there was some openness among it could have far reaching implications LGBTQ advocates. Striking a welcoming and make federal legislation against antichord on the Fairness LGBT discrimination moot for All Act was Shannon in employment, housing “While the details Minter, legal director for the and education (although a of the bill require National Center for Lesbian legislative change would still more careful Rights. be necessary to ban anti-LGBT “The introduction of bias in public accommodations consideration, this historic bill marks the and federal programs). If it marks an first time that conservative the court rules against LGBT important religious organizations and workers, they would have no milestone in leaders have supported protections under federal law, comprehensive federal and a legislative fix would be all the growing protections for LGBTQ the more needed. national support people,” Minter said. Arguably the very for the equality “While the details of the introduction of the Fairness and dignity of bill require more careful for All Act bolsters the case LGBTQ people.” consideration, it marks an Congress didn’t intent to important milestone in the include LGBTQ people when - Shannon Minter growing national support it passed the Civil Rights of legal director for the for the equality and dignity 1964, but Deaton denied that National Center for Lesbian Rights of LGBTQ people.” was case, adding that line has The Fairness for All Act already been crossed with the is introduced as the U.S. Supreme Court Equality Act. is considering litigation that would clarify “I think that we all know that regardless whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of of what the Supreme Court decides in the 1964, which bans discrimination on the basis spring, we’re still going to need a federal law
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Shannon Minter. Photo via Twitter.
that either codifies that decision or rebukes that,” Deaton said. “I mean, if the Supreme Court decides that sex should be interpreted narrowly, then it’s all the more reason we need this bill now.” The Fairness for All Act will be a tough sell in the House, which addressed the issue of expanding LGBT non-discrimination protections by passing the Equality Act. In the Senate, companion hasn’t even yet been introduced. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) signaled she “strongly opposes” the legislation via comments from her
spokesperson Drew Hammill. “Speaker Pelosi strongly opposes this legislation,” Hammill said. “It represents a step backward in many respects and is a partisan effort to that would lead to much more discrimination in our country not less.” The solution for enacting LGBT nondiscrimination protections under federal law, Hammill said, would be for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring up the Equality Act. “LGBTQ Americans deserve nothing short of full equality,” Hammill said. “House Democrats will continue to call on Senator McConnell to pass the Equality Act.” Then there’s President Trump. Asked whether he spoken with the White House about the Fairness for All Act, Deaton declined to discuss conversations. The Trump administration, through White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere, signaled an openness to the Fairness for All Act when asked by the Washington Blade about the legislation. “President Trump has protected human dignity, fought for inclusion, promoted LGBTQ Americans and strongly protected religious freedom for everyone while in office,” Deere said. “The White House looks forward to reviewing the legislation.”
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NEWS national
NEWS local
Sidelines Returns to Wilton Manors
“AJ and the Queen.” Image via YouTube.
Iconic sports bar takes over Rumors
Justin Musial
Photo via Sidelines, Facebook.
S
idelines is back – and better than ever. The iconic sports bar in Wilton Manors closed down in 2015, leaving LGBT sports fans without a natural place to gather. Sidelines recently renovated the space previously occupied by Rumors on Wilton Drive. The bar’s new location features more than 40 televisions, and brings back the sport vibe that made it a success for nine years on the drive. The bar also features two pool tables, two 72 inch TVs, a stage for live music, food, and more. There are three bars inside the new location. One of them features a live music stage and martini bar. Creative Director of Sidelines Bernadette Zizzo wanted the new Sidelines to be lively and fun. Lori Whitaker, one of the owners explained, “I wanted to bring back the fun,
family atmosphere that made sidelines a success, also bringing our new location up to date, including sponsoring as many local sports teams as possible.” Currently they are sponsoring the flag football League, Softball League, and Pool League. Sidelines has been known as one of the biggest supporters of LGBT sports in South Florida. They also brought back Steve, Heather, and Kelly from the old Rumors bar, to bartend. Their menu will include most of the fan favorites, and includes all fresh ingredients. The bar also features a half priced happy hour.
New RuPaul Show to Premier on Netflix John Paul King Washington Blade
N
and
etflix has dropped the official trailer has no choice but to pick up the pieces and for RuPaul’s new scripted series. start over, and a cross country Ruby Red “AJ and the Queen,” created by roadshow provides the perfect opportunity RuPaul with Michael Patrick King (“Sex and to do just that. “But when AJ (Izzy G.), a scrappy, streetwise the City”), debuts on the streaming network in January, and although we’ve gotten a 10 year old escaping a difficult home life, stows away in Robert’s quick teaser trailer for it already, rundown RV, the consummate this is the first extended look performer suddenly finds we’ve been given to date. “AJ and the in a new set of shoes: The show’s synopsis, Queen,” created himself de facto parent. Fabulously according to the press material, by RuPaul with mismatched yet perfectly reads: “Robert Lee (RuPaul), better Michael Patrick paired, AJ and Ruby must find a way to navigate through tough known as the drag queen Ruby King (“Sex times as they learn a few tricks Red, has big dreams of opening and the City”), from one another and roll his very own drag club. After on to brighter days. Michaelyears of performing in clubs debuts on the Leon Wooley and Katerina all across the country, he has streaming Tannenbaum also co-star.” scrimped and saved and is one The show lists Michael signed lease away from turning network in Patrick King, RuPaul Charles, his dreams into a reality until January. and Jhoni Marchinko as he realizes he’s been swindled Executive Producers, with King by a charismatic grifter (Josh Segarra) and his eye-patch wearing partner- as the showrunner. It’s produced by MPK in-crime, Lady Danger (Tia Carrere). With Productions in association with Warner his heart broken and money stolen, Robert Bros. TV.
You can watch the trailer at bit.ly/2Rxq6wQ Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.
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12.11.2019 •
19
NEWS local
STD Rates Continue to Alarm Public Health Advocates For a fifth year in a row STD rates continue to rise in US
Jason Parsley
P
ublic health advocates are continuing to sound the alarm on STD rates as they continue to rise for the fifth straight year in the U.S.
“Trends have continued to worsen over the with syphilis) since 2004. past year,” said Matthew Prior, Director of Congenital syphilis rates are especially Communications for the National Coalition alarming to public health advocates. of STD Directors. “There are no signs of “How many more babies have to die slowing down.” from syphilis that someone says this is an Jeffrey D. Klausner, Professor of Medicine emergency?” Klausner asked. “A dozen and Public Health at UCLA agreed saying vaping related deaths and it’s on the front “this is a continuation and long standing page of the news and TV every day.” trend since the great recession.” Klausner also cites stigma surrounding Klausner said the federal government has STDs as a major obstacle in combating the no plan to combat the STD epidemic. epidemic. “They told us a plan was “Stillbirths are still very underway,” he said. “Where is stigmatized,” he said. this plan? This is great time to “Everyone blames the mother, release the plan.” like she did something A recent report from the wrong.” Centers for Disease Control Congenital syphilis is showed in 2018, about 2.4 very dangerous to a fetus. million cases of STDs were According to the CDC up to diagnosed. It marks the 40 percent of babies born highest number ever reported, to women with untreated by more than 100,000 (the syphilis may be stillborn, or record previously set in 2017). die from the infection as a Chlamydia, which makes up newborn. the lion’s share of infections, It can also cause increased 3 percent over last miscarriage, prematurity, and - Jeffrey Klausner year to more than 1.7 million low birth weight. Professor of Medicine cases – the most ever reported “Any death associated with and Pubic Health, UCLA to the CDC. a case a syphilis or congenital “The rates of STDs we see syphilis is a public health nationally are a disaster for our collective failure and shouldn’t happen,” Prior said. health and an expensive lesson in the need The NCSD is urging the federal government for consistent, non-judgmental and effective to allocate an additional 70 million to combat public health services,” said Whitney the STD crisis. Engeran-Cordova, senior director for public “That’s a fraction of less than one percent health for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. of the entire CDC budget. STD funding has The numbers above include a 19 percent remained pretty stagnant over the past 15 increase in chlamydia since 2004; 63 percent years,” Prior said. “When you adjust for increase in gonorrhea since 2004; a 71 inflation it’s really a 40 percent reduction in percent increase in primary and secondary buying power from 15 years ago.” syphilis since 2004; and a 185 percent Last year SFGN wrote extensively about increase in congenital syphilis (babies born the growing STD epidemic.
“How many more babies have to die from syphilis that someone says this is an emergency?”
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Photo via Adobe.
In regards to syphilis public health officials went from “plans to eliminate [the STD] to a public health crisis,” Adam Sukhija-Cohen, the Director of Advocacy and Policy Research for the AHF previously told SFGN. “This is an insane resurgence.” Sukhija-Cohen noted last year that at the turn of the century public health officials were preparing for the elimination of syphilis in the U.S. but then “the CDC budget has decreased by a third since early 2000s.” There are many factors involved in why STD rates are increasing. Here are the reasons the CDC listed in a press release announcing the dire STD numbers. • Drug use, poverty, stigma, and unstable housing, which can reduce access to STD prevention and care •
Decreased
condom
use
among
vulnerable groups, including young people and gay and bisexual men • Cuts to STD programs at the state and local level – in recent years, more than half of local programs have experienced budget cuts, resulting in clinic closures, reduced screening, staff loss, and reduced patient follow-up and linkage to care services But many public health advocates cite the decrease in federal funding as a main cause. Prior though commended President Donald Trump for his push to end the HIV epidemic and the recent increases in HIV funding, but also warned “we won’t end the HIV epidemic on the back of an exploding STD epidemic.” Prior noted that STDs drive about 1 in 10 new cause new cases of HIV. Locally Stephen Fallon, Executive Director of Latinos Salud is also seeing the
NEWS local discrepancy between HIV and STD funding. According to the CDC report men who have “Latinos Salud holds several grants for sex with men (MSM) made up 54 percent of HIV testing, prevention and linkage services. all syphilis cases in 2018, while gonorrhea Funding for STD testing has long fallen short diagnoses have nearly doubled among men of our needs,” Fallon said. “Our agency’s lab over the past five years (the CDC fact sheet fees for examining multiple STD specimens doesn’t state how many of those cases are per client have at times exceeded $10,000 per MSM). month, while our grants allow us to allocate Last year Klausner told SFGN STDs requires scarily one-quarter of that amount to STD a public response. screening.” “STDs are public health issues. They are The STD screenings for 2019 cost not controlled with better primary care. It Latinos Salud more than $120,000 through takes special knowledge, special training, September. The organization had a grant and special management.” He added this that covered the costs through year. “We have to shift the April. issues away from personal “We can “After that, we’re allowed to responsibility to public write off a portion under our accountability. We need robust control these HIV grants,” Fallon explained. public health programs. We infections. They can control these infections. Despite the costs Fallon said Latinos Salud is committed They are readily treatable. But are readily to tackling the STD epidemic for public health to work, it has treatable. But locally. to be funded.” “We chose to continue Last year Klausner pointed to for public offering our STD screening the Broward Wellness Center, health to work, a joint venture between the free of charge, by investing its general revenue to underwrite Florida Department of Health it has to be the costs,” he said. and AHF, as a very effective funded.” Fallon also noted that model. the Florida Department of “Broward has the newest - Jeffrey Klausner Health in Broward County just and most advanced testing Professor of Medicine and Pubic Health, UCLA renewed a small contract that and treatment program in “will help us with these costs the United States. That’s through mid-2019.” a breakthrough in terms of sexual health Fallon said last year his organization services. There is no reason, other than diagnosed 527 clients with gonorrhea, funding, that this couldn’t be replicated chlamydia or syphilis, and as of October of in urban areas around the United States,” this year they have already diagnosed over Klausner said last year. 400. AHF’s Engeran-Cordova added, “In Broward “By getting clients into immediate County we have an unparalleled partnership treatment, and curing these contagious STDs, with the health department. We are seeing we are breaking the cycle of new infections,” and treating record numbers of patients he said. “Also, since STDs ‘amplify’ the odds daily at our Broward Wellness Center with of transmitting HIV, stopping STDs helps curb innovative strategies to diagnose and treat our new HIV infections in the community.” people faster and more effectively. It should Gay and bisexual men are disproportionately be a model for not just Florida but beyond.” affected by the STD crisis.
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Above: Jeffrey Klausner. Photo via UCLA. Right: Photo via the CDC.
12.11.2019 •
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Palm beach datebook Art After Dark Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach View an exhibition, attend a talk, participate in an art activity, enjoy a performance, concert, or film, sip cocktails, and dine in the Museum’s elegant new bar and restaurant. Free admission. Visit Norton.org. Palm Beaches Prime Timers Second Saturdays at 3 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth An active fraternal and social organization dedicated to bring together mature gay and bisexual men for friendship, activities, support, and personal growth for the best times of our lives. Free. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com. STD Testing and Flu Vaccinations First Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth The Department of Health comes monthly. Call 561-533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com. Free Friday Concerts Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach Enjoy live music from the comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org. Coffee Clatch at Compass First Monday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Compass, 201 N. Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth A social group focusing on the mature LGBT+ community in Palm Beach County, providing a relaxed environment for meeting friends, discussing interesting topics, and engaging in community projects. Free to attend, email joekolb@ compassglcc.com for details. Transcendence Meets at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth A closed transgender youth support group for teens ages 12 to 19. For more information, email youth@compassglcc.com.
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P A LM B E A CH
news
Compass Talk Dispels Misconceptions About HIV John DeStefano
C
ompass, the LGBT center of the Palm Beaches, was full last week of many eager to separate historical fact from fiction during a talk given by special guest Dr. Requel Lopez. The discussion, “Hidden Truths of HIV/ AIDS History,” centered on providing factual context for the true origins of the HIV virus while also dispelling some of the rumors that still surround the often-misunderstood disease. The presentation was free to the community in commemoration of World AIDS Day, which takes place every year on Dec. 1. Lopez, who serves as executive director of the World AIDS Museum in Wilton Manors, said it is critical for those who are educated on topics like HIV/AIDS to continue to spread awareness and “start the conversation” with those who were affected by the disease. Specific topics of the talk included the “Myth of Patient Zero,” a now-disproven theory from the early days of HIV research that suggested there was a single human source for the virus. According to Lopez, current research indicates that the two known strains of HIV were transmitted to humans from chimpanzees in the forests of Africa. Famous athletes who have contracted HIV were also mentioned, like 3-time Grand Slam
Dr. Requel Lopes (left) with Lysette Pérez. Photo via Compass, Facebook.
tennis champion Arthur Ashe and 5-time NBA champion Earvin “Magic” Johnson, as further proof that no one is immune to the disease or its stigmas. Lopez said Johnson, who has lived with the virus for nearly three decades follows a strict medical protocol and in turn is able to mitigate the harmful effects. “Examples like his are so important,” Lopez said. “We need to see role models out there.” Lopez explained that the stigmas surrounding HIV have even led to its criminalization in the form of state laws that prohibit sexual intercourse between an HIV positive person and someone without the virus, if both parties are not made aware of the presence of the disease. These laws, she said, have done great harm to the LGBT community and have sometimes produced convictions of attempted murder. The discussion was part of a continuing monthly series of free talks put on by Compass that highlight LGBT awareness, according to Health Services Director Lysette Pérez. “These are always open to anyone in the community who wishes to learn about the topic we’re discussing,” she said. “We also ask if there are any topics [people] would like to see in the future. We really aim to provide for the community and their needs.” A full dinner was also provided for all
The discussion was part of a continuing monthly series of free talks put on by Compass that highlight LGBT awareness, according to Health Services Director Lysette Pérez. attendees, many of whom wore a red ribbon in support of the center’s current campaign promoting HIV testing for all. “The best way to get people tested is to talk about getting tested,” Pérez said. “The only way you remove the stigma of something is talking about it.” Lopez closed the night by saying that the World AIDS Museum is always looking for volunteers and welcomes all those in the community who come to give their time and to share their experiences. “I’ve been to the museum three times, it’s a great place.” said Cecil Smith, 61. “I came out tonight to learn more of the history and to celebrate World AIDS Day.” For Lopez, the work she does at the museum is both professional and personal. “These stories need to be told because they represent each and every one of us,” she said.
The World AIDS Museum is located at 1201 NE 26th St. in Wilton Manors and more information can be found on its website at WorldAIDSmuseum.org.
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FAITH & PRIDE spirituality
Souls’ Epi copal Church
Mai Hanukkah? All Are Welcome! All Souls’ Epi copal All
Rabbi Noah Kitty
Congregation Etz Chaim
SERVICES SUNDAY AT 8 A.M. & 10:30 A.M.
Church
4025 PINE TREE DRIVE, MIAMI BEACH 305-520-5410
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T
he Talmud is compendium of Jewish questions and (sometimes) answers that were compiled over hundreds of years of oral discussion. One of the questions it asks is: Mai Hanukkah? What is Hanukkah? For most folks Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday companion to Christmas, as they often overlap like in this year. Hanukkah, however, is the historical reminder that the fight for freedom is never once and done; the forces that would see others as second-class servants never sleeps, and we must always be on guard. The battle began in 167 BCE when Greek-influenced Syrians conquered the land of Israel. Soon the people were told that they must give up their own customs and rituals, and adopt the Greek practice of idol worship. In their zeal to corrupt and defile the Temple in Jerusalem, the Syrians brought in pigs to root around this holy place in order that the people would no longer enter it. The Jews resisted under the leadership of the Maccabees, and for a short while they were able to achieve political independence. In this aspect Hanukkah is about a military victory. But what about the Temple? We are told that when the Maccabees returned to clean and rededicate it, they found only one single cruze of oil, not nearly enough for their needs. What were their options to be able to observe the eight days of the holiday? When the sages in the Talmud asked, “What is Hanukkah?”, they were answering the question of where was the miracle. It wasn’t in the military victory, because it was significant but short-lived. They determined the miracle was due to the oil. On the one hand, the single cruze lasted seven times longer than thought possible. In this understanding the miracle was in the oil itself. The real miracle, however, lay in the faith of those who lit the menorah
on the first day knowing that it would not last the full eight days of the holiday, and lit it anyway. The Hanukkah menorah is called a hanukkiah, and is different than a regular menorah (lamp) in that it has eight candles, plus one that is used to light the other eight. The custom is to light the hanukkiah from right to left, lighting one candle on the first day, two on the second, and so on. Each day and each candle receives a blessing. In this way the holiday increases in light and blessings as time goes on. The custom is to celebrate Hanukkah in our homes rather than only in the synagogue, and to not do any work while the candles are burning. This includes using the candles to read by, or be the only source of light in a room. We should appreciate the flames in themselves, rather than what they might allow us to do. Hanukkah means rededication and inspires us to renewal, resistance, and reflection. As noted by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, not only do we need to know when to pick up arms, we must also know when to put them back down. There will be times when it is necessary to fight, but it must be our spirit that is the victor or else the enemy will have succeeded if we become like them. The Maccabean victory was in their ability to fight, then stop fighting in order to clean and rededicate the Temple, and finally to relight the menorah. Victory is to be free, not to triumph. As we read in Zachariah 4:6: Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, says God. What is Hanukkah? This is Hanukkah: the celebration of the freedom to be who we are, to practice our customs in peace, to be a light for others, and to create a community where we may add our light to the lights others may hold. Happy Hanukkah!
1955 East Oakland Park Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306 www.christlutheranfl.org
Sunday Service @ 10am
Wherever You Are On God’s LGBTQIA Rainbow, You Are Welcome...
Photo via PxHere.
Christ Lutheran Church
Fellowship after Service
SUNDAY SERVICE 10 A.M. Rev. Rick Rhen-Sosbe, Pastor
561-733-4000
www.ChurchOfOurSaviorMCC.org MCC, Transforming Ourselves as We Transform The World
“Love without judgement” Holy Angels National Catholic Church 2917 NE 6th Ave Wilton Manors, FL 33334 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org
954-633-2987
A home for your spirit. Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday 11:00 AM mass in English • All are welcome!
Join us for Shabbat service Every Friday night at 8pm Saturday, December 14th
$15 Door includes 7 games Specials 3 cards for $1 Food available for purchase: Hot dogs, drinks, chips Doors open 6:30pm/Play starts 7pm Cash only please
Learn more about our many programs & events www.EtzChaimFlorida.org
Congregation Etz Chaim
2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus For more information: www.EtzChaimFlorida.org or 954Ͳ564Ͳ9232 12.11.2019 •
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Convictions
Gratitude
Trans Talk
Reminiscing on My Own 10-year Journey
Atticus Ranck
I
often look around me and feel so incredibly blessed and grateful for my life. This hasn’t always been the case, but life has just gotten better and better and I’m so lucky to lead the life I do. There is so much shit going on in the world. Three hundred and eleven transgender people were murdered this year (that we know of). LGBT protections are constantly under threat. Climate change is threatening our very existence. There’s no escaping the political upheaval taking place in our government. There’s a lot to be worried about. But today I want to take a less macroscopic view and I encourage each of you to think about how far you’ve also come in your own personal journey. The 10-year challenge is currently taking over the internet. Ten years ago, I was 20 years old, in college, still identifying as female, and an out lesbian. I didn’t have the best relationship with my parents. I was starting to drink heavily. Seven years ago, I graduated from college and was working at a bakery for the summer (where I was forced to wear a skirt) and living at my parent’s house in rural Lancaster, PA. Six and a half years ago, I was questioning my gender identity and using alcohol to help me cope with it and with the stress of graduate school. Five years ago, I was caught drinking and driving, and was kicked out of the room I was renting, and my then-girlfriend broke up with me. I started my journey to sobriety almost immediately after that. My life has changed dramatically since that time. Now I have a beautiful wife and a strong relationship. We are living in our second home that we’re enjoying fixing up and making our own. We have a Shetland Sheepdog named Archie and a cat named Oliver. I have a job I enjoy, making enough money to cover all
Life hasn’t been easy, but it’s absolutely been worth it.
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our bills and save some extra. We traded in Sebastian’s car and sold mine and bought a 2017 SUV. We paid off all our credit card debt. We’re enjoying our new neighborhood, which has all the stores we need close by, yet also has the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, and the Hudson River all within easy reach. I am incredibly happy with the life I chose. Sometimes after work when my wife and I are cuddling on the couch watching TV, we just look around us and feel incredibly blessed and happy to be living the life we’ve chosen for ourselves. It didn’t just come to us, happenstance. We both transitioned genders, knowing we could (and have) lost family and friends and career prospects. I got sober. I
moved (multiple times) to entirely new states where I didn’t know anyone in order to start a new journey in order to try to further my career. I’ve had plenty of privilege to get me to where I am, but I also took big risks, too – never wanting to settle, always conscientious about figuring out what was important to me and going after it. I’ve been fired from a job. I’ve been sexually assaulted. I’m an alcoholic. I used to smoke cigarettes. I’ve bounced around apartments. Life hasn’t been easy, but it’s absolutely been worth it. I’m sure there are plenty of bumps in the road ahead. I’ll tackle them when they happen. For now, I’m trying to focus on all the good things I have and to be grateful for it.
Atticus Ranck develops LGBTQ+ educational and training curriculum and resides in Albany, NY. Prior to this, he has worked at two different LGBTQ nonprofits, including as the Director of Transgender Services at SunServe.
community announcement
SFGN’s Food Editor Publishes Book ‘Paper Cuts: My Life in Chicago’s Volatile LGBTQ Press’ by Rick Karlin Staff Reports Stonewall National Museum – Wilton Manors Wednesday, December 11 at 7 p.m. 2157 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors Free to attend. Suggested donation $5.
E
njoy a reading and Q&A from author Rick Karlin at the launch of his new book, “Paper Cuts: My Life in Chicago’s Volatile LGBTQ Press,” from Rattling Good Yarns Press. Rick Karlin, an inductee to the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, has left his mark on Chicago’s LGBT press. Karlin is a well-known columnist, author, playwright and impresario. From the early rough and tumble days of the LGBT press, he pushed the boundaries of the media, stepped on some toes and had his toes stepped on. “Paper Cuts” is the fascinating story of Karlin’s creativity, and the challenges he
faced balancing his public persona and his passionate personal life. Told with his breezy style, “Paper Cuts” gives a window into the volatile world of Chicago’s LGBT press and bar scene. Signed copies will be available for sale or order a copy in advance from Rattling Good Yarns Press online.
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column letters to the editor
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In Search of hugs
Cana
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The adoption fee for dogs over 6 months is $100 and felines over 6 months are $30. When you adopt from the Humane Society of Broward County the dogs and cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, receive preliminary vaccinations, cats are feline leukemia tested, and dogs over 7 months are tested for heartworm. They also receive a flea/tick preventative, a 10-day limited health care plan from VCA Animal Hospitals, 30 days of Trupanion Pet Insurance and a bag of Purina ONE pet food. The HSBC opens daily at 10:30 and is located at 2070 Griffin Road, a block west of I-95. For more details call 954-989-3977 ext. 6. To see who else is looking for a home visit www.humanebroward.com.
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We should not be promoting PigFest
Pictured: Chad Bush (right) with Paul Sullivan promoting Pig Week in 2016. Photo via Facebook.
T
he recent article promoting “PigFest,” “Let’s Get Piggy” (11/27) proclaiming: “The Sexual Revolution is back. People are no longer afraid” (of HIV/AIDS) MUST BE ADDRESSED.
Here it is, almost 2020, and certain members of our LGBT community (seemingly, proudly) proclaim: “The Sexual Revolution is back”. REALLY? Did I miss the Nobel Prize being awarded to the researchers who found a cure (or a vaccine) for HIV/AIDS? Can someone tell me who the recipient(s) were? While PrEP may work now, what happens if the HIV virus mutates, and renders PrEP ineffective? Since the first reports of a “Gay Cancer,” later known as AIDS (NYT: 7/3/81), the HIV virus has shown the ability to mutate around several previous treatments rendering them virtually useless in treating HIV infection. As young adults in the early 1980s, a few of us learned something very important: Our health and well-being were our own responsibility and should be taken seriously. HIV & AIDS can (and/or could) strike at any time. (Those young adults of the 1980s are approaching 55+ now.) While “PigFest” may appeal to a select few individuals, events such as these do precious little to prevent new HIV infections. Maybe this is one of the reasons why South Florida has been a major epicenter of new HIV infections for most of the last forty years! I sincerely hope that condoms and other HIV prevention tools were made available to participants at PigFest venues. If not, then SHAME ON THE PROMOTERS of PigFest; for promoting a lifestyle event (with potentially life-changing consequences) to those who may make poor decisions about sexual activity (possibly due to alcohol and or illicit club drug use). “ALL MEN ARE NOT PIGS”! Some of us prefer to: “SOAR WITH THE EAGLES”!
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Let your voice be heard! Submit your own letter to Jason.Parsley@sfgn.com
12.11.2019 •
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LIFESTYLE photos
arts united exhibit at
bona gallery
On December 5 at the Bona Italian Restaurant Art Gallery, Arts United held a solo exhibit featuring artist Peter meyerhoefer, a photographer who focuses on extreme closeups that offer an “other worldly” glimpse into peoples’ lives.
J.R. Davis
A glimpse of Peter Meyerhoefer’s work.
Peter Meyerhoefer.
Chuck Williams, board president of Arts United Florida, giving a speech to the guests at the Exhibit.
To see many more photos, visit South Florida Gay News on Facebook. 30
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lifestyle photos
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NVEEE (the National Voices for Equality Education and Enlightenment) hosted its tenth anniversary at No. 3 Social in Wynwood. The charity organization’s mission is “to prevent bullying, violence, and suicide among youth, families and communities through direct service, mentoring and prevention education.” Pictured here are Founder & Executive Director Jowharah Sanders (left), posing with Jason Jenkins and Elizabeth Jenkins. Photo credit: Carina Mask. To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook.
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SFGNITES
F O R THE W EE K O F D e c e m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 - D e c e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 9 J.W. Arnold
A Holiday Tradition
jw@prdconline.com
THU
12/12
theater In a small English town, the young and charming Edwin Drood has been mysteriously murdered. But by whom? Based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel of the same name, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” playing through Dec. 19 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 Indiantown Rd. in Jupiter is a hilarious whodunit mystery structured as a show within a show. Tickets start at $62 at JupiterTheatre.org.
FRI
12/13
theater Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the songwriting team behind “Dear Evan Hansen” and “La La Land,” adapted the classic 1983 holiday film “Christmas Story” into a Broadway musical. Slow Burn Theatre Co. presents the regional premiere through Dec. 29 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. The local production promises a triple-dog-dare of a good time this season. Tickets start at $49 at BrowardCenter.org.
Friday
12/13
theater
Miami City Ballet presents “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,” tonight through Dec. 22 at the Arsht Center in Miami and Dec. 27 – 29 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. This holiday tradition, set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score and Balanchine’s masterful choreography, transports audiences to a magical and very colorful winter land of toy soldiers and sugar plum fairies. Performance dates and tickets at MiamiCityBallet.org. Photo Credit: Miami City Ballet.
SAT
12/14
SUN
12/15
MON
12/16
TUE
12/17
concert
theater
television
celebrity
Grammy Award-winning country singer LeAnn Rimes will bring her “You and Me and Christmas” tour to the Pavilion at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek tonight at 8 p.m. This is Rimes’ seventh annual Christmas tour and she will be performing holiday favorites, career hits and songs from her new Hallmark TV movie, “It’s Christmas, Eve,” soundtrack. Tickets start at $40 at SeminoleCoconutCreekCasino.com.
The Golden Gays NYC and Empire Stage present “Thank Yule for Being a Friend, a Golden Girls Holiday Musical Adventure,” Dec. 11 – 22. In an unexpected Dickensian twist, Blanche, Dorothy and Rose must visit their past, present and future to save Christmas (and find Sophia)… just in time for turkey lurkey! Empire Stage is located at 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets start at $22 at EmpireStage.com.
Stuck inside this Monday evening? Tune in to “Holidays with the Houghs” tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC. “Dancing with the Stars” pros and Emmy Awardwinning choreographers Derek and Julianne Hough put their friendly sibling rivalry on full display as they compete in putting their own spin on holiday classics, share family holiday traditions and create new ones. Check local listings for channels and show times.
Grab a Christmas cocktail and join Bravo’s infamous celebrity “Real Housewives” for the ultimate girls— and gays—night out: an intimate evening of festive seasonal memories shared by Dolores Catania (New Jersey), Ramona Singer (New York) and Kelly Dodd (Orange County) tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th St. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets start at $37 at ParkerPlayhouse.com.
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SOCIAL MEDIA
NEWSLETTER
January 15, 2020 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 1333 N. Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Dress: Business Casual Awards Presentation: 7 p.m. Benefitting
Event Emcee: Miss Bryan
SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS Hosted by Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale
Join us in celebrating 10 years of illuminating the lives and loves of our LGBT community
Music by VJ Cliff R.
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Free Entry • Ticketed Event • Free Parking Silent Auction • 50/50 Raffle • Food • Entertainment Reserve Anniversary Party Tickets Online: bit.ly/2Q0hZbq 12.11.2019 •
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A
hilarious,
sweet farce with a heart of gold and a drawer full of sex toys!
A&E theater
Use promo code “SFGN” for a 10% discount. Group and non-profit rates available. All performances at Wilton Theater Factory, Main Stage, 2304 N Dixie HWY, Wilton Manors, FL 33305
“The Nanny” star Renée Taylor brings her new one-woman show to the Kravis Center, Dec. 18 – 22. Credit: Jeremy Daniel.
Actress Finds Inspiration in Food—or Lack Thereof
NOV 14 - DEC 15, 2019
J.W. Arnold
Tickets and Flexpasses are available online at www.islandcitystage.org or by calling 954-928-9800 SFGN-postevent_4.875x5.45.pdf
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9/20/19
2:43 PM
PATRICIA & PHILLIP FROST ART MUSEUM FIU September 14, 2019 — January 5, 2020
C
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M
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Diana Davies, Untitled (Marsha P. Johnson Hands Out Flyers for Support of Gay Students At N.Y.U.), C. 1970, Digital print, 11 x 14 inches, Photo by Diana Davies/© The New York Public Library/Art Resource, NY
10975 SW 17th St., Miami, FL 33199 | frost.fiu.edu | 305.348.2890
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I
nspiration sometimes strikes when least expected. For actress Renée Taylor, it was during her stint performing Nora Ephron’s play, “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” a series of monologues in which women relate critical life events to the clothes they were wearing at the time. “I remember my life in terms of what I was eating and what diet I was on at the time,” said Taylor, who brings her one-woman show, “My Life on a Diet,” to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Dec. 18 – 22. A self-described diet junkie who used to think that if she ate like a star, she just might look like one, Taylor dishes out both juicy anecdotes and weight loss tips from Hollywood legends such as Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. She got an early start: “I placed third in the New York Daily News chubby child contest, but I was just pleasingly plump,” Taylor recalled. She tried Vogue magazine’s champagne diet, drinking two glasses of sparkling wine before every meal. That proved to be an expensive experiment because cheap champagne has more calories. (“I became a $200-a-day drunk.”) Then there was the amphetamine diet and another in which she sustained herself on only 2 oz. of liquid protein three times a day, both with shortlived results, if any at all. “I read in the New York Times that people were dying from that liquid protein diet, so I called up my friend Lainie Kazan, who was
also doing it, and she had lost 40 lbs.,” Taylor exclaimed. Audiences are eating up her show, literally. Taylor has been performing a month-long residency at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, N.J., to raving reviews and enthusiastic ovations. Taylor is best known for her role as Fran Fine’s mother, Sylvia, on TV’s “The Nanny,” but she has been acting since her childhood, racking up a long list of credits on both screen and stage. She said her bucket list role would have to be Mama Rose in “Gypsy,” “because ‘everybody’ wants to do ‘Gypsy’.” Taylor credits her love of acting to her own mother, who had theatrical aspirations from an early age, but instead supported her talented daughter, much like the iconic character. Live theater “is my favorite thing,” she said. “You get instant feedback from the audience. Elaine May once said that I couldn’t be a singer because I would have to wait until the end of the song for applause.” Taylor has long been a supporter of the LGBTQ community. One of her fondest memories is riding in the Stonewall 50 parade in New York City last June. “It was so exciting. We were the second float in the parade and I was on there with Latrice [Royale], Lorna Luft, Randy Rainbow and Donatella Versace. They played Judy Garland songs and it was just magical—from [Greenwich] Village all the way uptown on Fifth Avenue,” Taylor said.
Renée Taylor appears in “My Life on a Diet,” Dec. 18 – 22 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $50 at Kravis.org.
A&E music
The TEN Tenors bring their holiday tour to the Parker Playhouse, Dec. 19. Credit: Courtesy Parker Playhouse.
Ten Tenors Offer an Aussie Take on Holidays J.W. Arnold
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t’s easy to forget that in Australia and the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas is actually a summer holiday. “I love when we come here because, finally, the Christmas carols make sense,” exclaimed Boyd Owen, a longtime member of the Australian ensemble the TEN Tenors. “Back home, it can be 100 or 110 degrees at Christmas. It’s not chestnuts and open fires, but board shorts and flip flops on the beach… and barbecues.” Owen and his colleagues will offer South Florida audiences their unique musical take on the holidays at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 19. “We’re 10 blokes from Australia and we like to bring a flavor of Australia to our audiences,” he said. The singers will perform traditional holiday favorites, soaring, orchestral versions of “Joy to the World,” “Sleigh Ride,” “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland,” along with an arrangement of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.” “It seems like every shopping mall [back home] is playing that song beginning in July. Is it the same way here?” he asked. But then they’ll mix it up with those “souvenirs” from the land down under, including “Love is in the Air,” the signature song from Baz Luhrmann’s hit film, “Strictly Ballroom,” and tunes made popular by Peter Allen. Owen, who is also gay, does point out “to be fair” that one of the singers is actually from “nearby” New Zealand, but they’re all like family, even though the cast changes from
time to time. “If you ask ten tenors, you’ll get ten different stories,” he said about how they each joined the group. Owen himself has taken leave for operatic gigs in Europe and China, only to return for the camaraderie of the ensemble. “Like a football team, the players change, but the name stays the same. The mix is really special because some guys come from stronger opera backgrounds, some from musical theater and pop. That’s how we’re able to mix and blend so many different styles,” Owen explained. The singers tour on a relatively cramped bus, so there’s no room for divos, either. And, the bus has been known to erupt into a bit of a party as they move on to the next city. “We’re not all party animals in Australia, but that relaxed jovial spirit is important,” he insisted. “We see each other more than our families sometimes.” They also love the opportunity to connect with their audiences after each show. “When you’re on stage, you can feel the audiences, even if you can’t see them. We like to have them come over in the lobby. They always try greeting us with ‘g’day mate’ and we love that,” Owen added. The group’s tour concludes in sunny South Florida, so the singers will say goodbye to the winter weather that has followed them across the country on this tour, and that’s not a bad thing. “We get to slowly warm ourselves up and acclimatize before we fly home,” he said, but the memories of a real winter holiday will remain.
The TEN Tenors present “Home for the Holidays” at the Parker Playhouse, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $37.50 at ParkerPlayhouse.com. 12.11.2019 •
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Datebook
Theater
December 11 - December 17
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broward county Women’s Choral Group
Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sunshine Cathedral, Fort Lauderdale. Bring in the holidays with songs that you love as well as some new ones sure to bring Holiday cheer. Admission is free, visit SunshineCathedral.org for details!
Friday Night Sound Waves Music Series
Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy live, outdoor music spanning genres and tributes every Friday evening through November. Free. Visit FridayNightSoundWaves.com
palm beach county *Actor’s Rep Improv Show
December 14 at 8 p.m. at Bob Carter’s Actor’s Workshop, 1000 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Get into the holiday spirit with this improv show sure to make you laugh! Tickets $15 online, $20 at the door. Visit ActorsRep.org
Ordinary Americans
December 6 to December 29 at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis St, West Palm Beach. Ordinary Americans pays tribute to an extraordinarily talented, innovative, and courageous artist and businesswoman, Gertrude Berg. Her television show fostered the idea that, regardless of who we are, where we come from, or how we worship, people are basically the same and fundamentally good. But then she and her wonderful, big-hearted ensemble are threatened by the Red Scare, and life is never quite the same. Tickets $52 to $92. Visit palmbeachdramaworks.org.
Free Friday Concerts
Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Enjoy live music from the
Put on your smiling face at the Actor's Rep Improv Show, December 14 at 8 p.m. at Bob Carter's Actor's Workshop in West Palm Beach. Photo via Bob Carter's Actor's Workshop & Repertory Company, Facebook.
comfort of your picnic blanket or lawn chair every week, for free! Returns in October. Call 561-243-7922 or visit DelrayArts.org.
miami-dade county Outdoor Music Series
Third Thursdays at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, 101 W. Flagler St. in Miami. Come out for live music from DJs and musicians by the bay. Drink specials available. Free with museum admission. Call 305-3753000 or visit PAMM.org.
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Datebook
December 11 - December 17
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Broward Support Services PFLAG
Tuesdays in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Southwest Ranches. A support group for parents of LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and locations.
SunServe Youth Group
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Fort Lauderdale, Southwest Ranches, Coral Springs and Hollywood. A support group and night of fun for LGBT youth 13 to 21. Free. Visit SunServeYouth.com for dates and times.
Survivor Support
First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Broward Health Imperial Point Hospital cafeteria, 6401 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Find support from counselors and peers who have lost loved ones to suicide. Call the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention at 954-384-0344 or visit FISPOnline.org.
broward county *In Deep Waters Art Exhibit
December 7 to January 3 with reception on December 14 at 6 p.m. at the Claudia Castillo Art Studio, 2215 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. Enjoy and explore the abstract art by Ilyas Kirkan as you enjoy wine, bites and music.
Safe T Support Group
Every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at SunServe, 2312 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors. SunServe Mental Health Services & Midway Specialty Care Center Presents: SAFE T A weekly drop in group for anyone who identifies as transgender and or gender variant. Visit SunServe.org/SafeT for details.
Nonbinary and Gender Variant Support Group
Every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at SunServe, 2312 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors. A group limited to self-identified gender marginalized & gender questioning peoples. Gender marginalized includes cis-women, womxn, femmes, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, trans & gender questioning. Learn more at SunServe. org/ENBY.
Trans-Scend Trans and Allies Spiritual Group
First Tuesday of every month from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 1419 E Commercial Blvd, Ste B, Oakland Park. Enjoy spirituality, uplifting music, food, drinks and community!
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Hall of Heroes
July 3 to September 2 at the Museum of Discovery and Science, Fort Lauderdale. This comic book superhero exhibit immerses you in the action as soon as you enter, with fullscale statues of biggies such as Superman, Iron Man, Batman (and his Batmobile) and The Hulk. At interactive stations, visitors can see how they match up against the superheroes. More info at MODS.org.
Arts and Crafts Wednesday Happy Hour
Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Arts and Crafts Social Club in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy a two-for-one ‘freestyle’ painting session with hands on assistance as needed. Tickets $20. Visit artsandcraftssocialclub.com
palm beach *Palm Beach Mini Maker Faire
Sunday, December 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. We call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth - a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. Visit PalmBeach.MakerFaire.com for details!
Carmen Lundy and the Modern Ancestors Tour
Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m. at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach
Fl. Carmen Lundy has always felt that the jazz singer by definition is associated with standards from the past century, our Ancestors. The idea of “Modern” is simply to give the music she writes and sings the chance to be seen and heard in the now authentic 21st century Jazz. Tickets $40 to $50. Visit ArtsGarage.org for details.
The Body Says I Am A Fiesta — Art Installation
October 4 to March 1 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. This exhibition addresses ideas about the body and its symbolic and societal implications in modern Latin American cultures through the paintings, photography, sculpture, and works on paper by artists active in Latin America and the United States between the early 1900s and the present.
Art After Dark
Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. View an exhibition, attend a talk, participate in an art activity, enjoy a performance, concert, or film, sip cocktails, and dine in the Museum’s elegant new bar and restaurant. Free admission. Visit Norton.org.
Palm Beaches Prime Timers
Second Saturdays at 3 p.m. at Compass GLCC, 201 N. Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. An active fraternal and social organization dedicated to bring together mature gay and bisexual men for friendship, activities, support, and personal growth for the best times of our lives. Free. Call 561- 533-9699 or visit CompassGLCC.com.
Coffee Clatch at Compass
First Monday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Compass, 201 N. Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth. A social group focusing on the mature LGBT+ community in Palm Beach County, providing a relaxed environment for meeting friends, discussing interesting topics, and engaging in community projects. Free to attend, email joekolb@compassglcc.com for details.
miami-dade *Winter Zoo Camp!
December 23, 26 and 27; December 3031; January 2-3 at Zoo Miami. Two camps
with two winter wonderland themes for children to explore and enjoy with all of their favorite wintertime animals! Learn about hibernation, color and coat changes that some animals go through or explore the arctic habitat! Register now at ZooMiami.org.
Arsht Center Farmers Market
Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Purchase fresh food from local farmers, including fruits, vegetables, meats, prepared foods, as well as chefs, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Tickets $45 to $75. Free. Visit ArshtCenter.org/en/Visit/Dining.
key west Taco Brunch and All Day Happy Hour
Every Sunday (opening at 8 a.m.) at Mellow Cafe and Gastropub, 1605 N. Roosevelt Blvd, Key West. Spend the day drinking and downing tacos at this all-day happy hour, each week on Sunday!
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lifestyle photos
Leather Masked Ball On November 30, The Leather Masked Ball XIV, the fourteenth edition of the annual charity dance party event, was hosted in Wilton Manors. One hundred percent of the ticket proceeds will benefit local charities. Photo credit: J.R. Davis. To see many more photos, visit SFGN on Facebook.
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