OUR PAGES YOUR VOICE AUGUST 24, 2023 VOL. 1 • ISSUE 13 VISIT US ONLINE AT OUTSFL.COM OUTSFL @OUT SFL @OUTSFL PAGE 10 & 12 LAURA ANN CARLETON, A CALIFORNIA SHOP OWNER, WILL BE MISSED FALLEN ALLY KILLED OVER PRIDE FLAG
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4 • 8.24.2023 COVER: Laura Ann Carleton, photo via Mountain Provisions Cooperative, Facebook. August 24, 2023 • Volume 1 • Issue 13 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 OutSFL newspaper is published on a weekly schedule. You should not presume the sexual orientation or gender identity of any featured individuals solely based on their names, appearance, or inclusion within this publication. Any opinions shared within stories, columns, graphics, or letters to the editor should not be assumed to represent the opinions of OutSFL, its Publisher, or its co-founder. Any stories or content, either in print or online, and also including any articles that are featured in conjunction with any media partners, are protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and this ownership is carefully and jealously guarded by this media group. Nothing that is published may be reprinted, either in whole or in part, without first receiving written consent from the Publisher, Jason Parsley. OutSFL is owned by Jason Parsley and Justin Wyse, and is represented legally by Russell Cormican. As a private corporation, OutSFL reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations, and photographs. Copyright © 2023 J&J Media Group. PUBLISHER Jason Parsley [emailprotected] CEO Justin Wyse [emailprotected] 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 [emailprotected] COMMUNITY EDITOR John Hayden [emailprotected] PHOTOGRAPHERS J.R. Davis • Carina Mask COLUMNISTS Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo Sabrina Haake • Fred Fejes SPECIAL TO OUTSFL Steve Rothaus • J.W. Arnold CORRESPONDENTS John McDonald • Sean Conklin • Deon Jefferson David-Elijah Nahmod • Aurora Dominguez Denise Royal • Mary Rasura • Christian Walden Terri Schlichenmeyer • Gregg Shapiro Kennedy McKinney • Michael Anguille Sean McShee • Robert DeDominic PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Pier Angelo SALES & MARKETING For ad placement, call 954-530-4970 SALES MANAGERS Edwin Neimann [emailprotected] Silvio Carvana [emailprotected] Cory Livengood [emailprotected] DISTRIBUTION SERVICES Richie Wilson & Johnathan Rey NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM NEW PRIDE HUB FACES PROBLEMS NEWS HIGHLIGHT WILTON DRIVE REDEVELOPMENT MOVES FORWARD Unanimous. That was the vote by Wilton Manors’ Planning and Zoning (P&Z) board when considering requests for redevelopment at Shoppes of Wilton Manors, aka Alibi Plaza. During a special meeting on Aug. 16, the board took eight votes on proposed redevelopment of the site and each time voted "yes" to move forward. The project, called Wilma, will replace the back building, where Pride Factory currently resides, with a parking lot. The lot in front of the building will be turned into a mixed-use facility with shopping on the ground level and apartments above. Tension around the proposal has been high. Supporters say the city needs to grow to increase tax revenue and update the look of a street lined with buildings that are increasingly dated. Opponents worry adding a midrise building that will dwarf the neighborhood will be the beginning of a "canyon" that will block the area’s natural beauty. During the meeting, opponents also spoke out about the increased population density and traffic in the adjoining neighborhood. People also spoke about the disruption to life on Wilton Drive during construction. Mark Hunter, owner of Hunters Nightclub on the property, spoke and lamented the loss of his view from his home as well as noise during construction. However, that’s not a deal killer for him. “I am still in total support of this project. I hear some people saying this project will change our city. From my wide perspective as a resident and business owner, our city has already started to change.” People worry that part of the change will be a loss of LGBTQ culture in a city known as the gayest place on planet Earth. Dennis Mele, an attorney for the developer, said they are committed to keeping the neighborhood’s Photo by John Hayden. character and will do outreach to LGBTQ. “Absolutely. That’s a lot of what we have on The Drive now and those are great people for us to do business with.” Developers made their case, laying out designs of open greenspaces and touting ease of mobility in and around the site. P&Z members asked questions about every little detail, from parking space size to tree placement to awnings. Ingress and egress from the garage took up a significant amount of discussion during the nearly four-hour long meeting. In the end, P&Z voted to approve the plat and site proposals. FRESH LOOK They also voted to approve six variance requests that will affect the remaining building. Like many structures on Wilton Drive, it is extremely dated. Among plans, developers want to freshen up the look by having the exterior match the new building. The variances were granted for practical purposes. Recent updates to the city code would require things like shrubs or fencing where trash containers currently sit, as well as shade trees behind the building. The board agreed to waive those requirements, essentially maintaining the status quo in areas rarely used by the public. After years of starts and stops on redevelopment of the plaza, this is the furthest any proposal has made it. However it’s far from the final step. Next, city commissioners will consider the recommendations and likely have questions of their own, and there will be more opportunities for the community to weigh in. During the meeting, one person noted that a groundbreaking was likely two years away, assuming everything stays on track. John Hayden
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6 • 8.24.2023 OUT AND ABOUT PHOTO OF THE WEEK Newly engaged, Steven Crawford, Flockfest Founder, President & Executive Director with Jason Oreilly, barman at Hunters attending Pride Hub at The Pub VIP opening. Photo by JR Davis
8.24.2023 • 7 LAST WEEK'S COVER FROM THE NEWSROOM - TAYLOR SWIFT DURING HER RECENT CONCERT IN CHICAGO SCAN HERE TO VIEW THE ISSUE ONLINE BUSINESS INSURANCE · PERSONAL INSURANCE LET US CHECK YOUR BOXES. Contact us or make an appointment to visit our office for a free business or personal insurance proposal. Responsive, knowledgeable agents Trusted expertise and timely solutions Access to the top-rated providers for more options and better choices World-class coverage from a local, accessible agency Our experience with Pallant/NSI Insurance Group has been outstanding. The organization is very knowledgeable and our rep is quick to respond. We highly recommend Pallant/NSI Insurance Group. ~ Alan Harris 1800 NE 26TH STREET · WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 · NSIGROUP.ORG · 954.522.3800 and and
8 • 8.24.2023 T his article discusses two meetings: The HIV Planning Council (HIV PC) that met on July 27, and The South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN) that met on Aug 4. The HIV PC functions as the planning body for Ryan White Care Part A (RWC A). RWC A provides funds for medical treatment and some support services. HIV PC SFAN functions as the planning body for Ryan White Care Part B (RWC B). It has a strong networking and information sharing component. RWC B provides funds for health insurance payments, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and other nonmedical HIV services. The HIV Planning Council added six new members: Alondra Machado, Elizabeth “Kitty” Davis, Franchesca D’Amore, David Shamer, Jason Wynn, and Shawn TinsleyJackson. These six new members include one transgender woman, and one man living with HIV. A major task of this meeting involved the priority setting and resource allocation process. In this process, the HIV PC ranks and allocates funds as part of preparing for fiscal year (FY) 2024 -2025. While only Congress can allocate funds, this process helps providers plan. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has defined these service categories. Providers report their progress in each service category back to HRSA. SFAN In FY 2024-2025, RWC A will have 18 service categories. The categories with the top three ranks are listed below. Two services tied for a rank of one: Health Insurance Premium & Cost Sharing, and the Food Bank. Another two services tied for the rank of two: UPDATE ON HIV PLANNING BODIES THE HIV PLANNING COUNCIL ADDED SIX NEW MEMBERS: ALONDRA MACHADO, ELIZABETH “KITTY” DAVIS, FRANCHESCA D’AMORE, DAVID SHAMER, JASON WYNN, AND SHAWN TINSLEY-JACKSON. Photo via Unsplash. NEWS ANALYSIS Sean McShee Outpatient Ambulatory Health Services and Emergency Financial Assistance. Only one service category received a rank of three, AIDS Pharmacy Assistance. Joey Wynn, SFAN co-chair, reported that the Florida legislative session will begin earlier this year than last year. Serena Cook (Dept of Health Broward) reported on RWC Part B. She said that for the last six years, Broward RWC Part B has fully utilized all RWC Part B funds. Cook reported on the AIDS Drug Assistant Program (ADAP) of RWC B. Clients in ADAP had achieved a viral suppression rate of 93% (4,637 RWC B clients). Viral suppression prevents sexual transmission of HIV. Differences emerged between those RWC clients with health insurance and those without. Those without health insurance had lower rates of viral suppression. In most US states, low-income people have access to Medicaid Insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA aka “Obamacare”). Ten states have refused to expand Medicaid eligibility. As a result, large numbers of low-income people in those states lack health insurance. Florida has refused to expand Medicaid eligibility. The Intersection of Faith, and Health will take place on Aug. 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. Fort Lauderdale. Next HIV PC meeting date: Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m. at Broward Regional Health Planning Council, 200 Oakwood Lane, Suite 100, Hollywood. Next SFAN meeting date: Sept. 8, at 10 a.m., at the Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 N. E. 56th Street, Fort Lauderdale. DOWN BIG TO TRUMP, DESANTIS ENTERS FIRST GOP DEBATE Heading into the first Republican debate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign faces a yuge deficit. In a CBS News poll released Aug. 20, DeSantis trails former President Donald Trump by 46 points. A whopping 62% of likely Republican voters said Trump was their first choice, followed by DeSantis with 16% and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy collecting 7%. Fading in the polls, DeSantis continues to gallivant around the country. Returning from a weekend in New Hampshire, DeSantis was compelled to elaborate on his comments during an interview with Gen Z influencer Will Witt, in which he warned Republicans to not become “listless vessels.” Trump supporters took it as another holier than thou moment. “Looks like Ron DeSantimonious just had his ‘Basket of Deplorables’ moment. Not good!” wrote Trump advisor Jason Miller in a post on NEWS COLUMN John McDonald THE DESANTIS WATCH X (formerly known as Twitter). DeSantis said the remark was a pushback to being called a RINO (Republican in name only) by some members of Congress. “They’re putting entertainment and personality over principle,” DeSantis told Fox News. Meanwhile, Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones penned an op-ed to NBC News, warning of the dangers a potential DeSantis presidency poses. “By nearly every metric, we do not want the nation to look like DeSantis’ Florida,” Jones wrote. Photo by Matt Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons. TRANS COMMUNITY CELEBRATES IN SAFETY SEPT. 2 S plashy fun under the sun is a part of living in South Florida that is easy to take for granted. But for many in the trans community, a day at the beach is no day at the beach. But on Sept. 2, that changes. SunServe is once again hosting the Trans Body Positive Beach Bash, a day for trans people and their partners to live life without looking over their shoulder or feeling self-conscious about their body. “It’s about creating a space where every individual feels celebrated, valued, and free to be their authentic selves,” Misty Eyez, SunServe’s Director of Transgender Services, said. “Our journeys, our struggles, and our triumphs deserve recognition, and this event exemplifies that spirit.” For the third year, a space in Dania Beach will host the day out that includes a cookoutstyle dinner, aqua challenges, and summer jams from DJ Jesimix. Lifeguards will be on hand. For even the most confident trans women Photo by SunServe Staff. and men, getting in their beach garb can bring out anxiety over body image. Ryan Papciak, SunServe’s Director of Mental Health Services, says this event is a powerful moment. “Embracing and celebrating our authentic selves is essential for mental well-being. The SunServe Transgender Body Positive Beach Bash not only serves as a celebration of diversity and self-love, but also as a powerful reminder that every body is worthy of respect, acceptance, and joy.” For safety reasons, the exact location isn’t released publicly. To attend, RSVP to SunServe.org/Beach. NEWS LOCAL John Hayden
8.24.2023 • 9 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 By Kennedy McKinney OUT ABROAD ITALY’S ARMY GENERAL DISCIPLINED OVER ANTI-LGBT BOOK EUROPE T he defense minister of Italy has ordered disciplinary action against an army general, Roberto Vannacci, who published a book in which he condemned LGBT people, migrants, minorities, and feminists. According to Reuters, defense Minister Guido Crosetto denounced the book as “ramblings ... that discredit the Army, the Defense Ministry and the Constitution.” He continued, “For this reason, the foreseen disciplinary action will be initiated by the Defense Ministry.” In the book, “The World Upside Down,” Vannacci says homosexual men are not normal and says there is an “international gay lobby” trying to brainwash the world. Vannacci is the former head of Italy’s elite paratrooper unit, carried out missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was the Italian defense attaché in Moscow. Photo by Hockler73, via Wikimedia Commons. KUWAIT BANS ‘BARBIE’ FOR PROMOTING HOMOSEXUALITY MIDDLE EAST T he “Barbie” movie is now banned in Kuwait. According to Al Jazeera, the announcement comes after a Lebanese minister asked authorities in his country to bar the movie from cinemas for “promoting homosexuality” in an effort toprotect “public ethics and social traditions.” A spokesman for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information said the movie “promulgates ideas and beliefs that are alien to Kuwaiti society and public order.” The Culture Minister, Mohammad Mortada, announced that the film “promotes homosexualityand [trans people] ... supports rejecting a father’s guardianship, undermines and ridicules the role of the mother, and questions the necessity of marriage and having a family.” Now, the censorship committee is reviewing the film and giving its recommendation. Al Jazeera reported that the film is already banned in Vietnam and in the Philippines a scene was blurred. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. STREAMING SERVICE FINED FOR BROADCASTING ‘LGBT MOVIE’ EURASIA V impelcom, a Russian mobile and streaming service, was fined for failing to put an 18+ age rating on a movie that featured LGBT relationships. According to Reuters, “Little Italy,” which was posted without the rating, resulted in a fine of 1 million roubles. “Each subscriber knows what they are choosing and watching, there is no widespread access,” said Vimpelcom’s lawyer. This comes after Russia heightened their anti-LGBT laws under President Vladimir Putin’s rule. Most recently, the government has allowed authorities to fine any individual or organization that is promoting homosexuality in public, online, or in films, books or advertising. Reuters reported that Kinopoisk, another streaming service in Russia, was fined for the same offense a few weeks ago. OutSFL file photo. THE RAINBOW REVOLUTION AROUND THE WORLD
10 • 8.24.2023 CALIF. SHOP OWNER SHOT TO DEATH OVER PRIDE FLAG S an Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a shooting call in the unincorporated Lake Arrowhead area on Aug. 18 at around 5 p.m. discovered the owner of a clothing boutique suffering from gunshot wounds outside the store. The victim, identified as 66-year-old Laura Ann Carleton, the owner of the Mag.Pi clothing at 28938 Hook Creek Road, in Cedar Glen was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel. A spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s office said that during the response to the initial scene on Hook Creek Road, deputies received updates from Sheriff’s Dispatch indicating the suspect, 27-year-old Travis Ikeguchi, fled on foot, and was seen on Torrey Road, east of Highway 173. Deputies located the suspect near Torrey Road and Rause Rancho Road, armed with a handgun. When deputies attempted to engage the suspect, he refused to drop his weapon and a use of lethal force encounter occurred and the suspect was pronounced deceased. No deputies were injured during the incident. The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail also responded and assumed the investigation. Through further investigation, detectives learned the suspect made several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store before shooting Carleton. According to a source familiar, the suspect who arrived at Carleton’s store erratically removed a pride flag hanging as a decoration outside the shop. Carleton confronted the suspect who removed the flag. The male shot her multiple times before fleeing. Carleton, who is married, also owns the Mag.Pi clothing boutique in Studio City. According to friends she was a strong ally of the LGBTQ+ community and beloved in the Cedar Glen area. She is survived by her husband of 28 years and their 9 children. “Everyone deserves to live free of hate and discrimination and practice their constitutional right of freedom of speech. Lauri was a remarkable member of the community and I send my deepest condolences to her family in this time of grief,” San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement also labeling the shooting a “senseless act of hate and violence.” California Governor Gavin Newsom on Twitter/X said: “This is absolutely horrific. A shop owner has been shot and killed by a man after he criticized the pride flag hanging outside her business. Lauri leaves behind her husband and 9 children. This disgusting hate has no place in CA.” According to the Sheriff’s Department spokesperson the investigation is ongoing, and no further details are being released. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or got to www.wetip. com. Photo via Mountain Provisions Cooperative, Facebook. NEWS NATIONAL Brody Levesque The Los Angeles Blade COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBTQ MEDIA ASSOCIATION. OUTSFL NAMES RICK KARLIN ITS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR OUR DONOR LIST IS GROWING – LET’S MAKE IT TO 100! A BIG THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE DONATED R ick Karlin will be taking over the Arts & Entertainment section from JW Arnold. JW will continue to contribute to the A&E section going forward, so you’ll still see his name in the newspaper. “I want to personally thank JW for his contributions to the A&E sections for the South Florida Gay News and OutSFL. I have worked with him since 2011 and there is no one better in the local A&E business than him,” said Jason Parsley, publisher of OutSFL. “He built the A&E section for the SFGN from scratch and gave it credibility. We’re sad he’s taking a step back to focus on his career, but our door will always be open for whatever he wishes to contribute.” Rick was the long-time food editor for SFGN. He’ll continue in that role for OutSFL. As the Arts & Culture editor he’ll be submitting food reviews, theater previews and reviews, travel pieces, compiling our weekly to-do calendar and more. Rick has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist. Besides OutSFL he also contributes to The Bay Area Reporter, Grab Magazine and Out Traveler. His resume is extensive. He’s an author as well. His non-fiction titles include “Last Call Chicago: 1001 LGBTFriendly Taverns, Hang-outs and Haunts,” and “Paper Cuts: My Life in Chicago’s Volatile LGBT Press.” Now he’s working on “Last Call South Florida,” an encyclopedia of LGBT bars from Palm Beach to Key West. We’re so thankful for every reader who has given us a donation. So far, we have more 60 who have donated from $5 to thousands of dollars. Your belief in us fuels us to produce the best LGBTQ newspaper in the area. We recently launched our weekly Sneak Peak – as a donor you’ll be copied on the newspaper as it goes to print, giving you a sneak peek before it hits the stands. Soon we’ll be launching monthly giveaways for our donors as well. Please don’t forget to share our content via your social media networks. Got more ideas for us? Send them our way! Contact [emailprotected] anytime. Staff Staff INSIDE THE NEWSROOM His novels include “Show Biz Kids,” “Tales of the Second City,” and “Death on the Rocks.” His plays include “Turning Tables”, “Witches Among Us” and “Spin Cycle.” Rick was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1997. “Rick has an extensive resume, so we’re excited he’ll be expanding his role at OutSFL,” Parsley said. “I’ve worked with Rick for many years editing his food column. So I’m looking forward to showcasing his voice in our other areas of arts and culture.” Contact Rick at [emailprotected]. Send your calendar items to Calendar@outsfl. com. OutSFL file photo. Photo via Pexels.
8.24.2023 • 11 NOMINATE FOR 'YOUR CHOICE AWARDS' BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE Out South Florida has launched its Your Choice Awards – where our readers get to nominate favorite local people, places, and things. We hope you’ll participate. Nominations close Aug. 30. You can nominate once per day. The contest is divided up by county, Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Monroe. In September we’ll reveal the top choices in each category from our readers and staff and you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorites. Also, a big thanks to Grieco Ford for their sponsorship of the contest. Staff INSIDE THE NEWSROOM VISIT OUTSFL.COM/YCA OR SCAN THE QR CODE TO NOMINATE TODAY. Categories Include Restaurant New Restaurant Burger Bakery Happy Hour Guest House Local Celebrity Activist Artist Bartender Drag Performer Real Estate Agent Social Group Date Night Spot Sports League Medical Practice Business Owner Attorney Doctor ... and many more! OUR PAGES YOUR VOICE Send us your letters [emailprotected] CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM
12 • 8.24.2023 UNFATHOMABLE TRAGEDY IN CALIFORNIA DO NOT COWER IN FEAR, FLY YOUR FLAGS HIGHER THAN BEFORE Hanging up a Pride flag shouldn’t be an act of courage. But that’s where we are today in America. Laura Ann Carleton of California lost her life after a madman argued with her over a rainbow flag that was hanging in her store. He shot and killed her – over a flag. Let that sink in. What have we become? There’s never a day that goes by that I am not wearing a rainbow – whether that’s my watch band, or the laces on my shoes, somewhere, there’s always an array of colors. My mother has often in the past cautioned me about being so … out. I always laughed it off, and ignored her warnings. But now. Maybe she has a point. Our opponents have been demonizing us for the last couple of years – their rhetoric has gotten more hateful, more violent and more untruthful. Calling us groomers is the norm nowadays – not the exception. Laws are being passed all over the U.S. restricting us and stripping us of our rights. Our opponents are constantly finding new ways to dehumanize and target us. When you hurl that type of hate towards any marginalized community, bad things happen. Carleton was an ally. When others warned her against flying the Pride flag in her store – she ignored them and did so anyway. In fact, when those flags were torn down in the past her daughter said to Anderson Cooper, “[S]he always went and ordered an even larger flag in response and put it out. So, you know, I admire her, and I’m so proud of her. And I know that she passed standing up for something that she believed in.” Hanging up a Pride flag, though, shouldn’t be an act of courage. But how can we expect our allies to die over Pride flags? I can’t expect them to. But I refuse to stop wearing my rainbows. We cannot let our opponents win through fear and intimidation. Hanging up a Pride flag shouldn’t be an act of courage – but now it is. So grab your rainbow flags and fly them higher than ever before – in honor of Carleton. May we find hope and courage in her memory. VIEWPOINTS PUBLISHER’S CORNER Photo via Lake Arrowhead Jason Parsley LGBTQ, Facebook. Jason Parsley is publisher of OutSFL. He worked for South Florida Gay News from 2011-23. He’s a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and NLGJA - the Association of LGBTQ Journalists. In his spare time he’s an avid baker, and runner. Follow @parsleypastries on Instagram or email [emailprotected].
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14 • 8.24.2023 THIS IS A GOOD YEAR FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY 303 CREATIVE DECISION WASN'T SO BAD L GBTQ Americans are having a very good year. In January, gay U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg spoke up for himself, his husband and all of us. He rebuked a Fox News reporter for their double standard when they questioned Buttigieg about his husband accompanying Buttigieg on official travel, routine for presidential cabinet members. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, elected as a Democrat and as this nation’s first out bisexual U.S. Senator, joined lesbian Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin (also a Democrat) in the Senate. In January, the 118th Congress convened with 11 members of the House of Representatives being lesbian, gay or bisexual, 10 being Democratic. No one in Congress identifies as queer or transgender — yet. Since last August, five openly LGBT justices have begun service with U.S. district courts: Daniel Calabretta, Gina R. Mendez-Miro, Nina Morrison, Ana C. Reyes and Jamar K. Walker. Wikipedia lists over 20 LGBT federal judges. Democratic president Joe Biden in December signed into law the Respect for Marriage Act protecting marriage equality. The U.S. has not rescinded its hate crimes law nor the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act, which made space in the U.S. military for LGBTQ people. Some transgender Americans have new federal rights protection as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court denying certiorari after the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria sometimes requires gender transitioning. In January, lesbian Governors Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Tina Kotek of Oregon entered office. These history makers joined Oregon’s Kate Brown (2005-2013), New Jersey’s Jim McGreevey (2002-2004) and Colorado’s Jared Polis (in office since 2019 after a landslide election in 2022), all in the Democratic Party. Michigan in March joined the 23 other states with anti-discrimination statutes covering either sexual orientation or sexual orientation and gender identity: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. A very, very good year, indeed! But what about the U.S. Supreme Court in 303 Creative v. Elenis, which completely eviscerated all state anti-discrimination laws and threw open the gates for anti-LGBTQ bigots to refuse to serve us in restaurants or to rent us hotel rooms? It did no such thing. The worst thing 303 Creative did? It failed to advance LGBTQ equality. 303 Creative actually strengthens state anti-discrimination laws. Here is the singular holding of that case: “The First Amendment prohibits Colorado from forcing a website designer to create expressive designs speaking messages with which the designer disagrees.” More broadly, “[g]enerally, too, the government may not compel a person to speak its own preferred messages.” So a state with an LGBTQ-inclusive antidiscrimination law cannot coerce any person to incorporate that policy’s rationale in any creative or expressive work. The issue of religious freedom does not appear at all in the Court’s reasoning. The horseshit about this not being a real case? Forget about it. 303 Creative’s owner had sought an injunction against the State of Colorado, and the U.S. Supreme Court returned the case to a court that had wrongly — in violation of First Amendment Free Speech protections — denied said injunction. The Court had already made very similar rulings in 1995, in 2000 and in 2018 familiar to our community’s elders and legal professionals and aficionados: Hurley v. IrishAmerican Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston (1995), Boy Scouts of America and Monmouth Council v. Dale (2000) and Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018). In a decision for a 6-3 conservative majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch (a Trump appointee) carved out a narrow exemption to state antidiscrimination laws. Otherwise — believe it or not — the Court actually strengthened such statutes. It matters that the Court’s majority asked neither Samuel Alito nor Clarence Thomas to write the majority opinion. Gorsuch also wrote the 2020 opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County [Georgia] in which a 6-3 majority found in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protection for LGBTQ people against discrimination in employment. When Gorsuch served on a federal appeals court in Colorado, he, his wife and their children attended St. John’s Episcopal Church VIEWPOINTS GUEST ESSAY Eric Peters Photo via Adobe. in Boulder (Washington Post, 01/31/2017 and Washington Post, 02/01/2017). Check out that congregation’s inclusive message at www. stjohnsboulder.org/an-inclusive-place. Gorsuch in 303 Creative, rather than striking down all 24 state anti-discrimination laws, actually strengthens them by upholding them repeatedly. First Gorsuch writes, “Today … approximately half of States have laws like Colorado’s that expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation [without mentioning gender identity]. And, as we have recognized, this is entirely ‘unexceptional.’” That followed this: “[W]e do not question the vital role public accommodations laws play in realizing the civil rights of all Americans. This Court has recognized that governments in this country have a ‘compelling interest’ in eliminating discrimination in places of public accommodations.” Second, “States may protect gay persons, just as [they] can protect other classes of individuals, in acquiring whatever products or services they choose on the same terms and conditions that are offered to other members of the public. And there are no doubt innumerable goods and services that no one could argue implicate the First Amendment.” Finally, Gorsuch responds to a dissenting opinion: “Much of [the dissent] focuses on the evolution of public accommodations laws ... and the strides gay Americans have made towards securing equal justice under the law. … And, no doubt, there is much to applaud here.” 303 Creative v. Elenis lays little new ground. In 1995, as our LGBTQ community’s elders and legal professionals and aficionados may recall, the Court granted an exception to the Massachusetts public accommodations statute. Parade organizers had chosen to exclude an LGBTQ group. In 2000, SCOTUS recognized a comparable exemption to New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law when the Boy Scouts refused to do the right thing after learning an assistant scoutmaster was gay. In 2018, the High Court found that the U.S. Constitutions protections for Free Speech called for an exemption to Colorado’s public accommodations laws covering businesses. Gorsuch for the Court in 303 Creative sustains from Boy Scouts of America v. Dale the Court’s observation from 2000 “that New Jersey’s public accommodations law had many lawful applications.” Both the parade organizers and the Boy Scouts have joined the 21st Century with our culture’s support for equality. Gallup reported (6/01/2022) that samesex marriage had inched up to a new high of 71%. Careful reading will find in 303 Creative respect for marriage equality. 303 Creative v. Elenis — a ruling that does not strike down all LGBTQ-inclusive anti-discrimination laws and that actually strengthens such laws — made for a perfect contribution for a wonderful year for LGBTQ Americans. But don’t take my word for it. Take about 45 minutes at https://www.supremecourt. gov/opinions/22pdf/21-476_c185.pdf. Until then, question what you think you know. J. Eric Peters, a Disabled American Veteran and an honorably discharged U.S. Army Legal Specialist, living in Ohio, received a bachelor’s degree with high honors in pre-law sociology with substantial coursework in paralegal technology.
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16 • 8.24.2023 CRUSHING ON FANI WILLIS I n America’s latest iteration of law vs. scofflaw, Fani Willis has brought the most consequential prosecution in US history. Her 41 count indictment against Donald Trump and 18 of his closest co-conspirators threads the infinitesimal needle between free political speech and fraud, sewing Trump’s falsehoods into a cloak of criminal enterprise beyond the protection of the First Amendment. THE 1ST A PROTECTS LYING POLITICIANS, BUT GEORGIA LAW DOESN’T Trump’s incessant drumbeat about a stolen 2020 election, repulsive to voters who value fact over fiction, is legally challenging to parse: under the First Amendment, politicians have the right to lie to the American public. Trump can claim he is Jesus, the earth is flat, and that a chlorine enema will cure cancer, and there’s little the courts can do. Since 1943, the Supreme Court has protected political speech - even demonstrably false and ridiculous political speech - as the heart of the First Amendment, because, “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion…” In deference to this reality, Jack Smith’s indictment largely avoided Trump’s political rallies, and skipped incitement of the J6 capital violence entirely. Ms. Willis was not so constrained. She relied on Georgia Code Section 16-10-20, which makes it a crime to lie to any state, city or local government official in Georgia regarding any matter within their jurisdiction. It means Trump, free to lie ad nauseam at rallies, broke the law when he lied to Georgia officials to try to change the outcome of the 2020 election. ‘IT’S TOUGH TO OWN ANY OF THIS WHEN IT’S ALL JUST CONSPIRACY SHIT BEAMED DOWN FROM THE MOTHERSHIP.’ The Georgia indictment cites 162 separate acts by Trump and his co-conspirators, including false statements, impersonating a public officer, and forgery, and weaves them into criminal racketeering under Georgia’s Photo via Fani Willis, Facebook. RICO statute. Trump’s “overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy” to overturn the presidential vote in Georgia began on November 4, 2020, when Trump made a nationally televised speech falsely declaring victory. That lie quickly metastasized into varied iterations, including a pressure campaign on state and local officials to violate their oaths of office; transmitting false elector votes and forged elector certificates; falsely accusing workers of ballot stuffing; sending a preacher to intimidate an election worker into falsely confessing to election crimes she did not commit; and Trump’s pressure on Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State, to “find” nearly 12,000 nonexistent votes. The indictment also identifies officials who stood up to Trump, recognized he was asking them to break the law, and refused. Trying to explain how Trump’s stolen election claims resulted in massive court losses (61 cases), despite such extreme efforts, one Trump advisor commented, “It’s tough to own any of this when it’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.” THE SWEET POETRY OF WATCHING A WOMAN TAKE DOWN A MISOGYNIST Trump, who bragged in 2005 about assaulting women’s genitalia - which he dismissed as fake news - was found guilty of the same in 2023 by a jury of his peers. Aside from his vitriolic attacks on female professionals, he likes to brag that he personally “killed Roe v. Wade.” He campaigned on eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion, and his justices Gorsuch, Coney-Barret and Kavanaugh, have tilted a political court to the far right, injuring women more than any other demographic in the process. As red states are now free to force pregnancy and birth on half the population, women have lost medical agency over their own bodies, even when their own lives are at risk. How gratifying it is, then, to see Trump taken down by a woman, as there is no federal pardon for state crimes. Republicans have abandoned the rule of law, VIEWPOINT OPINION Sabrina Haake THE HAAKE TAKE Read more from Sabrina Haake is a 25-year litigator specializing in 1st this author here and 14th Amendment defense. Her columns 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. preferring authoritarianism over the loss of power, which makes it all the more satisfying to watch Willis rein them in. Excuse me while I swoon, but Fani Willis is no pushover, and no bleeding heart. She has taken on violent gangs and is now prosecuting famous rapper Young Thug under the same RICO statute ensnaring Trump. She leans conservative on criminal justice, and sought the death penalty for a man who murdered four women during an Atlanta shooting spree targeting Asians. She also prosecuted public school teachers in a highprofile test cheating scandal, a risky move that put the interests of children - who can’t vote - over the interests of teachers, who wield outsize political power over elected officials, including Willis. When criticized for the case, she told her detractors to “put it in my obituary.” I think her obituary is writing itself: Fani v. Tawny, the woman from Georgia who took a criminal president down. LAST WEEK’S TOP 5 ONLINE STORIES 5 TREVOR PROJECT IN CRISIS AMID FINANCIAL WOES, STAFF DISSENSION, ‘UNION BUSTING’ by Joel Lev-Tov, Washington Blade 4 SPECIAL MEETING AUG. 16 TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF ALIBI PLAZA by John Hayden 3 OUT & LOUD: KYLE RICHARDS CALLED A 'LESBIAN ON OZEMPIC;' WAYNE BRADY COMES OUT AS PANSEXUAL by CJ Walden MURDER TRIAL OF MIAMI GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST POSTPONED by John McDonald FIRST SCHOOL IN FLORIDA NAMED AFTER GAY MAN BEGINS CLASSES by Sean Conklin READ MORE AT OUTSFL.COM
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18 • 8.24.2023 OPINION QUEER PARENTS FIGHT BACK AS ITALY STRIPS RIGHTS Vanessa Finesso and Cristina Zambon. Photo via Twitter. T he far-right Italian government of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni is taking parental rights from queer parents and putting their children at risk — but in more than a dozen European cities over seven countries, queer parents and their allies have been rallying in protest. Same-sex couples in Italy cannot marry or access assisted reproduction, including surrogacy, which is illegal for anyone. Adoption is also technically forbidden to them, but a vagueness of the laws has meant that some jurisdictions, since 2014, have allowed non-gesetational parents in samesex couples to adopt child(ren) born to their partners after the couples have gone abroad to start their families. After taking power last fall, however, Meloni’s government forbid the creation of Italian birth certificates with two mothers and the recognition of foreign birth certificates with two fathers. In mid-July, central government officials in Padua went further, and informed 27 families with two moms, raising 33 children, that the non-gestational parent is being removed from their child(ren)’s existing birth certificate(s). The Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community (EL*C), a network of hundreds of organizational and individual members, issued an open letter to Meloni last week, explaining that the government’s actions “will have major impacts” on the everyday life of children in these families. “Their mom cannot pick them up at school, they might not be able to do educational activities and they will not be able to travel. Their right to healthcare will be in danger, as only one parent will be able to authorize medical procedures [from the flu shot to urgent life-saving procedures],” EL*C said. One impacted couple, Vanessa Finesso and Cristina Zambon, had their child via reciprocal IVF using Zambon’s egg, carried in Finesso’s uterus, but Zambon is still being removed from the birth certificate despite being the child’s genetic parent. To make things worse, the couple told the U.K.’s Daily Mail, Finesso has cancer; if she dies, Zambon will have no rights to their child. In other cases, the parent being stripped of rights has neither genetic nor gestational ties, but nevertheless planned for and is raising the child(ren) jointly with her partner. Famiglie Arcobaleno (Rainbow Families), the country’s largest organization for LGBTQ parents, said in a statement that the Meloni government’s actions were “removing a legal parent from minors even 6 years after birth: a shameful act unworthy of a civilized country.” (“togliere un genitore legale a minori anche a distanza di 6 anni dalla nascita: un atto vergognoso e indegno di un paese civile.” Google Translate translations). In another statement they called the government’s moves “a violent and overbearing action against our children who risk being suddenly deprived of their family identity and of any legal protection by the intentional parent.” (“un’azione violenta e prepotente nei confronti dei nostri figli che rischiano di vedersi improvvisamente privati della loro identità familiare e di qualsiasi protezione legale da parte del genitore intenzionale.”) EL*C called on its members to demonstrate at Italian embassies and consulates, and such protests have taken place so far in Belgium (Brussels), France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseilles, Nice, Paris), Germany (Berlin, Cologne), Portugal (Lisbon, Porto), Spain (Alicante), the U.K. (Dublin, London), and at the Vatican. More may be forthcoming. The organization is also encouraging people to print their open letter (at lesbiangenius. org, “Lesbians March on Italian Embassies!”) and send it to the Italian embassy or consulate near them. (The Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. is at 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, and its e-mail address is [emailprotected].) Queer families are under attack in Italy in other ways as well. The lower house of the Italian Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, voted in late July to go beyond simply outlawing surrogacy within Italy and to declare it a “universal crime” (“reato universale”), penalizing Italian citizens with up to two years in prison and fines of up to one million euros if they go abroad for surrogacy, even to places where it is legal. The Senate will vote on the bill this fall. While the U.S. has not seen a mass removal VIEWPOINT OPINION Dana Rudolph MOMBIAN Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a two-time GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory, with a searchable database of 1300+ LGBTQ family books, media, and more. of parentage rights as in Padua, several trial courts, including ones in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, have recently removed nongestational mothers from their children’s birth certificates in individual cases. And if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the right to marriage equality, as Justice Clarence Thomas has hinted could happen, non-gestational LGBTQ parents in even more states could face further difficulties securing their parentage. Even now, as a recent report from the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) has shown, LGBTQ parents, married and not, are subject to a “patchwork” of parentage laws across the United States that often leave their children vulnerable, without secure legal ties to one or more of their parents (“Relationships at Risk,” mapresearch.org). Some states, such as Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Colorado, have recently modernized their laws to clarify and simplify paths to parentage for all families today, while others continue to make it difficult for LGBTQ families and others formed via assisted reproduction to secure their family’s legal ties. (See “LGBTQ Paths to Parentage Security,” at lgbtqparentage.org, for a guide that GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and I developed to help LGBTQ parents and prospective parents understand current options for legally protecting our families.) We should therefore stand in solidarity with the queer-parent families in Italy, even as we push for laws that better protect children of LGBTQ families in the U.S. In our connected global world, we can do no less. facebook.com/OutSFL @out_sfl @outsfl Follow Us on Social Media & Stay Connected
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20 • 8.24.2023 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 ARRESTED? DON’T BE A DOPE! CALL 954-763-1900 NORMKENT.COM Russell Cormican Attorney at Law 12 SE 7th St Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 [emailprotected] DEALING WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA IN THE BEDROOM I NOTICE THAT I FEEL DISCONNECTED DURING SEX AND THAT CERTAIN ACTS OR WORDS CAN TRIGGER INTENSE GENDER DYSPHORIA. HOW CAN I ENJOY SEX WITHOUT EXPERIENCING THE DYSPHORIA? Dysphoria is an all-too-common experience for trans and non-binary individuals and unfortunately it is something that can quickly put a stop to a pleasurable sexual experience. Gender dysphoria, as defined by Folx Health is “emotional and physical distress experienced by some transgender and non-binary people whose perceived genders don’t match their sex assigned at birth.” We all have sexual response systems that include brakes and accelerators. Think of breaks as things that slow down or stop our arousal and accelerators as things that speed up or ignite our arousal. For trans or non-binary individuals gender dysphoria can be like stepping hard on the break, stopping or slowing the sexual excitement. Here are some tips to help if this happens. First, don’t try to repress the feeling of dysphoria. I know this may sound counterintuitive but imagine someone tells you to not think about a red car, what do you immediately think of? A red car. Same logic applies. If you experience dysphoria and tell yourself, stop and just get on with it! You will continue to think about the dysphoria and it will probably build and build, putting a halt to your pleasure. Instead, try noticing the feeling and then intentionally bringing your attention back to sensations. For example, say to yourself I’m feeling dysphoric, that’s okay, I will let it exist in me and then turn your attention to the way your partner sounds or smells. This intentional redirection doesn’t suppress the feelings but moves your attention to your erotic triggers instead. Another tip is to be clear with your sexual partner about what boundaries you have around sex before things get hot and heavy. This could be something like “I don’t like my chest touched so please focus on other areas.” Photo via Unsplash. Kelly Ghweinem, LCSW CST VIEWPOINTS OPINION Kelly Ghweinem, LCSW CST is an established queer-affirming therapist and business owner who champions the LGBTQ+ community through activism and advocacy utilizing a queer, feminist, anti-racist lens. A University at Buffalo graduate, Kelly came to Fort Lauderdale from Manhattan in 2022. Visit velvetcollective.org for more info. Or “ I want to keep my binder on during this.” Setting these boundaries will help decrease the risk of triggers. Some clients have found it helpful to use affirming language before, during and after sex. Deciding how you want to refer to parts of your body and then enacting that language helps your brain and body, embody pleasure through an affirming lens. We don’t need to call a penis a penis, it can be a big clit or we can call a clitoris a cock. Getting to know your body through a gender affirmed lens can be helpful in decreasing dysphoria. This could look like experimenting with different touches or techniques during solo play so that you have a map of your body. Maybe pumping an engorged clitoris like you would a shaft. During partnered sex this could look like an experimental session where each of you experiments with different touches or techniques where a partner pumps a clitoris to jerk off the other partner. There are many ways to have sex that are gender affirming that do not need to fit into the heteronormative way we engage with genitals. Everyone deserves pleasurable sexual experiences and dysphoria can act as a significant barrier to pleasure. Try incorporating these tips in your next sexual encounter if you experience dysphoria during sex. Introducing our new advice columnist - Kelly Ghweinem LCSW CST. Queerly Beloved is an expertly curated column dedicated to the world of LGBTQ sex, intimacy and relationships that provides education, insights and actionable tips for the reader to enhance their pleasure journey. This column will answer questions and provide advice to readers to deepen intimate connections, elevate pleasurable experiences, and empower people. THE LAW OFFICE OF RUSSELL CORMICAN
8.24.2023 • 21 VOTE HERE! OutSFL.com/yca Favorite pizza? Most talented barber? In this contest, it’s YOUR CHOICE! First you’ll nominate your favorites... then you’ll get to vote for the winners! IT’S TIME FOR OUTSFL’S 1ST ANNUAL NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITES TODAY! PRESENTED BY CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM ALIVE AND WELL AT 49 Congregation Etz Chaim (CEC) is one of South Florida’s LGBTQ success stories. On the surface it does not seem that way: In its 49-year history, CEC has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster. More than once, Synagogue leaders and congregants were ready to give up and close shop. And more than once, Etz Chaim picked itself up, dusted itself off, and started all over again. Since 1974, CEC has moved its operations from a Lutheran Church on Biscayne Boulevard to the YWCA in downtown Miami (1976); an art studio in North Miami Beach (1977); and a storefront in Aventura (1978) before it finally crossed the border into Broward in 1995. CEC then settled down at the UnitarianUniversalist Church in Oakland Park for a decade before it moved (2005) to “a home of our own” on Wilton Manors. On June 1, 2011, this “spiritual home for LGBT Jews and our friends” moved to the campus of Temple Beth Torah in Tamarac. CEC moved back to Wilton Manors in 2014 before finally settling down at the Pride Center. Obviously when it comes to Congregation Etz Chaim, I am not an impartial observer. I have been a member of the congregation since 1976; a member of the Board for most of its existence; and president of the Synagogue from 1989 to 1991 and from 2012 to 2015. I stayed loyal to Etz Chaim at a time when many of its members moved to another friendly synagogue in Broward County; and when it seemed that CEC’s existence might come to an end. Though South Florida has many Jewish temples and organizations that are LGBTQ friendly; Etz Chaim is still its only LGBTQ synagogue (though others are always welcome). That CEC survives at a time when most other queer synagogues have thrown in the towel is an amazing achievement. For over a decade, Rabbi Noah Kitty led Congregation Etz Chaim. The end of Rabbi Kitty’s tenure last year, along with the departure of some of the Board members, seemed to put an end to CEC. Instead, the congregation elected a new Board led by President Louis Levin. “We had too much to Photo via Congregation Etz Chaim, Facebook. offer to the community and we are not done,” Levin told me at the time. “We have enough in the funds to last at least another year and we have to give it a try.” A year later, Synagogue funds are stable and attendance at Friday night services are as high as they were under Rabbi Kitty. Reflective of this new spirit, the CEC Board hired as spiritual leader Marcia Weinstein, who described herself as “a Cantorial Soloist, Shaliach Tzibur (service leader), Jewish Educator, and song leader who has spent over a decade leading Shabbat, Festival and High Holiday services while incorporating Jewish music every step of the way.” Weinstein’s belief in “audacious hospitality” and her desire to create a Kehillah Kedoshah (holy community) made her so popular that the Board voted to extend her contract for three more years. For her second High Holy Days season as our service leader Weinstein plans a full slate of services which, like her “musical” Friday night services, will combine traditional Judaism with modern ideas and ideals. Next year, Congregation Etz Chaim turns fifty; and I hope to be around to write about it. Congregation Etz Chaim holds Friday Night Services at 8 p.m. at the Pride Center Auditorium B, 2038 N. Dixie Hwy, in Wilton Manors. For more information phone (954) 564-9232 or visit www.EtzChaimFlorida.org. 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.
22 • 8.24.2023 CULTURE FOOD MEXI-CAN FAMILY COOKING! Torta de Milanesa. Photo via Epazote Mexican Restaurant Facebook. EPAZOTE 6206 N. FEDERAL, FORT LAUDERDALE 754-220-6996 EPAZOTEMEXICANRESTAURANT.COM Epazote opened in April 2023 and is run by the Mexican-born Carrasco-Mendez family. It is everything you want in a family-owned and run restaurant; authentic Mexican cuisine, friendly service, beautiful presentation, and a desire to truly please the customer. The service is never hurried and true to the familial aspect is a little less polished, but that’s a minor quibble when everyone is so eager to please. You can feel (and taste) the family’s love and passion for sharing their culture. For example, recently my hubby and I dined there with our gal pals Joanie, Doreen, Fredda, and Katja, and the owner came out from the kitchen to greet us. My friend Doreen asked if he had elotes, a traditional Mexican street food of corn on the cob dusted with spices, cotija cheese, and mayo. It wasn’t on the menu, but he made an order. We ordered chips and salsa for the table and placed our drink orders. It’s only $7 for a good-sized Margarita served frozen, or on the rocks with a choice of salt, sugar, or a spiced rim (if you’ve never had a spiced rim, try it!). The flavor selection includes, traditional, spicy, Jamaican, mango, strawberry, or tamarind. There is a nice variety of house specialty cocktails, Mexican beers, and wines, also reasonably priced. It happened to be Taco Tuesday, so all tacos (except seafood) were being offered for $2.50. The options were steak, chicken, chorizo, carnitas, and two vegetarian options, rajas con crema (poblano pepper, onion, and corn in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with cotija cheese) and fungi (sauteed mushroom with onion and guajillo pepper topped with cotija cheese). All are usually $3.50. I had a pastor taco as an appetizer and it was bursting with flavor, moist chicken and a strong pineapple flavor served in a tiny double corn tortilla. Two bites at most but packed with flavor. I was glad it was small because when our entrees and sandwiches arrived, they were all gigantic portions. At the recommendation of my Rick Schmutzler, who had visited previously, I ordered the Torta de Milanesa, a thin chicken cutlet, breaded and fried, topped with melted cheese served on traditional bolillo bread, and topped with mayonnaise, refried beans, lettuce, onion, and avocado. It’s served with a side of chipotle dressing and jalapeños. It was perfectly prepared; the fried cutlet showed not a drop of grease and the chicken was still tender, while the coating offered a nice crunch. I was only able to finish half. Sandwiches and Rick Karlin HOT DISH traditional Mexican lunch dishes (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and chilaquiles) are in the $10-$15. We all ordered from that part of the menu, and all were quite pleased. Joanie ordered the chicken Milanesa, she thought it was overcooked and when the owner noticed she wasn’t eating it, he offered to make her another one or another dish. My vegetarian hubby ordered two vegetarian tacos, intending to order two seafood tacos afterward. He liked the veggie tacos so much; he just repeated his order. None of us was able to finish our meals and leftovers were boxed up for everyone and we were allowed to sit and chat as long as we wanted. It was like sitting at the kitchen table of an old friend’s house. I almost hate to review and recommend Epazote, because once it’s discovered, there will be no more long leisurely meals spent with good food, good friends, and surrounded by family. 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 [emailprotected].
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24 • 8.24.2023 CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building B), Wilton Manors 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org [emailprotected] Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m. CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, MCC 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 Sunday Service 10AM HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 1436 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Sunday Mass at 11AM ST. NICHOLAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach 954-942-5887 | StNicholasFL.org Sunday Service 9:30AM SAINT MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SCHOOL 1750 East Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale 954-563-5155 | www.saintmarksftl.com Worship Sundays @ 8am and 10:30am STS FRANCIS AND CLARE CHURCH 2300 NW 9th Ave. (Powerline Rd.) WIlton Manors 954-731-8173 | stsfrancisandclare.org Sunday: 10:30 AM. Watch LIVE @ facebook.com/stsfrancisandclare UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF BOCA RATON 2601 St Andrews Blvd. in Boca Raton (just off Glades Rd., next to University Woodlands Park) (561) 482-2001 | www.uufbr.org Sunday service at 10:30 AM Eastern. Zoom Meeting ID: 914 8201 7108 Passcode: 952914 SPIRITUALITY LISTINGS PLEASE CHECK EACH LOCATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION REGARDING DATES, IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE FOR SERVICES, OR OPTIONS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE. JAMIE LEE CURTIS VOWS TO FIGHT TRANSPHOBIA Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis gave an interview in late July in which she spoke about her support for her transgender daughter and vowed to fight transphobia. In an interview with MSNBC’s Morning co-host Joe Scarborough, Curtis said, “This is about love.” “Being a parent is about love, and I love Ruby. Love her. People have said, ‘You’re so great to accept her love.’ What are you talking about? This is my daughter … I will fight and defend her right to exist to anyone who claims that she doesn’t…” Curtis added. Curtis also noted the challenging times for trans people across the country. Photo by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons. OUT AND LOUD CULTURE OUT AND LOUD TRANSGENDER By Christian “CJ” Walden LGBT CELEBRITY WATCH KATIE PRICE HAD FLING WITH PLAYBOY BUNNIES I n a recent shocking revelation, Katie Price said people have questioned why she doesn’t “just go for women” due to her not-so-great relationships with men. Price started this discussion while talking to social media star GK Barry on her Saving Grace Podcast. Grace responded by saying, “You should dip your finger in a pie.” Grace was shocked by Price’s response. “I have done, in the Playboy mansion. I have done girls!” said Price. Price went on to explain that her flings with fellow Playboy bunnies occurred when she refused to have sex with the late Hugh Hefner. “We’d all be doing it on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night…” said Price. LESBIAN Photo via Katie Price, Faebook.
8.24.2023 • 25 “Love without judgement” A home for your spirit. Holy Angels National Catholic Church 1436 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors. 33305 Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL www.HolyAngelsFL.org 954-633-2987 Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • Sunday Mass at 11 AM in English • All are welcome! Join us for masked, socially distanced in person worship. 11 AM Sundays. Services also LIVE-streamed on Facebook and posted on website for safe at home viewing. Join us for in-person worship at 10 AM Sunday, or live streamed on Facebook www.facebook.com/ChruchofOurSaviorMCC 2011 South Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 www.churchofoursaviormcc.org Church of Our Savior MCC 250+ CELEBRITIES FIGHT TO CENSOR ANTI-LGBT CONTENT L averne Cox, Sam Smith, Hailey Bieber, and hundreds of other celebrities have partnered with GLAAD to endorse a letter calling for social media platforms to ban LGBT “hate, harassment, and disinformation” and categorize it as hate speech. “There has been a massive systemic failure to prohibit hate, harassment, and malicious anti-[LGBT] disinformation on your platforms, and it must be addressed,” the letter stated. “The very content you profit from is in violation of your own terms of service, which assert that you do not allow hate speech.” The letter cites an article on “farright extremists,” a piece stating “misgendering is violence,” reports from the HRC on “religious intolerance” with misinformation, and much more. The letter categorizes speech that opposes LGBT values as “extremist hate.” GLAAD also references the Bud Light advertising campaign involving trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The letter acknowledged several organizations besides GLAAD, including The Trevor Project and others, that social media companies’ “mitigations remain woefully inadequate.” The letter demanded a meeting with social media corporations to address the harms that are being spread across all of social media. The full letter can be read online at glaad.org. Courtesy photo. CULTURE OUT AND LOUD QUEER
26 • 8.24.2023 IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT I f you can’t stand the heat, get out of the garden. One hour is my max time in 90 degrees. “I can’t believe how sore my back is,” Ray said after working outside. “We’re old,” I replied. “We can’t do as much as we used to do.” The first line of the Serenity Prayer, as you know, is, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” That includes the current heat in Southern Florida and aging. Many of us are more comfortable with the second line, “the courage to change the things I can.” We’re scrappers. We’ve chosen to take on racism, sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, gender identity, disability discrimination, the war in Vietnam, the Catholic Church, AIDS, saving the whales, pollution, women’s right to choose, and innumerable other issues. We feel we’ve made measurable progress in everything to which we’ve committed ourselves. There are abundant rewards for changing the things we can, such as feelings of power and control. But “accepting things I cannot change?” That’s different. That’s “defeatism.” If there’s just the tiniest chance of beating a challenge, we’ll take it. Here’s where the wisdom comes in, the wisdom to see and know the dance between acceptance and courage. “Serenity,” “Courage,” and “Wisdom,” are individual choices. We choose to experience serenity in the midst of chaos. We choose to find the courage to make a change, such as quitting smoking and drinking. But those are choices we make for ourselves, like coming out. There are three major social issues on which I chose to focus my primary attention: the War in Vietnam, the punitive teachings of the Catholic Church, and LGBTQ education of Straight people. I couldn’t end the aggression in Vietnam, but I could choose to march, write letters, and file as a conscientious objector, as did 171,000 other men my age. I chose to challenge the Catholic Church’s Brian McNaught THE WISE SNOWY OWL Photo via Pixabay. sexual theology by coming out publicly as a healthy, happy Gay Catholic man, was fired, went on a hunger fast, and wrote about the Vatican’s emotional abuse. My choice to help educate straight people about LGBTQ people didn’t end homophobia, but my global corporate success was measurably larger. Serenity, or the peace of mind and spirit come to me now by accepting that I couldn’t change anyone but myself. If others were impacted by something I said or wrote, it was because they chose to be. As a young man, I asked for the courage to change the things I could, and there was much that needed changing. In my middle age, I asked for peace of heart when I realized I couldn’t change anything but myself. In my senior years, I seek the wisdom to accept what I have control over, and what I do not. I conclude that the best way for me to address social injustices, and their “isms,” is to look into my own soul. 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. CULTURE OPINION OUT THERE. CALL US AT 954.514.7095 YOUR AD COULD BE HERE. DON’T WAIT, GET YOUR BUSINESS
8.24.2023 • 27 and heartfelt moments. This one-nightonly performance will showcase Creel’s remarkable talent and undeniable charisma in an intimate setting. There is a special intimate four-course dinner also available with Creel on Sept. 17 that will be prepared by Union Kitchen & Bar’s Chef Christie Tenaud. Offering a chance to hear from Creel about his Tony awardwinning career and all things Broadway. Creel stands as a captivating and versatile talent in the world of entertainment, celebrated for his exceptional skills as an actor, singer, and performer. Creel’s journey to stardom has been marked by his unwavering dedication, infectious energy, and remarkable ability to connect with audiences worldwide. Creel’s Broadway debut was in a leading role in the critically acclaimed musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” a performance that earned him his first Tony Award nomination. His dynamic presence on stage, coupled with his impressive vocal range and impeccable comedic timing, quickly established him as a force to be reckoned with in the theatre world. Creel’s contributions to the arts extend beyond the Broadway stage. A passionate advocate for social causes, he has used his platform to raise awareness about issues such as LGBTQ rights, environmental conservation, and HIV/AIDS awareness. His philanthropic efforts, combined with his immense talent, have made him a beloved figure both on and off the stage. Tickets for the concert start at $29 (standing room) to $89 (premium seating and open bar). Tickets for dinner with Creel are $199 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets for both events are available at tickettailor. com/events/harmonywaves/984619. TONY AWARD WINNER GAVIN CREEL TO PERFORM AT HUNTERS B roadway sensation Gavin Creel takes the stage at Hunters Nightclub on Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida's Gabe Salazar will open the show. The event is being presented by HarmonyWaves. “We’re really excited that Gavin will lend his voice to South Florida as we work toward fulfilling our mission of uniting people,” said Gary Van Horn, President of HarmonyWaves. Fans and patrons of Hunter’s Nightclub are in for a treat as Creel graces the stage with his magnetic energy and powerful vocals. Known for his exceptional performances in iconic Broadway productions such as “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Hair,” Creel’s live show promises to be a unique blend of show-stopping musical numbers Gavin Creel. Photo via gavincreel.com. ENTERTAINMENT THEATER Rick Karlin
28 • 8.24.2023 S imon goes through many changes while investigating what is haunting his grandmother’s house. One of those is realizing that he’s trans. WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR MOST RECENT BOOK? Honestly, watching The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix! One of the things I really love about that show is how character-focused it is, and how all the horror elements are tied so closely to the characters’ emotional journeys. I had been brainstorming about my next middle-grade project, and I already had a sense of the inner journey that I wanted Simon, the book’s main character, to be going through. So I started thinking about how I could use some of those ingredients of a haunted house story to pull that inner journey to the surface. Hill House is also what inspired me to shape the story more around Simon’s family and the unspoken family history that his grandmother’s households. TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE BOOK AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO WRITE IT. “The House That Whispers” is about 11-year-old Simon and his two sisters as they try to investigate who, or what, is haunting their grandmother Nanaleen’s house. A lot of things have been changing in Simon’s life: his parents are struggling in their relationship, his older sister has been growing more distant, and his grandmother has started forgetting things. And Simon himself has been changing, too, as he’s realized that he’s trans. I knew from even the earliest brainstorming stages that I wanted the reader to get to meet Simon by this new, right name and pronouns that he’s chosen for himself. My first book, “The Best Liars in Riverview,” is about a character who’s still in a much more questioning place with regard to their gender. That questioning journey is still really important to me to show, but it was also very emotional at times to write, and I’d been deep in that emotional journey for years while working on the book. I knew that as I shifted into this second book I wanted to focus on a character who’s much more certain of his gender already and gets to celebrate some of the euphoria he feels in knowing who he is. WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR BOOK? Some spookiness, some mystery, and lots of big feelings! A family that’s struggling but ultimately trying their best. A look at genealogy and the pieces of family history that no one really talks about outright. And also lots of sibling hijinks! I’ve always loved stories about siblings — I’m the middle of five kids in my family and grew up very close to my siblings, and I really enjoyed getting to explore the tension and annoyance, but also love and support, between Simon and his two sisters. ‘THE HOUSE THAT WHISPERS’ Photos via www.geeksout.org. A&E BOOKS Aurora Dominguez THE READING RAINBOW TO-DO LIST [emailprotected] MISS PUB ON THE DRIVE CONTEST Shake out that dusty wig and polish those stilettos! It’s the “Miss Pub on the Drive Contest” at 7 p.m. (drag time), at where else (?) The Pub on the Drive, 2271 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors. THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 NATIONAL BANANA SPLIT DAY It’s National Banana Split Day, head to Wilton Creamery, 2301 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, for some custom blended ice cream! They’ve got dog-friendly flavors, note to self, remember to take Coco, too. FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 WOMEN IN BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT Women in Business networking event at Best Cellar, 1408 NE 26th St., Wilton Manors from 5:30 to 9 p.m. SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 CIGAR SOCIAL I love a man with a good five inches or more hanging out of his mouth. Ramrod, 1508 NE 4th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, hosts Cigar Social tonight on the patio from 7-9 p.m. MONDAY, AUGUST 28 INDUSTRY NIGHT In the hospitality industry? Head over to Johnson’s, 2340 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, for Industry Night. No cover for those in the biz, $5 after 8 p.m. for others. The hottest male strippers in town and Happy Hour until 8 p.m. (Half-priced cocktails, $3 domestics, $4 imports.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 29 STRIP FOR A TIP My wallet’s a little empty after tipping all those strippers last night, and I’m thirsty in more ways than one. Time to head to Alibi/Monkey Bar, 2266 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, for “Strip For A Tip” at 11 p.m. Maybe I’ll make a few bucks, find a few hotties, and who knows what else. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30 NATIONAL DOG DAY It’s National Dog Day, take your dog to one of Wilton Manors’ many pet-friendly restaurant patios, such as Tulio’s Tacos, Rosie’s, or Thai Me Up. BOWLING WITH THE BEARS Bears of South Florida are holding a bowling event at Manor Lanes! AIROTIC SOIREE It’s the last night of the Airotic Soiree show at Hunters, 2232 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors. It’s like the gayest Cirque de Soliel ever! Tickets are available at airoticcirquesoiree.com/fort-lauderdale/. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 Sign up for our newsletters at outsfl.com outsfl knows DAILY OUR DAILY EBLAST ISLANDER TWICE WEEKLY WILTON MANORS EBLAST SCOOP OUR WEEKLY EBLAST [emailprotected]
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30 • 8.24.2023 To see your listing, call our sales team at 954.530.4970 HUSBAND FOR RENT - Is he procrastinating home repairs? He says he will do it tomorrow?? After the football game?? We fit right in - in the house or the yard, small or big jobs: tile, dry wall, paint, plumbing, roof leaks, broken furniture, irrigation, fences, and more! It doesn't cost to hassle us to see the work - so why wait? Neat, clean work for a reasonable price. Call Haim at 954-398-3676, [emailprotected] CUSTOM INSTALLATION AT A GREAT PRICE WE INSTALL: Custom made Roller shades Curtains Verticals Blinds Movie screens Windows Wifi door locks Wifi light switches 954-398-3676 [emailprotected] Contact Haim to schedule a no obligation quote! We also install/replace A/ C thermostats of the latest in technology (Ecobee or Nest) — downloaded and controlled by your smart phone *Limit one o er per household. Must purchase 5+ Classic/Designer Glide-Out Shelves. EXP 4/30/23. Independently owned and operated franchise. ©2023 ShelfGenie SPV LLC. All rights Reserved. Custom Glide-Out Shelves for your existing cabinets, pantry, and bathroom. Call for Your FREE Design Consultation (855) 773-4546 12 NO INTEREST NO PAYMENTS *On Approved Credit* MONTH 50% OFF INSTALL! HUSBAND FOR RENT LOUD and CLEAR BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival is seeking passionate and driven individuals to join our team! We are currently hiring for various positions including the Executive Director, Development Director, Marketing & Social Media Manager, and Media Intern. As the Executive Director, you will be the star of the show, leading the festival to new heights and ensuring a memorable experience for all attendees. The Development Director will help us raise the curtain on new opportunities and partnerships, while the Marketing & Social Media Manager will help us shine a spotlight on our festival and engage with our audience. Our Media Intern will assist us in capturing all the exciting moments and creating buzz around the festival. Join our team and help us illuminate LGBTQ+ stories from around the world. Apply now and let's make movie magic together! Learn more at outshinefilm.com/careers and apply directly by emailing [emailprotected] NOW HIRING THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS FOR AS LITTLE AS $149/MONTH! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-954-459-3049 HOME IMPROVEMENT OUR PAGES YOUR VOICE Send us your letters [emailprotected] CAN’T WAIT FOR PRINT? FOLLOW US ONLINE. OUTSFL.COM ADVERTISE WITH US! outsfl.com/advertise
8.24.2023 • 31 SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM donations to OutSFL can be made here: outsfl.com/donate