SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 VOL. 1 • ISSUE 18 VISIT US ONLINE AT OUTSFL.COM OUTSFL @OUT SFL @OUTSFL OUR PAGES YOUR VOICE PAGE 4 R HOUSE DEFEATS DESANTIS IN LEGAL BATTLE DRAG QUEENS SLAY DESANTIS
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4 • 9.28.2023 COVER: Photo via Pexels. September 28, 2023 • Volume 1 • Issue 18 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 OutSFL newspaper is published on a weekly schedule. You should not presume the sexual orientation or gender identity of any featured individuals solely based on their names, appearance, or inclusion within this publication. Any opinions shared within stories, columns, graphics, or letters to the editor should not be assumed to represent the opinions of OutSFL, its Publisher, or its co-founder. Any stories or content, either in print or online, and also including any articles that are featured in conjunction with any media partners, are protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and this ownership is carefully and jealously guarded by this media group. Nothing that is published may be reprinted, either in whole or in part, without first receiving written consent from the Publisher, Jason Parsley. OutSFL is owned by Jason Parsley and Justin Wyse, and is represented legally by Russell Cormican. As a private corporation, OutSFL reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations, and photographs. Copyright © 2023 J&J Media Group. PUBLISHER Jason Parsley [email protected] CEO Justin Wyse [email protected] EDITORIAL ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR Kimberly Swan SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Christiana Lilly ART DIRECTOR Julie Palmer GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kyle Willis • Craig Tuggle GRAPHIC DESIGN CONSULTANT Brendon Lies ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Rick Karlin [email protected] COMMUNITY EDITOR John Hayden [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHERS J.R. Davis • Carina Mask COLUMNISTS Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo Sabrina Haake • Fred Fejes • John Porter Kelly Ghweinem, LCSW CST SPECIAL TO OUTSFL Steve Rothaus • J.W. Arnold CORRESPONDENTS John McDonald • Sean Conklin • Deon Jefferson David-Elijah Nahmod • Aurora Dominguez Denise Royal • Mary Rasura • Christian Walden Terri Schlichenmeyer • Gregg Shapiro Kennedy McKinney • Michael Anguille Sean McShee • Robert DeDominic Aaron Kinchen • Chris Allan • Tessa Becker PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Pier Angelo SALES & MARKETING For ad placement, call 954-530-4970 SALES MANAGERS Edwin Neimann [email protected] Silvio Carvana [email protected] Cory Livengood [email protected] DISTRIBUTION SERVICES Richie Wilson & Johnathan Rey NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM 'SHORTCOMINGS' LONG ON LOVE NEWS HIGHLIGHT R HOUSE DEFEATS DESANTIS W hen Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis escalated his war on drag entertainment, R House was target number one. A video of a child holding hands with a drag performer during a show was taken out of context. DeSantis used his bully pulpit to vilify them, and his henchmen secretly prowled around looking for something, anything, that would prove children were in danger. What did they find? Nothing. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Now, after 14 months of harassment, R House is declaring victory. “We finally got them off our back,” said Athena Dion, who runs the popular drag brunch at the Wynwood restaurant. “We put up a good fight against the governor and made sure he doesn’t mess with us again because we’re not doing anything wrong.” The settlement contains no admission or finding of guilt for R House, according to the restaurant. “We are pleased to confirm that the state’s extensive undercover investigation of R House found no unlawful sexually explicit content at R House shows.” The investigation, launched by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, could have cost R House its liquor license, effectively putting them out of business. R House will pay a $10,000 “administrative fine,” essentially paying for the state’s investigation of them. But R House reiterates the fine, “…did not result from the finding of any violation of any administrative or criminal laws.” Dion, known as the Greek Goddess of the Miami drag circuit, said the LGBT community needs to be more upbeat and vigilant in defending its rights and freedom. “You have to figure out how to combat the negative stuff they are saying by being as positive and proactive as possible,” she said. “We’re trying for that visibility. To outshine the negativity that’s coming from the other side. It’s almost like killing them with kindness. Try to prove them wrong by just being the example.” DeSantis and his minions also harassed major venues in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. The legislature rubber-stamped his law to effectively kill drag entertainment in Florida. Hamburger Mary’s is challenging the law in federal court and a judge placed it on hold, saying it will likely be found unconstitutional. DBPR cases against the Arsht Center, Broward Center, and The Plaza Live in Orlando over a drag-themed holiday show are still pending. But just the threat is enough to harm the LGBTQ and drag communities. Several Prides took Draconian measures to avoid the governor’s wrath. Some canceled parades, one had a big, black tarp covering the fence so no one could see inside. The holiday drag show is skipping the state altogether this year, and many South Florida drag queens say bookings are down because venues are still being cautious. John McDonald contributed to this story. DESANTIS USED HIS BULLY PULPIT TO VILIFY THEM, AND HIS HENCHMEN SECRETLY PROWLED AROUND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, ANYTHING, THAT WOULD PROVE CHILDREN WERE IN DANGER. John Hayden Photo via R House Wynwood, Facebook.
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6 • 9.28.2023 OUT AND ABOUT PHOTO OF THE WEEK Speyder Webb, Administrative Coordinator at TransSOCIAL, with Rajee Rajindra Narinesinghis, an American transgender activist actress author singer mystic and reality TV star, attending Care Resource Transgender Day Of Visibility. Photo by JR Davis
9.28.2023 • 7 LAST WEEK'S COVER FROM THE NEWSROOM - TAYLOR SWIFT DURING HER RECENT CONCERT IN CHICAGO SCAN HERE TO VIEW THE ISSUE ONLINE LGBTQUOTEABLE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Honestly, when I was around you, I loved you so much, like I just wanted to be up underneath the titty the whole time. But that's also because you just kind of gave me lesbian vibes!” - OUT ACTRESS RAVEN SYMONÉ ON HER SHOW THE BEST PODCAST EVER TO WHOOPI GOLDBERG Photo by Alex Calderon, via Wikimedia Commons.
8 • 9.28.2023 OUT NATION By Mary Rasura STATE TO END CHANGING TRANS BIRTH CERTIFICATES KANSAS A ccording to AP News, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said on Sept. 15 that they will end changing transgender residents’ birth certificates according to their gender identities due to a new state law that took effect July 1. The law states that male and female must reflect a person’s biological sex. Gov. Laura Kelly, who had a policy to not enforce the law that led Attorney General Kris Kobach to file a lawsuit, responded in a statement on Sept. 15. “As I’ve said before, the state should not discriminate or encroach into Kansans’ personal lives -– it’s wrong, it’s bad for business,” Kelly said. Attorney General Kris Kobach courtesy ag.ks.gov. BATMAN EXPERT CANCELS TALK AFTER ASKED NOT TO SAY ‘GAY’ GEORGIA A n author who researched Batman’s creation was asked by a suburban Atlanta school district to not tell students about an unknown co-creator who had a gay son, NBC News reported. In response, Marc Tyler Nobleman canceled the rest of his presentations. After his talk at Sharon Elementary in Forsyth County on Aug. 21 where he mentioned uncredited Batman author Bill Finger’s only child was gay, Nobleman received a note during his second talk from the principal that read, “Please only share the appropriate parts of the story for our elementary students.” “We’re long past the point where we should be policing people talking about who they love,” Nobleman said. “And that’s what I’m hoping will happen in this community.” Marc Tyler Nobleman. Photo by Robamcnamy, via Wikimedia Commons. MAYOR CONDEMNS CATHOLIC ANTI-LGBT SCHOOL POLICIES OHIO A ccording to The Hill, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb expressed his disapproval of policies put out by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland that restrict clothing, pronouns, and the ability of students to use the bathroom according to their gender identity for 84 private religious schools under its purview. “As a Christian, the new Catholic Diocese of Cleveland anti-LGBTQ+ policy is a shocking betrayal of the Church teachings that have shaped who I am today,” Bibb wrote on Instagram. “For me, faith is about universal love and acceptance. Instead, the new policy forces LGBTQ+ kids to hide their authentic selves and attend school in fear of persecution for who they are,” he continued. “I extend my heartfelt solidarity to our LGBTQ+ friends and students. Rest assured that this policy, along with any expressions of hatred, doesn’t go unnoticed.” OutSFL file photo. QUEER STORIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
9.28.2023 • 9 By Kennedy McKinney OUT ABROAD LGBTQ BAR IN IRELAND REBRANDS, DRAG PERFORMER DISPLACED EUROPE T he only remaining LGBTQ bar in Cork, Ireland, suddenly changed their name and removed all pride decor. According to GCN, Chambers, now called Sinners, has been a safe space for LGBTQ people in the republic since 2006. One of the bar’s regular drag performers, Krystal Queer, discovered the change when she went to perform her weekly show. “The queer aesthetic for this queer venue had been completely eradicated,” said Queer. The performer learned via “word of mouth” that her weekly drag show was cut. “My main source of income had been slashed in the blink of an eye with no compassion and no notice.” Many speculate that the bar changed its brand to appeal to a wider audience. Photo via @QueerKrystal, X. TURKEY’S PRESIDENT COMPLAINS ABOUT ‘LGBT COLORS’ AT UN EURASIA T ayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, said that he was uncomfortable with the use of, what he refers to as, “LGBT colors” at the United Nations who decorated a hall with bright colors to promote their Sustainable Development Goals. According to Reuters, Turkish media reported that Erdoğan said he would have liked to discuss the color usage with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. “One of the issues that bothers me the most ... is that when entering the United Nations General Assembly, you see the LGBT colors on steps and other places … how many LGBT are there in the world right now? However much right they have on these steps, those against LGBT have as much right as well,” said Erdoğan. Currently, Turkey’s government has toughened its stance on LGBTQ rights. It is not a crime to be a homosexual in the country, but the overall acceptance of LGBTQ people is not welcoming and police crackdowns at Pride parades have worsened. Diplomats with the United Nations said the 17 different colors that are on display are associated with the Sustainable Development Goals and not with the rainbow Pride colors that represent LGBTQ rights. Tayyip Erdoğan, president of Turkey. Photo by President.gov.ua, via Wikimedia Commons. LESBIAN COUPLE WINS IVF LEGAL RULING IN HONG KONG ASIA Celebrations are in order after a court in Hong Kong sided with a married lesbian couple fighting to have parental status over their child, who was born through reciprocal IVF. According to Pink News, reciprocal IVF allows both women to participate in the pregnancy, with one supplying the egg and the other bearing the child. Evelyn Tsao, the couple’s lawyer, said the ruling was “one giant step for the rainbow families in our LGBTQ community.” “For the first time, the court expressly states that children of samesex couples are discriminated by the current legislation,” said Tsao. Currently, 60% of people in Hong Kong are in support of same-sex marriage, an all-time high for the country. Image by drobotdean on Freepik. THE RAINBOW REVOLUTION AROUND THE WORLD
10 • 9.28.2023 TASK FORCE GALA PUTS FAITH FRONT AND CENTER T he presenting sponsor of this year’s National LGBTQ Task Force gala may come as a surprise. St. John’s on the Lake, a United Methodist Church, is presenting the annual soirée in Miami Beach. It’s an effort to shine a different light on Christianity amongst people who have been targeted by its conservative factions, said the church’s pastor. “Christianity has been used for so much harm and now we as a church are taking this opportunity to use Christianity to fight for what we believe is good and to really promote a positive and healing message during a time when so much harm is being done to our community,” said Rev. Kipp Nelson. Nelson, 33, knows firsthand about the harm the church has done to queer people. Last year, he was denied a promotion on the grounds of his sexual orientation. Nelson is a gay man. “That was a very discouraging and disheartening moment last summer that knocked the wind out of me in a way that I didn’t expect,” he said. It also derailed 15 other candidates who had hoped to become clergy members or advance to senior positions. Because the church confirms these positions as a slate, Nelson’s identity held the entire class back. The rejection was crushing. “It came with health complications and a flare up within an autoimmune disease that I’m still trying to heal from,” he said. “It had a pretty significant effect, but we’ve continued to fight for the good and plant our feet firmly “I FOUND A COMMUNITY THAT HELPED ME CELEBRATE THE PERSON THAT GOD MADE ME TO BE.” - REV. KIPP NELSON Rev. Kipp Nelson. Courtesy photo. and say, ‘This is not ok, and we’re not going to let unjust policies destroy the church and destroy peoples’ lives.” The group stayed together and grew even closer and this summer the tide would change. They were confirmed at the state’s annual clergy conference, making Nelson the first gay man to hold the title of reverend in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was a huge moment in Methodist history, Nelson said, as church leaders broke from a tradition of discrimination to recognize the group’s unity. “Seeing us holding hands and knowing we come from diverse backgrounds and were committed to each other made a difference,” Nelson said. “Our class has become so close through this journey we’ve been on. We’ve trauma bonded through the experience of rejection.” Now Nelson is helping others heal and reconcile their faith. In Florida, the battleground is littered with damaged souls from political culture wars with a need to protect spaces for queer people to gather and connect, Nelson said. Venues that have drag performances have become major targets of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. R House in Wynwood recently agreed to pay a $10,000 fine after state regulators accused the restaurant of violating decency laws by exposing minors to “sexually explicit drag shows.” “If our governor succeeds at shutting down drag shows that would be detrimental to the LGBTQ community,” Nelson said. “Particularly places like The Palace here in South Beach and places like Gaythering and Nathan’s where drag is a big part of our community, so there is a big need to work to protect our community and the places in which we can find belonging.” It took Nelson a while to find that belonging. He first realized he was gay at 14. Growing up in Alabama, left little room for expressing his true feelings, much less dating. Giving up his faith wasn’t an option, either. “I wasn’t raised in a place where those two things were reconcilable,” he said. A lifelong Methodist, Nelson did his seminary studies in Washington, D.C. — where he was finally able to come out. “I found a community that helped me celebrate the person that God made me to be,” NEWS MIAMI John McDonald MIAMI REVEREND BREAKS GROUND IN METHODIST CHURCH Nelson said. “It was very unexpected finding a loving, Christian community that helped me come out of the closet. That was a true gift.” From D.C., he came to Miami on a summer internship that turned into a full-time position, fulfilling a childhood dream to live in tropical South Florida. During his time in Miami, Nelson has worked to make the church more welcoming to LGBTQ families, while occasionally hearing that the two worlds cannot coexist – a misconception he quickly corrects. “I simply tell them, that’s your opinion and that might be what you’ve been taught, but that is simply wrong,” he said. “In the Methodist church, something that we believe, that is within our specific discipline, is that all humans are of sacred worth and that is an unconditional worth that is bestowed on every human being. Humans have no power to change the values of another human’s life. A beloved child of God is the starting point.” With its involvement in the Task Force gala, St. John’s on the Lake hopes more people will take notice of its reconciling message. And if Florida is to repair its reputation as a true free state, Miami is where it begins, Nelson said. “Back in the ‘90s Miami was a mecca for gay people. It was a place that people were flocking to live their independent, free lives as gay people,” Nelson said. “That’s why there’s a very prominent gay community in Miami Beach. If change is going to happen in the state of Florida, I firmly believe it has to begin on the local level and Miami would be one of those places that has the biggest footprint and stronghold to make that difference across the state for sure.” EVENT INFO: WHAT: NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE GALA WHEN: OCT. 14, 6:30 P.M. WHERE: MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER MORE INFO: WWW.THETASKFORCE.ORG
9.28.2023 • 11 General & Cosmetic Dentistry 954-565-7666 Always Plenty of Free Parking • Conveniently Located on Wilton Drive Dr. David K. Warner, DDS, FAGD State of the Art Facilities • Most Insurance Plans Accepted 1946 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors • FL 33305 www.IslandCitySmiles.com Dr. Stephen T. Scoglio, DMD Your smile should leave a great impression. Comprehensive Exam, Digital X-Rays & Cleaning* $69 New Patients ($312 Value) *In the absense of gum disease. Not applicable to insurance benefits. Welcoming
12 • 9.28.2023 WILTON MANORS AND POLICE DISCUSS CONTRACTS, INCLUDING PAY I n contract negotiations, one number can mean two things to two different people. Discussions between Wilton Manors and the officers’ union, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), are no exception. Both sides have been meeting for weeks to hash out a new three-year contract for WMPD. Most of the discussion has focused on pay. Officers are among the lowest paid in South Florida, and both sides want to change that. The city wants to get officers from the fourth to the second quartile of area pay. Meaning they’d move into the top half of salaries. But agreeing on what counts as that number has been contentious. Twelve cities, including Oakland Park and Pembroke Pines, use BSO in lieu of having their own police force, with a salary range between $58K and $95K. Wilton Manors is counting each city BSO covers as its own entity, even though the salary and agency, BSO, is the same. The PBA says BSO should count as one, which would require bigger raises to bring WMPD salaries in line. Both sides have tentatively agreed on an 8% raise across the board in the first year, and moving to a seniority based “step” increase system after that for officers in their first 10 years. KEEPING VETERAN OFFICERS It’s the longevity program, for people with more than 10 years of service, that creates new issues. Years 11-20 would come with a modest bonus and cost of living raise (COLA). The bonus would not count towards future COLA increases. Union representatives say this discourages officers from staying in the city long term. Retention has long been an issue for the small department. Low pay has led to many officers getting experience with WMPD and then leaving for a nearby jurisdiction with better pay. Both officers and the city agree that creating a bond between a community and its police force is key for building trust and reducing crime. The current contract expires on Saturday. Photo via Wilton Manors Police Department, Facebook. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden BOTH OFFICERS AND THE CITY AGREE THAT CREATING A BOND BETWEEN A COMMUNITY AND ITS POLICE FORCE IS KEY FOR BUILDING TRUST AND REDUCING CRIME. T he 9 a.m. Sunday service at Sunshine Cathedral was interrupted when someone lit a fire outside the church. Witnesses say the man was burning something in what appeared to be some kind of ritual, likely in opposition to the LGBTQ-affirming church. Police and firefighters arrived, no one was hurt and no lasting physical damage was done. Later, the person returned and threw eggs at the church. While the criminal got away, his actions were captured by security cameras. Police are investigating, and say they have identified the person. This isn’t the first attack on the world’s most queer church. In July 2022, vicious, incoherent but clearly anti-LGBTQ signs were left at the church. A source close to the investigation tells MAN LIGHTS A FIRE OUTSIDE OF SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL NEWS LOCAL John Hayden DESPITE THE EVER-PRESENT THREAT OF VIOLENCE, DR. WATKINS SAYS THE CHURCH’S MISSION WILL CONTINUE. OutSFL that they believe it’s the same person. Beyond these crimes, the church says there has been a spike in hate mail over the past few months. RESPOND WITH LOVE Despite the blatant attack on the church and the LGBTQ community, ministers at Sunshine Cathedral believe there is only one way to respond, and that’s with love and understanding. Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Senior Minister of Sunshine Cathedral, said, “We have no idea what sort of pain [the vandal] is in or what has motivated him to act in such unpleasant ways. We can only assume he is experiencing some sort of mental dysfunction, and we hope he gets the care he needs.” However, turning the other cheek does not mean allowing him to threaten the Sunshine community. Dr. Watkins said if the person returns, they will consider him a trespasser and let law enforcement take over. Despite the ever-present threat of violence, Dr. Watkins says the church’s mission will continue. “With so much hatred in the world, our message of love is needed as much as ever, and we have every intention of sharing that message with as many people as possible.” Full Disclosure: John Hayden works with Happening Out TV, which has its studios on the Sunshine Cathedral campus.” Photos courtesy of Sunshine Cathedral.
9.28.2023 • 13 and and BILLY PORTER HELPS RAISE $60K FOR STONEWALL MUSEUM Billy Porter is a big star, but he’s an even bigger community activist. He headlined Back To the Drive for Stonewall National Museum & Archives, rallying the crowd and helping raise $60K. About 200 people packed into the Crystal Ballroom at The Venue in Wilton Manors to hear the “Pose” star speak. The food was good, and the drinks were intoxicating, but everyone was there for Porter. “The speech was empowering and emotional, reminding us all the work ahead without ever diminishing all our community has accomplished,” Stonewall Executive Director Robert Kesten said. “His impassioned delivery moved everyone and made it an event few will forget.” Trans activist Rajee Narinesingh arrived at the event and was greeted with a surprise. “I got here, and they said they had a job for me! They invited me to escort Billy down, and I was shocked.” She walked him down the stairs from VIP to the stage, and made the most of her oneon-one time with Porter. “You can tell he’s someone who’s been around the block, who’s been in the community, and you can feel the passion he has for our community. It’s for the good fight, for our humanity. I really believe that.” As guests entered, they were greeted by a display honoring five people as part of the Standing On the Shoulders of Heroes exhibit. Many walked right past them, but Porter stopped and took it all in. After his speech, and a couple of cakes to celebrate his 54th birthday, a sixth panel was brought on stage and unveiled that Porter was the newest addition to the Heroes exhibit. “It was heartwarming to see his expression when the panel with his name on it was unveiled,” Kesten said. “His surprise and appreciation for being recognized was appreciated by all of us at Stonewall.” After the ceremony, Porter was mobbed by appreciative fans. He stood there, taking one selfie after another. Some fans even circled back for a second picture. It’s a night that Stonewall and its backers won’t soon forget. Billy Porter. Photo by Meredith Truax, provided by Stonewall Museum. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden CAMPBELL FOUNDATION GRANTS $65K TO WISTAR INSTITUTE FOR HIV RESEARCH T he Campbell Foundation awarded a new $65,000 grant to Daniel Claiborne, Ph. D, an immunologist and researcher at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia. Claiborne is re-engineering CAR T-cells to target and kill cells infected with HIV. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a way to get immune cells called T cells to fight disease by changing them in the lab. This relatively new approach targets HIV cells to control the virus without medication. T cell immunotherapies offer hope for the treatment of HIV and other chronic diseases. “Recent advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for the creation of T cells that overcome many of the escape mechanisms of viral infections and cancers. In this approach, the T cell is re-directed to target a specific cell type, in this case: an HIV-infected cell,” said Dr. Claiborne, Caspar Wistar Fellow, Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, in a press release. “Additionally, other signals can be added during the engineering process to make the T cells more potent and Daniel Claiborne, Ph. D. Photo via wistar.org. to give them different functions relevant to the disease we intend to treat.” The Campbell Foundation’s Peer Review Board voted unanimously to award the grant to Dr. Claiborne finding it to be “a wellplanned series of experiments” as well as “innovative, feasible, rigorous, and relevant,” according to The Campbell Foundation’s Executive Director Ken Rapkin. NEWS LOCAL Denise Brown
14 • 9.28.2023 A little drag and a lot of fun are in store this weekend as Wilton Collective hosts its annual Reverse Quinceañera (RQ). Founder Julian Cavazos began the tradition on his 51st birthday, the reverse of 15 which is the traditional age for a quinceañera. The party has grown over the years, and the 12th iteration is Saturday in the Crystal Ballroom at The Manor in Wilton Manors with the theme Queen of the Night. And Queen is the operative word. Some of South Florida’s top drag entertainers will compete for a $1,500 WILTON COLLECTIVE TO HOST PARTY THIS WEEKEND NEWS LOCAL John Hayden top cash prize. While there will be lots of pageantry, the RQ entertainment is strictly a talent show. The night will also feature a new chapter in the long-running saga of Myrna, a telenovela story featuring the ups and mostly downs of a character looking for love. We’re told the fifth chapter will feature a surprise pregnancy. “This picks up where Myrna is ready to drop, and she’s going to find love again. It’s going to be quite an episode,” Cavazos said. He also teased a touch of royalty. Local entertainer FayWhat?! Is back to host for a second year. “This organization is near and dear to my heart,” she said. “I’m very excited.” Proceeds from the benefit, which is almost sold out, go to Julian’s Fountain of Youth, which works with LGBTQ youth and develops programs and outings to help them develop life skills and cope in an often-hostile world. Fay says it’s that mission that inspires her to pitch in. “If you’ve ever spoken to Julian, you know that those children are his world and his passion. Right now, with the climate that we’re in, LGBTQ+ youth are the most targeted, and they can’t even vote and yet they’re going through that.” This year's host, FayWhat?!. Photo via FayWhat, Facebook. PROCEEDS FROM THE BENEFIT, WHICH IS ALMOST SOLD OUT, GO TO JULIAN’S FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, WHICH WORKS WITH LGBTQ YOUTH AND DEVELOPS PROGRAMS AND OUTINGS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS AND COPE IN AN OFTEN-HOSTILE WORLD. COMPASS CONFRONTS LOSS OF SMART RIDE $142,063.46 That’s how much money Compass received from last year’s SMART Ride. It’s a big number and a budget shortfall that won’t be easily made up. As the main resource for the LGBTQ community in Palm Beach County, Compass programs range from HIV/AIDS testing, treatment, and prevention, a strong youth program, mental health services and more. In a time when all nonprofits face fundraising challenges, Compass’ challenge is made that much bigger. Compass CEO Julie Seaver put the impact in perspective. “SMART Ride funds have paid for extended emergency housing and new apartment rental deposits, beds and mattresses, life-saving surgeries and hospital stays, transportation assistance, holiday food pantry, hearing aids, emergency home repairs, utility bills, medical supplies, recovery programs and so much more.” OutSFL was first to break the news that The SMART Ride (SR) will end after this year. The news caught the community, and Seaver, by surprise. “[SR founder] Glen [Weinzimer] and the SMART Ride board hosted the annual executive meeting with all the benefiting agency executives to let us know of their decision. While it did come as a surprise, my sadness grew to a sense of accomplishment and pride.” Weinzimer and Executive Director Todd Delmay say the SR has changed the landscape of HIV services in Florida. One reason they feel comfortable ending the ride now is because they believe the SR has helped benefitting agencies become better known in their communities and can fundraise on their own. “I agree with Glen, we all have the capacity to sustain or increase our events. We absolutely intend to carry the spirit of The SMART Ride with us in continuing our fundraising efforts to help those in need,” Seaver said. “The saying goes, ‘When one door closes, another one opens,’ and I think that’s true for the SMART Ride journey as well. It has opened many doors for me as an individual, for our clients, and for us as an agency in unifying us all to rally around one cause.” For now, Compass is focusing on the last Ride in November. SR, which has raised about a million dollars a year for the past few rides, is trying to double that this year and give beneficiaries more breathing room. Seaver says she just started training for the 165-mile ride from Miami to Key West, and is “kind of hurting.” But it will all be worth it when they ride into Key West one last time. “I think many of us will appreciate each mile of this last ride a little more this year. And the hugging, there will be lots more hugging!” This story is a part of a continuing series profiling the beneficiaries of the SMART Ride. We will run one each week. Compass teammembers at the “Dimension Perreo’ offering FREE HIV tests and Safer Sex Kits. Photo via Facebook. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden SMART RIDE ENDS CHECK OUT OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE
9.28.2023 • 15 SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM donations to OutSFL can be made here: outsfl.com/donate PROLIFIC SMART RIDE TEAM PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE T he end of The SMART Ride (SR) doesn’t mean the end of the community that’s formed over the course of 20 rides. Thousands of riders, crew, and volunteers work every year to raise a million dollars for HIV service organizations in Florida. As OutSFL reported, the SR will end after this November’s 165-mile ride from Miami to Key West. But one of those teams refuses to ride off into the sunset. The Key West Mile Markers is becoming its own fundraising organization. Led by longtime rider Donald Gene Dotzauer, the team has filed articles of incorporation to become Key West Mile Markers Inc. Part of the mission is “to provide the local community through a committed group of Key West and Lower Keys bicyclists using their physical talents to raise funds in order to assist the community with help in facing daily challenges relating to their health, safety, welfare, and housing needs through grants and donations from charitable fundraising Photo via SMART ride, Facebook. efforts.” They are currently the top fundraising team for this year, with more than $87,000 raised so far, nearly double that of the next closest team. Dotzauer himself expects to raise $50,000 this year and cross the $300,000 mark lifetime. The SR has raised nearly $15M over the first 19 rides, averaging about $1M over the past few years. For the final ride, they are doubling the goal to $2M. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden LOCAL HIV GROUPS CONFRONT HUNGER T he HIV Planning Council functions as the planning body for Ryan White Care Part A (RWC A). RWC A provides funds for medical treatment and support services. South Florida AIDS Network functions as the planning body for Ryan White Care Part B (RWC B). RWC B provides funds for health insurance premiums, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and non-medical HIV services. Higher food prices means that more RWC clients will need more food aid. This year’s RWC funding for food aid, however, has not increased. That mismatch threatens the stability of RWC food aid. At this rate of spending, RWC food aid will run out of funds before this fiscal year ends in early 2024. In that event, no RWC client could receive any food aid. To avoid that collapse, the HIV PC faced two choices. They could have reduced the number of clients eligible for food aid. Alternatively, they could have reduced the amount of food aid per client. Photo via Unsplash. The HIV PC chose a hybrid approach, reducing benefits per client. They reduced it based on the client’s Federal Poverty Level. The FPL is based on annual income per household and household size. For example, 100% of the FPL for a household of one is $13,590. Three hundred percent of the FPL for a household of one is $40,770. To determine FPL per household size, please visit bit. ly/3RumsCT. NEWS ANALYSIS Sean McShee
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18 • 9.28.2023 Sign up for our newsletters at outsfl.com outsfl knows DAILY OUR DAILY EBLAST ISLANDER TWICE WEEKLY WILTON MANORS EBLAST SCOOP OUR WEEKLY EBLAST PBC SCHOOL BOARD TO RECOGNIZE LGBT HISTORY MONTH EDUCATORS SPEAK OUT A fter the Miami-Dade School Board voted against recognizing LGBT History Month in October while the Broward School Board voted for it, it was a tossup how South Florida’s northernmost county would decide at their Sept. 13 meeting. Several activists spoke at the Palm Beach County School Board meeting about the importance of recognizing history, with Superintendent Mike Burke stating that the board would recognize LGBT history month at the Oct. 18 board meeting. One of the first speakers on LGBT issues during public comment was Tom Lander, board chairperson of Safe Schools South Florida, an advocacy group for LGBT students. He described a sheriff threatening to put homosexual students in juvenile detention when he was a 13-year-old student at a Florida public school. “All of a sudden I had a target on my back. I had a feeling that that was me. But nobody ever talked about LGBTQ,” Lander said. “And why is the history important? Because if those words were never said, and if in my class I heard that Michelangelo lived as a gay man, that King James, who commissioned the Bible had an LGBT connection, that Alan Turing who broke the code for our World War One, that Sally Ride, an astronaut, was a lesbian, that Francis Bacon. If I knew that these people might have been gay in a history class or a science class, I would have had hope that I could be anything I wanted to be.” William Rizzo, a local teacher who sponsors his school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, talked about angry emails he receives from parents telling him that it is an “absolute sickness to put these ideas in the minds of children.” He described forwarding these emails to his administration and the district, with the only response being his administrator telling him to ignore it. “Many other LGBT teachers chose to quit and move to more accepting states,” Rizzo said. “It gets tiresome hearing how the district does care about us. You need to take a stronger stance and protect us, we feel that you do not have our backs.” He talked about his students now requiring parental permission slips to attend the GSA, Photo via Adobe. NEWS PALM BEACH Mary Rasura with some students no longer being able to attend. “I’m the one who has to stand before them and tell them they no longer have that space,” Rizzo said, through tears. “So my questions for you tonight is what are you going to do to protect me and all the other LGBT teachers? How are you going to show us that you understand my plea and are actually concerned? And most importantly, how are you going to protect my students who now have no safe space to go to?” Emmy Kenny, an artist and educator, shared stories from her fellow LGBT teachers. “There are so many teachers that are affected by these new laws, but they are afraid to voice their opinions, because there have been staff that have been retaliated against,” Kenny said. The first story they shared was from their friend who taught in the Palm Beach County school district for about a decade who moved to New Jersey because he would have had to use the women’s restroom under new legislation when he identifies as a man. She also talked about a friend who just received their substitute teaching certificate and is reconsidering getting into the field because they are non-binary. “Another teacher is me,” Kenny said. “I was asked to join the art staff of the new high school and I saw it as an amazing opportunity to take what I’ve learned teaching at Dreyfoos and the Norton Museum and build out a really excellent art program at the Dr. Joaquín García High School, but after a lot of contemplation, I just decided that I could not put myself in a position where I could do what was right for my students, but illegal or comply with discriminatory laws and endanger my students because they know the danger we put them in when we do not affirm their identities.” Pranati “Pranoo” Kumar is the owner, founder, and education leader of Rohi’s Readery, a local social justice-driven children’s bookstore. “Now I know you are saying we have not challenged books or we’re doing everything we can to ensure children receive quality content. But I disagree,” Kumar said. “Because if you were as a district standing up to the injustices, you would be over communicating to families about our rights. Instead, our community is living in the unknown, especially our educators and caregivers that walk into the readery every day, but most importantly, our students.”
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20 • 9.28.2023 LAST WEEK'S TOP 5 ONLINE STORIES NEW NIGHTCLUB OPENS ON WILTON DRIVE by John Hayden 3 WHY DID THE HOTEL DEVELOPERS CHOOSE WILTON MANORS? by Aaron Kinchen 4 DOUG PEW, FIRST BOARD CHAIR OF GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA, DIES by Aaron Kinchen 5 HIV/AIDS ORGS SCRAMBLE AFTER SMART RIDE ENDS by John Hayden SMART RIDE ABRUPTLY ANNOUNCES ENDING by John Hayden READ MORE AT OUTSFL.COM FREEDOM CAUCUS S quawking about the nation’s debt after your party spent like drunk sailors on leave is like eating a rib-eye at Ruth’s Chris, then planting a fly under the bone to get a free meal. You ordered and ate the steak, sir. Yes, but I didn’t order the fly that came with it, and don’t you think your prices are obscene? This same exchange keeps repeating in Washington, where the ultra MAGA Freedom Caucus is, once again, criticizing an expensive steak they already ate, and denying they ordered it in the first place. Republicans spent a staggering and unprecedented $8 trillion during the Trump administration, and now blame Democrats for the debt. Only four months after Speaker McCarthy reached a debt ceiling agreement, the same thirsty clowns have now twice blocked the GOP’s own Pentagon spending bill, one of 12 annual spending bills, from even coming up for debate. Preening for a budget showdown - the fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 - they also rejected McCarthy’s continuing resolution to extend the budget for a month, declaring that they were “not interested in a continuing resolution that continues the policies and spendings of the Biden, Schumer, Pelosi era ... We’re here to put our foot down.” It’s hard to decide what’s worse, the drama or the hypocrisy. They are not mutually exclusive. WE’LL SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT IF WE DON’T GET WHAT WE WANT The Freedom Caucus says it will “fight with everything that we have.” Calling their budget demands the “No Security, No Funding” plan, the caucus isn’t worried about a government shutdown. It’s all about MAGA messaging on a nation they fervently wish were in decline. According to Clay Higgins (R-La.), a government shutdown would be “small compared to the principle battle that we’re in. We are not going to casually fund the decline of our country.” To address said “decline,” their plan prescribes dramatic spending cuts, including cuts in aid to Ukraine; constructing more southern border walls and restricting asylum seekers; an end to “woke” policies in the military like abortion leave; and eliminating the “unprecedented weaponization of the VIEWPOINTS OPINION Read more from Sabrina Haake is a 25-year litigator specializing in 1st this author here and 14th Amendment defense. Her columns also appear in Chicago Tribune, Salon, State Affairs, and Howey Politics. She and her wife split their time between South Florida and Chicago. Follow her on Substack. Sabrina Haake THE HAAKE TAKE Justice Department and FBI” through reduced DOJ funding. Caucus members are unbothered by the lack of evidence tying Biden to Trump’s many state and federal criminal indictments, or the fact that Trump tried to use the DOJ as his personal lawfirm, or his latest promise, if he is re-elected, “to ... go after the Biden crime family.” McCarthy, who made the mistake of bargaining with hijackers to get his speakership in the first place, parrots their interest in reducing the nation’s spending, which, he says, is like a family earning $24,000 a year, but spending $35,000. “The greatest threat to our nation’s future,” McCarthy now says, is “our national debt.” Too bad McCarthy and the Freedom Caucus didn’t feel that way when Trump was in office. RECKLESS SPENDTHRIFT SAYS WHAT? Despite full hibernation during the Trump years, their fiscal restraint was only triggered when a Democrat entered the White House. Although the federal deficit has grown through evenly divided Democrat and republican presidencies since 2001, former Republican congressman David Jolly observed that, “Roughly 25% of our total national debt incurred over the last 230 years actually occurred during the four years of the Trump administration.” As Trump so sagaciously observed, “This is the United States government ... you never have to default because you print the money.” McCarthy and the Freedom Caucus ignore that the national debt is driven by tax policy as much as spending. Following the Trump administration’s colossal $2.3 trillion tax giveaway to corporations and the nation’s wealthy, Trump reminded his rich donor friends, “You all just got a lot richer.” Did they ever? The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office calculated that, over the next 11 years, Republicans’ tax cuts will continue to increase the national debt by another $1.9 trillion. The national debt now sits at $33 trillion, and for all their bluster about cutting entitlements, Republicans can’t seem to stop gushing money for their donors. Republicans reduced the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, gifting corporations with a 40% reduction in their tax burden in 2017, which will affect the budget for years to come. It’s a largess we still continue to pay for, but the No Security, No Funding plan makes no mention of clawing it back. With time running out, Congress will have to pass a short-term extension on government funding, to buy more time for lawmakers to work out a spending package. Here’s hoping McCarthy takes a cue from the Senate, works out a bi-partisan budget no one really likes, and calls his tormentors’ bluff. If they vote to shut down the government anyway, at least everyone will know who to blame. DC’S CLOWN CAR OF HYPOCRITES Art by Craig Tuggle, via img2go.com.
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22 • 9.28.2023 SAVE THE DATE Pet/Animal Blessing October 7th, Saturday Sts. Francis & Clare 2300 NW 9th Avenue (Powerline Rd.) Wilton Manors All pets/animals must be leashed or in carry on. www.stsfrancisandclare.com | 954-731-8173 11:00 am CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM 2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors (Pride Center Building B) 954-564-9232 | etzchaimflorida.org [email protected] Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m. CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 1436 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM ST. NICHOLAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach 954-942-5887 | StNicholasFL.org Sunday Service 9:30AM ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SCHOOL 1750 East Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale 954-563-5155 | www.saintmarksftl.com Worship Sundays @ 8am and 10:30am STS FRANCIS AND CLARE CHURCH 2300 NW 9th Ave. (Powerline Rd.) WIlton Manors 954-731-8173 | stsfrancisandclare.org Sunday: 10:30 AM. Watch LIVE @ facebook.com/stsfrancisandclare SPIRITSONG CHURCH 2038 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Pride Center Auditorium @ Equality Park (rear of campus) cohss.org Sunday Service 10 AM Live streaming on YouTube & Facebook UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF BOCA RATON 2601 St Andrews Blvd. in Boca Raton (just off Glades Rd., next to University Woodlands Park) (561) 482-2001 | www.uufbr.org Sunday service at 10:30 AM Eastern. Zoom Meeting ID: 914 8201 7108 Passcode: 952914 SPIRITUALITY LISTINGS PLEASE CHECK EACH LOCATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION REGARDING DATES, IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE FOR SERVICES, OR OPTIONS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE. DOUG PEW, FIRST BOARD CHAIR OF GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA, DIES T he Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida lost a pioneer whose early efforts cemented the ensemble as a fixture in the gay cultural life of South Florida. The longtime benefactor, Doug Pew, passed away in hospice on the evening of Sept. 17 after battling a long illness. Pew, a contract lawyer with a world classcareer, and husband, Don Croxton, donated the money that ushered the chorus into existence and continued their generosity for the next 13 years as major donors. After he filed the nonprofit’s articles of incorporation, Pew was named the first Board Chair. The myriad of initial challenges eventually gave rise to an enduring performing arts organization. Many Chorus members cite Pew’s clarity of purpose as his greatest strength while he helmed the seminal GMCSF Board of Directors. The Chorus as it is known today is the result of a schism between the now defunct Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus. In 2009, a group of members sought artistic changes and met at Doug and Don’s home to discuss a path forward. “If we could have resolved our issues, we wanted to … But, if we couldn’t, then do we create a new chorus? And the discussions of how that would take shape happened at Doug and Don’s place,” said Bill Spinosa, who became the first Chorus President of the offshoot GMCSF. Time heals everything, and the two groups reconciled last year, with the GMCSF absorbing the remaining members of the FLGMC into their ranks. Fortunately, Doug Pew had the great joy of seeing the two organizations reunited. Doug Pew. Photo via Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida, Facebook. IN MEMORIAM Aaron Kinchen DONATIONS TO HONOR DOUG PEW CAN BE MADE ON OUR-FUND.ORG. IT WILL BE DISPERSED TO CHARITIES THAT HE SUPPORTED. “It was time to get the family back together,” said Spinosa. The two met in a St. Louis gay bar in 1969, introduced by the bartender. In the 1980s, Pew’s career brought them to suburban Connecticut, where they stayed until they moved to Florida in 2000. The couple were avid travelers. “We’d been almost everywhere … twice!” said Don Croxton. “Not Antarctica, though.” They’d been together for 54 years. Ironically, Pew’s health problems began as a result from travel about three years ago when he caught covid on a cruise. “We were both fine when we left the ship, but by the time we got home, Doug was sick and was in the hospital within a day.” After a months-long period of recovery, doctors found a separate virus attacking the spine, leaving him mostly paralyzed from the waist down. His legacy of community, philanthropy and music will live on in the voices of the GMCSF. Visitation was held on Sept. 23 at the Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home in Fort Lauderdale. Interment will take place in Lockhart Cemetery in the town of Cuba, Missouri. Donations to honor Doug Pew can be made on our-fund.org. It will be dispersed to charities that he supported.
9.28.2023 • 23 “Love without judgement” A home for your spirit. Holy Angels National Catholic Church 1436 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors. 33305 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org 954-633-2987 Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday Mass at 11 AM in English • All are welcome! Join us for masked, socially distanced in person worship. 11 AM Sundays. Services also LIVE-streamed on Facebook and posted on website for safe at home viewing. Join us for in-person worship at 10 AM Sunday, or live streamed on Facebook www.facebook.com/ChruchofOurSaviorMCC 2011 South Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www.churchofoursaviormcc.org Church of Our Savior MCC
24 • 9.28.2023 INDEPENDENCE HALL Enhanced Senior Living Boutique Assisted Living Follow Us to… WILLIAMSBURG LANDING 1639 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 563-6232 1776 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL 33305 (954) 566-1775 goldenbellseniorliving.com Large Private Suites Starting at $3750 EMBRACING CHAOS When Ray and I made the decision to have a puppy join us in our final years, we were conscious of the chaos doing so would include. Our floors are covered with large diaper pads and more than a dozen toys. When Sebastian playfully sinks his tiny shark teeth into our arm, or a chair leg there needs to be a toy or chew stick within arm’s reach to distract him. It would be a lie to say we were fully prepared for all of the poop and pee a puppy can produce in a 12-hour period, nor how we would need to live in shifts, with one keeping the puppy occupied while the other showered. But what we did look forward to and are enjoying is creating for this new creature the experience of unconditional love, and the joy of seeing life through the lenses of his new green eyes. Everything is a discovery with Sebastian, from jumping into the Middle River to hearing thunder for the first time. Because he’s a smart dog, he learns quickly from his mistakes, but we pay close attention to what he sees and how he reacts. He’s just 13 weeks old, so he’s negotiating with life without bias. “What do I feel about the sound of the air blower?” “Am I comforted by the sound of the dishwasher?” His gift to us is us being given another opportunity to explore our senses without prejudice. As long as we try to see things through the sight, smell, sound, taste and touch of the baby dog, we get another chance in this life to experience the world around us with no bias. You may be scratching your head wondering CULTURE OPINION Brian McNaught THE WISE SNOWY OWL Sebastian. Photo via Brian McNaught, Facebook. why two guys in their 70s, both with debilitating physical challenges, would choose to take on the domestication of an untamed baby beast. We’ve done so consciously wanting to have another crack at creating an environment where a new sentient being experiences abundant love, and we get the opportunity to search within ourselves for the unconditional love that is familiar to us. Older and younger gay and transgender people share a lot in common, but the question of what you’re going to focus on in the last 15 years of your life is something older gay and straight people share. Ray and I loved our life of solitude tucked away in our little Garden of Eden, and we could have coasted to the finish line, but we’re both adventurous souls and turning a sharp-toothed, curious, poop machine puppy into a new member of our family felt like it was worth giving up the peace and order of our lives. My memoir is finished and will be available in nine months. Its name is “A Prince of a Boy – How One Gay Catholic Helped Change the World.” Sebastian’s will be next, “A Prince of a Pooch – How One Aussiedoodle Helped Change the World of Brian and Ray.” Read more from Brian McNaught has been an author and educator this author here on LGBTQ issues since 1974. Former Congressman Barney Frank said of Brian, “No one has done a better job of chronicling what it’s like to grow up gay.” www.brian-mcnaught.com. EVERYTHING IS A DISCOVERY WITH SEBASTIAN, FROM JUMPING INTO THE MIDDLE RIVER TO HEARING THUNDER FOR THE FIRST TIME.
9.28.2023 • 25 LUXURY CRUISE FROM MIAMI CHEFS MAKING WAVES I suppose it was only a matter of time. There are cruises dedicated to music lovers of all genres: country, heavy metal, Broadway (Seth Rudetsky’s cruises are supposed to be fabulous), ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s (my husband and I went on the Disco Cruise, twice!). Now Food Network and Norwegian Cruise Line have joined forces for the first-ever food and wine festival at sea. The event features an allstar roster of Food Network chefs, including Michael Symon, Marcus Samuelsson, Andrew Zimmern, Robert Irvine, Anne Burrell and many more! It sets sail from Miami March 25 through 29, 2024. The four-night all-inclusive culinary cruise will be the ultimate getaway for those with an appetite for unique opportunities to taste and learn from some of the industry’s most acclaimed culinary talents. Chefs Making Waves will welcome aboard many of the world’s best chefs and wine and spirit producers to offer passengers a premier gastronomic celebration at sea. The event will feature tastings, cooking demonstrations, curated dinners, late-night parties, brunches, lunches, mixology experiences, and more, all led by award-winning Food Network chefs, TV personalities, cookbook authors, food activists, and restaurateurs. In addition to the previously named chefs, Aarón Sánchez, Scott Conant, Marc Murphy, Buddy Valastro, and Maneet Chauhan from Food Network will be joined by popular South Florida chefs including Ana Quincoces, Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi, Eileen Andrade, and Lauren Noblitt, as well as beloved content creators, food curators and spirit storytellers Gio Gutierrez and Gabe Urrutia. Each night in the dining room will feature menus curated by Maneet Chauhan & Robert Irvine, Anne Burrell & Aarón Sánchez, Scott Conant & Marcus Samuelson, and Michael Symon & Marc Murphy. Passengers looking to sharpen their culinary skills can grab a seat at one of the three cooking demos on board and learn how to make primo pasta like a pro with Scott Conant and Giorgio Rapicavoli, taste “Global Grubs” with Marcus Samuelson and Andrew Zimmern, and learn to “Bake like a Boss” with Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro. Grilling enthusiasts will be able to join the Beachside BBQ hosted by Andrew Zimmern & Marc Murphy on the sands of Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. Not to be missed, free-flowing events will take place around the clock. The Pool Deck and Garden Cafe will host late-night takeover events with decadent sweets and sounds of the ‘70s at the Dessert Disco with Buddy Valastro; munch on Mexican street tacos, savory samosas, and everything in between at International Street Eats with Aarón Sánchez and Maneet Chauhan. Passengers can experience the dancing, culture, and cuisine of Cuba with Gio Gutierrez, Ana Quincoces, and more at Cabana Cubana. Passengers will be able to work off the calories at fitness classes such as yoga, pickleball, or a cross-fit workout class. For those who choose to forgo the fitness regimen and sleep in, there will be a Bloody Mary Bingo hosted by Anne Burrell for refreshing beverages and breakfast fun. Post-dinner events include interactive culinary games such as “The Newly Flame Game” hosted by Ana Quincoces, “Robert’s Culinary Chaos”, a celebrity chef sing-off, and food-inspired movie screenings. This cruise takes place on Norwegian’s Pearl, with just over 1,000 cabins, making it one of the most exclusive ships on the sea. This ocean liner provides guests with concierge service, a world-class tranquil spa, a dazzling casino, unforgettable nightlife, and countless bars and lounges. For more information visit chefsmakingwaves.com. CULTURE TRAVEL Rick Karlin Photo via ncl.com.
26 • 9.28.2023 I don’t know what has happened to me, and I’m embarrassed to ask my friends. My libido has disappeared, and I don’t know what to do. It started around the time I turned 44 and has continued to deteriorate. I used to be insatiable, but now I have to put work into it, and I’m afraid it will never return. I’m scared to date because I worry it will be a problem for a potential partner. What should I do? -Anonymous Dear Anonymous, First and foremost, there is no reason to be embarrassed, and you’re definitely not alone. Men over the age of 40 are three times more likely to experience lowered libido and erectile dysfunction. Many factors can contribute to a decreased libido or erectile dysfunction, such as COPD, diabetes, and vascular diseases among some. The most common is reduced testosterone, which is very treatable. Start with your doctor. Be honest and have your doctor do a complete workup to ensure there isn’t an underlying health issue. Your doctor can review all the options for supplementing medicines/therapies that can help get you back on track. You may never be the insatiable 20-year-old you once were, but sex after 40 can be great. It’s like the saying, “I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m good once as I ever was.” Don’t let your ego stand in the way of a future of great sex. Get the help you need so you can get back to enjoying every man’s best friend. Thirty-five years ago, I was seeing this guy named Stephen. We saw each other for about four months, and I was really starting to fall for him. We spent a lot of time together and even the night with each other. One day, I discovered he was married and had two small children. When we met, he said he was single and had no kids, so he lied. Today, I received a friend request on social media, and I knew it was him immediately. I could never forget his eyes and that smile. I didn’t accept the request because he lied to me and broke my heart, but I am questioning if I made the right choice. Should I contact him? -Kevin from California Dear Kevin, None of us are the person we were last year, let alone 35 years ago. Try to step back and look at where he may have been at that time. Our coming out journeys are individual and sometimes take longer than others. You felt a connection because he has stayed with you for 35 years, so what do you have to lose? I’m not saying it’s time to reserve a U-Haul, but what could it hurt to message him and see where he is at in his life? Don’t spend the rest of your time wondering what would have happened. John Porter ASK JOHN PORTER CULTURE OPINION Photo via Dollar Photo. MY SEX DRIVE IS GONE. HELP! Submit your John Porter is an entrepreneur and founding questions here. partner at Oasis Asset Management. He has served as a political organizer and strategist within the Democratic party, as well as serving as an executive board member for the Miami Yacht Club. Our Services: • Roof Repair • Roof Replacement • Preventative Maintenance • Inspections FREE Quote 954-737-3520 Tile Shingle Metal In need of a repair or replacement? Contact our team Since 2002 Locally Owned Woman-Owned Owens Corning Platinum Preferred We are proudly
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28 • 9.28.2023 TULIO’S TACOS AND TEQUILA BAR Tulio’s discounts all tacos by a buck and has $3 Mexican beer, and $5 Patron Silver shots. That means ALL tacos, not just ground beef, chorizo, al pastor, carne asada, chicken, and carnitas, but also the more expensive menu items such as grilled steak, shrimp, grouper, lobster, and short rib birria. There are also options for vegetarians and vegans; cauliflower, portobello, and roasted mushrooms. 2150 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, 954-530-5523, tuliostaco.com. ROCCO’S TACOS For those with a really big appetite, Rocco’s offers an all-you-can-eat option on Tuesdays. It’s $27.99 and you can wash that down with $5 Mexican draft beer and $7 Margaritas. Available at all locations: Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and West Palm Beach. roccostacos.com. CASA FRIDA Casa Frida has fun on Taco Tuesday with free tequila shots, mariachi, salsa, merengue music, and Mexican sombreros! Beginning at 3 p.m. 14 taco options served with sauces are only $3.00 each. 5441 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, 954-530-3668, casafridamexicancuisine.com. FIVE BEST TACO TUESDAY DEALS TACOCRAFT TAQUERIA & TEQUILA BAR Eat and drink to your heart’s content with $4 tacos served all day long, from 11:30 a.m. to close, along with beers and Margarita specials. All but two of the tacos on the menu are included in the deal and all are served on hand-formed corn tortillas made on the premises each day. 510 Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale; 954-463-2003. Locations in Lauderdale By The Sea, Coral Springs, Plantation and South Miami, tacocraft.com. LONA COCINA & TEQUILERIA $5 tacos and margaritas from 3 to 7 p.m. with stations for chicken, beef, pork, and vegetarian. 321 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, 954-245-3069, lonarestaurant.com. CULTURE FOOD Rick Karlin Photo via Tacocraft Taqueria & Tequila Bar - Lauderdale By The Sea, Facebook. Photo via Lona, Facebook. Photo via Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar, Facebook.
9.28.2023 • 29 Gospel Brunch A Moment to Celebrate Us. Gospel Brunch Live Music Entertainment Soul Food Brunch Best Church Hat Contest FREE Vaccinations by Holy Cross Health call 954-542-1663 to schedule vaccinations SUNDAY, OCT. 15TH 1:30P – 3:30P HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB 2232 WILTON DRIVE WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 SCAN FOR TICKETS General Admission $45 VIP Admission $60 Gospel Brunch A Moment to Celebrate Us. Gospel Brunch Live Music Entertainment Soul Food Brunch Best Church Hat Contest FREE Vaccinations by Holy Cross Health call 954-542-1663 to schedule vaccinations SUNDAY, OCT. 15TH 1:30P – 3:30P HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB 2232 WILTON DRIVE WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 SCAN FOR TICKETS General Admission $45 VIP Admission $60
30 • 9.28.2023 ‘SORDID LIVES’ ENSEMBLE IS A TREAT! EMPIRE STAGE 1140 N, FLAGLER DR., FT. LAUDERDALE 954-678-1496 EMPIRESTAGE.COM RUNNING THROUGH 10/22 With its stellar performance of Del Shores’ classic comedy, “Sordid Lives”, Larry Buzzeo’s ArtBuzz Theatrics has packed a Broadwaylevel performance into the tiny space at Empire Stage. With a strong ensemble, led by Dalia Aleman and Francine Birns as Latrelle and Sissy, respectively, and Kevin Veloz as a touching and vulnerable Ty Williamson, this show sails through its two-hour running time. Even the long blackouts during set changes, made necessary by the small space, are entertaining, thanks to the solid singing and performance by Lisa Braun as wanna-be country singer Bitsey Mae. Larry Buzzeo as Brother Boy makes the role his own, a difficult task since so many of us have seen the movie and/or TV series with the late, great, Leslie Jordan in a career-making role. I could just as easily rave about the entire ensemble, as there isn’t a weak point in the chain. For the few people out there who haven’t seen the play, a staple of LGBT theaters across the country, the movie or the television series based upon the play, “Sordid Lives” is a black comedy about white trash. Peggy, a good Christian woman, hits her head on the sink and bleeds to death after tripping over her lover’s wooden legs in a motel room. The fact that her lover is the husband of her daughter’s best friend only ups the chaos. As the family and friends gather, including Peggy’s gay grandson, and her “gay transvestite” son who thinks he is Tammy Wynette (whom Peggy has had locked away in a state mental institution for 20 years), emotions erupt in Winters, Texas. The set makes wonderful use of the space, evoking Sissy’s living room with cheaply paneled walls and what appears to be years of nicotine build-up on the painted surfaces and then transitioning to a bar, a therapist’s office in a state mental asylum, and a church. Even the wigs, usually the downfall of smaller theater productions are spectacular, perfectly evoking the “bigger the hair the closer to heaven” tenant of Texas hairdressers. The only weak point in this show, and it’s a minor one, is the script. Shores’ jokes and witty patter hold up after all these years, but the agonizing over coming out for an actor in New York feels dated, even though we know the show is set in the 1990s. The fact that Ty’s mother, Latrelle, accepts his coming out so quickly is also a problem, but Aleman and Veloz still manage to bring warmth and realness to the scene. All around a triumph! ‘CLARK GABLE SLEPT HERE’ THE FOUNDRY 2306 N. DIXIE HWY., WILTON MANORS 954-826-8790 PLAYSOFWILTON.COM RUNNING THROUGH 10/15 You know it’s a Ronnie Larsen production when there is a well-endowed naked body on the stage. This time it’s there as soon as the curtain opens, a dead body face down on the rug. If he’s face down, how do we know he’s well-endowed? Well, to explain that would give away too much of a plot that has more twists and turns than a car speeding down I-95. Suffice it to say that Jeff Brackett more than fills the role. Michael McKeever’s script is funny and as tight as Brackett’s glutes and it is well-served by a great cast without a weak link in the chain, from Tom Wahl as the flummoxed hotel manager, and Emma Garcia Seeger’s Latina maid (channeling a bit of Lucille Ball and Penny Marshall) to Lela Elam as the tough as nails Morgan Wright. McKeever himself as the lead, a smarmy, yet charming Hollywood agent, is a delight. He was born to wear a tuxedo, sip scotch, and fire off bon mots. Stuart Meltzer’s direction is smooth and snappy and makes the 90-minute farce fly by. The only bad thing about the production was Elam’s ill-fitting dress, which wouldn’t even be a big deal if everyone didn’t talk about how good she looked in it. The plot of the play, which focuses on megastar agent Jarrod Hilliard trying to handle a crisis for one of his clients, has more than skeletons in the closet and when you’re in Hollywood, everyone’s acting, and nothing’s what it seems, including this play. “Clark Gable…” makes a social comment all the while seeming to be an entertaining piece of fluff. This play is a must-see! If you haven’t been to The Foundry in a while, you’re in for a surprise. It doubled its size, has the most comfortable seats in the area, and looks like a legit theater. Which it turns out to be! ONE ON THE AISLE "Sordid Lives". Photo via Empire Stage, Facebook. ENTERTAINMENT THEATER Rick Karlin TO-DO LIST [email protected] Compiled by Rick Karlin ROCK OUT, SIR ANDREW Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock - The Musical opens at the Aventura Center for the Performing Arts and runs through Oct. 8. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 MOONSHINE Last night may have been the official full moon, but that doesn’t stop The Eagle from holding a Full Moon party tonight, with Dan Deleon. Break out those assless chaps! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 YE BE A WITCH Get in the spirit of the season with “Witches!” Tim Murray uses hilarious personal stories about growing up a closeted, yet feminine man, who tried hard to pass as straight to avoid being burned at the stake. At Island City Stage. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 IF YOU COULD SEE ME THROUGH MY EYES Stonewall National Museum and Archives’ new exhibit, runs through Dec. 1 and features images and stories of trans women of color, who have long been the backbone of the social justice movement. MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 VIVA FORT LAUDERDALE! In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, History Fort Lauderdale presents “Viva Fort Lauderdale: Celebrating Hispanic Art & Culture” through Sunday, Oct. 15. Top off the outing by stopping at Bar Rita for Taco Tuesday. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 IT’S LADIES’ NIGHT, OH WHAT A NIGHT! Tonight, Hamburger Mary’s is all about women who love women. See beautiful art and meet gifted artists. Witness amazing and talented performers and then dance, drink, and vibe to music for the rest of the night! THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 [email protected] FIVE CARD STUD That’s not a hot man holding five cards, but then maybe it is as it’s game night at Lit. That means poker and dart tournaments. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4
9.28.2023 • 31 OUR PAGES YOUR VOICE Send us your letters [email protected] CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM donations to OutSFL can be made here: outsfl.com/donate
32 • 9.28.2023 ‘THE ONES WE BURN’ Photos via rebeccamix.com. ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS Aurora Dominguez Magic, murder, betrayal, and more betrayal is what Rebecca Mix has in store in her novel “The Ones We Burn.” WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR MOST RECENT BOOK? Honestly? I just genuinely love YA fantasy. “Girl is sent to kill the prince she’s been ordered to marry” is a YA trope I’ve always loved, and I thought the idea of this girl being sent in as a political assassin and then accidentally falling for the prince’s sister would be a lot of fun to write. A lot of the darker stuff bubbled up later, but this really started as me writing a love letter to the books I was obsessed with as a teen. WHY DO YOU FEEL REPRESENTATION OF A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING BOOKS? I feel like as a writer, particularly a children’s writer, it’s my job to tell the truth, and to try to tell it with hope when I can. The world is so much bigger and brighter than so many of us were led to believe as kids. There are terrible things and people in this world, yes; but there is also so much love, and hope, and wonder out there for all of us. Everyone deserves stories that tell them they’re worthy. Everyone deserves to know they’re allowed to reach for joy. And kids deserve to see themselves in those stories, too. WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR BOOK? Magic, murder, betrayal, and more betrayal! Magic as an allegory for trauma and chronic illness! The feeling of watching a car crash in slow motion, but instead of a car crash it’s a traumatized teenage lesbian with terrifying magic making terrible decisions! References to Avatar: The Last Airbender that some readers have found very funny and some have found very not funny (I stand by them)! WHAT’S UP NEXT FOR YOU IN THE BOOKISH WORLD? Middlegrade! My middlegrade debut, THE MOSSHEART’S PROMISE, is out this fall. It follows twelve-year-old Ary Mossheart, the unremarkable, anxious granddaughter of her world’s last great hero. When Ary wakes one morning to find her mother filled with the very mold eating her world alive, she sets out in search of a cure – only to learn that her entire world is trapped inside a giant, rotting terrarium they were meant to leave a hundred years ago. Worse, her Gran knew, and never told anyone. Now Ary has five days to find the exit, or they’re trapped forever. It’s a love letter to the middlegrade that turned me into a reader – REDWALL, CITY OF EMBER, GREGOR THE OVERLANDER, etc. THE READING RAINBOW 713 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth Beach www.lakeworthplayhouse.org | 561.586.6410 Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this prize-winning musical about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today.
9.28.2023 • 33 2023 - 2024 SEASON Pablo Mielgo Artistic Director & Conductor Symphony of the Americas Broward Center for the Performing Arts CURTAIN UP! The Music of Tickets Available Now 1 SOTA.org or (954) 462-0222 OCT 3OCT See you at the Symphony!
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