JULY 13, 2023 VOL. 1 • ISSUE 7 OUR PAGES YOUR VOICE VISIT US ONLINE AT OUTSFL.COM OUTSFL @OUT_SFL @OUTSFL PAGE 14 FLAMINGOS, FUN AND SUN FLOCKING GOOD TIME
2 • 7.13.2023 Cove: Photo by JR Davis. July 13, 2023 • Volume 1 • Issue 7 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 ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR J.W. Arnold [email protected] FOOD/TRAVEL EDITOR Rick Karlin COMMUNITY EDITOR John Hayden [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHERS J.R. Davis • Carina Mask COLUMNISTS Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo • Sabrina Haake SPECIAL TO OUTSFL Steve Rothaus 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 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 ‘DRAG IS NOT A CRIME’ EQUALITY FLORIDA REVEALS PHOTO PROJECT SUPPORTING DRAG E quality Florida mobilized supporters for a “Drag is Not a Crime” project last month at The Werk Gallery — a makeover, photoshoot and show of solidarity as attacks on the art form mount across the state. The project “came to fruition as more and more allies to the drag community asked how best to show their support for an art form they love,” Equality Florida says. The June 21 event in St. Petersburg was the organization’s second, following an initial event held at Stonewall Pride on June 16. “Drag has been demonized, censored and used as right-wing hysteria bait,” Press Secretary Brandon Wolf explains. “In response, a community of allies wanted the chance to put on a full face and show their networks and friends that drag is not a crime [and that] it’s not inherently inappropriate. It’s art.” Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four antiLGBTQ+ bills into law May 17, which the group deemed Florida’s “slate of hate.” The measures included House Bill 1423, which has been utilized to target live performances like drag and was blocked by a federal judge on June 23. Nearly 60 people participated in Equality Florida’s “Drag is Not a Crime” event just two days prior. It was made possible by a makeover team consisting of Daphne Ferraro, Cleo Patra, Lilith Black, Robert Rigsby, Jaeda Fuentes, Karma S. Rose and Alix Faulhaber, as well as wig supervisor Susan Haldeman and lead stylist Austin Judd. Dylan Todd, Mike Becker, Loc Robertson and Todd Richardson served as the photographer/videographer team. Volunteers included Rebecca Garrett, Lisa Hunt, Andrea Hildebran Smith, Lee Rogers, Bee Rogers, Karaly Club, Alwin Newton, Delyliah Millstien, Charles Alderman, Mallory Hoerner, Cassie Moll, Mathew Barnes, Jesse Kiesnowski and NEWS HIGHLIGHT CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM outsfl.com/donate SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM Photos by Dylan Todd. Christine Hannah. They were all welcomed by longtime LGBTQ+ ally Sonya Faulhaber, who hosted with The Werk Gallery. The space is St. Petersburg’s contemporary art gallery with an attached boutique and design source. The arts hotspot is owned by her brother and brother-in-law. “St. Pete has a spicy community with big personalities and is brimming with awesome artists,” she says. “If an art form is under attack, I want to represent and push back … Drag is being attacked because it’s seen as a gay art. I believe in gay rights and art with all my being and will help push back in whatever way I can.” She also notes that the gallery gladly paid the event’s drag, wig and photo artists for their efforts, which included a makeover of her own. “I was last since I worked the event,” she says. “I loved watching what everyone came up with. It was so cool and creative … the artistry was incredible,” Faulhaber continues. “It’s hard to figure out how to try and make a difference without getting hostile or bogged down, and this was just the most fun.” Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith also participated. She says that “attacks on drag, like the dehumanization of transgender people, are about enforcing rigid stereotypes and policing how all of us express our identities. “Drag is not a crime. Drag is art. Drag is protest. Drag is community,” she continues. “Thank you to all who participated in this act of joyful resistance against DeSantis’ agenda of censorship and discrimination. This moment calls for all to be on the frontlines in the fight for freedom.” Additional “Drag is Not a Crime” photoshoots aren’t currently planned, but Equality Florida says parties interested in hosting another can reach out to the organization. “Try as they might, DeSantis and his right-wing sycophants cannot ban us,” Wolf also adds. “They cannot ban our joy. Our Pride. Our art. Our families. Our existence. LGBTQ people are a part of the fabric of our communities and this moment calls for our resistance to this war on freedom.” View photos from “Drag is Not a Crime” by Dylan Todd below, courtesy of Equality Florida. Learn more about the organization’s work at EQFL.org. Ryan Williams-Jent Watermark
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4 • 7.13.2023 OUT AND ABOUT PHOTO OF THE WEEK GMCSF's Artistic Director Gabe Salazar with his partner Sebastian Grijalva at the Disney PRIDE in Concert reception at The Parker. Photo by JR Davis BUSINESS INSURANCE · PERSONAL INSURANCE LET US CHECK YOUR BOXES. Contact us or make an appointment to visit our office for a free business or personal insurance proposal. Responsive, knowledgeable agents Trusted expertise and timely solutions Access to the top-rated providers for more options and better choices World-class coverage from a local, accessible agency Our experience with Pallant/NSI Insurance Group has been outstanding. The organization is very knowledgeable and our rep is quick to respond. We highly recommend Pallant/NSI Insurance Group. ~ Alan Harris 1800 NE 26TH STREET · WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 · NSIGROUP.ORG · 954.522.3800 LGBTQUOTEABLE QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Drag is not a crime. Drag is art. Drag is protest. Drag is community. Attacks on drag, like the dehumanization of transgender people, are about enforcing rigid stereotypes and policing how all of us express our identities.” – NADINE SMITH, EQUALITY FLORIDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Photo via eqfl.org.
7.13.2023 • 5 LAST WEEK'S COVER FROM THE NEWSROOM - TAYLOR SWIFT DURING HER RECENT CONCERT IN CHICAGO SCAN HERE TO VIEW THE ISSUE ONLINE
6 • 7.13.2023 OUT NATION By Mary Rasura STATE ALLOWED TO ENFORCE BAN ON TRANS HEALTHCARE TENNESSEE A ccording to the Associated Press, a federal appeals court on July 8 reversed a lower court ruling that had blocked the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, meaning that Tennessee is now allowed to enforce the ban. The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, in a 2-1 ruling, granted the state’s emergency appeal. The majority wrote decisions on these types of policy should be left to lawmakers, not judges. “Given the high stakes of these nascent policy deliberations — the long-term health of children facing gender dysphoria — sound government usually benefits from more rather than less debate,” wrote Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton. Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton. Photo via Wikimedia Commons. DRAG BAN CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT MONTANA What do a public-school teacher and a brewery have in common? According to Daily Montanan, they are part of 10 plaintiffs suing Montana in federal court regarding a law that bans public drag performances. The lawsuit was filed on July 6 and states that the law not only targets the LGBTQ community, but classroom activities that require costuming, such as school plays. “Worse still, an entity that receives any state funds – [for example] any art museum or independent theater – cannot display a live or prerecorded performance with essentially any sexual content, regardless of artistic merit and even if the audience is limited to adults,” the lawsuit stated. “HB 359’s penalty provisions are as confusing as they are draconian.” Photo via pixabay.com. AG SUES TO ENFORCE ASSIGNED SEX ON STATE IDS KANSAS A ccording to Kansas Reflector, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a petition on July 7 asking the Shawnee County District Court to require the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Division of Vehicles to enforce a recent law that took effect July 1 and requires the state to issue driver’s licenses and state documents that reflect sex assigned at birth. This comes after Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly stated that gubernatorial agencies will not be enforcing Senate Bill 180. “[Kelly] does not possess the power that English monarchs claimed prior to the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688, namely, the power to suspend the operation of statutes,” Kobach wrote in the filing. “Indeed, the Declaration of Independence was in part a reaction to this practice.” The governor’s office gave a comment regarding the pending lawsuit. “While the attorney general has a well-documented record of wasteful and political lawsuits, Kelly is faithfully executing the laws of the state and has directed her administration to as well,” said Brianna Johnson, a spokeswoman for the governor. “We look forward to the Kansas Department of Revenue being able to present its case in court.” Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. Photo via ag.ks.gov. QUEER STORIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
7.13.2023 • 7 injectable PrEP! 1 SHOT every 2 MONTHS protects you from HIV. Get your Rx at our in-house pharmacy. Call today to see the experts in HIV care and prevention! Dr. Schumann, MD Dr. Bolivar, MD João Rodrigues, APRN 954.530.8357 2608 NE 16th Ave. | Wilton Manors, FL 33334 By Kennedy McKinney OUT ABROAD YANDEX FACES COURT CASE FOR ‘LGBT PROPAGANDA’ EURASIA T he chief executive of Yandex, an internet company, is facing prosecution in a Russian court for alleged offenses under Russia’s LGBT propaganda law. According to Reuters, the case is against Artem Savinovsky, the chief executive, and is in connection to another fine regarding the incorrect labeling of LGBT films. The violations are considered administrative because they do not cause significant harm or public danger. Under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has intensified their restrictions on LGBT rights. In 2022, Putin signed a law that outlaws any public expression of the behavior or lifestyle of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals or transgender people in Russia. Yandex told Reuters they would appeal any court finding against its CEO. Yandex Headquarters in Moscow. Photo via wikipedia.com. ADVOCATES FIGHT FOR ACCURATE MEDICAL RECORDS NORTH AMERICA A dvocates in Canada are fighting for accurate medical records for the LGBTQ community. Reuters reported that the Community-Based Research Centre in Vancouver released a report calling for the addition of more fields on medical forms in all jurisdictions to capture the full diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity. Kwag, the centre’s executive director, said that the current data in medical records is either misrepresented or not properly collected in Canada’s healthcare system and believes that including it would make it easier to plan for services the LGBTQ community needs. The report says that medical records that properly recognize LGBTQ identities will improve access to appropriate care and lead to better health outcomes. “It’s taxing on a person’s mental health and their ability to be understood by the world and to have to constantly feel like it’s a piece of the fight of coming out again and again, which can be retraumatizing,” said out 38-year-old Jeremy Long. Advocates also want better training for clerical and administrative workers and health-care professionals regarding sex and gender. Michael Kwag, CBRC Executive Director. Photo via cbrc.net. CHURCH OF ENGLAND DEBATE BLESSINGS FOR SAME-SEX UNIONS EUROPE T he Church of England will discuss how priests should carry out blessings for same-sex couples. They will also discuss how to protect vicars who choose not to pray over the union of same-sex couples. The group, called the General Synod, is made up of bishops, clergy and laity. According to Reuters, the Church of England doesn’t allow same-sex marriage in their 16,000 churches but, in January, they set proposals to let gay couples have a prayer service after a civil marriage. This was accompanied by an apology to the LGBTQ population for the rejection and hostility they have endured over the years. The discussion will happen in York when the governing body gathers for a five-day meeting. The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Photo by WikiFido, via Wikimedia Commons. THE RAINBOW REVOLUTION AROUND THE WORLD
8 • 7.13.2023 MIAMI CHAPTER OF DRAG STORY HOUR SAYS GOODBYE T he global Drag Story Hour group has closed the book on its Miami chapter. The group made the announcement on social media Wednesday, citing “the physical safety of our storytellers.” The couple who ran the chapter, drag queens Angel Elektra and Shay D’Pines, told Out SFL that they no longer feel safe in Florida and are moving back home to New York. “It’s time to go. I tried. I tried,” Elektra said. “It’s become a little scary. Me and my husband live in this state alone. We don’t have anybody here.” Drag Story Hour has chapters in 45 states across the country, as well as chapters in Japan, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. Drag queens volunteer for events and read to children, both in person and through virtual programming. However, with an anti-drag law being introduced in Florida (a federal judge has temporarily blocked it), Don’t Say Gay, bathroom bills, and other anti-LGBTQ legislation, drag queens have been targeted. “It’s really changed society’s view and the everyday experiences of our story hour, just living our lives,” explained Jonathan Hamilt, the executive director of Drag Story Hour. “It’s becoming increasingly harder with lots of hate and trolling online and in person. It’s just becoming not a safe space for us to be able to hold events anymore.” He added that the necessary safety precautions needed were “really out of our scope and capability.” Elektra — who got their start performing in Cherry Grove and Fire Island in New York — founded the Miami chapter in October 2021 and mainly worked special events with the Perez Art Museum Miami as well as virtual readings. They were featured in the Human Rights Campaign’s virtual story hour for Banned Books Week in September 2022, and during Miami Beach Pride the couple was honored as a legacy couple. However, Elektra shared that they were getting hateful emails, Facebook calls, direct messages, and people leaving comments on their personal page. A venue also canceled their booking for fear of the anti-drag laws. “I’m not going to dress up in a leotard and in thigh high boots to entertain children,” they said. “As far as showing skin and doing provocative performances in front of children, absolutely not.” Hamilt said that Drag Story Hour also had to close their Little Rock chapter in 2021 after legislation passed specifically targeting drag performances; the law was gutted earlier this year. The Nashville chapter is still going strong thanks to a judge ruling anti-drag legislation as unconstitutional. “It’s sad and I think it kind of makes it seem like the right is winning or gaining space, but ultimately we will be back,” Hamilt said. “We’re excited and happy to offer virtual events.” Angel Elektra during a Drag Story Hour event. Photo courtesy of Angel Elektra. NEWS MIAMI Christiana Lilly I n Florida Atlantic University’s search for a new president, it was who didn’t make the cut that generated the most headlines. On July 5, FAU’s presidential search committee recommended three people – University of North Carolina Wilmington Chancellor Jose Sartarelli, Navy Vice Admiral Sean Buck, and Michael Hartline, dean of the Florida State University College of Business. Not on the list – FL Rep. Randy Fine, a longtime adversary of the LGBTQ community who was encouraged to apply for the post by Gov. Ron DeSantis, although it is unclear if he followed through with the hiring process. Nevertheless, it all became a moot point last week when the search was suspended due to an objection by the chancellor of the state university system. Chancellor Ray Rodrigues took issue with a questionnaire asking candidates their sexual orientation and gender identity. “These inquiries are wholly irrelevant, inappropriate and potentially illegal,” Rodrigues wrote in a letter to Brad Levine, chairman of the FAU Board of Trustees. So Levine suspended the search, giving Fine another chance. “These three finalists will not be finalists again,” said Jessica Abramsky, a sophomore journalism major. “My thinking is that if Randy Fine applied, he’ll be one of the finalists on the second go-around and he’ll win because the board of trustees are also appointed by DeSantis.” Fine, a Republican who represents southern Brevard County, is a former gambling executive with a flair for the dramatics. In seeking to ban drag performances, Fine said if it meant “erasing a community” so be it. He has steadily carried the water for DeSantis’ war on “woke,” including sponsoring a bill to dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. Similar to DeSantis, Fine has been known to punish those who cross him, like withholding funding for the Brevard Zoo and, allegedly, demanding refunds from his local synagogue for refusing to fire a gay teacher. “If all the cruelty and spite of the DeSantis regime were captured in a single human being, that person would be Representative Randy Fine,” tweeted Equality Florida press secretary Brandon Wolf. HOMOPHOBE GETS SECOND CHANCE AT FAU PRESIDENTIAL GIG “THESE INQUIRIES ARE WHOLLY IRRELEVANT, INAPPROPRIATE AND POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL.” - RAY RODRIGUES CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF FLORIDA Florida Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay). Photo via Facebook. NEWS LOCAL John McDonald
7.13.2023 • 9 space for connection is especially important in a time when our community feels under attack.” Launched in May, the new market has welcomed a particularly diverse crowd of visitors, many bringing dogs, partners, family and friends. People tend to stick around for a while, meeting new people, feasting on dinner, joking, shopping, and enjoying the opportunity to relax among the gardens. “I love the vibe of this new market,” said community member Michelle V. “My girlfriend and I got to taste the most amazing food here, including a spicy bowl from a Black-owned vendor.” Samantha McCoy, customer service manager at the center, coordinates the market. She has targeted BIPOC- and women-owned businesses and vendors as part of The Pride Center’s affirmative action policies and diversity, equity, inclusion and justice work. She strongly encourages minority businesses to showcase their services at the Equality Park After Dark market, offering discounts to eligible first-time vendors. “We are happy to work with BIPOC and women-owned businesses,” McCoy said. “So many of these vendors open our community to experiences and to businesses that we may not have had the opportunity to experience.” This month’s market is Thursday, July 20, from 5 to 9 p.m. The Pride Center at Equality Park is located at 2040 N. Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. This year, The Pride Center also celebrates 30 years of service as your local LGBTQ+ community center. Its mission states: “We provide a welcoming, safe space—an inclusive home—that celebrates, nurtures, and empowers the LGBTQ+ community, and our friends and neighbors in South Florida.” Businesses interested in becoming a vendor at the Equality Park After Dark market should contact Samantha McCoy at The Pride Center at 954-463-9005, ext. 101 or smccoy@ pridecenterflorida.org. COMMUNITY FUN AFTER DARK Have you heard the sounds of munching, laughing, barking and celebrating the discovery of the best deal? Something new is happening in the gayborhood — after dark. On the third Thursday of each month, The Pride Center at Equality Park now transforms its lush, tropical courtyard into an entertaining evening market, Equality Park After Dark. This fun, immersive market features food trucks, artisan creations, vintage finds, crafts, art, music and more. “The food is delicious. The vendors bring some incredibly unique wares. It’s pet friendly. It’s kid friendly. I normally hate outdoor events in the heat and humidity, but this has been so much fun,” laughed Robert Boo, CEO of The Pride Center. “I love offering interactive opportunities for our community to come together in a beautiful safe space,” Boo continued. “Providing that safe Photo courtesy of the Pride Center. COMMUNITY The Pride Center THE PRIDE CENTER RECENTLY LAUNCHED NEW MARKET
10 • 7.13.2023 NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE GIVES BACK AND GEARS UP F ighting tyranny and injustice takes more than awareness, it takes money. The National LGBTQ Task Force has been raising both for a half century. Their signature events in South Florida – the annual gala and Winter Party -- bring in more than a million dollars, and now they’re returning some of it to our region. During a reception at the ArtServe building on July 7, Task Force Gala co-chair Jeff Oliverio presented a check for $215,000 to the LGBTQ Equity Fund, run by the Our Fund Foundation and Miami Foundation. The money is used for emergency grants to LGBTQ organizations that find themselves facing unexpected challenges. “When Don’t Say Gay passed, $200,000 went out immediately to LGBTQ youth organizations from our equity fund,” Our Fund Foundation CEO David Jobin told OutSFL. “The Task Force comes into South Florida and helps in so many ways. They’re giving back directly to the Equity Fund. We’re able to do emergency grants for whatever the needs are at the time.” While they are on the ground helping South Jeff Oliverio. Photo by Carina Mask. Florida, they’re also preparing for the next election when LGBT rights will be on the ballot. “The focus going into 2024 is going to be motivated around getting people out to vote and voter education,” Oliverio told OutSFL. “The second thing is pushing back against what’s happening everywhere. We’re doing a lot of grassroots training.” Wilton Manors City Commissioner Don D’Arminio and his husband, Marc Martorana, are long-time Task Force supporters. They used to hold this event in their home, and this year Martorana provided the food. “They’re really out there for all of us and it’s really important in these times,” D’Arminio told OutSFL. “The National LGBTQ Task Force is one of our most important organizations. They fight for our rights nationwide.” NEWS LOCAL John Hayden
7.13.2023 • 11 SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM donations to OutSFL can be made here: outsfl.com/static-content/donate OUR PAGES YOUR VOICE Send us your letters [email protected] CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM ENDING THE HIV+ STIGMA Hydeia Broadbent was born with HIV but wasn’t diagnosed until age 3 and wasn’t expected to live past age 5. Today she’s 39 and sharing her inspirational story. Born and diagnosed in the mid-‘80s, there was little hope for baby Broadbent, or patients of any age, as America and the world was still trying to understand the basics, much less the nuances of the disease. Broadbent beat the odds and is a long-term survivor. She is the main speaker at “Breaking the Silence: A Conversation on Overcoming HIV Stigma” on Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m. The event will be at the West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion at 101 S. Flagler Drive. For her, it turned out that the toughest fight would be against the stigma surrounding the status of being HIV+. “I went through a period where I stopped taking my medication, I didn’t want to take my meds,” Broadbent said. Even after effective drugs became available and eventually refined to the pills or injections we have today, there was a period when she was losing hope. A dark cloud of stigma still hangs over the term HIV+ and it can take a toll your mental health. “You’re not just dealing with HIV/AIDS,” she said. “We have to address a person’s mental state. If I don’t feel good and I’m not happy, and don’t want to get out of bed, I’m not gonna take these pills to save my life.” South Florida remains a hotspot for new infections. Complacency is partly to blame, as a new generation sees HIV as easily treatable. But in some communities, it’s still taboo. Broadbent is a Black woman and has seen it firsthand. “I see, especially in the African American community, we don’t like to talk about mental health. We don’t want to be labeled as ‘crazy.’” Breaking the silence is something Broadbent does every day, and not just for herself but for others. “I’m very open and honest now. Yes, I go to therapy. Yes, I take medicine. Yes, I’m dealing with these issues. I don’t want to be hindered and stuck in one place. I want to do better.” Photo via Hydeia Broadbent, Facebook. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden SPEAKER TO SHARE STORY AT ‘BREAKING THE SILENCE’ “I SEE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WE DON’T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. WE DON’T WANT TO BE LABELED AS ‘CRAZY.’” - HYDEIA BROADBENT
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14 • 7.13.2023 T he NSU Art Museum and the Stonewall National Museum and Archives announced the commencement of a formal partnership on June 9. The collaboration follows years of informal affiliation between the two south Florida cultural organizations and will focus on bringing “further engagement and awareness to the LGBTQIA+ community,” according to a press release. “We look forward to sharing [with the NSU Art Museum] ideas and discussions during the course of our partnership and utilizing the great power of art to bridge gaps,” said Robert Kesten, executive director of Stonewall National Museum and Archives. Final plans as to how, exactly, the collaboration will take shape are yet to be completed, but it is expected that they will be multi-faceted and equally reliant on the specialties of both organizations. The NSU Art Museum has been a staple in the South Florida art scene since its inception in 1958, while the Stonewall National Museum and Archives is one of the “largest gay archives and libraries in the United States,” according to its website. “Above all, we really want to create an inviting space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, and for any other group, as well,” said Lisa Quinn, the Lillian S. Wells Education Curator at NSU Art Museum. She envisions programming in the form of lectures and workshops acting as supplements to more traditional (visual) art exhibits as the partnership plays out. An exhibit for LGBTQ History month in October is also in the works. Art for such an event, according to Quinn, could come from any number of prior NSU exhibits — they regularly showcase work from LGTBQ+ artists (such as Andy Warhol) — while Stonewall’s contribution could include multiple elements from its vast library and archives. Stonewall National Museum and Archives maintains more than 6 million pages of materials documenting “LGBTQIA+ political, cultural and social history,” according to its website. In addition, they maintain artifacts from significant events in LGBTQ history and property once belonging to activists and LGBTQ celebrities. Stonewall and the NSU Art Museum last partnered in June of 2022 for an exhibit entitled “Travel through Queer History.” It explored “the LGBTQ civil rights movement from the first part of the 20th Century to the present day,” per the art museum’s website. The new, formal, partnership has no specified end date, according to Kesten. Nor does it preclude growth to include other organizations. NSU ART MUSEUM AND STONEWALL PARTNER TO EDUCATE THE MASSES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NSU ART MUSEUM FORT LAUDERDALE, VISIT NSUARTMUSEUM.ORG OR CALL 954-525-5500. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON STONEWALL NATIONAL MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES VISIT STONEWALL-MUSEUM.ORG OR CALL 954-763-8565. NSU Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale. Photo via Facebook. NEWS LOCAL Michael Anguille UNDERWEAR MOGUL ANDREW CHRISTIAN LOVES FLOCKFEST & SOFLO A ndrew Christian could spend his weekends anywhere he wants, including summer hotspots like Fire Island and Provincetown. But this last weekend he was in South Florida hanging out at the premier LGBTQ beach party, FlockFest. “I did FlockFest last year and it was a great event,” he told OutSFL. “I wanted to come out and help support the community again.” The underwear mogul was flanked by models showing off a summer-inspired design: grilled hotdogs in buns. “Nothing phallic about it at all. It’s just a coincidence.” And while FlockFest was a lot of fun, Christian says there’s a serious reason behind his participation in this and other causes in the Sunshine State. “I’ve been doing a lot of events in Florida, particularly because of the political situation. It’s important to show solidarity and support the community in Florida.” CABANA CREATIONS The annual beach party is the capstone to a series of activities FlockFest puts on throughout the year. Pre-parties were held at The Eagle and Hunters, and a pool party was on Sunday. But it was Saturday that stole the spotlight. Seventy-five private cabanas were set up, decorated and judged. Judges included Christian, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Wilton Manors City Commissioner Chris Caputo, TransInclusive Group founder Tatiana Williams, Bubbles & Pearls owner Josie Smith-Malave, and host of the “FayWhat?!” show, FayWhat?! The winner was the Pan Am Airlines cabana. In addition to authentic logo gear, they furthered the airline vibe by having the boys dressed as pilots and offering a snack cart to give out pretzels. FayWhat?! also emceed the afternoon and gushed afterwards to OutSFL. “I had a blast. There were floaties as far as the eye could see, incredible food. There were all colors of the rainbow and all sexual identities. I love that.” FlockFest organizers have already announced the event will be back next year, the weekend after July Fourth. FayWhat?! can’t wait. “People are already excited about it and I look forward to it next year.” Photo by JR Davis. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden
7.13.2023 • 15 FEATURING ACTIVISTS, BUSINESS LEADERS, ORGANIZERS, AND OTHERS WHO ARE OUT AND PROUD MEMBERS OF OUR LOCAL LGBTQ COMMUNITY Out South Florida published the first issue of its first magazine in June. The 80-page high glossy edition features OutSFL’s Out and Proud – a list of more than 50 movers and shakers in the local LGBTQ community. The issue will be on stands through the summer giving readers plenty of time to pick it up. It’s the perfect coffee table magazine. The cover features Nadege Green, one of the members of the Out & Proud, known locally as a writer, community historian, researcher, and editor. “We couldn’t be more proud of our first issue of the magazine,” said Publisher Jason Parsley. “It’s a beautifully designed masterpiece.” The first edition also includes interviews with Gary Bremen, a local retired park ranger and Amy Ray, a musician. Other features include a travel piece featuring gay ski week in Switzerland; a review of the Acura Integra; and a book review of Me and Mister Preston. The second issue comes out in early Fall and will feature a searson preview of our local arts and entertainment taking place in the Fall. “Out South Florida is committed to covering our local arts community and we’ll do a damn good job,” Parsley said. “Our Fall guide will simply be the most thorough of any local publication.” Staff “OUT SOUTH FLORIDA IS COMMITTED TO COVERING OUR LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY AND WE’LL DO A DAMN GOOD JOB.” - JASON PARSLEY PUBLISHER ON STANDS NOW! INSIDE THE NEWSROOM SCAN HERE TO VIEW THE ISSUE ONLINE SCAN HERE TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE
16 • 7.13.2023 WHAT THE CONSTITUTION IS REALLY ABOUT I n your recent OUTSFL you ran two pieces on the U.S. Supreme Court decision addressing the First Amendment. What has not been discussed is how far off the court and nation have been in how we determine what is and what is not Constitutional. Often decisions are determined by reviewing the laws or rules under consideration, not the intentions of the Constitution. There is no referencing the meat of the Constitution. There is no attention paid to the Founders’ intentions and the underpinnings of what the document was drafted to achieve as an integral part of the great experiment of self-government. The U.S. Constitution begins with the lines, “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, Establish Justice, ensure Domestic Tranquility, provide for the Common Defence, promote the General Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do Ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This is what the document is about, the rest is how we get there. For far too long, we have paid more attention to symptoms than causes and have put the above lines into the dustbin of history. When a court, any court, adjudicates the law it should always be benchmarked against that opening paragraph. Everything done by the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government should be focused on arriving at the goals set for us by the Founders. In that, we have failed miserably. When the recent Court decisions have been handed down, few if any meet that standard. Few if any bring us closer to meeting the needs of the PEOPLE, or move us closer to a more perfect union, justice, or any other intention of the signers of the Constitution. We the people have not held ourselves, or our elected and appointed officials accountable and in a government of the people, for the people, and by the people that is a tragedy. The documents, the supporting materials, letters, fragments of conversations from everyone involved, from George Washington, who served as president of the Constitutional Convention to the Congress that approved the document to the states that ratified it, there is ample proof that in the centuries since then we have moved far afield from its purpose. The public should be outraged, if not by the decisions themselves, then by the reasoning that got us here. Every decision of the Court should lead us towards a more perfect union, one that brings justice to all and secures the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. In this, the court, the legislature, the executive, and most importantly the people have failed. We, the LGBTQ+ community, owe it to ourselves to do more, engage others, and have this debate. Our future is on the line, and in this debate, we remain on the right side of history. Now let us make our judicial system work as it was intended and build a nation where all are free and equal. - ROBERT KESTEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STONEWALL NATIONAL MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES Photo via Shutterstock. VIEWPOINT LETTER TO THE EDITOR ALL-MALE GUEST RESORT IN KEY WEST SUED BY WOMAN FOR DISCRIMINATION Chalk this win up for the ladies. A Florida judge has ruled against an all male nude resort in Florida. Orleans House, the very popular and very chic guesthouse in Key West was just dealt a crushing loss from Florida judge Brittanyn Finkbender. Earlier this year Amina Chaudhry, 38, sued Orleans House and nearby Island House for discrimination. Chaudhry who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community, and a cisgender woman said, “The implication is if they’re allowed to discriminate against any genders they don’t want coming in there, then any other place of public accommodations can do the same thing.” After the Florida Commission on Human Relations ruled against Chaudhry in February she appealed the decision. Judge Finkbender agreed with Chaudhry recommending that women should be granted the right to disrobe next to men. Orleans House does allow women to visit the resort, but they cannot access the clothing optional areas. The Commission is required to take the judge’s recommendations into consideration before making their final decision. Chaudhryshe is also embroiled in another lawsuit with another all male resort in Key West, said after the judge’s decision, “Living in Key West and going through all of this, there’s this just kind of pervasive sense that I was the one in the wrong. Like I was some kind of crazy lunatic who was going against the natural order of things.” Joe Schroeder, owner of the Orleans House, speaking exclusively to OutSFL, is fired up with the latest ruling, “where is our right to privacy” he asks? Schroeder explains that “we are fighting for the right to be around other men, other naked men without being peered on by fully clothed women.” Schroeder, angered at the loss, provided the needed separate but equal accommodations necessary. The Orleans House compound also has another beautiful pool - where everyone is welcome and separate housing. The clothing optional area is only one part of Orleans House compound. Schroeder vows to take this to the next higher court and then the one after that promising, “Hopefully we will win this or else we will lose more than our mens only resorts. We will lose our safe spaces.” Photo via neworleanshousekw, Instagram. NEWS STATE Robert DeDominic Donate Your Car Imagine the Di erence You Can Make • Every donated vehicle will be properly recycled, reducing waste and harmful emissions. • Vehicle donations are fully tax-deductible and the proceeds help provide services to help the blind and visually impaired. Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually FREE TOWING & TAX DEDUCTIBLE When you donate your car, you’ll receive: Donate Your Car • Every donated vehicle will be properly recycled, reducing waste and harmful emissions. FREE • Vehicle donations are fully tax-deductible and Call 1-855-758-0975 ✔ a $200 restaurant voucher ✔ a 2-night, 3-day hotel stay at one of 50 locations
7.13.2023 • 17 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 WHERE WERE OUR PEOPLE AT THE MARCH? S o I am wondering a few things regarding the March We the People that took place July 2. Our tri-counties consist of six million people. Two hundred fifty-two thousand are gay, but that does not count for all of the other organizations that we’re representing. According to a 2018 survey, 4.2% identified as gay. With all of the bills (abortion, transgender, banning books) being passed, why was the event [not] better attended? Was it that too many agendas were being discussed, some people were not 100% with all of them? The heads of the organizations got their photo ops and left. They gave beautiful speeches on what we must fight for but when the rain came down, where were all of them? I saw some, not many. Where was all of our youth? Our BLM people? One quarter of the parade was workers for the sponsors. So would you consider that it was a success? The numbers were barely 5,000. Had 'We The People' March. Photo by Carina Mask. it been a circuit party, or some sort of a festivity, or people dressed up and drank and partied would the numbers have been more? - CJ PINELLI VIEWPOINT LETTER TO THE EDITOR
18 • 7.13.2023 ELON MUSK AND THE FANTASY OF FREE SPEECH ABSOLUTISM T he Elon Musk-Mark Zuckerberg rivalry, entertaining as it is, dances around a crucial question: How do we reign in extremism on social media? If it can’t be done without offending the First Amendment, how do we bracket and tag misinformation so that people are at least aware that they are being manipulated, not informed? Musk cast his recent Twitter acquisition in grandiosity. It’s “a battle for the future of civilization. If free speech is lost even in America, tyranny is all that lies ahead.” Citing plans to “free the bird,” meaning, cut online content moderation, Musk calls himself a “free speech absolutist.” Musk will eventually learn that unfettered disinformation and hate speech will not free the bird. They will kill it. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS ABSOLUTE FREEDOM, EVEN FOR SPEECH Musk is correct that Twitter has served as a useful digital public square to the world, but free speech in the context of First Amendment protection has never applied to privately-run platforms like Twitter. The government can’t abridge free expression, but private purveyors of media content can, and do, or else they will find it impossible to monetize their platforms through advertisements. It has never been the case that anyone can say/write/express anything they want, Photo via Shutterstock. about any subject they choose, without legal repercussions. Words that incite violence have always been actionable, as is child pornography, as are deliberate falsehoods communicated through forgery, perjury, fraud, and false reports, as are credible threats, as are words of slander and libel. Navigating these complexities through 500 million tweets per day requires staff with discretion and finesse, the opposite of absolutism. The idyllic premise driving the “free marketplace of ideas” protected by the First Amendment -- as endorsed by Musk -- is that falsehoods and shoddy reasoning are best countered with more speech, not less. Eventually, the rationale goes, as long as informed people stay engaged in the debate, true facts will emerge, and the better argument will prevail. This was certainly true when learned men who drafted in Latin and French debated fine points of constitutional law. However, as First Amendment jurisprudence developed during the 20th century, “free” speech in the public square was counter-balanced with “fairness” mandates requiring a reasonable opportunity for the presentation of contrasting viewpoints. Under the Fairness Doctrine, in effect from the 1940s through 1987, news channels were required to present opposing sides of the same argument. The Federal Communications Commission mandated public broadcasters to present fair and balanced coverage of controversial issues as a condition of their license. In today’s environment, licensed broadcasters have been replaced by networks, and most people get news online. The Fairness Doctrine is gone, lamentably, leaving a free-for-all where one-sided bias, grievance, infotainment, and angertainment are allowed to masquerade as news. NEGATIVITY SELLS Fast-spreading exchanges on the internet today allow disinformation campaigns to consume public discussion. Even without algorithms that amplify divisive content for profit, basic human survival instincts cause us reflexively to tune in to danger. That is why we pay disproportionate attention to negative information (ditto, negative thoughts). When faced with real or perceived threats online, old flight or fight instincts are triggered. Pugilists stay and escalate rhetoric (fight), while others simply leave the discussion (flight), morphing public debate into a one-sided echo chamber fairly quickly. Despite known distortion effects, Musk has officially welcomed accounts previously suspended for hate and harassment back to the Twitter fold, including Trump. In the short time since, hate speech and extremism on the platform have increased exponentially. Foreign terrorist groups, including those associated with the Islamic State and Russian state media, have flocked back to Twitter in droves. Within two weeks after Musk’s purchase, 450 Twitter accounts were newly created to spread Islamic State content, up 69% from 12 days prior. Sowing hatred and division through online disinformation campaigns, foreign terrorist groups are now flourishing anew on Twitter, alongside America’s own re-activated tinfoil hat brigade led by Q-Anon, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and right-wing militants. Federal law enforcement is on alert. The Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning acknowledging a sharply heightened threat environment. They warn that an “unprecedented” surge in extreme online content has re-united violent extremists, predicting that Twitter will contribute to more violence in the months ahead, including support for genocidal Nazis and white nationalists. Promoting free speech while protecting it requires a deft balancing act, not a hammer. Sometimes the courts get it wrong, sometimes free speech enthusiasts get it right, and sometimes plain common sense has to prevail. Surely even a self-proclaimed absolutist like Musk can understand that inviting an incendiary ex-president to stand in the public square screaming “fire” could actually burn the square down. VIEWPOINT OPINION OPINION Sabrina Haake THE HAAKE TAKE Read more from Sabrina Haake is a 25-year litigator specializing in 1st this author here and 14th Amendment defense. Her columns appear in Out South Florida, Chicago Tribune, State Affairs, and Howey Politics. She and her wife split their time between South Florida and Chicago. IT HAS NEVER BEEN THE CASE THAT ANYONE CAN SAY/ WRITE/EXPRESS ANYTHING THEY WANT, ABOUT ANY SUBJECT THEY CHOOSE, WITHOUT LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS.
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20 • 7.13.2023 MISS BENNY STARS IN NETFLIX’S ‘GLAMOROUS’ Gender non-conforming activist and actor Miss Benny is starring in Netflix’s “Glamorous” that released on June 22. “Glamorous” stars Miss Benny as Marco Mejia, a young gender nonconforming queer man whose life is difficult, especially through puberty. Marco eventually gets employed by Madolyn Addison played by Kim Cattrall where he has the chance to discover what he wants out of life and what it means to him to be LGBT. The show has reached headlines for the wide-range of inclusivity for queer actors, but also for the stories of the LGBT-community that aren’t often told. “Glamorous” is available now, and binge-watching this show is highly recommended by many notable members of the LGBT-community. Miss Benny, left, with Kim Cattrall in “Glamorous.” Photo via Netflix. OUT AND LOUD CULTURE OUT AND LOUD NON-BINARY By Christian “CJ” Walden LGBT CELEBRITY WATCH JAY-Z’S MOM MARRIES LONGTIME FEMALE PARTNER I n 2017, JAY-Z revealed how his mother Gloria Carter came out to him as a lesbian in his track “Smile.” “Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian/Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian/Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate/Society shame and the pain was too much to take,” JAY-Z rapped. Now, Carter married her longtime life partner Roxanne Wiltshire. “Imagine having to live your life as someone else and you think you’re protecting your kids. For her to sit in front of me and tell me, ‘I think I love someone,’ I really cried … I cried because I was so happy for her that she was free,” said JAY-Z in 2018. LESBIAN Rapper JAY-Z, right, with his mother Dr. Gloria Carter. Photo via Roc Nation, Facebook.
7.13.2023 • 21 ALYSON STONER FIRED FOR BEING QUEER? A lyson Stoner, the notable Disney Channel star, came out as a member of the LGBT community in 2018, but has not specifically put a distinct label on their sexuality. Stoner recently opened up about how their queer identity has negatively impacted their career, claiming they were deemed “unsafe” after coming out. Stoner was advised by their team of the risks of living authentically, but wanted to come out as they felt like it was “a disservice to her [Stoner’s girlfriend] for her to be hidden.” “I did end up getting fired from a children’s show because they felt that I was unsafe - now that they knew I was queer - to be around kids,” said Stoner. Stoner has refused to specify which TV program or network executives had let them go due to their queer identity. Photo via Alyson Stoner, Facebook. CULTURE OUT AND LOUD QUEER and and and
22 • 7.13.2023 B yron Lane didn’t have a big gay wedding when he married his now-husband Steven Rowley, so he wanted to write a story about one. WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR MOST RECENT BOOK? I had a “little gay wedding” with my now husband, author Steven Rowley. It was in the thick of COVID in April 2021, so we couldn’t really have a big wedding. And we were ready! So, we had a small ceremony with only us and one of our best friends as an officiant in our hometown of Palm Springs. When it came time to write my second novel, the wedding was on my mind and I wondered “What could have been?” I grew up in a rural part of Louisiana and imagined having a big gay wedding there. And 300 pages later, the book was a real thing! TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE BOOK AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO WRITE IT. This story is really about a mother having a sort of “coming out” as accepting that her son is gay and engaged and wants to get married on her small town rescue farm. The Louisiana angle was helpful because I grew up there. All the locations and characters are crafted from people I’ve known or met or heard about or saw on the news or had as a server in a restaurant. My hope is that having that perspective helps bring the characters to life in a way that’s interesting and authentic. I have many happy memories from growing up in Louisiana, but also some hard ones. It was tough being gay in the south. I’m so grateful things have changed, at least a little bit. … This book tries to unite dynamic characters with tough viewpoints, and to do so with humor and heart. WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR BOOK? I hope my writing is hilarious and heartwarming. I try to find humor in hardship. I used to work for Carrie Fisher and she would always say, “Take your broken heart and go make art.” And that’s my aim. In Big Gay Wedding, we’re exploring the relationship between a mother and son. She runs a rescue ranch for misfit animals and has to find it in her heart to realize her son- -as a gay man in her conservative world--he is, in his own way, a misfit. She has to learn to love him for who he is. And he’s a man who wants to love his mom despite her views which are distorted by religion and politics. I hope the metaphorical “marriage” of these two universes can be both comical and sentimental. Let’s laugh and cry together! ‘BIG GAY WEDDING’ CULTURE BOOKS Aurora Dominguez THE READING RAINBOW Photos via byronlane.com. 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. CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 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 SAINT 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 SPIRITUALITY LISTINGS “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
7.13.2023 • 23 S outh Florida is a hub of LGBTQ culture and now one of our own is debuting his first film in Fort Lauderdale. Actor-writer-director-producer Peter Bisuito will debut “I Remember” at the Gateway Theater in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m. The short film follows Derek Dawson, played by Robert Koutras, as he deals with repressed memory loss after a traumatic experience. Dawson searches for his husband, Dominic Bardini, portrayed by Bisuito. Shepherding the film from concept to completion took a long time. “I thought of the concept eight years ago, but since my entire life is consumed with comedy, I put the idea on the back burner,” Bisuito told OutSFL about the psychological thriller. “Last October I was in a really bad space, a funk, just feeling down about things in my life. So, I decided to shake things up a bit and do something I’ve never done before. Make a movie!” The multihyphenate is known in South Florida and international circles as a comic, but this time, Bisuito wanted to push his boundaries. He resurrected “I Remember” and began bringing it to life, adding light and shadow to his characters and the world they inhabit. But making a movie takes money. To get financing for a project like this doesn’t mean finding investors, it involves finding believers. One of them is Kal Gajraj. Both appear on Happening Out Television as commentators and share a love of the arts. Gajraj says becoming a believer, investor, and, subsequently, a producer, was an easy decision. “When I learned about Peter’s film project, I wanted to get involved,” he told OutSFL. “I’m passionate about the arts and promoting local artists. I’m proud to be a producer for his movie, this is a dream come true for me, my first job was at a movie theater, and now I get to be part of this amazing film.” Bisuito says “I Remember” is a passion project that, after sitting dormant, came roaring back to life. “I was in front of my computer from 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. and voila, a blockbuster is born! I was so inspired by the storyline because it’s a major issue today and I thought it would be the perfect timing to tell this story.” He hopes to be accepted at film festivals and get critics’ attention. The road to legendary movie status begins at Fort Lauderdale’s Gateway theater. LOCAL ACTOR AND PRODUCER PETER BISUITO TO PREMIERE FILM Peter Bisuito. Photo by Emitt More. ENTERTAINMENT FILM John Hayden Welcome Aboard! Your beautiful vintage Captain Bruce Magnolia Grace Adventures trawler awaits. (352) 220-1016 / MagnoliaGraceAdventures.com • Intracoastal Day Trips • Pampering Weekends • Hourly Rentals • Fireworks EXPERIENCES: • 2-3 day Miami Skyline • Special Occasions • Airshow Viewing • Boat Parade
24 • 7.13.2023 WOMEN OF WILTON DEBUT; DISCOUNTED AUGUST THEATER TICKETS Women of Wilton (WOW!) make their stage debut at the Foundry in Wilton Manors with the lesbian classic “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove,” July 27 – Aug. 20. Credit: Ronnie Larsen Presents. ENTERTAINMENT THEATER J.W. Arnold “LAST SUMMER AT BLUEFISH COVE” AT WOW! Women of Wilton (WOW!), the recent offshoot of Ronnie Larsen’s successful Plays of Wilton (POW!) theater company, make their debut on the Foundry Stage, July 27 – Aug. 20, with “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” by Jane Chambers. Written for the first Gay American Arts Festival in 1980, the play is affectionately referred to as “The Girls in the Sand,” a female counterpoint to Mart Crowley’s hit 1968 play “The Boys in the Band.” The drama is widely regarded as the first mainstream play about lesbians. Director Nicole Stodard, founder of Thinking Cap Theatre in Dania Beach, said, “Chambers’ iconic play has experienced many revivals since it premiered more than 40 years ago, and in our current moment, it reminds us of how far we have come, and how far we still must go. The play’s mix of humor and pathos makes it an incredible acting vehicle, and we have assembled a stellar cast to tell its story.” Chambers’ play focuses on the friendships and journeys of eight women after the lead character is diagnosed with cancer. The play ultimately champions the power of love, the importance of living life to the fullest in the moment and the hope of new beginnings. Stodard’s cast includes Bree-Anna Obst, Autumn Kioti, Sabrina-Lynn Gore, Melissa Ann Hubicsak, Leah Sessa, Carey Brianna Hart and Therese Adelina. Larsen added, “This is a very exciting day here at POW! and ‘Last Summer at Bluefish Cove’ is the perfect show to launch WOW! Jane Chambers, who wrote the play, is a nationally recognized award-winning American playwright. She was a ‘pioneer in writing theatrical works with openly lesbian characters.’ We are also so honored to have Nicole Stodard directing this ground-breaking production.” Women of Wilton (WOW!) present “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” by Jane Chambers, July 27 – Aug. 20 at the Foundry, 2306 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Tickets start at $37.50 at RonnieLarsen.com. “THRILL ME” AT ISLAND CITY STAGE Tickets are now on sale for “Thrill Me,” Stephen Dolginoff’s musical about the infamous thrill killers Leopold and Loeb, opening Aug. 3 at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors. The 2005 one-act show is based on the true story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two young lovers who murdered a young boy in 1924 in order to commit “the perfect crime.” The story is told in flashbacks, beginning with a 1958 parole hearing and explores the predatory relationship between the men. Island City Stage, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy., presents “Thrill Me,“ Aug. 3 – Sept. 3. Ticket start at $40 at IslandCityStage.org. Use code EBTHRILL before July 31 to save 10 percent on regular ticket prices. “OLEANNA” AT EMPIRE STAGE Michael Vadnal Productions presents David Mamet’s “Oleanna,” a searing 1992 drama about the power struggle between a university professor and one of his female students, who accuses him of sexual harassment and, by doing so, spoils his chances of being accorded tenure. The play’s title, taken from a folk song, refers to a 19th-century escapist vision of utopia. The play has been interpreted as Mamet’s response to the 1991 confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court and the sexual harassment charges raised by Anita Hill. The show will be presented Aug. 4 – 20 at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Dr. in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $35 at EmpireStage. com. Use code EARLY to save 20 percent on regular ticket prices. OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE CHUCK MURABITO P.A. REALTOR® 954-629-5525 [email protected] EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY REALTOR SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM donations to OutSFL can be made here: outsfl.com/static-content/donate OUT THOU ARTS
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26 • 7.13.2023 To see your listing, call our sales team at 954.530.4970 HUSBAND FOR RENT - Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more! It doesn't cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price. Call Haim at 954-398-3676, [email protected] CUSTOM INSTALLATION AT A GREAT PRICE WE INSTALL: Custom made Roller shades Curtains Verticals Blinds Movie screens Windows Wifi door locks Wifi light switches 954-398-3676 [email protected] Contact Haim to schedule a no obligation quote! We also install/replace A/ C thermostats of the latest in technology (Ecobee or Nest) — downloaded and controlled by your smart phone *Limit one o er per household. Must purchase 5+ Classic/Designer Glide-Out Shelves. EXP 4/30/23. Independently owned and operated franchise. ©2023 ShelfGenie SPV LLC. All rights Reserved. Custom Glide-Out Shelves for your existing cabinets, pantry, and bathroom. Call for Your FREE Design Consultation (855) 773-4546 12 NO INTEREST NO PAYMENTS *On Approved Credit* MONTH 50% OFF INSTALL! HUSBAND FOR RENT LOUD and CLEAR BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival is seeking passionate and driven individuals to join our team! We are currently hiring for various positions including the Executive Director, Development Director, Marketing & Social Media Manager, and Media Intern. As the Executive Director, you will be the star of the show, leading the festival to new heights and ensuring a memorable experience for all attendees. The Development Director will help us raise the curtain on new opportunities and partnerships, while the Marketing & Social Media Manager will help us shine a spotlight on our festival and engage with our audience. Our Media Intern will assist us in capturing all the exciting moments and creating buzz around the festival. Join our team and help us illuminate LGBTQ+ stories from around the world. Apply now and let's make movie magic together! Learn more at outshinefilm.com/careers and apply directly by emailing [email protected] NOW HIRING THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS FOR AS LITTLE AS $149/MONTH! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-954-459-3049 2/1 UNIT IN A DUPLEX, corner lot on 21 St. just 1 block off Wilton Drive in WM. The unit has central a/c, off-street covered parking, private backyard. Month-month lease $1,600.00. Available now, credit report required - 954- 288-4647 RENTAL WILTON MANORS HOME IMPROVEMENT OUTSFL.COM ON STANDS NOW!!! Pick Up Your Copy Throughout South Florida Today! VISIT US ONLINE: OUTSFL.COM
7.13.2023 • 27 OUT THERE. CALL US AT 954.514.7095 YOUR AD COULD BE HERE. DON’T WAIT, GET YOUR BUSINESS