JANUARY 4, 2024 VOL. 2 • ISSUE 1 VISIT US ONLINE AT OUTSFL.COM OUTSFL @OUTSFL THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH PAGE 8 PERSON OF THE YEAR FAY WHAT!? LOCAL
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THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 3
4 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH COVER: Photo by Carina Mask. January 4, 2024 • Volume 2• Issue 1 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 SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Christiana Lilly ART DIRECTOR Julie Palmer GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kyle Willis • Craig Tuggle GRAPHIC DESIGN CONSULTANT Brendon Lies ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Rick Karlin [email protected] COMMUNITY EDITOR John Hayden [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHERS J.R. Davis • Carina Mask COLUMNISTS Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo Sabrina Haake • Fred Fejes John Porter • Kelly Ghweinem SPECIAL TO OUTSFL Steve Rothaus • J.W. Arnold CORRESPONDENTS John McDonald • Sean Conklin • Deon Jefferson David-Elijah Nahmod • Aurora Dominguez Denise Brown • Mary Rasura • Christian Walden 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 954-530-4970 SALES MANAGERS Edwin Neimann [email protected] Silvio Carvana [email protected] DISTRIBUTION SERVICES Richie Wilson • Johnathan Rey • Tyler Brayton NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM TOM GOSS TO PERFORM AT SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL JAN. 19, & MORE LGBTQ ARTISTS TO CHECK OUT Spot an error? Let us know at [email protected] “What Jorge did was genuine Christian love to try to give this man a leg up and an opportunity,” Don Diaz-Johnston wrote in his victim impact statement. “And Jorge knew that level of kindness and generosity could thaw the coldest of hearts. But the truth is it can’t turn the blackest of hearts.” In 2014, Jorge and Don were among six gay couples that sued the Miami-Dade County Clerk for the right to marry. “Jorge was such a good guy with a powerful voice,” recalled Elizabeth Schwartz, an attorney on the groundbreaking case, Pareto v. Ruvin. After the verdict, Don Diaz-Johnston released a statement thanking the Tallahassee Police Department’s homicide team, but acknowledged being named a suspect in his husband’s murder had a chilling effect. “Emotionally, being named a suspect in a heinous crime can shatter a person’s mental and emotional well-being. The constant fear, anxiety and humiliation that accompany such accusations are unbearable,” DiazJohnston wrote. J ustice was delivered for Jorge DiazJohnston. A Tallahassee man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for killing DiazJohnston, a Miami native and well-known marriage equality activist. On Dec. 15, a Leon County jury found career con artist Steven Yinger, 38, guilty of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, grand theft motor vehicle, grand theft and criminal use of a personal identification number. A paralegal and brother of former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Diaz-Johnston, 54, disappeared on Jan. 3, 2022. His body was discovered a few days later, wrapped in a bedsheet, at a Jackson County landfill. In a Facebook post, Don Diaz-Johnston wrote his husband can finally rest in peace and thanked those who stood by him and the Diaz family “through this horrible ordeal.” The couple were separated when Jorge met Yinger at an alcohol recovery program and offered him a free place to stay in his Tallahassee apartment. When Yinger refused to work, Diaz Johnston tried to throw him out, but was killed instead. Yinger strangled Diaz-Johnston, stole his car and cell phone, and ran up his credit cards on a shopping spree. Assistant State Attorney Adrian Mood told jurors Yinger treated Diaz-Johnston “like a piece of garbage,” dumping his body in a bin for trash crews to unwittingly wheel away. The jury needed only three days to convict, Yinger, a hardened criminal with a long rap sheet of burglaries and drug-related crimes, who had served time in state prison. JUSTICE The late Jorge Diaz-Johnston. Photo via Facebook. NEWS HIGHLIGHT John McDonald MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDER OF GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 5 Plan Your Adventure at VisitLauderdale.com/lgbt Welcome Discover a beach playground unlike any other in Florida’s LGBT+ capital, from cosmopolitan wining and dining at rooftop bars to the revelry of Wilton Manors. As one of the world’s most progressive and inclusive destinations, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s welcoming vibe is legendary. And we can’t wait to welcome you. friends and lovers
6 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH 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 Artist Claudia Castillo Quintana, owner of Claudia Castillo Art Studio, Wilton Drive Improvement District chair and board member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce, with wife and architect Neyda Otero. Photo by JR Davis
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 7
8 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH PERSON OF THE YEAR FAYWHAT?! LOCAL THE EXUBERANT TELEVISION ANCHOR IS MAKING THE MOST OF HER SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE, LOVE, HAPPINESS AND CAREER Steve Rothaus Photo by Carina Mask
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 9 A decade ago, OutSFL’s 2023 Person of the Year lost her radio career, her home and nearly her life to alcoholism. She now celebrates nine years in recovery, a happy marriage to a loving wife and streaming television fame as a leading voice in the South Florida LGBTQ community. Exactly who is FayWhat?! – real name Fay Albernas – star news anchor and glamorous personality at Fort Lauderdale-based Happening Out Television Network. “She’s been with us 2½ years,” said Darren Loli, executive producer of Happening Out Television Network and VP of Hotspots/ Happening Out Television Network. “What’s super important and unique about Fay is Fay acts like a bridge between the ‘L’ and the ‘G.’ That’s really important because when our community works together like that, we can accomplish so much more.” GROWING UP FAY Albernas – once known in South Florida as radio host Fay Carmona and “Lady Fay” of FM stations Y100 and Party 93.1 – grew up in Passaic, New Jersey. “My mom wasn’t too keen on the fact that I was gay and I knew that I was gay early on,” Albernas said. “I was in love with my volleyball teacher. I knew Spanish and I took Spanish classes in high school just because the teacher was hot.” She then began cutting school and taking 20-minute bus rides to Greenwich Village and Broadway. “The only place that I saw myself was maybe on a stage. Not as a singer, not as a dancer. I can’t do any of those things. But I just loved musicals so much.” Albernas, the Colombian-Puerto Rican daughter of Spanish Baptists, was less happy at home. “Unfortunately, I could not be my true authentic self around my mom and around my family, even though I lived 20 minutes away from the gayest place at that time.” After graduating high school, Albernas at 17 left home and moved to Miami. “I came down here for a weekend and was like, ‘Oh my God, this is where I need to be. I don’t know what the hell I’m gonna do here, but this is where I need to be for sure.’ “I got a fake ID and I lived with some friends, what most people do when you move to Miami in the ‘90s and you’re a pretty girl: I modeled and I bartended. “I had [met] an incredible man. God rest his soul. … He was like, ‘Listen, if you want a job, here it is. If I ever see you consuming alcohol, you’ll be out the door so quick that your head will spin.” Her mentor had no idea she was already drinking. Albernas said that back then, there were “a lot of lost opportunities.” “You know, I wasn’t a good person. I know now that it was an addiction. When you are deep in your addiction, shame overcomes you and it makes you feel that it’s all your fault and you’re a horrible person. And I’m still working on that now.” Always a smooth talker, Albernas in her early 20s got a job at Y100, working with DJ John “Footy” Kross on his morning show, Footy and the Chix @ Six. “They needed another chick,” Albernas said. “Now, in this woke concept, that wouldn’t be OK. But at the time it was OK, right?” Despite her budding radio career, Albernas’ personal life led her to leave South Florida and eventually work in California and New York. “Initially, there were conversations about me being straight. Or maybe not disclosing my sexuality, better yet. It wasn’t done in a disrespectful way, but it was just alluded to. That was something I didn’t want to do anymore, either. And when I went to San Francisco and New York, I didn’t have to. I got to be just Fay, dating women and having a great time.” Before moving to San Francisco in 2007, Albernas said she kept separate “my gay world and my straight world.” “To move to San Francisco and see those two worlds be one was so nurturing and wonderful and loving. But it’s also where my alcoholism began to get kind of out of control, unfortunately. I was left to my own devices and having a lot of cash. And those are two things that are not great.” FAY HITS ROCK BOTTOM Albernas then worked a few years at Univision in New York. In 2011, she moved back to California with her partner at the time. “By then, my alcoholism was fullblown and awful. We go to LA. I can’t FEATURE even remember the radio station I worked for. It was so short-lived and it was a fog, unfortunately. I always say I missed Obama’s best years because I don’t remember.” Soon after they arrived in Los Angeles, Albernas’ partner dumped her. “She had to think of herself. I know that now. Then I didn’t understand that. She left me in the middle of Hollywood, California,” Albernas said. “My friends from South Florida said, ‘Listen, you can’t stay here anymore. You’re going to die here. You don’t know many people here. You don’t even go out anymore. It came to the point that I would ask somebody, ‘Could you call my phone to see if it works’ because it wouldn’t ring or text for weeks. At that point, I had turned everybody away. It wasn’t that people abandoned me. It was just that I was no fun anymore.” Albernas returned to South Florida in 2012. “My cousin and my friend went and packed up my shit, drove my car here at the time and offered me a job on Power 96, here, overnight. I said, ‘Look, it’s a job and I get to come back home and I know people. Why not?’ she said. “My alcoholism is full-blown, way out of control, but I’m gonna come back home because I think that geographically that might change how bad my life is. “I took another two years of living on my brother’s futon on South Beach before I hit rock bottom, face first,” she said. “I can’t do this anymore. I wanna die. I wanna die. I wanna die. I would wake up mad because God woke me up. What a crazy dynamic I had going on by the end of it. “By the end of my alcoholism, I was stuttering. I was having three seizures a week. Sometimes less, sometimes more. … I wasn’t eating by that point, by the end of it. I would have coffee and some fruit and I would wake up to five shots of vodka with my coffee.” Desperate, Albernas turned to Alcoholics Anonymous. “I wish I could tell you that right then and there I got sober. I picked up about 45 white chips. A white chip is something that you pick up the first time that you go and you start your sobriety journey. You pick up a white chip to denote your surrender,” Albernas said. “I would get three days and relapse. I would get five days and relapse. I would get four weeks and relapse. I would get a couple of months and relapse. It just took time and tenacity. These people hold you accountable. … It caught on. Some people say I drank the Kool-Aid and that might be so, but my alcoholism got me into the AA rooms, but the fellowship kept me there. “For a couple of years I had to change only one thing: everything. So I got rid of people, places and things. I stopped talking to people that were toxic and that meant a lot of my CONTINUE READING ON NEXT PAGE ⊲ “BY THE END OF MY ALCOHOLISM, I WAS STUTTERING. I WAS HAVING THREE SEIZURES A WEEK. SOMETIMES LESS, SOMETIMES MORE. … I WASN’T EATING BY THAT POINT, BY THE END OF IT. I WOULD HAVE COFFEE AND SOME FRUIT AND I WOULD WAKE UP TO FIVE SHOTS OF VODKA WITH MY COFFEE.” - FAY WHAT?! Happy Sober Birthday to Me! Today I receive a 9 yr Medallion. NINE YEARS!!! Sober date 11/28/2014 Alot has happened since that last Drunk. With determination, faith and a lot of help from my AA family and Unity on the Bay - I slowly got a life beyond my Wildest dreams. Things that i never thought could be, are my Reality now. #MyCuban - My Chosen Family, My Career, My LGBTQ+ Advocacy - None would be possible if I was still Solely guided by a bottle and my Addiction. I remember feelingling so Hopeless and helpless and I prayed often that i would not awake in the morning. That still saddens me. Getting Sober was the HARDEST thing I've ever done. But if i can do it - ANYONE CAN DO IT! **** Here's to 9 years - I pray to continue to stay Teachable. Never forget Sobriety comes first and try to extend a hand of help to anyone sick and suffering from the disease that almost killed me. ** Its hard to see the “before“ pics, but i feel I must share them because its my TRUTH and I don't ever want to forget it. Thanks to my Family, Friends & Fans who love me and always make sure that I have a water or Diet Coke when I’m out. I love you so. #Faywhat #ThatGirl #SoberBirthday #stayGay #AaSaves #onedayatatime #lgbtqMedia #Addict #AA #alcoholicsanonymous Post from Nov. 28, 2023 on FayWhat Albernas' Facebook page.
10 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH gay boys, unfortunately. A lot of my gay boys I did drugs and alcohol with. That was part of our love for each other. And when I was getting sober, I said I would never get on a stage again. I would never get in front of a microphone again because I was never going to be funny again. Right? I was probably never gonna hang out with gay boys again because, you know, right, they all do drugs, right?” Albernas says she hasn’t had a drink in nearly a decade. “My sober date is 11-28-2014,” she said. “Here at nine years of sobriety, I sit with you a completely different person than I was year one.” In the months after she stopped drinking, Albernas “needed to focus on my sobriety.” “That came first. Everything has to come secondary when you’re working on your sobriety. I know it sounds selfish, but it has to be.” She regularly attended AA meetings and became active at Unity on the Bay church near downtown Miami. “I’m [still] very, very, very committed to them. I host their Sunday Celebration Services.” FAY FINDS LOVE In 2015, “after a lot of prodding,” a friend convinced her to attend a house party. There, she met Teresa Albernas, a nurse practitioner at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. “She was with somebody else, interestingly enough. … We crossed paths there and she thought I was funny and I thought she was fun. That was that,” Albernas said. “Soon after, a friend put together a group of women that were going to start doing day things. Stay away from clubs and stuff like that. They wanted to do art exhibits and go to movies. I said, ‘Oh wow, this is totally up my alley.’ And some of the women were sober. Not through AA, they were just people that didn’t drink. I wanted to be a part of that group and Teresa was part of that group, as well.” Fay and Teresa became good friends. “And we made each other laugh. And we texted. I loved that she was a mom. Her kids were grown. I loved that she was a nurse and had so many different degrees. The woman has 10 degrees! She loves school. She’s back in school right now. We couldn’t be more different. I love musicals, she hates them. I love crowded places, she hates crowded places. I love Italian food. Guess what? She hates Italian food.” Albernas said one day while showering she thought to herself, “Why can’t I meet someone like Teresa?” “At that moment, I looked up at the sky and said, ‘Oh, my God, is it Teresa?’” Teresa Albernas was equally smitten with Fay. “My very first impression, I have to admit, I was intimidated because she was just an intimidating presence. And she’s just gorgeous,” Teresa said. Teresa recalls their early times together a bit differently, that the women they socialized with did like to drink. “At the time [Fay] was very newly sober. I don’t think she had been sober for maybe four or five months. So she was hesitant ⊳ CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE about going out herself,” Teresa said. “We’re talking about a group of girls that everybody was drinking and we were out partying and having fun. It was just that kind of setting.” Teresa said she marveled at how Fay managed to stay the course. “She was not drinking. She was keeping to her program,” Teresa said. “And as I got to know that about her, it even impressed me more because you’ve got to have some special kind of willpower to be around this and not want to drink or resisting the urge to give into that.” The women moved in together and fell in love. About three years later, Teresa proposed marriage. “We took one of those little mini weekend cruises and I was just a mess,” Teresa said. “I’ve never asked anybody to marry me. I asked her to marry me on the cruise ship. She was eating bread pudding and she dropped her bread pudding. She said she never expected to get married, but she said yes.” Fay became “a second mom” to Teresa’s children, daughter Alli, now 25, and son Mark, 23. FAY OPENS UP Two years ago, the couple faced another crisis together: Fay learned she had breast cancer. Fay is as fierce and open about that illness as she is about alcoholism. “I lost my boobs, a double mastectomy,” she said. “I don’t want to be a poster child for breast cancer, either. But guess what? If that’s what the universe wants me to do, I’m gonna do it and I’m gonna do it looking good.” Despite her public bravado, Fay suffered greatly in private, according to Teresa. “She came home and was kind of a mess for a while. Obviously, it was not an easy thing,” Teresa said. “You know, there’s a Fay, Teresa and fur family on their way to Miami Shores Pride. Photo via Facebook. “I LOST MY BOOBS, A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY. I DON’T WANT TO BE A POSTER CHILD FOR BREAST CANCER, EITHER. BUT GUESS WHAT? IF THAT’S WHAT THE UNIVERSE WANTS ME TO DO, I’M GONNA DO IT AND I’M GONNA DO IT LOOKING GOOD.” - FAY WHAT?!
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 11 sense of loss. But I told her that at the end of the day, you have to remember you didn’t lose your life. You didn’t have to go through major treatment. Some follow up with doctors and aside from your boobs, you’re alive and well.” Albernas is candid about almost everything in her life. Almost. There’s one topic she’s not very comfortable talking about. Her age. “Agism is real. And no one beats themselves up more about that than women. That’s something I can’t say I’ve completely won over,” said Albernas, who turned 49 on Dec. 19. “I don’t tell people that. It’s not part of the conversation because of the agist platform that we live in, especially gay men. A man wants to stay a twink forever and he can’t past 30. Why not?” Another thing Fay’s fans don’t know about her: “How cheap she is,” according to Teresa. “I think people would be surprised,” Teresa said. “She’ll tell you that her dress is from Goodwill and she paid $8 for it. She’s very frugal. I think it comes from her having been homeless at one time when she was drinking. It comes from that feeling of lack, of not having.” These days, Teresa and Fay keep hectic schedules. That includes running their dog boarding and rescue business called Fay’s Fur Family. Tony Lima & Fay at Hunters in December 2023. Photo provided by Tony Lima. “That’s what I did when I got sober. That’s how I fed myself. That’s how I paid my bills,” Fay said. “The business is still active, but now it’s just the most spoiled [animals]. Our pups have become family. Today, I woke up to a lot of dogs around me. I have to make sure they’re all fed and clean.” Teresa said Fay cares deeply for animals. “We have two cats and we have two dogs, a Pomeranian and a little mixed German shepherd that we rescued,” Teresa said. “He was next door and the people left him in the yard. He’s a super, super anxious dog. He didn’t like anybody. He’s come around. And when she had her breast cancer, he didn’t leave her side. That dog was right next to her the whole time. So she’s super bonded with him.” FAY EMBRACES ACTIVISM Recently, Fay has become very outspoken about queer politics and trans-rights issues. Until late 2016, she didn’t pay much attention. Then, she said, “Trump happened.” “Listen, I’m a bit shameful to tell you this, but I wasn’t an avid voter. I wasn’t an avid person that knew about politics. I honestly never thought we’d be able to get married, right? I was the people that I scream at today. I was that person,” Albernas said. “All of a sudden, we get Trump. And all of a sudden our rights are threatened. And all of a sudden our black and brown trans sisters are fucking getting killed every day. And it’s like, ‘Oh my God, was this all happening when I was drunk?’ I didn’t know and I felt like I had to make up for lost time.” She met and got to know Herb Sosa, director and CEO of Miami’s Hispanic LGBTQequality group Unity Coalition|Coalición Unida. During the early days of Covid, Unity Coalition launched UCTV, “a community bridge for programming and connecting with our community during an unimagine time during a world pandemic,” Sosa said. Albernas helped him start UCTV, which streamed on YouTube and Facebook Live. “She was instrumental, one of our initials hosts with UCTV during the pandemic,” Sosa said. “She also served on our board for a brief time. She was energetic, effervescent and liked by many in our community.” Two-and-a-half years ago, producers at the fledgling Happening Out Television Network took notice and hired Albernas. “We’re a nonprofit organization, so for her that means 60 hours a week,” said Loli, the network’s vice president. She is a regular anchor on Happening Out’s Queer News Tonight, which streams nightly from a studio at Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale. It was during one broadcast that Albernas bonded with Tony Lima, CEO and executive director of SunServe, a Wilton Manors-based organization that provides support and mental health services for LGBTQ+ people in South Florida. “We had a lot of chemistry on air,” Lima said. “We started to build this great friendship.” Lima, the onetime executive director of queer-rights group SAVE LGBTQ, said Albernas believes in second chances and that they often attend late-night community events together. “I don’t wake up before 10 [a.m.],” Albernas said. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel the need to, unless there’s a meeting or something I need to do. But I’m also out, usually, until midnight. So I give myself that pass.” Albernas, who on social media often hashtags posts with #GayBoysGiveMeLife, also hosts her own daily show on Happening Out Television. “The FayWhat?! Show is done completely in her bed,” Loli said. “The joke is that if you want gay boys to interact with you in the morning, they’re still asleep, so she gets into bed with them.” Her recent bedmates include gay porn director Chi Chi LaRue. (Among the topics: their sobrieties, LaRue’s drag career and dead porn stars.) Last year, readers of the old South Florida Gay News named Albernas their Favorite Television Personality. “The more successful that Fay becomes, the more successful the network becomes and the more successful Fay becomes,” Loli said. Journalist Steve Rothaus covered LGBTQ issues for 22 years at the Miami Herald. @ steve.rothaus on Threads. “I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED. SHE’LL TELL YOU THAT HER DRESS IS FROM GOODWILL AND SHE PAID $8 FOR IT. SHE’S VERY FRUGAL. I THINK IT COMES FROM HER HAVING BEEN HOMELESS AT ONE TIME WHEN SHE WAS DRINKING. IT COMES FROM THAT FEELING OF LACK, OF NOT HAVING.” - TERESA ALBERNAS
12 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH ACCUSED MIAMI LGBTQ BASHERS ARRESTED; CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME One month. That’s how long it took to arrest two of the men accused of beating a lesbian and trans woman despite the fact that witnesses identified them the night of the attack. Jorge Giovanni Estevez and Daiken Fernandez were arrested on Dec. 27 for the vicious attack that happened on Nov. 25. Estevez is charged with battery with prejudice. Daiken is charged with two counts of felony battery with prejudice. Prosecutors are charging both under hate crime laws. Daiken’s bond was initially set at $15,000 and includes orders to stay away from the victims. He’s also asking the court to assign a public defender. As of this writing, Estevez’s court records haven’t been updated. The victims were leaving a White Party in Miami’s bohemian Wynwood neighborhood. The group, which included a trans woman and a lesbian, was harassed by a group of men, which allegedly included Daiken and Estevez. When one of the women yelled back, the verbal attack became physical. One was knocked out so hard her eyes rolled back, and witnesses feared she was dead. She spent several days in the hospital and weeks in concussion protocols. WHY SO LONG? Many are still questioning why it took so long to charge the pair. Witnesses say they identified them, by name, when police arrived on the scene. They said one of the attackers works at a nearby club. The night of the attack, witnesses tracked the suspects on social media. Pictures captured from various Instagram accounts appear to show them partying at the Electric Lady earlier that evening. Accounts and pictures that appear to be associated with the defendants were scrubbed, deleted, or made private. These pictures were provided by a witness. OutSFL has not independently verified the images or accounts involved. Jorge Giovani Estevez & Daiken Fernandez. Photo courtesy of Miami-Dade corrections and rehabilitation. NEWS MIAMI John Hayden THIS IS STILL AN OPEN CASE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ENCOURAGED TO CALL MIAMI-DADE CRIME STOPPERS AT (305) 471-TIPS. PROBATION CUT SHORT FOR DELRAY BEACH PRIDE INTERSECTION VANDAL A Palm Beach County judge has canceled probation for the man who defaced the Pride intersection in Delray Beach. In a hearing on Dec. 21, Judge Scott Suskauer ended Alexander Jerich’s probation early. In June 2021, the defendant burned out his truck over the Pride intersection in Delray Beach, just two days after it was dedicated with much fanfare. The State Attorney’s Office objected to the early termination of probation and had wanted Jerich to serve time, said Marc Freeman, public information officer for the office, in a statement to OutSFL. “We were appalled by the defendant’s willful and malicious vandalizing of the Pride streetscape in Delray Beach. Florida’s law, however, prevented us from charging the defendant with a hate crime,” he said. “We have strongly urged the state legislature to change the law to allow charging such acts as a hate crime in the future. Our office will always support the LGBTQ+ community and the enforcement of laws that protect against acts of prejudice. Hate has no place in Palm Beach County.” Rand Hoch, the president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, gave an impact statement during the hearing. After the decision, he noted that even the slap on the wrist that Jerich did receive wasn’t even completed. “Our community has been both demeaned and intimidated by the defendant’s actions,” Hoch said. “Unless our justice system takes significant steps to punish those who brazenly and intentionally commit crimes of bias against the LGBTQ+ community, hatemongers will continue to terrorize our community.” During Pride Month in 2021, the then-20- year-old Jerich was participating in a birthday rally for former President Donald Trump. When the group drove through downtown Delray Beach, he was filmed in a white truck with a Trump flag, purposefully burning out his tires and defacing the intersection. It was posted to social media, with someone yelling out to “tear up that gay intersection.” Delray Beach public information officer Gina Carter said the dedication was, “So full of joy. We had such a large turnout of everybody, all ages, and it was such a festive and joyous feeling and then to have that happen so soon after it was really discouraging.” Alexander Jerich. Credit: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. An anonymous participant in the cavalcade came forward, and Jerich turned himself in the next day. “I was just trying to fit in, be accepted. I realize now that … those are not the people I want to be accepted by,” Jerich told Suskauer in March 2022. Suskauer assigned Jerich homework — a report on each of the 49 people who were killed at Pulse in 2016. Suskauer said that Jerich “is not the individual I was expecting” after reading the police report, and did not want his life ruined at such a young age. In June 2022, Jerich was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and two years of probation and his family paid the city $2,003 for repairs. The State Attorney’s Office looked into charging him under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Combating Public Disorder statute, but Palm Beach County State Attorney David Aronberg said that the case did not meet the requirement of the memorial honoring or recounting “the past or public service of a Florida or United States resident.” “Once again, the justice system has disappointed the LGBTQ+ community,” Hoch said. “In light of the proliferation of hate crimes locally, statewide, and nationally, Judge Suskauer once again passed up on an opportunity to send a message criminal behavior based on bias and hate will not be tolerated in Palm Beach County.” NEWS PALM BEACH Christiana Lilly
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 13 and and
14 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH WHY WE COVERED THIS STORY SOME PEOPLE QUESTIONED WHY WE COVERED THIS STORY. SO LET’S EXPLAIN. NORMALLY A COUPLE HAVING A TANTRUM AT THE AIRPORT WOULD NOT BE NEWSWORTHY. IN THIS CASE THE COUPLE IN QUESTION LIVES IN WILTON MANORS, WHILE THE INCIDENT WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO, GOING VIRAL AND BEING COVERED IN MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING THE DAILY MAIL, THE NEW YORK POST AND THE INDEPENDENT. THIS WAS ALREADY A NEWS STORY BEFORE OUTSFL PICKED IT UP. WILTON MANORS COUPLE GOES VIRAL AFTER MELTDOWN AT AIRPORT F orget Santa’s Naughty list, people are calling for a Wilton Manors man to be put on the No-Fly list. Video shot at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) shows a man absolutely losing it in the terminal after learning his flight to Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport (FLL) was delayed. Video of the man quickly went viral after being posted to the izzzjson TikTok account. They have been identified as a Wilton Manors couple, however OutSFL is choosing not to use their names at this point. Frustrated at the delay, the tall, bald man begins ranting to anyone who would listen, as well as those that wouldn’t. He declares that the airline had “fucked them over.” His husband tries to calm him down and to “think about the girls.” “The girls” have been identified as Shelby and Dolly, their dogs who were waiting for them to come home. The man was inconsolable and kept yelling. The couple got into an argument for the entire crowd at gate B14 to see. The husband kept shouting ‘Shelby and Dolly’ as if repeating their names would conjure their presence or calm the man. Neither happened. Demonstrative but unsuccessful attempts to rile the crowd continued and quickly plummeted to new lows. The man then had an exchange with an elderly woman in a wheelchair and a service dog. The exchange is inaudible, but she essentially told him to get away from her. His response: “Fuck off, bitch.” Many online speculate that the dogs’ names are inspired from the movie Steel Magnolias, which starred Dolly Parton and featured a lead character named Shelby. While a second, brief, video shows some type of security showing up, OutSFL cannot find any record that they were arrested over the incident. We do not know if they were allowed to board a flight home. Screenshot via TikTok video. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden L atinos Salud is turning 15! The organization is marking the event with two galas — one in Broward and the other in Miami. There’s plenty to celebrate. Latinos Salud has grown exponentially over the last decade and a half as it provides health education, preventive, and screening services throughout South Florida to reduce communicable diseases and improve health outcomes. Latinos Salud is now a full-service community clinic serving over 10,000 LGBTQ community members annually. Executive Director Stephen Fallon said that the agency’s scope of services has been expanding. “We opened our doors in 2009 with safer sex workshops and health education. Today, we’re offering everything from testing and screening to PrEP and vaccines,” he said. Latinos Salud continues to evolve based on the needs of those it serves. “The biggest differences are that many people with HIV can now get a bi-monthly shot instead of taking a daily pill to treat HIV,” Fallon said. “And the pill that prevents HIV, PrEP, is also available as a monthly shot. Whether pills or injections, HIV treatments are also just so much more effective than they used to be, too.” Latinos Salud’s two gala events will commemorate these efforts while celebrating the community. The Broward event’s theme colors will be pink, traditional for a Quinceañera, and crystal, the gem for a 15th anniversary. Attendees are invited to come dressed in crystal, pink, or both. The fun will start on Jan. 13, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. VIP ticket holders will mingle on the rooftop for a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. The main event will open in the Las Olas Ballroom at 7 p.m., with live music, a delicious plated dinner, an open bar, a silent auction, and surprises. The Miami gala is on Feb. 10. This event is called “The Reveal” because the location will be made public later. While the street address is a mystery for now, it will be at Latinos Salud’s new, upgraded space in southwest Miami. “The Reveal” will feature passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, dancing, and a frontrow chance to tour the new space and meet the agency’s growing staff. You can go to both if you need help deciding which gala to attend. Latinos Salud offers $50 off ticket prices to its Broward Quinceañera for guests who first book their ticket to “The Reveal.” LATINOS SALUD CELEBRATES 15 YEARS WITH TWO GALAS Photo via latinossalud.org. NEWS LOCAL Denise Brown FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PURCHASE A TICKET, VISIT HTTP://WWW.GALA.LSALUD.ORG/.
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 15 MENS HEALTH Dr. Kerschner has trained with Dr. Leonardo from Canada - An authority on Men’s Sexual Health Discreet Medspa Services For Men ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION PENILE ENAHNCEMENT SCROTOKS GROTOKS TESTOSTERONE LASER HAIR REMOVAL BROTOX HORMONE THERAPY LASER SERVICES AND MORE! 239-299-7263
16 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH GLSEN, LAMBDA LEGAL JOIN LGBTQ GROUPS LEAVING TWITTER L GBTQ organizations have been leaving X — aka Twitter — in droves, and the latest to exit the social media platform are GLSEN and Lambda Legal. GLSEN announced that it would be leaving due to “increased cyberbullying and harassment against transgender and LGBTQ+ youth.” “In a year of record-breaking antiLGBTQ+ bills and rising hate across the U.S, the unchecked vitriol and disinformation on this platform has rapidly decimated a vital resource for our communities to safely connect and get news,” Lambda Legal posted. GLSEN shared data from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which reported 300 hateful posts and found that a week later, 86% of them were still online. This included anti-Semitic, anti-Black, neo-Nazi, white supremacist, and other racist posts. The increase in hate speech comes after eccentric billionaire Elon Musk purchased the platform in DECEMBER 2022. In April, X edited its hateful conduct policy to remove “This includes targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals,” as well as removing a line about people who experience disproportionate levels of hate speech, “women, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual individuals, and marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.” Recently, Musk attacked diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as “propaganda words for racism, sexism, and other -isms.” The largest exit was in April, when hundreds of Pride centers across the country said goodbye — including LGBT Life Center in Virginia, The Center on Colfax in Colorado, San Francisco LGBT Center, The LOFT in New York, The Center in Orlando, and CenterLink, which represents more than 300 Pride centers. In South Florida, The Pride Center at Equality Park and Compass bid adieu. While some groups have kept their accounts to refer people to their other social media networks, some like Compass have outright deleted their accounts. In November, youth suicide prevention organization The Trevor Project left X “given the increasing hate and vitriol on the platform targeting the LGBTQ community — the group we exist to serve.” Should OutSFL stay on X/Twitter? Share your thoughts with our editor-in-chief at [email protected]. Kevin Jennings, Chief Executive Officer of Lambda Legal. Photo via lambdalegal.org. NEWS NATIONAL Christiana Lilly “...THIS PLATFORM HAS RAPIDLY DECIMATED A VITAL RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO SAFELY CONNECT AND GET NEWS.” - LAMDA LEGAL BROWARD HOUSE WELCOMES NEW CEO B roward House has a sacred mission of helping people with chronic health problems, including HIV. Leading that effort is not easy, demands long hours, and will be thankless most of the time. It seems daunting, but Nicole Burrell finds it inspiring. She is the new CEO at Broward House and is ready for the challenges that lie ahead. “I’m humbled to be able to lead such a wonderful organization and team with a rich history in the community. Community service is my passion and being at Broward House allows me to mesh both my finance and service skills,” she said. The organization is 30 years old, and Burrell takes over for Stacy Hyde, who is retiring after 21 years. Burrell says Broward House is poised to make a leap forward and raise its community profile. “I want to increase our presence in the community and continue to advocate and educate individuals about HIV, housing insecurity, homelessness, prevention and Nicole Burrell. Photo via browardhouse.org. care. With my background in finance, we can also expand our fundraising efforts and find opportunities to bring in additional funds to best serve our clients and community.” She has her work cut out for her. In addition to the overwhelming levels of HIV and insurance insecurity in South Florida, she comes into an organization that is still reeling from April’s flood. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden FRANKLIN GRAHAM BLASTS POPE’S DECISION TO BLESS SAME-SEX UNIONS L eave it to Franklin Graham to ruin the moment. The evangelical preacher blasted Pope Francis for allowing priests to bless samesex unions. “What the Pope has done is brought a lot of division into the Catholic Church, and I don’t think the church wants that or needs that,” Graham said during an interview on Newsmax. Francis issued a document declaring priests could perform non-ritual blessings of same-sex unions, noting those seeking blessings were not “required to have prior moral perfection.” The document also reaffirms the church’s commitment to marriage being a holy sacrament of a union between one man and one woman. Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse, a global aid organization, called the Pope’s decision confusing and said he was trying to hold out an olive branch to the LGBTQ community. Franklin Graham. Photo via Facebook. “We should love them enough to be honest with them and not try to make them feel good in their sin,” he said. Graham, who has been grifting off his father’s legacy for a while now, is a staunch opponent of LGBTQ rights. In addition to his opposition of same-sex marriage, Graham supports conversion therapy and has publicly criticized Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg’s identity as a gay Christian. NEWS NATIONAL John McDonald
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 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
18 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH OUT AND ABOUT PHOTO OF THE WEEK LGBTQ holiday gathering at John Knox Village, Pompano Beach, Florida. Photo courtesy of John Coffey and and
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 19
20 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH I DON'T WANT TO HURT MY PARTNER'S FEELINGS. BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO WALK ON EGGSHELLS. HELP! I’VE BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PARTNER FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. WE’RE BOTH PART OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY – I IDENTIFY AS NON-BINARY, AND MY PARTNER IS TRANSGENDER. OUR RELATIONSHIP STARTED OFF WONDERFULLY, FULL OF UNDERSTANDING AND MUTUAL RESPECT. HOWEVER, LATELY, I’VE BEEN FEELING A BIT DISCONNECTED FROM HIM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER’S EVOLVING IDENTITIES AND NEEDS. AS WE BOTH CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND GROW IN OUR PERSONAL GENDER AND SEXUAL IDENTITIES, I FIND IT CHALLENGING TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGES IN OUR RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS. SOMETIMES, I FEEL LIKE I’M WALKING ON EGGSHELLS, AFRAID OF SAYING OR DOING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT UNINTENTIONALLY HURT OR INVALIDATE HIS FEELINGS. I’M ALSO STRUGGLING WITH MY OWN IDENTITY AND HOW IT FITS WITHIN OUR RELATIONSHIP. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN WE NAVIGATE THESE CHANGES IN OUR IDENTITIES WITHOUT LOSING THE STRONG BOND WE HAVE? ARE THERE SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES OR PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP US STAY CONNECTED AND SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER, EVEN AS WE EVOLVE AS INDIVIDUALS? Thank you for reaching out with such an insightful question, it is a question that often brings people to see me in couples’ therapy. Navigating evolving identities within a relationship can indeed be challenging and can happen with any couple. As we age and have different experiences in life, we are often navigating new or different identities, new sexual interests, or changing bodies. This isn’t a topic specific to the LGBTQ community with mixed orientation relationships, I see it across all demographics. Although, it can be challenging, it can also be a journey that can significantly strengthen your bond when approached with care, understanding, and open communication. Some specific practices that can help you navigate these changes while staying connected and supportive include embracing open and honest communication. This is crucial for creating a safe space where both you and your partner can openly discuss your feelings, Photo via Pexels. Kelly Ghweinem, LCSW CST VIEWPOINTS OPINION Kelly Ghweinem, LCSW CST is a queer-affirming therapist & business owner who champions the LGBTQ+ community through activism & advocacy utilizing a queer, feminist, anti-racist lens. A University at Buffalo graduate, Kelly came to Fort Lauderdale in 2022. Visit velvetcollective.org. Contact Kelly at [email protected]. fears, and needs. Regular check-ins can be beneficial. During these conversations, practice active listening – this means really hearing what the other person is saying without immediately formulating a response or judgment. Educating yourselves through reading, social media, or talking to others about their experiences can be key to understanding each other’s experiences. This might also involve joining support groups, or even attending workshops that focus on LGBTQ identities and relationships. This shared learning can foster empathy and deepen your connection. I’ve found that when couples take the time to celebrate each other, even on seemingly small aspects of their lives, they tend to be more emotionally connected. It’s important to remember that personal growth and identity exploration are positive developments. Celebrating these changes in each other, even if they require adjustments in how you relate to one another, is important to fostering a supportive and intimate relationship. In addition to celebrating each other, practice being patient, kind and compassionate with one another. Changes in identity and self-understanding don’t happen overnight. Even when things feel challenging, being patient and kind can lend to a more satisfactory relationship. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and continue to support each other. Maintaining individuality and accepting differentiation in a relationship is difficult, but research shows that couples who practice differentiation have higher rates of relationship satisfaction. While your relationship is a significant part of your lives, it’s also essential to maintain your individuality. Encourage each other to pursue personal interests and friendships outside the relationship. This can lead to a healthier and more balanced QUEERLY BELOVED 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. partnership. If you are finding it particularly difficult to feel connected, it might be time to visit a couples’ therapist who specializes in LGBTQ relationships, like the therapists at Velvet Psychotherapy Collective. Sometimes, having a neutral third party like a therapist who specializes in LGBTQ relationships can provide valuable guidance. We can offer strategies tailored to your unique situation, helping you navigate through any complexities with more ease. Finally, in moments of doubt or difficulty, remind yourselves of the love and respect that brought you together. This foundation is what will help you navigate through changes and challenges. I hope that these strategies can help you navigate the relationship and allow you to foster an environment where you feel comfortable and confident in how you engage with your partner. facebook.com/OutSFL @out_sfl @outsfl Follow Us on Social Media & Stay Connected
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 21
22 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH NEW YEAR, NEW SATIRE Artwork generated using AI software. I t’s the first week of January 2040, in the land of Idiocracy. President Ron DeSantis is in his fourth term, having purchased the presidency from Don Jr. after Sr. died in office, crushed by a marble statue of himself. Security footage showed some intimacy between the president and the stone just before it toppled, pulverizing all but his hair. THE SEAWALL TREATY Following the success of Project 2025, through which Republicans outlawed renewable energy, EVs and the color green, DeSantis began negotiating with Mexico and Canada to set sea wall levels. They have held this annual meeting since 2030, after successive monster hurricanes wiped out a quarter of the population along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland through the Carolinas south to the Yucatan. The United States initiated the seawall treaty, promoted domestically as the “Americas Ban Science Under Republican Decree” (acronym withheld), after the last employed physicist warned that erecting a partial wall along parts of the ocean would be like having no wall at all. Water is liquid, she explained slowly, repeatedly, and with visual aids, it will just go around. Finally conceding that a massive seawall along the US coast alone would be futile, given the migratory determination of South American water, treaty signatories agreed to erect a 3900-mile eastern seaboard levee running from the northern tip of Canada south to Panama, with a companion vertical flood wall, featuring adjustable heights between 20 and 50 feet above sea level. Community amenities along the sea wall include boardwalks with Madame Tussauds and Ferris wheels, zoos with lifelike stuffed replicas of extinct animals, and a Bubba Gumps on every corner. THE GLOBAL PIVOT It became clear around 2025 that the Paris Treaty goals for reducing carbon emissions would not be met, causing developed nations to pivot away from preventing climate change toward regional mitigation pacts instead. The US led the seawall treaty talks after the Army Corps of Engineers successfully erected the first prototype, a 25-foot sea wall to protect Miami, quickly followed by sea walls along the coasts of Norfolk, VA and Charleston, SC. The political tension between developers (views of tall metal walls hurt sales, even when painted navy blue), and obnoxious, virtue signaling NGOs demanding habitable land for the climate displaced, continued for decades. DeSantis finally enforced a compromise, setting aside 30,000 square miles of interior Florida land for climate refugees from Central America, provided they agreed to clean houses and pick fruit in the northern half of the state for free, after the southern half of Florida got too hot to grow anything besides iguana. When he was still governor, DeSantis started bussing migrant mosquitos from Venezuela to feed the iguanas until an old, non-banned textbook surfaced, showing that iguanas did not actually eat them. The cover of the book depicted an iguana with two mommies, sending the governor on a rampage to confiscate and destroy all copies of the book. Few people today know about the incident as history books, science books, and all books discussing reptilian reproduction habits were outlawed shortly thereafter. In 2035, the developed world reneged on the U.N. commitment to compensate developing countries for climate damage caused by fossil-fuels. The next year, Koch Industries, armed with heavy federal subsidies the fake news media called kickbacks, purchased the complaining countries by suing them for defamation and confiscating their lands as compensatory damage; climate change was a leftist hoax concocted to redistribute Kochs’ wealth. Developing nations that played no part in their own climate destruction organized sales of baked goods and bananas to finance a pushback against big oil’s disinformation campaign, but the $400 they raised proved insufficient. CHINA HAS DEFEATED CLIMATE CHANGE China is the only country in the world today that remains untouched by climate VIEWPOINTS OPINION Sabrina Haake THE HAAKE TAKE change. In the early 21st century, Chinese authorities amassed the world’s largest DNA database, and perfected facial recognition technologies. China then began implanting tracking and recognition devices directly into the right elbow of every infant born. The new surveillance allowed authorities to read patterns of electrical brain activity, revealing emotional responses, which were then electronically altered via remote control. By 2035, no one in China cared about climate destruction. In 2040, no one remembers pandas, Tiananmen Square or that 28,000 Chinese rivers have disappeared. Tired of all the Greta Thunberg whiners crying about polar bears and bees, last year DeSantis ordered Senators convening in Little D.C.- aka Havana- to acquire China’s cognition technology at any cost. By New Year’s Eve 2050, the US will have joined China’s ranks in eradicating climate change, and no one will remember manatees, sequoias, or how water tastes without salt. Working women will be happily back home where God and Samuel Alito put them, pregnant and cooking, while their husbands relax, wax their fins and smoke their Montecristos. Read more from Sabrina Haake is a 25-year litigator specializing in 1st this author here and 14th Amendment defense. Her columns also appear in Chicago Tribune, Salon, State Affairs, and Howey Politics. She and her wife split their time between South Florida and Chicago. Follow her on Substack. DECEMBER'S TOP 5 ONLINE STORIES MARTINA NAVRATILOVA & WIFE SHUNNED FROM WILTON MANORS HOLIDAY EVENT FOR ANTI-TRANS RHETORIC by John Hayden TROUBLED PRIDE FORT LAUDERDALE CANCELS 2024 PARADE AND PARTY by John Hayden 3 HOT BARITONE: AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN LABRIE OF IL DIVO by Gregg Shapiro 4 MARTINA NAVRATILOVA SLAMS OUTSFL REPORTER OVER TRANS ATHLETES by Christiana Lilly 5 STONEWALL PRIDE’S JUNE EVENT FACES EXISTENTIAL CRISIS by John Hayden READ MORE AT OUTSFL.COM
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 23
24 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH DUNGEONS, DRAGONS & DADDIES Dragons has moved out of your friend’s mom’s basement and into the spotlight. Whether it’s the two feature-length films, the 80’s animated series, one of the many internet series including “Dungeons & Drag Queens,” or the series of novels –chances are you’ve seen or heard of the decades-old game somewhere. It’s popular enough to garner its own Wikipedia article on its pop culture influence alone. Now it’s come to Wilton Manors and surrounding areas in the form of a private Facebook group titled “Wilton Manors Dungeons, Dragons & Daddies.” I had a chance to chat with admins Denim Keith and Chris Johnson about the group and how they want to move forward with it. Born out of a desire to create an alternative to the ever-present bar scene, Keith and Johnson welcome players of all experience levels to join the group to meet up with other players and Dungeon Masters (not that kind) in order to network socially. There is a planned meet-up soon. There will be people there to assist new players with setting up characters and more experienced players looking to run games. There will be a mixer at Tate’s Comic Book Store for those that miss the first meetup, which will include some live play. Johnson is a self-described natural organizer. As such, he would like to see his role in matchmaking people with games, finding host locations, and teaching people how to play. Keith sees himself as a “gentle guide dedicated to fostering connections within the community and helping organize engaging events.” They also started another Facebook group: Wilton Manors Horror Hunks, Scream Queens, and Occult Non-Conforming. Right now the group has 112 members which includes people all over South Florida. The group is always looking for new people to join. CULTURE GAMING Christopher Flores LOCAL D&D FACEBOOK GROUP BRINGS FANTASY LOVERS TOGETHER Artwork generated using AI software. 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
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 25 WONDERING WHERE YOU FIT IN? Holy Grill Mobile Feeding Ministry BINGO! Sundays 2pm Thursdays 1pm “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. NICHOLAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach 954-942-5887 | StNicholasFL.org Sunday Service 9:30AM 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 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. SPIRITSONG CHURCH 2038 N Dixie HWY, Wilton Manors (in the Pride Center Auditorium) 954.533.9205 | cohss.org Sundays 10A | Wednesdays 7P 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
26 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CULTURE FOOD VIOLET’S & ZEN’S – A NEW GEM IN WILTON MANORS Soft Shell Crab Bao Bun. Photo via Violet's and Zen's, Facebook. We stopped by the other day after seeing my friend’s social media postings about its exotic cocktails and wonderful sushi. It was a quiet weeknight, rather early, 6:30-ish, and we had the place to ourselves. Since it was so quiet, we asked to see the upstairs balcony area. It’s a beautifully spartan place with lots of low tables and loungers, but it was a bit chilly, so we decided to dine downstairs where it was more enclosed. VIOLET’S & ZEN’S 2010 WILTON DRIVE, WILTON MANORS 954-900-5899 VANDZWILTON.COM On Tuesday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. drinks are $5 or $6 and that includes all beer, wine, well spirits Margaritas, and Daiquiris. Select signature cocktails are only $8. Tapas plates are $10 and include Korean hot chicken baos, street corn ribs, Brussels sprouts, Thai meatballs, and crispy rice topped with chili-fermented tuna. We decided to take advantage of the deals. I enjoyed a very good glass of a South American Sauvignon Blanc. The dishes are priced substantially less than on the regular menu, but even the regular menu is priced rather well, although some are much better deals than others. Bao buns are served in pairs. We tried the Korean hot chicken, and it was excellent. Other fillings include braised pork belly, mushrooms, and soft-shell crab. Tapas items include street corn ribs (corn on the cob quartered lengthwise, grilled and served like BBQ ribs, another winning dish), Brussel sprouts, enoki mushroom bloom Thai meatballs, wok charred octopus, shrimp dumplings, pan-seared scallops, and the addictive kimchi street fries (waffle fries cooked until a crisp as potato chips then doused with kimchi-infused cheese sauce.) The tapas range in price from $13 to $22 and are easily enough for two or more to share as a tasting. There is also a crab Rangoon dip with wonton chips. We ordered it, but the dish never came, and by Rick Karlin HOT DISH the time we could find our waiter to point this out, we were full anyway. On weekends sushi is available, our server informed us that when business picks up, they’ll begin sushi service all week. There are three desserts, all Asian variations on such favorites as crème brûlée, tiramisu, and S’mores brownie. After all that, it still leaves me wondering, who are Violet and Zen, and where is everyone? We hope people discover this hidden gem because this place could be around for a while if enough people go there. Wilton Drive has a history of places taking a long time to open, often only to close quickly once they do. That appeared to be the case with Violet’s & Zen’s. The old Siam Thai restaurant shuttered, and then work began immediately to expand and upgrade the space. Then it sat unfinished for the longest time. Then a burst of activity and then… nothing. It quietly opened last summer, without much fanfare. We’re glad it finally did LET’S HOPE THIS PLACE IS AROUND FOR A LONG TIME SIDE DISH Bucket Listers, the folks who brought the Golden Girls Kitchen dining experience to Miami are at it again. This time they’re jumping on the Barbie Bandwagon with The Malibu Barbie Café, opening at the end of January in Wynwood. Every meal includes a choice of entree, side dish, and a cake pop. Look for a new place along the Drive, Aunt Jenn’s Tea & Spice Shop. The tea emporium which began its life as a vendor at the Yellow Green Farmers Market will open at 2420 Wilton Dr. Photo via bucketlisters.com. Read more from Rick Karlin is OutSFL’s arts & culture editor, but the this author here views and opinions he expresses in his columns are solely his own and do not represent the official viewpoint of OutSFL. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at [email protected]. TO-DO LIST [email protected] Compiled by Rick Karlin DRAG-A-PALOOZA Varla Jean Merman brings her “Stand By Your Drag” show to Sunshine Cathedral tonight. Meanwhile, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 16 debuts, with viewing parties at many bars and clubs, including R House, Pub on the Drive, and LIT. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 LAUGH & SNORT It’s the monthly Pig Dance at Ramrod with guest DJ Red Devil. Earlier that evening, Island City hosts its late-night comedy show as some of South Florida’s best comedians bring you their uniquely warped stand-up comedy and a few other twists and surprises along the way. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 ELDER AMUSE In “Second Chance,” running through Jan. 14 at Empire Stage, a gay man puts his father in an assisted care facility only to discover that dad has become quite the ladies’ man. SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 TRIVIAL PURSUIT? It’s “Curtain Up” at Island City Stage with Charles Baran, an evening filled with a challenging trivia contest, prizes, and performances. MONDAY, JANUARY 8 BROADWAY OPENINGS Two recent Broadway hits make their way to South Florida tonight as Maltz Theater in Jupiter debuts “Beautiful: the Carol King Musical,” running through Jan 28, and The Broward Center’s Broadway in Fort Lauderdale series opens “Hadestown,” running through Jan 21. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9 LOCKED UP “The Prisoners!” continues at the Foundry through Jan. 7, or you can become a prisoner to the soulful singing of Antonio Edwards at Pub on the Drive. Please give me a life sentence! THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 [email protected] WE WILL SURVIVE! The Stonewall Museum, Library, & Archives exhibit, “Awareness-Involvement Dedication Survival” shows how the community grew from fear to strength and the coming of age of the LGBTQ community. All via archival records and ephemera at Stonewall. It will be on exhibit through Feb. 25. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 27 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
28 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH 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 ASHES TO ASHES, OR TO NEW LIFE T his morning, as I sat on our dock at high tide, I introduced Edna Mae Coons to the joy, beauty, and comfort of our home in Wilton Manors. I did so by speaking to the plastic bag in which she arrived and reading her obituary to the New River and to several beautiful places in our garden. Before scattering her ashes, I welcomed Edna Mae to our family, and hoped that her desire to one day visit Florida would be satisfied by co-mingling with the Atlantic Ocean, and with our bougainvillea, orchids, hibiscus, jasmine, and gardenias. Edna Mae had a tough life because she was developmentally disabled and, as a result, was bullied at school. I hoped that becoming part of our Zen garden and our world of loving kindness, would help soothe her soul, and make up for the abuse she experienced in life. Though she and I were the same age, I’d never met Edna Mae, nor had I heard of her. But my friend, Will Coons, wrote to ask if Ray and I might accept some of his aunt’s ashes to help fulfill her dreams. “Of course,” I said, and the ashes arrived yesterday, beautifully boxed and wrapped by my friend, as only a gay man can do. Edna Mae dropped out of school because of the bullying, and grew up on her parent’s farm, where she loved helping with chores, especially tending to the chickens. My friend Will wrote that she was impaired but not stupid. She appreciated good puns CULTURE OPINION Photo via Unsplash. and enjoyed laughing. Her joys were birds, basketball, crafts, coloring, dancing, food, desserts, and Johnny Cash, Elvis and Adam Lambert. I had a young sister, Pam, who was developmentally disabled, but she didn’t live past age 2. The description of Edna Mae’s life made me think about what life might have been like for Pam had she lived, and how her life might have impacted mine. It’s my plan to keep my eye on the different plants that welcomed Edna Mae’s ashes to see if they bloom more heartily. Wouldn’t it be fun to imagine that adding the dust of a person’s life might make a difference in the life of another being? We could think of ourselves in a mulch pile waiting to help things grow healthier and more beautiful. It’s Ray’s and my plan to be cremated, although where we want our ashes spread keeps changing. Before we got Sebastian, Ray wanted his, mine and Lincoln’s ashes combined and scattered together. I’ve imagined my remains scattered on the ocean or a lake. I’m an Aquarian who is happiest when I’m in or on the water. Had Aunt Edna Mae’s body been placed in a coffin, it would have not just been a waste of money but also deprived me of the experience of knowing and sharing her story, and the satisfaction I got from helping our lives continue our co-mingling. 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. Brian McNaught THE WISE SNOWY OWL IT’S MY PLAN TO KEEP MY EYE ON THE DIFFERENT PLANTS THAT WELCOMED EDNA MAE’S ASHES TO SEE IF THEY BLOOM MORE HEARTILY.
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30 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH TICKETS ON SALE FROM $15! southfloridasymphony.org | 954.522.8445 BRAHMS | MONTGOMERY | BACH | PRICE Featuring Awadagin Pratt, performing Jessie Montgomery’s GRAMMY-nominated Rounds Jan. 17 • The Parker, Fort Lauderdale Jan. 18 • Temple Israel of Greater Miami Jan. 20 • Tennessee Williams Theatre at The College of the Florida Keys A South Florida Symphony Orchestra concert to benefit the Israel Emergency Fund at the Jewish Federation of Broward County. Saturday, February 3 • 7PM Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El, Plantation DONATE/TICKETS: 954.522.8445 bit.ly/StandWithIsraelConcert MNM REVIVES ‘DISENCHANTED’ MNM revives its 2023 hit, “Disenchanted,” Jan. 12 – 21 at the Studio at Mizner Park in Boca Raton. Poisoned apples. Glass slippers. Who needs ‘em? Not Snow White and her posse of Disenchanted princesses in this hilarious not-for-the-kiddies hit musical that’s anything but Grimm. Forget the princesses you think you know – these royal renegades will toss their tiaras into Boca Raton to set the record straight about what “happily ever after” is really all about. Photo via mnmtheatre.org. ENTERTAINMENT THEATER JW Arnold FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS, GO TO MNMTHEATRE.ORG. THREE-SHOW SERIES THAT PUTS YOU UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AT LPAC L ooking for a more intimate venue for the best of Broadway? Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC) is offering a three-show series that puts audiences up close and center for big Tony Award-winning shows. “A Chorus Line,” Jan. 11 – 28, captures the spirit and tension of a Broadway chorus audition. Exploring the inner lives and bittersweet ambitions of professional Broadway performers, the show features one powerhouse number after another, including “What I Did for Love,” “I Can Do That,” “At the Ballet,” “The Music and the Mirror” and “One.” Winner of nine Tony Awards. From the underground dance clubs of 1950’s Tennessee comes “Memphis,” Feb. 14 – March 3, is the story of a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards. The LPAC season concludes with “Hello, Photo courtesy lpacfl.com. Dolly!,” April 4 – 21. Matchmaker Dolly Levi is a widow and also a professional meddler, but everything changes when she decides that the next match she needs to make is for herself. Winner of 10 Tony Awards. For more information and tickets, go to LPACFL.com. JW Arnold ENTERTAINMENT THEATER
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 31
32 • 1.4.2024 | THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH VARLA JEAN, TOM GOSS, LATRICE ROYALE & MORE ENTERTAINMENT CULTURE CORNER stage debut as Juliette in Romeo et Juliette and Micaela in Carmen. The “bookend” approach to “Trailblazers!” compares styles and sounds, intertwining the influence of composers and their themes. Grammy and Pulitzer Prize recipient, Jennifer Higdon, an icon of current contemporary American composition, presents Blue Cathedral – an ode to her brother. The program will conclude with the first symphony by the great American composer of the 20th century, Florence Price. Price is the first Black American classical composer. Her Symphony n.1 is inspired by both Western classical tradition and Black musical idioms. Individual tickets range from $35 to $75 and can be purchased in advance online at https:// sota.org or Broward Center Box Office: 954- 462-0222. Judy Garland, Bernadette Peters, and other artists. The cleverly choreographed show includes duets with Seth Sikes and Joe Posa as Barbra and Liza. WHAT A WEEKEND Singer/actor TOM GOSS performs on Jan 19. He has self-released five studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and multiple non-album singles. He has seen commercial success with his music featured on MTV’s Logo TV. He won “Best Gay Musician in DC” from The Washington Blade twice. Many of Goss’ songs and music videos (“Lover”, “Bears” and “Make Believe”) speak to LGBT issues such as marriage equality, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), and gay subcultures such as bears. Singer/actor/comic LEA DELARIA is best known for her role in “Orange is the New Black,” but she has a powerhouse voice and will perform her jazz-influenced tunes on Jan. 20. If this show is like any of her others, you’ll also get some hysterical commentary on contemporary issues and politics. THE DIVA IN THE HOUSE (OR CHURCH) LATRICE ROYALE, a hometown girl who has ruled on “RuPaul’s Drag Queen” brings it all to the people on Feb. 10. You can expect high hair, soaring vocals, raised voices, and low heels! WIND, SAND, STARS Portland-based singer/songwriter MATT ALBER appears on Feb. 16 as part of his tour supporting his latest self-produced studio album entitled, “Wind Sand Stars.” The album features original pop/folk art songs rooted in melody with vocals reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright, Iron & Wine, and John Grant. A WORD OF ADVICE MISS RICHFIELD brings her “Bad Advice” tour to Sunshine on Feb. 17. “Good advice is always annoying”, says Miss Richfield. “But bad advice never is!” The Midwestern maven wins over theater audiences with an interactive format that combines homespun warmth and edgy improv, leaving audiences in hysterics. Her live performances have received critical acclaim with The New York Post declaring Miss Richfield 1981 “the must-see act in Provincetown.” Join Miss Richfield as she unpacks a healthy heap of advice that promises to leave you entertained and maybe just a little annoyed! THAWING OUT As winter warms into spring we can look forward to upcoming performances by comic/ SYMPHONY CELEBRATES WOMEN WITH ‘TRAILBLAZERS!’ CONCERT JAN. 9 S ymphony of the Americas celebrates The Women of Symphonic Music with The Symphony Classics program, “Trailblazers!” on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Broward Center for Performing Arts Amaturo Theater. Conducted by Symphony of the Americas Music Director Pablo Mielgo, the program highlights the role of women in their different historical expressions over a 200-year timespan. Internationally acclaimed Jeanette Vecchione-Donatti, an Italian American soprano from New York and now a South Florida resident, joins the Symphony as a guest artist. Ms. Donatti has appeared as a soloist in concerts at many prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall. She made her operatic VARLA JEAN FINALLY OFF HER BACK VARLA JEAN MERMAN brings her “Stand By Your Drag” show to Sunshine Cathedral on Friday, Jan. 5. It’s been a year since Varla Jean Merman’s earth-shaking, knee-breaking “TicTaccident” found her flat on her back with her legs in the air. Since that time, the daffy diva has worked hard to get back on her feet, on the stage, and in your pants. Now with drag bans, anti-LGBTQ legislation, and a skyrocketing bar tab, America is conspiring to knock Varla off her Lucite heels again! Join this show-biz survivor as she takes a stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of non-skid breath mints in a show directed by Michael Schiralli, musical direction by Gerald Goode, and a script by Jeffery Roberson, Jacques Lamarre, and Ricky Graham. DIVAS UNLIMITED JOE POSA and SETH SIKES reunite for a performance of “Tributes,” an homage to iconic female legends, on Saturday, Jan. 13. Uniting performance art and female impersonation, Joe Posa will impersonate Joan Rivers, Barbra Streisand, and Liza Minnelli, while Seth Sikes will sing nostalgic melodies made famous by Symphony of the Americas. Photo by Zachary Bennet. ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC Rick Karlin Rick Karlin "Stand By Your Drag." Photo via varlajean.com. SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL SHINES WITH OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES THIS WINTER actor CAROLINE RHEA on March 2, Tony Award-winning actor/singer LEVI KREISS on March 16, the outrageous Amy Armstrong on March 23, and DAVID MAIOCCO in a Liberace tribute show on April 27.
THIS ISSUE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH | 1.4.2024 • 33 9JAN of Symphonic Music WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS The Higdon - Mozart - Price Symphony of the Americas Pablo Mielgo Artistic Director & Principal Conductor See you at the Symphony! sota.org Get Tickets scan me Broward Center for the Performing Arts JAN 11 TICKETS: arshtcenter.org/dance Adrienne Arsht Center | Knight Concert Hall
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