Eye of the Storm

See Story Florence Henderson: Mystery Writer Breaks See on pages Back Q3 & Q4 Kitten with a Whip? the Rules of ‘Whodunits’ Page Clark Vows Leadership on Gay, AIDS Issues January 19, 2004 Volume 5, Number 3 See story on page 12 Eye of the Storm Pulic Meeting Scheduled as Questions Swirl Around Gay Center Sale By Phil LaPadula A week earlier, Executive director Bill will probably not get any money from the Managing Editor Peters had announced that the public sale until September. As the controversy surrounding the sale meeting on the sale would not be held until Most of the criticism of the deal has of the gay community center in Fort March. “We’ve upped the date because centered on the board acting without Lauderdale intensified last week, the center’s there seems to be a swell of curiosity,” he informing, or receiving input, from the board of directors scheduled a public meeting explained. center’s members and the community at large. for Thursday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. to answer Meanwhile, the Broward County Critics have also questioned why the board questions and respond to criticism. Commission voted on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to didn’t do a national search for a developer or In response to an e-mail flyer sent out table a proposed $200,000 bailout grant for put the property on the multiple listing Photo by Pompano Bill by Doug White, an opponent of the sale, the center after they learned about the sale. service. Supporters of the deal say they had dozens of people packed the meeting room The commission had been expected to to act quickly to keep the center’s doors open. Mark Ketchum, president of the gay community center’s board of directors, where the center’s board was holding its approve the grant. Peters said he was “We are angry, and feel betrayed, that speaks at the board’s Jan. 15 meeting. regularly scheduled meeting Jan. 15. They disappointed by the commission’s actions this board met in closed session for months The board announced that a town hall were told to come back on Jan. 22 for the because the center still needs the money for without seeking out community input and meeting will be held at the center Jan. town hall meeting. its programs. He pointed out that the center 22 to address concerns about the sale See CENTER on page 2 of the property. Phelps Threatens to Book Group on Gay Cruise Homophobic Preacher Sends Letter to Rosie O’Donnell’s Travel Company By Andy Zeffer performing on board an Features Editor Atlantis cruise gave her Virulently anti-gay Rev. Fred the idea to create a gay Phelps has written a letter to R Family cruise company geared Vacations, a gay and lesbian travel to families. company co-founded by Rosie In order to get on O’Donnell, requesting reservations the cruise, Phelps and aboard the company’s first gay his followers would have chartered cruise. R Family Vacations to book their travel has chartered Norwegian Cruise arrangements through R Line’s Norwegian Dawn for a seven- Family Vacations. day cruise departing on July 11 from According to Kaminsky, New York City. The cruise is meant nobody from Westboro to be a safe and enjoyable Baptist Church has environment for gay families. purchased tickets. Phelps and his Westboro “One other thing Baptist Church, which is composed I have to say is that we almost entirely of members of his LOVE AND HATE: At left, a gay couple with a child pictured on R Family Vacations’ Web site. At right, Fred Phelps are going to ensure the family, are notorious for staging protesting outside the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyo., where one of Matthew Shepard’s killers was safety of every guest on trial April 5, 1999. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) anti-gay pickets at gay events and that comes aboard,” funerals, including the funeral of hate-crime such subjects as: Is homosexuality sinful? Does everyone, but I think it’s obvious that this Kaminsky said. “And both we and Norwegian victim Matthew Shepard. Their signs bear such God really hate fags? Is it possible for practicing church is not trying to promote anything Cruise Line reserve the right that any slogans as “God Hates Fags,” “AIDS Cures homosexuals to go to Heaven? Is Hell a real good, but just promoting hate. Their Web passenger who is disruptive, whether in this Fags” and “Fags Burn in Hell.” Phelps’ group place with fire and brimstone? Was Sodom site is called godhatesfags.com, and I don’t group or in any other group, is not welcome also regularly sends out faxed fliers promoting destroyed because of homosexual sin or some on the ship.” extremist, anti-gay views. A recent one began, other reason? What about the dietary laws of “We do reserve our right to book Phelps is a former lawyer “WBC to picket monstrous sodomite Leviticus? Do they negate the prohibition, who has been disbarred by whorehouse masquerading as a nation, ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with who goes on our cruise. We are the both the Kansas state courts Canada…” The latest flier, a copy of his letter womankind; it is abomination?’ And many other ones that schedule the and the federal court system. to R Family Vacations, was circulated Jan. 9. such relevant and timely topics of keen interest programming…. Their Web site is According to the Anti- In the letter to R Family Vacations, Phelps to all sincere and intelligent gays and lesbians.” Defamation League, in 1985, writes, “Please make room for three families (12 Phelps ends his letter with, “Your prompt called godhatesfags.com, and I don’t nine federal court judges filed to 15 individual members) from Westboro consideration will be appreciated. Thank you. With really think that is an appropriate a disciplinary complaint Baptist Church.” Phelps goes on to say that kindest personal regards and best wishes, I remain subject to have on our cruise.” charging Phelps and six of “you need us with our traditional, historic sincerely yours in Christ, Fred W. Phelps, Pastor.” his family members, all Christian input to have a truly diverse, well- “We are creating a cruise where we want —Gregg Kaminsky, R Family Vacations attorneys, with making false rounded and intellectually stimulating cruise. all families to be welcome,” said Gregg accusations against them. We will provide all on board with lively Gospel Kaminsky, who runs R Family Vacations really think that is an appropriate subject to The Phelpses fought the complaint but lost. music and old-time preaching—three to five along with Rosie O’Donnell and her partner, have on our cruise.” In 1989, Fred Phelps agreed to surrender his sessions each day—with generous, lengthy Kelly O’Donnell. “However, we do reserve Kaminsky first met Rosie O’Donnell license to practice law in federal courts in question-and-answer periods to follow each our right to book who goes on our cruise. when he worked for Atlantis Events, which exchange for the federal judges allowing the service. We are the ones that schedule the produces all-gay cruises. According to other members of his family to continue “In addition, we will arrange debates on programming. It’s not that we don’t welcome Kaminsky, O’Donnell’s experience practicing. www.ExpressGayNews.com • January 19, 2004 1 January 19, 2004 Volume 5, Number 3 Issue 164 Eye of the Storm Managing Editor Phil LaPadula Pulic Meeting Scheduled as Questions [email protected] Arts & Entertainment Editor Swirl Around Gay Center Sale Mary Damiano CENTER from Front Page [email protected] support from our Founders Circle [major donors], our appraisal of $2.053 million, but he conceded that “the potential Features Editor membership, our community leaders and community members market value is more than $3 million.” Andy Zeffer [email protected] prior to voting to sell our community center,” said Doug After the meeting Jan. 15, Carol Moran, a former board EDITORIAL White, president of the South Florida Social Circle. member who supports the sale, responded to criticism from Sales and Marketing Manager White also questioned why Peters has been telling White about the deal’s plan for the center to own a new Kevin Hopper the press that the sale was not a done deal when the 10,000-square-foot building but not the land it sits on. In his [email protected] board actually signed a sales contract in December. In an e-mail, White had compared the plan to “owning a trailer in a interview with The Express on Jan. 14, Peters trailer park.” “Have you ever owned a condo? It’s the same Account Executives Craig Combs acknowledged that the center had signed a contract, and concept,” Moran said. [email protected] it cannot back out. But he said Tarragon Realty Investors But Litty pointed out that the plan could put the center Anthony Verrico Inc. could still back out, and the deal is contingent on the at the mercy of a condo association. “The condo association [email protected] city approving the building permits. Nevertheless, White could decide that they don’t want the center or its uses or Daniel Wasinger [email protected] and others think Peters statements to the press were events,” he said. misleading. Peters said the board had informed some of its major Classifieds Manager Dave Litty, one of two board members who voted against donors before signing the contract. “There were certain Ralph Lankford the sale, criticized the way the deal has been handled.

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