SERVING WILTON MANORS AND OAKLAND PARK BEGINS IN CENTER APRIL 18, 2024 VOL. 2 • ISSUE 16 VISIT US ONLINE AT OUTSFL.COM OUTSFL @OUTSFL CRAIG JUNGWIRTH ARRESTED BUT BONDS OUT - ON THE LOOSE AGAIN STORY BY JOHN HAYDEN | PAGE 4 MIAMI QUEENS SASHAY AWAY OUR INTERVIEW WITH MORPHINE LOVE DION STORY BY MICHAEL COOK | PAGE 32
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4 • 4.18.2024 COVER: Morphine Love Dion. Photo courtesy of World of Wonder/MTV. April 18, 2024 • Volume 2• Issue 16 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 © 2024 J&J Media Group. PUBLISHER Jason Parsley [email protected] CEO Justin Wyse [email protected] EDITORIAL ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR Kimberly Swan 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 SPECIAL TO OUTSFL Steve Rothaus • J.W. Arnold CORRESPONDENTS John McDonald • Sean Conklin Deon Jefferson • Aurora Dominguez Denise Brown • Mary Rasura Terri Schlichenmeyer • Gregg Shapiro Kennedy McKinney • Michael Anguille Robert DeDominic • Aaron Kinchen Tessa Becker • Christopher Flores PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Pier Angelo SALES & MARKETING For ad placement, call 954-514-7095 SALES MANAGERS Edwin Neimann [email protected] Silvio Carvana [email protected] Andrew LaRochelle [email protected] DISTRIBUTION SERVICES Richie Wilson • Johnathan Rey • Tyler Brayton NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 Spot an error? Let us know at ABSOLUTE ‘BEGINNERS’: [email protected] AN INTERVIEW WITH GAY FILMMAKER GORAN STOLEVSKI The judge set the hearing for 10:30 a.m. on April 25, in room 10150 at 201 SE Sixth St. in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to looking for Jungwirth, investigators are still looking for more victims. CRAIG JUNGWIRTH GOES TO JAIL (BRIEFLY) Craig Jungwirth is in the wind. Again. After being arrested in Okeechobee County April 10, Jungwirth made bond April 15 and appears to have immediately restarted his alleged campaign of harassment against members of South Florida’s LGBTQ community. One of his victims, a barber in Wilton Manors, has finally been granted a personal protective order. The protective order calls for Jungwirth to appear in court next week, when the judge will decide if it should be enforced further, modified or dismissed. Despite offering protection against stalking, which can be a crime, this is still a civil case. While Jungwirth’s terror campaign against the LGBTQ community goes back years, including allegations of threatening a Pulse-like massacre at an event, his most recent attacks have targeted specific people and organizations, including OutSFL and staff. Some accusations come from the barber, who says Jungwirth has used an online booking system to clog the calendar, making it impossible to book legitimate appointments. Jungwirth is also accused of making lewd and libelous posts on social media accounts. NEWS • HIGHLIGHT John Hayden A past mugshot of Craig Jungwirth. Photo courtesy of the Broward Sheriff’s Office. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL BROWARD COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS AT 954-493-TIPS. CALLERS MAY CHOOSE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM
4.18.2024 • 5 Welcome to accessibility for everyone In Greater Fort Lauderdale, we’re excited about welcoming everyone under the sun and providing access for all, from beach wheelchairs and accessible pathways to the Hidden Disabilities Sunfl ower Program at FLL airport. Learn more about local resources and plan your trip at VisitLauderdale.com/Accessibility.
6 • 4.18.2024 LAST WEEK'S COVER FROM THE NEWSROOM - TAYLOR SWIFT DURING HER RECENT CONCERT IN CHICAGO SCAN HERE TO VIEW THE ISSUE ONLINE OUT AND ABOUT PHOTO OF THE WEEK Congratulations to newlyweds Selene Diaz, a private family personal assistant, and Michele Laskowski, a consulting arborist, on their wedding day at their Wilton Manors backyard santuary. Photo by JR Davis
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8 • 4.18.2024 OUTFAU'S COVER FROM THE NEWSROOM - TAYLOR SWIFT DURING HER RECENT CONCERT IN CHICAGO SCAN HERE TO VIEW THE ISSUE ONLINE MONDAYS JOCKSTRAP NIGHT TUESDAYS CODE HANKY NIGHT WEDNESDAYS UNDERWEAR NIGHT THURSDAYS CIGAR NIGHT THURSDAYS HARNESS NIGHT SUNDAYS LET’S HAVE A KIKI (954) 533-8248 eaglebarwm.com 2209 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL 33305 CARTOON OF THE WEEK Larry Printz EDITORIAL CARTOON
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10 • 4.18.2024 By Kennedy McKinney OUT ABROAD VATICAN DENOUNCES GENDER-AFFIRMING SURGERY EUROPE I n a new document endorsed by Pope Francis, The Vatican declared gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy to be “grave violations of human dignity.” According to Al Jazeera, the 20-page Dignitas infinita, or Infinite Dignity, reaffirms the church’s long-held opposition to abortion and euthanasia but also rejects the gender theory, or the idea that one’s gender can be changed. The document says that God created man and woman, and they are supposed to be biologically different beings. It states that people must not tinker with that plan or try to “make oneself God.” The Infinite Dignity continued by declaring that surrogate parenting violates the dignity of the surrogate mother and the child and urged a global ban. Pope Francis. Photo by La Cancillería de Ecuador, via Wikimedia Commons. ACTIVISTS SAY HONG KONG’S ID-CHANGE POLICY FALLS SHORT ASIA Hong Kong is no longer requiring transgender people to undergo full gender-affirmation surgery before they can change their gender on IDs. However, activists still feel as if the new change continues to “violate the bodily integrity” of trans people. Before, a trans individual seeking the ID change had to have procedures that included the removal of their internal reproductive organs and required the construction of a penis or “some form of a penis” or the removal of the penis and testes and the construction of a vagina. According to Pink News, under the new policy, trans people no longer need to receive this extensive medical procedure to apply for a gender marker change. Now, transgender men must undergo top surgery while trans women must have bottom surgery. Hormone replacement therapy is also required. “The new policy does not mean that all the discrimination and harm caused by the long delay will be wiped out,” said Henry Tse a transgender man who launched the appeal which sparked this change, as reported by Pink News. “We do not see the justifications but [do see] the contravention of individuals’ rights, forcing them to take unnecessary medical tests and their right to privacy.” Photo via Henry Tse, Facebook. ATHLETE SUSPENDED AFTER USING HOMOPHOBIC SLUR AUSTRALIA J eremy Finlayson, an Australian Football League (AFL) player, accepted a three-match suspension for using a homophobic slur. The athlete later admitted that the slur was “hurtful and totally unacceptable.” According to Pink News, umpire microphones caught the language that Finlayson used towards an Essendon opponent at Adelaide Oval during a match with his team. “I unreservedly apologize again to the Essendon player, my teammates, Port Adelaide members and supporters and the LGBTQIA+ community for the distress I have caused,” said Finlayson, Pink News reported. “I accept the AFL’s sanction and now look forward to reflecting on my behavior and seeking education to improve myself and understand the impact such comments can have on the broader community.” Photo by Flickerd, via Wikimedia Commons. THE RAINBOW REVOLUTION AROUND THE WORLD
4.18.2024 • 11 facebook.com/OutSFL @out_sfl @outsfl Follow Us on Social Media & Stay Connected MIX & MINGLE JOIN US EVERY FRIDAY @ 6:30!! Complimentary beverage and snack Live entertainment every 2nd friday of each month "Mix and Mingle Grand Opening and Afterparty on April 26th" CALL ME FOR A FREE TOUR 1414 on NE 26th Street, Wilton Manors, FL For availability contact: [email protected] Event & Meeting Space: 3,000+ sq feet available for your next gathering, live event or entertainment needs. www.jfoy.org Booking now for spring/summer/fall events. (954) 594-3473 “please leave a message” NEW LOCATION
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14 • 4.18.2024 A sea black sequins filled The Venue as hundreds of people packed in for SunServe’s annual Shine gala. Nearly everyone in the room found fun ways to comply with the Black & White theme, with glittery silver gowns and sparkly shirts and jackets nearly blinding you as you walked in. The fun night with a serious purpose honored community leaders for their support and raised money for the organization. “Black & White truly showcased our community’s incredible strength and spirit,” SunServe CEO Tony Lima said. “It was a night where every moment was a tribute to what we stand for: support, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable in the LGBTQ+ community.” After a cocktail reception and the salad course, SunServe’s Director of Youth & Family Services Mario DePedro opened the program. The highlight was a video of people SunServe has helped, hitting home the direct impact of the group. DePedro’s mother, who also has a background in nonprofit work, was proudly beaming from her spot as she watched her son. Then Lima came up to present the awards. Honorees were Cindy Arenberg Seltzer of the Children’s Services Council, Brett and Roby Tannenbaum of The Venue, state Senator Shevrin Jones, SMART Ride founder Glen Weinzimer, and Michael Kahane of AHF. Misty Eyez, SunServe’s director of trans services, says the night is more important than ever. “This is our largest fundraiser, and we need this and the generosity of donors because many programs aren’t funded by grants.” After the presentations, raffle, and live auction, the dancing started. “Together, we celebrated a successful event and the shared values that drive us to support and uplift every member of the LGBTQ+ community,” Lima gushed. “Thank you all for standing with us, believing in our work’s importance, and contributing to a night we’ll all remember.” SunServe’s core mission is providing mental health services, including help with substance abuse issues, youth and senior services, trans care and more. Lima summed it up, saying, “This gala underscores our commitment to making a difference and supporting those who need us most.” SUNSERVE’S ANNUAL SHINE GALA A HUGE SUCCESS Photo by JR Davis. NEWS • LOCAL John Hayden “THIS IS OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER, AND WE NEED THIS AND THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS BECAUSE MANY PROGRAMS AREN’T FUNDED BY GRANTS.” - MISTY EYEZ DIRECTOR OF TRANS SERVICES AT SUNSERVE 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
4.18.2024 • 15 PALM BEACH REALTOR HOSTS CLOTHING DRIVE APRIL 18 P alm Beach Realtor Burt Minkoff is hosting a clothing drive to benefit Compass Community Center’s Youth Program April 18. Partnering with three art galleries in West Palm Beach, Minkoff hopes to collect gently used clothing and accessories to provide for participants of Compass youth programs. Compass Community Center is Palm Beach County’s only LGBTQ community center and only agency with programming specifically for LGBTQ youth. The youth program boasts a youth drop-in center, age specific support groups, a free library, parent groups, and support services. Minkoff is a highly successful realtor specializing in high value homes in PBC, including Bernie Madoff’s multi-million dollar Palm Beach home back in 2012. A resident of the area for over 20 years, Minkoff is giving back to the community in big ways. He always donated his old, lightly used clothes to worthy causes, but noticed that there were no local organizations that provide clothing for LGBTQ youth. “I figured, since most of us dress pretty well,” said Minkoff with a chuckle, “that we would have some good clothes to give to our youth.” Minkoff is partnering with three art galleries: New Wave, TW Fine Art, and Kristen Hjellegjerde. Each gallery will accept the donated clothing and are located on Florida Avenue, just north of Belvedere. Minkoff hopes to turn this into an annual KRISTIN HJELLEGJERDE GALLERY 2414 FLORIDA AVE, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33401 TW FINE ART 2412 FLORIDA AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL 33401 NEW WAVE 2408 FLORIDA AVENUE, PALM BEACH, FL 33401 Burt Minkoff. Photo via burtminkoff.elliman.com. NEWS PALM BEACH Sean Conklin drive benefiting the Compass Youth Group. Clothes can be dropped off between 6 and 8 p.m. at any of the galleries. FREE SWAG SAC TO THE 1ST 42 PEOPLE VALUE OF $75+ ONLY ON 4/20 REDEEM YOUR BUD BUCKS! *NOW UNTIL 4/19 EARN $10 OF BUD BUCKS FOR EVERY $50 SPENT TheeHempCo.com 754-701-8865 1539 E. Commercial Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
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4.18.2024 • 17 SERVING WILTON MANORS AND OAKLAND PARK APRIL 18, 2024 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 4 FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE RENTS GO UP; WILTON MANORS BUSINESSES MOVE ON WILTON MANORS Not only is it more expensive to live in Wilton Manors, running a business is costing a lot more, and there’s no relief in sight. That’s forcing local business owners to pay up or move out. Claudia Castillo ART Studio recently left its old home in the Eagle building and moved across the street to the ground level shops in The Gables, which itself is not exactly known for low cost space. Castillo says after seven years, her business had grown, and it was time to find more space. However, it was the skyrocketing rents that forced the issue. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place April 11 for the new gallery. Myth Gastropub, which itself replaced Courtyard Cafe last year, will provide food for the party. Wilton Collective is still getting used to its new location. After being prominently located next to The Venue for years, the building owner forced a move to the new location 1414 NE 26th St., where Holy Mackerel once sat. The move upended WC’s business, and it was closed for a month while they moved in and got approval to use the space as retail and not restaurant. Owner Julian Cavazos is happy to have more space for vendors in the upscale By John Hayden consignment store. He will also rent the adjoining space for events and parties. But the expanded floor space and events comes with the price of losing the visibility that comes with being on Wilton Drive. Cavazos will hold the official grand opening Friday, April 26, at 5 p.m., though their regular Friday evening mixers already reset. So, what is happening with the old location on The Drive? Not much. Many thought owners had a new tenant ready to go, but the building sits empty with a for rent sign out front. Cavazos and crew had barely moved the last box of clothes before the owner had a crew outside painting over the magnificent mural created by local artist Avi Ram. The South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) is also facing a move. They’re in the same building as Eagle. Their lease is up in October, and the new owner of the building wants to increase rent from $40 per square foot to more than $90. When SFSO got their lease, the old landlord gave them “office space” rates. The new owner is “reclassifying” the space as retail, which costs more. The group is looking at their options. WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM Claudia Castillo in her art studio. Photo via Facebook.
18 • 4.18.2024 A new, mid-rise apartment building will soon cast a shadow over the heart of Wilton Drive. But a fight for the city’s soul already casts a long shadow that extends well beyond the vaunted Drive. With the Wilma project at The Shoppes of Wilton Manors and a hotel nearby on Dixie Hwy., growth is coming. The question is, who is coming along with the growth? Wilton Drive Voice (WDV) held a town hall at Eagle, which focused on fears that Wilton Manors will lose its LGBTQ vibe. City Commissioners Don D’Arminio and Chris Caputo were on the panel. They were joined by gallery owner Claudia Castillo, Eagle owner Chuck King, Lorenzo Robertson from Ujima Men’s Collective, and Patrick Volkert from Hunters Nightclub. While concerns about the future motivated WDV to hold the meeting, immediate threats dominated the conversation. Specifically: rents. Like housing around the area, prime retail fronts cost more and more with no ceiling in sight. King’s Eagle has a long lease, but when they went to the property owner to discuss creating an outdoor patio, King says the owner wanted to write up a new lease — at triple the rent. Eagle isn’t the only example. Businesses up and down The Drive face similar situations. WDV formed last year in an attempt to give business owners a collective voice in the future of the city, specifically nurturing the city’s LGBTQ presence. Founder Jude Belanger is promoting San Francisco’s model of an All Cultures Heritage Strategy Plan. Driving concerns are that heterosexuals will move into the new housing, bring “straight” businesses in (whatever that means) and de-queer the city. WDV’s website says its mission is “to safeguard diversity and cultural heritage by preserving and advancing traditions, businesses, arts, health, non-profits, and practices for future generations.” The focus of the meeting was the queerification, or requeerification of the city. However, the event started on a decidedly anti-straight note. Local actor and comedian Peter Bisuito did about 10 minutes of standup to warm up the crowd. The material focused on the lack of baby strollers and crying toddlers on Wilton Drive, and he wants to keep it that way. It was the kind of standup that, if “babies” and “strollers” were swapped out with “faggots” and “dykes,” we would be boycotting, picketing, and doing interviews on CNN. Belanger says that is not what WDV is all about, telling OutSFL, “We love our straight allies. WDV is about including all cultures.” He also wanted to stress that WDV does not endorse any candidates for office. At one point, Belanger recognized a candidate running for mayor of Wilton Manors and gave, at minimum, encouraging words for the campaign. None of the panelists were on stage during the comedy set or the political comments, nor did they openly endorse either of the actions. WDV plans to hold similar events every three months or so. Full Disclosure: Reporter John Hayden was invited to attend and ask a question. He did so as a journalist covering a newsworthy event and not as a member of WDV. WILTON DRIVE VOICE WANTS TO PROTECT CITY’S LGBTQ HERITAGE WILTON MANORS By John Hayden Photo via Carina Mask. 2 • APRIL 18, 2024 • WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM HAVE YOU JOINED THE GAZETTE’S FACEBOOK GROUP? Come join the discussion. The Gazette welcomes feedback. Email [email protected] with comments, suggestions, etc. Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette Assistant to the Editor Kimberly Swan Graphic Designers Julie Palmer Kyle Willis Craig Tuggle Graphic Design Consultant Brendon Lies Wilton Manors Editor John Hayden Correspondents John McDonald • Rick Karlin • Aaron Kinchen Staff Photographers J.R. Davis • Carina Mask Sales & Marketing For ad placement in The Gazette, contact 954-514-7095 Publisher/Editor Jason Parsley CEO Justin Wyse Spot an error? Let us know at [email protected] THE NEWSLETTER YOU NEED. outsfl.com/newsletter THE ISLANDER A WILTON MANORS NEWSLETTER
WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM • APRIL 18, 2024 4.18.2024 • • 19 3 THE ALCHEMIST CAFÉ STAYS PUT CITY TAKES FIRM STAND ON RUNDOWN PROPERTIES WILTON MANORS “We are not going anywhere.” Those are words taken straight off The Alchemist’s website. Their location off NE 24th St. is cruising towards redevelopment, which will be called Generation. Some feared that The Alchemist, like so many small businesses, would be displaced during construction and never return. Not in this case. “We will be moving just a few steps from our actual location,” their statement reads. “It is actually a cute house in the back of our café that will be transformed as The Alchemist Café for the time the construction lasts.” Once Generation, a mixed use apartment By John Hayden complex, opens, The Alchemist will move into the new building and the space will be customized for them. Groundbreaking on Generation sometime later this year. When this project was being debated, two beloved institutions were frequently mentioned: the Parkland memorial mural and The Alchemist. Currently, they are nestled just off the hustle and bustle of 26th St. and NE 15th Ave. But Generation is expected to bring the hustle and bustle with it. During meetings with the city, developers have pledged to recreate the mural on a new wall. Now it appears the other worry is working itself out. OutSFL popped in during a recent afternoon, and was greeted with the standard, yet still heartfelt, “Welcome home.” People felt reassured that their home away from home was going to adapt to the situation. There is no guarantee, at this point, that the revamped location will have a charming garden as it does now. But there is a sense of relief that this welcoming, Bohemian venue will stick around. “The Alchemist Café is more than a business. Way more,” they write. “It is a way of life, a destination, a place where four books have been written, it is the place where you can see someone in distress and some other soul praying for her. It is a café for doctors, architects, students, writers, husbands and wives, their kids, cat lovers, dogs that own the floors. Yes, we are here. We will be here. We are staying here.” Photo via The Alchemist Café Fort Lauderdale, Facebook. ONCE GENERATION, A MIXED USE APARTMENT COMPLEX, OPENS, THE ALCHEMIST WILL MOVE INTO THE NEW BUILDING AND THE SPACE WILL BE CUSTOMIZED FOR THEM. “My personal opinion is this was greed and not trying to do the right thing.” Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton was not in the mood for excuses, obfuscation, or evasion. Neither were his fellow commissioners. During their meeting on April 9, property management company Wilton West LLC asked commissioners to lower fines after being cited for myriad code violations on three different properties. A special magistrate had already cut the fines in half, and the owners were asking for further relief. The citations go back several years, and representatives for the owner bounced from one excuse to the next: COVID caused cash flow issues because tenants weren’t paying, COVID caused supply chain problems, delays in getting permits and more. They also described their apartments as “affordable,” saying a one-bedroom apartment is $1,600 per month and also implied they didn’t do evictions during the pandemic. Commissioners had little sympathy and lots of questions. Wilton West’s representatives brought no documentation to show delays in permits or supplies. The record shows that more than a year went by from the time of the first citations until there was documented action. Further questions forced Wilton West to admit there were evictions during COVID, but they worked with tenants on paperwork. The commission isn’t bound by the special magistrate’s decision. When a person or business chooses to appeal further, the panel can give additional or total relief, keep fines the same, or raise them back up. Commissioner Chris Caputo pointed this out and suggested raising the fines 10%. That’s when the fireworks began. Newton took the procedural, and highly unusual, step of passing the gavel to Vice Mayor Mike Bracchi in order to make a motion: raise it back up to 75% of the original total. “To not have any information or back up, shame on you,” Newton said. The motion passed unanimously and Wilton West LLC has 60 days to pay up, or it goes back to 100% of the original total. Wilton West’s representative didn’t go quietly. As he was leaving the podium, he said he was speechless, but still managed to verbally express his incredulity. “I cannot believe, you say you’re business people.” Newton reclaimed the gavel and told him to leave, saying it should have been 100%. When the man continued to complain, WMPD Chief Gary Blocker gently escorted him out of the room. “This commission will reduce things for people who have legitimate reasons why they couldn’t [address] code violations. That was a disgrace to have someone come in here with nothing in hand except for [excuses],” Newton said afterward. By John Hayden Wilton Manors City Commission Chambers. Photo by Carina Mask. WILTON WEST’S REPRESENTATIVES BROUGHT NO DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW DELAYS IN PERMITS OR SUPPLIES.
204 • • APRIL 18, 2024 4.18.2024 • WWW.WMGAZETTE.COM MEDICARE AND PRIVATE INSURANCE ACCEPTED 1164 E Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 201 Oakland Park, FL 33334 Dr. Macek is double board certifi ed in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Macek is fellowship trained in Pain Medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, the birthplace and leading program of modern pain management in the United States. TREATMENT FOR: ▶ BACK PAIN • NECK PAIN ▶ JOINT DISEASE • HIV NEUROPATHY ▶ HEADACHES • SHINGLES ▶ CANCER PAIN PROCEDURES OFFERED: ▶ STEM CELL THERAPY ▶ PLASMA RICH PROTEIN THERAPY ▶ EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS ▶ JOINT INJECTIONS ▶ SPINAL CORD STIMULATION ▶ MIGRAINES ▶ BACK BRACES ▶ RADIO FREQUENCY ABLATION T: 954.866.5555 | F: 954.938.2127 DRTOMMACEK.COM TOM MACEK, MD Board Certifi ed in: ANESTHESIOLOGY, PAIN MANAGEMENT A PEX SPINE & PAIN WILTON MANORS NAMES NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR Even with an annual budget of $52 million, every penny must be budgeted, and every penny must be accounted for. Essentially, every penny counts. Now the city is welcoming the appointment of a new person to keep track. At Wilton Manors’ city commission meeting on Feb. 27, Nancy Muller was named as the city’s new Finance Director. She comes to Wilton from Severance, Colo., a city of about 8,500 people, which is similar but slightly smaller than Wilton Manors. City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson says Mueller has 20 years of experience in public finance and management. Henderson says Wilton’s human resources department conducted an exhaustive search and recommended the commission approve her appointment. Moments later on a voice vote, city commissioners approved her appointment with no vocal dissent. By John Hayden Mueller replaces Pennie Zuercher, who retired at the end of November. Mueller is expected to start in early April. Photo via Nancy Mueller, CPA, LinkedIn. WILTON MANORS 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
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22 • 4.18.2024 THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON R epublican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed in a post to X, that the eclipse, which traversed a large swath of the U.S. last week, showed that “God is sending America strong signs to tell us to repent,” including “earthquakes and eclipses and many more things to come.” Just when you think that things cannot get any stupider you get this kind of malarkey. It shows how uneducated and ignorant this crackpot is. Newsflash Greene: A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, thereby obscuring the view of the sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately every six months, during the eclipse season in its new moon phase, when the moon’s orbital plane is closest to the plane of Earth’s orbit. In a total eclipse, the disk of the sun is fully obscured by the moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the sun is obscured. Unlike a lunar eclipse, which may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth, a solar eclipse can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world. As such, although total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, they recur at any given place only once every 360 to 410 years. I am exhausted by how stupid everyone is getting. Politicians like Greene, or Donald Trump for that matter, are elevated beyond their ability to function and it’s all a facade, a big fraud perpetrated against the American people, a far too real and tragic reality show. The modus operandi is to talk about God, family and guns, while robbing us blind and destroying what little is left of our democracy. There is no common sense and no common ground. Unless you have a permanent lapse of reason you have to admit that these individuals belong in a three-ring circus or preferably in a loony bin. Placing hopes and dreams in the hands of men and women who say they are on God’s side is never a good idea. It’s a Highway to Hell. Photo via Unspash. UNLESS YOU HAVE A PERMANENT LAPSE OF REASON YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS BELONG IN A THREERING CIRCUS OR PREFERABLY IN A LOONY BIN. Pier Angelo OFF THE WALL VIEWPOINTS • COLUMN Pier Angelo was born in Italy, moved to England at the age of 17 and learned English at the Nelson School of English. He attended college and graduate school in Manhattan. In 2009 he co-founded SFGN with Norm Kent. Now he’s retired with his husband Tom and his Affenpinscher Cabbage. He still enjoys writing his column Off The Wall for OutSFL. JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF TRANS TEACHER OVER PRONOUN DISPUTE I n Tallahassee, Florida, a federal judge has ruled that a transgender woman teacher no longer has to be referred to as “Mr.” or “teacher” in the classroom, citing first amendment protections. Instead, she can use “Ms.” and female pronouns. This decision follows the passage of HB1069 in Florida, which mandated that teachers could not use pronouns that “do not correspond to his or her sex.” Judge Mark Walker enjoined the state from enforcing the law against her, stating, “The State of Florida has not justified this grave restraint, and so the United States Constitution does not tolerate it. Ours is a Union of individuals, celebrating ourselves and singing ourselves and being ourselves without apology.” The plaintiff, Katie Wood, a teacher at a Florida high school, has been known as “Ms. Wood” for four years. She regularly would write her name, title, and pronouns on the whiteboard and used these pronouns with students, faculty, and staff, as well as in her personal life. In evaluating Wood’s usage of her name, title, and pronouns, the judge determined that “The freedom to use the title ‘Ms.’ and to share her preferred pronouns at school is essential to her basic humanity.” Wood’s ability to use her preferred title and pronouns was threatened following the passage of House Bill 1069. Enacted into law in 2023, House Bill 1069 prohibits all employees and contractors of public K-12 educational institutions from using their preferred personal titles or pronouns if those “do not correspond to their sex.” After the law’s enactment, administrators informed Wood that she had to remove her pronouns and title from display and could not correct students who referred to her as “Mr.” or “him.” The judge commenced his ruling with a scathing critique of the state, writing, “Once again, the State of Florida has a First Amendment problem. It has occurred so frequently of late; some might say you can set your clock by it … The question before this Court is whether the First Amendment allows the State to dictate, without limitation, how public-school teachers refer to themselves when communicating with students. The answer is a thunderous ‘no.’” The judge ultimately determined that prohibiting Wood from using her pronouns or title constituted an unconstitutional violation of her freedom of speech, deeming it a form of viewpoint discrimination. In his decision, he refuted several arguments presented by the state, including the claim that Wood using “Ms.” could “impede her job duties.” He found this assertion to be Judge Mark Walker. Public Domain photo. unfounded, noting instead that as a teacher, Wood’s students achieved test scores higher than the district average. Additionally, the state argued that Wood’s identity itself was at odds with the state’s teachings on gender and sexuality, and thus she could be barred. This argument, based on a novel legal theory, was found by the judge to be entirely unsupported by court precedent. This case is not the only recent legal action addressing this topic. Two weeks prior, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that repeated and intentional misgendering could constitute a hostile work environment. Similarly, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that teachers do not have the religious right to misgender transgender students. While the Florida case did not grant Wood an injunction on the basis of a hostile work environment, it does not preclude the possibility that it might recognize she experienced such an environment in addition to the First Amendment violation identified by the judge when the case is fully heard. It is important to note that although defendants are barred from enforcing the law against Wood, the injunction is currently limited only to the teacher. However, should other teachers be threatened with retaliation under similar circumstances, it is likely they would also prevail. Similarly, this case will likely be cited in other attempts to bar transgender students and teachers from using their pronouns in school settings nationwide. This story originally appeared in Erin In the Morning, a blog on substack covering news on trans legislation. Reprinted with permission from Erin Reed. Erin Reed VIEWPOINTS • OPINION
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24 • 4.18.2024 outdoor dining, The menu boasts a selection of Mediterranean dishes, and a great wine list. The cocktails and wines are selected to match their dishes, which makes the dining experience a fun one. I recommend the charcuterie board and one of their flatbreads if you are looking for something light. Also, I recommend staying or dining close to the time where you will be able to look at the gorgeous Clearwater Beach sunset. The spot also offers breakfast in the morning, including an amazing buffet. If you want to be close to their private (yes, private) beach there is the outdoor lounge-style restaurant Eskape Bar & Grill is the restaurant for you to enjoy. There is comfy couch seating, relaxing tables, and delicious fare such as burgers, sandwiches, and salads. There are also frozen cocktails as well as perfectly selected drinks for the outdoor experience. I went with one of my favorites: a Ketel Cosmopolitan. So yes, you can also request your favorite drink. And it was a delicious way to enjoy the view. Speaking of gorgeous views, The Deep End restaurant at the resort’s 11th floor is a way to soak them in. During the day, you can sit on one of their long tables facing the water and enjoy a craft cocktail. And, while you can enjoy this experience at night, we recommend you visit the restaurant for a fancy dinner. During the night it’s time to enjoy the varied menu that it offers, such as Latin dishes, such as a Lomo Saltado. Highly recommended! Lastly, the Spa by JW left me in quite the relaxed state after a 50-minute facial. The facials are targeted to you and your needs. The esthetician will ask you questions relating to your skin, which I enjoyed. It’s a great way to know what you need to do to keep the glow past your service. THERE’S PLENTY TO EXPLORE IN CLEARWATER BEACH While I was there, not only did I enjoy their public trolley system ($2.25!) which takes you all around the main strip of the beach, but I was able to enjoy the views of the main beach once I hopped off by the Pier. The area also offers a variety of restaurants and bars for all tastes. From Irish Pubs to beachside bars, it’s a great way to decompress and enjoy your afternoon. Also, I recommend going for a walk and enjoying the variety of stores as well, where you can snag some beach gear and local souvenirs. Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised and enjoy everything this resort and Clearwater Beach has to offer. I was, since this was my first time enjoying the area for an extended amount of time. JW MARRIOTT CLEARWATER BEACH RESORT & SPA FROM SUMMER PRIDE PACKAGES TO BEACHSIDE RELAXATION T here’s nothing more enjoyable than a relaxing staycation. At times, leaving the stressors of your everyday life and responsibilities behind is the best way to reconnect with yourself and your peace. The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa is truly a surprising gem. Nestled in a corner of Clearwater Beach, on its main strip, it’s a place where dining, relaxation and entertainment connect in the perfect way. I recently had the chance to experience all that the resort has to offer. With this year ending, for me, this is the perfect time to plan something new when it comes to next year’s adventures. So, below are my recommendations for this Clearwater Resort and the area if you decide to set aside a visit for Spring or Summer in the New Year. THE RESORT CELEBRATES WITH PRIDE The resort is already planning for a summer celebration of all things Pride and will be offering a unique offer for those who wish to set aside a room and visit for the summer. In June 2024, the resort will offer a special package for Pride and will also be bustling with events celebrating the community. You will be able to book the offer in early Spring 2024, and the offer is valid from June 1-30. During your visit and when you pick your date or dates to book a room, you can expect special treats such as a rainbow-themed treat from their upscale bakery as a sweet surprise, a discounted rate and a 50-minute couples' massage at their beautiful spa. As if that was not enough, the resort will also give you a Pool Pod for two, where you soak in the Florida summer sunshine, order a delicious craft cocktail or food beachside and simply dive into the water as you take in the scenic view from the 11th floor. DINING IS A DREAM, AND THE SPA IS A MUST-VISIT I am a foodie, and this resort offers a variety of dining establishments. If you decide to try all of the diverse spots, you will be in for a treat. First there is Latitude 28, their upscale downstairs restaurant that offers indoor and Photo courtesy of JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa. CULTURE • TRAVEL Aurora Dominguez FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO CHECK OUT THE PRIDE PACKAGE OFFERS AND MORE, CHECK OUT WWW.MARRIOTT.COM/EN-US/HOTELS/TPAJW-JW-MARRIOTT-CLEARWATER-BEACH-RESORT-AND-SPA/OVERVIEW TO-DO LIST [email protected] Compiled by Rick Karlin EAT, DRINK, AND BE MARY! The Las Olas Wine and Food Festival and the Pompano Beach Seafood Festival both kick off today and it’s “Jazz Under the Stars” with Karina Iglesias at Mickel Park, so there’s no excuse not to have fun. Later tonight head over to The Eagle where things promise to be “Divine.” FRIDAY, APRIL 19 HOWLIN’ AT THE MOON AND PORN STARS One of the hottest new porn stars, Drake Von, makes an appearance at Le Boy, and at The Eagle, it’s their monthly Full Moon party with music by DJ Deanne. NO Manors has DJ JB Burgos. Earlier in the evening, they’ll be jammin’ at The Pride Center with the Tal Cohen Trio. SATURDAY, APRIL 20 THEY WERE COUNTRY BEFORE COUNTRY WAS COOL You know who was doin’ country before Ms. Beyoncé discovered it? Scandals! And they have the hottest afternoon tea dance, a C&W-themed show starring Miss Velvet Lenore, and 50% off drinks starting at 7:30 p.m.! Get your start early in the day, Tropics’ legendary Sunday brunch is back. SUNDAY, APRIL 21 TAX WOES STILL GOT YOU BLUE? Get over it by listening to the sultry sounds of sexy Antonio Edwards at Alibi, then down a couple of shots and take your shot at fame with karaoke. MONDAY, APRIL 22 IN THE PINK The eclipse is not the only event in the sky this month. There is a pink full moon and the Lyrids meteor show both occur tonight, and Latinos Salud in Miami is hosting a viewing event. Go to its website, latinossalud.org for more information. TUESDAY, APRIL 23 ANOTHER OPENIN’ ANOTHER SHOW, OR TWO “The Family Tree” at The Foundry/Plays of Wilton and Delray Beach Playhouse presents “America’s Sexiest Couple,” running through April 27. THURSDAY, APRIL 18 [email protected] HUNTERS IS GOING COUNTRY? Not exactly, but like everyone else, they’re inspired by Ms. Beyoncé and have line dancing lessons tonight. And if you want to go way back to country’s roots. “Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers Reimagined” is at The Kravis tonight. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24
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26 • 4.18.2024 QUEER AND LEFTY A ccording to a 2003 study by Canadian scientists, lesbians and gay men are more likely than others to be left-handed. Putting together the results of previous studies that involved more than 23,000 men and women, the scientists concluded that the odds of being lefthanded are 39% higher in homosexuals than in heterosexuals. Broken down by gender, they found that gay men are 34% more likely to be left-handed and lesbians are 91% more likely to be left-handed. “This is one more piece of evidence that sexual orientation is at least partly determined in the womb,” said Ray Blanchard, head of the Clinical Sexology Program at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health and one of the authors of the study published in the July 2003 issue of Psychology Bulletin. Blanchard and his associates followed that with a 2006 study that suggested that left-handed men without older brothers (like myself) are more likely to be gay than non-right-handed men who have older brothers: “the odds of homosexuality [are] higher for men who have a non-right hand preference.” This was not the first time that scientists noted a connection between being queer and being left-handed. In 1993, researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario found that 69% of lesbians and 45% of gay men interviewed were left-handed in “at least one of 12 simple manual tasks.” Sandra Witelson, a co-author of that study, speculated that the higher incidence of left-handedness may be because “brain organization may be different than in others” resulting from differing hormonal levels while in the mother’s womb. Coincidentally, that study appeared at the same time as another study, this one by the University of British Columbia — Canadians seem fascinated by the topic — that concluded that lefties are more accident-prone and have “noticeably, and significantly shorter” life expectancies. Ouch! Later studies seem to confirm these assessments. In 2019 psychologist Chris McManus and a team of researchers weighed on the matter and concluded that while “many studies in the 1980s and 1990s had asked whether there was any relationship with handedness, and we, like others, had concluded that there was not … a metaanalysis of 20 studies, including our own, Photo via Unsplash. Jesse Monteagudo JESSE’S JOURNAL CULTURE • OPINION Read more from this author here Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and journalist. He has been an active member of South Florida’s LGBT community for more than four decades and has served in various community organizations. with a grand total of 6182 homosexual men altered that situation, male homosexuals having a significantly higher likelihood of being left-handed. The earlier studies had mostly failed through being too small, a typical study having about three hundred homosexual men, and hence being underpowered. That was later confirmed in the large BBC Internet study of sex and sexuality, where 4,616 male homosexuals showed a significant excess of left-handedness, with a similar effect found in the 2008 female homosexuals. As a left-handed gay man, I am interested in all possible links and similarities between my left-handedness and my sexual orientation. Though it is tempting to presume a common, prenatal origin for both southpaws and gays, the fact remains that both conditions are not necessarily linked. There are, after all, many straight “lefties” and many queer “righties,” Still, gays and lefties have a lot in common, if not in origins, then in numbers, conditions, and consequences. For one thing, it is estimated that one out of ten people are left-handed; precisely the same percentage of the population that many of us believe is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Like LGBT people, southpaws are discriminated against just for being who we are in a world where most people are different from us. In the words of Jack Fincher, author of “Lefties,” “left-handers are one of the last surviving minorities in our society with no organization, no collective power or goals, and no real sense of common identity.” In practical terms, I probably suffered more from being left-handed than I have for being a gay man. Like other southpaws, I had to deal with manage tools and machinery built for right-handed people. If lefties are accident-prone, as the British Columbia study suggests, it is because we are forced to live in a mirror image world. Like LGBT people, lefties are thought to be more creative than others. Both queers and lefties try to bolster our causes by listing famous gays and lefties, as if the knowledge that both Leonardo and Michelangelo were left-handed queers help us any. There is a danger in carrying the lefty-gay analogy too far. But in a world that values conformity, both queers and lefties stand out due to our differences. Just as LGBT people have come out of our respective closets, left-handed people are finally asserting ourselves, if only by demanding tools and equipment that are “left-friendly.” For myself, I am as happy and proud to be an out lefty as I am to be an out gay man, and I wouldn’t change my dexterity or my sexuality. LAST WEEK’S TOP 5 ONLINE STORIES THE JOY RIDE TO CONTINUE LEGACY OF SMART RIDE by John Hayden REPUBLICAN REP. 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4.18.2024 • 27 “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. 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 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. HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 1436 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM ST. MARY MAGDALENE & ST. MARTIN EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1400 Riverside Dr, Coral Springs 954-753-1400 | www.stmmcs.net Sunday Worship 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm (Spanish) ST. NICHOLAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach 954-942-5887 | StNicholasFL.org Sunday Service 9:30AM 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. 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 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 DON’T BE CROSS WITH ME T he picture we use to remind us of Harvey Milk is one of him smiling. The photo used to remind us of Matthew Shepherd is that of a beautiful, blond waif. We’re not asked to remember Harvey lying on the floor bleeding out, nor Matthew tied to a fence, beaten and left to die. And yet, we’re reminded of the life of Jesus not by a smiling face, but by the cross on which he died. He transformed the world through three years of teaching love and died on the cross in three hours. He asked God to spare him. If I’m in an automobile accident, please don’t use a wrecked car to represent my 50 years of healing. The cross is the only symbol of death used to represent any other religion. It hangs in the classroom and hospital unit of every Christian institution and on the high altar in every church. You find it at the end of the rosary and of gold chains. How come? Is the way Jesus died more significant than the guidance he gave us? When we celebrate the lives and teachings of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Abraham Lincoln, we don’t use the symbol of a gun to remember them. We use pictures of them smiling. The teachings of Jesus ought to be represented with a symbol of loving kindness, such as a lamb. I’m guided by the Sermon on the Mount, not by Mount Calvary. We often see a public figure make the sign of the cross before or after they do something that Jesus would condemn. The crucifix, in movies, is used in exorcisms of the devil and to repel vampires. It’s also used by some church leaders to oppress LGBTQ people rather than embrace them. In some places in the U.S., gay Catholic groups are barred from using church property to say mass or to have a workshop. People in committed relationships are often denied communion and Christian burial. The reason given is that both would be an affront to Jesus. Yet, denying them such loving kindness is the affront. The U.S. Cemetery in Normandy is filled with 9,238 white marble crosses. I suspect that some of those who died in the invasion of France were atheists. Nevertheless, they are buried with the sign of Christian redemption. As the story goes, God the Father sent the Son to teach people how to pray and to get to heaven. The Church says he needed to die as a sacrificial lamb for the original sin of Adam and Eve eating an apple from the Tree of Knowledge. The cross is the symbol of that sacrifice. It’s more likely today that Christian individuals have made arrangements to be cremated. That is Ray’s and my plan. Catholics can be cremated as long as the ashes are properly buried in a sacred cemetery. That’s not our plan. They’re better in the garden where God lives. CULTURE • OPINION Brian McNaught THE WISE SNOWY OWL Photo via Unsplash. 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.
28 • 4.18.2024 Dear John, I come from a small town, and I have always been a pretty masculine guy. I don’t live in an area that is very accepting. I’ve always had the top position in my relationships and always carried myself as a guys guy. I don’t have a lot of gay friends, there aren’t many in this area. All of my friends know me as a top and a bit of a country boy. I’m a big guy and I like to work out, so I have a sort of aesthetic about me, I guess you would say. What my friends don’t know is that I am in a new relationship, but I’m the bottom in the relationship. I feel like I have to come out again to my friends, but I have all this anxiety about it. People have an idea of who you are, and it can feel like you’re stuck in a gay community box. Why am I so nervous to tell my friends about this new relationship? Anonymous Dear Transitioning Bottom, First and foremost, congratulations on exploring the other side and allowing yourself the space to seek out what you really want sexually. The social anxiety of bringing a new partner into a friend circle is always stressful and when you add in your situation, you’re completely valid in feeling anxious about the prospect. Remember though that all the thoughts in your head are not in your friend’s heads. You don’t have to introduce your new man by explaining what he does to your freshly plucked peach. You don’t owe your friends an explanation of what happens in your bedroom. If your friends are like mine though, they’ll likely pick it up on their own, and they may even tease you about it, but take it in jest and keep it moving. This is a transition in your life and your friends will adjust. Embrace breaking through everything that made you feel like you couldn’t be a bottom. John Porter ASK JOHN PORTER CULTURE • OPINION I’M A CLOSETED BOTTOM. 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. The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only. Use of this column is not intended to replace or substitute any financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. Photo via Unsplash. WASHINGTON STRIPPER LAW SPARKS DEEPER CONVERSATION ON GENDER EQUITY Dressed in a g-string with high top sneakers and a bandanna wrapped around his long blonde hair, Johnny Moon held court inside Seattle’s Cuff Complex on an unusually balmy Saturday night in early spring. “Don’t get me wrong,” Moon said, swirling a cocktail in one hand. “That law is very important, but it has nothing to do with men or queer nightlife.” The law Moon is referring to, known as the strippers’ bill of rights, was signed by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee last month. It aims to bring sweeping changes to an industry that often operates in the shadows. “Strippers are workers, and they should be given the same rights and protections as any other labor force,” said Sen. Rebecca Saldana (D-Seattle), the bill’s sponsor. Intended to create safer working conditions for entertainers, the law also permits adult clubs to sell alcohol, repealing outdated regulations that resulted in the recent raids of multiple gay bars, including Cuff, by the state liquor board. Booze and jockstraps aside, Moon sees a gaping loophole in the new law. “It protects women as strippers. That’s kind of it,” said the chiseled performer, who hails from nearby Portland, Oregon. “Gay clubs and queer go-go dancers are not treated with the same respect, even though they are probably doing more work.” Moon said there remains a double standard in the industry, with women paid more for less work. “CIS women get tipped for literally standing there and having a tit,” Moon said. Porn Pulse interviewed other male dancers in Seattle, who agreed with Moon’s assessment of the “tipping culture,” but most declined to go on record due to fears of retaliation by clients and club owners. Lars Larson, an adult film actor for Fort Lauderdale based Fab Scout, was the exception, speaking his mind freely. “Women absolutely make more money stripping,” said Larson, whose buzz cut and tattooed muscular torso oozes manhood. “But, they are also more vulnerable in the sex industry. If gay strip clubs were more lucrative, then we would have more of them.” For evidence, Larson points to the historically high number of strip clubs in his hometown of Portland, which in 2015 had, reportedly, ballooned to 54 or 1 for every 11,286 residents. “And of that number, only two are gay clubs,” Larson noted. Meanwhile, the Washington law contains a provision that caps “house fees” clubs place on performers at $150 or 30% of their nightly earnings. It also requires establishments to provide on-site security and training that addresses topics such as sexual harassment, human trafficking, conflict de-escalation and first aid. Other measures include door codes for dressing rooms and panic buttons for performers caught in uncomfortable encounters. “That’s all great, but now we start tip toeing into licensing and for dancers, what does that look like?” Larson said. The Cuff Complex in Seattle. Photo by John McDonald. PORN PULSE Hunter Houston
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30 • 4.18.2024 THE ORIGINAL QUEEN OF TELEVISION No, it wasn’t Lucille Ball. Most of our younger readers will have no idea who Liberace was. Darlings, let an old queen educate you. He was a screaming queen who was popular on television and even in a few movies in the 1950s and ‘60s when being gay could ruin your career. So, he pretended to be straight, all the while swishing across the stage bedecked in jewels, furs, and sequins. Your grandmother loved him and wanted your mother (or for you really young ones, great-grandmother, and grandmother) to marry him. That’s how clueless folks were back then. He was practically calling everyone Mary and wearing a tiara. In fact, I think he did wear a tiara. However, he was also a great showman and pianist and parlayed that talent into headlining in Las Vegas and a storied career. Sunshine Cathedral Center for the Performing Arts presents David Maiocco in a Tribute to Liberace on April 27. David Maiocco is a virtuoso pianist who grew up idolizing the greatest showman that we all knew and loved as Liberace. David Maiocco’s dedication to the authenticity of the musical arrangements, costume, and makeup is true to his uncanny impersonation of his idol Liberace. Critics nationwide say you will believe you just witnessed Liberace perform before your eyes. NO, I DON’T LISP! The South Florida Pride Concert Band has announced a special concert, “May the 4th Be with You,” featuring the music of Oscar and Grammy winner, John Williams, hosted by Pandora Boxx of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” and amazingly enough, scheduled for Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at the Broward Center. The band will regale the audience with favorites composed by the Oscar and Grammy Award– winner, known for creating some of the most recognizable movie scores in history, including “Jaws,” “E.T.,” “Jurassic Park,” “Superman,” and of course the Star Wars franchise. Boxx will host the lively concert with her incomparable flair and humor as video footage will accompany much of the music and, as always, there will be some fun surprises. Audience members are encouraged to dress in theme as their favorite Star Wars character or other memorable personalities from one of Williams’ films. For more information visit southfloridapridebands.org/. SNEAKING AROUND The Museum of Graffiti presents “Sneaker Stories,” an exhibition that delves into the historical ties and cultural relationship between graffiti and sneakers. Starting in Miami on April 20, this exhibit will travel through Atlanta and conclude in Washington, D.C. “Sneaker Stories” explores the historic and ongoing synergy between graffiti art and sneaker culture.” It highlights seminal crossover collaborations between graffiti artists and commercial brands, focusing on sneakers from 2003 to the present. The exhibition features art and rare sneakers by some of the world’s most iconic artists within the genre, including Futura, Rammellzee, Cey Adams, Eric Haze, Claw, Faust, and Miami’s own Abstrk. The show highlights how sneaker companies have leveraged the talent and rebellious nature of the graffiti community to create limitededition, highly converted footwear that can sell on the secondary market for upwards of $20,000. The exhibition also highlights how sneakers have transcended their original purpose, becoming integral to the fabric of urban culture and art. All visitors will also be able to personalize their sneakers with colorful new laces, charms, and buckle plates, at a complimentary sneaker customization bar in the museum, 276 NW 26th Street Miami. For more information check out museumofgraffiti.com. QUEENS, LISPS, AND SNEAKING AROUND David Maiocco in a Tribute to Liberace. photo courtesy David Maiocco. Rick Karlin ENTERTAINMENT • CULTURE CORNER Photo via Pandora Boxx, X (formerly Twitter). NEW PLAY EXPLORES FAMILIAR FAMILY DYNAMICS T he premise of Erin K. Considine’s world premiere play will be familiar to many gay men of a certain generation: A gay son returns to his childhood home and must wrestle with the death of an abusive father and the advancing dementia of his aging mother. Meanwhile, his sister, who stayed behind to care for their parents, is afraid to let go and move forward. “Everybody in the audience is going to see some part of themselves in the story,” promised actor Bruce Linser, who stars as the conflicted gay son Gavin in “Family Tree,” opening this weekend at the Foundry in Wilton Manors. “It’s very relatable and accessible.” And, he added, “It’s funny, too, believe it or not.” For Linser, the similarities are there. He lost his own father, who had some struggles with dementia, in 2017, and while his mother is still alive, he can’t forget the challenges of growing up as a gay man in a small Wisconsin town. He has siblings, too, who are “wonderful and chock-full of drama [in] their own ways.” Linser is joined onstage by Carbonell winners Lindsey Corey as Gavin’s sister and Elizabeth Dimon as their mother. “They’re amazing … Lindsey and Elizabeth are so available on the stage as actors, present and lovely to work off of, and [director] Margaret M. Ledford has done gorgeous work in uncovering the layers and levels of the relationships, challenging us to find the fight and find the love between these people. Like it or not, your family is your family. You love them in some ways, and sometimes you don’t.” The actor was careful not to spoil any plot twists, but he hinted that Dimon’s monologues and the heated sibling rivalry fuel many unexpected hilarious moments. “We know how to hurt each other, and we do it with jokes,” he revealed. Playwright Considine has been active in the production, joining rehearsals in the first week and then returning more recently to tweak the work. Linser first became acquainted with the play in his role developing new works with Palm Beach Dramaworks in West Palm Beach. “That’s how we discovered ‘Family Tree’,” he recalled. “We did a reading as part of the Drama in the Works series at PBD and when it didn’t get selected, I spoke with [artistic director] Bill Hayes. I told him we’d like to do this in South Florida, and he said go for it.” South Florida actor and director Bruce Linser stars in the world premiere of Erin K. Considine’s “Family Tree,” opening April 18 at the Foundry in Wilton Manors. Photo by Bachi Frost. JW Arnold ENTERTAINMENT • RONNIE LARSEN PRESENTS THIS CONTENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RONNIE LARSEN PRESENTS AND PLAYS OF WILTON (POW!). As a result of what Linser described as “the very supportive and very collaborative local theater community,” the show landed at Plays of Wilton with producer Ronnie Larsen for its world premiere. “The future of theater is new works,” he said, “and Plays of Wilton is doing a marvelous job galvanizing the community around the theater. Ronnie knows what his audiences want, and so there are plenty of those sexy gay comedies. But, he also knows what good theater is, and he’s not afraid to challenge his audiences with interesting new pieces that aren’t exactly what they’re used to seeing, but will challenge them.” Recent productions like “Red Speedo,” “108 Waverly,” and now “Family Tree” explored the complex connections between family and unconditional love, Linser noted: “We, as a cast, have had such intense conversations about what’s going on in this play and between the characters, and I just can’t help but believe that audiences will, too … It’s amazing.” See the world premiere production of Erin K. Considine’s “Family Tree,” April 18 – May 12 at the Foundry, 2306 Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Tickets are $37.50 at RonnieLarsen. com.
4.18.2024 • 31 CALL ME FOR A FREE TOUR 1414 on NE 26th Street, Wilton Manors, FL For availability contact: [email protected] Event & Meeting Space: 3,000+ sq feet available for your next gathering, live event or entertainment needs. www.jfoy.org Booking now for spring/summer/fall events. (954) 594-3473 “please leave a message” NEW LOCATION
32 • 4.18.2024 MORPHINE LOVE DION WANTS YOU TO COME TO FLORIDA TO ‘CELEBRATE BEING QUEER!’ A fter roaring through almost all the signature “RuPaul’s Drag Race” challenges (and some pretty epic lip syncs) Morphine Love Dion departed “Drag Race” on a true high. From getting a quick Untucked visit from her mother, the Florida sensation Athena Dion to becoming a late season lip sync assassin, Dion has shown that she has the chops for superstardom post-Drag Race. I caught up with Morphine to dish on her Florida sisters, the unique place she has in the competition after scoring no main challenge wins, and what challenge she still feels she didn’t completely fall short on. MICHAEL COOK: CONDRAGUALTIONS ON AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING SHOWING ON “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” SEASON 16! WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE LOOKING BACK AT YOUR EXPERIENCE? MORPHINE LOVE DION: You know, for a queen with zero wins and zero mini challenge wins, I feel like it’s iconic to still have me in the Top Five. I am really happy and proud of myself that I made it this far. I represented Miami in the best way and even while filming, I had such a great time. It just feels amazing to be a part of something that I’ve always wanted to be a part of, and to have had such an amazing time and run on the show. The fan reaction has been tremendous also. I’m just really happy. MC: PEOPLE SEEMED REALLY GAGGED DURING THE FINAL EPISODE WHEN YOU WERE DISCUSSING YOUR TUCKING PROCESS. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS? MLD: Right? That is how all of my trans brothers, sisters, and mothers have shown me how to tuck. Girl … As a queen who does have a meaty tuck, I do tuck wrong sometimes. I was portraying the way that one of my mother’s tucks. One day we were in a dressing room and she said, “Daughter, this is how you do it.” And that was how I did it! Michael Cook MC: SPEAKING OF MOTHERS, ONE THING THAT WAS TRULY HEARTWARMING WAS SEEING YOUR OWN DRAG MOTHER ATHENA DION APPEAR ON THE SCREEN DURING UNTUCKED. WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE FOR YOU? MLD: I feel like she gave me the energy to do the “Body” lip sync by Meghan The Stallion; it made me want to keep going. Seeing her after so long, I was back home; it was home. When you’re there, it’s a whole different world, atmosphere and universe. I kind of forgot about my home here, who lives here, where I was from, so she brought me back. She is also my best friend, my drag mother, and someone that I talk to every single day. Seeing her was just so special; I don’t cry and that one made me cry. MC: WHAT ARE YOUR ROSE AND THORN OF YOUR ENTIRE “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” EXPERIENCE? MLD: I think that my highs were definitely lip-syncing, that is what I do best. Shows, performances, and lip syncs are my highs. I think my lows are definitely Snatch Game, which we don’t talk about (laughs), and definitely getting put low for the makeover challenge. I don’t think I deserved that, but you know what, it happened already and it’s fine. I still think I did a pretty good job regardless. MC: THE R HOUSE/PALACE RIVALRY OF MIAMI BEACH IS ALREADY LEGENDARY, BUT BETWEEN YOU AND MHI’YA HAVING THAT EPIC LIP SYNC AND BOTH BEING LIP SYNC ASSASSINS OF THE SEASON, IT DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE MIAMI BEACH MADE THEMSELVES SEEM THIS SEASON! MLD: Mhi’ya passed me the crown and scepter when she left; she said here you go, take it and run-and that’s what I did! MC: WHAT WAS IT LIKE HAVING A MIAMI BEACH SISTER IN THE COMPETITION WITH YOU, BUT SOMEONE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO END UP COMPETING DIRECTLY AGAINST IN A NOW LEGENDARY LIP SYNC? MLD: Well I can’t comment too much on the rivalry stuff, but it’s a known thing. I think whoever did that, mama props, they should get a raise, Putting an R House girl and a Palace girl together in a lip sync without them knowing each other like that, that’s sickening. That’s like a different world also, I mean we got so close on the show she was talking all that smack, only for me to send her home. So you know, what, I’m proud of that. That’s my sister and we love to fight, cut up, and kiki! MC: LOOKING BACK, WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE ON “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” THAT YOU TRULY LOVED AND ENJOYED THE MOST? MLD: Other than the makeover challenge, because I don’t care if that’s the one that I went home during or not, I still think I did a good job and I would do it again and again. Besides that, I would say the “Power” performance. I think that I did so well there and normally I don’t write lyrics, rap or sing, I was like, “Damn this is fun”! Any choreography challenges, put me in there, I’m there. MC: WHAT’S NEXT FOR MORPHINE LOVE DION? MLD: I want to do so many things. I want to work on music now, some tunes, a Morphine Love Dion album, all that stuff. In the works, I am possibly doing makeup stuff, I can’t say too much. YouTube videos and content so the fans can learn and have a great time watching me talk all the shit that I can talk. I also want to do huge giant events in Miami where queer culture is celebrated and loved. I feel that Miami is more touristy than people going to watch drag shows in a sense. New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago have these big events for drag, and Morphine Love Dion. Photo by David Martinez. ENTERTAINMENT • TV I WANT TO DO SO MANY THINGS. I WANT TO WORK ON MUSIC NOW, SOME TUNES, A MORPHINE LOVE DION ALBUM, ALL THAT STUFF. READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH MHI’YA IMAN LE’PAIGE. we’re kind of missing that a little bit. I want to bring that here, having three ”Drag Race” girls in Miami, we could really build something together. MC: AS ONE OF THE PREDOMINANT QUEENS IN FLORIDA, YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON YOUR STATE IS GOING TO BE SO POWERFUL. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL APPREHENSIVE ABOUT COMING TO FLORIDA DUE TO THE POLARIZATION OF IT POLITICALLY AND THE CHALLENGES THAT LGBTQ COMMUNITY HAS RECENTLY FACED THERE? MLD: I always say that Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are like separate entities of Florida, so as long as you’re in those places you’re good (laughs). I always say that as a joke because people are so terrified to come to Florida and I’m like, don’t be girl! It’s fun, it’s amazing, there is so much to love here. There is so much beautiful drag, so many beautiful people. I say come here have a good old kiki, have a good time, and let’s just celebrate being queer!
4.18.2024 • 33 “PULP” ISLAND CITY STAGE THROUGH MAY 5 Patricia Kane’s “Pulp” is both an homage to and a parody of film noir, lesbian pulp novel, and tough-dame movies. She captures the genre perfectly and 1950s period score, by Amy Warren and Andre Pluess with lyrics Kane, only adds to the campiness of the evening. “Pulp” takes place at The Well, a teeming-with-sex women’s bar. Vivian is the glamorous owner of The Well, Bing is the resident sexpot and Winchester and Pepper are two other bar employees into this world steps Terry, a plain-speaking butch lesbian. I saw the world premiere of this play in Chicago nearly 20 years ago, and it was a bit rough around the edges. The Island City production, with Nicole Stoddard’s fine directing, gives it the polish it deserves. Alyiece Moretto’s wonderful set makes the best use of the space, giving us a believable underground bar setting. Ardean Landhuis’ lighting adds to the comic “revelations,” but we could have used some more classic film noir lighting techniques. The cast is spectacular across the board, although I never for a moment believed that Valeria Di Babbo ever saw a Barbara Stanwyck movie. I didn’t expect her to imitate Stanwyck, but to at least deliver her lines in a reasonable facsimile of her style (it’s part of the joke in the script, after all). But that is a minor quibble, when everything else (including the rest of Di Babbo’s performance) is sheer perfection. The show runs 95 minutes without intermission. I wanted more! “MRS. DOUBTFIRE” BROADWAY FORT LAUDERDALE BROWARD CENTER THROUGH APRIL 21 Like the movie version, the stage musical “Mrs. Doubtfire” is a star vehicle. In the movie it was the late Robin Williams, on stage, it is Rob McClure, and while his name may not have the same star wattage as Williams, his talent glows just as bright. He starred in the ill-fated Broadway production, which opened just before the COVID pandemic, and then re-opened when folks were still too leery to return to the theater. However, I doubt this show would have run much longer than it did, for other than McClure, it has little going for it. The book is a faithful reworking of the movie plot, keeping all the memorable bits, but there is little that’s memorable on its own. The score is forgettable, and the lyrics, while serviceable, aren’t anything that will keep your interest. However, that doesn’t stop the show and the cast from keeping everyone entertained. The show moves at an amazing clip, almost cinematically, and the talented cast gives it all, especially the trio of kids. The role of Daniel’s gay brother and husband are stereotypes that I’d hoped we’d moved past by this time. The show is updated with topical references, but its attitude still feels as if it’s set in the early 1990s. “HAMILTON” KRAVIS ON BROADWAY KRAVIS CENTER THROUGH APRIL 21 If there was any doubt as to whether “Hamilton,” written by and starring Lin Manuel-Miranda on Broadway was a star vehicle (three Tony Awards for performers) it was answered on opening night at the Kravis with a resounding, “NO!” “Hamilton” is an ensemble piece and every member of the touring production of “Hamilton” delivered a Broadway-caliber performance in a show that was as fine-tuned as a show just a few weeks into its run. This show is tight! Each actor was laser-focused and gave a stellar performance. Sure, there were a couple of times where words could have been better enunciated, but you try singing Miranda’s score and not tripping over a lyric or two (the group behind us did the entire show, and far from being annoying, it was endearing). One of the best shows I’ve seen in South Florida. Ever. Period. ‘PULP,’ ‘MRS. DOUBTFIRE’ & ‘HAMILTON’ Pulp at Island City Stage. Photo via Fecebook. Rick Karlin THEATER ‘SEEN’ ENTERTAINMENT • THEATER
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